Uber Cool!!!

    Oh what a JOY it is to be back in my craft room today making card again.   It's been such a crazy and busy week and despite planning to work on cards every day, for one reason or another, it simply did not happen, until today.

    I'm so happy to be here to share my latest cards, most of which were inspired by some of my favorite challenges.  I just love challenges and for me, it's not only a great way to practice trying out new craft items, it's also a great way to come up with new ideas, that you might not other every try.

   And my first card today, is pretty much a card, I think fits into that category perfectly.  It's a card that was created for the current challenge over at "Addicted to CAS", where are theme for this week is "Geometric", which is also very much on trend.

    Another card that I made a while back, (for Hubby's' Birthday) was also partly this inspiration for this card, and you can see that card HERE!   I started using the same punched "Strip of Chevrons" going down the left side of my card and then continued to add a variety of geometric shapes, using punches and stamps from my stash, include this awesome border set by My Favorite Things, the "Uber Cool" sentiment from Paper Smooches and two punches, hexagon and the chevron border punch, both favorites of mine from Stampin' Up.   I started with a "Tide" card-base and did all my punches and stamping in black Hero Ink.  To finish off my card and add some sparked, I coated all the black shapes with a clear Wink of Stella Glitter Marker, which we are now selling over at the a2z Scrapbooking Store, along with all the fabulous Hero Products.  

   And speaking of new items at the a2z Store, the brand new Christmas Release "Handmade for Christmas" from Hero Arts is currently in route to the store and we hope it will all be available for ordering starting this Saturday!!  ...Yes, you heard me right, as long as the order arrives, as expected, you can shop early at a2z Etsy Store, starting this Saturday!  WOOHOO!   Just two more days and I don't know about you, but I sure am excited about that news!    There are some items on back order from Hero and not everyone will arrive in the first shipment, but you'll find a great selection and we are happy to share this fun news!       Please stay tuned for more updates this weekend.   Remember you can also save money by using my special Design Team Promo Code!  Just add $25.00 (or more) in product to your shopping cart,  (excluding shipping) and you'll be eligible to take 15% off your total order when you enter my code -- LISAH15 !   I'll have an update as soon as the items are available and I too, already have my wish list ready, so I'll be there with you shopping early!  Woohoo!!

    With Christmas on my mind, I am now the early stages of making the my cards for this year and my new two cards are two adorable little Christmas cards that I created today, using one of my new favorite Hero Arts Digital Kits, this one is DK029 is available now!   It's called "Feathered Friends" and is a wonderful little kit.  I addition to this kit, we also have more, in the Christmas/Winter Theme, which you can buy and download instantly to start creating your Holiday and Christmas Cards.  You'll find them all in the new "Digital" section of the store HERE!!

  For my first card, I chose to use the sweet little bird with the ornament, along with the Merry Christmas Sentiment and the Red digital background paper, all included in the set.   The stripped background is also a Hero Arts Digital, called "Earth Background" papers,  one that hope to have available in the store soon.   I always own several of Hero's  Digital Kits and looks forward to adding even more, as they arrive in the store!   What I love most about using Digital Images is that you can also combine them with tradition stamping to make these very easy and fun "Hybrid Cards".  Once I had this design done, I use Microsoft Word to create all my digital cards, I printed it out on some white cardstock, and then layered it own to a Hero Wet Cement Notecard.  I then added a black Gem to give his little eye more dimension and added another sparkling gem to the ornament.  

  And this is the second card, where I used the bird holding the star.   On both of these cards I used the pre-colored images, but all the images also come in Black and White, so that you can color in them anyway you want.  For this card, I used the same Merry Christmas sentiment, but changed my background by using three different digi background papers -- Red, Green and the Red and White Striped!.  I also created my card base using Hero's Pine Layering Paper, which matched really well with my finished card.    I used a Wink of Stella Marker to add some extra sparkle to the star and also to the legs of this adorable guy!   NOTE:   We also are now carrying the Gold and Silver Wink of Luna Markers in the store too and they are fabulous to use on dark backgrounds!!   

   Next, I have a card that has me back into more summer like colors and it's the card I created for this week's MUSE Challenge.   I am happy to share a copy of the Muse Card, which was created by Marion Vagg.

Muse Challenge # 84

My Card

    The main two elements I chose to use from Marion's card was the zig-zag patterned background and the pretty butterfly die cut in the center.  I also wanted to use pretty pastel colors and started by first picked out a piece of Pink Polka Dotted Cardstock, from the Let's Polka  Lawn Fawn Set.   My next goal was to create my card and initially I thought I might use a zig-zag die and cut it several times, into a white card-base, then then I came up with the idea for using my fabulous new Silhouette Cameo to design my own card and did so buying this "Circles and Zags" file from the Silhouette Store and altering it to change it from a single layer "Project Life" style card, into a standard A2 size card.   Note:  I have been absolutely thrilled with my brand new Cameo and the awesome "Lightning Deal" bundle that I bought from Amazon last week.   It was only $199 (with Free 2 Day Shipping), for this Bundle shown below!  And, having this new machine which works so well, I'm 100% certain now that my original definitely as a "lemon" and even MORE disappointed that Silhouette did stand behind it.   I really wish there was another machine the was compatible with all the accessories and files that I own, but since there isn't, I'm simply thrilled to have found this deal.   If you are in the market for a Cameo, I highly suggest you go to Amazon daily and check the prices, and hope you'll find a Lightning deal too.  I am so grateful for the gals in the Facebook Silhouette Group who posted these deal. Well worth some patience and a little wait!!   Thank you Amazon!!

My Silhouette Cameo / Starter Bundle

Silhouette Store "Circles & Zags" Cut File

  Once I had my new card designed, I cut it from White Cardstock, and scored it down the middle on my Scor-Buddy to make it a pre-folded card.  I then adhered the "Pink and White" paper to the inside behind the zigs/zags and using a new die set from SSS, added a little background area for my Butterfly, which I created from two Memory Box dies.    I cut a little label shape, added a simple sentiment, stamped in Pink and had my card done!  

  And my final card of the day was a cute little card that was inspired and created for the current challenge over at CASology, where the cue card this week is "Java", and whenever I hear the word Java the very first thing that comes to my mind is Coffee and how it's the very first thing I start off my day with each and every morning, right after the pups start eating their breakfast.  

  This card also was created with the help of my Cameo and two new Silhouette files that I picked up on the online store.  I found two different styles of coffee mugs, and really loved this one with the heart, but also loved the "steam" from another file, so I took the two and combined them to make my own little cup of morning "Java".   I cut them from white cardstock and then used my Hero Arts Shadow Inks, to color each piece.  The mug was colored with Soft Pool, the steam with Wet cement, and the heart was colored with Raspberry Jam and then coated with a clear Wink of Stella Marker.  I created my card-base with Mixed Pool Layering Paper, and die cut the black Frame with my the same new set from SSS.  The sentiment, "Oh Happy Day" seemed to fit perfectly and is a set by the same name, from Avery Elle.

  And that's it for today...and boy am I now tired after typing this very long post, which I admit, took me a LONG time with lots of breaks in between.  It was so FUN to be at my desk and I'm also especially excited about my move into my new room soon.   I did pick out a few paint samples this week, but didn't love either of them.  I was not sure what color I wanted to add to the basic "Black and White" themed room, but I have finally decided that it's definitely going to be shades of "Purple".....which I am sure is NOT a major shock to most of you!   It will be a light shade, more like a very subtle lavender and I'll be picking  up two more samples at Ace tomorrow.   I had thought I would go with white trim, but after painting some of the trim white yesterday, I just don't LOVE it, and because my IKEA furniture is a bit of an off white color, I have to be very careful about using white.  If it's to bright it could make my furniture look creamy or have a hint of yellow and that is NOT what I want.   Plus, we have already replaced the baseboard trim in that room to go with the rest of the house, which is pretty much  a pine that we leave natural and paint with 3-4 coats of Poly to keep it very easy to clean.  I prefer trim be a wood tone and since we have pine floors in that room, it makes since to have it match.  Plus, that way you do NOT have to paint it when you can the room color, you simply can leave it alone or freshen it up with a new coat of poly.    But, we will have to paint the window trim and the doors etc., since they are painted now...if only wish they have been left alone too!  But, they were painted before we bought this house, so we continue to paint them or replace, when needed!   The color names of the samples I pick up tomorrow are called -- "First Dance" and "Purple Essence".