Valentines

Valentines is coming soon and today we started decorating at work, so I think a valentines card will be perfect for today. I am going to a craft camp this Sunday and this is the project I will be demonstrating this weekend.

I am storing it along with my kits in the clear wood mount case. It will hold about 14 kits and I slide the sample in the front so I can see what card I am grabbing.

I hope you enjoy!

DanicaA

It's Been a While

Yes, it has been a while since I last blogged. I recently started a separate blog for my genealogy research so I am trying to get on a better & regular blogging schedule for both of my blogs.

Even though I haven’t been blogging I have been crafting, so I do have a few projects to share over the next few weeks, all I have to do is take photos. So for today I will direct you to a video that gives instructions and was the inspiration behind my next post.

These gorgeous Octagon Boxes were a blast to create. I new the minute I saw them that I wanted to make one, of course I didn’t have the Big Shot Bigz Milk Carton die I needed to make them so it had to wait until the next order I placed, and as it turned out I was missing a few of the scallop punches.

I hope you enjoy and visit again for photos of my octagon boxes.

DanicaA

Technique Swap Pages

Here are the promised photos of my technique page for the technique swap I joined last month. So much work yet I still managed to keep it fun. 

Here are smaller close ups of the actual technique:

Faux Patina

1 light neutral color ink pad 

2 medium colored ink pads 

1 dark colored ink pad 

Embossing Folder of Choice 

Very Vanilla or Whisper White Card Stock 

Metallic colored Embossing powder 

VersaMark ink 

Big Shot, Heat Tool & Embossing Buddy 

1. Lightly cover the front inside top of your Embossing Folder with the lightest color ink of choice, carefully place card stock in embossing folder and run through Big shot. 

2. Lightly sponge the lightest of your medium colors over the embossed card stock, full coverage is not necessary. Repeat with the remaining medium color. You do want good coverage but some patches of no color or base color will add to the patina effect. 

3. Sponge over the top with your dark color to bring out the embossed image and give your piece dimension. 

4. Pat your embossing buddy over the top of your card stock to get rid of the excess ink. You want the piece to be dry so the embossing powder doesn't stick to the entire image. 

5. Dab VersaMark randomly over the top, you can just use the pad direct to image. 

6. Sprinkle your embossing powder over the top and heat to set. 

7. You are now ready to use on your project.

I hope that this inspires you today to create something beautiful.

DanicaA

danderson@tikvahstreats.com

danicaanderson.stampinup.net

Blooming with Kindness Patina

This month as you may already know, I have introduced my new stamp of the month club and I have decided that every once in a while during the month I will post projects created with the current months stamp set. Hopefully, I can do this at least once a week. I will be mixing the stamp sets up not always using only the current set on each project, but this will give you an idea of what you can do with this set.                                                       

So today I have two cards that I created, using the same technique on both, I used the Faux Patina technique which also happens to be the technique I used to create my technique swap. (How many times can you use technique in one short paragraph? I used it five times here.)

I really like the looks of these cards they are a bit on the Victorian side, which is a change for me. I am finding that as I spend time creating different projects my tastes in card style continues to develop and cards that originally were not my style I have come to enjoy. As you create and continue to do so over time your tastes may change or just grow to include other styles. Also, knowing how to create these other styles does help. When you are unsure of what you are doing it does make it harder to create something that you will enjoy or be proud of. The beauty of being handmade and homemade is that no one expects perfection, in design; they would not be handmade if they all come out the same. One way that can help you grow in your capabilities is to join some of the challenges you can find on these and many other blogs:

Color Throwdown

ColourQ

365 Cards

Mojo Monday

Stampin’ Up! Only

Be brave, feel free to experiment, I have found even the cards that I don’t consider to have turned out well, are well received and very much liked. Many times I end up giving my rejects (not quite to my liking) to my mom and she uses them and brings back compliments-this makes it very much worth the effort and makes those mistakes, okay. I am always more critical of my own efforts. I think if someone researched this, they would find that we all tend to critic ourselves in many ways worse than others would.

I hope you all enjoy!!

DanicaA

danicaanderson.stampinup.net

danderson@tikvahstreats.com

Project Supplies: 

Stamp Sets: Blooming with Kindness

Card Stock: Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Watercolor paper

Inks: Crumb Cake, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Versamark 

Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Gold Embossing Powder, Antique Brads, Dimensionals, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack

Black & White with a Hint of Color Swap

This is a card that I did for a swap last March. It was a black and white/vanilla with a splash of color swap. I really like how this card turned out, very elegant. While the stamp set is no longer available you can use any sentiment in it's place.

There are many layers of here, I started with a base of Basic Black added a layer of Very Vanilla and another layer of Basic Black. I used a piece of scrap paper to glue my different paper layers together so I could run it through the big shot with the top note die. 

There is starting at the top very vanilla embossed with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder I used First edition DSP and silver glimmer paper that I colored with basic black ink, I used the scallop trim border punch on the top edge of both pieces. I added a piece of Basic Black embossed with the Houndstooth embossing folder. At the bottom I added another piece of the First Edition DSP. I then ran the layers through the big shot with the top note die added some Basic Black satin ribbon. The tag was created with the lots of tags die and the extra large oval punch, I embossed the saying with white embossing powder and glittered around the edge with red glitter and added a red brad to the center of my congrats stamp. Add a few pearls and the card is finished.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Basic Black, Very Vanilla Card stock, First Edition Designer Series Paper, Silver Glimmer Paper, Tagtastic Stamp Set,  Basic Black and Versamark Ink, White Embossing Powder, Big Shot, Houndstooth & Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Top Note & Lots of Tags Dies, Extra Large Oval Punch,  Basic Black Ribbon, Red Glitter, Real Red Brad 

Thank You Card

I made this card with the intent to use Elegant Eggplant Card Stock (as I have never used this color previously) and a background of my own making. I wanted to create my own pattern paper, although when I stamped my background I messed up the nice clean stamped image. Normally I would turn over the card stock and try again, but I decided I really do like the shadowed effect I got. It works very well on this card.

I find that I tend to use the same stamp sets constantly and end up forgetting about the others. I am hoping to pull out those rarely used sets and either use them or let them go. With the Retired list out I may just let go of some of the sets that, while I liked, didn't really use. This next year I will be a little more selective as I did an

inventory and found that of my current sets not counting mini catalog items, and I have 35 sets and 24 are retiring. I'd better choose wisely this year, although with so many new sets maybe less will retire next year. I won't count on that but it is a thought.

Check out the retired list, and be sure to order your favorites before they are gone.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant, Night of Navy, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant

Stamps: En Francais, Bella Toile, Elegant Thank You
Dies: Adorning Accents Edglits, Lots of Tags

Accessories: Big Shot, Extra Large Oval Punch, 5/8" Organza Ribbon

Thinking of You ColourQ Challenge Card

The colors for this card were chosen from an old ColourQ challenge.

 I have decided that over time I would like to do a card for each of the colourq challenges. I am hoping that this will help me stretch my boundaries and enhance my skills

I made this card using two different techniques. I used the faux mother of pearl and faux tile techniques. To create the tile I used the simply score board and scored at one inch intervals vertically & horizontally.I then rubbed the ink into the grout lines to give my tile definition. I created the mother of pearl effect by using a small amount of Frost White Shimmer paint and saran wrap to dab the paint all over the paper. Once dry I then took my sponge daubers and ink Pool Party & Island Indigo to my paper and added the subtle shading that gives my tile its wonderful color.Although I do have to say that I stamped my image prior to creating my tile and mother of pearl finish. I used the large floral image from SAB set Fresh Vintage.

When I was creating my stamped saying image I totally messed up and ended up having to choose between starting with a fresh piece of whisper white or using the image sideways instead of centered the same direction as the larger label. I really wish I hadn't messed that up but choose to go ahead and use what I had rather than waste the paper.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: 

Card Stock: 

122925 Calypso Coral  

122923 Pool Party

119686/124276 Early Espresso

100730/124302 Whisper White

102599 Glossy White 

Stamp Sets:

w 125115/c 125117 SAB Fresh Vintage

115068 Sincere Salutations

Inks:

122938 Pool Party

122937 Island Indigo

122939 Calypso Coral

101406 Jet Black StazOn

Accessories:

116854 Frost White Shimmer Paint

102892 Sponge Daubers

113439 Big Shot

125598 Labels Collection Framelits Die

127279 SAB Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack

122334 Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Sending Thanks Butterfly

Since my last post, I have been unwell & so busy that I have been unable to do as much blogging or really anything for the last few weeks. I haven't really been spending much time on my computer at all. As for crafting I have made a few items slowly over the same two week period that I will share with you here in the near future .For today's card I will start by sharing a card I made and started blogging about a couple of weeks ago. This post has been almost done, but not quite finished.

 This card was made using leftover pieces of card stock that I had tried a for me newer technique called Faux Mother of Pearl. I really like the look this gives to different elements. This technique is a fun, fabulous and elegant way to give a card added pizzazz.


I am keeping things short as I want to get this posted and I need to be at work in about an hour.

I hope you all enjoy!
DanicaA

Project Recipe: Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Whisper White & Glossy White Card Stock, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum & Basic Black Classic Stamp Pads, Four Frames & Petite Pairs Stamp Sets, Sponge Daubers, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Elegant Lines & stripes Textured Embossing Folders, Decorative Label Punch, Basic Pearls

Quilted Top Note Purse

Well today's post has been sitting here on my desk waiting for me to finish the project and then type up. I have finally gotten to it, after almost a week. Life has been a bit busy lately.

My inspiration for today's project came from a fellow Demonstrator on Stampin' Connection, Michelle Yager. Stampin Connection is a site for demonstrators to share projects, ideas and discuss all things Stampin' Up! I really liked the look of her quilted top notes, so I thought I would give it a try. Here is my finished project.

I used the top note bigz die to create my front and back with card stock & chipboard. Two pieces of card stock and one piece of chipboard for each. on the two of the four pieces of card stock. To create the quilt I used my 1-1/4" square punch to punch out my designers series paper and then glued to a scrap piece of card stock. I then ran it through the big shot with my top note die and then trimmed around the edge at the scored line, this then allowed me to glue this piece as an insert on my front piece of Lucky Limeade card stock. I then repeated this step for the back of my purse. I added a box that I sized to the top note and made out of matching CS, I added the ribbon to the sides and then attached a brad to each side to cover up my ribbon holes.

Decorate the front how ever you wish and add some chocolate or pens & pencils and you have a cute little purse to give as a gift.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Lucky Limeade & Whisper White Card Stock, (SAB) Everyday Enchantment Designers Series Paper, Oval All Stamp Set, Basic Black Ink, Big Shot, Top Note & Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Dies,Lots of Tags Sizzlits Die, 1-1/4Square & Extra Large Oval Punch, (SAB) Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon & Everyday Enchantment Brads

Happy Birthday Framelit Card

Today's card was made using Stampin' Up!'s new Labels Framelit die set. I started out using the largest label and a piece of Poppy Parade card stock about 10" x 5-3/4".  I used the next sized label framelit and the Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper Everyday Enchantment to create my layer. I add texture by running the paper through my big shot using the square lattice embossing folder, after I had trimmed it down to size using the framelit and then my scissors to cut the edge off so the top aligns.

I created the flower by using the Blossom & Fancy Flower Punches, I punched a variety of flowers using coordinating CS and some of the DSP. I then ran that through the Big Shot again using the square lattice embossing folder. I crumpled the paper up really well, aligned them the way I wanted them to look and pierced using my paper piercing tool. You definitely want to use the mat pack to protect your fingers when piercing. I attached a brad and attached to the card. I used the curly label punch to create a spot for my greeting, using the Happy Birthday from the Sale-A-Bration set Elementary Elegance. I sponged around the little label using Basic Black ink. 

For the inside I added a layer of Very Vanilla Card Stock also cut as the layer on the front of the card. You can an additional birthday wish here and you could also sponge the edges for added dimension.

Well, that is all for today.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Calypso Coral & Very Vanilla Card Stock, Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper, Elementary Elegance Stamp Set, Basic Black Classic Stamp Pad, Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Curly Label, Blossom & Fancy Flower Punches, Everyday Enchantment Brad