My upcoming class at Heather's .....Cuttlebug Resist Technique

Hi there!

These are the two cards from my upcoming class at Heather's this coming Saturday March 27th from 10-12.   They both use a fun technique called Cuttlebug Resist which is so easy and effective for making interesting backgrounds.

The card above is created using the recessed window technique and uses this gorgeous sentiment stamp from The Stamp Barn.  The flourishes are BossKut.  The cuttlebug design is the Argyle folder.

This second card uses the Moroccan screen folder with both the emboss and resist techniques.  I've used the Fleur-de-Lys pendant die cut from Spellbinders.  The card is sprayed with Tattered Angels Pearl glimmer mist to add the gorgeous sheen.  Blue gems add a nice touch of bling to the final look.

Thanks for coming by today for another visit - I so appreciate you taking the time to come by and leave your comments.  As it's raining outside I plan on sitting here a while longer with a cup of tea and catch up on some commenting!

Hugs,

Danielle x

Silhouette Flowers - Viva la Verve Feb01 Sketch Challenge

Good Sunday morning!

Hope you are all keeping well and finding some time to craft and relax today! I made this card yesterday for the first February Viva la Verve sketch challenge of the month. I wasn't able to complete all of January's sketches - just too much illness in the house! Hopefully I'll keep up this month and then be in the running for some of those gorgeous Verve stamps!!

This weeks sketch came with a *twist* of embossing - dry/wet - whatever your choice. I chose to go with my cuttlebug as it's my favourite way of adding embossing to my cards. I decided to pull out these stamp images from the Jeanne Streiff Collection that haven't been inked up much lately. I stamped the main image then stamped off the second image to the side - I love the finished effect. I used my new nestie labels 2 for my main panel. The rest is pretty straight forward - lots of layering and I distressed the edges of my card for a shabby/chic look. I used the argyle embossing folder. The colour tones are so much prettier in real life - I was having difficulty with the light yesterday to capture the true colours. The second label layer is actually more pumpkin in colour than what it looks on the photo. The finishing touches were the brads and the organza ribbon. I used brown ribbon to tie behind the image then added a strand of black when I tied the knot.

Thanks for popping over today and taking a look! I'm off to the gym - I haven't had a chance to all week so now I can go with my BFF!

Hugs,

Danielle x

Heart-filled Tilda!

Good Wednesday morning to you all!

This is the first card I've made using the cuttlebug christmas tree embossing folder - it's gorgeous! This is a simple design but I wanted Tilda sitting in front of a tree holding her heart ornament and this was the best tree I could come up with! I used crystals (white and green) to add bling to the tree, as well as pink stickles. I coloured Tilda using Tombow markers and my choice of colours fit perfectly with the ribbon I chose - that wasn't planned ahead of time!!! I guess that's the benefit to having lots of supplies!!! :) I chose to add in the heart charm to reflect Tilda holding her heart ornament.

I ticket punched the corners and adhered a gem to add more detail then stamped Happy Holidays either side of tree. As beautiful as the embossed tree is I felt there was something missing at the top but when the sentiment got stamped in I felt it finished the card off nicely. What do you think? I love the colours used in this card and of course, Tilda is just cutest little girl ever! Her striped tights are just tooooo cute - can you tell I don't have a little girl!! I think maybe that's why I love working with Tilda so much - it gets the 'little girl' out of me since I don't get to dress one in real life!

Well, I'm off to shovel the driveway - lots of snow has arrived overnight! Oh, the joys of winter!

Have a great day.

Danielle

New Martha Stewart Punch

Happy Wednesday everyone - it's the middle of the week already - time seems to go by so fast! Today I'm posting two cards made with pretty much the same 'ingredients'. I'm making up christmas cards to supply to local stores so I thought I'd make 2 of each card as I go, each going to a separate location. Although the elements are the same they are still slightly different, thereby ensuring each card I make is unique! I found this adorable scrapbooking paper in A Buck or Two - I love the colour tones of the burgundy red and soft green (a nice alternative to the traditional christmas red & green). I bought the Martha Stewart branch punch yesterday at Wal-Mart and can't tell you enough how much I LOVE it! It is so versatile and I love the delicate touch it adds to the card.

The top panel of the card is cuttlebug embossed with the hanging decorations folder. I sewed around the edge of the card to add some simple detail. The top card uses white grosgrain ribbon and the tree (Sunshine Designs by The Stamp Barn) is punched out and popped up on dimensionals. I used a nestability ribbon tag die and stamped the greeting (The Stamp Barn) on using the Bordeaux Hybrid Palette ink pad. On the bottom card I used a strip of cream velvet ribbon and popped up the tree circle on dimensionals. I added the branches around the circle. Diamond stickles finishes off the christmas tree with a bit of sparkle!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by - your visits are always so much appreciated!

