BLOG HOP JANUARY 2011

There's a blog hop coming up and I got to play with some awesome 2011 stamps right after Christmas. I'm still playing. I'm taking my time, adding a bit here, a bit there and can hardly wait to share them. But, I have to wait. I don't know the date I'll be linking up with our team, but am so excited about it. I only have two cards done, but I am happy with them. Remember, coming soon to your neighborhood, NEW STAMPS!

Tis the Season to be Jolly! fa la la la la

I have been downloading a lot of wonderful holiday images from The Graphics Fairy recently. I've just fallen in love with the vintage look, the wonderful colors and had to affix them to cards... yes HAD TO! You can see why.

I love Santa's list, looked for my name, yes, I didn't see yours either... The woman at her writing desk is perfect for just about any situation from Thinking of you, Thank you, Happy Birthday, Just a line..... and on. The deer is perfect for a guy card. Getting ready to put my sleepy head down.

Check out Wee Memories and their wonderful give-away Studio 3 Solutions is sponsoring this Christmas Wish giveaway by giving one lucky winner a Color Cubbie, so you will have to visit Wee Memories. That cubbie is on my Christmas Wish list, so visit right away.

Blog hop on Friday December 10, 2010

Hero Arts is having a BLOG HOP and everyone is invited to join on Friday, December 10th for a fun-filled, inspiration-packed blog hop featuring ALL NEW stamps from the upcoming 2011 Hero Arts Catalog!

We’ll hop between the blogs of more than 20 Hero Arts designers and friends, previewing the new stamps and sharing idea after idea. You’ll be able to leave comments along the way for a chance to win fabulous prizes — 2011 Catalog stamps, of course!

I can hardly wait. Be sure to visit the Hero Arts Blog on Friday! I will be visiting all the blogs just like you.

USA only - The Graphics Fairy - Follow my link!

Time to rise and SHINE! Get your ears perked up and get ready to go visit The Graphics Fairy and follow her directions to her private blog to enter the contest. I wanted you to see the gorgeous image that I've just downloaded and printed out.

Can you say "Best Buy Gift Card" - did I see lights go on? Run, do not walk!

Just sharing

I keep visiting so many blogs because everyone has something different and wonderful to see. I've been creating also and not posting. The month has just gotten away from me, so I am posting NOW!

Hope all the U.S. people had a great Thanksgiving - I did. And I got to create too. The cards were easy and the tag was even more so. I printed out a marvelous vintage bird scene from The Graphics Fairy and distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks (can't live without them). The tag was some wonderful paper that I added the vintage girl to. Voila!

Visit Deidre! Great blog candy!

Hustle on over to visit Deidre for some great candy - yes blog candy! She has a great blog and is so talented. Hustle Hustle Hustle!!!

She's giving away Joyeux Noel Clear Stamps by Papermania, Whiff of Joy Stamp, DCWV Chipboard Christmas Shapes, 4 Wooden holiday characters! and some red ribbon. I became a follower not long ago and love visiting. Hope you visit too.

CCC - October

Have you joined Deborah's Card Chain Challenge (CCC)? It is really such a great feeling to receive a wonderful card from anywhere in the world made just for you. You become friends across the miles and I love to see when all the cards are published and you see such fantastic creations of art.

I usually opt for the sketch, rather than the colors because I have such a hard time finding colors and patterns that coordinate. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

I have to think you've been to Deborah's blog, because she is one of the wittiest persons I know. Her blog is full of sun and fun and some of the fun is remodeling... the remodeling is the other side of the fun coin.

I sent my card to Paula in the way down under. She is so sweet and is a co-moderator on Die Cut Divas, a flickr group for those who use a die-cut and/or embossing machine, such as the Cuttlebug. Visit our group as there is a challenge with some goodies going on right now!

Visit the Daily Marker

A give-away on The Daily Marker blog... You have got to love those stamps on my sidebar and you too can participate in the drawing. Just click here to find out all about this fabulous give-away and the beautiful card.

