Masculine Holiday

Happy September THD fans!  You know how the holidays arrive earlier and earlier every year (or at least that's how it seems, especially as you age...), well for once I have made a seasonal card long before the holidays even hit the shelves!  I was inspired by our current challenge that began yesterday!  Masculine cards are hard, but Tonya has a great selection of papers, dies, and ephemera to pull together a great man's card!

Once I started cutting the Flora & Fauna Bus & Camper Dies, I couldn't stop.  I have 4 cards already completed and 6 more in the works featuring these die cuts, which are amazing and so versatile-- you can see my fall version at the challenge page!  Check back at my blog or Instagram for the others inspired by our challenge and products in the Heart Desires store!

The Concord & 9th tree ring will never get old-- stamped in Unicorn White and heat embossed on kraft, then fussy cut and layered with the rest of the die cuts and ephemera.  The fun wood saw is available in the store from Richard Garay's Lumberjack series.

The Jen Hadfield paper pack Warm & Cozy supplied all the plaids and woodgrain patterned papers.  Don't you love the Splendid Stag from Newton's Nook cut in the brown plaid?

Tonya has a great selection of Brushos, another technique I love used here on Ranger watercolor paper and die cut.

I featured the Carta Bella Autumn series Washi tape (the same design can be found in the paper pack) and wrapped it all up with the Neat & Tangled envelope die.  Tonya has a great selection of Neat and Tangled, but this die is only available as an exclusive at their site.

That's a wrap!  Hope I've helped inspire you to get a head start on holiday cards! 

The Heart Desires Challenge 16

Fall is nearly upon us and I am so ready! I love everything about the season: the changing of the colors, little animals stuffing their faces in preparation for winter (yeah, that's my excuse), harvest, crisp mornings and warm afternoons, just everything about it. Come celebrate with us and join in the fun!

When you post your entries, feel free to tag us on social media!

#thdchallenge, #theheartdesiresstore


Deanne, Challenge Winner
(using Altenew Peony stamp set, SugarPea Designs Chatterbox Sentiments and SugarPea Designs Celebrate)

Toni
(using Neat and Tangled Maple Thanks and coordinating die, VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade and Candied Apple)

Kimberly
(using SugarPeas Designs Fall Fox, Stitched Flag Dies, Zig Zag Stitch Rectangle Die, Carta Bella Autumn 6x6 Paper, Pebbles Jen Hadfield Warm and Cozy 6x6 Paper, Versafine Black Onyx Ink)

Lenae
(using SugarPea Designs Nuts About You and Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Fall 6x6 Paper)

Wendy
(using Neat & Tangled My Favorite Nut)

Amy
(using Lawn Fawn Hang in There and Perfectly Plaid Rainbow 6x6 Paper)


Katie
(using SugarPea Designs Nuts About You and Lantern die, Neat & Tangled My Favorite Nut and Beach Day 6x6 paper)

Jen

(using Neat & Tangled My Favorite Nut, Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nested Rectangles and Scalloped Stitched Rectangles, Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink, Strathmore Bristol paper)

Kate

(using Flora & Fauna Bus & Camper dies, Concord & 9th Layering Leaves dies, Carta Bella Autumn 6x6 paper, Pebbles Jen Hadfield Warm & Cozy)

Juhi

(using Neat & Tangled My Favorite Nut and Hexastar Cover Plate) 

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Happy Birthday Sunshine!

Kimberly with you today, wanting you to join our challenge!!  I hope you are as EXCITED as I am over this challenge board.  Eeeeek.. It is a Sweeet Combo!

I knew the sweet images in the delightful challenge colors using watercolor would really "pop" off a white background, so I used Neenah paper for the card base, and stamped the Neat & Tangled Beach Day characters in Versafine Black Onyx on Strathmore Bristol Vellum Paper, as well as using the Gina Marie Cross Stitch Circle Dies for my "pocket."

 I just LOVE these Neat & Tangled images!!! 

I colored the images with Koi watercolor brush markers and a Zig Detail Water Brush for blending. I trimmed the circle die cut to a pocket shape, added the sentiments, and topped with a scrap of Pollen Bazill Basics Paper, as well as a square of ombre pink paper from the Jen Hadfield Everyday 6x6 pad.  For additional texture and detail, I die cut the borders of the papers with a rectangle stitch die. The images were adhered with foam mount tape.  The card base was embossed with the WeR Memory Keepers Next Level Dotted Folder, I added the pocket and images, swiped the suits and watermelon with a little Wink of Stella Clear, added some white gel pen accents, a little Pretty Pink Poshconfetti sequin "bling," [That I love so very much!]  I was done! 

