Roses... Oh My....

Every year my MIL and SIL with a few other friends will go to a flower show. You buy tickets to get in and the money goes to the local school. The best part is that is it a raffle ticket for the arrangements you are about to see.

They usually have 3 or 4 local florists who create different arrangements on a stage and they bring around other arrangements with them. They have a host/hostess who bring up each arrangement and describe them including the flowers, pottery, etc.

I was having a funny day yesterday with some spills, and other mishaps. I asked my youngest DD to give me some luck before I went to the show.

These were what I was lucky to walk away with. My SIL and I always joke about the different arrangements and when they were presenting this I kept telling her it was my ticket.
So when they called off my name we weren't really paying attention because we were laughing. There are 44 real red roses! Gorgeous is all I can say. The florist who created this always makes one showpiece at the show with roses. WOW! My kitchen smells fantastic.

My daughter (who gave me the luck yesterday before the show) when she saw these this morning said. "That must have been too much luck".

I have been in a little bit of a creative slump the last couple of days. I tried Louise's tag challenge which was piecing and ended up with this tag.

I haven't been able to create anything I liked for a few other challenges I have been playing with and we are getting ready to go into the Halloween weekend so I think I will be a little busy and not have too much time to create anything.

Hopefully I will get a little stamping time tonight.

Have a great day...

Suzz

Simple Holiday Tag

Hero Arts challenge this week is simple and quick cards. I created this little tag as my simple card. Probably took me a little longer than 10 minutes. :)

I am hoping that as you look at this you see an old fashioned wooden sled. That was my intent. This was really easy to create. I basically took a rectangle and use a punched out circle to trace the top line of the sled and a punch to punch out the bottom. I then stamped, clear embossed and sponged. After that was done I cut it into thirds.

I created a few scraps to hold it togther on the back.

The wreath is a snowflake stamp stamped in green ink and cut with shaving off the ends of some of the snowflake to give it a wreath appearance.

Punched the tag, colored the bird and created a rope for my sled and done.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Antique Flower Background
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Memento Rich Cocoa
• Hero Arts - Grand Snowflake
• Memory Box - merry christmas
• McGill Punch - Tags
• Twine
• Versafine - Crimson Red
• Copics
• Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Hero Arts - Holly Bird

Thanks for stopping by..

(Oh.. I colored my pearls with my copic to make my red berries!)

Suzz

Halloween Stair Step Card

I have been wanting to try this idea since I first saw the stair step cards but wasn't inspired to create the layers. So I have been waiting for the right challenge and stamps to inspire me.
The last day at Stamptoberfest was yesterday but there was one more challenge open til today which was a last minute Halloween card. I decided that I was going to use my graveyard stamp, some Basic Grey Eerie paper and create a stair step card. I bought the fun graveyard stamp thinking this would look awesome on the stair step card.


The measurements are 11" x 5 1/2". You score at the following measurements: 1 1/4", 2 1/2", 4 1/4", 6", 8 1/4". Fold it like a fan. Then you basically design each layer to create a scene.

I knew I wanted my first layer to be the graveyard which was just stamping it twice on a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 4". I then cut along the edges and colored with my copics.

I cut the Basic Grey paper larger than the areas and ripped the top edges and colored with my copics.

The fence was just white cardstock stamped with the wood finish stamp from Hero Arts.

The moon was sponged and stamped on with the Inkadinkado and Hero Arts Halloween stamp sets.

I hope you enjoy my pop-up Halloween Scene! I enjoyed creating it...

Boo to you and yours!

Suzz

Vellum Shade

This is another one of those ideas that has sat fermenting in my brain for awhile... Lets hope it is like wine and not apples. :) I had seen this last year some time had created the vellum lining for a candle holder.


I decided to create my own free-standing candle frame to use with the new battery operated tea lights. (I don't like lighting candles always worried they will catch fire)


I cut a piece of vellum 10" long and scored it every 2" from the last score. I then stamped the trees all the way across using StaZon ink. Stamped the birds across the panel. Added touches of stickles for the fall leaves. Cut two pieces of my masterboard paper 1/2" x 10" and scored at the same measurements as the vellum. Glue the vellum to the two pieces of cardstock. Fold up the panel into a square and glued the overlap piece into the inside.
I went into the bathroom and tried to get a litup shot which was difficul due to lighting but I think it turned out okay. I have to confess I am waiting for my tea-light to come home from the store so this was taking with a small candle.

The stickles were to give it a little glitz during the day.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Three Winter Trees
• B Line Designs - Bird Silhouttes Cube
• Hero Arts - Antique Flower Background / Antique Brocade
• Ranger Distress Inks - Fire Brick Red, Mustard Yellow, Spiced Marmalade
• Stickles - Red, Orange, Rust
• Versamark
• Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks for stopping by... Hope you have a beautiful day!

Suzz

Spinner and Acetate Die Cut Challenge

A couple more cards for the Stamptoberfest challenges over at two peas. I hope to participate in all the challenges and have a few more to go...

This all started with me wanting to use the really cute star buttons in shades of blue and yellow. Of course those little buttons never made it on the cards!

The first challenge was for a holiday spinner and I decided to create this after I ended up with so many star scraps from my first card.

The stamps are all Hero Arts stamps. Ink is versafine Deep Lagoon. The stars can actually be spun in different direction!

This card was actually my first card and was for a re-cycled acetate challenge. Part two of the challenge was to use a die cut on the acetate. The stars have a layer of acetate which has been embossed using a CB folder.

All stamps are Hero Arts.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Snowy Christmas

Look at this gorgeous paper... It looks like snow falling and I couldn't resist creating a little scene using it as my sky with snow. I have had this verse for awhile and haven't had the chance to use it on a card. Now doesn't that just fit this quiet scene?

The paper is Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly. The Hero Arts Challenge this week is tearing paper. I tore the snowy ground and stamped on the Hero Arts tree. You don't get the full effect of the tree as I used the puffy Ranger Embossing powder to give it texture. The birds are B Line design. The verse is from Northwoods.

Hope you have a lovely day...

Suzz

Stamped Mask

One of the challenges at Stamptoberfest or Stamptoberfest over at Two Peas was to create a mask. I was intrigued by it because I had never created one before. I think inspiration takes all forms and trying something completely different stretches the brain and keeps it creative.





This was so much fun to do and when I got done I realized my butterflies really looked like fire because of the colors I used. I also got comments that it looks like leaves.

I also promised Tanya (my youngest) that I would share her halloween banner. I think it was very cute. I cut out the shapes and she took it upstairs to her room on her table and created it.

This is the full string of pennants. You have to see all her hand drawn Halloween items and the phrases she put on there cracked me up.

I think the Wiztober comes from Disney channel. We love to watch Wizards of Wizardly Place.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Stamptoberfest Challenges...

I have a few more things I have created for the Stamptoberfest...

The first was for two different challenges. One is to create a tag hosted by Laura and the other is to use a technique called Josephs Coat.

The Josephs coat challenge is hoasted by Daria and she provided the details on her challenge.

The technique is to cover the surface with a layer of blended colors. You could use a brayer on a blending of colors using dye ink on a glossy card surface. You cover the entire surface. You then take and stamp your images using Versamark. Heat emboss using clear embossing powder.

Now take and cover the entire surface with a dark dye ink. Her examples used black and I decided to use the brown ink. Wipe off any excess and your images that are embossed will pop out.

I created mine using sponges and Ranger Distress inks. I covered with the Ranger Corduroy brown dye ink and I didn't use glossy cardstock I used regular white cardstock. When I was finished I clear embossed the entire surface to give it a glossy finish.

The picture doesn't show how rich and beautiful the colors are. I really enjoyed this and will probably do it again. :)

The second is a scrapling challenge hosted by Martha.

This worked out perfectly as I had a scrapling from the card I shared the other day and just added an acetate overlay of the words and trees. Simple and easy as can be. Of course it took me a long time to come up with simple and easy. :)

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Suzz

Stamptoberfest begins....

