Season's Greetings

The last card of the year and I'm still feeling the happy glittery feelings of the season.

Here is the last card of the year for Die Cut Divas. Until next year, have a great end of the year.
This is my sample at Die Cut Divas.

Supplies:
Elizabeth Craft Designs Season;s Greetings at Dies R Us
Elizabeth Craft Designs Fitted Rectangles at Dies R Us
Spellbinders Stars

A Wheelbarrow full of Shells

Die Cut Divas' Sponsor is

The challenge is Layering or Layer It.  

I was in the mood for something different.  I used a wheel barrow from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Supplies:

Elizabeth Craft Designs Wheelbarrow at Dies R Us

Elizabeth Craft Designs Stickers with Cold Diamond colored with Copic markers.

This is my sample card at Die Cut Divas.

Hero Arts Infinity Nesting Tag Dies

When you just want to make tags out of scrap paper, just grab your old die cut machine (mines a Cuttlebug) and use your scraps.  I made several boxes for treats for my crew at work and needed some tags.  I really liked the new Hero Arts sets of Infinity Dies and grabbed some for the Hero Arts Blog Hop in October this year.  I love them and thought that our challenge this month got me in the tag mood.  Anything but a card means tags are perfect.  Here we go with my boxes ready to go with Tags.

I made three different boxes and gave the large size full of treats to my work staff, with others going to well deserving (well, in my eyes) friends. The tag that is glittery is when I opened my Wink of Stella pen and oops.  Loads of glittery stuff all over, so one tag has a bunch of glitter.

Hero Arts Nesting Tag Dies

I hope you can see these tags, weather permitting clearer photos.

The smaller boxes have the smallest tag sizes.  Use any Hero Arts sentiment or image 

and you're ready to go.

Supplies:

Hero Arts Infinity Nesting Tag Dies at A2Z Scrapbooking

Silhouette Cameo and Silhouette Design Store

Hero Arts Crossing Waves Stencil

You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  

For every $50 spent on Hero Arts products we will send you a special gift! No special code needed.Free Shipping on Domestic Orders $50.00 or More. Use Code FreeShipping16

Be sure to check out our sales/ retired section for 50%- and more off! You can use the discount code or the Free Shipping Code for extra savings!

If you need craft items that you don’t see in the store, don’t forget you can special order them here at the A2ZScrapbooking Store.  You can find me at A2Z Scrapbooking.

 Hope you’ll join in our December Challenge of "Anything But A Card" with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Winter 2016

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Be sure to enter the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop here.

I love using my Hero Arts Coffee Cup Frames dies.  I'm afraid I made seven instead of one.  But I am very happy with all seven and they will not go to waste.  .  I'll show you all of them, but I think my favorite is the first card up.

By the Dock

Sample for Morgan's ArtWorld

The first time I saw this scene, I wanted to color it.  I wanted to use reds and greens.  Even the hull of the boat is red (R39).  I did go over the red wall with gray, so it is really not as bright as it appears in this photo.  Visit Morgan's ArtWorld for this scene and the challenge of Anything Goes.

Visit Fae Entertainment for your images.

Morgan's ArtWorld cs6
Copic markers
Cuttlebug
QuicKutz cutting dies - nesting rectangles

I couldn't help but create another card with a water scene.

Supplies:

Morgan's ArtWorld Country Boat Docked

Die-Namics Stitched Rec STAX die-cuts

Cuttlebug

Copic markers

Chilly The Penguin

Die Cut Divas' Sponsor is

The challenge is Layering or Layer It.  I made this card for Die Cut Divas here.

I had created the backgrounds with an older Hero Arts stamp, Chalk Background.  I used white ink on black glossy paper, first and second stage stamping.  I came across the paper when going through papers to select a background for this cute penguin.  I had to think black and white, so sponged the holly branch with Distress ink Black Soot.  My pops of color come from the berries, scarf and little orange tones of feet and beak.  I hope you like this because I really do.  It's different and I like it.  

This card turned out to be a glittery arty card.

