Happy New Year 2012 !

It's New Year's eve tonight, and I hope you enjoy your family gathering (and lots of good food…)
I wish you all health, happiness and prosperity in the coming New Year.
May you have reasons to smile every single day (and every night…),
may you have many creative moments,
may you have many good memories to cherish,
may 2012 bring you inner peace, laughter and love !





(You can enlarge the photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Tree and Reindeer Christmas Card

This Christmas card was made by a special request to be sent to an Irish lady.

Ingredients:

Light green canvas textured CS for the card's basis
Background patterned paper - Christmas book by Crafty Individuals
Red leather textured CS (the tree)
Forest green CS (the reindeer)

Off white CS (the standing reindeer)
Shiny gold paper
Red envelope
Sizzix Bigz Die - Reindeer by Tim Holtz
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Die Cutter (large)
1" snowflake punch
Iron Gate Edger Punch by Martha Stewart
Tiny clear bling (for the reindeer's eye)
White and red half pearls (with sticky back)

Gold Gel pen

I cut and punched the papers and layered the images on top of them.
Both the tree and the reindeer were glued 3D for extra dimension.
I added half pearls and a bling for some Christmas glam.

I added one more reindeer inside the card, with a golden eye.

Merry Christmas to you and to your loved ones!
I hope your holiday is filled with laughter and joy, and I wish you a year of light and love!
Dorly

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Michael Strong Holiday Tag Blog Hop

Here's my Christmas Tag for the Michael Strong's Yahoo group Holiday Tag Blog Hop.
Thank you for stopping by today.
I hope you'll be inspired to make your own holiday tag.
Although we don't celebrate Christmas, I make Christmas and Holiday cards and tags for my overseas friends, and I think it's a fabulous season (and a good excuse to create some more!)

Supplies used:
White CS for the tag's basis
Merry Christmas patterned paper from my stash
Grey leather textured CS
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Stamp (medium & small)
Embossing ink
Hematite EP
Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Distresser
Blending tool
Ranger Distress Ink - Pine Needles
Red ribbon
Checkered fabric heart-shaped buckle
Clear, green and red blings
Fibers from my stash

You're welcome to leave a comment in each blog. Enjoy your tour!
Your next stop is Heidi's blog
If you get lost you can see the list of participants in Hetty's blog
There's also a bonus: search the letters in each blog.
My letter is "y".
When you have collected all 13 letters from all 13 blogs, make a wish out of them and you'll enter a prize drawing.
The prize will be a Michael Strong stamp, of course.
Send your answer to Hetty privately: buzzy4you@hotmail.com NOT in the comment!
Hetty will pick a winner on Wednesday, December 7th.

Have a wonderful holiday season!
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Japanese Thank You Card

Here's a card I created for the Michael Strong's Yahoo group November challenge - an oblong Thank You card.

Supplies used:
Red leather textured CS for the card's basis

Japanese patterned paper
Cream CS

Pergamano Parchment (Vellum) paper
Michael's Strong's Cloisonné Dragonfly stamp (large)

Embossing ink

Hematite EP

Martha Stewart Edge Punch - Hydrangeas
Brown ink
Gold rub-on

Clear round blings and dark red square blings

I wanted to give this card a classical look, so I used a calm color combo, and made the dragonfly fly by lifting its wings in the air.
The only thing which keeps it from flying away is the weight of the blings on its wings… very light, very transparent.

Take a look at the Dragonfly's close-up.
Can you actually see the Dragonfly in flight?

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Camouflage Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 5th card for this week, in military camouflage colors.
I made this card for my son who's a soldier. He's about to finish one of his very difficult military trainings.
I'm sure you understand why I can't give you any details (I wish I could say more, but it's all top secret), so trust me that all the elements and colors in the card perfectly match the spirit of what he's doing.
I wish him good luck in his future military service.
I miss him badly when he's away but I'm very proud of him!
As peace is rare in our country, all I can wish for is that he comes back home safe from those dangerous actions he won't tell me about.

