I love making Xmas cards!

I'm entering this card into the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge # 140, Anything Christmas Challenge.  I sponged the collage with Distress inks Fired Brick, Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Faded Jeans and Wild Honey.  I used Copic markers to color in the holly and applied Red Stickles to the berries.  Hero Arts Holiday Sayings and someone nice sent me this stamped collage.  I think it's Hero Arts too.  Love it.

My second card I made early this week.  I thought I'd share it too.

Yellow, green and white?  Well, it works for me.  I was tired of not having a tree just like the one on the car, so  I stamped just the tree (of course you still have the top of the car - simple solution is to CUT the tree out.  I really like the way this turned out - I feel like I'm in a forest.

Hero Arts Car with Tree ( F5528) and Cling Dots (CG139) stamps gave me my car a forest setting.  Copic markers are always my favorites.  I hope you like it too.

CCC

I thought the woman looks thoughtful, pensive, so I stamped the "Thinking of you" sentiment following the sketch for Lily Pad Cards and will be sending this card to my next partner.    

Hero Arts Digital Design Kit The Art of Style - woman at the window
Hero Arts Special Note of Thanks CL499
Cuttlebug
Nestabilities - Lacy Circle
Pearls

Martha Stewart Scoring Board

Buttons, Buttons, Who's Got the Buttons!

Not just a card... nope, it's a card holder!  The paper was cut on my local stamp store's die-cutter - major die- cut machine, from a 12" X 12" card stock sheet.  The bottoms fold up on the inside and are glued so they form pockets for about 3 cards and envelopes in each side pocket.  I glued ribbon inside so it would tie on the outside - pre-cut slots for the ribbon.  I used the Skyland Birds from my Hero Arts Digital Design Kit, The Art of Style, some light touches of Distress Inks Wild Honey and Broken China, and thought buttons would be perfect since it's not shipping in the mail.  I tied embroidery floss in the button holes.  I like the way it turned out.   I have a photo below of the inside of another card holder so you can see how it's put together.  I put together a total of 15 and I just found one I missed... sigh...

I'm entering this in the Lily Pad Cards Simon Says Product Challenge.  Have fun stamping!

I love this little deer!

I love using the Hero Arts Young Deer (D5234) and this great Hero Arts House with Plant (G5430) for scenes.  Here I have wonderful snow drifts and even a Hero Arts tree from the Holiday Dolls (CL357) clear stamp set.  I gave my granddaughter that little deer and stamped a ton of this darling for me. I hope having other items besides a woodland creature is ok for entering into  Wee Memories contest which runs for TWO WEEKS!   If not, I understand.  

Oh NO! Not another tag???

I had colored about 4 of these lovely Hero Arts Classic Holly (CG229) branch and then thought some of them were too close together when I had the "brilliant" idea of creating tags out of these.  This is my first tag and I will be using the others as part of a gift bag to my friends at work.  I've never created and given tags before, so it'll be a surprise.  I curved the Hero Arts Christmas Sayings (CL343) for a tag sentiment.  I love Copic markers and the vibrancy they bring to an image, so I had to use my Copics here.

I dearly love the butterfly die-cut (Prickly Pear) and had to use it with the Holly.  A lot of Diamond Stickles  on the butterfly and branch and Xmas Red Stickles on the berries to complete this simple tag.    I am entering this is Lily Pad Cards challenge for texture.

A Penny Black Moment

I just love this little bear - won him last year... I think he's a him... I used Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and Antique Linen - love the brown tones with this bear.  The chimney is a red brown, just like they should be.  hehehe  I finally used my Martha Stuart thing-a-ma-jig, to create the stenciling on my card.   Love the way White Enamel Accents adds texture and the Xmas Red Stickles is just perfect on the red hat.  I'm entering the Penny Black challenge.for this month - All Creatures Great and Small.  What a delightful title.  I've read a wonderful book by that title a long time ago now by Alf Wight a British Veterinary Surgeon, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot.  His books made me laugh so hard, I had tears in my eyes.

Tags, Tags, and More Tags

Here's a little tag that had to happen - I love the paper and had just enough to make a little tag, with the help of my Cuttlebug and Spellbinder dies ( Tag and Olivia Alphabet).  I bought some Glitter Paper from Michaels and have been having all kinds of fun.  I'm entering this first tag in Casual Fridays challenge for a clean and casual tag as well as Lily Pad Cards for their texture challenge.  

And here are the rest of the tags for the gang at work.  Whew!  Lots of work and glitter.

Frank's tag is all glittery with Diamond Stickles all over that cute Hero Arts Winking Reindeer (H5457).  I used lots of Spellbinder die-cuts - oval, Olivia alphabet and base.

 This is a tag for Jean and Mike - lots of glitter and shine.  And you can't have too many die-cuts, can you?  I used the Hero Arts House with Plant (G5430).

I just thought this couple was so cute and perfect for Angela.

 Kevin's getting a car to bring a tree home.  hehehe.  This little Hero Arts Car with Tree (F5528) is so cute!  I had to glitter a bit on the car and tree too.

 Michael gets a sun behind his car, so he can have a sunny day to bring his tree home.

 Patricia's tag is all about the curves.  I really like the blues in it.

 Richard got the odd colored tree, just because.... I just thought it suited him... not that he's odd, just liked it.  The tree is from Hero Arts Holiday Dolls (CL357)

 I hope you like them all.  Rather glittery and shiny, but FUN!

Tags Galore

This tag is for Ed - snow falling down and lots of glitter.  

A tag for Ruby Duby - it just rhymes, not her real name.  This little dear has a glittery red shirt.

A tag for Sneh - some snow people to make her day.

I wanted to create some glittery tags and surprise these wonderful people.  I had this die for some time and never used it.  When we had our October challenge (TAGS) on the Die Cut Divas, I just thought what a natural large tag this would make.  And it is.  The second tag is the same as the other two, but I sponged distress ink Wild Honey on it which made it all bronzy.   

I'm entering Sneh's tag for the texture challenge at Lily Pad Cards - Simon Says Stamp is the sponsor.  Hope Tags are ok.  Night, night now.

Card Patterns again - take 139!

I really must like sketches - I think a sketch leaves me the never mind about the sketch, it's already done, just fill the thing in with STUFF...  I was pretty literal with my interpretation - not much interpreting done.... see mine... The map is from the Hero Arts Digital Design Kit, The Art of Style.  I just love this disk.  I printed it out in shades of gray, then sponged distress inks Wild honey, Broken China, And Frayed Burlap.  I sponged Wild Honey and Frayed Burlap on the base card stock also.  The Book Mark digital is from the same disk.  The book mark is sponged with Milled Lavender, Broken China, and Frayed Burlap.  I used a couple Copic markers to highlight the hair and a couple points on the lady's dress.  The sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp from Everyday Sayings, CL342. Black Enamel Accents is added and the map sprayed with a mixture of Perfect Pearls "blue" in water.  Nice and shimmery in real life.  

Not much creativity, but I do have a card now ready for my annual card give-away at work to my fellow workers.  I don't know, but there's something I really like about this card.  

It's all about the texture!

I used the October Hero Arts (HA) challenge sketch ideas for this card.  Too late to enter HA's challenge, but I had to try this sketch and decided something done with my new Spellbinders dies would spire me.  I chose cream colored card stock and the smallest die which I then stamped with this flower HA stamp from the Asian Fram set (CL275).  I clear embossed them and found left-over blue card stock to start planting my flowers. I mounted the blue panel onto the same cream card stock I used for the die-cuts.   Looks like a quilt to me.  Added the twine and 5 large pearls for interest.  The last pearl is hiding right under the bow, bottom right.   When I finished, I thought, wow, looks like there's a lot of texture there... ta-da... Lily Pad Cards, here's my entry for your wonderful texture challenge.  The sponsor is Simon Says Stamp - wonderful goodies at stake here.

Candy Time at Di's...

Di's?   Di's Digi Downloads is having a great - no - tremendous candy give-away.  And you'll love her digital designs.  Stop on over to visit her blog and from there to her Challenge Blog.  Be Happy, go visiting!

