Fall at The Inspiration Station

Hello everyone,

With the cooler weather we have been busy trying to plan our fall and holiday classes while we also check in all of the new merchandise that I ordered from the Trade Show a few weeks ago.

There is so much new in the store! It drives me crazy when someone comes in and asks "what's new?".  I don't have enough hours in the day to go over it all!!  You will just need to look around!
We have lots of new paper lines - of course, there is Halloween, Fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas; but we also have a beautiful new Fairy Dust line from Kaisercraft.  If you have younger children, we have Lego style and Frozen style paper and stickers from Reminisce.

The amount of cutting dies that have come in are mind-boggling!  It seems every company is making dies. Last week we checked in a ton of dies from Sizzix and Impression Obsession. Most were Fall and Holiday themed but there was also a very cute pillow box die that would be great for birthday and shower favors. The other dies by designer, Jen Long, also very versatile and quite affordable.

Also new in stock is a large  selections of stamps from Penny Black

 Looking for Tim Holtz stuff?  We've got that too! Although much of his Halloween line is already SOLD OUT, the Holiday lines have already come in. Below is his collection of Idea-ology products but we also have many of his Sizzix dies in stock as well.

Beginner Zentangle class

Beginner Zentangle class

 at The Inspiration Station - Stafford Springs, CT - 

Saturday, Oct 17th 10am. 

 $35 per person. No experience necessary.

All Materials Provided

The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.
Almost anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being. The Zentangle Method is enjoyed all over this world across a wide range of skills, interests and ages.

Call to register today - (860) 684-2641

Adult coloring books

You probably have heard that Adult Coloring Books are trending! Marie Browning, Tombow Signature Designer, has created downloadable Color Sheets ….but watch this video that shows some amazing techniques using Tombow Dual Brush Pens! However, colored pencils are a big hit too. Did you know that both the Dual Brush Pens and our Colored Pencils can be used together with the Blender Pen? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1hIafnJPiw
 The video is loaded with great information.

Click here to download the free color pages from Tombow Blog : http://blog.tombowusa.com/…/free-adult-coloring-page-downl…/

We also have a great selection of Coloring Books for adults at The Inspiration Station.
Come in an feel like a kid again!

Fall Trade show Report

Hi Everyone,
I just returned for the fall trade show in Orlando, Florida late last night.  I am exhausted but I wanted to share a bit of what I did while I was away.

I needed this trip to try to put me back in the creative zone and I certainly had lots of great inspiration.

First off, let me start by thanking all of the hard working people at the Collins Rep Group for all that they did to pull this show together. It was well executed as always.  I was a bit overwhelmed the first two days of the show by all of the people who stepped up to offer their condolences on Adam's passing; by Friday night I was in tears from the show of kindness.

This is always a jam-packed event and there was no time to fool around.  Well, maybe a few moments of foolishness, but certainly no down-time.  I landed about 3pm on Thursday in Orlando and had my first class with Sizzix at 6pm. We made 3 Christmas projects including a house using the new Tim Holtz die but I was rushing around so much I forgot to take photos.  You'll have to stay tuned for that.

Friday morning started at 8am with an overview of the vendors that were in attendance and we picked up our welcome bag and vendors handed out sample products for us to take home and try out or show off.

At 9am we headed to the first of many classes. Below are some of the projects I made in the different classes.

I have a bunch more to show off and have planned another Trade Show after party for Friday Night from 5-8pm for anyone who would like to come by and see.  You will also have a chance to look at the catalogs of some of the new releases that I was able to order.  Who knows>  Maybe some of the products will be there as well.

Is anybody out there?

The blog has once again neglected.  This time with good reason.  This summer will officially go down as the worst summer ever for me and my family.

As many of you learned from my Facebook page, on Friday, June 26 my youngest son, Adam, passed away suddenly. Adam suffered a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in his lung) and medics were not able to save him. 

 Many of you met Adam when you came for classes or crops.  He lived in the apartment above the store and often came down to chat with the ladies and help them with their bags. He was a very sweet and polite young man who had a heart as big as he was. I am completely devastated as is our whole family-including the ladies here at the store who got to know him so well.

I have been blessed with a ton of support from friends, family, customers and business colleagues. It has truly been a humbling experience being touched by so many.

I know that it will take time to get back to whatever is normal.  For the most part, I am doing ok.  I have a very strong faith that Adam was called home by God because he had done what he was sent here to do.  

He was a gift from God and a challenge.  He struggled through most of his life with mild Autism and mental health issues, but always remained childlike in his ability to see the best in people. He taught us so much; love, patience, acceptance - but most of all that we were stronger than we ever could have known.  If anyone had told me 20 years ago all that we would go through together, I would never have believed I could get through it. No.  It certainly was not easy.  I cried myself to sleep so many nights.  I worried about him constantly. There were days I wanted to run away from it all, but I could never bear the thought of what might happen to him without me.  Sadly, he and I shared the same fear; what would happen to him if I wasn't around?  Perhaps, this is God's ways of showing us that those worries were unfounded. Adam will never have to be alone.

This is Hoot Hoot. I looked everywhere for him before Adam's funeral so I could put him in the casket with Adam. Any time Adam had to be away from home, whether in the hospital or residential care, he always took Hoot Hoot so someone would be with him when I couldn't be. I wanted him to be with him forever but I searched everywhere and couldn't find him. Last week when we were cleaning the garage, we found him in a box. I'd like to think he's here to watch over me now that Adam can't.



So much of my daily life was wrapped up in his.  Even though he was able to live independently, he was not fully able to take care of himself.  He was unable to manage his time, money, or resources.  He needed almost daily prompting to remind him to do basic chores. I needed to manage his finances, help him with grocery shopping, laundry, doctor visits etc. My schedule was very much intertwined with his.  

Now, in addition to a huge hole in my heart, there is a complete disconnect to my weekly schedule.  I have yet to find a way to get back to any kind of normal schedule.  It doesn't help that our store schedule for the month of August is different too.  I just feel completely lost and overwhelmed.  I know I should just grab the planner and start making lists and start doing again; but I just can't bring myself to do it.  I find myself just wandering around with no direction.

I apologize for the depressing post.  I am really writing it more for myself than anyone else.  I'm hoping that maybe if I write it all out it will somehow help me to move ahead.  Put me back of the map so to speak.  I am looking ahead through the fog.  Hoping to come out the other side soon.

Graphic 45 Rare Oddities

So it may be a bit early to start thinking of Halloween, but not for Patty!  She LOVES anything Halloween and so when she saw the Graphic 45 Rare Oddities lines she new she had to get busy.  Here are her latest creations.

July 19, 2015

GRAPHIC 45 RARE ODDITIES MINI SCRAPBOOK BY PATTYS CRAFTY SPOT

This weeks design team project for
The Inspiration Station
Graphic 45 Rare Oddities Mini Scrapbook

This book measures 7" 3/4 x 5" 3/4

Check out the full video on You Tube HERE

Products Used
Graphic 45 Rare Oddities
Distressed Ink Vintage Photo
Scor Tape
Fabri Tac
Black Card Stock
Chip Board
We R Memory Keepers Cinch

Contacts

The Inspiration Station
www.the-inspiration-station.com
on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CTScrapbookstore?fref=ts

Find me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pattyscraftyspot

Search for me on Instagram at
pattyscraftyspot

July 31, 2015

GRAPHIC 45 COFFIN TRINKET BOX WITH RARE ODDITIES BY PATTYS CRAFTY SPOT

This week for my design team project for The Inspiration Station I made a Coffin Trinket Box using Graphic 45 Rare Oddities

This box measures 7" 3/4 tall by 4" 1/2 wide by 2" 3/4 deep

Products Used
Graphic 45 Rare Oddities
Tim Holtz Hinges
Distressed Ink Vintage Photo
Fabri Tac
2 Coffin Shaped Boxes
Black Gesso

Contacts

The Inspiration Station
www.the-inspiration-station.com
on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CTScrapbookstore?fref=ts

Find me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pattyscraftyspot

Search for me on Instagram at
pattyscraftyspot

New layout from Sarah

Crazy & Amazing

Hey everyone!  I am here today with a beach layout, although it might not look like a beach layout....  This is an old picture of myself with my family on an extended family beach vacation we took in 1996.  Honestly, I struggled a bit with this one, but after stepping away for the night, I came back refreshed and ended up really liking my final layout.  Check out my video for the process!

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Please be sure the check out the Inspiration Station store if you haven't already.  Have a great week!

Website: http://www.the-inspiration-station.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CTScrapbookstore

Instagram Hashtag: #InspirationStationCT

New Pet Page from Sarah.

Hey everyone!  Is it seriously July already???  Is summer seriously halfway over???  I am here today with my first layout this month using products I received from the Inspiration Station store in Stafford Springs, CT.  This month, I received some beach themed products and some dog themed products.  In this video, I show you exactly what I got. 

