Dannie's Designs

Another Cone Ornament

Another one of the projects  that I made for the Holiday Exchange box is this cone ornament.

Those of you who have been following my blog for some time may recognize this project because I've made one of these before.  Click here to see my other ornament and to find the tutorial on how to make it.  I made that one about two years ago so I thought it was time to pull this idea out of the archives.  So often we think we have to come up with a brand new stamping idea each time we sit down to make something.  There's nothing wrong with copying something we've done before and simply changing the paper or the stamp set we used.  It can save a lot of time which is something I'm always short on during the holidays.

This cone ornament can be hung on the tree as is (with some ribbon attached to the back) or you can adhere two of these together back to back (with ribbon between the two) and hang them on the tree that way. 

If you decide to make a cone ornament of your own, be sure to leave a link to your creation so I can take a look.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Serene Snowflakes
Paper:  Whisper White, Soft Suede, Real Red, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP
Ink:  Real Red
Accessories:  Silver Brads, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Crafters' Tool Kit, Whisper White Grosgrain, Rhinestone Brad
Punches:  Scallop Circle, Circle (1 3/8", 1 1/4")

April Christmas Card

It's a sweltering 94 degrees today and it's only April.  By Friday we're supposed to be back in the mid 60's.  This winter the weather can't seem to make up its mind.  It swings from one extreme to the other.  Whenever it gets hot like this, I tend to think of colder weather and snow.  With that in mind, I thought I'd make my April Christmas card today.  I used this sketch by Taylor for my card.



 

The tree image is from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set.  I inked up the tree in True Thyme ink and stamped it on Very Vanilla cardstock.  Without reinking it, I stamped it a second time on the cardstock.  This helped create the appearance that some of the trees are closer than others.

Once all the trees were stamped, I took my 2-way Glue Pen and put glue on the trees.  I dumped some Heat and Stick Powder on the glue and then heated it with my Heat Tool.  Next I added some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter on the Heat and Stick Powder and then heat set it one more time with my Heat Tool.  The glitter makes it look like there's snow in the trees.  I finished off the tree layer by sponging some True Thyme ink around all the edges of the Very Vanilla cardstock.



The inside of my card looks a lot like the inside of my card from yesterday.  I hate to admit it, but sometimes the inside of the card is the most difficult part of making the card for me.  I love adding layers, ribbon, flowers, etc. to my cards, but I can't use those items on the inside of my card or it won't close properly.  It's difficult for me to keep it simple.  Just like life, sometimes it's the simple things that are the hardest.

I need to go and try to cool off.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree
Paper:  Very Vanilla, True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp, Holiday Thyme DSP
Ink:  True Thyme
Accessories:  Heat and Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Cranberry Crisp Stitched Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge

Winter Wishes

I've been so busy lately that I'm getting a little behind in my montly Christmas card challenge.  So I thought I'd cheat a little bit for the month of March and use a Christmas card that I designed last year.  I haven't posted this one on my blog yet, so it's new to you!  I used this great sketch by Julee for my layout.





I started with some Bashful Blue designer series paper that I ran through my Cuttlebug using the Snowflakes embossing folder.  I wanted the snowflakes to stand out a little more, so I took my Whisper White Craft pad and dragged it across the snowflakes.  They picked up some of the white color and it helped them stand out from the rest of the blue background.

I used the Winter Wonderland stamp set from Verve for all of the snowflakes.  I stamped the smaller snowflakes in blue ink randomly on Shimmery White cardstock.  Then I stamped the larger snowflakes in Versamark ink and embossed them with Silver Embossing Powder.  Between the shimmery cardstock and the embossing powder, this card really sparkles.

In order to stay true to the sketch, I punched a hole for my ribbon in the top snowflake layer using the Horizontal Slot Punch.  It's difficult to see in the photo, but there are two pieces of ribbon stacked on top of each other.  White Organdy ribbon is on the bottom with a piece of Royal Blue grosgrain on top.

I used my Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities for the "Winter Wishes" layers.  I stamped the sentiment in Brilliant Blue ink and then stamped a large snowflake in Bashful Blue ink right on top of the sentiment.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my latest DCBD challenge.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Winter Wonderland (Verve)
Paper:  Shimmery White, Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue Prints DSP
Ink:  Versamark, Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Whisper White Craft
Accessories:  Silver Brads, Silver Embosssing Powder, Snowflake Embossing Folder, Circle Nestabilities, Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Dimensionals, White Organdy, Royal Blue Grosgrain
Punches:  Horizontal Slot, 1 3/8" Circle

Stamping with Verve

I just realized that it's almost the end of February and I haven't made my Christmas cards for this month.  For those of you who don't remember my post from last month, I joined a challenge to make 5-10 Christmas cards every month this year.  By the beginning of December I'll have all of my cards stamped and ready to send. 

