Embracing Simplicity

Hey All,

In my last post I advised that I found simpler cards harder to make especially cards with less layers. Well I must have been hit with the Less is more bug cos I managed 2 simple cards that took under 30 mins each to make. AWESOME! They are both similar but hey I am still happy with them especially cos they are BRIGHT and cheerful.



This first one I made for my dad whose birthday it was on Australia Day. He also had surgery yesterday so nice and cheery is definatly on the cards

Stamp Set: Circle Circus, On your birthday
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist
Accessories: Marina Mist Button, Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon, Corner rounder



This second one I made to say thanks to our friends for letting us stay at their caravan last weekend. We had the most awesome time. I'm really tempted to buy my own down there now.

Stamp Set: Circle Circus, Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Rose Red, Whisper White
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Rose Red
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon, Rose Red Button, Corner Rounder

Thanks for looking,
Dani

Just Add Ink #22

Hi guys,

This week at Just Add Ink they had a colour challenge. As soon as I saw these I was like WOW! I really like them but wasn't 100% sure what to do with them. Especially when you put them together they are quiet bright. Here's the colours




So I started off by just punching out some squares of the colours to see them together and just get the ideas flowing and the squares then formed the inspiration for the card. Its quiet simple but I really really like it. It would be a great Make and Take or SAS card and would be easily replicated in different colours. After the card was done I realised the squares sorta reminded me of the card on page 63 of the current IB&C but it wasn't where I originally drew my inspiration.



Stamp Set: Party Hearty
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Kiwi Kiss, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: 1 1/2" square punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Dazzling Diamonds, Two way glue pen

I was really morning the loss of my Polka Dot BG stamp and my mat pack with this card. But it's good its giving me an extra challenge. If you look really close at the turquoise squares I have added a little glitter just to give it a little something extra. I am hoping I have some extra time (unlikely but I'm hoping) in the next few days to do a few more matching cards.

Thanks for looking
Dani

Episode II - Welcome to the major CASE squad

The best craft designs are persued by the detective of the major CASE squad... This is her story

Doink Doink

7 weeks ago Detective Dani was given a new assignment. To create some simple yet different Christmas gifts. Detective Dani stewed this over for a while when she remembered the lovely Joanna Wassens. Detective Dani thought to herself Jo always has gorgeous projects and she is very easily persuaded to give up her ideas, She will be my perfect target.

So Detective Dani went over to Jo's blog for some inspiration and came across some beautiful Magnet Bookmark's. Knowing that this fit the brief Detective Dani knew she had to use her quick wit and incredibly good looks to get Jo to give up her beautiful ideas. Detective Dani read down and found that by just thinking of how to get Jo to confess she already had exposed her secrets and the recipe to make the bookmark. Detective Dani knew it wasn't that easy and knew that there had to be more to it so sent Jo a comment trying to be discrete that she wasn't on Jo's CASE but also to get her to fully expose her secrets.

"Hi Jo,
I keep eyeing this off. It's such a great and simple idea. I am thinking of casing it for my next upcoming demo's. Thanks for the inspiration.
Where did you get the magnets from?? I've only been able to get huge sheets of them!! Please let me know
Dani xoxo"

Detective Dani knowing that Jo will give in awaited a reply and received one only a few days later from Jo advising that she simply recycled old fridge magents. Not knowing weather Jo had just given Detective Dani the key to unlocking all the secrets Detective Dani decided to start making up some prototypes with the plan of keeping Jo in a cell overnight until she gives in if they didn't work.

After making the first prototype Detective Dani knew that Jo had given in to her power's of persuasion and given Detective Dani the key to completing her assignment. Knowing that Jo may suspect that Detective Dani had Copied And Stole Everything she knew she had to disguise the project. Detective Dani looked at her colour Pallete and picked up the Old Olive and Real Red Cardstock and knew that this will give the project that extra touch it needed. To be extra sneaky Detective Dani made a second one by adding her own flair to the project. She then knew the CASE was complete and submitted her project to Senior Constable Karl for approval. Knowing that he was also memerised by Dectective Dani's beauty and wit he approved the project by saying "My darling they are beautiful".

The first prototype using Jo's design cleverly disguised with Old Olive and Real Red Cardstock. Detective Dani also used wide grosgrain ribbon.

The second Prototype with a changed design.

Here's how the magnet sits and below how the Magnet looks in Detective Dani's favourite reading material.

Detective Dani had made a beautiful and fun Christmas gift and due to these efforts Detective Dani was able to provide her demonstration attendee's with a fun Make and Take during the month of September. Detective Dani even used her Spotlight product to top off the project.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Craft and Design. Detective Dani ends up in too deep. Will she be able to solve the case?? You'll be in suspense!

Dani

P.S. Thanks so much Jo for letting me case your work and write this fun post.

My Design Stalker, The Spotlight and crafty goodness!

Ok I haven't blogged much this week but that has meant my crafting has been on hold, it's more the latter. So with that said I must warn you in advance, This will be a long post. But the pictures will be plentiful!! Above is a picture of my July Make and Take project.

MY DESIGN STALKER

Firstly, as said in my last post I'm am getting quiet carried away with Kristina's challenges. The last one was no exception. After I completed the challenge I had this other idea floating through my head. I tried to leave it be but even when doing my eScape thank you gifts I couldn't kick this design that kept stalking me in my head. So yesterday during my eScape event I finally gave in and gave it a whirl. I must say, I AM SO HAPPY I DID! I am rather in love with what I came up with and even more so think this colour combo was just amazing.

To jog your memories the combo that was given to us was Purely Pomegrante, Regal Rose, River Rock, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White. Here is what I did with the colour combo and the design aspects of the bedding a second time around.

Stamp Sets: Think Happy thoughts, Baroque Border Standard Wheel

Cardstock: River Rock, Glossy White

Inks: Purely Pomegrante, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi and Versamark

Accessories: Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, Ice Rhinestone Brads, White gel pen

Technique: Ghosting

THE SPOTLIGHT

No I'm not talking about the technique or the hostess set. I'm talking about a new feature to my blog. Each month I will be choosing a SU! product either Stamp Set, Accessories, Cardstock colour, etc or a technique which I will focus on for the month in addition to my other beautiful projects. The purpose of this is to:

1. Show my readers how versatile different SU! products can be and different ways of using them.

2. Show my readers how to use different techniques and there versatility.

3. Challenge myself to think outside the square and use some different products instead of going to my favourites all the time.

4. Be a good resource for others when selecting products they would like to purchase.

So when will all this great stuff happen? 1st July which happens to be this Tuesday. Have a check back to my blog then when I will reveal this months "Spotlighted" product/technique.

CRAFTY GOODNESS

As stated above I have been very busy. In fact I recieved a phone call from my relatives 2 weeks ago asking if we would make my cousin a scrapbook for his 21st. The album was completed and given to him yesterday! That was alot of fun considering not only did me and my mum have to throw together some scrapbook pages to fill an album in less than 2 weeks we also had to hunt down the photos, scan them, motidfy them, get them printed ready to be scrapbooked.

I did a few pages which I'm quiet happy with considering I don't really consider myself a scrapbooker. I do apologise in advance for the quality of the photographs. It was hard to get good light where a flash wasn't needed so therefore the photo's have a flash reflection.

I must admit for the first time ever I have featured a non SU! product on my blog. It is the striped blue paper. I couldn't help but add it onto the page as it coordinates so nicely with his outfit. Otherwise all other products are SU! Don't you just love the ribbon effect? Here's a close up:

Here is another page I have done. In the photo are my aunty, my brother Andrew is on the left in blue and my cousin Keagan who the scrapbook was done for.

Thanks heaps for bearing with me through this lengthy post. I wish you all a lovely Sunday evening whatever you get up to.

Dani :)

Mother's Day Make and Take

I was doing a demonstration the other day which meant I had to do a make and take which could be given as a mother's day card and usually this wouldn't faze me but for some reason I couldn't come up with anything Make and Take worthy. I kept sitting at my craft table and could make anything but a suitable Make and Take. Then after my mental block occurring for 4 days I was waiting for a TV program to start and had 15 minutes before it started so went and sat at the table and it just happened. I made a really simple and stunning make and take and here it is for your viewing pleasure.















Paper: Very Vanilla Textured, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Ballet Blue, Regal Rose, So Saffron
Stamp Sets: Simply Said, Occasional Greetings
Accessories: 1/4"Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals
Technique: Two-Step Stampin'

The ladies who made this card where so beautiful. They had never stamped before and found it the most fun thing. They were laughing and giggling at each other and watching in anticipation to see if the other could line the stamps up better. They had the best reaction to stamping that I have ever seen it was so great. It really made me remember why I love being a demonstrator so much.

Anyways it is rather late (2:15am to be exact) and I have a big day tomorrow with my brother's 21st birthday party finally on. I will post photo's of my creations for his party along with a photo from the party.

Have a great weekend

Dani :)