Finally Received my October Hero Arts Kit!!

The month is almost over, I've been (not so) patiently waiting for my October My Monthly Hero kit, and it finally arrived this week. Apparently it was lost ....but I am super excited that it finally arrived! I love the vintage style of these stamps, and the included papers are soooo pretty and sparkly. I almost couldn't bring myself to cut into them!

Here is the first card I made with the kit. For a change I made a "long" card measuring approx. 7" x 4.25".

October My Monthly Hero Kit // Distress Markers // Shabby Shutters Distress Ink // Weathered Wood Distress Ink // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Neenah Linen Textured Card Stock



I first stamped the tree from the Hero Arts October My Monthly Hero Kit kit using Shabby Shutters distress ink on Bristol Vellum paper. Next I heat embossed the skaters from the set using Versafine Onyx Ink and clear embossing powder, then used the included dies to cut them out with my Big Shot machine. The star is also included in this kit along with a  matching die. Before adhering the skaters to the card, I inked up the bottom part of the card using Weathered Wood distress ink. Then heat embossed the sentiment and framed the card with the pretty, sparkly paper that's comes with the kit.


In the photo below you can see how the paper sparkles, and I used the irridescent watercolor ink which also comes with this kit to make the "ice" sparkle.

This is what's included in this month's kit.

• 6" x 8" Clear Stamp Set
• 14 Coordinating Frame Cuts
• 1 Paper Layering Tree Die with Frame
• 6 5.5" x 8.5" Sheets of Glitter Paper (Silver, Sea Glass, Twilight)
• Iridescent Star Embellishments
• Iridescent Ink 0.5 fl. oz. (shake well)

This kit is still available at the moment, you can purchase it by clicking HERE.  If you would like to subscribe to the kits and have them auto ship to you every month, you can click here, but just so you know, your subscription will not start with this current kit. If you subscribe by 10/28 then your subscription will start with the November kit. Subscriptions do ship for free (within the US- shipping cost does apply to orders outside the US), and there are options for monthly, 3 months, or 6 months subscriptions.  

I found a lot of challenge to play along in:

A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes 
Crafter's Castle -  Anything Goes + option: Winter/Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes 
Hiding in my Craft Room  - Any Holiday
Colour Crazy Challenge -  Anything Goes
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Daring Cardmakers - Glitter
QKR Stampede  - Anything Goes
Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes 
Cute Card Thursday -Sparkles
Little Miss Muffet Challenges- Always Anything Goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'- Anything Goes Christmas
Crafting By Designs - Vintage
Crafty Creations  - Always Anything Goes 
Creative Moments - Always Anything Goes 
Fab 'n' Funky  - Christmas
Crafty Sentiment Designs  -  Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Always Anything Goes 
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes 
Cards in Envy - Favorite Holiday Card 
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Path of Positivity -Anything Positive with Optional Theme: Shades of Purple
The Corrosive Challenges - Anything Goes

Thank you so much for visiting today, have a great Sunday!!

This post contains some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. The kit featured today as well as all other products have been purchased by me at full price, and all opinions are my own. 

Allsorts 491: Pearls and Gems

A new challenge has started at Allsorts, and this week our theme is Pearls and Gems, picked by Wendy. Wendy is also giving away a wonderful prize, so do come join us for a chance to win!

Penny Black Stickeroo // Hero Arts Special Birthday // Versamark Ink // Gold Embossing Powder // SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds - retired, but available on Ebay // Gold Cord - similar // 

Sticky Rhinestones - similar

This was a really quick card to make....the main image panel and butterflies are from a Penny Black Stickeroo sheet. The birthday sentiment was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed using gold embossing powder. I added some gold cord and then of course the rhinestones to go with our "gems or pearls" theme. Somehow I ended up with an ink smudge, but I decided to use Stampin Up's old set "Itty Bitty Backgrounds" to "cover it up". I also applied some stickles glitter to the random dots.

