Stay Crafty with Hero - Challenge 2

Hey everyone - I'm back with a card for the new Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge. This one fits me to a tee - Never Seen Ink or as Darnell (djkardkreations) would say NBUS (never before used schtuff). I have plenty of that, despite loving Hero Arts as I do. I'd buy a big pile and then become enamored with one set, leaving the rest to collect dust. Soooo, I pulled out a hibiscus set I'd never used. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Lawn Fawn plaid;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Hibiscus (retired) & 

Color Layering Water Lilies (sentiment)

Inks - various Distress Oxide, Hero Arts & Memento

Other - Copic Markers, Joy ultra thin foam tape, Michael's gems

I just love these color layering sets and the hibiscus is no exception! Such a pretty look, although I did embellish them. The sentiment comes from a water lily set I've used often but never this sentiment - comes in two words which I combined.

Here's a shot of two flowers, one just stamped and the other stamped then embellished with some shading. In my own inept way, I'm trying to follow Kathy's (The Daily Marker) tips; they really make a difference! I went on to embellish the second flower before applying to my card.

That's it for today friends! We're under a Safer at Home order in MN, giving me plenty of time to make cards. Still need to work on Easter cards but I have a while to get those done. Thanks for stopping and stay safe!!

Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge

Hey everyone - just popping in belatedly for the inaugural Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge. I didn't read as far as the deadline but assumed it would be for a full week - oops!! Anyway, I totally feel for all the people suffering around the world from covid-19; hope it hasn't affected any of you! Hero Arts is based in California and I hope & pray they all stay safe and well out there!!

Anyway, the challenge I missed was to make an encouragement card. I made an elaborate card and then had to make a quickie card to get both in the outgoing mail. Several of my friends are nurses putting themselves in harm's way to help others. I wanted to cheer two of them on as they care for patients in these challenging days. I have all I can do to assist my aged parents right now so I'm not adding much to the world effort!

Supplies: Paper - DCWV pink A2 card; Lawn Fawn plaid;

Paper Studio ivory; various scraps

Sentiment - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero December 2019 kit

Dies - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero January 2020 (sold out) & 

Wood Frame Infinity Dies

My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

I spent some time cleaning up my temporary studio at my parents' house. After making a bunch of cards last week, it looked like a tornado had hit! I gathered up a pile of paper scraps and was able to use a bunch of them to make the flowers on this card. I cut each twice, once for the stem and once for the flower which I trimmed off and glued atop the stem layer. It was well worth the time. I did the same for the butterfly but this time cut two butterflies so I could have some dimension with the wings.

I mailed this card to one of my dearest friends who went back to school at age 59 to get her RN degree. She had been an LPN briefly after high school before going to college & becoming a technical writer for a medical company. She missed caring for people and decided to go back for a second degree after all those years. I worry for her out in the world during this pandemic!! Next card is for another RN friend who works at a major Twin Cities hospital; she will be on the front lines as more cases develop in Minnesota. I worry about her too!!

Supplies: Paper - DCWV green A2 card; Lawn Fawn plaid; various scraps

Sentiment - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero December 2019 kit

Dies - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero January 2020 (sold out) butterfly & 

Nesting Oval Infinity Dies; 

Avery Elle Quilted Frame Elle-ments

That's it for today! Hero Arts will announce a new challenge tomorrow on their blog. I thank them for all their kindness to me over the years (see sidebar - I was a Hero Hostess) and wish them the best during this horrific time. Thanks for stopping and stay safe!!

Twofer Time - Spring Animals!

Yes, it's Spring - finally!! Wish we could enjoy it more but it's been cold & dreary here, along with the dreaded virus. Getting ready to be locked down any day now so I've stocked the pantry and done everything else that's recommended - almost a full time job!! Anyway - hope you're all safe and staying healthy!!!

Playing along today at the Twofer Card Challenge where Darnell offers a Spring Animals theme.

