Veterans Day 2019 - Honoring our Veterans

Today, I used the Colorado Crafts Company Lovely Legs set titled Military Strong to create two cards honoring our Veterans because today, 11/11/2019 is Veteran's day.

I know making a card or a card video isn't much. But I wanted to do everything I could to honor our veterans today. My family has a long history with the military. Several years ago my Grandma was invited to California, all the way from Wisconsin, to receive an award from the then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was this beautiful plaque honoring her for her sons serving over 125 years collectively in the different branches of the service. I have several uncles that served and I now I have several cousins and second cousins who have also served. Something I am well aware, I was not built to do. I respect anyone who has given even a minute of thought to serving. You are heros.

I am a firm believer in making more than one card at a time if I can squeeze it in and decided to make a male an female version of the same card since the stamp set offered both images.

I kept the fatigues a neutral color although I'm sure I could recreate these using more specific colors for each of the military branches.

All items were purchased with my own funds. This video / blog is not sponsored.

Confused about why I named it all Delaney Jane Cards if my name is Renee’?

This entire thing, shop, YouTube channel, blog, etc, it is all named after our angel daughter who passed away in 2013. I made her some promises when she passed away. I would spread joy, I would make her proud and I would speak her name daily. This is one way we choose to honor her memory, and help me keep my promises.

YouTube is at:  https://youtu.be/JGtZZlWuth8

Check out our online store at: www.delaneyjanecards.com

Want to visit us on Instagram? Check us out at @delaneyjanecards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delaneyjanecards/

Email: delaneyjanecards@gmail.com

Scene Building with Patterned Paper and a T-Wreck

This adorable stamp from Rabbit Hole Designs called Caffeinated Dino needed to be inked up. I created a scene using some very old patterned papers. I am a firm believer in using what I have, stretching supplies, and when I do get something new mixing it with the things I already own.

Watch this adorable dino come to life and this scene be built at my YouTube Channel. Click the link here:  Delaney Jane Cards YouTube Video 

All items were purchased with my own funds. This video / blog is not sponsored.

Confused about why I named it all Delaney Jane Cards if my name is Renee’?

This entire thing, shop, YouTube channel, blog, etc, it is all named after our angel daughter who passed away in 2013. I made her some promises when she passed away. I would spread joy, I would make her proud and I would speak her name daily. This is one way we choose to honor her memory, and help me keep my promises.

Speaking of blog, you can check it out at : www.delaneyjanecards.blogspot.com

YouTube is at:  Delaney Jane Cards YouTube

Check out our online store at: Delaney Jane Cards Store

Want to visit us on Instagram? Check us out at @delaneyjanecards

Facebook: Delaney Jane Cards on Facebook

Email: delaneyjanecards@gmail.com

Day 7 and just an image

I colored. That is all I accomplished today. Between all the little people pooping on the floor, spitting up, needing snacks, changing diapers, filling sippy cups, and, and, and... it is 11pm and I finally got a second to color a thing!

I needed it too!!!

Day 2 and a Ship in a Bottle

 Today was day 2 of the 30 day challenge from The Daily Marker.

I chose to use this adorable ship in a bottle image from Pink and Main to create this card. I colored the image with Copic markers, my coloring medium of choice.

The layers are created with the patterned paper in the Shore 6x6 paper pad that also came in the card kit.

I fussy cut the image and added glossy accents to the portholes.

A Simon Says Stamp stitched banner die was used for the sentiment which I heat embossed in Navy Embossing Powder from Ranger.

Technique of the Week June 14th

I'm absolutely sure I'm participating in the 30 day coloring challenge. The Daily Marker hosts it often and it is a way to encourage creativity through coloring, in any medium.

My favorite coloring medium is probably my Copic Markers. I like how they blend, I love the control I have with them and honestly, it is just the medium I've practiced with most, so I'm most comfortable with them.

I colored a fish image, largemouth bass from Raisin boat with the following Copic markers.

While I don't plan to share a finished card in today's blog post, I wanted to share the following video clip of a fun technique called Glazing.

Glazing is going over the colored image with another color to change the tint, hue, tone or depth. I colored this largemouth bass and then used a more olive colored marker to glaze the image and change it.

The 30 day coloring challenge starts in a few days. I'll post links and additional details soon.