Supplies:
Elizabeth Craft Designs Fitted Rectangles at Dies R Us
Elizabeth Craft Designs Chilly the Penguin at Dies R Us
Elizabeth Craft Designs Sprig with Berries
Black Glitter Paper
Blue Glitter Paper for scarf
Wink of Stella on body, beak scarf, sprig & berries

Antique Poinsettia With Chocolate

I had so much fun making these Hershey Nugget chocolate boxes.  I had to find my Cameo again, so much on my desk.  Once I cleaned my desk, I was ready for December's challenge of "Anything but a Card".  I didn't want to go with a tag, but I wanted to make a some fun little containers and found the perfect thing.  I was able to use an 8 1/2" X 11 inch paper to cut the box and box wrap.  Stamping and sponging came to mind and I really like the way this turned out.  The colors just seem to burst from the paper, lots of watercolor effect without the water.  I tried other papers and added some of the leftovers from my homemade background panel.  Just looking at the chocolate here is giving me a chocolate high.

Trio of closed chocolate boxes

Close-up of box with box wrap - I hope this gives you some ideas.  

More chocolates in a much larger bag.

A Close-up of the poinsettia on this bag.

Supplies:

Hero Arts Antique Poinsettia at a2z Scrapbooking

Hero Arts Paper Layering Antique Poinsettia frame cuts at a2z Scrapbooking

Silhouette Cameo and Silhouette Design Store for last box and Hershey's Nuggests veritcal box

Distress inks Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters and Twisted Citron

Hershey's Nuggets - I ate some - shhhh - don't tell.

For every $50 spent on Hero Arts products we will send you a special gift! No special code needed.Free Shipping on Domestic Orders $50.00 or More. Use Code FreeShipping16

Be sure to check out our sales/ retired section for 50%- and more off! You can use the discount code or the Free Shipping Code for extra savings!

You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  If you need craft items that you don’t see in the store, don’t forget you can special order them here at the A2ZScrapbooking Store.  You can find this post at A2Z Scrapbooking.

 Hope you’ll join in our December Challenge of "Anything But A Card" with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.

Our December Challenge

December First at Die Cut Divas

I created two cards because I need several gift card holders for the holidays. With wonderful dies for outside and inside, I was able to make two wonderful cards.  My kids will receive restaurant gift cards in these wonderful projects.  The large dies create an easy way to decorate the front of a card.   Be sure to join the challenge of layers at Die Cut Divas.

Blue Card

 Inside of Blue Card - some glittery paper for a backdrop

Red Card

Inside of Red Card 

Lots of room to write a nice message.

Supplies

Elizabeth Craft Designs Sleigh Gift Card Holder at Dies R Us

Elizabeth Craft Designs  Seasons Greetings at Dies R Us

Cuttlebug

Glitter Paper for the sentiment

Designer papers

Thank you to our November Sponsors

Thank You to the Die Cut Divas' sponsors 

Bugaboo and One Happy Cut!

I loved coloring this image.  I think the blue and gray worked out well with the pale blue background panel.The Sun Bonnet series is one of my favorites.  I don't know why, but it is.

Supplies:
Elizabeth Craft Designs Thank you Stand Up
Bugaboo Sun Bonnet Christmas Tree
Spellbinders scallop squares
Copic markers
Cuttlebug

Childlike Thanks

Be sure to join Die Cut Divas challenge for November.  

It's Thanks or Be Thankful.

Join the fun at Die Cut Divas challenge 

with sponsors Bugaboo Digi Stamps and One Happy Cut.

I thought a child-like card would be fun, all kinds of distressing on the panel with Deacon, just like someone who is learning to color would do.  Some hearts surely go with this card.

This is my sample for Die Cut Divas.
Supplies:
Bugaboo Digi's Deacon - School Sign It II
Elizabeth Craft Designs (Thanks)
Cuttlebug

Holiday House Tag with a Ho Ho Ho

Time to embellish a tag.   I like seeing lots of snow ready to fall, but I don't have to live in it.  I can see snow on the mountains in the winter and that's good enough for me.  If I want to get closer, I can take a couple hours drive and bingo.    I guess that's why I loaded this house with snow.  I like to see it.  I really like the new Nesting Tag dies too.  This is the larges and a really great size.  I paired the smallest of the tag set for a HO HO HO.

Be sure to visit the fun stamps and digital sets at A2Z.

