Featured Company: Hero Arts

Happy Sunday!
I recently purchased a stamp set from Joann's called Peeking posies. I opened up the package and began stamping with the four rubber stamps. I was upset to realize that the corner of one stamp was damaged, not by the retailer, but during manufacturing.

I thought...huh, I wonder if Hero Arts will stand behind their stamps? I went online and found an e-mail address to tell then my situation. Here is my letter:

Hello Hero Arts,

My name is Cindy Jones. I am an avid stamper, and absolutely LOVE your products. I placed an order online at Joann's.com and purchased your PEEKING POSIES stamp set. I was dismayed to find that the corner of one of the four stamps was damaged. The rubber was not formed properly. I was hoping you could help me with this matter as it seems to be a manufacturing issue, not a retailer issue. Is there a way to replace the one stamp? Have attached the purchase receipt from Joann's. 

Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing from you,

Sincerely,

Cindy Jones

(I included my email, home address and telephone number)

I received a wonderful e-mail back saying that they love hearing from their customers, and they will send out that individual stamp to me for no charge. It arrived a few days later. What a great company! I will most definitely continue to enjoy their products! Way to go Hero Arts! I am a very happy customer!

Featured Pet: Snow Toes in the Sun

Here is a picture of my beautiful cat. I just love her! She's sunning herself on the tub.

Try, Try again...

I think I am ahead of the deadline on this challenge!  :) I am excited to be a part of a challenge. Take a look!

Featured Stamp: Glass Vases by Hero Arts

Happy Saturday!
I sure do look forward to the weekends when I have time to create in my craft room and post my creations on my blog to share with you. I sure do enjoy it. Today's duo features a gorgeous stamp that I grabbed from a craiglist ad. What a great stamp! This makes for such a clean and simple card. I did not put a sentiment on them, but I think I might along the bottom when the occasion comes to it.Take a look:

Supplies: Stamps:Glass Vases - Hero Arts  Paper:  Neenah Cardstock  Inks: Yo-Yo Yellow, Bundled Sage, Tuxedo Black Tools/Punches/Dies: SU! markers.

Featured Duo: Wildflower Garden by Hero Arts

I enjoy searching splitcoaststampers.com for ideas and inspiration for my creations. I fell in love with a someone's card, and made these cards very similar to it. I wanted to give the artist a link, but I cannot locate the card now! (very frustrating). I even went back through my browser history to see if I could find it. No luck. Sorry....Enjoy!

Supplies: Stamps: Wildflower Garden - Hero Arts  Paper:  Real Red - SU!, Tempting Teal  - SU!, Neenah Cardstock  Inks: VersaMark - Watermark, Pink Passion, YoYo Yellow, Groovy Guava, Glorious Green, Brilliant Blue inks - SU! Tools/Punches/Dies: Fiskars Embossing plates whimsy and leaves, Exotic Butterfly small #2 - Cherry Lynn Designs Other: Fine White Embossing Powder, glue.

Featured Stamp Set: Pocketful o' Posies by Hero Arts

Hello All!
 I wasted no time experimenting with my new purchases. I have a duo to share with you using the Hero Arts Pocketful o' Posies.

On duo one, the three flowers are evenly spread apart, and colored with copic markers. Both cards are on river rock cardstock by SU.

On duo two, I used colored pencils and gamsol to blend the colors together. I used clear embossing on the edges and on top of each flower. The purple rectangle behind has been dry embossed as well as distressed and clear heat embossed around the edges.  The sentiment is embossed black to tie it all together.

Supplies: Stamps: Pocketful o' Posies - Hero Arts, Feeling Better soon 02 - Stampabilities  Paper: River Rock - SU, Perfect Plum - SU, Neenah Cardstock  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark - watermark, Copic markers, Colored pencils, Gamsol Tools/Punches/Dies: Paper distresser, Embossing folder Other: Black Embossing Powder, Perfect Plum ribbon

Purchase: Craig's list find!

I search our local Craig's list occasionally to see if there are any good finds on stamps and stamp supplies. I found a good one today. This gentleman's mom had passed and she had to been collecting stamps, inks and papers for years. I dug through boxes and draws of stamps, and found a few that made me smile (hero arts always does) and some odds and end items that I have never had the chance to own (white flock). I had to show you my finds! The cost....this is the good part, You'll have to scroll down to see the price. Take a look! (you may need a tissue to collect the drool...lol)

The price.....drum roll...$30.00 total! Can you believe it? That is a bit more than a dollar an item! Yes, these are used items, but a few of them are unused. To be truthful, the only REALLY beloved stamp in the bunch is the oriental writing background stamp. How about those adorable birds? He also threw in some older stamp magazines to get ideas from.... I can't wait to get stampin'! :)

Featured Technique: Blending with Masking Card Set

 I am beginning to think I have a hidden "clean and simple" style yet...I really love the simplicity of this set. The colors just pop. I chose flowers from three different sets with different sentiments. The bluebells are from Local King Stamps (Chicks), the set of 2 flowers is from Penny Black (Allegro) and the dandelion set is from Hero Arts (Wildflower Garden). This is going to make such a great gift. Enjoy!

Featured Set: Peeking Posies

Hello,

I just broke open my peeking posies! I saw this idea on Stamping Mathilda. I had to try it. I think these would have looked better on smaller square cards. I am am sure I will attempt this again soon. This set is epic! It is surely a keeper and a classic. (like the package states). My new colored pencils did a beautiful job on these flowers. Gamsol is fun to experiment with also. 

I am  transitioning from my old point and shoot to my Samsung galaxy phone camera. Man, I had to due some research on the orientation that is stored in the picture to ensure it is the correct orientation on the blog. This new technology is great, but the free blog software has not caught up to it yet! :)

Featured Set: Watercolor Petals by Hero Arts

Hello again,
I absolutely love the stamp sets I purchased from JoAnn's! I have only had time to play with one or two sets so far. I did run out of WHITE cardstock and had to place an order for Neenah Solar White Cardstock. Love that stuff. I bit the bullet and purchased a WHOLE ream from Ellen Hutson. Great site! I will be purchasing from her again. I even saved 10% by using a coupon code. (yahoo!)

Anyway, lets get to the cards, take a look!

Feel free to double click on the pictures to get a better look. I love my low-tack masking tape. I used all distress inks with the exception of the brown/orange one. I used a cat's eye pigment ink set I had. I don't own a brown/orange distress pad...yet. (keyword: YET...lol) I took thread and tied a bow on each card, with exception of the green one.

Featured Stamp: Brocade Backgrounds by Sparkle N Sprinkle

Hello Again!
I have a duo to share with you. I must say these styles are not my usual, I am trying to explore outside of my comfort zone. I got the chance to drive up to Sparkle N Sprinkle in Ruskin, FL. I have stopped by their booth many times at the local stamp conventions, and wanted to see their store. I fell in love with this butterfly. I wasn't smitten with the entire set, so they sold me the butterfly solo. See what you think!

New Creation: Ribbon storage!

I am so excited!
I was in need of a method of storing all my ribbon. The boxes were just not working. I went online and saw this. I wanted it SO badly, until I looked at the price and shipping. I kept looking. I ran into this post and this one. I had a handy husband, and thought "Why can't we build this?" SO......we did!

It came out to be a different size than the one in the post, but these dimensions allowed us to build two. They came out to 20" by 24". The second one I am going to see if I need it. If not, I think we will sell it to off-set the cost.

I just love the way it came out, and all my ribbon fits perfectly! I think we will be more apt to build the next piece of furniture I need .......  soon....Thank you honey! You are the best!  :)