Ideas on how to pay it forward.

It’s Friendship Friday! This is the day to focus on giving back or paying it forward!

Do you ever get stuck in a rut and don’t know what exactly to do to make impact? I’m always looking for new ideas and ways to create a ripple of kindness, especially if it doesn’t cost much. I ran across this list and thought there were some really great ideas on how to pay it forward.

Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Compliment those around you.
  • Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.
  • Hold the door open for the person behind you.
  • Donate blood.
  • Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.
  • Write a great review for a business that has gone above your expectations.

To read the rest of the article and get the entire list please go to http://fuelrunning.com/lifestyle/great-ways-to-way-it-forward.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Stamping with no stamps.

It’s Tutorial Thursday! Today I want to show you how to create a background with no stamps. We are still using blocks, but no stamps!

To create this technique you will need a piece of card stock (Seaside Spray used here). Stamp the Clear Blocks with the ink pad directly. Then start off the edge of the card stock if you don’t want any lines and swipe across. You can also do this directly with your ink pad and not on the block at all. But be careful with this one. If you press too hard or not evenly then you take a chance of catching the edge and tearing it. Personally I prefer it with the block.

The background for this card was done with this technique and then stamped over it to create even more texture.

For a complete tutorial please go to https://youtu.be/Uiy1yTRYGhg.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Heating more than embossing powder.

It’s Wacky Wednesday where a product is used in a way it is not intended!

Did you know that the Heat Tool can be used for much more than simply melting embossing powder? In my home it has been used to fix hockey sticks, un-stick car parts, take layers of cards apart, and now to melt shrink plastic. Do you remember shrink plastic (also known as shrinky-a-dinks) from your childhood? I sure do. Just cut out and pop in the oven.

I had gotten these as a gift one summer and all I heard was my Mom saying “…no we are not turning on the oven for three little pieces of plastic. Do you know how much that would heat up the house?”. Well, I figured out a way to not have to turn on the oven.

So you have to have some shrink plastic which is available in just about any craft store, except Stampin’ Up! Then you can stamp on it with Stazon Ink or simply just die cut out whatever shape. They can then be colored with our Stampin’ Blends. Then get your Silicone Mat, tweezers, and your Heat Tool. Turn your Heat Tool on after placing your shrink plastic image on your Silicone Mat. The tweezers are there to keep your plastic from flying all over the place. Heat until properly shrunk. You will know when it is done because it will flatten back out after turning all different ways.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Stamping directly to paper.

It’s Technique Tuesday! Today I want to share with you how to stamp directly to paper.

So you get a piece of solid color card stock and apply the ink pad directly to the paper. This creates an eclectic background. If you want a bit more design then you place the ink on your clear block, stamp on to the block, spritz, and then place your block on to your card stock. And last, but not least, you can place a background (large) stamp on to your paper and then punch out shapes from your own designer series paper.

Join me on Wednesday at 7 pm to see how this is done.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Orders, Open Day, Rubber Rummage, and Card Class!

It’s Management Monday! Here’s what’s happening this week!

There is an order going in tonight! If you want to qualify for the FREE materials from me for last week’s live please order $50 or more in product with the link http://www.stampinup.com?hostcode=FWJ79UV7 by Monday, April 5th at 7:30 pm! (If you are on my Team and order $50 or more in product please email me about it so I can get your materials to you.) This helps me to continue to reward you and do giveaways for the birthday club.

Come craft, shop, pick up an order, or simply say hello. Consumables are available for the project you are working on at cost. Non-consumables such as ink, stamps, punches, and dies are available at no cost to you. Please bring your own adhesive. See you soon!

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Did you miss the 6th Annual Rubber Rummage Sale? Please contact me ASAP as I will have the boxes available for shopping on Monday and Tuesday. Monday’s times are guaranteed during the Open Day sessions. For other times on Monday and also on Tuesday please contact me to schedule.

The Card Class Invitation is out! Let me know which session you will be attending!

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Cleaning up before you rest.

It’s Sabbath Sunday! This is the day to focus on resting or recharging so you are good for the week.

Picture this with me. You start your day down at the beach. You run, laugh, play in the sand all day. In the evening you pause to eat dinner. And at the end of the night you sit by the campfire to reflect on the day.

As you head home your brain is flooded with good thoughts and memories from the day. When you enter your home you are greeted by the sand that has now dried and is falling off of your body. Your toes are constantly reminded of the day as the dry sand hits from up above.

You are exhausted from the pounding of the waves and the sun, but you know that you still must clean up and take a shower or bath. Washing allows you to rest more comfortably and not create more of a mess.

Why do I say all of this? To remind you to finish each day by washing away your worries and concerns. It will help you to rest easier. Here’s to getting recharged and ready for the week by washing away some of those burdens that we can’t control or change.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Retiring Items on the Last-Chance Product List and Bonuses!

It’s Sale Saturday!

The Last-Chance Products Sale is well underway! All items are while supplies last!

Please do not wait until the very end to order your ink pads, card stock, designer series paper, re-inkers, blends, or markers as some of these products are on back order currently.

If you would like to partake of the order bonus this week please order $50 or more in product from http://www.stampinup.com?hostcode=FWJ79UV7 and then you will get the materials needed to create the two baskets from the Live.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

What you look for you find.

It’s Friendship Friday! This is the day to focus on giving back or paying it forward.

Have you every woken up on the wrong side of the bed? It just seems that no matter what you do or touch, it’s wrong. And the harder you try, trouble just seems to find you. But on the flip side of this if you are having a good day your fortune just seems to multiply.

I have realized that if I am not finding kindness, gentleness, grace, or sometimes even mercy in those around me it is often because my spirit, energy, soul…whatever you want to call it…is not attracting the right things. When I am stressed everyone around me seems to be stressed. When I am angry everyone around me tends to be a little tense. And when I am content…you get the idea, right?

So I would encourage you to take care of yourself so you can attract what most you are craving.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Two Easter Baskets in the nick of time.

It’s Tutorial Thursday! Today I want to show you how to create two Easter baskets just in time for the holiday.

For the first basket you will need:

  • Acetate card box
  • Crumb Cake Card Stock
  • Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder
  • Ornate Garden Designer Series Paper
  • Tear & Tape Adhesive
  • Mini Glue Dots
  • Detailed Trio Punch
  • Story Label Punch
  • Granny Apple Green Card Stock
  • Daffodil Delight Card Stock
  • 2 1/4″ Circle Punch
  • Daisy Punch
  • Medium Daisy Punch
  • Gem
  • Easter grass/candies

For the second basket you will need:

  • Hydrangea Hill 12X12 Designer Series Paper
  • Basic White Card Stock
  • Flirty Flamingo Card Stock
  • Blushing Bride 3/8″ Metallic Ribbon
  • Googly eyes
  • Dog Punch
  • Heart Punch Pack
  • Double Oval Punch
  • Snips
  • Stampin’ Seal + or Tear & Tape Adhesive
  • Mini Glue Dots
  • Basic Gray Stampin’ Write Marker

To watch the video please go to https://youtu.be/sS1mKtYrjM8.

If you watch before Friday at midnight then I will email you the instructions for both projects for free!

If you order $50 or more in product by Monday with the link http://www.stampinup.com?hostcode=FWJ79UV7 you will get the instructions and all the materials (minus the chocolate) sent to you! (You will receive it after Easter though.)

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Shapes are for animals.

It’s Wacky Wednesday where a product is used in a way it is not intended!

So shapes are for animals? Crafting is for the birds? This is not at all what I am saying. What I am saying is to look through your punches or dies and look for body shapes…ears, eyes, noses, etc.

When I saw the heart and some ovals I found a bunny just in time for Easter.

If you want to see how to create this bunny and a few other projects please join me tonight at 7 pm on my Facebook Live. The link is https://fb.me/e/hZhECulqP.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