Scramble with Two

Hi all - I'm part of a private Facebook group that has continued the tradition of doing Hero Arts Scrambles - 90 minutes to create, photograph & upload a card featuring Hero Arts products & a given theme. This time the theme was Two - be it using the numeral 2 or having two of something. I chose the latter using 46 of the alloted 90 minutes for my card today.

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Serendipity;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb;

Teal & Latte maybe Stampin' Up?

Stamps - Hero Arts Old Letter (retired) &

Apr 2021 My Monthly Hero kit (with die to match)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 18 (retired);

Taylored Expressions Easy Strips 1/8"

Other - Park Lane gems

I die cut two diagonal panel from BoBunny paper using a Blueprint die set. I trimmed off the top panel to leave a gap for my sentiment. Stamped some patches of Old Letter on each panel, then adhered them to a latte colored A2 card. Stamped the My Monthly Hero kit sentiment in grape ink. I die cut and stamped two dragonflies from the same set as the sentiment, adding a gem for each head. I die cut strips using a new Taylored Expressions 1/8" strip die and adhered above and below the sentiment. Done! Very quick & easy. 

I was so excited to find the Easy Strips at Anchor Paper Monday since they were out of stock (and still are as of today) at TE. I'll add my card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge since my Easy Strips are new.

This card already went out in the mail to the tenor in my former quartet. She took me out last night for an early birthday dinner at the Olive Garden - yummy!!

Thanks for stopping and thanks to Cindy (Escape to Stamping) for a fun Scramble!

A Hero Arts Fans Scramble Group Christmas Exchange

Hi all - over on our private Hero Arts Fans Scramble Group in Facebook we held a Christmas card exchange. My card went to Nina S. in Wisconsin so it didn't have to travel far! We've had our reveal so I'm able to post here now.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card;

BoBunny Merry and Bright; Paper Studio red and 

Dies - Hero Arts DI656 Paper Layering Poinsettia &

Tag Frames Infinity Dies

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Dimensional Bird

Other - Park Lane gems; Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink

I couldn't resist using my favorite Hero Arts die, new in 2019. I've used it oodles of times over the past 3 years! I love the detail on the petals and leaves, plus it cuts like a dream! The label die set was a recent purchase and I've used it several times already. I fussy cut the sentiment in the style we're seeing lately with dies - love those but, of course, older stamp sets don't have them... The sentiment came with the Color Layering Dimensional Bird set - I linked to Frantic Stamper who had 4 of them when I last checked (retired at Hero Arts). Frantic Stamper is the sponsor at Die Cut Divas this month so pop over and check it out!

I received this beauty from Karen K. (KCs Kards) in California - just love her merry snowpeople with the layered forest behind!! Thanks Karen!!

I will link my card to the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge for anything Christmassy. 

If you want to join the HA Fans Scramble Group, you need to be on Facebook and send a request to join. Cindy (Escape to Stamping) is our fearless leader. :)

Thanks for stopping and I hope you're having a happy holiday season!! 

Thank you mini slimline

I'm baaaack... Back with another mini slimline for the current Scramble running on the Hero Arts Scramble Facebook group. If you've never done one, for a Scramble you have 90 minutes to create, photograph and upload your card for a specific theme. You must also use Hero Arts products as the focal point since it's a Hero Arts group. Here's today's creation:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio; 

Lawn Fawn Rainbow Perfectly Plaid 6x6

(retired but LF has a remix here)

Dies - Hero Arts January 2020 MMH kit 

(sold out but pieces available) &

Thank You Fancy Die (retired);

Sunny Studio Slimline Basic Borders

Other - foam tape; Copic Markers for shading;

Mustard Seed Distress Stickles

The pink card I dinged with black ink yesterday worked perfectly to die cut my thank you. Added a black shadow and popped it onto LF plaid. Added an eyelet border and the three flowers. I had the dies out from yesterday so just cut a few more. A smarter person than I would've cut more yesterday.... The eyelet border die is a regular slimline sized one but you can easily trim the cut or, in my case, have a piece already cut to the right size - perfect! This card came together even more quickly than yesterday's. I only used 46 of my alloted 90 minutes with creation, photography and upload. It helped to have the MMH kit out but I still had to search for my thank you die. Luckily I had a vague idea which box to check! 😉😉

Come join our Scramble group, all you Hero Arts lovers! The current Scramble goes until March 8th at 8pm CST - you simply pick your own 90 minute block of time. Just be sure to start so you have enough time before the deadline! 

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!! 

PS - remember the current Die Cut Diva Challenge - regular slimline cards with Sunny Studio as our sponsor. Hope to see you in the gallery!!

Mini Slimline Scramble

It's been a few days - sorry I've been absent! I was able to play along on a Scramble for the Hero Arts Scramble group on Facebook. For a Scramble you have 90 minutes to create, photograph and upload your card for a specific theme. You must also use Hero Arts products as the focal point. The current Scramble theme is mini slimline cards; here's mine:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co woodgrain;

Paper Studio; & Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes 6x6

Dies - Hero Arts Autumn Bouquet &

January 2020 MMH kit (sold out but pieces available);

Sunny Studio Botanical Backdrop (center of yellow flower);

Kat Scrappiness Zig Zag Nesting Slimline Dies

Other - foam tape; Copic Markers for shading;

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Birthday

I started out with a pink card and a white background; both got dinged with black ink somehow (I wasn't using any on this card...). So I cut a plain white card (6x6" folded in half) and added a woodgrain panel atop which I liked much better!! I had a red regular slimline sized zig zag panel already cut & sitting on the table. Simply trimmed it to fit the mini slimline length. Die cut my 3 flowers and added a prefab sentiment strip - done!! This card came together quickly; including photography and upload, only 48 minutes. It would be an easy one to mass produce, except the sentiment would have to vary. The sentiment strip packages only have 2 of the same sentiment; there are oodles of others that would work though.

If you're a Hero Arts lover and want to join our Scramble group, just let us know! The Scramble goes until March 8th and you pick your own 90 minute block of time. This gives us all maximum flexibility in all our different time zones! 😀😀

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!! Oh - btw - be sure to check out the current Die Cut Diva Challenge where we're doing regular slimline cards with Sunny Studio as our sponsor. I'll be sharing my Sunny Studio slimline on March 21st so stop back, if interested!!

Scramble - using Multiple Stamp Sets

Hi friends - We have a private Facebook group for Hero Arts Scramble Lovers and I have a card I shared there yesterday, created in about 60 minutes. The final steps took me another 15 minutes so I was still within the allotted time. Char is the host and chose the theme of multiple stamp sets. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card & Woodgrain Neutral;

Paper Studio brown, kraft and ivory

Stamps - Hero Arts CL987 Color Layering Grateful Leaves &

CL882 Autumn (both retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Banner Letterset Fancy Dies

Concord & 9th Happy Holidays Label Dies

My Favorite Things various Blueprints (retired)

I started by stamping an array of leaves (just the solid parts; some have a separate vein stamp) on a piece of woodgrain patterned paper. Next I die cut the leafy panel with a stitched rectangle and added a brown mat, then glued to my card base. Next I cut three of the labels from Concord & 9th, stacked for dimension & glued to the leafty panel. Die cut the banner letters from brown and 5 solid banners from the orange & layered. Arranged on the label with foam tape then added the string. Stamped THANKSGIVING on a strip of ivory and hand cut flag ends. Popped onto the label - done!! I think the creation of the background paper with stamping took the longest, even with a MISTI.

I'm adding this to Virginia's September Show and Share (sorry - no rainbow colors but that was optional...). Thanks to Char for hosting a fun Scramble, to Virginia for her challenge and to you for stopping by! Hope you have a crafty day!!

More Coloring (Day 12) and a Scramble

Hey friends! Those on Facebook and wanting to Scramble like we once did on the old Hero Arts Flickr group can contact Cindy C. (Escape to Stamping) and join us!! We're having an open Scramble for the next 2 weeks where you pick your own 90 minute window and create a card, photograph and upload. We use Hero Arts materials (other brands are perfectly fine too, just include HA somewhere). I'm the hostess & in honor of Kathy's (The Daily Marker) 30 Day Coloring Challenge, our Scramble theme is to color at least one item. I made this inspiration card, coloring a Hero Arts poinsettia image. Since you only get 90 minutes, I colored & detailed hastily but am still happy with it:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; Authentique Glistening 6x6;

BoBunny Tis the Season 6x6; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CL796 Peace Poinsettia (with matching dies - retired)

Additional die - My Favorite Things Blueprints 13 (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Michael's gems; 

White gel pen; Hero Arts Intense Black Ink

I made this last night so it would be ready for the Scramble start. I'm adding to Die Cut Divas Christmas in July challenge (this is my 3rd of 4 possible). I stamped multiple flower images, including some on watercolor paper. Next I'll share today's coloring:

Supplies - Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper; Yasutomo watercolor palette;

Twinkling H20s; black & brown pencils

Stamps - Hero Arts Peace Poinsettia;

Art Impressions Holiday Wishes (retired)

I was up late last night watching a movie and suddenly it was past midnight - Day 12, so I decided to start coloring! Worked on the poinsettia til about 1:30a then called it quits until 7:30. Finished the flower, leaves (I don't like how they turned out!!), and Santa scene by 10. Well, if you can call it finished - I always see spots where I could add more... Aren't Santa & friends adorable?! I've had this cutie set for YEARS, it's already retired & today was my first play with it - sad, isn't it?! Anyway will add Santa to Darnell's NBUS challenge, as well as link up to Kathy's 30 Day.

Thanks for the visit!!

 

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!!

Scramble and CAS(E) this Sketch 355

Some of us old Hero Arts Flickr group members still play in Scrambles (90 minute challenges) with a private Facebook group. If you're an HA person, on Facebook and know Cindy, contact her to be added to the group. Cindy just posted a new challenge, hence my second blog post today. I wanted to play along right away and one of the elements was to use the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch #355. I've visited this site various times but only played in one other challenge (see my card for #207 here) - can't believe it was almost 3 years ago!! So I'll add to that challenge too. Here's my take:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday (green) formed to A2 card;

Momenta Watercolor patterned papers; white and chartreuse by unk

Stamps - Hero Arts Canvas Background (retired); 

Your Next Stamp Mini Ink Splatter;

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background (with coordinating die)

Dies - Taylored Expressions Layer it - Rustic Floral

Ink - Peeled Paint, Pine Needles & Salty Ocean Distress Oxide; Memento Tuxedo Black

I still use the old way of stamping a cling background on a formed card - stamp inked and left face up, laying the card atop. However, I lay the stamp on a stamping tool and close the lid onto the card back, pressing the card into the stamp. Saves taping the card into the tool and placing the background stamp on the lid where it might fall off, depending on how old it is.... Really gets a nice impression too!

Here's the sketch:

The funny thing, I was so focused on the sketch that I didn't even think about the fact that our Scrambles must include a Hero Arts item! Luckily I had decided my card base was blah and added the stamped background!! I really like the mini stamps from Your Next Stamp and bought a bunch. These little splatters added the perfect touch. This card took less than an hour, even with photographing and uploading.

I needed a card for a chorus friend who's dying of cancer. So sad - she's battled it for 2 years and was just told she has 6-8 weeks left of life. Very hard for us all at chorus!

Anyway, thanks for stopping and if you missed my earlier post, just click older post. I posted a card for Day One homework for the Online Coloring Challenge Road Trip class ... (yes, I'm behind).

An Autumn Scramble card - use a grid/inchie

Hey all - I've been away but got back in time to Scramble with some Hero Arts friends. A Scramble, if you're an HA fan, is a timed activity - 90 minutes to create and upload your card based on a specific theme. Cindy (Escape to Stamping) is running it on Facebook now - very fun, if you remember to check in there (I'm not very active). Anyway, this time we're doing grid/inchie cards - here's mine:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 kraft card; Basic Grey Serenade

Stamps - Hero Arts September 2019 My Monthly Hero kit,

Happy Thanksgiving (Hero Arts/SSS Stamptember 2016)

CL882 Autumn (retired from 2012 but at SSS as a combo)

CL119 Happy Thanksgiving (retired from 2008)

Inks - various Distress Oxide colors; Hero Arts gold

Other - Hero Arts gems (retired); Distress markers

I just got back from New Orleans where Sweet Adelines International held its annual convention and competition. Our chorus, City of Lakes competed last year in St Louis; this was our "off" year as you can only qualify every other year, giving more choruses a chance to participate. We qualified to go to Louisville next year. This year the chorus winners were from Sweden and the quartet winners from FL - what fun to sit in the audience and enjoy the performances! You can watch them on YouTube, if desired: Chorus - Rönninge Show Chorus /Quartet Viva

Anyway, just before I left, I received my September My Monthly Hero kit (still available for purchase as of today). One of the kit stamp images is a cabinet, suggestive of a grid so I went with it. I supplemented the kit with a few fall images from three other sets. This will be a perfect card to send to a friend's hubby who has lung cancer. Dale created some beautiful plaques over the years for Sweet Adeline of the Year recipients from our chorus - I was lucky enough to get one back in 2007.

