BOLD BLOOMS

Ellen Hutson has a challenge out there now to use an Essentials by Ellen product with a Pinterest inspiration (funny enough it's the same photo I used in February for the Hero Arts scramble).  Anyway I am in love with the new Bold Blooms stamps and dies so had to use them in my cards today.

On the first card I die cut the flower and leaves from black card and embossed with HA clear embossing powder as I wanted the flower to be as shiny as the gold stripes.  The background for the whole front of the card is Neenah white gold metallic (I have 200 4 1/4"x5 1/2" pieces printed on one side that Office Max screwed up on a print job for me - anyone want some of it?? - perfectly good on the blank side!)  The gold stripe paper is from a Teresa Collins Studio Gold pad.  The little glitter gold heart is also from TC.

The second card has the bloom and leaves cut from gold Neenah metallic card with vellum on the back just to give a little more interest.  The hearts and striped paper are from TC.

These cards are going to be part of a set for a prize at a bridge weekend coming up in April.  Six years ago a friend and I organized this bridge weekend at a beautiful lodge in Nebraska City - we start on Friday night with dinner and bridge and then play all day Saturday - the first year we had 16 women - this year there are 32 - and it is so fun - that is if you like to play bridge and eat and win fun prizes!!

Thanks for visiting today and love your kind comments.  Betty

VINTAGE BUTTERFLY

I don't often do vintage, but was in the mood for that for this post today at a2z Scrapbooking.

So hop over there and check out the entire card.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

EASTER BUNNIES

A friend asked me to make Easter cards for her granddaughters so here's the results!!

The tags were die cut with MFT stitched tag and the bunnies are from Impression Obsession.  I made them both into shaker cards with little seed beads inside.  The sentiment is also from Impression Obsession.  I think they turned out pretty cute - should probably make some for my granddaughters too!!

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

BIRTHDAY FEATHER

Today's scramble on the Hero Arts discussion group was to create a "word art" card.  I had the watercolor piece in my stash of backgrounds so first die the feather.  I stamped the happy birthday in the center of the feather in black ink and then stamped it all around in distress broken china ink.  Cut four more layers of cardstock and glued all the die cuts together.  Adhered the watercolored background to a card base and then fit the layered feather in place.  Added a few enamel dots and done.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

SPRING BOUQUET

Have a new post on a2z Scrapbooking today - here's a sneak peek...

So hop on over there and check out the details.

Thanks for stopping by.  Betty

MARCH CCC

I'm trying to keep ahead of the game with a2z design team posts and other stuff in my life - so made my card for Deb's March card chain challenge - I used the great sketch, colors and the friendship theme to make a card for Taunya.  These challenges from Deb are such a fun way to meet new friends from all over the world! -  plus she always has fabulous colors, an easy sketch and several themes from which to choose.

Used Altenew's layered painted flowers (stamped with HA butter bar, Memento dandelion, PTI sweet blush and melon berry), HA's new Hello Stamp & Cut, and MME striped paper.  The little clear gemstones are from Hero Arts (such a great value and the perfect accent)!  I find it much easier to color the leaves on this Altenew stamp by watercoloring with two shades of green ink rather than stamping.  Think I will make several of this design minus the sentiment just to have on hand for a quick card - the new Hero Arts stamp & cuts - Happy, Congrats, and Thanks would all work well with this design. 

Thanks for visiting and and always enjoy reading your kind comments.  Betty

HERO ARTS SCRAMBLE 104

This morning Judy's challenge was to think spring and design a card using flowers.  Usually I only get one card finished and uploaded in the 90 minute timeframe but managed to do two today.

On both cards I stamped the HA flower with versamark, embossed with Hero Arts white embossing powder and watercolored. 

On the first card I used PTI melon berry reinker and water for the flowers, sponged some Ranger tumbled glass on the bottom, doodled the stems and added a few HA clear gemstones.

On the second card I again white embossed and stamped with HA sweet threads flower, watercolored with Ranger broken china, added the sentiment from HA hello stamp & cut and added a few enamel dots.

This challenge scramble is usually every other week on a Saturday with a different hostess every time - it is such a great way to get the creativity juices flowing and there are always some prizes as an extra incentive!

Thanks for stopping by and always appreciate your kind comments.  Betty

MARCH CHALLENGE AT a2z SCRAPBOOKING

The a2z challenge for this month is "color it", so I did a card using my copics which have been quite neglected lately.  This is the same technique as I used in my card here only this time I used new Hero Arts stamps from the 2015 release.  I originally saw this technique on Amber's blog - she calls it an "inside out card".

The butterfly was stamped in black, die cut and then colored with Copics  B32, B63 and B95.   Then I die cut the butterfly on the front of the card.

