52 Weeks of Wonder

Behind Every Great Mask...

"... is a beautiful face—particularly when it’s a mask used to create the face of gorgeous artwork. Today’s Week of Wonder stamping technique is masking. Masking simply means that you 'mask' off a portion of a stamp image, preventing it from inking the paper. It’s a great way to layer images and provide a natural sense that one item is sitting in front of another."

"It’s always a surprise when you pull off a mask and see the face behind it. In this case, it’s a delightful surprise of great layered stamping you can use with virtually ANY stamp images!"

Jeanette Lynton

Jump on over to Jeanette's blog to see how she created the flower and vines pattern on the "Dream" card using the masking technique.

52 Weeks of Wonder

Kiss it Better!

"Everyone knows that a kiss makes anything better, and today, I’ll even teach you how to kiss better (stamp kissing, that is!). Kissing is a great technique that allows you to “kiss” a pattern into a stamp image and have that pattern transfer onto your final stamped image—it adds lovely texture and softness to almost any stamped look. And know that today’s technique can be a little tricky (but like any good kissing, it’s worth it!), so give yourself permission up front to enjoy the unique variations and imperfections in the stamped look. They’ll give you a soft, somewhat uneven watercolor look that you’ll really like."

Jeanette Lynton

New & Now by CTMH: Krafty, Kool & Kolorful!

Transform your Kraft Color-Ready Borders into vivid embellishments for all your artwork. CTMH's new Kraft Color-Ready Borders are sold as a pack of 50 - 12" borders (2 each of 25 designs), adhesive-backed for easy use and only $5.95.

CTMH products at 55-90% off !!!

A ton of discounted and retired products are now available to you at phenomenal prices on my CTMH website. And yes, you read that right, some up to 90% off! Gorgeous card kits, 12x12 and 9x9 paper packs, My Stickease assortments and album accessories are just some of the items available. Click here to see all the discounted products. Don't delay your order because these products are only offered while supplies last!

ABC Scripture Challenge

Challenge word # 2: Bible

I've decided to switch to a 7Gypsies ATC Carousel for this challenge. I love the look of a full carousel and used this same product for Patter's original scripture challenge two years ago. I will be posting my scripture reference and a photo of the ATC sometime during each study period.

Challenge participants will be sharing on blogs and in various galleries such as 2Peas in a Bucket, Splitcoaststampers, Scrapbook.com, etc. Just use the keyword "ABCSCR11" to tag your work and it will help others find it more easily. Please let me know if you're joining so I can follow along with you.

52 Weeks of Wonder

Embossing is the Boss!

"I love the beauty and “wow” factor of embossing. It’s great no matter how or where it’s used to give a little extra dimension and shine to any project. Today’s technique combines the wow of embossing with a favorite stamping technique, “Rock and Roll.” Here’s how you can achieve the same great look you see on all the Pansy Purple images shown in today’s featured artwork."

Jeanette Lynton

Pop on over to Jeanette's blog for detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to create the gorgeous project shown above.

Staci Julian's Library of Memories

I pulled this info off Staci's blog from yesterday. I've been waiting to take this class since discovering her LOM system and Photo Freedom book last year. Bookmarking my calendar for April when registration begins! Will you join me? (And yes, I noticed Staci has listed two "# 5" top ten things. It's not a typo of mine.)

Library of Memories 2011 ~ TOP 10 things you need to know:

1. I am teaching Library of Memories in 2011.

2. Class will begin on Thursday, June 2nd* and run for 10 consecutive weeks. Class will wrap up the week of August 14th.

3. Registration will open the beginning of April.

4. Since I now own the rights to my book Photo Freedom, I will be re-organizing my approach and my content for the 2011 session.

5. The 2011 session will be called Finding Photo Freedom: An Introduction to Library of Memories.

5. I am creating a self-paced version of Library of Memories, using content from the 2010 session. This class will not be interactive, but it will provide students that opportunity of accessing the full content at a lower price-point.

6. After 2011, I will only be teaching Photo Freedom as a LIVE workshop, every other year.

7. Students who register for a live session of Photo Freedom are allowed to audit the next live session at no cost. In other words, you get two live sessions for the price of one. The second session being a refresher course.

8. 2010 Library of Memories students will receive the new Photo Freedom workshop at no cost.

9. Students who register for the 2011 session of Photo Freedom will be able to audit the course again in 2013.

10. All scrapbookers (new, experienced, digital, hybrid and traditional, etc…) are welcome to take Photo Freedom, which teaches principles of photo organization, digital work flow and authentic storytelling that are universal to ANYONE who wants to find more satisfaction and joy in preserving memories.

Staci Julian

New & Now by CTMH - Spray Pen Unplugged!

Add glamour to your artwork with the spray mist technique. Let CTMH show you how using the affordable spray pen, a dash of re-inker and a dab of Create-a-Shade® pearl paint.

Where will your commitments take you this decade?

Daily Hope by Pastor Rick Warren

"So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it."
Philippians 3:15-16 (MSG)

Every choice you make has eternal consequences, so you had better choose wisely.

Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. Tell me what you are committed to, and I’ll tell you what you will be at the end of the next ten years. We become whatever we are committed to.

It is at this point of commitment that many of us miss God’s purpose for our lives. Some will be afraid to commit to anything and so they will just drift through the next decade. Others will make half-hearted commitments to competing values, and so they will face frustration and mediocrity over the next ten years. Others will make a full commitment to worldly goals, such as becoming wealthy or famous, and end up disappointed and bitter.

Every choice you make has eternal consequences, so you had better choose wisely. Peter warns, “Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living!” 2 Peter 3:11 (NLT)

Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing. Discipleship—the process of becoming like Christ—begins with a commitment to follow Jesus no matter where he leads.

Let Jesus shape your life this decade. Imagine what your life will be like at the end of this Decade of Destiny, if you make a full and complete commitment to him now.

Jeanette Lynton's NEW 52 Weeks of Wonder

Generational Stamping with a Twist

"Farewell 2010 and Color Me Monday, and hello 2011 and “52 Weeks of Wonder”! In this new year, I’ll be showcasing one fun and fabulous stamping technique every single week. Some will be simple, others will be more advanced, but I promise each one will be beautiful and inspire YOU to make your life more wonder-full.

Today starts off with some great artwork featuring “generational stamping with a twist.” For those of you new to stamping, here’s the gist on generational stamping—a first generation image is made from a freshly-inked stamp pressed to paper. Second generation is when you stamp a second time without re-inking the image, for a lighter impression. Third is even lighter, and so on, until your inked image becomes very faint. Generational stamping is a great way to vary hue and intensity in your images without investing in dozens of ink colors (although who can resist owning more inks?)"
Jeanette Lynton

To achieve the beautiful dimensional butterfly shown on today’s layout, click here for Jeanette's step-by-step instructions, plus a little extra technique to give it added zip.

Big Herringbone Cowl

I love this! And I love The Purl Bee blog. You can find the FREE pattern for Whit's Knits Big Herringbone Cowl here, along with a great tutorial for the herringbone stitch. I need to purchase a set of size 17 needles since my largest Knit Picks interchangeable circular needles are only a size 15. But, I set myself some limits and I must finish a current knitting project before I can purchase anything new. I haven't touched my knitting since before Christmas so I guess it's time to pick up the needles!

Organize Your Stuff Challenge ... Round 2

Plugging along with Round 2 of the Challenge and I've tweaked a few things here and there. The real work won't start until week 22 or so when I fell off the wagon on the first go 'round.

Although the focus of week 18 in the 2Peas Organize Your Stuff Challenge is tools and adhesive, storage issues tend to overlap categories in my scroffice. I've since switched over to a pink ATG for my main adhesive and it's a huge tool. It doesn't fit in my Pampered Chef tool caddy, so it just kinda hangs out on my work space. That's not working for me, so I decided to spring for an over-the-door pocket organizer to hold my slowly growing collection of punches. Thanks for the great idea fellow Peas organizers!

By moving the punches from the top drawer of my desk, I now have enough space for that drawer to hold miscellaneous adhesives and over-sized tools. My glue and pop dots, repositionable glue tape, Terrifically Tape sheets and, of course, the ATG now reside with my MM tool tin, brayer and my Perfect Layers. And, I have plenty of room to expand my punch collection, plus space available in my top drawer. Another week checked-off the list!

If you'd like to peek back at my first stab at week 18 back in May, here's a link to the original post. You can see photos of my desk top tool caddy and distressing kit. I believe next up is chipboard and that might be a catch-up week for me to tackle photos.

Patter Cross's ABS Scripture Challenge

As part of my scrapbooking goals for 2011, I am participating in an ABC Scripture Challenge hosted by Patter Cross. Study details can be found here. Patter will be posting a new word every other Sunday, including reference to her chosen scriptures and photos of her 6x6 scrapbook pages. If you're going to join, grab the button above for your blog.

So here's the first challenge word: anchor

I'm hoping to post my scripture reference and photo of my 6x6 page sometime during the study week. Challenge participants will be sharing on blogs and in various galleries such as 2Peas in a Bucket, Splitcoaststampers, Scrapbook.com, etc. Just use the keyword "ABCSCR11" to tag your work and it will help others find it more easily. Please let me know if you're joining so I can follow along with you.

CTMH's Inspiration promotion and January SOTM

Sneak a peek at great Spring/Summer 2011 CTMH Idea Book products—including amazing deals on new stamp sets and the January Stamp of the Month when you buy the new Wings Workshops on the Go™ kit. All of our Workshops on the Go kits come with paper, accessories, and an exclusive stamp set designed specifically for the workshop projects. A new workshop kit is available each month at a discount off of the full retail value. During the month of January, when you purchase a Wings Workshops on the Go kit, you can get:

~ the stamp sets featured in the Inspirations brochure at a deep discount

~ the January Stamp of the Month set at a substantial discount or even FREE

Get your hands on an Inspiration brochure to find out all the details about these spectacular savings by contacting me today!

January SOTM, Find Your Style:

Buy the Wings Workshops on the Go™ kit and mix and match the new products found throughout the pages of the Inspirations brochure to earn the My Acrylix® Find Your Style Stamp of the Month set at a discount or even for FREE!

You can also purchase products from the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book and earn the January Stamp of the Month at a discount or even for free. Products from the Inspirations brochure can be mixed and matched with products from the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book but the same discounts do not apply.