Last Day for Watercoloring at Die Cut Divas

Hey friends - Happy Halloween if you're celebrating! Today's your last chance to join the Die Cut Divas for our October Watercoloring Challenge with our amazing sponsor Altenew. As always, just be sure to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design. 

You can see today's end-of-month Diva post HERE where my teamies & I are sharing our watercolored creations. Here's mine:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; 

Hero Arts Watercolor Paper; Paper Studio glitter cardstock

Stamps with Dies - Altenew Wishing You Complete Bundle

Dies - Altenew Lacy Doily;

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - Altenew Florals Coloring Book and Watercolor Bundle

Our lucky random winner from eligible October entries will receive a 100%

discount code for an Artists' Watercolor 24 Pan Set (value $49.99)!!

I once again used a floral panel from Altenew's coloring book. After watercoloring it, I fussy cut it and added to an A2 card with a glittery die cut doily. The Altenew sentiment stamp/die set I used was a gift from sister Diva Cindy (Escape to Stamping) - how sweet of her!! Love this set!

I'm linking this card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since the Wishing set is new; thanks again, Cindy!!

Ready for a bonus? Since I had the coloring book out, I simply selected another fabulous floral & watercolored it. This time I die cut it with an oval & added it to an A2 card along with part of another doily. A Simon Says Stamp sentiment strip finished the project.

Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you in the October Diva Gallery! 

Link up your project by 9pm Pacific Time today. Happy crafting!!

Peace Dove

Happy Sunday! I raked for a couple hours yesterday and that was all I could manage - whew! At least I got the side of the house done (neighbor's large tree dropped leaves everywhere!). Thankful my arms don't hurt & I was right back to making cards this morning.

I've been trying to use Hero Arts products for my HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive card but they said any brand will do. Great, because I received an order from My Favorite Things and was eager to play! Here's today's card for the drive:

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinder's A2 Card; TH Jewel Kraft Metallic;

BoBunny Woodland Winter 6x6; Hero Arts Glitter Paper Basics;

Paper Studio Holiday (greens) and vellum

Dies - My Favorite Things Peaceful Dove, Peace & Peaceful Greenery

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop; 

Other - Paper Studio gem; Black Soot Distress Ink

I was enabled by my friend Lin (Sending Hugs) to purchase the MFT Peaceful Dove. You can see her gorgeous creations that inspired me HERE & HERE. I love how she added a second wing behind so I did the same but cut mine from vellum. The bird and other wing is Hero Arts glitter paper (love!). I also bought some accessories - the PEACE die and greenery. After die cutting the word PEACE from blue metallic, I found that the negative would be gorgeous as a sentiment. I thought to put vellum behind it but the BoBunny paper I used had ombre birch trees that faded towards the bottom - perfect for my concept. I didn't have any small black gems or beads for the dove's eye so I colored a clear one with a black Copic. Very quick and easy - done!

I finished my card around 1p but I'm slow to blog it because I had lunch with a storytelling classmate. Our "homework" from last Thursday was to pair up during the week and discuss the stories we're working on. Only Kate raised her hand that she wanted to pair up so I jumped in too - didn't want her to not have someone! We met for a late lunch about halfway between our suburbs - great food and conversation. We sat there for over 2 hrs!! All set for our final class this week. :)

I'm adding my card to the Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything and also to the 700th Allsorts Challenge Any Special Occasion. I played for the first time yesterday based on Hilary's (fiddling about) inspiration - fun challenge! And also to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my MFT dies are newly used today.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll pop by tomorrow for the last day of our Watercoloring Challenge at Die Cut Divas. I'll save tomorrow's HeroFest card to blog along with Tuesday's card.

 

Happy Holidays with Snowflake Background

Happy Saturday! Another quick card as I'm off to rake leaves - sunny & 58F here so a beautiful day for it! I only planned a couple hours this morning to make and blog this card & I see it's already past noon already - I'd better get going!

