a2z Scrapbooking Guest Designer--Anything Goes

Cindy from a2z Scrapbooking invited me to guest design for their Monthly Challenge.

This month's theme is "Anything Goes" using Hero Arts products.

I was happy to accept and I knew exactly which stamp set I would use--Polar Greetings.

I didn't get to use it during Christmas so today I'm sharing a non traditional Valentine card.

I wanted to create an Aurora Borealis display to ensure that the bear would stand out.

I ended up using about a dozen inks for ink distressing and flicked some white paint 

over it for a starry sky. I tore some lightweight card stock for the snowy ground, 

and finished off the card with the white embossed sentiment and three glittery stars.

A bit of shadowing from a Copic marker helped to ground the bear.

a2z Scrapbooking is a premier Hero Arts retailer. Their Etsy store carries an extensive
array of Hero Arts products, and they'll fill special orders, too. The company, which is run by
 volunteers, was founded in 2007 in an effort to raise funds for Celiac and Behcets awareness.

Click here for info on the Challenge rules and details on prizes, too.

Thanks to Cindy and the a2z Scrapbooking team for the GD invitation and 

reminding me to play with my Hero Arts goodies!

Supplies:

Hero Arts Polar Greetings (CM279)

Hero Arts Polar Greetings Frame Cuts (DI541)

CAS(E) this Sketch #304

Chrissy brings us this week's CAS(E) this Sketch. Meet Sketch #304.

And here's my take on it.

The sketch reminded me of a deconstructed kimono. I found an old pad of
Pink Paislee papers and chose papers that had a "kimono" feel to them. I followed
the sketch and added strips of gold card stock and finished off with the sentiment.

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of my teammies interpreted the
sketch and join us if you can. Link up your project(s) by Thursday, January 17th
and you could be guesting with us on a future sketch!

MFT Wed Sketch Challenge #419

It's Wednesday--time for a new MFT Wed Sketch Challenge!
Here's Sketch #419.

And here's how I interpreted the sketch, with a Valentine theme.

The stitched heart was substituted for the circle element on the sketch. Cut from pink
card stock, the sentiment was white embossed, then ink distressed. Two contrasting
patterned papers were adhered to a white card base, then topped off with the heart.

Come and join the challenge and you could be the winner of a $50 MFT gift
voucher! Visit the Card Challenges blog for all the details and deadlines
and we hope to see you in the gallery!

MFT January Release and MFT & Friends

Yes, it is!--My Favorite Things January Release is now live! You can find all spankin'
new goodies here in the MFT Store.

It's also time for MFT & Friends, when the Creative Team (and friends) share fresh 

ideas and more inspiration with the January Release.

I've made a couple of Gal-entines that pairs chocolates with a fun sentiment to share
with that really close friend.

I used the smaller rounded element from Blueprints 31 and cut two panels from
colored card stock. Tone on tone stamping was done with the Scattered Hearts
Background in Versamark ink. The opening for the candy pouch was cut from the
top panel and the "easy open" element was cut through on the back panel.

The candies were placed in the pouches and both panels were stamped with the
sentiments in the front and back before being adhered together. Obviously, you could
change the sentiment for more age appropriate recipients but I think even "big kids"
love and deserve a funny Valentine!

All right off you go! And be sure to comment on all Creative Team members blogs by
Thursday, January 10th for a chance to win one of two $100 MFT gift vouchers!
Thanks so much for stopping by during the countdown and happy shopping!

MFT January Release Countdown--Day 1

It's the last day of My Favorite Things January Release Countdown!
Get ready to shop for the new release tomorrow, January 8th at 10AM EST
in the MFT Store!

Today I'm sharing the Friendly Fox Die-namics, and truthfully, I may have squealed
when I first saw the dies and how adorable the fox is. Don't be put off by the number of
dies in the set. Once you start assembling the fox, you'll realize that it's so worth it--
he's THAT cute!

Persimmon card stock was used for the main parts of the body, and Primitive Cream was
used for the secondary parts--the face, ears, tail tip and feet. A scrap of Chocolate Brown
card stock was used for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Flowers and leaves were cut from
scraps of assorted colors of card stock.

The pieces were lightly ink distressed to give them a bit of dimension, then assembled.
Primitive White card stock was stamped with Whimsical Woodgrain and topped with
a frame. The fox and flowers were adhered to the card and the sentiment was stamped
on top. White highlights with a pigment pen finished off the card.

Isn't he the cutest? I'm hoping that MFT comes out with a new critter every month.
Visit today's Countdown post at My Favorite Things for more peeks at the January
Release and get ready to do some shopping tomorrow, January 8th at 10AM EST
in the MFT Store!

MFT January Release Countdown--Day 2

It's two more days until My Favorite Things January Release!
This month is all about love and hearts. And hearts. And more hearts.

Today I'm sharing two projects using the new Hearts Entwined Die-namics.

There are so many possibilities with this die--from shaker to one layer cards.
I began by ink distressing colors on watercolor card stock in rainbow order and
spattered on some water. The die was cut twice from white card stock, and also
from the ink distressed piece.

Two white diecuts were glued together, then onto a white card base. The
inked pieces were then adhered into their respective spaces on the card.
A white embossed sentiment strip and sequins finished off the card.

For the second card, I ink distressed a watercolor panel and spattered
water over the surface. The panel was cut with the wonky stitched rectangle
die and adhered to a Grout Gray card base.

The hearts were cut from shiny gold card stock and adhered to the card.
A gold embossed sentiment finished off the card.

Visit today's Countdown post for more peeks at the new Release and don't
forget to leave a comment there for a chance to win a $75 prize.

MFT January Release Countdown--Day 3

We're halfway to My Favorite Things January Release! All new products will go
on sale Tuesday, January 8th at 10AM EST in the MFT Store.

This month's Pure Innocence is So Much Love and I paired her with the Heart Tree 
Die-namics on a shaker card.

The little girl was stamped and colored with Copic markers and cut with the matching
Die-namics. The tree was cut into a panel and the openings were covered with a piece
of acetate. Sequins were sealed behind it and I stamped the sentiment before adhering
the panel to a Razzle Berry card base.

Visit today's Countdown post at My Favorite Things for more peeks at the
January Release and leave a comment there for a chance to win a $75 prize.

MFT January Release Countdown--Day 4

Welcome back to My Favorite Things January Release Countdown!

This month's Birdie Brown is Cute Chemists, a change of pace from her usual
adorable critters, with a Valentine theme.

A white card base was stamped with various beakers in Grout Gray ink. The
little scientist and extra beakers were stamped, colored with Copics, then cut
with the matching Die-namics. Don't you love his green hair?

I added a Grout Gray frame, then popped up the little guy and beakers on
the card. I stamped the sentiment, added a few sequins, then finished off with
glossy shine to his eye glasses and glittery sparkle on all the beakers.

Visit today's Countdown post for more inspiration from the Creative Team
and don't forget to leave a comment there for a chance to win a $75 prize!

MFT January Release Countdown--Day 5

A very Happy New Year to you! It's a new year and a brand new Release from
 My Favorite Things, chock full of Valentine goodness!

Day 5 begins with a novel way to present a trio of Nugget candies as a Valentine treat,
or to simply treat yourself!

I began by wrapping the Nuggets with papers from the new Sweet Stack collection.
Tags were cut from white card stock and the frame and tag toppers were cut from
black and white patterned papers.

Before assembling the pouches, I cut the "easy access" opening on the back of each tag
then stamped the fun sentiment over it.

I prepared the different pouches and made sure to stamp the sentiment on the bottom
of each tag.

Once you have all the pieces cut, these tags are fun to put together in assembly line
fashion and twice as fun to receive!

Visit today's Countdown post at My Favorite Things for more peeks at the January
Release and don't forget to leave a comment there for a chance to win a $75 prize!

 

CAS(E) this Sketch #303

Hello and Happy New Year!

It's a new year and we've got a slew of sketches for you and we're looking

forward to having you join us and seeing you in the gallery.

Here's the first sketch for 2019 and it's a retro one.

This was my take back in December 2017.

And here's my 2019 take on the sketch.

An Altenew bloom, inked in coral--Pantone's 2019 Color of the Year!--was adhered

to diagonal striped paper and paired with an Altenew "hello".

Visit CAS(E) this Sketch to see how the rest of the team interpreted the sketch

and join us if you can. Link up your card(s) by Thursday, January 10th and as the 

weekly winner, you'll be invited to guest with us on a future sketch!

Supplies:

Altenew Floral Fantasy Dies

Altenew Floral Arrangement Dies