Craizer then a......

Fox!

Today I am sharing a fun birthday card that I made for the Hero Arts "Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero" challenge for February which is "Animal Crackers". I have been a loyal fan and customer for Hero Arts since the very beginning (yes, I am old!) and I always will be. This crazy celebrating fox is from the Party Fox Stamp and Cut set. I am very into infinity shakers at the moment and I think that this guy is perfect for one.

Thanks for the visit! Hope that you play along.

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,

Lick It!

Hi, bloggin' Buddies!

I used this Hero Arts stamp set the other day and I just couldn't put that sweet face way without making another summertime card. Too cute, eh?

The set is "Life of the Party" from 2011. I also used the "Life of the Party Words" background stamp. Fun, cool and simple! I added a little pom-pon to his hat, some pearls and a small bow to compete the look.

I am sending this off to the challenge at A Blog Named Hero - "Summertime Fun". I'd love to keep playing, but we are packing up and heading on a little summertime fun adventure later today, so I wish you a wonderful week filled with lots of summertime fun!

Thanks for the visit,

Give Me a Hand!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Finding a little time to craft again today - summer is such a fun and busy time! Yesterday I kind of told you my history with Hero Arts and the older classic stamps that I cherish. Well, I am also crazy about all the new layering sets. They make getting great dimension on our cards an easy task (most of the time!).

I am a big fan of the ocean, so this Color Layering Octopus (CM 104) is a favorite of mine and just perfect to reflect summertime fun. I don't often make shaker cards, but I did today. I added some Pearl Pen for a shiny eye and some Wink of Stella for sparkle.

This is headed to the current challenge at A Blog Named Hero - "Summertime Fun" . You have time to play along and celebrate summer.

Thanks so much for the visit,

I Scream!

Hi, Blogging Buddies!

Summer has seriously hit here and I can't stop thinking about the current challenge at "A Blog Named Hero". Now, I've been making cards since the late 1960's (no, I'm really not too old - I was in high school then!). I actually used office stamps ("fragile" "post-dated", etc.) to create fun backgrounds and a few rubber stamps from some small "underground" companies that I hunted in the San Francisco Bay Area.

But it wasn't until Hero Arts came about (in 1974) that I really understood quality stamps and what all that could be done. I loved that it was a Bay Area company and their designers were top-notch. I became an advocate, and I still am. While I typically cycle through my stamp sets from year to year, there are some older Hero Arts wood stamps and sets with which I will NEVER part.

This is one of them - it's not that old - from 2011. But, who couldn't love the theme (ice cream) and that adorable smile and cute hat????? I bet I've used it 100 times! I've taught classes  and crafted with kids using it, too. It gives a smile to everybody! This is called "Life of the Party" - perfect, eh?

I stamped it, heat embossed the cone, used some festive paper and added some vintage elements - the crepe paper was found at an estate sale (it is actually a bit yellowed) and the rick-rack was among some of my Mom's old sewing stuff. I added the sweet rose cheeks and some rhinestones and it is a party in itself!

So, yes, this is headed to the "A Blog Named Hero" challenge, which is "Summertime Fun". I hope you have lots of fun (and some ice cream, too!)

Thanks for the sweet visit,

Summertime Fun!

Hello and Happy Summer, Bloggin' Buddies!

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. Life happens! What can I say? But summer has hit, and hit hot where I am! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the season.

Here is a card I made awhile ago featuring the Hero Arts Layering Bird stamp and die set. Of all of these sets that I have used to date, this one is the easiest to line up! I tried a funky  summer color combo and I like it.

I lifted him with dimensional and embellished him with punched flowers, leaves, twine and some sparkly sequins. The cardstock is some cool woodgrain paper from one of my favorite stores, the paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento, CA.

I am submitting this to A Blog Named Hero's current challenge, Summertime Fun.

Thanks for the visit and have a safe and happy summer,

An Old Hero

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I was just delighted to spend time this weekend with an old friend, and a "Hero" at that.! I bought this Hero Arts "Large Bloom" stamp in 2011 and it has been a loyal friend ever since. It's great with so many different techniques and the image is timeless. Others must think so, too, because it still shows up on the Hero store website.

I used the emboss resist technique with Distress Inks to make this to use as a Mother's Day for my elderly Aunt, so I wanted a very traditional look. The pear embossing powder adds a nice glow. I added some classic embellishments from my stash.

I'm sharing this card today on "A Blog Named Hero's" current challenge - Put a Flower On It. You are welcome to play along until May 10th.

Thanks for the visit. Have a glorious week,

SaveSave

My Hero (Arts)

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Hero Arts, in my native San Francisco Bay Area, is the first official stamp company that I used as a source of stamps and inspiration. I started stamping in the late 1960's when there were really not many main-stream stamp companies, so I used old office and business stamps in creative ways for my cards.

But, then I found Hero Arts and I was delighted. I  have such a wonderful history with this fine company. Not only is it creative, it is environmentally friendly and their products are made in America. I'm currently crazy about all the layering stamps sets - I think I own them all.

I have purchased, traded, borrowed and bought so many Hero Arts products over the years. Even though I periodically go through my stamps to purge and update (especially wood-mounted stamps for storage issues and because I'm a MISTI user) there are some Hero Arts stamps that I will keep forever. And, even though I am not really a "flower person", this (Sillhouette Flower CG105, cling) is one of those stamps. I like it because it is so versatile - there are many techniques that work well with it. In addition, it can be used for many different occasions. I added some Nuvo Drops to the centers of the flowers. Simple, yet unique.

I plan to enter this into the "A Blog Named Hero" current challenge, which is "Use your favorite Hero Arts product". That is a tough one, as there have been so many over the years.

Thanks to Hero Arts and thanks to your for the visit,

Spring into Simple

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have made some progress on working with my new computer operating system and photo program, but I have lost so many of my favorite settings and abilities. All in good time - I consider this an opportunity to exercise my old brain.

This is a little card that screams Spring. I pulled out some old favorites, Hero Arts' Newspaper Tulips (K5576). I used the "brushless water color technique" where the color is added directly to the stamp with Distress Markers, misted with water and stamped. Love the soft look.

Since this is as close to "clean and simple" as I get, I am entering it into A Blog Named Hero's Clean and Simple challenge. I used the Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle dies. And, because I've used a color I rarely use, I am going to slip it into the Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday challenge to use yellow.

Thanks for the visit - have a great week!

Happy Hippo

I have made a Father's Day card for my dear uncle who once made the mistake (many
years ago) of saying he liked hippos. I have bombarded him with them for years!

For this card I paper-pieced Hero Arts "Friends" stamp (F5306) and then shaded it up a little with Copic pens. I used paper from a great pack by My Minds Eye called "Cowboy". It has great muted colors and patterns for guys.

I found this perfect rusty washer in my garage.

This will be headed into the current challenge at A Blog Named Hero called "It's a Man's World" and into the current Simon Says Tamp challenge for Masculine/Father's Day cards. Check it out an play along!

Stamps: Hero Arts F5306, CL498, CG523
Paper: My Minds' Eye "Cowboy"
Die: Spellbinders Classics Edge One

World Chatter

I made a masculine birthday card using Hero Arts Map of America stamp (CG527). I've had it for awhile, but it hadn't seen ink.

For an antiqued look I stamped it on water color paper with a coffee pigment ink and then clear embossed it. Then I had fun with Distress Pens and a watercolor technique! I love the look.

The inside of the card says "happy birthday". I am submitting this to two great challenges: A Blog named Hero's "It's A Man's World" and Simon Says Stamp's Masculine/Father's Day challenge. I am also placing it in the current Hero Arts "Stamp Your Story" contest, as this stamp is from the current catalog.

The phrase bubbles are Hero Arts CG523 and DI054. Thanks for the visit and have a great day.