LIM Week 43: A Bit of Bling!

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a very quick post tonight.  I made a one-layer card for the current Less Is More challenge to make a card using...

A BIT OF

I started out with a kraft notecard and stamped scenes from the Hero Arts Greatest Gift clear set, adding highlights with distress inks and gold Stickles.  The star is a clear gem.  The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Very Merry Christmas clear set.

Sorry for the brief post tonight...tons still to do before bed! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Eat Ham! A CAS-ual Fridays Sketch Card

Hello, friends!  As we approach one of my favorite holidays, I wanted to share a card I'll be giving to my mom tomorrow as she hosts thirteen family members for Thanksgiving dinner.  (This is actually a small gathering for her...this year its just me and my brother with our families...there are years when all five of us come with spouses and kids!) 

I made a card following this sketch at the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #29:

I have had this fun turkey stamp from Inkadinkado for several years now and I really like it...I guess I have a goofy sense of humor!  I embossed and watercolor painted him, added some Glossy Accents to his eyes, and added a distress ink border around him before layering and mounting onto a card.  The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Celebrate Everyday clear set, and I used the Designer Woodgrain stamp on the background of the rust layering paper.

Sorry, little dude.  No chance we are eating ham this Thanksgiving.  Better luck next year!

On a grateful note, this year I'm thankful for all the wonderful new friends I have made in my first year of blogging...thank you to my 45 followers and to all those who stop by and comment from time to time.  I do appreciate all of you! 

Happy Thanksgiving!
Judy

Thinking of You Ornaments

Hello, friends!  Here today with another card for the current Hero Arts November challenge.  This time I am following the color scheme they suggest as seen here:

I inked up several Spellbinder 2011 Heirloom ornaments dies in the colors above using distress inks over a white embossed Classic Fabric Design.  Here is the card:

I sprayed the entire card with Perfect Pearls before attaching the ornaments...can you see the shine here?

That does it for today...have a good one!
Judy

Christmas Ornaments with Bling!

Hello, friends!  I am so happy I had some time this weekend to play with my new Spellbinders 2011 Heirloom Ornament dies and lots of Hero Arts stamps...I am going to enter these into the current Hero Arts monthly challenge (see details HERE) since they do have lots of sparkle and bling!

Here are my cards...several variations of the same style card using all Hero Arts stamps, green tinsel embossing powder, distress inks, ribbons, pearls, gems, and Stickles.

Can you see the glittery shine on the embossed pine branch?  I used Stampendous "Green Tinsel" embossing powder and I really like how it turned out against the kraft card stock!

I'm also happy with the subtle music background stamped with distress inks.

This card uses a larger ornament die...

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

Less Is More Week 42 - Silhouettes

Hello, friends!  I could not have been more excited when I saw the current theme for the Less Is More  challenge this week to make a card using a silhouette.  Why?  Because I just received this Hero Arts Greatest Gift stamp set (I won 4 Hero Arts stamps during the Cards That Care blog hop!):

Notice anything?  Hello, silhouettes!  What a great excuse to break them out and make some cards!  So, here is what I came up with for the challenge, using a light blue card, navy embossing powder, a couple of post-it notes for masking, and a bunch of distress inks:

Sorry for the short post today, I have to get to somework that I brought home to be done before Monday.
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Hero Arts 2012 Catalog Preview Party!

Hello, friends!  Did you here the news?  It is time for some previews of the new HERO ARTS 2012 catalog and I can't wait!  It's no secret that Hero Arts is my favorite stamp company ever...I have been buying their catalogs and stamps since the early 2000's and they just keep getting better!

Click HERE to find out the stores in your area that are participating in the catalog preview parties.  Be sure to check out the Hero Arts blog to see how you can pass on the news and have a chance to win prizes, too!

OK, I'm off to make some holiday cards using the new Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament dies I received in the mail the other day.  (Yay me!)   I love being off on Fridays!

Have a great day!
Judy

Peace Out

Hello, friends!  Just sharing a girly card I made with a $1 Studio G stamp I found at Michael's (and my daughters begged me to buy it).  Anyone else have daughters totally obsessed with peace signs? 

Here is the set...

and here is the card I made with it:

I figure my daughter can use it as a birthday card for one of her friends. 

That is, if she doesn't keep it.  After all, it has a peace sign on it.

Hope to be back soon with some more Thanksgiving cards...until then, have a good day!
Judy

Every Leaf Speaks Bliss to Me...

Hello, friends!  I am happy to be participating in the current Less Is More - Week 41 challenge to make a one layer card following the theme of LEAVES. 

I immediately thought of an old leaf stamp in my stash that I rarely use...so happy to break it out and play!  It's a retired Rubber Stampede stamp called Liquid Amber and it looks very realistic.  I paired that stamp along with a retired Inkadinkado Dawn Houser quote stamp entitled "Every Leaf," using lots of different shades of distress inks, misted the leaf with water before stamping, distressed the edges of the card lightly, and added a tiny raffia bow to finish.

I actually made two cards, noting that each time you ink and mist this leaf stamp it comes out different.  (I also stamped some crackle background on the leaf on the right to add some more interest.)  Here they are together:

Be sure to stop by the Less Is More blog to see all the beautiful entries...so much talent over there!



Have a great day,
Judy

Thanksgiving Owls...Whooo's Hungry?

Hello, friends! 

I have two Thanksgiving cards to share today, both using the awesome Thanksgiving Owl-fits set I won from the Sweet Stamp Shop. 

I'll be submitting these into the Paper Crafts November 2011 Gallery Challenge (seen HERE)  where you can post your original Thanksgiving-inspired designs.   Isn't Melvin too cute in that Pilgrim's hat?

For both cards, I embossed Melvin on watercolor paper, painted him, and cut the image with Spellbinders Labels Eight dies.  I inked the edges with distress ink, then layered onto rust card stock.  I stamped the Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain using terra cotta dye ink, then added some white dots/lines with my Inkssentials pen.  I layered Melvin onto two different DCWV "Amber Autumn" patterned cards and adhered raffia bows for a final accent.

Here is the first card...

And here is the second card...

Can you see the embossing on water color paper?

And here is the sentiment on the inside of both cards:

I'm loving this set and can't wait to make more cards with it!  I plan to give these cards to my mom and my mother-in-law this Thanksgiving. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Cards That Care Week - Day Seven...It's a Wrap!

Hello, friends!  Phew, we made it to the final day of my very own "Cards That Care Week!"  I sure had fun sharing all these holiday cards with you...I hope you enjoyed it, too.  I'm guessing you get the idea by now...I think the Cards That Care Card Drive is a great cause and I do hope you will send in some cards.  I mailed in a package of 16 cards yesterday and I feel GOOD!

Now for my final card of the week...another ornament card (and one you may have seen before but never blogged).  I love this Hero Arts Flourish Ornament and the retired "Real Pine" woodblock stamp, and they make for a really pretty one-layer card. 

Nothing fancy going on here, just a straight up Merry Christmas card with a little bit of glitter. 
(Thank heavens for spell check -- I just realized I had written "Marty Christmas."  Good grief!)

So, that wraps up my week of cards for the Cards That Care Card Drive.  I appreciate your visits this week, and I really encourage you to participate.  Thank you for all your support and lovely comments...you are such wonderfully gracious visitors!

Next week I hope to have some fun Thanksgiving cards to share with you...more on the "cutesy" side than formal.  I do hope you enjoy them!

Until then, take good care and thanks for visiting!
Judy

Cards That Care Week - Day Six!

Hello, friends!  I am nearing the end of my "Cards That Care Week" and I thank you for stopping by to check it out.  Tomorrow will wrap it up...I do hope you have had a chance to send in a card or two for the Cards That Care Card Drive ... you have until the end of the month to get them in!

Today's card is not new but has never been blogged.  I do love this Hero Arts Branch and Flourish Tree, especially when it is embossed in white against a color background.  I also love turquoise and red together.  OK, then...add some red Stickles, a Martha Stewart doily lace border punch, and a red gingham bow, and voila!   A simple holiday card!

