Chalk it up

Can you believe both of these backgrounds were created with Chalk Board Paint by Faber Castell?  You know Angela loves it when a product is super versatile, so this is bound to be a new favorite!  We've used it before on canvas, but it also works beautifully on cardstock!  You can create an incredibly matte finish with the look and feel of a chalk board, or you can get a much less opaque look - so stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 and let Angela show you how. 

In addition to experimenting with Chalk Board Paint, Angela will also show you a new technique with Gelatos.  Fun!

Creative Color Layering!

Hero Arts has created a series of clear stamp sets called Color Layering.  These wonderful stamps work together to make adding color a breeze!  And, because they are clear stamps, you don't need to use a positioner to line them up.  Stop in Tuesday, July 21, between 12 & 2 to find out more and see all the other collections Hero Arts has to offer.  So much fun!

April Showers have brought May Flowers!

Wow, that downpour last week was quite a statement in the April Showers rhyme, don't you think???  Here's hoping that you are now surrounded by flowers (and that your allergies are behaving!)

This Thursday's FREE make-and-take card features a new set from Hero Arts.  This clear set makes coloring the flowers so easy as it includes outline as well as solid petal flowers. But first, we will create a foundation of color on the card with three new pastel color daubers and an inking technique using an acrylic block and a mister.  We'll finish out the card with a touch of Liquid Applique. 

The make-and-take is available from 10 to 8 on Thursday, and no registration is required.  See you then!

Ready for Spring

Seriously, snow, enough of you already!!!!! 

If you're like me and ready for spring, then you won't want to miss this Thursday's FREE make-and-take featuring the stunning Poppy stamp from Hero Arts.  We used Brilliance ink to add just a bit of shimmer (it almost looks dewy when you see it in person).

This card soothes me - the colors are yummy.  And, it can be used for virtually any occasion!  So, stop in Thursday between 10 - 8 and make one for yourself - FREE and no registration is required!

Chalk it up!

The faux chalkboard look is all the rage right now!  I must confess that I get a teeny bit jealous when I see the cool chalkboards in Starbucks.  I wish I could draw/write like that.  Not having that ability is what attracted me to stamping in the first place.  I can be artistic without "drawing" skills.  So, imagine how thrilled I am with these fabulous stamps that create that "Starbucks" feel with no muss or fuss!!!

Join me for the Learn at Lunch demo on Tuesday, January 14 between 12-2 and we'll play with lots of different ways to create the faux chalkboard effect, including using the Chalkboard sticker paper, new stamps from Hero Arts, Wink of Stella pens and so much more!  The demo is absolutely free!

A Year of Gratitude!

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to be better about thanking the people who have been so kind and generous to me this year!  And, an occupational hazard is that my thank you notes need to be handmade :-)  So, I am thrilled about this week's FREE make-and-take project!  This card features the new pastel daubers from Hero Arts.  They are great for stamping with, but you can also use them to create fabulous backgrounds.  Stop in Thursday between 10 and 8 and make one for yourself.  Maybe thank you notes will be your New Year's Resolution as well.

Fun With Strawberries

Thursday's free card features yummy berries and Valentine colors.  This is one of the new clear sets from Hero Arts, so it makes "strawberry placement" a breeze!  No stamp positioner necessary!  The strawberries are colored with Copic markers, and you'll notice there is a simple "highlighting" technique to give them dimension.  This sweet card will have you thinking "spring"!  What's not to enjoy?????  Stop in Thursday between 10 & 8 and relax with some FREE coloring! 

Posted with Blogsy

Vacation anyone?

Ugh!  These last two gray days have made me wish I had a vacation scheduled for someplace sunny!  Tomorrow's FREE make-and-take card seems to support my wish!  This is a fun card to send to someone who is lucky enough to be going on vacation - or to someone who is retiring - or maybe even used in a scrapbook page!  The card features stamps by Hero Arts and a paper piecing technique!  We hope you'll join us tomorrow between 10 and 8 for some "vacation dreaming"!

A little love for the inside

For this week's FREE make-and-take, we are not only focused on the outside of the card, but we are giving the inside a little love, too!  For the outside of the card, we are featuring one of the $1 Snag Em stamps from Imaginisce.  If you've never stamped with them before, this is your chance to see how crisp of an impression you can get - what a bargain!  We're embellishing the tree with a little glitter glue and popping it up over a strip made with an embossing folder.  What a great way to use up your scraps!  On the inside, we've added a Hero Arts tag sentiment and a bit of twine.  Fun!  Stop in Thursday between 10 & 8 to make one for yourself. 

This IS Big!

We just received a new selection of plastic stencils from Creative Imaginations.  Jenn couldn't wait to play with them, so she snagged one and made this fabulous background image using Fireworks sprays from Tsukineko.  Love it!  The background is crisp, but you can also stamp over the top with no trouble!  Stop in for our Learn at Lunch demo tomorrow between 12 and 2 and see how much fun getting "spritzy" can be!

Fun with Collage

This card features a Hero Arts clear set.  Marilynn has created a fabulous collage that only required a small amount of masking.  I particularly like the color combination she pulled together - it's unusual but very appealing!  This card can be used for several different occasions, so stop in Thursday between 10 and 8 and make one for FREE - then keep it in reserves for when you need it! 

Collect those Fragments!

I confess to feeling a bit fragmented most of the time.  Wouldn't it be great if you could keep your "life fragments" in check as easily as you can keep the Stampendous Color Fragments in place?  Stampendous has released all new colors of these wonderful matte paint chips.  In the initial color release, Jenn showed us how to work with them using embossing powder as a base.  This time, Jenn has added several new techniques including using Goosebumps as an adhesive, and using Scor-tape for a more delineated line.  Both uses are beautiful!  Join Jenn this Tuesday between 12 & 2 and learn some new ways to "get those ducks in a row". 

Intentional Color

Sometimes, you don't want to stamp your image in a single color.  Depending on how detailed the image is, it can be hard to ink different portions of your stamps with inkpads, even if you're using the small dew drops or cat's eyes.  We LOVE the Memento markers for coloring directly onto the stamp and then stamping.  You have a lot of control for where the color goes, and even though they are a water-based marker, they provide decent coverage.  The background zig-zag was stamped on textured paper and still covered fairly well!  Join Jenn this Tuesday between 12 and 2 to create one of these tags.  You'll be amazed how easy this is!  You'll want to color everything!!!

Get Selective!

We're excited about the new Emboss Gloss from Clearsnap.  In a cute little "lip gloss" package (like the Glue Gloss, which we also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE), this embossing ink allows you to put ink exactly where you want it.  Now you can emboss parts of an image (so you can do multi colors of embossing powder with ease) or create your own resist for direct-to-paper techiniques.  So many options!  Let Jenn show you tomorrow between 12 & 2 how fun and easy it is - but ust be careful if you carry it around in your purse.  It really isn't lip gloss :-)

Love your Curves!

One of the benefits of clear stamps is that you can shape them into interesting curves, waves and semi-circles.  You can cut them and stack them, and they are easy to line back up.  Fun!  For this Thursday's FREE make-and-take, Marilynn "curved" two clear border stamps by Hero Arts, and after stamping, cut the white card stock to mimic the curve.  It gives the appearance of motion, I think.  She then colored the butterflies with Copic markers, and used Copics to color the silk butterfly in the lower right corner to match.  What a great, summer birthday card!  Stop in tomorrow between 10 & 8, and make one for yourself!

Stampendous Embossing Enamel

We've been to several shows lately, so the Technique Tag Tuesdays will start to reflect all the new stuff that is coming in. Wahoo! First up is the new Embossing Enamel from Stampendous. This embossing powder is a little thicker than "traditional" embossing powder, and comes in a variety of vintage color mixes. Since the color is already mixed for you, this is a one step process that looks like it took a lot more time and thought than it did :-) (My favorite way to craft!)

Stop in this Tuesday and let Jenn show you how easy and fun it is to make this classy tag. She'll be in the shop between 12 & 2, and as always, you don't need to make a reservation - just drop by!

Start the Year Thankful!

Hopefully your holiday was filled with lots of hospitality and gift-giving! If so, then this FREE make-and-take is just the ticket. Show your friends how much you appreciate them with this cute little note. Stop in any time between 10 & 8 on Thursday and make one for yourself. This card features the Accu-Cut snowflake and a cute little snowman from the Hero Arts/Basic Grey collection. Happy New Year from all of us at the Happy Stamper!

Get a Head Start!

Christmas is right around the corner. Need a card idea? Stop in Thursday between 10 and 8 to make this little stunner featuring stamps from Hero Arts. I love that it uses a slightly different color combo from the traditional red & green. And, I LOVE adding Baker's twin to virtually anything - it feels so pepperminty (I think that should be a word, if it isn't).

Shari Carroll of Hero Arts

One of the greatest thrills and advantages of having a local stamp store is the opportunity to take classes, not only with talented local instructors on a regular basis, but also with the most recognizable talents in the industry! Shari Carroll has been designing for Hero Arts for 22 years, and she brought that wealth of knowledge to us this weekend! Each card project was just packed with tips, techniques and ideas.

Plus, I love her organization. All of her projects were "housed" in little bags so we could concentrate on the things she was teaching us! Fun! Hero Arts will be releasing the new 2012 catalog on Saturday, December 10. This is always a fun event at the Happy Stamper as we will be seeing the new stamps for the first time as well. We buy the boxes sight unseen - and we have never been disappointed! This year, Hero is sending sample boards with the new release - and most of the cards were designed by Shari! Mark your calendars and plan to come check it out! And, if you'd like us to reserve a copy of the catalog for you, please just let us know!

Hero Arts Winners & Demo

Thanks to everyone who left comments over the weekend. Our Blog Candy winners are Mary Ann T., Ingrid and Elizabeth H. We have prizes with your name on them behind the counter, so please ask the next time you're in the shop! Of course, everyone's a winner with our Tuesday Learn at Lunch demos. Jenn has created this adorable tag featuring several of the new products just released as part of the Hero Arts 2011 catalog program! Stop in between 12 & 2 tomorrow and make one for yourself. Also, take a look at the brand new catalog (they have all finally arrived as of this morning) for more inspiration. Now that the weather is turning brutally cold, there's nothing better than to hunker down inside with some brand new stamps to play!