OCTOBER HOP with TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

Welcome back, TJ Fans! We have some fun stamps for the October Release and I'm excited to be able to share them with you! 

All the new releases are 15% off until October 8th, so you'll want to shop early! No code is needed, it will automatically be applied at checkout. (And save 10% off any other stamp, any time, by using the code TJ10Ro).

If you've arrived from the very creative Jeanne, you're on the right track. If not, you may want to start at the very beginning so you don't miss a thing!

I have four cards with five new stamps to show you...let's get going!

The first card features Let It Snow. Such a fun stamp! I love the whimsy, I love the font, I love the size....I just love the stamp! Of course, you know me, I had to do a little surgery by separating the sentiment from the image so I could place it anywhere on the project or use it alone.

It's so hard to see in the photo, but I used Nuvo Glitter Markers on some of the elements to give it a little twinkly pop. I couldn't help but turn it into a snow globe and added some Nuvo Drops for snow. You can see some of the shine better in the closeup.

The next two cards feature some very lovely ladies, one of whom I'm sure you'll recognize! First up is Red Lipstick Day.

I Love Lucy! (punny). I still use some of her "Lucy-isms" today...Like when my husband asks if what I'm wearing is new (it is, but...) I respond "oh, it's just something I pulled out of my closet". Not a lie, it was hanging there since yesterday. lol

Here's a better glimpse at the image.

And to keep her company, another lovely with a fantastic quip! Take a look at Need a Crown!

Since I'm am teased about being the "queen" at work (my license plate even says so, as does my parking sign), I am particularly fond of this one! FYI, the background paper is done with the shaving cream technique. Here's a closeup of the glimmer in her crown, again done with the Nuvo Glitter Markers.

And last up, Turn on the Light. Such a great sentiment!!! The background is Nordic Knit. I can see using that background for Valentine's Day as well. If you look closely, those are tiny hearts on the background. But turned sideways, they look more patterned and less "heart-y".

There are plenty more stamps in the release, as my Design Team Sisters will show you. Next up, the crafty Beth Norman has some great projects to share!

I'll be back with a couple more new projects throughout the month, so visit again! 

Til next time,
Keepin' It Inky!

Falling for Autumn (pun intended)

Hello, my friends! Happy Autumn!  It's been beautiful here in southern Michigan. The leaves are starting to change. The weather, however, is throwing us for a loop...high 80's and 90's. Unusual for late September. But I'm not complaining. I love the Fall.

I have a very season-appropriate card to share today. The stamps used are from a new release from Technique Junkies called Autumn - Set of 6 (SS078). I instantly fell in love with this set. I'll bet you can see why...

I stamped the sentiment and leaves on the kraft cardstock and colored them in using Spectrum Noir colored pencils.  I added some black watercolor splatters and a little of brown marker spray. The panel was attached to a brown card base and the little buttons finished off the card. I love the colors in the card. They just make me happy.

I hope this post made you a little happy today too. If you like this set of stamps (or any of the other ones that may catch your fancy at Technique Junkies), you can save 10% by adding the code TJ10Ro at checkout.

Be sure and come visit me on October 1st for the Technique Junkies New Release Blog Hop!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

TJ HOPPIN IN SEPTEMBER

Happy September Release Day, Technique Junkies fans!

If you've arrived from Jeanne, you are in the right place. If not, head to the Technique Junkies Blog where it all starts....you don't want to miss a thing!

We have 21 new stamps in the Technique Junkies line! We are so thrilled with the new release we decided to do something extra special!

We will be choosing TWO lucky people who comment on this month's release hop - those two people will each win a $100 Technique Junkies gift certificate!!! The more you comment the more chances you have to win, so don't miss a single stop along the hop! Gift Certificate winners will be announced on September 5th. Only one comment entry per blog please.

All of the September 2017 New Release stamps are 15% off through September 8th! We can all use a little bargain, right? No codes needed, just put them in your shopping cart and the discount will be applied at checkout.

Now onto the fun part. Got three basic holidays covered in one post...running from Halloween to Thanksgiving (or Autumn) to Christmas.

First up is a card featuring Skull Frame (S765). It was stamped three times and embossed in different colors on different papers. Each layer was then trimmed out and mounted with foam tape to give it some dimension. A preprinted sentiment was matted and attached to the front with foam tape, and all layers were attached to a grey card base.

Jumping now to Autumn, Beautiful Autumn (SD820) was stamped and embossed in bronze. Watercolors were added to show off the beautiful colors of Fall. A few leaves were punched and adhered to the bottom of the card with a few glitter dots added.

Lets start with some beautiful Draped Ornaments (S764). These were stamped oto white cardstock and colored in with Nuvo Glitter Markers. The panel was trimmed and adhered to a white card panel. a pine bough was printed, trimmed, and added to the top. the sentiment is from the new set, Gifts of Christmas (SS081).

Speaking of Gifts of Christmas, the next two cards feature two more sentiments from the set of five. The sentiments are so elegant and pretty, they stand on their own as the cards' main focal point.

Another fun stamp is Christmas Dog (SD730). I paired it with The Stockings Were Hung (SDX1107) to create a funny card.

And I saved my favorite for the end. It was so pretty, I didn't feel it even needed a sentiment. It can be used for any type of greeting.  This beautiful Pinecone (SD821) was stamped and embossed in chocolate/bronze. I added some colored pencil highlights and finished it off with a puffy paint pen and glitter to set off a shine snow-like effect. The background is not a new release, but it is one of my wintery favorites, Pinecones (S673).

I hope you have been enjoying the hop. Don't forget to leave lot of comments to be entered to win one of TWO $100 TJ Gift Certificates. And remember the new stamps are only on special until September 8th! For any other of the stamps, feel free to use my coupon code and save 10%!

Your next stop will be the talented Beth. I am sure you're going to love what she has to share!

Happy September!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

HOPPING WITH TECHNIQUE JUNKIES!

It's August 1st. You know what that means! Time to share the new stamps from Technique Junkies! I'm excited to share five cards with you today featuring these fun new stamps!

These newly released stamps can be purchased at a discount until August 8th - Save 15% (discount will automatically be applied at checkout). And for everything else, save 10% using the special code below:

If you have arrived from the very creative Jeanne, you are on the right track! If you've happened here from elsewhere, you may want to start at the beginning of the hop so you don't miss any of the good stuff!

Let's get on with the fun! Here are my projects!

And here are the details!

First up, I created a shaker card filled with glitter featuring the Head Up stamp set. I made a shaker card base then added the fussy-cut image and die cut sentiment which were heat embossed. If you look closely in the background, you will see the back of the shaker element has been stamped and silver heat embossed using the Retro Sparkles background stamp.

I absolutely fell in love with the sweet faces of the ostriches in the Your Kind of Crazy set. I admit I did a little surgery on the stamp and cut apart the image so I could rearrange the layout. I stamped the images and die cut the shapes out. After attaching the feathers with glue, I foam mounted the die cuts onto the mat and attached that to the card base.

For this next card, I did a little embossing and layering using the Vine Beauty stamp set. After embossing and fussy-cutting the image, I die-cut several layers and adhered them with foam tape. I attached the image to the layers, also using foam tape, and added some vinyl and other elements. I decided to forego a sentiment so this card could be customized as needed.

The Savannah Giraffes set inspired me to do a watercolor background. After die cutting the watercolored panel to size, I stamped and embossed the image. The panel was then mounted to a black mat (also die cut) and then to a designer sheet of paper which was torn to size and adhered to the card base. The sentiment was embossed and die cut, then mounted to the front of the panel.

And last, but certainly not least, is the Do-Rag Kitty with Thanks for Being You.  This fun card, while using only a couple basic supplies, makes quite a statement!  I stamped and fussy-cut the kitty three times. Once in gray, once in red and once in blue. I then cut the do-rag from the red and glasses from the blue stamped images. I used colored pencil to add a little color to the kitty, then adhered the do-rag and glasses. For a touch of whimsy, I added a couple rhinestones to the kitty's glasses. The scrapbook paper background was added to the card base and the kitty added to the panel. The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock, die cut and adhered to the card.

I hope you are inspired to try some of these new stamps and fun techniques. Don't forget, save 15% until August 8th on all the newly released stamps and 10% on everything else using my special code: TJ10Ro.

