One of the things I love about foil is that you can make images like the bells on the Jingle Bells Stencil look beautifully metallic. I used the Stardust Foil with Transfer Gel Duo (which means NO laminator is necessary) to create metallic bells. The focal image is the Joyful Jingle stamp, which was heat embossed in silver. What a great Christmas card this makes!

 

The final stop of the TJ Hop!

Welcome! Today is release day and the Technique Junkies Design Team is celebrating with a hop. If you arrived here from Beth's Blog, you are in the right place.  If this is your first stop, I encourage you to start at the beginning, on the Design Team Blog. If you started at the beginning, I hope you have been inspired by what you have seen.

Don't forget, we have 15 new releases today, and a 15% discount on all the February Release Stamps!

Today I am featuring two of the new stamps. The bright pink/red/orange card, above, was made using Art Anthology Minx in the background. The Minx were dropped onto wet watercolor paper, sprayed with Gilded Gold Colorations, and then moved around until the background was covered with color. Once dried, the Le Tour Eiffel image was stamped over the watercolor paper with black StazOn ink. The Fancy Paris Sentiment (not a February release) was stamped and then colored with Juicy Colorations.

My second card today uses the Paris Dreams stamp, colored with colored pencils. I layered this over a second Minx background stamped with the Le Tour Eiffel stamp, which was made in the same way as the one above.

I hope you enjoyed the hop today, and that you found some things you loved. Remember to order your February stamps before February 8th!

Happy New Year -- Let's HOP!

Happy New Year! Hopefully you have arrived here from Beth's blog, and have had the chance to go through our hop with us. If not, stop right now and head on over to the Design Team Blog. We have new stamps for the New Year! You won't want to miss what the Team has in store for you this hop, and it is a great way to see this month's new stamps in action.

Don't forget - all of the January Release Stamps are 15% off until January 8th. Who doesn't want to save a little this time of year?

Today I have a few new cards to show you using some of the new designs. First, this one uses a great stamp called Happy Birthday Advice:

 I paired it up with the Pom Pom Swag Stamp (released this fall) 'cause I continue to be in love with that stamp. Its so festive! The background was made using a new product called MINX -- I am rolling it out to you later this month. TO DIE FOR shimmer!

Next, another couple of stamps that are dear to me, since I am a voracious reader (well, truthfully, I mainly listen to books on tape since I travel so much!). The background uses a large stamp called Books, and the sentiment is one from the new Bookworms Set.  If you love to read, you should check it out!

 Finally -- this sweet dog from the Let's Roll set.  I cropped this one a little funk, but you get the idea!  It is a set of two, with the dog/truck stamp and Lets Roll stamp separate.  I chose to put my sentiment inside the card.  Ever have a dog that loved car rides? I have two of them that do!

The background stamp used here is the Medium Porcelain Crackle Background. It is a stamp that has been in the line for years and years -- and it is still current!

As for me...I am one happy 2016-er. Technique Junkies is moving along full-speed ahead, and I am so excited to continue to share new things with you! New Ideas, New Stamps, New Techniques -- everything coming this year has an aura of excitement. Strap in and enjoy the ride!

Coming to a city near you!!

Just a quick announcement -- I finally finished and published the Technique Junkies trade show schedule for 2016! Go take a look HERE.

This is one of the classes I am teaching this year. Aren't these cards cute? 8 cards, with envelopes, in a decorative acetate box.  If I am coming to your city and you would like me to teach this class in YOUR town, email me!

I hope you are close enough to one of our venues to come by and say hi!  See you in 2016...

October Release Blog Hop -- Final Stop!

Welcome! Today is Release Day at Technique Junkies, and the Design Team and I are celebrating with a Blog Hop. Hopefully, you arrived here from Kathy's Blog, and enjoyed her beautiful work. If not, please start back at the beginning of the hop, at the Design Team Blog. The artwork is worth every click!

Even though I posted a few things for you on the Design Team Blog, I have a few more pieces to show you before you can go shop (the October 2015 New Release Stamps are 15% off through October 9th). First we'll start with this:

This card was made using the Afternoon Tea Stamp along with the Where There's Tea Sentiment. I used Peerless Watercolors to give a subtle hint of color. If you started at the Design Team Blog, you know that I showed stamps there that were on the masculine side -- this one is decidedly feminine! 

