Jennifer McGuire, ink.

Gift cards...

I seemed to give a lot more gift cards as gifts this year.

Usually I don't like to give them as they seem not-as-thoughtful as other gifts. But they really are the perfect gift, especially for teenagers. Shopping with "free money?" Delightful.

So I did several cards that hold gift cards. This one was from a class...

It's an easel card. Started with a 8.5x11" piece, cut it in half to 4.25"11 and folded at 5.5" and 8.25"...

... and added a pocket to the bottom inside for a gift card to hide...

The snowflakes on the front are sparkly and lovely in real life. Colored Memento Marker directly on the rubber of the snowflakes, spritzed them with some pearlized water and stamped. Love.

Next...

Some lovely links for ya...

• So so VERY pretty.
• Lovin' THESE cards. Looks like a great class!
• You must check THESE out. Shows all the Hero Arts notecards matched up with the Hero Arts inks - a great reference. And, gorgeous cards!
• THIS made me melt.
• More great free printable tags HERE.
• Was looking for a new decal for my laptop. THIS one cracks me up, but I of course didn't order it. :)I instead got THIS one for me and THIS one for Kay.

Off to hang out with the family. Night.

 

Snowflake Card Supplies:

AC Adhesive	Glossy Accents	Black Dye Ink	Perfect Pearls	Styled Label Die
Neenah White Paper	Stamp Press	Mini Misters	THE Fiskars Trimmer	Magical Background
Snowflakes	Memento Markers	Clear Gems	Favorite Scissors	Hero Hues Cards etc
Craft Sheet	Vagabond Die Cut Machine

The holidays are coming...

... and I thought I would pop in to share two quick cards.

For this one, I used fall leaves for holly...

This one? Nothing exciting. But I love this tree...

Supplies? Well, everything is from Hero Arts. :)

And a few links...

• HERE are some great holiday tags that you just print - so easy - from one of my fave artists.
• If you live in the DC area, be sure to check out THIS class. Kathy rocks.
• THIS is sooooo pretty.

Hey - anyone have some fabulous cookie recipes? I want to try some new ones. I will share some of my faves this week, too.

Off to pack. Heading to my in-laws for a week. Roxie will be in good hands - my parents are staying here with her. She will be spoiled rotten.

And while I am at my MIL's? I will be catching up on email. I think I need too...

Night!

New stamps make me so very happy...

They really do.

Simple pleasures, huh?

A lot of people have been asking about some of the stamps we gave peeks of... and that aren't for sale in stores yet. Only some of the new stamps were released this last weekend. But the full catalogs shipped  and now stores can order the rest. That means more new stamps are coming. Yay!

Thought I would share another new-stamp-creation...

This sweet stamp is so much fun to color with Copics - and it doesn't take long...

I am going to head out now. I *really* gotta finish my Christmas cards. Colin has had his first stomach bug, so I am behind. Sigh.

Before I go, the winners of the CK issues are Linda G. and Mary Kay S. I emailed you both.

Oh, and I decided to give a random giveaway to someone leaving a comment on my blog the other day. Erika T - you will be getting a copy of the Full of Love book.

See you soon.

 

 

Hi Card Supplies:

xxxxxxx

2011 Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop + VIDEO

Welcome to the 2011 Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop! I am so thankful that many of my friends joined us in this hop. Smooch to you all!

The new 2011 Hero Arts stamps come out this weekend. LOVE it. And be sure to come back tomorrow morning because I may have a surprise (which could be possibly a one-day-only discount code on new stamps) for you all. :)

I am so excited to finally share some things I have created with these new stamps. So happy. I warn you - I have a bunch of random projects today. Just didn't know which one to share. (For all supplies, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

First, I decided to do a video for you. Another warning - it is quick and hurried. It was a last minute idea and I needed to whip it out before picking up Colin from school. Thus the hurry. :) The video shows Painting With Liquid Pearls using new Hero Arts stamps - CG270 Flower Bird Garden and CL497 Find Joy...

Hero Arts + Ranger + Basic Grey = The perfect threesome. :) This close up photo isn't the best, but, again, I was in a hurry. Love the look of that creamy, pearly paint...

