Altered Arts

Hi Altered Artists! Just a reminder that the January Altered Arts Workshop will be on Sunday, January 27 from noon to 3pm. We will be working on altering action figures! Our gal Nicole has been an overachiever this month and has already completed her action figure....and OMG.....! Wait until you see it! Also looking forward to seeing the rest of the December nutcrackers.
See you soon!

Merry Christmas! Store Reminder

Store Reminder!

Merry Christmas! You have only one day left to stop in and get those last minute Stocking Stuffers, Christmas gifts and Gift Certificates. Kept Creations will be closed for a small Christmas break.  We will be open Saturday, December 22nd from 10AM - 4PM.  We will be closed from Sunday, December 23rd through Tuesday, January 1st.  We will reopen on Wednesday, January 2nd at 10AM. A huge thank you to everyone for your continued support!  We wouldn't be here without you!  A very Merry Christmas to all of you and we look forward to serving you in 2013! Kim, Patrick, Nicole, June, Donna, Susan, Kate, Chris, Kristin, Sarah & Maria

15 South Ave. Whitman. MA | 781.447.4010

Die of the Month Club

Hey "Die" Hards (get it?),
Sorry, I just had to say that.  Seriously, in case you are a little skeptical or have questions as to what exactly the Die of the Month Club is, I'm here to spell it out for you.  First of all, it's a SUPER deal when you sign up.  If you love dies like I do, then you really need to pick up that phone and call the store to reserve your seat.

How much does it cost?
When you sign up for all three classes (January thru March), the charge is $75 - BUT!! BUT!! this INCLUDES the die.  Wow!  So for $25 a class, you get instruction with a Die-Hard instructor (that would be me) AND the die (or dies).  Yes, some classes will include dies that have more than one in a set!

EXCEPTION:  If you find that the class dates do not fit your schedule but you want to take one or two of the classes, you can still sign up, but at the price of $30 a class.  (So, save yourself an extra $15 and sign up for all three!)

What is it all about?
Once a month (usually the FIRST FRIDAY), we will create several projects using a die (preferably a new one hitting the market or one that has been out a very short time).  We will take time to discuss other ways in which to use the die, the best way to cut with that particular die(s) and learn some new and unique ideas.

This is really a fantastic opportunity and a great gift either for yourself or to use that GC that hubby bestows on you for Christmas.

We've had quite a few sign-ups already, so don't get left out in the cold and come join me for some fun projects.
Donna

End of Year Sale, Open House and Free Make and Takes!

End of Year SALE!

30% off
All Christmas Papers, Stamps, Stickers, Dies and Embellishments!

WOW!  Yes!  30% Off!

All Halloween, Thanksgiving and Fall will be 30% off as well!

Anything with a yellow sticker will be 30% off! 

No Frequent Buyer cards will be punched during the sale.

 ****

Free Make and Takes!

Stop in this Saturday or Sunday and make a quick and easy card!

You're Invited!

Stop in on Sunday from 12-4PM for some snacks, cider and free make and takes!

****

Hero Arts Preview Sale!

The Newest Hero Arts has arrived!  Stop in this weekend and see what's new!  Free make and takes both Saturday and Sunday!

Small Business Saturday Special!

We will be open on Friday, November 23rd from 2PM - 9PM.  Saturday, November 24th from 10AM - 4PM and Sunday from 12PM - 4PM.  To celebrate, we are having a raffle!


For every $10 you spend you'll receive a raffle ticket.  
For every class you sign up for you, you'll receive 5 raffle tickets! 

Enter to win a large basket of goodies valued at over $150! 

WAIT, there's more! 

For every person that comes in and purchases over $50 in product, or signs up for two or more classes in November or December you will be entered to win a special basket of goodies valued at over $200!

Each basket is stuffed with stamps, dies, paper, embellishments and all the things you'll need to let your creativity come to life.

Don't forget, we offer a wish list for family and friends and we have gift certificates in any denomination.

Drawing will be at 4pm on Sunday, November 24th.

________________________________________________________________________

Need more inspiration to come in this weekend?

Donna will be here with fabulous washi tape demos from 10AM - 2PM on Saturday, November 24th.

Wait until you see what she does with this fabulous stuff!  We'll even show you how to make your own!

If you'd like to stay for more fun, there's still room in her class, Penny Black Stamps from 2-4PM on Saturday, November 24th

Looking for time out on Friday, November 23rd?  We still have 2 spots open for our Round Robin event!

Penguins

Penguins. Yes, cute little fuzzy wuzzy penguins. That's what we made today in Kate's felting class. How can it be that I have never even heard of this intriguing art? I had better start playing the lottery. I need to be independently wealthy so I can stay home and make these cute fuzzy things. It's way more fun than work.
Oh, and Kate has promised us a dog or cat class in January (you get to pick if you want a dog or a cat to make). So, if you haven't tried this, I give it a 10 and two thumbs up!

