Weather Update-Wednesday, Jan. 28

Another snow storm...and while I am away in CA??? All I can say is "Yikes!!" Here's our deal today. Sue is at the store right now and she will keep the store open until noon...but do call ahead just to be sure she is there. 978-887-6397. After that, stay home and make cards, mini books and scrapbook pages!! We will be closing the store at noon today. So, that means no crop tonight...sorry guys. Be safe and make art!! I will be back in the store around 2 pm on Friday, January 30th. See you then.

Valentine Card with Theresa Collins "Tickets" Paper

Theresa Collins has a great style and her papers make great cards! In the photo you can see a bit of her paper with the tickets on it. If you cut the tickets out using the Fiskars "Postage" edgers they fit the tickets exactly, trim the corners with your scissors, and distress all the tickets a la Tim Holtz (the little birds are a rub-on, using the blank ticket.)

Snow Update for Jan 11-Sunday

Yes, we are open and yes, the class will be happening. Michelle called me at 10:30 am to say that she was out and about and that the roads were drivable. I am confidant that Barbara D will be there by noon to open the store and Barb M will not be far behind. . If you are not able to drive to your class today, please call the store and Michelle will be sure that your stamping is done and you can put the cards together at home. 978-887-6397. Class will begin at 1 pm as scheduled.

Snow Update-Wednesday, Dec. 31

Well, here it is snowing again...so it looks like we will have to postpone the last of the Tim's Tag classes that was scheduled for today, Dec.31 at noon....we will be rescheduling for a Sunday in Jan or Feb, as soon as we can fit it in.

Also, there is a staff person, Sue, at the store now...and Barbara will arrive shortly...both live nearby and they will stay as long as it seems safe to, so you can call the store today to check on what their plans are (978-887-6397)...the sale is continuing today, Friday, and Saturday. Everything in the store is 25% off, and certain areas, including christmas, are 40% off. This is a great sale!!

In terms of more snow in the next few days, watch this space.

We are closed Sunday, Jan 4, for inventory...speaking of inventory, we are looking for  some help on Sunday, Jan 4, beginning at 9 am...I will give store credit per hour into your store account, which you may use to purchase items at a 20% discount...we will be counting items that are in the store...no computer work necessary...but we do require that you can count...I will serve you a great meal for lunch...I am hoping to get about 30 people in total to help...if you can do this, I would be delighted...the way to sign up is to e mail me (absolutelyeverything@gmail.com) and I will let you know if we can use you or if we are too full...I am trying to get inv. over with quickly, so would love the help...if we get enough volunteers, it may only take a few hours...maybe til after lunch sometime......and if I already have you on the list, you do not need to respond. Don't call the store...just e mail me. thanks...we will make it fun, I promise!!

DeNami Class Report

I have received fantastic reviews from all those who took the DeNami classes...but I would love to have everyone be able to read about the classes themselves...so, to all you who took those classes, please put a comment here about how you enjoyed the classes...and I will randomly select someone to win 3 jars of DeNami glitter--your choice of the colors we have here.

Also, we have the Tim Holtz new stamps in stock...but they are going fast..see my newsletter from Nov. 12 for photos and ordering info. You can find the newsletter on our website, www.absolutelyeverything.com, just go to the "news"  page and read current newsletter.

AE First Random Drawing Stickles Winner!!

and the winner is...

" angelabranon (who) said...
Does it count if I once went on a bus trip?"
Apparently, Angela , it does..we will mail these to you or hold them in the store...let us know what you prefer.

Meanwhile, I have some good ideas to share with
the rest of you. I'm sure many of you have seen
the die-cut lace look papers, from a bunch of
different companies. Here is a photo of one of them.
I am refering to the blue piece in the photo.

So, from Ali Edwards, (thanks, Ali!) I learned the following technique. Spray the back of this lacy paper with glue spray (Vellum spray works great here) and place it in top of the cover of your album, or piece of cardstock. Paint the whole thing one color, and you will have a mono-chromatic look with embossing...I added some Stazon Black Cherry to my original Ranger Dimensional Pearls, so I could have a mottled look.. Below is a photo of the cover of my latest Christmas album.

Also, we did this in the store-- on a white piece of paper, we added a white die-cut sheet that was glittered...and then we used our new 3-d snowman die cut...very cool...pics tomorrow of that.



Below are some photos from the book. The left hand photo shows a piece of printed clear acetate, covering a page with the poinsettia stickers. On top of the acetate, I placed the green bling over where the centers of the flower is, and when you turn the
page, the centers move with the page, ( it is a good idea to match the exact bling on the reverse side of the acetate so you don't see the unfinished backs of either)but when it is lying on top of the page, the bling creates flower centers.

Another page shows the American Crafts "Thickers" (chipboard stickers) covered in Platinum Stickles, also from Ranger...a technique introduced to us from Mr. Tim Holtz himself. This creates a great vintage look.






Finally, one more idea...actually, one of my very own!!...using the faux postage sheets we have here, distress the edges, layer on top of each other a bit and put a Christmas postmark over it....we did this on the "letter to Santa" page.

Deadline for the Stickles Drawing

I will give you guys until Monday morning, November 3, at 10 am for posts to the blog about the bus trip. Any post will count. I will announce the winner shortly after 10am, here on the blog. I will do a random picking , by number, and that person will win. If you are, by some odd chance, not the winner, there will be many more chances for different prizes...and , yes, Stickles will appear again sometime.