Dream in Color...

The Real "Reason for the Season"

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:54:00 +0000

And here lies the real "reason for the season..." Jesus Christ's birth and sacrifice--all for mankind's salvation! Read more about it in the Holy Scriptures...you will be sure to be blessed this CHRISTmas season!

Christmas card designs that feature the message of the Christ Child are my very favorite! This week's Stamp Simply challenge is to create a design that is easily mass produced, and this most certainly is!
KaiserCraft "Belle" Collection contains lovely colors and patterns...muted cranberry reds, multiple greens, and glimmer as well. These are my favorite colors to use in my home decorations...my Christmas tree is usually placed in my dining room, where I have cranberry toile curtains and a mixture of cranberry and cream plates on a beadboard plate rail.

Spellbinder's Pointsettia dies, as well as a verse from Our Daily Bread design's "Luke 2:11" make the special touches on this card. The verse is stamped with Versafine Black Onyx ink onto PaperTrey Ink's Rustic White cardstock, then die cut with a Spellbinder Oval die. Even though die cuts were used, they are pretty quick to produce, yet add a "wow" factor to a otherwise super simple design.

A Foof-a-La, La, La Collection button, thread through with May Art's narrow cream silk ribbon, finishes this fast and easy Christmas greeting.

Please check out the rest of the Stamp Simply team's easily mass produced designs:

and Bethany Paull, November's Guest Designer!

Thanks so much for stopping by...enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend!

Wishing You a Blessed Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:01:00 +0000

Our Daily Bread designs' November release "Blessed Christmas" is a beautiful set. It inclues a gorgeous pointsettia image, two beautiful sentiments, and Psalm 96: "Let the heavens rejoice, let the Earth be glad." My card this evening is created with tones of gold and glimmering metallics.

I began by scoring my pale champagne gold cardstock with my new Scor-It (Sharon has a sale going on now...20% off of Scor-Its!), then covered it with a panel of the Paper Studio's 12 X 12" "Gold Wedding Ornate" decorator paper. The entire card measures 4 X 8", suitable to fit in a business sized envelope. I stamped my ODBD verse directly onto the decorator paper with Versafine Black Onyx ink, then heat embossed it with gold embossing powder.

A border was made with Martha Stewart's Doily Lace Edge punch, along with some gold "Tiny Glass Marble & Bead Accents" (a gift from my hubby!) to trim the edge of the length of the border. I used a sticky red tape to adhere the micro beads. After adding the first layer of beads, I heated the tape with my heat gun, then pressed it once again into the beads.

I die cut my pointsettia with Spellbinder's Pointsettia dies, double cutting the middle shape to make a fuller flower. I sponged the edges lightly with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink. I used thick, large glue dots to layer the blossom, then used a dot to create the beaded center.

A bit more Antique Linen ink sponging finishes this glimmering design.

Thanks so much for beginning your week here!

Candy Cone

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:04:00 +0000

Yes, you have read right...candy cone, not candy cane! We're wrapping things up with this week's Stamp Simply Challenge, "All Wrapped Up" --gift wrapping ideas. I decided to present a cone of Christmas candy.

I purchased my cone from Ellen Hutson some time ago. This cone is covered with SEI "Frosty the Snowflake" glitter paper then edged with white gimp trim purchased from Walmart. Pure Poppy Grosgrain ribbon bows and hanging tab (on back--cannot be seen in photo) from PaperTrey Ink, along with a crocheted handmade snowflake (edited to add: purchased at a craft fair) add simple touches.

Take a look at the rest of the Stamp Simply DT designs:

Sharon
Janine Orchard
AJ Otto
Tammy Hershberger
Julie Koerber
Barbara Anders
Jenny Gropp
Barb Schram (Barb's here to stay!)
Jennifer Buck (Welcome back Jenn!)

and Bethany Paull, November's Guest Designer!

If you decide to play along with ssnotime114, please link your creation to Sharon's blog--we would love to see your work!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Flocked Delight!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Look at this beautiful KaiserCraft 6 X 6" Belle Paper--the pointsettias are flocked! The velvet look and feel on this paper is absolutely delicious! I was so excited when I received my order from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store--I leafed through the new Belle pad and HAD to use this sheet immediately! My design is extremely simple...I really wanted to use as much of the sheet as possible!

