DeNami Design April 2014 Blog Hop - The Skys The Limit

Hi everyone, are you ready for another fun AND inspirational hop brought to you by DeNami Design? This moth's theme is The Skys The Limit!

When: The blog hop starts on May 18th, 2014 at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until May 19th, 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 the uber talented Pattie Goldman's blog but if you didn't no worries, the full list of participants is on the DeNami Design blog!

Ready to see what I have to share with you today? I had issues deciding what stamps to use because DeNami has sooo many little cuties that would work with this theme...cloud, airplane, balloons, hot air balloon, cute little winged critters (just to name a few)...Paulina was right, the sky's the limit with this fun theme!

I've always been partial to the pretty little kite and since I haven't used it in ages I decided to pull it out.

I pulled out a new 6X6 paper pad that I had recently gotten (swoon) and found some bright and fun patterns. I stamped the kite then again on a scrap of patterned paper so I could pop it up on foam tape. I just love my little candy striped clouds...a recent purchase from Paper Smooches and finished it all off with a few pieces of bling and springtime sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

Stamps Used:

Fly A Kite

Assorted Greetings petit four set

I couldn't resist being an over achiever ;) (hehehe) so I made up a little something using my favorite butterfly stamp too.

I just love a white on white card with a pop of color! I scored the white panel then cut the top at a wavy angle and attached butterflies that I had stamped and fussy cut. Fast card to put together and it makes a statement...that's a win win! ;) Can you see the subtle sparkle in my butterflies...I stamped them in several colors of Brilliance Ink. I just love that ink :)

Stamps Used:
Polka Dot Butterfly
Heartfelt Greetings petit four set

Well that's it for me today, now off you go to visit with Jennifer Loftfield...I can't wait to see what she has in store for us! Don't forget to leave comments along the way for a chance in the random drawing for a DeNami 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!!!

 

 

 

Better late than never, right???

Hi everyone! Well, have I got a story for you! Hmm, instead of the long drawn out version, I'll condense it a bit....My mom was in the hospital (she's fine, just a knee replacement) and I was running back and forth from work / home and hospital for a week. During all of this I managed to find time to film a little 10 minute craft dash video. Then when she got out I've was staying at my Mom's taking care of her while she's been laid up and not spending much time at home or work. In the mean time, I managed to loose the little camera card!!! I was so upset...I had pictures of the card plus another card I'd made and the video...poof, all gone. 

Of course, now that the challenge is over...I found the camera card. It was in my wallet. Why did I put it in there, what was I thinking; It's not like my mom has Internet or even a computer for that matter! I've been a mess these past couple of weeks, sigh! Well, I decided to not let all this go to waste, even though I can't enter my cards, I thought I could still share them and the video with all of you.

This is actually the 2nd card I made. I took a collection of stamping goodness with me to my Mom's house to keep me busy so I don't have a picture of the card with my phone to show the time. :(

However, this card took a total of 9 minutes, 22 seconds....not bad, right??? The patterned papers really help!

Here's my first card card along with the video I made...enjoy :)

(Since this video is late the date for Paulina's Blogging 101 posts are wrong...sorry!)

9 minutes 28 seconds!!

That's it for me today, I hope you try the 10 minute Craft Dash over at Pretty Pink Posh (Paulina just announced the latest one yesterday!) sometime, it really is a fun challenge even if I panic a bit, lol.

Tool Talk - February 2013

Hello, it's Paulina here.

I'm so thrilled to be bringing you a special post here on the DeNami Addict blog today. When Tina contacted me a couple months back about this feature, I was so honored she would ask me to share with you. After all, many of you see me on the DeNami blog, so I figured you might be a tad bit tired of hearing from me. *wink*

Today is the second month of the Tool Talk feature and boy, it was a tough decision trying to narrow down my favorite tool. After pondering for a few weeks, I finally decided I wanted to share my love of the Big Shot machine with all of you. I hope I didn't scare you away.....I know it's a pricey item. I want to share all of the reasons I LOVE my machine and how it's been an investment I wish I made sooner. 

Reasons I love my Big Shot Machine:

1) It's sturdy and reliable. I considered getting a Cuttlebug, but after trying it, decided it was a little too flimsy for what I needed. I've had my Big Shot machine for over two years and haven't had any problems.

2) You can use embossing folders in it to create dry embossed backgrounds. (I have yet to find a brand that doesn't work with my machine) 

3) With die cuts becoming popular at record speeds, there are all sorts of shapes, borders and templates you can cut. 

4) After the initial investment of the machine, the standard dies are very affordable. 

5) It's taken my crafting to a whole new level!

I couldn't rave about my machine without showing you a card showcasing a couple ways to use it. Below is a card that uses a decorative shape I die cut, and dry embossed with a folder.  

I just love the texture and elegance that was created using my machine. Intrigued? I have a great source where you can get this machine at a discounted price and also the items I used today. Visit the Pretty Pink Posh site for all the details and more pictures of today's card! 

Thank you for letting me share with you all today. I hope you'll consider purchasing a die cut machine- it will change your crafting life forever. :) 

I'd like to personaly thank our guest, Paulina for taking the time to speak to us today about her Big Shot and there's even MORE fun to be had on her blog today. She's made a video and gives even more insight on why she loves this very versatile tool!