Technique Blitz: Patina

Just a quick little card I made for a friend I am inviting to Thanksgiving dinner. I thought it was appropriate today because it is the Thanksgiving Holiday in Canada today, too. Happy Thanksgiving to our friends to the North!

This card uses stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs. The background uses the Patina Technique from the October 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wonderful Wednesday Giveaway: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

These stamps make me chuckle. I just adore them! One lucky winner of this giveaway will adore having them in their collection, too.

These Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for today's giveaway were layered on top of a piece of Basket Weave Background (from the October 2008 Technique Junkie Newsletter). I colored the turkey with Copic Markers, and cut out the images -- a fun, quick card! I really like all the sayings that these stamps come with -- they are just great!

Sweet 'N Sassy is thrilled to announce that the Rachelle Anne Miller Christmas Collection has arrived! If you have not seen all of the stamps offered by Sweet 'N Sassy now, you will be amazed by the variety of stamps now in the store. And don't forget, Technique Junkies receive 10% off -- use the code tjmember08 for YOUR discount.

Here are the stamps for today's giveaway.

Okay, so how do you enter this giveaway? ANYONE can enter this give away.One entry per person, per give away, please. To enter the give away for today, simply leave a comment on this blog entry telling me that you would like to enter by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, October 12th. No other entry methods will be included in the give away. If you email me to enter, your entry will NOT be considered a valid entry. When you leave the comment, make sure to put your NAME in the comment -- if you enter your comment as "Anonymous", I cannot give you the prize! Blogger does NOT record your email address for me, so you will need to check back to find out if you have won or include your email address in your comment so that I can notify you. A good way to do this is like so: phuntoon at optonline dot net -- it will help protect your privacy! I will have a random number generator pick one number from the comments to select one winner. Each give-away is separate, so to be eligible for a specific item you must enter that day's contest on the post where it is listed. Enter today -- good luck! I have blog give aways every Wednesday -- come play!

The winner of this giveaway is Roxi Adams! Congratulations!

Cuttlebug Highlights meet Bandanna...

I should not be buying stamps. Ever. I have billions. But I can't resist! I was in the stamp store purchasing chalk refills (ahem, junkies, that may be a December hint) when this Happy Halloween stamp just jumped out at me. I knew that this cool Cuttlebug folder had been calling me for a week or two -- so I just had to have the stamp (by Inkadinkadoo) so I could make a happy marriage between the two. My creation combines the Cuttlebug Highlights technique (October 2008 Technique Junkie Newsletter) with the Bandanna Technique (August 2008 newsletter). This time, though, I used a Souffle Pen to out line the embossed areas. Did I mention that those pens jumped into my basket, too?

My highlighting on this is not perfect, but I am reveling in it's imperfection...Happy Technique Blitz.

Blogger's Challenge: Falling for You

Today's Blogger's Challenge was "Falling for You." I chose to take the suggested theme literally and make a fall-themed card. In keeping with the Technique Blitz this month, I used the Punched Through Technique from the Ribbon Extravaganza in the October 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. All stamps are from Firecracker Designs by Pamela.

Happy fall!

Technique Blitz-Camouflage

Gotta love a friendly bear! I like this one -- his grin is a bit wicked...wicked-cute. Maybe it is his eyebrows...
This card for the Technique Blitz uses a small piece of Camouflage from the October 2008 Technique Junkie Newsletter as a matting piece for my wickedly-cute bear. I just love this technique -- it is so easy, and fun, and has so many uses. Thank you again to Joyce Pacer for teaching it to me and the Junkies!

Hey, you don't subscribe yet? There are 15 techniques in this 8-page (two extra pages! more than ever!) full color, glossy publication. They are delivered to your doorstep every-other month. Don't you just wanna learn how I did that paper? Email me for a PayPal invoice!

All Stamps in this sample are from Stampin' Up!'s Under the Stars set.
Thanks for stopping by!

Technique Blitz revisited: Ribbon Spiral ATC

Back by popular demand...the Technique Blitz begins again.

What that means is that I will try to post a technique-oriented card every day...or as frequently as my life allows. I will focus on the current issue of the TJ Newsletter or the CD bonus techniques most days, with a little straying here and there to show other things.

Today's submission features an ATC that is quite different than yesterday's. The theme for this was was "Charming Children." A little sweeter than the disturbing one, no?

This ATC features the Ribbon Spiral Technique from the October 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. This technique is from TJ member and stamper extraordinaire Belinda Johnson. The stamps used for this ATC are from I Brake for Stamps from the Stampinback line. Aren't they sweet? The whole stamp plate is filled with wonderful images.

I colored the stamp using Copic markers, regular marker, and colored pencils, and went over the blue-tinted water with Diamond Glaze (aka: Glossy Accents or Crystal Effects).

Okay, now I am off to try to get some things done for the Blitz!

