Hero Arts Artists Proofs Catalog

Has anyone seen one of the latest catalogs from Hero Arts? It's called Artist Proofs. I've taken a liking to it. I like the 'artsy' feel of the stamps. They remind me of some of Tim Holtz's stuff.

Hero Arts Artist Proofs

Craft Critique: K&Company's Que Sera Sera Papers

My apology for the late post, but my Craft Critique article was originally scheduled for Friday and not Thursday.

I bought the K&Company Que Sera Sera Specialty Paper Pad and Designer Paper Pad at Michaels a few months ago. Love them. I have a complete review of them on Craft Critique. Make sure you check out the review there because I am also giving away a 4.75x6.75 paper pack Only comments submitted on Craft Critique will be eligible for the giveaway (no international shipping on the giveaway).

I made several cards to compliment the review. Check out my slide show of the cards.

"You're The Best" Card
cardsctock: craft supply and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
heart die cut: CuttleKids
cork: Quartet Cork Craft Sheets (at Michaels)
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: Hobby Lobby

"Take Good Care" Card
cardstock: craft supply and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
dry embossing: Quickutz labels embossing folders
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger

"Many, Many Thanks" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera specialty paper
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: May Arts
scalloped circle die cut: Quickutz
circle punches: EK Success

"Happy Everything" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
circle punches: EK Success
butterfly punch: Martha Stewart/EK Success
twine: Darice
buttons: unknown

"Hello" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera specialty paper
letter stickers: American Crafts Thickers

Tag Book
See the Que Sera Sera Tag Book short video including all the pages from the tag book

Thanks for looking.

Masking - Butterfly Card

I made this card for DIY Die Cutting week 2 on Two Peas in a Bucket. At first, I thought I would not be interested in this class, but there are always some nice tips and I love seeing their samples. This week's class was hosted by Kristina Werner. Love her work.

So I had some time to do this card. I used my Cuttlebug butterfly die cut. I don't use it enough, but it will show up again in the next few days.

I like the masking technique ... basically you are inking around the die cut. My problem is that I don't have a sponge, so I just used the small Color Box ink pad. I was unsure of how it would come out w/the butterfly since there are some fine details, but it works. I had intended to use the butterfly die cut on the card as well, but I always go back to my mantra ... "simple is best".

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ribbon: Offray
die cut: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Color Box

2 Sketches 4 You :: Take Good Care

I almost did not do this week's challenge because I don't have any large stars. I guess I could make one, huh?

But I was near Archiver's and that made it possible. I went to As, bought a piece of cardstock and used their Ellison dies. I was hopeful that I could match up the cardstock w/some patterned paper.

This ended up looking nice. At least I like it. I have been soooo critical of my cards lately, but this one has a bit of character.

Nothing new and nothing fancy; just the basics.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply and Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co. Que Sera Sera
star die cuts: Ellison
ribbon: Offray
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Color Box
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Texture Textile

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 27

This week's Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge involves numbers. I don't own the Cuttlebug numbers embossing folder. That would be nice to use.

But I just got this Tim Holtz stamp and I've been wanting to use it. So maybe you thought that the paper already had numbers on it, but no, that's me and my stamp. Nice. I like it. But that's the look I like: a bit messy and antique-like and fun.

So I used the Cuttlebug for the heart die cuts. I used one from Cuttlebug and one from Cuttle Kids. Also, there is embossing on one of the hearts and that is the Cuttlebug as well.

Make sure you check out the Cuttlebug Challenge blog and get in on this week's challenge.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and DCWV
patterned paper: K&Co.
heart die cuts: Cuttlebug and Cuttle Kids
embossing: Cuttlebug
stamps: Hero Arts (sentiment); Tim Holtz (stamping on the paper)
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: American Crafts

2 Sketches 4 You :: So Thoughtful

I'm trying to get in early on this week's 2 Sketches 4 You. This sketch is from Kazan. I love the simplicity. It allowed me to do something quick and simple.

I decided to make a mini-card. This card is 4x4. I like that, though I don't currently have any 4x4 envelopes. Guess I could make one to match, right?

There's not much more to say. That's what happens when 'simple' speaks for itself.

Oh, and my mom has her card done already this week too.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
patterned paper: K&Co. and DCWV
rick rack: Creative Impression
stamp: Hero Arts (acrylic)
ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Ranger
flower: Bazzill or
twine and button: unknown

Craft Critique: Button Cover Tutorial

I have an article posted on Craft Critique. It's a review and tutorial on using button covers.

I do like fabric covered brads and buttons. They bring a classy element to the craft world. I've come to like making my own too. Especially since I don't have a lot to work with in my current craft stash. And when you purchase button cover kits, the only other thing you need is the fabric. And I must admit that I sometimes grab some fabric swatches from Joann.

So, if you get a chance, check out the button cover review and tutorial on Craft Critique. I'm especially interested in what folks think about the video tutorial. I sort of like it.

Here's the scoop on the card that accompanies the article:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ribbon: Offray
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
scalloped circle dies: Cuttlebug
twine: Darice
felt: unknown

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 14

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to make a card or whatever you wish using your favorite Cuttlebug embossing folder. Super simple for me. I love the Swiss Dots. Who doesn't. It just has that classic look. Running a close second though is the Textile Texture.

So here you will find me using them both. This is a design that I've used before and one that I scraplifted from Jodene over at Splitcoast Stampers.

I had wanted to stitch on both layers, but the sewing machine would not cooperate. You do not hear me when I say that I kept trying to eat up the layers. But crafty me was able to forge forward and create this nice little card.

