Thinking of You

Good Morning! Hope you are enjoying this warmer weather we are experiencing! Its kind of strange to go from -27 to +5 C in a matter of days!! 

For my card share today I have a Thinking of You card, one I made to tuck away in my stash. Its masculine in its own right, yet has a flower on it, and a bit of bling.  Not sure if I'd give it to a guy though.....the bling probably dictates that, hey?? :)

The details are pretty simple:  Basic Grey and Marina Mist cardstocks, along with the retired dsp Walk in the Park. I hoarded this paper from last year, I absolutely love it but figured it wasn't doing any good sitting in the bin, so I cut into it and made a few cards. :)

The leaves were punched from the newest SU! punch that coordinates with the Build a Blossom, what a great punch, I love it!! The flowers are from the SU! Flowerfolds die and embossed with the small dot embossing folder, and in the center is a medium sized Grey corduroy brad.  The sentiment is from the SAB set So Happy for You.

Glad you could drop by and check in, I hope your day is going well!

Deb :)

River Rock Butterfly

Good Morning!! Hope everyone had a good weekend? Our was fabulous, the weather was so warm and balmy for our neck of the woods, it's such a nice change from the frigid deep freeze we endured :)  We took the Schnauzers on several long walks and really enjoyed the sunshine.  I think they did too!

Today I have a pretty Butterfly card to share.  The inspiration for this card comes from the latest Stamp It! Magazine, page 35.  I loved the layout of this card, and thought the button detail was really cool. We photographed this on black, which looks great but unfortunately doesn't show the base of the card very well, which is black.

The details for this card are: Black and River Rock cardstocks, retired dsp in River Rock polka dot, sewing machine, Big Shot butterfly dies, linen thread and jute, Thank you from Level One Hostess Set Because I Care (just love that font!!) and the Sizzlet Button die from SU!.  The butterflies are popped up on dimensionals, but its hard to tell in this photo.

Thank you for dropping by and hope your Monday is a good one!!

Deb :)

Stars Congrats

Hi there & Happy Sunday! Its finally decided to warm up here and melt some of the snow off the roads and driveways!! I really do enjoy Winter though, and hope it doesn't melt all the snow and then everything is just yucky brown til the end of May.  'Cause we don't get spring til early June, then its Summer a week or two later!! :)

On to the card....I'm trying to keep my New Year resolution and use one of my many magazines for inspiration, and did so with this card. Inspiration is from the magazine Color Inspiration by Paper Crafts, page 40.  Now I can hear you all saying, Deb!!!! This is a new magazine, not an old one....I know, I know, I never promised to stop buying them, I just promised to use them more often for inspiration!! heehee :)

For my card, I used Crumb Cake and Night of Navy for the base, whisper white for the main image.  The stars are from the SU! stars die, the buttons from an old shirt of my DH's, SU! ribbon and large brad from the Hodgepodge kit. The dsp for the stars is from a previous Level One hostess set.

 Now the Congratuations is from last years' SAB, and for the life of me I cannot stamp this one straight!!!! I even used the Stamp-a-ma-Jig here and still struggled with it  Sheesh!!!  I also stitched around the edges of the white with my sewing machine. 

I loved the designer's clean lines of this card.

Thanks for dropping by, enjoy your Sunday! We are off to a ringette game, my DD is one of the coaches and the girls are in a final today so we will go along to watch. Should be fun. :)

Deb :)

Bright Warm Card on a Very Cold Day!!

Good Afternoon! Its been such a snowy week here in Alberta, the winter weather just doesn't seem to want to settle down.  We've lived in our house for 8 years now and I don't ever recall this much snow here.  Our balcony is piled high with snow and the cast iron urns with their little evergreen trees in them look like Marge Simpson's hair!! Makes me smile everytime I look out there.