Here is another a using the same stamp. I first stamped white cardstock with the soon-to-be-released Envelope Pattern and Soft Sand Ink. Then I stamped the CG270 Flower Bird Garden cling stamp twice with Versamark Ink and embossed with clear powder. Finally, I scribbled over the un-embossed areas with Memento Markers, wiping away the excess ink as I colored.

And a closer look. Oh, and that greeting is from the CG280 My Type set and the background is CG268 Thank You Definition. (You know how I love definition backgrounds. We know have more!)


Finally, I used this stamp to create some ultra-simple cards that I will be giving as part of a huge card set as a Christmas Gift. I just used Shadow Inks (Hero Arts soft inks) and Hero Hues Notecards... and topped it off with a bit of Glitter Pen.

New stamps make me so happy.

Now it is time to move on to the next blog on the hop. And I am a happy girl. You know why? Because I get to send you over to the blog of one of my favorite scrapbookers of all time. In fact, she is one of my favorite people of all time - The Adorable Kelly Goree.

(Remember, if you find a link that doesn't work, you can always hop back to the Hero Arts Blog for a list of direct links to all the blogs in the hop.)

Enjoy! Oh, and maybe I will have a giveaway for a random commenter. Maybe... :)

 

 

 

Card Supplies:

Glossy Accents	Foam Dots	Black Dye Ink	Versamark	White Embossing Powder
Ink Blending Tool	Distress Inks	Neenah White Paper	Basic Grey Papers	THE Fiskars Trimmer
Craft Sheet	Clear Embossing Powder	Scallop Die	Memento Markers	The Best White Pen
Favorite Scissors	Hero Hues Cards etc	Heat Gun	Vagabond Die Cut Machine	Claudine Hellmuth Paint Brushes
Clear Glitter Pen	Green Memento Markers	Soft Sand Shadow Ink	Yellow Memento Markers	White Liquid Pearls
Silver Liquid Pearls	Hero Arts Watercolor Paper	Mini Misters	Mini Glossy Accents

Quick message...

Hey!

Just wanted to quickly pop in and let ya know that the 15% discount code ("jenmcgink") over at Simon Says Stamps ends tonight at midnight EST. So be sure to get your orders in before then - or nudge your husbands to. :) They do have free shipping over $70 and great prices on international shipping.

Also thought I would share a fun technique I did over on the Hero Arts blog today - a marker resist technique. I stamped the Starry Night stamp with VersaMark Ink on some yummy Basic Grey paper. I then colored over the stamped image with green and brown Memento markers. While I am doing this, I wiped it every so often with a dry cloth to remove the marker from the embossed area. You will be amazed at how nicely the embossed area resists the marker, leaving it just in the un-embossed areas! So fun…

I just love stamps with lots of solid space. Great for techniques! For supplies, check the bottom of this post.

Also, have some fun links for ya...

• Adore this card Jana made for my Audrey's 13th birthday. So cute.
• Scroll down on Sarah's post (past her fab layout) to see something very funny.
• This is the sweetest post ever.
• These photos melt me. Plain and simple.
• Oh my word. This is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time!
• I always forget to check Debbie's blog since it doesn't show up totally in Google Reader. But I remembered today and wow! She always amazes me. 
• This one is so elegant.
• This is such a fabulous gift idea.
• In case you are living under a rock and don't know, be sure to check out all of Tim's amazing 12 tag creations.
• I am so wanting these new Lawn Fawn stamps!
• This is such a clever way to raise money.
• A set of these cards would be great as a teacher gift.

Have a great Monday!

 

Starry Night Card Supplies:

AC Adhesive	Foam Dots	Black Dye Ink	Versamark	Stamp Press
Edge Distresser	Basic Grey Papers	THE Fiskars Trimmer	Clear Embossing Powder	Favorite Scissors
Heat Gun	Craft Sheet	Starry Night	Brown Memento Markers	Green Memento Markers
Essential Messages	Old Writing Script	Soft Sand Shadow Ink	Hero Hues Cards etc

Happy Full Tummy Day...

Hello!

I hope all you US-folks are recovering from a big day of eating yesterday. I am enjoying the time with family - movies (saw adorable Megamind tonight), shopping (with my girls - so love it), napping (the only way I can relax) and jammies. Tomorrow? Going to see Santa.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a card and some links. Oh! And if you want a chance to win a copy of 101 Things to Do With Your Scrapbook Supplies, click HERE. There is also an interview I did with The Paperlife. Talked about letting go of the pressure of creating and having fun.