That's it for today - I have to get a few Christmas cards made, plus some birthday cards for October. Hope you're having a wonderful day and thanks for stopping!! Thanks too to Cindy for a fun Scramble!!

Snowflake on a long card

Was just surfing my friends' blogs when I spotted my friend Cindy had posted a Scramble in the Hero Arts Flickr group. Yes, we're still out there but often neglect it just because there are so many other formats out there, including our own blogs. Anyway, her challenge is to do a long card so I made one to fit an A10 envelope. Thought I'd make a snowflake card so I could get it into the July CAS Christmas. Plus A Blog Named Hero has a challenge for Christmas in July so thought I'd link it there too. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Paper Studio glitter

Ms Sparkle woodgrain

Dies - Hero Arts Snowflake Fancy Die (retired)

Stamp - Hero Arts Holiday Cheer (retired)

Other - Pine Needles Distress Ink; silver pen

gem in center is from an old My Monthly Hero kit

For a Scramble, you only get 90 minutes to create, photograph and upload so this card is very QACAS. Since it's for Hero Arts, you must use at least one HA product (I used two). The sentiment is from a 2011 clear set I recently received from my friend Jean - thanks again, Jean!! How did I not have that set in my stash is a mystery...

Thanks for stopping and thanks to Cindy for motivating me to get another Christmas card done!!

  

A Scramble and a Teddy Bear

Happy Saturday everyone! It's a bit chilly and windy here today - I almost blew out of my lane on the drive home from visiting my parents. I made it safely, though, and in time to play in Arlene's Scramble on the Hero Arts Flickr Group. We get to pick any 90 minutes during a 24 hr period but I was there right at her starting point - noon my time. It's still ongoing as I post this, so check it out! Arlene asked for two things - a die or punched item and something popped up. Nice and easy so I didn't have to think too hard! Here's my card:

Supplies: Dies - Hero Arts DI345 Nesting Postage Stamps Infinity Dies and DI198 Rectangle Infinity Dies
Paper - Memory Box Red Pepper card, My Favorite Things (watercolor),
 My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Market Street (music) patterned papers, scrap of black
Stamps - Hero Arts CM135 Thank You Messages
Other - Michael's gems, foam tape, Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

I needed a card to thank my aunt for taking me to lunch yesterday, then she insisted on buying the items I picked at a stamping store in my home town. I got some bird silhouette dies, a cling stamp set and a package of cards (used one for the thank you). I stamped the banner and fussy cut it, then popped with foam tape over the stack of rectangles. I stamped the "for everything" right onto the music paper but it smeared so I covered it with a die cut rectangle - good save, eh?

After the Scramble, I decided to make another card for this week's Merry Monday challenge. Linda hosted this week and she said "teddy bear" in her personal blog post & had the cutest one on her card. The wording at Merry Monday said "bear" &, even though a teddy bear was pictured, I used a polar bear for my first card. I wasn't the only one to go in that direction, but I decided to find a teddy bear on the Silhouette (there were a bunch!). Here's what a came up with for card two:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Pop-tone Beige & Black, Michael's green, 
the Paper Studio Glitter, Tim Holtz kraft metallic (silver), DCWV Corrugated Christmas

Dies - Hero Arts DI345 Nesting Postage Stamps Infinity Dies and DC116 Fancy Cut Christmas Stamp & Cut (retired), 
My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 13, Impression Obsession Patchwork Ornaments
Stamp - Hero Arts DC170 Merry Stamp & Cut 
Other - Copics, Foam Tape, Stickles; google eyes
Silhouette Design ID 162331 Teddy Bear in Stocking (by Totally Jaime)

This design is an outline one so I cut it four times, plus made an offset mat of it for a base. I cut the black and glitter images apart, pieced them back together and glued them to the white mat. Then I inlaid the brown and white pieces (Note - the green bauble in the stocking is white, colored with a Copic and stickled). The brown and white pieces were shaded with Copics before I inlaid them. I have some fun corrugated paper and decided to die cut it into a postage stamp - wow, really flattened it out nicely - looks and feels like velvet in real life! I popped teddy on the postage stamp, leaving a blank spot in lower right that I didn't like. So I stamped "Christmas" on an ornament to balance out the stocking. The black Merry was already die cut and ready - decided it looked best on the stocking itself.

That's it for today - thanks for stopping & I hope you're enjoying the weekend!!

 

Couple of Easter cards

Hi everyone - I thought I'd get a start to my Easter cards since I finally found the matching die to a Lawn Fawn set I bought in 2015 and have never used! I separated all the dies and set up my template to use for the MISTI the other day so today I stamped the die cut items and colored them with Copics.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Michael's punch, Penny Black Painted Blooms
Stamps - Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter; Personal Impressions (UK) Happy Easter (retired sentiment)
Dies - Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter Lawn Cuts; My Favorite Things Die-namics Blueprints 20; Spellbinders Nestabilities Elegant Ovals & Classic Ovals SM
Other - Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic Markers, foam tape, gold gel pen, Crayola pencils

I colored the bunny like the Lindt chocolate bunnies I love so much. They have gold bows on the wrapping so I used a gold gel pen to accent it. I still had the oval die set out that I used on my Merry Monday card and a sympathy card this week. This time I die cut a plain oval to layer with the fancier one. The sentiment set came from my friend Sally a few years ago and I use it every Easter; thanks again, Sally! One card done - yay!!

I had just finished this card when I remembered Cindy is running a Scramble over on the Hero Arts Flickr Group. Her theme is to use an oval which was funny since I had just finished a card with an oval. This Scramble will last until 2 pm PDT tomorrow so you can pick any 90 minutes during that window if you want to play along. I played right at the start and took about 70 minutes to create this card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Authentique; scrap of brown textured
Dies - Hero Arts DI337 Nesting Oval Infinity Dies & bunny die to match stamp and fence die from March 2017 My Monthly Hero kit (sold out); 
My Favorite Things Die-namics Blueprints 20; Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter Lawn Cuts and Grassy Border
Stamps - Hero Arts March 2017 My Monthly Hero kit (bunny with carrot) & CL498 Celebrate Every Day (sentiment); 
Lawn Fawn Eggstra Special Easter; Other - Copic Markers, Wink of Stella, Hero Arts Ocean Ombre sequins

I had considered using the Spellbinders ovals again but suddenly went a different route - typical... I decided to use my oval as the sky to my little scene - it's kinda like a big Easter egg too! I had an extra stamped egg with jelly beans from my previous card so I quickly colored it to add to my scene. Two Easter cards done; I'm so impressed with myself! Anyway, check out Cindy's Scramble for more inspiration - I had fun with it!

Thanks for stopping and TGIF - enjoy your weekend!!

Rainy background for a Scramble

Hi all - there's a Scramble happening at the Hero Arts Flickr group - 90 minutes to create and upload a card based on the presented theme. Sometimes the host allows us to pick any 90 minutes during a 24 hr period and that's what LaVon did. So if you're interested, hop on over to her post for the details - just need to be done by 11am CST on 2/19/17. In fact, I may go back in for a second 90 minutes before the end time!

LaVon's theme - create a background - perfect! She offered three inspiration examples - an emboss/resist, stamping over a blended ink, and a background created of stamped mini images. I decided to go with a stenciled background, having just received the February 2017 My Monthly Hero kit on Wednesday (see my previous post with it here). The kit included some cloud masks with the stencil, a stamp set with a sweet little girl holding an umbrella and a perfect sentiment, and much more! I started with two of the cloud masks, inking around them on a die cut rectangle using the kit's blue ink and sponge. Then I used the stencil and some Stormy Sky Distress ink to add the falling rain and some shadows on just the edge of the clouds. Finally, I lightly inked some Stormy Sky clouds and a ground with Black Soot and Stormy Sky using the stencil. I die cut the girl with umbrella using the matching die, then stamped using the MISTI - perfect alignment that way! Colored her with some yellow and orange Copics. Here's the card:

Supplies - February 2017 My Monthly Hero Kit; Neenah Solar White card stock; Copics; foam tape

My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 (pierced rectangle); Distress Inks; Memento Tuxedo Black ink

I considered adding some Glossy Accents to the rain drops but, knowing me, I would've mess them up so left it simple. Thanks for stopping and hope you're having a great day!!

A Scramble and more Valentines

Happy Saturday! I spent the early morning making more Valentines with the EK Success Disney die cuts. Then we had a Scramble over on the Hero Arts Flickr group - timed activity to create a card based on a theme - which ended about 12:40p my time. I'll share that bit first.

Karen hosted the Scramble and her theme was a bit of a challenge - use your oldest Hero Arts stamp (by that I took to mean the first one I bought) and then use a household find to make your background. If time, you were to make a second card with some new Hero Arts item. Well, if you know me, you know I'm quick at Scramble time - I was able to fulfill both old and new. I photographed the cards together; the one at left has the old stamp, a sentiment woodblock stamp I bought in 2000, and the one at right has new stuff from January 2017 My Monthly Hero.

Supplies: Paper - Tim Holtz watercolor, Neenah Solar White, scrap of My Mind's Eye patterned, 
DCWV glitter, Hero Arts Floral Mix Cards

Ink - Distress Inks in Shaded Lilac, Picked Raspberry and Embossing Ink; Distress Marker - Wilted Violet 
Ranger Archival Watering Can (Wendy Vecchi) and Memento Tuxedo Black

Other - White Embossing Powder

Dies - Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle die
Hero Arts DI348 Heart Confetti Fancy Die and dies to match stamps from January 2017 My Monthly Hero

My background for the "old" card was made by inking a paper towel and applying it to water-spritzed watercolor paper. To reinforce the diamonds in the pattern I went back randomly and pressed the moistened paper towel to the paper. I had white embossed the sentiment for a resist effect but had to go in with heavier color on a sponge to get it to show up. Here's a photo of the inked paper towel:

I really liked how the background turned out. For the second card I enjoyed using a new background die and cutting glitter paper. Now I have a bunch of bitty hearts to glue on other project - a bonus! I'm adding this to the "Anything Goes" January challenge at a2zscrapbooking - thanks for the reminder, Greta!

Now back to more Valentines for Cards for Hospitalized Kids... Funny how we get excited by a certain product - I'm just loving these Disney princess die cuts!! It's such fun making Valentines with them. I'm really going to have to get more boy ideas because I now have 12 girly cards and 9 boyish ones.

Supplies: Lawn Fawn Spruce & Wild Rose Folded Cards; Lawn Fawn papers
Die cuts - Disney Princesses by EK Success; large hearts from Hero Arts DI334 Nested Heart Infinity Dies
Stamps - Shells from Hero Arts CL383 Antique Engravings 
sentiment from Hero Arts CL954 Many Everyday Messages

There are 10 princesses in the EK Success package - I'm betting I'll made a card with each of them before I'm done - LOL. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

Scramble with a Tree

Hi everyone - I'm the hostess for a Scramble on the Hero Arts Flickr group (24 hr addition ends 11/13/16 at 8 a.m. PST). My theme: create a Holiday card with a tree on it. I thought it would be nice for participants to have a theme meeting the current Hero Arts Holiday Cardmaking Challenge. Feel free to join in, if you're interested!

Here are my two sample cards:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Sea Mix Layering Paper & acetate, Neenah Solar White, 

Paper Studio Glitter, BoBunny Tis the Season(green patterned for tree)

Dies - DI310 Color Layering Snowy Tree Frame Cuts, DI198 Infinity Rectangle Dies, 

My Favorite Things Pierced Rectangle Frame, Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders

Stamps - Hero Arts CG697 Blizzard Bold Prints, CL997 Color Layering Snowy Tree, 
October My Monthly Hero (Santa in sleigh with reindeer - set sold out)

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Stormy Sky, & Picket Fence; 

Ranger Archival Watering Can (Wendy Vecchi)

Other - foam tape, Darice and Target sequins

(Note - the sequins were too cupped and wouldn't shake very well so I took them out later!)

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Foliage Layering Paper, BoBunny Tis the Season 6x6; American Crafts glitter

Dies - Hero Arts DI198 Rectangle Infinity Dies, DI199 Circle Infinity Dies, DI194 Paper Layering Pine Tree with Frame; Simon Says Stamp Bundle of Stitched Shapes (large stitched rectangle)

Other - Foam Tape, Doodlebug star gem

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're making progress on your holiday cards!! I think I have enough and was even able to donate 10 cards to the charity auction at my former workplace.

Set for a Scramble

Yesterday, over on the Hero Arts Flickr Group, Kim hosted a fun and challenging Scramble (timed event) to create a matching card, tag & envelope set. It was perfect timing as I had just come from my mailbox to find a box of new Hero Arts goodies, including the Infinity Tags set. I also received some new Christmas stamps I was eager to try. Here's my set:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Kraft card and envelope; Paper Studio Old World Winter; Penny Black Holiday Trimmings

Dies - Hero Arts DI197 Tag Infinity dies; Simon Says Stamp Bundle of Stitched Shapes (for the plaid stitched rectangle), My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (for the dotted stitched rectangle)

Stamps - Hero Arts CM102 Vintage Christmas Post & CL983 Holiday Messages and Tags

Inks - Distress Inks: Pine Needles & Gathered Twigs

Other - Copic Markers; May Arts ribbon and twine; Doodlebug enamel dots; Michael's gems

Since the Scramble is only 90 minutes from start to finish, including photography and uploading, I hastily colored the cardinals. I noticed after the Scramble that the card's cardinal needed some more blending - yikes! The other funny thing - I was sure I had ordered the matching dies to the cardinal stamp set (I did!) but I couldn't find them until after I had fussy cut them both - duh! All due to "Misty proofing" - putting away my craft stuff so my brother's cat wouldn't get into it. Misty is here for her fall vacation - loves it at "Auntie" Linda's house!! Luckily Misty was napping during the Scramble when quite a few crafty items found their way back onto the kitchen table and counters!

I don't decorate my envelopes often enough, much less make gift tags, so this was a fun challenge! I'm looking forward to making more cards and tags with new Hero Arts goodies!! Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday florals

Hi everyone - I expect a busy summer so I'm trying to make cards ahead of time for upcoming birthdays. I was really inspired by the very talented Yana Smakula's post about her go-to card formula. I decided to try it with a twist. She uses gold metallic frames - I chose a glittery one and a plain card stock one for the two cards I'm sharing today.

Card 1 is for my great niece, Abby, who turns 18 - yikes!! Thought she'd like a little glitter this year.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts pool and Neenah solar white; Anchor Paper vellum (pale green); Heidi Swapp glitter paper

Stamps: Hero Arts CL661 It's Your Day (sentiment) and April 2016 My Monthly Hero (flowers/leaves)

Dies: Simon Says Stamp and My Favorite Things stitched rectangles; Hero Arts Spring Branch; 

MFT doily with the center cut out with a circle die.

Other: Copic Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Wink of Stella

Card 2 was made for a 24-hr Scramble going on over at the Hero Arts Flickr group, hosted by Lisa. She offered a lovely floral inspiration photo with lots of teals and purples. The Scramble started at 1p EDT today so you still have plenty of time to play. This card was completed, photographed and uploaded within 90 minutes as the Scramble rules require. I decided to use the same formula since all the stuff was still out on my craft space.

Supplies: Hero Arts Mixed Floral layering paper (purples); teal paper from stash; Neenah Solar White

Dies: Spellbinders Elegant Ovals (S4-425) and nested oval (to cut the hole); 

Hero Arts April 2016 My Monthly Hero kit (flower stamp and die); Spring Branch

Tim Holtz mini-stencil; Cracked Pistachio and Wilted Violet Distress inks; gem from Michael's

Now I'd better get busy on Father's Day cards, then I'm good for June at least! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're having a great day!!

New Beginnings and a thank you card

Happy Saturday everyone! It's a new beginning for me - I retired from my career of nearly 38 years with the Social Security Administration yesterday!! I enjoyed the work thoroughly but felt it was time to leave - while I still have the energy to enjoy other things. Here I am with coworker Mai who gave me the sweet mini orchid:

And here's a photo from my work luncheon holding the springtime cake they provided:

After work I enjoyed Happy Hour at Joseph's Grill just across the Mississippi River from downtown St Paul. Coworkers, retired coworkers, family and friends joined me there for some delicious food & drink!

On my first day of retirement I was awake before 5a.m. - so much for sleeping in.... I made my card for next weeks Merry Monday post (I'll be guest designer) then I ran some errands. I came home in time for today's Scramble on the Hero Arts Flickr Group. Charlene's theme - Mix it Up (use stamps from multiple sets). Here's my card:

 Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts: CL663 Thanks a Bunch, CL943 Color Layering Bouquet, 

plus a few bits from a couple other layering sets; Simon Says Stamp: Falling Hearts background

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks; paper: Hero Arts Cerulean; Neenah Solar White

I have plenty more thank you cards to make for all the retirement gifts I received! I'll be kept busy for the first week anyway!! Thanks for stopping by!

Scramble Time - Inside Out!

Hi everyone - hope you're enjoying the weekend! It's a chilly one here - I started my morning when it was 28F - on March 19th - ugh! Very grey and gloomy too but no more snow, thank goodness (we had flurries yesterday)!

Over on the Hero Arts Flickr Group, Cindy is hosting a 24 hour Scramble - stop by and play if you're a member (or want to join). A Scramble lasts only 90 minutes but when we do a 24 hr one, you can pick the 90 minutes that work for you during the 24 hr period (which began 3p EST today). I started my 90 minutes right when announced and had my card created, photographed and uploaded to the group in about 75 minutes. Cindy's theme is "Inside Out" - have any element on your card that allows the inside details to show. For my creation I used a fun card with a trio of windows precut into it. I also trimmed off a bit of the right side of the card front to have some patterned paper showing from the inside.

Here's my card and the inside:

Supplies: Card from the Paper Cut "Triple Circle Mini Window"; Penny Black Painted Blooms 6x6 paper pad

Stamp set: Hero Arts CL929 Just for You by Lia; Die D-Lites Sentiments One Etched Dies - Spellbinders

Other: Tim Holtz Distress Markers; ScrapBerry gems; recycled ribbon from birthday gift wrapping

Special thanks to my friend Heather Maria for the ribbon and gems used on this card!! 

And now for another card using the Just for You by Lia stamp set. When I saw the card on this post by Yana Smakula over on the Hero Arts Blog, I decided I needed that set. It just arrived on Wednesday and I made a birthday card with it right away. Just hadn't had the chance to photograph it until today. Here's the card:

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts CL929 Just for You by Lia; CL661 It's Your Day
Ink - Hero Arts black & green inks from MMH kits; punched butterflies from stash
Paper - Hero Arts Cerulean folded card; X-Press It white cardstock - March '16 MMH kit; Neenah black cs

The pink butterfly is from Heather Maria - thanks again, Heather!!

Yay - now I have the final two cards I need for April birthdays. Don't ask me why I was so eager to get these done when I have to make Easter cards to get in the mail by Monday! Oh well....
 
Thanks for stopping and have a great rest of the weekend!

Tropical Christmas?!

Happy Saturday - hope you're having a crafty weekend! I finally got a chance to finish a card for this week's Merry Monday challenge. Lori challenged us to make a tropical themed Christmas card. Wow - had to think on that one for a while!

I was in the Silhouette online store last night spending my subscription for this month. Searched on "tropical" and found a bunch of fun designs, including Summer Santa - so adorable I had to download and make him right away. This file comes with a striped blanket but I went with a fun piece of hibiscus paper instead. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Cerulean and Sunshine Designer layering papers

Stamps: CL149 Fanciful Swirl alphabet (to stamp out "sunny"); CL 721 Banners and Messages (holidays)

CL270 Sky's the Limit (sun). Other: Silhouette die cut - Summer Santa; Copic Markers,

Stickles & Glossy Accents; Ranger Embossing ink and Stampendous Golden Sand powder

I cut Santa on all white paper and then colored the appropriate bits with Copic Markers - even gave him a hint of sunburn on his nose - LOL. The "sand" was made with embossing powder - it's so shiny in the photo but looks like sand in real life. Anyway, this file has a lot of bits so it took some time to put together - but well worth it.

Now for a Scramble card. Barb G. is hosting over on the Hero Arts Flickr group - her theme today - use an angle. I went for a Starburst stamp I've owned for a while but hadn't inked until today.

                 

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Punch and Cerulean layering papers; Stamps - Hero Arts 330056 Starburst Background (HA w/Studio Calico); CL661 It's Your Day; CL342 Everyday Sayings; CL272 All Occasion Msgs; CL953 Mason Jar Bugs.

Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon, Abandoned Coral, Wilted Violet, Twisted Citron;

Copic Markers; Reflections gem (from Michael's)

 I need more March birthday cards and this will do the trick for one of them. With the colors and butterfly it'll work for a woman friend; I think I'll try to make a masculine version too for a different friend.

Thanks for stopping and have a great rest of the weekend!!