So, I have a few crafting resolutions for the New Year, how about you? I mentioned in a previous post I would like to make time for more crafting with my friends, I truly enjoy their company, we all share a love of crafting and don't seem to find the time to get together as often as we should.  :) 

Another important resolution regards my personal craft space. I do think I'm a bit of a magazine junkie, I seem to have collected them for a couple of years now and have *ahem* quite a few.....So, the last few days I've been going through every single magazine I own, and putting post-it notes on the pages of inspriation.  I also have a pile for non inspirational ones (as our tastes do change!!) along with old stamp sets and some dsp I just don't think inspires me any longer. I'll sell those in our craft sale this spring.  Back to the resolution, I would like to take a magazine a day and create one of the inspirational pieces from it.  This will be a great way to replentish my card stash.  So, I'm excited about this New Year and my crafting resolutions!!

On to the card!! Isn't this the neatest card?? I loved the design when I saw it and had to try it. All the dsp was still sitting on my table, so I quickly cut one inch wide pieces and adhered them across the card at an angle. The ribbon covers up the uneveness, so don't stress over that. Cute hey? Would be a great way to make some mass Christmas cards I was thinking, sitting and glueing these strips of paper while watching tv with my DH some nights.

This dsp is the Razzleberry Lemonade (retired), along with Razzleberry and Melon Mambo cardstock, Crushed Curry grosgrain (I really loved this colour!!), bling on the bottom from my stash,  the Island Floral big die, scalloped circle and a bright yellow brad in the middle.

Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to read my ramblings, I truly enjoy the comments and emails from you :)

Have a great Saturday and stay warm!!
Deb

Candle with Designer Paper & Rosette from Table Setting Die

Good Evening! Well, the countdown is surely on now, Christmas is just days away and I'm hoping to have everything ready by Thursday. We are having a party on Christmas Eve and I'm baking everyone a gingerbread house to decorate!! Its really going to be alot of fun, I can hardly wait. The Gingerbread houses aren't huge, but I do have 10 to make, so wish me luck. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for no gingerbread breakage!! :)

Today's share is a decorated candle holder, a little something I made for a Christmas gift. Its a beautiful vanilla scented candle, complete with its own richly covered box. You can see in the picture below, its a fair sized candle.

 I added a bit of designer paper around the candle, along with some chocolate chip satin ribbon, a felt snowflake, a pearl pin from the Pretties kit and, yes again, another beautiful rose from  the Table Setting die. I just love this die, so many possibilities!! I'm hoping to have time to make placecards for our gingerbread party along with napkin rings and rosettes for our turkey dinner, time will be the only thing in my way :)

Thank you so much for dropping by and have a wonderful Tuesday!!

Deb :)

Table Setting die for Mittens?? :)

Hi there!! Well, another post from me, what a surprise! I have been busy in the stamp room, just haven't had alot of time to create and publish the posts. I hope to be a little more consistent in the New Year though :)

So, aren't these just darling mittens??? I am so loving the Big Shot and all the marvelous dies one can purchase! These are just regular purchased fleece mittens adorned with the rose and leaves cut from the Table Setting die.  I really loved the colour combination here, a mustard yellow, garden green and a lighter espresso brown fleece, so pretty!! 

I do have issues with the hot glue gun though, I don't think it likes me!! I've burnt myself twice now with it,  and OUCH does that hurt!! There are two huge blisters where the glue hit, I really need to be more careful.  :)

Have a great Friday and enjoy the Holiday Season!!
Deb :)

Birdy Thank You

Hi There! Today's card share is a Thank You card.  The inspiration for this card came from a swap I received  from Jan Nielsen, my favourite SU! demo from Camrose!!  Its very quick and easy to create this card with punches and the big shot.  I'm always amazed at how far we stampers have come in the last 4 years, the accessories available now are limitless.   I remember it being a big deal when we added a brad and ribbon, now we can create even more gorgeous cards with such ease, one crank of the Big Shot and voila!! a beautiful card with texture and plenty of layers. 

 Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing Sunday!!
Deb                   

Friends Never Fade

Hi there!

Today's card share was created with the SU! stamp set Friends Never Fade, along with the Greenhouse Gala Designer Paper.  The gorgeous Butterfly is the SU! embossed die, which cuts and embosses at the same time, its so pretty!!

If you look closely at the card, you will see a hidden message......just pull on the butterfly and scalloped circle and out comes a message, which is hidden behind the red cardstock mat!! You could stamp anything from Happy Birthday to a simple Hello on there. We did a card very similar to this at our Christmas Stamp a Stack a few years ago.  Just a little something different to add to the card front.  

Flowerbug  has a wonderful sample here, her photos show the message displayed.  She's used the Two Tags Die, which I don't have (yet!!) and created a bookmark, so cute!!!

I have a busy Monday, I'm going to start a bit of Christmas shopping this week,  how about you? Do you shop early, do you leave it til December or are you one of those most organized people who are finished already??   

Have a great Monday and hope you get some time to stamp and create!! :)

Deb

Recipe:

Stamp Set; Friends Never Fade

Cardstock: Real Red, Chocolate, White, Bermuda Bay, Greenhouse Gala dsp.

Accessories:  Word Window Punch, Butterfly die, Scalloped Circle Paper.

Sweet :)

Good Afternoon!
Today's card share is a cute girly card, created mostly with the Big Shot and Punches.  There are plenty of samples of this card on the web and SCS, this is my version of it. It was such a fun card to make, and really quite quick and easy.

I've used Basic Black and Whisper White cardstocks,  along with various designer papers for the card.  The dsp for the dress is from a retired paper pack, the purse dsp is from the Night & Day series, also retired but available for download on the My Digital Studio. 

Accessories:
Circle and Scalloped Circle Punches, Large and Small Oval punches,Tab Punch, Large Scalloped Circle Die, SU! Floral Embossing Folder, Silver Brad, Silver Cording, Hodgepodge Hardware, White Taffeta Ribbon.

Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful Sunday!
Deb :)

Good Morning! Today I am sharing a picture of Frankie, the Halloween Treat Box I made for my kids and their friends. Isn't he adorable???  Frankie was quick and easy to make using the Top Note Die,  1 1/4 circle and tag punches.  I used Kiwi Kiss and Elegant Eggplant for the face and hair, black and white cardstocks for the eyes and a SU! marker for his mouth and stitches. I had the raffia in my stash,  it was a perfect match for the box.

We also did this little box for our Stamping Group, the ladies loved it and went home with lots of great ideas.  Thanks for such a great evening ladies, I had so much fun!!!

Hope you didn't eat too much candy this weekend (like I did...!) and have a wonderful Monday!

Deb :)

Happy First Day of Summer!!

Good Morning! and Happy Summer Solstice!!! It actually feels like summer lately, something I'm so thankful for.  We haven't had the nicest, warmest spring so I'm truly enjoying this rash of heat and beautiful sunshine this past while.  

In honour of Summer Solstice (not really, it just kind of worked out this way, but hey we'll go with it, right? :) I've created a card using the Island Floral dsp and the Island Floral die for the Big Shot. I love this whole combination, but then I love anything that uses the Big Shot.  My favourite stamping toy ever!  Even my husband thinks its kind of neat and he really doesn't take much interest in my stamping or supplies.  He's a detailed, black and white kind of guy and I'm a creative, not follow the directions and back track later kind of gal so we're perfect for each other!! Although I think he's surprising himself with his creative detail in photography, so I guess we all learn as we go. I don't think I'll ever have his gift for detail though, (its too boring!! haha!)
Thanks for dropping by and have a great Monday!!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Island Oasis, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Accessories: Island Floral Die, brad from my stash, circle punches, scalloped punch, Tempting Turquoise grosgrain, Word Window Punch, Swiss Dots embossing folder

Flower Fun with the Big Shot and Heat Gun!!

