Sunday, February 16, 2020

A RIOT of Color (with a Little French to Keep it Classy)!


Made using Technique Junkies New Release stamp More Fabulous and stock stamp French Sentiments. Alcohol ink panel, embossed sentiment and figure, feathers, white glitter sheet and black backing.


Good luck averting your eyes from this one, my friends.

I'm not sure if you're forced to stare because of the absolute riot of color (I honestly could NOT come up with any other adjective for this...well, one that would be acceptable hereOR because, as much as you wanted to avert your eyes, you were forced to look (like the whole car accident/rubbernecking thing). 

You'll excuse me if I choose to believe you're drawn to it because it's...well...fabulously...um....fabulous. Or something.

Ok...look. I don't make many cards. I'm a mixed media/assemblage art girl. And why would I want to make cards? Have you SEEN the talent on this Design Team? Do you think I could possibly compete with these awesome ladies? 

So, the question is why even think about doing cards? The answer is that once in a blue moon, 
I start to run low on ideas for projects. The only way to stimulate (more like terrify) my creativity back into action is to fall back on card making. And for whatever reason, making 2-4 cards does the trick and I'm good for a LONG time.

I really wasn't kidding about the "terrify" part. See, I'm one of these people who freak out because there are too many choices when it comes to card making. I have a terrible time mixing layers and textures. Deciding on stamp placement and sentiments and then decorating is something that literally...and I mean literally...takes an entire day. For one card. LITERALLY.

It's hard enough to make cards when you lack proper design talent. It becomes nigh impossible when your product conspires against you.

Ribbons hate me. They know I can't tie a bow and that I have no idea when to use them or what type to use or what layer to put them under. They plot. Usually with the Sequins or Stickers or other Embellishments. Because those horrid Ribbons know that I actively look for ways to exclude them, they make sure they're tight (pun not intended but it works!) with other card making materials that I might choose in their place.

Except for Paper. The Ribbons and Paper patently ignore each other. My Paper, I suspect, has its own Teamster's Union. But only the Patterned Paper. The Textured Paper has been lobbying for Union representation, but they simply don't have enough to vote it in. Ever since I used the last of the Wood Textured Paper for flooring miniatures and overcame my fear of Burlap Paper (I went on a binge of creating panels for Fall cards) they just haven't had the numbers. The Plain Paper has pretty much just given up. It knows its too easy to replace with Patterned and Textured Paper, so it just sits silently in the corner. Unhelpful, perhaps, but at least not actively working against me.

I won't even get into Flower Soft, which is so subversive and hateful that just getting up my nose and into my hair is never enough. It works its way through the air vents (along with Glitter, with whom it has an on again/off again relationship of terror) but it also clogs up my printer, ruins my glue and infiltrates my ink pads.

Oh...goodness. I have really jumped the tracks here, haven't I? My apologies. Let me get back to card making for a bit.

Here is my second card using the new release stamp Advice from a Giraffe


I stamped the sentiment over and over on the Graphic 45 Safari paper then embossed it. I triple stamped the giraffe with three different browns, then fussy cut and placed in the exact same place as it is on the stamp using mounting tape. I fussy cut some pieces of the map, along with a border and popped them up as well. 

Thanks for hanging in there with me. Seriously. I totally know how you feel. I didn't think it was going to end, either.

BUT...for your patience and forgiveness, I'm offering you 10% off EVERYTHING on the Technique Junkies website. That's right...I said it. 10% off EVERYTHING. Just use the code TJ10Carmen
One more time:

Good to see you again! And watch out for that Flower Soft.
Kk


Because it would be foolish to believe I'm the only one it's conspiring against.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Technique Junkies NEW RELEASE Blog Hop BEADING BOX Party Favor


Welcome!!!

The 1st is always so exciting for me!

And no...it's not because it's payday! It's because the 1st is ALWAYS Technique Junkies NEW RELEASE day!! 

Alright. And because it's payday. But with money I can buy more stamps! Wow. Someone is awfully judgmental. 

Okay. Okay. And maybe I'll do some Amazon-ing, Ebay and Etsy-ing, along with other "ing's" but that's all. All that I'm going to admit to, that is. So let's move along, people.

It all started with a phone call.

My friend Jeanette asked if I could think of any original party favors for her 12yo daughter's birthday party. We discussed it for a bit and when we hung up, I had the idea for a beading box.

I took an Altoids tin and painted it with several coats of white gesso. Using a thin but sturdy chipboard, I made dividers then glued them into place. I found a piece of fabric to place in the top so the beads wouldn't roll around while trying out designs. Lastly, I filled the box with various beads and beading cord (all I had on hand was black, but I would've used several different colors).



On the outside, I used not one but TWO different New Release stamps! 

Hmmm...I guess that number would really be one and a half.

I used the Raining Confetti stamp in 3 different colors on the outside of the tin and I have to tell you it came out even more spectacular than I envisioned! I LOVE THIS STAMP!!!



Then, I took the More Fabulous stamp, embossed the woman and cut her out. Using gold and blue microbeads, I decorated her hat and dress. 

Spoiler alert: This is the !/2 on the 1-1/2 stamps I used, if you haven't already figured it out.



I finished up with feathers and findings and simply wallowed in the sheer abuse of color and texture that I heaped on this unsuspecting tin and you, the visitor. Not that I'm sorry. 

However, let me TRY to make it up to you! Technique Junkies is, as always, offering 15% off New Releases until the 8th-no coupon code needed.

BUT-I will offer you an additional 10% off with MY special coupon code HERE


That's 10% off EVERYTHING at Technique Junkies...including New Releases! So order by the 8th and get the 15% off, plus an additional 10% off with my code.

While you're at it, since it's a blog hop, please show some love by visiting my VERY talented sistahs:

Ceal Pritchett
Holly Brown
Lynda Pleckan