Here's today's card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive. This time I used the fabulous Hero Arts Snowflake Pattern Cover Plate. My glitter cardstock piece was just a tad bit smaller than the cover plate and my border cut uneven because of it. No worries! I added glue here and there to the back and adhered the panel to a 4 x 5.25"  stitched rectangle so that no border section hit it. Then I trimmed off any excess. Adhered the panel to an A2 card along with the Happy Holidays sentiment (from Christmas Holidays Stamp & Cut XL - love it!) cut three times - topper, dimension & shadow. I added the sentiment to a vellum outline so as not to cover up my gorgeous snowflakes to much. Very quick and easy!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 Card; TH Jewel Kraft Metallic;

BoBunny Altitude 6x6; Hero Arts Glitter Paper Basics

Dies - Hero Arts Christmas Holidays Stamp & Cut XL &

Snowflake Pattern Cover Plate;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop;

Sunny Studio Snowflake Circle Frame (added snowflakes)

That cover plate die cuts the HA glitter paper like butter (I did use a metal shim since so detailed). It's so shimmery and gorgeous in real life. If you'd like to see another example of the snowflake cover plate, go HERE - love this plate!!

I'm getting to the end of my BoBunny Altitude paper (from years ago) and I'm sad! That woodplank with soft snowflakes made a nice background for the cover plate snowflakes. Wish I would've stocked up!

I'm adding my card to the Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything and also to the 700th Allsorts Challenge Any Special Occasion. My friend Hilary is a guest designer and I spotted her lovely card this morning. Have never played there before so thanks for the inspiration, Hilary & rest of the Allsorts team! Congrats on your 700th challenge - amazing!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Lifestyle Santa with Sleigh

Woo Hoo - TGIF! I'm looking forward to a late lunch out; but first, the latest "masterpiece". If you follow me, you know that's what I call cards that take significant time with loads of details. So here's today's card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive using some left over toys the Merry Rockin' Horse Bundle, along with Santa & his sleigh. 

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Winter Wishes; Paper Studio; 

Hero Arts glitter cardstock; Neenah Solar White; TH kraft metallic

Stamps/Dies - Hero Arts Merry Rockin' Horse Bundle &

Cozy Penguin Bundle 

Dies - Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

My Favorite Things Essential Speech Bubbles

Hero Arts Santa's Sleigh, Hero Lifestyle Forms &  Hero Lifestyle Christmas Figures

Stamps - Hero Arts Hero Lifestyle Faces

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; foam tape; SSS Sentiment Strip

I ordered the basic Lifestyle paper doll set back in February and have steadily added accessories (see other dolls with different clothes HERE & HERE). For the holidays, Hero Arts released the adorable Hero Lifestyle Christmas Figures to turn your paper doll into Santa or Mrs. Claus or an elf. I started with Santa but already have some parts die cut for the other figures. How cute?!!

I die cut the doll and all additions & assembled. Stamped his face before I added the hair and beard, then drew some white eyebrows with a gel pen. Next I die cut Santa's sleigh once from green and once from silver metallic, trimmed off the silver and added atop the green. Also gave it a snowflake from the Cozy Penguin Bundle. I stamped & die cut the teddy bear, drum & blocks images the Merry Rockin' Horse Bundle the other day when I made a rocking horse card. Decided they'd be cute in the sleigh. Colored everything with Copics. Assembled - done!

I'm adding my Santa & Sleigh card to Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything. Also to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my Christmas Figures dies were used for the first time here!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Christmas Trees for Let's Squash It!

Welcome back! I'm playing along at Let's Squash It! for the October Trees and Leaves Challenge - my third and final entry. Today I'm using a new-to-me Sizzix embossing folder that I found on discount (not quite free, darn it) last week at Tuesday Morning (an overstock store). Their crafty stash isn't what it used to be but I was delighted to find the ef.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Paper Studio green;

Penny Black Holiday Trimmings 

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies; 

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Embossing Folder - Sizzix Christmas Tree Pattern

Other - Taylored Expressions sentiment stickers (retired)

I first tried the ef using a piece of lime green heavyweight cardstock die cut into a stitched rectangle. I matted it with a darker green and added to a yet a different green A2 card with a strip of Penny Black paper. Added a Taylored Expression sentiment label (from a kit a few years ago) matted onto a die cut circle of the dark green. Done - very quick and easy!

Next I made another card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive. This time I embossed a stitched rectangle I'd die cut from TH jewel metallic paper. I sanded it a bit but it didn't turn out as pretty as I'd hoped, oh well. I added some glitter strips to another PB panel and used the Christmas Holidays Stamp & Cut XL die again (green shadow with the turquoise metallic topper). Added a snowflake from Sunny Studio and an Altenew enamel dot (thanks to Diva sister Cindy for sending them!). Another quick and easy card.

I'm adding my Joy card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my ef is new, and the Happy Holidays card to Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Holiday Pattern with Hero Paste!