I can't resist blog candy. Can you?????

Did I know I had a spam filter??? NO!

I don't wade through comments to approve them and believed that all comments were being posted... not true - I had over 500 comments in my spam filter. This spam filter was all unknown to me until I clicked on blog buzz. I usually don't take the time to look at a lot of stuff and thought "wonder what this is" and discovered to my horror that I might have comments listed as spam that are not... well, I did. I found two that indeed are probably spam, out of over 500 comments.

When you are in your "DASHBOARD" there will be tabs that labeled NEW POST, Edit Posts, Comments... etc. Click on Comments and there is your spam... if you've never been there before, you may have more than you ever imagined. I've inserted the information at the top of my outrageously long list. You can click on individual comments or the "All" and tag them as SPAM or REMOVE CONTENT from the spam list. There's a check asking you if you want to remove or label it spam. Please check your spam filter if you allow comments without approving them.

Select: All, None

SPAM

DELETE

REMOVE CONTENT

I WON!

I WON!

I WON!

I WON!

I was not prepared for the number of stamps in my prize package from Ayana's Creations. I loved the card Ayana sent along - see the butterflies.

All Penny Black stamps - I don't think I've ever had a Penny Black stamp so this is a first! I do have a favorite - that cute little bear lying directly in front of the butterfly card. He is so adorable. I colored him in already and dabbed some white Enamel Accents on the scarf, hat and part of a chimney (not seen in photo). I have to let that dry before I start my card.

New stamps and no time... sigh... Thank you so much Ayana.

Just for Jenny Cierley - Wedding Wishes!

GOOD NEWS!

Hero Hostess Jenny Cierley is getting married October 10, 2010. Tami Hartley with Hero Arts gathered the Hero Arts flickr group into her secret classified information group so we can host a Flickr group virtual wedding card shower to celebrate this special day. Jenny & her fiance Jason will be married 10.10.10… - In Tami's own words, "how cool is that!"

When creating our card we could include something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue, even all or some...

Here's my creation - obviously something blue, something old is this sentiment from a 1995 stamp in my collection, something new is the new card stock on which the sentiment is stamped and I thought I could borrow your attention. Happy Wedding Wishes to the bride and groom. Go on over to the Hero Arts flickr group to check out the cards. The cards for Jenny and Jason should be tagged weddingwishes4jenny.

Jennifer McGuire and A Muse Calendar

Jennifer McGuire made some wonderful calendars from an A Muse Calendar download. The calendar proceeds will benefit a school in memory of a little girl. In order to read everything about it, please visit Jennifer McGuire's blog.

I've always been tempted to make my own calendar and this may be the shot I needed to venture into unknown territory.

Have a great Monday!

Time for Christmas cards already

YES! I made some cards for World Cardmaking Day and the Hero Arts blog WCMD challenge this weekend. I had a great deal of fun and have some wonderful cards to send for Xmas season.

I loved this Santa and cut him off of something, but have no idea what it was - could have been a box or a card. Whichever or whatever, thought I'd put him to use on some cards. Of course I had to use my Spellbinders Nestabilities and Cuttlebug - love how shapes can make a card pop. Those background stamps of Hero Arts work wonders. I love Rangers Distress Inks. They come in great colors and just so adaptable to a crafter's use. Liquid Pearls just add that extra touch too. My favorite is White Opal.

Thank you for taking time to look.

Ayana's Creations - first video and a give-away!

I wish I could just make straight lines straight. Do you sometimes start working your way across a card and oops, the hand seems to have a mind of its own. I was watching a marvelous video at Ayana's Creations and her coloring and creativeness is just astonishing. In the finishing of her card, she made these quick little dashes that make me jealous. Of course I'm in awe of her wonderful coloring, but she's got to be perfect with dashes too?

You will love to visit and become a follower, just like I am.

I'm late, but, oh well...

I love this image. It's so easy to color and have fun with. I used my Copic markers to color and I do love them. I followed Card Patterns' sketch # 81, but the challenge is already over. I really enjoy doing a sketch challenge and I like the way this turned out.

The sketch for Card Patterns # 82 is up and two people have already submitted cards. There are always so many, it's hard to visit each blog, but well worth it.

Enjoy the weekend!

Don't you love it when a card makes itself?

I love the sketch for this week. It seemed that everything I picked up had a place on my card. Go visit Card Patterns and see if you want to try the new sketch... it's a winner! Here's my interpretation

I used a lovely vintage fairy from The Graphic Fairy. The little fairy is darling. I used the Cling stamp Friend Definition for the background. Lay the card onto the stamp to get a good impression. I also like spritzing the stamp with a little water. I love Ranger's little spritzing bottles. The best I've found anywhere!

Then you can't live a crafty life without Ranger Distress Inks... well, I can't. I used Shabby Shutters for the definition and distressed around the image and on the three die-cut circles. I found some hand-made paper just perfect. I used a scrap piece of paper for the cross cut and had laid aside the scallop piece for a later project - this was it!

Ribbon Re-organization

I was downloading some wonderful clip art from The Graphic Fairy and found some wonderful ribbon hangers. I followed the link to Kunterbunt Cottage to check out how she made them and what she did with them.

I love the way my ribbon organizers or re-organizer.... whichever - I think mine were organizers as the bunch of ribbons I have hanging from these have never been organized.

All images are from The Graphic Fairy. I'm sure you'll want to visit too.

Been loving a Komodo stamp

I was told Komodo went out of business. I wish I had purchased the other stamp when I purchased this. The store only had two left and I loved this one so much. I've made an ATC (Artist Trading Card) and a card using this stamp. I love my Copic markers which I used on the ATC (also used an embossed paper on which to stamp the image). I so enjoy using those wonderful Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks too.

On the ATC, I used Copic markers and Distress Ink Worn Lipstick. On the card, I used Distress Inks only. The background of the card is stamped with Hero Arts Dots and Flowers in Faded Jeans Distress Ink. The distress inks Faded Jeans, Broken China, Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters and Forest Moss. I used a warm Copic marker on the craneand a white pencil and gel pen for highlights.

Such a pretty day today. I think I'll take a book and read outside. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

August Card Chain Challenge

I'm posting the card I made for Debbie's August Card Chain Challenge at Society of Stamp and Scrap-aholics.... don't you love that name? You will have to stop by to check when she will have the September Card Chain Challenge up. Debbie has a theme and either a color or sketch to choose to go with the monthly themes, usually three. I'm terrible with multiple colors so I generally go with the sketches.

The challenge means you will receive a wonderful card just for you! It's so great to receive a card in the mail and not just bills... that's all I get... I'm not sure if Debbie will post her September challenge today or not... but I'd keep checking!

I've been holding off on posting this to make sure my partner received it.

Card Patterns Sketch # 76

I couldn't resist the sketch at Card Patterns today - hurried to print it out and take it to my desk. I also wanted to do a birthday card for the Die Cut Divas Flickr group for the challenge there. I love the way it turned out. It is really so much prettier in real life. I tried 15 times to get a decent shot.

The mouse looks adorable and the tones of the umbrella are more in the violet range.

Go take a look at both challenges and join in the fun!

Visit Scrapbookaholic for a chance to win a prize

I just became a follower of Abby who is having a great give-away on her blog at Scrapbookaholic. She's so cheery and is giving away one of Joyslife's stamp sets. Be sure to visit today.

The weather will be great here today, so I'm going to enjoy open doors and windows and summer breezes. We usually have quite hot weather at this time of year, but it's going to be the low 80s... ahhh.

Enjoy your day!

Card Patterns # 73

I really had a "I don't know what to do with this sketch" moment that lasted pretty much all day. I do love Card Patterns sketches, but I didn't know what to do with the four round dots on this sketch so it didn't look like I stuck dots on so it fit the sketch.... after I almost had the card complete, did I finally decide on what to put there.