Now? A card...

Did this one for the Alterations booth at CHA. Lots of Distress Inks, Memento Markers, Hero Arts stamps and the Ornamental die...

Just colored right onto the rubber of the stamp with various Memento Markers (the best for stamping with), misted with water and stamped on watercolor paper. (You can use regular - just wanted the texture here.)  For supplies, check out the links below.

And now for some vacation-day links for you:

• Remarkble. There is no better way to describe Kathy's creation.
• I really wanted to do Ali's December Daily this year. Still crossing my fingers. Will keep it simple. I find Ali so stinking inspiring.
• Adorable colorful holiday cards make me smile.
• Oh my cuteness.
• Kristina Werner is brilliant. There. I said it. :)
• And so is Lucy.
• Joy, too.
• Megamind was hilarious. Really enjoyed it.
• My most-comfortable-boots-ever from last year needed to be retired. I can't recommend them enough! Got a new pair of cozy ones today - the girls picked them out. I have THESE also and get lots of compliments on them. So comfortable - and I never thought tall boots could be. Thank you, Clarks. I bow down to you.
• Oh, and if you aren't a tall boot person, THESE are like wearing clouds.
• Dawn always creates such inviting cards.
• Wanna see some great deals? 30% off my favorite 6x6 Basic Grey and embossing folders from Tim Holtz. And a great sale on new Configurations.

One last thing: The new Vagabond - the Tim Holtz die cut machine from Sizzix that cuts like a monster through everything - is now available. And HERE is a great deal on one!

OK... off to relax again. Night.

 

Merci Card Supplies:

Adhesive	Foam Dots	Black Dye Ink	Ink Blending Tool	Stamp Press
Hero Arts Watercolor Paper	Mini Misters	Tim Holtz Ornamental Die	THE Fiskars Trimmer	Craft Sheet
Friend Definition	Favorite Scissors	Memento Markers	Garden Bouquet

Holiday Thinking Inking Week 8 - the last week...

Hello Monday-of-a-holiday-week!

I can't believe it. It is the last week of my Holiday Thinking Inking Class. :(

It is the 8th week of my free 8-week online class I am teaching over at 2Peas called Holiday Thinking Inking. This week shares a bunch of random stamping ideas, including a scrapbook page...

      

Here are the links for Week 8 of Holiday Thinking Inking:

• Click HERE for the whole event, including 3 projects, 3 handouts and a video.
• Have questions? Click HERE for the discussion thread for this week.
• Be sure to head over to 2Peas for it - there are challenges and prizes.

And linked below are some of the products that were key in this week's class. Enjoy!

 

Important Class Supplies:

Glossy Accents	Adhesive	Foam Dots	B&W Enamel	Perfect Pearls
White Embossing Powder	Ink Blending Tool	Holiday Sayings	Distress Inks	Neenah White Paper
Stamp Press	Hero Arts Watercolor Paper	Mini Misters	THE Fiskars Trimmer	Craft Sheet
Basic Grey Snowmen	Friend Definition	Trees	Big Shot	Multi Purpose Plate
Scallop Die	Favorite Scissors	Sticky Back Canvas	6x6 Basic Grey Papers

My drug of choice...

Some people like chocolate.

Some like wine.

Some like shopping.

Me? My drug of choice is teaching.

I love everything about it. It is such such such fun to me.

It is a struggle for me, though, like any addiction I guess. I wish I could travel and teach more, but I also want to be home with the family. So for a long time I didn't go to stores to teach, but recently decided to go to the stores who have been asking for some time and/or the stores with owners who I adore.

This past weekend I went to Canada to teach at Scrapbook Centrale. Natalie has been asking me to come teach for her for 9 years. Yes. 9 years. It is about time I said yes, huh? Thank you, Natalie. You are the best and I can't wait to come back.

(And thanks to my dear old friend, Mel, who took this photo. And who had the most thoughtful present for my family. And who gives the best hugs. Ever. Love you, girl.)

