CD # 2 Giveaway, Facebook Winners, Great SC Tutorial by Beate, New Samples and a SALE!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the delay with this post (technical headaches). The good news is we’ve almost finished CD #2 and I’m so excited about how fantastic it turned out I’m celebrating and giving a draft to each of the 5 ladies who submitted envelope gift bags on our Facebook page – plus  3 more random.org winners will be picked this Wed from the comments left on this post!  We are also having a great SALE on some discontinued Clear Art Stamp Sets! See details below

It was so hard picking a winner but we felt Sylvia Cink Hildman’s Halloween Treat bag (below) was so cute and we loved all the photos & details she posted on her blog.  You can see the other cool submissions here on our Facebook page.

Rita Barakat - Altered Fairy and Birds & Blossoms Scraps
Cynthia Olheiser - Girlfriend Creative Scraps
Michelle Hodges - Birds & Blossoms Creative Scraps
Michele Sanders Ciola - Halloween Creative Scraps



Look at this adorable card that Beate Johns created using a technique called a ‘Suspension Card’ with our Winter Wishes Clear Art Stamp Set. You can see a step by step by step previous tutorial on Splitcoast she did using this same technique.



I love the colors Beate used and the sentiment she stamped from our Winter Wishes Stamp Set.  She makes fantastic tutorials and videos!



Elizabeth (I love Rubber on Splitcoast) has also been creating some fabulous cards with our new Winter Wishes set like this pretty snowflake card. Look how she added Glossy Accents to the snowflake, sentiment and the snowball. I love how she designed it so you can untie the snowflake and use it as an ornament.



Here is another card Elizabeth created using the same Winter Wishes stamps and she added small black rhinestones for lumps of coal large flakes of glitter snow. She doesn’t have a blog but you can visit ‘I love rubber’ Splitcoast Gallery and check out some of her unique card creations.



I like the way DT Member Heidi Blankenship created her own paper by printing roses on our CD #1 layered over the sheet music. Then see the sentiment charms she made using our Mini Frames stamp set with sentiments from Grand Greetings.

Okay, here is the low down on our SALE!  We are discontinuing 9 of our Clear Art Stamp Sets to make space. There are 3 large, 3 medium and 3 small sets.  This is the first time have discontinued any stamp sets but with over 200 sets and all the other products we need more space.   We will also discount the wholesale price for stores, so you can let your favorite retailer know.

The 3 large sets are $14.99 each, saving $10.00 and include Thanksgiving .  This is an amazingly detailed set but we’ve had 3 sets in the last 2 months with an issue with the large top left stamp so I’m going to discontinue it. Please know if you ever have a problem with any set not stamping great – please contact us and we will replace it!  Great quality is one of our trademarks!



I love the elegant style of this Cupcake Party Set but it bugs me that you have to stamp the cupcake wrapper twice to create a full cupcake wrapper. It’s on sale for $14.99 and it’s a large 6 x 8” set.



This is an older set and it’s never been a big seller.  I think maybe people prefer to have ready to stamp frames but this is a versatile set and Frame It is on sale for $14.99



Rosy Wishes has never been a big seller  yet it has some really pretty stamps. It’s on sale for $7.50.

 
There are several alphabet stamps sets in the industry and Adore Alphabet has never been a big seller but it’s a deal for $7.50 while supplies last.



Party Queen is a older medium size set and it’s cute and fun but I would like to have a more funky party queen set, so it is on sale for $7.50



Twinkle Stars hasn’t been a big seller so it’s on sale for $4.50 while supplies last



I love this design on Floral Vines but we had to reduce the artwork to fit on a small set making it harder to color.  It’s on sale for $4.50



I love this little bashful pig but a few people said she or he looks like a weird naked pig – so Wonderful Pig is on sale for $4.50. If we gave her a little ruffle skirt would you like her more?



Lastly, I bought too many of these cute Apple and Pear Mini Notepads (like over 700) so I'm are putting them ON SALE for $1.50 – PLUS we will include a free Apple with every order we send out for the next month (unless you specify Pear on the memo section in our Shopatron Store).  If you want to buy a 20 or more I can sell them for $1.00 each.



They each come with a paper clip (mixed clip colors) and a little mesh fruit bag and I think they look like a little piece of art on my telephone desk.


They look cute displayed in this little fruit box but  come packed flat in a bag for easier shipping. Some of the wood stems may break off but you can easily fix it with a drop of glue.



