Feathered Friend

On this 'hump' day, I find myself feeling a bit of relief.  I'm really looking forward to the weekend.  I have two craft fairs that I am participating in (Friday and Saturday) with two different locations.  But, my work's Christmas Party is this weekend!  How fun is that?  I work with a great bunch of folks, and so celebrating the holidays will be a welcome change.

But enough of those ramblings.  You came to see a card.  And the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have an easy to use sketch for you to play with.  Just remember to use your Stampin' Up! supplies.  If you need a Stampin' Up! 'store', click HERE. (click on 'Products' and then 'shop now'.)

Here is this week's sketch:

 

Looks pretty fun, huh?  I'd love for you to give it a whirl.  And, if you need some inspiration, the ladies on the design team, have some super ideas.  Here is what I did:

First, let me apologize for being late on this post.  After work yesterday, I had a few errands to run, and well I ran into an old friend, we got to talking, and when I finally got home (after 6p) my focus changed from the usual chores, to other things, and well, I completely lost track of time.  

Back to my card.  I used some favorites.  The card base is Baja Breeze.  I matted the First Edition DSP onto some Soft Suede card stock.  I added strips from two different pattern paper packs: Beau Chateau and Springtime Vintage.  I used two different stamp sets: Timesless Treasures and Clearly for You.  For my little bow, I used a scrap piece of the crochet trim and attached it to the card with a vintage trinket.  I used a die to cut the scallop circle, and a hand-held punch to cut the very vanilla circle.  The soft suede and baja breeze circles were hand cut.  I used the cone die to cut the banner.  I just trimmed down the very vanilla piece, so the baja breeze piece would matt it.  That's pretty much it.  I would suggest that you first have some sort of idea as to the occasion of card that you would like to make.  Then, select a stamp set that will work with your circle shape.  And then coordinate papers/ribbons to take place of the strips.  Let your focus of the cards main image dictate the direction your paper crafting goes in.

Thank you for your continued encouragement, and patience.  If you have a moment this week, please play along with us.  Take some time out of your busy schedule to sit and paper craft.  

hugs, sharon

Typed Christmas

'Tis the season.  I'm making another Christmas card.  This one is an invitation for all my Stampin' Up! Hostess's this year (2011).  For this card, I used all Stampin' Up! supplies.

I have an infinity for 'vintage' style.  So, when Established Elegance stamp set, came out, I had to get it! I paired it with this fabulous Christmas stamp set.  The pattern paper is Christmas Lane.  I've seen some holiday pattern paper with these fabulous red glitter swirls and just thought they were very beautiful and added just the right amount of sparkle and elegance.  So, I made my own.  I stamped the snow flake in Versa Mark.  Added heat and stick embossing powder, heat embossed, and then added the Real Red Glitter.  Viola!

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you visit again, soon!  Hugs.

A different Christmas

It's the last day of this long weekend for me.  I need to get a few things cleaned up, and a few loads of laundry done, to be prepared for the upcoming work week.  But, you are probably in the same boat as me, and so 'ahoy matey'.

I have distressed this christmas card, to give it that worn look, (a favorite of mine).  I also used the colors in the CR84FN color challenge: brown, green, and tan.  So, you see, these are NOT the traditional colors for christmas.  But, these are the colors I use to decorate our home for the holidays.  So, it only seems fitting to use these colors to create a christmas card.  

Here is the inspirational photo:

Here is my card:

*If you click on the photo, you will get an enlarged image, so you can see the detail.  But, I have provided you with a close up the the birds.  (I love birds)

For this card, I used a lot of Stampin' Up! products.  One of which is my new favorite 'tool' - distressing kit.  You get a blank red rubber stamp.  The theory behind the blank stamp is that it gives you a surface to apply ink randomly to your paper; pattern or not.  You also get four typical distress ink colors, to help get that wildly seen distress look.  (you get a sanding block and some files, to help rough edges and get a sure 'fit' on covered chipboard pieces.)

The ribbon and pattern paper are retired products of Stampin' Up!.  The card base is Crumb Cake card stock, with an Old Olive card stock, that was dry embossed with the vintage wallpaper EF.  The scallop trim is Soft Suede card stock.  I made a frequently seen rolled flower using the First edition DSP.  The buttons are a random collection from my stash.

Thank you for stopping by this busy holiday weekend.  I hope that you were surround by friends and family, and where able to give 'Thanks' to those who have earned/deserve it.

St. Nick

Happy Saturday Morning!  Whew.  This has been a busy holiday weekend, and I'm glad that I had a chance to sit in my craft room and create.  But, when I tell you this was a labor of love, I mean it.  Wendy, from Our Creative Corner, has a wonderfully delightful challenge for you this week.  

Here is her inspirational photo:

Wendy, uses this long weekend, to decorate her house.  And she wants to see a Christmas tree of sorts used on your paper crafting project.  Sounds pretty simple, huh?  As one of my design teammates says, 'it's the simplest that can be the hardest'.  And boy is she ever right!  So, when I saw this photo, I knew exactly what I wanted to use.  A starting point of sorts.  My resin christmas tree.  How pretty, huh?  So, at first I altered a box, to create a Christmas box.  Oh my.  That did not come together as I had envisioned it would in my mind.  Ok, so, I tried to alter a hinged lid tin, you know, to hold christmas tags.  I couldn't get that to come together either!  Was I trying too hard?  Or simply limiting myself to this resin tree.  So, after going through two different Christmas themed lines of pattern paper, and countless hours.  I came up with this simple (not really) coaster hanger.  

I used one of those cardboard coasters that measures 4" x 4".  I used an 6" x 6" pattern paper pack.  Since the object is small in scale, I felt that the patterns on your typical 12" x 12" pattern paper would be too huge.  I wanted a pattern 'small'.   I did a little stamping, too!  I inked the 'Merry Christmas' stamp in pear pizzazz, old olive, and always artichoke classic inks.  I wanted the image to look old, worn.  So, I figured the variations in color would seem weathered.  I also used my blank stamp and old paper ink pad to give all the pattern papers a dirtied-look.  And front and (almost) center is that resin Christmas tree.  I'm a fan of texture and visual interest, so there are a few different things.  The buttons are hand-sewn on.  The text paper is both distressed and punched using a lace border.  I also stamped a holiday sentiment on it.    The fabric rolled flower helps 'join' that otherwise empty corner.  I die-cut the star out of textured white paper and distressed the edges.  I punched three different flower shapes out of the same 6" x 6" pattern paper pack, to keep the scale of pattern consistent.  I have it all together with a metal brad.  And then I topped the brad off with a faux half-pearl.   The 'Season's Greeting' tag was printed @ 70% scale.  I added a scrap piece of crochet trim to help soften the paper seam.  I used my crop-a-dile to punch the hanger holes.  I strung some pretty polka dot ribbon thru and knotted it at the back.  

This little pretty can either hang on a door or your tree.  Let's see what beautiful work of art you create with our challenge: use a Christmas tree on your project.  For some added inspiration, and to get those creative juices flowing, hop on over to the Our Creative Corner blog, and see what these super talented ladies have created!  You won't be disappointed!

friends

It's Friday! Black Friday! That means most of you are shopping, in hopes of getting that fabulous sale/deal, or special.  I wish all of you some economic savings.  As for me, there are a few stores I will be visiting on the web, and one store in person.  I know exactly what I want to purchase, and where, so the shopping isn't too much browsing, as it is buying.

But, if you get a chance to sit down at your crafting space, please consider playing along with us.  Jennifer, at Sketch Frenzy Friday has given us this easy to work with sketch.  

(This is a blog hop and each of us have added a hyperlink to the next persons blog.)

For those who know me, know that I am not big on ovals.  Not really sure as to why.  But, it isn't my favorite shape to work with.  So, I replaced the oval with a circle and a flower at the bottom edge.  Here is my card.

Shocking that this card isn't pink, huh?  I thought with the change of seasons, why not change my usual color scheme.  I used Baja Breeze, which is one of my all time favorite blues.  The pattern paper is the DSP, and the solid card stock was run through the big shot inside the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.  After I stamped the sentiment in Soft Suede classic ink, I did a second generation stamp in Baja Breeze classic ink.

Here is the hyperlink to Tammy B.'s blog.  Visit her and see what she has created!

Stampin' Queens

Wow, it's already Wednesday!  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.   Where has this year gone?  Today, is the start of a new week for the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, and here is their sketch.

Ok, so if you know me, you know that I have an infinity to anything french, vintage/shabby chic, or pink.  So, I don't think that it comes as a surprise as to the pattern paper from Stampin' Up! that I have used:  Beau Chateau.  The only stamping I did was for that little sentiment tag.  And yes, I used the tiny tags stamp set.  Here is my creation:

I'm not positive, but don't you think that the rooster is the french version of the American pineapple.  Its a symbol of hospitality.  Anyways, with the holidays right around the corner (literally) I thought it was fitting.  I didn't vary the sketch in any way.  It's pretty straight forward.  But, now the more I look at my card, the more I want to add one of those tiny, round, metal trim tags below my bow.  And maybe a faux half pearl swirl of some sort.  No, I didn't sponge a thing.  Shocking.  But, I have to admit, I kinda like it! with the clean crisp corners and edges.  Anyways, please play along!  

Blessings

Happy Saturday!  Wow, this month is screaming by.  Does anyone else find themselves trying to play 'catch-up' with how fast this year is going by?  

Holly, from Our Creative Corner, has a great challenge for us this week.  I love it, when a design team member gives us a great challenge.  I love to be challenged, but not too crazy.  I love to have some creative freedom and to give the challenge our own sense of 'life'.  And Holly has given us an inspiration photo and some guidelines.  How clever.  How creative.  How wonderful.  So, without boring you any longer, this is the inspiration photo:

This photo has some wonderful colors, textures, designs, and tons of different elements!  Holly tells us to, 'find some inspiration from this fancy table setting and create a Thanksgiving, Holiday, or New Year's paper craft'.  So, take your que from this photo.  And create something wonderful to share with us!  For me, I'm still working on craft fair items, and so, I decided to create a guest blessings book.  When your family and friends share your Thanksgiving meal, instruct them to each write down what they are 'thankful' for.  Here is my Blessings book:

 

The blank journal measures 5 1/4 " x 5 1/4".  The original cover is light blue with this  huge unattractive tea cup on the front.  I kept the back cover original.  So, i worked with the light blue.  I cut a darker blue cardstock to fit the front cover, and then added some newly arrived pattern paper.  I wanted to use pattern paper that reflected the colors and patterns in the inspiration photo.  I used a scallop die to create the scallop trim.  I wrapped scallop trim with a scrap piece quilted ribbon.  The quilted ribbon has the diamond pattern on it, like in the inspiration photo.  I just love the words and font on the larger tag: I am thankful for you.  Love it!  And a seperate stamp created the 'Blessings' stamp at the upper edge of this journal.  I stamped it in a dark brown and heat embossed it.  So it has some presence and some texture.  I just love the shades of yellow and orange in this pattern paper.  I wanted those colors to really pop, so I added a yellow paper flower on top of an orange silk flower.  I felt the flower seemed 'naked' and so I used a die to cut the butterfly shape out of a pressed wood piece.  I inked the edges with some brown ink, to give the wings some definition.  I added the metal tag holder piece, because I thought the journal needed another texture/element.  I added the 'love' tag, to help express my feelings for my family.

So, its now your turn.  Lets see what you create with this wonderful inspiration photo.  Take your time.  Get in your crafting space, and lets see what you have done!  Share your talents with us! 

deb's sketch

Happy Friday.  I want to share a wonderful sketch from Sketch Frenzy Friday  with you.  Deb is the designer!  what a great sketch!

Now, off to Tammy B.'s blog!

hand-crafted Thank You

Happy Wednesday!  It's hump day, and that means we are half-way thru the week!  So, do you have any plans?  Me, I'm crafting every chance I get.  I two craft fairs coming up this weekend.  And then 2 more right after Thanksgiving.  So, I'm paper crafting like a crazy person.

The wonderful ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, have another wonderful, user-friendly sketch for us to work with.  I encourage you to play along with us.  

This is week #13, and here is the sketch:

This sketch has alot of potential!  For the matts, you can use pattern paper, solid cardstock, or any variation in-between.  For the rectangle in the middle, I used a tag shape.  You can use a  rectangle/oval/tag, etc.  The possibilities are endless.  And the ribbon can be replaced with crochet trim, a strip of paper, or twine.  The sentiment doesn't have to be stamped right on  your paper piece.  As you will see, myself and at least one other design team member, made a little tag.  Now break out your Stampin' Up! supplies, and create something uniquely you!

Here is my card:

I used all scraps to make this card.  Now I figure no one is surprised that I used the Spice Cake DSP and the First Edition DSP, right?  These two pattern papers have got to be my all-time favorite!  And yeah, I'm almost out.  I used three different stamp sets; one for each sentiment.  The tag in the middle came from a scrappin' kit: tea time.  I used one of the tiny safety pins from the vintage trinckets to hold the tags together.  Both tags are adhered to the card with foam tape.   I used sahara sand and pool party texture cardstock for my matting.  The card base is soft suede.  The crochet trim is a 'poor man's bow'.  I also added some faux half-pearls to continue the feminine feel of the card. 

Thank you for looking.  Hope you play along.  :)

Holiday Wreaths

I wish I had a photo, but I don't.  I have these wonderful neighbors, who are volunteer ski instructors with the Adaptive Ski Program right here in New Mexico.  They are both nice, warm and friendly folks.  But, they also teach people of all ages how to ski, in spite of a physical or cognitive disability.  And, at this time of year, they are in need to equipment.  So, they hold a fund raiser every year.  This year, once again, they are selling Holiday Wreaths made from a mix of Noble fir, cedar, pine, berried juniper, and completed with a bow and a few pine cones.  These wreaths are gorgeous in real life! and VERY fragrant.  The price hasn't gone up in 12 years.  These wreaths are still only $20.  So, why not decorate your front door with a beautiful, fragrant wreath, and help those in need?  

If you live around the Albuquerque, New Mexico area, and would like to order a wreath, please contact me via email (the address is just under my photo).   You can pay either with cash, check, or pay pal.  I will need the orders by Monday, November 21st.  The wreaths will be ready for delivery the Monday following Thanksgiving.  I will add a hand-stamped Thank You card with each order.

Thank you for your support.  

Pumpkin

Happy Saturday!  This year is flying by, I tell ya!  As we all get ready for Thanksgiving, please take a moment out of your busy lives to tell your loved ones, how much you care for them, and need them in your life.  Wendy J. from Our Creative Corner has a wonderful challenge for you this week: Pumpkin.  Make either the color pumpkin or the object your main focus.  Sounds pretty easy, huh?  The creative freedom is enormous.  But, good golly I struggled with this one.  So, I used the sketch from Mojo Monday to help get this card together.  

For those who know me, this card is pretty flat.  Lacks some dimension, and some extra pieces.  But, I couldn't 'fix' this card to save my life.  So, it's flat.  It's basic.  But, it's pretty! and the color Pumpkin is the main focus!

Here is the sketch I was working with:

Here is my card:

I couldn't make the image of a pumpkin really work.  Crazy, I know.  I even tried using the pumpkin image on a 'seed' packet.  I couldn't even get pumpkin colored ribbon to work.  Then, I found a few scraps of this pretty orange pattern paper.  The flower is from the orange collection.  The stamp is from a stamp set that is at least 2/+ years ago.  I sponged all the edges with a dark beige to help give the pattern paper pieces some division.

I hope that you play along with us @ Our Creative Corner.  Who knows, maybe you can get that pumpkin to work!

Kindness

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone had a good week.  Me, I couldn't find enough time to get everything done.  It's time for another blog hop with the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday! And they have another wonderful sketch for us to work with this week.  Angela W. is the creator of this fabulous sketch.

Here it is:

This sketch is super user friendly.  Just remember to use your Stampin' Up! supplies and products for this challenge.  But, just look at this sketch.  The possibilities are endless.  You can use any shape for the scallop rectange.  So, use what you have!  And the trim just below the ribbon, can be a scallop trim, or one of the tasteful trims.  Or even a torn edge.  The ribbon can be a strip of pattern paper, a ribbon, a scrap piece of crochet trim.  See? endless!

Here is what I created:

The ribbon is actually the Early Espresso 1/4" grosgrain.  But, for some reason, it looks black.  But, its not.  So, please play along with us this week!  You could be our next top talent!  Now, before you head out, please stop by Tammy B.'s blog, to see what she has created!

Two Challenges Come Together

Wow, it's already Thursday.  This week, ok, this year is just flying by!  I am still working on some items for the few craft fairs that I am participating in this holiday season.  And the time I have to 'create' keeps getting interrupted with nonsense.

So, to help with the creative flow, I have decided to work with a sketch by Card Patterns, and use the color challenge by Creative Sketches.

Here is the sketch:

Here are the colors and inspiration photo:  So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, and More Mustard

Here is my card:

This challenge was just that for me...a challenge.  Right now I am working on different Christmas themed items, and any other scheme, is a challenge.  I hope you like it, and this card gives you some inspiration and a desire to play along!  We want to see what you can create with these perfect fall colors!

sketches

Wow, it's already Wednesday! :/  I have a big craft fair coming up this Friday, and if I told you that I don't have all that I wanted to sell, would you be surprised?  Well, I don't.  I could use another day off from work, and my husband to play another night of ice hockey.

But, anyways, lets get back to the subject at hand.  The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, has a fabulous sketch.  And the thing I love about this sketch, is we all saw it differently.  There are some fall themed cards, and of course Christmas.  But, please check out what the other ladies on the design team have done.  Very talented, and very creative.  You will be inspired!