I based my coloring on the current Challenge #15 amazing images and vibrant colors. I sure hope that you are as excited as we are about the AMAZING inspiration challenge boards that The Heart Desires has, the MORE than amazing DT creations!  I count myself privileged and blessed to be on a team with my friends that I get to see regularly and be so creative with, its a BLAST!

I look forward to seeing you in the Gallery my friends!!

Birthday Layer Cake

Happy February, THD fans!  There's a lot to celebrate today-- a new month, a new challenge here at THD, Groundhog's Day, and... my birthday!  I'm so glad to be sharing it with you, and to sweeten the ocassion, I have a new take on the old Concord and 9th tree ring-- chocolate layer cake!

I stamped the tree rings with Hero Arts Unicorn White ink on Tim Holtz watercolor paper and heat embossed with white powder. Using Brushos, I sprinkled, dappled and painted the rings with the crystals.

I then fussy cut two of the rings and layered them atop the largest ring.

The white embossing is like rings of icing!

I really like these brushos for the variation in colors--the brown Brushos have pink crystals and multiple browns.

Using Altenew's Wild Hibiscus, I adorned my cake with these gorgeous neon pink flowers and the butterfly, which I stamped on vellum, heat embossed, and then fussy cut.  This floral set is going to get so much use--the sketched flowers and butterfly variations are amazing and they will work really well with some of the new Waffleflower selections that Tonya will soon offer in the store. It's also a Mother's Day focued set, a holiday that will be here before we know it! 

My centerpiece has been layered atop Neat and Tangled's Hexstar coverplate. Working with the law of thirds, and the last of my beloved Jen Hadfield gilded woodgrain paper, I layered a bit under the coverplate and echoed it with the little sprig-- which is very similar to the Gina Marie leaves Tonya has in store.

I hope you were inspired to use your Concord and 9th Tree Ring in a new way!  Think of the wedding, anniversary, and birthday cake combos you can make with this great stamp, some delicious Brushos, and a variety of adornments!  I think I'll make a 5 vanilla and chocolate layer cake next!

Have a sweet February, and here's to 6 fewer weeks of winter (keep your shadow down Groundhog!).

Other Items Used:

Papertrey Ink Birthday Sentiment Die

WOW Neon Embossing Powder

Warm & Cozy

Hello everyone!  A warm and cozy welcome to you and November! 

As we move from the glory days of fall into the darkening winter, I am hoping to warm up your week with a couple of transitional cards that feature not one, not two, but three of the wonderful paper offerings Tonya has in the store!

One card has it's foot in the waning days of fall, the other firmly planted in the festive reds and greens of the winter to come.  You may also note the inspiration in each from our latest challenge that just started anew on Wednesday.

Apologies for the overexposed and blue-grey nature of the photos, as I have new editing software and do everything on the tiny screen of my phone, which often looks okay in small format and with a good screen resolution.  On my 6-year-old laptop, however, (which has terrible resolution), the colors look awful!  I hope they look good on your shiny new-ish device!

 

For my fall thinking of you card, I made a collage atop the Concord and 9th Tree Ring, stamped and heat-embossed with Delicata Gold Ink on vellum (hasn't gotten old yet!)--both available in the store!  

You can find the Layering Leaves and the new Gina Marie Fern leaves dies in the shop.  The tall leaves are cut from woodgrain paper, and little frond is from the Warm and Cozy paper.  The three layered pattern papers are from (bottom to top) Warm and Cozy, Bloom, and Autumn by Carta Bella. These Carta Bella papers are the best--thick, textured and just great patterns.

I have been making my own flair with epoxy buttons measuring 1".  The little sentiments in the Warm and Cozy pack are just perfect for cutting with a 1" punch and making into buttons.

The font of the sentiment also matched the Hero Arts Dare to Dream sentiment on the inside well!

Next up a holiday thank you featuring the awesome squirrel paper from Carta Bella's Autumn set, the leaves and knit papers from Warm and Cozy, and the bottom layer embossed with the Richard Garay knit folder.  Tonya also carries the Autumn collection's Leaves embossing folder that would work great as a base layer here.

I used the Jen Hadfield Warm and Cozy ephemera for the deer head; the sprig and star though are from Take a Bough, by Concord and 9th!  Tonya has some stag head dies and wooden embellishments in the store, though! 

I've cut another flair for the sentiment, and then finished the inside with a sentiment from Concord and 9th's set Brushed Blossom which also works well with the font!

I think you're delightful for stopping by and checking out my work!  Hope you found some inspiration!  You can't go wrong when combining these paper sets and other fabulous products here!

Now that Halloween is behind us, here's to the next two months of festivities! Make sure to check back often for new products and inspiration to make your holidays and handmade goods delightful!

The Heart Desires Challenge 6

Elements:  Color, Creature (manimals included), Sketch

Fall is here and in some places it feels more like winter, so flannel and cocoa and perhaps even a beard are in order.  We hope you're inspired by the pic and sketch and will have loads of fun using the colors, creatures and manimals, or the sketch in your projects.  You have until November 30 to join in.  While you're at it, please tag us on Instagram!  Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

#THDchallenge

#theheartdesiresstore

We'll be announcing winners for Challenge 5 next Wednesday so check back!

Now onto the really good stuff.  Michele, one of the honorable mentions from Challenge #3 has done an amazing job interpreting the challenge.  Check out her fantastic colors and layout.  Did you notice the strip is a scarf with fringe? Say what?!  Such attention to detail.  Thanks for playing along with us this month, Michele!  The DT have worked their magic as well.  I love them all!

Michele
(Honorable Mention Challenge #3)



Toni
(using Carta Bella Plaid Stencil, Ranger Round Ink Applicator and Multi Medium Matte, Distress Ink Candied Apple, Squeezed Lemonade, VersaFine Onyx Black)

Katie
(using Neat & Tangled Lumberjack Love Stamps and Dies, Jen Hadfield Warm and Cozy 6x6 paper)

Wendy
(using SugarPea Designs Caffeine Addict, Gansai Tambi Watercolor Paint)

Amy

(using Lawn Fawn Narwhal and Friends, Perfectly Plaid 6x6, Love You a Latte and MFT Stay Cool.)

Jen 

(using Neat & Tangled Lumberjack Love, Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte, Versafine Black Onyx Ink, Strathmore Bristol Vellum Paper) 

Kate Lorenzini

(Using Jen Hadfield Warm and Cozy Paper, Carta Bella Autumn Paper, Concord & 9th Tree Ring, Hero Arts Unicorn White Ink)

Kimberly Wiener

(Using Concord & 9th Tree Ring, You're My Person, WeR Memory Keepers Embossing Folder Woven)

Juhi

(using Neat & Tangled Scandinavian Prints Stamps and coordinating dies)

Lenae

(Using Lawn Fawn Frosty Fairy Friends Stamps and Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Paper)

Concord & 9th You're My Person	Concord & 9th Tree Ring	Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte	Lawn Fawn Narwhal and Friends Dies
My Favorite Things Stay Cool	Neat & Tangled Scandinavian Prints	Neat & Tangled Scandinavian Prints Dies	Neat and Tangled Lumberjack Love
Neat & Tangled Lumberjack Love Dies	Sugarpea Designs Caffeine Addict	Pebbles Jen Hadfield Warm & Cozy 6x6 Paper	Lawn Fawn 6x6 Plaid Paper
Strathmore Bristol Vellum Paper	Carta Bella Autumn 6x6 Paper	We R Memory Keepers Woven Next Level EF	Carta Bella Plaid Stencil
Gansai Tambi Watercolors	Distress Ink Mowed Lawn	Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade	Distress Ink Tumbled Glass
Zig H2O Detail Watercolor Brush	VersaFine Onyx Black	Ranger Round Ink Applicators

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Please read the rules below before you enter. We can't wait to see what your heart desired!

• Challenges will run from the first Wednesday to the last Wednesday of each month.  This challenge ends November 30.
• Use one, two or three of the identified elements. 
• If you choose to use colors, you need only use 2 or 3 of them. 
• Use your choice of neutrals (white, kraft, black, gray).
• Identify the elements you chose to use if not readily evident. 
• Enter up to 3 times and combine with no more than 5 challenges, including ours. 
•  Include the inspiration pic as well as a link to the challenge in your post. 
• The challenge winner will be invited to be a future guest designer. 
• Most importantly, have fun!!!! 

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