Tips & Tricks - inspiration

Today I want to talk about inspiration. We all get inspired differently, weather it be from crafting with a friend, browsing Pinterest or blogs. There is inspiration all around us everyday. It can be a pattern or a pretty color palette, all we have to do is be open to it.

If you've followed me for long, you know that one of the things I'm known for is making my own patterned paper. I LOVE pretty patterned papers and even own a ton that I have stashed away, but it's sooo easy to just pull out a few stamps and make my own.

 

I was browsing through a local material store when I came upon something that stopped me in my tracks and had me thinking "I can do that on a card!!" The material was grey with a solid black leaf/vine type pattern all over it then there were pretty white flowers overlaying the leaf pattern.

 

I was quick to pull out my cell phone and take a picture ;)

The material has the flowers filling up the whole area, but I decided I didn't want my pattern that busy. Also, I decided to not only do black leaves, but a dark grey also for even more contrast. And besides, can you use the solid leaf vine without using the solid leaf sprig along with it?? ;) hehehe.

 

 

I have to admit that I didn't quite "nail it", but that's only because I totally hate heat embossing. :(  Had I stamped the flower in Versa-Mark and heat embossed with a white powder I would have gotten the effect I was originally going for, but ya know, it's still ok. When I first stamped the flowers they were a bright white and really popped, however, as they dried they lightened and now have even turned a grayish color. Ohh well, it still works and I'm still happy with the result and that's all that counts, right?

Stamps:

1. elegant square frame
2. love flourish
3. solid leaf vine
4. solid leaf sprig
5. polka dot butterfly

 

The next thing I have to show you is an odd place to get inspiration, but as I was saying before, it truly IS all around us in our everyday lives.

My hair brush...

 

 Here's the card I was inspired to make...



This little card turned out exactly as I had envisioned it. I just love all the layers of the flowers. 4 stamps to make one flower might seem a little excessive, but the end result was well worth it ;)

 

Stamps:

1. whimsical garden cling set
2. garden accents set
3. elegant floral set
4. whimsical oval frame
5. teeny swiss dot

You just never know where you might find some inspiration so look around and don't be afraid to take a picture for reference! I even have a little "notes" app on my phone where I jot down ideas while I'm on the go. My latest note is a pretty color palette I saw while shopping at Target that I want to try....you just never know!

 

 

 

Have you made a birthday card lately?? Then why not enter it in the random drawing I'm having right here on the Addict blog to celebrate both my and the blogs birthdays??

 

 

That's all for me today, Thanks for stopping by!!!

 

 

 

Take it on the chin and keep going...never give up on YOU!

*Blogger Note: I wrote and scheduled this post before Friday's announcement by DeNami. I'd like to congratulate Pattie on  her new position as a DeNami Design Team member and am looking forward to seeing her beautiful creations!!!


Hello everyone!! Today's subject is one of mixed emotions for me. I'm still flying high over being chosen the June sketch challenge winner over at Paper Sweeties, but at the same time am a little bummed about receiving yet another "thanks but no thanks" letter for something else.We'll get to that letter in just a minute.

It's no secret that I love entering card challenges online whenever I get a chance and that I have branched out into submitting to magazines. Most of the time when it comes to challenges and being published I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. It's almost like being in High School again and I'm the nerdy little girl in the corner reading a Stephan King novel while all the "kool kids" are hanging out in the smoking area laughing and having a great time talking about last weekends party. I see the same names winning/published over and over again...it's almost like a private club and no one else is allowed in. I'm going to let you in on a little secret, I. Don't. Care.! Okay, I do, but just a little.  I may not be one of the Kool Kids and don't have the secret password to gain entrance to the "club", but I refuse to let that hold me back! That being said, even when you know going in that you don't stand a chance you'll be chosen you still feel deflated, that's only natural. Do I get a little down...yes. Do I shed a tear or two sometimes...yes. A sweet friend mentioned to me the other day..."you know how us girls are". Sometimes I'm all girl and my feelings get the best of me, I cry, pout and even get angry, then I work through my feelings to get over it. But nothing is going to stop me from applying to design teams or submitting to challenges and magazines. My son has a tattoo that reads "To move on is to grow". I LOVE that saying. I will move on, grow and keep trying! Yes, my feelings get hurt and deflated, but I pick myself up and keep trying! Someday this nerdy girl will break through the barrier and kool kids will notice me and ask me to join in the fun!!

For about a year and a half now I've been wanting to be on a design team. There are a small handful of blogs that I have my eye on. I'm sure that ya'll can easily figure out that one of them is DeNami. I'd give my left arm and lets be real here...I'd give a leg too, lol, to be on the DeNami team. However, DeNami doesn't do an open call for their design team members, it's just by special invitation...sigh. Luckily the others I have my eye on do an open call!

 I know my work is nothing special when compared to the gals that enter the challenge that runs on the particular blog I'm referring to, however, after talking with the blogs owner and her encouraging me, I decided to heed my own advice that sometimes in life you just have to take chances and frankly, it would be good to have one application under my belt. So, last month I applied for my very first design team position. My resume is pretty lacking and I have nothing big to bring to the table. With that being said, I like to think of myself as being friendly, out going, willing to learn and very dependable. Someday those attributes will out weigh my lack of challenge wins and overall popularity, until then, I'll take it on the chin and just keep plugging along. I can't let a rejection stop me from doing something that brings such joy to my life. I LOVE creating cards and being able to share them with you. I also LOVE getting to meet such wonderful people out here in bloggy land...you gals are amazing, an inspiration and just plain ole' rock!!

