The Happy Room

What is Faux Encaustic Wax? It's my version of melting cheap crayons instead of using "real" encaustic wax! I bought a new little iron at WalMart (craft section of the store, 10.00) and decided to try my hand at wax. With a tutorial from a stamping friend and a few YouTube videos, and I was well on my way to creating some backgrounds.

I had so much fun melting crayons and "painting" with my iron and old, broken crayons. This background uses regular white cardstock. The patterns are unpredictable (unless there's some experience which was not the case with me) and can be shaped and melted and re-done at the artist's discretion.

Since this piece looked "ocean-y" to me, I paired it up with a Michael Strong Cloisonne Fish image and backed the fish with some English Ivy Fantasty Fiber from Art Institute Glitter. The fish is colored with a Technique Junkies technique called "Pencil Over Marker" and I added some Stickles Glitter and a gem to his eye to complete the image. The corners are Cuttlebug die cuts and the stick-on gems are from JoAnn Etc.

Thanks for stopping by today and have a fin-tastic weekend!!

Kathie

I think I'm hooked on the Background Whimsy technique that I just learned at Technique Junkies! Some of my oldest, never used stamps are coming out of the drawers and finally seeing the light of day!

The background image is from Stampin'Up! and the sentiment is from I Brake For Stamps. I thought this was the perfect pair! I framed the sentiment with a new Cuttlebug folder and die set that I found for 2.00 at my local Big Lots store. What a deal! My little gauzy butterfly came from a local mill ends fabric store. It was a real find at 10 of them for 1.25.

I LOVE the brads so much!! They were a find over at Scrappindealsnsteals, the home of some amazing products and daily deals. I can't stay away from there. I signed up for a free daily email which shows the deal of the day. If I'm interested, I can snag the deal before it's gone or if not, I just hit my friendly delete key. I love easy stuff! And the white corner pieces are from a Cuttlebug die that I use so much I finally had to buy another one. The first one was completely worn out.

I hope you've enjoyed the card and thanks for stopping by today!

Kathie

Have you seen the images at Twisted Papers?? What a fabulous website! I had so much fun navigating through the vintage images in almost every subject! I chose this image and with a few clicks, I downloaded the photo, saved it to a file on my computer and was ready to go. I loved it because I could size the photo to fit my card, something that you can't do with a stamp!

I printed this onto cardstock from The Paper Temptress on my Canon inkjet printer. With so much detail in the image, I decided to leave it as is-no coloring necessary! I used a technique called Wisped Frames (Technique Junkies)but then I trimmed a little off the edges and sewed on top of it, so I think I all but removed it. I tell myself that there are no mistakes in papercrafting, only happy accidents!

I had fun embellishing the image with some stitching and cotton lace. I made the pin from a corsage pin purchased at WalMart in the floral section. I added some pearls from my junk box and glued the last one on with Fabri-Tac to hold the others in place. And lastly, I glued the long bead at the end of the pin. The bow is tulle.

The sentiment is one of my favorites from I Brake For Stamps. I've used it so many times!

I hope you've enjoyed the project and thanks for stopping by today!!

~Kathie

Remember my Technique Junkies filing tip I posted several weeks ago?? If you missed it, I shared that after I make some TJ backgrounds, I organize them by placing them inside of envelopes marked with the name of the technique and the date in which it appeared in the newsletter. Those envelopes are kept in a file box labeled Technique Junkies Techniques.

I dug through my box tonight and took out an envelope labeled Metallic Alcohol Roll 10/2007. I had the partially made card in my "gotta finish this card" stash, so this was a fast and easy project.

The stamp is a Michael Strong image and the flowers are from the wedding aisle at Michael's Arts and Crafts store. All I needed to do was add some bling to the flowers and my card was done!

I hope you've enjoyed the project and thanks for stopping by!!

Hi blog hoppers! Wasn't Jane's project incredible? (If you didn't arrive here from the her blog, you don't want to miss what our whole TJ Design Team has in store for you!) Go back and start this hop at the Technique Junkie Blog.

Pat will be offering a prize at the end of the Technique By Design Challenge through a drawing for those who PARTICIPATE in the challenge! You will need to comment on her blog AND CREATE a card sharing the link to the project. The prize will be an assortment of products from our Fabulous Vendors.



1. Follow the sketch...
This is a great way to incorporate technique backgrounds into your cards. Just make sure the colors coordinate and you can mix and match different techniques on your card with a stunning effect! If you make extra backgrounds when trying out the techniques, you will love being able to use them here. Note: in order to qualify for the drawing, at least two different TJ techniques must be used on the card.
2. Post a link to Pat's Technique Junkie Blog
3. The deadline to the challenge is MAY 15

Please visit the TJ Blog for exact measurements of each layer for your card

Directions:
1. Attach Layers A, B and C to Layer One, following the arrangement in the sketch. Attach the three brads (or other embellishments) to the top left of the layered piece, arranging them vertically.
2. Attach Layer One to the Base Cardstock, leaving even spacing between the top and sides of the pieces.
3. Stamp the greeting on the bottom right corner of the card beneath the decorated layer.
4. Attach the Focal Image to the center of the layered squares.

And here's a little bit about my card: I used two fabulous TJ techniques. The layer on the right hand side of my card is "Double Bugging". The layer on the left and the strip along the bottom is from the current newsletter. It's called Metallic Parchment. Without a doubt, it's one of my very favorites EVER! A photo hardly does it justice~it's stunning in real life! And the large medallion is a Paperclay sculpture that was stamped in Brown Marvy Matchable ink and dried, then I applied gold metallic rub-on. It looks heavy, but it's light as a feather! I attached it to the card with a combination of Aleen's Tacky Glue and Fabri-Tac.

The next stop on your journey is the fabulous blog of Kimm Bennington-Thompson. Thanks for playing along!

~Kathie

I created this background with a technique called "Faux Designer Paper" from the wonderful Technique Junkies Newsletter. The cross was die cut with a Sizzix die (Ornate Cross #2)from chipboard, then covered with Dries Clear Adhesive from Art Institute Glitter. After applying the adhesive, I added a chunky, sparkly fabulous product called "Glass Shards" (also from Art Institute Glitter).