awesome news - sweet stamp shop

Howdy, peeps! Do I have something to share with you today... I'm in the 'Designer Spotlight' over at Sweet Stamp Shop! :D

My wonderful friend, Judy Marino (who's on the Sweet Stamp Shop DT and whom I've known since the Hero Arts Flickr group first started) emailed me about it one day, and once the shock had worn off, of course I said "yes"! Looking at past spotlight designers, I don't feel I qualify... but I couldn't be more humbled and grateful. ♥ Nicole sent me some of the November releases to play with, and let me tell you, their stamps are So. Much. FUN!

Head on over HERE, to the Sweet Stamp Shop blog to see what stamp sets I used (this trendy alpha is a must, MUST-have). Judy also asked me a few stamping/cardmaking related questions, so you can read that little interview as well. AND, be sure to swing by Judy's blog HERE to see a card she created inspired by one of my recent designs... GORGEOUS  :)

Thanks for sharing in my excitement today! And thank you to Judy and Nicole for this incredible opportunity... I had a blast, and l LOVE your stamps! :) xxoo

i love you - retro sketch challenge and SSS may card kit

Hi, friends! Happy Memorial Day! :)

I love the Retro Sketches challenges! So I decided to break into my Simon Says Stamp May 2013 card kit (I know, I'm behind a little LOL) and play along with this week's challenge. First, here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

The kit came with some great pre-made sentiments, so I picked this one, and this lovely plaid paper to match. I also used a couple of the chipboard hearts from the kit and covered them with the Liquid Pearls. They look really cool in person...

..like enamel or cloisonne! :)

That's it from me today. Thank you for stopping by... see you soon!

simon says... have a heart!

Hi, friends! It's hump-day.. time for another challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp challenge blog!

A $50 gift voucher could be yours, just for playing along!

The theme this week is "Have a Heart"... just in time for Valentine's Day. ;) All of us on the DT createdour projects with the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive line of stamps and dies. If YOU have any of the Simon Says Stamp exclusives in YOUR stash, show us! We'd love to see! But, as always, it's not mandatory you use them to enter the challenge. :)

Anyway, on to my card:

My Valentine is going to be for my hubby, and he is a verrry NO FUSS, NO FRILLS kinda guy. LOL ;) It makes it easy that his favorite colors are black and red, but I needed to keep everything else really simple and masculine. First, I used my digital die-cut machine to cut out the heart, then ran that through my manual die-cutter with Simon's ALWAYS On The Edge wafer die. I specifically cut my heart at this size, so that when I positioned it and ran the die through, it would cut the heart all the way across. I then put pop dots on the bottom half, lined up the positives of the letters with the negatives, and adhered the bottom portion to my card base.

The result is a slightly off-set look, for something a little different. :) I stamped the sentiment, which is from Simon's exclusive FOR THE RECORD stamp set, on the top portion of the diecut, and filled in the heart with black Enamel Accents. It gives the little heart a kinda shiny, leathery texture... perfect! Something else was still missing, so I did a little faux stitching around the heart at the last minute. Not sure how well it works, but it's on there now. LOL :)

Anyway, now it's your turn! Create your project with heart (heehee), and link it up HERE, by 8am EST US next Wednesday (the 13th - and don't forget to link the the Simon Says Challenge blog, too), and that generous gift voucher could be yours.

And of course, please stop by HERE to see what my fellow teamies have made for this challenge! One word: LOVE! :D

Alrighty folks, thanks for reading. See you soon! xo

simon says... let's get paper piecing!

Hola, peeps! Once again, there's another challenge starting up at the Simon Says Stamp challenge blog...

..where a fabulous gift voucher awaits one lucky participant!

The theme this week is Paper Piecing! Looove me some fussy cutting and paper piecing! :D The product line we all used is Lily Bee Designs, so if YOU have an Lily Bee, we'd love it if you'd show us on your projects! But of course, it's not mandatory to enter the challenge.

