homemade gifts...

Hey y'all, how are you today? I'm doing good, my hand is finally better and today it isn't even sore to the touch! WOO-HOO! I can't wait to break out some goodies and play the second I get a chance! My house has suffered so dusting and general cleaning is first on the list of things to do...sigh

I do however have something fun and new to show you! I wanted to wait until closer to Christmas for this because I think homemade gifts are great and this is perfect for gift giving! However, with my hand not cooperating I haven't been getting crafty so it's time to break out my "back ups", lol!

What do you think about sugar scrubs? Easy to make and with pretty little jars, perfect for gift giving, right?

I found a recipe online for this one. Just sugar, olive oil, vanilla fragrance and a drop of food coloring:

In a mixing bowl add -

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

vanilla essential oil or cooking vanilla to reach desired aroma strength (I used Vanilla scent from the soap making section at a big box crafty store)

1 to 2 drops of food coloring to desired color

*Stir together thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients 

*divide into jars

Yup, that's it...easy!! I purchased these little jars at Michael's for $1 each and the little spoons are from little individual Blue Bunny ice-creams. The spoons already had a little hole from being attached to the underside of the lid on the little single serving tubs...it was perfect! I punched out little tags then stamped them with some DeNami goodness ;). I used the polka dot back ground then in a darker ink color stamped the decorative flourish over the top of it. I then punched a couple of circles, layered them and stamped a sentiment from the everyday petit four set and attached it to the tag. I tied the little spoon onto it then tied it to my little jar. You can't get any easier than this and it's cute to boot! 

That's it for me today, I'll see ya back here on Friday!

Tips & Tricks - Mixing and matching your images

Wow, where has the time gone...when was the last time I made a little "Tips & Tricks" post? I've been sooooo busy and seem to have been struggling a lot lately with keeping up. Hopefully y'all haven't noticed my little glitches too much :/    all of you gals are so amazing and you have no idea how much I appreciate you visiting with me and the comments that you leave...all of you seriously ROCK!

Hi everyone! Thought I'd talk about just one of the many things I love about DeNami...that I can mix and match just about all of their images from old to new. I touched on this subject during another Tips & Tricks post last September and even made a little video, but I thought I'd revisit this and show you just how easily this mixing and matching can be accomplished! :)



When I first received my Solid Rose Accents stamp set I was smitten...it's sooo pretty!! As soon as I inked it up I knew just how to showcase it.....

 The decorative flourish came out quite some time ago, but look how great it pairs with the newer ornate flourish and solid rose accents.

 I could have also very easily added the following stamps...they all mix and match so perfectly!

classic leaves stamp set

elegant floral sprig

swirl

mini swirl flourish

Solid Leaf Vine

solid leaf sprig

 These are just a small handful that I thought of off the top of my head, there are many many more - so dig through your collection, I'm betting you have a lot of images that you can mix, match and bring a whole new life to!!

To make this a little fun and to prove just how easy this is, you leave me a comment naming any newer image and I will make a card using it, along with some older images...whatcha think, sound fun??

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 :)

Thinking of you...

Hi everyone!! I am so ecstatic about being invited to guest design on the blog over at Paper Sweeties for this months challenge! Ya'll know how much I puffy heart me a challenge and being on some one elses blog showing my work...well, now that's just amazing all by itself!

 

I know ya'll have heard me talk about Paper Sweeties before...the little "paper" dolls that can be dressed up so cutely? Did you know they have wonderful little sentiments and banners too? They have their big 1st birthday bash going on right now...loads of fun to be had!

 

I didn't use any Paper Sweeties on this little card, just some yummy-licious DeNami, however, it's not a requirement to use their stamps to enter their challenge, why not give it a try???

 

Here's the sketch...

And here's a card I made that happens to fit this fun and easy layout....

 

This little card started out as a MESS, it twisted and turned so many different ways I got whip lash! I started out wanting to make a card that involved a big blue flower I had. I looked all through my pretty pattern paper stash and just couldn't find anything that I liked to go with it. That's when I decided to make my own...I should have known to have started with that in the first place...just sayin'. I pulled out the pretty decorative flourish and the Small Dot Wreath and went to town on some white cardstock. I ran a paper piercer along the edges and roughed up the edges to make it look a little worn. I made my scalloped strip and added a piece of white cardstock that I randomly stamped with the Small Dot Wreath in both ink colors then layered on some light blue gross grain ribbon, pretty fringe and a string of pearls. I made my little fiber and paper bows then did a little "dry run". I wasn't happy with it at all!! The flower just looked off...sigh, strike 2! I didn't want to waste all the hard work I had already did so I had some thinking to do. I decided to use a little stacking flower die cut set I had. I stamped them with the Small Dot Wreath then using a make-up sponge and the two colors of ink I'd been working with, "colored" them to match the card. I added a couple of little finishing touches with the resin roses and am finally happy with the results!

 

I say this over and over, sometimes you just simply have to let the card lead you where it wants to go, not what you have in your mind to make....

 

That's it for me today, I will see you right back here on Sunday morning for the wonderful goodness of a DeNami blog hop!!!! I seriously can not wait to see what everyone made!!!

