Taking part in a challenge

Hello there!
I can't remember the last time I took part in a challenge but seeing as I'm back, I might as well be back all the way! This week at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge the challenge is "STAMP IT" using the SSS exclusive products.

Here is my card for the challenge:

I used a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor paper and smooshed three different distress inks on to the card - picked raspberry, milled lavender and twisted citron. After drying, I cut it out using the largest die from the Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangles dies. 

For the sentiment, I used the SSS/Hero Arts Prayers Stamp and Cut die set from the 2015 STAMPtember release. I stamped the sentiment "sending hugs and ......to you and your family" with Versafine onyx black ink and die cut "prayers" with the coordinating die from Bazzill black card stock. I then adhered the card piece on to a black textured side folding A2 card from DCWV.

I hope you like it :)

Big hugs,

Becca

Rollercoaster week

Sorry I've been MIA. Last week was one heck of a week! First of all there was an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand! Did I ever tell you that my brother and his family live in Christchurch? No? Well, he does.
Luckily for him (and us) he wasn't at work on Tuesday because he was off sick with gastroenteritis. My brother's work place is in downtown Christchurch and the earthquake destroyed his building trapping some  co-workers until they could be rescued. Two of his team are still missing! On the morning of the quake he was at the doctors with my sister-in-law and I am soooo glad that he got sick (so are they!) Atfer the doctors they had decided to go into town to the library to return a book, but my brother forgot to take the book with him so they decided to go to a their local library and check out the books there. This is where they were when the quake hit at 12.50 instead of the downtown library which got seriously damaged. Someone up there was looking out for them (twice) and I am really grateful! Our hearts go out to all those who lost loved ones!

Sadly, we had bad news this week anyway. On Thursday evening we got a phone call informing us that my husband's brother-in-law had just died of heart failure while playing sports, at only 53 years of age leaving four children ages 23-10 years old. This was so unexpected and we are still in shock!
The funeral will take place on Wednesday. I cannot grasp the feelings that they all must be having. It makes me even more grateful for what I have!
I've used all my condolence cards so have to make some more. I wanted something simple yet elegant and I thought about the lovely HA flower stamp that I bought last year (and haven't yet used) and started inking it up and this is what I came up with. I have two more to make.

Card recipe:
Papers: DCWV / HOTP
Stamps. Hero Arts Stencil Flower CG194 / Everyday Sayings CL342
Inks: Memento Tuxedxo Black / Copics: YG03 G82
Punches: Fiskars Lace Border
Ribbon: Knorr prandell
Flat back pearl and doily from my stash

Thanks for listening to my ramblings and wish you all a lovely Monday. Hug your loved one because you never know what is around the corner!

Hugs to you all,
Becca

Reindeer greetings

I can't believe how quickly Christmas is creeping up on me; I am sooo not prepared! I'll be busy the next few days with friends visiting from the US so that means even less time to make cards but I don't really care about that as I am so excited to see my friend and her daughter. You know when you meet people in your life and you just hit it off and then you don't see each other for years and when you do see each other again, you just carry on where you left off? Well that's how it is with Sherry - she's one of those "eternal" friends.

Anyway, on to my card. Christmas came early for me as the craft stuff I ordered came yesterday and I got to play with some of  my new Hero Arts stamps (plus Basic Grey paper pads, Magnolia and Lili of the Valley stamps, and some Nesties). Sherry is bringing the other stuff I ordered with her - so it'll be Christmas again tonight! :)
I've been dying to play with this reindeer when I saw it online and now it's mine! I think it's so classy.
I hope you like it.

Card supplies:
Card: Solid Box of Cards - DCWV (Chocolate Brown)
Design paper: Basic Grey Blush 
Paper: Bazzill Kraft 
Die cuts: Nestabilities Label #1, Classic scalloped cirlces large, Standard circles large
Ink: Distress Ink - barn door, antique linen, walnut stain / HA Shadow Ink - soft pool
Stamps: Fiskars Winter Wonderland (sentiment), Hero Arts Swirl Christmas (reindeer and snowflakes)
Ribbon: Knorr prandell
Rhinestones: Hero Arts


Have a lovely day!

Hugs,

Becca

Colour combo alternatives

Today I made three cards using the colour combo from Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration and Jordan decided which of the three I should enter. I think he chose well. Here are the other two I created:

The papers are from Déjà Views Fresh Print Apple collection, the butterflies are from Hero Arts and are coloured in with copic markers. The bee stickers are from Penny Black, the ribbon from Offray and the pearls from Artoz.

The background paper is from DCWV "The Old World Stack" and the bottom papers are from Basic Grey Lily Kate collection and have been punched with a Fiskars scallop punch. The buttons are from Doodlebug Design and the ribbon is from Michaels. The stamp is from Hero Arts  "Little girl with heart" and has been coloured in with Copic markers and chalk ink and distressed with Distress Inks from Ranger. The butterfly is also from Hero Arts.

I still haven't figured out to colour hair properly - I think I'll have to go and look at a tutorial on youtube! :)

Thanks for looking and leave a comment if you like.

Hugs,
Becca