Narwhal Wobble Card

Hello, Technique Junkie fans! It's Ro here today to share a fun wobble card using a super fun stamp set. Here is my card:

These are the products I used and some alternate suggestions.

OCEANS OF LOVE, Set of 9
Look at all the fun stamps in this set!

A COLORFUL LIFE: CURRENTS
This stencil is not currently available through Technique Junkies,
(It can be purchased through A Colorful Life Designs)
but below are a couple of great alternatives. 

A COLORFUL LIFE: WAVES
This is a great stencil alternative available through Technique Junkies.

BUBBLE FLOW
This stamp would make a terrific background for any of the images
in the Oceans of Love set.

One of the things I love about this this card is the spring feature of the narwhal.

And this card was a breeze to create! I started with an A2 card base and added a teal mat to it. Using Technique Junkies Shimmering Bliss (Mermaid and Miami Vice), I applied color on the base and through the stencil. This detailed stencil was very easy to use...I simply sprayed the back with Pixie Spray which holds the stencil in place. I trimmed down the stenciled piece and added a white mat to it. Just look at that shimmer!

Next I stamped the narwhal image on white cardstock and colored it with Polychromos pencils. After adding a layer of shine using a Nuvo Glimmer Gloss Aqua Pen, I trimmed it out, attached an Action Wobble to the back and placed it on my card. I then stamped the sentiment onto teal paper and trimmed it down. I matted that with white, and attached it to my card, adding a few enamel dots to the card for interest.

If you follow my blog (Toodle Noodle Creative), you noticed a similar card I did earlier this week using the Purrmaid. This stamp set is just too fun!

If you like any of these products available through Technique Junkies and want to save a little on their purchase, simply enter the code below at checkout.  This 10% discount is good any time and never expires. So keep it handy for all your Technique Junkies purchasing!

Hope you enjoyed my card and found a little inspiration. 

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Butterfly Beauty

With all the dull winter weather we've been having here in the Michigan area, I needed something a little brighter to lift my spirits. Enter Butterfly Beauty (SD829).  I simply adore this large butterfly. 

The card and sentiment kind of brightened my day, and I hope it will brighten the recipient's as well.

To create the card, I started with an orange A2 card base. On a piece of white CS, using my MISTI, I stamped the butterfly twice so I could get a good, solid impression. I used colored pencils to color in the various areas of the Butterly, then blended using a Nuvo Glitter Gloss Aqua Pen.

I trimmed down the panel to 5 ¼" by 4". I then stamped the sentiment from the set Simple Sentiments 3A (SS03a) and added a few jewels and some blown marker spray to finish off the design. Then I just popped that whole panel onto my card using foam tape.

I really am loving these Simple Sentiment sets (there are quire a few of them in different fonts, black with white lettering, white with black lettering and vertical). Each set has 13 individual sentiments. One of the best purchases I've made. Great for every event you want to cover, in many styles. I am never at a loss to convey that perfect sentiment on the front (or inside!) of my cards. 

Here is a peak at all of them that are available:

Simple Sentiments 3A

Simple Sentiments 1B

Simple Sentiments 1A

Simple Sentiments 3C

Simple Sentiments 1C

Simple Sentiments 2C

Simple Sentiment 2B

Simple Sentiments 2A

Simple Sentiments 3B

That's a lot! Am I right? And the good news is that you can save 10% on these, or any other product (including the MISTI!) on the Technique Junkies website. Just enter the code below at checkout and your discount will be applied.

Hope you had some fun learning about all these wonderful stamp sets. Thanks for stopping by!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Better Things

Subtle background, soft colors, and a soulful sentiment equal a great card! This one is a perfect card to send to someone who needs a little boost when things aren't going so great. 

I paired the recently released "Texture Nautilus" background with a great sentiment called "Better Things" to create this inspirational card. Look at how beautiful and subtle the background is. 

 To make that gorgeous background, I stamped the Texture Nautilus using Versamark ink on a white cardstock. I heat embossed the image using a soft green embossing powder. Using the fabulous Ink Blending Brushes, I was able to create the soft blending of colors by brushing ink onto the embossed piece. These brushes make blending ink so incredibly easy. (No more sponge daubers for me! No longer need to have a dauber for every color of ink...just wipe off the brush on a towel in between color changes.)

I trimmed the piece down and matted it with a coordinating blue cardstock, then attached it to a pink A2 card base. The sentiment was stamped in black ink on pink cardstock and mounted with the same blue, then attached using foam tape. I added a few iridescent blue sequins for interest.

I hope you love this card as much as I do and feel inspired to give it a try. Trust me when I say the blending brushes make a world of difference in getting the ink to blend softly together with ease, and at half the price of some of the other brushes on the market, I considered them a steal. There are ten brushes in the set so you can get really detailed with your ink application. No learning curve...just swipe the brush through the ink and brush it onto your project.

