Dannie's Designs

Mojo Birthday

Yesterday I was able to carve some time out of my day to disappear into my stamp room.  It had been so long since I sat down to stamp that I actually felt rusty.   It was the strangest feeling.  If it weren't for this amazing sketch from Julee, I probably wouldn't have been able to get anything made.

I needed to make a birthday card and I thought this sketch worked perfectly.

I used one of my favorite color combinations from the Maine Blueberry DSP--Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, and Old Olive.  I stamped the cupcake in Basic Black ink, colored it with markers, cut it out and popped it up on dimensionals.  It looks flat in the photo, but it stands off the card.  The sentiment was also popped up on dimensionals.

I was excited to finally have the chance to use my new punch for the border.  It's so pretty that I had to use it on the inside of my card too.

I like to keep the inside of my card pretty similar to the front so they coordinate.  Of course I left more open space to write a message.  If you have any questions on how I made any part of the card, please let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Easy Events
Paper:  Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Maine Blueberry DSP
Ink:  Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Accessories:  Dimensionals, Old Olive Grosgrain, Bashful Blue Wide Ribbon, Brads
Punches:  Vintage Floral (Martha Stewart), Modern Label, Word Window

Easy Events Stamp Set

This morning I had the chance to sneak into my stamp room for a little bit and get some stamping done.  It felt wonderful!  I started with this simple sketch.

This was the perfect sketch to use for the thank you cards I needed to make.

I tried to keep the layout flat so it wouldn't cost me extra postage to mail.  For some reason my post office here in town loves to charge me extra postage if there's even the slightest lump in the envelope.  If I mail my cards from the next town over, they mail them without the extra postage even if they're lumpy.  However I'd spend more in gas driving to the next town to mail them than it would cost in extra postage.  I can't seem to win so I keep them flat.

I used the Easy Events stamp set that I got for free at convention.  I love the variety of images in the stamp set and how quickly you can make cards using them.  All you need to do is change the colors I used and change the stamped image to another image in the stamp set and you've got a great variety of cards to send out for any occasion.

I used the same punched layers for the inside of the card to keep the look uniform.  That's it...quick and simple!  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Easy Events
Paper:  Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder
Ink:  Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, So Saffron
Accessories:  Sponge, Nestabilities, Dimensionals
Punches:  Scallop Edge,  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border
Big Shot:  Polka Dot Embossing Folder

5-petal Flower

I was worried that I wouldn't have time to stamp today, but I managed to squeeze in some time to make one more card using this sketch.

I made this flower using the 5-petal flower punch.  Click here to see a tutorial on how to make it.  I mounted the flower on a large scallop circle that I cut out using one of my Big Shot dies.

I pretty much stuck to the sketch for this card.  The only difference is that I left off the three small flower accents.

Again, the inside of my card looks pretty much like the inside of the other cards I posted this week.

This will be the last card I make (for now) using this sketch.  It truly is a great sketch to work with and it can be used to make a huge variety of cards.  I hope you've enjoyed stopping by the last four days seeing the different cards I made using this same sketch.  Thanks for stopping by!

Paper:  So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Hawaii Papaya DSP
Ink:  More Mustard, Tangerine Tango
Accessories:  Rhinestone Brad, Buttons, Kiwi Kiss Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge
Punches:  5-petal Flower, Scallop Trim Border
Big Shot:  Scallop Circle #2

3x3 Valentine's Card

I'm back to show you a very quick card that I made using the same Mojo Monday sketch.

The previous two cards that I made were 5 1/4" square.  This time I made a simple 3x3 card.  Ever since I made the Valentine's heart container for my daughter, she has been reminding me that I forgot to make her a Valentine's Day card.  So I made this card for her and she is thrilled.  She especially likes the glimmer paper.  She keeps touching the heart and then looking at her finger to see if any of the glitter came off.  I love this paper because the glitter doesn't rub off.

As you can tell, I changed my card a little bit from the sketch.  I tried to put a few different accents where the small flowers are, but they didn't work so I left them off completely.  I also changed the large circle shape into a heart.  I think that people often see a sketch and think that their card has to look *exactly* like the sketch.  So long as the basic layout is there, it works.

My goal is to be back tomorrow to post one more card using this sketch challenge.  I'll see you then.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Rough Edges Alphabet
Paper:  Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Glimmer Red, Love Impressions DSP
Ink:  Real Red
Accessories:  White Ribbon, Dimensionals
Punches:  Heart to Heart, Full Heart, Pinking Hearts Border

Black and White

Are you ready to see the second card I made using the same sketch as yesterday?

As you can see, I stuck more to the sketch today than I did yesterday.  Even though I used the same sketch for my starting point, both cards look completely different.  This card is much more elegant than the Christmas card.

I stamped the sentiment in Basic Black ink, cut it out with a circle nestability, embossed it with the nestability, and then sponged it with Basic Black ink.  I layered it on top of a scalloped circle, and finished it off with some die-cut flowers.  You can't see it in the photo, but the white flowers have a gorgeous shimmer to them.

