October Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Hey crafty friends - time to reveal the cards that went round the world for the October Card Chain Challenge!! Twenty-nine people participated and you can see the entire chain here. I sent this card to Chris L in Illinois:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio brown; 

Echo Park & Pink Paislee patterns;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts Sept 2020 My Monthly Hero kit,

Hero Greetings Mini Messages, & All Occasion Msgs (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints & Cloud 9 (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; inks from kit - Lemon Drop, Creamsicle, 

Grape Slush, Cup o' Joe, & Moss

Back in September when I was considering all of the October Card Chain options (colors, sketch, theme, techniques), my Hero Arts My Monthly Hero kit arrived. I was very excited about this kit because it contains a Heroscape with loads of layers to create a fun scene. All my thoughts about the Card Chain colors and sketch went flying as I dove into my kit. I ended up working in the theme of friendship with a Hello Friend sentiment, plus you can also see bits of the featured colors - pumpkin (in the patch), chocolate (dark chocolate card), and cherry (on Mr. Scarecrow's shirt). 

Mr. Scarecrow was a bit of a challenge because it's a solid stamp with just the small openings of the face. I stamped him on various colors until I finally decided on Antique Linen with some of the kit's Lemon Drop on top, then colored with Copics. Another make it work moment - I was ink blending a sky and didn't like it. Suddenly my eye spied a scrap of cloud paper - viola! I used the kit's die to cut out the scene and popped it over the cloud panel. Decided the sentiment would be fun on a couple die cut clouds as I've done in the past.

I received this beauty from Nathalie in Quebec. Just love her colorful critters and leaves atop that gorgeous cover die!!

Thanks for stopping by and, if you're interested, join us for the November chain! Sign up here by November 6th. Happy crafting!!

Festive Florals Slimline

Yikes - second post of the day! Well, I didn't plan very well but wanted to get an entry in for some challenges, specifically merging Christmas Kickstart's Festive Florals theme with Hero Arts Stay Crafty with Hero to do a slimline holiday card.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday &

Hero Arts blue (retired);

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CM465 Stocking Bouquet

and CL620 Jolly (retired)

Dies - Hero Arts DI798 Stocking Bouquet Frame Cuts;

Kat Scrappiness Zig Zag Nesting Slimline

Other - Hero Arts Crystal Clear Lacquer;

Copic Markers; foam tape; Ranger Princess Gold ep;

Hero Arts Soft Sky ink; Versamark ink

I recently purchased the Hero Arts new stocking bouquet set and spent Thursday night stamping and die cutting a pile of all the elements. My thought was to do a bouquet in a stocking but it didn't work well with the slimline size. I decided to create floral swags instead, using another jumbo sentiment from the JOLLY set I used on a previous card. I'm sure I'll get to the JOLLY at some point - LOL!

I colored the elements with Copic markers and added lacquer to the candy canes. I die cut a zig zag panel and stamped PEACE in Soft Sky ink - it didn't show up very well so that became a shadow for the PEACE I stamped in Versamark, gold embossed and fussy cut. I popped the letters over the stamped peace using foam tape. Arranged my floral elements - done! I still have plenty left over to create a stocking bouquet later in the week.

I also add this to Watercooler Wednesday for All Occasions and to Darnell's November NBUS Challenge since my Stocking Bouquet set is getting its first play here.

Thanks for stopping and hope you're having as crafty a day as I am!! PS - The Die Cut Divas have a new challenge up for November Thanks or Thanksgiving. Please check it out & I hope to see you in the gallery this month!! I'll have my feature on the 21st and inspiration on the 30th. Finally, tomorrow will be the October Card Chain Challenge reveal so stop back and check that out, if desired.

Some birthday cards

Hey there - happy November! Did you enjoy the extra hour of sleep if you "fell back"? We didn't hand out any treats this year for Halloween - so sad not to see all the little kiddies in their costumes last night! Instead we ate a jumbo bag of assorted candies - sorry kids!!

