Cut, Color and Create...

.....what does all that equal -- lots of crafty time and lots of new card to share!   Woohoo!   After all those weeks of feeling so poorly dealing with Fibro, I had one of my best weekends in ages, and it was a blast to not only feel good, but to also have lots of time to create!!

     My first creative venture started yesterday when I headed off to my LSS, "Absolutely Everything" for a super cute card class where we made these adorable cards, all featuring aome very sweet Lawn Fawn products.   Not only are they adorable, but we had a lot of fun putting hem together, and had a great little group yesterday --- another thing I so LOVE about going to the store to take these workshops!   Great day out and a lot of laughs while we create!!

   And while I was there, I had the treat of seeing some of the many new card class projects that Kate and the girls are putting together for us!   I can tell you already that I'll be spending lots of extra time at the store and these classes look great!   Check them out HERE on the AE Facebook page!  Kate, the owner, has been putting together some great new videos and has been sharing them on the FB page.  She is so creative, as are so many of the AE group and I know I'm so lucky to have a store like AE!

   Today, while my Hubby continue to tear apart our family room, (he's removing the old carpet/pad as we are having new floors put in on Wednesday).   In the meantime, between my craft room move, (Still not done), my house is in total disarray and the only thing I can do to survive is "hide in my craft room!   I'm terrible when it comes to any remodeling and have been through it soooo many times now -- I love the end result, but the mess it creates during the "process", is super stressful and a bit overwhelming me!   Probably because I am typically very neat and tidy and seeing both the upstairs and downstairs in this "mess" is truly a challenge!    Happily, once that room is done, we will be "carpet" free on the first floor, something that is a must do, when you have three dogs!  Two of which came in as "Puppies"!!

  But, in trying to battle this mess, I find that card-making is the perfect escape for me and always has been.  It's also great therapy for Fibromyalgia and why this hobby is now such a passion in my life.   And today, I was very happy with how my cards were all working out - Yippee!   I have two that are Design projects for a2z Scrapbooking, but I can tell you that both cards feature this really pretty Hero Arts stamp -- "Love from the Garden", which you can find here at the a2z Store.  I have loved this stamp from the first time I saw it and love that it can be used in so many ways.   You can color it, stamp it, emboss it and use it year round for a variety of cards.  I also think it's a great addition to this "Flower Garden" clear stamp set, which I also own and love.  Oh, speaking of Hero Arts, we are also very excited to have most of the newest release, already in stock now at the a2z Store!   You can also used my DT Promo Code ( LISAH15 ) on the brand new release too -- Just enter it at Checkout to save 15% off of any order of $25 and up (excluding shipping)!!  Stay tuned for those new cards coming up shortly, and don't forget there is still time to play in the October Challenge!

  In addition to those cards, I was delighted to finally get my card done (just in the nick of time), for the current challenge at the MUSE Cardmaking blog.

 I have had ideas on what to create all week and then realize that today was the my last day to come up with something a cute as this MUSE card that I'm sharing as this week's inspiration!

Therese's Muse Card

(Adorable as can be)

My Card

  I loved the design of Therese's card and those adorable little animals, and I took that inspiration along with a few of my favorite little Christmas supplies to create this sweet card.  My image is from Lili of the Valley and I just love their fabulous pre-colored "Art Pads".  The images are simply adorable and I love that they are come all colored, (some come in black and white too), making it very easy to put together a card, when you don't always have a lot of time to do your own coloring.  They are also very affordable and ship free, another bonus!  Love them and I have a few of the sets and will be using more in the next few weeks.   I created my little "rolling hills", with the my Mama Elephant "Creative Cut" dies, a set I have been using a lot lately and another set, that is very popular!   The papers I used are from this sweet set by Lawn Fawn, and my sentiment is a favorite from the new Winter Wonders Set by Hero Arts!  

    I will also be entering the card into the current Holiday Challenge over at "Hero Arts" under the category of "Anything Goes".

   It's also being entered over at "Addicted to Stamps" latest challenge, which is also "Anything Goes"!

  I have one more card to share and this one was created using a cute little "Stampin' Up" stamp that I am "Recycling" again after finding it during my craft room move.  I have found so many things that I either forget that I had, or they were buried so deep in my craft closet that I could not even get to them.   It's like shopping for new things only I don't have to spend any money and I can combine them with some of my new goodies to make some really fun new cards!  I have to admit that  I will be very excited to finish this task and be much better organized.  I'm also thrilled that I was "able" to let go of a LOT of things that I just was not using and now that actually has given me even more space and made finding my things SO much easier!   

     This stamp is one that makes a card very easy and fun, because the image and the sentiment are combined for you!   All I had to do with stamp it out, color it up, which I did with my Copic Markers and a a clear Wink of Stella Marker!   I then trimmed it down and layered it onto a white and red Polka dotted frame and added that on to of this cute stitched banner, which is another die set that I'm loving lately and it's also from Lawn Fawn!  I created my red card base using my favorite layering paper, which are from Hero Arts!    I finished off this one with some sheer white polka dotted ribbon, which like my stamp is another thing I found in my Stampin' Up!  '

    Being that I am using "Oldie but Goodie" products, I thought this card would fit perfectly in to the current "Recycle It" Challenge being hosted over at "A Blog Named Hero".  I love that I have come across so many of my older projects during this move and it's been like finding new treasures! 

  

   

  I will be back in my craft room tomorrow working on more Christmas Cards and more challenge cards!  In the meantime, I hope you all had a weekend as nice as mine has been and hope it included lots of fun and crafting time!  

Another Fabulous Friday in Fall ---

    I saw this picture on a friend's Facebook page today and I LOVE it....!  It reminds me of younger Summer Days....Crusin' to the beach of a gorgeous Summer day!   I am such a Summer lovin' "Flip Flop" kind of girl and this makes me Happy ---

    Wising you all a very Happy Friday too --

   I also have a short little post to share two new cards that I created yesterday for some new challenges.  My first card is one I colored up for two "color inspired" challenge, one at the Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Blog and the other over at the Colour Q!!   Loved that they both had the same basic colors and I chose to go with a Halloween theme --

  

  I decided to use one of my new SSS Exclusives and its' the same set that was actually used for the card they have in the inspiration image -- totally adorable and you can find it HERE in the store.  The moment I saw it, I  knew I had to have it.  That's how I feel about pretty much and adorable images that have sweet lil pups!!   I can't resist!!

My Card

  I also combined it with another cute SSS Set, to add the sweet little birdie, which is from this set, another cute Exclusive!   I love almost every thing that Kristina seems to design -- my shopping never seems to end, when there are stamps this adorable!   I used my Copics along with a Wink of Stella Marker to color the pup and the bird and then "fussy cute" them out and layered them onto of the little hills, that I die cut with this Mama Elephant Set (another line I LOVE).  I them used a variety of other images from the Halloween set to create a little Halloween themed card -- hope you like it?   I have to admit, it is NOT my favorite and I'm disappointed in my coloring, but after spending a LOT of time working on this, I was not about to toss it!  Plus, I like to show all the cards I create, even those they don't' turn out as cute as I had hoped?

   After that let down, I was thrilled when my next card came out ever better than expected.  Go Figure!  It was easier to make and also took far less time!   And this card was created for the latest challenge over at "The Card Concept", based on this lovely Sunflower themed image!

    I love Sunflowers and always think they make such wonderful Fall cards.  This image is another wonderful digi image part of the Digital Kit from Hero Arts!  For this card, I made sure to print a really large sunflower so that it would be the primary focal point of my "Clean & Layered" card.  I again color this with my Copics, cut it out and them edged it with black soot Distress Ink.   I created my card base with a golden shade background and added a layer of brown wood-grain cardstock, that I found as on the the "Essentials" over at Ellen Hutson.   I then tied on some twine, keeping in the Fall mode and then my sunflower, which I popped up, using foam tape!  I used this fabulous Winnie & Walter Stamp set, to create my sentiment and did that on the same cardstock I used for my card base.  I will also be sharing this card over at the Winnie & Walter Gallery!   To finish this one, I added a layer of Wink of Stella Marker, and some black gemstones!  The sparkle from the Wink of Stella shows up very nicely in this next photo!!