The leaves were stamped with the new HA Stamp Your Own Plant in Forever Green shadow ink.  I just put a piece of paper under the die cut part so I wouldn't get ink on the inside of the card.  The "hello" is from the new Hero Arts Stamp & Cut Hello.

side view showing die cut front

I lightly outlined in pencil on the inside where the butterfly would be and then stamped more leaves and the "thinking of you" sentiment (also from the Stamp & Cut Hello).

                           inside                              

Lastly I glued the butterfly in place on the inside and added the clear gemstones on the butterfly and the front of the card.

Enter the a2z challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate during the whole month of March - maybe win some of those Hero Arts new "must haves"!!

Remember you can always get a 15% discount at the a2z store on a $25 order with my code - BETTY15.  The new 2015 Hero Arts release is now in stock at a2z so you can pick up some of the great new stamps and dies - it won't be hard to spend $25!!!

As always, thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

 EMBOSSED BUTTERFLY

I have a new post over at a2z Scrapbooking blog today - hop over and check it out. It's a new technique for me and a fun one!

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.   Betty

WHITE ON WHITE - SCRAMBLE #103

Barb challenged us to create a white on white card today on the Hero Arts 90 minute scramble.  Haven't done one of these in ages.

Randomly white embossed various stamps from the HA Sweet Threads set on a 5 x 3 3/4 piece.  Then I thought "why not do an inlaid happy" - so die cut this (used the new HA Happy Stamp & Cut).  Well, that was the wrong thing to do 'cause the embossing came off in the die.  So to fix it I smooshed the die cut in some more Versamark and white embossed with HA white embossing powder.  Glued this on top of 3 other layers of "happy" to raise it up a bit.  Put the embossed card on the card base and carefully glued the "happy" in place.  Added some white MME enamel dots and done.  Now am off to clean the die out!!

The theme for February's challenge at a2z Scrapbooking is "emboss it" - there's still time to enter here.  Get a 15% discount there too with my code Betty15.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

MORE PAINTED FLOWERS

Today's card is for two challenges - Freshly Made Sketches #174 and The Card Concept #29 - Get Well Soon (clean and layered style).  

I stamped just the outline from Altenew's Painted Flowers and then watercolored with Ranger distress inks - evergreen bough, broken china, picked raspberry, dried marigold, seedless preserves and peeled paint.  Then I fussy cut and layered on the card.  The sentiment if from a Technique Tuesday Greenhouse Society set no longer available.  I rounded the lower right hand corner to replicate the roundness in the flowers and polka dots.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

PAINTED FLOWERS

A last minute entry for CAS(E) This Sketch using Altenew's Painted Flowers.  I stamped just the outline of the flower using a mask to stamp four of them together.  The fifth flower was stamped separately. Then I used Ranger Distress "picked raspberry" to watercolor the flowers and "peeled paint" for the leaves.

The flowers were then fussy cut.  To make the background I cut a piece of Neenah astroparche (3 3/4 x 5) and embossed it with MFT stitched rectangle die.  The sandwich I used in my Cuttlebug from the bottom up was A, B, tan mat, cardstock, die face down, B and 2 layers of thin cardboard.  The "happy" is from the new Hero Arts 2015 release and is 3 layers of cardstock.  The little sequins are from Hero Arts ages ago.  Another one of my cards awaiting an occasion for a sentiment to follow the happy.

Thanks for stopping by and always enjoy reading your kind comments.  Betty

HAPPY BUTTERFLY

It's just a freezing dreary Sunday here in Nebraska and I'm listening to my Husker women's basketball game against Wisconsin (EDIT: woo hoo we won!!) and playing with my stamps.  Had the piece of watercolored paper on my desk - so die cut the butterfly from PTI, smooshed it in Versamark and then into HA sparkle embossing powder.  Then backed it with a piece of vellum.

Die cut a piece of white cardstock with MFT's stitched rectangle and then embossed this piece with Card Concepts "butterfly kisses" - mounted this on the card base with foam tape.   Die cut the "happy" in gold with HA's new Stamp & Cut.  Added the little gold heart from Teresa Collins which I think ties it all together nicely.  Inside is blank until I need this card.

a2z Scrapbooking's challenge this month is embossing - also an embossing challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  The a2z store also has the new HA 2015 release is stock - and you can pick up all kinds of great new items at a 15% discount ($25 order) with my BETTY15 discount code.

Will enter this in Happy Little Stampers challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

LEAFY VINE HEART

I have another post today on a2z Scrapbooking's blog - here's a sneak peek -

so hop on over and check it out for another last minute Valentine idea.  The challenge this month at a2z is embossing and this is another bit of inspiration - winner of the challenge will receive a $25 gift certificate from a2z.  And remember you can always get a 15% discount on a $25 order at a2z with my code - BETTY15.  The new 2015 Hero Arts release is now in stock at a2z so you can pick up some of the great new stamps and dies - it won't be hard to spend $25!!!

Thanks for stopping and always enjoy reading your kind comments.  Betty

WINE, WOMEN AND WINE LABEL CARDS!!!

The other night my card making group met at my house and I designed a wine label card for everyone to make.

I supplied everyone with all the materials with a variety of patterned papers for the little butterflies and the insert in the gold frame (had them use a craft knife to remove the original part).  We stamped the HA envelope pattern on the card base and the label with  HA collage background in antique linen distress ink.  Added little butterflies and done.  Of course we had a little wine while creating - a fun evening!!

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

SCRAMBLE #102

Today I am the hostess for the Hero Arts Flickr group 90 minute challenge.  I chose two photos from Pinterest as inspiration for the group. 

Supplies: HA PW100 Gold Embossing Powder, Sending You Love CL588, Lattice 331065, Manuscript Background H2141,  DI106; MME "Charmed" pp; Teresa Collins gold glitter heart; MME enamel dots; Spellbinders "Classic Hearts" die

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

BUTTERFLY VALENTINE

Made a card for a challenge that is new for me - ColorQ - and here is the inspiration photo - such gorgeous colors together!!!

First die cut the Memory Box heart from white cardstock.  Then cut it again from scraps of the dark pink, light pink, red and orange (sorry the orange doesn't look very "orangey" in the photo!) and snipped out the butterflies.  Arranged the butterflies on the white and attached them with a dot of glue in the center.  Used a Sakura clear glitter pen to give all the butterflies a little shine.  Stamped the "happy" (a very old Hero Arts stamp) in red royal HA shadow ink.  The "valentine's day" was stamped from PTI "Year Round Happiness" in Versamark and embossed with HA white embossing powder.  Popped it all up on a white card base.

You can get the Hero Arts products and Versamark ink I used at a 15% discount on your order of $25.00 or more by using BETTY15 code at a2z Scrapbooking.

Thanks for stopping by and always enjoy reading your kind comments.  Betty

FLOURISH VALENTINE

Have been making valentines this week for family and friends and wanted something rather simple and elegant - so came up with this card today.

I figured out where I wanted the PTI flourishes to be and then used my Fiskars stamp press for positioning on the card.  After embossing with liquid platinum I trimmed the piece to 4" x 5 1/4" and adhered to the base.  I die cut the heart from a gorgeous Teresa Collins "Studio Gold" paper pad that my friend Joy sent me in the Hero Arts secret santa exchange.  This paper is gorgeous and if you can find it anywhere pick it up. Snipped some bits of foam tape and put on the back of dots to give the heart a little lift.  Joy also sent me the matching enamel dots so added on a glittery heart. Sprinkled on some bits of gold confetti - done and dusted!

 If you love Ranger liquid platinum embossing powder, like I do, use my 15% discount code at a2z Scrapbooking  (BETTY15) and save a bit of $$.

Thanks for stopping - always enjoy reading your kind comments.  Betty

SENDING YOU LOVE

I have another post today on a2z Scrapbooking's blog - here's a sneak peek -

It's a really pretty Valentine so be sure to hop over there and check it out - and remember you can always a 15% discount in the a2z shop on all your favorite Hero Arts supplies by using my discount code - BETTY15.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Betty

WINTER BUTTERFLY

This past week I received some exciting news - a2z Scrapbooking asked me to become a member of their design team - famous first for me!!  And what a crazy day on Saturday - just when I finished the Hero Arts scramble #100, I had an email from Kymona saying that my first post would be due to go live on 13 January!!  So not only did I have to create a card, but also post it using Wordpress which I had never used before.  Good thing I'm a little bit computer savvy and managed to do that after creating my card.  Here's a peek of what I created:

I used a new technique (to me) which I have explained in my post.  So head on over to the a2z blog and check it out.  If you need any Hero supplies a2z is the go to place with my 15% discount for you - BETTY15 - good on a minimum purchase of $25 at their store. Think about joining their January challenge - New to You - and a chance to win a $25 gift certificate. 

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty

HERO ARTS SCRAMBLE #100 & MERRY MONDAY CHALLENGE

Today Barb challenged us to use our favorite Hero Arts image and sentiment in a card - and get it finished and posted in 90 mintues.  Have always loved this HA sentiment so started with it and then used the HA butterfly die.  The blue watercolored background was a scrap lying on my desk.  Since the theme this week on Merry Monday is "snowflakes" I am entering it in their challenge also.

Supplies: HA D4236, D1078, CL234; Neenah metallic cardstock

Thanks for stopping by and love reading your comments.  Betty

DIFFERENT COLORS - DIFFERENT CHALLENGES

Virginia's View Challenge this month is "clean slate".  My card is another version of the CASE of Laura Bassen's card that I previously made for Kara's Friday Inspiration File challenge.  I needed some thank you cards so did the same design in different colors.  Since it has lots of white space I think it qualifies for Virginia's challenge.  Am also entering this in Happy Little Stampers challenge of CAS+water coloring (thanks to Loll for suggesting I enter).

Before water coloring the background, I spritzed the paper with water & Perfect Pearls -gives it a  lovely glimmery effect, but difficult to photograph.

Supplies: Memory Box Gorgeous Gardenia outline die and Technique Tuesday sentiment


Thanks for stopping by and making my day with your kind comments.  Betty

KARA'S CHALLENGE

I have been following Kara's Friday Inspiration File on Pinterest for ages.  Since she just did her 200th file, her challenge is use one of her chosen cards as inspiration and post it on her blog.  I chose this card by Laura Bassen.

Here is my card:

I need thank you cards for some Christmas gifts and am planning on making more of these in different colors. 

Supplies: Memory Box Gorgeous Gardenia outline die and Technique Tuesday sentiment

Thanks for stopping and I so appreciate your comments!  Betty

MY FAVORITES OF 2014

I began my blog on 6 January and I'm so glad I got up the nerve to do it.  Will be traveling home from London on the 6th next week so while I have a little time today here am posting my own favorites from the year.  Have had a wonderful time here with my son and family - went to see "Edward Scissorhands" at the Sadlers Wells theatre - fantastic choreography - beautifully done.  Spent some time in Canterbury with my DIL's mom and dad, went to school with DIL Sarah for 3 days - she is the deputy head of a Catholic primary school - worked with year 6 kids on helping them to write winter poems and then took them out in small groups and did watercolor backgrounds for their poems now that I am the watercolor expert:-) from all my great experience - NOT!  But they had fun just playing with the colors and splattering - also taught them how to cut snowflakes - the poems and the snowflakes ended up on a large bulletin board in the hall by their classroom.  Later today I am meeting up for a glass of wine with a stamping friend whom I met online and have been corresponding with for several years.  We have met before but it's always fun to catch up in person.

Below is the winter display from St. Joseph's School in Kingston, London.

And here are my favorites from my first year of blogging.

I haven't figured out how to align the pictures horizontally even after googling how to do it - still greek to me.  So it just has to be a very elongated post.

Also, I am at 999 followers on my Pinterest Boards - wish someone would help me get to 1000 by the end of the year!!!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2015 to everyone who stops by.  Hugs,  Betty

CHRISTMAS CARD FOR 3 CHALLENGES

I started out to design this card for Merry Monday's challenge (bird) and then realized I could also use it for Curtain Call (aqua and lime green) and Paper Players (fancy).

I adhered the silver dot vellum to white cardstock and die cut the tag.  Die cut the bird from silver paper and covered it with glossy accents to give it some shine.  The branch and sentiment are cut from glitter paper.  I colored the silk ribbon with a copic marker. 

Supplies: HA sentiment, MFT tag, MB bird & branch dies; May Arts silk ribbon; DCWV and SU glitter paper and Neenah metallic cs.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  This may be my last post for the year as I leave for London next Sunday to spend Christmas with my family there.  May you have a peaceful Christmas and a blessed New Year.  Betty

 HERO ARTS SCRAMBLE #99

Today Natalie challenged us to use an "old" Hero Arts holiday or winter stamp.  Took me forever to think of something, much less make a card - which actually turned into a tag.

I recently bought a Tim Holtz die set of pine boughs and holly so cut those out in green. Stamped the tag background with woodgrain in distress ink and rubbed the edges with more ink.  Then I overstamped in white with a spatter background stamp to give the effect of snow.  Embossed the sentiment and ornament (fussy cut), added some gold floss and done - only it took me nearly 70 minutes to accomplish!!!!  And then I still had to photograph and upload - nearly didn't make it in 90 minutes!

Supplies: HA CL551, S5208, CH188; Heidi Swapp splatter stamp; Tim Holtz dies; DMC gold floss; Colorbox frost white and Ranger walnut stain inks

Thanks for visiting today and your kind comments.   Betty

NOVEMBER CCC

For Deb's November Card Challenge I made this card for Heather in Ireland.  The colors were taupe, brick red and dull gold which I used and the card sketch.  Only put "happy" on the card and didn't write inside in case Heather ever needed a quick card,  she could stamp a sentiment to go with "happy" and send it off.

I like to have these kinds of cards on hand just for that reason.

Supplies: MME pp and enamel dots; SU "sahara sand" cs; HA "Happy" die

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  Betty