For my valentine

I had fun using inks and paper edgers with A.J.'s Digi Shoppe's Hearts Paper to create this Valentine's day card.

Card Design: Dawn Taylor

Digital Paper Design: Amanda Marks

Papers: Forever in Time card blank

           Staples cardstock

Inks: Colorbox pigment inks

        Ranger Tim Holtz distress inks

Rubber Stamps: You are loved stamp by Katie and Co. for Studio G

                        tiny heart and lipsmack stamps (maker unknown)

Embossing Powder: Uptown Accessories clear

Paper Edgers: Fiscars ripple

Adhesives: Beacon 3-in-1 advanced craft glue

                Dollarama foam tape

Misc. Supply: Dollarama bling

You can read more about how I created this look on my personal blog www.morninglasstable.com.

Owl Love Card

It's no secret that Amanda's Owls are probably one of my favorite sets created! They are perfect for Valentine's cards. I paired them with her baby dots and stripes in pink from her digital paper collections to create a simple Love card.

for this project you will need:
Digital Stamps: Owl Couple
Digital Paper: Dot Pastel Paper Pack & Stripe Pastel Paper Pack
Markers: BIC Mark-Its
Accessories: Stampin' Up Heart Punch, Ranger Distressed Ink Worn Lipstick, Inkadinkado Stamp Sentiment, Foam Squares, Quickie Glue Pen and Prisma Glitter, Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and ribbon.

Thank you for looking!
~leslierahye

Understated Birthday

I made this card, using A.J.'s Digi Shoppe digital stamps, for someone who is wishing to downplay their birthday this year.  I matched this card to the tastes of the recipient using autumn colors and animal print.  I used the very versatile brown paper from the Gingerbread Paper Pack as a background matte and used the Birthday Candle (colored digitally) to represent the idea that this is, in fact, a birthday card. 

Card Design: Dawn Taylor
Digital Paper and Stamp Design: Amanda Marks
Papers: Forever in Time card blank
             Staples White copy paper
             Staples Ivory cardstock
             Recollections Animal Kingdom patterned paper
             Paper-azzi Fantasy Shimmer cardstock, gold
Inks: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Spiced Marmalade
         Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stain, Wild Honey
Glues: Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft glue
           Dollarstore Glitter Glue
Tape: Scrappin' Gear double sided tape

Happy Moo Year!

For the second time this month I used the Cow over the Moon digi stamp. I created a card by combining that stamp which can be found here with the fireworks digi stamp which can be found in the Patriotic Duck Stamp 2 collection here to create this New Years card.  I used my Gimp 2 free program to digitally color these stamps, which is a first for me, and also used markers to enhance them slightly. I used a glue pen and embossing powder to create the silver sentiment.  I printed my image twice so that I could use foam tape to pop up the cow and star.  I added a few glitter felt stars left over from my last project to add a bit more sparkle. I wish everyone the happiest of 'moo' years!

Card Design: Dawn Taylor
Digital Stamp Design: Amanda Marks
Paper: Recollections cardstock
Colored: Bic Mark Its
               Sharpie Ultra-fine tipped pens
                Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Adhesives: Beacon 3-in-1 advance craft glue
                   Martha Stewart artist glue pen
                   Dollarama glue tape
                   Dollarama foam tape
Misc. Supplies: Uptown Accessories silver embossing powder
                          Dollarstore glitter felt

Moon & Stars Ornaments

I like to add a few new ornaments to my Christmas Tree every year.  This year I have been feeling less than energetic so I made very simple ornaments using A.J.'s Digi Shoppe's Cow over the moon digi stamp (minus the cow) as the template.  You can find digi's from the 'Hey Diddle Diddle' collection here.  I printed the stamp onto regular cardstock then cut out the images and traced around them onto some stiff, glittery felt I found at my local Dollarstore.  I glued the stars onto the moons and used some wrapping cord from the Dollarstore as a hanger. This is very simple and could be done by children and yet the finished effect is quite pretty and will be a nice addition to our tree this year.

Ornament Design: Dawn Taylor
Digi Stamp Design: Amanda Marks
Paper: Staples Cardstock
Glue: Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue
Misc Supply: Glitter felt and Wrapping cord from the Dollarstore

Christmas Duck Tag with Gingerbread Papers

To make this project:

AJs Digi Shoppe Gingerbread Paper Pack

AJs Digi Shoppe Christmas Duck

BIC Mark-Its

Ribbon, Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer [as adhesive]

large laminate sample

Good morning! As I gear up for the holidays, I am handmaking many items from gift wrap and tags, to presents and ornaments. For my presents to neighbors and teachers, I am including a gift tag that also doubles as an ornament. This tag was constructed on a large laminate sample acquired at a home improvement store. I adhered digi papers to it with Crystal Lacquer. I then layered on this delightful Christmas Duck. On the back I added a layer with a holiday sentiment and a place to write who the present was to and from. I sanded the edges with a file to insure it was smooth and added ribbon through the hole in the sample. Ribbon can be replaced with an ornament hanger to place on a tree.
Thank you for looking! I hope you enjoyed my tag!

