Just a Note

I have another card today using Tammy Tutterow Design products.  I really like how this one turned out!

supplies: fawn, sage, and kraft cardstock, Hobby Lobby music design paper, Tammy Tutterow Shabby Posies and leaves from Pom Pom Posies dies, Big Woodgrain cling stamp, sentiment from (retired) The Craft's Meow Happy as a Lark, tag from Frayed Tabs, Teddy Bear brown, gathered twigs and ground espresso distress inks, score board, brads, craft foam

I started with a piece of kraft cardstock, and stamped the Big Woodgrain in brown ink.  Then I turned the panel over and scored 5 lines vertically to create planks.  I used ground espresso ink to darken my score lines, which were now pushed out on the front of my panel from the scoring.  This panel was attached to a piece of craft foam and glued to the front of my card front to lift it up a bit.  Next I cut out my leaves and flowers, distressing the flowers with gathered twigs on the edges, and bending the petals inward, and then attached them together in layers with brads.  These were arranged onto my plank background and glued down.  To finish I cut one of Tammy's Frayed Tabs, stamped my sentiment, and then recut the tag to center the sentiment on it.  

I find this sentiment a good one when I want to send out a card "just because", not for any particular occasion.  I hope this inspires you to do the same!

Christmas Cardinal

I can NOT get enough of this cardinal!  Here's a quick and easy design for Christmas, especially if you have the matching dies.

supplies: white cardstock, Hero Arts Color Layering Cardinal and Beauty of the Season stamps, Wplus9 Holiday Boughs, VersaFine onyx black and distress inks, Nuvo Autumn Red drops, adhesive foam squares

A little hint for Christmas, or for that matter, whenever you have a stamp that you adore:  while you're stamping one of them, you may as well do a whole page full!  The mini Misti makes that pretty simple nowadays!  Store them right with your stamp set, then you can cut them out as you need them.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Be Sunny

I have another Tammy Tutterow cling stamp to show you today!  This big bold sentiment is all you need for the front of a card, and you can be as fancy or as simple as you like when you color it in.  I made this one monochromatic.

supplies: white, black, and pale gold cardstock, Be Sunny cling stamp, Spectrum Noir yellow markers and a pale pink one, a Gingham stencil and squeezed lemonade distress ink

Tammy's cling stamps are perfect for people like me who like to color but don't own a million markers.  Here I just used 4 of the Spectrum Noir yellows to give a slightly ombre effect  on  the "Sunny" part of the design, and then each other word was colored with a different yellow.  To finish, I stencilled a large gingham pattern over the whole panel.   A simple black frame brings out the black outlines, and you're done!

Masculine Fall birthday

We have 2 special Davids having birthdays this month, a cousin and a good friend.  They usually get something with fall leaves, but this year I'm using the gorgeous Birch Tree Window die for their cards.  This first one is for my cousin, an avid hunter and also a missionary to Africa.  He's home on leave this year, so his card will get to him in a timely fashion for a change!

supplies: white, brown, and red cardstock, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid for Fall dp, Birch Tree Window, cardinals from Impression Obsession Birch Trees die, Impression Obsession Deer Trio die, Simon Stitched Rectangle die, sentiment fromWplus9 Fresh Cut Florals, adhesive foam squares

Our friend David now lives in Atlanta, and I thought I'd give him a glimpse of what he's missing here in the north:

supplies: recycled confetti and golden apricot cardstock, unknown dp from eons ago, Birch Tree Window, Tim Holtz Script Holiday Words sentiment die, scalloped rectangles (My Favorite Things and Winnie & Walter)

I thought this abstract leaf pattern would make a fun background to showcase the birch window.  I simply added a sentiment die, and squared off the birch tree with a scalloped rectangle.  No fuss, perfect for a guy!

Thanks for coming by today - hope your week is going well!

Simon Says...........Anything Goes!

If you're here to see my cards for the Hero Arts Hostess Reunion blog hop, please scroll down a post or click HERE.  

Welcome to another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

Our theme this week is your favorite Anything Goes, and my teamies and I are playing with Lawn Fawn goodies!  I made 2 cards for the season, both of them using Lawn Fawn plaids and stamps.

supplies: white and chocolate cardstock, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid design paper, Lawn Fawn Jump for Joy stamp set, markers to color, tumbled glass and fossilized amber distress inks, blending tool, adhesive foam squares

supplies: white and burnt orange cardstock, dps from Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid for Fall paper pad and dotted dp from MFT Dots & Stripes Sorbet pad, Lawn Fawn Thanks a Bushel stamp set, stitched flag from MFT Blueprints 20 die set, Memory Box Pinpoint Rectangle die

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!

Hero Hostess Reunion Blog Hop!

