Jolly lights

Finally, a gorgeous fall day in MN! Still a bit windy, plus a few snowflakes this morning but nice & sunny now. Here's my coloring for today:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts Jolly (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Christmas Lights Border;

Lawn Fawn Mini Snowflakes

Other - Copic Markers; Distress Ink & ep;

Hero Arts clear lacquer; Michael's gem

Day 6 of Kathy's (The Daily Marker) current Coloring Challenge and I chose to color a holiday die cut I recently got from Hero Arts. I used Copic Markers (see photo below of the colors) - 4 lights each of 7 color families, plus a bit of grey & a green frame and wires. The biggest pain was cutting this detailed image; even using a metal shim I needed 6 passes to cut the 110 lb cardstock! Color the light frame and added to an A2 card (sort of a minty color) which I had stamped & embossed the word JOLLY (see - I said I'd be back to finally use the third word in that stamp set!). Next I applied lacquer to each light bulb and a die cut snowflake with gem to the O. Done!!

I'm also adding this to Virginia's November Show & Share (third entry) and to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge since my die is getting first play today. Thanks to Kathy, Virginia & Darnell for hosting!!

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your day!!

 

Purple pitcher bouquet

It's another gloomy day here & super windy - just about blew away going to the grocery store! But I'm back with some more coloring - here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Authentique (plaid);

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Ms Sparkle & Co woodgrain

Stamps - Power Poppy Go Wild

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle;

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - Copic Markers, pencils,

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Birthdays Send Happiness

Day 5 of Kathy's (The Daily Marker) current Coloring Challenge and I chose another image from Power Poppy's Go Wild set. Stamped the pitcher bouquet & colored with Copics, added some shading & lines with pencils. Die cut with an oval and layered onto a plaid background. Added a scalloped strip. Like Kathy, I appreciate the SSS printed sentiment strips for a quick addition. Done!!

I'm also adding this to Virginia's November Show & Share (second entry). Thanks to Kathy and Virginia for hosting!!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!!

Glass jars

Happy Saturday! It's a gloomy, windy one here but I'm inside with a cheery image colored with Copics.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; Neenah

Stamps - Power Poppy Go Wild;

Hero Arts - All Occasion Msgs (retired)

Stencil - Tim Holtz Stripes

Other - Copic Markers, pencils,

Hero Arts clear lacquer;

white & black pens; Michael's gems;

Shaded Lilac Distress Ink

Day 4 of Kathy's (The Daily Marker) current Coloring Challenge and I chose a Power Poppy image from another new-to-me stamp set ordered this summer. Stamped & colored, added some stenciled stripes for "wallpaper" & lacquer to the vases. Stamped a sentiment from the PP set and then a Hello from an old Hero Arts set. Added some gems and done!!

I'm also adding this to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge (new stamps) and to Virginia's November Show & Share. Thanks to all for fun challenges!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your day!!

Girl? or Boy?

Hey friends - I'm sharing a card made for a sister chorus member, Kristin, who's expecting a baby. We're holding a virtual shower for her and her hubby next Monday on our chorus Zoom rehearsal. Each voice section (tenor, lead, baritone & bass in barbershop harmony) sent the couple a box of gifts to open during the shower. While I contributed to my section gift, I wanted to send them a special card.

Supplies: Paper - Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes Petite and

Hello Sunshine Remix Petite; Neenah White

Stamps - Hero Arts - Umbrella, Little One, and Events & Every Day Planner Icons (retired)

and Kelly's Outline Letters

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - Foam tape, Copic Markers, Memento inks

Kristin and Dex have chosen not to find out the child's sex so I thought it would be fun to do two umbrellas - one in girly pink, one in boy blue (stamped and fussy cut). Then I spotted the little baby faces in a planner set and my two circles developed from there. "Little girl" and "little boy" came from the Little One set and the question marks came from the Kelly's Outline Letters alphabet set. After stamping, I die cut into circles and colored with Copics. The sentiment came in the Umbrella set which was developed by Hero Arts for the former Archivers store in 2013 to introduce Stamp & Cut sets (I have oodles).

I'm adding this to Virginia's October Show and Share where anything goes - thanks Virginia! That's it for today - thanks for visiting!!

