Firecraker Designs by Pamela- GDT #5

Hi friends,
I'm finally back on the blog to share my last card as July Guest Designer for Firecracker Designs by Pamela. It's been amazing to create projects with Pamela's fab designs & I've had a blast!

I have to first say that I had very---> I mean very limited supplies to work with when making this card :( Most of my craft things are still packed up since the movers finally delivered our things yesterday. :( :( :(

For my card, I used the Life's a Beach Digi Stamp:

Here's my card:

I'm going to spare you from what it took to make this, but let's just say my son was very kind to let me use some of his supplies for a change! (Hee! Hee!) I did have some Stickles & Crystal Lacquer so I added that to the water & the umbrella. That is real sand :)
I printed the image & broke up the sentiment so that part of it was on the front & the rest was inside of the card.
Speaking of which, here are the innies:

VERY simple, as I said. Despite my limited supplies, I thought it came out pretty cute, if I may say so ;)

I would like to thank Pamela for sharing her fab images with me, Shelly for inviting me to play this month and for always being so encouraging, and the rest of the DT girls who were so welcoming & fun! Big Hugs to ya!!!

I'm off for now! Thanks so much for peeking & I'll be back soon :)

Firecraker Designs by Pamela- GDT #4

Hello friends,
Today, I'm sharing my project for Firecracker Designs by Pamela.
This week, I decided to create myself a bookmark. I used the orchid digi for my main image.

Here's my bookmark: (click for a closer peek)

The sentiment says, "When two friends understand each other totally, the words are like an orchid's perfume." I love orchids! and when I saw this orchid digi in Pamela's store, I had to grab it.
 Here's a closer peek at the image:

I colored it with Copics.  If you look closely at white orchids in the sunlight, you'll see a beautiful shimmer on the petals. Since mother nature does it, I had to do it too :) I added Pixie Dust Blingz paint to the petals. I used a MS punch (Deco Fan) around the CS base & added pearls with my Viva Decor pearl pen. I kept most of the elements flat since I will be using this bookmark. The button & ribbon will be what sticks out of the top of the book.

What i love about orchids is that there are sooooo many different kinds, I find them easy to grow, and the blooms last for months! Here are a few orchids growing outside my kitchen window now:

Orchids are so bold & showy! They are not shy about putting themselves out there in all of their splendor, without holding back! I have to say I kinda admire that ;) I know some people think they're high maintenance flowers, but they're really not. I always forget to water my plants, which is *perfect* for orchids! over-watering kills them, but they love drying out a little :) so my forgetful gardening skills work in tandem with growing beautiful orchids! Hee! Hee! Did i mention there's one type called the chocolate orchid??? Uh huh :) It actually smells like milk chocolate! I don't have that one, which is probably a good thing since you *might* find me munching on some petals! Hee!

Thanks so much for peeking! Oh, my jury service was postponed for August, thankfully. Have a great weekend!

Wacky Wednesday at Firecracker Designs by Pamela

Hello there friends,
I know it's a little quiet around the blog-o, but we're super busy packing & moving & we're down to the wire! Plus, I got called in for Jury Duty this week :(   Hopefully they'll let me postpone it a couple of weeks.

Anyhoo, it's Wacky Wednesday at FCD, so that means one stamp set is 50% off :)
Keeping with the theme of Christmas in July, today's featured stamp is:
Snowlady Wreath

Don't forget more Christmas sets are also on sale too! Need some inkspiration? Check out the gallery---> HERE. I'll be back to share my FCD project!
Later!

Firecraker Designs by Pamela- BLOG HOP

Hi friends,
Today I'm joining the talented ladies of Firecracker Designs by Pamela for July's Blog Hop! This is a circular blog hop, so that means the beginning is wherever you start. You'll know you've reached the end of the hop when you arrive at the place where you began hopping- get it, got it, good :) Now, if you're here from Shelly's blog, you're also on the right track! FYI: The official start time of this Hop is Friday, at 8:00 AM (EST). If you arrived early, please be patient as all the links may not be live yet.

