Dannie's Designs

Retiring Stampin' Up! Products

It's June 1st which means that Stampin' Up! has released their lists of retiring stamp sets and accessories.  The retiring accessories are available only while supplies last, so if you see anything on the list that you want, click here to buy it now while you still can (click on the "shop now" button on the top right corner).

Retiring Stamp Sets

Retiring Accessories

Retiring Decor Elements

I will also be adding links to these lists to the sidebar of my blog.  I will be updating the list of retiring accessories regularly so you know what is already sold out.

In honor of the retiring lists, I thought I'd make a card that used a retiring stamp set and designer series paper.  I used this sketch from The Sweet Stop as my inspiration.

 

I was sad to see the All Holidays stamp set on the retiring list because I use the sentiments in this stamp set the most.  I thought the layout was perfect to feature this saying.

It's difficult to see in the photo, but I sewed around all three of the rectangle layers.  Actually, I'm glad it didn't show up too well because I can't sew a straight line to save my life!  I almost went off the edge on one piece.  There's no doubt the recipient of this card will know it's hand-made.  LOL!

I sewed the layers on the inside as well just to keep a uniform look.

Remember, check out those retiring lists and order while you can.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  All Holiday
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, Blueberry Crisp DSP
Ink:  Pacific Point
Accessories:  Janome Sew Mini, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Dimensionals, Sponge, Nestabilities, Primas
Punches:  Scallop Edge

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

Raising Money for Breast Cancer Research

Sorry to disappear on you like that.  My kids were on Spring Break and I had the opportunity to go on vacation, so I did!  I had planned on having blog posts all ready to go each day I was gone, but there just weren't enough hours in the day.  Being a single mom can be exhausting and I simply needed a break.  Now that I'm back I feel so refreshed and I'm ready to dive back into life again.

One project I completed before I left was the Control Freak Summer Mini Catalog swap.  I chose to use the Strength & Hope Stamp set.

I sponged Chocolate Chip ink around both of the Pink Pirouette cardstock layers as well as around the Whisper White layer.  I also used my Janome Sew Mini to sew around the edges of the largest pink layer.  I had to make 30 of these cards so that was quite a bit of sewing, but I love the way the sewing adds to the card.

This stamp set was designed to help raise money for Breast Cancer research, so I had to add a pink Breast Cancer ribbon to the card.

I kept the inside of the card very simple with some sponging and a stamped butterfly.

As I said before, this stamp set was designed to raise money for Breast Cancer research.  Stampin' Up! will donate $2 from the sale of each Strength & Hope set and Strength & Hope digital kit to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  This is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart as my mother is a Breast Cancer survivor.  If you would like to purchase this stamp set to help a worthy cause, please visit my website (click shop now in the upper right corner) and order your set today. You can also click here to read more details.

Here are the images that come in the stamp set.

I hope you'll join me in raising money for this great cause.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Strength & Hope
Paper:  Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Pretty in Pink Ribbon, Sponge, Dimensionals, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Punches:  Scallop Edge

Spring Post-it Notes

Today I started digging through my stash of stuff I bought at the store to alter and I found a bunch of thing that I don't even remember buying.  How bad is that?  I have so much stuff stashed away and I need to pull it out and start using it!  I thought I'd start with these cute post-it notes.

The flowers made me think of the Build a Blossom stamp set and the coordinating Blossom Petals punch so that's what I used.

I made a cover for the post-it notes and now I can give it away as a gift.  Click here to see some tips on how I put the flower together.  I debated adding some polka dots to the yellow layer with an embossing folder, but I decided to sew the layers together instead.  This was a very quick project to put together. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Build a Blossom
Paper:  So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz
Ink:  So Saffron, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories:  Sewing Machine, Dimensionals
Punches:  Blossom Petals, 1/2" Circle

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

Thank You Kindly

It seems like every time I send out a stack of Thank You cards I need more!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  It's wonderful having so many people help me or do things that I'm grateful for.  The hard part is coming up with new card designs.  Whenever I struggle with a new design or I can't seem to get my stamping mojo going, I'll return to a previous design or layout that I've used in the past.  That's what I did for today's card.

I used the new Botanical Gazette DSP for my card.  I love the deep, rich colors in the paper.  Each of the flowers is stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock and then cut out and layered on top of each other.  The smallest flower was inked up in Cherry Cobbler ink and then I used the Rock and Roll technique on my Baroque Burgundy ink pad to tone down the brightness of the color. 

There are a few details about the card that are a little difficult to see in the photo.  I added paper piercing to all of the scallops on the Marina Mist cardstock as well as to all of the scallops on the scalloped circle (behind the flowers).  I also pulled out my sewing machine and sewed around the green DSP.  I haven't added sewing to my cards in a while and it was so much fun.

I sewed around the green DSP on the inside of my card as well.  I finished it off with a Very Vanilla Top Note and a stamped flower.  Now to get this stack of cards in the mail and start working on the next design.  I know I'll need them soon.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Thank You Kindly, Vintage Vogue
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Botanical Gazette DSP
Ink:  Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories:  Paper Piercer, Marina Mist Ribbon, Janome Sew Mini
Punches:  Scalloped Circle, Circle (1 1/4", 1 3/8"), Scallop Edge
Big Shot:  Top Note Die

Vintage Vogue

I had so much fun participating in the last Control Freak Blog Hop (my last post).  I hope you took a few minutes and scrolled through all of the blogs to see what the other Control Freaks made for the blog hop.  The talent is just amazing!

Since I had all of my Occasions Mini Catalog supplies out to make my projects for the blog hop, I decided to use the same products to make this card.

I pulled out my Janome Sew Mini sewing machine and sewed around the edges of the Real Red DSP and around all four of the Chocolate Chip DSP squares.  I used pink thread so it's a little light in the photo.  I also used seven Dew Drops--one on each of the squares and three below the sentiment "for you."  They're very difficult to see in the photo.  After I adhered them down I realized I should have used a darker color Dew Drop so they'd show up better.  If I had pulled them off, they would have ripped the DSP and I didn't want that to happen.  Sometimes it's just best to just leave things alone.

I cut the heart out using my heart-shaped Nestabilities.  Before removing the cardstock from the Nestability, I sponged some Real Red ink in the center of the heart.  This left a Pretty in Pink border around the edge of the heart.  If that doesn't make sense, you can see my tutorial here on how to do that.  I stamped one of the flowers from the Vintage Vogue Stamp set in Real Red ink, cut it out, and adhered it with a dimensional.  I finished the flower off with a Playground Designer Button and a piece of Linen Thread.

I finished off the inside of my card with more sewing, the Pinking Hearts Border Punch, and a piece of Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Vintage Vogue, All Holidays
Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Sending Love Specialty DSP
Ink:  Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Sponge, Janome Sew Mini, Dimensionals, Dew Drops, Mini Glue Dots, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Playground Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Heart Nestabilities, Hodgepodge Hardware
Punches:  Pinking Hearts Border

Cottage Wall Card

Last month I signed up for a holiday exchange with some of my stamping friends.  We each filled out a survey about our stamping interests as well as a little bit about our personal lives so our exchange partner could get to know us better.  Then the fun began!  We had two stamping assignments per week and then at the end of the month we mailed off a box of stamped goodies to our exchange partner.  Now that my partner has received her box, I'll be posting all of the items I made for her.  Oh yeah, the tissue holder that I just posted was one of the items in her box too.

Our first assignment was to make a hand-stamped card and mail it to her.  Here's the card I made.

 

I made this card back in the beginning of October.  Now that I'm looking at the card, I honestly can't remember if this layout came from a sketch challenge or if I came up with this one on my own.  I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due, so if this came from a sketch challenge I truly apologize.  I simply don't remember.