Welcome to Day 2 of our Hop, featuring stamps from the new 2016 release and Winter Catalog!  

From 2009 - 2012, Hero Arts put together classes of 4 to 8 "Hero Hostesses" for a 4-month term.  Our job was to make people feel welcome in the Hero Arts Flickr group, and to contribute our work using Hero Arts stamps.  There ended up being 36 of us before the program was discontinued, and as we were a kind of crafting sorority, we coined "sista" as the name we called each other.  I treasure these ladies, and have a soft spot in my heart for each of them and Hero Arts.  I am so excited to be reunited with my Hostess sisters again this year, and I thank Hero Arts for enabling this reunion!  

You should have arrived here from the amazing Kathy Racoosin's blog.  If you want to start from the beginning of today's hop, just visit the Hero Arts Blog to get our lineup. 

I love their birds this year, so I chose 2 bird sets, Vintage Christmas Post and Color Layering Cardinal, and made 2 cards with each set.

supplies: white and red cardstock, Hero Arts Vintage Christmas Post, Ombre Green, Wet Cement, old paper, and Onyx Black inks, Joy Stamp & Cut die and matching stamps

I love the faint script in this set and stamped it randomly all over my panel before adding my other elements.  I used my mini Misti and Jennifer McGuire's tutorial for mirror stamping to make a 2nd cardinal, and then colored them as a male and female.  We always see cardinal couples together at our feeders, and they add such lovely color to our dull winters!  

My 2nd card with this set is much more CAS in design.  I paired it with one of my all-time Hero Arts sentiment sets, which is sadly retired.  When you listen to cardinals outside, "Cheer, Cheer, Cheer" is one of their songs, so I thought this sentiment was a good one.

supplies: white and red cardstock, Vintage Christmas Post, (retired) Miracle of the Holidays sentiment, Punch ink, evergreen bough distress ink, snowflake stencil and modelling paste, Prisma glitter, adhesive foam squares

My next cards use the fabulous Color Layering Cardinal.

supplies: white and green cardstock, acetate panel, watercolor wash design paper, Hero Arts Color Layering Cardinal and Beauty of the Season woodblock stamp, schoolhouse red, fired brick, and aged mahogany inks, pine branch die, Winter Flurry snowflake embossing folder, sparkling clear sequins, adhesive foam squares

Isn't this multi-step stamp amazing?  And it's not hard at all to line everything up.  I used 3 different red inks and my misti to stamp him, then fussy-cut him and set him aside.  Starting with a white card folded at the top, I trimmed and added a blue watercolor wash design paper.  Next I embossed a piece of acetate with the snowflake folder, trimmed it, leaving about an inch at the top, scored it close to the design, and then secured it to the card with double-stick tape on the back.  To finish I cut the pine branches and stamped and trimmed my sentiment, and added them to the front of the card over the acetate.  And lastly the cardinal was popped above everything else, and I sprinkled on a few sequins for sparkle.  I think this sentiment would work for all seasons, not just for winter/Christmas!

I liked the way the snowflakes looked with him, so I made another card using the same embossing folder, and this time I used more of the accessory stamps in the set, and added a woodgrain panel. 

supplies: white cardstock, board dp, Hero Arts Color Layering Cardinal stamp set and Joy die, Pale Tomato, Red Royal, and Raspberry Jam red inks, Ombre green ink, Winter Flurry embossing folder, adhesive foam squares

Hero Arts is offering TWO $25.00 shopping sprees to our hop readers!  One will be chosen from those who comment on the blogs along yesterday's hop and one from those in today's hop, and there will also be a bonus prize chosen from comments left at the Hero Arts blog on each day!  The more commenting you do, the better your chances - deadline for commenting is Sunday, Oct. 30, by 11:59 pm Pacific time.

Now it's time to hop on over to my friend Linda Wetterlin's blog - I know you'll love what she's made for today!  

Here's the list for today's hop, in case you get lost:

Donna Mikasa

Cheiron Brandon

Kathy Wade

Anita Recksiedler

Barb Engler

Kathy Racoosin

Lin Brandyberry  - that's me!

Linda Wetterlin

Sally Sherfield

Deborah Nolan

Cathy Andronicou

Hero Arts Blog

SSS November Card Kit

I received my November Card Kit from Simon yesterday and got right to playing!

supplies:  wood plank design paper, Flower Frenzy embossing folder, Delicata Celestial Copper ink cube, Thankful Heart stamp set, flower paper clip, all from the November kit, my own metallic copper cardstock

I've been loving wood plank design papers, and was thrilled that one of them was in the kit.  I trimmed it to A2 card size, embossed it with the included folder, and then lightly used the ink pad to add color to the raised parts.  The little cube is perfect for doing this.  The panel was mounted to a card base, and then I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine ink and embossed it to keep it from smearing on the copper panel.  I also die-cut a circle from the same copper to insert inside the flower clip, and that's where I added some adhesive to make it stick to the card.  I photographed my card with the beautiful copper metallic envelope that is also included in the kit.

