Forever Friends Birthday

Ohh my goodness, I still haven't gotten my card for The Shabby Tea Room finished...uggg! I just feel so darn tired and have not a speck of energy, sorry!! Until then I have something I made right after the lastest DeNami release to show you. I thought I may have already shown this to you but I didn't find it in the archives so i guess I hadn't, oops!

Isn't she cute? This set is perfect for any little girl and makes adorable cards. I'm giving this to my adorable just about to turn 3 niece. :) I wish the images were just a tad bigger to allow for copic coloring. It's super easy to color but you just can't really do all the copic shading.

 forever friends


I just love the images in this set! AND bonus...it's a clear set to boot!

Well that's it for me today! I'll see y'all soon :)

Hello from some woodland friends...

Hi everyone and happy FRIDAY!!! Boy ohh boy am I ever ready for this weekend! As y'all know I have a full time job and I also teach card making classes at a local shop, am on 2 design teams plus have this little blog...that's a FULL PLATE! Well, I must be a real sucker for punishment, lol! Last weekend started deer season here in Missouri and the little village where the stamp store I teach at is located decided to host a "Deer Widow's Weekend"...fun, right?? All the little shops were offering special sales and incentives. When asked if I could help out in the shop I naturally said yes, lol...seriously, I MUST be a little touched in the head ;) because after working all week I was going to give up my weekend to work more! And boy was Saturday a busy busy busy day! The weather turned pretty yucky and we ended up with snow and ice on Sunday so it was a little quieter. While I thoroughly enjoyed myself and honestly, it didn't feel like work to me because it was something I really enjoyed doing, I'm pooped out and in need of a bit of down time. Ha, I say this knowing full well that I will need to get crafty for the blog and to start putting together the card making kits for my next class...sigh. It never ends, lol!! But for tonight, I'm running away with my bestie as she scored us tickets for Mockingjay...woo-hoo!! Been waiting for this movie to come out since the day I saw the previous one, lol!! 

Well, you aren't here to listen to me ramble on, you're here to see a card....

My bestie just LOVES herself some cute little critters so in honor of hanging out with her this evening how about DeNami's Woodland Friends? I just love these little guys...too cute!! Well, I made a super easy layout that is perfect for any of DeNami's little scenes like this one. I used a Mama Elephant die to cut an A2 sized card base (tall fold) but a normal square edged card base would be just fine too. I actually had this on on hand so it's what I used. I cut a patterned paper panel and attached it to the card base then cut another craft panel and a white panel. After edging the craft panel with a Pretty Pink Posh die and stamping / coloring my image I attached the 2 panels together and added a bit of twine then adhered it to the card base with foam tape. I decided it still needed a little something so I added a little flag with a simple sentiment under the focal panel. I really wanted to use the Friends Fur-Ever sentiment but unfortunately I don't own that one...go figure, right? But you know what, I think the simple "Hi" from the everyday greetings set makes it's own statement and is perfect anyway. 

Thant's it for me today, I'll see you back here on Monday. Have a great weekend!

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!

Christmas in September....

Hi everyone, did you see my post on Tuesday (one post down)? Creations by AR release 3 new templates with a fun winter / Christmas theme! It's not too early to get started on those projects...heck, this is the end of the 2nd week of September, it's almost 1/2 over already!! Where is the time going?? Well, anyway, there's still time to join in on the fun and leave comments on all of the designers posts for a chance in the random drawing for a free template!

All three templates are too adorable! If you don't want to enter in for the random drawing, they are available on Creations By AR's web site for $5.00 each OR if you buy the bundle there is a $3.00 discount. As always, the templates come in a PDF for cutting by hand along with several forms of cutting files and once downloaded can be used an unlimited amount of times. 

To help get you in the mood, I thought I'd share another little Christmas project from Creations By AR that I made last season...

