Valentine’s Day is a week away, so here is a little inspiration for creating beautiful, DIY Valentine’s Day decorations and cards for any date night, party, or small get together.

These ideas can easily be adapted for any holiday or occasion.  Choose from a variety of decorative papers and embellishments available in stores to make your creations completely custom!

Items in this post were made with Blick Stationery (cards, “Love” heart garland), Shizen Decorative Paper Screen Print Assortment Packs (“Strung Along” heart garland, cards, and cupcake topper), Martha Stewart “Heartbeat” All Over Punch (“Jar of Hearts” confetti), Martha Stewart Twine, and Martha Stewart Glitter Pens.

Join us in stores on Thursday, February 9, 2012 for a Card Making Demo for more great ideas and to test your own!

The Connecticut 2012 Scholastic Art Awards were held in the Lincoln Theater at the University of Hartford on Sunday, January 29, 2012. Staff from the Plainville store participated in the awards ceremony and distributed free merchandise to all the recipients and attendees. Two Blick awards were presented to local students. Best in Painting was awarded to a Rham Middle School student from Hebron, CT and Best in Traditional Drawing was awarded to a student from Artistic Minds in Brookfield, CT. An exhibition of the award recipients is being shown at the Silpe Gallery at the Hartford Art School until February 3, 2012.

To see more photos from the event, check out the complete album on the Blick Art Materials – Plainville Facebook page.

A Copic Essentials Class was held at the Evansville store on Saturday, January 28th and was taught by Certified Copic Instructor, Helen Johnson.   It was a 2 hour class and she covered the four blending techniques and how to use the blender pen (it is not a blender!). She also demonstrated how to test good paper, hot to use stamping inks and how to tell whether your printer can be safely used for digital printing.  Participants made a card using the new techniques they learned!

To see more photos from the event, check out the complete album on the Blick Art Materials – Evansville Facebook page.

Customers poured into the store, just as the rain began to do the same, and were in awe of the larger space and breadth of selection available!  The floor of the new store also made a huge impression.  Recycled from North Medford High School in southern Oregon, the floor is truly unique.

Original Floor at North Medford High School

Recycled Floor from North Medford High School

Every customer was able to spin the prize wheel for a free gift and enter an array of raffles for even more prizes. 

Festivities kicked off with a Gamblin lecture and live artist demonstration by local Portland artist, Jill Goodell.

At 12pm, Edward Ogorzaly, President of Retail cut a ceremonial ribbon with Tom Manley, President of PNCA and one of the top fifty most influential Portlanders according to the Portland Monthly, Michael Hall, Dean of Student Services of PNCA, and Nick Fish, Portland City Commissioner.  PNCA was also awarded a check as the start of a new partnership that includes many new sponsorship and event opportunities and an in-store PNCA gallery.  PNCA merchandise is also now available at the Portland store!

The afternoon included demonstrations from Strathmore, Golden, and Pebeo.  The Portland Motor Scooter Sweepstakes winner was also awarded a new 2011 Yamaha Vino Classic 50cc and custom airbrushed helmet by local Portland artist, Jason Prouty.

The day culminated with a PNCA gallery evening.  PNCA student artwork was displayed throughout the store.  Guests enjoyed local craft beers, wine, delicious hors d’oeuvres from Voila Catering, live classical music, and a special in-store discount!

The day was a huge success and the store is looking forward to being a resource for the local arts community of Portland, providing the biggest selection, and best service in the area!

To see more photos from the event, please check out the complete album on the Blick Art Materials – Portland Facebook page.  Grand Opening festivities continue through Wednesday, February 8, 2012 and include many live artist and vendor demonstrations.  A complete schedule of events is available on the Portland store page and the Blick Art Materials – Portland Facebook page.

Thursday, February 9, 2012 is Blick Madness!  Join us at any one of our 36 store locations to play our Instant Win Game (while supplies last)!  Each piece is a guaranteed winner.  You could win discounts up to 50% off of your entire purchase or a $100 Blick gift card!  Don’t miss the opportunity to win big!

We’ll also be hosting a Valentine Card Making demo and a Screen Printing demo at each store location.  Take home your own card creation and screen printed tote for free (while supplies last)!

Enter to win a copy of Adventures in Mixed Media provided by Random House.  We’ll be raffling one off at each store!  Thursday, February 9^th, is also the last day to enter our $5,000 Dream Studio Sweepstakes and the art student exclusive sweepstakes for a $200 Dream Project!

It’s Madness!  Don’t miss this exciting, one day event full of fun, demos, discounts, refreshments, and more!  To find a store near you, please visit our Store Directory.

Our Winter Back to School Sale starts today at all store locations!

Begin the New Year by keeping creative whether you are a student, professional artists, or hobbyist.  We’ve got something on sale for everyone including paints, brushes, drawing materials, and gifts.  Don’t miss our mix and match canvas sale, saving you up to 70% off list!

Need something to house those daily doodles, sketches, or writing entries?  Looking for an original travel journal or scrapbook?  Join us in-store for a Handmade Journal Demo!  An exclusive Handmade Journal Kit is also available and includes all essential journal making materials and enough paper for two journals! No purchase is necessary to attend the demos, but after seeing what you can make, you’ll want to take advantage of the savings so you can create all year long!

Demos will be held at all store locations on January 14 and February 18, 2012 from 1pm-3pm.  Contact your local store for more information about the exclusive kit.  Demos are free to attend and no purchase is necessary.

Sale continues through Sunday, February 26, 2012.  To find your local store, please visit our Store Directory.

On Saturday, December 10, 2011 our stores hosted a card making demo!  For those that missed it or would like more inspiration, check out this simple card making project for fabulous, custom, handmade cards!  It’s not too late to make your own cards for the holidays.  In 10 simple steps and a quiet evening, you can complete your own set in hardly any time at all!

Materials: card packs or stationery, water-soluble block printing ink, linoleum block, hard rubber brayer, lino cutter set, and scrap board (matboard, cardboard, etc.)

Optional (but helpful) materials: cutting mat, cutting knife, ruler, pencil, glass palette, and spoon

Step 1:  Make sure your block is cut to fit the surface of your card.  Trim larger blocks down on your cutting mat with a cutting knife and ruler.  Map out your design with a pencil on the linoleum block.  Tip: The block will be flipped over to print, so when using text it will need to begin backwards on the top of the block. 

Step 2: Begin cutting your design with your lino cutter.  Use a variety of blades for different line qualities and details.  Don’t cut too deep into the block; always keep the top edge of the blade above the block surface.  Use an extra, small, block or scrap to test the required pressure it takes to achieve your desired look.  Continue cutting until your entire design has been carved out of the block.  Tip: What you cut will not print, the paper will show through.  

Step 3: Pick or mix a color!

Step 4: Lay or squeeze out your color onto a glass palette or scrap board.

Step 5: Use your rubber brayer to pull the ink down. Roll the brayer back and forth to create an even coating of ink on the brayer.

Step 6: Roll the inked brayer on the top of your fully cut block.  Make sure the ink is applied evenly and smoothly across the entire block. 

Step 7: Place your block (ink side down) on the top (front) of your card.

Step 8: Burnish the block to the card.  If the card is smaller, use hands to make sure contact is made between the entire block and card.  Using the backside of a spoon, may be helpful.  Be sure to not slide the block as this will smear your design.

Step 9: Lift up the entire block, starting from a corner, peeling up slowly.

Step 10: Print, print, print!

For more block printing tips check out our videos Linoleum Block Printing, Linoleum Block Printing – Getting Started, and Multi Layer Block Print Technique.

We’d love to see what you make!  Show us your creations on your store’s local Facebook page!

Jacque Benevento is a former elementary school art teacher whose creativity is expressed through collage.  Her collages are an expression of a personal journey of self-reflection grounded and inspired by her strong family ties.  Join us at the Paramus store to view the inspirational works of Jacque in person through 12/30/11!

The 12^th Annual Gage Drawing Jam is one of the biggest events of the year for Gage Academy of Art.  This year the Seattle store was able to contribute to the creative atmosphere by providing free product samples and Blick giveaways to all participants.  This “must-do event,” as named by Seattle Magazine featured models, music, and food on three floors of the Skinner Auditorium.  The Seattle store was excited to support the event and creative community!

Friday, November 25, 2011 was BLICK Friday! All of the stores hosted free demos and showed participants how to make their mini canvas masterpieces into ornaments.  Each of the stores also raffled off a LED light pad! There were incredible deals and discounts that made for an exciting, holiday kickoff event!  Thanks to all that joined us in store!

If you missed the demo, we will be hosting another free card making demo at all store locations on Saturday, December 10^th! Please see your stores’ local page for more information.  For our store directory, please click here.