Spellbinders You’re A Gem Gift Boxes

Hello, precious peeps!

I know you’ve seen these cool party favor boxes before, but this time I did something new – I put the sentiment inside the lid. I like the surprise of the recipients opening them and being doubly surprised! I did a batch of 24 for the party, but you get the idea with just these 4:

Supplies Used:

  • Spellbinders Contour You’re A Gem Steel Rule Die & Die D-lites You’re a Gem etched dies
  • Recollections Signature Brights glitter cardstock pad
  • Tombow Xtreme adhesive (this tape is strong enough to hold the boxes together despite the glitter!)
  • Sookwang Scor Tape (for the gem die cuts on top)
  • Misc chocolates and mints… plus a few extra for the crafter! (Gone BEFORE Jan 1! LOL! It’s a good thing those peppermint brownie Ghirardelli chocolates only come out once a year!!) : )

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

Thanks for stopping by today and for leaving your comments. I always read them all and appreciate your encouragement!

~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:

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

~D.Ann

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

Double Sided, Multi-Colored, Multi-Window Uchi’s Design Animated Cat Card

Hello, hello! Here we are on the penultimate day of the Cat Lovers Hop.

As the saying goes: ‘Time sky raisins when you’re having fun!’ What?! Since there are so many new hoppers, I HAVE to re-share with you my favorite cat meme and you’ll understand:

Three years in a row and it still makes me laugh!

I have my last interactive card to show you today and it’s a doozy… In fact, it can only REALLY be appreciated in a video. so here’s one from Instagram. (Roll your mouse over the picture and click the white arrow to play it):

 

It’s so mesmerizing, I could play with it for hours!

I just LOVE animated cards and am tickled that my first attempt turned out as well as it did! I have a bonus tutorial for you. I used Uchi’s Animation Die Cut to make that flower! So another way to stretch your dies, should you have it (or be able to talk some sweet friend or relative into getting it for you!). So you’re going to turn this grid into that flower:

First you have to trim down the grid leaving the same width at the top and bottom. You don’t want this too thick because that’s how much your flower will stick up off your card.

Next you gently fold the grid around a pen and glue the ends together. Use the barrel of the pen to smooth out the curves of the ‘petals.’

Then you run a bead of glue along the bottom seam and start rolling it over on itself, molding it into a circle.

Here’s what it looks like all rolled up. (Hmph… I see I didn’t worry too much about curving the petals since I was just demo-ing for you… they are rather pointy. Oh well…)

Then you gently separate the petals and pull them out to the sides and put a brad in the center and tah-dah… a cute little flower!

You can also see from these close-ups, the advantage of using the Animation Die versus just buying the sheets… You can color it to match your stamp… even using multiple colors!

I waited to color the grids to match until AFTER I could set the stamped pull tab in the middle of the card and see where the colors needed to be on the grids, but BEFORE I closed it up… that way I could do it over scratch paper and not worry about getting any ink on my stamped slider.

Note: I tried putting just a solid color (black or other) as a grid over the colored stamped images and they also worked as animated images. It’s just cooler when the colors match!

Did you notice that the same pull tab animates both sides (simultaneously)! That was not without some engineering obstacles… for example the first time I stamped my images – after I had already figured out and made the front and back — oops! I did them in reverse and had to re-stamp them (which was much easier than lining up my grids again!).

By the way – don’t let this semi-complicated card intimidate you. You can make these very simple with just one animated image and they’re just as entertaining!

Her are the still pictures of the card. Here’s the front. ( I added that cute kitty sticker going for the dragonfly – doesn’t it look like he’s just about to pounce!):

And here’s the back. I like the optical illusion of the background paper mixed with these animations! Wish I knew the manufacturer, I’d get more!