Reaching out...

I’m going to put my two cents worth in here.  Chris and I (The Unlikely Duo OR The Opposite Twins) have worked hard to create 6 simple projects for you for  Those of you who have been coming to my classes all these years, know that SIMPLE is not a word you usually associate with my work.  I have evolved -- that’s all I’ll say.  

I trust you’ve all been reading the newsletter and hopefully this blog about what Chris and I have planned for you on Black Friday from 6pm to 9pm.  Kim is even throwing in some goodies to nosh on!  So I’m throwing out a challenge -- I’d love to see some faces from way back in the Scrapbook Cupboard days come walking into this class.  You know who you are!  First, I would love to see your faces and secondly, you’ll get to meet the mysterious Chris that we all talk about behind our hands.  Actually, she’s a hoot and puts on a great class.

So, come on you “old-timers”!  Sign up for this class and let’s at least get together and reminisce!  And you “regulars” -- life just wouldn’t be the same without you!  

You’ll only have until mid-day Wednesday (remember Kept is closed Monday and Tuesday) to sign up as we teachers need the time to prep for your class and that silly Turkey Day is sitting right in the middle of our plans.   

Hope to see you soon!

Donna

Black Friday!

Soooooooo. You think that Black Friday shopping is crazy, manic, out of control insanity, right? Well, here is an alternative for you. Come on over to KC for a holiday gift round robin with Donna and me.  Donna and Chris??? Yeah, I know what you are thinking. You are thinking "Ok, that's an odd and probably jarring juxtaposition of clashing styles".  Or perhaps the sentiment was the same but you worded it differently ("WTF??? Those two in the same room???).  Yeah, yeah. I am not even going to pretend it isn't true. We managed to get around that though. We have oh-so-cleverly entitled this shindig "A Steampunk Holiday". Steampunk is both elegant and edgy. Get it? Donna is elegant and I am edgy.
ANYWAY ......! We have put together 6 little holiday projects. Need a quick inexpensive gift for a teacher, coworker or babysitter? This beats the heck out of fighting the crowds at the mall.  Those of you who already know us have figured out that any class we do together is likely to be....well...crazy, manic, out of control insanity.  But in a GOOD way..... Really.  Need more encouragement? Well, here are some reasons to come to our class instead of the mall:
1. Shorter lines at the register
2. Nicer people at the register.
3. Parking so close to the door that you won't need a LoJack to find your car.
4. A restroom so clean you will feel comfortable using it even if your tetanus shot isn't up to date.
5. A store full of goodies that YOU like (because don't you deserve a treat?)
6. The unique opportunity to watch "an odd and probably jarring juxtaposition of clashing styles".
7. The likelihood that you will laugh so hard that bladder control may be an issue (reference reason #4).
8. The price is way less that what you would spend at the mall .
9. You will actually LIKE the people you are with (no guarantees that will happen at the mall...)
10. Donna and I need the paycheck. Seriously, you will be keeping us off the street and the hubcaps in the neighborhood will be safe. It's the holiday season, how can you not do your civic duty??? Get on over there and sign up. Do it now. C'mon...I need someone to support My Craft Habit!!!

Conversation Starters...

KEPT Creations Treasures.

Yesterday, my other half was out of town, leaving me to just hang around all day.  I had already signed up for Kristin's Quick Creation (more on that in a bit) which started at 10:00 am. So I just decided to anchor my untethered self down to KC for the day and spend some quality time soaking in the creativity and getting some inspiration.  You know, it had probably been a whole 12 hours since I had been there. I was certain that all sorts of new stuff was going on, and that I was missing it.

I spent a little time poking around the store checking out all of the little treasures. I was on a treasure hunt as it were.  There really are so many delightful things to look at.  Just look at the collage above and that is just a 1 minute turn around the store... Hmmm perhaps a new series is being born as I type... Treasure Hunt.  I like it.  You just might see it again.  

Just look at this adorable tree... 

psst... you can learn to make this, Maria's teaching a class; "Oh, Christmas Tree."!

or how about this little steampunk sweety ...

She was the winner from the Clothes Pin Contest this past September.

  or

Some fabulous inchies...  For sure some of the best things do come in little packages.

  

KC is all about embracing your creative side. I just love it.

As I mentioned before, I took Kristin's Quick Creation... I had so much fun.  I had never really worked with Ice Resin before.  It is really quite easy and the results are stunning... just look!  I know my niece is going to love it and I think her mother might be so jealous I'll end up making one for her too.  Keep an eye for these Quick Creations.  They are so much fun, and who doesn't love near instant gratification!?  Also, Kristin's classes are so great.  Learning to make some truly original and stunning wearable art.  Just so cool.  

