Gift Card Holders

Goodness, can you believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and my baby boy's 24th birthday???? Where did November go to and are we really ready for December??? I know I'm not!!!

 

Well, I do have some fun news that I've been sitting on and since it's finally official, I thought I'd share it with you. I have been asked to teach card making classes at my local stamp shop!!!! It's called The Stamp Pad and is located in a little historic village called Kimswick about 20 minutes outside St. Louis. To say I'm excited would be an understatement!! I'm honored that the owner has so much faith in me that she'd even ask and am just beyond thrilled!! My first class is on December 13th :)

 

I thought I'd show you what we'll be making in my first class at The Stamp Pad - gift card holders...

 

Now y'all have seen me do a version of this gift card holder before and I even had the honor of doing a tutorial on the DeNami Design blog!!

 

Now this little guy is too fun. I saw something like it on Pinterest (of course) and just had to try it myself. After a little fiddling I came up with a good pattern and I've already made a tutorial for you guys!! I was going to post it on Friday then I remembered that y'all will still be in your turkey induced coma or shopping so I've decided to wait until Wednesday of next week ;)  Wait until you see how fun and easy it is!!

 

Now this one is a little different because it's a standard A2 sized card. I've simply used a little die cut on the front to create a pocket for the gift card to slide into.

I simply used a little glue dot to attach the card to the tag that way the tag can be tucked back inside the card after the cards removed.

 

This little card is a standard A2 size also, but the secret is on the inside....

To make my pocket, I made my inside panel 1 1/2" taller than I normally would then scored/folded it up gluing the 2 ends. To fancy it up a little I added the maroon panel and a snowflake die cut border.

 

Besides the fun gift card holders, I though I'd have the gals try their hand at one of those trendy little decorative cones...

I think I may regret this decision since the prep time is going to kill me...I have to cut the cone pattern by hand and do a TON of die cutting for the flowers and sentiment is a little over the top, lol.

 

 

 

 

Well, there you have it, my first card making class! I'm so excited and hope that everyone likes my little gift card holders and cone...it makes me very nervous!!

 

I'm entering my decorative cone in the current Ribbon Carousel challenge

 

 

I've decided to not post on Friday because let's face it, I WILL be in a turkey induced coma, but I'll be back here on Monday with another fun challenge from The Shabby Tea Room (I got to pick the theme!) and the ever adorable Paper Sweeties will be our sponsor!! Then on Wednesday I will have a little tutorial for the present gift card holder...what fun!! Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving :)

 

 



 

 

 

 

Warm Winter Wishes

Hello everyone and happy Monday! Honestly I hate Mondays just as much as you do but I have to try to sike myself up to start the work week some how, lol ;)

 

Today I want to share my project for The Shabby Tea Room using a little digi image from this weeks sponsor Bugaboo Stamps. Ohhh my gosh, if you havent checked them out you should...ADORABLE images. The download saves the image in "my pictures" and I simply put a piece of cardstock into my home printer's tray and print it out in black then color it like a normal stamped image. I can make a little panel or fussy cut the image and even resize it if I choose.  

 

This week we have yet another great inspiration picture...

 

Use the following colors:

• brown
• white
• red

 

This is the super fast and easy layout I told you about on Friday.

I started out with a kraft card base and layered 2 pieces of patterned paper. I then made a fun polka dot flag that I sandwiched between some nesting punched scallop circles (blue circle raised on foam tape). I colored my image and punched it out and layered it then finished the card off with a yummy bow/button treatment. I'm fond of those 6X6 paper packs so it really was a no brainer picking my papers since everything in those books mix and match so well making this easy peasy and it took just minutes to put together. And like I said Friday, any circle image would work so you can use this layout for any occasion, not just Christmas. :)

 

That's all for me today. Hope you can play along with us at The Shabby Tea Room this week!!!

 

 

How could this little guy scare anyone???

Sometimes I have no clue where my brain is!!! I made this little card ages ago and then forgot all about it...what the heck???

 

Well, without further ado, let me present one of the cutest little scarecrows ever....

 

 

My little scarecrow doesn't normally hold a banner. But with banners being so "in" right now I thought I'd try him out with one and it actually worked out great to my surprise, lol!!

 

Well, that's it for me today. Little behind the scenes tidbit...I'm currently working on a new photo tutorial!! I'll be back on Monday with a card that I just adore because of the fun and easy layout (less than 10 minutes) that can be changed up for a birthday, thinking of you, holiday...any occasion. And DeNami has lots of "circle stamps" with scenes, sentiments and borders that would be perfect for this card!! It's one of those layouts that's  great to have in your stash since it can be made so quickly!!

A little thought of you

A week or so ago I decided to get back to my roots to help with my card makers block. Simple layers, punched edges and yummy ribbon....

I pulled out my fave color combo and came up with something girly and pretty. This was super easy, and can be completed in a flash. I think this could be a go to layout when I need something last minute :)

A little heads up on some goodies...

Hi everyone, if you haven't had a chance to see this morning usual post, I hope you take a peek...it's just below this one. I just wanted to take a second and tell you about a little blog hop I saw announced over at Jo's Scrap Shack! Sometime today it goes live...not sure on the time, sorry! Not only will there be some eye candy for your viewing pleasure, but random giveaways too. Hope you can stop by there later and join in on the fun!

Also, if you haven't heard yet, our very own Paulina Nakamura from DeNami is branching out on her own a little. She's started her own Etsy shop that will carry some fun embellishments :) Her store has finally opened!! https://www.etsy.com/shop/prettypinkposh  Right now she has some yummy colored sequins, but will be adding some other lovies soon!!

Apron Treat box

Happy Monday everyone :) Today I have a fun little project I made for The Shabby Tea Room challenge that starts today to share with you. This week we are being sponsored by My Time Made Easy.

My Time Made Easy™ LLC provides you with the basics for creating your own coordinating handmade cards, tags, and gift packaging in no time. It is fun, affordable, and we made it easier than ever! I have always said that it really is all about the TOTAL package. Now you can afford to create and dress up the simplest of gifts on your own, and make them appear to be that much more special. Nothing says love like something handmade.

This week we have yet another fun theme...

Gingham Country Christmas

Use the following:

• Christmas Theme
• red 
• blue
• cream
• gingham

For my little project, I used a fun little treat box and a set of digital stamps.  Fun thing about the treat box I used is that it's actually a pair of cover-alls that I changed up to be an apron!!  (Side note: My little treat box was very easily cut by hand since my Cricut is not compatible with SVG files)

It's no secret that I need a 12 step program for Pinterest, so it should come as no surprise that I found something that I just HAD to try on there...S'mores using Marshmallow Peeps! Now that peeps are coming in all Holiday themes we don't have to wait for Easter to roll around every year to have them. I made a little S'more kit using some cute little snowman Peeps :)

How about a few more views of my little treat box...

Here's another apron that I made too...

With all the holiday parties coming up, these little treat boxes will make a darling little hostess or guest gift! Well that's it for me today, I sure hope you can join us and play along this week!!!!

Poinsettias aren't just for Christmas...

Ohh my goodness, I must apologise to all of you. I've just been so off kilter these days that the blog has suffered a bit! It's been a couple of months since I've done a "tips & tricks" post...where did the time go??? Am I really that busy in my life or do I just think I am...jeeze???? Either way, I've neglected y'all!


With Christmas right around the corner (there's that where'd the time go thing again!!) and DeNami having some of the prettiest holiday images out there (in my opinion) I thought I'd pull a few out. Now unless you've robbed a bank or won the lottery, your like me and don't have unlimited funds to be buying  a ton of stamps. With that being said, I thought I'd show you my all time favorite DeNami Holiday image and how I can easily change it up for any occasion...not just Christmas!

 By changing up the colors from the traditional red and green it made this little card perfect for a thinking of you, birthday or even a wedding for that matter!

It was very simple to make and came together quickly. I stamped my background using the berries from the Classic Christmas petit four set and the small flower from the Poinsettia Vine cling set. I stamped the large poinsettia on my little scalloped circle, then stamped it again on scratch paper and cut out just the little center flower part and popped it up on foam tape. Add a little amethyst glitter and there ya go, a poinsettia for any occasion! If I were using this for a birthday or thinking of you card I think I'd use a little bit larger punched circle so that I could use one of the DeNami circle sentiments (best wishes, birthday wishes, thinking of you, etc..) around the poinsettia. And if I were doing this card in Christmas colors DeNami's circle stamps come in a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays sentiment also.


All of the circle sentiment stamps can be found under the borders & frames listing.
Classic Christmas set
Poinsettia Vine cling set

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday :)

Fall expresions

Hi everyone :)    Did you have a chance to hop along in the DeNami blog hop this past Sunday? I haven't yet, but plan to right away!!

 

Today I want to share a little something that took me WAY out of my sparkly pink ribbon tied box. I really like to challenge myself once in a while. Not sure if it's to keep myself on my toes or I just like punishing myself, lol!

I simply can not get enough of those yummy leaves. It's a die from Taylored Expressions. There's 4 leaves all together and they're the PERFECT size and I am ohh so smitten with them!!! I wanted to do something that high-lighted the leaves and those darling DeNami pumpkins (mini pumpkin & autumn stamp set) and after a few trial and errors came up with this card. I started out with a cream card base and panel (raised on foam tape) then added splotches and splats from Sweet Stamp Shop and the fine splatter (an old Stampin' Up stamp).  I thought it still needed something under the leaves and pumpkins so I added some washi. Good thing that stuff is forgiving...I originally used orange and green then decided I didn't like it so changed the orange in for some brown! I added the leaves and pumpkins to finish it all off. I really wanted to add a sentiment (twine at the top with a teeny tag in upper left corner), but after mulling it over a bit I decided that this card just didn't need one. What do you think, sentiment/no sentiment??

 

That's it for me today! I'll see y'all on Friday :)

Hooray For The Pie!!!

Hello everyone! It's Monday, so you know what that means...a new challenge has started over at The Shabby Tea Room! If you're looking for my DeNami Design blog hop card it's just one little post down!!

This week we are brought to you by a little Etsy shop called By Digital Paper - Janet, the owner/designer has a little something for everyone in her shop ranging from cute to romantic! Getting your images couldn't be easier so if your computer challenged like myself, don't worry, you CAN do it ;)  and now you hanve an unlimited supply of some gorgous patterned paper!

Speaking of gorgous, check out this weeks inspiration picture...

For some reason this picture makes me want to grab a mug of hot cocoa. ;)

This week are are looking for a card or project using the all of the following:

• baking theme
• white
• red
• orange
• chalkboard technique

Hope you like my take on this weeks theme:

I started off with a black card base that I layered with a pumpkin themed patterned paper. I printed off some beautiful "aged" looking patterned papers from the Antique Paper 1 and Antique Paper 2 sets from By Digital Paper (one is a pretty scroll design and the other is sheet music). After layering them on my card base I went about making my "chalkboard. I stamped inages and sentiments from Paper Sweeties Stand Ad On 1, Stand Ad On 2 and You Are Fabulous stamp sets in Versamark and heat embossing in white. Using a white gel pen I made lines and doodles around the edges then distressed a little here and there using a white ink pad. I finished it all off with some pretty ribbon, leaves I die cut using my Taylored Expressions die and some cute little Lawn Fawn sequins and random bling along with a layered pumpkin sticker from my stash.

That's it for me today :)  I hope you can join us over at The Shabby Tea Room for some "yummy" fun!!

DeNami Design Blog Hop - November 2013

Hey y'all, how are you on this beautiful day? :)  Today you are in for a real treat...another fun fill blog hop brought to you by DeNami Design!! Let's get started!

One of my fave crafty go to supplies!!!!

 

When: The blog hop starts on November 10 at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until November 11, 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 Lisa Elton's blog...she is so amazingly talented and is constantly blowing me away so I'm sure that was some serious eye candy she had there!! If you didn't start from the beginning or have gotten lost along the way, please go to the DeNami blog. There is a full list of participants & blog links right there for you :)

 

 

I have 2 things to share with you today. I absolutely LOVE twine and tend to use it quite a bit on my cards. A little twine bow adds the perfect finishing touch to most cards and really, you can never go wrong with it! But for this hop I wanted to challenge myself and use twine in a different way....

 

For my first project I took a cue from our own sweet and lovely, Paulina. She's shown us how she die cuts an image and then layers yummy sequins under the negative. Taking a que from that I started out with a large (6" tall) kraft tag and built a fun panel that I raised up on foam tape.

 

I cut 2 maple leaves from my panel, distressed inked both the panel and tag then stamped and layered all of my "goodies" (even one of the die cut leaves) on the panel. I cut 2 small pieces of cardstock and wound different colors of twine around them. I placed them behind the leaf negatives then added the panel to the tag using foam tape.

 

DeNami Products:

Mini Pumpkin

Leaf Vine Swirl

Thankful For You

Boutique Buttons

 

I hope you liked my (not so little) tag! Now onto a fairly CAS Holiday card. This little card was easy peasy to put together. I made the card base and stamped the sentiment then ran it through a dry embossing wood grain folder. I die cut a fancy little panel that I attached to the card base using foam tape. The wreath was SUPER EASY!! I simply punched a circle out of cardstock then punched a circle out of the middle of that circle. I wound the twine around it and secured the end with a little piece of tape. You can't even tell that I didn't perfectly center my smaller circle ;) hehehe! I used a little Crystal Lacquer to attach it to the card then attached a few loops of red twine and some fussy cut holly leaves that I had stamped out. You can get any easier than that!

See the pretty green scroll? That comes in the holly stamp set from DeNami. You can stamp the scroll and then stamp the different sized/shaped holly leaves and berries on it. I decided to change it up and have it highlight my sentiment...I like the effect I achieved using it this way :)  Ohh, I forgot to mention my "berries"! I'm completely smitten with them...little teeny pom-poms I got at a local stamp shop. It was one of those purchases that you don't know what to do with the item but you just HAVE to have it, lol!

 

DeNami Products:

Crystal Lacquer

Merry Christmas

Elegant Holly Set

 

Well that's it for me today. Now off you go to visit with Kerri Smith! I bet she has something yummy cooked up for you :)  I'll see you right back here tomorrow with a brand new challenge for The Shabby Tea Room!

 

I everyone and welcome to a special Saturday blog post! There's so much going on that I thought I'd pop in to remind you of a few of them :)

First off let me remind you about the DeNami blog hop that starts tomorrow. Just head over to the DeNami blog in the morning (6am PST) and follow along! This time around we're playing with one of my fave crafty go to's...TWINE! I love me some twine. How about a sneak peek...

This isn't the only twine on this little project and I'm sure you're going to be surprised on how I used it!!!

It's no secret that I have a love for the Paper Sweeties stamps. This month (and December) they are releasing their new set early!!!! Due to all of the new sets being holiday themed they thought we like a little extra time to work on our projects. I took a little peek earlier and was EXCITED, not only are the images cute as ever, but there are die cuts to go with them!!!!!  :) Head on over to the Paper Sweeties store & blog to check out the new images...

My final thing I wanted to remind you of is a HUGE - almost 300 bloggers -  blog hop honoring Cath from Moxi Fab World that started today. She retiring and a lot of crafters have gotten together to send her off in a BIG way!! Hop along for some fun stories and beautiful eye candy....

You can go to the Moxie Fab blog to read Cath's last post and there's a link up for sending Cath a virtual card if you'd like. I believe that this is the first stop for the big hop...She's sure going to be missed in the crafty world and I wish her luck on her new adventures in where ever life takes her in this new chapter.

Have a great weekend and I hope to see you right here tomorrow morning for some fun with twine!

Fall in the woods...

There is a season that I couldn't imagine living somewhere other than where I live and you couldn't drag me away - Fall is that season. I may live in the big city, but growing up I spent plenty of time in the woods and still do every chance I get. There's something so peaceful about the woods. It's one of those things that's un-explainable, but I feel at rest and the whole world disappears and it's baggage with it. Fall is my favorite time to wander on the trails spying little critters and taking in the crisp cool air while watching the beautiful colored leaves fall to blanket the ground. All it requires is a short 30 minute drive and I'm there. Just writing these thoughts makes me want to get up from this desk and run away...sigh.

 

Well, today I have a card I created when my mind started to wander and think about a nice hike and picnic with hubby and our furbaby recently took.

Well, like I said, with that on my mind I decided to create a little woodland scene...

I recently picked up the tree die cut from a local stamp shop and couldn't wait to use it! I started out with a kraft card base that I debossed (ribs from embossing are on the outside).  I set that aside and cut a panel from some brown plaid paper then cut a large square out of the center to form a frame of sorts and set that aside. I cut a piece of white cardstock the same size as the frame and distressed it using several colors of ink then layered my die cut trees on top and attached it to the underside of the frame. I attached this to the card base using foam tape. I then added my "bed of leaves". I forgot the name of this stuff, but it's really cool, it has a lot of texture and a perfect mix of fall colors. I stamped, colored (Copics) and fussy cut the darling little DeNami Squirrel and added him with a little more foam tape for more dimension. I just love how his white tummy stands out, almost make you want to pet the little cutie ;) lol! To finish my card off I added that perfect little sentiment from the brand new Give Thanks set from Paper Sweeties along with some of their yummy tea staind seam binding.

 

I'm entering my little squirrel in the latest Paper Sweeties inspiration challenge and this weeks sketch challenge over at Jo's Scrap Shack!

 

I was inspired by the beautiful colors and of course the woods!

 

I really played loosely with this little sketch. I turned it so that my 3 trees and little squirrel represent the circles and my bow represents the doily on the little flag. Hope it wasn't too "loose"!

 

 

That's all for me today, I hope you have a GREAT weekend and I'll see y'all back here Sunday for the DeNami blog hop! This month we're playing with twine and I'm super excited to show you what I've created! Don't forget that there's a couple of DeNami gift certificates up for grabs and all you have to do is leave comments along the hop for your chance to be randomly selected!!



 

Autum leaves

Happy Wednesday everyone :)  I hope your week is going smoothly!

 

Fall is definitely in the air here in Missouri! The leaves have changed and the crisp cool air is wonderful. I wanted to capture all that yummy goodness in a card.....

 

I just absolutely ADORE the new solid leaf set from DeNami! Perfect sizes and shapes :)

 

I started out with a cream card base then layered on a strip of golden yellow cardstock with just a slight texture. Using another piece of cream cardstock and Hero Arts Shadow inks I randomly stamped the 3 leaves then cut my panel down to size. I ran it through a dry embossing folder that reminded me of swirling wind and attached it to the cardbase. I made a little flag (little leaf from the Autumn stamp set and sentiment, is from DeNami also) and added 3 little rhinestones to finish it off.  No coloring, no bow tying and took me a whole 10 minutes...easy peasy, right??

Cupcakes for everyone!!

Hello and how ya doing?? Today I have a fun little birthday card to share with you for this weeks challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room. Our sponsor this week is a little company that I just puffy heart adore....Paper Sweeties!! You've seen me use Paper Sweeties stamps quite a bit here on the blog...you know, those darling little "paper doll" stamps that you can dress up? And it's easier than ever now that they've come out with dies! Did you know that they also carry lots of other fun images besides the little dolls and outfits...banners, sentiments galore, fun shapes, alphabets and more!

 

Paper Sweeties™ LLC is owned and illustrated by Debbie Marcinkiewicz, and offers high quality, on trend acrylic stamps and metal dies. Our heartwarming images allow paper crafters to create adorable dolls with interchangeable outfits and accessories! We also have a wide variety of wonderful all-occasion sentiments, labels, frames and accessory sets - perfect for every paper crafted project! The Paper Sweeties boutique carries tea-stained seam binding too! The Sweeties dolls, accessories and sentiments are so much fun to play with and are sure to bring back fond childhood memories! You’ll enjoy using the Sweeties stamps and dies to create projects for card making, scrap booking, party invitations and favors, home decor, gifts and so much more! www.papersweeties.com Winner will receive a $20 gift certificate from the Paper Sweeties boutique!

 

Ready to see this weeks inspiration picture???

Shabby Fall Party.....

This week we're to use the following:

• banner
• cake or cupcake
• orange or yellow

Pretty fun, right? Ready to see what I made.....

 

 

I started off by making my own patterned background paper by stamping the DeNami Design polka dot background in a light pink then randomly stamping the Paper Sweeties cupcake and coloring them in. I layered a digi image onto a yellow panel and fussy cut the Paper Sweeties banner after stamping it out in pink. I finished it all off with a fun Paper Sweeties sentiment, pretty flowers, a little ribbon & twine and iridescent sequins.

 

Paper Sweeties stamps used:

Celebrate set (birthday/party themed images)

Beautiful set (frames and sentiments)

 

That's it for me today, I hope you can stop by The Shabby Tea Room and play along with us! Remember, your card style need not be shabby to play!!!

Thankful For You

Recently I was introduced to a (new to me) medium called Goosebumps. It's great for adding texture AND you can stamp with it because it acts as a resist. In the class I took we used it by distressing cardstock then spraying it on and we stamped a cute little dear with it and then distressed the rest of the cardstock. The effects you get is really cool weather you're using it to ad texture or using it as a resist and I couldn't wait to try it out at home with my solid leaf images from DeNami!  

 

I wanted to keep my card simple but still give it some color so I inked up my wood grain dry embossing folder and placed a piece of cream cardstock inside then ran a brayer over it. By doing this I achieved a distressed inking look with no actual embossing. I then sponged a different ink along the edges and adhered it to a kraft cardbase. Using the Goosebumps (with the dobber, not the spray one) I "inked up" a solid leaf from the Solid Leaves set and stamped it on a panel of white cardstock. (Blogger Note: When stamping with Goosebumps, you MUST clean your stamp when you've finished stamping, you do not want this medium drying on your stamp!!) After the Goosebumps was dry I used orange & brown inks to color/distress the panel. Using the same brown ink I stamped my sentiment and then layered the finished panel on a lime green panel. I finished it off with some twine and button. I just love the results I got using the embossing folder and Goosebumps the way I did :)