I find stickeroos are perfect for quick cards, but just in case anyone is interested in them, I wanted to mention that these are not like "card toppers" which traditionally are made from card stock. These are a thin sticker, but work just as card toppers after you stick them to card stock. For example. the butterflies were stuck onto card stock, then I fussy cut around them and adhered to my card with glue dots. You can see more cards made with Stickeroos HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Also joining these challenges:
Creative Knockouts - EmbossingIncy Wincy Designs  - Happy Birthday 
Cute Card Thursday  - Sparkles
Crafty Catz  - Anything Goes
Daring Cardmaker- Glitter

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Fussy and Fancy - Things with Wings

Thank you so much for for visiting today, I hope you have a fantastic weekend!


Some of the products I used are linked to Amazon below, for those of you interested.  Please note, affiliate links were used in this post, meaning I might earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!

Allsorts Challenge 490: Traditional Christmas Colors

Hello and happy Saturday! We're continuting the Christmas theme at Allsorts challenge another week, although this week we're getting a little bit more specific and would like to see "Traditional Christmas Colors", so reds, greens and golds. This week we have a great prize to give away from Swedish House Crafts, so hope to see you joining in for a chance to win!

Penny Black Deck the Halls // Penny Black Christmas Story //  Penny Black Season's Gifts // Zig Clean Color Markers // Zig Detailer // Ribbon by Stampin Up (retired - similar)

The cute kitty hanging off a Christmas tree branch from the Penny Black set  Deck the Halls was heat embossed on Bristol Vellum paper using Versafine Onyx ink and clear embossing powder. It's then been colored with my  Zig Clean Color Markers and fussy cut using Cutterbee scissors. I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment from the Penny Black set Season's Gifts on a piece of square white card stock.
The background was done using Penny Black's background stamp Christmas Story and one of the red distress inks (I think Barn Door). After adding the ribbon (this one by May Arts is similar and comes in a variety of colors), I added my image panel with pop up tape and used white card stock as my card base.

Also sharing with these challenges:
Color My Heart Color Dare - tic tac toe

Simon Says Wednesday - Animal Antics
Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Add Embellishments 
Jingle Belles - Animals 
A Gem of a Challenge - 2 weeks - Anything Goes
Penny Black Saturday Challenge- Anything Goes with PB or Spooky Colors
Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'  Anything Goes Christmas

Creative Moments  - Always Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes 
Lost Coast Designs -Cats and Dogs
Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

And that is all from me for today, thank you so much for visiting!!


Below I have linked to some of the products available on Amazon, for those of you interested. Please note affiliate links were used, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the  links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Hope is Never Lost

Good morning, I am back already today sharing my card for the Penny Black and More midmonth inspiration post. Our theme there this month is "Autumn Splendor" and there is still plenty of time to join us if you haven't already, or maybe you'd like to share a second or third creation...

Penny Black Restful // Penny Black Spotted Winter // Tim Holtz Quotations Stickers // Walnut Stain Distress Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Distress Markers // Tonic Stamp Platform

I  used two Penny Black tree stamps - Restful and Spotted Winter (this one seems to be out of stock, it's an older stamp) - to create this scene. I started out by heat embossing the bare tree using  Walnut Stain  distress ink and heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. Next I inked up the top portion of the wood mounted stamp Spotted Winter using a mix of fall colored  Distress Markers, lightly spritzed with water then stamped repeatedly over the ground to add "fall leaves" to the ground. Then I inked up the whole tree with my markers, spritzt again with water and stamped in the background. Without re-inking I stamped the tree again twice on the background to add more colorful trees. I thought this would make a good encouragement card, and I found a fitting sentiment on Tim Holtz Quotations Stickers. 

I am also sharing my card here:

Stamploration -   Stamps plus Autumn 

Hand Stamped Sentiments - Photo Inspiration 

Stamping Sensations -  Shades of Autumn

Dragonfly Dreams - Autumnal Colors

Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Fall

Addicted to Stamps - Autumn Colors 

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes with PB 

Inkspirational - Word Prompt: Comfort 

Crazy 4 Challenges -  Encouragment Cards 

Pattie's Creations - Autumn

Crafty Calendar - Autumn

Thank you so much for visiting! I hope you're enjoying the rest of the week. I'm still trying to get over this cold and just hope I don't pass it onto the kids!!