Holiday Houses with Nesting Dies

Supplies:

Hero Arts Nesting Tag DIes at a2z Scrapbooking

Hero Arts Holiday Houses Digital Kit at a2z Scrapbooking

Dreamweaver matte white paste

Older Hero Arts sentiment Holiday Sayings - unavailable I think

Cute bow and ribbon.

For every $50 spent on Hero Arts products we will send you a special gift! No special code needed.Free Shipping on Domestic Orders $50.00 or More. Use Code FreeShipping16

Be sure to check out our sales/ retired section for 50%- and more off! You can use the discount code or the Free Shipping Code for extra savings!

You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  If you need craft items that you don’t see in the store, don’t forget you can special order them here at the A2ZScrapbooking Store.  You can find me at A2Z here.

Hope you’ll join in our November Challenge of "Embellish It" with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.

Use Your Stash - new Challenge

It's time for a new Challenge at Morgan's ArtWorld.  What can be easier than using something from your stash?  I mean, just look at your table to find STASH.  Come on and have some fun.

Do you have trouble using your stash?  Sometimes I do, but not too often. Can you guess what was in my stash?

Be sure to visit Fae Entertainment for your images.

It's the brown layer.  That's an up-cycled expandable file folder..  The folder lived a long life and was falling apart, going head first into the trash.  Saved from a despicable end, the folder lives a second life as a thing of beauty.

This image is one of my favorites.  It doesn't matter what color(s) you use, she's still a thing of beauty.  I hope you like her too.

Supplies:

Morgan's ArtWorld Winter Fae

Die-namics Stitched Rec STAX

Copic markers

Cuttlebug

Thanks

This turtle looks like he's had lots of things to dream about and be thankful for.  I used the Dream die-cut rather than a Thanks die-cut because of the way the swirl looped over the eyes of the turtle.  I thought that was rather fun.  For the multi-colored die-cut, all I did was use Copic markers to color in two tones of brown, red and green.

Be sure to join the challenge at Die Cut Divas.

Supplies:

Bugaboo Digital Stamps  Turtle - Thanksgiving
Elizabeth Craft Designs Dream at One Happy Cut

Cuttlebug embossing folder
Distress ink - Carved Pumpkin - distressed the orange oval pane

Check out One Happy Cut oval dies for the perfect one for you.

Copic markers

Love the New Coffee Cup Tags

The Coffee Cup Tags are so versatile.  I know this image is a Christmas image, but done in brown with a sleeve over the top, you don't really pay attention to the exact design that is on the front.

I thought some detailing might be nice to bring out an elegance to this set and I'm really amazed that I think I succeeded.  A little embellishment is sometimes all you need.  I made two cards with two different colored coffee cups, but the same embossing folder, stamps and stickers.  I hope you like these as much as I do.  I put Wink of Stella - GL White on both cups on the foam part.  The bronze seems to have pulled the white around and it looks like a foamy or creamy froth mixed with strawberry.

Close-up of the cup  - this could be whipped cream on a hot chocolate  -  YUM

I guess it could be foam on a coffee - obviously, I know nothing about coffee.

I know this seems dark and strange.  If I can get a better photo, I will.  The coffee cup paper is a shinny bronze with Cup O"Joe inked on the stamp.  

It reminds me of a creamy strawberry cream on top.

Supplies:

Coffee Cup Stamp and Die at A2Z

A Cuttlebug embossing folder a frame style

Starfoam Glitter Stickers - gold

One of the cups has glass gems.  

For every $50 spent on Hero Arts products we will send you a special gift! No special code needed.Free Shipping on Domestic Orders $50.00 or More. Use Code FreeShipping16

Be sure to check out our sales/ retired section for 50%- and more off! You can use the discount code or the Free Shipping Code for extra savings!

You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  If you need craft items that you don’t see in the store, don’t forget you can special order them here at the A2ZScrapbooking Store.  You can find me at the A2Z blog.

Hope you’ll join in our November Challenge of "Embellish It" with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.

A2Z Scrapbooking Holiday Treat

The challenge for A2Z Scrapbooking this month is "Embellish It".  

I used some glass gems to perk up this card.  

