Re-Inker Magic!

I'm a stamper that likes a lot of tools.  A few things that I don't focus on are embellishments or re-inkers.  I always thought - other than re-inking ink pads, what would I need them for?  Well, recently I stumbled upon a technique in my Stampin' Success Magazine that I receive monthly because I'm a demonstrator (see the flower on the card above).  This little gem looks difficult, but it's really not!  Here's what you'll need:

• Glossy White Cardstock (#102599)
• Whisper White Craft Ink Pad (#101731)
• Clear Embossing Powder (#109130) - or any other embossing powder
• Aqua Painter (#103954)
• Re-inkers - 2-3 different colors
• A stamp set that has outline type stamps (I used Flower Fancy #111578)
• Something plastic to put a few dabs of the re-inker on.  I used my clear block - it wiped off easily!

Emboss your image on the Glossy White Cardstock.  Use your Aqua Painter to get a good coating of water inside and out of your embossed image.  You could also use a water spritzer.  Dip the tip of your Aqua Painter into your ink of choice and then dip the Aqua Painter into the water on your image.  Repeat until you have dipped enough to achieve the look you want.  Try not to smear the ink around in the water as the colors will blend together and look muddy.  You'll notice that the water spreads easily.  If it doesn't, you may not have enough water on the surface.  The image will take a while to dry.  It's better to let it dry naturally - I've dabbed it off with a Kleenex and the color is not as rich.  When its dry, cut the image out and adhere it to your project.  Simple and beautiful!  Give it a try :)

Stay tuned for a sample of the Summer Mini!  Take a peek at the new Summer Mini catalog on the right side of my blog - soooo many cute products!! 

Until next time,

Happy Stampin!

Jenn

Spring is Blossoming!

Spring may be blossoming, but definitely not where I am!  Just a little more snow for us. :(

Stampin' Up!'s new promotion is beautiful.  If you love the Decorative Label punch as much as I do, you will love this stamp set!  (I'll be getting mine tomorrow!!)  You will also be able to purchase the Designer Series Paper Paisley Petals.  There are two ways to qualify to order: 

• Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

*Net sales before tax and shipping

~~ Click images to enlarge ~~

Beautiful stamps and paper, right?  I hope you are as excited as I am about these.  Click here to place and order!

Until next time...

Happy Stampin!

Jenn

A Few of My Favorite Things...

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever! I finally got some time to myself to stamp and I came up with this sweet card. It comprises so many of my favorite things to use ... all in one card! I used two Sale-A-Bration sets because unfortunately they'll be going away soon (March 31) - Punch Bunch and Sweet Summer. Don't miss out on the 2011 Sale-A-Bration season - for every $50 spent you earn an adorable stamp set, and when you reach $150 you would earn three Sale-A-Bration stamp sets and qualify for hostess benefits: a free hostess stamp set and a $20 shopping spree. Imagine the possibilities!! Visit my store to start the adventure :)

So getting on to my favorite things about this card:

1) Paper piercing
2) Creating patterned paper out of plain cardstock
3) Using markers to ink up a stamp
4) Punches
5) Distressing
6) Smooch pearlized accent ink
7) Big shot dies
8) Simplicity



If you have ever considered becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like to become a Crafty Yooper, there is a sweet deal on the starter kit! The price of the kit until March 31 is $148.75 (15% off of the original price). The perks: It's customizable, it ships free, and there is a bonus...

Sorry - that turned out a little small. But you may get the point! It's still a good deal. One thing that I had questioned purchasing was the color coach. I finally did and I was glad that I took the plunge. It is very helpful!

If you would like to become a Crafty Yooper and join in the fun, visit my Stampin' Up! site and use the password "inked_up" to start the process. Becoming a SU! demonstrator was one of the best decisions I've ever made! You can always take Stampin' Up! for a test drive :)

And for the local group, be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, April 9 for an all day scrappin event!

All Day Scrappin! (With me, Joan, Lori and Maggi)

Saturday, April 9
10:00-5:00
Negaunee Township Hall
$10 registration

- Bring your projects and be uninterrupted all day! (But you know how it gets when you're around fellow scrappers!)
- Lunch included - sloppy joes, chips, drinks and bars
- BINGO (Stampin' Up style!)
- Prizes
- Make-and-takes (not included in registration - $1 each)
- I will be offering a discount for orders placed on that day
- RSVP early to claim your spot! (Please e-mail me at pseudocraftyjenn@gmail.com or Facebook me as soon as you can)

So until next time...

Happy Stampin!

Jenn

Quilling!

