March 21st ... marching towards April ...

Hello !

EDIT : the winner of the gift certificate is Elissa Brown !!!

I am thinking about a card swap here at the store ... still working out the details. You would bring a card (or cards) in an unsealed envelope. At the end of the month , you would get a card from another cardmaker for each one you brough in. Let me know if you are interested !

I have some new items to share with you as well as some FUTURE new items to mention ... I am a bit between orders ... actually wondering where they are (?) ... so the next few weeks will be filled with new stuff !!

Paper :

* still lots of great new papers from Graphic 45 and Pink Paislee. Pink Paislee has beautiful embellishments and stamps to go with their lines ... OR they would work on their own or with other papers !!

* Bazzill Resist Paper ... this is great stuff !!

The paper is printed with an embossed design of "hope" ribbons ... all white. You apply ink to make it whatever colour you want !! So say you want pink for Breast cancer Awareness ... add pink. Red for military Fridays ... add red ribbon. Yellow for just plain Hope ... yellow ink ! The possibilities are endless !

* 25% off the Knock Out Punches from American Crafts ... yep, you heard right !! That means you can get a set of SIX edge punches for $44.24 !!!! That's only $7.37 each ! Wowzas ! The discount is on all the Knock Out punches ... starter sets and add ons too. This week only !

* Did you see the Prima crystal fairies last week? They are soooo pretty !! Perfect on a mini album or page for a little girl or a sweet card.

COMING SOON : great new stuff from Prima, Jenni Bowlin, Jillibean Soup, Memory Works, Paper Loft, Cosmo Cricket, Crafters Workshop, Sizzix, Queen & Co ( great twine & jewels !!), ... and more !! All in the next few weeks !

I am taking an on-line course with Tim Holtz for the next few weeks ... and I am learning a lot so far ! I hope to have some great tips & projects to inspire you to try new products !

As far as card kits ... we have primed the workroom & the counters and cupboards will start construction this weekend ... getting closer !! And I am brimming with project ideas . Soon my friends, soon !!

BEADS :

* more Fire Agate ... large pieces.

* filigree ornate clasps - gold & silver

* more crystal studded buckle clasps

* Swarovski Stairway Crystals - these are very graphic simple crystals - and gorgeous !! They are square and made so they align edge to edge if you wish to string them all in a bracelet. They would look beautiful as a focal point in a bracelet or necklace or as earrings ... or a ring !!! Fab !

COMING SOON : resin (oh the possibilities !!), metal pieces for stamping/embossing/inking etc ..., pearl & crystal bracelets, springy crystal butterfly jewelery, the new Swarovski colours .... and more !

JEWELRY KIT OF THE WEEK :

Here is a simple swingy pair of earrings ! It is always difficult to use drops that are drilled across for earrings so this is one way ! Because the hole is quite a way down, the rings need to be large so i thought why not make a chain of large airy rings ?! And voila ! A pair of really light airy earrings that swing and move nicely.

All the supplies and a picture for $1.65. They come in 2 possible colours - smoky blue and sea green. I promise you that the photo doesn't so them great justice . ( I really need to find a way to take better jewelry pictures ! Add that to the list ...lol )

Anyway, hope to see you this week ! Nice weather so get in your car ... and drive !!

Watch for another fun "make'n'take" day in early April !!!

Lots of Beautiful New Product !!

Big post this week with lots of pictures. Let's get started !
Hey !!! Just trying to see how many people read this blog & the Facebook page ... leave a comment on either one and I will enter your name for a $10 gift certificate ! (once per person ...lol !)
PAPER :
* new Graphic 45 ... "Olde Curiosity Shoppe" and "Little Darlings" ... great paper as usual.

The Little Darlings line is adorable but it isn't strictly babies. It has a spring vibe as well as just pretty papers ... butterflies, bows, etc. Great for lots of projects and themes.

And the Curiosity Shoppe is super - it would work for any type of vintage project , cards, masculine themes, fashion, pigs ...lol ...


I have the 12x12 papers as well as the 8x8 pads , stamps, and chipboard pieces. I think it will sell quickly like their other lines did ... and may be scarce to re-order. Get yours as soon as you can !!
* Pink Paislee .... wow ! What a great variety in their lines this season. The "She Art" line is by Christy Tomlinson. I really like her collage work and have taken several of her on-line classes. With her paper , rub ons, tissue, and stickers, you too can make fabulous collages. I hope to have a few samples for you in the weeks to come.

Another line from Pink Paislee is Prairie Hill ... soft earthy colours that seem to speak of a sun drenched summer. The designs are vintage but still fresh. Stamps, 12x12 papers, 6x6 pads, tags, stickers ... all available.


Also out this week is Indigo Bleu ... lots of lovely faded soft blues. Paper, pads, stamps, tags.


And last but certainly not least is Spring Jubilee ... this is vintage chic. Lots of roses, writing, ephemera ... vintage but girly and pretty. Fun for scrapbooking, cards, collage, etc ... 12x12 paper, 6x6 pads, ephemera, stickers, stamps, collage sheets, buttons, spool buttons, numbers, etc ... LOTS of fun stuff !!!



* Basic Grey .... "Konnichiwa"... this is delightful !!!! I love this line.


It is Japanese in style so it is full of cherry blossoms, flowers, Japanese girls, gold fish, birds, bridges, lanterns and in beautiful pinks, reds, and teals. So pretty !! Papers in 12x12 and also in 6x6 pads as well as stickers & buttons.
* restocked on the inexpensive tape that everyone loves. It is in a new package now so don't miss it !!
* Dear Lizzy from American Crafts ... fun stamps, tags and garlands. Just pull that butterfly up off the page and a garland starts to emerge. Cut off what you need. Ready to use !!

* new ribbon
* stamps from all the various paper lines as well as a few others !!
BEADS :
* 22g wire in a rustic black for very urban, vintage, or industrial jewelry.
* new beads ... glass & metal
* trays have been cleaned out on a few tables & re-organized ... lots to choose from.
* new end pieces for kumihimo and other cords, braids, etc.
* some exciting new things on their way in the next few weeks !!!!

JEWELRY KITS :
Butterfly Dreams Necklace & Earrings...


This necklace is a combination of strung beads, dangle focal piece, and cord. Very simple to assemble and summery in style !
The materials for the necklace and a photo with brief instructions is $10.
The earring materials + photo are $1.99. Little butterflies float with crystals to make a sweet springy pair of earrings !
PAPER KITS ... sorry. Still working on my workroom at home. A few more weeks !!

Fun Stuff !!

Hello !
I have lots of fun things this week ... let's go !
PAPER :
* new border punch system from American Crafts.

You buy one punch mechanism and then purchase the various designs separately. The starter set includes a scalloped edge punch and the mechanism for $13.99.

Additional designs range from $6.99 to $10.99.

There is also a wonderful set for $58.99 that includes the mechanism and 6 designs - that's 6 border punches for less than $10 each !!! And they all store nicely in a carrying case.
I like this product because it takes up much less space than multiple border punches - and costs less ! You simply open the punch, pop in the design punch piece and add the guide plates. they are lettered on the back so you know which side to snap them into. They also have a little diagonal corner so they can't be put in upside down. Genius !!

* new stamps from Unity Stamp Company. I love their stamps. Where else can you get a toilet paper roll with the sentiment "Sorry your day was so crappy" and "That's how we roll" ... lol. They also have lovely sentiments and great small designs for cards. The price is right too - $6.99 to $7.49.
* New stamps from Tim Holtz
**NB ... I am getting closer to having a work space to produce card kits in ... soon !! **
BEADS :
* spools of cotton cord for wrapped bracelets for those of you making them by the dozen ... much cheaper this way !!
* SQUARE Kumihimo braid plates ... they make a flat braid. I have done one - a bit wonky but it is my first !! - I'll post a picture once I get the findings on !!
* more fire polished beads
* more Swarovski crystals
* tools
* end caps for Kumihimo braids in many sizes & colours !
* metal beads
* agate pendants ... these are beautiful !!! Prices range from $2.50 to $6.99.

KIT OF THE WEEK (Jewelry) ... earrings !!

These little earrings are super easy to make but are really striking ! The kits include the materials you need + a photo for reference. I have many colours too !! Only ... are you ready ??? ... $2.50 !!!

March ...

When you read this, it will be March. Hard to believe that we have roared through 2 months already.
Okay ... let's see what's new & exciting !
BEADS :
Bead fever has hit here at Classic Hobbies ! The wrapped ring demo and You Tube videos have set off a storm of creativity. Every day you bring in or post pictures of your amazing creations ... I am in awe !!!
This week I have made an asymmetrical necklace ... I love this kind of necklace.

It has no pattern , just common colours and textures. Every section can be different ... makes the eye really explore !! I used antique brass chain and charms combined with jet and smoke crystals. I love this combination - it feels very vintage. I decided to make a pair of earrings to go with it but couldn't stop at one pair... so there are 4 possibilities !! Keep in mind that many of the metal beads used for the earrings come in other metals ( antique silver, gunmetal, antique copper) so there are limitless colour combinations that you could make !!
If you want to duplicate any of these, I will have supplies bagged up for the earrings as well as the necklace.
If you are interested in making the necklace, let me know. I can do up a bag of supplies and a sheet of pictures ... $30.
I have been ordering some new & very exciting products in 'beadworld' ... resin is one of those items. This is such a great product that can combine your love of paper with jewelry. Soon ....
PAPER :

The Teresa Collins paper was very popular last week and I have more this week. I also still have copies of the download instructions for the one page mini album. Buy a sheet of her paper, get the instructions, and whip one up !!

There are new stamps as well as new Sizzix dies and embossing folders... Tim Holtz and Easter bunnies !!
I have some beautiful new We R Memory Keepers leather 8 1/2 by 11 albums ... a nice size to scrap !
I am working on a Teresa Collins Birthday book - I hope to have it ready by mid month.

Guess what I just pre-ordered ?? Glitter Ritz !!! I have been trying to get it but have had trouble with suppliers. Now one of my regular companies is selling it so I will be stocking it. When it arrives, I will set up a make'n'take so you can try a few different techniques !!
KITS :
Paper kits will be on hold for a few weeks ... we have been renovating and making a new work room for me at home for the last few months and it has finally reached critical mass - I can no longer find anything !!! So bear with me - I'll be back on track (and hopefully in my new space) in a few weeks and back in the kit business !!

Earring kits ...

Materials + picture ... $2.00

Materials + picture ... $3.50

Materials + picture ... $2.50

Materials + picture ... $2.50

And, because the response to the in-store demos was so great, I am working on more. Embossing, metal stamping, and more ... coming soon !!

A Kit and A Project !

Hi everyone !

This whole damn post got lost and I am redoing it .... GRRRRRRR. Okay... outburst is over, sorry about that !!

A busy week of boxes of great stuff !! Lots of new product for everyone. And I have a project using new paper as well as a jewelery kit ... lots to do !!

Weekly Beading Kit ...

this week's kit is a pair of earrings using just chain. They will swing back & forth nicely and be quite light. I do think though that you could gussy them up by adding small crystals on the bottom of some or all of the chains with little headpins. Maybe next week !! Another idea would be to make them out of various chains ... more eclectic !!

Kit of the Week (paper)...

