.... you can check ot the inside of my card below!July 10, 2009
NOUVEAU NATURE'S NEST
.... you can check ot the inside of my card below!July 07, 2009
MY FAVORITE CARD and the WINNER of the MARKERS
Reading all your kind and sweet comments was heartwarming to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending me best wishes, and I appreciate your support.
I absolutely without a doubt loved seeing what you thought would be my favorite card....and to be honest each time I opened your emails it was like a Christmas Present! I loved seeing your picks, and you were right they were some of my favorites BUT!!!!!.... my all time favorite was this ALWAYS card that I did on June 26, 2008. It will ALWAYS be my favorite because, I put a lot of elements, and expression into it. I think it was the first time I had used this many layers. It was definitely the first time I water colored on vellum, and dyed a ribbon. I just love the stark beauty of the black embossed bird with the white accent too! So, now you know which card is my fave! Thanks for playing, make sure to check out the cards you all picked in the collage below. I must say Quiet Stillness seemed to be your favorite, being picked more than any other of my cards! I wish you all happy stamping times. ~Donna

ALSO check out the winner of my FIRST CHALLENGE! I chose Regina's card as my favorite submission. Her card inspired me becasue of the depth in coloration she acheived on the leaves. A single layer card is quite difficult but these two entries show what can be done when challenged. Thank you girls for playing. Hugs~Donna
July 06, 2009
MORE KALEIDOSCOPE IDEAS
NEW CATALOG IDEAS

PAPER CUTS ...missing

July 01, 2009
BUTTERNUTSAGE CHALLENGE #1

Shannon's CardJune 29, 2009
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND

June 28, 2009
PAPER CUTS #25
Good Monday to you all!
June 27, 2009
REQUEST GRANTED!
June 26, 2009
ABC "T' is for TWO TONE
Well, you have all certainly entertained meand surprised me over the last day with 1000 views and lots of comments. THANK YOU!!!! I must say there is a trend in what "you" feel is my favorite card! LOL! I do love the ones you have picked and will announce my favorite on the 7th of July so keep playing. In the meantime I have a card for you.
This card I made for the ABC challenge "T" is for two toned. I am not sure if it is exactly what they are looking for but, I tired ("tried" as the case may be, although tired was probably more accurate!) . At first I was experimenting with an idea in my head that just didn't work out on paper and this is what transpired. SOmetimes
( so what was I typing did I mean so or sometimes) I don't like when that happens but, other times you end up with something very inexpected (unexpected or inexplicable, you choose!) REMEMBER those fun finger thingys we made when we were kids that had numbers on the outside and nice or fresh little sayings on the inside? Well this is sort of like that. It makes a great frame around an image without adding any bulk! You don't even need a bow. WHAT NO BOW! Not very often LOL!!!Anyway I hope it inspires you to do something crazy on your cards. Enjoy!~Donna
Wondering about all those baja highlighted words. I am using a new computer while mine is in the shop and the keys are off just a bit from where my fingers naturally go, so typo's everywhere! I am also playing witha brand new photo editing program (for me that is) and YIKES I have no idea what I am doing. Have a great weekend!
l
l
l
ORDER INFO: ORDER HERE
AUTUMN DAYS available July 1st 115452 $23.95
SINCERE SALUTATIONS 115068 $23.95
June 24, 2009
FREE SET OF STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERS HERE!!!!!!!