I am planning on lots of inky time today for Stamptoberfest... hosted by Two Peas Stamping board. My first project is this Halloween banner for Nancy's challenge. I have never created one before and found it a lot of fun! My daughter is off making her own banner. (I will add it later to this post if she finishes. :)

Nancy provided the template and the challenge was basically to create a pennant/banner for Halloween.

The only hard part was to photograph it as it didn't quite fit in my light box. I ended up outside trying to find a hook to take a picture on.

Here is a close-up:

The paper is Basic Grey Eerie... The stamps are all Hero Arts. This also applies for the current HA challenge so I will share it over there as well!

Lots of fun... Come over and play if you can. Stamptoberfest runs from today until the 25th..

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Last couple of days...

I have had so much fun in the last couple of days....

We had a global day of service for work where we were able to pick a location from a bunch of different volunteer opportunities to spend a half day volunteering.

This year I selected the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I have never been there before and wanted to check it out. The gardens were gorgeous and I didnt' even get to see that many of them. Definitely worth another trip out... I will be planning on that another day.

When we arrived they have a few speakers to kick it off and then you split up and get assigned to your activities. I was dressed and geared for weeding, raking, outside work in the gardens. I was assigned to a leader and lead us out to see his garden he was responsible for and then told us we got to spend the morning making creatures/animals for their annual halloween event. So we basically created animals from dried leaves, berries, pinecones and flowers. I couldn't believe how much fun we had. I wish I had pictures but I didn't know we were going to be doing something like this. What a wonderful morning.

I followed that up with meeting with a friend who is also a stamper for lunch. Where we proceeded to have a lovely lunch and talk stamping talk for an hour!

Then Thursday I had another lunch with another my friend Lisa yesterday! She is the one who started me down this stamping path!

My friend Lisa made me this lovely card for my birthday. We both love the Asian influenced stamps, so she made me this lovely card using the Hero Arts stamp in the background and the main image is from The Greeting Farm.

Gorgeous card! Thanks Lisa!

Just a couple more things and then I will stop rambling...

Two Pea's stamping board is having a fun Stamptoberfest which is being held Oct 17th through Oct 25th.

The thread describing all of the challenges is located here. I am hosting a foiled again challenge. There are always so many fun and different challenges that if you get time you should go play along.

Finally... Here is my card to share with you today. It is for 2 different challenges. Hero Arts Holiday Add On challenge and a 2Peas class that Jennifer McGuire was teaching on embossed backgrounds.

The background is just an stamped and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then sponged on purple and blue dye inks. Add some water drops and you have the background. I then took the felt snowflakes from Hero Arts and sprayed glimmer mist on the white ones to give the blueish - purple effect and created a wreath of snowflakes.

Products:

• Hero Arts - CL112 - Classic Christmas Borders
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Snowflakes
• Penny Black - A Merry...
• Ranger Distress Inks - Concord, Broken China
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Versafine - Deep Lagoon
• Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Labels
  

Sorry for the long post. Have a lovely weekend...

Suzz

Triple the bling...

I ran out of gems in the right colors to finish this card and ended up having to run out to get the exact same gems.
When you look at my card you can see why I had to run out. :)

I have 3 fantabulous buttons that look like these gems. I had originally planned on them being my ornaments. Unfortunately when I put them on the card they were way too heavy! That's okay because I will definitely use them in the future on separate cards.

This is for the Hero Arts Add On Challenge where you were to create a holiday card and add on an accessory.

I think I have met the accessory requirement. :)

All stamps are Hero Arts. The embossing powder is one of my favorites from Ranger called Queen's Gold. The gems are from Basic Grey Bling It.

I did punch out a circle to provide a template to fill with gems. The gems are a lovely dark blue and lighter teal blue.

I was very excited today to go over to the Hero Arts Blog and see my piecing card with the butterfly was selected as a third place win. The best part is being able to pick out more Hero Arts stamps.

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Tag Tuesday - Challenge #20

Louise hosts the Tag Tuesday challenge but the next two weeks she is travelling and has a host for her challenge. Nancy is hosting for Louise and has provided the tag challenge using pink and brown. What a great color combination.

I created two tags last night with the pinks and browns.

