Donna's Dalliances

JULY & AUGUST CARDS

2009-09-02T17:54:00.018-07:00

I'll say what everyone is thinking, "This year is flying by!" Here it is, the beginning of September, and I haven't posted for July and August yet.

My entry "Take Flight' for the HMSC ATC theme for August "In Flight."

My entry "Life is a Picnic" for the HMSC ATC theme for July of "Picnic."

These three cards I made during one of Tiffany's July card club gatherings using samples and products prepared and provided by Jen & Kathie. The butterfly is a die cut and the Thank You and Live in the Moment are samples of "simply made - yet elegant" cards.

August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

2009-09-02T16:07:00.003-07:00

On June 25th while on my drive to have a short visit with Tiffany & Paul before our trek cross country to visit family in Ohio and Kentucky, a stunning announcement echoed from the radio that Michael Jackson, age 50, had passed away. The "King of Pop" was gone and made for a somber drive as I turned from station to station trying to catch as many songs as I could. Throughout the listening and singing to the music of this wonderfully gifted and talented person my spirit vacillated betwixt melancholy and elation as I relived moments of my life through his song. Rest in Peace, M.J.

Tiffany's Visit & June 09 Stamp Club

2009-06-17T09:57:00.030-07:00

Yeah! Tiffany came home for a visit and we had a busy time visiting Tombstone and Bisbee on Friday and attending stamp club and a card making class on Saturday. Tiffany is a former member of the HMSC and her visit was a big surprise as only one member knew that she would be there. Tiff visited a couple of her friends one night and oh, yes, of course we ate at or from various locations around town that Tiffany is fond of. I'm glad that Tiffany was able to visit the June meeting as we were having one of our shoebox parties which are held in months that nobody signs up to give a glass and is an idea that I brought back from my visits with Tiffany. The members in my shoebox group graciously gifted Tiffany with one of their card kits so she was able to participate in the shoebox making the various cards.

My shoebox entry was a Butterfly card that I had previously made for one of the Vegas Shoebox Parties so all I needed to do was prepare 4 kits for the other members in the group.

I love this Butterfly saying and you will see what it says below on my quarterly swap card.

June ATC: At the Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quarterly Swap: Butterflies

For the quarterly we had 15 participants with each of us making 15 cards thus receiving 15 different cards back, including one of our own. I used the Spellbinders die "Daisy Patch" to cut the window in the card then chalked the image. The Spellbinders "Butterflies 2" die was used to make the Butterfly and cut from old menus from "The Outback Restaurant" given to me by my friend, Michele. I distressed the butterfly using a fingernail sanding block. The saying was typed on the computer and printed onto vellum.

After the club meeting, Tiff and I grabbed a quick bite of lunch then headed to the local scrapbook store, "1000 Memories", where we made four cards using natural elements.

The peacock feather card originally had a small embossed turtle atop the cardstock strip and I replaced it with a peacock image.

May Creations

2009-05-30T11:46:00.011-07:00

My goodness, May is all but over so I thought I'd get my May cards on here before it's too late!

The HMSC May ATC theme was to use the first letter of your first name on the card and something that begins with that letter. I chose "D is for doughnut" as my official title, and D also could be for dessert which is nicely depicted on this DCWV paper in the form of cupcakes. I made three ATCs, one for the club swap, one for Tiffany, and one for me to keep! I used Stickles and small bugle beads for the doughnut icing with sprinkles.

My Mother's Day card was composed using the Spellbinder's Daisy Patch die which I chalked and the butterfly from the Bugs Die using "junk mail" card stock which I distressed using a nail buffing/sanding block. The M - Mother stamp is embossed with powder with glitter and was purchased for $1 from Joanns or Michaels. On the inside, I placed a couple of chalked & embossed daisies and stamped Happy Mother's Day and world's best MOM.

My Father's Birthday card is composed of an image that my friend, Michele, gave me that is from a discarded restaurant menu. I stamped "Special Thought for You" on the front and stamped "Happy Birthday" and a cake image with three candles on the the inside.

HMSC April 1-4-1 Card

2009-05-08T22:23:00.002-07:00

The theme for the April 1-4-1 card was "one word inspiration" so I made this cute fairy "Imagine" card using Tiffany's stamps while at her house. This card is for Arlene J.

Vacation at Tiff's

2009-05-08T21:33:00.005-07:00

April 01 I drove to my daughter's house in Nevada and spent three weeks with her. While there I was able to attend two out of three of the Friday night gatherings at Claudia's house. The wagon full of eggs & stuffed toys card was made at Claudia's as well as the dog card. I was also able to attend two of Tiffany's card club meetings, one for each club to which she belongs.

Secret Stamper

2009-03-21T13:44:00.016-07:00

Our Secret Stamper Swap is quarterly and the criteria are to send 2 cards between club meetings for three months interim (6 cards minimum) to the person you drew. We drew at the Dec 08 meeting and the reveal was at the Mar 09 meeting. The cards are sent anonymously using return address labels from the swap coordinator and the "to" labels are provided by the participants. The reveal is accomplished by disclosing who you are and gifting your person with stamping-card making products and/or items of interest written on the member info sheet filled out when joining the club.
These are the six cards that I made for my SS, Teela.

March Club Creations

2009-03-18T15:21:00.004-07:00

1-4-1 theme: Use a tissue box element

"Thinking of You"

Inside: "Have a wonderful day!"

ATC theme: Coffee or Tea

"coffee and friends are the perfect blend"

HMSC Quarterly Swap

2009-03-13T16:11:00.007-07:00

The HMSC Quarterly Swap coordinator decides the theme and the total count of participants dictates the number of items to make. The theme this quarter was to decorate a glove template from Stampington of which the coordinator provided a copy. I turned in a total of 17 gloves to the coordinator who will divvy up the various entries so that each of us will have 16 different gloves returned plus one of our own. This one is my 18th ~ for my daughter, Tiffany.

Paper: glove ~ DCWV patterned paper from "The Luxury Stack", frame ~ Paper Pizazz Pink Flourishes, vellum from Joann
Accessories: CB embossing folders: glove ~ Textile, Vellum ~ Swiss Dots
The trim at the cuff was purchased from Wal-Mart as well as the upholstery thread that I used to crochet the fan.

Catch Up with January & February Card Creations

2009-03-08T12:21:00.018-07:00

I will catch you up on what I have been doing so far this year in my card making/paper crafting universe. I belong to the local Huachuca Mountain Stampers Club where I participate in various swaps each month. Right now, I am busy working on projects due for our March meeting which will be this coming Sat., March 14th, so I won't be posting them yet.

Here are my HMSC entries for February 09

The Feb. 1-4-1 Swap theme happened to be "Hearts and Flowers Monochromatic". I made this card first since monochromatic drives me nuts and then based all other cards for the February swaps upon this one. I found the basic layout for this card on the web. On this one, I added the vellum layer and used a paper strip instead of ribbon.

I am the coordinator for the ATC swap and the Feb theme was "Hearts and Flowers". I love this theme for February and hardly ever stray from it.

February's Shoebox Party Sample. The basic layout for this card was found on the web. I added a vellum layer behind the flower and a paper strip under the strip of ribbon.

Here are my HMSC entries for January 09

The 1-4-1 Card Swap is a monthly swap with the theme and recipient chosen by the coordinator. One card is exchanged. January's Theme: Happy Birthday

The ATC Swap is a monthly swap with the theme chosen by the coordinator and up to two ATCs may be entered. These cards are exchanged by drawing a ticket. January's Theme: Happy New Year!

This is my entry for our Dine & Swap which is held on the Monday following every other monthly meeting. The coordinator chooses the theme and the participants suggest where to eat and the restaurant with the most votes wins. Theme: Chalk One card is exchanged by drawing.
I embossed vellum and used chalk to color the images then placed the vellum over a layer of yellow & white patterned store-bought handmade paper. I loved the way this one turned out and didn't want to give it away!

This year a new activity was added to the club called a "Shoebox Party". This is an activity that I have attended three times with my daughter when I visit her in the Vegas area for their scrap booking/paper crafting conventions held there. This has been held in Jan. & Feb. at the club with approximately 15-20 of the ladies participating each time. Each participant has prepared in advance a sample card and up to 5 kits for those in her group. On meeting day we divide into equal sized groups by drawing a group number and then work on and complete one card at a time.
My January shoebox entry is the one I made for the very first Vegas SBP I attended.

My First Post

2009-02-28T16:30:00.002-07:00

Welcome to Donna's Dalliances.
I love card making and paper crafting and have been actively indulging in these activities for close to 4 years now. I also love beading and haven't been doing so for approximately 6 or so years but plan to get back to it relatively soon. I have been a member of a private craft group for more than 20 years where we dabble in any type of crafting that comes along.
My daughter, Tiffany, who is another avid card maker ~ "Tiffany's Epiphanies" ~ has been after me for quite a while to start a blog, so here goes...