Happy New Year!!!

Wanting to wish all of you a Happy New Year! We wish you and your loved ones a blessed New Year; may you all follow your creative path and nuture your artistic soul. Take time for you this year and do what you love!!!

New Year's Journal

Saturday, January 5

10:30 a.m.

Limit of 8

Cost $18.00 tax included

Don't miss this gorgeous class in which you will make a journal covered with handmade paper, stamped with the cutest little cupid (Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps), Glimmer Mist, Tulle and gorgeous Ancestry paper from K & Company finish the journal off perfectly.

You will get to try out the Glimmer Mist and work with Tim Holtz's new Blending Tool--and learn how to work with handmade paper.

Plus you will make a bead covered pen to match. This makes a lovely gift or perfect inspiration journal for yourself in the New Year.

Call and reserve your spot today.

Altered Art and Scrap Playground

721-7529

All classes must be prepaid in advance. Please call with credit card, stop in or mail payment to 513 Main Street, Rapid City 57701

Winter themed (thankyou?) card class

Saturday, December 29...10:30 am

5 winter themed cards featuring Fancy Pants and Basic Grey

envelopes included, $15.00 tax included

You will make 5 winter themed cards with some gorgeous papers and get try some fun things like flock, glitter, embossing, vintage glass glitter and a card with acetate and one with Creative Impressions felt blooms.

This is the perfect class for any beginner who is wanting to try their hand at card making or (for all you pro's) just a fun, relaxing way to get your Thank you's done. Feel free to stay and decorate the envelopes with stamps and your scraps.

Prepayment is required. Please stop in to prepay, call with credit card or mail your payment.

Class participants receive a 15% discount towards purchases on the day of the class. Not applicable towards class fee.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you! We want to thank you for all of your support and encouragement. You have made this awesome adventure and we are loving it!

Our Christmas wishes to you and your families, may you all have a blessed holiday
season. Take time to create, play and enjoy....make some memories...it's the little things that make life so special!

Congratulations Michelle Tech!

The winner of the wreath is Michelle Tech! Michelle stop in and pick up your wreath anytime! Congratulations and Merry Christmas!

Make N Take Saturday

Just thought I share our make n take with you for this weekend...Popcorn Christmas Bulbs. Very cute and very fun...stop by and see how these were made. A big Thankyou to Vel and Ellen for the idea.

Lelsie, Maxenzi and I had so much fun making these...it's the little things in life that make it so fun.

New Ribbon and Brads

We got several new ribbons and lots of new brads from Creative Impressions today. These braided ribbons are fantastic. Bright and petite. We got glimmer brads and large round brads to match with all fabulous felt flowers, they've been selling like hot cakes.

Don't Forget

Don't forget to stop in and register to win the Christmas Wreath full of creative goodies. We will draw a name on Thursday and call or email the winner. You can also email us an entry or leave a comment on the blog. artplay@rushmore.com

New Goods from Maya Road

We just got a whole bunch of new goodies from Maya Road, and they are so much fun. I can't wait to get to create with these great products.

New upper and lower case chipboard letter, chipboard suitcases, a tabbed chipboard album and fantastic scalloped, three ring album. Love it! Plus a chipboard trinket box, a darling purse album and the cutest little chipboard train book. So cute. Oh! and I almost forgot the scalloped coasters and cute little box to store them in. You can make coasters or an awesome little book.

Maya Road, http://www.mayaroad.com/, also offers a great service for their customers...you can print off templates for their chipboard products, no more tracing and measuring. All you need to do is go to their website, click on consumers, then Creative Corner and find the matching product and you can download the template. Way cool and super easy.

A Big Thankyou

Just wanted to send a great big Thank you to Vicki Chrisman for all the fabulous goodies that she sent me for participating in the Pay it Forward. Oh my gosh....everything is just so awesome. Beautiful papers, tons of Heart Warming vintage images, darling lace and trim, and the most darling pendant, plus so much more. I love it all...what a lucky girl I am. I can't wait to get to Play!!! Too much fun.

The pictures just don't do justice to how gorgeous all the goodies are or how beautiful the pendant is!!!!!!

Again stop by her blog and become totally addicted like me! LOL! www.vickichrisman.blogspot.com

Lots of New Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage

For all of you who have fallen in love (like we have) with Craft Secrets Heartwarming Vintage, our new shipment has arrived. Lots and lots of fun new things. Fourteen new acrylic stamp sets, new cotton scraps, 7 new vintage booklets full of awesome images, new cardstock stickers with incredible vintage designs. We can't say enough about this company. They are fantastic!

Check out their website and blog http://www.craftysecrets.com/ and my favorite http://www.vickichrisman.blogspot.com/, you'll love everything you see and tons of inspiration.

Awesome Clear Pail

Thought I would share this awesome clear pail that was designed by Becky. Becky put her own spin on our version for the cookie exchange. We love this and love it when people take their own route. Very cool Becky!

Noel ( No L ) Sale

The Playground is having a No L sale this week, Tuesday through Saturday, December 11-15. What is a No L sale???? Well, you will save 15% on any company that doesn't have an L in their name, such as...Fancy Pants, Basic Grey, 7 gypsies and many more.

Stop in and save this week with this fun sale!!

A Great Weekend

Hoping all of you had a great weekend! Got all of your shopping done and hopefully a little time to relax and enjoy the beautiful snow.

We had a blast at the Cookie Exchange here at the Playground. Lots of creativity, friendship and delicious cookies...what more can you ask for. We had so much fun that we will do it again next year, maybe it will become a annual event.

I spent Sunday in the hills with my family. It was absolutely gorgeous. Crisp, clear and beautiful snow covered trees. Jack Frost has really been busy. We went sledding or let's say extreme sledding up by Deerfield. Way too much fun and I'm happy to report that there were no injuries. My husband, son and brother-in-law get a little carried away, you'd think they were competing in the X games or something.

Pay it Forward

I was checking out my favorite blog yesterday when I came upon the paragraphs below about a Pay if Forward (PIF) exchange and I just had to respond. I love all of Vicki Chrisman's work and I am a huge fan of her's. I was one of the first three to respond, so we receive a handmade gift from her.



In turn, we will Pay it Forward. So the first three who leave a comment on our blog requesting to join the exchange will receive a handmade surprise from us. In turn you have to Play it Forward to 3 people and keep it going. You can post it on your blog or just keep it going among your friends. Just like Vicki says you can wait til after the holidays to Pay it Forward.

Check out Vicki's blog here: www.VickiChrisman.blogspot.com

**********************

Yesterday while I was checking out the very talented Kristy's work at Tikkelperin jutskia, I saw this post and decided I wanted to play along. With it being the season of giving , I thought it would be the perfect chance to get in the spirit.



I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF (Pay it forward) exchange.I'm not sure what that gift will be. It will be a surprise! The only thing you have to do in return is to pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So basically, if you’re one of the first 3 comments, I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make! Once you sign up, I'll email you to let you know that you are one of the three. Then copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work. Pay it Forward!



It doesn't have to be anything major or time consuming... it's just the "giving" thing. Here are three little charms I made for mine. The first three of you who want to play along...just let me know. Either post here , or shoot me an email. I'll send you one of these.. and you can continue the "Play it forward" whenever it works for you. I know it's a busy time of year... so you can even wait until after the holidays to do yours if you wish. Just thought it would be fun.

Christmas Tag Workshop

Tag Workshop & CD Folder

20 tags (10 designs) & CD Folder

Saturday, December 15th, 10:30 am

cost -$24.00 tax and snacks included

Need to make some handmade tags for all your packages? Then this is the workshop for you. You will make 20 tags, 2 of each design, and a beautiful CD folder to store them in. There are a variety of tags, from super cute to vintage, and everything in between.

We have room for 10 and we will be serving holiday snacks. Just a nice way for you to unwind and spend a couple hours among friends. Hope to see you soon!

Call or email to reserve your spot, 721-play (7529) or artplay@rushmore.com

All classes must be prepaid to reserve your spot. You can call us with a credit card number, stop in or mail a check.

Register to Win!!!

We will be giving away this great wreath filled with all kinds of little goodies for your creative soul. Some of the little goodies include: Bare Elements small tag book, valentine embellishments, mini Noel Stampington clear stamp, Doodlebug Christmas Jewels, mini glue dots, Creative Impressions Felt Flowers, Gooseberry Patch ornament.

All you have to register to win is leave a comment on the blog, subscribe to the blog, or stop in the store to register.

The wreath will be given away the week before Christmas.

New Arrivals

The new ribbons and felt embellishments from Creative Impressions arrived this week. Fun grid ribbons that curls super easy and great felt blooms and leaves in bright, heritage, and pastel colors. We just love these blooms. Plus we got some darling baby rick rack, so cute.

We got all the new Stampington magazines in too. You have to check these out, they are just full of great ideas and tons of inspiration. Beautiful stuff!

Make N Take Super Sunday

Yep, that's right, this week's make n take will be on Sunday. Downtown will be celebrating the holidays with all the store's being open, music and refreshments. We will be open from 11 am to 4 pm this Sunday only.

Come in and make a Santa magnet. They are very pretty magnets made with glass baubles and vintage Santa images. There will be several images from you to choose from. These are perfect to go on your fridge to hold artwork, naughty and nice lists, and holiday photos.

Hope to see you Sunday!

Cookies, Anyone??!?!?!

Acrylic Pail & Recipe Book Class with Cookie exchange

$20.00 tax included

Thursday, December 6 at 6 pm

scissors & adhesive required

In this class, you will decorate a clear gallon pail with cardstock stamps, glitter, ribbon and fabric. We will be using the Cuttlebug to do some embossing. This pail is super cute. We will also be making a matching recipe book with the same embellishments.

Here's the fun part: it's a cookie exchange, too. You will need to bring 6 of your favorite holiday cookies for each participant, plus enough copies of your recipe for everyone.

The recipe needs to be on a 4x6 recipe card or on any 4x6 piece of cardstock--if your recipe carries over onto the back please use another card, so that they fit into the book nicely. Please feel free to stop down to the store if you need some recipe cards for the class.

The pail will hold a few cookies, but you will need to bring along something to take all your cookies home in.

We have a limit of 10 for this class, that's 5 dozen (60) cookies to bake and exchange.

This should be a blast and a perfect way to get a variety of cookies without having to do so much baking. Plus you'll go home with a great gift and book full of fabulous recipes.

All participants must pay for the class upon reserving your spot. You can pay by phone with a credit card, mail a check, or stop in the store.

A few new things!!!

Some fun new items arrived at the Playground on Tuesday. Frosted Prima's in two new colors, Stampendous Class A Peels, Frost A Peels, and some great holiday acrylic stamps from Stampendous.

We have a Cookie Exchange Clear Gallon Pail class with a chipboard recipe book coming up soon, both were designed with the holiday stamps seen here. I will post pictures tomorrow along with a date and time.

The Class A Peel's are just simply gorgeous, they add so much to cards and other art projects. Just like they say on the label: Class.

We got fun new grid ribbon in today and some awesome felt embellishments, along with some darling baby rick rack. I'll get pictures posted tomorrow along with the info about the class. And I forgot that we are going to do a Gift Tag workshop coming up soon, also.

Have a great day everyone!!!

Happy Birthday Mom !!!!

Okay, so I'm a little late in the posting this, but I just had to do it! My mom, Nancy, celebrated her birthday on Sunday and I just wanted to wish her more love & wishes.

I love you lots and lots Mom. So blessed to have you!

Just had to share this adorable picture of her with all of you!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Just Checking In...

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has recovered from some serious shopping. We are expecting lots of new things this week at the Playground. We have some great new ribbons and baby rick rack coming from Creative Impressions, along with some fun new felt flowers. Also, we have some fun new acrylic embellishments that will be tons of fun with alcohol inks and rub-ons. Can't wait to get to play. I will post pictures as items arrive.

I thought I would post this awesome layout that Kay did with a Fancy Pants transparency. We have several transparencies from Fancy Pants to choose from, and they make scrap booking super fast, super easy, and make your pages look incredible. You have to give them a try. Kay was done with this layout in a matter of minutes and it's fabulous.

Giveaway winner!!!

Leslie Ashmore is the winner of the Fancy Pants Giveaway this week! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and leaving a comment, we really appreciate it. Just stop in and pick up your kit!

