Friday, October 30, 2009

Lydia: "Anne, you moved everything again?!!!"

Yep, Connie was working today and I volunteered most of the day to help rearrange the store. The big deal today was where to put the big blue cabinet. I LOVE it where Lydia suggested we might put it--right up front next to the checkout counter and the fall/Thanksgiving stamps display.










But moving one piece of furniture is like a line of dominoes to me. Julie's Project of Hope table had to be downsized, that table became the coffee and snack table, and the coffee and snack table became the extra class table. Then the two ribbon displays had to inch over closer to the tree so they could be more easily seen.


















The Sale Items exchanged places with the fall papers display rack (better lighting to show off those beautiful papers from Magenta and Bo Bunny). The tiny classes sample table became part of Julie's space along with another small table the same size (which I had in my car--I know, if you need something Anne probably has it in her car!) Embossing powders, Pearl Ex pigments, Glitter, and Glass Beads all moved to the little blue shelves above Julie's table.

All the class samples moved to the bottom shelf of the big blue unit.






















Oh, and then there was the issue about where to put 100 (yep, ONE HUNDRED) little pails that came in today. Now a few of us have said we've seen enough pails in the store in the last year and wouldn't be caught buying any more--but these are sooooo cute! I bought two to fill with candy for Mom and Dad for Halloween tomorrow. A little ribbon, a Web Crawler (from Memory Box) stamped tag, and I've got the perfect tiny table favor! You will LOVE them. There are three baskets around the store and the other 25 on shelves. I already have a gazillion ideas for decorating these for Christmas.











If you haven't been by in awhile, Peggy has been working her magic on the outside of the store. New paint on the door and shutters. A new sign above the big window. Lovely window boxes bursting with color. Check out the photo:












New this week: beautiful sparkly papers in lovely purples and turquoises and maroons that will add that extra special touch to holiday cards and scrapbook pages. And END CUTS are here in both the large and small sizes--great colors.

Hope to see you in the shop soon. You are going to LOVE the Stamp of the Month for November. Call to hold yours, or better yet, come in to pick it up and see what else is new!!!






Happy Stamping!
Anne

Monday, October 26, 2009

Dave's Tweet on Twitter about Our Book

Share photos on twitter with Twitpic



http://twitpic.com/mh99y I just taught the Christmas Card Challenge class. Look what Anne made for me - she drove from Maine for the class!
8:58 AM Oct 22nd from TweetDeck

Friday, October 23, 2009

Monday Midafternoon Merriment and Mischief Making Classes with Anne in November and December

Monday Midafternoon Merriment and Mischief Making with Anne Thompson
1-3 PM
$15
limit 6 participants per class

Monday November 9
Christmas Critters: "Happy Howlidays" from the dog; a Christmas Owl; birds and more birds; and a mouse--cute cards in adorable shapes

Monday November 16
Symbols of the Season: jingle bells, snowflakes, Santa, a gingerbread house--familiar symbols of the holiday season, fun cards to create and delightful to receive

Monday November 23
Counting Down to Christmas: an Advent calendar project

Monday November 30
Shabby Chic Holidays: antiquing techniques, vintage buttons, lovely faded and muted papers, old-fashioned images, lace, flowers, ribbons, sheet music, recycled jewelry--combining old items with new for lovely shabby effects cards

Monday December 7
Gift Trios--A Tag, A Bag, and A Card: chipboard snowflakes, candy canes and peppermint stripes, triangle trees--decorate at least three treat bags (with extras to take home) and create a coordinating tag and card for each



Call Your Maine Stamper at 377-4829 to register for these classes. If you would like one of these classes repeated on a different day of the week, please let me know by posting a response to the blog or leaving a message for me at the store to call you. It might also be possible to arrange an evening class if there's enough interest or work in a Saturday afternoon or two.

Happy Stamping!

Anne

Thursday, October 22, 2009

What a day!

I'm still celebrating the best birthday ever! (I figure a birthday this monumental needs at least a week of dedicated celebration.)

Yesterday Connie hosted lunch for me at the shop with Robyn, Kellie, Jean, and Jo. There was Connie's homemade soup, bread from Black Crow Bakery, and CAKE! In the afternoon we created the pages for David's book--photos of that were posted last night.

Today I left home at 7 AM and drove to Westford, MA (almost to Lowell on 495) to this great store called Ink About It. David Brethauer, the owner/designer for Memory Box, was the guest instructor for a Christmas Cards Challenge class this morning from 10-noon. I got there at about 9:35 so I had time to scope out the shop and time to visit with David. He LOVED the coffee cup book!!! You'll have to check the Memory Box blog to see what he writes about this trip east. We had lots of laughs before the class began. I have posted below photos of the cards I created, three each of two designs using stamps from the newest Memory Box release called Brighter Days. I learned some neat techniques using Prismacolor Colred Pencils on the bird cards. There were 12 of us in the class, mostly from quite nearby and shop regulars. I sat next to a delightful older woman who conspired with me to add inky edges to the larger cream papers on the pine tree border cards. (That wasn't in the directions.) I also grouped my red and gold pearls differently on the cards than the samples, but managed to behave myself quite well. There was a woman there who was quite funny who would make siren noises whenever someone did something that was a "design violation". What a hoot! Once class was over, I shopped and shopped--there were papers there from companies I'd never seen before. I brought back samples to show Lydia and will do some internet research to follow up. I found a punch that Donna wanted. And I bought the last two packages of Twilight paper anywhere in the northeast. I found some cool embellishments for one of my Monday afternoon classes, and lots of charms and metal stuff for jewelry I am making for holiday gifts.

