DeNami Design Inspired By.....

Weather it be from a magazine, blog hop or website like Pinterest, we are all inspired by things we see and create something based on that. I generally try to come up with brand new ideas but often look to the Internet for inspiration. When DeNami Design came out with their "Inspired By" feature featuring cards made by DeNami fans I was really excited...what fun!! Paulina from DeNami Design (and owner of Pretty Pink Posh) contacted me to let me know I've been selected to be featured and I couldn't have been more elated!  

How this works is that Paulina and Nami choose a fans card that uses DeNami stamps and then turn the design team loose to make a card inspired by the fans. I also had the opportunity to make an inspired by card to be featured along with the design team's cards and jumped at the chance to work with some seriously talented ladies! I am so thrilled to have been chosen!! Make sure to stop in at the DeNami blog to check out what the uber talented design team has made :)

As you know, when you're inspired by something it can be the shape, color, layout, theme, etc....

Here's my card that was chosen and a link to the original post...

Stamps Used:

• praying for you sentiment
• small flower spray
• small spring flowers

As I mentioned in my post for the DeNami hop this past Sunday, I just love a white panel on a white card base...something so elegant about that to me. Instead of scoring the panel like I did for that butterfly card I ran it through a dry embossing folder (stamp your sentiment before embossing). I layered a piece of charcoal card stock with a punched edge then a small piece of black cardstock and finally a piece of white cardstock that I had stamped. I finished it all off with a pretty bow and some bling. 

Using that layout, sentiment placement and the embossed panel for my inspiration, I came up with this new card...

I started with a black base and added a white dry embossed panel (stamp sentiment before embossing). To that I added a piece of black and a piece of cardstock that I had edge punched before adding another white panel. I punched scallop squares, stamped, colored and layered them then stamped the cute little bee. I finished it all up with some bling and yummy ribbon from Pretty Pink Posh.

Stamps Used:

• Happy Birthday sentiment
• Summer Flowers set
• Curly Bee

Well I hope you like both cards and I'm just tickled pink to have been chosen for this months inspiration! Don't forget to check out what the talented DeNami Design team has made using my card for inspiration :)

Praying For You....

Hi everyone. I have a little something that I'd like to chat about today. As a woman in the workforce I talk to quite a few people on a daily basis and there are some that I talk to time and again. Even though I never meet these people face to face, I work closely with some of them. In doing that you can't help but get to know them and come to  think of them as more than a stranger. they aren't quite a "friend" but they aren't a stranger either...does acquaintance work in these matters? Well, no matter what title we give these types of people, they are in our lives and we can't help but feel bad when something catastrophic happens, like loosing a loved one.

There is someone that I email with quite a bit and honestly she makes me want to pull my hair out. I'm pretty dang efficient at what I do and always try my best to have done what needs to be done so that there are never any ripples in the water so to say. In professional settings, us secretary types have sort of an unwritten rule that we all get along, chit chat among ourselves and try to help each other out. For example if I'm dealing with another company and the gal I'm dealing with is unsure of something I help her out as much as possible and show/tell her exactly what's expected and how to do it if need be. The someone that I'm talking about really doesn't play by those rules so sometimes getting things done on my end are extremely difficult. With that being said, she probably is genuinely a nice person and just is strictly all business which is a good quality to have in an employee. I recently called her because of some late paperwork on their end and learned that there was a death in her immediate family...how as a human being can my heart not go out to this woman? I won't pretend to know how she feels as we all feel and grieve differently but at the same time, as someone she "knows", I want her to know that she is in my prayers and that I'm thinking of her. After much deliberation with my inner self, I decided I would do what us card makers do best, send a card.



 I wanted to make something elegant but basic and clean at the same time. I browsed Pinterest for a little inspiration then pulled out a couple of older DeNami stamps and came up with this...

I just love how this card turned out. I started out with a tall folded A2 sized card base in white. I cut a smaller white panel and stamped my sentiment in the lower right hand corner then ran it through a pretty dry embossing folder and popped it onto the card base with foam tape. For my main focal panel I started out with another white panel in the size I thought was needed. I first stamped one of the flowers from the Small Flower Spray in a grey Momento ink 3 times, then using black Momento ink I stamped the Small Spring Flowers border stamp over it 3 times across the panel to make the little border fill out the bottom. I backed this white panel with a piece of black cardstock leaving a very narrow border then layered that onto a piece of charcoal cardstock that I had previously edge punched with a pretty little pattern. I finished it all off with a piece of narrow ribbon and 3 little black gemstones.


Well that's all for me today. Well, wait, not exactly, lol. There is one more thing...lately I know I haven't exactly been showcasing many DeNami stamps...not really living up to the blogs name am I? I feel like that in the pursuit of my dreams I've let y'all down a little and for that I am truly sorry. I LOVE being on my Design Teams, however, they do take a lot of time to keep up with and take up posting time that I could have used for DeNami inspired cards and projects, but I promise that I'm working on this balancing act and vow to post some yummy DeNami a little more often than what I have been doing!! (hugs) I how y'all have a wonderful day!

A little of this and a little of that...

Blogger Note: I was reminded that in order to be elgiable for one of the challenges I entered, that my project can only be entered into 3 challenges, not 5....OOPPPPPS! I never even thought about my card being in too many challenges! Well, it is what it is, I'm not elgiable, but I'm still proud of myslef for acomplishing something I've never been able to do and I had fun....that's all that counts in the end isn't it? Besides, I knew I didn't have any chance of winning that particular challenge in the first place, so really, I'm okay with the bad news :)

WHEW!, that was some drama on Wednesdays post wasn't it?? I knew y'all would understand exactly why I was frustrated...us crafty gals stick together, lol ;)   I called my soon to be Daughter-in-law and told her to swing by on her way home from work one night this week and pick them up.If I see a check at some point in my life from this then I'll consider myself lucky....

 

Now for todays post!! I did something that I'm considering quite a feat. Patting myself on the back even, lol!! I always see gals entering one card into multiple projects and always wonder how they do that. I can never get things to fall into place creatively like that....well, until today that is!!

 

Here's the list of challenges I'm entering:

 

The Shabby Tea Room

 

 

Sweet Stamp Shop

 

 

Paper Sweeties

 

 

Lawnscaping Challenge

 

 

 

Jo's Scrapshack

 

 

 

Yup, you counted right...5 challenges!!

 

Hey, I'm just as astounded as you are, but the challenge Gods have aligned the stars and it all works out! Ready to see my little card? Ohh wiat, first I better tell you the rules....

• The Shabby Tea Room, Paper Sweeties & Jo's Scrapshack are pretty self explanatory, picture inspiration and sketches
• Sweet Stamp Shop is a "use what you have" challenge. They also have a sketch & inspiration picture you have the option to use if you want. But basically you can make anything you want as long as you use your stash, no fair buying anything new!!
• Lawnscaping is asking us to use our favorite things this time around. It can be paper, stamps, embellies...whatever crafty element that floats your boat ;)

 

Alright, now it's time to see my card, lol...

 

 I used the summer theme, colors and flowers from The Shabby Tea Room's picture, I used stamps and patterned papers from my stash for the Sweet Stamp Shop requirement (pic to follow...you have to show your stash), I followed the sketches provided by Jo's Scrapshack and Paper Sweeties and to finish it all off I used stamps from 4 of my favorite stamp companies (DeNami, Paper Sweeties, Lawn Fawn & Sweet Stamp Shop), ribbon, patterned paper, Momento inks, Copic markers and punches (drool) per Lawnscapings requirement. Can't you just hear Julie Andrews singing These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...hehehe! Not too bad though, hunh?? Ohh and for those of you "in the know" when it comes to my fave DeNami stamp, I did go back and forth about using the polka dot background, but opted for my 2nd fave, the gingham background, because it just looked better in this instance ;)

 

Here's my stash pics for The Sweet Stamp Shop:

 

Here's my collection of Paper Sweeties, Lawn Fawn & Sweet Stamp Shop stamps. Y'all have seen my DeNami collection that's almost 500 strong at this point, lol! Too much to take pictures of again, but the link is still at the top of the page under the DeNami Collections tab. Feel free to add yours too!!

My stash of patterned paper packs is slowly taking over my little rolling cart...I think I may need an intervention. At least the Sweet Stamp Shop challenge is making me use some of it up ;)

 

Well that's it for me...what a long post!!! I will see you back here on Sunday for the Krazy for Kraft blog hop hosted by DeNami and on Monday I have a super fun announcement!! Have a great and safe weekend! :)

DeNami Design blog hop - July 2013

Ohh my goodness, are you all ready for another fun filled blog hop hosted by DeNami?!?!?! I know I am!!!

 

With summer in full gear, this is a perfect theme to cool us down! It gets mighty hot here in the Midwest!

 

When: The blog hop starts on July 14th at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until July 15, 2013, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).
Why: To be inspired by fun DeNami Design creations and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

Prizes: We are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website! We'll be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then we'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

 

You should have arrived here from the fabously talented Lisa Elton's blog. If not, that's okay, you can just head over to the DeNami blog for the full list of participants to get back on track :)

 

 

As usual, I have a lot to show you...why can't I ever decide on just one little thing???

 

We'll start with a pair of cards I made....

Isn't she cute and don't you just love all the little accessories for the Large Chickie stamp?? :) I love making scenes and since I hadn't made any in quite a while I thought this theme would be perfect!

 

For these little cuties I used the Large Chickie, Festive Hats stamp set, small cloud, small watering can, small spring flowers, grass border, Bitty Bugs stamp set, Playful Puppies stamp set, and the Cars & Trucks stamp set.

 

Notice that darling little wagon the chickies are pulling...here's a little hint, it has something to do with tomorrows guest on Tool Talk!!! She's talking about a little product that I use a lot and love! Also if I remember correctly, DeNami DT member, Emily, uses it quite often too, you won't want to miss this one!!!

 

For my next little item I created yet another scene...I was on a roll, lol!! Did you get a chance to see the little candle wrap tutorial that I did not so long ago? Well, I had some paper clay left over and thought I'd try my hand at making a little hanging tile of sorts...

 

I cut my square straight, but since paper clay is mostly paper, when it dries it kind of does it's own thing. However, you can easily trim it up with a nice pair of scissors and even sand it with a nail file. I opted to leave it as is...it added a little character. ;) I "stamped" my little scene into the wet paper clay, then after letting it dry for a couple of days I colored it in using my Copic and TomBow markers. Stamps used: small cloud, small spring flowers, curly butterfly, grass border and flower bloom.

 

 

That's all I have to share with you today, now off you go to visit with Katie Brooks!
 I can't wait to see what she has to bring us for eye candy and she's new to the DeNami hop so please give her a warm welcome :)

Don't forget to stop in tomorrow for a visit with my surprise Tool Talk guest (and a special little give away surprise from her company) and don't forget to check out the DeNami Addict birthday giveaway! To enter all you need to do is make any type of birthday card and link it up (no DeNami products necessary) and I will pick a random winner for a DeNami gift certificate on August 1st!