As always, check out our store at www.delaneyjanecards.com for handmade greeting cards you can't find anywhere else.

Keep Your Head Up

Have you ever created a card more for yourself than anyone else? Honestly, who makes a card to basically send to themselves, THIS GIRL!

I've been struggling really hard with some super deep emotional demons lately and I needed a pick-me-up. Crafting has always been my happy place but sometimes I just get lost in my emotions and the noise in my head and I can't make heads or tails out when it comes to creating something.

I knew I needed a direction or a jumping point and a card sketch always comes to the rescue, for me.

I found this sketch by getting lost in Blog-land. I viewed my blog post from Sunday and then clicked on the next blog and found a link to another blog and then another and another and finally I rested on The Paper Players and low and behold, they had a challenge going on with a sketch. Their challenge is a bit different than just a sketch challenge, they also challenge participants to use tone on tone stamping so I thought I'd focus my energy on trying this out.  (To check out the blog I'm referring to, please click here: The Paper Players)

To create the card I do something I'm not sure anyone else does, but I always sketch out the measurements on my SSS grid paper and pull dies out to fulfill the requirements and then place my stamps I'm hoping to use. It makes creating a card much quicker for me.

Then I either pull papers from my designer 6x6 pads and my 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock or pick my stamp set(s). Today I picked the background stamp first, then the papers and finally the image and sentiments I wanted to use.

I wanted to do this cool tone on tone stamping but I really didn't have any light blue inks and the SSS clear ink wasn't giving me the look I wanted, so I chose to heat emboss the chevron patterns with clear embossing powder by Ranger. The chevron pattern is a stamp in the GEOBuilders set by Stamp of Approval by Catherine Pooler Designs.

I adhered the strip of patterned paper to the background panel and then I did all my die cutting. I wanted the background panel to have a seamless look because of the stitched border. I had to run it through my machine twice to get a really clean cut with the die, but I think the extra revolutions of the handle of the Big Shot were really worth it. Patterned paper was from GCD Studios Pure Bliss 6x6 paper pad.

Then I die cut all the pieces I needed to create this card and even trimmed the black layer and folded a card base so all my pieces were ready to go. Dies used: A Muse Studio stitched circles, SSS Stitched Shapes, SSS Stitched Banners, un-named circle die.

The SSS stitched banner I used for the sentiment is much longer when originally cut but the SSS stitched shapes dies offers a straight stitched die I used to make sure the stitching was consistent and cut it at the length I needed.  My sentiment was stamped using Versafine Onyx Black Ink and comes from Create A Smile Bad Day stamp set.

I stamped the main image onto the vanilla A Muse Studio cardstock using SSS Intense Black Ink and colored it with a few Blue Copic markers to coordinate with the color theme, (B000, B00, & B01). The image stamp comes from the Create A Smile Bad Day stamp set.

I finished the inside of the card with an additional sentiment and two layers created from leftover cardstock and patterned paper, die cut with the SSS Stitched Shapes dies.

I'm pretty sure I forgot to mention the enamel dots came from Richard Garay's line of matte finish dots. I think they contrast with the gloss of the clear embossing to add another layer of dimension and texture fairly nicely.

I'd love to know your thoughts on my card, my process, the products used or even if you create cards for yourself, like I did today.

You've Captured My Heart

I love personalizing thank you cards, don't you? I have this wonderful, beautiful, talented friend who came to my house and took photos of our newborn, Ryker Gregory.

I mean, look at these, she is a new photographer and this is just a little sampling of the beautiful photos she took.

Look at these baby feet!

She even captured a little smile on this one and in the background is a teddy bear that has Delaney's hair in it. The bear was a gift from the funeral director when we buried her.

Anyway, back to the card. I needed to create a card that said thank you but I wanted it to be very personalized and I reached for a Unity Stamp called Captured My Heart by Lisa Arana.

There is really only a single stamped image used in this card, the camera. Otherwise it is completely created with die cuts, something I really don't do that often. The camera was just perfect with these patterned papers and I colored it to match. I used some Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Overlay Pen to cover the camera and then a little glossy accents on the lens. I added a few sequins, layered all the die cut panels and voila, a beautiful thank you card for a beautiful photographer and friend.

You can see the dimension in the image below.

I can't wait to send this to my friend.