 I had such a wonderful time. Such wonderful help. Such wonderful people. We did 3 giant classes on Saturday and again on Sunday. Could have kept going.

Anyway... I am working on the class weekends for 2011. I am heading to some of the great/patient store owners locations in Buffalo, Ohio and Boston (several times). I am not booking past May right now. Stay posted for class dates. I won't be doing many trips, but just enough to feed my addiction.

Moving on...

Many folks have asked about the new Liquid Pearls. Yes, the are wonderful. Yes, they are a good price. Yes, you need them. :) My favorite colors? Bisque, Silver, Platinum, and White Opal.

Here is a card showing a fun way to use the Liquid Pearls. This uses the fabulous Bisque color. I just traced stamped image, leaving some fun and simple dimension...

I will share some other fun things to do with these pearls in future days.

Have a great weekend!

 

Large Flower Card Supplies:

Liquid Pearls	Friend Definition	Big Flower	Hero Hues Cards etc	Latte Chalk Ink
Distress Inks	Edge Distresser	Ink Blending Tool	Favorite Scissors	Adhesive
Black Dye Ink	Craft Sheet	THE Fiskars Trimmer	Stamp Press	Lace Background

 

Holiday Thinking Inking Week 7 + Giveaway!

I'm back! Just lost my balance on the tightrope - needed to be grounded for a bit.

But, good news. I have some more Thinking Inking for you. And a giveaway. :) Also! A special happy birthday shout-out to my dear friend Nichol. Love you!

It is the 7th week of my free 8-week online class I am teaching over at 2Peas called Holiday Thinking Inking. This week shares ideas for stamping and using Perfect Pearls.

 

     

Here are the links for Week 7 of Holiday Thinking Inking - Perfect Pearls:

• Click HERE for the whole event, including 3 projects, 3 handouts and a video.
• Have questions? Click HERE for the discussion thread for this week.
• Be sure to head over to 2Peas for it - there are challenges and prizes.

If you love Perfect Pearls as much as me, be sure to check out the new Perfect Pearl Mists. Delicious.

At the bottom of this post I have some links to my favorite products used in this class/video.

But before that, I just gotta give ya a heads up about NEW dies that are out - they are must-haves. I can't wait to use mine. YUM. They are finally available... yay! This one is like my favorite Ornamental die but smaller and fits in the other!

To go with the awesome Baroque die... lovely, huh?

And... how about a sorry-I-was-gone-so-long-from-my-blog giveaway? Yes, I know how to buy your love back - ha.

Just leave a comment here by Thursday night and I will pick a lucky winner of a Tim Holtz Alterations Rosette die. You can use this bad boy to create awesome rosettes like I did in my video last week. (Thanks to Simon Says Stamps for the prize!)

See you soon.

Important Class Supplies:

Adhesive	Neenah White Paper	Stamp Press	Mini Misters	Ink Blending Tool
Craft Sheet	Holiday Messages	Favorite Trimmer	Rosette Die	House
Distress Inks	Glossy Accents	6x6 Basic Grey Papers	Acetate Cards	White Staz On Ink
Perfect Pearls	Perfect Pearls Set	Fabulous Flourish	Trees	Cling Dots
Friend Definition	Styled Label Die

 

 

Holiday Thinking Inking Week 6

Hey there, Monday.

Happy Monday.

It is the 6th week of my free 8-week online class I am teaching over at 2Peas called Holiday Thinking Inking. This week shares ideas for stamping with different surfaces, including Sticky Back Canvas, acetate/transparency and glossy paper.

     

Here are the links for Week 6 of Holiday Thinking Inking - Surfaces:

• Click HERE for the whole event, including 3 projects, 3 handouts and a video.
• Have questions? Click HERE for the discussion thread for this week.
• Be sure to head over to 2Peas for it - there are challenges and prizes.

And linked below are some of the products that were key in this week's class. Enjoy!

Important Class Supplies:

Acetate Cards	Glossy Accents	Big Shot	Multi Purpose Plate	Styled Label Die
Rosette Die	Sizzix Embossing Folders	Kraft Cards	Craft Sheet	Favorite Scissors
Frost White Ink	Archival Black Ink	Glossy Paper	Sticky Back Canvas	Magical Background
Snowflakes	Favorite Trimmer