Donna's Dazzling Designs

Actually, I've seen these stamps sold at online stores but never expected to find pieces of art created by them. Today's artist is here to prove us that true wonders can be made from Stampscapes stamps. Let's all welcome the uber-talented Donna Heber!!!!

 

Name: Donna Heber

Blog: Donna's Designs

How and when did you start cardmaking?
I started stamping in the fall of 2008 after I was diagnosed with an illness.  I really needed a hobby to keep me busy during this time period and stamping just seemed to fit right in.  I do work full-time and wish there were more hours in the day for crafting.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere.  I do enjoy creating nature scenes.  I look at nature differently now knowing I can stamp and try to re-create what I see.  I love sponging and blending colors together, and I also love being able to create a mood just by the intensity of the colors I choose.  When I stamp I like to listen to peaceful ambient music and the calming sounds of nature.  I also like to create vintage cards.

What are your favorite companies?
I don’t like to limit myself so I have many stamps by numerous manufacturers.  Some of which are Stampscapes, Stampin’ Up!, PSX, Our Daily Bread Designs, and JustRite.  I also love to use Shimmerz paint to add a little sparkle.  Some of my favorite paper companies are Prima, Cosmo Cricket, Kaisercraft and DCWV.

What are the top five tools in your crafting space?
Big Shot, dies (Spellbinders, Tim Holtz, Sizzix), embossing heat gun, Scor-Pal and paper trimmer.

How long does it take to make a card that you are happy with?
Depending on the style of card I am creating it can take me an hour or so if I don’t get stuck on embellishments or paper selections.  Depending on if time permits I might start a card in the evening and finish it the next day.

What do you do with the cards that you make?
I like to give my cards to family and friends – and to charity, including one helping women with cancer.  I feel it is my way of giving back.  I love to put a smile on someone’s face when they pull the card out of the envelope.

Do you post your cards in any blog, gallery, forum?
You can see my cards on my blog. I also have a gallery on Splitcoaststampers.
You can also see my Stampscapes designs at http://www.stampscapes.com/

Are you currently designing for any blogs?
At the moment I am not designing for any blogs, but hope to at some point.  Last year Kevin Nakagawa, owner of Stampscapes, created an idea card from one of my lighthouse scenes.

Take a deep breath and enjoy the scenes...

 A Snowy Winter's Night

 Babbling Brook In Mist

 Quiet Waters

 Rocky Mountains

 Savanna Sunrise

I told Donna earlier that I can't stop admiring her cards. I can feel the happiness and tranquility these creations bring to our hearts. Thanks Donna for sharing your art with us and thanks to all who paid us a visit :) Want more inspiration, then take a look at Donna's blog....

You're so TEA-RRIFIC!

Lil Bee's Boutique have started their sneak peeks for April's fun kits. Among the products included are those used in today's card- Pink Paislee Soiree Collection. It's such a stinkin cute mix of bold and cheerful colors as well as patterns...

First I laid the yellow pp and glued the party banner on the side. Later, I cut the design on pp and replaced the cake with an interior of my own. So I took a white cardstock and stamped the patterned line with mustard seed distress ink. Then popped up the pre-cut and stamped tea pot that was embellished with a twine on the neck and a gem on the handle. I finished the card with the sentiment, some cute flags and three small pink rhinestones....

This card is entering for:

AiFactory Challenge

Simon Says Stamps

Get a closer view:

Thanks for swinging by and be sure to come back tomorrow at Fascinating Fridays!!!!

All supplies from Lil Bee's Boutique unless underlined:

Patterned Papers: Soiree- Trellis, Soiree- Collage (Pink Paislee)
Stamp: Soiree- Clear Stamps (Pink Paislee), Basic Uppercase Letters (Hero Arts)

Embellishments: Pink Rhinetones (Kaisercraft), Yellow Baker's Twine (Jillibean Soup)

full of colors....

Truly distress inks can do magic!!!!!! I'm so addicted to them nowadays and just can't stop playing with them :)
I started my card by stamping and heat embossing that beautiful Flower Bird Garden stamp with white embossing powder. Later, I colored the birds and flowers randomly avoiding red and blue mixing together as they produce black. Then stamped the background in versamark and distressed with the same inks. Finally, added those two stickers from Spring Market Images and Phrases (Websters' Pages) and finished with a swirl...

This card is entering for:

Cute Card Thursday

Top Tip Tuesday

Creative Friday

Zoom :)

Thanks for peeking and to all those who follow me :)

Supplies:

Cardstock: Neenah
Stamp: Classic Fabric Design, Flower Bird Garden (Hero Arts)

Inks/Powder: Mustard seed, Fired brick and Broken china Distress inks (Rangers), Zing! White Opaque powder (American Crafts) 

Embellishments: Clear say It In Crystals & Pearl (Prima)

Let's discover the SCRAPPY ROOM

Wow, Fridays' artists are really FASCINATING!!!! Today we're spotlighting an artist as far as Puerto Rico :) Her sweetness is quite reflected in her awesome creations. Help me welcome...Isbel Ahmad

Name: Isbel Ahmad

Blog: Scrappy Room

How and when did you start cardmaking?

