Birthday Honey

One of Stampin' Up!'s new colors is called Hello Honey.  It's a rich yellow, and normally I'm not a big fan of yellow, but I like this one a lot.  I guess because it's not a super bright yellow.  Anyway, this post is a shameless case-n-tweak of a card created by the very talented Dawn Olchefske.  It caught my eye since the base is made of Hello Honey and the card itself is simple but very pleasing to the eye.  Here's my version of it:

Thanks for visiting, and have a great weekend!
Denise

Simple Hello

It's Memorial Day weekend, and I can't remember the last time I had a long weekend at home...I'm usually traveling for work.  So I could hardly wait for this one, and I've used the extra time to paper create!  Sometimes scraps of paper come together to make a quick card, such as this one.  All products used are from Stampin' Up!

Before I close, I'd be very ungrateful if I didn't pay my respects to the men and women of our armed forces who give everything for our freedom.  Thank you, and may God bless you and yours.
Denise

You Are a Fabulous Work of Art

A few weeks ago, I attended Stampin' Up!'s 2014-2015 catalog premiere.  Besides being tons of fun and sharing the excitement with fellow stampers, I actually won a door prize -- three ink pads in their new 2014-2016 in colors!  Wow!  I felt so lucky because not many people there won door prizes.  Anyway, everyone there received a copy of the new catalog and a stamp set called Work of Art.  I must admit, at first glance I was a bit befuddled and thought that it was probably not a set I would have chosen for myself.  Then I started seeing samples made with it, and began to see the possibilities!  The card below is a case 'n tweak of one posted by the phenomenal Sandy Mathis.  All products in this card (except the button) are from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for visiting!  Use some of your weekend time to create!
Smiles,
Denise

Stand Up Cards

Ever since I attended Karen Burniston's interactive card class a few weeks ago, I've become obsessed with cards that do something different, other than open!  I came across a "stand up" card, and thought I'd try one.  The result is this:

All products used are from Stampin' Up!  What do you think?  Kinda fun, huh?  It's the same size as a regular card -- it just folds differently.  I used a framelit to make the tab that holds the folded part up.  Hope this inspires you to create something different today!

Thanks for stopping by,
Denise

Happy Bonny

Went to visit my mom this weekend.  She lives on a farm and we brought the dogs with us.  They LOVE it there because they can roam wherever they want.  They always stay within sight, but they love that freedom!

I was able to snap this shot of Bonny with my iPhone.  I'm amazed at what good pictures it takes!!  I liked the shot so much that I decided to scrap it.  I used Serendipity and Hey Girl digital products by Basic Grey.

Thanks for visiting.  Hope you find some time today to create!!
Best,
Denise

Just Sittin' Here, Thinking of You

After my post about interactive cards, I made another one using Karen Burniston's Bench Pop Up.  I didn't post it right away because I made it for my 23 year old daughter who is working in Japan, and I wanted to wait til she got it before I posted it (so it would be a surprise when she got it).  I have to admit, I really like how this one turned out!  I don't remember where I got the Great Dane stamp, but all other images (and supplies) are from Stampin' Up!  I typed up the saying for the inside of the card on my computer, printed it out, then punched it out using an retired SU punch.

I can't wait to find some more time to make more of these pop up cards!!

Hope you're inspired to create by something you have seen here.

Best,
Denise

Play Ball!

A few months ago I discovered a new on-line magazine devoted to scrapbooking and card making called Create.  It's published via a web site called Issuu, where you can do your own publishing.  I was very happy to find it, as unfortunately, there's not much left in the paper publishing industry of scrapbook magazines. 

What I like about Create is all the ideas!  Lots and lots!!  Using one of their sketches, I was inspired to create this layout of our Great Dane, Bonny, using shots I took when she was a 4 month old puppy:

They invited readers to submit their creations and guess what?  They published mine!!  It's on page 208 of the April issue.  Way cool, huh?!  Why don't you try submitting your work?

Enjoy the day,
Denise

Interactive Card-making with Karen Burniston

Yesterday I was able to attend an interactive card-making class with a stamping friend of mine, Tara Johnson, at Angela's Happy Stamper in Reston with the amazing Karen Burniston.  She has designed die cuts for Sizzix, Stampin' Up! and now she is with Elizabeth Crafts.  We made four cards, one of which is shown below.  I think I had only made one or two interactive cards, ever, but that was before there were die cuts, which is why I didn't ever make more than two!  Well, my eyes were opened yesterday to just how special and different these cards can be.  Check out the front of this Easter card:

It's hard to tell but when closed shut, there's a perfectly cut out butterfly from the inside of the card that shows from the front through the cut-out window.  Here's the inside:

Pretty neat, huh?  I bought a couple of dies and spent all afternoon today making more!

Here's a picture of all of us holding our favorite card we made that day.  Karen is the tall one with the apron on.

BTW, the "Happy Easter" stamp is a really old one from Stampin' Up! -- from 2002!

I'm really glad I tried something new.  It was definitely worth the time and money!  Hope I've inspired you to do the same!

Thanks for stopping by,
Denise

It Took Longer than it Should Have!

Here's a card that should have only taken me a few minutes, but I obsessed over it for a couple of hours -- colors, shapes, size of shapes, etc.  Does that ever happen to you?  In the end, this is what I ended up with and I decided I liked how it came out.  I used some retired Stampin' Up! products (always good to use that stuff up), but the stamps are from Stampin Up!'s current Occasions Mini Catalog.

This rainy day is a good one to craft...hope you do so today!

Thanks for stopping by,
Denise

Why Mess with Perfection?

Here's a fantastic monochromatic card that I saw on Jennifer Timko's blog, and I had to completely case it!  It goes together pretty quickly.  The only thing I changed was the greeting stamp.

It's a great style of card to use for most any greeting.  The color used here is Rich Razzleberry and all products are from Stampin' Up!. 
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!
Denise

Hello

My Dad passed away about six months ago.  He and my mom were married 61 1/2 years...wow!  He was my mom's entire life.  Now that he's gone, she doesn't have much to do.  I think of her all the time, and worry a lot about her.  I live about a 3 1/2 hour drive from her, and since I work full time and travel for my job a lot, I don't see her nearly as much as I'd like.  I try to call her most every day, but I'd like to do more.  Normally I make a large batch of the same card, like a birthday card, but I decided I would make just one original card for her, which you see below.  I stamped "Thinking of You" on the inside.  She should get it tomorrow...I hope she likes it, and helps her to know how much I love her. 

As usual, all the products used are from Stampin' Up!  Thanks a lot for visiting, and have a great weekend!  Get some creating done! :)

Best,
Denise

Hi Dahlia

Dahlia's are beautiful flowers, aren't they?  Stampin' Up! has a gorgeous rubber stamp of a dahlia, which is what I used in this simple but eye-pleasing card.  I got the idea for this card from Deanna Boos. 

The stamp is so pretty it doesn't need much else!  The black and white baker's twine is from Michaels -- everything else is from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your day!
Denise

Birthday Card Binge

Yes, I've been on a birthday card-making binge!  Here's another one that I made a bunch of this weekend.  As usual, it uses all Stampin' Up! products:

I've been able to stamp a lot this weekend...love that!!  Doesn't happen too often.  Hope you get some time to create this weekend, too.

Best to you,

Denise

Create a Cupcake

We all always need birthday cards, right?  I make a bunch of them at once so whenever I need one, it's there.  Saves a lot of hassle and "uh-oh" moments!  Everything I used on this card is from Stampin' Up!'s.  The stamp set is Create a Cupcake, which is one of my favorites.  I've used it quite a bit.  It has a paper punch to go with it, so if you thought I cut out the cupcake holder, frosting topping and cherry, I cannot lie -- I just stamped and punched!  The printed papers are from Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Catalog and they're called Fresh Prints.  The CS is Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake and Real Red.

I also need to confess that I cased and tweaked this card from Beth McAlexander, who has a lovely blog and fun ideas.

Thanks for stopping by; enjoy the weekend!

Best,
Denise