Taking a Birthday Drive!

Hey friends - glad you stopped by! Today I'm sharing a masculine birthday card made for a friend's hubby using a fun convertible set by Spellbinders.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio & Authentique;

Tim Holtz silver kraft metallic

Dies - Spellbinders Sunday Drive;

My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Hero Arts Halloween Trimmings (happy)

Other - Hero Arts lacquer; white and silver gel pens;

embroidery thread; foam tape

I bought the Spellbinders set this summer and was eager to try it. It contains many little pieces and details - so fun!! You can use HAPPY letters to cut into the balloons but I felt like that wasn't the thing for a manly man. Decided a small cluster of balloons tied together would balance out the scripty happy on the other side. I sandwiched a piece of acetate between two cuts of the windshield frame. Also added lacquer to the mirrors and the tail lights.

I'm adding this to Darnell's NBUS challenge since the convertible got it's first play here. Fittingly, since Darnell's hubby received the card; word is he really liked it! I wrote him - hope the windshield didn't have too many bugs on it - LOL. I have a hard time keeping acetate free of specks, don't you??!

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!!

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!!

I'm A Diva!!

Hey friends - you're probably thinking, "yeah right - she's a diva in her own mind"! But it's true - I'm now an official Diva, joining the Design Team over at Die Cut Divas. I've known most of the team for over 10 years and will quickly get to know the other members. Thanks to all the Divas for inviting me to join them! Here's my inspiration card for the September Challenge All Kinds of Holidays Time.

Supplies: Paper - Cinnamon cardstock from an old Hero Arts kit;

BoBunny Enchanted Harvest and Bold & Bright Double Dot (both retired);

Bazill brown; scrap of kraft

Studio Calico Here + There; Basic Grey True Love

Dies - Impression Obsession Patchwork Turkey

Concord & 9th Happy Holidays Label Dies

Stamps - Divinity Designs Mini Tag Sentiments;

Hero Arts CM110 Holiday Planner Icons (retired)

Other - Hero Arts orange metallic decor (retired;

Frayed Burlap Distress ink; Darice 4mm googly eyes

Cheapo Dies sponsors our challenge this month and offers a $15 gift certificate to the challenge winner (to be announced on 10/3 on the Die Cut Diva's blog). Have you heard of Cheapo Dies? I learned about them from the Divas and subscribed to their newsletter. Since I had to make my first post card quickly, I used at least one die from my stash that's sold at Cheapo Dies (available when I made my card, anyway...). They carry a TON of brands, including my fave Hero Arts, Altenew, Memory Box, Poppystamps, etc. and all at a great value. I could say more but let me talk about the card!

I started out diecutting the turkey from various papers and adding extra layers, such as two bodies with the legs sandwiched between for stability. I added googly eyes and some metallic dots for accents on one layer of tail feathers. Isn't he just the cutest??!! The brown dotted paper is from BoBunny's Enchanted Harvest pad and I used the text background paper and striped paper from the same one. The label was diecut from a piece of Basic Grey valentine paper (can you see the bitty hearts?); I didn't care - it was the color of woodgrain I wanted!! Behind the woodgrain paper I stacked several more of the die cut labels for some dimension.

Let me tell you  about my stamp set box I call "Celebrate Everyday", borrowing the name of a Hero Arts stamp set (CL498) I own which contains loads of different holidays in one set. In this box I put all the stamps from holidays, other than Christmas (which has multiple boxes of its own!!). I grouped each holiday together for ease of finding them. Then at the front I have sets that have multiple holiday sentiments, plus some Hero Arts planner sets that have loads of words & icons for various holidays. When I didn't find a single Thanksgiving sentiment to fit my project, I combined stamps from two sets of the multiple and planner variety. The trio of happys came from Divinity Designs (love this set!!) and  the Thanksgiving from Hero Arts.

That's it from me for today. I hope you can find time to make a card this month using at least one diecut or embossing folder for any holiday (maximum of four entries). You'll find all the details and more inspiration at the challenge post  from the first of this month.

Thanks for stopping and thanks again to the Divas!!