The November Our Daily Bread design's "Christmas Verses" added the perfect Bible Verse (Luke 2:14) for my design...I love how the elegant font is enhanced by the swirl background of the dp.

I stamped my verse onto PaperTrey Ink's Rustic White cardstock with Versafine Black Onyx ink, then heat embossed it with Stampin' Up's clear embossing powder. Spellbinder's Petite Ovals were used to die cut the both the verse and framing panels.

May Art's creamy silk ribbon is fashioned into a beautiful accent bow with a Bow Easy, also available at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. Three tiny Jolee's Jewels Swarovski crystals from Michael's add a touch of bling.

Here's a close up of the flocked flowers and swirls on the Belle paper.

I hope that you like today's simple, yet gorgeously textured, design.

Have a great remainder to your week!

Get Well Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:02:00 +0000

Time once again for the Stamp Simply Challenge--this week: create a matchbook fold. This is a very simple and quick fold. I made a card this time, but with one extra score at the top, you could create a covering packet for cocoa, tea, or even cough drops!

I'm a big House Mouse fan, and borrowed this stamp from our monthly stamp group leader: JoAnn (Thanks, Lady!). What a sweet scene of House Mouse care!

I was going to pull out my Prisma pencils to color this one, and even started to do so...I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I trashed that idea, and quickly nabbed up my Copics to do the job. I stamped this adorable image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto PaperTrey Ink white cardstock. Multiple Copics were used, as well as Spellbinder oval dies to make up the image panel and border.

Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi, along with Basic Grey's Two Scoops design paper, make up the base of this design. My design measures 4.5" X 10," scored at 4.5" and 1.25" with a Scor-It board.

A Michael's brad and narrow grosgrain ribbon tie this project up!

Take a look-see at the rest of the Stamp Simply DT designs:

Sharon
Janine Orchard
AJ Otto
Tammy Hershberger
Julie Koerber
Barbara Anders
Jenny Gropp
Barb Schram

and Bethany Paull, November's Guest Designer!

If you play along this week, please link your design to Sharon's blog so that we may all enjoy it!

Have a wonderful weekend, and STAY WELL!

Flower Soft Snow Globe Shaker Gift Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:48:00 +0000

Have you seen the new Papercraft CD just released from Flower Soft? What a treasure trove of project ideas and actual pattern downloads! It includes Paper Tole and 3D Stacker designs, many background designs, character and sentiment toppers, inserts, and 100 backing papers: 25 different designs in 4 colorways! The CD also comes with a handy project booklet!

My snow globe shaker gift bag project today is straight from the Snow Globe Project Book & Papercraft CD!

My project base is a simple white gift bag purchased from Walmart. I printed off the blue snowflake background papers from the FS CD, making two layers.

The base layer is securely taped to the plain gift bag, just to cover the very front.

My top layer is the snow globe panel layer. I printed more blue snowflake background paper from the CD, then used an oval Spellbinder to cut the opening for the snow globe. I used the largest oval die so that I would have a white border surrounding the globe. The next size oval down fits the snow globe just perfectly!

Take a look at the dimension and detail that the paper tole affords...as you can see in the picture, my penguin and star are four layers deep!

Just before assembling the snow globe, I added Polar White Flower Soft to create the shaker effect. Polar White FS is also glued to the background...coming all together for a snowy, icy scene!

A bit of Offray ribbon and homemade snowflake finish this gift bag...one that will make for a fun gift presentation for young or old!

A quick note about the snowflake: my husband purchased a bunch of these pretty homemade snowflakes (some angels as well--for a future project!) from an elderly woman at a craft sale. She was charging only 50 cents per flake! What beautiful artwork, for oh so little a cost!

Be sure to keep your eyes open for finds like this--craft sales are abundant before the holidays!

I hope that you've enjoyed this post...it was a lot of fun to put together! Be sure to check out the new CD and snow globes at Flower Soft and at the Flower Soft Blog!

JustRite Autumn Harvest

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

This week's Stamp Simply Challenge is to be thrifty and use either brown postal wrap, or a brown grocery sack. I cut up a grocery sack for this challenge.

I began by stamping my new JustRite Autumn Blessings set, purchased from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto PaperTrey Ink's Rustic White cardstock. What a gorgeous sheath of Indian Corn! I colored the image with multiple Copic markers, then paper pieced the bow with dp from Basic Grey's Boxer 6 x 6" paper pad.

Basic Grey Boxer layers make up the body of the design, along with my paper bag. I ran a layer of grocery sack through my Fiskars paper crimper, then ruffled up the edges to simulate a frilly edged border.

I used a tan Copic marker to add shadows on the panels of decorator paper edges, under the oval edges, and on the paper pieced bow.

I cannot wait to see what the other Stamp Simply design team ladies have come up with! Be sure to check them out!

Sharon

Janine Orchard

AJ Otto

Tammy Hershberger

Julie Koerber

Barbara Anders

Jenny Gropp

Barb Schram (filling in for Jennifer Buck)

and Bethany Paull, November's Guest Designer!

If you decide to play along with us this week, please link back to Sharon's blog so that we may see your design!

Thanks for stopping by!

Snow Globes, Blog Hop, and BLOG CANDY!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

What a busy release day! Make sure you check both this post and the next for exciting new products, blog hops, and blog candy!!!

How would you like to create your own personal snow globe? Well, now you can! Flower Soft is releasing fabulous new products to help you do just that! You can purchase these new products November 2nd, online, HERE.

I began my snow globe by scoring a card base made from red cardstock. I then covered the front of the card with SEI Peppermint Bark foil decorator paper, found here.

The "globe" part of my snow globe is a dome shaped oval, which comes with a template to create the opening. You can also purchase teamplates (Aperature cards) pre cut. I used a Spellbinder Oval die to cut my opening to fit the globe (on the front of the card).

After preparing the front, I used my new Spellbinder Pointsettia dies to become the focal point of the snowglobe. I cut layers from the Peppermint Bark dp, as well as layers from SEI Christmas Mint marzipan paper. Some brilliant red Kaiser rhinestones make the perfect pointsettia center.

I then attached the pointsettia to the inside of the card, so it would fit into the globe opening. After attaching the flower to the back layer of the card, I added Flower Soft Polar White for the "snow" in the snowglobe. I used double sided carpet tape, as well as Flower Soft glue to adhere the "card" so that it was totally sealed. My card no longer opens as a card, but becomes a card topper.

A bright red ribbon tab and knot finish this design. Plan on trying a snow globe for yourself! It was great fun to create, and makes a fantastic presentation!

Don't forget to visit the Flower Soft Blog: there will be some fabulous blog candy there!

Be sure to see the rest of the Flower Soft design team creations:

Sharon Johnson
Jeanne Streiff (Jeanne is not able to play, but pop by and welcome her to the team!
Deb Saaranen -- you're here now! :)
Charmaine Ikach
Barb Schram
AJ Otto

Thanks so much for stopping by!

You Can't Miss This!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Our Daily Bread design's November Release Blog Hop! I'm so happy that you were able to stop by! If you did not start at the ODBD Blog, please head there to start at the beginning of the hop (for reasons you will NOT want to MISS! Explained below...)

If you came here from Becca's blog, you're right where you are supposed to be! After you check this out, head to Anglie Zublionis' blog, then to Chris Olsen's blog.

Today is the release of three gorgeous new ODBD Christmas sets: "Blessed Christmas," "Christmas Verses," and "Luke 2:11." I've decided to use the beautiful pointsettia image and Bible verse (Come Let Us Adore Him Let the Heavens Rejoice, Let the Earth Be Glad. Psalm 96:11--stamped inside the card) from "Blessed Christmas."

I stamped my pointsettia image onto pure white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I then colored the image with multiple Copic markers, cut it out with a Spellbinders Label Four die, and sprayed it with Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist. The glimmer mist adds a beautiful sheen that unfortunately did not show up well in my photo--it looks amazing IRL! A couple of half pearls add interest.

The gorgeous glimmering decorator paper is SEI's Winter Glitterland , also from ODBD. I layered my image panel onto another panel die cut from the dp with a Spellbinder's Labels Seven die.

The panels were layered over sheer white ribbon attached to the cardbase. A corner rounder punch was used on the main card base to complete the design.

If you started at the Our Daily Bread designs Blog, you know that besides the inspirational blog hop, we have blog candy and a challenge for you!

First, the blog candy:

One lucky winner will win the ENTIRE November release!!!!

In order to be eligible to win, you must:

1. Write down each DT name and their secret word or words (My secret word is "the")

2. Comment on each blog on the hop

3. Return to the ODBD Blog and leave a comment there that you left a comment on each blog (but you must not give the secret words there!)

