Whiff of Joy is lucky to have such a talented and diverse Design Team. Not only do we hail from different countries around the world, we all have different styles! It makes for tons of inspiration and fun! One thing we do all have in common is a love for all things Whiff of Joy!
This is our third spotlight in the series. To view the series, please click ~here~

Designer Spotlight ~ Angie Bächi

Her blog: Eye Candy Crafts ~ Her You tube Channel

Angie lives in Switzerland with her husband and their two young sons. Her creations are a blend of vintage and shabby chic and she has the ability to combine elements to perfection.

Here are her answers to my questions. She has answered in both English and German.

1. How long have you been stamping and how did you get started?

I started stamping in November 2007 just after giving birth to my second son. I was inspired by a woman who made herself the baby announcement cards. She gave me the address of a near Scrapbook Store. That's how everything started and meanwhile I'm addicted to this creative hobby! :)

Ich habe im November 2007 mit Stempeln begonnen, gleich nach der Geburt meines zweiten Sohnes. Ich war von einer Frau inspiriert, die ihre Geburtskärtchen selbst gestaltete. Sie gab mir die Adresse eines nahegelegenen Scrapbook Ladens. So fing alles an und inzwischen bin ich diesem kreativen Hobby komplett erlegen! :)

2. What is it about Whiff of Joy Stamps that drew you to joining the Design Team?

From the beginning on I especially loved and still love the sweet Henry Mouse Stamps. That was my main reason *LOL* but I find that Katharina is such a kind person and she is offering in her shop an adorable range of products for card-making. And of course I was fascinated by the talented and inspiring Design Team Members! So, as on August 2011 Katharina came to me with her invitation to join her Design Team I was thrilled and it was no question... I had to say YES!!! :)

Von Anfang an habe ich ganz speziell die süsse Henry Maus Stempel geliebt und liebe sie noch immer. Das war mein Hauptgrund *LACH* aber ich finde Katharina so eine liebenswerte Person und sie bietet in ihrem Shop eine entzückende Produktepalette zum Kartenbasteln an. Natürlich war ich auch von den talentierten und inspirierenden Design Team Mitgliedern fasziniert. Als dann Katharina im August 2011 auf mich zukam und mich ins Design Team einlud, war ich völlig aus dem Häuschen und es war keine Frage... Ich musste einfach JA sagen!!! :)

3. How would you describe your style?

Hmmmm... I just try out different things. Sometimes I use brightfull freshy colours and simple layouts, but otherwise I love the shabby chic/vintage look with lot of details on my cards... Anyway I LOVE LOVE LOVE sewing (with my sewing machine), distressing paper edges and brown Distress Ink to give it an aged look. And there's always some white Crackle Paint and Glitter glue sticking to my fingers. I allways create my card around the stamp to surround the stamp's character... I try to tell a story! Emotions made of paper is my theme.

Hmmmm... I probiere Verschiedenes. Manchmal benutze ich leuchtend frische Farben und einfache Layouts, aber andererseits liebe ich den Shabby Chic/Vintage Look mit vielen kleinen Details auf meinen Karten... Auf jeden Fall LIEBE LIEBE LIEBE ich Nähen (mit meiner Nähmaschine), das Aufrauhen der Papierkanten und braune Distress Ink für einen gealterten Look. Und ich habe immer weisse Crackle Farbe und Glitzerleim an meinen Händen. Ich gestalte immer die Karte um das Stempelmotiv herum, um den Charakter des Stempels zu unterstreichen... Ich versuche eine Geschichte zu erzählen! Emotionen aus Papier ist ja mein Motto.

4. Whom or what do you draw inspiration from?

Blogland is full of inspiration, but I never want to copy someone. I often just see a few elements of cards and immediately have my own ideas of interpretation... so I combine them in my very own style... create another story that I want to tell on my cards.