Monster Hair Bow Clips!!!

At last we're in October and I'm gearing up for the fall holidays not only in my household decorating and but also in my accessorizing for our wardrobes. Both of my kids are big fans of AJ's Digi Shoppe and of course they loved the new release of Monsters this month. When I saw them, I knew I wanted to play with felt again! I had Sam pick out a favorite monster--this was very difficult because really she loves them all!  She settled on the one that looks like Candy Corn.

For this project you will need:

Candy Corn Monster Digi

felt

embroidery floss

needle

googly eyes

glue

ribbon

clip

I sized him to about 1¾" wide. I used that for a pattern to trace onto white, yellow and orange felt. I outlined the facial features with 2ply purple embroidery floss, added the googly eyes and hot-glued him onto a small tails-down bow that I created out of a pretty plaid ribbon  I had. The bow was hot-glued onto an alligator style clip--taking care to make sure they were glued in opposite directs to be worn on opposite sides of the head. 

Sam LOVES them! I hope you also enjoy them! Thank you for looking!

Trick or Treat Ghosty

It is no secret that I ADORE Halloween and Amanda has created these AMAZING spiderweb papers and these adorable Turtle Halloween digis! This ghosty turtle is probably my favorite!

To create the background, I pieced my papers in Microsoft Publisher. I began with all three solid colors with light spiderwebs on them--orange green and purple. I created the orange base by re-sizing the orange paper to 5×5in. 

Next I made each of the purple and orange 4-3/4" square and then cropped them in half. I layered them on the orange so that they fit evenly and the purple and green stacked. 

Next I cropped down a piece of the striped paper to just have the few stripes between the green to make a "strip" of striped paper to layer on top of the background. 

Once I was happy with this, I still had room to work on my Publisher page. I sized my ghosty digi and made two of him--just in case--and made a small sentiment that matched the color of the papers that I was using. 

As I LOVE the look of white prismacolor on kraft, I chose to print my page out on Kraft cardstock and trim out my background page and sentiment. I colored my ghosty with the white prisma color and the metallic Sakura colors and clear for his eyes. I attached a beautiful swiss dot organza bow with ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and layered everything with foam tape and mounted it on a black piece of cardstock to make an easy card. 

Thank you for looking! I hope you enjoyed my card!

Bewitching Bag

There might even be healthy goodies in there...

I used A.J.'s Digi Shoppe's NEW Halloween Paper Pack and the Witch Turtle Digi Stamp to create this goodie bag for Halloween.  Now to make a few more, for the other kids...

Digital stamp/paper design: Amanda Marks
Project Design: Dawn Taylor
Paper: Recollections cardstock
           Aspen brown paper lunchbag
Inks: Autumn Leaves Stampology
        Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Stamps: Viva Las Vegastamps Small Spider Stamp
             Craftsmart Cobweb border stamp, Sentiment
Colored with: Prismacolor pencils
                      Inkadinkadoo soft tones blending chalks
Adhesives: Multicrafts Canada scrapbook glue
                  Beacon 3-in-1 advanced craft glue
 Misc.: orange acrylic yarn from my stash

Check out more of my creations at my blog Morninglass' Table.

You had me at GRRR!

Frankly my dear...
Digi stamps & papers: Frankenstein and Mrs. Frankenstein, and Leaf Paper Pack

Markers: BIC Mark-Its

Accessories: Club Scrap paper roap, Sakura Hobby Crafts 3D Crystal Lacquer, Foam Tape, Zots Bling Dots 

You all know I LOVE these owls and the leafy papers from AJs Digi Shoppe...I just had to create one more card with the Franken-owls. My huband Bill and I love the movie The Young Dr. Frankenstein so I thought this would be a fun thinking of you card to send to him around Halloween. 

I layered my digital cardstock in my Microsoft Publisher program and created my sentiment there as well. I then printed out the stamps, layered cardstocks and sentiment. After coloring the digis with BIC Mark-Its, I highlighted the owls' eyes with Sakura Hobby Crafts 3D Crystal Lacquer and trimmed out the papers, sentiment and owls. The owls were attached with foam tape to the leafy paper, The paper rope was attached with Zots Bling Dots. The whole thing was layered onto a card base with foam tape. 

I hope you enjoy my card--it made the husband smile! Thank you for looking!

