Card Inspiration | Encouragement Card Ideas

Looking for encouragement card ideas? Today I am sharing with you two card variations using the “Rain Sentiments Set of 6” stamp set and the new “Rain Stencil” both from Technique Junkies. 

Both the stencil and the sentiments set are part of the September 2021 New Release, which features lots of seasonal items, including autumn and Halloween-themed stamps. But, for as much rain as we have been getting lately, I was inspired to play with the rain-themed stamps and stencil first.

I started with some watercolor cardstock and the rain stencil. I used a bit of Liquitex modeling paste (a really nice texture paste) with a palette knife and created a basic stenciled image.

The texture paste is porous, so I knew that I was really just creating an “embossed” looking background for my card. In other words, if I added sprays or other color, it would color the paper AND the stenciled image as well. Once the paste was dry, I sprayed ONE SPRITZ of Shimmering Bliss (Dolphin Cove) aimed from one corner of the card panel. 

On my craft mat, I mixed some Aladine Izink Ice with some glitter and used a palette knife to push it through the stencil. Once it was dry, I used a circle punch to punch out “raindrop” circles for my card. I used a scrap from an inked background to stamp my sentiment and emboss in white embossing powder. With a black Micron pen, I doodle-outlined the umbrella and my punched circles. As a finishing touch, I drew little circles here and there on the card to complete the “doodling” look. 

For the second card, I really just played around with some of my Shimmering Bliss Sprays… a few colors here and there… red, yellow, brown, just created a nice inky background. When it was dry, I used some Pixie Spray to hold down the rain stencil and then I pushed some brown Izink Ice Glaze through the umbrella. 

I had some leftover glitter glaze from my previous card, so I used that for the raindrops. I added a few pieces of random washi tape, and stamped and die cut the sentiment. Finally, I had some leftover raindrop-punched circles, so I adhered them every here and there and then I inked the edges of the card.

I like the combination of glittery rain against the neutral tones of the rest of the card because it provides a nice contrast.

You can check out a bonus card using the "Rain Stencil" and the Aladine Izink Ice mixed with glitter - watch my latest process video HERE!

Hope these projects inspire you to get creating! Thank you for looking!

 I have long been a fan of pink and black together. The contrast is wonderful! Today I am using the Heart without Dreams stamp. I used Cerise Aladine Ink on the feather, and Reglisse (Black) on the words. The size of these stamps are great -- small little 2" cubes, and the black is especially nice. They are 35% off still online, too.

The background uses the same two inks. I used Blending Brushes through the Flamboyant Flourishes Stencil. I think is looks so rich, don't you? I hope you enjoy today's card.

Pat Huntoon

Glittery and Mermazing

Have you seen the new June release at Technique Junkies?  This mermaid and the sentiment are two of the fun new stamps available in the new Oceans of Love set.  I colored the turtle and the mermaid with Copic markers before I fussy cut them.  The background was created with the Flowing Drops stencil and the Turquoise Glitter Paint from Technique Junkies.

All of the new release stamps are on sale (15% off) until tomorrow.  If you use my code, TJ10Holly, you will get an additional 10% off for a total of 25% off any of the new release stamps.  That's an awesome deal!  Have fun shopping!

TJ Inkspiration: What We Do Best (and a video)

With the ongoing stay-at-home orders across our nation, it is imperative that all of us do our best whatever our personal situation. For some, it means working from home; others are home schooling, and even more are essential workers going into work outside of the home. As papercrafters, we need to do OUR part and contribute our talents the best we can. So this week, I am thrilled to announce a new challenge: What We Do Best (WWDB). Our challenge will run for four weeks starting today, with each of the four weeks featuring a different theme. Each week, you can make one or more cards with envelopes using Technique Junkies stamps within a weekly theme. Simply post them to the Technique Junkies FaceBook group OR email them directly to me.   Each week, one of the challenge cards will be selected RANDOMLY and will win a $50.00 gift certificate to the Technique Junkies online store!   That is $50.00 PER WEEK that we will be giving away with this challenge! Here are the "rules" and the themes: 1. Create a card using Technique Junkies Stamps or Foils. Please, no other companies' stamps on your creations. Dies, stencils and other embellishments are welcomed, but kindly remember that it is a company-sponsored challenge. 2. You must include a decorated envelope with your card entry. 3. Email your card to phuntoon@optonline.net OR post to the Technique Junkies Facebook Group with the following hashtag: #WWDB.  4. You may post a different card every day. Cards that have been posted to the Technique Junkies FaceBook group prior to the start of the challenge may not be used in this challenge. Each card posted must be made by the poster and only be posted once during the contest. 5. One submitted entry (card) will be selected randomly at the end of the week, and a $50.00 gift certificate winner will be announced on this email and to the FaceBook group on the following Friday. Here are the themes: Week One: 4/17 - 4/23: Thank you card: Thank a nurse, doctor, police officer, first responder, mailman, store clerk or other essential worker. Entries MUST include a decorated envelope. We don't just want to make cards, we want to send them out! Week Two: 4/24 - 4/30 Get Well Card: Must also include a decorated envelope. Week Three: 5/1 - 5/7: Thinking of you card: Think shut-ins and other people struggling with the situation. Again, you need to include a decorated envelope. Week Four 5/8 - 5/14 Encouragement card: Pretty broad spectrum here - but inspiration, thinking of you, thank you, all encompassed here, too. Again, an envelope is necessary. I can't wait to see what you make! I would never challenge you and not play along! Today I have a pretty Cherry Blossom Thank you Card using Aladine Pigment Inks to paint the blossoms.  I have a little tutorial for you, too!  First, here is my card: Liquid Ink Colored Cherry Blossoms And I loved coloring the Cherry Blossoms so much that I decorated the inside, too! I am planning on sending my card to a very special nurse I know! Okay, now for the fun part! Watch as I paint with the pretty Liquid Pigment Inks:  Liquid Pigment Ink Painting

