Stacked Stones Studio!

I recently was in Illinois with a couple of my besties for a week of fellowship, going deeper into God's Word and a lot of creative play. We had the best-est time. All of us are early risers -- and that first cup of coffee in a quiet house with women who love the Lord is just about as good as it gets.  We would eventually transition from coffee to crafts...and took turns sharing a technique or products  that we have discovered since our last time together. One of those products was the new Tim Holtz Distress Color -- Lumberjack Plaid. Oh -- this is such a pretty red and perfect for all your Christmas makes. I will have several things to show you from my create extravaganza week in the coming days. But wanted to introduce you to this wonderful new color that is now available in Distress Ink, Distress Oxide Ink, Spray Ink, Oxide Spray Ink, paint and embossing glaze. Here is a card that I made using a few Tim Holtz products in addition to the new Lumberjack plaid color.  You...

Yes...I do realize that it is three days AFTER Easter...but I never got these posted for you guys...and I wanted you to have the tutorial for how I created these eggs...because I have another card or two to share with you that I used some of these eggs to make as well! (I know! Bonus!) I have been seeing a lot of speckled eggs on Pinterest. I just LOVE them...and I wanted to figure out how to make them for myself. After I thought about it awhile, I realized that I could probably get a good dupe if I used my distress stains and created an egg shaped template with a die. Here is a video tutorial...it is REALLY simple to make these dimensional eggs...and even if it is past Easter - I will be back to share a card I made with some of my "extra eggs!" Are you as surprised as I was by how quickly they come together and have a real dimensional effect?!?! I couldn't help myself...I made all my cards and then made a few extra....which you will se...

Hey Friends! For the past month, Tim Holtz has been hosting a challenge  - and providing LOTS of inspiration as well. The challenge was to take his Sizzix Tattered Floral Die and to come up with a project that uses the flowers you create with it! Sounded like FUN to me!   I cut several sets of the flowers out of watercolor paper and stamped them with some Archival Ink. I knew I was going to be using wet medium to stain and distress them...and the best combo for that is watercolor paper and permanent ink. One of the things I discovered, is that stamping with Distress Paint will allowed me to use that image as a resist - so when I sprayed my flowers with Dylusions Spray... my white stamped pattern showed up! Super Cool Right?!?!? I have taped a tutorial and will edit this post to include it as quickly as I can! The flowers were so bright and "springy" - that I decided I just HAD to do a project that would   let me bring a little Spring into my house...sinc...

Chickadee Stamp: Impression Obsession Merry Christmas! I can't believe that it is Christmas Eve! I hope each and everyone of you are with people you love! I feel like I blinked the day after Thanksgiving and it was Christmas! Has time moved in double time in your life too? Crazy - I have gotten projects done, but haven't gotten them posted here on my blog...so let's slow down the clock....and catch up! This card started running around in my head from the moment that I saw the Poppy Stamp Arched Window Die (and Luminary Die). It reminded me of some of the old stone churches that I saw while I was visiting Scotland a few years ago. Then I found the Frosted Film (by Tim Holtz Ideology) - and a plan began to come together.  Sometimes it isn't about "just getting the project done" - you have to just follow the creative path and see where it takes you. This may be one of my favorite projects I have ever done. I enjoyed focusing on the details (like t...

This time of year I am convinced that the clock actually speeds up! I know the daylight is gone earlier - and even if I stay up later than usual, I still always feel like I am behind. But it is also my favorite time of year.  I love the crispness of the air. The fact that people seem to be kinder to each other (ok - I do NOT go to the mall EVER in the month of December, so please allow me to continue in my delusion that people are kinder! *smile*). I really love the twinkly lights and smile as I see homes all decorated with lights and candy canes and deer nodding their heads up and down. But mostly - I love knowing that this is the time of year that we pause and remember that Jesus - the Son of God - came to this earth to live among us as the Son of Man. Even typing those words gets me all choked up. It doesn't make sense - in human terms - that God would choose to come to earth and take on the body of man...and as a BABY no less. God, Who created the heavens and the earth - ...

I really love the Tim Holtz Poinsettia die and embossing folder! Used together they create a really gorgeous flower.  I cut several out of watercolor paper. I found that watercolor paper is great for using Distress Stains on - they absorb the color but don't pill up AND they give you a really great impression when you use them in the embossing folder. The key to making the flower so vintage and sparkly - is to use a combination of Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint and Dry Distress Glitter. Love how they turned out - they have a bit of a vintage porcelain flower look when you see them up close. I created a tutorial that you can watch here or on YouTube if you want to see the details of how I created the cover for my December Daily. Hope you have a great week...and be sure and save some time for creative play! Blessings, Jann