Patchwork Friend

I just love Simple and Easy Techniques -- they are so handy for making quick cards with oomph. This card is an example of the Patchwork Technique, one of the 30 techniques on the Simple and Easy Inking Techniques Remix CD.  The technique works really well with these bold stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, don't they? (Did you know that SNS gives a 10% discount to TJ subscribers using the code tjn2013?).

The Simple and Easy Inking Techniques Remix CD is a compilation of the easiest techniques, using the most basic of supplies, from the Technique Junkie Newsletter Archives. The CD is $9.95 and can be ordered on my blog sidebar or on this page:
 http://techniquejunkies.com/simple-and-easy-inking-cd.html

Want to know what is on the CD? A complete picture list is here:
http://techniquejunkies.com/CD_indexes/1Simple_and_Easy_index.pdf

Hope you enjoy your day!

Great Gifts Super Blog Hop

It's a super hop! Today we have a joint blog hop between The Technique Junkie Newsletter, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, and Eclectic Paperie. We are celebrating the three companies with what each of us does best! We are using Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, and paper/embellishments from eclectic Paperie to make an item from one of the 40 tutorials on the Technique Junkie Newsletter's Great Gift CD.

My post shows an example of the Flapped Matchbook Gift Box from the Great Gifts CD. The gift box is one of the 40 step-by-by-step tutorials on the CD, and is only $14.95 .  I love this box; is is a great size and holds quite a bit. Decorating it was easy, too, with Baby's Circus Stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. The Lily Bee Design - Persnickety Paper and all the gorgeous flowers, buttons, and other embellishments are all from eclectic Paperie. (click on either image to enlarge it).

In addition to all of the beautiful artwork from the 16 people participating, we have prizes!

 Each of the companies will be giving away a prize randomly drawn from their designers' blogs as follows: 

• EP: 25% discount on a future order 
• SNSS: $15 store credit 
• TJN: Great Gifts CD or any TJN CD of winner's choice

The winners will be posted on each company's blog by Sunday, December 9th.  To be included in the prize drawings, please comment by midnight Friday, December 7th. 

A little about each of the companies participating:

eclectic Paperie is an online boutique for all who love paper crafts. We have an eclectic assortment of products, supplies, tools, and materials to assist you in your quest for creative expression.  We know you will find something to "feed your creativity".

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is a small, family-owned, Christian company offering exclusive images and designs in both clear and digital stamps.  We also carry a small number of exclusive die designs, some of which coordinate with our stamps.

 Technique Junkie Newsletter is a bi-monthly publication with step by step tutorials which encourage you to use your supplies in fun and creative ways. TJN also produces tutorial CDs with printable PDFs in a variety of themes.

Click on any of the links below to check out the hop and all the great projects. You will be amazed at the quality of work in this hop! And make sure to leave comments as you go - remember that there are three prizes in this hop!

Day 29 - Pop-up Gift Card Holder

Today is Day 29 of the month-long anniversary bash for the Technique Junkie Newsletter. Today we have a couple of stamp sets to giveaway from our dear friends at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

First, about the card you see above. I used the Pop-up Gift Card tutorial from the 3D and Fun Folds CD to make this fun gift card holder. I love this tutorial -- the gift card is such a pleasant surprise when the card is opened! The main image uses the Emboss around the Image technique from the October 2012 issue, too. Of course, I used Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for this; these are the two sets one lucky winner will receive:


To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address. My random number generator will pick one lucky winner on Wednesday, October 31st. Please note: we are expecting Hurricane Sandy to wipe out our power for several days; if this happens, the winner will be selected as soon as our power is restored.


This winner of these stamps is Susan Guzy - Congrats, Susan!

Birthday Bash, Day Five: SNS Gift Certificate

Today is the fifth day or our birthday celebration, and, of course, one we have another giveaway. This is a "Great" one!

First, the Pocket Post-It Note Pad, shown above, is one of the tutorials from the Technique Junkie Newsletter's Great Gifts CD. This easy tutorial is wonderful for when you just want to give something small.  The beautiful stamps I used on the cover of the Note Pad are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called Season of Change. That brings me to the other "Great" part of this post!

The giveaway today is for a $15.00 Gift Certificate from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps! SNS has a great variety of beautiful stamps, and one lucky winner will have the chance to go shopping. Just leave your name and email address with your comment on this blog post; my random number generator will select one winner tomorrow. Good luck!

One last thing, I am thrilled that I am playing in the Blogger's Challenge this week, too, with the theme "falling for you". Hope to play next week, too!

Updated: the winner of the gift certificate is Alice A! Congrats!

One more cute one...

I think this is the last in the series (for now) from the Sweet 'n Sassy Tasty Treat Set. Today's card uses the Stacked Nesties Technique from the October 2011 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. This is one of my favorite techniques, because it is easy and always has a great impact!

If you click to open the image, you will notice that I used Flower soft on the popcorn to give it more dimension. The images were colored using the Pastel Chalk Pencil Blending Technique from the  June 2011 issue of the newsletter.

Don't forget that Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps offers 10% off orders with the code tjn2012 !

Simple Swipes

Continuing my on-going addiction to these delicious stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, I chose to change-up the Simple Swipes Technique from the February 2012 issue of the TJ Newsletter. Instead of stamping on the stripes directly, I created, then cut out, this cute image, applying it directly over the swiped background.

I couldn't help adding Crystal Effects/Glossy Accents/Diamond Glaze over parts of it, with a little Liquid Applique for the ice cream. I thought it made it look, well...yummy. Have a sweet day.

Another cute one by me - imagine that!

Colorful Stripes

When I filmed this tutorial, I was concerned that the background it creates would be simply too crazy to be used effectively. What I found is that keeping the top image simple was the best way to use the Colorful Stripes Technique (April 2012 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter). 

I chose this pretty Parisian image from Prickley Pear, using water based markers to color the image in selected areas. The I used the Out-of the-Box technique from October 2004 to showcase the image, and to allow the bottom flowers to melt into the bottom of the stripes. The sentiment and some of the background images are from Stampin' Up!; other of the background images are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

You should try this one -- it is easier than it looks and the results can be really pretty!

Yes, I do cute!

I was discussing this card with one of my dear friends, and she reminded me that "I don't do cute." Guess what? YES I DO! I love to color, and if the images are fun and inspire me, then all the better.

These images from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps certainly inspire me. When I first picked up the stamp set, I was immediate moved by their possibilities. In fact, when I was playing over the weekend, I think I used every stamp in the set! I will spread them out over the next week or so with other things mixed in-between.

My Candy Apple Mouse uses a Mono Dies Background (Emboss or Die CD). I used Copics for coloring, and added a glaze over the candy apple with Crystal Effects. Really, it is a simple card, but yes....CUTE.

Don't forget that Sweet 'n Sassy offers a 10% discount using the code TJN2012. Have you seen the new stamps just released? I am in trouble!

Have a sweet day!

Final day for hopping inspiration!

Today is Day 5 of the Technique Junkie Blog Hop Extravaganza, and today our featured sponsor is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps! We have a stamp set giveaway for today from SNS, and, of course, a prize in the grand prize basket, too, so make sure you leave a comment on my blog today to be entered to win both!  Here is the stamp set being given away today:

 

My card today uses the Pleated Front Technique from the 3D and Fun Folds Paper Craft CD. Did I mention that there are 70 tutorials on this CD? And it is only $17.95 for US and Canadian residents (overseas: $19.95). I hope you can see what a bargain it is after 5 days of hopping!

You might be wondering why I used Sweet 'n Sassy's Christmas Joy Stamp set instead of the one being given away today. It's because my mom loved birds - and especially cardinals -- and I use them any chance I can. It makes me feel warm and loved just to color a cardinal! This stamp is especially pretty and beautiful with Copic Coloring.

Don't forget that tomorrow I will post the names of all of the daily winners, plus I will be posting a picture of the Grand Prize. You will have until Monday, December 5 at 9am EST to enter for the grand prize drawing by commenting on any of MY blog posts from Monday through Friday (from the hop).

If you have been following along already you should have come from Chris Dickinson's Blog. If you did not, start at  the Technique Junkie Blog and go from there.  You won't want to miss any stops along the way.Here are all the hoppers today:

The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog

Cathy McCauley

Jackie Kalchert

Ann Clack

Monika Davis

Holly Brown

Jane Bosi

Chris Dickinson

Pat Huntoon

 Thanks for stopping by today -- I hope you had fun this week!

Blogger's Challenge: Sketch

It's ironic. I had two sketch challenges this week, and they were close enough to each other so that I could use the same card! It is Blogger's Challenge Friday, though, so I am sharing it here today under that auspice!

This card uses the Copic Texturizing Technique from the April 2011 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. The image is a cute Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Digi. The Texturizing is a bit hard to see in the photo, but it is there! I love this cute Digi. And don't forget to use TJNRocks to receive 10% off your order at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

Here is the Blogger's Challenge sketch:

 You can play along, too. Simply add the link below to your blog post using the sketch to play. Enjoy your weekend!

Pastel Pecil Blending Owl

I love my Pastel Chalk Pencils. I just love them. They blend so beautifully and have gorgeous, rich, intense color. My first experience with using them was when I bought a set of 10 on sale -- I think I paid $4.00 for them a few years ago -- and I was hooked. I have since purchased a huge set to expand my color palette. If you buy nothing else, think about buying them for coloring skin tone -- they are sublime! They are in my top three favorites of all of my coloring tools.  The June issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter has a tutorial for you on how to blend with them, too.

The cute owl above was colored with my Pastel Chalk Pencils. It is a digi from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (when you order, use tjnrocks for 10% off!). I love this guy, and his matching saying. The background paper is Basic Grey, but the copper metallic and the other rich, lush papers are all from Paper Temptress.

Have a great day!

Neutral Shadows Giveaway

I love snowflake stamps, and the stamp set we are giving away today has plenty of gorgeous ones to work with! The bold outline of these stamps are perfect for the Neutral Shadows Technique from the February 2011 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter, as I did on the card above.  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has generously given us the Snowflake Silhouette stamp set for our giveaway today:

In addition to the stamp set above, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps also has some new releases that you will not want to miss. And Technique Junkies can take 10% off using the code: tjnrocks, too!

To enter this giveaway for the Snowflake Silhouettes Stamp set and Neutral Shadows card, please leave your name and email address in the comments on this post on my blog (do not email me your submission). I suggest leaving your email address as follows: p huntoon at optonline dot net.  You do not need to be a subscriber to enter this giveaway. My random number generator will be selecting a winner on Monday, February 7th at 9:00 am.

Good luck!

Blogger's challenge: Sketch challenge

Yoo Hoo! I am finally playing in the Blogger's Challenge again. Today's challenge was a sketch challenge, and it was a simple one to boot! the sketch is on the right - give it a try!

My submission for the challenge uses Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps on a piece of Newsprint Reveal from the April 2009 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. That piece is layered over a piece of gray paper that uses the Texture Duet Technique (October 2010 issue of the TJNL). All papers are from Paper Temptress.

If you have a chance, click on the Blogger's Challenge link on my blog to see the creations from the other players. It is always a feast for the eyes!

Have a great weekend!

Weekly Giveaway: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Let's do feminine!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is our giveaway sponsor for this issue, and the stamps we are giving away today are just that! What could be more feminine than a rose? And our beautiful rose is matted on a bed of Ice Crystals (August/September 2010 issue of the TJ Newsletter). I think the Ice Crystal Technique results in a background that looks sparkly and festive -- great for celebrating an anniversary!  This is a close-up of the Sparkle:

See what I mean? My Ice Crystals were tinted with just a hint of rose re-inker to give them a little bit of color. Such an easy, unique technique!!

This is the set that was generously donated by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for our giveaway:

Did you know that Technique Junkie Subscribers receive 10% off their orders at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps? Simply put tjnrocks as the coupon code for your discount. Go take a look at the 11 new sets that Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps just rolled out!

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this blog and leave your email address. (I have a surprising number of comments each week from someone named "anonymous", and without an email address, that person NEVER is selected...). My random number generator will select a winner on Monday, August 9th.  Good luck!

Congratulations to Lynda Hill, the winner of this giveaway!

October Treasure Hunt - Final Stop!

Welcome to the October 2009 Technique Junkie Newsletter Treasure Hunt! If this is your first stop, you may want to start on the TJ Design Team Blog HERE to start following the clues to the Treasure Chest below.

If you have followed the hunt -- you are looking for your final clue here -- and that is the letter G. Now you should have a completed word for the Treasure Hunt and can win the drawing prize!

The card on the right features a Rubber Thwamping Background (October 2009 Technique Junkie Newsletter) with a Block Collage Foreground (February 2009 TJ Newsletter). I added some Diamond Glaze (Crystal Effects) over the word "pumpkin" to make it pop, plus a flower, a Cuttlebugged piece covered with fibers, and a button to top it off. All of the fabulous stamps on this piece are from Club Scrap (Use tjstamp on the Club Scrap website for 25% off unmounted rubber, too!).

We have a great "Treasure Chest" of prizes in this hunt. I hope you can see them all in the picture below, but if you can't, I have included links to the actual prizes in the descriptions where I could -- and, of course, it is hard to take a picture of the TJ items I am giving away, too:

About the prizes (in addition to the card):

• October a special birthday month -- the first issue of the TJ Newsletter was published in October 2002. In celebration, there is a huge set of Birthday Stamps from Inque Boutique.
• Autumn is the time of harvest, so it was right to include the Happy Harvest stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. (I just noticed that Korin has this on sale now, too!)
  
• One of my favorite techniques in the October newsletter is Burnished Backgrounds -- and you will love using the Batik Flower Background from Innovative Stamp Creations to try the technique! (Remember, use TJ10 for 10% off at ISC, too).
  
• You will also receive a pack of 25 glorious Salsa papers from Club Scrap. There is a nice mix of 12" x 12" and 8-1/2" x 11" papers there for you to have fun with!
• And finally -- the winner of the hunt will receive a free year of the newsletter OR any CD from the Technique Junkie Newsletter collection. Woo Hoo!
  

To enter the hunt, leave me a comment below with the "key" to the treasure box (the word you collected along the way). Note that your comment will NOT show up -- I have comment moderation on because of the "key." Make sure that you leave enough information so that I can contact you to let you know you won. Just a reminder that Blogger does NOT leave me your email address. A great way to do this is to leave your email address in a spelled-out way, such as "p huntoon at optonline dot net." I will use my handy random number generator to pick the winning entry. You do NOT need to be a TJ subscriber to win. Comments must be entered by 9am EST Friday October 30th. Good Luck!

It's a Treasure Hunt!!

Welcome to the 3rd Technique Junkie Newsletter Treasure Hunt. Today we are offering a wonderful prize package designed to give you some of the items needed for the October 2009 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter, which is being mailed today! I hope you enjoyed the eye candy from the new issue while you were "on the hunt."
Now, if you STARTED here, you will need to go back to the beginning of the Treasure Hunt, by starting at the Technique Junkie Design Team Blog: http://techniquejunkies.blogspot.com/ and picking up the clues along the way to leave your final clue here. I'll still be here when you get back! Today's package includes:

• A gorgeous large stamp from Innovative Stamp Creations - "Walk in the Woods" - great for the Burnished Backgrounds Technique;
• A Set of 3 stamps from Chapel Road Artstamps called "Large Artishapes 2, which would be great for the Rubber Thwamping Technique;
• A set of 8 stamps from Art Neko, great for the Crinkle Technique;
• A sheet of Wonderfilm and a jar of Glitter from PK Glitz, perfect for the PK Glitz Ornaments Technique;
• A jar of Silver Smooch, for the Smooch Direct Technique;
• A jar of Pearl Ex, for the Jeweled Acetate Technique;
• A package of white lightweight modeling clay, perfect for Petroglyphic Sculptures, and finally;
• A $10.00 Gift Certificate from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, so you can buy what you need for the other Techniques!

In the meantime, the card on the right is one from the October Newsletter using the Jeweled Acetate Technique. The adorable stamp used here is from Clear Artistic Stamps, and it was colored with Copi Markers, which are available at Croppinsville. See the sidebar of my blog (or on the TJ, Patstamps, or Subscriber-only homepages) to view the discounts from these and other sponsoring vendors.

You have followed the hunt... You have a word/phrase. Please note that Beth's letter should have been an O...All you need to do is to leave a comment on this post by 9 am EST Friday, October 2nd and you will be entered to win the prize package and card above. Make sure to leave enough information for me to tell who you are -- be aware that the comments on this hunt will NOT be visible -- I have the comment moderation feature on so that you can leave the word you hunted for privately. Good luck!

Congratulations, Tonya Davidson! You are the lucky winner of the giveaway!

The TJ Treasure Hunt - Final Stop!

Welcome! You have arrived at the last stop of the August Technique Junkie Newsletter Treasure Hunt. If this is your first stop, I suggest you take a minute or two to go to the Technique Junkie Design Team Blog and follow our path. You may just be the winner of our great prize package!

If you have followed the path all the way through, you will need this letter: X. It is the final clue to the 4 word "key" that opens the treasure chest!

As you may know, the cards on the blogs in the Treasure Hunt were all created with techniques from the TJ 7th Edition CD Bonus Techniques, and all of them feature our fabulous vendors. (You can pre-order YOUR copy of the CD today! Details are HERE). My card today is no exception! I created my card using the Starry Night Technique -- again, one of the bonus techniques from CD7. The adorable stamps used are from Clear Artistic Stamps (Remember, Technique Junkies receive 15% off! Check my sidebar for details).

Hey, want to know what you can win with this giveaway? First, this package, which includes stamps from See D's, Innovative Stamp Creations, Clear Artistic Stamps and Firecracker Designs by Pamela, PLUS a package of 4 Shimmerz paints: And these stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps: PLUS a copy of the new CD (Note that if you pre-ordered it, you can have another copy OR I will refund the cost of the CD!).

Okay, this post is long enough -- let me tell you how to enter! First and foremost, leave me a comment below with the "key" to the treasure box (the 4 word phrase that you collected along the way). Note that your comment will NOT show up -- I have comment moderation on because of the "key." Make sure that you leave enough information so that I can contact you to let you know you won. Just a reminder that Blogger does NOT leave me your email address. A great way to do this is to leave your email address in a spelled-out way, such as "p huntoon at optonline dot net." I will use my handy random number generator to pick the winning entry. You do NOT need to be a TJ subscriber to win. Comments must be entered by 9am EST Friday September 4th. Good Luck!

Congratulations, Gail Beezley! Gail is the lucky winner of this fabulous prize package!

PS: Remember to mark your calendars for next month's Treasure Hunt on Monday, September 28th! Our treasure hunts are scheduled for the last Monday of every month. In September, we will be previewing the techniques from the October 2009 issue!

Weekly Giveaway: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Lighthouse

Today's gorgeous stamps for our giveaway are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, and were designed by TJ Designer Chris Dickinson! This set is absolutely gorgeous and includes fabulous sentiments. The full set is HERE:

This is a new release from Sweet 'n Sassy, and can be found HERE on their site. Note that SNS is also having a Christmas in July Sale, too! For the entire month of July, the Christmas & Winter stamp sets are 15% off!But the fun doesn't stop there! When you spend $25 in Christmas & Winter stamps, you will receive a FREE Holiday Greetings stamp set. Tell her you found out about it on TJ : ) Oh -- and don't forget that TJ members receive a 10% discount, too, with the code iluvtjn.

In addition to the stamp set, you will receive the card above. This card features the Lighthouse colored with Copics, then layered over a piece of Black ruche paper from The Paper Temptress. This is on top of a piece prepared with the Metallic Alcohol Roll technique from the October 2007 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter (CD6, for those of you who have them!) .

To win this set and card, simply leave a comment by Sunday, July 12th at midnight. The winner will be selected Monday July 13th. Make sure that you leave enough information so that I can contact you to let you know you won. Just a reminder that Blogger does NOT leave me your email address. A great way to do this is to leave your email address in a spelled-out way, such as "p huntoon at optonline dot net." I will use my handy random number generator to pick the winning entry. You do NOT need to be a TJ subscriber to win. Good Luck!

Congratulations, Frieda F! You are the lucky winner of these stamps -- enjoy!