Thursday, January 29, 2015

Stained Glas

{jane bosi}

Happy Thursday, Junkies!  I am happy to have a fun techniquey card to share on this gloomy-in-Wisconsin day!

My card features a wonderful and colorful technique called Background Stained Glass.  You will find this instructions to complete your own version (and, I'd love to see it!) of this technique in the August/September 2014 edition of the Newsletter.  To complete my piece, I've used the Technique Junkie background stamp called, Leaf Repeat #S608.  I encourage a bit of poking around in the "Big Stamps" category of the TJ Online Catalog!  There are so many great stamps there that would be perfect for this technique, as well as, the TONS of other techniques written for background stamps!  Check out this index for the Bodacious Backgrounds CD!

To finish things off, I added a sentiment, also from Technique Junkies, and a butterfly accent from the Wings #SS019 set.  Be sure to check them out!

Have a great, colorful day!

TTFN & Don't forget the awesome!
Jane

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

It's All About Stencils!



Jackie K here once again, I have made 2 cards and both techniques are from the Sensational Stencils CD. These are only 2 of the 40 techniques on the CD. It was difficult to choose the two I would do for this post. It's a wonderfully creative CD, and if you enjoy working with stencils you should seriously consider getting it.

You can purchase it here and if you are a Technique Junkie you can get 10% off by using the code TJ10


Let's get to my cards. LOL!


 This card uses the Background Stenciling Technique. This is a fun, fast, easy and effective technique suitable for any occasion.


This card uses the Pastel Stick Stencil Technique. Your possibilities are endless with this technique, limited only by your imagination!
There is no blue in my card. My computer is acting up and I'm lucky I have gotten this posted at all.
All stamps are Technique Junkie stamps.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time stay creative!
Jackie K














Friday, January 23, 2015

Holly Brown: Gelato Drip Feathers


Hi Junkies!  It's Holly posting today.  I've been seeing a lot of artwork using the Gelato Drips technique from the last newsletter (December 2014), so I had to give this technique a try.  It's so fun and easy and you never know what your background will end up like.  Those are the best techniques, aren't they?  :-)

I used the same gelatos to ink up the feather stamp (Peacock Feather, #SD038) several times before I cut them out.  The sentiment is perfect with this peacock feather stamp, and it is called "Hope is the Thing" (#SD371) from Technique Junkies Stamps.  Pat is working on a brand new website for the Technique Junkies Stamps, but for now, you can find all her stamps at http://www.stampcamp.com

Don't forget that the Design Team Call is still going on!  If you love techniques and the wide assortment of stamps at Technique Junkies Stamps, get your application in.  You can check out the details HERE.  We would love to play with you!!  :-)


Shine On....

{jane bosi}

Happy Friday, Junkies!!  Today, I am using a great scrappy technique from the last edition of the TJ Newsletter!  This one is called Tie It Together!  This is such a fun and stunning technique, I decided to create a specific place to put my technique pieces....I'm horrible at using them if I don't do it right away.  I figure a dedicated (and super cute) crafty space was in order!

The stamp that ties it together.....LOL, like how I did that.....is called Shine Today #SD441 and available in the Technique Junkie stamp store!  I feel like I use it all the time since I love it so much.  Which stamps are your favorites?  I'd love to see how you use them!

TTFN, Jane

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Gelato Drips by Judy Jackson



The fun thing about Gelato Drips is you never know exactly how the background will turn out. You can find these birthday stamps on this web page of the Technique Junkies Stamp web site -- http://www.stampcamp.com/birthdays.html .

Have a wonderfully inky day!

Judy Jackson

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Brayered Resist and Faux Dominos Techniques


Hello friends, it's Beth Norman here with one of my favourite cards to share with you.  In fact, I like this card so much, I'm going to make ten more of them to give to my cousin for her birthday.   This card almost has an Asian flare, don't you think?

Two techniques were used:  Brayered Resist which was cut up and turned into the Faux Dominos technique that I developed back in 2010 for the Technique Junkie Newsletter. 

You can find Brayered Resist on our Bodacious Background Stamps CD, and the Faux Dominos technique can be found in the June 2010 issue.

All stamps are from Technique Junkies Stamps.

