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

Trouble Organizing Your Mail?

This week's Anything But A Card Challenge hosted by Karen Knegten over at Stamp TV is to decorate a napkin holder. I loved Karen's idea to re-purpose the holder as a mail sorter - what a fab idea, right? We all have the pile of unorganized mail that needs a home and this is the perfect solution! I am also entering my project over at BasicGrey Challenges. The current challenge is to use punches on your project.

I was in PA this weekend visiting mom and we had time to do this project together. If you haven't already, you can check her project out here. As we sat and stared at our blank, plastic holders, discussing out plans of attack, we had a brainstorm. Instead of creating pockets to slip over each side, an A2 envelope with the flap cut off would do the trick! What a quick and easy gift idea this is :) I think I am going to head back to the $ store and pick up a few more holders!

So, for my project, I cut the flaps off of two A2 envelopes and began to decorate them. I decided on using Basic Grey papers from the Boxer collection and I used Gina K. Pure Luxury Card Stock in In The Navy for layering. I distressed the edges a bit to add some texture. I stamped the mailbox image from Gina K. Designs set Autumn Beauty designed by Theresa Momber on ivory card stock, colored with Copics, cut out using Nestabilites, and sponged with SU! ink in Night of Navy. I added some corner treatments using Sizzix dies, a MS flower punch and some green pearls.
For the back of my mail holder, I used the same papers and embellishments, and added a strip that I created using an MS border punch. I wanted to keep the back simple but cute!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I should have extra time this week for stamping so let me know if you see any new fun challenges out there in blog world!

Just For You

Tonight I am sharing a card that I created for the color challenge at Stamp TV hosted by Tina Gilliland. The color combo was red, ivory and kraft. My base card is SU! kraft card stock and the red and ivory are Gina K's Pure Luxury in Lipstick Red and Ivory. I tore the edge of my red strip and then ran it through my Cuttlebug with a border embossing folder. I then stitched on a border and ran some ivory satin ribbon down the red edge. I created my frame using Nina Brackett's Lovely Labels stamp set by Gina K. Designs. I stamped the label in SU! Riding Hood Red and then used my Nestabilities to cut it out. I then pulled out another one of my favorite Nina sets, Lovely Shelf, and stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of the kraft card stock. Using my Memento marker in Lady Bug, I colored and stamped just the flower blooms (this stamp is actually two flowers with leaves in a vase) around the sentiment. Using markers is a great way to customize your stamps to exactly what you need :) The framed sentiment was then added to my card and I attached a bow to the top. My final addition to this card was the flower. To create it, I used a random felt shape, layered a silk flower on top, used a vintage button from Grandma's stash for the center, and then added some Martha Stewart branches.

It felt so good to finally have some time to play tonight :) What a great stress relief from my long day at work. I hope you like what I came up with!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Key To My Heart

Tonight I am sharing with you a card that I made this weekend for this weeks Color Challenge over at Stamp TV to use black, white and kraft. I was in Pennsylvania visiting my parents this weekend, and whenever I am visiting, I always take advantage of mom's stamps and supplies :) For this card, I used two Gina K. stamp sets that I have not yet added to my personal collection - Timeless Treasures by Theresa Momber and Vintage Borders by Nina Brackett. I started by running a piece of white Pure Luxury card stock through the Cuttlebug using one of mom's embossing folders, and then hit the raised areas with SU! Sahara Sand ink using a piece of yellow sponge. On a piece of Pure Luxury card stock in Soft Sand, I first stamped one of the borders from Nina's set in black, and then added some pearls to embellish. On a square piece of the Pure Luxury white, I stamped the heart-shaped lock from Theresa's set in the Sahara Sand, and then added the sentiment on top in black. The key was stamped in black onto the Soft Sand, and was then cut out using a craft knife. All layers were bordered in Pure Luxury Black Onyx. For my finishing touches, I started digging through mom's ribbons and trims and found the the perfect pieces to add to the card! Thanks for the fun day in your craft room, mom! I am missing you already!

Before I go, I just wanted to give you an update on the house :) We had the home inspection on Saturday (almost 4 hours) and everything went very well! There are a few minor things that we will need to work on, but nothing major! I am so relieved! Next step - the mortgage...

I hope you have a great week!

Inspired By A Lamp

Today I created a card for two challenges. The first challenge is the Photo Inspiration Challenge over on the Basic Grey Challenges blog. Isn't the color combination just stunning in this living room? While scanning the scene for some more inspiration, I saw the lamp sitting over on the table and instantly knew what stamp set I was going to use for my card - Gina K. Designs Lovely Shelf by Nina Brackett. Nina's set has the cutest little lamp image :) Well, now all I needed was a layout for my card, and the Stamp TV Sketch Challenge designed by Jennie Harper was perfect!

For my card, I used Gina K's Pure Luxury card stock in Soft Sand and designer paper from Basic Grey - Nook & Pantry. For the center panel, I cut the lace out from one of the sheets of designer paper. To create the lamp, I stamped onto the aqua paper, and then paper pieced the base and shade. I popped up the shade using a pop dot, and decorated the trim using tiny pearls. The ovals were created using my pink and purple Marvy Uchida punches, and I paper pierced around the scalloped edge. All stamping and sponging was done using SU! Close to Cocoa. A few more pearls were added to opposite corners to finish my project.

I also wanted to share with all of you that my Punny Pear card was in the Customer Sunday Spotlight over on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog today. I am so flattered :) You can check out the post by clicking here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!