After a week of not having my laptop, I'm finally able to post! My puppy had thought that chewing through the power cord when my battery was nearly dead was a great idea! Not really! Before that happened I had found that Tara Bee Ink had posted a great tutorial about quilling paper flowers. I had never heard of it, but after viewing her video, I found that I could make my own little doo-dad to make these cute flowers instead of having a quilling tool! I just straightened a paperclip and bent the top back upon itself tightly, and tah-dah! A home-made quilling tool. She does show you what one will look like in her video. When I first tried it I thought I would never be able to make one look pretty, but alas the second and third times were better! So if you try it, and you should, keep at it! :)

I'm trying to remember what colors I used for this card, so bear with me!

Ink: Rose Red, Perfect Plum, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, StazOn.

Stamps: Sweet Summer.

Paper: Rose Red, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette.

Misc: Aqua Painter, Whisper White tafetta ribbon, 3/16" brad, ticket corner punch.

And a BIG thanks for those of you who are now following me from Stampin Connection! I am slowly trying to get through all of the blogs (and it's a long list!) so bear with me!

Until next time...

Happy Stampin'!

Jenn

Wow!

While checking my e-mail on my phone, I saw that someone had commented on my blog and awarded me ....

And then I did one of these: Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

I am honored! Thank you Jessie! (Please take a moment to visit her blog - which is very inspiring!).

Part of the award is to do the following:

When you receive this award you are to:
1) thank the person who gave this award to me and link it back to their blog

2) share 8 things about myself

3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered

4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition!

And now for the eight things about myself:

1. I'm the mom of two beautiful girls who are the lights of my life and I am the wife to a wonderful husband who I've been with for almost 11 years.

2. I work full time as a transcriptionist in a local Pathology Department.

3. I love to stamp and play with paper! I would make being a SU! demonstrator my full time job if I could.

4. My mom is my best friend! She also loves to stamp and is my bestest customer :) (She got my into stamping).

5. I love the look of a fresh snow fall - as long as it's not every day. :)

6. One of my favorite smells is a campfire.

7. I fell in love with the Twilight series. I re-read every one of them except the fourth book.

8. I love to be outdoors, walk through the woods, or sit at the shore of Lake Superior.

The next part of the Stylish Blogger Award is to pass it on. These blogs are ones that I recently stumbled upon, and are fantastic. Please take a few minutes to visit their blogs!

Tara at tarabeeink.blogspot.com

Nikki at nikkispencer-mysandbox.blogspot.com

Georgeann at paperprincess1973.blogspot.com

Marlene at marlenehandson.blogspot.com

Denise at chezmoicreations.blogspot.com

Cindy at cindys-inklings.blogspot.com

Nicole at www.impressionsbynicole.com

Melissa at melissahuie.blogspot.com

And here is my latest creation (above). It is my attempt at vintage. I was trying to channel Ann Schach, but I didn't get too far!

Stamps: Sweet Summer, Just Believe

Paper: Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Ink: StazOn, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Concord Crush, Perfect Plum, Early Espresso (marker)

Tools: Hemp Twine, Modern Label Punch, Moonlight Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, Framed Tulips embossing folder

So needless to say, I am pretty excited right now! My first award. Yay!

So until next time,

Happy Stampin!

Jenn

Brayer, anyone?

I am a person who likes to have little tools that I can use to create different effects on paper. One thing that I had never tried was a brayer. I though to myself, why do I need that? It wasn't until my upline, Joan McMinn, showed me a cool technique that I decided that a brayer needs to be in my stock! Many people need to look twice at this card to see what makes it so neat (of course you can see the technique better in person). First, we used the embossing folder Final Press (#115963) on Very Vanilla cardstock. After it is embossed, flip the paper so that the bumpy side of the paper is facing down. Ink up your brayer and run it over the "debossed" side of the paper. You will achieve this unique look. Cool huh?!

Below is another example using the Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder (#116824). In this instance we used the Top Note Die (#113463) - which is a must have!!! - embossed Whisper White cardstock, brayered one side, cut the die cut in half, flipped one piece over and matched the die back up. Viola! Neato :)

Both cards were designed by my upline, Joan McMinn, who is a great inspiration to me! When I thought about joining Stampin' Up! (and the day I requested info from her, I seriously could not sleep that night - it was like Christmas!), I said to myself, I want to be just like Joan! She is very encouraging, sweet and giving. I'm very blessed to have her as my upline :)

So there is a little trick to put in your archives to try in the future. Or right now. :)

Until next time...

Happy Stampin!
Jenn

A little message from Shelli!

My first video! While watching it, I had a lot of "oh, that would be cool!" or "I need to do that!" moments. It's great that the Stampin' Up! products are versatile - it's not just about card making or scrapbooking. I hope you take a few minutes to watch. She's always so inspiring! Enjoy :)

Jenn