Make n Take Saturday

This Saturday we will be doing another Make n Take. It's a cute Naughty or Nice Altered Mini Composition book with a Vintage Santa. Perfect for all of your holiday shopping lists and all of your creative ideas. Come Play!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you all have a great day and enjoy all of your blessings!

Reminder to sign up for the blog or leave comment so that you can get your name in on the drawing for the Fancy Pants Giveaway. Kay and I will draw a name on Friday this week, yes, I was planning on Thursday but forgot about the holiday.

I thought it would be kind of fun and interesting to list what we are thankful for this Thanksgiving. List four things you are thankful for and let's post them.

I'm thankful for:

the love and support of my family and friends.

the blessing of getting to do what I truely love...creating.

all the great customers and new friends that I have met through the Playground and Scrappin' Ladies 2.

the blessing of good health, a good life, great friends, and a fabulous family.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Creative Cards from Fancy Pants

Just wanted to quickly post the new Creative Cards from Fancy Pants. The are a number of different sets or you can buy them individually. The cards our double-sided with beautiful designs on one side, and the other side is for journaling with gorgeous flourishes and such. One set even has journaling prompts to help you get started on what to write. We are crazy about theses cards, use them for card fronts, scrap booking, tags and beautiful projects.

Fancy Pants Holly Jolly

Holly Jolly Christmas papers and rub-ons have arrived at the Playground. These gorgeous papers are from Fancy Pants and are double-sided. There are two different sets of rub-ons to go with these super pretty papers...make cards or layouts for the holidays with Holly Jolly.

Fancy Pants Giveaway

This week the Playground is giving away another great kit, this time it's from Fancy Pants.

Kay and I both love this company's products, they are so much fun and just so unique. The kit has double sided Fancy Pants paper, Fancy lace wraps, Fancy Botanical titles and tags, Bazzil Destinations card stock plus assorted flowers and embellishments.

To win this great Fancy Pants kit, all you have to is leave a comment on the blog or subscribe to the blog. Kay and I will put every one's name into a basket and draw the winner next Friday.

Make sure to check out http://www.fancypantsdesigns.com/ to look at great ideas and all of their product.

Basic Grey Figgy Pudding Make N Take

Saturday we will be doing a Make N Take with the Basic Grey Figgy Pudding Ornament kit. These are really cute and go together pretty fast. You can add glitter,beads, baubles and ribbon and really dress them up. Stop in and make one this Saturday.

Giveaway Winner

Jenn Boerger is the winner of this week's giveaway. She wins the Tinkering Ink Blanc Noir kit. Check out the previous post to view this awesome kit. Jenn, just stop in and pick up your kit anytime. Thanks so much for viewing and leaving a comment on the blog. Kay and I really appreciate it.

We are going to do another giveaway this week. So, check back to see what this week's giveaway will be. All you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment or subscribe to the email for the blog.

Thanks to all that entered!

New Arrivals

K& Company's new Smitten papers arrived today at the Playground. These pretty pink papers are just beautifiul, you're going to love these. Romantic, soft and frilly patterns make these papers a must have, plus we have more embellishments arriving soon to coordinate with these papers.

We also received Doodlebug Jewels today. They are self adhesive rhinestones is assorted sizes. The beetle black and tuxedo collection are especially fun, since it is so hard to find black rhinestones. Blue jean, Amber, Turquoise and a Christmas assortment are the others that we

received. These little bits are just what you need to add that little bit of bling to your holiday projects.

Making Memories Clear Flowers, also self adhesive, were in our order today. This assortment of clear acetate flowers with several fun patterns are just way too cute. I just love Making Memories embellishments and these are just awesome.

Stop in and Play this week!

Altered Star!!!!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and a wonderful Monday! I enjoyed my two days off and am refreshed for another week. Leslie and I went to the craft show at the Civic Center, lots of fun things there; lots of great jewelery....that I'm kicking myself for not buying. Oh well, I can always get it at the next show.

I made this altered tin star last week at the Playground. I got the star at Menard's (they come in silver, gold, or red.) This one is silver, papered with Basic Grey Figgy Pudding. I love this paper. Each point is half paper and half Stream alcohol ink, then stamped with flourishes in Timber Brown Staz On Ink! I love how it turned out, it was easy and fast. They would make great gifts this season.

