You Are My Sunshine!

 My take on the sketch!

 

 

          Hi, yes, I’ve been busy in my crafting room today.  My headaches are better so that has spurred my creativity!  This is the first time that I will be submitting my take on a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  When I saw the sketch, I knew immediately that I wanted to use a Stampin’ Up! stamp that I’ve had for awhile.  During one of their single stamp promotions, I saw this stamp and knew that I had to have it.  I was a single mom of two beautiful daughters – now grown up – and I used to sing this song to them.  They are still my sunshines and each of them will get a card handmade especially for them from their mama!  I love you, Rachel & Rebecca.  You light up my life every time I think of you!

·       Stamp set(s):  You Are My Sunshine (ret.) – Stampin’ Up! (single stamp promo)

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up!:  Gumball Green, Marina Mist & Daffodil Delight

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up!:  Gumball Green, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Floral District DSP (ret.) and a piece of delightful paper from my stash – no idea where it came from.  I am a self-confessed paper hoarder!

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up!:  Edgelits: Adorning Accents;  Spellbinders:  Classic Scalloped Squares

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  sponge and sponge dauber, Aleene’s Super Tacky Glue, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SU Basic Jewels Rhinestones, American Crafts Ribbon

Now onto the card!  It is 4.25’ by 5.5’ and folds down from the top and up from the bottom.  I cut a piece of Whisper White CS vertically and then scored each piece at 3’ and 8.5’ respectfully.  I attached a piece of Gumball Green CS cut to 4.25’ by 4’ to fold up from the bottom for my “green hill” for my “sun” to partially hide behind.  The “sun” was paper pieced from Daffodil Delight CS & Floral District DSP.  I inked the top piece of Whisper White CS with Marina Mist using a piece of sponge for my “sky”.  Lastly, I attached a piece of blue ribbon and added some sparkle on the sentiment and a string of sparkle across the ribbon to glitz things up a bit!  One thing I forgot – don’t tell my girls!  I meant to add some texture to the grass with an embossing folder – and would do so if I made this again but I’m not tearing it apart now!  Too much work!  It is Sunday after all!

Thank you so much for stopping by my corner of the digital world.  Let me know what you think if you are so inclined!  Be blest and be a blessing!

Many blessings,

Donna





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Trust In The Lord & VLVJun2013, Week 4

I’m finally getting it together and doing week four’s card during week four – but just barely!  I do enjoy using sketches to start my design juices flowing.  This week’s offering is the result, plus one component came to be because I got ahead of myself.  Have you ever done that?  Tell the truth now!  This card is 5.5 x 5.5 inches.

·        Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Secret Garden & Trust God

·        Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, & Summer Starfruit; Memento – Tuxedo Black

·       Paper:  All Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla CS, Gumball Green CS, Primrose Petals CS,  Print Poetry DSP (Retired), DSP Stack In Color 2012-2014 (Retired)

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! - Sizzlits Clearlits Scalloped Rectangle, Embosslits Beautiful Wings, Bigz Top Note, Secret Garden Framelits, Ovals Collection Framelits

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Martha Stewart Doily Lace Trim Double Edge Punch; Stampin’ Up! – Sizzix Big Shot TIEF Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Gumball Green Satin Stitched Ribbon, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Blender Pens, glitter, 2-Way Pen

Once I had the sketch, I then begin to think colors and patterned paper.  As a self-confessed paper hoarder I have much of the DSP from this past year’s Stampin’ Up! line.  One of my absolutely favorite – wish I had more than this one stack – is the Print Poetry papers.  Since its size is 4.5”x6.5”, it caused some changes in the design right out of the box – er, paper pad!  I selected the inks based upon the color flowers that I wanted to make.  I used SU blender pens to color the lower flower where I used Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals ink pads.  I love having matching dies to cut out flowers and other objects.  (Stampin’ Up! needs to do more of this!  Hint, hint!!!)  I embossed the Top Note Die after I cut it out to add some texture between the patterned paper and the Very Vanilla Oval.

With the colors and patterns taken care of, I began to assemble my card, but this is where I got ahead of myself.  I did not stamp my sentiment onto the oval before I added the dimensional pop-ups thus came along my green rectangle rescue.  I’m glad of this “accident” as I think the flowers and size of the oval would have overwhelmed the sentiment.  So it all came out for the good.  I also wanted to add a larger presence to the ribbon on the lower right hand corner so I backed it with a piece of the Doily Lace trim.  I would probably back it with a different color if I had to do it all over again, but all in all I like how my card turned out!  What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!  Please free to leave a comment to let me know what you think!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Simply Sketched Sympathy & VLVJun2013, Week 3

 

         It is never a happy day when you need a sympathy card to send to a friend or relative, but that is where I found myself earlier this week.  I know that the colors I chose are not the usual for a sympathy card, but as a Christian and as I heard more about how my friend’s 16 year old grandson died, I didn’t feel that a somber sympathy card would be appropriate.  This wonderful young man is now home with his Heavenly Father and the girl he went into the surf to save is alive.  We rejoice with her family while feeling the pain and loss of our friend’s family.  It just didn’t feel right to make a somber card to me, so this is what I chose - a sunny yellow and green to symbolize the Son of Man and green for my friend’s grandson’s new life in Heaven.  The card is 5” x 7” with a top fold.