How cute is this little stocking?? It was super easy to put together AND I didn't have my Cricut figured out yet so I cut it out by hand using the PDF file that all of the templates come with. I had it made in no time at all! I made the little tag separately using candy and a sentiment from DeNami and the little gingerbread people are from Paper Sweeties. 

Don't forget to hop along and leave comments using the links in the post below! You have until noon tomorrow :) 

Pretty little gift set

Hi everyone!! This week is half over already, is it going by fast for you too?? Summer has finally landed here in the Midwest and we are seeing triple digit temps....yikes! I can't complain though, it's been one heck of a nice summer so far even if we haven't had any rain!

Well, I wanted to send someone a thank you gift for helping me out with something so I made a little card and thought I'd put a gift card of some type in it. A couple of days later I had an epiphany and decided that a gift card wasn't the way to go. We have a certain something in common....our love for a certain little drink called a Lime-a-rita. I decided to buy her a pretty little glass and a HUGE cans of Lime-a-rita, lol!  However, just any ole bag with my pretty card wouldn't look right so I decided I needed to make a matching gift bag. You can get plain white (and kraft) bags at the big box craft stores in a package but I ended up getting this one in a 4 pack at my local dollar store.

My friend's not a girly girl, definitely more tom-boy than girly.  However, I still wanted it to be feminine so I decided to make the bag and card like I normally would, but just change out the bright frilly type colors I would normally gravitate to for darker richer colors.

Here's a little close up...........

Card:

I started out with a navy blue A2 sized card base and layered on a piece of charcoal that I had stamped with DeNami's medium polka dots background (larger dots) then made a white panel using the smaller polka dot background and a couple of petit four sets. I layered that on along with a doily, and a piece of charcoal cardstock that I edge punched on both sides (to make a little band). I finished it off by adding a punched scalloped circle tag and sheer navy bow.

Bag:

For the bag I basically did the same thing as I did for the card. I did distress the bag with Momento London Fog ink to knock down the brightness a bit. I layered on some Charcoal cardstock then layered on the white panel that I had stamped with the medium polka dots background that I had used earlier along with the same butterfly and flower. I added a piece of navy cardstock to make a base for the tag and added the doily then made a tag to match everything. After I had it all put together I decided it needed more ribbon than just the bow so I carefully pulled up the tag and sides of the charcoal panel and added a length of ribbon. I was much happier with the results then. The ribbon seems like it "anchors" the focal point to the bag now.

DeNami Stamps:

• medium polka dots (larger polka dot background)
• mini polka dot background (smaller polka dot background)
• garden accent stamp set (flower)
• decorative butterflies stamp set (butterfly)
• everyday stamp set (sentiments)

Well, I actually made this set several months back, and she LOVED her little gift! Not only did the gift itself fit her but the card and bag did too. Next time you need to give a little gift why not try making a cute little matching bag too?

Summer Flowers & Our birthday drawing winner!

Hi everyone and HAPPY FRIDAY!!! This week went by kinda fast for me...and that's a GOOD thing, lol! I am sooo ready for the weekend :)


Last week I showed you a little card that I entered into a few challenges with and I loved the way it turned out so much that I thought I'd re-visit the layout.

This time around I decided to change up a few things and ya know, I'm still very happy with the results! Besides changing the colors, I dry embossed the large panel (cloudy sky) then using chalk made an hombre effect (lighter at the top and getting darker as I moved down the panel), used a different DeNami Design flower stamp (dahlia) and instead of twine I added a pretty sheer bow. 

Well, I must thank you all for your support of my little blog and all of the love that I feel from your wonderful comments! YOU are why I work so hard in keeping up with this little blog! To celebrate the 3rd birthday of this little adventure that I'm on I thought it would be fun to do a give a way. I asked that you like the DeNami Addict Face Book page and leave a comment here on the blog stating you do and a 2nd comment stating what you love about DeNami...2 chances to win the random drawing!! 

Using random.org I picked a lucky winner for a $50 DeNami Design gift certificate.....

