DeNami Design's December Blog Hop: GIFT WRAPPING

Ummm...where did 2011 go? Anyone else feel like posting a "Missing" poster for this year? I can't believe it's December already! However, that means another fabulous holiday-themed blog hop is upon us. YAY!!!! This fabulous blog hop is all about Gift Wrapping! Of course, that doesn't mean it HAS to be holiday-themed...it could be for birthdays or any number of other occasions, but I'm all about the holiday wrapping! So, let's hop!

If you need to start from the beginning, go to DeNami Design's blog. If you've been hopping along in order, you should have just arrived from Andrea Matthews' blog: Work in Progress. She is so talented and so sweet, it's almost unfair! You just have to love her, though. She's such a fabulous part of the blogging universe, and I'm always inspired by her! Also, don't forget to comment on all the blog postings! You could win a gift certificate to the AMAZING world of DeNami Design. I don't know about you, but that's on MY wish list this year!

Now, it's time for my project. I actually created a gift box for the last blog hop, so I was concerned about repeating, but I really loved taking a plain little white gift box and transforming into a DeNami-licious presentation. This time, I'm not sure my box was very successful, though. I wanted to use a non-Christmas stamp to create a holiday look. I had a vision of using the M74 Rainbow stamp to create a circular pattern. In my head, it looks FANTASTIC. However, my coloring got a little sloppy in the execution. I try to tell myself that the imperfections make it "stylized," but my OCD really craves perfection. However, I tried to spruce it all up with a fancy ribbon treatment around the lid and a fun layered bow on top (using the wonderful grosgrain ribbon by DeNami, of course). Overall, it's not my favorite project I've ever made, BUT...I still like the IDEA of it. I love the idea of using the rainbow to make a fun circular background. I'll have to try it again sometime on a card, where I can stamp on a much more even, flat surface.

So, here it is...

Thanks for stopping by my blog for this hop. You're next stop is Glenda Wyatt's blog: Glenda's Paper, Scissors & Rocks. She is a true artist! She creates absolutely GORGEOUS cards!

Thanks again for hopping & have a HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Amy

P.S. If you like holiday cards, check my blog regularly or subscribe to receive my postings by email. I have several cards (all featuring DeNami Design stamps) which I am hoping to post in the next few weeks. Stop by and leave me comments! Thanks!

Christmas "Fishes"

I love the holidays! I always tell myself that I have plenty of holiday cardmaking supplies, but then I see the newest papers and stamps, and I just can't help myself! I always come back to the same defense of, "...but I don't have THAT one!!!" So...my addiction continues. However, I also love a good challenge, and to me, that includes using non-holiday stamps to create holiday projects. This card is an example of a card idea that just POPPED into my head randomly, and I just HAD to make it. So, here it is:

Here's a close-up of the fish:

All the stamps I used are from the fabulous DeNami Design, and you can purchase them all HERE. I am also excited to enter this into the current DeNami Design Theme Challenge. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Please consider subscribing to my blog via email so you can see the rest of my holiday cards!

Happy Holidays!

Amy

Stamps used (all by DeNami Design):

F209 Christmas Wishes, G143 Christmas Holly Vine, H82 Medium Round Bowl, PF06 Whimsical Christmas set, PF41 Sea Friends set

DeNami Design's November Blog Hop: ANYTHING but a Card!

Happy Blog Hop Day!

If you've been following the hop, you should have just arrived from the incredible Michele Gross' blog: Studio MSG. She is one of the sweetest and most talented women in blogdom! She's such an inspiration to me! If you need to start the blog hop from the beginning, or you get lost along the way, make sure to go to DeNami Design's blog. Make sure to leave comments on all the blogs for your chance to win a fabulous gift certificate to DeNami's website!

