Howdy!

We had another good time yesterday with the Make & Take, hosted by Mary Ann.

Summer Sorbet Supplies:
Arabesque Knot, JudiKins
Thoughtful Messages, Hero Arts
Deep Caribbean Coral A2 Note Card
Light Pretty Pink 3.5×3.5” Card Stock
White 3.25×3.25” Card Stock
Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick Distress Inks
Sweet & Sassy Cotton Ribbon, Daisy Bucket
Ink Applicator Tool, Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Acrylic Blocks, Water Mister
Glue Stick, Brayer

How To:
Using Ink Applicator Tool, apply the three colors of Distress Ink to white card stock blending the colors in from the edge. Using your hand as a cup, flick water onto the card stock. This will lighten spots of ink. Stamp Arabesque Knot with Worn Lipstick onto Inked background. Adhere Light Pretty Pink onto card front, then the inked piece. Adhere the ribbon along the left side of the note card. Stamp phrase with Worn Lipstick. Designed by Mary Ann Jones.

Howdy!

I thought I’d better give you a few teasers about new stuff that has hit the shelves in the last few days.
• Restock and new designs of CuttleBug Embossing Folders
• New and restock on Dreamweaver Stencils
• RubberStampMadness magazine
• New goodies from Jenni Bowlin Studio: mini bingo cards, crepe paper ribbon and more
• Stamp sets from TweetyJill
• Inkadinkado’s Buy 2 Get 1 Free program is here. Halloween and Thanksgiving themed this time.

The Cat’s leaving town for a few days so of course that means a Mice Sale! The sale is Friday, Aug. 22 through Sun., Aug. 24 and there will be specials throughout the store. Here’s a few:
• All Books 20% off
• All 12×12 Paper 25% off
• Paper Pads 50% off
• Select Stamps 50% off
• Select Punches 50% off
and much more!

Have a great weekend!
I hope we see you Monday for Make & Take!

Howdy!

Here’s what we’re playing with today; a fun summertime flip flop design card!

Sending Sunshine Supplies:
Thoughtful Messages, Hero Arts
Pearlescent Lime, Thyme Brilliance Ink
Sweet Corn A2 Note Cards, Memory Box
Sea Life in a Row, Decor Stripe by Heidi Grace
Flip Flop Template
Parrot Green & Yellow Sheer Ribbon, 9”
Clear Stardust Glitter Pen
Pencils, Scissors
1/8” Hole Punch
Acrylic Blocks
Foam Tape, Scotch Tape, Glue Stick, Brayer

How To:
Trace flip flop template onto Decor Stripe, then cut out and punch holes. Stamp Sending Sunshine with Thyme ink. Stamp mini flowers with Lime ink. Edge flip flop with Thyme ink. Lace ribbon through holes and tape on the back. Edge 2×4.25” piece of Sea Life in a Row with Thyme and adhere to left side of note card. Stamp a couple of flowers and a butterfly with Thyme on the note card. Accent with the Stardust Glitter Pen. Attach the flip flop with foam tape. Finish the inside of the card with a coordinating strip of Sea Life in a Row.

Go forth and enjoy the sunshine!
Lisa

Howdy!

Guess what the FedEx guys brought us?

CuttleBug embossing folders!

Yes, more folders including new designs! Halloween, Christmas, along with many other great everyday designs. Swiss Dots anyone? How about the Shell Collage that goes with that Creative Imaginations paper collection you guys ate up? There’s 11 designs I’ve put out on the floor, plus the Halloween and Christmas designs.

For those that are on the hunt for one of the hottest punches out there, I have more of the Fiskars Threading Water border punch in also. I’m sure if you Google Threading Water, you’ll find some fabu designs using that border punch.

I’ve been causing all sorts of good trouble with my reps the last few days too. I ordered some fabu new ribbon, more paper (I know, I know), new stuff from Kodomo, Jenni Bowlin Studio, Dreamweaver Stencils, Impression Obsession, Tweety Jill stamps… and of course I’m ordering for the upcoming What’s New Pussycat on Wed., Sept. 10.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Howdy!

Monday was the official day of Make & Take and this time Mary Ann led folks through the fun of Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, the Ribbon Slot Punching Tool by Making Memories, clear stamps and ribbon. Check it out:

Embossed Believe Supplies:
A Word or Two, Inque Boutique
Lost in the Louvre, Technique Tuesday
Friends Forever A2 Combo, Cuttlebug
Butterfly Brad, Creative Impressions
#34 Pale Green Marvy Matchable
Main Beyond the Sea Card Stock, Heidi Grace Designs
White Card Stock
Ribbon Slot Punching Tool, Making Memories
Hammer & Cutting Mat, Acrylic Blocks
Turquoise & Green Pinstripe Ribbon, 12”
Tape Runner, Glue Stick, Brayer

How To:
Emboss a 3.75×5” piece of white card stock in Cuttlebug embossing folder. Adhere to 4×5.25” Main patterned paper using tape runner. Pierce a hole and insert butterfly brad in upper left corner. Stamp frame with #34 Pale Green on 1.25×3.25” white card stock. Stamp word with #34 Pale Green inside frame. Using Ribbon Slot Punching Tool, hammer and cutting mat, punch two ribbon slots on each side of frame, just inside frame. Wrap ribbon around card stock layers and weave through ribbon slots. Tie a square knot on right side of word strip. Glue panels onto front of white A2 notecard that folds on the top.

So, what did you do this weekend? I went to my 20-year high school reunion on Friday night. I had a blast! And I even wore a dress and sandals. Yes, I do have knees and toes. The funny thing is many of my classmates didn’t recognize me. They’d check out my senior picture on my name badge to realize who just gave them a hug. “Oh! Your hair was so much more blonde then!” Well, yes, and longer and I am much more curvy now. I think the fact that I can fill out my top is what threw some of them for a loop, not my hair color.

Here’s a pic of me from high school:
And the night of the 20-year reunion:

Ok, I don’t have the flirty look on my face in 2008, but you all know what an evil enabler I am! Many of the folks from high school had a hard time believing that I’m now known as the evil enabler. Isn’t amazing what doing what you love will do?

Speaking of enabling others, here I go again! This weekend, Aug. 2-3, we are having our Stampers’ Market. This is like a massive garage sale of just paper crafting stuff. So, get your shopping tote and head down here! Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday noon to 5pm. This is fun and we have a lot of vendors with tons of great deals on fabu stuff!

See ya!

Howdy!

Mr Brown was good to me this morning! He brought several boxes of good stuff including:
• Light Green Lace by the yard by Prima
• Paper Flowers by Prima. Little ones in 3 bright color collections.
• Punches by EK Success! Flourishes and decorative corners.
• Hanger Brads by Eyelet Outlet.
• Swivel Clasps by Tim Holtz.
• 8 new colors of Glimmer Mists and restock on the Glimmer Screens.

I can’t wait to see what he brings tomorrow!
See ya!

Howdy!

This last Saturday was the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon. It was awesome! Over 1,200 quilts were on display and there were a lot of people enjoying the artwork and sunshine. The main street going through town was closed to vehicles so people could just wander all over without having to watch for cars. Check out this pic: cascadehwy.JPG Dad was just amazed at how many people there were and had to take a picture. People as far as the eye can see!

Dad and I went over to see the quilts that I entered for display; three of Mom’s and one that I helped make for her. We found the quilt I helped make for her first, Surrounded with Love. It was in a courtyard by Sister’s Coffee Company where there was live music and food and lots of people to see the quilt! Check it out: lovecourtyard.JPG

Here’s Dad and I with the quilt:

And here’s the quilt story that I wrote for folks to read as they looked at the quilt:
When I learned Mom’s breast cancer had returned and she had to go through chemo again, I got a wild hair and decided to make her a lap quilt. Anita Beyer helped me pick the patten and once we found the big floral fabric, the rest came together easily. I asked Mom’s regular customers at my store to sign the quilt blocks and they did with love & prayers. Dad offered to pay for the quilting, so I had it done in a flame pattern, like on his Harley. I delivered the quilt the day before her first chemo and she took it with her to every one. Mom lost her battle in August 2007, but I’m thankful that I could help make a quilt for her. One that wrapped her in love everyday.

We found Calm Before the Storm, the quilt that I knew would be mine one day, along Cascade Hwy. in front of Jennifer Lake Gallery.

I was already thrilled that Mom’s quilt was featured in such a prime spot and yesterday I googled for some quilt show info and found that someone had put a picture of this quilt on her blog as one of her favorites at the show. Yeah Mom! I told you so! You do make awesome quilts!

Daddy’s Quilt was still in the main part of the displays, on one side of the ReMax building.

His quilt is made of flannels because he said he wanted a warm, fuzzy “old fashioned” quilt. He got one!

The first wall hanging that Mom made me, Crazy Cats, was hanging in the town square on the upper railing. It was up high enough that the picture doesn’t do it justice. It has hand embroidered cats surrounded by scraps of cat fabric from the quilt I was working on. This quilt hangs at the top of the stairs in my condo.

Dad and I had an awesome day together in the hot Sisters sun looking at all the beautiful quilts and seeing Mom’s displayed for everyone to enjoy. I already plan on putting a few others in next years show!

See ya!

Howdy!

It’s time again! Here’s the card we created today. I think the scan may be coming through too pale as there are light ink colors. Darn! I’m still learning how to use that flipping scanner and Photoshop! I wish my computer nerd Max were still here. Oh well!

Summer Birds Supplies:
Bird Branch, Memory Box
Harlequin Background, JudiKins
Robin Punch, McGill
Pink Sherbet Adirondack Dye Lights
Pink Lemonade Memories Mist
VersaMark, Clear Embossing Powder & Heat Gun
White A2 Note Card
Blue Lace, Green Stripe & Stripe from Delightful Collection
Iron, Craft Sheet, newsprint or plain text paper
Glue Stick, Brayer

How To:
Stamp Bird Branch on 2×4” Blue Lace with VersaMark. Clear emboss then mist with Pink Lemonade Memories Mist. Rub extra Mist off embossed image. Set between craft sheet and newsprint and iron to release embossing powder. Stamp Harlequin Background on front of A2 note card with Pink Sherbet ink. Tear right edge of striped side of 3.5×5” Blue Lace. Mount on front of card. Adhere 1×4.75” strip of Stripe behind Bird Branch then onto card. Punch Robin from Green Stripe facing two directions. Adhere in a stack to lower right corner.

Have fun!

Howdy!

We had a fabu time yesterday at What’s New Pussycat? We had a store-full of great new products and tempting demonstrations to get your creative thoughts just going nuts.

Here’s a card that Mary Ann Jones made using one of the new Crafty Individuals stamp images on KaiserCraft papers.

Very elegant, isn’t it? She used Adirondack Currant dye ink on the Thistle Collage stamp.

