Using January My Monthly Hero for CAS(E) this Sketch #355

I was inspired by my friend Lin's (Sending Hugs) post here to break out my January My Monthly Hero Kit from Hero Arts. Unfortunately it's sold out but maybe they'll bring some of the elements into the store in future. Here's what the kit contained:

So much crafty goodness! Lin did amazing work with the flower dies so I didn't want to go that route to start. Instead I picked up some of the stamps and a butterfly die to create another card for CAS(E) this Sketch #355 (using a retro sketch #171).

My first card uses a kraft card I had laying around:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio kraft A2 card;
Authentique Pleasant Collection 6x6
Stamps - Hero Arts January 2020 My Monthly Hero kit (plus butterfly die);
Your Next Stamp Mini Flower Ink Splatter
Ink - Memento Desert Sand & Rose Bud
Distress Oxide inks - Ground Espresso & Vintage Photo

I decided to use the text stamp from the kit as my rectangle element. It lightened as it dried so I added some distress oxide ink along the edges for some definition. Added the bitty flower splatter in a rose ink for some color and chose to cut the butterfly from patterned paper. I had cut one from yellow and shaded with Copics - hated it, literally, and pitched it! The pp had some browns and a bit of rose so I liked how it looked. Note the speckling on the card is part of the texture; it lightened at the top in the photo due to a light I had in that corner.... The kraft was ok but I thought white would be better. I had a little more crafty time left so decided to use the sketch for a Valentine on a white card. Here's that one:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb); 

Momenta Watercolor (pink); Paper Studio glitter

Stamps - Hero Arts January 2020 My Monthly Hero kit;

Your Next Stamp Mini Heart Ink Splatter

Dies - Penny Black All My Hearts

Inks - Memento Rose Bud & Rhubarb Stalk;

Distress Oxide Spun Sugar

I still had the heart dies out that I used on my Twofer cards so decided to use that instead of the butterfly on card one. I found another splatter stamp - my fave with the little hearts! Love it so much I stamped the entire thing for the top splatter element, plus it covered up a little brown mark I got on my paper and hid with a dab of white paint! Gotta be clever with those cover-ups!!

Anyway, I got a start on my Valentines and already began another using the January MMH kit - yay! Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!!

Penguin Cheer

Popping in with one last card (three entries per challenge allowed) at Christmas Kickstart where the penguin theme continues til January 31st. Here's my penguin trio:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Poptone Black Licorice;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hampton Arts Penguin Holidays (designer series - retired);

Hero Arts Miracle of the Holidays (sentiment - retired)

Die - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Wink of Stella;

Distress Oxide inks - Tumbled Glass & Fired Brick

Challenge #27 Penguin Parade

OK - another NBUS (Darnell's [djkardkreations] acronym for never before used schtuff). I was in my official craft room (which has long since overflowed to other rooms...) looking for an embroidery thread color a friend needs. Didn't find it, sigh, but I did find a darling stamp set with loads of penguins that I bought at the former Archiver's back in 2008. It was quite a pricey set for the day but I got it on sale. Never used it til now, can you believe it?! Anyway, it was designed by an artist I didn't know but she has a website - Ellen Krans, very talented!

I stamped three of the penguins on 110lb Neenah, colored them with Copics and added bits of clear Wink of Stella. Had to laugh - when coloring the left penguin I couldn't figure out at first why his nose was a circle. Then it hit me - it's a Rudolph nose to go with his antlers - ahhhh. So I colored it red! Cut the panel with a stitched rectangle and added some Distress Oxide ink for a sky. Stamped the sentiment, added a gem &  matted to a card - done. Very quick and simple, although I spent some time on coloring the penguins. Averted a near disaster with a blue Copic wanting to pour all over. You can still see a bit on the penguin by her scarf but we'll call it a shadow....

Did you get a pile of snow? We got dumped on here in MN and it's still snowing so it's just a matter of waiting for it to stop. Then the plowing service will clear it. Great day to stay in and make cards!! Hey Betty (created by bjk - if you want some more penguins, just let me know - LOL! Go here to see Betty's cute penguin card since she took up the challenge made on my post here. Thanks for stopping!

Scramble and CAS(E) this Sketch 355

Some of us old Hero Arts Flickr group members still play in Scrambles (90 minute challenges) with a private Facebook group. If you're an HA person, on Facebook and know Cindy, contact her to be added to the group. Cindy just posted a new challenge, hence my second blog post today. I wanted to play along right away and one of the elements was to use the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch #355. I've visited this site various times but only played in one other challenge (see my card for #207 here) - can't believe it was almost 3 years ago!! So I'll add to that challenge too. Here's my take:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday (green) formed to A2 card;

Momenta Watercolor patterned papers; white and chartreuse by unk

Stamps - Hero Arts Canvas Background (retired); 

Your Next Stamp Mini Ink Splatter;

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background (with coordinating die)

Dies - Taylored Expressions Layer it - Rustic Floral

Ink - Peeled Paint, Pine Needles & Salty Ocean Distress Oxide; Memento Tuxedo Black

I still use the old way of stamping a cling background on a formed card - stamp inked and left face up, laying the card atop. However, I lay the stamp on a stamping tool and close the lid onto the card back, pressing the card into the stamp. Saves taping the card into the tool and placing the background stamp on the lid where it might fall off, depending on how old it is.... Really gets a nice impression too!

