Snow Thankful

   "Snow....snow...snow..." Are you singing along with the White Christmas movie song? I don't think I'd want to wash my hair in snow right about now though! We're enjoying a day of sunshine before the next round is going to blow through. Working on some thank you cards for everyone in the family to send out--thought I'd go neon this year for something bright and fun. 
   Finally using that ream of assorted neon office copy paper I've had for at least five years--ran through 4 sheets at once to get four different color backgrounds with the thank you embossing folder. Used my trusty craft stick to adhere it to some regular white card stock, and embossed my favorite Hero Arts snowman giving him/her a neon scarf set. Voila! A trendy neon card set in the making! 
   Happy snow to you--be safe, warm, and count your blessings if you can't sleep. [Better yet, watch yourself an old movie called "White Christmas" and share it with someone you love. 

All Set for Christmas

   Using my New Hero Arts stamps to make card sets to include in the gift vases for the executive assistants at my husband's work! The ladies loved them I hear and while I'm usually not into their favorite colors of pink and purple, I have have to say I enjoyed coming up with these designs! 

   Now, with just a few more holiday cards to make and post, I'll be all set for Christmas around our place! Check back soon for son's birthday card using another new Hero Arts background stamp...have I got an idea!

Holiday in Neon

   I have to say that the neon trend is growing on me. I didn't initially care for it much, but after embracing it, I'm finding some fun new ways to incorporate it into my card making! Here's the second card I promised for "tomorrow" which is actually several days later--hopefully it's a 'better late than never?!'

   Everything neon was colored onto my Hero Arts clear stamps with a dollar store set of neon highlighter pens! [I got 4 in a package!] So it was an inexpensive way to try out the inks without having to outlay any serious money. The snow on the roof is white liquid appliqué which I doused with fine glitter, let dry, and heat puffed--easy way to create dimensional "snow."

   This card was sent to my stamping friend Lin as part of the Hero Arts Holiday Card Exchange with the Flickr group. I have to say Hero Arts rocks with their support of our community.

   I also want to put out a shout to Cath over at Moxie Fab World for all her terrific ideas too! She's got a neon challenge over there that was the inspiration for this card! Happy holidays everyone!

& All That Jazz...

   I love how neon ink just sings! Even in shadow it just glows and I think is a fun touch for this masculine card for our favorite Jazz Man! Cath over at Moxie Fab World put out a neon challenge, and I took the bait! Maybe you will too? [and don't worry if you don't have neon ink...I colored my stamp with a highlighter pen and was happy with the result!] Check back tomorrow for a holiday greeting card with a little neon cheer!

No Pressure....

   It's been a little crazy around our place the past couple of months getting several deadlines met. It was college application time for dd, robotics, projects, essay contests, and now a partridge in a pear tree.... 

   The card above is one I made for my daughter to send the MIT professor who interviewed her. [No pressure to make something MIT-worthy!] Actually, we have spent a lot of time on campus, and I think this fits the vibe to a "T!" Did you know they still have blackboards there?!? I thought that was just too cool! [I am an old-school teacher though!]

   Since I was on a chalkboard craze I made another thank you to one of the many terrific people who went out of their way to write recommendations for my daughter. I think I'll make a few more of these just to have on hand since I liked the way they came out!

   To get the look quite easily and with little mess/fuss, I used plain old construction paper for the blackboard. I stamped in white pigment ink and let air dry--which it did quickly with the texture of the paper. Next, I broke out my chalks and used fingers, and cotton tipped sticks to rub dust where I wanted it. Easy and fun and it achieved the look I was after!

   Next up is a Christmas greeting I made for a trendy friend of mine:

   This is one of those sets I've been struggling with to achieve something "different" looking with it. I was inspired by all the pages of the Restoration Hardware catalog, and this came together nicely using another tool I bought long ago and have had trouble incorporating into my projects--these die cut banners. Bonus! Breakthrough for other ideas...I love when that happens! Hope you have some stamping fun with this technique, and let me know if you do. 

   I'd love to see how you put your own stamp on this trend!

It's that time of year....

   Ah...the holiday season! Time for making things like cookies, cards, presents, and of course--just making merry. I try to get a few card sets together to have around just in case I want a little something to share on the spur of the moment, or to bring along when we're invited over. I made a hostess gift set with different designs so that my friend can write special notes to her daughter away at university. It's so nice to stay connected, and it's always great to get "real" mail instead of just a text or an email! For this Hero Arts clock card I wanted to use this fun color combination with an old-fashioned sentiment! 

   And  then Big Eyes wanted to join in on the fun too! Nothing says, "You Hoo!" like an owl! Hope you're up to some fun too!