The Joy of Christmas....

...and for me today I am full of Joy creating Christmas Cards and so in love with all the great tips and hints I am learning this week in both the fabulous online classes that I'm currently taking.   I'm also simply enjoy having a day of crafting after spending most of yesterday moving more things into my new room and along with slowly getting things more organized!!

 

Online Card Classroom

 Studio Calico Classroom

   Today, I have three new cards to share and all three were not only inspired by these awesome classes, but also by the three new challenges that I'm entering each card too.   The first card was created for this week's MUSE Cardmaking Challenge and was based on this idea by Vicki, which I have copied over to share with you !

Vicki's Muse Card

My Card

   I very much used Vicki's design and also her color combo, but instead of going with the bright shades of green and blue, I chose more subtle colors, to fit in with my snowflake themed card.  I used some some of my favorite goodies on this card, including this wonderful Hero Arts Die, which is actually a flower, but also works great as a Snowflake, especially when you can't find the snowflake you planned to use!   The snowflakes are another new Exclusive set, (I love), from Simon Says Stamp, as well as this fun and adorable sweet OWH Hero Set for my Sentiment.  I also used a variety or Hero's Shadow Inks and finished off this one with some of my favorite Hero Pearls and Gems !  This card would also be perfect for our current a2z Scrapbooking Challenge, with the them this month is "Anything Goes", with the requirement of using Hero Arts products!

   I am also submitting this new Christmas Card to the November Challenge over at "Die Cut Diva's" were the Challenge is "Any Holiday"!  I am especially excited to enter, as this challenge is being sponsored by one of my favorite digital stamp stores -- Bugaboo Stamps!  Woohoo!!  Come on over and join the fun!!

    

   My next card was created for a new challenge being hosted over at Winnie & Walter and today was the perfect day for me to play, because I just received my latest order from them and was very excited to use this amazing new set from the "The Big...The Bold..." product line I so love! This card was created based on the colors from this newest "Play Date # 4" Challenge -- 

My Card

    In addition to using the newest "Merry" Sentiment set, I combined that with this adorable "Pennant" set which I used to create my fun little Christmas Tree.  I added strips of coordinating scraps down the sides of my card front, using scraps left over from other cards that I created this week and then finished it off with a piece of silver glitter tape and some pretty clear sparkling gems all around my sweet little tree.  

   That brings me to my last card today and this one was inspired by the brand new Sketch Challenge over at "Cas(E) this Sketch" where I was delighted to see that my friend "Kelly" who is, the wonderful Guest Designer being featured for this challenge.  I also have the pleasure of creating with Kelly as part of the  a2z Design Team and know her well from being another big fan of Hero Arts~ She is super talented and the card she shared is a beauty -- a MUST see --just hop on over to the blog Here and you can't miss it! 

CTS # 99

My Card 

  I love this sketch and to me it worked out perfect for another easy and fun Christmas card!   I simply picked out so more of these adorable "Lawn Fawn" paper scraps and using this Hero Arts - Stars die set, I cut our a variety to stars from the papers.  I added another strip of green paper down the left side and added a thinner strip of red, next to that.  I chose my Sentiment from this Hero Set - Under the Mistletoe and stamped that in Hero's Royal Red Ink, a favorite red that is perfect for Holiday Cards.  

   Now, I am heading back to both classes for some new ideas and plan to work on those cards over the weekend.   Tomorrow, I am headed to my LSS for an all day workshop being taught by the very talented Joanne Sharpe, who is be teaching us her fabulous Whimsical lettering techniques, many of which you'll find her her book -- "The Art of Whimsical Lettering".  I'm happy to own her book and will be taking it with me, as she will also be signing books for the students that day.  She's a really fun teacher and I've had the pleasure of meeting her, the last time she came her to teach!  I'm excited to be taking my second class with Joanne and know it will be a fun day!   "Nana" is taking care of the pups for me and they will have a nice day with her here!  

    On Saturday, on top of making more class inspired cards, I am also planning on taking paring in the next  "Hero Arts 90 Minute Scramble" which will be hosted by Lin, over at the Hero Arts Flickr Group.   I invite you ALL to join the fun and to head on over Flickr, join the Hero Arts Groups an come back on Saturday afternoon to play at 2PM EDT!  If you know Lin, you already know she is an amazing designer, so I'm sure she have a great Scramble for us.

   If you are off to do some shopping at the a2z Scrapbooking Store to add some NEW Hero Goodies to your stash, please free free to use my DT Promo code -- LISAH15 -- to save 15% off any and all orders of $25 and up (excluding shipping).  Simply enter the Promo code during the check out process and the discount will be automatically applied!   It's GOOD on every product in the store, even the sales products, as well as the Digital Line with we sell Exclusively for Hero Arts!  Many of the items I used on today's cards are from the store and are some of my favorites from Hero!  I happy to love their line!

  Happy Shopping, and as always --- Happy Crafting!!

Fun with Stampin' Up!!

    I was invited to attend my first ever "Stampin' Up" card workshop today, and boy was it fun!  Special thanks to Barbara for inviting me to attend.  

    While  Stampin' Up is not new to me, I've never known of any demos who are in my area, but have had the pleasure of ordering from others all over the country.  Now, it's nice to not only have a local demo but to also continue to order from Carol, my online demo and a dear crafty friend.  It's like I now have the best of both worlds.

    Today, I met "Margo" who is a sweet Demo who lives about 35 minutes from my home.  She's also someone who I have met at my LSS and is a friend to Barb, the gal who invited me.  It is after all a small world and in some ways, we all seem to connect in the wonderful world of crafting.

     I'm here now to share pictures of the cards that we created in the workshop and they are all awesome.   Due to my craftroom move, I'm taking pics in a new "temporary" space and the quality is not nearly as good, not to mention the fact that we "changed" the clocks this past weekend and it's now totally dark by 5 pm!  UGH!   In person, these cards are even prettier!!

     This is the first card and the one I loved most as I have never created this style of card ! The colors and the stamps are also gorgeous and the best part is that it was an easy card to create and a style I know I will now make again.  I also already own the "embossing folder" we used and I'm sure I have a die I could use to create this banner!  I love how the banner opens and the sentiment is actually stamped inside there, versus having to open the card!   As I said, I love this design and will use it again.

  And this was our second card, which I also love.  I actually ordered this "stamp set" today and will be using to to create some of my Christmas Cards.   The silver with the Navy is stunning and I love how Margo chose to put those colors together.  I also love the "Noel" sentiment, which is an SU die, very pretty!

  And next is this sweet all white and red card - the embossed background was a great touch, as is the cute little tree stamp.  I also added a tree to the inside on my card!   Adorable.

  And now onto the last card we created which is just as sweet as can be. I love the embossed panel, along with the doily and the pleated ribbon, (even though mine is a bit crooked), I still think the look is very sweet!    

  That's it for this workshop and my photos for today!  Now, I'm heading over the the Send Joy class to see what new projects have been shared in that Gallery!   And after that, I plan to spend the rest of the evening watching all today's new videos at the Holiday Card Workshop!  I also took a little peak and they look awesome!   I can't wait to spend more time on making the cards and thankfully I am free all day tomorrow and Thursday!   However, I do need to work on the my craft room too and get the rest of my "Stash" moved and organized.  Its' been a LONG project and right now, I'm sick of it, but we can't get the room painted or the new flooring in, until I clear it out...so it's a MUST do! 

  

  Signing off, for today and reminding everyone here in the U. S. that it's Election Day and every vote counts, so please VOTE today!  I checked that task off bright and early this morning and Hubby just went down now to cast his ballot and in our little tiny town, we actually still use "Paper Ballots".  

Class Rocks -- As always...!!

   Today is Day One of the fabulous "Holiday Card Workshop 2014" being hosted by Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire over at the Online Card Classroom.   And I'm delighted to say that we are off to a fantastic start and I absolutely LOVED each of the cards and inspiration shared in this wonderful new workshop for 2014.

   I'm also continuing to have a great time in the "Send Joy" class that Lisa Spangler is hosting at Studio Calico and today I took ideas from both of the classes and have designed three new cards to share with you now.

   I'll start with the card that I created on Day Three of the Send Joy class, where I again used the adorable class stamp set, to create another fun little "Winter Scene" that was again inspired by the video and stamping that Lisa shared on Saturday!    As you may guess, I followed her idea of stamping and inking up several the little trees, so I can simply pull a few out and quickly put together a new card.  This one I did in a combo of "teals" and it all started by using one of my new favorite die sets "Landscape Trio" from Mama Elephant, which is just perfect for creating these adorable little "Snowy Hills".    I added my hill to a "Mixed Pool" card base and then added more of the adorable Lawn Fawn Paper to top section of my card.  I added on two trees, and a Happy Holidays Sentiment that I inked in "Pool" Shadow ink to match my card base and my sky line.   I also added on a variety of bling and fun little elements to "kick" this card up a notch!   Hope you like it!!

   

    My next two cards were inspired by today's video's in the Holiday Card Workshop!  I have to tell you that I loved all the cards today and had a hard time decided which ideas I wanted to put into use.  Every video was fantastic and each of the teachers did an amazing job, filling my head with so many awesome ideas.    One of my very favorite cards today was one that was created by Debby Hughes, who I must say is also one of the favorite designers!  I love the style of her cards, here fabulous color combo, her amazing photography and love hearing her lovely accent on her videos.   I could spend hours watching her videos.   As this is a copyright protected class, I can not share Debby's card, but since I know many of you are also in this class, there is no doubt you'll recognize this card !   I did changed some colors and used different dies, but its' very much a take on her design and the layout of her card!  Love Love LOVE!    She ROCKS!!

   Amazingly, I don't have many "tag" dies, but sure did love the one Debbie used on her card, so I may buy it for future cards.  Instead, I created my tag, using a die from one of the fabulous "BluePrint 13" sets from MFT, that I recently added to my collection!  These sets are pricey, but you do get a lot of dies, making them a nice value, overall!   The die I chose is actually a banner, but I easily changed it into a tag, by adding a simple hole at the top.   I love "Debby's" new "dipping" technique and used to to add the wonderful shine to the bottom of my tag, using "Liquid Platinum" Embossing Powder!   The snowflake mini stamp, the snowflake die and the Merry Christmas die, are all exclusives from Simon Says Stamp!     I went created my version of Debby's color in my own color theme, and went with a larger A2 size, but again this card is ALL Debby!     I just can't say enough about how much I loved her card, which I also must came out excellent and to think that she quickly made ten of these beauties is also awesome!  I'm NOT nearly as fast as she is and it took me a good hour or to create this one!  

    In addition to sharing this card in the Student Gallery, I will also be submitting it to the new "TAG" themed challenge over at "Addicted to CAS"!

   The next card today was inspired by the card the Kristina shared, although in this case, I did not "truly" case her card, but simply loved the idea of her design and the way she added some of the elements to her card.  Her card is much different and doesn't have a hint of purple, but is also a card I loved !   My card is all done in my signature color--"Purple" along with silver which is a gorgeous color to go along with purple.  Gold would have worked equally as well, but today, I seem to be drawn to Silver!   This card was the easiest to create, as it has only one simple stamp, which is from this stamp set, a 2013 Exclusive form SSS!   I also used Purple Shimmer Cardstock, along some some older "purple polka dotted" paper, and more Silver Metallic Tape, which I am loving, and as always some bling!!   

   This card will also be submitted to the new "Metallic" themed challenge over at Virginia's View!   I will also be sharing it in the Student Gallery as well as submitting it to the "Embossing" challenge being hosted at the Simon Says Stamp -- Flickr Group.

   I am actually heading back to the the Online Classroom now to check out the other new cards in the Gallery and to continue viewing more of today's videos.  I was so excited to start creating that I only watched the first few and hit my craft desk.

  

   If you think you would like to take part in either class, you still have plenty of time.  You can enroll today and catch up and have life time access!   To sign up for the Send Joy class with Lisa Spangler, so HERE!   And or to enroll in the Holiday Card Workshop 2014, go HERE!   Hope to see you in class and please share your work in the Galleries!     Happy Crafting!!

Oh, how I love card workshops....

    And this week is gong to be fabulous for me, because I'm participating in two awesome new Online Classes, and will also be headed to my LSS tomorrow for a fun little Demo Class!  I'm going to have so much fun and hopefully have a lot of Christmas Cards to share during this time.

    The first class I'm taking is one that Lisa Spangler, (a truly awesome designer who I know best for her work for Hero Arts), is hosting over at Studio Calico called Send Joy!  It's my first time ever taking and class at SC, and I am already having a blast!   Thank you Lisa, and a shout out to Jennifer McGuire who happens to be a guest designer in class too!   I had learned about this class after reading a post Jennifer had shared on her blog~and as soon I knew that Lisa was hosting and Jennifer was also a part of the class -- I rushed right over to Studio Calico and signed up!  

  This class started yesterday and it's really fun.  I'm also enjoying using the adorable little stamp set that we received for "free" (sorry it's now sold out), for taking the class!  

  

   I am very happy I signed up early, so I did not miss out!  This set is adorable and it's also what Lisa used to create the cards she shared with us in class on Day One!   And happily I have completed my first two cards, both using this sweet set and the inspiration provided by Lisa!!

Card One - Day One

"Twinkle Twinkle"

Card Two - Day One

Merry & Bright

    As you can tell, I used the class stamp set, along with some of my "stash" goodies, including some dies, patterned papers, gems, silver metallic tape and other new Christmas stamps, including one of Julie Ebersole's newest, which is where the set I used for the  "Merry and Bright" Sentiment !    

    I am entering my "Merry & Bright" card into the new "Metallic" themed challenge over at "Virginia's View"!   Come on over and join the fun!!

     I also played in a little challenge that Lisa has posted in today's class forum and wanted to share the photo of what we had done to prepare for class?  I pulled out the supplies I knew I wanted to work with and took this photo -- which I shared in the Class Gallery.  As you can see I have a nice supply of Christmas goodies that I've recently stocked up on for my Holiday card-making.

   After having some new inspiration I kept on working and created two more cards, both of which were also inspired by a brand new challenge, being hosted over at the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Group!  The theme for the "Challenge #5"  is "Embossing" and I used it in both ways (heat and dry embossing) on these next two cards, which also incorporate some of my favorite Simon Says Stamp products!

Warm Holiday Wishes

(Heat Embossed the Sentiment)

  This card was started using more of the fabulous papers from the November SSS Card Kit, along with the adorable "Deco Tree Die", one of the SSS Exclusives.  The sentiment was heat embossed with some brand new WOW Embossing powder and is from this adorable SSS Stamp set.

   With all the goodies still all over my desk, I moved on to create another card for the challenge and this time, I used a "striped look" embossing folder to add some texture to the white die cut circle behind my red tree, also another SSS exclusive set.   The patterned papers are again from the Card Kit, and the "Merry Christmas" sentiment, stamped in Red Lipstick Ink, is from this SSS set, which was included in the awesome November Monthly Card Kit!!     

Merry Christmas

  I am also entering this card to the "Anything Goes" challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog.

  That will be it for today folks, but stay tuned all week, as tomorrow not only will I be at a demo workshop at my LSS, but I'll be coming home and starting another brand new class --- Holiday Card Workshop 2014 -- hosted by Jennifer McGuire & Kristina Werner at their fabulous Online Card Classroom.  I have taken all of their other classes, so I know without a doubt this one will be awesome!    I am so happy to be feeling well enough to take part and hope that I feel good all week, so that I do NOT have to miss out on any FUN!!

Christmas Cuties...

   After seeing that other areas of the East Coast are getting their first taste of that evil "S" stuff (snow), I am not going to complain one little bit about the rain we are having today or all the wind.  I do HOPE that we do not lose power, and as long as we don't I'm still pleased that it's not snowing!

    The only time of year, I really do love to see "Snow" is on Christmas morning and if that is the only snow we have all season, that would be fine with me!!   I also love the look of sweet and fun "snowy" scenes which is what you'll see in today's cards !  I am in LOVE with the month's Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp and I used it to complete each of these three cards!   I also am love that the papers they included this month were part of this adorable set "Snow Day" by Lawn Fawn!  It is my favorite paper for this season and you can bet you'll see it even more as I continue to create Christmas Cards.

    My first card is one that was inspired by the card ideas that were included in the kit.  I changed things around a bit, but it's not my original design -- simply one that I loved and wanted to use for this first card!  I also LOVE the little Sentiment, one is one of many that are all on one sheet of this sweet paper.
     

   This was my second card and I fell in love with these adorable "bunnies", and think they make such a fun and sweet card!   The little tree I added, was created using the adorable stamp set that is included in this kit!   Love it!!   

   That brings me to my third card, which was so easy to create, because it's simply one piece of the included Lawn Fawn Paper Pad, along with a few strips of red, cut from another piece.  I added the "Sentiment" again using the stamp set that is included!    Oh, what a kit this is, now I kind of wish I had two?? Thankfully, I did buy two extra pads of this adorable paper, and there is not doubt, I'll be using it!  

  I also am once again sharing my final "card club" card, the Pumpkin card that was not quite done when I posted the others.  It's all finished now and I am loving this adorable Grunge board Pumpkin, with all it's dimension and sparkle!!

    After a morning of more organizing in my fabulous new space and putting my recent new IKEA purchases to good use, I'm happily taking a little break this afternoon and heading over to see all the new things that Alex and Acacia have added to their kitchen!   They did as much shopping as I did on Monday, and then more on Tuesday and Wednesday!  Today, Alex is adding a dishwasher after putting in a new kitchen sink and a nice new stove, earlier this week!   He's such a hard worker, that he had not taken hard any vacation the past couple of years, so he cashed in three weeks worth to buy all these new "goodies" for the house!!   Way to go!!    I also love visiting and seeing his Pets, including their Ferrets "Delilah and Oden", who lived here until Alex moved out.   They also have a sweet pup named Marlee, a kitty and a ' red-tail boa snake' which I do NOT like a ALL -- creeps me out! Needless, to say they are huge Pet lovers, and Acacia also happens to work at the local Petco!   She does work with shelters and rescues helping to bring in the animals that are up for adoption.  She's awesome with them all and also plans to start school for "Grooming" next!!  

     I would also like to invite you ALL to hop on over to the a2z Scrapbooking Blog and meet the four newest members of the a2z Design Team!   I am excited have them on the team and can't work to start creating together.  It's also a bittersweet day when you have to say Goodbye to the others, who are moving on to other "creative" ventures!   Best wishes to all of the girls!   Be sure to check out our new November Challenge too!   --  You'll love it and it's perfect for ALL you Hero Arts lovers!!