Made from watercolor paper, mounted onto a white reporter-fold card base. To make the background, I placed a piece of 140# cold-pressed watercolor paper on my non-stick craft sheet. Then I used a blending tool and foam to swirl on Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, & Dusty Concord Distress Inks.

Next, I stamped Hero Arts G3316 Harlequin Pattern Block over top, using Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. Then I stamped Hero Arts K5192 Dots over top of that with Tea Dye Distress Ink. Then I dripped water droplets onto the background and dried them with a heat tool.

Next I stamped the "thanks" definition from the Hero Arts CL479 Dictionary Greeting set using Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. I inked the stamp up a second time and misted it with water and stamped it again along the right edge.

I stamped Hero Arts H5261 Flourish Trio over the purple part using VersaMark watermark ink and then heat embossed with gold embossing powder. Then I stamped the "thanks so much" greeting from Hero Arts CL142 Thank You Messages using VersaMark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I used Fiskars Upper Crest border punch along the right edge and rounded the corners on the left side and the card base using a 1/4" Corner Chomper. Then I "edged" the watercolor panel with Rusty Hinge and Dusty Concord Distress Inks. Next I wrapped metallic gold cord around the watercolor panel and adhered it to the card base.

For the intaglio heart (see close-up here), I used a Fiskars heart punch to punch a heart from a cracker box. On the chipboard side of the punched heart, I covered it first with Dusty Concord Distress Ink. Then I applied a very thin layer of titanium white acrylic paint and allowed it to dry. The Dusty Concord ink mixed with the paint, making a lighter tint of purple for the background.

When the paint was dry, I again covered it with Dusty Concord Distress Ink and then heat embossed it with 5 layers of UTEE, adding Misty Lavender Pearl Ex powder to three of the layers. I coated my Flourish Trio stamp very well with VersaMark ink and then pressed the heart piece into it while the UTEE was still warm. After it cooled, I removed it from the stamp and adhered it to the card base using foam squares for dimension.

Thanks for looking! :-)

The background for this card is made from 140# cold-pressed watercolor paper (Canson Montval). I placed it on my non-stick craft sheet and used a blending tool and foam to apply Broken China, Scattered Straw, and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks. Then I used sponge daubers (Hero Arts MI002) to apply Faded Jeans, Wild Honey, and Rusty Hinge Distress Inks along the top and bottom edges.

Next I stamped music from Hero Arts CG279 Musical Clef along the top edge using Broken China Distress Ink. I used a paper towel to remove some of the ink before stamping, to give it a distressed look. Then I stamped the long botanical grass or willow image from Hero Arts CL428 Earth Flowers on top, using Wild Honey Distress Ink. And then I stamped a leaf image from Hero Arts CL477 Delicate Leaf Clusters using Tea Dye Distress Ink.

Next, I used a mini-mister to dribble water and immediately dried it using my Heat It craft tool (heat gun) for water splotchies. Then I mixed bronze Perfect Pearls with water on my non-stick craft sheet and used a paint brush to flick the metallic bronze all over the piece. I used my heat tool to dry it. Then, I stamped "Heartfelt Wishes" from Hero Arts CL272 All Occasion Messages using Memento Rhubarb Stalk dye ink.

The large butterfly is made from white cardstock. I stamped a butterfly from Hero Arts CL383 Antique Engravings using Ranger Archival Ink waterproof ink in jet black. Then I colored it using Victorian Velvet, Worn Lipstick, and Fired Brick Distress Inks applied with sponge daubers. I carefully cut out the butterfly and then added glitter to the edge of its wings using a Sakura clear glitter gel pen. I attached the butterfly using foam squares for dimension. See a close-up here.

The smaller butterflies were made by applying Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint to pink cardstock. Once it was dry, I used punches to punch out the butterfly shapes. They are attached using Glossy Accents as glue.

I added a border to the top and bottom of the focal piece using Fiskars Sunburst Border Punch. I wrapped it with metallic gold elastic cord and attached it to a kraft card base to finish it off.

Part of my inspiration for this card was the Day 4 prompt in my friend Christy's (Gulfsprite's) 30 Days of Art Journaling class.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Hi there! I love my Hero Arts G4917 Dandelion stamp. It is one of my all-time faves.