I wonder what's sparkling and bubbling out of that cup?  When I was going through my die-bin, I just couldn't put this die back in.  I I cut the pale blue paper first and decided they looked like bubbles that might float out of a cup, second cut of white paper gave this a nice dimensional effect..  Imagine a very fizzy drink which formed bubbles, then multiply it by 10.  That many bubbles would tickle your nose and make you laugh and be happy.  I'd like to make the recipient of this card happy too.

Supplies:
Hero Arts stamps and dies - Coffee Cup Stamp and Die
Memory Box Loopy Rings
Die-Namics circle dies
Tissue Box die-cu from the coffee cup dies with sentiments from the coffee cup stamps

Check out A2Z for more cards to inspire you.

Thanks

You always need a "thank You" card and there's no time like Christmas to thank someone for a special gift, handmade, store-bought or their friendship.I die-cut a round circle and cut out the section below the ornament topper piece and made it a little more three dimensional.  I always love coloring and at least when I color hair on images, I don't have to wash it out of my hair.

Join the fun at Die Cut Divas challenge 

with sponsors Bugaboo Digi Stamps and One Happy Cut.

Supplies:

Bugaboo Digital Image

Die-cut (you can use any circle or rectangle die cuts available at One Happy Cut)

Die-namics Pierced Circle STAX

Copic markers

The Paper Studio gem stones

Christmas With The Stamping Boutique

Last day of the challenge at Die Cut Divas.  To join in on the last day to emboss something, go here.  But the entries will close at 9:00 p.m. Pacific time (San Francisco, CA, USA).

Here is my last card, for the challenge month of October.I used the same image on the first day and thought it would be a fun way to end the challenge.  This time I truly went for the Christmas theme. I embossed the red panel and colored the image panel in red and green, wrapped a ribbon and tied it with a bow (almost tied).  And yes, after I was all done, I hadn't realized the black blotch was from a finger that somehow touched the ink pad.  When I sprayed this in red, I think it blended in.  Well, you and I will know it's there and wasn't meant to be, but NO ONE ELSE WILL..

Supplies:

The Stamping Boutique Candy Cane Corner

Elizabeth Craft Designs Sleigh Gift Card Pop-up (the little bow)

Embossing folder Spring Leaves at Elizabeth Craft Designs

Heidi Swapp Color Shine (Sweet Cherry) spray

Copic markers

Red Ribbon

Glossy Accents on the berries

A Flower Cart

The Stamping Boutique is the sponsor for Die Cut Divas this month.  It's a month for embossing.  Be sure to enter!  Check out the great prize on our opening post here.

This flower cart is so cute.  I can see coloring it in so many different colors.  I embossed the tan panel under the image.  I think this would be a fun card to give a happy greeting to someone for an extra lift.

Supplies:
The Stamping Boutique Flower Cart
Embossing folder Spring Leaves at Elizabeth Craft Designs
Cuttlebug
Copic markers

Hero Hostess Alumni Blog Hop

Welcome to the Hero Arts Hostess Hop, featuring fabulous stamps from the new 2016 release and Winter catalog.

If you’ve been following along, you’ve just arrived from Tiffany Ervin's blog! Hero Arts will be awarding 4 prizes ($25 shopping spree to Hero Arts online shop) from randomly drawn comments. For a chance to win, simply comment on ANY of the stops along the hop on Oct. 24th and 25th, including each day’s starting post at the Hero Club Blog. The more comments you leave, the better your chance of winning! If you find a broken link, you'll find a master list of the hop links at the Hero Club Blog.

WOW, Tiffany always sets the standards high, but then, so does everyone of my sistas. There's a special bond the Hero Arts hostesses have and most of us have never met.  I can remember the excitement of receiving THE email with the invitation to be a HOSTESS.  I think we tried to be everywhere and do everything.  They are still my sistas.

The Blog Hop starts at Hero Arts and our hostesses will surprise you with some Hero Arts yummy goodies.

HERO ARTS is offering one $25 shopping spree to the 
Hero Arts online shop today and one tomorrow.  

Comment by Sunday Oct 30 by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time 
for a chance to win. 

Your blog order will be:
Hero Arts
Virginia Lu
Emily Leiphart
Sue McRae
Sarah Kapteyn Moerman
Nancy Krueger
Tiffany Ervin
Arlene McClung (you are here)
Joy Taylor

Suzz Cz
Heather Doran

I love the new stamps.   My first card is actually the scrap paper on which I stamped and stenciled my way to a card, really!  I tried different colors to see what I wanted to use on a REAL card.  I didn't know I was creating a modern Holiday card.  Once I really looked at the paper... WOW I liked it, so here is my scrap paper card.

Supplies:
Hero Arts (HA) Snowy Tree Stamp (comes in a die combo too)
HA stencil Crossing Waves Stencil
HA Banners and Messages clear set (Warmest Wishes) - older HA stamp set
Distress inks on stencils
HA inks Green Hills and Field Greens for the tree (I used all three layers of the tree, first layer Green Hills and 2nd and 3rd layers Field Greens)

I went crazy with trees and my NEW dies.  I couldn't resist the new Tag Infinity Dies. They come with their own Reinforcements - how cool is that?  The largest die-cut on the left is 2 3/4" X 5".
.

Supplies:
Hero Arts (HA) Snowy Tree Stamp (comes in a die combo too)
A metallic gold ink (I stamped the other layers with black).
Distress inks for grass and sky.

From trees to birds.  I used all four inks in May's Shades of Pink ink set and next time, I used black on the eye portion and started at Bubble Gum.  I couldn't help myself after I started on the birds.

This last card I stamped Raspberry Jam on the last two stamps for this set.  

I've had this background for years, so I have no idea what I stamps I used.

NOTE: Use your bird die as a template for layering your stamps.  Put the stamp in the die and use your MISTI to pick up the stamp and stamp in the exact spot.

Supplies
HA Cardinal Stamp and Die Set
HA May's Shades of Pink ink cube set (Soft Pink, Bubble Gum, Ultra Pink and Raspberry Jam.)
Black ink on the eye portion
HA Banners and Messages clear set (all sentiments - older HA stamp set
MISTI
Acetate for first card

Head on over to Joy Taylor and feast your eyes on our next hostess's work.

Hero Arts Past Hostesses are Hosting a Hop October 24th and 25th.

Can you tell what this is?  This is my scrap.  Do you wonder how it turned out?  Return to my blog at 4:00 a.m. Pacific time and find out.  I'm sorry, but I won't be awake yet, but I'd love to have you join me on Monday for the Hostess Hop.  What could I have made with this?

Sometimes things just work out - you'll see.

HERO ARTS will be offering one $25 shopping spree to the Hero Arts online shop, so stop on by.

Distressed Antique Poinsettia

I'm featuring The Antique Poinsettia again because it's a different take on the stamped image than my October 4th card.  I love the die cuts that go with this wood stamp.  They cut nice and close, perfect for me.  I rarely use stenciling and I'm not sure why because I have some stencils I just love.  I thought the background color was more of a modern take on green.   I also used the outer layer as leaves, where I used all the layers as flower parts before.    The background is the same color, but deepened in the two corners.   Have fun with your layering.

I thought a close-up might be nice so you can see the silver embossing and the Nuvo Crystal
Glitter Drops.  I purchased the Glitter Drops from A2Z, so she might still have some left if you'd like to try them.  You can see how cleanly the dies cut here too.  As I said, I love the close cut.

Supplies:

Hero Arts Antique Poinsettia at a2z Scrapbooking

Hero Arts Paper Layering Antique Poinsettia frame cuts at a2z Scrapbooking

Silver Embossing powder

Distress inks Candied Apple, Shabby Shutters & I think Twisted Citron

Kite Stencil - High Anxiety

Nuvo Crystal Glitter Drops in Silver Moondust

Cuttlebug

Old Hero Arts sentiment from "Holiday Sayings".

You can use code Arlene15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more (before tax and shipping).  If you need craft items that you don’t see in the store, don’t forget you can special order them here at the A2ZScrapbooking Store.  

This sample is at a2z Scrapbooking.

 Hope you’ll join in our October Challenge of "Layer It" with your Hero Arts stamps, dies and stencils. And, if you need some new supplies, don’t forget to shop at a2z Scrapbooking.