Category Archives: Thank You Cards

Superhero Thank You Cards

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Welcome back! That’s both for you and for me! I finally made a couple of cards for the first time in weeks! It only took three days and several do-overs, but it sure felt good to be transforming plain old paper into something fun and beautiful again!!

I started out fairly simple, but wasn’t happy with the watercolor sky. (nor that I managed to get some on the inside. Fortunately, the recipient won’t mind.)

I like how shiny her little gold crown turned out!

The next one got a little more challenging with an animated inside, as you’ll see in a bit.

I like the blended Distress inks for the sky better, don’t you?!

Here’s the card in action (click on the image below to start the video):

I also love that amazing holographic paper… just perfect for a South Florida vibe!…

 

Supplies:

  • Altenew – Cityscape A & B cover dies
  • Altenew – Signature Words dies
  • Spellbinders – Palm Trees die
  • Motion Crafts by Uchi’s Design – Super Friends stamp set (SMS)
  • Motion Crafts by Uchi’s Design – Rotary animation set
  • My Favorite Things – Peek-a-Boo Circle Windows, Jumbo
  • The Ton – Most Interesting Cardmaker stamp set
  • Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink
  • Gina K Designs dye inks: Black Onyx, Lipstick, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion
  • Marvy Uchida Le Plume II markers: 53, 103, 8, 94, 67, 49, 83,  87
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Barn Door, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord
  • Copic Markers
  • Brea Reese Metallic Pens – Gold
  • Kuretake Zig Wink of Stella clear
  • Hunkydory Holographic Mirror paper – silver
  • Core’dinations cardstock blue and white
  • Sookwang Scor-tape
  • Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue

Obviously, I’m still puttering along, but I have a huge backlog of cards I need to make, so maybe I’ll get back in the groove and you’ll see more posts soon! Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts!

~D.Ann

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Thanks, Health Heroes Card

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Just dropping in today with a quick card. With dad back in the hospital for emergency surgery and an unidentified infection, it has been heart rending not to be able to visit him! The past few days have been particularly rough with severe pain and today he sounded so down, I make a quick card for him and also one for the nurses on his floor caring for him, I was hoping to stop and pick up some flowers for him and a bag of chocolates for the sweet nurses. I called first to see where to take them and was surprised that the operator said they wouldn’t allow anything in, not even a card! How frustrating!! Later, I went to their website and found they have a way to send messages to the staff, so at least I got to thank them. It’s the thought that counts – and they are greatly appreciated!

Here’s the card I’d made for the nurses:

Materials used:

  • Waffle Flower Free Printables to Thank Health Heroes (HERE)
    • Thanks, Waffle Flower! I’m not much of a Digi person, but that made it fast and easy to get this card together!!
  • Sizzix Scallop Hearts dies
  • Hero Arts Window on Love Confetti Die
  • Park Lane Paperie cardstock
  • Pebbles, Inc.Pearlescent Chalks – jewel tones
  • Misc adhesive

~D.Ann

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p.s. any ads on this page are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

 

 

An Adventure with Dried Morel Mushrooms and a Thanks So Mush Card

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Ahhh… Morel mushrooms (genus Morchella)! I inherited my love of them from both sides of the family. If you haven’t had a chance to try them, you don’t know what you’re missing!! Part of the fun was hunting for them and there’s nothing that compares to a fresh batch of them fried! Not being able to go to our old stomping grounds in Southern Indiana was disappointing in more ways than one… I greatly missed seeing family, spring flowers and the chance to find some of these delicacies. I remember tromping through the woods and coming back with buckets full when I was little. (You saw my post about some of our finds in previous years HERE.) When some of my cousins posted and sent pics of their finds this year (one was as big as my cousins’ hand!), I said I was extra jealous. Imagine my surprise and delight when a few days later a care package arrived with a mess of dried morel mushrooms!!

This was going to be an adventure… We’d never tried them dried before. After doing some research on-line, we found out it was easy to rehydrate them… just cover them in water, wine or broth at room temperature, so as not to make them tough and soak them 15-20 minutes or more. We chose to use some beef ‘Better Than Bouillon’ broth. Stir them a couple of times so any leftover debris in the crevices can come out. When they’ve plumped out and are soft and pliable, no longer brittle, drain them in a colander. (You can run the broth through a coffee filter to remove any sediment and use it as a delicious base for soups, sauces, etc.)

