Classic colors

I just LOVE how classic and pretty black and red look together....

I wanted the flowers i the center to stand out more so that your eye would be drawn there, to achieve this I stamped them, then after I inked up again I stamped on scratch paper before stamping the other flowers on my panel giving me the faded look. Isn't it amazing what you can create with one little stamp?

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

New look, blinkies, butterflies & bookmarks......

I have a super cool post for ya'll toady, but before I get to that, did you notice all the changes to our little blog? We had a little spring cleaning done by none other than the most talented duo ever, Paulina and Beka from DeNami Design!! I'm so loving the new look...still can't believe how darling it is...they ROCK! And not only that, look up at the top...see that blinkie tab...yup that's the one, when you click on it, you can grab a code for a super special blinkie that they created just for all of us addicts!! Those gals really out did themselves didn't they?


So, not long ago I acquired a few different sizes of the DeNami cellophane treat bags. I knew I wanted to do something different than just adding a few treats and making the same ole topper that I've done before. I have been doing a lot of thinking and during one of my brainstorming sessions, I slipped a piece of paper into a 2 X 3 1/8 bag and all of the sudden a great idea hit me....an interactive card! How fun would it be to make a removable bookmark? Now the recipient can have a little keepsake as well as a lovely card. I mean, even in this day and age of e-readers we still need bookmarks. I can't live without my Nook, but I still tend to use bookmarks all the time.

And with the bookmark removed...

If the pattern on the bookmark and back panel looks a little familiar, it is! I just loved how Paulina made this little card and have been wanting to recreate it for some time now. Doesn't it look like the butterflies are flying through  puffy clouds?

EDITED NOTE:
A funny thing about this little post today is that it kinda co-insides with todays DeNami Design blog post. The super talented DT member, Emily, has a photo tutorial showcasing the use of regular old colored pencils on our cards and getting that soft blended effect using mineral spirits. If you take a close look at my butterflies...that's exactly what I did (I used Rose-Art pencils). Colored pencils are inexpensive and come in a myriad of beautiful colors. Make sure you head over to the DeNami blog to check out her photo tutorial and I hope you give this fun technique a try!!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Wanna go fishing?

I'm sure that by now ya'll have seen the new chickies from DeNami's spring release. If you haven't, you seriously need to...ohh my gosh, it's cuteness overload!!

Here is one of the new little guys hanging out doing some fishing...thinking about Fathers Day for this card.

I was going for the look of a taped-up poloroid. Notice the "tape" I made that using white cardstock, blue ink and the teeny star stamp. After I cut the pieces to the approx size I wanted, I simply tore the ends using a tape dispenser to get that "tape edge" look. In person the little fishie really pops...I added Crystal Lacquer to make is shine like a little rainbow trout.

I'm thinking my Father-In-Law is really gonna love this little creation!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Sunny days...

I seriously think I should live in the north west. I hate the heat...and besides, I'd be closer to DeNami! It's a win win in my book ;)  However, I usualy get my order here in the midwest in about 3 days after ordering...they rock like that! So maybe just the relief from heat is a good reason to move? ;) But seriously, wow, it's been H.O.T. What happened to spring?? High 80's is not my idea of spring...just sayin'. Because of the heat, I got to thinking about summer and created this little card...

I just had to break out these stamps again. Like I said on Friday...I'm SERIOUSLY addicted to the hibiscus stamps right now.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Pink hibiscus

Today I have a bright and fun card for your viewing pleasure. I really liked the layout I came up with for last months DeNami color challenge and decided to try it out again.

For the flowers I wanted a soft look for the coloring and a bold look for the outline. To get the look I wanted, I took a piece of white cardstock and "distressed" it using a light pink Memento ink before stamping the flowers in a darker pink and fussy cutting them out. Whatcha think? And seriously, where have these hibiscus stamps been all my life?? I just bought them in the last couple of weeks...WHY didn't someone tell me what I was missing??? I think this must be my new favorite...sigh...love :)

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

New ways to use ribbon...

Did you get a chance to "hop" along and visit all the participants in the April DeNami blog hop? If not, you really should...wow, the ladies really showed us some wonderful creations! This theme was right up my alley...I puffy heart me some ribbon!!

I actually made 2 cards. I know better than doing that because then I'm forced to choose which one to use....sigh. It was a hard decision! So, today I'm going to show ya'll my other card....

I started off by heat embossing the cute little bow from the Whimsical Christmas set. I then threaded ribbon through a doily (leaving it a little puffy), tied a bow and added a velvet flower. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the Climbing Vine then tucked them under my flower along with a few ribbon loops that I had made. I finished it all off with a cute little tag.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Are you ready??

Yesterday was such a fun day over at DeNami Design! The random winners from Sundays blog hop were announced along with the theme for the upcoming May hop.

Sign up to play by sending an email to office@denamidesign.com with the subject line "May Blog Hop". In your email, please include your first and last name AND the link to your blog. Please note: by sending this email, you are committing to posting your blog hop creation on May 20th at 6 AM, PST.

Once we receive your email, we will send an email confirmation letting you know if you made it into the blog hop.

Blog Hop participants will receive another email (approximately May 14th) with the listing of participants, along with any last minute details.

 

If you've never joined us for one of the hops, I really encourage you to do so. They are so much fun and a great source of inspiration...not to mention a chance to win a DeNami Design gift certificate!! 

 

If you've just visited the hops before, maybe this is a good time to take that next step and sign up to participate.  There's no pressure involved at all...just have fun and create anything of your choosing as long as it follows the theme! If you want to participate, just send an email to Paulina (office@denamidesign.com) letting her know. I encourage you to do it quickly before all the spots fill up!! Hope to see ya'll on May 20th!

Shaded butterfly

Hi everyone :)

Today I wanted to share a birthday card that I made for a very special person. Our dad's were best friends, so we grew up together and spent weekends and summers as one big family at the lake. As with all kids, we grew up and got busy in our own lives and lost touch. This past weekend, after years of separation, we got together. What a great time I had reliving wonderful childhood memories and just being in her company. I've always looked up to her as a big sister...she rocks! Last week was her birthday so I decided to make her a little belated birthday card....

I started with a charcoal card base then layered on that gorgeous iridescent aquamarine cardstock. To make the top panel, I punched the edge of a scrap piece of paper, then just laid it on a piece of white cardstock and started shading it in with a foam make-up wedge. I kept moving the punched edge down the panel as I went, making the "clouds". I shaded the fussy cut butterfly with the same ink and added a little black for a bold outline.

Instead of wasting the template that I used to create the front panel, I added it inside the card as an element!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

marbled vase

A few weeks ago I was thumbing through a magazine and saw a card that instantly gave me some inspiration to create this....

The card in the magazine had the black bottom and a couple of different sized vases with flowers. I'm really loving what I came up with here. Yes, sometimes I do pat myself on the back, lol! Honestly, I'm not always in love with my work...it's just "ok", but this one...yeah, I'm really fellin' it. The effect on the vase was a fluke...but a good one! I stamped, colored and fussy cut the vase, then filled it in with Crystal Lacquer.  The glaze gave my coloring a marbled look...pretty cool, hunh? After it dried, I kinda rolled / cupped it and glued it on. Basically I wanted it really puffed out and dimensional. For the lines (where the sentiment is written), I used 2 of the stamps from the basic borders cling set.
Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

It's Ribbon-licious!

Its that time again ladies.......




That's right - time for the DeNami Blog Hop! And this time its all about the ribbons! Now if you are following along in order, you should have arrived here from the talented Andrea Matthews


Now I have to say, this one was a little bit of a challenge for me - not in the idea department - no I had plenty of those but particularly in the "supply" area. As a general rule I don't do a lot with ribbon except as a little embellishment here a little bow there. So when I got ready to do this hop I realized....ummmm yeah - I should probably keep a larger variety of ribbon on hand.


