Friday, March 25, 2011

It's Product Challenge time at DeNami Design, and what a fabulous theme: RHINESTONES! Don't we all love to add a little bling to our cards? I am really excited to share this card with you. I think it has a lot of razzle dazzle and sparkle! Enjoy!
Hope you check out my other blog posts, too. I just posted a few cards for The Play Date Cafe, too! Leave comments and let me know what you think!

Thanks,

Amy




Supplies:


Stamps: G146 Solid Decorative Crest (DeNami Design), J134 Decorative Crest (DeNami Design), Cover-a-Card Houndstooth (Impression Obsession)


Ink: Bodeaux (Ancient Page), embossing ink (Versamark)


Paper: Red Pearl (Darice)


Other: Black embossing powder (Judikins), Extra fine glitter (DeNami Design), Anthracite Pearl Pen (Viva Decor), Black grosgrain & silver glitter ribbons (DeNami Design), Rhinestones (mixed), Adhesives (Quickie Glue Pen, ATG, and Zots)

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #74



I had so much fun playing along at The Play Date Cafe last week that I just HAD to play along this week, too! Isn't the above picture beautiful? That is the inspiration for this challenge. I LOVE the color combo, too! Absolutely delicious! I was actually inspired by some Hero Arts stamps to create a few cards. Only the first card is entered into this challenge, but I wanted to show you both versions.

Here is card #1 (my entry into the PDCC #74):

Now, here is a similar version using a different color scheme and different embellishments. I honestly love these stamps and this layout so much. I could happily make dozens of cards like this...in fact, maybe I will! :)


Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment, and if you're not a follower already, I'd love for you to follow my blog!

Amy


Supplies for both cards:

Stamps: Delicate Leaf Clusters & Find Joy clear stamp sets by Hero Arts

Inks: All inks used are by Memento

Other: Twine (JilliBean Soup), Rhinestones (unknown), Button (unknown), paper distresser (Tim Holtz), Adhesives (ATG & Zots)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Lawnscaping Challenge #6: COLOR SPLASH!


I have long admired Lawn Fawn's stamps. Their overall design sense just gives me the "warm fuzzies." Sadly, I have been in the middle of a budget slump, meaning I can't afford any new stamps right now. It's been a long winter, and it's just killing me to see all the new stamp releases from my favorite companies, but I just can't swing it right now. It's such a catch 22, too. By the time things turn around, there will be tons of NEW releases. *sigh* Well, I am trying to enter as many challenges as I can, hoping that I can win a chance to shorten my marathon wish list.

So, this leads me to this blog post. I have been following Lawn Fawn's blog and their Lawnscaping Challenge blog for months, but I just haven't entered a challange...'til now. Unfortunately, I do not currently own any Lawn Fawn stamps (I want some sooooooo badly, though!), so I was not able to use them on this challenge, but I thought this was a BRILLIANT challenge theme: Color Splash. That means that you use all neutral colors except for one bright splash of color. Isn't that a fabulous idea? I just knew I HAD to enter this!
So, here goes...

I used an incredible background stamp by Impression Obsession, and I stamped it again on green paper and fussy cut the leaf.


Thanks for checking out my blog!


Happy Crafting!


Amy




Supplies:


Stamp: Cover-a-Card Maple Leaves (Impression Obsession)


Paper: Kraft (TPC), Brown (Stampin' Up), Green (scrap),


Ink: Rich Cocoa & Cottage Ivy (Memento)


Other: Buttons (unknown), Glitter (DeNami Design), Fabric Tape (e2Daily), Twine (JilliBean Soup), Adhesives (ATG & Quickie Glue Pen)

Friday, March 18, 2011

Another Card for The Play Date Cafe


I am so excited to finally enter The Play Date Cafe's Challenges. I've been admiring their site for a while now, but I just haven't had the time to enter, but today I am entering a second card! I am really excited to share this card with you because I learned a FABULOUS new technique! I watched an INCREDIBLE video from Kelly Rasmussen at Hero Arts about how to make a Doily Masked Background. It's only 4 minutes, and it will ROCK YOUR WORLD! It creates an amazing single layer background! If you want to see another example of this technique, check out the insanely talented Ayana Posadas' blog. A few months ago, she posted stunning cards using this technique. Here's my first attempt at this fun technique:

I actually have a confession to make with this card. I made a boo-boo. I tried stamping some flowers inside the white space created by doily masking, but I chose the wrong stamp and put it in the wrong spot, and it was just a mess. However, I didn't want to give up on the card because I spent the time and effort creating the background. So, what was originally meant to be a single layer card, ended up with the 2 lavendar scallop circles. It wasn't my original plan, but I'm actually really pleased with the end result. Don't you love it when you make a mistake but turn it around to be an unexpected delight? This is so different from all other cards I've made, and I ALWAYS love trying new techniques!


