Monday, November 29, 2010

Away

Hey my blogger friends.  I just wanted to let you all know that I am away this week on a course.  It is pretty intensive and there will be a need to study in the evenings so I won't be able to be posting this week.  I had hoped to schedule some posts but the weekend was just too busy.  It must be that time of year. 

So, enjoy your week but don't forget to come back next week!! 

Donelda

Friday, November 26, 2010

Fin-tastic Fish

I love this fish (from Inkadinkado).He was in my scrap bin.   I colored him a while ago with my Copic markers.  It was so much fun!!

Used some of the BasicGrey papers (Phoebe collection) that my Secret Sister sent me (thanks Banu!!!)

Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink (Pond Life  Additions). 

Thanks for dropping in.
Donelda

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Elephant Parade

I continue on my quest to use up stuff from my scrap bins.  These elephants were punched out of some watercolor paper I had 'painted' with some reinkers.  Before punching out the elephants, I sprayed the paper with some water that had Perfect Pearls (Ranger) in it.  It gives the elephants a funky shimmer (see the smaller close up!). 
I added some starbursts (Martha Stewart) punches cut in half like a scallop border.  Very different and I like it!  The sentiment is from this year's anniversary set from Papertrey Ink called Round and Round , I really like the fonts used in the sentiments.  The background paper is BasicGrey (Phoebe collection). 

The elephant punch and the Basic Grey paper were given to me in a swap by my Secret Sister, Banu.  Isn't she the best??!!


Have a great day!
Donelda

Monday, November 22, 2010

Butterfly Flight

A while ago I was playing with transparencies and alcohol inks.  Back then I had made this focal point, which then got put into my "use later" bin.  There is a lot going on in that focal piece.  I started out by cutting a piece of clear acetate or tranparency with a Labels 1 (Spellbinders) die. Then, I used some green alcohol inks (Ranger) to color it (probably Lettuce and Meadow).  Next, I adhered some text paper from an old book (bought at a garage sale many years ago).  Finally, I added the butterfly (Rubber Stampede) and flourish (Fancy Flourishes, Papertrey Ink) using StazOn ink. 

So a few days ago, I pulled this piece from my bin and wanted to add it to a card.  I decided that I liked the piece so much I wanted to keep it the 'main attraction' so kept the rest pretty clean and simple.  I added a round birthday sentiment also found in my "use later" scrap bin (an old retired Stampin' Up set).  To finish off the card, I used my .3 black marker (Prismacolor) and a ruler around the edge of the card. 

Lots of white space on this card.  If you can (I realize this feature does not seem to work for everyone) click on the picture so you can see the focal piece close up and check out everthing going on there!

Thanks for dropping in today!   Have a good one!
Donelda

Friday, November 19, 2010

Deer Wishes

I was in a swap a few months ago and my Secret Sister Banu sent me this aweosme  paper!  Is it not the best colors ever?  I certainly think so.  I wanted to make a card to hightlight those yummy colored stripes. 

Pretty clean and simple, hey!! 

Stamps: deer is from Friends (American Crafts), sentiment is from Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink).

Have a wonderful day!
Donelda

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Faux Ribbon - Ahoy

See that "ribbon" ... it's not really ribbon but actually a strip of designer paper that I have had for a long time.  It was the last edge of the paper but the design was running lengthwise, making it hard to use.  But then I started seeing some "faux ribbon" made from strips of designer paper with stripes like this.  So I tried it out.   
One of the reasons I had the designer paper around for so long was because I was having trouble matching the colors as they are such bright blues, pinks, and greens.  I did find that the Papertrey Ink's Spring Rain was a close match so used it to color in the sailor hat (from Out To Sea, Papertrey Ink).  I used only part of one sentiment in the set and added a scallop circle (Spellbinders) cut from Spring Rain cardstock.  The background was created by stamping the various small images from the stamp set onto some K&Co. designer paper.  I added some Close to Cocoa (SU!) ink around the edges and on the "ribbon" to help distress it all a little. 

