Hero Arts Floral and Hello in Pink to Red Ombre

Hi friends - welcome back to another fun post for a2z Scrapbooking; I made this SUPER simple (CAS = clean and simple) card for today; you can see all the details over at the a2z Scrapbooking blog. And don't forget, you can shop the a2z Etsy store and save 15% by using code: MicheleG15! And if you don't see something in stock, just ask, they do special orders too. :D

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Hero Arts Hello stamp and cut, Hero Arts You're So Lovely, Hero Arts For You Flowers
Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white
Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black, Hero Arts Pink to Red Ombre

Accessories: misc. enamel dots, black brush pen

Challenges:

JUGS Photo Inspiration

Hi friends - welcome back to another AWESOME inspiration week from Just Us Girls (JUGS); just look at this incredible photo - so many options, go with flowers, use the colors, look - there's even snow; the possibilities are endless.

But if you know me, I'll always go for flowers; love me some flowers!

I recently purchased this gorgeous Impression Obsession rose background stamp I wanted to try two different ways of coloring the background - one uses Tombow Markers and colored pencils (just one pencil actually); the other uses Press N Seal - yep, just like what you use in your kitchen!

Up first, the Press N Seal card. For both cards, I cut the main panel using Lil Inkers Dual Stitched Die and embossed the rose background in Hero Arts white embossing powder, once heat set I used a few pieces of Press N Seal scrunched up to apply color - a deep red to the center of each flower, then two different colors of pink to the outer edges. This is so simple and gives such unique texture to your flowers. I kept the card very simple (CAS), adding a strip of aqua/white striped paper down the side with a touch of black glitter paper. The 'hello' is from Queen and Company's Heartthrob kit; it's plastic and a soft aqua color, but I used the matching die to cut some white paper to allow it to pop off the background a bit more.

Up next, is the Tombow Markers + Prismacolor Pencil background. Can I just say I LOVE this background? I want to leave it just as is, pet it and look at it all day - HA! #dorkalert I just love how it turned out.

Once complete, I cut PTI's medium scribbled circles from white card stock multiple times, glued them all together then flung on some Hero Arts and Tattered Angels mists; I then added a layer of Mother of Pearl Nuvo Mousse followed by glossy accents. Once completely dry, I mounted on a PITI doily cut from polka dot vellum and some fun green leaves.

AND...that brings us to the end of my guest design time with Just Us Girls; I have absolutely LOVED designing with this group; thank you for having me!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Impression Obsession rose background stamp
Papers: Bristol Smooth card stock, Neenah 80 lb. white, PTI True Black and Hibiscus Burst (inside), Queen and Company Heartthrob designer paper, black glitter paper, vellum
Ink: Barn Door and Worn Lipstick distress ink, MFT Bubblegum, VersaMark

Accessories: Hero Arts white embossing powder, Prismacolor Pencils, glossy accents, PTI Doily Die, PTI Scribbled Circles Die, MFT Layered Leaves dies, Hero Arts and Tattered Angels mist, Tombow Markers, Press N Seal, washi tape, Lil Inkers Dual Stitched Die, Queen and Company Heartthrob Hello

Challenges:
  JUGS - Inspiration Photo
  SSS - Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy Anniversary Love

Hi friends - welcome back for a fun little post. Anyone remember THIS card I created a couple weeks ago for Just Us Girls (JUGS) Trend Week Hearts; the white one with the distress background and hearts? I used Press n Seal before adhering the outline hearts to my card, so that meant I kept the inside hearts just as they were on the Press n Seal.

So then remember THIS post? So yeah, I created two of the floral backgrounds, sprayed this one with shimmer mist.

BTW, before we go any further, can I just say I am SO THANKFUL my man is a man and doesn't mind hearts, flowers, glitter, whatever - as long as it's from me and made with love, he could care less. :D

So TODAY is our 25th wedding anniversary. WOW, WOW, WOW! Hard to believe it's been 25 years. I'm sure you also remember, I'm only 26...right! ;) Yes, I know - the math just doesn't really work but let's just roll with it....mmm...kkkkk....?

