Blog Candy!!!

If you've been following along this week you know I've been having the time of my life at CHA. The highlight, without a doubt, has been meeting the wonderful people from Hero Arts. The artists are warm and friendly, and so very talented. They were so helpful when we were placing our order for Stamp Fever. And they provided me with the best blog candy.
So without further ado, I give you my very first Blog Candy.....

How would you like your very own 2010 Hero Arts, "The Art of the Stamp catalog, autographed by all the artists? They are all there....Jennifer, Lisa, Sally, Nancy, Shari, Richelle, Tami and I didn't leave out Aaron.

 

 

 In addition I will include the Designs in Wood catalog containing these GORGEOUS, can't wait to ink them up, stamps...

 

 

 I will also be adding some surprises to the prize package. Are you as excited as I am about this?!! If I was smart I would have asked for one for myself but I'm so happy to offer this one-of-a-kind collectors edition of the catalog.

So to be entered in the random drawing I would like to ask that you sign on to follow my blog and then link up below to a new card or project using your favorite Hero Arts stamp. If you don't have a blog, copy and paste the url of the Flickr or other photo-sharing page. (I've never used Mr. Linky before so if it doesn't work right off give me some time to work the kinks out okay?)

To recap:

1- Sign up to follow my blog, if you aren't already

2- Link to your new card or project using your favorite Hero Arts stamp.

You will have until Saturday February 6, 2010 to link your entry and I will randomly choose the winner on Sunday February 7. Good Luck and have fun!!

Here's a couple more photos from CHA today.

Just me and a few of my new friends!

Shari and Sally, how cute are they?

Shari's Make-n-Take card

Day Two of the CHA Trade Show

Special Note- Make sure you come back tomorrow...I will have some blog candy that is one-of -a-kind!!

I had another wonderful day getting inspired and being amazed by the new products being previewed at CHA. I've got some great ideas to make Stamp Fever your favorite stamping destination. Stay tuned for news of the new Hero Arts products we'll be carrying. We've checked out some new stamp companies and will be premiering them in the coming months....we really liked Unity Stamp Company and Lizzie Anne Designs. If you are in the So Cal area get ready for weekly card kit make and takes, new and innovative classes and the newest stamps from your favorite companies.Send me an email if you'd like more info about Stamp Fever!

Today I met the sweetest person, Hero Artist Nancy Taylor. She is so warm and caring, we talked for quite awhile. She is just the most genuine lady...I feel blessed to have met her.

Here's Nancy Taylor posing with Lisa Spangler, she's holding the card I made to thank them for all the wonderful inspiration. I'll be going back tomorrow for the make and takes lead by Shari and Nancy.

I finally met another Flickr buddie!! Just happened to be standing next to her at the Hero Arts booth, it's the amazing Shemaine Smith, writer extraordinaire!! She posed for a photo and then we got a photo of the both of us. She is really sweet, check out her articles at the examiner.

 

 

Thought for the Day: from my reading this morning~ Romans 3:22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.

Blessings to you!

Nancy

CHA Trade Show Day One

Wow, that's all just WOW. It is so incredible to see all my favorite crafting suppliers and their beautiful products all in one place. And even more incredible is that I was there to give my "expert" opinion for revamping Stamp Fever into a stampers "must go to" destination. But enough of that, you want to see the pictures so without any further wasting of time.....

Look at these beauties...these are the newest wood mount stamps and they are fabulous!!! Can't wait to ink one of these babies up!(Click on the photo to see bigger) My favorites are Floral Scallop (2nd from left second row) In the Garden (3rd from right second row) and Dogwood (3rd from right top row) Which ones do like? Leave a comment with your favorites.

Here's some gorgeous samples using the new stamps!

I finally got a photo of Sally, Aaron held her still so I could snap this sweet shot. Those smiles are quite genuine, these folks are so happy!

Here's Lisa demonstrating with Copic markers. I got some really great tips.

I love these coordinated Hero Hues notecards and flowers.

This is one of the cards from the workshop on Saturday, taught by Jennifer. It uses Perfect Pearls misted on the flower.

I made this pretty necklace at the Hero Arts Make n Take today with Jennifer.

And I'll finish today with some of the NEW Distress Ink colors:

Barn Door, Bundled Sage, Chipped Sapphire, Crushed Olive

Forest Moss, Pumice Stone, Rusty Hinge, Spun Sugar

Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, Vintage Velvet, Wild Honey

I'm exhausted and I have to go back early in the morning, so I'm off to bed....night all!

Nancy

CHA!!!!

I am so exhausted but I had a blast at the CHA Supershow today. Oh my, there is so much gorgeous crafting stuff out there, and it was all in one place!!
I saw the queen of crafting herself, Carol Duval! Also on hand at different booths were Michael Strong, Natalie Metivier (Magenta Rubber Stamps), Dee Gruening (Posh Impressions)Mary O'Neil (Hot Potatoes Rubber Stamps) and  I even caught a glimpse of Tim Holtz, he was leading a workshop right the across the hall from the one I attended.

Carol Duvall, Natalie Metivier and Mary O'Neil.

I stopped by the PaperCrafts booth where Cath of Moxie Fab fame was holding court...she is adorable and just the sweetest person and was happy to pose for a pic with me.

But the highlight of my day was the 2 hour Hero Arts workshop!!  The delightfully talented artists along with  Aaron were there to make sure we all had a great time. Wow, do these people know how to throw a party!! We sped through 5, count'em 5 projects and I'll post the cards and a bracelet we made on Monday when I have time to put the finishing touches on them (and there's better light to take a picture).  I did get some photos of my favorite rubber stamping artists too....

Here's Jennifer telling the group not to open our packets or she'll take them away...she was probably kidding about taking them away, but she was clear about not peeking. What a surprise to see the amazing new wood mount stamps that were being debuted for the first time. It's a supplement to the 2010 catalog called "Designs in Wood", and you won't believe how gorgeous these stamps are. I can't wait to get my hands on all of them.

Aaron addressing the group of workshop attendees.

Lisa, as sweet as she is adorable!!

Look who posed for a photo with me....Jennifer and Shari!

Tami and me...she's just as nice as can be!

 I tried to get a photo of Sally, but that woman is really quick, every frame had a blank wall instead of a Hero Arts artist. Nancy wasn't there, but she did design a card for the workshop.  Everyone associated with Hero Arts was just so kind, funny, creative and just plain wonderful. I'm so happy I had the opportunity to meet them.

I'm going back tomorrow and Monday for the CHA Trade Show, going to do some make n takes with Hero Arts, Ranger and as many more as I can fit in, then I'll be preparing to teach some classes at Stamp Fever in Orange.

Thought for the Day: Jer 17:7 But blessed are those who trust in the Lord, and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
Today was the first gorgeous blue sunrise I've seen in over a week (we've had some very stormy weather in So Cal), and it was worth the wait. Sunrises always give me hope and today I feel blessed!
Have a wonderful Sunday,
Nancy

Tag Tuesday #35 Tag Doll

Time for another Tag Tuesday; this week the challenge is to make a Tag Doll. I have to tell you this theme really made me stretch my creative muscles, but in the end I had fun creating a Ballerina Tag.

I took my first ballet class when I was five years old and I enjoyed studying all forms of dance right through college; so it just seemed a good idea to make my tag doll a ballerina. I used a small tag, trimmed to an hour glass shape covered with Basic Grey paper as the base. I found the arms and legs in clipart and the dancer's face is a stamp from Mary Mata's "Girl in Garden" Clear Art Stamp set. I stamped Hero Arts Screen Shadow on the arms in Maroon Chalk ink. The tutu is white scrap cs, the top layer is embossed with the Swiss Dot embossing folder and the bottom layer is punched with MS punch and heat embossed with Egyptian Gold EP. Some  flowers, gems and black Stickles finish the project.

Thought for the Day: Ecclesiastes 3: 1 & 4

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven........A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.

Timing is everything and God's timing is perfect!

Have a blessed day,

Nancy

Virginia's Challenge

The wonderful and oh, so sweet, Virginia Lu is hosting a challenge to help "Beat the Winter Blahs" on her blog Yes, Virginia.  The challenge is to create something with a WOW factor. Well, if you've been following me, you know I don't do WOW. So this was really a challenge, but I jumped in anyway by trying an easel card for the first time. The WOW (I hope) is provided by the fun Cosmo Cricket "Early Bird" papers and an old Coffee pot stamp from The Museum of Modern Rubber. I also dug out a sentiment from a Hero Arts set from 1996.

 

Thought for the day: From 2 Peter 1:2 "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord."

Have a wonderful week,

Nancy

Catching Up

I've been a little distracted this week, can't believe I haven't posted since Monday! I have been working on some projects that I will post about at a later date. So today I'm just going to post some of the cards and a tag that I've completed recently.

 

 

First up is this tag for the Tag Tuesday challenge at Kard Krazy. I was so enchanted with the lovely ruffled flowers on Lucy's cards, so I checked out her inspiration here, for a video how-to. I just love these flowers and I'm sure I will be using them on a lot of future projects.

The colors on this tag as well as using the ruffled flowers were inspired by the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World.

 

Next is a card I made for the Hero Arts January challenge theme Friendship and Valentines.

The colors are inspired by Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #21 . (I realize this challenge has closed, I entered using my post on Flickr).

Here's my Valentine card for my sweet hubster. I tried to keep it masculine but also make sure there is no doubt it's for Valentine's Day.

And just a few more cards I made to display at Stamp Fever.

 I am going to give a private class at Stamp Fever for a lady who saw this card and wanted to know how I did it, should be fun, she's a really sweet woman and I just couldn't say no.

 And 2 Valentine cards using the Hugs and Kisses Cling from Hero Arts. I love how versatile this stamp is.

 

 

If you've stayed with me through all that you should be rewarded with a short but powerful....
Thought for the Day:
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You."

I'm hoping you will join me in praying for the people of Haiti and for all the rescue workers. Here's a link to World Vision International to donate to the relief efforts.
Blessings to you,
Nancy

Three Challenges-One Card

I love it when a plan comes together! I have been thinking about the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World all week. I really wanted to make a special card that would do that wonderful trigger photo justice.

Also, after being a Trigger Target two weeks in a row I'm feeling some pressure to maintain a high creative standard. Well, after a flurry of flying paper, inky stamps and more than a couple "do-overs" I think I'm happy with this. The best part is that it will be perfect for the Hero Arts-Friendship and Valentines theme.  I will also enter it in Lucy's current challenge to make a monochromatic project.

 
Thought for the Day: One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalms 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life

You will fill me with joy in Your presence

With eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

This verse gives me so much hope for each day; that God is guiding and directing my steps, that joy can always be found when I seek to be in God's presence, and that I can look forward to eternity in His presence.

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy

Finally Finished my Tag #33

Well I actually finished the tag this morning, then I took some pictures and edited them. Then, as I was getting ready to post, my internet went down. Arggggggh! There that feels much better.

The challenge at Kard Krazy this week is Polka Dots and Stripes. How wonderful since my new favorite Hero Arts stamp is the Cling Dots CG139. I made a Double Decker tag. I stamped the Dots using white pigment ink on the smaller tag and the Stripes (an old Hot Potatoes stamp) on the larger tag. I clear embossed both. I used Worn Lipstick Distress Ink on the Dots and Scattered Straw for the Stripes. The Bible verse is computer-generated. Then I added some embellies to follow the theme.

Check out the amazing blog candy from the wonderful, and of so talented Kathy. Her blog The Daily Marker has a constant parade of her gorgeous cards.

I got some really great news today, I'm going to CHA for the first time. As part of my efforts with my local stamp store "Stamp Fever" they invited me to join them for the workshops and seminars; not to mention the miles and miles of craft, stamp and scrap goodness! I'm signed up for one of the Hero Arts workshops, I can't wait!!
 Thought for the Day: Proverbs 16:24 "Kind words are like honey~ sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Do you remember the movie Bambi? Thumper the rabbit quotes his mother as saying "if you can't say something nice, don't say nuthin' at all".  Well, I have found a whole inter-web full of people who can always say something nice. I am so thankful for the wonderful blog buddies I have met this past year, your kindness has overwhelmed me.
Thank you all so much!
Blessings to you,
Nancy

Birthday Card Made with Scraps

If Jacqueline and her lovely Scrap Basket weren't incentive enough, there is a challenge at {capture the moment} to creatively use scraps in a project....and if there's one never-ending supply I have, it's scraps. See photo below.....

So why not  put the scraps to good use? I needed a birthday card for my BIL who is a hard working Firefighter. Here is his card in process...

Note my new Tonic scissors...I can't recommend these enough! I've struggled with osteoarthritis in my fingers and hands for more than 20 years and these scissors have revolutionized my crafting life! Thank you Tim Holtz for designing this wonderful tool. A special thank you to Linda at Stamp Fever (my favorite Local Stamp Store) for stocking these fabulous Tonic scissors!!

And now for the finished project:

I just love the "On My Couch" set from PTI. I tried to make the chair with the sentiment look like a well-worn leather chair....perfect for relaxing.

In addition to the PTI stamps I also used:

Hero Arts stamps- CL139 Birthday Messages and S5101 Raindrop Background (on the kraft chair)

Scrap cardstock and patterned papers (some pre-stamped)

Scrap jute

Thought for the Day: Sharing some verses to claim when searching the Scriptures-
Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your Law."
Luke 24:45 "And He (Jesus) opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures"
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."
It is so great to know that we don't have to struggle to understand God's Word- He's provided all the help we need. I'm praying you will find just what you need today!
God Bless You,
Nancy