Below I have linked to some of the products available on Amazon, for those of you interested. Please note affiliate links were used, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the  links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Midmonth

Happy Wednesday! There is still plenty of time left to join in my Crafty Wednesday challenge if you haven't already, and don't forget you may enter up to 3 times. As a reminder, for October I picked the theme of

Outdoors/Nature,

a pretty open theme I think, so hope to see you playing along. I have moved the linky tool to the end of this post for quick access, but if you would like to see the original October post that includes last month's winner and top picks, as well as this month's prize, you can simply click HERE.

Penny Black Deck the Halls // Penny Black Season's Gifts // Penny Black Woodland Beauty // Distress Ink Tumbled Glass // Zig Clean Color Markers // Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Die Set // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Tonic Stamp Platform

I used my Tonic Stamp Platform to stamp the cute critters from the Penny Black set Deck the Halls (currently available in my Etsy shop for US shipping), using Versafine Ony ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I cut out masks for the hedgehog and mouse using post it notes to keep the animals in the foreground. I did use a hand cut "hills" mask and inked up some hills with the animal masks in place, but after I stamped the trees the hills sort of disappeared. The pine tree stamp is from the Penny Black set Woodland Beauty. I stamped it repeatedly using Tumbled Glass distress ink. While the ink was still wet, I sprinkled some Irridescent Ice glitter (old from Stampin Up) over the ink and heated it up using my heating tool. The critters were colored with Zig Clean Color Markers. Sentiment comes from the Penny Black set Season's Gifts, also heat embossed. I cut it out using a circle die and trimmed two of the edges. The snowflake was done with an old die from Whimsy Stamps, no longer available. Before adhering to my card base I used Avery Elle Wonky Stitches die set to cut out my card front with a stitched design. A little button and May Arts Jute Twine finishes off the card. 

Below I have linked to some of the products available on Amazon, for those of you interested. Please note affiliate links were used, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the  links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Also joining these challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday - Weekly - Animal Antics
Christmas with the Cuties - For a Child
Sunny Day Crafting - Any Animals Always
Art Impressions Stamp Challenge  - Add Embellishments (button, twine, glitter)
C.R.A.F.T.  - Christmas
Crafty Catz - ATGoes / Option No Squares
A Gem of a Challenge -Anything Goes
Crafty Friends Challenge - Use More than one Die (snowflake die and stitched border die)
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
Send a Smile for Kids  ATG for Kids 
2 Crafty Critter Crazies  - Anything Goes with a Critter

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time To Craft - Always Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Always Anything Goes

Happy Craft Challenge  - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Pause Dream Enjoy   Any Cards

If you would like to share your outdoors/nature themed creation, please use the linky tool below. Remember, you may combine with any other challenges! Please be sure to leave a link back here to this blog in your blog post. One lucky winner will win the 2 embossing folders shown on the original October Crafty Wednesday post. 

Thank you so much for visiting and for your interest in my challenge!

Allsorts Challenge 489: Christmas

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge, Susan is our host and she picked the theme of  Christmas.  We have a great prize to give away from StickerYou , and hope to see you joining in for your chance to win!

LOTV Carolers // Penny Black Nature's Gifts // Penny Black Woodland Beauty // Penny Black Christmas Story Background Stamp // Zig Clean Color Markers // Zig Detailer Brush // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Peeled Paint Distres s Ink //  Bristol Vellum Paper //
Whimsy Stamps Postage Stamp Sentiment and Die (no longer available)

This was totally not the card in mind when I started, but one thing led to another and this is what it turned out to be...

I started by heat embossing the cute image on   Bristol Vellum paper, then watercolored with my Zig Clean Color markers.Originally I wanted to create a mountain scene in the background by masking, but thought it would be too complicated to fussy cut a mask for the image. So instead I took the pine needle stamp from the Penny Black set Nature's Gifts and stamped it all around the image. But then I thought there was too much white in the background and I decided to use another stamp from the Nature's Gifts Set. I did end up needing a mask, but it really didn't take long to cut out since these masks don't need to be perfect, and just serve to cover up the image. It's hard to see in the photo, but I also used a pine tree stamp from Penny Black's set Woodland Beauty while I had the mask in place. Still thought it needed something else, and that's when I got out the Penny Black background stamp Christmas Story. I first went with antique linen ink, but I wanted it to show up more, so I used Versafine Onyxink instead.

The little postmark sentiment and die I've had for a long time, it's by Whimsy Stamps but no longer available : (  I added a holly leaf button with some natural jute twine. Framed with Stampin Up's Old Olive card stock then used Neenah Linen textured card stock as my card base. Maybe I need to start thinking about using a darker background with the photo tent I purchased, I feel like it's so hard here to see the edges of the card. Wish it came with a vanilla colored background as well....

When I bought this image it was still available as a single rubber stamp, but there were some changes at the LOTV shop and I thought it wasn't available any longer, as they retired so many of their wonderful stamps.  I did find this stamp as part of their Vintage Christmas set, but it looks like it is currently out of stock.


I am also playing along here:
Christmas with the Cuties - For a Child
Daring Cardmakers - Weekly  – Pets
C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Christmas

The Merry Christmas Challenge - Christmas
 Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'  - Anything Goes Christmas

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz -  Anything Goes
Pause Dream Enjoy   - Any CardsCreative Fingers - Anything Goes

QKR Stampede – Anything Goes 

Crafting With An Attitude - Anything Goes

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes


Thanks so much for visiting! Hope you have a good weekend. It's gotten really chilly over here. Hubby brought a cold virus home from work this week, and as much as I tried to avoid getting sick, I still woke up with a sore throat yesterday and we'll see what today brings.

I've linked to the products available on Amazon for those of you interested. Please note, affiliate links were used, meaning I might earn a small commision if purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!

Penny Black and More October Challenge

Good morning, it's the first Sunday of the month and that means a new challenge has started at Penny Black and More. Our theme for the month of October is Autumn Splendor.

Penny Black Blossom Branch // Penny Black Heartfelt // Distress Markers // Scattered Straw Distress Ink // Rusty Hinge Distress Ink // Versafine Onyx Ink //  Bristol Vellum Paper // Tonic Stamp Platform 

You might remember a very recent card where I used this stamp (Blossom Branch by Penny Black) combined with a fox image, this was the second time I had stamped the image using the same marker coloring without re-inking the stamp. It's another reason why I love these brushstrokes stamps, I get (at least) two stamped impression from one inking. It is a little more watercolor-y than I would have preferred, but didn't really want to throw it away. 

The card was really quick to make, after the stamped image was dry, I inked around the edges using Scattered Straw distress ink and a little bit of  Rusty Hinge distress ink, then took a black ink pad and wiped directly over the edges to give it a darker border. Framed with stampin up's old olive card stock and Neenah linen textured paper was used as a card base. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set Heartfelt. 

If you saw my post yesterday, then you know that I finally purchased a photo tent, and might be wondering why this card still shows the dark shadow on the left. It's because this card was finished and photographed before it arrived. If you have no idea what photo tent I am taking about, you can read about it here, if you like to. 

I am sharing this card with these challenges:

Paper Minutes - Watercolors

Sisterhood of Crafters -  Fall is in the Air

Alphabet Challenge - N is for Nature

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Catch The Bug  -  Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges -  Any Card

Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams - Autumnal Colors

Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Fall

Addicted to Stamps  - Autumn Colors

Thanks so much for visiting, and hope to see you over at the Penny Black and More challenge blog. We have some fantastic prizes to give away again this month from Penny Black, Chocolate Baroque and Fantastic Ribbons. 

This post contains some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you.