smARTworks Tea Party #9 - Glittery Creation

Well, it is my turn to set the challenge for our next smARTworks tea party. I had lots of ideas and a hard time deciding what to choose but ultimately, I decided to challenge everyone to use something glittery on your card. Anything glittery will do, glitter, shiny cardstock, bling ... just make sure you have something glittery on your card. :-) Can't you see it... hearts with red glitter, stars with silver foil, flowers with bling, or even snowflakes cut from white shimmer paper.... the ideas are endless. We will all upload our creations on January 14th !! Feel free to play along. Create your own card or project making sure to put glitter on it. Leave a comment on any of the design team's blogs with a link to your creation. Remember to use the code SCTP09 if you upload to a gallery. I can't wait to see what everyone makes!! Donelda

Last of Dina's Birthday Challenges

Note - this is the second of 2 posts on my blog today!! Make sure that you scroll down to see the other entry. Well, this is my entry for Dina's last birthday challenges and I did them all!! Yeah!! They were so much fun!! This time, Dina asked us to case a Design Team member from Our Daily Bread designs. Are you kidding me??!! Have you seen the talent in that team???? It was nearly impossible to ever make a final pick!! And while I saw lots of great cards I finally settled on this beauty by Becca Freeken. While my final card doesn't even measure up, it was a great card to draw some creativity from!! This focal image is actualy made from 2 stamp sets from smARTworks (sadly, I don't actually have any ODBD stamps yet). The cat and butterfly are individual stamps and the grass comes from a different set. I did a lot of masking to create the final image. The sentiment is stamped onto some awesome Memory Box paper!! I love it so much that while I've had the paper since August, I have only made 1 card with it!! I'm such a hoarder!!! But yeah, I actually used it!! And that sentiment, it comes from the smARTworks set called Looking Collage, and it another stamp set designed by Dina herself!! Everyone who sees a card that sentiment LOVES it!! Well, I've probably shared more than you care to read about!! Here is the supply list: Stamps: Do You See What I See, Hoppers, Looking Collage (all smARTworks), Borders & Corners {square} (Papertrey Ink); Paper - Aerial (Memory Box), watercolor paper, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Ink-Soft Sky, Buckaroo Blue, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Ruby Red, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Other-embossing powder, sponge, watercolor brush.

Well, thanks for dropping in. Don't forget to scroll down to see my other post and run, don't walk, over to Dina's blog and hurry up....

Donelda

Encouragement - Dina's Challenge #4

So, Dina's fourth challenge out of the five she posted was to make an encouragement card for someone. Well, a wonderful lady from my work has been quitely looking out for me!! So, I decided to make her a card to thank her for being so kind for me and encouaraging her to keep up the great work she is doing!!

This image is so beautiful. And I love it done in black!! I stamped this with StazOn ink onto some alcohol inked glossy cardstock. That is always so much fun to do!!

I added some ribbon, a scallop edge, and a sentiment and a very simple and easy card made for a special person!!

Supplies: Stamps: WD40, Delight (smARTworks); Ink- Jet Black (StazOn), Stream, Slate alcohol inks (Ranger), Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Paper-Whisper White, Glossy white (Stampin' Up!); Other - Ribbon (Michael's discount bin), Cuttlebug, Tag Die, black floss (DCM), scallop scissiors (Provo Craft).

Thanks for coming to visit!! I look forward to seeing what you make for Dina's challenges!!

Donelda

Pink Butterfly with Beads

I made this card a while ago and sent it off to a great freind {hi Jessica}!! I absolutely LOVE this paper!! It is the Ella paper from Cosmo Cricket's Twist and Shout collection. While I am a true Basic Grey lover, Cosmo Cricket is up there too with their fantastic papers!! I stamped the dotted circle border from Papertrey Ink's Borders & Corners {circle} set around the sentiment (Mixed Messages also from Papertrey INk) and then glued pink glass seed beads to every second 'dot' of the border. Jessica said that the beads were still there when she recieved it - all the way to the U.S. I had used Tombo Mono Mulit Liquid Glue. I swear, that stuff could hold an airplane together!! The butterfly is Martha Steward, of course.

Well, the rest of the card is pretty staight forward. I really should go get ready for work as today is my first day back after having a few weeks off. While I know I should feel lucky to get that much time off....it doesn't make going back any easier. It just gets in the way of what I love to do!!!

Thanks for dropping in. I have more creations made for Dina's birthday challenges to post this week as they are due by the 8th. Are any of you going to play along with her????

Donelda

Dina Challenge 3 - Bee Treat

This is the first of 3 posts for today. Make sure you scroll down to see the other two entries. So here is the card I made for Dina's Third Challenge for her birthday celebration!! This time, she asked us to make a black and white card with a spash of color. When I see challenges to do "black and white" I always think of doing silhouettes. And as I sat trying to figure out what I wnted to do, the same idea came to mind. I decided to go with some stemps and flowers and add this little bee. My splash of color was then obvious - it would be yellow!! So, the card is very simple. I stamped various images of the flowers and stems using black on white cardstock. Then I stamped the bee in black. Then, I added a touch of yellow using my ink and watercolor brush. When I looked at the card...it was just not right... so I added some more yellow along the bottom of the card and blending it lighter as it moved up to the middle of the card. I really like the effect. I hope it is still considered just a "splash" of color. LOL. Supplies: Stamps-Standing Tall, FL-18, Bees #2 (smARTworks); Paper-Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Ink - Basic Black, Yoyo Yellow (Stampin' Up!); Other - watercolor brush. Thanks for dropping in. Don't forget to scroll down to see the other 2 posts today!! Donelda

Dina Challenge 2 - Repeated Birdie

This is the second challenge that Mama Dini (Dina Kowal) gave for her week long birthday celebration! This time she asked us to create a card with a repeated image.

I just couldn't resist using these awesome birds that were actually created by none other than Dina herself!! I love their lines!! I used more Basic Grey dsigner paper and some buttons from my stash to add some dimension and interest. (Hey, did you know that Basic Grey has a challenge blog now?? ...I just found it tonight and can't wait to play with their challenge. I am hoping it will encourage me to actually use the paper instead of just hoard it! LOL).

You need to head over to Dina's blog and check out all the great things she is just giving away....and all you have to do is make a card or two!! How easy is that!!??

Supplies: Stamps - Birdie Fun (smARTworks); Paper - Night of Navy, Basic Grey (Stampin' Up!), designer paper (Basic Grey); Ink - Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!); Other - buttons, linen thread.

Enjoy!

Donelda

Dina Challenge 1 - Tend the Little Things

So, January 1st was Dina Kowal's (better known as Mama Dini) birthday and she decided to celebrate...big time!! She is hosting some awesome challenges on her blog and I intend to play along to help her celebrate her special day.

Her first challenge was to make a card using the scraps that were out on your desk at the moment. Well, when I looked at my desk, I had this beautiful green paper from Basic Grey sitting there, some light pink cardstock and a spool of black organdy ribbon. I decided to do somthing 'cute' because I think the pink and green look 'cute' together.

I stamped this little kitten on a piece of watercolor paper and then colored him in with my watercolor pencil crayons. I doubt that there are actually pink butterflies...but how could I resist. Then I added the pink cardstock behind the focal image and scalloped the edge. I adheared this to the green designer paper, added the ribbon, and finally, this cute little sentiment that I got from a special set (I'll share more at a later date).

Supplies: Stamps-Do You See What I See (smARTworks); Paper-Whisper White, Pink Pirouette(Stampin' Up!); green designer paper (Basic Grey), watercolor paper; Ink-Basic Black (Stampin' Up!), Jet Black (StazOn); Other-water pencilcrayons (Stampin' Up!), scallop scissors (Provo Craft), organdy black ribbon, watercolor brush.

That was a lot of fun!! head on over to Dina's blog to check out everything she has going on!!

Donelda

Twin Birthday

We have twin neices who share a birthday early in the new year. This year I decided to make them similar yet different cards. One of the girls is quite "girly" and likes pretty things. She will even wear a dress! For her card I used red and a flower silhouette. The other girl is more of a tom-boy and enjoys sports. She wouldn't be caught dead in a dress!! LOL. For her, I chose Chocolate Chip ink and kept to a more subtle ribbon.

I hope they like the cards and the enclosed gift cards. However, my husband is struggling to get something written inside of them. Really, what is it about men and birthday cards??!! These cards are now late!! They would have been on time, or at least close, if he had written in them and mailed them last week when I had gotten them done...but now they are late!! sheesh!!!!

