First Christmas cards of the year

I got this Memory Box/Poppy stamps die as kind of an afterthought with my last SSS order.  I got it because it was less than 10$ and I thought I could do some nice things with it.  So this is what I made:

I've also used a pine trees border die that for the life of me I don't know who made.  I got it at the stamp convention a year or so ago.  I was going ot leave the background plain, but I thought that was a little too plain, so I added a Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl embossing folder background.  I thought the swirls kind of felt like snow.  So what do you think of the no-color, lots-of-texture look?  I kind of like it.  And I think it's definitely mass reproducible, so it may be on my list of Christmas cards to make this year.

Here's another version:

The snowflake border die is from the same manufacturer as the pine tree border die above.  This time I also used my MFT Snowfall BG stamp and some silver glimmer paper.  I like this version, too.  I think I'd like it better if the stamped background were actual snowflakes rather than snow dots.

Which do you think I should do?

Supplies used:

The Paper Studio white heavy weight card stock
Silver glimmer card stock
Poppy Stamps Peace on Earth channel die
unknown Pine Tree/ Snowflake border dies
Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl embossing folder
MFT Snowfall BG stamp
Delicata silver ink

Thanks for looking!

Coffee!

Mmm so I got a new computer and had to figure out how to get my pictures onto my blogger again.  Now that that's figured out, here's my first card:

I picked up this Tim Holtz/ Sizzix set at Michael's a few weekends ago.  It was one of the few things I didn't already have lol.  It came with an embossing folder, stamps, and dies.

I colored it a little wonky- didn't pay attention to what I was doing- and got the shadows on the label different than the shadows on the cup :)  But I think it still works.

Supplies used:

Tim Holtz/ Sizzix Coffee Time stamp/die/embossing folder set
Memento black ink
Copic markers
White cardstock
Cream cardstock
Bronze shimmer cardstock
Spellbinders Matting Basics A set
SSS Stitched rectangles die

Thanks for looking!

Lovely Notes SOA cards

Three cards today, each CASEd from the SOA instructional pdf.  The first two CASE the wreath card on Miriam Pranter's blog post.  Check out my versions:

I added colored panels behind the white, the gold bows and the sequins.  Go me!

And here is my third card, CASEd from this one:

I left off the splatters, which I can't seem to get right.  How do you get artsy splatters instead of inky messy splatters?  I don't know.  Anyhoo.  I also added the black card base to help set off the sentiments.

Supplies used:

Water color paper
Recollections colored card stock
The Paper Studio black card stock
Distress inks
Brilliance Galaxy Gold pigment ink
Hero Arts black ink
Ranger Embossing Pearl Gold embossing powder
SSS Stitched Rectangles die
sequins


Thanks for looking!

My first shaker card!

I'm still playing with the July My Monthly Hero kit, and using this for inspiration.  Here is my card:

My card is a little different because I totally melted my acetate trying to heat emboss on it :(
Plus, my white card front is a little bigger, which didn't leave much room for you to be able to see the background stamp on the blue card stock.  Anyway, I call it a win.

This was also my first go with the Fuse tool.  Not sure I did a great job- the acetate was pretty thick, and I think I'm losing sequins in one spot.  Ah well, next time will be better.

Supplies used:

The Paper Studio white and black heavy weight card stock.
Bazzill navy card stock
HA Dolphin Ombre ink pad
Versamark ink
White detail embossing powder
acetate
HA My Monthly Hero July 2016 kit stamps and dies, and sequins
SSS Stitched rectangles and circles dies
Fuse tool

Thanks for looking!

More Hero Arts schwag

So I also got the Paper Layering Octopus, because he's just so darn cute!  Here was my inspiration, and here is my card :

I went with a black card base, and didn't cut up the sentiment.  I'm just a lil too OCD for that lol.  I ink smooshed the background on watercolor paper- love how that turned out!- and did direct to paper of the Hero Arts Dolphin Ombre ink pad to color the paper for the octopus.

Supplies used:

Hero Arts MMH July kit- sentiment and sequins, Ombre ink pad
HA Paper Layering Octopus dies
Distress inks: Salty Ocean and Blueprint Sketch
Versamark ink
White detail embossing powder

Thanks for looking!

New Hero Arts stuff

The July My Monthly Hero kit is amazing!  I got that and the add-ons that go with it: the color layering octopus, the seahorse kit, and the paper layering octopus.  So many pretty toys to play with!  Part of the reason I had to have it all was all the great inspirational posts, like this one.  Here is my attempt to recreate Veronica's card:

I added a layer of sparkle vellum for the sea oval, and I didn't have a straight line background stamp, but the rest I was able to duplicate pretty well.  I also added a layer of clear embossing over the octopus to help him stand out a little.

Supplies used:

Hero arts inks: Deep Ocean, Soft Pool
SSS inks: Lucky, Catkin, Melon,
Kaleidacolor Autumn Leaves rainbow inpad for the gold color on the starfish
Versamark ink and clear embossing powder
Chevron background stamp (I think it's Heidi Swapp)
Hero Arts Color Layering Octopus stamp and die set
Hero Arts sparkle vellum
SSS Sea Glass card stock
SSS white card stock
SSS Stitched Rectangles die
Spellbinders oval die
SSS Stitched Slopes and Hills dies

Thanks for looking!

CASEing Jennifer McGuire

One of my favorite stamp artists is Jennifer McGuire.  She creates so many beautiful cards and demonstrates so many wonderful techniques!  I was so glad to see her post here for Hero Arts.  I was just looking for an excuse to purchase this month's My Monthly Hero kit, and her entry on the blog hop was just inspirational.

Here is my attempt to CASE her card:

I don't have the Hero Arts kit yet, so I made do with the Color Layering Goldfish stamp set (which she also features on her blog post).  I just couldn't wait to try the technique, and I think it came out pretty well.

Later, I was wondering if the pink colors of ink I have would work with this technique- and look what I got:

I think it worked even better with the pink!  Plus it gave me another use of the Altenew stamp set- yay!

Supplies used:

SSS Inks: High Dive and Hollyhock
Hero Arts Color Layering Goldfish stamp set
Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set
Versamark ink
Perfect pearls
White detail embossing powder
SSS white 110 lb cardstock
Ranger Glossy accents

Thanks for looking!