Picking you up.

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

I don’t know about you but this pandemic I am equating to a grief cycle. One day you are okay and the next you might be a mess. It almost feels like right before Joel (hubby) deployed to Iraq. You are trying to hold it together but some days it is just not possible.

I am not writing this for pity or empathy. I am writing this to say we are all different people in different stages. When I was in my “down in the dumps” stage a little over a month ago I had several crafters that picked me up, dusted me off, and told me I would live another day. And to you, I say thank you.

Thankfully I am in an okay mindset now. The days seem to all run together but at least things are moving. Tara (my daughter) has started college (online) and Joel is somewhat back to work (bagpiping). As for me, I am getting back to working again and living in a schedule.

I know not all of you are in the same place and I want to remind you…it is okay. Process, take your time, but keep moving forward. I am here to listen or whatever else is needed. Check in with your friends and family. Send a card. But definitely show compassion.

So love one another, be human, and most of all, be kind.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Sometimes easy is what you need.

It’s Tutorial Thursday! Sometimes you just need easy to get you through.

I love that Stampin’ Up! provides easy all the way up to as complicated and advanced as you can think. Well, after doing deliveries all day and needing to get some cards out in the mail I figured let’s do easy. So I pulled out my Flowers for Every Season Memories and More Cards & Envelopes. Along with the cards and envelopes I grabbed my Flowers for Every Season Memories and More Card Pack too. Add in some snips, adhesive, and the In Color Enamel Dots and we are ready to create.

It’s as easy as peel and stick with these card packs. So in less than 30 minutes I had 8 cards finished. 8! If that isn’t easy I don’t what is. 🙂

For the video on how these were created please go to https://youtu.be/UqgtwB5EFHs.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

When a flower becomes a sport.

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

So I posted a card yesterday for the technique post. I talked about how to make monochromatic cards pop. And then I realized I had Wednesday’s post done also. I had cut the sunflower in such a way to look very similar to a badminton shuttlecock.

I also see a mane for a lion or the feathers for a peacock. What do you see?

Remember to look upside down, sideways, backwards, and sometimes break the whole image apart.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Raise it to see it.

It’s Technique Tuesday! If you want a monochromatic card but want to see the last detail raise it. Add some depth to see the different layers.

For this card I used an outer mat that was also white and raised it with Dimensionals. Then I did an inner frame embossed with the Pinewood Planks 3D Embossing Folder. I then cut a small piece of the new Rainbow Glimmer Paper. The sunflower is a fourth of the detailed cut-out of the Sunflower Die. I cut out the middle of the sunflower in Highland Heather and then re-punched with the 1/2″ circle punch. Remember to attach the frame and flower parts with Glue Dots.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Stamp of the Week, Rubber Rummage, Card Class, Office Hours, and More!

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

The shopping invitations are out for Rubber Rummage! Please, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Stamp of the Week (the online kit class) will be coming out later today or tomorrow and will run through Monday the 6th. More details are coming.

Save the date for Card Class on July 7, 9, or 11. This is the first in-person class since March. Get ready!

Just a quick reminder that I do hold office hours. If you contact me outside of those hours I will respond when I open. My hours are Monday-Saturday from 9:30 am – 7:30 pm and I am closed on Sunday.

I will be closed on Saturday, July 4 for the holiday.

There is one spot left from 5:30-7:30 tonight for Open Day at the Studio. If you would like this seat please let me know.

Don’t forget Bonus Days begin July 1!

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Avoid or plow through?

It’s Sabbath Sunday! This is the day to rest or recharge.

Sometimes in order to get some peace and truly some rest you have to avoid situations that cause you stress. There are times you just need to go around and take a different road so you don’t end up on the section of the road that has the holes and the cliff running right up along side of it. Choose to go around. Choose to avoid the situation.

And sometimes you just need to plow through to get it done and checked off the list. Sometimes by avoiding the situation you are just stressing yourself out by procrastinating.

So how do you tell if you should avoid the situation or plow through? I often look to quotes to help me with this. I find a quote that speaks to me and then look at the author. Often who the author is and what they did speaks to me and then the quote becomes even more meaningful. Then I know to avoid or just get it done. So here’s a quote to leave you with.

“Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can do.” — John Wooden

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Bonus Days are coming!

It’s Sale Saturday!

Bonus Days are coming! For every $50 in product you order from July 1 – August 3 you will get a $5 coupon code that can be redeemed August 4 – 31.

Have you liked the catalog so far? I hope so. If not there is more coming. The Mini Catalog begins in August and runs through December. I will be asking next month if you would like your copy and who gets one for free!

If you would like to order online please go to https://stampingwithjoni.wordpress.com and use host code 2VU23TSJ. This code will be up until Monday night.

Thank you again for being part of this crafty family!

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Sharing your paper.

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

Remember when your mother told you to share. So today I am reminding you to share. Have you noticed in all of our Designer Series Papers that there are at least two of each of the patterns? You could share one of them with a friend. If you don’t want to split the pack then buy two…save one and share one.

If you are into creating and don’t have that many crafty friends, instead of sharing paper share your creations. When you sit down to create a card make two. Mail one to someone that needs some happy mail.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Dividing papers and punches.

It’s Tutorial Thursday! Today is the day we have tutorials and a video for how to divide your monotonous patterns and how to use the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch.

For starters you can use a thin piece of ribbon or paper to divide a pattern and break it up. This card uses the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper and the Early Espresso Faux Suede Trim.

The second card uses the new Lovely Label Pick a Punch to create the background.

For complete instructions and a video please go to https://youtu.be/bU9NMPrjpT8.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Paper as ribbon.

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

Today I want to talk about the texture of things. When you use an embossing folder not only can it be a full background, but it can make things look like something else. For example, this piece of Crumb Cake Card Stock I have textured with the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder as well as the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder.

What I am attempting to do is show you the texture that an embossing folder can bring to a piece of card stock. These two pieces of card stock are going to be trimmed tonight to show how paper can simulate ribbon. Join me on the Facebook Live at 7 pm to see this. Don’t forget your monotonous pattern of Designer Series Paper, card base, two mats, scrap paper, punch, ink, and adhesive.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