BOUQUET IN AN ENVELOPE

This month's challenge theme at A Blog Named Hero is "anything goes" and I used my new My Monthly Hero dies for my inspiration card.  This January kit was so popular it sold out right away.  

The kit has all kinds of dimensional flower dies.  Rather than cutting them from plain cardstock, I used some papers from a MFT watercolor wash pad.  I was able to cut two flowers at a time so had a nice pile of flowers for making an arrangement in my envelope which was cut from Hero's woodgrain paper.  Die cutting and arranging the flowers took the most time - otherwise a very easy card to make.  Finally, I spritzed the arrangement with some clear shimmer.  This really is an  "anything goes" card as it could be used for any number of occasions - birthday, wedding, anniversary, valentine, just because.

I hope you'll create a card for this month's challenge - there's a chance to win one of two $25 gift cards from Hero Arts.   Thanks for stopping by today and love to read your kind comments.

ANYTHING GOES

A card today for Happy Little Stampers January Watercolor challenge which is "anything goes" with use of die cuts.

I partially stenciled the background with embossing paste and then added the layered flower and leaves which were die cut from paper I had watercolored.  The flower and leaves were also spritzed with some glimmer.  Added the tiny sentiment and a few sparkling sequins and done!

My card also is entered at Happy Little Stampers Dies challenge where the theme is also "anything goes".

 
Thanks for stopping by today and your comments always make my day.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN...

What do you do when you're totally out of energy and don't feel like doing much of anything??  Well, today I worked on my homework for the Altenew Mission Inspiration class - swatching out ink colors.  I've seen Jennifer McGuire and others do it and I never wanted to take the time.  Nicole had a way of doing it though that worked out perfectly with my storage units and my Altenew mini cubes.

I cut strips of heavy cardstock and swatched out and labeled the sets of ink colors.  I adhered the strip to the bottom of the tray with removable adhesive.  If I want to take the strip out and see if colors go together I can easily do that - also having the strip on the bottom of the tray helps me keep the colors in order from light to dark and within the sets.  This tray has a clear plastic cover bag with a handle so it's easy to grab.  I have another tray with my cool colors and neutrals.

That's all for today - thanks for stopping by.

TWOFER

Today I have a real "twofer" as I used all the die cuts both negative and positive between my two cards.  

My first card is partial die cutting with a piece of patterned paper behind the the die cut section.  Then I die cut the hearts from the same paper and arranged them around the "love" along with the "you".  For my second card I sponged a rectangle of cardstock with abandoned coral and picked raspberry distress inks to match the colors in the paper.  Added the negative piece from my first card along with some leftover hearts, the sentiment and a few Nuvo drops.  I plan on using my first card as a valentine and the second one as just an "anytime" card to send to one of my lovely granddaughters.  I used the sketch from Case This Sketch for my second design.

Will enter these two cards in Darnel's Twofer Challenge for using hearts, two different designs for two different occasions and using the same die.  My second card will also be entered at Case This Sketch#355.  The die I used is from Poppystamps and will enter in their "From the Heart" challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today and your kind comments make my day.

LOVE YOU

One of the ways I get back some of my inspiration is to enter challenges - probably holds true for any of you - and today my card is for the CAS Mix-up Challenge for partial die cutting.  I learned the trick for die cutting these letters from a class I took awhile back with Altenew's Lydia Evans.

I used Altenew's Caps Bold Alphabet for my letters which I backed with some paper that had a watercolor look.  Then I also die cut the little flowers from the same paper (easy way to get a watercolor look).  Added a little sparkle to the flowers with a Spectrum Noir clear glitter pen, stamped the "you", added a little enamel dot to a couple of flower centers and done.  The whole card front is adhered to a white card base.

I used partial die cutting, just die cuts, stamping and glitter on my card.

I am also entering my card at Virginia's Show and Share and Happy Little Stampers (anything goes with dies).

Thanks for stopping by today - your comments make my day!

BLOOM AND GROW

Although I have had regular posts for A Blog Named Hero the last three months, I actually had scheduled those way ahead of time.  I had rotator cuff and bicep tears that needed repair and went to Texas to have the surgery so that my daughter could help me out while I had my arm in a sling for six weeks.  Was pretty helpless with a lot of things and, of course, couldn't drive.  Katherine was a fantastic "nurse" and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful, caring daughter.  I stayed thru Christmas and have only been home since beginning of January.  Didn't make a card the whole time while I was there and thought maybe the inspiration fairy might have deserted me - but she's back - probably because I had to have a card to post today!!

Actually, a card by Michelle Lupton, one of my fellow ABNH FB DT members, inspired me to create this card.  For my card today I am using the HA and Altenew Bloom and Grow stamps.  I began by dropping some alcohols inks on yupo paper, adding blending solution and just playing around with it until I liked it.  Then I stamped the flower and fussy cut it.  Before adhering the flower, I stamped my sentiment, embossed it in white, and added the black and white washi on the side.  Finally added a few white enamel dots and done.

i am entering my card in Virginia's Show and Share and also Lavon's Love Flickr challenge.

Tomorrow starts a new challenge at A Blog Named Hero so be sure to check it out and then make a card for a chance to win one of two gift cards from Hero Arts. 

Thanks for visiting today and love to read your kind comments.

PRETTY PENGUIN

My friend, Linda has been teasing me about penguins ever since I told her I wasn't into penguins plus mermaids, big-eyed little children and a whole list of other stuff.  I've been teasing her right back so today I thought I'd better put my money where my mouth is with a penguin card for Christmas Kickstart challenge.

L

Linda sent me these cute little Hero Arts penguins several years ago so dug this darling little girl out of my stash and made a shaker card with some fun papers.  The sentiment is from an old Ellen Hutson set and is white embossed.  

Don't think I'll ever do a mermaid or any of the other stuff I'm not into, but must admit I had fun with this card.

Thanks for stopping by today and love to read your kind comments.

2019 FAVORITES

In 2014 when I began my blog adventure, my first post was my favorite cards from 2013.  So today I am writing my 638th post with my 2019 faves.  Link on the captions to go to the original posts. 

MONDO WILDFLOWERS

SPRING FLORALS

PINK TEXTURE

BLUE AND BLACK

PINK AND GOLD

SENDING HUGS

FALLING LEAVES

ERUM INSPIRATION

OMBRE LEAVES

DAISY

Since The Card Concept Challenge is a favorite card from this past year, I am entering my "spring florals" card (clean and layered).

Many thanks to my blog friends for your kind comments, looking forward to 2020 and may it bring all good blessings to everyone.

 

A SPARKLING SNOWFLAKE

Our challenge at A Blog Named Hero this month is "sparkle" and I've created a very sparkling snowflake shaker card for your inspiration.

I die cut the snowflake (retired HA) from silver glitter paper and used it for the background of my shaker which is filled with icicle sequins.  The sentiment is a very old HA one which is one of my all time favorites.

Make a sparkling card for our challenge this month and be eligible to win one of two gift certificates from Hero Arts.  

Thanks for stopping by and will be looking forward to seeing your cards.

 

POINSETTIA CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

Several months ago Dave Brethauer did a video showing how to watercolor a die cut made from paper napkins.  I found that quite fascinating and decided have a go with this technique using my new Hero Arts paper layering poinsettia.

Following Dave's guidelines I die cut the poinsettia and leaves and did some watercoloring.  I did have a bit of a problem with the napkin layers separating after they were wet but a little glue solved that.  Put my flower together and added it onto a snowflake dry embossed background with the little sentiment.  

I am entering my card in the Color Throwdown challenge although my colors are not quite as vibrant as theirs.  Am also entering this in Virginia's Show and Share for December.

A new challenge begins tomorrow at A Blog Named Hero - check it out and join in the fun to be eligible for a gift certificate from Hero Arts.

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas and much happiness and joy this holiday season.

Holiday hugs,

A CHRISTMAS CARD WITH MICHELLE

It's time for another Christmas card challenge with Michelle!  I'm so pleased to be joining her again this year and challenged her to make a card using gold metallic.

For my card I used my new HA ornament die.  I die cut it from gold metallic paper and then three more times from the same navy cs I used for the card base.  Adhered these all together for a nice sturdy ornament.  After edging a 5x3.75 piece of navy cs with gold embossing powder and a little sprinkle of ep here and there, I put it all together.  The ornament is only adhered right at the top - was thinking that if the recipient wanted to use it as an ornament on the tree, it could be easily taken off and then use the gold thread streamers to tie to the tree.

You can see Michelle's wonderful card here. Thanks Michelle for having me join you in this fun challenge.

Thanks for stopping by - love to read your kind comments - hope you have a fantastic day.