Steampunk pendant made using Ice Resin.  

I've only begun to scratch the surface of the wonderful Kept Treasures. Not just the stuff, but the people too... Kristin, Susan, Maria, Donna, Chris, Nancy, Sara, Nicole and OF COURSE THE PINK HAIRED MUSE... Kim.  Definitely check out their work and their classes each one is so inspiring, and has her own unique style.  There is truly something for everyone. 

So lets get the conversation started... What is the newest thing you've tried in your creations?  

As I mentioned, I just used Ice Resin for the first time. The gears are all ready turning in my head (pun totally intended) as to the many ways I can use this product and all the great little gifts I can make with it.   

Drop me a comment, and let me know the fun stuff you're trying out.  I'm always looking to learn something new.

Oh and why not subscribe to the blog? Then you can always be part of the conversation.

Until later, all. 

la.

loveaphid: Sayin' Hello.

Hi!, everyone.  First let me introduce myself. I am Kate, a.k.a loveaphid. That weird looking icon at the left is the loveaphid. One day my husband and I were watching a Nature episode about ants and aphids.  Being goofy I reached over to him and squeezed him and said I am your aphid of love. That morphed to loveaphid. Its a silly story and not all that exciting. But the nickname stuck and so there it is.  I am a teacher, shopper and loiterer at KEPT Creations (gonna call it KC from now on, if you don't mind).  I spend a lot of time hanging out and absorbing the inspiration that is all around me at KEPT.  I tend to work in the less perfect mediums; felting, rubber stamp carving, collage, art journaling and the like but I've been known to throw a card into the mix here and there.  I love miniature anything and inchies are a favorite for that reason.  In the immortal words of Bart Simpson, "I do what I like."  Kim has granted me permission to do a little rambling on her blog.  I am excited, because now I have a chance to share some of the super creative things that other KC fans, teachers and I are doing.  I also get to do fun things like; share designs with you, tell you about my trials and errors with new techniques, highlight the new stuff KC offers and give you some peeks from around the store from my perspective.  (there is always some little treasure I hadn't noticed before.) I hope to create some connections, host some challenges, do a meme here and there and most of all; just have some fun.  So lets start a crafting conversation here at KEPT Creations Blog.  Get to know each other, create a crafting community here and in this wonderful store that so many of us call our creative home. Oh and the more the merrier.  If you know someone who might want to join in, by all means, invite them by.  After all, art is about sharing.  So all are welcome.   I look forward to seeing you around KEPT creations, here in BloggyLand and out there is the real world.

Until Later, all.
la.

Verses Rubber Stamp Trunk Show

Verses Rubber Stamp Trunk Show!

We are holding a Trunk Show Sale!
 
Sale starts Saturday, November 10th at 10AM!!

Giveaways for the first 10 people to walk in the door!

What's a Trunk Show?  Well, we've received a number of different stamps with gorgeous and beautiful sayings on them.  We have ones and twos ONLY of these stamps!  Be sure to stop in early for the BEST selection! 

Only during a trunk show can we get in a number of different and unusual sayings and have them here for you to take home immediately!

Can't make it in this weekend?  We'll post to Facebook at 11AM and if you see one you like, call us and we can take your order over the phone (unless it's gone...).

781-447-4010

All unsold stamps will be returned to Verses after Sunday, November 18th.

Quilling!

Oh, boy. Just what I needed...another addiction. I took Maria's paper quilling class on Sunday at Kept Creations. Appropriate name for that store as pretty much everything I have made in classes there has been kept. Anyway, we made a holiday card with a detachable quilled snowflake ornament.
Naturally, I had to buy a few little essentials to do some quilling at home. And as I am sure you can guess, I was up way too late twirling those little paper strips into adorable designs. If this keeps up, I am going to need a 12-step program. I don't want to actually give up my addiction, you know- I just need to develop the will power to get myself to bed on time. I could use a sponsor to come over here and firmly tell me "Put down that tool and step away from the papers....!"
Well, I am going to sign off now. If I hurry, I can quill another ornament before bedtime!
CD

Happy Election Day!

We will be open on Tuesday, November 6th from 12-8PM.  

Stop on by and create an adorable "I've Voted" Chickie Pin.

We'll also be demoing the new Faber-Castell Paper Crafters Crayons and their Big Brush Stampers!

Ge out and VOTE and stop by and see us!

Free Halloween Make and Take!

We are offering a FREE Halloween Make and Take this Saturday from 10AM - 12PM (or while supplies last).  This Make and Take features Graphic 45 papers!  Come on in and make some art!!

Fill Your Stash Sale!

Fill Your Stash Sale!

6 Copics for $35!

Choose your colors!!

Did you know that Copic is raising their pricing as of 1/1/13?  Fill your stash now before they go up!

Bring in your Copic Color Chart and order the colors you don’t have. 

Sketch markers only. Sale starts October 10 through October 22^nd.  Markers must be prepaid.

Sale price is for quantities of 6’s only.

NO other discounts apply to this sale.

Special Guest coming to Kept Creations!

Date: Friday, October 5th from 7-9:30PM

This technique driven class will have you completing sample cards using Staz-On, Glaz-On, Opalites, Versamark, Essential Glue Pad, Sheet Metals, Photo Elements, Glitter and More!

Please note:  All celebrity Classes and Special Events are non-refundable.

Call the store at 781-447-4010 to sign up or click here to pay via Paypal.

FREE DEMO - Saturday, September 15th from 1-3PM

Chris will be here from 1-3PM on Saturday, September 15th for a FREE Demo!

 

Be sure to stop on by between 1-3PM to see how this and other unusual Viva Products work!

Opening Celebration Contest!

Special Opening Celebration Contest!

We are hosting a contest and we want you to join in on the fun!  Here are the 'rules'...

Decorate an average sized clothespin in any way you want.

Bring it in anytime during opening weekend and receive a ticket.

 How do you win?

Your ticket will enter you into the giveaway raffles 

AND

your entry will be judged on Sunday, September 2nd after we close by the faculty and staff of Kept Creations.  The winner will be announced on our Facebook page and our website.  

What do you win?

A $50 gift certificate to the store!!

Please Note:  All entries will become part of the store' decor!  You will not receive your clothespin back but you'll be able to see it put to good use next time you come in!

Want to have more fun?

The instructors are playing along with this contest too... but there's a twist!

YOU will vote for the best decorated clothespin created by one of the staff of Kept Creations.  The instructor with the most votes will win a prize!

How to find Kept Creations!

The Future Home of Kept Creations!

Check out our new digs located at 15 South Ave in Whitman, MA!!!!  This photo is taken from the parking lot next to Dunkin Donuts!  Yup, Dunkin Donuts is right across the street!  And three buildings to the left of us?  MaryLou's Coffee!  We will be all wired up and ready to craft at Kept Creations! 

Remember:  Our GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION is September 1st, 2012!

---

Kept Creations is easy to get to!

In this aerial view you can see Route 18 on the left and Kept Creations location on the right!  Stop and Shop is just South of the view above.  This map is completely located in Whitman, MA.

---

Check us out from the side!

The street to the left of the building is Church Street.  When you come to visit, you can park in front of the building on the street, across the street next to Dunkin Donuts or behind the building in our large parking lot.
Can you see MaryLou's right down the street!! (hint:  it has a pink awning!)  Right next door to us is a Thai restaurant, Thai for All Seasons.  Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner!

---

Plenty of Parking!

If you take a right onto Church Street from South Ave (Rte 27) you will drive down the side of Kept Creations.  Park in any of the 55+ parking spaces in the rear of the building and come on in through the back door! 

Looking for an All American lunch or Dinner?  How about a full service bar?  Head on over across the street to McGuiggan's Pub.  You can see it in this photo, it's the white building to the right of the brick one across the street. 

---

Bird's Eye View!

Looking to stop and eat before or after coming to Kept Creations?  We have lots to choose from!  There's a Dunkin' Donuts across the street and a Marylou's Coffee a few buildings down but we also have several different choices for you within walking distance of the store:

McGuiggan's Pub - Sit and Eat or Take Out - Full bar!
Supreme Pizza - Sit and Eat or Take Out
Thai For All Seasons - Sit and Eat or Take Out - right next door!
Millie's Lunch - Great place to sit for breakfast!
Trio Cafe - Sit and Eat or Take Out - AWESOME panini's!
Venus Cafe - Sit and Eat or Take Out - Best Bar Pizza Around!

Announcing... Kept Creations!

Big Announcement Coming Soon!!

A NEW Craft Store opening September 1st, 2012! That's right!  Kim Parkinson has started a new adventure and a New craft store is being born!  Kept Creations will specialize in Paper Crafts, Stamping and Mixed Media with a focus on the unique learning experience that you've come to love.  www.keptcreations.com The future home of Kept Creations will be at 15 South Avenue, Whitman, MA.  Here's a sneak peek of the inside.  More photos coming in July as the store comes together!

Click here to forward this message to a friend! Spread the good news! Any questions, you can contact Kim at keptcreations@gmail.com Visit our NEW website at www.keptcreations.com   Get social with us!