December Stamp of the Month

Introducing our December SOTM, a lovely poinsettia from the 'Sunshine Designs' collection by The Stamp Barn!

I love the combination of whimsy and elegance and had lots of fun playing with this beauty. We hope you'll create some works of art with it, too!
Mom created this first card with simple gold embossing on some burgundy paper.

I pulled out the Glitter Ritz for this card... die cut double sided adhesive chipboard with my new "Heidi Swapp Handwriting" font by QuicKutz and covered it with yummy micro fine glitter. My poinsettia was stamped twice and colored with copics, then I trimmed up a few petals to 3D mount on the base. I traced some details with a glue pen and added the same shade of Glitter Ritz over it. It's got a beautiful subtle shimmer!
This card went together simply (apart from my colouring!) and includes a few petals coloured in green to serve as leaves. I added details with some white liquid pearls. My background paper is by Basic Grey.
This one is embossed twice on vellum, with the top layer featuring just four petals (like my other card). The rest is pretty self explanatory... I used Bazzill Bling paper for the green and some assorted patterned papers as background pieces. The dimension in person is really lovely as the vellum gives a nice shape.
This final card is a sample from The Stamp Barn... I'm in awe of their colouring- a watercolour technique done with TomBow markers on watercolour paper. They have three layers mounted on this one, so it's super thick in the middle (I think I counted 8 layers!)Thanks for looking- hope you enjoy the cards :)

Christmas Magic Weekend!

Join us until 9pm both Friday & Saturday to enjoy savings throughout the
store:

• Pick your savings from our Christmas tree & save up to 40% on all regular priced items (QK Holiday gift sets & Copic Markers excluded) and increase your discount on clearance items by the same amount!

• Enjoy savings up to 70% on some specially purchased items from Cosmo Cricket & QuicKutz- most of which are brand new to the store (yes-we've been hiding them in the back with plans to bring them out on Friday)! Highlights include 6x6 pads almost half price, a "Cogsmo" value pack worth over $30 for just $10 & Blackboard Photo boxes regularly $10 on 3 for $10! QK specials include some black Squeeze tools- together with a 2x2 alphabet (Oatmeal or Neat Freak) and a 2x2 die in a gift bag for just $45 and a special purchase of a limited edition Exclusive Heidi Swapp Handwriting Classic Alphabet! This is a set of three 4x8 dies which retails for $79.99 US- you can purchase it for just $59.99 while supplies last this weekend!
  

• Check out NEW arrivals while you're here, including beautiful micro fine glitter from Glitter Ritz& lots of new Copic Markers (we even have some sets of 12 earth tone markers & more individual colours available for those of you who would like to start small).
  

• Enter to win a prize package with every purchase PLUS you could get a QuicKutz grab bag worth over $60 if you're one of the first 10 customersto spend $100+ on QK products!

There's still room for more to join us on Saturday for our Christmas Magic Crop! Join us from 11am-9pm for just $15

Set aside the day to finish up some Christmas gift projects or crank out a pile of Christmas cards... whatever you need to get done, this is your day to do it (and maybe you'll win a door prize while you're at it)! Bring munchies to share & a friend.

Christmas Card Contest

It's that time again... we invite you to enter our Annual Christmas Card Contest!
Bring in your handmade cards for a chance to win something wonderful!
Cards can be Hand-stamped or Paper-crafted.

Three Categories: Quick & Simple or Embellished & Enhanced plus a Kids Card
category for school aged kids!

Submissions will be accepted until Dec. 5, 2009. All cards will be displayed in the store & Customer voting begins Dec. 7. Winners will be announced by Dec. 23. Customer votes will be taken into consideration, so come in and cast your vote!

The small print:
- Everyone is welcome to submit one card with a winter/ Christmas theme.
- Cards must feature products sold in our store (not a home party company)as their focal point.
- Include your name, phone number and address on the back of your card as well as stamp & material credits (which company makes the stamp, sticker, etc.). Kids: include your age! Please note which category you would like your card entered into.
- All (adult) entries become property of Creative Accents (we suggest you make a duplicate one to keep!). Kids cards will be returned to them.