I hope you are a little inkspired by today's issue. See you next week!   Sincerely,   Pat Huntoon Technique Junkies LLC

TJ Inkspirations: Simple Autumn Blessings Card

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Something about the beautifully colored leaves in New England makes my heart full.  I truly find it a time for Gratitude. Today I have a very short video for you that uses simple tools to make Autumn-based Gratitude cards. I am making little packs of these as gifts for hostesses and friends during this Autumn and Thanksgiving season. They are easy to make and lovely, too. The card uses one stamp set: Autumn Framed Sentiments. From today, Friday October 18, through Monday, October 21st, you can use the code Autumn (with a capital A) for 20% off the Autumn Framed Sentiments Set. You will save nearly $5.00 with the code! This is the set: Autumn Framed Sentiments Here are some examples of the cards in the video: Here is the video: Simple Autumn Blessings Card

I hope you are inkspired by today's issue. See you next week!   Sincerely,   Pat Huntoon Technique Junkies LLC

TJ Inkspirations: Nevermore Scary Good Inspiration

Halloween. Most people love it or hate it -- not too many people are ambivalent about it. No matter which camp you are in, I recommend watching today's video - it shows lots of techniques for layering stamps, sprays and stencils for an awesome effect.

I also prepared a Nevermore Stamp and Spray bundle today with a whopping 11 items in it, so if you do want to take a stab at this card, you can get it all at once. The picture for the bundle is below, but you can check it out HERE, too.

Ready, Halloween crafters?

Here is the finished piece from the video: 

Nevermore Spray Bundle

  

Ready for the video?

Nevermore: Scary Good - Stamped, Sprayed and Stenciled Inspiraton

The Nevermore Bundle:

Nevermore Stamp and Spray Bundle

TJ Inkspirations: Howl-O-Ween Stencil Omitting

Remember when we used to create a mask over stamped images when adding color around them? Well today's video shows how to use a stencil, tacked down with Pixie Spray, along with (teeny-tiny blending brushes to get designs in the little areas around an image without masking.  Today we are Stencil Omitting. (Hmmmm. Kind of sounds like a crime, but its not!) The video today uses Ink Blending Brushes with IZINK Dye Inks, Pixie Spray and a Stencil to create a great backdrop for the wonderful Howl-O-Ween stamp that was released this month. Here is the finished piece from the video:  Howl-O-Ween   Ready for the video? Howl-O-Ween Stencil Omitting About today's products: Howl-O-Ween_ Set of 2 Grunge Dots Stencil Pixie Spray is a light-tack stencil adhesive that will change the way you create with stencils. You can create beautiful, crisp stencil projects without painter's tape. Pixie Spray The 2" x 2" Aladine IZINK Ink Pads are lovely little inks have a beautiful foam pad, and at $2.99 they are priced right, too.  All of the inks are available individually, of course, but if you are a get-it-all kind of person, you might want all 20 of the inks for just $49.99 - 15% off! Aladine IZINK Dye Inks  I blend these inks with Ink Blending Brushes in the video - also new to the TJ Store. They are, by far, the easiest and best way I have ever blended ink. We have the orignal black handled brushes ($24.95), and now we have pretty Rose Gold Handles ($27.95 - 'cause sometimes we just need pretty things!), too! Black Handle Ink Blending Brushes Rose Gold Ink Blending Brushes

I hope you are inkspired by today's issue. See you next week!   Sincerely,   Pat Huntoon Technique Junkies LLC

Hope!

Hope is Stronger is a wonderful encouraging thought  when facing a difficult situation. 

 I thought Roses made a perfect background for the verse.

I watercolored the roses with the new to Technique Junkies Aladine Liquid Pigment Inks.  They are very concentrated so they needed some water to be "water colors."

Please remember to use my code - TJ10Judy - when you check out. That will save you 10% on your whole order.

Have a great day and get inky!

TJ Inkspirations: Ink Blended Stenciled Backgrounds

First, I must apologize. You haven't heard from me for a few weeks, and my absence is both professional and personal.  From a professional standpoint, the video editing program I have been using suddenly died on me, without hope of recovery, forcing me to learn a new editing program that is more complicated. The good news is that the videos will (should) be better as I master the program in the next few months!  From a personal standpoint, I have traveled every weekend in August (only once for personal reasons, the rest were trade shows) and the remainder of my time in the office has been overwhelmingly hectic. I promise to make up for it!  I have already filmed tutorials for most of September and I am prepping them all for future publication.  Before I get to the video and artwork, I would like to mention that Sunday is September 1st - meaning that we will have 15 new stamps for you.  Wait until you see these! I have a couple in this next release that are my favorite stamps so far...stay tuned for Sunday. You will receive another email from me reminding you of the release celebration (and the discount) Sunday (9/1) morning. Today's video shows you how to use the Ink Blending Brushes with IZINK Dye Inks, Pixie Spray and a Stencil to create a multicolored, blended background. The finished piece I did for the video is below, plus I have included an additional project that uses the technique with one of the new stamps available September 1st.  Live in Color Peacock Feather Stencil And the Sneak Preview (stamp available September 1):   Ready for the video? Ink Blended Stenciled Backgrounds About today's products: Pixie Spray is a light-tack stencil adhesive that will change the way you create with stencils. You can create beautiful, crisp stencil projects without painter's tape. Pixie Spray The 2" x 2" Aladine IZINK Ink Pads are lovely little inks have a beautiful foam pad, and at $2.99 they are priced right, too.  All of the inks are available individually, of course, but if you are a get-it-all kind of person, you might want all 20 of the inks for just $49.99 - 15% off! Aladine IZINK Dye Inks  I blend these inks with Ink Blending Brushes in the video - also new to the TJ Store. They are, by far, the easiest and best way I have ever blended ink. We have the orignal black handled brushes ($24.95), and now we have pretty Rose Gold Handles ($27.95 - 'cause sometimes we just need pretty things!), too! Black Handle Ink Blending Brushes Rose Gold Ink Blending Brushes

I hope you are inkspired by today's issue. See you next week!   Sincerely,   Pat Huntoon Technique Junkies LLC

TJ Inkspirations: Pixie Spray Stencil Revolution!

I have been bursting at the seams with excitement about today's email! I have known for a while that this was all coming together, and I just received a HUGE shipment of Pixie Spray -- now I can share!! Pixie Spray What is Pixie Spray? It is a light-tack stencil adhesive that will change the way you create with stencils. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but trust me, once you use this spray, you will get addicted to having beautiful, crisp stencil projects created with both hands (since one doesn't need to hold down a stencil) and without painter's tape. Today's video shows you how to use the spray with Shimmering Bliss, AND with Dye Inks.  I JUST brought the 2" x 2" Aladine IZINK Ink Pads into the store --I have been working and creating with them and I felt compelled to share the love with you. These lovely little inks have a beautiful foam pad, and at $2.99 they are priced right, too.   All of the inks are available individually, of course, but if you are a get-it-all kind of person, you might want all 20 of the inks for just $49.99 - 15% off! Aladine IZINK Dye Inks  I blend these inks with Ink Blending Brushes in the video - also new to the TJ Store. They are, by far, the easiest and best way I have ever blended ink. Ink Blending Brushes Okay, now it is time for the video. Get ready for the Stencil Revolution! Pixie Spray Stencil Revolution

I hope you are a little inkspired by today's issue. See you next week!   Sincerely,   Pat Huntoon Technique Junkies LLC

TJ Inkspirations: Diamonds Technique Kit

The more I play with the Aladine IZINK Diamonds, the more I love them. I can't help sharing their glittery goodness with you. Today I have a video that has a corresponding Technique kit, using the Diamonds on a sweet little canvas tote. You can watch the video, then get all the supplies in the kit with a nice discount, and make your own. Here is the kit for the video today: All of these items will help you make these bags: Aren't they cute? So easy to do, too.  Here is the How-To video: IZINK Diamonds Canvas Bag Technique Kit

I hope you are a little inkspired by today's issue. See you next week!   Sincerely,   Pat Huntoon Technique Junkies LLC