Materials used:

  • Uchi’s Design Animation Stamp sets: Loving Cat; Growing Garden; Butterflies
  • Uchi’s Design Animation Grid Die (Thank you , Uchi’s for this prize when you released it on Instagram!!)
  • Spellbinders dies: Classic Circles, Gold Circles One and Exquisite Circles
  • Tsukineko Memento dye ink: Tuxedo Black
  • Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Ink – Watermelon
  • Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 025, 195, 373, 856, 933
  • Pebbles, Inc. Pearlescent Chalks Jewel Tones
  • Core’dinations cardstock: Black, Red & White & 110# white
  • Basic Grey Hey Girl cardstock
  • Craft Smith Flutterbloom (optical illusion paper)
  • Therm-O-Web I-Craft Easy Tear Tape double sided adhesive 1/2″ & 1/4″
  • Tombow Xtreme permanent adhesive
  • Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Crafty Foam Tape
  • Aleene’s Original Tacky glue
  • Avery Ultra Tabs
  • Misc. Brad

I am playing along in the following hops and challenges – click on any one of them for more information on how you can join in on the fun!

How about another delicate hint for my Blog Candy Giveaway games from THIS post. Don’t forget: some words may be in there backwards! Although I can’t cater to your every whim, have no fear, you will still get entries for the Bonus questions whether or not you get the answers to #1 and #2 correct. At least you’re now two words closer! Have fun!

I’m so glad to have had all of you visit and have thoroughly enjoyed reading your delightful comments! Thank you for taking the time!!

~D.Ann

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

 

 

 

Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop – Get Well Card

It’s that time of year again! The Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop kicks off today. Yay!

 

The worst part of summer? Summer colds!! What could cheer one up more than an hot cuppa coffee or tea,a yummy short stack and some sunny summer flowers in bed?!!

I thing that Breakfast in Bed tray die from SugarPea Designs is genius! Their current challenge is Mix It Up:

I faded the red to pink and used lots of circles – plus the roses on the ‘bedspread’ reminded me of those roses. Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge is to use patterned paper: I had started off with some chevron paper from Fancy Pants Design as I was going to make a quilt to cover the bed. (More on that in a minute). For the paper-pieced items on the tray I had to place a couple of pieces together with scotch tape and then die-cut. You don’t notice the seam unless you look close.

Unfortunately, the quilt didn’t look right… the tray kind of got lost on it. Well, when you think about it – who has dishes that match their bedspread?!! lol! So I chose a muted floral pattern for my bedspread. The wood paneled walls are made from the packaging of the Fancy Pants ephemera and buttons sets… They outta make that pattern into cardstock, I love it!! The pillow and tissues are made from a real Puffs tissue.

Materials used:

  • SugarPea Designs: Breakfast in Bed stamps & SugarCut dies
  • Fancy Pants Designs: As You Wish collection: Button pack (button & packaging), Ephemera pack (packaging), This & That paper (inside tray, dishes, teapot & tissue box) and Well Traveled paper (outside of tray)
  • The Paper Studio: Eloise Floral paper (bedspread)
  • Core’dinations white cardstock (flowers & pancakes)
  • Foray 30# translucent Inkjet Vellum (flower vase)
  • Memento Rose Bud dye ink
  • Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 059, 195, 296, 933, 942, 977
  • Tsukineko Versamark ink
  • Stampendous PEARLustre embossing powder: Rose Quartz
  • Tsukineko Radiant Neon Amplify: white (whipped topping)
  • Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops: Morning Dew (syrup and coffee/tea)
  • Offray Stylish Accents: Elegant Loop Flower w/ Pearl (‘throw pillow’)
  • Recollections: Lace on a Roll (around pillow & on button)
  • Tombow Xtreme and Mono permanent adhesives
  • Misc: Foam dot, Lace, Puffs tissue, Scotch tape

I am participating in the following hops and challenges. Click on any one of them for more information on how you can join the fun!

I’d hoped to do a belated blogiversary giveaway sometime soon, but haven’t been well enough and now I have meet with the surgeon on Monday. So, perhaps in a few weeks when I’m better we’ll have a party! You might want to be subscribed to my blog so you don’t miss it! (hint-hint) Meanwhile, I’ll be back tomorrow with another fun card for the Coffee Lovers Hop. Hope to see you then! 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.

pps:  For those of you interested, I looked up the forecast for the next few days:

20170623_weather1

(Note: Coffee cups are copyright Verve Stamps LLC and you can get the free printable HERE. This chart is in no way actually sponsored by The Weather Channel. (But I daresay it’s more accurate!!))

 

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:

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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:

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.

MFT Camp Create Day 2: Remarkable Resist – Sweet Lace Cards

Welcome! Today I have a sweet set of 4 cards I did with the technique from My Favorite Things’ Camp Create Day 2: Remarkable Resist.

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The backgrounds were heat embossed with that fabulous lace stamp. I love running your fingers over it afterward as it feels lacy! I did two in white and two in gold with glitter finish . Love that shine!

Then I did one of each with a rainbow of watercolor and one of each with red and blue, making purple in the middle. Which combo do you like best?

Here is the badge I earned for today’s lesson:

Materials used:

  • My Favorite Things Lace Background and Candy Jar Companions stamps
  • My Favorite Things Sentimental Flourish Frame Die-namics
  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors 32, 31, 40, 52, 64, 139
  • Tsukineko Versamark Ink
  • Inkadinkado Linen White & Black embossing powders
  • American Crafts Zing! Gold Embossing Powder Glitter Finish
  • Canson Cold Press Watercolor Paper
  • Core’dinations cardstock: black & white
  • Colorbok Shiny Gold metallic paper
  • Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue
  • Tombow Xtreme & Mono adhesive runners

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:

I hope to return soon with more projects from this fun ‘camp’, so please stand by!

~D.Ann

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

Altenew Creative Watercolor Media Class – Lesson 6

Well, it’s time for my card from the final lesson of  Altenew’s Creative Watercolor Media Class.

  

Lesson 6 showed another way to use re-inkers to watercolor. I liked this technique a lot! It’s fun to watch the colors spread out to wherever the water is on the paper. Although I only had 2 re-inkers, it worked just as well smooshing my ink pads onto a craft mat and picking up the ink. I added a lot of ‘raindrops’ — you regular readers know I love to take pictures of flowers that have raindrops on them. : )

Materials used:

  • Altenew Peony Bouquet & Beautiful Day (sentimen) stamp sets
  • Tsukineko Versamark Ink
  • Inkadinkado embossing powder: Linen White
  • Stampin’ Up! dye ink re-inkers: Bravo Burgundy & More Mustard
  • Altenew Crisp Dye Ink: Coral Berry
  • Tsukineko Memento  dye inks: Bamboo Leaves, Dandelion, Sweet Plum & Teal Zeal
  • Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops: Morning Dew
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock
  • Simply Defined 5×7 Bright White card base 200#
  • Misc. teal cardstock
  • Tombow Xtreme adhesive

I am entering this in the following galleries and challenges:

Well, it was a fun and informative class. I’ve learned some useful tips and have a few techniques I think I will use again and again. As you’ve seen, the the class focuses on using dye inks (on pads, from re-inkers, or in shimmer sprays) to watercolor. Click on any of the highlighted links above for more info.

Edited to add: Thank you Altenew, for the honor!

20170620_CaughtByAltenew

Thank you all for stopping by! If I’m not back before, 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.

Altenew Creative Watercolor Media Class – Lesson 3

Well, after a roaring start, I wasn’t able to keep up the pace. : ) But I’m glad to be back today with a card I made for Lesson 3 of Altenew’s Creative Watercolor Media Class, taught by the ever cheerful and talented Laura Bassen (aka Laurafadora). She used the Altenew crisp dye ink pads to paint her cute card blending a light and dark shade of each color.

I liked my last card (the 3d lotus) so much, I thought I’d do the same layout but all on one layer this time, using the same color scheme from the May 2017 Inspiration Challenge in my foreground:

I also decided that since this would involve some masking and using the MISTI stamping tool, I should take advantage of the set up time and do 3 additional cards. The MISTI makes it easy to set up a production line:

I also wanted to try stamping in the darker color of what I’d be painting for a no-line look. Then I thought while I was at it, I would compare papers. Here they are, all ready to go…

Upper L: Distress Watercolor Cardstock; Upper R: Strathmore mixed media 90#;       Lower l: Canson cold press Watercolor; Lower L: Canson L’Aquarelle Hot Pressed

Here’s how they turned out:

I learned why it’s easier to watercolor when you heat emboss the outline… the water and color stays in the lines! : ) I was surprised that the lines, although dry, absorbed the water from the fill-in and bled out, blurring the images. I can only imagine if I’d’ve used black to stamp the outlines! The Mixed Media paper was the worst at this although it said for wet media.

I selected the best one (Ranger Watercolor Cardstock) and decided to add some sunshine by watercoloring the white space in all yellow to make the flowers pop (and to see if it helped hide the bleeding). I think it turned out ok. I’ll set the others aside and try to do something with them later on.

Supplies used:

  • Altenew Lotus tamp and die sets
  • Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set (sentiment)
  • Tsukineko Versamark Ink
  • Inkadinkado embossing powder: Linen White
  • Altenew Crisp Dye Inks: Coral Berry & Frosty Pink
  • Tsukineko Memento  dye inks: Bamboo Leaves, Dandelion & Pear Tart
  • Tsukineko Brilliance Pigment Ink: Pearlescent Beige (for the pistil)
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock
  • Here were the other three contenders, :
    • Canson Cold Press Watercolor paper 140#
    • Canson L’Aquarelle Hot Pressed Watercolor paper 140#
    • Strathmore Mixed media 90#
  • Core’dinations pink cardstock
  • Simply Defined 5×7 Bright White card base 200#
  • Tombow Xtreme adhesive (great for watercolor – no warping!)

I am entering this in the following galleries and challenges:

Well, I’m halfway through the class and having a blast. I’ll be back when I can with the next card.

~D.Ann

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

Altenew Creative Watercolor Media Class – Lesson 2

Welcome back for my card from the second less of Altenew’s Creative Watercolor Media Class! This lesson, taught by the amazingly talented Debby Hughes of Lime Doodle Design, was on using shimmer sprays. Since the set she used is still on my wishlist, I started out with the Lotus set and colors used in the May 2017 Inspiration Challenge:

I don’t have the Altenew shimmer sprays, but did have another brand, but only the light pink and greens matched the inspiration colors. So, I grabbed my Altenew Coral Berry which is just like the hot pink and, by mixing it on my craft mat with the glimmer mist, the entire flower came out all shiny!

The aqua ‘pond’ background is made EXTRA shiny by adding a mix of Distress Mica Spray and Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist.

Tips: I love the tip Debbie gave to add aqua to the pink and yellow to the greens for some extra shading and depth!

Also, if you don’t want your white foam tape to show up under black paper, run a Sharpie Marker along the edges BEFORE adhering. (The voice of experience says that trying to do it afterward can lead to some oopsies!)

If you’re like me and don’t tape your watercolor paper down and it warps, Tombow Xtreme adhesive holds it flat/

Materials used:

  • Altenew Lotus tamp and die sets
  • Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set (sentiment)
  • Tsukineko Versamark Ink
  • Stampendous Glamour Detail Gold embossing powder
  • Altenew Crisp Dye Ink: Coral Berry
  • Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists: Bubble Light Green; Dazzling Diamonds, Forest Green, Lime Light, S.W.A.K., and Sunflower
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Mica Spray: Brushed Pewter
  • Canson Cold Press Watercolor paper 140#
  • Simply Defined 5×7 Bright White card base 200#
  • Tombow Xtreme adhesive
  • Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue

I am entering this in the following galleries and challenges:

So far, there have been some excellent tips from each lesson (including one on die-cutting that I needed!). Although they are geared toward Altenew products, you can easily adapt them to similar products you may have on hand. I’m looking forward to working on the rest of the classes!

Hopefully I’ll see you again tomorrow!

~D.Ann

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

Papertrey Ink 10th Anniversary Celebrating… 2013 – Hugs Card

Ok, this is my last one for today. Dunno if I’ll be able to finish up to 2016 tomorrow or not as there’s a lot on my plate. We’ll see. This Papertrey Ink 10th Anniversary card is for Celebrating the Past, Present and Future: 2013.

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This time I drew my inspiration from this card by Nichole Heady:

20170219_pti2013

Here’s my adaptation:

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I love this pretty set and its lovely sentiments! Here’s the inside:

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Supplies used:

  • Papertrey Ink Big Hugs stamps and dies
  • Papertrey Ink cardstock: Lovely Lady
  • DCWV Hello Darlin’ stack cardstock (love that pink & gold!)
  • Papertrey Ink dye ink: Hibiscus Burst
  • Floamies 3mm sheet foam
  • Misc. twine
  • Tombow Xtreme adhesive

I’m playing along with the following challenge… click on it for more information on how you can join the fun

Hopefully, I’ll see you tomorrow with the final 3 of this series. Thank you so much for stopping by!

~D.Ann

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