Longing for Spring

Hi everyone!  A post has been LONG overdue, but I'm back in the saddle and with a new card and a cool challenge!

Just in time before I completely lose my mind from lack of sun up here in New England, Hero Arts has a new challenge for us!  It's full of fun and color and some great techniques.

I decided to use the color palette Hero Arts chose because it sang Spring to me and I am honestly burnt out on Christmas and Valentine's Day colors.  I also had a new Spellbinders die I wanted to try out and it was perfect for the design I had in mind. 

I used the Hero Arts stamp Scallop Flower because of its whimsical and organic nature, to go along with the Botanical Swirls die.  I couldn't resist dotting the flower centers with Ranger white Enamel Accents and then I fussy cut them out. I used Hero Arts Shadow Inks in Butter Bar, Soft Sky, and Soft Granite for the Made with Love sentiment.

I had some gorgeous sheer ribbon that was a gift from my friend Cheiron - it's perfect with all these soft colors and I used some gray and white twine to "tie" it all together!  I thought it needed a little feminine touch, so I used the Martha Stewart doily lace edge punch on the side.

I hope you get a chance to enter this fun challenge!  Happy Spring!

I'd love to hear your comments, as always!

Hugs,

Marcy

Card Class Clean and Simple 2 - Day One

Well, I did it! I completed my first official card from the Clean and Simple 2 Card Class.  Day one was focused on craftsmanship - chock full of tips, techniques, and cardmaking awesomeness.  I do appreciate how clean and crisp the cards turn out.  I may even fully embrace this CAS style! 

I only did one card for now, because I'm a day behind and I want to catch up.  The sketch I used really appealed to me.  It was from Kristina Werner. (I was drawn to her video with her pretty purple nail polish!)

In my typical style, I went down a different color "road."  Hey, I'm a CAS newbie - I have to move into this genre SLOWWWWLY.  So I went with cocoa instead of white. :)

Here's a lookie!

Paper - Bazzill

Stamps - Hero Arts Glow Girl CL650

Ink - Stazon Timber Brown

Other - Hero Arts Stamp and Cut Arrow D1072, Studio Calico Huey's Chevron Mask, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Sunshine, Sakura Gelly Roll Pens Clear and Copper, Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Circle Small

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!  I'd love to hear your comments.

Hugs,

Marcy

A Really Quick and Easy Breakfast

Good morning readers!  It's a cold, snowy day here in New England and I had some recipes I wanted to try.  One of them is this recipe for Crockpot Oatmeal with Apples.

I found this on Pinterest, which is always "iffy" in my eyes.  Since it's a simple recipe with ingredients that are relatively inexpensive, I figured it wouldn't be a total loss if it failed.  Well, it WORKED!  My husband said it was the best oatmeal he ever ate and that it tasted like apple pie!  I have to agree.

It literally takes no more than five minutes to throw together.  Do it at night and you have a warm, stick-to-your-ribs breakfast in the morning.  It keeps for a week in the fridge.  Please give it a try!

photo courtesy of  Pinterest

                      Crock Pot Oatmeal with Apples

Serving Size  : 4-6, depending on your preference    

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  2             apples -- peeled and sliced
 1/3           cup  brown sugar
  1             teaspoon  cinnamon
  2             cups  oatmeal
  4             cups  water

In order, put sliced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour oatmeal then water on top. Do NOT stir. Cover and cook (overnight) for 8 – 9 hours on low.  Serve with milk.

                                    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving: 243 Calories; 3g Fat (10.1% calories from fat); 7g Protein; 50g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 14mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 2 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Fruit; 1/2 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.


ENJOY!!

Hero Hostess Blog Hop - My Giveaway Winner!

And the randomly chosen winner is Buffy Esser!  I have sent you an e-mail Buffy!  Congratulations!

Day Three Hero Arts Hostess Blog Hop 2013 - And a Giveaway!

Welcome to day three of the Hero Arts Hostess Blog Hop, featuring stamps from the newest catalog release!  I am so excited and honored to have this opportunity to be participating in the Hop for the very first time, as I am one of the newest alumni!

You should have arrived here from the lovely and talented Sally Sherfield's Created by Sally blog.  If you want to return to the beginning of the hop, HERE is where it's all happening!  Please report any broken links to Tami.

I made four cards to showcase some of my favorite stamps from the new 2013 catalog.  I will spare you the details of how I created each card, but please feel free to e-mail me if you are interested!

Stamps: S5637 Tiny Ink Spots, F5728 Six Petal Flower, CL650 Glow Girl

Paper: Snow layering paper

Inks: Mid-Tone Shadow Inks Navy & Pale Tomato, Shadow Ink Butter Bar, Neon Pink &Yellow Dye Ink, 

Other: Lil Inker Square Die, Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags die

Stamps: CG514 Everything Flower, CL649 Remember Your Kindness

Paper: Snow layering paper, Bazzill Licorice

Inks: Stazon Black, VersaMark Watermark 

Other: Zing Mustard Embossing Powder, Creative Impressions ribbon, Queen & Co. pearls

Stamps: CG509 Leafy Vines, CL476 With Sympathy

Paper: Tim Holtz Large Manilla Tag, Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings Collection, Bazzill Candy Bar

Inks: Stazon Brown, VersaMark Watermark, Tim Holtz Tattered Rose and Fired Brick Distress Ink 

Other: Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, May Arts ribbon,Sizzix Embosslits Beautiful Wings, My Favorite Things Bracket Die

Stamps: CG404 Heart Leaf Background, CL586 XO

Paper: Snow layering paper, Lagoon and Red Digital Color, Ellen Hutson Vellum

Inks: Stazon Blazing Red, VersaMark Watermark 

Other: Hero Arts White Embossing Powder, Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, Glossy Accents, Fancy Dies D1063 Renaissance Heart, Queen & Co. rhinestones


Hero Arts will be awarding prizes from randomly drawn comments. For a chance to win, simply comment on ANY of the stops along the hop on ANY day, including each day's starting post at the Hero Club Blog.  The more comments you leave, the better your chance of winning!

I also want to share my excitement by having my own little giveaway of some Hero Arts goodies!  Just leave a comment on this post & I'll randomly draw a winner on Saturday.

Next up on the hop is the sweet and creative Linda Wetterlin and her blog Scrappin,' Stampin,' & Singin'. Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you're enjoying all the eye candy my sister Hosti have created for you!

Exciting News Over at Hero Arts Blog!

We are going to be HOPPING!  Join us January 14-18 for the Hero Hostess Blog Hop, showcasing stamps from the latest catalog release!  I will be participating with my fellow hostess alumnae!  Lots of prizes and I will be having a giveaway on my blog too!

Runway Inspired Challenge #26 Bibhu Mohapatra

 I just saw this GORGEOUS inspiration photo over at Runway Inspired and swooned over the colors!  Isn't this designer FABULOUS?!  I immediately knew how I wanted to construct my card and what elements I wanted to use.  *EDITED - I WON THE FABULOUS FASHIONISTA FOR MY CARD*

 I pulled out my alcohol inks (stonewashed, lettuce, and willow) and glossy white cardstock and just dripped, dabbed, and pounced until I got the desired look.

Next, I took this Hero Arts stamp, Tall Flowers, a very Indian-inspired image, and stamped it in Midnight Blue Stazon ink. I just HAD to add a little bling by Hero Arts for the beautiful shine seen in the silk dress.

I finished off the card with a beautiful lemongrass satin ribbon to emulate the fabric on the dress bottom.  I added this SRM sticker, given to me by a very special friend.  I thought it was SO appropriate!

I loved this inspiration photo so much, I decided to create another card!  This time is used a Memory Box Floral Square die glazed with Glossy Accents.  For the curve of the dress, I used a Spellbinders Reverse Wonky die on some MME papers.  For the dress bottom, this time I used Webster's Pages Fabric Roses.  I finished it off with a Hero Arts XO stamp inked with the Stazon Midnight Blue, but on vellum with some pearls.

Please join in on the fun over at the Runway Inspired Challenge!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  I love to hear your comments.

This is My Song

There are a few things I like to call my "favorites" when it comes to what inspires me.  An odd little list, but mine just the same.  Music, birds, the colors pink and yellow, an elegant touch of black, ribbons, flowers, and vintage finds.  Remember the Sound of Music and These Are a Few of My Favorite Things?

Such is the card I made this week for our challenge at Our Creative Corner, using a few things from my list. Our hostess, Liliana Inguanti of Stitching and Fabrics asks us to create a project using fabrics and some stitching. You can use the fabrics in any part of your card, either as a flower, a small embellishment, or whatever you want. The stitching can be either faux stitching or machine stitching. Please specify where you used your fabric if it is not noticeable in the project.

Here is my design team card for some inspiration.  I decided to take a well-needed break from Christmas cardmaking!

   

I found this image on Pinterest and printed it out on sticky back canvas - that is my fabric piece.  In real life, there are faint areas of music.  I painted the leaves of the image with Glossy Accents and brightened up the sweet finch a bit with yellow Copics. I took a piece of silk ribbon, attached a pale pink flower to it and then attached the image to a piece of pink cardstock.  I stitched that to a black card.  

Please drop by Our Creative Corner and join in on our challenge.  I hope you'll have fun playing along!  Also, check out the awesome projects from the FAB design team - they are amazing!  

  Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

  Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts (you are here!)
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu- Simply Paper Crafts
Sharon Wheet- Designs by Sharon

Cristina Barnes - Dot Dot Stamping Design

Liliana Inguanti - Stampin' From Home

 Paula McClane - Scrap Addicts Attic

 Lisa Minckler - You Made Me Ink!

 Kim Price - Inkognito

SUPPLIES:

Paper - Bazzill

Inks and Markers - Copics Y11 and Y02

Other - Vintage image found on Pinterest, Glossy Accents, May Arts silk ribbon, Prima flower

Thanks for visiting my blog.  I'd love to hear your comments!