Actually more of a project this week than a kit. I have lots of wonderful new paper from Teresa Collins ' "Fabrications" line and she has a great little project on her blog. I'll give you a free copy of the download when you buy a sheet of her paper ... and you can make the featured mini album OUT OF ONE SHEET !!! If you prefer , you can get it at her blog
http://www.teresacollins.typepad.com/
BEADS : new this week ...
* more 22g wire for ring making in non tarnish silver as well as other fun colours !
* ring mandrels for $3.99 each
* lots of beds
* aqua opal beads like in this ring ... lots of requests for them !
* bent nose pliers
* nylon jaw pliers
* more threads in more colours for the wrap bracelets
* More RATTAIL for kumihimo !! This has gone CRAZY ! So I have more colours in the 1.5mm and I now have 1mm for smaller cords !! Buy it by the yard or by the spool.
* metal beads ... small 2mm and 2.4mm spacerbeads in various metals
* metal beads ... very interesting beads to add "a little somethin' somethin' " to your designs
PAPER :
* new stamps from Hero Arts, Stampendous, Unity Stamp Co, Inkadinkado

* Easter stamps from $1.49 and paper too !

* Snag 'em Stamps at $1.49
* Tombow marker sets
* Paper from My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline" collection

* Embossing Enamel from Stampendous including the "Frantage" line ... aged & shabby chic
* "manly" paper

* curling and hockey paper as well as stickers !!

* Birthday Dazzlers from Hot Off the Press
* Martha Stewart pompom flowers ... soooo pretty !!
* paper from Teresa Collins new "Fabrications" lines ... this paper is beautiful !! It is also very heavy and nicely textured. It really works well in mini albums.

* "Shake Its" shaker cards
So lots of new products !! Stop int his week to see them ... and have a great one !!

P.S. Here's something I am working on right now ... this is my first attempt. now I want to try it on a larger scale ... love it so far !!

Cup of Tea ?

Hi everyone !
I love tea ! Tea is a huge part of my day ... it relaxes me, rejuvenates me, makes me focus ... it is perfect. So a while ago, when I had the flu, I got turned off tea. Really ??! I was worried ... I couldn't imagine not drinking tea. It took me two weeks to be able to drink tea without feeling queasy but luckily I am once again a tea drinker !!! This week's kit is inspired by tea.

I found this box of tea bags at Home Sense and thought how cute they would be on the front of a card. ( I am also a big fan of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters so it seemed perfect !!) I bought several boxes ... opened them up ... DISAPPOINTMENT !!! I had assumed that the logo would be on each package ... nope. So I had boxes of nondescript tea bags ... hmmm ... time to come up with another idea ... So I decided that "tea bag cards" would be cute. Each one is like a little package and a card combined with a wee treat inside. Small enough to be mailed but big enough to be thoughtful ! So here is this week's kit !!
KIT OF THE WEEK

You get the pre-scored, pre-cut, pre-stamped supplies for 3 cards/holders ... a general one, a get well, and a birthday - all for $5 and that includes the tea bags !!! The paper is the beautiful Carolina Breeze line from Teresa Collins. Lovely paper !!
PAPER :
This is CHA time (Craft & Hobby Association) ... that means that the big trade show has happened and all the companies are previewing their new lines. There are some wonderful products out there this year ! I have been busily pre-ordering and planning what to get in. I think you'll like the new stuff !! Some of it even starts arriving in the next few weeks !! I will have updates here whenever new items arrive.
VALENTINE PAPER : 60 cents per sheet !
Packages of Valentine embellishments ... 40% off.
A few new stamps and some great paper !!



BEADS :
I have been unpacking a few bead orders this past week with another due in today. More cord & leather lace. More findings in various colours. Some beautiful new beads. New chain. More colours of threads. Fun tools. And on it's way .... more rattail & cord for the urban wrap bracelets & Kumihimo braiding. That has taken off and the cords & rattails have been flying out the door so watch for more colours & weights. I am also expecting more wire and mandrels for those beautiful rings you all made.


I am still working on the weekly jewelry kits ... next week it looks like !! I'm excited about that !
So ... drop in this week. Pick up some supplies & get crafting !!!