My True North ~ HSS

When I first saw this sentiment from Avery Elle's Knotty stamp set I knew I needed to get it.  Afterall, my husband is a North and he has made me one too.  ;)   Thank you Maureen for enabling me. 

It just so happened to come on the day I saw this week's sketch from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  What better way to get this stamp set inky than The Perfect sketch?!




HSS#171

Often when I am working with sketches I will flip them, rotate them or change an element.  This wasn't my plan today though.  It was a complete accident that I adhered the striped panel on the bottom of the card instead of the top.  Honestly this sketch would work no matter which way you flipped it though.  That is a great sketch to have in your arsenal.  :)

This won't be the last time I use this sentiment on a card for my hubby.  It works for anyone you love, not just when for those of us with the last name "North".  :D  I'm thinking I need to make a stack of these cards for OWH.  What do you think? 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Knotty (Avery Elle)
Ink: Daffodil Delight (SU), Not Quite Navy (retired SU), Real Red (SU), Versamark
Paper:  SU Cardstock- Real Red, Whisper White
Misc.: Black Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder, Heart Punch, Crystal Effects, Circle Punch, Circle Framelits, Circle Card Framelits

Inspired Birthday

This summer is flying by fast.  Today I needed a break from laundry and ironing, so I went down to the hobby room with a few challenges to try.  :)

My first inspiration came from the lovely photo below at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  As soon as I saw it I wanted to use it to make a card.  :)

 

HSS

I took the colors from the photo as well the little bow on the girl's shoe.  The colors I used were So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Strawberry Slush, with just a touch of Baked Brown Sugar. 

The stack of 3 books made me want to find a sketch that had strips or blocks that I could fill with color.  Mojo Monday didn't let me down.  :)



MM304

Isn't it perfect?   I thought about making the card rectangular so that more of the background paper would show, but the whole point of this week's challenge is to make a square or round card. 

To add the round portion I stamped the flower from Oh, Hello stamp set using Strawberry Slush and Pear Pizzazz markers onto a Tea Lace Doily.  To make the stamped image stand out I punched out a white 2 1/2" circle and adhered it to the back of the doily before putting it on the card.

Even the inside is decorated on this one.  I used a background stamp and versamark to create a background.  Then I stamped a Happy Birthday sentiment (retired SU) and cut that out with the window's framelit. 

Let me tell you, working with two challenges to make a card was way more fun than fighting with my iron.  :) 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stampin' UP! Products Used
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Strawberry Slush
Paper: Afternoon Picnic DSP, Twitterpated DSP (retired), Pear Pizzazz CS, Baked Brown Sugar CS
Stamps: Oh Hello, Retired Happy Birthday
Accessories: Tea Lace Doily, Basic Rhinestones, Windws Framelits, Strawberry Slush Ruffle Trim Ribbon



Inspired Morning

Do you ever wake up inspired to go create something?  I've pulled out the Six-Sided sampler stamp set 3 times wanting to use it, but just couldn't come up with a card idea nor decide on the colors to use.  This morning I was just going to go tackle it and decided to look online for any color challenges posted recently. 

First stop was a happy accident.  I almost squealed.  It's like the people at HSS knew what I needed.  They had a hexagon sketch.  Woo-Hoo and thank you Hand Stamped Sentiments.



Hand Stamped Sentiments

What I meant to click on in my favorites bar was the ColourQ challenge, because I knew it was time for a new one.  They didn't disappoint either.  It was a match made in paper-crafting heaven.



ColourQ

The only problem was that I didn't have any Bermuda Bay ink or Paper, but I did find some Bermuda Bay ribbon and was able to match it pretty closely to some paper I had in my "blue scraps bin".  Just when I am ready to throw all those scraps away I find a use for them.   Does that happen to you too? 

First I stamped the hexagons, then fussy cut them out leaving just a tiny bit of white around the edges.  Next I punched out the hexagon with the same color cardstock as the ink I used, then I layered them together using Tombow Mono Multi glue.  I wanted some time and wiggle room to get them in the right spot.  I used the same glue to adhere them to my white panel.

The sentiment is embossed with White embossing powder and punched out using the Modern Label punch.  I put it on dimensionals to pop it off the ribbon.  I had planned to pop up some of my hexagons too, but forgot alike nd glued them all down before I remembered.  That's ok.  This card is probably going into my OWH box and they don't like a lot of extra dimension.

Since I am early for these challenges, there is still plenty of time for you to try out one or both of them.  I would love to see what you come up with.  

P.S.   Where do you go when you are ready to create, but need a little extra inspiration to get you started?

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stampin' UP! Supplies used unless noted

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo
Cardstock: Whisper White, same as above ink colors, Aqua blue from my stash (possibly CM shades of Aqua???)
Misc.: Hexagon Punch, 1/8" Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon, Modern Label Punch




Six Sided Sampler



Hexagon Punch




Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon



Quilted Thanks

Aaahhhh.... all is right in my world again.  The rain has returned to my corner of SouthWest Washington.  In truth, I think most of western WA is wet today.  :)  That means I got to play in my craft room!  YAY! 

With my recent return to quilting it only seems fitting that I should choose a "quilty" stamp set.  In all honesty, it was an accident, but it does look like a quilt pattern to me now that it's done. 

For the colors in my card I joined the challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

These are not colors I would normally choose.  Mostly because I don't care for Summer Starfruit, but I stamped off before stamping it on my Whisper White cardstock, and I liked the color much better.  It was nice to be able to use Bashful Blue again before it retires.  That's the biggest reason I chose this color challenge for my design. 

The forecast tomorrow is for sun, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another rainy day in the craft room.  Otherwise I will have to be outside pulling more weeds.  :(  At least the rain will make them easier to pull.  :)

Either way though, I have a video ready to go for tomorrow, so be sure to come back and check it out.  Looking forward to seeing what YOU do with this challenge.  Let me know in the comments below if you decide to enter. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe: (all items SU)
Stamps: Oh, Hello
Ink: Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Real Red, Summer Starfruit
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black
Misc: Basic Black  1/8" Taffeta Ribbon 



Oh, Hello




Basic Black Taffeta



Thanks from the Heart

Now that Christmas is over, it's time for me to make and send thank you cards for those wonderful Christmas gifts.   My only problem is that I am overwhelmed by all the fabulous new goodies I have to create with.   What's a girl to do?  Why, go look for some challenges online and use one or two to make you card.

First up, a sketch challenge.  (Big surprise, eh? I LOVE sketches!)  Try Stampin On Tuesday has a sketch that was perfect for the Thank you sentiment I wanted to stamp.  Don't you love when that happens?


TSOT #99

The scallops were a bit hard to see, so I grabbed my Pool Party ink and sponge, then just sponged the tips of the scallops so that there was some definition.  It's still hard to see in the pictures, so I took a close up to show you what I mean.

This was the easy part.  The hard part was choosing colors, so I went for a color challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Then I went looking through my new paper to find paper that would work.  The More Amore DSP pack was PERFECT! 




HSS #150

How many thank you cards do you need to make this month?  I still have 5 more to make, I think, so come back to see what I come up with.  Hopefully it will inspire you to create your own!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe: (all items from Stampin' UP!)
Stamps: Hearts A Flutter, From My Heart, P.S. I Love You (retired-on Clearance Rack)
Paper: More Amore Specialty DSP, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Basic Black, Primrose Petals, 2011-12 In Color DSP Patterns Stack
Misc.: Scallop Circle Punch, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Scallop Border Punch



Hearts A Flutter Bundle



P.S. I Love You
Clearance Rack WSL




More Amore DSP



From My Heart



Band Thanks

Last week was my son's Spring concert for band.  Here is the card I made for his teacher.  It uses 2 stamps I got just for this card.  One is Rue Des Fleur (not currently available) and the music notes wheel. 

I used 2 different challenges for inspiration for this card. 

The first one is obvious if you saw my masculine grad post last week, Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I have been needing to get in gear and make some masculine cards, so this challenge was just waiting for me.  I've actually made 3 masculine cards this week. 

Second, is this wonderful sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  I really like both of these blogs.  They have great challenges every week.  I'm adding this sketch into my rotation. 

My camera is still acting up.  Sigh.  I know I need a new one, but the new catalog comes out June 1st, and I would rather spend my $$$ on new Stampin' Up goodies.  :)

I tried to fix the lighting on one of my pictures with my computer software.  It did help. 

There is a new button in the new catalog that would be PERFECT on this card.   I don't have it yet though.  I don't even have neutrals buttons.  Sooooooo, I used my punch pack and some itty bitty buttons and made my own button using the same DSP that is the background of this card.

One last view.  I've been hoarding this rich paper, and I'm so glad I finally opened the package and used some of it.  The colors are fabulous for so many occasions, and work well on masculine as well as formal cards.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

For those of you who are friends and family and want to see Mikey playing his trumpet in their recent concert, here is a short video.  Keep in mind this is the Middle School band.  (6th-8th grade)

Mocha Morning DSP

Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch

This is what I used

This is what I planned to use.  :)

Music Notes Standard Wheel

Daring Adventure ~ Mojo 242/HSS119

It's that time of year.  Graduation invitations are pouring in.   This card would be perfect for any grad, but especially for the young men you need to give a card to. 

The inspiration came from this week's fabulous sketch over on the Mojo Monday blog and the challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

Perfect timing for me.  :)  I'll be doing at least one more card for this challenge, and hopefully get it posted in time.

 

Isn't this a wonderful sketch?  I loved the detail of the jagged triangle along that middle strip. 

I don't have a punch like that, so I decided to make my own. Then I filmed a video so you can make it too. :)

In the video I showed you the two options to finish this card.  Which do you like better?  The timepiece or the hodgepodge hardware?  I'm torn.  I like them both. 

Here's a peek at the inside.  This could easily work as a birthday card or Father's Day card.  The Well Word Designer Series paper works nicely for any masculine card or scrapbook page you may want to create.

Now to make a few feminine graduation cards for all the young ladies we know who are graduating.  :)


Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Well Worn DSP

Daring Adventure

Postage Square Punch

Perfectly Penned