As part of the fun activity during my recent Oregon TAC retreat, there was a technique blitz (thank you Heather and Chan) where we madly finished 6 little technique cards that were attached behind our nametags.  I paid it forward to my sassy stampers last month by introducing 3 of the techniques and then the remaining techniques this month.  So this card uses 2 of the techniques, walnut ink resist (Apr/May 08 TJ newsletter) and aqua crayon embossing (Jun/Jul 06 TJ newsletter).  Of course we had to have a rolodex card for each technique and I also wanted to show you the decorated envelope.  (Click on the picture to see a larger photo of just the card — and ladies from my morning class, I changed my card’s holiday greetings from red to just the clear embossing…thanks for that little tip).  Readers: I am a member of the Technique Junkies online group and so whenever I talk about a technique that is within one of the newsletters, I will reference the appropriate TJ newsletter for your edification…lol).

Here’s a cutting tip for the Homespun Holiday small wreath and bow.  On the full sheet of unmounted rubber it comes connected.  To make it more useful (i.e. being able to use it on the larger wreath or with any other stamp I wish), I closely trimmed the connected image and then I cut them apart.  I immediately fitted them back together and then traced an arrow on the back side of the rubber (I use Alene’s Tack It Over and Over, otherwise I would have traced the arrow on the back side of the cling) that marked the join part. 

How did I make my wreath and greeting white and the bow red?  So glad you asked.  Briefly…I clear embossed all 3 on ivory cardstock, then spritzed with the Willow (green) Walnut Ink, quickly wiped off the ink from the embossed parts and let dry.   The bow is colored red by using the VersamarkER and an aqua crayon (aka watercolor crayon) to add color and then clear emboss on top.

Stamps: TAC Homespun Holiday (from the Fall Supplement), TAC Greetings (GWP stamp); Paper: TAC Reece (green and red cardstock), Ivory Ultrasmooth; Inks: Versamark, Palette Bordeaux, Walnut Ink Spray (Willow); Accessories: Anti-Static Bag, Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, VersamarkER, Hydrasponge