DRS Designs Featured Friday Stamper

Good morning girls! Oh, how I have been waiting for this day - forever it seems! Waaaay back at the beginning of the year I applied for the DRS designs Design Team but did not make the cut. They did however offer me a spot in their Featured Friday lineup. I was happy to accept as I'm sure you can imagine!!

I first noticed DRS designs on Vicki's blog, Stamped Smiles. And during this year, I've also seen them around more and more! What's great about DRS is that they have such a range of images - from the very cute and whimsical to the elegant. And such terrific sentiments too!

My first card uses the Silhouette Cowboy stamp. I'm a sucker for silhouette stamps and think cowboys are just terribly romantic - in a rugged sort of way!

I created this card over a month ago for my brother's birthday. He isn't what I'd call a "cowboy" but he does love a good John Wayne western and had a few of those movies on his birthday wish list. So this seemed like the perfect image to use!

I really wanted an aged, weathered look - almost like really worn, soft and warm, leather. Both the base and the main image piece of cardstock were misted and crumpled. smoothed out. and crumpled some more. Then I highlighted the wrinkles with some Distress Inks to bring out all those awesome wrinkles.

Since it was for my brother I wanted to keep it very masculine so I kept the embellishments to a minimum!

My other card uses Cindy Haffner's sketch from the Dare to Get Dirty challenges at SCS and also fits the "wings" challenge! This butterfly image is hands-down one of the prettiest butterflies I've ever seen - it's called Filigree Butterfly. I love the flourishes in it!

Here you can see how I cut it out and popped it up. I used more foam squares on one side of the butterfly than the other so it would look like it was turning --- kinda off the paper.

After stamping the butterfly, I went over it with my Spica clear glitter pen to add sparkle. I had tossed around the idea of adding gems in the corners and on the scallops and it just seemed to be too much. I wanted the focus on that gorgeous butterfly and the pretty paper!!

I did add a few gems on some of the flourishes.

What do you think?

Enough sparkle?

Or not enough sparkle?

If you aren't familiar with the images at DRS designs, take a moment to swing over and

check 'em out!! Another bonus is they have lots of sample cards on their shopping pages so it's easy to see the possibilities in an image and get some inspiration!

Have a beautiful day!!

Merci!!

I was reading through my blogs while I sit here and listen to a recorded conference call. I was so excited when I got to Paper Smiles --- I won her latest blog candy!! Go check it out if Nancy is not already on your "to read" list. She makes the prettiest cards - and today's is no exception! I love the way she combined 2 sets together!!

Wait till you see what I've got to post here in a little bit! I can't wait to show ya'll!

Make it a beautiful day!