Pink is Pretty....

....and so is Purple, of course!!    That being said, they are also two of my top favorite colors and colors I love to use on many of my cards.

    Today was no exception as I started working on my card for this week's challenge over the MUSE Challenge!   I am also extra excited to join the fun, as this week's Guest Designer is "Janet Ribert" who I know as "SwanLady" from the online Hero Arts Flickr Group!!   I also just happen to LOVE and own the exact same stamp she used on her Muse card, which is one of the three fabulous stamps that Shari Carroll designed for Hero Arts.  They are called "Shari's Trees" and have fast become a very popular favorite!!

   This is Janet's fantastic card (featuring Tree # 2), and I just LOVE everything about it.  Her fun blue colors, the design and all the amazing Sparkle, of course!!

Janet's Card

My Card

   I adore all these wonderful stamps and was so excited to see that Janet used on for her card.  I knew right away that I wanted to use the same stamp, but tried to my card in my colors and think I did that pretty well!   I did LOVE her idea of "Popping Up": some of the Ornaments and I did the same and then coated them with 3D Crystal Accents.   My Star and the smaller ornament were coated with Fuscia Pink Stickles...!!   Hope you like it!!

   And my second card today is a card I'm making for a friend who has a birthday coming up.   I was lost when I first started this, as I have been so focused on Chirstmas Cards lately.  However, once I started on it, it quickly went together and the main focus of this card was all done with Die Cuts.  The fun little flowers (Fresh Daisies) is another Exclusive from Simon Says Stamp and the "Happy Birthday" on the inside, is two different dies from Memory Box.  The card base is a gorgeous blue shade (Robin's Egg) by Bazzill and I grabbed it out of my November Card Kit, from SSS!!   Love Love Love this color and the wonderful weight of this cardstock.  They also sell it at my LSS and you can bet I'll be adding more of this color to my stash!     I also cut the front of my card into a fun curve and added the extra black and white patterned cardstock to the bottom, and used used that same paper due to cut the flower tops.  I cut two solid black layers first and then added the pattern on top.   The black/white polka dots were in my stash, and I have to admit, I'm NOT sure which set these came from!!   

   I will also be submitting this card to the current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp, which you'll find HERE!

  And that's it for today my friends....!  I've slowed down again after coming down with a silly cold...just my luck after having a Flu Shot last week.   It's also cold, wet and kind of dreary here and the cold air, is setting in!  UGH!!    Why can't we have Summer all year....that's my dream!  

...Goodbye is never easy....

...and even though both of my sons are now adults, I find it especially hard that Brian, (my oldest), is now living all the way across the country in San Diego.  I am thrilled that he has a wonderful and gorgeous wife, Meghan, but it's so hard having them both so far away...!    If you follow me often, you'll know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a Mom and love my boys with all my heart.  Raising them has been the best joy I could ever have and I only wish they were still younger, so I could still be tucking them in their little beds every night and kissing them as the fall asleep.....But --- in life everyone grows up and that's exactly what has happened in our family.  My boys are now 26 and 21 and I'm also thrilled that I have a wonderful new addition, my gorgeous Daughter in Law (Meghan) who married Brian, last September!  The only hard thing is that they relocated to San Diego only a month later and it's been really hard on this Momma having one of her kids all the way across the country!!   I miss them every day and wish so much they lived closer.

   It was so FUN and exciting to have had Brian home the past few days, but just as hard as the first time, to have to kiss him and say Goodbye again yesterday, when he was leaving for his flight!  That will NEVER get easier and I only wish he had been able to be here longer and that Meg could have come too!!   Having them both working for the same Company on top of Meg just starting school again (working on her Master's), it's not likely they there will be many time they BOTH get a chance to come home together and say any length of time.   Thankfully, I can go out and visit them and now want to plan my next trip already!  I loved San Diego and only WISH I could talk my Hubby and Alex into moving there too...then it would be fine and I'll be very happy and excited...not only to be close to Bri and Meg, but to live in such a nice location and one where it's warm all year young...a dream that I want in my future..and the sooner the better!!

   I found myself teary and not feeling well all weekend, and I'm not sure if it's all from a cold that I have, some effects of my Flu Shot from Friday, or just that deep sadness of knowing it'll now months before I see the kids again...its' HARD, very very hard!   More than I ever imagined...so please, if you have younger children...savor EVERY moment with them and grab all the kisses and hugs you can, because before you know it, they are adults and living their own lives...!! And while I'm very happy for them, it still long for the old days....

