Merry Christmas!

Hello

I'm feeling the pressure a little with only days to go to Christmas! I'm not sure about everyone else but the days just seem to disappear so quickly but then I guess the entire year has been that way!
Thought I would share some more Christmas cards with foil.

For both of these I watercoloured lightly on Neenah cardstock then sprayed lightly with Shimmer Spritz.  When dry I printed a Hero Arts sentiment from the Silhouette Design store with my laser printer & foiled with Deco Foil Silver Stars which has a pretty holographic effect. The second card didn't photograph as well but the close up shows the foil nicely.

I backed these with American Crafts Pow Glitter paper & added some PPP Iridescent Mini stars to the second.
I am entering these into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make it Sparkle

I hope everyone has a very happy & safe Christmas. May the New year bring peace & togetherness for all!

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit!

More Christmas cards

Hello

Some more foiled Christmas cards similar to last post using another Hero Arts digital image from the Silhouette store.

The sentiment is the same as last post (Catherine font - Hungry JPEG). I filled in the outline leaves & stars with stickles for some pretty sparkle.

I am entering these into Inkspirational Challenge # 123 Designers Choice - CAS with Sparkle

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit.

Birthday wishes

Hello

I managed to have a play with some more new Hero Arts goodies & made this card using Hero Arts For You Flowers colour layering set.

The background has been stenciled with SSS Zig Zag stencil & Altenew Sea Glass ink. Unfortunately it doesn't show up well in the photo & I simply couldn't get a better shot but IRL it is darker. The flowers & leaves were stamped with a combination of different brand inks using the MISTI. Most of the leaves & small flowers were then cut on the Silhouette using their Pixscan technology & the rest fussy cut. I used some Liquid pearls as the centres on the aqua flowers & Wink of Stella in the white centres of the pink flowers. The PTI Birthday word was sent to me by a sweet friend as I have long admired this particular die but as yet don't have it in my stash. I used a liberal coating of Wink of Stella on the birthday word before adhering (albeit a little crooked lol) & finishing with a SSS sentiment word. As usual it was impossible to get a good shot of that gorgeous sheen of the WoS.

I am entering this into the following challenges -

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Make it Girlie

The Card Concept # 53 - Bright & Fresh

I'm going with clean & layered with my inspiration being the gorgeous floral.

CAS Mix Up Card Challenge - 

Stamped Flowers/leaves, stenciled background & die cuts/fussy cutting.

Thanks so much for visiting.

Beautiful day

Hello

My second post for today as I sneak one more card into SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Recently I was lucky enough to be the random winner in the Hero Arts Fabulous Flowers challenge where I won a voucher to do some shopping. Hero Arts You're So Lovely was one of the sets that arrived yesterday & I've been having a little play with it. I stamped the flowers & leaves in distress inks but had trouble deciding at what point to stop. After leaving overnight I still couldn't decide this morning so I blocked out the perfectionist in me (easier said than done) to leave it as is & finished with the sentiment from the same set. I added some gold glitter washi on the bottom of the card & used PPP sequins for flower centers.


Thanks for visiting.

Thanks for your kindness

Hello

My second post today as I sneak this card into Hero Arts Fabulous Flowers Challenge before the deadline

 I made this with an older Hero Arts wood mount stamp Flowers on a Stem. I've used this stamp a lot & also have the clear stamps as well but I really love the red rubber for use with markers or stains. This time I used Distress Stains in 3 colours to ink my flowers & spritzed my Ranger water colour card first although that ended up being pointless with the heat. We had another 36°C day & the ceiling fans were on high so by the time I inked up each of the flowers the paper had dried so I just gave up. Same reason I haven't been watercolouring lately either as it is too hard keeping the paper wet. Once I had finished randomly stamping a border I then added Diamond Stickles to some of the flower centres for a bit of sparkle. I cut & stacked 3 of the Hero Arts Thanks for the middle & finished with the stamped sentiment.

I am also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - Floral

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting.

Heartfelt Wishes

Hello

Today's card is for the Hero Arts Fabulous Flowers Challenge

This is only my second challenge for the year. Not what I was intending but we have had such an awful start to this year in so many ways that I took the pressure off myself & have been just playing a little when I can (and when it's not stinking hot!). 

I went through all my Hero Arts stamps, which made me feel a little guilty at how under-loved some of them are, and came up with this card - 

I used Hero Arts Dotted Grid Background with Tumbled Glass Distress ink & then stamped Hero Arts Large Flower Background in black Memento & coloured one of the flowers with Copics before fussy cutting. Sentiment is from Hero Arts All Occasion Messages.

Thanks for visiting.

Peace on Earth

Hello

Yes, I know it's been a while! Had some health issues to deal with, one of which was waking up one morning barely being able to turn my neck. A week & a half away from going on holidays & panic set in a little but with a few physio sessions squeezed in before we went all was acceptable & didn't impact on things too much. However I have been a bit restricted since I got back & stamping or colouring haven't really been an option.
I did have a couple of almost finished projects on my desk so here is a quick card with one of my favourite Christmas stamps.

The photography isn't the best & for the life of me I just couldn't get it to sit straight to photograph or maybe it was just the bad neck lol!
I used Hero Arts Nativity on a scrap piece of cardstock that had been inked with Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean & Chipped Sapphire Distress ink. Image was embossed in Wow! Opaque Bright White & mounted with foam tape. Some Star Dust Stickles was added to the large star. I used a favourite sentiment from Technique Tuesday's Good Cheer set, appropriate more than ever.
I am entering this into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas

Thanks for visiting.

Hero Arts Christmas Tree

Hello

Today I'm sharing a card made with Hero Arts Color Layering Christmas Tree.

I loved this tree when I first saw it but no matter how many ink combinations I tried, I just wasn't happy with the result. Then I saw a video by the wonderful Sandy Allnock where she used this tree in the second half of the video. Using her technique I stamped all layers in different distress inks and then used a water brush to blend. Sandy used all 4 layers including the one which is meant for snow on the branches. You can blend a lot or a little depend on the look you want but this gave me a tree so close to what I was after so I am very happy. I even made several more cards varying the glitter ornaments for Liquid Pearls instead. Changing up the ink colours would also give a different look as well.
I am entering this into the Hero Arts Holiday Cardmaking Challenge.

Thanks for visiting!


Supplies - 
Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Christmas Tree, PTI Sparkle & Shine Holiday Additions (stars)
Inks - Distress inks - Shabby Shutters, Peeled paint, Crushed Olive & Forest Moss, Versafine Onyx Black, Delicata Golden Glitz
Die - MFT Zig Zag Stitched Rectangle
Watercolour paper, Ranger Stickles Xmas Red

SC112

This is my second post for today. Not often I get on a roll so don't get used to it, lol!
I am entering this card into Stamping Celebrations SC112 challenge

I loved the teddy on the cake (I think it's a cake), so cute. So my inspiration came from the stripes, gorgeous colours & of course that cute bear.

The background stripes were stamped with MFT Striped Background in Memento Summer Sky. Using a thin stripe stamp from Winnie & Walter's Scenery Stripes, I then stamped between the main stripes with Hero Arts Soft Brown using the MISTI. The teddy is from Hero Arts New Baby set & was stamped with Memento Toffee Crunch & coloured with Copics. The bear was fussy cut after colouring & mounted with foam tape. I stamped, cut & coloured a second heart so I could also mount with foam tape & added some Wink of Stella.The SSS Baby word was cut 3 times & stacked for dimension.

I am also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use a stamp.

Thanks for visiting.


Supplies - 
Stamps - MFT Striped Background, Winnie & Walter's Scenery Stripes, Hero Arts New Baby
Inks - Memento Summer Sky, Toffee Crunch, Hero Arts Soft Brown
Die - SSS Baby, SSS Stitched Circles
Copics - E31, E57, B41

CASology Week # 158

Hello

This week I was honored (and very nervous!) to be asked to be guest designer at CASology with this weeks cue - Precious

The first thing that came to mind was sweet, precious babies! My 2 babies are both in their mid twenties now but fingers crossed that one day there will be grandbabies! So don't have very much in the way of baby stamps but did have the Hero Arts New Baby set with matching dies.

I stamped the base card with Darkroom Door Plaid Background in Hero Arts Mint Julep. The white panel was die-cut with Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop Borders using the middle scallop edge. I used Kuretake Gansai to colour a piece of Ranger Watercolour paper in a soft lemon & mint green (you have no idea how long that took to try & mix the right colours!).  The cute elephant was stamped on the watercolour piece with Versamark & then heat embossed with Zing white embossing powder, then die cut. I stamped just the heart a second time and fussy cut then mounted with foam tape. I applied some Wink of Stella to the heart just for a little sparkle but sat on my hands again lol, before I was tempted to add more bling! Two cards in a row without bling would have to be a record for me! The SSS baby die-cut was cut twice & stacked then I finished with "hello" from a Winnie & Walter set using Misti so as not to mess up the final touch.

Thanks for visiting.


Supplies - 
Stamps - Darkroom Door Plaid background, Hero Arts New Baby, Winnie & Walter The Big the Bold & the Happy
Dies - Simon Says Stamp Baby, Hero Arts Baby Motifs, Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop Borders
Ink - Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Hero Arts Mint Julep Shadow ink
Ranger Watercolor paper, Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors, Zing white embossing powder, Wink of Stella

Sending love

Hello

This is my second post today with another card for CASology # 157 - Wings

After making the previous butterfly card I remembered I had just received the Hero Arts Color Layering Bird & Branch so decided to use for the first time.

I really love this set & spent a bit of time playing with colour combinations before settling on the above colours. It's endless the different colours you could do & I found that the hardest part! 

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies - 
Stamps - Hero Arts Color Layering Bird & Branch, Hero Arts What's Up set
Ink - Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Cup O' Joe, Forever Green, Butter Bar, Pastel Yellow, Pool, Memento - Paris Dusk, Bamboo Leaves, Espresso Truffle, MFT Hybrid Ink Natural, Versafine Onyx Black

Birthday garland

Hello

Just stopping by with a quick card for CASology # 156 - Line

I used the small dot line from Winnie & Walter's Scenery Stripes and curved it on my acrylic block to stamp the garlands in Hero Arts Neon ink. I cut the "happy" word in gold foil and twice more in plain white to stack for dimension. A few Pretty Pink Posh sequins and it's done. For once what I envisioned came together pretty quick. If only that happened every time!
I am also entering this in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Sparkle & Shine

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies - 
Stamps - Winnie & Walter Scenery Stripes, The Big The Bold & The Happy
Ink - Hero Arts Neon Pink, Blue, Green & Orange, Archival Jet Black
Dies - Winnie & Walter In a Word: Happy cutaway
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins - Aquamarine, Fresh Mint, Pink Peonies, Lemon Drop, Tangerine

Celebrate

Hello

The latest CASology Week # 155 challenge is cupcakes so today I used an Avery Elle stamp & die set I've had for ages but never used. In the past I've had opportunities to do cupcakes but every time I pulled this set out I would sit & look at it, procrastinate for hours and end up doing nothing. I know, afraid of a cupcake! Who would have thought, lol!
Anyway, this is what I finally came up with -

On the main white card panel I stamped Hero Arts Raindrop background in MFT Berrylicious ink. The cupcake wrapper was stamped in MFT Blu Raspberry & I used Memento Rich Cocoa for cake top, icing & candle. The icing & candle were coloured with Copics and then die-cut. Then I coated the icing & candle flame with Multi Matte Medium and dipped into Clear Rock Candy dry glitter. The close up shows just how pretty it looks.

A sentiment from Hero Arts was stamped on die-cut frame panel using MISTI, Guaranteed of no stuff ups that way! Once everything was adhered I was tempted to add some sequins but decided to keep as CAS as possible.

CASology Week # 155 

Also entering Stamping Celebration Inspiration # 108

Thanks for visiting.


Supplies - 
Stamps - Avery Elle cupcakes, Hero Arts Raindrop Background & Many Birthday Messages
Dies - Double-Stitched circle dies (can't remember brand), Avery Elle Cupcakes
Ink - MFT Berrylicious, Blu Raspberry, Memento Rich Cocoa, Archival Jet Black
Copics - RV00, RV10, BG10, Y17
Clear Rock Candy dry glitter

You're So Special

Hello

Have been unwell for over a week now and trying to get back into creating. Was disappointed to miss a few challenge deadlines but oh well, there'll always be more :). Who would have thought it would be so hard to find motivation again! There has been a few dismal failures in the bin that's for sure.
I decided to run with something similar to my previous card but in another colour combination as I really love these flowers from Simon Says Stamp. However the finished card is definitely not the direction I was heading when I started out lol! So I decided that any card was better than no card!

I stamped the background with 2 of the flowers from SSS Friendly Flowers in Hero Arts Shadow Inks & used some leaves from WPlus9 Pretty Peonies set. I die cut a panel from the centre of the stamped background with MFT Zig Zag Stitched Rectangle Stax. Then I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed with Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder. The centre panel was then mounted onto silver card stock and mounted back into the frame of the panel with foam tape. Some detail was added to the middle of some of the flowers just on the centre panel using Star Dust Stickles. A little hard to see in the photo but the close up gives you a better idea.

I am entering this into Virginia's View Challenge # 16 - 100% Stamped

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies - 
Stamps - SSS Friendly Flowers, Hero Arts CL380 truly Appreciated
Inks - Hero Arts Shadow inks - Cornflower, Mint Julep, Tide Pool & Lime Green, Versamark
Ranger Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder, Star Dust Stickles