Giving back to the ones who least expect it!

When you are cranky, hot, hungry, and tired where do you go?  I go to the drive-thru and grab a burger, taco, coffee, whatever.  Have you stopped to thank whoever is delivering your food or energy to keep going?  I would encourage you to grab a handful of balloons, a card, some flowers (paper ones work too), whatever encouragement and hand it to whoever is handing you your order.  I would love to see the faces of those unsuspecting employees that work so hard.

Here’s just another idea on how to give back or pay it forward.  What’s your idea?

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

When wood becomes swiss cheese.

Today’s card has a certain tang to it, much like when you bite in to a good slice of cheese.  Here’s how this one was created.

The card base is from Soft Suede Card Stock cut at 5 1/2 ” on the 11 ” side.  It is scored at 4 1/4″.

The Very Vanilla mat is cut at 5 ” x 3 3/4 “.

The Wood Texture background is punched from circle punches 1/2″, 1″, and 1 3/4”.

The tree is stamped and die cut from the Rooted in Nature bundle.

The “thank you” comes from the new In Season bundle also stamped in Old Olive.

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If you would like to see the video please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KB7d5o2VBY to watch.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Remember to use the middle.

Just a little reminder that if you have a double mat and the second mat is solid then don’t be scared to make some holes.  Take a few punches out of the bottom mat so you can save paper and time later.  Just remember to keep your punches organized or it won’t be much help.

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Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Different sized punches for a background.

You can grab a few of the same shaped punches or dies to create a background.  Just make sure to have varied sizes.  In this case I used circle punches.

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Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Not much happening this week.

There’s not much happening this week, thank heavens.  Last week was quite busy.  And next week there is Card Class.

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So I thought now would be a perfect time to review the rules of etiquette for this crafty world.

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If you would like to order online please use host code UAE4AVTN.  This code will be up until Tuesday night at 9 pm.  This is only to allow more time for you since it is the end of the month.  If you prefer to order in person please contact me.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Feet are up!

My feet are up after having three events in less than three days.  I am feeling it a bit today, especially since one of the events was out in the heat.  But onward and upward we go.  I hope you had fun at the 12th Anniversary Party!  Thank you for coming out!

Please remember to look at yesterday’s blog post for the contest.  You could win a Darling Label Punch Pack valued at over $50.  The contest will run until 9 pm tonight and voting will run on Monday through 9 pm.  Whoever gets the most votes will win the Kit.

That’s about all I have for now.  Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Contests, anniversary party, and more!

I bet you thought I forgot about my 12th Anniversary that was yesterday.  Nope, I didn’t.  I was just busy preparing for the party tonight!  There will be bingo, prizes, favors, food, and a card!  If you are not able to make it tonight I have one contest for you.  Just one.  This contest is for everyone so if you live near or far, attend the party or not, please participate.

Create lyrics that are specific to this crafty group to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas.  I thought it would be appropriate since it is the 12th year.  Do not post them to the facebook page.  Please e-mail them to me.  I will post on the page on Sunday and get votes on Monday.  Whoever gets the most votes wins the Darling Punch Box.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

P.S.  Good luck!

And we are back to Friday again.

Are the weeks going faster?  It seems as it gets hotter the weeks go faster.  Anyone else?

Without even thinking about it we are back to Friday again.  I am a little slow this morning since we had a get together last night.  We (8 of us) had dinner together, crafted, and created.  We created cards for Girls Love Mail.

Girls Love Mail is a group of people that deliver cards, hugs, and encouragement to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients beginning chemotherapy or radiation.  Their goal is to reach 40,000 letters this year.  So far they have about 12,000.  We made another about 40 cards to go out for this organization last night.  If you have cards to donate I will take them at any time.  We are mailing them off all the time.  I love it when our group comes together to create impact.

What are you focused on creating impact for today?

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

How to color on dark card stock.

Have you been wondering how to get a true color when coloring on dark card stock?  Well, here’s how and the full instructions for this card.

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  1. Cut Basic Gray Card Stock at 5 1/2″ on 11″ side.  Score at 4 1/4″.
  2. Cut Whisper White Card Stock at 5 1/4″ x 4″.
  3. Glue white paper to gray base with snail adhesive.
  4. Cut Basic Black Card Stock at 5 x 3 3/4″.  Stamp with Versamark the flower from Blended Seasons stamp set (available August 1).  Sprinkle with Pineapple Punch embossing powder and melt with heat gun.
  5. Color the entire image lightly with the white Watercolor Pencils.  Then color as desired.  Use the Blender Pen to smooth and float the color as desired.
  6. Finish with sentiment from Itty Bitty Greetings stamped with Basic Gray Pad on Whisper White Card Stock.  Punch out with Classic Label Punch.  Adhere with Mini Dimensionals and embellish with the Share What You Love Artisan Pearls.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

When sun rays become tiaras.

If you are ever wondering what something was intended to be please ask.  I’ve had a few times where there are some backgrounds or little dots and I can’t figure out what stamp they coordinate with.  So, I call Stampin’ Up! and I’m happy to do that for you also.  Don’t get frustrated, ever.

In the stamp set Pocketful of Sunshine there are some sun rays that to me look like eyelashes.  Well, when I paired said eyelashes with This Little Piggy stamp set they were too big.  So my eyelashes became a tiara instead.

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Don’t be afraid to look at things differently.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