My new, improved, redesigned Blog page :)

I have admired some of the unique blog templates out there and finally decided to look into getting one of my own. I posed a question to the Hero Arts Flickr group asking where I could find such templates. I knew the wonderful people who belong to the group would know and respond and they did :) I found this template on delightfuldots.blogspot.com - check this site out. Anyway, hope you like the template I chose, I love it. Did I mention the templates are free and have easy to follow instruction. Have fun!!!

I {Heart} Hero Arts Blog Hop

This thank you card is for the wonderful Hero Arts employees and company. Ashley M posted a blog hop to the HA Flickr group and I made this card for the hop :)
My answers to the 2 blog hop questions are:
1) I started stamping about 4 1/2 years ago. A friend introduced me to Stampin' Up. I loved making cards and other paper crafts, however SU stamps just were not my style. I started scouting out stamps on-line and at the craft stores and discovered Hero Arts stamps. HA stamps are such good quality stamps and the images are among my favorites.
2) I can't say how thankful I am for Hero Arts. Not only are their stamps my favorites, but I can't say enough about this fabulous company. I love the HA blog, such inspiration! And, the HA Flickr group is wonderful.
Thank you Hero Arts :)

Monotone toy, wood circle and flower

Here's another card for the HA monochromatice challenge. I'm happy w/ this card. I enjoy this stamp so much, however it's not always easy to make an attractive card with it. This card is one of my favorites using this stamp. Items used: Hero Arts clear design all occasion messages and flower wood background, ribbon, HA art flowers, gem.

Monotone Mountain Girls

This is another card I made for the Hero Arts monochromatic challenge this week. You know, at first I wasn't taken by these little Japanese girl stamps at all. But, I took a chance and bought them and now I can't seem to get enough of these stamps. Not so sure about this card, but it was fun to make. Items used: Hero Arts 3 Japanese girls and clear design Asian borders, HA sparkle gems, ribbon.

Bouquet of Joy

Simple Pleasures, my favorite craft store in Colorado Springs recently had a big, did I say BIG sale! All stamps were 50% off and they have a very large selection of wonderful stamps. Most other items in the store were on sale too.
One of the stamps sets I bought was this one, Crafty Secrets clear art stamps Bouquet of Joy. Image colored w/ inks and aqua brush. Also added a few pearls :)

I made this card for this week's Hero Arts challenge "monochromatic". I'm quite happy w/ this card, love the little Japanese girls stamps :) Items used: Hero Arts LL126 3 Jan=panese dolls, CL220 Asian borders and LL688 Komono silk stamps, gems, pearl, ribbon.

Hero Arts Cling Stamps

,,,,I was at Archivers this week-end and was so happy to see Hero Arts new cling stamps. I have a few Stampendous cling stamps and had not realized HA was producing them also. Here are 2 cards I made w/ my first HA cling stamp. I'm sure I will add more to my collection in the near future :)

Bicycle Days

We live in a beautiful valley in Colorado. Many bike riders cruise this valley, especially on week-ends. I was in Archiver's this week and they used the stamp I used here to make a pretty thank you card. I had eyed this stamp for a few weeks and finally bought it. Here's the first of many cards I will make using this stamp. Items used: Rubber soul bicycle & flowers stamp, LL169 HA from the heart greetings stamp, jute twine, gems, watercolor pencils, Nesties.

Another Cinderella Dress

I love this Hero Arts dress stamp, however find it so hard to creat cards I'm happy with when using it. I had stamped this dress image a few months ago and decided to give it a try, so here goes. Items used: K5112 Fancy Dress, HA holiday doves, gold pearls, ribbon, DP