Blueberry Thank yous!

These are not my own ideas...the credit belongs to Lauren Meader who is a brilliant crafter!! If you haven't spent any time on her blog you must!! You will not be dissapointed at all. So, she showed THIS awesome project on her blog and I decided I had to copy it. You see, blueberries are one of my all time favorites!! Growing up, I lived next door to the 'Blueberry Capital of the World'. I raked blueberries when I was a kid for a summer job. Now, talk about hard labour!! I've never done anything so hard in all my life. So, you can see that I had to copy these awesome blueberries for myself. I didn't have the specific stamps that Lauren used so I rooted around to see what I did have. I used a circle stamp from my Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Blooms and a little leaf from the Out on a Limb Addition set. I did a bit of the rock and roll technique on the blueberries to give them some variation in color. And I also did a lot of stamping off....as Lauren had done on her project! I made the A2 size card first using some of that great blue gingham paper. Then, I tried to create another card with a different "look" but I just liked that gingham paper so well with the blueberries that I just couldn't do it!! So, the round card was created!! Supplies: Stamps: Green Thumb, Beautiful Blooms, Out on a Limb Addition set (all Papertrey Ink); Ink-Ballet Blue, Buckaroo Blue, Old Olive (all Stampin' Up!); Paper - Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), designer paper (Making Memories); Other - Sewing Maching, black thread, black organdy ribbon and blue satin ribbon (Michaels), Coluzzle, round nestabillities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (Provocraft). Thanks for dropping in to visit! Donelda

smARTworks Tea Party Announcement - Yellow

Well, it is Peggy's turn to pick the smARTworks Tea Party challenge and she has been totally inspired by the 70 degree weather (I'm guessing that is hot...we use Celcius here in Canada LOL) and the daffidols that are popping up everywhere that she lives (she is obviously not getting all the snow that we are around here!!). So, she has decided to challenge everyone to use YELLOW!!! Specifically, she said that the central image should be yellow....well, I can do that!! And I am hoping that making a yellow card might make it a little more sunny around here! The Design Team will be uploading all of our cards next Wednesday....so come and join us is all the gloriously yellow fun!! You don't have to use smARTwork stamps, you just have to have some fun. Just create your card and leave a comment on one of our blogs! Enjoy your day! Donelda

smARTworks - Earth has no sorrow

Sympathy cards are one of those things....right, the ones we hate to make but need them. Well, I always try to keep some on hand so that I don't have to make one when I am so sad. This card was made with a smARTworks stamp set called Purpose Small. It has some great to make these cards easier to create. It does also have some birthday sentiments which makes it pretty versatile. This card is made with the dryer sheet technique. You stamp the image in a dark color, then adhere a used dryer sheet over top. Finally you sprinkle some dazzling diamonds on top to make it all glittery. The glitter just gets stuck into the dryer sheet!! The glitter is a bit hard to see but if you click on the second picture for a close up it might be more visable.

Supplies: Stamps (Purpose Small (smARTworks); Cardstock-Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)brown (Cactus Pink); Ink-Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Ohter-used dryer sheet, dazzling diamonds (Stampin' Up!).

Thanks for dropping in!!

Donelda

Inchie Memories of Las Vegas

So, my husband and I took off for a short vacation in Las Vegas during my spring break. We were about half way to the airport when I realized that I had forgotten my camera. We figured we'd just not have any pictures of this trip ... but while we were there, I devised a way to have some memories. You see, I've been totally addicted to inchies these days...so I had inchies on my mind. And then I started seeing lots of pamphlets, and coasters, and coupons ... with pictures and logs on them... and then an idea popped into my head. Ultimately, I created this "Inchie Book". My husband was totally impressed. In fact, his comment was that this cool little book had a record of all the great stuff we did.

The book is made from light cardboard that I covered with some red cardstock. It simply folds out and has a third little flap and it all gets tied up with some hemp.

This is the firt flap with some of the inchies.

And here is the second page with the little flap. When I attached the cardstock, I left the top open and I slid in some memoribilia that could not be used to make inchies.

Here is a close up of some of the inchies. I simply told the "stories" by writing around each inch image.

I think this was an ingenious way to create a keepsake of our trip. Who says you need a camera when you go on vacation!! Thanks to all my inchie friends who always inspire me :-)

Enjoy your day,

Donelda

Loonie Stamper Challenge #37 - Welcome Baby Owl

This week it was Wendy from the Loonie Stampers who picked these great colors. I think she also expected to have Mother's Day cards to be created...but I have had a request for baby cards and these colors just screamed "make a baby card with me" LOL. So, I did!!

I totally used Krysten Ng's card seen HERE as inspiration because I loved it so much. If you haven't visited her blog {sugar buffet} you really should...she's fantastic (and what a great blog name!!).

Of course I used the owl from PTI and a few other little changes. See those stripes on the bottom of the card, they are made using the short stamps found in the Wedding Day set from PTI. Yes, I could have used the stamps from Faux Ribbon (certainly expected) but the ones in the wedding set are so much shorter and, thus, easier to use.

So, sorry Loonie ladies that my card is not a mother's day card, but I do love these colors!! Now off to see what all the loonie girls did:

Dee, Jewels, Regan, Charlene, Wendy, Maria

Supplies: Stamps - Wise Owl, Polka Dot Basics, Everyday Classics, and Wedding Day (all from Papertrey Ink); Ink - Whisper White craft (Stampin' Up!), Brilliant Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Paper - Select White, Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart (all Papertrey Ink); Other - Aqua Mist satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), alcohol markers Y21 Buttercup Yellow, Y26 Mustard, E09 Burnt Sienna (Copic), flower (Prima), button from my stash, linen (Stampin' Up!).

Thanks for dropping in!

Donelda

April Blog Hop - Timeless Template Creation

That's right, it is Papertrey Ink Blog Hop time again!! This time, Nichole asked us to create a project using one of the Timeless Templates, that are created by Lauren Meader.

Well, I haven't purchased one yet, but there are a few free templates on the PTI site that you can check out HERE. I decided to go with the Recipe Wrap Up!

But, you certainly don't have to use it for recipes....the possibilities are endless. I decided to cut mine down and make it a speciality tea holder since my mom loves tea. I thought I might include it in her Mother's day present.

I printed the template onto the cardstock, cut it out, and folded it. Then, I added the tulip stamping onto the cardstock. I then decorated the front, added the decorated pockets, and finally inserted the tea packets.

I wanted to stamp "enjoy" and was excited to find this lovely one in an old but wonderful set, Spiral Bouquet. I have not used this set enough and must pull it out more!! I'm trying to get my mom to try some different tea's because I think she might like them, if she gave them a try!! I have another 'tea' project I'm going to make for her as well, so stay tuned.

Okay, now I'm off to see what all the other bloggers were up to with Lauren's templates! Enjoy!! Supplies: Stamps-Wishing You, Spiral Bouquet, Beyond Basics Border (all Papertrey Ink); Cardstock - Select White, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avacado (Papertrey Ink), Chocolate chip, Close to Cocoa (Stampin; Up!); Other - Raspberry Fizz satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), oval scallop die (Spellbinders).

Thanks for dropping in for a visit!! Donelda

kwernerdesign Color Challenge #50

Kristina Werner is having her 50th color challenge on her blog. I love her style and have learned so much from her over the last few years. I follow her blog religiously and have seen every color challenge...but I rarely get around to actually participating in them. However, 50 is a bit of a milestone...and she's giving away prizes...and who doesn't love prizes. Besides...it is a cold and rainy day here today so I have some time to actually stamp for a change!!

Her colors were really out of my comfort zone!! I mean....whoa!! But I do love them and the more I looked at them together, the better I liked them. So I pulled every crafting item that I owned out that matched these colors...buttons, ribbon, rub-ons, ink, specialty papers, threads, wire, primas, felt, ....you name it and it was sitting out on my craft table. Then, I worked on picking a layout that might be an interesting way to showcase such bright and funky colors. Then, I had to find stamps that might work with the colors and layout.... sheesh, this was a lot of work for me. LOL

Finally, I ended up with this creation. I started out with the 3 colors in the middle, stamping the turquoise and red panels only with white craft ink. Then, I matted them onto white and tied the Dark Chocolate swiss dots ribbon around the panel. Next, I cut a white circle and a brown scallop using my Spellbinder dies. Added my round sentiment (I love round sentiments...not sure why but I do). Then, I threaded and added the botton in the middle and adheared it to the panel with dimensionals for some pop. I attached this focal panel to a piece of brown cardstock and then attached it to a white card base.

Supplies: Stamps-Background Basics:Retro, Remember (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Paper - Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Africian Daisy (Bazzill); Other - red button (Hero Arts), round and round scallop dies (Spellbinders), Dark Chocolate swiss dot ribbon (Papertrey Ink), thread (DCM), dimensionals.

Thanks for dropping in. Cross your fingers for me!!!

