Dannie's Designs

Matchbox Messages

I can't believe it's November already.  Halloween is already over and it doesn't quite feel like the holidays yet to me.  Maybe it's because of the really warm weather we've been having here lately.  Whatever the reason, I hope it begins to feel more like fall and the holidays before Thanksgiving gets here!

As usual, I am in need of thank you cards so I sat down to make some today.

It's a very simple card yet it turned out really nice.  It's difficult to see in the photo, but I added paper piercing in all of the scallops on the scalloped circle.  The strip across the middle is a piece of wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain with a piece of thinner Whisper White grosgrain on top of that.  The texture of the ribbon and the texture on the DSP go really nicely together.

I used a similar design for the inside of my card.  I kept it simple so that the card would close and still lay flat.  That's pretty much it.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Matchbox Messages
Paper:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Parisian Breeze DSP
Ink:  Baja Breeze
Accessories:  Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Whisper White Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Paper Piercer
Punches:  Circle (1 1/4", 1 3/8"), Scallop Circle

Fall Thank You

Several weeks ago I participated in another Control Freak swap.  The theme for the swap was the Holiday Mini Catalog.  I chose to use the Warmest of Wishes stamp set that I got for free at convention.

I stamped the leaf image in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and then embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder.  I punched the image out using the Scalloped Circle punch and then I colored the leaves in with markers.  For the center I used a 1" circle punch.  I wanted the circle to be centered perfectly, so I punched out a 1" circle from a scrap piece of paper and traced it with a pencil in the center of the leaves.  I used my pencil marks to line up the circle punch right where I wanted it.

I used the 1 1/4" square punch for the four squares.  I used a corner rounder on two of the corners to add interest. 

For the inside of my card I embossed the very bottom with the Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  I've never tried embossing on the inside of my card before.  I really like how it turned out.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Warmest of Wishes, Thank You Kindly
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard
Ink:  Chocolate Chip Craft, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Dimensionals
Punches:  1" Circle, 1 1/4" Square, Corner Rounder, Scallop Circle
Big Shot:  Polka Dot Embossing Folder

Give Thanks

You know what goes hand-in-hand with kids going back to school?  Back to school colds...ugh!  My angels brought home a lovely cold that knocked me out.  While I have a little bit more energy today, I'm ready for a nap already.  I have some darling projects to show you (and a tutorial too), but I simply don't have the energy to sit at the computer and edit the photos and write the posts.  As I get better and my headache goes away, it will get done.

In the meantime I wanted to show you some quick thank you cards that I made. 

They are very simple and use up some patterned paper scraps that I've had floating around.   I made 20 cards using the pre-cut and pre-scored 3 1/2" x 5" cards and envelopes that Stampin' Up! sells.

I made these cards for a friend whose parents and both of her daughters were involved in a serious car accident.  After 6-7 weeks in the hospital, multiple surgeries, etc., all four of them are now at home while they finish recovering.  Many people have stepped in to help her out so I thought she could use some thank you cards.  Remember to never take your loved ones for granted.

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

Punched Flowers

Where did last week go?  Now that my kids are out of school, I find that the days are flying by and my schedule is way out of whack.  It seems that my stamping is constantly being pushed to the back burner.  I finally carved out some time today to get some stamping done.

I was blog surfing and saw the cutest cards on Julie's blog and I decided to make some myself.

You can click on the photo to see a larger image.  I used the Polka Dot embossing folder to add polka dots to the right side of the card.  It always amazes me how a little bit of texture can finish off a card perfectly.  I added each of the punched flowers with a dimensional and finished them off with a rhinestone in the center.

These are very quick and easy cards to make and they're adorable too.  Give them a try.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Thank You Kindly
Paper:  Whisper White, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder
Ink:  Regal Rose, Concord Crush, Island Indigo
Accessories:  Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dimensionals
Punches:  Corner Rounder, Blossom Bouquet
Big Shot:  Polka Dot Embossing Folder

Four Frames Thanks

This weekend I've had lots of fun stamping.  I'm working on my next stamping class and I'm hoping to have all of the information on that posted on my blog later this week.  I think you're really going to like it.

I've also been working on some stamping projects for some ladies who live here in town.  One of the projects that was requested was a thank you card.  I tried to make something that was simple, duplicatable, and flat so it wouldn't cost extra to mail.  Here's what I came up with.

The Four Frames stamp set and the Paisley Petals designer series paper are going to be in the next Stampin' Up! catalog.  However, you don't have to wait--you can get both items now!  You can purchase both items with a $20 Stampin' Up! purchase or you can get them free for hosting a $350 workshop.  Click here to read the flyer and to see more details.  You can also click here to place your online order.

I kept the same basic layout for the inside of the card minus the polka dots.  That could be fun trying to fill out a card that's bumpy!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps:  Four Frames, Thank You Kindly
Paper:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Paisley Petals DSP
Ink:  Night of Navy
Accessories:  Night of Navy Ribbon, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Dimensionals
Punches:  Scallop Edge, Decorative Label

Four Frames Thanks

Before I get to today's card, I wanted to remind you that there are only 2 days left to get your FREE Sale-a-bration stamp sets.  For every $50 you spend (before S&H and tax), you get a free item from the Sale-a-bration catalog.   Email me (Dannie@DanniesDesigns.com) your order or visit my Stampin' Up! website and place an order online.   Click here to see all of the stamp sets and accessories you can get for free.  You have until midnight MST on March 31st to place your order so don't delay!

Yesterday I sat down to make another batch of thank you cards and half of them are already in the mail.  They never last very long. 

I used the new Four Frames stamp set and the new Paisley Petals DSP for my cards.  I kept the design very simple so that they would be flat and not cost extra to mail.  I mail out a lot of thank you cards and it would be very expensive if I had to add extra postage to every card I mailed out.  I love using brads, ribbon, and all kinds of accessories on my cards.  However, it's nice to see that you can still make a pretty card without all of the extras.

I added another strip of DSP on the inside of my card to break up some of the white space.  Even when I'm making simple cards, I still like to decorate the inside.

I hope you have a wonderful day.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Four Frames, Thank You Kindly
Paper:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Paisley Petals DSP
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist
Punches:  Scallop Edge, Decorate Label

Kind Thanks

This past weekend I had my downline shoebox swap and we made some fantastic projects.  Kelly's project was this quick and easy thank you card.

Kelly showed us an easy way to line up the leaf image and the "Kind Thanks" image so that they were straight.  She mounted both of the stamps on the same clear block, inked each of them up in their own color using her Craft ink spots and then stamped them on the card.  Since they were both stamped at the same time, they were perfectly lined up.  Isn't that a great idea?

The button is actually much thicker than it looks in the photo.  I took four buttons and glued them on top of each other (making sure to line up the holes) to make it thick like a piece of chipboard.  I finished the button off with a piece of twine threaded through the holes and tied it in a knot on top.

Everybody at the meeting wondered how Kelly cut out the scalloped brown cardstock.  It's from the Tasteful Trim Big Shot die.  I hadn't even noticed that shape on there.  Now that's one more reason why I need to buy the die.  Thanks for the wonderful project Kelly!

Well, I better go.  I have a horrible cold and don't feel well at all.  I wish I could crawl back in bed, but I have pressing things to take care of.  Thanks for stopping by!

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

Afterthoughts

It's the last day of February so I decided to squeeze in the final Viva la Verve sketch challenge for this month.  Here's the sketch we had to work with.

Even though this Jolly Holiday DSP was made for the holidays, I think it can work for any occasion throughout the year.  I love this color combination.

I started with a piece of 4" x 4" Old Olive cardstock for the Scalloped Trim layer.  After punching out all four sides on the cardstock, it ended up being just shy of 3 3/4" square including the scallops. 

My sentiment came from the Afterthoughts hostess stamp set.  I stamped it in Cherry Cobbler ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then cut it out using my oval Nestabilities.  Before I removed the Nestability, I sponged Cherry Cobbler ink around the sentiment.  I layered the sentiment on top of a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock that I cut out with my Nestabilities.  I finished it off with some paper piercing and a Prima.

I kept the layout for the inside of my card the same as the front of my card.  Now I have another Thank You card to add to my pile of cards that are ready to send out when I need them. 

I hope you have a wonderful day today.  Thanks for stopping by! 

Stamps:  Afterthoughts
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Jolly Holiday DSP
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Accessories:  Old Olive Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge, Silver Brad, Prima, Paper Piercer, Nestabilities
Punches:  Scallop Trim Corner, Scallop Trim Border