MILESTONES!

Milestones occur daily, and we must make the most of them, no matter how BIG, no matter how small.

No matter how Happy, no matter how sad. Everything from babies birth's to the first steps, the first days of school, to graduations. Weddings, to anniversaries, to promotions to retirement.

Back in 1954, this was a milestone of sorts for me. It was the day my parents (top photo) got married, and my Mother's parents (bottom photo) stood up for them. A day full of hopes and dreams, happiness and sadness, and dreams of days to come.

Today is also one of those days! No, nothing quite as spectacular as a wedding, but a milestone for me, none the less.

THIS IS THE 100TH POST TO OUR BLOG THAT I HAVE DONE AT STAMP ANTONIO ARTS!

I am so amazed that it is post number 100 already, and I have been having so much fun trying to post weekly, so that you all will be able to keep up with all of the fun things that are happening at Stamp Antonio. Sometimes I have fallen down in keeping things current, but hopefully you that check in from time to time will forgive me anyway.

This coming weekend, May 2, 2009, is National Scrapbooking Day across the nation, but at Stamp Antonio Arts it's AMUSE DAY! That's right, Geeta Suggs will be back at Stamp Antonio this Saturday, with a day full of card making mayhem with the ever popular Amuse line of rubber stamps! Geeta will hold three classes,

two card making classes, and another of the Copic Marker classes that only she teaches so well. You may check our web page for more information, or call the store at 210-342-6217 to reserve a space in one or all of these wonderful classes! Be sure to sign up early, because if you wait until the last minute, the class may no longer be available!

I want to personally thank all of you that follow this blog for your feedback, and for those of you who just found us, "what took you so long?"

Welcome to Stamp Antonio Arts!

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts

Metal Effects Cross Class!

(photo courtesy of Cindy Lyons) (click on photo to see larger image)


Last Saturday, April 18,2009 our own Carol Condos held a Metal Effects Class at Stamp Antonio Arts, and her students embossed these wonderful Crosses using the products available from Ten Seconds Studios. The works of art that come out of these classes are just awesome, and every class gets better and better. You may remember seeing in this blog about the tumblers and wall clocks that were decorated with this metal in previous blog posts, and now these wonderful crosses. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

If you are really interested in this Metal Effects art form, be sure to check out the web site for Ten Seconds Studios, and their Taco Tuesday videos that they do each week. The link is in the sidebar for your convenience. They really do some creative things with the metal and their templates. If you see something in the videos or on their site that you are dying to try, we do carry most of their products at Stamp Antonio, so you can come right on over and pick up some supplies. If Carol is here that day, she will even give you a mini-lesson to get you started creating some of these metal wonders.

Well, it's FIESTA Time again in San Antonio! and everyone is partying like there is no tomorrow! Parades, and floats, foods of all types from oysters to jalepenos, carnival rides, games of chance, all week with folks dressed up in the most colorful and outrageous outfits you can imagine. . . . . . . . if you haven't experienced FIESTA before, be sure and do so this week! If you want to share your experiences with love ones who don't live here, why not send them a card made with stamps from Stamp Antonio Arts. We have several different types of stamps that can be used for Fiesta type cards, and we even have samples to show you how you can decorate your own card, and even include a photo showing how much FUN you had here at the city-wide party. Be sure to stop by this week and experience a little Fiesta Fun at Stamp Antonio Arts. And don't forget. . . . . . . . . . . GO SPURS GO!

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts

Bluebonnets. . . . Have you seen any?

Bluebonnets are usually everywhere you look this time of year! But when you don't get rain at the right time of the year, the little things just don't have much of a chance to pop out and bloom.

Have you seen any bluebonnets this year? This photo is courtesy of our friend, Mark Jetton, of Deadbeat Designs stamps. He took a Road Trip one day, and had to go all the way over to East Texas to find some blooming along the highways like we usually see around here in Central Texas near San Antonio.



If you are looking for bluebonnets, you don't have to waste gas driving all over the state to find them. We have plenty here at Stamp Antonio Arts, thanks again to Mark Jetton and Deadbeat Design Stamps. He introduced three new sizes of bluebonnet stamps this spring, and even sent us a wonderful paper bag mini book decorated with the new flower stamps and some of his photos. I taught a class of this mini book last week, and we had so much fun, stamping and coloring bluebonnets for our own books. Drop by the store anytime to see these wonderful NEW Bluebonnet Stamps, along with ideas on how to decorate your home or a card with our State Flower of TEXAS! And of course, we have lots of Stickles to add just the right amount of twinkle to each one.