Card Patterns Sketch 138

Sometimes you just know what you want to do.  Be sure to visit Card Patterns so you can enter too.

The circle just reminded me of a setting or rising sun.  I guess mine is rising because it's a vivid yellow!  Where I live, we go don't have snow in the winter, mostly rain, so I thought a sun was appropriate for us in California to tie our trees onto the car in the bright sun to bring it home.  Diamond Stickles in the windows and on the car front light.

Stamps and supplies:

Hero Arts House with Plant G5430
Hero Arts Car with Tree F5528
ribbon
Cuttlebug
Lacey Circles die-cut
Embossing folder
Copic markers
Diamond Stickles

I like sketches!

Isn't this a clean and simply fabulous sketch?   Here's my simple take on it.

I cut quite a few of these die-cuts on my Cuttlebug and had to use one to frame this lovely lady from the Hero Arts Digital Design Kit, The Art of Style.  I'm afraid I didn't see she was a bit crooked when I glued her down... oh well, a little bit - she's too pretty to throw away.  I got that great Christmas ribbon at Michaels for 40% off last week.  Later:)

Card Patterns 137 - YAY

I really enjoy working with Card Patterns sketches.  I have to toot my horn on this one - just love how it all came together.... Here is my loose interpretation of this sketch.

I have to admit, I don't like the bottom paper.  But I know I won't get this photographed again until after the challenge closes at Card Patterns.  It's too bad I didn't check the photo yesterday.

(Lawn)scaping Challenge - woo hoo

I couldn't resist the current challenge on the (Lawn)scaping Challeng Blog - no, it's not a resist challenge, but a paper piecing challenge.  I wanted to make a Christmas card and this card went together so quickly, one thing followed another so easily.  I love this paper - Heidi Grace and used the back for the deer (dotted green - yes it is as dark a ruddy green as it looks).  But I like it.  Pearls were perfect for her antlers.  She needed a little scarf...

I found some wonderful ribbon I recently purchased at Michaels and the Hero Arts flowers are perfect.  I hope you like it too.  Sometimes a card makes itself... and this one did.

ATC - Apples with Shimmer

SECOND POST OF THE DAY!

Wish I could tell you what manufacturer made this stamp.  It is distributed by Greenbrier International Inc.and I might have bought it at The Dollar Tree or some other discount stores for maybe a $1.00.  I painted the apples with Distress inks Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters and Forest Moss.  A Copic marker was used on the stem.  The letter "A" had to be stamped on the front of the ATC for a trade on SwapBot.

To paint with Distress Inks, first take the stamp pad and press it onto a non-stick Craft Mat.  If you don't have a Craft Mat, use glass or your acrylic stamping block.  Spray mist with water.  Take a paint brush and paint!

I love the Tim Holtz spray misters - perfect light spray.  I have never used a better mister in my life.  After I glued my cut out painted apples to the background, I applied Glossy Accents to the apple with the letter "A" on it, let it dry, then sprayed everything with a mixture of Perfect Pearls (green) over the background, waited and then lightly misted the apples.  The sheen is just gorgeous.   The apples look quite realistic.

That's why I couldn't wait to post a second post today - well, tonight!

CCC October 2011

I loosely used the Card Patterns Sketch 136 by making four panels, using four different embossing folders.  I used two different distress inks, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, and Shabby Shutters to give some color as well as a left over strip of paper from a border punch.  I put this panel on top of a pale lime green note card and attached a white piece of cardstock, on which I stamped Friend from Hero Arts Friends (CL351).  Hero Arts flowers, some gems and lots of Diamond Stickles finish the card.  

My Crafty Heart has CANDY!

Just thought I'd poke you to head on over to "My Crafty Heart" for Teresa's first Blog Candy event.  ONE HUNDRED followers now and I'm sure still growing.  A very talented card maker, you will see!

Yes, it is now my Favorite stamp!

You may have guessed it - the House stamp is now my favorite stamp.   Head on over to Lily Pad Cards to check out the video on how to make a Halloween house.  I adapted the window cutting and layering of one stamped image over the same image with the windows inked.   Glossy Accents highlights the windows.  The white paper and blue note card are both embossed (Cuttlebug has been busy) with that wonderful swirl design. I cut the white cardstock and layered it the way I wanted it to look on the card, then put it through the Cuttlebug.  I do love the way it turned out.  House is stamped on light tan cardstock and lightly sponged with Distress Ink Vintage Photo.  The trees are colored with Copic markers and stickles trim the trees.  White Enamel Accents dot the tree.  Some clear gems finish the night sky.  I cut the door panels for windows set in the doors.  Hope you like this.

Got a NEW stamp!!! Halloween is at Wee Memories

I must say I held off buying this house long enough, but with 40% off at Michaels, I couldn't resist.  Doesn't it look spooky?  It's not supposed to be a spook house,  It's the Hero Arts House with Plant, G5430, a charming Victorian-style house.  I added a pumpkin where the plant stood and some fence and scary bats.   I thought this was a rather batty Halloween card... wonder what's happening in those rooms..... oooohhh. The bats are an OLD Hero Arts wood block stamp called Bat Cluster, A224.   The windows and yellow moon are covered with Glossy Accents...  Spellbinder Label 8 set is so darn useful  A little twine, gems and Copic markers finish this card.  I am entering this card in Wee Memories challenge of Halloween projects.  YAH!


NOW, I want to show you the house in a different setting, the chilly North!   I used this same stamp for the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge going on NOW.  One of the three choices was using non-holiday stamps to create a holiday card.   The house is a given, but I also used the Envelope Pattern, S5507, on the trees I cut out as triangles and on the torn paper for the partly snowy ground.  The Cuttlebug comes in handy for a nice swirly night sky.  I made my snowman with the smallest Spellbinders circle die-cut I had and then an even smaller punch I bought at the Dollar Tree.   Now isn't that an inviting house?  So unlike the one above.  hehehe

I'm not finished with my house decorating yet!  You know how sometimes you get some paper in a stack you know you will NEVER use?   Now I ask you about the rounded square die-cut.... who would have thought?   Some left-over striped card-stock and there you have it... oh, the doors didn't stamp well, so I made them into long door panels.  After I took the photo, I added door handles.   The house was stamped on left-over text paper.   See what versatility this house has?  And I didn't get it until Friday night.   I inked it up and started cutting yesterday... still have some more that are not colored in.  Love those good ol' Copic markers.  

Hope you like them. 

October Die Cut Divas Challenge

I have an easy peasy challenge for you over at the Die Cut Divas - going to put it up now!


Two options for you.

Option 1.Make a gift tag - any event, e.g. Christmas, Halloween, Birthday......

OR

Option 2.
Make a tag card - simple and easy.


Remember:
1. Limit of 4 entries for each challenge per month
2. Random Drawing will be held the last day of the month
3. If a moderator is not hosting a challenge for the month, the moderator can enter the challenge
To add you picture to this thread, copy direct link of your card on flickr and paste it here adding these square brackets on both ends. Like so… [your link here].
OR
o Link a picture of your card, make sure you have the photo of your card up.  Click on "Share" above your card.  Then click on the code below in the box labeled Grab the HTML/BBCode, Copy and paste the code below:  This is the way I do it - very easy.


Have fun!


Here are some examples:  Halloween card shaped like a tag.  You can also make a card that has a pocket for a tag.

Prize for October:  Some die-cut butterflies - about 20, solid colored blank cards with envelopes and 10 cards with patterns, 10 8 X 7 solid colored cardstock & a package of Xmas brads.   I will add more to the prize as the month goes on.

I think everyone is thinking CANDY!

Second blog for the day!    More, yes, more blog candy... Visit the Daily Marker - see the wonderful items in her candy box on my sidebar.  What a great day!   Now I have to finish a speech.... blah... hehehe

Ann's Cabin Creations - blog candy.....

Blog Candy time at Ann's Cabin Creations!   See my sidebar for the give-away items - NEW Hero Arts Christmas Tag Stamp set, Hero Arts pearls and gems, and Doodlebug Doodle-pops Elf Sticker!      You'll have until October 7th to enter - random draw!   Go quickly and enter - nothing difficult... BLOG CANDY - woohoooo. 