Off to work.  Hope you have a great day!!
Donelda

Monday, November 15, 2010

Masculine Cheers

I was asked to make some masculine birthday cards.  It's one of the things that I try to do on a regular basis since I have a lot of guys in my life!

This card started with the argyle on the strip of blue cardstock.  It is a small stamp set from g studio that I found at Michael's.  I don't own any of the latest argyle being put out by companies so I picked it up for $1.50  - definately at my price range!!

The drinks come from a cube stamp from Stamp Craft (it's quite old).  I stamped them and then colored them using a blender pen and a little ink.  The sentiment is created using the letters from Fresh Alphabets (Papertrey Ink) - always a nice way to add whatever sentiment you want!!

Cheers to you for dropping by.  Have you made any masculine cards lately?
Donelda

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Loonie Stamper's Challenge #118 - One Layer Wonder

The Loonie Girls are at it again this week with a great challenge.  This time it was Regan's turn to pick the challenge and she went with a one layer card.  Well, that's no real challenge for me!!  LOL!!  But I'm pretty sure there will be a few loonies struggling with this one!

I was also looking around on another blog and saw something about a "shape" on the front of the card which reminded me of this cute bear stamp I got from Cornish Heritage Farms (which is no longer in business) and have yet to use.  Can you believe it!!  I knew I wanted to make a shaped card from him and these 2 ideas blended together to result in this one layer shaped card!!!


I stamped the image onto a regular 5.5 x 4.25 folded card.  Then I cut around the top of the image leaving a place at the bottom for a sentiment.  I colored him in with my Copic markers.  I checked out a few tutorials on how to add fur (I clearly need more practice ... and markers!!).  I added some doodling lines around the bottom edge and a sentiment from Everyday Classics (anniversary set from Papertrey Ink). 

I love how this turned out!!  Better than I had even imagined!!   I think I might re-create a few and change up the colors.

Now off to see what the Loonie girls created:
Regan, Dee, Wendy, Jewels, Maria, Char

Thanks for dropping in!  Have a wonderful Sunday, hopefully filled with lots of craftiness!!!

Donelda

Friday, November 12, 2010

Au Revoir Mini Collage

I cased this idea from Susan Rihala's Splitcoaststamper Gallery that you can see HERE.  I had remembered it from a loooooong time ago.   I looked and looked and looked and finally found her card. 

The sentiment was created using my computer!  The stamp is a real stamp!!!  I got it on a package I received from a blogging friend Dina.  While you can't see it well in this photo, there is some sponging around the edges which gives it a nice soft definined edge in real life. 

Stamps - Background Basics: Text, Wedding Day, Polka Dot Basics(Papertrey Ink), Travel (Fiskars).

A very clean and simple card in many ways.
Thanks for dropping in.  Enjoy your day.

Donelda

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Clean and Simple Friends

I adore these cute little animal stamps from the American Crafts set Laughter.  They are just so sweet.  So I decided to do a real Clean and Simple card to highlight them. 

I've had this strip of blue cardstock with the holes punched in it for a long time in my scrap bin.  The circles were the perfect size for my 3 friends.

Originally, the blue rectangle was plain, however, when I photographed it I realized that it would look best with some faux stitiching around it.  What do you think?  It is really pretty clean and simple!

I am glad you dropped in to visit my little piece of the web.  Enjoy your day!
Donelda

Monday, November 8, 2010

Dollar Store Finds

I found these awesome decals at my local Dollarama.  They are supposed to go on your laptop.  They were beautiful and even had some rhinstones on them.  I knew they were destined to come home with me to create beautiful cards!  And look at these 2 beauties that I ended up with!!  The colors in these decals are lovely!!!!!!!  And the decals were so easy to put on ... no adhesive needed.  And if you get them in the wrong place they are easy to pull up and put down again.   Both sentiments are from Papertrey Ink stamp sets.                                                              

Have you found something at a dollar store that you have used in your card making??? 
Thanks for dropping in!
Donelda

Friday, November 5, 2010

Loonie Stamper's Challenge #117 - Doily

The Loonie Stamper Girls continue to throw down some great challenges and create amazing cards for them.  This week, the challenge is to use DOILIES (not dollies!! hehehe). 

I wanted to play along and went for my large paper doilies, then remembered that I have a bunch of Martha Stewart doilies left from my flirtation with Christine Middlecamps inspiration (you can see versions HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE).  Then, I remembered that I actually had a doily all decorated up waiting to be put on a card (if you visit often you have already seen it but now you get to see it on a card).  A bit of a 'cheat' perhaps but you all know how I am trying to use up all the stuff in my scrap bins and half finished item bin. 

So, I grabbed some lovely K&Co. designer paper, stitched around the edge and inked it up.  Then I added the white grosgrain ribbon (from my friend Jessica G - thanks Jessica!!).  Finished off the easy card with this pre-made embellishment.  See that butterfly ... it's an iron-on ... you know, those things you iron on to your jeans.  Sentiment if from Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink).  I took a photo from the side so you can see how layered the embellishment is. 

Now, off to see what all the Loonie ladies did with doilies (not Dollies Wendy!):

Thanks for dropping in.  Now we are off for a Friday night supper.
Donelda

Thursday, November 4, 2010

One Layer Wednesday (OLW) - Peace Wreath

I haven't played along with Susan R's One Layer Wednesday (OLW) for a while becuase my computer has been toast (for over 5 weeks!!).  In fact, until the last few days, I've not really done much stamping at all!!!

So tonight, I pulled out some cardstock and stamps and got busy!!

The challenge is intresting.  Make a card that would meet the requirements of a penitentary (no metal, gems, brads, etc).  I decided to pull out a few pots of Twinkling H2Os (yes, Susan has inspired me) and a set I haven't used nearly enough - Rustic Branches (Papertrey Ink).   A little black marker around the edge of the card and voila, a great CAS Christmas card. 
Here is a close up of the glimmer - you can always click on it to make it bigger (or maybe right click and then click on open).  
Enjoy the day, especially since it is Friday! Yeah!!!!
Donelda

Get Well Teapot

I adore this wonderful set from Papertrey Ink but I find that I rarely pull it out.  So a few days ago I did grab it and created a card. 

I had also bought a package of 8x8 papers from October Afternoon called Fly a Kite - it was 50% off!!!  I adore the designs on the papers.  They are so vintagey and fun.  So I used the yellow pattern, called Dandelions, for the teapot!!!

The card is pretty basic, just some various sized strip of paper anda bit of cutting with my deco scissors!!

Supplies- Stamps: Tea for Two (Papertrey Ink); Paper - Fly a Kite (October Afternoon), Bitty Dots in Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink), Very Vanilla cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!); Other - large scallop scissors (Provo Craft), marker. 

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Loonie Stamper's Challenge - Past Due!

That's right, this card was based on a Loonie Stamper's Challenge from a loooooong time ago!!  You know me, making cards but never getting them posted!! 

The actual challenge was to use animals on your card.  I knew I had a package of animal chipboards from Martha Stewart so I pulled them out and looked to see what I had left.  There were 3 cows and they matched.  So, I decided to pull them together on this card.  I couldn't find a plade where I liked the sentiment so I put it inside.  It says ........

                                  udderly cool

hehehehehe!!  I don't generally like those play on words but I think it fits (even thought I'm pretty sure all those cows on the front might not necessarily have udders!)

Thanks for joining me again this week!  I hope you find time to stamp a little today!
Donelda

Monday, November 1, 2010

Apple Cards

I love Betsy Veldman's work and while I tend to be a more clean and simple (cas) stamper than she is, she still inspires me in many ways.  A while ago she posted THIS awesome apple card on her blog.  I knew instantly that I would have to re-create a similar card but simplify it a bit.  Here are my results::


I created an apple template for the main card base and slightly smaller templates for the apple and the leaves.   I cut 2 card bases out of the cardstock of my choice and then cut the designer paper in colors that were appropriate.  One apple is more traditional green and red however teh other is a bit more funky (but I love that bright limey green).

Stamps are Papertrey Ink.  The papers are all from my scrap bin.  Many of the buttons are Hero Arts but some are from my own vintage collection. 

Thanks for dropping in!  I hope you have a wonderful week!

Donelda