I am so loving this stamp set from Hero Arts. Lots of different sentiments and they are acrylic. I am not so crazy about acrylic stamps these days because I like the Tim Holtz inks and some of the acrylic stamps don't stamp as nicely, in my opinion. But I digress.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
ovals and scalloped oval: Nestabilities
ribbon: Michaels
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 12

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to use sanding on the embossing. Quite easy and a technique that looks very nice. I like the weathered look. I used Die Cuts With A View cardstock because it has a white core that would show once the sanding was complete.

I've combined this w/a sketch from the Hero Arts blog. I also like this card because it was rather easy and fun to put together. I managed to use some heat embossing, dry embossing, and sewing - and it was all pretty simple.

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday and even if you don't celebrate Christmas, have a Happy Thursday.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Co.
heart die cuts and dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Versamark
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

Bless You :: 2 Sketches 4 You and Color Inspiration

It's has been a slow craft week for me.

But it was fun to coordinate this card. Actually, it should be much easier w/a sketch and the colors, but everything has to be just right.

I'm working w/the 2 Sketches 4 You card sketch and Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration.

I like the result. I used my newest craft purchase - or the most recent to arrive - the labels Nestabilities. Love those. For coordinating colors, I am having much success using my Die Cuts With A View (DCWV) Mat Stacks and Border Strips. They have lots of color variations so that helps out a lot. That's what I used w/the browns on this one.

I almost went overboard too by adding three felt flowers along the right side ... it was just too much and I again went w/the 'simple is best' approach. Oh, and I had wanted to do another 'Thank You' card, but I like this sentiment and I have not used it in a while.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: Basic Grey
die cut labels: Nestabilities
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
ribbon: American Crafts
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
other: sewing

Happy Everything :: Color Inspiration and 2 Sketches 4 You

Wow, the week almost went by w/o me doing much card making. Just taking it slow is all. I did get the Cuttlebug Challenge done (see yesterday's post).

I do like the inspiration for the Color Inspiration - skeins of yarn. I love when I see the DMC floss all lined up and color coordinated. The 2 Sketches 4 You sketch is a no-frills sketch. Love that.

I don't have much more to say about this card. It's just simple and fresh. I started to distress the edges and do some sewing, but sometimes less is more.

Thanks for looking .... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: ??
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: Michaels
flower die: Sizzix
felt: craft supply

Holiday Wishes :: A Card for Multiple Challenges

This card fits the bill for three (3) challenges. You might be like "wow". But my lesson is learned here. From here on out, I will primarily do just one (1) or two (2) challenges at a time. Three sort of seems like a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. I think my card just looks so-so and that if I would have focus on two challenges I would have had a better result. And I actually wanted to add a fourth element: using the 'spotlight' stamp technique for 2Peas' final week of Stamp Camp.

The three (3) challenges being attempted:

1. Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #33
   
2. Card Positioning Systems (CPS) card sketch #93
   
3. Hero Arts Make-It-In-Minutes Card Challenge

The biggest challenge was using the Color Inspiration colors: chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, taken w/teal, certainly celery and whisper white. The colors look good in the image, but not so easy to duplicate on a small canvas like a card.

I do like this week's CPS card sketch. Nice that I had the small embossing folders from Cuttlebug to add the snowflake. I do like the rhinestone at the snowflakes center. Nice touch. I like using sketches ... just one less thing to think about while card making.

And finally for the Hero Arts Challenge ... make a quick card. This was sort of quick in that I had a sketch and the colors and just had to coordinate, hence, the challenge.

I like the dry embossing on the horizontal strip. It's from the Cuttlebug heart die and embossing folders set. I just embossed half of the strip and then embossed the other half.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Archivers, Bazzill and craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Joann
rhinestone and felt: unknown
other: sewing

Just a Simple Thank You

I made this card using some scraps. However, the labels are a new purchase. They are from Martha Stewart. They are supposed to be gift tags, but I just love the labels w/that hint of gold trim. So I added the stamping and heat embossed w/gold embossing powder. I'll probably do more of the labels like this. The ribbon adds another level of simplicity, but classic.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Joann
ribbon: Michaels
label: Martha Stewart

Have a Special Day :: Color Inspiration #32 and 2 Sketches 4 You

So far it's been a nice Thanksgiving Week. Hanging w/the fam in my hometown. We had crazy snow on Tuesday, but it has calmed down since then.

And today after an early morning, two-hour workout, then a nap and then some good eats, I managed to kick out this little card. I'm excited about it since when I packed my craft bag I forgot my adhesive tape, my craft scissors, some ribbon, ink for stamping and my paper cutter. Those are some of the essentials.

Thank goodness my mom was in the mood to share some of her goodies thus enabling me to make this card for two of my fav weekly challenges: Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration and Laura and Kazan's 2 Sketches 4 You.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:

cardstock: Archiver's

patterned paper: Basic Grey

circle punches: EK Success

stamp: Hero Arts

ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger

dry embossing: Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls

scalloped edge: made using EK Success corner rounder

November Blog Hop

It's that time again. Time for Papertrey Ink's monthly Blog Hop. This month's challenge is to create a floral embellishment.

I was really looking forward to this one. Mostly due to my recent fascination w/fabric and fabric brads in particular. And boy do fabric brads look nice w/felt and fabric flowers.

I like the flower for this one. It was really easy to make. The fabric used to make the first layer is from Joann. It's actually just a swatch from the upholstery department. I matched up the fabric w/the fabric brad. The fabric brad is from K&Co. Love those. I think they have 9 for $3.99 - not too bad.

If you want to see more of my fabric flowers check out some of my previous posts:

• So Thoughtful Card
• Thank You Card
  

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Archivers and Bazzill
patterned paper and fabric brad: K&Co.
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: VersaColor
ribbon: Michaels
fabric: Joann
felt: unknown
flower die: Sizzix