BUTTERFLY BEAUTY IN MIXED MEDIA

Hey there, TJ peeps!!! 

I'm still playing with the fabulous new stamps from the March Release!  This one is called Butterfly Beauty and it truly is!  I've used a lot of product from the Technique Junkies Store on this card, all links are provided.  

I started layering wet Distress Oxide Inks on watercolor paper drying each layer before adding the next.  I splattered water around the panel to achieve more dimension.  

The butterfly was then stamped on the panel with a waterproof ink and painted it with a yellow Inktense Pencil. Using some green Distress Oxide Inks, I sponged Flowing Drops Stencil from A Colorful Life onto some areas in the background.  

Using the TJ Stamp "Faint Scratches" , with the same waterproof ink I used to stamp the butterfly, I stamped it around the background for another layer and more texture and dimension.  

The sentiment "One Must Live" was also stamped in the same waterproof ink.  

For final details, I painted Shimmering Bliss "Harvest Sunset" on the inside of the butterfly's wings....I just loved this look, and made little dots with my white gel pen.  

All the products I have listed and linked here can be purchased at a full 10% discount by using my personal code TJ10CHERI.  In fact, that discount code can be used on all stamps in the store and some supplies. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you found some creative inspiration while you were here.  

PLAYING WITH MY BRUSHOS

Hey there Junkies,

I've been inking up my fingers (literally) lately with my Brusho pigment ink powders....they are such fun to play with and create awesome backgrounds.  If you have them, you know what I'm talking about.  

This card was so much fun to make....

I used Strathmore Watercolor paper (cold press, 140#) for the first time.  I bought a 9x12 pad from ACMoore recently when they had a sale and this pad was only $5.00. I thought I couldn't lose at that price.  I've never used it before and was really pleased with the performance and the amount of water it could take without warping.  I'm not an expert in watercoloring, but for the price, this was great paper to use with the Brushos.  

I first gave the watercolor panel a good wash with clean water before sprinkling on the pigment powders, it allowed the crystals to "move".  If more water was needed, I spritzed it with water.  I added each color separately, and they blended very well.  

The stamp I'm using for this is #SD716 "Something Will Grow".  I love the sentiment that is attached to this floral image, and the bg certainly shows off that stamp well, I think.  I splattered some watered down black acrylic paint once the panel was dry and that finished off the design.  So easy, but I love it.  

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you can get your own hands inky soon!  

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Hello Junkies!!!!  

It's Valentine's Day - a day for love!  *sigh*

I'm one of those "animal lovers" and as a stamper and card creater, I can't begin to tell you how many cards I've created with animals on them.  Animals bring such joy into our lives and without them, life just doesn't seem quite right.

I fell in love with this new stamp from Technique Junkies and the February 2017 Release.  It makes such a perfect CAS Valentine's card that I had to show it off on my blog today.  

The stamp is "Pugs and Kisses" and is so adorable.  I stamped it on kraft cardstock with VersaFine black ink, highlighted his toes, tail and nose with my white gel pen, added a heart die border (also cut from kraft cs).  I used the same die to cut it out in white and red card stock and used those heart pieces as inlays for the kraft border. 

I'm entering this in the Cupcake Inspiration challenge which is sponsored by Stamplourations.  Check it out.  

I hope you all have a fabulous Valentine's Day!!! 

Pugs and Kisses,

PLAYING WITH YUPO PAPER

Hello Junkies!  

I've been having some fun playing with yupo paper.  If you don't know, yupo paper is a "plastic paper", (now that's an oxymoron).  It's non-porous and in our world of papercrafts it's used mostly with alcohol inks and markers for making backgrounds.   I've found several tutorials on YouTube and thought I'd get out my plastic gloves and see what I could create.  

(You definitely want plastic gloves while playing around with a variety of alcohol inks, it can be very messy, and I found, when the alcohol ink got on my fingers, it dried the skin around my cuticles.) 

You can heat set yupo paper with your heat gun, but you must keep it moving and not hold it in one place too long, otherwise, (remember this is plastic), you'll have a shrinky dink card.  (I know this to be true, LOL).  