This weekend I worked on cards for November birthdays, starting with one for my nephew:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle green A2 card; 

Graphic 45 & BoBunny patterns;

Poptone Black Licorice; Neenah White

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - star gems (thanks again, Heather!);

Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips Birthdays;

Hero Arts clear lacquer; 

Copic Markers (C1, C3, BG0000, G00, G02, E30)

Such a fun image for a guy and on the inside I used another SSS sentiment strip that said "You're not getting older; you're increasing in value". Very true of neffypoo! I'm adding this one to Watercooler Wednesday's All Occasion Challenge hosted by Karen.

Next, I used another stitched panel my sister Tami made for me. It's a large one so needed an A7 card. All I did on this one was use Copics to color within the outline stitching, mat the panel and add to a card with a few gems. Tami used her embroidery machine to stitch right on patterned paper (sorry - don't know the brand) backed with fusible interfacing (correction - just plain). So fun!! If you missed my previous post with a different panel Tami stitched, see it here.

That's it for today - thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Halloween, Happy Autumn!!

Happy Halloween or Happy Autumn, whichever you're celebrating today!! Remember, it's the final day to add your Halloween or Autumn card to the current Die Cut Diva Challenge. You have until 9pm Pacific time to link up to our gallery. Bugaboo, our fabulous sponsor this month, has donated a $12 prize; the winner will be randomly selected and announced at DCD on October 3rd. 

Here's my last-of-the-month Die Cut Diva inspiration card using the darling Bugaboo Fall Fence Element. I absolutely love this sweet owl atop the fence! You can see more team inspiration HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio brown & ivory;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Digi image - Bugaboo Fall Fence Element

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; white gel pen; black pencil;

Memento Rich Cocoa ink

I resized the fence image to fit an A2 card and printed it on Neenah. Colored with Copics and die cut with a stitched rectangle. The ivory layer was die cut with a plain rectangle. Layered it up, stamped a sentiment and done; fairly quick and easy. Thanks to Bugaboo for this wonderful image!

I had printed out the Fall Fence in a bigger size too, not knowing which I'd use for my Diva card. I had some extra time so decided to made something with the bigger print. Here's that card:

Similar supplies except my sentiment is from the September 2020 My Monthly Hero kit. When I cut the image in portrait, I had a few leaves and some fence left over. I used the leaves on a third card, this one for an autumn birthday.

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; Paper Studio ivory;

American Crafts patterned

Digi - leaves from Bugaboo's Fall Fence Element

Dies - Spellbinders Renaissance Jubilee (retired);

Simon Says Stamp Detail Ringlet Plate

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Stamp - Divinity Designs Mini Tag Sentiments

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check back at Die Cut Divas tomorrow for a new challenge & on the 3rd for the October winner and Design Team faves!

PS - don't eat too much Halloween candy!!

Slimline poinsettia

Hey crafty friends! We celebrated a fun birthday with my dad yesterday - sorry he didn't win Phase 10 (a card game). My sister-in-law won which was ok as she'll be a birthday girl next week! They both loved the cards I made!

Today I had a chance to play along at the current Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge - #19 already - where they have a slimline theme. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio Holiday & Brights;

Tim Holtz kraft metallic; Momenta watercolors;

ephemera from 10/2019 Spellbinders card kit

Stamps - Hero Arts CL620 Jolly (retired) and

CG815 Christmas Rose Bold Print

Dies - Hero Arts Paper Layering Poinsettia &

DC195 Christmas Trimmings Stamp and Cut

Frantic Stamper Slimline Frames

Other - Hero Arts and Memento inks, white gel pen

I love the jumbo sentiments in a 2012 Hero Arts stamp set, sadly retired. Any one of the three (Jolly, Merry, Peace) would be perfect on a slimline card! I chose Merry and then added a die cut Christmas from another Hero set. I had a maroon slimline frame already die cut from the other day when I was trying my new set from FS. Thought it would be perfect with a bright green backing, stamped tone on tone with the Christmas Rose. I cut another pink poinsettia (see a previous one here), then added some ephemera - done!

