12.31.2016

Goodby, 2016! // Hero Arts

One last card for the year! This card is an easier version of a card I made for the Hero Arts blog awhile back...


This card employs double heat embossing, a technique which I cover in THIS video, as well as making your own shaker elements. 
As a quick review, I heat embossed black cardstock with a bunch of beautiful Black Sparkle embossing powder, and after it was cooled, slathered it with some anti-static powder and then heat embossed my sentiment and images from Happy New Year Stamp and Cut in gold.


I topped off the card with some gems, and set it off against a gold card base (from the December My Monthly Hero kit)

I know 2016 has been hard for a lot of folks, and it was definitely an interesting year for me, to say the least - graduating college, moving out, first full-time job, etc. What was 2016 like for you? Good? Bad? Are you happy to see it go?

Thanks so much for joining me on my 2016 creative journey! God bless, and happy new year!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts gold, Bazzill black
Stamps: Hero Arts Happy New Year Stamp and Cut
Ink: Versamark
Other: Hero Arts Black Sparkle and Gold embossing powder

Tools: heat embossing gun

On the Fifth Day of Christmas // Hero Arts

I hope you all had a joyful Christmas! However, as I've mentioned in years past, Christmas goes on for twelve days! Basically that's my excuse for posting this Christmas card a little late. ;)

For today's card, the beautiful Antique Poinsietta is the star of the show. I heat embossed the poinsietta several times in white on watercolor cardstock, and then colored it in with some ZIG's and water.


After the flower was finished drying, I die cut it using the coordinating dies, and then moved on to the rest of my card.


The kraft card base was heat embossed with some clear Sparkle embossing powder and the Dot Moire large pattern stamp. To keep things continuous, I also heat embossed a scrap piece of kraft with more clear Sparkle embossing powder, then die cut my "joy" sentiment from it. 


The die cut was layered behind a piece of chipboard for a little more dimension, and then I stamped the sentiment in Caramel. I put the flower together, adhered it to the card, and topped it off with some gold accents.

Thanks so much for stopping in and happy fifth day of Christmas! ;)

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts Kraft, Canson XL Series Watercolor Pad
Ink: ZIG pens, Hero Arts Caramel, Versamark
Other: Hero Arts White and clear Sparkle embossing powder, gold accents

Tools: heat gun, Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Color Antique Layering Poinsettia and Joy Stamp and Cut dies

12.23.2016

Ombre Coloring // Hero Arts

Hello all! I'm on the Hero Arts blog today, parking up with Chameleon Pens, to share a fun ombre card...


Head on over to the blog for more details!

12.22.2016

Advent Calendar Extravaganza with Taheerah Atchia

Today I'm happy to be participating in Taheerah Atchia's Advent Calender Extravaganza blog hop!



Before you view my contribution, here's a little info from Taheerah...
“Advent Calendar Extravaganza is -the- festive event of the season! This ‘hop with a twist’ was dreamed up by Taheerah Atchia and features surprise destinations each day! Joining in the fun with Taheerah are ONE HUNDRED special guests – each serving up some fantastic Christmas inspiration! Just like an Advent Calendar, you’ll never know where you’re going to be visiting next until you ‘open the door’!
And that’s not all! With 25 *amazing* sponsors taking part as guests as well, your crafty wish list is bound to get a boost with a chance to win a prize EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
Join in the fun every day at taheerah-atchia.com to see what special surprises await behind the door!”

It's so close to Christmas, and if you have any time to make any more cards or tags, it's gotta be quick! At least, that's how it was for me. Today's tag was a scrap I used from THIS card - I ended up making two of the same tag though, so I could show you how I made it in a video. ;)


I first die cut my tag using the Hero Arts Tag Infinity dies, then blended a background using Grape Juice and Navy. Before blending, I masked off my moon using a Post-It note and the Circle Infinity dies (these infinity dies are addicting, I tell ya!)
Once my background was blended, I flicked some Unicorn White Spray for some stars, and then heat set it.


I die cut a little village using some dies from the October My Monthly Hero kit, which is unavailable, but Simon Says Stamp has some similar dies available (see listed below in supplies).
The tag was filled with some Martha Stewart Chunky Glitter and Star glitter.


The acetate covering was heat embossed in Silver, using the adorable Santa's Sleigh. I find that the Avery Elle stamp pockets work best when embossing on acetate, and I cover more of that technique in a blog post HERE and a video HERE.
For the top of the tag, I die cut the same tag, and then die cut a rectangle opening using the Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies. I finished off the tag with a silver embossed banner.


VIDEO

Will be coming later - I've had a sore throat for the past week, so I'll get the video up as soon as I can. :)

PRIZE

It’s not a party without a prize – and with prizes every day there are several chances to win! Today’s prize is generously supplied by Paper Smooches so you’ll definitely want to win! Simply leave a comment on this post – then head back to taheerah-atchia.com and leave a comment there too! You must leave a comment on Taheerah’s blog as well as mine in order to be eligible to win! Don’t forget to grab the other surprise destinations from Taheerah’s blog and head over to them to leave comments there as well to improve your odds even more! You have until 23:59 EST on 31st December 2016 to enter. On January 1-5th, Taheera will be announcing winners at her blog--be sure to revisit then to see if you're a winner and to claim your prize!

Don’t forget the Advent Calendar Extravaganza with Taheera Atchia runs from 1st-25th December inclusive so make sure you visit taheerah-atchia.com every day for fabulous inspiration and amazing prizes every single time! Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!


SUPPLIES

Below are listed all of the supplies I used to make my card, and these are affiliate links from which I do make a small percentage from any purchase. Thank you so much!
Cardstock: Canson watercolor
Stamps: Hero Arts Santa's Sleigh and Merry Christmas Banner
Ink: Hero Arts Navy, Grape Juice and Unicorn White Spray, Versamark
Other: Hero Arts Silver embossing powder, Martha Stewart Iridescent Hearts and Stars Glitter Set and Coarse Glitter, Avery Elle Large Stamp and Die Storage Pockets

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing gun, Hero Arts Tag, Rectangle and Circle Infinity dies, Hero Arts September My Monthly Hero kit coordinating dies - similar Memory Box Country Landscape and House in the Country dies, full sticky Post-It notes

12.15.2016

Pinterest Inspired Watercolor // Hero Arts

Like many other wise crafters, when I'm in a creative rut, I turn to Pinterest, and that's where today's card came from.

This beautiful image was pinned by my friend Lisa, and I knew it would work perfectly with Hero Arts Ornaments Stamp and Cut set.


I stamped the ornaments in Versamark, heat embossed them in white, and then used my beloved ZIG markers to color in the ornaments. I then cut my panel down to size using the Rectangle Infinity dies.
I bought some gold thread at Walmart to "hang" my ornaments - I simply poked a hole through the top of the ornament, threaded the string, and taped it to the back of the panel (nobody sees, nobody knows ;))


I didn't want my pretty ornaments to be covered up, but I felt I need a strong sentiment to go with the pale colors, so I heat embossed my sentiment from Peace and Joy in gold on vellum. I die cut the sentiment using the Circle Infinity dies, then adhered my panel to my card base.

If you would like to see more Pinterest inspired cards from me, Pinterest now has a handy-dandy feature on user profiles. Just click the user profile (this link will take you directly mine), then click "tried" in the middle-ish right hand side.

Thanks so much for stopping in, and God bless!

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Canson watercolor
Stamps: Hero Arts Ornaments Stamp and Cut and Peace and Joy
Ink: Versamark, Kuretake Clean Color Real Brush Watercolour Brush Pens (Set Of 48 Colours)
Other: Hero Arts white and gold embossing powder, gold thread, vellum

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity dies and Circle Infinity dies,, water

12.08.2016

Cutting Clear Stamps // Hero Arts

Hello all! Welcome to the Hero Arts 2017 Valentine's Collection release blog hop! I have a simple and cute little Valentine for you today, that can be used all year round.

I used the new Romeo and Juliet stamp set to create my stamped focal point...


I know some of you might be freaking out, but I actually cut my flower clear stamp from Romeo and Juliet to make this card.  No worries though - as long as the stamps are high quality photopolymer (which, conveniently, Hero Arts stamps are ;)) then you should have no problem putting the stamp back together after cutting!
I stamped all those pretty flowers and hearts in Hero Arts NavyPassion FlowerSoft PinkFresh Peach and Soft Yellow - a little more tedious, switching through the color, but also a little more love. ;)

ETA: many of you commented on how you loved my color choices - I can't take credit for that, as I was totally inspired by THIS PIN. Thanks! :)


Topped off the card with some gems and some die cut love!

VIDEO


I talk a little more about stamp cutting in the video below...


If you are having a problem viewing this video, please try watching it HERE on YouTube.

GIVEAWAY


Hero Arts is giving away two $25 shopping sprees, drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. Please comment by Thursday, December 15 at 11:59pm PT and the winner will be announced the following week on the Hero Arts blog.

HOP LIST


For some more inspiration (and chances to win a shopping spree!), check out the blogs below...


SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts kraft cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts Romeo and Juliet and Love Stamp and Cut
Ink: Hero Arts Navy, Passion Flower, Soft Pink, Fresh Peach and Soft Yellow
Other: Hero Arts gems

Tools: Cuttlebug, Hero Arts Love Stamp and Cut die

12.05.2016

Birthday Beer // Hero Arts

Hello everyone! Today I'm participating in the December My Monthly Hero blog hop and sharing a fun masculine card.

For every monthly kit, there's always one particular stamp/die/etc that stands out to me, and for this kit, it was the beer image for the add-on stamp set, Cocktail Party Stamp and Cut! I just knew I had to use it to make a birthday card for my brother (who's birthday is in September...lol)


I kept things simple by heat embossing the beer in white, and doing some quick watercoloring. The card was topped off with a sentiment die cut from the main kit dies, and a sentiment heat embossed from the add-on stamp set, Birthday Celebration.


Oila! A quick and easy masculine card!

THE KIT


The kit contains:
► A 4"x6" clear stamp set
► A set of 8 coordinating Frame Cuts dies that match the stamp set
► Two Fancy word dies - "cheers" and "party"
► A set of Paper Layering dies for adding a sunburst or sparkler effect
► Fun new gold glitter embossing powder
► Custom washi tape designed for the kit
► A gold Uni-ball Gel Pen
► 4 half sheets of gold foil cardstock
► 2 half sheets of each metallic cardstock: purple, pink, dark blue and antique gold

The kit value is $65, an amazing deal at $34.99.

There are also some amazing add-on stamps and dies, so be sure to check out the Hero Arts blog for information on that.

BLOG HOP



For loads of inspiration and a chance to win one of these kits, follow this hop!

Hero Arts is giving away one kit as a prize to one blog reader - selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop.

The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Canson watercolor, Bazzill black cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts Cocktail Party Stamp and Cut and Birthday Celebration
Ink: Versamark
Other: Hero Arts White embossing powder, ZIG brush pens

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun, Hero Arts December My Monthly Hero dies

12.04.2016

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist // Hero Arts

Hello all! I'm so excited to be participating in this years Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist event as a guest designer.

I was lucky enough to be paired with the one and only Jennifer McGuire, with the challenge of die cutting felt.

For my tag today, I not only die cut the felt, but I did a little heat embossing on the felt as well!


I'm not gonna lie - heat embossing on felt can be a little tricky. I treated it like paper for the most part, making sure I added a lot of anti-static powder to the felt before embossing. I stamped Hero Arts Holiday Mittens on the felt firmly with Versamark ink, and then added some Hero Arts embossing powder

Now, the whole heat part - this is going to vary depending on what your felt is made off. If your felt isn't 100% wool, then you need to be extra careful when adding the heat, otherwise you could melt the felt as well.
A couple tips for getting a crisper heat embossed look (neither of which I followed because I was too lazy;)) :
  • Use pre-stiffened felt, or stiffen it yourself using fabric stiffener spray.
  • Sandwich the felt between two layers of paper, then iron. This will keep some of the stray fibers down and out of the way.


After die cutting my mittens, I adhered them onto a kraft tag that I had die cut and heat embossed a sentiment on, as well as a little watermark woodgrain stamping.

A big thanks to Ellen Hutson for inviting me to participate in this awesome event! Check out their blog for even more Christmas tag inspiration!

VIDEO



If you are having a problem viewing this video, please try watching it HERE on YouTube.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Ranger
Ink: Versamark
Other: Hero Arts white embossing powder, gems, string, felt

Tools: Cuttlebug, heat gun, Hero Arts Holiday Mittens and Infinity Tags die