Love Is In The Air

As I am sitting here blogging away, all I can hear is the sound of little sleet balls bouncing off the window.  I hope it clears up by morning - I have a busy day ahead of me at work tomorrow!

Tonight I am sharing the card that I made for this week's challenge over at the A Muse Studio Challenge Blog - Love Is In The Air.  I have to tell you - I had so much fun making this card :)  I just kept stamping and adding - I think I used up a quite a few of my dimensionals - LOL!

All of the stamps that I used for this card are by A Muse.  I started with a blank piece of white card stock and began by stamping the A Muse - Wild Rose Branch repeatedly in Stampin' Up! - Old Olive.  I then sponged around the edges in the same color to blend everything together.  Next, I sewed my newly created background of leaves to a piece of designer paper from My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found - Madison Avenue.  Then I cut out a heart using Nestabilities - Scalloped Heart with the same designer paper, tied a piece of Stampin' Up! Fancy Fibers - Hannah around it in a bow, and added it to the center of the card.  I stamped the A Muse - Kissing Couple onto a piece of white card stock, colored using Copics - E51, RV32 and YG95, punched them out and added a small heart-shaped brad above - kiss kiss.  I added some sponging around them in Stampin' Up! - Blushing Bride.  The A Muse - Wild Rose was stamped, also using Blushing Bride, onto the white card stock, was cut out and added to the card using dimensionals.  The same was done with some extra leaves - layering on top of the original image.  Here is a close up so you can really see the layering:

Finally, to finish the card, I stamped A Muse - Love Is In The Air, cut it out by hand, added some sponging, and then attached it to the bottom corner.  I like how it blends in with the greenery but still pops out and grabs your attention.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my card!

best!
dee marie

Burgundy + Gold + Plum

Post number three for today...  For this card, I was inspired by this week's challenge over at The Play Date Cafe - PDCC114.  The challenge is to use the color combo Burgundy, Gold and Plum.  I would have never thought to combine these colors but I think they work awesome together!  Here is the inspiration The Play Date Cafe provided:

After post one and two today, I checked the mail and I received a grab bag of stamps from Gina K. Designs that I won in a challenge this past week!  What an awesome assortment of stamps!  It's funny, I have quite a few sets from Gina K and not one was a duplicate of something I have :)    My favorite stamp from the grab bag is definitely the stamp I used on my card.  It's from Lovely Labels 2 by Nina Brackett.  I stamped it in Memento Sweet Plum onto ivory card stock.  Then, using a stamp-a-ma-jig (because I am no good at centering without it), added the congratulations sentiment from Gina K. Designs - Inside and Out.  I don't own this shape of Nestabilities, so I cut the label out by hand.  The plum and burgundy background papers are from my scrap bin - maker unknown.  The Fleur de Lis border was added with a border punch from ek success.  To finish my card (and incorporate my gold), I added some left over metallic holiday ribbon that I purchased at Target this past season, some gold ball accents, and a gold heart button that I had in my stash.

This is probably my last post of the evening, but I will be back tomorrow!

best!
dee marie

New Grad

So many challenges are looking for cards about something new for the New Year.  This card was created for my future sister-in-law who just graduated!  Hooray Colleen!

My inspiration for this card came from multiple challenges - I will be listing them all below.

All background and designer paper is from BasicGrey - Pyrus.  I added distressing to most of the bare edges and sponged on some Memento Rich Cocoa ink to give this card a rough look.  I used the sewing machine to attach the layers with all different stitch patterns.  The main sentiment is a Stampin' Up! stamp called Happy Grad, and the small sentiment, "4 you" is from the Stampin' Up! set Tiny Tags.  A Martha Stewart border punch was used to create the scalloped border, and the leaf and flower punches were Martha's as well.  Seam binding was added and tied in a bow on the side.  I paper pierced the top left corner to comply with the sketch.  A large metal brad was added to the flower's center.  To finish the card, I added the "key to success" at the bottom with the tiny tag tied on.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

BasicGrey Challenges - Challenge 60 Something New

Divas by Design - New Beginnings and/or Thanks

Sketch Saturday - Week # 190

Time to take a break but I'll be back later on!

best!
dee marie

Apple Of My Eye

Good Morning and Happy Weekend!  This morning I am sharing the card that I created for this week's sketch challenge over at The Sweet Stop - SSS141.  Here is the sketch I followed:

For this card, I used Sweet 'n Sassy stamps - Punny Fruits and Veggies.  I decided on the apple - isn't he sweet!?  He is all paper pieced.  I kept everything else simple.  All designer paper is from Basic Grey - Sugar Rush collection.  I stamped the sentiment right on the background for a change.  Only extra embellishment is the pink ric-rac that I used for the bottom strip.

I am off to start my next project!  I set today aside for crafting :)  Stay tuned!

best!
dee marie

It's Not The Years In Your Life

 

Tonight I am sharing the card that I made for this week's "Just Us Girls" Challenge - JUGS #118 Sketch.