Materials used:
Black canvas textured CS for the card's basis
White CSCuttlebug embossing folder - Distressed StripesRanger's Distress ink - Tea Dye, Crushed Olive, Forest MossA recycled piece of a cereals package Mat gold canvas textured CS
Michael Strong's Fleur De Lis Die Cutters
Camouflage colors cotton ribbonClear blings
3D double sided foam tape

I embossed the white CS through the Cuttlebug and distressed it using Ranger's Distress ink - Tea Dye, Crushed Olive and Forest Moss, trying to give it a camouflage effect.
I printed the text "I'll Be Watching You ..." on a recycled piece of a cereals package and colored it using Ranger's Distress ink - Tea Dye.
I adhered a camouflage colors cotton ribbon.
I used Michael Strong's Fleur De Lis Die Cutters to cut the shape out of mat gold canvas textured CS.
I glued all the elements 3D for extra dimension.
I added several clear blings to resemble the lights in the darkness.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Bookmarks With Japanese Fans

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Today I decided to share 3 kinds of bookmarks, all with the same motif - the Japanese Fan.
I always read several books at the same time, so I find bookmarks very useful.
It's Technique Thursday, therefore I used Michael Strong's technique for painting the background paper and 2 other techniques for making the bookmarks.

I painted the background myself, using the technique shown at Michael Strong's tutorial

I sure know how to paint, yet making my own background paper is fun and always gives surprising results.
For the 1st bookmark I used this tutorial but changed it to my needs.
For the 2nd bookmark I used Shira's tutorial
For the 3rd bookmark there's no need for a tutorial, I'll explain about the materials I used.

These bookmarks are easy and fun to make, and you can add them as gifts to books.
Materials used:
Red leather textured CS for stamping
Transparency sheet
Black canvas textured CS for the painting technique
Acrylic paint – I used white, red, light blue and silver

Brushes, 2 sizes
StazOn ink - Jet Black
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fan Stamp (small)

Large paper clip
Red and turquoise satin ribbons
Clear and red blings
Double sided tape
3D double sided foam tape
Crop-A-Dile
EK Success corner Adorner

First I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fan stamp on red leather textured CS several times and once on a transparency sheet using StazOn ink - Jet Black, and cut them all using TH scissors.
Then I created the painted background paper on black canvas textured CS.
For the 1st bookmark I adhered 2 stamped fans to a large paper clip (on both its sides) using 3D double sided foam tape, and added clear blings and a red satin ribbon.

For the 2nd bookmark I used the background paper, cut 2 triangles of it and glued them carefully.
I added a stamped fan on a transparency sheet and a red bling.

For the 3rd bookmark I used a scrap of the background paper, its corners rounded.
I added 2 stamped fans and large clear blings.

I punched a hole using the Crop-A-Dile and added red and turquoise satin ribbons.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Extra Sparkling Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 3rd card for this week - another Christmas card, using Iris Folding again. What a fun technique, you should try it.
I re-used gift wrapping hologram papers for an extra sparkling effect.
You can find a very clear tutorial in Hetty's blog
You can find the pattern in Michael Strong's blog.
If you want your pattern to match the size of Michael Strong's large Christmas Tree Die Cutter, print it after resizing it to exactly 11.31x 14.86 cms (who said size doesn't matter? lol)

Ingredients:
Red leather textured CS for the card's basis
Black canvas textured CS for the Christmas Tree Iris Folding

Recycled gift wrapping hologram papers - shiny green and shiny silver with stripes and circles, and silver with white dots
White photo paper
Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter
Snowflake punch (1 inch)
3D foam tape
Red blings

I used Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter to cut a Christmas Tree shaped hole in my CS. It cuts like butter, it's a pleasure to work with these cutters (I'll save the cut-out tree for a later project).
I created the Christmas Tree Iris Folding on the back of my CS and turned it over, its textured side up.
I used recycled gift wrapping hologram papers - shiny green and shiny silver with stripes and circles, and silver with white dots which reminded me of snowflakes.