I created my background by sponging on ink with a sponge and then embossed one of my favourite stamps, #SD393 Whimsy Branch, onto the background with white embossing powder.

The background stamp that I used is #5449 Asian Mums and the sentiment is from #SS2a Simple Sentiments.

Thank you for popping in. Come back and see what the Design Team has new to share with you. 

Thursday, January 15, 2015

What Cancer Cannot Do....


{jane bosi}  Good Day!  I have a frugal, if not stunning card share today!  In November, I was fortunate to meet up with the wonderful Technique Junkie Mastermind, Pat Huntoon, at a stampy show in lil ol Madison, Wisconsin.  At that show, there was a lot of stampy goodness going down with gelatos, stencils, stamps and more.  Pat demo'd her little tocus (LOL....not even sure I spelled that right!) off.  While cleaning up, I grabbed a bunch of the discarded pieces....they were all just so pretty and vibrant!

So.....I crafted this colorful card which features several renditions of the Gelatos Wipe technique.  This technique is featured on the Sensational Stencil CD.  If you haven't gotten your copy yet, now is the time!  This CD is jam packed with awesome tutorials!  You can read all about it here!

Not wanting to take anything away from the beautiful vibrant background, I stamped on vellum.  I chose to use the sentiment, What Cancer Cannot Do #SD607 from Technique Junkie Stamps.  I love the verbage of this sentiment:

It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot dissolve faith,
It cannot destroy peace,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot conquer the spirit.

Cannot!  I love this for the words and, mostly, for why it is ;)  #goteama

TTFN,
Jane








Tuesday, January 13, 2015

I can't get enough of this technique

 
 
Hello, Jackie K here with one of my very favorite techniques! This background technique comes out different every time. I enjoy the unexpected outcome because although different, I have yet to be disappointed in the results!
This card is a perfect example of unexpected, to my eye it looks rather mysterious. You may notice that only on a rare occasion due I really embellish or pretty my card . It's perfectly logical to me because I prefer to highlight the technique as much as possible. Look at the card and see if it seems rather mysterious to you.
 
 
Try to ignore the black surrounding the card. It is only used as contrast because a white card fades into the background of the blog post.
So are you saying "enough already, tell me the technique?"
Well here it is :
 
BLEACH BLOCKING
from the Dec/2014 newsletter.
 
Stamps used: #SD292 Palm Frond
#SS2a Simple Sentiments
 
See you back here soon!
 



Monday, January 12, 2015

Winter Scene by Judy Jackson


I used the Fat Smudged Line Technique Junkie Stamp (#S576) to create this scene. It reminds of birch trees in the winter.  The verse is Technique Junkies stamp - (#SD561) ATC Same Question.  The verse is on this web page http://www.stampcamp.com/atc2.html.  There are also  silhouette of a man and a tree on the same stamp.  A few die cuts of grass, a fence, trees, and some birds and you have this wintery scene.  I can hardly wait for warm weather and spring.  I have decided I am not made for winter!

Have some stamping fun today!

Judy Jackson

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Words....They Matter

{jane bosi}  This week I'm focusing on some of the awesome words available from Technique Junkie stamps!  I immediately fell in love with this large sentiment, You Make Me Proud #SD612, and new it would be the perfect focal point for the Directions technique!  You'll find that technique in the 2014 Oct/Nov edition of the Newsletter :)

I think this will make such a sweet encouraging card to perhaps pop up in one of my kiddo's lunch boxes?

My second card, also focused on a great sentiment, would also fit the lunch box bill :)

This sentiment, You Are Amazing #SDX045, is amazing!  I love the switched up script and versatile nature of this sentiment.  It's a definite must have as it works for birthday, thank you, encouragement.....just about anything!

Thanks for stopping!  Also, don't forget to answer the TJ Design Team call!!  It's a fabulous place to be :)

TTFN, Jane


Friday, January 9, 2015

Holly Brown: Distressed Daisies


Hi Junkies!  Happy New Year!  