Danielle

Pretty Snowflakes

Good morning everyone! With the feel of snow definitely in the air today, although no snowflakes yet, I felt a calling back to the beautiful icy combo of blue and white with plenty of sparkle! I love the freshness of this card and easy design layout. I love it when cards come together quick and easy and this is one of them! The cuttlebug embossing folders are just so awesome for adding depth and texture without having to spend a lot of time - always great for a crafting mom on the go!

As always, thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Danielle

Materials Used: Let it Snow snowflake stamp: Kollette Hall for Studio G

Cuttlebug embossing folders - D'Vine Swirls, Snowflakes

Studio G Blue Pigment Ink

Nestabilities Tag, White Grosgrain ribbon

Diamante crystal, Turqoise Stickles

Homemade Desktop Picture Frame

I am so happy to be finally able to post this project! This is my youngest son, Jacob. I made this desktop picture frame project for Jacob's godmother and my closest friend for her 40th Birthday! We had her birthday at the weekend and she now has this gift so I have no more worries about keeping it a secret! I absolutely loved how it turned out and it started me on one of my most recent purchases, a Bind it All machine! Both background panels have been run through the cuttlebug embossing folder. The left panel I used alcohol inks (Denim, Lettuce, Eggplant) to create the background for the beautiful stamped sentiment. I used metal photo corner embellishments, ribbon and prima flowers to finish off that panel. The picture is simply mounted onto the embossed background and a metal ribbon embellishment with 'TREASURE' finishes it off. Be sure to punch the holes in the chipboard before mounting all the panels and embellishments! I used 1/2" binding wire to bind it all together.

Now I have this wonderful Bind it All machine I can't wait to continue making my own homemade gifts - it certainly opens up a world of opportunities!

Thanks for stopping by!

Danielle x

Scroll Reindeer

Well, like I don't need any more stamps BUT I couldn't resist two gorgeous Stampendous stamps today when I was in my local craft store. I just loved the scroll sketching on the deer and the antlers are just so beautiful. So, I added 2 new christmas stamps to my collection and of course just had to play! My afternoon was free with all my boys off at school and play I certainly did! I did today's Sketch Challenge SC199 from Splitcoast Stampers and this is what I came up with. I hadn't had a chance to use my cuttlebug embossing borders so that is what I used for my bottom panel. I then punched out holes and threaded ribbon through to meet and make a bow in the middle. I used lots of stickles on his antlers to enhance the scroll and give it some BLING!! I'm really happy with the way this turned out. What do you think?
Wait for tomorrow to see my card using my other stamp purchase!
Thanks for looking!
Danielle

Christmas Cards

These cards are made using a set of 4 stamps from Sunshine Designs (The Stamp Barn). I love the circles they are drawn in and it makes for wonderful possibilities when creating cards! I have only had time to make 3 so far but hope to complete the set of 4 very soon! Time is not always easy to find when you have 3 busy boys to look after, a husband and a house full of visitors!!! The O Christmas Tree card was created by measuring a frame, cutting the top two sides and folding it down over to the opposite corner. I then measured and cut scrapbook paper to match the colors of the card and glued them onto the 'turned down' frame. I really like the look it gives - what do you think??! As for the rest, lots of embossing with the cuttlebug folders added to the textures of the finished card. I want to play around with these stamps some more so be sure to keep looking back!

Hope you're all having a wonderful Sunday!

Danielle

Gel Cards

These gel cards are soooo fun to do!! I love how they are so effective and my Fintastic Friends stamps from the SU! set (now retired) was the perfect one to use for this card. Be sure to check out the tutorial and try one yourself!

Fabulous Flower Soft

I am having so much fun playing with Flower Soft at the moment! The gorgeous Victorian flower stamped image from Impression Obsession lends itself so well to applying this wonderful embellishment. Very easy to apply, Flower Soft enhances any flower image you choose to stamp on your card. Other images here are from Sunshine Designs.

Fancy Card Folds

These beautifully folded cards will be the focus of my next class at Heather's Stamping Haven

(http://www.heathersstamping.com/) on Saturday October 18th. These fun and dynamic folds will have everyone asking "How do you do that?" Perfect for enclosing money or gift certificates, they are the ideal Birthday/Christmas card to give to that 'hard to buy for' person.

Card Swap

I have just participated in my first card swap - 'Brown & ?'

We were to choose our favourite combination colour with brown and I chose blue. I decided to make a birthday card and chose an image from my current favourite selection of Tildas (Magnolia stamps). Using embossed layers with my cuttlebug, I layered brown and blue on the card. I painted Tilda with my selection of H20's and kept it in sync with the colour tones of my cardstock. I used prima flowers and silver brads to give my card it's final finish. I was very happy with the final result and I can only hope those who receive my cards in the swap enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them!