2011 Winter CHA Sneak Peaks!

Good morning, I hope that you had a wonderful weekend.  We finally put all of the Christmas stuff away, I managed to get some other chores done, and actually had time to do some stamping!

Don't forget to visit AfterHoursStamper on Facebook ("like" the page so that the updates land on your wall), I am linking to a "featured" blog each day, as well as sales and other cool things I find online : )

Here is the card I made:

From 2011-01-17

Close up:

From 2011-01-17

The image was stamped on 140lb watercolor paper with black VersaMark ink, then I embossed with clear embossing powder.  Distress Ink was used to color the image, the rope, bow, and hair bows were highlighted with TonerTex foil.  I also used some Viva Decor pens to make the "colored pearls" in the corners of the card.

Now onto a TON of links for new products debuting at the 2011 Winter CHA.  I have been clicking and saving links all weekend, some of the new products will just knock your socks off, and I need to make more cards to use up the paper I have so I can buy some of the new paper that is coming out this year.  Here we go:

Paperwishes:  Love this site, tutorials, videos and tons of products!  One of the new products is called "Paper Tole," images that are precut for you to punch out and layer on your scrapbook page or card.  Watch the video here to see how it works.  And check out their "Stamp and Punch" stamp set, a must have for card makers.

Unity Stamps:  Tons of new stamps here for you to view.

Studio Calico:  The link takes you to a catalog of their new products for 2011 Winter CHA, just adorable papers, embellishments and more! And while you are there check out the tutorials on the blog.

Prima:  Flowers, papers, embellishments, all in colors to drool over, can't wait to get my hands on some of these new designs from Prima.

Creative Imaginations:  Beautiful papers just waiting to be used : ) Here is a link to a larger image of the new papers.  And make sure to view their new "Gingham" paper (I love Gingham and can't wait to try this paper.)

My Minds Eye:  More paper, tags and embellishments to temp your senses ; )

Tim Holtz:  Die cuts, alterations, embossing folders, and a whole lot more!

Teresa Collins: Amazingly vibrant pink paper here, great designs and color.

Fiskars:  New cling stamps, can't wait to try these!

Stampavie:  Lots of new stamps, make sure to click on the links in the upper left hand column on the "Stampavie" blog for previously listed sneak peaks.

New Spellbinders:  So much to tempt you here!  Link takes you to the Scrap-mart preorder page, and here is a link to check out what the Spellbinders DT is doing with these new die cuts (you are going to be knocked out by the beauty of the new dies!)

Studio 490: New stamp sets, the link takes you to a preview of the first set, new previews each day.

Whew!  Lots more to come next week, and I can't wait to share a link to an amazing scrapbooker I found, her work will knock your socks off!  Until then have a wonderful week!

Happy 2011! Freebies, news, links and lots more for you.

A most happy new year to everyone!  Here is to the best year ever, filled with all sorts of paper crafting goodness.  Given that this is a new year, I wanted to make some modifications to the blog, not big changes, but hopefully changes you will find useful. One change you will notice right away is that I am going back to posting on Monday which just seems to work best for my schedule.

Given that I am working full time I have had to resign from my DT position on Susana's Custom Art and Card Design.  This year I think that instead of being on any DT's I am going to try to submit some of my work to magazines, as well as work on my scrapbooking a bit more.  Don't forget that I will be teaching scrapbook classes in San Jose, and should also be getting some Copic Coloring classes together soon, stay tuned.

First of all, if you can please take a moment to visit my new Facebook page, click here and "like" the page.  I will be trying to post there more then once a week, mainly featuring inspiring blogs/work from paper crafters. The facebook page will also be the place where I post sales and special deals that come up in between my postings here on the blog.  Right now you will find links to two blogs that had some amazing work.

Please feel free to share the page with any of your friends.  Also:  I will be getting rid of the other facebook account for AfterHoursStamper, just never had enough time to sign in under that account, and why I created the page for AfterHoursStamper, just much easier to update and manage.

Over the holidays we visited my husband's Uncle who lives in Calistoga, CA (wine country, near Napa), and I took some pictures of some carvings that his wife had done (she is no longer carving, which is too bad because her work is amazing):

From 2011-01-02

From 2011-01-02

From 2011-01-02

And here is Mimi, the artist:

From 2011-01-02

And now, onto the first links for 2011!  After almost three years one would think that everything possible has been linked to, but as I found out yesterday, there is so much out there to find, see, enjoy, learn from, be inspired by and just have fun with.

The links today have no special theme, just what I was finding as I surfed around yesterday, hope you enjoy them.

Winter CHA 2011 Sneak Peaks:  The page is finally up, and more companies will be putting their information on the linked page so make sure to visit there often.  I will also feature some of the more interesting products/information when more links are added to the page.

Kindred Creations:  Good deals here on the Daily Deals page, (this is a store in Idaho Falls, ID).  There are also a number of pages for "freebies," here is the link to the digital freebies, click around the site for more freebies : )

Masterful Scrapbook Design: This is a site that you can subscribe to for $10 a month, you can join at any time as well as cancel at any time.  There are lots and lots of great designers who provide fantastic inspiration and scrapbook design elements.  If you are a scrapbooker, or if you have a friend who is one, this might be a nice gift (to yourself or a friend).