  I am a big fan of the wonderful shimmer that the Wink of Stella and Wink of Luna Markers can add to projects.  I use the clear markers most often, but I do now have a fun range of colors and think they ROCK!  Kudos to Kuretake for creating such an cool product!! 

  And now it's time to pack my craft bag, as I will be heading to my LSS "Absolutely Everything" for a new class tomorrow morning.  When I saw that we'd be using Lawn Fawn stamps, I knew it would be a class I'd love !  This is a little sneak peek of the card samples!    Cute, don't you agree!

   Stop by again tomorrow and hopefully, I have my new cards to share!  In the meantime, don't forget about our latest "Hero Arts" themed Challenge over at the a2z Scrapbooking Blog, as well as the current Design Team Call!   Just head over to the blog for all the details!   

Happy Happy Friday!!

Crafty friends.....

 ......are really great friends and that's just one of the reasons that I love this  stamp!   It really is so fun to create with and I always  enjoy creating with this stamp!     Today, after checking several things off my never ending "Task List", I was very happy to find some more time to create and have a fun new array of cards to share, starting with my first card, which was created for a challenge that is new to me.   It's called "One-Layer Simplicity" and I'm tickled that I found it so that I can play along.  Of course, now that I'm ALL ready to post my card, I realized that I will need to work on another one, as I did not follow the theme!  UGH!  I was so excited to have found a new challenge that I foolishly did not even pay attention to the fact that there was a theme in addition to making certain to create only a One Layer Card, which for me, is a challenge in itself!   The good news is that this is a Monthly challenge, so I still have time, and hopefully I can still find time to create another card soon!    In the meantime, I will still share my "One Layer" card, since I worked hard to meet even that rule!   LOL!  

   I love how it came out and it all started with the idea of using a nice heavy watercolor paper, so I would be sure that my one layer would be nice and thick.   I used a variety of Distress Inks along with Perfect Pearls mist and a plain acrylic block to create the background, something I learned in the wonderful online card classroom!  Once I had it dry, I then added my stamping, which is this fabulous "Crafty Friends" stamp by Hero Arts, along with a few elements from this fun stamp set, one of my SSS Sets.  I added a few matching sequins and was very happy with the result!

   My next card is again a card inspired by a challenge and thankfully this time, I have it right.  It's the latest Challenge over at CASology where our the theme is "Candy"!   As soon as I saw the theme, the very first thing that came to mind, was this very sweet little stamp that I just happened to find while moving into my new craft space.  It's from DeNami Designs and is one of the stamps from their sweet and adorable "Chickies" line! 

  This stamp is called "Christmas Chickies" and it's still available to purchase from the DeNami online store!   For my card I colored with my Copics and then added lots of extra fine glitter for more sparkle and shine!   This card is much cuter in person and and really sparkles in the sunlight, but it's already dark now, so not one of my best photos!  

   My next three cards were all super fun and easy to create and that's because they all started with one of my many  Hero Arts Digital Kits!   I just LOVE these and love that I can make a lot of cards in a short time and make them all unique and fun by adding my own touches.

   First, we have Mr. Moose or is he a Reindeer, as I called him yesterday?  I'm really not sure and since I think he's adorable either way, I decided to call him a Moose today and created my own little
"Happy Kissmoose" sentiment, which I thought was a fun touch to this card!   This particular kit is an "oldie but goodie" now retired.  Even so, I still enjoy using many of my older "goodies" and it's been really fun "finding" all these things during my move!   