Wonderful Wednesday Giveaway -- Oxford Impressions

Today's Wonderful Wednesday giveaway offers one of my favorite stamp sheets to work with. These Country Girl stamps from Oxford Impressions are great whether you are creating a collages or using individual images, as I did with these two pieces. These two cards were made using the Metallic Stone Background -- one of the ten Bonus Techniques from the new Technique Junkies 6th Edition CD. If you are a regular on my blog, you know that normally I only have one card to give away with the stamps...today is a bit different.
I have two cards here. The winner of this giveaway will receive the stamps below, plus their choice of cards...

The second card will be given away to one of the people who order this week from Oxford Impressions. To make it easy for you, you can take 20% off all unmounted stamp plates and collage sheets through Sept. 10th. Simply use the discount coupon code: pat20good to receive your discount.

Suzanne will also send a free Halloween inchie circle collage sheet - a $4.00 value - to anyone who uses the discount code. After September 10th, the card will be mailed to one of the people who orders Oxford Impressions (drawn randomly).

Did you know that Oxford Impressions was just featured by Stampington's Take Ten Magazine? How awesome is that?

Okay, so how do you enter this giveaway? ANYONE can enter this give away.One entry per person, per give away, please. To enter the give away for today, simply leave a comment on this blog entry telling me that you would like to enter by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, September 7th. No other entry methods will be included in the give away. If you email me to enter, your entry will NOT be considered a valid entry. When you leave the comment, make sure to put your NAME in the comment -- if you enter your comment as "Anonymous", I cannot give you the prize! Blogger does NOT record your email address for me, so you will need to check back to find out if you have won or include your email address in your comment so that I can notify you. A good way to do this is like so: phuntoon at optonline dot net -- it will help protect your privacy! I will have a random number generator pick one number from the comments to select one winner. Each give-away is separate, so to be eligible for a specific item you must enter that day's contest on the post where it is listed. Enter today -- good luck! I have blog give aways every Wednesday -- come play!

The winner of this giveawy is Barb Oliver!

Acetate Swirl -- Technique Blitz

Ahhhh. Acetate swirl. Just divine with silhouette-style stamps (and more). What, you say? You are not familiar with this technique? Well, it is one of the 10 bonus techniques on the newest Technique Junkie Newsletter 6th Edition CD. Don't ya' love sneak previews?

Stamps: Stampin' Up!


P.S. You can order your copy of the CD today, too! Email me for details.

Technique Blitz; Mini Kissing

Today's Technique Blitz card is a sample of Mini Kissing, on of the 10 Bonus Techniques from the soon-to-be-released 6th Edition CD from the Technique Junkie Newsletter. The stamps used here are from Stampin' Up!.

Hope your Labor Day weekend is wonderful!

Blogger's Challenge and Technique Blitz

Today's Blogger's Challenge was to create a card for Labor Day or a Red, White and Blue item.

Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

This led me to think about the American Workforce...and where most Americans are from. Thus the creation of my Red, White and Blue Ellis Island card.

The Ellis Island Stamp (The Stampsmith) was stamped in blue ink and colored with chalks. That is layered on a black piece of Pearly Gel, one of the Bonus Techniques from the upcoming Technique Junkie Newsletter. This piece is layered over a stamped star Background (Stampin' Up! Jumbo Wheel). I added some crystal stars and the "Welcome Home" words (Club Scrap) to finish the card off.


I hope you enjoy the labor day weekend and holiday.

Technique Blitz: Glowing Images and Pearlized Gesso

I had so much fun making this card! I just got these cool skeleton stamps from Stampin' Up! and I couldn't wait to break into them...

I used the Glowing Image Technique for the main image here, and then used the Pearlized Gesso Technique for the Background. Both techniques are from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. I stenciled a little red ink over the gessoed pearls just to make them a little more "flourishy."

It's a little hard to see, but the eyes and teeth were colored with a glittery marker -- and the red stars along the sides are crystal. For some reason I just couldn't get all the shimmer, shine and glimmer to show in any of my pictures.

My 15-y/o son told me that this card is HOT... When you are making teen cards, there is no better compliment!

Technique Blitz; Bandanna

Today's Technique Blitz uses the Bandanna technique from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. Aren't these just great stamps to use for this technique?

All stamps from Innovative Stamp Creations.

Technique Blitz: Happy Birthday to Ian...

My baby boy is 15.

This simple Pearlized Gesso card (August 2008 Technique Junkie Newsletter) was made for him. He is totally awesome, and I didn't need to add alot of fru-fru to tell him so. My background was made on black, with a cool result, I think. I know he will like it.

So happy birthday to you, my 6'4" 15 year old gorgeous baby boy.

All stamps: Stampin' Up!

Technique Blitz: Designer Tiles

Designer Tiles -- with a twist!

Instead of designer paper, I stamped my paper and used the stamped paper with plain paper.

I love this twist on this great technique from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

Whatcha' Think?

Technique Blitz & TSSC 31

Today, I am cheating. well, not cheating exactly, but just stretching things a bit...

First, I am stretching on my Technique Blitz card. This is what you might want to call a "Fake" Bandanna Card (August 2008 Technique Junkie Newsletter). The red area behind my sock monkey was done on plain stamped red cardstock. This Fake Bandanna card is a good way to do the technique when you are short on time....

My sock monkey was colored with the Marker Watercoloring Technique from the June 2008 issue of the Newsletter. Really. No stretch on that one!

But I am stretching the Technostamper Sketch Challenge #31 a bit. The sketch called for a circle with and three elements beneath the horizontal image. While it is a great layout...my card didn't quite fit it....the sketch is below; decide whether it accomplishes the idea or not for yourself:

Make sure to watch Mary Jo's blog for the other players, and thanks for stopping by!

All stamps: Stampin' Up!

Technique Blitz: Pearlized Gesso

You know how some stamps just "speak" to you?

These stamps from Firecraker Designs by Pamela do that for me. I always feel such a great sense of relaxed serenity when I use these stamp. I know it kind of sounds silly to say it out loud, but these stamps just have that effect on me!

In any case, this card for the Technique Blitz uses the Pearlized Gesso Technique from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

These are appropriate stamps for today because I am on vacation (yes again!), This time we are at the beach with DH's family on Cape Cod. This is a vacation that I look forward to every year -- beach, sun, family...relaxation. Couldn't be better!

Valerie is in my office this week, though, and I do have an internet connection this time, so email me if you need to...and have a great week.

The Technique Blitz shall go on!

Technique Blitz: Painted Pigments

Today's Technique Blitz card uses a Painted Pigments background, a technique from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. I stamped a collage stamp over the pigments with a dark grey inkpad and added a cuttlebugand greeting layer to finish the card.


Stamps: Chapel Road Artstamps.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Technique Blitz & Blogger's Challenge 60

Today's Technique Blitz card is also my weekly card for Blogger's Challenge#60.

First, the BC part: The challenge today was to create a Birthday card. No other restrictions -- just a birthday card. I chose these fun stamps from Artistic Outpost from the Polaroid Cutie stamp sheet. I think she is just adorable!

Now, the technique part : ) The background of this card is a Painted Pigment background, from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. My girl was stamped on white, then colored lightly with pastel chalks. Add a ribbon, a little layering, and Viola! Fini!

Take a minute to enjoy the artwork from the other Blogger's Challenge players -- you can find them by clicking on the logo on my sidebar. Happy Friday!

Technique Blitz: More Shimmering Resist

Today's Technique Blitz card features a shimmering resist creation, one of the Techniques from the August 2008 Technique Junkie Newsletter.

I tried to capture some of the shimmer in the photo, but I don't think it shows well. Great shimmer here, though!

Stamps: Innovative Stamp Creations

Wonderful Wednesday Giveaway -- Storage Units, Inks and More!

I am so excited to bring you a fun new participating company in the Wonderful Wednesday Giveaways! Today, the Giveaway set is from Storage Units, Inks and More. Many of you may be familiar with this great company because of the outstanding storage units they have been providing to the stamping community for years at SUInks. Denise Wenzloff, the owner, just recently started to offer a new line of clear stamps that are wonderful!

The card on the right (you didn't think I forgot the Technique Blitz, did you?) uses the Alcohol Ink Technique from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. All of the images were colored this way, then layered over a polished stone background. The girl, the beach ball, and the float are all raised with pop dots.

One of the things I love about clear stamps is the ability to place the stamps anywhere on the paper and see exactly where you are stamping. it makes lining up words around edges incredibly simple and exact, as I did in the example above.

Here is the stamp set being given away today with the card:

And a little more about this great company:

Storage Units, Ink & More opened its online store on July 1st. Since then, Denise and Bob Wenzloff have had an overwhelming response to their products. Storage Units, Inks and More have 2 great illustrators designing the new line of clear photopolymer stamps, a partnership with a great cardstock company: Core’dinations, AND is the exclusive distributor of color matched inkpads. Check out the website for the full line of products.
Storage Units, Ink and More has also made up some COMBO PACKS. You'll find them at the bottom of the Stamp Set page, the Copic Marker page, and at the bottom of each of the Inkpad pages. We can all use a deal, right?! And don't forget that they design and manufacture INKPAD STORAGE UNITS at their sister site: www.SUInk.net. Soon there will be a new unit made specifically to house their own line of inkpads and reinkers.

Okay, so how do you enter this giveaway?

ANYONE can enter this give away.One entry per person, per give away, please. To enter the give away for today, simply leave a comment on this blog entry telling me that you would like to enter by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, August 17th. No other entry methods will be included in the give away. If you email me to enter, your entry will NOT be considered a valid entry. When you leave the comment, make sure to put your NAME in the comment -- if you enter your comment as "Anonymous", I cannot give you the prize! Blogger does NOT record your email address for me, so you will need to check back to find out if you have won or include your email address in your comment so that I can notify you. A good way to do this is like so: phuntoon at optonline dot net -- it will help protect your privacy! I will have a random number generator pick one number from the comments to select one winner. Each give-away is separate, so to be eligible for a specific item you must enter that day's contest on the post where it is listed. Enter today -- good luck! I have blog give aways every Wednesday -- come play!

Congratulations to Gina Wrona, the winner of this set and card!