Here's my twofer:

I needed to get started on Easter cards so I chose a sweet Sunny Studios chick as my common stamp and made one card for Easter. Actually started with the birthday card because I had the idea to do a trio of jumbo balloons for a chick to hold. Luckily I had a fave MFT die set available. Here's a closer look with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle green A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; BoBunny Cottontail 6x6

Stamps - Sunny Studios A Good Egg;

Personal Impressions (UK) Happy Easter

Dies - Avery Elle Quilted Frame Elle-Ments

My Favorite Things retired Blueprints 23 (banner)

Lawn Fawn Grassy Border

Other - Copic Markers, Joy ultra thin foam tape

Thanks again to my friend Sally (Cinnamon Sally Designs) who gave me the Easter sentiments set years ago. We were Hero Hostesses together back in 2011 - yikes, where did 9 years go?? Anyhooo, I love that set and use it just about every year; there are three fonts of Happy Easter - all wonderful. When I ordered the darling Good Egg stamp set, they didn't have the dies. So I had to fussy cut everything! I found the dies tonight and ordered them, plus other things - help me!!!

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle teal A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Echo Park Birthday Wishes 6x6

Stamps - Sunny Studios A Good Egg;

Hero Arts Birthday Messages

Dies - My Favorite Things retired Blueprints 28 (balloons & happy)

Lawn Fawn Grassy Border

Other - Copic Markers, Joy ultra thin foam tape, black thread

It's too bad MFT doesn't have many Blueprints anymore - just love them and I have a BUNCH! I've used the birthday set often but usually with the edge balloon (see example here). Thought this would bring a smile to a friend with an April birthday.

Thanks to Darnell for a fun challenge during these crazy times and thanks to you for stopping by!

March Scramble

Well, March Madness was canceled but we card makers are going strong in our imposed isolation. Hope everyone is staying safe out there in blogland!!

Cindy is hosting a Scramble on the Hero Arts Fans Scramble group on Facebook. It's a private group but our friends from the Hero Arts Flickr Group can contact Cindy for an invitation. Our task - create a friendship or get well card. LOL - I had just finished a get well card for a friend stricken with covid19, poor dear! In my haste to get it in the mail, I failed to photograph it - oh well, it only had a Hero sentiment. So I started from scratch for the Scramble, using a fun Color Layering Iris that I hadn't used yet. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle A2 card; Lawn Fawn plaid;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Iris

Dies - Hero Arts Color Layering Iris Framecuts;

Avery Elle Quilted Frame Elle-ments

Other - various Mementa & Distress inks; Michaels gems

Just a quick post but thanks for stopping by! And thanks to Cindy for taking our minds off the pandemic with a little fun! Take care everyone!!

CAS Christmas March 2020 Reminder

Hey everyone - just a reminder that you have until the 24th to enter your clean & simple card to this month's CAS Christmas Card Challenge. I'm guest designing this month and created a card for the reminder post. We're doing winter flowers and I used a beautiful Tim Holtz poinsettia die. Also, they're celebrating their 2nd birthday and there are prizes this month!!

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 shimmer green card; Momenta Watercolor;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Poptone Black Licorice

Dies - Tim Holtz Poinsettia Pieces;

Momenta Nesting Stars Holiday Dies (peace)

Other - Lemon Stickles

I put a double sided adhesive sheet (by Sizzix) behind the white paper so I could stick it to the card and easily inlay the pieces. A bit fiddly but I like how it turned out! I cut the Peace three times from black cardstock and layered them together. The paper was thick so I left one in the negative and used it as a guide to layer the other two - worked slick!

Since I had the pink negative, I trimmed it out and used it on another card. The Joy came from the same Momenta set as the Peace - very fun set and it was on sale at Hobby Lobby. Doesn't seem to be on Momenta's site any more... I added a gem to the O - it's embossed with a snowflake which didn't show up well on the dark blue paper. The gems are from Michaels - that boxed set that has about 480 gems in it!!

Two more cards for the stash thanks to CAS Christmas! Hope you can play along this month. Thanks for stopping by and thanks again to the Loll, Bonnie & crew at CAS Christmas for choosing me as the guest designer for this month!

Christmas Cheer - AKA Alcohol

I'm playing along with this month's Christmas Kickstart Challenge where Jo & elves are serving up cards with alcoholic beverages!! I have a few stamp sets that would work but I ended up using a fun naughty elf set I've used a couple of times. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle shimmer green A2 card; 

BoBunny 'Tis the Season; Momenta brown

Lawn Fawn Let's Bokeh in the Snow (retired) & Watercolor Wishes Petite

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts Naughty Elves & Irreverent Elf Messages (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Wood Frame Infinity Dies;

My Favorite Things retired Blueprints

Other - Copic Markers; Hobby Lobby glitter holly; 

Fired Brick Distress Oxide ink

The elf image I used has a cookie in his hand and a cookie plate on the table. I trimmed both off and added an indicating hand from a different elf in the set. The mug of beer came from the same set as the sentiment. This card will end up going to my cousin Dan who loves his beer. Quick story - We lived in the same city in Wisconsin for a time and met for a drink after work one night. He offered to buy and I got my usual mixed drink (brandy old fashioned). He ordered a beer, his usual, and wondered aloud why I had to order such an expensive item. Why couldn't I have a beer like a normal person? I just laughed - but he didn't buy another round - LOL...

Thanks to Jo for a fun challenge! Be sure to link up by the end of the month if you create a card featuring alcohol.

Challenge 29 - Christmas Cheer

Thanks for stopping and please check back on the 15th for a reminder post about the current CAS Christmas challenge where I'm guest designing. Take care of yourselves and stay healthy friends!!

Guest Designing at CAS Christmas

It's the 3rd of the month and time for a new challenge over at CAS Christmas! I'm excited to be the March Guest Designer there after winning the January challenge for my tag card. Excited too that they're celebrating the 2nd birthday of this fun challenge - best wishes!!

What a great theme - winter flowers! I had to google right away and found a wonderful House Beautiful article here. It lists 15 stunning winter flowers, some of which I had in stamp or die form. However, there I was at a JoAnn's store checking their card-making supplies sales & found another magazine freebie, this one with a snowdrop stamp set. Perfect!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 blue shimmer card; Paper Studio glitter;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts CM119 Holiday Cheer - sentiment (retired);

Clearly Besotted Snowdrops (freebie set from Simply Cards & Papercraft (Dec. 2019)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 (retired); 

Snowdrops die (also freebie with magazine)

Other - Copic Markers; Icy Stickles; Michaels gems

My friend Sally took some beautiful photos of snowdrops springing up in her area in England - check them out on her Feb. 3rd blog post if desired. I told her I'd been surfing the Net looking at snowdrops when I should've just visited her blog - LOL.

Thanks to the team at CAS Christmas for having me as Guest Designer this month!! The challenge runs until the 24th - hope you can play along; full details HERE. Thanks for stopping and I can't wait to see your winter flower cards!!

A Return to the Card Chain Challenge

Hi all - it's been ages but I found my way back to The Card Chain Challenge, originally started by Deborah Nolan (Society of Stampaholics) who I knew from the Hero Hostess group. She was joined by Gail (Crafty Nomad) and Jo (Just a Dotty Pudding). I met Jo through her Christmas Kickstart Challenge where Gail also plays - so two new friends, yay!

I used the color scheme which really appealed to me, plus the sketch.

Here's the card I sent to Joanne (Ambrosia & Iron) in the UK who received it on Feb. 18th, as I predicted, 10 days from my mail date - yay!

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Glitter; Anchor Paper grey card

DCWV Ms Sparkle cards (used to cut blue mat, scalloped strip & pink flower)

Stamps - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background (with coordinating die)

Dies - Taylored Expressions Layer It - Rustic Floral

My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Other - ultra thin foam tape, Michaels gems

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide

The grey linen card is from a package I got at Anchor Paper (a Twin Cities paper warehouse), cut to A2 size - all you have to do is score the sheets to use as a card. The darker grey is the outside and the inside is the pale grey - such fabulous card stock, first time I've used it! Used another piece of it to cut the leaves. The flower, blue mat and scalloped strip were cut from scraps of DCWV A2 cards. Sometimes the cards are bent or flawed so I cut them up for scraps - too pretty to waste.

I received THIS CARD from my friend Dawn (Dawn's World) in New Zealand - so pretty, just love it!! Thanks Dawn!! You can see the full reveal HERE.

Thanks for stopping and thanks to the Card Chain Challenge crew for hosting this fun activity! You can still sign up for the March chain until March 6, 2020.