Robot Valentine

Happy Monday everyone! I was playing around with some dies that arrived last week from Frantic Stamper, including a darling robot. Thought I'd incorporate Mr. Robot with a metallic embossed panel for the inaugural Let's Squash It Challenge.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders gold metallic;

Paper Studio A2 card & glitter; DCWV colors

Embossing folder - Tim Holtz Riveted Metal (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies;

Frantic Stamper Robot

Stamps with Dies - Taylored Expressions Filled with Love

Other - Black Soot Distress Ink; foam tape

Playing around with my robot die, I made one in silver glitter card and one in a soft textured kraft card. As I was flipping through my embossing folders for Gail & Jo's new Let's Squash It Challenge, I found the Tim Holtz riveted metal folder. Thought it might be perfect behind a robot! I embossed a panel of gold metallic paper from the September Spellbinders kit, then distressed it with Black Soot ink. Thinking this would be a fun Valentine card for Cards for Hospitalized Kids, I added various heart diecuts. Most of the candy hearts from TE have more lovey-dovey sentiments but I found the hello would work for a kid. The inside will contain the Valentine's Day greeting. The little off kilter hearts actually cut with an emboss and cut folder I got from my friend Heather (Stamping and Stitching) but I can't find the name of it. Thanks again Heather!!

I'll also add this to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since Mr. Robot got his first play here, and to Virginia's October Show and Share. Thanks to all for the fun challenges!! Special good wishes to Gail and Jo on their new challenge blog Let's Squash It! to use those neglected embossing folders! I really pulled out an old one for my robot card - this'll be a great challenge to keep playing in!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a crafty week!!

 

Fall and Halloween at Stay Crafty with Hero

Hey friends - hope you're having a great weekend!! I took some time and made a Halloween card for the current Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge just announced by Hero Arts yesterday. This makes #15 since the pandemic began and I so appreciate Hero continuing this challenge!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Poppy (retired);

Poptone Black Licorice;

Stampin' Up green; Momenta watercolor;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CL239 Owl-oween & 

CL628 Ghostly Greetings (both retired)

Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cute (retired)

Dies - Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders &

Slimline Scalloped Frame

Other - Hero Arts clear lacquer; Copic Markers;

Black Soot Distress Ink & Ranger clear ep;

Darice googly eye (not sure of the size)

Most of my Hero Arts Halloween sets are retired but I love them soooo much!! I brought out an oldie but goodie with cute owls dressed as a witch, a ghost and a pirate. I've used them before (see an ancient Flickr post with them here, if interested - oh, how our styles change!!) but I still can't get enough of them. After I stamped, clear embossed and colored my owls and their accessories, I decided it was a big enough crowd for a slimline card. Thought it would be fun having them marching up to a house for treats. I used the same Simon Halloween set for the haunted house as I did on my Twofer card here but I snipped off the top floor. While the house extends past the card, I made sure it wouldn't be too tall for a #10 envelope. The sentiment is from a different Hero Halloween set, perfect for my trick or treating owls.

My slimline is 3.5x8.5 which made it a bit too narrow for the scalloped layer from my newest Sunny Studio slimline set. Instead I used the stitched rectangle die from it, plus the grassy hill from the SS Slimline Nature Borders. I used my paper trimmer for the black mat layer. I lacquered the windows and the witch owl's eyes. Mr. Pirate got a googly eye.

Will also link up to the current Watercooler Wednesday Challenge where All Occasions are being celebrated. That's my third and final link-up there (max of 3 allowed). Also adding to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since my Sunny Studio slimline frame die is getting its first play. Finally, I'm linking to Virginia's Show and Share for my fourth and final entry there (max of 4 per month allowed).

Thanks to all for the fun challenges and thank to you for visiting! Happy crafting!!

Crazy for white-on-white

Help - I can't seem to stop - LOL! TGIF and I'm back with another white-on-white card as inspiration for the current Christmas Kickstart challenge where I'm Jo's elf. I'm hoping to encourage some participation over the weekend - you have until Monday UK time to play along. A new challenge will start on Tuesday. Here's my latest white-on-white with a touch of silver:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb;

Ephemera from Spellbinders October 2019 card kit

Dies - Kat Scrappiness Crafters Essentials Winter;

Hero Arts - DI064 Snowflake Fancy Die (retired)

Embossing folders - Sizzix 3D Winter Snowflakes;

Spellbinders Laurels and Bows (I used the label it cuts)

Other - Crystal Stickles

I started with an A2 card formed from Neenah, then die cut a white panel cut using a cover die new to me from Kat Scrappiness. This company sponsors challenges at Die Cut Divas (up again in December) and since I'm new on the team, off I went to become a customer. Absolutely couldn't resist their Crafters Essentials - Winter set with fabulous scene elements and a nice sale price. I also picked up a couple of Mini Tipsy Glue Holders by Crafters Solutions - perfect for holding my Gina K. Connect Glue so it drains down to the tip!

The cover die embosses some bitty snowflakes and cuts some stitched swirls. I wanted more embossing for my card so ran the die cut panel through with a 3D snowflake folder - fabulous! Glued this to my card, then added a die cut label and 3 snowflakes stacked for dimension. The top snowflake was painted with Stickles for subtle shimmer. What next??? During Spellbinders recent sale I picked up some old card kits - couldn't believe these beauties were still available! Oh, the ephemera - so fabulous! The bits add so much to a card and so quickly!! I was just opening the October 2019 package to see if there was a quick sentiment strip I could use - yes, but also the jumping stag and the stars popped out - yay! Layered all that onto my card - done!!

I'm linking up to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since my cover die is new, to Virginia's Show and Share, and to Watercooler Wednesday All Occasions. Will also add to the gallery as inspiration at Christmas Kickstart.

 

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!!

Thank you tag card

Hey everyone - I'm popping in with a quick card for my neighbors who are always so helpful to me. 

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 Ivory Card and 

Glitter Cardstock; BoBunny & Lawn Fawn Patterned;

Poptone Black Licorice; American Crafts green

Dies - Lawn Fawn Circle Stitched Tags

Hero Arts Thank You Fancy Die (retired)

Other - scrap of ribbon from a Hero Arts kit

This time the sweet neighbors hauled all my yard waste to the city compost heap. We don't have automatic pick-up and I'd done a bunch of weeding as I mentioned a while back. So last week on Monday I finished up and they took everything away in their pickup! My yard looks so nice!!

As to the card, I cut the HA thank you die in glitter and twice in black then layered. Glued to die cut LF tag and added a little ribbon. My sister was making cards in the satellite studio and had the BoBunny striped paper out. I thought it went great with the Lawn Fawn plaid so I took a snippet. That's it - done & in the mail.

I'm adding this to Virginia's September Show and Share - thanks for the fun, Virginia! Thanks to you for visiting!!

Foiled! And Foiled Again!!

Hey everyone - I have to laugh when I hear the word foiled. I think of that villian in the old Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons who would said "curses, foiled again" whenever his evil plot failed. But now I'm talking about foiling on cards using the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil system. Here's my card (I kept as much shadow off as I could):

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders Vintage Mementos (from July kit)

Paper Studio silver A2 card & white cardstock

Spellbinders oval plate from the  Glimmer Hot Foil System set

Stamps - Hero Arts CG279 Musical Clef and 

Raisin Boat Feel the Beat (both retired)

Other - Recollections flowers, Spellbinders silver foil

I was shopping at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and noticed they had the Glimmer Hot Foil System set on special. I resisted - didn't need that, I said to myself. Then Jennifer McGuire showed all her fabulous cards and tips here - she made it look fun & easy. So today when I went to Hobby Lobby, I told myself I'd get the set if it was still on special. It was; so here I am with foiling on a card!! This one will go to one of my chorus members for our Stay-in-Touch program. It's a version of a previous card but I figure, with over 100 to make, I might as well modify each batch. I make & send about 8 cards every two weeks.

The oval was my first attempt at foiling - here's how it looked right after:

As you can see, I got foil where I didn't want it and my oval went a bit off the page. To get around the first problem, I fussy cut the oval. I flipped the flat end to the bottom & used flowers to cover it up! Next I tried some sentiments - Best Wishes came with the set and the rest came in a separate set I also purchased. One plate shifted in the machine ruining the "Thanks a Bunch" sentiment, oh well - I'm just learning, right? Otherwise, I got a bit better at it!

