More Small Joys

Hey everyone - hope all is well with you!! I realized the latest Hero Arts Stay Crafty challenge runs through May 28 at 5pm PDT. Had some time today so decided to make an anniversary card for my friends Deb and Dave. I was in their wedding many years ago and always try to send a special card since I don't see them very often. I have many sets with bitty hearts that I thought would work for my small joy stamp.

Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts CL268 Warm Wedding Wishes (retired),

CL954 Many Everyday Messages

Dies - Hero Arts DI334 Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies

DC184 Ribbon Messages Stamp & Cut

Other - Hero Arts Intense Black ink, Stickles, 

Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide ink,

Crayola markers & pencils

I combed through my stash and settled on an old Hero Arts clear wedding set with a small pair of toasting glasses as my main image. Using an A2 card (nearly the color of the bridesmaid dress I wore in the wedding), I cut a heart shaped window. I stamped the pair of glasses on the card inside through the window. I added a couple hearts (another small stamp in the set), colored them and added stickles. I drew a black heart around the window, masked the rest of the inside and inked the border. A bit of a mess there, oh well..... Next I shaded the glass and bubbles. I took a straight horizontal sentiment and curved it using a stamping tool to fit the negative of my diecut banner. Popped the banner into the negative to stamp it - I thought it fit the banner's curve pretty nicely.

Here's a view of the card's inside:

Inside sentiment - Taylored Expressions The Inside Scoop - Anniversary

Finally, here's the wedding set I used. Had to have it years ago, mainly for the wedding cake but I love the sentiments too!

That's it for today, friends! Thanks for stopping and thanks to Hero Arts for this fun challenge! I was able to use two small stamps that had never seen ink!!

More Christmas Wreaths

Hey all - I've got a twofer for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge to be Wreathed in Christmas Smiles (use a wreath). When I made my first card for this challenge (and for CAS Christmas), I happened to stamp two additional wreaths  & various add-ons. Mixed and matched then decided to go ahead make a couple cards with the finished wreaths. Would love to hear which is your fave of the three.

I'm calling this card 2 (card 1 being on the other post):

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Taylored Expressions Playful Patterns Holiday

Stamps with coordinating dies - Hero Arts CL907 Color Layering Wreath (retired)

Inks - Memento Rhubarb Stalk, New Sprout and Bamboo; Twisted Citron Distress Oxide

Other - Michaels clear gem; Paper Studio red gems; foam tape; 
Copic Markers for shading; red washi from Target

And this next one will be card 3 if you're voting :)

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White';
Doodlebug Swiss Dots; Taylored Expressions Playful Patterns Holiday

Stamps with coordinating dies - Hero Arts CL907 Color Layering Wreath (retired)

Dies - various My Favorite Things Blueprints  (retired) 

Inks - Memento Rhubarb Stalk, New Sprout and Bamboo; Twisted Citron Distress Oxide

Other - Paper Studio red gem; foam tape; Copic Markers for shading

While the card base and mat looks a bit brownish in the photo, they're actually a dark burgundy which matches the lattice paper exactly - go figure, different brand entirely!! And I used the darker red gems from the same set as the previous card.

Thanks to Jo and her elf Robyn for a fun challenge!! Thanks to you for visiting and for voting if you choose to do so!! Happy crafting!!

Small Joys

Hi everyone! Hope you're having a great day! Restrictions have loosened up in Minnesota so a trip to my craft store is possible!! They even have restricted the first couple hours of the day for "by appointment" shopping. Don't think I'll need that, after all the grocery shopping I've done during our 7 weeks of lockdown!! Anyway, hope you're all safe and well and looking forward to in-store crafty shopping too.



Hero Arts continues with its Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge - the current one revolves around using the little images contained in many stamp sets. I chose a few from a Christmas Stamp and Cut set, along with a wreath from a different Christmas set. I used them to make an encouragement card. Hope it doesn't look too much like something that would go around the winning horse at the Derby!!

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Neenah white

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes; Poptone Black Licorice

Stamps - Hero Arts CL474 Special Wishes and

DC218 Christmas Banner Stamp & Cut (both retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired);

banner is from the stamp & cut set

Inks - Hero Arts Intense Black;

Distress Oxides - Pine Needles, Cracked Pistachio, 

Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron

Other - Michael's gems; ;foam tape

I first stamped the wreath using a stamping tool and centering it on a 6x6" paper. I then rotated the paper and stamped with another ink, then did it again. I added the little branch here and there in two different colors of ink; mainly you see the Pine Needles. Then I cut the paper with a stitched rectangle die, matted with black and added to my card base.

I got the Christmas banner Stamp & Cut set at an outlet store right before the lockdown. The banner came from this set (stamp and die) but there are also a few bitty stamps in it. I used the small flower and branch. No die for the flower unfortunately; I had to fussy cut (covered up an flaws with a black marker on the edge...). I popped the banner with foam tape and added the flowers and some gems. Done!

This was my first play with the banner set so I'll add it to Darnell's NBUS challenge too. It always feels good to use something languishing around the craft room! Thanks for hosting this challenge, Darnell, and thanks to Hero Arts too for another fun challenge!! Finally, thanks to you for visiting me and any kind comments you leave. Really - tell me if the wreath looks too Derby winner!!

Wildflowers

Hi all - I had some time in the craft room yesterday to create cards for Darnell's Twofer Challenge #27 with the theme of flowers. I made sure that one of the cards meets the current Stay Crafty with Hero challenge ending today. Here's my Twofer:

The flower stamp used for both cards comes from a Hero Arts/Basic Grey collaboration. I stamped it once in black for card one and four times in green for card two. I colored the flowers over the green ink with a dark purplish blue pencil. I've been making weekly cards for a friend so the "thinking of you" card will go to her. The thanks card will go to a friend who has had extra work challenges during this pandemic but still makes time to help our chorus have rehearsals on Zoom. Here's a look at each card with supply list:

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

Momenta Watercolor patterns

Stamps - Hero Arts CL549 Butterflies and Wildflowers 

and CL980 Mother's Day (both retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things various Blueprints (retired)

Ink - Hero Arts Intense Black (from April My Monthly Hero kit - love it!)

Other - Foam tape; Michael's gems 

Supplies: Paper - DCWV green A2 card; Cardstock Warehouse navy;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

My Mind's Eye On the Bright Side (patterned)

Stamps - Hero Arts CL549 Butterflies and Wildflowers

and CL434 Just Find Me (both retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Ink - Memento Paris Dusk and Bamboo Shoot

Other - Michael's gems; Prisma colored pencils

Thanks for stopping! Thanks to Darnell and to Hero Arts for the fun challenges! Hope all is well in your part of the world!!

Christmas Wreath with Berries

Hey friends - I'm back with a card to suit two challenges: CAS Christmas Winter Berries and Christmas Kickstart Wreathed in Smiles. I used a fun Hero Arts set with a layered wreath and loads of different elements to add, just sticking to groups of berries this time. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - special grey linen from Anchor Paper; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps with coordinating dies - Hero Arts CL907 Color Layering Wreath (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired) & Rectangle Peek-a-Boo Window

Inks - Memento Rhubarb Stalk, New Sprout and Bamboo; Twisted Citron Distress Oxide

Other - Stickles; Paper Studio red gem; foam tape; Copic Markers

After checking out the two challenges, I flipped through my stash searching for likely stamp sets. I had a large pile but the one landing on top was the fun Hero Arts wreath set I chose. For some reason I have trouble lining up the second and third layers of the wreath but I just go with however it turns out!! The pale grey card with the white window layer reminded me of a door; I always have a wreath on my front door that changes with the seasons. I'm just realizing I forgot to take down the wreath with an Easter bunny on it - oops. Will have to remedy that asap!!

Thanks to Loll (host at CAS Christmas this month) and crew & Jo and her elf Robyn (coincidentally the person receiving my May Card Chain Challenge card) for fun challenges!! I probably will pop back in with another entry since my Christmas card stash needs building!