I have been scrapbooking for about seven years, and since January this year I started making cards. I fell in love with the Magnolia stamps and colored with Copics. Now I spend my time between the two hobbies. 

From where do you draw your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from many of the challenges I see in blogs. I love the challenges where you get a color palette to make a card. I also like Sketch Challenges. Card magazines and blogs are the places where I get more ideas to create my cards. Sites that have tutorials are also my  inspiration.

What are your favorite companies?

My favorite company of papers and embellishments are Basic Grey, Pink Paislee, Prima Marketing and Bo-Bunny. My favorite stamps are Magnolia and Close to my Heart. I also like the digital stamps from Lori Designs.

 

What are the top five tools in your crafting space?

My five essential tools are : Cutterpede trimmer, scissors, Nestabilities, Scor-Pal - Scoring Board and paper shapers.

 

How long does it take to make a card that you are happy with?

I am working very slowly. A card can take me an entire day. In times when almost finished, I like to leave and return next day to give the final details. 

What do you do with the cards that you make?

The first thing I do is take a picture, to post it in my blog. Then I give it to my family, my friends and the friends of my daughters. 

Do you post your cards in any blog, gallery, forum?

I post my cards and scrapbooking work in my blog, also the post on challenges.  Also in various Yahoo groups SB Friends, Magnolia Card Swaps and Kits, Just Cards and Magnolia-Licious.

Now feast your eyes on these LO:

 And these so very adorable cards:

Wow that was a beautiful crafty journey, Isbel!!! Thanks for fascinating us this Friday and thanks to all who popped by. Be sure to visit Isbel's blog before you sign off :) Happy Friday!!!!

get well soon

Welcome ladies!!!! Here's another card using my old(est) papers from K&Company. I always wanted to give them away just to get rid of them but now I believe I was so wrong. This card turned out so beautiful with all the accents together....
First, I adhered a distressed pp on the base leaving space for the sentiment. Then I glued a piece of golden ribbon on pink pp from Prima and adhered them. Later, popped up the shining blossom paper and placed a bow on the side with a flower on the centre. Lastly, I added the hearty pins and stamped the sentiment: "get well soon"....

This card is entering for:

Stamp Insanity
Freshly Brewed

See this beauty:

Thanks for peeking and see you tomorrow with another talent at Fascinating Fridays!!!

Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Wild Raspberry (K&Company), Ashton Annalee (Prima)
Stamp: Sophie's Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Embellishments: Gallery Roses Marcel (Prima), Cream and Red Heart Trinket Pins (Maya Road)

New Team Members!!!!

It's time to announce the new team members of Fascinating Fridays but before that, I want to sincerely thank my dear friend, Sabrina Sulaiman, who worked with us in the first quarter. Sabrina is stepping down the team so we had to fill the seat with not one but two talented ladies!!!!!
Let's all warm welcome our new team members and already featured artists Alia and Tammy!!! They will be on board together with Amna Al Fardh for the next quarter. Thanks ladies for joining our team and have a wonderful time SPOTTING artists like you :):)

wedding wishes

, cThis card started with a completely different idea and finished with this very satisfying result. I loved it so much!!!! It's a simple one and quite suitable for mass production....
I started with heat embossing the white cardstock using Classic Fabric Design stamp. Then I distressed the paper in Old Paper Ink and adhered to the black cardstock. Later, tied a bow and stamped the banner and sentiment. I popped the sentiment and finished the card with crystals from Prima...

This card is entering for:

ODBD 

Crafts and Me

Totally Gorjuss

Oldie but a Goodie

A Gem of a Challenge

Pile It On

Love the details in these pearls:

Thanks for visiting and see you soon!!!!

Supplies:

Cardstocks: White and Black (Bazill Basics)
Stamps: Classic Fabric Design Cling Stamp (Hero Arts), Bannerific Clear Stamps, Sophie's Sentiments Clear Stamps (Lawn Fawn)

Inks/Powder: Old Paper Distress Ink (Rangers), Versamark Ink Pad (Hero Arts), Zing! White Opaque Embossing Powder (American Crafts) 

Embellishments: Clear Say It In Crystals and Pearls (Prima Marketing)

Cindy's Characteristic Creations

Welcome all to Fascinating Fridays!!! As I was reading more about today's artist, I came to realise that she's a dietitian just as me :) Her creations are always exceptional and she really thinks outside the creative box. Without further ado, lets welcome- Cindy Gay!!!! 

Name: Cindy Gay

Blog: Cindy's Pages in Time

1.   When did you first decide to make a page/layout/scrapbook and why? (for eg. any significant event that drives you to make an LO/album?)
I made my first scrapbook in the 1950s.  (No kidding)  My aunt had a beauty shop and she let me cut pictures out of magazines.  I remember cutting out pictures of celebrities Annette Funicello and Tab Hunter and pasting them into a scrapbook!  I still love to cut and paste.  In grade school I was assigned to make a scrapbook of a summer vacation.  In that one I journaled about things I did, drew pictures and added dried flowers and butterflies.  As a teenager I enjoyed taking pictures of my friends and making pages about them with song lyrics or a poem that described them.  In college I took a photography class as an elective and met my future husband in the darkroom where he was a teaching assistant.  That was nearly 40 years ago and we've certainly taken a lot of pictures over the years.  Our oldest son Greg contributes scenic and nature photos.  I can usually convince the younger teenage son Chris to send a picture my way too. 

2.   What process do you go through to create a layout? (for eg. do you take out all your embellishments and papers and start or you usually just hit and go?)
I start my layouts with the photo(s).  Many times I turn to favorite layouts from magazines or online galleries to decide placement and size of the photos.  I love paper and I pick out papers that match my photos.  I'll choose a title next and decide on the title alphas, usually chipboard.  I write my journaling, then type it on a digital journaling block or frame.  Many times I add a digital frame, outline or overlay to my photos before printing them.  Finally I choose embellishments.  I don't adhere until everything's laid out.   Photo(s)-Sketch-Paper-Title-Journaling-Printing-Embellishments-Adhere!   

3.    How would you describe your scrapbooking style? 
I'm a hybrid scrapper.  I combine paper and digital elements on my pages.  I like to think I'm a romantic scrapper but the truth is I try anything, gaining inspiration from you!

4.   What are your favorite scrapbook products and manufacturers? 
I love paper, chipboard, alphas and photo corners.

5.   As you probably know, scrapbooking is an expensive hobby. What drives you to continue scrapbooking and any tips for crafters with low budget?  
My drive is:  I want to remember the good times we've had, the work we've done and the places we've been.  I want to honor my parents and our heritage. 
For budgetary purposes:  I won't buy big packs of anything.  I often leave a store with single sheets of paper.  The one big investment I've made is my Epson Printer.  I also have an Epson Scanner.  There are many free digital elements online and single digital elements to download for around a dollar.  Digital elements can be used again and again.   

Checkout these whimsical pages!!!

6.   From the 3 layouts, describe the most creative design you used.
1)  Wind in Your Hair
While driving the Lincoln Highway in Pennsylvania, we stopped at a fruit market and photographed a mural painted on the side of the building.  In the mural was an antique car with an elderly couple.  I cloned our heads into the car and proceeded from there. The slogan painted on the side of the barn is my title:  "Wind in your hair, feeling alive, the great institution......the Sunday Drive!"  We laughed and laughed as I created this layout.


2)  Gravity
My husband photographed the Blue Heron when our son was at Boys State.  To the photo I added lyrics from the song "Gravity" by Jewel as these words fit our pride in Chris and this stage in his young life.


3)  Pi Day
A techie friend on Scrapbook.com suggested I make a layout about this unknown holiday in March.  No problem!  I painted the background by using a piece of packaging to stencil the circles.  The frame and journaling block are digital.

Oh my!!! Cindy, you are such a talented dietitian. Thanks dear for giving us some of your valuable time and sharing with us!!! And ladies thanks to you too for peeking :) Don't forget to visit Cindy and leave her some kind words....

love you

I purchased these papers from K&Company in 2009 so I challenged myself to use them instead of the new ones :( Get ready to see many cards with these papers...
I started with punching a side of pp, edge-distressing and adhering them. Then I laid a stripe of pp on the center and popped that cute hearty tree on. Later, I placed the sentiment from Lawn Fawn and finished with an elegant butterfly.

This card is entering for:

Mami Doodles

Anything Goes Challenge

See this row of pearls from Hero Arts...

Thanks for visiting and see you tomorrow in Fascinating Fridays!!!!!

Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Wild Raspberry Specialty Paper (K&Company)
Stamps: Love You Most (Unity Stamp Company), Sophie's Sentiments Clear Stamps (Lawn Fawn)

Inks/Powder: Versamark Ink Pad (Hero Arts), Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder (Rangers) 

Embellishments: Pink Embellished Butterflies (Jenni Bowlin), Pale Pink Accent Pearls (Hero Arts)

It's a girl, It's a boy

Baby arrival cards are always in high demand at Edible Arrangements. Today's cards are almost the same using my new pp from My Little Shoebox (mls). After adhering the pp, I stamped the butterfly and embossed the sentiment. Then I paper-pieced the butterfly and popped up some buttons from American Crafts. So easy....

