February's Double Duty (A Bit Late)

First, let me apologize to the team for being so tardy!  This is supposed to be posted on the 22nd. Barb, Jeanette & Carol should put me in the naughty corner, LOL.

This fun challenge is the brain-child of Barb. Each month we use a stamp set from a predetermined company and make 2 cards with it. Plus, we are to used at least one element on each card.  Then, we are to post on the 22nd.  This gives us a minimum of 3 sets of doubles.

This month we used Hero Arts and I picked the 2012 background stamp called "Leafy Vines".  Inspired by Carol's brilliant black and white cards over the years I decided to give that a try.

The white paneled card was heat embossed with Ranger's Black Sparkle embossing powder. 

My photography skills come up short to do it justice.  But hopefully this shot at an angle gives you some idea of the sparkle

Here's the black paneled card.  It took 3 attempts to get what I wanted. 

This is heat embossed with Taylored Expressions Fine Detail White embossing powder.

Both sentiments are from sets by Simon Says Stamp. I must admit that cutting them is a challenge for me!  

Thanks for stopping by. Double Duty Team, I promise to be on time next month!  Hop on over to their blogs and admire their Double Duty creations with Hero Arts stamps:

Barb

Jeanette

Carol

Dueling Darlings February 2022

Did you know that February is LIBRARY LOVERS Month??!!  I didn't 😉.

However, our team leaders knew and used this as our theme.

Tracie is this month's leader for our team and sent us a kit full of fun library themed papers, die cuts and sentiments.

Of course I had to make a double pocket card to hold two bookmarks.  

The pink bookmark was included in the kit from Tracie. Isn't it pretty?

The other one I made with a piece of the designer paper, a bookworm and stack of books that were included in the die cuts that Tracie sent.  I topped it off with one of the buttons and some twine which was also in the kit.

Here's a look at the card front with the 2 pockets without the bookmarks. I thought it was a nice way to feature the pretty papers that Tracie chose.

This is a top fold card, on Stampin Up Early Espresso card stock and layered with their Pool Party card stock.

The inside is finished with one of the sentiments and another piece of the designer paper from the kit.

Kit Contents:

Stamped images from "Book Worm" by Fun Stampers Journey
Designer Papers: 
  Books: Witches & Wizards by Echo Park
  Words: Scribe by Authentique
  Cubbies: Farmhouse Market by Carta Bella
Ribbons from The Ribbon Boutique (Red) and Island Indigo (Blue) by Stampin Up.
Gems from Fun Stampers Journey
Buttons and twine from Tracie's stash.

Tracie and Carol, this was a great theme.  Thanks Tracie for such a generous kit! I'm saving the adorable die cuts left over for another card or two!

February Hot Mess = Success!

One day late to post this, lots going on last week.

Our group of friends have a challenge. Make a card that involves a mess. I don't think that anyone in the group likes our stamping area to be too messy, so this is a stretch for all of us.  

Here's my Hot Mess = Success! card for February:

I was back to playing with Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polishes by Creative Expressions. I think I'm in love with these.

The stencil is one of a 3-part layering stencil called Balloon Party by Taylored Expressions.  The matching stamp set provided the black balloon ribbons.

This is white, 110# card stock with the Mediterranean Blue and Lush Pink sponged on. 

Then the stencil was used to heavily sponge on Tangy Tangerine, Gold Treasure, Red Bronze and Enchanted Gold polishes for the balloons. It all needed some drying time.

Stamping the black ribbons on top of the gilded background was a little tricky. I used Gina K Designs' Black Amalgam ink.  It did pretty well, but it is different to stamp onto the gilded surface. I masked some of the balloons to get the ribbons behind them.

The Happy Birthday sentiment had the Mediterranean Blue polish applied directly to the stamp and then stamped onto the card stock. Then it was hand trimmed.

Hop on over to these blogs to admire the Hot Mess Successes created by my friends:

Kelly

Jeanette

Barb

Terry

Carol

Thanks for stopping by!