A True Friend - OLW65

Hello, friends!  This is my final entry for this week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge #65: Sentiment-a-Mania at Jennifer's blog.  Go check it out...some great entries over there! 

For my card, I stamped the retired Hero Arts Large Delicate Woven Fabrics (H3317) using Soft Wheat shadow ink.  Next, I stamped the Inkadinkado Kathy Davis True Friend sentiment using black dye ink.  Finally, I inked the retired Hero Arts Native Grass (C3648) using Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint distress inks and stamped to the left of the sentiment.   

I love this quote stamp and was happy to use it again. 
Thanks for stopping by again!
Judy

Long Thank You - OLW65

Hello, friends!  Yep, I'm back with yet another card for the One Layer Wednesday Week #65 Sentiment-a-Mania at Jennifer's blog.  I'm LOVING this challenge to make a one layer card with the sentiment as the main focus of the card.  (Maybe you can telll...)

Today I made a very simple card using two Hero Arts stamps.  On a cream card, I stamped the Classic Fabric Design using Soft Wheat shadow ink.  Then I added the retired Long Calligraphy Thank You (H2951) in black dye ink and rounded the bottom corners.  I have always loved this sentiment...a classic in my book!

 
Just a quick post tonight.  Thanks for stopping by...have a good one!
Judy

Celebrate - Times Two: OLW65

Hello, friends!  Still playing along with the current One Layer Wednesday Challenge #65: Sentiment-a-Mania in which we have to make a card with the sentiment as the main focus.  I made two similar cards today (using all Hero Arts stamps) -- one for a boy and one for a girl.

 
For both cards, I embossed the retired Hero Arts Great Celebrate (H3362) in white.  Next, I masked the top and bottom of the card with large Post-It notes and inked with distress inks.

For the girl card, I inked with Spun Sugar and then overstamped the Flourish Background using Soft Rose shadow ink.  I removed the masks and rounded the corners to finish.

For the boy version, I inked with Broken China, then overstamped the Flourish Background with Weathered Wood distress ink.  Again, I removed the masks and rounded the corners to finish.

I was happy to play with this large sentiment...I don't use it nearly enough.  I figured it worked well for this challenge since it is the main focus of the card!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Simplicity - OLW65

Hello, friends!  Happy Saturday!  I'm stopping by today with a card I made for the current One Layer Wednesday Challenge #65: Sentiment-a-Mania!  Jennifer is challenging us to make a one layer card in which the sentiment is the main focus.  I have a feeling I will be making several cards for this challenge...LOVE this idea!

Anyway, I immediately thought of my Treasure the Moments set by Hero Arts...it is full of beautiful sentiment phrases.  I inked up the retired Hero Arts Long Shadow (F2404) stamp using Soft Pool at the top and Soft Sage at the bottom and stamped it to the left of center.  Next, I stamped the "Simplicity" sentiment in black dye ink.  Finally, I masked the "S"  and stamped the retired Hero Arts  Native Grass (C3648) stamp after inking it with Peeled Paint and Spiced Marmalade distress inks. 

Sorry for the dark picture...still raining here.
Have a great day!
Judy

Celebrate -- Another LIM Week 33 card!

Hello, fiends!  This is my second post of the day, be sure to scroll down to view my earlier post if interested. 

I am on a mission...I want to help the lovely ladies at Less Is More achieve their goal this week to have 1,000 clean-and-simple cards uploaded.  They have a few hours left and they have over 600 cards entered so far.  WOW!  There is a LOT of inspiration in that gallery, let me tell ya! 

Anyway, here is my third (and likely final) entry for this challenge.  I made a simple card by stamping an older (discontinued) Hero Arts  shadow block background using Soft Pool shadow ink.  I added a die cut Fanciful Flourish in green and a combination of Prima flowers held together with a brad.  The sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Pretty Phrases set stamped in Peeled Paint distress Ink.  Corners were rounded as a final touch.

Sorry the picture is dark...it is raining heavily and my natural light is not what it should be.  Sorry about that!

