I go crazy for PINEAPPLES!

(source)

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!!

CASEing Kelly Blog Hop

Aloha and welcome to my little section of the blog hop!

I'm so excited for this fun hop to say a big

MAHALO/Thank You to the the AMAZING 

Kelly Latevola!

I love that the tables have turned, and we now get the opportunity

to CASE Kelly!  Talk about some big shoes to fill, but I'm gonna try my best!!

I love Kelly's watercolor work so here are 3 of the cards I chose...

In this card I loved the black outline with the watercolor scribbled in.

I LOVE Kelly's color combination in this card and her added white dots for details.

Kelly's designs are always so well balanced with the bold black stripe matching her

die cut black sentiment...just gorgeous!

So here's my take on her cards...

I attempted three times to capture Kelly's design.

I know you're suppose to CASE 3 cards in 1, but was indecisive in

which one I felt captured Kelly's work...oh the pressure!

I took her design from the first card and used Hero Arts Color Layering Hibiscus.

Instead of using the solid stamp that comes in the set, 

I used the wash of watercolor (from Tim Holtz Distress Markers)

and stamped the next layer with Hero Arts India Ink Black 

and the sentiment is from Hero Arts Hello Flowers.  I loved how Kelly used the black strip

of cardstock to tie in the bold sentiment and in this CASE my hibiscus as well!

I wasn't happy with my washed out colors, because I truly loved Kelly's bold autumn colors in the second card.  So I attempted a second time to get richer colors...

This time I did use the solid layering stamp in Hero Arts Wet Cement and tried

not to water down my distress ink.  I added white dots for detail and actually die cut the sentiment

from Penny Black's Words of Gratitude die set.

And just for fun (because I had some ink left over) I did one more card...

I hope I've made Kelly proud!  A big thank you for all those involved 

in creating such a special blog hop for one special gal!

The blog hop list is below in case you get lost.

Comment along the way for a chance to win some awesome prizes!!

a2z Scrapbooking
Amy Tsuruta 
Brandi Hall
Char Kochensparger
Cindy Chiu
Darnell Knauss
Dawn Turley
Debra James
Deepti Malik
Donna Idlet
Elizabeth Campau
Ellen Haxelmans
Heather Ruwe
Jennifer Loftfield
Joan Bardee
Kara Vrabel
Kara-Lynne
Katie Gehring
Kristie Goulet
Kristina Beagle
Kymona Tracey
Laura Jane
Leigh Penner
Lin Brandyberry
Linda Trace
Lindsay Amrhein
Maria Sabina Raita
Marika Rahtu
Martha Lucia Gomez
Michele Cunningham
Michele Ferguson
Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams
Monica Maier
that's me------->Niki G.
Nina-Marie Trapani
Rubeena Naz
Shelly Kurth
Taunya Butler
Thordis Dogg
Vera Yates

What is a blog hop without some fun prizes?! Leave a comment by 11:59 pm EDT on Thursday, October 29th along each stop in the hop to increase your chances of winning a prize from one of our sponsors: a2z Scrapbooking, Altenew, Create a Smile Stamps, Dee's Art Impressions, DJ Kard Kreations, Hero Arts, Ink Road, Lia Stampz and Simon Says Stamp,! Winners will be notified by email after October 29th.

As always MAHALO for stopping by!

It's Shaker time over at A2Z Scrapbooking!

Can you believe it's September already?!

We're shaking things up over at 

A2Z Scrapbooking

Our next challenge is to make a shaker card using some Hero Arts products!

Come join the fun for your chance to win a  $25 gift certificate to the store.
They specialize in everything Hero Arts, but they also take requests for items that you don't see.
You can even use code Nicki15 for 15% off your entire order!!

Here's my shaker...

I first took Hero Arts Layering paper and die cut out a square
for my shaker window.
I used that sweet pig image from Hero Arts Playful Animals (stamped out twice)
so I could cut out it's head and pop up on foam tape to create a little
head tilt to talk on the phone (from Hero Arts Friends with Lia).
The phone was covered in glossy accents for an old
fashioned look and I hand drew in the coils to connect the phone.
The sentiment was inked up in Hero Arts Ombre Ink Gray to Black on the inside of the card.
I lined the back side of the card front with acetate, filled with Doodlebug Sequins, placed
another layer of acetate and sealed with washi tape.
Then to cover up I added another panel with a die cut square to cover up the washi taped edges.

Here's a closeup...

Come play along with us over at
A2Z Scrapbooking
and show us your shaker project!

Mahalo for stopping by!!

Quick Goody Bag for Teachers

Happy Wednesday Friends!

It's back to school time in this household and

I wanted to send the kids off to school with a little goodie bag

for their teachers and teacher assistants.

We filled the bags with simple office/desk supplies...

just a little gesture to start the school year!

That sweet owl image is from Kitty Bee Design colored with copics.

I used the Tim Holtz In the Bag die with some 

fun and glittery pattern paper from my stash.

I really wanted to personalize the bags, but of course this was all last minute...haha!

Six of these bags in no time, just by adding a sweet little sentiment 

and Kitty Bee Design image!

Mahalo for stopping by!!

Just a tag...

Today was one of those days.  You know those days where frustration sets in and all you want to do is just hide somewhere and take a long nap and wish everything would get done on its own...lol.  My 3rd grader is in full swing of school and the homework just piles up.  Please tell me I'm not the only parent that struggles with having their child get their homework done!  On top of her daily assignments she has a syllabus that has several projects that need to get done, plus 30 minutes of reading plus commenting on what she read.  Any tidbits on getting through homework is greatly appreciated!

Which leads me to only getting a tag done.  I must say though, in that short amount of time I used a couple of techniques I've been wanting to try!

Hero Arts Artistic Border, Hero Arts Big Circles, Hero Arts Everyday Sayings

Lawn Fawn Tag  You're It, Distress Inks and markers, Hero Arts Shadow inks,

White and Clear Embossing Powder, Doodlebug Designs enamel dots

I stamped out the tag and white heat embossed it.  I wanted the leaves in the background to show an ombre look so I stamped it in Hero Arts Shadow inks.  I thought the tag was too white so to keep the color in the leaves I traced over it with a Versamarker and heat set it with clear embossing.  This created the resist I needed to make my blue ombre background using distress inks.  The flowers were also white heat embossed and colored with distress markers.  I fussy cut them and foam taped them on and added some enamel dots for fun.  I had this stitched ribbon in my stash from a card kit and thought it went well with the stitched look of the tag.

Check it out on a gift (waaaaay over due) that I'm sending to my Colorado sister...

I must say tags really add a little special somethin' and love that they can be quickly made.  I'll be linking this up to the Tag You're It Challenge using this as my inspiration...

and A Blog Named Hero: Ombre.

Mahalo for stopping by!!!

Woo hoo...another card!

Making this short as I realized I only have 2 more hours to enter the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Stencil It!

The card...

Hero Arts Bubble Confetti Stencil, Hero Arts Live Life, 

Shadow inks in Pool, Tide Pool and Stone Wash

Hero Hues ink in Unicorn, Lawn Fawn Into the Woods pattern paper, 

white embossing powder

I was going for the bokeh effect for the next A Blog Named Hero Challenge as well.  Started with the Unicorn ink and then slightly moved the stencil for the ombre effect of inks.  The panel is foam taped to the card front for dimension.

It feels good to start up card making again!  Mahalo for stopping by!!

Trying Something New

Hello there!  I've been admiring the challenge called The Card Concept since its beginning, and finally made myself try a new style.  I admire that the challenge explains and shows examples of the various card styles and then encourages you to try one out.

Here's a snippet...

Can you guess which style I tried?  I'm hoping it's not too far off...remember this is my first go at this...haha!


So without further ado I've decided to try the freestyle collage...

Avery Elle Simply Labels and die, Avery Elle Laurels, Avery Elle Icon Fill in the Blank die, Tim Holtz Bubble Stencil, Doodlebug BonBon Twine, Doodlebug Sprinkles in Lily White, Memento ink in Rich Cocoa, Bamboo Leaves and Pear Tart, white embossing powder

So keeping to the theme colors I stamped out the Avery Elle label and die cut.  Then, stenciled the background after I white, heat embossed the laurels for a little "leafy" sprout among the die cut flowers.  I believe the flowers are actually an asterisk shape, but doubled them up to create whimsical blooms.  I used a sponge dauber around the laurels with a touch of brown for a little more detail.

This will also be entered in the

I actually liked how it all came together pretty quickly with having a theme color in mind.  Maybe that's the trick when doing freestyle collage!  

That's it for me!  Happy Hump Day and mahalo for stopping by!!!

A Butterfly Hello on Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  Before I get to today's card I wanted to share these cute hand knit monkeys my mom whipped up for my son to pass out to his classmates...

 Thank goodness my husband volunteered to put together all the goodie pails for both kids.  He was once told by his family that he "wraps better than Santa's elves."  I agree because he made them look so festive!

And here's the reason for these festive pails...

Sibling love!

Now on to my card...

Hero Arts Butterflies CG130, Tim Holtz Burlap Stencil, Gelatos, Avery Elle Bottle It Up, Sizzix Embossing Folder, We R Memory Keepers washi tape, Kraft cardstock, Hero Arts India Ink Black

I was inspired by the next Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Get Krafty and the photo and sketch on Fusion Card Challenge

Here's a closeup...

I also wanted to enter the next Moxie Fab Challenge: Happy for Hexagons but could you believe I do not own one hexagon stamp or die?!  I kept thinking I could use my e-clips to cut some hexagons, but found this cool washi tape in my stash.  Hoping it counts ;o)!!

So that's it!  I'm totally excited to have a 3 day weekend!!!  Mahalo for stopping by.

Picking Up the Pieces Monday Vol. 13: Quicky Note Cards

Hello there!  I started making a card for the next CAS(E) this Sketch and couldn't believe how quickly it came together.  Some simple masking, stenciling and stamping and I was done! The beautiful bloom was simply colored in by stamping Hero Arts brush strokes in various sizes.  This will also be entered in A Blog Named Hero: Flowers

Following this sketch...

 

Here's my card...

Hero Arts Classic Bloom, Hero Arts Brush Strokes, Hero Arts CL 342, Tim Holtz Bubble Stencil, Hero Arts Shadow inks in Green Hills, Bubble Gum, Pale Tomato and Red Royal, Hero Hues India Ink Black

Because this came together so quickly I decided to get some more ink colors and make a set of cards.

Ta da!  There ya have a one layered card with not much effort at all.  Here's to a great week ahead.  Mahalo for stopping by!!!

Kitty Bee Design Challenge #12

Happy Aloha Friday gang!  I'm back with another project using another adorable Kitty Bee Designs original.  This week's challenge is to use fall colors since the season is upon us.  Here's my sneak peek...

As always, to see the project in its entirety, I would love it if you would hop on over to Kitty Bee Designs Blog and check out the rest of the design team's awesome projects!  It's guaranteed to make you smile on this fabulous Aloha Friday.

Tomorrow is the Aiea Elementary Craft Fair so if you're on Oahu, this project will actually be sold their!

Mahalo for stopping by!

P.S.-If you're ever wondering how to do any of my Kitty Bee Designs projects or what products I use for them, you can look them up HERE.  I have a tab at the top of my blog named "Fun w/ Kitty Bee" that is frequently updated with my latest project.  Hope you'll check it out!

Hello Monday

Anyone else going to Scrapfest 2013 at the Mall of America?  I've never been and can't even contain my excitement!!!!  A little nervous about leaving the kiddos behind, but I know my parents and brother will take good care of them and it's just for the weekend so I'll keep praying everything goes smoothly.  I soooo want to enjoy my vacation time, especially after the few weeks of having to work late and weekends.

Have I mentioned sunflowers are my favorite?  They really are and I can't stop playing with this set and the stitched journaling card die.  It just so happens that the next Curtain Call Challenge is inspired by sunflowers.  Here is my card following this week's Freshly Made Sketches...

 Lawn Fawn Our Friendship Grows, LF Stitched Journaling Card die, LF Cole's ABCs die, copic markers, My Clever Creations Handmade Butterflies, Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa

Here's the sketch...

Thanks for stopping by! 

Saying Hello

Aloha Friends!  I think I'm a little late jumping on the "splatter look" bandwagon, but I thought I'd finally try it out following this week's Seize the Sketch

Here's my take on it...

Hero Arts Stamp Your Story: brush, HA CL342, HA Scattered Dots, HA Sea Layering Papers, Neenah white CS, White Embossing
Powder, HA Tide Pool ink dauber, Memento Inks in Tangelo, Rose Bud and Tuxedo Black

What do ya think? I'm a little on the fence about it.  Wanted some kind of pattern to show through, but didn't want it too busy.  I wanted to call it my lazy Sunday card...except I pat myself on the back for getting out the heat gun!  All righty folks...until next time!

P.S.-I had a few people asking about the Hot Cocoa Cookie Recipe...here it is...straight off the back of this bottle found at Target...

 2 and 1/2 sticks room temperature butter
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/4 cups flour
4 packages Hot Chocolate Mix (not sugar free)
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup Marshmallow Bits

Cream together your butter and both sugars until light  and fluffy.   Add in eggs and vanilla and blend well.  In a separate bowl, mix together your dry ingredients, including your hot chocolate packets. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time to your wet ingredients. Form balls and drop onto cookie sheet.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 8-11 minutes.   Allow to cool for approximately five minutes then remove from cookie sheet.