Pay It Forward Blog Award... And New Shoes

I'd like to thank Rosie Guiher for nominating me the LIEBSTER award. Rosie has a great blog called Play Time, and I think you'll enjoy her Clean and Simple style and her lovely creations.
Play Time

About the Liebster award

This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated, you award it to five blogs which you like that have less than 200 followers, to encourage new visitors to visit these blogs.

These are the rules
Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.
Post the award onto your blog. Give the award to five bloggers you appreciate and who have less than 200 followers.
Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know that you have given them this awesome award.
It's always nice to discover new blogs… I hope you'll be inspired!

Here's my list of 5 blogs. I recommend that you check them out.

1. PearlGemD by Esther Farkash

2. She who stamps & scraps by Marjie Kemper

3. The Happy Room by Kathie McGuire

 4. The Zen of Oriental Card Making by Fabrizio Martellucci

5. Sentiments and Scrapbooks by Barbara Ford

Don't forget to leave a comment, because getting feedback is important to all of us.

In the mood of adding happy colors to my life, here are my new shoes.
They are shockingly colorful, and I just love them. Aren't they awesome?
I hope to post more often from now on.
There will also be a Giveaway for my birthday soon… stay tuned!

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Christmas ATCs Swap

Recently I hosted a Christmas ATCs swap at the AllThingsTim-Euro Yahoo group.
We don't celebrate Christmas, but it's a lovely holiday and I enjoy creating Christmas related items.
Here are the ATCs I created (I made 6 similar ATCs).

Supplies used:
Recycled thick CS for the ATC
Background papers - patterned paper by Crafty Individuals - Book 2 (Christmas)
Black, red, green, brown, Kraft and cream CS
Sizzix Bigz Die - Reindeer Flight by Tim Holtz
Recycled white CS for the snowflakes
Snowflake 1" punch
Round tiny clear blings
White half pearls with sticky back
3D double sided foam tape
Diamond Glaze
Snowflake stamp from my stash
Black VersaFine ink

First I cut and adhered the background papers to the ATCs.
Then I added the the Reindeer, glued 3D for extra dimension.
I glued the punched out snowflakes using Diamond Glaze.
I added tiny clear blings for the Reindeer's eyes and white half pearls on the white snowflake, for extra glam.
I added my details on the back side of the ATC and stamped the Snowflake stamp in black ink for more decoration.

Here are my 6 ATCs:

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Winter Tags Swap

Recently I hosted a Winter Tags swap at the AllThingsTim-Euro Yahoo group.
Here is the tag I created (I made 6 tags).
The winter in Israel is often very sunny, and it only rains heavily from time to time.
So along with the black Umbrella Man for rainy days, the background reflects the sunny weather.
The stamp's sentiment is a motif we should all think of.

Supplies used:
White CS for the tag
Recycled CS for stamping
Black leather textured CS
Ranger's Distress Ink - Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge
Black VersaFine ink
Tim Holtz embossing folder - Rays
Sizzix Bigz Die - Umbrella Man by Tim Holtz
Tim Holtz stamp - Life is not about…
Ticket punch
Satin ribbon and fibers from my stash
Round and flower shaped blings
3D double sided foam tape

First I embossed the tag through the Cuttlebug using Tim Holtz embossing folder - Rays.
Then I used Ranger's Distress Ink (Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade) for the background.
I stamped the Tim Holtz stamp using Black VersaFine ink on a piece of recycled CS.
I used the Ticket punch to cut off the corners of the stamped sentiment.
The Umbrella Man and the stamped piece of CS were glued 3D for extra dimension.
I distressed the tag's edges using Ranger's Distress Ink (Rusty Hinge).
I added round and flower shaped blings for extra glam.
I added satin ribbons and fibers.
I added my details on the back side of the tag.
Here are my 6 tags.

(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

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

Shana Tova Mini Cards

I made a few similar small cards (4x4) for friends and as an addition to gifts.
The Hebrew text says Shana Tova, meaning Happy New Year.

I wish you all health, happiness and prosperity in the New Year.

May you have reasons to smile every single day.

Shana Tova!

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Sailing Adventure for Hot Summer Days

I created these tags for a Summer Tags Swap which took place at the AllThingsTim-Euro Yahoo group.
I made 6 tags. I've sent 5 tags and kept one for myself.


Supplies used:
White CS
Old book's pages
White printer's paper
Recycled tea package
Tim Holtz Air travel stamp set - world map and compass
Cuttlebug embossing folder - Distressed Stripes
Ranger's Distress Ink - Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge, Frayed Burlap, Fired Brick, Black Soot, Faded Jeans, Broken China
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Plastic coffee stirring spoons
Color changing soft fibers (in 2 colors)
Organza blue ribbon
Light blue half pearls with sticky back
Pure alcohol
Ranger's Glossy Accents
3D double sided foam tape
Ink blending tool
Tim Holtz scissors

I started with #8 tags, which I cut out of white CS.
The tag's front side
I used mostly stamps and distressed inks, blending several ink colors until I was satisfied with the results.
I stamped Tim Holtz Air travel stamp set - world map using black VersaFine ink, and covered it with Distress Ink - Scattered Straw and Rusty Hinge.
I stamped the compass on a piece of recycled tea package.
I colored it using other Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap and Fired Brick, and Black Soot for the edges.
The compass was cut with scissors and glued using a 3D foam tape for extra dimension.

The lower part was made of a separate piece of CS, Cuttlebug'd using the Distressed Stripes embossing folder.
I flipped it so the stripes became horizontal, to resemble sea waves.
I used Distress Ink - Faded Jeans and Broken China, and added light blue half pearls with sticky back for some glam.
I sprayed pure alcohol wherever I used the Distress Ink in order to enhance and to fixate the colors.

The boat is the main motif on this tag and it's very outstanding.
It was created from an old book's page, using an Origami folding.
It was glued using a 3D foam tape for extra dimension, and it's wider than the tag itself.
I used a brown plastic coffee stirring spoon (cut with a cutting tool) for the oar.

The tag's back side
I covered it with an old book's page, matching the one the boat was made of.
I added my details, printed and distressed with Distress Ink - Faded Jeans, to add some color to the back side.
I added an organza ribbon and fluffy fibers from my stash, in matching colors.
And here are all my 6 tags:

I hope you've had a great summer!
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Phantom of the Opera Tags

I created these tags for a Phantom of the Opera Tags Swap which took place at the AllThingsTim Yahoo group .
I made 15 similar tags. I've sent 14 tags and kept one for myself.
The colors I chose are very dramatic, as required by the theme.
I was lucky to attend the original production of the Phantom of the Opera in NY in 1980, and I still remember it very vividly.
I used several main motifs from the show: the musical notes, the rose, the chandelier, the white face.
I added other motifs referring to making it into a film (with text and admit ticket).

Supplies used:
White CS
Papers - commercials of the "black swan" movie
Old book's pages
White printer's paper
All Night Media Single Rose stamp
Tim Holtz Urban Grunge acrylic stamp set - chandelier stamp
Tim Holtz Lost and Found acrylic stamp set - film stamp
Tim Holtz Ideaology mask - Concerto
Tim Holtz Patchwork embossing folder - Admit One
Ranger's Distress Ink - Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Spiced Marmalade
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Red half pearls with sticky back
Color changing soft fibers
Organza burgundy ribbon
Adage tickets - Admit One
Pure alcohol
Ranger's Glossy Accents
3D double sided foam tape

I started with #8 tags, which I cut out of white CS.

The tag's back side
I started working on the tag's back side, printing the swap's details (and mine) on white printer's paper and attaching them to it.
Then I attached the Concerto mask to the tag and blended Ranger's Distress Ink (Fired Brick) all over and around it, until the tag was covered with ink (and so were my fingers… lol)
I sprayed alcohol on the tag to enhance the colors and to fixate them.
I stamped the Single Rose stamp using black ink.

The tag's front side
I used leftover commercials of the "black swan" movie (which I collected for artistic purposes, to re-use in one of my works).
The white face reminded me of the white mask in The Phantom of the Opera, and the wings around the eyes seemed mystical to me.
I cut the papers to fit to the tag's size and adhered them, covering their lower part with a piece of an old book's page (because it's about telling a story).
I stamped Tim Holtz film stamp using black ink (because it's also been filmed).
The chandelier stamp also reminded me one of the motifs in the original production of The Phantom of the Opera.
I stamped it on white CS, cut it and covered it with Glossy Accents to create a glazing. It was glued using a 3D foam tape for extra dimension.
I added red half pearls for the eyes, to make them a bit scary and dramatic.

I took a few Admit One Adage tickets I had and created the rest of them using Tim Holtz Patchwork embossing folder (the Admit One part).
I distressed them using Ranger's Distress Ink (Spiced Marmalade) to give them some bright color, and glued them 3D for some 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 (Vintage Photo).
Then I added colorful soft fibers and an organza ribbon from my stash.
The fibers and the ribbon remind me of the woman's hair.

And here are all my 15 tags:

Creepy… aren't they?
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Bird Call Tags

Recently I hosted a Birds Tags swap at the commune "Follow Your Arts" (in Israel).
Here is the tag I created.

Supplies used:
Manila CS for the tag
Old book's pages
CS from my stash (for my details on the back side)
Ranger's Distress Ink - Pine Needle, Crushed Olive, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade
Black VersaFine ink
Cuttlebug embossing folder - Bird Call
Background stamp (name unknown)
Tiny clear blings
Ochre leather textured CS
Trails of old Israeli postage stamps (from my private collection)
Metal binder clips, in Pastel colors
Satin ribbon and fibers from my stash
Scalloped Oval punch

First I cuttlebug th tags using the Bird Call embossing folder.
Then I used Ranger's Distress Ink (Pine Needle & Crushed Olive) for the background.
I used Ranger's Distress Ink (Spiced Marmalade) for the bird and added a tiny clear bling as its eye.
I stamped the background stamp using Black VersaFine ink.
If any of you recognizes this stamp and can tell me its brand or where to get it, I'll be grateful (it's a friend's stamp and she didn't keep its package).
I distressed the tags' edges and the small scraps of ochre CS using Ranger's Distress Ink (Rusty Hinge), and added trails of old Israeli postage stamps (from my private collection), attached with small metal binder clips to add some dimension.
I added satin ribbons and fibers.
I covered the back side of the tags with pages from an old book and added my details on a colorful scalloped CS.

Here are my 4 tags:

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Gift Boxes for Friends

I made 2 gift boxes for friends. I filled them up with small items: a notebook and a pen, an altered domino to be used as a magnet, a bookmark and a personal note.

First I created each box out of cream CS, following Michael Strong's tutorial.
I decorated each box with recycled postcards from an art exhibition, their edges distressed for a Shabby Chic look.
I added flourishes and stacks of flowers attached with a jewel brad.
The flowers were glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension.

Supplies used:
Cream leather textured CS for the Box
Papers - recycled postcards from an art exhibition
Turquoise CS
Recycled kraft cereals package
Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die
Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes die
Jewel brads
Tim Holtz stamps (various ones)
Pigmant Inks (several colors)
Ranger's Alcohol Inks (several colors)
StazOn ink - Jet Black
Scor-Pal
Double sided foam tape

I decorated each notebook with CS stamped with Tim's stamps.
The front side was covered with a piece of CS with a collage of Tim's stamps on it.
The back side was covered with a piece of CS with a single Tim's stamp on it.

The altered dominoes and the bookmarks were made using Alcohol inks and stamping with black StazOn ink on them.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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