Blogland ist voller Inspiration, aber ich will nie jemanden kopieren. Oft sehe ich nur einzelne Elemente von Karten und habe sofort meine eigenen Ideen wie ich es interpretieren möchte... so kombiniere ich si in meinem ganz eigenen Stil... kreiere also eine neue Geschichte, die ich mit meinen Karten erzählen will.

5. Time to confess. Are you a messy crafter or a super neat one?

It depends... normally I'm a super neat one. I am well organized and I get my desk clean. But if I have a big order or especially if I prepare for a market stand... O LORD then I'm so messy!!! Then I am so overboarding of ideas and put out all my stuff and don't find the time to clean my craft room.

Es kommt darauf an... normalerweise bin ich super ordentlich. Ich bin gut organisiert und habe einen sauberen Basteltisch. Aber, wenn ich einen grossen Auftrag habe oder speziell wenn ich mich auf meinen Marktstand vorbereite... O GOTT dann bin ich so unordentlich!!! Dann fliesse ich vor Ideen über und hole all mein Material raus und habe dann gar keine Zeit mehr mein Bastelzimmer aufzuräumen.

6. What is one of your all-time favorite color combos?

Brown/Beige - White - Pastell Pink

Braun/Beige - Weiss - Pastell Rosa

7. What is your preferred coloring medium? Copics, Prismacolor pencils, Distress Inks, H20s?

Definitively Copic Markers, as the colours are so intense, they're refillable, they are sooooo great to use! But I also love to use Distress Inks on Aquarell Paper.

Definitiv Copic Markers, weil die Farben so intensiv, sie nachfüllbar sind, sie sooooo grossartig im Gebrauch sind! Aber ich liebe auch Distress Inks auf Aquarell Papier zu benutzen.

8. What are some of your favorite tools? The ones that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

My Big Shot & Big Shot Pro!!! ...with all the dies that go with!!! My paper edge distressing tool (by Making Memories) and my sponge with brown ink!!! My Bind-it-all !!! My Scissors, my paper Cutting tool & cutting mat!!! My bone folder & water tank brush!!!

Meine Big Shot & Big Shot Pro!!! ...mit allen Stanzformen die dazugehören!!! Mein Papier-Aufrauh-Tool (von Making Memories) und mein Schwämmchen mit brauner Tinte!!! Meine Bind-it-all !!! Meine Scheren, mein Papier-Schneidegerät & Schneidematte!!! Mein Falzbein & Wassertank-Pinsel!!!

9. What is your favorite Whiff of Joy metal die?

The French Lilies Border Die

Die Französische Lilien Bordüren Stanze

10. Finally, if you were a Whiff of Joy stamp, which one would you be?

Henry the Mouse :) what else... hihihi

Henry die Maus :) was sonst... hihihi

Thanks so much Angie for responding to my questions…and it two languages! It is always great to hear the different responses from the different DT members!

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know dear Angie! Thanks for stopping by. More spotlights are on their way so stay tuned :)

Hugs Jeanette xxo

Tutorial Altering Photoframe

Hi everyone here Sonja and today is my very first "sort of " Tutorial and a little Inspiration
I sure hope you like it ;)
I bought myself  an photo frame,I often do when I see something that I think "Yes this would look better when I Altered it. Down here I show you why.

This is the Frame that I bought.

The heart is of iron, I took it of with an screwdriver,so now it's ready to make and decorate

Simple huh ;)

First I took an white cardstock and punched around, I drew the heart and cut it out,solid glued it 

and on top of it I chosen my design paper,again drew the heart and cut it out, glued it also.

After all this was done I put the heart bag again with the screws.

Now it`s finished to make a lovely story with some adorable stamps.

I used Honey Honey and Henry with large bow..so sweet and loving,don`t you think;) 

Behind the glass I used Spring meadow 

I used lots of dies for example the Cute Hearts 

and a lot of  flowers.

The flower in the middle beneath ,the green one,I made myself 

If there is no tutorial on how to make it, I show you that the next time over here!

