Neat & Tangled USPS Gift Wrap Ensemble

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.

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!

• Neat & Tangled Throwdown – Gift Wrap Ensemble Challenge
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – Party Time (Chocolates – need I say more?!! LOL!)
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday December 2018 Try Something New (new dies, using die for giftwrap & 3d truck)
• CropStop December Linky Party #46 Anything Goes (Core’dinations, Ranger, Sookwang, Tombow, Tsukineko)

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

~D.Ann

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Hello My Favorite Nuts Acorn Shaker with Gift Card

Hello, again! I’m glad you’ve returned! Today’s card is a shaker with a surprise:

Those of you who follow me, may recall THIS card with a similar concealed surprise. I just love that the Spellbinders Die-of-the-Month acorn can be turned into a gift card holder for these fun acorn-shaped gift cards from that coffee shop that ends in BUCK$!

And the Queen & Company Happy Harvest Fall Kit has those fab acorn shakers to match. This time the shaker is filled with fabulous mini ‘gems.’ Observation: The gorgeous glitter paper in that kit is made so well that the glitter won’t rub off, but that also means it’s not really the best for intricate dies, like the Hello Fall insert of this acorn die. It simply doesn’t want to cut clear through. I recommend using it for non-intricate cutting. The leaf also gets added dimension when you score the veins. The acorns get some realistic color with a dauber and some Distress inks.

What else is behind that acorn?….

This darling family! I love that the two squirrels/chipmunks in the acorn are hugging, with coffee in hand… something that has led to many a spill in this family! And the mugs have kitty paw prints on them and a stuffed kitty is lying on the floor… another signature of our family. The sentiment: ‘You are my favorite nuts’ – ever so apropos! By cutting them out of separate cardstock, I was able to color them with Copics and not have them bleed through to the back of the card. It also allowed me to fussy cut around the arms and put them through the cup handles.

By the way… didja notice that acorns, just like humans, come in all varieties?! : )

Materials used:

• Spellbinders Small Die of the Month – October 2018
• Queen & Co.  Happy Harvest Fall Kit (dies, foam, clear plastic, paper, glitter paper and beads)
• Neat & Tangled My Favorite Nut stamps & dies; Puppy’s Favorite Things stamps
• Core’dinations cardstock: white, brown, kraft, yellow
• Recollections card base
• Tsukineko Memento Desert Sand dye ink
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Barn Door, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain
• Copic Markers: E13, 23, 25, 29, 31, 55, 71;Y38; YR02, 04, 07, 24; W1
• Simply Defined Permanent adhesive runner & Stay-Put adhesive glue
• Misc. ribbon and Starbucks gift card

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:

• 2018 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Hop

• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: B is for ? Beads & StarBUCK$ (lol!) Behind the acorn.
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Wrap it Up Beads wrapped in an acorn shaker and gift card wrapped in acorn.
• CropStop December Linky Party #46 Anything Goes (Core’dinations, Ranger,  Spellbinders & Tsukineko)

I’m so glad you stopped by! I enjoy reading your encouraging messages and greatly appreciate them!

~D.Ann

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Hello Pumpkin Spice Season Zen Cup and Shaker Card

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:

• 2018 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Hop
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: B is for ? Beads
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Wrap it Up Beads wrapped in a pumpkin shaker

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.

 

MFT Creative Olympics Event 3 – Crafty Biathlon: Thank You Emboss Resist Shaker Card

Hello and welcome back! The third event of My Favorite Things Creative Olympics is a Crafty Biathlon.

  

We were given lists in two categories (Technique and Card Type) and told to choose one from each. I chose to do a shaker card with the emboss resist technique.

I love using this pretty lace background with the emboss resist technique as it always turns out SO pretty! You probably can’t tell, but this shaker is clear on both sides. For added interest I stuck the plain white die cut one the inside of the card. I’m loving those pretty Ken Oliver Color Burst inks! Because they have pigment in them, you need to wipe the embossed area with a baby wipe when done blending the colors

Materials used:

• My Favorite Things BG Lace Background stamp
• My Favorite Things Radial Stitched Circles & Thank You Circle Frame dies
• Tsukineko Versamark ink
• JoAnn Craft Essentials clear embossing powder
• Ken Oliver Color Burst Water Reactive Inks: Fuchsia, Orchid, Tangerine and Turquoise
• Core’dinations cardstock – white and blue
• Tombow Xtreme adhesive & foam tape
• Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
• Misc. acetate and sequins (including Queen and Co. diamonds and posies)

 

I’m playing along with the following hops and challenges – click on any of them for details on how you can join the fun:

• My Favorite Things Creative Olympics Event 3 – Crafty Biathlon
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Add a Die Cut
• Cropstop February Challenge – Linky Party #37 – Anything Goes (Aleene’s, Core’dinations, Ken Oliver, My Favorite Things, Tombow, & Tsukineko)

Well, these crafty Olympics are almost over. We have just one event left. Stay tuned…

~D.Ann

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MFT Camp Create Day 3: Spectacular Shakers – Sweet Candy Jar Cards

