Sketch Frenzy Friday Sketch Challenge: New Design Team Opportunity, So Exciting!

I'm so excited it's Friday!  Not only is it almost the weekend but I'm so excited to announce a new design group I've been selected to and can't wait to share some great projects with you in the upcoming months.  The Sketch Frenzy Friday Blog offers fun new sketches each week that you can play along with.  This sketch is great since it can be used for so many things and I decided to make another love/Valentine card (I've got hearts and glitter on the brain!)

The cardbase is Basic Gray and I added a layer of Blushing Bride My Digital Studio using the Be Mine Frameable Printable.  I shrunk the page down and then printed it out so I could cut it out with the Big Shot and the Hearts Collection Framelits.  I used the Paper Piercing tool and the Occasions Paper Piercing pack to make the heart outline.  Next I added some hearts that I punched out with the Small Heart Punch and Red and Silver Shimmer Paper (dimensionals were used to pop each of the little hearts up)  The final touch is the sentiment is from the Best of Love Hostess Stamp set (you only have until the end of the month to get this stamp set, so don't miss out!) and it's stamped with Real Red ink. 

Cardstock.  The designer series paper is actually printed from

 

I really like how this card turned out, nice and sweet with just the right amount of glitter which is a requirement for almost all valentine cards (in my opinion).  I hope you enjoyed and that you're able to play along with us this weekend and share all creations using the linky button on the blog.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Diana

Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge: MDS Hybrid Card

Hey there friends!  I'm so glad you were able to come back and check out the fun card I have for you today.  Today I'm sharing my card for the Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge since it's a hybrid card using elements from My Digital Studio (no stamping was used in this card).  I love all the great digital downloads that are available for purchase to be used with My Digital Studio (or other graphics programs you may have) including the printables, in this case the Do Your Best Printable Download, since all these little cards are already predesigned and placed on an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper, all you need to do is print them out (you are able to change up the printables including changing colors, elements, etc. that I did do on some of the other print pieces).  I printed several of these sheets out during the recent print sale for some fun projects I'm working and decided this this would be perfect.

 

The cardbase is Crumb Cake cardstock and then I added a piece of Real Red Core'dinations cardstock that was embossed with the Big Shot and Hexagon Embossing Folder before sanding it to bring out the embossed design.  Next I added a piece of Coastal Cabana DSP from the 2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack as well as part of a piece of Going Gray cardstock that was cut with the Big Shot and the Top Note Bigz Die that's peeking out the right side.  On top of the DSP I added the MDS element and then finished it off with some Basic Gray 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon as well as a couple of hearts in Silver and Red Glimmer papers and the Small Heart Punch and Heart Collection Framelits.

This card is so cute and fun and it came together in a snap using My Digital Studio (this tool is really great for so many different things), you've got to give it a try, a 30 day trial of the software is FREE.  Please let me know if you have any questions on how you can get started with any of these fabulous tools.

 

Enjoy,

 

Diana

Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge: Love You to the Moon

Good morning and Happy Monday!  After a very cold, wet weekend I'm looking forward to drying out this week (even if it will be really cold) but I seem to have hearts and Valentine's on my mind which is warming me up.  When I saw this weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge those birds immediately made me think of hearts so I decided to go with it.  The cardbase is Crumb Cake and I added a layer of Very Vanilla Cardstock that I stamped hearts from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set in Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals, and Soft Suede ink (I also sponged around the edge with Crumb Cake Ink).

I used the Big Shot and Hearts Collection Framelits to cut a hearts out of Soft Suede cardstock and Primrose Petals Core d'inations cardstock.  I used the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing folder on the Soft Suede heart and sponged it with Soft Suede Ink, and the Primrose piece was embossed with the Beautifully Baroque Embossing folder before sanding it to accent the embossing and sponging around the edge with Soft Suede ink.  Since I believe all Valentine's deserve glitter I added a small heart punched with the Small Heart Punch and Champagne Shimmer Paper. 

 

The greeting is from the Love You to the Moon stamp set (new in the Occasions catalog), stamped it with Primrose Petals ink, cut flag tails, and then distressed the edges before sponging them with Soft Suede ink.  The final touch was to add some Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, and Victoria Trim Ribbon for a soft romantic touch.  Now check out the inspiration picture we were provided, definitely gives you lots of directions to go.

 

I really like the soft, romantic, elements to this card, so fun!  I hope you enjoy, I know we're still recovering from Christmas but Valentine's will be here before we know it so it's not too early to start planning and working on your projects.

 

Enjoy,

 

Diana

 

April Stylin' Stampin' Blog Hop: All About Weddings and Anniversaries

 

It's blog hop time, which is always so fun and this month we're focusing on weddings and anniversaries.  Spring is one of the busiest times for weddings so this will provide you lots of great ideas for your upcoming events.  If you've been following along the hop you've just come from Bree's blog, isn't her work awesome!!  Don't worry, if you're just starting here you'll be able to follow the hop all the way around to see all the wonderful creations.

 

This card has a Pool Party cardbase and then I added a layer of First Edition Speciality DSP.  On this piece is stamped with the splatter image from the My Paper Pumpkin Welcome kit with Primrose Petals ink.  I also added a piece of Delicate Details Lace Tape.  I used it as a stencil and sponged around it with Pool Party ink so it adds a nice subtle image.  The next layer is a piece of More Amore Speciality DSP and then Victoria Lace Trim Ribbon, and Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon that was scrunched up using sticky strip to adhere the ribbon to the card.

For the main focal image, I used one of the Real Red laser cut hearts from the More Amore Speciality DSP and then a large heart cut from the silver glimmer paper cut with the Big Shot and the Hearts Collection Framelits.  The greeting is from the Word Play stamp set and is stamped with Real Red ink before being punched out with the Large Oval Punch.  I also sponged around the edges with Pool Party ink.  This piece is matted with a piece of Crumb Cake that was punched out with the Decorative Label Punch.  To add a little "bling" I added a rhinestone to the sparkle part of the image.  Now I have to admit, I have a love affair with dimensionals and due to all the layers of ribbon and paper I used several dimensionals to attached the heart and greeting and actually stacked some of them up so that it really "pops" off the cardfront.

 

This card is so full of detail and texture it will sure to WOW anyone who receives it!

 

Make sure to check out all the projects on the hop, you can continue on and visit Shellie's blog next.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Shellie G. of Craft Smashup
2. Pam S. of Stampin' in the Sun!
3. Nancy B. of Lady Stamps-A-Lot
4. Tonya B. of Stampin' with Tonya
5. Dawn S. of Dawn's Creative Chalet
6. Darcy J. of DJ's Stampin' Place
7. Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
8. Kim R. of Stamping with Kim
9. Justin K. of JK Cards
10. Jennifer B. of NW Stamper
11. Bree R. of Craft-somnia
12. Diana E. of Stampin' Fun with Diana

One More Valentine Share, For the Kiddo!

Good evening!  I hope you’re having a fun day, showing all your friends and family how much you care for them today (and every day).  Valentine’s Day has a whole new meaning and freshness when you have kids.  I have so much fun making gifts for Aidan and other kids in our lives and have so much fun seeing how the kids embrace the holiday.  Aidan was up very early this morning and we had to exchange gifts first thing this morning (think of like Christmas) and was so excited about the cards and thoughts that people put into each item.  I thought I would hop back online and share with you the card and gift I made for Aidan this year.  First of all you have to know that Aidan loves glitter and believes you can never have too much (a kid after my own heart!)  So this card uses the Pool Party Coredinations cardstock and I ran it through the Big Shot with the Hexagon embossing folder (I love how you can sand this paper and see the core color of the cardstock for some extra dimension.  The scalloped heart is from the More Amore Speciality DSP and are laser cut.  I also added hearts punched from the same DSP with the small heart and large heart punches. 

I also used Red and Silver Glimmer paper and the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die for the XOXO.  The greeting was from the valentine treat bundle and I thought it was perfect for a kid’s valentine and I used Dazzling Diamonds and a two way glue pen to add glitter round the edge of the heart.  Aidan was so excited and loved the card.

The second project I’m sharing is a little treat bucket that held all of Aidan’s Valentine’s treats.  I love to get the little pails from the Dollar Spot of my local store and while initially I would buy all the different holiday versions but now that I have so many I like to get plain ones that I can dress up as necessary so their more versatile so I got a silver pail with polka dots.  All I did was add a strip of More Amore fabric that I just tore and tied a big fluffy bow.  Nice and simple.  Aidan like it but I think he liked the Pokemon cards in the pail more than the actual pail itself.

 

Enjoy the rest of your special day! 

Diana

Happy Valentine's Day Treat!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I'm so excited, not only do I love this holiday but it is also Aidan's "birthday eve" so we're in for a whole week of celebrating.  Today I wanted to share the treat I made for Chris.  For those of you who know Chris he really dislikes this holiday and thinks it was created by the card, flower, and candy companies to make money (and he does have a point) but he embraces the holiday because he knows Aidan and I love it (he's definately a keeper).  So this year I wanted to give him a little treat that I knew he would love and his favorite candy are caramel cremes so I made this box with the Fancy Favor die and decorated in manly Real Red DSP and black (it also happens to match the card I made him and showed on Sunday).  I cut the hearts with the new Hearts framelits (love how easy they are) and spritzed the black heart with shimmer spray I made with the Champagne shimmer paint.

The strawberry is from the P.S. I Love You stamp set and I colored directly on the stamp with Old Olive, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip to get the three colors stamped at the same time.  Next I added some Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to the top of the berry and Crystal Effects to the dipped chocolate part so it looks shiny and wet.  The final touchwas the greeting (this saying is awesome!) that is from the same stamp set and I snipped the edge to make it look like a flag.

I love how this turned out and think he'll really like that his favorite candy is in it.

Hope you have a fantabulous day and get to spend some time with your loved ones.

Enjoy,

Diana