That's it for today. Thanks to Hero Arts for the fun challenge and thanks to you for stopping by! Not enough pink, despite the pink poinsettia, to add to Pink Christmas at Christmas Kickstart but check it out - there are a couple more days to play there!!

Celebrating Masculine and Feminine Birthdays

Hey everyone - hope you're having a great week!! I shared a card earlier in the week for my dad's birthday which is today. Had to laugh - Wednesday night Mom asked me "where's my card?" I said, "huh?" Turns out she wanted me to make a card for her to give to my dad! We're celebrating with my brother and his wife (who's birthday is later in October) tomorrow so Mom wanted a card for Donna too! Guess what I was doing yesterday! Here are my cards with a masculine and a feminine twist:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio kraft A2 card

and black cardstock;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts It's Your Day & 

Past Times (both retired);

Stampin' Up In the Pines

Other - Stampin' Up Subtle 3D embossing folder;

Copic Markers; Distress Inks

Simple card - stamped the train & the trees, colored with Copics. I hand drew the train smoke and the railroad tracks and filled in the ground. Blended tumbled glass for the sky & stamped a sentiment. Die cut with a stitched rectangle, matted with black and added to an embossed kraft card. Finally used my Subtle embossing folder - love the soft texture it provided!!

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co A2 pink card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio maroon & glitter

Dies - Poppystamps Spectacular Happy Birthday (retired);

Frantic Stamper Slimline Frames

My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Stamps - Hero Arts Dictionary Greeting & 

Elegant Weeds (both retired);

Other - Memento inks; Crystal Stickles

I was digging through my stamp stash and found two Hero Arts stamp sets - thought they'd be fun together. I just got the FS slimline dies and had tested them all by cutting from maroon cardstock. Decided the littlest frame would look nice behind the sentiment. Added some stickles - done!

I'm sharing the train card at Watercolor Wednesday where Marsha's hosting with the theme of masculine. The sister-in-law card will go to Darnell's NBUS challenge since the little scalloped frame is being used for the first time. The train card would work too since Subtle ef gets first play here.

Thanks for the fun challenges and thanks for stopping!! Off to eat bday cupcakes!!

A Mini Christmas Tree

Hey all - I'm taking a break from cards and sharing a 3D project I made using Concord & 9th's Take a Bough Encore die set. Here's my mini Christmas tree:

Supplies: Paper - Concord & 9th;

Spellbinders gold foil; Paper Studio Glitter;

Neenah White

Dies - Concord and 9th Take a Bough Encore Bundle;

Hero Arts Nesting Circle Infinity Dies

Other - dowel and wood slice from Concord & 9th;

Jolee's Holiday Lights; Duck Tape brand glitter dots

In these days of pandemic, I look for fun things to do online. Concord & 9th offered a class on their mini Christmas trees last night and I signed up. Rec'd my kit in plenty of time and had die cut everything I needed for the largest (finished height about 8.75") of three trees using their Clover cardstock. The other two trees use Evergreen and Sea Glass cardstock - both gorgeous colors. I've only started die cutting the elements for those two. The class lasted 90 minutes, taught by Greg Cottrell with guests Erica AB & Jeff Lindberg. I have several fab Concord & 9th items in my stash but this was my first experience with these Concord and 9th VIPs - very enjoyable! Didn't win any prizes though, oh well.... An extra thing I did for my tree was to use the garland die to diecut an extra garland in white that I inlaid into my red negative and popped onto a green circle diecut to create a little tree skirt. I also added some Jolee lights and a few ornaments I made gluing glitter dots together. The class was done on YouTube live and carried a fee. They have other videos showing how to construct the trees, though - very easy to do (see one here if desired).

I'm adding this to Darnell's October NBUS challenge since my tree & accessory dies are new. There's also a 3D challenge out there that I spotted but couldn't find again to link up. If anyone knows where it is, can you let me know? Thanks! And thanks for stopping!!