Creations By AR - Nov 2014 Release

Hi everyone how are you today? It's turned WAY cold here in Missouri with winds and cold coming from Canada...BRRRRR! I'm so not ready for the below freezing temps!!! Living in the Midwest is such a roller coaster when it comes to weather. 

Anyway...surprise, it's only Tuesday!!!! I know I'm usually not here on Tuesdays but I want to show you a brand new template from Creations By AR that becomes available today. It's really cute and SUPER easy to make weather you cut templates by hand or use a cutting machine such as a Cameo or Cricut. 

How cute is this little bottle template? I just love it! As usual with all of Adela's templates, it includes detailed step by step instructions along with LOTS of pictures as the file comes with a PDF for cutting by hand and several options for machine cutting. This template is really fun and comes full of options like 2 different sentiment face plates, the wrapper for the top of the bottle, a little band for the top of the bottle and an insert to make it a test tube holder.

As you can see from the first page of the instructions, Adela made hers into a champagne bottle. I thought I would make a wine bottle but as I was shopping for papers I came across a fun retro bottle cap patterned paper that I couldn't resist and thought why not make a soda bottle?? These would be really fun at a kids or teenagers birthday party.

 I cut my bottle front and back then just simply snipped off the very top part that's supposed to be the cork. Now I have a soda bottle just like I used to drink from as a kid - gonna date myself, but remember turning them in at the neighborhood store for the 10¢? I'd immediately spend my hard earned money of penny candy such as swedish fish and sour cherry balls...YUMMY! ☺

 I just love that you can put yummy treats in the bottle...I'm dreaming of swedish fish, lol!! 

The little treat holder part is right about 3" deep and as you can see in the picture of the instruction sheet it comes with the option of making it into a test tube holder. 

This little holder has so many uses...do a baby theme for a shower, champagne or wine theme for an wedding or wedding shower. Ohh my gosh...make the little test tube holder option and fill it with wine or champagne and have one at every place (seriously...2 minutes to put these together) setting so they can be used during the toast to the bride and groom...HOW FUN!!!

Well that's it for me today. I hope you like my little bottle and you can go here - Bottle Of Cheer 2 - if you'd like to check it out and purchase the template. Remember, after you purchase any of her templates you have them for a lifetime of unlimited number of uses!!

Happy Birthday To My Favorite Fireman

Hi everyone!! So sorry for the late post, my life is such a wreak some days!!I was supposed to write this up yesterday but had a slight hic-cup with my doggy. He had surgery on his knee 2 weeks ago. He completely tore his ACL and had a partial tear in another ligament and had quite a bit of scar tissue built up so they did what's called a TPLO. It's a pretty evasive surgery where they go in and reconfigure the bone structure so after months of trying other things that didn't work this was out last resort.  Yesterday I noticed that something was "off". As a mom you just know these things, right ladies? Well I took him to the Vet and they took off his soft cast & splint. They found that his splint (which is basically a 1/2 cast) was broke and dug into his paw which caused moisture in between his toes which is causing issues that no one wants to hear about. Think of what happens when we are on massive antibiotics...yeah, poor little guy!! He had to spend the night there which breaks my heart and made me a nervous wreak all evening! Needless to say, this post was the last thing on my mind! I was imagining all kinds of crazy stuff like the infection spreading to the incision and since they took the stitches out on Monday and were leaving the wrappings off that his leg would fall off...y'all know how we worry over our babies and tend to think on the crazy side! I was there on the edge, lol! This morning my mind is at ease and I know he's doing great and will be picking him up this afternoon...what a relief!!

Anyway, let's get on with today's post. I'm sure you don't want to hear about Moe's knee and my insane-ness!! For my birthday i received a few stamps from Paper Sweeties...WOO-HOO! It just so happens that 2 of my brother-in-laws are firemen so the darling fireman themed stamp set I received is a perfect fit in my collection!! Also, one of them has a birthday just a couple of days from mine so it was doubly fun receiving this wonderful stamp set and inked it up a couple of weeks ago to make him a card! 

I always struggle with guy friendly cards but somehow this one came together sooooo easily!! 

I started off with a kraft A2 card base the layered on some fun orange because I knew that I was going to color Jake's outfit in that hue. I decided to make a little panel for him and added a pop of bright color by adding the blue punched strip. I added a sentiment from DeNami (happy birthday) and fussy cut the helmet and hose to draw in the overall theme, plus the hose anchors the sentiment. To finish it all off I added the buttons in the upper corner. It just seemed to empty up there and this gives me my rule of 3 - the buttons, the focal point & the sentiment. 

