Dannie's Designs

Kelly's Card

Today I wanted to show you a darling card that we made at my downline meeting last week.  

Kelly designed this card and taught us how to make these two flowers using some of our punches.  They're really simple to make too.  

If you read my post yesterday, then you know that I left some of my supplies that I need for these blog posts at home when I went on vacation.  As a result, I can't post the tutorials on these flowers right now.   I promise, however, that I will get them posted next week.  I'm usually better about remembering to pack everything I need.  Thank you for your patience with me and thank you for stopping by! 

Card recipe coming soon

Big Shot Swap Card

Last week I had my downline meeting and I needed to make some swap cards.  I decided to pull out my Big Shot and see what I could come up with.  

Usually at this point I go into detail and tell you what products I used to make my cards.  Unfortunately that's not going to happen today.  I had all of these great plans to post on my blog while I'm on vacation, but I left the paper at home where I had listed all of the supplies that I used to make my projects.  Oops!  Yes, I could go through Stampin' Up!'s online catalog to look up all of the supplies and guess at the cardstock colors, but did I mention I'm on vacation?  In other words, I'll post all of the products I used once I get back.  I am enjoying the time to do absolutely nothing and be lazy for a change.

In the meantime, here's a closer look at the cards.

I used the same five colors for all of the cards.

I ran all five colors once through the Big Shot using the flower die.

I mixed and matched each of the flowers so that each of the five layers on the flower was a different color.

I also mixed and matched the color of the Top Note die, the layer behind the sentiment, and the card base.

Even though they're basically the same, they each have such a different look.  I think the top card is my favorite.  Which one do you like the best?

I will be back to fill in the details and give the recipe so you know what colors, Big Shot dies, punches, etc. I used.  Thanks for stopping by!

Card recipe coming soon

I Love You Card

I was recently looking through my Stampin' Success magazine (a newsletter for Stampin' Up! demonstrators) and I came across a gorgeous card by Kirsteen Gill.  I really liked the way she used the new Adorning Accents Embosslits and the Adorning Accents Embossing Folders to create a gorgeous edge on her card.  Of course I had to try to make one of my own.

I followed the same general layout that Kirsteen used, but I changed the papers to give it a different look.  Here's a closer look at the flower.

I embossed the flower using Whisper White ink and Whisper White embossing powder.  It's difficult to see in the photo, but the center is a different image from the same stamp set that I embossed, punched out with a circle punch, and added to the center of the flower with a dimensional.  Also, if you look closely at the photo you can see that I used seven pearls on the flower.  One in the center and one towards the end of each petal.

It was a little bit tricky lining up all of the edges of the cardstock so the scallops looked nice, but I'm pleased with how the card turned out.  Thank you Kirsteen for the inspiration and thank you for stopping by!

Card recipe coming soon

Scalloped Heart Treat Container

I've been busy working on another Valentine's Day project.  It's a scalloped heart treat container.

I filled it with a bag of Valentine's Day colored M&M's.

Here's a look from a slightly different angle.  This would make a great gift not only for Valentine's Day, but also for any other time of year you'd like to let someone know you're thinking of them.

The tutorial for this box will be coming soon.  I'm still working on it, but I will let you know as soon as it's finished.  Thanks for stopping by!

Flower Card

I don't know what it is about this winter, but I haven't been sick like this in a long time.  My kids come home with a small cold that just knocks me off my feet.  They get better quickly and I'm miserable for weeks.  Oh, the joys of parenthood!

Last week I made some time to sneak into my craft room and stamp.  However, I felt so miserable that I didn't have the energy to post it on here until today. 

The inspiration for this card came from page 18 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.  It's the card on the left side.  I don't have the Designer Printed Kit that's shown on that page so I made the flower with the Fun Flowers big shot die.  You can't see it in the photo, but I sprayed the flower with Shimmer Spray.

This is the first time I've made a card where I layered cardstock tone on tone.  I was so tempted to sponge around the edges of the sentiment so it would stand out from the background.  I resisted the urge and instead I simply popped the sentiment up on a dimensional.

I finished the card off with some ribbon, some embossing on the Old Olive layer, and a butterfly.  The Big Shot makes this card a breeze to make.  Now I just need to make several more so I can send out birthday cards for next month.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Sweet Cake
Paper:  Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Ink:  Not Quite Navy
Accessories:  Clear Rhinestone Brad, Dimensionals, Bashful Blue Ribbon, Shimmer Spray
Big Shot:  Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, Fun Flowers Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Valentine's Pencil Topper

Today I'm back to show you another one of my Valentine's Day creations.  Besides treats, my kids also like giving pencils to their classmates.  Rather than make cards and tape the pencils to them, I thought I'd make the pencil into a Valentine.

Here's a look at the front of the pencil topper.  The scalloped heart is from the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit die.  I stamped the heart image and then punched it out using the Full Heart Punch.

The other side of the pencil topper (it has a heart on both sides) has a place for them to write who the Valentine goes to. 

I know you're going to ask, so I already made a tutorial for these pencil toppers.  They are very easy to make.

Step 1:  Cut a piece of cardstock 3/4" x 3".  Score it at 3/4", 1 1/4", 2", and 2 1/2".

It's difficult to see the score lines in the photo above, so I traced over them in pencil for the photo below.

Step 2:  Punch the small flower image (from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack) out of the second scored section.  Add a piece of sticky strip to the last section.

Note:  This flower punch was the best fit for the size of a pencil.  A 1/4" circle punch is too small and the 3/8" circle punch is too big and the pencil topper falls off.  The flower punch holds it snugly.

Step 3:  Fold on the score lines and adhere it together using the Sticky Strip.

Step 4:  Making sure that the punched out flower is at the bottom, adhere the hearts to the front and back of the pencil topper.

Step 5:  Insert the pencil and it's done!

They are that simple to make.  If you have any questions or would like to order supplies to make this, please don't hesitate to contact me.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Loving Hearts, All Year Cheer II
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Accessories:  Sticky Strip, Paper Scorer
Punches:  Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Full Heart
Big Shot:  Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die

Valentine's Treat

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  The holidays were really relaxing for me and I enjoyed the time my kids had off from school.  It was nice not waking up to an alarm clock for a couple of weeks.  They are now all back in school and I'm hoping I'll be able to return to my normal schedule.  While I'm grateful for the time to myself during the day, that alarm clock sure does ring early! 

I missed the opportunity to stamp many Christmas projects, so I thought I'd get an early start on Valentine's Day.  I want to come up with something fun to stamp for all of the Valentine's that my kids have to take to school. 

I used the Petal Cone Big Shot Die and folded it in half to make this treat pouch.  I stamped the Blushing Bride cardstock with Blushing Bride ink using one of the flower images from the Mixed Bunch stamp set.  The sentiment came from the Outlined Occasions stamp set that you can earn for FREE during Sale-a-bration (starting January 24th).  I stamped it in Riding Hood Red ink and colored in the letters with Blushing Bride ink.  It's difficult to see in the photo, but I finished off the scallops by poking holes in them with my paper piercing tool.

I designed this project with a sucker in mind.  For some reason my kids don't feel like their Valentine's are complete without including a treat of some kind or at least a pencil.  They're too funny.

I'm not sure if I will be making these for my kids, but this is prototype number one.  I'll be making a few more and then letting them vote on which ones they want to make for their classes.  I have a lot to make so it feels good to get a head start on this project.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Mixed Bunch, Outlined Occasions
Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride
Ink:  Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride
Accessories:  Paper Piercer
Big Shot:  Petal Cone

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")

Hello

I apologize for disappearing for the whole month of November, but I have been very sick.  This is the first time I've stepped into my stamp room in a month!  My kids were sick and there were colds going around at work and I caught it from both sides.   I was on the mend a week and a half ago and I caught something else on top of that.  My voice is now back, the coughing is slowly going away, and I'm feeling much better.  It's about time!

I'll be back with some fun stamping ideas to share.  I just need to clean off my stamp desk first so there's room to work on the projects I have in mind.  Thanks for stopping by!