I colored the sweet images with the Twinkling H2O, and I can tell you 

I Love this way of painting.

Here you can see it standing for my window.

The photo`s above I made yesterday when the sun was shining,can you see the difference;)

I hope you like my little tutorial/inspiration,

Thanks for visiting my first one,and I hope to see you visit my blog sometime.

Have a Wonderful day

Sonja xx

Easter Time!!!

Hello everyone, its Colleen here today. Easter is just around the corner, so I have been making some little easter gifts and wanted to share one with you today.



You will need an empty carton egg box, yellow acrylic paint, patterned paper, cardstock, ribbon, tag, flower, pink shredded tissue paper, Spellbinders Labels Eight and Lacey Circles. And don't forget your stamped image, I have used Easter Parade, I love these little chicks!

Firstly remove all labels from your egg box.



Paint your entire egg box inside and out with yellow acrylic paint.



While your egg box is drying, cut one piece patterned paper using Spellbinders Labels Eight and matt onto cardstock. Cut one piece patterned paper using Spellbinders Lacey Circles and cut one strip of patterned paper. Matt your Whiff of Joy image on patterned paper.
When your egg box is dry, adhere and layer your pieces of paper onto the top.



Adhere ribbon, flower, leaves and tag to the top of the box.



Open the egg box up and layer some shredded tissue paper and place your easter eggs on top.



And there you have a lovely personalised easter gift to give to someone special.



Hope you enjoyed my easter gift today!

Gel Card by Lori

Hi everyone, Lori here with a Gel Card Tutorial. My kids are just crazy for these cards. They are so fun to squish around and can be used with so many different aquatic stamps. So let's get started.

You will need some designer paper, cutting tools, glue, pop dots, embellishments, small sealable bag, hair gel, a coloured image, three paper oval frames.

Step one: Open your small bag and squeeze a nice amount of hair gel into it. Blue or clear work best. This way it looks like water. Seal the bag and make sure it's fairly flat.

Step two: Get your card base ready. I am using White Textured Cardstock (12" x 6"). Fold in half. Now cut a piece of Designer paper to fit the front of the card and glue it in place.

Step three: Place a smaller piece of desinger paper on top exactly where you want it (do not glue yet). Holding it in place cut out an oval shape through both pieces.

Remove the top piece and it should look like above.

Step Four: Apply double stick adhesive around the oval.

Step five: Stick your gel bag in place.

Step six: Take the smaller piece of designer paper that you have already cut an oval out of and add pop dots to the back side.

Step seven: Attach the designer paper over the gel bag. And add an oval frame for a nice finished look.

Step Eight: Now we're going to work on the inside. Starting with the left side. Cut a piece of designer paper to fit. Mine is approx. 6"x6". Cut out an oval the same size as your front oval directly in the centre of your designer paper and glue it in place.

Next add another oval border to this side to finish the look.

Step Nine: Decorate the inside right of the card. This is where your coloured image will go. I have used Little Mermaid from Whiff of Joy. Make sure to place the stamp in the centre and check that it lines up when closed. Finish this off with an oval border as well.

Step Ten: Finally all that's left to do is finish embellishing the front of your card. I hope you'll give it a try and don't forget to visit us on Splitcoast, we'd love to see your projects!

Meet our Team ~ Designer Spotlight on Alice Wertz

Whiff of Joy is lucky to have such a talented and diverse Design Team. Not only do we hail from different countries around the world, we all have different styles! It makes for tons of inspiration and fun! One thing we do all have in common is a love for all things Whiff of Joy!

This is our second spotlight in the series. To view the series, please click ~here~

Designer Spotlight ~ Alice Wertz Alice’s {Little} Wonderland

I am always amazed at Alice’s card. Her cards are fresh and beautiful from her wonderful coloration skills to her knack of adding just the right touch with embellishments and patterned paper.

Here is what Alice wrote:

“Hello! This is Alice. I am a card maker living in Northern California with my sweet husband and our two lovely cat children. I was born and raised in Taiwan. I came to California to attend college about 10 years ago and met my husband in the process. =) Copic markers are my go-to coloring medium although I am trying to learn to color with Prismacolor pencils. It's been really fun making cards and making new friends through blogging. I never thought that this hobby would bring me such joy and friendship.”

Here are her answers to my questions:

1. How long have you been stamping and how did you get started?

I think I have been stamping for five or six years now. I first went to a Close To My Heart card making/demonstration party with a friend and I have been hooked ever since.

2. What is it about Whiff of Joy Stamps that drew you to joining the Design Team?

I was first attracted to Elisabeth Bell's gorgeous images and then there are the adorable gnomes from Norma Fickel! I love to color with Copic markers and these images are some of the best for it.

3. How would you describe your style?

I think I am on the "cutesy" side. I have no resistance against cute images. =)

4. Whom or what do you draw inspiration from?

Most of the time I am just inspired by the images themselves. Depending on the characters of the image (seasons, mood, occasions, etc.), I choose the patterned paper that I want to pair them with and I color the images according to the paper that I picked. I then worry about putting the cards together after the coloring is done.

5. Time to confess. Are you a messy crafter or a super neat one?
I think I am in between the two. LOL! I don't have a large work space, so my supplies are kind of scattered around me and for that I am messy. I do make sure that I clean up my work table after I finished each card, so I guess for that part I am a neat one. =)

6. What is one of your all-time favorite color combos?
I think I am using pink/red, aqua and brown quite a bit lately.

7. What is your preferred coloring medium? Copics, Prismacolor pencils,     Distress Inks, H20s?

Copics! Although I am trying to get used to the box of Prismacolor pencils that I just got. I am hoping one day I'll be good at it. =)

8. What are some of your favorite tools? The ones that you use every day and couldn’t live without?
Copics, paper cutter, my pink ATG gun, all of my nesties, Cuttlebug and sewing machine.

9. What is your favorite Whiff of Joy metal die?
I love Fancy Hearts border. It's so versatile!



10. Finally, if you were a Whiff of Joy stamp, which one would you be?
Uru! I would love to be any of Norma Fickel's gnomes! =)



A big “thank-you” to Alice for answering all my questions! I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Alice a little better. You can see more of her awesome creations at her blog ~here~.
Thanks for stopping by. More spotlights are on their way so stay tune :)

Hugs Jeanette xxo

Knitting tutorial

Hi sweet readers! It's Ingrid here. Today I want to share a birth card that I made. To embellish it I knitted a diaper and I'll show you how to do! I don't know if I use all the right English knitting terms, sorry for that, but it's really easy to do, so I hope the picture will show you the way.

This is my finished card. For the diaper you will need the following:

- cotton yarn

- knitting needles number 2

- a small locking pin

 You start with 3 stitches. Knit 1 row.

From the 2nd row (or the 3rd, if you count the starting row) you will add an extra stitch after the first and before the last stitch in every 2nd row. Add the extra stitch by picking up a stitch from the previous row, as you see on the picture above.

Keep on knitting this way until you have finished 13 tours (or 26 rows).

 Now you will have to tie off the stitches. I do this as follows; knit the first 2 stitches. 2 stitches on your right needle. Pull the 1st stitch on your right needle over the 2nd one. One stitch left on your right needle. Knit the 3rd stitch (on your left needle). 2 stitches on your right needle. Pull the 2nd stitch over the 3rd. One stitch left on your right needle.

And so on, until you have done all the stitches. 

Than you have 1 last stitch on your right needle. Make the loop bigger, cut the thread at 10 cm and pass through the loop. Attach the wires. Attach the points of your diaper together with a locking pin and your embellishment is ready to use!

Good luck, and I would love to hear if you like this tutorial :-)

Further details about the card can be find on my blog. Hope to see you again!