12.05.2017

Advent Calendar Extravaganza with Taheerah Atchia

Hello all, today I'm participating in the Advent Calendar Extravaganza - thanks for joining me!

DETAILS




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!

PROJECT


Today's cards are pretty quick and easy Christmas cards, since it's only twenty days till Christmas, so, who really has much time to do anything fancy right now?! ;)


The beautiful Hero Arts Holiday Floral Background makes for some quick card making. I stamped it with Versamark, and heat embossed in White.


The sentiment, from The Project Bin Stamps Joyful Song, was inked with Versamark and Aquatic. Inking with the Versmark first, and then Aquatic gives the stickiness necessary to heat emboss the sentiment with clear Sparkle powder without having to stamp each separately.


The panel was die cut using the Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies, and then popped on an A2 card base. Some pretty gems top it off.


I did another quick card on some orange-redish cardstock, by again stamping and heat embossing the Holiday Floral Background.


This sentiment is also from Joyful Song, and was inked with Versamark and Red Royal.

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 Pretty Pink Posh 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 2017 to enter.

Don’t forget Advent Calendar Extravaganza 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!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: stash
Stamps: Hero Arts Holiday Floral Background, The Project Bin Stamps Joyful Song
Ink: Hero Arts Red Royal and AquaticVersamark
Other: Hero Arts White powder, clear Sparkle powder, and Teal gemstones

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing gun, Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies

12.04.2017

Quick Ombre Notecards

Hello all! Today I'm participating in the Hero Arts December 2017 My Monthly Hero Arts blog hop - last MMH of the year, folks! ;)

There's tons of awesome goodies in the main kit and the add-ons, but I kinda ran away with one particular add-on - the beautiful Henna Flower Pattern stamp.


These cards are so flippin' fast and pretty, it's ridiculous! The beautiful Hero Arts Ombre inks make these cards a cinch!


My first card was stamped with Peach, Orange and Pink Ombre inks, and the sentiment is from the classic Thanks Stamp and Cut.


The next card was stamped with PurpleHydrangea and Pink Ombre.


The sentiment is from the Congrats Stamp and Cut - I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in White powder on Black cardstock. I then die cut the top sentiment from black foam that had adhesive on one side already and adhered it on top.

If you don't have craft foam and you still wanted the sentiment to have some dimension, you could die cut the sentiment several times from black cardstock and adhere the layers together.


The final card was stamped in Mermaid, Hydrangea, and Mint Ombre, with a sentiment from Happy Stamp and Cut.


Each card has a few pearls to top off the mandala.


While it was easy and quick enough to stamp each front individual, you could easily mass-produce them by stamping the Henna Flower Pattern all over a piece of letter - or 8.5x11in - cardstock and then cut out four card fronts in one go!

If you're already subscribed, or you're going to purchase the kit, you can add this stamp (and any other stamps!) to your order without any extra shipping fee!

THE KIT


This month's kit includes:
  • 6 x 8" Clear Stamp Set
  • 12 Coordinating Frame Cuts Dies
  • 1 Fancy Window Die
  • 5 ink cubes (Exclusive colors only available in this kit - Sapphire, Teal Topaz, Pink Tourmaline, Ruby, Tiger's Eye)
  • 5.25" x 6.5" Stencil
  • Assortment of glitter stickers
The value of the kit is $80, but it is sold at $34.99.

The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone. However, you can now subscribe to receive the kit monthly and never miss one!

BLOG HOP


For lots of inspiration and a chance to win the giveaway (see below), follow along with this hop:


For inspiration and a chance to win this month's kit, hop along with us!

GIVEAWAY


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. (Hero Arts will reimburse them if they have already bought the kit) Giveaway closes Sunday, December 10th at 11:59pm, and the winner will be announced the following week.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Michaels white, Hero Arts Black cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts Henna Flower PatternCongrats Stamp and CutHappy Stamp and Cut and Thanks Stamp and Cut
Ink: Hero Arts PeachOrangePinkPurpleMermaidHydrangea, and Mint; Versamark
Other: Hero Arts White embossing powder

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun, Hero Arts Congrats Stamp and CutHappy Stamp and Cut and Thanks Stamp and Cut dies

12.01.2017

Custom Colored Background

I'm over the Hero Arts blog today, as we count down to the December My Monthly Hero...


Head on over to the blog for more details, and thanks for stopping in!
SaveSave

Behold Him

Hi all! Today I'm participating in a blog with CardMaker Magazine and The Project Bin!

Today's card is a fun, glittery number, featuring the Joyful Song stamp set.



I started by stamping the angel in Versamark on white cardstock, then heat embossing with some beautiful WOW! Metallic Gold Sparkle embossing powder. The panel was die cut with the Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies, and then adhered to the card base.


I then stamped the sentiment on Licorice Twist cardstock with Versamark, and heat embossed it in the same powder. After embossing, I cut the bottom edge into a ribbon shape.


The black sentiment was layered on a piece of vellum, also cut to a ribbon edge on the bottom. Once I had all the elements together, I lightly adhered them together, and then sewed the top edge.

I haven't done sewing in FOREVER, so this was a fun one to pull out the sewing machine for.

Pretty simple card, but that powder really makes it shine - literally! ha! ;)

BLOG HOP


Clare Prezzia - you're here!

DESTASH REMINDER


I'm having a little destash over on THIS page, with all proceeds going straight to charity. Be sure to check it out - I only have a couple envelopes left!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Michaels white, Bazzil Licorice Twist
Stamps: The Project Bin Joyful Song
Ink: Versamark
Other: WOW! Metallic Gold Sparkle embossing powder, vellum (similar)

Tools: sewing machine, heat gun, Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies

11.30.2017

Stamp and Die Cut Layering

The countdown for the December My Monthly Hero might just have started, but I wanted to share one last project using the November MMH.

I stamped the star image in Celestial Copper three times around the card base, and then stamped it three times on separate cardstock in Ombre Purple. After die cutting the stars, I adhered them to the card base and trimmed off any excess.


The card is finished off with a sentiment from Color Layering Holly (a beautiful stamp set in it's own right) heat embossed in White on Black cardstock.


Super easy and simple!

MY MONTHLY HERO KIT


If you haven't heard of this kit before, the website HERE does a great job explaining it. The actual kits are often sold-out, so subscribing guarantees you can get the main kit.

However, Hero Arts releases similarly themed stamps to the main kit (August was space themed), that can be purchased separately. If you order them along with the main kit, there is no additional shipping charge, but if that's not your thing, you can totally buy them later! Either way, it's great to check in every month, even if you're not a subscriber, and see what new add-ons there are.

If you have any questions about the kit, feel free to message me, but again, the website really does a good job explaining all the ins and outs - it's not too complicated, so no worries there. ;)

Hero Arts is sneaking their December kit now, so be sure to check out the website these next couple days until the reveal on Monday!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Michaels white, Hero Arts Black cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts November My Monthly Hero and Color Layering Holly
Ink: Celestial Copper, Hero Arts Ombre Purple, Versamark
Other: Hero Arts White embossing powder

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun
SaveSave

11.27.2017

Solid Stamp Layering

I'm stopping in today with a colorful and modern card that uses the November My Monthly Hero kit.
The kit may be sold out, but the technique and design could easily be used with other more solid stamps!

I stamped the trees in Ombre Purple, Ombre Mint and Celestial Copper Delicata ink, overlapping them for a more interesting background.



The sentiment, from the add-on (aka, not sold out!) Holiday Badges, was heat embossed in White on Black cardstock. I die cut the sentiment with a Circle Infinity die, and then layered it on a black cardstock die cut tag. The sentiment would fit on the tag die cut, but I decided to do the two layers for a little more dimension and interest.

FYI, there are a TON of dies packed into that Tag Frame Infinity set for a great price! I love how it includes two different shapes!



Either way, the card is very flat, quick and easy to make, and so perfect for mass-producing!

Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Michaels white, Hero Arts Midnight Layering paper
Stamps: Hero Arts November 2017 My Monthly Hero stamp and Holiday Badges
Ink: Hero Arts Ombre Purple and Ombre MintCelestial Copper Delicata; Versamark
Other: Hero Arts White embossing powder

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Tag Frame Infinity and Circle Infinity dies

11.24.2017

Simplified Coloring

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!
I had such a busy week, between four brothers coming home, helping a brother's in-laws move, and two friends visiting!
While I usually get some baking done around this time, it just didn't happen amidst all the madness. However, I do have a yummy looking treat on the Hero Arts blog today...


Visit the blog for all the details, and thanks for stopping in!

11.15.2017

Destash for Charity II

Hello all! I'm popping in today with Round II of destash for charity!
Like previous "rounds" - the stamps and dies are mainly from Hero Arts. Also, since I was given all of this product for creative team work, I can't sell it. However, so that this destash is a win-win-win, I thought I'd introduce a benefactor, Mary's Meals.


Here's a short blurb (from their website) if you're not familiar with them:

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from many walks of life and different backgrounds.
Our vision is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education and that all those who have more than they need, share with those who lack even the most basic things.
Working together with those who share our vision, we believe there is no good reason why this cannot be realized.
Our mission is to enable people to offer their money, goods, skills, time, or prayer, and through this involvement, provide the most effective help to those suffering the effects of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest communities.
We welcome all into the Mary’s Meals family and we believe everyone has something important to contribute to the realization of our vision.

I have some friends with close ties to the organization, I love it, and it's honestly one of the few charities I feel totally and completely confident in, so I thought this would be a great way to spread some stamping love! ALL the proceeds will be going to Mary's Meals, and right now,  every donation you make will be doubled through December 31, 2017.

Here's the goodies bundled up - ETA: only two left!


Each envelope has at least $100 worth of goodies, yours for 50. Also, each envelope has one exclusive My Monthly Hero stamp set and coordinating dies, if that's any incentive. ;)

I've had some great responses to my destashes, and I thank all of you. This one is even more important though, in that every donation is being matched! If you'd like to donate just 'cuz, well, that's just plain awesome! :)

Payment must be received within twenty four hours of confirmation, using Paypal friends and families. Once everything has sold, I will make the donation and post a screenshot or receipt of the donation to THIS fundraiser since I don't have a fancy button to do it for me haha.

E-mail me at ctprezzia15@gmail.com if you'd like one! First come, first serve.
SaveSave

11.13.2017

Scrap Christmas Trees

I shared some shaped Christmas cards on the Hero Arts blog a couple weeks ago - they were a bit of a process to make, but I'm here today showing how to get two more quick cards in the same go!

The base is some pretty woodgrain cardstock splattered with a bit of water and black ink.


The tree uses the gorgeous Holiday Florals background, stamped in Versamark on red cardstock and heat embossed in White. Using the Fir Tree Infinity dies, I die cut the two largest trees for the Hero Arts blog post, and used the leftover 'scrap' here, with the center die cut using the next smallest tree die.
I mean, these are called Infinity dies for a reason - you can just keep cutting them inside of another until you're left with the smallest piece. ;)


I added a little bit of color to the die cut with a red ZIG pen in the little elements.


Same process for this card, except green cardstock and a green ZIG.
The sentiment, from Holiday Ornaments Stamp and Cut, was heat embossed in Gold, and then cut into strips and adhered to the card with dimensional adhesive.


Both cards are topped off with some golden stars, die cut with the Star Confetti die.

Pretty simple and quick! 
Thanks for stopping in and God bless!

SUPPLIES


Ink: Versamark; Hero Arts Black
Other: Hero Arts Gold and White embossing powders

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun, Hero Arts Star Confetti die and Fir Tree Infinity dies, paintbrush and water

11.10.2017

Pink Christmas Tree

Happy Friday!
For today's card, I was shooting for those little fake pink trees look, but it might look a little too...pink? Ha!

I stamped the Classic Christmas Tree in Versamark, heat embossed in Gold, and colored in with Light Carmine and Pale Pink ZIG brushes.


I adhered the colored panel to a Blush card base, and added a little black strip of cardstock on the side.


In real life, this tree is so pretty - I covered it with clear Stickles, and it really shines! After the Stickles died, I heat embossed a sentiment from Poster Christmas Carols in Gold, cut it out, punching the corners with a hole punch to get inverted corners, and adhered it on top.

Thanks so much for stopping in today and God bless!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Michaels white, Bazzill Black Licorice, Hero Arts Blush Layering Papers
Stamps: Hero Arts Classic Christmas Tree and Poster Christmas Carols
Ink: Versamark, ZIG Light Carmine and Pale Pink
Other: Hero Arts Gold embossing powder and clear Stickles

Tools: heat gun

11.08.2017

November Inspiration

I'm over on the Hero Arts blog today with Jessica, showing some of the add-ons from November's My Monthly Hero kit...


The kit is already sold out, but there's still some great options with the add-ons! If you managed to snag yourself a kit, here's a sneak at a project I made for the countdown - full details HERE.


Thanks so much for stopping in today and God bless!

11.06.2017

Watercolor Northern Lights + VIDEO

Hello all! Today I'm participating in the Hero Arts November 2017 My Monthly Hero Arts blog hop!

The main kit stamp set is super fun, and I've already made a card and a tag using it - see them on the Hero Arts blog HERE.
For today though, I wanted to play with an add-on stamp set, Winter Animals. I got stuck on the idea of using the Northern Lights with the animals, and it was just too easy to make a trio of cards using different animals.


I started by creating the backgrounds, a watercolor mixture of Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers. Watch my video (at the end of the card pictures) to see how.


