It’s Almost Here . . .

The Rustic Corner women have been hard at work this week getting ready for our 3rd Annual Holiday Open House! Where did the summer go, where did the fall go and who ordered all the great items that we found in the boxes?

Make sure to visit us Friday 9 – 7, Saturday 9 – 4 and now on Sunday’s 11 – 4. We’ll have snacks, drinks and great items to decorate your house and give as gifts this holiday season.

We’ll post more pictures and comments later – it’s still a secret!

You’ve Heard Me Say It Before

I tend to go on and on about things that I’m excited about. Ask my mother or my daughter and they will attest that I can get a bit preachy, naggy, overbearing, repetitive, (pick your word and insert here!) when I have something that is awesome, cool, and way better than the average stuff. It’s here at The Rustic Corner and it isn’t a secret and you don’t have to belong to our underground society. It’s out there and people are getting it…why aren’t you? If you’re not sure what I am talking about because I am rambling on, I’ll just say it bluntly – Simply Swank. This stuff is soooo COOL! You can make everyone something and make yourself a few things too! If you like to collect stuff and you haven’t found a use for it yet, here is your chance. Use your collection or start collecting new stuff (my husband would LOVE that!) There is so much you can do with it.

Mom making magnets for her daughter's birthday.

Simply Swank is a soldering tool sensation. It is delicate enough to solder sterling and beefy enough to add coats of solder to make your project chunky and shiny. It is being review in magazine after magazine and people are loving it. Here is a link to a free project: http://www.stampington.com/creative_impulse/2009/october/16/potw.html We have the iron and all the stuff you need to complete this project and if you don’t have this tool you can come in during Open Crafting and use it or call ahead and we can make space for you. Of course there is a small fee of $10 and you will need to buy supplies but you can have a completed project or two to take home. You can make necklaces, bracelets, watches, key chains, art pieces, memory books, bookmarks, charms…Your imagination is the only limit here! I’ve even had a mom make magnets give away to the adults at her daughter’s birthday party and they loved it.

If you want to learn more about Simply Swank, stop in the store and I would LOVE to show you how it works! (I want more time to work with this tool. It is sooo cool!)

Creepy Crusty Critters Visit TRC

Spiders are not my favorite. That’s it. Period. Don’t want one to sneak up on me and don’t want one to wave at me first and then approach me. Just don’t like them. Eeww! Eeww! Eeww! As if I need to make myself clearer – I just don’t like spiders. Now that I have that out of my system (well kind of anyway). We are gearing up at The Rustic Corner for the horrid, haunting, holiday of Halloween. It is just around the corner, you know. Infact it’s racing up behind you right now. Are you ready?

The best way to keep the “real” spiders away is to spin your own web and as the nights get longer, what better way to light up your front step than a flickering jack-o-lantern. I do have to admit I love to hear the leaves crunching and the colors of fall are among my favorites. Funny how the warm colors of fall signify the cooling of the earth? It is a bit ironic, really. Halloween goodies are aplenty and there is a little something special around each corner. When you visit be sure to look in every little nook and cranny or you might miss that little something you need to decorate your home.

Even if your not a Halloween addict, there is something for you too. New fall candle scents (I recommend Simply Autumn or Weathered Crow from 1803), pictures, plates and paintings are tucked in here and there and some will be coming home with me soon. My husband would like it if you would buy it before I do but I am perfectly happy taking it home with me. Don’t forget to pick up a fall sign for your arrow! There are some new designs this year. Oh, I can’t forget to mention the garlands! Bittersweet, fall leaves and grapevine garlands are here for the buying. It’s so easy to decorate now that you can find it all in one place – The Rustic Corner!

There are some beautiful new fall and Halloween papers in for crafters and scrappers alike. Stop in and check it out. If you’re not crafty, we’ll still let you look, although you may have to fill out a creative licensing application if you feel you need to pick up a piece or two. If I am feeling really generous, I could even show you some super simple projects that you could personalize and create to your own liking. It’s really easy. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it!

Speaking of creative time…the first late night crafting time of the season is Friday, October 16. It starts at 7pm and goes untill we’re pooped! You can work on whatever! If you paint, you can paint. If you scrapbook, you can scrapbook. If your thing is cardmaking, work on that. But if you are a cow chip thrower, I might have a problems finding enough space to fit your needs but I will do my best. Just give me a call if you plan on coming in so I can move my stuff (I have a lot of stuff!) or set up more tables if I need to. I love to have people around creating. It is amazing how the creative process is amped up when there are others creating around you.

Don’t forget to check out the classes at www.TheRusticCorner.com. There is a couple or kids or kids-at-heart on October 15 and 23 and a even a couple geared for the older set. Beginning scrapbooking is October 7th from 5pm to 7 pm. Come make a cookbook on Wednesday, October 21 5pm to 7pm. If you want to try your hand at cardmaking, I’ve got that covered too! The 2nd set of cards for the 12 Cards of Christmas is the week of October 28. You can come in anytime the 28th or on the 31st to make your cards. There is no set time or time limits. Please call ahead on all classes so we have enough materials for everyone. www.TheRusticCorner.com has all the information you need!

Stop on in and say “hi” and take a gander at the store. The displays and decor will put a little spring in your step and a relaxed grin on your face and our staff will be right there if you need a little help deciding which goes with what and what would make a great gift for someone you love or a co-worker’s birthday.

Hope to see you soon!

Erin

erin@therusticcorner.com

We’re gearing up for our Fall Shindig

Events at The Rustic Corner are always a “Hoot” and this one is no exception. There will be dips, coffees, snacks and of course a little bit of surprise rolled in just for the right touch of fun! A free make-n-take will be available to the first 20 people in the door and there will be plenty of new fall items to tickle your fancy.

