What paper crafter WOULDN'T want a chance to win free stamps, glitter, and rhinestones?!?!  I'm happy to inform you that DeNami Design is having a super duper exciting giveaway of some items in their new Fall/Winter 2010 Rubber Stamp collection! Just click HERE to see the post on their blog for the details. The new stamps are adorably cute....my wish list is growing and growing now....it will be a dangerous trip for my wallet when I visit their booth at the CHA show in a few weeks, LOL!

VISIT DENAMI DESIGNS BLOG!

Caardvarks DRS Designs, June Card Challenge

We are certainly in the prime of wedding season, and I needed a card for a wedding we attended last weekend. So, I decided to incorporate wet embossing so I could submit it for the June Caardvarks Challenge. I had a great time making this card, and I'm proud of myself for really thinking outside the 'Nicki Box' and doing something a bit different than my normal style. I just LOVE how it turned out!

The flowers and sentiment are embossed with silver embossing powder. It's been a while since I've used embossing, and I realized how much I miss it and love it! Maybe you will see more of my cards with embossing now. I folded the ribbon repeatedly which gives this card a lot of dimension. For the background, I used a piece of cardstock that has a metallic, shimmery look to it, and I'm so glad it showed up well in the photo. To add just a little more character, I included the small piece of patterned paper on the right edge and punched it using the Open Scallop Edger punch, one of my new favorites! Thanks for stopping by my blog and hope you visit again soon!

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Ever After
Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Going Gray, Very Vanilla, DCWV - Latte Premium Stack: Metallic Blue

Patterned Paper: Sandylion Sticker Designs: Floral Crochet-Blue

Ribbon: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Other: Joann's Essentials Flower Brads, SU Silver Embossing Powder, EK Success Open Scallop Edger Punch, Marvy Uchida 2" Round Scallop Punch, Recollections Light Blue Pearl Sticker

DeNami Product Challenge #2: Gifts and Favors Templates

Hi everyone, I'm back! After a busy six weeks or so, I am excited to get back into my stamping again - WOOHOO!!!!!! Dave & I were busy moving stuff out of my condo that finally sold (another woohoo!), and painting our current place to get ready to put on the market. I'm so glad to be participating in this challenge! Although now it's going to be quite the challenge for me to keep my small stamping area clean while our place is up for sale. Anyone have any tips??!!

I decided to download the free purse template from DeNami's website for this challenge. I used white cardstock as the base, and used just one stamp over and over again! The flower vine on the front flap of the purse is stamped on a separate white piece, and carefully cut-out and placed using foam dimensionals. I love the little pink pearl added to the middle of the flower...I think it's the little things that give it that special touch! I also stamped the flower with white craft ink on the Sage Shadow cardstock, which is on the edge of the flap, and also used for the handle. I added Stickles to the center of each flower on both of those pieces. This was a fun challenge! Thanks DeNami Design for the free template!

Supplies:

Template: DeNami - Small Purse Template

Stamp: DeNami - Flower Vine Swirl
Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Whisper White, Sage Shadow
Ink: Stampin' Up - Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink, White Craft Ink
Other: Recollections Pink Pearl Sticker, Dimensionals, Stickles-Star Dust

Lee DeWyze Comes to Town!

Wow! Lee DeWyze's hometown visit last Friday was so crazy!!!  His day was filled with so many stops, and finally ended the day with a concert at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, IL. Like I mentioned in my last post, Dave & I had VIP tickets to see him. The view was great and we got some pictures and a few videos. Lee showed so much emotion and was so humble, it made me like him even more! Hearing him sing live was also incredible. He sang about 9 songs, but was originally only supposed to sing 3! He was so grateful for all the support, and he has touched so many people, I think that's one of the reasons he's doing so well on American Idol. His performances tonight were PHENOMENAL!! I am such a huge fan. When the show is over, I will really miss seeing him on TV every week! Check out the videos below! I will post some pictures soon.

American Idol Hometown Visit!

WOW! It's been an exciting week around here. One of American Idol's final 3 contestants, Lee DeWyze, has come back to the Chicago area for the show's annual hometown visit. Lee grew up in the town right next to where I grew up and lived for years!! My husband Dave and I have been fans of AI for quite awhile, and we've been rooting for Lee since the beginning of the season! He has such a unique voice and seems like such a nice, down to earth guy.

All season I've been telling Dave that if Lee makes it to the top 3, I so want to go see him during the home town visit. Well, my wish came true! Not only do we have tickets to see him play a mini concert at Arlington Park racetrack, but I WON VIP tickets! We get to be in the section closest to the stage for a great view! Luckily the weather has cleared up, the sun is out and it's warmed up a little bit. I am so excited!!! What a cool thing to experience.  I will be sure to post again after the event, and hopefully get some good pictures to share with you all!

Challenge: Color Throwdown #91

I found a great challenge site called The Color Throwdown and they have challenges based on different color combinations. I needed to make a birthday card for a very good stamping friend of mine, so I decided to incorporate the colors for the current challenge, and I'm very pleased with what I came up with!  Hope you had a great birthday, Jen!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Paisley Background, Simple Friendship

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery

Ink: Stampin' Up - Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean

Ribbon: Stampin' Up - Certainly Celery

Buttons: Masterpiece Studios, Inc.
Other: Marvy Uchida 2" Round Scallop Punch, Spica Marker - Mint, Dimensionals, Sponge

Celebrating Moms

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I wish all of the mothers out there a Happy Mother's Day! My husband and I will be taking our moms and families out for lunch to a local Italian restaurant to celebrate. Mmmmm...can't wait!

I needed to make 4 Mother's Day cards, and instead of making 4 different ones like I usually do, I designed one layout, then used different colors and stamps to keep it interesting. I added some PK Glitz glitter to a couple of them, and it just gives it that extra oomph! I also like the Pearl stickers I added for dimension. I LOVE how these cards turned out, and sure hope all the moms enjoy them! Have a great Mother's Day!!!  (tip: click on the image to get a larger view)

Supplies: Yellow/Teal Card

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Circle Cirus, Frames with a Flourish;  Close to My Heart - Alphabet

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Taken with Teal, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White

Ink: Stampin' Up - Taken with Teal, Apricot Appeal

Other: Recollections - Pearl Sticker, Dimensionals

Supplies: Green/Pink Card

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Baroque Motifs, Frames with a Flourish;  Close to My Heart - "Mother's Day"

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Mellow Moss, Pixie Pink, Very Vanilla

Ink: Stampin' Up - Mellow Moss, Pixie Pink

Other: Recollections - Pearl Sticker, Dimensionals

Supplies: Red/Green Card

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Carte Postale, Frames with a Flourish;  Close to My Heart - Alphabet

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Ruby Red, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla

Ink: Stampin' Up - Ruby Red, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip

Glitter: PK Glitz Glitter Glitz - Sand

Other: Recollections - Pearl Sticker, Dimensionals 

Supplies: Purple Card

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Carte Postale, Frames with a Flourish;  Close to My Heart - "Mother's Day"

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Stampin' Up - Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant

Glitter: PK Glitz Glitter Glitz - Orchid

Other: Recollections - Pearl Sticker, Dimensionals

A Chance For Free Stuff!

Ok, so I got your attention right?! Good! DeNami Designs Rubber Stamps is having a Giveaway for a $25 Gift Certificate! It's so easy to enter. Just leave a comment on their giveaway post here. Once there, read more to see how you can be eligible for additional comments! Two winners will be chosen. So don't delay, Thursday May 6 is the last day to leave a comment!

Be sure to visit again soon. I will be posting some Mother's Day cards that have some sparkle ;-)