Dimensional Inchies on an Easel Card - and freebies

Hello, my friends! Hoping you are not uncomfortably dripping wet from the sweltering heat (here in the northern hemisphere) - I also hope that our friends Down Under are escaping the wrath of the current explosion of influenza cases. May you be well soon if the flu has come to your home.

Do you know what "inchies" are?

Before I became "house-bound", 20+ years ago, I had the pleasure of working in a brick and mortar store called THE PAPER PLAYHOUSE. There I taught classes and designed the free, weekly Make N Take, instructing about new products and how to use them. It was a great opportunity to meet people and enjoy our hobby!

Do you remember when...

In those days, designer paper was scarcely a "thing". So we stamped our own background papers, embellishing them with inks, glitters, embossing powders, etc. It was great fun cutting them for One Sheet Wonders or Inchies-Twinchies creations. 

 My card shares today involve some of the oldest designer papers of day - lovely K&Company designer paper, which was also VersaMark stamped with an Impression Obsession image and heat embossed with clear EP containing glitter, to give the paper some extra pizzazz. 

First up are some "Just A Note" cards - with die from Sue Wilson Script collection. Cut once on white cardstock, a lavender glitter layer was attached - it has been adhered to vellum for a bit of texture and mystique.

I was inspired by a friend recently who took an "Inchies Class" involving 3-D appearing shadows without actual dimensional adhesives:

The ribbon, also 25 years old, was fed through a slit in the vellum:

Has this ever happened to you? 

The "colored powder" of a die flaked off, onto the paper. It is deeply embedded in the white and is quite noticeable. It worsened with each pass through my Gemini Junior machine. If it happened to you, how did you remedy it? The folks at Creative Expressions told me to use wax paper, which Spellbinders always said not to do (at least when they were a new company) (you may have to click on the photo to enlarge it).

Two very special birthdays in blog land are soon coming! 

I'm all set for them:

flat for mailing:

Also a little sentiment on the card backs, which I've included as a gift to you below:

This project, while challenging for not-so-nimble fingers, was SO FUN, and brought back happy memories of laughter, fun and dear people in the classes!

Products: Die Sets: Sue Wilson Scripted Just a Note, Double Pierced Circles and Scripted Happy Birthday, Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Scalloped Squares, SB Classic large scallop rectangles, Sizzis TH Garden Greens, Cottage Cutz Greenery 4x4, Papers: Lavender, Pacific Blue, White, Black, Purple, Green Glitter, Vellum, Lavender Glitter, K&C patterned papers, Inks: Pumice Stone DI, Fantasia VersaFine Clair, Versamark, Misc: EK Success 1-1/4" punch, Clear EP containing glitter, stamps: SU Elegant Greetings stamps, IO Alesa Baker Large Flourish Three E2036, my digital sentiment stamps

I'd like to play in the following challenges, please!

(many thanks to challenge owners and design team members who create fun for us!)

1. The fabulous DOUBLE D CHALLENGES (Aug 21) Use Shapes (I used multiple 1.25" squares from an EK Success Punch, 1/2 circle scallop layers, circle sentiments on the back, and shaped rectangular layers) 9/1
2. Darling "I Spy With My Little Eye" challenge #18 Something from the garden (flowers, leaves, dragonfly) 9/17
3. Lovely Creative Inspirations Challenges #17 - Anything Goes 9/1
4. Love Those Pretty Papers 8/3 Used the option anything goes 9/1
5. Word Power #8 7-31 Sentiment is Focus of Card (words on front, sentiments on bottoms and backs) 9/1
6. Paper Minutes #860 Birthday 8/27
7. Creative Moments #261 Patterned Paper - inchies are punched from patterned paper. 9/5
8. Creative Creases #89 Anything Goes with a Fun Fold Card 9/1

My gift to you - 

Arrangements of the same sentiment for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell these Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger (June 2020), your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE AS PNG. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!

   

Sending you Joy,

House Mouse Reminder to watch where we're going! (smiles)

Hello, sweet friends!

