Hero Arts - One More - All The Time

What an inspiring blog skip! The Hero Arts sets are so much fun to use. My card share for today is actually the third card I made while working on cards for ghe skip  but decided I'd save it to share today instead. This one uses the All The Time OWH Fundraiser set by Hero Arts. I created a stamped tone-on-tone background and used a new to me technique of double heat embossing on the clock face. The clock border and numerals are embossed in copper and the handa are embossed in gold.

When I sat down to create my cards for yesterday's skip I couldn't decide which stamp sets to use. I opted for the Hot Air Balloon because it's fun to color and makes it easy to create a fun festive card. When it came time to create a second card I decided I wanted to finally use the house in the Right At Home set. I had yet to use it on a single card! For some reason I was hesitant and a bit intimidated as to how to make it work in the context of  card design. When all was said and done I was fairly pleased with how it turned out and now I think I'll be more likely to use it again.

Happy Crafting!

SUPPLIES USED: 

STAMPS: All The Time (Hero Arts)

INKS: Hot Fudge (My Favorite Things), Chestnut Roan Chalk (Colorbox), Versamark 

PAPER: Flags: World Travler (Teresa Collins), Color Vibe 2 (Simple Stories), French Country (Graphic 45), Recollections & Bazzill Solids  (Michael's), Text/Book Page

DIES/PUNCHES: Fishtail Flags (My Favorite Things),Standard Circles (Spellbinders) 

COLORING MEDIUM: Colored Pencils (Prang)

OTHER: Copper & Gold Embossing Powder, Gold Brad

BASICS: Click HERE to check out my crafting tool bag.

OWH Birthday Bash with Hero Arts

Welcome! I am super excited and honored to be participating in today's skip featuring the Hero Arts OWH Fundraiser stamp sets. You can see (and buy) the entire collection over at the Hero Arts website. You should be arriving here from the fabulous Kelly Rasmussen at KR Creations and you can find the start of of the skip at...

The OWH Stars & Stamps Blog

You've still got a lot to see so let's get right on with the card shares. The hot air balloon on this card is from the 'Happy Birthday' set and the sentiment comes from the 'Right At Home' set. I used one of the cloud cut outs and some chalks to create the cloud background (you can find an OWH tutorial here). I used a pencil to trace and then fussy cut the top edge of the card. This hot air balloon is so much fun to color. It's one of my favorites! I popped it up a bit using a bit of foam tape to give it the sensation that it's floating.

Onyx Black Ink (Versafine) • Blu Raspberry Ink, Mix-n-Match Banner Dies (My Favorite Things)
Hot Air Balloon is colored with Spectrum Noir Markers

My next card is created with the 'Right at Home' set. Like the clouds, I stamped and cut a house and used a pencil to trace a few, overlapping and staggering them to create the silhouette that I then cut by hand. I also stamped the fence image a couple of times, cutting and piecing it together. My moon is a simple circle punch with a bit of chalk around the edges to add the glow. The house is a combination of some paper piecing in the roof, windows and door and the brick is colored with markers. My stars are simply tiny, random crosses drawn with a white Signo Gel Pen and my Martha Stewart fringe scissors made it easy to add a bit of fun grass.

Onyx Black Ink (Versafine) • Fishtail Flag Dies, Hot Fudge Ink (My Favorite Things) • Fringe Scissors (Martha Stewart) • Circle Punch 1.25" (EK Success) • Coloring - Spectrum Noir Markers

That's it for me today! Many thanks to Hero Arts for all the wonderful OWH stamp sets they've created and their steadfast support of OWH and our mission. It's now my pleasure to send you on your way to see what the amazing and uber-talented Jennifer McGuire has in store for you at...

Jennifer McGuire Ink

Happy Crafting!

Happy Birthday (#CL646)
Right At Home (CL#583)

Button It! A Blog Named Hero

I made this card for the current challenge over at A Blog Named Hero. I have a lot of buttons in my stash but don't use them very much. The reason is probably two-fold, one being that in my personal experience they don't make it through the mail well unless your putting the whole thing in a padded envelope (it's this same dilemma that limits OWHers to buttons no thicker than the thin basic shirt buttons shown on this card) and second, I have collected a bunch of button dies which make it easy to get the effect without added the bulk and they have the added advantage of allowing you to make a button that coordinates perfectly with the rest of the design.

Although gluing all of these down was a bit of a pain, I do like how this card turned out and it made at least a small dent in that collection of mine.

Happy Crafting!

SUPPLIES USED: 

STAMPS: Messages - Cling Stamps (Hero Arts)

INKS: Onyx Black (Versafine)

PAPER: Accent Opaque 80# White

DIES/PUNCHES: Fishtail Flags (My Favorite Things)

OTHER: Square Lattice Embossing Folder (Stampin up/Sizzix)

BASICS: Click HERE to check out my crafting tool bag.

Vellum Clouds for A Blog Named Hero Challenge #30

I made this card for the current challenge at A Blog Named Hero - Challenge #30 Victorious Vellum. The concept came to me pretty quickly but executing what I was envisioning involved a little trial and error. I knew I wanted to emboss a piece of vellum for my sky but when placed against my card base you couldn't really perceive it was vellum. Ultimately I sandwiched the vellum piece between two very narrow white frames creating a sheer panel as the front of my card.

I used the Hero Arts OWH fundraiser set called 'Happy Birthday' which includes this wonderful hot air balloon as well at the sentiment. When I first got this set I fell so in love with it that I took the time to create some cut files for my Cameo Silhouette so fussy cutting is no longer required and I can get right to the fun of coloring it. 

Happy Crafting!

SUPPLIES USED: 

STAMPS: Happy Birthday OWH Set (Hero Arts)

INKS: Onyx Black (Versafine), Pale Blue Chalk (Colorbox) - Cloud Distressing

PAPER: Recollections Solids (Michael's), Ultra II Translucent Vellum 36 lb Cover (Neenah)

DIES: Fishtail Flag Stax (MFT), My own hand-drawn cut files for Silhouette Cameo

COLORING MEDIUM: Spectrum Noir Markers (CR8, VR10, TN5, TN7, TB3, TB5, GB3, GB5, CG4, IG1)

OTHER: Clouds Embossing Folder (Darice)

BASICS: Click HERE to check out my crafting tool bag.

A Blog Named Hero — Recycle & Reuse

I made this card for the current challenge over at A Blog Named Hero. Though it's been on my feedly Reading list for several months now this is the first time I'm joining in. Of course I'm no stranger to Hero Arts. You'd have to live under a rock to not know Hero Arts, LOL. They have a great product line and if you're an OWHer you know they've been a tremendous supporter to Operation Write Home, so what's not to love about them? :)

The challenge requires that you recycle and reuse something that you would be throwing away. Now I am really pretty careful about what I use on OWH cards but I definitely reuse ribbon whenever it's part of a package/product wrapping and I can say without hestitation that I almost always have a book or two that are falling apart or damaged and I save those for using as paper on my cards. I've even bought some at the used bookstore our local library runs.

This pretty stamp called Blooming Meadow, which works well in any color, makes a pretty and quick card when used in this way. A couple of layers a bit of ribbon or twin and in this case a piece of vellum. I used Onyx Black Versafine Ink by Tsunieko. It's quick to dry, even on the vellum, and no heat setting is necessary. This is definitely a design that could be mass produced if you need a bunch or were making gift sets.

Happy Crafting!

SUPPLIES USED: 

STAMPS: Bloomin Meadow, Sentiment - Remember Your Kindness (Hero Arts)

INKS: Eggplant (Stampin Up)

PAPER: Recollections Solids (Michael's)

OTHER: Raffia (Michael's), Book page(s)

BASICS: Click HERE to check out my crafting tool bag.

Hero Arts - One Layer Card Challenge

One layer cards are probably the hardest of all challenges for me. It takes everything in me to not add at least a framing layer and really at least a couple of layers is more my style. But if it's easy to do then it wouldn't be a challenge right? So when I spotted this over at The Hero Club Blog I decided to jump in and give it a go. I have several Hero Arts stamp sets in my collection but since the theme was summer I thought this pretty floral cling stamp would be a good choice.

I did add a few gold rhinestones to the flowers (does it still qualifies as one layer? :) and added a few spots of a deep red/orange in a few of the flowers with a marker. I do like CAS designs but I'm not completely satisfied with the results on this.It might just be my aversion to one layer designs. They almost always feel like something is missing to me.

Happy Crafting! 

SUPPLIES USED: 

STAMPS: Blooming Meadow, Messages Cling Stamp Sets (Hero Arts)

PAPER: Accent Opaque Smooth 80# White

INKS: Kraft, Orange FIzz (My Favorite Things)

OTHER: Gold Rhinestones, Chalk Ink for edges- Chestnut Roan (Colorbox)

COLORING MEDIUM: Spectrum Noir Markers - 

BASICS: Click HERE to check out my crafting tool bag.

You Are My World

I have a quick CAS card share today that fits the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 107: Hunger Games, in which your design has to include one arrow and of course fit the CAS design style. I used the OWH Epic Love set from Hero Arts and kept it very simple by stamping the sentiment and arrow directly onto my card stock and then using just a bit of foam tape to pop the globe and add just a little dimension.

It also happens to fit in with this week's OWH Midweek Throwdown which is for CAS designs so I'm going to link it up there too.

Happy Crafting!

SUPPLIES USED: 

STAMPS: Epic Love (Hero Arts)

PAPER: Accent Opaque Smooth 80# White, Recollections Solids (Michaels)

INKS: Onyx Black (Versafine), Kraft & Gumdrop Green (My Favorite Things)

PUNCHES: 1.5" Circle (EK Success)

BASICS: BASICS: Click HERE to check out my crafting tool bag.

Fusion Hypothesis #12

The Fusion Challenge this week has a lot of creative possibilities with so many colors and a such a wide variety of elements in this photo. I have owls, gnomes, flowers and cameras in my collection of stamps and digi stamps, but I wasn't keen on narrowing it down to just one of the elements and trying to include them all seemed like it would be chaotic and result in a card that looked too much like a wacky dream, LOL, so I opted to create a Fusion card based on the sketch and also incorporating the colors in the inspiration photo but not the elements. Based closely on the sketch and CAS... here's my card for this week's challenge.

You have until tomorrow at noon if you want to join in the fun at the Fusion Challenge. Public voting takes place on Thursdays and the results get posted on Fridays.

Happy Crafting!



SUPPLIES USED: 
STAMPS: Right At Home OWH Stamp Set (Hero Arts)
INK: Orange Fizz (My Favorite Things)
PAPER: Childish Things (Fancy Pants), Craft Core Solids (Tim Holtz)
OTHER: Teal Mini Brads

NSD - OWH - VCMP = It's Party Time!

Chances are if you're reading this post you already know what all those acronyms mean but just in case it's ... National Scrapbook Day-Operation Write Home-Virtual Cardmaking Party (phew! That's a mouthful!) which, for OWHers translates into 'Party Time'. The OWH Virtual Card Making Parties are always so much fun and I am so happy to be hosting Challenge #2 this weekend. 

In between paying visits to all the people who've  linked up on my challenge,  checking in on the OWH Facebook wall and even making a few tweets I've been making cards too. Here's what I have to share...

K&Co. Paper • My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags Layers Stax
Hero Arts OWH Miss You All the Time Stamp Set

Challenge #1

Our Daily Bread Challenge for May

Miss You Theme

For some reason I always find myself reaching for brown or black inks when I use this stamp set. Today I forced myself to use different colors.

My Favorite Things - Lovey Dovey Sentiments, Blueprints 1 Die Set, Designer Labels 1 Stax Die
Echo Park 6x6 This & That Graceful Papers • Tim Holtz - Kraft Paper

Challenge #3

Romance Theme

I finally got around to trying my hand at this very popular chalkboard technique and while it did take me a few tries I just love the look and will definitely revisit it again with some of my other sentiment sets. This is also the first time I've used the MFT Blueprints 1 Dies set and I think it's safe to say I am in love with it.

Challenge #4

Use a Scrapbook Sketch to Make A Card

This was the hardest challenge for me today. This was my third try and I haven't completely decided yet if I like it or not.  I found my inspiration sketch over at the Scrapbooks etc. site here and while I'm more likely to stick with one of the many card sketches available I do think it's a good exercise to stretch and challenge yourself creatively once in a while.

I am hoping to be able to join in at least some of tomorrow's challenges too and will be back to add to this post if I do.

Here are my cards for the Sunday challenges...

My Favorite Things - Decorative Doilies Die • Stampin Up / Sizzix Embosslits - Beautiful Wings
Papers from My Stash • Sentiment - Unknown

Challenge #5

OWH Sketch #171

My first instinct was to place a sentiment in the circle part of this sketch but I couldn't make it work and so I opted to turn the spot into a focal point of combined elements and use the lower right corner for my sentiment.

Papers by K& Co. • Stampin Up Sentiment

Challenge #6
Any Hero Card with a Photo

I have used my own photos several times to create 'picture postcards' of places and sights near me and used them to write Any Hero Mail. I find that it really is a great help in making a note easy to write when you have a topic in the photo itself. I write a line or two about the image, like where and when I took it, include my thanks and the note is done! I've never used a photo as part of card but love this idea and will definitely do it again. This image is of a local lighthouse that can be seen off the shore very near where I live.

Image by Elizabeth O. Dulmeba • Papertrey Ink - Ric Rac Die • Twine by Doodlebug
Sentiment - My Own Custom Design Stamp Set
Striped Paper - Oriental Trading Company

Challenge #7

Summer Theme

Having lived in a shoreline town on the East Coast my entire nothing says 'Summer' to me more than the beach. I've been in a coloring groove lately and had this in my folder of digis. It's by Elizabeth O. Dulmeba, whose work I love and use often in my cards for OWH. 

I hope you have a chance to join in on some of the VCMP challenges and don't forget to get your name into the drawing for my VCMP Blog Candy over on my Challenge Post HERE.

Happy Crafting!

Hero Arts Just Saying Hello

I have another card share from my last OWH box. This is one of a 3 cling stamp set made by Hero Arts that I bought not too long ago on sale. I think it's a nice choice for creating a simple card design, especially when you have a nicely detailed paper to show off. I fussy cut along the edge of the sentiment frame but I am thinking about creating a cut file for this one so I can do that on my Cameo in the future.

The papers are from DCWV, but I can't say which stacks specifically. I am working my way through my supplies, including my 12 x 12 papers. I've decided to buy any 'new' supplies very selectively with my ultimate goal being fewer, but higher quality supplies that I'll be much more excited to use. With all the fun and ever changing 'stuff' being sold, I know it's easy to 'collect' supplies but my current thinking is that a 'less is more' approach might be something good to try.

Happy Crafting!

Presidents' Day VCMP - Day 1

There is a Virtual Card making Party going on this weekend on the OWH Stars & Stamps blog with challenges hosted by different OWHers every couple of hours. I spent a good deal of time crafting today but decided I'd hold off on taking and uploading pictures until I got packed up for the night, so here are my first four challenges.

Challenge #1 Chevrons

Hosted By Erika at Scrappin Intervention

Chevron Die by My Favorite Things • Paper - DCWVB Generation Tech Stack
Sentiment - My own custom stamp design

Challenge #2 All Creatures Great & Small

Hosted by Misty at Delightful Gifts

Image & Sentiment Stamps for Paper Smooches • Papers from My Stash

Challenge #3 Texture Omit

Hosted by Beth at Bunny Scrap

Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz • Martha Stewart Scoring Board • Hero Art OWH Epic Love Stamp Set

Challenge #4 Thinsg with Wings 

Hosted by Yvonne at PenguinPapers

Stamps by Lawn Fawn • Star Border Die - My Favorite Things

The VCMPs are so much fun and a great way to get your creative juices flowing. If you have some time I hope you'll join in on some of the challenges. I'll be crafting again tomorrow and back to share some more.

Happy Crafting!

Paper Smooches & Color Harmonies

I have a couple of cards to share from my last crafting session. I've been doing a lot of craft "related" things this year but not making cards so much as going through supplies, reorganizing & cleaning out and working on OWH Bootcamps. I need to get my act together so I can actually do more creating.

Analogous Colors - Blue-Green, Green and Yellow-Green

Owl - Paper Smooches •  Sentiment - Hero Arts • Paper - K&Co. & Doodlebug

Analogous Colors - Red-Purple, Red, Red-Orange

Flower Stamp - StampinUp •  Sentiment - My Custom Designed Set

There is a Virtual Card Making Party (VCMP) planned for this weekend and then the next Bootcamp launches on Monday. If you've never participated in an OWH VCMP make sure you check it out over on the OWH Stars & Stamps blog starting tomorrow. Loads of fun and great for getting the creative juices flowing.

Happy Crafting Everyone!

Hero Arts Day Two

A couple more cards made with the new Hero Arts OWH Happy Birthday Stamp Set (CL646). This hot air balloon is a perfect size for A2 cards and lots of fun to color or paper piece.

This card looks more complicated than it is. I simply started with an 11" x 4.25" of paper, scored at the 5.5" mark and folded just as you would normally do if you were going to create a vertical card and then I trimmed about 3/4" off the bottom so that I could let the ballon extend off the top edge and still have the card fit into a standard A2 envelope. I laid the card against an envelope as I glued down the hot air balloon.

Papers by K&Co. ~ Boy Scouts Pad

Happy Crafting Everyone~

Hero Arts Week Kick-Off

Hero Arts week begins today as part of the month long OWH Birthday Bash festivities. Hero Arts has been a dedicated partner with OWH and has introduced 3 new fundraiser sets. You can see all 6 of the sets here. 

These cards were made with the new 'Happy Birthday' set, shown here. With it's clean, bold images, it's a great set if you enjoy coloring or paper piecing.

I'm looking forward to adding all of these new sets to my stamp collection.

Happy Crafting Everyone!

Hero Arts - New OWH Sets

Here is another card made with the new Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments stamp set (see all 3 sets in the previous post). This set is perfect for someone who is just starting out in card making or someone who just needs a good set of sentiments that covers all  the bases. These stamps are a nice quality too. They stamp great, right from the package no fussing necessary.

 Sentiment ~Hero Arts • Paper~StampinUp

I often find myself making cards like this one that don't include images but rely on nice papers, a sentiment and maybe an embellishment or two. Admittedly the result is a pretty simple card but "basics" like this can be used for anyone so they are always in demand for OWH.


Happy Crafting Everyone!