Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Hero Arts and News about This Week's OLW Challenge

Let's start with the OLW first. Jennifer and I decided to skip the OLW this week, for obvious reasons, and Jennifer will resume the challenge next Wednesday. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Today's cards use a new stamp set I bought for my birthday from Hero Arts called Thoughtful Messages. I decided to use every image stamp in my birthday hoard before putting them away, and these are a very colorful part of that commitment. Oh how I love them!




How-To Tips: I stamped the flower on scrap paper three times and colored them with Bic and Sharpie markers. Then, I cut them out, popped them up on panels stamped with the sentiment. Add a spot of bling, black matte and colored card base, and there you have it!

These cards represent a style of cardmaking that is typical of Hero Arts, and one that helped get me hooked on cardmaking. Tuesday, I received my brand new Hero Arts catalog. I will carry it around like a security blanket for the next month or so before placing an order. Waiting to order keeps me from impulse purchasing and means that I end up really liking more of what I buy--not all, mind you, but I'm getting better at choosing wisely.

Do you have any tricks or rules you use to keep your purchases responsible?

16 comments:

  1. Gorgeous set of cards, Susan!

    I'm like you...I rarely buy on impulse. I wait to see the new releases, look at how others use them, think about how (or if) I'll use them...only then will I buy. When I first started stamping, I bought too quickly, then regretted it, rarely using some of the stuff I bought. I'm much happier now...and so is my wallet! :D

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  2. A very classy set of cards. Even though I am a "blue" girl your top card with the orange and red appeals to me most.

    To try and make sure I don't make mistakes when purchasing I keep a wish list and after it has existed and been modified a few times I finally make my purchases.

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  3. Beautiful! Love how you layered the images! Have fun picking out new HA stamps!!

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  4. A super set of cards, love the flower design and such nice bright colours. I think the orange one is my favourite.

    Enjoy selecting your new stamps!!

    Will pop over to Jennifer for the OLW next week.

    Have a great Christmas.

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  5. These cards are beautiful! I love them all!

    "Do you have any tricks or rules you use to keep your purchases responsible?" Lack of funds! LOL

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  6. Beautiful cards, Susan! I keep an ongoing wish
    list and if an item stays on it a long time, I
    know I really want it. I wasn't as disciplined as
    you are, however, with the new Hero Arts catalog;
    I couldn't wait to purchase some of the new HA
    stamps.

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  7. I have the hardest time using orange in cards. The color just never seems to be right. But, I just love your orange card. For some reason it strikes just the right balance. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  8. I'm with Terry B., "lack of funds"...
    Usually I also wait to see how other people use the stamps, so I can have an idea. I haven't bought any stamp sets in a long time, because I feel like I don't even use what I already have!

    Love the cards you posted!

    Petra

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  9. First of all, fantastic cards. I really like the thin black frame; it really sets the flower & sentiment off. As far as impulse buying goes, what I try to do with every catalog I get is to dog-ear the pages of things I want, put it away for a week, and go back to it. Honest to gosh, sometimes I go to a dog-eared page and think "what in the world did I want on this page?!" However, this does not work when you have the item in your hot little hand (Michael's) and you just can't put it back!

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  10. Beautiful cards as always. And I'm glad there's no OLW challenge this week. I've been so busy with Christmas events, preparations, baking, etc. that I've had no time for card-making so have missed the last few challenges.

    As for responsible purchasing, I do what several others and you do - dog-ear the pages of catalogues, watch for examples of people using new stamps, think about how I'd use them, and wait a while to be sure I still want it. I've only just decided that I really do want SU's French Foliage and the mini catalogue that it's in has been out since Sept 1st.

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  11. When I first started stamping/cardmaking I bought indiscriminately. I wish I had all the money I spent on crappy stuff back then.

    I'm with you. Now I make wish lists. Revise my wish lists. Read what other people have to say about the items I'm thinking of buying (not so much for stamp designs)and...WAIT.

    However, when I do finally order, my orders are big. Maybe even huge.

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  12. Tricks or rules? HA! I wish I did, truly.

    I just wanted to say that the cards are lovely and happy and that sentiment 'see the flowers smiling' is GREAT. I love it.

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  13. Hi Susan, love your colourful cards.
    Here's wishing you and the ones you love the Happiest Christmas ever:0) xx

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  14. Beautiful cards today... as I have come to expect! :P I can resist things online much more easily than if I see them in a store. Luckily for me (I guess!) I'm in a small town so don't have to worry too much that way!

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  15. I love all of these. The narrow black mats really make the design pop!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!