Handmade for the Holidays!

Strawberry Cards Forever!

If ya don't like Strawberries then hit the road! :) Don't you love justjohanna's newer fruitastic images? I can't resist them!

Before I get into these cards and other fun stuff... please know that Johanna herself, as well as several other jj team members are personally effected by the Southern California fires. So far their homes and families are safe. Please keep them in your thoughts!

Strawberries... yummy, yummy strawberries! As the weather gets colder here in chicagoland these simple and springy cards are helping to keep me warm!

The center Strawberry is cut from Origami paper. And yes, I did make that little Origami strawberry on the right (from the same paper) all by myself! But don't ask me to do it again... it was a PIMA. But if you must... THIS video will be helpful.

Once upon a time there was a ragdoll pony named Maxwell. He spent his days faithfully pulling the town's Strawberry cart up and down Main Street. Today, the mayor of Berryville just wanted to say "thanks"... or something like that. Aw heck... it's almost 3AM. Not bad for a bedtime story 'eh?

All stamps justjohanna. Colored with Copics. Little flowers on wheels by Prima.

Craft Critique Article Today...

Be sure to head over to Craft Critique today to read my post about Kitchen Sink Stamps... and maybe WIN some free stamps yourself!

Here's a sneak peek!

Hooray!

So I have a new love, and some big news! Kitchen Sink Stamps popped onto the scene not too long ago... and I immediately thought... "Yup, these are the images that will force me into the world of clear stamps". And I will be honest... I wasn't eager to go there. Like many devoted to rubber, I never felt that acrylic made a crisp enough image. In fact, as a Stampin' Up! demo, we are practically trained to dislike the clear stamp.

And then there was the Kitchen Sink... These images are so different from anything I've seen before... ok, I have have to stop myself here, before I go on and on gushing about them. I am actually writing about Kitchen Sink Stamps for Craft Critique tomorrow. I would hate to run out of material! But let me say this; I love these stamps! The quality is awesome, and they produce a wonderful image! Be sure to check out Craft Critique tomorrow morning (or really late tonight) to read more.

Anywhoo... I will cut to the chase; I was sellected to be on the new design team "the Kitchen Sink Crew"! Take a look HERE to see who else is on the team. It's a great mix of artists. A very eclectic and talented mix. Stay tuned for some new stampy art!

Yo Gabba Gabba?

Does your little one watch Yo Gabba Gabba? Mine won't... it scares him. Watch this clip to see why. And yes, that IS Elijah Wood.

Is it Turkey Day Yet?

Hey there... have you started thinking about Thanksgiving dinner yet? I have! I have guests coming and a big menu planned; brined turkey breast, roasted acorn squash, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole with gruyère cheese... Yummy!

All Stamps by Lizzie Anne Designs. Paper: Kraft, Naturals White, Wild Wasabi. Ink: Adirondack ink in Espresso. Colored with Copic Markers. I used Stitched Grosgrain ribbon in Wasabi... I sponged it with some brown ink because I thought it was too white. A hodgepodge buckle was used as embellishment.

The Stamping Rebel Within Me!

I confess... while I love the traditional, cutesy, always-dependable stampy images from Lizzie Anne Designs, A Muse and Stampin' Up! (to name a few faves), I have this WILD side within me. I do depend on the former mentioned companies to provide me with the stamps I NEED... I mean, I have to make cards for traditional occasions... but then there are stamps I WANT.

My love for justjohanna images is pretty carnal and lust filled. These are the images I would tattoo on my body or at least enlarge on the walls of my studio... if I had the time and/or disposable income. The only problem; there are too many of these wonderful images to choose from! It actually took me like 3 months to place my last order with them because I couldn't settle on my favorites. If I win the lottery (first I'd have to start to play the lottery) I would buy one of each stamp justjohanna sells.

One trait of the justjohanna images I love is that many of the little birdies and other various characters come in "flip side" versions. I think this is just marvelous... it's so fun to make the little birdies look at each other... and it really opens up some quirky design options.

(click to enlarge)

This card was stamped with Adirondack Black Ink on Whisper White and tinted with Copic Markers. All Stamps are justjohanna. The cloud border was doodled with a black glaze pen (a pen that I feel makes my doodling look more "official" due to it's embossed quality). The background is that yummy fabric paper by Love Elsie.

Oh... and a little Copic trick is featured in this card. I used a "cool gray" marker to outline the images to make 'em POP. Try it! :)

Big News From Stampin' Up!

Big changes on Stampin' Up!'s Angel Policy... effective November 15th, 2007... Read below...

"Completed, hand-stamped projects may be sold at competitive and non-competitive permanent retail locations, as well as temporary craft events, community fund-raisers, and over the internet. In selling hand stamped projects, the seller must make it clear that the items are hand-made, and not a product of the company. The seller may indicate that the supplies used are from Stampin' Up!, but the Stampin' Up! Logo may not be used in any way for the sole purpose of promoting the sale of hand-stamped projects."

All the other standard stuff applies as well... including the need to use an Angel Policy Copyright stamp from Stampin' Up! on all your handicrafts... Any demonstrator can get you the details of the Angel Policy in writing. :)

This is big news for me! I honestly just sorted out a bunch of retired stamps to sell off... now I may reconsider selling some of them... I really wanted to start an Etsy Shop soon to start selling some handmade stuff... so yay for me... and yay for you! :)

Thanks Stampin' Up!

Please Don't Leave Me!

I know... I know... I haven't posted in almost a week... plus; several of you have won prizes and are thinking... "what the hull, where's my damn prize lady!?" and I know... I know... I need to send them. I feel terrible... really.

I have been really battling allergies and illness lately... It seems like I have only had time lately to do the things I HAVE to do... not the things I WANT to do. Plus... let me tell you, World Card Making Day just about did me in! Why did I volunteer to do a challenge at midnight?

Anywhoo... You deserve SOMETHING for all your trouble right? So here is a card for ya... and please trust that I am working on SO MANY THINGS... some day I will be back "in form" and posting more regularly... but health and sleep is mucho important!

Oh... and just in case you missed it... look at this article I did for Craft Critique on Martha Stewart Crafts Tissue Paper... it's my new favorite thing. (Thanks Martha!)

Ok... so I am in lub with this new product (new to me at least) it's by 7 Gypsies... they are adhesive rub ins... called Texture Rubbing sheets.... and the corresponding product is Velvet Rubbing Sheets. You can see the full line HERE. You just rub on the adhesive like a regular ole' rub-on... and then put the velvet (or foil) sheet over the adhesive and rub that to adhere... SO MUCH better than flocking powder... but a bit limiting in comparison I suppose... but the designs they have are pretty cool.


The "happy" phrase is done with American Crafts Rub on's... and the scallop was punched from flocked paper I have had forever... sorry I don't know who makes it. Card base is Kraft paper by Stampin' Up! Notice... no stamping! Horrors!

The Winners!

Thanks to everyone who participated in my WCMD Challenge! The random winner of the collection of 6X6 papers was...

Fairle Beaman Carroll

Her entry

And the random Grand Prize Winner of my challenge; winning a "flying Al on Earth" Rubber Stamp by justjohanna is...

Renée Storch

Her entry

Please email me your addresses ladies! And thanks for playing!

World Card Making Day Challenge: Bleaching!

Thanks for visiting my challenge!

All the Design Team Challenges for justjohanna are listed HERE. You have until Midnight (Pacific time) on SUNDAY to complete the challenges! I hope you will play along!!!

Please follow along on the justjohanna forums. There are super-duper prizes to be won! You can read all the rules HERE. In addition to the wonderful prizes justjohanna is providing I will be awarding a collection of 6X6 holiday papers to one person who plays in my challenge! (randomly)

If you complete my challenge, be sure to post a link to your entry here on my blog. If you don't have a blog of your own, just post your image in the justjohanna forum galleries. You can ask me any questions you have in the justjohanna forums in my challenge thread... I will be checking it for the first couple hours! Although please try to bear with me... I am at a hotel with a spotty connection... I think I will post this and then RACE home... give me an hour or so! :)

Let's begin!

Supplies needed:

• StazOn ink or Craft Ink and embossing powder.


• A heat embossing tool.


• Bleach (I use Clorox "splashless" bleach... but any bleach will do).


• Colored Cardstock (white core cardstock is not recommended for this technique... I use Stampin' up or Bazzill Basics Cardstock myself.)


• A small paintbrush.

Step One: Stamp your image in StazOn Ink on your cardstock. If you do not have StazOn you can emboss the images on the cardstock to make them permanent.


Step Two: Use your bleach to paint inside the stamped image. Set aside to dry or speed up process with a heat tool. Different colors and brands of paper bleach out to different colors... not always white. Experiment and see what happens!


Final Step: If you'd like, tint your bleached images with other colors. In this sample I added a touch of pink to the breast of the birds with watercolor crayons. After you are done tinting... complete your card!


Here are some more samples created with Bleaching...

See how these colors bleached out sort of yellow... coolness!


I just left these birdhouses white...


Birds and hats tinted with reinkers and a brush after bleaching a light pink paper.

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

I am actually croppin' with my SIS pals in Antioch! But please visit back for my justjohanna challenge at 11:00 PM (CST).

ALSO... Be sure to visit Lizzie Anne Designs and read all about their contest, and the new stamp set being revealed today! It's on sale today only for a special price!

I hope some of you will play along in the contest... the cards are going to a wonderful cause; Cards for Cancer.

Don't forget to check back later tonight or first thing in the morning! :)

World Cardmaking Day: justjohanna Challenges!

Mark you calendars AGAIN... for October 6th. The justjohanna Design Team is hosting a FULL DAY of challenges for World Cardmaking Day! I will be hosting an 11:00 PM (CST) challenge on Bleaching Techniques. You can see all the information HERE and read about the great prizes! You may want to sign up now at the new justjohanna stamping message board so you are all ready to upload your pictures. You don't have to own/use justjohanna images to play along. And all the prizes are random... so everyone has a change at winning some fun stuff!

In addition to the fun prizes justjohanna is giving away... I will be giving an extra prize to one lucky player in my challenge! A selection of 6X6" holiday/winter papers for you to play with!

You can gather your supplies for my challenge now... hopefully this will be stuff you already have at home.

• StazOn ink or Craft Ink and embossing powder.
• A heat embossing tool.
  
• Bleach (I use Clorox "splashless" bleach... but any bleach will do).
• Colored Cardstock (white core cardstock is not recommended for this technique... I use Stampin' up or Bazzill Basics Cardstock myself.)
• A small paintbrush.
  

Also on World Cardmaking Day I will launch a special giveaway and charity card collection... a chance for all you cardmakers to GIVE back with your art and maybe win a GIANT box of goodies! Be sure to check in next weekend for the full scoop!