Sweet Giraffes

 Technique Junkies stamps Giraffe Print and Savannah Giraffes go together so well.  I sponged the sky with several golden shades and the word "sweet"  comes from the stamp set Sentimental Sayings.  I used only one word from one of the sayings in this set.  The giraffes are heat embossed with detail black embossing powder.

I used Imperial Yellow Shimmering Bliss spray over A Colorful Life Design stencil called Mermaid Scales. 

Saving money is always good.  Save 10% off your order  by using the code TJ10Judy as you check out. 

I hope you have a marvelous day and that you have a chance to get inky!

Meet Me

 The mermaid -  http://techniquejunkies.com/mermaid-on-rock/  -  from the June Technique Junkies Stamps release is so beautiful I had to use her again  I used the Chameleon Colortone Pencils - http://techniquejunkies.com/chameleon-colortone-pencils/   -

 to color her in. I also used the pencils to color in the water.  I added a bit of glimmer with a glitter gel pen and smeared the glitter around with my trusty finger tip!  I used a homemade stencil to sponge in the clouds.  And then I decided to a touch of white embossing powder over a tiny bit of glue for the white caps on the waves.   The verse is a Technique Junkies Stamps July release called Sky Touches the Sea -   www.techniquejunkies.com/sky-touches-the-sea/ .  It is heat embossed.

Please remember the newly released Technique Junkies Stamps for July are on sale 15% off through July 8. The discount will be taken off automatically.  And to remind you all other items in the Technique Junkie store  can have a 10% discount if you use the discount code TJ10Judy.

Have a great day and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Mightier than Waves

Today I used the newly released Technique Junkies Let your Light Shine stamp http://techniquejunkies.com/let-your-light-shine/   to create my card.  used one of the  wonderful  A Colorful Life stencils - http://techniquejunkies.com/search.php?search_query=A+colorful+life+stencils  -  along with the gold Nuvo Mouse - http://techniquejunkies.com/nuvo-products/  to create the background for the focal image.
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I  used the Twinkling H2Os to paint the focal image.  I wanted to use a different verse than the verse that is a part of this stamp. So I was very careful to not get any Memento ink on the verse.  However, the "S" that is a part of the verse is also a part of the lighthouse and I had to decide how I was going to treat that "S."  I painted it gold and added a gold ribbon bow.

Then I stamped the verse from the Psalms of the Seat set - http://techniquejunkies.com/psalms-of-the-sea-set-of-6/ with Versafine black ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

A burlap ribbon over layed with the matching ribbon finish my card.

Please remember that you can get a 10% discount by using the code TJ10Judy on your order.  Distress Oxide inks excluded from this discount as they are already discounted.

Have a great day and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Crazy Cat Border Bookmark

This is a birthday card for one of my daughters.  It encompasses two of her loves (besides her family of course!).  She loves cats, and loves to read.

I used three Technique Junkie Stamps - Crazy Cat Border - http://techniquejunkies.com/crazy-cat-border/, one of the sayings in the Bookworms set - http://techniquejunkies.com/bookworms-set-of-6/ , and Random ABC background -  http://techniquejunkies.com/random-abcs/.

I created the background paper for both the first layer and the the book mark with Distress Oxide inks - http://techniquejunkies.com/12-pack-of-ranger-tim-holtz-distress-oxide-in-pads/  -  in the same manner as the Antique Glimmers technique.  I used Twinkling H2Os and randomly colored in some of the cats on the bookmark and the pocket frame.

Since adhesives show through under vellum, I created a frame from card stock stamped with the Crazy Cat border stamp.  I adhered the vellum with my ATG adhesive, and attached it to the base card with the same adhesive.

I tied ribbons through the tag hole to pull the book mark out.  My daughter will love all of this!

Have a wonderful day -- and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Better than Unicorns!

I used a lovely stencil and Nuvo Glimmer paste to create this focal image panel.  http://techniquejunkies.com/nuvo-products/?sort=featured&page=2 .  The Technique Junkies stamp is called Unicorns and Sparkly - http://techniquejunkies.com/unicorns-and-sparkly/  .  

The verse is heat embossed with detail black embossing powder.   This is such a cute saying and can be used for a  variety of occasions.   A ribbon bow was added for interest.   
Have a wonderful day and get inky!

Judy Jackson

A Single Rose

And now for an IMPORTANT announcement, if you place ANY order from Technique Junkies and you use the code TJ10Judy you will automatically get a 10% saving on your order!  Please use this code when you place your order!

