A Dig Valentine's Day Card

As I was thinking of what kind of card to make for this week, I thought about how my card making obsession began. It started about 9 years ago. I had a computer, a printer, a package of copy paper and an inexpensive card making program. I would go through the index of choices, add in some of my own photos and design cards for my friends and family. I even created a signature on the back that represented our family with a "created by" line and some clip art.
Once I discovered rubber stamps, paper punches and eyelets, I began to combine them with my card making software to create cards and post cards. Before I knew it, I forgot my computer and have added to my stash of embellishments and have had ink stained fingers ever since...and then Lindsay started Lindsay's Stamp Stuff.
I had to dig back into my computer and try to remember things I forgot. At times, it has been frustrating. But then I began to think...hmmm...that's how I started making cards - with the computer. Why was something that was so easy years ago, so daunting to me now? I decided to dig out my old program once again and put it back to work. It was so simple. Why didn't I think of this before?
I opened a new document in my program and began to import the stamps from the LOVE GROWS HERE set. I just can't get enough of this one! It's too cute. I used the sketch from Melissa's Tuesday Morning Sketches. Lindsay is sponsoring this week's challenge, so be sure to click the link for more details on how to enter.
For my card, I created a background (watermark) with the sentiment. Next, I re-created Melissa's layout with the digi stamps and was able to easily color in and outline them with my program. I added a photo of myself and a sentiment to finish the digital elements. Once it was printed, I popped in three brads and adhered that to a card base with a scalloped edge. Stickles gave the card it's finishing touch. (DejaVu?) LOL
So for those of you who want to try digi stamps but think it might not be as easy as it looks, open up an old, familiar software program and design a hybrid card like I have. It doesn't have to be a new, fancy program -anything you use to print a photo will work. Think of the digi stamp like it's a photo or clip art and copy it into the document. It will be fun to see how you can use something old to put a new spin on your card making fun!
Check out Thefrugalcrafter's Weblog and see what Lindsay has for you today. While you are there, check out the links to the rest of her Design Team's Blogs and see all the fun they are having with Lindsay's digi stamps and papers. Ooh, did you hear that? Lindsay has added some new stamps and papers to her MyGrafico Shop. Click the link to check those out as well-they can be downloaded instantly-no waiting! That's all for today - see you again soon. Happy Digi Stamping :)

Warm Wishes! - Christmas Card Swap!

I made these cute cards for Sherri's "Make 5 Christmas Cards" each month for your stash. I made these using my new cuttlebug embossing folder and a sheet of Coredinations paper. The stamps are Holiday Clear Stamps. The simple layout and minimal embelishments made them easy to assemble. Looks like I'm off to a good start this year, Sherri! Thanks for hosting this fun (and useful) challenge.

Digi Stamp Thursday - Birthday Cards!

Hi Everyone! I have Birthday cards on the brain today. I joined a swap at the Stamp Shack~ make 5 Birthday cards each month for my "stash". Since we were snowed in here in Maine last night, I made cards. And, since it's Thursday, I used a couple of digi stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. The Bird is from her "Love Grows Here" set, and the cupcake is from the "Sweet Stuff" set. These were all quick and easy to put together! My kind of cards :)
Don't forget to check out Lindsay's Blog for her fabulous projects this week and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. See you again soon...I'm in a Christmas Card swap too! LOL

Basic Grey, Babies and Bows!

It's Thursday and that means it's Digi Stamp Day with Lindsay's Stamp Stuff! Yesterday I went shopping with Cindi (one of our talented Design Team Members) and then we met Lindsay (of Lindsay's Stamp Stuff) for lunch at a local Thai restaurant. We all enjoyed delicious food and had a great time. While Cindi and I were shopping, I found (what I thought) was going to be a versatile embossing folder that I could use for birthdays, Christmas.... Turns out, when I got it home, it was for baby cards. If you look closely, you can see a baby bottle and booty in the embossing. So...I decided to keep it anyway and use it with the BABIES AND BOWS stamp set that Lindsay designed. I really like how this card turned out. It could be used for a baby shower or for a new baby. With a different sentiment, it could be used for a baby's first birthday as well. I wanted to use non-traditional colors instead of predictable pastels. To give the card a more "finished" look, I added faux stitching to the card stock panels and was able to meet a challenge at the Sunflowers and Dragonflies challenge blog.
This Thursday and Friday EVERYTHING at Lindsay's MyGrafico Shop is 25% off! They are having an anniversary sale - but hurry! The sale ends at Midnight on Friday. (GMT) By using her MyGrafico Shop you can not only save 25%, you also get to instantly download your stamp sets!
Be sure to check out the DT blogs and admire their fabulous creations. Happy Digi Stamping!!!


Supply List:
PrismaColor Markers-
Dark Brown
Sand
Spanish Orange
Terra Cotta
Violet Mist
Lilac
Staples Cream Card Stock Base
Bazzill Card Stock- Purple, Orange
Basic Grey patterned papers
making memories brads
Prima Flowers
Sizzix Embossing Folder
Stampin' Up Corner Punch
Distress Ink - spiced marmalade
Distress Stickles - Picket Fence
Black fine tip marker
Digi Stamps - Lindsay's Stamp Stuff

Recycled Cards - Child's Play?

I was helping a friend this week with ideas for her once a month craft group at a local nursing home and she told me that one of the ladies had "heckled" her several times saying that what they were doing was "child's play". After the third or fourth time of getting the business from this lady, she told the lady that she was starting to get a complex and then the lady changed her tone and made a joke of it, joined in on the craft time and has been having a wonderful time reconnecting with her "inner child"! So...
I thought since this was on my mind and Lindsay had challenged us this week to create a project using something recycled, I would make my card recycled AND child-like. If you remember (as I did) our first art projects were created using scraps, bits and pieces or something we had rescued from the recycle bin, etc.
I started with a purple Bazzil card stock base and a piece of an oatmeal box, and of course, since it's Thursday, a couple of digi stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I used her EMBOSSED MATS set and this cute image from her new stamp set LOVE GROWS HERE. I used Print Shop to create a two colored background and layered the embossed mat and bird image on top of that. I painted the image with water colors and let the colors and ink smudge (think child-like here). Next, I used my corner rounder on the corners and my cool new Tim Holtz mini stapler to staple a loop of scrap ribbon to each side. As I was trying out my new border punch, I realized the scrolled scraps from that were very pretty and glued a couple in opposite corners of the panel. I found a couple of metal letter brads for the X and O in the lower corner. I ran the panel of my oatmeal box through a paper crimper, tore the front layer off, crumpled the edges a bit and adhered the digi panel to that, then attached that panel to the card stock. I border punched a scrap of vellum and used a rub on for the sentiment and glued that to the inside of the card. This was such a fun card to make. Thanks for the challenge, Lindsay!
To find out how you can enter her challenge, go to her blog, THE FRUGALCRAFTER'S WEBLOG - but hurry - today's the last day to enter, so get busy and see what treasures you can find in your recycle bin and enter her challenge! While you are there, don't forget to see what the rest of the Design Team has created this week. We all love to hear from you. Until next time, Happy Digi Stamping!