Final Day for Gold at Die Cut Divas!

Hey everyone - today's your last chance to ener our February Die Cut Divas Challenge. I'm providing inspiration with the rest of the end-of-month team with the card below, plus I have a couple bonuses here! We're doing GOLD with our fabulous sponsor, Hero Arts. 

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 cards (3 shades);

Neenah white for dimension on the ornament

Hot Foil Plate - Hero Arts Ornament Border

Dies - Hero Arts Bulb Ornament Infinity Dies &

Holly Berries Stamp & Cut XL (bow)

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Foliage Messages

Other - Spellbinders Gold Foil; Versamark ink;

Ranger Princess Gold ep; retired Hero Arts gem;

Victorian Velvet Distress Ink 

Process: Hot foil the ornament coverplate twice using Spellbinders Glimmer or similar machine. Die cut the ornament out of one panel, plus a few extra ornaments from white to layer for dimension. Shade the edges of the pink ornament with Victorian Velvet, then glue to white layers & add into its spot on the coverplate. Adhere to A2 card. Stamp sentiment in Versamark and emboss with gold. Die cut two bows and layer with a slight offset. Add to ornament with a gem in bow's center. 

Very quick and easy to get a gorgeous effect! I first made cards using the ornament hot foil plate during the Hero Arts Holiday Stamp-Along. You can see more versions here and here. First time trying gold foil with the ornament plate and I love it!! Too bad I've already reached my limit of 3 at the February Christmas Kickstart Challenge since my ornament would meet their theme - oh well. 

Here's a bonus for you - a gold foiled branch card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Paper Studio red; DCWV green; Tim Holtz Kraft Metallic gold

Foil & Cut - Hero Arts Holiday Greenery

Stamps - Hero Arts Holiday Borders and Icons & 

Poinsettia Flowers Bold Prints

Other - Copic Markers R24/R59/G12/G20/G46;

Versamark Ink & Ranger Princess Gold ep;

Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink; foam tape

And here's a closeup of the branch - love it!!!

Process: Foil the branch onto Neenah, then die cut with the included die. Color with Copics. Stamp A2 card with poinsettia bold print stamp tone-on-tone. Stamp and emboss sentiment strip, then mat onto gold. Assemble card - done!

I'm adding the branch card to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge since my new greenery foil set got first play here. And as Darnell would say, how about a Threefer? I took the pink foiled panel left after I'd die cut the ornament out and decided to use it. Had to trim part of the design off since I wasn't careful to get the whole piece of paper on the hot foil plate - it worked though! I embossed the same sentiment directly onto the A2 card and added a gold topper to the ornament.

That's it for today, friends. Be sure to link your golden project using a die cut or embossing folder into the February Diva gallery by 9 pm Pacific Time today. Our winner will be randomly selected from eligible February entries and announced on March 3rd. Hero Arts has generously donated an amazing $50 gift card for our winner - yay! Thanks so much, Hero Arts!!

Thanks for visiting!

 

More Birthday Cards!

Hi there - hope you have good weather in your area. We got snow overnight - about 5" but "THE BIG ONE" starts later today. Stay safe!! 

I thought I'd pop in today with more February birthday cards. Busy month for birthdays! I shared some others on earlier posts but here are the rest. First up - cards for my Diva sisters Arlene (A Bit of This and That) and Cindy (Escape to Stamping) both of whom celebrated yesterday. 

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Willow & Sage

Paper Studio glitter; Poptone Black Licorice

Die Creative Expressions Stacked Happy Birthday

Other - sentiment strip (brand unknown);

BoBunny Willow & Sage chipboard

I found some chipboard at a Tuesday Morning outlet that I thought matched paper at home - yes!!! Super easy to put together with a die cut sentiment and sub-sentiment strip. Funny story - I went to mail Arlene's card and grouchy postal clerk says "too rigid - that'll be the $5.95 package rate". Well, if it's a package, I'll make it a package, I say. I returned home and filled a padded envelope with the card and some die cuts. I visited a different post office where there were 3 smiling clerks ready to help. The sweet man who calculated my fee charged me $1.95 - the "large package" rate. Say what?! More in the small envelope but way less price - go figure. Anyway, Arlene got her small "large package" in time for her special day.