   For this card, once I had Mr. Moose and the Sentiment designed, it was simply a matter of printing out that portion onto some nice white cardstock.   I then, took my fabulous Lil Inker Stitched Die set out and picked out the size I wanted for this design. I cut out the image and then began the fun of adding my own touches.  I started by adding some pretty "Copper" Glitter to his antlers and then coated them with a layer of 3d Crystal Accents, which I also used on his scarf and eyes.   I  added a sparkly gold enamel dot to his nose, matted him onto a piece of nice green cardstock and added him to a  Hero Arts Notecard!  

    While printing out my moose, and as I always do when I am working with digital images,  I filled my entire page with images and my next card is another that I put together with a second image from the same print out!  I still have two more to work on and hopefully will have them ready in the next day or two!   You can find the this digital kit, along with all the newest  Hero Art Digital Kits,  over at the  a2z Scrapbooking Store!

    This card was created using the the ornament from this "Bottle Brush" kit along with another digital sentiment from my stash.    I added on the red star, the little bow and the red ornaments.  This turned out to be a favorite and a card I can easily re-create in a wide array of colors!   

 And my last card today was a card I created using lots of fun die cuts and some pretty patterned paper, for the new challenge over at "The Cutting Edge".  I loved the red, white and blue them of the "inspiration" card and used that idea to come up with this card, which reminds me of Summer again and being out on the ocean!  Oh how I miss Summer already.....sigh!!!

Challenge #12 Inspiration

My Card

   That's it for today!  I am off to take my car into the shop tomorrow for the six month check up.  I can hardly believe I have already have my RAV4 for aix months---time does fly by!  But, I LOVE my new card and am so please with it!  I think it will likely turn out to be my all time favorite car and when I had my Alero (which I loved), I never thought I would drive another vehicle I loved that much...but I think this may be the one and I could not be happier!   And since I'll be right down the street, I want to stop by "The Container Store" tomorrow and get some new storage goodies for my new space! I also happen to love that store and always take any chance I can to stop in!  

  Goodnight my friends....see you all tomorrow!!!

Oh what a day....

....and for me that means I had another wonderful day, most of which was spent in my new craft space.  I spent a few hours this morning moving more things in and also did a bit of organizing, which is something I love doing, because the end result makes my life so much easier!!

    After I did that I was right back at my craft desk working on more new cards.   Take two you might say of the day I had yesterday!   And my first card is also my second take on one that I created yesterday, but ended up totally messing up at the very end while stamping on my Sentiment. This is the card I did yesterday, which was for the 90 Minute Scramble over at the Hero Arts Flick Group ---

   Notice how the sentiment is actually a cute out that was stamped a second time, (after the first one smeared), and 'added' on top of the big mistake.   And this is "Take Two",   I could not figure out a good way to fix my first card, so I decided to make a mew one this time, I was very careful to stamp the Sentiment first, that way if it was bad, I could quickly start over ad not have to totally color the flower again.  I also used added some patterned paper ( my favorite, "Viola" retired from Memory Box), to frame my flower and also went with a white wood-grain card base for this revision.

  I am now submitting my new card to the current "Anything Goes" challenge over at the Addicted to Stamps challenge blog!

Challenge #116  - Anything Goes

   Moving on I have a new Sketch Inspired challenge card and this is for the SFYTT Challenge over at Reverse Confetti.   After I made my card yesterday, I quickly found that the sketch I had used was the wrong sketch, and was the sketch that had been provided for the September Challenge?  I thought.....WOW -- How did I pick the wrong one, only to later realize that it the side bar link on the RC blog, was taking me to the wrong sketch!!   PHEW?  At least it was not me "losing it" which could easily be Fibro Fog too!.  It's since been fixed and I'm happy to be sharing my new card, based on the October Sketch, which is this one --

Reverse Confetti - SFYTT

"Sketch for You to Try" - October

My Card

  I totally love this sketch and it's wonderful CAS style.  I actually had fun making this card and it also was one I managed to created very quickly.   I started with a piece of Watercolor Paper to use for my card base.  I love the thickness and also think the texture is a nice addition for a CAS type card.  I then used "Scraps" to created the two rectangle shapes.  Next, I pulled out this new set, which just arrived from RC this weekend, and decided to use the heart stamp.  I inked it in Versamark, and then stamped it to some deep purple cardstock, which I heat embossed in White.  I used foam tape to add that adorable little image to a scalloped circle which I created with a Stampin' Up Punch!   Easy and yet it's adorable and a card that can be used for many occasions.  You could add a sentiment to the front, or simple write your own message inside.   I also consider "Hearts" to be LOVE, so I would likely add a stamped "Love" type sentiment to the inside of the card, probably stamped in Deep Purple to Teal to go with the card!   

  My next few cards were all inspired by the new "Holiday Challenge" being hosted over on the Hero Arts Blog.  Here are the details, if YOU would like to play along -- 

  This time I chose to enter a card into the "White Out" Category and also thought it would be fun to use a Hero Arts Digital image for my card.   I happen to love to create with Digital image and now that I'm part of the the a2z Design Team, I am especially excited, because the a2z Scrapbooking Store is now the Exclusive seller of the entire line of Hero's digital goodies!   We have a nice selection in the store now and will continue to add new sets, as Hero releases them to use!  You can find them HERE at a2z's Store on Etsy!  

  This first card is the one that I'm submitting to the Challenge and one that I think is adorable, yet super fast and easy to make.   NOTE:   I realize now that most of the digi images I have used on my cards today happen to be from an older digital set that we not not currently have at a2z.  This sweet set is one that I have had in my stash for a few years and I believe it's now retired!   Even so, it is shows just how versatile these images are and how you can quickly put together some great Christmas cards.  I love to add extra embellishments and even change the colors or add the images to my on colored cardstock, which makes these cards called "Hybrids", because I used both digital images and traditional cardmaking products too!  This is the style I love most, because I can make them my own!  

  For this card, the little "Tree" is the digital image.  I always design my digi card in Word, and that's how I added the black frame around the little tree.  I actually printed it out twice, and cut out the second tree and adhered it on top of the first to give it more dimension.  I also used added some ultra fine Hero Arts Prisma Glitter on tops of the "snow" covered parts of the tree.  My sentiment was hand stamped below and is from one of my favorite new Hero Arts sets -- called Winter Wonders.  I absolutely LOVE the handwritten design and was thrilled to learn that Heather Ruwe, (who I know from "blogland"), is the gal who's handwriting was used for these fabulous new stamps!   I absolutely LOVE her "style" and also own the "Crafty Friends" stamp that Hero also designed using Heather's wonderful handwriting!   Way to Go Heather!!  I am totally thrilled for you and also LOVE your style!  I do HOPE Hero will have you draw more sentiments for us, your handwriting is perfect and such a trendy style!!   

   Whenever I do decided to print out some Digital Images, I always tend to print out a full sheet of them to fill up an 8 1/2" X 11"  piece of cardstock.   No waste here and even if I don't use them all right away, they are all set and ready to go, if I should need to make a card very quickly!     Below are two more I created today, all using some of Hero's fabulous digital kits, and the new kit are equally as fabulous.  

Happy Reindeer Card

  I again used the Picture Formatting tools in "Word" t add the shadows on this handsome guy, as well as the deep burgundy frame.  I then cut him out and adhered him to a matching card base.  I added a black enamel dot for his nose, (if I used red, he would be Rudolph), and to smaller black gems to his eyes.   I colored over his "Antlers" which a Clear Wink of Stella marker, which adds a lot of sparkle and shine.  Too bad, it doesn't photograph well, it's really pretty and sometime I use on many of my cards now.   We also now carry the Wink Of Stella Clear Markers at the a2z Store and we have some of the wonderful Wink of Luna's too!   I hand-stamped a sentiment and this time, added it to the inside of my card.   This is a little peek of the inside, which shows the Sentiment, also a Hero Arts product!

  And next is a sweet lil "Gingerbread" cookie card, also another Hybrid which stared with the little Gingerbread image and combined it with two Digital Sentiments from this amazing "set" a must have if you love working with digs and want a nice variety of sentiments.  I printed this with the others, them used my Lil Inker Designs "Stitched Mat Dies" to cut her out and added her to a piece of red cardstock. I then added texture to the "icing with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen and topped that off with more glitter.  I finished this one off by adding three white pearls as the buttons!  Super fun and easy and another card, already done!!   