Happy Crafting!

Amy


Supplies:




Paper: White cardstock


Ink: Tangelo, Canteloupe & Grape Jelly (Memento)


Other: Stickles, Copic markers

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Double Dippin' with DeNami & Play Date Cafe




I am sooooo excited to bring you a card for the DeNami Design Sketch Challenge #7 (fabulous sketch courtesy of Michele), and I am ECSTATIC to enter a challenge at the Play Date Cafe for the FIRST time! Julie Ranae created a gorgeous color combination, so I couldn't resist delving into this fantastic challenge. PLUS, I got a new plaid border punch today, and I just HAD to try it! Oh, and here's a tip about Copic markers that you may or may not already know. Did you know that you can use your Copic markers to COLOR ribbon? It's true! I needed purple ribbon, but I didn't have any, so I actually took some light blue grosgrain ribbon and colored it using a Copic marker in the exact shade of purple I wanted. How fun is that? I love my Copics!

Now here's my card:

Thanks for stopping by!



Happy Crafting!


Amy

Supplies:

Stamps: J30 Tulips, N133 Polka Dot Background, Thinking of You (from TR16 All Occasion Sentiments stamp set) (all stamps by DeNami Design)


Paper: Purple Pearl (WorldWin), White Pearl & Pink Pearl (Darice)


Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Poppy Pearlescent (Brilliance)


Other: Ribbon (DeNami Design), Copic Markers, Plaid Border Punch (EK Success), Adhesive Pearl (unknown), Adhesives (ATG & 3M Foam Mounting Tape)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Another Single Layer Floral Card

uAs I mentioned in my last post, I have been trying some new techniques, and recently, I've enjoyed making single layer cards. Here is another floral themed single layer creation:



Again, I wanted to add some detail to the inside of the card:

Here's a close-up so you can see the diamond glaze on the flower vases:

Thanks for reading! Happy crafting!


Amy


Supplies:


Stamps: Flower Vase Border (Stampin' Up), A93 Teeny Swiss Dot (DeNami Design), N130 Stitched Border (DeNami Design), Hugs & Smile (from PF28 Heartfelt Greetings stamp set by DeNami Design)


Paper: White cardstock


Ink: Tuxedo Black, Bahama Blue, Dandelion, Pear Tart (all by Memento)


Other: Ribbon (May Arts), Stickles, Copic Markers, Diamond Glaze

Single Layer Floral Card #1

It seems like AGES since I've written a blog post! Sorry about that! I've been swamped at the theatre, so my card-making and blogging time has been limited. However, my schedule is starting to ease up, so I hope to post more frequently.


First of all...some exciting news:


DeNami Design just hosted their March Blog Hop: Floral Frenzy! It was so much fun. Technically, the hop is over, but it is NEVER too late to visit all the incredible blogs and leave some comments for the talented participants. So, make sure to check it out at http://denami.blogspot.com/.


The incredible Michele Gross (a design team member at DeNami Design) has announced a new blog! She and Julie Ranae (another remarkably talented blogger) are starting CAS-ual Fridays, a blog dedicated to Clean & Simple designs. I am REALLY excited about this. Both Michele and Julie Ranae are tremendous talents, and they're both so sweet! Michele has been a shining star since the moment I discovered these card blogs. She always leaves the most encouraging and sweet comments, and I am in awe of her! I hope I get to play along at CAS-ual Fridays, and I look forward to getting to know them both better!


Now, back to my blogging. With my limited card-making time over the past month, I've been trying out some new techniques. I tend to use lots of layers and elements when making my cards, but I've been inspired to try single layer cards. If you don't know, a single layer card means you are stamping on just one sheet of paper, instead of layering and using multiple papers on one card. I made a second card, which I will post shortly, but here is my first card:


One of my favorite things to do is add a little love to the inside and back of cards, too. So, here's a picture that shows how I continued the theme on the inside and back. Plus, I learned the fabulous ribbon ruffle technique from watching DeNami Designs' videos. Check them out! You can learn so much!

Thanks for checking out my blog! Leave a comment and let me know what you think! Thanks, Amy Supplies: Stamps: A88 Mini Polka Dot, F148 Thanks a Bunch, G145 Rosebud Trio, Thanks (from PF29 Everyday Greetings stamp set) (all stamps by DeNami Design) Paper: White cardstock Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Sea Breeze and Turquoise Gem (Versa Magic) Other: Ribbons (DeNami Design), Copic Markers, Glitter (DeNami Design), adhesive (ATG and Quickie Glue Pen)