12.31.2016

Goodby, 2016! // Hero Arts

One last card for the year! This card is an easier version of a card I made for the Hero Arts blog awhile back...


This card employs double heat embossing, a technique which I cover in THIS video, as well as making your own shaker elements. 
As a quick review, I heat embossed black cardstock with a bunch of beautiful Black Sparkle embossing powder, and after it was cooled, slathered it with some anti-static powder and then heat embossed my sentiment and images from Happy New Year Stamp and Cut in gold.


I topped off the card with some gems, and set it off against a gold card base (from the December My Monthly Hero kit)

I know 2016 has been hard for a lot of folks, and it was definitely an interesting year for me, to say the least - graduating college, moving out, first full-time job, etc. What was 2016 like for you? Good? Bad? Are you happy to see it go?

Thanks so much for joining me on my 2016 creative journey! God bless, and happy new year!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts gold, Bazzill black
Stamps: Hero Arts Happy New Year Stamp and Cut
Ink: Versamark
Other: Hero Arts Black Sparkle and Gold embossing powder

Tools: heat embossing gun

On the Fifth Day of Christmas // Hero Arts

I hope you all had a joyful Christmas! However, as I've mentioned in years past, Christmas goes on for twelve days! Basically that's my excuse for posting this Christmas card a little late. ;)

For today's card, the beautiful Antique Poinsietta is the star of the show. I heat embossed the poinsietta several times in white on watercolor cardstock, and then colored it in with some ZIG's and water.


After the flower was finished drying, I die cut it using the coordinating dies, and then moved on to the rest of my card.


The kraft card base was heat embossed with some clear Sparkle embossing powder and the Dot Moire large pattern stamp. To keep things continuous, I also heat embossed a scrap piece of kraft with more clear Sparkle embossing powder, then die cut my "joy" sentiment from it. 


The die cut was layered behind a piece of chipboard for a little more dimension, and then I stamped the sentiment in Caramel. I put the flower together, adhered it to the card, and topped it off with some gold accents.

Thanks so much for stopping in and happy fifth day of Christmas! ;)

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts Kraft, Canson XL Series Watercolor Pad
Ink: ZIG pens, Hero Arts Caramel, Versamark
Other: Hero Arts White and clear Sparkle embossing powder, gold accents

Tools: heat gun, Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Color Antique Layering Poinsettia and Joy Stamp and Cut dies

12.23.2016

Ombre Coloring // Hero Arts

Hello all! I'm on the Hero Arts blog today, parking up with Chameleon Pens, to share a fun ombre card...


Head on over to the blog for more details!

12.22.2016

Advent Calendar Extravaganza with Taheerah Atchia

Today I'm happy to be participating in Taheerah Atchia's Advent Calender Extravaganza blog hop!



Before you view my contribution, here's a little info from Taheerah...
“Advent Calendar Extravaganza is -the- festive event of the season! This ‘hop with a twist’ was dreamed up by Taheerah Atchia and features surprise destinations each day! Joining in the fun with Taheerah are ONE HUNDRED special guests – each serving up some fantastic Christmas inspiration! Just like an Advent Calendar, you’ll never know where you’re going to be visiting next until you ‘open the door’!
And that’s not all! With 25 *amazing* sponsors taking part as guests as well, your crafty wish list is bound to get a boost with a chance to win a prize EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
Join in the fun every day at taheerah-atchia.com to see what special surprises await behind the door!”

It's so close to Christmas, and if you have any time to make any more cards or tags, it's gotta be quick! At least, that's how it was for me. Today's tag was a scrap I used from THIS card - I ended up making two of the same tag though, so I could show you how I made it in a video. ;)


I first die cut my tag using the Hero Arts Tag Infinity dies, then blended a background using Grape Juice and Navy. Before blending, I masked off my moon using a Post-It note and the Circle Infinity dies (these infinity dies are addicting, I tell ya!)
Once my background was blended, I flicked some Unicorn White Spray for some stars, and then heat set it.


I die cut a little village using some dies from the October My Monthly Hero kit, which is unavailable, but Simon Says Stamp has some similar dies available (see listed below in supplies).
The tag was filled with some Martha Stewart Chunky Glitter and Star glitter.


The acetate covering was heat embossed in Silver, using the adorable Santa's Sleigh. I find that the Avery Elle stamp pockets work best when embossing on acetate, and I cover more of that technique in a blog post HERE and a video HERE.
For the top of the tag, I die cut the same tag, and then die cut a rectangle opening using the Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies. I finished off the tag with a silver embossed banner.


VIDEO

Will be coming later - I've had a sore throat for the past week, so I'll get the video up as soon as I can. :)

PRIZE

It’s not a party without a prize – and with prizes every day there are several chances to win! Today’s prize is generously supplied by Paper Smooches so you’ll definitely want to win! Simply leave a comment on this post – then head back to taheerah-atchia.com and leave a comment there too! You must leave a comment on Taheerah’s blog as well as mine in order to be eligible to win! Don’t forget to grab the other surprise destinations from Taheerah’s blog and head over to them to leave comments there as well to improve your odds even more! You have until 23:59 EST on 31st December 2016 to enter. On January 1-5th, Taheera will be announcing winners at her blog--be sure to revisit then to see if you're a winner and to claim your prize!

Don’t forget the Advent Calendar Extravaganza with Taheera Atchia runs from 1st-25th December inclusive so make sure you visit taheerah-atchia.com every day for fabulous inspiration and amazing prizes every single time! Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!


SUPPLIES

Below are listed all of the supplies I used to make my card, and these are affiliate links from which I do make a small percentage from any purchase. Thank you so much!
Cardstock: Canson watercolor
Stamps: Hero Arts Santa's Sleigh and Merry Christmas Banner
Ink: Hero Arts Navy, Grape Juice and Unicorn White Spray, Versamark
Other: Hero Arts Silver embossing powder, Martha Stewart Iridescent Hearts and Stars Glitter Set and Coarse Glitter, Avery Elle Large Stamp and Die Storage Pockets

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing gun, Hero Arts Tag, Rectangle and Circle Infinity dies, Hero Arts September My Monthly Hero kit coordinating dies - similar Memory Box Country Landscape and House in the Country dies, full sticky Post-It notes

12.15.2016

Pinterest Inspired Watercolor // Hero Arts

Like many other wise crafters, when I'm in a creative rut, I turn to Pinterest, and that's where today's card came from.

This beautiful image was pinned by my friend Lisa, and I knew it would work perfectly with Hero Arts Ornaments Stamp and Cut set.


I stamped the ornaments in Versamark, heat embossed them in white, and then used my beloved ZIG markers to color in the ornaments. I then cut my panel down to size using the Rectangle Infinity dies.
I bought some gold thread at Walmart to "hang" my ornaments - I simply poked a hole through the top of the ornament, threaded the string, and taped it to the back of the panel (nobody sees, nobody knows ;))


I didn't want my pretty ornaments to be covered up, but I felt I need a strong sentiment to go with the pale colors, so I heat embossed my sentiment from Peace and Joy in gold on vellum. I die cut the sentiment using the Circle Infinity dies, then adhered my panel to my card base.

If you would like to see more Pinterest inspired cards from me, Pinterest now has a handy-dandy feature on user profiles. Just click the user profile (this link will take you directly mine), then click "tried" in the middle-ish right hand side.

Thanks so much for stopping in, and God bless!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Canson watercolor
Stamps: Hero Arts Ornaments Stamp and Cut and Peace and Joy
Ink: Versamark, Kuretake Clean Color Real Brush Watercolour Brush Pens (Set Of 48 Colours)
Other: Hero Arts white and gold embossing powder, gold thread, vellum

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies and Circle Infinity dies,, water

12.08.2016

Cutting Clear Stamps // Hero Arts

Hello all! Welcome to the Hero Arts 2017 Valentine's Collection release blog hop! I have a simple and cute little Valentine for you today, that can be used all year round.

I used the new Romeo and Juliet stamp set to create my stamped focal point...


I know some of you might be freaking out, but I actually cut my flower clear stamp from Romeo and Juliet to make this card.  No worries though - as long as the stamps are high quality photopolymer (which, conveniently, Hero Arts stamps are ;)) then you should have no problem putting the stamp back together after cutting!
I stamped all those pretty flowers and hearts in Hero Arts NavyPassion FlowerSoft PinkFresh Peach and Soft Yellow - a little more tedious, switching through the color, but also a little more love. ;)

ETA: many of you commented on how you loved my color choices - I can't take credit for that, as I was totally inspired by THIS PIN. Thanks! :)


Topped off the card with some gems and some die cut love!

VIDEO


I talk a little more about stamp cutting in the video below...


If you are having a problem viewing this video, please try watching it HERE on YouTube.

GIVEAWAY


Hero Arts is giving away two $25 shopping sprees, drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. Please comment by Thursday, December 15 at 11:59pm PT and the winner will be announced the following week on the Hero Arts blog.

HOP LIST


For some more inspiration (and chances to win a shopping spree!), check out the blogs below...


SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts kraft cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts Romeo and Juliet and Love Stamp and Cut
Ink: Hero Arts Navy, Passion Flower, Soft Pink, Fresh Peach and Soft Yellow
Other: Hero Arts gems

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Love Stamp and Cut die

12.05.2016

Birthday Beer // Hero Arts

Hello everyone! Today I'm participating in the December My Monthly Hero blog hop and sharing a fun masculine card.

For every monthly kit, there's always one particular stamp/die/etc that stands out to me, and for this kit, it was the beer image for the add-on stamp set, Cocktail Party Stamp and Cut! I just knew I had to use it to make a birthday card for my brother (who's birthday is in September...lol)


I kept things simple by heat embossing the beer in white, and doing some quick watercoloring. The card was topped off with a sentiment die cut from the main kit dies, and a sentiment heat embossed from the add-on stamp set, Birthday Celebration.


Oila! A quick and easy masculine card!

THE KIT


The kit contains:
► A 4"x6" clear stamp set
► A set of 8 coordinating Frame Cuts dies that match the stamp set
► Two Fancy word dies - "cheers" and "party"
► A set of Paper Layering dies for adding a sunburst or sparkler effect
► Fun new gold glitter embossing powder
► Custom washi tape designed for the kit
► A gold Uni-ball Gel Pen
► 4 half sheets of gold foil cardstock
► 2 half sheets of each metallic cardstock: purple, pink, dark blue and antique gold

The kit value is $65, an amazing deal at $34.99.

There are also some amazing add-on stamps and dies, so be sure to check out the Hero Arts blog for information on that.

BLOG HOP



For loads of inspiration and a chance to win one of these kits, follow this hop!

Hero Arts is giving away one kit as a prize to one blog reader - selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop.

The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Canson watercolor, Bazzill black cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts Cocktail Party Stamp and Cut and Birthday Celebration
Ink: Versamark
Other: Hero Arts White embossing powder, ZIG brush pens

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun, Hero Arts December My Monthly Hero dies

12.04.2016

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist // Hero Arts

Hello all! I'm so excited to be participating in this years Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist event as a guest designer.

I was lucky enough to be paired with the one and only Jennifer McGuire, with the challenge of die cutting felt.

For my tag today, I not only die cut the felt, but I did a little heat embossing on the felt as well!


I'm not gonna lie - heat embossing on felt can be a little tricky. I treated it like paper for the most part, making sure I added a lot of anti-static powder to the felt before embossing. I stamped Hero Arts Holiday Mittens on the felt firmly with Versamark ink, and then added some Hero Arts embossing powder

Now, the whole heat part - this is going to vary depending on what your felt is made off. If your felt isn't 100% wool, then you need to be extra careful when adding the heat, otherwise you could melt the felt as well.
A couple tips for getting a crisper heat embossed look (neither of which I followed because I was too lazy;)) :
  • Use pre-stiffened felt, or stiffen it yourself using fabric stiffener spray.
  • Sandwich the felt between two layers of paper, then iron. This will keep some of the stray fibers down and out of the way.


After die cutting my mittens, I adhered them onto a kraft tag that I had die cut and heat embossed a sentiment on, as well as a little watermark woodgrain stamping.

A big thanks to Ellen Hutson for inviting me to participate in this awesome event! Check out their blog for even more Christmas tag inspiration!

VIDEO



If you are having a problem viewing this video, please try watching it HERE on YouTube.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Ranger
Ink: Versamark
Other: Hero Arts white embossing powder, gems, string, felt

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun, Hero Arts Holiday Mittens and Infinity Tags die

11.22.2016

Birthday Ewe // Lawn Fawn

Hello! I'm over on the MarkerPOP blog today with a birthday card that uses a Christmas stamp set!


Check out the blog for more details! :)

11.21.2016

Snowy Trees Light Up Scene + VIDEO // Hero Arts

I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today with a super fun interactive card...


Head on over to the blog for more details and a video on how I made the card! Thanks for stopping in!

11.16.2016

Quick and Easy Holiday Cardmaking // Hero Arts

I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today, with a card that (hopefully!) solves some common cardmaker holiday card problems. ;)
Here's a sneak...


Head on over to the blog for more details!

11.15.2016

Quasi-One Layer Wonder // Altenew

I'm over on the MarkerPOP blog today, showing a (sorta) one layer card, using a layering stamp set...


Head on over to the blog for more details!

11.07.2016

Die Cut Focal Background // Hero Arts

Hello everyone! Today I'm participating in the November My Monthly Hero blog hop, with two cards and a video to show off this beautiful new kit.

When I saw the little triangle dies, I just knew I wanted to make a background with it.


I die cut "strips" of the triangles out of some gray cardstock, then adhered that die cut background to some kraft cardstock. I'm not gonna lie - adhering that intricate background with foam adhesive took me a good five minutes, but you could make it easier by using spray adhesive.


I couldn't stop with one pretty background, so I made another.

For this purple card, I die cut the triangles out of watercolor cardstock, and adhered them on a clear sparkle embossed light purple cardstock panel.


This panel was significantly easier to adhere down. ;) 


Both cards sentiments come from an add-on, the Little Messages Stamp & Cut, heat embossed in white and die cut using the accompanying banner die.

One of the cool things about this kit is that the dies and even some of the stamps are supplies you could use year round. For example, with these cards, just omit the snowflake die, change up the colors and sentiment, and you've got a card for any occasion!

VIDEO



If you are having a problem viewing this video, please try watching it HERE on YouTube.


THE KIT


The kit contains:

► A 4"x6" clear stamp set
► A set of 13 dies for creating diamond-shaped ornaments and embellishments
► A VersaMark ink cube
► White Puff embossing powder
► 10 half sheets of vellum cardstock
► 2 half sheets of each cardstock: metallic red, metallic blue and patterned
► Ornament hooks and more!


The kit value is $60, an amazing deal at $34.99.

There are also some amazing add-on stamps and dies, so be sure to check out the Hero Arts blog for information on that.

BLOG HOP


For loads of inspiration and a chance to win one of these kits, follow this hop!

Hero Arts is giving away one kit as a prize to one blog reader - selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop.

The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts Floral and Kraft Layering papers, Canson watercolor
Stamps: November 2016 My Monthly Hero and Little Messages Stamp & Cut
Ink: Hero Arts Versamark
Other: Hero Arts clear Sparkle embossing powder, White embossing powder, Hero Arts pearls

Tools: Cuttlebug, ink blenders, heat gun, Hero Arts November My Monthly 2016 and Little Messages Stamp & Cut dies

10.31.2016

Season's Greetings Globe // Hero Arts

If you missed out on last month's My Monthly Hero kit, featuring a snow globe, I've got a solution for you today!

Creating the globe is simple; just die cut your circle and then adhere some strips of paper below it.
I used the Hero Arts Circle Infinity dies to die cut my circle out of some vellum, and for my strips of paper, I cut varying widths and lengths, then inked them up with Versamark, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder to get a nice, glossy look.


For the center of my globe, I stamped the houses from Kelly's It's Christmas Time and colored them in quickly with some ZIG's. The sentiment is from Ornaments Stamp and Cut.


I put everything on top of a pre-made card base, and that finished off my simple card!

Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: DCWV, vellum
Ink: Hero Arts Black, Versamark and ZIG's

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Circle Infinity Dies, heat gun, water brush


Small Shapes, Big Backgrounds // Hero Arts

It seems I'm all about the backgrounds these days! I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today with a video and two cards, showing how to use small stamps to cover a large background!


Head on over to the blog for more details! Thanks for stopping in!

10.30.2016

Beautiful Background // Hero Arts

Hello! I just wanted to pop in quickly to share this card, using the beautiful Holiday Florals Bold Prints background stamp from Hero Arts.

I pretty much fell in love with this stamp as soon as I saw it - so intricate, and SO many possibilities! I already did a video on it (which you can view HERE), but I couldn't stop there.

For today's card, I heat embossed the image using white on some red cardstock, and then die cut a circle out of the center to add my sentiment - as lovely as this pattern is, I didn't want it to completely overwhelm the sentiment.


For the sentiment, I covered a piece of cardstock with the gorgeous new Black Sparkle embossing powder, then die cut it using the Peace Stamp and Cut die. I heat embossed an accompanying sentiment in the same sparkle power on some vellum, cut it out banner style, and adhered it, along with the die cut, in the center of the card.


I topped off the card with some gems, and for one last detail, I went in with a red Memento marker and added a wee bit of shading to the embossed image.

Thanks so much for stopping in today and God bless!

SUPPLIES


Cardsotck: Canson, Hero Arts Blush Mixed Layering Papers
Stamps: Hero Arts Peace Stamp and Cut and Holiday Florals Bold Prints
Ink: Versamark, Memento
Other: Hero Arts White and Black Sparkle embossing powder, vellum, Hero Arts Neutral Mixed Accents

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Peace and Circle Infinity dies, heat gun

10.25.2016

Yeti Christmas // My Favorite Things

I'm on the MarkerPOP blog today, showcasing yet another irresistible Birdie Brown stamp set...



Pop on over to the blog for more details!

10.19.2016

Peace This Christmas // Hero Arts

I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today, along with Mariana and Yana, sharing some fun inspiration from this month's My Monthly Hero add-ons - there's some fabulous stuff there! Check it out...


For more details, visit the blog!

10.18.2016

Cow-raccoon...? // Mama Elephant

I'm over on the MarkerPOP blog today, with a card featuring the adorabubble Mama Elephant Rowdy Raccoons stamp set.


Check out the blog for more details!

10.11.2016

Happy Day // Avery Elle

I'm over on the MarkerPOP! blog today, sharing a cute baby card, using the adorable Avery Elle Woodland Wonders stamp set...


Check out the blog for more deets!

10.10.2016

Cardinal Christmas // Hero Arts

I'm stopping in today with a Christmas card and deets on a new challenge!

To start today's card off, I stamped the Woodgrain Bold Prints by Lia using Soft Granite on Fog Gray Simon Says Stamp cardstock. I then stamped a sentiment from Holiday Messages and Tags on a white cardstock panel, heat embossed it in gold, and then gave the panel a ribbon edge.


I was totally inspired by Yana Smakula when slipping my embossed banner through the Branch Wreath die, cut out of kraft. The wreath was topped off with some die cut vellum holly leaves, a gold bow, and some gems.


Finally, I created my bird from the gorgeous Color Layering Cardinal - I stamped the first layer in Fresh Peach, second in Pale Tomato, and topped it off with Red Royal. It's hard to tell the difference between the first and second layer, but it does add a bit of detail. I stamped the feet and eyes/beak in black, then die cut my cardinal and adhered him to the card case.


That's all for me today! Have a blessed day!

CHALLENGE


Hero Arts has a new challenge! There will be five $50 Hero Arts shopping sprees awarded. The challenge runs October 10 - November 15. Check out the blog for more deets and inspiration!


SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Simon Says Stamp Fog Gray, Hero Arts kraft
Stamps: Hero Arts Woodgrain Bold Prints, Color Layering Cardinal and Holiday Messages and Tags
Ink: Versamark, Hero Arts Soft Granite, Fresh PeachPale Tomato, Red RoyalBlack
Other: Hero Arts Gold Embossing powder, vellum, Hero Arts Mixed Neutral Accents

Tools: heat gun, Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Branch Wreath die, Color Layering Cardinal die, and Christmas Trimmings (bow and holly leaves dies)

10.07.2016

Happy Fall // Hero Arts

Happy Friday!!
I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today, sharing this fall number, using the pretty Paper Layering Maple Leaf die...


Hop on over to the blog for more details!

10.03.2016

Water Shaker Card // Hero Arts

Hello, hello, everyone! Today I'm participating in the October My Monthly Hero blog hop, with a card and a video to show off this fun new kit.

This month's kit is so jammed pack with stuff, I was just overwhelmed at first. However, once I knew that I wanted to make a night scene with the kit, things came together pretty quickly.


I started off by blending a night scene using Grape Juice and Navy, masking off the moon using the Circle Infinity dies. I'm not sure why, but the Grape Juice ink in particular blends beautifully! Once I finished blending the scene, I covered it with clear Sparkle embossing powder (I'm addicted to this stuff, I tell ya) and heat embossed it.


I heart embossed the sleigh using the Black Detail embossing powder (this stuff is finnnnneeee) on vellum and die cut it, along with some hills, to create the globe scene.
Now, the fun part about this card is that only is it a shaker card (I used glitter), but there's really water in it! I bought some small clear jewelry bags at Joann Fabric's, and filled one up about a quarter way with water. Then I adhered it to the card between two layers of dimensional adhesive. I know some people may worry about the water leaking, but as I show in the video below, I didn't have any problems with it.


I embossed a panel of cardstock and die cut an opening for the scene using the Circle Infinity dies - there is a die included in main kit that cuts the globe top, but I wanted a smaller one for this card, so I used the circle dies. 
Then I topped off the card with a silver heat embossed globe bottom, and a white heat embossed sentiment
I really love heat embossing, if you couldn't tell from this card using four different embossing powders. ;)

VIDEO

Here's a video of how I made the card...



If you are having a problem viewing this video, please try watching it HERE on YouTube.

THE KIT

The kit contains:
  • A 4"x6" clear stamp set
  • Dies for creating a snowglobe, snowdrifts and other background elements
  • Seven coordinating Frame Cuts dies to match the stamp set
  • Three pigment ink cubes in White, Silver and Baby Blue
  • Eight White Cards and Envelopes
  • Polar White Flower Soft
  • Buttons Galore Shaker Mix
  • Acetate Sheets in 4"x4.5" (7) and 4"x6" (1) for creating a shaker card
  • Light Blue Gemstones
The kit value is over $60, an amazing deal at $34.99.

There are also some amazing add-on stamps and dies, so be sure to check out the Hero Arts blog for information on that.

BLOG HOP

For loads of inspiration and a chance to win one of these kits, follow this hop!


Hero Arts is giving away one kit as a prize to one blog reader - selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop.

The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone.

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Canson watercolor
Ink: Hero Arts Grape Juice, Navy and Black, Versamark
Other: Hero Arts clear Sparkle embossing powder, Black Detail embossing powder, White embossing powder and Silver embossing powder, vellum, acetate, plastic bag, 

Tools: Cuttlebug, ink blenders, heat gun, Hero Arts Circle Infinity dies