This month, the DT was asked to play along with this sketch:

Here's my card:

I flipped the sketch, but kept the same basic elements :) I used the digi stamp Spring Walk for my card, colored with Copics. I cut out the butterfly & cut along the wing to fold it forward a bit so that it looked like it was really in flight. I lightly sponged the sky & added liquid pearls for the little butterfly trail. The greeting "Hello" comes from the Clearly Greetings stamp set.

If you picked up this weekend's free digi, then you know all about the excitement for Boni's fun digi stamps---> Bonibleaux Designs. So I thought I would also create another quick project using the Ken digi (which is free until the 19th):

This is a quick & easy Honey-Do List pad for the Hubby ;) All I did was create the circular sentiment "Honey-Do List" & then added Ken in the middle. I printed it out & colored him in. I matted it with shimmer blue CS. I adhered that to a metal clip & added a notepad.
Here's a closer peek:

Don't forget to leave some love along the way cuz there is a prize involved and we don't know which of the DT members is the hostess with the mostest ;) I don't even know, which makes it even more fun! Hope you'll play along with the sketch and if ya do, be sure to link it to Pamela's blog. Pamela will announce the winner on HER BLOG-so please stop back to see if you are the winner!

Now, keep hopping along to Karyn's blog to see her sketchy goodness! 
Thanks for peeking & enjoy the hop!

Wacky Wednesday at Firecracker Designs by Pamela

Hi friends,
It's time for another Wacky Wednesday at Firecracker Designs by Pamela. It's Christmas in July at FCD, so for today & today only, Let's Celebrate! --->Well, that's the name of the set that is 50% off ;)
Here it is:

You can find all the deets on Pamela's Page & inkspiration for this set in The Gallery.
I'll be back for this month's FCD Blog Hop taking place Friday- Monday. Pssst... come closer... closer... there may be blog candy involved ;)  Just sayin'!

Weekend Freebie at Firecracker Designs by Pamela

ETA: Much like the pumpkin for Cinderella, this weekend freebie has disappeared. But stop by FCD next weekend for another free digi :)

Hello friends,
Popping in to share this weekend's *free* digi at Firecracker Designs by Pamela.
Go grab yourself Ken

and/or this super cute beach scene

but you've gotta grab them by Monday, July 12th!  Poof! it's gone :(
Find ALL the digi freebies --->HERE.  Check Pamela's gallery for all the deets and an inkspiration card using the Ken digi.
Have a great weekend!

Firecraker Designs by Pamela- GDT #2

Hi ya friends,
I'm back for my second week as guest digi designer for Firecracker Designs by Pamela. Today I have a card to share using this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful birdhouse digi called For the Birds:

Here's my card:

 I wanted to go for a vintage look so I turned to papers from Graphic 45. I printed out the image twice- once to use on my card & the second to color & cut out the flowers. I popped them up with dimensionals & added some Crystal Lacquer for that dewy look. For the sentiment, I used the Hello stamp from the Clearly Greetings set- a classic & timeless set I know I will reach for again & again.
Here's a closer peek:

It's colored with Copics. To embellish, I punched out little butterflies, layered them, & added Viva Decor Pearl pen for the body and more around the image & on the ribbon. I reeeeeeeally luuuuuv this stuff!!!

I used this week's MOJO Monday sketch for my card:

Be sure to stop by Pamela's Blog to see what the rest of the DT has created :)

Thanks so much for peeking! I'm taking a day off from packing & moving to attend Copic Certification. Hopefully all goes well :) Have a great weekend!

The 411

Stamps: For the Birds DIGI stamp, Clearly Greetings Stamp Set- Firecracker Designs by Pamela
Paper: Domestic Goddess Collection- Graphic 45, Close to Cocoa CS, Creamy Caramel CS- SU!, Neenah Ivory CS
Ink: Close to Cocoa- SU!, Chestnut Roan, Creamy Brown- Colorbox
Accs: Copics, Oval Nesties, Butterfly punches- Martha Stewart, Viva Decor Pearl Pen- Cream, Ribbon, Crystal Lacquer, White Gel Pen -Signo

Wacky Wednesday at Firecracker Designs by Pamela

Hi Friends,
Today is Wacky Wednesday at Firecracker Designs by Pamela! What does that mean to you? Well, today & today only there is one stamp set 50% off. Just in time for Christmas in July is today's featured stamp set: Christmas Ornaments 2

You have until midnight today! Check out the gallery for more inkspiration and Pamela's page for all the deets. There are also a few more Christmas in July sets on sale too!
I'll be back Friday for my FCD project!
Thanks for peeking!

Firecraker Designs by Pamela- GDT

Hi friends,
I'm so excited to have been asked to be a Digi Guest Designer for July for Firecracker Designs by Pamela! Today, I'm sharing two fun projects geared for the kiddos at our 4th of July get-together. My SIL asked if I would do an arts & crafts hour for the kiddos. I said "Yes!" cuz they were thinking of getting a clown- I don't think so :( So Auntie Karli needed to come up with inexpensive, yet fun activities for them & I thought Pamela's digi would be PERFECT!
For both projects, I used the Grand Old Flag Digi stamp:

Here are both projects: 1) a Wishcaster Wand  2) a twirly bird aka- Helicopter

I've created mini-tuts in case you'd like to make some with your kiddos.

The first project: Wishcaster Wand

 You'll need:
a skewer
markers or crayons
star punches
cardstock (fit 2 stars on an 8 1/2 x 11 CS)
paint
adhesives
Transparency (optional)

First, paint the skewer any color you'd like. Put it aside to dry.
Color 2 Grand ol' Flag digi stamps & cut them out.

 I added crystal laquer to the red stripes so they would be shiny :) (Our kiddos will use modge podge once they're done making it)

Add strong adhesive (scor-tape) to secure the skewer & to hold the strips your stars will be on.

Add your dangly strips. I cut old transparency sheets (we don't use at school anymore) in different lengths, so that it looked like the stars were floating in the air. You could also use ribbon scraps, paper strips, yarn- anything you'd like.

Add a "wish cloud" - aka cotton ball ;) to the center to make it puffy & to add a special wish. Puff the cloud out but it shouldn't be too puffy that it makes it hard to seal the star.

Add strong adhesive to the edges & seal with the second star. You're done! I also added the sentiment that also comes with the digi stamp with foam dots.

Second project: Twirly birds aka Helicopters

You'll need:
the template (yes, I've included it for your downloading pleasure!)
a paper clip
colors

You'll need 2 much smaller stars. Print them out on copy paper (or CS if you'd like.) Color & cut out.
Cut out template -print on copy paper ( I put 3 templates on 1 sheet)
 All the solid lines are cut lines, the dashed lines are fold lines.
(Please ignore this line- scissors are pointing to it- I just couldn't get rid of it for some reason :( but you don't need to do anything with it.

To begin, cut on the long solid line:

Cut the 2 small solid lines along the sides: snip, snip

Fold one of the long strips back & fold the other strip forward.

Fold down one of the side tabs:

Now fold the other side tab on top of the first one to overlap:

You'll have a little end tab to fold down:

Now simply add a paper clip to serve as a weight to that tab:

Add your little stars to the paper clip (one on each side) & let them drop!

They can also decorate the paper itself before assembly. You may want to try larger paper clips, adding multiple paper clips to see how it affects the helicopter.

Now you can take the time to teach a mini lesson on the basic principles of physics & aerodynamics to the kiddos! ... or you can just have fun watching the helicopters twirl to the ground :) Hee! Hee! BTW, this project is one we teach to our 2nd graders in our study of Balance & Motion so if you DO want this lesson I can give it... no??? Oh, OK ;)

The great thing about Digis is that you can size them to whatever you want as I did for my projects. To get the Grand Ol' Flag digi (and lots more) visit Firecracker Designs by Pamela---> HERE. You may also want to visit her blog---> HERE, cuz she posts contests & FREE digis too :) and you should definitely check out what happens on Wednesdays... I'm just sayin'....

I'll be sharing more projects featuring more of FCD Digi images throughout this month!
I hope you like these two very simple projects & you give them a try- the kiddos will enjoy them ;)

To my US friends- have a safe & fun 4th of July and to my friends everywhere else...
Thanks for peeking!




Here's the twirly bird/ Helicopter template. Enjoy!
Helicopters