VIDEO: Eagles, Eagles Everywhere!

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Happy early 4th! I have a fun, patriotic video for you today with some insider scoop from my childhood! The 70s were wild, y'all.

On the card in the video - I will tell you - you can see it better in the video the distressing I did - because metallic things are so elusive to photograph so please see the video for a better representation of the background!

I used this eagle die, the patriotic sentiment set, the star embossing folder and Versamark with gold pan pastel. If you love these Lovely Layers dies like I do - a Crystal Katana is a MUST - I used that for the murder mittens on the eagle and the eye. 

Eagle Dies [ HNB ] Star 3D Embossing Folder [ HNB ] Sentiment Stamps [ HNB ] Sentiment Dies [ HNB ] Crystal Katana [ HNB ] Versamark [ HNB ] Pan Pastel Gold [ BLIC ]

Enjoy the video and a little traveling back in time!

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10% off stamps, stencils and dies at TRHD here with UNDERSTANDBLUE

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Sneaky Peeky at the BEACH! + Kit Giveaway

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WOW June was short. I guess that one day off the end makes a bigger difference than you think, I'd guess!

Last year I remember it was an unseasonably cool 4th, but there's no danger of that this year. I bought this fun new Japanese weeding tool that I've been dying to try out, but even right at dawn, it's already hot enough to make me lose my will. I really need to though - I have a very pernicious grass from the neighbor's yard invading my flowerbed. The roots are just awful so I love the angle and the super sharp blade. I'll let you know how it goes. 

This month's Hero Studio Card Kit has this fun mashup feel of beachy and sort of retro imagery. The little details in the kit are incredible - such as the little footprints!

Today is the sneak peek day and you are going to see some really fun peeks, but I can't really tell you too much more about what's in there!

You can win the kit by leaving comments this weekend though! You can see the list of all the peeks here and be entered to win.

I'll give you the deets on this card on Monday! I have some fun tricks for sand and whatnot.

What are your plans for the 4th? I just realized I need to get some food! LOL. I've been doing the summer eating plan - reheating in the microwave only - my freezer full of earlier cooked food is my friend right now. I'm happy winter Lydia made some lasagne. 😂

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

10% off stamps, stencils and dies at TRHD here with UNDERSTANDBLUE

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio  - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

Arkon Mounts -  - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Gardening and Beachy Days

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My core temperature is HIGH as I write this. I spent the morning repotting some of my outdoor plants - using up three bags of potting soil in the process so I am whooped. I only got hit in the face by one cicada, and I didn't realize how very rootbound my garlic chives were. I moved them to a container that isn't deeper, but much wider so hopefully they will spread out. My creeping thyme was also very root bound so I moved that to one of my Earth Box containers too. 

It was HOT out though - so you can't stay out for too long. 

So today I'm all about the cool, beachy vibes and one gardening vibe, which I'll start with. This is a really fun combo - a die and a 3D embossing folderreally fun combo - a die and a 3D embossing folder that you run through together to get these beautiful shaped, embossed panels/tags. I used distress inks and oxides to blend and splatter it, highlighted some with my finger and white paint, and added gold leaf around the edges. I filled in the mushroom spots with white gel pen. It's so pretty! I just love it and it speaks to my inner gardener.

The beachy vibes are starting with this little watermelon and his watermelon popsicle! Try not to think too hard about why he's a cannibal, okay? He's just enjoying his summer, and it's none of our business. The background is just ink blending on this embossing folder. The sentiment is from this set. The watermelons legs are the little swinging element - I'll put a video in my IG story!

The next one is designed by my friend Dawn! The CUTEST little seagull die! I used the layering scene stencil, but used the back side for a different orientation - I wanted him facing the sentiment - so that's a fun trick you can do with any layering stencil.

Speaking of stencils - how cute is this beachball stencil? So classic - but I've never seen a stencil like this. I added this condo key and this sentiment.

Last but not least, there'sthe cutest hippo with two different floaties - a turtle and a duck. I left off his legs, but they swing too! The background is a stunning 3D embossing folder. 

I hope it's cool where you are - there's no chance of that here for a while!

I'll be back tomorrow with a new video on how to make the aged map I showed the other day!

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

10% off stamps, stencils and dies at TRHD here with UNDERSTANDBLUE

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio  - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

Arkon Mounts -  - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Faux Vintage Map Technique - Video Sneak Peek

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Hi friends! I have SUCH a fun video coming on today's card on Tuesday and I can't wait for you to see it. It's a throwback to some techniques that were very popular when I started stamping. So stay tuned for that. 