Faith

With Easter approaching and with most Christians celebrating Good Friday today, I thought a few Easter cards would be appropriate. I started out with this blue version of this card and it morphed into the pink-purple version. Let me explain what happened and how I love them both.

I started with two pieces of Strathmore ready cut watercolor paper and my Ganzi Tambi Watercolor pallet. I put a wash of blue on one piece and a wash of pink with a touch of purple on the other and allowed them to dry.

While those were drying I stamped the Cross image on some Smooth white card stock from MFT in Lawn Fawn Jet Black ink. I colored one using my Copic markers and the other using my Prisma Color pencils. I fussy cut the images and set them aside.

I heat embossed the MFT flourish background stamp in clear on the pink-purple piece and stenciled the SSS morrocan stencil over the blue in stormy sky distress ink, then die cut the panels as well as two additional from MFT's Blueberry cardstock using the Park Ave frame by Mama Elephant.  I also die cut the SSS Painted Faith die 6 times, 3 black and 3 from MFT blueberry cardstock.

The first card went together just as I had envisioned, stacked the frames on top of each other, adhered the center panel directly to the card base. I stacked the blue die cuts on top of each other, stamped the cross and paper pieced the colored image onto the center panel and adhered the Faith die cut over the top. Three SU enamel dots around the cross and some Spectrum Noir Clear Glitter Overlay pen on the sentiment finished it up.

I really like the subtle dimension created by stacking the dies.

I finished the inside of the card with a sentiment and re-stamped the focal image in the stormy sky ink.

For the second card I used the same three main pieces, the Park Ave frame, the same sentiment and the same focal image. Look how different this turned out.

Instead of stacking dies for the frame, I mounted it on two layers of foam tape. Instead of layering the sentiment over the cross image, I used the cross to replace the t in faith. I added a layer of clear glitter overlay pen and a generous layer of glossy accents to the die cut and cross. A scattering of Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins and some drying time and this card was complete.

I finished the inside the same as the first but used spun sugar distress ink for the cross.

These were fun to create and it was a challenge to use these same pieces two ways.

Thanks for stopping by!

Teachers Gonna Teach

I was blessed with the opportunity to create Teacher Appreciation cards for a school in Ohio where my best friend's son attends. Being tasked with 67 cards was sort of a challenge but I didn't want to bow out. 

I found this adorable paper pad by Doodlebug and decided I'd make the cards from that single pad of paper. That way they coordinate but wouldn't be the same. 

I also used several coordinating images from several companies, Simon Says Stamp, Tim Holtz, Lawn Fawn and a few others. Each card has the same basic sketch used and the same sentiment on the outside and inside (we can always count on you). 

I took a few photos so I could represent the multiple images and papers used. 

Tim Holtz Image

 Whipper Snapper Design Image








Tim Holtz Image









Whipper Snapper

 Tim Holtz

Tim Holtz

Lawn Fawn

Diana Girl: Growing in Unity Day 5

Today is the last and final day for me to be the returning Growing in Unity Girl this week. So far this week we have played with Ink Smooshing, Heat Embossing, Texture Paste, Black and white images, and now, COLOR, GLORIOUS COLOR!!!

I bring you day 5.

Two cards made using bright colors and patterns. One with pattern using dies and the other with pattern using patterned paper.

Diana Girl

This is the Diana Girl Stamp from Angie Blom and it is one of my favorite from the Angie Girl line. She exhibits the strength each woman has inside her and I love how empowered I can make someone feel when I send them a card using this image. 

For this beautiful, colorful, powerful card, I used the new Birch Press Dazzle Layering dies for the background. These are really neat and you layer the three die cuts to create this intricate pattern. Eye catching and bold, am I right? 

I went with the tried and true Copic Coloring for the Diana girl  and just fussy cut her out and popped her up on foam tape. Simple, more simple than it looks, for sure! 

The second card I wanted to show was this one.

You Make Cute Babies

As you can see, this is a very colorful and bold card as well. Almost all the colors are a result of the adorable paper, excluding the one bit of coloring on the heart. This card also uses simple layering of die cuts to create a cohesive looking card. 

Don't forget to leave a comment below for your chance to win some Unity Stamps!

(be sure to go back and leave comments on all this week's blog posts for more chances)

Products used to create these cards:

Diana Girl

Diana Girl stamp set can be purchased here: 

Diana Girl

Birch Press Dazzle Layering Dies

Copic Markers

3M foam tape

Michael's card stock

SSS stitched banner dies

You Make Cute Babies

You make cute babies stamp set can be purchased here;

You Make Cute Babies

Doodle bug patterned paper

SSS Intense black ink

3M foam tape

Copic R27 & R29

PMS Peggy: Growing in Unity Day 4

Yesterday,  we played with heat embossing as a technique in a black and white color scheme. Today, I wanted to elaborate on the idea of a black and white focal image and colored patterned papers. 

PMS Peggy

PMS Peggy has to be one of my favorite edgy Unity stamp sets. I was especially fond of this set while pregnant with our youngest. It always made me giggle. There are two additional sentiments in the kit, check it out by using the link below.

This card uses a fairly simple recipe and you get a nice eye catching card with little effort. 

The green patterned papers are from a Michael's green paper 6x6 from the dollar bin and I paired it with a simple focal panel of Peggy, stamped in black ink. I colored the heart on her belt red for a little pop of color, but other than that, this is a very monochromatic card. 

Don't forget to leave a comment below for a chance to win some Unity Stamps!

 Products used to make this card:
PMS Peggy

Lawn Fawn Jet Black Ink
Copic R29
3M foam Tape
SSS green apple card stock
Black card stock from Michael's
Green patterned paper from Michael's

Unicorns & Rainbows: Growing in Unity Day 1

Hi Everyone, 

My name is Renee and I am one of the Growing in Unity girls for the week. I've been paper crafting for almost 20 years (I just gasped at that too). I started out with scrapbooks when I was pregnant with my oldest son, now almost 19 and have since switched almost exclusively to card making. I love the instant gratification cards bring. 

As I said, I started nearly 20 years ago while pregnant with my first son and just a few short weeks ago my husband and I welcomed collective baby number 7! We are a big blended family and our kids range from almost 19 to 5 weeks old. 

We endured a tragedy in 2013 when our 10 day old daughter Delaney passed away. Since then it has been my sole mission to spread joy and happiness. Although she did not pass away from cancer, I felt the people battling cancer were feeling the same helpless feelings my husband and I were while we watched our daughter struggle and fight. So, I've been sending cards of hope to cancer patients for the last 3 1/2 years, mostly anonymously, always full of love and hope. Unity has been a huge part of this because they carry such an amazing line of cancer stamps (so grateful for that, btw). 

This week I want to focus on techniques and bright fun cards. I hope you enjoy my cards as much as I do. Today's technique is INK SMOOSHING. By pressing the distress ink pads down on a piece of acetate and spritzing the pigment with water and dabbing your paper into the ink pool, you can create some really interesting and beautiful designs, images and backgrounds. 

My first card this week required me to step outside my crafty comfort zone, completely. I'm not usually a fan of ink smooshing because it delivers results that are less than ... controlled... and I'm a pretty clean and simple card maker. The background on this card is rainbow ink smooshing, what else would you think would be appropriate for this super cute Unicorn by Susan Weckesser?

This set is called Unicorns & Rainbows and comes with 6 red rubber stamps. I used three image stamps and the sentiment to create this card.

I paper pieced the cute unicorn and cloud onto the background, colored the rainbow with some fun copic markers and added some sparkle to the unicorn. How much fun is this card!












Be sure to leave a comment below for your change to win some fun stamps from Unity Stamp Company!



The products used to create this bright and cheery card are:

Unity Stamp Co Unicorns & Rainbows available here:
Unicorns & Rainbows

Ranger Distress Inks:
Candied Apple
Carved Pumpkin
Mustard Seed
Lucky Clover
Blueprint Sketch
Wilted Violet

Additional Products Used:
A Muse Studio Landscape die- cloud border
Mama Elephant Die- Park Ave. Frame
Copic Markers- Rainbow colors
PPP sequins
Tim Holtz water color paper
Spectrum noir sparkle overlay pen

Day 30 of the 30 Day Coloring Challenge!!!

Day 30 of the 30 Day Coloring Challenge put on by The Daily Marker. Check out all the entries, use hashtag #thedailymarker30day to check them out.

Today I started creating inventory for Craft Fair Season. I made 16 of these cards using different Designer papers.

All basically colored the same but different enough. I even used "craft herpes" I mean... glitter...