Hi there! Today I am finally sharing the pictures of my fabric flowers!!! These are made using the Flower Die from SU! and a poly-nylon type fabric.  Each flower is just graduated circles, cut and stacked, secured with a brad and then heated with your embossing gun!! Wow are they fun to make!!! I really heated these flowers and allowed them to "crumple" in towards the center, I really like how the turned out. The white flower is kind of cool, its a different fabric than the others and really heated to almost melting!

If you go to Christie Daugherty's blog,  found HERE  you will find instructions, inspiring photos and a wonderful set of YouTube videos to "talk you through" the process.

 If only there were more hours in the day......

Edited to add: My pup Sophie got ahold of the green flower, see how its sort of wonky on the right side? So easy to fix though, just blast it again with the embossing/heat gun and voila!! fixed flower.  Beware of doggies getting these flowers though, for some reason the scrunchy nylony fabric must feel good on their teeth because Sophie will actually sneak one off my table and go hide to chew it. She doesn't wreck them, she just enjoys "scrunching" them with her teeth.  :)

Thanks for dropping by!
Deb

Motorcycle Madness!

Ha, no madness here really, just seemed like a zippy title!! :)

This card is another we did at our workshop last week. Just {heart} this gorgeous Lattice embossing folder.  We did a cool, quick technique my upline recently taught us at our last meeting.  Using Designer paper, run a piece (any size you like) through your Big Shot with any embossing folder of your choice.

Very carefully sand away the raised portion of the dsp and you will get a completely different look on your designer paper!!  The reason you must use Designer paper is that it has a white core; part of what I love about SU! solid cardstock is that its dyed completely through, so even when you cut a piece there are no "white" edges showing. However, designer paper is created by printing onto white cardstock, and so when you sand away, you sand to the colour beneath the dsp, which is white.

Also, on this particular card I clear embossed the whole image, giving it a glassy look.

Details:
Stamp Set: Motorcyle,  newest Mini,Happy Birthday from retired SAB
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Throughly Modern DSP
Ink: Soft Suede & Versamark
Accessories:  Jumbo Eyelet (oh let them NEVER retire these, I just love them!!), Dusty Durango polka dot grosgrain ribbon, Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Clear embossing powder

Have a great day!!
Deb

Flower Pin from Charm Squares

Hi there! One more post today!! This photo is of a flower pin I created for a friend of mine. I used leftover fabric from a Charm Square pack I bought several months ago at a craft show.  I made a market bag for my Mother In Law for Christmas with the other charm squares and wish I had this SU! Flower Fold die then, I'd have been able to put this flower on the outside of the bag! Oh well, guess I'll have to make another bag. Or pin this on my lapel!  This would look great on a jean jacket, don't you think?

Thanks for dropping by!
Deb

Big Shot Pins!

Good Morning!  Today I have a Big Shot project to share with you! I am having so much fun making these fabric pins with the Big Shot and the SU! Flower Fold Die.  These are super easy to make and a whole lot of fun to put together.  Although I'm a stamper I just love to sew,  although I don't find as much time for myself in the sewing room as I should.  I used to sew ALL my DD's clothing, even ski jackets.  I used to sew alot for my boys as well but there came a time when they just didn't want Mom's creations, but rather the same brands as their friends :-)  So sewing somehow went on the backburner.

But now, with this wonderful Big Shot I can use my stamping supplies in my sewing room as well. I can hardly wait to make some handbags and embellish with these flowers.  The ideas are endless and its so fun to pick the fabric combinations. I also have a dress I'm  wanting to sew and embellish with 3 cute little flowers at the top.  My mind is racing with ideas, there's just not enough time in the day to make everything I want!!

I've made a whole bunch of the heated flower pins as well, but didn't get a great picture of them today so I'll be working on that.  Be sure to check back soon,  I'll post some more pins then.  These heated fabric pins look especially pretty on the collar of a jacket, a hat or even an evening purse. 

Have a great day and be careful in that wind!! Its pretty blustery. :-)
Deb

For My Friend

Good Morning! Today I'm posting a card I created for a good friend of mine.  I really liked the colours together.

We had a great time at dog obedience yesterday, Sophie did better than I expected although she really doesn't buy into the "sit stay" quite yet!! She's an exhuberant little gal and sitting still isn't really part of her nature!! Something we will be working on as "homework" this week :-)

Recipe:

Stamp Set: Elegant Cheer

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Basic Grey, Vanilla, Pariesienne Summer

Accessories: Nesties, Swiss dot embossing folder, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, soft fabric ribbon from my stash, half back pearls, oval punch

Thanks for dropping by!

Deb

Getting Closer to the end of that paper pack!!

Hi there! Well, we're definitely getting closer to the end of that paper pack. I would never have guessed I'd be making so many cards from half a package of dsp!!

I love this paper, its so elegant and summery, I sure will miss it when its completed.

This card uses several different pinks (ribbon, cardstock, half pearls) along with the Pale Plum (which took on a pinkish hue) and really liked them combined with the Bravo Burgundy & So Saffron. 

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Heartfelt Thanks (retired),
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Pale Plum, So Saffron, Vanilla
Ink: Pink and green reinkers mixed with shimmer paint & painted on the stamp, Basic Black
Accesories:  Pink half back pearls, MS border punch, circle punches, Scalloped Circle punch, Pink Pirouette grosgrain ribbon.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day!!
Deb

Dots & Dashes ~ an oldie but a goodie!!

Hi there, I hope you're having a wonderful Friday!!  Its a beautiful day here in Alberta although I do hesitate to get excited that Spring could actually be on its way!! It does feel like it though.  The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and it smells wonderfully clean out there.  The snow is rapidly deteriorating as well; now we need a good rainfall to wash away the winter grime.

I thought we all needed a break from  the Parisienne Summer designer paper creations! That being said,  you can certainly expect a few more because just when I thought I had used the last scrap, I've found yet another 6 x 6 square!! I truly feel the need to complete this mission, so be sure to check back in the next few days, I'll have just a few more Parisienne cards to share!

Does anyone recognize this paper? I had to go waaay back into an old 2006 catalogue to even find the name of this Dots & Dashes dsp.  It is from the days of "one sided" designer papers, and wow! have things changed since then.  The paper seems very lightweight compared to the dsp's now.  The other interesting element, with this collection anyway, is that none of these papers look really great together.  To layer even two of them onto the same card is a bit much!!

I had alot of fun creating these fun cards, they're for my DD's stash of birthday/occasion cards for friends and teachers. 

Recipe:

Stamp Set:  Riveting, Sassy Stems, "Hello" from my stash

Cardstock: Dots & Dashes, 2006 SU!, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Glorious Green, Only Orange, Pink Passion, White and Watercolour paper.

Accessories: Big Shot, Daisy Die,Nesties,  Scalloped edge punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, Circle Punches, Ribbon and brads from my stash, embossing folders. 

Thanks for dropping by and enjoy your weekend!!!

Deb

Touch of Nature Parisienne Style

Hi there! Today's card share was created with (yet again!!) the Parisienne Summer designer paper, BUT GUESS WHAT??  I'm almost finished the package!! I love this paper and enjoyed making a set of cards I plan on packaging up as a gift for a friend. :)

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Touch of Nature (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Vanilla, Parisienne Summer dsp (retired)
Ink: Brown & Burgundy
Accessories:  Scallop circle punch (flower), Blossom Party SU! die,  Build a Brad, SU! Burgundy Button, Linen Thread.

Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful day!
Deb

Butterfly Birthday Wishes

Good Morning! Hope today finds you well!!  I've had a super busy week and have felt fortunate to spend a few hours each evening in my crafting studio, using all this Parisienne Summer designer paper up!!

Recipe:

Stamp Set: Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Vanilla, Parisienne Summer dsp (retired)

Accessories: Top Note die, swirls sizzlet die, butterfly die, Swiss dot embossing folder, So Saffron Button, half back pearls from my stash.

Thanks for checking in and hope your day is wonderful :)

Deb