Under The Sea

Before I get to today's post I must apologize for my picture. The computer was angry with me and decided to teach me a lesson and not work....sigh. I had to do this post on my phone and that my friends is no easy feat!! I didn't want to leave y'all hangin' by not having a post today so I did it the hard way ;)

I was feeling kind of nautical so I pulled out some fun stamps and got busy! This darling little Mermaid, seahorse and seaweed is from the Under The Sea set by Sweet Stamp Shop. They are a perfect fit with the bubbles and tiny seaweed stamps in (you guessed it!!!) the Under The Sea set by DeNami, lol.

I started off making my background by stamping polka dots then stamping the 2 different sizes of sea shells and filling in all the areas with the small seaweed. I edge punched the celery card stock with 2 different punches the to soften it I punched the corners at the top. I layered on a little stamped panel (seaweed and bubbles), solid cardstock and some yummy hand dyed tea stained seem binding from Paper Sweeties. Using the bubbles and small seashell I made a small panel for the back drop to the mermaid. I colored and fussy cut the large seaweed, mermaid and seahorse. After playing with how I wanted them laid out I added foam tape so there would be lots of dimension and finished it all off with a little bow.

Today is the last day to enter my birthday giveaway. All the inf can be found by clicking the graphic to the right. I'm giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to a random winner, I hope you enter!

birthday monkeys

Heya everyone! Did you have a great weekend? Mine was pretty darn good. :) Hubby added to my charm bracelet and I had a girls day with my Mom and sister. Unfortunately I didn't get any crafting in, but crafty shopping more than made up for that, lol!

One of my nephews, well, great nephews (wow, I'm old!) was having a birthday and I wanted to create something as fun and silly as he is. I broke out the monkeys and got to stamping!

I started out making the little flags using the bunch of bananas, peeled banana, the little leaf from the elegant floral set and the happy birthday sentiment from the thoughtful greetings set. I stamped the  swinging monkeys on a white panel and added more leaves and dressed them up with fun party hats from the birthday celebration set. To finish it all off I added some fun scallops, a strip of yellow Washi and a little cupcake to my button. I'm feeling pretty darn proud...twine, button, glitter and yet it's still all boy...now that's a feat, lol!!

Sorry that the picture is a little crappy, I forgot to take one before I sent the card! That's what I get for being in a hurry! Not too bad for a picture that was texted to me, lol, but would have been better had I been on top of things ;) 

 That's it for me today! Don't forget about the birthday fun I have going on...there's less than a week left to enter for the random drawing for a $25.00 Denami Design gift certificate!

 All the info can be found here, you have until July 31st.

A pretty little color pallet

Hello Friday...I'm excited to see you!!! Been a long week and I'm ready for a little relaxing and I want cake!! ;)

Today I have 2 cards to share with ya'll. I wanted to enter the current challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room, but I don't know, I just couldn't get my brain working, I've been a little "off" all week for some reason so nothing spectacular was coming to mind..

Here's the inspiration picture, isn't it beautiful??

 use teal, light pink & cream/white along with lace and flowers

Here's what I made...since I couldn't think of anything new and special, I went with an old stand by layout.

A couple of days ago  received a pretty little set of vintage bottles & labels stamp set from someone as a birthday gift and thought they'd be perfect for this challenge. The flower started out bright white, but with the magic of Copic markers it's now cream with light pink highlights ;)  The bottle and label set are by Hampton Arts and the sentiment is by paper Sweeties.

 I wish I could have captured how pretty the pink and teal paper (from DeNami) is. I must have taken 20 pictures but never could do it justice. It's thinner than regular cardstock and has such a pretty little sheen to it, almost iridescent you can say. The sheer ribbon has the same pretty sheen to it...just wish I could have captured it!!

I've always loved this color pallet and have used it on many occasions. Since I had some new stash I wanted to play with and didn't want to clean the house like a good little wifey, I made another card. It doesn't fit the challenge since I used chocolate and kraft so I won't be entering it, but it's fun all the same :)

I'm not too sure about my sentiment, I played with several ways to do it and nothing really grabbed me. I like the flag hanging down, but the sentiment itself is just too plain.

