Kraft for Christmas

Hi all - just a quick post for Merry Monday. 

Lori challenges us to use kraft cardstock on your Christmas card. 

I have plenty of this color and decided to pair it with white, plus a touch of green.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts kraft, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Embossing folder - Darice Snowflakes and Flourishes
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 21, Hero Arts DC168 Winter Cheer Tag Set by Lia
Stamps - Hero Arts DC166 Merry & Bright Tag Set by Lia 
Other - Foam tape, ribbon by unknown, green ink from a Hero Arts My Monthly Hero kit

I die cut the kraft cardstock then embossed it and adhered it to a top fold vertical A2 card. I played around with a few die cut snowflakes but decided to add my favorite Hero Arts ornament/tag. A scrap of ribbon and I was done! Be sure to check out the fabulous cards by the Merry Monday Design Team.

Hope you have a crafty week and thanks for stopping by!!

More Good Luck Cards

Another gloomy, rainy day yesterday so I had plenty of time to stay indoors and make cards! I'm sharing two more good luck cards for friends in quartets heading off to competition next week.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Midnight Layering Paper; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Michael's blue
Stamps - Lawn Fawn Sunny Skies and matching dies (retired)
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 21, Impression Obsession Good Luck
Stencils - Hero Arts February 2017 My Monthly Hero kit (sold out) for the clouds
Other - Foam tape, Copic Markers and colored pencils for shading, gold gel pen, Michael's gems

I've had this Lawn Fawn set for ages but hadn't given it any love until now. I really had fun with the sweet kites and used one of the sentiments "reach for the sky" on the inside.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Designer Floral Layering Paper (retired); Heidi Swapp glitter paper,
Michael's purple card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 26 & Clouds (retired); Impression Obsession Good Luck
Other - Foam tape, Michael's gems, Wink of Stella (on bow), Copic marker and white gel pen for shading 

I love the Blueprints set containing this balloon. I've used it several times for birthdays but thought it would be fun for a good luck card too. I made three versions of this card since it needed fewer steps than the kite card. That did it for my friends in quartets, then I realized I needed a card for our Director who'll be taking our chorus into the chorus contest. So I whipped up this card today:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Midnight Layering Paper, American Crafts Christmas 6x6 (musical)

Other - foam tape, Michael's gems

Dies - Hero Arts Stars (retired); My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 21, Impression Obsession Good Luck  

Next week I'll have to start making congrats cards so I'm ready to deliver them after the contest!
Thanks for stopping!!

Good Luck & another wreath card

Hi all - hope you're enjoying the week! We've had some April showers - yesterday we even had a bit of thunder & lightening that kept me from having to do some yard work - LOL! Still gloomy today so maybe I'll get another break.

Today I'm sharing two cards. First up, a good luck card for two of my former Chord Company quartet-mates. After almost seven years since CC retired, Heidi & Jan are singing together in a new quartet called Spice with two of our other friends. Spice sang for the chorus last week and did a wonderful job! They will compete next Saturday in our Regional quartet contest and I'm sure they'll excel.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Midnight Layering Paper; piece of bakery doily, Tim Holtz kraft metallic, 
American Crafts Christmas (music pattern), stripe unknown, cream from a Co'redinations card
Dies - Impression Obsession Good Luck; My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20, 
Hero Arts April 2017 My Monthly Hero kit (sold out)

I had my first play with the April My Monthly Hero kit - hard to believe I got it two weeks ago! All I'd done until now was separate all the dies - I hadn't even made any negatives to use in the MISTI. So instead of stamping & die cutting, I used a die that doesn't have a matching stamp - it's just a darling stand alone dress form die. Can you see the little rhinestone necklace I added to each one? We do love our bling!! I have more good luck cards to make but hope this one suits my dear ex-Chords!

Next, another version of the wreath I used on this card for the current Merry Monday challenge:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, American Crafts 6x6 Christmas pad from Target's Hot Spot, 
Pop-tone Cherry and Green card stock, scrap of Tim Holtz kraft metallic gold

Stamps - Hero Arts CL907 Color Layering Wreath

Inks - Hero Arts reds & greens from various My Monthly Hero kits, plus Emerald Green from AF394 Color Layering Peacock Ink Cubes, and Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs Distress Ink

Dies - Hero Arts Color Layering Wreath Frame Cuts; My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 13;
Tim Holtz Sizzix Holiday Greens Mini Thinlits Dies

Other - foam tape, Michael's gems, Hero Arts red metallic accents

I made a second card of my first version and while I was stamping another wreath, I made a third one. This time I added some holly leaves to the berries. I just received the Tim Holtz Holiday Greens die set from Simon Says Stamp on Saturday and thought the leaves and branches would be perfect additions to his Holiday Wreath (still working on that one). So I die cut a pile of the holly leaves for that project and suddenly some of them migrated to the other wreath! Funny how that happens.... What do you think - better with the leaves or without?



Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!

Holiday Cheer Wreath

Hey everyone - I'm back after a fun Easter weekend to share a Christmas card with a wreath on it. That's Linda's challenge over at Merry Monday this week.

I just love wreaths - always have a seasonal one on my front door! I decided to use a fun Hero Arts color layering set that I hadn't used fully until today. With the MISTI, stamping the wreath and decorations was a breeze. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, the Paper Studio Christmas Glitter

Stamps - Hero Arts CL907 Color Layering Wreath

Inks - Hero Arts reds & greens from various My Monthly Hero kits, plus Emerald Green from AF394 Color Layering Peacock Ink Cubes, and Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs Distress Ink

Dies - Hero Arts Color Layering Wreath Frame Cuts; My Favorite Things Die-Namics Pierced Rectangle Frames

Embossing folder - Richard Garay Knitted Pattern

Other - foam tape, Michael's gems, Hero Arts red metallic accents

I had tried the layered wreath previously and I didn't line it up very well. Today, it went much better but I still ended up rotating one layer and restamping so I had four layers instead of three. My decor items had too wide a white border for my taste, given the small wreath, so I trimmed them down before adhering. I popped the outside frame up with foam tape but the inside frame was flush on the embossed background. I also popped up the wreath and then another layer for the bow.

Be sure to check out all the inspiration from the Merry Monday Design Team - fabulous creations this week!! I have a bunch more wreath supplies so I might try another design later in the week. Meanwhile, I still plan to make a duplicate of this card for charity - just haven't finished die cutting all the elements yet.

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!

Happy Easter!

Wishing anyone celebrating today a Happy Easter! Here's a table decoration I made using a cute Hero Arts paper layering die:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; scraps of Authentique 

Dies - Hero Arts DI371 Paper Layering Rabbit with Frame; My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 18; 

little green branch die from unknown

Stamps - Personal Impressions (UK) Happy Easter (retired)

Ink - Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide; Other - Copic Markers, Darice flower gem

I die cut the bunny using the paper layering die along with the frame, then I cut just the frame to put on the back. I sandwiched the two with a flat wooden stick (like you'd see from a paper fan) in the center so I had something to pop into my flower pot. The garden center had already added some sheer material into a decorative tin bucket before setting the flower pot inside. I put some dotted washi tape around the top of the bucket since the handles had a bit of a rough edge.

Hope you have a wonderful Easter and thanks for stopping by!

Couple of cards

Happy Saturday everyone! I need a couple of cards for next week so thought I'd get them made while I had a chance this morning. First up, a thank you card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Grass and Carnation Layering Paper, Neenah Solar White, Michael's green
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 13; Frantic Stamper Jeans Pocket
Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter Lawn Cuts and Grassy Border
Stamps - Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter (tulips), Hero Arts CL663 Thanks a Bunch (retired sentiment)
Other - Copic Markers, foam tape

I received a darling Easter card from my friend Heather yesterday (she hasn't uploaded it at this point). She enclosed some die cuts, including this sweet jeans pocket (paper source unknown but it's a pretty salmon pink color). Thanks, Heather!! Thought I'd make the pocket into a pot for a trio of tulips - hopefully it's a nice springy thank you. I linked (uncompensated) to 123Stitch as the source for it as that's where she got it. I found this crafty shopping site a few years ago and we both love ordering from them..

Next, a sympathy card I need for a memorial service coming up next week:

Supplies: Paper - Pop-tone black, American Crafts Christmas (sheet music) and copper from a fall 6x6 pad from Target's Hot Spot, Basic Grey Lucille, scrap of Neenah Solar White
Dies - Cheery Lynn Designs Whistle a Happy Tune, Our Daily Bread Mini Tags, My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 21, Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Borders
Other - Memento Tuxedo Black ink, foam tape, Michael's gems; Stamp - Hero Arts CM124 Color Layering Fuchsia

A retired chorus member passed away on Tuesday after a brief illness. Jean was the lovely lady who arranged one of our favorite Christmas songs "Straw Carol". We had the chance to sing it for her back in December when we performed at her senior living complex; she simply glowed at hearing it! I've known Jean since 1992 and she has been such an asset to the City of Lakes Chorus; we'll miss her!!

I glued the treble clef to a piece of black cardstock and fussy cut a border; it didn't stand out from the patterned paper without the mat. I tried a few different things, including a vellum oval and ended up with the mat. I think the family will appreciate the musical theme.

Thanks for stopping! I'm off to make a dessert for tomorrow's Easter dinner - Fresh Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars. I spotted this Kraft recipe in a magazine ad for Philadelphia Cheese (love!). Can't wait to try it!!

Spring cacti

Hey everyone - just sharing a card I made and sent to my sister who moved to AZ last fall. I forgot to photograph it but Kari took a photo and texted it to me. She loved the card since it reminded her of the blooming cacti in her yard.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Sunshine Layering Paper (lightest shade - daffodil); Authentique; Neenah Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts CL838 Stamp Your Own Cactus; Your Next Stamp Hey Chickie

Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide, Ranger Archival Watering Can & Garden Patina

Other - Copic Markers, foam tape, Michael's gems

And who can resist that sweet little chick?! I just love the entire Hey Chickie set from Your Next Stamp - so many darling little chick images! That wraps up my Easter/Spring cards for this year, however, on Easter I'll share a little decoration for a potted plant. Hope you're having a wonderful holiday weekend!

Thanks for stopping!!

Winter Scene

Welcome to another Merry Monday post! Kathy's challenge - create a scene on a Christmas card.

I enjoy creating scenes and have a bunch of stamp sets designed for scenes. Instead, I wanted to give some love to a favorite Paper Smooches set. Here's my card:

Supplies: Stamps - Paper Smooches Warm Hearts; 
Hero Arts CG697 Blizzard Bold Prints and CM119 Holiday Cheer (sentiment)
Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Pop-tone Black; scraps of BoBunny, Authentique, & the Paper Studio
Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 18 & 21; Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Borders

I stamped the quartet of trees image twice on a piece of white card. Then I stamped two more tree images on Post-it notes and cut them out for masks. I masked the trees, plus the bottom of the card with more Post-its. I stamped the blizzard and removed the masks. Next I stamped the tree image on various patterned paper scraps and cut out the tree tops. Adhered them to the trees stamped on the white card and colored the trunks, plus shaded a bit with Copics. Using a second piece of white card, I cut a scalloped border and adhered below the trees. Then I die cut the entire panel with a pierced rectangle, matted it in black, and adhered to a white top fold A2 card. Cut and stamped the sentiment banner and adhered to the "snowbank". Then I stamped the snowman and cardinal on a scrap of white card, fussy cut and colored them. Adhered them to the panel with foam tape. Finally, I added Stickles to the heart. When I bought this stamp set in Arizona over a year ago, the store didn't have the matching dies. Finally went to Simon Says Stamp and ordered them today with some other "must-haves" - LOL.

Oh no - crafty catastrophe - as I cleaned up, somehow (truly I don't know how) I smeared the Stickles. Tried to get them back onto the heart but some stayed stuck to the snowman - boo, hoo. I usually try to "make it work" but today I just stamped and colored another snowman. I also stamped extras of the snowman and cardinal for another card later in the week.

Thanks for stopping and be sure to check out all the fabulous cards by the Merry Monday Design Team! Have a wonderful week!!

Easter Cross

Hi all - I'm back today with an Easter card I started back in September! Here's the card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Authentique patterned; Hero Arts PS622 Foliage Layering Paper; 
the Paper Studio glitter paper; scrap of brown

Stamps - Hero Arts CL476 With Sympathy (retired) Personal Impressions (UK) Happy Easter (sentiment - retired)

Dies - Hero Arts DI327 Branch Wreath Fancy Die; My Favorite Things Die-namics Blueprints 20; 

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Crosses Two Etched Dies S5-093

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Inks; Other - gold gel pen, Michael's gems

I bought several add-ons to the September 2016 My Monthly Hero kit (sold out), including the Branch Wreath Fancy Die. When I die cut it with some brown card stock, it reminded me a bit of a crown of thorns. Crazy? You tell me! I decided to try it with a Spellbinders cross and liked the combo so put both items aside for Easter. Fast forward to yesterday when I finished off the card using a lily from a Hero Arts sympathy set. Lilies always bring Easter to mind for me. Haven't decided who will get this card and I still need to find an inside sentiment to match the religious exterior. Hobby Lobby sells wood block stamps with Bible verses on them so I might end up going there. That will wrap up my Easter cards for this year - yay!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're enjoying your week!!

Branching Out!

LOL - by the post title, you'd think I was doing something other than Merry Monday. Nope - it's time for Debbie's challenge to use twigs &/or branches on your Christmas card. Fun theme & be sure to check out all the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team!

The first thing I thought was to use the cute Lawn Fawn birdies I used on a card a couple weeks ago, putting them on their branch this time. As I was flipping through my stamps, though, I spotted a Pink & Main set I bought in Arizona back in 2015 - I couldn't resist the sweet cardinal.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Grass Layering Paper; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Pop-tone Red, Green and Aqua; American Crafts Christmas from Target's Hot Spot bin (patterned)

Dies -  MFT Die-Namics Blueprints 20 (stitched rectangle); Impression Obsession Pine Branch; 
Pink & Main Hollydays Dies; Spellbinders Classic Ovals Sm 

Stamps - Hero Arts CM100 Christmas Messages (sentiment); Pink & Main Hollydays

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distress Ink -Pine Needles
Other - Copic Markers, googly eye, Michael's gems

After doing Kathy's latest 30 Day Coloring Challenge, I've been trying to do better shading and texturing. I hope I succeeded with my cardinal on branch! Since I still had a set of ovals out from the weekend, I decided to pop a horizontal oval behind the cardinal to showcase him; the patterned paper would've been a bit overwhelming otherwise.

While I was still thinking of this week's Merry Monday, I realized I didn't make two versions of last week's card (which, by the way, got an Honorable Mention!!). I'm really trying to do that each week so I have enough for charity donations. So, I whipped up a card with a smaller poinsettia and a twist to the frame.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Foliage Designer Layering Paper & PS766 Decorative Woodgrain Vellum; Authentique Green; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Recollections (Michael's brand) red and green; Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic

Dies - Spellbinders S5-055 Layered Poinsettia & Elegant Ovals & Classic Ovals Sm; Hero Arts DI199 Circle Infinity Dies
Sentiment stamp - Hero Arts CM100 Christmas Messages

Ink - Hero Arts Red and Green Inks, Tim Holtz Distress Ink -Pine Needles

Smaller poinsettia because I had mangled the largest flower layer when I was inking! Instead, I cut it in green and used part of it for leaves. The centers were die cut with the teeny circle in the Hero Arts Infinity Circle set. When I made last Monday's card, I die cut a second elegant oval but part of it got mangled when removing it from the die. So I die cut an oval out of it thinking I'd pitch the exterior. Turns out it was just mangled on the edge where I'd put the poinsettia so I decided to use it. I die cut a vellum oval to replace the part I cut out and then put the smaller elegant oval on top. Interesting thing about the smaller oval - along the edge it has some triangles - most of the time a bunch pop out so I poke out the rest. This time none popped out so I have a dry embossed look around the edge - very cool. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear which version of the poinsettia card you liked better.

So that's it for today. I have another Easter card I'll share tomorrow but for now, as usual, I'm off to practice chorus music. Thanks for stopping and have a Merry Monday!!

Happy April Fool's Day!!

No fooling - I actually made another Easter card today! I had such fun yesterday with Easter cards that I wanted to keep the momentum going. I recently received a sweet bunny die from Hero Arts that I thought would be perfect for an Easter card.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Pool Layering Paper; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Authentique green; scrap of brown textured

Dies -  Hero Arts March 2017 My Monthly Hero kit (sold out) "planting soil"; DI371 Paper Layering Rabbit with Frame

Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter Lawn Cuts and Grassy Border

Stamps - Hero Arts CL498 Celebrate Every Day (sentiment); Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter (jelly beans, egg with jelly beans, and tulips); Other - Copic Markers, Wink of Stella, Felt carrot from Target's Hot Spot bin
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, various Distress Inks

Yesterday I stamped a bunch of images from Lawn Fawn's Eggstra Special Easter stamp set, including the jelly beans. Suddenly I had an image of them in the "planting soil" growing like a crop - crazy, I know. I thought they would be perfect with the large bunny & his carrot.

Thanks for stopping by.... and I hope you're enjoying the weekend! It's a gorgeous day but I'm heading to Anchor Paper who offers a make 'n take today. They didn't say what it is but I'm sure it'll be fun! Hope it's not an April Fool's joke!!