One of my friends severely broke her foot in March. She has not been able to put any weight on it since the surgery, and is finally able to go to physical therapy for strengthening. She will be so happy when once again the she's behind the steering wheel and able to get out and about. Done in her favorite color purple, "New Proverb" seemed perfect at this stage of her recovery. The House Mouse image was colored with Copics and Distress Inks:

I noticed House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge is sponsoring a fancy fold card challenge this time, so I decided on an easel card:

The oldie stuff is the image, dies and those old old OLD flowers from long ago (before Postal Regulations were altered regarding dimensional cards)

Always brimming with jam-packed stories and sweetness, House Mouse images bring out the happiness factor for any occasion.  Full photo:

Products Used: House Mouse "New Proverb", Computer Generated sentiment, Dies: Sizzix TH Garden Greens, Spellbinders Labels 25, Labels 25 Majestic Elements, Copic Markers, Distress Wilted Violet ink, old flowers from a decade ago (giggle)

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #416 AG with Fancy Fold 6-8.
2. Critter Crazy Challenge #87 AG with critters (bird and mouse) 6-28 (7-1)
3. Triple B Challenges (June) AG with birds and blooms 7-1
4. Passion for Markers #742 Add a Sentiment (used Copic Markers 13 Copic Markers, a few Prismacolor Markers, one Copic on white glitter cardstock for the leaves) 06-11
5. Make My Monday Challenges #227 "B is for BROKEN, BIRD, BLOOMS" 6-16
6. Crafty Animals #84 AG with animals (bird and mouse)  6-26

On A Personal Note:

Thank you for your kind messages and cards. The procedures on my spine and legs last year have helped tremendously, and I am able to walk about the house and do minimal chores. SO GRATEFUL to my cardiologist and neurologist. The not so good news is I have been moved from "moderate-to-severe" to "severe" in my ME/CFS diagnosis. The other diseases are affected by the ME, but they are manageable. Thank you for being such understanding friends. My diminishing abilities is why I've been unable to leave many comments on your blogs.

Lots of Love,

de

A Heart Full of Valentine Wishes - Jan's Digi Stamps

Hello, and thanks for stopping by today! Hoping this finds all our Pacific West Coast friends doing well despite the very turbulent weather in the past several weeks. It goes without saying that I'm always thinking fondly of my blogging friends.

Today's card is for January's mid-month reminder at the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!  If you use a JDS image in your card, please mention it. There is a 2nd draw specifically for those who use one of Jan's fun images.

Jan's newest sets are 25% off, and the Sweetheart Sale includes three sets shown below plus her "romantic/friendship/anniversary/wedding/Valentine" cards!

To create my scene, three sets were used (just click on them to enlarge):

Friendship Flowers on sale for $3 (butterfly)

Valentine Wishes 3380 on sale for $3.75 (heart & sentiment)

Botanical Orchids 874 on sale for $3 (Love You sentiment)

To make this card, I cropped out 4 flowers from the heart wreath to create a "swag". This will become the stop for my easel card. The Heart Wreath was flipped horizontally, and slightly tilted for symmetry, using free Pages software that came with my iMac. The symmetry allows the heart die cut to be placed in a straight manner if you are not using a die cut for shaping:

The butterfly was added the the heart wreath via my word processor. Using the "out of the box" die cutting technique, the heart wreath was then "shaped".

This was a fun wreath to color because of the many pink and lavender hues. The easel "stop" is also covered with matching flowers. 

The three Copic colors in the background were used for depth around the images. Squeezed Lemonade DI was used around some of the edges.

I realize that Monarch Butterflies are not the same color as the butterfly in my project, but I couldn't color around the white dots very well, so I changed them to orange.

 (always a way to cover up our mistakes, right?)

In the middle of the wreath, one layer of heart is adhered. The little heart itself (in the glitter) is actually 4 layers. I glued one heart layer before the glittered layers so I'd know exactly where the tiny heart should go. Otherwise, even though the glitter is adhered well, some of the glitter might come loose in the adhering process:

After die cutting the background, I dry embossed it. The die then became a stencil. Using Squeezed Lemon & Kitsch Flamingo DI, and Twisted Citron DO and a dauber, the tiny diamond shapes were inked to bring out a Spring theme.

Then it was adhered to happy yellow card stock!

Don't forget to play in the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!

Products Used: Stamps  Jan's Digi Images:  Valentine Wishes 3380, Friendship Flowers 702 (butterfly image), Botanical Orchids 874 (Lovely You in middle of heart) LifeStyle-Quickutz Nesting Heart Dies, Spellbinders "Lovin' Diamonds" Die Set, Spellbinders Mega Nestabilities Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles die set, Martha Stewart Garden Trellis Punch, Copic Markers, Copic Multiliner, Express-it white cardstock, Squeezed Lemon & Kitsch Flamingo DI, Twisted Citron DO, Yellow Glitter

I'd like to play in the following fine challenges please:

1. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #1 AG DT 2/12
2. Crafts Galore Encore #107 AG 2/1
3. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #663 Something New (2nd entry) The Valentine Wishes stamp set is new to me, the yellow card stock had been in my stash but had never been used before) 1/18
4. Crafters Cafe Challenge #293 AG with Colors of the Rainbow and more 2/11
5. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #1 AG 2/1
6. The Outlawz Challenges Twisted Thursday (Jan 12) The Valentine Wishes stamp set is new to me, the yellow card stock had been in my stash but had never been used before) Feb 1.
7. Classic Design Challenge #1 AG 2/1
8. Ally's Angels #66 AG 2/10
9. Sweet Stampin (Jan 7) theme "New" 1/20 (listed week after sep post) (The Valentine Wishes stamp set is new to me, the yellow card stock had been in my stash but had never been used before)
10. CD Sunday PLUS #101 AG Downloaded 1/22 (in this case, I cropped four flowers individually from the heart wreath, and then arranged them into a swag for the easel "stop". The butterfly was added from another set. The two sentiments are from different sets (three sets used to create this card)
11. Tic Tac Toe Challenge #192 see below middle row 1/19 Yellow glitter around small heart and flowers

Sending Early Valentine Hugs to you!

SNS EXTRAVAGANZA KICKING OFF 2017!

Hi! I hope your holiday celebrations were deeply memorable, and that 2017 is full of promise for new beginnings. Thanks for joining me today.

I am kicking off the New Year as a guest designer for the SNS Extravaganza 2017 with TEN new, fantastically-eclectic rubber and digital stamp sets PLUS a brand new artist joining the SNS team!

My projects use a combination of the digital and rubber images:

IT IS ALL ABOUT FUN AS YOU HAVE NEVER ENJOYED IT!
It's Demo Donna on the SNS YouTube Channel!

Subscribe today to REVEL IN all the latest Demo Donna tips and techniques! But even more - PREPARE TO BE ENTERTAINED!  Each week a new technique is shared, and each month, a new video kit is revealed!

BEGINNING TODAY: The easy-peasy Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge. 

There are lots of prizes and recognition badges.  We would love for you to be a SNS Featured Artist as well.  The theme is always Anything Goes using Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and/or Flock.

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's

 January 1, 2017 New Reveal Blog Hop!

We're starting the New Year off with a BANG! 

We have a huge reveal to share with you - our largest ever!

 There are TEN new stamp sets (one is a digi-only set) being released this month!  These new sets are 20% off until January 3, 2017.  So once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the store and start shopping.  

This month's sets include: 

    friendship, 

        Valentine's, 

            encouragement, 

                Easter, 

    birthday, 

        St. Patrick's Day, 

            Spring, 

                and celebrations. 

We hope you like the assortment! 

Our newest artist is Heather Valentin of Lacy Sunshine Stamps!

Emily Showers of Love 831   (digi version DIGI831)

Right Beside You 812  (digi version DIGI812)

Milton Friendly Giraffe 817  (digi version DIGI817)

Cattleya Orchid Friendship 818  (digi version DIGI818)

Easter Chicky 820  (digi version DIGI820)

Party #1 821  (digi version DIGI821)

Party #2 822  (digi version DIGI822)

Eggs-traordinary Kindness 825  (digi version DIGI825)

Edward Elephant - St. Patrick's Day #1 828   (digi version DIGI828)

Edward Elephant - St. Patrick's Day #2   DIGI3129  (DIGI ONLY)

On Jan 3rd, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs listed below. Please leave a comment with each Designer in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize.  It's always a mystery which Designer will have the winning comment.

The Grand Prize Winner, which will be announced on the SNS Facebook and on the SNS Blog, will receive ALL of the new stamp sets released this month (or the digi versions, if preferred).

The Blog Hop order this month is:

Jess

Diane

Chris

Eret

Donna (that's me!)

Anne

Belinda

Shona

(*Tip: if you have difficulty with a particular link, try clicking on the Designer's blog title to send you to their Home page.)

My projects use a combination of both digital and rubber sets from Bugaboo's famous Edward Elephant - with the cutest sentiments and accessories!

_______________________________________

Business Size Card #1

Images: 

Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #1, (shamrocks)

Rubber Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #1 (embossed background)

Embossing Powder: White Detail EP298,

Glitter: Meadow Spark G1014 (clover), Spirited Green G1070 (hearts)

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green

The lucky clovers were printed at a very large size, painted with SNS Brushable glue, and coated with Meadow Spark G1014 ultrafine glitter. The clover in the square is layered.

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green center each leaf cluster for visual pleasure and texture.

The Drop make perfect centers every time and never leave a peak or stringy appearance.

The patterned paper was randomly stamped with VersaMark and heat set with White Detail EP298.

_______________________________________

Business Size Card #2

Images: 

Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #2, (clover)

Rubber Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #1 (sentiment),

Ink: Memento Cottage Ivy

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green

Glitter: Spirited Green G1070 (bow)

The digital 3-leaf clovers were printed in large scale format, colored with Copics, with a little Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green painted on and dropped in the center. It gives a little bit of shine to the clover.

_______________________________________

Standard Shape card 6" x 7.5" flat for mailing

Jackpot! Edward and his friends win!

Images:

Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #1 (enlarged Edward scene), 

Rubber Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #1 (sentiment), 

Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #2, (clover border)

Ink: Memento Cottage Ivy (sentiment)

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green (on clover leaves)

Stitching accompanies the clover border which has been fussy-cut on the right side. The clover again has been painted and embellished with Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green after being colored with Copics.

Edward is darling and unabashed in all his "pink and green" glory!

_______________________________________

Last, but not least - the easel card

Images:

Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #1 (Edward circled, 4-leaf clover border), 

Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #2, (3-leaf clover leaves, sentiment)

Glitter: Meadow Spark G1014 (glittered circle),

Embossing Powder: Silver Pearl  EP391 (brad),

Sticker Paper (glittered circle), 1/4" Tear-ific Tape,

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green

Here is my creative process, complete with boo-boos, of course!

Print border of four-leaf clovers, color with Copics and Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green. Trim and distress with ink on edges. This is the "Stop" for the card front.

Die cut SB Teardrop Circles from Sticker Paper. Place the die cut Edward image in the middle of the sticker paper, pressing firmly. Then burnish in the Meadow Spark G1014 glitter around the edges of the teardrops. The glitter is now firmly adhered with the image.

Sparkle N Sprinkle Products shown under each card above.

Other Products:

Dies: SW Pierced Circles, SB Teardrop Circles, SB Grand Big Scallops, SB Grand Circles, SB Oval Regalia, MBox Beloved Hearts,
Punch: MS lacy hearts border

On the Home Front:

My white Christmas cactus finished blooming.
They will be severely trimmed then rooted in March for new plants to give to friends:

Fabulous Challenges I'd like to support:

1. 4 Crafty Chicks #331 Anything Goes! 1/6
2. All Sorts Challenge #396 "Something New" (new stamp sets, new techniques with rosette and Nuvo Crystal Drops), 1-6 
3. Crafty Gals Corner #103 Blogaversary and Anything Goes! 1/5
4. Crafting with an Attitude #22 Anything Goes  1/5
5. My Time to Craft Challenges #337 "Something New" (new stamp sets, new techniques with rosette and Nuvo Crystal Drops), 1-26 
6. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #17 Anything Goes 1/15

stamping hugs,

de