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Simply Sketched(new); Heartfelt Creations Cross & Lilies

·       Ink(s):  SU Pear Pizazz    

·      Paper:  Prima, Sun Kiss Collection “Sweet Tea”;  Stampin’ Up! – Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizazz, Core’dinations Early Espresso, Whisper White, Floral District DSP(retired)

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Circles & Ovals Large; Stampin’ Up! Embossing Folder Fancy Fan

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  White Velvet Ribbon – Basic Grey; SU Seam Binding Ribbon – Pear Pizazz; SU Basic Jewels Pearls, Large; Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch

The card design is of course from Viva la Verve’s June Sketch Challenge.  The layout is straight forward, although I did move the circle – pieced with Daffodil Delight and Floral District paper – to the middle of the layout.  The yellow circle is a deliberate allusion to the sun, and I just wanted it centered.  I liked the sunflowers on the Prima paper and wanted the viewer to be able to see them as well. 

Thank you for taking a look at my card today!  I hope that you enjoyed your time here.  Please feel free to leave me a comment.  I’d love your feedback!

Many Blessings,

Donna

PS:  Below is the inside of the card.

Sycamore Street Perfect Day

This was a fun card that I did quite a while ago for a stamp class that I ended up not being able to do because of my husband’s hospital stays in February.  I found these colors very cheerful and light hearted.  I found the card set aside when I was putting together my husband’s birthday card.  Very similar colors and same sentiment – just down right cheerful!

·         Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! (SAB) Vintage Verses

·         Ink(s):  Both SU inks – Tangerine Tango & Midnight Muse

·         Paper:  SU (SAB) Sycamore Street DSP, Pool Party, and Midnight Muse

·         Dies & Embossing folders:   Vine Street TIEF from SU, Window Frames Collection Framelits from SU

·         Embellishments/Other things of note:  Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack, SU Basic Jewels Rhinestones;  Copic Markers in Y17 & 110

This card is an A2 size card:  5.5” by 4.25 “.  I made the card base from a piece of paper that was 4.25” by 11”.  The 2 score lines were placed at 3.25” and 2.25”.  I also embossed the two sides of the front on the card before I scored it so that I would be assured of having both sides of the front of the card completely embossed.

I hope that you have enjoyed this fun card.  It was quick & easy to do.

Many Blessings,

Donna

Sycamore Street Perfect Birthday

 

         I had yet to use the Marianne dies to make a cupcake and that had been bothering me since I’ve had it for over a year.  You know how it is!  LOL  Anyway, I decided to use a playful theme this year for my husband’s birthday card, so his birthday celebration will now have a cupcake theme to it!  (I’ve made Trader Joe’s Guiltfree Brownies in individual cupcake size and will frost them with the new CoolWhip Frosting for a lighter on the fat desert!)

•  Stamp set(s):  All by Stampin’ Up! – SAB Vintage Verses, Carry On (Hostess Only), and SAB Perfect Petites

•  Ink(s):  SU’s Tangerine Tango & Midnight Muse;  Color Box Chalk Ink, Chestnut Roan (Makes the cupcake “paper liner” looked like it’s been baked!  I thought that was a nice touch!)

• Paper:  SU SAB Sycamore Street, Midnight Muse & Pool Party, 2012-2014 Designer Stack

• Dies & Embossing folders:   SU Sizzlits S Pinwheels die, Cupcake Creatables by Marianne Dies, SU Sizzix Big Shot Top Note die & Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Ovals

• Embellishments/Other things of note:  Perfect Petites Punch; Buttons from Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack; SU Brights Brads; Martha Stewart Arch Lattice Border Punch; sponge daubers, round toothpick, pop up foam, and DMC Embroidery Floss

This card was made 6.5”x6”.  I love the playfulness of the dots & stars of the paper from Sycamore Street.  The pinwheel adds a touch of whimsy, too.  All in all, I liked the way it turned out.  With the dotted paper on the inside bottom of the card showing through and below the punched edge, it lends a nice touch to the card on the front and inside below the stamped sentiment.  I also like the way the round buttons imitate the round dots on the paper just below it.  All in all, I am well pleased with the playfulness of this card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Have a wonderful day!

