With Love

We have so many great new Memory Box dies sitting on our shelves right now that I really want to play with. We have had a bunch of people coming in looking for 50th Wedding anniversary card inspiration so thought I would give one a try.

 I used the English Rose Corner and Curled Ribbons dies for the front of the card cut out of Stardream Antique Gold paper. I added a Hero Arts sentiment, embossed in gold in the middle and some pearls, did some quick matting and corner rounding and the card was done. Crafty Capers currently has all the items to make this card in stock now.

 I love how it turned out. My parents have another couple of years before they have their 50th wedding anniversary but I might just hang on to it until then! :) 

Thank you everyone for stopping by.

Hard to Resist!

The Crafty Capers free September demo is tomorrow 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. The topic for this month is "resist techniques". This resist technique was done with glossy cardstock, a Versamark ink pad and 4 colors of Ranger Adirondack dye inks plus a fabulous Hero Arts stamp.
Hope you can make it to the demo on Saturday!

Glitter Demo sample

I've got a (free) Glitter demo next Wednesday 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the store so I made some time to work on samples today. The tree is made from two Dee's Distinctively dies (Tree Silhouette and Tree Overlay #1) using the Burnished Velvet technique coincidently developed by Dee, herself and her friend Haroldine. I used Microfine Champagne and Ultrafine Emerald Glitter Ritz glitter and Be Creative tape to create the colors on the tree. The background is a stamp by Hero Arts (star also by Hero Arts) stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia ink. The Joy is made with an alphabet by Memory Box and covered with more Ultrafine Emerald Glitter Ritz.
Special thanks to my "color consultant" for this card, Marilyn!
Hope everyone is having a great week!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads out there! I hope you get spoiled.
I want to take a moment to publicly thank my Dad for all his hard work at Crafty Capers over the past 12 years. In the beginning, there were many evenings Dad and I were up late with stamps all over my parent's dining room table while Dad and I worked on calculating exchange rates, pricing and shipping costs. I can't even count the number of hours he spent helping me set up Crafty's displays in various malls on the Island. Even lately, he had had "emergency" calls asking him (Mom does some of these runs too) to head to out because I am out of twoons or the damn printer is out of ink and won't print! Thanks Dad!
Here the card I made for my Dad. I used the Tim Holtz set "Travel Ways" and Teresa Collins Far and Away paper (plus a bit of Bazzill). I stamped the car with Black Versafine ink and the Route 66 is stamped with Fired Brick Distress Ink.I cut out the red and brown frames with my Spellbinder Classic Square and Classic Square Scalloped dies. I distressed the brown frame and stamped the Hero Arts sentiment with Walnut Stain Distress ink. After this photo was taken I added Glossy Accents to the car for some extra pop.
Hope everyone has a great day!

Charlotte's dream

I was doing a bit of tidying up over the weekend and found a 6.5x6.5 Kaisercraft Charolotte's dream paper pack. I thought I would make up a card using some of the left over paper bits.
This paper line is so soft and pretty it was a lot of fun to work with. I think this paper would be great for Mother's Day cards as well and, in fact, has some Mom die cut embellishments included with the paper pack. The Hero Arts sentiment used on this card was embossed with Crafty Capers Teddy Bear embossing powder.
Just a reminder today (Tuesday) is the "last call" for registering for the Crafty Capers Cards for Cancer event this Friday and Saturday. Contact the store to register. For more information check out the Crafty Capers website.

A Pink Stampscapes

It has been a while since I pulled out my Stampscapes stamps and I was glad I did since this card turned out nicely and was fairly quick to do.
I started with a piece of white glossy cardstock which I brayered with my Memento Angel Pink ink. I cut a circle mask out of a post it note with my Spellbinder circles then using my Colorbox stylus wands and white foam tips I applied Memento Rose Bud and Ladybug inks making sure to leave the center of the piece lighter and the edges darker. I flicked some water onto the piece to create some lighter dots (can't see them too well in this photo). I stamped the Stampscapes stamps Leafy Branch and Gulls on the piece along with a Hero Arts clear sentiment. I matted as shown and added a piece of May Arts twine along with a clear button. Card completed! I like that this card could be done in any color scheme for either a male or female birthday.
It's almost the long weekend hope everyone enjoys today!! :)

Big Shot Class Reject

I have been teaching a Cuttlebug/Big Shot Tips and Tricks class over the past few weeks (2 more classes April 8 & 19 check out the Crafty Capers website if you are interested in registering). This card was not jazzy enough in my mind so did not make the cut so thought I would share. I think the official fold type is called a "swing card" and I made the 1/2 circle with a Spellbinder die! I embellished the circle with some Spellbinder circle mats, a Memory Box butterfly die and a Hero Arts sentiment. Designer paper is by BoBunny Alora collection & Bo Bunny Double Dot cardstock..
I added some Ranger Stickles for some extra bling and to finish off the card.

A happy gram!

I made this pink and yellow panel during my heat embossing demo a few weeks back and still liked enough to make it into a card a few weeks later.
The panel started out as a piece of yellow Bazzill cardstock. I stamped the script (Penny Black) in Memento Bamboo Leaves ink then stamped the solid Impression Obsession butterfly over top of the script randomly with my rather grubby Versamark ink pad (those who come to demos know what I am talking about LOL) then heat embossed the butterflies with clear embossing powder. I then used a Colorbox stylus handle and foam tip to apply Memento Rose Bud ink over most of the panel but I paid particular attention to applying ink over the butterflies. The embossing powder will resist the ink and the yellow butterflies will really pop! I added some Yellow Liquid Pearl dots to the panel then matted the piece as shown. I stamped the Happy Gram saying by Hero Arts, used a Sizzix chevron embossing folder to emboss a strip of white cardstock to hide my ribbon ends then added some May Arts chevron ribbon. Pretty simple card but very striking!
BTW next Saturday Demo is Saturday April 13 between 10:30 - 12:30 (free, drop in) topic will be Peel Off stickers.
Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Live in Style

Whew it's been a busy few weeks! For those of you not on Facebook, we did get a batch of Inkagold metallic pastes on Saturday. They have been selling very quickly however we do still have 2 colors left in stock - graphite and emerald green. Both great colors.
Here is a card I got made up over the past couple of days in between class preparations. I got to play with a bit of one of our new pattern papers made by Teresa Collins from the line Far and Away.
All stamps are by Hero Arts (sets used Paris France, Big Post Card & Past Times). All images stamped with Distress inks (Gathered Twig, Broken China, Peeled Paint and Weathered Wood).
Hope everyone is having a great week!

Heat Embossing Demo Tomorrow

Well, the heat embossing demo is tomorrow so I am madly getting myself organized (or should I saying trying???) This card is another of my demo samples. Again, embossed with Ranger's Seafoam white embossing powder I am realizing now I seem to be obsessed with white embossing powder at the moment. I do use other colors honest I just happen to have picked all the white embossing samples to photograph!

I was going for a vintage feel for this card and it worked out well, I think, even if vintage is not normally my style. Stop by Crafty Capers tomorrow  (March 2) between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm if you would like to learn how to make this card. I have a bunch of other embossing powder techniques planned as well. Hope to see you tomorrow!

Busy Week

Well it was quite a busy week. We had a new order of dies come in earlier in the week and I did not have a chance to blog them and now they are pretty much all sold out! However never fear, I will be at the warehouse next week picking up more new product which will arrive later next week.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by this week and commented on the new store look. I am very happy with it! Thank you to Allison and Lori who I managed to trick into helping me on a Saturday night! If you have not seen the new store layout stop by it looks amazing! :)
Despite the busy week I did manage to get a few cards made up. I am busily playing with my embossing powders and heat gun in preparation for my free Heat Embossing demo next Saturday it is a drop in event running between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. I will also be doing a quick ink review for those who have trouble keeping the different types of ink straight in their heads (took me forever to remember it too!). Might be a good idea to bring a pen and paper to the demo since as usual LOTS of techniques will be covered!
This card was done using two Hero Arts stamps (Large Flower background and sentiment (not sure of the set off the top of my head)). I embossed on white cardstock with Ranger's Seafoam white embossing powder then I used my Colorbox stylus handle and foam tips and sponged on Adirondack Red Pepper and Clover inks plus Distress ink Broken China to make the white embossing powder really pop. I stamed the sentiment using Verafine Deep Lagoon ink then cut the sentiment out with a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die. I finished off the card with some May Arts twine and a bit of ribbon in my stash (love using up those funny bits of ribbon in the botton my my ribbon bin!).
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Tombow Coloring

 I had this Hero Arts stamp (large Flower Background) stamped out on watercolor cardstock leftover from my Tombow marker demo last weekend and thought it would be fun to finish it up and make a card with it. It has been a busy week so far with lots of time spent on class prep so it was nice to do something just for fun. I finished off the card by adding some ribbon and 2 mats. The bottom purple border was done with a Spellbinder die called Romantic Rectangles. Thanks everyone for stopping by!

More Tombow Marker samples!

Don't forget the free Tombow marker demo is tomorrow (Saturday Feb 9 between 10:30 and 12:30). This card demos a resist technique with Tombow markers.
The main image (Penny Black) was colored on watercolor cardstock with Tombow markers.
The background papers are by Hero Arts and Bazzill. Sentiment by Hero Arts (and stamped with a Tombow marker).
Really like how this card turned out so bright and cheery! Love it! I've wanted to color this Mimi image for quite a while now...
Hope to see you tomorrow at the demo!

Tombow Marker demo Saturday Feb 9

It is nearly time for Crafty Capers' free monthly demo! Drop by between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm and see some of the many techniques you can do with Tombow markers!
All the stamping done on this card was done with Tombow markers!
The tulip image and sentiment are by Hero Arts, the pattern paper is by My Mind's Eye. Solid cardstock by Bazzill. Twine by May Arts and butterfly punch by Martha Stewart. 
Hope to see you at the demo!

Secret Crush

It was a busy day yesterday at Crafty Capers however I managed to make a couple of Valentine cards using the Pink Paislee Secret Crush papers! I LOVE this paper, love the designs and especially love the pink and grey color scheme!! I am making a prediction that grey will be the next hot color! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
The card is pretty straightforward but I really like how it turned out. I have a second card that I managed to make out of the 3 sheets of Secret Crush paper and the 3 sheets of 12x12 Bazzill cardstock I bought and I probably could get at least 1 other card make with the rest of the leftovers. Pretty economical!
I did cheat this card a little and stamped the XOXO and the little heart in the upper left side of the card with a Hero Arts set called XOXO. I stamped the images with my Worn Lipstick Distress ink as well used the same color to edge all my papers!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Another Hero Arts Challenge!

Managed to find a few minutes today to enter the Hero Arts monthly challenge for a second time! This time I chose to participate in their color challenge. The challenge was to use the colors  

I don't own these colors so had to improvise. I stamped the Hero Arts stamp Tall Flowers 3 times on my cardstock then embossed them with Ranger Seafoam white embossing powder. I used my pencil crayons to color the flowers up in the challenge colors. I used my Spellbinder Scallop border die to cut a scallop in the middle. I stamped the sentiment from the Hero Arts set called Fantastic Birthday. I added some Hero Arts lace, flowers and Pool gems to finish off the card.

This card looks nicer in real life wish I could have gotten a better photo!

Thanks everyone for stopping by.

Try Something New!

Hero Arts's January contest involves "trying something new" I opted to try some of my new 2013 Hero Arts stamps for this contest. I began this card by cutting out 3 Sizzix Framelet hearts out of watercolor paper then I used the stamps/sets Looped Circle Pattern, Tiny Ink Spots & clear set My Favorite and heat embossed a different design on each heart with clear embossing powder. I pulled out my Tombow Markers (colors 245, 493 & 665) and colored about 1/2 of each heart then pulled the color out over the entire heart with my waterbrush. To give the hearts a bit more punch I sprayed them with some Pearlized Water made with water and Perfect Pearl, Pearl color, in a Ranger Mini mister. I used a Hero Arts/Sizzix embossing folder with Coredinations cardstock for the background. The sentiment is also by Hero Arts and comes from the My Favorite clear set.

Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for the demo on Saturday! We had a full house for most of the morning!
Here is another of the sample cards from the Ranger Alcohol ink demo. I made a second card of this type because I needed a Thank You card last week. This card came together so quickly makes me wonder why I don't use Alcohol inks on my cards more often!
I started this card by stamping and embossing this flower image with white embossing powder on glossy cardstock then I pounced Raisin and Terra Cotta alcohol inks over top of the entire piece of glossy cardstock. The alcohol inks are lighter on the white embossing powder so you get a ghost-like image. Very pretty in my opinion!
I matted the image as shown and added some May Arts twine then I stamped the thank you background with Canteloupe Memento ink. I finished off the card with some white pearls that I custom colored using more Raisin alcohol ink.
Alcohol ink: Raisin & Terra Cotta
Other ink: Memento Cantaloupe
Stamps: Stampendous Ranunculas Field; Hero Arts So Many Thanks
Other: Hero Arts pearls, Ranger Seafoam white embossing powder, May Arts twine

A study in black and white

Well wasn't that crazy weather yesterday???? I really hope we have seen the end of the snow! Ick!!
I always forgot about the color combo black and white however I am always very happy with how the cards turn out when I do I use this combo.
This card was super quick to do and would work for pretty much any occasion. I grabbed a piece of My Mind's Eye paper and embossed 3 daisies from the Impression Obsession set Nature Prints with black embossing powder. I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment also in black embossing powder then added some May Arts twine then mounted the cardstock to my main card and easy peasy card done!
Thanks everyone for stopping by hope you are having a great week!

New Hero Arts!

Even more new arrivals today (see told you no rest for Kathy today!).
NEW Hero Arts Fancy dies have not been in stock before but I expect they will sell out quickly!

Love this alphabet - I need one!





Hero Arts Suitcase

Leafy Vine - this one has been in before and sold out. Now back in stock!

Hexagon Background.





Renaissance Heart - just in time for Valentines!

Heart Cupcake - so cute!