Looking for (and finding!) the Beauty in the Beast

 Sure. These are scary times. Completely unprecedented. Not one of us has ever really entertained the idea we'd actually be quarantined inside our homes, have we?

So, today, I decided I was too tired to really worry about it anymore. 

We stay in the house for a couple of weeks, take a room every other day to "spring clean" (which is why my children aren't speaking to me and that's working out just perfectly) and I craft. 

But today we hit 80 outside. 60 yesterday. 80 today. Welcome to North Carolina and our 7 and 1/2 days of spring. Hello summer.

Anyway, I went outside today and was stunned by the seemingly overnight transformation in my yard. Everything bloomed! Many things bloomed again! 

Right then and there, I decided to find the beauty in the proverbial beast of situation we're in right now. And I did. I encourage you to do the same. Before I get to my last, two March New Release cards, I'll share them with you. 

 My first year fiddling with spring bulbs and WOW! Talk about rewards!

I have NO idea what these pretty flowers are. This is the 7th year they've appeared. I don't do anything but leave them in the pot. And they somehow like me enough to come back. If you know what they are, please share! But they bring me such joy!

Ahhhhh...my "Walking Stick Tree" which is a Filbert Nut Tree. When I prune it, I can usually get takers for these branches. They never die out. In the winter, it's beautiful. In the summer it's covered with ugly, green leaves. But that's ok. I love this tree!

   

    A TULIP! OMG!! I HAVE A TULIP!! FINALLY!!!

And all this from a postage stamp of a yard managed by the worst gardener in known history. Seriously. My philosophy is "stick it in the ground, water it and hope for the best". So find the beauty...it's the only way to drive off the beast that is the abyss of fear, uncertainty and the unknown. We have the choice to fear or fight. We're Americans, damn it! We don't cower before enemies- foreign or domestic-and we certainly aren't going to be destroyed by this. Chin up, people. Choose to live. Choose to be happy. Choose to see the beauty.

We've got faith, family and friends. 

The only thing lacking is craft supplies. Let me help you with that.

Now...March New Releases!

 I can't get enough of the Old Fashioned Roses! I stamped and embossed on patterned paper and using die cuts, I made a bendi frame. As soon as my mother saw this, it got up and walked right on out the door with her.

My second is using Floral Silhouette1 and the sentiment stamp A Sister Just Gets It, I used my Stamparatus to line up the stamp. I used distress markers to color in the flowers, dotting in highlights, basically just goofing off. Then, I misted it with water and stamped. I wanted a little more highlights so I colored which part of the stamp to highlight, misted and stamped. Quickest and easiest cards EVER but really make you look like the most amazing artist ever! I really love that part most of all.

Grab 10% off everything on the site using TJCarmen10 

Stay safe, stay home and stay sane.

If the last part is your biggest challenge, there's always wine. 

TJ Inkspiration: Easy Ink Blending and Layering (and the sale continues)

We are living in uncertain times.  So many of us are at home, either working or just finding ways to persevere through it all. And still others are braving the potential ravages of COVID19 as essential workers (superheros!). Obviously, rubber stamping is not an essential business. (At least not to anyone outside the crafting community). Still, many of us are trying to stay in business during these unsure times. Technique Junkies will be fine throughout this rough stretch...but keep all the small businesses you know in mind throughout this crisis. Many are trying to continue to pay key employees as long as possible. On a more positive note, Just a reminder that our 25% off sale is continuing through 3-29-20. Simply use the code SAVE25 at checkout. It will work on EVERYTHING in stock in the Technique Junkies Store (retail orders only). What to do in these uncertain times? Get crafty! I am trying to craft, even just a little bit, every day, and I hope you will too. It IS therapy, isn't it? I will be posting all kinds of work to my personal blog and to the Technique Junkies Design Team Blog throughout the next several weeks. Let us help keep YOU sane! To kick off, here is a quick and fun tutorial for you. It just uses blending brushes, ink, a stencil and a little spray for a fun background. Here is the video: Easy Ink Blending and Layering

I hope you are a little inkspired by today's issue. See you next week!   Sincerely,   Pat Huntoon Technique Junkies LLC

March 27, 2020

It's my day to post here on the Technique Junkies Design blog, and I wanted to share a cute card using 'Bad Decisions' from the March new releases.  The background was created using the K-Flip Technique from the October-November 2014 Technique Junkies Tutorial.  The image/sentiment was stamped with the K-Pad, and stamped again on a piece of cardstock covered with Washi Tape strips. I fussy cut the dress and adhered it to the focal panel. A gemstone finished off the focal panel.  A couple of Washi Tape strips were added to each side of the K-Flip panel, and the card was assembled.

This was so easy to create! Hope you will give it a try!

Now, be sure to head over to the Technique Junkies store and check out the incredible new stamps this month! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Patti J.

You add magic to my life

Hello friends!!

Hope you all are having a good day!

Today I have a simple card for you.

Details about this project:

Stamp Floral Border on a white card in Brown Ink.

Color image with markers.

Blend green and red ink on panel.

Stamp You add Magic sentiment in Versamark Watermark Ink, then add Gold Embossing powder and heat set.

Don't forget about the Virtual Sale going on right now!!

www.techniquejunkies.com Save 25% off all in-stock items with code SAVE25 through Sunday, March 29. Includes rubber stamps, heat transfer foils, Shimmering Bliss Sprays, Nuvo products, Aladine Ink – everything in the store! Have a wonderful day!

Prison Orange and Virtual Stamp Convention

Good morning! In light of the situation with the COVID19 all of the stamp conventions have been delayed, postponed or cancelled.  So Technique Junkies is bringing those show specials to you.  Visit https://techniquejunkies.com/ and use code SAVE25 to receive 25% off your total purchase of all in stock items through March 29th.

Today I am sharing a card using one of the new March releases called Prison Orange

I have so many coffee loving friends and this stamp is perfect for making cards for them.

Thank you for stopping by this morning. Stay safe and healthy crafty friends!

Ginger Pelfrey 

Shaking Things up with Fairies

Ewww, I love, love, love this new release called Fairy Garden.  It's the bomb!  I see myself using this set a lot.  Fairy Garden comes with 9 stamps.

I created a shaker card with a sentiment from Fairy Garden on the inside.  It's surrounded by little die cut flowers that were sponged with ink using blending brushes, adding pink to the yellow flowers.

I can't say enough how I love these blending brushes and regret not buying them sooner.  Sponge work has always been a favourite thing of mine, but looking back, the work is not flawless with sponges.

Did you know that we sell blending brushes?  They are the best price that I have seen so far, and to further cut down on your cost, you can use TJ10Beth to receive 10% off on your brushes, or any other product.

I look forward to seeing your fairy cards in our Technique Junkies Yahoo group.

Get creative!

You Add Magic and SALE!!!

Happy Monday!

Now through March 29th, everything in stock is 25% off at the Technique Junkies store.  See Pat's post on the TJ blog HERE for full details!

My card uses Old Fashioned Roses and You Add Magic

Old Fashioned Roses 

You Add Magic