The papers were so sparkly that it was difficult to take a good photo of the card. Can you see how sparkling it is?
I glued the finished CS using 3D foam tape onto the card's basis for extra dimension.
I added several snowflakes, punched out of photo paper which is very white and resembles snow .
I added several red blings to add some glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Simple Love Notes Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 2nd card for this week, in strong, contrasting colors.
It is a 50 years anniversary card for an overseas friend.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Red leather textured CS
Black canvas textured CS
Patterned paper - Background Papers Book 1 by Crafty Individuals
EK Success Edger Punch - Morocco Lace
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Heart stamp (large)
Embossing Ink
Gold EP
Ranger's Distress Ink - Black Soot
Black lace
Red half pearls
3D double sided foam tape

I punched the black canvas textured CS using EK Success Edger Punch - Morocco Lace.
I distressed the patterned paper using Ranger's Distress Ink - Black Soot.
I layered the papers and added a piece of black lace for a romantic look.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Heart stamp (large) on red leather textured CS, heat embossed it with gold EP, then cut it with nail scissors and glued it 3D for extra dimension
I added several red half pearls for extra glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Pink Pearls From The Ocean Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
My 1st card for this week is a Seashell card in ice cream colors (yummy!) and it is also my entry to October's pink challenge.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Patterned background paper (from my stash) in pink and white
Light cream CS
Gold paper
Kraft CS
Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Shell Stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Gold EP
ProMarkers - Vanilla, Cocoa and Pastel Pink
Pink half pearls
3D double sided foam tape

The main motif in this card is the Seashell, found in the ocean and related to pearls.
I used the Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success to create scraps with edges resembling waves, and stacked them on the patterned background paper.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Seashell on a very thick white CS (used for watercolor painting), heat embossed it with gold EP and cut it out using TH scissors.

Then I colored it using ProMarkers - Vanilla, Cocoa and Pastel Pink.
The Seashell was glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension.
I added several pink half pearls for extra glam.
Talking about pink…

Here's what my youngest son brought me when he came home from school.
The pink ribbon is so symbolic for this month that I had to take a photo of the Cyclamens before and after I opened my gift.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Steampunk Tags Swap

I created these tags for a Steampunk Tags Swap which took place at the AllThingsTim Yahoo group .
I made 9 similar (but not identical) tags. I've sent 7 tags and kept two - one for myself and one can be traded. If you're interested, please let me know.
I chose vintage colors and earth tones with some blue and striking red for a dramatic contrast.

Supplies used:
Manila CS
Patterned paper - commercials of a fashion designer
Shoe boxes recycled cardboard - blue (Reebok), and kraft and dark red (Saucony)
Red CS
Tim Holtz Steampunk stamp set
Tim Holtz Sizzix Bigz Die - Gadget Gears
Ranger's Distress Ink - Fired Brick, Tea dye, Weathered Wood
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
EK Success punch - Folk Heart
Pure alcohol
Ranger's Glossy Accents
Color changing soft fibers
Satin blue ribbon
Checkered ribbon with changing colors
3D double sided foam tape

For the tag's front side I've cut Tim's #8 tags out of commercials of a fashion designer CS.
It had old machine parts printed all over it, in vintage colors, which was perfect for my tags.
I distressed the papers with Tea Dye distress ink.
I added the text "Without heart we are just machines", printed on the same CS back side, and distressed it with Fired Brick distress ink.
I sprayed alcohol on each piece to enhance the colors and to fixate them.
The folk heart was punched out of bright red CS and was glazed with several coats of Glossy Accents for a shiny look.
I stacked several Gadget Gears dies, cut out of recycled shoe boxes cardboard in various colors.

For the tag's back side I've stamped 2 different stamps from Tim Holtz Steampunk stamp set using black ink on manila CS, and then distressed it with Tea Dye distress ink.
I added a few more Gadget Gears dies, cut out of recycled shoe boxes cardboard in various colors.

All the embellishments were glued using 3D foam tape for extra dimension.
I chopped the tags' corners with TH scissors, punched holes with the Crop-A-Dile and distressed the edges using Ranger's Distress Ink (Tea Dye).
Then I added colorful soft fibers, a blue satin ribbon and a checkered ribbon from my stash.
I also added my info on each tag's back side, printed and colored with Weathered Wood distress ink.

