Doing my own thing

well, not entirely... the card for today is actually created for the Hero Arts blog. this week it's all about "fun with photos". it's quite coincidental that they have this theme going on because last week i was looking at a photo my hubby took and thinking how much i'd like to make it into a card. and what should i read about on monday morning's blog post at Hero Arts but the use of photos on cards! so that is what i did today - made a card from the gorgeous black & white lily photo i was lovingly admiring last week.

i have been in love with this large background stamp from Hero Arts for quite a while now, and seeing it used everywhere was making me rather jealous of all those stampers who had their hot little hands on it. it's 4 1/2 x 5 3/4 which makes it perfect for covering a whole 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card face! so today on a little shopping spree with my stamping friend Rieca (who has her own lovely blog here) i saw the stamp on the shelf and swooped in to grab it! AND got it for 40% off too (along with 3 other wicked Hero stamps, i might add!). aren't i the happy little stamper?!


does anyone follow the Moxie Fab World blog? i haven't been playing along for very long yet, but i've come to really like Cath's sense of humour and way of 'speaking'. she really seems to have fun with her blog. she is affiliated with Paper Crafts Magazine, who also have a great blog. plenty of contests and giveaways! i really wish i was at a level where i could be giving away blog candy... maybe someday! we all have our dreams - mine is to be a full-time crafter and make a career (plus a decent living!) out of it. so we shall see what "the cards" hold for me. (the rubber stamped cards, that is! grin...)

stuff used:
paper...
Halcraft USA - 6 1/2 x 5 card & envelope set
white cs (to make photo corners)
semi-gloss photo paper
stamps...
Hero Arts - manuscript background and designblock dots & flowers
ink...
Brilliance - moonlight white
versamark
extras...
white ep
Jolee's dimensional stickers - wedding dress
Michaels ribbon - mid-width white
Flourishes ribbon - black polkadot
Fiskars corner edgers - nostalgia

cheers!
crafty girl

hand-made elements

TGIF to all! our weather is supposed to rock this weekend so i've got my sprayon sunscreen stashed in the car, just in case i get caught outside somewhere. me & my freckles and strawberry blonde colouring fry faster than a cat on a hot tin roof! (grin)

this week on the hero arts club blog, the challenge is to make manly cards. always tough, but i think this example below fits right in!
i love working with great elements and embellishments to add to my cards, but man, they can be expensive, especially here in Canada!
i took matters into my own hands, so to speak, and made my own! i used some plain chipboard pieces that I multi-layered with embossing powder (platinum UTEE used here, 3-4 layers). when the final layer was still molten hot, i pressed patterned stamps into the EP then let it cool. voila! cheap and might i say AWESOME looking embellishments! you could also use thin cardboard, and cut out shapes using a Cuttlebug or other diecutting machine. i inked my stamps with versamark first to be sure they would release easily from the hot EP.


what do you think? give it a whirl - i'm sure you'll love the results as much as i do!

stuff used:
Basic Grey - [un]dressed Chipboard Elements
Tim Holtz - Visual Artistry clear stamp sets Life's Possibilities & Regal Flourish
Hero Arts - Geometric circles stamp
Judikins - Thin Lines cube (4-sided stamp with great patterns)
Tim Holtz Distress - multiple inks & walnut stain EP
Ranger - platinum UTEE & ink blending tool
gunmetal brads and screw-top brads
PearlEx powder - Micropearl
white, chocolate and purple cs

cheers,
crafty girl