We have new papers and embellishments coming in this week, so I will keep you up to date on what is arriving and what we will be doing for this Saturday's make n take.

Don't forget to check out the giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on the blog or subscribe to the blog. Somebody is going to get great kit this coming Thursday...make sure to check it out.

Giveaway

The Playground has a Giveaway this week. It's a Tinkering Ink Blanc Noir kit...the black and white papers listed earlier in the blog. This kit has 6 patterned papers, black and white cardstock, monograms, tags and other die cuts, brads, eyelets, buttons,Heidi Swapp and Maya Road flowers, plus scroll organdy ribbon. This Tinkering Ink kit is fun and elegant and will make lots of layouts or great cards.

To enter this week's giveaway, all you have to do is subscribe to the blog or leave a comment.

Next Thursday, Kay and I will put all the names in a basket and draw a name out for the winner. We will announce the winner on the blog and email, plus have the winner's name posted in the store.

Good luck to all!!!!!!!!!!

Make -n- Take Saturday

We are going to do another make n take on Saturday, November 10. Just stop by and make this awesome card. A vintage Santa with some snow texture to finish it off. Kay designed this card and everyone just loves it and wants to know how she did it. So, we're going to show you how it was done.

We will have other vintage images that you can purchase and make into beautiful Christmas cards and tags. They are so pretty, stop by and take a peek.

Crafty Secrets Chipboard Dress

Finally, I got the photos of this sweet little dress uploaded to the blog. It's just so cute. A great little kit from Crafty Secrets, it was simple, fast, and turned out super cute. I used a double sided paper from Fancy Pants, stamped some flourishes in brown, added some ribbon, prima's and rhinestones. Now all I need to do, is add a picture of sweet little Tabi!

Crafty Secrets also makes a cute short-all chipboard outfit for little boys and absolutely darling little chipboard house. Just cover with papers, paint, ink or whatever technique you want try and you have a great gift or wonderful treasure for yourself.


Isn't she precious?!?!?!?!

Happy Birthday to Bam!!!!

Happy Birthday to Bam! Tuesday, November 6, is my Grandpuppy Bam's first birthday! Gotta love this big lug. He is an awesome, sweet boy and will all love him dearly.

Still have to take new pictures of the Crafty Secrets chipboard dress that I was telling you about yesterday. My camera card seems to be done for. I will take new pictures on Tuesday and get it posted.

Happy Birthday Bam A Lam! Grandma loves you!

An Adorable Diaper Cake for Tabi

Wanted to share these photos of a diaper cake that I made for the prettiest little princess I know, Tababtha. Tabatha was born August 29 and I hosted a shower for her in October and the diaper cake was my center piece and part of my gift for Tabi.

The cake had over 125 diapers rolled into a three tier cake, held together with low tack painter's tape so that all the diapers are usable. I added a dowel through the middle for stability and placed it on a cake round sprayed with pink glimmer mist. I covered the the layers with baby pink papers, added pink tulle over the top of the diapers, tied it all together with soft pink ribbons and embellished it with prima flowers, buttons, and pink rhinestones. Then topped off with baby girl beanie baby (her Grandma's favorite). The cake was just awesome and everyone thought it was a real cake when they came in the door. Amber (Tabi's mama) refuses to take the cake apart and use the diapers, she wants to save it for Tabi's future tea parties.

I made this little chipboard dress this past week at the store. It is one of Crafty Secrets new additions. So cute, so easy! I just love this company, they have the great products. I fell in love with all their items though a blog I visit all the time This Art that Makes Me Happy. The gal that has this blog, Vicki Chrisman, is an awesome designer for Crafty Secrets, Fancy Pants, Accucut, just to name a few.

Okay, back to the dress. I am going to put Tabi's picture with her diaper cake on the inside, the little dress folds open to add photos or you can make it into an album by adding several pages. Very fun!

Sorry, my chipboard dress photos will not upload onto the computer, so I will take new pictures tomorrow and try again. Darn thing!

Hope you all had a fun, creative weekend!