  That's it for today folks, I hope I have inspired you to try out some of the awesome Hero Arts Digital Products and also to play along in the challenges!   Don't forget that you still have plenty of time to play in our October Challenge over at the a2z Scrapbooking Blog.   Just go HERE, read the rules, design your projects and upload it to the Inlinkz Gallery link, that is now toward the bottom of the page!   One lucky winner will be chosen by Random Drawing and will win a $25 Gift Certificate to the Store!!   You can even enter FIVE times, as long as each project is different, new, fits the theme, and meets our Challenge Guidelines!    WooOO!   Have Fun and as always -- Happy Crafting!!

Oh what fun....

...I have had one of my best days in ages!   And that's because I pretty have spent most of my day creating to my heart's content.  Oh how I love to spend time being creative and with the week I've had, it's awesome to have a day to do nothing but relax and enjoy this wonderful hobby.

   Today's cards were all inspired by challenges and that's another thing I had really been missing lately.  I really love to play and it's also the best way I know that I can practice creating cards and the challenges also provide me with all kinds of new inspiration.   This is a a long post, but I have so much to share, so sit back, relax and enjoy!!

   My first card today is one that I started yesterday and it's a fun new Christmas Card that I created for two new Simon Says Stamp challenges.   One is the new "Watercolor" themed challenge posted over on their Wednesday Challenge blog and the second is for their newest challenge site, which is over at their Flickr Group, where the theme is  the "Trendy Tags", something that I truly find to be a hard challenge for me.

SSS Flick Group Challenge

  The first thing I did was pick out one of my MANY new SSS Excluives, and with so many awesome new sets, that in itself was a challenge.  I finally decided to go with this adorable set, which I just love!!

   I started with some Ranger Watercolor Paper and some black archival ink and stamped both the sweet trees and then water-colored both using my Sakura Koi Watercolor set.  Love love love this set and owe thanks to Kristina for sharing it in one of her videos.  While my trees were trying, I used my Lawn Cuts-Stitched Banner dies to cut my "Tag" also from Watercolor paper.  I used a combination of Blue Distress inks and blended them with water to create the background. Next I cut the adorable little "Hills" with another new die set from Mama Elephant and added that to the bottom on my tag shape.  I added my water-colored trees and decorated them with red and green Gems, and added some sparkle with a Wink of Stella Marker and some ultra fine glitter.  I then added red and white baker's twine and had my little tag all done.   Because my tag really bled through with all the inks and such, I decided to make it into a card and did that easily, by creating a card base with the fabulous SSS Woodgrain Cardstock that I totally LOVE!!

  Next, I have another challenge inspired card and this one was created for the latest "SFYTT" Sketch For You to Try Challenge at Reverse Confetti.  Today, was also the perfect day to play, after receiving my latest order from Reverse Confetti!  Have you seem the latest release....it's awesome and of course I had to buy a couple of new goodies, including this adorable stamp set, which I used on my card, an also these two new amazing die sets, that I think are going to be super fun use!  

The Sketch

My Card

    This card went together very quickly, and most of the die cut pieces were all leftover scraps from the last few cards I have made.  I stared by picking my stamp, which is from the set called "Round About Additions", once of the two new sets in the recent Mini Release.  It was designed to go the the awesome new dies, also part of the release!  I bought both of course, and think that I'll be having fun using the "Envie Wrap" which I think is one of the coolest and unique dies I have seen hit the market!  Check out the projects the Reverse Confetti Design Team, created with this new die over on the blog  HERE!   After seeing that post and so many fabulous ideas, I knew I had to add it to my collection!    I plan on using it with my Christmas Cards this year, but the possibilities are endless! Don't ya think?

