Tulips

Hello! I'm not really sure when I last posted here on my blog. I know it's been forever! I've been busy, busy, busy with my family and work. Although I've been doing plenty of papercrafty stuff these past few months, I just haven't had the energy to do all those things that go with blogging about my projects. I spent some time yesterday thinking about and digging up inspiration for a few special projects I had on my to-do list for this week, and in doing so, I cruised by the Power Poppy website and blog. I recently treated myself to a few Power Poppy stamp sets and was eager to get them inky! I noticed a post about the latest Power Poppy Power & Spark challenge, which is to "cut it out" (fussy cutting your main image), and I realized that playing in a challenge (which I haven't done in AGES!) was probably just the nudge I needed to finally post something new here on My Little Slice of Bliss. So, here I am with an entry for Power & Spark!

I used the gorgeous tulip image, as well as a sentiment, from Power Poppy's Dynamic Duos: Peonies and Tulips set and colored with my Copics. The notebook paper die and coordinating notebook paper lines stamp are from My Favorite Things. And that pretty patterned paper? From an ancient Jillibean Soup 6x6 pad. I'm working hard to use up my stash!

I had fun getting creative today. Thanks for taking a peek!
Emily

Thinking of You

Today I sat down and made a card to play in not one, but TWO challenges! Coulda knocked me over with a feather. It's been so long! Here's what I made:

And here's what it was for:

• My friend Pam's Just Punch It challenge, which is all about punch art. Her theme this time around is Winter Blues. I built up my blue winter wreath with punches from Martha Stewart's pine bough punch, with another MS punch--this time a snowflake--in the center.
• Simon Wednesday Challenge, which is Ice Inspiration this week. I thought the icy finish on these iridescent sequins was just perfect for this challenge!

I also used some of my beloved DeNami Design stamps to make this card: Medium Double Circle, Medium Thinking of You Circle, and a sweet little heart from the Whimsical Valentine stamp set.

Both of my kids will be off from school tomorrow for a teacher in-service day. Looks like I'll have company for lunch ;). We have plans for the library and just hanging out here at home. That will be nice!

Thanks for visiting!
Emily

November Pinspired at DeNami Design

Hello, friends! Today I'm bringing you another Pinspired post along with a few of my other DeNami Design teammates. This month we were inspired by this photo:

Isn't that pretty? I'd love to have a front door that looked like that for autumn :). Those pretty colors make me happy! There's so much to see in this photo, but I think I was most inspired by that awesome wreath. Here's what I designed:

Look at what I used from the DeNami Design store to make my card:

Leafy Vine Wreath

Wheat Stalks

Berries from Classic Christmas stamp set

Pumpkin from Autumn stamp set

"Thinking of You" from Thoughtful Greetings stamp set

Rich Cocoa Memento ink

Habanero Versafine ink

Toffee Versafine ink

This round card is on the petite side: it measures just 3.25" in diameter. I used Copics to color in those wee bitty pumpkins and leaves. Each pumpkin is popped up on a tiny square of foam tape for dimension.

Be sure to check out what the other designers did with this inspiration photo on the DeNami blog today!

Thank you so much for dropping by!
Emily 

Ways With Washi: FLOWERS + a Giveaway!

Good morning, DeNami friends! Can you believe that autumn has officially arrived? I can't believe that it's already time for my September edition of Ways With Washi! I thought that this time around we could take a look at using washi tape to create different styles of flower embellishments. Here, let me show you what I mean . . .

For my first project, I used strips of DeNami Red Stripes washi tape to create a cheery floral focal point for a clean and simple encouragement card. I started with long-ish strips of washi tape that I folded over on themselves, being careful to leave some adhesive exposed at one end. Then I used scissors to round one end of each strip and adhered them (using each strip's exposed adhesive tab) around a circle punched from cardstock to form the blossom. The last step was to add a pretty decorative brad in the flower's center and attach it to my card!

DeNami Products: Hang In There, Solid Block Border, Toffee Versafine Ink, Onyx Black Versafine Ink

Next up is a loopy washi tape flower. For this embellishment, I turned to DeNami Orange Stripes washi tape for the job. To make the petals for this beauty, I folded long strips of washi tape in half lengthwise before doubling them over and adhering them to a punched cardstock circle. I anchored everything with a pretty pearl brad in the center.

DeNami Products: Thoughtful Greetings stamp set, Onyx Black Versafine Ink

Finally, I pressed some DeNami Yellow/White Dots washi tape into service for a sunshiny daisy. I used an approach similar to the one I used for my first card, but trimmed each washi tape petal to a point this time around. For the daisy's center, I stamped a Circle Scallop on magenta cardstock, cut it out, and finished it off with baker's twine tied through a DeNami boutique button. I covered some wire with Lime/White Dots washi tape for a stem. And because you are so sharp, I'm sure you spotted some more Lime/White Dots washi tape used for the leaves and grass ;).

DeNami Products: Sending You Sunshine, Circle Scallop, white cardstock, Tutti Fruitti Boutique Buttons, Confetti 3-pack baker's twine,  Onyx Black Versafine Ink

I hope you've been inspired to pull out your washi tape to try making some flower embellishments for your paper-crafted projects!

GIVEAWAY

How would you like to win a roll of washi tape to try making some pennants and banners for yourself? I have a brand-new roll of Orange Stripes Washi Tape from DeNami Design--the same tape that I used on today's second project--that I'd love to give away to a reader of this post. Want to be in the running? Just leave me a comment on this post using the word "AUTUMN." There's no need to be a follower of my blog to enter, but if you are a follower (or become a new follower!), you can have a second entry in the drawing--just leave me a second comment telling me that you are a follower and how you follow. :)

I'll leave commenting open until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, and will draw one commenter at random. The winner will be announced right here on my blog on Thursday, September 26, and if I'm able to find an email address, I'll be sure to contact the winner as well.

I'm so glad you dropped by for a little slice of bliss today!
Emily

Growing In Unity~Day 4

 Thanks for coming back for Day 4 of my week as Growing in Unity gal!

Today is a two-fer day! I've got two little Unity projects that I've been just itching to share with you. Let's get started!

The sentiment is from Unity's {my thoughts are with you} kit. Definitely a must-have! It is loaded with a great variety of "thinking of you" types of sentiments that are perfect for cardmakers. I love how this one in particular fits perfectly in my Stampin' Up! modern label punch.

The patterned paper is a digital print from the Beautiful Moments collection by Carta Bella (available from JessicaSprague.com).  I built the gilt frame around the portion I printed out using some really cool gold washi tape. It totally looks like a fancy picture frame, right? I think the effect is awesome.

Now, switching gears a bit.

This card pulls together two different Unity Stamp kits. The doily stamped in the background in white on kraft and the fancy label are from the Generations kit, and the fantastic "You are fabulous" sentiment is from the Where You Should Be kit. Quick and easy and perfect for dropping in the mail to a fabulous friend!

And I think that does it for today!

Please leave a comment on this post to be in the running for two free Unity Itty Bitty kits, one comment per person please. But if you are a follower of my blog (or become a new follower), you can leave a second comment--for a second chance to win--on today's post:  just let me know that you are a follower and how you follow my blog!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for my last GIU post. If you haven't already commented on my GIU Days 1, 2, and 3 posts, you should check out and comment on those as well to maximize your chances of winning in the random drawing. I will leave commenting open through 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 9, 2013, and will come back on June 10 to announce the winner here on my blog. If I can find a way to contact the winner via email, I'll be sure to do that, too. :)

I'm so happy that you stopped by to visit today!
Emily 

DeNami Fresh Florals Blog Hop

Good morning, friends! I am over the moon to be a part of today's DeNami Design blog hop! Today the DeNami Design team and DeNami Design customers are highlighting some of my very favorite DeNami stamps: florals!! I hope you'll hop along for loads of inspiration.