Materials used:

* Basic Grey Two Scoops 6"x6" paper pad

* cardstock: kraft

* Clearsnap/Colorbox Chalk Queue: Chocolates and Blueberries (dark brown) - available through Hero Arts

* EK Success 3/4" Circle medium nesting punch

* Hero Arts CH129 Teal Gemstones

* Hero Arts CL129 Anytime Messages ("spread sunshine" sentiment)

* Hero Arts G4917 Dandelion

* Ranger embossing powder: seafoam white

* Ranger Inkssentials Heat-It Craft Tool

* ribbon

* Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink

Thanks for looking!

Not for a challenge, just for fun. (No Hero Arts stamps.)

I absolutely love the way this card turned out. I made it with Distress Inks and textured cardstock. It was one of the simplest cards I've ever made - yet one of the most stunning, in my opinion!

Materials used:

* cardstock, textured: pale yellow, vivid red, and muted teal

* Fadeless art board

* Inkadinkado 97163-DD Flourished Fall Tree wood stamp

* Plaid All Night Media Posh Impressions by Dee Gruenig 550G06 Hilltop wood stamp

* Ranger Heat It Craft Tool

* Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet

* Tim Holtz Distress Inks: spiced marmalade (orange), broken china (blue), and pine needles (green)

For more information, please see my blog, Gaal Creative.

Thanks for looking!

Thanks Jacqueline for your wonderful inspirational cards!

Same technique on both cards but the purple one is regular matte stamping paper and the green one is glossy paper. I sprayed both papers liberally with rubbing alcohol and then carefully let droplets of alcohol ink fall in the alcohol. Then carefully dried with heattool and embossed gold/white. You tell me which paper gives the nicest effect!

I'm entering these cards at HA birthday challenge anything goes

This card is made from a piece of 140# cold-pressed watercolor paper. First, I selected my maple leaf stamp from Hero Arts CL457 Real Leaves. I inked it up with Spiced Marmalade (orange), Fired Brick (red), and Peeled Paint (green). Then I misted the stamp, with pearl Perfect Pearls mixed with water from a mini-mister, and stamped it. I repeated this twice to create all three leaves and I set it aside to dry.

Once it was dry, I masked all three leaves with Eclipse tape. Then I placed the panel on top of my non-stick craft sheet and used a blending tool and foam to apply Scattered Straw Distress Ink over the entire panel. Then I stamped Hero Arts G3316 Harlequin Pattern Block over top, repeatedly, using Tea Dye Distress Ink.

Next, I misted the panel with water droplets and dried them immediately with my Heat It craft tool, to get a water splotchy effect. Next, I stamped Hero Arts S1832 Italian Poetry Background using Fired Brick Distress Ink. I only applied pressure to the edges, to give a random look, with the middle having less detail from the words.

Then, I mixed copper Perfect Pearls with water on my non-stick craft sheet and flicked it over top of the card for more sparkle and shine. I dried the flecks with my heat tool, applied Wild Honey Distress Ink with sponge daubers (Hero Arts MI002) as a "shadow" to anchor the leaves, and then removed the masks. I edged the panel using a border punch and Wild Honey Distress Ink. Finally, I added white embroidery floss died with Peeled Paint Distress Ink as a finishing touch.

See the close-up photo to view the effect of the copper and pearl Perfect Pearls.

Part of my inspiration for this card was the Day 1 prompt in my friend Christy's (Gulfsprite's) 30 Days of Art Journaling class.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Not for any challenge; just for fun.

The focal image is made from Fadeless Art Board. I started by using Tsukineko sponge daubers to apply Worn Lipstick and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks to the art board. Then I used the same two colors of Distress Ink to ink up Hero Arts F2623 A Real Flower Drooping, spritzed it lightly with water from a mini-mister, and then stamped it on the panel.

Next I stamped Hero Arts S1832 Italian Poetry Background over top using VersaMark watermark ink. Then I heat embossed it with Ranger seafoam white embossing powder using my Heat It craft tool (heat gun).

I used Spellbinders Nestabilities (Nesties) Classic Rectangles and Classic Scalloped Rectangles to die cut and dry emboss the panel and a matte from textured silver cardstock from a Die Cuts with a View (DCWV) metallic mat stack. I wrapped the focal piece with metallic pink elastic cord and then adhered it to the matte.

The card base is made from green cardstock. I stamped Hero Arts CG119 Flourish Background using VersaFine Vintage Sepia pigment ink. Once the ink was dry, I stamped the "friends" sentiment from Hero Arts CL151 Share Laughter using VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed it with the same white powder.

The focal panel and matte are adhered with foam squares for dimension. Michael Richards metallic silver pearls and the upper right corner rounded for visual interest.

Thanks for looking! :-)

A good view of the street from roof.

Background is made from Fadeless Art Board. Applied Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks directly to my non-stick craft sheet. Misted with water and dipped the background in, wiggled it, and dried with a heat tool. Did this multiple times to create a watercolor-look background.

Second-generation stamped Hero Arts S5435 Graph Background using a Tsukineko Memento Dew Drop in Sweet Plum, inked only around the edges. Stamped tall botanical with tiny leaves from Hero Arts CL428 Earth Flowers using Tea Dye Distress Ink twice. (This part is hard to see, behind the embossed areas.)

Next stamped the "happy" entry from Hero Arts CL479 Dictionary Greeting using Spiced Marmalade in the top left. Stamped leaves from the edge of Hero Arts S5037 DesignBlock Tree along the bottom using a Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop in Oasis Green as greenery.

Mixed gold Perfect Pearls with water on my non-stick craft sheet, and flicked it randomly over the background for shine. (It is hard to see in the photo, but they are there. If you look to the upper left of the butterfly, you may see a few.)

Stamped Hero Arts CG180 Metal Flourish using VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed with two colors: Ranger Verdigris and Zing Copper Glitter embossing powders. Stamped "birthday" vertically and "happy" in the upper right from Hero Arts CL371 Essential Messages using Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.

Made a faux epoxy butterfly by stamping a butterfly from Hero Arts CL115 Designer Butterflies using a Tsukineko Brilliance Dew Drop (pearlescent ink) in Rocket Red Gold onto watercolor paper. Once the pigment ink was dry, I rubbed Spiced Marmalade ink over top. Then I cut it out and applied multiple layers of UTEE. Attached with glue dots for dimension. (See close-up.)

Thanks for looking! :-)

This birthday card was sent out to a man in our family. I used a background stamp by Simon Says Stamp, hot embossed it in white. Sprinkled poeders on it and water to get this look. Cut the letters. Added some glitter and Glossy Accents to get a glossy look. And the little words are hot foiled.

I was inspired to create this card for Daria's (djc's) SOF11 White Negative Technique Challenge and Stamping A to Z's B is for... (background stamping), C is for... (ColorBox), and D is for... (distress) Challenges.

The focal piece is made from 140# cold-pressed Canson Montval watercolor paper. First, I stamped Impression Obsession E8175 Maple Leaf twice using ColorBox Frost White pigment ink. Then I heat embossed both leaves using Ranger clear embossing powder and Heat It craft tool (heat gun), as per the instructions for Daria's white negative challenge.

Next I applied Worn Lipstick and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks directly to my non-stick craft sheet. I spritzed with water from a mini-mister until the ink beaded up. Then I dipped the watercolor paper face down into the ink, twisted it, and turned it right side up. I wiped off the embossed areas with a paper towel and then dried the ink with my heat tool. Once the embossed areas were cool again, I dipped the panel back into the ink and repeated the process until I got a distressed, watercolor background look that I liked.

Next I used Tsukineko sponge daubers to apply Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, and Tea Dye Distress Inks around the leaves themselves. This also helped me get ink into the areas in the leaves that are not embossed.

I stamped the music from Hero Arts CG279 Musical Clef repeatedly using Worn Lipstick Distress Ink to get a "background stamped" look. I used a border punch along the sides and finished with pink embroidery floss. I adhered the focal panel to a card base from yellow BoBunny Double Dot paper.

Thanks for looking! :-)

The background for this card is made from glossy cardstock, mounted onto a butterscotch card base. I applied Terra Cotta, Cranberry, and Raisin alcohol inks to the glossy cardstock, using a blending tool and felt over my non-stick craft sheet. (I used the blending solution to clean up.) Then, I used Fiskars Upper Crest border punch to edge the piece.

Next, I masked a vertical column for the stamping. I stamped 3 leaves from Hero Arts CL457 Real Leaves and the "thanks" sentiment from CL520 Live and Laugh using VersaMark watermark ink. Then I heat embossed the stamped areas with Ranger gold embossing powder. I added metallic gold cord as a finishing accent.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Looking southeast. Notice the tall trellis (foreground left) sunk into a 75.7 litres (20 gallon) fabric grow bag. For detail of this trellis see next slide.

Cantaloupe and watermelon are planted in this fabric grow bag. The green material is shade cloth.

I was inspired to create this card for the Hero Arts June 2012 "Thinking of You" Challenge.

The background is patterned paper called Peanut Brittle from Basic Grey's Sugar Rush collection. The focal image is created on vellum that has been colored with Ranger alcohol inks. I forget the exact recipe, but I think I used Wild Plum, Eggplant, and Stream.

Once the vellum was dry, I cut it to size. Then I stamped Hero Arts K5486 Flower Swirl Vine using Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink on top. I heat embossed with Ranger seafoam white embossing powder. Then I ran it through my Xyron to apply adhesive consistently to the back of the vellum and adhered it to the pale blue matte.

I attached a purple ribbon bow in the upper right corner. I stamped the "thinking of you" sentiment from Hero Arts CL140 Thinking of You Messages onto Wrights twill tape using Tsukineko Memento Grape Jelly dye ink. I wrapped it around the focal image and matte and then adhered it to the card base.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Looking south.

To the left tomatoes, along the edge of roof behind the tomatoes are 14 pots of compact thyme, raised beds at the top of the frame are planted with beans and lettuce. Eggplants are planted in five fabric grown bags. In the foreground sweet peppers and more beans.

Geo pot fabric grow bags sitting in a long black hydroponic tray. Kale and lettuce.

Geopot grow bag converted into a SIP. #5 finished.

When I was little, our church decorated every year for the holidays. There was one area, where they put up a whole row of Blue Spruce trees, and each of them had the large, old-fashioned holiday light bulbs strung through it, with only blue bulbs. I could get lost for hours just staring at the beauty of those blue spruce trees and the peaceful blue lights. And I wanted to capture a little bit of that magic in this card.

The focal image was made by placing vellum onto my non-stick craft sheet. Using a blending tool and felt, I applied Eggplant, Stream, Pool, and Citrus alcohol inks from Ranger using the polished stone technique. I think alcohol inks spread really beautifully on vellum, and I love the results. I set the vellum aside to dry, and cleaned my craft sheet with blending solution.

When the vellum was dry, I stamped the tree from Hero Arts CL469 Swirl Christmas on top using Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink. Then I heat embossed it with Zing Blue Glitter embossing powder by American Crafts, using my Heat It craft tool (heat gun). I used 3M Vellum Tape to adhere the embossed vellum to white cardstock. Then I die cut and dry embossed it using Spellbinders Nestabilities Curved Rectangles.

I added a star punched from iridescent white origami paper. The card base is Bazzill Frosted Teal textured card stock, wrapped with white ribbon, and mounted to a white card base. It is hard to capture the true effect of the blue glitter and iridescent star in a photo.

I love the clean and simple look for this card. To me, it really captures the essence of the peaceful feeling I would get, looking at all those pretty blue spruce trees.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Background is ledger paper from Basic Grey's "Recess" 6x6 paper pad. I edged the left side with aqua/clear striped washi tape. On the right side, I stamped a flourish from Tim Holtz's / Stampers Anonymous' CMS070 Fabulous Flourishes using VersaMark watermark ink. Then I heat embossed it using Ranger turquoise embossing powder with my Heat It craft tool (heat gun).

For the focal piece, I stamped Stampers Anonymous M2-674 (D) Dream on white cardstock using Ranger Archival Ink in jet black. I colored it in using Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. Then I die cut and dry embossed it using Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Rectangles Small.

Next, I dry embossed it with a flourish from Tim Holtz French Connection Texture Fades by Sizzix. You can see this better in the second, close-up photo. Then I edged the piece with lime/clear striped washi tape.

The matte is purple patterned paper from Basic Grey's "Kioshi" 6x6 pad (KIO-2344 Yuriko). I die cut and dry embossed it using Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large.

I wrapped Together Twine from My Mind's Eye "Lime Twist" collection around the focal panel. Then I adhered it to the scalloped matte. I added blue pearls from Hero Arts CH213 Sea Mixed Accents. Then I adhered it to the card base using foam tape for dimension.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Looking southwest.

To the left, tomatoes; in the middle beans, sweet peppers and lettuce; to the far right cucumbers and swiss chard.

This is a close-up of the intaglio heart that I made for my Layered Thanks card.

This is a sample card for my WF12 Hidden Potential Challenge during Winterfest at Two Peas in a Bucket.

The background is made using acrylic paints on white cardstock to make a faux woodgrain. Once it was fully dry, I embossed it with my Scrollwork embossing folder, trimmed it to size, and mounted it to the chocolate card base.

