VIDEO: Me, If I Were a Handmade Card... + Giveaway

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Were you excited after my sneak peek, you little bookworms? If so, put your seatbelts on, because it gets even better! I'm SUPER excited about all this book-themed madness, and I had some fun. I have a video for you on this first card, which is basically a picture of me in the 70's, reading alone in a cozy spot, barefoot. I really think that growing up with books instead of a TV gave me what I consider to be a skill - and that is the imagination never to be bored. I've been in situations I didn't like and wanted to get out of - like every meeting I've ever been to in my life - but I've never had a moment of boredom. I am always thinking of the next thing I want to try, and I really do credit reading for that, as well as a childhood with no electronic inputs, which can overwhelm your mind with busy-ness, and squash your imagination. 

So I created a fun, die cut reverse masked shadow for the little me child from this glorious kit, using masking paper and this beautiful text background stamp and some Soft Granite ink. The image is colored with Graphit markers (coupon code at the end of the post). I used post-it tape to create my corner. There are several images in the kit like the one I used to come out of the book - so awesome. 

So before I show you the rest, here's what all comes in the kit. If you're not a subscriber, I encourage quick shopping! I think a lot of readers will jump on this - and a lot of people with a little free library! See what I did with the add-ons below. LOOK AT THE KITTY.

Probably my favorite add-on is the library card one! In addition to a library card and die, it has a little folder to put the card into - SQUEE! It also fits a gift card. If I'd had this when I was nine I would have put library cards in every book in our house! Think how fun this would be for a little free library though! I am going to put a stack in the nearest one.

So to create this card, I first stamped the center card in Indigo, and used the matching die to cut a piece of masking paper. I masked that one and brushed Soft Granite ink around it to create a drop shadow so that it looks 3D. Then I repeated that process for all the other cards so it really looks like a stack you could reach out and grab. I stamped the Overdue in Red Royal. What a cute late birthday card!

As usual, the fancy dies are stellar this month. This sweet little tree with its 3D leaves was calling to me. I colored the books with the world's best watercolor pencils - I have a video on why they are the best here. The sentiment is from this literary quotes stamp set, and I cut the circle with my infinity dies.

The second fancy die is this awesome stack of books, which I colored lavender with my Graphit markers. Super quick & simple card.

The third fancy die is a book window - I love the single bookmark, so I colored that red with Graphit markers and left the rest white, but used my oval infinity dies to make the focal point shaped.

The sentiment is from this set.

Then yesterday's card from the main kit! I loved the tree die, so I cut a book page with it, before adding the image from the kit. And yes, that page is from a Nancy Drew book! Don't flip out - I bought it used for a quarter :). I colored the image with Graphit, and used the blender to distress the image so the book looked worn, and the boy looked like there was sunlight shining down.

Finally, I colored and die cut the adorable little kitty from the kit with Graphit markers and their fine point nib and used the slimline bookmark dies - it comes with that die that cuts the hole - to create a bookmark that I stamped with the text background stamp. The twine in the kit is a rainbow ombre, so I chose a yellow green section to mask! I used a sentiment from this set for the story time. 

Here are all the add-ons this month - and they come in a bundle for a discount!

I know my friend Rita is probably salivating over all this book goodness. Probably Jana too - they are both voracious readers. The typewriter die is SO cute - I didn't have time to play with that yet. The slimline bookmark dies make bookmarks of any size, but also slimline layers! The little bookworm set is sized for those bookmarks, and the hemp twine in the kit is for those as well.

I'd shop here before you watch - I do predict a sell-out, but I have a video - I LOVE this technique and I hope you do too. It's like part four in my shadow series! I've added a Master Class with all my shadow and reflection videos, so you can check that out here. 

Here are all the supplies I used today!

My Monthly Hero Kit March 2021 [ HA ] Get Them All March Add Ons [ HA ] Novel Prose Bold Prints [ HA ] Stacked Books Fancy Die [ HA ] Library Card Stamp & Cut [ HA ] Literally The Best [ HA ] Literary Quotes [ HA ] Slimline Bookmark Infinity Dies [ HA ] Peek-a-boo Books Fancy Die [ HA ] Tree of Knowledge Fancy Die [ HA ] Typewriter Fancy Die [ HA ] Book Window Fancy Die [ HA ] Book Stacks Bold Prints [ HA ] Bookworm Messages [ HA ] Bookshelf [ HA ] Hero Arts Oval Infinity Dies [ HA ] DI199 Nesting Circle Infinity Dies... [ HA ] Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle Pencil... [ BLIC ] Graphit — Marker Universe [ MRK ] AF435 Intens-ified Black Ink Pad -... [ HA ] AF225 Red Royal Mid-Tone Shadow Ink -... [ HA ] Soft Granite Shadow Ink - Hero Arts [ HA ] AF341 Indigo Bold Ink - Hero Arts [ HA ] Amazon.com : Post-it Labeling &... [ AMZUS ] Amazon.com : AVE6464 - Avery... [ AMZUS ] My Sweet Petunia [ MSP ] Pre-Cut & Scored Cardstock [ CTC ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675 [ SSS | ART | AMZUS ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring... [ SSS ] Storage Envelopes, Medium 25pk,... [ ELH ] CheckOutStore Stamp & Die Clear... [ CHC ] Extra Large -50 pk, Avery Elle Stamp... [ ELH ] Mermaid tidy towel case and glue... [ ETS ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS | CST ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ] Hero Arts Blog [ HA ]

