Thinking of You Roses and Hero Arts News

Hello, friends!  Wow, I'm still so happy about my day yesterday...still smiling!  Today I decided to make a card for the current CASE Study Challenge #50.  Check out this beautiful inspiration by Dawn Woleslagle:

I was immediately drawn to the lovely roses and the soft colors she chose...so pretty!  I made my card using a rose stamp by Inkadinkado and a sentiment by Hero Arts; I inked the rose with Marvy markers, spritzed with water, and stamped.  The border was made with a Martha Stewart Lace Doily punch.  My roses are not as crisp as Dawn's but I do like the muted water-color effect. 

Materials Used:  Markers: Marvy LePlume No. 4 Green, No. 57 Rose Pink. Stamps: rose by Inkadinkado (92219*X), sentiment from Hero Arts "Sending Smiles Messages" (CL490). Tools: Martha Stewart "Lace Doily" border punch; Crop-A-Dile corner rounder.

So, on to another topic.  Many of you know that Hero Arts is my favorite all-time stamp company in the world, right?   Have you heard about their new incentive program?  Here is what they posted at their blog the other day (click HERE for the direct link):

If you are published in a magazine using currently available Hero Arts stamps, we want to reward you. Here’s how!
 Simply let us know by sending a scan of the printed magazine page to jennifer@heroarts.com. Based on how prominent the Hero Arts product is, you will receive a bonus:

• For the first four publications, you will receive free Hero Arts product of your choice based on the value as determined by Hero Arts.

• After that, you will receive a monetary bonus! If the project features a bit of Hero Arts (sentiment only, for example) the value is $10. If the card is on the cover, you get $100. All other cards fall in between these values and will be determined by Hero Arts, with a typical card earning between $25-$50.

Is that awesome or WHAT?  I'm not actively trying to get cards published at this point, but you can be sure I'll be using my Hero Arts stamps if I ever do!  Really cool stuff right there.  What an awesome company.

OK, off to pick out paint for my bedroom...we're updating after 14 years!
Have a great day,
Judy

My Lucky Day!

Hello, friends!  I just had to make a quick post about the lucky day I have been having today...I think maybe I should go buy some lottery tickets 'cause I'm on a ROLL!

First, I woke up to find out that my You Make Me Smile circles card for the Less Is More challenge was spotted by Cath at the Moxie Fab World blog.  WOW, what an honor!  (Thanks to Lin, Annette, Tracey and Virginia for giving me the heads up!)

Next, I reached 35 followers today...what is it about those multiples of 5 that are so important to me?  All I know is that I'm thrilled to have such wonderful followers in my first seven months of blogging!  You ladies ROCK!

Finally, after dinner I logged on again and found out that my circles challenge card (mentioned above) was ShowCASed at Less Is More.  Wow, another first for me!  Here is the banner I can add to my sidebar:

Well, it just doesn't get much better than this.  What a great day!  I shared the news with my family, but I know they don't "get it" the way all of you would...that's why I HAD to share!

Thanks to ALL OF YOU because you have been so faithful and wonderful in your comments and encouragement.  As I said before, you ALL ROCK!

Have a great night...and thanks again!
Judy

A Fun Find

Hello, friends!  I am SO excited to share a stamp set I found the other day in the clearance bin at Michael's...doesn't your heart race a little bit when you see those red tags on stamp sets?

Anyway, I came across this set of stamps by Sandylion.  I associate this company with stickers, but I was drawn to these sweet images...aren't they perfect for paper piecing?  So much open space in each image!

So, I decided that I would play with my new toy today.  I took out my bag of patterned paper scraps and began stamping my heart out.  Then I cut out everything I stamped and went around the edge of each image with a black marker.  (I like to have pre-cut images available for those times when I need to make a quick card...do you ever do that?)  Here is what I wound up with after all my stamping and cutting:

I'll give you a close-up look at each of the images...I especially love the sheep on the dotted embossed scrap (on the left).

Aren't they fun?  I put most of them aside for another day, but I did play with the sweet little ducks.  I used my Hero Arts stamps to add the sentiment, the clouds, and some of the designs on the ducks.  I found some "water" patterned paper in my stash and cut it into a wavy pattern by hand.  I added black glossy accents to the ducks' eyes and rounded the bottom corners.  Here is the really quick card I put together:

What a great feeling it is to find a really good bargain AND use up some of my scraps of paper!

I hope you are having a good day...I know I am!  I'm off to check out a few blog hops that are going on (check out my sidebar for direct links). 

Thanks for stopping by...I do appreciate it!

Judy





Happy Retirement, Auntie!

Hello, friends!  Today I want to share a card I made for my husband's aunt (and god-mother) as she retires this Friday after working at her job for 33 years!  She is a wonderful woman and a spectacular aunt...I feel as if she is MY aunt and I have felt that way ever since I met her 25 years ago.  She is a classy lady, super intelligent, witty, and sweet as honey.  What a great role model for all of us!  

