Get to the mailbox today!

Today’s the day!  Don’t wait any longer.  Mail the letter, card, postcard!!!  Go make your ripple.  You never know when or who will need a little shove to get going again.

As I sit here typing I am reminded to be grateful and to express it.  I am grateful I woke up this morning.  I am grateful that I slept last night.  I am grateful that I am healthy and able to go to the gym.  I am grateful that you are here reading this.  I am grateful that enough people see value in what I do that I can create full time now.  Thank you for being you.  Thank you for being part of this crazy crafty circle.

What are you grateful for?

I am choosing to focus on what makes life grander.  There is plenty of negative to go around.  I know that what I focus on amplifies so I choose to be positively grateful.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Crystals and magic.

Have you tried the new Brusho product?  I took photos during the entire process so you would know how to use it when you order it.  So let’s figure out how to make those crystals melt and become part of your magical day.

First, you will need to tape down your piece of glossy white cardstock to some kind of tray.  I used washi tape but painters tape can also be used.  I would not recommend masking tape as it tore no matter how slow I pulled.

Second, spritz with water lightly.

Third, sprinkle the brusho crystals.  Spritz with water to get the look you want.

Tip:  Poke the top of the brusho bottle with a thumb tack.  Pull out the pin when ready to use and replace when done.

While waiting for the background to dry stamp your accents.  Here is the wizard and a sentiment.  Then die cut or punch.

To create the “stars” use an aqua painter filled with water.  In the lid of the whisper white craft pad put about 3 drops of the re-inker.  Squeeze some water out of the aqua painter to create a solution that is fairly runny.  Dip your aqua painter in the contents of the lid and “spray” the background.  I lightly tapped the pen against my finger to get the speckles.

Tip:  Make sure nothing is nearby as it “splashes”.

Let it dry completely and spray to seal with hairspray.  Enjoy your card!

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni:)

Dies as embossing folders.

Did you know that your dies can also act as embossing folders?  You can get it to where they leave an image but don’t cut.  So that envelope can have a matching imprint to your cut card.  Here’s how:

Make your sandwich for embossing folders instead of dies.  Take out the adapter plate or go to the second tab.  Then under the envelope and die add the silicone mat which will provide enough cushion so the die won’t cut.  This can also be done on cardstock.

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So your sandwich will be from bottom to top…big shot, standard base with no adapter or on tab 2, cutting plate, silicone mat, envelope or cardstock, die of choice, and cutting plate.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Embossing on more than cards.

Embossing can be done on so much more than cards.  If you use a little bit of starch or hairspray you can emboss into fabric.  Today’s project is embossing into a bag.  With the border embossing folders it makes it easy to emboss almost anywhere.

So grab a bag and emboss away.

Here’s a couple of tips.

  1.  Make sure the folder is straight and down as far as it can go.  This prevents a line or a lack of print.
  2. Make sure to take the adapter plate out.  The big shot sandwich should be the base plate, cutting plate (clear), bag with embossing folder, and cutting plate on top.
  3. If the bag has cracks in it where it was embossed try putting the adapter plate back in and taking a cutting plate away.  You might need a few pieces of cardstock.  Every big shot is different.

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Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Ready or not, here they come…

Ready or not, here the events come!  There are some great classes on their way!

Serina’s Valentine Favors Class — Come on out on Thursday, February 1st from 5:30-8 pm!  We will be creating 4 Valentine’s Day treats!  There will be alternate greetings available, especially for the card.  Cost for the class is $10.  There will be dinner provided by Serina.  No hubbies, no kids, and no mess to clean up.  Please RSVP by Tuesday, January 30th to Serina or me.  See you on the 1st!

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Lisa’s Half Full Class — Come on out to create a wine bottle holder, pop and twist card, and a wood textured card on Saturday, February 3rd from 10-1.

This class is a little bit different because you get to keep the stamp set!  You order the stamp set Half Full and the class is included.  All of the pre-orders count towards helping Lisa earn FREE product!

If you order the wood mount stamp the class is $40 and for clear-mount $30.  When you RSVP please specify wood or clear-mount.  (If you already have the Half Full stamp set please contact me for alternate options.)

Lisa is providing the food and I will have the projects ready for you!  Please RSVP before Thursday, January 25th at noon.  See you on the 3rd!

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And last, but not least, the next Card Class will be on February 6, 8, or 10 so save the date!

I hope that’s enough to get your week off to a great start!

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Defining rest.

Have you ever searched or googled the word “rest”?  One dictionary site defines rest as the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep.  Another says it is a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities.  If you click into the images section you find several images…a rest stop sign, someone sleeping, and some pretty powerful quotes.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

Let yourself rest.

Rest & recover.

Rest more to grow bigger and stronger.

I think the biggest thing that hit me were all the rest area signs.  This reminded me to put my rest in an area.  To set aside time and space to rest.  Don’t get too busy to not replenish.

What do you do to rest?  Do you change your routine?  Is there a place in your home that gives you the best rest?  Now that we’ve talked about resting I think it’s time for some crafting therapy.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Paper Pumpkin Counts Too!

In case you were wondering the 3 month pre-paid Paper Pumpkin subscription qualifies for a FREE Sale-A-Bration choice!  So if you are looking for a perfect gift with a little something for yourself this is it!

There are many promotions going on right now.

First, is the Big Shot Promotion (only through me)!  If you have wanted the Big Shot and need to save $100 then contact me for more details!

Second, is that Club or Host Rotation has been announced.  If you want to build your supplies gradually and be considered a host then ask me for more information.

And last, but not least, if you would like to order online please use host code S4RRJMMF through Monday at 9 pm.  If you prefer to order in person please contact me.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Pay it forward…where it started for me.

I had always been told to pay it forward.  It didn’t mean much to me except to be nice even when I didn’t feel like it.  But a few years ago one of the crafters gave me a book called The Tipping Point.  Have you read it?  If not, you might want to.

One of the points that hit home for me was that “ideas and product and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do.”  I had started to notice that I complained quite a bit and that was spreading.  And as it spread it also came back to me.  As I shifted my thoughts to be more positive, things became more uplifting.

Be careful what you’re putting out there.  It just might come back to you.

As we go about today be conscious of what you are putting out there.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Dragons and mirrors.

I just figured out an easy way to create a mirror image.  You will need a stamp, ink pad, cardstock, and your silicone mat.20180118_075151_wm

Next ink your stamp and then apply to your silicone mat.

Take your cardstock and set over image.  Make sure not to bump or move as this will result in a blurred image.  Rub to transfer the image from the mat to the cardstock.

Color and decorate as desired.  I used a blender pen with an overlay of wink of stella to color the dragon.

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Comment or contact me for any questions.

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂

Music helps.

Have you felt that your creative mojo is gone?  Every time you sit down is your scrap mat still blank?  Change your environment.  Come to drop in times.  Change your scent in the warmer.  Turn your music up!  And sometimes, the hardest part, is to just get into your crafty area.  The laundry and the dishes are always calling.

For me the biggest change is to walk away from the chores and turn the music up.  What do you have to do to get your creativity flowing?

Happy Crafting!

With inky fingers,

Joni 🙂