Congratulations Denise Bryant!!!

Please email me at DenamiAddict @ yahoo dot com to claim your prize!! Please note that if the prize goes unclaimed through the 25th I will draw a new random name.

Again, thank you all so very much for your support!!!

DeNami March 2014 blog hop - Fuzzy Friends

Do you know what time it is...time "sprung forward" one hour while we were sleeping ;)

Are you ready for another fun filled blog hop hosted by DeNami?? I sure am ;)

As usual, Paulina has picked a fun and adorable theme!!!

Here's the deets:

When: The blog hop starts on March 9, 2014 at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until March 10th, 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!

Okay, with all the necessities out of the way let's get started?? You should have arrived here from the talented, Donna Bowman's blog but if not that's not a problem because you can head on over to the DeNami blog for the full list of participants. 

 

I had such a hard time picking a fuzzy little friend...there are just too many cuties to choose from!!! in the end I decided to use a couple of new images (spring 2014 release) and a older image that's a favorite of mine.

For my first card I have to credit my yellow lab, Moe. I was taking a picture of something and he photo bombed me, lol! What a little ham he is, he actually will pose for pictures!! What's cuter than being photo bombed by my dog...being photo bombed by a chickie!!! 

I used a little photo frame from 3 Twenty Crafts and built a little scene using a few older stamps and 3 brand new ones. Have you ever heard of Fluff? It's a great little medium that you can add to critters (and other things like chickies&  flowers) to give them a little fuzzy texture. Here's a close up of my little beaver...

See how he's a "fuzzy"? I simply colored him in with my quickie glue pen then sprinkled on some Fluff (both can be found at DeNami) then patted it down a little with my finger to get it stuck in the glue fairly well then tap off the excess. It's pretty much the same as using glitter only I pat it a little to make sure the Fluff goes into the glue...easy peasy!!

Stamps used: 

woodland chickie

woodland logs

little beaver 

medium pine

mini grass

everyday greetings stamp set

For my next card I wanted to show you that just because you use a little animal that you don't necessarily have to make something "cutsie". 

I just love a grey & yellow color palette and couldn't resist using it for this card. This card was super fast to create and the layout can be used for any occasion with some of DeNami's larger stamps that have the bigger scenes like the brand new Irish Chickie scene or the darling Woodland Friends scene.

Stamps Used:

elephant

small baby script

Well that's it for me and it's time for you to visit with Tammy Hobbs!! I can't wait to see what she has for us...her talent knows no bounds!!! Don't forget to leave comments along the way for your chance to win a DeNami gift certificate!!

The Shabby Tea Room - Stocking treat box

Hi everyone and happy Monday :)

Today I have the cutest little treat holder to share with you that I made for this weeks The Shabby Tea Room challenge! Our sponsor this week is Creations By AR.

Ohh my goodness, they have every template you could ever want and more! It's so fun taking a plain template and dressing it up to fit your style and occasion!

This weeks inspiration picture is so darling...

Use:

•        red
•        white
•        gingham
•        gingerbread

Look how cute my little "stuffed Stocking" turned out :)  Now I don't want to fill it up and give it away, lol!! I received my file in a PDF (template & instructions) and simply saved it to the "my pictures" on my computer then printed it out on my normal printer on normal printer paper. After it printed I laid the template over my patterned paper & plain cardstock (you can hold it in place with Washi tape) and cut it out with scissors...no adjusting sizes or having to jump through hoops, just easy peasy print and cut!! 

Here's a few more views....

You can fit a fair amount of candy, cookies, a pair or 2 of cute little slipper socks or even hair goodies in this little stocking. The cavity is 5" deep and 2 3/4" X 2" wide. 