Next I tried a letterpress onto watercolor paper using the oval plate and Hero Arts ink:

Isn't that gorgeous? I love the texture of the watercolor paper showing through - so pretty in real life! I'll make a card with that panel sometime soon. I'll add my card to Virginia's August Show and Share (my last of four entries) and to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since my glimmer plate is new. Thanks again to both of them!

That's it for today - off to play with my new machine!!

 

Spellbinder's Card Kits

 Hey there - I'm playing around with a new die and some ephemera from a Spellbinder's card kit. Here's my slimline card:

Supplies: Paper - Anchor Paper & Paper Studio

Ephemera from Spellbinders July kit

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design (AJVD)  Slimline Stitched Plaid Cover Plate Die

This was a simple card. Cut a slimline base, added the die cut panel and the ephemera - done!! I also did an A2 card using the kit ephemera, textured card base & vintage papers, plus dies from AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Die Set, some 3M washi & Honey Bee gems. Here's that card:

I have to say that three different friends, Jean (Right as Rain), Rosemary (Hey There .... rosigirl) & Virginia (Yes, Virginia) have inspired me so much with different Spellbinders kit projects that I finally enrolled! I've been buying Spellbinders for many years, nearly as long as I've been crafting, but haven't tried a subscription until now. Sorry - don't know who, if anyone, got "credit" for me enrolling... But thanks for the enabling, friends!! Oh, and to Rosemary for getting me hooked on AJVD too!!

I'll add this to Virginia's August Show and Share and to Darnell's NBUS challenge. Thanks for the fun challenges, ladies!! 

That's it for today - thanks for visiting!!

 

Hello Friend Tag Card

Hey friends - thought I'd play a bit with a Pink and Main card kit I bought back in July. I'm not a subscriber but I was surfing their site for goodies (for one, the set I used here) and picked up this February 2020 kit called Enchanted Garden - so darling! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Kraft card from Hero Arts 01/2020 My Monthly Hero kit;

Pink and Main Enchanted Garden 6x6 pad; 

Ms Sparkle & Co Woodgrain Neutral;

Gina K Designs Tranquil Teal

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired); 

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

Pink and Main Enchanted Garden exclusive tag dies

Other - Stickers and ribbon from the Enchanted Garden kit

The Pink and Main tag die set has two tags - the one you see above, including the little topper, and a scalloped one. Besides the die for a round hole, there's one for a heart - that's the bitty heart above. The coordinating stamp set has the same type of flowers so I can't wait to get busy with those too. 

This card went off in the mail to Darnell's friend Verna G. who can always use some cheer! I'm adding it to Virginia's August Show and Share where her optional theme is Tag & to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #17 since my tag die is newly used. Thanks for fun challenges, Virginia & Darnell! And thanks to you for visiting!

Cardinal with Birdhouse Pop-up Card

Hey everyone - hope you're having a lovely day!! On Tuesday I got my hair cut & since I was out and about anyway, why not drive another 40 minutes further to Anchor Paper, my "local" stamping store?! My newsletter said all crafts were 20% off, including new stuff, so it was well worth the trip! They were just getting in some new Christmas supplies, including the absolutely adorable Bird House Pop-up Easel Set from Poppystamps. I couldn't resist it, plus a few other goodies... Here's my card:

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

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

Dies - Poppystamps Bird House Pop-up Easel Set

Stamps - Hero Arts CL343 Holiday Sayings (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Crystal Stickles; foam tape;

white Gelly roll pen; Hero Arts gems (retired)

I bought the die set specifically to use for the current Christmas Kickstart Challenge - Christmas Birds. While we see cardinals all year round here, the male's bright red color makes it easy to associate with Christmas. I have other bird items in the stash but just felt like something new - you know how that is! And if you'd care to see another card with this set, please go here and leave some love for the talented Pam (Expressions with Heart) whose card is the one linked from the Poppystamps site, deservedly so!

I'm also adding my card to Darnell's NBUS Challenge, since my die set is getting its first play, and to Virginia's August Show and Share (didn't use the optional tag theme).

Here are the views of it closed and from the  side:

Thanks to Jo (Just a Dotty Pudding) and her elf, Marcia (Marcia's Stampin' Pad) for a fun Christmas challenge! And thanks to Darnell (djkardkreations) and Virginia (Yes, Virginia) for hosting their challenges! I'm glad you visited me today - enjoy your day!!