And here are all my 9 tags:

I have an extra tag - who wants it?
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Shiny Christmas Tree Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 5th card for this week. I used my new Christmas Tree Die Cutter to create a shiny Christmas card.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Red leather textured CS for the Christmas Tree cut-out
Patterned paper - Basic Grey - Wassail
White photo paper
Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter
Snowflake punch (1 inch)
Clear, green and red blings

I used Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter to cut a Christmas Tree shaped hole in my red CS. It cuts like butter, it's a pleasure to work with these cutters.
I used the background piece which was left from the cut-out tree (I'll save the cut-out tree for a later project).
I added the Basic Grey patterned paper at the back of the cut-out tree.
I added several snowflakes, punched out of photo paper which is very white and resembles snow.
I added quite a few clear, green and red blings to add some glam. You can never use too many blings…

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Iris Folding Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
For my 4th card for this week I decided to use the Iris Folding technique.
You can find a very clear tutorial in Hetty's blog.
You can find the pattern in Michael Strong's blog.
If you want your pattern to match the size of Michael Strong's large Christmas Tree Die Cutter, print it after resizing it to exactly 11.31x 14.86 cms (who said size doesn't matter? lol)
I used contrasting yet complementary colors in order to get a classical card.

Ingredients:
White leather textured CS for the card's basis
Black canvas textured CS for the Christmas Tree Iris Folding
Recycled gift papers – shiny red and silver with white dots
Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter
3D foam tape
Clear and red blings

I used Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter to cut a Christmas Tree shaped hole in my CS.
It cuts like butter, it's a pleasure to work with these cutters (I'll save the cut-out tree for a later project).
I created the Christmas Tree Iris Folding on the back of my CS and turned it over, its textured side up.
I used recycled gift papers - shiny red and silver with white dots, which reminded me of snowflakes.
The papers were so sparkly that it was difficult to take a good photo of the card.
I glued the finished CS using 3D foam tape onto the card's basis for extra dimension.

I added several clear and red blings to add some glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Ornamental Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps.
I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 3rd card for this week - it is an Ornamental Christmas Card.
We don't celebrate Christmas in Israel, yet I find the Christmas decorations very festive and elegant.
The main motif in this card is the Christmas tree, and the colors I chose are rather traditional Christmas colors.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Patterned paper - Christmas Background paper pad by Crafty Individuals
Gold paper
Dark grey leather textured CS
Spellbinders Nestabilities - LATTICE RECTANGLES (medium)
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Stamp (small)
Embossing ink
Black EP
Brown ink
Gold organza ribbon
Red and clear blings

I chose these colors to create an elegant and festive card.
If you look closely you'll notice that unlike usual Christmas trees, the ornaments here serve as a background while the trees are situated on top of them.
The background paper was slightly distressed using brown ink.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Tree on dark grey leather textured CS, heat embossed it with black EP and cut it out using TH scissors.
The trees were glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension, and so was their gold background, which was cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities - LATTICE RECTANGLES (medium).
I added red and clear blings for extra glam.
I also added a piece of gold organza ribbon.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Early Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
My 2nd card for this week is an Early Christmas Card, but is it ever too early?
The main motif in this card is the Christmas tree.
I chose a nontraditional color combo.

Ingredients:
Red leather textured CS for the card's basis
Light blue leather textured CS
Patterned paper - Christmas Paper pad by Crafty Individuals
Gold paper
Dark grey leather textured CS
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Black EP
Red and clear blings

I chose these papers for a somewhat nontraditional color combo.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Tree on dark grey leather textured CS, heat embossed it with black EP and cut it out using TH scissors.
The Tree was glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension, and so was its backgound.
I added red and clear blings for extra glam.

I hope it isn't too early to get some Christmas inspiration.
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Fish Card for Rosh HaShana

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps.
I hope you'll find them inspiring.

My 1st card for this week is inspired by the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group monthly sketch #39, shown here:

The main motif in this card is the Fish, which is one of the symbols of Rosh HaShana (the Jewish New Year holiday).

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Black canvas textured CS
Gold paper
Light cream textured CS
Turquoise leather textured CS
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fish Stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Ranger's Distress Ink - Old Paper
Gold EP
Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success
EK Success Medium Corner Adorner
White and light blue half pearls

I chose these colors to create a dramatic contrast and to get an elegant color combo.
I used the edger punch to create the black and gold paper stripes to match the sketch.
I used the Swirl Edger Punch by EK Success to create scraps with edges resembling waves, and stacked them so the black waves and the gold waves were in opposite directions.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fish on turquoise leather textured CS, heat embossed it with gold EP and cut it out using TH scissors.
The Fish was glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension.
I added a piece of light cream leather textured CS, distressed with Old Paper distress ink and its corners rounded, as the background of the Fish image.
I added a white half pearl for the eye and several light blue half pearls which resemble the water bubbles.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly