An Update.

Hi all, nothing to share today, I just thought I'd give a little explanation for my absence from blogland. I've been sick, not just me, but the whole family and not just sick, but the can't move, can't breath, can't really function at all kind of sick. Both older boys missed several days of school, DH missed several days of work, we took our 2 yr old to the emergency room Sunday (he'll be fine, but has two pretty bad ear infections), and after nearly a week I have finally regained the ability to speak. It's bad folks...baaaaad. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we are finally on the mend (although I still feel completely miserable at least I can answer my phone now :-) and that we will be well by Christmas when we are supposed to be traveling out of town.

That being said, I am more behind than ever with my Christmas prep. I am actually sending out cards to relatives that I was planning to send handmade gifts to explaining that they will be getting their gifts a tad late this year.

This also means I will continue to be MIA here on my blog, hopefully by the time I get around to blogging again there will still be a few of you left to read it! LOL!

Wishing you all a HEALTHY and happy holiday season!
Heidi

Vintage-y

I really love the vintage look, but freely admit that when it comes to designing something myself it is not my strong suit. But still I can't help myself from picking up those gorgeous vintage looking papers when I'm at the craft store. A while back I picked up this piece from the Domestic Goddess collection by Graphic 45, it was beautiful, with all these fabulous vintage labels on it. But when I got it home I had no idea what I was going to do with it. Finally, after staring at it for months I decided to take a crack at it.



Finished size: 4.25x5.5"

What do you think?

I added some Jenny Bowlin paper that I had in my stash, a page from a vintage book and some sparkly silk leaves from a floral sprig. I actually think it turned out pretty good!

Have a happy weekend!
Heidi

Caardvark's Hero Arts Digital Showcase: Part 2

Ah, it's definitely one of those days where you would have to forcibly remove me from my home to get me to go anywhere. It is COLD out there folks!! A balmy 1 degree at the moment! It's weird too cause there is just a whisper of snow on the ground and the sun is shining bright. I'm a bit of a wimp though, anything below the mid 20's and I'm not going out!

OK, onto the crafty stuff! Today is my day to be featured over at Caardvarks for the Hero Arts Digital Showcase and I thought I'd share some more of the cards I made.



This one is very simple, I just added some gold cardstock, gold twine and pop dots to the printed images.



This is my attempt at something that could possibly be considered a masculine card. I printed the dragonfly on an inkjet transparency then colored it on the backside with Sharpie markers and added highlights with a Sakura Souffle pen.



You know I had to sneak rainbows in there somewhere! I simply printed the butterfly sever times in gradually smaller sizes on different colored cardstock, then attached only the body so the wings floated free. The sentiment is from the Hero Arts clear set All Occasions.

For a chance to win one of these Digital Kits for yourself , head on over to Caardvarks and leave a comment on today's post. That's it!

Wishing you warmth!
Heidi

Gnome Noel

Here I am last minute posting my entry to the current Moxie Fab World Challenge...again! This time the theme was Christmas in the Old Country and wow did Cath have some fabulous inspiration pieces!

I really loved this challenge and had tons of ideas floating around my head, but when I remember these fabulous gift bags I picked up at Ikea, I knew I had to incorporate them. Here is the card I created.



Finished size: 9.25x4"

See those adorable gnomes? They were cut from said gift bags and I just love them! I finished up my card with some thrift store trim, black felt and some May Arts twine.

Well, I'm off in a flash!

Thanks for stopping by!
Heidi

Hero Arts Digital Showcase!

Are you adding a note or a person?

Are you adding a note or a person?

Hi all, yes I'm still alive!

It's been a rough week. We had the flu roll through our house and knock us down one by one like bowling pins...not fun. I think we are finally past it though. Then starting yesterday our power went down for an entire day!

Due to being pretty much completely non-functional yesterday and then the following power outage this post is more than a day late. Better late than never though right? Anyway here is the scoop: Caardvarks is having a Hero Arts Digital Showcase and challenge! Everyday a different DT member will be featured, showing several card they created with some of the amazing new digital kits from Hero Arts! Our first feature was a very talented guest designer Kathy Racoosin. Be sure to check the blog each day for a new designers work AND a new chance to win!! Each day you have the chance to win a digital kit from Hero Arts! Simply leave a comment on that day's post to be entered.

Here is one of the cards I created with my Hero Arts kits:



Supplies:
CS: The paper Co., Hero Arts digital kits (polka dot background) Polky Dots, (tree) Holiday Words and Ornaments extra, Ribbon: Offray, Corner Rounder: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, Circle Die: Nestabilities, Border Punch: Fiskars, Tiny pom poms: Darcie, Other: Red Crochet thread, button.
Finished Size: 5.5x5.5"

That sweet tree is one of the extras from the Holiday Words and Ornaments Kit and the polka dot background was created with the Polky Dots set. I gotta tell you, these were really fun and easy to use. I love the versatility digital stamps provide, plus there's no cleanup!

Check out all the showcase details HERE. to see the current spotlighted designer check out today's post at Caardvarks.Have fun and good luck!

Heidi

Micro Challenge!!!

Hiya! Did you read my post yesterday when I said I wouldn't have anything to post until the weekend? Yeah, I lied. I totally forgot that there is a super fun Micro Challenge at Caardvarks today! This one is fast and furious folks, just 24 hours to make a card using these colors:

Fun right?

I, being in full blown Christmas mode, created this:

Supplies: CS: (blue) Core'dinations, (greens and pinks) DCWV, Doodlebat font (O' Tanenbaum) Scrap-n-fonts, Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug, Star Punch: $1 store, Hole Punch, Sentiment Stamp: Hero Arts, Pink Hemp Twine.
Finished Size: 4.25x5.5"

I used a Doodlebat font from Scrap-n-fonts called O' tanenbaum (I really have no idea whether this is spelled right, but I'm feeling too lazy right now to go and check) to create the tree. The background cardstock is Core'dinations Whitewash that I embossed and sanded. The pink ornaments were created with a hole punch.

Go check out Caardvarks for all the challenge deets and to get a peek at the DT cards!

OK, NOW you probably won't hear from me again until this weekend, really, I mean it!

Have a happy week!
Heidi

Another Tuesday Trigger

This week's Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World is this fabulous pillow brought to us by Ashley Harris.


So cute...I want it! Great pick Ashley!

So any chance I get to make a tree card you'd think I'd jump on right? Nope! I dunno, I just felt like going a bit more abstract with my interpretation of this one and ended up with this:

Supplies:
CS: (white) Georgia Pacific, DP: from the scrap bin, Stamp: (from the All Ocassion set) Hero Arts, Chalk Ink: (Chestnut Roan) ColorBox, Ribbon: (brown Grosgrain) Offray, Corner Chomper: We R Memory Keepers
Finished Size: 4.5x6.5"

I pulled the patchwork idea, the colors and shapes from the inspiration piece, but instead of a tree I created this geometric pattern. I am actually pretty happy with it and it was a great way to use up a bunch of random scraps.

I don't know about you, but I am starting to get really busy with all the things I have to finish up before the Holidays. We are going out of town this year for Christmas so that makes my time line a little tighter too. So unfortunately I don't think there will be a lot of posts this month. I will be back this weekend with a new challenge from Caardvarks though, so look for me then...K!

Have a great week!
Heidi

Woot!!! and a Christmas Card

I have some exciting news! Ready?! I am being featured on Inspirational today woot, woot! I am so excited, this is such a wonderful blog that features some truly amazing talent...I am honored to be among them!

I also have a quick card to share. With Thanksgiving now past I am in full fledged Christmas mode! I've got the Christmas music on and the decorations out! Anyway, here is my quick little card.Supplies:
CS: (white)Georgia Pacific, (red) The Paper Co., DP: (red dot) Making Memories, (green dot) BoBunny, Stamp: Studio G, Pigment Ink: ColorBox, Colored pencils: Prismacolor, Ink Pens: Sakura, Glitter: Martha Stewart, Ribbon: Michael's Stores, Dies: Nestabilities, Button from stash.
Finished Size: 4.25x5.5"

The focal point here is a wood mounted stamp from Studio G. I ♥ Studio G...$1 stamps and they are SO cute! This one wasn't specifically a Christmas stamp, but I thought if I colored the bird red and added some snow it would work just fine. The stamp on the tag is also Studio G, from one of their clear stamp sets.

Wishing you all a beautiful beginning to the holiday season!
Heidi

Birthday Candy Winner and Another Share!

Hi all! Have you recovered from Thanksgiving and the following shopping madness? I am not sure I have. Not that I braved the stores or anything, I just stayed up way past my bedtime searching for online deals...found a few too. Yay, I'm that much closer to being done with Christmas shopping!

I want to share another birthday card I received from one of the sweetest, funnest, most talented chicks out here, Ms. Amy Tsuruta!

Isn't that just the cutest?! It even came with a yummy tea bag inside! And she didn't stop there. she also sent me a pack of some of the coolest Thickers! (cards made with those coming soon!) Big giant thank yous Amy!

OK, I am FINALLY getting around to announcing the winner of last weekend's birthday candy. Sorry it's taken so long... life and junk ;-) So according to my very high tech 5 year old pulling numbers out of a bag method of choosing, the winner is...#10...which happens to be

Sue a/k/a MOUSEMOM40 said...

Oh happy birthday to you! Breakfast in bed sounds wonderful - even better after sleeping in!

Congratulations Sue!! Email me at heidivanlaar (at) yahoo (dot) com with your address and I will get those goodies out to you!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Heidi

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for all of you, my blogging friends for offering daily encouragement and inspiration!
Wishing you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to share this card that I created with one of the MANY very beautiful vintage images offered up for FREE from The Graphics Fairy. Go check out her site, if you are like me you'll spend hours over there drooling over and downloading her beautiful images!

I'll be back this weekend with the winner of last weekends birthday giveaway!

Have a wonderful day, whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or not!

Heidi