Many of you know Paulina from DeNami Design runs a personal blog called Pretty Pink Posh and hosts the fun 10 Minute Craft Dash. The entries for that challenge always blow me away...there are some amazingly talented people out there and they even come from all over the world!! She had a Design Team call and as part of the application we were to tell a little about ourselves and submit 4 pieces of work that we've created in under 10 minutes. I knew back on June 11th that I wasn't picked (received my thanks but no thanks e-mail) but didn't want to talk about it until after her new DT was announced. Not sure that it matters, but it felt wrong to talk about it until then.

My 10 Minute Craft Dash Design Team card entries:

Time: (can't remember the time but it was 8-something!)
Colors: blue, green & kraft



Time: 9min 40 sec
Colors: teal, orange, golden yellow



Time: 9min 03sec
Colors: green, orange, golden yellow, teal

Time: 9min 59sec (that was a close call!)
Colors: charcoal, light grey, pink

Well there you have it, my step outside of the box. But like I said, I WILL NOT give up. When I don't win a challenge or when I receive the "no thanks" e-mail from a magazine, I may have a moment of sadness, I am only human after all, but will chalk it up to a learning experience and keep going! Don't give up on your dreams and keep doing what makes YOU happy!! Winning or losing doesn't define you, it's how you react to that win or loss that does. Take the experience and learn from it and don't be scared to put yourself out there again.

HUGS to all of us nerdy girls!

Tool Talk - February 2013

Hello, it's Paulina here.

I'm so thrilled to be bringing you a special post here on the DeNami Addict blog today. When Tina contacted me a couple months back about this feature, I was so honored she would ask me to share with you. After all, many of you see me on the DeNami blog, so I figured you might be a tad bit tired of hearing from me. *wink*

Today is the second month of the Tool Talk feature and boy, it was a tough decision trying to narrow down my favorite tool. After pondering for a few weeks, I finally decided I wanted to share my love of the Big Shot machine with all of you. I hope I didn't scare you away.....I know it's a pricey item. I want to share all of the reasons I LOVE my machine and how it's been an investment I wish I made sooner. 

Reasons I love my Big Shot Machine:

1) It's sturdy and reliable. I considered getting a Cuttlebug, but after trying it, decided it was a little too flimsy for what I needed. I've had my Big Shot machine for over two years and haven't had any problems.

2) You can use embossing folders in it to create dry embossed backgrounds. (I have yet to find a brand that doesn't work with my machine) 

3) With die cuts becoming popular at record speeds, there are all sorts of shapes, borders and templates you can cut. 

4) After the initial investment of the machine, the standard dies are very affordable. 

5) It's taken my crafting to a whole new level!

I couldn't rave about my machine without showing you a card showcasing a couple ways to use it. Below is a card that uses a decorative shape I die cut, and dry embossed with a folder.  

I just love the texture and elegance that was created using my machine. Intrigued? I have a great source where you can get this machine at a discounted price and also the items I used today. Visit the Pretty Pink Posh site for all the details and more pictures of today's card! 

Thank you for letting me share with you all today. I hope you'll consider purchasing a die cut machine- it will change your crafting life forever. :) 

I'd like to personaly thank our guest, Paulina for taking the time to speak to us today about her Big Shot and there's even MORE fun to be had on her blog today. She's made a video and gives even more insight on why she loves this very versatile tool!

Craft Dashes & Birthdays

Ohh my goodness, I can not begin to tell you how excited I am!! I'm feeling loads better, not 100%, but BETTER and on my way. With my physical health improving, I've been able to get busy and made LOADS of fun Valentines Day cards for you, so many in fact that you are going to have to put up with "bonus posts" until Valentines Day is over. So for the next couple of weeks look for posts on Tuesday's & Thursdays ;)   I've also managed to create a little something for a challenge too. Gosh, I can't remember the last time I was able to enter a challenge...it's been MONTHS! :(   I hope to be able to get back into the groove soon, but for right now I'm going to take it easy and limit myself.

 

Did you get a chance to watch my very first start to finish card tutorial in Wednesday's post? I was way nervous. Making a tutorial is one thing, but a video...ohh my! Well, hope you liked it and I think I'll be trying my hand at that again soon.

 

Well, this post has gotten to be a novel so I better just get to the challenge info and the card! ;)  I needed to make a birthday card for my Mom and I thought to combine it with the fun challenge over on Pretty Pink Posh....

Here's my creation....

Before starting, I doodled my idea on a piece of scrap, pulled out a few items and stamped / fussy cut my flower. I didn't color the flower until the timer started ;)

What my desk looked liked when all was said and done, lol.

And my finished card, in 9 minutes, 43 seconds :)

I wanted to make polka dots in the upper corner and thought about stamping them but when I was doodling my design out I realized that Washi would be perfect. I used 3 strips of grey washi and then overlayed a piece of pink in the middle. Gotta love that stuff! I hadn't pre planned on it, but ended up raising the main focal panel up on foam tape and I also used foam tape to attach my flower (lost time pulling out the foam tape...jeeze). I love everything about this little creation...polka dots, new DeNami images and Washi (that has polka dots!!). Hmm, thinking this would make a better card for me than my mom, lol! ;)

 

That's it for me today, I'll see you on Monday with a very informative Tips & Tricks post on a product that's taken over the crafty world. I'll be talking about the product and it's many uses and have many pictures of what I've done with it. There's even going to be a small give-a-way! Thanks for stopping by!!