A Sweet New Friend

It's not very often that I will use a "contraband" stamp and even rarer that I show them here on the Addict Blog. But something captured my heart so I thought I'd share it with ya'll. Not so long ago I was was introduced to the sweetest little stamp company over on the Pretty Pink Posh blog, Paper Sweeties. I fell head over heels for their darling little designs. I knew right away that their designs would work beautifully with my DeNami stamps. Their stamps bring back memories of my childhood. I LOVED playing with paper dolls, I guess little girls now a days have no clue what they even are do they? The Paper Sweeties line carries a couple of different "dolls" along with fun accessories to dress them up in and for them to "play" with.

I started out with a white card base that I inked up a little added a layer of rose colored stock and then a white layer that I stamped using the Teeny Swiss Dot & the Mini Rosette. The pink layer was edge punched and I stamped the Teeny Heart Background with more Mini Rosettes (in versa mark). To finish it all off I stamped the sentiment on a fussy cut Elegant Oval Frame and added some pretty ribbons and a paper rose before adding the darling little girl all dressed up in her Easter dress (fussy cut from patterned paper). I love that this dress can be used for anytime of the year, not just Easter! Did you notice that she's holding a little cupcake from the Mini Sweet Treats petit four set?

 

I think this card came together rather well for my first attempt at using the Paper Sweeties stamps and I was right about them working so well with my MUCHO LOVED DeNami stamps! I can't wait to play with them a little more. :)

 

 

Fun & Easy Floral Mother's Day Card

Have you ever made a card and not known how you did it? I started out with the idea of making a card with a tag for the focal point. I had a clear picture in my mind as to what I wanted to do. However, when I started making it, it turned into this....

I'm note sure exactly what it is about this card, but it really tugs my heart. It's a fun design, and yes, it does have "polka dots" of sorts, lol, and the new flower image is adorable then you have buttons and sequins...I guess it just has a lot of things I love all wrapped up in one little card.

That's it for me today, I hope you've enjoyed Mother's Day week and at least got a little idea for your own Mother's day card.Have a great weekend!!!

a little jar of country flowers

Hi everyone, I just wanted to pop in with a little entry for the 10 Minute Craft Dash over on the Pretty Pink Posh blog. Nothing like being down to the wire is there? I made this card several days ago, however, with Mother's Day week here on the blog I just never had a chance to post it! Sooooo, today gets 2 posts! I was going to wait until Saturday but I need to be back over at my Mom's for some cleaning and grocery store duties and she has NO internet!! EEKKK! Those were a tough couple of weeks when I was staying there to help her after the surgery, thank goodness for smart phones!

I'll keep this short and sweet. Here's my desk before the card. Pulled out lots of fun things to use and some pretty patterned paper.

 

 

 

Here's my desk after making the card looking like a tornado blue through my crafty area, lol! 



And finally, here's my creation that took almost my whole allotted time!! 9 minutes 58 seconds (insert wiping of brow here) whew!

yes, the flowers are purple...I promise. You can even see my purple Copic marker laying out on my desk ;) No matter what I did in editing they looked a just little blueish in my opinion...sigh


That's it for me today! Don't forget to scroll down one little post to see today's Mother's Day card and I will be back here in the morning with one last creation (my fave I think) ;)

A shabby chic Mother's Day Card

As I've mentioned before, Paulina from DeNami (and her personal blog, Pretty Pink Posh) has me playing with patterned papers. She is truly inspiring and I've gotten so many good ideas and places to shop (feeding my habit) from her. Well I did it again, I pulled out some pretty patterned paper to play with. After I made this little card I texted a picture of it to Paulina and told her "Look what you've made me do, I hope you're at least a little bit sorry". She laughed at me and said that she wasn't!!  Hmmpff...That girl!! ;) What am I going to do with her?!?!? hahahahaha

 

I'm seriously in love with little double sided 6 X 6 paper packs. All that beautiful coordinating paper makes me smile. It's so easy to use, I simply used the top portion of the page for my background then edge punched a little piece of the left over scrap and flipped it to the backside for a perfectly matching border strip. To finish off my card I added a little lace and DeNami grosgrain ribbon before adding a little doily that I inked up in pinks and a little gold. A little flag and pre-made embellishments tied it all together.

 

I'll be back tomorrow with one final Mother's day card...thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

Bright summer flowers

I just love DeNami's floral stamps. They have a wonderful mix of elegant and whimsical and fun flowers to choose from. For this little card I chose to "build" my own flower. It's way easy using the fun spring flowers and garden flowers set. You can mix and match to create a perfect little flower for your card.

I just love these fun bright colors. You can't tell from the picture, but my background paper is glittered...too cute :)  Glitter makes me smile! I left mine blank, but you can easily stamp "Happy Mother's day" right above the little flowers.