For my first layout, I worked with the Bella Blvd Rover collection and did a smaller 8x8 layout about my dog, Annabelle.  Both of my dogs have their own smaller albums that I'm working on periodically.  I had these great pictures of Annabelle wearing a purse and sunglasses that my daughter had put on her.  I wanted to be sure to document how sweet and tolerant Annabelle is with my girls.  She's very patient and lets them put things on her and hug on her.  Check out the video to see my process!

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I'll be back next week with another layout using these fun products!  To check out the Inspiration Station store, I have links below.  They are wonderful people, go support them!  Thanks and I'll see you next week!

Website: http://www.the-inspiration-station.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CTScrapbookstore

Instagram Hashtag: #InspirationStationCT

Dance Layout from Sarah

Caylan Dance Recital

Hello everyone!  Last week, I shared a dance recital page for my younger daughter, Layla.  This week, I tackled my older daughter's dance picture.  I used many of the same products from Bo Bunny as I used last week with a different color scheme.  I love how nice and simple these pages ended up being.  Please check out the video for my process!

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Please be sure to go check out the Inspiration Station store and get all of these products there.  Have a great day!

Website: http://www.the-inspiration-station.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CTScrapbookstore

Instagram Hashtag: #InspirationStationCT

Another great project from Sarah

 Layla Dance Recital

Hey everyone!  I am bringing you another dance page using products I received from the Inspiration Station store in Stafford Springs, CT.  I am on their design team and really enjoyed using these products to make a layout about my younger daughter's dance recital this year.  Our dance album is an 8.5x11 so this one went really quickly!  Please check out the video for my process!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  For more info on the Inspiration Station store, please check out the links below.  You can get all of these products at their store!  Have a great day!

Website: http://www.the-inspiration-station.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CTScrapbookstore

Instagram Hashtag: #InspirationStationCT

Special Guest - Ken Oliver - Watercolor Journal

Special Guest

Ken Oliver

Sunday, July 12^th

1pm – 5pm

Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about watercolor techniques in this exciting class!  You’ll get hands on experience with Color Burst, one of the hottest new products on the market today!  This class is jam packed with techniques that you can easily use in card making, scrapbooking, and mixed media arts.  Most importantly, you’ll develop a good understanding of color theory and layering color with watercolors.  Everyone in the class will learn wet-on-wet painting techniques and will paint a painting of poppies.  It’s an exciting class that most students say is more of an experience.

 Sign up today as seating for this popular class is limited. 

Special Guest - Ken Oliver - Hometown Mini Album

Special Guest

Ken Oliver

Sunday, July 12^th

9 am – 12pm

Create this wonderful mini album with Hometown papers from Ken Oliver inspired by Newburgh, Indiana. You will love the charm of yesteryear captured in the Hometown paper and this little vintage book is perfect for every occasion. The class includes lots of paper, you’ll have plenty of paper left over for other projects.  When you’re finished with this class, your wonderful little book will be ready for your own photos and memories!  It’s the first time this workshop has been offered in our area, so sign up now…seats are limited.    

LAST CALL!

Hello Everybody! This is the last call to sign up for the amazing class from Karen Burniston  that is happening next Friday night.  Karen is flying in, so she needs to have a final total to make up all of the kits before she leaves home.  If you want to join this class, you MUST CALL by the close of business tomorrow (June 5th). If you are unable to come to the class -Karen will be here in the afternoon on June 12 for afree demo from 3pm-5pm.  This is a great chance to see how her interactive dies work and get some tips for working with them. Special Guest Instructor Karen Burniston from Elizabeth Crafts Designs Only 3 seats left Friday June 12, 2015 6pm-8pm $35 CLASS DECRIPTION: Join Karen Burniston to make three interactive pop-up cards using Pop it Ups dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs. You will make cards using the Adirondack Chair, Barn Pop Stand and Rectangle Pull Card dies. Learn all the tips and tricks for using these innovative wafer-thin dies to make impressive cards. You don't want to miss the chance to learn from the die designer herself, plus Karen comes with hundreds of display cards that you are welcome to photograph for inspiration. Everything will be pre-cut in the kits to keep the focus on learning how to assemble the pop-ups. Karen will demonstrate how the pieces were cut and you can also familiarize yourself with the dies by watching her videos. Blog:http://karenburniston.typepad.com  Please bring these tools to class: Scissors A variety of adhesives - tape runner, fine tip liquid glue, pop dots, mini glue dots, Paper piercer Optional: inks for inking edges. I show my cards "clean" but they will look great with ink. Optional: markers or colored pencils for coloring the words on the greeting label. Optional: smart phone or camera for taking photos of the hundreds of sample cards on display Please note:  We have a no refund cancellation policy for guest instructors.  If you are unable to attend a class you have paid, for you may send a friend in your place or pick up a class kit (if available) after class. See Below for Guests in July *************************************************** Kristen has been busy making pop up graduation cards in the school colors of all of the area schools.  These are available for purchase. She has also been putting together plans for Kids Kamp this summer so be on the lookout for information on that. ***