Card Patterns Sketch 133

Not a snappy name, but I like the way my card turned out.  I wish I could find the image again.  I think it's wonderful.  I followed the sketch pretty much to detail, using patterned paper as the 3 panel background.  I like the way it turned out - serene.  Hope you like it too.   Take a peek at Card Patterns Sketch # 133.

Night Night!  Happy Stamping.

Friendship, just a little bit of Friendship

You know you can always use a "friendship" card.  I used some die-cut flowers and leaves (made out of tissue boxes) and some Hero Arts (HA) images from Digital Design Kit "The Art of Style" and stamped a HA clear design note card and sentiments for fun with a wood Manuscript Background.   The felt red heart was just perfect - received it in a wonderful swap.  Used Copic markers for the digital images.  A little punching along the side over top of Warm Lipstick distress ink and I'll give this to someone who needs cheering up... maybe accompany the card with a little vino!  Entering this card in the Stamps R Us challenge and the flickr group Die Cut Divas challenge.  Visit both places.  

Primary Colors - Butterflies will do it everytime

Back To School - Primary Colours

I love the Prickly Pear dies and as I was cutting some butterflies, I thought "OH, this is perfect, grab some red, yellow, and blue paper and get these babies cut".  I thought they would work well for a Get Well card too.  I stamped Hero Arts Circle Design on the top of the butterflies - love that stamp on these butterflies.   Since these are large butterflies I arranged them diagonally.  It really is a sweet card.

I'm entering this card in the One Stop Craft Challenge of Back to School-Primary Colors.

CCC September - a great sketch!

You'll have to check out Lily Pad Cards for the CCC Challenge.  I love to do sketches and love the one for September!  I scored lines on the top panel and stmped the dress in Vintage Photo on top of it, did a bit of distressing, some string and that marvelous shoe in the clear set from Hero Arts clear set (Glamorous).  The top photo was taken in sunlight and the second photo in artificial light.  The second photo is most color true. I think you can see the scoring on the first card much better.  Come join the fun at Lily Pad Cards in trading a wonderful card with someone who enjoys card-making as much as you do.

Here's the scoop!

Make a card that uses at least one of the following three options. You can actually use two or all three, but you are only required to use one of them.

Color Palette

or

Sketch

(Pinched this from Paper Crafts latest great idea book, Card Ideas for Paper Crafters!)

or

one of the following themes:

Friendship

or

Autumn

or

Vintage

The deadline. You have until Friday, September 16, 11:59 p.m., EST, to make your card and link to it at the Lily Pad Cards CCC Challenge.

Card Patters - here we go!

Card Patterns Sketches are so great to follow - makes for an unusual and lovely card.  I had some creative moments here and loved putting green and pink together.  Hero Arts "Just a Note" and "Joy Ride" sentiment are perfect together.  It seems I'm always running.  I did do a second card, but after photographing and NOT liking it, I added a butterfly, so will get that up tomorrow or later today.   Have a great week!

A little fabric never hurt anyone

Not one, but two fabric butterflies grace this card for Lily Pad Cards challenge of using fabric or felt in a project.  And I'm getting ready for Christmas too.  I just wanted to keep this simple, no embossing folders, tags, etc.  I thought the butterflies were enough to pull everyone into the scene.

Lily Pad, Lily Pad...

Kathy's Lily Pad Palette - ooh, wonderful colors - see the colors first hand.  I had to try this new digital image from Digital Two for Tuesdays.  Here's where I got this sweet image and colored her with Copic markers.  Just getting some photos up on Flickr tonight too.  Have to hit and run!

Card Patterns Challenge # 127

I love the brickwork in this digital stamp, such a lovely scene too.  Check out Card Patterns for the sketch.  I am too late to enter - just had too much going on, but I do like this card    I'm not usually one for yellow, but I was just drawn to yellow for the image and took a Copic marker to color the Hero Arts white flowers.  The little girl just seems to emerge from the center.  I'm very pleased with her.