The stamps I used to create this card are all from Gina K. Designs.  A Year of Flowers, Pressed Flowers and Inspiration Mosaic are all sets designed by Melanie Muenchinger.  For the tulips, I first stamped all of the solid elements using various stamps from Pressed Flowers.  They were inked with Memento markers in Lady Bug and Bamboo Leaves.  I then went over the solid images with the outline stamps from A Year of Flowers.  I didn't line them up perfectly, but I ended up liking the end result.  What do you think?  The sentiment is from Inspiration Mosaic.  Nestabilities were used to cut out both the image and the sentiment (I turned my sentiment from the sketch).  All designer paper is from My Mind's Eye - Meadowlark.  I kept the details simple on this card and just added a little red card stock border on the squares, some sponging in black, and a small red bow.

I hope everyone is enjoying their week!

best!
dee marie

May You Find Comfort

A sympathy card for a dear friend who lost her father last week - so terribly sad.  She lost her mom around the same time last year.  I can't image how she is feeling.  I will be getting this out to her this week.

To create this card, I pulled my inspiration from this week's challenge at CardPatterns - Sketch 147:

I turned the sketch 90 degrees to the right.  The base of the card is Gina K's Pure Luxury card stock in Kraft.  The designer paper I used is from the My Mind's Eye - So Sophie - Graceful 6x6 paper pad.  The sentiment is from Inkadinkado - Kathy Davis, which I stamped and then cut out the shape by hand.  I added a mat of designer paper under the sentiment that I cut out and embossed with Nestabilities Labels Eight.  For the bottom border, I used a piece of frayed canvas and then added some Prima flowers and leaves.  The centers are small yellow pearls.  I added some smaller flowers to the sentiment as well.  All sponging was done using Memento Close to Cocoa ink.  Two small vintage buttons from Grandmom's stash were added to the corners to complete the card.

I hope you have a great start to your week!

best!
dee marie

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

This morning I am sharing a bright and funky Valentine that I created last night for this week's Mix It Up Monday challenge over at Stamp TV.  For this challenge, Tami Mayberry asked us to create a card inspired by one of the designer papers in the True Love patterned paper pack shown here:

Can you tell where I pulled my inspiration from?  You guessed it - that yummy black, white, pink and green gingham!  I thought this would make such a fun color combo!  To create my card, I created many layers using black and white card stock and designer paper from My Mind's Eye - Ooh La La For Her 6x6 paper pad.  The stamps I used are from Gina K. Designs Sung From The Heart set, designed by Rupa Shevda.  I added a top and bottom border to the card with a K&Co. adhesive paper ribbon - Brenda Walton Sweet Talk collection. I cut out hearts in two sizes using my Scalloped Hearts Nestabilities and ran each through the Cuttlebug with a different embossing folder.  To finish the card, I added some sheer black and white ribbon, some pink gems, and a tiny puffy fabric heart that I had laying around.  I wasn't too sure about this card as I was making it, but once it was done, I really like it - hope you do too!

Have a creative day!

best!
dee marie

What Lovely News!

I am trying to have a relaxing day today after my long work week.  I have some acoustic Dave Matthews playing in the background and I decided to work on something calming.  One of the most relaxing techniques for me is paper piecing - maybe it's the find detail and tedious cutting that does it for me...

Here is the card that I created for this week's Free For All Friday challenge over at Stamp TV, and as you may have already guessed by looking at my card, it's All About Baby!  I selected a few different designer papers from the My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad - Fine And Dandy Boy and pulled out three stamp sets from Gina K. Designs.  I decided to start with Nina Brackett's set called Nana's Needlework, stamped the quilt image onto three different papers, then cut out and pieced everything together.  I then stamped the wooden shelf onto a piece of Gina K's Pure Luxury card stock in Tan Leather - the texture of this card stock along with the wood grain of the shelf gives it a realistic look.  I used coordinating papers for the background and added a stitched zigzag border.  I hung a little baby sign over the shelf - this is from Gina K's set called Rectangle Greetings.  I then finished up the bottom with some grosgrain ribbon, a button and thread, and a sentiment from Nina Brackett's set called Lovely Shelf.  

Over the holidays, one of my close friends Becca announced her pregnancy - so exciting!  I will be getting this card out in the mail to her this week - hope she likes it!

If you have time this weekend to relax, head over to Stamp TV and play along!  If your not relaxing, I hope you are having some fun!

best!
dee marie

February 14th - Keeping it Clean!

Soon the day full of love, kisses, chocolate and romance will be here (and it will be my first one as a married lady)!  I dug out all of my Valentine's Day supplies, followed along with two challenges, and this is what I came up with.  I used Gina K Pure Luxury cardstock in Lipstick Red and White to create all of the multiple layers.  The stamps are from the Stampin' Up! set A Happy Heart.  The hearts were cut out and embossed using Nestabilities Scalloped Hearts dies, and the sentiment was cut out with my Stampin' Up Word Window punch.  I used dimensionals to make the layers pop.  My embellishments are some wide grosgrain ribbon and a few pieces of red and white baker's twine.

The first challenge I followed is this week's challenge at Joan's Gardens - JG512.  This week, you have to use some kind of hearts, use any kind of embellishments, use pink or red with white, and do some kind of embossing.  So much fun!  Thanks Joan!

I also played along with Freshly Made Sketches # 16 sketch challenge.  This was a tough challenge for me.  Not only do you follow along with the sketch, but you have to keep your card "clean" - no distressing, sponging or ripping and tearing allowed.

Both blogs are just full of inspiration and endless fabulous creations!  Be sure to check them both out!

I hope everyone had a good week!  TGIF!

best!
dee marie

Hog Heaven

Sometimes you just feel like creating something fun :)  For this card, I used one of the images and sentiments from a stamp set called Pigs on Parade by Sparkle N Sprinkle.  Isn't she cute?  She looks very relaxed there on her fuzzy towel in the middle of that mud puddle!  The image was colored using Copics.  I added sponging to make everything pop and pieced together a matching flower for the bottom corner.  The background is Basic Grey designer paper layered on my base card made from Stampin' Up! cardstock in Melon Mambo.  I also added some stitching down the right side for some additional texture.

I am entering this card in the current challenge over at The Pink Elephant - Anything Goes this week!  What an awesome site I stumbled across!  This week's prize is $25 to My Favorite Things!

I can't believe tomorrow is already Friday - I feel like I could use a few extra days this week at work!  I am excited for the weekend though...  There is nothing going on and I can't wait to relax and stamp!

best!
dee marie

Some "Pay It Forward" Candy

I sure hope you all didn't give up candy as part of your New Year's Resolution!  Check out these sweets over at Stampings and Inklings!  I found Caroline's blog last night while hopping around, and she has been a lucky winner so she is paying her good fortune forward to us!  Wow, what a yummy assortment of goodies she has to offer!

As if the first bunch of goodies wasn't enough, she has now added some awesome Tim Holtz Distress Ink to the mix!  The Fall 2011 and Winter 2011 collections!

Caroline's candy is only open until she reaches 75 followers, so hurry on over to her blog!  While you are there, you should be sure to check out some of her amazing creations!  

I hope everyone has a beautiful day!  Thanks again Caroline!

best!
dee marie

Mojo Monday... (on Tuesday)

Well, I am trying to get back into the swing of things here and one challenge that always gets my creative juices flowing is a good sketch!  I stopped over at Mojo Monday and this week's sketch - MOJO222 - was just what I needed!

I started by selecting a few different designer papers from the Basic Grey - Nook & Pantry collection.  I then cut out all of my shapes and started piecing everything together.  I then went digging for some embellishments and found a piece of old doily, some vintage buttons and a flower that I built in the past but never used (it seemed to match so I went with it LOL!).  Lastly, on another pattern of designer paper, I stamped "just because I care" from the Stampin' Up! set Best Yet, punched out and popped it on!  All layers were sponged with Stampin' Up! Early Espresso.

This sketch really was a challenge!  If you have time this week, head on over to Mojo Monday and give it a whirl!

best!
dee marie

Handmade Wedding Details

This morning, I wanted to share some of the little details of the wedding that you all have seen being created by mom and I over at Lakeside Stamping the past few months.  Our ceremony and reception took place in a restored barn from the 1800's.  It was very rustic with a harvest twist.  Here is a peek as to how all of our hard work (and inky fingers) paid off on the big day:

For our place cards, guest names and table numbers were computer generated on Gina K's Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock, were cut out using Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Seventeen, and were scored and folded in half.  We then used one of the leaf dies from Spellbinders Assorted Leaves set and cut out and embossed them using Gina K's Pure Luxury in Pumpkin Spice, Cranberry Tart and Sweet Corn.

Here is one of the favors, we used jars of Pumpkin Butter and Apple Butter from a local market in Lancaster County, PA - Kitchen Kettle Village.  The tags were all handmade by mom and I.  You can check out the details (and close up shots) on Mary Anne's post - Heartfelt X 200.

This shot captures the table setting, the centerpieces, which included natural wheat, farm fresh apples and pumpkins, and sprigs of Hypericum berries.  Mom and I created the table numbers, which tied in perfectly with the elements and the chocolate brown linens.  For more details on the table numbers, check out Mary Anne's post - Little Details.

All of the handmade details that were mixed in throughout the day, made it even more special and memorable!  I hope you all enjoyed following this creative journey with us!

dee marie

Happy New Year!

Well, my 2011 whirlwind of events has come to an end.  After all of the preparation and planning, my wedding day was the most amazing day of my life.  Shaun and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, and we will never forget all of the memories we created on October 15th.  Here are a few of my favorite snapshots from that day:

After our wedding, we had the most beautiful honeymoon in Aruba!  We relaxed on the beach, feasted on the most delicious foods, and adventured around the island.  Here are a few favorites from Aruba:

After our return to Springfield, NJ (and after a wicked snowstorm for Halloween), it was back to work and back to reality for us.  Thanksgiving quickly approached, followed by Christmas, and now here we are in 2012!  I am so excited to get back to my blog and I can't wait to start creating and sharing with all of you in the new year!

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2012!

dee marie