And from April 1- April 8, you will automatically receive a 15% discount on the Technique Junkies Stamps April releases.  Discounts are not given clearance or the Distress Oxide products.

I used the April Technique Junkies Release Butterfly Dreams - www.techniquejunkies.com/butterfly-dreams/  and A Single Rose - www.techniquejunkies.com/a-single-rose/.  The image was colored in with Copic markers. The verse was heat embossed on vellum and layered on a small piece of card stock and then adhered to the  card front.   I tied several lengths of ribbon around the side of the focal card layer before tying a bow. 

So now go shopping, do some stamping, and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Friendly Daisies

 

To create this lovely spring card I used Technique Junkies Spring Daisies - http://techniquejunkies.com/spring-daisies/. I used black Memento  ink and then used both Copic markwers and watercolors to add the color to this panel.  The verse on the tag is called A Good Friend - http://techniquejunkies.com/spring-daisies/ - and is a wonderfully true thought.  Good friends are are very real treasures.

The verse was stamped with black Versafine ink and heat embossed with  detail black embossing powder. I punched out the shape and several "ribbon tags" of both green and gold glitter paper.  I adhered the "ribbon tags" with glue dots, and used several layers to finish the card.

Have a great day and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Kitty Love

This is one of the fun new Technique Junkie February Releases.  I love this kitty in the new Kitty in Curlers stamp - http://techniquejunkies.com/kitty-in-curlers/.  However for this card it is the verse from Technique Junkie  stamps - Mae West Sentiments - http://techniquejunkies.com/mae-west-sentiments/ - that makes the card.

Miss Kitty is colored with Copic markers.  Then I added rhinestones and a pearl to create a necklace for her big date.  A clear heart and the pearl are colored with a hot pink Copic marker.

So now I hope you do know that the February Releases for Technique Junkie are on sale for 15% off through February 8.  What are you waiting for?

Have a wonderful day -- and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Winter Has a Beauty All It's Own

 Many of us complain about winter, and the ice, and the snow.  But it does indeed have a certain beauty that no other season has -- despite its drawbacks.  If I never had to go out in winter I would enjoy watching the snow and all -- if I could stay warm.  Thus, I go to Florida in January where I can be warm.  But I have a ton of family and friends who LOVE winter, love snow, love being out in the cold weather.

I tried to capture that winter beauty in my card.   I chose to use black card stock and detail silver embossing powder.  I used Technique Junkie Retro Sparkles - http://techniquejunkies.com/retro-sparkles/ and the new Technique Junkie January Release Beauty of Winter - http://techniquejunkies.com/beauty-of-winter/.  Both were stamped on black card stock and heat embossed with detail silver embossing powder.

I used Star Dream silver text weight paper for layering.  The sentiment in punch out, and the silver punched out twice to layer behind the black piece,  A silver ribbon and bow is added.

Have a great day no matter how cold or warm your winter is!  And get inky!

Judy Jackson

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is a pretty and fun Valentine's card.    I used 3 Technique Junkie stamps:  Love Heart - http://techniquejunkies.com/love-heart/, Love Overlay - http://techniquejunkies.com/love-overlay/, and Happy Valentine's Day - http://techniquejunkies.com/happy-valentines-day/.  and on the Happy Valentine's Day stamp I only inked the words and a small section of the flourish from the "H."

The Love Overlay stamp was inked in red and then I  used a die to cut the half-circle swirl for a spinner card.  The Love Heart stamp was inked with Versamark, and  then  the image was heat embossed with detail gold embossing powder. The punched out heart with Love Heart stamp is raised up and attached to penny to make it spin in the die cut track. ``

The entire card is mounted on red card stock for the base card.

Have you created your Valentine cards yet?   Remember all of the Technique Junkie January release stamps  are on sale for 15% off through January 9, 2017!   You can see all of the new releases here: http://techniquejunkies.com/january-2017-release/. 

Have a great day, and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Creativity and Art

Happy day after Christmas!   Are you feeling the post Christmas lag?   I am  as I have had family for three different meals and three different sets of gift opening.  It was all good, but all tiring.  One adult son-in-law was ill so he and his family stayed home while the elderly relatives were here (age 89 and 90) so they would not get the virus.  Then after the elderly folks went home, they came out and opened gifts. Now my daughter and kids are here for a couple of days.  That will be fun. And in between gift openings  I had the opportunity to craft a couple of cards.  I will post one today and one on Wednesday. 

I used a variety of Technique Junkie stamps -- Veined Marble (http://techniquejunkies.com/veined-marble/), Return to Sender (http://techniquejunkies.com/return-to-sender/), and Art Mistakes (http://techniquejunkies.com/art-mistakes/).  I also used a dirty Versamark pad and Pan Pastels.  Pat Huntoon talked about this in her blog post on Friday - http://techniquejunkies.blogspot.com/2016/12/pan-pastel-backgrounds.html.  The dirty Versamark ink pad helps you to see the image you have stamped much easier.

Pan Pastels are unique in several factors.  You  can layer them and still see the individual colors as they are more transparent than other  pastels.  I have used both.  The fact that these are more translucent adds to their uniqueness.  Like nearly all kinds of pastels they are fragile and easily crack or break.  However, unlike traditional artist grade pastels, these can be repaired.    I was so impressed by the Pan Pastels that I bought a LOT of them at the York Heirloom stamp show in September.  One of the deciding  factors for me was how easy they can be repaired.  I have a LOT of other artist pastels in my craft room.  I used artist pastels in high school in art classes.  They are easy to blend with.  But we did not have  Versamark ink for the pastels to adhere to in those dark ages so long ago.   

To repair the Pan Pastels is relatively easy but it does take a bit of patience.  You need a toothpick or something thin and sturdy that you will not mind using for this or that you can throw away.  Add small drops of distilled water to the cracked pastel container.  You can start with a teaspoon drizzled slowly over the pastel pan. Add tiny amounts (drops) of water allowing the water to soak in.  Continue this process stirring carefully with the toothpick  until you have a thick soupy mixture.  You want to add the water slowly so you do not cause the (not cheap) pastel powders to overflow the container. Continue to stir until it is as smooth as you can get it.  There may still be some lumps left and the surface may not look the same as it did originally.  But it will work the same!  So if you are looking at these, choose the colors you want and ignore any cracks as now you know how to repair them.  (And I learned at the York show that you can do the same thing with your cosmetic compacts!)

Now for my card.  I first stamped the Veined Marble stamp on white card stock.  I used a sponge and a  purple Pan Pastel  and rubbed the pastels over the stamped image.  Then I just sort of heat set the ink with the pastels.  I don't think it is necessary but since I knew I was going to  stamp an image to heat emboss I wanted to be sure I didn't have embossing powder  sticking to the Versamark ink under the pastel powder.  Then I inked up the Return to Sender stamp without it being on an acrylic block. That way I could bed the stamp and apply the ink in sections which is what I did. I continued this process all over the card stock.  I applied a deep blue Pan Pastel over the purple. And I heat set it again.  My final stamping was with the Art Mistakes stamp.  I used Versafine Black ink and a detailed black embossing powder and heat set the powder.   I sprayed some pearlized  glimmer spray over the final card. 

The focal image was trimmed and layered with two different shades of purple card stock.   The ribbon was added before adhering to the base card stock.  A few Mylar snowflakes were glued down with  liquid glue.

So now, I am curious did you get any stamping stuff for Christmas?    Now you may have some time to get inky!

Judy Jackson

Day 28 of the 30 Days of Christmas!

Wow, this time has gone by very fast!  Of course that is often the way it is in December!  I had "planned" to post and make more cards than I was able to do.  My reason is a simple one -- I just didn't have the time to make anymore cards than I made! Everyone ought to be able to understand that.  They "whys" to explain my lack of time are too numerous to list but  I am sure many of us have found that lack of time to be  true for many things we want to do during the holiday seasons.

So here is my card for today.  I will now have a Christmas card on my personal blog for the next three days.  I spent time tonight making these cards.

I used some die cuts I purchased years ago.  This is the first time I have used them.   I used a Technique Junkie stamp - All is Calm - http://techniquejunkies.com/all-is-calm/.   I cut several strips* of white card stock or the trees die and the houses and church die.  *If you decide to do something like this , make sure you have at least an inche below the lowest part hillsides for each each strip. I sponged the tree strips with green ink.  It didn't matter to me if the sponging was really even because I felt it added texture.  I sponged the houses and church strips with a matching blue of the card stock for the base  card.

I covered each strip with Versamark ink, cover it with a "snowy" embossing powder and heat set.  All those strips really glisten!   It was not an iridescent powder.   Then I stamped the greeting at the top (allowing room for the "star.") with Versamark ink, and heat embossed with detail silver embossing powder.

I used my ATG tape runner to to adhere the strips together in an eye pleasing arrangement  to me. I then ran all of the strips adhered together through my Xyron machine to get adhesive on the back side.  I used my home made cloud stencil to add color and visual texture to the sky.  Then I adhered the panel of trees and houses, etc to the sponged cloud panel. This was layered on blue and layered on silver, and onto the base card.

While this card is not difficult, it was a little "fussy" and time consuming, but i felt it was worth the effort.

I still have a few cards to make, and some to hand deliver, but most of my cards are in the mail.  Some have received because they told me so.


 I hope you have a great day -- and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Day 14 of 30 Days of Christmas

There is nothing quite like silver and gold that speaks of Christmas to me -- and I suspect to most people.  I chose this lovely card stock color for this card.

Lest you think that Design Team member never mess up on cards -- let me change  your mind!  I "knew" that embossing powder often spread and I knew therefore you can have difficulty getting words to emboss and look good.  That is especially true if the font is small and close together.  I just didn't think that these words were in such a small font, but oh yes they are!  I had stamped them in Versamark and then covered with silver embossing powder.  Oh, it was bad!   I evidently do not have "detail" silver embossing powder!  The words were a total mess.  So I had to start over.

The second time I used Stazon silver metallic ink.  The problem with that ink is that it dries very quickly so you must get the stamp die covered and stamped quickly.  That took me several tries to get a successful image stamped. Then I cleaned it right away with Stazon cleaner.  This ink doesn't come off easily even with Stazon cleaner.  

I am using Technique Junkie Peace on Earth Dove - http://techniquejunkies.com/peace-on-earth-dove/.  Next I reinked with Versamark the area around the dove and the larger block words in the bottom right corner. I covered the ink with detail gold embossing powder and heart embossed.   Then I  "fussy cut" out the dove and used dimensional to pop it up. I did the same the block words at the bottom. 

I layered it on gold and then on the burgundy card stock to complete the card.  

Don't forget all Technique Junkie Christmas stamps are on sale 25% through December 15.

Now to finish the rest of my cards, get presents wrapped and under the tree, and start on Christmas baking!  -- Have a great day and get inky.

Judy Jackson

Winter Wonderland

This is not necessarily a Christmas card, but it sure could be.  It involved some creative stamping but it was not hard to do. I had this vision in my mind of snow covered trees in the forest.

I first stamped the trees (Technique Junkie Stamps Hillside Pines - http://techniquejunkies.com/hillside-pines/)  with a nice dark green ink.  I stamped them in layers - one on top of the others.  I then cleaned my stamp very well.  I used a heat tool to dry the green ink.  Then I used my embossing buddy over the entire sheet of card stock so I wouldn't get embossing powder where I didn't want it. I inked my tree stamp lightly with Versamark ink.  I didn't want to get a solid image. I did not use my MISTI because I didn't want to have the Versamark exactly where my green trees were stamped.  Then I covered the Versamark with white embossing powder and heat set.  I repeated this process over both the tall and short trees.

Then I used  my handmade and home drawn could stencil.  Sponging different colors over the different sections of the stencil gives a unique look and no sky will ever look exactly the same.

Then I used the Winter Wonderland stamp from the Technique Junkies Winter Wonderland Sayings set - http://techniquejunkies.com/winter-wonderland-sayings-set-of-3/.

Several layers and ruffled ribbon finish the card.  Enjoy your winter.

Have a great day -- and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Row, Row, and Row

I wrote about how meaningful this stamp is to me on my blog post on Saturday.  If you didn't read that blog post I would like to invite you to read that post.
http://judysstampart.blogspot.com/2016/08/can-you-row.html

I stamped this Technique Junkie stamp Row - http://techniquejunkies.com/row/   with black archival ink on white card stock. And then i trimmed the card stock to be sure that the horizon line extended the full width of the horizon on the top layer.  Then I used round sponge applicators to add the colors for the water and for the night sky.  I used a white pen to add the moon's reflection in the water - at least I hope that is what it looks like~   I layered it on black card stock.

Then I cut 2 pieces of background papers from my stash -- water and trees -- to create an illusion of the continued background and horizon line.   I adhered the focal image layers on the background papers so the horizon continued on the sides of the focal image.

I layered all of the above on black card stock and then on the blue base card.

Today is the LAST DAY to get the 15% off of the Technique Junkie August Release stamps!  Have you ordered yours yet?

Have a great day and get inky!

Judy Jackson

Be like A Sunflower

When I think of sunflowers I often think of farms and farms make me think of chicken wire.  So I used 2 different Technique Junkie stamps on this card. The background chicken wire is found here - http://techniquejunkies.com/chicken-wire-2/.  And the sunflower stamp can be found here - http://techniquejunkies.com/face-the-sunshine/.


The image is colored in with my Copic markers, Then I went over the petals with the iridescent Smooch paint that has the pink cap/handle.,I used Smooch paint to highlight the letters as well..

I was surprised when the iridescent Smooch paint gave the petal a hint of blue.  But it also worked with others colors I used.

Have a wonderful day -- and get inky!

Dogwood Blossoms that Match My Own Tree!

For those who know me well -- they know I love flowers - flowering bushes, flowering trees, bulb flowers, annual, perennials, and especially "winter over pansies!"  I have silk flowers in my house so I can have flowers all of the time.   My regret regarding flowering trees is that they last such a short time.   So I try to space them out. I have this lovely dogwood tree and in August I have a Crepe Myrtle!  But then if  those trees and bushes bloomed all of the time we wouldn't appreciate their blooms as much.And if they apple, cherry, pear, peach, and veggie blossoms didn't change we would miss out on all those yummy things to eat.  So I will be grateful for the blossoms when they come.  

And my Dogwood tree is in bloom as I write this in late late April.  We had had a hard winter with lots of snow --and that is hard on a dogwood tree. So my whole tree is not in usual full bloom.  And these trees tend to be on the smaller side anyway.   So this is the top part of my tree. 

And here is my card. Do you see how the blossoms match?  This is a beautiful Technique Junkies May Release called __________________ - _________________________. 

And the Birthday Wishes stamp just goes with this card -- http://techniquejunkies.com/birthday-wishes/.   Quite fun and whimsical. 

I used my Copic markers to color the image and sponged in the sky.

And don't forget the Dogwood Branch  stamp http://techniquejunkies.com/dogwood-branch/  is a Technique Junkie May 'release and is on sale for 15% off until May 8! So go shopping -- it's a sale already!

And if you did not read my blog post from yesterday's Blog Hop - I have a contest on my blog. So please read it at http://judysstampart.blogspot.com/2016/05/oh-merry-merry-month-of-may-and-new.html  and please a comment before May 5.

Have a great week and get inky!

Merry Christmas to You

Good day from Judy Jackson!

I ran an white card stock panel through an embossing folder.  I highlighted those embossed parts with a sponge.  I stamped the Technique Junkie Merry Christmas http://techniquejunkies.com/merry-christmas/ in the center of the embossing folder.  There was no embossed areas in the center.  I used the Technique Junkie stamp Wasted http://techniquejunkies.com/wasted/ to add some texture to the rest of the empty spots. I only inked the smaller dots on the stamps. I used markers to color in the M and the C in the greeting.    A few rhinestones add that bling we all seem to like on our Christmas cards. 

And this ends the Christmas cards I have created to this date as I am writing.  But who knows, I may  make some more!  Have a wonderfully inky day!

30 Days of Christmas Day 19 - Technique Junkie Stamps!!!

I have yet another Christmas card for you today!  If you are like me, then you know it is good to make Christmas cards easy to  mass produce, and easy to mail without extra postage. 

This card fits this description.   I dry embossed a silver card stock panel, then I stamped the Technique Junkie Stamps  Ornament  stamp http://techniquejunkies.com/ornament-1/ in the middle of the frame..  It still didn't look finished so i used a deep purple Copic marker on only the embossed area.  However, I will confess that the marker slipped at times and got on the silver panel where I did not want it. So I used my Copic blender pen (or more accurately an alcohol remover pen).  to remove those few stray purple marks. 

 I chose the purple marker because I had a purple embossing powder for the ornament. So this card uses sort of non-traditional colors. 

I sure you are enjoying seeing al of these Christmas cards!  Have a wonderfully inky day!



30 Days of Christmas, Day 5 - by Judy Jackson

Perhaps by now, you are noticing that the Technique Junkie Design Team members are showing lots of Christmas cards!  Christmas is a wonderful season with many celebrations.

My card today features the Technique Junkie Stamps Merry Christmas stamp - http://techniquejunkies.com/merry-christmas/ .  I used pieces of background paper discontinued several years ago. But it goes with this stamp perfectly!

I embossed the image with Detail Gold embossing powder.  Then I colored in the letters carefully with a deep green Copic marker.  I added some red rhinestones for bling. Then I cut out some layers with Spellbinder dies.  I edged two layers with a Krylon gold pen.  And I was done!

How are you coming on your Christmas cards?    In my reorganization of my stamping supplies, I found a lot of Christmas cards from previous years.   So I am going to use those to save me some time this year. I will still need tomake about 20 or 30 more cards.

Have a really fun stamping day!