Like yesterday's card, I used the same basic layout for the inside of my card only rotated 90 degrees.  I also stamped another sentiment on the inside. 

I think everything else on the card is pretty self-explanatory.  If you have questions on how I made a certain part, just let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  One Person (Verve)
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Night & Day DSP
Ink:  Basic Black
Accessories:  Nestabilities, Black & White Brads, Dimensionals, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Die-Cut Flowers (Brides), Sponge
Punches:  Flower Border (Martha Stewart), Flower (SU!)

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

Insiration

When it comes to sketch challenges, I'm usually way behind and don't get them done on time.  Today I surprised myself and got this weeks Mojo Monday sketch done on the same day it posted.  That's a first!

As soon as I saw the layout, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

I love this sentiment from Verve.  "You have been my inspiration, my confidante, my friend.  Because of you I've learned to love, to forgive, and to live a life filled with purpose."  Isn't that beautiful?  It expresses exactly how I feel.

If this card looks a little battered, that's because it is.  I got all of my designer series paper glued on, sewed a border around the edge, stamped my sentiment, layered it, etc....and then glued it all on upside down!  I put the sentiment on top of the striped part and then couldn't figure out why the red section looked so empty.  Duh!  Thank goodness the glue hadn't completely fixed itself in place because I managed to peel the layers apart without ripping my designer series paper or cardstock.  It's a little warped and bent, but nothing tore.  It was a close one.

At least it didn't matter on the inside of my card because all I'd have to do is flip it upside down and it would still look the same.  Next time I'll pay better attention to what I'm doing.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Because of You (Verve)
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Soft Suede, Christmas Cocoa DSP
Ink:  Real Red, Soft Suede
Accessories:  Nestabilities, Sponge, Dimensionals, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Janome Sew Mini

Faux Material

Today when I sat down to stamp I decided to combine two challenges.  I tried the Faux Fabric technique and this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge.

I figured since it was faux fabric, I might as well break out my sewing machine too.  I don't sew often on my cards, but I love the finished look it adds.  I ran a piece of Old Olive ribbon across the center and then tied off the two ends with a piece of Hemp Twine.  I also added some green dew drops which appear more blue in this photo.

I stamped the flower and leaf images on Whisper White cardstock, cut it out with my Nestabilties, sponged the edges with Not Quite Navy ink, ran it through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, and then distressed the edges.  It definitely gives a cotton/fabric look to the cardstock.

I finished off the inside of my card with some more sewing and a few more layers.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers
Paper:  Whisper White, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Maine Blueberry DSP
Ink:  Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Accessories:  Dew Drops. Old Olive Ribbon, Hemp Twine, Dimensionals, Nestabilities, Cutter Kit, Janome Sew Mini, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Dew Drops
Punches:  Scallop Edge, Corner Rounder

Breast Cancer Victory

I'm still here!  Sorry for the long break in posting.  I was knee deep in taxes, kids with pink eye and life in general.  I'm caught up on life and it feels wonderful getting back to stamping again.  I decided to start with this wonderful Mojo Monday sketch from last week.

The sentiment says, "Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.  -Hill"  It comes from Verve's "Believe" stamp set that was designed specifically for Breast Cancer.  I made this card for my mother who is a breast cancer survivor.  She was diagnosed five years ago this month.  I'm so grateful that she has survived and that she's been cancer free for almost five years now.

I was going to add more to the card so that it looked just like the sketch challenge, but I didn't want to take away from the beautiful sentiment.  I used this tutorial on SplitCoast for the ribbon around the sentiment. 

The inside of the card has pretty much the same layout as the front.   It has plenty of room for me to let my mom know how much I love her and how much she inspired me as she battled her cancer.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Believe (Verve)
Paper:  Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Accessories:  Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Pretty in Pink Brads, Dimensionals, Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Nestabilities, Sponge
Punches:  Flower Border (Martha Stewart)

Embossed Rose

For today's card I used this Viva la Verve sketch.

At first I wasn't quite sure what to do with the rounded part of the sketch.  Then I looked at my stamp desk and saw that I had flowers from the Manhattan Flower embossing folder laying around and they would work perfectly.

I took the embossed flower and turned it over so the raised part of the image was facing down.  Then I inked up my brayer in Pretty in Pink ink and rolled it over the flower image.  It inked up all of the petals but not the "valleys" in the paper.  The flower was embossed on Shimmery White cardstock and it really sparkles and shines.  I saw this technique a while ago on Patty Bennett's blog (I think). 

Even though the rose is pink and the background paper is vanilla with pink flowers, the rose seemed to get lost on the card.  So I glued the flower to some Basic Gray cardstock and cut around the flower design.  This really helped the flower stand out on the card.

I kept the same layout as I did on the last card that I posted.  I think this is my default layout that I use for the inside of my cards when I'm not sure what else to do.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps:  Oval All
Paper:  Shimmery White, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink, Lap of Luxury DSP
Ink:  Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink
Accessories:  Basic Gray Ribbon, Silver Brads, Dimensionals, Manhattan Flowers Embossing Folder, Brayer
Punches:  Scallop Oval, Oval, Scallop Border