This card has more layers than I usually use, but I had to revise my original design after I smudged some ink.  (Hate it when that happens!)  I was inspired by a card by Mary Dawn Quirindongo in the current issue of Stamp It! Cards Volume 8; her card is titled, "Seriously?" and can be found on page 78...for some reason I can't find a direct link to it. 

Quick sidebar:  Have you SEEN this magazine, by the way?  Oh...my...GOSH!  I look at it every day and I think I have earmarked every page!  Endless inspiration, I tell ya!

Anyway, back to my card.  Here is what I finished up with after the dust settled and my original plan was revamped:

Materials Used:  Hero Arts stamps: (CL156) Treasure the Moments, (CG206) Little Stencil Flower, paper: CratePaper Emma Shoppe collection, resin flowers: Pink lotus Blooms Whimsies, Martha Stewart border punch, corner rounder, pop dots, red lace ribbon, Hero Arts punch chalk ink.

Here is a close-up of the dimension of this card...pop dots, resin flowers, lace bow...definitely would need a special mailer, it is so thick!  (Good thing we hand-delivered this baby along with a gift!)

So, here's to you, Auntie.  Enjoy retirement...you have certainly earned it!
Have a good one,
Judy

Always Time for Friendship - PDCC#91

Hello, friends!  I made today's card with two challenges in mind: the current Lucy's Lovely Lines Challenge at Lily Pad Cards blog and the Play Date Cafe Color Splash to make a black and white card with a small splash of one color.  Here's the sketch and the color inspiration:

For my card, I used my Hero Arts Blossom Art set to repeatedly stamp the flower.  I also stamped it onto yellow gingham paper and cut it out to cover one of the flowers.  The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Live Life clear set.  I finished each of the corners with a Marvy notched corner punch. 

Here is a close-up of the button and ribbon on the paper-pieced flower...I colored in each small circle with a fine tip black Sharpie, then added a dot of white with my Inkssentials pen. 

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

Less Is More - Buttons and Ribbon

Hello, friends!  I took a few minutes on this extremely hot evening to make a card for the current Less Is More challenge...it is Week 25 and the fourth week in their rotation of challenges, so once more it's the turn for a recipe and this week it's a BUTTON OR RIBBON.  (Just remember to keep things Clean and Simple and just because you're allowed to use embellishments, don't forget the white space!  I've done that before...oops!)

I used my Labels Eight Nestabilities dies to cut a white card.  I stamped the Hero Arts Bicycle using Grass chalk ink, and added little buttons from my stash to the wheels.  I glued American Crafts ribbon to a strip of light blue card stock and used a Martha Stewart "Doily Lace" border punch on the edge; I attached this under the bicycle image.  Finally, I added faux stitches around the card using pastel blue and green colored pencils.  Here is how it turned out:

 
I have had these little buttons for years...I bought them at my local craft store and only have pink and blue left.  They are so tiny and cute!

So, that's it for today. 

Side bar...we hit 103 degrees yesterday and today with high humidity and a heat index of 110!  So what did we do today?  Two of my kids had plans (one had a day trip to the beach and another went to a baseball game), so the other two decided they wanted to go get their school supplies for the fall. 

Mamma-who-loves-summer-vacation-says-WHAT?!?! 

So that is what we did...off to Target and Staples, and they had all their school supplies out and on sale.  Uugh!  I'm not ready to wrap my mind around SCHOOL quite yet...but both stores were well air conditioned, so THAT was good.  Actually, I was glad we put a dent in our list for September because we have a trip planned in late August and won't be here to shop.

Funny observation: My daughter shopped for folders as if they were accessories...she agonized over which patterns and colors to get, then quizzed me for an hour when we got home to see which one was my favorite.  My son picked his folders within seconds.  "These are good."  Done. (And no follow-up quiz, either.)  Funny, how different girls and boys can be.

Have a great night...stay cool!
Judy

P.S.: Congratulations to Cadel Evans, winner of the Tour de France!  It all wraps up tomorrow...LOVE watching and hate to see it end!

 

 

You Make Me Smile - LIM#24 Circles

Hello, friends!  Today's card is for the current challenge at Less Is More.  We were challenged to make a card with CIRCLES (note that the card has to have more than one circle, white space, and the CAS feel).

I made this very simple card using a white card base and two Hero Arts stamps: retired Spiral Border and Clear Design Thinking of You Messages.  I colored the Spiral Border stamp with Marvy markers, spritzed with water, then stamped.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a few extra dots and circles of my own with markers to finish it off.  I rounded the bottom corners, and VOILA! 

I don't play with this retired stamp very often anymore, but it always comes to mind when challenges call for circles.  I'm happy I was able to use it for this challenge!

Thanks for stopping by...stay cool!
Judy

You're so...Sweet!

Hello, friends!  Well, I was able to make a second card for the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #11 to make a clean and simple project using a sweet or a treat. (Feel free to scroll down to yesterday's post to see the first card I made).

This time I made a one-layer birthday card using the sentiment and small cupcake from the Inkadinado Birthday Cupcake set, colored pencils, a corner rounder, and a swirly embossing folder. 

I added a red pearl as the cherry...here is a close-up:

I hope you are all having a great day...I have to say I am REALLY enjoying this summer!  I love being off with my kids...what a gift that is every summer.