The one on the left is a mix of Stampers Anonymous stamps and the butterfly is Hero Arts.

The one on the right is a mix of Stampers Anonymous and Flourishes Poppies stamps.

The tag on the left was created using a mask and glimmer mists for the background and then layered stamping using embossing.

The tag on the right was stamped and sponged using a memento ink pad.

I am in a hurry this morning.. Going to work at a gardens today at a volunteer event sponsored through my work. I am looking forward to spending the morning outdoors although it is going to be a little chilly.

Have a lovely day...

Suzz

Floating Flowers

I bought one of the new clings from Hero Arts last Thursday called Floating Flowers. Here are two different projects I created using the stamp.

The first card is for the Gradient is Radient challenge hosted by Cathy over at the Moxie Fab World Blog.

The Floating flowers is stamped using a Colorbox Ink called Chianti. I was looking for a rich red in a pigment ink and thought I would try this out. Very chalky in texture.

I used watercolor pencils to add yellow, orange and red in the petals and stems of the flowers.

The tag is sponged with the Adirondack Yellow and Orange.

The next project was for the shabby chic tag. I was trying it again as I wasn't happy with my first tag. Love the overlay of the stamp in the same color ink over patterned paper. I used the Basic Grey paper as my background and layered the floating flowers stamp on top.

The other stamps include Impression Obsessions Nest Definition Cling stamp and Memory Box. The color on the floating flowers in Ranger Distress Inks Shabby Shutter. The bird and branch are embossed with the Zing Embossing Powder in Brown and the rest is stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa.

Have a fantabulous day!

Suzz

Taffy Apple Time

This time of year there are always taffy apples available in the store and they look so delicious. This little card uses toothpicks for the handles and the Hero Arts clear stamps Designer Fruits.
I used the sentiments from the Halloween set. The sentiment is split with the front leading into the inside.

There was a lot of debate at home about if they looked like taffy apples or not. My DD's gave input which ended in me making a couple of apple toupee's and trying them out... Here is the picture with one set. I also tried vellum with a little color. Ended up not liking any of them so the apples are bald.

Well I hope you have a lovely day! I will be busy preparing for my foil class this afternoon and then teaching. Along with a few household chores!

Suzz

Butterfly Wings

Still playing with piecing for the Hero Arts challenge... I created this last night after I bought a few of the new clings from Hero Arts.

I don't usually buy Patterned Paper as I really like to create my own. :) But I love the Basic Grey lines. The 6 x 6 pads are my favorite. I get a smattering of the different papers all at a size that works really well on cards.

I used paper from the new Indian Summer line and the Urban Prairie papers.

The butterfly stamp is the new Hero Arts Cling set called Butterflies. The flourish is from the Hero Arts Clear Set.

Products:

• Basic Grey - Urban Prairie, Indian Summer
• Hero Arts - Butterflies, Thank You Flourishes, Everyday Sayings
• Versafine - Imperial Purple
• Martha Stewart Edger - Cornice

Hope you have a lovely day!

Suzz

Silver Anniversary...

This is for the CPS Challenge this week and in honor of my BIL & SIL silver anniversary! I remember the first time I met them as it was the first time I went to a family event with my new boyfriend at their house.


They were expecting thier first child at that time and now she is a junior in college. Time passes so quickly.


Here is the silvery card... Very difficult to photgraph because of the reflective surface. Hence the outside shot.

I was so happy to find this quote from Browning in a Verses stamp. The background is embossed using a QuicKutz Embossing folder. The other background is embossed using silver embossing powder.

Products:

• Rubber Stampede - Wild Rose Background
• QuicKutz Embossing Folder
• Silver Embossing Powder
• Silver White Sheer Ribbon
• Verses - Grow Old
• Pearls
• Spellbinders Nestabilities

Have a wonderful day!

Suzz

Tag Tuesday Challenge # 19

Tag Tuesday Challenge over at Louise's blog is Shabby Chic. I immediately went online and googled some images for inspiration. Love love love shabby chic. The thing that caught my eye right away was the roses. I have one really beautiful rose background stamp that I pulled out to use.