With this blog hop, I'm super excited! I love making cards, but I've recently been inspired to try other projects (I even made my very first scrapbook layouts recently!), so this was the perfect opportunity! I didn't have time to do everything I wanted (hoping to make a DeNami advent calendar one of these days as well as some DeNami-inspired jewelry), but my life is just a little crazy right now, so I had to simplify my plans a bit. I knew I definitely wanted something Christmas themed, though. I've been in crafty Christmas mode for a few months already now. LOVE IT! Some of my favorite Christmas stamps are the DeNami holly stamps, so here's a decorated gift box and a mini paint canvas ornament.

Here's a side view:

Check out my ornament! I used a mini picture canvas! How cute it is? The green background color didn't turn out quite how I wanted (I think it clashes a bit with the gold embellishments), but you still get the idea! I'm hoping to make more of these in different colors and with different stamps!

If you're a Disney fan, you probably know the phrase "Hidden Mickey." You can look all over Disney World for hidden Mickey Mouse icons. Well, here's my take on a HIDDEN CHICKIE! I put this little guy on the back of the ornament! Also, I used a couple glue dots to adhere the gold twine, and then I used the little Christmas tree sequin to mask the glue dots!

Well, thanks for checking out my blog today! Next stop on the blog hop is the lovely Tenia Nelson's blog. I'm sure she's created something extra special and beautiful!

Happy Stamping!

Amy

Due to time constraints, I am not listing individual stamps used, but if you have any questions, PLEASE let me know. All the stamps and grosgrain ribbons used are products of DeNami Design.

Give Thanks

If you've ever read my blog posts or you know me in person, you've probably figured out that I'm a bit quirky and silly. (Yeah, I know some of you are thinking, "A BIT?!") Well, this card is another example of my twisted sense of humor. The very first time I saw the new Thanksgiving Dinner stamp set by DeNami Design, this card idea popped into my head. I finally got around to making it. I decided to make it a tri-fold card. I hope this card makes you smile and laugh!

Here's the front of the card:

Here's the inside panel with my own sentiment (tee hee hee):

I even decorated the inside and left some blank white space for writing a personalized message to the recipient.

I hope you got the joke! Don't you just love the Ornamental Vine stamp, too? That's what I used to create the backgrounds and the inside embellishments.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! If you haven't already, please subscribe to my blog and FOLLOW BY EMAIL (see the right side of my blog).

Happy Stamping!

Amy

Stamps used (all by DeNami Design): D125 Turkey, G153 Ornamental Vine, PF49 Thanksgiving Chickie stamp set, TR30 Thanksgiving Dinner stamp set,

You're a Tweetie Pie!

I know...I know...I've been mostly absent from blogland recently. With the exception of the wonderful DeNami Design blog hops, I just haven't had much time for blogging. However, I have a card that I really want to share with you today. I submitted this card for a recent World Card Making Day challenge by DeNami. While I wasn't selected for that, though, I still want to enter it into their current color challenge.

So, here's my card:

I recently bought the Thanksgiving Dinner stamp set. I knew immediately what I was going to do with the turkey stamp (I'll post that card soon!), but I had no idea what to do with the pie and bread stamps. I've been really in love with this little pumpkin chickie stamp recently, and THAT'S when the inspiration hit! TWEETIE PIE! I used the "You're Tweet" stamp to create the "You're a tweetie pie" sentiment on the card.

Hope you enjoyed my card! I have recently added the "Follow by Email" gadget to the right side of my blog. I would LOVE for you to subscribe to my blog! Just enter your email address, and then you'll receive my future blog posts in your email inbox! How fun is that? I REALLY hope you'll sign up!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Stamping!

Amy

Stamps used (all by DeNami Design): C64 Pumpkin Chickie, C82 You're Tweet, PF21 Autumn Stamp Set, TR30 Thanksgiving Dinner Stamp Set

DeNami Design's October Blog Hop: FALL

I am super excited about today's blog hop! I love DeNami Design and fall is my favorite time of year! What a wonderful combination!

If you're following the hop, you should have just arrived from Nicki Scheck's blog. Isn't she amazingly talented? WOW!

If you've gotten lost or need to start from the beginning, go to DeNami Design's blog.

Now let's move right on to my project. I just adore the new DeNami Cornucopia stamp, and I also love plaid, so I created my own background pattern using the Three Line Border and Stitched Border stamps. I also love to color in the cornucopia, but for this card, I felt it would be better to just add a little glitter pen action and leave the focal point clean and simple. So, here's my card:

Also, since it's October, I had to add a fun Halloween card. I stamped the ghosts on vellum. When you stamp on vellum, you can easily reverse stamps because the ink is seen through the vellum. So, I stamped the ghost twice, cut them out, and then drew over the lines using a white gel pen. How cute are they?

Here's a close-up of one of the vellum ghosts:

I also wanted to add a splash of color and a friendly little spider to the inside of the card:

Next stop on the blog hop is Karen Larkin's blog. She creates beautiful cards! I can't wait to see what she's made for today!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have fun with the hop! Happy Stamping!

Amy

Stamps used (all by DeNami Design):

Card #1: F210 Cornucopia, F148 Thanks a Bunch, N128 Three Line Border, N130 Stitched Border, M68 Large Double Circle, PF01 Classic Leaves stamp set

Card #2: E145 Friendly Ghost, I65 Simple Tree, E119 Fence, PF36 Halloween stamp set

DeNami Design's September Blog Hop: TASTY TREATS!

WOW! What a busy week I've had! I performed several shows, including two performances of a one-woman show, Once Upon a Smidebush. It was so incredible to get to perform this show here. It was an expanded and updated version of the cabaret-style shows I have performed in NYC. Now, to top off my fabulous week, I get to participate in this month's DeNami Design blog hop! These hops always inspire and excite me! I can't wait to see all the creations!

If you've been hopping from the beginning, you should have just arrived from Lindsey Wood's blog: Lsey Creations. She is Talented with a capital T! I LOVE the cards on her blog. She is brilliant at paper piecing! I'm looking forward to seeing her newest DeNami creation today! If you're just joining the hop or have gotten lost, please start at the beginning at DeNami Design's blog.

Now, here are my cards for this post. I love DeNami's stamps (as evident by my massive collection...one of these days, I'll have to post some pics of my drawers), and while I do have some of their sweet candy stamps, I found myself reaching for the fruits and veggies! I guess I was in a healthy mood. Fresh fruit and veggies from a local farmers' market are MY favorite tasty treats! So, here's my first card:

Here's a close-up, with flash, of the centerpiece. I just LOVE that new cornucopia stamp! Plus, if you don't have any of DeNami Design's ribbons, you really should get some. Their grosgrain ribbons are so silky and luxurious. They are my FAVORITE ribbons! I layered their 3/8" emerald with their 5/8" lime, and VOILA!

Second, when I created this next card, I was in a silly mood. One of the great things about living in Indiana is the local superbly delicious sweet corn. It is definitely a tasty treat! This card just kind of popped in my head, and the thought made me laugh. It is indeed a "corny" little card.

Well, it is now time for you to hop on over to our next wonderful stop, Kimberly Kendle's blog: Kimberly's Kreations. Her blog creations are bright, colorful and fun. Let's check out her newest project! Don't forget to leave comments on every blog for your chance to win a fabulous prize from DeNami Design!

Happy Stamping!

Amy

Stamps used: (all by DeNami Design)
Card #1: A88 Mini Polka Dot, C87 Small Grapes, F210 Cornucopia, PF31 Apples and Pears stamp set

Card #2: B110 Corn, J137 Cornstalks

P.S. I'd like to take a brief moment to comment on today's date. I was living in New York City 10 years ago, on a day that changed all of our lives forever. While we will never forget the sadness of that day, I'd like to give thanks to those who showed us what true bravery and courage are. New York City is filled with remarkable diversity and such a broad spectrum of race, religion, age, and social status. But, on that day, we were all family. We were all survivors. Let us always remember how to love each other and appreciate each other, no matter how different.