Hearts Like Dogs

Did you see this adorable puppy in this month's Technique Junkies release?  I love puppies so I just HAD to have this stamp, which is called Hearts Like Dogs.  I stamped it with a gray ink, and then I stamped it again onto a sticky note.  After I cut out the dog on the sticky note, I used it as a mask by sticking it down over my original stamped image.  Then I placed the Circle Mosaic stencil over the masked image and very lightly brushed some gray ink around the sides and the top of the dog.  When I was satisfied with the stenciling, I removed the stencil and the mask and adhered the stamped/stenciled piece to a gray card base.

Did you see the new ink blending brushes in the Technique Junkies store?  They are super soft and they work beautifully to apply ink over stencils.  You can see how my stenciled mosaic fades out on my card.  Those brushes are magical!!

Glittery and Fabulous

Look at all that gorgeous glitter!   I'm swooning over how colorful and glittery this card is.  I used the fun new Psychedelic Swirls stencil from A Colorful Life Designs along with some glitter paints from Technique Junkies to create this sparkly background.  

You may think I used a multicolored paint on this, but no.  I actually used three different colors of paint, and when I scraped each layer of excess paint off the top of the stencil, it mixed with the paint that was already on the card.  I think it adds a fabulous touch to these funky swirls.  You can see the individual colors of Rose, Violet, and Blue Caraibe glitter paints when you look at the swirls.

If you're a glitteraholic like me, you want to get your hands on that paint.  Check out all the glitter paints at Technique Junkies and fill up your cart.  I couldn't pick just one, so I got em all!  LOL  Use this code, TJ10Holly, to save when you shop at Technique Junkies.

Check out A Colorful Life Designs to get this Psychedelic Swirls stencil and fill up your cart with all their awesome stencils.  Feel free to use this code, HollyFan10, to save money at A Colorful Life Designs.  Stay tuned to see some gorgeous new holiday stencils next month!!

Alien Hello

This little peeper is just adorable, isn't he?  He is part of a great new stencil from A Colorful Life Designs called Little Peepers.  There are several adorable characters on this stencil so you can create all kinds of fun scenes.  I stenciled this guy with some black ink and then I cut a little mask to put over his eyes.  Then I stenciled the Stretchy Lines with a purple berry ink for the background.  These two were just made to go together.  I added the little die cut sentiment and now it's ready to mail.

Check out all the great stencils over at A Colorful Life Designs.  Be sure to use my code, HollyFan10, to save 10% off your order.  Enjoy your weekend!

Watercolored TJ Pumpkin

 Even though it's still hot and humid here in Texas, I've been making all kinds of fall-themed cards.  Today I'm sharing my watercolored pumpkin with a handmade plaid background.    I stamped the Pumpkin from Technique Junkies with a dark green permanent ink onto watercolor paper.  After it was completely dry, I watercolored the image with Daniel Smith watercolor paints.  While that was drying, I started thinking about making my own plaid background with the same green color that I used on the pumpkin leaves.

So I used another piece of watercolor paper and three different sizes of brushes to draw the plaid lines.  The green paint is called Green Apatite Genuine from Daniel Smith, and it's perfect for a rustic handmade background.  I cut the piece down to fit onto a card and then wrapped some brown ribbon around it.  The pumpkin was cut with an oval die and affixed to the card.  

This month's Technique Junkies release is full of wonderful fall-themed stamps.  You can check them out here.  Feel free to use my code, TJ10Holly, when you shop at Technique Junkies.  

Stenciled Autumn Pumpkins

Happy Friday!  I'm back with another stenciled card to share with you today.  I'm also sharing the step-by-step instructions on how I created these pumpkins so you can try it as well. All the stencils are from A Colorful Life Designs and I used kraft cardstock and kraft ink for a soft autumnal monochromatic look.

Supplies needed are: 

Marvelous Masks Pumpkin stencils (set of 4 different sizes)

Teeny Harlequin stencil

Mosaic Sun stencil

Leaf Lattice stencil

kraft ink pad

kraft cardstock

sponge

low tack tape - optional

Step 1: Place the Teeny Harlequin stencil over the kraft cardstock.  Tape the 

stencil in place if desired.

Step 2: Place the smallest pumpkin stencil over the Teeny Harlequin stencil.  Tape

 the stencil in place if desired.

Step 3: Ink up the sponge and press it over the stencils.  Repeat until entire pumpkin is covered with ink.  Note: I simply pressed the ink down, reinked and pressed, over and over.  I did not rub the sponge over the stencils.  You get a much sharper edge by just inking straight down over the stencils.

Step 4: Remove the stencils and cut the pumpkin out with scissors.  Use as desired.

 For my card, I sponged some additional kraft ink onto the edges of the pumpkins as well as the bottom of my card.  Some linen thread was tied around the pumpkin stems and the sentiment was stamped with the same kraft ink.

I hope you try this quick and easy technique this weekend.  Feel free to use my code, HollyFan10, when you go shopping at A Colorful Life Designs.  Go stock up on some great new stencils and have fun!  

Pan Pastel Skeleton Leaf

I know today is Monday, but I couldn't resist sharing this card with y'all today.  See that skeleton leaf stencil?  That's one of the new stencils from this month's release over at A Colorful Life Designs.  It's such a great stencil, full of detail and fine lines.  

My card is actually an "oops" kind of card.  I had some pan pastels that I bought over a year ago, so I thought I'd give them a try with this stencil.  I spread them directly over the Skeleton Leaf stencil onto some smooth white cardstock.  After I took the stencil off, I brushed off the excess pastels, and that was when I learned that I shouldn't use smooth white paper with pan pastels.  Most of the color brushed away and I lost some of the definition and fine lines of the stencil.  

Now I know I should cover the card with Versamark first and then put the stencil on and apply the pastels.  My friend Dina suggested using a cardstock with more tooth, such as watercolor paper or drawing paper.  That would help trap the pastels so they don't brush away.  I will definitely try this next time I play with the pan pastels.

Even though this is not the look I was going for, I still like this faded, bokeh-ish, muted background.  I stamped the sentiment from Technique Junkies' Autumn set with some Acorn Versafine Clair ink and tied some copper organdy ribbon around the top.  This just goes to show you that even though something doesn't turn out the way you expect, you can still make something beautiful.

Head on over to A Colorful Life Designs and pick up this Skeleton Leaf stencil and show me what you create with it.  Use this code, HollyFan10, to save 10% when you go shopping.  

While you're in a shopping mood, pick up some stamps from Technique Junkies to go with your stencils.  The code, TJ10Holly, will save you an extra 10% off your order there.  

Harvest Flowers Thanks

Happy Friday!  I'm back with another stenciled card to share with y'all today.  Have you seen the new September release from A Colorful Life Designs?  There are some awesome new stencils in the store, and this is one of them.  I used the new Harvest Flowers stencil and sponged some warm fall colors over it.  I love the little glow around the flower and leaves. 

The inks are all Distress Oxide inks, and I used Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain.  I used some little finger daubers with the little rounded dome of foam/sponge on the tip to apply the inks.  That gives me more control over where the colors go on a detailed stencil like this.  I added the sentiment die cut (from Altenew) in a darker shade of green. 

Go check out the great new stencils over in the A Colorful Life Designs store.  You will find lots of fun Halloween-themed stencils from this month's release along with this beautiful Harvest Flowers stencil.  Be sure to use this code, HollyFan10, to save 10% when you shop at A Colorful Life Designs.  Happy shopping!

September Release - Technique Junkies

All of the September 2019 New Release stamps are 15% off through September 8th.

We can all use a little bargain, right?
No codes needed, just put them in your shopping cart and the discount will be applied at checkout.

How about an additional 10% off at Technique Junkies?
That’s 25% off the New September release!
Use code TJ10Holly

This release has a lot of wonderful fall themed stamps to get you in the mood for those cooler days where the leaves change color and the apples come into their perfect ripeness for picking.  I love the fall season and I'm so ready for the cooler temperatures to arrive here in Texas.  These 100+ degree days are making me melt!

For my first card today, I used the beautiful new Autumn Framed Sentiments set.  I stamped everything with Rich Cocoa Memento ink and colored the leaves with yellow, rust, and earthy brown Copic markers.  I added some copper washi tape to frame the sentiment without adding extra layers to the card.

This second card was a true joy to create.  I stamped this Modern Foliage background with Nocturne Versafine Clair ink onto some watercolor paper.  Then I pulled out my Daniel Smith watercolor paints and let my mind wander as I painted this background.  I love all the different colors of yellow, orange, green, brown, and red on these leaves.  It's perfect with this new sentiment called Leaves Turn.

Have fun checking out what the rest of the team has created with the new September release.  

Technique Junkies blog

Beth Norman-Roberts

Ceal Pritchett

Giovana Smith

Holly Brown

Janine Tinklenberg

Jeanne Streiff

Judy Jackson

Kia Gibson

Lee Ann Barrett

Lynda Pleckan

Pat Huntoon

Ro Donner

Stephanie Severin