     Thank goodness for this amazing hobby that I have and how it helps keep me busy and keeps my mind of the sad thoughts or even being sick...other than the joys of being a Mom, to the kids and my wonderful dogs....creating is my next greatest LOVE and is a passion I so enjoy.  I know I'd be lost without it and I'm so thankful to have an amazing craft room and all the goodies I need to literally spend hours and hours making cards....my little touch of Heaven!!
 
   Today, I'm happy to be in my craft room keeping myself busy and trying not to think about Brian being gone again (ya right)..!!  I'm working hard on some new cards to share, all of which were started in a new House Mouse workshop that I took on Saturday.  It's the first time I've worked this much with House Mouse Stamps and I found they are really fun and quite adorable.  I colored mine with my Copics and also added Glitter and lots of Sparkle and shine with some of my favorite new Wink of Stella Pens.   I think the cards came out cute and they are fun and happy cards.

    This first card is one of my favorites and the stamp is called "Reindeer Games" and it's one I did buy to add to my Christmas Collection.  The fun dimensional "snow" was created using a new, (to me) type of Embossing product that is called "Chunky White Embossing Enamel" and its'  and is a product from Stampendous, the same company who now sells the very popular House Mouse line, which you also still buy from House Mouse directly.

  And next is this cute little card with one of the little Mice is hanging onto some Holly, another card I enjoyed coloring!!  This one is called "Chin up" and I also bought this one and will be using it again soon!!

  

   This fun little guy is being submitted to two of my favorite challenges!  The Make It Monday Challenge #164, as well as today's new "Greeting Card" challenge over at The Outlawz!!   I hope you stop by and join the fun at any or ALL these fun places!!

   And that brings up to these two, which are both really cute and were also really fun to create!   I also used my Wink Of Stella Markers on these to add some extra colors and lots of extra sparkle, which doesn't show up all the well in the photos. It's much better in person!!

   As I am posting these, it just dawned on me that we made five cards in class, and I'm now missing one....but after a quick search I found it was packed in with my envelopes!  Yippee!  So, I will finished coloring that one and have it for you in my next post.  The image we used for that called is called "Gifts Galore" and it is another one I now have here in my collection!   I love the little Mouse trying to juggle all the Christmas Presents --- super cute!!  Here is a sample card, much like the sample that we used in class:

Photos Courtesy of Stampendous

      Once I had those done I wanted to use up a few more of the elements left on my desk and decided to use more of my fun little pre-colored images from Lili of the Valley.   For today, I pulled out two different images of Christmas Trees and then cut them to the size I wanted for each card!

   This is my first card, and after sizing my image, I layered it onto some Green Polka Dotted paper that I just bought from Stampin' UP.   I love any paper that has polka dots or stripes and whenever I found them, I buy them.  This is one of their collection and it was even ON SALE...my favorite thing, of course is a sale!! Woohoo!!  Once I had it i on the polka dotted paper I decided to add to onto a Black Hero Arts note card and then cut a strip of Black card stock to go across the bottom, where I will likely add a Sentiment.  However, I was not sure what I wanted, so I'm waiting on that!!

  And my last card today, also features more of the same, including the Art Pad Image from LOTV with more of the green polka dots and even another Hero Notecards...YES, in case you don't already know, Hero Arts has now pretty much become my Favorite product line and I LOVE the notes cards (pre-folded) A2 Size colored cards, which a white interior.  Perfect for all card types and they come in a wonderful array or colors.  You can also create two from each sheet of their matching "Layering Paper", which I also LOVE!!!

   NOTE:  Don't you just LOVE the newest watermark on the card above?  I know I sure do and I want to say THANK YOU to my friend Paula, who I met through Operation Write Home, who was kind enough to create it for me, after I had admired hers on one of her cards.   I also LOVE the Watermarks she made for me with the OWH Logo and use them all the time on my OWH cards!!  I don't own PhotoShop nor do I have ANY clue how to use it, making it impossible for me to create my own custom Watermarks, which I LOVE to use on my cards.   I'm find that it's a challenge to find people who make them or sell them, so when I wrote to Paula to ask where she bought hers, I was thrilled, when she offered to make me mine!   Thank you so much Paula, I really LOVE these and love having a variety for ALL my different cards!!   

   To make this card a little different, I used all white and green and even created a little matching bow to add to the top!   I am also submitting this card to the current challenge over at "Craft-Dee BowZ", and would be thrilled to win one of the amazing bow-makers!!   Challenge Code - CBD06

   The watermark on this card was once I purchased at Pink Gem Designs as us the one on the "Believe in the Magic Christmas" card above, both of which I also rally like.   Almost ALL my others were designed by Wendy of Digital Delights, but sadly, she is no longer creating Custom Blogs or Watermarks, she had also created my Blog Header, which I absolutely LOVE!!   I know she is super busy with her digital images and has a super busy store, but I do hope in time, she may start creating these again, as I really loved her ideas and she created several for me when during the time I was on Design Teams, and those were with done with the artwork from each company, which made them perfect for my DT creations!!   Now I'm looking for a new source where I can go to have more Watermarks designs, as I love having a variety!!   If anyone knows anyone who has a store that creates and/or sells custom Watermarks, please let me know!  Thank YOU!!

   I have a totally free week...imagine that....No Doctors appointments, no Chiro and nothing I have to do...so my goal is to CREATE and I plan to have new cards every day!!   Stay tuned because next week, I'm starting a brand new Silhouette Class with Kerri Bradford, followed by a Holiday Card Workshop at the Online Card Classroom!!   WOOHOO!!  I love love love to create and love classes, equally as much!!

WooHoo!! Exciting News!!!

  I am not sure how many of you follow the amazing blog of Jennifer McGuire, but I sure do and she's been one of my favorite designers for a long time.  I've also had the pleasure to meet her and took two fabulous workshops with her when she last taught at my LSS!!

  On top of loving her style, I'm also a huge fan of Hero Arts products and Jennifer designs for Hero Arts and uses many of the products in her daily posts and videos. She and Kristina Werner, also are the creators of the super Online Card Classroom and I'm thrilled to have taken EVERY class they offer and have already signed up for the next Holiday Workshop which you can join too, by going HERE!!  The class starts on November 11th and I now it'll be awesome.

  Another thing I love about following Jennifer is that she always shares great ideas of organizing and a vast array of fabulous products, which often easily enables me to shop for some of her favorites.  She has introduced me to other wonderful creative stores and often has a lot of fabulous giveaways as well as special promo codes and links to sales at the stores she loves.   I always comment on products and ideas she shares and always HOPE that someday I might win something...I also tell her in advance in my comment if I already own a procuts, so that she can draw a second name, if needed.  But, that was not the case when she recently featured an awesome new store (OrganizeMore) to me and it's a store that makes a wonderful array of organizational products --- Right up my alley!   I love to be organized and have recently been working on a major organization in my craft room.   I immediately feel in love with the amazing "Ink Storage Units" and loved that they have a nice variety.  I quickly added the store to my Favorites and thought I would share a link with Hubby with my Christmas Wish List.

  Well, imagine my surprise when I received an email from Jennifer yesterday, telling me that I was the VERY LUCKY WINNER, of one of their awesome Ink Pad Organizers...and it's a nice large one that holds up to 48 ink pads, which is perfect for me, as I'm kind of an INK junkie and own well over 48!!  But, this is going to hold my favorites which are all my Hero Inks Shadow Inks, plus all my brand new "Luxe" inks, (by Memento), which is now my absolute favorite Pigment Ink...they are so vibrant and ever color is amazing.  They are also perfect for embossing and work really well with all stamp types!!    I can't wait for it to arrive and then I can begin on my next project!     I'm so excited and very very thankful to have been a winner and I know that I will LOVE this organizer and likely be shopping more at OrganizeMore!   My special thanks to both Jennifer and OrganizeMore for offering this great prize!!  WOOHOO!!!

  And if that is not exciting enough, on a more personal note, I only have one more day, before I see my son, Brian -- (who now lives in San Diego).  He's currently in flight now and will be arriving in Boston tonight!!  He is spending the night there with friends and then will be heading here tomorrow!  Only one more day and I can HUG my son, for the first time since I visited them, back in January!!   I am also starting to plan another trip and hope to go again during the winter to get away from the cold!!  I loved being out there last year and can't wait to go again....but for now, it's so nice that he's coming HOME and this is his first trip back, since they moved there, just a little over a year ago!   The only hard part is that he is only here for five days and is coming for a Wedding, not to mention trying to see all his family and friends in a few short days.  But, as long as I have some time to HUG him ...I'm a Happy Mom!!   The only sad part is that Meghan, could not come home with him.   She just started school again and is working on her Masters which makes me so proud of her.   I was thrilled when she decided to go back and even more happy when she called to tell me she was awarded a Scholarship for a project she designed, when she applied to this program! Way to go Meg, some day you can design me a fabulous new craft room and if I ever win the lottery, you can design me a brand new home!!

  And speaking of happy, even though my back is a bit out, I have had been able to create today and have three new cards to share.   The first two were both created after being inspired by the MUSE Challenge and the wonderful card that was designed by Darnell Knauss!   I am sharing a copy of her card below and you can also visit her BLOG to see more of her wonderful work!!   I think it's very sweet that she made a card to promote "Breast Cancer Awareness", which is always a very thoughtful theme for the month of October!!

   This is her beautiful card and I loved her design so much that I knew right away and that I wanted to use that as my inspiration for my card.

Darnell's Muse Inspiration Card

My Card

   I have to admit that I am not one who at all like to "tear" paper....I feel like it's almost a crime and a lot of times, when I see torn paper, I will change up things, so that I don't have to do it...it makes me want to cry...silly, but I know I'm not the only one...I just LOVE my papers so much that I have a hard time tearing any!  But, in this design, I loved the look so much that I even torn mine...imagine that!!   I started with this new little tree stamp that I picked up on clearance at my LSS.  It's from Inkadinkado and I loved the simple design.  I inked it up with my Hero Shadow Inks (Green Hills), and stamped it directly onto a piece of white cardstock.  I then chose to use some my favorite new Christmas Paper, which is
"Peace, Love, Joy" by Lawn Fawn, and I picked out paper in white, green and red for my card.  I then added on some red gems to my tree and adhered it all onto a Hero Hues NoteCard, also in the same Green shade.   My sentiment is from a brand new PTI set that I just bought along with the matching dies....!

    And after realizing that I liked the design so much, I was quickly able to make a second card, using a lot of the leftover on my desk.  I did stamp the tree again as a background onto some "Foliage" cardstock by Hero, and then die cut this cute little "Mod" tree for this one.  It's another of my many from Simon Says Stamps.   I finished off this tree with a little wooden red heart that I colored with my Copics to match!  For this card, I'll add my sentiment to the inside, when it's time to send it out!

   In addition to the MUSE Challenge, this second card is also being submitted to the "Oh Christmas Tree" Challenge being hosted this week over at Papertake Weekly, as well as the "Anything Goes" challenge be hosted over at the "Through The Craftroom Door" Challenge Blog HERE!!

    My last card today is another card that I created using these super fun Circle Stamps, again from Simon Says Stamp.   In case you hadn't noticed, I've become a big fan of their exclusive dies and stamps, even since Kristina Werner first starting designing them and now I'm loving even more with Shari Carroll also now is part of this creative team!   It's also been awesome to have a discount to shop at SSS because of taking the classes at the Online Card Classroom.  Heidi, the owner is very generous and not only offers a discount to each student, but she also gives away a ton of prizes on the Simon Says Blog and many others, like A Blog Named Hero, just to mention another of my favorites!

Oh what a day.....

...Not only is it another nice sunny day, but I have also had another day where I had lots of time to spend in my craft room -- my favorite place to be.   The dogs have been really good, well I should say "pretty good"...and I'm loving that the puppies are growing so fast and behaving more and more each day.  They are 10 months old as of today and every day is a JOY with them.

   Today, I have a fun little assortment of "happy" style cards to share and all of these cards are the type that are super easy, yet fun to make.  My first card was inspired by the new CAS Challenge over at "The Outlawz Challenges", where the theme this week is all "Rest and Relaxation"....and to me one of the most relaxing things in my life, is creating!!

   Since the pups were all napping when I started on my cards, I thought it would be fun to make a card related to them and their naps and just happened to have this sweet little "Pillow Talk" stamp set that Kristina Werner created for Simon Says Stamp.  I also had these really fun little digi dog images that I bought awhile back on Etsy and I combined the two together to make this card, which I am submitting to the challenge.

   And with animals, especially my dogs, often on my mind, I found that I was in the mood to create some more animal inspired cards and wanted to use these adorable cuties which I bought at Lili of the Valley.  These pre-colored and little images came in a full sheet (European Size) and also are pre-colored and ready to cut or punch and add them to a card base.  A very fun, and super easy way to make cards fast!   These are some leftover sheets I had bought last year, and now they have changed them a bit and they are now sold in little packs, which they call Art Pads, which you can order pre-colored or also in B&W.  I also have a set of those and will look forward to sitting down with my Copics and coloring, another day!!   also offer the same in B&W, which I also bought, because I so love to color, but of course, today, I can seem to find where I put that set?  LOL!!

  This is the first card I created and I named this one "BFF's", for Best Forever Friends and because I think they two look like they are having a wonderful day walking in the snow.  I think they make adorable cards and the best part is that you can use just like a stamped image, only you don't have to color, which is perfect for those days when you are rushed or simply want to make several cards in a short time.

  This fun card is being submitted to the October Challenge over at Stamping Sensations, where the theme for the month is "All Creatures Great and Small".   I thought this was perfect with the big bear and his tiny little penguin friend!  

    This is my second one and for this card, I used a Nestie Circle Die to cut out the LOTV Image and then matted it onto some matching patterned paper.  I used the same paper to stamp on my sentiment, which is a new one that I picked up at my LSS the other day.  It's from Memory Box, one of my all time  favorite companies for Dies and Stamps, along with Poppy Stamps, which is the spin off of Memory and owned by Dave's Children, how fun is that!!   I'm lucky enough to have met the entire family, when they spent the Summer of 2012, traveling across the country with Dave teaching classes along the way!!   It was really a pleasure to meet them and so inspiring to see the kids now have their own separate company!

   My next card is by FAR the easiest card I created today and it all started with a digital sentiment that is one of my favorite, because it contains a HUG!!  I love any sentiment that has Hug in it and have often bought a full stamp set, for one Hug stamp.  I printed it out in Purple and then cut my own window card topper using another Nestie Circle Die.  I then took a framed embossing folder and ran that piece through my Cuttlebug before I added it to a lavender Hero Hues Card Base.   To finish off this very CAS card, I wanted a little Sparkle and added some Hero Accent Gems, which I LOVE!!  This card was created to send to a friend who have been having a rough time lately.  I want her to know that I card and that a Hug is always available should she need it!!

   My final card today is another Christmas Card and I again am using one of my favorite new Christmas Stamps Sets, which is the fabulous circle set, another SSS Exclusive!

   I have a feeling you'll be seeing lots of cards that feature this set, along with the fabulous "Shari's Trees" stamps by Hero Arts!   Love Love Love them all and they are exactly my style!!

  And now it's time to feed the dogs and then have our own dinner!!  I'm excited that Hubby always cooks on Sunday night and that's always a treat for me!  The Pups are hungry now and can't' wait  a moment longer to eat...!!  I'll be back tomorrow and hopefully have some more next cards.   Have a great evening and as always, Happy Crafting!!

A feeling of Fall...

...is in the air, but we still have had some wonderful warm and sunny days, which makes me a happy girl!  It's not that I mind Fall, I actually like a subtle change in seasons, but I am such a Summer gal and truly love the very warm and sunny days the most.  I dread winter and a great part of that has become worse, because I now have to live through it with Fibromyalgia and it makes me feel sooo much worse....Yuk!!   So, I'm savoring every day that is still nice and warm and not at all ready to give into the thought of Winter....

   This week I had a great time at Card Club which is a monthly card making type workshop that is hosted by my LSS "Absolutely Everything".  I love the new ideas is brings to me and we also always typically try new stamps, colors and techniques that I would never normally do on my own.  I like that it makes me create things a bit outside of my norm, but I also try to make all the cards my own and never finish any in class.  I prefer to take them home and then finish them here making any changes that I think make them work better for me!!

   I'm finally done with this week's cards and am happy to now share most of them with you.  There were a couple that I did not finish or just did NOT love, so I kept the elements from them and will use them on new cards in the future.   I'm starting with a few of my favorites --

   I own and love this Gratitude Design Stamp by Hero Arts, but never would thought of using it this way, in the three different ink colors.  Yet, I love this and love the CAS style!!  I am also happily submitting this card to the current "Anything Goes" challenge over the Through the Craftroom Door Challenge Blog!!!

And these are the rest, including this next cutie, which

is another one I really think is sweet!!

I am submitting this card to the current "Animals and Autumn" challenge over at Die Cut Divas.   Come on over and play along, the more the merrier!!

This next card has a ton of detail, but was super

easy and fun!  All we did was add a piece of patterned/Glittered cardstock,

and then some cute stickers from a Halloween Themed Pak!!   

This was done by first embossing the white flowers

and then spritzing the rest of the background with Dylusion Inks!