Do you like my little tag? I started out with a normal tag shape then layered on some goodies. I used DeNami Designs Everyday Greeting stamp set for the sentiment and fussy cut some candies from the Candies stamp set. The darling gingerbread people are from the November release, "HO HO HO" stamp set at Paper Sweeties. They even have a matching die cut set so I could easily cut them out :). But wait, that's not all that's going on with this adorable stocking...this cutie has a little hidden surprise!!! 

There's a secret compartment in the toe! It could easily fit couple of Hershey kisses or nuggets. How cute is that???

Well, that's all for me today. I hope you like my little "stuffed stocking" by Creations By AR as much as I do :)            See y'all on Wednesday!!!!

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!!!!

A little of this and a little of that...

Blogger Note: I was reminded that in order to be elgiable for one of the challenges I entered, that my project can only be entered into 3 challenges, not 5....OOPPPPPS! I never even thought about my card being in too many challenges! Well, it is what it is, I'm not elgiable, but I'm still proud of myslef for acomplishing something I've never been able to do and I had fun....that's all that counts in the end isn't it? Besides, I knew I didn't have any chance of winning that particular challenge in the first place, so really, I'm okay with the bad news :)

WHEW!, that was some drama on Wednesdays post wasn't it?? I knew y'all would understand exactly why I was frustrated...us crafty gals stick together, lol ;)   I called my soon to be Daughter-in-law and told her to swing by on her way home from work one night this week and pick them up.If I see a check at some point in my life from this then I'll consider myself lucky....

 

Now for todays post!! I did something that I'm considering quite a feat. Patting myself on the back even, lol!! I always see gals entering one card into multiple projects and always wonder how they do that. I can never get things to fall into place creatively like that....well, until today that is!!

 

Here's the list of challenges I'm entering:

 

The Shabby Tea Room

 

 

Sweet Stamp Shop

 

 

Paper Sweeties

 

 

Lawnscaping Challenge

 

 

 

Jo's Scrapshack

 

 

 

Yup, you counted right...5 challenges!!

 

Hey, I'm just as astounded as you are, but the challenge Gods have aligned the stars and it all works out! Ready to see my little card? Ohh wiat, first I better tell you the rules....

• The Shabby Tea Room, Paper Sweeties & Jo's Scrapshack are pretty self explanatory, picture inspiration and sketches
• Sweet Stamp Shop is a "use what you have" challenge. They also have a sketch & inspiration picture you have the option to use if you want. But basically you can make anything you want as long as you use your stash, no fair buying anything new!!
• Lawnscaping is asking us to use our favorite things this time around. It can be paper, stamps, embellies...whatever crafty element that floats your boat ;)

 

Alright, now it's time to see my card, lol...

 

 I used the summer theme, colors and flowers from The Shabby Tea Room's picture, I used stamps and patterned papers from my stash for the Sweet Stamp Shop requirement (pic to follow...you have to show your stash), I followed the sketches provided by Jo's Scrapshack and Paper Sweeties and to finish it all off I used stamps from 4 of my favorite stamp companies (DeNami, Paper Sweeties, Lawn Fawn & Sweet Stamp Shop), ribbon, patterned paper, Momento inks, Copic markers and punches (drool) per Lawnscapings requirement. Can't you just hear Julie Andrews singing These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...hehehe! Not too bad though, hunh?? Ohh and for those of you "in the know" when it comes to my fave DeNami stamp, I did go back and forth about using the polka dot background, but opted for my 2nd fave, the gingham background, because it just looked better in this instance ;)

 

Here's my stash pics for The Sweet Stamp Shop:

 

Here's my collection of Paper Sweeties, Lawn Fawn & Sweet Stamp Shop stamps. Y'all have seen my DeNami collection that's almost 500 strong at this point, lol! Too much to take pictures of again, but the link is still at the top of the page under the DeNami Collections tab. Feel free to add yours too!!

My stash of patterned paper packs is slowly taking over my little rolling cart...I think I may need an intervention. At least the Sweet Stamp Shop challenge is making me use some of it up ;)

 

Well that's it for me...what a long post!!! I will see you back here on Sunday for the Krazy for Kraft blog hop hosted by DeNami and on Monday I have a super fun announcement!! Have a great and safe weekend! :)

Stache' chickies

I need to clean out my blogger "closet". I think I have around 20 drafts sitting in Blogger...eekkk! Ohh my goodness, I have been trying to show all of these cards forever!!! Seriously...FOREVER...I've had today's cards in a blogger draft since May 1st and there's no telling how long they sat before I loaded the pictures in blogger...wow!

 



 

Mustaches are all the rage and I had came across a little package of some cute staches' at Hobby Lobby and just had to have them. Had no clue what to do with them, but I HAD to have them all the same, lol! hey, I'm a lemming and I'm okay with that, lol ;) !

 

 After mulling it over a bit I decided to dress up the Large Chickie...how can you NOT love a stach'd chickie, right???

I added some washi for a background and stamped my panel with a little light grey Curly Border from DeNami before adding the sentiment from the Everyday Greeting set and my cute little mustache stamp (forgot the name of the company). I finished it all off with some yummy polka dot washi and twine/button treatment.

pssst...don't ya just love the DeNami houndstooth background stamp...swoon!!



This little card couldn't be any easier! I stamped the Houndstooth Background, added the punched border panel along with the 2 square ones. A little twine and button treatment and 2 little pieces of bling to finish it all off and balance it out...easy peasy!

That's it for me today. I will see you back here on Friday with a new start to finish card video!! A fun little card using just a couple of stamps (including one of the new garden sets!) :) See ya then!

A quiet summer day...

Blogger note: HAHAHA, I messed up the posting date...it's only Tuesday! I ment to schedule this for Wednesday...oops! ;) 

Happy Wednesday everyone!! We're half way there...the weekend is in sight....sigh! Did you get a chance to catch my photo tutorial on the paper clay candle wrap?? I can't beleive how easy it is! I'm pretty lazy and tend to stay away from anything that's even a little hard. These are a perfect little project for me and I can't wait to make more!

 

Today I have a pretty little card to share with you that I'm entering into the 10 Minute Craft Dash over on the Pretty Pink Posh blog! This weeks colors are pink, tangerine and grey.

Here's my starting and finishing pics...boy do I make a mess when it comes to this challenge!! My card was created in 8 minutes & 23 seconds.

 

 This little card makes me think of a pretty little summer afternoon with nothing on my mind but just pure enjoyment in the moment. I like to stamp in grey a lot since it's less harsh than using black and this bicycle stamp was tailor made for being stamped with grey ink. It's so soft, feminine and pretty.

 

Well that's all for me today, hope you've enjoyed my little card and I'll see you back here on Friday with a little creation I've made for the current Paper Sweeties sketch challenge!!



 

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!!!

 

 

a note of thanks

Recently I received a surprise package in the mail from a sweet friend (that we all know & love), Paulina Nakamura. We had been discussing some darling wood veneers that she had recently purchased from one of her blog sponsors over on her Pretty Pink Posh blog, Ellen Hutson. I've never tried them out and was pretty hesitant to give them a try. Like most crafters, I have a drawer full of odds and ends that I've tried out but soon realized they just didn't "fit" me. Paulina knows me and my style of crafting very well and definitely had confidence in these cuties being a great fit.  I can't believe she sent some to me, how sweet is that??!!??

She's a pretty smart girl cause I LOVE these little veneers!! Of course I had to use one to thank her for her amazing gift :)

For my sentiment, I ended up using 2 contraband sentiments from Lawn Fawn (free gifts) and 2 DeNami sentiments from the everyday greetings & assorted greetings petit four sets. I raised my little flags up on foam tape for lots of dimension.

There's a link on the Pretty Pink Posh blog for the Ellen Hutson web site, be sure to check it out. This site has a ton of fun card making and scrapbooking goodness at an affordable price.