Yeah, baby!  Retro Rubber #126 is back for their first challenge of 2020 with a winter theme - we have missed you guys!! 
When I saw the theme, I knew right away I wanted to pull out my beloved White Christmas set from 2014 - gosh, I still love this set just as much as I ever did, lol.  This little tree-scape just can't be beat, and having a couple critters or birds to add is just so fun!  I kept this really paired down - I really wanted to try and make a Winter card that ISN'T a Christmas card, don't ask me why!  I added some snowy glitter, a couple cardinals, and this lovely sentiment from our Peaceful Moments set, which of course goes great with our new Stitched So Sweetly dies - another new fave, lol.  Love how this came out!
White Christmas (retired 2014) & Peaceful Moments Stamp Sets; Whisper White, Night of Navy & Pool Party CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Real Red Blends Marker; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter; Stitched So Sweetly Dies; #RRCB126.

Exciting times - it's time for another speed challenge at As You See It #212!  This time in blue!
To me, the speediest way to highlight a color is to pull in some pretty papers - doing that today with Woven Threads in Pretty Peacock.  our gorgeous Rectangle Stitched Does make cutting the layers that much more detailed.  The accompanying stamp set, Woven Heirlooms is a shoe-in to go with, lol.  I stamped this elegant sympathy sentiment in matching ink, and assembled my layers, finishing with a large Faceted Dot.  Peacock perfection in 4 minutes flat, lol...
Woven Heirlooms Stamp Set; Woven Threads DSP; Whisper White & Sahara Sand CS; Pretty Peacock Ink; Rectangle Stitched & Stitched Shapes Dies; Faceted Dots in Pretty Peacock; #AYSI212.

Christmas Countdown Kit Bonus Class Nov 9 at 3 pm!
Woo hoo!  There's just enough time for ONE Christmas Bonus Class - and the new Advent Calendar Kit wins it by popular acclaim!  Come to class for a relaxing time for crafting and chatting, plus some yummy drinks and cookies, and we'll put our kits together in record time!  RSVP to make sure I have enough kits on hand, or bring your own and enjoy the company!
Class is $35, all supplies provided (bring your own snips and fave adhesive), or $10 if you are bringing your own kit!
See you soon!

It's good that Inspire Create Challenge #051 has such a great theme for us this week - sympathy - I so rarely have these on hand when I need them...
Today I started thinking about how much being in nature helps me when I'm troubled, something that's actually a little tough for me in the Arizona heat sometimes.  Our gorgeous new Nature's Beauty set is the perfect reminder of more temperate climates, and I can see this little deer looking at me saying "I'm here" plain as day.  A quick sentiment from Itty Bitty Greetings and I think I'm set - hope I don't have to use this one anytime soon, but I'm glad to have a spare on hand for a change.
Nature's Beauty & Itty Bitty Greetings Stamp Sets; Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Natural White & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Gold Sequins; #ICC051.

Good times - SU Only #227 has a sketch challenge for us this week, to take off from a fun dinosaur card in our catty!  So cute!
This one made me think of using some pretty DSP for the horizontal bands, so I went DSP shopping, and returned once again to the gorgeous Woven Threads papers.  This had me bring in Woven Heirlooms, and I ended up with this simple but dramatic sympathy card - love this romantic font, perfect for sending some much needed love and prayers along.  I can't get enough of our new In Colors - can't wait for that last one to come my way - I'm getting impatient, lol.
Woven Heirlooms Stamp Set; Woven Threads DSP; Whisper White & Seaside Spray CS; Seaside Spray & Pretty Peacock Inks; Stitched Shapes Dies; Tin Tile EF; Pretty Peacock Faceted Dots; #SUO227.

Pumpkin Club July 27!
Did you get your July Pumpkin kit yet?  Let's set sail!!  Check out the video HERE!
I hope you can join us for our next Pumpkin Club, Saturday, June 29, 3 pm, chez Heroldt - RSVP to let me know you are coming! 
Club is free for my subscribers, and includes any extra supplies you might need, drinks and snacks!  I also have a few extra spots available for $10 even if you are not a subscriber - come see what we're up to - no kit needed!
Remember to subscribe here if you haven't already - sign up by August 10 and you can join us in time for next month!

So happy to see another beautiful combo from this week's In{k}spire Me #395 - such pretty colors!
After digging around a little, I finally realized I could cover a lot of colors in our new Woven Threads DSP - so out came the whole Woven Heirlooms suite.  So many fun accessories to play with this time in our newest In Colors!  I selected a pretty sheet of paper, then did a lovely sympathy sentiment on the one missing color, lol.  So serene, I think...
Woven Heirlooms Stamps; Woven Threads DSP; Whisper White, Crumb Cake & Petal Pink CS; Crumb Cake Ink; Stitched Shapes Dies; Scalloped Linen Ribbon in Rococo Rose; Rococo Rose Sequins; #IM395.

