Friday, July 29, 2011

Stampin' Up and Spellbinders Tags

I saw this frame technique in an episode of http://www.stamptv.com/ and thought I would try it.


I used one of the tags from the Spellbinders Fancy Tags Dies. I cut several and attached them to the back of the circle image.

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Dies, Fancy Tags

 This border goes very well with the Stampin' Up Paisley background paper.

 

The image is from a retired Stampin' Up set. I colored it with Stampin' Up ink and a blender pen.

All materials are from Stampin' Up.

Thanks for stopping by,

Dana Desmond

Friday, July 15, 2011

My Pink Stamper Design Team Call!

It's that time of year again when Robyn puts out her Design Team call and all of us crafters get to work. Robyn's instructions are to create a project using the colors, green, brown, orange, and turquoise.

Unfortunately, I don't have any of Robyn's stamp sets (*gasp*, I know, I'm not sure why. I want them so badly I can't stand it.) So, I began going through my stamp collection and rediscovered my 40:31 Creations Say Something set. I've been dying to use this sentiment on a project (I'm a coffee fiend). Then, using http://www.mycutsearch.com/, I searched Cricut images for a coffee cup. Using my Gypsy, I cut this image at 3 1/4" from the Graphically Speaking Cartridge. I used Basic Grey's Sweet Threads, Stampin' Up cardstock, and for the steam, velum from my stash.




I used my Martha Steward Punch-around the paper to create a lace doily. I finished by adding stitching with my Gelly Roll pen.

I can't believe it's only been a year since I found Robyn's videos and http://www.mypinkstamper.com/. If it weren't for Robyn there's no way I would be typing on this blog today. She is the reason I got back into crafting and found a piece of myself I didn't even know was missing. Unfortunately, I'm not surrounded by people who understand my obsession with crafting, so Robyn's introduction to the online "support group" was exactly what I needed. Being on her design team would be a dream come true. Thanks Robyn, for everything you've given me.

Recipe
 Wish me luck and as always, thanks for stopping by,
Dana Desmond

Monday, July 11, 2011

Basic Grey Sweet Threads and Prima Images

Ok, I give. Enough with the heat already!

I thought it was hot the other day, but that was nothing compared to today. It's in the 90s with a heat index of 110 degrees. I feel so bad for my husband. He works out in the heat in dress clothes. He's been approved to wear dress shorts tomorrow,  but I'm not sure that's going to make too much of a difference, but it's a start. Anyway, enough whining. On with the show.

I bought my first full set of a Basic Grey collection the other day and I have to say, I love this paper and the embellishments just make it so versatile.  I bought this Sweet Threads set in both the 6x6 and 12x12 packs.


This Prima image came in my Little Red Scrapbook June kit. It's not a stamp I would have bought on my own, but it's growing on me. I love getting my kit each month. I find new products I wouldn't have tried otherwise. The sentiment stamp is from Stampin' Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes. All cardstocks are from Stampin' Up. The ribbon is from Papertrey Ink.


I stamped the image with Momento Tuxedo Black and colored the puppy, the boy's shoes, skin and hair with Copic markers. I paper pieced his pants and shirt using the Sweet Threads papers. To ground the image, I added the grass with Copics.

It's supposed to be about 5 degrees cooler tomorrow. For my husband's sake, I hope it cools off more than that.

Thanks for stopping by and keep cool,
Dana Desmond

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Peachy Keen Stamps Sketch Challenge

My latest submission for Peachy Keen Stamps Sketch Challenge. I really wish I had more Peachy Keen Stamps to use for these challenges, but unfortunately, I don't. So, I used the Vintage Picnic Basket set image and sentiment.


All ribbon, patterned paper and cardstocks are from Stampin' Up. The tag is cut from Spellbinders Decorative Labels.


I colored the flowers and basket with my Copic Markers. I fussy cut the basket and popped it up on the focal point. I added Glossy Accents to the strawberries.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana Desmond

Peachy Keen Challenge LFIF

I started with the patterned paper for this design and then came the sentiment. Then I found a cute strawberry shortcake image on one of my Cricut cartridges and the rest just fell in place.



The sentiment is from Stampin' Up and I punched it with the Large Decorative Label punch.

I used Decorative Chalk for the cheek color, my Gelly Roll pen for the whites of the eyes and Glossy Accents to make the eyes pop.


Materials
Cricut
Gypsy
Cricut Cartridge Smiley Cards
Cricut Cartridge Holiday Cakes
Peachy Keen Stamps Everyday Character Faces Assortment
Stampin' Up Eat Chocolate Stamp Set
Stampin' Up Patterned Paper and Cardstock
Glossy Accents
American Crafts Brad
The Paper Studio Ribbon
Stampin' Up Dimensionals


Thanks for stopping by,
Dana D

Friday, July 8, 2011

Missouri is so Beautiful...and HOT!! Ugh!

If you’ve ever spent a summer in Missouri, you know how hot it can get here. Actually, the temperature isn’t the problem, it’s the humidity. Even though the thermometer shows the upper 80’s, low 90’s, the heat index will be in the low 100’s. The air feels so thick, it seems there’s no way it can pass to your lungs.


Despite the heat, or maybe because of it, Missouri is a beautiful place. Where I live, there are lots of beautiful, lush tree covered hills and crisp, cool bubbling creeks. I wouldn’t trade it for anything…

Picture of my son on the front porch of our old house.
 …except when I pull in the garage and find ice cream dripping out of the freezer and onto the floor. Yep, our upright freezer in the garage couldn’t keep up with the heat and everything melted (I know, a bad place to put a freezer from an energy conservation standpoint, but it’s the only place it will fit). Luckily, I caught it in time and all the meat was still good, but since it was thawed completely, I couldn’t refreeze it. All of it had to be cooked. So last night, I cooked 6 packs of brats, 1 package of chicken breast, 2 corned beef briskets, and a ball of dough that had once been frozen rolls.


Disadvantage: Only two of us home last night to eat all of this food and I had to throw out several tubs of ice cream (a major staple in our house).

Advantage: I don’t have to cook for the next several days. I guess my husband’s going to have to learn to eat leftovers.

After all the meat overload, we may need to have a week of vegetarian meals just to clear our arteries, haha. Oh, well the heat (and no obligation to cook the rest of the week) gives me a good excuse to just go to my basement and craft. It's always cool down there.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana D.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Lemon Flower Mat Stack cards

In my last post, I mentioned I had a card making frenzy with the DCWV Lemon Flower Mat Stack. I'm not  sure most of them are blog worthy, but I would like to share a couple of my creations from the Lemon Flower madness.

This monochromatic card is made from one of the card stocks that has a glitter image as part of the pattern. I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate this into a card. But, low and behold I did it. The black border paper is a full page of black glittered arches. I layered this with the lattice paper. The black image behind the white layer is part of the lattice paper. I embossed the Elizabeth image stamp in black on white cardstock and cut it out. I stamped the sentiment on a piece of gray textured cardstock from the Lemon Flower coordination mat stack. I cut around the image and added it to the center of the border. Lastly, I added the gems.

This card is very simple. I started with a New Leaf card base from Papertrey Ink I layered on a yellow patterned paper from the Lemon Flower stack. Then I topped that with this black glitter page of flowers. Seriously, the entire black background is glitter. The entire stack is full of black and silver glitter that just sparkles. The frame and sentiment is from Stampin' Up. After punching out the frame with the Large Decorative Label punch, I popped it up with pop dots, added the curly ribbon and brad from Hobby Lobby.

If you haven't gotten the chance to experience the Lemon Flower stack in person, I highly recommend you do. Pictures do not do it justice. The giltter is gorgeous and the black, yellow and green just pop.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana D.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

2-4-8-10 Swing fold card

I tried my hand at the 2-4-8-10 swing card. It gets it's name from where the card is scored. The focal image is from Stampin' Up. I colored it using my Copic Markers.


Front of the card closed


The card base is Basic Black cardstock from Stampin' Up. All other papers are from the DCWV Lemon Flower Mat Stack and coordinating solid cardstock mat stack. I love this paper so much, last weekend, I made tons of cards in different styles using only this stack.


Card open laying flat
The frame and sentiment is from Stampin' Up. I punched it using the Large Decorative label punch from Stampin' Up. The small green solid block leaves a place for a personal message.

Card standing, front view


Card standing, side view
 This type of card is a great way to use small scraps of paper. It takes a little planning, but well worth the effort.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana D.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Swinging Pixie

I created this swinging pixie several weeks ago, but just didn't get around to posting. I colored this digi image with my Copic markers. I cut it and the scallop circle out using Nestabilities dies. For the circle, I used the "cut out" technique to make the legs look like they are dangling out of the focal image. To give this more of a dangle feeling, I popped up the focal image.


The sentiment is from Papertrey Inks Vintage Basket Sentiments. The brown and white cardstock are from Stampin' Up


All other products are from my scrap box. I've had the patterned paper so long, I can't remember the manufacturer.

Thanks for stopping by,
Dana D.