Colour Lovers:  WOW!  There is just an amazing amount of information here, and tools.  You can go to "trends" and pick "craft" to see some of the latest color trends for crafting (and all sorts of other categories as well.)  There is also a nice color tool to help you pick colors for your projects.

PaperCraft Connection:  The blog that goes with the PaperCraft magazine.  Very nice layout and some fantastic inspiration here, as well as information on sending your projects in for publication and lots more.

A Little Hut:  Wonderful blog from a graphic designer, the link to the left takes you to some free downloads, here is the link to her home page, be ready for some major inspiration.

Five Free Digital Magazines:  From Cards magazine to Scrapbook Trends, something for everyone!  You will be asked to enter your email, and then you have full access to the digital versions of the magazines.

Craft Gossip:  I have linked to them before, but you can never have too much of a good thing.  If you haven't bookmarked their site, do so for 2011.  The blog always has links to sales, new tutorials, freebies (where I found the link for the magazines) and more.

Hope that you enjoyed the links today, next week perhaps a bit of what you plan on doing this year with your crafting (my resolution is to try to craft each day, which means I need to move away from the computer : )

Thanks for visiting, and don't forget to "like" the AfterHoursStamper page on Facebook.

Goodbye to 2010, reflections and of course some links

Welcome to the last post of 2010.  Was thinking this morning that the year went by way to fast, too many things still left on the list (that were going to be done last January), and reflecting on the upcoming year with all the possibilities that are yet to be realized.

I hope you had a most wonderful holiday with your family and friends.  We enjoyed lots of family, great food and are exhausted!  Am off of work this week (took four days off and get 11 days off in a row : ), but so far have not done much (though I actually made a card yesterday!).  Made a trip to Michaels and bought a new OTT light for my work area (thanks to the Gift Cards in my purse), also bought two Hero Arts stamps (I do love their stamps),  and managed to put away most of the dishes and such from Christmas dinner.

Here are a few pictures for you, starting with my 83 year young Mom:

From 2010-12-26

Here is my brother preparing his award winning appetizers for us on Christmas day:

From 2010-12-26

And here is my hubby (on the left) and his brother right after they "found" their Christmas gift (we made them go on a treasure hunt to find the final gift, a trip to spring training to see their World Series Champion Giants):

From 2010-12-26

You are the reason that I continue this blog, thank you so very much for visiting, posting, sending me emails and for all the support you have given me over the years.  It is hard to believe that AfterHoursStamper has been around for almost three years now (May will mark the third year)!  Yes, three years!  Again, thank you for your continued support, it means the world to me.

This year is shaping up to be pretty exciting!  I will be teaching a scrapbook class at Michaels, and hopefully will also be able to branch out and teach a card class there as well.  Am also working on setting up some small sized classes for Copic coloring, will provide details soon.

Now onto some crafting links/thoughts : )

First of all, the new Hero Arts catalog is FINALLY available online, here is the link and watch your pocket book because there are piles of stamps in there that you are going to want.  And don't forget to visit the Hero Arts blog, so much talent there, just amazing work that will give you all sorts of inspiration and ideas.

One Sheet Wonder:  Here is a nice template for the OSW technique.  I really need to try this so that I have a "group" of cards ready for any occasion.

2011 Winter CHA:  Yes, it is coming up soon!  The link I posted takes you to a blog with some links to other blogs, but make sure you visit the official CHA website as the event gets closer (I will be linking to their updated sneak peeks as they get posted.)  Here is a link for featured designers at the show, and you can click around the link for more show information.

Basic Craft Supplies:  interesting site with some good bargains on craft supplies.

Blade Rubber Stamps: LOVED all the tutorials on this blog!  You are going to find video after video for all sorts of techniques, so sit back, grab a cup of tea/coffee and enjoy.

There She Goes:  Really cute stamps here, and some good sale prices right now too!

Pillow Box Tutorial:  This link has a download for both a small and larger sized pillow box, very good tutorial and a way to get started on yet another holiday: Valentines Day!

Sales:   LOTS of sales right now, here are a few places to get you started:

1. Alota Rubber Stamps
2. House Mouse
3. Stampin Place
4. Splitcoast Stampers Shop Hop (some GREAT deals at the member companies)
5. A Cherry on Top:  Buy two Martha Stewart punches, get one free (and their prices are pretty good!)
6. More sales:  A post on SCS lists a number of other companies that are having year end sales.

Version 2 of the Cuttlebug:  Looks interesting, and this is a good price for the machine (which includes embossing folders), it appears the new machine does not use the "C" plate and the handle can be folded into the machine for easier storage.

12 New Copic Colors:  Sketch pens, coming in March.  To see the colors, go to the link, then to the Sketch Markers, and then scroll through the colors, the new colors will have a "notify me" black button on the left.  Pretty cool colors too!

That is all for 2010 my dear friends, am looking forward to sharing 2011 with you and our passions for paper crafting.