Green with Envy!

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I told you fell in love the this background stamp, Striped Pattern and you can see that I did, as well as the Butterfly and Flower clear set.  My other stamps are Green with Envy because I'm using Striped Pattern.

I used the stamp in a vertical panel and have to say I love it.  Just another way to use these stamps.

I used the leftover panel from the first card on this second card, essentially the same design, but totally different looks.  I love the obscured pattern which seems to delight me in every color I've tried.

Recipe:

Hero Arts Butterfly and Flowers (CL750)

Hero Arts Flower and Butterfly Frame Cuts to match the above clear set

Hero Arts Striped Pattern (K5884)

Hero Arts Green Hills and Field Greens (the little cube sets)  I have several sets.

Cuttlebug

Stickles

Hope your month was full of wonderful stamping.

Grab a Typewriter

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Using the Typewriter note card, I made some very simple cards by stamping a couple sentiments that came with the cards onto the "sheet of paper in the typewriter".  I also added Glossy Accents which makes the keys feel and look raised.  Fun to do.

Using a reverse of a die-cut.  I had this black panel on my desk and thought it looked great highlighting the typewriter.  I've had this "COOL" embellishment for a couple years now and never found a use for it.  I think this turned out rather "COOL".  The keys and ribbon spools are glossy with Glossy Accents too.

  Close-up

Always fun with Hero Arts!

I bought a new CELL PHONE!

Sponsoring Die Cut Divas blog for January 2014

I had to buy a NEW CELL PHONE from Hero Arts.  Got ya, eh?  And it's pink or actually Soft Blossom Shadow Ink.  As soon as I saw this phone, I knew I wanted it.  My order hadn't come into my LSS until Friday and I picked it up Saturday.   I saw Virginia's cards last week in the Hero Arts Blog hop and she made me want this stamp set all the more.  So that's how I got my new CELL PHONE.

Close-up of background kraft embossed with Cuttlebug folder.

I like butterflies and thought they would know how to flutter about a phone.

Recipe:
Hero Arts LOL CL737
Hero Arts Lattice S5801
Hero Arts Shadow Ink Soft Blossom
Memory Box die - Vivienne Butterfly
Obsession Impression - small butterflies

WINNER on my Blog - Sue D

HERO ARTS BLOG HOP 

I've chosen a winner - lucky number 20!

SUE D.  I've sent you an email about 5 minutes ago.  Please reply with your name and address, so I may mail your prize to you!

 Sue D said...

I like how you used that background stamp and great mountain scene.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

January 22, 2014 at 7:54 AM

 

I'm falling for Cantaloupe!

Sponsors Die Cut Divas!

Start with Hero Arts blog later today at 7:00 a.m. Pacific time here in California.  Well worth the hop.  You also have until 9:00 p.m. tonight to leave a comment at my personal blog, A Bit of This and That to win a couple prizes.  Wednesday was a good day for me and could be for you too.

Let the new Wood Block Stamp, Pattern Stripes, lead the way!  I found I really LOVE this stamp.  When you stamp it, you see hints of words and patterns, but they seem to fade into the mist.  It's this kind of a stamp that is perfect for a background.  The pattern develops depth, but doesn't take away from anything else, UNLESS you want to draw the eye to the pattern.  You can do so much with a background stamp like this.

I'm falling for Hero Arts Soft Cantaloupe (I tried some double stamping on this background, but it may have to be in larger space increments so it doesn't blend into the previous stamping.  I think it's fantastic stamped once as below.

You can die cut into any part of your paper to create something just a little different.

Recipe:
Hero Arts Pattern Stripes (K5884)
Hero Arts Garden Ink Cubes set - Soft Cantaloupe
Cuttlebug Die-cut (thanks)
Spellbinders Stars
Cuttlebug

Hero Hostess Day 3!

Hero Arts is hopping again.  We Hosti are hopping with excitement because of the new Hero Arts stamps.  

I'm loving the new stamps and how versatile they are and have been sharing the new stamps at Die Cut Divas.  

I have 3 cards for you today.

The blog hop begins with Hero Arts blog with a list of my fellow happy hostesses (past hostess in name only).  Once you're a Hero Arts hostess, you're always a Hero Arts hostess.  You should have arrived here from  Heather Doran, (Stamping and Stitching).

Hero Arts will be awarding prizes from randomly drawn comments. For a chance to win, simply comment on ANY of the stops along the hop on ANY day, including each day’s starting post at the Hero Club Blog. 
The more comments you leave, the better your chance of winning! 


Is there a background stamp in there?  Yes, I went background crazy.  A little bit of everything, from Rangers Distress Paints in White and Victorian Velvet, Adirondack's Cool Peri, Blue Denim and Eggplant.,  then a bit of green.  I then lightly scattered some glitter embossing powder and Egyptian Gold embossing powder on the card.  Surprised myself and love it.  The flower petal is the result of a happy accident with fine glitter and Glossy Accents.  Some Red Stickles made it into the center of the flower.  All new stamps on this card.  Love the stamps and matching dies!

Can you see the background?

I love the new Hero Arts stamps and dies.
Hero Arts Butterfly and Flower (CL750)
Hero Arts Flower and Butterfly Frame Cut (DI090
Hero Arts Pattern Stripes K5884
I added Glitter & Red Stickles

Using the same background stamp, I stamped it in Hero Arts Soft Blossom Shadow Ink and then brushed the ink on the die-cut panel as I didn't have my sponges with me.  It works!  The yellow is a PanPastel (yes the banner IS darker).

Recipe:

Hero Arts Pattern Stripes K5884

Hero Arts  3 X 4 Frame DI084
Hero Arts Soft Blossom Shadow Ink

My third card - no muss & no fuss.  I could make mountains all day long.  I love the different ways you can use the mountains to make valleys, layer ranges, create your own unique backdrop.  Everything on this card is a stamp from the set.  Great guy card and you could use this for anything.  What a guy and inside any of the following sentiments and more (iHappy Birthday), (Congratulations), (Thank you), or to someone who loves to fish, hike, is an adventurer).

Recipe:

Hero Arts OWN What a Guy! (CL753)

Hero Arts cubes (inks) in 2 greens, the fish in Grape Juice

Mountains stamped in Memento London Fog, the eagle in Memento Rich Cocoa

Be sure to leave a post because Hero Arts will be giving away prizes and if you don't comment, you won't win..  I will be giving away this cling set, Surprise (CG428)  and clear set Florentine Message Bordor (CL530) to a lucky winner who posts a comment by 9:00 p.m.Friday, Pacific time in sunny California.  I'll post the winner on Saturday, January 25th, 2014. Sets donated by my LSS, The Stamp Art Shoppe.  Wish I could send you chocolate too.
  
Your next stop along the way is Marcy Kaminski, (En Papillote Arts) who will knock your socks off!  I did peek, you see.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to comment.  And if you'd like, become a follower.

Black and Blue

Sponsoring Die Cut Divas!

My turn on the hop is Wednesday.  In the meantime, see what the other Hero Hostesses have done.  I peeked.  It's your turn to check out the talented Hostesses starting at Hero Arts, Monday.

The Blackboard Look

Sometimes I feel black is so harsh, so thought I'd stamp this great new Hero Arts stamp white on Blue and I like it.  I used Distress Paint Picket Fence on the image.  The background is a favorite of mine, now double stamped in Broken China and Faded Jeans.  An entirely new look to an old stamp.  

Closeup of that steam rising from the cup - a dainty cup

Recipe:
Hero Arts A Little (CL750
Hero Arts Need Caffeine (CL731) - steam
Hero Arts Zig Zag (CG422)
Distress Inks Broken China and Faded Jeans
Distress Paint Picket Fence
Cuttlebug
Hero Arts frame
Stickles
Memory Box Die - Dainty Tea Cup

I had to try a blackboard look in black too.

Recipe:
Hero Arts A Little (CL750)
Hero Arts Big Ticket (CL544)
Hero Arts frame
Stickles
Blue gems
PanPastels on the "SMILE"
Cuttlebug
I used this for a Birthday card for my son, so the ticket back says "Good for one Free Lunch"
However I think "A Great Big Hello is perfect for the sentiment on the blackboard panel.

Who's the Guest at Die Cut Divas?

GUEST APPEARANCE at Die Cut Divas!

Find out who our guest is for the month of January.  It's someone you know and love.  No more hints.

Tooting my horn for Dawn

Time to visit Die Cut Divas' to see what Dawn has been up to!

I took a sneak peak (you can't blame me) and I tell you, WOW is my word of the day.