4. Email Grace at: gnywening@yahoo.com by 8PM EST on Nov 3, giving her the DT names with their secret word/words.

5. Grace will verify that all requirements are met and then randomly choose a winner.

6. The winner will be emailed at the email address used when they email Grace.

Now for the challenge (which is totally separate from the blog candy!)

Make a holiday card and give it SHIMMER! There are many ways to give a card shimmer… there are products you spray or paint on like Shimmerz and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist… there are shimmery papers….use anything you would like, but just show us the shimmer!

1. You have until Nov 15 8 PM EST to link their creation to the ODBD blog under the “Most Recent Challenge” link.

2. You do not have to use Our Daily Bread designs stamps to win but if you have them, we DEFINITELY LOVE to see them!

3. The winner will be randomly drawn and the prize is a $30.00 Credit to the Our Daily Bread Designs Store.

I hope that you've enjoyed today's hop! I'll be looking to see YOUR challenge submission! Best wishes with the blog candy as well!

Pointsettia Accordian Fold

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:35:00 +0000

Today's Stamp Simply challenge (ssnotime111) is to create an accordian fold; my design measures 4.25" x 10.5." I scored the base cardstock at the 3.5" and 7" marks on my ScorPal.

The panels are all Basic Grey Wassail dp, ticket corner punched, and layered onto PaperTrey Ink's Rustic White. The base cardstock is Stampin' Up's retired Cranberry Crisp (my all time favorite "IN" color!).

The Bible Verse (Luke 2:14) is from Our Daily Bread design's new November release, "Christmas Verses" (for sale November 1st!). I stamped the verse onto the Rustic White cardstock with Versafine Sepia ink, then heat embossed it with SU Fine Gold Detail embossing powder.

I used Stampin' Up's distressing tool to rough up the edges of the Bible Verse, as well as the entire cardstock base perimeter.

I enjoyed using my new Spellbinder's Pointsettia dies to create the flowers up top. Foof-a-La buttons become flower centers, along with a retired SU Cranberry Crisp ribbon bow.

Be certain to check out the rest of the Stamp Simple dt designs:

Sharon
Janine Orchard
AJ Otto
Tammy Hershberger
Julie Koerber
Barbara Anders
Jenny Gropp
Barb Schram (filling in for Jennifer Buck)
and October's Guest Designer: Amy Rohl

Thanks so much for stopping by!

REMEMBER: November 1st--big fun over at the Our Daily Bread design's blog! Stop by to see what it's all about!

Mailable CAS Sympathy Card

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:32:00 +0000

I often need mailable cards that are CAS...here's an example of a very mailable sympathy card: it will fit in a business sized envelope, is very flat, and just under the weight limit--no extra postage!

I received this paper from Our Daily Bread designs: it is SEI Michov double sided dp. Both sides are featured here. ODBD also sells metallic cardstocks. I used a copper cardstock for both the base and punched border (Fiskars).

I stamped my Our Daily Bread design's "With Heartfelt Sympathy" Bible verse: "Matthew 5:4-- Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" with Versafine Sepia ink onto PaperTrey Ink Vintage White cardstock. I then heat embossed the verse with Stampin' Up Clear Embossing Powder. A long rectangle die from Spellbinders was used to cut the verse panel.

A thin copper cord bow was added for an extra touch.

Don't forget about Our Daily Bread designs new November release date: November 1st! There will be three fabulous new sets, a fun challenge, blog hop, and major inspiration! Be sure to check the ODBD blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful remainder to your week!

Visit Me at the Our Daily Bread design's Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Please come and visit me today at the Our Daily Bread design's Blog! I have a fantastic sneak peek to show you!

Blog Candy Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:01:00 +0000

As promised, I have chosen the winner to the Dream in Color blog candy:

Kathie said...
I love the quilted look of this card!!Well ... my favorite autumn tradition, of course you must know!! A trip to the UP to see our dear friends and enjoy that beautiful area!!
October 22, 2009 11:04 PM

Congratulations Kathie! I hope that you enjoy the goodies!

Thanks so all for your very inspiring comments and traditions!

Be certain to check out my post on Our Daily Bread design's blog tomorrow...I will be giving a sneak peek to November's new releases (think Christmas!)!

Prima Easy!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:12:00 +0000

If you need a quick card, pull out some designer paper and Prima Flowers! They have been a stand-by for this blog (especially with missing mojo of late!!!)

I found that my Juliette Collection Misty Primas match my new My Mind's Eye Oh La La dp just perfectly (though not so wonderfully in this photo--no matter how many photos I take, I cannot capture the design "just right"!). The Primas are a sage tone, with just a hint of gold accent in the petals.

I stamped my Our Daily Bread designs sentiment (Praying for You) with Versafine Black Onyx ink directly onto the top panel. A swath of gorgeous ribbon (Stampin' Up retired) becomes a band for the flower to rest upon.

I hope that this inspires you to pull out a Prima or two, ribbon, and pretty paper!

Also, be sure to check back here tomorrow evening for my blog candy drawing! I've so enjoyed reading so many wonderful Autumn traditions!

It's Hip to Be Square! +Dream in Color Blog Candy!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:30:00 +0000

Well, if you're feeling a bit like a square trying to fit into a round hole, join us for this week's Stamp Simply Square Challenge! After all, "It's Hip to be Square!" Mmm hmm...

I just received Cosmo Cricket's 6 x 6 Nutmeg Mini Deck...what a gorgeous pack of Autumn papers! They just begged to be paper-strip pieced together to form my squared off background! Piecing strips makes for a special background, lending an almost quilted appeal.

Spellbinder's Assorted Leaves dies and Stampin' Up's Photo Corner punch finish this very simple, mailable, and FUN design!

Now for the Dream in Color blog candy: Please leave a comment on this post describing your favorite Autumn tradition...I will chose a winner Monday, October 26th at 6 p.m.

What will you win? Well, a 6 x 6 Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg dp pack, a CuttleBug Moroccan Screen embossing folder, Inkadinkadoo Season's Greetings clear stamp set, and numerous little extras!

Best wishes to all!

Be certain to check out the rest of the Stamp Simply Design Team's creations:

Barb Schram (filling in for Jennifer Buck)

and October's Guest Designer: Amy Rohl

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Pine Lake Sympathy

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Here's another scene from Our Daily Bread designs' October release: With Deepest Sympathy. This great scene makes for multiple card possibilites (especially for those so hard to create for, men!)...birthdays, thinking of you, congratulations, and of course...with sympathy.

I wanted to try some more Copic on Kraft coloring. I chose very muted colors that just give a hint of color...the kraft paper adds such a rich feel! I began by stamping my image on SU Kraft paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Multiple copics were used here...just be sure to try some on a bit of Kraft scrap as you go.

Basic Grey Archaic papers were used a long with the kraft to create the design, finished off with SU Corduroy brads, button, and May Art twine.

Try using your Copics on Kraft paper...you will love the outcome!

Please check out the Our Daily Bread designs' Blog! The Breadsticks Design Team post design tips, info, and fun weekly!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a great week!

REMINDER: Blog candy coming up this week...stay posted!

Gatefold Praying for You

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:00:00 +0000

Stamp Simply Challenge 109: Create a gatefold card! This is an off-center gatefold, with the sentiment being the tab for opening and closing the "gate."

I also wanted to use my new Our Daily Bread designs release, "Praying for You." This set includes two sentiments and two Bible verses.

My entire design "hinged" on this marvelous Prima flower that I purchased at a discount at Michael's. The cocoa and chocolate colors led me to pull two different colored textured Bazzil papers.

The lighter cocoa color was run through my Cuttlebug, using the Swiss Dots folder. The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Sepia ink onto PaperTrey Ink's Rustic White cardstock, then diecut and embossed with a Spellbinder's Long Classic Rectangle die.

A piece of Stampin' Up Aged Copper HodgePodge hardware holds it all together.

Be certain to check out the rest of the Stamp Simply design team designs:

Sharon Johnson
Janine Orchard
AJ Otto
Tammy Hershberger
Julie Koerber
Barbara Anders
Jenny Gropp
Barb Schram (filling in for Jennifer Buck)

and October's Guest Designer: Amy Rohl

If you play along, be sure to link to Sharon's blog so that we may all enjoy your work!

Have a wonderful weekend!

(Just a note: Dream in Color Blog Candy will be coming your way next week...be certain to check back!)

Flower Soft Snowy Day

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:18:00 +0000

Polar White Flower Soft!!! Wow-- what a fun product to play with! I wanted to create a snowy- day look, and am very pleased at the results!

I began with a very simple, layered design, allowing the Flower Soft and textured papers to shine. The cardstocks used are Stampin' Up's Almost Amethyst textured dp, and PaperTrey Ink's Linen Vellum.

One of my new fave practices is to border cardstock with Flower Soft. It makes for a unique appearance, and the frosty look here almost appears to be a snowy window, with flakes piling up (sometimes unevenly...LOL!) during a storm! I popped the top layer up with dimensional tape.

I used a Spellbinders Snowflake Wonder die to cut layers of a snowflake from the two cardstocks. Polar White covers two of the layers, and is topped by a gem from Walmart. I doubled dimesional tape to really make the flake "fly."

Be certain to try some Polar White Flower Soft! You will be amazed at the fabulous results that you can achieve!

With Heartfelt Sympathy

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:30:00 +0000

This week's Stamp Simply challenge is to create a design using Kraft and black papers. I decided to make up a quick sympathy design using Our Daily Bread designs new release, "With Heartfelt Sympathy." This set has marvelous cattails, a dragonfly, and multiple sentiments and Bible verses.

I stamped the image and sentiment with Versafine Black Onyx ink onto PaperTrey Ink's Kraft, then embossing it with Stampin' Up Fine Detail Black EP. A couple of Copic markers adds a bit of color...coloring on Kraft with Copics is great! I will definitely have to try it again in the future!

Quick layers of PaperTrey Ink True Black & Kraft, as well as retired SU dp make up this design. Some dimensional tape between layers gives a lift, and a black Basic Grey button with MayArts twine finishes things off.

Be sure to check the rest of the Stamp Simply DT designs:

Sharon Johnson
Janine Orchard
AJ Otto
Tammy Hershberger
Julie Koerber
Barbara Anders
Jenny Gropp
Barb Schram (filling in for Jennifer Buck)

and October's Guest Designer: Amy Rohl

Have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday Kelley!

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:39:00 +0000

I want to wish a very BIG Happy Birthday to Kelley Holland, owner of Our Daily Bread designs! Kelley has filled a spot in the stamping world by creating stamps that glorify and focus on our Heavenly Father! I have been a long time admirer of ODBD...right from day one in fact! Thanks so very much for your hard work and dedication Kelley!

I began this design by using ODBD's "Happy Birthday" set. You have seen me use this image quite often...it is so very much fun to color! I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then colored it with numerous Copic markers. After coloring the design, I desired a more milky, toned down look to match the decorator paper. I used Cool Gray I to gray the blue and gray colors down, then used Brick White over the entire colored portion to give bit of a milky look. After coloring, I die cut the image with a Spellbinder's Labels One die.

Stampin' Up Sage Shadow is the base of my design, along with Wild Asparagus "Cousins" Floral decorator paper. An unknown white sheer bow and tab finish my birthday design.

If you have a chance, hop over to Our Daily Bread design's blog to wish Kelley a very Happy Birthday!

But They That Wait Upon the Lord...

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:00 +0000

Here is another one of my favorite "oldies, but goodies" designs. I made this card when I had just gotten my Copic markers...it was so fun to be able to color, and remove color! Yes, with Copic markers you can use a lighter color or the colorless blender to remove color!

Copic markers are costly, yet they are markers "for life"--you can replace the nibs, and add ink! Copics are my favorite coloring tool of choice, with Prisma pencils/Gamsol coming in second. I purchased my Copic marker sets from Ellen Hutson.

This is Our Daily Bread design's "On Eagle's Wings." The cardstocks are: SU More Mustard, K & Company dotted, and Bazzill Nutmeg textured. I used a Spellbinder Rectangle die, along with SU Ticket Corner Punch and Close To My Heart Copper Brads to layer and complete the design.

Be certain to try Copic markers if you ever have a chance...! You will love them!

ABC 123

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

ABC 123: This week's Stamp Simply challenge...use letters or numbers in our design. I decided to whip up a super easy monogram card, perfect for any note or "letter."

No stamping here...my monogram is courtesy of K & Company's Wedding Collection Chipboard letters. They come with a bit of glimmer already added!

Luxe Designs Simple Dot Turqoise reversible paper fit the bill for dp...just cover a long narrow base with one side, accent with the other! I die cut my opposite patterned circle with Spellbinder's Nestabilities. Quick and Easy!

Be certain to check out the rest of the Stamp Simply DT projects!

Sharon Johnson
Jennifer Buck
Janine Orchard
AJ Otto
Tammy Hershberger
Julie Koerber
Barbara Anders
Jenny Gropp

and October's Guest Designer: Amy Rohl

Have a wonderful weekend!

Flower Soft Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:46:00 +0000

Time for a Flower Soft Halloween! A beaker of bone and skull candy from Walmart inspired me to make a spooky treat!

This project is quick and easy! I began by crimping a strip of purple cardstock to fit the beaker neck, adding a border of Violet Flower Soft.

The next quick step was to prepare a tag of orange and purple cardstock, ready to add a "Haunted" Cosmo Cricket rub on. Another border of Violet Flower Soft, purple crystals for eyes, along with a satin orange ribbon, finish this Flower Soft project.

Be sure to check out the other Flower Soft design team member designs, as well as the Flower Soft Blog:

AJ Otto
Carole Burrage
Charmaine Ikach
Jennifer Buck
Sharon Johnson

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunset Sympathy & Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Today is Our Daily Bread designs October release! To celebrate, we are throwing a "Blog Hop," complete with prizes! Be sure to start the hop at the Our Daily Bread designs Blog!

There are three new releases for October: my design today features "With Deepest Sympathy." Isn't this a serene and beautiful image? I really enjoyed coloring it.

I began by stamping my scene onto watercoloring paper with Versafine Black Onyx ink. I watercolored the sky with Lyra Watercolor Crayons and my aquapainter, attempting to capture a multicolored setting sun.

I then stamped the image once again...this time with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto PTI Vintage Cream cardstock. I colored the trees and lake with Copic markers, then cut the scene out and layered it onto the watercolored sky. Dimensionals and dimensional tape added to the popped-up tree lined scene.

Some rusty colored textured cardstock made for a frame for my scene. A circle Spellbinder Nestability was used to create the frame's opening.

Nutmeg Bazzil paper, along with copper brads, finish this simple textured design. And now for the blog candy!

Today’s Design Team Blog Hop will not only give you lots of inspiration for these sets and what you can do with them…. Three lucky winners will be randomly drawn to receive three prizes that are hidden along the way! You need to start here at the ODBD Blog, and hop to the links from here, making a comment on each blog! After you have visited and commented on all the blogs, come back here to this post and tell us:
1. That you have visited and commented on each blog on the hop, and
2. What you liked best about these sets!
Three of these blogs have candy but you won’t know which ones and even the designers won’t know yet! This hop will be open for comments until 6PM EST Friday Oct 2. Then the three designers who have the hidden candy will randomly draw a name from all their comments!
You will qualify for the prizes IF you have commented on all the blogs and come back here to tell us you have and told us what you liked best about these new releases! Those names will be posted on the ODBD Blog on Sat. Oct 3!!! Be sure to check back here to see who won, and contact Kelley to find out how to use your Store credits!
The prizes…. A $5.00 Store Credit, a $10.00 Store Credit, and a $20.00 Store Credit! These credits will be for any merchandise in the Our Daily Bread Designs Store! If you haven’t checked lately… be sure to look around, because Kelley carries lots of great supplies as well as the best stamps ever! So start hopping and be ready to go shopping!!!

Here's the order of the hop around me:

Angella C.

Me (you are here!)

Becca

Angie Z.

Thanks for stopping by!

Trick or Treat?

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah Saaranen) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:06:00 +0000

Hello! I hope that your week is going well! I wanted to share a past design that was a lot of fun to create. This card was published in the Aug/Sept. 2008 issue of Stamper's Sampler. The fun part of this design was to take a stamp or image and make it your own...in this case, after stamping the little girl and boy image, I dressed them up for Halloween.

My cardstocks here are SU Basic Black and retired decorator papers. I stamped the Stamping Ground image onto glossy white cardstock with Versafine Black Onyx ink making sure to let dry. I then added a Violette Classics Butterfly sticker, aluminum foil crown (kind of difficult to see in the photo) for the girl, and a clown hat with jewel for the boy.

Trick or Treat pumpkins are the final part of the student's costumes.

Gingham ribbon, large eyelets, and a SU Collage alphabet sentiment finish this design.

Try changing up an image--you will enjoy seeing the results!