Whale you MOJO432

Until March 31st, the stamp set used for this card is one if the items you can select for free when spending $50 with Fun Stampers Journey!

I started with the sketch from the Mojo Monday Blog. 

I love using stencils and media goop :) Today I used the Journey Gel Medium and Falling Petals- Stencil for the focal panel. I stamped the whale once using a reflection technique, and once regularly.  I used a die from Journey Rectangles to create the piercings surrounding the sentiment, and attached the sequin heart to the focal panel.  The Sparkle Love hearts are another free item choice from Fun Stampers Journey. Love these Bloom Benefits!

Mermaid Wishes

Mermaid Wishes is another ATS set that you could choose to receive for free for each $50 you spend when ordering from Fun Stampers Journey.  She looks even more adorable when combined with stamps in the Under The Sea set.  I decided that the easiest way to create a background for a mermaid was to water color it.  I achieved this background using only two Zig Clean Color markers and a Journey Blending Brush- small.  I also used two Zig Clean Color markers to color the bottom half of the mermaid. In order to create the sparkly look of the mermaid, I applied Journey Glaze and sprinkled Journey Sparkle Cuts on her. 

To add another level to the card, I used the Journey Rectangles to cut her out and add the piercings.  To emphasize the holes, I mounted the focal panel on a piece of Black Licorice Paper 8.5 x 11 Cardstock. I added a piece of cardboard behind this to raise the panel and mounted it all on a piece of Whip Cream 8.5 x 11 Cardstock. 

January Bloom Box

Fun Stampers Journey sends out a surprise box once a month that contains an exclusive stamp set, pre-cut elements, coordinating embellishments and step-by-step instructions.  The instructions include steps to recreate the pre-cut elements so that if you have the tools, you can reproduce the card multiple times.

 I really like that the items for each card are stored in a large ziplock baggie, with the embellishments inside of a smaller baggie, so you don't have to guess which piece is supposed to go with which card.  And of course, the stamp sets are great.  This month, they are Tropi-cool. 

I decided, for the first month at least, to follow the steps as closely as I could to see how difficult it would be for someone who is getting started.  Let's take a closer look.

The first card I did was the pears.  It was pretty straight forward, but when it came to coloring the pears, I didn't have the re-inkers that they said to color with, so I used Tim Holtz distress markers which did NOT want to blend for some reason or another, but someone starting could have used colored pencils or even crayolas, so not really a deal breaker.  The only other item that might have been an issue was the splattering of the Silk.  There are other ways of reproducing this splatter (paint on a tooth-brush or using a spray) but these other means aren't as easy as using the silks.  And of course, now I want all the colors available because it really creates a cool effect.

For the large pink stripe on this card, I was supposed to use an ink brayer.  I own 2, but could not find either one of them!  I finally wound up just dragging the ink pad lightly down the piece of paper.  it was acceptable.  I like this card enough that I will definitely be reproducing it, but will use a different banner.  After the 'fail' coloring the pears with the last card, I colored this with copic markers...much better. One thing I would like to point out: the sequins come in 3 different sizes!  This is hard to find in the industry, most companies only sell packages of sequins in one size.

For this card, I did find my brayer...and am excited about the result.  Before, I have only tried to create a gradient look (going from dark to light smoothly) with my brayer, I had never tried mixing colors like this.  I think the background is awesome, and immediately thought I'd be getting more use out of my brayer now.  And isn't that the goal of the box, to show you different ways to use what you have?  (notice how my goal of critiquing for a beginner disappeared lol)  I think I would have still been frustrated by the need for a brayer to create this card if I hadn't had one.  I also didn't have any of the three colors of ink that were suggested since I'm only starting and now have a total of 7 of Fun Stampers Journey inks.  I decided to use distress inks.  It came out fine.  And if a beginner were to get a brayer, the technique is not hard; so I still give it a thumbs up.

This card was very similar to the last one, but used additional stamps.  I like that it added the flowers, but wish the instructions had mentioned how to shape the flowers for those who don't know or wouldn't think to get out their embossing tool.  I do like how the instructions have good pictures so that you don't have to figure out where to put them on the card.  Once again, I used Copics to color the stamped images, but colored pencils would have worked well too.  

So, final opinion on the box for a beginner: go for it if you already have some inks and tools to create with; or if you can get together with a friend who has the items once a month to create them.  I'm sure any Jouney Coach would be willing to schedule a play date with you :)

And if you're already an avid crafter with all kinds of tools and supplies: I like it because if you're lacking mojo, it gives you the directions and may even teach you a different way to use something you've had in your arsenal for a few years, and who could turn down another stamp set? 

Here Kitty kitty

Fun Stampers Journey has a program year 'round where for each $50 you spend, you can get a free ATS stamp set.  Feed Me is one of those free stamp sets. It's quick and fun to color and is great for all those cat ladies you know.  there are actually 3 different sayings that go with it.  The one shown above, "Feed Me!", and "YAY for you..." This was a very quick card. I simply stamped the cat and the sentiment, cut them out, and mounted on the Hazelnut Blend 8.5 x 11 Cardstock.  I wanted a little bit of a distressed look, so I sprinkled it with Silver Silk.  Silks are fun and easy to use.

Stained Glass texture

My daughter is going through Basic Training right now, so I need a lot of "Thinking of You" cards. I'm experimenting with the stencils I got from Fun Stampers Journey, and used Journey Modeling Paste with the Stained Glass- Stencil to create the texture.  For a more interesting background, I then sprayed it with Watermelon Color Splash.  notice how this paste absorbs the color like it was paper instead of resisting it?  The resisting technique has a cool effect too, but sometimes having the color on the texture is what you want.  I used a sentiment from the stamp set Sentimental Prints, and stamped both that and Artful Feathers using Pool Play True Color Fusion Ink Pad.  I mounted the sentiment on the same card stock used for the base, Watermelon Fusion 8.5 x 11 Cardstock; but before attaching the textured panel to the card base, I wrapped it with Journey Twine Natural, and tied a bow where the feathers met.

Psalms 91:1

While this card may look like a lot of work, It was very simple.  I simply placed my piece of 4x5 1/4 card stock in a box, put the Stained Glass- Stencil over it, and then sprayed lightly with Watermelon Color Splash and Blue Lagoon Color Splash.  They mixed well in the middle for a lovely speckled look.  I stamped the bird from the Psalms 91:1 ATS right on top of it with Black Licorice True Color Fusion Ink Pad after it dried, which doesn't take long if you don't use much spray.  I then stamped the sentiment and used the Journey Rectangles to cut it out and pierce the holes.  The Rectangle is usually much larger than this, and I'll tell you how I did it.  I ran the dies through once cutting out one end; then I moved the die to the left, lining the holes up, and ran it through again; voila, a custom size mat for the verse!  I mounted the quote on Watermelon Fusion 8.5 x 11 Cardstock which I also used for the card base and attached with Journey Foam Squares.

New Year, New adventure.

On January 1st while I was at Dollywood with the kids, I signed up to be a consultant with Fun Stampers Journey!

I have to say, I am in love with their stamps, their media line, inks, and their jewelry.

It's hard to find a good white ink pad, and I think they have one.

Almost all of their ink is a combination of pigment and dye inks.  What this means is that it will dry quickly, but is blendable and will stay very true to color (no fading).  It becomes permanenet and is no longer blendable when heat set.

Here are some of the first cards I made with my starter kit:

This is very reminiscent of the example in the book of the Sentimental Prints stamp set.  I used the Black Licorice, Cranberry Bliss, and Whipped Cream.  (The Whipped Cream is a pigment ink and takes longer to dry, so it smudged a little with my impatience)

Another example made with the Sentimental Prints Stamp set.  Ink used: Cranberry Bliss, Green Olive, and Black Licorice.

I smooshed ink pads on a work surface and then used a water brush to add the Cranberry Bliss and Green Olive colors to the pots and cacti on this card.  I then added a table/ground because the pots needed something to sit on.