Bee-yond Fabulous

Sometimes "Thank You" just isn't enough.  That is why I used the sentiment from the Thanks Bee to Thee stamp set from The Crafts Meow.  

I created two cards, playing with the different colors and contrast.   All the colors come from the current Colour Q Challenge.  I substituted Real Red for Ruby Red and Coastal Cabana for Cool Caribbean because I don't have those colors that are listed in the challenge.

CQC#228

The first card is bold with black lines and a red mat.

The second card has a softer outline with blue ink instead of black for the hexagon outlines.  It's matted in a soft blue so that the mat fades away.

Both cards were inspired by last week's sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.   As you can see I offset the hexagons instead of lining them up like the circles in the sketch.

FMS

They also fit nicely with the Hexagons: Happy for Hexagons in the Moxie Fab World Challenge.

MFW Hexies

The little bee needed a touch of glimmer, so I used a gel glitter pen to add some sparkle to his wings.  It doesn't show up in the picture very well, but looks nice in person.

Which card is your favorite?  The bold red or soft blue?  

Creative Blessings,

Heather North

Stamps: Thanks Bee to Thee (The Craft's Meow)
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (SU), Glitter Pen (Sakura)

String It Up ~ Video

A few weeks ago several of you asked me how I attached my string onto my card to make it look like it was floating.  Clicky if you want to see the original post.

The fun thing is that you can make the string into any shape you want with a little glue and patience.

The video below shows you how I create the banner for this sweet baby card.  Note, if you are reading this post in an email or reader you may need to go to my blog to view the video.

In the video I mention that the Baker's Twine in the SAB catalog be thicker than SU's regular Baker's Twine. My order arrived today and it is much thicker, in fact.  It's about twice the thickness of the Pretty Pink Posh twine I used in the photo below.

There were still some scraps leftover of the watercolor paper so I used a heart die to cut them out.   Babies, hearts and love go together any time of year.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: Banner Blast (SU-SAB), Gorgeous Grunge (SU),Lots to Say (Reverse Confetti)
Paper: Pink Pirrouette, Watercolor Wonder Notecards (SU), Whisper White
Ink: Basic Grey, Bermuda Bay, Pink Pirouette, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Baker's Twine (Pretty Pink Posh), Banner Punch (SU-SAB), Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (SU-SAB), Heart Rainfall Die (Simon Says Stamp)

Birthday Wishes

Are you enjoying the week long birthday bash for StampNation?   The card I made for today's challenge is a Design Team card so you can't see it unless you are a member, but I can show you a sneak peek.

Doesn't that make you want to see what the rest of the card looks like?  I have a very special offer for those of you interested in checking out StampNation so be sure to come back tomorrow.  ;)  I didn't want to leave you without a card for today, so I made this one.

Today's Birthday Bash Prize is from Monica Weaver at Add A Little Dazzle.  As you know I purchased some of the metal sheets from Add A Little Dazzle and I have been having so much fun playing with them.  They add just a touch of sparkle and shine to the cards I have made.  I decided to make a card using the new Dazzling Divas challenge.

DDC#8

So many things caught my eye, but especially the banners in the top right and the stripes/swirls and dots all over the place.  The colors I used work pretty well with the picture, but I actually got them from the Paper Players challenge.  I tried out this challenge because I have been loving the Aqua/Pink/Red combo and thought it might be fun to add in green & yellow to see how these colors play together.

PP178

This is a fairly CAS card, but the details are what I love.  The banners are strung on some Baker's Twine from Pretty Pink Posh with little knots tied into each end.  The sentiment was embossed in the negative space created with a Label Framelit Die. My favorite little touch though is the Pucker Me Pink metal heart.  

I've been searching for a small heart punch this size and not having any luck.  Finally I decided to try one of my embosslits and discovered the Fashionable Hearts Embosslit has the perfect little heart.  Love it!  I also added some yellow stickles to the star on the Crushed Curry banner.

This birthday party has been so much fun.  I hope I've inspired you a little bit.  If you like the Banner Blast stamps and Banner punch be sure to get them for FREE with your $50 Stampin' UP! order once Sale-A-Bration (SAB) starts in a couple of weeks!  (January 28, 2014)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: Banner Blast (SU), Happy Birthday (unkown)

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz, Primrose Petals, Versamark

Paper: Coastal Cabana, Whisper White

Misc:  Baker's Twine (Pretty Pink Posh), Banner Punch (SU-SAB), Pucker Me Pink Metal Sheet (Add A Little Dazzle), Fashionable Hearts Embosslit (SU), Label Card Thinlits (SU), White Embossing Powder, Yellow Stickles

God Chose You...

Yesterday got away from me.  Do you ever have days like that?  Honestly, I have almost a dozen cards to show you already made, but I need the time at the computer to edit them and write up blog posts.  On the bright side I got to see many friends I haven't seen since before Christmas, and that is more important than time at the computer.

Thankfully I still have time to enter this card into this week's Mojo Monday contest.  Did you know they are even giving away prizes for this week's challenge?  They only do that once a month.  In celebration of that I used my only Verve stamp set.  I love my Verve stamp set and need to buy more.   Their fonts are so pretty and "scrolly".  If only I had an unlimited budget.  Someday I will get paid to creative, if only in free product.  ;)  Perhaps I will win this week and get to buy some more Verve stamps!  A girl can dream, can't she?

MM327

The background of my card was created by stamping my new Hardwood stamp (SU) with white craft ink onto a Marina Mist card base.  Next I used a strip of Watercolor Wonder DSP and matted it with black.  That really helped make the card pop.  The focal panel was matted with black as well.

The little pop of Crisp Cantaloupe under my main image was stamped with a branch of leaves from Peaceful Petals (SU) using versamark.  It just looked too plain on this card before I added that simple stamping. Peaceful Petals was also what I used on my main image.  The blue flowers were colored with my new Christmas Copics.  I used SU markers for the stems and flower centers. Obviously I need more Copics.  ;)

Even though I knew I wanted to use the Verve stamp set for my Grandma's card I wasn't sure how to get it on my card without distracting too much with the image. In the end I embossed it in white on Vellum Cardstock and then used my neglected eyelets and some Calypso Coral Baker's Twine to tie it all together and get it stuck to my card.  It ended up being an element I really liked.

You may notice the inside is stamped with the same greeting as the outside. I did that because my Grandma has a hard time seeing and I wanted to be sure she knew what it said.   The inside is decorated with strips I cut off of the panel on the front of the card.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Supplies
Stamps: Hardwood (SU), Love Deepens (Verve), Peaceful Petals (SU)
Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Marina Mist, Basic Black, Watercolor Wonder DSP, White (Artist paper bought from my local art shop)
Ink: Copics- B93, B95, B97, Stampin' UP!- Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Versamark, Memento- Tuxedo Black
Misc: Calypso Coral Baker's Twine (SU), Eyelets (Unkown), White Embossing Powder (SU)

World Card Making Day ~ Kit 3 ~ Happy Together

Today I will be sharing with you the 3rd kit in my World Card Making Day kit giveaway.  If you missed the other posts, just scroll down to see them or CLICKY to go to the prize page.  :) 

It's a Happy Together sort of day today and another CAS style of card.   This card was made with Operation Write Home in mind.  I wanted to make a card that our heroes could send to a child, so I went bright and colorful for this one.

Any child would be happy to get this card, don't you think?  As with all the other card kits I made a video so you can put this card together. 

***Note: If you are reading this post in an email or reader you may need to go to my blog to see the video below.

There are two things I love about this card.  First are the teeny tiny baker's twine bows at each end of the banner.

And, the second thing is how perfectly the Happy Together banner sits on the pennant diamond I created.  Such a happy accident.

On Thursday I will be sharing a bonus video with 2 more ideas for using the same basic supplies with one or two things added to make a totally different card.  Come back tomorrow for the 4th card in my WCMD Card Kit Giveaway series.  You won't want to miss this beauty!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: A Dozen ThoughtsPaper: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Pacific Point, Real Red
Accessories: Baker's Twine, Petite Pennants Builder Punch


Petite Pennants Builder Punch



Island Indigo Baker's Twine




Circle Label Thinlits



Birthday Girl

Making cards for young kids is so much fun.  Bright colors and fun images are great for these types of cards.

For my card today I pulled out some retired paper, fun buttons from the local craft store, a new punch and my Apothecary Accents framelits.  Whose the kid now?  Yes, I had fun playing!  I feel like a kid playing with her favorite toys every time I go in my hobby room.  :)

For the main image I used markers to color the stamp.  It's a great way to add multiple colors to your stamped image.  To get the Tempting Turquoise pieces I punched out the new Artisan Label punch and cut it in half, then adhered each half to the top and bottom of my label.   I think it adds a great punch of color.  (no pun intended)

 Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: You're Amazing,
Paper: Ice Cream Parlor (Retired-on Clearance WSL!), Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise
Misc: Artisan Label Punch, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Buttons (Craft Store), Baker's Twine



Ice Cream Parlor Kit
WSL




Artisan Label Punch



Masculine Monday with Hexagons

My son is working on his senior project for school and needed some thank you cards to send out.  Mom to the rescue.  :)

I pulled out my Six-Sided Sampler set along with the matching hexagon punch and baker's twine. 

To layer the hexagons, I cut out the stamped hexagon with "thanks much" stamped in the center.  It was pretty easy cut along those lines. 

Above is the second card I made.  It was even easier than the first one.  I used some retired nautical paper and then used my new Four You stamp set to stamp the Thank You sentiment.  Next I layered it all on a piece of navy cardstock to anchor the card front.



Four You



Even though I am calling this "Masculine Monday", these cards can be sent to/from anyone.  I need to whip up a few more to send to OWH.  :)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Six-Sided Sampler Bundle



Midweek Masculine Throwdown

Operation Write Home has a midweek throwdown today that is right up my alley.  The challenge is to make a Friendship card, but there was a twist posted on the OWH Facebook page.  Make a card that a man could send home to his friends and family.  I usually post my masculine cards on Monday because I like to title them Masculine Monday, but I might have to start a Midweek Masculine or Masculine Midweek posting for OWH since the majority of our heroes are men.

While this card isn't specifically masculine, it isn't feminine either, and I think it is a card any man (or woman) could send to a friend.   It was so fun to make that I am thinking of sending it as my thank you cards this month.

I used the SU Gorgeous Grunge set to create the "messy" background and "coffee spills".  I wrapped some Early Espresso Baker's Twine around the left side and strung it through my tag.  The tag reads: "coffee & friends are the Perfect blend".

The cup was made by first stamping the image from Perfect Blend onto the background paper.  Next I stamped the cup onto Crumb Cake CS, Whisper White CS and Epic Day DSP.  Then I fussy cut all pieces and layered them on my card base.  Crumb Cake on the bottom, the green paper band next and the white lid popped up with dimensionals.

Hopefully this card passes for one a guy would send his friend.  I know plenty of friends "I" plan on sending it to.  Many coffee lovers and Starbucks addicts on my friends list.  :)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stampin' UP! Supplies Used:
Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, Perfect Blend
Paper: This & That Epic Day DSP, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Gumball Green
Misc.: Early Epsresso, Baker's Twine, Small Hole Punch (non SU), Circle Punch

Scrapbook Sunday ~ Done

On Tuesday I finished our 2009 family album!  It feels so good to finally have that album done.  Now if I can just keep up the momentum and get 2010-2012 completed too.  ;)

In an effort to get this scrapbook done many of my pages were pretty simple.  I used background paper that had lots of interest so I wouldn't have to make my own borders.  Some pages were just pictures and journaling or a title. 

On this page I used my Labels Framelits Die to create add a bit of interest.  The sticker title I had wasn't showing up on the dark background, so I put it on a piece of white cardstock and cut it out with my Big Shot. The great thing about the framelits is you can see right where you are cutting.



Labels Framelits

It's fun to be able to use my framelits in my scrapbook layouts.  I feel like I am getting more for my money.  Plus they add a pretty touch.  On my next page I used the Ornament Framelits to create a string of sparkle on my Christmas tree page.  I added another little ornament to the corner of my journal box.

First I punched a small hole in each ornament then thread them on a piece of Whisper White Baker's Twine.  I tied each end in a little bow.



Silver Glimmer Paper



Champagne Glimmer Paper



Baker's Twine

Do you ever struggle to use vellum?  It's clear and most adhesives will show through.  To solve that problem you can sometime hide your adhesive behind an image. 



I didn't have anything to hide the adhesive behind, so I just stuck the vellum quote down with stickers.  It worked great!

As some of you know, I used to be a Creative Memories Consultant.  I was a consultant for about 7 years.   Last week CM closed it's doors and shut down its business.  Although I haven't been a CMC in a few years and I rarely ordered more than refills and albums from them, it is a sad day knowing I can never order another album from Creative Memories.  There is talk of restructuring and re-opening under a different name.   Time will tell.  I placed one last order to get one more album and some refills.  When I complete the albums I have in storage I will have to find a new type of album.  Any suggestions?  What do you use?  I'm considering 3 ring style binders.  I just need to find a supplier.

My 2009 album is finished.  Creative Memories is over.  Kind-of a bittersweet scrapbooking week.  Thank you to Miss Louise for having the kids and I over for a fun "play day".  It's more fun to scrapbook with friends.  If it wasn't for Louise inviting me over my album probably still wouldn't be finished. She gave me the perfect sticker to finish my album, and the boys had a blast swimming, making movies and playing airsoft. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North