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Store Hours
Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun: we are closed
For Four evenings on Thursday, we are open until 7 pm
October 22 and 29, and November 5 and 12, 2015

30 Main St, Topsfield, MA 01983, 978-887-6397, www.absolutelyeverything.com

Newsletter for Friday, April 11

Classes at AE

To see complete class info, please use the link to the Calendar Page, here

We have added new classes. Details below:

The dates for the upcoming Card Club classes are as follows:

April 25(Fri.) and 29 (Tues.)
May 23(Fri.) and 27(Tues.)
June 20 (Fri.) and 24(Tues.)

Please Note: Specially Scheduled Kids' Classes for the Spring Vacation week. Details below.

Basic Stamping Classes, with Terri
Session #4 will be all about adding color to your stamped images, and it will be scheduled for sometime in May.

April 12 Seth Apter Visits AE!
Today is the last chance for sign-ups.
Please join us as we welcome this wonderful mixed-media artist to our store. Seth has a great class planned for us.

Saturday, April 12-Mixed Media Dossier--all day $90.
In this workshop you will create a personal dossier - a handmade, mixed media journal that you can use long after the workshop ends. Use it as a daily journal, a travel journal, a family scrapbook, or a theme-based diary for your interests, hobbies, or collections. During the workshop you will learn a variety of mixed media techniques for creating layers, texture, and dimension. A simple approach to binding will allow you to pull the entire project together and to add pages to your dossier at any point in the future. In the end, you will take home a one-of-a-kind and highly personal keepsake. (Seth tells me we will be using his brand new stencils for this project!!)
The actual sample is here in the store now.
Supply List: (Students should bring)
14 book pages with text and images based on your theme (if making a daily journal chose dictionary pages; if making a travel journal chose pages from a travel guide for your destination, etc.)
9 sheets of 90lb-100lb watercolor or drawing paper cut to match the size of your book pages
White gesso
Fluid acrylics (assorted colors)
Acrylic glazing liquid (I prefer Golden)
Matte medium
Paint brushes (1 inch/ ½ inch cheap bristle brushes work well)
Water container
Paint palette
Brayer
Scissors or craft knife
Assorted rubber/clear stamps (including full letter set)
Ink pads in assorted colors
Favorite pens and markers
Assorted rub-ons and/or stickers including many letters
Low tech texture tools (corrugated cardboard, embossed/textured paper, etc)
12 eyelets
Eyelet setting tools

Elizabeth Crafts Card Class--Using Shimmer Sheets, Glitter, Peel-Offs and Copic markers
Thursday, April 17, 5 pm-8pm, $27.
Lots of techniques in this class. Please bring your Copic markers, including the blending marker. Just bring whatever colors you think will match the pictures.

Monthly Birthday Parties...well, at least, birthday classes.
We can never have enough cards for all the birthdays we need to remember, so we are doing a year-long series of "Birthday-related" cards, boxes, books, pop-ups, favors, organizers, etc. Choose any class, come to one or come to all of them. Prices are per class session.
Terri's next project, for April, is a pop-up box card, and an explosion box, using coordinated papers and themed for a birthday.
Class will be held on two different dates. Pick the one that fits your schedule.
Saturday, April 19th (Day before Easter!)
and Thursday, April 24. Both classes run from 10 am-1 pm, and cost is $26.

Introduction to Soldering--
Please note the date change, to Saturday, April 19
We have tried to call everyone to let them know. Please contact us if this is not convenient.
10am-2pm, $50
This class will be for you if you have never soldered or even if you have done it a while ago and would like a refresher. I will provide the materials to make five glass charms. You need to bring a 100 watt soldering tool, a rheostat, and a tool holder. (this is crucial-you will need your own tools and the wattage must be 100!!) We have a limited supply of them in the store now. We will not be doing Christmas images...I will have some nice collage papers, and you are invited to bring anything special you might want to use...no photos--copies are okay.

School Vacation Week Kids' Classes
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22 & 23
10-12:30 each day
$40 covers the two-day session.
Terri has a double project planned for getting the kids started in having and keeping their own art journals. First, they will make the book, with all sorts of spraying, stenciling, and using pastes and inks. Then they will decorate a canvas shoulder bag to hold all their supplies, and the book fits in there, too.
We supply all the materials and tools. Please bring your own snack.

Visiting Teacher-Cheryl Mezzetti
Saturday, April 26, 10am-3pm
Class is $50.
Plaster/Encaustic Mixed Media Art Journal Class
Designed by Cheryl Mezzetti

Description: Cheryl takes Mixed media to a new level with the introduction of Plaster, Beeswax and Primary Elements Pigments!! Cheryl guides you through the process of the Luminarte and Viva Colour paint products and shows you how to take them into a new element by adding Beeswax and Plaster! Cheryl shares her knowledge of Luminarte and Viva Colour products {and other paints too} showing you how easy it is to use them together to create a unique journal! This class is packed with product information and techniques~ Trust me you don’t want to miss this class!

What to bring: {many of these items should be already in your craft area}.

Found objects: Bring whatever little trickets you have kicking around - I often use old broken jewelry and/or keys, buttons, washers, fabric swatches, wallpaper, etc.,etc. Anything you think would be interesting in your book. I have had some people bring old clip back earrings, brooches, even old photos or negatives.
OPTIONAL: Other found objects: If you want your book front to have a nature related look you can bring items such as berries, feathers, leaves {if you desire to add to your book front} Most all natural or dried items can be used and preserved.

Matte Medium {NOT MODGE PODGE}
Gesso {white} i prefer Claudine hellmuth for both the matte medium and the gesso
Non Stick Teflon Craft Sheet [ranger or bazzill}
Oyster Luminarte Acrylic Silk {one jar} Available at AE
Disposable plastic spoon and disposable cereal size bowl {for mixing plaster}
Heat dryer {ranger or similar NOT Embossing heaters}
water bucket or cup {to clean brushes}
Palette Knife and brayer
Spray bottle for water
Baby Wipes, Paper Towels
Various size brushes {including a 3/4" flat brush, detail brushes,etc}
glue dots, foam tape or squares
Black Archival Ink (if you plan to stamp into your book}
wax paper
APRON!!! A must!

Optional items:

Any old book pages you may want to use in your book
detail journaling pens {optional}
Any favorite stencils you might want to incorporate [optional}
Any favorite stamps you might want to incorporate (optional}

I bring some of the Paint items below to share but if you have some you can bring them to use!
Any Luminarte products {twinkling h20’s, silks, primary elements, sprayers or pourables}

Ice Resin Jewelry Elements Class
I have to change the date of the
Second Class added-I am changing it to Sunday, April 27,
1-4pm, $60
We will be learning the technique of mixing and using the Ice Resin, along with assorted Ice Enamels, both developed by Susan Lenart Kasmer. Each student will receive a set of the Ice Resin Mixtures , tools for application, assorted jewelry pieces and findings, as well as old book paper for making resin paper.
Please be sure to wear an apron, and bring rubber gloves if you prefer. Also, bring scissors, Heat tool, flat-nose pliers, and a shallow large box bottom, like a shirt box, for taking the resin pieces home.
We will provide all the extras, the Ice Enamels, collage papers, inclusions, and glitters. We will be playing with all the latest materials.

****New Class Scheduled
Bureau-Top Jewelry Configuration Tray
Saturday, May 3, $47
Join Kate as you assemble and decorate this wonderful and useful home decor piece. We will transform Tim's large Configuration tray into a wonderful holder for your jewelry...also...a great Mothers' day gift!! It can be used for anything you want to organize. All papers, glues, and embellishments are included.

Quick & Easy Cards,
Thursday, May 8, 5pm-7:30pm, $19
We are using the stamps and dies from My Favorite Things to make these three simple but very cool cards. Please bring your dot tape runner.

3-D Stand-Up Card Class with Kate
Saturday, May 10, 10am-1 pm, $30
You will be a pro using this 3-D technique after taking this class and constructing three cards...It is really quite simple once you learn. The cards are available for purchase in pre-cut packs. We will do quite a bit of the die-cutting for you, to make it a bit easier. You will need to bring a dot tape runner and a pair of scissors. All other supplies and tools will be provided.

*****Newly Scheduled Class
Metallic Mosaics
Tuesday, May 13, 10 am-1:30 pm, $49
We will be using pre-cut tiles, Shimmer Sheets, and Stazon inks to create this great art piece for the home. There are all sorts of tips that you will learn in this class on how to do this so that it looks professional. The 9x9-inch frame is included in the class, and everyone goes home with a completed project.
You will need to bring scissors, a Black Stazon pad, and a blending tool with foam attached.

*****Newly Scheduled Class
Framed Floral Mosaic
Thursday, May 15, 6-8:30 pm, or
Saturday, May 17, 1-4pm,
$30
We are using the tiles again, but this time we are creating a wonderful spring 3-D image within a white 9x9-inch frame, which is included in the class. Show off your artwork as the beautiful home decor that it can be. Makes a terrific gift!
Please bring your Prismacolor pencils, Black Stazon ink pad, Blending tool with foam attached, and scissors.