Links to the stamps and brushes are provided above. Just click on the name to be taken to the appropriate place on the Technique Junkies site. And if you'd like to save a little on any of those products, simply enter my special code at checkout and you will save a cool 10% on your purchase!

This code never expires, so you can use it whenever you place an order!

Have fun exploring your craftiness!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

OH THOSE SNARKY CARDS!

The new releases for August are still on sale! You can save up to 25% until tomorrow, August 8th! 

One of my favorite releases this month is another set from the Inside Out Series called Inside Out - For the Girls. This is a set of 10 stamps and they are so funny!

I have already made several cards with this set and am still going strong! The one I'm sharing today uses another one of my favorite previously released stamps, Coffee Kitty.  I have used this cat with attitude on many cards. That look just fits so many sentiments! Here is the card:

OUTSIDE

INSIDE

I simply used an A2 card base and stamped the outside sentiment in the upper left corner. The image was stamped on a piece of white CS, trimmed down and matted on black CS. I colored the cup and eyes. The focal piece was then attached to the card base and the cat masked. I used a couple of tiny post-it notes to create a rough mask for the sentiment, then used my black blow pen to create the spatter. On the inside of the card, I stamped the inner sentiment, masked it, and added a few spots of spatter. 

This card was quick and easy! Just my style! lol

Remember! You only have until tomorrow to save 25% on the new stamps! My 10% off code is good on any product, any time, no expiration. Simply add TJ10Ro at checkout. The new stamp discount will automatically be applied.

Let's see your snarky cards!!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Beach Day

Are you dreaming of a beach day? I always want to be on the beach! Here is a beachy card to help you dream. It features Underwater Borders Set of 3 (SS107) and Beach Day (SDX071).

I stamped the image on an A2 card base using Versamark and white embossing powder. I then brushed on Distressed Oxide Ink (Peacock Feathers). I faded out the ink about 2/3 the way to the top. I added a piece of washi tape then embossed the sentiment on that and added some random Nuvo Dew Drops to the top to finish off the card.

I love this border set. There are three beautiful scenes included.

So if you're dreaming of making some beachy cards, this is definitely the set for you. You can even save 10% on your TJ order by entering the code TJ10Ro at checkout! 

Hope you found a little inspiration today!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

How to Create a Remix of Colorful Silhouettes

Hello, Beth Norman here, with a remix of Colorful Silhouettes, a technique I developed and was published in the August 2011 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.  

For 10% off your order please use TJ10Beth.

Today, I am using I Woof You, and Swirls and Curls.  You can receive these stamps and receive 10% off your total order simply by using my code below.

In this "remix" I introduced an iron to my background simply because of the words, "I Woof You."  I wanted to be sure that the words were crisp and clear.  You do not have to iron your image if you are going to use a silhouette stamp; it covers nicely.

Supplies:  Background stamp with lots of open areas, silhouette, or other, stamp, VersaMark, white embossing powder, black embossing powder, sponges, 2 or 3 ink colours, heat gun, embossing buddy.

Sponge your colour onto cardstock.  Here I used pink and red for Valentine's Day.  Make sure your cardstock is dry thoroughly before you proceed to the next step.  You can use a heat gun to speed up the process.

With VersaMark, stamp the pad all over your background stamp, add white embossing powder and emboss.

If you are using a silhouette stamp you can skip this step.  Otherwise, place copy paper over top of your image and, on low heat, and lightly iron your embossing so it flattens.

Using VersaMark, stamp your image and add black embossing powder and heat emboss  You are now ready to complete your card as desired.  In my example my background was not ironed.  I wanted to keep a cohesive finish so I used Swirls and Curls both on my main image and on my background.

Remix of Inky Borders

Happy New Year!  Beth Norman here with a tutorial which is a spin off of October 2012's Inky Borders.  I just love the way this turned out, mainly because I'm so in love with the newly released Kitty Duo and Love Harlequin which are 15% off until January 8th.  My sentiment, A Good Friend, is not on sale but if you use my code below, you will receive 10% off your order. I have girlfriends that are celebrating their birthdays this month and thought I'd make several of these cards to give to them for their birthdays.  It's a quick, and easy technique.

Supplies:  5 1/4" x 4" cardstock, 2 to 3 stamp pads, 2 to 3 sponges, Post-It notes, Decorative stamp such as a background stamp, Silhouette image, Black ink pad, sentiment (optional--not shown in photo).

Place your Post-It notes on the upper third of your card.  I left 2" white space.

Sponge on coloured ink until your white space is entirely covered

White space is entirely covered

Using your decorative stamp, stamp over top of your sponged area

Stamp out your silhouette stamp as normal.  If you own a Misti, now is the time to pull it out.  What an awesome tool to get excellent coverage.  I stamped my image out twice to get a crisp black image.

Next, add your (optional) sentiment.  Once again, I used my Misti for exact placement of my sentiment.  I stamped out my sentiment twice to obtain a crisp dark image.

You are now ready to complete your card with matting and embellishments if you wish.