Dorcas Designs: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Candy Winner!!!!

Hi Everyone!

Thank you all for entering my blog candy! If your name isn't drawn, don't feel too badly as I'm hoping to do this again in a few months.

Without further ado, the winner chosen by Random.org is:

#145 Gwen (Busy Little Hands)

Gwen, can you email me with your address so I can send off your goodies ASAP. :)

If I don't hear from the winner in the next 48 hours a new name will be drawn.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Fave Mo project of 2011

Hi Everyone!

The challenge this week at Mo's Digital Pencil is:

Your FAVE Mo project of 2011

NOT EASY!

And truth be told I have several favorites but since I have to pick one I chose this one.

It was a blast to color and I just love the way the papers all came together the way I wanted it to.

So now its your turn to go down memory lane and find your fave!

Can't wait to see all your entries!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Embellishment Storage

So I was reading my blogging buddy Jessie's post this morning about "How do you organize your favorite embellishments" and decided to join in the chat.

As for what my favorite embellishment is, well, its a no-brainer really.

I loooove buttons!

There is nothing more relaxing than sitting down to a bag of colored buttons and separating them according to size and color.

And so you have.....

Citrus!

(don't you love those teeny tiny buttons in the tiny cases?)

Sea colors!

And bleachhy colors that we all hate but sometimes need..lol

Yes, purple is in that category. Sorry, Stacey. :D

I also have one of these "button containers" for flowers but I didn't take a picture as it is so pathetic its almost laughable. I guess you could say I don't use many flowers.

And then eyelets and brads I stick in these little "tic-tac" containers below

Of course it would be optimistic to think I can store everything in these which is why we have:

the junk drawer

this houses all my immediate grab it things. Adhesives, glue dots, paper piercer, decorative corners, select brads (that I have no tic tac containers for, etc)

Its a well used drawer."I know where everything is". Yeah, right!

And then I have Design Team supplies which I keep in gallon size ziploc bags according to company so I can quickly grab a bag when I'm making a specific card for a DT company. Sounds organized doesn't it?

Can you see them? No? Look closer..pretend you're playing "where's Waldo"...

Can you see them now? Almost?

Ahhhh! There they are!!

Where've ya been all my life!

Thats pretty much it!

Have a great day everyone.

Its rainy and gray here so I think its time for hot chocolate!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

A Vintage Find

No, I know what you're thinking.

Let me just say right now that I have NOT discovered a way to use a mixer in my cardmaking! But you just gotta check this out. I'm so tickled!

Now,I know I'm a little on the retro side (and btw,can we just leave the 1987 Isuzu with 280,000 miles and the burnt orange formica countertops out of it) but listen, this is what happened:

My daughter and I were in the middle of making a lemon merengue pie on Tuesday and guess what decided to burn out halfway through meringue making?? Yup, our six month old sunbeam. Now I have a pet peeve with mixers, I seriously go through them like they're toothbrushes.Every six months they start making that funny smell and click, they stop. I'm sick to death of it.

Well after having to finish the meringue with a WISK (you heard that right) my biceps looked like the "we can do it" lady.

Yup. That's me right there :)

Looks painful, doesn't it?

Anyway!

My mind went back to our old 1950's Sunbeam that I bought at a yard sale for $1.50 some years ago. It worked like a dream and the only reason I got rid of it was because a beater broke and I had no way of buying a new beater. (We didn't have internet then ~ if I only knew!)

I decided I would rather spend $20 or $30 bucks on a mixer that has already lasted 40-50 years than spend the same on a modern mixer designed to self combust after 1 year. (if youre lucky). So while the lemon merenge was in the oven I went on ebay. What a treasure trove of vintage mixers! I could so easily get into this. They even had a turquose bullet from the 60's. Chrome and everything.

In the end I ordered two. A 1970's avacado green mixer (to go with the burnt orange countertops) and this white Oster below.

Both of them were barely (if ever) used. Still in its box with warranty card and recipes.

Is that cool or is that cool??

Check out how tiny those beaters are. The recipe book says I can mash enough potatoes for 12 people with them. Whaaaat? Mash potatoes with a mixer?? Enough for 12 people with this??

Well! I'm all set then!.

One thing though....With "Happy Jane" cupcakes and prune muffins galore I may never make it to my craft table.

If you don't hear from me by Thursday have Stacey drive by and bang on the bathroom wall. :D

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Scrapbook Steals

Have you guys seen the daily deal today at Scrapbook Steals??

Only $39.99 while supplies last, thats 50% off retail and shipping is like $3 if you choose media mail.

Just thought I'd enable you a bit. lol

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Salsa!

Hi Again everyone!

Guess what I have here? Yup! Another recipe page for you!

It was time to spice things up with something hot!

The challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge this week is:

Punches and Dies

as you see I went a little crazy with them. :)

For the page on the left I was hoping to find a senor for my Senorita Rosa (on facing page) but since Mo didn't have one I went digi hunting and found this awesome cactus from Elizabeth Dulemba. It's free, too. How cool is that?

If you click on the picture it will blow it up a bit more so you can read the recipes.

And here's lovely Rosa...

Recipe:

Images: Fiesta by Elizabeth Dulemba and Rosa by Mo Manning

Papers: MME and DCWV

Dies : Spellbinders

Punches: Martha Stewart

Ribbon: Sew Sweet

*Remember, there's still time to join in my blog candy if you haven't already done so, its open til Dec 30th and you can find the original post here.

Challenges:
Craft Room Challenge - 2W - Must display shop logo to be in draw - Die Cuts & Punches Week2
Take our Logo

Everybody-Art-Challenge - Anything Goes
Partytime Tuesdays - PTT #47 Use Ribbon
ColourQ - #116 Color Challenge* (I did use some blue too, don't know if thats ok)

Everybody-Art-Challenge -Anything Goes
Try It On Tuesday Anything Goes

Have a great weekend!

Monday, December 19, 2011

To Brighten Your day

Hi Guys!

I bet you all thought I died or something, its been a whole four days since I posted. Whaaat?

I've been trying to get caught up on upcoming DT and GD projects with limited success. :)

January will be a busy month for sure!

Anyway, today's card is a bit unusual for this time of year, isn't it? I wasn't sure what was in her "bug cage" but decided that fireflies suited my purpose so before they could fly away I doused them with bright gold glitter glue. they won't be going anywhere now. :)

My recipe:

Image: Tickled Pink

Papers: Cosmo Cricket

Dies: Spellbinders, Whiff Of Joy banners

Mesh

Buttons and button thread: Sew Sweet

Glittery glow bugs...

I would like to enter this in:

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Paper Pretties - Red, White and Your Choice

Paper Playtime - Anything Goes PLUS Sentiment

Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Your favourite material for cardmaking (kraft)

The Cutie Pie Challenge - Use a Sentiment

The Crafty Pad -Anything But Christmas

Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Fabric Of Our Lives

Hi all!

Today's challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil is : Fabric

Yikes! And you know what? I thought up the challenge and its still Yikes!

What was I thinking? LOL

Actually it ended up being a lot of fun.

As you know, I started making this recipe book and the fabric reminded me of cafe curtains so it worked out.

I stuck it down with scortape. Awesome stuff!

The button is a brad that I covered. You know, they make these gadgety doohickys to cover butons/brads but I remember just using my fingers to tuck and secure the covered buttons when I was learning to sew as a teenager so that's what I did here. Nice to know you don't have to run out and buy every new tool they come out with. In saying that, it would be handy My address is as follows... :)

Anyway!

So this is page 2/3 of my recipe book:

Recipe for Card:

Image: Mo Manning

colors: Lyra Rembrant and Prismas

Papers: My Minds Eye

Fabric: from stash

coverable brad: bought at Michaels (unsure of brand)

Both recipes are so easy peasy but soooo GOOD.

I would like to enter this in:

Anything Goes Challenge - Anything But A Card

City Crafter Challenge -Get Booked (Make or Alter a book!)

Creative Craft Challenges - Faux Or Real Stitching Week 2

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Ooh La La Creations -Anything BUT a Card

Scrappy Frogs - Stitching

For my blog candy click here.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

A Bit Of Candy!

Hi Everyone!

*this post will stay on top for one week (after which it will be in my sidebar) so for all new posts, scroll down

First of all I want to say a warm welcome to all my new followers who have recently joined me and a big THANK YOU to my ever faithful older ones who aren't sick of me yet.. :) I thought it was time to go through my stash and pass on a few stamps for someone else to enjoy.:)

All stamps have been used one time for DT projects, except for the uncut Johanna Sheen which has never been used.

Included :

2 Tina Wenke Stamps

1 Lawrence collection

1 Bildamarna

1 Nellie Snellen

1 Marianne Design

1 Wild Rose

1 set Haberdashery stamps by Johanna Sheen

1 Spellbinders Shapabilities (Buckles)

Assorted Ribbon

As always I keep to my "take no prisoners" rule so there is no need to become a follower if you'd rather not. (but I hope you like my work enough to want to on your own. :)

Also, you don't need to post to your sidebar or jump through any other hoops.

I do ask that no "candy only" blogs apply.

Just leave your name on Mr Linky and a comment to say hi.

*I will randomly select a winner Dec 30th

Monday, December 12, 2011

We Miss You

Hi Guys!

Do you know what time it is?

Time for a new Bunny Zoe's challenge which is:
Fancy Fold or Shaped Card

You've got a whole month to get a project ready so no excuses!

I chose a gatefold card which I think is a lot of fun. (and doesn't cramp me for space either, especially when I adjust the pattern for a 6x6 card. :)

My recipe:

Papers: My Minds Eye

Image: Toby and Friends

Flat backed Pearls

Colors: Lyras and Prismas

And the inside....

Challenges:
Corrosive Challenges -  Anything BUT Christmas
Crafting When We Can - Friendship
Scrappy Frogs -  Stitching
Secret Crafter All Creatures great and small
   Totally Papercrafts – Anything but Christmas

Remember to sign up for my blog candy here. :)
Thanks for visiting!

Friday, December 9, 2011

In The Kitchen

So I finally bit the bullet.

I've been wanting to make a recipe book for the looooongest time but kept chickening out. As you know I like to color rather large images so I was puzzled how I was going to stick a "Dorcas" image on the usual index card/recipe card. Until.........I found this chipboard book at the Kraft Outlet. Problem solved. Each page is 5x7 inches or there about so presto! I did have to go down a bit in size for my images but they're still pretty workable.

By the way, now that I've started this project you're all going to have to bear with me as I post page after page for the next several months. I have the perfect occasion, a friend is getting married in the Spring. So I have the occasion plus the deadline. What more could I need?

I know! The perfect images! And soooooo without further ado, enter perfect image number one, page one!

Since I didn't want to cramp my images too much I had to print my recipes in really small print. lol

Hey! This book is only to look at, not use!!

But just cos you asked I will blow up the recipe so you can see that it is real. :)

It is helpful that I write my recipes in criptic speech otherwise they wouldn't fit!

Card Recipe:

Image: ADFD

Paper: Mainly K&co.

colors: Lyras and paper piecing

Punch: Martha Stewart

Ribbon: Sew Sweet

Lock and key bradz: Kraft Outlet

So today I would like to play along with:

ADFD: Anything Goes

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge -- Try Something new (a recipe book)

Cute Card Thursday -Anything Goes

Cooking It Up With Katie - anything goes

Anything Goes Challenge - Cutting Corners, decoratove

Remember to join in my "no strings attached" blog candy here

Thanks so much for coming by!!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Did Someone Say Purple?

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're week is going well. All well here.:)

Today's card I made for a friend (Stacey, you know who you are. lol) who happens to have redecorated recently and while endeavoring to "step away" from the familiar purple comfort zone, found herself painting yet another purple room (under a different name).

So, being the sweet friend I am (and a confirmed purple hater) I made her a purple card to show that I don't let things like color stand in the way of friendship. lol

In saying that, this purple isn't too bad .....I find it didn't alter my mood too drastically while crafting. Stacey can tell you what purple normally does to me.....

Anyway!

This week's challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil is:

Banners and Tags

Lots of fun!

My recipe:

Image: Mo Manning

Papers: from stash

Colors: Prismas and Lyras on Kraft

Ribbon: Crafty Ribbon

Mini buttons; Home Sew

Larger button: Sew Sweet

Twine: Sew Sweet

Banner dies: Whimsy

Tag Sentiments: Whimsy

I would like to enter this in:

Cooking It Up With Katie anything goes
Inky Impressions - ribbon
Creative Craft Challenges -  Faux Or Real Stitching
Die Cuttin' Divas - Tags Tags & More Tags!
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes
Crafty Boots  Anything Goes
Karens Doodles - - Recipe: 3 Different Embellishments, 2 Papers, 1 Image (buttons, ribbon, tags)
Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge -  Anything goes
Victorine Originals -Ribbon
2 Sisters - Punches and/or Dies
Catch The Bug -   Anything goes
Drunken Stampers -  Monochromatic

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Flowers for You

Hi Guys!

Today I have a "for fun" card. No occasion, no DT project, just pure creative play. :-D

I saw the color challenge this past week at A Day For Daisies and was initially going to skip it, the colors seemed a bit overwelming, being so many of them, but then when I stopped and thought about it, they're colors I use a lot of anyway so what was I thinking?

Is she a cutie or is she a cutie??

I totally adore this image.

My Recipe:

Image: ADFD

Colors: Prismacolors and Lyras

Papers: My Minds Eye

Button and button twine: Sew Sweet

Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Challenges:

A Day For Daisies: Color Challenge

Charisma Cardz - - Spots

Crafty Purple Frog - For Someone Special

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

Willow Sketchie Challenge -- Anything Goes

My Grafico - Anything Goes
I am also using this project as part of the
SPS DT Call

Happy Crafting!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Miss Me Yet?

So here's a good challenge for you! This week's theme at Mo's Digital Challenge is:

The Great Outdoors.

I took the theme "tongue in cheek". It doesn't seem to matter how "great" the outdoors are, cats always want to get back in. Especially if they've been kicked out, which, judging by the ripped wallpaper, has been the case here.

I love this paper pack, the paper looks just like wallpaper to me . I was like a little kid playing with a dollhouse.