Let It Snow, in January

Howdy, and welcome back.  I have been busy crafting, but not busy photographing what I have created {frown}.  But, I will work on being better at sharing what I create here, and on my Facebook page.  To be honest, sometimes, its just easier to take a quick pic with my phone and upload it on Facebook.  Yeah, that makes me sound lazy.  Honest. But lazy.  So, a New Year's Resolution has been declared!

I am playing along with three challenges: Just Add Ink, Paper Craft Crew, and Word Art Wednesday.  So, let's get started!  I stopped by Just Add Ink blog, and they have a color inspiration photo for their current challenge.

When I saw this photo, I instantly thought of a new line of holiday paper from Prima: Santa Baby.

For a little bit of direction, I stopped by the Paper Craft Crew blog.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  Perfect!  Here is that sketch:

I'm pretty sure I can work with this! {smile}

Finally, I headed over to the Word Art Wednesday blog.  Their challenges are Anything Goes, Family Friendly.  And the design team will certainly inspire you!

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  I created a standard A2 size greeting card (5 1/2" x 4 1/4").  I used PaperTrey Ink's Aqua Mist card stock for the card base.  I just love this soft, pale water color!  I added a piece of the 'houses' pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby.  I thought it looked sweet, and cozy.  

The next layer is the mugs of cocoa pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby, matted with Autumn Rose card stock by PaperTrey Ink.  

I then wrapped a piece of cream lace and pale pink seam binding around the second layer (similar to the sketch), and then I machine stitched these layers together.  I added my layered stack towards the right (as in the sketch).  I machine stitched the sentiment panel to the Aqua Mist card stock.  I slipped on a 'tree' paper clip.  And used foam tape to adhere it to the paper paper layer.  

I tied a double bow with the pale pink seam binding, and tied a tiny pale pink ornament to the bow with some gold and white bakers twin.  I adhered a paper blossom from the Prima: Santa Baby collection just above the bow.  I punched out some leaves and stuck them in behind the paper blossom (as in the sketch).  

I added a trio of crystals (as in the sketch) from Prima to the front of the card; two below the bow and one next to the tree paper clip.  I thought that they added the right amount of sparkle, even tho they are two different colors: aqua and pale pink.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope that you have a chance to play along with any or all of these challenges!  Enjoy your weekend, and I hope to be back soon!

Rustic Christmas

Happy Holidays to everyone.  I created a card for one of my favorite challenge sites.  And this has 2 happy endings - I got the opportunity to get back into my craft room, and I am a guest designer!  The wonderfully creative ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday have asked me to create a card for their current challenge {yahoo!}.

So, without further ado, here is my card:

Recipe:  this blank-inside card is a typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  I used a soft kraft card stock for the card base.  I just love this true 'cardboard' color.  I used a 'peeled paint' pattern paper as my first matt.  I love this worn look.  It reminds me of old country barns.

The second matt, is a soft, vintage plaid of red, green, and cream/vanilla.  It looks so country, and so home-y.    I did add a kraft matt, to this plaid matt, and then used my sewing machine to add a simple border stitch to this piece.  I wrapped a piece of red buffalo check ribbon around the pattern papers, and then tied a simple bow.  To keep with the over-all look of the card, I tied a wooden button to the bow with thin silver cord.  There is a tiny charm tied to that wooden button.  It is a vintage holy leaf with a bell.

To add a little flair, I added a candy striped poinsettia just above the button-bow combo.  This paper blossom is from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima. I thought the stripes matched beautifully with the plaid in the matt, and that vintage silver glitter just adds the right amount of nostalgia {smile}.  I used the word file provided by Word Art Wednesday for my sentiment.  I adhered it to the card front with foam tape.  And it works just beautifully!

My card is simple.  But, I think it has a lot of flair and country charm!  I hope you are able to play along with us @ Word Art Wednesday.  Because I know we just can't wait to see what you create!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas holiday, and was able to spend time with family and friends.

YOU are special card

Howdy.  I wanted to share a card I made, not for anyone specific.  Just to craft.  I wanted to make something pretty, feminine, and special.  {smile}

I picked up some pretty floral pattern paper, and a metallic polka dot pattern paper at a local big box store.  One sheet each.  It had to be the cheapest, I had EVER walked out of a craft store.  Under $2.  I think my minimal purchase was so worth the trip.  Here is what I made!

Recipe:  I used Stampin' Up! card stock for the card base and matt.  I used a simple rectangle of the floral pattern paper for the card front.  The floral paper is just so pretty, I didn't want to cover it up.  I did a simple border stitch with my sewing machine, to help convey the homemade feeling.