This card is entering for:

All That Scraps

Aud Sentiments

The Stamp Man

ABC Challenge

Love these stamps from mls and that message is from Lawn Fawn:

Here I stamped a bee instead and used papers suitable for a boy :)

For both cards, the inside was stamped:

Thank you for visiting!!!!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft (Bazill Basics)

Patterned Papers: Easy Breezy, Sweet As Honey Garden Party Paper (My Little Shoebox)
Stamps: Garden Party (My Little Shoebox), Sophie's Sentiments Clear Stamps (Lawn Fawn)

Inks/Powder: Adirondack Pitch Black (Rangers), Versamark Ink Pad (Hero Arts), Zing! White Opaque Embossing Powder (American Crafts) 

Embellishments: Love Buttons (American Crafts), Orange/Yellow Baker's Twine (Jillibean Soup)

Thanks

Inking is fun but needs lots of practice so I purchased many stamps and inks this time :) Here I stamped the cardstock in versamark then distressed it. Later, I stamped the Flower Bird Garden in broken china to coordinate with background. Then the sentiment 'Thanks' from Garden Party was stamped in white ink and card finished with a twine and paper flower on the side....

This card is entering for:

Secret Crafter

Samuel Taylors

Papertake Weekly

Adore this cute flower :)

Thanks for peeking and see you soon!!!!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Neenah
Stamps: Classic Fabric Design, Flower Bird Garden (Hero Arts), Garden Party (My Little Shoe Box)

Inks: Shabby Shutters, Broken China, Walnut Stain Distress Inks (Rangers), Colorbox Frost White Pigment (Hero Arts) 

Embellishments: Delights Eternal Paper Flowers (American Crafts), Twill Polkas Bean Stalks Twill and Twine (Jillibean Soup)

Let's meet Lekha...

Our artist today enjoys many hobbies. She's inspired by many quillers and well known characters. Let's all welcome- Lekha Justin ..

1) When did you start paper quilling ? and how did you know about it ?

About one and a half year back. I came to know about it through articles in newspapers.

2) Do you read books about quilling and other crafts? or what sources do you use mostly ?

My main source of information on paper quilling is internet. it provides many information & videos for learning therefore I don't normally check books about quilling.

3) Describe yourself as an Artist , what hobbies do you like and practice? what other forms of art do you like?how long have you been crafting in general ?

I have not rated myself as an artist. I am practicing art as a hobby and to fill my time in a fun way.

My hobbies are Paper quilling, crochet, cross stitch and blogging (poems & stories) in my native language.

I like also like Origamy, drawing, crafts and Fabric painting. I'm doing crafting since my college days.

4) Do you work or study? and does practicing hobbies affect any aspect of your life?

Home maker, not studying. Practicing is a meditation for me and it is a big refreshment to my soul.

5) Do you attend workshops or give workshops ?

Not at the time being. I mainly practice arts & crafts as a hobby and still learning new things as I go.

6) Have you gained any benefit from your art? what kind of benefit ?

Self satisfaction and happiness are the main benefits from having a hobby No monetary benefits.

7) Do you have a website or a blog that you would like to share with us?

No. but you can view my work at Emirates Quilling Guild facebook group as well as my facebook album.

Here they are:

 

Wow, flawless creations Lekha!!! Thanks dear for taking time answering to our questions. And ladies, thank you too, for visiting us :) Be sure to come back next week to the home of 'Fascinating Fridays'!!!!

What's in there??

So excited to receive my package from long-time favorite store: Two Peas in a Bucket. Can't believe it took only one week to arrive!!!

 

 So what's in there?? Lets see some...

Beautiful papers from Basic Grey and Graphic45:

Camelia 12X12 Curio Collection Paper

By BasicGrey

Tartlet 12X12 Hello Luscious Paper

By BasicGrey

 Fantasy Floral 12X12 Steampunk Debutant Paper

By Graphic 45

Potpourri Fashionista Collection Paper

By Graphic 45

 

Joy Woodgrain 12X12 Stella Rose Collection Paper

By My Minds Eye

Very cute stamps:

Sophie's Sentiments Clear Stamp Set

By Lawn Fawn

Sweetest Day Itty Bitty Red Rubber Stamp

By Unity Stamp Company 

Garden Party Clear Stamp

By My Little Shoebox 

And definitely embellishments:

Pink Embellished Butterflies

By Jenni Bowlin

Cream And Red Heart Trinket Pins

By Maya Road

Orange/Yellow Bakers Twine

By Jillibean Soup

plus many many more....

OMG...very addictive goodies :) Can't wait to use them!!!!