Hopefully, you've arrived here by way of Amy Smidebush's blog, Standing Ovation. If so, you are on the right track! If not, you'll want to head over to the DeNami blog to start the blog hop at the beginning. (And remember, if you get lost along the way, you can always head over to the DeNami blog to get pointed in the right direction.)

Don't forget, there are some amazing DeNami prizes to be won! Two lucky commenters will be drawn at random from among the comments left along the blog hop to win a $20 DeNami Design gift certificate! You have until Monday, May 20, 2013, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs to be eligible for a prize.

So, let me show you what I made with one very cool and utterly versatile DeNami stamp sets, the Whimsical Garden cling stamp set.

I just love how you can build your own blooms with this set! And the flowers and leaves are perfect for coloring with your favorite media. I also used the delightful You're On My Heart sentiment, along with Golden Tangerine cardstock, Cream cardstock, Tuxedo Black Memento ink, and some White/Black Dots washi tape from the DeNami store. Oh, and I nearly forgot--see the tone-on-tone stamping done on the card base? That fabulous look is courtesy DeNami's Polka Dot Background stamp and some Versamark ink.

I recently sent this card to a friend to let her know I'd been thinking of her!


That's it for me today! Before you leave for more Fresh Florals inspiration, be sure to leave a comment to be eligible for the randomly drawn prizes and then you can be on your way to the next stop on the hop, the blog of the very sweet and talented Pattie Goldman! 
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Enjoy the blog hop,
Emily
 

Thinking of You + a WINNER!

Hello, hello, and a huge hello! I'm here on this bright and sunny and--dare I say spring-like?--Thursday to share a card and the winner of my washi tape and baker's twine giveaway from my April Ways With Washi!

First, I'd like to introduce you to today's card:

Diecuts are by K & Co. (thanks to my sweet friend Jessi!), and the stamps (Decorative Butterflies stamp set and Thinking of You Script cling stamp), brown/white dots washi tape, and baker's twine are all from DeNami Design

It's been a strange and emotional couple of weeks around the Boston area with the Marathon bombings and aftermath, followed by the tense manhunt at the end of the week. Many thanks to my sweet blogging friends who emailed me directly to check up on our status. Your concern touched me deeply! We quite thankfully were safe throughout. And aside from being glued to various media outlets for developments (which sucks up sooooooooooooo much of one's time and energy), we were largely unaffected, except for the day of Friday's manhunt. My husband, who works in one of the communities that was told to "shelter in place," headed out for work completely unaware of the overnight developments. He ended up turning around to come home again (all before sunrise!) once he heard the news on the radio. He wound up working remotely from home that day. Luckily, the kids were already home with me because of their spring break last week. It was good to be all together as events unfolded.

Anyway, now that things are starting to get back to normal, I'm just now hearing the stories of how some of our friends and acquaintances were affected. It's time to mail out cards! Having not nearly enough "thinking of you" cards in my arsenal, that has been my task this week. I made this particular card for a friend whom I've just learned had a harrowing Marathon Monday. I just want to let her know that she and her family are on my heart. More such cards are being added to my stash daily.

OK, now let's move on to finding a winner!

I used Random.org to draw a winner from all the comments left on my giveaway post and came up with lucky number . . .

. . . 42--and that was SHartl!!

Congratulations! I'm off to email you next so I can get your new goodies mailed out to you. :)

A huge thanks to everyone who played along in my giveaway! I always love reading your comments. You warm my heart!!!!

I hope you'll plan to tune in for another Ways With Washi feature in May--I'll be posting on Memorial Day. :) We'll definitely have another giveaway then!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Emily

Pinspired at DeNami

Happy Wednesday, friends! One of the new features on the DeNami Design blog this year is a little something called Pinspired. Paulina, our DT leader, has scoured Pinterest for beautiful, inspirational photos. Twice each month, the DeNami team will then interpret a given inspirational photo into various cards and projects. Paulina split the team into two groups--the first group took their turn here--and today it is time for my group to take a turn.

Here is the inspirational photo that Paulina gave us to interpret:

And here is my creation inspired by it:

Even though I took a clean and simple approach to this card, there are still four different DeNami stamps in the design: Small Heart Outline, Teeny Heart Background, You're on My Heart, and Sparkles. Can you spot them all?

I also used some musical notes washi tape from the DeNami Design store.

Be sure to check out what the rest of my DT group made after being inspired by today's Pinspired photo!

Thanks for dropping by for a visit and slice of bliss today!
Emily

Juggling Too Much?

Recently I've been busy, crafty-wise, with design assignments. But once the kids were back in school again after their long weekend, I was finally able to turn my attention to a project I've had simmering on the back burner for a while now. Here's my result:

Does this feel like you, too? Well, except for the stylish pencil skirt and those high-heeled shoes, this card pretty much sums up my life these days. Juggling a million details that keep my family running smoothly without any major train wrecks.

This card was inspired by the Use 10 Embellishments Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, in honor of the release of the new Paper Crafts special issue, 75 Creative Card Challenges.

Yes, indeedy, you guessed it--the idea here is to use 10 different embellishments all on the same card in an innovative way. That last part had me stymied for a while. I mean any old fool (this one included!) can slap a bunch of googaws on a card and call it a day. But I wanted mine to mean something, to really tell a story, and not just look like some useless afterthoughts (which is what usually happens if I try to add more than one or two embellies)! Ten? I had my work cut out for me!

My very wise hubby is a big fan of consigning the solution of vexing problems to the subconscious. Can't see how to tackle something right away? Familiarize yourself with the problem and just walk away from it, sleep on it, do something completely different for a while. And that ol' subconscious just plugs away on it, chews it over, and pretty soon smacks you up side the head--completely out of the blue--with just the insight, answer, approach, or solution method that you need. That's just how it happened for me:  in the middle of brushing my teeth while thinking about something completely different.

I selected my embellishments very carefully, picking them for the kinds of tasks that we modern women must juggle.  I had to increase my card size to a mega 5" x 7" to get them to all fit comfortably! Anyway, starting with that ribbon rose on the bottom left, and then going clockwise, we have :

1. The red ribbon rose symbolizes time spent bringing happiness, thoughtfulness, and our thankfulness to others in the form of gifts, cards, phone calls, emails, and favors.
2. The paperclip symbolizes time spent at work.
3. The baseball brad symbolizes time spent managing (and chauffeuring!) kid activities.
4. The wooden clock face symbolizes time spent managing and planning the family calendar.
5. The sparkly apple cabochon symbolizes time spent on planning, shopping, and preparing tasks that keep the family well-nourished.
6. The mini wooden clothespin symbolizes time spent on housekeeping chores.
7. The shiny star brad symbolizes time spent overseeing and helping with the kids' schoolwork.
8. The Asian coin symbolizes time spent on all the myriad financial management tasks.
9. The wooden Bingo number symbolizes time spent on family fun activities and "me" time.
10. The shiny little key symbolizes time spent on home and auto maintenance.

Whew! I'm tired now just thinking of it all! But this little exercise has also been a great reminder of all the many blessings we enjoy. Life may be busy, but it's also quite good!

So, if you feel like you are juggling too much, too, I do believe I know how you feel. And hopefully knowing that will lift you up and make the juggling just a tiny bit easier to manage. :)

Thank you so much for joining me for a little slice of bliss today! It's always a joy to have you drop by!
Emily

DeNami Wonderful Washi Blog Hop

Good morning, friends! I am so excited to be a part of today's DeNami Design blog hop! Today the DeNami Design team and DeNami Design customers are showing off wonderful ways to use washi tape. If you have heard my news about my new monthly blog feature {Ways With Washi} over on the DeNami Design blog, then you know that this is right up my alley!!

I am the last stop on today's hop. Hopefully, you've arrived here by way of Donna Bowman's blog, The Crafty Corgi. If so, you are on the right track! If not, you'll want to head over to the DeNami blog to start the blog hop at the beginning. (And remember, if you get lost along the way, you can always head over to the DeNami blog to get pointed in the right direction.)

Don't forget, there are some amazing DeNami prizes to be won! Two lucky commenters will be drawn at random from among the comments left along the blog hop to win a $20 DeNami Design gift certificate! You have until Monday, January 14, 2013, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs to be eligible for a prize.

So, shall we get on our wonderful washi way? Here is what I created with some wonderful washi tape from DeNami Design.

You can click on this photo for a better view!

It's a set of mini note cards for my 10YO son! They all measure 3" x 3". I used DeNami Design's super awesome Road Washi Tape for these. And a bunch of DeNami Design rubber stamps, too, if you can believe that! The Cars & Trucks stamp set, Medium Double Line Square, Birthday Celebration Set 1, Make Way! It's Your Day!, Sending You Smiles, and You're "Wheel" Nice all made it to my crafting table. I was inspired to make these by the Make an Itty Bitty Card Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, celebrating the release of the new special issue, 75 Creative Card Challenges.

Anyway, my mini cars were fun, quick, and easy! All that was left to do then was package them up in a DeNami Design boutique box and tie them up with some baker's twine.

I hope you have collected tons of great ideas for using washi tape! I am the last stop on today's hop. Be sure to leave a comment before you go to be in a drawing for a Denami Design gift certificate.


Thanks for hopping along today!
Emily

Turn Your Face to the Sun

Yesterday was such a hectic day for me. I spent most of the day running errands (that I thought I could wrap up before lunch--HA!), and then our evening was rushed so we could attend our daughter's middle school holiday concert (thoroughly enjoyable--she really shone!). But all of yesterday's busy-ness left me in need of some quiet time for myself today. Here's what I did with my bit of "me" time:

I made this card for Flourishes' Let's Hop Progressive Challenge, which requires 8 components:

1. NOT an A2 size (my card is 5" x 7")
2. Use some type of floral (mine is this beautiful hollyhocks image from the Flourishes Hollyhocks stamp set)
3. Add ribbon or lace (mine is from May Arts)
4. Be inspired by this beautiful photo (I drew my colors from it)
   
5. Add a tag (used it for my sentiment, which comes from the Flourishes Sunflowers stamp set)
6. Add a rounded corner (check!)
7. Add ink distressing or sponging (which I did around my sentiment tag, main focal panel, and card base edges)
8. Use a die cut or punch somewhere (I used medium and large tag punches)

This is was such a fun challenge, and putting my card together was so relaxing. Just what I needed today! Now it's time for me to head out to do my weekly grocery shopping, so that's all for now.

Thanks so much for checking out my little slice of bliss today!
Emily

Autumn Thinking of You

OK, I've counted my Thanksgiving cards, and I think this one is the last one I need to make my quota! Huzzah!!

Still trying to keep things flat here for the sake of mailability. {Now that the creating task is done, next on my list will be signing, stuffing, and addressing for mailing.}

I'm linking up with the Stampendous November Challenge, which is to use any of the Stampendous Essentials products in your project. I heat-embossed leaves from the Stampendous Summer Leaves clear stamp set with Stampendous Aged Copper Embossing Enamel. (And the "thinking of you" sentiment is from DeNami Design.)

I'm also playing along with Do You Stack Up? (use a Leaves/Trees theme) and Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Thinking of You/Sympathy).

So, we had a great weekend and managed to show those leaves in our yard who's boss. The kids were a huge help (and they're pretty happy to have had the chance to earn some cash to use toward Christmas shopping). On Saturday we all worked together and made quite a lot of headway before having to take a break midday to go for a family portrait photography sitting. Last week I was working hard at my computer to meet a work deadline and managed to overwork my wrists with repetitive mouse tasks, making the ol' carpal tunnels flare up. So I started the day on Saturday feeling rather tender. Boy, you just don't realize how much you use your wrists for everyday tasks until they hurt!! I found out the hard way just how much wrist-twisting is involved in leaf raking. Who knew?? So after our portrait session, I was just limping along wrist-wise. To save me from further injury, the rest of the family pitched in to finish up the yard work without me on Sunday. Troopers!! It looks great out there. I just love the look of a freshly raked lawn--it looks like it's just had its hair brushed out and styled, you know? Nicely coiffed and polished :). 

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily

Thinking of You on Thanksgiving

OK, East Coast, are you bracing for Winter Storm Athena? Here we go again! It's likely to get frightful outside here later today, but it's cozy and warm inside for the moment. Once the kids were off to school this morning , I cranked some jazz, lit a spicy candle, and cranked out some more Thanksgiving cards. Here's one of them.

I reached for my DeNami stamps for this one: Small Jack O'Lantern (I masked out his sweet face for this Thanksgiving card--such an easy way to stretch your stamps!) and the "thinking of you" sentiment from the Thoughtful Greetings Petit Four stamp set. I love this little stamp set--such a great and useful collection of petite sentiments. One of my favorites! I had fun watercolor painting that little pumpkin. I stamped it in Vintage Sepia Versafine ink on watercolor paper and then heat embossed it with DeNami clear embossing powder.

I'm playing along with a few challenges with this card:

• CASology: Orange
• A Blog Named Hero: Punched/diecut elements (I think I have 5 on this CAS card!)
• Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Thinking of You/Sympathy

In case you haven't noticed, I'm just mad for DeNami Design products! Are you intrigued? Then you should give the DeNami Addict Challenge a try!! This month's challenge is a fun sketch, and it's open for three more days. You do not need to use DeNami stamps, but if you win (and there's a good chance that you could: right now there are only 5 entries!!) you could win a $15 gift certificate to the DeNami Design online store to start your DeNami addiction collection :).

Of course, if you already have some DeNami stamps, then you should also try the DeNami Design challenge hosted on the DeNami Design blog. This month's challenge is also a sketch and requires at least one DeNami stamp. The pay-off for winning on this challenge? How about a $20 shopping spree in the DeNami Design online store?

And what if you are more of an instant-gratification kinda craftista? Then DeNami has got you covered! This month DeNami has a great online store sale. Check this out!!

I did some stocking up at the DeNami store myself over the weekend and will share some photos of the new haul when my eagerly anticipated package arrives!!!

OK, friends, stay safe, warm, and dry wherever you are. And thanks so much for dropping by!
Emily

A Pop of Color

No, you are not seeing things--I am back with a new card to share for the second day in a row. I know, right? Baby steps; it's all about the baby steps to regain some level of creativity ;) .

So, to get going on today's card, I turned to the current DeNami Addict Challenge. This time around it's a sketch, and I must say it stretched me a bit. But I do, really do, like how my card turned out! Here it is:

and here's the sketch:

I used a gorgeously scripted "thinking of you" sentiment cling-style DeNami stamp to create a pair of borders and overstamped the patterned paper (from BasicGrey's Green at Heart collection) in the center with a DeNami harlequin border from the cling-style Modern Borders Set. I've never done this kind of thing before, but I looooooooooooooooove the effect! It adds some depth and texture which I thinks dresses up this simple card nicely. By the way, I also used some magenta cardstock, baker's twine, and a big, beautiful button that are all available from DeNami Design.

Want to take a crack at this sketch? You don't have to use DeNami stamps or products to enter; all you have to do is incorporate the sketch into your project. The winner gets a $15 gift certificate to the online DeNami Design store, so this would be a great way to get your DeNami collection started if you don't already have one!

I have a bunch of projects on my plate today (including wrapping up an outdoor painting project), so I've got to run. Thanks so much for dropping by today!!

May your day be filled with bliss!
Emily

Blue Skies Thinking of You

Today I have a high-flying "thinking of you" card to share.

This clean and simple card features the super-fun Fly A Kite stamp from DeNami Design. Today the entire DeNami design team is sharing creations made with this stamp to give you some great ideas for using it as part of this week's product spotlight. For the next week, you can snag a 10% discount on Fly A Kite just by dropping it into your shopping cart!

I chose to paper piece the kite's body with some bold Red DeNami cardstock, but it would be a ton of fun to color with your favorite method, too. I colored in the kite's tails with a red glitter pen, which worked beautifully, even on the shimmer surface of the Iridescent Blue Ice cardstock I used as my background. I thought DeNami's Small Cloud stamp paired perfectly with this fun kite, and the cling-style Thinking of You Script sentiment was just what I needed to finish off my design.

I hope you'll take a peek at what the rest of the team cooked up with this week's spotlight stamp over on the DeNami Design blog. I love seeing everyone's different take on the same stamp!

Thanks for dropping by!

Emily

Stamps: Fly A Kite, Small Cloud, Thinking of You Script from DeNami Design

Paper: Iridescent Blue Ice, Red, Amethyst cardstock from DeNami Design; white cardstock from PTI

Ink: Noir Black Palette hybrid ink

Accessories: Sakura red glitter pen, foam tape, sewing machine, EK Success Dotted Scallop border punch

Techniques: paper piecing, machine stitching

DeNami Sneak Peeks: CHICKIES

Welcome to Day 1 of the DeNami Design Fall/Winter Release Sneak Peeks!! Today DT Member Lisa Petrella and I are giving you sneak peeks of brand-new DeNami stamps about to be released in the always-fun CHICKIES category! Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post for details on a great giveaway :D.

If you are a DeNami chickie lover, you will positively swoon over the chick-tastic new release! There are new chickies for Halloween, new chickies for Christmas, and some fun new chickies for everyday. I had SO much fun with my new chickie stamps getting ready for this fall/winter release! It was hard to decide where to start, but in the end I went with some of the new everyday chickies. Are ready to see them? OK, fasten your seat belts--here we go!!

What could be more fun than a racing chickie?!? For my first card I used the brand-new Race Car Chickie (CL-G154) and Make Way! It's Your Day! (CL-F224) stamps. My hubby is a huge car fanatic, so this will be for his birthday in September. I know he'll love it! I stamped the race car on watercolor paper in black Versafine ink and heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder. Then I watercolor-painted this fun little guy and his wheels with dye inks.

Up next I played with the new Swinging Chickie (CL-D146) on a pair of clean and simple cards. I wanted to make the swing ropes ultra long for this card design, so I extended them with a ruler and an ultra-fine tipped Sharpie. I paper-pieced the chickies on white cardstock so I could color them with Prismacolor pencils.  So, why two nearly identical cards? Well, I couldn't decide which I liked better: underlining my design with some scored lines, or tying on some baker's twine. This card was so quick and easy to make, that I did it both ways!

So are you starting to think that these new chickie stamps are just like potato chips? (You know, because you can't stop after just one--one card, that is!). Well, what I did with the new Business Chickie (CL-C92) would certainly make you think so! This little guy is SO cute! He made me think of some kind of bureaucrat or government agent--of the cutest, fluffiest kind, of course--that might come 'round to "chick" up on you. :D

And there you have it--my chickie sneak peeks for the new release!



Congratulations for making it to the end of this looooooooooooooong post :). I mentioned a giveaway way back at the beginning, and here's what's up for grabs: 

Paulina is giving away TWO of these Chickie-themed prize packages today, one on the DeNami blog and one from today's featured blogs (that would be my blog here and Lisa Petrella's blog). The winners will be randomly selected from the comments left on the three blogs, so be sure to comment in all three places to maximize your chance of winning!


I'm so glad that you dropped in to check out some of the new chickie stamps in the DeNami Design Fall/Winter Release! Be sure to tune into the DeNami blog tomorrow for more sneak peeks and another giveaway.


Have a day filled with bliss!
Emily


Race Car Chickie card:
Stamps: Race Car Chickie, Make Way It's Your Day, Steam Curl, Stitched Rectangle, Holiday stamp set--all from DeNami Design
Paper: Canson watercolor paper, patterned paper from BasicGrey's Wander collection
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versafine Vintage Sepia, Versafine Crimson Red, various dye inks for watercolor painting
Accessories: sewing machine, foam tape
Techniques: watercolor painting, machine stitching


Swinging Chickie cards:
Stamps: Swinging Chickie, Hang In There--from DeNami Design
Paper: DeNami Iridescent Aquamarine cardstock, white cardstock from PTI
Ink: Noir Black Palette
Accessories: ruler, ultra-fine tip Sharpie, scoring board, Prismacolor pencils, odorless mineral spirits, paper blending stumps, baker's twine from DeNami's Summer Twine 3-pk
Techniques: scoring, Gamsol Magic


Business Chickie card #1:
Stamps: Business Chickie, Just Chickin' Up On You--from DeNami Design
Paper: DeNami Lime cardstock, patterned paper from BasicGrey's Green at Heart collection, white cardstock from PTI
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Noir Black Palette
Accessories: sewing machine, scalloped border punch, Prismacolor pencils, odorless mineral spirits, paper blending stumps
Techniques: Gamsol Magic, machine stitching

Business Chickie cards #2 and #3:
Stamps: Business Chickie, Just Chickin' Up On You, Retro Borders 1 Set (cling)--from DeNami Design
Paper: white cardstock from PTI
Ink: Versafine Deep Lagoon, Versafine Crimson Red, Noir Black Palette
Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, odorless mineral spirits, paper blending stumps
Techniques: Gamsol Magic

Fabric Flower Photo Tutorial

Happy Friday, everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I have a brand-new photo tutorial debuting over on the DeNami Design blog today. In it I show how to make fabric flowers just like the one on this card:

I hope you'll swing by the DeNami blog to take a look. Have fun creating!

Emily

Stamps: Thoughtful Greetings stamp set, Medium Solid Filigree stamp, Polka Dot Background stamp from DeNami Design

Paper:  Sky Blue cardstock, Chocolate Brown cardstock from DeNami Design

Ink:  Vintage Sepia Versafine, Colorbox Frost White

Accessories: white EP, heat tool, fabric, 2” circle paper punch, Strong double-sided adhesive, Wax paper, scissors, button, embroidery floss, sewing machine

10-Minute Thinking of You

Hi and Happy Monday, everybody! We're gearing up for the LAST week of school here. I just sent my third-grader off to school for his field day today. Ahhhhh, there's nothing like the smell of sunscreen first thing in the morning! (It's waterproof/sweatproof stuff, so I have a feeling the scent is going to be with me for several more handwashings today!) Hat? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Water bottle? Check. Awesome weather forecast? Check. I think he's all set for a super fun day. :D

It's been far too long since I've been able to play along with the Flourishes release week festivities. The DT will start revealing the new sets on Wednesday, and there's a pre-release challenge to play while we wait: Gimme Ten. The challenge is all about 10-minute creations. Boy, do I love quick and easy cards! So easy to jot a quick note in and pop in the mail without the hassle of bubble mailers or extra postage.

Here's my 10-minute creation for today:

Super easy! And making monochromatic cards is so much fun. I used three Flourishes stamp sets to make this card: A Year in Flowers Set 2, Calla Lilies, and Country Charm Labels.

I'm also entering this 10-minute creation over at Julie Koerber's Celebrate Five challenge.

I also enjoyed playing around some more with my sample pack of Bazzill Card Shoppe cardstock that I mentioned yesterday (click HERE for details). Today's card features Circus Peanuts (the lighter orange shade) and Candy Corn (the darker orange shade) cardstock. I do like the smooth surface of this cardstock--it takes ink very nicely. I also love having coordinating color shades within the same color family! Makes for effortless monochromatic projects. Anyway, I'll have more on Card Shoppe as the week goes on!

Thanks for stopping by to check out my 10-minute creation. I hope that wherever you are, today brings you your own little slice of bliss!

Emily

Stamps: A Year in Flowers Set 2, Calla Lilies, and Country Charm Labels by Flourishes

Paper: Circus Peanuts CS and Candy Corn CS from the Bazzill Card Shoppe collection; white CS from Papertrey Ink

Ink: Habanero Versafine, Vintage Sepia Versafine

Accessories: EK Success Dotted Scallop border punch, orange grosgrain ribbon, Corner Chomper