Beary Merry Christmas

 OH MY-LANTA!  I am absolutely in love with this card! I used a couple new stamps and one OBG (oldie-but-goodie) from Technique Junkies and slapped this adorable card together in no time flat! Just look how cute!!

I'm not sure what possessed me to come up with this configuration of colors for Christmas, but I am lovin' it! 

Ok, so the background is the OBG...and it's on sale! You can save up to 45% off this one....details a little later. It's called Houndstooth Check (S665). I used Distress Oxide Ink (Tattered Rose) and some soft pink cardstock. I then stamped the Dotted Merry Christmas Sentiment (SDX176) using black ink. After trimming it down, I added a black ink border and some foam tape and attached the panel to a soft pink A2 card base. 

On white cardstock, I stamped the background stamp called Woodland Wonders (S878) using black ink. I hate to fussy cut (I know some of you find it therapeutic...I'm just not one of you!) so I trimmed out the images using my Brother Scan-N-Cut. I selected the tree and the bear and attached them to the card. Here is what the whole background looks like...there are some super cute critters on there!

So, onto the details of how you can save 45% on a huge selection of stamps: Technique Junkies is having a ginormous INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE. All stamps in this category (Houndstooth Check is one of them) are discounted 35%! In addition, if you use my code TJ10Ro, you can save an ADDITIONAL 10% off! That 10% is good on almost everything offered by Technique Junkies, so keep it handy (it doesn't expire, but this sale does...shop before December 15th!).

I hope I inspired you to try some unusual colors and combinations. You might just love what you come up with!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

Merry Christmas and an Awesome Sale

So it's December and the holidays are just around the corner. Are you ready yet? Got those cards ready to mail? I know I'm still cranking away on mine. But I did get one more done to share with you today. Pretty simple actually.

 I have been playing with some new stamps, some old stamps, and some Distress Oxide Inks (which are now available through Technique Junkies!!!). This card began it's life as a simple white piece of cardstock. I stamped Fir Forest (S806) onto the lower portion with Versamark Ink and then embossed it in white. I then stamped Santa In Moonlight (SD811), also with Versamark, and embossed it in black. 

I grabbed some Distress Oxide Inks in Faded Jeans, Broken China and Speckled Egg and blended them across the background. I used Mustard Seed for the moon. After attaching that to the black A2 card base, I stamped Dotted Merry Christmas (SDX176) on a piece of black cardstock using Versamark, then embossed that in white. I trimmed it down then added it to the forefront using some foam tape.

I love the simplicity of the card, how quickly it came together (it literally took me 10 minutes), and the fact that I can create several in a short period of time.

If you feel inspired to grab some holiday stamps for yourself, simply add my special code below at checkout and you can save 10% off your purchase.

Also, there is a massive inventory reduction sale going on right now. Save 35% off a huge selection of stamps. On top of that, the 10% off code gives you a total of 45% off the stamps on sale! What a deal! Maybe you want to add some to your own stocking and help Santa out! lol

Well, I'm off to make some more cards! Happy stamping! Happy shopping!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

THANKFUL

Well, the weather has been getting considerably colder, the skies gloomier, the shutdowns stricter, and everyone's moods sadder. Me included. I needed something to pick up my spirits and found just the thing in the mail....my order from Technique Junkies arrived! Like an early Christmas! Check out this haul!

I'll admit that I was almost overwhelmed because I couldn't decide which ones to play with first! But since I decided I needed to focus on something positive, I chose the Always Thankful (SD1048) and Fall Leaves (S864) stamps to create a Thanksgiving card. 

I wanted to do something special with the leaves...I could just picture it in my head. But I was totally stumped for a layout. Card sketches to the rescue! They always jump-start my creativity! I selected this one: 

Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch PCC378

I liked that the fall leaves would be a major focal point of this card, but I really wanted the sentiment to be highlight too. So this sketch totally fit the bill. Would you like to see the card now? Here it is:

To create this card, I began with an ivory A2 card base. On another piece of ivory cardstock, I stamped the leaves using Versamark ink. I then heat embossed with a gold glitter embossing powder. Believe me, that was pretty all on it's own, but since I wanted some rich fall colors, I grabbed some Distress Oxide Inks in Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed and Fired Brick and added color to various areas with an Ink Blending Brush.  Once I was satisfied with the blending, I added droplets of Shimmering Bliss in Just Squeezed and Golden Olivine. With a soft cloth, I gently wiped the top of the card to remove any of the ink from the embossed outlines. Then, to really bring the color to the wow factor, I sprayed the entire panel with Imperial Yellow Shimmering Bliss. Wowza! What a gorgeous addition! Just look at the shimmer!!! (It's so hard to capture it's actual beauty with a photo!)

I selected some colored cardstocks that coordinated with the inked image and cut a panel for the top of the card three squares for the diagonal accents. I adhered those to the card base and added a scrap strip of gold foil cardstock. I trimmed down the stamped background piece and attached that to the card as well. 

For the sentiment, I stamped it using Memento Espresso Ink onto ivory cardstock and cut it out with an oval die. I added a little color to the edge using Memento Potter's Clay. That piece was then added to the card front using foam tape for a little dimension. 

I have to admit, using card sketches takes so much guesswork out of trying to figure out a card. It leaves your mind free to get creative with each element rather than trying to figure out the whole layout. And I am in love with how this card turned out! I haven't added anything to the inside yet since I always personalize it for the recipient.

Hope you found a little cheery brightness with my post today. Spending some time in my craft area was just what I needed! BTW, if you like any of the Technique Junkies products, you can save 10% by adding my code at checkout. 

Thanks for spending time with me today!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

NEW FOR NOVEMBER FROM TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

Technique Junkies has some great new releases for November. I'm happy to share some of them with you in my projects today! Let's get to it! You can see all the new releases right HERE!

Release Notes:  All new releases are on sale until the 8th of the month. You will automatically receive 15% off those stamps. As an added bonus, receive an ADDITIONAL 10% OFF by adding the code "TJ10Ro" at checkout. That 10% code is good all month long on all products through Technique Junkies!  

And each month for the "gotta have it all folks", there is a fantastic deal! Here is what you get for only $99.99! This includes all the new releases for the month!

Now, if you have arrived from Judy Jackson, you are in the right place. If not, you may want to start at the beginning so you don't miss any good stuff! Here is the full line-up for your convenience:

TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

LYNDA PLECKHAM

PATTI GILLIAM

HOLLY BROWN

BETH NORMAN-ROBERTS

PAT HUNTOON

BEVERLY SIZEMORE

JUDY JACKSON

RO DONNER  ⇐ You are here!

SHIRLEY HOTOP

CEAL PRITCHETT

Let's go to the fun stuff!

Basic supplies may include: Misti; CutAlign Tools; various inks pads including the new IZink Inks, Ink Blending Brushes; cardstock, vellum and adhesives; paper trimmer, scissors and/or Xacto knife; heat tool; embossing powder

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WOODLAND WONDERS
ADVICE FROM THE FOREST

CARDINAL FROM HEAVEN
BIRCH TREE BORDER

LOVE, LAUGHTER AND COFFEE
Bunch of Beans (Previous Release)

FAT PANTS
Farm Animals (Previous Release)

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Well, there you have it. Hope you found some inspiration today! Remember, all the new releases are on sale (15% off) only until the 8th, so shop early. And save an additional 10% by using the code TJ10Ro (that code is good any time all month long on all products!).

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

More Snow Covered Pines

 I am STILL loving this stamp from Technique Junkies! I have made numerous cards with Snow Covered Pines and still I haven't grown tired of it! Here is another sample of what you can do with this stamp....using Perfect Pearls.

Even though this card looks rich, it was so simple to create. I simply stamped the image onto black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I brushed over a generous amount of Perfect Pearls and dabbed off the excess. I selected the sentiment from the Gnome for Christmas set, which I stamped onto a textured vellum paper. I cut that using a tag punch and added some sequins and gems, along with a pretty red bow. I added adhesive onto the vellum under the bow area so the glue wouldn't show. 

Between the Snow Covered Pines and Gnome for Christmas stamps, I have a great start on my holiday cards. I love both of these sets from the new release and I love when I can mix and match stamp sets.

If you are interested in picking up some goodies from Technique Junkies, be sure to use my special code at checkout and save 10% off your order! This code never expires, so keep it handy!

I hope you found a little inspiration from my card today. I'm heading back to the craft room to whip up some more fun Christmas Cards! Happy crafting!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Snarky Lil Christmas

Love it when I get Christmas cards knocked off my list. Mine are all different, so I love it when I have a great variety of stamps to work with. The October release has some awesome options. I used a couple of them to make today's snarky Christmas card.

BAH HUMBUG (SD1044)
INSIDE OUT: 12 COOKIES (SS125)

You will get so much use out of these sets...the inside out set has 10 stamps included:

Look at all those sentiments! Rather than doing one sentiment on the outside and one on the inside, I opted to use both on the outside and I will put a sweet greeting on the inside.

I used the character from Bah Humbug (I simply trimmed off the sentiment, but you could mask it if you don't like doing stamp surgery).

I love the look of kraft cardstock and thought it went along perfectly with this style of card. I stamped the critter on white cardstock and cut it out, attaching it with foam tape. The sentiments were stamped directly on the card base, and I added a hand-drawn border for a little more whimsy.

Don't forget....you only have until the 8th of this month to save that extra 15% off the new releases, so you may want to order quickly! PLUS...you can save an extra 10% off your WHOLE PURCHASE by entering my special code below:

And if you are one of those Gotta Have It All peeps (guilty!), you can get the whole release for a very significant savings! Normal value is $144.78, but it can be yours for only $108.59. That's a $36.19 savings!

The set even includes two brand new stencils! How fun!

Hope you are inspired to get busy on your holiday cards! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this release!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Celebrate Fall with Technique Junkies New Release

Welcome to Fall, everybody! What better way to celebrate our creativity than with a brand new release from Technique Junkies, including two brand new stencils! Here is a peek at the cards I've created using some of the new stamps.

There are a lot of great Christmas/Winter stamps...some fun, some funny, some elegant, some cute...something for everyone.

Release Notes:  All new releases are on sale until the 8th of the month. You will automatically receive 15% off those stamps. As an added bonus, receive an ADDITIONAL 10% OFF by adding the code "TJ10Ro" at checkout. That 10% code is good all month long on all products through Technique Junkies!  

Additionally, now you can have the whole kit-and-kaboodle in one easy purchase! Purchase the entire release for October, which includes 15 stamps and 2 stencils, for only $108.59 (regularly $144.78)....that's a 25% savings! This is the Gotta Have It All Bundle:

OCTOBER GOTTA HAVE IT ALL

If you have arrived from Judy Jackson, you are in the right place. If not, you may want to start at the beginning so you don't miss any good stuff! Here is the full line-up for your convenience:

TECHNIQUE JUNKIES
LYNDA PLECKAN

PATTI GILLIAM

CEAL PRITCHETT

BEVERLY SIZEMORE (GUEST DESIGNER)

SHIRLEY HOTOP (GUEST DESIGNER)

PAT HUNTOON

BETH NORMAN-ROBERTS

HOLLY BROWN

JUDY JACKSON

RO DONNER  ⇐ You are here!

OK! Let's get onto the cards! Click on any of the stamp names under the photos for a link to their location in the Technique Junkies store. Stamps listed in all caps are from the new release.

Basic supplies may include: Misti; CutAlign Tools; various inks pads including the new IZink Inks, Ink Blending Brushes; cardstock, vellum and adhesives; paper trimmer, scissors and/or Xacto knife; heat tool; embossing powder

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SANDY CHRISTMAS

OF COURSE I am going to start off with a Flamingo!!! (Hello!!!) This one just tickled me pink (tee hee). For those of you who want a beachy vibe to your Christmas cards, this stamp is definitely for you!

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SNOW COVERED PINES
OH CHRISTMAS TREE (Set of 4)
GNOME FOR CHRISTMAS (Set of 6)

These stamps, y'all! Wowza! I paired a beautiful snowy scene background (glitter and all) with one of the adorable gnomes, and a sentiment from the Oh Christmas Tree set. I love the whimsy of the gnome with the elegant background. 

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BAH HUMBUG

Is this kitty critter cute or what?! I love him. Those eyes! For those of you who want to express a more grinchy type of sentiment, you can't go wrong with this one! I layered up some pretty holly paper and added Mr. Humbug on a white panel matted with red. All of the stars are very twinkle-y!

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CANDY CANE
INSIDE OUT: 12 COOKES (Set of 10)

Just look at this fun background created with one stamp! I love the simplicity. I added one of the sentiments from Inside Out. Makes a very cute card!

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GNOME FOR CHRISTMAS (Set of 6)

Snow Swirls

Here's another adorable gnome from this new set. There are three of them, each one cuter than the other. I paired him with a sentiment from that set as well. The background is one of my favorites from last year. I added a "sprig" of red wire behind the sentiment to add a little shiny interest.

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That's it!  I'll be over on the Technique Junkies blog next Wednesday with another new card. Hope you join me!

And I hope you are enjoying seeing the DT projects for this new release and that you found some inspiration today.  Remember, all the new releases are on sale (15% off) only until the 8th, so shop early. And save an additional 10% by using the code below (that code is good any time all month long on all products!).

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

A BOKEH KIND OF BACKGROUND

 I have a new post over on the Technique Junkies Blog today featuring a kind of Bokeh-ish background.

If you would like all the details, including a discount code, please visit me H E R E!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

HANDS REACHING OUT

 I have a quickie post for you today featuring a fun card created using the Hands Reaching Out stamp from Technique Junkies. I've been having a blast with this stamp! Check this one out!

Fun, right? For this card, I simply inked the edges of a purple piece of cardstock using a dark purple ink. On a smaller piece of orange cardstock, I created a simple tombstone mat and inked the headstones in a grey ink, added the RIP's with a marker. I then stamped the hands stamp in a dark black ink, and inked the panel with the dark purple ink. I sprayed it using Shimmering Bliss Iridescent Topper spray. I attached both pieces to a card base, added a piece of washi tape and a few mirror gems, then stamped the sentiment, also from Technique Junkies, called Wicked Halloween.

A quick, easy card for Halloween. 

Hey, by the way, you can save 10% over at Technique Junkies simply by adding the code below at checkout!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!