So take those 'inside' hearts from the first card, the extra background I made and voila, a card for YOU + ME; well for hubby and me!

I die cut the Hero Arts LOVE multiple times from PTI Hibiscus Burst card stock, sponged Worn Lipstick on the bottom, then lightly tapped on some Hero Arts Unicorn ink to the top of the word; once dry, I coated with glossy accents. I layered it all up and mounted on some designer paper, some white polka dot acetate and black sparkle paper. Then in searching through my hoard stash, I came across this wooden YOU + ME - swoon! First I painted it white, a couple layers did the trick. Once dry, I dipped in VersaMark then Ultra Thick Embossing powder, heated, then did it again for super thick dimension. Lastly I flung (you know how I like flinging and smooshing peeps!) on some Hero Arts mist.

Once everything dried, I assembled the card and wrote a message inside in which yes, I did thank him for being okay with pink, hearts, and sparkle. HA!

Love that man of mine!

And don't forget, most of the products I used can be purchased at the a2z Etsy store, AND you can save 15% by using code: MicheleG15 and if they don't have something you are looking for, they do special orders - just ask!! Happy shopping.

Meanwhile, happy anniversary to the man of my dreams. I love you, forever and always!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Hero Arts LOVE stamp and cut
Papers: PTI True Black, Hibiscus Burst, We R Memory Keepers Acetate and sparkle paper (black), MFT designer paper, Ranger water color
Ink: Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Spun Sugar, Mustard Seed distress inks, MFT Steel Grey and Grout Gray, Hero Arts Unicorn, VersaMark

Accessories: glossy accents, Hero Arts Tomato Spray, shimmer mist, Ultra Thick Embossing Powder,  LOVE stamp and cut, SSS stacked hearts die, Hero Arts Bold Floral stencil

Challenges:

JUGS Color Theme - Red, Kraft and Black

Hi friends - welcome back to another fabulous challenge from Just Us Girls (JUGS)!

What a great color combo; I once again created two cards - opposite ends of the spectrum - CAS (clean and simple) and vintage!

The first card is so simple and uses a stencil as you see Kathy Racoosin do all the time for that last finishing touch...and lots of white gel details! The rose is from MFT; I cut it from the top panel, and added a sponged distress panel beneath after sprinkling with water and spraying with shimmer mist. I stamped the sentiments, outlined the left side of the 'wishes' with a gray Copic and finished it off with this super fun stencil and Broken China distress ink. My kraft is some hemp tied into a small bow; I finished the inside off with more washi tape!

For my next card, I went vintage. Have you seen this video by Gina K? I was so inspired! I stamped the flower on PTI kraft card stock and colored with Prismacolor pencils - whew - talk about a learning curve, but it was fun!! One I was happy with the details, I outlined the image with a Sharpie then fussy cut it out. I popped it up with dimensional tape and added it to the strip of embossed vellum with this delicate sentiment. The background was created just as you see Gina K do; I 'swiped' on Old Paper, Pumice Stone and Broken China. Once the main panel was done I added more Pumice Stone and Black Soot to the edges, then distressed the panel. I added a layer of red and distressed it too.

That's it; hope you'll join the fun, we love seeing what you create!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: WPlus9 That is All, Impression Obsession Open Rose, Gina K Scripty Sayings
Papers: Neenah 80 lb.  and 110 lb. PTI True Black, Kraft, SU Real Red, vellum
Ink: Various distress inks, Hero Arts black, MFT Red Hot, VersaFine

Accessories: Hero Arts clear embossing powder, Prismacolor Pencils, Butterscotch Dimensional Pearls, hemp, Hero Arts stencil, clear Wink of Stella, Heidi Swapp distressor

Challenges:
  JUGS - color theme
  The Flower Challenge
 The Card Concept - Shabby/Chic Vintage

CTD429 + Concord & 9th Hello Lovely

Hi friends - happy, happy weekend. Hope you are enjoying yourself this weekend!

Sometimes you just have to take a break and make something for fun and this card was my FOR FUN card using inspiration from Color Throwdown 429! I rarely ever create with orange; but I wanted to do messy watercoloring - I mean messy; no pulling out a brush; just have to accept what happens when you lay down some color and spray. :D

I embossed this gorgeous, and new to me, Concord and 9th Hello Lovely floral image on Ranger water color paper and embossed with Hero Arts white. I then used my Zig Clean Color Brushes to put down two colors of orange - one color for the focal flower, a lighter color for the smaller flowers; then sprayed with water and let it run! I did hit it with my heat gun. I then did the same for the leaves, two colors of aqua blue and again, spritzed with water and let them run, then dry. I added more color to the focal flower and spritzed one more time. Once completely dry, I fussy cut the image and ran a black marker around all the edges and spritzed with shimmer mist.

The base layer was inspiration taken from Amy Kolling, but my background was made using MFT's water color stripes. Hard to tell, but I did cut out the middle section and pop it up using fun foam, added a little HELLO banner flag and some sequins to finish off. The inside? Seriously, LOOK at the sparkly aqua washi tape, isn't it gorgeous? Black and white washi tape finish off the inside; added 3 different washi tapes to the envie as well as a strip of the aqua sparkle on the flap of the envie. LOVE! Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Concord and 9th Hello Lovely, MFT water color stripes
Papers: Neenah 80 lb. and 110 lb. white, Ranger water color, PTI Orange Zest
Ink: VersaMark, Hero Arts black

Accessories: Zig Clean Color Brushes, Hero Arts white embossing powder, washi tape, SSS sequins, Lil Inkers Double Stitched dies

Challenges: 
  CTD429

JUGS Theme - HEARTS!

I'm telling you; I LOVE creating for the month of February - it's such a special month for our family. Our first child was born, Valentine's Day and my wedding anniversary all occur this month. Hubby and I will be celebrating 25 years this month. :D Not to mention, I LOVE hearts - hearts and polka dots make me pretty darn happy!

So I'm back this week for Just Us Girls (JUGS) celebrating THEME week = HEARTS. Ahhh...I'm in love! I created two cards to fit the challenge.

The first card uses a free digi from Verve Visual (not sure if it's still available) but it was perfect to print on kraft card stock and begin building my card. The cool burlap heart was found at Hobby Lobby in their Valentine section; I roughed up the edges a bit, then used Verve Visual's Love Notes die to cut a cute little heart from this adorable designer paper. The rest is pretty self-explanatory; just had fun creating!! I included a sneak peek of the inside, I am forever using washi tape on the inside of cards and my envelopes; just love the touch it adds, and available in so many colors. I did 'fling on' lots of tattered angels and hero arts mists in the background; mounted the main panel with fun foam and finished it all off with some enamel dots.

inside - washi tape

My next card is back to using my favorite technique - SMOOSHING - I know, there goes that technical term again. HA!

I created two water color panels with various distress inks; I took the brighter of the two panels and once dry,  die cut these SSS stacked hearts die and sprayed with shimmer mist - I know, next to impossible to see in the photos, but I think you 'might' be able to see it on my Instagram photo??!! I sponged on more distress inks in the background before adhering the hearts - I REALLY wish I would have added fun foam for some dimension. :( I die cut the LOVE from Hero Arts multiple times from white card stock and once from black card stock; layered them together and coated with glossy accents, I then stamped the YOU just below (also from the same stamp set). I finished the card off with some black/white striped paper and a strip of PTI Raspberry Fizz coated in clear Wink of Stella.

inside - MORE washi tape :D

Thanks for stopping by; hope you'll join our HEARTS theme this week!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Hero Arts Love stamp and cut, Verve Visual digi stamp set Love From Me
Papers: Neenah 80 lb.  and 110 lb. white, Ranger water color, misc. designer paper, PTI Raspberry Fizz, Kraft, MFT Paver Red
Ink: Various distress inks, Hero Arts black

Accessories: Hero Arts Love stamp and die (LOVE), MFT Tag Builder Blueprints, glossy accents, Tattered Angels mist, Hero Arts Unicorn mist, SSS stacked hearts die, MFT Blueprints, enamel accents, burlap heart from Hobby Lobby

Challenges:
  JUGS - hearts
  All the Little Things

  SSSMCHALLENGE

Hero Arts Bold Flora Stencil + Love

Hi friends - I'm up over at a2z Scrapbooking blog, hope you'll stop by to learn more about this card and see more photos.

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Hero Arts Love Stamp and Cut
Papers: Hero Arts Red, MFT Steel Gray, vellum, 
Ink: Hero Arts Blackboard Inks

Accessories: glossy accents, Hero Arts Love Stamp and Cut die, black enamel heart, Bold Floral Stencil, Hero Arts white embossing powder

Challenges:

Hey Cool Chick - it's your birthday!

Time to CELEBRATE!!

I adore these images from Penny Black (this one is la soiree), they are so sophisticated and make me smile. This was my first time using my Prismacolor pencils; I loved playing with them; fun experimenting - what I didn't love? I stamped the image on Strathmore Toned Gray paper which was fun to work with BUT you can see my liquid adhesive on the main panel. BOO!!!

Any recommendations for a better way to adhere?

But other than that, I'm completely happy with the final card. Nothing fancy, just stamping and coloring! Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great week!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Penny Black la soiree
Papers: Strathmore Toned Gray, misc. designer paper, PTI True Black, Hibiscus Burst
Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black

Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, washi tape, white gel pen

Challenges:

JUGS + Dogs

I am SUPER excited to be guest designing for Just Us Girls (JUGS) for the month of February; one of my all-time favorite challenge sites!

This week is a word challenge: DOGS. I had such fun with this challenge! I can't wait for the other challenges too; hope you will take the time to join the fun!

I created two cards for this challenge; up first is a card using one of my FAVORITE techniques - smooshing! :D #officialterminology

I used this super fun circle stencil and just randomly added texture paste to the middle area of the card. Once dry, I smooshed some Twisted Citron, Broken China, and Tumbled Glass distress inks on my craft mat and spritzed with water, then placed the mixed media card base in the colors. I set it aside to dry naturally and cut a cute polaroid frame, stamped the dog from MFT's You Make My Tail Wag and colored with copics. I then cut him out, cutting underneath one of his little legs to allow him to barely be hanging on to the polaroid.

I added some black enamel accents to his nose and eyes; once everything was dry, I mounted the pieces to a PTI Hawaiian Shores card base. The inside says 'hang in there'.

The 2nd card is this adorable little dog from Penny Black; the real image has him holding a flower in his mouth, but I didn't stamp that part and instead added this big balloon from an older MFT set, Distressed Hearts and Dies stamped in Hero Arts ombre ink Pink to Red. I used the SSS Falling Hearts stencil with texture paste after masking the dog and balloon. Once dry, I colored the hearts with copics in an ombre fashion, covered the balloon with glossy accents, and added a bow and string to the dogs mouth. The base card was cut with a scalloped nestability, I flung on some Tattered Angels in red and pink.

Tons of fun; hope you will join us over at JUGS; we can't wait to see your creations!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: MFT Distressed Hearts and Dies, MFT You Make My Tail Wag, Penny Black A Romantic Dog, 
Papers: Neenah 80 lb. white, Ranger water color, misc. designer paper, PTI True Black, Hawaiian Shores
Ink: Hero Arts Intense Black, Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Twisted Citron distress inks, Hero Arts Pink to Red ombre

Accessories: MFT pierced square dies, Nestability scalloped square die, glossy accents, white gel pen, texture paste, copics, black enamel accents, washi tape, Techno Insiders Circle stencil

Challenges:
  JUGS - Dogs