Stamps:

DeNami - Happy Birthday script

Paper Sweeties: Jake & Jake Sweetcuts, Firefighters

Well that's it for me today. I'll see you on Friday!!

DeNami Design Inspired By.....

Weather it be from a magazine, blog hop or website like Pinterest, we are all inspired by things we see and create something based on that. I generally try to come up with brand new ideas but often look to the Internet for inspiration. When DeNami Design came out with their "Inspired By" feature featuring cards made by DeNami fans I was really excited...what fun!! Paulina from DeNami Design (and owner of Pretty Pink Posh) contacted me to let me know I've been selected to be featured and I couldn't have been more elated!  

How this works is that Paulina and Nami choose a fans card that uses DeNami stamps and then turn the design team loose to make a card inspired by the fans. I also had the opportunity to make an inspired by card to be featured along with the design team's cards and jumped at the chance to work with some seriously talented ladies! I am so thrilled to have been chosen!! Make sure to stop in at the DeNami blog to check out what the uber talented design team has made :)

As you know, when you're inspired by something it can be the shape, color, layout, theme, etc....

Here's my card that was chosen and a link to the original post...

Stamps Used:

• praying for you sentiment
• small flower spray
• small spring flowers

As I mentioned in my post for the DeNami hop this past Sunday, I just love a white panel on a white card base...something so elegant about that to me. Instead of scoring the panel like I did for that butterfly card I ran it through a dry embossing folder (stamp your sentiment before embossing). I layered a piece of charcoal card stock with a punched edge then a small piece of black cardstock and finally a piece of white cardstock that I had stamped. I finished it all off with a pretty bow and some bling. 

Using that layout, sentiment placement and the embossed panel for my inspiration, I came up with this new card...

I started with a black base and added a white dry embossed panel (stamp sentiment before embossing). To that I added a piece of black and a piece of cardstock that I had edge punched before adding another white panel. I punched scallop squares, stamped, colored and layered them then stamped the cute little bee. I finished it all up with some bling and yummy ribbon from Pretty Pink Posh.

Stamps Used:

• Happy Birthday sentiment
• Summer Flowers set
• Curly Bee

Well I hope you like both cards and I'm just tickled pink to have been chosen for this months inspiration! Don't forget to check out what the talented DeNami Design team has made using my card for inspiration :)

Happy Birthday chalkboard card

Happy Friday everyone!!! I hope this weekend goes a little slower and gives me time to rest unlike last weekend!! Last Saturday I spent the day running errands and cleaning house then on Sunday my BFF and I taught a glass fusion class (she owns an art studio). This weekend I hope to just veg out a little ;)

Today I have another chalkboard card for you....

It's no secret that I have a little fondness huge addiction to 6 X 6 paper pads....SWOON! The main reason I love them is because they are so easy to use.  I would have never pulled these patterned papers off a shelf and mixed them together but since they were in a little 6 X 6 pad I can be assured that they go together well. I added a little solid color for contrast and well-ah, a fun little card! I wanted the sentiment to take center stage as I did with my last chalkboard card but I also wanted to use some cute little stamps to go with it. I pulled out a couple of favorite DeNami stamps...happy birthday & garden accents stamp set.





That's it for me today, I'll see you back here on Monday with another fun challenge for The Shabby Tea Room!! Have a great weekend!!!

Wonderful Washi Blog Hop

Hi everyone! Today's post is kind of a "two-fer" if you will.  Not only is this another wonderful blog hop hosted by DeNami Design, but it's also some seriously fun ideas for using Washi tape! So if you've ever wanted to know what the heck to do with it (like me not so long ago) or if you're just looking for new ideas, you've come to the right place. The ladies in this hop are sure to have some wonderful inspiration for you!

When: The blog hop starts on January 13th at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until January 14, 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 one of newest DeNami DT members, Tammy Hobbs. I'm betting that she had some great eyecandy for you didn't she? If you didn't get here from there, no biggie, you can go back to the DeNami blog for a full list of participants to get right back on track. 

I came up with a little cream, black & red card and candle combo...

 For my card I simply ran 2 strips of Washi tape up the side of the card and then layered on a piece of double sided tape and sprinkled on silver glitter. I stamped out the water lily on red and charcoal cardstocks then fussy cut the pieces I needed to make a two-toned flower for my little panel. I just LOVE Pinterest and fell in love with the darling glittered candles on there and thought that I could make one, but with my own spin on it of course. I started off with running a strip of Washi tape around the bottom then ran a strip of double sided tape right above the Washi and sprinkled on the silver glitter. I added the ribbon and a fussy cut water lily to finish it all off. My only issues...the glitter was a little hard to get off of the candle itself - I ended up having to use a damp cloth to wipe it off and I dropped the candle so now it has a nice little dent, lol. Ohh well, thinking who ever I give it to will still like it, dent and all ;)

 That's it for me today, now off you go to visit with the very talented Lisa Petrella.  I can't wait to see what she has in store for us! Have a great day :)

  

DeNami Theme Challenge #11 - cherries

When I saw the latest DeNami challenge announced I went into panic mode...how could I make something with no direction? What colors should I choose, what stamps should I choose, what embellishments should I choose? The possibilities are endless...sigh. 

 

Well, in the end I went to a favorite color palette then picked images that fit that the colors and lastly decided on a layout. Hope you like it :)

I stamped the cherries then stamped the jar over them. The whole image is fussy cut and placed onto the white panel. The set of cherries are fussy cut and popped up on foam tape. Can you tell what the cherries in the jar were before they were cherries?? I'm going to let you think on it just a little.  ;)    The answer is in my supply listing.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Breaking News - We Interrupt this Blog....

To wish Denami Addicts own Tina Milbourn a very HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

That's right - our Tina is celebrating another year today.  And I have to say as far as BFF and "twinkies" go.....I have been blessed beyond measure having someone as funny, talented, caring, understanding and just down right Flamingo-licious" as she is as mine.  She has been there for me during those times when you need a friend most.  I am extremely thankful that she has jumped in and turned this blog into what it is today.  She has "taken over" so to speak and without her being able to do that this blog may not have gotten very far off the ground. 

So raise what you are drinking today in honor of Tina!  Happy Birthday Lady!  You are the BEST!


You may now return to your regularly scheduled events.....

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!

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!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAMI

That's right - today is Nami's birthday and to celebrate - Denami is having a little blog hop with the design team so go on over and take a peek - then come back here (or you can stay here and then go there - either way just start hoppin').

Now I will admit, this birthday snuck up on me - as they often do - the kids say its old age I have no comment on that statement. Actually I choose to ignore the fact they even said it - pffft!

So since this special of birthday's sorta hit me out of the blue.....I decided to "recycle" a card from the early days of this here blog (see, just doing my part to be "green").





Take a closer peek....



Stamps used in this card: PF14 Party Time, E106 Small Happy Birthday


Now go on over and Nami a little 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!

What do you mean there are other colors besides pinks and purples....

Soooo, the other day I made a card for a challenge and put it up on my "all things crafty" blog. I made the comment that I can't believe I actually used blue. I like blue...it's a pretty color, but I just never reach for it when making a card. Well, some smarty pants, and I'm not one to start naming names or anything, *cough-Wendy-cough*, sorry, something in my throat...where was I...ohh yeah, I was informed by someone that there were other colors on the color wheel and that I should try them out.

I'm taking baby steps....I used my usual purple, but paired it with kraft and green. I have to say that someone was right...I'm feelin the purple / green combo....shhh, just don't tell her! (again, no bling...it's killing me but my cards are designated for OWH)

I wanted the balloons to look like they were floating up out of the box when it was opened so I knew I would pop them up on foam tape, but I really wanted more of an effect than that. I had the little twirly guy from the leaf accent set sitting out from a different project and it hit me that I could use it to show off my floating balloons. Ohh, and did ya notice how I changed up the sentiment...

Supplies:
E106 small happy birthday
PF14 party time stamp set
PF51 leaf accents stamp set
F208 open box
RB-7317 chocolate brown grograin ribbon
DeNami Card stocks

Thanks, Tina


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 Goodies

In July - my fellow card maker, blogger, and Denami addict - Tina and I have our birthdays. We celebrate all month long! I mean really one day just isn't enough. So during our month long party to ourselves, I was inspired to make this card. I really do love the petit fours sets - there are so many things you can do with them.




And now for a closer look:



Stamps used in this card: PF14 Party Time, E106 Small Happy Birthday

"Inspired" Birthday

So you know they say.....imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right? Well what is straight up "card lifting" considered? I don't consider it stolen because I am giving credit where credit is due.....and that is to the Ideas page over at Denami. See....they have such wonderful ideas for us to use when our creative juices are just not flowin like they should.

Now THIS is the card that they have......and mine is below. Yeah - pretty much a dead copy except I didn't use ribbon and I added a little bling with the rhinestones. So if your brain is ever "stuck" for an idea - go check out the projects over at Denami....you won't be stuck for long.







Stamps used when making this card: J77 Large Daisy Blossom, D75 Small Daisy Blossom, G112 Small Happy Birthday Script