The tree patterned paper is from Die Cuts With a View's (DCWV's) Green Stack (woodland theme). I die cut and dry embossed it with Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eighteen. Then I dry embossed it again using the Swiss Dots embossing folder.

I added burnt orange velvet rick rack by American Crafts and adhered the tree panel to the card base.

The bird is from Tim Holtz / Sizzix Caged Bird die - and it was a prize I won from Two Peas during the Stamping A to Z event (photo 4). (Thank you Two Peas, Tim Holtz, Ranger, and Sizzix!)

I used the die to cut the bird and wing from recycled cardboard from a cracker box. Then I dabbed it with a Ranger Paint Dabber in stream to coat it.

After the initial coat of paint was dry on the bird, I stamped music from Hero Arts CG279 Musical Clef cling set on the bird using Ranger Archival ink in sepia. I dried it with my heat tool. Then I spread a thin layer of Golden acrylic paint in iridescent pearl.

When that dried, I lightly sanded / distressed the piece with sandpaper. Then I dabbed a bit more of the original stream paint on top. I adhered the wing to the bird using Glossy Accents and set it aside to dry.

Once the bird was dry, I added a Dot Sparkler foil sticker that Daria sent me (photo 3). (Thanks Daria!) Then I used Walnut Stain Distress Ink on a sponge dauber to add detail to the top edge of the bird. Finally, I adhered the bird to the card base using foam squares for dimension.

Click here to see a close-up of the bird.

Thanks for looking! :-)

A variety of herbs from Richlers in Goodwood, Ontario.

I was inspired to create this card for the Hero Arts June2012B Challenge and for Anna-Karin's WSW12 Cling Wrap Texture Challenge.

Anna-Karin asked us to create a background using wet paint and cling wrap. I used 140# cold-pressed watercolor paper. I spread yellow and yellow ochre paints on my paper, placed bunched up cling wrap on top, and let it dry. This created the mottled background that I used for the focal piece and for the sentiment background.

Once the watercolor paper was dry, I stamped Hero Arts CG172 Garden Bouquet using Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink. Then I heat embossed it with Zing copper glitter embossing powder. Next I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Two to die cut and dry emboss the focal panel.

I also cut a matte from textured copper metallic paper from Die Cuts With a View (DCWV) Metallic Mat Stack. I adhered the focal panel to the matte and wrapped a copper ribbon around them both. The card base is made with patterned paper from DCWV's Old World Mat Stack. I adhered the focal panel to the card base with foam squares for dimension.

I stamped the "Always Thinking of You" sentiment from Hero Arts CL578 Good Friends using VersaMark and embossed with Zing copper glitter embossing powder. I adhered it to the base using foam squares.

The butterfly is from Hero Arts CL383 Antique Engravings. I pounced Ranger Lemonade and Peach Bellini alcohol inks onto glossy paper. Then I stamped the butterfly using Ranger Archival Ink in black. After the ink was dry, I cut out the butterfly and adhered it using foam squares.

Thanks for looking! :-)

To make the leaves, I started by creating a collage background on 140# cold-pressed watercolor paper. I placed the watercolor paper on top of a non-stick craft sheet. Then I used a blending tool and foam to apply Scattered Straw Distress Ink over the entire surface. And then I stamped Hero Arts G3316 Harlequin Pattern Block over the entire background using Tea Dye Distress Ink.

Next, I used a mini-mister to spritz the background with water droplets and immediately dried them with my Heat It Craft Tool. Then, I mixed water and copper Perfect Pearls together on my non-stick craft sheet, and used a paintbrush to flick the mixture onto the background, and then dried the Perfect Pearls using my heat tool.

Next, I stamped Hero Arts S1832 Italian Poetry Background over top using Fired Brick Distress Ink. I stamped it repeatedly, in multiple directions. This finished my collage background.

I stamped a maple leaf from Hero Arts CL457 Real Leaves on my collage background, repeatedly, and then cut them out. I was able to get 6 leaves from my collage background. I distressed the leaves further using Wild Honey Distress Ink applied with a sponge dauber (Hero Arts MI002). Click here to see a close-up of a leaf.

Next, I took a piece of glossy cardstock and applied Citrus, Lemonade, and Peach Bellini alcohol inks using a blending tool and felt. Then I applied masks made from Eclipse tape in the shape of the maple leaf, and applied Meadow, Pesto, and Pool alcohol inks over top. This was to repeat the shape of the maple leaf in the green background.

The card base is made from Bazzill kraft cardstock. A faux stitched border was added using a brown Sharpie marker. The leaves are added with foam tape for dimension.

Part of my inspiration for this card was the Day 2 prompt in my friend Christy's (Gulfsprite's) 30 Days of Art Journaling class.

Thanks for looking! :-)

I created this for Two Peas' Stamping A to Z Event. For the G is for... (Glossy Accents), H is for... (Hero Arts and heat embossing) and J is for... (jewels) challenges.

The focal piece for this card is Hero Arts H5396 Bird Garden, stamped using Versafine Onyx Black pigment ink onto 140# watercolor paper. After the pigment ink dried, I colored in the image using Prismacolor Premier colored pencils.

I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Large Rectangles to die cut and dry emboss it, and Classic Large Scalloped Rectangles to die cut and dry emboss the matte. I wrapped the focal piece with Together Twine (baker's twine) from My Mind's Eye's Lime Twist collection, then adhered it to the matte. Then I added clear jewels from Hero Arts CH117 Assorted Crystal Gemstones.

The intaglio heart is punched from chipboard, and colored to match. I heat embossed multiple layers of ultra thick embossing enamel (UTEE) on top, using my Heat It craft tool (heat gun). I pressed Hero Arts H5261 Flourish Trio into VersaMark watermark ink to prevent it from sticking, and then pressed it into the still-warm UTEE, and left it there until the UTEE cooled. Once it was cool, I removed the stamp and had this great, handmade intaglio embellishment.

Background is paper from BasicGrey's Recess 6x6 paper pad. I adhered the focal image and matte, and then attached the intaglio heart with foam squares for dimension. Ranger Stickles glitter glue in Crystal (similar to Diamond) was used to accent the two blue birds. And, Glossy Accents was added to accent the purple butterfly.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Many of the smaller eggplants (Little Prince) were attacked by a squirrel this fall. That squirrel must have thought they were the largest nuts he had found because nearly everyone one of them had bite marks. I finally netted the containers so much that even I could not reach in to harvest the eggplants. Next season I will only plant large eggplant varieties.

I was inspired to make this card for Maria's (FurryPea's) SOF11 Embossed Art Challenge, and Stamping A to Z's B is for... (BasicGrey), D is for... (distress), and F is for... (Faber Castell and florals) Challenges.

Focal image was created using a manila shipping tag. I applied Worn Lipstick, Tea Dye, and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks directly to my Ranger non-stick craft sheet. Then I spritzed the ink with water from a mini-mister until the ink beaded up. I dipped the manila shipping tag into the ink, wiggled it, turned it over, and immediately dried the ink with my Heat It craft tool (heat gun). I repeated this until I got a mixed media look.

Then I stamped the rose from Hero Arts CG108 Special Moments using Ranger Archival Ink in jet black. I used the Stamper's Big Brush from Faber Castell's Mix & Match Mixed Media Sampler in red and green to color in the rose. Next I used my Uni Ball Signo opaque white pen to accent the rose design.

I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Rectangles and Small Scalloped Rectangles to die cut and dry emboss the focal rose piece and a forest green textured matte. I tied white embroidery floss around the rose and adhered it to the matte.

The card base is from the BasicGrey Marrakech collection. I stamped Impression Obsession H5575 Flourish 2 using VersaMark watermark ink, and then heat embossed it with Ranger seafoam white embossing powder. Then I stamped Impression Obsession A8169 Happy Thoughts (the sentiment) using VersaFine Onyx Black pigment ink. Once the ink was dry, I adhered the focal piece and matte using foam squares for dimension.

Thanks for looking! :-)

A wonderful, prolific mini cucumber intermingled with purple beans and cherry tomatoes.

Foreground

Testing out a Ez tomato cage trellis this season. They work well and fit around the exterior of a 20 litre (5 gallon pail) www.eztomatocage.com/

Geopot grow bag converted into a SIP. #4 a view inside.

I created this card for the following Stamptoberfest 2012 Challenges at Two Peas in a Bucket:

* Daniel's SOF12 Craftfoam Challenge

* Jan's SOF12 Sparkle Challenge

* Michelle's SOF12 Secret Santa Challenge, and

* my own SOF12 Gratitude Shower Challenge (although it won't count for the RAK)

The focal leaf is made from orange craft foam or "fun foam" that had an adhesive backing. I stamped a leaf from Hero Arts CL457 Real Leaves onto it using Timber Brown Staz-On ink. Once the ink was dry, I fussy cut it. Then I used Ranger Archival Ink in Sepia to stamp the "Thank you for everything" sentiment from Hero Arts CL578 Good Friends.

The background is made from a #8 manila shipping tag from Ranger. I used Tsukineko sponge daubers to apply Tea Dye, Bundled Sage, and Pumice Stone Distress Inks. Then I sprayed a mixture of Perfect Pearls and water from a Mini-Mister onto Hero Arts S5435 Graph Background and pressed the tag face down onto the stamp. I immediate flipped it over and dried it with a heat tool.

Then I spritzed plain water on my non-stick craft sheet. I dipped Hero Arts K5192 Dots into the water as if it were ink and stamped it onto the background piece. Again, I immediately dried it with my heat tool. These two steps, stamping with Perfect Pearls mist and then again with water, are described in the Double-Stamped Background technique article at Ranger.

Next I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Classic Rectangles and Large Classic Scalloped Rectangles to die cut and dry emboss the background and a matte from tan cardstock. I edged the background with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and adhered it to the scalloped matte. Both background elements are attached to a chocolate card base using foam squares for dimension.

To finish the card, I adhered the orange fun foam leaf. I added a bow made from baker's twine I received from my SOF12 Secret Santa Michelle using glue dots.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Easy to construct trellis, weave poles through wire mesh

Grown from seed this year.

Not for any challenge; just for fun.

The focal piece for this card is made from Fadeless Art Board (similar to poster board), which has a coated surface that works well with Distress Inks.

I got out my non-stick craft sheet and applied Broken China and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks directly to the craft sheet. Then I used a mini-mister filled with water to spritz the ink until it beaded up.

I dipped the art board face down into the ink, wiggled it, turned it right side up, and immediately dried it with my Heat It craft tool (heat gun). Then, I dipped it face down a second time in the remaining ink, wiggled it, turned it right side up, and dried it again.

Next I stamped Hero Arts K5094 Slanted Tree on top, using Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Once the ink was dry, I die cut and dry embossed the Distress Ink panel using Spellbinders Nestabilities (Nesties) Labels Three. Then I added some gemstone flowers from Hero Arts CH143 Sparkle Gem Blossoms and a velvet ribbon from American Crafts.

The background paper is from Basic Grey's Recess 6x6 paper pad. I dry embossed it using a Stampin' Up/Sizzix "Elegant Lines" embossing folder. Then I adhered the background to a cream card base. The focal piece is attached with foam squares for dimension.

Thanks for looking! :-)

This is a close-up of the bird I made for my Bird in a Forest Card. You can see the stamped music and paint layers better in this close-up.

Geopot grow bag converted into a SIP. #1

I was inspired to make a "general winter card" for this month's Hero Arts challenge.

The focal image is from a manila shipping tag. Broken China, Worn Lipstick, and Dusty Concord Distress Stains were applied directly to my non-stick craft sheet. I set a manila shipping tag into the Distress Stains, wiggled it, turned it over, and dried it with my Heat It craft tool (heat gun) and then set that aside for another project. There was Stain leftover, so I misted it with water from a mini-mister, and then dipped a second manila tag into the Stain, wiggled it, turned it over, and dried it with my Heat It craft tool. The focal image from this card is from that second tag.

I flicked water droplets onto the tag and dried them with my heat tool to get the water splotchy effect. Then I cut off the end of the tag to make a rectangle. I distressed all of the edges using my Tonic / Tim Holtz edge distresser and then used a Tsukineko Sponge Dauber (Hero Arts MI002) to add Faded Jeans and Broken China Distress Inks to the edge. Next I outlined the edge with Crystal Stickles glitter glue (similar to Diamond), to create a "frosted window" effect.

While the glitter glue was drying, I worked on the card base. The background is a plum metallic from a Die Cuts with a View (DCWV) Metallic stack. I used a Fiskars Apron Lace border punch along the right side. Along the left side, I added striped aqua and clear washi tape.

I got out a sheet of vellum paper, and stamped a snowman with a hat from Hero Arts CL233 Let it Snow, using VersaMark watermark ink (Hero Arts VC250). Then I heat embossed the snowman and hat using Ranger seafoam white embossing powder and my heat tool. Once it was embossed, I carefully cut it out and set it aside.

When the Stickles glitter glue was dry, I stamped the "Let it Snow" sentiment also from Hero Arts CL233 Let it Snow, using Dusty Concord Distress Ink. I stamped two different snowflakes from the same stamp set using Broken China Distress Ink. Then I positioned the snowman where I wanted it and used 3M Vellum Tape to adhere the snowman to the focal piece. I added three crystal gemstones (Hero Arts CH117) - one to each of the snowflakes and another to the word "snow". Then I attached the focal piece to the card base using foam squares for dimension.

Thanks for looking! :-)

A view of the new fabric grow bags with black beauty eggplants under a cloche. A new stronger trellis system.

A view of the new fabric grow bags called GeoPots with Black Beauty eggplants under a cloche. A new stronger trellis system.

Bottle Cloche for cucumbers and sweet peppers. Protection against spring cold snap.

Inspired by Two Peas in a Bucket's Stamping A to Z Event. For the N is for... Notions (rick rack), Q is for... Quirky, R is for Resist and Ranger, and S is for Sizzix and Spellbinders (Part 1) challenges.

The Christmas tree is from Hero Arts CL357 Holiday Dolls and is stamped on Sizzix Little Sizzlits patterned paper using Ranger Archival Ink in jet black. Xmas Red, Turquoise, and Silver Stickles glitter glue (by Ranger) accents were added to the tree. It is attached using foam for dimension.

The pink piece is from recycled plastic packaging. Various shades of Ranger alcohol inks were applied using a blending tool and felt over my non-stick craft sheet. I used blending solution and a paper towel to clean up the excess. Then, I used Ranger Archival Ink in jet black to stamp Hero Arts S5146 Bold Flourish on top and immediately wiped off the ink using paper towel as a resist (from Week 5 of Jennifer McGuire's Thinking Inking series). I turned it over so the non-inked side is face up and mounted it to a white paper backing. Then I die cut and dry embossed it using Spellbinders Nestabilities (Nesties) Labels Twelve.

The card base is made from navy cardstock. I stamped Hero Arts CG119 Flourish Background using Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink (Hero Arts VC250). Then I heat embossed it with Ranger silver embossing powder and my Ranger Heat It craft tool (heat gun). The silver rick rack (notions) is from American Crafts.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Square foot planting method with lettuce from Mason House in Uxbridge. A few weeks later. #2

"Thank you" sentiment from Hero Arts CL142 Thank You Messages. Used a Tsukineko sponge dauber (Hero Arts MI002) to edge the focal panel with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. Three crystal gemstomes from Hero Arts CH117.

Thanks for looking! :-)

The background is vellum that has been colored using Ranger alcohol inks ... I think Denim, Stream, and Sailboat Blue. Border punched and adhered to white card base with rounded corners.

The rest of the elements are made from 140# cold pressed watercolor paper. I stamped Hero Arts CG420 True Friends using VersaMark watermark ink and embossed with Ranger seafoam white embossing powder.

When it was cool, I placed the panel on top on my non-stick craft sheet. I applied Dusty Concord, Broken China, and Worn Lipstick Distress Stains directly to my craft sheet. Then I used a water color brush and water to apply the stains like watercolor paint and let it dry.

The two smaller hearts and the sentiment were punched. The larger heart was hand-cut. The bows are twine dyed with Stream and Watermelon alcohol inks and are attached with glue dots.

Thanks for looking! :-)

Close-up of my Dream Discover Destiny Card, showing the dry embossed flourish on the focal piece.

Geopot grow bag converted into a SIP. #2

Not for any challenge; just for fun.

The focal image is Hero Arts K5314 Silhouette Fern stamped using VersaMark watermark ink onto vellum. Then I heat embossed it with Ranger seafoam white embossing powder and my Heat It craft tool (heat gun).

I trimmed the piece of vellum and then used 3M Vellum Tape to adhere the vellum to a kraft mat. Then I wrapped the matte with ribbon and embroidery floss.

The card base is made from cream cardstock. I stamped a similar fern from Hero Arts CL395 Leaf Prints using ColorBox Moss Green pigment ink. Then I stamped the "so glad you're in my life" sentiment from Hero Arts CL417 Huge Hugs using VersaFine Vintage Sepia pigment ink.

The focal piece is adhered to the card base using foam squares for dimension. Top right corner rounded with a punch for visual interest.

Thanks for looking! :-)

A view of the new fabric grow bags with black beauty eggplants under a cloche. A new stronger trellis system.

This is the second planting of zucchini. The plants were abused by bugs and succumbed early. So I amended the soil and replanted them. Not sure they will produce much as it nearly the end of September. I have harvested three zucchini so far. Plan to leave them as long as I can.