Now you continue just as with fresh picked mushrooms… We like them rolled in a pan of flour (we didn’t add salt since they were soaked in bouillon) and then fried in oil (with a tablespoon or so of butter added both for flavor and to keep down the smoke).

The little ones quickly became crunchy chips, and the larger ones were the next best thing to eating them freshly picked and fried. Sooooo good!!! Nom-nom-nom!! We were extatic!! What a wonderful reminder of home!!  Thanks cuz!!

I sent them this card with “Thanks so mush!” written inside:

Materials used:

  • Power Poppy Wild Mushrooms stamp set
  • Spellbinders Annabelle’s Trousseau die from the Chantilly Paper Lace collection
  • Core’dinations cardstock: white, purple, kraft
  • Tsukineko Memento dye ink: Rich Cocoa
  • Copic Markers: B02; C1; E31, 33, 51G02, 82; Y000, 02, 13; YG17, V04, 06
  • Pebbles, Inc. Pearlescent Chalks – jewel tones
  • Misc. adhesives

Thank you all so mush for stopping by today!

-D.Ann

p.s. Any ads you may see are posted by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

 

My Monthly Hero Paraguayan Dancer Card

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¡Hola! Hello! Mba’éichapa! (–that’s “hello” in Guarani – one of the two national languages of Paraguay.) Welcome to a post with an international flavor today! I chose to turn the darling dancing mouse in the My Monthly Hero April 2018 set into a traditional Paraguayan folk dancer doing the famous bottle dance:

When I lived in Paraguay, doing a missionary type work, I would often see women balancing amazing loads on their heads as they walk through the streets… laundry, a basket full of delicious chipas (a cheese bread made with cassava/manioc flour, shaped like a bagel) and more. These well-balanced women really know how to use their heads! In the bottle dance a girl or woman will start by balancing a bottle on her head while dancing. More and more will be added by her partners, one at a time, reaching up to 10 or more! After each, she continues to dance. Impressive!! Here is part of a page from my scrapbook, using a postcard picture:

I just drew a couple of these bottles on cardstock, fussy cut them and covered them with Texture Gems for my little mouse dancer. The texture gems added a little sparkle as centers to the flowers in the frame and sentiment, too.

  

I love that the leaves on flowers in the frame with this kit can be lifted up… just a little, or into a daffodil shape. I gave my mouse and bottles a little depth by cutting them out in black cardstock and having it peek out just a bit.

Materials Used:

  • Hero Arts My Monthly Hero April 2018 (MH 0418C) stamps and dies (note: bottles were hand drawn)
  • Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Fiesta Red ink
  • Copic Markers: C1,3; Gr05;R20, 22, 24, 29; Y08
  • Faber Castell Texture Gems: Silver
  • Core’dinations cardstock: White, Red, Black
  • Tsukineko Memento dye ink: Tuxedo Black
  • Simply Defined “Stay Put” glue

I’m entering this card in the following fun challenges… click on any of them for more information on how you can play along:

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Thanks for traveling with me today!

~D.Ann

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p.s. any ads on this page are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

 

 

 

Stamplorations Love Always Card with Salt Colored background

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Hi there! Welcome back to another crafty whim! This time I’m experimenting with a ‘digi’ and watercoloring with salt. Because a printed ‘digi’ (digital image) from my printer often smears, I decided to do the background FIRST and then print on top of it. I really wanted to play with this nifty technique I’d seen on Betsy Veldman’s blog (HERE). She had a cool variation of the salt technique — where you sprinkle salt on your watercolor and let it dry for some interesting patterns. She COLORED her salt and sprinkled it around for some really cool effects! I especially liked her aqua border with flowers, so decided to try something similar. I guestimated where the orchid and lily would fall and tried to get the yellows and pinks more in those areas. Since I wasn’t going to do much until I was sure I could get similar results, I colored up 1/4-1/2 tsp of coarse salt.

The handiest colors I had on hand were distress inks and spray stains. It only took 2 drops of the ink, but about 6 of the spray stain to color up the salt. I didn’t have a purple, so mixed Mermaid Lagoon with Abandoned Coral until I got the color I wanted. By the time I sprinkled my salt down, the paper was dryer than I’d’ve liked, so I gently spritzed a bit of water across the top. Let dry and brushed off the salt:

Sherry Russ at Stamplorations kindly made available these lovely free digis over on their blog (HERE):

You know I rarely use digis, but I decided to give this lovely one a whirl. First, I had to size the digi. Another reminder of why I prefer stamps. Sure you can resize digis easier, but getting them exactly right is a bit of trial and error (for ME, at least!)

Not bad, but I thought it could use a little more. When Betsy was done with the salt, she went back and added some more watercolor. I was afraid to re-wet the surface as these were distress inks and would react with the water, so I chose to use some Copic markers to make the leaves and a few details stand out, then added a bit of sparkle…

In the end, it turned out nifty, but not near as cool as Betsy’s projects. Some day I will have to come back and revisit this, experimenting with different watercolors and inks.

Supplies used:

  • Stamplorations framed Love Always digi (Free HERE)
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor cardstock
  • Yasutomo Metallic Watercolors
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink – fossilized amber
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain – abandoned coral & mermaid lagoon
  • Costco Kirkland Mediterranean Sea Salt
  • Copic markers: C3; G24, 82; RV17; V6; YG17, 61; YR2, 4
  • Spectrum Noir by Crafter’s Companion Sparkle pen – clear
  • Scotch adhesive runner
  • Core’dinations Parisian Nights card base

I’m playing along with the following challenges – click on any one of them for more information on how you can join the fun:

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Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your comments!

~D.Ann

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p.s. any ads on this page are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

 

 

Neat & Tangled USPS Gift Wrap Ensemble

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Good evening! I’m about tuckered out, but I want to get this post out, for the Neat & Tangled Throwdown challenge that is about to close, so here we go…

I really wanted to do something nice for my USPS postal carrier this year as she always trudges up to my apartment when there are packages rather than just leave them down at the mailboxes. She even asked about them one day as she saw they were art related and her teenage daughter is getting into arts & crafts. I know thy’re going to have a party when they get this as they LOVE chocolates!

I have been wanting to use the Neat & Tangled Truck die (thanks Miriam!!) but life has been so hectic, this was my first chance to pull it out. It’s darling and easy to put together the main truck. All the optional add-ons – especially those blinker lights – are a bit tiny for my big mits, tho. : ) I also wanted to wrap up a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates extra elegantly. I’ve never used a die cut to wrap something before, but I thought the Neat & Tangled Doily Envelope die would make a gorgeous way to wrap it up… I was right! Check out the gift ensemble:

The card is a shaker. I framed it up with the edges of the Doily Envelope Die to tie the ensemble all together.

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The envelope is lined with the same embossed wrapping paper as I used to wrap the chocolates. The truck opens up and holds tiny presents… in this case, a single Ferrero Rocher Chocolate! (hmm… now that I look at it, I think I’ll add some tissue paper in there to cushion it.)

It was a fun set to make I know she’s going to get a kick out of it! I can’t wait to make more of those adorable trucks – probably in UPS brown next time!!

Supplies:

  • Neat & Tangled Truck and Doily Envelope dies & Sweet Treats sentiments stamps
  • DCWV glitter card and chalkboard stack (black and gray sheets)
  • Core’dinations cardstock: white & black
  • Brother Sister Design Studio Embossed Foil Gift Wrap (wrapped chocolates and envelope liner)
  • Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink
  • Tombow Dual Brush Pens 565 &845
  • Sakura Gelly Roll pen – White 10
  • Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents (windows & headlights)
  • Blank Slate by Traditions open heart confetti (shaker)
  • Laura’s Loft Red Hot Love sequins (shaker)
  • Queen & Co Diamonds toppings (shaker)
  • Sookwang Scor-Tape
  • Simply Defined “Stay Put” adhesive and Simply Dimensional Foam Adhesive Sheets
  • Misc. glitter cardstock in red and orange; acetate; printed usps logo
  • Ferrero Rocher chocolates – both for the recipient and the crafter!! : )

I am playing along with the following challenges – click on any one for more information on how you can join the fun!

Ok, I’m off for a very late supper. Y’all have a lovely weekend!

~D.Ann

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p.s. any ads on this page are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

Hello Pumpkin Spice Season Zen Cup and Shaker Card

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Hello crafty peeps and Hello Pumpkin Spice Season! Ahhh…. PSL (Pumpkin Spice Lattes)… my favorite treat of the year! So much so, that I got a great Black Friday deal on a coffee maker and a bunch of decaf pumpkin spice pods so I can have it year round without having to pay mega BUCK$ at that place that ends in ‘BUCKS’ (in just 6 cups I will have recuperated my investment). But we’re not here to talk economics. The Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Hop continues…

I received a Happy Harvest Fall Kit from Queen & Company (THANKS!). It includes the stamps, dies, and pre-cut adhesive foam and clear shaker covers, fall papers and cook shaker beads and gems:

I did a little bit of surgery to the stamps with a scissors to get the sentiment I wanted, added the fabulous Zen cup from Stamplorations and a card base and, violá:

To get the dimension on the pumpkins, I added some score lines and then hit them with a bit of darker ink on my finger (too lazy to go get a dauber. lol!). The unused inner piece of adhesive foam was perfect to cut up and use for popping up the sentiment. (I’m thinking I should have popped up the cup, too. 20/20 hindsight!) I ran yellow and orange markers along the edges of the foam that would show so they weren’t stark white.

There is something satisfying about hearing a shaker… It must take us back to our childhood and the comforting sound of a rattle

Supplies used:

  • Queen & Company Happy Harvest Fall Kit (stamps, dies, foam, clear plastic, papers and beads)
  • Stamplorations Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies – CUTplorations
  • DCWV card base
  • Tsukineko Memento Potter’s Clay dye ink
  • Core’dinations orange cardstock
  • Tombow Xtreme adhesive runner
  • Simply Defined ‘Stay Put’ adhesive glue
  • Misc yellow and orange pens

I am playing along with the following hops and challenges. Be sure to click on them for more information on how you can play along and enter for prizes:

Thank you so much for stopping by and for your encouraging comments! I read and appreciate them all!! Happy hopping!

~D.Ann

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p.s. any ads on this page are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

 

Coffee Lovers: Thanks a Pool-Sized Latte! Card

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Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to wake up one winter morning to have the ground covered in snow and your pool full of hot coffee with cute little foam animals floating all over? ‘Dive in!’ you say?! The current Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: B is for ? = Big, Bodacious Blue pool full of coffee with foam Bears (and cats)!! That’s where my crazy imagination took me for today’s Coffee Lovers Hop card:

The hand drawn and fussy-cut pool of ‘coffee’ has a liquid look due to glossy accents:

The inside of the card and the back of the envelope continue the theme:

The ‘Thanks a pool-sized latte!’ sentiment was done on the computer. To get the soft singed edges on the foam critters, I used Polychromos pencils and Gamsol.

Supplies:

  • Hero Arts Foam Animals stamp set
  • Tsukineko Memento Desert Sand dye ink
  • Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils:Cobalt Green; Light Cobalt Turquoise; Caput Mortuum Violet; Burnt Sienna; Raw Umber
  • Gamblin Artists Gamsol & Q-tips
  • Marvy Le Plume !! pen #1122
  • Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents
  • Core’dinations 65# cardstock: white, brown, blue
  • Recollections 110# cardstock (base)
  • Tombow Xtreme adhesive runner

I am playing along with the following hops and challenges. Be sure to click on them for more information on how you can play along and enter for prizes:

Thank you so much for stopping by and for your encouraging comments! I read and appreciate them all!! Happy hopping!

~D.Ann

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p.s. any ads on this page are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

2018 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop – Life is BeauTEAful card

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Hello and welcome! Time has flown by. I can’t believe it’s already time for the 2018 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Here is my first card, using fall colors:

The inside and envelope coordinate, too:

Oh, and FYI that sentiment is done by some precision cutting of two different stamps. : )

Materials used:

  • Hero Arts Tea Party Fancy Die
  • Hero Arts To Seize or Not to Seize & Kit-tea stamp sets
  • Spellbinders Floral Ovals dies
  • Your Next Stamp Coffee & Tea Border die
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge & Barn Door
  • Tsukineko Memento dye ink: Tuxedo Black
  • Core’dinations cardstock: white & black
  • Scotch tape runner
  • Sookwang Scor-tape double sided adhesive
  • Simply Defined ‘Stay Put’ adhesive glue

I am playing along with the following hops and challenges. Be sure to click on them for more information on how you can play along and enter for prizes:

Hopefully, I’ll see you back real soon with a couple of other caffeinated cards I’ve made, if I can get them typed up. : )

~D.Ann

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p.s. any ads on this page are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.