I love that song, and I love every morning when I start up my computer to see if you all came to visit! Well, you never disappoint me, and have made my journey through blogland my creative exersice for each and every day. TOMORROW IS MY BLOGAVERSARY and I have a prize for you. It is because of all of you, all 100,000 of you! WOW! One year and 99,983 clicks on my blog at this exact moment. So, 100,000 is not a stretch! Therefore it is my fervent desire to let each and everyone of you know how much I appreciate your support. So here is a squeeze of appreciation.
Now, I know this isn't the prettiest, or the most witty or the most informative stamping blog out there but it is "ours"! I say ours because if you didn't come then I wouldn't blog! SO, to commemorate this MILESTONE, I am going to give away a present! But, first I need to thank a few people.
All the hits in this first year began with this lovely girl.....
SANKARI WEGMAN Sankari was my very first blogging pal, she sent me a lovely comment the first day I posted a challenge over at Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration! She has been there almost every week since! So let me say thank you to my dearest Sankari for ALL the wonderful words you send me, and thank you too for the lovely blogaversary gift. I love using it! I am so taken with your sincere support and generosity.
TRAVELINGMAMA (Tina) has been a shining star on my blog roll as well. I check her out daily and watch her little family grow and watch to see where she has been and where she is going! I love her spunkiness, and her sweet remarks to me. She too, was there to comment on the very first day I posted when I created a card for Kristina's challenge. Thank you Tina!
KRISTINA WERNER is one of the most inspirational people I have met blogging. I enjoy her blog daily! I must admit without her and her Color Inspiration, most of you would not have met me. Her Color Inspirations each week make us all grow in ways we would never try on our own. Sometimes the challenges are more difficult than other times but, they are always fun and inspiring.
Thank you Kristina for all you do for all of us, and for inspiring me. Lastly, I would like to thank
MR. LINKY! I am in love with Mr Linky because he makes it so easy for me to meet so many of YOU! I can click on your name and be at your place lickity split! I have seen some things that make me gasp, in a good way of course :) , and I love all the creative, inspiring, supportive, and heartgiving blogs out there! Thank you Mr Linky for sharing these creative people with me.
I have so many of you I would like to thank it feels like I am doing an acceptance speech at the Academy Awards...yup now I know how they feel about not wanting to leave anyone out! SO, with a resounding THANK YOU!!!! Yup I meant "you" I thank you for a wonderful year, and I hope to make my second year better than the first, and I hope you will continue to stop by!
So are you ready? Okay! Let's get going! DRUM ROLL PLEASE........... "here is your chance to win a fabulous surprise......leave a comment about why you liked a particular card I made. If you have chosen my favorite card from the past year (yup I have a favorite) then......you will be entered with all the other commenters for that one card into a drawing for my special prize! ONE winner will be chosen from that group to receive the super duper prize! If your comment elicits tears, all that much better! LOL! So, go on and hunt my favorite card down! Leave a comment under that card, and wait to see the results! The prize is..... a brand new set of
Stamp and Write Markers from Stampin UP!!!!! The winner will be announced on July 7th, 2009! Good luck everyone and have fun! ENJOY! ~ ooops almost forgot! Want a hint? Okay I am game....HINT: my favorite card was not posted in the months of April, May, or June 2009!
June 22, 2009
KWerner Color Inspiration MASCULINE CARD
here I have used the NEW Stamp Set from Stampin' Up! called AUTUMN DAYS! It has some great images and I really like this pine cone one. I stamped the image on an embossed card layer using the embossing plates for the Big Shot and then I stamped the image again three times on scrap paper in basic gray. Next, I cut out the images from the scrap paper three times making the image a bit smaller each time. Then I used dimensionals to layer them over the card image making it all 3D! I even used some ribbon that I frayed as the pine bows. The card is really simple except for these embellishments and the brads. I hope you'll try it, and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
PAPER CUTS # 24
June 19, 2009
From Flip Flop to Sandal
June 18, 2009
FLIP FLOP CARD! WOW!!!!
DVD Butterfly
I was reading my comments and clicking on your blogs this weekend when I came across this neat technique by Jillene Jacobsen in FL! WOW thanks Jillene, it was so much fun! Basically you use glossy white cardstock, clear embossing powder, an ink pad, and your everyday household iron to make an awesome background paper in a matt finish! I then used my BIG SHOT, boy I love that little gem and cut out a butterfly from an old DVD! WOW who would have thunk LOL!!!! Put it all together and it makes a great anniversary or wedding card! The shine of the DVD adds just enough BLING!!!!! One last time for God's Beauty. See you soon~
June 17, 2009
BUTTERFLY~~~FLY AWAY
One of the saddest times for me is when my Favorite Stamp Sets are put away for retirement. This year the set I will miss most is GOD'S BEAUTY! The Butterfly in this set is so easy to stamp and color and ALWAYS makes a WOW card. I have embossed it, vellumed it, shined it, dulled it, painted it and sprinkled it with glitter and last night was no exception. As a send off I had the girls take their sets (each one got one to take home) and make cards with it. I designed the first two and my dear friend Kerin made the best card ever using this set and we CASED her design! THEN I HAD THE GIRLS MAKE THEIR OWN!!!!!!
I cut out the paper pieces and gave them ribbon and the option to use anything in my stamp room to create their butterfly card. WOW did they impress me. In less than 15 minutes they all created extraordinary results! TAKE A LOOK!!!!!!!!
I couldn;t resist posting a picture of my grand daughter either. OH TO HAVE THOSE LIPS AT 56!!!!!!!!! Enjoy the gallery today! ~Donna
June 16, 2009
FIRST FATHERS DAY
click on the pic to read the poem
Hey everyone!
I am part of a group of girls whom have been together since the first day of school back in 1959! WOAH that felt odd to type. I don't think I know of any other group of school children who have remained friends and have regular outings for as long as we have. Anyway, we went to a Catholic Parochial School and were taunted by the kids that went to public school. We were called "fairies" and we called them "publics" LOL. Well, we have now graduated to the golden girls but, we still refer to ourselves as the St Mary's Fairies! To us it is endearing. This week we were together and had lots of laughs. After catching up on what was new, one of the "fairies" who is a fashion designer, and fabulous artist ( hi Cathy) looked at my blog and thought I may enjoy this poem. I immediately thought FIRST FATHERS DAY CARD and went to work to make one. I hope you'll enjoy it! REMEMBER there is nothing wrong with using your computer once and a while for sentiments!!!!! Just click on the picture to read the entire poem, and to see the front of the card. Have a great day!
June 15, 2009
ANIMAL CRACKER BOX!
I was inspired by LodiChick over in SCS to make this adorably clever little animal cracker box! She used the same paper and made a flip top box. I converted her idea and made it a lid box and used the Stampin UP! twill for the handle. Almost like the real thing!!!!! What a cute birthday favor this would make too.......enjoy!
June 14, 2009
PAPER CUTS #23 ANIMAL STORIES
June 12, 2009
KWERNER COLOR INSPIRATION
June 11, 2009
Belli Challenge #67
How is your day going? Here in the Norhtheast it has been cloudy for the past few days but mild, so there isn't much to complain about. Well, except for the fact that my new car got keyed last night while we were at a restaurant. Just one of life's annoyances. Sometimes I wonder just how civilized we have become. Enough about that how about a card?
This was done for the Creative Belli Challenge this week. It was a sketch challenge this time with an extra instruction that it had to be a Fathers Day Card. It seems like I have made a few this year LOL!!!!! Anyway...here is my take on the challenge...I have been trying to use up all my DSP before the new SU catty is released to the public! Have a great day and enjoy! ~Donna
June 10, 2009
QUILTS....how frienships are pieced together
June 08, 2009
Fathers Day Card
PAPER CUTS #22 LOTS OF BOTS
I love the computer code stamped on ribbon to make it less frilly. You know I need to use ribbon, right! Then, you can also make your own designer paper by stamping an image all over it like I did with the nuts and bolts! This set is going to inspire lots of fun and creativity!
SO ENJOY!
ordering info:
you can buy it there------> Beginning July 1st Lots Of Bots 115293
June 05, 2009
PUNCHED LION CARD
Well, I had to get in on the act too! My grandson will be turning six in a few weeks, and I think he will love the sweet face of this lion. I used the key tag punch, 1 3/4 circle punch, large oval punc, 3/4 punch and five petal flower punch to make this card. Why not get your punches out and see what you can come up with!
IN COLOR COMBO COMPARISSON





