Thursday, March 26, 2009

and now for something completely different!

edited & reposted, thursday 3/26:

HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the card below, with the bird on the branch, which i sent in to the "SPRING" card contest on the hero arts blog... (at the suggestion of a lovely lady called vera from the flickr group; thanks, vera!) ...well, it won the "fresh face" for this week!!! holy moly, how exciting is that?!

'scuse me whilst a do a littleHAPPY DANCE next to my desk!

(and now back to the original post, from sunday...new stuff tomorrow, though, honest!)

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actually that's a lie. once again i'm fixin' to show you MORE cards from the hero arts gallery we caardvarks made to go along with the current challenge*. on the other hand, whilst the theme is the same, the *CARDS* really are completely different. does that count?? (just nod & smile, ok?! thanks. i owe ya one!)

so far i've mostly showcased the asian frames set...but the all occasion messages may well be one of the most flexible...and just downright useful...stamp sets i've ever seen. it has *twenty* different phrases--covering a whole range of occasions and sentiments--plus eleven adorable teeny images: a sweet tiny bird, flowers, hearts, stars...i'm pretty sure this is a set that a CARDMAKER invented, actually!



the first thing i thought of when i saw this set is how cool the phrases looked all lined up together on the sheet. i wondered if i could leave them ON THERE and stamp a multi-greeting text panel. turns out, yepper, i could; and i think it came out pretty well! wanna see?

(hero arts stamps: all occasion messages; patterned paper: american crafts, we r memory keepers, creative imaginations, sei, floral origami paper; flowers: prima; flower sequins: queen&co; eyelets: hot off the press, making memories; other: fancy pants & heidi swapp chipboard shapes used as templates for bird & wing, tiny nail gems from terrie, colorbox inks, zig pen, 3m foam tape)

the "greeting panel" is inside the card, visible through a cut-out cloud on the front. this was accomplished using a craft knife and mat--the ultimate sacrifice if one has carpal tunnel issues--but well worth the trouble, i feel!

of course you don't have to use the phrases en masse. here's a set of mini-cards--made to fit some cool veterinary envelopes debb sent me--using individual phrases. in fact, sometimes i didn't even use the whole phrase; to fit on the rabbit card, i only inked "warm wishes" on the "sending warm wishes" stamp; and all the envelopes read for "you" using just that bit of the "just for you" or "you make me smile" stamps.

(hero arts stamps: all occasion messages; patterned paper: imaginisce, creative imaginations, love elsie, sei, dcwv, anna griffin; other: ranger & colorbox inks, tiny nail art stickers, tombow markers, 3m foam tape)

remember, the actual prize-eligible caardvarks challenge involves making a card from heidi's fabulous sketch, which can be found several posts below, and also on the caardvarks site! the last few challenges have been almost *overwhelming* in terms of how many--and HOW COOL--the cards submitted are; i cannot wait to see what everyone makes this time!

19 comments:

  1. These are amazing! I love the cloud window in the card ...gotta try that!

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  2. Holy moly! You are at it again...LOVE that cloud window!!! I am sorry about the carpal tunnel, but I must say, it was worth it to make that card (easy for ME to say...heeeheeeeheee).

    Your other little critter set is precious. REALLY cute.

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  3. Well Miss Lauren..Firstly your cards are just flamin gorgeous` in very true Lauren style..
    `Always Beautiful`..and secondly...
    That was a very pleasant surprise I recieved from Mr.Postie...
    `Thankyou` thankyou so much for my `beautiful` gift you are a true `gem`(excuse the pun!!!lol
    Through and through....
    Most grateful and sincerest `thanks`...
    for your kindness..
    I am touched:)
    Big ♥ to you and yours...
    Have a loverly Tuesday my `friend`:)~X~

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  4. great cards Lauren!!
    thanks for stopping by my blog :)
    x
    Rima

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  5. OMG...these are so amazing!!
    I love how you stamped the entire "sentiments" together...super cute!!
    And the set of cards...those are AWESOME!!!!!

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  6. Asolutley brill cards i luv them, the cloud very creative, Found youor blog via terri did laugh when i read you were adicted to chapstick!! I have since i was 18! now 47! Had big panic when i was told couldnt take it on a flight with all new rules, said i wouldnt go!!! BUT could buy them security side!! PHEW. sue.x

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  7. What a cute window card! Also the idea of stamping all the phrases together is fabulous...make your own designed papers - project!

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  8. Oh my gosh, how adorable these cards are! I love 'em all! And the stamp set? Definitely something I'd like to get my fingers on! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Absolutely amazing! Hero arts should hire you! I love the cloud cut out- how inventive! And those little guys are too cute to mention. Love what you did with the envies... debb

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  10. Oh, that was awesome! I love, love, LOVE that cloud window! How come *I* don't think to leave them all in a block like that?! Meh. I must have something around here that could work for that....[digs frantically through monster stash]

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  11. Lauren, Happy dancing for you!!! Congrats... you sooo deserve it (and much more). I am thrilled for you ... and for me cause I know you..... make lhj take you out for a celebration! debb

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  12. Awww Lauren...you're my HERO!! A well-deserved win.

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  13. This is my first time on your blog. I saw incredibly detailed, beauuuuutiful card on Stef's blog and I had to come here to tell you how GORGEOUS it looks! Now I gotta take a look around!

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  14. Big Congrats to you girl! You are sooo deserving of that win! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that card! (in case you didn't notice, that is three loves in all caps...and I mean it!)

    And those Twitterpated cards are so cute I could almost eat them!

    (-: Heidi

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  15. WoWzA, I'm in LOVE with this cut-out card!

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  16. Your cards are stunning, really gorgeous! :)

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  17. These are freakin' FABulous!

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  18. absolutely amazing. LOVE LUVVV that birdie card. too cute!!

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the *BEST* part of blogging is the comments, dontcha think? thanks for taking time to leave one! ~♥~