As usual, you can win a gift certificate by checking out all the inspiration on the hop! Start at the Hero Blog!

Hero Arts
Channin Pelletier
Dana Joy
Daniel West
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Libby Hickson
Lydia Fiedler
Maria Willis
Michelle Short
Mindy Eggen
Pocono Pam
Seeka
Special Guests: Nichol Spohr
Jennifer McGuire


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Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Countdown to my childhood and former life...

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I think I've told you this before, but when I was in college, I was a rare book preservation technician at the very prestigious library on my college campus.

I got to hold in my hot little hands what was at that time the largest Victoriana collection in the US. We even had one of Queen Victoria's dresses! 

I learned to make buckram boxes to protect our oldest and most fragile books, learned about book safe tapes etc. 

I got to read two of my favorite authors' handwritten and annotated manuscripts - John Updike and John Gardner - that was magical. We even had some of Thomas Pynchon's annotated writings - and I ended up doing my thesis on him. It was magical to me, as an avid lifelong reader and an English major at the time.

And before that, in my TV-less childhood, I spent 90% of my time alone reading books in our linen closet at the top of the stairs. 

Books are a huge part of my life.

So I can't show you much of what's coming tomorrow, but what I can tell you is if you, too are a bookworm, you are going to want to come back tomorrow for my full reveal and a fun video. But here's a little peek.

Loveyalovebooksmeanitbye.

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VIDEO: Vanishing Point Words + Fun Recipe

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

Today I'm bringing you a golden oldie!!

In the late 1900s, when I was growing up, this type of art was very typical. Think Peter Max, for example. 

Then we did a tutorial on this technique at Splitcoast with all sorts of variations, so I thought I'd revisit it, because lately I'm very into big word dies, like this one that says Seriously.

The concept is very simple. 

1) Pick a vanishing point on your card. 
2) Draw lines to that point with a multiliner from chosen touchpoints on your stamp or die.

3) Optional - color in between the lines. 

It gives both a 3D feel and a bat signal feel. It's so simple and doesn't require anything you don't already own. I chose dies, but you can do stamps too. You'll see why I chose dies in the video. 

I thought about adding another sentiment - but after the fourteenth month of 2020 and #sixdayinTexas I thought the Seriously die said everything I needed it to.

So click here if you don't see a video below, and come back for a yummy recipe!

Seriously Word Die – Picket Fence... [ PFS ] Graphit — Marker Universe [ MRK ] Copic Multiliner SP Pens and Set [ BLIC ] My Sweet Petunia [ MSP ] Pre-Cut & Scored Cardstock [ CTC ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White [ GNK ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding... [ AMZUS ] Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675 [ SSS | ART | AMZUS ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring... [ SSS ] Storage Envelopes, Medium 25pk,... [ ELH ] CheckOutStore Stamp & Die Clear... [ CHC ] Extra Large -50 pk, Avery Elle Stamp... [ ELH ] Mermaid tidy towel case and glue... [ ETS ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS | CST ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ]

Every now and then - the algorithm gets it right! The other day, when I was uploading this video, there was a suggested video for a vegetarian Turkish dish that looked amazing. I had to transcribe the captions as I watched, and I made a critical error which I have fixed in my transcription of the recipe.

I asked on my Facebook page if anyone knew the name of the dish, and my friend Ilina - whose country was under Turkish rule for a long time, helped me out. It would be great with any veggies and I used potatoes I had grated for hashbrowns last March, but I think commercial hashbrowns would be fine too. You could use any kind of veggies.

This woman's voice and language are so beautiful too. I believe this is the first time I've ever heard anyone speak it. 

So here is my transcription of the recipe. This makes a LOT. If there are only two people, I'd use a quarter sheet pan and cut the recipe in half. 

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.
10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10
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Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE