Stamping for Families Blog Hop

Hello all you lovely crafty peeps!

Thanks for checking out the Stamping for Families blog hop that some of us concerned citizens have put together.

Graphic created by Sandy Allnock

My card today focuses on the pure, basic, love of family. It's not a commentary on divorce nor partisan politics (nor do the stick figures represent only Mom/Dad parenting), but the simple concept that unity and togetherness makes for strong families. 

I believe all human beings should be treated with kindness and compassion. Especially those that are reaching out for assistance. I believe that no human is illegal. I believe that children belong with their families.I love my boys very much and would be devastated to have them taken away from me if we were fleeing a bad situation. 

If you believe in these things too, support the "KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER ACT."

1. Pick up your phone and dial (202) 224-3121.

2. State your zip code.

3. When connected, simply say:

 "I live in (__) and I support SB3036."

Here are a few other ways to help:

The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, or RAICES, in Texas has a family reunification fund that helps undocumented immigrants pay bonds; usually at least $1500

The Arizona-based Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project provides legal services to immigrants and unaccompanied children.

Kids in Need of Defense partnered with Target to create Baby2Baby, a registry where you can purchase diapers and other essentials for immigrant children.

Purchase snacks, toiletries, and medicine for children through Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley’s Amazon wish list. The organization shelters immigrants released from custody.

Stamps are Hero Arts from the set "You are Loved."

Leave a comment below with your thoughts. I am offering a $25 gift certificate to Hero Arts or Butterfly Reflections Ink to a random winner to be picked one week from today on Saturday June 30, 2018. (Disagreement or dissension is fine, but rude, combative comments will be deleted. This blog hop is about compassion for all humanity. )

Please check out all the other participants! I know Sandy Allnock is also offering up two classes as a prize. One to a commenter and one to a participant who links up to our InLinkz (shown below), and I think Sharna has a GC up for grabs as well.

An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you for stopping by today,
much love

Blog Hop: Stamping for Autism Awareness

Cheerio! Welcome to another stop on the Stamping for Autism Awareness Blog Hop. 

Autism is such an important topic to keep in the forefront of our conversations. Being kind, open, non-judgmental, and inclusive towards all of our fellow human beings should be the first step!

I created three cards for today's hop. 

This one is my favorite. My son helped color the heart and the sentiment says it all! Stamps are from The Project Bin. The set is called Spencer's Set and has lots of good sentiments to fit this puzzle piece heart image.You should totally check it out!

I love this card too. It's near and dear to my heart. Although my kiddos aren't on the Autism Spectrum, they have special needs and we deal with several issues on a daily basis. I tell them all the time that it's okay to be different and it doesn't make them any less human than any other kid out there!

The digital image came from MelonHeadz, and was free! I created the sentiment in a word program. 

For my last card I wanted something to really push home the idea that people with Autism are not dumb, stupid, or any one of the many despicable things they are called. They merely see, feel, and relate to the world around them in a way that others can't understand. Digital image is from MelonHeads and I added the sentiment to the center using my computer. 

I hope you are enjoying the Autism Awareness Blog, and I hope you are inspired to show compassion for those with Autism by including them, and treating them as you would anyone else!

 Thanks for stopping by, 

Here is the entire list of Blog Hop participants:

An InLinkz Link-up

Buttons and Bows

Happy Sunday folks:) 

I'm raising a glass to my Dad today. Although he died 6 years ago, he would be 90 today! Cheers to you Dad. *mwah*

I'm also posting today for the Buttons and Bows Blog Hop along with some other Denami friends. I'm the last stop and you should have come from Stacy's blog. 

Did you make it all the way through? 

For a chance to win one of two $20 Gift Certificates, be sure to check out the full list of participants on the Denami Blog and leave a comment on each person's post. 

I have two cards to share today.

The first one uses both the small and large daisy blossom stamps, along with a simple sentiment from the Assorted Greetings set. Their centers are white boutique buttons with twine to match the patterned papers.  I drew the stems with a brown marker and added the double hemp bow, then stitched the entire panel onto a card base. 

This one could be used for a masculine graduation, Bar Mitzvah, or even a wedding.

I was trying to get the feel of a button down dress shirt with a cummerbund below. Did it work? Can you see the picture in my head? *chuckle*

I used the houndstooth background stamped twice. First in light grey, then in dark grey off to the side a bit to add a shadow. Two white boutique buttons were sewn to a cardstock strip with stitching and the grey ribbon was tied below. A simple congratulations sentiment was all it needed to finish:) 

I'm sure you've been inspired by all the creative goodness in this month's blog hop! 

I can't wait to see what everyone has to share:)

Thanks for stopping by, good luck winning the Gift Certificate!

XOXO,

Fuzzy Critters Blog Hop

(My sneak peek post of a new Casual Fridays Stamps set is below this post!)

Welcome to the Fuzzy Friends Blog Hop! 

I hope you are getting some great inspiration and leaving comments to potentially win a $20 gift certificate! 

The full list of participants is on the Denami Blog, and I'm right after the talented Stacy if you are following along.

I kept things simple this month but at least I made two cards, right? 

Perhaps I'm in a CAS mood. *shrug*

I was thinking this would be a cute baby announcement if you included a photo on the inside. Change the colors and make it girly or change the animals too!

Products used: Giraffe, Small side-view Sheep, Safari animals, Little Duck, Our New Little One. 

This card is for my BFF, Mary because we HAVE been friends forever:) 

Or at least since the third grade! *chuckle* 

She prefers CAS cards, and I almost left off the ribbon but added it in anyway. 

Products used: Gingham Background, Little Hedgehog, Friends Forever. 

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win one of two $20 GC to the Denami Store.

Now onto Lyndal's blog!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Polka Dots everywhere!

Happy Sunday crafty friends!

I'm playing along with the February Denami Blog Hop so if you came from Donna Bowman's blog you are on the right track. This month we are all about the polka dots!

Who doesn't love polka dots? They can easily be gender neutral, which is why I created a set of 41/4" square cards for several occasions. I used the Mini Polka Dot stamp and the Medium Polka Dots BG stamp for each card, then just changed out the sentiment. 

You are Sweet

Hang in there

Happy Birthday

Thinking of you

Here's how I did it...

1. Punch a shape from computer/printer paper, and lightly adhere to your cardstock base. 

2. Use the Mini Polka Dot stamp to add your color in a gradient style spreading out from the edge of the punched shape from darkest to lightest.

3. Peel up the punched shaped.

4. Voila!

Bonus Tip:

When I can't find the perfect matching cardstock for a mat layer, I use the same ink and just swipe it across the edges of a white mat layer, creating a perfect match that looks like cardstock! 

Your next polka dot creation is on the blog of Lyndal. I know without a doubt that she has something fabulous up her creative sleeve for your inspiration! Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win one of two $20 Gift Certificates to Denami Design before you go:)

Thanks for stopping by today,

XOXO

Valentine Blog Hop

Let me begin by saying that I {heart} St. Valentine's Day and I have been making and sending valentine cards to my family since I was about 7 years old. 

I would spend days crafting elaborate cards with doilies, old copies of Victoria magazine (for cut-out flowers, etc), ribbon and lace, and even the tin foil from old candy wrappers!

(Yes. I had one of those mothers who couldn't bear to throw out anything that had potential in another form. This is why she still has every cap from every jug of milk we ever drank, and more half-dyed popsicle sticks than one person should own. Feeling kitschy? Go ask my mom for supplies. Seriously.)

Even into my college years (mid-90s), I was still making and mailing them. 

St. Valentine's Day may be a "hallmark" holiday, but it's always been a favorite of mine for being crafty:)

Remember Victoria magazine? They were the best for decoupage back in the day *wink*

 

Participating in the monthly Denami Blog Hop is always fun for getting ideas and being inspired as well!

If you interested in winning one of two $20 gift certificates to the Denami store, be sure to stop at each blog in this hop and leave a comment. Two lucky commenters will be chosen from all the blogs!

Following along, I'm lucky #13 in this Blog Hop! *grin* 

If you came from Donna's blog I'll bet you are feeling inspired. She's so clever that girl!

My first card up there at the top of this post uses: 

Happy Valentine's Day, Elegant Oval Frame, Medium Polka Dots, Solid Rose Accents, and Teeny heart. 

These three small valentines are all variations on a theme:)

Stamps: Simple Tree, Medium Brushed Heart, Solid Heart Outline, Teeny Heart, Decorative Love, Love you Forever, and Hugs and Kisses.

I had this grand idea to create color-able valentines for my youngest son to color and take to school, but I haven't finished them. I do however want to show you my prototypes so you can maybe get some ideas! 

Denami carries so many stamps that can be used for this idea... And over a shared bottle of wine yesterday my boyfriend and I came up with at least 4 more, besides these! He had fun digging through my Denami stamps and coming up with punny sentiments:)

And one more that is "adult" themed...made just for fun because my 9 year old will NOT be using it!