I also wanted to mention that we received a new line of invitations, response cards, menu cards, and place cards in various sizes from American Crafts. There are 4 Theme's available; a Damask design flocked in black on white stock; a silver metallic flourish design on cream stock; a pink glittered rose bud on white stock, and a green branch with leaves on cream stock. Each theme comes in the different sizes of invitations and such, and would be beautiful for any occasion, party, or get-together. Our own, Jane Smith, is having a class this Saturday, April 18, 2009 making various invitations for all types of get-togethers. If you are planning an event, and think you might be interested in making your own invitations, rather than spending lots of $$$$$$$$ to have them done somewhere else, you may want to come by and sign up for Jane's class and let her show you how you can save money and time by doing them yourself. You may even enjoy the time you spend working on them and be proud to say, "I made them myself!"

We hope to see you soon.

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts

It's Almost BUNNY TIME!

Hi blogger friends! It has been such a busy week around here at Stamp Antonio. We have been busily trying to get the new class calendar up on the web site, and the samples for April classes out at the store. Along with getting in lots of new merchandise, and rearranging some of the older stuff, we did get in more of the NEW Somerset magazines, "MARIE" which debuted this month, and "STUFFED" which debuted last month in which our own artist in residence Linda Rael had TWO projects published. Both of these new magazines sold out almost immediately when we got them in originally. (so they MUST be good!)

We also got in some of the new Tim Holtz ideaology line, Grungepaper, metal peices, clips, pins, and sprockets. We also received some of the new colors of Alcohol Inks - Lights and Brights, but they were gone before I ever got them worked out on the counter. Another order has been placed, and will arrive shortly. (I will keep you posted when they come in!) The new Alcohol inks also look awesome on Carol's Metal Effects projects!

"Bunny Time" is just around the corner, (April 12, 2009) and we still have a great assortment of chickies, bunnies, and eggs for your Easter stamping. We also have a few of the Holly Berry House multi layer Cross stamps that when stamped multiple times, you can make a great dimensional decoration, that would look good on the front of a card. Susan Casto will be having an Easter Make-N-Take this Saturday, April 4, 2009 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm using the Rubber Stamp Tapestry line of peg stamps. Jane Smith will be conducting a Spring/Easter card class on Saturday, April 4, 2009 using the Outlines Rubber Stamps. Her class will make 4 cards and is just $25 for three hours of stamping fun, between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. Call 342-6217 at once to register for this class if you are interested.

My class will be making a cute as pie Bluebonnet Paper Bag Book this Saturday, April 4, 2009, from 2:30 till 4:30 pm. This little book is made from paper lunch bags, and will hold photos of your favorite wildflowers or "wild"grandchildren. We will be stamping bluebonnets and other Texas type stamps from Deadbeat Designs throughout the book, and bluebonnet photos will be provided for each student. This class is only $15, but class size is limited to 12 students, so sign up early if this class interests you.

Well, I guess it's time for me to hop, hop, hop, on over to the Bunny Patch and prepare more special surprises for our customers. Every day is exciting at Stamp Antonio Arts, and you never know what merchandise will come rolling in the door! Stop by sometime and see what we mean. We will look forward to showing you around. . . . . . .

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts

Memory Box Weekend! What a HOOT!

This weekend was so much fun, having Theresa Laurent with Memory Box Stamp Company here teaching classes. I was awarded the opportunity to take BOTH of her classes, and let me tell you, they were terrific!

She taught us many new colored pencil coloring techniques, as well as showing us how to layer stamped images with patterned papers to give our cards depth and texture. The stamps she used were the New Spring designs from Memory Box Stamps. This collection includes many woodland creatures, including 3 different owls, squirrels, birds, and bunnies. If you remember in the past few years, Memory Box has had a specialty line of Penguins doing everything from fishing, dancing, and partying, to a penguin in hair rollers in her robe, saying "I don't do mornings!" Well, this Spring they have introduced a line of Panda's starting with the Gardening Panda that was used in this class. He is very cute!