Not Finished Folder

12 inch x 18 inch Folder  I made for Works In Progress

I created a folder for my 'works in progress' from the front and back cover of a dollar store children's scrapbook.  I used several Deco Arts paints mixed with Deco Arts Blush and Blend extender and Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist in perfect pearl to create my background. I used Amanda Marks' adorable caterpillar and the very realistic mushroom from her A.J.'s Digi Shoppe Bugs collection which are available here.  I drew the large flowers myself and colored the stamps and my flowers with school grade Buffalo watercolor paints and Stabilo Funcolor pencils.  I used Elmer's Rubber Cement as a masking agent  for the swirls on the mushroom cap.  I used a scrap of K and Company Paper and Bic Mark Its to make the banner and added dollar store 3D stickers as embellishment.  I used Elmer's Craft Bond Spray Adhesive to afix all of my paper elements to my folder, and held the folder together with Reflectix Metal Tape, covered with dollar store ribbon.

SOAR! with Mama Owl

I just love these digi papers and stamps that Amanda has released! The Leaf Paper Pack was released earlier this summer and has the awesome leafed branch papers as well as matching background papers!

The Owls Set--an August Release--has Owls to celebrate all sorts of seasons but my favorite is the Mama Owl with her hatching eggs...it makes me think of baby birds flying the nest, soaring. I think it is perfect for back to school as our little hatch-lings fly the nest to go to school! 

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoy my card. 

Recipe for Soar!

Ingredients

AJ's Digital Stamps: Mama Owl & Leaves Paper Pack

Card stock: Bazzill Basics Kraft

Markers: BIC Mark-Its

Accessories: Foam Squares, Silk Flowers, Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer, Beacon 3-n-1 Craft Glue, Tim Holtz Hardware and ticket, Peeled Paint Stain and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

Directions

1. Print Mama Owl at 3½" wide on white card stock
2. Print Green leafs paper at 5" wide on Kraft card stock--placing at the top left or bottom left of page depending on where you want the card to fold [I chose dark branches on top]
3. Color Mama Owl with BIC Mark-its
4. Trim out card base to 5×10" so that the card folds at 5" along the edge of the printed leafy paper
5. Add Peeled Paint Stain and Burlap Distressed Ink to edges of trimmed card 
6. Trim out Mama Owl and attached to card base with foam squares.
7. Attach flowers with Beacon 3-n-1. Attach stained Tim Holtz ticket and hardware to card.
8. Make 3D owl eyes by adding Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer to centers of owl eyes.

Summer Fun

In honor of Summer, I made this whimsical wall hanger using the Beach Bum Owl digital stamp from A.J.'s Digi Shoppe Owls collection.  You can find this cute stamp and other owls here.  Check out Amanda Marks' other digital stamps here.

Project Design: Dawn Taylor
Digital Stamp Design: Amanda Marks 

Wooden Base painted with: Deco Arts paints and crackling medium
Papers: Staples cardstock

            Crafts patterned paper (Umbrella)

            Scraps of K and Company paper (Sentiment)

Colored/Drawn with: Schwan Stabilo Fun Color water pencils

                                 Bic Mark Its

                                 Sharpie Fine Tip markers

                                 Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Fired Brick

                                 Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists in Perfect Pearl

Adhered with: Multi Crafts Canada Scrapbook glue

                      Elmer's Craft Bond Spray adhesive

Misc. Supplies: Crafts Stickers (Sentiment)
Check out some other designs of mine on my blog. 

Mrs. Frankenstein Bookmark

For today's project, I used an AJ's Digi Shoppe Digi as a pattern to construct this fun seasonal bookmark. Amanda's new August release Owls is amazing and the Mrs Frankenstein Owl is my favorite. I thought she'd be perfect for a bookmark for my mother who loves owls AND Halloween! 

Recipe

felt remnants

14" 1"-wide grosgrain ribbon

remnants cotton yarn

2 giggle eyes

glue

Instructions

I cut one piece of tan felt the entire perimeter of the owl for a base. I cut the individual pieces for the dress, collar, hair, face, feet, beak, wings, eyes, and lightening bolt. The cape I cut as one solid piece to place the dress and wings upon. I glued the pieces to the felt, adding the cotton yarn and the giggle eyes last. I placed the ribbon so that when it is placed in the book and she "dangles" that she is facing right-side up.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoy my Mrs. Frankenstein bookmark! 

Design Team Announcement

It has been a very tumultuous week, I was saddened by the departure from our design team of Kelly Donovan.  Kelly is extremely busy and she felt it was best for her to take a break from the Design Team.  We do hope Kelly does a guest post every now and then to see what she has been up too.

