Today's Creations!!

   I've had another fun day of creating and now I'm here to share my latest cards.   I'm not doing to hot with my typing today, since my back is bothering me, so most of the post will be about the card and the theme or challenge that inspired me to create it.

   The first challenge I looked at today, was the Twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz and it's fun new challenge that can be any theme, but you'll need to include lace or ribbon and also be a Birthday Themed card.  I was not sure what I was going to make, but I did not that I wanted to use some cool new "paper lace" that I had picked up recently at my LSS.

   That's that I started looking at the pile of ideas on my desk and decided I would use one of this months' Sketches from Hero Arts to as the design for my card.   I am not sure who crates the wonderful design, for hero, but I sure to DO love them!!  

    I chose to use the design above on the lower left and wanted to be sure to use my paper lace, along the bottom, as the scalloped edge of my card.  I had also decided that I not only wanted to use the lace, but would also use a Ribbon and a Happy Birthday Sentiment.  I did move my sentiment a bit, but otherwise tried to say fairly true to the sketch and this is my card.

   I started with a piece of Black Glossy Cardstock that I cut down to the standard A2 Size.  I cute my paper lace to fit and then added a layer of Ribbon on top and two gold pears.   My sentiment and the tiny candle care both from the Big Hugs CL345 set of clear stamps from Hero.  I also plan to submit this card to their August Challenge!!

  I also decided to challenge my self to use the sketch to created two more cards, so that I would have one made from each of the three sketches.   Next I chose the top sketch which is the square card with a circular center.   I cut my card out of white cardstock and then used two Spellbinder sets to create various sized cuts of circles and Scalloped circles in a variety of matching papers.   My Sentiment "You Brighten My Day", also came from the same Hero set and was stamped on white with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  The gorgeous little bling center, is part of a big Happy Mail package that I received yesterday.  Love it and in the end I also love how this card came out.  All the colors look very pretty together and I am totally loving my new "Chevron" embossing folder, which is from Stampin' Up!

    My next card is the card that was created based on the third sketch from Hero and I had also created another card with this sketch, which you can see back HERE!!   I had thought it was my favorite of the three, but know that I have made a card from each sketch...I really don't have a favorite the love them all.

  This card was the easiest and fasted to make and used up a lot of scraps of papers that were on my desk or in my scrap bin.  The teal cardstock has been used on the card above and the deep teal 'textured" cardstock was in my scrap pile, along with the Purple, which is from my favorite Memory Box Set - Viola.  I stocked up on this when they had it in stock at my LSS and still have quite a bit.  I love it because I has so much purple, along with teals and blues.   I love every piece in the the 6X6 Packs and also have some of my favorite (like this purple piece) in 12X12!   The sentiment was created by using a Memory Box "Double Ticket" die and cutting out the two tickets, I used the larger one for this card.  My Sentiment from a Hero Set (Thinking of You Messages - CL 140) and stamped in Dusty Concord Distress Ink.  I then layered that onto my patterned paper and use the same price to punch the hearts, which were created with a Stampin' Up punch.  

   My final card today was one that I created for Operation Write Home and was based on yesterday's Midweek Throwdown Challenge.  The theme this week is "Kid Cards" and I had this perfect little image from StampFairy.   Lenny Bear (my favorite Teddy), has been colored with Copics and Glossy Accents!  I added him to the front of the card and created an I Love You Sentiment on my computer!  I cut that out with a Spell binder die and added it to the bottom.  I cut the background (for Lenny) and bottom strip of the card from pre-textured cardstock.  The red dotted background was created from another large piece in my scrap bin.   I think it's card that anyone would be happy to receive, especially a child of a soldier who is away from home!!

                    

  

And that is it for today!!    I hope that tomorrow will another fun and creative day.   My goal is to sleep in, do my early morning stuff, (chores) and then hit my craft room.   I think it's going to be a lousy day, as we are expecting another front to come through, which is much needed.  We need to break the humidity again and also really can use a LOT of rain!!  Everything is very dry and the flowers are all staring to look very burnt out!!  I would LOVE a nice rainy cool day, those are days I that love spending inside, up in my craftroom!

Memories of Childhood....

...I have had a very busy couple of days....and have not had too much time to create.  But, my time was all spent doing fun things, so that's all good!!  Yesterday, I met up with one of my very best childhood friends for a nice lunch and a long chat.  We have not had a lot of time to hang out, so it was awesome to catch up and we even took a walk down at the waterfront. It was a wonderful day and I enjoyed seeing her and being out, without the miserable humidity.

   Today, I spend my morning doing errands and had a nail appointment, was is always nice and relaxing.  Now I'm back home and finished up two new cards to share now.   The first card was inspired by a brand new challenge at CASology and this is a copy of the Cue Card for this week's Challenge!!!

   Hum, Pond?  I have to admit, that when I first saw this challenge, the only thing that came to mind were the three different ponds, all the in the neighborhood that I grew up in.  One, was more like a small granite fresh water quarry, but it was a favorite, because being so small, it would be the first Pond to freeze each winter and it's where we would spend hours skating there.   The owner was nice enough to add a spot light, so we could even skate as night and all the kids in the neighborhood would be there every night after "supper" for a few hours, until it was time for "lights out".
 
   Just down the street was another pond that was a large part of the backyard of another family and this was a much move active and live pond -- full of frogs, turtles and lily pads.   Probably the kind of pond that everyone pictures when you first say the word.  You could always hear the sounds of the the frogs and it was very overgrown with reeds and cat tails.   It was also much more of that murky brown pond kind of water and not the kinds of place you would ever swim.  Yuk!!   I can also remember the dragon flies being around all the time, and how pretty they were in the sunlight.  Back then, we called them "Darning Needles" and were afraid of them for a long time, until we realized they would not sting us.

    And then was the very large pond, that was in the wood down a path from my best friend's house and when that pond would freeze, it was the best ever for skating and where most of us learned to skate.  I loved that pond and that was my favorite place to skate, but it would take longer to be 'safe' because it was so big.  We started going there very young, with our parents and then as we got older, once our parents made sure the pond was 'safe' for skating, we'd be there all day!!    The only downside of that pond was there were not any homes close enough to have any lighting, so we skated there in the day hours only.  I can't also remember going to my friend's house right after and how cold and wet our feet would be, but we LOVED it and as kids at that time, we would outside all the time...all year year round.   We were kids and we were always out 'playing'...we didn't have all the tech stuff and each family had one TV and most were Black and White...I miss those old days, but sure LOVE the memories.

   So...even though POND brings back memories, it's still NOT easy to come up with a card.  I decided to wanted to go with something that would be at pretty much every pond and started by searching for images and idea at the Silhouette Store.  Once I saw some Cat Tail images, I knew that was my theme.  I printed them out in a few colors and then finally chose to go with green and color the tops with my Copics.  After trying a few background papers and not loving them, I dug this one out and it's a fun mixed media background, but the perfect colors for a pond image.  I simply added on my Cat tails, a tiny butterfly and then finished it off with some 3D Crystal Accents to look like water.   Not exactly the most CAS style, but I think POND is a tough one!!  I'll be curious to see the other cards!!

      My next card is one that I created for fun and is again me using up things from my stash.  Both the background for my Pond card and this Stamped and Colored Tulips image were things I had already started but had never quite finished.  This Newspaper Tulips is one of my favorite Hero Arts Stamps.   To have it stamp in color, I colored directly onto the stamp with my Ranger Distress Makers, and then stamped it directly onto the Ranger Speciality Paper, which is gorgeous paper.  It's a very soft matte finish and takes ink wonderfully.   I had originally used a different die cut for my image, but it wasn't the look I wanted to I created this oval imaged on my Cameo and then put it over the Tulips and cut off the access.  I then added to my card and patterned paper and had this nice little "Thinking of You" card.   This cute sentiment is brand new to me and came from a set of CTMH Sentiment stamps that arrived in a wonderful package today! More details to follow!!   Although this card was not designed for any special challenge, I also share all my Hero Cards over at the Hero Arts Flickr Group!  