Stop on in Friday, Sept 18 and Saturday, Sept 19 to see what’s happening at The Rustic Corner!

The first 5 people to mention this blog will receive a free gift!

For All You Stampington & Company Fans…

I have had to wait a whole week for this shipment to come in. I am not a patient person by any means and when I REALLY want something that trait seems to get worse. I’ve been tapping my foot, staring at the phone waiting for it to ring and my nails have looked better. I couldn’t stand it any more. I had to call and what music do you suppose I got to hear? “Lsonberg has signed for them today…” That’s the last thing I remember the lady on the other end saying. I may have even cut her of when I said “thank you!” and hung up. Oops!

You won’t be able to blame me once you see what the UPS man brought…Stampington Stamps! Too cool! Way awesome! What project do I even start on! My head is spinning worse than normal and my heart is racing right out of my chest! If you have been looking at the Stampington & Company magazines here at the store you will share my enthusiasm. Here is a peek at just a few that we now have.

Stop in and check it out!

Looking for a little Insiration?

We can all use a little help now and then. I tend to drift to the internet for inspiration. I thought I would share one of my faves with you! Enjoy!

Click on the picture to the right to visit the blog!

I Challenge You to a Paper Duel!

I came in this morning and got to thinking…(Yeah, I know it goes against my doctor’s orders but I did it anyway!) How many cards can I get out of three pieces of paper? It doesn’t sound like a lot to work with but with all the cute paper I have to choose from, I was sure I could come up with quite a few.

I have to admit choosing only three papers was not easy, but I did it.  I chose Cosmo Cricket’s Girl Friday line as my paper of choice. It is so cute! The papers I chose were Elements, Thursday, and Sunday. Then the designing process began. All the papers are two sided which only ads to the fun and the sayings and pictures on the Elements sheets are a little “retro fun” begging to be used.

I was able to create these 6 cards and a fun little spiral notebook and still had some scraps left for fun later.

The card blanks are from 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock that I had laying around and the notebook was 33¢ from the “Back to School” specials we had in town. That means that the cost of each item was under 50¢! Now considering that I could go and pick from cards that anyone can buy and a notebook that everyone else has and spend $10 for the lot, I saved myself over $6.50 by doing it myself and I have originals!

How many projects can you make from three pieces of paper? I challenge you to find out!

Yikes!

Having a great picture is only a part of making fun layout. A little creativity can go a long way. Here is a layout that can look daunting but is really easy to recreate.

Here’s what you’ll need:

One piece of double sided paper (I used Cogsmo Links from Cosmo Cricket)

So Precious rub ons

Miscellaneous paper flowers

3 Brads

3 complimentary colored cardstock

Foam Dots

Double Sided Tape

Glue Dots

Black Journaling Pen

Orchid template

1. Using the Orchid template, trace image in the middle of your double sided cardstock. Carefully cut out the traced image with an exacto knife. This step must be done with care.

2. Flip the middle piece and rotate until it fits in the hole. Tape on the back side to hold in place.

3. Cut light colored cardstock 1/4″ bigger than your picture. Mount using double sided tape. Cut medium colored cardstock 1/4″ bigger that the light cardstock. Mount using double sided tape.

4. Create title with chipboard letters or cut with Cricut or other diecutting machine. (I used Opposites Attract Cricut cartridge.)

5. Strip Journal your story. (Lightly draw lines using a pencil on coordinating cardstock. Journal and cut into strips.)

6. Put pieces on your layout without adhesive to fine-tune your layout.

7. Cut out the rub ons from the So Precious packet and place in various locations to accent your layout. Rub into place with the popsicle stick that is included.

8. Attach the rest of your prepared pieces. Use foam dots for your tile and double sided tape for the rest.

9. Stack your paper flowers and insert brad into the middle to create 3 different complete flowers. Attach with glue dots.

Your master piece is finished!

Average cost for this layout is $2.40 (excluding adhesive)

The Orchid template cost is $7.00 and can be used over and over again on different crafting projects.

Email me a picture of your completed variation of this layout and you will be entered into a drawing for a goodie bag and I will post your layout on this blog! (Entry deadline is August 31!) erin@therusticcorner.com

Swanky Ladies

Saturday, August 8th a group of ladies took an opportunity to get swanky at The Rustic Corner. These ladies far exceeded my expectations in their ability to create beautiful soldered art pieces. They started at 10 am and stayed until everyone was finished. It was so much fun! They created 3 seperate soldered pieces: a personalized keychain, a magnet and an ornament. If you see any of these ladies be sure to ask them what they created. Don’t let them say that it’s not good enought to show you, I’ve seen then and they are awesome!

Moonlight Madness was a hit!

Ok. The moon was hidden by the overcast skies but that didn’t stop the Madness at The Rustic Corner! We were dressed to the nines (maybe more like a 6 1/2) in our deluxe hillbilly attire. The only thing NOT missing was a few front teeth.

All our cousins (or maybe they were our brothers and sisters, it’s so hard to keep track) stopped in for Moonshine and Moonpies and a bit of fun. Bag gropin’ was an on-going sport at the Over The Moon tank. Trinkets and treasure, perfect for gift giving and filling that little niche, were in each bag and even a few had store gift cards.

Moonshine (La La Lemonade) was served to all ages. It’s important to start ‘em at a young age to build up their tolerance. The chocolately goodness of the moonpies were hard to resist. There are a few left today but you will have the wrestle them out of my hands! That’s right, hands. One moonpie in each hand makes Erin a happy girl!

The sugar rush finally came to an end at 9:oo pm and we all came crashing down. I think this event will definately be a repeat next year. That gives you 12 months to do your hillbilly shopping and get YOUR hillbilly attire ready!