Twofer Flourish Tree

Happy weekend, friends! I'm back with another pair of cards for Darnell's Twofer Challenge 31 Trees. You make two cards using a common prompt element (stamp/die/stencil), two different designs and for two different occasions. It's a gloomy day here so please excuse the poor photos!

I used the Tree Flourish by Impression Obsession as my common tree, newly purchased yesterday at Anchor Paper (a Twin Cities paper warehouse with an extensive craft department). I found so many bargains, including this stamp, at 50% off - practically free or at least less than a cup of fancy coffee!! Here's a closer look at each with supply list:

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card; Paper Studio ivory

Stamps - Impression Obsession Tree Flourish Large

Hero Arts Color Layering Christmas Tree (sentiment)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 13 (retired)

Other - Honey Bee gems; 3M washi; Hero Arts Copper ep;

Mermaid Lagoon & Embossing Distress Inks

For this quick & easy card I stamped and copper embossed the tree onto a stitched rectangle. Added a strip of copper washi, the sentiment and some gems. Glued to card base - done!

Supplies: Paper - Bazzill A2 card & primary;

Doodlebug Sweet Summer pattern

Stamps - Impression Obsession Tree Flourish Large

Dies - My Favorite Things Flutter of Butterflies (retired)

Other - Honey Bee gems; Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink;

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Birthdays

I stamped a trio of partial flourish trees along the edge, then played around with a lot of butterflies, both open and backed with patterns. Finally settled on two butterflies backed in a striped pattern that included a bit of the Mermaid Lagoon color. In place of where a third butterfly had been tried, I added two little sentiment strips from SSS. Gems for the butterfly heads - done!

I'm also adding the tree to the current NBUS Challenge since it got first play with the Christmas card and to the current CAS Christmas Challenge where they want Trees. Thanks to Darnell and to the CAS Christmas team for the fun challenges and thanks to you for visiting!!

 

PS - please stop back on Monday when I'll have my first post up as a member of the Die Cut Divas Design Team. I'm very excited to have joined the Divas!!

Woo hoo - I'm an Elf at Christmas Kickstart!

 I'm rather tall for an elf but that's what I am for the next fortnight (that's two weeks to us Americans) over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge!! Jo invited me to be her elf for Challenge #38 White on White and I'm so honored!!! 

I don't often make white on white cards but I certainly love the look of them! As with other White on White challenges I've seen, Jo allows a bit of a neutral, plus decided a pop of color would be acceptable. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio glitter;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Dies - Poppystamps Adriana Pop Up Easel Set

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Layered Poinsettia

Other - Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink; Ranger clear EP; Honey Bee gems

As you can see, I took full advantage to add a pop of blue for my sentiment and neutral silver for my poinsettia leaves. After I bought the Adriana die set at a local store late in August, I checked it out at the Poppystamp online store and spotted one done in white on grey. I decided right away that it would be gorgeous in white on white with a white poinsettia. I planned to use my favorite Hero Arts poinsettia but it was with my sister; plan B was the fabulous Spellbinders set. I stamped and clear embossed the sentiment onto the leafy Adriana layer before gluing it to the mat panel. Added the die cut poinsettia and gems. Adhered to the popper panel with double-sided tape. Very easy to construct once you get the hang of it. Done!

Here's a view of the closed card (A2 size) and a side view of the popped up card:

Jo & I hope to see your white on white creations at Christmas Kickstart before Challenge #38 ends on September 28th. You can find all the challenge rules there. Thanks to Jo for having me as an elf and thank to you for visiting!!

Couple of cards

Hello - hope you're having a crafty day! My heart goes out to everyone on the West Coast, but especially all my friends, who have fires nearby - so scary!! Thinking of you often and hope this ends soon!!

I'm sharing a couple of cards - first up, a "thinking of you" made with some Spellbinders products:

Supplies: Paper - Strathmore Watercolor 140lb;

Paper Studio turquoise A2 card;

Foil plates - Spellbinders oval &

Everyday Sentiments II

Other - Spellbinders ephemera; Yasutomo watercolors

Tools - Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System

I used the letterpress panel I had made here. Since it was on watercolor paper, I put a bit of yellow wash in the center, then added ephemera from the July Spellbinders kit. A foiled sentiment I made in my maiden run with the Glimmer machine finished off the card. I sent this one to Darnell's friend Verna - hoping she's doing ok with all the smoke in the air out in California!