Supplies: Stamps-Stem Silhouettes (Stampin' Up!), Simple Little Things (Papertrey Ink); Paper-Whisper White, Real Red, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Ink - Real Red, Chocolate chip (Stampin' Up!); Other-red and brown ribbons (Stampin' Up!), Versamark, white embossing powder.

Thanks for dropping by. Leave me a comment so I know you were here!!

Donelda

Happy New Years!!

Happy New Years!! Well, this isn't a new years card but it is bright and shiny and I figured it might work just as well. I made this a while ago for the Casual Mid Week Challenges (CMWC) on the Papertrey Ink Forum (#25 and #26). Like usual, I never got around to actually uploading it! The blue paper on this is the Night Sky Shimmer Cardstock from Papertrey Ink. It is just amazing in real life, and like anything shimmery, impossible to capture in visual form. The background paper is some glossy patterned paper that I found on sale at my lss. Intersting stuff, but tricky to use. The star is cut from chipboard and embossed with silver embossing powder, like the moon, stars, and sentiment. Anyway, I hope you all have a great New Years and that 2009 brings good health and happiness to you and yours. Donelda Supplies: Out on a Limb Additions, Out on a Limb (Papertrey Ink); Paper - Night Sky Shimmer Cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Kraft (Stampin' Up!), glossy designer paper (unknown); Ink - Versamark; Other - silver embossing powder, coluzzle, silver ribbon, chipboard.

Sketch Challenge 209 - Hello Friend

Well, this is my second post for today and my last post for 2008.

Since I am home all week, I am trying to do all of the SCS challenges this week. Just for fun (what else). During my regular life, I never seem to be able to get them done (actually I think it is really because I spend so much time blog surfing!! )

I pulled out a few Papertrey Ink stamps, paper, and ink to create this card based on Roxie's sketch.

I started out making the focal image panel (4). I stamped the flowers and stems first. Then, on a scrap of white cardstock, I stamped the humming bird and cut him out. I adheared him to the panel and then matted this on some coordinating cardstock. Next, I created the background panel (2) using Guide Lines. This set is amazing for making beautiful backgrounds that totally match your focal image. Finally, I created the third element where I placed my sentiment.

This took me a while to actually get pulled together. It didn't help that I started out with an increadible idea for a card using one of my smARTwork stamps...but it wouldn't "fit" into the layout once I was done. But you will definately be seeing that attempt on another card in the coming days!!

Supplies: Stamps - Guide Lines, Birds of a Feather (Papertrey Ink); Ink-Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss, Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink); Paper-Kraft, Select White, Spring Moss (Papertrey Ink); Other-square blue rhinstone, paper piercer and mat.

Thanks for dropping in. I'm off to see what everyone else did with this layout!

Donelda

Old Guy Cards

So these are some of the most fun cards I've made!! My husband loves this clothing company called Old Guys Rule. They make hats, t-shirts, and stickers along with some other novelty items. So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw that they had come out with a scrapbooking line of papers and stickers.

I took the stickers and adhered them to some light cardboard. This way, they were like chipboard pieces. Then I started making some cards.

I think this long card is my favorite! It is home to the company's main logo. It says "Old Guys Rule Aged to Perfection". I added various circles on the blue paper (just like the card above) and also added some masculine feeling stripes to the gray paper.

The last card used the designer paper and one of the sticker "chipboard" pieces I created. I did a little altering of the sticker to read properly for the birthday card. A bit of doodling, sponging, and some string and, voila, a great masculine birthday card!!

So, what do you think?? Is there a guy in your life that might appreciate recieving one of these cards?? I sent one to my older brother...he didn't think it was too funny!! Hahahaha!! I love it!!

Supplies: Stamps-Borders & Corners{circle}, Beautiful Blooms, Green Thumb, Faux Ribbon (Papertrey Ink); Paper-Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Grey, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy (all Stampin' Up!) Designer Paper (Creative Imaginations); Ink-Versamark, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!); Other-Stickers (Creative Imaginations), kitchen string, black marker, light cardboard, sponge, twill, dimensionals.

Thanks for dropping in.

Donelda

Yellow Cone Flowers

Yes, cone flowers can be yellow. I looked it up on line. This is such a great image. I love the flowers in yellow with that particular background paper. I think this might just be my favorite card I've yet to make wiht this great smARTworks flower stamp. The flowers are colored in with a paint brush and using my ink pads like a palette. Still my favorite way to color images!!!

Supplies: Stamps-Cone Flowers, Sentiment is from WD-60 (both from smARTworks); Ink-Basic Black, Garden Green, Yoyo Yellow, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa (all Stampin' Up!); Paper - Whisper White (Stampin Up!), designer paper (K&Co.); Other - Dark Chocolate twill (Papertrey Ink), paint brush.

Thanks for dropping in. Have a great day!

Donelda

Inspiration Challenge #160

The Saturday Inspiration Challenge #160 over at Splitcoaststampers was to use the web-based store of MacKenzie-Childs. Well, I popped over to the link and saw the picture of this chair on the main page....and I just knew I had to make a card using it as inspiraiton!! It was just so funky great!!

I started out with the blue and added the harliquin diamonds with a darker blue. The the dots...they were a bit tricky. To get the yellow, I stamped the red cardstock with white craft ink, let it dry and then painted some yellow over top. The black and white was done with white embossing on black cardstock. The yellow is color on color!! I sliced up all my pieces and adheared them down. Then, I cut this label by hand and added this great sentiment. The little embellishment is a bracelet piece but it has these big bumps on the back (where the elastic would go). So, I sliced a hole in the lable so that the bumps would go into the cardstock and glued it down. I adheared the label using dimensionals to accomoadate for the bumps!!

Well, not sure if I like the card in the end but it was a ton of fun to make!! And I have left over scraps so you will likely see them appear on a future card!!

Supplies: Stamps-Print Pattern (retired Stampin' Up!), Finest Flourishes (retired Stampin' Up!) French Flair (retired Stampin' Up!), Polka Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink), Faux Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Remember (Papertrey Ink); Cardstock-Cranberry Crisp, Basic Black, So Saffron, Ballet Blue (Stampin' Up!); Ink, Basic Black, Whipser White craft, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!), Yellow Ocher (ColorBox), Versamark; Other - black marker (Zig), charm, white embossing powder.

Thanks for dropping by!

Donelda

Froggy Fun!!

My blogging buddy Susan saw the card in THIS post with the little green frog on it. She commented that she loved that particular stamp and I agree with her ... it is an awesome stamp. That got me to wondering why I don't use it more often...and figured it might have something to do with the need for the frog to be green all the time. Well...that got me to wondering why it had to be green... and that is when the idea for this card was born!!

I sent it off to Susan since she was the one who truely inspired it!! Susan is one of the best writers ever! You have to go read her blog -- there are posts that have me laughing and crying all at the same time!! This is one gal with great insight into this crazy world we live in!! Oh, and did I mention that she also makes great cards, clean and simple style, my favorite!!!

Thanks Susan again for the inspiration! And thanks everyone for dropping in!!

Donelda

Supplies: Stamps-Pond Life (Papertrey Ink), Circle of Friends, retired (Stampin' Up!); Ink-Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, Green Galore, Pixie Pink, Summer Sun, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Paper-Whisper White, Pixie Pink (Stampin' Up!)

Christmas Tin - Gift Holder

Here is the Christmas Tin I made to store my husband's Christmas present in. I am just so excited for him to open it. It is a membership to a nearby golf club. It was so funny because at his staff Christmas Party one of his co-workers was bragging that he had bought the #2 membership at that club. All the boys said, "I wonder who got #1". Well, my hubby has #1 because I was "on the ball" this year and bought it really early. Anyway, I didn't realize how "important" getting the first membership was....now I can't wait for him to open it and see!! Hehehehe!! I can't even stop smiling!! I won't be able to post this until after Christmas because I don't want him to read this (he is very supportive and often checks out my blog ~~ hi honey~~). To make the tin, I first painted the top with a vanilla acrylic paint. Then, I created the bow and snowflake. That snowflake used to be blue (you can see one on THIS card), but I didn't want to do a blue theme, I wanted a shabby look to my Christmas tin with reds and browns. So, I decided to sand off the blue. I wasn't sure if it would work ... but it turned out perfectly!! And you know what one must do to metal...use Alcohol Inks on it, of course (t!m would be proud!!). I used Latte on it, but just a bit so that some of the metal still peeked through!! Then I added that brad in the middle. I saw one like it on THIS project by Suzy and knew I had to replicate it (there are actually 2 similar brads on her page, while I like both, I like the second one best...keep going down the page to the 'gift box gift card holder' section ... and enjoy everything while you are scrolling)!! I used a thin line stamp making it curve a bit (love clear stamps for this reason). Then I used my marker to add some thinner lines. I used a Stampin' Up! build a brad to finish off the creation!! I also added some of SUs new Alpine Originals ribbon ... LOVE IT!! The colors are fab. I cut the read square of cardstock, rounded the corners, and added the swirls using Very Vanilla craft ink. Then, finished it off with some rub on letters for my greeting!! After I had it all put together, I wish I'd done a little sponging around the edge of the red cardstock to pull the shabby look together! Oh well, too late now :-) Supplies: Stamps- Build Your Own Florish (gel-a-tins), Wedding Day (Papertrey Ink); Paper - red (Bazzill), Select White (Papertrey Ink); Ink-Ruby Red, Very Vanilla craft (Stampin' Up!); Other - metal snowflake (Micheals 1.50 bin last Christmas), sand paper, Latte Alcohol Ink (Ranger), Build a Brad (Stampin' Up!), Ruby Red marker (Stampin' Up!), Ribbon Originals Alpine (Stampin' Up!), corner rounder, Purkey letter rub-ons (American Crafts), vanilla acrylic paint, sponge brush, tin (Michaels). Thanks for dropping in for a visit! Donelda

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - December

That's right!! It is Blog Hop with Papertrey Ink time again!! While the blog hop usually occurs on the 25th of each month, Nichole changed the date to the 26th for obvious reasons! She's one smart gal!! This month, the challenge was to "repurpose leftover holiday trimmings such as christmas cards or gift wrap and create something all new!" I love doing this!! Last year, I used the cardboard from our Christmas dinner crackers to make THESE New Year's cards. And, while we had the same Christmas crackers, I wanted to do something a little different this time (but I did still save some of the cracker packaging ... it is awsome to work with). When I saw the awesome gold packaging from a big red bow, I knew I'd have to do something with that!! In fact, I instantly thought of THIS post from Sharon Johnson and wanted to do a similar project. (ETA - Unfortunately I see that the gold paper didn't actually show up in this picture. You see where the dark color is...just imagine that it is gold...it really is!! If you click on the second little pic it is a little more noticable in there...sorry...photographing metalics is obviously not my forte!! ) I added some gold embossing and white cardstock and ribbon, and voila, an instant wedding card! Supplies: Stamps - Wedding Day, Borders & Corners {Square} (Papertrey Ink); Ink - Versamark; Paper - Select White (Papertrey Ink), Gold (from a red bow package), Other - White organdy ribbon (Stampin' Up!), gold embossing powder (Stampin' Up!). Off to check off all the other Blgo Hop entries!! Thanks for dropping in!! Check in tomorrow and I'll be showing you the tin I decorated to put my hubby's golf membership in! Donelda

Merry Christmas!

Like many of you, I am enjoying the holiday season with my friends and family! I won't be posting until after Christmas. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!! See you all soon! Donelda

smARTworks Holly Joy

I love this holly sprig with the bells in it!! It is a smARTworks stamp! I stamped the images onto watercolor paper using Archivers Jet Black Ink. That allowed me to use my watercolor pencil crayons on them!!

I doodled around the main image panel to replicate the doodled look of the image. As well, I scored around the green cardstock to finish it off! I got that idea from Dina -- she's so smart! Although it is a bit hard to see in this photo, there is a little bit of the same green in the ribbon! If you click on the picture, you will get a larger view and you will be able to see it better.

Supplies: Image-Jingle All the Way, Joy to the World (smARTworks); Paper-green (Bazzill), Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), watercolor paper (unknown); Ink - Jet Black (Archiver's); Other-black pen (Zig), dimensionals, ribbon (from my friend Jessica G.! Thanks Jessica), scraper to use for scoring (Pampered Chef).

Thanks for visiting !! Donelda

House Mouse Christmas

I made these cards for my House Mouse friends!! The nicest people in the world are part of the stamping and crafting world. I have met some very nice people through Splitcoaststampers and blogging!! I got this wonderful stamp from my friend Jessica G. last year around Christmas -- Thanks so much Jessica!! I hope each of you have a wonderful holiday season!! Supplies: Stamps - Mistletoe Moment (House Mouse), Holiday Wishes (Papertrey Ink) designer paper (Provo Craft); Paper - Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), red (Bazzill); Ink - Jet Black (Archivers); Other - prismacolor pencil crayons, Odorless Mineral Spirits, ribbon (from my friend Robin). Thanks for dropping in this evening!! Donelda

Co-Worker Gift Stockings

These are what I made for the team that I work with!! These ladies are all very special and I wanted to make something special.

I had bought these little stockings last year after Christmas for less than .50 cents!!! BARGIN!! I wanted to put name tags on the stockings. I started out using the large oval in the Wedding Day stamp set. Then, I used Trajan Monogram Ed. to stamp their names. Some of the names were too long to fit into the oval so I had to use a stencil. Next, I added the branch from Take a Bough and added some pine needles. Finished off the tags by adding some small snowflakes and stickles for a bit of bling!!

Next, I made more of Kristina Werner's awesome gift card holders. These are so easy to make!! You can find the template HERE!! And you can find a bunch of different ones I made earlier in the season HERE. I made the base of the holder out of white. I used this Mallard Green Twinkling H2O as "ink" (got the pot really wet and saturated and brushed it onto the stamp with a paint brush) and stamped this holly image onto white cardstock. It looks so cool with the shimmer from the H2Os. But I had a problem!! I didn't have anything that matched this very bright green. So, I decided to paint more white cardstock with the same green Twinkling H2Os to cut out the bottom part of the template. See those cute little holiday brads...I got those last year as a gift from my friend Dawn. I wanted to incorporate them into my holder so I added them in the place that they berries are at. I added some doodling and then some wide burgandy ribbon and they were finished.

Inside these gift card holders, I added a gift card for a store or restuarant that each of my co-workers would appreciate. I also added some other treats in the stockings just for fun!!

I hope they enjoy their gifts.

Supplies: Stamps-Take a Bough, Wedding Day, Trajan Monogram Ed. (Papertrey Ink), Snowflakes, Happiest of Holidays (Stampin' Up!); Ink - Basic Black, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!); Paper (Whisper White); Other - Ribbon (Michael's discount bin), Twinkling H2Os, black marker (Zig), stickles, holiday brad (Dollarama), paint brush.

Thanks for dropping in! Donelda

smARTworks Tea Party #8 - Oval

It's that time again!! Time to sit down and have a little tea with my smARTwork friends at the 8th Tea Party!! This time, Peggy set the challenge. She asked us to make our cards' focal image an oval! Well, I just happen to LOVE ovals....so this was a lot of fun for me !!! I actually started the focal part of this card a while ago after seeing THE SECOND CARD in THIS POST made by Dina. She is such an amazing artist and that card just screamed out to me!! I had to try to duplicate it. When I realized that it would fit the challenge, I pulled it back out and finished the entire card. See that strip of patterned paper....it is home-made!! Can you believe it!!?? I can hardly except that I made it myself :-) LOL!!! It is made with a domino pattern repeated over and over. I can see that I am going to use it again and again...in various colors!! (Edited - I had a question about how exactly I made that strip of paper under the oval so here are a few more details. The swirly domino pattern in THE TOP RIGHT SET (DD-18 Patterns) is used repeatedly across a strip of paper. It is essential to use your stamp-a-ma-jig in order to get the edges of the stamp to line up each time. ) The butterfly is cut our and molded to have some dimension. Here is a bit of a side view so you can see it better. Well, once I started with the ovals I couldn't stop!! So I made this second card. I love doing the faux watercolor technique. I'm sure most of you have done it or know about it, but just in case there are a few out there reading this that don't know this great technique....it is so easy you have to give it a try. Simply color onto your stamps using various colors of marker! Once you have all the colors you want on it, lightly spray the rubber stamp with some water. Quickly stamp onto cardstock or watercolor paper. You can let it dry naturally or with your craft heat gun. The rest of the card is pretty obvious. Some designer paper, sponging and a bit of pretty ribbon!! So did you want to come to tea?? If so, feel free to leave a comment on any of the Design Team's blogs and we'll be sure to link you!! You have to go check out what all the other Design Team made: Susan, Dina, Trish, Peggy, and Giovana !! Oh, and look, Donna came to tea !! Supplies: Small Things card: Stamps-Small Things (sentiment), WD-60 (background), FL-18 and Standing Tall (oval background), DD-08 Patterns (strip of paper under oval), BF-04 Sm. Trio (butterfly) (All smARTworks); Paper - River Rock, Very Vanilla, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Ink - River Rock, Basic Black, Versamark, Cranberry Crisp (Stampin' Up!), Other - Oval Coluzzle, paintbrush, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge.

Faux Watercolor card: Stamps - FL-20 Standing Tall, DK-10 Looking Collage (smARTworks); Paper- Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), green designer paper (K&Co.), mustard designer paper (Stampin' Up!); Ink- Old Olive (Stampin' Up!); Other - More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive (Stampin' Up!); oval Coluzzle, ribbon (unknown), sponge, mist spraybottle.

Thanks for coming to the Tea Party!!! Donelda

smARTworks Wreath

Here is another card I made using the Candle Joy set that Susan from smARTworks sent us for the Cookie Challenge. I love holly and especially when it is in a wreath. I made this card using the little holly image. I had to make a mask (stamped the image on a post it note, cut it out) in order to mask various leaves as I did the stamping. It also required a lot of Stamp-a-ma-jiging!! The leaves and berries are colored in using watercolor pencil crayons. Then I added a bit of red glitter from my sons glittery pen. I did a little doodling around the main image, attached some of that yummy Bo Bunny polka dot paper, and a great white bow! Finished it off with a simple Joyful sentiment and a few red pebbles!! Supplies: Stampes-Joy to the World (smARTworks); Paper - Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), red dots (Bo Bunny); Ink - Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Other - wide white satin ribbon (Michael's), pencil color crayons (Prisma), odorless thinner (gam--s omething or other from Michael's), stubs, red pebbles (Peblo), black marker (Zig). Oh, and don't forget to pop over to smARTworks to check out the special Susan has going on. Shipping on rubber only orders is FREE and shipping on mixed orders is 1/2 the cost (US customers only). Thanks for dropping in. Donelda

Cookie Challenge

So, I am lucky enough to be asked to be a full fledged Design Team member with smARTworks!! Yeah!!! You can check out my gallery over at smARTworks HERE. If you check out the site, you will see that the Cookie Challenge is posted today, Dec. 15th. The Cookie Challenge is so much fun. Susan sends all the members of the Design Team the same stamp set and we all make cards with it and send them back to her. She then posts them all so we can see what everyone did with the same set!

I can't wait to see what everyone else did with the set we had to work with...Candle Joy!! It was a perfect set for the holidays!! Here is what I did with the set:

I've got to tell you that I love this stamp set! The little holly was perfect to use as a background samp. I colored in the images with my watercolor pencil crayons. The stripes at the bottom is a piece of vellum that I found at the local Dollar Store. It went perfectly with this layout and Christmas theme!!

Supplies: stamps-Candle Joy (smARTworks); Paper-Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), red (Bazzill) striped vellum (Dollar Store find); Ink- Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); Other-watercolor pencil crayons (Stampin' Up!), Pure Poppy twill (Papertrey Ink).

Drop on over to the smARTworks Cookie Jar and see what all the other Design Team Members did with this set (or most of them have their cards and more posted on their sites)! I'm sure they will know your socks off!! Thanks for dropping in!! Leave me a note and let me kwow what you think!! Donelda

My Special Day

Well, today is my special day!! And I've got to say, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. When I woke up this morning, I was thinking about what a wonderful life I live. I truely have the best husband in the world!! Someone who loves me for who I am and supports me in everything...my very best friend!! And a wonderful son who makes me so proud!! He is so smart and fun and kind....he means the world to me!! Here is what my hubby got me for my birthday!! WOW!! And look what my son made for me!! This card. He did it all himself!! Check out that layout ... he definately has "the crafty eye"!! And he created that cute little turtle too!! He knew exactly what he wanted to do. He knows my favorite color is green too. I am feeling truely blessed today.... maybe not really feeling older, but definately blessed!! And to top it all off, tonight is the Papertrey Ink release party. Since my husband has to work nights tonight...so we wouldn't be going out anyway, I can think of no better way to spend my birthday evening that browsing with some blogging friends and checking out the latest PTI stuff!! Ahhhh, life is sweet!! Have a GREAT day every, I know I will! Donelda