So Sweet of You

Last week I made card using an old sketch challenge.  Lately I have been loving almost anything with aqua in it and this pack with pinks, aquas, blues and greens is no exception.  The colors are so soft and pretty, don't you think?  I wanted to make a card just to showcase the pretty paper.

I stamped the sentiment directly onto the patterned paper with Lost Lagoon ink, and added flowers and rhinestones to really draw the eye to that part of the card.  At first the flowers were lost against the paper so I softly inked them to make them stand apart from the background. 

Stamping Supplies

Stamps: Hello There (SU-Hostess)
Paper: Sweet Life 6x6 Bundle (MF), Lost Lagoon (SU)

Ink: Lost Lagoon, Rose Red

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones (SU), Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Framelits (SU)

Hello There ~ Hostess

Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack

Pssst.... You Make Me Happy

This card was made soon after Christmas when I was playing with my new Copic markers.  

I'm still fairly new to Copics so I tend to stamp my images 2 or 3 times and practice coloring.  Then I choose the best one for the front of my card.  This time I used one of the other flowers for the inside.

As you can see below, I actually used all 3 colored flowers on my card.  :)  I cut out and popped up one of them, then layered it on top of another stamped flower.

Be sure to come back tomorrow.  I have TWO exciting blog posts scheduled for you.  ;)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  Don't forget Sale-A-Bration (SAB) is going on right now.  For every $50 you spend on Stampin' UP! product  you can get 1 Free SAB item!

Stamps: Happy Watercolor
Ink: R85 - RV29 - RV59 (Copics), Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana,
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Fresh Prints DSP Stack
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

Happy Watercolor

Fresh Prints DSP Stack

Tags for Christmas

Have you ever been wrapping presents late at night and run out of tags?  I have a solution for that.  In the video below I have given you several different EASY ideas to make your own quick tags for Christmas or any other time of year.  :)

Note: If you are viewing in a reader or your email you may need to go to my blog to view the video.  Click on the post title above (Tags for Christmas) and it should take you directly to this post.

Try using different colors of cardstock or ink for each person on Christmas morning.

You can use patterned paper for your tags.  If you paper is a bit too busy punch out a smaller shape in solid cardstock and write the name on the solid cardstock.

Want to get really fancy?  Check out the beautiful tag one of  my StampNation Sistah's, Julz, sent me from her home in New Zealand!!!  I love it!!!!   Believe me, I'll be saving that tag when I open the present.

Hopefully your presents are all wrapped, tagged and under the tree, but if they aren't these ideas should make part of your job a little easier.

Merry Christmas!
Heather North

Modern Merry Monday

My Stampin' UP! Christmas order came in last week, and I have been having fun with these winter/Christmas stamps.  I've even found myself singing Christmas carols.  :)  This stamp set almost didn't make the cut.  I only bought it for the sentiment, which I didn't use on this card.  When my order came though, this was the first stamp I pulled out.  :D  Funny how that works.

It's hard to capture the sparkle on this card.  I used glimmer paper, iridescent ice and my Illuminate ink pad.  It shimmers in person.

Lately I've been a bit obsessed with aqua and red.  I never used to like that color combo, but now I LOVE it.  Go figure?!  Dynamic Duos is using that color combo in their challenge this week.  If you like it as much as I do, you should check out everyone's samples.  It's like happiness in a blog post.  :)



DD#77


The color I used is Coastal Cabana instead of Bermuda Bay, but that is just a bit lighter shade of the same color.  I think it still works.  :)  See the bit of glimmer paper poking out behind the "Holly Jolly" tag.  Read the tag and try not to sing the song.  I dare you!

The second challenge I am entering is for Merry Monday.  It's a fabulous challenge to get your Christmas mojo flowing.  Unfortunately I couldn't really focus on Christmas cards until it got cold outside and Halloween was past.  Now it seems easy to make Christmas cards and I'm looking forward to entering more of their challenges.  I might even go back and do some of their previous challenges.




Merry Monday #82

Isn't that inspiration photo yummy?  They asked for circles.  When working with winter cards circles always makes me think of snowmen and snowflakes.  My card has both!

 

Have I inspired you to pull out your Christmas stamps yet?  No worries if I haven't.  This color combo and even the inspiration photo can be used any time of year.  Trust me.  I've been using it since Spring and it still works.  ;)

One of the things I love about this card is that the snowman is looking up into the sky with his arms outstretched to catch some snowflakes. 

 

 

What challenge will I enter next?  I still have a box full of stamps and supplies so it's going to be an inky, glittery week for me.  :)  If I keep up with all these fabulous challenges I just might get my Christmas cards made before December. 

 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

 

Card Recipe
Stamps: Snowy Day, Tags 4 You

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Basic Black, Illuminate Glimmer Pad, Real Red, Versamark

Paper: Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White

Accessories: Iridescent Ice EP, Bracket Label Punch

 



Snowy Day



 



Tags 4 You



 

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

Purple Butterflies

Every week I check out challenges on the web and "plan" to do them, but most weeks I am lucky if I get one done in time to enter.  Today I have 2! 

Dynamic Duos is one of the few color challenges that I rarely struggle with.  Perhaps because it is just two colors and a neutral.  When I saw that they were doing 2 shades of purple this week I knew I had to join in the fun!


Dynamic Duos

The butterflies from SU Papillion Potpourri were stamped in Perfect Plum, then layered with a smaller butterfly punched out of Perfect Plum cardstock.  The script in the background as well as the mat is in Wisteria Wonder.  Don't you just love my new stamp?   The card needed a little bling so I added strips of silver glimmer paper behind the butterflies and two rhinestones to the center of each of purple butterfly.

The second piece of inspiration comes from Unscripted Sketches.  You know how I love sketches.  This one looked challenging to me at first, but when I started to think about all the shapes/punches I could use in place of the circles the ideas started flowing.  In fact, I am thinking about a few other cards I can adapt this sketch for.



Unscripted Sketches

What challenges inspire you?  If either of these spark your interest give them a try.  There is still time to enter both of them.  I would love to see what you come up with.



Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: Defining Words (Wplus9), Papillion Potpourri
Ink: Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder
Paper: Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch

 

 

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



World Card Making Day for USA ~ Video & Prizes

In case you are just opening my blog for the first time today, let me fill you in.  :)  Today is World Card Making Day... a day dedicated to making cards.  As part of the fun I am participating in 2 blog hops.

First: Operation Write Home (OWH) Click HERE to go to that post.

Second: StampNation Design Team Blog Hop.  Click HERE to go to that post.

So with these two wonderful posts and the hop along to see many others, why am I posting a third time?  The answer is a Video and a Giveaway.  ;) 

Everyone who leaves a comment on this post and follows my blog will be entered to win a set of card kits for some of the cards I've made for WCMD.  I'll be showing the cards and videos for these cards all week long so check back often. 

The first video (and kit) is for the card  I made for both the USA challenge on StampNation and OWH sketch card.    The kit for this card will include the paper, ribbons, sponge wedge and a sample of gold embossing powder, as well as a copy of the OWH Sketch #163.

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

Here's a closeup so you can see the sponging and embossing a bit better.

Good luck!  I'm excited to be able to send out my 4 kits to 2 lucky winners.  One for comments on this post and another for comments on my SN Blog Hop post.  Yeppers, two chances to win!

*Please Note:  Comments will close on Thursday, October 10th at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Winners will be announced on Friday, October 11th. You must respond with an email by Friday, October 18th to receive your kits if you are chosen as winner.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  If you are looking for Sew Saturday and the progress on Tyler's quilt come back tomorrow.  I'll have it up for you then.  :)

P.P.S:
Day 2: Clicky
Day 3: Clicky
Day 4: Clicky
Bonus: Coming soon.  :)


Stamps: Magnificent Maple, Another Thank You
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Witches Brew DSP
Accessories: Baked Brown Sugar Ruffle Stretch Ribbon, Burlap Ribbon, Gold Embossing Powder, Petite Curly Label Punch, Woodgrain Embossing Folder  


Burlap Ribbon



Magnificent Maple



Woodgrain Embossing Folder



World Card Making Day for Operation Write Home

Today is World Card Making Day (WCMD)and I plan to have lots of cards to share with you.  Most of the cards I am making today are going to be shipped out to OWH, so I am starting the day with the OWH challenge.

The challenge is to make a thank you card using one of Operation Write Home's sketches.  You know how I love sketches, so here it is.  Card #1 for WCMD!

It's based on Sketch #163



I'll have a video up in another post along with a giveaway for a card kit to make this card later today.  Click HERE to go there now.  Enjoy your hop and then go make a card for our heroes!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:
(All items Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted.)

Stamps: Magnificent Maple, Another Thank You
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Witches Brew DSP
Accessories: Baked Brown Sugar Ruffle Stretch Ribbon, Burlap Ribbon, Gold Embossing Powder, Petite Curly Label Punch, Woodgrain Embossing Folder

Masculine Monday

Last Friday I was in need of a quick card for a 5th grade boy's birthday.  I was looking at my friend, Kristie's, blog, of Kreative Kristie fame, and was instantly inspired. 



At first I thought about dusting off the Cricut and clearing off the space in front of it so I could make a star like she had on her card, but I was short on time.  Instead I used the stamped image I had on my table from the Great Sport stamp set and colored in the stars with a Daffodil Delight marker.  The piece was already cut out using my Labels Framelits, and sponged.  (this is why I don't clean my stamp space, you never know when inspiration will hit!)  Then I stamped Happy Birthday from the Blue Ribbon stamp set. 

It appears I used just about every "masculine" stamp set I own.  :D  Next I stamped one of the Gorgeous Grunge stamps with Smoky Slate ink and then stamped Celebrate, from Seasonal Sayings, on top of it with Pacific Point ink.

How many stamp sets did I use?  5? I was thinking this was a clean and simple card, but now I'm wondering if it was.  :)  The boy that my son gave this to actually thanked me for my card when I picked him up from the birthday party.  Isn't that sweet?

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

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