Supplies: Paper - Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor;

Paper Studio Watercolor Prints A2 card

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Wild Columbine Bundle

Sentiment Stamp - Hero Arts Say it All (retired)

For Cindy's card I used another Wild Columbine panel I'd stamped on watercolor paper during the recent Hero Arts Valentine Stamp-Along. I die cut this one with the coordinating die and watercolored with various water reactive inks. The A2 card is from a boxed set of watercolor patterns I got at Hobby Lobby - so gorgeous & in multiple shades. I'll spare you the story of the same grouchy postal clerk who waited on me when I went to mail this beauty! Sorry to Michelle (Just Another Nutter paper crafter), another Diva sister with a February bday - forgot to photograph your card, oh well. I'd stenciled a coffee cup using another find at Tuesday Morning - a Picket Fence stencil for under $3!

Here's a masculine card using 12x12 patterned papers from Echo Park's Transatlantic Travel collection (another TM find). A simple stamped & die cut sentiment (Many More Birthdays by Unity) finished it off. So easy! A retired pilot friend received this one & loved it!

That's it for today, friends. Happy crafting!!

Gold and more gold!

Hey everyone - do you love gold? If yes, then our February Die Cut Divas Challenge is for you! 

I'm providing inspiration at Die Cut Divas with the card below, using products by our fabulous sponsor Hero Arts. When I got into card making in 2007, Hero Arts was my go-to brand and still is! Love, love, love this company and their products, including My Monthly Hero kits (I own all but one). Can't forget to mention I'm a proud Hero Hostess from 2011, back when their Flickr group was active.

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Black Watercolor Paper

Tim Holtz Kraft Stock Metallic Classics gold & silver cardstock; 

Dies - Hero Arts Lily of the Valley & 

Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Stamps - Hero Arts Wild Columbine

Other - Versamark Ink & silver embossing powder; 

Tim Holtz embossing folder (name unk); foam tape

Process: Die cut lilies from silver & stem/leaves from gold metallic cardstock. Die cut and emboss an oval, trim to half. Arrange lilies and "hill" & adhere to black card, popping up a few flowers & the "hill" with foam tape. Stamp thank you in versamark and emboss with silver ep. Very quick and easy, yet so elegant!  

Here's a bonus for you - a golden matchbox!

Additional Supplies: Dies - Hero Arts Matchbox &

Box of Chocolates (bow)

I couldn't resist adding the new Hero Arts Matchbox and Box of Chocolates die sets to my January My Monthly Hero kit. Adorable!! At about 4:44 minutes into the Hero Arts January product release video HERE, there's a quick tutorial on putting together the matchbox. So easy and fun to make! It would be great for gifting earrings or other small items. The full bow was cut twice, plus the center area an extra time. On one bow I trimmed the tails off and adhered the loops upside down to the bow for a layered look. Added the extra center with a foam dot then tucked the trimmed tails under the other ones.

And here's a photo of it open. My friends Linda & Lynn each received a matchbox with a little gift inside for their birthdays earlier this month. Not the pin shown; that one snuck in from my jewelry box just for the photo. 😊

I'm adding the matchbox to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge since it got first play here. 

That's it for today, friends. Please enter your golden project using a die cut or embossing folder into the February Diva gallery by 9 pm Pacific Time on the 28th. Our winner will be randomly selected from eligible February entries and announced on March 3rd. Hero Arts has generously donated an amazing $50 gift card for our winner - yay!

Thanks for visiting!

 

Final Ornament Card for Kickstart

Happy Monday! It snowed like crazy here for a couple hours this morning but it's the light fluffy stuff. The big blizzard supposedly will arrive tomorrow. I just finished my third and final card for the February Christmas Kickstart Challenge to use baubles/ornaments.

