Saturday, March 26, 2016

My Monthly Hero March 2016

So I am apparently addicted to kits.  If there's stamps and dies and other crafty goodies in a kit, then I have to have it. Some kits are better than others... and this month's Hero Arts kit hits a home run in my book.  I won't bore you with what all is in it- you can find that here along with several ideas on  how to use the kit.  I also got two add ons- the Ribbon Messages stamp and die set, and Marianne Walker's book on Copic coloring flowers.  Put em all together and whaddaya get?

This:


The pre-printed card, butterfly stamp and die, and note card all came in the kit.  Even the ribbon was in the kit (it was all tied up in a pretty ribbon and tissue paper).  The sentiment was in the add-on set.  I did use Simon Says Stamp's Stitched Rectangle die to cut it out.


What do you think of my copic coloring?  I'm coming along with it.  Could still get much better though :)

Thanks for looking!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Easter Blessings

Inspired by thiscard, I got the Churches dies from Simon Says Stamp.  Here is my version of the card:



I had to create a more "Easterish" card for someone who might not like my bird/bunny lol.

Sorry I'm not talking so much today, I started back to work this week and I think I'm all talked out.  Funny how that works.  Anyhoo.

Supplies used:

Paper Studio white heavyweight cardstock
Melissa Frances Classic Elegance 6x6 paper pad
SSS Churches die
unknown landscape border die from a golf set.  I think it might be Memory Box.
SSS Rejoice stamp set
Distress inks: Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, and Squeezed Lemonade

Thanks for looking!

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Happy Birthday Birdie

Apparently it took playing with Crazy Birds to kind of get that creative mojo again.  Here's another card I just made this morning:


Again, I Copic colored the bird instead of watercoloring.  I tried to get a little shading in there, but I wasn't too successful at that.  I still like the card, though.

Masking worked again :)  Since these are cling stamps, I used my Stamp-A-Majig to position the bird just right instead of the MISTI.

What do you think of the purples?

Supplies used:

Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz: Crazy Birds, Crazy Things, and Crazy Talk stamp sets
Copic markers
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Pink cardstock from SSS March 2016 card kit
Paper Studio white heavyweight cardstock

Thanks for looking!

Friday, March 11, 2016

Crazy Birds Easter Card

Hmmm it's getting close to bedtime lol and yet here I am.  I was clicking through, looking at all those pretty Easter cards everyone is posting, and I was a little sad because my Easter stamp sets are still on the way.  So there I was, looking first at cards with the Simon Says Stamp March 2016 kit, which is rabbit heavy but references peeps.  Then I remembered my StampinBella stamp with the peep sentiment but chicks for the image.  So I started looking for more chicks.  Chicks are birds.  Birds.  Bird Crazy... hey, isn't there a rabbit ear image in Crazy Things? Why yes, there is.  And looky, there's Easter sentiments in Crazy Talk.  Woo hoo!

And all that led up to this:


I know everyone else is water coloring these birds, but I decided I wanted to Copic this guy.  So there.  I did it.  And I am sooooo proud of my masking to put those ears on him!  It lined up perfectly!

Now this isn't an Easter card I can send to just anybody.  I can't send it to my church friends, because, well, because.  So now I have to think of who to send it to.

I might just keep him.

Supplies used:

Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz: Crazy Birds, Crazy Things, and Crazy Talk stamp sets
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic Markers
Pretty Pink Posh Twine and Bows die set
Spellbinders Matting Basics A and B die sets
Recollections yellow cardstock
The Paper Studio white heavyweight cardstock

Thanks for looking!

Straight layers

I decided to try especially hard on this card to get those layers straight!  Then I ran out of ideas as far as what to put on the card lol.  Anyway, I found this image that I got at the stamp show in Ohio a while back, and it reminded me of the SSS March 2106 card kit because of the reference to peeps.  So I decided to use it on a very clean and simple card.  Here it is:


I even took the color scheme from the website lol.  The trick to getting the layers straight is, well, getting them straight to begin with.  That means cutting them straight!  I find that when I use dies, my layers are much better than when I measure and cut.  So, I used dies to cut both layers, although I did measure and cut the card base.  The end result is so much better, don't you think?

Supplies used:

Spellbinders Matting Basics die
SSS Stitched Rectangles die
Paper Studio heavyweight white cardstock
The pink cardstock from the SSS March 2016 kit
Copic markers
Memento Tuxedo Black ink


Thanks for looking!

Sympathy cards

I've been admiring this card for awhile, so I decided to CASE it.  I am out of sympathy cards too, and I hate to not have any in my stash.  So here are my cards:



I will try building my own plaid another time :)

Anyhoo, I got to try out selective diecutting.  I stamped the "prayers" over the diecut using my MISTI to ensure perfect alignment, and it also allowed me to stamp a couple of times to ensure good coverage with the black ink.   Of course, once I had the die cut and stamping done, I couldn't find my craft knife!  I so love that now I can just make a quick run to Michaels and be back before I forget what I was doing lol.  Living in civilization does have its perks.

Can you tell the first card I got my selective diecutting a little wonky?  That's because I was having a hard time with my Big Shot Plus- I've warped the cutting plate.  So while I was at Michaels, I also got a pair of standard size cutting pads.  That had an extra benefit- I was able to lay them longways on the platform instead of just head-on.  That helped a lot, as you can see from the second card.

I am now wondering what other word dies I have that I can do this technique with.  Only thing is I don't think I have any others with coordinating stamps.  I'll have to look.

Supplies used:

The Paper Studio white heavyweight cardstock
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
SSS Prayers stamp and die set
Everyday With Barkley 6x6 paper pad (from Crafter's Companion)

Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

It's me again

With another card!  This one I'll be sending to a church that was so kind when I visited them last weekend.  I wish I had some Bible verses to stamp inside, but I can always write one.

Here it is:


It's a little plain and simple, but that means it'll mail well.  I love the butterfly!

Supplies used:

SU! Watercolor Wings stamp set, Bold Butterflies Framelits
SSS inks: Slate, Duckling, Melon, Sunkist, and Apricot
The Paper Studio heavyweight white cardstock

I did go back and add a little Clear Wink of Stella to the darkest parts of the wings and body for a little subtle shimmer and shine.

Thanks for looking!

Another SOA Birthday Card

So, it's been a slow day for getting things done lol.  There's nothing on TV, either, so here I go with another SOA kit card.


There's a few things going on here- die cuts, stamping, and stenciling!  I think this card could go to a girl or a guy, especially if they are getting to the "black balloon stage" lol.

Supplies used:

SSS Frames die set
SOA kit:  HB2U stamp set, Birthday Wishes die set, Winnie & Walter Harlequin stencil
Distress Inks: Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, and Seedless Preserves
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Paper Studio heavy weight black and white card stocks

Thanks for looking!

Birthday cards

So I'm learning to love the Stamp of Approval box.  The Bring on the Cake stamp and die set is pretty cool.  I made a "try it out" card, then kind of the same card but with a layer or two added.  What do you think?




Same basic card, but with the ink colors changed around a little on the circle stamps and a few small embellishments on the cake.  It'll do in a pinch, I think.

Then I left that altogether and got my latest Art Impressions purchase- the Cat Stackers set.  Love all the kitties!  And I know a crazy cat lady who has a birthday coming up lol.  Here's that card:


I really wish I could get my layers straight on my cards.  I got the colored layer on the paper layer, but then boofed putting that on the card itself.  Sigh.  I still like it.

Ah well.

Supplies used on first two cards:

SSS inks: Sea Glass, Lake Shores, Spring Rain, High Dive, and Hollyhock.
SOA Young at Heart Box: Bring on the Cake stamp set, Birthday Journal Card dies
Spellbinders Matting Basics A and B dies
Pebbles Basics 6x6 paper pad
The Paper Studio white heavyweight card stock

The second card:
Art Impressions Cat Stackers stamp set
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic Markers
SSS Stitched Rectangles die
Spellbinders Matting Basics A die
Pebbles Basics 6x6 paper pad
The Paper Studio white heavyweight card stock

Thanks for looking!

Friday, March 4, 2016

Making a lil mojo

All right, all right... I joined Stamp Nation.  For a month, to see if I'll like it.  I don't know yet if I'll like it $9 a month worth, but we'll see.  I am desperate to get my mojo moving again!

Sooooo anyway, I was clicking around and found a card by Kristie Goulet that inspired me.  Here's my take:


It's a birthday-ish card.  I mean, usually we say, "Make a Wish" on someone's birthday, but who knows?  Maybe I'll use it some other way.  Anyway.  I like the springy colors.  Who wouldn't?  Of course, these colors are a tad feminine, so I guess it'll have to be a girly birthday card.  But I like it.  Catch the sequins?  I finally used some... and I like them, too!

Supplies used:

SSS March 2016 card kit (paper, sequins)
SSS Butterflies stamp set and die
SOA Young at Heart collection: Bring on the Cake stamp set
Versamagic ink: Sea Breeze and Thatched Straw
Delicate ink: silver

Thanks for looking!

Stamp of Approval Young at Heart

So I got lucky enough to order this box of goodies, and it's been sitting here on my desk, waiting for me to do something with it!  My mojo is peeking in, but still not fully functional as of yet, so I went over to Stamp Nation for a little inspiration.  Here is the card I ended up making:


This was heavily inspired by other cards I saw there.  I used the SSS March 2016 card kit card stock and paper, along with a couple of stamps from the SOA Bring on the Cake stamp set.  Kind of simple, I know it could use a few more embellishments, but am a little stuck.  I thought about the pretty yellow sequins from the SSS kit.  Maybe I will add those later.  I am kind of thinking I could have stamped the streamers in a color other than black, but I kind of like them as they are, too. What do you think?

Supplies used:

SSS March 2016 card kit
SOA Young at Heart kit
Paper Studio white heavy weight card stock
Memento ink: Tuxedo black
Versamagic ink: Thatched Straw
Spellbinders Matting Basics A and B die sets

Thanks for looking!