If you were lucky enough to be able to attend these classes, you have a stack of new cards to sit and drool over. If you weren't able to attend, be sure and stop by the store and check out all of the sample cards Theresa left for us, and we will be happy to share with you answers to any questions you may have about how these cards were done, or the products used to make them. We still have almost all of the different stamps available, along with the patterned papers, cards, inks, and tiny sparkly jewels and pearls used as accents.

We have also just recently received a shipment of beautiful specialty papers from American Crafts. These are 8 1/2" X 11" cardstock weight papers in metallic gold, silver, and copper, along with pastel colors of alligator texture paper and raw silk texture papers. There are also two colors of an embossed cardstock that has a small damask design embossed into it, which would make lovely invitations for a wedding or anniversary gathering.

Come see what's New at Stamp Antonio Arts! And as always, Happy Stamping!

Mindy, and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts

And We'll Have FUN, FUN, FUN . . . . .

The Memory Box Stamp Weekend of Fun is just around the corner! Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22, 2009 we will be having fun with our friends from the Memory Box Stamp Company!

This weekend will consist of classes, and instruction on how to use their stamps and color them, along with a Trunk Show of New Spring merchandise from the Memory Box.

Our classes usually fill at the last moment, so don't wait until then, or you may not be able to get in.

We had a wonderful visit with Mark Jetton, of Deadbeat Design Stamps, on Friday. He was in San Antonio with his family celebrating his Mother's birthday, and he stopped by the store to check up on us. He has so many new and exciting ideas and uses for his stamps, and we will be sharing many of them with our fellow bloggers in the next few weeks. If you are a fan of Mark's remarkable Texas themed stamps, you too, can follow his blog by clicking the link on the right.

I will be teaching his Paper Bag Bluebonnet Book on Saturday April 4, 2009 here at the store. Mark has a new line of Texas Bluebonnet stamps that we will use, that are so beautiful and life-like you won't be able to tell if they are real or not! This is sure to be a popular class, so come by the store and check out the sample, so you can register early and assure yourself a space in the class. Our own State Flower will be bursting out in bloom shortly, thanks to the recent rains, so sign up for this class soon, and you will have some place to display some of your own beautiful bluebonnet photos!

Well, its off to start preparing for the arrival of the Memory Box brigade, we hope to see you all this weekend for some springtime fun, fun, fun!

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts

Spring Break 2009

Do your kids like to do Art Projects? Do you want to get rid of them for a few hours this coming Saturday? Well, Stamp Antonio Arts is having our FIRST Ever Kid's Class, Saturday, March 14, 2009 between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm.

The class is entitled,"Build-A-Robot", and our junior stampers will learn about working with clear acrylic stamps from Stampendous, along with acrylic blocks, ink pads, markers, and adhesives. They will be stamping robot parts, coloring them, cutting them out, and assembling them in various positions and working in various mediums to make cards, pictures, puppets, and storyboards.

The class price is only $15, and your children will have lots of fun learning about stamping, learning how to take care of their supplies, and making fun robots they can use for all types of decorations and make believe. The class is designed for stampers ages 8-12, but if your child is younger than 8, and still interested, a parent must accompany them to the class to help them with cutting and other techniques.

All supplies for this class will be furnished by the instructor, so if you are interested in this SUPER RAD Class for your child, that guarantees to be Fun, Fun, Fun, give us a call at 210-342-6217 and reserve a space today.

I also wanted to mention some of the New merchandise that has come into the store this past week. We received a shipment of Character Construction Acrylic Stamps, and if you are a follower of Catherine Moore's work, you will want to see the new line of stamps we received. We also received the Spring/Easter shipment of new stamps from AMuse, with the cute flop eared bunny in the carrot car, along with the New Snail stamp with the words, "snail mail!" We also got in a few of the Holly Berry House Stamps, that let you create layered medallions in various shapes. We got in two sizes of crosses, and two styles of large decorated eggs for Easter that would make wonderful cards, gifts, or ornaments.

So come on by the store and see what is New for Spring at Stamp Antonio Arts. Hope to see you soon!

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!

Every year during the month of February, we have a SPECIAL CELEBRATION! Not only is it the month of love for Valentine's, it is also the Month We Love Our Customers! (We love them EVERYDAY. . . . . but only celebrate one month a year!)

Everyone gets to enter the drawing by spending a meer $10 at the store. Each day you spend $10, you get a chance at our GRAND PRIZE basket of goodies!

