Love Knots with Shadows

Today's tutorial shows you how to create a shadow effect using a stamp positioner. I used my MISTI, but any stamp positioner will do! I've included some coloring tips, too, to help you heighten the shadow effect.

I was inspired to create this by the most fabulous shadowing post I have ever seen - from TJ Designer Cheri Weston.  Cheri shows how to create a triple shadow HERE - you would swear the golden image was raised if you didn't know her tricks! Her actual artwork is below (the gold and pink Love Overlay sample).

To start, stamp the Love Knots image on white (or neutral) card stock. I placed the paper squarely in the corner so that I could gauge where to move the paper for the shadow. I used blue VersaFine Ink. Note that I ended up stamping a few pieces of paper before I was satisfied with my shadow - I would suggest stamping a couple of pieces for practice.

Move the paper 1/16" to 1/8" up and to the left. Hold the paper down firmly with the magnets. 

Clean the blue off the stamp, and reink with grey (I used Memento Grey Flannel Ink). Stamp onto card stock.

 o highlight the knots and the shadows, I used Copic Markers to color the images. First I used a  medium blue to color the blue knots.

 I traced over the bottom of each blue rope with a darker blue ink, then used the original markers to blend. Note that I only traced the areas along the areas where the shadow appeared beneath it. Use the shadow as a guide for tracing.

 In case you missed it, this is the piece from Cheri. Isn't this an amazing piece of artwork? You can read about how Cheri did it HERE.

This week starts a month of intense travel. I am blessed to be able to go to CHA (now renamed "Creativation") this week. I come home for a day, then drive my booth from CT to TX for the Plano show (26 hours in the truck by myself - bring on those books on tape!). I have some exciting new products coming to the store in the next few weeks - watch for them here.  And then, I hope to bring you some things back from Creativation, too.  2017 is going to be a great year!

Bear with us!

The store is most definitely open while I am away. Nancy, Andre and I have been working on keeping a healthy stamp inventory - but there may be some instances where we run out of stock on a thing or two. We will mail as much of your order as possible immediately, but there may be a day or two (or three) of delay if we are out of stock on an item. It may not happen, but if it does, we beg your patience! I hope we inspired you today! Pat Huntoon

One Cat Short of CRAZY

Hey Junkies,

The Crafty Nurse here today with one cat crazy card!

I used the Misti stamping tool to create my card today.  The great thing about this tool is when you have a solid stamp, you can still get a really crisp image.  It also helps when you are doing more complex masking like I did here with the January release stamp "Cat Crazy SD701."

I started by stamping each of the "Crazy Cat's" onto my card front.  They were done in Archival Inks in Sepia, Black Soot, & Hickory Smoke.  I then masked all three of the cats and placed the Art Anthology Stencil called "Cracked" over top and stenciled in using Vintage Photo Distress Inks.  I stamped off 3 more of the black cats and then cut out the word "crazy" which I used as my sentiment.

To finish off I created a ground for my kitties to sit on with watercolored distress inks and finished off with more distressing on the edges.

For those crazy cat lovers and stampers alike, I hope you've found a little inspiration today and look forward to seeing what you do with your new Technique Junkies stamps.

Happy Inking,

The Crafty Nurse

How to Create Polished Stone Embossing

Hello folks.  Beth Norman here with a Polished Stone Embossing Technique.  I haven't seen it done before, but that's not saying it hasn't been done.  When I got my hands on Heart to Heart, and Like Stars, I knew I wanted to do something that gives a nice impact that says, "wow."  Why don't I used blending solution you may ask.  Simply put, I can't find it in my stamp studio.  You know how that goes--LOL.

When I tackled this technique I asked myself two questions:  1) Can Polished Stone be done without blenduing solution, 2) Will embossing powder stick to glossy cardstock.  In both instances the answer was clearly a "yes."

Supplies:  Alcohol Ink, felt and blending handle, glossy cardstock

Drip alcohol ink in a random pattern on your felt

Pounce color onto glossy cardstock, covering the entire surface

When you run out of ink, reapply

Two examples of Polished Stone

Supplies for embossing:  stamp, Polished Stone background, VersaMark, embossing powder, heat gun, embossing buddy

Stamp out VersaMark over your stamp and stamp onto your image.

Tip:  when using a large background stamp place your paper on top of your stamp as shown here.

Cover your image with embossing powder and shake off

Heat emboss embossing powder.  She the bits of purple coming through the open spaces?

Your piece is now ready to embellish as desired.  In real life the purple really shines through.

