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!

I happened by Less Is More #372 and noticed that they have a one-layer "thinking of you" challenge going - I'm going for it!  I need to get better at the whole process, lol.
So, it turned out this process went WAY easier than I thought it would, lol, once I realized that my fave "thinking of you" was part of the amazing Sheltering Tree set.  Now that's a set that makes one-layers a cinch!  All I needed to do was settle on my colors, and with my new faves Granny Apple Green and Mango Melody to help out, that didn't take long either, sigh.  I think this is what challenges me about one-layers - it's over too soon, lol.  Yay for me quitting while I was ahead, lol.
Sheltering Tree Stamp Set; Whisper White CS; Early Espresso, Granny Apple Green & Mango Melody Inks; #LIM372.

2018 New Catty Intro Class June 14 & 16!
Woo hoo!  It's new catalog time!  Come on out for an introduction to fun new products and colors, and new toys to boot!  This class will focus on 5 new suites of products from our just released 2018-19 Idea Book and Catalog, with all-occasion cards you will love!  Class includes all your supplies (bring your own snips and fave adhesive), plus snacks, drinks, and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your purchase of $30 or more!  RSVP today to save your spot! Class is on for Thursday, June 14 at 630 pm, or Saturday, June 16 at 3 pm - let me know if you can make it, or need to make it up now that summer's here!

SO excited that this week's What Will You Stamp #168 challenge is Climbing Orchid - I have not been using it enough!
Today for the first time I decided to try the more "assembled" version of the orchids - we have all those awesome framelits for a reason, right??  Sometimes I make myself wonder, lol.  Anyway, I broke into my last full sheet of DSP from the Delightful Daisy pack for my background, and with all this green wash, I knew I had to add a purple, lol.  I did the two sizes of orchids you see in Berry Burst, with some Early Espresso details, and tossed on a few Glittered Enamel Dots, too.  I'm so pleased with it - my grandmother would have loved it!
Climbing Orchid Stamp Set; Delightful Daisy DSP; Whisper White, Early Espresso & Old Olive CS; Early Espresso, Berry Burst & Old Olive Inks; Orchid Builder Framelits; Glittered Enamel Dots in Berry Burst; #WWYS168.

Such a fun sketch for the big 150 at TGIF!  But, oh, that size, hmm...
Well, the best I can do is adapt to a standard landscape size, lol.  I need the room to finally take my Blossoming Basket out for a spin - I think they'll understand!  I decided to go all Stampin' Blends on this one, so quick and easy!  I have to admit, my new marker storage tower really keeps them right under my fingertips, too - you guys might be seeing more marker use out of me these days than you're used to, lol.  I kept the color scheme fairly simple, then couldn't resist tossing in a little butterfly at the end!  Sa-WEET!
Blossoming Basket Stamp Set; Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight & Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends; Basket Weave DEF; Yellow Adhesive Sequins; #TGIF150.

Woo hoo!  It's Sunday Stamps Challenge #172 time!  Check out our awesome sketch!
This one was the perfect chance for me to debut my new-to-me Artistically Asian set - so pretty!  Turns out, though it also has beautiful botanicals in it, that it goes perfectly with our Petal Passion DSP, too.  I had some fun trying to incorporate the set's chrysanthemum, but decided that simplicity was the theme of the day in the end, lol.  A few splashes of red and I was set - I think this will make a sweet, more personal, sympathy card...
Can't wait to see your ideas over at the challenge - see you there!
Artistically Asian Stamp Set; Petal Passion DSP; Whisper White, Real Red & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Layering Circles Framelits; 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon; #SSC172.

Oo, lots of details to play with in this week's Paper Craft Crew #275!  In{k}spire Me #333 has a lovely black-gray-plus one color challenge for us, too, that I'm adding in!
For this one, I started by checking out what my "big sentiment" possibilities were, lol.  Sorry for Everything leapt right at me, and with the color scheme, I decided to go in a sympathy direction.  I tried adding a pop of color - Rose Red today, one I very rarely use, but that looks AMAZING in a black and gray setting!  I have a feeling it might come out to play again soon, now!  I was also able to use a few of my now-ancient Rose Red Candy Dots - I think I 4 or 5 sheets of just this color - remember what I said about never using it??  I love how this came out, and how well the stamp coordinates with the Petal Passion DSP...
Sorry for Everything & Remarkable You Stamp Sets; Petal Passion DSP; Whisper White & Smoky Slate CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Rose Red Inks; Rose Red Candy Dots (retired); #PCC275; #IM333.

OK, I have set myself a BIG challenge - to match up this sunny sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday #317, and add in SUO #172's Sympathy & Caring Challenge.  What am I thinking??
This was a tough one for me, but luckily, a new box arrived from my Mother Ship, and I finally got to play with Weather Together.  That's been on my wish list for so long!  I had some fun playing with framelits, too, but I ultimately switched to this sweet sentiment from our retiring Sending Thoughts set.  I love when our sayings come in pairs so I can put a little something on the inside, too.  In the end, I'm so happy with how this came out, and I'll be glad to have it ready to send off when needed...
Weather Together & Sending Thoughts Stamp Sets; A Little Foxy DSP; Whisper White, Smoky Slate & So Saffron CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Pool Party, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip & Watermelon Wonder Inks; Umbrella Weather & Layering Circle Framelits; Softly Falling EF; So Saffron Candy Dots (retired); #TSOT317; #SUO172.