On Thursday my Design Team Members did a special post for me (so I would not have to pick up an extra blog post).  I really loved everything they did and I was extremely humbled by the blog post, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to announce our newest Design Team Member:  Sigrid Martin.  Sigrid is an amazing mom, hair dresser and papercrafter (in her free time).  I am honored that she said yes and I know everyone will love her designs as much as I do!  Please check out her blog:  www.lovescrapreflect.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to sign up for the Newsletter!  Each month there will be a NEW unreleased digital stamp in the Newsletter just for subscribing.  Join us on Facebook for updates and even more sneak peeks of what we are working on. 

Thank you, everyone for your support in my newest adventure!

Manda :)

A Special Thursday Post

Today we have a very special unscheduled post to bring to you! Several design team members and guests have created cards using AJ's Digi Shoppe digis and some of their favorite products. We hope you enjoy our cards! Thank you for looking!

Miss Froggy and friends by Samantha, Age 5

Stamps: Frog Digital Stamp Set, Butterfly from Bugs Digital Stamp Set

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Markers: BIC Mark-Its

Accessories: PrismaGlitter, Quickie Glue Pen

Sunburned Summer Duck by Will, Age 11

Stamps: Summer Duck from Ducks Digital Stamp Set 1
Cardstock:  Bazzill Basics

Markers: BIC Mark-Its

Accessories: MuddPuddles Tahiti Sand, Provocraft Emboss folder, Sakura Dimensional Lacquer

American Uncle Booga by Design Team Member Vince

Stamps: Uncle Sam from My Little Brother Digital Stamp Set 1

Cardstock: Patriotic Paper Pack

Colored: Digitally

Accessories: Bling, Foam Tape

Missing Rain Spring Duck by Design Team Member Leslie-Rahye

Stamps: Spring Duck from Ducks Digital Stamp Set 1

Cardstock:  Stripe Paper Pack

Markers: BIC Mark-Its

Accessories: Sakura Dimensional Lacquer

Celebrating Christmas in July with MLB's Booga Stealing the Star

Where I live it has been 100°+ outside for what seems like f o r e v e r. It is the middle of July and the winter holidays seem far, far away. In the midst of all the summer craziness, I--like many others--start to plan for my holiday gift giving. It has been a goal of mine for many years to have all of my holiday purchasing done BEFORE Thanksgiving at the end of November. This year it is my goal to hand make all of my holiday gifts. To get in the mood I am celebrating Christmas in July this week! To kick it off I am sharing with you this fun card I made using AJ's Digi Shoppe stamp Booga Stealing the Star from the My Little Brother Stamp Collection! I hope you love it as much as I do!

digital stamps:  Booga Stealing the Star MLB stamp

cardstock:  Bazzill Basics

markers: Stampin Up Markers

accessories:  foam tape, Quickie Glue Pen, prisma glitter, glitter pen, bling

This is just one of many super cute holiday images in A.J.'s Digi Shoppe...I hear there are more cute ideas to come! I can't wait to see them! Thank you for looking!

Congratulations to Our Design Team

The A.J.'s Digis Shoppe Design Team:

Leslierahye Strickland -  www.leslierahye.blogspot.com/

Vince Ballard - www.craftymomentscardmaking.blogspot.com

Dawn Taylor - www.morninglasstable.com

Kelly Donovan - www.knittingandthings.blogspot.com

Amanda Marks - www.ajsartsanddesigns.com

I am very excited to see what everyone comes up with in the next couple of months.  I am very honored to have such an amazing, creative design team. 

Birthday Card

©2011 A.J.'s Digi Shoppe
www.ajsdigishoppe.com

Birthday Card

The Birthday cake with Candles can be found in our Birthday/Occasions Section.

Card Design: Amanda Marks
Digital Stamp: Amanda Marks

Paper: Miss Elizabeth's Paisleys and Olive Paperbilities. White Card made by Halcraft

Colored With: Prisma Color Pencils: Orange PC918, Lemon Yellow PC915,Light Blue PC904, Pink PC929, Apple Green PC912, True Green PC910. Blue Sharpie Liquid Ink Pen (not Marker)

Adhesive: Elmers Dot Runner

Other: Edges stamped with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Broken China. Happy Birthday Stamped with Staz-On Azure Ink.

Graduation Card 2011

©2011 A.J.'s Digi Shoppe
www.ajsdigishoppe.com

Graduation 2011 Card

2011 Graduation Stamp can be found in our Freebie Section

Card Design: Amanda Marks
Digital Stamp: Amanda Marks

Paper: Black Canson Paper and Crayola Holographic Paper

Colored With: Bic Mark Its Plumtastic Purple and Polynesian Purple

Adhesive: Elmers Dot Runner