My Brand-New DeNami Feature: EMBOSSED ELEMENTS + a GIVEAWAY

Hi there, everyone! I'm here today with the very first installment of my new regular monthly feature for the DeNami Design blog. With today's post I'm starting a series called Embossed Elements that highlights all of the wonderful new embossing folders being carried in the DeNami Design store. If you haven't checked these out yet, you should! You won't believe all of the variety in this collection: the DeNami store carries an amazing 142 different embossing folder designs!!

Now, I do have a confession to make. While I've been papercrafting for nearly 10 years now, I've only just acquired my very first diecutting machine (thank you, Santa!!). So for the first time ever, I'm able to dabble with embossing folders! I wasn't completely sure that embossing folders would be for me, but in the short time that I've been playing with the embossing folders that DeNami carries, I've become completely addicted to them! I love the fabulous texture that they add to my creations--everything is so crisp, and the designs are deep. They really stand out! And I can't believe how much visitors to my blog comment on the embossing I've been featuring on projects I've posted there lately. It must be really noticeable!!

So whether you are brand new to embossing folders like me, or an old pro, I'm hoping that my Embossed Elements feature will help you learn your way around DeNami's new collection of embossing folders--and maybe even give you some new ways to use or think about embossing!

Today I'm sharing with you two different projects for Valentine's Day, and both feature the very festive Layered Hearts Embossing Folder from the DeNami store. One thing I really love about this embossing folder is that, while many of the embossing folders in DeNami's collection are clearly designed for the portrait orientation, this one is perfect for the the landscape orientation. Let's take a look:

For this first project, I started with a panel of red cardstock and punched the bottom edge using the EK Success Deco Scallop border punch and then ran it through my Big Shot in the Layered Hearts Embossing Folder. I matted this embossed layer with white cardstock and then mounted the whole enchilada on a pink card base.

Next I added a pink cardstock panel that I had embossed with another Valentine gem from the DeNami embossing folder collection: the Heart Embossing Folder. I really like the look of both of these embossed patterns layered on top of one another!

I stamped the Elegant Word Plate on white cardstock with Onyx Black Versafine Ink, and used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to align the pretty Sending You Love sentiment, stamped in Satin Red Versafine Ink, right smack dab in the middle. I decided to glam up my focal point just a bit with some gorgeous Ruby Red Sparklets Glitter adhered inside the loops of the word plate with a Quickie Glue Pen. A quick fussy cut was all I needed to get this ready for attaching to my card. I finished off my design with a simple red grosgrain bow.

My second card is a reminder that embossing folders are perfect for adding texture not only to rectangular panels, but also any precut shape you care to pretty up!

For this card, I started with a pink heart diecut, embossed it with the Layered Hearts Embossing Folder, and layered it on a heart-shaped card base die cut from red cardstock with a larger nested heart die.

Next I built my very own cupid's arrow embellishment with a wooden craft stick, a wooden veneer heart shape, and some bits of chipboard. I colored the wood bits red using a Faber-Castell Gelato and rubbed the color into the woodgrain with my fingertips. I trimmed angled fringe into two bits of chipboard to make the arrow's feathery fletching and colored them with a white Gelato. After gluing all the bits together to form my arrow, I outlined the heart-shaped arrowhead with dimensional dots drawn on with a white Crystal Lacquer Pearl Pen. 

Finally, I stamped the Love Flourish sentiment on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, trimmed out the sentiment, colored in the heart-shaped O with a red Copic marker, and adhered it to the card with some foam tape. Done!

I hope that this opening installment of Embossed Elements has given you some ideas for using embossing on your Valentine cards!

How would you like the chance to win this beautiful Layered Hearts Embossing Folder? I have one up for grabs in an Embossed Elements giveaway! Want to be in the running? Just leave me a comment on this post using the word "HEART." 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, January 29, 2014, and will draw one commenter at random. The winner will be announced right here on my blog on Thursday, January 30, and if I'm able to find an email address, I'll be sure to contact the winner as well.

Thanks for joining me today!
Emily

Gingham Noel Gift Bag

Welcome to Friday!

Today is the first day of the Girl Scout Cookie sale in our regional Girl Scout council! Tomorrow morning and Sunday afternoon my 14YO daughter will be out selling cookies in her senior troop's first booth sales of the season. Both sales will be held outside the front entrance of our local WalMart, which is always a good place to sell during the holiday shopping season ;). Snagging booth sale time slots on the first weekend of the cookie sale will also bolster business (just think of all the hoards of Thin Mint lovers who've been drooling in anticipation of the return of the Thin Mint for all these months!). The only problem is the weather forecast!! I'm in charge of the 3-hour time slot on Saturday morning, and the forecast is for single digit temperatures overnight. Did I mention that we'll be setting up our pyramid of Girl Scout Cookies on a table outside?? I'm a little concerned about the potential for frostbite, quite frankly. None of that on my watch! I just picked up a 20-pack of handwarmers so we can stick them in our boots and mittens. I think that dressing in layers (upon layers upon layers) will be the order of the day!

Next thing on my agenda for this morning is picking up all those packages of glorious cookies to sell. I've got 41 cases of Girl Scout Cookies on order from our council. That's 492 packages of cookies, folks! I think that lugging those around will count as my workout for today. Anyway, wish us luck this weekend!!

