A Little Break

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

This Blogger app will be undergoing a major change very soon and I just am not able to learn all of the new intricacies right now. I also need to sharpen my photographing skills. In addition, I need to give some time to some other activities (including some card and jewelry making!) so I will be taking a break from this blog. It is fun and sharing ideas and entering challenges is good for creativity, but right now other things are calling.

Before going I want to share with you a card I made using Lawn Fawn's "Pivot Pup-Up" die, a Hero Arts background stamp and a favorite stamp set from Ellen Hutson. I love this so much!

My church has a rich Japanese heritage so I like to make Asian-inspired cards and I always love combining just the right product from more than one company (although that isn't possible when entering many challenges).

For this card I gold heat-embossed the beautiful background stamp from Hero Arts on the card front. I added serval layers of a "hello" die cut. Then, on the inside I used some beautiful origami paper from my local paper store. The Lawn Fawn die created the amazing pop-up element which was colored by ink-blending Distress Oxide Inks from Tim Holtz. The adorable girls were stamped, colored with Copic markers, die cut and detailed with some paper-piecing from origami paper. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts stamp set.

Products Used:
Avery Elle "Simply Said Hello" die (retired)
Ellen Hutson ""So Macha" stamps and dies by Julie Ebersole
Hero Arts "Kittens in Kimonos" stamps and dies and "Parasol Pattern Bold Print" stamp
Lawn Fawn "Pivot Pop-Up" die

Thanks so much for the visit! Stay well and keep crafting,

My All-Time Fav!

Hi, Bloggin' buddies!

I have a pile of floral dies but, to be honest, I don't use many of them. Of all that I have I must say that this Hollyhock Die is my very favorite and the one I reach for most often. And I don't believe that I've ever actually seen hollyhocks growing!

This die is so versatile! I've used it with watercolor (as I have here, using Distress Inks), as a silhouette against a rich background, colored with markers or pencils, or paper-pieced with cardstock. Love, love, love!

This time I used it on a piece of watercolor paper. I "smooched" some Worn Lipstick and Pickled Raspberry Distress Ink pads and did some loose watercoloring. I love this look.

This is a side-folding card, which is something I never do but I wanted to try it. The great sentiment from Lindsay Ostrom is heat-embossed and some sparkly twine finishes it off.

Impression Obsession Products Used:
Live in the Sunshine D19178
Hollyhocks Die169-R

This is going to the current challenge at the Impression Obsession Blog, "Summer Flowers".

Thanks for the visit and don't forget to smell the flowers!

Barefoot in the Flowers!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have always loved this "Flip Flops #Die183-L" die from Impression Obsession. I reach for it for summer and tropical cards. The flip-flops are so realistic! In this case I cut three layers of the shapes and stacked them for lots of dimension.

To make this card I reached into my flower stash - some die-cut, some embellishments, some stamped. I have been studying the cards that my friend Sandy has sent me - she is a whiz with flowers and arranging them. I, however, am NOT! But, I created a summer garden just perfect for kicking off the old flip flops and romping!

I added a printed sentiment strip.

This is headed for the current challenge at the Impression Obsession blog, "Summer Flowers".

Thanks for the visit and enjoy the fragrant gifts of summer,

He loves me, he loves me not........

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today's card features one of the uniquely amazing pixel floral stamps designed for Impression Obsession by Dina Kowal. This is the Pixel Daisy #CC420", but there are several and they all are terrific! They are oversize (5.75 inches square) and versatile and the images are breathtaking.

I stamped the daisy in my MIST with several colors of Distress Oxide Ink, blending the edges with my finger between colors. It is so beautiful that I hated to cover any of it up, so I chose a very delicate die-cut word that I stacked for extra dimension.

This is headed to the current challenge on the Impression Obsession Blog, "Summer Flowers".

Thanks, as always for the visit and stay well,

Rainbow Bird

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
Continuing on my Paper Smooches rainbow theme, I thought that this bird would be very appropriate, as he is in his rainbow finery - ha! The background is a collection of hearts stamped with Distress Oxides. I have used 3 paper Smooches sets as listed below. I added a Googly
Eye and a rainbow-colored ribbon.

Paper Smooches Products Used:
My Peeps
Sweet Hearts
Quotables

This is headed to the current challenge of the paper Smooches Blog, "Rainbows".

Thanks for the visit and look for the sunny side,

Pastel Rainbow

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have another rainbow card today featuring a pastel rainbow and several Paper Smooches products.  I used some of my old favorites and my newest, the Geo-frame.

Paper Smooches Products Used:
Geoframe Die
Spreading Sunshine Stamps
Rainbow Die
Curly Clouds Dies

I love those clouds and use them frequently! I raised the center piece for some dimension and used Copic markers and Wink of Stella.

This is headed for the current challenge on the Paper Smooches Blog which is "Rainbows".

What is great is that I really love this card and it is NOTHING I would have made without the prompt from the challenge. So fun!

Thanks so much for dropping by. Stay well and happy,

Rustic Roundup

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I'm here today with another stamp from Art Impressions, Antiques Window. I bought this stamp because I love the graphics. It is a much different style than the crazy people stamps I usually use. I must be honest with you, I am so intimidated by watercoloring! I've taken classes, watched many videos by Art Impressions' own fabulous artist, Bonnie Krebs and I have ALL the necessary supplies. Still, I struggle.

This time I tried stamping it on several different watercolor papers and using different paints and I wasn't happy. Then I tried black heat embossing it on Canson watercolor paper (the smooths side) and I used my Zig Clean Color Markers (which are actually more brush than marker). Happy gal, here!

It is far from perfect, but it is the best I've ever done! In keeping with the current challenge, "Rustic Roundup" I've used it for a patriotic card design. I used some woodgrain cardstock and distressed the edges for a more rustic look and I added twine and embellishments that couldn't be more patriotic.

Thanks for the visit. God Bless America.

Rainbow Time

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
I have shared with you that I have been with Hero Arts since it started and I can say the same with another of my favorite companies, Paper Smooches. I've been a fan and customer since Kim opened shop and I loved her work when she was with Cornish Heritage Farms (I still have some of those sets!). Her critters are especially cute and I've always loved her lettering style.

The current challenge on the bloghttps://papersmooches.blogspot.com is "Rainbows".

For this card I used several of my Paper Smooches favorites and some perfect patterned paper. I added some Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents for some extra fun and I heat-embossed the sentiment to give it some pop.

Paper Smooches Products Used:
Chubby Chums (love these guys!)
Pretty Phrases
Geo-Graphic
Rainbow Die

Thanks for the visit and you have until July 14th to play along. Stay well and crafty,

This is probably IT!

Hi, Bloggin' buddies!

As you may know I've been walking down memory lane using some of my oldest and dearest Hero Arts stamps. Since I've been a fan for 45 - now it's 46! - years, I have lots of oldies. I believe that this may be my oldest. It still sits right out on the shelf in my craft room because I love this image and I use it frequently on envelopes.

This wood stamp is dated 1989 and has the coolest logo. It is so small and worn that I can't share that with you but know that it warms my heart. Seriously, look at that face! I have coupled this with a background from 2011 and a new stamp from this year for a fun envelope.

Hero Arts Products Used:

"Official Stuff" 1989

"Magical Background #CG211" 2011

"Hero Greetings Limited Edition 3x4" 2020

This is my last entry into the current challenge at "A Blog Named Hero" called "Combine Old & New".

Thanks for the visit and stay safe,

Another OLD Favorite!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
I continue to have fun going through some of my old treasured stamps from Hero Arts. Since I have been with them since they started 45 years ago, I have some real "old friends". Although I have moved several times over the years requiring me to make some tough decisions about my "stuff", I have several oldies that I've kept and treasured.

For this card I used a Hero Arts stamp from 2004 called "Garden Daisy". The style reminds me of the "flower child" days of the 1960's and I still love it. I used it for a very loose watercolored background for which I used Zig Clean Color Markers. It is paired with one of my very newest stamps, the "Florals Rose Stem #CM260". While I am not a fan of coloring large floral images this set was used in a class I took several months ago and I found that I enjoyed it so I bought and like it. This time I used a combination of Distress Inks, Zigs and colored pencils for the coloring.

This card will be going to my 100-year old Aunt who loves yellow! I am also submitting it to the current challenge at "A Blog Named Hero" which is "Combine Old & New". 

Thanks for the visit and be nice to your elders!

Happy Birthday America!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

To all my American friends, Happy 4th of July! This is one we won't seen forget. It is good that we have a history of being a strong country.

I want to share with you one of the July 4th cards that I made this year. For this one I used Distress Oxide Inks with a favorite design from the Tim Holtz "Blueprint" series. With my background in architecture these have always had a special place in my heart.

This is simple but I think it carries a big impact.

Wishing you nothing but the best! Stay safe and thanks for the visit,

Oldie But Goodie (& I don't just mean ME!)

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
I am having such fun going through all of my older Hero Arts stamps for the current challenge at "A Blog Named Hero". It is "Combine Old & New".

For today's card I am using a well-worn wood stamp from 2002 called "A Real Daisy #C2624"

I don't keep many wood stamps because of storage limitations but this is a classic and it never lets me down. I stamped it in layers of Distress Oxide Inks in shades of pink and added some mist and splatters. This became the background for a cute image from one of my newest sets, "Kittens in Kimonos #CM443".

Although I am not a big cat person, I love Asian style cards and I make many for folks in my church which was founded by Issei (the first generation of Japanese immigrants).

I added a sweet sentiment from the set and a couple of small strips of gold cardstock. I am just delighted with the results and appreciate that the challenge caused me to think outside the box.

Thanks for the visit! Stay safe and keep crafty,

Let's Start the Parade!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!
Now that my July 4th cards have been delivered I can share some of them with you. Today's card is headed for the current challenge at "A Blog Named Hero" which is "Combine the Old and New".

I have been a fan and customer of Hero Arts since they started 45 years ago. While this stamp is older (2011) it isn't my oldest. I have loved this silhouette stamp and used it so often. Today I used it for Fourth of July, but I decided that there should be a flag at the start of the parade. So I drew one in! That is the "new" element to this old stamp!

The oval background is done with direct ink to paper by drawing the Distress Oxide Ink pads across some Bristol cardstock. I added some patterned paper and a sentiment strip which is heat-embossed with silver.

Hero Arts Products Used:

Parade G5469

All occasion Messages CL272

Wishing you a wonderful day and a lovely and safe holiday. Thanks for the visit,

Sparkly Cupcake

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Sometime I ago I was going through some things (during the first waive of SIP) and I found my embroidery bag. I haven't embroidered in probably 30 years, but (of course!) I've kept all my stuff. In fact, my little "How To" book was published in 1957!

Today I put it all to use, along with some sequins (from my card making stash), some seed beads (from my jewelry making stash), a scrap of ribbon, some buttons and a stamp. The result is this fun cupcake hanging ornament.

My embroidery is rough, but it got better as the project proceeded. I had some hand surgery in January so I need to be cautious of too much repetitive movements, but I had fun with this.

The stamp I used is Impression Obsession's "More Than Cupcakes" #B14643.  I was surprised how well it stamped on the felt (I used Versafine Onyx Black) and it didn't smear as I manipulated it for sewing.

This is headed to the current Impression Obsession challenge, "Birthday Wishes".

Hope you are staying well and having a good one. Thanks for the visit.

Smile!!!

Even though we may not see it behind your mask!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Well, in case you were thinking that all I have are older stamps (I just can't let them go!) today's card is from my newest set from Art Impressions, "Be Happy Laugh Lines" #5279. This Granny lady cracks me up. She hits close to home, too - ha!

I decided to make a "Twisted Easel" card, something I haven't done in years. They are fun, easy and display the image so well. I selected an appropriate Granny-designed paper from my stash, colored the image with Copics and fussy cut her. I added Distress Ink, Glossy Accents and some tiny buttons (don't all Grannys have a button box?!).

This will be final entry (I can't seem to stop!) in the Art Impressions "Make Me Laugh" challenge.

Hope you are having a great week - call your Granny and make her smile (if you are so blessed to have one). Thanks for the visit,