Monday, February 24, 2014

Saying Goodbye to the Little Store that Helped Me Grow

I will miss this door!



The amazing bookmark Marilynn for my book signing
Book signing...A dream come true!


One of the many trunk shows
 
 
Much of what I do in my art world began right here. When I first began doing my artwork one of the girls that worked at Stamp your Heart Out in Claremont, CA introduced me to the owner, Joan and suggested that I do some classes there. I so looked up to all the women from this store. They knew EVERYTHING. I knew very little about the craft world. They showed me what glue sticks to buy, they told me what pop dots were and they explained die cutting to me. They showed me the latest paper lines and put aside patterns that they knew I would love.
 
I barely remember my first class there. I'm sure I was extremely nervous. What if nobody signed up? Well, guess what? People signed up! I do remember how ecstatic I was when I got my check. I couldn't believe I was working for myself! I've had many classes there since and have met many wonderful women in the process.
 
I also remember Joan invited me to do a trunk show one evening. This was the first time I ever showed any of my art to the public. I was really nervous. I showed up with just my art and nothing more. I had no idea what I was doing! What if nobody showed up? She lent me some easels and plate racks to display my stuff and told me it would be a good idea to put prices on it. So price it I did, with post it notes! Well, a few people came and I did sell my art. This was the beginning of a few trunk shows at Stamp your Heart Out that were always successful and always a lot of fun. Yes, the people came!
 
When my book, Collage Couture came out, Joan invited me to do a book signing at the store. Again I was nervous...what if nobody came? The day of the book signing came, complete with a darling bookmark they had made up, good food and guess what? People showed up! They were the perfect hosts for this event and I will always remember it fondly.
 
The day I received prototypes of my stamp line from Prima Marketing Inc. I ran straight to Stamp Your Heart Out. I DIDN'T know what to do with them! I was not a stamper and didn't have a clue what to do with these things! Ginny was there that day and explained all that I could do with them, showed me the best ink pads to use and sent me on my way.
 
Last month, we did a preview of my new stamp line at the store. Guess what? I didn't worry about the people showing up! This little store helped me grow! No more nerves!
 
They have been there through thick and thin for me. I must admit when I received new product, I went directly to the store to show whoever was working that day. I was too excited to go home and I had to show someone! They had all the sneak peeks from stamps, to dies, to book covers. I had to share it all with someone and that someone became a store. A store filled with wonderful people. I hope they all realize what they have meant to us over the years. Joan who never took a dime of commissions for the trunk shows and introducing me to influential people in this business. Michelle, who drives a Porche (our little joke) who really started it all, Liz and Cynthia  who took my first class and keep me laughing whenever I'm there, Sheila and Ginny who have given me oodles of product advice. I swear they are the smartest people in the craft business! I will miss this store dearly. Where will I go when I get the new products in my hands? What about future book signings? Yep, I will miss this store a lot.
 
And the staff? You may be able to close a store but you can't close the staff. The staff who became friends and mentors cannot get shut down and I hope the new chapter in their lives bring many fun get-togethers in the future. Girl talk, crafting and maybe some sneak peeks at new products.
 
Thank you Stamp Your Heart Out for being a MAJOR part of my story! Enjoy your retirement, Joan!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

BAck in the DAy

Accessary Pack
My favorite Fiskars tool

Voila!

Back in the day, we used to play paper dolls...a lot. They were cheap and they were fun. In my newest stamp line I  created an accessory pack called Boutique. In it, is a circle that people under the age of 50 ask what it is. Well, it is an old fashioned paper doll hat. The little paper hats all had cut lines that would slip over the dolls head. I wanted to create a big hat that could appear to be straw, velvet, felt or whatever you would like it to be. One that would be large enough to embellish with flowers, ribbon, buttons or bows. So now that you know what the circle is, go get creative. Play dolls!
 

Friday, February 7, 2014

Tag of the Month....HaPpY VaLenTinE DaY!

I thought it would be fun to do a tag of the month. Not an in depth technique type tag but just an eye candy, fun, playful paper doll tag of the month. Because that's just what I do...fun, cute, pretty colors. Yes, I know, I missed January! January was a busy month, filled with making samples for CHA, scheduling classes, ordering supplies and starting the class samples. With all that behind me, I am more than ready for some fun!
This is my newly released stamp "Pricilla" hitting the stores as we speak. I have to admit, she was not my favorite stamp and now that I have had a chance to work with it  I love her! Her ruffles, leggings and hat are so much fun to play with. She's a bit steampunk and I know we usually think of the dark, grungy colors when we think steampunk. I decided to lighten her up a bit for Valentines Day.
I love the feminine look of pink and brown with lace and ruffles...who doesn't? I dug into my paper stash and found the perfect paper for the tag itself...a gorgeous paper from the Prima Fairy Rhymes collection designed by Jodie Lee. It went perfectly with a Valentine paper collection by My Mind's Eye that I fell in love with. The tiny metal lock and key is new product of mine that comes with crowns and handbags that fit perfectly with my stamps.
When I make my tags, I simply just start pulling beautiful paper combinations together and start cutting! I then pull any embellishments that I know will fit perfectly with my theme. I then just move things around until I am happy with the composition and start gluing. It's just that simple!

Here are a few of the items I used that you might like;

Prima Pricilla stamp  910549
Prima metal Icons      910587  ( the tiny lock and key)
Prima Fairy Rhymes paper 950361 for tag
Prima All About Me paper 971113 (her stockings and a current fave of mine)
My Mind's Eye Record It collection...sorry, I chopped off the numbers, but it's in all the stores now.
  This is used for the background, her dress and the cut out heart.
Prima Junkyard Findings  891794 (these are the darling metal gears with heart shapes)
Prima Brad  570026