So when coming up with an idea - I went to one of my favorite stamps - the daisy!






Now this next little number I came up with just yesterday while I was reviving my crafty mojo with my friend in Charleston. Of course I had to use the ribbon that was on hand (unfortunately not Denami oh but I am going to do another one with a slightly different take using Denami ribbon). Even though its not Denami - I couldn't resist showing it off!




Oh I hear what you are thinking "I thought she said she didn't have a lot of ribbon on hand?". Yeah - I don't. Just so happens that all of this is from two little packages of coordinating ribbon that I picked up ummmm 5+ years or so ago on clearance that has just been sitting there....and sitting there....and sitting there. Guess what? Used it ALL up on this little project! Take that ribbon pack - no more taunting me from the other side of the room!



Next up on the Hop is Pam Wendt and if her creation is anything like it was last hop - you are in for a TREAT! If you are taking a break or get lost along the way - just stop back by the DeNami Blog to get yourself back on track!

Now don't forget to add comments at each stop for your chance to win one of two $20 gift certificates - just for commenting. I don't care who you are - that's a good thing right there!

One layer....round 1

I haven't participated in the challenges. But I tend to do a lot of one layer cards so I thought I may give it a whirl. This was my first idea....not in love with it but why waste a good card when I can get a post out of it (I mean 3 in one week?! - Tina must be lovin' the break).




A closer peek...



Now if I do decide to submit this one I will do a little better job in the photography department. Perhaps I can get Squeaker to pose again too (hey, I will take any advantage I can get - HA!)

Stamps used in this card: CL-D142 (Chickie & Butterflies), CL-GD002


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Birthday Fun.....

You can never have too many birthday cards on the ready when you need one. So when I received my new cling stamps I had to create one right away....




A little closer....



Super fun or what? I can see so many possibilities with these new stamps. I may re-create this and add some glitter and bling. Yes....this card is just crying out for some bling!

Stamps used: CL-CB001, E106 Happy Birthday.




Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Have you checked out the new challenge??

If you haven't checked out the new challenge over on the DeNami blog, you really should!! Why not enter a lovely little card while your there...what have you got to loose? ;)

Now we all know how I love me some layers and true to my nature, I created faux layers using the masking technique for my first entry. For this one I really wanted to challenge myself and come up with one layer that was clean and simple. However, I still wanted it to express "me" so it had to be colorful and fun at the same time . Whatcha think......

I wanted to pull the colors around the sentiment and really had a hard time deciding weather or not to use a little bling to do it. As you can see, in the end I decided to keep every aspect of this little card "one layer"  and used the same markers I used for the flower stamp instead of rinestones to make the little dots...whatcha think?

Pssst...did ya get a chance to click on the new "learn" tab on the DeNami homepage?? What a wealth of knowledge. Lots of tips, tricks, tuitorials and eyecandy for inspiration!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

So I am sure you thought I disappeared....

But I haven't.....but THANK GOODNESS for friends like TINA that keep this little blog up and running when I am so busy I barely have time to think!

So this Easter Sunday, as a little gift to myself, I took time to play with my goodies. And came up with this....




No not the Squeaker (the little ham)....the card.

Now take a closer (yet somewhat blurrier) peek.



Its fairly simple. I still may go back and add a sentiment. But you know me...I like simple.

Stamps used in this card: CL-GD002 (the border), CL-GD005 (the vase), CL-GD003 (flower) and A76 (ladybug)



Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

treat bags

Before we start todays post, I have some fun news to share with ya'll! DeNami has truly out done themselves once again. Have you ever needed some insperation, just want to see some lovely eyecandy or wanted to learn a new technique? Well Denami has put all of that right on their website! Just click the "learn" tab on the DeNami homepage. There's idea sheets, tuitorials, card making basics (including a tool list to get you started if you are new to card making), videos and much more all in one easy to use area. Be sure to go check it out...I just LOVE what they came up with and how very helpful it all is.

A while ago my sissy-in-law was condemned to life in bed at the hospital until she delivered my niece and nephew. To cheer her up, I decided to make some little treats for her using the new glassine bags....

Unfortunately or maybe it is fortunate...depends how you look at it, she didn't get the little treats. The night before I was going to give them to her, the doctors decided to bring Lucy & Henry into the world. Things have been a whirlwind since then and hopefully I will get them to her soon :)  I already have plans to make some more for Easter baskets...

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

You can never have too many little bunnies!

Well, this is it...the final post before Easter. I hope I at least gave you a tiny bit of inspiration over the week long Easter-stravaganza!

I used DeNami cream, petal pink and chocolate cardstocks. The pink and cream are distressed with distress inks and the bunny border and sentiment is stamped in the same light pink distress ink.


Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Purple chickies...

 I just love the Easter chickie! And the best part about Easter and chickies...you can get away with coloring them any color you want!!

I used a lot of traditional Easter pastel colors for this little card but couldn't help coloring that darling chickie purple!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Theme challenge #10 - no layers

I know that I promised ya'll a whole week of Easter inspiration but I thought I'd sneak in a "bonus post" for your viewing pleasure ;)  I've already got an Easter card posted for today and will have one for Thursday & Friday too so make sure you come back!!

On to your bonus post....

The reason for this little post is to enter a card into the current DeNami challenge. Yes, I could have waited until Saturday, but sometimes life has a way of butting into my best laid plans so I decided that since the card is ready I would show it now. Is this themes graphic not the cutest ever?? I would love to have this little chickie as a stamp!!! (hint hint, Nami - hehehe -)

If you have been following me for any time at all, you know I am a layer girl...the more the merrier in my estimation! This one layer challenge truly a challenge for me...I rarely make one layer cards. I'm just not one of those talented gals that can make something so clean and simple. So, in true layer loving fashion, I did what I do best...I made "layers"!

I was laying in bed (do my best thinking when I'm trying to fall asleep) Monday night trying to come up with a plan. My plan involved creating mock layers and hopefully being able to create a mock edge punched look. Can you believe this is exactly as I pictured it? You gals know that it's pretty rare when something turns out perfectly like we pictured! Well I hope you like my design. I think this evening I will remake it using actual layers...can't wait to see them side by side!

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

4/5/12
I made the card over using layers last night. It's amazing how closely the inks (Versafine Vintage Sepia & MementoRose Bud) I used matches the DeNami cardstocks!! I took a quick picture with my cell phone this morning. Thought you might like to see them side by side...

Roses and eggs??

Yup, roses and eggs...I just love the elegance of these little eggs!

Just like yesterdays card, I decided to again go with the non-traditional color of charcoal...

 I used the same technique as yesterdays card to make the eggs...stamped and fussy cut the solid egg, then heat embossed the rose egg on vellum and glued them together.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Who says you have to only use traditional colors for Easter?? I thought the charcoal cardstock looks great with the pinks.....

The eggs were made by layering a stamped solid egg with a heat embossed (on vellum) egg.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!

Veggies for Easter dinner...

Hi DeNami friends! Can you believe how fast 2012 is flying by...next Sunday is Easter!! To celebrate the Holiday that has an abundance of my favorite candies (chocolate marshmallow eggs & robin eggs) I'm going to do a full week of nothing but Easter cards...hope you enjoy it!

Today I will start you off with this little card...

I made the "veggie rows" by using the new basic borders cling set. I just bent the stamp a bit when I put it on the block to get the rounded effect. Then I stamped and colored the vegies and lastly added some distress ink for the dirt.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think....good or bad....or even better - what would you have done differently??...crafty minds wanna know!