Dannie's Designs

The Sweet Stop Christmas Card

I've had a card stamped for a week now and I haven't had time to post it.  How crazy is that?  I don't want to rush the holidays, but it will be nice to have life slow down again. 

I used  this darling sketch from The Sweet Stop as my inspiration for my card.

I used the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit for my card.  The wreath was one of the die cuts from the kit.  I ran both of the Cherry Cobbler pieces through the Big Shot using the polka dot embossing folder.  Other than that, the card is very simple and easy to make.

I kept the inside very simple as well.  I punched the top of the DSP with the Eyelet Border Punch.  That's it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Paper:  Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit
Accessories:  Whisper White Ribbon, Early Espresso Ribbon
Punches:  1 3/8" Circle, Eyelet Border
Big Shot:  Polka Dot Embossing Folder

Wine Glass Charms

Recently I helped host a Christmas party where we needed wine glass charms.  Rather than buy charms, I decided to make them.  I pulled out my Shrink Plastic, StazOn pads, and Christmas stamps and got to work.

I made 30 different charms, but I didn't get a chance to take pictures of them before they were used.  Here's a basic tutorial on how to make them.

Step 1:  Stamp the image in StazOn ink on Shrink Plastic.

As you can see by the image on the left, be careful when stamping because the plastic is very slick and the image may smear.  Set it aside to dry completely.

Step 2:  Once the image is completely dry, punch the image out.  I used a 1 3/8" circle punch for this image.

Step 3:  Using a 1/8" circle punch, punch a hole at the top of the charm.

Step 4:  Take a pair of scissors and hold it barely above the image (see photo below) while you heat it with the Heat Tool.

The scissors do two things.  One, it helps keep the plastic from blowing away when air from the heat tool hits it.  Two, it helps keep the plastic from curling up on itself as it shrinks.

Step 5:  Once the image is completely shrunk and it's still hot, press it firmly with a stamp block to flatten it.  The plastic curls at it shrinks and this helps ensure that it's flat once it's done. 

Step 6:  Thread an earring hoop through the hole in the charm and put it on the stem of a wine glass. 

These are very simple to make and everybody at the party loved them.  If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snow Swirled
Ink:  Blazing Red StazOn
Accessories:  Heat Tool, Scissors, Earring Hoops
Punches:  Circle (1 3/8", 1/8")

Milk Carton Box

Today I wanted to show you another great project that we made at my downline shoebox swap.  This project was provided by Elaine.

Isn't that the cutest box?  It's the perfect size for filling with chocolate or some other small gift.  I know you're going to ask how it's made, so I have a quick tutorial for you.

Step 1:  Cut out two of the Mini Milk Cartons using the Big Shot die.

As you can see in the photo (click to enlarge), the panel on the right of each milk carton was cut off.  Each milk carton has three panels on it plus the tab.  Do NOT cut off the side that has the tab on it because you need the tabs to put it together. 

Step 2:  Stamp your cardstock as desired.

Step 3:  You'll notice that at the top of the center panel on each milk carton, the score lines are different than the other two panels.  The first and third panels have score lines that look like an upside down "Y."  The center panel just has a slanted line.  Using a ruler and a bone folder, score the center panel so it looks like an upside down "Y" just like the other panels.  Do this to both pieces.

Step 4:  Add sticky strip to both tab pieces as seen in the photo above. 

Step 5:  Fold both of the milk cartons on all of the score lines.  Adhere both of the milk cartons together to form a hexagon.

Step 6:  As seen in the photo below, start with two tabs on the bottom that are opposite each other.  Adhere them together using sticky strip.  They should overlap 1/4"--just barely enough to cover the sticky strip.

Step 7:  Repeat step 6 with two more tabs that are opposite each other.  Sorry for the blurry photo.  I didn't realize it was blurry until I went to edit the photo.  You can still see what I'm talking about though.

Step 8:  Repeat step 6 again with the last two tabs.

Step 9:  Fold in the top of the box so it looks like a star with six points.

Step 10:  Pinch together one point of the star and punch a hole through it using a 1/8" circle punch.

Step 11:  Repeat step 10 until you've punched holes through all six points of the star.

Step 12:  Thread 16" of ribbon through the holes and tie it shut.  Decorate your box as desired.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Bright Hopes
Paper:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, So Saffron
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke
Accessories:  Dimensionals, Cherry Cobbler Ribbon
Punches:  1/8" Circle, Scallop Circle, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer, Bitty Shapes, Petite Pennants Builder, Extra Large Tag, Large Tag
Big Shot:  Mini Milk Carton Die

Acetate and Tissue

I am happy to say that I am feeling much better this week.  I still have a lingering cough, but that's nothing compared to how bad I felt last week.  I'm grateful that I'm feeling better because this past Saturday was my downline shoebox swap.  These are my favorite meetings because everybody brings amazing projects and we get to stamp together for a couple of hours.

I thought I'd start this week off by sharing with you the project Mary brought to the shoebox swap.

We used the acetate and tissue technique for this card.  You can find a tutorial for this technique here.  I did one thing different than the tutorial.  Before I put the tissue paper on the back of the acetate, I crumpled it up in a tiny ball and then opened it back up.  This helps add to the look.  Here's a closer look--you can click on the photo for a larger view.

Everywhere the tissue paper is crumpled, the reinker color is darker. 

The trees were stamped using Whisper White craft ink and then embossed.  Even though I used the Embossing Buddy on both sides of the acetate, the embossing powder stuck everywhere.  I think it's because there's so much static cling on the acetate sheets.  Next time I may try rubbing it on both sides with a dryer sheet as well to help get rid of some of the static cling.

I kept the inside of the card pretty simple.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Come to Bethlehem, Winter Post
Paper:  Whisper White, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Acetate, Tissue Paper
Ink:  Whisper White, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, reinkers
Accessories:  Crystal Effects, Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy

Candy Cane Card

I am relieved to finally have finished all three swaps.  They are all in the mail somewhere between my house and the swap hostess's house.  It's a huge weight off my shoulders.  I made 42 cards and 18 wedding invitations in just four days.  Phew!

One of the swaps I joined was a Holiday Mini catalog swap.  I started with this layout as my inspiration.

I didn't realize until I was almost done with my card that I even managed to do the spin part of the sketch and make it a Christmas card.  It was supposed to be Christmas in July, but August is close enough.

This Designer Series Paper is called Holly Berry Bouquet.  It's part of a product suite that has coordinating fabric, buttons, MDS download, etc. 

The candy canes were cut out using the Stocking Accents Big Shot die.  The images on the die are made to coordinate with the Holiday Stocking die that's also in the Holiday Mini catalog.  I cut out two white candy canes and one red one.  The die has perforated lines where the stripes are, so I cut the red candy cane apart on all of the perforated lines.  I flipped one of the white candy canes over to the back side and then glued the pieces of the red candy cane in place.

The inside of the card gives you a slightly larger look at the new DSP.

The items in the Holiday mini are available for purchase on September 1st.  If you would like a copy of the Holiday mini catalog, please let me know and I'd be happy to mail one to you (US residents only).  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Come to Bethlehem
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Holly Berry Bouquet DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Dimensionals, Chocolate Chip Polka Dot Scallop Ribbon
Big Shot:  Stocking Accents Die

Cookie Stamping

Today I have another fun goody from convention to show you.  This fall Stampin' Up! will be releasing a set of stamps for your COOKIES!  It will come with three different designs and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will be coming out with more exclusive designs in the future.  They did NOT say that they would have other designs in the future, I'm just hoping.

If you click on the image, you can see a larger version to get a better look at the images.  These cookies are about 3" across.  During lunch one day at convention, they gave us all a cookie to eat that was stamped just like these.  They were delicious.  The best part is that the cookie stamps will come with cookies recipes that work well with the stamps.

Here's a sleeve of the cookies packaged in a cello bag with a darling tag attached.

Here's a box (which we will be selling in the Holiday Mini Catalog) that is the perfect size for holding four cookies.  I can't wait to get my hands on these cookie stamps and these boxes.  This will make giving gifts this holiday season so easy and my kids will love helping me make them.  The cookie stamps will be available for purchase on October 1st.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Holidays

I hope you enjoyed my Valentine's Day post yesterday.  Today I thought I'd go with another holiday and show you a Christmas card.  I used this Mojo Monday sketch for inspiration.

 

The inspiration for the colors in this card came from this gorgeous ribbon I had in my stash.  I got this ribbon from a friend a while ago and I set it aside to use "later."  I decided that it has been collecting dust long enough and it's time to use it.

I wheeled snowflakes all over the large Tempting Turquoise layer using Tempting Turquoise ink.  The sentiment and snowflakes come from the Christmas Stamp Ensemble from JustRite.  I finished off the front with some small white buttons.

For the inside of my card, I kept a similar layout.  I decided to rotate it, however, so that the ribbon went across the bottom.  This helped the card lay flatter when I closed it.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that I *love* sketch challenges.  You also know that I regularly say that these layouts would work well with a variety of stamp sets for different occasions.  Well, this week I've decided to show you what I mean.  For the rest of this week I will be using this same sketch to create a variety of different cards.  When I asked what you guys would like to see on my blog, this was one of the requests that I received. 

I'm off to create card #2.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snowflake Wheel (SU!), Christmas Stamp Ensemble (JustRite)
Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy
Accessories:  Dimensionals, Ribbon, Nestabilities, Buttons

Winter Post

Every year around the holiday season people ask me to participate in holiday boutiques.  I always have to turn them down because I haven't spent time during the year getting projects ready to sell.  I'm determined to fix that this year.  I've decided that each month I will work on Christmas cards and projects so that when November rolls around I'll be ready to go.  So don't be surprised when you see Christmas projects being posted on my blog throughout the year.

I thought I'd start with a Christmas card using this great sketch by Connie and Mary.

The circle was perfect for the skaters from the Winter Post stamp set.

Some of you have asked me how I come up with my color combinations.  Honestly, I get them from my designer series paper.  I let Stampin' Up! do all of the hard work for me!

I stamped the skaters in Chocolate Chip ink and then cut them out using my Nestabilities.  I also used the Nestability as a mask and sponged some Baja Breeze ink around the edge of my circle.  I was really carefully when sponging around their faces because I didn't want their faces to be blue.

I kept the inside of my card really simple because I'm making at least a dozen of these cards.  One design down....lots more to go.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps:  Winter Post
Paper:  Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Candy Cane Christmas DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze
Accessories:  White Ribbon, Brads, Dimensionals, Nestabilities

Gift Card Bag Tutorial

I'm pleased to announce that I have my first tutorial available for purchase.  This tutorial will teach you how to make these Gift Card Bags.

These bags are the perfect size for giving gift cards or any other small gift.  The tutorial has two patterns and two sets of directions so that you can make a simple gift bag or a slightly more advanced gift bag.  The cost for this tutorial is $3.95.  Simply click the button below to purchase your copy of the tutorial.  Thanks!  ~Dannie

I've been really busy these past couple of days working on a Gift Card Bag tutorial for these little bags. 

The tutorial is almost done and I'm hoping to release it tomorrow.  Up until now, everything on my blog has been free--picture tutorials, video tutorials, etc.  This, however, will be my first tutorial for sale.  Rest assured that I will continue to offer free tutorials as well. 

I'm off to finish up the tutorial.  Thanks for stopping by! 

Gift Card Bag

I've been really busy these past couple of days working on a Gift Card Bag tutorial for these little bags. 

The tutorial is almost done and I'm hoping to release it tomorrow.  Up until now, everything on my blog has been free--picture tutorials, video tutorials, etc.  This, however, will be my first tutorial for sale.  Rest assured that I will continue to offer free tutorials as well. 

I'm off to finish up the tutorial.  Thanks for stopping by!