Some pretty amazing work.

Trees can be for Winter

How about the new Hero Arts stamps?   Aren't they great?  Well, there's a surprise coming next week. As time gets closer, I'll whisper in your ear,sweet little nothings..... about stamping.  Until then, I'll try to sway you to have a GOOD NEW STAMPING YEAR with examples of Hero Arts stamps.  I love trees, so when I saw this "Tree for Life", I knew it was mine.  Thank you to Hero Arts.

I used Adirondack's Earthtones Eggplant, Earthtones Denim, and Lights Cool Peri to give a shadowy effect.. The HA butterfly from the new HA Butterfly and Flower set (CL750) didn't want to be left out. 
A spray of Sheer Shimmer Sparkle and Sheer Shimmer Frost adds that dusk feeling 
to the light blue note card.

This grows on you.

Casing Cecilia's Card

I fell in love with Cecilia's card at Cecilia's Cards in December and another CASE card came to bloom.

Check out Die Cut Divas for our "Make it Glitter" challenge for January, sponsored by HERO ARTS!


When I saw this card on the Cecilia's Cards, I fell in love with it and wanted to case it.  One tip from Cecilia, start die-cutting the number 2 to the right more as there will be a lot of thickness on the left bottom of the card.  I can't use my number dies the same as Cecilia because they are all on one plate (Cuttlebug Olivia font).  I still like Cecilia's best, but I went cased this card twice.

I needed a Thank you Card, so I used a portion of the phrase "Thanks for being a friend" 

from Hero Arts Enjoy Today and the Washi tape I had on hand. I die-cut my Glitter Paper and adhered the numbers to the card.  I think Cecilia's method wins hands down.

I made two cards while I had Washi tape and stamp in hand. I die-cut my White Glitter Paper and adhered the numbers to the card.

These turned out great for perky cards to start the NEW YEAR, but a totally different feel to the card. 

 I STILL LOVE Cecilia's card best.  

Case this, Case that.

If you read my January 1st post, you know Jennifer McGuire has inspired me and I cased her technique of double and triple stamping a background.
Here I am, once again casing Jennifer, this time, stamping the background twice.

 Be sure to visit the Die Cut Divas' blog for the January challenge, 

"Make it Glitter" sponsored by Hero Arts.

I

 really hadn't expected much from this Hero Arts Zig Zag background stamp, but I'm loving the pattern.

Close-up of this delightful butterfly, part of the clear set Butterfly and Flower (CL750).  It sparkles!

                    This makes a wonderful Thank you card.                          

The longer panel is a beautiful pattern and a little sentiment & embellishment is all you need.

A close-up of the glitter from Stickles on the edges of the stars and the edge of the panel.

Try it, you'll like it.  While you're trying it, enter the Die Cut Divas' challenge here

Make It Glitter!

That's right!  MAKE IT GLITTER!

This month's challenge at Die Cut Divas is to make it glitter.  Interpret this as you will, just make it glitter or shine, glitter paper, glitter dust, glitter with Perfect Pearls, glimmer sprays, Stickles, Glossy Accents. Surprise me!

And who better to start the year off than one of the top stamp companies in the world. 

I fell in love with Jennifer McGuire's technique of double and triple stamping of the same background stamp on November 17, 2013. Sometimes a design is just perfect and it was!  I used a different background and loving how it turned out.  The Hero Arts Zig Zag (CG422) creates a great pattern stamped in triplicate in 3 distress ink colors, Broken China, Faded Jeans, and Chipped Sapphire.  I wish you could see the shimmer from the Perfect Pearls spray mixture on the entire card.

 Close-up of the butterfly.  As you can see, my stamping wasn't perfect, but this design is very forgiving.  You can see a little of the sparkle on the body of the butterfly.  To see the video of how this design was created, visit Jennifer McGuire's November post here.  Also, it would be best to attached the solid color strip to your panel prior to running your zig-zag panel through your machine.

So hard to capture glitter or shininess sometimes.  I love this card design.  I'm sure many of you have already cased Jennifer's card.   Here's the leftover of the triple stamped zig-zag background.

I hope you can see some glittery Stickles on the edges of those stars and the edging on the panel.

Be sure to enter the Die Cut Divas' challenge this month.  Enjoy the new year!
Added: Entering this card in Treasured Times Rubber Stamps Challenge for Anything Goes.