Check out the photos!























For those of you who don't yet know, David invited me last month to be on the Memory Box Design Team. I have accepted his offer, and really enjoyed meeting him and talking with him today. What that means for me is that I will teach at least one class each month using Memory Box stamps and papers and cards/envelopes, and I'll post photos and write about what I do, on this blog and maybe occasionally on the Memory Box blog. What that means for Your Maine Stamper is a steady influx of Memory Box products. What that means for you is lots of new to us and to you Memory Box products to purchase! I can't wait!!! The fun begins for real in January.

You really need to stop into the shop soon to see how Connie and I rearranged the whole store. There's a great display for Christmas on the front tables. Memory Box products now have their own space--the blue wall shelves and the pegboard next to it. More stickers have been moved to the sale table. There's a table under the tree now for Julie's Project for Hope--photo cards, knitted goods, Jo's crayon travel bags, a bag of goodies--whatever people donate with the proceeds going to Julie. (Remember that there is a class on Saturday afternoon with Pam and Jan , iris folding turkey and tree, and all the class fees go to Julie's fund.)

Keep watching the blog for Memory Box news, class schedules, new products, etc. etc. etc.

Happy stamping!

Anne

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Starbucks Coffee Cup Book for David Brethauer of Memory Box












What fun we had this afternoon making this book! The shape was Robyn's idea. She even made a special trip to Starbucks late last night to procure the paper coffee cup she used for the covers! Anne is taking a class from David Thursday at Ink About It in MA. This is our gift to him from the happy stampers at YOUR MAINE STAMPER--Robyn, Connie, Kellie, Jean, Jo, and Anne.

I'll post pix and a description of my adventure on Friday morning.

I'll be ... Happy Stamping!

Anne

Monday, October 19, 2009

Look at all the beautiful papers!









Look at all the beautiful holiday papers we have in stock right now! And this isn't hardly any of them! There are so many lovely papers and more on the way! Papers for fall. Papers for Halloween. Papers for winter. Papers for birthdays and other special occasions. Papers for scrapbooks large and small (think 6X6). Papers for cards, and tags, and bags. Can you tell that I love paper?!

Happy papering!
Anne

News from YOUR MAINE STAMPER

Connie and I are all excited about rearranging the store on Wednesday. We'll be moving all the Christmas items to the front of the store, moving animals to the black cupboards, and giving Memory Box stamps and papers a prominent place of their own. It may be a little chaotic first thing, but we'll be open and hope that you will pop in.

Here's some of what I found at the store on Saturday. The Stamps of the Month are on sale at 40% off until the 31st. For the first time ever we are featuring one of Courtney's stamps--the scarecrow. Only a few left!!!










Thinking about taking a class? Samples showed up this week for a few that are coming up.

Charlene's Owlbum is on display. This is soooo cute and will be a great class.









Jamie's samples for here "A New Twist on Inks" class:









Iris Folding Class with Pam and Jan--class fees going to Julie's Project of Hope:






There's a beginner's class scheduled with Anne for Saturday October 31, Halloween morn from 10 to noon. This might also be a good refresher class if you haven't stamped in awhile. We'll stamp a bunch of images with a variety of inks and create some card fronts. We'll do some embossing and play with some embellishments too. Should be fun!

Check the blog later in the week for more photos!

Happy stamping!
Anne

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Time for an Update!

There is so much going on at Your Maine Stamper these days! The delivery trucks are rolling in on a regular basis as new product arrives for the holidays and winter season ahead. We are already reordering more of the Christmas papers that came and mostly went this week! There are some beautiful new papers from Basic Grey and a great collection of tiny prints in a 6X6 pad that is perfect for Christmas cards and tags. These 6X6 papers also make the best little scrapbook ever! There are more of the 6X6 papers coming in from Memory Box, too--Dewfrost, Spiceberry, Butterfields, and more. Speaking of Memory Box, we are taking orders now for the new releases from the Brighter Days Collection:

Pine Border
D1298

Christmas Cheer Block
E1299

Flurry of Birds
E1300

All is Calm
B1301

Tree Silhouette
E1302

Fancy the Fawn
D1303

Branch Border
C1304

3 Scoops Bear
C1305

Fishing Bear
C1306

Woodblock Bird
D1307

You can view the images online at memoryboxco.com by going to What's New, and Stamps under Brighter Days.
I've already placed orders for my new favorite four!

There are more classes being scheduled all the time. Charlene has been making an Owlbum that is in the store today as the sample for her class on the 24th of October, 9:30-12:30. The afternoon of the 24th from 1 to 3, Jan and Pam are doing an Iris Folding class and the class fees will be donated to Julie's Project of Hope. On the 31st, Anne is teaching a beginner's stamping class. In November, Jamie is doing a new twist on inks on the morning of the 14th. Courtney is stirring up recipes for the holidays and planning another wonderful goodies class for Nov. 21st, 10-noon. (There's only one space left in this annual event!). Anne is also working up some holiday projects for Monday classes in November and December for those folks who can do a weekday morning or afternoon class.

There are more photo cards for sale at the store with all of the monies going to Julie's Project of Hope. I got a sneak peek at the photos last week and I can't wait for the finished cards! Great images of Maine animals and birds and spectacular scenery, too.

Keep checking in at the store. More orders went out today. More products are due in any day now. It's a busy fun place to spend some time and pick up the materials you need for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's as well as great stamps and papers and supplies for birthday, get well, sympathy, and just thinking of you cards.

Check the blog the first of next week for more photos from the shop and some crafting ideas!

Happy stamping!
Anne
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