There are two blogs you have to check out today if you get the chance... one is the Less Is More blog where there are hundreds of inspiring cards uploaded.  The other is Beverly's Classy Cards n Such and the link to her online store.  She has some wonderful goodies there, lots of sales, and some talented designers, too!

OK, Happy Friday!  Take good care!
Judy

With Gratitude

Hello, friends!  I'm sitting home today with the heater guy working down the basement...it is pouring and I just finished up some work, so I am now here to play! 



I made two more cards for the current Less Is More Week 33-1,000 Challenge.  As of now they have 695 entries with 5 hours to go.  C'mon, ladies!  We can DO this!!!



So, my cards will be posted separately.  The first card I made used the Hero Arts Classic Fabric Design stamped in Soft Leaf shadow ink onto a natural Hero Arts note card.  (Note there are flecks on this paper, it is not ink smudges!)  Next I die cut the Fanciful Flourish that I bought with my blog prize (thank you again, Beverly!!) using green Bazzill swiss dots paper.  The Prima flower is a beauty that I received in another blog candy win and I used a glue dot to attach it to the flourish.  Finally, I stamped the Anna Griffin Salutations sentiment in black and rounded the corners with my Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper. 

Here is a close-up of that lovely flower...it is such a pretty shade of aqua, and the glitter is thick and shiny.  (Won't be able to mail this card unless it's in a box!)

Can you tell by my poor pictures that it is a dark, rainy afternoon here?  Sorry about that.

OK, off to post my next card!
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Sweetest Friend

Hello, friends!  I made today's quick card using the Sweet Tooth set from the Sweet Stamp Shop.  I used my Labels One Nesties to cut a white card, added the patterned paper pieces at top and bottom, then stamped the sentiment and added the dashes around the card using a fine point Sharpie.  The candy was embossed in black onto watercolor paper, painted pale orange, fussy cut, and then I covered the entire candy with Glossy Accents.

Here is a close-up of the candy, covered with Glossy Accents.  Doesn't it remind you of butterscotch hard candies? I hope it does...that is the effect I was going for...

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!
Judy

Chandelier Card Set

Hello, friends!  Just wanted to share a card set that I made over the weekend using two of my favorite Hero Arts stamps: Small Chandelier and Classic Fabric Design.

I first made this card with no background stamping; I used clear gems, a black organza bow, and the Martha Stewart "Daisy" border punch.  I know I CASED this card idea but I can't remember who made the card I saw (it was a different chandelier and it was light blue, not pink.).  Sorry about that...I'd like to give credit where credit is due!  (Please let me know if you think I got the idea from YOU!)

After I finished this card, I felt like it needed something more.  I also didn't like the crystal gems...I think they're too big, and I don't have any smaller ones in my stash at the moment. 

For the following cards, I decided to add the Classic Fabric Design background stamp and I used ultra fine glitter on the chandeliers.  I used three different color schemes: Poppy, Punch, and Soft Pool.  (I think I like this style a little better than the above pink card.)

Here they are together...

And here they are individually...

See the glitter?

I didn't add any sentiments to the fronts on purpose...I like to have cards like this on hand for various occasions, then when I need to use them I add the sentiments on the inside.  New house?  Anniversary?  Thank you?  Thinking of you?  Anything goes with cards like these...that's why I love these stamps so much!

By the way...if, by chance, you think I may have CASED your card, please let me know...I'd love to credit you with the idea!!

Have a great day,

Judy

Peace Wreath (LIM Week #33)

Hello, friends!

Just stopping by with a quick post to share a Christmas card I made using a Paper Smooches sentiment with a Hero Arts cling stamp. 

It is a clean and simple card, so I am going to enter it into the current Less Is More Week 33 "1,000 Challenge," where anything clean and simple goes!  Right now it looks like my card will be the 200th submission.  C'mon down and join in the fun...we're going for 1,000!

I think these stamps work perfectly together.  What do you think?

I stamped the Wreath of Leaves repeatedly with three different inks (Soft Leaf shadow ink, Soft Sage shadow ink, Green pigment ink), then added the red and green pearl gems and red lace bow.  The Pretty Phrases sentiment is stamped in black dye ink.  Finally, I rounded the bottom corners.  I love these stamps together!

Thanks for stopping by....have a great day!
Judy

Remembering...and I Love Roo

Hello, friends.  On this, the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, I want to offer up my prayer for peace...peace in the world, peace in the hearts of those affected by this tragedy, and peaceful rest for those who lost their lives on this horrific day ten years ago.  I will never forget that day, where I was, how I felt.  May God bless us all with His peace.

I was able to squeak out a little more crafting time this weekend, and I was able to make a card for the current September SPARKS challenge at Paper Smooches, running from 9/9 through 9/21.

The challenge this time around is to make a card based on element(s) from this inspiration jewelry made by Susan and sold at her Etsy shop HERE. 

I was drawn to the colors (peach, lime, baby blue, cream) as well as the circles and the fun and cute style.  For my card, I cut out a circle using patterned paper and my circle Nesties, then dry embossed the dots with my Cuttlebug.   I stamped and embossed the kangaroo onto watercolor paper and painted, then cut out.  I stamped the "I Love Roo" sentiment repeatedly in peach dye ink onto the cream card, and added the lips using the same color.  I used two of my favorite sets from Paper Smooches:  Pretty Phrases and A Little Lovin.

I am so excited to say that I will be participating in World Card Making Day (on October 1st) for the first time this year...last year I watched from a distance, but this year I am taking the plunge! 

I plan to donate all the cards I make to a worthy cause such as Operation Write Home.  Did you know that Paper Smooches is one of the sponsors of this big event?  Are you planning to participate?  I'm definitely participating and looking forward to it very much!

Have a peaceful Sunday,
Judy

One Layer Wednesday - Welcome Baby

Hello, friends!  I am so happy that I was able to squeak out a little time for crafting in between covering books, decorating journals, filling out forms, and sitting at a soccer game!  It is a beautiful Saturday, hot and sunny, luckily with no rain in sight -- maybe the overflowing rivers and lakes around here will finally start to recede and dry out...what a crazy past few weeks it has been!

I happened to see that the One Layer Wednesday challenges are up and running again after a summer hiatus.  When I saw the topic -- baby cards -- I HAD to join in the fun.  I have been dying to use the new Paper Smooches stamp set (A Little Lovin') since I received it, so that is exactly what I did. 

This is a very simple one layer design; the elephants and sentiment are embossed in black and water-color painted, then I stamped the same sentiment repeatedly with Soft Pool and Baby Pink dye ink.  I embossed the dots up the side with my Cuttlebug, rounded the corners, and voila!

 

Here is a close-up of the sentiments...as the ink dried they became so subtle, almost hard to see!

I have to say that Paper Smooches stamps are quickly becoming a favorite.  Of course, I'll always be a Hero Arts girl at heart, but if you're looking for "cutesie" designs, then Paper Smooches is the way to go! 

Have a great day,

Judy





And They're Off!

Hello, friends!  No cards today...SIGH.  Just wanted to stop by to say hello, share a picture of the kids before their first full day of school, and say I'm SORRY that I haven't been around lately to leave comments on any blogs.  I miss it!

So, the kids went back to school AND I went back to work the same day.  Summer has now come to a crashing halt.  Now we are faced with the usual fall craziness...
*school
*homework
*work
*e-mails
*choir
*soccer (times two)
*field hockey
*piano
*drums
*clarinet
*Girl Scouts
* a bazillion birthday parties!!

Unfortunately card-making and blogging are at the bottom of that list...usually late at night or not at all.  And dinner?  Sigh.  With something scheduled literally every day of the week (and usually scheduled at dinner time) it is so hard to make a real meal.  I'd be THRILLED to never see another chicken nugget again in my lifetime.  (Not likely, however.)

So, my friends, I'll be around when I can to visit and comment.  Maybe I'll even find time to make a card or two.  I've seen some great winning cards out there (Way to go, Jacqueline and Lin!!!) and I cheer for you, just so you know!

Take good care, everyone.  Let the games begin!
Judy