I still want to do those crazy inchies from the last challenge, so I snagged some scrap paper, punched inchies, cut them in half for the four corners and glued.

I really love the Hero Arts Dots and Flowers (S5213) as a background stamp, so I stamped it in Ranger Distress Ink Dusty Concord. And I smudged one little part. So it's covered now by a flower from some ribbon I have (love that flower ribbon).

I loved that scrap of orange, green, yellow and it was perfect here. The butterfly is also stamped on the scrap. Let no scrap go to waste.

Paula - Happy Days!

I've been having some major computer problems today and am so very late with wishing Paul happy days on her new little one, Lilly.

With Em and Lilly, she'll be running twice as fast and doing everything double-time. But, maybe that old advertising song - double the pleasure, double the fun will apply. I'm really happy for you. Wish we were closer so I could visit.

Paula, so many people say the time will pass so quickly, so enjoy your children now. Yes, it's true, enjoy them, even as you teach them.

I sent some cards to Paula as well as many of her Hero Arts friends on flickr and I'm sure it was such a wonderful surprise for her. I would have loved to be a picture on the wall to see. I sent several cards, but I really like this little cutie. I hope Em liked hers... I think it may take awhile until Lilly can vote on hers:))))) Hugs to Paula.

Hannah will have a bit to say too, so please visit her blog.

Card Patterns # 72

I just don't do things in a straight line and putting 16 squares in a straight line... ugh. That's why I would never be a quilter. So, I did it anyway. Check out the challenge and sketch from Card Patterns here. At least I had a square punch. I used the paper I created with tape and quickly punched the 16 squares. I found some leftover paper that was perfect for the background and matching ribbon - sometimes you're just lucky. I pulled a Hero Arts flower out of my stash (CH167, Vintage Collage). I found a couple little clear stamps from a Hero Arts clear Birthday set and stamped the strip of green paper I had left from the leftovers... like having a midnight snack (pop dotted the strip.

I folded the ribbon over at the top of the card and glue dotted the ribbon and flower to the card. The little black dot in the middle of the flower is a black nailhead.

This was super easy, but I still hate arranging squares in a straight line. I like the card, just biting my lips when glueing the squares on.

Gaal Creative - July's challenge

Gaal Creative is having a challenge - you have to visit and view the wonderful video on "A Place to Bark". Create a project using animals... couldn't be more simple than that. I had stamped these House Mice out so I thought I'd color them for this challenge. Please hop over to visit Anne's wonderful blog. Go on now. Follow the yellow brick road to visit Anne's blog.

Card Patterns # 71

Another challenge at Card Patterns... yeah... a new sketch. I love the Nestabilities Labels 8. The shape is just so fantastic. And I cut out a wonderful tissue box. Don't you love the colors and design on it? My coworkers save tissue boxes for me and I wish I knew who gave me this one. I find them on my desk, my chairs, everywhere. For the butterfly, I used a set of plastic tapes that came in different colors, widths, and designs that I bought at Michaels. I didn't use them for almost a year, but I like them run diagonally across some backing for paper pads and then stamped, embossed and cut. The butterfly is a wonderful Hero Arts Heart Winged Butterfly ; the birds are from the Antique Engravings set (two sets - this one has the butterflies and birds in it); and the background is done in Dots and Flowers. Hope you like it.

Check out "Inside My Own Private Idaho"

A wonderful give-away of Japanese Masking Tape and some just luscious Silver Lustre paper from Paper Temptress. Michelle Phillipi has given people three ways to win, so hop on over to Inside My Own Private Idaho now! You won't regret it, you'll LOVE it.

Card Patterns Sketch # 70

Here we go with another nifty sketch by Card Patterns. Lots of layers here. I knew I wanted to use Hero Arts stamp Flower Box (CG127)- it just seemed to sit right there for me. I stamped on a pale yellow dotted paper and I picked up purple Copic markers to color the flowers. So the color scheme just created itself. Searching for background papers was the next job and I liked what I found. Since my central image was so large, this turned out to be quite a large card and needed a large butterfly from Hero Arts Butterflies (CG130) and then a smaller one from a sentiment clear set (CL351). I do like it, but I think I'll go for smaller on the next go-around. I'm sure I'll use this sketch again.

Card Patterns Sketch 69

I hope you visit Card Patterns and check out sketch 69. The samples are just marvelous. I have to say, I actually had something in mind as I dug through my box of Cuttlebug dies looking for a square die. I also wanted to make it in Red, White, and Black. There's a challenge out there at the Pixie Dust Studio Challenge blog. Say that 10 times. You can use red, white, black and/or silver. This seemed like a fantastic color combination. So for both challenges, I made a small note card.

The card is only about 3 inches X 3 inches as I wanted to use the die I had. I liked how it turned out with just those three colors. It'll make a nice little note for a friend.

Too late, but love the sketch

The CardPatterns Sketch # 68 is just such a fantastic sketch, but my allergies were so bad that I couldn't think where I put the camera... and guess what.... the camera was where I usually keep it... sigh. Unfortunately the challenge is closed, but I love the pattern and wanted to share.

But since I really like the card I made, I am definitely going to be using this sketch for more cards. The red background is sponged on Ranger Distress Inks Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick. It gives a cool background - I also sponged the same colors on the back of the card... why, you say? Because some wet distress inks marred the surface. The back is the same rich color red as the front base of this card now. I'm trading this on a Swap-bot group and it's a Receiver's choice (the members who join this swap list what kinds of cards they would like to receive and the sender makes them a card). She listed animals (surprise me) and I hope she likes it.

I sponged Forest Moss (yes, that dark, almost black, green) around the outside of the oval I cut with Nestabilities Large Ovals in my Cuttlebug. You've got to love those Nesties. I colored my sweet deer (Hero Arts Deer with Copic markers Caramel (YR14) and Sepia (E37) with one of the pale pink tones on the ears. I stamped the two birds on red paper and the butterfly on a varigated green pattern, cut out and attached. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Friends.

Time to vote on InLinkz

Be sure to vote for your favorite cards on the first challenge for InLinkz. There are so many wonderful cards to view. Take your time and vote for the one you like. Yes, I do have a submission and it would be fun to win, but if I don't, that's fine. I want you to vote for the one you like best... (I'm the one with the dump truck)... hehehe Jump right on over now!

Challenge at Card Patterns # 67

I just retook my photo for Anne Gaal's challenge and now I am posting a card for Card Patterns.

I had fallen in love with this paper and just had to use it for this challenge. This is a very loose interpretation of the sketch, but I'm pleased with this. I love this digital print-out from Hero Arts "The Art of Style" CD. A few little touches of gems or pearls and the lovely lady is ready to travel. This is one of my favorites. I put paper tape across top and bottom with a paper gold circle crumbpled up and topped with a nailhead and tiny gem.

Up for a challenge? Check out Gaal Creative...

I knew I'd have to look for some stamps to enter the challenge over at Gaal Creative and what did I find? Some very old Hero Arts stamps that have been sitting for ages, uninked, unloved... sigh... So, here's to inking old stamps onto new cards! I found an old Hero Arts Tic Tac Toe stamp and I knew I just had to stamp the squares - yes PREMADE little squares... no judging if the stamp is perfectly straight and in a line.. whew. I used Copic markers for all the images except for yellow, which is a Marvy marker.

Hero Arts Challenge for June includes Summer or Fourth of July and I think I struck gold in this area... what's more like summer than flowers and sitting on the beach and a flag for Fourth of July!!!!

(I retook the photo - didn't realize how really out of focus it was when I put it on).