Mothers Day Bouquet

Are you ready for another Mother's Day card for inspiration? I just LOVE the new flowers that Nami designed for this springs release and couldn't wait to share them with all of you...

This little bouquet is perfect for giving to Mom on Mother's Day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Elegant Mother's Day tulip

Wow, where is 2013 going...it's almost Mother's day!?!?  With Mother's Day just a couple of weeks away i thought I'd do a Mother's Day inspiration week. This means I'll be posting all five days instead of just Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hope you get a little smile and inspiration from what I bring this week! :)

Today I have an elegant-ish Mothers day card to share with you. I've used this layout on several occasions ("borrowed" from Paulina ;) ) and just love how it turns out.

I went with a soft color palette which makes it a little classy vs. going with the bright fun colors that's normally more my style. I started off with the idea of stamping several flowers in the vase but after stamping the first one is just seemed right to stop right there. 

I'll see you back here tomorrow with another pretty card for Mom!

Better late than never, right???

Hi everyone! Well, have I got a story for you! Hmm, instead of the long drawn out version, I'll condense it a bit....My mom was in the hospital (she's fine, just a knee replacement) and I was running back and forth from work / home and hospital for a week. During all of this I managed to find time to film a little 10 minute craft dash video. Then when she got out I've was staying at my Mom's taking care of her while she's been laid up and not spending much time at home or work. In the mean time, I managed to loose the little camera card!!! I was so upset...I had pictures of the card plus another card I'd made and the video...poof, all gone. 

Of course, now that the challenge is over...I found the camera card. It was in my wallet. Why did I put it in there, what was I thinking; It's not like my mom has Internet or even a computer for that matter! I've been a mess these past couple of weeks, sigh! Well, I decided to not let all this go to waste, even though I can't enter my cards, I thought I could still share them and the video with all of you.

This is actually the 2nd card I made. I took a collection of stamping goodness with me to my Mom's house to keep me busy so I don't have a picture of the card with my phone to show the time. :(

However, this card took a total of 9 minutes, 22 seconds....not bad, right??? The patterned papers really help!

Here's my first card card along with the video I made...enjoy :)

(Since this video is late the date for Paulina's Blogging 101 posts are wrong...sorry!)

9 minutes 28 seconds!!

That's it for me today, I hope you try the 10 minute Craft Dash over at Pretty Pink Posh (Paulina just announced the latest one yesterday!) sometime, it really is a fun challenge even if I panic a bit, lol.

Hello Friend...

I have kind of a "different" card for you today. As you all probably have realized by know, I just LOVE Washi tape. I mean, what's NOT to love about it, and it's just so versatile. My card today showcases how it can even stand in for patterned paper!

 

 

I just love brown and pink together so I set out to create something fun using just those two colors. I think I may have succeded ;)

This card was super easy to make. I took a piece of kraft cardstock and added the strips of brown & pink Washi then layered a strip of magenta and 2 strips of strawberry freeze cardstocks before adding the pretty kraft scalloped pieces. I poped that panel up using foam tape then added my punched flower Uusing the same colors of cardstocks) and my little flag. Easy Peasy!!

 

That's it for me today, thanks for stopping by!!

 

Tool Talk - April, 2013

If you're here looking for my Fancy Favors hop post, it's just one down...THANKS!

Hi everyone and welcome to another edition of Tool Talk! Today I have another uber talented and sweet gal that was willing to share her favorite tool with us. I feel so lucky to have everyone I've asked agree to participate!! These gals are so gracious!! Well, I won't keep you with my rambling...on with the post!

I've had several of you gals ask about the tool being showcased today and I was in fact toying with the idea of a little video on it. I was really excited when I saw what Emily had decided to share with us...how PERFECT!!!

Greetings, DeNami fans and addicts! It's DeNami DT member Emily here today from My Little Slice of Bliss. I was so flattered to be asked by Tina to share a Tool Talk with you here on the Confessions of a DeNami Stamp Addict blog today! One of my very favorite tools (and one of the oldest in my arsenal) is the Stamp-a-ma-jig from EK Success.

I know that some stampers are soooooooooooooo talented at placing their stamped images perfectly just by eye-balling it, but I am definitely not one of those talented folks. I like my sentiments and images perfectly straight, aligned, and centered! And I'm my own worst critic ;). So this tool has been a godsend to me--there's hardly a project in my gallery on which I haven't used it. I especially love using it with my wood-mounted DeNami stamps! No guessing, no placement mistakes! 

Want to see the Stamp-a-ma-jig in action? Here's how I used it to nest a pair of DeNami circle stamps.

1. Align the clear image sheet in the corner of the Stamp-a-ma-jig arm. Ink your stamp and fit it into the same corner, sliding it down to meet and stamp on the clear image sheet.

