Please join my yahoo ART group

I have started a new Yahoo group called ART4daSOUL and we would love to have you join us. We are going to be doing lots of swaps of ATCS (artist trading cards), Inchies, Deco Books, 4x4 art squares, mini atcs, altered dominoes, and much much more. We will be doing some greeting card swaps also which is something new to the group.

Please stop by and check us out and please join if you think its something you would be interested in.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ART4daSOUL/

Thanks for looking
DeAnna

Last minute Christmas Cards

I was actually guilty of mailing some boxed Christmas Cards this year... I didn't have time to make all the ones I wanted to but I had some special people that got handmade cards. The first one here is my favorite and very easy with a cuttlebug folder, a piece of ribbon and some stickles. Some more 3d decoupage on a couple of others and a beautiful medallion with liquid pearls from Fred, She Said.

Special Friend Christmas card

One of my brothers good friends ask me to make a special card for him telling him how much his support and friendship means to him. I really like the way this card turned out with the little friend bears carrying a Christmas tree on the roof. Just wanted to share it with you.

Christmas cards 2008

A few of my christmas cards using 3d decoupage sheets, mirror paper, color mates cardstock, cuttlebug folders, stickles, glitter and lots of foam dots.

Some more of my cards

Just sharing some other cards I have made. I really want to do more of the paper embroidery, I like the way they look when you finish them. Don't you just love the giraffe stamp by Great Empressions too!

Christmas card for a special friend

A friend asked me to make a beautiful elegant card for his parents for Christmas and I wanted to share it here on my blog. I used some gold mirror paper, the cuttlebug christmas tree embossing folder and added some ribbon and flat back pearls just for a little added touch.

New jewelry designs for sale on new site

I have started a new photobucket site with my jewelry new and existing for those of you who are asking for prices and photos and for christmas or any occassion shopping.
http://photobucket.com/deannascustomjewelry

Thanks for looking and let me know if there is anything you want to order. I will be adding more jewelry tomorrow and more during the weekend and next week.

Christmas Earrings just in time for the holidays

I have made quite a few pairs of my holiday earrings and if interested in purchasing them, they are 15.00 a pair and you can just email me at jewelrybydeanna@yahoo.com Thanks for looking

Jumpring captured crystal necklace and matching earrings

I made this set also as a Christmas gift for someone but they are available for sale in any colors of crystals and also gold jumprings. This set sells for 65.00 and makes a great gift to put under the tree.

Crystal and bead necklace

I made this necklace for someone in my card making/atc group for our Christmas exchange last night. I got the beautiful flat beads from Potomac Beads here locally and used swarvoski crystals and small beads.

More of my designs for Firecracker Designs by Pamela

I previously posted that I had been asked to be Guest Designer for Firecracker Designs by Pamela and here are 2 of the cards that I submitted to her. The stair step card was alot of fun and you have to love the snowman and snowwoman.

Another batch of Christmas cards.

More Christmas cards made with the 3d decoupage sheets, lots of stickles, liquid snow, mirror paper, outline stickers and lots of foam dots. Hope you enjoy seeing these too.

I have started a LAPBAND blog

For those of you that are following my story with the lapband surgery, I have started a separate blog for that at http://www.deannaslapbandjourney.blogspot.com/

Please subscribe there also to get updates and new photos.

Christmas card Time again!!

Going to start posting some of my christmas cards. Most of them are made with 3d decoupage sheets that are made by members of a card group that I'm in. I love using the cuttlebug folders for backgrounds and they look awesome on mirror paper as you can see. I'm also a huge lover of Stickles and like to add that to most of my cards for some glittery shine.

Had a tough weekend after surgery

The weekend was tough, wanting to eat, missing food, but it will get better. I have been on liquids now for 15 days and have 6 more days to go. Tiffany at Dr. Bass's office said my hunger is more mental than physical right now. The swelling has went down quite a bit in my stomach and I'm alot more comfortable. I see the doctor on Thursday and can't wait to weigh in and see how I'm doing. I will post the end of the week and let you know how I did. thanks again to everyone for their posts, comments and emails on my decision to do the Lapband Surgery. It took me a while to decide to do it and after having a few regrets, I'm feeling better about the whole situation. I'm excited to lose the weight and feel good about myself and be able to wear some really cute clothes. Can't find many "cute" things in a 4X. lol

For those of you that are doing it the conventional way of exercising and watching what you eat, my brother Phil is a Personal Trailer and has a very informative and helpful site full of tips, stories, etc.

Check it out here: http://brayfitness.blogspot.com/

Today I am featured on Inspirational Blog

Deanne from Inspirational Blog contacted me by email and asked if she could feature my blog on their blogsite. I was so taken back but proud to have been asked. They have a wonderful blog with great artists, etc.
Please go to their site and see all the wonderful artist and artwork.
http://inspirationalcraftblogs.blogspot.com/2008/12/deanna-duz-art.html

I was chosen as Guest Designer for Firecracker Designs by Pamela

Pamela from Firecracker Designs by Pamela asked me to be guest designer for her stamps in the month of December and it has been quite an honor. I'm so happy to be doing this, Pam has some great stamps and you can check them out at her site Firecracker Designs by Pamela also check out Pamelas blog here too. I will be posting cards and other things I made for the month of December as they are placed on her blog. Here are a couple of pairs of earrings that I made with some of Pamelas stamps. I try and look outside the box and dont' always see just a card when purchasing a stamp.

New Rings I made

I purchased a pattern and taught myself this beautiful sterling silver wire ring with swarvoski crystals. They are made to order by size and colors if interested for a Christmas gift.

I'm home from the hospital and doing well

Just wanted to pop on and let everyone know that I'm back home and doing good. Still in alot of pain but the surgery went well. The swelling in my stomach is the most painful and the incision for the port on the upper left side of my stomach. When I got home on Tuesday evening, I was hurting so bad that I was wishing I hadn't done it and wanting a burger and fries. lol.... I know its just the pain and discomfort and when that goes away and I start losing weight, I'll be glad that I did it.
I'll be posting next week when i see the doctor on Thursday for my first weight in since going on liquids the end of November.
Thanks again for the love, support and inspiration i have received.

Well.... The Journey has begun

My weight loss journey has begun. Alot of my blog subscribers have asked me to document my progress so its starting now. My lapband surgery is Monday morning at 6 am in Hollywood, FL with Dr. Thomas Bass. I am very nervous, scared and excited all at the same time. I have been waiting for this for a long time and I'm looking forward to posting pics every few months of my progress. I have been on liquids since last Sunday morning and will be on liquids for 2 more weeks after sugery, then I can graduate to soft purreed foods and then regular foods. The Fort Myers News Press here in town is going to be doing an ongoing story with updates on my progress also and I will be posting those links here. Thank you to everyone that has helped me to get to this point and thanks for all the support, inspiration emails and phone calls, I appreciate them all more than you know. Watch for future updates. I have attached my "Before" photos so you can see where I'm starting.

To read about my story from the beginning click here;Chapter One: A rocky start in North Fort Myers

A beautiful new Swarvoski Crystal Pendant I made

I learned to make another beautiful pendant. This one takes 36 crystals and 32 tiny beads for the bail and arond the crystals. Its beautiful isn't it?? I have also attached a photo of the jump ring jewelry I learned to make, this time a beautiful necklace.

What an awesome stamp...

Isn't this the coolest stamp. The deer stamp is by Penny Black and you just put one color ink on it and when you stamp it, its 3 different colors... A friend of mine told me about the stamp and I just had to have it. I used vintage glass glitter on the tree at under the deers feet to look like snow.

Halloween Witches Brew 4x4

We did a swap in my art group and it was a 4x4 titled Witches Brew. This is the card that I made for it. Notice the little shrink plastic spider at the bottom left side of the card.

Another bracelet - I'm hooked!!

I just love making these bracelets, this one has a pale lavender swarvoski crystal bicone bead in it and I used a lobster clasp on the end rather than the toggle.

Bracelet I made from jumprings and crystals

I took a class at our local Potomac Bead store in Downtown Fort Myers and made this beautiful bracelet made of jump rings and swarvoski crystals. I really enjoyed the class and have already started a second bracelet.

If the Broom fits.....ride it!

I absolutely love this stamp from Northwoods Rubber Stamps. To find this awesome stamp, go to www.northwoodsrubberstamps.com and its in their supplements section fall and winter 2008. I used watercolor paper and Lyra watercolor crayons and a waterbrush.

More quick and easy cards

I did another batch of quick and easy cards. These are such fun, quick and easy to do. Nice to have in a snap when you need a card for someone at the last minute. My local stamping store Bettys Stamp Pad has them each month and I really enjoy doing them.