Supplies: Paper - Authentique Christmas Essentials 12x12;

DCWV lime green; Paper Studio cream, red and glitter cardstock;

Neenah black and Solar White 

Dies - Birch Press Design Twinkle Ornament Layer Set &

Christmas Ornament Pop Up Easel (base layer & cap);

Lawn Fawn Winter Big Scripty Words; 

Hero Arts Joy Ornament (retired but HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Hot Foil Plate - Lawn Fawn Winter Big Scripty Words

Other - Spellbinder's gold foil

I used a second piece of my chopped up 12x12 Authentique paper as Dawn (Dawn's World) did in her posts (here and here). Once again, I distressed the patterned paper edges with a Tim Holtz tool - this paper seems so vintage-y to me so I had to distress it! Adhered to A2 card. Die cut all layers of the Birch Press ornament, along with a hanger from the Hero Arts set. Assembled the ornament and glued to the patterned paper. Added a foiled Lawn Fawn sentiment - done! Super simple but so pretty! Here's a look at the piece of 12x12 patterned paper I've been chopping (see card one HERE).

Lawn Fawn sponsored the Divas in January and I placed an order that included the winter words hot foil plate. Yesterday I spent some time foiling various things including that entire set - how fun!! Perfect results and I love this new foil plate which matches the stamp set & coordinating dies.

Thanks again to Jo and her elf Bridget for a fun challenge! I'm adding to my Christmas card stash and that makes me happy!! 

Next I'm sharing a card I made yesterday following an extra LIVE session set up for the Spellbinders & Altenew FLORALS PICK N' PLAY CREATIVE COLLAB CLASS that I took February 9th - 11th. Lydia Evans from Altenew came online and shared two cards, one of which was a shaker with an embossed top using Spellbinders products from the class kit. Here's my take:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Neenah Solar White;

Paper Studio glitter

Embossing Folder - Spellbinders Four Petal Floral 3D

Dies - Spellbinders Thanks Enclosed Sentiments

Other - Darice and Spellbinders sequins;

Waffle Flower Infinity shaker; Hero Arts gold & reactive inks

Hero Arts White Iridescent Shimmer Mist

I started with a Neenah white panel and ink-blended a variety of Hero Arts reactive inks. Spritzed with a bit of water and then some shimmer mist. Ran it through with the embossing folder once dry. Inked a few spots (as Lydia showed) with some gold ink. Fussy cut out the center for a window to the shaker element. Created the shaker with an A2 infinity pouch. Lydia put her sentiment inside the shaker but I just glued mine to the top of it.

Since my Spellbinders ef is new, I'm adding card two to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge. The Lawn Fawn sentiment set is new too but I'll just link one card.

Thanks for visiting & have a crafty day!! I'll be back tomorrow with some gold items for the February Die Cut Divas Challenge - hope to see you there!!

Happy crafting!!

Glittery Ornament Trio

Hey everyone - hope you're having a lovely weekend! I finished another card yesterday for the February Christmas Kickstart Challenge to use baubles (aka ornaments in the great US of A). 

Supplies: Paper - Authentique Christmas Essentials 12x12;

Paper Studio green and glitter cardstock;

Neenah black and Solar White (distressed with Antique Linen Distress Ink)

Dies - Memory Box Newbury Ornament Vignette (retired);

Sentiment Stamp - Hero Arts MMH kit 11/19

My apologies - I used a bunch of retired products here! With this card I made the effort to use some of my 12x12 papers as Dawn (Dawn's World) did in her posts (here and here). I have the other 5 panels I chopped from this collage patterned paper by Authentique (a 2015 collection) but just haven't had a chance to use them yet. More to come....

I distressed the patterned paper edges with a Tim Holtz tool. Adhered to A2 card. Die cut 3 of the smallest ornament outlines from the vingette in black, trimmed them and glued to the patterened paper. I had the glittery innards left from a bunch of cards I made last fall like this one where I just used the outline. Inlaid those into the outlines. Added a stamped and fussy cut sentiment - done! Very quick and easy.

Thanks again to Jo and her elf Bridget for a fun challenge! And thanks to you for stopping by!