June 04, 2009
NEW IN COLOR retiring stamp sets and Raspberry Suite
June 03, 2009
2 more Stampin' UP! SNEAK PEEKS
STAMPIN UP ROBOTS
STAMPIN UP SNEAK PEEK LOTS OF BOTS
June 02, 2009
ANIMAL STORIES in safari colors
I hope you are enjoying the peeks, there is a little note of clarification below for all of you who have been asking~Donna
* Stampin' Up Demonstrators MAY NOT POST IMAGES, CONTENTS, INFORMATION FROM OR ANY OTHER MATTER IN THE NEW 2009~2010 IDEA and CATALOG on their website,blog or any othe means of electronic transmission until JULY 1st with the exception of items in the sneak peek.
THE MORE THE MERRIER!
TALL TALES DSP
The new DSP Tall Tales from Stampin' Up!
makes an adorable gift bag. This year is full of fun DSP. It is great for layering on your cards, use it for making gift bags, and add it to your scrap pages for immediate WOW!!!!
I have been asked about the dimensions for this bag so here they are. Take a piece of 12 x 12 DSP and score each vertical side at 1 1/2" then score the bottom at 1 1/2" and the top at 1". Fold the top over to make a cuff. Then fold the sides in on each piece of DSP. Adhere the sides together using sticky strip to make a crips edged bag. Turn the bag upside down and fold the bottom in like you were wrapping a present and adhere the bottom closed as well with sticky strip. Your finished bag is 9 inches wide by 9 1/2" tall. Have fun!
STAMPIN'UP! Animal Stories
OH MY WHAT FUN!!!!! This set is called Animal Stories. If you don not want to see the new things that are in the SNEAK PREVIEW then close my blog because starting today I will be posting lots of new sets! Want to see the whole card? Then scroll down! Enjoy...>~Donna
June 01, 2009
PAPER and RIBBON SHARES

PAPER CUTS # 21
May 29, 2009
Cupcake Challenge #70 WOW!
I am back from a trip to Cape Cod and and decided to do this week's Cupcake Challenge because I ate an awful lot of cupcakes while I was down the cape. I am TOO embarrassed to say how many, but can we all chant yummmmmmmmmmmmmm. Oh my they were delicious. Anyway, here is the card I made for Taylored expressions, and I have it sitting in front of the new brief case I am featuring today in my BOXES, Etc. Doesn't the brief case make the cutest envelope and gift card holder! You can check out the directions by searching for briefcase in my search box on my banner, or by clicking here. Enjoy, your weekend and why not try to make one of these briefcases for yourself!
BRIEF CASE! WOW!
May 27, 2009
CAPE COD
May 25, 2009
MOJO MONDAY #88
I got up early today 5:30 am, to see my Son and daughter in law off to work. They have just moved back home from NC and are staying with us for a bit while they are looking for a new home to buy. They came home to Massachusletts to open a NEW CUPCAKE CHARLIE'S cupcake shop. It is the second store for my brother, and Mike and Katie will be running the one that will open on the Plymouth waterfront (you know...the place where the Mayflower, pilgrims and that famous rock are) for the Fourth of July with the hopes of buying it when they get settled! So, for all of you in the area, or coming to visit this summer, be sure to look them up...and tell them I sent you......YUMMY!
Now, because I was up early I decided to stay up, and let hubby sleep in on the holiday. With the free time I decided to make a card for Mojo Monday. I took some pictures just before a thunderstorm yesterday when the lighting was all weird and gray, and this color combo reminded me of that. Even in the dark of the impending storm there are bursts of bright spring colors. That became my inspiration for this card sample. I hope you enjoy it! here is the link for Cupcake Charlie's.
PAPER CUTS # 20
May 23, 2009
Rasberry Suite Color Challenge