I am starting out this new year with a new computer as my old one died last month.  We had JUST finished a monthly backup and the computer was restarting when poof.  The hard drive completely died.  Somehow the entire boot sector of the hard drive was wiped out.  So we spent about a week trying to restore it, bought a new drive and tried to copy files, but nada.  Now I'm learning a new computer with a new operating system, and I've had to reinstall some of my programs so I can do my work.  Hopefully I'm back to normal now.  :-)

I decided to play with one of my favorite techniques called Watercolor Distress from the February 2007 issue.  This technique is so much fun as you never know what you will end up with.  I used four ink colors - Plum, Wisteria, Wasabi (green), and Marina Mist (blue) - and I love this aged, almost vintage look of these colors together.  When you do this particular technique, every single piece will be totally different.

I stamped the gorgeous Vintage Daisy Collage stamp (Palettini Collection from Technique Junkies Stamps) right over the colored background and I colored in the butterfly and bee wings with a shimmery glaze pen.  The sentiment is from the Einstein Quotes set (Technique Junkies Stamps).  I stamped it on white cardstock and then cut the lines apart and glued them down separately for added interest.

I hope you give this technique a try - it's fun and easy!  :-)

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Technique Junkies Design Team Call

We are looking for a few Dynamic Designers who are passionate about Stamping and Stampbooking to join our Creative Team.

Do you love to Stamp?  Do you love elegant, classical and whimsical images?  Are you active on Social Media outlets, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest?  Then we invite you to become part of the Technique Junkies Creative Design Team!

Technique Junkies purchased Stamp Camp in 2014, and has been working on a new website launch. We need a creative team to help us show off our new look and all of our new stamps to the world through your blog, websites, and other social media. The new site will be ready March 1st, and we want a team that is ready to launch with us!

This special group will develop projects and tutorials for our website and blog, have the chance to have their designs showcased on packaging, and have their artwork displayed at tradeshows throughout the country.  In addition, Designers will have the opportunity to create artwork for future tutorial CDs in addition to creating work for the stamp line.

The team will officially start March1st, and will have a term of service through December 31 2015 (9 months).

 Who Should Apply?
We are looking for stampers, stampbookers and stamping papercrafters who have the following skills:
1.  Strong Social Media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Blog)

2.  Clear, Crisp, and Engaging Project Photography

3.  Fantastic project tutorials, tips, and how-to’s; both video and picture format.

4.  The desire to help Technique Junkies develop a stronger presence in the online stamping community. 4 projects per month are required, 2 on the Technique Junkies blog and 2 on your own personal blog.  There may be need for additional projects for blog hops and CD releases on a volunteer basis. Compensation for additional projects will be separate from what is listed below.

5. We love techniques, and if you do, too, this is a great opportunity for you. BUT - if you prefer clean and simple, or have another style, that is great too – variety is what we are looking for.

6. A commitment to the full 9 month term of March 1st through December 31, 2015.

What do I need to do to apply?
Send an email to designteam@techniquejunkies.com with the following information:
1.  Your full name, email address, phone number, and address. List your current design team affiliations (if any) and past affiliations.  Note: It’s okay if you have not been on a team before. I am interested in the quality of your work!

2.  Links to all of your social media outlets:   Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and any other on-line sites/galleries.

3.  Please share links to three (3) of your favorite stamping projects. Make sure that the projects represent your best photography and your personal style. I want to see what you love! Note that these do not need to be new projects, nor do they need to use our stamps or techniques for the application.

4. Tell us a little about yourself…how you started, what you love, the type of stamps (cute, elegant, weird, classic, vintage, photo-style, etc.) you like, What kind of stamps you are drawn to (birds, butterflies, geometrics, etc.).  Just a paragraph or two – whatever you are comfortable telling us.

5. What are your favorite mediums and coloring tools? Do you like to color or are you a master of ink? Or both?

What’s in it for you?
1. We will promote your name/work on the Technique Junkies blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Newsletters, and website.

2. You will receive a box of stamps/cds immediately when selected.  It’ll be like Christmas!

3. You will have a $75.00 stipend per quarter to spend on stamps. I always pay for postage.

4. You will receive a 30% discount on stamps beyond your stipend quarterly.

5. You may choose one tutorial CD per month.

6. You will receive a box of goodies from time-to-time to supplement the stamps above, and to keep things fresh.

The call is open immediately and will end on February 10th 2015, at midnight EST. Confirmation emails will be sent out when we receive your application (but we do travel, so give us a day or two before following up). A final decision will be made by February 16th, 2015.

I cannot wait to see your work!

P.S. Know another stamper who would love this? Pass it on!

Stencil Punches by Judy Jackson




We are now in the last issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter -- and it makes me sad. I feel the need to share my Technique Junkie journey with you, so please bear with me.  I well remember when my hubby and I retired.  We moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to family and have better winter weather than we had in Upstate New York State near Albany.  My entire collection of  stamping friends (and many other friends) and a great stamp store were left behind.  I had purchased or had subscribed to a number of stamping magazines. I was desperate to find a nitch in the stamping world to fit my needs here in Pennsylvania. I already knew there was a good stamp store in this area but I needed new stamping friends and new stamping inspiration.  Every woman I met in our new neighborhood, I asked if they rubber stamped or scrapbooked. I only found one.

Pat Huntoon knows full well how much I have loved the Technique Junkie newsletter.  But she doesn't know how I found my wonderful circle of friends here in my little town. 

I had googled stamping magazines or stamping techniques from my totally unfinished computer office.    Our ONLY computer was a desk top model back in 2003 so it was BIG.  It was on my "desk" -- an unpacked box in our office.   Somehow, up popped the website for Technique Junkie newsletter. I poked around a bit, but could not see any real tutorials but could see the gallery of cards.  I could not figure out the "how" to create what I saw, and that frustrated me.  At that time Pat Huntoon had a Six Month option for subscribing to the newsletter. So I tried it, and was hooked.  I loved how the techniques were written clearly, how there were several samples for every technique, and how people shared  their work so willing in their emails to the group.   This was very exciting to me!

Then one day, some one posted a beautiful card using a technique I had never heard of.  It was the Acetate and Tissue technique in one of the first two newsletters back in 2002.   I posted a question -- "how do I do this?"  The artist of the card did not answer.  I had not even yet received my first newsletter so I didn't know you are not supposed to share the techniques in writing .  But one lady, Carol Taggart, replied to me asking where I lived in Pennsylvania.  When she learned I lived relatively close to her, she invited me to her home and she taught me how to do this.  How wonderful to have a new friend and she stamped!! Afterwards, she invited me to come on over to another lady's home for a Stamping Wednesday session. These ladies stamped every Wednesday -- for hours and hours!  How fun.  And still today a group of stamping friends is active on Wednesdays.  Most of the ladies have changed due to life's circumstances, but Carol and I are still going strong for our Wednesday Stamping adventures. So the Technique Junkie newsletter helped me in our new area to find a group of friends to stamp with. I am very grateful for the Technique Junkie newsletter for many reasons.  I have found stamping friends are the best!

My own stamping skills have also greatly improved over the years.  Isn't it illuminating to look back at the cards we made when we first started stamping? Growth is wonderful!

And now I will share with you about the card at the top of the post.  I created a stencil with a snow flake punch and I worked a way at it.  The verse at the bottom is a Palettini stamp from Technique Junkie Stamps on this web page - http://www.stampcamp.com/palettinistamps1.html.

Only a few more posts from newsletter techniques to go.  I hope the Technique Junkie newsletter has inspired you at least as half as much as it has me over the years.  I understand Pat's reasons for the end, but I will sure miss it.  I would be interested to know how you found the Technique Junkie newsletter and what has it meant to you over the years.

Have a great stamping day!

Judy Jackson

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Diagonal Popped Strips


Happy New Year.  I hope you had a nice Christmas and wish you all the best for 2015.

It's Beth Norman here with Diagonal Popped Strips, from the December 2014 issue.  Isn't it pretty with the distressed edging? 

My beautiful background stamp, and sentiment, is from the Technique Junkies Stamps.

Have a good day!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!



{jane bosi}

It's a brand new day, a brand new year!  The possibilities are endless and lay in front of you. What will you do?

For me, the answer is easy!  I will create.  I'll create art, techniques and a life in the process!

I'm using this beautiful Palettini (#P018 Vintage Botanicals Collage) image today for a colorful, easy card!  My watercolor paper background is colored with a collection of beautiful sprays. Once dry, I over stamped this beautiful image. To finish things off, I pulled the Bandana (August 2008) technique out of my arsenal of craftiness!

Go ahead, get your ink on!

TTFN, Jane