Here's the sketch:

The funny thing, I was so focused on the sketch that I didn't even think about the fact that our Scrambles must include a Hero Arts item! Luckily I had decided my card base was blah and added the stamped background!! I really like the mini stamps from Your Next Stamp and bought a bunch. These little splatters added the perfect touch. This card took less than an hour, even with photographing and uploading.

I needed a card for a chorus friend who's dying of cancer. So sad - she's battled it for 2 years and was just told she has 6-8 weeks left of life. Very hard for us all at chorus!

Anyway, thanks for stopping and if you missed my earlier post, just click older post. I posted a card for Day One homework for the Online Coloring Challenge Road Trip class ... (yes, I'm behind).

Bee Thinking of You

Hey there - TGIF!! We're expecting a ton of snow which will make my snowmobiling brother happy!! Meanwhile, I was inspired to make a card with Spring in mind.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

BoBunny Believe 6x6 Collection; 

Paper Studio Holiday (green mat)

Stamps - Hero Arts Be Happy (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (various - retired)

Other - Copic Markers, Icy Stickles, foam tape, &

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

A friend had surgery so I needed a card for her and she loves bee images; even has a collection of bee stuff. So I went to an old Hero Arts stamp set, long retired, with these sweet bees I'd never used. There's a sun image in the set which I've used many times but the bees were neglected. I still had the beautiful BoBunny Believe paper pad out from when I made my Twofer cards the other day and was drawn to the sunrise and orange papers - thought they would make a great background for a flower with bees.  I stamped the sentiment in the sun area. Stamped, colored and fussy cut the other elements. Added them to the card, some with foam tape. Applied Stickles to the bee wings, more on the girl who likes her bling!!

I'm taking Kathy's (The Daily Marker) Online Coloring Challenge Road Trip class and consider this a piece of Day One homework. I picked three color shades - don't have to be from the same "family" - to use on each item - the flower petals, flower center, leaves, grass and bees. I left the white areas as she recommends and tried a bit of the shading with a dark pencil but it wasn't sharp enough - need to get a new sharpener!! Anyway, I liked how it all turned out. I've known Kathy for years through the Hero Arts group; both of us were Hero Hostesses, though at different times. What a talent!!!! I learn so much from her every time I visit her blog and she was a great help to me when we used to do Hero Hostess Blog Hops. Anyway, these Online Card Classes created by Jennifer & Kristina are such a great value and you can revisit them as much as you want. I haven't taken them all but count nine on my list. So, the Coloring class is still going if you want to get in. Even after the actual class period ends, you can enroll and catch up - just can't post to the gallery nor does the instructor monitor the Q&A.

I'm behind on my class lessons so I'd better get moving! Thanks for stopping and enjoy your weekend!!

CAS Christmas - Tags

Had to laugh - I created a card for the current CAS Christmas Card Challenge late Tuesday but didn't like the photo I got. Decided to wait to post when I could get a good photo. Went on that night to make my Twofer cards and got sidetracked writing that post yesterday. But I did get a decent photo of my CAS Christmas card! I knew there was no hurry - the CAS Christmas challenge runs until the 24th. Hope you can join in!

Host Christine asks for a tag on the card (or it could be a tag shaped card). Well, my brain immediately popped to having a Merry banner made of little tags. I had the cute Taylored Expressions mini tags (no longer on their site - too bad!) and was ready to dive in! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Lawn Fawn Snow Days Remix; Paper Studio Holiday (red)

Dies - Taylored Expressions Designer Mini Tags (retired) & 

I think the alphabet is retired from TE too;

Hero Arts Christmas Trimmings Stamp & Cut

Other - Joy ultra thin foam tape; Michael's twine

I found the alpha dies in a pile of stuff without its packaging - vaguely remember it being from TE but can't swear to it. I die cut the entire set of tags from the LF bokeh paper and added the die cut letters. I wanted to (& tried to) edge the tags in red but it didn't go well. Tried Copics and Distress inks but I didn't like the results so I cut a new set and went plain. Decide to arrange them on a panel of music paper from the same LF 6x6 pad. I liked the size & font of the Christmas diecut from Hero Arts so went with it. Connected the tags with string twine (glued down in a few spots otherwise left to loop). Done!! Thought this really turned out cute.

Another Christmas card for the 2020 stash - yay! I've got a great start thanks to CAS Christmas and Christmas Kickstart!! Thanks for stopping and enjoy your day!!

Twofer hearts

Hi all - I'm playing along with two challenges today: Twofer and Watercooler Wednesday. I love the Twofer Challenge, celebrating its two year anniversary, and have been participating most months since it began in January 2018!! I've not done the Watercolor Wednesday one before but my friend Dawn is on the DT so thought I'd give it a go!!  Twofer Card Challenge #23 asks for two cards for two separate occasions using a common element (Hearts this time) plus two different designs. Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #254 (wow!) looks for an occasions card.

 

First, here's my Twofer:

With a Valentine birthday, I love everything hearts!! Was very excited I could play in the Twofer this month! Naturally I have a ton of heart stuff but I decided on a Penny Black heart die set for my common element. I have a shamrock die that has heart-shaped leaves and I was sure I could work a PB heart into it - yes, it worked great!! I used the solid die and the flourish overlay on both cards - in greens on my shamrock and in pink/red middle row right on my Valentine.

Here's a closer look with supply list; I could only link one to the WC challenge since it doesn't accept duplicate blog addresses:

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn card and Spring Plaid; Paper Studio Green & glitter

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - Penny Black All My Hearts & Gift Card Pocket (tag); 

Impression Obsession Fancy Shamrock;

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Stamps - Avery Elle Seasonal Simple Sentiments; 

Taylored Expressions Many Minis - Holiday (retired)

Other - Pine Needles Distress Oxide ink; DCWV gems; foam tape

I started by die cutting the shamrock, three green hearts and three glitter green flourish hearts. I also cut the stem of the shamrock from the same green and glitter green as the hearts to layer. I glued the glitter hearts onto the green hearts and then onto the shamrock. Finished it off with a large gem and a little tag. I decided to add the shamrock to layered circles, then to the card base, finishing it off with a sentiment strip across the card. I just love the Lawn Fawn dotted 4-bar (3.5 x 4 7/8") cards. Bummer - I don't see the green ones for sale at Lawn Fawn but they still have a gray color named Hippo.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; BoBunny Believe; 

Momenta Watercolor

Paper Studio red, vellum & glitter; Neenah Creative Collection colors

Dies - Penny Black All My Hearts;

Memory Box free gift in Die Cutting Essentials magazine

My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)  

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Stamp - Taylored Expressions Many Minis - Holiday (retired)

Other - Paper Studio gems; foam tape; Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Right before Christmas I bought a bunch of UK magazines with free gifts - you know the ones I mean; I see them all the time in craft stores and at Barnes & Noble. Ended it with four of them including the Die Cutting Essentials one with a wonderful Memory Box article and a free die set (ornament and frames). I had cut the entire set out of a couple papers just to try it & had a purple frame handy. Thought it went great with the heart paper by BoBunny and my card grew from there. The interior of the frame was the perfect size for all the hearts in the Penny Black set, including the flourish one. Vellum softened the patterned paper so the hearts stood out better. I decided to pop the hearts onto circles in colors matching the paper. Really like how it turned out!!

That's it for today but I'll be back tomorrow with a card for the current CAS Christmas challenge. Thanks for stopping & I wish you a crafty day!!

More penguins!!

Hey everyone! Hope you're having a great weekend! I had a chance to make another quick card for Christmas Kickstart where Jo's theme is penguins. She's doing a month-long challenge for a few months so I must remember to play along multiple times to keep the old Christmas card production going!

Challenge #27 - Penguin Parade

Unlike my friend Betty who really isn't into penguins, I find them very cute and have plenty of stamps to use for this theme. I chose a set from 2013, exclusive to the old Archiver's store by Hampton Arts. Archiver's featured this one in a make & take back then. I couldn't resist it but, until now, had never used it! Typical me.... Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - American Crafts Christmas A2 card;

Avery Elle Holiday Collection (papers & ephemera)

Stamps - Hampton Arts (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Stickles

I die cut and stamped each penguin and colored with Copics. I added Stickles just to the girl penguin. I happened to have a package of Avery Elle papers that I hadn't used yet so decided to use the ombre snowflake piece for the background. I'd also opened the matching ephemera pack and had the bits all over the table - they kept falling off every time I moved, sigh. Decided to use a frame, present, and sentiment from the pack - so cute! I tried it all on several different cards (not that much shows) and settled on the plaid one. I will be sad when I run out of cards from this assortment - great designs and value from American Crafts (bought last year at Tuesday Morning!

Thanks for stopping and hope you find time to craft! Lastly, a challenge to Betty - find those penguins I sent you for a different challenge and make something for this one! I'm sure whatever you make with be brilliant even if you don't particularly love penguins - LOL. Bye for now....