Next, a sympathy card with a Spellbinders flower set I just rec'd. Had to laugh, no more than opened the package from Spellbinders when I spotted the set on clearance at my Hobby Lobby! Oh well, I guess the shoppers in my town aren't into foiling! I did pick up a couple other sets practically for free - will use those in future. 😀😀

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card; My Mind's Eye patterns, 

scraps of purple & green

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Spellbinders Floral Oval & Glimmering Layered Flowers

Stamps - Hero Arts Say it All (retired)

Other - Michael's gems; foam tape; silver foil

Tools - Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System

I think my foiling turned out better on these flowers than my first attempts but on the leaves I had some stray foil that I trimmed out. I had made the flowers but didn't have a card for them until I learned of a friend's passing. We'd lost touch over the past 10 years but Faye & I were close back in my 30's and sang in a quartet together when I lived in Wisconsin. Faye worked as a nurse and was always so kind and compassionate. I remember a story her hubby told (he predeceased her) about a car trip they were taking. They came upon an accident and Faye made him pull over so she could help - no mask, no gloves, she just went right in there until the EMTs arrived. That was Faye to a tee - RIP!

That's it from me for today. I'll add the sympathy card to Darnell's NBUS challenge since my foiled flowers are new. Thanks for hosting NBUS Darnell - I need it!!

Thanks to you for stopping by and I hope you'll check back tomorrow when I have a special Christmas card to share!! Hint - it's a "kick off" to a new challenge....

Fall trees

Hey crafty friends - there's a new challenge up at the Twofer Challenge to use trees. I really wanted to do something other than a Christmas tree since I'd recently made a Christmas tree card (see it here, if you missed it). I was inspired by Darnell's (djkardkreations) card and by Marcia's (Marcia's Stampin' Pad) card using branchy trees with dots. I pulled out an older Hero Arts fall set called Color Layering Fall Trees that has both of those. Here's my Twofer:

I thought the bare tree would be fun as a spooky tree for Halloween and then as a fall tree with all the dotted layers for Thanksgiving. Here's a closer look at each with supplies:

Supplies: Paper - Poptone Black; 

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts CL886 Color Layering Fall Trees,

DC197 Halloween Trimmings Stamp and Cut &

CL628 Ghostly Greetings (retired);

Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cute (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Distress Inks;

Hero Arts Intense Black Ink & Crystal Clear Lacquer Pen

I used a fun Haunted House from a 2017 SSS set, stamping it onto a white stitched diecut rectangle just for placement, then stamping the middle tree on the left and the far right tree to go off paper. Next I stamped the ghost & boo. Then I colored in the sky and ground with various Distress and pigment inks. My scene looked pretty bare so I added three more trees & some shadows. I had intended to stamp and color the house separately & pop onto the card but I really liked how the trees overlapped onto the house. So, I colored the house I'd already stamped. I thought the multiple Halloween colors would add a nice pop. Stamped the sentiment & put lacquer on the windows - done! Next, the Thanksgiving tree:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio ivory & glitter;

Authentique Thankful; BoBunny Enchanted Harvest

Stamps - Hero Arts CL886 Color Layering Fall Trees &

Taylored Expressions All Tucked in Harvest

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies;

Avery Elle Simple Sentiment Dies

Other - Copic & Distress Markers;

Memento Rich Cocoa & various Hero Arts inks

I stamped the bare tree onto ivory cardstock and then all the leafy layers in autumn colored inks from various My Monthly Hero kits. Note to self - label the colors when the kit arrives!! Next I die cut the panel into an oval and colored in a little ground with Copics, then popped it onto a glittery oval in the next size up. Die cut a stitched rectangle, added a strip of a different pattern and adhered all to an ivory card. Next I die cut a set of ivory sentiment strips and used the one best fitting my sentiment. Stamped the sentiment and adhered with foam tape - done!!

I'm also adding my Halloween card to the current Watercolor Wednesday Challenge All Occasions and my Thanksgiving card to the current Sweet Stampin Challenge Anything but a Birthday Card. Thanks to all for the fun challenges! Thanks to you for visiting and for any kind comments!! Hope you have a crafty day!