InLinkz challenge # 1

I think I have it now... This truck design is not an original. Right now, I can't remember who sent this to me because I'd like to thank them, as I wouldn't have anything for a boy... The card opens and on the inside, I stamped "You're the Best" I used Dots and Flowers, old Hero Arts Clear Birthday set and an extremely old wood "dog" set from Hero Arts - lift the green panel which is on the brad and Happy Birthday is under the green celebrate. The card is about 4 inches long and 2 inches high. I have some black nailheads and silver white pearls on the truck and Glossy Accents on the tires.

I'm not sure where I put this code, so if the link doesn't show up, I'll keep trying. AND I DO have it now.

Another entry for Card Patterns #66

Obviously I really liked this Card Patterns sketch. And I think it's more than likely, a LOOSE interpretation of the sketch, but I like it. Try it!

I used a new stamp and I have no idea who made this stamp... the lovely geisha. I used the Labels 8 for both panels and distressed both with Rangers Vintage Photo, while adding the distress ink Antique Linen around the geisha. I stamped the Hero Arts Dots and Flowers on the wide panel in Antique Linen. Love that color - it gives enough of an imprint without taking over. The base is a paper from Michaels. I just couldn't put anything else but pearls with this beautiful geisha.

Hope you like her too.

Card Patterns # 66

Is this ever a nice design pattern.... Keep up with Card Patterns Weekly Sketches... you'll love them.

Saturday, May 29, 2010, Card Patterns came out with Sketch # 66 and is it ever a winner! I thought I'd use some black paper I sprayed with gold Webbing which I may have purchased at Michaels or Joann's store. I also had some tape (comes on a large tape dispenser with 4 or 5 different colors and widths of tape) which I hadn't used since I bought them. I tossed the description, so I'm not sure what they are. Using a half note card I'd torn off, I taped diagonally all along the note card and cut it into two strips, one about 1/2 inch wide and the other about 2 or so inches wide. I didn't measure... just what looked good. I had some pre-cut images on my desk and just moved them around to see what looked decent. I'm pleased with my creation.

Hope you go on over to Card Patterns and check them out for ideas and enter a few contests. It does make you a better artist. Well, I believe so.

Card Patterns Sketch 65

Love these sketches.... Here are two cards, one I started yesterday and so I will enter both.

I stamped butterflies down the center behind the Asian woman. I purchased her last Saturday at the Stamp Convention here, in Sacramento. Colored her with Copics

Then, I used one of my favorite digital images, Postcard Art from the Hero Arts DigitalKit The Art of Style DVD.

Hope you like them

I WON! Thank you to Joy

Thank you, Joy! You made this too easy... leave a comment... voila... my name was picked and I won the DESTINATIONS CRICUT CARTRIDGE. WOO HOOO! Joy has lots of wonderful stories and stamps to share.

She's also fantastic with getting the word out about a sale too. If you Cricut, get your Michael's Coupon for 60% off from May 23rd through the 29th. Here's a good place to print out the Michael's coupons.

Thank you again. What a delightful surprise this morning.

Angelina "Hot Fix" Fibers

I finally found the Angelina fibers on-line so you can take a glimpse of them too. I just took some pictures of some of the things we've stamped. The demonstrator made some wonderful pins for us at the convention yesterday. We bought three packs to be able to have some interesting colors and mixes. You can mix the colors. They appear to be a thin spun acrylic fiber. We've made a couple butterflies. The dragonfly was from a stamp the demonstrator made for us. I think we will have some great fun with these. You can use this as a background too. Thanks for letting me share.

Convention today in Sacramento, CA

And guess what..... I did NOT take my camera. Can you believe that? No, neither can I. Angelina (10 years old already) and I went to the Rubber Stamp Convention this Saturday. We got there at 10:30 and checked everything out.

I entered the ATC contest and won 4th place as Honorable Mention.

So we spent our Mad Money on a metallic marker for Angelina and something I've never heard of, but is called Susie Sparkle's Angelina. We'll take photos tomorrow because I cannot find anything on the internet on it. We had FUN and that's all that matters. Take care friends.