Be Mine times two...

Hello All Lanette Here!

I just wanted to share a couple quick cards that I made using one of my favorite stamps from this months new release. 

I just love these hearts! 

TJ Products Used:  Technique Junkies Love Overlay  , Spectrum Markers,Kaiserkraft bling, Ranger Archival Ink American Crafts cardstock & glitter tape

Here is a better look at the stamp I used today...

This really is a must have for anyone who will be making valentines this year!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! 

I hope that I have inspired you in some way!

Love Potion

Happy Thursday Junkies! Pam here today to share another project featuring the fun and fantastic TJ January releases-and just in time for Valentine's Day.

Today's project features 2 of the January sets:

Love and Poison 

Messy Love

The Messy Love background was created as a resist using Alcohol Inks on Yupo paper and Archival ink.  This is a super fun technique that is featured by Tim Holtz in Creative Chemistry 3. I love how it gives that "negative" effect.

The Love and Potion set pairs well with this background and was stamped with Versafine black and clear heat embossed.

Hope you enjoyed today's project and that it provides a bit of inspiration for your Valentine's cards.

Embrace Imperfection!

Pam

You Are A Flamingo!

In a Flock of Pigeons!

Hey, TJ'ers! Welcome Back! It's Ro today and I have a couple of projects I'm excited to share with you!

The first one is a card using another of the new January releases: Left Unsupervised (SD780).

I took a piece of watercolor paper and stamped and embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder. I then did a basic color wash on the background using Kuretake watercolors. The piece was then trimmed down and adhered to a piece of black cardstock. I added some dazzled stickers as a border. 

Be sure to check out all the new January releases if you haven't already! So.Much.Fun!

My second project was something just for ME! I have been hooked on my Happy Planner and am engaging it to keep my crazy brain on track. It seems to be working. As a Designer with deadlines, I have a special section just for Technique Junkies where I keep all my notes pertaining to this wonderful company. Since I had the perfect motivational stamp in my arsenal, and since I am a HUGE fan of Flamingos (just ask anyone who camps with me!), I felt the calling to make myself a tabbed divider for my planner. So I grabbed my Flamingo (SD659) stamp and went to work.

I traced one of the monthly tabs onto a heavy sheet of black cardstock. Then I did a little surgery on my stamp...I cut it apart - flamingo and words! I wanted to do the Flamingo in pink (natch!) and the words in white. 

So rather than fussing with getting my embossing powder in the right place, I severed the stamp and stamped the bird and added the pink embossing powder, then I stamped the sentiment and added the white embossing powder. Voila! I punched it and inserted into my planner. I am in LOVE with it! I think I will laminate it so I can protect it for the long haul.

Look outside the box when you are using your stamps. They are not just for cards! I'm always looking for new things to stamp on (i.e. scrapbook pages, journals, notes, planners, frames, etc.!)

Hope you enjoyed my projects. Do something for YOURself today!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

Dimensional Effects With Inks

Hey there Junkies!!! 

I'm here with a really fun technique for you to try.  I don't know if it's been done before, however, it "just happened" at my craft table as I was stamping today and I loved the results.  

I started with a piece of Valentine designer paper from a 6x6 "American Crafts" pad I bought for $2.50 at AC Moore (I think). It's hard for me to pass up a deal on paper.

Anyway, I put the paper in my MISTI and using this new background stamp from Technique Junkies January Release, called "Love Overlay", I first stamped it with a dye ink called "Raspberry Jam" by Hero Arts. Without moving my stamp, I cleaned it and then moved the paper over to the left about 1/8". This time I stamped with Memento Black Tuxedo ink. Once more, I cleaned the stamp, after making sure the ink was dry, I then brushed anti static powder over the paper, moved the paper over another 1/8".  This time I used VersaMark ink and after stamping with it, I sprinkled Ranger Queens Gold ep over the paper and heat embossed it.  Next I used a stitched frame die to cut out the image and then sponged Distress Inks, Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick and Spun Sugar on the panel.  

I adhered it to a card layer of "Eggplant" cs (by GKD).  I absolutely loved how that bg stamp showed itself off with this technique.  It looks so dimensional but it's only one layer!  

To finish the card, I die cut the word "Love" several time in the "eggplant" cs (A Savvy Stamp Die) and in gold paper.  I layered them one on top of the other and layered that against a banner die from MFT, also cut in "eggplant" cs. 

I hope you grab yourself some crafting time today....it's fun there!