Don’t forget to leave a comment here on this post to be entered to win a draft copy of our new CD #2, Creating With Vintage Illustrations. They just won’t have the fancy label or sample ideas. We will have the fancy packaged ‘real’ CD’s in about 2 weeks.  I will show more sample pages in my next post as I ran out of room here.

Wishing you joy & creativity
Sandy Redburn
Crafty Secrets      

Check Our Store Locator Visit Our Online Store Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com

Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 98230

Our Gift Bag/Envelope DT Challenge, Invite & a Free Printable Envelope!

Hi Everyone,

Today is our Design Team Gift Bag/Envelope Challenge and I’m excited to see what everyone created from this cool DIY video I found at incrediblethings.com for turning any envelope into a gift bag with pleated sides!  Just click on each of the links below to visit each DT ladies blog and see their project. 

I came back and added this: We would love to have you join in and create a envelope-gift bag using any of our products! You can post your creation on our Facebook page and we will draw a $40.00 Gift Certificate winner this Friday, Oct 28/11
I also wanted to have a free printable for you today and decided an envelope template would be fitting. It’s posted below

Please click each of our Design Team Member Links

Vicki Chrisman Team Leader

Pam Hooten

Heidi Blankenship

Linda Duke  (includes a video)

Michele Kovack

Julie Campbell (also having a giveaway)

Amy Teets

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Fauve van Maanen

Gini Cagle

Jan Hennings

Tammy Roberts

Victoria Warren Mears  

Viola Mahr

Below is the free envelope template and you just need to left click it to make it as large as possible and right click the image to save it to your computer.  Then you can print your own envelopes on on white or color  8.5 x 11" paper or cardstock (personal use only please).
Your envelopes will have a decorative pattern on the inside and you can stamp and embellish the outside.  

If you have our CD and want to get really fancy, you can print on cardstock and run it through your printer again and print one of our pattern papers (imagine pastel flowers or polka dots) on the other side. None of the other DT ladies have seen this envelope, so they used envelopes they had - except for DT Member Julie Campbell who used the 3D envelope template we have on our CD #1. 

NOTE:  You don't have to use this printable envelope to participate, you can use any envelope with any of our products to make a gift bag. Post it on our Facebook Page & you will be entered to win $40 Gift Certificate.

I will be back later this week with some fabulous new samples and a preview of our new CD #2, Creating With Vintage Illustrations!

Wishing you joy & creativity
Sandy Redburn
Owner
Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com      
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com

Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898    

Local Phone 604 597-8817
Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4
   
USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 98230

Fun Halloween Food, Vintage Printable, Samples, Links, 2 Challenges and Gift Certificate!

Have you seen all the Top Halloween Treats over at www.allrecipes.com ? The witch finger cookies with almonds for fingernails, mummy hotdogs and frozen hand in the punch bowl (freeze water in a latex glove) are 3 of my favs. These are Eye of Newt Eggs.

With Halloween 11 days away I wanted to share a few more inspiring ideas for décor, cards, treats, costumes and a link to our past Free Halloween Party Printable HERE and 1893 Décor Ideas in case you missed out! 

Also, look at these super cute Halloween Chipboard Houses  (Update-sorry our Chipboard Houses are al sold out) DT Leader Vicki Chrisman made with her art group ladies party she hosted.  Vic has a bunch of photos HERE on her Blog and check out how cool the damask designs on ourHalloween CD look printed on orange cardstock!

I love seeing our products used in fun novel ways and laughed when I spotted this past card Pammyjo designed using a mix of our stamps, stickers, paper and retro lady from Homemade Booklet. (Update Image Booklets on Sale just $3.95 each). The hat, mask and orange glitter fingernails transform her!

How about this cute chandelier Christy made in 2009 using some of our Halloween Vintage Cuts and other supplies. She painted a giant used tape roll silver to use as her rim. Update: all the Vintage Cuts are marked down to just 75 cents each!

The trick is to think outside the box for ways you can re-vamp and make something useful to fit your needs.  Look at how DT Member Tammy Roberts changed the word BEAUTIFUL to BOOTIFUL from our Grand Greetings Clear Art Stamp Set. If you don’t have an orange flower, make one from orange ribbon like hers below.

Look around at all the supplies you have and brainstorm different ways and combinations. See how Melisa Waldorf used our Flourish set and a mix of our Halloween Stamps on this fun yet classy Halloween card. Update

Click this link you are looking for 25 Really Cute Handmade Budget Halloween Costumes like the baby Moose below posted on blogsbabble.com

Lastly I wanted to tell you about 2 Challenges including our DT Gift Bag Envi Challenge this Mon, Oct 24. You can watch the video HERE from IncredibleThings.com on how to turn any envelope from small to jumbo size into a cute gift bag! Our DT Ladies are using this idea and will be posting all sorts of fabulous projects in a variety of themes! If you want to play using any of our products you can post on our Facebook page

Joanne Allison is hosting this weeks Crafty Secrets Challenge on Splitcoast to create ABC – Anything But a Card and look how she used our Queen Bee Stamp Set to decorate this lovely lavender bag! Why not join in & post a creation? Check out Darlene’s Nature Challenge last week

I hope you will come back Mon, Oct 24 to see (and hopefully participate) in Gift Bag Envi Challenge. We will draw at least 1 Gift $25.00 Certificate depending on how many people post bags on Facebook decorated with any of our products!

PLUS – I will be showing a PEEK of Our NEW CD #2, Creating With Vintage Illustrations! I don’t mean to brag but oh my goodness – it’s amazing!
Wishing you joy & creativity

Sandy Redburn    
Crafty Secrets
Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store    
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898     

Local Phone 604 597-8817
Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 98230

Altered Spoon Album Tutorial, Heart Album, Layouts and Vintage Card Samples - Oh My!

Hi Everyone,
Ooops, I’m a day late with this post due to ‘unforseen obstacles’ but I have some great samples to share!   Check out this fantastic Altered Wood Spoon Mini Halloween Album Tutorial  that DT Member Michele Kovack designed.  She also did a Christmas Spoon Mini Album HERE last month using a Spellbinders oval die, which come in many sizes. On my next post I will add a printable project sheet that Cindy our graphic designer is making.


We just got these heart albums back in stock and DT Leader Vicki Chrisman designed this gorgeous album using papers from the CD , our Love Mail Scraps and Flourishes Stamps



The albums come unassembled in an ivory chipboard and include 4 mini frames . You can see all of the other pages HERE on Vicki’s Blog


Look at this fabulous card fellow internet pal Marlene Bender was so sweet to sent to Vicki’s mom for her 90th birthday!  Vicki sent me photos so I could see how pretty it was and I had to share and show you. All of the images & sentiment she used are from our Girlfriends Creative Scraps. Click her link to see other great projects.


Marlene used our Glamour Girls Clear Art Stamp set to stamp the corners and lady on the inside adding to the nostalgia. I got the lady on the swing in a portfolio I bought by an artist who drew ads for a furniture store in the late 1920’s. The original is over 18” tall and so pretty we are adding her to paper on our CD #2.


I thought this was such a cute idea they way DT Member Gini Cagle added a pennant banner to her layout with the matching twine. The image is from our Homemade Booklet and spoon is from the Kitchen Classics Stamp Set. Details HERE on Gini’s Blog.


When I first saw this cute Halloween layout DT Victoria DT Member Victoria Warren Mears did HERE of her son I didn’t notice she used our Pattern CD to create the entire page.  The faux ‘white studs’ look so 3D and she cut the leaves and pennants from different papers, enlarged the page pattern across the top and used one of the journal pages.

DT Member Michele Kovack also made this fun rooster card and I love the way she added the small treat bag (stamped with our chicken wire) behind the rooster from our Farm Chicks Stamp Set and how the bag holds a tag (but could also hold a custom coupon, movie tickets, birthday money, etc.), eliminating the need to wrap a gift!

DT Member Debbie Marcinkiewicz sent me these next 3 fantastic cards using a combo of our images, stamps and CD papers. I loved each so much I couldn’t pick a favorite!  Just click Debbie’s name above to see a bunch more fun cards she made for our last Retro Challenge.  Image below is from our Homemade Booklet, label frame from Vintage Label Stamps.

I love how Deb mixed 2 stamp sets with postmarks off Artsy Banners and ‘sweet BIRTHAY wishes’ is from the Born to Fly Stamp Set. The adorable image is from our Little Blessings Scraps. 

She also used our Artsy Banner Stamps for the banner and a combo of Happy Birthday stamps off our various various stamp sets. Ticket is off our Love Scraps and our CD paper was used on form, but I’m not sure where the form is from?  Geez, I’ve seen this shape many times – can anyone tell me where/who?

DT Member Gini Cagle explains HERE on her blog how she used Sakura Crystal Lacquer with an image from our Mini Scraps to create a 3D image.


DT Member Viola Mahr HERE created this very pretty card tucking the pansy image from our Garden Scraps behind her ‘fence’, with details on her blog when you click on her name.

In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving the 2nd Monday in October and it always feels too early to me. I don’t want Fall to start, I still want Summer to hang around!  No choice – we had Thanksgiving this past weekend here, but it was a wonderful sunny day and there were several goofy but helpful participants! From left: my sis Wendy, my dad Russ, daughters Chelsea & Katie, hubby Scott and B-in-law Ron.

All 3 of our daughters adore Martha Stewart and her recipes and this year our youngest, Chelsea 24, asked if she could use Martha’s Brine Recipe and cook the turkey.  Brine…weird?  It was the most delicious turkey I ever eaten! Hmmm… I have to ask her; did she use the whole bottle of wine?  Too bad, DD #2, Holly was away. I love big family dinners! We added all 3 leaves and christened our ‘new but old’ oak table but I need better matchy chairs.


I leave you with one of our happiest guests, sweet Arissa, my niece who loved the fruit punch her Grandma made!


Wishing you joy & creativity
Sandy Redburn
Crafty Secrets
Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com

Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4
USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 98230

My Trip & Tips to French Flea Markets, Antiques, Brocante Sales & Blog Winner!

oh my goodness - I just found this post in my drafts folder from last year. I think I posted it and went back to edit a photo and left it in 'Drafts'. 

 Hi Everyone, 


I promised to post some photos and tips on  French Flea Markets and Brocante bric-a-brac sales and many of the 175 comments on my last blog post mentioned my trip to France and interest in flea markets so I thought I better get to it and got a little carried away!  I will post some new cool samples tomorrow and Denisa in our office picked winner #31 for our Blog Giveaway, Artful Whimsies who said: The stamp set is so nice and your trip looks fabulous!! Lucky you!

I LOVE the anticipation of what you might discover at flea markets, auctions and second hand stores, the thrill of finding wonderful treasures, especially old vintage images like this stuff I scored while in our vacation in France.  I also fell in love with France, the people, history, beauty, food, art, it was all more incredible than I dreamed it could be!

• 

I took these photos of a few of the treasures I bought. I have enough now to do an entire French theme CD – so tell me if this something you would like to see? We have almost finished our CD #2 Creating With Vintage Illustrations and it's turning out amazing!


One of my favorite purchases was the heavy 12” x 17” book above from 1901 filled with hundreds of pages of old embroidery, crochet and sewing patterns, alphabets and etchings of beautiful Parisian women. I also bought a bunch of ladies magazines, newspapers from the 1800’s and assorted French ephemera.

In the city, the Metro is the easiest and fastest way to get around but it was so fun walking we put on miles.  Here I am at one of the old style subway stations. Paris is divided into 20 districts you can see HERE with the 6 Tourism offices which are super helpful, have maps and current event info.


Before I list the flea markets I wanted to tell you about the used booksellers we found while walking along the banks of the Seine River to see the cool bridges.  After visiting the booksellers I took this photo on my fav bridge – Pont Alexandre.

Called bouquinistes, they have been selling here since the 16th century and today sell old books as well as magazines, prints, drawings and postcards.


Many also sell trashy souveniers and photocopies of old prints so be careful not to over pay for a copy.  Open from about 11 am to sundown with several stall between the Pont Alexandre and Pont Neuf bridges on both sides.


French 'Vintage' Definitions    
Marché aux Puces = Flea Market                                 
Brocante ou bric-à-brac à vendre = old vintage up to 1960 – 70’s sale
Salon des Antiquaires = Antique Fair or Show
le vide-greniers = empty attic (geez, just imagine what is stored in some of those old French attics!)

We took the Metro to the largest & oldest Clignancourt Saint Ouen Market which is home to about 1500 dealers on the weekends who have permanent stalls for stores.                 It was crazy BIG and I could have stayed for a week and filled a van full!


I wish I would have taken better photos at the flea markets of some of the really cool stuff but honestly – I was so darn excited I kept forgetting to get out my camera.






Here are a Few Tips                                            
None of the flea markets we visited charged admission which was nice but many vendors don’t take credit cards, so bring cash and not all big bills.

Arrive as early as you can – before all the good bargains get snatched up. If you are with others agree on a meeting spot & time if you get split up.

Don’t forget to barter! Just ask politely if they will take less. I found this worked great when buying multiple items. Also, try using any French you know, even a Bonjour helps.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring a back pack, camera and throw in a couple of good strong shopping bags, water and snacks so you don’t get pooped out like this guy I came across.


Porte de Vanves Flea Market: ave. Georges Lafenestre & ave. Marc Sangnier (Metro: Porte Vanves, Line 13)   This market may not be as huge as Saint Ouen Clignancourt Market but every Sat & Sun there are over 350 vendors who sell everything vintage you can imagine. Sellers start arriving at 7 am and open till about 1 pm but the vendors on avenue Georges Lafenestre & Marc Sangnier stay open later. I’m sad we didn’t make it to this market as many people say it’s their favorite in Paris.

 Marché d’Aligre  Market: take Metro: Ledru-Rollin to d’Aligre Square.   This fun open-air market has fresh produce and a flea market with vendors selling antiques, collectibles and bric-a-brac across from the covered Market Marché Beauvau Market, which has been open since 1777!   Hours: Tues. - Sun., 8 to 1 pm


We went here on a weekday and I didn’t really find much but I did want to buy this lovely dustpan and brush set if I had more space in my suitcase.


When we returned to Paris we stayed in Montmartre & came across this big Sunday sidewalk bric-a-brac sale running down the main street on both sides of the boulevard for blocks. It was a beautiful sunny day and so much fun. That’s my honey Scott in the hat & glasses.


If you don’t make it to the flea markets you can check out the antique stores like the 80 located in le Village Suisse near the Eiffel Tower.


There are weekly and monthly flea markets, antique and bric-a-brac stores all over France.
The city of Lyon is home to over 650 antique dealers and Villeurbanne (on the outskirts) has the Canal Flea Market Thurs & Sat 8 to 1 pm and the Sunday market starts at 6 am with over 400 vendors! Bring a flashlight.

We loved Lyon but I didn’t make it to the Canal Market – sigh. We did tour their incredible city hall (yup, that’s just 1 of many amazing rooms below) built in 1650 and I got to go to the Typography Print Museum.
 

During our last week we drove across southern France to San Sebastian, Spain for 3 days and ate way too many tappas. On the way we stayed in Narbonne, visited the fantastic medieval wall town of Carcassonne (watch the video).  I found this wonderful little store when we stayed overnight in Toulouse. The old man who owns it had stacks of books and paper items miles high so it was heaven for me!


Okay, where to stay in France??  Other than the villa, we used www.TripAdvisor.com and www.HostelWorld.com   Set a hotel budget per night and read the reviews (which can be super helpful). You can book ‘private rooms’ through hostel sites – so n0, we didn’t sleep in any dorms! We found the best deal on a car at Sixt, a Ford Focus Deisel Wagon $330 Euros for 2 weeks, unlimited miles. Yes, we had toll booths but the train would have cost much more and we wouldn't have the freedom to visit so many enchanting little villages.

We came back to Paris for 3 nights and stayed at Hotel Ermitage in the Montmartre district for $110 Euros with breakfast and loved it!  Even a chandelier and antique furniture!

Later I found this great site HERE homeaway.com that rents everything from villas and castles to studio apts, mostly by the week and I did the link to show the 35,863 available in France for $1000 USD or less per week and 1,106 are in Paris. If you want a castle you may have to up the ante.

If you visit the French Riveria, the Cours Saleya outdoor Market in Nice has over 200 flea market vendors on Mondays until about 1 pm.

This site lists many of the Flea Markets throughout France , Belgium & Switzerland

Here is a great site listing all the Antiquités Brocante Shows & Fairs in France

Lastly, remember that in French the word “souvenir” means memories and with such an old country it seems fitting to bring home a souvenir that hold some past history.

If you can’t make it to Paris, be patient as I plan to do a post on the Best Vintage Flea Markets & Shows in the USA.

In Sept 2009 I was lucky to go to the Brimfield Market, outside of Boston with over 6000 sellers! You can read my post & see the photos HERE.  Too bad Canada doesn’t have vintage flea markets but  over 75% of us Canadian’s live close to the USA border  so we can drive to some.

I loved these dolls by Tin Lizzie! She doesn’t have a website but I found a contact for her HERE.  Each one is a piece of funky one of a kind art.



See you tomorrow with some great new samples from our talented Design Team!   PS - You can sign up for this blog at the top of the post and get it by email.

Wishing you joy & creativity
Sandy Redburn     
Owner
Crafty Secrets    
Check Our Store Locator Visit Our Online Store   
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 98230