The inks you'll want to use for stamping on yupo should be Stazon or Archival Inks.  In my card, I used Ranger black Archival ink.  Beside the alcohol inks, you'll need some 91% alcohol for helping you move the ink around the paper.  

Also, you'll want to seal background piece, when you're ready to use it.  Alcohol inks, can be reactivated unless you seal it.  I used a light coat of Kamar Varnish, which I purchased at ACMoore craft store.  

My card uses TJ Stamps #S661 "Growing Wild" and #SDX083 "In My Prayers".  

Here's another example of playing with yupo that I posted on my blog last week.

For one more day, you can grab the Technique Junkie February release stamps at a 15% discount. You don't need a code, it will calculate upon check out.  Easy peasy.  

I hope you get some crafting time today - it's fun there.  

TECHNIQUE JUNKIES FEBRUARY RELEASE

HI THERE JUNKIES,  (Note:  I have two posts today.  If you're looking for my project of the week for Repeat Impressions, please go to the next post)
  
Welcome to the February 2017 New Stamp Release blog hop for Technique Junkies!!!! 

For your shopping pleasure, Pat is offering a 15% off all of these new stamps from now until February 8, 2017 and the discount will show up in your shopping cart.  

If you didn't start this hop at the Technique Junkies Blog you can link back and see the beginning - If you did and you came here from the incredibly talented TJ Designer Lanette Erickson you're in the correct order and on your way.... Didn't you love Lanette's creation?  Don't miss any blogs...we all have different stamps to show off and you'll have a blast seeing all these creations.  

Here are a few cards I made with some of the new stamps.  First up, I made this card combining two of the new stamps, Throw Kindness and Calligraphy Loops.  I used Copic Markers to color in all the loops and used my glitter gel pens to color the tiny confetti specs.  I love these two stamps combined together.  

My next card just tickles me....that face...those hair curlers...the wackiness...who's not smiling? Kitty in Curlers is absolutely a way to bring happiness and lightheartedness to any one's day.  I decided to try some no line coloring with Copics on this image and while I think I still need some practice (okay...lots of practice) just that face...cracks me up.  

Do these two look like a cat couple?  LOL....another cute, cute, stamp from this release and I love the cat humor.  I used two stamps from the February Release for this Downtown Boy Kitty and Talking To You in the background.  This image makes me think of an old black and white gangstah movie and he could play the part of the newspaper reporter or gangstah.  Again, my technique was no line coloring with Copic Markers and I used a grey tone on tone in order to produce a "newspaper" sort of look for the bg.   

I hope you've had some fun here today, thanks so much for stopping by.  Now head on over to my friend and TJ teamie, Kathy Stacy.  I know she's going to rock your creative world.  

Here's the entire blog hop list for your convenience.  

Design Team Blog: http://techniquejunkies.blogspot.com
Lanette Erickson: http://stacksofscraps.blogspot.com
Cheri Weston: http://stampnboomer.blogspot.com (you're here)
Kathy Stacy: https://craftynurse4u.wordpress.com
Ro Donner: http://rodonner.blogspot.com/
Beth Norman: http://www.sunflowers-dragonflies.ca
Pam DeChellis: http://journeyawakensthesoul.blogspot.com/
Judy Jackson: http://judysstampart.blogspot.com
Pat Huntoon: http://patstamps.blogspot.com

I hope you have some crafty fun today,

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE

Hey there Junkies!  

Thought I would do a quick post today with a card that I recently made with one of the new stamps from the January 2017 release from Technique Junkies.  

I found a way to use up some scraps I'd been testing some Distress Ink sponging on by making it into a string of different size banners for a background for the sentiment stamp "Unicorns and Sparkly".  I took the same Distress Ink colors and went around the scalloped circle die that I cut around the sentiment.  After layering them on some colored cardstock, I added some sequins for a little sparkle.  I highlighted the words Unicor and Sparkly with my Sakura Gelly Roll pens.  

That's it!  A quick post, but I hope it inspires you to find ways to use your scraps. 

Thanks for stopping by.

3D BACKGROUND STAMPING

Hey there Junkies!!! 

I'm here with a really fun technique for you to try.  I don't know if it's been done before, however, it "just happened" at my craft table as I was stamping today and I loved the results.  