  And now to tell you about the fantastic package from my friend, Jennifer, from PA!   We met a few years ago in one of the many craft groups and have been online friends ever since.  She's an amazing crafter and has been published in some of Provo's ads and magazines.  She's a natural when it comes to using a Cricut and comes up with the most wonderful projects, card and layouts!!!  WOW!!   On top of that she is an amazing CAS style card-maker and has been on many CAS Design Teams.   When I mentioned that I was planning to sell off all my Cricut machines, accessories and cartridges, she wrote to me right away and for a a list of what I had.   I was very excited to find that she had found 8 cartridges she wanted to add to her Library and we then decided to work out a trade.  I sent her the cartridges and she sent me a big GOOD box full of wonderful craft items that I had picked form a list she gave me.    I was like a little kid on Christmas morning and had a blast opening up the box and seeing all my new things.  And not only did she send me the items we talked about, but she she extra things and went out of her way to wrap them and write the some the sweetest notes I've ever read!  THANK YOU Jenn!   I'm deeply touched and feel very special to have some of your well loved craft goodies.  I also love every little thing you sent and know the special meaning behind them, which makes them even MORE special.   So many precious and truly heartfelt gifts.  Special thanks again Jenn, you are truly and Angel and I am so thankful and grateful for your friendship, kindness and generosity!    I hope you will be as pleased, when your package arrives!!   Big Hugs!!   Oh...and don't worry, I am not listing any of the other cartridges, until you see the FULL list one more time!!  I'm also holding two for you, as requested and VERY happy to know they are going to a great home, where they will be used often!!

   I've learned that the crafting community is one of the most kind and caring groups in the world and this is another wonderful example of how fortunate I am to be part of this group and to also have crafts in my life.  Not only does it keep me busy and very happy, bu t it was also brought a whole new world of friends into my life.  And to me, my closest friends, are like family -- those who you truly cherish and hold near and dear to your heart!  Thank you to you all -- I'm a lucky girl!!

Mojo Monday....

   It sure is nice when your MOJO comes back!   And for me, that's how it's been for the past couple of days and it's awesome.   I feel like I've been on a roll and have had a great time creating all kinds of new cards - Yippee!!  Today is another of those days and I'm here now to share the newest cards with you.
 
   Most of these cards were inspired or created for a challenge, but like yesterday I'm also making a lot of them out of things what I had half done, or with backgrounds I had stashed away.  I'm trying to put everything to good use and not buy new things until I used up a lot of what I have!   The one exception is that I will still be dding new Silhouette Images to my Library, since I have a monthly subscription and because I'm still building my Library!

    My first two cards were both created with images that I purchased from the Silhouette Store.  This first card is one that I created with die cuts that I had in my folder.   Nothing was newly cut today, it was simply a matter of coming up with a design and putting it all together and then submitted it to the new August Challenge at Die Cut Divas, which you can find HERE!!

  This next card was also submitted to the same challenge and was also created for this week's CAS Challenge over at "The Outlawz".   The challenge theme is back to school and since I don't have young children and mine are long out of school, I really didn't' have any cute papers to use.  I decided to shop at the Silhouette store and found a couple of new images for my Library.  This morning I decided I wanted to use these cute crayons and since they are a "Print and Cut", it was easy to print the and them run them through the Cameo to cut them out.   My Back to School Sentiment was created with a very old "Creative Lettering" software program by CK.  I have had it since I first started cardmaking, and it still works great, even though I have Windows Vista, which can be tricky with old programs.  Luckily, it's always worked fine, but I do forget I even have it.

  My next card was also created for a challenge at The Outlawz and this one is the Paper a la Mode Challenge.  The theme for the challenge this week is "CIRCUS"...vintage or modern and at first that one had me a bit stumped.  I did go to the Silhouette store, but really did not find any images that I "loved".  I did find some cute pattered paper, which I did add to my collection.  Even so, I still needed more and that's when I thought about my digi images?  Did I have any clowns?  Yes...I actually had a couple and I printed them all out, and colored them up with my Copics.  In the end, I picked this one "a girlie" clown and created this cute card which I'm submitting to the challenge next!!

  And next we have another easy card that was inspired by two brand new challenge.  One being today's new "Greeting Card Challenge", also at The Outlawz and the second is the new Copic Challenge being hosted at the Color Me Creative Classroom, where we've been challenged to create our own background.  Yippee!  I can use up another of my backgrounds and this is one I make in a Mixed Media Class, I took with Marti Wills, when we all went to Baltimore for the Girl's Getaway Weekend.  Marti taught us several new idea and this very simple lilac background was one we made that weekend, she also teaches the Mixed Media Classes at the Color Me Creative Classroom and have a few new classes coming up soon!

     Once I had my pretty background cut down to the size I wanted, I then added two trips of lime green on each size, to create little borders.  Next, I took my image (Violets by Bugaboo), which just happened to be one that was already colored and sitting in a folder, waiting to be used.  Yaay again!! -- using more of the things I have started and put in folders for the future!!   Now is the future and it's NICE to have so many of the card 'pieces' started!    All I needed to do was cut the scalloped circles that I matted on my violets and then come up with a card design.  I put it all together, and then added some of the brand new Ranger Ultra Fine Glitter (loving it), stamped on a Sentiment, (by Lawn Fawn), and my card was done and ready for both challenges!

    And this last card, was created all for fun as I did not originally have a challenge in mind.  However, after I finished it I remembered about the Make it Monday Challenge, which turned out to be perfect.  Not only is Bugaboo the sponsor, but this card, as with the other two above were all created with Bugaboo Images.   I'm a huge fan and I'm sure you know, I LOVE to color them.  They are also been so fun to color and that's also party why I have a folder of images colored.  Whenever I do buy new ones, I will often print out a full page and color them all.  Whatever I don't use right away, is put into my folder and that's exactly where this one came from today.  I cut it down to the size I wanted and matted it onto a piece of black cardstock and then picked out a pretty purple card base.  I embossed the strip in a Chevron pattern and was able to make this card in about 30 minutes.  How cool is that!!  It also is one of my favorites today and is a good CAS card, which was my goal.

   The best part about shopping my stash before I start any new project is that it makes the cardmaking process easier and faster, which give me time to make even more cards.   Today I created all five you see here and all were done between about 10 am and 4pm, and that was while taking stretch breaks and such too!   It also gives me time to now head on over to my Lettering Love 101 class and practice!  I am almost done with altering my journal and will be sure to add some photos of that and my lettering soon!!

Sketches, Scraps and Stash Stuff....

    I love playing in challenges and find them to be my perfect way to practice my cardmaking.  I also love techniques and when I can combine the two, it's even better.   For today's first card, I actually started by tearing apart one of the cards I had created during the 90 minute Scramble.  As much as I love the scrambles, when are you rushing to create cards, they do not always turn out, as you hope and that's how I felt when I finished up this card, which I called my "fail" card of the day.

   The funny thing is that for some reason, it never adhered well, probably due to all the heat and humidity, but I'm not sure.  So...when I saw it sitting on my desk, falling apart, I knew it was meant for me to re-crated it into something better.  As much as I loved the sentiment, it was too light and I also noticed the the center strip did not look evenly placed.   I took both off and came up with a slightly new design and now have this card, which I think is much nicer.

  I used a new sentiment stamp, which is a newer Hero Stamp from the Thinking of you Kite set.  I used the same Peacock Distress ink and then colored in the flowers with a Copic Marker and added a teal gem to finish it off.   I removed the green from the bottom and replaced it with this pretty purple background that was one I had created a while back in a techniques class.  I actually have a file full of assorted inked background and stamped card fronts that I need to start using, especially since I need to do so much re-organizing and purging in my room!   I actually "found" them while looking for something else, and that's again when I realized just HOW much I have and just HOW much I need to work on the huge task for purging!  

   This card is now going to be submitted to two new challenges.  The August Hero Arts "CAS challenge" and the "Freestyle' challenge" over at A Blog Named Hero!!

    And speaking of this month's Hero Arts Challenge, I also created a second card today for their Sketch Challenge.  I have copied over an image of the sketches the gals put together for the challenge and hope I can inspire you to play along.

   I actually LOVE all three of these sketches and was not sure which one I wanted to use, so I decided I would make a card with all three.  I have one all done and this card was based on the sketch on the bottom right.  

    This card was really fun to make and also very easy, because the floral image was one from my folder of "competed" backgrounds.  This background was created on Watercolor paper using a variety of Distress Inks with Perfect Pearls mist.  A fun technique I learned while taking classes with Jennifer McGuire.  I used the Large Lotus Pattern Background Stamp from Hero, of course.  My sentiment is form the Thinking of You Sentiment Set - CL140 and even my card base is a Hero Hues card.   The little die cut I used for my Sentiment is one from My Favorite Things, and come in a set of four, which are perfect for sentiments and people like me, who can not cut a nice straight line!  LOL!   The glitter buttons are by American Crafts and I have several in my stash, love them.

   My next two cards are also Sketch Inspired and these were both created for Operation Write Home and based on their new Sketch, which you'll find every Sunday over at the Stars and Stamps Blog.  This week were are up to # 132, which I have copied to share with you below.  

Sketch # 132

  After reading Julie's note about being inspired to create with Red, White and Blue - thinking of the Olympics, I went with the same color scheme.  Although, I have to admit that I have not watched any of the Live Olympic events.   I have watched some of the news highlights, but this girl is not awake when they are on live.  But, then again, I'm never one who watches TV often...I'd much rather watch craft videos on You Tube and often have my TV on HGTV or TLC.  Its' all crafts and home stuff for me!!  LOL!!

Card One

  

Card Two

(I mirrored the Sketch for this one)

   I have one last card to share and this card again was one that I created to use up more of the backgrounds that were sitting here waiting to be put to use.  On this card, I used two different designs, both of which were cut down to fit my card.  The darker purple on top, is from the same piece I used on my first card (above).  And the bottom part was another one created with the more intricate design from the Lotus Background Stamp.     When I started this I didn't have any particular challenge in mind, but I think it would have worked well for either of the Hero Challenges.   It turned out to be one of my favorites and I'm sure that's because of the color purple!!   I'm really happy that I came across these backgrounds today and that I'm using up things that I had not had out in ages.  I think I must have about 20 or 30 more of these done, and most all all cut down to A2 size.    

  My next task is to start going through the bazillions of die cut pieces I have pre-cut and stored in various bins throughout my craft room.  I have tons of Cricut Shapes, Nestie Cuts, Memory Box cut....and now even a fairly good stash of Cameo cuts.  It seems whenever I do have my machines out that I always cut extra pieces/shapes and try to use up my full sheet of paper or cardstock.   A great idea, except that I rarely EVER use them after I put them away?   I keep them, all neatly in clear bags, but hardly every go through the bags...!  I need to do that far more often and I also need to SHOP my USE what I have !!   It's my new goal and if I even consider buying anything, until this is done...please tell me I am Crazy...!!   I need nothing...!  It's simply a desire to have new things and always been drawn into trying the latest and greatest.  I wonder how many of you are just like me?     Just think of ALL the cards we could quickly make with all the things we have sitting around, especially me, with all these pre-cut shapes, pre-colored backgrounds, not to mention all the digi images I have already printed out and colored!!   I have those in folders too.     Yikes!!  I could be busy for weeks...and that's exactly WHY I'm so excited to share !!  I have way too much and donating a lot of this to a new Art Teacher is making me a happy girl!!

A Hero kind of day!!

   I have really become a HUGE fan of Hero Arts and love pretty much every product they make.  I think it all started when I took a wonderful workshop with Jennifer McGuire, back in April of 2011.   That was the weekend she came to my LSS (Absolutely Everything) to tell a full weekend of workshops.

   Being that I had already been a follower or her blog and her classes that had then been over at Two Peas, I knew I would the classes, so I signed up for two.  Those two classes have and still are two of the best classes I have even taken and that is when I realized how much I loved about Hero Arts.

   Count forward now just over a year and I'm loving Hero more than ever before.  It's absolutely my Favorite product line and I am always thrilled when they add new products to their wonderful collection.  Everything from Stamps to Cardstock, I just happen to be one, who love it all!   I've also now taken every class that Jennifer has offered in her online card classroom and many of the classes focus on using and creating wonderful projects with all kind of fabulous Hero goodies.  

    I'm also now a member of the Hero Arts Flickr Group, the Hero Arts Club Blog as well as the new "A Blog Named Hero" Challenge blog.   I subscribe to each of the blogs and also to all the videos that are posted on YouTube.  I love joining the challenges and also find all kind of wonderful inspiration from the groups and all the blogs.

    Today, all three of the cards I am sharing were created primarily with Hero Arts Products and/or or Hero Arts related challenges.   The first card I made today was for fun and it did not turn out to be a favorite, so I'm not certain it will actually be submitted to any of the challenges.  I think it is simply too light and needs more color.  Even so, it was fun and does use some of my favorite things.  When I started it, I had the idea of submitted it to the new "CAS Challenge" at the Hero Blog and/or the "Freestyle Challenge" over at A Blog Named Hero.

   This is that card and it all started with a simple white card base, with the idea of creating a really nice CAS Style card.   As you probably know I totally LOVE CAS, but it's still very much a challenge for me, so I am still learning on how to use less and make the cards still look nice.  It's not nearly as easy as it looks, and being one who used to add tons and tons of detail and embellishments to most of my cards, it's a big change.

 
   To create this card, I simply cut a piece of Hero "Sea" Layering Paper to fit on a Standard A2 card.  Then I added a simply line of washi tape (which is now pretty much hidden under the sentiment).  I then picked out to matching lavender little flowers (Prima) and glued them to the center of the flowers that are already in the paper design.   The sentiment is from Hero and was stamped on White Cardstock in Hero Soft Shadow Ink in Soft Purple (too light for this card).   By this time, that had been my second attempt at the Sentiment and I knew I was not loving this card.  I think I will be one that I will take apart tomorrow and re-create!   Something is missing and/or it's just not right, I consider it my "Fail" card today!!

   My next challenge was to play in the 90 Minute Scramble over at the Hero Arts Flickr Group.  I love this group and find this to be a really fun challenge.  Each of the members takes a turn in hosting a challenge and they are typically hosted every other week.   I'll be hosting one later this fall and hope you'll all play along.  The group is free and open to all.  These ladies are all very talented and it's an amazing group.  Many are designers and many have been published...even so I feel very comfy and love the wonderful help and inspiration they offer to all the members.

    Emily was our challenge hostess today and even took the time to create a fun little video sharing the technique on what she wanted us to do.  You can see her video from a link in the group HERE!  The idea was to use your Sentiment stamps in fun new ways...by using certain words from one set and combing them with other sets.  She taught us how to use Washi Tape (or Eclipse Tape) to cover (Mask)...the parts we did not want to stamp and also how to mix and match with different sentiments/words from a variety of sets.   I know some gals even cut their stamps to have even MORE variety...but I am a bit chicken to do that!!    I managed to use the idea to add two cards to the Scramble, this is the first card and I used a few different Hero products for this

   The background was created with the Line Dots Background Stamp, with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  I used the same ink to stamp the "You Make Me" part of my Sentiment, and then used the Distress Shaded Lilac for the "Smile", as well as with a little dauber sponge to add more of that color to my background.  I then took the pad directly to white card stock and created the center strip and a larger piece which I used to the scalloped circle.  I embossed the center strip in my Cuttlebug and added that on top of the green paper (from my stash).  I then used a Spellbinder Scalloped circle die to cut out my Sentiment.  I crated my card from some teal cardstock that is in my stash!   Unfortunately, the lavender "Smile" inked part of my sentiment again, ended up too light!!

   I quickly hurried back to my desk and grabbed a Pink (Carnation) Hero Card along with my Leaf and Floral Background stamp. I inked that with Hero Midtone ink in Bubble Gum and had a background all done...next I found some pink (lettered) patterned paper in my paper stash and punch out the three butterflies and one scalloped ring, which were all added to a white doily.    I added a strip of Polka dotted Washi tap and then stamped my "Thinking of You" from two different stamps, both from the same - Everyday Sayings set.  I love the look of having a sentiment with different fonts and colors, so I'm very happy that Emily shared the idea and that I was able to join the challenge.  This turned out to be my favorite card today and I'm also submitting this on to the "Freestyle" challenge at ABNH!!

   And that's it for me!  I'm packing up a box of Cricut Cartridges that I'm selling to a friend.  I also have about 30 more Cartridges to sell along with my Pink Cricut Expression and my Gypsy.    If you know anyone interested--please feel free to email me!   I'm open to a package deal, if someone wants the Expression, Cartridges and the Gypsy!    All are in excellent condition and my Gypsy was updated today to the newest release.  Sadly, I never used this machine as much as I should have and since I need the space in my room, it's time to let it go!