What We Do Best Challenge - Week 2 (Get Well)

Hey, Stampers! I sure hope everyone is staying safe and healthy these days. I've had a bit of down time, so I've been playing along with the Technique Junkies What We Do Best Challenges. Each week is a different theme, and there is a $50 prize for the randomly selected winner. This is week 2 and the theme is Get Well. If you would like all the details of the contest, here is the link which includes last week's winner:  https://techniquejunkies.blogspot.com/2020/04/tj-inkspiration-wwdb-challenge-week-one.html

I had a lot of fun using some older stamps and showing them some love. Here is my project:

I started with a black A2 card base. To that I added a layer of yellow cardstock. On another piece of yellow cardstock I stamped in black ink the Growing Wild Image:

GROWING WILD S661

I added some beautiful shimmer with TJ's Shimmering Bliss (Mindaro). I love the sheen it gives to the project. I added a black layer to that and attached it to the card. On a framed piece of vellum, using black ink, I stamped the sentiment and attached a bow. The sentiment is from this set:

BEE QUOTES S402

On a piece of white cardstock, I stamped the adorable bee, also from the Bee Quotes set, two times - once for the base of the bee and once to secure the wings which were stamped on gold vellum. After trimming out my pieces and assembling the bee, I attached it to the card using foam squares. I then added some glossy accent to give the bee even more character. I curled the vellum wings up a bit so the whole bee would literally stand out from the card.

For the inside of the card, I used a gray ink to stamp multiples of the bee. I also did the same for the envelope front and inside panel. I used a sentiment from this set for the inside:

SIMPLE SENTIMENTS 2B SS02B

This card is all ready to be sent on to someone to brighten their day.

I hope you play along with the challenge. If you like these stamps (or any of the other products at Technique Junkies, feel free to use my special discount code at checkout to save 10% off your order. The code never expires!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Just Because

I've been busy making lots of cards during this Social Distancing period. Crafting helps keep me sane with all the crazy going on in the world. I picked up a new stamp at a stamping trade show earlier this year (BC...Before Covid). I finally had an opportunity to play with it. After I stamped it, it was too pretty to cover up with a lot of other "stuff", so I kept it very, very simple.

The color doesn't show true in this pic. It is actually a soft pink with a sheer pink ribbon.

I started by stamping onto pink cardstock, this beautiful background stamp called Bird and Letter Collage from Technique Junkies. I love their stamps. They are a nice rubber and stamp wonderfully. I used a brown ink and my MISTI to accomplish this. I trimmed down the piece and edged the panel with the same brown ink I used to stamp the image. This finishes off the panel nicely.

I added some delicate pink ribbon to the panel. Then, using rub-on letters, I added the Just Because sentiment. Simple. Elegant.

The panel was then attached to a brown A2 card base (4.25" x 5.5"). This background is so pretty, it didn't need any additional embellishing. 

Well, that's my card for today. Hope you found a little inspiration during this crazy time. If you like this stamp (or any of the other Technique Junkies products), you can save 10% at checkout by entering this never-expiring code below:

Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky.

What We Do Best Challenge - Card #3

Hey, stampers! I'm back again (this has to be a record...3 days, 3 posts). But I am getting so much enjoyment out of making thank you cards for essential workers that I just can't seem to stop! If you want to see all the details of this challenge, just head over to the Technique Junkies Blog Post.

For this card, I pulled out a few of my favorite French stamps from Technique Junkies and some dies.

I love French-Themed stamps. And these are no exception! The stamps I used were:

FRENCH SENTIMENTS, SET OF 4

FRENCH TEXT

COLLAGE EIFFEL

To create this card, I began with cream cardstock and created an A2 card base. I then stamped all three stamps in black ink on separate pieces of cardstock. Using nesting dies, I cut down each stamped image and black mats for each piece. 

I attached the largest matted image to the card base. I added a ribbon and bow to the second matted image, then attached that to the card. And finally, I attached the matted sentiment. 

For the envelope I simply stamped the collage image again in soft grey ink.

I love the combination of black and one color, in this case cream. It makes a very striking card. And now it's all ready to be sent to someone special.

If you are loving all the TJ Stamps I use, these and many others can be purchased from Technique Junkies. And to save 10%, simply add my code below at checkout. Remember, this code never expires, so keep it handy!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see your challenge submissions soon!

Til next time,
Keepin' in inky.

What We Do Best Challenge - Card #2

I am still having fun creating submissions for the What We Do Best Challenge (click on the link for all the details) over at Technique Junkies. In case you hadn't heard, they are doing a four week challenge, with a different theme each week, and awarding a $50 gift certificate to the Technique Junkies shop.  Besides the chance of winning some cool prizes, crafting is a great way to pass the time during this social distancing period. The desire to thank hospital staff, police and fire fighters, EMT's, and grocery store workers is a great reason to create a thank you card. Here is my second card made for this challenge.

I used two stamp sets from Technique Junkies:

PENCIL TOP UPPER AND LOWER ALPHABET WITH NUMBERS

CREAKING TREES

I began with an A2 card base. I masked off the top and lower sections of the card with masking tape. Using an Ink Blending Brush, I applied and blended Aladine iZink Dye Inks in three colors: Aurore (Dawn), Cire (Wax), and Rose′ (Pink).

After carefully removing the mask, I added two score lines: one above and one below the inked area. With Amalgam Black Ink, I stamped the trees onto the inked section of the card. On a grided acrylic block, I laid out the sentiment with the letters from the PencilTop Alphabet, then stamped below the bottom score line. 