After I heat set the watercolored background, I added some "stars" by flicking Hero Arts Unicorn spray, and then heat embossing them with clear Sparkle embossing powder. This way, I didn't have to wait for them to dry or risk the white fading if I heat set it. 
Also, if I have any excuse to put that sparkle embossing powder on a project, you'd better believe I'll use it. ;)


I created the "middle ground" (not sure if that's the technical term, but it's what I'm going with!) by die cutting the pretty one of the Snowy Drifts out of some black cardstock, and then heat embossing black powder over it. This gives it some pretty shine and also helps it stand out from the foreground.


The foreground was Hero Arts black cardstock, prepped with anti-static powder. I particularly like using the Hero Arts black cardstock for this black-on-black look, as the cardstock isn't super black and the embossing can stand out from it.


I then stamped trees from Winter Silhouettes and critters from Winter Animals in Versamark, and then heat embossed with the Black Detail powder. Be careful with this stuff - its reach is as bad far as glitter!


The sentiment is from Wonderful Stamp and Cut, heat embossed in White. Once I had all my layers finished, I just trimmed them down and adhered them to watercolor card bases.

VIDEO


Watch how I made the card, including the watercolor background, here...


(If you are having problems viewing this video, please try watching it HERE in HD on You Tube)

THE KIT


This month's kit includes:
  • 6x8 Clear Set
  • 4 Tag Dies
  • 4 Shaped Dies
  • 60 Assorted Gift Tags (ornament, star, tree & snow flake: colored, kraft, white)
  • 10 yards of red & white baker's twine
  • 2 Delicata Ink Cubes (Golden Glitz + Celestial Copper)
The value of the kit is $72, but it is sold at $34.99.
The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone. However, you can now subscribe to receive the kit monthly and never miss one!

BLOG HOP


For inspiration and a chance to win this month's kit, hop along with us!
  May Park 

GIVEAWAY


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. (Hero Arts will reimburse them if they have already bought the kit) Giveaway closes Sunday, November 12th at 11:59pm, and the winner will be announced the following week.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Canson watercolor and Hero Arts black cardstock
Stamps: Winter AnimalsWinter Silhouettes and Wonderful Stamp and Cut
Ink: Versamark; Tim Holtz Chipped SapphireBroken ChinaCracked PistachioMermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers
Other: Hero Arts Whiteclear Sparkle and Black Detail embossing powder

Tools: Cuttlebug, Tim Holtz blending tool, water, paintbrush, Hero Arts Snowy Drifts die
SaveSave

11.03.2017

Foiled Adhesive

Welcome to Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® + CardMaker® Magazine One Day Blog Hop and Giveaway! Do you have foil, glitter, embossing powder and microbeads in your stash? We can show you new uses for them! “Wear Your Adhesives on the Outside” uses Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® products with different mediums to create designs. Let me show you how!

I received products from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® for use in my projects. The opinions are completely my own.


For my tags, I used the 3D Foam Embellishment Kit to add blue and red foil to the snowflake foam adhesives. It was so quick and fun! I adhered them to some kraft tags I had die cut and stamped with Hero Arts Hand Drawn Snowflakes in Unicorn.


I finished the tags off with a heat embossed sentiment from Color Layering Wreathcircle die cut, and adhered using small 3D Foam Squares. To make sure the backs of the snowflakes that extend over the edge didn't try sticking to everything, I brushed some anti-static powder on the back.


BLOG HOP


Visit others designers to see what they created using “Wear Your Adhesives on the Outside”:


BLOG HOP PRIZE DETAILS




Enter to win through the Rafflecopter App. Winner(s) will be randomly picked.
International entries are welcome.

CLICK: Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Papertrey Ink kraft
Stamps: Hero Arts Hand Drawn Snowflakes and Color Layering Wreath
Ink: Hero Arts Unicorn; Versamark
Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® 3D Foam Squares and 3D Foam Embellishment Kit

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Circle Infinity and Tag Infinity die

11.02.2017

Bright Bulbs

Happy November!

I'm stopping in today with another card from the Hero Arts Winter 2017 catalog, this time featuring the beautiful Christmas Lights Bold Prints.


I heat embossed the stamp in Silver, and then colored the bulbs in with a touch of ZIG Cobalt Blue to each, and water to spread it. I won't lie, it took awhile to color all those little bulbs, but they're just so darn cute!


The sentiment, from Color Layering Holly, was heat embossed in White, cut out, and then adhered to the card with foam adhesive.

That's it for today - thanks for stopping in and God bless!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Canson watercolor, Bazzill Licorice Twist
Stamps: Hero Arts Christmas Lights Bold Prints and Color Layering Holly
Ink: Versamark, ZIG Cobalt Blue
Other: Hero Arts White and Silver embossing powder

Tools: heat gun, paintbrush and water