And now, without further delay. . . . . . . . . . drum roll please. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

our winner of this year's 2009 We Love Our Customers drawing is. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mrs. Jan Karney

with her basket of Stampin' Goodies!

Congratulations Jan! Now your husband will know "why" you had to go to Stamp Antonio every day, when you come home with this enourmous basket of merchandise!

There will be more F U N things happening in the months to come. The next Contest will begin March 17, 2009. Watch our Web Site, this Blog, and even In Store, to find out what is beginning on St. Patrick's Day this year!

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts!

INK SAAVY!!!!!

We are ink saavy. . . . Are YOU?? Saturday after the watercolor classes with Susan Casto, our own "Ink Wizard" Jane Smith, gave a demonstration of all of the different kinds of inks we carry at Stamp Antonio Arts! And there are quite a few!

Inks that dry slowly for embossing, inks that dry quickly, inks for stamping on paper, inks for stamping on glass, metals, and fabrics. We have them all here at Stamp Antonio. And each one is as unique as it's name. This will be one of our ongoing demonstrations that will be appearing on the class calendar on a regular basis from now on. It is a basis for any type of stamping, and needs to be discussed and talked about, so you will be familiar with all of the types and what they can do. Our basic Rubber Stamping 101 class will also be appearing on a regular basis, so you can learn all of the basics, and feel comfortable when picking up a rubber stamp and ink pad.

Our New Class Calendar for March is up on the web site, and ready for your inspection. The samples are also up at the store, so you can see what we will be making in the classes, before you sign up! We have many "special" classes this month, including our first Kids Class, on Saturday, March 14, 2009 during Spring Break. Jane Smith will be instructing the "Junior Stampers" on how to handle the stamps and inks, and make wonderfully F U N Robots of all kinds in our Robots Galore class from 10:30 to 12:30 pm.

We will also be welcoming Theresa Laurent, from Memory Box Stamp Company. She will be bringing a Trunk Show of Memory Box products, along with teaching 4 fabulous seasonal card classes on the weekend of March 21 & 22, 2009. For information on any of these classes, you can call us at 210-342-6217 weekdays between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. You can also call that number to sign up for any of these wonderful classes, (class space is limited) so call to reserve your space today!

And as always, thanks for shopping with us at Stamp Antonio Arts. Tell your friends about our store, and better yet, bring them along the next time you come in!

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio

Susan Casto is Back!

Teaching classes at Stamp Antonio Arts, that is! After being "out-of-pocket" for several months, she returned on Saturday, February 28, 2009, to teach two Wonderful Watercolor Classes using the Art Impressions watercolor line of rubber stamps, and Marvy LePlume watercolor markers.

Susan is such a talented and wonderful teacher, if you have never taken one of her classes, you should do so! You will be pleased at the work you walk away with. She takes you through each project step by step, and of course, encourages you to step out side your comfort zone and create a work that you would be proud of. There are many students that follow her from class to class, because she is so patient, and encourages you to continue even when you question your own ability.

She also has another watercolor class coming up on March 28, 2009, which is a little more challenging because of it's size, and it is called "Nana's Cottage." The stamp that is the basis for the piece, is also our Stamp of the Month for March at Stamp Antonio. If you think you might want to take this class from Susan, you might want to stop by the store in advance and pick up this stamp while we have it in stock. To take advantage of our Item of the Month special price, you must come into the store and make a purchase. With the cash register receipt from that sale, you must return to the store on another day, make another purchase of at least $10.00 and then with your coupon at the bottom of your receipt you can recieve the Item of the Month for 40 percent off the regular retail price.

Don't wait until the end of the month to come and get your Item of the Month! We have been know to sell out before the end of the month. We order the same amount of specials each month, and when they are gone. . . they are gone!

Susan also teaches our peg stamp classes from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. Their peg stamps are unique, in that they are one of the only companies that adhere their rubber stamp images to the end of a round peg, similar to a dowel stick. We are the only store in San Antonio that sells Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps, and they are one of our most popular styles of stamps because of their unique shape and size. Come by and see the beautiful sample cards Susan has made for us using these one of a kind stamps.

We hope to see you soon, and as always, if you have any questions or comments about something you see or hear about on our web site or blog, just come by the store, or give us a call. Our store number is 210-342-6217 and we are open daily, Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. Wednesday's we are here from 10:00 am till 9:00 pm.

Mindy and the Team at Stamp Antonio Arts