I tried a new technique that I was experimenting with. I hadn't seen this before but had an idea of what I was trying to achieve. Didn't happen but I was okay with the end result.

Simple instructions:

1. Stamped background stamp on white cardstock using Memento Black Ink.
2. Colored image using my Copics.
3. I wanted an overlay of something soft and wrinkled. I thought I would try tissue paper but wanted it to be transparent.
4. I crinkled the tissue paper. Flattened the tissue paper out.
5. Applied Versamark to the entire tag and the tissue paper.
6. Sprinkled clear embossing on the tag and the tissue paper. Lay the tissue paper on top of the tag and heat emboss the tissue paper onto the tag.
7. This is going to give you a very shiny coating on the tag.
8. Emboss using a CB embossing folder.
9. Sponge StaZon brown ink over the surface to add a vintage color.
10. Stamp words over the top using the StaZon.
11. Add the lace, velvet ribbon and pearls.

Products:

• Versamark
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Tissue Paper
• Velvet Ribbon
• Lace
• Rubber Stampede - Wild Rose Background
• Copics
• StaZon - Timber Brown
• Memento - Tuxedo Black
  

On to my second project tonight... My younger daughter wanted a bookmark since her sister received the last one I had created. So I decided to create this bookmark for her:

She wanted something fun and she said she liked the Asian dolls. I dressed them in fancy Basic Grey Autumn Indian Summer.

Have a great day!

Suzz

Piecing of Scraps

The Hero Arts Challenge this week is piecing. I created this card from a stamp given to me from Kiara! Thank you so much Kiara!

The best part of this card was using up some scraps. The stamped backgrounds were all sitting on my desk and I had already pre-cut the die-cut piece. So the colors were already selected. This reminds me of my butterfly card, I even went back to see how similar it was.

Nothing too fancy here. Just a lot of stamping multiple times and cutting out the shapes and then layering them back together.

Products:

• Ranger Distress Ink - Dried Marigold
• Memento - Pear Tart
• Fiskars Border Punch
• Hero Arts - Clings - Thinking of You
• Hero Arts - Antique Flower Background
• Hero Arts - Screen Shadow
• Recollections - Autumn Pearls
• Ribbon - Don't know where I got this pretty ribbon and it is almost gone. :(

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Suzz

Caardvarks - Take a Bow Challenge

Caardvarks challenge is Take a Bow and is hosted by May Arts. The challenge is to use ribbon on your card in an unusual way. I have been wanting to make a Christmas tree from ribbon for a long time.

I decided to use some velvet ribbon I have to create my tree. I tried a few techniques on the velvet but didn't like how they turned out. You can see a few dots on the tree as I embossed the ribbon using my swiss dots folder. If I had any hairspray i would have spritzed it up and embossed it and let it dry. Alas... no hairspray for me in the house. :)

I precut the ribbon lengths and trimmed them off after embossing with the CB folder.

The trunk velvet ribbon was already a crushed ribbon with fun texture.

I stamped the Hero Arts Flourish in the background and embossed with clear embossing powder. The Sentiment is from Memory Box.

The little stamped bird is from Hero Arts and colored using Copics and a white gel pen.

The buttons were so fun to pick out and polka dot using my trusty white gel pen.

Just for the record... I have never been able to buy a real Christmas tree that stood straight! Many years we had a hidden string behind it pulling the tree upright. :) Guess that is why my DH insisted on a fake Christmas tree once we were married!

Have a lovely day!

Suzz

Last couple of ATC's

I had created this flowery scene on an alcohol background awhile ago and didn't like it because the colors were so strong as one scene.

I decided to cut it into ATC's and add the sentiments and I liked how they turned out. I accented with the buttons because I love how it looks when a friend of mine uses them on her flowery scenes!

I had a little piece left over from my original scene and turned it into a bookmark for my middle daughter. She is a great reader!
Speaking of my middle daughter... She saw all my scraps on my desktop and decided to create her own ATC. I thought I would share it with you.. I had stamped and cut out the tower awhile ago and somehow it got stuck to this doily shape. Kaeli loved it and decided to mat it on the background and stamp Paris.

These are a few more ATC's I created yesterday and were my favorites.

The background is one made from distress inks smeared on the acetate with a little water added.

I just stamped the tree and added some white highlights. I am in love with my little B Line bird silhouettes block. I have four bird silhouettes in different actions that I can use.

The last piece I loved the antique brocade in the light yellow green behind the Love, Peace, Joy stamp from Hero Arts.

I added the bird and Snowflake and was finished. I was thinking maybe translating this into a card.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

I am so excited! A day celebrating card making! Lots of fun going on everywhere. Caardvarks is posting every hour featuring different artists. (I am excited to be one of them).

I decided this morning I better get a card finished to celebrate today. These little birds were colored and waiting patiently for their turn to be placed on a card. I created a very simple card which I plan on sending off to someone special.

I have still been playing with my scraps to create ATC's. Hero Arts is hosting an ATC swap. Go check it out it is broken up by regions and there are limited slots available.

Here are a few more ATC's I was working on last night.

This is as close as I will get to stitching. I did a faux stitch on the corners with piercing and using an embossing marker to draw the lines and then embossed with the same copper embossing powder. Love those stars, I found them in the Christmas decoration section of Hobby Lobby. Unfortunately I didnt' have too many rustic stamps to go with.

This started as a way to use up the CB'ed tinfoil and the embossed white background. I have seen the snowman created out of buttons somewhere else and wanted to try it. So I created my little snowman from buttons. I had to go out early this morning to get the twigs for her arms.

My favorite part is the goofy hat. I had a stamped hat but didn't like it as it was not 3D. I decided to use these pom poms as it reminded me of the hats I used to get my kids to wear which were so cute. I can just hear the snowman saying to me "I am not going to wear that hat!" and me saying "BUT it is sooo cute!" (Conversations had with my kids when they got to old to wear the cute hats)

Well I hope you have a wonderfully inky day playing with cards. (I am off to do some chores and try to squeeze some more ink time in)

Suzz

Romantic ATC

Another ATC... I really could keep creating these for awhile.. Love using up scraps and bits and pieces and so quick. (Yes... Quick... Even for me...)

The heart was a leftover from hearts I created for that foil class. It is a mix of embossing powders to give it that golden sheen.

The background stamp and the stamp on the heart is the Heart Flourishes stamp from Hero Arts.

Love the lace! My younger sister Jodie sells antiques and I had asked her for some lace, old photos and buttons. She gave me the best odds and ends including a bundle of this. So gorgeous and I am so happy to use it.

The only bad thing about these ATC's is when you take a picture it shows everything including your not so perfect embossing. Really I wanted those pink specks there.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Heart Flourish
• Sizzix - Heart Die Cut
• Pink Embossing Powder
• Versamark
• Floradoodle Flowers

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

ATC's on Parade

Here are two more ATC's created for the Hero Arts Blog Challenge...

I had this stamped foil from pieces I was trying out for a foil class I am going to be teaching. This little one I liked and kept on my desk to see if I could use it. So happy it found a home on the ATC. I will probably bring it along to class to show another way to use foil.

The blue part of the ATC is actually the packaging from some gems I recently purchased. The cardboard had a lovely pattern already printed on it and I just stamped the raindrop background on it and embossed in silver embossing powder.

The pink half of the ATC is patterned paper that Jacqueline sent to me. (Thanks Jacqueline) and I decided to use that and add a faded flourish using a light grey ink.

The silver embossing was because I wanted to accent the foil piece.

The second ATC is from background paper that I created for the video I never finished. :) I stamped the three trees first using a pigment ink. I then stamped the larger designblock tree over and clear embossed it. This gave me the perfect resist to add another layer of reds, browns, and oranges.

I finished off the trees by adding a little color pencils to the trees to make them pop again. I wanted to embellis this but really loved the little vignette so I just added the photo corners and the little myArt stamp in the corner.

I also wanted to mention that I was awarded an Honorable Mention over on the Caardvarks Sketchfest Challenge. I was very honored especially when you look at the other honorable mentions. A great list of people who all are fantastic at cardmaking.

Have a great day!

Suzz