I used my Top Note die to cut the decorative piece out of the silver metallic polka dot paper.  I wrapped some white cotton trim around the top note piece, and machine sewn the trim in place.  I wrapped some navy blue corduroy ribbon around the white cotton trim.  I adhered the decorative piece to the left side of the card, to showcase both the floral pattern paper, but to have the decorative shape peeking out.

I did a two-step stamp for the sentiment.  I did a silver metallic embossing powder for the main word: you.  I stamped the rest of the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  I cut a simple, shallow flag banner to the right side of the sentiment rectangle.

I added a Prima blossom, I had in my stash, because I love pink.  {smile}  I tied a simple bow with the blue corduroy ribbon, and tucked it under the blossom.  I used my fabric scissors to cut a banner edge to the ends of the ribbon.  I thought this pop of blue really shows off the blue accent blossoms in the pattern paper.  

My final touch, was the trio of iridescent, structured dots.  Viola!  and now, I want to make more pretty things with this beautiful pattern papers!  Let me get back into my craft room!  See ya soon!

Classic Thank You

Good Morning.  And welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I am still crafting with what I have in my craft room.  Let me just say, that it can be both overwhelming and liberating at the same time.  I have grown into quite the paper craft hoarder collector.  I believe with all honesty I could open my own paper crafting supply store with what I have on hand.  {yikes}

But, one of my New Year's Resolutions, has been to start using what I have instead of purchasing new supplies.  Now, don't get me wrong, I still make purchases, just a lot smaller in quantity and $$$.  {a whole lot smaller}  

I am playing along with two groups of wonderfully talented paper crafters today.  

My first stop is @ Paper Craft Crew Challenge #309.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  And I love a good sketch.  To me, a good sketch is one that is super versatile and can be embellished or clean and simple.  Here is their sketch:

(Stampin' Up! products used: card stock, glimmer paper, and thin silver cord)

See what I mean!  The circle can be any shape, or item (blossom, doily, star, witch, etc) and the scallop border can be just that, or any other decorative border, or lace.  Can you see it?

My next stop is over @ Word Art Wednesday  This beautiful challenge site, is always Anything Goes, Family Friendly.  Now who wouldn't love to play along with them.  They provide a scripture that you can use with your paper craft, but is not required.  

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  this blank inside greeting card is the typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  The card base is made with Lagoon card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the hue of this blue.  The blue pattern papers are from American Crafts.  I just love the aquamarine color.  And those grey and white blossoms are just gorgeous!

I used some glitter paper from Stampin' Up! for both the scallop trim and a small banner piece under the sentiment to add sparkle.  I had a scrap piece of a grey plaid pattern paper, so I'm not sure who the manufacturer is, but I believe it is core'dinations.  

I did a slim dark grey matt under the blossom pattern paper, and machine stitched all the layers together.  I also machine stitched the ribbon across the card.  I tied a double bow with the ribbon, and tied the bow to a vintage Aqua Mist button, by Paper Trey Ink, using  thin silver cord by Stampin' Up!.  I hot glued the bow-button combo to the card front.  I added a light grey faux half pearl to the center of the double bow.

I stamped my sentiment: Thank You, in a basic grey classic ink onto a scrap piece of shimmer white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I used a favorite stamp set by Altnew: Label Love.  I used foam tape to lift the sentiment off the front of the card.

I used my one and only dark grey fabric blossom by CTMH.  I thought it worked perfectly.  And my final touch, was the addition of a trio of brushed silver sequins.

Thank you for looking, and I surely hope you get a chance to create something beautiful today! {smile}

Something Blue Plastic Money

Welcome.  If you were here the last few days, you saw a paper tote and a Birthday card I created with the Something Blue collection by Prima.  And today, I want to share the large packaged gift card holder I created with the same collection.  I know that this paper collection has a wedding theme.  But I just love the patterns, colors, and images.  It has that shabby chic, vintage look.  And we all have used themed collections for different projects. {smile}

Recipe:  This gift card holder, holds one of those gift cards that you purchase at the grocery store, or Walgreens that comes 'packaged'.  So, instead of ripping open the packaging and pulling out the gift card, you simply slide the whole thing inside.  Like a big, beautiful 'pocket'.  [yes, I make quite a few of these for craft fairs - it makes gift giving easy.]

To keep each part of these 'gifts' coordinating, I repeated the colors, the pattern papers, the embellishments, and the little touches.  It's the easiest way to make all parts of the package look like they all belong together.  [repeat, repeat, and repeat.]

I started with Kraft card stock by PaperTrey Ink.  [I can't rave enough about the quality, strength, and durability of this card stock.  It holds up to all of my embellishing!]