 

elegant sympathy card

My best friend recently lost her mother after a long illness. While I saw her and talked with her and expressed my sorrow, I felt that I needed to make a card for her also. Words can never express how I feel when someone I care about hurts so much. It tears at my heart to know the sorrow they are going through and if there was something I could do to help them I would gladly do it. Unfortunately I know from experience that nothing anyone can say helps the hurt we feel at the loss in our lives but hopefully sending them a little card will let them know that they are on your mind and in your heart.

 

 For this card I raised (with foam tape) an embossed cream panel on a cream card base. I added a few black accents to make it pop.

After her days have stopped running together and her thoughts are clearer she will realize how her friends gathered around her and comforted her. I'm sure she will appreciate this card and all of the others she has received. A card is a small gesture, but trust me, it means the world to someone when they are grieving.

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

I'm finally organized...

With so much going on here on the DeNami Addict blog and the various challenges that I enter, I have to keep a calendar hung up near my desk where I can write down my ideas and deadlines. As I was making my Back to School hop project, I decided to finally take the time and make a little organizer for myself so that I can easily keep tabs on everything going on here on the blog.

Here's a little close up of the center...

It's all sparkly and girly...it's so me! I love the pastel colors and I used a lot of my favorite stamps. Now I have a place for calendar pages, my challenge line up, color palettes, sketches, themes and misc other things. I just love my little creation and know that I'm going to get a lot of use from it.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Elegant pink and silver....

I just love pink and couldn't resist using it on a lot of my Christmas  cards...

This card was super fast to make...I stamped my pattern all over  leaving a small amount at the top blank for the sentiment, then cut strips of white (stamp flourish), magenta and iridescent pearl cardstocks, punched the edges and added some ribbon from my stash.

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!

Yup - the holiday shopping has begun....

And I am behind. With everything going on, I have fallen behind on my schedule. I am not an anal type of person....until the holidays roll around...and then I must plan ahead and stick to that plan...umm yeah - so far - that just ain't happening. But, I am still in the holiday spirit and with that I decided to play with one of the new stamps that I snagged on my Black Friday shopping extravaganza......




And a little bit of a closer peek...



I do *heart* me some shopping....AND some Mimi.....

Stamps used in this card: K69 Mimi Shopping Spree, J133 Decorative Flourish, F181 Classic Seasons Greetings....



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!

trial invite #1

So a while back I made this little card for my sister-in-law after receiving some most AWESOME news. Well, it's time to start planning the baby shower....or do you say "babies" shower since it's twins?? Ohh well, ya'll already know I have terriable grammer ;)

I'm in the midst of making a few samples for the shower invite...so many cute stamps to choose from is making it HARD to decide! Also, since it's a boy & a girl, I had to incorporate both colors. Here's the one I decided to go with. I'll be showing ya'll the other mock-ups I made next week. Gonna be busy busy busy making 40 or so of these...wish me luck! ;)

I "antiqued" the little pull our card so it wouldn't be so bright white and will print all the shower info on it. Don't ya just love the teeny heart background??

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!

Sooooo....What did I decide on?

If you will recall in the post HERE...

I was waiting for the postal service to deliver my long awaited goody box from DeNami (oh it was all the PO's fault too - grrrr). So after getting my package, then came the agonizing choice....which stamp do I choose? I had several that would have worked and I kept picking up this one...then that one...then picking this one up again and then the other....but eventually I settled on this....






So....whatcha think?




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!

A Holiday Work In Progress....

So, as you know, I have been trying to come up with the 2011 Holiday Card. I was putzing around in my Woman Cave and came up with this little cutie.




Come a little closer...



Now I know, the bottom half needs a little "something" and I have that something on order but alas....the post office is not cooperating with my posting scheduled! I may need to have a little talk with the Postmaster General about this little situation....so until then I will give you my "work in progress". Wanna guess what the bottom stamp is gonna be? Go ahead...take a guess.

Stamps used (so far until I get my package): I50 Holly Cluster, J133 Decorative Flourish

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!

Daisy, Daisy, Daisy....

So the other day, while lurking on the Denami blog, I noticed that Paulina was commenting about using a certain color combination....and I can see why. So with that little bit of inspiration....my mind went to work. And....this card was the result....



Now come a little closer...



Once again, it is a pretty simple card with a little glitter and bling (you know me). And once again I purposefully left the sentiment off, I find that when in a rush, I can grab a card such as this and add something to the inside and then "voila" instant birthday, hello, thinking of you, wish you were here, just because...etc. And that my friends, makes my life just a wee bit easier. And I am all about making things easy.


Stamps used for this card: D75 Small Daisy Blossom, J133 Decorative Flourish





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!

Hello Friend

Since the Denami blog hop this past weekend, Tina and I are so excited that we have new followers to our little blog. You just don't know how giddy this makes us. So with that in mind I though I would step a little out of my comfort zone and try something totally new to say welcome and "Hello Friend" to all our new followers....AND....me thinks I like it!

Take a peek (oh and please notice how Flash is now "facing" the camera....he said the side shots make his tush look big...models...geesh!)



And now come a little closer...



Stamps used in this card: F172 Hello Friend, J133 Decorative Flourish, P55 Daisy Background, and N133 Polka Dot Background




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!