Crafty Calendar Challenges - August Design Team Project

Hello Everyone - it's August and that means it's time for another Challenge at Crafty Calendar Challenge.  This month the theme is "Dots and/or Stripes" and the prize sponsor is the wonderful A Day for Daisies.

In keeping with the theme of Dots and/or Stripes, I simply couldn't decide which one to use so I decided on both!

The striped paper is designer paper I had in my stash from last years' Christmas card creating and the red paper was dry embossed using a Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The image was provided by A Day for Daisies and it's the Holly Berry Fairy.  Such a sweet little Fairy nestled in a sprig of Holly Berries and leaves.  I colored her using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.

Please stop by Crafty Calendar Challenges this month and enter for your chance to win some sweet images from A Day for Daisies.  I hope you were inspired to create something lovely, enjoy your August and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card entered in the following challenges:  Aud Sentiments #209, Cardz TV #59, Creative Fingers #150, Cute Card Thursday #541, The House That Stamps Built DCC81 Circles, Pattie's Creations #149, The Paper Shelter ATG, Catch the Bug August ATG

Oh Christmas Tree, How Lovely Are Thy Branches

Hello and It's FRIDAY!  Yay!  I hope all is well with you and yours.  Today I'm sharing yet another holiday card.  I've been on a roll this week with holiday cards; Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

I've gained loads of inspiration from Pinterest and You Tube on different techniques for card creating and one particular technique caught my eye - it's inlaid die cuts.

I had some cute papers left over from last years' card crafting so I used that out along with some ribbon and sequins to pull together a card measuring 5" x 5".  The Christmas Tree die cut is 2 pieces - the tree shape and the swirls inside.  I cut it twice so I would have the green tree with the white inlaid swirls. I also used a postage stamp die to cut a base from designer paper and the frame from white.  

As a reminder - please don't forget to visit the Challenges for Days Birthday Bash Post to leave a comment as well as leaving your comment on my Birthday Blog Post for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

I'm pleased with how this card turned out and hope you've been inspired to try inlaid die cutting.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** Card entered in the following challenges:  Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Christmas in July, Mod Squad Challenge, Watercooler Challenges, Crafty Gals Corner #170, Cardz TV #57, QKR Stampede #306, Little Miss Muffet Challenges

No Patterned Paper

Hi Crafty Friends.  I wanted to try my hand at creating some A2 sized cards with only plain card, ink, vellum and minimal embellishments.  CAS (clean and simple) is really not my style but I'm trying to expand my thinking and try new ideas.

I needed Birthday Cards for my stash so I went to work by embossing the card and coloring with Distress Oxide Inks.  

I hand stamped and heat embossed the sentiments on vellum.  I added some glitter spray, sequins and acrylic drops.  

The embossed designs really pop with the colors.  I'm a huge fan of the Distress Oxide Inks and wouldn't be without them in my crafting stash.

I hope you like my cards and were inspired to create some cards with no patterned papers.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card Entered in the following challenges:  CardzTV Challenge #53, Polka Doodle WK 25, QKR Stampede Challenge #301, Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges #386, Crafting with Friends Challenge #70

A Vintage Birthday Wish Card with Matching Box

Hello Everyone!  I hope all is well with you and yours and you enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day Holiday.

Today I have another card with matching box to share with you.  This matching set has a Vintage feel; card measures 4.25" x 5.5" (A2).

Vintage and Shabby Chic are my absolute favorite to create.  I feel I'm better at creating Vintage but I still try with Shabby Chic.  This card was created with Prima Love Notes Papers, flowers and leaves from Wild Orchid Crafts, die cuts and ribbon from my stash.

The base is kraft colored cardstock from Recollections.  I have inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and colored the lace die cut mat with Tattered Rose Distress Ink.  I then spritzed the card with Glimmer Mist for some sparkle.

The matching box is simple in it's design and decoration.  Covered with the same Prima Love Notes designer paper and a ribbon from my stash to be used as a closure.

The box measures slightly larger than the card for a nice fit.

I hope you enjoyed my project today.  I have one more matching card and box to share, then it's Masculine Cards for Father's Day.

Till Next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Create Your Own Backgrounds

Hello Everyone.  I hope you are well and happy!

Today I would like to share some cards I created using the Tim Holtz Distress Inks and water to create some gorgeous backgrounds for cards.  The cards are A2 size (4.25" x 5.5").

This 1st card was created using an unbranded Star die I purchased from AliExpress and Distress Inks in the following colors:  Candied Apple, Abandon Coral and Barn door.  I used an Embossing Folder with a Star pattern and my Cuttlebug to dry emboss the top mat which measures 4" x 5.25".

I placed the 3 inks on my craft mat at spritzed each with some water.  I then placed the white card on top of one color to pick up some color, rotated the card and placed on another and so on.  I dried with my heat tool and repeated the process until I was happy with the result.

I used the "left over" piece of star from the die cutting process to pop up on foam and placed in the middle of the cut out for some dimension.  I heat embossed the sentiment on Vellum, for the finishing touch and sparkle I added clear sequins here and there.

The 2nd card was a bit simpler in design using an unbranded dies from AliExpress and Distress Inks in the following colors:  Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers and Aged Mahogany.   I heat embossed over the word Lovely with Ranger Black Embossing Powder for some shine and thickness.  For the finishing touch, I used Tonic Nuvo Drops in Crystal for some interest.  

If I may say so myself, this is my favorite of the group!  This time I used the Distress Inks in the colors Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers and Chipped Sapphire to create this awesome background.  I ran the card mat through the Cuttlebug using an Embossing folder with a Burst pattern.  I die cut the middle and the dimensional piece with 2 unbranded dies from AliExpress.  The Dream wording is also an unbranded die that I heat embossed with Ranger Black Embossing Powder.  I again used Nuvo Drops in Crystal to add some interest. 

Last but not least, I wanted to see how the colors would look against a Kraft colored card.  The Distress Colors I used here were:  Mowed Lawn, Tea Dye and Spiced Marmalade.  I cut 1/2 inch strips and die cut a circle for the focal point.  The front of the card was embossed using an embossing folder with dandelion images.

The flower die cut was colored using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks in the colors Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint.  The sentiment was heat embossed with Ranger Black Embossing Powder.  I finished the card by placing Nuvo Drops in Bronze around the card.

I hope you enjoyed today's blog post and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** I support the following challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #48, CardzTV Anyting Goes Challenge #49

Birthday Splash Out

Hello Everyone!  I hope all is well with you and yours.  My stash of cards is getting very low and I like to keep cards on hand so I'm prepared.  I'm in desperate need of Birthday cards so I decided it's no time like the present to get some cards made.

Recently I ordered a copy of the U.K Magazine Papercraft Essentials from More Mags.  Included in Issue 158 was an adorable stencil, die and stamp set featuring a frog, duck, water puddle, Wellingtons, sentiments and more.  The set was designed by Crafti Potential and is just fun!

The card measures 5.5" x 4.25" (a standard A2 card) in a landscape format.  I colored the images with alcohol markers, used a circle die to create an opening on the mat for the Pond; using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink in the color Salty Ocean to color the pond.  I fussy cut the frog and Wellies, die cut the puddle and droplets with the dies included in the magazine purchase.  I think Mr Frog turned out great and the card was given to a co-worker for her birthday.  She thought it was cute!

Thanks for visiting and till next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

I support the following challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #45, Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #211: No Patterned Paper

Diamond Fold Birthday Card

I love to create cards with unique folds.  The standard portrait or landscape card is nice but a fancy fold card just makes a statement!

I often cruise Pinterest looking for inspiration and found a Diamond Fold Card.  After reading through tutorials, it seemed the card usually came out as a 4" x 4" square but I wanted a slightly bigger card so I followed directions from this Blog: Crafty Maria's Stamping Blog and added a 1/4 inch, making my card 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" square; just right for a standard A2 envelope (4.25" x 5.5").

Here is the front of my card.  I created a Birthday Card and used the Photo Play Collection Pack 12"X12"‑French Flea Market.  The papers in this Pack are gorgeous!

Instead of leaving the front as a diamond shape, I used one of the cut outs provided in the paper pack and adhered to the diamond on the front.  

I stamped the sentiment  on a plain white piece of cardstock and adhered inside; to the back of the diamond shape.

I added a lace paper doily, cut in half, on either side of the fold and also placed a whole paper doily right underneath the oblong cut out.  Presto....a beautiful Diamond Fold Card.  Give this fold a try...you won't be sorry and it's very easy to create.

Till next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

I support the following card challenges:  Always Happy Birthday Card Challenge

Watercolor Illustrations: Fruits and Veggies

Hello Everyone!  I hope all is well with you and yours!

I am creating watercolor illustrations of fruits and veggies with the thought of framing them and hanging around my kitchen.  They are small , measuring approximately 5" x 5".  I wonder if I should have made them bigger......or purchase a large frame and add more than one inside the frame.

Honestly, I'm very new to this medium (watercolor) and was frightened to go any larger than 6" x 6".  I've got to get out of my comfort zone and just go for it!!  I sketched all the images, using the inspiration I found by googling pics of watercolor fruits and veggies.   I hope you can tell what they are :p

The illustrations measures approx. 4.5" x 5".  I used the Tansai Gambi watercolors on Canson 140 lb. watercolor paper.  Stay tuned for more fruits and veggies!

 

 

Graphic 45 Botanica Bella Note Card Set

I love paper, all kinds of paper and especially vintage, shabby, old world paper.  I'm a huge fan of Graphic 45 and put several of the G45 collections on my Christmas Wish List last year.  I was blessed with the Botanica Bella Deluxe Collectors Edition and I just broke into it last month.  I wanted to use it but just couldn't make myself open that glorious paper pack...you know the feeling...like when you break a $20 bill....it's gone in no time.

I created the cards by adding different elements such as ribbon, brads, buttons, die cuts, and distress inks.  They turned out lovely, a couple of the cards could be considered masculine.  

I left sentiments off the fronts except for 1 card, the insides are also without sentiments so they could be used as note cards or I can stamp a sentiment if requested.

This set is listed in my Etsy Shoppe, thanks so much for stopping by today.  

Till Next Time,

Donna

I support the following Challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #43, Creative Knockouts Challenge #242: Buttons

Excited About My New Endeavor

Hello and allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Donna and I live in Central Florida, married to a Veteran of the Armed Forces and we have grown children.  I have always crafted in one form or another for as long as I can remember.  I knit, crochet; I've dabbled in glass arts, mosaics and most recently I've fallen in love with paper crafting and Mixed Media.  

Thanks for stopping in for a read and a look 'round.  This is something new for me and I'm excited about the opportunities I hope to generate with my blog and my Etsy Shoppe.  I plan to update this blog at least twice a week with projects, tutorials, product reviews and plenty of pictures.  

I have recently re-opened my Etsy Shoppe, which can be found here:  Divinity Designs by Donna  Please stop by and take a look at my latest additions.  I'm adding items slowly and hope to have everything listed by week end.  

In the meantime, here is a little note card I created for fun.  It represents how I'm feeling at this very moment:  Let's Chill.  This notecard is an A2 size; measuring 5.5" x 4.25".  I used watercolor pencils to color in the stamped images and created a little beach scene.  I'm dreaming of summer, swimming and just laying in a hammock!  

I'm looking forward to the next post and until then, stay safe and be kind.

Donna

** I support the following card challenges:  Crafty Cardmakers Card Challenge #209 - Water, CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #42

It's Springtime!

I love the Spring....Pretty flowers, fresh air, baby bunnies, chicks, ducklings...and of course rain showers.

I created this Spring Themed card using my Cricut Cutting Machine and the Nate's ABC's cartridge (which is also available on Design Space for those who have the subscription).  I used 110 lb Neenah Solar White cardstock for the base and clouds along with various cardstock papers for the design elements.

I love to paper piece...it's kinda my thing for this moment so this card was a delight to put together.  The boots, umbrella, puddle and cat tail were all paper pieced creating lots of layers and dimension.

I support the following card challenges:  Crazy Challenge #272 Spring, Creative Knockouts Challenge # 241 - Lots of Layers, Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #209 - Water, CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #42

Hello Gorgeous

Hi Everyone!  I hope all is well with you and yours.  Over the weekend, I was busy creating cards and I thought up this card after seeing a post on Facebook about flamingos walking the streets in Key West.  It's a note card that I have left blank inside; I will add a sentiment when I'm ready to send.

It is a standard A2 card (4.25" x 5.5"), I used an unbranded stamp set from AliExpress, Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink in the color Peacock Feathers was used for the water, and the following colors of Ranger / Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink was used for the flamingo and the grasses:  Pink Peony, Tea Rose and Fern Green.

I hope it brings you a smile - reminds me of a Florida Summer!

I support the following card challenge:  Cardztv Anything Goes Challenge # 42, Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #209 Water