Five Card Class-Spring Events
Sunday, May 18, noon-3pm, $30
The Stampendous "Spring Events" board is in and Terri will be teaching all five cards from the board. We will be using Prismacolor pencils and gamsol for the coloring. Please bring the pencils that you have. We will have some for class sharing, and we will provide the gamsol and blending tools.

*****Newly Scheduled Class
Artful canvas
Saturday, May 31, 10 am - noon, $39
You will be creating your own version of this burlap panel, inspired by Richele Christiansen, who was here teaching a few months ago. I saw her piece on her blog and adapted it a bit for our class. Everyone will receive the burlap canvas and the entire set of the Tim Holtz Letterpress letters, so you can plan ahead and make up whatever word you want. It is a full alphabet and set of numbers. All other materials will be supplied as shared items. If you want to personalize it in any other way, feel free to bring stuff from home.

*****Newly Scheduled Class
Vintage Canvas
Sunday, June 1, noon-4pm (after the yard sale!) $39
Here is another great canvas class, this one designed by Tim Holtz himself. (I was in his class last weekend.) We will be using new dies, Found relatives, Chit Chat stickers, Distress Paints, Ephemera from Tim's two new sets, assorted metal embellishments, and we will make a "belt" with the new buckle and the measuring tape. Lots of great new tips and techniques directly from Mr. Holtz himself...I am just passing it on to all of you.

**Another Birthday Party???
We are turning "Sweet 16" this year,
and only celebrating it once...I know, weird, huh?? Anyway, it is the four-project format again, where you switch tables and make four cool cards...and we do all the prep work for you...so save this date--Saturday, June 21...you can sign up for either the 10-noon, or 1-3 time slots. We are limiting each time slot to 20 students.
$15 is the entry fee and everyone who takes the class gets a 15% discount off of regular items in the store that day. Each session has limited seating, ...no crowding and lots of teacher attention. Signing up early is always a good idea.

What's New in the Store???
Stampendous has a new board of the samples are easy to copy and make your own cards...Terri is doing a class

The Spellbinders new release of dies is here...new minis and some great frames and borders...

We've got the latest batch of Tim Holtz stamps and stencils...I have a feeling that the seahorse set will be pretty huge...

A Bit of Inspiration...
Here's a great way to use all the pieces from your efforts to do the "Inlay" technique...get three cards out of it!! I used the Memory Box die called "Blissful Butterfly Border." (In stock!!)

For the bird card, I used the matching Memory Box butterfly stencils, with Distress inks. The Dina Wakely bird is stamped in Archival black, and painted with Distress Paints...so easy.
The other card is the basket, grass, and bunnies from Impression Obsession, along with some Monami Gabby special green mesh-like ribbon, and the sticker is from Elizabeth Crafts.

Card Club is Ongoing...
The cards below were done by the group in past Card Club meetings. For $20 per month, you will receive a kit with all the materials to make eight cards that have been designed for each month...new kit each month. Card Club is open to all, requires a 3-month sign up, continue as long as you like. We are taking sign-ups for April now. You have the choice to attend each month, either on Tuesday morning, 10-1pm, or a Friday evening, 6-9pm. Current dates are listed at the top of the class article.

Silhouette Ongoing Learning...
We now have a Silhouette group that meets here once a month and they have their own blog. All the info about meetings, what to bring, when to come, can be found there. If you would like to join our group, there is no fee, and you can bring your Silhouette machine and laptop, as we have wifi in the store. Find the Silhouette Blog here.

A Few Notes:
We have the spring "Yard Sale" on the calendar now, and it will be Sunday, June 1, from 9am-11:30. We are taking reservations for table spots. ($18 per table) Set up is at 8 am, and the sale opens at 9 am. You need to provide your own table, chairs, change, bags, and air-conditioning.

Just a reminder...
Our hours are now as shown in the upper left corner, and reflect the fact that we will close at 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. All other hours will remain the same.
This change went into effect on Monday, March 10.

As an update on the "bag lady deal"...Whatever fits into the bag, at regular price, on any fifth Saturday, will qualify for a 20% discount. (Due to this discount, we will not be using the 6-block card at all on any fifth Saturday.) You need to have the bag with you (we now have more in stock, $5 anytime, $7 on the actual day of the event.) I am going to add a few extra events for the "Bag Ladies" this year, so having a bag is a great idea!

Save the Dates...

Els Van de Burgh, owner of Elizabeth Crafts, will be here the weekend of June 7 and 8, for classes in glittering, shimmer sheet , peel off stickers, and die-cuts using all of the above.

August 23-24, Saturday & Sunday, Dina Wakely will be here for some great art journal and art techniques, using all sorts of her new mixed media products, as well as tons of other products.