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