Donelda

Ferns from the Cookie Plate

I just seem to have so many ideas to use the Cookie Plate that Susan from smARTworks created and sent the Design Team for Christmas. YOu can earn it by collecting smART Bucks. Read more about that HERE and HERE. I just love all of the images in the set. This lovely fern is one of the largest and one of my favorites. I love ferns!! So, I decided to create a background using it. I think it is so lovely with the stamping off. Just a need for a great sentiment and a bit of ribbon and voila, done. Don't forget that in exchange for the possiblity of slower order processing, smARTworks will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all US orders ($15 or greater) placed April 20 - 24. What a great opportunity for my US friends!!! and today is the last day!!! Take advantage of the opportunity!! Supplies: Stamps - fern from Cookie Plate (smARTworks), Happy Harmony (Stampin' Up!); Ink-Old Olive, Basic Black (SU!); Paper-Very Vanilla (SU!), Olive (Bazzill); Other - spring moss twill (Papertrey Ink). Thanks for dropping in today. Have a great day! Donelda

smARTworks Tea Party #15 - Shaped Card

Giovana picked a fun challenge for the tea party this time. She wanted us to create a shaped card. I've had this template for a butterfly for some time with plans to create with it....and Giovana gave me the perfect opportunity!

I started out by printing off the butterfly onto computer paper so that it would fit a standard size envelope. Then, I adheared the template onto a folded piece of vanilla cardstock. After cutting the butterfly out, I stamped various flower images onto it with blue ink. I made sure to do some stamping off so that there would be lots of dimension. Then, I stamped the sentiment in brown and a butterfly in yellow. I re-stamped the butterfly onto a piece of scrap paper and cut it out. This was done so I could add the rub ons to just the butterfly but didn't need to try to cut out the antenna - since when I adheared the second butterfly onto the card in the same spot, the bottom antenna were in just the right place !! Finally, I added some piercing around the butterfly and then used a brown marker to create some faux stitching. I finished the card off by lightly sponging on some antique linen.

Now, off to see what shapes the other Design Team members created:

Dina, Giovana, Donna, Trish

REmember, Susan is on holidays this week so ... "In exchange for the possiblity of slower order processing, smARTworks will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all US orders ($15 or greater) placed April 20 - 24." What a geat opportunity...you can't possibly pass it up!!

Supplies: Stamps-Cookie Plate, Standing Tall (smARTworks); Ink - Ocean Tides, Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink), Chocolate chip (Stampin' Up!), Antique Linen (Ranger); Paper - Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!); Other - paper piercer, brown marker (Stampin' Up!), distress ink aplicator tool (Ranger).

Thanks for dropping in!!

Donelda

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Set

I was lucky enough to qualify again this year for the Papertrey Ink Anniversary stamp set. This year, the set is absolutely wonderful (mind you I loved last year's too!!). It is called Everyday Classics and is very versatile. It would make a great "starter set" -- you know what I mean...enough different stamps and sentiments to make cards for various occasions. Unfortunately, you can only earn it ... unless someone is selling one on Ebay or something. Anyway, I made this thank you card for my mother in law to say thank you for taking care of our son while we were away!! Grandma and Bai enjoyed some quality connecting time. The only intersting thing worth sharing regarding the card is the heart shaped rhinstones...they were a pink color close to the raspberry fizz color here...but not close enough for my liking...and I wanted them black to coordinate with the heart on the tea bag tag. So, I colored them with my black Copic marker!! What a great option!! Supplies: Stamps-Everyday Classics (Papertrey Ink), Paper - Very Vanilla, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!), Bitty Dots in Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink), Basic Black (Stampin' UP!); Other - heart shaped rhinstones (Dollarama), black alcohol marker (Copics), scallop scissors (Provo Craft) Thanks for dropping by. Donelda

Scraps from Juanita

So Juanita sent me another package of her scraps. This time, she was very ingenious!! She sent me the 2 blue colored punched pieces and a former baby thank you card. Unfortunately, I forgot again to photograph the items before I started creating!! Anyway, they are in there. I started out cutting out the wonderful little animals on the baby card. They were so sweet. I used them and the blue pieces of scrap to determine the color combo and decided to go with this lilac purple from my own scrap pile. I added some real stitching around the purple piece and drew some doodling around the 2 blue pieces. Finally, I had my son help me decide what to do on the white bottom of the card. He decided that I should add what you see here....some new stamps from Papertrey Ink!! Finally, I added the little sentiment (Sweet Baby) from Papertrey's original Mixed Messages set. A perfect sentiment! So, what have you created with your scraps lately?? Oh, and some great news from Susan over at smARTworks ....She is going to be kinda on holidays this week so ... "In exchange for the possiblity of slower order processing, smARTworks will be offering FREE SHIPPING on all US orders ($15 or greater) placed April 20 - 24." What a great opportunity for my US stamping friends. Thanks for dropping in!! Donelda