2. Carefully remove the stamp and Stamp-a-ma-jig arm. Position the clear image sheet so that the stamped image is placed exactly where you want it. Here I am aligning the dotted circle inside the Thank You circle that I already stamped on cardstock. (I like to hold the cardstock onto which I'll be stamping in place with a couple of Post-It notes so that nothing shifts.)

3. Holding the clear image sheet in place, carefully slide the Stamp-a-ma-jig arm into place so the corner of the clear sheet fits snugly in the corner of the Stamp-a-ma-jig. 

4.  Remove the clear image sheet (leaving the Stamp-a-ma-jig arm exactly where it was), ink your stamp, fit it into the corner of the Stamp-a-ma-jig arm, and slide it down the corner to stamp on the cardstock.

5.  Ta da!!

I used the same steps to stamp a DeNami Cherry Blossom inside my nested circles.

Once you have finished using your Stamp-a-ma-jig for a project, simply wipe the inked images from the clear image sheet with a bit of damp paper towel, dry, and you are all set to move on to your next stamping project!

I hope this clears up some of the mystery of using a Stamp-a-ma-jig. It's super simple to use once you get the hang of it with a little practice!

Thanks so much for letting me share one of my favorite tools here today, Tina!!

Fancy Favors Blog Hop

Hi everyone and welcome to another wonderful & definitely fun blog hop hosted by DeNami Design!! I don't know how Paulina comes up with these fun themes.


Here's all the important info:

When: The blog hop starts on April 15th at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until April 16th, 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: They are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to their website! One gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then  TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

You should have arrived here from the uber talented Lisa Petrella. If you didn't, no worries, you can head on back to the DeNami blog to get back on track with the full list of participants.

Well you know me, I got overly excited and couldn't stop at one fancy favor....

Paulina put me onto a great company, Little Free Radical on Etsy that I just love. They have DARLING chevron twill ribbon by May Arts and these these YUMMY chevron treat bags and paper straws in some fun colors.

I simply filled my little bag up with goodies and added a fun tag to finish it off. Then I made a cute little matching flag topper for a cupcake (note to self; don't use an orange straw and orange background paper together for your picture, lol). I can't wait to make more in other colors too!

My next project couldn't be any easier! I simply cut a large-ish circle, attached a doily then embellished it. I attached a little treat to the back side using my ATG then pulled the the edges together and secured it closed

That's all I have for you today, it's time for you to hop on and visit with a really talented gal, Kanani Kawamura! Have a great day everyone and I will see you back here tomorrow with a new installment of Tool Talk. I have another wonderful and talented guest all lined up and she's talking about a tool that many of you have asked me about!

Birthday banner

Today I have a fun little card to share with you. One of my nieces recently had a birthday so I wanted to make up a fun card that fit her vibrant personality....She loves bling and bright colors.

I'm thinking I pulled it off. I started out with a fun and bright color palette then pulled out this wonderful little veneer flag banner (comes 12" long and easily cuts with a pair of regular scissors) I got from one of my fave sites, Ellen Hutson. (There's a link to her site on Pretty Pink Posh at the bottom right hand side)

 

I colored it in with my Tombow markers and then stamped her name using an alphabet from Lawn Fawn. I fussy cut my cake and popped it up on foam tape for added diminsion then added some fun crystal laquer on the candles and icing loops. I wanted soooo badly to use sequins scattered all over the card but unfortunately I hadn't received my order at the time I was making this so I used clear rhinestones. To finish it all off I added some yummy DeNami twine to the banner and the sentiment.

 

Well that's it for me today! I will see you back here on Sunday for the Fancy Favor blog hop and you won't want to miss the new Tool Talk on Monday, wait to you see who my special guest is...another amazingly talented gal is in the hot seat!!!

 

 

Recipe cards

Hi everyone, are you ready for a fun new project to try out? I have to confess something, this isn't the project I was going to show this month but i just didn't have the time to edit the photo tutorial I made because I didn't have a computer or access to the Internet for about 5 days. Luckily I had this little project sitting on a shelf ;)

The pictures are kinda bad, sorry about that. I'm just a hot mess these days and it's starting to show :/  but let's not dwell on that, let's get to what I think is a FUN little project that makes a great gift or something fun for yourself.

RECIPE CARDS!!!

I know that now a days we tend to not use recipe cards and that some of you younger gals are not even sure what the heck I'm even talking about what with the Internet and printing them out. They're kinda obsolete, I'll admit that. But there's just something about pulling out a little food stained card with a handwritten recipe on it that makes me all warm and toasty.  I wish I could say they bring back memories of my Grandma or Mother cooking up a Sunday or holiday dinner, however, I never got the chance to meet my Grandmothers and well, Mom just didn't do that, lol. Maybe it's just my wishful thinking and wanting a little nostalgia? At any rate, I simply love them.

