Dannie's Designs

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

Amy's Sketch

For a while now I have admired Amy's sketch challenges, but I haven't ever participated.  So today I thought I'd try her latest challenge.



I couldn't find a tall image that I wanted to use on the main panel, so I rotated the sketch sideways.



I used the Cheep Talk stamp set along with the coordinating Good Morning Sunshine designer series paper.  I colored my images with markers before stamping them on Whisper White cardstock.  Stampin' Up! doesn't sell a Kiwi Kiss or Pacific Point colored marker, so I made my own by adding a few drops of reinker to the end of a Blender Pen. 



I also added a little bit of decoration to the inside of my card as well.  I think everything else about the card is pretty much self-explanatory. 

I hope you're having a wonderful Monday.  I still have a lot to do so I'm off and running.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Cheep Talk
Paper:  Whisper White, Summer Sun, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip, Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Prima Flower, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Pacific Point Striped Ribbon, Dimensionals
Punches:  Eyelet Border

Best Wishes

I'm a little behind this week in posting my Diva Coffee Break Design card.  Normally I'm supposed to post my card on Wednesday, but yesterday got away from me.  I figure it's better to post a little late than to skip the challenge all together.  Right? 

This week we had this color challenge to work with.



Edited to Add:  I just noticed that my card looks very similar to one of the other design team members (Lisa Freeman).  I didn't see her card before I made mine.  Great minds think alike!  Too funny.



I love it when I can make an elegant looking card in very little time.  I took a piece of Vellum Cardstock and embossed it using the Manhattan Flower Textured Impression Die.  I cut around the top edge of the flowers and mounted it on some Basic Gray cardstock.  I enjoy using Vellum on my cards, but it's difficult to find a way to attach it to the card without the adhesive showing through the vellum.  I used some translucent Xyron glue tape on the back of the vellum and you can't see it at all.  I bought this tape at Big Lots a couple of years ago.

I stamped the "Best Wishes" sentiment in Versamark ink and then embossed it with Black Embossing Powder.  I punched it out with the Large Oval Punch and mounted it on a Basic Black Scallop Oval.  I finished the card with some new 5/8" Whisper White Satin ribbon from the Occasions Mini Catalog.



For the inside of my card I stamped the largest flower from the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set in Versamark ink and then embossed it with Black Embossing Powder.

Be sure to stop by the Diva Coffee Break Design blog to see what the other design team members made.   Feel free to join in the challenge too and leave a link to your blog post or to your online gallery.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral, Oval All
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Cardstock Vellum
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  Black Embossing Powder, Whisper White Satin Ribbon,
Punches:  Large Oval, Scallop Oval
Big Shot:  Manhattan Flower Textured Impression Die

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

Kind and Wonderful Friend

I'm so happy it's Monday!  My children had Good Friday plus all of last week off from school.  While we had lots of fun together, I was ready for them to go back today.  It's amazing how much quieter the house is when they aren't here fighting.  I took advantage of one of the quite moments this morning and stamped.


I used Julee's latest sketch for my card.

 

This card came together so quickly.  I love how it turned out.  I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder.  I seem to be on an embossing kick lately.  I love the finished look it adds to the card.

I decided to sew all of the layers of my card using my Janome Sew Mini.  I even sewed the layers on the inside of my card as well (see photo below).  Just don't look too closely because I still can't sew in a straight line.  I'm hoping that will improve with time, but so far no luck!

I wanted really large scallops on my card, so I used my Slit punch (instead of the Scallop Edge punch) to make the scallops.  I finished each scallop by adding a Rose colored Dew Drop.  They're a little difficult to see in the photo, but they're so pretty in real life.  I finished the card by adding a few Cherry Blossom Prima flowers. 



The inside of my card looks similar to the front.  I just left most of the layers off so there would be room to write a message.  Well, I'm off an running.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  All Holidays
Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Bella Rose DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip Craft
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Silver Brads, Dress Up Ribbon Originals, Janome Sew Mini, Rose Dew Drops, Cherry Blossom Primas, Dimensionals
Punches:  Slit

Here for You

It has been way too long since I have stamped.  Between sick children, taxes, and life...my stamping has fallen by the wayside.  I'm determined to get back on the ball and posting regularly.  My sanity needs it!  I also wanted to thank those of you who have sent me emails asking if I'm alright and letting me know you miss me.  You've really helped lift my spirits.

The layout for today's card is another one of Julee's Mojo Monday sketches.  She is so talented.  I love participating in her challenges.



 

I used my new Friends 24-7 stamp set for this card.  I stamped the bird in Chocolate Chip Craft ink on Kraft and Baja Breeze cardstock and then embossed it with Clear Embossing Power.  I cut the bird out of the Baja Breeze cardstock and then mounted it on the Kraft cardstock using dimensionals.  I wanted both of the square Kraft layers to have a softer look, so I sponged Chocolate Chip Classic ink around the edges.

I stamped the sentiment on the Parisian Breeze DSP using Chocolate Chip Craft ink and embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder.  I finished the card with some (retired) Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon.



I decorated the inside of my card with some Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze cardstock along with another piece of Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon.  Quick, clean, and simple.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Friends 24-7
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Parisian Breeze DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip Craft and Classic
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge
Punches:  Scalloped Edge

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

Bella's Bloom

Can you believe it's April already?  Where does the time go?  I also can't believe it has been a week since I've posted on my blog.  Life has been pretty crazy and time got away from me.  Hopefully I'll be able to get back on a more reliable posting schedule soon.

I really enjoyed this week's DCBD sketch challenge.





The inspiration for this card came from page 83 of the current Stampin' Up! catalog.  I inked up the flower image with Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss  markers.  I realize that Stampin' Up! doesn't sell markers in these two colors, so I made my own.  I took a blender pen and added a couple of drops of Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss reinkers to opposite ends of the blender pen.  Once it was inked up, it worked just like a regular marker.

It has been a while since I added any sewing to my cards, so I broke out my machine.  I sewed around all of the sides of each rectangular layer on the card (on the inside of the card too).  It was a lot of sewing, but it was also very therapeutic.

I finished the front of my card with lots of Chocolate Chip--Chocolate Chip ribbon, Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons, and Chocolate Chip Rub-ons.  You can never have too much chocolate in real life or on a card!



Here's a look at the inside of the card.

Be sure to hop on over to the Diva Coffee Break Design blog so you can see what the other design team members have made.  Feel free to join in the challenge as well.  If you do, be sure to leave a link to your blog or gallery so we can all check out your projects.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Stamps:  Bella's Bloom
Paper:  Confetti White, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP
Ink:  Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories:  Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Janome Sew Mini, Dimensionals, Château Bella Rub-ons
Punches:  Scalloped Edge, Designer Label, Wide Oval