Get Inky with Annie

 Have you ever tried reverse stenciling? I just learned this technique by watching a video by Gina K. Here’s what you need: Paper - inks (bright colors) - black ink - blending brush or sponge - stencil.      I used two different color options for this.  Now swipe the colors directly to the paper. Get it nice and covered.      Next place your stencil down on top. I used a sticky mat from My Sweet Petunia to hold it down. And begin covering the stencil with the black ink.    Once it’s all covered, remove the stencil and let’s make a card!   And here’s the final results.  I hope you enjoyed this technique and will give it a try.    Go get Inky!!

 As many of you know summer in Deep East Texas is brutal! Yesterday with the heat index it was 114°, way too hot for this Northern girl to be outside. So I made the decision to create a summer crafting space in our spare guest room. Remember our house is small! It’s the perfect size for two people and a pug. But this house was definitely not made for a more than our small family. The spare bedroom here doesn’t even have a door on it, but it does have a curtain. So I have invaded that space for the summer. Luckily most people don’t come to visit you when you live in Texas in the oppressing heat of the summer. I purchased a metal shelving unit at Lowe’s that had MDF shelves on it. This is where I will be storing the majority of my crafting paper tools and completed cards. The brown plastic  drawers next to the shelves have all of my smaller crafting supplies. Things like my stamp sets, embellishments, paper punches, ink cubes, all the little fun things. I already owned the plastic shelvi

 After a several year hiatus from crafting, I am back at it again and so excited to share my crafting with you.  If you don’t know me personally, here’s some info.  My name is Annie, and I’m a Michigan native that has transplanted to what the locals call Deep East Texas. It’s not the Texas you see on TV or in magazines. It’s green; lakes; rivers, rolling hills and friendly neighbors. It’s free range just about every animal you can imagine. It’s huge mosquitoes, armadillos in the yard and gators in the lakes, summers are brutal, but winters are so much better without snow. And now it’s home. My husband Darrin and I live in a small 940 sq ft home on 4 acres in a town called Bronson. The “town” consists of a part time post office and a bar. We had a pug named Monkey that loves to help his dad in the yard, but loves even more to sit under my desk while I’m creating.  I am a 27 year employee for the United States Postal Service, and started when I was just 18 and thought it’d be a great job