Pieced Zine

These little bears are so cute (copy right Stampin' Up). I created masks for the bears after I stamped them on my white card stock. I covered the bears with the masks I cut out. Then I used my home made cloud template to create the sky. I used the direct to paper technique to the grass. I looked through some old magazines and found some interesting textures in advertisements for their clothes -- using the Pieced Zine technique from the February 2010 TJ newsletter. Boy Bear's cargo shorts were from an ad for cables inside very large tubes. I colored the bears and highlighted Girl Bear's dress with my Copic markers. To create the lace on the side I punched the edge on text weight paper (not an easy thing for some reason) and then ran it through my crimper several times to help break up the fibers in the paper. Look through your old magazines and see what you can find for this fun technique! Enjoy your week!

Judy Jackson

Saran Wrap Backgrounds

This card uses a technique from loooooong ago, but it's still one of my all time favorite "go-to" techniques for a fast and fabulous background. The background layer on the card uses the "Saran Wrap Background" from the 1st Edition CD. I used a Brilliance Ink for it and stamped it onto a navy blue cardstock.

The main image is watercolored and I mounted it onto a piece of metal that I Cuttlebugg'd. And by the way, that piece of metal is a cut up soft drink can!! I LOVE to recycle!! After I ran it through the embossing folder, I die cut another shape from a cereal box (FREE chipboard. More recycling!)and glued the two together with Fabri-Tac to give the piece more stability.

The purple glittery "Faux Dew Drops" were created by purchasing a bag of clear plastic half-round drops in the floral section at Michael's. I placed them onto a piece of double sided tape on scratch paper, and then painted them with glittery nail polish.

I think the Saran Wrap background was so perfect for this hodge-podge card made from lots of odds and ends. In fact, I think the background is what pulled it all together. What do YOU think??

Thanks for looking!!!

~Kathie McGuire

Wisped Frames

At this time of year our thoughts gravitate towards spring. As stampers, we find ourselves using spring-like colours, stamps, and images. These darling Robin eggs are nestled in just waiting for spring to arrive.

It is also the time of year that I start to make Easter cards for my family. This year my cards will showcase spring birds and nests purchased at Twisted Papers. It still surprises me how long birds have been in vogue for us cardmakers.

Speaking of trends, the downloading of images have really taken off, haven't they. How about digital stamps? Have you downloaded any yet? I'm such a stamp-in-the-hand kind of gal that I haven't downloaded any. Instead, I download high quality coloured images from Twisted Papers.

Both of my images use the Wisped Frames technique. Did you notice the Mono Dies background as well? The flower die, used in my background, was purchased from Stampin' Up, and bought specifically for the Mono Dies Technique.

By the way, Diana Enns (a TJ subscriber) and I challenge each other to use a new technique each week. Our challenges are posted to our blogs every Wednesday, and we shout out for you to join in on the fun. Simply create a card with the Wisped Frames technique for everyone to see and post it to the TJ Yahooo Group.

Thank you for stopping by. Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see another lovely technique from Pat's team.

Beth Norman

Spritz that Pigment Ink!

The Pigment Spritz technique appeared in the June/July 2009 newsletter.  Because most of my pigment inks are in little cubes, I chose my ink colors first and then looked for a piece of patterned paper I could use as a frame.  The image is from Rubber Stampede and the sentiment from River City Rubber Works.  A 5-inch square card is really one of my favorite shapes.

Glassy Embossing - February-March 2010 TJ

This just a fun card to make, plain and simple. The animal stamps are from Stampin' Up and the background stamp is from Cornish Heritage Farms. I used the Burnished Background technique as well to add some definition to the background stamped area. Such an easy technique to use -- and what a difference it makes. The flowered piece of designer background paper is where you see the Glassy Embossing technique applied. It adds just the right touch to this whimsical card. The ground is applied direct to paper from several ink pads. I find that the small spots are the easiest to use when using the Direct to Paper technique. I used my own cloud template and sponged pale blue ink for the sky. All the animals were colored with my copics.

I am thinking Happy Spring thoughts even though the snow outside my door - still in mounds - does not look Spring! Surely, Spring is on the way! So happy Spring everyone!

Judy Jackson

IRISH BLESSING: Watercolor Smooch

Happy Monday! This is Chris Dickinson from Wisconsin coming to you with a card made using the Watercolor Smooch technique!

I have to say, when I first saw the bottles of Smooch...I thought to myself, "ahhh, there is something I will not use!" The bottles look like nail polish and I was thinking I might as well buy the nail polish. Then, last week, I went to a local scrapbook store and saw it, and needed some Retail Therapy and there wasn't much there that I "needed," so decided to buy some Smooch.

I immediately came home, pulled up the Technique Junkies Newsletter and started painting with the Smooch and had so much fun! I finished the project only to find out I had not followed directions. Needless to say that project did not turn out...so I started over with this piece.

The Smooch was fun to work with and has a very fine tip so you can get into tiny areas. It dried fast on the paper, as long as I didn't put too much on. Best of all, the Watercolor Smooch Technique gave me some thing else to do with it besides just paint! I loved the shimmer it gave too.

TECHNIQUE: TECHNIQUE JUNKIES: WATERCOLOR SMOOCH

Stamps: I BRAKE FOR STAMPS - Leprechaun, Irish Blessing, Bunch of Clover

Cardstock: Co'ordinations, Black, White, Watercolor paper

Accessories: Black EP, Heat Tool, Smooch Green, Nestibilities Fleur De Lis, Copics, Brads, Gold Ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a WONDERFUL day!

Way back When

As a team we have been showing you a lot of different techniques....some from the newer newsletters.  BUT these techniques are from two of the older newsletters.  Shape Spotlighting from the Dec 05 and Faux layers from the Dec 07 newsletters.  Both techniques are quite easy and require no special supplies other than stamps and ink (and maybe a punch or two!).  They are easy on the budget with great results.  Especially the faux layers technique since I used only one layer of paper for the everything but the sentiment.  This also shows you that even in the older newsletters there are some fabulous techniques.  If you don't have the CD's from the past years, make sure you get them on your 'must have' list.  They would be a great item to put on your wish list for your birthday!!  Enjoy!            

Ann Clack, Design Team Member