Dragonfly

I couldn’t come up with anything more original than that title today.  I must be slipping.  LOL.  It’s also a new one for me in quite some time to do a card without an image.  This is an anniversary card for some very dear friends.  And as usual, I’m a few days late in finishing it.  The beauty of the card is difficult to see.  But if you click on the card front, the close-up shows all the glitter on the card.

I wanted to show off the beauty of this die by Cheery Lynn Designs, so I knew I wasn’t going to cover it with much.  I used a design that I saw on Cheery Lynn’s blog by Sue Inscho.  I can’t find her blog, but this will send you to the post that shows off her beautiful work.  I did try to make it my own, which I did by adding the sentiment I cut out from “Sweethearts” cartridge on my Cricut machine.  I also added Recollection pearls all over the front. 

The dragonfly and the olive leaves are also dies from Cheery Lynn Designs.  After I looked at photos of dragonflies online, I really wanted to make mine look iridescent like many that I saw.  In fact, I saw one that had some of these same colors.  The flower is one that I made months ago, and I’ve been holding on to.  I heat embossed the sentiment with the same embossing powder I used on my last card.

On the inside of the card I’ve use MS Double Loops to cut the papers and placed them over the same glittered dp.   I can’t remember if it’s by DCMV or K and Company. But I’ve kept it forever, and hoarded it, but I finally decided that I bought it to use, so I should do so.

The butterflies are by EK Success, and have also been hoarded. 


I’m entering this card in the following challenges:

Catered Crop – fall colors, pattern paper, pearls, die cuts
Twisted Sketches – sketch (not sure if this  is close enough to qualify)
Corrosive Challenges – things that fly
One Stitch at a Time – embossing
Lollipop Crafts – 3 embellishments (pearls, flower die cuts)
Karen’s Doodles – emboss it
Lexi's Creations – sentiment – no image
Party Time Tuesdays – anything
Celebrate the Occasion  - fall (colors)
Creative Card Crew – love
The Paper Shelter – anything
Simon Says Stamp – anything
Use it Tuesday – orange, black or purple
Scrappy Frogs Challenge – something that flies
UnstampaBelles Challenges – fall and sentiment
Creative Crafts Challenges – fancy edges (inside)
Scrapbook Sisters – anything
Paper Pretties – embellish it
That seems to be it.  Not as many challenges when you don’t color.  I hope you enjoyed your stop here, and I hope you took time to leave me a much loved comment.
Hugs,
dj1952 (Debra)

Storage for Nestible Dies, Etc.

Hi, sorry it took me a while to get this posted.  I’m a little behind on everything right now.  This is the storage box I mentioned in my last post and as my tip to Top Tip Tuesday.  I found this fantastic box at Staples for the closeout price of $5.00.  I couldn’t pass it by, especially since I was looking for something similar.  But everything I found let small pieces slip through the bottom and was ugly. (Can’t have ugly now, can we?  LOL)

I’ve taken a few shots of the inside also.  I plan to use labels to show what is in each pocket.  I also went back and bought a second one, so I have one box for my Spellbinders and one my designer ones, like those from Cheery Lynn Designs, etc.

The boxes have 19 pockets, which seems like plenty, but it’s still not large enough to hold all that I have.  A few years ago, I found these magnetic sheets after I saw a tip from Diane of Capadia Designs. These are large enough to store an entire set on one sheet, and then I’m able to place several sets in one pocket.  So I’m placing oval ones together, and so forth.

As I’m a visual person, I hope that this post with the pictures will help others that also need a visual reference and a way to store your dies.

Hugs,

dj1952 (Debra)

Swingin’

Hi, I’m been given the privilege to join Fairy Fun Fridays this week as their guest designer.  Isn’t that cool?  I chose this cutie pie to use for my card.  I named it “Swingin” because it reminds me of the song by John Anderson.  You know, it starts out “Me and Charlotte Johnson…” Of course, now I have the music stuck in my head. LOL


Their challenge this time is heat embossing.  Now, I’m not very good at this genre, but I gave it a go.  My attempts to just emboss a word here or their didn’t work out any better than I thought it would.  So I tried a different approach.  I took the corner decorations and the swirled leaf and stamped them and then saturated them with a glittered embossing powder.  I think the effects tuned out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I hope you feel the same.

 

As you can see, I also decided to go button crazy.
   
 


I took the crochet thread and poked holes on both sides of the tire and tied it like a real rope would be done. I secured it with finger nail polish. I also made a real bow by tearing one of the ribbons you get on balloons until it was small enough and, voila.
 
 

The inside of the card is nothing spectacular, however since I’m joining some challenges with the leaves as the theme I decided share this also.


I have a tip that may interest those of you, like me, whose inventory of dies keeps growing and you're not sure how to store them.  I found a small beautiful accordion box that doesn't let small pieces slide around out of the bottom of each pocket and I now store my dies there.  It only has 19 pockets, but I found a way around that by placing card stock in between three or four different die sets ( i.e. oval designs) so it holds lots of dies.  I only use it for my larger dies, like the frames, etc.  (I'll post a picture of it later this week.)

My recipe for this card is:


Dies and Punches – Cheery Lynn, Spellbinders, Sizzix and MS
Papers – Basic Grey, Frances Meyer and stash
Roses and pearls (earrings) – Recollections (stash)


I’m entering this card in the following challenges:


Totally Gorjuss – bingo: flowers, swirls & bling
Di’s Digital Designs – girly
Just Some Lines – song – “Swingin”
Sketch and Stash – sketch (buttons, stash)
Pile It On – fall
Heart Song Inspirations – flowers or felt
Simon Says Stamp and Show – stripes
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog – fall colors
The That Stamps Built – fall
Little Darlings Challenges – use score pal
Shelly’s Images Blog – anything
Lily Pad Cards – bling
Cardmad Fairy’s Digi Days – spots and stripes
Stamping With the Dragon – buttons and bows
Bunny Zoe’s Crafts – lace (paper)
Tip Top Tuesday – layers
Charisma Cardz Challenges – embossing
Crafty Ribbons Challenge – ribbon and lace
Totally Paper Crafts – layers
Cupcake Craft Challenges – buttons and bows
Scrapbook Sisters – circles
Art Impressions Stamps – lace
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge – fall
Southern Girls Challenge – stripes and polka dots
Crafty Boots Challenges – fall colors
The Squirrel and the Fox - for the girls


Thank you so much for stopping by.  Don’t forget to stop by Fairy Fun Friday and see the rest of the DT’s beautiful cards this week, too.  Oh, and check out the store to purchase any of these fantastic images.


Hugs,


dj1952 (Debra)

Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair

The full title of the song this card reminds me of is: “San Francisco – Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair.”  This little beauty is one by Wee Stamps.

Here's a close-up of the image.



Since I seem to be in a “pink” mode, I wanted to use a different embellishment here or there on this card.  Of course I did have use some of my old favorites.  I seem to hang on to my charms, why I’m not sure, so I figured it would be a great card to add one here.




Of course, there are still flowers, ribbon, lace and dies used, and I’ve also used a beautiful oval frame by Cheery Lynn Designs. The little butterfly is by MS and the corner die is by Sizzix.  On the inside I’ve used a punch around the page set by MS. (Sorry, I forgot to take pictures.) My papers are a new set by DCWV.

I’m entering this card in the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss – ooh la la
One Stop Craft Challenge – anything
Secret Crafter – sparkle (paper, gems in hair)
Dream Valley Challenges – monochromatic
One Stitch at a Time – anything
I Did It Creations – anything
Lollipop Crafts – critter
Pile It On – just because
Cutie Pie Challenge Blog – bingo: charm, with wings, ribbon or lace
Heart Song Inspirations – die cuts
Karen’s Doodles Challenge Blog – distressing
Simon Says Stamp and Show – wings
Woodware USA Clear Stamps – anything
Tuesday Throwdown – pink
Digi Stamps 4 Joy – pink
I Brake For Challenges – girls
Truly Scrumptious – distressing
My Mum’s Craft Shop Challenges – inspired by a song – Flowers In Her Hair
The Paper Shelter – animals -
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges – die cut/punches
Sketch Saturday – sketch
Shelly’s Images – 4 or more layers
Fairy Fun Fridays – sugar and spice
Di’s Digi Designs – girly
Just Some Lines - inspired by a song - Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair
Stamping Boutique – for someone special
Use It Tuesday – metal - my charms, stash – charms and ribbon and lace
Little Darlings Challenges – Score Pal
Crafty Ribbons Challenge – ribbon and lace
Little Miss Muffet Challenges – girly girl
Lily Pads Cards – bling
Crafter's Companion - pink and green
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - lace
Link Up For Pink - linking party

Thanks so much for those who leave me comments, as this brightens my day, and lets me know that others appreciate my work.

Hugs,

dj (Debra)

Cotton Candy or Steel?

Hello I’m here again with a card for Mo’s Digital Challenge.  Not sure why I’m doing so many of her images but it could be because I love working with all of the different characters she draws.  

The card was commissioned by a friend, who wanted a “thank you” card to give the workers at the rehab clinic he had to go to after having had heart surgery.  He said they were very sweet to him and his wife and I couldn’t think of anything sweeter than the “cotton candy” girl.

 

The challenge called for “patchwork” this week and since mine is on the inside of the card I decided to use two images.



Here’s a complete shot of the inside first, so you can see that it’s only one card.  I thought it would be a neat idea to do the “strong girl” image on the inside, since it does take a lot of strength to do their jobs.




Here’s a picture of the side that has the patchwork quilt I made.



And here’s a picture of the back.  I always finish the back with my logo and a sentiment or small image.



The ingredients I’ve used are:

Images: Mo’s Digital Designs
Colored with: Prismacolors
Papers: DCWV (glittered paper) and open stock
Flower: Creative Charms
Other: MS punch, Nestibilities, ribbon and image on back from my stash.

I’m entering this in the following  - challenges:

CES – pretty girls
Wee Memories – favorite (digis)
Sparkles Forum Challenges – sparkles (white and green paper is glitter paper)
One Stitch at a Time – digi
Sentimental Sundays – stitching + sentiment
Creative Craft Challenges – sketch
Bearly Mine Challenges – 3 dps
4 Crafty Chicks – monochromatic
Prairie Fairy Fridays – sugar + spice
Papertake Weekly – anything
Paper and Such Design Blog – recipe: ribbon, designer paper, 1 flower
Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge – anything
Simon Says Stamp – sparkle & bling
Crafts and Me Challenges – digi
Mo’s Digital Challenge – patchwork (on the inside)
Paper Crafting Journey – punches
Dream Valley Challenges – monochromatic
I Brake for Challenges – girls
Lily Pad Cards – bling
Sundays With Crissy – thank you
Di's Digi Designs - girly

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you will please leave me a comment since we all love comments.

Hugs,

dj1952 (Debra)

Two Little Love Birds Sitting…

The title reminds me of a little song we would sing as young ones if we knew a girl or boy liked each other:  “Two little love birds, sitting in a tree, k I s s I n g, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes (person’s name) with a baby carriage.”  And in my early years we never knew what any of it was but the kissing.  Oh how times have changed.



I wanted to make a really nice card for my daughter and son-in-law’s anniversary this year.  After some searching I found this adorable image at Wee Stamps.  She does the most gorgeous images.  I actually used my sewing machine for the stitching after I had distressed the edges of the paper.




 

The recipe of things used to make the card are:

Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol
Flowers – Recollections and Marianne
Nestibilities for image, and Cheery Lynn Designs for heart, leaf flourish and butterfly
Painted white flower with Creative Inspirations Paint – pink highlights,  Stickles used on the roses
Lace was purchased at Joann’s, papers are open stock from Michaels

The challenges I’m entering are:

Digi Stamps 4 Joy – anything
Crafts and Me Challenges – flowers
Flutterby Wednesday – anything
Inky Impressions Challenges – dies/punches
Kelley Kid’s Challenges – anniversary
Simon Says Stamp – anything
4 Crafty Chicks – anything
Do You Stack Up – swirls
Crafts 4 Eternity – anything
Fairy Fun Fridays – pink and distressed
Stampin’ For the Weekend – cutie
2 Sisters Challenge Blog – fancy folds
Allsorts – 5 or more flowers
Mark’s Finest Papers – polka dots
Totally Gorjuss – sketch
Sparkles Forum Challenges – sparkles
One Stitch At A Time – digi
Bearly Mine Challenges – 3 Design Papers
Creative Card Crew – easel
Sentimental Sundays – stitching & sentiment
Penny’s Paper-Crafting – anything
Paper Crafting Journey – punches/dies
Card Makin Mamas – fancy folds
Lily Pad Cards – bling
Crafter’s Companion – pink and green
Papertake Weekly - anything
Digital Tuesday Challenge - party
Crafty Purple Frog - layers


Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you left me a comment, as I love to hear from you.


Hugs,


dj1952 (Debra)

You wanna hold her?

I couldn’t resist this little cutie when I saw her in Mo’s shop.   The name of the image is “patience”, and I’m sure that cat is as patient as they come.  (Not an easy thing for cats.  LOL)



Here’s a close-up of the cuties.  Don’t look too closely, I seem to have a little dust on the photo. 



And this is the inside, obviously.   Not too much here to look at, but I do like to finish the card.

The image has been colored using Prismacolor pencils.  I’ve used nestibilities for the cut outs.  Then of course I used MS for the punches.  The flower is by Magnolia which I've embossed with a glittery powder and the butterfly by Cheery Lynn.  (I had to be fair to them, didn’t I?  LOL)  The “buttons” are my new stash of Candy that I got.  Yeah!  The papers are by DSWV, I believe.  I embossed and distressed the strips behind the image.  I think that’s all except for the little rose and the gems, which are by Recollections.

I’m entering this card in the following challenges:

Gingerloft Challenge – distressed

Corrosive Challenge Blog – punches/dies

One Stitch At a Time – favorites (butterflies)

Crafty Boots Challenges – wings

Ooh La La Creations – punches/dies

Stamps + Fun = Creativity – anything

Scrap-Creations – girls

Tuesday Throwdown – thinking of you

Papertake Weekly Challenge – sketch

Digi Stamps 4 Joy – anything

The Paper Shelter – for the girls

Crafts and Me Challenges – flowers

Flutterby Wednesdays – anything + butterfly

Inky Impressions Challenges – dies/punches
Simon Says Stamps Challenges - anything
Mo's Digital Challenge - furry friends
Shelly's Images - tic tac toe - flowers, digi & buttons
4 Crafty Chicks - anything
Crafts 4 Eternity - anything
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - wings
Cuddly Buddly - babies/kids
Di's Digi Downloads - make your own flowers
Sparkles Forum Challenges - sparkles
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - anything
The House That Stamps Built -  DDC 928 - animal
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - animals or monsters
Paper-Crafting Journey - punches/dies
Mark's Finest Papers - polka dots
Designed 2 Delight - color with pencils

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.  I hope you enjoyed yourself, if you could I'd love it if you'd leave a comment.

Hugs,


dj1952