Happy crafting!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hey everyone - it's that special day for romance, candy & flowers. Yes, Valentine's Day! It's also my birthday & that of my friend, Lynn. I made her this card to celebrate: 

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

Tim Holtz Kraft Stock Metallic Classics gold cardstock; 

Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes Petite

Dies - Hero Arts Heart Flourish Cover Plate &

Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies

Stamps - Hero Arts All Occasion Messages (retired)

Other - Hero Arts Hugs and Kisses Hero Transfers

Process: Die cut background from gold cardstock. Trim & mat onto A2 card. Die cut 3 hearts (5th one in the Infinity set) - one in lilac, two in heavy white cardstock. Trim the rub-on to leave off "day" and one heart; apply to lilac heart. Stamp Birthday below the rub-on and apply the trimmed off heart, plus one more (it has an outline square on the sheet but I trimmed that off too).  Adhere to gold heart.

Had to laugh, the rub-ons work so well, I dropped the little trimmed heart onto the diecut heart and it stuck at a wonky angle! Oh well...there it stayed! A tip from years ago: Use the backing paper from the rub-on to help "set" it. Place it over the rub-on you've applied, slippery side down and gently rub over it. Stack the lilac heart onto the white ones for dimension and add to the heart on the cover plate - done! 

Very quick and easy, yet so elegant! We're doing GOLD for our February challenge over at Die Cut Divas (hope to see you there!!) so Lynn had to get something with gold on it - LOL. I'm adding this to Darnell's February NBUS Challenge since my cover plate got first use here. If you're just here for the card, you can skip the rest of this photo-heavy post with birthday stuff.

Our friend Linda (birthday on the 7th), Lynn & I enjoyed a fun lunch at a Red Lobster restaurant on the 10th. Here we are sipping our celebration margaritas:

The sweet server (she took our photo) also has a February bday! She treated us to a jumbo sundae in a margarita glass:

I received many birthday cards, including from card-making friends around the world; here's a quick photo as of the 13th's mail delivery:

Special thanks to Cindy and to Gundi for some extras in the package - oh my, what bounty - thank you!

Thanks everyone for making my birthday special; I loved all the cards and goodies!! If you stop back for my Diva post on the 21st you can see what I gave Linda and Lynn. 😍 I'm off to enjoy lunch with my friend Connie later today and will probably find more cards in the mailbox!

Happy Valentine's Day & Happy Crafting!

Gold on Cream Ornament Vignette

Happy Monday everyone! Extremely happy for me since the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl last night, despite being predicted to lose! Being from Wisconsin I'm a Packer-backer and living in Minnesota I have to cheer the Vikings (except when playing the Packers). Once both of those teams were out of the running, I had to throw my support somewhere & it went to the Chiefs. They are so fun to watch! The game was in Arizona and the planes flying over the stadium also flew over my sister's house - she loved it but said they were extremely LOUD!

On to a card... today I made a quick one for the February Christmas Kickstart Challenge to use baubles or, as we call them here, ornaments. Thanks to Jo and her elf Bridget for a fun challenge!

Supplies: Paper - BoBunny Winter Wishes 6x6;

Paper Studio cream and glitter cardstock

Dies - Memory Box Newbury Ornament Vignette (retired);

My Favorite Things Torn Paper Edges

Other - Taylored Expressions sentiment strip

I'm so behind on my Christmas card production that I turned to an ornament vignette die I used a few times last year, including on a card that won the final CAS Christmas Challenge last September. I didn't want to duplicate that design but did want to keep just the outline. Decided to put a gold glitter vignette on a cream panel that I trimmed using MFT's torn paper die - love this edger die! Added to a A2 card covered with a piece of BoBunny pine cone paper -such a pretty cream/taupe combo. I distressed the patterned paper with a Tim Holtz tool. A TE sentiment strip popped up with foam tape finished it off. Very quick and easy - I'll probably make a few more!

I was going to try using some of my 12x12 papers as Dawn (Dawn's World) did in some recent posts (here and here) but I remembered the BoBunny paper. Went for that instead this time but I'm still going to search the 12x12 papers & try that technique!

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!!