One more for today, using the new Pom Pom Swag Background, with the Live in the Present Stamp used as a focal point.  To achieve the color gradation, I simply swiped the background direct to stamp, using 4 colors of  Distress Inks.

I hope you enjoyed our hop today. Remember to go to the techniquejunkies.com website for the 15% discount!

Come see us in Allentown!

We will be at the Heirloom Stamp and Paper Arts Show in Allentown PA this weekend, and we want you to come play with us! Use the coupon below for your choice of one free stamp with purchase over $35.00! 

We will be Demonstrating Peerless Watercolors, and we have a great Make and Take using Art Anthology products and Technique Junkies Stamps!  Come play with us!

 

 

Techniaue Junkies Design Team Call!

 

We are looking for a few Dynamic Designers who are passionate about Stamping and Stampbooking to join our Creative Team.

Do you love to Stamp?  Do you love elegant, classical and whimsical images?  Are you active on Social Media outlets, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest?  Then we invite you to become part of the Technique Junkies Creative Design Team!

Technique Junkies purchased Stamp Camp in 2014, and has been working on a new website launch. We need a creative team to help us show off our new look and all of our new stamps to the world through your blog, websites, and other social media. The new site will be ready March 1^st, and we want a team that is ready to launch with us!

This special group will develop projects and tutorials for our website and blog, have the chance to have their designs showcased on packaging, and have their artwork displayed at tradeshows throughout the country.  In addition, Designers will have the opportunity to create artwork for future tutorial CDs in addition to creating work for the stamp line.

The team will officially start March1st, and will have a term of service through December 31 2015 (9 months).

 Who Should Apply?
We are looking for stampers, stampbookers and stamping papercrafters who have the following skills:
1.  Strong Social Media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Blog)

2.  Clear, Crisp, and Engaging Project Photography

3.  Fantastic project tutorials, tips, and how-to’s; both video and picture format.

4.  The desire to help Technique Junkies develop a stronger presence in the online stamping community. 4 projects per month are required, 2 on the Technique Junkies blog and 2 on your own personal blog.  There may be need for additional projects for blog hops and CD releases on a volunteer basis. Compensation for additional projects will be separate from what is listed below.

5. We love techniques, and if you do, too, this is a great opportunity for you. BUT - if you prefer clean and simple, or have another style, that is great too – variety is what we are looking for.

6. A commitment to the full 9 month term of March 1^st through December 31^, 2015.

What do I need to do to apply?
Send an email to designteam@techniquejunkies.com with the following information:
1.  Your full name, email address, phone number, and address. List your current design team affiliations (if any) and past affiliations.  Note: It’s okay if you have not been on a team before. I am interested in the quality of your work!

2.  Links to all of your social media outlets:   Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and any other on-line sites/galleries.

3.  Please share links to three (3) of your favorite stamping projects. Make sure that the projects represent your best photography and your personal style. I want to see what you love! Note that these do not need to be new projects, nor do they need to use our stamps or techniques for the application.

4. Tell us a little about yourself…how you started, what you love, the type of stamps (cute, elegant, weird, classic, vintage, photo-style, etc.) you like, What kind of stamps you are drawn to (birds, butterflies, geometrics, etc.).  Just a paragraph or two – whatever you are comfortable telling us.

5. What are your favorite mediums and coloring tools? Do you like to color or are you a master of ink? Or both?

What’s in it for you?
1. We will promote your name/work on the Technique Junkies blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Newsletters, and website.

2. You will receive a box of stamps/cds immediately when selected.  It’ll be like Christmas!

3. You will have a $75.00 stipend per quarter to spend on stamps. I always pay for postage.

4. You will receive a 30% discount on stamps beyond your stipend quarterly.

5. You may choose one tutorial CD per month.

6. You will receive a box of goodies from time-to-time to supplement the stamps above, and to keep things fresh.

The call is open immediately and will end on February 10^th 2015, at midnight EST. Confirmation emails will be sent out when we receive your application (but we do travel, so give us a day or two before following up). A final decision will be made by February 16^th, 2015.

I cannot wait to see your work!


P.S. Know another stamper who would love this? Pass it on!

Come see us in Oaks PA -- be our BOGO guest!