While looking for inspiration for my card, I found this wonderful Verve sketch.



I'm a huge fan of Julee's sketches and I love her stamps too.  So I thought it was only fitting to ink up Julee's "Snow Wonderful" Verve stamp set for the challenge.



As you can see in the sketch above this was a two-fold challenge.  Not only were you supposed to use the sketch for your card, you were also supposed to use embossing.  I inked up the snowflake background stamp with Versamark ink and stamped it on my Baja Breeze cardstock.  Once I had filled the piece of cardstock with snowflakes, I embossed it with Whisper White Embossing Powder. 

The snowman was also embossed with Black Embossing Powder.  I cut him out with my Oval Nestabilities and then layered him on a Scalloped Oval.  I sponged the area around the snowman with some Baja Breeze ink.

It's difficult to see in the photo, but there are six half-back pearls on this card.  I wanted to stay true to the sketch so I added the pearls right where they're picture on the sketch.



For the inside of my card I stamped my sentiment and embossed it with Whisper White Embossing Powder. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  ~Dannie

Stamps: Snow Wonderful (Verve)
Paper: Shimmery White, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze
Ink: Versamark, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Whisper White Embossing Powder, Black Embossing Powder, Half-back Pearls, Chocolate Chip Double-stitched Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber
Punches and Dies: Corner Rounder, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities

2009 Christmas Cards

Thank you for all of the sweet comments and emails you sent me about the Valentine's Day 3x3 cards I posted on Friday.  It was just the boost I needed.  Since the holidays I've been struggling to find the desire to stamp, but your comments certainly fixed that.  Thank you!

Now I have a confession to make.  Even though I make cards all the time...I didn't send out any holiday cards this Christmas.  Isn't that terrible?  My friend Debra issued a challenge to make 5-10 Christmas cards each month starting right now and continuing through the end of the year.  Of course I joined the challenge right away.  By December I should have a nice stash of cards just waiting to be signed and sent.

For my January Christmas card I used this mojo sketch as my inspiration.





I stamped the house image in Chocolate Chip Craft ink on Kraft cardstock and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I cut out the large Kraft and Riding Hood Red circles with my Coluzzle.  The large scalloped circle is from the Big Shot Scallop Circle #2 die. 

I also stamped the three snowflakes in Chocolate Chip Craft ink on Kraft cardstock and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I punched them out with my 3/4" circle punch.  The small Chocolate Chip circles were made with my 1" circle punch and the Riding Hood Red circles were cut using my Coluzzle.  I wish Stampin' Up! sold a 7/8" circle punch so I could layer my circles like this.  For now the Coluzzle will have to do.

I sponged every layer on the card (except for the Chocolate Chip cardstock) with Chocolate Chip ink.  It helps soften the brightness of the red against the brown.



I added a layer of designer series paper to the inside of my card and finished it with some Kraft cardstock cut with the Top Note Bigz Die. 

I've made one card and now I need to go make 4 more just like it.  I'm not sure how many cards I need to make each month because I don't have my list of recipients finalized yet.  Maybe that should be the next project I work on. 

Thanks for stopping by for a little Christmas in January!  ~Dannie

Stamps: To You and Yours, Snow Swirled
Paper: Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Holiday Treasures DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip Craft & Classic
Accessories: Sponge, Crafters' Tool Kit. Alpine Ribbon Originals, Dimensionals, Coluzzle, Clear Embossing Powder
Punches: Circle (1" & 3/4")
Big Shot: Top Note Bigz Die, Scallop Circle #2

Hot Chocolate Teacher Gift

Last year I was so organized that I had my teacher gifts done in October!  Well, tomorrow is the last day of school before the winter break and I just started making my teacher gifts yesterday.  What was I thinking procrastinating like this?  Even though it is last minute, I'm really pleased with how the gift turned out.



I bought the tutorial on how to make this from Becky.  I wasn't sure what to make with it at first, but I found it works perfectly as a hot chocolate kit.



I added a different ingredient in each of the milk cartons--hershey's kisses (to melt in the hot chocolate), marshmallows, cocoa, and peppermint candy canes.   I wanted the teachers to be able to see what was inside each milk carton, so I punched a window with the Curly Label punch and then added a piece of acetate to the inside of the carton.



I finished the kit with a tag and some directions.  I inked the largest snowflake from the Snow Swirled stamp set in Baja Breeze ink.  I stamped it off on some scratch paper and then stamped it on the tag.  It's very faint in this photo.

I hope the teachers like their gifts.  Becky, thanks for the great project idea!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Snow Swirled
Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Holiday Treasures DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Silver Eyelet, Linen Thread, Baja Breeze 1" Double-stitched Ribbon, Acetate, Sticky Strip, Crop-a-dial
Punches: Small Tag, Large Oval, Small Oval, Tag Corner, Key Tag, Horizontal Slot, Curly Label, Corner Rounder

Winter Box in a Bag

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I somehow managed to get about 75% of my gifts wrapped.  Normally I'm wrapping gifts on December 24th so I'm really ahead this year.  It feels great. 

 

Speaking of wrapping gifts, I have another box in a bag to show you.  It's a great way to wrap a small gift.  They're also really quick to make.  You can find the tutorial here.

 

 

This was Mary's project at my downline meeting last week.  We used the Riding Hood Red Patterns DSP for the bag.  This paper is such a rich, gorgeous red color.  I need to order a pack for myself.  We used Whisper White cardstock for the scalloped edge at the bottom and the round tab punch at the top of the bag.

 

I wanted to add something to the front, so I added three white Little Felt Flurries.  I adhered them with Mini Glue Dots to the bag.  We finished off the bag with some Whisper White grosgrain and some Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon. 

 

From start to finish, this project took less than 10 minutes to make.  Give it a try.  You'll love the results! 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

 

Paper: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red (base of the box), Riding Hood Red Pattern DSP

Accessories:  Little Felt Flurries, Whisper White Grosgrain, Riding Hood Red Taffeta

Punches: Round Tab, Scallop Edge, 1/4" Circle

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Tin

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  Mine was very busy with something big happening every day.  I got to spend lots of time with family and friends and I really enjoyed myself.  Now that it's Monday I find myself wondering where the long weekend went and how come it's December already?!

I have a new project to share with you today.  It's a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup tin.

I used the Deer Friends hostess stamp set along with my 1 1/4" and 1" circle punches to make decorations for the top of each mini peanut butter cup.

I stamped each image twice--once on Very Vanilla cardstock and a second time on either Riding Hood Red or Old Olive cardstock.  I punched out the central image with the 1" circle punch and mounted it on the colored cardstock with a dimensional.

For the tag on top of the tin, I used the Punches Three hostess set.  I stamped the image in Riding Hood Red ink on Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla cardstock.  I punched out the Riding Hood Red cardstock with my Scalloped Square punch.  I cut out the "A Very Merry Christmas" part from the Very Vanilla cardstock and adhered that on top of the Riding Hood Red scalloped square.  Last I punched a 1/8" hole in the top of the tag and threaded about 5" of Rope Twine through the hole and tied it in a knot.

I wrapped some 1 1/4" Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla striped grosgrain ribbon around the tin and tied it once.  I took the "A Very Merry Christmas" tag and threaded the loop from the Rope Twine around the bottom end of my striped grosgrain ribbon (see photo below).

Once I had the Rope Twine in place, I tied the striped grosgrain ribbon again to finish forming my knot.  This knot held the Rope Twine and my tag securely in place (see photo below).

I trimmed the ends of my ribbon and it's done!  If you're looking for where to buy the tins, you can find them here.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Deer Friends, Punches Three
Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Dimensionals, Rope Twine, 1 1/4" Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon
Punches: Circle (1 1/4", 1", and 1/8"), Scalloped Square

Hot Pepper Jelly

Today I wanted to show you a gift I got from my friend Elaine. 

It's Hot Pepper Jelly in a baby food jar.  Isn't that cute?  She added two strips of Holiday Treasures designer series paper around the jar and finished it with a scalloped medallion on the front.  Here's a look at the top of the jar.

I love the way stampers can find ways to reuse common household items and turn them into beautiful holiday gifts.  Thanks Elaine!  ~Dannie

Zindorf Christmas Card

I had so much fun at my downline meeting last night.  The projects were fantastic!  We spent the whole meeting learning how to brayer like Michelle Zindorf.  If you don't know who Michelle is, you need to check out her blog.  I've never seen anybody who knows how to work a brayer like she does.

Isn't that gorgeous?  My sponging and brayering is a little rough, but this is my first "Zindorf" card.  Mary designed this card for us.  She even came with the background piece already stamped, embossed, and sponged. 

We brayered on the Whisper White Top Note piece with Bashful Blue ink and then added a layer of Lavender Lace ink.  Then we sponged around the edges with Elegant Eggplant ink.  The skaters were stamped three times in a row using Chocolate Chip ink without reinking the stamp.  That's why they're progressively lighter on the card.  "Merry Christmas" is also stamped in Chocolate Chip ink.  The finishing touch on the card is the snowflake stamped in the upper left corner with Whisper White craft ink.  It's very subtle in the photo.

Thank you Mary for the beautiful project!  ~Dannie

Stamps: Winter Post
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Ink: Bashful Blue, Lavendar Lace, Elegant Eggplant, Versamark, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White Craft
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta, Dimensionals, Sponge, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder
Big Shot: Top Note Bigz Die