So, like I said, I looove fussy cutting... and this is just how much:

Yep. Every single heart was hand-cut. And yes, I am actually that crazy, HA! I stamped the hearts from Lawn Fawn's Belinda's Borders on to my card base with black ink. Then stamped them again with the same ink on a few coordinating papers from Lily Bee's Handmade 6x6 paper pad. Then I cut and adhered them randomly over the stamped images on the base. Time consuming, yes... but I definitely love the results! :) And "You're Special" is from the Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler set... I thought it went PERFECTLY, with its whimsical font, and versatile sentiment. I figured with the hearts, the sentiment could read like a Valentine! :)

Anyway, time to see YOUR paper-pieced projects! Just upload HERE, by 8am EST US next Wednesday (the 30th), and you could be the random winner of that awesome gift voucher to spend at Simon Says Stamp!

And don't forget to go HERE to see other paper-pieced wonders made by my fellow teammies... amazing work!

Thanks for reading today.. OH! I know I said I would announce the winners from my Hero Hostess Hop drawing yesterday... so very sorry about that. Stay tuned for that announcement later today. The days just got away from me. :)

See ya later! ♥

a card a day in may - 5/11: LOVE

Hi, friends.. TGIF! :) Back again with another Card A Day In May post for you, and this time, one of my most favorite that I've made recently. I remember when I first saw the Hero Arts 'Untitled Love' cling set I HAD to have it... it was my #1 pick from the 2012 Catalog. Mostly because of this reverse butterfly "Love" image:


I knew it would go perfectly with the Heart Winged Butterfly (also from Hero), and I've been trying to come up with a design incorporating the two for a while now. I realized that I was just over thinking it a bit (can anyone relate?) and that's when the design finally came to me. What do you think? :)

I absolutely LOVE this set. :) I know I'll be reaching for it time and time again. To see other cards I've made with its images, you can go HERE and HERE.

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read my little ol' blog. Your comments are so appreciated and I am humbled by every one of them. ♥ See you tomorrow... "Same Bat time, same Bat channel!" Heehee!

SUPPLIES
paper: Hero Arts Pool Mixed Layering Papers (pool) and Georgia Pacific (wht)
stamps: Hero Arts AC004 and F5158
inks: VersaMagic (Turquoise Gem) and Hero Arts Shadow Ink (Soft Pool)
other: Hero Arts pearls and pop dots

hero arts 2012 catalog blog hop - day 3!

Hello, stampy friends! Welcome to another stop on the week-long Hero Arts 2012 catalog blog hop with the Hero Hostesses! Yesterday, we left off with Lin's four gorgeous creations, and today, you should've arrived via the Hero Club Blog. If not, or if you happen to discover any broken links, you can always find the master link list for the hop HERE. Also, please be sure to report any broken links to Tami by clicking HERE. Thanks!

And don't forget..! Hero Arts will be awarding prizes from randomly drawn comments! For a chance to win, simply comment on any of the stops along the hop on any day, including each day’s starting post at the Hero Club Blog. The more comments you leave, the better your chance of winning!

I really had a lot of fun playing with some of the new Hero Arts stamps, so let's get to it! Here's a card done with the new Sending You Love label set and the beautiful Paper Art Cling stamp:


Label/frame images are some of my favorites for making quick and easy sentiment focal points on cards. I stamped the flowers with white pigment ink, and then accented them with Ranger's Enamel Accents. A little Copic coloring, some bling, and you have a card that's simple, but still elegant.

And here's another one made with the fabulous Untitled Love Cling set:


I love the bold blocked images in this set! There are so many opportunities for fun techniques when using images like these. Here, I used Distress inks first to get my background, and then clear embossed the image over that. I then used a black marker to color in the un-embossed areas, while wiping the excess away with a cloth. A black mat and ribbon, and the result is simple, but still striking.

Thanks so much for joining me today, and thanks to Hero Arts for inviting me to play along! Your next stop is Arlene's blog, and I know she has something amazing to show you! Have fun hopping!

"Hugs and Kisses"
stamps: Hero Arts CL588 & CG198
inks: Colorbox Frost White pigment & Versafine Onyx Black
paper" Stampin' Up! Pretty In Pink & Georgia Pacific white
misc: Copics R85 & R81, Ranger's black Enamel Accents, Hero Arts pink gemstones, & pop dots

"Thanks"
stamps: Hero Arts AC004
inks: Ranger's Distress Broken China & Crushed Olive, Stampin' Up! Basic Black marker
paper: Georgia Pacific white & Stampin' Up! Basic Black
misc: Ranger's clear detail embossing powder, May Arts black silk ribbon, Hero Arts pearls, & pop dots

tangerine thanks and belated valentine

Good morning! Is anyone else just itching for spring? ;) My card today has a very warm, bright palette that's sure to melt away any winter time blues:


I love these bold citrus-y colors! And I love the stamp I used to create the flowers... it's the Hero Arts Large Blossom stamp, and was one of my very first purchases from the 2011 catalog. However, once I got it home I was quite intimidated by it. It's so beautifully detailed, but I really wanted to do more than simple stamping or embossing with it. So, I embossed the image on watercolor paper (I prefer the hot press variety for the smoother texture), colored a few of the larger flowers in the image (one green, to cut into "leaves"), and then cut them out and popped them up on pop dots. This helps to retain the lovely detail, yet utilize the image in a different way other than just as a boxed silhouette image.


After watercoloring with inks and a brush, I also added a bit of Perfect Pearls for shimmer. While I LOVE the look of watercolor, it's not a good technique for the Type A in me. The splotchy look - even though intended - usually drives me nuts, so I end up over-fussing with it to smooth it all out. Ha! Here, the Pearls helped serve two purposes. I also really love the sentiment! The fonts are so elegant, so I really wanted the card to reflect that. TIP: If you're cutting out a detailed embossed image with thin lines such as this, the embossing can sometimes flake a little in spots. Using a gel pen to replace those lines proved to be a very good fix!

And now my belated valentine. Better late than never, right?! ;)


This was the first of four that I was going to make for my kids to include with their Valentine goodies. However, the design ended up being too time consuming for me to repeat three more times, ;) so I went with a different, more simple project idea. The valentine-y stamp I used is the Heart Flourishes Cling background from last year's Hero Arts catalog. Can you spot it? ;) The sentiment is an oldie but goodie, from the Thinking of You Messages set. All die cut shapes were made with my Cricut.

Can't believe it's the last week of February! Seems like the months are just flying by faster than ever, and spring really will be here before you know it! Be sure to take a minute to hug your loved ones and do something special for YOU. :) See you soon with another card... and thanks for reading!

SUPPLIES
"Tangerine Thanks"
paper: Hero Arts notecard, Arches white hot press watercolor paper, white Georgia Pacific, and Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie
stamps: Hero Arts CG271, CG277, and CL477 (background)
inks: VersaMark, Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Old Olive, and Always Artichoke
misc: embossing powder, Perfect Pearls (white), and pop dots
"Sending Hugs & Kisses Valentine"
paper: The Paper Studio and Georgia Pacific
stamps: Hero Arts CG169 and CL140
inks: Stampin' Up! Real Red and Memories black
misc: Base Camp Cricut cartridge, gingham ribbon, and pop dots

♥ U (pub'ed)

Hey there! Well, summer's quickly coming to a close. School has started (for many) and the weather's cooling off. I'm still finding myself a little swamped, particularly as we just found out that my hubster's job will transfer us all to Nashville, Tennessee, effective immediately. SO... in addition to getting all four kids started with school, I can add a deep house cleaning, minor routine maintenance repairs, packing, house hunting, and multiple appointment scheduling (movers, showings, etc.) to my list. I really despise house hunting, especially from long distance. :P And we know NOTHING about Nashville... can any of you guys fill me in? Nice areas? Suburbs to avoid? Any advice in general? And if you could just keep me (and my sanity - ha) in your prayers over these next few weeks, I'd REALLY appreciate it that, too. :)

Anyway, on to a card. This was a pub a few months ago... which means that I made it several months ago. LOL So I'm not sure I can remember exactly what stamps (sets) I used, but I do know that they're all Hero Arts. ;) It was for a "Stamping Double" assignment, which means that I was required to use at least 2 stamps on my project. Easy peasy!



As you can see, I used many... the cloud background, the bird, and the grass, obviously. I also used a speech bubble stamp and some alpha stamps for the sentiment. The bird was colored with Prismas and Gamsol, cut out, and put up on pop dots, as was the speech bubble (sentiment). I remember that I had just gotten this Hero Arts bird stamp set at the time the assignment was due and thought he was so cool and funky looking! :D Anyway, not my usual style, but still fun. :)

Thanks again for reading. I know my posts have been sporadic at best lately, and with all I have to do this month, September's not going to be much better. :( But I really appreciate those who are patient and stick with me. Means A LOT. :) XO

On a more personal note, just had to say happy birthday to my sweet daughter 'A', who turns 8 years old today, and a great big kiss to my hubby today as well, for stickin' with me these last 16 CRAZY years (yep, it's our anniversary, too). I love you both, with all my heart. You are my reason and my purpose! Every day. :) XOXO

Thanks... I hope to have more cards to share, so see you soon!

love for Hero Arts

Back again! :) Guess what? There's some pretty amazing stuff about to happen over at Hero Arts! The website's getting a whole new look, the shopping area is being expanded... just some REALLY awesome things in the works! And to help celebrate, now through July 15th, they're offering 20% off all kits, and FREE USPS Priority Shipping on all orders of $35 or more! AMAZING. And if all that weren't enough, Hero is now on Twitter! Be sure to sign up and follow for chances to win prizes! Also, be sure to stop by the Hero Arts Blog post HERE for all the details and to learn how to pick up the Hero Arts blinkie (seen above and in my sidebar to the right) and add it to YOUR blog for even MORE chances to win prizes! (Please DO NOT link your blinkie directly from my blog. Thanks! :) ) WHEW... there's just SO much excitement, I can't hardly stand it! :D

And speaking of Hero Arts and all things exciting, last month, my very first article over at Scrapbook News and Review published! And it just so happens that it was a review on Hero Arts stamps. ;) If you subscribe to SNR, be sure to check it out and let me know what you think! It's in the May issue under "Stamps On Review". Here's a card I made to include with the review:



Just some very simple layered stamping in order to let the wonderful images shine all on their own. All products are Hero, minus the black and white card stocks (which are SU!). The finished card had a bit of a masculine feel to me, so I gave it to my hubster, to thank him for all of his wonderful support when it comes to my little "hobby". ;)

Well, Mr. Brown should be ringin' my doorbell aaaaaany minute now with a big ol' box of brand new SU! goodies. Off to stalk. ;) Thanks for reading and have a great, SAFE 4th of July weekend!

SUPPLIES: all Hero Arts stamps (S5100, H5011, and CL156), inks are Memories (black) and Colorbox chalk (Chocolates & Blueberry Queue), kraft note card and pearls also Hero. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all are being lavishly spoiled by your sweethearts today! :D

As promised, here's the Valentine I made for my hubby (click to see larger):



I hope the picture does this card justice, because (seriously - not bragging or anything, but) this card came out exactly as I had imagined... romantic and valentine-y, but still a little masculine (with the "chocolate" heart). Regardless, I LOVE it... and so did hubby. :) Which is the most important thing, right? ;)

First off, I LOVE the color combo - Chocolate Chip and Pomegranate look so rich together! It reminds me of sinful, raspberry truffles. :) I also love the Tres Chic background with all of its beautifully typeset, sentimental words. I got lucky with the Rubber Stampede sentiment stamp matching so well! And I used some Autumn Leaves flourishes here -n- there to mimic the swirls in the Tres Chic background and Filigree heart.