If you are new to my blog, I have a tendency to interpret the sketch differently than most  So, without sounding  like a crazy person, or super un-organized, lets get to the sketch.

Here is  the sketch: (week 12)

Here is my card: (Christmas, of course.)

Ok, before you point out to me that the three shapes along the right side of the sketch are uniform...let me just say that I saw three shapes.  

The best part about this sketch is just that.  3 shapes.  Think, any shape.  Don't limit yourself to the flower shape in the sketch.  Think snowflakes, leaves, ornaments, or miss mash - like me!

Ok, now for the large oval that is off centered.  Don't limit yourself to that skinny, long oval.  I didn't.  You could use a rectangle, instead.   Aren't the possibilities starting to surface?

For my card I used three different stamp sets, two different DSP's, 2 punches, 2 dies, 3 embellishments, an ink pad and a variety of markers.

Thanks for stopping by.  Play along with us this week.  but remember, you must use your Stampin' Up! supplies/products.

Our Baby Boy

Happy Saturday!  And, let me start by saying, Murphy is right!  If it can/will go wrong, it will.  :/  

Tui, from Stampin' Time has a fabulous challenge for you over @ Our Creative Corner.  It's a masculine challenge.  Now, before you change blogs, lets examine this.  Ok, so if you are a follower, or frequent visitor, you know, that I don't do masculine.  I don't have boy stuff.  I have girl stuff.  I love pinks, ribbons, bows, buttons, bling, and all this girl-y.  So, I embraced the challenge.  And I encourage you, too, to embrace the challenge.  Step out side of your comfort zone, or the proverbial box.  Here are a few helpful hints.  Remember, boys are 'harder' than girls.  Instead of 'soft' embellishments, think 'hard': like metals, wood, corduroy.  Does that help?  

Here is my Masculine Project:

A 'close-up' of the bottom row of boxes.

This is one of those Solo ShadowBox's.  They come in either black or white.  Neither of which I wanted.  So, I selected white.  And then I painted it in a light beige paint.  I thought that it warmed up the stark white.  Then, I rubbed a nice, warm brown ink pad along the top rim to give it a 'walnut' look.  

I selected some of my all-time favorite photos of my grandson.  And then edited the photos, so I could control their size, without distorting their proportion.  Adding the tiny embellishments, was actually kind of fun.  Thinking small really does change your perspective.

Now, before you go a little crazy with what products I used.  I'll just let you know that I used products from 10 different companies.  Yeah, my craft room, is basically a store.  But, if you can name 7 of the companies I used in the comment section, your name will be entered in a drawing for a full roll of ribbon.  I'll draw a name at the close of this masculine challenge brought to you by Tui, and Our Creative Corner.

Spice Friends

Happy Friday.  Let me first apologize for the in-activity.  I have been having a very hard time getting motivated, or creative.  And so, my posts have been slipping.

It's time for another sketch challenge from Sketch Frenzy Friday.  So, if you have some time to play along, we invite you!  Remember, we are asking that you use your Stampin' Up! products when playing along with us.  Tina M. has brought us a very usable sketch.  

I know that the sketch doesn't look like much.   But, that's the beauty of it!  You can make the shapes anything.  The tri-panel anything.  Are you 'seeing' the potential, now?  Hope so!

Here is my card.  And before I show you, let me just warn you, I used both Spice Cake DSP and Creative Elements stamp set.

Thank you for stopping by.  I do appreciate the support.  Now, head over to Tammy B.'s blog and see what she has created!

Stampin' Queens Week #11

Happy Wednesday!  For those who follow me, you notice that I've been MIA.  Well, last week I got some food poisoning and it took me four days to get back to my ol' self.  And, then I still felt un-creative, no mojo to be found, and I still had all of my house chores.

So, to get my proverbial feet wet, I'm working with the sketch challenge from Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  I really do enjoy these ladies.  We get to work with some really wonderful sketches, and the ladies on the design team always come up with some of the most creative cards.

Here is this week's sketch:

To get me 'crafting', I broke out my two favorite pattern papers; spice cake dsp and first edition dsp.  I can't express how much I just love this pattern paper.  The colors are so beautiful, and the images are gorgeous.  As for the first edition dsp, I just love the text paper.  To help with me creativity, I used one of my favorite stamp sets; creative elements.  I love the various font for the 'create'.

Here is my card:

I'm not sure if I really like it.  But, we'll see how it goes on me.  I need to start working on my paper crafting items for the craft fairs.  Thanks for stopping by.  And, if this card isn't to your liking, have patience.  Give me another chance to get my mojo working.  See ya tomorrow.