I started with a piece of Valentine designer paper from a 6x6 "American Crafts" pad I bought for $2.50 at AC Moore (I think). It's hard for me to pass up a deal on paper.

Anyway, I put the paper in my MISTI and using this new background stamp from Technique Junkies January Release, called "Love Overlay", I first stamped it with a dye ink called "Raspberry Jam" by Hero Arts. Without moving my stamp, I cleaned it and then moved the paper over to the left about 1/8". This time I stamped with Memento Black Tuxedo ink. Once more, I cleaned the stamp, after making sure the ink was dry, I then brushed anti static powder over the paper, moved the paper over another 1/8".  This time I used VersaMark ink and after stamping with it, I sprinkled Ranger Queens Gold ep over the paper and heat embossed it.  Next I used a stitched frame die to cut out the image and then sponged Distress Inks, Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick and Spun Sugar on the panel.  

I adhered it to a card layer of "Eggplant" cs (by GKD).  I absolutely loved how that bg stamp showed itself off with this technique.  It looks so dimensional but it's only one layer!  

To finish the card, I die cut the word "Love" several time in the "eggplant" cs (A Savvy Stamp Die) and in gold paper.  I layered them one on top of the other and layered that against a banner die from MFT, also cut in "eggplant" cs. 

I hope you grab yourself some crafting time today....it's fun there! 

   

JANUARY 2017 NEW RELEASE BLOG HOP WITH TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!   (Note:  I have two posts today.  If you're looking for my project of the week for Repeat Impressions, please go to the next post)
  
Welcome to the January 2017 New Stamp Release blog hop for Technique Junkies!!!! 

For your shopping pleasure, Pat is offering a 15% off all of these new stamps from now until January 9, 2017 and the discount will show up in your shopping cart.  

If you didn't start this hop at the Technique Junkies Blog you can link back and see the beginning - If you did and you came here from the incredibly talented TJ Designer Lanette Erickson you're in the correct order and on your way.... Didn't you love Lanette's creation?  Don't miss any blogs...we all have different stamps to show off.  

Here are a couple of cards I made with some of my new stamps.  

Growing up (and even now), one of my most favorite shows was I Love Lucy.  I loved it so much I bought the VCR tapes back in the day and, while those tapes are long gone, I still watch reruns whenever I see them.  I don't think there'll ever be another Lucy.  (Except I have to make a note here....my 2 year old granddaughter's name is Lucy).  

The focal stamp is called "Be a Lucy", and she was stamped with an Archival "Sepia" ink on white cs.  Don't you love that message?  I'll be doing much more with this stamp in the future.  

After stamping the background stamp "Love Overlay" on watercolor paper with VersaMark then heat embossing it with white embossing powder to create a resist, I used Distress Inks to get a watercolor look.  The "bow" is a die from "Twine and Bows" from Pretty Pink Posh.  

The bg technique I created for this card is similar to the one above.  Using the "Love Script" stamped with Versamark ink, on watercolor paper, then heat embossed with white embossing powder to create a resist.  Next, I used my Spectrum Aqua pens to add color to various areas of the panel by simply scribbling then spritzing with water and letting the colors mingle. It didn't take much ink to get these results. 

On a coral colored scrap piece of cs, I stamped "Unicorns and Sparkly" in VersaMark and again heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I cut a window in the bg panel with my Stitched Heart Layer dies from Memory Box and again using those dies, I cut the sentiment and a scrap piece of sparkly paper and layerd those inside the window.  

For both cards I used a die from MFT Blueprints 27 to cut the bg panels.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Now head on over to my friend and TJ teamie, Kathy Stacy.  I know she's going to rock your creative world.  

BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE

Hello Junkies!!! 

Well, one year ends and another will soon begin.  I hope you all had a blessed and healthy 2016 and I wish you all that much and more in 2017.  

I fell in love with this stamp "Bring Your Own Sunshine" when I first saw it in the TJ March 2016 release.  I loved the simplicity of it and thought it could take on many background ideas.  

I dragged out my POSCA Markers and had some fun.  My inspiration came from this image I found on Wayfair.  I've seen a technique called crayon melting to achieve this look on canvas, but I thought I'd try it with the markers and while the look is different, I liked the results.  Plus, it was fun playing with the markers!  

Here are two cards I made using this inspiration and my Posca markers.  

I used some Distress Inks to sponge the bg for the stamp after stamping it with VersaFine black and heat embossing it with clear embossing powder.  I splattered the bg with water drops then blotted them up with a paper towel to get the watery marks.  The bg is simply scribbling in various colors with the markers.  I really do love those pens.  They're acrylic paint in a pen and they're so much fun to play with.

Same idea for this card, except I colored the boots with some Copic markers to make them pop. As you can see, I used the pens to emulate the inspiration piece itself.  

On Monday, January 1, Technique Junkies will be releasing NEW stamps for January 2017.  There will be a blog hop starting at the Technique Junkies Blog and a big discount on the new stamps. You don't want to miss it.   

Have a crafty day and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

INK SWIRLS

Hello Junkies, 

I'm here with a quick post...I wanted to show you a really easy and fun technique that I discovered while playing with my Technique Junkies stamps today.  I'm not claiming this is my technique....I'm sure someone some where has done this....It just came to me while playing with my inks today.

This is the same technique for both cards, just using different colored inks....who doesn't want to find new ways to use all those colored inks we have in our stash???  

Check it out.  The stamps I used for both cards was #SD611 "To The Moon" and #S656 "Celestial Dangles". 

The technique I used for this might be called soft and swipe.  I first inked the bg stamp with a light color dye ink then before stamping it on a white card base, I swiped a darker  shade of the same color family on the lighter ink, then stamped it.  I used my MISTI, so once I'd stamped the first time, I then took the lighter ink and (didn't clean the stamp) inked it up again and stamped over the image.  It popped the color amazingly.  For an additional touch, I took my Delicata Silver Shimmery pigment ink and swiped it down (vertically) across the entire panel.  I don't think the photo shows the incredible look of this, but it's quite gorgeous in real life.  For a final touch I added some sequins for sparkle and shine.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Head to the TJ Pinterest page and load up with inspiration.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Crafty New Year!  

DAY 29 OF 30 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS AT TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

Hello everyone!!!! 

There's still one more day to get that 25% off all the awesome Christmas stamps that Technique Junkies has in their store, grab them while you can and enjoy the discount!  

It's been 30 days full of inspiration and creativity by the TJDT and I've enjoyed each and every one.  

For my last post during this event, I have some bookmarks to show you and a card.

This is a front and back shot of the bookmarks.  I used some coordinating scrap pieces of design paper to cover the backs.  The stamps I used for the bookmarks is SS029 "Christmas Words" set of 4 stamps.  The technique to create them is the easy white embossed image and sponging Distress Inks over the image to create a resist. Adding some water splatters to the sponged ink gave them a "vintage" look.  I like these as card inserts for Christmas cards to special friends.  

The face on this puppy just cracks me up.  Another easy card.  The background was splattered with white acrylic paint and once dry, I sprayed with some glimmer spray. I stamped "Ho, Ho, Ho Dog" on 80# white cardstock with Archival black ink using my Misti.  In order to get a good coverage, I stamped it 3 times...I wanted him to pop right off the cs.  I made a mask and covered him while I sponged a bg with Distress Ink.  I again splattered some water and soaked it up with paper towels then heat dried it.  I decided to add some "snow" to match the red bg, so I took my white pen and dotted it in the bg.  I used Copics to color his scarf and paper pieced his hat with some red glittery paper.  To frame him, I used MFT stitched arch Stax.  As a final touch, I added some sequins to the bg and some glossy accents to his nose and eyes.

There you have it!!!!  I hope I've inspired you and I hope you don't miss grabbing youself some of these fabulous stamps.  

Cheers!

MORE 30 DAYS OF CHIRSTMAS FROM TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

Hey there, blog friends....have you been following the 30 Days of Christmas event over at the Technique Junkies blog?  

There has been a daily post full of TJ Christmas stamps (which you can still purchase for 25% off your entire order) and techniques.  

I wanted to show you two of those stamps in this post and my creations with them.  