Here's the kit - beautiful for fall!  It's called Thankful Heart, and includes everything you see:

From the Bottom of my Heart

Here's a card using another sweet Tammy Tutterow Designs cling stamp:

supplies: watercolor cardstock, pink gingham from MFT Tiny Checks Brights, Thank You cling stamp, Spectrum Aqua markers, water, spun sugar and antique linen distress inks as watercolors, Stitched Rectangle die, pink buttons

Tammy, you had me with the heart and flowers!  and isn't that tiny sentiment at the bottom right adorable where she placed it?  I simply water-colored this, splattered some left-over spun sugar distress water, and added 2 of my favorite things: gingham and buttons!

Blue Believe

Simon Says Stamp has a new release debuting today!  The release is called "Believe in the Season".

Here's a card I made with the die that I was sent:

supplies: white, silver glitter, and blue glitter cardstock, Simon's Northern Lights Snowflakes and Believe dies, silver sequin

The sentiment die is inlaid, and the new Northern Lights one is glued onto the blue glitter cardbase.    I just added a single silver sequin to the center of the large snowflake.  Easy but this packs lots of glitz!

Be sure to visit Simon today to see the other new things that are being released!

Simon Says.........Think Pink!

Welcome to another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

Our theme this week is Think Pink - since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, we want you to use pink in your creations.  And we're reminding you to do a monthly check and schedule a yearly mammogram.  The DT are using Pink & Main products this week. I chose this Pink & Main Butterfly stamp set, because I equate them with new beginnings and hope......

supplies: white cardstock, Basic Grey dp from Vivienne paper pad, Pink & Main Inspire butterflies, and Verve Believe sentiment, VersaMark ink and Simon White embossing powder, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkle Clear sequins, My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20 scalloped die

I kept this design simple - just white embossed 2 of the butterfly stamps, plus an appropriate sentiment right onto a pink ombre design paper, then trimmed it, and added the panel to a white card base, along with some sparkly sequins.

My next card uses the largest butterfly from my set, along with some dies cut from a pink metallic sheet.

supplies: white and rose cardstock, metallic pink sheet and white glitter cardstock, Pink & Main Inspire butterfly stamp, Hero Arts Bubble Gum ink, unknown pink ribbon die, (but HERE is one that should work just as well, plus it has some wonderful sentiments),  Wplus9 hope die, Die-Namics Blueprints 20 stitched die

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!

Tammy's Posies

Still playing with Tammy's goodies - this time an embossing folder, a background cling stamp, and some more of her posies dies.

My first card uses a background cling, Dear Ruby, which is made up of bits and pieces from an old autograph book from the early 1940's, and prominently, a note from Ruby's husband.  That melted my heart and I put this together with thoughts of a stack of old letters tied together with ribbon and an old dried flower:

supplies: cream, beige, and green cardstock, Dear Ruby background cling, Pinwheel Posies and leaves from Pom Pom Posies dies, My Mind's Eye brad, Hero Arts Cup o' Joe and gathered twigs distress inks, sage green seam binding

I used 2 layers of 2 of the flowers in this set, and edged them all with ink before rolling the petals a bit and attaching them all together with a brad.

The next one looks a bit more modern.  The background here is an embossing folder.  It could be cracked paint, or bark.

supplies: white, green apple, and 4 shades of pool cardstock, Blistered embossing folder, rubbed with old paper distress ink, Shabby Posies and leaves from Pom Pom Posies dies, fabric-covered brad, Wplus9 Hand Lettered Hello die

I used all 4 flowers in this set, gradually stepping down the color as the size decreased.  For the background, after embossing, I simply swiped with old paper distress ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Rainbow Happy

Here's a card using one of Tammy Tutterow's cling stamps.  I don't make many rainbow cards, but this colorway seemed the way to go for my first play with this stamp.

supplies: white cardstock, Tammy Tutterow Happy is My Favorite Color, Spectrum Aqua markers to color, Simon Stitched Scallop die, striped stencil

How to's: Stamp and clear emboss stamp, trim with scallop die, color in letters and flowers.  On card front, use stencil to add stripes; adhere scalloped panel to card.

We're having an Indian Summer here - enjoy!

Some Halloween cards

I'm not one to do much for Halloween except hand out candy on the day, but, when it comes to grandkids, I make an exception!  I wanted to share the cards I made for our grandsons for Halloween.  Our granddaughter will get THIS one.  My first card today is for our 7-year old.

supplies: purple, bright gold, white, and grey cardstock, Lawn Fawn Happy Haunting and Trick or Treat stamp sets, black and yellow markers to color the house, Memory Box Grove Branch die, circle die for the moon, Hero Arts Magical Background (retired)

And for the youngest munchkin, I did a CASE of Sally Traidman's card:

supplies: white cardstock, Hero Arts (retired) Happy Halloween sentiment stamps, Clearly Besotted (retired) pumpkin set, VersaFine black and Archival Bright Tangelo inks, googly eyes

I masked off the center of my card, and then, using my mini Misti, I first positioned the 3 pumpkins, and then the various sentiments to fill in the space.  The Misti made doing this pretty easy - I was able to line up everything without any drama, even stamping several sentiments at a time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Joy Looks Good on You

I'm beginning to play with Tammy Tutterow's wonderful products - here is a card mixing one of her cling stamps with some of her floral dies.

supplies: white cardstock, dp from (retired) My Mind's Eye Bramble Rose paper pad, Tammy Tutterow Joy Looks Good on You cling stamp, and a Frayed Posie die and leaves from Pom-Pom Posies dies, abandoned coral, worn lipstick, ripe persimmon, peeled paint distress inks, button and matching floss, black marker, adhesive foam squares

I cut the flower 3 times, embossed it, and sponged it with some coral distress inks, then separated the layers with adhesive foam squares.

It's almost a crime to cover up the gorgeous little rose posie that is part of the sentiment stamp, but in this case, I thought it was okay to do just this once.....

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful day!

Joy to the World

I recently received Hero Arts Color Layering Cardinal and wanted to make a card to enter into their Holiday Cardmaking Challenge.  I have always loved clear cards, so that is where I started.

supplies: white, blue-green, and watercolor cardstock, acetate, Hero Arts Color Layering Cardinal, Joy Stamp & Cut die and stamps, Stunning Snowflakes woodblock background,  distress inks, Stazon Cotton White ink, Wplus9 Holiday Boughs, mini Misti

I started by stamping some pine sprigs in various green and broken china distress inks onto watercolor paper, then spritzed them with water slightly to blend the colors and let them run into the white spaces.  When dry, that panel was trimmed and affixed to a white card base.

I then stamped the snowflakes onto an acetate card using Stazon white ink and inserted the watercolor card underneath, using double-stick tape on the back to hold them together.  To finish I stamped and fussy-cut my cardinal, and added him along with my die-cut and stamped sentiment.  It's really easy, especially with my Mini Misti, to line up the various layers for this gorgeous stamp!

This challenge runs from now until November 15, and there are FIVE $50.00 shopping sprees with free shipping up for grabs!! 

Simon Says.........Totally Resistable

Welcome to another challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

This week, our theme is "Totally Resistable" - use some kind of a resist technique for your creation.  We are showcasing Impression Obsession products.

I bought this stamp set just for the sentiment I used......Autumn Leaves is a song that is dear to me, not only because of this season that I love, but because it's the theme song for our Bluecoats drum and bugle corps.  

supplies: vellum, pearly metallic copper cardstock, Impression Obsession Autumn Leaves, Ranger Super Fine Detail Copper embossing powder, board background made using Hero Arts Woodgrain background, Martha Stewart scoring board, and distress inks, Memory Box Pinpoint Rectangle dies, adhesive foam squares

I had made this board background some time back and never used it, but I liked how the copper embossing looked against this color.  To make this background, I stamped the woodgrain stamp in a dark brown ink on white cardstock.  Next I turned the panel over and scored lines to make the planking.  And finally, I used a mix of blues, greens, and browns distress inks to shade over the woodgrain.  The leaves were then embossed in copper over that.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment on vellum, framed it in copper cardstock, and popped it above my card base.  The little leaf was also fussy-cut and popped above its panel.

I used that same sentiment, mixed with some Simon leaf dies, for my next card:

supplies: kraft card base, white cardstock, Impression Obsession Autumn Leaves, Simon clear embossing powder, Simon Stitched Maple Trio dies, distress inks, Stampendous Aged Scarlet embossing enamel, sequins in fall colors

After stamping and clear heat embossing the sentiment, I trimmed my panel and then die-cut the leaves in a cascading design.  They were sponged with various distress inks.  Next I sponged the background using fossilized amber and carved pumpkin inks and used the negative of the die to stencil more leaves along the diagonal.  Then I reinserted the leaves, popping up 4 of them (1 of which was embossed in an enamel), and adding some matching sequins.

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you create!  Heidi has provided another $50.00 gift voucher

to the amazing Simon Says Stamp store for 1 lucky random winner of this week's challenge!