UPCOMING CLASSES: This Sunday- June 7 from 1pm-3pm Learn how to use Elizabeth Crafts Designs peel-off stickers and glitters. Register TODAY! Elizabeth Crafts Class Sun., June 7 1pm-3pm $28 Beginner Zentangle Sat., June 13   ****SOLD OUT**** 10am - noon   $35 includes all materials         (We are looking to add another date soon) Zentangle:  Beyond the Basics Sat., June 13     1pm- 3pm $35 please bring your basics kit. Learn the 6+ Tangle Enhancers to embellish, create flow and balance in your work. Working on various sized tiles and including the new Bijou tiles you will add flare to your Zentangle work by learning to integrate the most common tangle enhancers. In addition learn various shading techniques to create depth and perspective in your tangles. Bring your basics kit (Micron Black 01 and pencil). All other supplies will be provided. Prerequisite Zentangle basics class. $35.00 -2 hours Dinner & Cards    Friday, June 19   6pm-8pm $28 includes dinner. A great night out with friends! Come and relax and learn new techniques. This month will feature Gelatos. SPECIAL GUEST:  SALLY LYNN MACDONALD Saturday, June 20, 2015 Join Sally Lynn for 3 remarkable workshops, guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing! Water Colorations June 20,     10am-noon      $28 In this informative hands-on workshop, we will explore Art Anthology's Colorations sprays and my line of Palettini rubber stamps from Technique Junkies to discuss how to mix colors and color theory while creating a beautiful, feminine 12×12 scrapbook layout or basis for an art journaling page. Using Prima printed watercolor paper as our backdrop, customize your embellishments and make it uniquely yours. Get watercolor confident and gain skills you can use on all your creative projects! Floral Brushstrokes June 20  1pm-3pm  $28 Using rubber stamps from my Palettini line from Technique Junkies and dimensional paints from Art Anthology's Velvet and Sorbet product lines, we will create three cards reminiscent of the impressionist painters. Create a Sunflower, Gerbera Daisy and Orchid greeting card, using texture tools and paints that are sure to make them a Gogh-to tool for your creativity! Key to your Dreams June 20    4pm - 6pm      $30 Imagination is the key to unlocking your dreams. Learn the key basics of unlocking your jewelry creativity with U/V resin to create near-instantly wearable jewelry pieces! Layer stamped images from my line of Palettini rubber stamps from Technique Junkies, charms and words in the slide bezel to suit your style. Decorate the bezel using a variety of mediums from Art Anthology. Learn basic jewelry-making skills, using jump rings, loop-making and assemble the completed necklace to wear out of class. ************************************************** Special Guest:  Kathie DeLuca Saturday, June 27th Class Description: Join Kathie as she walks you through step by step to create four beautiful, multi­dimensional cards. You will begin with stamped & embossed images from Tim Holtz's  Nautical Blueprints stamp set, and then learn some water-coloring techniques using Distress Stains to bring these stamped images to life. Once you have water­colored the images you will mount them on card bases along with Authentique's Seaside collection of amazing papers to create these mini works of art. This class is for any level card maker. Class Description: During this class Kathie will show you how to create a masterboard.  You are the master artist of this one of a kind masterpiece!  The cool thing about this process is that we will explore several mixed media techniques such as embossing, the use of Decofoil, and then explore the use of stencils using several different mediums.  We will use this masterboard to create several greeting cards, however, the process itself can be used in art journaling pages as well. This class will be presented in a step by step process and is designed for the beginner or the experienced mixed media artist.  Join Kathie for this exciting class!

Class registration can be made in person or by calling (860) 684-2641 All classes must be pre-paid at the time of registration. Your spot is not held until payment is received. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance of class time.