Fall Themed Thank You with A2Z Scrapbooking

It's November!  I'm a huge fan of fall with the cooler weather and gearing up for the holiday celebrations.  As fast as the months seem to fly, November reminds me to be thankful for everything.

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The new challenge this month over at a2z Scrapbooking is EMBELLISH IT!  I usually go way overboard with this kind of challenge, but thought I'd tame things down with just a few Hero Arts lighth blue pearls and some twine.  The main sentiment is from Hero Arts You're So Kind inked in 

Hero Arts Indigo Hybrid Ink.  I find that Hero Arts hybrid inks are so vibrant on Kraft cardstock.

The little wreath was created using the smaller images in the Hero Arts Holiday Greetings.  I wanted things a little offset just for added interest.

The other Hero Arts Hybrid Ink colors I used is Caramel, Tangerine, Moss and Pine. Pretty on Kraft right!?

Looking forward to seeing all the projects over at a2z Scrapbooking.  Don't forget every card entry is a change to win a $25 gift certificate to the store!  There's tons of goodies so take a look!!

Mahalo for stopping by!

I go crazy for PINEAPPLES!

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Hope your Monday is off to a great start friends!  I'm a sucker for all things pineapple and when the stamps and dies came out I could not get enough.  When Hero Arts came out with the fun Paper Layering Pineapple Die I knew it had to be mine!

I initially wanted a faster way to color the area prior to die cutting to give it some color, so I traced around the die with a Versamark pen and sprinkled Hero Arts Platinum Embossing Powder

Then used Finetec Mica Watercolors in Gold Pearl and Inca Gold in a cross-like pattern. The leaves were brush strokes using Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers in 40 and 48.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts Stamp Your Own Fruit.  I then outline the pineapple using a Distress Marker in Mermaid Lagoon and a brush with water to lighten any harsh lines and fade out the color.  I then die cut that panel with Lawn Fawn Scalloped Rectangle Stackables die and adhered to Hero Arts Mixed Layering Paper in Sunshine for the card.

The next card skips the outline and blue watercoloring...

I kinda like the simplicity of this card.  What do you think? 

These dies are so fun to play with!  Check out this side view...

If you missed the other Hero Arts Paper Layering die check it out HERE.

Mahalo for stopping by!!

Coffee Loving Cardmaker Guestie!

Happy Aloha Friday friends!  I'm guesting over at Coffee Loving Cardmakers!! I look forward to this awesome coffee/tea/cocoa lovin' blog hop each season.  If you haven't heard of it, head on over to the blog and join us each season with some delicious looking projects.  Of course there's lots of prizes from super generous sponsors and even blog hoppers do giveaways too.  Truly the best part of the hop is sitting down with a cup o' joe and ooing and awing over everyone's amazing designs with my favorite theme!

 I'm super ecstatic to share my favorite Coffee Blog Hop card (shown above) and a new one I made just for being a guest.  A BIG MAHALO to Amy the the crew for allowing me to share!

This card was inspired by the latest Avery Elle Challenge

 using their fun set Pixie Dust and Tea Time.  The background was made with Distress Inks in Spun Sugar and Carved Pumpkin on the edges and Hickory Smoke for grounding.  The images were copic colored and die cut with the matching dies.  I hope you'll stop on by and leave me some comment love!

Keeping it CAS for A Blog Named Hero

Aloha friends!

A Blog Named Hero has a new challenge that starts today.

Here's the card...

This month we're collaborating with

and I got to play with the cute set Send Pretty Mail.

I tried to keep a lot of white space and create a crisp edge

with masking an oval die.

I first stamped the sentiment from Hero Arts Friends by Lia, then

stamped those pretty flowers (colored with copics) from Neat and Tangled all around the edges.

To give a more defined edge I used a round blending tool for some green shading.

The panel was then adhered to Hero Arts Sunshine Layering paper.

I love Hero Arts cardstock (nice and sturdy) with a white finished inside perfect for letter writing!

I love challenges because it gets me out of my comfort zone!

I hope you'll join us for your chance to win a 

Mahalo for stopping by!

InLinkz.com

Thanks to Go-To Gal, Teri!

Ok did you see this post by Go-To Gal, Teri?!  It totally brought me back to the school daze of crayons and getting a piece of paper and using anything that was around to get a cool imprint!  I thought it was magic, and Teri's post just brought me back to those fun days, so I knew I had to get playing!

Teri used her die cut plates.  Unfortunately I do not own any of those (looks like I need to go shopping, hehe) but I thought...why not try actual background stamps!  Oh my... the world of coloring with a crayon went to a whole new level!  After background stamps I started looking at all my embossing folders...those worked really well too!

Some extra tips I found while trying this out...I thought the image was easier to achieve using typewriter paper to get the imprint.  The other thing is you definitely have to get a good side angle of your crayon.  I think I remember removing the wrappers on my crayons back then, but today I wanted to partially feel like a grown up and use my faber castell crayons.

Ok enough chatting and on to my card...

Hero Arts Sweet Threads Spirals, Hero Arts Three Flowers, Hero Arts CL342, Faber Castell Crayons, 

Doodlebug Designs Sprinkes in Lily White, American Crafts Hip Hip Hooray Paper Pad, Hero Hues India Ink Black

Making the background was super fun and then I simply stamped and paper pieced the flower to enter it in the next A Blog Named Hero Challenge: Paper Piecing.

Fun right?!  I kinda went to town using my embossing folders and liked them so much I decided to save them for publication...cross my fingers!

Mahalo for stopping by!

P.S.- I did my first ever video tutorial using Lawn Fawn goodies...go check it out HERE !!!

Using Distress Glitter...again!

Aloha friends!  I'm quickly hopping in to share this card that I'm wanting to enter into a couple of challenges.  Thanks so much for your kind words from my other post.  I've overcome the cold and crossing my fingers the kids continue to stay in good health.  It always seems so hard to keep them from getting colds this time of year!

So here's the card...

Y'all know how much I love my distress glitter, so here I went at it again using a background stamp from Hero Arts.  I got these cute wooden "book labels" (I think that's what they were called) bought in the bargain bin at Archiver's and used that to frame my sentiment. 

The sketch I followed from CASE(E) this Sketch

and since the Simon Says Challenge for Wednesday was Thanks/Thankgiving I'll be entering that as well.

All right back to work I go since I'm on call.  Mahalo for stopping by!

Playing with Paper Smooches

Saw the latest Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge using this fabulous photo...

The colors are just gorgeous and love the water element.  Here's my take...

 Paper Smooches Leafy Greens, Versamark, Memento Ink in Morocco and Peanut Brittle, Hero Arts ink in Tide Pool, Distress Ink in Shaded  Lilac, Raffia

I wanted a subtle effect, but when I used just the Versamark you could hardly see the tone on tone look I was going for.  I decided to rock-n-roll the solid stamps in the coordinating cardstock colors to define the outline.  Gotta add this to my stash of thank you's since Thanksgiving is right around the corner!  Mahalo for stopping by!

A Crafty Day

What a great day it's been!  The hubby has been taking care of the kiddos while I've been (*wink, wink) trying to clean up the craft room.  Nothing like cleaning up when an inspiration image comes to mind and (*sigh) the cleaning must stop...hahaha!

I've been wanting to try Distress Paint for a while and finally broke down buying 1 bottle in Picket Fence.  What was I going to do with it you ask?  I had no idea, up until now!  I was inspired by the rainbow of colors in the next Pinspired Challenge and thought I'd also enter Moxie Fab World: Color Media Challenge.  I'm hoping Distress Paint counts as a type of media?!

Fresh Squeezed Stamps Weather Through, Fresh Squeezed Stamps Subway Series: Basic, Distress Paint in Picket Fence, Memento inks in Lady Bug, Tangelo, Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Bamboo Leaves, Bahama Blue, Danube Blue and Lilac Posies, Washi Tape, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Hero Arts paper flower, Doodlebug Sprinkles in bubblegum, white embossing powder, Kraft cardstock, Kraft Core Shattered Collection in black

I LOVE the effect!  The down side...waiting for the paint to dry!  I loved the layered effect of stamping on the paint, then the rainbow rays and then the subway stamp...totally fun...and why not throw a bit of washi in there too!

Here's the Pinspiration...

Mahalo for stopping by!!!

A Doodlebug Thank You

I went to my first crop ever at Scrapfest and had the pleasure of meeting Cynthea owner of Doodlebug!  Their latest release Happy Harvest is just so darn adorable.  I always have a hard time using Doodlebug papers because I can't bring myself to cut them, but this time I played it smart.  I bought 2 pads...one to hoard...lol!

I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch for inspiration.

Don't you just love the colors and cutesy patterns?!  Their cardstock stickers are so fab too and since the theme fits I will also enter this in CAS-ual Fridays challenge as well.

Here's the sketch I followed...

That's it for me!  Have a great weekend!!!

Ombre Thanks

Aloha everyone and thanks for stopping by!  Today was the first day my preschooler didn't cry after dropping him off.  So in turn I cried...lol...of course after I left his class and behind sunglasses so nobody could tease me.  It's been almost a month since the kids have been in school and only now do I feel we are getting into a routine.

Anywho on to my card which was inspired by this week's Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World.
It looks soooo delicious and I'm not quite sure I could eat something this beautiful...even if I was starving.

Sooooo pretty!  Not quite sure my card has the same elegance, but I did use the ombre look and the butterfly in my design.

I needed a card for my patient that moved back to the mainland (that's what we call it here in Hawaii, haha).  She was so sweet and sent me an update on her move and some souvenirs from her hometown.  Love that my job connects me with such thoughtful people. Also going to enter this in the AEI(heart)U Challenge using the sketch.

That's it for me!  Have a great Wednesday!!

Paper Made Bakery: Bloomin' Thanks

It's my turn again to show off the amazing Paper Made Bakery kit One Scrappy Dame!  The kit has everything you need to make several projects be it cards, scrapbook layouts or giftable items.  Check it...

I made a card this week.  Here's a little sneaky peek...

 

I would love it if you checked out the whole project over at Paper Made Bakery!

Wanna get a kit of your own...click here  to see if there's any left.  Mahalo and Happy Thursday!!!

Peaceful Thanksgiving

Is it only Wednesday?  It's been one of those weeks where work has been draining...booooo!  So when I get in this funk I have to force myself to think of the brighter side.  #1 I'm definitely grateful to have a job and #2 I couldn't see myself doing anything else...well...I could see myself crafting all day, but that wouldn't pay the bills...hehehe.

Anyway I wanted to enter the next Pinspired Challenge.  Here's my card...

Avery Elle Oh Happy Day, Memento Inks in Bahama Blue, Tangelo, Teal Zeal, Rosebud, Pear Tart and Tuxedo Black, Studio Calico wood veneer birds, ribbon, Crate Paper On Trend, Copic marker

 This card was initially sent in for publication, but didn't make the cut so now I can share it with blogland! 

I thought the birds, colors and foliage were pretty similar to the inspiration photo.  The actual design was inspired by a shirt my daughter wore one day that had all these elements in a peace sign.  Hope you like it.  I had fun stamping it out!

P.S. I'm also thinking of entering this in the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: I'm Craving Navy as it does have some navy elements and white with linear lines like the photo below

As always MAHALO for stopping by!