Just a Friendly Reminder....

The studio will be closed tomorrow and Saturday as I will be hosting our weekend retreat for scrapbookers and card makers at the Nottawasaga Resort this weekend.

If you are passing by Alliston this weekend.... drop on by and say hello! We'd love to see you!

Back on Tuesday (Regular Studio Retail Hours)

Next time I post it will be from the Nott!!!!

More "Stuff" - Prima

More CHA things came in today! Hurray!! It's like Christmas!

I'll post more tomorrow but -- until then, here's most of what came in from Prima today! Enjoy!

By Popular Demand....

I have been getting emails and FaceBook messages about doing more "videos" of the new product -- sooooo here you are!
Graphic 45 "Curtain Call" and "Le Cirque"

I had a WONDERFUL evening last night with our sewers.... I will post my creations next week because they are a surprise for the Retreat Next Weekend. Can't Wait to show them off!!!
Today there are a group of ladies in the studio scrapbooking! I LOVE how this studio can transform from a sewing studio to a scrapping one in a matter of hours :) Thank you for letting that happen!!
Off to do more retreat prep! My official countdown has begun!

New Stamps at the Studio!

La Blanche is a new company that I "spied" at CHA last month. I was in awe of the quality of these stamps -- SOMETHING NEW... foam mounted, silicone stamps. And they stamp beautifully!!

This little video features all the new stamps I received from them this week. I hope you enjoy and come check them out in person soon! I know you'll love 'em!

I Love Art Journaling!

Thank you girls for a lovely night "arting" at the studio!

As you know, last night was Art Journaling Night and this month our inspirational artist was Dina Wakely. Did you check out that video montage? :)

Anyway, Deanna gave the girls a little tutorial on how she uses Dina's process in her art journaling and then we were "set loose" to create in our own books. Here's how she does it-

First paint your page with gesso

then use some edging tools to create lines and texture in the wet gesso. Here she is using a comb
and here she is using a metal stylus tool (I have those here and use them for my metal art - yay, I like multi functional tools! *smile*)
Let it dry (or dry with a heat tool)

and then wash paint over it. you can use a contrasting colour over the original paint layer to get in the cracks of the etched gesso (but make sure the first layer is dry first)

Then play play play. Layer with paints, colour washes and spritzes. Here is one of Deanna's backgrounds. See the texture? Very cool

I was "on a roll" LOVING my New Colour Wash Sprays that arrived in the studio this week. You know me and texture and layers! I think I have next month's Technique of the Month Gals....cause I'll be doing this A LOT!! hehe)

The leaves on this one are done using light molding paste. The colour wash seeped through it -- I LOVE IT!!!! Such a happy finding!!
Can you see the gesso etchings?? There are lines in this one and all about the circles in the one above.
This one is super cool too!

Thanks Deanna!!!! ....And Dina Wakely for the inspiration. Now, what to journal about?!

Have a creative day everyone!!

Tonight's Art Journaling Night -

I love our new Art Journaling Group!! I prepare for each monthly meeting with eager anticipation.

Every month we select a different Art Journaler that we admire, feature and challenge each other with their style, this month it's Dina Wakely! Here is a youtube video I found produced by the Milliande Art Community that was taken at one of Dina's store visits. Enjoy looking at this eye candy!!



Dina also offers some fabulous online classes. I hope you check her out.
I'll post my Dina Wakely inspired page with you tomorrow.

Have a creative day everyone!

Happy Belated Valentines Day!

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great Valentines Day yesterday and were able to spend it with the ones you love!!

We had a lovely time here on Saturday at our Customer Appreciation Day.

THANK YOU to everyone who came and everyone who sent notes. You guys are THE BEST!!!!

I do have some prizes to announce!

I had some Door Prizes here in the studio....without further ado. Here are the winners!

• 2 VIP Tickets to ScrapFest - Amber M


• Viva Glitter and Pearl Pen Set - Barb K


• Harmonie New Product Set - Kelly H


• Perfect Pearls Set - Paulette B


• Kelly Panacchi Collection - Deb

Congratulations Ladies! And Thanks Again everyone!

Customer Appreciation Day!!!

Yes, it's here!
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU everyone!!
I love my job and 90% of that reason is because of you, my fabulous customers. So, I'd love to give something back.

Come on in tomorrow between 11-4 (Saturday). There will food *smile*, door prizes, and discounts for any purchases (you pick your discount from my heart bouquet ), and there is 50% off 2011 Canvas Calendars, and 40% off all Darcies products including the fun Shadowbox Frames and Donna Downey's 9"wood *smile*! Those discounts are in addition to your heart bouquet discount .... you'll see what I mean when you get here :) I will also showcase some of the new product that will be coming in from CHA and, well, enjoy my time with you.

So, stop on in, say hi, see the new paint colour (the studio was painted when I was at CHA), get a little bite to eat. Love to see you.

Makin' Custom Ink Pads

We had some inky fun in the studio Tuesday and Wednesday night with the Technique of the Month Club. This month's technique? - Making your own custom ink pads!

I did this technique years ago when I created multiple Christmas Cards -- like say 200 cards in 2005! LOL Perhaps it was the "I'm not making that many Christmas Cards again" but I forgot about this absolutely amazing, time saving technique.

If you followed Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas this year, Tag #2 used this technique. YAY!! I re-discovered it AND have been enjoying it ever since -- so much so, I needed to show the gals!

Why make your own ink pad? Well, if you are making oodles of cards for an event or an occasion and love the look of multi-coloured stamped images this is the way to go. Cut N Dry Felt is an 8.5x11 version of the felt that Ranger uses in their ink pads. Simply cut to the size of your favourite stamp and stamp (with Archival Ink) on the felt side of the product. Then colour (on the lines) in your favourite coordinating Distress Ink Colours -- like this:

Then align your stamp over your new ink pad and ink it :).... Now you're ready to stamp it out.
Look at the detail you can create with different shades of ink.... and you can get 40 - 50 impressions just like it!!!!!

Now, remember that Distress Ink reacts with water. Want a custom ink pad for your watercolour effects? Do the steps above but before you stamp it, give it a little water spritz with a mini mister.... voila... a gorgeous watercolour image!!

I made one with the new Paperbag Studio Stamps that I just got in the studio! OMG... I am in love with these stamp sheets -- but that's a blog for another day *smile*

I used the HOME Set.... and picked out the image ironically called "Emily" (my daughter's name) (She's the one on the top right). And created some watercolour images of it.... THEN....Got out the beeswax and put together a card featuring the image. -- Yes, a soft, thin beeswax finish. I LOVE THIS CARD!!!!

You must come see it on Saturday during our customer appreciate day!

I guess that's it for now. Thanks for a wonderful TOMC month ladies -- I hope you enjoyed the technique as much as I did. hummmm.... me thinks I need to make a video *smile*

Have a creative day!

A Slight Schedule Change....

I'm happy to announce a slight change of plans in our Donna Downey class line up.

As you know, CHA was a couple of weeks ago - well, Donna came out with a new line of "stuff". Very exciting! We got word from Prima Marketing that the product will be available in time for Donna's visit with us... so.... Donna will be offering a NEW CLASS on our weekend. Yes, Kitchener will be the first place that Donna will be teaching this class - Butterfly Moments. YAY How fabulous!

Check this out!!! A fabulous 4x6 Canvas Album!

With layers of ruffles, trims, fabrics, and flowers we will create a textural blend of elements that give this album the look and feel of shabby chic with the bold punch of color. Distress as much or as little as you like and really make this album your own. - Donna Downey

Lots of product in this kit.... I hope you consider taking the class!

Saturday March 26, 2011 6:30pm - 8:30 pm - $70 (plus HST)

For more classes and registration information - click on the Donna Downey Workshops links on the right sidebar.

Retreat Classes are Posted!

The Nottawasaga Retreat Classes can now be found on the Retreat Page: http://www.thearthousestudio.ca/p/go-scrapping-retreats-and-crops.html

Scroll down past the general retreat information and you will find them there. All classes are on a first come, first serve basis. I hope you like. Here are the photos :)

Special Friend, Loving Parent

THANK YOU everyone!! for all your support around the loss of my father. I really appreciate it!

I am back in the studio and with the support of some fun ladies today... I sewed! Yes, I sewed and created a little something about my dad. My "special friend and loving parent".

I really wish I could take a better photo of it -- so.... you'll just have to come into the studio and see it for yourself!

I used my new Janome Jem Gold Plus machine I bought through the Shopping Channel, some fun fabric (recognise it from my ruffle bag?), and some of Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Back Canvas to create this 16x20 framed canvas. Yahoo!! I love how you can run the canvas through your printer and get a fantastic image printed right on the canvas! Sure makes life sweet and easy! And I just love how it turned out. .. the canvas behind the hearts were stamped with Archival Ink.... fun fun!

The studio will be back to regular retail hours next week - retreat classes will be posted and messages will be returned too!

Don't forget to drop by the studio next Saturday for our customer appreciation day....... Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!