I didn't add a sentiment to the outside because I liked it's clean, simple look.  I added a holiday sentiment inside, along with my message.

Remember...there is still time to send in some cards that can cheer some nursing home residents this holiday season.  Share your talents and spread some holiday cheer!

Thanks for stopping by...have a good one,
Judy

Cards That Care Week - Day Five!

Hello, friends!  It is day five of my "Cards That Care Week" and I'm hoping that by now you have checked out this awesome card drive HERE.  I think this is such a great idea...even if you just send in one card!  There are prizes to be won, so go check it out!

Today I have two variations on the same card.  (I have made cards like this before...can't help but do it again!)  Using all Hero Arts stamps, I stamped the Large Canvas Stripes in cranberry red dye ink, then embossed the Wreath of Leaves using clear powder and  green pigment ink.  For the first card, I added red gems and a sticker sentiment from SRM Stickers.

For the second card, I stamped a Hero Arts sentiment from the clear design "Laughter and Merriment"set onto cream cardstock, trimmed, and added distress inks to the edges.  I used red pearls instead of sparkly gems on this wreath.

This wreath has so many possibilities!  It is a classic in my book...and so are the canvas stripes.

Tomorrow's card is possibly one you have seen before...it was in my stash of cards from last winter but I included it in the bunch I sent for the current card drive. 

Until then,
Judy

Cards That Care Week - Day Four!

Hello, friends!  I'm here with day four of my very own "Cards That Care Week."  I've sent in all of these cards to the wonderful card drive run by Vera Yates and Jennifer McGuire...be sure to check it out HERE and consider sending in some cards -- there is still time!

Did you happen to see the blog hop prize winner list yesterday?  I was SO excited to see that I was one of the lucky random winners!  Even better...I won four Hero Arts stamps of my choice!   BEST PRIZE EVER!  (Thank you so much, Vera and Jennifer!)

OK, now on to my card.

I have loved this fun little Penny Black Arctic Bus stamp since the day I bought it.  It makes me smile.  These little penguins sure do know how to have fun!  Check out the one in the back...he's going one-handed, for heaven's sakes!  (Livin' on the wild side, for sure!)

I embossed the penguin image in black, water colored the image, then added an SRM Sticker sentiment across the bottom.  I dry embossed the entire card using the Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder, rounded the bottom corners, and added the red ribbon as a final touch.  

I also added some Gelly Roll Stardust Clear glitter pen to the fur of their hats...can you see it?

That does it for today...tomorrow's cards are a bit more traditional. 
Until then...have a good one!
Judy

Cards That Care Week - Day Three!

Hello, friends!  Back again for day three of my very own "Cards That Care Week!"  Today I have two similar cards to share...with one subtle difference between them.

I will also be entering these cards into the current Hero Arts monthly challenge since I blinged it up again with the ultra-fine glitter.  I just can't resist using it... it adds so much punch to a card!

Both cards use the same Hero Arts stamps: retired "Watercolor Poinsettia" and "Season's Greetings Message," Flower Plate cling, along with Shabby Shutters distress ink and Marvy markers.  Here is the first card:

Here is the second card...can you tell the difference?

You've probably figured it out...I inked up the poinsettia stamp with markers, spritzed it with water and stamped it for the first card.  Then, without re-inking, I spritzed it again and re-stamped it on the second card.  That second imprint is much more subtle and soft...I'm not sure which I like better.

Here is a close-up of the glitter on the first card...

Be sure to check back to Vera's blog for the winner list from the blog hop...the winner list is being posted today!

That does it for today...I'll be back tomorrow with a fun little number!
Take care,
Judy

Cards That Care Week - Day Two!

Hello, friends!  I'm back with day two of my very own "Cards That Care Week" in honor of the card drive going on HERE.  Please go check it out if you haven't already!

Today's card has lots of sparkle and shine..."bling" if you will.  I will be entering this card into the November Hero Arts challenge described HERE. 