*chuckle*

Stamps used:

Teeny Heart, Small Heart Pair, Mini Heart, Little Hedgehog, Little Fox, Little Raccoon, Little Fawn, You're a Deer, Little Ducky, Nuts About You set, Brushed Bee, Tropical Fruit Set, Owls stamp set, Octopus, Safari Animals set, Side-view Sheep, Woodland Friends (for the beaver). (and I added quills to the hedgehog to make him look like a porcupine!)

I hope you are feeling inspired and had fun checking my cards out! Leave a comment if you'd like a chance to win:)

Next up is the amazing and talented LYNDAL! (for a full list of participants, check out the Denami Blog.)

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Razzle Dazzle Blog Hop

Hello there:)

I'm posting two cards today that I created for the Razzle Dazzle Blog Hop with Denami!

If you are interested in following along and potentially winning one of TWO $20 gift certificates to the store, then start at the beginning (here), and leave a comment at each stop along the way:)

Since I'm the second stop, right after the amazingly talented, and incredibly sweet Paulina, you probably aren't lost yet *grin*. But I know she opened the hop with jaw-dropping perfection. That girl can CREATE!

As you can see, I created two cards, basically the same LO, only using different colors and supplies for the "razzle dazzle" part. Both used white embossed pine trees and brown embossed winter trees. 

I love the tree stamps from Denami. Love. So I thought adding some glittery snow and/or sparkle decorations would make these trees shine!

Supplies used:

Large Pine

Medium Pine

Large Winter Tree

Star Burst

Small Classic Christmas

Christmas Greetings Set

White Embossing powder

Gold Embossing powder

Extra Fine Glitter

Magenta Glitter

Gold Glitter

White Fun Fluff (flocking)

Quickie Glue Pen (LIFESAVER FOR ADDING GLITTER!)

and

Marshmallow Sequins

 Can you see how those gorgeous sequins pick up the colors and lights around them? Amazing, if I do say so myself. And the magenta glitter garland and "snow" just make me so happy:) Who doesn't like a little glitz now and then? :) White christmas trees are happy, even if cutting them out takes a while.

Here you can see just how good that flock looks. Especially when combined with touches of that extra fine silvery/white glitter! And the gold glitter made that Star Burst stamp come to life!

I hope you were inspired by visiting me today. Although living in the snow belt of NY state can leave much to be desired, seeing all that beautiful, glittery snow on the evergreen trees, and weighing down the branches of the leafless winter trees makes me thankful for all the seasons I get to experience here.

The next stop in this hop is LYNE! Go see what inspiration she has for you, and be sure to leave a comment before you go to increase your chances of winning a $20 gift certificate!

Thanks for hopping by,

XOXO

Leafy squares

Hello! Are you interested in winning a stamp set? 

The girls on the Denami DT are hosting a mini hop today and there will be a winner drawn from all the comments to win this:

Of course, if you can't wait, it IS on sale all this week too:)

I really like this Leafy Square set of vine borders/frames. It's so versatile. I used the small one above along with Happy Birthday, Polka Dot Background, and Large Dot Swirls. 

Here is the hop order:

DeNami blog 

Lisa Petrella 

Deb Wabbe 

Wendy Elliot 

Emily Keaton 

Lisa Elton 

Pattie Goldman 

Dana Seymour  <====you are here

Tammy Hobbs

Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

XOXO

Knitting with Twine

Welcome to the November Denami Blog Hop! 

This month it's all about the twine!

If you'd like a chance to win one of two $20 gift certificates to Denami, then scroll through the hop from the beginning and leave a comment at each blog:)

If you came from Kerri's blog you are on the right track. 

For a full list of participants see the Denami blog.

I adore twine. Adore it.

I have some in every variegated color that is made, and most of the solid colors as well. 

But I wanted to step outside the realm of typical twine use on a card...what to do...hmmmm.

*lightbulb*

I'll knit with it! 

Let me be honest when I say I don't recommend attempting to knit using tiny toothpicks. It was fun but very tedious:) 

(I thought I was so clever until I googled "knitting with twine" and saw several samples...so much for an original thought. Pshaw. Oh well *shrug*)

Denami supplies used:

Magenta twine

Aquamarine twine

Tangerine twine

Orchid twine

Circle Interlock Embossing Folder

Heartfelt Greetings set

Your next stop is Stacy! 

Be sure to leave a comment if you'd like a chance to win a gift certificate and good luck!

Oh, my dear fellow fox-lover and paper crafting diva extraordinaire isn't well and had to drop out of the hop this month. If you get a chance, pop by Amy Smidebush's blog and send her get well wishes:)

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO