Exciting News!

Hi everyone!

I've got some exciting news to share today! I'm part of the Jane's Doodles Design Team! Jane creates the cutest images EVER! You can find them at her online shop here. She also has an Etsy store where she sells her fabulous buttons, other embellishes, and some of her images turned into tradition stamps.

Shh, don't tell Jane but I have a confession to make. ;) I had NEVER used a digital image before applying for this position. (Okay, maybe once). :) Truthfully, digital images kind of intimidate me. I'm not a techie at all and am not a color-er. So what am I doing here? Jane's images are just too cute and I love the fact that she doesn't go overboard with detail (allowing for paper piecing with ease). I was willing to go out of my comfort zone in order to have a chance to play with Jane's wonderful doodles and I'm glad I did!

Here's my card for today. I used Jane's beautiful Polyanthus Flower, printed it on kraft paper as well as some Basic Grey pattern paper. I cut the image out of the patterned papers and adhered it to the kraft paper. I used pencil crayons to color in the stems, and added Stickles and gems to the flowers. The sentiment is from Hero Arts. I'm planning on giving this card to my grandmother who will be turning 80 in a few weeks!

I just want to say a great big thank you to Jane for allowing me to join her team and trusting in me without having seen me use anything digital before. ;) I'm so looking forward to being a part of your team for the next number of months! Thank you!

You're Fabulous!

Quick post. I'm taking a recess. ;)

Here's a card I made for Hero Arts 'Inspired By' challenge

as well as this week's Play Date Cafe challenge.

My card seems to be more a splash of black and white and a lot of purple... but oh well. ;)
It was inspired by the cards found on page 69 of Hero Arts 2011 catalog.

Here it is:

Stamps, papers, inks and Silhouette images all Hero Arts. Tim Holtz distress ink on the middle panel.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate you visiting! Okay, back to school. ;)

Birthday Boy!

Today is my oldest son's birthday!!! Can't believe he's 8 already! The saying, 'The days are long but the years are short." is starting to ring true to my ears. :( We're having his 'friends' birthday party today and he wanted a hockey-themed party so I decided to make him a hockey-themed card for his birthday.

stamp: Hero Arts; pp: Basic Grey; hockey border: Silhouette

I hope it all goes well and we have enough planned to keep 11 kids busy for 4 hours. :s
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all have a great weekend! I'll be doing lots of reminiscing. :)

Play Date Cafe and exciting news! :)

Hi everyone,
I finally decided to play along with one of the Play Date Cafe challenges. I LOVE color combo challenges so why don't I enter them?... (Good question, yes?)

Anyways, here's the inspiration:

 and here's my card:

All stamps are Hero Arts; patterned paper is My Mind's Eye; ribbon - Basic Grey; embossing powder - American Crafts;

 

 

Oh... and I mentioned exciting news, right? One of my cards is published in Paper Craft's 'Stamp It'!!! My very first pub! I'm so excited! Found a copy while out shopping today and after I told my Mom she went out to 3 Wal-marts before finding one! Love you, Mom! :)

 Here's my card:

All stamps - Hero Arts; Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Inks; Patterned Paper - Basic Grey; Twin - Papertrey Ink;

Of course it looks better in print. ;) I'm assuming it's okay to post it as I've seen some others doing so. If not, somebody please let me know. :)

Ill be back in a couple of days to post the card I made for my son's 8th birthday. Can't believe he's going to be 8 already! Time sure flies...

Thanks for stopping by!

Hero Hostess Blog Hop

Hi everyone!


Welcome to the Hero Arts Hostess Blog Hop! You should be arriving here after visiting the fabulous Donna Mikasa. If you find a broken link, you can always go back to the Hero Arts blog for the master list of blog links. Also, please email tami@heroarts.com and provide the blog address that has the bad link so we can fix it. Thanks!

Now on to my cards...

For this first card I was totally inspired by the name of the background stamp I used (CG245 - Classic Fabric Design). Using Hero Hues Punch Chalk Ink, I stamped it on Sticky Back Canvas, frayed the edges and adhered it to my card base. I then stamped my sentiment on Eggshell Layering Paper and added it to my card along with various Hero Arts embellishments.

CG245 - Classic Fabric Design; CG277 - Friends Are Treasures; AF180 - Hero Hues Punch Chalk Ink; AF184 - Hero Hues Latte Chalk Ink; PS620 - Blush Layering Papers; PS609 - Eggshell Layering Papers; CH231 - Lace Ribbon; CH211 - Blush Mixed Accents; CH202 - Pewter Metallic Decor; other - twine, canvas;

 

Here's my second card. I used Hero Arts new 4 Flowers cling set and new Finding Joy clear set. I stamped the background and distressed the edges of the notecard. I then stamped and cut out the flowers before coloring them with distress inks and adhering them to the card. I stamped the greeting on the card and added my embellishments.

CG290 - 4 Flowers; CL497 - Find Joy; S5435 - Graph Background; PS609 - Eggshell Layering Papers;CH202 - Pewter Metallic Decor; AF144 - Soft Sand Shadow Ink; AF184 - Latte Chalk Ink; AF196 - Rusty Hinge Distress Ink; AF199 - Tumbled Glass Distress Ink; other - brads, button;

Finally, here's my third card featuring Hero Arts new Friendly Flags clear set. After stamping the Cloud stamp on white cardstock and adhering it to a Hero Arts Chocolate Notecard, I stamped the flags and owls on white cardstock. I colored them with pencil crayons and distress inks, stamped the letters on the flags and adhered everything to the card. A little glossy accents on the hearts and some twine and the card is finished.

CL475 - Friendly Flags; CL312 - Simple and Basic Alphabet; D5302 - Heart Owls; S5215 - Clouds; PS518 - Chocolate Notecard; AF101 - Memories Ink Pad; AF146 - Soft Pool Shadow Ink; AF190 - Barn Door Distress Ink; GW221 - Glossy Accents; other - twine;


Thanks so much for stopping by! Special thanks to Hero Arts for inviting me to play along! Next stop is the super talented Kryssi Ng. Oh, and be sure to leave a comment both here and on the rest of the blogs for your chance to win some yummy new Hero Arts 2011 stamps. :)

Cross-stitched Stocking Info

I had someone ask about what patterns I used for my kids cross-stitched snowmen stockings. I couldn't  find Chris's pattern (not sure were I put it) but I'm pretty sure it was from a kit. Here's the info for the rest of them.

Jaden's 'Skating Snowman Stocking' was found on p. 70 of Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection 'Cross Stitch Christmas 2001'.

Zachary and Janelle's are both kits by Dimensions. Zachary's is called 'Snow Family Fun' and Janelle's is 'Cute Carolers Stocking.'

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. If Chris's stocking was the one you were most interested in let me know and look through my patterns again. :)

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see my cards for the Hero Arts Hostess Blog Hop. I goes all week long (4 or 5 hoppers each day).

Here's the start of day 1. Day 2 can be found here. Day 3 should be up and running shortly here.

Have a great day and stay warm!

Friendly Flags Necklace

One of this month's challenges on the Hero Arts blog is make something inspired by one of the creations in the new 2011 catalog. As soon as I had the new Friendly Flags set in one hand and the catalog in the other I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was inspired by Sally's necklace...

and this fun set...

to make this...

Here's how I made the beads. I stamped the flags, cut them out, and inked them up with Distress Inks. I then rolled them around tooth picks, adhering the the tips with Glossy Accents before covering the whole beads with Glossy Accents. Once dry they were removed and stringed on clear thread along with round black beads. It was SO fun to make!

I know this is a picture heavy post but I just have to share a few more pics of my daughter in 'model mode.' I have no idea where she learned to pose and I really had to try hard not to laugh. She was just so cute. :)

Thanks so much for popping by! I appreciate it! :)