Hello and welcome back to see my cards for day 3 of My Favorite Things Camp Create: Spectacular Shakers:

For a long time I’ve been wanting to do these candy jar shakers, so I made a batch of them. I got the lid slightly lopsided, which made me giggle as it reminded me of the candy jar my aunt always put in my room when I stayed with her. Mom’s rule was not go meddling, so I never peeked in the dresser drawers or anything. But I knew that candy jar was there for me, so I’d sneak a piece now and then and sometimes, to be quiet, the lid didn’t always get back on straight. : )

As you can tell from this pic, I didn’t get the ‘crystal’ filling all the way to the back of the card and the pieces can get up in there and, since it’s tight, they can get stuck. I should have thought to put adhesive over the dried ‘crystal’ filling. Next time…

I also did a couple with jelly beans. You can see I had the same trouble, this time with the bottom, too, so it doesn’t look nearly as full as many went down into the bottom. sigh. Live and learn!

I like how those embossed lines add texture and make a ‘table’ for the jar and candies.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how they went together…

I intend to get some real mints and jelly beans to go with these cards for a fun gift!

Materials used:

• My Favorite Things Candy Jars Die-namics and Candy Jar Additions Stamps
• Core’dinations cardstock: white, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow
• Core’dinations 110# cardstock (for base)
• Misc. Acetate
• Silly Winks Sticky Back 2mm Foam Sheets
• Memento Dye Inks: Dandelion, Pear Tart, Summer Sky
• Tsukineko VersaMagic Chalk Ink: Red Magic
• Papertrey Ink Dye Inks: Lilac Garden, Lovely Lady, Summer Sunrise
• Tonic Studios Nuvo Glitter Accents: Fresh Snowfall
• Tsukineko Versamark Ink
• Hampton Arts red embossing powder
• Recollections Neon Opaque embossing powder: Neon Pink
• Scotch quick-dry tacky adhesive
• Tombow Xtreme permanent adhesive

This earns the third badge from Camp Create:

I’m entering these cards in the following hops and contests. Click on any one of them for more information on how you can join the fun:

• My Favorite Things Camp Create Day 3: Spectacular Shakers
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Touchy-Feely
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Emboss It
• Cropstop June Challenge Linky Party #29: Anything Goes (Core’dinations, MFT, Scotch, Tombow, Tonic, Tsukineko)

There’s still more to come from this fun ‘camp,’ so be sure to check back!

~D.Ann

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

Just. Can’t. Even.? – A Little Coffee Makes Everything Better Card

Welcome back to my second post for the Fall Coffee Lovers Hop.

I thought I’d start by sharing with you something cool that came my way recently. Knowing I love tea and tea parties, my cousins surprised me this fabulously beautiful and unique Burton + Burton teapot/cup for one, and a terrific loose-leaf brewer/strainer with a bunch of wonderful Teavana teas, including a DIVINE chocolate decadence oolong. What a bunch of sweeties they are!! The teapot came from an amazing tea house called Batar, near Seymour, Indiana. Check out their website to see their amazing edible cookie gift boxes and other fun stuff. Worth stopping by if you’re travelling through!! (They serve regular tea-bag teas, but their food was delish and the shopping delightful for any tea/coffee lover!!)

  

Now, on to today’s card. I have a fun shaker tag on it with a concealed gift card for a coffee drinking friend:

I think most gals with CFS feel that chick most days – talk about hitting the wall! lol! If I were making this for me, I’d’ve put ‘chocolate’ instead of coffee. : )

Among other things that inspired this card were the Bellarific Friday {Mojo}Bella Card Sketch (#19) and color inspiration photo:

         

A quick note on how the leaves were made: I love how the Color Burst pigment powders do just what their name says… you sprinkle just a little on your paper, then spritz with water and the colors really do burst on the scene!

     

Now, I could’ve added more color and spritzed again, but I wanted that just for some natural variation in the fall leaves. I then cut them out and colored the rest in with Copics and distressed them, folding in the veins. In real life, they look pretty realistic!

Oh, one other quick note… I had a brand new Hero Arts ombre pad that came unglued from the base. A while back another manufacturer’s petal point ink pad did the same and they told me just to glue it back on. I wrote Hero Arts asking the best way to glue theirs back on and they quickly wrote back saying that they stand by their product and would replace it for me. It was in the mail the very next day. THAT is customer service, folks!! This pad has worked fine ever since. Now I love Hero Arts all the more!

Supplies:

• Hero Arts – A Little stamp set
• Stamping Bella – the chicks who “couldn’t even” stamp set
• CAS-ual Fridays – Scallop Tag and Acorn Fri-dies
• Hero Arts ombre Butter Bar to Orange Soda dye ink pad
• Color Box Cocoa pigment ink (for COFFEE)
• Ranger clear embossing powder (over the cocoa ink)
• Memento Rich cocoa ink (bird and sentiment)
• Ken Oliver’s Color Bursts:  Sepia, Burnt Orange, Yellow Ochre
• Copic Markers:
  • Bird & wall: C1, 3, 5; Y13, 15, 17; YR04, 07; R29, 89; W1, 3
  • Leaves: E29, YR02, 04, 07; R29, 39
• Pebbles, Inc. Basic Brights Chalks
• Dreamweaver Picasso tool (for clouds)
• Martha Stewart Crafts Vintage Leaf Glitter – Brownstone
• Core-dinations cardstock – white & orange
• Tombow: Xtreme permanent adhesive and foam tape
• Misc. seed beads
• Starbucks gift card

I’m playing along with the following hops and challenges – just click on any one for more information:

• 2016 Fall Coffee Lovers Hop (with 63 sponsors and nearly 90 prizes, you’re going to want to join the fun!)
• a2z Scrapbooking September 2016 Challenge – Make it a Tag
• Bellarific Friday {Mojo}Bella Card Sketch (#19)
• CAS-ual Fridays CFC157 – Shaker Cards
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – Powder Powder (Color Bursts & embossing powder (and chalks))
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Gift It
• Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday August 2016 – Use Stamps
• Crop Stop Linky Party #20 – Anything Goes (Color Burst, Hero Arts, Memento, Pebbles & Ranger products)

Thanks for stopping by today and for all of your kind comments!

~D.Ann

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

You Are My Friend Card & 1st Blogiversary Blog Candy

Welcome back sweet visitors and regulars!

I’ve been so out of it lately! I forgot my one year blog anniversary aka blogiversary was March 18. Seems like ages ago! Who knew that I’d have 1991 visitors from 58 countries leaving 1380 kind comments on my 129 posts?! Of course it’s fitting that this anniversary falls during the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop… for it was these lovely ladies who encouraged me to start my blog last year and I’d say a large majority of my visitors are from these hops. So I’ll have a small little ‘thank-you’ giveaway for you sweeties at the end of this post.

I’m pleased that this lovely shaker card  serendipitously came together for today’s post:

I love the girly feminine look and I threw in some coffee grounds in the shaker, so it smells heavenly, too… Hmmm… maybe next time I’ll only use coffee grounds and write ‘in case of emergency, just add water.’ Lol!

Here’s a different angle so you can see the raised banner sentiment…

Materials used:

• Spellbinders dies: Elegant Labels 4; Labels 4; Tea Cups
• JustRite Spellbinders dies: Vintage Labels 7
• Spellbinders Celebra’tions Cup for Two stamp set
• Quietfire Design Stamp: You Are My Friend stamp
• Core’dinations Cardstock – white
• Recollections Floral Bunches paper
• Recollections Shimmer card – pink
• Memento Dye Ink: Rose Bud
• Pebbles, Inc. Pearlescent chalks
• Neat & Tangled – Lucy’s Little Things Chocolate Truffle sequin mix
• Martha Stewart Crafts copper microbeads
• Recollections: Boutique Fleur mulberry paper mini roses, lace on a roll, crochet embellishments, rhinestone stickers, faux pearls
• Copic marker RV29
• The Paper Studio – Gemstones pearl, small, flourish
• Offray Elegant loop flower with pearls
• Aleene’s Tacky Glue
• Tombow foam tape
• Misc. coffee grounds, acetate, seed beads.

In case you haven’t already joined the fun, but are thinking about it, here are the hops and challenges I am participating in… just click on the name to get more information on each:

• Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

• DL.Art March Linky Challenge Anything goes
• A Colorful Journey – Let’s Play!
• CropStop Linky Party #14 Anything goes

 

***********    giveaway now closed    ***************

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today! Oh – wait! The blog candy!! Silly me – Brain fog moment! I have a lot of those… like the time I bought this Sizzix/Tim Holtz Texture Fades embossing folder: On the Go – I had already ordered one 3 days before. Sigh. At least I had a nice use for it… Blog candy!

I also found another lovely Studio Shop/Susan Winget Flour Sack towel for one of you:

Would you like to have a chance at winning either of these (each one is a separate prize)? Pay close attention: Leave ONE comment on this post before 8 am EASTERN time, Sunday, March 27, 2016, telling me: Do you prefer your coffee or tea hot or cold?  If you don’t answer the question in your comment, I’ll assume you’re not interested in the blog candy (and won’t be offended!). You can also tell me if you have a preference for just a specific one of the two prizes, otherwise you will be a random draw for each. If you are (or become) a follower of this blog, you may make a SECOND comment telling me so for an additional entry. For non-followers, ONE ENTRY/COMMENT per person. Duplicate comments will be deleted.

For those of you with allergy concerns, this is a pet-free/smoke free home.

On March 27, 2016 I will use Mr. Random org to draw a winner from the comments that qualify and will try to announce it here on the blog some time before noon EASTERN time. The way my days are going recently, I might run a little late, so be patient. That’s another advantage of becoming a follower… You’ll know when I post! : ) You already know it’s a pet peeve of mine when someone doesn’t post their winners ’til days or weeks after they say they will, so I always try my best to stick to what I say. The winner will have 72 hours to contact me with their snail-mail address or another winner will be chosen.

Thanks so much for your kind comments of encouragement and support over the past year! I look forward to sharing another year of crafty fun with you!

-D.Ann

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