But I'll show it to you tonight! It's part of this amazing release which has some amazing Americana, travel themes and of course birds and flowers - so check that out here. 

I used this modern map stencil and turned it vintage! The ticket - which reminds me of the stories that gave me the name of this blog - more on that in a second - you cut into two pieces with the dies - the frame and the ticket and it has two different matching stamps. 

The little airplane is this detailed vintage airplane/helicopter set that is so classic - and I LOVE that they're cling rubber. I just will never stop loving rubber stamps. I colored it and added white gel pen highlights. These are the matching dies

The sentiment is from this set with dies.

My next video of course will be on my fave little critter from this release! SO cute. 

Stay tuned for the video! Loveyameanitbye!

CURRENT COUPON CODES

10% off stamps, stencils and dies at TRHD here with UNDERSTANDBLUE

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio  - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

Arkon Mounts -  - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

The Day of SQUIRRELS Part 2

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MORE SQUIRRELS PLEASE! You can never have too many and I have a cutie for you today.

This is all part of the new Studio Kit and I think you're going to love the changes, especially if today is any indication!

Now this is not a squirrel themed kit, but it contains a squirrel, so I must squirrel! I started with this gorgeous layering houses stencil. This is a four part stencil, so I used the following colors: Lemon Yellow, Ultra Pink and Azalea.

The power line is in two parts - the pole and the line, which I stamped twice, and then carefully placed my little squirrel. He looks like he might be in Europe. They do get around!

Here's what's in the Kit - it's a DOOZY! Look at that paper! And the rub-ons! 😲

Now the upgraded kit is now called "The Whole Studio". The house stencil is in that one. 

I decided to make several cards with the other layering stencil that's in the extras this month. It's a fun, Moroccan style layering stencil and you can rotate it to get different looks - just use two, three or four rotations as you wish.  I used pink and blue and yellow in various combos.

This last one has the pigeon stamps & dies from the Whole Studio Kit.

Here are this month's extras! Look at that wires stamp!

Some things don't change - and that would be the giveaway! So leave comments for me and others to be entered! 

Hero Arts

Hero Arts Creative Team:

Channin Pelletier

Charlene Madrid

Dana Joy

Heather Ruwe

Ilina Crouse

Jennifer Kotas

Kailash Naidoo

Karen Brown

Lydia Fiedler

Michelle Short

Natasha Polite

Natasha Vacca

Pocono Pam

Rachel Kleinman

Rosie Lopez

Seeka

Special Guests:

Nichol Spohr

Kelly Taylor

Loveyameanitbye!

CURRENT COUPON CODES

10% off stamps, stencils and dies at TRHD here with UNDERSTANDBLUE

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio  - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

Arkon Mounts -  - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Squirrel Day Part 1: Tailette gets her own stamps!

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The first two babies of Clarence that I named were Tail and Tailette - both of whom Clarence taught to trust me, and who come see me daily to this day. 

I'm SO excited that Tailette now has her own stamp sets! And they're SO cute!! She's having some outdoor adventures in this series, as is her nature. 

However, like me, she's a bit high maintenance in the camping department, so she has her own Airstream pull behind with fairy lights, obvs. I colored them and put them this paper. Tailette is from this set and the sentiment is here. 

In this set - she's brave enough to sleep in a tent - which I would never do - but it beats being in a tree in the storms we've had recently! Luckily all my squirrels have survived them! I used the same paper and the squirrel from this Tailette set. The sentiment is from this set.

There are a few misconceptions about squirrels - firstly that they can be rabid. They really can't - and neither can rabbits. Strange rodent quirk of science. The second misconception is that they are out chewing on things at night - they are not. Squirrels head for the nest at sundown like we do. If something is chewing on your lights or gardens at nice - it's mice or rats. So this little version of Tailette is a complete lie, because it's way past her bedtime, but I could not resist a card with with this adorable van out in the desert southwest. The Tailette image and sentiment are from the same set, and both papers are here.

I hope you had a great weekend! I'll be back with even more squirrels in a few hours!! 

There's a hop today with a giveaway too! Blogger is being stupid with links today, so please head here for the list.

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

10% off stamps, stencils and dies at TRHD here with UNDERSTANDBLUE

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio  - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

Arkon Mounts -  - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE