handmade cass

S'more fun with friends 🍫 This card was a labor of love. After a long weekend of family camping (which is not my favorite thing), I had three hours set aside for crafting to recharge my batteries. Read until the end if you want the plot twist in this saga. Everything started out well, with a gold paint splattered background on navy cardstock. I cut Lawn Fawn's "Forest Backdrop" die on woodgrain cardstock. Some of the other shapes from that set (moon, stars, trees) and "S'more the Merrier" were die cut on plain white cardstock (Neenah Solar White) to color with Copic markers. I used Lawn Fawn patterned paper to make grass and cut the tent from "Build-A-Campsite". At this point I was getting near the end of my dedicated three hours for crafting. I hurried to heat emboss a sentiment on the starry sky background after everything else was assembled and adhered. Disaster... I messed up the order of the sentiment words! So mad at myself, I had to sit...

I treated myself to a virtual craft retreat for the first time and it was the most creative fun I have had in a long time! I've been following Jenn Shurkus for a while because I love seeing her bright and colorful cards (especially Lawn Fawn and anything with Copic coloring). When she announced a virtual version of her Crop on the Cape retreat, I jumped at the chance to join in because it is usually held in Cape Cod (on the exact opposite side of the country). I was extra excited to participate in a Lawn Fawn card class that included all the details about Copic coloring these cute critters. Jenn had her team stamp and die cut everything in the kits ahead of time so we could focus on coloring and assembling the card fronts (pictured above). One of my favorite demonstrations from a sponsor was all about Deco Foil. I don't own a laminator so I've never tried it before. But in the boxes we received, they included Deco Foil Transfer Gel Duo that works with stencils and the pre...

I wanted to make Valentine's Day cards for my kids and turned it into a personal challenge to use some older supplies. (I'm not afraid to admit that I love collecting craft supplies even more than I love using them.) It's hard to remember but I'm pretty sure I had all of these things before having kids, which makes them at least 10 years old. Patterned paper is one of those things that I have way too much of and should never buy more of. However, my tastes have totally changed since I started paper crafting. I used to love Basic Grey and their heavily distressed patterns. Now I lean more cute or clean and simple (think Lawn Fawn). This Basic Grey "Oh Baby Girl" collection was unopened, and perfect for fussy cutting some stamped letters. Last week I was really inspired by Jennifer McGuire's video about pattern paper piecing. Isn't it funny how I tried so hard to conserve every last bit of this paper when it has just been sitting on a shelf for t...

I'm done! I am so happy to have all of my Christmas cards in the mail and I love the way they turned out. I didn't have to buy any new materials (aside from the postage and photo prints) and got to use some supplies that I really love. Hooray!  They were done on December 1st but it took me a few days to get photos.   I wanted to use clear envelopes without mailing labels, so I needed to address the dark purple metallic paper that was the card backing. Originally, I tried using copper ink and pens to tie in with the copper metallic thread I used, but the white stood out much better. The return address was stamped with Hero Arts Unicorn White Pigment Ink and then embossed with WOW Super Fine White Embossing Powder. I had to learn the hard way that the white pigment ink never dried on the metallic paper. My Christmas cards evolved a bit from the sketch I made a few months back . After I started die-cutting all the layers and did a test version, I streamlined the process ...

We kept busy this summer with crafts for the whole family. I started by making a book with all the best scraps of patterned paper I had after cleaning up my craft room. There were spots for my daughter to color, draw, and write stories. My trusty, old Zutter book binder pulled it all together. I took the time to fussy cut some of the stamped images I had mixed in with the scrap paper. This matryoshka from Hero Arts is one of my favorites. A friend was having her first baby and I wanted to make an extra special card. I used Distress Stains to ink smoosh a background. The stars are hanging on gold thread. When my daughter saw that I was making my own coloring sheets (with a stamp from Paper Source), she insisted on helping me watercolor it. Then I had to give it to her because she loved it so much (even though I did too). Update: she still has this hanging up in her room 2 years later We took some visiting family members to the local ceramics painting studio and I made a b...

I wanted to send cards to a couple family members that visited recently, and the Hero Arts paper layering pineapple die was the perfect thing to get me started. To start, I outlined the die on watercolor paper and colored it in using ZIG Clean Color Real Brush pens (from the set of 36). When the watercolor was almost dry (because I am super impatient) I used the pineapple die, bent the layers back, and glued it onto a pre-made card. I also used a die cut sentiment from Avery Elle's Stay Fresh set, and adhered it to the interior of the card. This also happened to be the perfect project for the Simon Says "Anything Goes" challenge this week. Supplies: die cuts - Hero Arts (paper layering pineapple), Avery Elle (stay fresh) watercolor - ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Pens watercolor paper - Loew Cornell adhesive - Tombo Mono Multi liquid glue card base - Michael's

I originally started this blog in 2009 when I was just trying Tim Holtz Distress Inks for the first time . I always got so frustrated when I would get rectangle shaped dark ink spots that were impossible to blend out. I eventually got a bit better at the blending but never really enjoyed it. But all that has changed and I have a renewed love for these distress inks! The new mini ink blending tool from Ranger is so much easier to use. And how great is it that the blender pads fit into the bottom of the mini ink pads?! I'm most excited to start making some night sky and sunset backgrounds. But today I needed to make up a sign for our guest room because we have a summer full of visitors. This sign will have all of our Wifi info so they can stay connected during their vacation with us. Does anyone else have a crazy complicated password? I guess I could try to figure out how to change it but that would take time away from crafts. This project also forced me to do some heat embo...

I am part of a Stampin' Up club that meets every other month to exchange cards and work on holiday projects together. This month we are exchanging a set of gift tags to use for Christmas presents.  I spent waaaay too long making these wreath tags with a paper bow, watercolor leaves, and Stickles berries. And I was very excited to use my Envelope Punch Board and the Notcher Punch to make a self sealing envelope from vintage music sheets. Inside the envelope I have a mix of gift tags all ready to be used this Christmas. I hope they enjoy! Supplies : stamps - A Muse wreath | Hero Arts doily | Memory Box reindeer | Avery Elle snow globe ribbon - American Crafts glitter - Stickles tools - We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board and Notcher Punch | Stampin' Up bow punch | Marvy circle punches

I just got the new Hero Arts Sleeping Fox stamp , and I am pretty excited about it. I fell in love with it and had to have it. But then I didn't know what to do with it once I got home. Does that happen to anyone else? After seeing the Hero Arts Holiday Card Challenge I forced myself to make something. Anything. I had seen a series of white monochromatic Christmas cards that I really liked, so I used that as my starting point. One Christmas card done. Check that off the list! Supplies : cardstock - Neenah Solar White, Limba Wood Grain, Stardream stamp - Lia Griffith by Hero Arts ink - Stampin' Up letter stickers - Basic Grey glitter - Stickles, Wink of Stella Brush paper doily vintage dictionary paper

My husband needed to send a few thank you cards and he requested something a little less cutesy than the last one I made . I have had this starry background stamp from Hero Arts for a long time and was so excited to use it! I did some ombre stamping with Stampin' Up ink and love the results. And I also managed to mess up the embossing on the second card so I had to add another layer. I even tried using the EK powder tool this time. Embossing gets me every time... Supplies : stamps - Basic Grey by Hero Arts, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up dies - Lawn Fawn ink - Stampin' Up patterned paper - Memory Box, Webster's Pages embossing powder - Stampendous powder tool - EK Success markers - Copic

I was so inspired to try something new this week, as part of the Simon Says Challenge "No Ordinary Paper" . I have never tried mixed media because of my super duper strong pull towards a clean and simple aesthetic. I wouldn't exactly describe this first attempt as a mixed media collage, but a step in the right direction for trying something new creatively. Supplies : Corrugated cardboard - from my recycling bin Stardream metallic cardstock (green) Chevron punch - Stampin' Up Embroidery floss - Amy Tangerine embroidery kit by American Crafts Paper doily Kraft paper bag - from my recycling bin USA stamp - Hero Arts Archival Ink - Ranger Watercolors Manila tag ABC stickers - Creative Imaginations Ribbon

I have a few YouTube channels that I watch every week. One my favorites is Laura Bassen, and her masked card this week had me so inspired! I pulled out an older Avery Elle set that I had not used yet for the "anything goes" challenge at Simon Says . Love the sentiments in this Modern Leaves set!  Just wish I could find a better white ink. I have tried a number of them and they never turn out to be opaque on dark card stock. Suggestions? Supplies : Stamps - Avery Elle Ink - Memento | Hero Arts | Brilliance Cardstock - Papertrey Ink

I just bought this "Stuck On You" set from Lawn Fawn and I couldn't wait to use it. I did some Copic shading to add some color to the middle succulent and I love it! I used the Lawn Fawn "Claire's ABCs" set to add a sentiment for the Simon Says thank you challenge . And I have been wanting to try Copic coloring with polka dots using the colorless blender. Need to use these markers more often. They're fun! Supplies : Stamps - Lawn Fawn Ink - Hero Arts Shadow Ink | Memento Die - Lawn Fawn Markers - Copic | Wink of Stella

The XYZ challenge from Simon Says this week made me think of a gift for my daughter's preschool teacher. I knew that I wanted to make something super practical and not knick knacky. A set of thank you cards seemed perfect because I know she uses them throughout the school year.  I made sure there was a yellow one in there just because of the challenge! And I will package them up in a little gift bag with some apple stamps and a bow. Supplies : Embossing folders - Provo Craft Die - Memory Box Stamps - Hero Arts Bow punch - Stampin' Up Cards & cardstock - Michael's  

This was another card that I spent a crazy amount of time on, because it was for a crafty friend's birthday and I had new stamps to play with. I have had these two step floral stamps for a while but this was my first time trying them. They are red rubber cling stamps and a little bit difficult to line up perfectly. Supplies : Stamps - Stampin' Up | Paper Source Ink - Stampin' Up | Hero Arts Twine - Papertrey Ink Jumbo glitter - Tree House Studio

I made this doughnut card for my husband for Valentine's Day this year. This was the conversation that followed... Him: I really like this card. That donut is awesome. And I still like it even if it isn't true. Me: No, it's true. Him: Aww. That's nice. I love you too. Me: I actually like cinnamon rolls more than donuts now. Him: Oh. Makes more sense now. I tried using my Distress Markers with a water brush for the first time on the donut. I'm not so sure about the technique.  Jennifer McGuire makes it look so easy!  Supplies : Stamps - Hero Arts | Stampin' Up Dies - Papertrey Ink Ink - Memento | Ranger Archival Ink Markers - Tim Holtz Distress Markers Glitter - Stickles

I had the best of intentions when it came to putting together a little Christmas package of crafty love for a friend, but I was late. Really late. Sorry Christine! So I changed themes and made her some tags for Valentine's Day instead.  Supplies: Embroidery Kit: Amy Tangerine for American Crafts "Capture" kit Washi Tape: We R Memory Keepers Stamps: Simon Says Stamp "Envelope Sentiments", Lawn Fawn "Critters in the Forest" & "Bee Mine", Avery Elle "Party Animal" Twine: Peppermint Divine Twine from Whisker Graphics Tag Die: Papertrey Ink Ink: Hero Arts Neon, Hero Hues Chalk Markers & Pens: Stampin' Up Stampin' Write markers (heart ombre), Copic (fox), Sakura Glaze  Cardstock: assorted scraps