Fa La La La La

Hi everyone - I'm here with a card for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge - #89 Animal Antics:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; scraps;

Paper Studio A2 card; Hero Arts glitter paper

Stamps with Dies - Simon Says Stamp Carol Singers (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Snowy Street Lamp;

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders

Other - Copic Markers; Distress Inks; foam tape;

Recollections puffy stickers;

Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Versamark ink;

Ranger Seafoam White embossing powder

Jo and her elf Gundi want to see animals playing in the snow. I flipped through the Christmas stamps and found this never-used Simon Says Stamp set from Stamptember 2017. Decided to give it some love and thought that animals playing musical instruments would be a different take on "playing in the snow" - lol.

Stamped/die cut/colored the three critters. Die cut some snow and a lamp post. Backed the open part of the lamp with a scrap of orangey yellow paper (left out the candle which I used on a previous card). The lamp post is too long for a horizontal A2 card so I trimmed off the excess and covered the bottom with a snow bank.

Stamped and white embosed the sentiment on a pastel blue A2 card. Blended Stormy Sky Distress Ink over the top half of the card and added some Black Soot to the edges. Assembled the elements onto the card & added some puffy musical note stickers - done!

The lamp post set is one I bought locally through the Hero Arts 2024 Holiday Shopbox program. New holiday isn't released at Hero yet but I shared a link to Simon Says Stamp where Shopbox items are now available online. The full release will be online at Hero Arts on August 22nd - can't wait!!

Since my stamp set got first play here, I'll add my card to Darnell's August NBUS Challenge #65 & also to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57 where anything goes for Christmas.

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!!

Winter Park Scene

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

I'm back with more Hero Arts 2024 Holiday Shopbox products that I picked up at my favorite local store on Monday (will be available at Hero Arts online on 8/22). I shared a card using a new peeking die set yesterday; today I have a park scene:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Bermuda; many scraps;

Paper Studio glitter; Lawn Fawn All the Dots;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Hero Arts Snowy Street Lamp;

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders;

Memory Box Pine Tree Grove;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plate with die - Spellbinders Betterpress Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Other - Copic Markers; Betterpress Black ink

Die cut the lamp 3 times from black & stacked for dimension. Next, I die cut the candle twice - from scraps of gold and yellow; trimmed off the yellow flame & added to the gold candle. Die cut the wreath, bow (twice) and snowy details. Added to the lamp.

Die cut a LF patterned paper with a stitched rectangle & added to an A2 card. Die cut a glittery LF stitched hill & then the snowy banks from the HA set. Die cut them with the stitched rectangle so the edges matched & added to the card. Die cut the pine grove from Bermuda and glitter card stocks & assembled. Die cut the bench from a shimmery silver scrap & the birds from a red scrap. Added shading & details with Copics. Arranged the scene atop the cards and adhered. Added a pressed sentiment from the bits box - done!

I have other street lamp sets from other brands. I especially liked this new Hero Arts set for the extra scene elements it included. I could've left the trio of pines out and still had a nice scene just using this set.

Since my street lamp set got first play today, I'll send my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64. Will also add to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57 where Anything Goes and to Tic Tac Toe Challenge #252 where my friend Betty has set the board. Once again I've used the center vertical column - Die Cuts/Free/Any Sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Peeking Winter Bear

Hello & welcome! I wanted to play along with Darnell & her IDEAS program (see her beautiful inspiration HERE). This week A=Anything Goes and I wanted to do a Christmas card to build the stash. But what products to use??

Hero Arts just announced their 2024 Holiday Shopbox and I saw that my favorite local store participated this year! I popped over yesterday and picked up some new products not available yet, except at a Shopbox store. I knew right away that I'd use Peeking Winter Bear first - so cute!!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar white;

Sunny Studio Holiday Cheer; scraps

Dies - Hero Arts Peeking Winter Bear;

Lawn Fawn Winter Wonderland Window;

Waffle Flower Christmas Banners

Other - Copic Markers

Die cut the bear 3 times from white & stacked for dimension. Next, I die cut the face bits from scraps of grey and black; trimmed & added to the bear. Did some shading with Copics. Die cut the accessories from a scrap of red & added to the bear. Adhered patterned papers to an A2 card, then added the bear. Die cut the sentiment from a scrap of black & adhered to the card. It looked a bit bare so I found some snowflakes in the bits box, plus die cut some more. Added them around the card and one to the bear's hat - done!

Since my bear got first play today, I'll send my card to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64. Will also add to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57 where Anything Goes.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

January 2024 Card Chain Reveal

Yes, it's that time again! Time to reveal cards going 'round the world for the January 2024 Card Chain Challenge!  Thirty-two people participated and you can see the entire reveal HERE. My card went to dear Jo (Jo Blogs) in the UK. Jo helps run the CCC and also does a few other challenges, including Christmas Kickstart where I was her January elf - so fun! Thanks for all you do, Jo!!

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Mist and Amethyst;

My Favorite Things Colorful Canvas;

Neenah white & black; scrap of slate

Stamps - Hero Arts All Occasion Messages (retired)

Stamps with dies - Lawn Fawn Our Friendship Grows (dies HERE)

Dies - Spellbinders Essential Four Petal Labels;

Hero Arts Smile Friend Stamp & Cut*;

A Jillian Vance Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers (BV29 Slate, C4, C1, V12, V15);

white gel pen; Hero Arts Aqua enamel dots;

Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink

As I often do, I used the color palette, followed the sketch and used the theme of friendship. Options were:

Colour Palette Option

Sketch Option

Theme Options: Mythical Creatures / Birds / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Paint or Ink / Splatters

I die cut two stitched rectangles in two shades of aqua canvas pattern from MFT. From the darker shade, I die cut a label. Added some shading to the edges with Black Soot then adhered the darker rectangle to the lighter one with foam tape. Glued to a Mist A2 card. 

Next I stamped the flower on Amethyst cardstock and fussy cut then added to a white die cut so I'd have white edges. Added some shading with Copics. Stamped the leaves, colored with BV29 and some grey Copics, then fussy cut. Die cut the FRIEND 3 times - twice from black and once from slate. I added BV29 to the slate one to deepen the color, then glued it atop the two black ones for dimension. Stamped a subsentiment strip and glued it to the FRIEND. Assembled the elements and added some enamel dots - done! The FRIEND is from the Spring 2024 Hero Arts collection* which I was able to get through the ShopBox program; it'll be available at Hero Arts on Feb 14th - my bday - yay!

The amazing Julia (Create with Me) sent me the following stunner - just love the beautiful blue jay atop the fence (gorgeous woodgrain!) with the sweet scene behind!! Julia also included some fence and bird die cuts for me to play with - thanks, Julia!!

In the USA & Canada it's Groundhog Day where the question is "Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow??". This forecasts whether we'll have an early spring or not. And if you want to see an adorable groundhog family, check out Chunk the Groundhog videos on YouTube. I saved a link to them on my phone to watch anytime I need a smile!

That's it for today! Come and join us at the Card Chain - sign up for February HERE by Feb 6th.

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

Spring Bunnies

Hello friends - something different today than the Christmas cards I've been sharing - a Spring card! 

I had the opportunity to do some crafty shopping at my fave Twin Cities stamping store Anchor Paper. They have participated in the Hero Arts ShopBox program in the past but missed the final one of 2023 to my disappointment. But they're back into it for Hero Arts ShopBox Spring 2024, giving me early access to new Hero Arts not yet available online. Here's my first card with new Spring goodies*:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah white; Paper Studio A2 card;

Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes

Stamps with dies - Hero Arts Spring Bunny Bundle*

Stamps - Hero Arts Rain Texture Bold Prints*

Dies - Hero Arts Butterfly Foliage*;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Aren't those bunnies just the cutest?!! If I remember, I will add links to the Spring products once they're available on the Hero Arts site (February 14th). Hero Arts also mentioned that Simon Says Stamp (among other places) will offer the new release online starting January 25th.

Process:

• Stamped the rain texture onto a piece of blue LF Watercolor Wishes, then die cut with a stitched rectangle (in this case, an old well loved one from AJVD). 
• Die cut a piece of lime green with the foliage die, then with the rectangle
• Adhered the two pieces. 
• Added some Copic detail to the grass & leaves. 
• Die cut the butterflies from some scraps.
• Die cut bunnies and sentiment, saving the negative.
• Use negative for stamping the images in the MISTI.
• Color images with Copics
• Assemble card using liquid glue & some foam tape 

As usual, I had die cut all bundle elements creating a template. Then I use the negative and pop the die cuts in for stamping. For the first time ever, after buying hundreds of stamp/die sets, the dies cut the mirror image, rather than the stamped image! I made use of the items I'd die cut, though, by flipping them and my template to stamp on the underside. Not as smooth as normal but, hey - it worked & I was able to finish my card. I reported the issue to Hero Arts who will send me new dies when available.

I'm entering my card at the January Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero Challenge to combine old (stitched rectangle, Copics & paper) and new (Spring ShopBox items). Also linking up to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge since using my Spring items for the first time.

One more note - the photo of my card was taken with my new Shot Box, picked up at Michael's during their post Christmas sale. It definitely diminished shadows since it was fully dark when I took the photo but I expected a better result. Oh well, I'll keep trying!

Have a crafty day & thanks for stopping by!!

Hero Arts ShopBox - Take Three!

I'm baaaack! Here with day three of sharing pre-release Hero Arts products I bought via the ShopBox Spring 2023 program! My favorite Twin Cities brick and mortar store - Anchor Paper Express in Plymouth MN - participates in the ShopBox program. Limited online retailers will offer these products next week, starting January 19th. 

Usually I go to the trouble of seeking out the ShopBox stuff and then forget to use them until they're widely available. This time, in keeping with my plan (I won't say "resolution") to use new stuff quicker, I've been creating every day. So proud of myself & I'm getting needed cards done too!!

Both of today's cards use the new Daffodil die set & the new sentiment bundle, Friendly Messages. On card one I also used a new cling stamp called Burlap Bold Prints.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card (aqua & vanilla); Neenah Brights;

Michael's green; My Mind's Eye Necessities (woodgrain); 

Anchor Paper kraft; upcycled greeting card (orange patterned)

Dies - Hero Arts Daffodil & Nesting Oval Infinity Dies;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stamps with Dies - Friendly Messages Bundle

Stamps - Burlap Bold Prints

Other - Foam tape; Park Lane gems;

Black Soot Distress Ink; Hero Arts Sand Stone ink

Yesterday I used the Lily of the Valley set, loving those flowers as I do. But daffodils are another fave of mine and these dies make adorable ones in two styles. This time I trimmed the sentiment into two pieces after I die cut - very simple to do! This card will go to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge since my die set & burlap stamp got first play with it.

Here's a twofer with the daffodils & using the same sentiment set (love, love, love it!) but for a birthday. This one will go to my friend Debbie who loves to garden.

Thanks for continuing to visit! My only other ShopBox purchase was some spring rub-ons and I probably won't do a special post for those. You can see them in the video at the ShopBox link above, if desired. Happy crafting & TGIF!!

Hero Arts ShopBox - Take Two

Welcome back to day two of sharing pre-release Hero Arts products I was able to purchase through the ShopBox Spring 2023 program! I visited my brick and mortar store on Monday - Anchor Paper Express in Plymouth MN, a ShopBox participant. As I mentioned yesterday, ShopBox products will be available at limited online retailers on January 19th. 

Today's cards use the new Lily of the Valley die set. On card one I also used the new sentiment bundle called Friendly Messages (see a different sentiment on yesterday's post - card two).

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Neenah white;

Michael's green; My Mind's Eye Necessities (woodgrain)

Dies - Hero Arts Lily of the Valley &

Cabinet Door (retired)

Stamps with Dies - Friendly Messages Bundle

Other - Foam tape; Copic Marker BG70;

Black Soot Distress Ink

While shopping on Monday, I found the Cabinet Door die set in clearance - not sure why I never spotted it before, but it reminds me of a trellis or garden gate. Love, love, love it! The left side doesn't cut, instead scores, so you could open it if desired. It also comes with some hinges - so cute! Anyway, I left it closed with a larger woodgrain edge.

But the second I saw the ShopBox post at HA, I knew I'd want the Lily of the Valley set. I've mentioned it in the past but a former coworker gave me some of his lilies before we retired. His were running rampant, escaping under the neighbor's fence! I contained mine in a narrow plot between my front sidewalk & alongside the garage - perfect for minimizing the spreading. The bitty white flowers really make me smile when they start blooming in the spring. My lily of the valley card will go to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge since my die set got first play today.

Next up, a crazy idea to change the bitty lilies into hearts for a Valentine card. This one will go to the January Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero Challenge. They're doing "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - how fun!! I'm delighted with how this turned out - just how I envisioned it!

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Neenah white;

Michael's green; unk pink; MFT Party Time

Dies - Hero Arts Lily of the Valley &

Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stamps - Hero Arts Celebrate Every Day (retired)

Stencil - Lawn Fawn Falling Hearts

Inks - TH Black Soot Distress; Hero Arts Taffy Reactive 

Other - Foam tape; white gel pen; Hero Paste Glitter

I really enjoy using the glittery Hero Past - this time with a new Lawn Fawn stencil. BTW, Die Cut Divas have Lawn Fawn as our January sponsor and we're looking for Valentines with diecuts or embossing folders. Check out our challenge HERE - no need to use LF products but our random winner will get a prize from LF!! I will be back on January 21st with my usual Diva post (I took December off) so I hope you'll stop back!

Thanks for the visit and have a crafty day!

Hero Arts ShopBox - Take One

Welcome!  Today I'm sharing two cards made with advance release Hero Arts products only available through their ShopBox Spring 2023 program. At the link, you'll find a video of these products and which brick & mortar stores carry them prior to release at online retailers. 

I typically shop at Anchor Paper Express in Plymouth MN. If I leave home early enough, I can get there to shop before they close at 4p on a Monday, then grab dinner and head to chorus rehearsal. That's just what I did this week! Such fun!!

Here's my first card using a Spring 2023 ShopBox item:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White; 

Poptone Black Licorice; Bazzill A2 card

Dies - Hero Arts Bee Florals Window & Friend Words 

Stencils - Hero Arts Color Layering Bee Florals

Other - Various inks and Copic Markers; Hero Arts sparkle lacquer;

Simon Says Stamp sentiment strip; white gel pen; foam tape

I can't provide links to new Hero Arts yet; items will be available, though, on popular online sites like Simon Says Stamp & Scrapbook.com starting January 19th.

Process: Die cut Bee Floral Window and snip the spots around the outside where it's held to the paper (intended to remain in place with just the center and a few details cut out). Color the die cut using the layering stencils, inks and foam brushes. Add shading if desired with Copics, a few white gel details, and glitter lacquer to wings. Adhere to card with foam tape. Die cut hello from black and adhere into center; add friend strip. It's hard to see in the photo but I inked the corners of the card in Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide.

I struggled a bit lining up the 5 stencils since I die cut first. I recommend stenciling before diecutting! The stencils have little line-up squares to help get the perfect position. I used them on this next card and it went much better. I chose not to die cut using the frame though; just used a stitched rectangle  die, then inked the edges a bit.

For the "thank you" portion of the sentiment I used another ShopBox item - Friendly Messages Bundle. Hero Arts now bundles the stamps and dies so you can't buy dies separately. You typically can buy the stamps as a stand-alone item but I prefer to bundle. I cut 3 extra white ones to stack behind the stamped 'thank you". The "for everything" was stamped using the Sunny Studio Words of Gratitude set. I'm still using the little words I stamped and cut with this set back in September (go HERE for more details, if desired).

I'm adding card one to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge since my die and coordinating stencils are new. Card two has the new sentiment but anyone who pops over from NBUS can check it out :)

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

Poinsettia ornament cards

Hi all - it's been a while since I posted. Mainly because I was lucky enough to travel to Ireland again to visit my friend Heather and her family. What a wonderful time I had with them, including crafting with Heather & touring the surrounding countryside. Thanks again Heather & family! More on my trip in another post....

Today I have three cards using an ornament die from the new Hero Arts Winter catalog. My LSS Anchor Paper participates in the Hero Arts Shopbox program, receiving early release of select products. I had a chance to stop in and pick up a few things, including the ornament die which is now available at Simon Says Stamp (linked below in supplies). For the first card, I watercolored the diecut and backed it with a printed watercolor paper.

Supplies:  Paper - American Crafts Christmas A2 card; Tim Holtz watercolor paper; 

Momenta printed watercolor 8x8 paper pad; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - sentiment from Hero Arts CL644 Bring on the Merry (retired); 

pine branch from Pink & Main Deck the Halls (plus matching die)

Dies - Hero Arts DI655 Poinsettia and Ornament Fancy Die

Other - May Arts ribbon; Pine Needles Distress Ink; 

Twisted Citron and Vintage Photo Distress Markers; Stickles;

Yoobi watercolor paint kit (a Target find)

For the next two, I cut the ornament in red and green glitter paper, swapping the flower centers. I backed them with two different printed watercolor papers. To keep it simple I used the same sentiment for all the cards. I had flipped through a bunch of stamp sets to find a sentiment that fit well in the center opening.

Additional Supplies: Paper Studio Glitter paper; 

Hero Arts DC195 Christmas Trimmings Stamp & Cut (bow)

Which one is your fave? I played around with several papers for the backing and found I liked the Momenta watercolor paper the best. I enjoyed finding the perfect spot on the 8x8 page to place my die. That's three more Christmas cards for the stash so I'm on track to get the amount I need come December. How are you doing with yours?

I see A Blog Named Hero Christmas in July runs through August 10th so I'll go ahead and link to that challenge - yay!! Thanks for stopping and I hope you're enjoying your weekend!!

CAS Color Layering Poinsettia

Happy Monday everyone! No more Merry Monday (boo hoo) so I'm sharing a card for the July CAS Christmas Challenge. This month they feature poinsettias which I love!

I'm lucky enough to have a crafting store nearby that participates in the Hero Arts ShopBox program. Anchor Paper Express just received its Winter ShopBox with some Christmas preview items and I picked up a few on Saturday. I made a quick card with the not-yet-released Color Layering Poinsettia.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CM280 Color Layering Poinsettia

Dies - DI542 Color Layering Poinsettia Frame Cuts

Inks - various My Monthly Hero shades of red and green

Other - yellow & gold pencil; Scor-Pal

If you bought the first Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit back in October 2015 you will definitely want this new set. It includes a large blossom and two leaves which coordinate nicely with the smaller blossoms in the kit. My sentiment also came from the new set. For some interest I scored lines along the left and bottom of my card base (a bit hard to see) then stamped the sentiment with the dark green ink.

I saw the ShopBox notice in the Anchor Paper newletter - had missed it on the Hero Arts Blog (link I just searched to share above). Coincidentally I got the same 2 items they showed in the Hero Arts post and didn't even realize it until I was looking to link my blog post!! There were about four other stamp sets, matching dies and a couple more fancy dies featured at Anchor Paper. If you live in the Twin Cities and are familiar with Anchor Paper, you know the address HA listed doesn't reflect where the actual stores sit. The closest one to me is near the Rosedale Mall in Roseville MN. My sister-in-law works close to the one in Plymouth MN not far from the intersection of  I494 & Hwy 55. Also a card maker, she finds herself in there way too often - LOL! I see from the Hero Arts Blog post about the ShopBox that Ellen Hutson will also carry the preview items online starting tomorrow.

Just a quick post today. Hope you're having a great summer and thanks for stopping!!