Last Day of September!

Wow, while I can hardly believe it is the last day of September.....I am also happy October is tomorrow! So many wonderful things take place in October like my husband's and a dear friend's birthday, we enjoy and celebrate Thanksgiving long weekend; and then the always favourite chocolate extravaganza known as Hallowe'en!

But, before October, I would like to share my card using our wonderful Hello Life stamp sets. These are only available only until the end of today. I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge!

I started by using our wonderful NEW Watercolour paints and paper to make a fall inspired piece with a dark Barn Red colour, then moving through orange and yellow shades. Once the watercolour paper dried, I ran it through my Big Shot with our Chevron Embossing folder.

I stamped on the White Daisy cardstock with Black ink in a random fashion with this flower outline and a sprinkling of the dots. The sentiment was also stamped with Black ink and the watercolour brush image, with Pomegranate ink. I matted everything with Pomegranate cardstock on this 5 x 7 card, then added some Red Enamel Gems.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamp: Sep Hello Life

Cardstock: Watercolour; Pomegranate; White Daisy

Ink: Pomegranate; Black

Embellishments: Red Enamel Gems; Watercolour Paints

Tools: Chevron Embossing Folder

A Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I wanted to join the 2015 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop, so I am featuring this card with  my favourite beverage and colours.

I started with my favourite colour of cardstock, Lagoon. I added some patterned paper from retired Jackson, then add the Lagoon border. I punched it with our Triangle Border Punch before adding it. I used a My Favorite Things Die-Namics Cross-Stitch Die to cut the oval, for the sentiment. The sentiment is stamped with Black ink and is from AI Stamps.

I stamped the sweet coffee cup on White Daisy cardstock and retired patterned paper with Memento Black ink. The coffee cup image is from, Treats of Friendship. I coloured the cup and bean in with my Shin Han Alcohol Markers. I paper pieced the Sorbet pattern label to the cup. To complete the card, I added some Turquoise Epoxy Dots.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamp: Treats of Friendship
Paper: retired Jackson & Claire
Cardstock: White Daisy; Lagoon
Ink: Black; Shin Han Alcohol Markers; Memento Black
Embellishments: Turquoise Epoxy Dots
Tools: Triangle Border Punch
Other: MFT Stamps Cross-Stitch Oval Dies; AI Stamps

Another Challenge

I was playing with my new watercolours the other day and decided to make a fall coloured piece. Once it had time to dry, I ran it through my Big Shot in our Dots folder. Now I had accents to add to a few cards....here is one that also fits into the Simon Says Stamp - No Designer Paper - Wednesday Challenge.

I stamped in Black ink on White Daisy cardstock, to make my own background paper with this wonderful camera image and dots from 2 of our sets in September's - Hello Life special. I used gold embossing powder for the sentiment and backed everything with NEW Pomegranate cardstock. I added Gold foil tape and some sweet Gold glitter stars from our Gold Fundamental Assortment. This is a 5 x 7 card.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamp: Hello Life sets

Cardstock: Pomegranate; White Daisy; Watercolour

Ink: Black; Versamark; Watercolour Paints

Embellishments: Gold Fundamental Assortment; Gold Foil Tape

Tools: Dots Embossing Folder

Artistry LOVE!

We have come to our first of many Pro-D days! The kids have only been back to school for 2 weeks and they are already getting an extra day off. Then in a few weeks we will be celebrating Thanksgiving!  With extra time to surf today, I saw that Heart 2 Heart is featuring a doodling challenge. So, here is another Zoe doodler! 

I must say, this is one of my favourite cuts on the new Artistry cartridge. You can make it work with any colours since you are choosing them to attach behind the hearts. I cut another with Slate at 1/4 inch larger, so I would have a mat. I used Sorbet; Sweet Leaf and Slate cardstock behind the hearts. I stamped a Geometric Background image with coordinating ink on the Sorbet piece. I stamped the sentiment with Slate ink from set, Oodles of Doodles.

Once I had all of these things together, then I used my Black Journaling pen and got to doodling. I think it added some great highlights to this card, then it gets you doodling on more things!

All supplies used are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: Geometric Backgrounds; Oodles of Doodles
Ink: Sorbet; Slate; Journaling Pen
Cardstock: Sorbet; Slate; Glacier; Sweet Leaf; White Daisy
Embellishments: Clear Sparkles
Tools: Artistry and Art Philosophy Cricut cartridges

A Challenge

 I wanted to enter a Challenge this week, so Simon Says Stamp "Die Crazy" Wednesday, was the perfect one.

 Since the new store I'm selling cards at is a kitchen store, this Lawn Fawn stamp and die set was a perfect fit. I cut all of the shapes from White Daisy cardstock and stamped with Memento Black ink. I used my Shin Han Alcohol Markers to colour shapes in. I especially love that mixer......makes me think I need to use my Kitchen Aid more!

I used Flaxen; Glacier; and White Daisy cardstock for the card, along with glorious Blossom patterned paper. I used my Scallop Border Punch and added some Turquoise Shimmer Trim.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Paper: Blossom
Cardstock: White Daisy; Glacier; Flaxen
Embellishments: Turquoise Shimmer Trim
Tools: Scallop Border Punch
Other: Lawn Fawn Baked With Love Dies & You're All I Knead Stamp set

Take a Picture!

Have I said how much I LOVE our new Watercolour Paints and Paper..........if you haven't noticed yet, then here is another project using them!

I got some patterned paper from NEW, La Vie En Rose and added that to a Black mat. I cut this sweet Polaroid camera shape from Artistry, in Slate cardstock and Watercolour paper. I cut the photo frame from Black cardstock and added White Daisy cardstock to stamp the sentiment from a retired set. I used my Shin Han Markers to colour in the heart and this card was finished.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: La Vie En Rose
Cardstock: White Daisy; Black; Slate; Watercolour
Ink: Black; Shin Han Alcohol Markers; Watercolour Paints

A Balloon Challenge

It has been an interesting "Back to School" week. I have been trying to figure out a reasonable schedule for myself for gym visits and the dog. So, 6am gym visits are the new norm and the doggie is still snoozing! In the meantime, I have been making cards to find a design for my upcoming Open House. This is not the one, but it does fit with the "Just Us Girl" Balloon Challenge this week.

I love our NEW Confetti Embossing folder, so I used it with some Glacier cardstock. I lightly ribbed across the embossed dots with some coordinating ink. I also added some Stardust Glitz on a sprinkling of dots.

The mat colour is Thistle, which coordinated with my balloon image from,  Balloon Wishes. I used my Shin Han Alcohol Markers to colour it in and I also added some accents of Stardust Glitz, too. I used a new My Favorite Things die to cut the balloon piece and Artiste for the sentiment banner.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Stamp: Balloon Wishes
Cardstock: Thistle; Glacier; White Daisy
Ink: Glacier; Shin Han Alcohol Markers; Memento Black
Embellishments: retired Stardust Glitz
Tools: Confetti Embossing Folder; Artiste Cricut cartridge
Other: MFT Die-Namics Zig Zag Stitched Rectangles

Watercolour Wonder

I LOVE Watercolouring! I was enjoying using our dye inks for watercolouring, until we added these fabulous watercolour paints and paper to our products. Now, I LOVE using these paints.....it is really difficult to get much else done!

With this card, I wanted to see how things would look if I covered the entire surface with paint. So, with our lovely watercolour paper and paints, I got to painting. I added a butterfly I had already cut out with the watercolour paper, then added 3 of my favourite colours.

After I applied the watercolour, I spritzed the paper with water, then added more colour. I let the paper dry again, then removed my butterfly. I used a sponge and added a wee bit of Black ink to the butterfly's edges. Then I added some Thin Foam Tape and put the butterfly back in place.

Then I stamped with one of my NEW favourite stamps....one of our September - Hello Life sets. I just love the combination of the fonts. You can't go wrong with tiny stamps either, they just add a sweet sprinkling all over, too. I added a Black cardstock mat and this card is done.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Hello Life - Sept
Paper: Watercolour Paper; Black & White Daisy cardstock
Ink: Black; Watercolour Paints
Tools: Artistry Cricut cartridge

Grateful For You

I decided for any gatherings I do this Fall, I would like to make at least a card for my Hostess, if not something additional. I usually give just product, but wanted to add something more personal. This is the card I made for my recent Hostess, Julie.

I started by using my new Artistry Cricut cartridge and Zoe paper. I cut these sweet feathers with two Zoe patterns and some Glacier cardstock. The sentiment plaque was also cut with Glacier and also some Sorbet cardstock.

I used Sorbet cardstock for my base mat and stamped in coordinating ink with an image from Geometric Backgrouds. I love background stamps! They can add just the right touch of somethin' somethin' that is needed on a card. I added some lines to my Sorbet mat and feathers with my Journaling pen. I tied up the feathers with retired Slate Diagonal Striped ribbon, then added some retired Coral Reef Sequins.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Geometric Backgrounds
Paper: Zoe
Cardstock: Sorbet; Glacier; White Daisy
Ink: Sorbet; Black Journaling Pen
Embellishments: retired Slate Diagonal Striped ribbon; Coral Reef Sequins
Tools: Artistry Cricut Cartridge

A Birthday Princess

It sure is fun to have so many new things to play with, at this time of year. When I first saw this stamp set in our new Idea Book, I knew I would have to buy it. My daughters are past the "Princess" stage, however they still "Have a MAGIC all their own"!

I took some Pixie cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot with one of our new cascading Embossing Folders, Confetti. I used a sponge to add some Desert Sand ink and some Stardust Glitz to some of the dots. The embossed piece was mounted on a 5 x 7 card base, made from White Daisy cardstock.

I stamped the "Princess" with Memento Black ink, then coloured her in with our Shin Han Alcohol Markers. I cut a ribbon end and mounted this piece on some Gypsy cardstock.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Birthday Princess
Cardstock: Pixie; Gypsy; White Daisy
Ink: Memento Black; Shin Han Alcohol Markers
Other: Confetti Embossing Folder; retired Stardust Glitz

It's here......it's here.........

OMG.....it is finally here....September 1st and the release of our NEW Idea Book! I have been looking forward to this day for so long....I have so much artwork to share! Let me start with a beautiful stamp set, that is part of our National Stamping Month promotion, for September. 

Well, first I want to share our NEW Watercolour paper and paints. Oh me, Oh my.....what fun I have had with this paper and these paints. The cool thing is our watercolour paper is different than any I've seen before. It is the same weight as our cardstock and it is without texture. You can always tell it apart from our White Daisy cardstock by holding them together. Our watercolour paper has a bit of a grey hue to it.

I cut this delightful butterfly from our NEW Artistry Cricut cartridge and Watercolour paper. I used some removable adhesive to stick the butterfly down to another piece of Watercolour paper. Then I got my flat brush wet and added three splotches of colour. I filled my Spritzer with water and spritzed away to get the colour moving. I let the paper dry, then decided to add some more colour. Again, I spritzed to move the colour around. Before the paint dried, I used the pointy end of my poker and just lightly scraped some lines into the bottom of each of the wings. The paint will settle into these lines and it adds a nice bit of texture.

Once the paint was dry, again, I gently lifted the butterfly up. I sponged a very light edge of Black ink around the butterfly, then stuck it back in place with some Thin Foam Tape. I used Black ink to stamp this wonderful sentiment from one of our gorgeous sets offered for September's National Stamping Month. I accidentally got some Black ink on the edge of my block, then transferred it to my piece when I stamped the sentiment. So, it seemed fitting to add some more Black lines as an artful accident. I added some Turquoise Epoxy Dots and some Black as the butterfly body and this card was done.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamp: September National Stamping Month, Hello - Life!

Paper: Black; Watercolour

Tools: Watercolour Paints; Artistry Cricut Cartridge

Embellishments: Turquoise Epoxy Dots