Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - March Challenge Reminder

Happy Wednesday! Today I am sharing another card I made for my Crafty Wednesday Challenge here in my blog where the themes are:

 "Think Spring" or "Add Some Green"
(or a comination of the two!) 

If you are here to join in, the linky tool can be found at the end of this post. 

Last Saturday it's been raining all day long, and I decided to get out some of my Lavinia stamps. I really wanted to make a canvas print inspired by Brenda's beautiful Allsorts challenge creation, but that didn't turn out as I had planned, so I made this instead using Bristol Vellum as a base.

All stamps I used on this creation are from Lavinia Stamps. 

All colored inks are Distress Inks or Distress Oxides.

Black ink is Versafine Clair Nocturne. 

I did some masking and inking here using distress inks and oxides. For the sky I used Antique Linen, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves and Blueprint Sketch distress inks/oxides (in that order). The grass area was done with Bundled Sage distress oxide. All background stamping was done with Iced Spruce distress oxide. The black silhouettes were stamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. I don't really like how the distress oxide ink shows through the Versafine clair ink, may need to try stamping the silhouettes with black distress oxide ink, but I don't have that ink pad yet .... Heat embossing really only works if I stamp the fairy first but somehow I always start these card with the background because I don't usually know where I want the silhouettes until the background is done. Any advise is always welcome!!

I  have edited my post to add: some of you may have already seen this, but if not - Scrapbook.com is offering THIS FREE STAMP SET to anyone using coupon code FREE3762 at checkout. This will take the $10.00 price to $0.00. Promo shipping of $2.24 does apply, this is within the US, I am not sure what the promo shipping cost would be outside the US. (Be sure to click on "change shipping" at checkout to select the Promo shipping.) This offer is still valid today 3/13 but I have no idea when it ends. (I just ordered mine!) This is what the set looks like:

I am also entering my card with these challenges:
Make My Monday - Somehting New - I used new to me stamps // Simon Says Stamp Monday - Girly/Feminine // Catch The Bug - Make a Scene // The Fairy and The Unicorn - something Magical // Mix It Up Challenge - Inked Backgrounds // Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Make it Girly
Anything Goes Themes:
Dare 2B Artzy Challenges // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // Artistic Inspirations // Crafting from the Heart // Get Creative Challenges  // Path of Positivity // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // Crafter's Castle // The Corrosive Challenges
Crafting-With-Friends // QKR Stampede

If you would like to join in this month's Crafty Wednesday challenge, or if you'd like to enter a 2nd or 3rd creation, simply use the linky tool below. As a reminder, this month's prize is a $6 gift certificate to Tiddly Inks or Bugaboo (winner's choice), sponsored by me.

Please remember: this is a public blog, meaning any papercraft you link up or any comments left on this blog will be visible and clickable by third parties. The blog owner is not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without permission. 

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. Thanks for your support!

Cowboy Adventures and New Hero Arts March Kit Release

Hello and happy Monday! I don't usually have three days of posts in a row, but last Friday I had some extra time and decided to make a card with the other stamp set I ordered from Hero Arts. Also, today Hero Arts is releasing their new monthly kit and you can see what it looks like at the end of this post.

I ordered this set (Cowboy Adventure) because I thought it would be great for masculine cards, and I really don't have many masculine stamps, although I do have a couple older single cowboy stamps, and this set is great for stamping scenes which I really want to get better at.

Hero Arts Cowboy Adventure

Distress Inks & Oxide: 

  Anique Linen // Victorian Velvet // Seedless Preserves // Faded Jeans // Bundled Sage // Vintage Photo  

Versafine Clair Ink Nocturne

Ranger Ink Blending Tool

Tonic Stamp Platform

I started out by covering the bottom 3rd of my card stockwith a post-it note, then using distress inks/oxides I inked up the rest of the card, starting with  Anique Linen ink, then Victorian Velvet ink. Next I started at the other end with Faded Jeans ink and following with Seedless Preserves ink until it met with the Victorian Velvet ink. I added more of the same colors over each color to blend. Next I removed the post it note and added Bundled Sage Oxide in to the bottom portion and used a torn post it note for some masking with more  bundled sage ink and an ink applicator tool. I decided everything was a little too bright, so I went over the whole card with Vintage Photo   distress ink and a blending tool, to deepen the colors. Next I stamped the plants, cowboy and dog and the horizontal line that is part of the set. The small dots you can see on parts of the image panel were done with Stampin Up's retired set Itty Bitty Backgrounds (can most likely be found on ebay). Sentiment is part of the set, stamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink onto white card stock. I added some hemp twine and brad and layered the inked panel onto some pattern paper from my scraps.

The stamp set is also available as a combo with matching dies - Cowboy Adventures and Die Set, but I got the set without the dies.

Challenges I am sharing with:
The Male Room - Masculine
Make My Monday - something new (stamp set is brand new to me)
Alphabet Challenge - Twine
Brown Sugar - Transportation
Addicted to Stamps - Anything But a Square
Di's Digis Designs - Include an Animal
Crafteezee - Vintage
Crafty Animals - Animals
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Pattern Papers
Mix It Up Challenge - Inked Backgrounds
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Animals
Crafting By Designs - Silhouettes

Anything Goes themes:
Simon Says Wednesday // Dare 2B Artzy Challenges // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // The Corrosive Challenges // We Love 2 Create // A Gem of a Challenge // Catch The Bug // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Crafts Galore Encore // Creatalicious Challenges // Happy Craft Challenge // Love to Craft // Not Just Cards // The Creative Crafters // Crafting-With-Friends // Creative Fingers // Crafting With An Attitude // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // The Crafty Addicts // Word Art Wednesdays 

As I mentioned above, today Hero Arts is also releasing their March My Monthly Hero kit. I am a kit subscriber so my kit will be shipped automatically, but it can now also be ordered from the Hero Arts site.

Here is what this month's kit looks like:


The large aquarium die looks like so much fun! I might actually try making a shaker card with it (I've only made a couple of those, many many years ago following a technique challenge on splitcoast when I filled it with chunky glitter and the other one with sand.

You can purchase a kit here if you are interested. And remember, Hero Arts does ship free within the United States with a $50 or more order.
Some wonderful Add-ons  have been released as well, you can actually purchase all Add-ons (not including the kit) in a set at a reduced price of $215.00. (Not in my budget unfortunately!) But of course they can also be purchased separately here.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Hope it's a great one. Super cold and windy here today but at least there is plenty of sunshine!


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. All products used in today's post have been purchased by me at full retail cost and all opinions are my own.

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!

Allsorts 482: Music

Happy weekend and thank you for visiting today! It's Saturday so that means we have a new theme at Allsorts challenge, and we are back to our regular - weekly schedule.

This week Wendy picked the fun theme of "Music" and hopefully you'll come play along with us for a chance to win the wonderful prize that's up for grabs this week!

Born to Perform Stamp Set // Sheet Music Stamp (old) - Similar // Seedless Preserves Ink //  Peacock Feathers Ink // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Tonic Stamp Platform //

  Bristol Vellum Paper

I purchased the ballerina stamp set a few months ago, but haven't had a chance yet to ink it up. This challenge was the perfect opportunity to finally use it. By the way, Scrapbook.com now carries a good amount of the Visible Image stamp line, it's where I purchased mine. Shipping was fast and reasonably priced.

I started out by creating a  watercolor background using distress inks (I used Seedless Preserves and Peacock Feathers Ink). I simply stamped the ink pad on my craft mat, spritzed with water and patted my card stock (I used Bristol Vellum Paper) onto the mat. Let dry and then did the next color. The ballerina was then heat embossed using Versafine Onyx ink and clear embossing powder. As usually with clear or unmounted stamps I used the Tonic Stamp Platform which is very helpful in getting a good impression. If you look really closely, you can see a purple shimmer on the tutu. After heat embossing I  rubbed some Perfect Pearls powder over the tutu. The music background was done with an old stamp by Hero Arts, this stamp would be a similar option. I didn't plan on stamping the music notes with green ink, I went for the same blue/turquoise ink I used for the watercolor background, but apparently I didn't clean off my stamp last time I used it (does anyone else do this??) so it turned out to be green. But I actually like the extra color even though it wasn't planned that way. Next I stamped the words and stars which are also part of the set by Visible Image.
The hearts are from a stamp set by Stampers Anonymous.

My card also fits these challenges:

• Cute Card Thursday - Just for Girls
• We Love 2 Create  - Creative/Mixed Media 
• Dream Factory - Save the Last Dance
• Sparkles Forum Challenges - Stamp your own Background
• Everybody-Art-Challenge - Use a Stamp
• Aud Sentiments Challenge - Use a Sentiment 

And I found A LOT of Anything Goes challenges:

• Craft Rocket Challenges  - Anything Goes this month
• Pattie's Creations- ATGoes this month
• Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Anything Goes
• heARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes
• Little Miss Muffet Challenges - Always Anything Goes
• Crafting By Designs   - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations  - Always Anything Goes 
• Creative Moments  - Always Anything Goes 
• Lemon Shortbread - Always Anything Goes 
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time To Craft - Always Anything Goes
• Artistic Stampers  - Anything Goes
• Classic Design Team Open Challenge - Anything Goes 
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Daisy Chain Challenges - Anything Goes

As Always, we'd love to have you joining us at Allsorts challenge. To link up or to see what the rest of the team made, simply visit the challenge blog. One lucky winner will receive a fun prize package of Tattered Lace dies.

Thanks so much again for stopping by, I hope you're having a great weekend! School started here this week, so we are ready for it :)

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!  

Are you interested in some free papercrafting classes? Click the logo below to see the list of free classes available at Scrapbook.com!

Allsorts 480/481: From Boys to Men

Good morning! Happy Saturday! It's time for a new theme at Allsorts challenge ... this week our theme is "From Boys to Men". We have a fabulous prize to give away by Marianne Design, so do come and play along for a chance to win. Remember, our challenges are still running for 2 weeks, do give everyone a little extra time to play along!

 Masculine cards are never easy for  me, but I had fun with this one creating this Western scene.

Cowboy Silhouette Stamp // Enjoy Life Stamp Set // Antique Linen Ink // Tea Dye Ink // Weathered Wood Ink // Shabby Shutters Ink // Ink Blending Tool // TH Sticker Quotes

I am so not good with scenery type cards, but I love them and want to get better at it. I started out by tearing some printer paper to create masks. I kept the masks in place on my white card front with painters tape while inking. After the inking was complete I stamped the Cowboy Silhouette image using Versafine Onyx ink. I wanted some sort of grass in  the foreground so Penny Black's set  Enjoy Life was perfect for this. The edges of my inked panel were wiped with the black ink pad as well to create a little bit of  a black border. Next I punched out the circle using kraft card stock, added a strip of striped paper and finished off with a sticky sentiment from Tim Holtz Sticker Quotes set. Some May Arts Jute twinecompletes the card front. I framed with kraft card stock then mounted onto a Neenah linen textured  card base. 

Also sharing my card here:

Cards in Envy -  Something New (the cowboy stamp is new to me)

Shopping Our Stash - Silhouettes (everything besides the silhouette stamp is old stuff from my stash)

Stinkin' Inkers -  Steamed Heat (anything Summer related)

Tuesday Throwdown  - Anything Goes this week

Pause Dream Enjoy - ATGoes this week

Sunny Day Crafting -  Any Animals Always

Craft Rocket Challenges - Anything Goes this week

Moving along with the Times  - For the Boys 

Pattie's Creations -- ATGoes this month

Catch The Bug  - Anything Goes 

Crafty Calendar  - Dots and/ or Stripes (stripes)

We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes 

Thanks so much for visiting!!
This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 

Midmonth Reminder at Penny Black and More

Happy Monday :) It's the 18th of the month so that means it's time for the Midmonth reminder post at Penny Black and More. Still time to join us if you haven't already or if you'd like to play along again - remember you can enter up to 3 times. 

I'm sharing a winter scenery card today. I am really loving all the cards made with silhouette stamps, but I am struggling so much with them!!! It took me what seemed like forever to come up with this. And I am not even 100% happy with it. I tend to overthink everything and that's what I did  here too.

All stamps are by Penny Black from the sets Woodland Beauty, Spread Cheer and Season's Gifts for the sentiment.  I made a hill mask by simply cutting printer paper in shape of a hill and then inked with distress ink as I moved the mask around. It all sounds so easy, no idea why I am struggling with these cards so much!! I guess it just means I need to practice more with silhouette stamps, because I do love scenic cards. 

We have some wonderful prizes lined up this month
 from Penny Black, Swedish House Crafts and Tattered Lace, so lots of chances to win!!

Thanks so much for visiting!