Here’s what’s new:
• Heidi Grace Beyond the Sea papers, stamps and stickers. Very fresh ocean designs in a great card making scale!
• Heidi Grace Only Time paper, stamps, stickers and chipboard embellishments. Who doesn’t have time issues and love great colors?
• Kimberly Poloson papers, stamps, chipboard embellishments and paper pads. Great elegant flocked designs!
• Little Yellow Bicycle Vita Bella collection of papers, stamps, stickers, and embellishments. Teal, lime and brown with foil. Oooh! Nice!
• KaiserCraft papers, pearls, bling, wood embellishments, and mdf pieces for creating on. Three double-sided paper collections from Down Under. No favorite as I like them all!
• Crafty Individuals stamps, laser clip art and paper pads. Awesome collage designs designed in England and produced and distributed by Magenta for the US.
• Glimmer Mists by Tattered Angels! And the stencils and chipboard embellishments! These are absolutely beautiful with a smaller mica so fewer spraying problems. These sold realllly well!
• Zutter Bind-it-All, binds and wire clippers. Maggie offered a Make & Take featuring a little bound travel journal so folks could get a feel of how easy and addictive it is to make your own books. We will have a Bind-it-All in the studio and binds will be available for studio purchase in the future. But if you need to make a book at midnight, we have a couple of machines and binds available for sale. Once I used this machine in a class, I was hooked!
• Teresa Collin’s new Travel collection of die cut papers for mini-books and cling mount stamps. The stamps would be fabu for the back of ATCs, too!
• Cuttlebug! Yes, I did it. I brought in Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and a machine. We have four folder designs in stock this morning, including Swiss Dot. I will be putting in a reorder and I already have many of the new designs on order. I understand Valonda is working on a class focusing on the Embossing Folders. Oh I hope so! It will be good!
• Crafter’s Workshop 6×6 Doodling Templates in 10 designs. Make your own paisley, swirl all over your paper and have a good time!
• Inkadinkado wood mount Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas stamps. Yes, Christmas. I know some of you like to get an early start and they have some wonderful new designs this year.
• Tim Holtz Sprocket Gears. Yes, more of the Idea-ology keeps trickling in.
• And two more magazines: PaperCrafts and Stamp & Scrap Arts.

Come see us soon! We have a store-full of great things to get you “in the mood” for making art!

See ya!

Howdy.

My dad sent me an email about how we should consider where we spend out economic stimulus checks. If you buy a car, the money goes overseas. If you buy a computer, the money goes to India. Now I realize this is a generalization and it will still help our economy, but the point was to try to keep the money in America. The email suggested that we spend our money at yard sales as they are the only U.S. based businesses still around.

Well, we all know better than that.

Stampin’Cat Studio is locally owned. Of course you know that if you know me. We offer a lot of products made in America. Ready for a list? Here we go!

3-M / Scotch
A Muse Artstamps
American Crafts (pens, markers, paper, stickers, racks)
Art Impressions
Art Institute Glitter
B-Line Designs
BasicGrey
Black Market Paper Society
C&T Publishing (publications created & published)
Clearsnap
Crafter’s Pick
Crafters Workshop
Crafty Secrets (stamps & some papers. Otherwise, Canada)
Creative Imaginations (most papers & stickers)
Daisy Bucket
Dove Blender
Dreamweaver (paste)
Fiskars (some products)
Fred B. Mullett (most)
G•C•D Studios
General Pencil Company
Glue Arts (vellum adhesive)
Glue Dots
Hambly Studios
Hampton Artstamps
Heidi Grace / Fiskars (paper)
Hero Arts (stamps and ink pads)
Impression Obsession
Inkadinkado (wood mount stamps)
Invoke Arts
Jenni Bowlin Studio
JudiKins (most products)
K&Company (most papers)
Krylon (spray)
LuminArte (Twinking H2O)
Magic Mesh
Memory Box
My Favorite Things Stamps
Outlines Rubber Stamps
The Paper Cut
Peddler’s Pack
Ranger products
Reminisce
RS Industries (glue rings)
Rubber Soul & Wordsworth
Rubber Stamp Concepts
Sassafras Lass
Stampbord – Ampersand Art Supply
Sandford Prismacolor (pencils)
Serendipity
Speedball
Stampendous
Stamper’s Anonymous
Stampington & Co (stamps and magazines)
Stampotique
Stampscapes
Stewart Superior
Tattered Angels (Glimmer Mists)
Technique Tuesday
TweetyJill (stamps, book publishing)
US Art Quest
Vamp Stamp News
We R Memory Keepers (albums)
WorldWin
Zip Dry / Beacon

As is the nature of any list, I’m sure I’ve forgotten a company or two that I do business with that is American made. I have a printed list of all these fabulous companies down here at the shop. It also includes companies that are making recycling or other green efforts. We will also be posting signs around the shop to point out all the American made products.

I’m so thrilled with how much of our industry is Made in the U.S.A.! In fact, we’re having a sale to celebrate all these companies Saturday, July 5 through Monday, July 7. All American made in-stock products will be 20% off!

See ya!