The Christmas Crafting Groove

I am busy getting into the groove for Christmas! My table is filled with Christmas supplies as I have been working on cards from Jennifer McGuire's Holiday Thinking Inking inspiration at 2 Peas. She posts a video weekly with 3 different projects. I have been trying to learn the techniques from each video. Here is a sampling of what I am creating...

Watercolor inking techniques-


Playing with distress ink-kissing stamps

Background-inking acrylic stamp block and misting-stamping on watercolor paper




Distress ink play with embossing powders-

Double resist background

Sticky back canvas

Alcohol ink ornament

Acetate cards-

Time for making Christmas presents

Yippy, I finally made a stamped candle!

For years I have seen this popular but stamped item but I have never tried. Well like everyone who has made them has said, "they are very easy!" Yes, this is my first candle-no draft versions in the trash. I reviewed Anne Gaal's photo tutorial and watched a U-tube video. Basically one stamps on tissue paper and colors as desired and may even emboss parts like I did with the snowflakes. Cut out the design lay it on the candle and wrap it with parchament paper. Heat with heat gun and magic it is complete. Oh, okay you can also embellish after finished too. Anne suggested inexpensive candles are best and that worked for me. Hope you too give one a try this season. If you have some time today both Anne at Gaal Creative and Tami over at the Fiskateer's blog are sponsonsoring challenges so you can enter a photo of your candle.

Happy Stamping!...Jan

Stamptoberfest and inky fun!

The last two weeks I have been busy playing the challenges at 2 peas's Stamptoberfests and at the same time getting a start on my seasonal cards. It is an annual event in which I host a challenge and I spend many hours getting my stamps inky. At the being of the event our weather turned abruptly to winter...a tad later than usual but nonetheless winter is here and my spirit quickly turns from fall card making to winter too. Let me show you a sampling of what I worked on:


This first card is an inspiration card for the challenge I hosted. Acetate Kissing is creating a polished stone background with alcohol inks. They stamping an image with alcohol inks and removing the ink quickly resulting in a clear image.




Another more tradition kissing challenge involved inking up a large foam stamp, stamping with an inked background stamp and putting it on paper. Here I edged the card with the new Fiskar's border punch.




Quirkiness card challenge: This card called for some serious fun! I added some dimension with the Fiskar's paper crimper as I did some paper piecing.

Jennifer McGuire began her Holiday Thinking Inking classes at 2 Peas during this same time.

Here I did some kissing and shading with distress inks.

Just do it...I tried a technique I had on my to do list for a very long time-watercolor pens on the back of cut n dry foam, misting and stamping.

Watercolor ATC

Burnished background-embossing a background image and adding multiple layers of ink tone on tone. Resist technique completed the main image.

A clean and simple look was created with a new stamp.

Stamping a background with a misting acrylic ink block- another Holiday Thinking Inking technique.

Another burnished background with a vintage look.

A Christmas hanger made with a center of a recylced soda can....alcohol ink base, crimped and embossed then image is added wit final detail of hanger and snow and sitting it in a mini real pile for the photo. Yes, it is winter here :-)