Your next stop will be the talented Beth. In case you missed someone along the way, here is the complete hop lineup:

• TJ Blog
• Lanette Erickson
• Cheri Weston
• Kathy Stacy
• Jeanne Streiff (you should have come from here)
• Ro Donner -- ME!
• Beth Norman (next!)
• Judy Jackson
• Vicki Garrett
• Giovana Smith
• Chris Dayton
• Pat Huntoon

And if you would like a quick link to all the new releases for August, just go HERE!

Happy stamping!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

Technique Junkies July Blog Hop

Welcome back, TJ fans!  If you have arrived here from the very creative Jeanne Streiff, you are in the right place! If not, you may want to start at the BEGINNING so you don't miss a thing!

I'm excited to share some projects with you showcasing the July release for Technique Junkies!  Save 15% on any of the new stamps until July 8. No code is needed…The discount will automatically be applied at check-out. 

Now onto the projects! There are SIX of them!!

ZEN WAVES
SKY TOUCHES THE SEA (Not New)

CALENDULA
GREETINGS SET (Not New)

WATERMELON SUMMER

SEAGRASS MAT

SUNFLOWERS
ART OF GOD (Not New) 

FILLED WITH WONDERS

Aren't these new stamps just yummy?! If you would like to see all the new releases, just click HERE!

And if you would like to save 10% on all the other stuff, just enter the code below:

Hope you enjoy the rest of the hop and find lots of inspiration! Your next stop will be the talented Beth Norman!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Multi-Stamping!

Hey Crafty Peeps! I had some fun playing with a few of the newer Technique Junkies sets recently: Sudsy Stuff, Under The Sea and Life Is Beautiful.  I also used a couple newer products: Nuvo Glitter Markers and Chameleon Colortone Pencils. With the help of my trusty MISTI, I ended up with a fun and shiny card!

I started out by securing my cardstock with magnets in my Misti. I stamped Sudsy Stuff in a light blue ink. I then aligned the Under The Sea stamp and stamped it in a light grey. Without moving the stamp or the cardstock, I colored in the turtle with a green glitter marker and stamped onto the CS. I followed that same procedure with different colors of glitter marker onto different sections.

After all the shiny part was stamped, I used the Chameleon pencils and colored in the different elements. I mounted the CS onto a black panel, and added that to a grey card base. The Life Is Beautiful sentiment was stamped onto a piece of grey CS and foam mounted to the card.

Using the MISTI for perfect alignment opens up a lot of opportunity for different techniques. I hope you are inspired to give it a try for yourself.

If you'd like to save 10% on products at TJ, simply enter the code below:

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Technique Junkies June Blog Hop

Happy June, Technique Junkies Fans! 

It's officially June and you know what that means!!!  A fun blog hop with Technique Junkies Design Team! If you have arrived from the super-creative Jeanne, you are on the right track. If not, you may want to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing!

Remember, the new releases are only on sale until June 8th! Save 15% off the June releases (discount automatically applied at checkout). And if you see any other treasures you'd like to order, save 10% with this discount code:

Now with all that info out of the way, on to the projects!!!

First up is a beautiful background card using embossing powder. The image was stamped and embossed, a little distress ink was applied using a sponge dauber.  Then a vellum panel was added which was also embossed. They were both layered onto an orange mat and mounted on a card base.

Stamps Used:  Sudsy Stuff (S747), Wild Sea Air (SD698)

Next up is a CD Calendar page. The background was hand-colored using colored pencils. The calendar was computer-generated. The image and sentiment were stamped with Tuxedo Black ink (I used the Misti so I could restamp the image several times to get a clean impression). Not only does this stamp set include the images below, but also three more sentiments: "Live, Laugh, Golf"; "I found a wood that can lower your score. It's called a pencil."; and, "Born to Golf, Forced to Work".

 Stamps Used:  Let's Play A Round, Set of 5 (SS076)

Last up is a very sparkly card! This card was done with embossing and glitter on a card panel that was stamped and colored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, and a sentiment on vellum was added.

Stamps Used:  Under the Sea (S751), Advice from a Sea Turtle (SD771b)

Technique Junkies is now also carrying Chameleon Color Tone Pencils!!!  Chameleon Color Tone Pencils are specially designed double ended pencils you just flip to blend!

I'll be sharing a few projects later on using these fun pencils!

Now hop on over to the crafty Beth for the next jag of this hop! Hope you are finding lots of fun and inspiration!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!