For the heart, I stamped it with VersaMark onto the chocolate card stock and heat embossed with about 4 layers of UTEE (stamp once...apply UTEE...heat until "droplets" of UTEE form...remove heat tool and quickly sprinkle on more UTEE...heat again...this time the UTEE will begin to smooth out to a glass-like finish...sprinkle on more UTEE...heat again...repeat as many time as you wish for depth). While the fourth layer was still molten, I pressed the Filigree stamp into it to give it that awesome texture. My kids think it looks like real chocolate! LOL

*** EDITED TO ADD: I then cut the heart out and mounted it onto Pomegranate card stock, trimmed it close, and sponged it with more Chocolate ink. I wanted the heart to have a bit more definition from the card, so I decided to add the tiny "border". Thanks for your question, Chris! Hope this clears things up a bit. :) ***

I absolutely love Purely Pomegranate. LOVE. IT. Paper, ribbons, ink refills... I'm stockin' up and hoarding it all. LOL But I had to use it on hubster's card, cuz he's worth it. ;) Love you, hunny! XO

Thanks for peeking and I hope you have a wonderful day. :)





**This card can be seen in the Feb. '09 issue of Scrapbook News & Review**.

CARD STOCK: SU's Purely Pomegranate and Chocolate Chip
STAMPS: SU's Tres Chic and Filigree (on heart) backgrounds, Paper Inspirations heart, Autumn Leaves Flourishes, and Rubber Stampede sentiemnt
INK: SU's Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, and VersaMark
MISC: UTEE and heat tool, pink heart rhinestones, sponges, dimensionals, SU's Ticket Corner punch and Pomegranate satin ribbon

Marbled Heart

When I saw the challenge for this week over at Wednesday Stamper, I knew this was the week for me! Of all the types of images that I love the most, hearts are definitely in the top three, only to be sightly edged out by flowers and alphas. I am very fond of heart images - all kinds. So this will probably be the first of many cards I make this week that include hearts as the main focus. ;)

Besides... I needed to make a card for hubby anyway. He's been extra sweet lately and I just wanted to show my love and appreciation for him. What better image to use than a heart! :)

• Stamps: Paper Inspirations (heart)
• Inks: Colorbox fluid Chalk (Lipstick Red)
• Misc: Sakura Glaze Pen (black), Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, and Westrim rhinestones.

I knew going into this card that it was going to be very simple. So I wanted to make sure that the one and only stamped image on this card would have a special "twist" to it to make it stand out. ;)

I created the marbled effect by twisting and releasing the inkpad in different directions on the stamp prior to stamping on the card stock. It was particularly successful with the Fluid Chalk pad since 1.) the ink tends to be really thick (almost like paint) which makes it easy to get great textured looks with it, and 2.) the ink tends to stay pretty juicy, which allows plenty of time for the manipulation of the ink. I then added the rhinestones as a little highlight to the heart (with the Quickie Glue pen - AWESOME product) and signed it with the Glaze pen - both to add some texture and shine. (I absolutely LOVE those glaze pens! Even though my handwriting looks wonky, it's really not IRL. I think when I reduced the scanned image, it made some of the letters look kinda wavy.) The card looks pretty basic here, but IRL, with the different "depths" of the ink, along with the rhinestones and embossed-like writing, well... I just think it looks beter IRL. LOL ;) Hubby is a no fuss, no frills kinda guy. Since that's the kind of kick I've been on with my cards lately, it worked out perfectly. ;)

I will post the other cards I sent (and possibly more heart cards) in the next couple of days. :)