Another cool technique card, yet one that is easy!!

And last by by no means least...this card, is also

a technique cards, were were painted with Dylusion Sprays, using

one of Dyan's awesome Stamp sets!  I first learned this technique of adding the Dylusion Spray directly into a Ranger water brush, when I took a workshop with Dyan, last Fall!  It's so fun and you can quickly color in any image or 

create a fun background!

  And that catches me up to today and I have two new Christmas Cards that I created with playing in the newest 90 Minute Scramble over at the Hero Arts Flickr Group.  Judy was today's hostess and her challenge today was to use "Snowflakes" and "Glitter" on our card and as always, we also need to use at least ONE Hero Arts Stamp/Product!   

  The first thing I did was pick out which Stamp set I wanted to use and I chose the "Winter Wishes" clear stamp set, which is also one of those created for Operation Write Home, making it even more special!   In case you didn't know, Hero Arts is a wonderful sponsor to OWH and the sets they have designed for OWH, have the special benefit of donating 25% of each set sold, directly to this amazing group!  

   I quickly grabbed some deep purple cardstock and knew the I wanted to use the two snowflakes in the set to create a background.  I stamped them in Champagne Versamark, and then heat embossed all the larges flakes with Hero's Silver Embossing Powder and the smaller one with Ranger's Lavender Glitter Embossing Powder.  The fun sentiment is from the same set and I popped that up on Pop Dots and then added matching sequins and purple bling to complete my first card.

  I am also submitting this card to the current challenge being hosted over at Hero Arts, where there are three different themes for this month's challenge.  I'm submitting mine to the "Deck the Card" theme because I focused on the bling and sparkle...my favorite things!!   Additionally, I am also submitting this card to the current "Christmas/Holiday" Card Challenge being hosted over at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge Blog!!   -- Come on over and PLAY!!!

   After finishing that card, I still had time to spare, so I quick ran back to my desk and started on a second card, using the items still out.  I then was able to make this card, which I also submitted to the challenge!   

   And now I'm hoping to spend the rest of the afternoon working on more cards for challenges, as well as adding more cards to my Christmas basket.  Some will be send out to my family and friends and some will get sent out for some of my favorite Card Drives!  

   UPDATE:   I'm Back!!  A very happy to have had the time to create two more cards, both of which are for challenges, including two that happen to be favorties for me.
 
   My first card is for the current challenge over at Cas(E) THis Sketch, where it's amazingly Challenge #50!!  WOW!!  Congratulations to everyone in this fabulous group for making this such a fun challenge!!  I'm so happy to be playing and always love the sketches you share as inspiration.   THis is a copy of this week's sketch which is the inspiration for my card --

CTS # 50

My Card

  I'm sure you'll quickly see that I continued to use scraps along with the stamps that were already out and on my desk.   I am also happy that I have another card done to put in my Christmas collection.   This is a very CAS style card, which is now my favorite style and it also features my favorite color -- Purple, of course!!

  And next is another card that was created with Christmas in mind and also for another fun CAS style challenge, this one is for the current "Transparent" themed challenge over at "Addicted to CAS", which fits me perfectly!!   

 

   This card started with Hero Hues Card base in Wet Cement.  I took the card front along with this fun new Curved Edge Die from Simon Says Stamp and cut off the bottom on my card to have an area to add some clear acetate.  I also added a layer of patterned paper (by Lawn Fawn), on the side that now shows through the transparent layer.   My sentiment is also from SSS and from their amazing new Holiday Line, which I totally LOVE.  You'll see quite a few stamps and dies from this collection in many of my upcoming cards.  I especially love these circles and the stamp I chose, because it reminds me of one of Shari Carroll's Trees, which I adore and happily own!  She has also teamed up with Hero Arts once again and designed some fabulous new Exclusives Stamp/Die Sets for SSS!   You can find them HERE and HERE!  You can also see more of Shari's fabulous talent on her blog HERE!

   

   I have included a few views so that you can better see the acetate bottom.  I love this look and first learned about using acetate on cards from Jennifer McGuire.  Hero Arts also sells Acetate Cards, which you can see HERE and they would also be perfect to use for this Challenge.   

  This card is also being submitted to the current challenge at Hero's Blog, and this one is being submitted as "A Few of My Favorite Things", since I pretty MUCH love Hero Arts and used several of their products on this card!    My sweet little tree was colored with Copics and if you look very closely, you'll see I also die cut an acetate circle that covers it on the front of the card!  

What happened to last week?

  It seems like only yesterday when I made my last post, and here is now is a whole week later!!  WOW!!  It is almost scary to see how fast time is flying by!

  Even though I had great intentions of sharing tags from each tag in Creative Chemistry 102, I fell behind and then found there were some days where I simply did not have all the supplies, but that's okay because I learned so much and can now look forward to using the techniques once I do have more of the new products.

   It was with great surprise that I learned on Sunday morning, that one of the tags I had shared in the class Galleries had been one that Tim featured on Saturday along with several others from each day in class!   That made me so happy and is truly one amazing honor for me, as I have never had any of my projects featured since I started taking these classes, and to think that this was one of Tim's Pick!  WOW am I ever thrilled!   I also share that honor with several crafters and although I tried to visit most of the blogs to leave personal notes, I found some didn't have blog and some links were not working.  I'd like to again take moment to Congratulate everyone in class, who was also featured, as well as everyone who took the class and completed it.  As I said, it was really a very heavy technique filled workshop and I'm very pleased and I have now Graduated from Creative Chemistry 101 and 102!!    

  For those of you who are not in the class, this is the tag that was spotlighted along with all the others on Saturday.  If you were a member of the class, you'll find them ALL at this link -- Go HERE!!   I created this on the first day and it's one of my favorites!   The background was created with a combination of the brand new Distress Paints, as well as some of the older Dabber paints.  This awesome tree die is one of the Simon Says Stamps Exclusives, which you can find HERE!!

   If you love these classes as much as I do, then you'll want to stay tuned for the next one, which is going to be another favorite for me, because it's all about Christmas Cards and you can go HERE for more details or to sign up today!!

    After such a busy week, I was excited to head on down to a little card workshop hosted by my Amuse Demo - Tobey!  If you are looking for Amuse products, you can visit her website HERE and in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, everyone can order this amazing Stamp Set - FREE -- All you need to do is pay a $3 shipping fee.   I bought mine last year and have now ordered the matching  Die which is new this year.   Also in honor of this special month, they are hosting a wonderful sale on lots of their PINK goodies, which you'll find here!    

     I made a couple of cute little cards, but just realized I forget to take pics, so I'll plan to share them later this week.

     Today, I'm excited to be getting myself back to my craft desk and I have two new Christmas cards to share with you today!   These were both inspired by the new contest over at Hero Arts and also feature some more of my favorite dies from Simon Says Stamp, including that same wonderful Mod Tree Die that I used on my Tag and that along with a Black Pre-Folded Notecard from Hero Arts, along with some Hero Mixed Accents and a new Memory Box Sentiment, was all I needed to make this sweet little CAS card.

    I am also sharing this fun little card over at the Make it Monday Blog, which you'll find HERE!!  

    My second card today is another fun little card, where I again featured some cute little die cut "Christmas Trees" that I cut with this die set, another SSS Exclusive.  Yes, have you guessed that I LOVE dies...it's true and my obsession with these newer style dies, started when Memory Box came out with them a few years ago.  It's also Memory Box who actually manufactures these dies specifically for SSS and between the two companies, I have a wonderful selection of fabulous dies!!

     This card started by taking one of my Hero Arts Notecards and using one of the new Bracket Dies (also from SSS), to create a fun edge to the bottom of my card.  I then picked out some new Christmas Papers from Lawn Fawn's - Peace Joy Love Set and adhered a strip inside to show through where I cute in my bracket design.  I used the same paper alone with some olive green cardstock to cut an assortment of the trees and layered them across my card.  I then added a die cut star to the center tree and used more of my Hero Gems for the rest!  I put everything together, tied on some twine and had this fun little card!  Hope you like it!!

  Tomorrow, I'll be off to my LSS for the monthly Card Club, which I really enjoy.  I also have some money I've saved up, so I'm hoping to pick up some more of the new Ranger products I will be using to try out more of the techniques from the CC102 workshop.   Tim Holtz is well-loved at my store and has visiting many times to teach, which is really fun and how I was lucky enough to meet Tim, Mario and the group!  They are amazing at putting together workshops and if you ever have a chance to take one, don't miss out!  You'll be amazed and learn so much!! 

   Hope you all had a nice holiday - It's Columbus Day here in the States in Massachusetts it's more of a State Holiday, but the schools are closed as are the banks etc, and there also was not any mail delivery, so I'm sure it'll be a busy day for many tomorrow!!

Creative Chemistry 102 Rocks!!

   Today begins the first day of the latest class hosted over the Online Card Classroom and this class is very popular because it's taught by Tim Holtz, who is great admired in the craft world for his creativity and amazing talent!    Creative Chemistry 102 is a follow-up of the first workshop Tim taught last year at OCC!  I can tell you, it's only Day one and it's already a big hit for me.

   This is a full week class, but the content includes far more than I can complete in one week.  Today, the very first day there were SEVEN, yes that correct, seven brand new videos, along with pages and pages of even more detailed instructions that will teach you each technique as well as share a fabulous inspiration product created by Tim along with several fantastic Guest Designers....!   Even though I have taken the first class, I'm always blown away at the content we had today, and it's only Day One!!    Of course, you have to take the class to totally see just how much it covers and while I can share the projects that I create, obviously we can NOT share any of the specifics on the techniques, designs or other hints and tips shared with us !   The only way you'll learn all that is to take the class and I am one of many who I know will highly recommend it.   However, before you can enroll in this one, it is a requirement that you first take - Creative Chemistry 101, which is also awesome!  In that class Tim will cover all the basics and this class is pretty much a continuation of that along with an introduction to some new products that have since hit the market!!  

    I can tell you that today's focus was learning all about Distress Paints, which are one of the newest Ranger Products to hit the market.  And although I do have a few, after today, I have already ordered MORE and know that I'll use them in a variety of ways!!  If you already enjoy working with the Distress Inks and Stains, you also love these and these also work different and are unique to all other products!

   If you know TIm or have ever taken any of his workshops, you'll also know he loves techniques and almost always demonstrates each by creating on tags.  And I will again be creating a new sets of tags during class, that I'll keep and add to my others sets, so that I can quickly pull out a tag and make something using that technique.  Here is a picture of my tags from last year --

 

    Each tag is a different technique and each one has all the details on how to creative that design on the back.  I've also taken several technique classes at my LSS, where we also make the same tags, so I now have quite a large collection, which currently fit on to two large rings I have hanging in my craft room!!

    I have three new tags to share now and each of these was created based on only the very first technique we learned today!   I have others started using the second technique, but those need extra drying time, so I will continue to work on them each day and share what I complete!   I decided to turn my tags into Christmas Tags and used other elements (die cuts, inks, Shimmer etc,) to complete these!   In class you can create any type of tag you want or you can even simply try the technique on cardstock or whatever you have on hand, it's all up to you!!

   This is my very first tag from class and I think it may be my favorite of the day, since I'm so into the colors of teal and aqua.

  And here is a close up of my fun little Tree, which is one of the SSS Exclusive dies that I cut in my Vagabond and then colored to match my tag, using Distress Inks and Stains...something I did on my own.   I also decorated my tree with some gems and sequins and at the very end misted it with shimmer for some extra sparkle.

 And still in the same "teal" colors -- well somewhat, this was my next tag, and for this one I turned it into a snowflake theme using assorted SSS Snowflake die cuts that I already own.

 

 
  And this is the third tag, again all created using just one new technique which I changed up a bit, by adding other elements and colors.   This one again features the same little Die Cut Tree, but is done in a different color combo!!    Do you see the purple?  Do you believe that when I bought my first few Distress Paints that I did NOT buy any purple...Yes, it's true...but I did manage to bring purple in, by adding purple sequins to my tree and also picking up some trim to tie on that had a combination of colors including purple.   I also tried hard to the let colors mix on my tag so that there is some purple there too!  ....!   Ah Ha!!

    These were actually very easy to make and now that I know how to do this one technique I have all kinds of fun ideas.  I could create large backgrounds in this style and then use it for a card background or even use them to then cut my die cuts from...or I could also emboss them either in an Embossing Folder, or by stamping and heat embossing them.  Plus, I could have stamped on these or done so much more.  Oh this is going to be a FUN week and although my fingers are already covered in ink, it doesn't bother me a bit.  I have one of those little Ranger Scrubbers and it takes all the ink off very easily!   Oh and I also have a new class Apron, which is perfect to wear when you are playing with inks, paints and stains!!

   See you again tomorrow and let's hope I can at least create a few tags each day, EVEN if I do not share all the techniques.  I know at this rate I can not keep up, as some take longer and there is drying time needed!  But, I have a lifetime for work on these and also lifetime access to all the class content!   Woohoo!!!