This card was super simple to create (you gotta love those).  Stamped with VersaMark, sprinkled with silver embossing powerder then heat set.  I then placed the panal in a embossing folder (Musical Flourishes from CuttleBug) and layered it on a accent layer then on the card base.  The stamp is "Peace on Earth Dove".

This card was another easy one.  The image was stamped on white cs, colored with copics and as I did with the other one, I embossed it with Swiss Dots ef.  I used a set of Spellbinder ovals to cut windows and the focal image and assembled the card.  I added some Glossy Accents to the berries, which gave them added demension.  This stamp is a wonderful CAS stamp.  It's called "Mistletoe".

Hard to believe that Christmas Day is only 19 days away....

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Enjoy your week!!!

CHRISTMAS COW

Hello Junkies!!!  It's almost Christmas and I'm here celebrating 30 Days of Christmas with you and my 'bovine' party animal!!!  The celebration goes until December 14.

I used my artistic license to transform the giraffe in this "Safari Santa" stamp 

into a cow!  As a matter of fact, a holstein cow.  I'm sure it was sketched and designed to be a giraffe due to the title, so I hope I don't insult the artist.  I just couldn't help myself.  We live on a farm, and while we don't have livestock (including cows) of our own, each summer my husband's cousin uses our farmland to graze some if his holsteins.  So, I saw a cow in this stamp.  

I used Copic Markers to color this entire image, including the blue sky background.  I don't know if the photo shows the Wink of Stella highlights I put on the hat and furry cuff, but it really gives it a gimmery touch.  After framing it with brushed gold cs using a stitched square frame die, both are from MFT, I mounted that layer on a barn red cs layer I'd embossed to look like a barn.  I then punched out some snowflakes and stars in glitter paper to add as random embellishments.  The sentiment is Merry Christmas 2, which was stamped in VersaMark and then heart embossed with white ep.  

I hope you're finding as much inspiration from the 30 Days of Christmas as I am. And don't miss the 25% off all Christmas Stamps from now until December 14.  

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to stop by tomorrow when Ro will continue the celebration.  

O HOLY NIGHT AT 30 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS AT TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

Hey there, Junkies!!!  

I'm here with a new post for the 30 Days of Christmas that's happening at Technique Junkies Blog until December 14.  

There's a BIG 25% OFF SALE going on right now for any of the stamps in their Christmas catagory....you don't want to miss it, there are some truly fabulous Christmas stamps in this collection.  

Here's a card I made that I'd like to share with you using the "Stars Are Brightly Shining" stamp

I thought the "galaxy" technique might work with this stamp, so I gave it a shot and I loved it.  I used Distress Inks to achieve my bg.  After drying the base, I inked up with VersaMark to stamp the image before sprinking white embossing powder over it and heat embossing.  I then used my Viva Gitter Pen to add some sparkle to the bg.

I hope you're enjoying the 30 days of Christmas.  Now go enjoy some shopping and add some incredible Christmas stamps to your collection. 

30 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS AT TECHNIQUE JUNKIES BLOG

Hello Junkies....Welcome to the start of 30 Days of Christmas

Every day from today through December 15, the Technique Junkies Design Team will be posting a Holiday-themed project to this blog to inspire your creative muse! I am happy to be kicking off the festivities.

  Since becoming a "Junkie" and a subscriber to the awesome "Technique Junkie Newsletter" many years ago, I have saved each and every copy.  Often, throughout those years I've refer back to them for all sorts of ideas.  Even my own ideas come to me after reading and re-reading the techniques in these newsletters.  

I have many 'favorite' techniques in those newsletters, and one of them is Vintage Art. (TJ Newsletter June/July 2011).  I thought the 'Pinecones' stamp from the October 2016 relase was a perfect stamp for this technique, so I gave it a try and I loved it!  

 To stamp the image, I used black Archival Ink and sponged the bg using the recommended inks and colors in the tutorial.   After sponging, I used my white gel pen to highlight the edges of the pinecones.  This was truly an easy card to create.  For an elegant finishing touch, I framed it with MFT 'Brushed Gold Cardstock', the 'Stitched Rectangle Frame' also from MFT.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you have a crafty day!  Keep following the TJ blog each day for the entire month and you'll see some amazging techniques and Christmas cards.  