DeNami has a ton of stamps that are perfect for making fun recipe cards. I've pulled out a few from my collection

Fruits, veggies and yummy dessert stamps.

Right now my kitchen is red and white with gingham and cherries (The gingham is no surprise is it, lol???) so I made a few cards to match. I can put these on my ohh so cute cherry memory boards my sister, Pam, made for me. I also made a few for veggie / side dishes and who doesn't love dessert...I have my priorities ya know ;)

While they are fun to keep, they are also fun to give. Do you know someone moving to a new home or getting married? A few kitchen towels, a wood spoon and a bit of ribbon makes a real cute gift when you add a few home made recipe cards with some yummy hand written tummy love on them...

Maybe you can start a new tradition by using recipe cards and passing them down to your daughter, grand daughter or whomever.

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

You're The Best...

Hi everyone! Y'all should be very proud of me, I finally pulled out a background stamp other than polka dots or gingham, lol!!! Don't you just LOVE this houndstooth?

I couldn't resist pairing it with some of the new cling flower stamps from the spring collection. I stamped and fussy cut them, then simply layered them on top of each other for the fun border.

That's it from me today, thanks for stopping by!!!

Some layouts are like an old friend...comfortable

I know, I know, I've used this layout several times already....but I just love it, I can't help using it over and over. It's easy, fun and let's me showcase several fun stamps at once. So really, what's not to love, right??

The possibilities with this layout is practically endless; change the color combo up to something fun and summery like maybe a hot pink, teal & celery combo or change the harlequin to a fun chevron image, change your focal image to an chickie or cute little critter and use fun little petit four images that match on your other panel. The sky's the limit....

 

 

Hope you give this fun layout a try! Thanks for stopping by!!



Mixed Pattern birthday card

I have to admit that I LOVE patterned paper. I mean, what's NOT to love, right? Beautiful colors, endless patterns and some even have matching doo-dads and things. However, I'm just not good at using them. I tend to make my own background patterns and call it a work of art. I recently came across a cute little pad of papers at Target of all places (go figure) and had the over whelming urge to add it to my ever unused stash of patterned papers so I eagerly snatched it up and put it in my cart. I was so giddy over it I even texted a picture of it to a good friend and fellow cardmaker. I'm sure she probably thought I was insane because she knows I don't venture into the yummyness of patterned papers.

 

I think I've realized why I have such a tough time. Growing up we are taught how to dress ourselves. Heck, I'm going to date myself here, but my clothing had little animals on it and you pulled out a pair of shorts and a top that had the same animal on the tag and you knew they matched and that's what was ment to go together. Don't go putting on a giraffe shirt with a pair of lion pants...you seriously can not go mixing those! See, from a young age it's drilled into us to not wear a stripped shirt with polka dot pants. So I'm going to blame my non creativeness on Garanimals. It's all totally their fault ;) Since my free spirit of mixing patterns was so stifled I apply this same rule to cardmaking. I see all these pretty cards with multiple patterns and I totally puffy heart them but my brain won't let me make one of my very own. I decided to pull out that horded little pack of paper, told my inner self to sit down & shut the heck up and just went with the flow....

Whatcha think? Did I pull it off or am I breaking the no polka dot pants and stripped shirt rule? I can't decide if I love it because of the color palette, the patterned paper or the fun Washi flags. On another note, I'm still having a hard time resisting slapping a bow somewhere on this card. I know that I don't always have to use beautiful bows on everything, but I just can't help myself....sigh

 

That's it for me today...thanks for stopping by!!!!

 

DeNami Happenings - April 2013

Hi everyone and welcome to another DeNami Happenings! I know Spring technically started last month, but for me it really doesn't kick in until I see April on my calendar. Maybe it's because I live in the Midwest and out weather is pretty jacked up most of the time. Heck, we just got 14" of snow last week and then 3 days later it was all melted because we were having 50 degree days! How's that for spring, lol??

Now that spring is finally here I'm gearing up for some fun tutorials, card videos and inspiration showcasing beautiful DeNami flowers. If there's a particular DeNami flower image you'd like to see showcased just let me know.

Speaking of showcasing, did you see that the latest spotlight over on the DeNami blog? I just love the flowerbox window but was a bit intimidated by it. After seeing what the DeNami Design Team has done with it I have a few ideas running around in my head. If you were ever thinking about it, now's the time while it's 10% off ;)

Here are the tour dates for April...
  
April 13 - 14 (Allentown, PA)
April 19 - 20 (Milwaukee, WI)
April 27 - 28 (Akron, OH)

 

That's all for me today, thanks for stopping by! Don't forget the Fancy Favors blog hop starts April 14th!! I can't wait for all that wonderful eye candy :)