How to stretch or shrink a die.

It’s Tutorial Thursday! Have you ever ordered a die and had it not line up with the words that you wanted to use? Do you wish that it is a little narrower, longer, or shorter? Well, let’s learn how to stretch or shrink those dies, shall we?

When you are running dies through the machine I tell you to have your platform and cutting plates even so the pressure is distributed across everything the same. Well, in this case I am going to tell you to keep the bottom platform and cutting plate even, but not the top one. Figure out where you want the die to stop cutting and put the end of your plate there. It will pop when that plate finishes going through so you will know it has stopped cutting. Then turn everything around and “connect” the die so it stops cutting on the side you just cut. This will finish the image for you.

Make sure to check out the video on this technique at https://youtu.be/I3hx5m9HW-4.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Bits and pieces to make a whole.

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

Have you ever had one piece from a punch or die set that is too small or just doesn’t seem to fit? Then use it to create a background. Make sure to go off the page and trim afterwards so it looks like they belong.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Spotlighting.

It’s Technique Tuesday! Today I want to show you a quick and easy technique called spotlighting.

Grab a die, stencil, or punched out piece of scrap card stock and place it on your card front after stamping an image (basic gray used). Then color only inside the stencil (with gray watercolor pencil and then blender pen). This is called spotlighting.

This reminds me of those photos that are all black and white with only one spot of color. I remember there was a girl holding a rose and only the rose was in color.

Give this technique a try and post to my page, http://facebook.com/StampingWithJoni.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

It’s Stamp of the Week!

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

Stamp of the Week starts today! You will get an invitation. Let me know if you would like to participate. Please forward to a friend!

At this point I am hesitant to schedule anything as you could probably guess. Still on the calendar to be re-scheduled is the Rubber Rummage Sale. And once everything lifts then I will fill in the calendar and get things rolling again.

If you would like to order online please use host code CWN6WTHK. This will help me to get some goodies for the Open House. Please use my website when ordering, http://jonidaniel.stampinup.net. If you prefer to order in person please contact me.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

It’s Easter!

It’s Sabbath Sunday! Today is the day to rest and recharge. It’s a special day. It is a day of renewal. It’s Easter!

The lead up to Easter is the first day of spring, bunnies, and chocolate. But Easter Sunday is left for us to declare that He is Risen!

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Stamp of the Week!

It’s Sale Saturday!

The Clearance Rack will be refreshed in the middle of the month. I thought I would tell you so you have something to look forward to.

I need to tell you that Monday starts the next Stamp of the Week Class! Follow the details on https://stampingwithjoni.wordpress.com/stamp-of-the-week/.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Take the time.

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

I want to remind you to stay connected. I know, but you have to stay home. There are many ways to stay connected. A handmade card works wonders. But you know what else does? A phone call! It’s amazing how your spirits can be lifted by talking to someone.

So I will remind you that you often get more back when giving to someone. Plan on giving time to someone. If you don’t then your day just seems to slip away. Pick up the phone and reach out to someone.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Bunny card for Easter.

It’s Tutorial Thursday! Today’s creation is this cute, flowery bunny!

To create this card here are the steps.

  • Cut a piece of Thick Whisper White Card Stock with a Paper Trimmer to 4 1/4″ X 11″. On the 11″ side score at 5 1/2″. This is your card base.
  • Cut a piece of Terracotta Tile Card Stock to 5″ X 3 3/4″. This is your mat. Attach to the card base with Snail Adhesive.
  • Cut a piece of Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper to 4 1/2″ X 3 1/4″. This is your inner mat. Attach to the mat with Snail Adhesive.
  • Cut out two ovals, a larger circle, and a smaller one with the Stitched Shapes Dies. The paper used was Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper. This is your bunny. Attach with Dimensionals.
  • Inside I stamped Happy Easter in Terracotta Tile Ink and the bunny in Basic Gray Ink from the stamp set Welcome Easter.

For a full video on this card and other announcements please go to https://youtu.be/GyhivNBYRDI.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Using a charger to stamp.

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

I have to give credit to Elissa Powell for this photo. When I saw it I gave a giggle because I have done similar things. Imagine, if you will, that you are finally comfortable in your chair. Everything is spread out in a nice circle within arm’s reach. You have nice little piles behind, next to, and in front of yourself. And then you remember, you have one more thing to stamp. The blocks are all used and cleaning the stamps just seems to be out of the question. So you look around to find anything plastic and flat that looks remotely like a block. The only thing nearby is your phone charger.

And it works. When the piles are deep grab anything plastic and flat to stamp with. The only problem is that you cannot see through a charger so placement can be a little rough.

Here’s to muddling through the layers.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Add color to make the texture come out.

It’s Technique Tuesday! Have you ever purchased a product and it was less than impressive?

I recently had that with the new embossing folder from the Ornate Garden Suite. I had run it through on a few solid colored pieces of card stock and it just wasn’t hitting me. Then I decided to run it with our vanilla card stock. I was even less impressed. But then I thought about getting out my sponge dauber and seeing what some color would do.

What a change. Now I just finished the card for this and also embossed the flap of the envelope. I, of course, completed the flap with some much needed color. For this project the colors used were Old Olive and Pretty Peacock that just happen to coordinate with the ribbon.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