   Moving on, my next two card were both inspired and created for the latest challenge over at FUSION !   When I first saw the image, I knew right away that I had the perfect background stamp "Everything Flowers" which is one of my all time favorites from Hero Arts.  On top of that I also had the perfect die and stamp set to create a card based on that sketch, and that's another of the fabulous Simon Says Exclusive, this is the die I used, and this is the sweet matching stamp set.   So, I quickly headed back to my desk and created two cards to submit, one based on the lovely flowers ad the second based on the sketch.  I thought about "fusing" them together, but in the end really like the idea of two cards!    Below is a copy of the challenge Inspiration Board!   Don't you love it!!!  

Card One

Based on the Photo

  I started off with some Hero Art Watercolor Paper and inked up my stamp in Versamark and then heat embossed it with the "Sparkle Embossing Powder".   I then took my watercolors and painted the entire card, using all these pretty shades or purple, lavender and blue!   I dried it a few times in between coats and added a find mist of homemade Perfect Pearls Mist to the last coat.  I trimmed that piece down and then using this new Craft Frames Die set, also from SSS I added the white scalloped frame and tied on some matching ribbon.  I added that to a deep purple card base and completed it with a pretty purple flower, along with some of my homemade black enamel dots and the "Thanks" sentiment, one of my favorites from Winner and Walter's fabulous "The Big, The Bold..."  stamp sets!   I will also be sharing this card over at their blog - here!   

  Card #2 

Sketch Inspired

  Just like the other day, I found myself very much creating again with my "Signature Color", which in case you don't know - is Purple!  But, I'm guessing most of you already know that or had guessed that by now.   This is my sketch card and as you can see using the wonderful Simon Say Stamp Die and matching stamps, made this card work out perfectly for me.   I just love the sweet lil' pup and have been thrilled to see SSS creating so many new dog themed sets.  If you have not seen them, just go here and check them out!   Adorable - Thank you Heidi and little "Simon" too who I am sure, helped inspire these sets!!  

  My final two cards for today were both created for today's new Scramble hosted over the the Hero Arts Flickr Group!   Our hostess, Arlene being on the West Coast had planned to have her 90 minute scramble start at 11 p.m. (PDT) tonight, but that was a bummer for many of of East Coast gals, who would have at that time (2 a.m.) been sound asleep.   However, it was a good time for many of the other members, who are from all over the world.  Then, Charlene, came up with the great idea of changing the challenge, (for today), into a 24-hr challenge so that everyone could play.  We still are only allowed 90 minutes to create, photograph and upload our cards, as always.  But, instead of us ALL playing together, we can play at anytime in 24 hours, and we'll all be certain to adhere to the 90 minute limit, based on the "Honor" system, which I feel very confident will be no problem with this awesome group!   Once I realized the challenge was on - I posted that I was going to play and started my card(s) at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

   The theme was the challenge was to create either a "Fall" themed projects or a "Spring" themed project, our choice and as always to be sure to use Hero Arts projects, including at least ONE main stamp.   I knew right away that I wanted to make a "Spring Card" and I quickly went looking for the stamp (set), I wanted to use.  I picked a pretty flower image, which is this wooden stamp  K5571 Pom Pom Flower.

   I quickly pulled out some white Neenah Cardstock and my Black Memento Ink, knowing that I planned to color the flower with my Copics, and also submit the card to the Gallery over at the "Copics for Card-Makers" Class, which will be ending (sadly), this week...sigh ---it's beem AMAZING!!  

   Once I had the flower stamped, I colored it up in pretty shades of violets and blue violets, using my Copic Markers!  I then added a little extra details using a white Signo gel pen.  A fabulous look that Kathy Racoosin  shared with us in class and something she does often on her blog --- she's one of my favorite Copic Coloring Designers!  I also have been using these white gel pens for some time and the are by far, the best I have used!  Love them 

  

  

  Once I had my coloring done, I stamped om my "A gift from my Garden Sentiment" and pretty much ruined my card, because it smeared -- but in a Scramble there is NOT much time to fix mistakes, so I did the fastest thing I could and re-stamped the sentiment, cut it out and placed it on top of the "OOPS" version!   I always hate when this happens, and to me, it seems to happen too much and ruins your card!  But, I do love the rest of this card and want to keep it and use it, and will plan on trying a better fix tomorrow!!  Do you have any suggestions -- if so, please leave me a comment!  To give my panel a nice look, I trimmed it down a but, using one of the Stitched Rectangles Dies from Lil Inker Designs!    I love this set and am so happy I bought it.    Speaking of Lil Inker Designs, while I was on the plane to San Diego, I was chatting with the gal who was sitting in the same row and we were talking about Hobbies etc.,  I was telling her about my card-making and she asked me if I had ever heard of  "Lil Inker Designs", to then go on to tell me that she and, Laura Pryor, (The owner or Lil' Inkers), are cousins!  She was so excited to learn that I knew the store and had also shopped there.  I told her that I had even chatted a bit with Laura about us both being from Massachusetts, when I bought my first set of dies. What a small world we truly do live in and it was really fun to find out more about Laura and how excited and proud her family is with her wonderful venture!   How fun to learn this 'out of the blue" and all from some who just happened to be on the same plane in is not even a crafter! I love when you meet people in that way and she was also a great person to sit with!   We both lucked out and the seat between us, was empty, so we happily shared all that wonderful extra space.  I had that same good fortune on my flight home too, another flight not sold out and with an empty seat in the middle with another really sweet young guy, who was so kind about putting my Carry on up in the overhead bin for me. I hope you enjoyed that fun little share, just goes to show that there are some great people to fly with and that in some way, we all seem to connect to each other!  

    Once I had my panel die cut, I simply added it to a deep Purple card base and had happily finished my "Spring" Scramble card and it was only 4:25 p.m., which meant I still had plenty of time for a second card and that's when I decided to use the same Pom Pom Flower stamp, and change the colors to make a "Fall" Card.

  To make it more seasonal I started out with a "Wet Cement" card base and stamped directly to that in more Black Memento Ink, only this time, I use my Heat Gun to quickly heat set the ink, so I could color it fast.  I used a variety of Yellow and Yellow/Red Copics for the flower and then added a touch of sparkle with a Yellow Wink of Stella Marker and Gold Enamel Dot.  I used greens and yellow greens for the leaves and added a little detail with a black fine line Sharpie.  The sentiment for this card is also by Hero Arts and is from the "Making the World a Better Place" - CL775 Clear Stamp Set.  NOTE:   This card would also be perfect for our October challenge over at the a2z Scrapbooking Blog, since I used two different Hero Stamps, which is our theme for this month!

   Phew!! -- What a long post - but such an enjoyable day for me!   I have not had this much time crafting in ages, and I LOVED every minute!  Tomorrow, I need to work more on organization in my new room, plus moving the rest of what I want to keep -- into the new space!    I love how sunny and bright this room is and feel good about how much we have done, since I've been home, especially on top of this miserable Fibro flare!   

  On the upside, I am starting to feel that the change in one of my medications is starting to work.  I am also extremely impressed with the all the new data, research and information I've found through the Wellness Center at my Hubby's' workplace, which is now open to all employee family members -- a huge plus for me as well as so many cost savings, much needed with the horrible health insurance coverage we've had this year!    I've been in three times this week and yesterday met with the onsite Chiropractor after he reviewed several of my xrays/reports and history.  I'm excited to find with this extra resource, I may have some  new options for care!  It's beem amazing tofind out just how  up to date they are on the latest research and treatment trends that are now available to help treat Fibromyalgia.  I was highly impressed in how well-educated they are in knowing just how complex this illness is and how difficult it is to find the best care providers!   He's already provided me with a wealth of new data and new treatment options etc., which so impressive and gives me new hope that I can again start on a new healing process and get this illness and the pain back under control!    As he noted, my case is very complex because of the Fibro along with the Joint Disease all on top genetic issues with my spine, all of which make my illness and options even more challenging!   Even so, I'm optimistic and think this team is going to be just what I need!   Wish me luck!!