For the envelope, I applied the Aurore and Cire inks in a strip down the left edge. Then I stamped one of the trees at the bottom. I don't have a photo, but I also stamped a second and third generation of that same tree on the inside of the card in the lower right corner. I chose not to add a sentiment to the inside of the card so I could write my own personal message.

This is a one layer card, which will fit nicely in the coordinating envelope. And it's all ready to be sent to an essential worker to brighten their day.

I hope you come play along with this challenge, and I wish you the best of luck. Stay safe, stay healthy!

Before I go, just want to let you know that you can save 10% off all purchases at Technique Junkies by using my code below. This code never expires, so you may want to keep it handy!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Thinking of You

I find myself in the need of more Thinking of You cards during this crazy time we are in. Social distancing does not mean you can't keep in touch with those you love. This card is perfect to just let someone know that, even though I can't visit them, they are still on my mind.

I used two stamps from Technique Junkies to create this card:

PARTICLE FLOW

SIMPLE SENTIMENTS 2A

I started off with an A2 card base to which I added a strip of purple cardstock. On a piece of cardstock cut slightly smaller than the card base, I stamped Parcticle Flow four times, using four graduating shades of purple ink. My MISTI helped greatly with this. All I had to do was slide my cardstock ¼" after stamping each color. 

I then stamped the sentiment with Versamark and embossed it with black embossing powder. I attached the panel to the card base and added a few enamel embellishments to finish off the card.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you found some inspiration today. If you like any of these products, you can save 10% off your order by entering the code below at checkout. This code never expires, so you may want to keep it handy!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

What We Do Best Challenge - Technique Junkies

Today, I am playing along with a brand new Challenge Series from Technique Junkies. Each week for the next four weeks, there will be a different theme. And each week there will be one lucky winner of a $50 gift certificate to Technique Junkies! All the details can be found H E R E !

So, for the first week, the challenge is to create a thank you card with matching envelope for an essential worker. Here is my card:

I used three TJ Stamps to create the card (including the inside!) and matching envelope:

BIRD AND LETTER COLLAGE (S710)

THANKS FOR BEING YOU (SDX098)

YOU ARE AMAZING (SDX045)

To create my card, I started with a 5" x 10" card base, scored and folded at 5". I used a die to cut the large black circle and smaller white circle. Using the Bird Collage stamp, I stamped a light background with a tan ink onto the white circle. I stamped and embossed the Thanks sentiment on top of the background.

I added a twine ribbon to the black die cut, attached that onto the card base, then added the white circle using foam tape. 

For the inside of the card, I added a black panel. Then, onto a white panel, I stamped a section of the Bird Collage in light tan, then the sentiment was stamped in black ink.

After creating my envelope with a WRMK Envelope Punch Board, I added more of the Bird Collage stamp in random areas, covering the front of the envelope. I also added that stamp to the inside of the envelope flap to create a finished look.

I love the simplicity of the card. It was a breeze to make!

I encourage you to play along with me! If you want to add to your stash, all product from Technique Junkies can be purchased for 10% off by using the code below (this code never expires, so keep it handy!):

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

APRIL RELEASE FOR TECHNIQUE JUNKIES - COVID-FREE

Welcome to April! We are no fools today. We are playing from the Covid-free safety of our craft spaces to bring you the newest release from Technique Junkies. I have four fun cards to share with you today.

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!  If you'd like to see all the stamps in the release, just click H E R E !

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
PAT HUNTOON

BETH NORMAN-ROBERTS

CEAL PRITCHETT

GIOVANA SMITH
HOLLY BROWN

JEANNE STREIFF

JUDY JACKSON

RO DONNER  ⇐ You are here!

LYNDA PLECKAN
CARMEN GARCIA
PATTI GILLIAM

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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Stamps Used: 
- Anything is Possible
- Butterfly Collage with Text

I am in love with this background stamp! I stamped it in a light brown ink and added soft pink chalk to the butterfly areas. The sentiment is stamped on gold vellum. I added a few enamel dots for accents..

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Stamp Used: 
- Tail in the Air 

This stamp is just too stinkin' cute! I used patterned paper for the background and added a red ribbon for a pop of color. The image was stamped and matted with black. The only coloring I did on this card was to add a red color to the adorable doggy. I added a few red gems for more red accent. This card was super quick and easy to make.

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Stamps Used: 
- Lotus Corner
- Art of God (This is not a new release)

TJ Products Used:
- A Colorful Life Stencil
- Pixie Spray
- Ink Blending Brushes
- Nuvo Glitter Markers


This lotus flower is simply beautiful. I stamped and colored the image with colored pencils. I sprayed the Pixie Spray on the back of the stencil, then placed it over my image. Using the blending brushes, I added a soft blue avoiding the stamped area. I added a gold border with a Nuvo Glitter Marker then adhered the panel to my card base.

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Stamp(s) Used: 
- Anything is Possible
- Precise Posy

TJ Products Used:
- Foil 

This background is show shimmery and shiny IRL. The new foil line is huge! There are so many beautiful colors, it's really hard to pick a favorite. I have several colors, so you will be seeing them in future projects. Here is a close-up of the background which shows the sparkle a little better.

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Well, there you have it. Hope you found some inspiration today. The next blog linked up is Lynda's. She has some great projects to share with you!

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!