I used the dark grey polka dot pattern paper as the matt.  I just love the simple beauty of polka dots.  I then used the dark grey, white, and kraft bird print pattern paper as the main panel.  I love the birds!  I did pay close attention, to make sure all my patterns are oriented in the correct direction.  [Little details like this, do show your love.]  I did a simple border stitch with my sewing machine to the layered papers.  Now, before you get anxious, it really isn't that hard.  I always have my sewing machine out, so access to it, is a breeze.  I add a little adhesive to the middle of the stacked papers, and stitch along the border.  It doesn't have to be perfect - actually that adds visual interest.  But please don't be sloppy.  There is a difference between sloppy, tailored, and allowing the machine to run in its own direction.  {smile}

I used one of the journalling cards as my sentiment piece: true story.  I wanted something already printed, to add to the 'finished' look.  I used a few different 'book' themed stamps for my sentiments, but wanted something more personal.  So, I used a fancy script stamp set from PaperTrey Ink: Penned Elegance.  The sentiments are general, but have this beautifully fancy font.  

I didn't want to compete with the beautiful pattern paper, so I simply added trims that complements the paper.  I used a scrap piece of cream lace.  It's about 2" - 2 1/2" wide.  I then layered a mint striped ribbon over the center of the lace.  

I wanted to make the white accents in the pattern paper pop, so I added a white paper blossom.   This big, beautiful paper blossom, is from the 1$ bin at one of those big box craft stores.  [yes, I have a few packages of paper blossoms from these bins, always on hand.]  I added a mint glitter leaf from Prima to the paper blossom.  I believe these glittered leaves are from the Peppermint collection by Prima.  I felt the blossom needed a little more, so I added a simple bow to the upper left of the blossom.  But I wanted it to have a presence, so I added it upside down.  I just love how this little change in orientation adds something pretty!

All of my metallic additions to this birthday package collection have been silver.  So here is where I made a change.  Something I usually don't do.  But these large white blossoms came with gold accents.  I didn't want to fuss too much with the blossoms, so I ran with it.

I added two vintage buttons just below where the journal card falls.  I selected one mint and one white.  Both to tie in the color theme.  But since the paper blossom has gold accents, I used gold cord to tie the buttons.  I only added two buttons, because I added the clay star.  Yes, the star is made from clay - glitter clay, by me, and baked.  

Inside the gift card holder, I used the same dark grey classic ink, to hand stamp Happy Birthday.  I used a stamp from the same collection: Penned Elegance, so the stamping would match in font.

Thank you for looking.  I hope you have found some inspiration.  Inspiration to either create something new, or use a color you aren't fond of, or use a collection in a direct direction, or simply get back into your craft room.  Whatever you do, to express your creativity does speak volumes to your soul.  {smile}

Happy Birthday Lynnette

Thank you for coming back.  I want to share a Birthday card, I made for my friend Lynette.  If you saw yesterday's post, you know my friend loves a good book, and all things vintage.  {smile}

I used the same paper collection for the card: Something Blue by Prima.

Recipe:  I used the same Kraft card stock for the card base, that I used to create her paper tote.  I love this heavy weight card stock!

I layered the kraft, grey, and white bird pattern paper as the matt.  I added a scrap piece of the mint text pattern paper as the main panel.  I just love the contrast.  

I cut a decorative shape out of the text & fauna pattern paper.  [using the same pattern papers on the tote, and through out the 'gifts' helps tie the whole gift collection together.]  Then I added a simple border stitch with my sewing machine.   However, when I came to the decorative piece, I wanted the machine stitching to be decorative, too.  So, I did a zig zag stitch there.  I love how machine stitching adds some much love to paper crafts {smile}. 

The floral library card, is from a digital piece.  I thought the library card really conveys the book theme {smile}.  Yes, there are methods to my madness.

I used a sentiment from the Book Club stamp set by PaperTrey Ink.  I stamped the sentiment in dark grey classic ink.  

To add a bit of pizzazz to the card front, I added a junk bow to the top of the library card.  I used scrap pieces of mint lace, cream crochet trim, gold velvet ribbon, chenille trim, gold striped ribbon, aqua seam binding, pale pink seam binding, silver stripe cream ribbon, and cream lace.  I tied the junk bow together with silver cord.  I added an aqua mist button to the center of the junk bow.

I wanted to repeat the aqua color, so I added an aqua paper blossom.  

As usual, I wrote my 'note' on a post-it note inside the card.  That way, the recipient can re-use the card.  Not everyone does.  I have a friend who frames her birthday card each year. {smile}

Thank you for looking.  I hope your week is going well.  Remember, to take time for yourself.  If not every day, at least once a week.  You are important! and loved {smile}.