Old Guys Birthday Card

I love these papers from Creative Imaginations is so much fun!! I love creating great cards for the 'old guys' in my life!! This one was for our friend Mike who appreciated it...I think ;-)

Stamps - Borders & Corners {rectangles}, Garden of Life (Papertrey Ink).

smARTworks Cookie Challenge

I've been trying to NOT buy any Copics. I have lots of ways to color my images and really quite like watercoloring with my ink pads! But, the other day, I had dropped in to a local art store...and there they were...calling out to me!! "buy me, buy me" they said. So, I did!! LOL. I decided to use them to color in the image that Susan sent us for the smARTworks Cookie Challenge. Don't you just love these wonderful flowers!! I do. They totally remind me of Mayflowers...which is the Nova Scotia provincial flower. I remember once being out in the woods with my parents and coming across some. We picked them (at the time I did not know we were not supposed to ... oops!). I don't ever remember seeing them ever again!! In my memory...they were a beautiful pink....just like these LOL~

The set is called Grow On. Susan made me laugh because she invisioned the flowers in this set to be blue...but every one of us did them in pink!! You can see all of the Cookie samples HERE!

And speaking of the smARTworks catty....have you seen the new releases that Susan just added??!! You have to go see them HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE!! I am so excited!! Here are the marker colors I used. Let me tell you, using these babies takea practice!!! I used the Peacock Blue Prismapencil color pencil for the background. I also used up a bunch of scrap that I have laying around!! Various pinks and greens!! I think they really 'pop' with the black. Thanks for dropping in to visit! Donelda

smARTworks Tea Party announcement - shaped cards

It is time to think about another smARTworks tea party challenge. This time Giovana has asked us to make shaped cards. Wow, how much fun is that!! Giovana has been very kind to remind us that squares, rectangles, circles and triangles are, in fact, shapes!! But I know that there will be lots of creative things happening!! I know exactly what I am going to do....do you??? Come and have tea with us. Just create your own shaped card and upload it to your blog or a card community. You do not have to use smARTwork stamps to participate...just come and have some fun!! Next Wednesday, come and leave a comment on any of the Design Team blogs so we can all see your great creation!! Okay, off to think "shape"! Donelda

Opposites - Black and White

I made these a while ago and haven't gotten a chance to post them. They were a lot of fun to make. I stamped the image onto a transparency and then, when dry, covered the back with double sided tape. Then, I added white Pearl Ex powder and varios purple and blue glitters. The glitter is a bit hard to see but if you click on the picture it should get bigger and then you will see it better. Then I adheared one to a piece of black cardstock and the other to a piece of white cardstock. You can see how different it looks on either color!! The rest of the cards are straight forward! Supplies: Stamps - Small Things (smARTworks); Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Ink - Basic Black, Versamark, (Stampin' Up!), Jet Black (StazOn); Other - double sided tape (Sookwang), transparency, white embossing powder, Pearl Ex (Stampin' Up!), glitter (Ritz), purple and blue gingham ribbons (Michaels). Thanks for dropping in. Donelda

Butterfly Hello

So Kelly over at KL Stampin' N Scrappin' is giving away some awesome blog candy so I just had to play along. To enter we simply had to make a card using products she sells in her store. Well, she sells some awesome products (at a great price too!!) including Basic Grey paper (my all time favorite) and Nestabilities!!! I used both here on my card!!

Don't you love that butterfly!! It is from BG's Ambrosia paper collection and the red panels are from their Boxer collection....it is called "long underwear" ... isn't that funny!!

The butterfly was cut out using my circle Nestabilities, then sponged. I added a sentiment around the edge. I really like that way of adding a sentiment, especially when it is a short word like here. And I finished it off with a bit of Sumer Sunrise twill from Papertrey Ink!! love their twill!!

So, here is to crossing my fingers!! Thanks Kelly for the chance!!

Donelda

Late smARTworks party card and next tea party invite

Well, being on holidays has gotten me all confused!! I was a week late and figured that Donna's tea party wasn't until NEXT Wednesday...but it was actually yesterday!! Drat becasue I had a creation all ready to go and missed it!!

Donna had asked us to create scraplings! Well, if you follow my blog at all you will know that I LOVE scrapling cards. Seems like they are all I make these days.

So, here is my scrapling. I instantly thought of these great domino designs and knew they would fit perfectly on a scrapling card. The background is glossy cardstock with blue, green, and brown alcohol inks sponged on. The sentiment is from the Cookie Plate set and is embossed in white. And, everything here are scraps from my scrap bin! I bet I could make a million creations and still have leftover scraps!! Sheesh!! :D

Okay and here are all the great creations from all the other Cookies:

Susan, Trish, Donna, Giovana, Sarah via Susan's blog

Okay, and now for the NEXT smARTworks tea party!! This time it is Giovana who is hosting the party and she wants us to try shaped card. She is being so kind and has indicated that we can count square, circle, or triangles as shapes...but I have something so much more exciting!!! We'll all be posting April 22 (ETA - note date change!!)....so come and have some tea with us!! I can't wait to see what shape you all create!!

Supplies: Stamps-Domino Designs, Cookie Plate (smARTworks); Ink-Versamark; Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black, Glossy cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Other - white embossing powder, alcohol inks (Ranger).

Thanks for dropping in!

Donelda

smARTworks - Monogram card

I'm not really a big monogram gal but I love these letters and knew that they would make a great monogram card. The designer paper here...it's actaully an envelope insert. I bought them a while ago but I don't have the right size envelopes for them to fit into. So, I decided to use them as patterned paper. Supplies: Stamps-Alpha GArdern Delights (smARTworks); Cardstock-Pink Pirouette, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Ink-Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Other - designer paper (actually an envelope liner from Paper Salon), Chocolate Chip satin ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Chocolate Chip marker (Stampin ' Up!) watercolor pencils (Stampin' Up!), watercolor paint brush, coluzzle, dimensionals. Thanks for dropping in! Donelda

I Love You

I love the simplicity of this card. Simple and sweet!! The designer paper and the heart are popped up with dimensionals. The heart was drawn and cut free-hand. I love the tiny sentiment at the bottom.

This was given to my sweetie!!!

Supplies- Stamps-Out on a Limb (Papertrey Ink); Ink-Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Paper - Kraft (Stampin' Up!), designer paper (Cosmo Cricket); Other-light blue organdy ribbon (Michael's), 1" circle punch (Stampin' Up!), dimensionals.

Thanks for visiting again!! Donelda

smARTworks-Daisy on Dark Cardstock

I am so "taken" with coloring onto dark cardstock. Here is a great example of that technique. I stamped this great daisy onto some blue cardstock and then colored it in with a white pencil crayon.

Makes for a simple but appealing card.

Supplies: Stamps-Daisy Square (smARTworks); Cardstock-Whisper White, Buckaroo Blue (Stampin' UP!); Ink-Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Other- FX pencil crayons (Crayola), dimensionals (Stampin' Up!).

Thanks for dropping in.

Donelda

Inchie Post #9

This is the last inchie post! YEah!! But I did really enjoy making all these inchies.

Here are a few individuals that I made singles.

See the white butterfly.... it is stamped onto a small mirror. The grass inchie has some plastic shrunk fish jumping in there!! Heheheh, crazy inchie world!!

Inchie Post #8

Some more inchies. The blue and green are Twinkling H2Os which was painted over top of the clear embossed snowflakes. Cool cool cool effect!!

I was totally excited about this idea. Sudoku - mini me style!!

and these are my son's FAVORITES!! Go Mario!!

Just one more inchie post left for tomorrow!

Donelda

Inchie Post #7

Some crazy frogs!

These are really interesting. The technique is called ghosted background. Very cool!!

love the browns and blacks together. Simple but I love them!

Thanks for dropping in. I hope you are not tired of my inchies yet. Just a few more posts.

Donelda

Inchie Post #6

These are some of my very favorite inchies. The wings have dazzling diamonds on them. Love it!!

Yummy strawberries!!

...and my son was very fond of these guys!! Yuigio guys!!

Thanks for dropping in tonight.

Donelda

Inchie Post #5

So here are some of my favorite inchies. This is not my typical style of inchies... but I thought I'd give it a try. I actually like it. I added the blue head band and the feather. What fun!!

I {heart} letters....they mean you can read and reading is power!!

and a bit of a holdiay theme! These are cute felt rabbits that I found at the local dollar store.

Thanks for dropping in!

Donelda

Inchie Post #4

Heheheh - more inchies!!

Serindipidy squares. the wings are colored with a jelly roll pen.

Cola girls!

Luck of the irish!!

Thanks for droppin in!

Donelda