Courage Encouragement Card

Multi-layer stamping and gorgeous patterned paper make this encouragement card EASY to create!

I used the "Courage" stamp, which is part of the November 2021 new stamp release.

You can take advantage of 10% off your entire order at techniquejunkies.com ! Just enter coupon code TJ10ERIN

Look closely at the lion's face and head... the face itself is stamped with "Antique Linen" Distress Oxide Ink and blended with a water pen. Then, a "Vintage Photo" Distress Oxide Ink is stamped on top and blended with a water pen.

Finally, Jet Black Archival Ink is stamped on the FACE ONLY. It's easy to ink the whole stamp and then just wipe off ink around the outside of the stamp. 

WATCH the short video to see me do this EASY technique! 

WATCH me create this entire project in my YouTube tutorial HERE! (or click the photo below)

Here's a look at the finished card! Thank you for looking!

Stamping & Fussy Cut Christmas Card

 

Want to add some extra special detail to a few Christmas cards this year? Adding a little effort to one or two cards in your project stash is well-worth the effort, especially when the card itself is the gift. I like to do this with my older family members or for those who live far away; they always appreciate the time it clearly takes to stamp, color and fussy-cut a lovely card.

I used the Christmas Card Frame Stamp and the Light of Faith Sentiments Set as well. Both stamps are part of the new October release from Technique Junkies.

This new release set is absolutely gorgeous, and you will be able to make SO many lovely projects with the stamps! (Make sure when you shop, enter coupon code TJ10ERIN to save 10% on your entire order!)

I used Archival Ink to stamp the Christmas Card Frame onto white cardstock. Then I stamped one of the "Light of Faith Sentiments" in the center. After that, I used Distress Inks and Distress Oxide Inks and a water brush to add color to the leaves, pine boughs, pinecones, and star.

With some "Dragon's Blood" Shimmering Bliss Spray, I added the red color to the ornament and the berries. I love the shimmer it gives!

Once it was colored, I used a craft knife to cut out the intricate details inside the branches. Then I used detail scissors to fussy cut the outside of the entire stamped image. I mounted it on a piece of die cut patterned paper from "This Miracle Night" paper collection by Craft O'Clock and embellished the card with a few fussy-cut elements also from the same paper collection. As a final touch, I added a few sequins.

I did the same process on a second card, and created a video tutorial as a companion. If you are interested in this process and want to learn to color with inks or to fussy-cut stamped details, check out the video below:

Thank you for looking! 

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!

Ideas for Background Stamps | Easy Window Card

 

Give your projects a little variety when it comes to using your background stamps! One way to create variety is to simply add a window. You don’t need special fancy acetate sheets (if you don’t have them); simply use a deli container or any clear flat packaging. Using Archival Ink, stamp your background on a pre-cut white card panel. Today, I am using the “Pile of Leaves” background stamp from Technique Junkies.

The "Pile of Leaves" stamp is part of the September 2021 NEW Release! You can save 10% every day at Technique Junkies with my personal coupon code to YOU: Use TJ10ERIN at checkout!

Use washi tape to temporarily adhere the stamped panel onto the front of your actual card base. Open up the card base and die cut a circle or other shape out of the front of the card. Then, remove the white stamped panel and glue the acetate (or clear plastic) to the back. It won’t matter that you can see the glue; it will be hidden when you adhere it to the card.

You can add any sentiment inside the card you want. I added a simple “Thank You” stamped image and embossed in white. To get my placement just right, I used my stamping platform and I also used the packaging from the stamp to help line up the sentiment on the platform. I wanted to make sure you could see the entire sentiment through the window, even when the card was closed.

I wanted to add one single colored leaf over top of the outline-stamped pile of leaves. So, I used some Shimmering Bliss Spray on some scrap cardstock and after the spray was dry, I stamped the background stamp on top. Then, I fussy-cut out one single leaf from the spray-inked paper.

The leaf was going to hang over the window a little bit, which was a nice touch. But when a leaf accent hangs over the window in the front, that means that you will also see the back side of the leaf accent through the window when the card is open. So I stamped again on a second piece of inky paper and glued it to the inside of the card, against the leaf showing through. 

For a finishing touch, I added some metal corner embellishments. And that’s it!

Thank you for looking! 

Cardmaking Inspiration | Patience Tested

 

Sometimes a new sentiment is all it takes...

Today I am pleased to present some cardmaking inspiration for you featuring the "Patience Tested" sentiment stamp from the August 2021 New Release.

I have used the "Beautiful Strength" stamp many times in earlier projects, but when the "Patience Tested" sentiment was released, I immediately thought of how the two stamps would look together.

I found scraps of the most colorful inked and sprayed backgrounds I could find. In fact, I didn't have to create any new backgrounds at all... I simply rummaged through my scraps to find the most colorful pieces I had. Then, I stamped "Beautiful Strength" several times on the scraps and also on plain white cardstock. 

I rummaged through my most colorful scraps...

Then, I used detail scissors to cut out individual pieces in a variety of colors. I played around with the individual pieces, fitting them like puzzle pieces onto the base stamped image. You can see in the photo above, I am working on the pieces on the woman's arm. 

When my pieces were ready, I first colored in the woman with a Spectrum Noir 3-part blending marker. Then, I glued all the individually cut paper pieces down using Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive.

To finish off the card, I stamped the sentiment below the woman and rubbed some glitter here and there (fun fact - I do this to get sticky glue off my fingers)! For a final touch, I added a metal embellishment onto her head scarf and mounted everything on an inked background I had in my scrap pile.

Thank you for looking!

Save 10% on your next order at Technique Junkies

with the coupon code TJ10ERIN