PRIZES
Depending on the number of entries, there will be several prize packages awarded, “goodie bags” filled with paper-crafting
accessories:
1st place- worth $35.00+
2nd place- worth $25.00+
Kids Prize- worth $20+
All entrants will receive a ‘thank you’ discount coupon!

Classes & Crops & SALES, Oh My!

There's still time to sign up for some classes & crops this month! We've got two more weeks packed full with something for everyone!

Wed. Nov. 18 @ 5:30pm- *Snowy Shaker Cards* with Tanya $15
We will be creating 2 /snowlicious/ cards.You will learn how to add some shiver and "SHAKE" to your cards..We will learn how to use die cuts and acetate to create these cards.This will be a fun and fast paced class. So you bring the shiver and I'll provide the "SHAKE" ! !

Thurs. Nov. 19 @ 6:30pm- Playful Paper Dolls with Julie $15
Create the perfect gift for a little girl in your life! A magnetic paper doll and a wardrobe of clothing will be contained in a CD tin- completely customizable in the colors & patterns of your choice to perfectly suit the recipient. The QuicKutz paper doll release offers a great variety of options for this fun project!

Fri. Nov. 20- CROP NIGHT $10
Join us from 4-11pm, bring a friend and munchies to share!

Sat. Nov. 21@ 11:30am- Fancy Folds with Tanya $16
In this class we will make 2 folded cards.These cards are not your ordinary kind of card.They will add some extra "fancy" to your creations.You learn how adding some extra folds to your cards will really make them stand out. We will be using the Score-Pal for these projects, so if you have one,please bring it.

Sat. Nov. 21 @ 2:30pm- Simple & Elegant with Tanya $19
In this class we will create 3 simple yet elegant cards.You will be using basic techniques like dry embossing and heat embossing to make your cards look fabulous.You will receive tips on how to change the colors and images to suit your needs.If your looking for the ability to mass produce your xmas cards,this class will help you get started!

Mon. Nov. 23 @ 6:30pm- Christmas Card Crazy with Tara $28
It's not too late to go crazy making your Christmas cards this season! This fun class was designed using Basic Grey's "figgy pudding" collection. We'll create a minimum of 6 cards, designed by Tara, in this high paced classes and everyone will take home materials to create several more projects! Please bring a circle punch (anywhere between 1 & 1 ½") and large corner rounder as well as your basic class kit. (Kit value is over $25)

Tues. Nov. 24 @ 6:30pm- 6 Cards for Christmas with Tara $20
Have a jolly time with Tara as we create 6 Christmas cards using Cosmo Cricket's "Jolly By Golly" collection! Your cards will range from whimsical to elegant and you'll take home extra materials (a 6x6 paper pad & more!) to keep on creating!

Thurs. Nov. 26 @ 5:30pm- 3 Card Class $7
Create three simple cards for Christmas for a great price and be on your way home in about an hour :)

Fri. Nov. 27 CHRISTMAS MAGIC SALE! We'll be open late with some fantastic savings for you... details to come!

Sat. Nov. 28 CHRISTMAS MAGIC CROP 11am-9pm $15
Set aside the day to finish up some Christmas gift projects or crank out a pile of Christmas cards... whatever you need to get done, this is your day to do it (and maybe you'll win a door prize while you're at it)! Bring munchies to share & a friend. We'll also be open until 9pm for some late night shopping!

Mon. Nov. 30 Simple & Elegant with Tanya $19 (repeat of the class from Nov. 21)
In this class we will create 3 simple yet elegant cards.You will be using basic techniques like dry embossing and heat embossing to make your cards look fabulous.You will receive tips on how to change the colors and images to suit your needs.If your looking for the ability to mass produce your xmas cards,this class will help you get started!

they're here!

Just a quick note to tell ya that those two stamp orders I mentioned (Stamp Barn & Hanna Stamps) have arrived! The Hanna order includes what may be the last shipment of Riley the Moose we're able to get... (he's been sold to another company) stop by and pick em up while you can! Lots of fun designs for Christmas and beyond :)

Christmas Cards!

Tis the Season to make Christmas cards! I've officially started listening to Christmas music (though not exclusively, yet) and working on creating cards that are NOT just for teaching classes at the store. So far I've managed to make ONE card that's just because at a crop night- here's the results from our last two crops! FYI, I did create other cards, but they were for classes or other 'assigned' creations!

This first one features 'Hanna trimming the tree' and was so much fun to colour! I got this set last year, but hardly had a chance to play with it (I'm sure you have NO idea what that's like! LOL)... we've got another order en route from Hanna Stamps right now, so I thought it was a good time to bring her out! I didn't use a single 'Christmas' paper on this project, but I had fun with this funky argyle print by Basic Grey. You probably can't see the glitz I added to Hanna's sweater, but I covered it with a pale pink Spica Glitter Pen and it has this gorgeous subtle sparkle- I love how girly this card is :)
This next card features a fairy stamp I picked up this spring and didn't get around to inking up until a couple days ago! I love that she can be used for any season! Right now, her wings reminded me of holly... so I went with that theme and used these fab papers by Cosmo Cricket (sold out right now, but more are coming soon- watch for some great deals on Cosmo Cricket products at our Christmas Magic Weekend Sale!). The fairy is from The Stamp Barn and a shipment from them is also en route and arriving very soon :) Shes' got some Spica Glitter Pen highlights and I also used some Distress Stickles on her wings- they're alot of fun as they have a pearly sheen as opposed to outright glitter like regular stickles. I thought they were a nice complement to the pearls I used for my holly berries on the sentiment, which is a fave of mine by Old Island Stamp Company (yep, the stamps on this card are all Canadian)!
Well- that's it for now! Both cards are coloured with Copic Markers, of course (another order that is en route- heehee) and inked up with distress ink around the edges... cuz it just ain't done till I've inked those edges! Hope you liked 'em... with any luck, there will be more to join them soon! Watch for news on the arrival of all the fabulous products I mentioned... it'll be like Christmas coming early ;)

Autumn Challenge

There's still a few days to participate in our Autumn CHALLENGE! Here's the details:

-We've put together a small 'kit' of products and have put our Design Team to work making samples. We're challenging you to do the same... The kit is just $3 and the challenge is to make ANYTHING using the products included (plus whatever you want to add) and have it back to the store for us to hang on our 'creativi-tree' in the Studio by November 14. We have two different kits and we'd love to see the variety of projects that can be made with the same papers & embellishments! Will you join us? We'll randomly draw a winner from the participants to get our next 'challenge kit' for free!

... and here's a peek at what has come in so far! (We do have a few kits left if you'd like to pick one up.)

Deal of the Week & Classes!

We've got a bunch of reasons for you to come visit us in the store this week- starting with our Deal of the Week on Wooden Stamps- they're all 20% off!

Then there's some great classes to get you all inspired & creating Christmas cards!

TODAY (Tues. Nov. 10) at either 2pm or 6:30 pm you can join Tanya and Start Stamping Christmas! This class is a must for anyone just getting started and will include some great beginner techniques such as using chalk & versamark ink, heat & dry embossing, paper piecing and more. We'd love it if beginners would please take this class before attending any of our other card classes.

Thursday. Nov 12 at 6:30 pm you can join me (Tara) for Christmas Card Crazy where we'll create at least 6 unique cards using fabulous Basic Grey products. You'll get some great ideas and take home a bunch of product so you can keep on creating!

Friday is our CROP night and you can join us from 4-11 pm and work on whatever project you like! It's a fun, casual evening to get out with some girlfriends and just create stuff- cardmakers and scrapbookers alike are welcome to join us! Bring a friend and bring a snack to share- it'll keep that creative mojo flowing :)

Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2pm you can join me again for 'Whimsical Winter' where we'll create adorable cards using our Nov. Stamp of the Month. If you've got the set, please bring it along with you and I'll give you some tips on how to get the most out of this versatile set while we create 3 whimsical cards.

That's it for this week- we are CLOSED on Wednesday for the Remembrance Day holiday, honoring those who have gone before us to fight for the freedom we enjoy today.

Support the Food Bank & SAVE!

Did you realize that the Williams Lake Food Bank is being used by approximately double the number of people this year? This means that the need is SO much greater for people like us to donate food! Creative Accents is teaming together with YOU through the month of November to donate as much food as possible to our food bank!

Please make an effort to purchase at least 1 non-perishable item for the food bank each time you buy groceries this month, then bring that item in to us when you come to make a purchase in November.

You'll SAVE 10% on your entire purchase of regular priced items when you bring us a donation for the food bank this month!

It's a great opportunity for you to both support & save, and that's a good thing! (Discount may not be used in combination with other discounts, sales or on specially priced or limited edition items.)

Santa's Workshop from QuicKutz!

The 2009 Holiday Gift Set from QuicKutz is here! The theme this year is "Santa's Workshop" and the set includes everything you need to make three different sizes of mini albums! We're having a blast playing with this set and have lots of great ideas for samples- stop by and see some in the store and pick up your set while they're still here!
Something different QK did this year was to add 'accessories' you can purchase to go with your gift sets. They're available in all three sizes, and when you purchase a bundle of them (they're color coded) you'll save 15% on the bundle!

Here's a small sampling of what can be done with the gift set... one of each size of album- there's TONS more samples on the QK website :)

November Classes & Crops

Our November calendar is PACKED here at Creative Accents- we've got lots of options & classes to get you moving on your Christmas card projects this year! Here's a brief look at what we have in store- samples are being posted in the store and more info (including costs- usually $10 + supplies) will be available soon. You can pick up a copy of this in calendar format to make it easier to see what fits into your schedule!

Thursday Nov. 5 3 Card Class @ 5:30 pm (Christmas cards)

Saturday Nov. 7 CROP @ 2-8 pm

Monday Nov. 9 Then & Now @ 6:30 pm (Double page layout and card)

Tuesday Nov. 10 Start Stamping for Christmas @ 2 or 6:30 pm (with Tanya)

Wednesday Nov. 11 CLOSED

Thursday Nov. 12 Christmas Card Crazy @ 6:30 pm (6 cards with lots of Basic Grey products)

Friday Nov. 13 CROP @ 4-11 pm

Saturday Nov. 14 Whimsical Winter Cards @ 2 pm (3 cards featuring our Nov. Stamp of the Month set)

Monday Nov. 16 QK Club Party @ 6-7:30 pm (exclusive evening for QK club members)

Wednesday Nov. 18 Snowy Shakers @ 5:30 pm (with Tanya)

Thursday Nov. 19 Playful Paper Dolls @ 6:30 pm (with Julie- fun magnetic tin)

Friday Nov. 20 CROP @ 4-11 pm

Saturday Nov. 21 Fancy Folds @ 11:30 (with Tanya- two unique cards)
Simple & Elegant Christmas Cards @ 2:30 (with Tanya)

Monday Nov. 23 Recipe Book @ 6:30 pm

Tuesday Nov. 24 6 Cards for Christmas @ 6:30 pm

Thursday Nov. 26 3 Card Class @ 5:30 pm

Friday Nov. 27 Christmas Magic SALE (open late- details to come)

Saturday Nov. 28 CROP @ 11-9 pm

Monday Nov. 30 Simple & Elegant Cards @ 6:30 pm

November Stamp of the Month!

Introducing our November Stamp of the Month: "Winter Trees" by Cornish Heritage Farms! This is a super cute set of stamps (red rubber on cling-mount) designed by Kim Hughes that includes three different winter trees, a fox, a penguin, a snowman, an igloo, a partidge and an assortment of smaller images plus one sentiment which says "welcome winter". There are sooo many options with this set, we can't wait to see what you will come up with (you can upload your photos on our facebook page)! Here's what we've done so far:
This is a quick little bookmark Mom (Julie) put together with the snowman paper pieced and the little snow swirl embossed in the background. Quick & cute- gotta love it :) This would be a great add on anytime you give a book as a gift this winter season!
This might be my favorite card of the bunch... mostly because of the adorable little fox, I just love him! I created a snow globe shape with circle nesting dies and the base is 1/2 of a label die from the QK Holiday gift set (shh... they're not supposed to be released until Tuesday!). The sentiment is from a different Kim Hughes set, which I thought was perfect with my striped tree! Don't ya love the liquid applique 'snow' on my fox? So much fun (and we have a bunch in stock right now- get it while you still can)!
This one's pretty self explanatory- quick & simple, but lots of fun! Notice the icicles under the sentiment? I stamped them on QuicKutz's self adhesive vellum. The paper on these first two cards is by My Minds Eye- I love the whimsical, bright colors & designs.
Have you noticed that I'm addicted to Kraft cardstock? I swear it goes with everything... I love this bare tree with one lone ornament on it- I colored it in with a Copic Spica pen for glittery fun and added lots of white stickles for a frosty finish. My patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket.
Tanya used Basic Grey papers for this fun partidge in a pear tree card. I won't say much more, except that this gives some more sneak peeks from the QK Holiday gift set. Shhhh... don't tell!
This is a bonus card that didn't fit on our sample board... it was a collaboration between Tanya & I :) We used 'rock candy distress crackle paint' on the igloo and were clever enough to make the candy cane a fishing rod- gotta love it! I think these penguins look a bit sassy... like they're thinking up some witty comeback for whatever you might throw their way!
Hope you enjoyed the cards and that you'll get a chance to make some fun winter cards with your stamp set soon! I think we have a couple extra sets (or we did...) so if you're not on our SOTM list, you can purchase a set in the store.

Autumn Cards

It's the end of October, but I'm not quite ready to let go of my favourite season, Autumn! I'm grateful the snow downtown & at my house has melted so I can live in denial just a little bit longer... but thought I should share these cards before that is no longer possible!

Tanya created this cute card a while back, and I thought today was a good day to share it (hope I haven't already!). It features Rocco the Raccoon, from Stampendous- which we have back in stock, along with a bunch of other cling mounted stamps from Stampendous! I just LOVE this little raccoon, and have all sorts of ideas for things he can be lifting up :)
I made this next card for Mom & Dad's anniversary this year. I cut the card shape & oak leaf out on my Silhouette- isn't that leaf border fabulous? The maple leaf is a QK 4x4 die, which I cut out of paper I inked up with a mix of distress ink colors on my splat mat. I just rubbed them on the mat (I used a brown, orange & green, I think), spritzed it with water and rubbed my paper in it. I then dried it with my heat gun and cut out the leaf. It's a fun technique, perfect for autumn leaves! The sentiment is an old PSX image that fit perfectly on the leaf :)
Thanks for reading- hope you're enjoying what's left of Autumn!

Trick or Treat!?

Treats, of course! We've got 'em for all of our customers today- just select a lil' surprise treat bag when you stop by and make any purchase today. No costumes required- have a fun Halloween!

THINK PINK

Well, we started October with a 'pink' deal of the week in honor of breast cancer awareness month, and we're ending it with another... until the end of October you can save 15% on your entire regular priced purchase if you're wearing pink or sporting something with a pink ribbon on it! (I don't know about you, but I have a hard time resisting all the pink ribbon products... this year I got a new pink blow-drier and pink toilet paper!)

PLUS... when we thought about the 'pink-est' corner of our store, of course Stamping Bella came to mind, so... you can save 20% on Stamping Bella products (in pink pacakges) too!

Keep on thinking pink & let's end this month with HOPE!

p.s. there's still room for more in our 'Get Sketchy' scrapbooking class tomorrow (Wed.) night! It's a great class for beginners or anyone new to sketches!

Get Digital!

Curious about digital scrapbooking? Join us on Monday night at 6:30 and we'll introduce you to Heritage Makers and show you how easy it is to create projects online with Heritage Studio! Let us know if you can make it- there's no need to bring anything (except a laptop, if you are able, for a more hands on experience) and you'll get a FREE publishing credit for a 12x12 layout!