EMBOSSED CHRISTMAS CARD

Hello blog friends!!! 

I wanted to show you a Christmas card I created with one of the new Technique Junkies Chistmas stamps from the October 2016 Release.  

I LOVE how this turned out and it's one that would be so easy to recreate and make multiples of.  

This is a double embossing technique.  I first stamped the image in VersaMark watermark ink on a light blue card panel, then heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  Using a embossing folder I've had for many years, that has the image of a Chirstmas tree on it, I centered the panel in the folder and ran it through my embossing machine.  To give it more detail, I added some Wink of Stella around the image...it gave it some depth. So easy!!!   

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you get some time to get inky this week!!! 

NOVEMBER RELEASE FOR TECHNIQUE JUNKIES

Hello everyone!!!   


I'm so super excited!  This is my first new release blog hop for Technique Junkies!!!! Except for the month of December, each 1st of the month there's a new group of stamps to showcase and this is the November Release.  

For your shopping pleasure, Pat is offering a 15% off all November release stamps from 11-1 to 11-08-16. Discount will show up in your shopping cart.  

If you didn't start this hop at the Technique Junkies Blog you can link back and see the beginning - If you did and you came here from the incredibly talented TJ Designer Lanette Erickson you're in the correct order and on your way.... Didn't you love Lanette's creation?  Don't miss any blogs...we all have different stamps to show off.  

My first card uses "Survive Together".  I think this is a great stamp to make cards for a new beginning...or an anniversary card...or a reconciliation.    

Sponging and stenciling a background with Distress Inks, I stamped the image with black VersaFine ink and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I used my white gel pen to fill in the words that seemed to disappear after embossing.  I framed it with MFT "In and Out Diagonal Stitch" die.  

I used two of the November Release stamps for this card - "Tea Time"  and "Like a Tea Cup".  To make this card I first stamped the bg "Tea Time" onto vellum with VersaMark and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I then colored the backside of the image with Copic markers and mounted it on a white cs layer.  I discovered if you use an ATG gun around the edges of the vellum and then run it through a stitched die, it not only hides the vellum, it also adheres the vellum to the cs.  (it was a WOW moment).  The focal image is stamps with Memento Black Tuxedo ink and colored with Copic markers and then die cut using Label One Spellbinder dies.  I used my white gel pen to highlight the tea cups.  This brought the two images together.

My third card depicts the words of one of my all time favorite songs by Louis Armstrong "Wonderful World".  I was beside myself when I saw this stamp in the collection of stamps that Pat so generously sent me for this release.  

A technique I used here is inking an embossing folder with "Tumbled Glass" Distress Ink, then inserting white cs layer inside the folder and running it through the embossing machine which transfers the ink to the cs.  I used the image to create background for a shaker card, adding a few sequins I had on hand. The embossing folder is from Darice, and I used "Puffy Clouds" die from Memory Box for a simple embellishment.  

Tucked inside my soul is my admiration for and attraction to trees.  Especially those trees that stand and weather the raw winters we have here in the northeast.  I snowshoe and XCski back in the woods and I can tell you, if you stand still and listen it sounds like they're speaking to each other. The stamp used here is "Creaking Trees"  

To create the background, I used a technique adding strips of color with baby wipes and Distress Inks.  After drying the background panel, I stamped the image in Archival black ink and once that was dry, I added VersaMark to the entire panel then covered it with clear embossing powder and heat embossed it.  I added a second layer of the VersaMark and ep and again heat embossed.  This gives it a beautiful glossy finish.  
  
Okay I'm done....now onto the blog of another incredible TJ designer Karen McAlpine.

If you lose your place here's the blog line up.

Design Team Blog
Lanette Erickson

Cheri Weston - YOU ARE HERE
Karen McAlpine
Kathy Stacy

Ro Donner
Beth Norman
Pam DeChellis
Judy Jackson
Tonya Davidson
Pat Huntoon

Thanks so much for stopping by and one more note......mark your calendar for November 15-December 15, when you can celebrate "30 Days of Christmas" with Technique Junkies Design Team.  

Happy hopping!!!