May 21, 2009
GRADUATION and ABC challenge "O" is for orderly
May 18, 2009
BUNNIES and TULIPS
TODAY I am doing two challenges......
the two cards use the color inspiration from KwernerDesigns which are Baja Breeze, So Saffron, More Mustard, Sahara Sand and Whisper White. I then created a second card for someone who asked me to be in their challenge. It uses a recipe of NO STAMPS....3 BUTTONS....CARDSTOCK.....RIBBON.... FlOWER SOFT or FLOCK....but because I am a SU demonstrator I needed to use my own creation that I described here and put it on the stamens!....and a SENTIMENT! It was a difficult card to conjure up until I remembered a card I received from my friend Kerin and then it all came together pretty easily! Enjoy!~Donna
PAPER CUTS #19
a simple, and quick, yet elegant card for that sincere occassion that comes up. Add a sentiment of your desire and you are good to go. Please check out the directions and cuts at PAPER CUTS! Enjoy~Donna
May 14, 2009
MORE CHALLENGES!
Take on CINDY LAWRENCE sunbeams
Here I did a card from inspiration that I got when I checked out Cindy Lawrence's blog this morning! She used some DSP that had sun beams in it so I decided to make my own! Love it! Then I incorporated the card into the Cuttlebug Spot Challenge and here is what I came up with. I used the DSP from SU called SWEET SLUMBER SPECIALTY it has clouds so it set the stage for my stamping a sunrise scene! I used the brayer technique that Michelle Zindorf is a master at, and added some punched paper to make curtains. The little wild flowers are merely white gel pen dots and the birds are just random marker "v's" Enjoy!~Donna
May 13, 2009
CHALLENGES CHALLENGES!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FIRST BORN
May 11, 2009
FASHION FOWARD.....NEVER ENOUGH SHOES
May 10, 2009
PAPER CUTS #18
May 07, 2009
"M" is for Metallic Merry Christmas!!!
When I saw todays ABC challenge "M: is for metal I immediately thought bling and Christmas shine!!!! LOOK!!!!! The daisy 2 die from Stampin' Up is going to make some AWESOME Christmas cards isn't it!!!!! I am very excited! Enjoy!
Color Inspiration #51
May 06, 2009
It's My Birthday!!!!
Hey everyone!Today is my birthday and I have been playing all day doing exactly what I wanted to do! I made a card just for me! It's exactly what I felt like today. I love May and all the NEW things that the month of May brings. One of my favorite things to do besides make cards is garden and decorate! So, today I made a card showing off the fun of gardening, when great surprises like hummingbirds appear! And I made a collage (my very first!) on my blog of some of my black accents in my house! The hook in my stamping room, the flower pot crane in my pantry, the frame around an old Carter Ink print that is the same as the one I had over my bed when I was five, the knob of my pot filler, pictures of all the babies in the family, and my antique office phone!
I absolutely love black as an accent! Black makes everything POP! I used it in the card I made today first, by doing the image in black embossing powder! By embossing them first, when I colored the images in they seemed to come alive! Of course I had to add some fine glitter to the hummingbird to show off his brilliant feathers! I finished it all by adding matt after matt of alternating color and black! I hope you like it. Enjoy! ~Donna
May 05, 2009
NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS TITLE &*(*!@^^&$#%#$&%
That means you! YOU my buddies! You are poofed into cyberspace, and I feel like I have lost my tether! My poor kitty thinks I have lost my mind...he is bewildered.
I am so frantic, yes it is beginning to set in right now. I am feeling tears well up under my eyelids, and I know it will be only moments before I am totally unconsolable.
WHERE ARE YOU!
I do not even know the address of my upline Kerin...see no link! Kerin send me a link please! And you guys too! Sankari, Sylvia, Dori, Kristy, Karen, Kristin, Kristina, Annie B, Sue, Lorraine! LORRAINE I just found you and now you are gone! Jeanna, Bev, Jen, Steph, Jennifer, Anthonette, Angie, DEBBIE, Doreen, Abi, Zapha, Bette, Betty, Savitri, Nora, Nancy, Lyn, Lori, Michelle, Patti, Regina, Rhonda, Robin, Brooke, Linda, Rose, Julie, Barbara, Chloe, CeeCee, Tina, Kathryn, Carol, Tracy, Stacey, Brit, Rachel, Amber, Terri, Alicia, Mary, Kara, Shannon, Odette, Winter, Amy, oh I know I am leaving some of you out, but my brain is in freeze mode so PLEASE HELP!!! SEND ME YOUR LINK TO YOUR BLOG SO I CAN PUT IT BACK WHERE IT BELONGS! HELP!!!!! RIGHT DOWN THERE UNDER COMMENTS SO I CAN CLICK IT
May 03, 2009
PAPER CUTS will return Next Week!BUT for today! MAY EXTRAVAGANZA highlights!
May 01, 2009
$1500 INSPIRATION!

April 30, 2009
TECHNIQUES: Water Color Wash & Pencil Shavings and BELLI CHALLENGE
Today I have two cards with two different techniques. Both are simple layouts to showcase the tecnique I used. This first one with the bee, uses leftover pencil shavings from an electric pencil sharpener! I have seen a lot of cards recently that have used Flower Soft as an embellishment. I love it but, being a Stampin' Up Demonstrator we do not carry that product. So, like my frosting conterfeit for liquid applique, I needed to come up with something for Flower Soft too! I took the shavings from my pencil sharpener, added a little ink, let them dry and voila! Now, you can see all the little hairs on this furry little bee! Now you have a FREE and GREEN dimensional embellishment in EVERY SU color you can imagine! They will match perfectly all of the SU inks and papers, and look great! I know the camera is not fabulous but, you can get the idea, and it is certainly easy enough to try for yourself! I used this card for the Belli Challenge too!
April 29, 2009
If I could Save Time In A Bottle........April Morning
April 28, 2009
MOTHERS DAY BURST
April 25, 2009
A BIG THANK YOU to Kristina Werner
I wanted to make something 3d for the big 50 event so, I chose this cute little purse that is all over the web and filled it with 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" note cards. I made my own envies in red to finish off the requirements! I embossed the little purse in a faux leather and added hodge podge hardware to the strap to make it look authentic! So much fun! Last, but not least I embossed the brad in white craft ink so as not to be disqualified from the challenge! We could use no other colors besides white, red, yellow and turquoise LOL!!!! So here you go I hope you have fun with your entry too! Have a great week everyone. Hugs~Donna



