New Tim Holtz Stamps

If you're a fan of Ranger Industries designer Tim Holtz, you'll want to stop by the store to see the new stamp sets that recently arrived. We have received some of Tim's new Christmas sets as well as other sets with images inspired by his extensive travels around the globe.

The stamps are high-quality rubber cling-mount stamps and they make beautiful impressions. We also have a selection of Tim's Idea-ology findings including the new Word Sticks and various fasteners.

This Mona Lisa card created by design team member Karen features numerous Ranger products including Tim Holtz stamps, Adirondack alcohol inks, and some Idea-ology findings.

If you like the look of this card, you might be interested in the Vintage Stylings Club facilitated by Karen. Vintage Stylings meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. Information about all of the store's clubs and classes can be found on this website or you can contact the store with questions.

Now that cooler weather has arrived, I have a good excuse to stay indoors and create! And with all of these new products, I can really step it up. I hope you, too, find time to create something you enjoy.

~ Karen ~

October 6 Vintage Stylings

Hello everyone and welcome to October! It certainly has felt like autumn the last couple of days. We even fired up the furnace to make sure it would start (thankfully it did!).

If you've signed up for the October 6 Vintage Stylings class, please remember to bring your basic tool kit and a pair of small, sharp scissors to do some detail cutting. If you own a Ranger Non-stick Craft Sheet, please bring it, also. The craft sheet will not only protect your work surface, but will make clean-up a breeze.

If you have a nice manicure or simply don't like getting inky fingers, you might want to invest in a pair of vinyl or latex gloves before class. Sally Beauty Supply is a good source for such gloves.

I look forward to seeing you Tuesday night!

~ Karen ~

We're Shabby But Chic

Class: Vintage Stylings
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.


The Vintage Stylings Club will be going "grunge" in October. With Grungepaper, that is! We'll be making this shabby chic wall hanging inspired by the artwork of Illinois artist Wendy Vecchi. With just a few supplies including Wendy's Studio 490 stamps and some Grungepaper, we'll turn a plain piece of chipboard into a wall hanging suitable as a gift or to keep for yourself.

You'll need your basic tool kit for this class and in particular a good pair of sharp scissors, as we will be doing some "fussy cutting" for this project. A pair of sharp, small-tip scissors will make this task easier for you.

Stop by the store to see the new Studio 490 stamp sets that just arrived. The sets come with high-quality, cling-mount rubber stamps, include a large background stamp, and are so versatile. You can mix and match all of the images and sentiments to create some beautiful cards or altered items, or to enhance your scrapbooking pages.

This class is limited to 10 people so call All About Pictures (319-364-4141) or stop in soon to sign up! If more than 10 people sign up, we will start a wait list. If necessary we will offer the class a second time in order to accommodate everyone.

~Karen~

Special Class: Grungepaper Flower Frame

Class: Grungepaper Flower Frame
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

In this special weekend class we will make this adorable picture frame. We'll be using a variety of Ranger products including crackle paint, Grungepaper, and distress inks to alter a plain wooden frame into something you can proudly display in your home.

This frame would also make a great gift for a friend or family member. Don't panic yet, but Christmas is only 90 days away from the date of this class!

Stop by the store to see the original frame in person and to sign up for this class. You can also call the store at 319-364-4141 to register. Because of the amount of time required to complete this project, class size is limited so don't delay!

~Karen~

What is Koloring with Karen?

Koloring with Karen is one of the monthly clubs offered at All About Pictures. It is taught by Karen (who also teaches Vintage Stylings) and it meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. New members are welcome to join the club at any time and there is no fee to join, although you do need to register for class in advance each month. There is a fee of $10 per club meeting (usually just called "class"), plus a materials fee determined by that month’s project. Enrollment each month is limited so be sure to sign up early.

Each month Karen chooses a stamped image and shows the class how to color it using Prismacolor Premier Pencils. Those stamped images are then used to create a variety of projects including greeting cards, gift items, even the gift bag itself!

Prismacolor Premier Pencils are artist-quality colored pencils with rich pigments that are so easy to blend even a beginner will get fabulous results. To participate in the club, you need to have at minimum the set of 24 Prismacolor pencils. Although you can buy a larger set if you want to (the pencils are sold in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 120, and 132), you do not have to have a larger set to participate in this class. Just make sure that you have the Prismacolor Premier pencils, not the watercolor, verithin, light-fast, or other versions.

In addition to your Prismacolor pencils, you will need blending stumps and some odorless mineral spirits. I do not recommend or even require that you purchase these before coming to your first class, because I don't want you to accidentally buy the wrong thing. I can set you up with some "loaners" to use for your first class, and at that time you will learn exactly what you need to purchase if you want to do any coloring at home.

You should always bring your basic tool and supply kit to every class (paper trimmer, scissors, paper scorer/bone folder, and a variety of adhesives including your favorite paper glue or two-sided tape, pop-dots, glue-dots, etc). For certain projects, I may notify club members in advance of other tools or supplies that we will be using so that they can bring them if they have their own.

If you would like to sign up for Koloring with Karen, call the store (364-4141) or stop in. The next meeting is Thursday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m., and I am planning a fun project with a fall theme. Stay tuned to the blog for future updates and photos!

~Karen~

This colored pear teabag holder completed in the Koloring with Karen Club makes a nice teacher or coworker gift.

Incredible Intaglio!

Class: Vintage Stylings
Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Never heard of intaglio, you say? You even read the Wiki entry about it and still have no idea how you could apply this to your paper crafting?

Don't worry, be happy! At Vintage Stylings Club on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, you will learn how to create some wonderful three-dimensional pieces of intaglio art that can be used to decorate cards, scrapbook pages, altered items, wall hangings, or anything else you want to create.

You'll have the chance to practice the technique several times, we'll make some tiles like the one pictured above, and then we will create this gorgeous card that anyone would be privileged to receive. Or maybe you'll want to keep the card for yourself. (I won't tell anyone if you do.)













Here are some of the supplies we will be using in this class. If you own any of them already, please bring them with you.

• Versamark ink pad
• Stazon ink pad (black)
• UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)
• Perfect Pearls (any colors--bring your Perfect Medium and brushes also)
• Embossing powders (any colors)
• Non-stick craft sheet
• Heat embossing tool
• Embossing tray (to catch your embossing powder)
• Black Sharpie marker (fine or medium point works best)
• Favorite rubber stamps (solid stamps or stamps without a lot of small details work best)
• Your basic stamping and scrapping tool kit (paper trimmer, paper scorer, scissors, adhesives, your favorite corner and border punches, and anything else you can't live without when you're crafting)

Class starts at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1. Call the store (364-4141) or stop in to register and to see the class project in person. This technique is going to expand your artistic horizons so you do not want to miss it.

~ Karen ~