Did you know that we will be in Oaks PA this weekend for the Stamp Scrap Art Tour show? Please come visit us!  You can use the buy one, get one free coupon above to get in, too.  Bring in a copy of this post, and I will give you an additional 5% of your order at the show, too -- on top of any other show specials. Come by and see us this weekend!  Here are the show details and show hours:

 Greater Philadelphia Expo Center Hall A
100 Station Ave.
Oaks PA 19456
484-754-3976

Saturday 10-5
Sunday 10-3

Hope to see you there!

Artwork, Announcements and Apologies!

 

Hi Friends!
It has been forever and a day since I have been able to post, and I am going to start with a heartfelt apology.  I have some excellent reasons, but I will not subject you to them. Just suffice it to say that my life has had some major upheavals and today was the first day in a very long time where I have felt that I could manage the details of running the business and running my life all together.  Now, lets do some happy things!

First, lets talk about the artwork above. As you may know, we just released a brand new CD: Bodacious Background Stamps. It is $9.95 and it contains 30 techniques for using your big background stamps creatively. Twenty of the tutorials are brand new, and ten are from the archives (after all, we have 12 years of great techniques!). You will never look at your background stamps the same way again! You can order the CD from the sidebar of this blog, or from the home page of www.techniquejunkies.com, or from here: http://techniquejunkies.com/bodacious-background-stamps-cd.html. A complete index of what is on the CD is here:
http://techniquejunkies.com/CD_indexes/1-Bodacious_Background_Table_of_Contents.pdf

The card above uses the Pearly Outlines Technique. This is a really shimmery, glittery technique and it is easy, too! It is one of the new techniques on the CD. The stamp used on the card is called Floral Silhouette from the Technique Junkies line of stamps. It is $9.95 and can be ordered here: http://www.stampcamp.com/bigstamps23.html . It is one of the 600 big stamps I have available - many of which I will be highlighting for you in the coming weeks!

Tomorrow we have a treat for you -- we are hopping to celebrate the CD! Please join us as the TJ design team shows off their beautiful creations using the techniques from the Bodacious Background Stamp CD.  Your eyes will be entertained from beginning to end!!

Finally, I promise to be more in touch. If you have emailed me in the last two weeks, please be patient -- I promise you will hear from me before Friday morning.

See you tomorrow!!!

One Hundred Tutorials

Yup. One Hundred Tutorials. That is how many are found on the Technique Junkies CD 11 (2013 edition). It contains all the tutorials from October 2012 through August 2013, plus 10 bonus techniques. And this year I included a PICTURE Table of Contents so that you can visually see what is on the CD. A link to that is HERE: http://techniquejunkies.com/CD_indexes/2-CD11-Pictorial_Table_of_Contents.pdf

The CD is $14.95, less if you order it when you renew your subscription. You can order it and/or renew here: http://www.techniquejunkies.com/Cd11.html

Have a great day!

Rounded Dimensional Petals

There is something very Zen about this card. I don't know what it is, it just feels like things are balanced. I live the touch of dimension that on the petals. It really is a pretty card to behold. 

It is called Dimensional Rounded Petals and it is one of the 45 tutorials on the Designer Paper Perfection CD from Technique Junkies that was released this week. The CD is $14.95, and can be ordered on this blog (in the corner), or through this page:
http://techniquejunkies.com/paper-perfection-cd.html

Hope you have a great day!

Designer Paper Perfection Blog Hop

Welcome to the hop! If you arrived here from Tricia's Blog, you are in the right place. If this is your first stop, please take a moment to go back to the Design Team blog to start - you will not want to miss the celebration we are having today! We are thrilled to kick off the brand new Technique Junkies CD: Designer Paper Perfection. 

I chose to show a Tri-Panel Accordion Card. This easy card shows off your Designer Paper beautifully -- and is sinfully easy to make with the dimensions in the tutorial. It is one of the 45 techniques the CD contains. At only $14.95, it's a bargain!

Details on the CD can be found here: http://www.techniquejunkies.com/paper-perfection-cd.html

You can order the CD from that page, or from this blog (in the upper right column). CDs are shipping today!

Thank you for joining us for this hop -- I hope you enjoyed the artwork!
Sentiment: Mark's Finest Papers

Yet another giraffe

When I posted the I Brake for Stamps giveaway on Thursday, many of you expressed surprise that I didn't use one of the two giraffe images on the Stampinback stamp sheet for the card. (You can still sign up for the giveaway HERE, if you have not yet).



I actually did! I was just afraid of being too predictable, so I decided to wait with the post until today. It was also such a simple card to put together -- a 10 minute card. I felt the giveaway deserved something stronger : )


This giraffe is colored lightly with Copic markers then layered over a piece of Faux Felt (February 2009 issue of the TJ Newsletter). Who doesn't love a laughing giraffe!

Happy Father's Day!

And the winners are....(drumroll, please!)

Announcing...the winners of the Technique Junkies/Starving Artistamps Van Gogh Contest!

Congratulations to Tera Fujan and Deb Corder, who were the lucky winners of the Starving Artistamps and Technique Junkie Newsletter Van Gogh contest. BOTH ladies will receive one year of the Newsletter PLUS the super-sized stamp sheet from Starving Artistamps. Congratulations!

Here is a peek at all of the submissions. Scroll over the slideshow to see the artist names:

Thank you to everyone who entered, and to Tracey for co-sponsoring the contest!

One Martini, Two Martini, Three Martini, Floor

I have had one long week. Seriously. Really long. Lots of hours. It was a great week, mind you, but long nonetheless. So it is Friday. And my DH makes one-heck-of-a-martini. So tonight, I am going to leave one of these two cards next to his spot on the couch. Think he'll get the idea?

This first card was actually made from the Blogger's Challenge sketch 103 (from the sketch on the right). I used the Altered Designer Paper Technique (April 2009 issue of the TJ Newsletter) for the background paper because the original paper was too bold (actually, I altered the altered designer paper technique -- does that make it an altered altered designer paper technique? or altered squared? but I digress...). I didn't put a stripe up the center of the left panel, either, since I used striped paper. The stamps here are from Stampin' Up! and were colored with Copic markers. And you can't really tell by my picture, but I have the numbers in cuttlebug texture on the left side of the card. Get it? One Martini, Two Martini....

This second card uses the Van Gogh Technique from the June 2009 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. The martini stamp from Rubber Romance was also colored with Copics before I "Van-Goghed" it. (The "Cheers to you" stamp is from Stampin' Up!). Do you think that if Mr. Van Gogh had tried a martini to chill out that he might not have lopped off that ear?

In any case, make sure to enter your try at the Van Gogh contest -- you only have until the 15th to enter!. Either post your entry to the Technique Junkie List or by directing me to your artwork by leaving me a comment on this BLOG POST (<---click that link). You can double your chances by leaving Tracey at Starving Artistamps a comment on her BLOG POST (<---click that link) telling her that you entered via the TJ e-group, or directing her to an online resource. Enter in both places for your chance at the free one year of the newsletter and the stamps -- two winners will win both!

And make sure that you take a minute to visit the other Blogger's Challenge Players -- they are fabulous!

The BIG CD Sale!

Announcing…the CD sale to flip a disk over!

From now until June 30th, any of the published Technique Junkie Newsletter CDs are on sale for only $10.00 per CD, plus shipping for Technique Junkie Newsletter subscribers. Not a subscriber? I will offer you the sale price with your NEW subscription, too!

That’s right. $10.00 plus shipping. To anywhere in the world. Choose one or choose them all – CDs 1 through 6 are all there for you! You can buy one for $10.00*. Two for $20.00… reach for the stars and get all 6 for $60.00*! *Email me for an invoice: Let me know what you would like, and I will send you an invoice or price quote that includes actual shipping to your location.

What is a TJ CD, you ask? Well, only the best way to get your junkie fix since Mr. Goodyear created rubber! Each CD has a year’s worth of tutorials on it, plus has a bonus of 10 extra bonus tutorials available only on that CD. The tutorials are in step-by-step, pictorial format, and were created to print perfectly on an 8-1/2” x 11” piece of paper. AND all the artwork from the design team is there, too! No more fumbling for passwords…no need for an internet connection. Just print and run!

Want to see an example of how the tutorials are formatted? Click HERE

Here is what is on each CD:
CD1: Techniques from the 10-02 to 8-03 issues plus 10 bonus techniques
CD2: Techniques from the 10-03 to 8-04 issues plus 10 bonus techniques
CD3: Techniques from the 10-04 to 8-05 issues plus 10 bonus techniques
CD4: Techniques from the 10-05 to 8-06 issues plus 10 bonus techniques
CD5: Techniques from the 10-06 to 8-07 issues plus 10 bonus techniques
CD6: Techniques from the 10-07 to 8-08 issues plus 10 bonus techniques

New to Technique Junkies? This is the best way to catch up on the back issues – because if you buy it all, I will send the universal password, too!

Not sure what to get? Email me with questions and I will give you a hand with your order and quote you the price with shipping.

Don’t delay, though – this deal will not be repeated!

Pat Huntoon
http://www.techniquejunkies.com
PO Box 16547
Stamford CT 06905

Clear Ornament Tutorial

The TJ Holiday Blogstravaganza continues! Today, I have a tutorial for the ornament above -- and a challenge for you, too! Although this idea for ornaments is not new, it is always nice to remember old favorites! All stamps: Artistic Outpost
Supplies

*Acetate or Transparency

*Clear Glass Ornament

*Circle Cutter or Circle Punch Larger than Image

*Stamp with Image smaller than ornament

*Sharpies, Copic Markers, Gel Glaze Pen or Watercolor Crayons

*StazOn Ink

*Glitter

Step One:

Stamp the image with StazOn ink over the acetate or transparency. I use Inkjet transparencies, and I stamp the image on the smooth size.

Step Two:
Turn the image to the back and color with copic markers, sharpies, watercolor crayons, acrylic paints or Gel Glaze Pens.











Step Three:
Use the Circle cutter or punch to cut the image out.












Step Four:
Roll the image into a tube, with the colored area on the inside of the image. Make the roll slightly smaller than the whole in the tops of the ornament. Slide the acetate into the ornament. NOTE: If the image does not drop into the ornament straight, use an eraser from the end of a pencil to move the acetate into place.






Step Five:
Place a teaspoon of glitter into the ornament.













Step Six:
Replace the top and tie a ribbon around it.

Easy, right? Okay then, here is the challenge:
Create an ornament by Monday, November 17th. You can create any style ornament using any technique or idea of your choice (just use rubber stamps and/or paper crafting supplies). Then send it to me via email, post it to the TJ group OR place it on your blog or gallery elsewhere and leave the link in a message on this post.

I will collect all of the images and I will place them in a post next week -- and will pick a winner from them randomly. The winner will receive a $10.00 gift certificate from Technique Junkies, to be used on any TJ product of your choice. Come play!

Today, I also have several of the TJ Designers who have posted for the Blogstravaganza:
Lisa Somerville at Splendiferous Creations
Deb Lovett on the TJ Design Team Blog
Jane at Jane's Addiction

Check back every day for the TJ Blogstravaganza - right through Christmas!

Blogger's Challenge #47 - Layout challenge (x2)

Today's Blogger's Challenge was to use the dog layout on Page 21 of the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog as inspiration for our creations. When I first saw the layout, I was a bit taken back -- the tear diagonally across the main panel not a look that I normally do on purpose with my artwork. Guess that's why it's called a challenge!

I started my creative process with the card on the right. The beautiful stamps on this card are from the same delicious stamp sheet from Oxford Impressions that I am giving away this week (to enter the giveaway, go to THIS post). I used the Embossed Watercolor Crayon Technique from the June 2006 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter for coloring the bird. (A close-up of what the bird looks like from a different angle is on the left). This turned out fabulouso in real life! A couple more touches with the punches and the ribbon, and this was a pretty easy card.

Okay, so now I am liking this layout! What else can I do? That is how the card on the right came to life. This uses the Penciled Twinks Technique from the February 2008 issue of the Newsletter to color the flower. These stamps are from Stampin' Up!. I admit it, I did change the layout just a touch, but I had to for balance's sake. I even managed to throw some Cuttlebug embossing in the mix.

I love having so many techniques at my disposal! I have produced OVER 475 step-by-step tutorials for 475 different rubber stamping techniques in the last 5-3/4 years. Without question, the Technique Junkie Newsletter has more technique tutorials than any -- ANY -- other resource on the Internet or in print. I think that is pretty cool!

Sorry about the shameless self-promoting commercial -- guess I am just in a celebratory mood today!