I'm seeing layers this week at our beautiful new sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #409!  We're also teaming up with Double Trouble #29 this week and celebrating National Brown Bag It Day!  Awesome - bring on the brown bag!
I went with a Crumb Cake base to Double Trouble, and the brown made me think "nature," so I pulled out Peaceful Place.  I just got this set, once I realized it would be carrying over - I thought it would be fun to color!  I tried today with Blends markers, but I'm thinking aqua-painting or watercolor pencils would be even better!  I added this lovely sympathy sentiment, and a couple matching Faceted Dots.  I think this could definitely be my peaceful place!
So, what will YOU come up with?  I can't wait to see, over at the challenge!
Peaceful Place Stamp Set; Nature's Poem DSP; Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Petal Pink CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Granny Apple Green, Soft Sky (retired), Pool Party Soft Suede & Crumb Cake Blends; Stitched Shapes Dies; Faceted Dots in Petal Pink; #TSOT409; #DTPC029.

We have a great banded sketch for you this week at Fab Friday #155!
That nice horizontal got me thinking about our awesome long bench in the Sitting Pretty bundle, and I knew I needed to pull that one out and get some bulldog time!  I'm not sure why I always gravitate to the more muted colors for this one - I think I've used Soft Sea Foam every time for it, lol.  Anyway, I really wanted my dog, plant and birdie for the bench, and then I decided to use Well Said for my sentiment.  I figured the "here for you" thought went great with my little loyal pup, and I matched it with a "surrounded by love" phrase for the inside.  Such a great sentiment set!
I can't wait to see YOUR creations - see you at the challenge!
Sitting Pretty & Well Said Stamp Sets; Gray Granite, Soft Sea Foam, Crumb Cake & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz & Crumb Cake Inks; Balmy Blue Blends Marker; Subtle DEF; Pretty Park Framelits; Faceted Dots; #FabFri155.

We have a sophisticated color challenge over at CAS-ual Friday #213 this week - shades of gold!
Today I started thinking about how amazing heat embossing looks against dark cardstock, so I decided to go for gold-on-black, and the thought of these gorgeous leaf images all picked out in gold was just too enticing.  So dramatic, I think!  I did a simple sentiment over it all and finished with a few gold pearls.  I think this could serve as a quiet sympathy card, too, now that I look at it.  I think I'll file it there.
Rooted in Nature Stamp Set; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Versamark Inks; Gold EP; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Gold Pearls; #CFC213.

We have some cool harvest fields colors this week at Sunday Stamps #191!
Looking over the gorgeous Autumn field of the inspiration pic made me think immediately of the quiet Wishing You Well set.  This one seems to be another one of those in between sets, versatile enough to be used for different holidays, with just a change of colors.  I got this set because I LOVE the big wheat sheaf image - so delicate and shaded so beautifully as one of our Dist-INK-tive line - this really is a label to watch for as it gives so much layered detail in a single impression.   I kept this beauty as clean and simple as possible to really let that detail sing.
So, what do our harvest fields inspire for you?  I can't wait to see you at the challenge!
Wishing You Well Stamp Set; Whisper White & Gray Granite CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Pool Party, Gray Granite, Crumb Cake & So Saffron Inks; #SSC191.

Holiday Gifts & Packaging Class Nov 8 & 10!
We're keeping the jingle bells ringing with our 7th Annual Holiday Gifts & Packaging Class!  This is where you get all the last minute details squared away, for treat packaging, little gifts for hostesses, helpers and friends, and any other sparkle we can jam in there - I went a little crazy and we have 8 projects this year!!  It is always my pleasure to express my sincere appreciation for all of you at my most popular event of the year!  All supplies provided and prepped (bring your own snips and fave basic adhesive) plus special holiday treats and nog, of course!  This class is $25, or can be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP today to make sure I have a your spot reserved!   Class is announced for Thursday, Nov 8 at 630 pm, or Saturday, Nov 10, 3 pm - see you there!

Oh yes - you know it's an exciting day when I find another new blog to play at, lol - this week I'm checking out The Sisterhood of Crafters - they have a "blooming flowers" challenge going just now - sweet!  I'll be using this sketch from Case This Sketch #287 to help me along, too!
Of all my botanicals, I can't remember using Flourishing Phrases all that recently, and you know me, once I get an idea stuck in my head, lol...  I really wanted to see a big purple bloom today!  I kept it simple, and on a different neutral - I love bright colors against Crumb Cake!  I'm thinking this could be a cheery get well or sympathy card - such great sentiments in this set!
Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set; Brights DSP in Granny Apple Green; Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Gorgeous Grape CS; Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green & Early Espresso Inks; Flourish Thinlits; Basic Jewel Pearls; #TSOCBloominFlowers; #CTS287.

Ready for Fall Class Sep 13 & 15!
Time to start warming up for the cooler weather, and make some gorgeous Autumnal cards with our new harvest sets from the 2018 Holiday Catalog!  We have some beautiful suites to play with, and I'm pretty sure there will be a spooky treat in it for you, too!  We will make 5 cards, using all new products, celebrating the season and gratitude.  Class will include all supplies needed (bring your own snips and fave adhesive!) and will also include snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!   Classes are on for Thursday, Sep 13 at 630 pm, or Saturday, Sep 15 at 3 pm, chez Heroldt!  RSVP today to reserve your spot!