I used my Old Olive and Orchid Opulence markers to ink up this stamp from the Asian Artistry stamp set.  I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock and then cut it out using my rectangle Nestabilities.  With the cardstock still inside the Nestability, I sponged some Orchid Opulence ink around the edges.  If that didn't make sense, click here to read one of my previous posts where I show photos and explain it a little better.

I used two pieces of Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain across the front of the card.  I just flipped the ribbon over so you can't see the polka dots. 

I had some die-cut flowers that I had purchased at a local craft store and I offset two of them on top of each other to create the flowers at the bottom of the card.  I finished it off with a Rhinestone in the center.

The inside of my card looks much like the front.  I used the same layout, sewing, and sponging too. Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Asian Artistry
Paper:  Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Cottage Wall DSP
Ink:  Old Olive, Orchid Opulence
Accessories:  Rectangle and Scallop Rectangle Nestabities, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain, Sponge, Rhinestones, Die-cut Flowers, Janome Sew Mini

Be Still

I decided that I would take care of myself today so I made some time to stamp.  It felt so good too!  It has been way too long.  I wanted to say thank you to all of you who have left me comments or sent me emails saying that I'm in your thoughts and prayers or that you miss me.  It means so much to me and I appreciate each one of you.  Thank you!  I'm glad you like my new profile picture too.

I saw this mojo sketch challenge over a week ago and knew I had to play along.





Isn't that a beautiful sentiment?  That's one of the most difficult things for me to do--be still and have faith that it will all work out.  If you like this stamp, you can find it at Verve Stamps. 

I have just a few quick notes about the card.  I sponged around all the edges of the Bella Rose DSP with Chocolate Chip ink.  I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and then embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder.  I also pulled out my sewing machine and sewed around the edges of the layers.



The inside of my card matches the basic layout of the front.  I sponged ink around the edges of the DSP, I sewed around the edges, and I added a piece of matching Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain.

I'm off and running like usual.  I hope to be back soon with another project to share.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Psalm 46:10 (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Bella Rose DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip Craft and Classic
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Janome Sew Mini, Primas, Silver Brad, Dew Drops, Nestabilities, Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Sponge

Flourishes Sketch

I'll admit it.  I'm addicted to sketch challenges.  Today I discovered a new one too--Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge.  Here's the sketch for today's challenge.



Isn't that a great sketch?  I love it.

 

You probably haven't paid very close attention to the cards I make, but I rarely stamp with images that need to be colored in.  Why?  I'm not very good at drawing or coloring.  You definitely don't want me on your team if we're playing Pictionary.  When it comes to coloring in images, the highlights, shadows, and blending of colors intimidates me.

Today I stepped completely out of my comfort zone and decided to watercolor the flower.  It was so much easier than I thought!  I'm not saying that I'm ready to start watercoloring images of people yet, but the flower was surprisingly easy to do.

I stamped the flower image three times in Stazon Black ink on Shimmery White cardstock.  I colored over the entire image with Pretty in Pink ink using my Watercolor Brush.  Next I took some Rose Red ink and went along the edge of each petal.  Then I took some Regal Rose ink and painted it next to the Rose Red ink.  Last I went over each petal and tried to blend the three colors together.  That's probably not the correct way to do it, but it worked for me.

 

As you can (hopefully) see in this photo, I took the three flowers and cut them out and layered them on top of each other using dimensionals.  The bottom layer is the entire flower, the middle layer is everything but the outside row of petals, and the top layer is just the center of the flower.  This give the flower lots of depth and dimension.   You can also see in this photo that I sewed around all four squares of designer series paper as well as around the larger rectangle layer of designer series paper.



For the inside of my card I added a little interest by using the same ribbon and paper as the front of my card.  I also used the Eyelet Border punch to create a row of scallops.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral, All Holidays
Paper:  Shimmery White, Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Black Stazon
Accessories:  Rose Dew Drops, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Dimensionals, Janome Sew Mini, Circle and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities
Punches:  Eyelet Border