Many Blessings,

Donna

PS:  Below are the pics of the inside of the card and the cupcakes!  BTW, those Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Brownies make an excellent CUPCAKE!!!  They were delicious and not too bad for my Weight Watchers’ Point Plus even with the frosting.  YUM!!!!

 

 

MOJO Monday 287 & Just For You

 

Just For You just sort of all came together after deciding to enter the MOJO Monday Blog Contest.  I knew of course that I wanted to do some flowers on such a beautiful spring day here in the Piedmont of NC.  As I went thru my Scrap Rack, this lovely MME paper grabbed my attention.  I loved the colors and they were so warm and bright after a long, cold March!  I’ve listed below the items I used to create this card that I think turned out OK (except for this:  I did not notice until I finished the card that I too quickly worked on the silhouette I’d stamped in Tangerine Tango as it smeared a little because I had not left it to dry!  Bummer, but I still liked the results!)

·         Stamp set(s):  SU Just Believe & SU My Little Valentine

·         Ink(s):  SU Tangerine Tango, SU Marina Mist(sentiment), SU Baja Breeze

·        Paper:  My Mind’s Eye “Pretty Please:  Full of Flowers” Paper, SU Whisper White, SU Baja Breeze, & SU Tangerine Tango

·        Dies & Embossing folders: Cuttlebug Kassie’s Brocade Embossing folder, Heartfelt Creations Die #713 Decorative Lace Border, and 3 Spellbinders Dies – Beaded Circles, Classic Ovals Large, and Classic Scalloped Ovals Large

·         Embellishments/Other things of note:  SU Basic Jewels Rhinestones, corner rounder punch, SU Stampin’ Dimensionals

The card base is 4.25” by 5.5” made from Baja Breeze.  I used Baja Breeze also for the lace die after which I trimmed 2/3 of the lace trim away with scissors.  I used my Cuttlebug to cut out this very intricate die so that I could use a thin metal plate to get a good cut.  I use this metal plate when I want to use really intricate dies to make sure I get a really clean cut.  Also, a doubled piece of wax paper also helps my cut image to release easily from the die.

The beaded circle was cut from Tangerine Tango CS.  The MME paper was cut to 4” by 5.25” and the corners on one vertical side were rounded – I like the softness that pairs well with the flower theme of the paper and stamped image.  Both the beaded circle and the floral paper were run thru my Big Shot.

I stamped the sentiment, cut it out, and then trimmed the outer edge off so that the Tangerine Tango mat would be more visible and play off the silhouette stamped in ink of the same color as the die.  I used pop up foam to make the sentiment jump off the card for added dimension on top of the layers.  I inked around the edges of the main stamp with Baja Breeze ink and the MME paper with Tangerine Tango ink.

Here is the inside image of my card!  Below is the original sketch for this week's MOJO Monday Challenge.  Here is the link to MOJO Monday's blog:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2013/04/mojo-monday-287-contest_1.html

I hope that you like this offering and thanks for taking a look!

Many blessings,

Donna



Anniversary Card For My Guy

         Thom & I recently celebrated our anniversary – had a lovely time in Charleston, SC!  (It was a wonderfully romantic time away from home in a beautiful city!)  As I’ve mentioned previously, guy cards can be a challenge for a woman who loves flowers and bling, but I hope that I rose to the challenge.  I used the same stamp set as my previous post; just used the bicycle this time.  Thom & I like to bicycle when time and health permits so it just seemed to work for me.  I wanted to use my new Spellbinders Die Page Maps (designed by Becky Fleck) and the banners in SU DSP Pool Party seemed a perfect fit!  So here is my list of products used!

·        Stamp set(s):  SU Feeling Sentimental (SAB)  & Word Play

·        Ink(s):  SU Midnight Muse

·       Paper:  All from SU – Whisper White, Midnight Muse, DSP Pool Party, and DSP Pattern Stack, 2012-2014

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  All Spellbinders dies – Classic Scalloped Squares, Classic Scalloped Ovals, Large and Page Maps

·        Embellishments/Other things of note:  DMS Embroidery Floss # 311, Recollections Super Fine Glitter, SU Jewels Basic Rhinestones and SU Buttons, Bitty

Sometimes, we are our own worst critic.  At first I wasn’t satisfied with this offering, but the more I looked at it the card, the more I realized that I was looking at it through my FLOWER Glasses – the lens that I use for most of my designs.  I like the flow of the smaller banners on the paper when juxtaposed to my larger banners that I cut out with my new die.  I used the ric rac die that comes with the set to add some movement across the bottom of the card where I used a 1.75” strip of striped paper – say that fast – that I added glitter to.  Even my husband needs some bling now & again!  LOL  With a couple of heart buttons from the Bitty Collection, I felt that I completed the project.  Thom liked the card, too, and when it really comes down to it, that is what matters most!

Thanks for stopping by my little part of the web to take a look!

Donna