Well, but that's probably not what you came to my blog for today! How about a little Christmas papercrafting cheer? I wanted to share a gingham gift bag (from JoAnn Fabrics that I picked up on clearance after Christmas last year) I gussied up with Unity stamps for today's Friends With Flair hop.

I used the frame from the Just a Note itty bitty and a sentiment from Gingham Christmas Greetings. The chipboard trees and felt rick-rack are from My Mind's Eye.

Well, that'll do it for now. Thanks for stopping by for a visit today!
Emily

DeNami Razzle Dazzle Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the December DeNami Design blog hop. Today's theme is RAZZLE DAZZLE! Blog hop participants will be showcasing anything dazzling--like glitter, rhinestones, sequins, shimmer paper, and more--in their DeNami creations.

Hopefully, you've arrived here by way of Linda Monroe's blog, Stampin in the Suburbs. 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 super-fun 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, December 9, 2013, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs to be eligible for a prize. 

So, let's get down to razzle-dazzle business! I had such a hard time choosing which direction to go with this theme. There are so many possibilities! I finally decided to go with a razzly, dazzly New Year's card, and here's how it goes:

I am SO in love with that beautifully scripted DeNami "Happy New Year" sentiment! Isn't it festive? I stamped it in metallic silver ink, and I don't think it could look more gorgeous! I used some more metallic silver ink to sponge a bit of razzle dazzle on a few white glittery chipboard numbers, and I'm completely tickled with how that turned out. I added a bit of blingy razzle-dazzly jewelry with some silver trim from Webster's Pages, and that's it! A simple little-black-dress of a New Year's card :).


Well, now it's time for me to send you along on your way. Before you leave for more razzle-dazzle inspiration, be sure to leave a comment to be eligible for the randomly drawn prizes and then you can be off to see the very sweet and talented Heidi Hurley! 
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Enjoy the blog hop,
Emily

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (black) Stampin’ Up!
Rubber stamps: (Small Happy New Year) DeNami Design
Pigment ink: (metallic silver) Tsukineko
Sticker: (white Delight glitter letter stickers) American Crafts
Fibers: (silver beaded links trim) Webster’s Pages

Eeek! and a WINNER!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Just popping in to share a card for Halloween! I've got lots of fun goodies on this one: chipboard cat from Maya Road (inked with black pigment ink), washi-tape-covered tags and punched scalloped borders (orange stripes washi tape from DeNami Design), black May Arts corduroy ribbon, black Paper Smooches twine, alphabet stickers from Lily Bee, and a fancy background stamp (Looped Flower) from Hero Arts. I sent this one to a very dear, cat-loving friend. I hope it brought a smile to her face!!

I'm also sharing the winner of my washi tape giveaway from Monday. I used Random.org to select a winner. It was lucky #12, which was

terriavidreader (IN-USA) !!!

Congratulations, Terri! I've emailed you :D Thanks to everyone who entered!

I hope you have a fun Halloween wherever you are! My oldest is now a freshman in high school. She decided that she's too old for trick-or-treat, so she will be manning the door at our house tonight to hand out treats (most likely in her mad scientist costume). My fifth grader is very much looking forward to trick-or-treating tonight. He was very happy to recycle his Apple iPhone costume from last year, which made me very happy. I'm glad that last year's hard work lives on!

Hope your day is filled with more treats than tricks! Thanks for stopping by,
Emily

Just Because

Happy Friday! I am so excited today. My dear friend who moved far away a year and a half ago is going to be back in town today–and we are planning to spend some time together here at my house this afternoon. Yay! I also got word yesterday that career day at my daughter's middle school–the one that was cancelled because of the snowstorm last week (read about that here), bumming us both out completely--has been rescheduled for the first week in May. Yay, again! So happiness is bustin' out all over around here today. :D

I have one more card–I promise that this is the last!!!!–to share for the Colorful Creations challenge over at Flourishes (a color challenge to use shades of blue and yellow together). I have been totally obsessed with this awesome color combo! It's always been a favorite of mine. And it has been a great excuse to play with my Flourishes stamps, which is always welcome :).

Now before I get to my card, I need to explain a little something. I've had several projects published in various Northridge Publishing publications in recent months. (You can see my publication list here.) They "pay" their designers in papercrafting product, and my most recent product shipment contained a bunch of Maya Road chipboard pieces. Cool, but I've never really used them before and wasn't sure what to do with it. I also rec'd a couple of Faber-Castell Gelatos, which I've heard lots about but had never tried. I was excited to learn what I could do with them! Along the way, I discovered that Gelatos are awesome for--wait for it--coloring chipboard! Score! I couldn't wait to try that out, and as it turns out the two Gelatos I rec'd are yellow and blue. See? I was destined to play in the Flourishes challenge one more time :).

OK, thanks for bearing with me. Here's my card:

As you can see, I took a rather clean and simple approach, and used the very versatile Flourishes Inside & Out Just Because set for the sentiment. Love these!

I'm also playing along with the CAS-ual Fridays challenge (CFC94) to use chipboard.

I have a new tutorial posting over on the DeNami blog later today, so this wraps things up for now.  I'll be back in a few hours. I hope you have a super weekend! Thanks for dropping by,
Emily