MORE Happy Mail!

I have some more Happy Mail to share!  These beauties are all stunning, I think you'll agree!

Tania Gould

Gardenia Pepworth

Patrice Easton 

Thank you all!
I still can't bring myself to use Patrice's gorgeous flowers... *blush*

Bonny Blog Award

Gemma Coumbe, Gardenia Pepworth and Helen Williams all awarded me with this blog award ages ago and I've been really slack in blogging it!  So I'd like to say a big thankyou to Gemma, Gardenia and Helen!  I really appreciate it!

This is what I have to do now!

1. Put the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award on my blog.
2. Share 5 things about myself.
3. Pass the award onto 5 other Bonny Blogs.
4. Add links to my 5 chosen Bonny Blog Winners.
5. Let them know they have been chosen to win the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award by leaving a comment on their blog.

  About Me...

1. My name is usually shortened to Dan, which I'm fine with, but Danni just rubs me the wrong way...
2. I joined Stampin' Up! in February 2009, and I only joined to get the free stamp set on offer as a recruiting incentive!  I didn't think anyone would actually want a workshop with me!
3. Fame doesn't interest me, but secretly I like to imagine that somewhere, someone has looked at my blog and thought "Wow, I wonder what she's like in real life..."  LOL
4. I often forget to send people cards... how bad is that for a cardmaker??
5. I cry in movies - LOTS.  One of my favourites, Awakenings, really gets me - I usually start crying during the opening credits!!

Five More Bonny Blogs
These lovely ladies all inspire me in a wonderful way.  It sounds strange, but each of these crafters regularly has me thinking: "Oh, man!  I'll never be that good!!"... BUT that turns into me feeling all inspired despite the self doubt.  So thank you all for helping to push me a little!

Amy Waters
Patrice Easton
Iwona Palamountain (Chupa)
Delys Cram
Kirsty Brown

Birthday Mail

It was my birthday a few weeks ago and I got some GORGEOUS cards from my card making friends!  I've just managed to get them photographed to share with you...

Amanda Reddicliffe

Paula Dobson

Bronwyn Eastley 

Jo Eades

Kim Badelt 

Mae Collins 

Nicole McMurtrie 

Thanks girls!  These cards really made my day!  :-)

My UStamp Cool Moves Project #1

My first project for the Cool Moves round of UStamp has been launched!  I can't reveal on my blog what it is... but I can give you a sneak peek...

Want to know more?  Head here to get your pass to UStamp Cool Moves.  :-)

White On White...

This week's Sugar Nellie Challenge at PCP is White, meaning white on white.  I love letting the stamp speak for itself on a white background, but this time I thought I'd add a few white embellishments too...

It's still very simple though... perhaps too simple?

I made the paper roses using this tutorial with Tania Gould.  I spent more time looking for the 'right' white embellishments than I did making these!

Materials:

Stamp sets -  Tell Me Something - Sugar Nellie (designed by Leanne Ellis)

Cardstock - White Cambric Linen, Watercolour paper

Inks - Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery

Accessories - Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Dimensionals, Aqua painter

Snow Swirled - JAI36

Time for a Sketch Challenge at Just Add Ink!  Make sure you check out the fabulous DT projects, they're so gorgeous!

Here's my contribution for this week:

Isn't that ribbon divine?  It's from the new catalogue and it's the 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Old Olive.  Love it.

Hope you like my card and hope to see your entry over at Just Add Ink! 

Here's the sketch for the challenge:

Materials:

Stamp sets - Snow Swirled, Heard From The Heart

Cardstock - Naturals Ivory

Inks - Old Olive, Early Espresso

Accessories - 1 1/4" Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, corner rounder

JAI35 - Clean And Simple

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to Just Add Sympathy, as in creating Sympathy cards.  We're all going to be in the situation of needing to give one of these cards, so why not have a gallery of beautiful ideas to help out?

My contribution is very last minute and very clean and simple...

I do have a pretty good reason for being last minute - we've finally moved into our new house!  I'll have pictures to share once we're settled and not negotiating a path through boxes...  :-)

I'm also entering this into the Stampin Royalty Challenge #37, which is to use stitching.  :-)


Materials:

Stamp sets - Baroque Motifs, Curly Cute

Cardstock - Crumb Cake

Inks - Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Accessories - White gel pen, corner rounder

UStamp Cool Moves Free Pass Winners!

Time to announce the winners of my two FREE passes to the next round of UStamp!

Congratulations to ...

JENNY

and

SHELLEY!!

I know you're both going to love this round - there are some fabulous projects!  Thanks so much to everyone who left me comments, I love reading them!

You can still join up for UStamp Cool Moves by going to the website - http://ustampwithdawnandfriends.com/.  The event starts on September 24th and runs through till October 15th.

See you soon!!

JAI34 - A Colour Challenge

Our colour challenge at Just Add Ink this week is so pretty!  I can't wait to see all the entries.  Here's what I came up with...

I used the flower stalk stamp from Fifth Avenue Floral because I wanted the bunch to look a bit more substantial.

And I wound the Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon around the 'bunch' a few times before tying it off in a bow.

And here's the colour combo... isn't it pretty?  So soft and delicate.  :-)

I'd love to know what you think!  

Materials:

Stamp sets - Awash With Flowers, En Francais, Fifth Avenue Floral

Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Watercolour paper

Inks - Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Versamark

Accessories - Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, Aqua painter

Want to win a free pass to the next round of UStamp? 

Click here and leave a comment to be in the running.

UStamp - Cool Moves - FREE PASSES

I've been asked to return as a designer for UStamp, but as a "Creative Crew Girl"!  So I'm now a more permanent member of the team and I'll be contributing 2 projects for the event.  :-)

I have 2 free passes to give away to the next round of UStamp!  Interested?  Just leave me a comment on this post by September 15 and I'll post the two random winners shortly after that!  Please make sure you include your email address so I can contact you.  Good luck!


Some info about the event...

UStamp with Dawn and Friends "Cards with COOL Moves...2010" will open September 24th (EST) and will run through Oct 15th.

Register today for Early Bird Pricing of only US$19.99.  Early Bird pricing ends Sept 13th and regular pricing of S$24.99 goes into effect.
Here is what you can expect when you join us for the Cool Moves round...

* 40 Color Combos with NO REPEATS, showcasing EVERY Stampin' Up! Colour
* 40 Movement Cards with co-ordinating envelope
* 40 Regular cards with co-ordinating envelope
* All Projects include downloadable PDF with photos
* Designer hosted chats with prizes
* Open Chat Room 24x7
* Gallery to share your re-creations
* A cool blinkie for your website/blog
* Prizes, Prizes and MORE Prizes!!

JAI33 - A Sketch Challenge

We have a sketch challenge this week at Just Add Ink...

I've played with it in regard to positioning, but I think it makes for an easy Christmas card!

Make sure you got to Just Add Ink to check out the fabulous DT work!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Tree Trimmings

Cardstock - Real Red, Crumb Cake

Inks - Real Read, Chocolate Chip

Accessories - Chocolate Chip ribbon, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, dimensionals, corner rounder

My Umbrella With Pearls And Lace

Yep, I'm definitely in love with this stamp!  She's so sweet!  This card is for the latest challenge at Simon Says Stamp which is to use Pearls and Lace.  My lace is actually a lace border punch.  :-)

I think she looks so sweet using paper piecing!

I'd love to know what you think!
Materials:

Stamp sets - My Umbrella - MFT, Sanded

Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Kaisercraft DSP

Inks - Versamark, Sahara Sand, Blush Blossom, Going Grey. Close to Cocoa

Accessories - Black embossing powder, heat tool, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Dimensionals, BigShot, Nestabilities, Fiskars border punch

Pink Poise

I have a quick Sugar Nellie challenge card to share with you.  This is one I worked on tonight (pretty much to keep my mind occupied!), using watercolouring and paper piecing.  I'm pretty happy with how it came out, although the black ribbon looks a little wonky in the photo!

I couldn't resist using Raspberry Tart DSP for her dress...

This card is for two Sugar Nellie challenges.  The first is for Challenge #20 (to use pink) at All Things Sugar Nellie at PCP and the second is a sketch for The Sugar Bowl...

I'd love to know what you think of my card!


Materials:

Stamp sets - Poise - Sugar Nellie by Leanne Ellis, Friends Never Fade

Cardstock - Pretty In Pink, Watercolour paper, Basic Black, Raspberry Tart DSP

Inks - Versamark, Blush Blossom, Pretty In Pink, Creamy Caramel, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Certainly Celery

Accessories - Black embossing powder, heat tool, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Dimensionals, Pretty In Pink ribbon, Basic Black ribbon, black hemp twine