A little off the beaten path.

You know that I usually don’t follow the path that is usual.  I often will find adventure in the everyday routine.  So today I figured we could not do our Wacky Wednesday and simply talk about freedom.  I know it’s cliché since it is the 4th of July, but often times what is expected is the last thing you will find.

The definition of freedom is…

1: the quality or state of being free: such as

a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action

b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence
c : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous 

  • freedom from care
d : unrestricted use 

  • gave him the freedom of their home
e : ease, facility 

  • spoke the language with freedom
f : the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken 

  • answered with freedom
g : improper familiarity
h : boldness of conception or execution
2a : a political right
b : franchise, privilege
I find the definition of freedom from care to be most meaningful to me at the moment.  To me this means freedom from worry or thought of being judged.  After living overseas I find this to be very true.  When I lived in Italy I was constantly thinking of how I was dressed and how people would see me.  Now don’t take this the wrong way.  I was not worried of what people thought.  I was worried that if I looked too “American” I could get robbed easier or taken advantage of.  I did not want to stick out.  I find it very freeing to finally be back in southern California where I fit culturally and not have to worrry about sticking out.  If I do that is fine because I know it is home.
Freedom can mean many things to many people.  What does it mean to you?
Happy Crafting!
With inky fingers,
Joni 🙂

4th of July Promotion Runs Through Monday at 9 pm!

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Some tips for the tufted embossing folder.

I bet some of you are looking at the catalog and asking yourself how to line up the cardstock in the Tufted Embossing Folder so the image is not crooked.  There is a line to help with that and it works.  I took some pictures to help with this.  This sample is using the gold foil paper.

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Stay tuned on Thursday for the finished card with tutorial.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

 

Updated holiday hours, promotions, and Christmas in July

For those of you wondering…I will only be closed on Wednesday the 4th.  This means no Facebook Live on Wednesday evening.  Everything else is the same for this week.

Drop in times will happen today from 10:30-12:30 or 6:30-8:30.

Be watching tomorrow as the July 4th promotion will be announced.

Save the date for the Christmas in July kick-off on July 14.

If you would like to order by tonight at 9 pm the host code to use is 2JNVZHEX for online ordering.  If you prefer to order in person contact me or drop by at the times stated above.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Resting by focusing.

As many of you know I am married to a professional musician.  And for those of you that know me even better, you know that my daughter is a budding musician as well.  With that being said I am pulling our segment on rest today straight from the staff lines of a musical score.

Do you know the purpose of a rest in music?  It is to give emphasis on a certain section (brass, woodwinds, percussion, etc.) while other sections are quiet.  It is also used after a difficult section in the music to allow the muscles to regain their composure so tone does not suffer.

So, you are probably asking what this has to do with crafting.  I want to remind you that it is okay to rest, especially after a huge project is finished or if it is just not coming together.  The ability to rest might just give you the edge to regain focus and create a masterpiece.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Community yard sale!

Today I am at the Yucca Valley Elks Lodge for their Community Yard Sale from 7-1!  Come on out and beat the heat.  I will have crafty items for sale, retired stamps at a reduced price, and a door prize for everyone.

Be watching on Tuesday for the weekly highlights as I will be announcing the 4th of July promotion.

The Stampin’ Blends are now available!

If you would like to order online please use host code 2JNVZHEX.  If you prefer to order in person please contact me.  This week’s code is available through Monday night at 9 pm.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Self care is a great way to fill up.

Sometimes the best way to give back is to not be negative.  For me the best way to stay positive is to make sure I am re-charging or doing some self care.  You will see me at the gym three mornings a week (usually).  This is my way of getting moving and being able to check out with some great music.  You will also notice that I am closed on Sundays.  I don’t always have plans on Sundays, but I do always plan to be off.

So I will ask you…what is your way to re-charge?

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

When the ocean comes to the desert.

We can all hope that the beach is closer to us here in the desert, but it’s probably not going to happen.  I would love the sound of the waves, but not the crowds or price tag that comes with the beach.  So for today I will give you a tutorial on a card that looks like the beach without the cost.

Here are the written directions for the card…

  1. Cut a piece of Thick White Cardstock at 4 1/4″ x 11″.  Score at 5 1/2″.
  2. Cut a piece of Tranquil Textures Designer Series Paper at 4″ x 5 1/4″.
  3. Stamp the water with the wave from High Tide with Balmy Blue ink.
  4. Stamp the sand with the same stamp (after cleaning) with Sahara Sand ink.
  5. Stamp the birds both standing and flying with Sahara Sand ink.
  6. Stamp the sea grass with Soft Sea Foam ink.
  7. Stamp the sun and rays with Mango Melody and Grapefruit Grove inks.
  8. Stamp the words with Versamark ink, sprinkle Grapefruit Grove embossing powder, and heat with heat gun.

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If you would like to see the video please click here.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Water stamps can be for dirt or sand.

Sometimes I look at a stamp set and think that is a flower or that is dirt.  Sometimes what I think is one thing can often be another.  Take this card…

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…I thought the water stamp could only be that.  But it can also be dirt or land.  Don’t forget to look at your stamps sideways to stretch your products and keep creating!

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Coordinating embossing powder with a background.

It’s amazing how a background pops when there is an accent that coordinates.  In this case the Grapefruit Grove is subtly daubed on to the background.  The coordinating embossing powder ties it all together.

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Tune in tomorrow night at 7 pm for the Facebook Live on the Red Door Crafters’ Page.  I will be creating this card from start to finish.  And on Thursday I will provide the link as well as all written instructions.  Please plan on joining me.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