Some Dazzling Inspiration and Colors

Hi Everyone!

Wednesday has rolled around already and that means it is time for a new challenge at Add a Little Dazzle.  This week is a color challenge and the inspiration photo is right up my alley.

I created a mixed media card that I think is still CAS (lots of white space) and used Scarlet Red Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal for my berries and heart.

My starting point was the sketch at CAS(e) this Sketch~

I rotated the sketch; for the design on the card represented as flowers here, I spattered white acrylic paint on both the card base and the vellum sheet, in both fine droplets and 'blobs'.  While the paint was still wet, I sprinkled glitter over it.  My goal was to replicate the blurred and snowy appearance in the photo. 
Using a Die-Namites Die (Winter Branch), I die cut the branch out in white, textured cardstock x2, then sponged the die cut with Crumb Cake ink so that the recessed textured areas were still white, representing the bark on the branches. The evergreen bough portion of the die cut was lightly sponged in black. 
Next I die cut the berries and heart from the Scarlet Red Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal.  I shaped them so they were convex and glued them to the branch.  To give the berries and heart a wet, snowy look, I added Crystal Effects followed by glitter to each berry.  Between the shine of the metal and the glimmer of the Crystal Effects and glitter, I love how this turned out!
Next, I die cut out a photo frame, using SU's On Film Framelits.  I determined the position of my pieces and then stamped my sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed it in black.
The card was assembled and finally, SU's Dazzling Details was added along the tree branches.

Addicted to Stamps in back in full swing, and their first challenge of the year is "Make your Mark".  I have made my mark with paint and sponged on ink.
Virginia's View has us starting the New Year with a 'clean slate'.  My card fits the theme as there is a lot of white space and alot of white on white. 
House of Cards has a glitter and/or color challenge this month.  I used glitter.  :) 

Now it is your turn! We would love to have you join us this week; you do not

have to use Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal but if you have it we would love to see it!

 I encourage you to check out all of the gorgeous inspiration from the rest of the

 Design Team and then link up your creation on the Add a Little Dazzle Blog! 

Wanting to play with your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets?  

You can purchase yours HERE. 

If you purchase from the link on my blog, I thank you in advance as 

I get credit for your purchase.  

THANK YOU!

Have a Blessed Week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-

Stamps-Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Across the Miles

Paper- Nature Gmund Savanna White card stock (CutCardStock), SU vellum

Ink-Versamark, SU Crumb Cake, Memento Tuxedo Black

Other- Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal,  Die-Namites Die Winter Branch, Heart die Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Pick Me Up Die Set), Crystal Effects, Black ep, white acrylic paint, Martha Stewart Fine Glitter- crystal, Martha Stewart Course Glitter- crystal, SU On Film Framelits, SU Dazzling Diamonds

A Die Technique with Add a Little Dazzle

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to another Wednesday and a new challenge at Add a Little Dazzle!  This week we have a beautiful fall inspiration photo for you~



 I used the Die-Namites Die, Winter Sunflower and instead of die cutting with it, I embossed with it. 

Here is your inspiration photo~

I wanted to bring in the warm colors, flowers, and the rustic feel of this picture. When I think rustic, I think chicken wire;  I used my IO chicken wire image and stamped the background in yellow.  Torn paper is another thing that says 'rustic' to me- and I love torn paper!  I really wish it would become trendy again.
My sunflower image was made with my Die-Namites Die- I used my tan embossing mat underneath my cardstock so that the image would emboss instead of cut.
The image was then colored with Copics.  I used the 'outside the box' technique in trimming down my image/banner panel, allowing leaves and petals to hang over the edge. I added some shadowing with a gray Copic to give the image dimension; I love how it looks like a separate piece adhered to the banner.  To make the sunflower pop, I die cut the center of the flower in Brushed Bronze Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal and then again in Chocolate Brown Craft Metal, and adhered the pieces to the center of the flower.
My foliage was die cut with Heartfelt Creation Dies.  I added some linen thread to add to the rustic look.
I will be linking this card up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- 'Anything Goes', Just Us Girls photo inspiration challenge~

~And finally getting a chance to play along with my former team mates at The Card Concept.  My card is the classy and elegant style (with a bit of rustic)  :)  I had to go with sunflowers as I do not have pumpkin images. 

We hope that you can play along with us this week

for our Inspiration Challenge.  You do not have to use craft metal sheets,

but if you have it, we would love to see it!

Are you thinking you have to have your own Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets?  You can purchase them HERE.   I thank you in advance as I get credit for your purchase.  

Thank YOU!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-

Stamps- Impression Obsession Chicken Wire Background Stamp

Paper- SU retired dsp, SU Always Artichoke, SU Mellow Moss, SU Early Epresso, Neenah Solar white cs

Ink- SU Crushed Curry

Other- Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets,  Die-Namites WinterSunflower Die, SU linen thread, Copics

Die~Namites and CanvasCorpBrands Come Together to Hop!

Hi Everyone!
It is a fun week over at Die~Namites, as we have joined forces with CanvasCorpBrands for a blog hop!

I really had fun with this one-  mixed media and all!

I used Die~Namites Winter Sunflower to make my flower, cutting it out of Canvas Corp Yellow and white Reverse Mini Dots cs. 

I also used the Knobby Branch Die and the Small Ivy Die to cut my background foliage. I cut it from both card stock and Canvas Corp canvas. 

I used some Pure Mistables paper to heat emboss my sentiment on.  Then I sponged and misted my background panel and my leaves, using Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  Complete details of how I made this card are on the Die~Namites Blog. 
I got my sketch inspiration from a Deconstructed Sketch from earlier this summer~

 Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps-Wonderful Words Hello Mini Stamp Set, PTI
Paper- Canvas Corp Skinny Card, Canvas Corp Yellow and White Mini Dot, Mistables Paper, SU Smokey Slate and Basic Gray, Neenah Solar White
Ink- Veramark, So Saffron, Basic Gray
Other- Die~Namites Winter Sunflower, Knobby Branch and Small Ivy Dies, Canvas Corp Yellow Cord, Black ep, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Stone and Sunflower, Canvas Corp Canvas,Crafter's Workshop Cherry Blossom Stencil

Festive and Floral with Die~Namites

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the last day of June, and for those in the U.S., the week of 4th of July celebrations.  Today I am sharing a card made with a brand new Die~Namites Die. I thought I would try something a little different this time; I impressed my image into my paper instead of die cutting it out.  This allowed me to treat the die as both a die and a stamp.

I fell in love with the color combo at Colour Q and thought it would perfect for the week of July 4th.  These colors remind me of summers gone by.  My mother always planted geraniums and that is what these flowers remind me of.  Add to that gingham, cool summer blues, and scallops, and my mind thinks of my childhood.

The sketch at Freshly made Sketches is really versatile; I had no trouble incorporating my impressed die image into the sketch~ 

I used the new Flowers and Leaves Die from Die~Namites.  To impress the die cut onto cs, place the cs onto a rubber mat, then place the die, cutting edge down, on top of the paper.  This was then sandwiched between cutting plates and run through the Big Shot.  I them trimmed my image down to size and used the 'outside the box' technique, fussy cutting around some of the leaves.

Once I had my image, I colored the leaves with Copic Markes, E40 through E44.  The flower heads were die cut out of Real Red cardstock and pieced onto the impressed flower heads.  A second red flower head, as well as smaller pink flower centers, were die cut out and layered onto the flowers.  The flower centers are made with one of my all time fave SU colors, Blush Blossom and embellished with pearls and glitter.  The Paper Players Challenge this week is Tic Tac Toe- I choose my tic tac toe elements to be- any shade of pink (blush blossom), pearls, and embossing.

The background image was made with the faux watercoloring technique.  I inked both Bashful Blue and Island Indigo onto my gingham stamp and then spritzed the stamp with water before stamping to give it that faux watercolor look.

I am also entering this in Simon Says Stamp W is for White Monday Challenge, as I transformed white CS into a watercolored background and white cardstock into an embossed image.  

That's it for me today!  Hope your week is full of red, white, and blue (for my U.S. friends!).

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-

Stamps- Our Daily Bread Designs Gingham background, sentiment is Our Craft Lounge
Paper- Neenah Solar White, Real Red, Blush Blossom, Bashful Blue, vellum
Ink- Bashful Blue, Island Indigo
Other- Die~Namites Flowers and Leaves Die, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Scallop Edge die, SU button, Martha Stewart Chunky Glitter, Corner Chomper, pearls, Hemptique twine

All Things Baby with The Card Concept!

Hi Everyone!
Hope you are enjoying your summer!
 Lesley has some adorable inspiration for us at The Card Concept this week.

 It's all things BABY this week!  Aren't these cookies adorable?! I spotted the buggy and knew right away what image I was going to use.  And as usual, I am designing in the Classy and Elegant style.  My layers, textures, traditional image and bling all lend themselves to that style.

The border punch also lends elegance to the card- I am not sure what you call them-flourishes?  A type of leaf or flower?  Well, whatever they are, I think they are very elegant!   :)

 My stamps are from a retired Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps set; the buggy was colored with Copics, fussy cut out, and popped up on dimensionals on my layered ovals. I added a Die~Namites Spring Blossoms Die Cut behind it, then layered up dp from Webster's Pages and a dry embossed background panel, and added that "whatever you call it" border, following this sketch from Jen at The Deconstructed Sketch.

Check out The Card Concept Blog for all of the amazing inspiration shared in all of the designing styles by our awesome team! I hope you will play with us this week!

I peek at our summer vacation~

 Southern Utah

Have a Blessed Day!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Crafty Secrets
Paper-SU Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Neenah Solar White, dp Webster's Pages
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Soft Suede
Other- SU Oval Framelits, MFT Fishtail Flag Staz Die-Namics, Die~Namites Spring Blossoms Die, Verve Vintage Oval Die, SU embossing folder, pearls, dimensionals , Copics

A Die~Namite MetaMorphosis

Hello Everyone!

I feel like I have been gone forever; I was vacationing in the Southwest with my son ( who kindly agreed to accompany his mom!).  Now I get to enjoy relaxing at home the rest of my summer and get back to crafting!
Today I am sharing a card with a really special-to-me message-

Yes, so often I feel like the caterpillar, with nothing to live for.  But the end is just the beginning in the Master's grand plans! How grateful I am for that!
For this card, I used 4 Die~Namites Dies.  The first is Butterfly Frenzy, which has mutliple fluttering butterflies, but they are perfect individually for putting together little vignettes.  My two toned butterfly is lightly painted with Luminartes Silks Ice Paint for shimmer.  The antennae are coated with Crystal Effects.

My background oval is made with another brand new die, the Shady Tree Die.  Yes, I used tree dies on this card!  I cut two white trees out, removed much of the trunk and then adhered them inside the white oval, one right side up and one up side down. 

 

I made my floral spray with the new, Small Ivy Die and a new-to-me die, the Knobby Branch Die.  Oh boy, these are both great background fillers for floral sprays.  

I have used some fantastic cardstock for the back panel- I just love this stuff from CutCardStock.  It is super heavy and has this wonderful woodgrain embossing to it.  It is called Nature Gmund Savanna- yes, it really is called that!  Funny name, fabulous cardstock!
The sentiment is from sweet ' Sassy Stamps set, Majestic Monarchs.

Products used- Stamps-snss Majestic Monarchs/ Paper- CutCardStock Nature Gmund Savanna; SU vellum, Soft Suede, Bahama Breeze, Pool Party, River Rock, Whisper White, Crumb Cake/ Other-Die~Namites Dies Butterfly Frenzy, Small Ivy, Knobby Branch, Shady Tree; MFT Fishtail Flag Stax Die-Namics, SU Oval Framelits, SU woodgrain ef, SU vintage brad

Lastly, I thought I would share a couple of photos from our Southwest vacation-

Yes, one of our stops was the Grand Canyon.  Thanks for letting me bore you!

Thanks so much for visiting; everyone one of you is truly appreciated. 
Have a blessed day! 

Lee Ann  :)

All Abuzz!

Hi All!!

Have you seen the newest dies over at Die~Namites yet?  Oh, I had so much fun playing, especially since I like paper piecing.

 I just adore the bees in this sweet new die, Buzzing Around. 

 I used the new sketch that is up on the Die~Namites blog and also did the Dare, 

which is to use vellum.

 My bees were paper pieced and the pieces colored yellow and black with Copics,  I fussy cut vellum wings and adhered then on the back side of the body of the bee wings.  I am not one to use much glitter, but these wings just called out for it!  A pearl, colored with a Copic, fills in nicely for a bee head! 

The bee 'trails' where also die cut out of vellum.  They are just so stinkin' cute! 

My flowers were cut twice and the top flower was glitzed up with my Wink of Stella pen.  I punched two circles for the flower centers. 

My leaves were added; I used the newest, awesome Die~Namites Die,  Small Ivy. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-
Stamps-Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Buggin' Ya
Paper- Neenah Solar White, SU Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Lucky Limeade, Crushed Curry, Naturals Ivory, Basic Black, vellum
Ink- Versafine Black
Other- Die~Namites Buzzin' Around and Small Ivy dies, SU Honeycomb ef, pearls, Copics, dimensionals, SU paper doily, circle punches, Martha Stewart glitter, scalloped edge die

Die~Namites Thanks

Hello Everyone!

I have a quick card to share that I have blogged on the Die~Namites Blog today,  using my new Summer Branch die. 

I love this versatile die; it is the perfect accent for just about everything, LOL!  Today I ventured outside of my comfort zone and cut my die cut out of patterned paper.  I adhered these end to end on a River Rock cardstock strip that had been embossed.  I added a stripe of coral (it really is coral even though it looks bright orange here) cs and a scalloped edge of blue patterned paper. 

 I had a scrap of gold heat embossed Spring Doily die cut laying on my desk; as I looked at it, I thought the edge of the die looked like gold braiding.  I trimmed this edge of the die cut and cut it into 3 pieces, adhering them in a scalloped pattern behind my branches and blue scallops. 

I stamped and watercolored my image from Fun Stampers Journey; my bird got a bit lost in the patterned paper, so I used the center circular piece of the gold embossed Spring Doily as a base for the bird.

I love the overall collage style of the card;  I think it is a bit eclectic as well, at least for me!

Thanks so much for stopping by today; have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Fun Stampers Journey, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Thankful Innies
Paper-watercolor paper, SU River Rock, Calypso Coral, Christy Tomlinson She Art dp
Ink- Versamark, Versafine Black, Ranger Archival Black
Other- Die~Namites Summer Branch and Spring Doily Dies, Gold ep, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Borders and Backgrounds die, SU Honeycomb embossing folder

Happy Bird-Day

Hi Everyone!

I am sharing today's card on the Die~Namites Blog today, plus, some really great news- Ribbon Carousel is back and just in time to celebrate our 3rd Birthday ! That's right, monthly challenges and prizes!  This month's challenge is "Party Time".  What better time for a party than a birthday?!
Today's card is a special one for my mom.  She loves nature and birds; she is always looking for a new bird house or bird feeder and has a subscription to a bird magazine.  With that in mind, I created a mini scene of a backyard bird~

I used the Die~Namites Spring Doily die for the background, Fancy Birdhouses die and Winter Branch die. 
The gorgeous  Spring Doily made a great background, but instead of punching out the pieces, I kept them intact.  I wanted a more subtle pattern and texture so as not to take away from the focal point.

  To ensure that pieces did not fall out of the die cut, I used some liquid glue on the backside of the die cut and smeared it over the entire back of the Spring Doily, then let it dry.
I die cut the birdhouse with the bird on it two times from the Fancy Birdhouses Die- once in dark brown and once in kraft with a woodgrain design.  I backed the kraft die cut with white cs to give it stability and keep the pieces from falling out; then, using pop dots, adhered it to the dark brown one.

The same bird house was die cut in blue, the bird was fussy cut out, 

and adhered  to my birdhouse.

Using the the Winter Branch die, I die cut 3 pieces-in green, brown and orange- then pieced the orange berries to the brown branch.

I adhered my birdhouse to a white cs circle that was stamped with a Stampin' Up image from Everything Eleanor and then tucked the

 evergreen branches and berries in behind it.

A twine bow, lace and gold embossing on vellum was added to finish the card.

This month Ribbon Carousel is giving away just that- a Ribbon Carousel- to one of our randomly chosen participants!  Head on over to the Ribbon Carousel Blog to find out how to play along, and check out the fabulous samples from the Design Team Crew while you are there. 


Colour Me...has an Anything Goes Challenge this week and I am linking up there with the colors green, blue, orange and brown.  

 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog Challenge is Anything Goes this week!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-
Stamps- Stampin' Up Everything Eleanor,
Paper- Neenah Solar White from CutCardStock, SU retired dsp, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Soft Suede, Blue, Very Vanilla
Ink-Soft Suede, Versamark
Other- Die~Namites Dies- Winter Branch, Fancy Birdhouses, Spring Doily, Gold ep, dimensionals, Hemptique hemp twine, lace, Tim Holtz wood grain ef, MFT circle stax dies

Going Purple with The Card Concept

Hello Everyone!

We have a new challenge up  on The Card Concept Blog and if you are a fan of this year's Pantone Color of the Year, then you are in luck!  The new Card Concept challenge is to make a card in Monochromatic Purple! I hope you play along with us!

I used a Die~Namites Die for the background doily and painted it with two different shades of purple Silks.  It looks much better irl because you can see the gorgeous shimmer of the mica in the paint.  The background panel and circle behind the vellum were stamped with the sweetest little rose image from a Crafty Secrets stamp set.  I think it must be retired as I cannot find it online and I picked it up for a steal at a scrapbook convention. 

The white panel behind the doily is dry embossed; then I inked up the edges of the paper with Versamark ink and dragged the edges of the paper through gold embossing powder.  

The sentiment is embossed in gold on vellum and a small ring of Sahara Sand cs was made to fit around the sentiment to define the vellum panel better.  

The leaves and flowers were made with Heartfelt Creations dies. 

The dry embossing and gold heat embossing, layers, handmade flowers, pearls and vellum all come together as a classy and elegant card.  What style do you prefer?

For more amazing inspiration, check out all of the Design Team samples on the Card Concept Blog. 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog Challenge is Anything Goes.   

Thanks for stopping by; have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-

Stamps-Crafty Secrets, Heartfelt Creations Open Leaf Precut Set

Paper-Flourishes white cs, SU vellum, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand

Ink-Versamark, Crumb Cake, Memento Tuxedo Black

Other- Die~Namites Spring Doily die, Heartfelt Creations Classic Leaf die and Vintage Floret die, MFT Circle Stax Die-Namics, gold ep, SU Polka Dot ef, pearls, Silks paint, Copics