Have a great day!
Judy

Sweet Wonderful You - CFC#11

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a card I made for the current CAS-usal Fridays Challenge #11: Sweets and Treats.  The challenge is to create a Clean And Simple project using a sweet or a treat...

I made this card using some lovely patterned paper from the My Minds Eye Happy Go Lucky Lime Twist paper pad and a sweet little Hero Arts Donuts stamp.  The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Sweet Wonderful You set. 

I embossed the donut image in black, colored it with Marvy markers, cut it out and added glitter to the icing for some fun.  I popped it up with foam tape...here is a close-up:

I'm hoping to make another card for this challenge and post it tomorrow.  Until then, off to watch the Tour de France!  (A tradition my DH and I have done for many years now...LOVE it!!)

Have a good one,
Judy

CPS #226

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a card I made for the current Card Positioning System Challenge #226.  Here is the sketch:

I

For my card, I used some pretty patterned papers from My Minds Eye Happy Go Lucky 6x6 Paper Pad Lime Twist Collection, a prize I received a while back from sweet Tiffany.  I embossed the Hero Arts My Type typewriter and stamped the sentiment in Hero Arts Grass chalk ink.  I cut the inner circle with a Nestabilities circle, while the outer circle was traced and cut out by hand. 

This card is a bit outside my comfort zone.  (So many layers!  Aaaggh!)  But I am happy to stretch outside my comfort zone...I hope I'm learning as I go.

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

Thank you, Beverly!

Helo, friends!  Just stopping by to share a card I made to say thank you to Beverly at Classy Cards 'n Such for the wonderful blog prize candy she recently sent me.  Have you seen this blog yet?  I am so happy I came upon it...and what a great store they have, too!  Check it out here: Classy Cards 'n Such.  If you are interested in any of the goodies she sent me, you can find them in the store.  Here is what she sent me:

I used the Daisy Flourish embossing folder (LOVE it!!) on a blue card with a white core, then sanded over it to reveal the white. (This embossing folder worked just fine in my Cuttlebug, by the way!)  I added the blue green baby rhinestones to the embossed flower centers and a black rhinestone to the center of my butterfly.  The butterfly and sentiment are both Hero Arts images embossed in black.  Here is the card I sent Beverly to say thanks for my goodies:

  
If you haven't been there yet, be sure to check out Classy Cards 'n Such ...their store is having a sale on embossing folders like the one I've used here. 

Embossing Folders
15% off through July 15th

Enter code EF15 at checkout

Thanks for stopping by...and thanks again, Beverly!
Judy

Penny Black "Circle Cards"

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a quick card I made for this week's Penny Black challenge to make a circle card.  I'm still playing with my new go-to stamp, To Cake Moment.  This little hedgie is SO CUTE!!!

I used my circle Nesties to make the circles for the card.  The background paper is some lovely patterned paper I received from Tiffany and I love both sides of it...I used a smaller circle on the inside of the card using the reverse side of the paper seen in the front.  So pretty! 

After I made the simple circle card, I decided it needed something more...so I added the Hero Arts Birthday Messages sentiment in a Write Your Message word bubble and popped it up for some dimension.  A circle on a circle...how clever of me!  ;)

OK, off to make some more cards!  Have a great day!
Judy

My "Desert Island" Penny Black Stamps...

Hello, friends! 

A few posts back I mentioned the fact that I bought a bunch of new stamps at Two Peas in a Bucket and some were at great sale prices.  Well, one of the stamps I bought was an irresistable Penny Black stamp called "Cake Time" and I think this critter has just become one of my favorites!  I think if I were to be stranded on a desert island, I'd want this little fella with me!

So, as soon as it arrived I stamped this baby onto two separate cards, embossed in black, and painted with water color paints.  I added the Hero Arts Clouds backgound and two different birthday sentiments (Studio G and Hero Arts) and I think I have my next go-to birthday card design!  I may make these in bulk for all the kids' birthday parties we go to...perfect for boy or girl! 

I honestly don't have too many Penny Black stamps, but the ones I have are among my favorites.  I also have the Penny Black Arctic Bus stamp and I LOVE making Christmas thank you cards with it!  (This could be considered my "desert island" Christmas stamp, if you will!)  Here are two cards I made a while ago using these cute penguins...

Nothin' like Christmas in July!

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

Playing with some new stamps...

Hello, friends!  Happy first day of July!!

Just stopping by with a card I made using a new stamp I got in a recent purchase from Two Peas in a Bucket...I have always wanted this little house (Hero Arts Home with Flourish) and I think I paid $3 for it on clearance sale!

This quick card used some lovely paper I won from Tiffany (thanks again...LOVE it!!) as well as a Hero Arts punch notecard.  I stamped the house image with Poppy chalk in and used a Spellbinders deckled rectangle die to cut it out; I distressed the edges and added a heart gem above the door.  The sentiment is from Hampton Arts "Studio G" stamped in Punch chalk ink; the rectangle is popped up for some dimension.

Now I just need to find someone who is moving into a new house and we're all set!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy