A New Stamp Kit

So I recently decided to subscribe to the Hero Arts "My Monthly Hero" stamp kit. It's my first time ever subscribing to a stamp kit and my September kit arrived this weekend! I wasn't sure what the kit would look like when I subscribed, but I thought it might be fall themed and I have to say I am LOVING it!

This is what the September kit looks like.

Aren't the stamps just beautiful!! And I'm loving the leafy oval die!

I spent some time this weekend playing with my new goodies, and here are 2 cards I made so far.

The first one uses only stamps from this kit.

Hero Arts MMH September Kit // Fabriano Pre-Folded Watercolor Paper // Versafine Onyx Ink // Ranger Clear Embossing Powder // Ranger White Embossing Powder // Versamark Ink // Tumbled Glass Distress Ink // Black Card Stock by Stampin Up // Piercing Kit by Stampin Up (retired)

I first heat embossed the vase using my Versafine Onyx ink pad and clear embossing powder. Then I stamped and heat embossed the floral stem from the Hero Arts September kit (with a post it note covering the vase).  I used the Daniel Smith watercolors and the little brushes that came with the kit to paint the image.  I wanted to add a little color to the background, so I cut out the shape of the floral branch and vase using the dies from the kit and I placed them over the image as a mask.

I splashed some Tumbled Glass Distress Ink onto the background by making a little puddle on my craft mat using the ink spritzed with water and then patted the card stock onto the mat. 

The sentiment is part of the stamp kit, this time I used Versamark Ink and white embossing powder for stamping and heat embossing on black card stock. Stamped, colored and cut out the leave and added it to the card with a glue dot. The paper piercing was done with an old piercing kit by Stampin Up. 

I am sharing this card here:

Little Red Wagon - CAS or One Layer

Simon Says Wednesday - Stamp on it

 If You Gave A Crafter A Cookie... - ATGoes this time

CAS on Friday –  Flowers 

Crafty Catz -  ATGoes or Add a Butterfly

Crafty Friends Challenge - embossing (wet or dry)

Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

heARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafter's Castle - Anything Goes + option: Fall

Di's Digis Designs - Happy Fall Y'All

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes 

A Bit More Time to Craft  - Anything Goes

Fabrika Fantasy - Autumn

The Creative Crafters - Anything Goes 

For my next card I only used the leafy oval frame from the My Monthly Hero stamp kit.  Love how it frames my cute Penny Black. 

Penny Black Sweet You // Hero Arts MMH September Kit // Distress Inks: Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Aged Mahogany //  Bristol Vellum Paper // Versafine Onyx Ink // Ranger Clear Embossing Powder //  Zig Clean Color Markers //  Zig Detailer Brush //  Scotch ATG Glue Gun

I started out by die cutting the leafy oval shape from September Hero Arts kit with my Big Shot machine on white card stock. I then used some distress inks to ink up the die cut (Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany were used). The cute image from the Penny Black set Sweet You and was stamped on Bristol Vellum Paper. I used a mix of Daniel Smith colors from the  September kit and a couple of Zig Clean Color Markers  for the skin tones. Would you believe I forgot (again!) to color the quills part of the hedgehog - I usually leave his tummy white - and just now as I type this I am noticing. Guess I can always color them later :-)

The bottom portion of the image panel was inked with shabby shutters distress ink to give it some color. Layered the leafy oval die cut over the image panel, then added the sentiment which is part of the stamp kit. A little May Arts jute twine finish off the card. 

I am sharing this card here:

Stinkin' Inkers - Leaves are Falling

Paper Shelter Challenge - Make it Bloom

Sunny Day Crafting - Any Animals Always

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Alphabet Challenge -  L is for Leaves (3rd entry)

Brown Sugar –  All Creatures Great and Small

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes with PB

Send a Smile for Kids -Kids Halloween or ATG for Kids

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes with a Critter

A Perfect Time To Craft - Always Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Always Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas - Yellow

Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes
Cutie Pie Challenge - Shades of Autumn

Below is a little more info in case anyone is interested in this kit. The September kit is now available for purchase while supplies last. 

If  you'd like to sign up for a subscription box and receive a kit monthly, your subscrition will start with the October kit (last year's October kit was Christmas themed!) But there is no way knowing yet what the October stamp kit this year will look like!

There are options for monthly subscrition, 3-months or 6 months subscriptions. I am signed up for the monthly subscription,  with this option you can cancel anytime before the 15th of the month if you no longer want to receive the kit, otherwise the kit will auto ship at release time. At this time you will have the the option of adding any additional stamps from that month's release and everything ships free with the kit (within the US). 

There were some beautiful additional sets released this month, but I didn't get any extras. Hero Arts does ship their kits an add-ons internationally as well, but shipping charges apply. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you're having a fabulous day! I woke up with neck pain today so I need to get my heating pad out. And hopefully I'll get some relief before my Pilates class, can't skip that today - I skipped too many over the summer!

This post contains 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 484: Bears

Good morning and happy Saturday! Hope your weekend is off to a great start! We've had A LOT of rain with flooding these last few days, funny how I had just mentioned a heat wave in my last post, but that's how quickly weather changes sometimes here in Illinois...it does look like we'll be back to sunshine and warm weather again next week :)

It's time for another fun theme at Allsorts challenge and this week Kath picked the theme of

"Bears - Any Type of Bears". 

It's been a while since I used a bear stamp, and had lots of fun looking through my stamps to pick the one I wanted to use for today. Did you know ... my very first stamp was actually a teddy bear stamp by PSX :-) And while I don't have that stamp anymore, I still have the first card I ever made with it, because I had made it for my husband many many years ago!


For today's card I used a rubber stamp by Lili of the Valley. Unfortunately this stamp is no longer available.

LOTV stamp (old, sorry no link) // Sweet Wishes by Penny Black // Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Die // Zig Clean Color Markers // Zig Detailer Brush // Bristol Vellum Paper // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Scotch ATG Glue Gun // Neenah Linen Cardstock

I heat embossed the image on Bristol Vellum Paper using Versafine Onyx Ink and clear embossing powder. Coloring was done with Zig Clean Color markers and my Zig Detailer brush. As you can see the card is CAS. I just added a small strip of patterned paper from my stash, heat embossed the image and finished off with a polka dotted bow. The card front was cut out using Avery Elle's Wonky Stitches Die and then mounted on a white Neenah Linen Cardstock base. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set  Sweet Wishes, also heat embossed.

A little close up ...

Isn't this bear the cutest!!! I don't know why stamp companies decide to retire things, especially when they are this cute, but I guess they need to make room for new things...although I feel like LOTV retired too many of their designs!!

I know my coloring is pretty simple, but as much as I enjoy sitting there and spending time coloring, I just don't have the time for a long coloring session which is the reason why I love these Zig markers. I'm pretty sure this image was colored in about 10 minutes or less.

We would LOVE for you to join us this week at Allsorts challenge! This week we have this cute stamp by Penny Black to give away to one very lucky participant!

My card also fits these challenges:
The Paper Girls

Stamping Sensations - Something beginning with "B" (Bear, Blossoms, Bow, Bird and Bricks)
Little Red Wagon - CAS or One Layer
Simon Says Wednesday - Stamp on it
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Stamp it On
Sisterhood of Crafters -  Blooming Flowers
Alphabet Challenge -  L is for Leaves
Brown Sugar – All Creatures Great and Small
Sunny Day Crafting  - Any Animal
Simply Create Too - Stitching: Real or Faux
CAS on Friday – Flowers
Crafting with Dragonflies - Spring has Sprung (little bear just woke up from a long winter's nap :)
Send a Smile for Kids - Anything Goes for Kids 
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
 If You Gave A Crafter A Cookie... - Anything Goes this time 
Crafty Catz -  Anything Goes 
Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

I am linking to some of the products I used today available at Amazon.com for those of you interested. Please note these are affiliated links, meaning I may earn a small commision if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you!



Thank you so much for visiting!

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - September Challenge

Hello and welcome to a new month of Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday! It's September, and fitting for this time of the year I selected the theme of 

"Signs of Autumn".

It's not technically Fall yet and we're currently having a little bit of a heat wave, but you can tell the seasons are changing. The squirrels in my backyard are busy gathering acorns and tearing up my old outdoor seat cushion to build a warmer nest :-) My small plum tree that I planted last year has already lost all of its leaves, but that's probably because of the japanese beetle infestation we've had again this Summer.

Back to the challenge theme.....this can be autumn leaves, fall flowers, fall colors, harvesting, pumpkins, maybe an Autumn sunset, Halloween.....lots of choices here and I can't wait to see what YOU will share this month!

Penny Black Grateful // Penny Black Heartfelt // Whimsy Basic Backgrounds (retired) //  Versafine Onyx Ink // Mustard Seed Ink // Wild Honey Ink // Mowed Lawn Ink // Zig Clean Color Markers // Cutterbee Scissors // Jute Twine 

Last month I made this card using the same set I used today, and this background was done at that same time with the same inks using Loll's Splash Watercolor technique. That's why I enjoy this technique so much, it gives me the opportunity to make more than one unique background at the same time and I can use it later.

The leaves and acorns stamp was heat embossed on Bristol Vellum paper  then colored using my Zig Clean Color Markers and I used my cutterbee scissors to cut it out. Before adding the fussy cut image, I stamped the wheat image from the same set using Wild Honey Ink over the watercolor background. The image was attached with pop up glue dots. The words border is an old stamp by Whimsy Stamps and no longer available, but any type of "script" stamp can be used, or even single stamps repeatedly stamped to form a border.
I added some old Stampin Up gingham ribbon and a little bit of Jute Twine to finish off the card. The green card base is by Stampin Up.

Also sharing my card here:
Stinkin' Inkers - Leaves are Falling
Crafty Sentiment Designs -  Anything Goes

Crafter's Castle -  Fall / Halloween

Creative Craft Cottage Challenges - No patterned paper

Fabrika Fantasy - Autumn

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour September - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Stamp it On 
Cardz 4 Galz - Beautiful Backgrounds 
Moving along with the Times  Gingham and/or Buttons (Gingham ribbon used) 
Alphabet Challenge - L is for Leaves  
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes 
Crazy 4 Challenges - Use any Technique (I used Splash Watercolor technique)
Penny Black Saturday Challenge- Anything Goes with PB or sketch
Dragonfly Dreams  - Anything Goes
heARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes 
We Love 2 Create  - 2weeks  - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes 


Below are some of the products I used as found on Amazon for those of you interested. Remember - most products quality for free shipping with an order of $25 or more within the US.

And now it's time to announce the August prize winner................

That is Dar from Dar's Crafty Creations.

Congratulations, please email me at ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com by September 19th to claim your prize.

The linky tool for the September challenge is below, to play along simply link your "Signs of Autumn" creation below. 

This is the September prize - a wood mounted PennyBlack leafy border stamp from my prize box.

 

Please remember to follow these simple rules:

• You Must follow the theme 
•  You must leave a link back here in your blog post 
•  No more than 3 entries please 
•  You may combine with any other challenge
• 
  

Thank you so much for visiting and happy stamping!!!

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!  

Penny Black and More September Challenge

Good morning, it's the first Sunday of the new month and that means we have a new theme at Penny Black and More challenge. This month we want to see feminine creations, and hope you'll join us for a chance to win one of the fantastic prizes we're giving away from our wonderful sponsors!

Penny Black ...Cupcake // Penny Black Friendship // Bristol Vellum Paper // Versafine Onyx // Clear Embossing Powder // White Embossing Powder // Versamark Ink // Zig Clean Color // Zig Detailer Brush // Neenah Linen // Natural Jute Twine // Wink of Stella

I made a simple card for today. The Cupcake fairy was heat embossed on Bristol Vellum paper and she's been colored with Zig Clean Color watercolor markers and a Zig Detailer waterbrush. The sentiment from the set  Friendship was also heat embossed, this time with white embossing powder on black card stock. Patterned paper is by DCWV, I've had for a really long time, I think it's from the Birthday Stack, and I added a pink button with some jute twine as an embellishment. A wink of stella glitter brush was used to add some sparkle to the cupcake, tutu, fairy wings and tiara. The card base is Neenah linen textured card stock.

Below are some of the product links as found on Amazon for those of you interested.

I am also joining these challenges:
Brown Sugar – Fairies and Fantasies
The Paper Girls -  Summer Sweet Treats
Tuesday Throwdown  - Splatter it
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks -  Anything Goes this week
Cute Card Thursday  - Magical
Moving along with the Times - Gingham and/or Buttons
Penny Black Saturday Challenge -  ATGoes with PB Products
Send a Smile for Kids - Anything Goes for Kids
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Just Us Girls - Word Week: Celebrate
Crafter's Castle - Anything Goes 

The Fairy and The Unicorn - Mythical and Mystical Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft  - Anything Goes

Classic Design Team Open Challenge - Always Anything Goes 

Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes with Patterned Paper


Thanks so much for visiting! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!! Hope it's a sunny one :)

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!  

Allsorts 483: Things with Wings

I have been wanting to purchase some Lavinia stamps for a loooong time, and finally decided on which ones to get first a few months ago (it was not easy because I pretty much have all of their stamps on my wish list but I had to keep the order under $100). Well, it took me another few months to finally ink them up. I know that sounds crazy ... but these types of cards are just out of my comfort zone so I kept putting it off. But, you know how it is, you can't get better at something if you're not trying it, and today's theme at Allsorts challenge was the perfect opportunity to finally ink up this gorgeous fairy.

 Our theme this week is "Things with Wings".

Tree Goddess Luna // Willow Leaf // Wild Poppies // Spiral of Spells // Stamp Platform // Stormy Sky Ink // Faded Jeans Ink // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Bristol Vellum Paper

I used a large circle die cut to mask the "moon" and then inked the card stock with Stormy Sky and Faded Jeans distress inks and then removed the mask. Next I stamped the image with the help of my Tonic Stamp Platform using Versafine Onyx Ink and heat embossed with clear powder. The "spiral of spells" was stamped over the masked moon using Stormy Sky ink again, but stamped off once before stamping, because I wanted the words to be "barely there" ...but I kind of wish I hadn't stamped off, they just turned out a little bit lighter than I wanted, but they are more visible in real life.  

The poppies and willow were first stamped with stormy sky ink, then with versafine onyx ink. 

Framed the image with a retired Stampin Up card stock (I think the color is Brocade Blue) It's a perfect match for the Stormy Sky distress ink. The card base is Neenah linen textured card stock. A sticky rhinestone was place in the center of the spiral spell sentiment. 

Also entering these challenges:

Double D Challenges

Cute Card Thursday - Magical

Alphabet Challenge - L is for Leaves  (willow leaves)

Cardz 4 Galz  - Beautiful Backgrounds 

CCEE Stampers  - Flowers

Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers 
Star Stampz Challenge - Things With Wings or Tails 

Everybody-Art-Challenge  - Use a Stamp 

AuroraWings Challenge - Anything Goes 

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes this week

heARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes 

Crafty Creations - Always Anything Goes Crafty Gals Corner   - Anything Goes 
Mod Squad Challenge  - Anything GoesSimon Says Wednesday   - Anything GoesCrafty Sentiment Designs  -  Anything GoesCreates and Makes  - Anything GoesLemon Shortbread  - Always Anything Goes 

Through The Craft Room Door  - Always Anything Goes 

We would love for you to join us at Allsorts challenge. Here is what you can win this week:

Two fairy themed rubber stamps!

  

Thanks so much for visiting today, I will be back again tomorrow with my September card for Penny Black and More challenge.

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!