The main image is the retired Hero Arts "Singing Angel" which I colored with colored pencils and then added ultra-fine glitter to the dress, wings and halo.  I stamped the Hero Arts Music Background using Shabby Shutters distress ink and added the simple sentiment from a $1 Studio G stamp set.  Finally, I border punched the edge of the card and added some strips of patterned paper.

Here is a close-up of the bling:

I hope whoever receives this card will like the sparkle and shine...it is much prettier in person than in pictures! 

Thanks for stopping by for day two...hope to see you again tomorrow!

Take care,
Judy

Cards That Care Week - Day One!

Hello, friends!  Thanks to all those who stopped by this weekend for the Cards That Care Blog Hop...it was loads of fun, wasn't it?  So much inspiration and talent out there, and it is so wonderful to see such talent being shared with those who could use a smile this holiday season.  You can find my blog hop post HERE.

In honor of the Cards That Care Card Drive, I decided to have my own special week entitled "Cards That Care Week!"  Every day this week I will share cards that I will be sending in for the card drive.  Details on the card drive can be found HERE...remember, all cards need to be received by November 30th. 

So, on to my first card this week.  I was inspired by the current Paper Crafts Holiday Cards & More, Volume 6 in which I spotted several holiday cards using typewriters.  That got me thinking...I have my trusty Hero Arts typewriter cling, and I also have some great SRM Holiday Stickers that look like type.  Here is what I put together using those items along with some patterned paper and a sweet Daisy Flourish embossing folder:

I am looking forward to sharing holiday cards with you all week...I do hope you'll stop by!

Thanks for visiting...have a good day!
Judy

Cards That Care Blog Hop

Hello, friends! 
Welcome to the Cards that Care Blog Hop! 

Hopefully you are stopping by after visiting the talented Stephanie Muzzulin's blog.  If you are stopping by mid-hop, feel free to start at the beginning with Vera Yates and go from there...you will find a complete list of blog hop participants there. 

Did you know that there are lots of prizes being offered?  These companies generously offer prizes for the hop: Lawn Fawn, May Arts, Penny Black, Sweet Stamps Shop, Avocado Arts, Hero Arts, Mami Doodles, The Craft's Meow, Jennifer McGuire's OnlineCardClasses, & Monica Wright"s print "I Love It All." 

Check out Vera's blog HERE for more details on the prizes.  Winners will be chosen randomly from comments left on participants blog; the more blogs you leave comments on the better your chances of winning!  You have the whole weekend to leave comments (until Sunday, 11/6/11 midnight CST).  Good luck!

So, now for my cards.  I made two styles, and I made two of each...I figured I might as well since I had out all of the supplies!

First up: My "Christmas Chick" card.  I stamped the Hero Arts Flourish Background using Soft Pool shadow ink and added glitter highlights with a Gelly Roll Clear Stardust glitter pen.  I stamped "Chick St. Nick" (by Stampendous from their Calendar Collection) onto watercolor paper and painted him, adding glitter to his hat and the ground.  One one of the cards I added a blue gem for the bauble, while I used Glossy Accents for the other one.  The sentiment is from the clear design Hero Arts "Laughter & Merriment" set.

Next Up:  My "Ornament and Branch" card.  I am really happy with this card and can see myself making these in bulk...not hard at all!  I stamped the Hero Arts "Real Pine" woodblock stamp using Grass chalk ink and added some brown highlights with colored pencil.  I stamped the Hero Arts Flourish Ornament onto two different red patterned papers, added highlights with the Gelly Roll Stardust Clear Glitter Pen, then cut out and mounted with a pop dot.  Finally, I tied a jute bow and adhered with a glue dot.   The Paper Smooches Pretty Phrases sentiment, although not necessarily a Christmas sentiment, makes it appropriate no matter what holiday you celebrate during the holiday season. 

Be sure to send in a few cards to bring some holiday joy and cheer to nursing home residents this holiday season.  I will definitely be sending these cards in, along with a few more.  Mailing details are at Vera's blog HERE...I do hope you will join me!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Next stop in the hop...ANNIE LUNG !!! 

Have fun hopping, my friends!
Judy