Fun and Mental Changes

Yestday's Freebie Friday on a Monday projects were so fun and this set is SO BEAUTIFUL in it's simplicity!  It reminds me of a long-retired stamp set from Stampin Up!.  I was inspired to re-create the projects that I made with it once upon a time.  So here we go.... SIMPLE projects when you need a quick "hello" or an even quicker heartfelt sympathy card: I was DEFINITELY on a Bumblebee and Cajun Craze kick yesterday!  I can't stop/won't stop!  LOL!  To be fair... I had extra leaves die cut and didn't want anything to go to waste!  A quick speckle backdrop in Bumblebee then a quick "hello" greeting from the Biggest Wish in Cajun Craze with the Cajun Craze leaf popped up on a Basic White cardbase.  PERFECTION! Okay, as with yesterday's projects, the sentiment is from the recently retired SAB Delicate Dahlia's set, but you could use ANY sympathy sentiment you have in your stash.  Unlike in the past when I had to mask off the center rectangle...

  So this week's Freebie Friday On A Monday projects are just in time to kick off tomorrow's Seasonal Sale with Stampin Up!  WHOO HOO!!!   November 16-18th, you can stock up and save 10% on cardstock, 15% on ink pads, and 20% on dies. Build up your collection of crafting basics—and prepare for another year of top-tier projects—with a steal of a deal on papercrafting products!  SHOP THE SALE: CLICK HERE! This week's party/host/hostess code is:   K2JZGAZW .   Be sure to use this code before checking out this week to get each of these three project make-n-takes for FREE!!! I mean, you might as well earn some free goodies while you're stocking up, right?!?   Okay.... so this week's first project came HIGHLY requested!  It is just the perfect gift the perfect time of year.  I mean, imagine this as a Thanksgiving table setting "Thank you for attending" gift!!!  And this is really easy to make, you could make up 5 or even 2...

  The Starter Kit is always a great deal, right? For just $99, you get to pick out $125 in product of your choice, then enjoy a 20% + discount on all your other purchases. But,  beginning November 4, 2021, the Starter Kit is $75!!  You still pick out $125 in product, but you only pay $75! (And free shipping!) You will then not only get a discount and make 20% of purchases your friends and family make, but, you’ll also get to be a part of this incredible team and share in all the fun!  There are so many reasons to buy the Starter Kit! I welcome all kinds of people to my team- you can be your one and only customer, you can sell products to just a few friends and family, or, you can be a business builder. Everyone is welcome and I never pressure anyone to make more of their Starter Kit than they want to. Did you know that when you purchase the Starter Kit, you actually earn a 20% discount off EVERY purchase for the next 3 months? In fact, it’s actually longer than ...

Okay... BACK to Halloween gifting this week!  We're makin more goody boxes using The Cutest Halloween Bundle again this week, we are also featuring the tags and labels dies from the July - December 2021 Mini Catalog (lovingly dubbed "the holiday mini").  I've got to admit, this bundle really is the cutest and I'm having SOOOO much fun playing with it simply because of how easy it is to work with.  The fact that the punch ALSO punches out the images from the DSP makes this one a super-huge winner for me.  I mean.... three goody projects in under an hour!?!  That's right!  This week's Freebie Friday On A Monday was actually recorded in under 40 minutes!  SO DOABLE to get ready for Halloween gifting!  As always, the link to the free PDF with supplies used and measurements is below the last pic and if you place a $35 or more from my online store (click "Shop With Me" in the banner at the top of this blog) using this week's Host/Hostess code  GHRG...

 Okay you guys!  This is the last Words Of Cheer project for the week.  This one features the dies from the Bundle ( CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ) and is CASED directly from the July-December 2021 Mini Catalog page 20: I just reimagined the card pictured in the catalog as a box... but not just ANY box..... A CRACKER BARREL PECAN LOG ROLL BOX!!!! Here is the list of colors/cardstock used (except for the vellum, it is ALL from scraps... YAY): 1 3/4" x 4 5/8" Vellum, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede and Brushed Metallic Cardstock.  I finished this off with a scrap piece of linen thread even!  THIS is why we keep those scraps!  Honestly... nothing went to waste with this one.  Below is the video on how to make the box.  Normally I wouldn't be posting Christmas projects before Halloween, but COME ON.... this one is SOOOO worth the preview.  Besides, now you can get a head start for Christmas gifting.... PECAN LOG ROLLS FOR EVERYONE!!!

The Words of Cheer is our featured set this week!  I HIGHLY recommend the bundle (#156389) to save the 10%.  You saw the dies from this set used with yesterday's projects.  Today we're featuring the gorgeous poinsettia stamp.  This is a large stamp so the D block is recommended.  On Crumb Cake cardstock, stamp the image and sentiment using Early Espresso, Mossy Meadow or Old Olive.   Using the watercolor pencils (#141709), I colored the leaves in Old Olive and the flowers, sprigs and berries using White. Once everything was colored in, I used the acrylic block as a palette smooshing some ink and then using a blender pen (#102845) to apply color in the areas I wanted to be darker and then blend out using the blender. Finally, I used the edge die from the Scalloped Contours Die set to give it a decorative edge before adhering to a 3 3/4" x 5" piece of Peaceful Prints DSP and then adhering that to an A2 cardbase in Mossy Meadow (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  Please ...

 I went a little crazy when this bundle came.... the projects you're about to see were just FOUR that jumped out of me the first day of its arrival.  Stay tuned... later in the week I'll be showing a couple more that resulted from the awesomeness that is this set!!!  With Halloween around the corner I felt like I needed to share a few EASY and fun ideas as this die set is pretty versatile.  Also, I won't lie.... I LOVED revisiting The Cutest Halloween set and a sneak peek at Well Defined was a definite bonus!!!  Don't forget to snag the free PDF that can be found just under the last pic in this post for a complete list of supplies and measurements for these cards: This IS EVERYTHING!!!!  I cannot get over how adorable this turned out with the cute skulls and how perfectly the sentiment works with this!  My apologies as I just realized that I forgot to show the addition of the matte dots in the video!!!! Isn't this the EASIEST Halloween card???  Th...

It's my time!  The time of year when I am just happy.  I can't put my finger on what EXACTLY causes my crazy good mood.... the weather gets cooler and the colors change and I begin preparing for what really is (in this girl's humble opinion) "the most wonderful time of the year".  I never understood why I sang songs about the dead of winter being the "most wonderful time" when CLEARLY pumpkin spiced lattes, cozy sweaters and free candy season makes it to the top of the wonderful-time list!  Am I right?!?  And it also helps that now I'm prepping for Halloween gifting (those of you who know me know I LOVE Halloween gifting) so today's post is featuring mini-gift packaging that is super-easy to make and you can do a lot of them easily for the folks at the office.  I've also included a not-just-for-Halloween card that, again, is super easy but cute as can be.  And speaking of "cute".... Stampin Up!'s Cutest Halloween is what I'm...

Oh yes... How I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this time of year!  Weather is cooling down a bit, PSL's EVERYWHERE and a reason to start gifting!  So YOU KNOW I was all over Stampin Up!'s new Kraft Gift Boxes and lately spending time to find what will fit in them.  Of course I started with candy... I mean my 1st gift box IS Halloween-themed.  But then I started thinking outside of the box (pardon the pun) and realized this would be the PERFECT size box for a mini facial gift!  You can get a box of 5 sheet masks for under $10!!!  So down the rabbit hole I fell and here's what is in my Kraft Gift Box (#156569) featuring the, also brand new, Cutest Halloween Bundle (#156483) and the new Cute Halloween paper pack (#156479).  Check this out!  Isn't this the GREATEST gift?!? It fits a spa headband, eye mask and face mask packet PERFECTLY for a little pampering (psssst.... a small Ghirardelli square is going in there as well as soon as I replace the one that I ate... ...

So I'm late to the party!  Stampin Up's Holiday early ordering for demonstators was about a month ago and I've been sitting on the most amazing Christmas products I've seen in a long time.... so why so late to the Christmas in July party.... well, as I shared yesterday, they also are coming out with the most amazing Halloween Suite I've seen in a long time as well.  Truly, I am over the moon for this upcoming holiday mini catalog release on August 4th.... I can't wait for you guys to see!  So even though it's the last day of July, I thought, "well why not?"  It also helped that a friend of mine asked for a quick tutorial for flat gift packets and you KNOW I had to oblige!   All the projects in today's post feature the Snowflake Wishes Bundle that is being released next week.  I also whipped up the quickest of treat boxes.... wait till you all see the projects they made in the catalog using the new Little Treats Bundle!  From wedding favors to g...

Tis The Season... I mean Stampin Up Holiday Mini Catalog release time AND CHECK THIS OUT! Really you guys... the holiday catalog this year is EVERYTHING!!!! Today I'm featuring a double Z Fold card that I made using the Poinsettia Petals bundle along with the Hallows Night Magic Halloween bundle..... ACK!!!!  Christmas meets Halloween here. The designer series paper goes from ghoulish to formal in a snap! I couldn't resist sneaking in the Itty Bitty Greeting "Tis The Season" for a little funny... LOL! And this paper....OMGosh, the paper!!!!  The Stampin Up Holiday Mini releases in 6 days, to place an order CLICK HERE and use hostess code GPVASDJB... you won't be sorry! 

Oh we're doing this!!!  SO excited for my first Stampin Up Make n' Take.  I've been a customer for many years but after the year we've all had, I decided it was time to take the plunge and do the things I love.... and I LOVE paper crafting (as some of you already know).  Welp, I had the opportunity so we're giving it a shot... and here I am with my first ever Stampin Up Make n' Take!  UPDATE:  The class ended earlier this afternoon after my phone that was recording DIED!!!  I am in the process of getting a replacement, but unfortunately EVERYONE who was in attendance were dropped.... I'M SO SORRY!!!  So the goal is to go live every Friday at 1 p.m. MST in my FunAndMentalChanges: Danielle's Inky Chaos   facebook group and share 3 fun and easy projects, but I will need to dial in the equipment piece.  Thank you for those who did attend today.  I promise, we will have a "redo" next Friday.  My goal is to get my own creative juices flow...

Getting Into my groove and playing with paper.  No sooner did I dive my hands into my paper stack, I felt the slice on the cuticle of my pointer finger and the sting of a deep, fresh paper cut.  You KNOW you love something deeply when you accept the pain that comes with the loving.... I feel like there's a life lesson there!  And I DO love paper crafting, well, MOST of the time.... as I'm sitting here at this very moment looking at more than a dozen varying box creation attempts for a tutorial I'm trying to put together this month. I feel like this is going to be a terrific class and I'm wanting to do it for free, but I also want it to be easy with a major "WOW" factor.     Luckily my 13th attempt was PERFECTION!  And I'm soooo looking forward to sharing the fun this upcoming Friday, June 17th at 1:00 p.m. MST on Facebook.  I mean... it is REALLY easy once I got my cuts right!  LOL!  I'm also going to be announcing my very first Stampin ...

I hadn't realized until just recently what a blessing my "mostly stocked" craft room is.... honestly, that little space of heaven might really be saving my life!!!  Not a bad way to start off my new year!!! My husband and I recently met my sister and her husband for one of those "paint nights" where you meet at a bar, recreate a masterpiece and have a bit of fun.  When my husband asked my sister why she decided to plan this outing she explained that as part of her breast cancer recovery, her holistic doctor recommended she take up something artistic to help relieve stress.  She was quick to point out that I've always had paper crafting for stress relief and artistic expression and I realized that she was right!!!  When I sit down to work on a project, I can COMPLETELY lose myself... truly not a care in the world.  HUGE chunks of time can fly by unnoticed when I'm in the throes of creative inspiration, even if it is only recreating a masterpiece.... ...

Guess what I got in the mail!!!  The Stampin Up 2014 Holiday Catalog!!!!  And to celebrate the pre-holiday ordering season, my demonstrator gave me some stamped images to play with.  Of all of them, the Happy Hanukkah stamp JUMPED OUT AT ME!   I'll give you three guesses why.... isn't this SPOOKILY DELICIOUS?!? I IMMEDIATELY thought of Halloween when I saw this GORGEOUS candelabra and requested it be stamped without the "Happy Hanukkah" sentiment as it is all one stamp.  The Hanukkah example in the catalog is really very beautiful, but this sort of SCREAMS Halloween to me.  I'll give you two more guesses what will be on my next Stampin Up order.... LOL! And so it begins!  This is my first Halloween project this year and my blood is boiling with excitement for the upcoming Halloween season. Gonna have to brew some coffee.... I'm gonna be inking up some more Halloween fun!  MAN!  I need to get...

  It's sad really that I have to wait until a stamp set is retired to really start to play with it, but here I am with a birthday gift card holder I made using Stampin Up's Postage Collection.  I believe this was a hostess set, but please don't quote me.  The background is Stampin Up's Dictionary background stamp.  I used burlap for the banners and a brown baker's twine from Teresa Collins World Traveler line (yes, it too is retired) for this really fun gift card holder.... you heard that right, this is not a card but a gift card holder!!!  Its finished measurements are 4 3/8" x 4 1/4" and it was made using a standard A2 envelope!   Inside I used Stampin Up's Memorable Moments to create the Happy Birthday greeting.  I also used Tim Holtz distress inks to create the worn paper background with a couple of circle punches to notch out a spot for the gift card.  And the area stamped again with the Dictionary and Postage Collection sta...

WHEW!!!  I cannot believe that I did it!!!  I told someone the other day that I was surprised that I'm not burnt out on this owl punch, and I'm not!  I could go on with a cow using this punch, moose using this punch.... that Stampin Up Owl Punch is AWESOME!!!!  But instead of doing something different, I revisited the little girl I did using the owl punch but this time I made her into Snow White.... don't you just love the sentiment?  Perfect, right?!?  The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday's Sweet Somethings!  I made the flowers using Sizzix 3D Flowers die with the background frame being Spellbinder's Labels 20 and the decorative frame Spellbinder's Fancy Tags 3.  The top and bottom of the card was scored using my MS score board and the black decorative strip was found in my "die cut pieces" box.  I believe it is a border punch from EK Success.  I finished this off with a little bling and there you have it CARD 20!!!! Really...

I have done sooooo many different images using this amazing owl punch, to add a flower to the lineup doesn't surprise me at all.  I used Stampin Up's Teeny Tiny Wishes set for the sentiment and the Window dies for the frame.  I WISH I could tell you what embossing folder I used for this card, but I pulled it out of my scrap bin and I honestly can't find the folder that made it.  I think it might be a Stampin Up folder, but don't quote me.  The pearls are from recollections.  How sweet is this sympathy card? As I've said over and over.... SOMEONE'S going to get this card and 19 others that I've made and featured here on my blog.  To get your hands on these babies, simply place an order on my Stampin Up July Card Club party using my hostess code (highlighted below).  The person who places the largest order will receive all 20 owl punch-themed cards.  How cool is that???  And it doesn't matter if you're an out of state buyer because your or...

Welp gang... the bummer of all bummers happened yesterday.  It is something that happens to EVERY crafter.  I grabbed a white-based card to move it out of the way and when I let go of the card I saw that I SMEARED INK ON IT!!!!  I completely ruined an entire night's work in a split second.  As it turns out though, this accident is actually a happy accident because I got the opportunity to redo the card and I think I like the second version SOOOOOOO much more!!!   The second version still uses Stampin Up's retired Simply Stars and a current Gorgeous Grunge.  But to this one I added the little stars using Stampin Up's Banner punch and Banner Blast Stamp set.  Instead of the Chalk Talk die, I used EK Success' Notebook Border punch.  And finally, instead of hand writing the sentiment, I printed it out on the computer and punched it out with a 3/4" circle.  Oh Man.... this version turned out WAY BETTER!!!!! Here is the original card I ru...

Sorry about the lighting on this one gang.... it is REALLY late, or should I say really early!!!!  I had some friends over tonight and time definitely got away from me.  But that is sort of a good thing because I needed to throw a card together and quick.  Did I mention that is another good thing about this punch... that you can throw a 10 minute card together and it look AMAZING! And I figured a baby card would be a good thing to add to the 20 card pack someone's gonna be receiving. So, as I said, the lighting is HORRIBLE!!!  This card is actually white and not grey.  The sentiment is from Kraftin Kimmie Everyday Sentiments and the embossed frame is from the retired Stampin Up Decorative Frames.  The Stampin Up candy dots were used to decorate and that's really about it. The person receiving all 20 of the cards I've posted here is the person who places the largest order on my July Stampin Up Card Club party order using my hostess code, just go ...