Hey crafty friends - sick of me yet? I'm back with another card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive. Today I'm playing again with Hero Arts Holiday Pattern Stencil. I used Hero Paste for the first time, though, & love, love, love it!! I bought a pack of three and started with the glitter one - so shimmery in person.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Tim Holtz kraft Metallic;

 Paper Studio vellum & glitter

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Hero Arts Christmas Holidays Stamp & Cut XL (sentiment)

Stamp/Die Bundle - Cozy Penguin

Stencil - Hero Arts Sprinkled Dots &  Holiday Pattern

Other - Hero Arts Hero Paste Glitter;

Worn Lipstick Distress Ink; Copic Markers

I die cut a stitched rectangle from Neenah white and stenciled the dots with what was supposed to be speckled egg but I guess I had some residual purple on the craft sheet. Loved the color so went with it. Next I stenciled the Holiday Pattern using the glitter Hero Paste. Once dry I sponged Worn Lipstick Distress Ink over the white panel - really helped reveal the gorgeous pattern. You can see an example of this holiday pattern in clear embossing paste HERE. 

Glued the panel to an A2 card, added the sentiment (vellum outline, silver shadow & purple glitter letters). I used this sentiment die yesterday for the first time and loved it. Decided to use vellum for the outline so the pattern wouldn't be totally covered. 

I had the idea to put winter accessories from the penguin set around the sentiment. I trimmed off the dangle down part of the scarf and tucked it in behind the other tail. Used a white gel pen to cover the border where I'd cut the dangling tail. The scarf and hat were colored with Copics. Unless I stamp some more accessories, one of my extra penguins from the other day will end up naked - yikes! But all for a good cause since I liked how this turned out.

I'm adding my card to two challenges - Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything and to the Happy Little Stampers October Challenge Stencil Challenge which I found through my friends Hilary (Fiddling About) & sister Diva Sue (foleysfriend). You can see Hilary's gorgeous card for this challenge HERE and Sue's HERE (she's on the HLS team).

I'm off to practice my latest story for the Thursday class I'm taking on storytelling - this one's about being afraid of bees (live ones, not stamped ones - LOL). Wish me luck!

Happy Holidays Vintage Toys

Did you miss me? Took me awhile to finish my card - got my hair cut and had lunch with a friend. Also made a Target run and picked up one of their ornament shaped trays (I showed the tree shaped one yesterday).

Here's today's card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive using the Merry Rockin' Horse Bundle. This time I added a few more of the vintage toys.

Supplies: Paper - Authentique; Paper Studio; Neenah

Stamps/Dies - Hero Arts Merry Rockin' Horse Bundle &

Christmas Holidays Stamp & Cut XL

Stamps - Hero Arts Nutcracker Bold Prints

Other - Copic Markers

When I stamped/die cut the rocking horse for a previous card, I did a second one. Today I stamped & die cut the teddy bear and trumpet, plus the drum & blocks images from the set to use in future. Colored everything with Copics. The other day when I did a nutcracker background & die cut a rectangle (see it HERE), I was left with a frame. Used it on an A2 card with some Authentique paper behind for my background. Die cut the sentiment, shadow (hard to see but it's gold glitter paper), and outline. Assembled - done!

I'm adding my rocking horse card to Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything. Also to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my Christmas Holidays Stamp & Cut was used for the first time here!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

Cozy Penguin

Quick post since I have a lot of music to practice for tonight's chorus rehearsal! But yes, I have another card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive!! I'm up to 19 cards since the challenge was announced on the 6th so I'm building a nice stack to donate - yay! I'll enter this card in the Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; TH kraft metallic; Authentique Cozy

Stamps - Hero Arts Merry Christmas Messages 

Stamp/Die Bundle - Cozy Penguin 

Dies - Sunny Studio Snowflake Circle Frame (snowflakes);

My Favorite Things Oval Shadows ("ice floe")

Hero Arts NestingCircle Infinity Dies

Other - Copic Markers; Michael's gems

This is my second penguin from the new Hero Arts stamp/die bundle called Cozy Penguin. If you missed the first one, you can see him in a shaker HERE. This time I colored my Penguin & assessories quickly with Copics. I still have more penguins and accessories for future cards - woo hoo! 

Coincidentally I chose Authentique papers from their Cozy 6x6 collection for my cozy penguin! My sentiment circle is upcycled from a previous card - my aunt likes to return cards I send her after she accumulates too many! I used a silver oval shadow as an ice floe to ground my penguin - love that die set from MFT as I often comment :) Things still looked a bit bare so I added some die cut snowflakes to echo the background - done!

What do you think of my new wooden Christmas tree tray for staging cards? Just bought it this morning in the Target "Hot Spot" ($1, $3, & $5 items). It was among the $5 items and there's also an ornament tray I might pick up next time - so cute! I'm still sad they no longer carry $3 paper pads and $1 stickers for holidays but luckily I still have some in the stash (surprised? not!)....

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

 

Penguin Box Card and Vintage Rocking Horse

Happy Sunday! I'm playing along with My Favorite Things current Outside the Box challenge where they do box cards!! This month it's Happy Holidays. I made my first ever box card a couple weeks ago with my new Up Level set; see it HERE if you missed it. When I found the MFT Outside the Box challenge I knew I'd have to try another box card. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Paper Studio pink; 

My Favorite Things Holly Jolly

Dies - My Favorite Things Outside the Box Level Up & 

BB Holiday Penguins

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Sentiment Strips

My Favortite Things BB Holiday Penguins &

Merry Everything (retired) - sentiment

Other - Hero Arts lacquer; Copic Markers 

Here are a couple more views of the box card - such fun!!

 

And here's another card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive!! I'm on track making at least one card per day until I need to mail them. Cards need to reach Hero Arts by November 18th & will go to the Bay Area Rescue Mission.

Today I played with yet another new item from the Hero Arts October add-ons box - Merry Rockin' Horse Bundle. I stamped and die cut the rocking horse image and colored with Copics. Added it to a card with some vintage Authentique Christmas papers that included the little boy. The sentiment is another strip from the Holiday Sentiment Strips set. A Copic blob on my horse meant he needed some dots - I think he looks cute this way!! I'm adding my rocking horse card to two challenges - Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything and Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since I used more new products for the first time. 

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!

 

Layered Snow Globe & another Nutcracker

Yay - it's the weekend! Since I posted for Die Cut Divas yesterday, I saved that HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive card to share with today's card. 

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Hero Arts glitter;

BoBunny Woodland Winter 6x6

Dies - Hero Arts Layering Snow Globe Fancy Die Set; 

Sunny Studio Snowflake Circle Frame

Other - Speckled Egg Distress Ink; Copic BG70; Paper Studio gems;

Tarnished Brass Distress Stain; Simon Says Stamp sentiment strip

I used a new snow globe die for a previous HeroFest card; today I used an older, smaller, layered snowglobe. Just die cut and assemble - love it!! Too much white? Lots of Neenah here; only the deer was cut with glitter white. I shaded with a BG70 Copic for some contrast on the rest of it. I sponged Speckled Egg Distress ink for my sky & colored the base with Tarnished Brass Distress Stain. Gave my deer a red gem for his nose. The snow globe set comes with a snowflake cluster but I added some extras from a fave Sunny Studio set, plus a few clear gems.

Here's the card I made yesterday. I used the nutcracker background stamp and nutcracker die again - so fun. I wasn't going to put the die cut nutcracker on at all (there's a little one on the sentiment strip) but decided the card needed something. This time he's cut with Hero Arts holiday glitter paper - love this paper & thank Hero Arts for sending it!! The green strip is a bit of leftover embossed grass from the other day's fall birthday card; you can't even tell - just looks textured.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinder's A2 cards; Paper Studio maroon & green;

Authentique Christmas Essentials patterned; Hero Arts Glitter (currently sold out)

Stamps - Hero Arts Nutcracker Bold Prints & Holiday Sentiment Strips

Dies - Hero Arts Sentiment Strips;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Paper Studio Christmas stickers

I'm adding my snowglobe to the Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything. 

Off to go shopping & have lunch with a friend. Thanks for stopping by & I hope you have a crafty weekend!!

Watercolored Floral Birthday Card

Hey friends - it's my turn to post at Die Cut Divas today, sharing the card below. We're sponsored this month by the amazing Altenew with the challenge theme of Watercoloring! As always, just be sure to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; 

Unity black; scrap of green

Stamps - Altenew Floral Frame (sentiment) 

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - Altenew Florals Coloring Book and 

Watercolor Bundle; SSS sentiment strip; Park Lane gems;

black Sharpie & pencil

Our lucky random winner from eligible October entries will receive a 100%

discount code for an Artists' Watercolor 24 Pan Set (value $49.99)!!

I finally had a chance to play with a floral panel from Altenew's coloring book. I bought the entire bundle as a 2021 birthday present to myself ; yep, it's been waiting over 18 months to be used! The images to color are printed on watercolor paper so I just pulled out the 24 pan set & brushes (also getting first use) and went to work. I used varying amounts of water to apply color & shading. Then I used a black pencil for some shadows and a black Sharpie here & there to finish it off. I'm ok with the result, even though I'm definitely no expert. I cut the panel down to fit atop a diecut mat & adhered to the card. I stamped a sentiment and fussy cut, then added to black and fussy cut a mat layer. Some gems and a little Happy printed sentiment strip finished it off.

I will also link this card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since my watercolor set has finally made it off Mount NBUS - Whew!!

Ready for a bonus? Since I had the coloring book out, I simply selected another fabulous floral & watercolored it. Again, I added a few details with a sharpie & some shading, then distressed the edges with Black Soot & glued the die cut panel to an A2 card. Stamped a different sentiment from the same set as above & added some gems - done!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card

Stamps - Altenew Floral Frame (sentiment) 

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Rectangle Infinity Dies

Other - Altenew Florals Coloring Book and 

Watercolor Bundle; Black Soot Distress Ink; 

Hero Arts Forest Green Ink; Park Lane gems;

black Sharpie, white gel pen

On this one I added a lot of white gel pen. I was heavy handed with the black Sharpie in a couple spots so I tried to disguise them with white. That led me down the garden path adding more and more white, oh well...

Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you in the October Diva Gallery! Link up your project by 9pm Pacific Time on 10/31/22. Happy crafting!!

 

Leafy Tree Birthday Card & more Holiday Cheer!

Hi everyone - I hope you're enjoying your week! The leaves in the yard continue to pile up but I'm back with another couple of cards! First up, a fall birthday card for my sister-in-law using a new Sunny Studio Autumn Tree die set. Just came in the mail yesterday - yay, perfect timing!! 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Orange (from some MMH kit) Paper Studio green;

Neenah white; various scraps including upcycled orange from a Hallmark card; 

Embossing folders - Darice Clouds & Grass

Dies - Sunny Studio Autumn Tree; Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Other - Creative Expressions Wordies Sentiment Sheets Birthday;

Hero Arts inks; B000 Copic Marker

Both embossing folders were still upopened in the ef drawer until today. I estimate having had them for over 6 years - oops! I die cut a white stitched rectangle & then a green one. I inked the cloud ef with blue ink so I could get a sky behind the cloud. Where it didn't "take", I filled in with a blue Copic. I trimmed the green panel with a Lawn Fawn hill border and then embossed with the grass ef. Die cut the tree from brown and from a scrap of variegated kraft paper, plus a bunch of leave from more scraps. Assembled the scene & added a Wordies sentiment strip cut into two pieces.

This makes my second card for the October Let's Squash It! Challenge where Gail & Jo with guest Joanne have the theme of Trees and Leaves. I'll also add it to Darnell's October NBUS challenge. I think this is a record for using something new so quickly (I die cut the tree right away last night)!

And yes, I have another card for the HeroFest Holiday Cheer Card Drive!! This makes 15 cards since the challenge was announced on the 6th. I'm on track to make at least one card per day until I need to mail them. Cards need to reach Hero Arts by November 18th & will go to the Bay Area Rescue Mission. I'll enter this card in the Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero's October Challenge Merry Everything.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Hero Art glitter card;

Bo Bunny Altitude 6x6

Stamp/Die Bundle - Cozy Penguin

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Sentiment Strips

Dies - Hero Arts Sentiment Strips &

Nesting Oval Infinity Dies
Other - Copic Markers; shaker mix from Sunny Studio (I think)

I used a new Hero Arts stamp/die bundle called Cozy Penguin. Didn't I just buy a stand-alone penguin die, you ask? Yes, but the stamp set has cute accessories - hats, a sweater, a scarf - couldn't resist it! I stamped everything on white except the sweater (scrap of Penny Black paper) and colored with Copics. The snowflake was stamped in pink ink and added to the sweater. I cut a frame using 2 HA ovals and a back layer too. Added my penguin to the back layer along with a snow hill. Put acetate behind the frame and created the shaker. Added the sentiment - done! I also stamped & cut more penguins and accessories for future cards. Oh & by the way, I finished a second gingerbread house yesterday for my own stash. The second one took a lot less time since I knew what I was doing!

Thanks for stopping by & happy crafting!!