Another fun day in class!!!!

   Despite losing power here for about four hours this morning, I was very happy to manae to create a card for Day 3 - in the Stretch Your Dies Class!

   Today's card was inspired by a couple of fun designs that Carissa Wiley shared!  Loved her designs and wanted to give her ideas a shot.   I must admit I always struggled with "Partial" die cutting and today was no exception,   I've done my best to cover my mistakes, which included cutting through the back of my card -- OOPS!   But, I think you'll get the idea of the fun Hingled Window Card!

   I created the colored strip using Distress Inks, which I then stamped over with this fun Border Die by Avery Elle!  

   I cut my little "Window" with a Circle Die, leaving part of the die uncut to created the hinge.   I added a few thin black strips and finished off my card by stamping my Sentiment, which s is from Hero Arts.

Day 2 - Stretch Your Dies...

   Another really fun and creative day in class!   Today was a busy day for me, but I did manage to create a new card for class.   This one was inspired by a card that Jennifer McGuire shared in class today.

    The dies I used for this card are "Hollyhock Stem" an 'oldie but goodie' from Memory Box and the "Love You" die from Simon Says Stamp.  

   I also colored parts of my die cut with my Copic Markers, making this card eligible for Kathy Racoosin's - 30 Day Coloring Challenge!    

 And lastly I am also submitting this to the newest challenge over at CASology -- where this weeks' Cue is "Blossom". 

   See you again tomorrow!   Hope you are enjoying the class as much as I am!

A Happy Monday!!

  Today's an extra fun day for me and I am very happy to be back to creating and also excited to be taking the brand new Stretch Your Dies Class!

    I have already watched today's videos and am excited to share three new cards that were inspired the this class, as well as some of my favorite challenge.   It's been a LONG time since I have been able to play in the challenges, and I was very happy to start again today!   All three cards use die cuts and all three all also being submitted to new challenges.

   My first card was inspired by a card that Debby Hughes, who is one of the guest designers in class and also one a designer I love to follow.   I loved the idea of created an "inlaying" my die cut, a technique I have seen many times, but never tried.  For some reason, I always thought it would be a challenge, but Debby's steps made it very easy to follow!

   In addition to the class gallery I am also submitted with card to the "Addicted to CAS" challenge where the theme this week is GREEN!!

  I was quickly able to create a second card, with the "negative" pieces toe the Hello Die Cut, which is from Simon Says Stamp,

  My next card is one and that I colored up with my Copics, and this card was inspired by Kathy Racoosin's - 30 Day Coloring Challenge, as well as the current "Fusion" Challenge.  

    Loving the color purple the way that I do, I knew right away that I would be playing in the Fusion Challenge, and I was very happy to break out a gorgeous new stamp from Penny Black, called Divine. 

   I inked up my stamp with black Versafine ink and stamped it onto some Neenah white cardstock.  I then went to work with my Copics using the same colors as in the Fusion image -- Love them.  I added a few highlights with a white gel pen and then complete the card with adding a die-cut "Love" sentiment -- another favorite from my SSS collection.

  That's it for now as I need to get ready for my "in-home" - Physical Therapy.   I have one of the best therapists I have ever had the pleasure of working with.  His name is Darren, and he's young guy, probably about  the same age as my oldest son, Brian.  He's so personable and what I really like is that he doesn't PUSH me to a pain level....something many others did over the years and why I ended up hating PT!   Thank goodness times have changed!

    Well that it's for now -- time to get ready!   Hope you have a wonderful day!

Paw Prints.....

  I am happy to have to new cards to share with you today!   They both were inspired by two fun new challenges.  The first is the Kathy Racoosin's - 30 day Coloring Challenge and the second the new Simon Says Stamp -- Flickr Group Challenge.

  I broke out some of mew newest SSS exclusives and started with my Bear Hugz card, which ended up being a bust.  I've since revised it and will show both versions, but let's just say it's not good and I could not submit it the the SSS - One Layer Challenge in it's original form.   Ink smudges ruined it....BooHoo!!

First Card

  I smudged ink all over and on top of that, think this turned out....too darn plain.   One layer cards are truly a challenge for me.  

  The good news is that with some changes I was able to make it into a second card that I think is much better.  I can't use it for the challenge, but that's okay by me!

  Happily I also created and colored up a third card using more SSS stamps, along with my Copic Markers.  I think this one is better and the one I'm entering into both the SSS challenge and Kathy's challenge for today.

 I am in a Dog theme today and really missed my dogs very much when I was in the hospital.  Skye my lil' Chiweenie, also missed me, like crazy and would not go upstarts to bed at night...She sat/slept on the couch daily, watching out the window for me to come home.  The are all such love bugs and I'm so happy to be back home with them!

  That's it for today, but boy was it fun to create again!  I've missed it so much.   Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Healing.....happily and slowly!!

Hi everyone -- Sorry for the long delay !!  As most of you know I had hip replacement surgery on 2/27 and boy did that turn out to be a LOT more than I ever expected.   Due to my Fibro the first two days were really hard, as they were not able to easily get my pain level down -- NOT fun!   Then then I was finally was doing a bit better, I developed Post-Op Pneumonia, which was a huge set back.  I ended up in the hospital for 6 full days (versus the originally planned 2-3).   I also had to have huge does of IV antibiotics and they ended up making me feel petty sick.....sigh~

But, jump forward to today and I have now been home for a full week.  I was able to sleep in my own bed, (versus a recliner, for the past three nights and that's been wonderful.   I'm still having home nursing care and PT and it's getting better each and every day!   I can now go up and down the stairs and that's so good, as compared to being trapped on one floor!

It's so nice to feel better and I know it will only improve from here,   I get my staples out tomorrow and will be going to the local hospital for a follow -up check X-ray just toe sure the pneumonia is totally gone, which I an confident it will be.

Special  thanks to everyone who has send cards called and written.....you really brightened each day. For all the gals in the Deb's Card Chain Group  I am so touched by all your kindness -- Debbie is a gem!!  I look forward to being back very soon!!

And lastly, I am dying to get back to my craft desk  -- especially with so many wonderful new products on the market.  I'm in LOVE with the new Hero Arts release, which you can find over at the a2z Scrapbooking Store -- New things are still coming in every day and I'm happy to remind you that you can use my Design Team Promo Code LISAH15, to save 15% off or any order of $25 and up (excluding shipping)!   A great savings!

I am very much looking forward to the next "Online Card Class" - Stretch Your Dies, which starts on Monday!   I truly hope by then I can play along and us some of the amazing new dies I had bought before I had my surgery!   Hope to see you there!

Hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to Spring....I know I am and when it was Sunny and in the 50's yesterday -- it felt awesome,  It's going to take a LONG time for all this snow to finally melt, but every warm day does help!!

I finally sat down at my craft desk for the first time in weeks.  I wanted to make a special Thank You card for my Mom, who has been so good to me during my surgery.  She's brought me a gorgeous plant in the hospital, has taken care of the dogs...made us meals and even come up and set when me, when my hubby had to run out to get me meds and such.  I very grateful for all her caring and hard work,   This card was also inspired the Kathy Racoosin's -30 day Coloring Challenge and this the the first day I have colored, even though it was simple coloring my "die cut" sentiment with my Copics and a Wink of Stella.  I do hope to follow Kathy for the remainder of the fun challenge and I LOVE her fabulous coloring skills.   

Hugs and Happy Thoughts to ALL!!!!