Dedicated to Mike, a friend of Hero Arts

In celebration and commemoration of Mike's life, I dedicate this post. Mike was battling cancer and has succumbed. He is at rest. People who knew Mike personally considered the world simply brighter with Mike in it. He was a good business partner and friend to Hero Arts.

We all feel a sense of vulnerability when someone passes away and must cope with the loss of a loved one. Even though I never knew Mike, I am sorry to see a bright flame put out and extend my condolences to his family.

Hero Arts Blog Hop January 2011

I'm so happy to be included in this week's Hero Arts Blog Hop. Check each day the week of January 10th, 2011 for the blog hoppinest fun and inspiration from the Hero Arts past hostesses! Definition of "hoppinest" is the best blog Hopping ever! But you'll never find that word in the dictionary. I just love the new 2011 stamps I received from Hero Arts to explore different techniques and designs.

If you find a broken link, you can always go back to the Hero Arts blog for the master list of blog links: Also, please email tami@heroarts.com and provide the blog address that has the bad link so we can fix it. Thanks!

You should have come from viewing the wonderful and talented Virginia and at the end of my comments, I'll pass you onto the next wonderful hop along the way.

Please leave a comment because every comment left along the hop gives you a chance to win new Hero Arts 2011 stamps!

This first card up is my favorite card of all and I didn't know what to do with it at first. Two inch blocks on black topped by 2 1/4 inch sparkly square on black background square. The Large Blossom, (CG271) was a late bloomer for me. I was fooling around with different embossing powders when I found some old glitter embossing powder that just pulled this whole card together.

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First card up is "Joy Ride", (CL481) with a scooter a go go. A button, ribbon and background of Dots and Flowers (S5213) on the scooter panel and Cling Dots (CG139) on kraft. I embossed the scooter and used some black Enamel Accents on some of the dots. The sentiment is from the same new set.

Next card, we have the new 2011 Hand Drawn Flower (CG285) and some oldies, but goodies, Cling Dots (CG139) and Just Wanted (CL175) with a little Black Enamel Accents for the center. EASY PEASY. You can vary the look of the flower by arranging the three flower layers with the bottom layer showing in the spaces. It looks like you have many more layers.

I really like how this came together. I love the silhouette from (CG265), "Getting Ready". I stamped a sentiment from "Glamorous" (CL 269) on the tag on front and I glued a slim black scallop border on the inside of the card with a sentiment from "Glamorous".

A "Special Note of Thanks", (CL499) lets me thank you for visiting. I heat embossed the wreath and used pencils to color in. However, I wanted a whiter white, so I used white Enamel Accents on the petals, which really pop the flowers on the kraft background. The sentiment would be good for a get well, sympathy, or just sending caring thoughts.

Now remember to leave a comment because every comment left along the hop gives you a chance to win new Hero Arts 2011 stamps!

Thanks for visiting and now to Sue's Inky Fingers. ENJOY!

Playing with new stamps again?

The blog hop has started and I can't wait for my team's turn on Wednesday. But you want to start hopping NOW... Go to Hero Arts to start hopping. You'll be dazzled by Monday's projects - I WAS!

To get you in the mood, I'm showing you a card I made with my wonderful new 2011 Hero Arts stamp, "Getting Ready", (CG265). This is such a fun stamp to play with. I've been in the glittery mood lately and wondered how this would look on deep dark green... A few clear gems, ribbon and sentiment complete the card. A Hero Arts stamp set about a year ago, "Marvelous" has a couple great sentiments and how perfect this one is!

Envies and the company they keep

I am in a swap in Swap-bot for decorated envelopes - three - I couldn't imagine spending time on one, much less three... but oh well. When I finished them, I thought I'd put them away and look at them again, because I thought they were too too busy... they may very well still be too busy, but now at least I like them. hehe..

The flowers on the right are from the new 2011 Hero Arts catalog, "Special Note of Thanks"(CL499). I just inked up part of the stamp and kept stamping in Rangers Distress Ink Frayed Burlap. Then I colored some of the flowers in with markers and white pencil. I used a couple wonderful stamps - the large bird is an oldie and I'll have to look for the brand, the other birds are from Tim Holtz, and aptly title "The Birds." The third envelope has a new HA stamp too - "Getting Ready" (CG265) that is so cute. I used Distress Ink Vintage Photo to stamp and Antique Linen to swirl directly from the pad onto the card. A new Hampton stamp with three wonderful ladies is also stamped and colored in. I'm happy with them. Happy Stamping!

Just a Peek

I've been playing with the Hero Arts stamps I received to demonstrate what you can do with those wonderful Hero Arts stamps in the 2011 Catalog. I think I can do without a stamp and then someone just does something awesome with it. I have been having a great time crafting with the new stamps. They don't leave my desk. I want them up where I can see and use them all the way to hop time. Be sure to come back January 12th for the big reveals that I'll share on my team's blog hop. It begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard time.

But to whet your taste buds, I created this today! I loved the new Card Patterns sketch for this week and am entering this beauty for their challenge. I wish I had more time, but I don't. The pink metal heart in the middle of the flower, I found at the bottom of my embellishments drawer - how lucky was I? The paper must be 10 years old, so I don't know the maker, but it could be from an old line of Dots products. This Hand Drawn Flower(CG285 just begs to be paper pieced. It's scattered with tiny pearls and the 4 two-inch squares received a pearl and purple gem. The sheer purple bow and metal heart jumped right on. The paper is much more purple than in the photo. I hope you join me tomorrow when I'll be posting some decorated envelopes.

Got a new stamp and it's perfect for ATCs

My new Hampton Art stamp was a great find at Michaels and I really do like their arty stamps. Isn't this a great stamp and the Rangers Distress inks just add wonderful color and vibrancy.

I paper pieced the women and they are just grand ladies to work with.

Happy stamping!