Thanks for stopping by!!

  

Out of the Box using a Stencil

Hey there - thought I'd squeeze in one more card for the Stay Crafty with Hero Out of the Box challenge. This time I turned to a stencil for another couple fun techniques, certainly not new but effective.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV green A2 card; Neenah black and white; 

Paper Studio holiday green

Stamp - Hero Arts CL543 Very Merry Christmas (retired)

Stencil - Hero Arts SA132 Poinsettia Stencil

Other - Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Stickles; black pen; foam tape;

Fired Brick Distress Oxide ink; Copic Markers; Paper Studio gems

I started by inking up the stencil like a stamp and carefully placing the paper over it. Then I used an embossing mat and plate to run it through a die cutting machine, effectively doing a dry emboss and a letterpress in one step. Even though there are some inky swipe marks, I still thought it turned out so pretty! Next I used the stencil to draw a few poinsettias and fussy cut as a flower with leaves. Colored with Copics, covered with Stickles and stuck to my sentiment strip. Very simple card and fun to do!!

While a 2018 release, I just bought the stencil earlier this year and had yet to use it. So, I'm adding this card to Darnell's NBUS challenge too - I'm really getting to use some of my stash but playing along with that challenge!! Thanks to Hero Arts and to Darnell for these fun challenges! And thanks to you for the visit - hope you're staying crafty!!

Out of the Box with a Mother's Day card

Hi all - I'm back with another "Out of the Box" card for the current Stay Crafty with Hero challenge. I realized when I went looking for a new challenge last Friday that #6 runs through May 7th. Yay - more chances to play! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card; Neenah black and white

Stamps - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero January 2019 (sold out);

Avery Elle Seasonal Simple Sentiments

Dies - Hero Arts Trellis & My Monthly Hero January 2019 

Other - Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black and Rosebud inks;

Hero Arts Crystal Clear Lacquer pen

I used another old out of the box technique of using a die to dry emboss paper. Just use your rubber mat and embossing plate instead of a cutting pad and presto - an embossed image. After I embossed the trellis gate into my paper, I used it to cut a mask out of printer paper so I could color the bits that would be open to the "sky". I made this into a Mother's Day card, plus made a few others. This one will go to my mom as she liked it the best of the ones I showed her - no surprises, oh well....

I'm also adding this card to the latest NBUS challenge since I've not used the trellis die before, nor the My Monthly Hero Kit containing the bicycle die and flowers. There's plenty more in the kit needing some love; I can't believe I waited this long to use it!

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful week!!

April Card Chain Challenge

Hey all - even in these crazy times, we still want to stay in touch! I've been playing at the Card Chain Challenge lately and had signed up for April. To speed things along, I mailed my card in March, practically on the heels of my March card. This card went all the way to Suze in New Zealand; she lives not far from a spot I visited in 2005 when my quartet toured there. Thankfully, she received it in less than 3 weeks!

Supplies: Paper - DCWV lilac card, BoBunny and 
American Craft patterned papers; Neenah solid papers
Dies - Spellbinders Daisy 2 (retired)
My Favorite Things - various retired Blueprints
Avery Elle Quilted Frame (the interior oval)
Other - Dusty Concord Distress Oxide ink for shading; 
gems, foam tape

I went with the color combo which I LOVE, purple being my favorite color. The light was off when I took this but the card base is all the same lilac that you can see on the right of the card - so pretty and shimmery! I used a new-to-me Spellbinders flower set that I bought at an outlet before all the craziness with the pandemic began. I've really had fun with it and made a bunch of April birthday cards before deciding it would be perfect for the April CCC.

On April 25 I received a lovely card from Kath in the UK - couldn't believe how quickly it came through the mail from across the pond!!. I just loved the little purple birdies she added to a branch. You can see the full reveal here (updated with link!)

Thanks to Deborah, Gail and Jo for the Card Chain Challenge - I've really enjoyed getting back into it!! Thanks to you for stopping by and, if you're interested, you can sign up for the May chain until May 6th.