That's it for me today :)  Ya'll have a safe and happy weekend...I'll see you back here Monday another year older and hopefully full of cake, lol! ;)

Pretty Paisley

Hello everyone and welcome to Wednesday...the work week is half over...woo-hoo!! I'm extra excited since it's my birthday weekend. No house cleaning, no dinner cooking and I get CAKE!!! I love cake...sigh. My big sissy, Denise is coming into the city so that's something to look forward to too, but if she tries to eat my cake I may stab her with my fork...just sayin' ;)  hehehehe

 

Growing up and even now, paisley has been a favorite pattern of mine. I was super excited when I saw the new DeNami images and there was some fun paisley! Paisley is so girly, sweet and fun, how can you not like it, right?!? For my first creation using they yummy paisley stamps, I decided to make a pretty patterned paper and let it take center stage....

 

I started out stamping the 3 paisleys randomly all over my white cardstock. Then I pulled out a few Petit Four sets: Elegant Floral stamp set, Whimsical Valentine stamp set, and the Garden Accents stamp set to fill all of the open areas. I really wanted to keep the card fairly pastel, but since my yellow ink pad is a little bright I added a bright blue to balance it out. I think this card would have looked extra cute if I really had sewn it vs. using the little zigzag stamp, but alas, I haven't sewn in years and my sewing machine is packed away in the bowels of the basement destined to never see the light of day again....sigh

 

That's it for me today! I'm so happy that some of you have entered the random birthday drawing here on the blog!! How fun...you guys are awesome :)  If you haven't entered yet, there's still time!

 

 All the info can be found here, you have until July 31st. I'll be picking a random entry to win a $25 DeNami Design gift certificate!

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!!!

 

 

 

Can I get a drum roll please.....

Well good morning everyone! Surprised to see me today?? Sorry if this post looks odd, I'm actually doing this from my phone. Hubby has the laptop and is gone for the whole day.

 I thought I'd pop in to announce the random winner of a fun gift certificate to Paper Sweeties stamp company that ended on Friday. 

www.papersweeties.com - shopping & blog

We were lucky enough to have Debbie, owner and creator of Paper Sweeties join us for Tool Talk and I thought how fun it would be to not only celebrate the Addict blogs birthday, but Paper Sweeties (in August) as well! 

I will keep this short and "sweet", lol. Thank you to everyone that entered! Paper Sweeties is great little stamp company and Debbie is just so sweet and amazing! 

Without further ado, the winner is.... Heidi!!!

Congrats darlin'! Just e-mail me and I will pass along your gift certificate code!

I will see ya'll here bright and early tomorrow with a brand new Tips & Tricks post. 

Don't forget to enter the other random birthday drawing here on the blog...info can be found by clicking the birthday graphic at the top :)

With Love

Happy Friday everyone!!! I'm excited for the weekend to FINALLY be here...I'm worn the heck out, and as you saw yesterday, I have a little house cleaning to do, *wink wink* hehehe.

Today I want to share a little sumthin' I made for the current challenge on The Shabby Tea Room blog.

This weeks theme is "Romantic" and we were to use lace, pearls & flowers...

Here's my take on the theme....

 

I've never used one of those fancy pearl flourish pieces before...someone should seriously slap me if I ever try again, lol! A gal needs a couple of extra hands to put one on...ohh my gosh, that was hard and frustrating!! I had a little paper left from Paulina's birthday card do I stamped the solid decorative crest on it and used it for a pretty little accent piece to the floral pp from the same 6X6 paper pad. The little comb and mirror are actually stamps that I fussy cut and who doesn't love a pretty little skeleton key, I have such a soft spot for them! For my sentiment, I wanted to use the same paper that I used under the cabochon, but I didn't have a big enough piece. After a little thought, I decided to make my own by stamping the Paper Sweeties sentiment randomly in a light ink and then in the dark ink. And speaking of that darling little cabochon, I made that along with all of the roses!! I used molds from Mold Muse and paper clay. After they were dry I simply spritzed them. The pearl flourish originally had little tan roses so I replaced them with my little teal ones to make everything match perfectly. :)

 

Hope you like my take on the inspiration photo and remember that today is the last day to comment to win a Paper Sweeties gift certificate...deets can be found here. And my other birthday give a way is still going, you have until the end of the month...deets for that can be found here!

 

Have a great weekend everyone!



A little tropical dream

Hi everyone...I know, I know, it's 1:pm (here) at I'm just now posting!! Thing is, is that last night at the last minute I decided to enter a little challenge. This challenge not only required my finished project, but the one major requirement was that we were to use & show our stash. That meant before I left for work this morning (waiting for daylight for better pics) I not only had to take a picture of my card, but of my "toys" too! After throwing them on a jump drive and bringing them to work with me I still had to edit everything in between normal work stuff and write this post...I'm a gluten for punishment aren't I, lol???

 

Going to try to make this short but sweet ;) so bear with me please, lol!!

 

I came across a little clear stamp company called Sweet Stamp Shop...OMG, adorable little images!! I've been thinking that I want to grab a few up, but am waiting until a release that they will be having right away before I make any final decisions ;) They also have a little blog that I'm going to start following...like I needed another one, right?? I'm glad half of them are sent to my e-mail...saves a TON of time!! hehehe! Anywho, back on track...they run a challenge on their little blog. That means FUN to be had by me :) WOO-HOO!

 

This weeks challenge is...Use What You Have

 

That's a pretty easy peasy theme for me to work with and you'll see why in just a moment ;) but first, let's see what I created shall we??

Doesn't this just scream SUMMER?? Lime green, orange and pops of pinkish melon...a little tropical dream right here in the Midwest ;)

 

 

I used the small solid palm trees, the small bamboo leaf and the small solid bamboo leaf to make my patterned paper for the large panel and used just the small solid palm trees for the patterned paper on the little panel. I stamped the hibiscus' on scrap paper and fussy cut them out. The large one is flat and the 3 small ones are at different hights using foam tape. 

 

 

 

Like I said before, you had to show pictures of your "stash". Well, That's kind of subjective isn't it? I have lots of stashes...ribbon stash, stamp stash, paper stash, etc. So, without a clarification of what  my "stash" should be, I decided to show it all!! Besides, who doesn't like to see other crafty gals work spaces...I know I sure do!! Now mind you, my little crafty area is in the corner of my bedroom so it's only 6ft long X 4ft wide. That's not a lot of space :( but I've made the most of it!!
 

My desk is an old converted computer desk. The pull out keyboard tray is perfect for my "cutting station". I store my cutter and paper scraps that I'm working with at the time there. It's so easy to just scoot back a smidge, pull it out, cut and shove it back...keeps my desktop free for other junk, lol! I keep a little "tool stash" on top of my desk.
 



This is a little storage system that sits to the left of my desk. a rolling cart usually blocks it for the most part. On top I have little apothecary jars filled with buttons & Washi along with a couple of large punches that don't fit in the drawers. Upper row from left to right: brads, refills for tape runners, cutting blades for paper trimmer and anything else that doesn't have a home - embellishments (flowers, stickers, etc) - stickles, embossing powders & glitters. 2nd row: ribbons that I don't use often - embellishments that managed to overflow from the top row. 3rd row: binders with misc clear stamps that I rarely use, project ideas and TONS of sketches. Bottom row:edge punches that I don't often use and my mucho loved Marvy circle & square punches



This is to the right of my desk…a set of 12X12 drawers that houses most of my wood DeNami stamps. It needs a MAJOR overhaul! On top I have another set of drawers where I keep all of my scrap papers (divided by: patterned then colored cardstock then neutral cardstock). I also keep my Cuttlebug and a basket of dies & folders on top of that. (please ignore that I desperately need to vacuum...who has time for that kind of foolishness?!?!?!)

 



 Under my desk (wow, I really need to rethink that no time for vacuuming thing...jeeze :/ ). This is cardstock arranged by color of course, speciality papers like vellums, glitter & acetates and 12X12 p. papers and 3 drawers of wood DeNami overflow (sentiments & holidays).

 

This is a little cart that I keep a TON of stash on. Everything that I use quite a bit gets thrown on here...ink pads, ribbons, twines, 6X6 PP pads, bling, bucket O' acrylic blocks, my favorite edge punches and a few other misc goodies like my DeNami cling stamps.

 This is a cute little basket that I keep my contraband stamps non-DeNami stamps in. These I use more often so I keep them within easy reach unlike the ones in the large drawer. If I'm not crafting it sits in my chair but when I'm crafting I throw it on my bed behind me.

 

 

And here I said I was going to keep this short, lol! I had good intentions, lol! ;) Now don't forget about my give a ways going on!!

 

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!

 

And tomorrow is the last day to either follower the Paper Sweeties blog or "like" them on Facebook and leave a comment on the Tool Talk post where the owner, Debbie, guest posted for us. I'll be picking a random winner for a Paper Sweeties GC!

Birthday catch up and the new DeNami release...

First off, I'd like to wish my sister, Pam, a very happy birthday!!! 2 out of 3 times our parents got it right...we can't help that our other sister was born in April so she isn't as special, ;) hehehe! Just kidding, I love my oldest sister to death, I owe her a lot since she protected me in school and introduced me to my hubby of 23 years!

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!! That stupid commercial with the camel walking around the office trying to get people to say it's hump day is officially playing in my mind...marketing strategy at it's best, lol!

 

July has been and still is being busy busy busy for me! I'm loving it though...what can I say ;) I like the crafty punishment!

 

Sooo many birthdays in July....

Just look at my calender and I haven't even listed one friends, an uncles, DeNami Addicts or MINE, lol! Whew, that's a lot of birthday cards to make!

 

 

 

To help celebrate DeNami Addict's and my birthdays I'm having TWO fun give a ways! I wanted to do something a little different, so I thought for the first give a way I'd have you really join in and make what else...a birthday card! At the end of the month I will use a random number generator to pick a random winner for a $25 DeNami gift certificate! It can be any kind of birthday card you want and you can use any products you want...no DeNami necessary. Just link your birthday card to the little linking system on the post with all the details (here). I do ask that if you have a blog and are linking from there that you include my birthday graphic in your post with a link to the page. I'd appreciate it. :)  If you've never linked up something before I will be happy to walk you through it, just drop me an e-mail, leave a comment or post on Facebook.

 

My second give a way has a little sumthin' sumthin' to do with this months Tool Talk guest. I met Debbie through her stamp company, Paper Sweeties, via DeNami's sweet top go to gal, Paulina. We have become fast friends and kindred spirits. Her company will be celebrating it's first birthday next month so I decided what better way to get started than to celebrate together by giving away a gift certificate to paper Sweeties too! This will be a random drawing also, just simply "like" Paper Sweeties on Facebook (&/or) follow the Paper Sweeties blog then leave me a comment on the Tool Talk post letting me know. Easy Peasy!! I'll be picking a random winner for this give a way on Friday, 7/19.

 

July also has seen the release of the DeNami Fall/Winter 2013 collection!! I must say that I'm smitten with the new images...Hahaha, like I wouldn't have been, right?!?!? I just had to take advantage of the "I want it all" option. It's a lot of money up front, but by the time I end up buying a piece here and there, which we all know I would do, this is a GREAT savings! I couldn't wait to play with my new goodies when I received them nor could I wait to show off what I had created with them so I was showing them off on my Facebook page. I thought I'd show them all here on the blog too just in case you didn't catch them on Facebook :)

 

 

Stamps used: birthday wishes circle, med dot circle, and the brand new chickie with balloons

 

Stamps Used: single tweety, music notes, a little birdie told me, classic leaves set & the new winter branch (sorry, I forgot to add the classic leaves set in the picture)

Stamps Used: whimsical oval frame, med double circle, and the brand new cafe chickies (this little stamps works great in both the oval and circle frames!!)

Stamps Used: modern borders, set & the new peacock feathers

 

Stamps Used: decorative flourish, sending you love, and the new ornate flourish, & solid rose accents set

 

 I had a great time interacting with all of you on Facebook over the weekend and having you suggest what stamp to play with next! You gals are awesome!! Just let me know if you'd like a particular stamp showcased...I'll be more than happy to have an excuse to get it out to play! ;)

 

I hope you enjoyed my little cards using the latest images and I hope you join in on all of the birthday fun too!

Tool Talk - July 2013

If you're looking for the DeNami Summer Splash hop card, it can be found one post down! Thanks! :)

 

Hi everyone and welcome to another edition of Tool Talk! Today's guest is someone I "meet" not so long ago and I think she's one of the sweetest people ever! I'm really glad to have gotten to know her and am glad that I put my big girl panties on and asked her if she was interested in guest posting here on the Addict Blog...boy was that intimidating!! I'm just smitten and brought back to my childhood with her precious "paper doll" stamps that can be dressed up in so many different adorable outfits! She runs her own stamp company and a fun blog with a monthly challenge...let's give a warm welcome to Debbie Marcinkiewicz, owner of Paper Sweeties stamp company!!

 

Tool Talk – Prismacolor Pencils

By:  Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Hello crafty friends!  I was beyond excited and honored when my sweet friend, Tina, invited me to write an article for her Tool Talk segment this month!  The only problem I could think of was which tool I was going to select to spotlight in this article … there are SO MANY great ones out there from dies, to embossing plates and heat guns to sewing machines!  In the end, I chose Prismacolor Pencils along with Gamsol Mineral Spirits since they have become my ‘go to’ tools to add color to stamped images these days!

 

I began with a stamp set from Paper Sweeties that will be released in the shop today, July 15^th … these sweet little birdies on a branch and adorable tree made of pretty little blossoms just cried out to be inked and colored!

I colored each of the ‘open’ images with different colored Prismacolor pencils …

… and then the ‘magic’ happens when you add Gamsol Mineral Spirits!  Just dip the tip of a ‘stump’ into the Gamsol and then rub it over the spots you filled in with Prismacolor pencils – the mineral spirits act as a blending agent and give you a clear, smooth finish to your penciled coloring – no pencil marks – just a beautiful, clean finish!  They are SO EASY to use … if I can use them, a monkey can!!  I was not ‘really a fan’ of coloring previously, but since I discovered the Prismacolor pencils in combination with the Gamsol, I find them hard to put down!  It’s so quick and easy and gives you a really professional result!

I’ve taken Copic marker classes and just can’t seem to master the technique.  I think I color ‘too heavy’ and don’t like the result I end up with.  Using the Prismacolor pencils gives me a nice, light, soft effect each and every time.  And, if you want to go darker, just go over your image with more pencil and smooth out with more Gamsol.  Perfect every time!!

After stamping my images onto patterned paper and die cutting into a pretty shape, I colored the stamped images with Prismacolor pencils.  I adhered a tiny gingham patterned paper heart inside the tree and topped it off with a pretty iridescent button and twine.  I added some pretty patterned papers to the base of my card and secured them with a machine-sewn zig-zag stitch.  I added a snippet of pretty white lace trim and then tied on a sweet tea-stained seam binding bow using Ambrosia Cantalope and Pink Bubblegum colors!

I stamped a cute little sentiment onto a white cardstock pennant and adhered it to the bottom of my card along with a smaller pennant and a pretty little pink satin bloom!

And there you have it my friends … coloring the ‘easy way’ with Prismacolor pencils!  Give it a try … I bet you’ll fall in love with them too!

 

Here are a couple other cards I’ve made in the past using Paper Sweeties stamps with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol Mineral Spirits …

 

 

 

I can't thank Debbie enough for joining us here today, she's truly awesome!! I hope you take the time to visit with her on the Paper Sweeties blog and on Facebook!

 

As a special surprise because it is DeNami Addicts birthday month, how about a 2nd give away???? Info on the first one can be found here...there's still plenty of time to enter and the prize up for grabs is a DeNami Design gift certificate!!

 

For a 2nd giveaway, how about following the Paper Sweeties blog or Facebook page? After you follow Paper Sweeties on one of the social media sites just leave me a comment and I will randomly pick a winner for a Paper Sweeties gift certificate on Friday!

 

Thanks for joining us here today, and don't forget to join in on the DeNami Addict Birthday fun!!!