Hip to be Square

The weekend has arrived full speed!  And I still have quite a bit to do.  A wonderful friend turned 70 this month, and her surprise Birthday party is tomorrow.  My wonderfully supportive husband and I have date night Saturday evening, and then a card club Sunday.  So, let's get started.  This week, Lori is our hostess @ Our Creative Corner.  She would like us to make a square card.  Not just ANY square card.  Lori has provided us with a sketch and a few requirements.  So, lets see what we need.

Sounds pretty easy.  Looks pretty easy.  So, lets get started!  Lori says that we can add a scallop edged piece to a square card.  So, that's what I did.  The scallop square die I have, only cuts a 4" x 4" scallop square.  And, that just seems 'small' to me.  So, I cut a piece of pattern paper a bit larger than the scallop square, to give it a matt.  And, then I added it to a 5" x 5" square card, using Crumb Cake cardstock as the card base. 

 

Ok, now for the 'shapes' inside the scallop.  For some reason, I can't get past the circles.   Flowers come to mind.  So, lets see what flower stamps I have that look good cut out.  But, I want something more than a flat flower.  So, lets add a smaller flower on top the orginal flower.  The flowers don't look finished.  Let's add a button, and some leaves.  

 

Ok, but 4 flowers look too planned, too organized, too thoughtless.  So, let's shake up the sketch and add a butterfly.  I want something soft, not flat.  I cut a butterfly shape out of some ivory felted wool.  Still 'flat', so lets add a button.  Looks too plain.  Lets make a corsage pin.  I started with a pearl tip push pin.  I want the pin to have some sparkle, so how about a schworski crystal and a glass bead?  Lets keep them white, clear, and simply pretty.  

 

Now, lets work on the 'label'.  The sketch shape is pretty and elegant.  What do I have to make a pretty and elegant label.  Ok, now what stamps do I have, to stamp some words inside the label.   And what 'objects' do I have that I can add some visual interest to the 'label'; a bird and a 'no. 5'.  

The card still looks 'flat', and 'unfinished'.  So, lets add some crochet trim.  And a poor man's knot.  Not enough.  Lets add some tiny tags and attach the tags with a tiny safety pin.

 Here is my card:

 

Viola!  Here is my finished card.  I used almost all Stampin' Up! products on this card.  The only exceptions are the buttons and corsage pin and beads.  But, all in all, I'm pretty happy with it!  Now, it's your turn.   Let's see what you create using Lori's sketch and requirements, and post your finished papercraft @ Our Creative Corner challenge blog.  And don't forget to enjoy your weekend!

Trying to Find Time

Happy Friday! oh boy.  The week has flown by, and I didn't get an opportunity to sit down at my craft table and get a card done.  I'm sorry.  But, I do want to share the sketch from Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Angela has created this fun, and creative sketch for us to work with:

But please, continue this blog hop, and stop by Tammy F. blog to see what she has created.
Have a great weekend! 

Wedding Congrats #23 and #98

Wow!  Where has the week gone?  Some Most weeks I feel like I am playing catch-up.  And, it makes me wonder if everyone else does.  It's hard to gauge your busy-ness, if your schedule is the only one you see, or measure.  Know what I mean?  So, to make the most of my time, I  have created a card that will allow me to enter two (yes, 2) challenges.  One is a sketch, and the other is a color & inspiration challenge.

The talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a great sketch this week! The ladies just ask that you use your Stampin' Up! supplies when you participate in their challenges.  And the wonderfully creative ladies over @ Shabby Tea Room have a pretty inspirational board and color challenge for us this week, entitled: Sparkle & Bright.  The colors are: white, cream, silver,  with a touch of pink!

So, here is what I made:

The inspirational photo made me think of either a vintage wedding, or tea with your grandmother.  So, I set out to my craft room.  I knew that I was going to use white and vanilla cardstock.  So, I pulled out a sheet of each.  Then, I wanted to see what I had for pattern paper in pink.  I wanted a simple, elegant pattern; not too bright, or too busy.  Twitterpated DSP worked.  The silver (a little glimmer) was easy-peasy: silver glitter paper.  

I wanted the card base to be white cardstock.  The panel to be vanilla cardstock with a design in white.  I inked up a large simple, delicate image in white craft ink, dusted the cardstock with white embossing powder, and heat set it.  Now the plain vanilla has a simple design to break up the empty space.  

I had a scrap piece of sahara sand textured cardstock, so I matted the blushing bride pattern paper to it.  That way, the pattern paper has defined borders.  I wanted some paper 'lace', so I used my lace-trim border punch and a scrap piece of first edition dsp.  

I kept my cut circle simple.  It started as a 3" circle of shimmer white cardstock.  I didn't stamp on it, to showcase the shimmer and keeping the card from getting cluttered.  I made the paper flower.  I punched the leaves using a textured sahara sand cardstock.  I cut some pretty, vintage ribbons (crochet trim, crumb cake seam binding, vanilla velvet ribbon) and added them just below my paper flower.  I have a weakness for those super cute mini vintage tags, so I stamped the word, 'love' from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set, in soft suede classic ink.  

I love this sentiment bracket from Creative Elements stamp set, so I stamped it in crumb cake classic ink, and the 'congratulations' from Wedding Sweet stamp set, in soft suede classic ink.  I tore around the bracket, sponged the edges with sahara sand classic ink.  I used foam tape on the back to lift it off the card.  

For the three tiny flowers at the upper left side, I first punched out the shapes, and then used my foam mat and a stylis to create the bend in the petals.  I added a half faux pearl to the centers.  I punched the leaves out of silver glitter paper.  

To finish the card, I gave it a spray (ok two) with my own home-made champagne shimmer paint.  I wanted the card to have a subtle glimmer.  A twinkle surprise, so to speak.

Thank you for looking.  And let me know how you start your creative process.  Let me know if you start with stamps or paper when putting a card together.  Or if it depends on the challenge requirements.  It's fun to see how our processes go.

Baby Shower Theme

Happy Saturday!  I hope all of you are well.  I have noticed that alot of folks are taking a break from either blogging or joining various challenges.  I encourage each of you to participate in a challenge.  Any challenge.  You just might be amazed at how much fun it is!  Also, if you would like a consistant challenge and a chance at being part of a wonderfully creative design team, Our Creative Corner has a design team call currently running.  Please check out their site to see the particulars.  We would love to have you.

Lori is our hostess this week.  And she has a super clever and creative challenge for us!  Her found this absolutely wonderful inspirational photo showcasing a Baby Shower Dessert table.  Vicki wants us to use the colors in the photo: peach, light blue, brown, and vanilla.  Also, you can make something to reflect the theme!  Here is her photo:

 

Isn't this photo just the cutest?  I'm a cake decorator, too, so this photo really speak volumns to me!  But, I have to admitt, the pool party and coral colors just jump out to me!  I didn't cash-in on the baby shower theme, but it is still beautiful!  I do love the tree in the background.  When I saw the tree, I instantly thought of birds, and that led to their eggs, a nest.  And this all makes me think of home.

Here is my card:

The card base is actually Tangerine Tango.  I know, I first thought that calypso coral or cameo coral would have been a better match.  But neither color cardstock was 'orange' enough.   I used an 1/8" matt behind the pattern papers.  That thin matt is early espresso, and not chocolate chip.  I needed a color that was deeper and richer in brown.   I selected the 'yard stick' pattern paper to convey the growth of children or babies.  The birds and the nest tag was a perfect match to the inspiration I received from the inspiration photo.  I tied a scrap piece of early espresso quilted satin ribbon around one portion of the card.  I secured the bow to the card front with a new SAB designer brad.  The 'gather' tag I thought was perfect and a purchase.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you found some inspiration both here in my blog and on our design team home page.  We all understand when you need to make adjustments in your schedules to find the time  you need/want to express your creative side.  Stop by Our Creative Corner challenge blog to see both this challenge, and our design team call. 

Design Happiness #46

WOW! can you believe that it is already Friday!  Well, I'm having a fun time working with these different challenges, and learning a few things to help my stampin' business.  The wonderful Tina from Sketch Frenzy Friday has designed a wonderfully creative sketch for us and YOU to work with.  The thing that I love the most about these great sketches, is that they allow you some creative freedom and use the wonderful Stampin' Up! products.  I mean how much more great can it be?  So, if you are a super fan of these products, but are either looking for a great challenge, or some inspiration, I encourage you to play along with us and take on the challenge.  We would love to see what you create!

Here is the sketch:

At first when I saw this sketch, I thought, ugh, I'm not a big fan of partial circles on cards.  But, then, I just let the sketch lay around for a few days, and then it occured to me, 'I don't have to make the half circle a piece of paper.  I can make it an image (medallion stamp, or a ring of butterflies, or...)  The rectangle could be a sentiment, or a label, or ...    So, don't be limited by just what you see, but what you 'see'.  Then I was looking for some inspiration, so I headed over to one of my favorite challenge sites, that I find a lot of inspiration; CR84FN color challenge.  This week, the colors are light pink, yellow, and a neutral.  It just sounds pretty and feminine, so that was the look that I was going for.

Here is their inspirational photo and quote:

Here is my card:

For this card I used So Saffron as my 'yellow'. and Pink Pirouette as my 'light pink'.  For the 'neutral' I used both black and white.  I first stamped the floral image in so saffron classic ink, onto so saffron card stock, randomly, and the very vanilla tag.  Then I stamped the 'hello doily' background stamp in versa mark and then poured white embossing powder on it.  Heated this gorgeously detailed image with my heat gun.  I created a flower with pink pirouette and first edition dsp with the bird & bloom die.  I created a tag with the lots of tags die and cut it out of very vanilla cardstock.  I stamped 'for you' in basic black classic ink  Then I a string of half faux pearls along one edge and a silver glitter butterfly to the other side.  I matted this whole piece onto a piece of basic black cardstock.  The card base is Very Vanilla cardstock.

I'm really happy with how this card turned out.  And I hope that you join this Sketch Frenzy Friday blog hop and see what Tammy F. has created.  And join us for a challenge.

Occasions Challenge

Thanks for coming back today for another look-see.  If you missed  yesterdays post, I am entering a few cards into a challenge that Stampin' Up! is sponsoring @ Leadership, this year in San Antonio, Texas.  The challenge is pretty straight forward, and allows any attending demonstrator some creative freedom.  All you need to do is make a card (preferably card front) using a stamp set from the new Occasions catalog.  Sounds pretty easy, huh?  Well, I posted a card yesterday that I am entering into this challenge, and here are two other cards, using the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set & Attic Boutique DSP.

And

Ok, here is the scoop on these two cards.  The first card, I used Attic Boutique DSP paper.  For the largest matt, I used the larger print of the pattern paper.  I just love the colors, the flowers, and the vintage images.  I added a strip of a 'whiter' pattern paper to help show case the yellow, and not take away from the card.  I added a scallop trim in the soft suede patter to help ground the brown.  I added a piece of pink pleated ribbon to help both hide the seam, and to accentuate the pink.  I stamped the umbrella in chocolate chip craft and used clear embossing powder.  I 'colored' the umbrella with a pink and a yellow marker.  I stamped the sentiments in soft suede classic ink.  I sprayed the stamped piece with vanilla smooch.  The vellum piece was cut with the petal cone die.   Now, for the second card, I used the same pattern paper.  But, with a little different twist.  I wanted to work with the yellow and blues.  So, I selected two of the pattern papers that showcased the yellow.  The largest yellow print was used for the largest matt.  I added a scrap piece of pool party texture paper at the bottom half of the card.  I wanted to use white as an accent.  So, I selected the pool party pattern paper.  I just love the doily print on this page.  I wanted to add purple as an accent color.  So, I added the new wisteria wonder card stock piece.  I used the vintage wall paper embossing folder to give the paper some depth, and texture.  I inked the four frames stamp set in the wisteria wonder classic ink to stamp the 'label', then stamped the 'thanks' in basic black classic ink.  I stamped the corset in classic ink, and then used a yellow and wisteria marker to color this image.  I added a small piece of silver glitter paper to help give the card some glitz.  I hand dyed the vanilla seam binding with elegant eggplant re-inker.  The fancy shapes were cut with the new labels collections die.  I used an in color designer brad to hold the bow to the card.  To give the card a 'finished' look, I sprayed the whole card front with vanilla smooch.

Well, thank you for looking.  Let me know which of the three cards (todays 2 and yesterdays 1) you like best.  The winners will be announced at the end of the week, so I'll keep you posted as to how I did.  

It's week #22 over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge! and they have a super cute sketch for us to work with!  Here is the sketch:

This sketch has alot of potential, which is what I like.  I love a sketch that has shapes that are interchangeable and pattern that are easy to work with.  Well, this is it.  So, please play along with us.

I am also entering this card is an exclusive challenge that Stampin' Up! is hosting to those demonstrators who are attending Leadership this year.  The challenge, use a new stamp set from the Occasions mini, and win a prize.  So, here is one of the cards that I am entering in both the SU! leadership challenge and the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.

The new DSP is Twitterpated.  Isn't it just beautiful?  The stamp set I used is called Bordering on Romance.  It's an outline stamp, so you can use all sorts of coloring mediums to make this image so pretty.  To color these flowers, I did use the water color crayons and an aqua painter.  I love how smooth and easy it is to color with this medium.  I did cut the shape out of water color paper, with the new Labels Collections framelits die..  I stamped the flowers in jet black Staz-On.  I had to use the tasteful trims die with the first edition dsp. I love the soft feminine colors of this card, so I just had to add the mini vintage tag.  The 'hand crafted' stamp is from the Tiny Tags stamp set.  I just love the small size of these stamps.  And that cute little button is a Twitterpated designer button.  How cute is that?  So, play along with us and wish me luck on this challenge @ Stampin' Up!

Domestic Artist

The weekend has really gotten away from me.  Ugh!  I hope all of you have had a chance to stop by Our Creative Corner to see what those super talented ladies have been creating!  I had my card done and didn't upload it.  Don't you hate that?  I'm pretty famous for creating something and not posting.  But usually it is to the challenge site and not my blog, too!

So, we are going to continue this rambling on a brighter note.  The creative Vicki is hosting a challenge for us this week.  It Paper Piecing with a twist.  The twist is that you can't use any ribbon, and only one embellishment.  Sounds fun.  And it is.  The way I learned paper piecing, is that you take an outline stamp and stamp in on to some pattern paper, to give your object some color, depth, texture, and an illusion of realism.  So, you don't have to color.  And, I'll admit, my mind is traveling in 30 directions as once.  I'm attending a stamping conference this week, and so my creative spirit is stuck creating for that, and my craft room is disassembled.  (we are moving furniture).  So, please bear with me.

Here is my card:

The card itself is pretty simply (for me).  I used 1/3 sheet of 12" x 12" pattern paper, from Crate Paper.  One side is the larger matt (blue-green pattern), the other side is the inside matt (large floral).  The brown matt is a scrap.  I have this stamp set, from Unity, that I really love the graphics.  They look 1950's style.  Very retro and fun.  So, I inked an image from that set, in crumb cake classic ink, and stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock.  I then used sahara sand classic ink and sponged ontop of the white card stock and edged it.  The white cardstock looked too stark.  I re-stamped the right side of the stamp onto my pattern paper scrap and cut out the blouse.  I found a perfect matching button from my jar o' buttons.  (Don't we all have one of those?) and tied some linen thread through it.  I added a scrap piece of my favorite crochet trim, and VIOLA!

So Grateful

I've received my box of new Stampin' Up! products earlier this week, and I'm just loving the new stuff!  There is this pattern paper that reminds me of a French flea market:  Attic Boutique.  It has a wonderful mix of pattern, text, and pretty colors.  

It's Friday, and its another blog hop over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Tammy F., over at Sketch Frenzy Friday has created a wonderful sketch for us to work with this week.  

Check out the sketch:

Here is what I did!

One of the great things about this sketch, is that the empty space can be pattern paper, or an image, or dry embossed cardstock, etc.  Very versatile and easy to work with.  Also, the rectangle piece at the upper right doesn't have to be rectangle.  I used one of the Label Framelits, to die cut the First Edition DSP to make the first layer of my 'rectangle'.  Then I stamped one of the frames from the Frame It stamp set, and used the hand-held punch to create the shape.  Then I used a wood sheet to die cut a butterfly from the Butterfly Die.  I then made a multi-loop bow with some cherry cobbler seam binding, and then added a pretty in pink button on top.  I added a half faux pearl to the button.  I made a quick tiny tag with the Tiny Tags stamp set and jewelry hand-held punch.  The banner-sentiment piece was made with the petal cone die and the Apothecary Art stamp set.  To give my 'rectangle' piece a little shabby feel, I stapled a scrap piece of crochet trim to the left edge.

Now, head over to Tammy B.'s blog, to see what she has created.  And, don't forget to leave some love, and let me know what you think!

I don't know if most of you know this or not, but I also work full-time.  Some weeks are more of a jungling act than anything.  I just got home yesterday, from an extra long weekend with a girlfriend.  It's a bit rough getting everything back in order.  I did make my card and photograph it for this weeks sketch challenge over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  But, I forgot to post it here.  Talk about scatter brain.  So, I apologize for the lateness of this post.

The sketch this week is beautiful.  I didn't have much artistic license to change it up.  So, it pretty much follows the sketch.  Not that, that is a bad thing.  Just a side note.

Here is this weeks sketch:

As for me, tags have been a general focus lately.  But, I did struggle with it a bit.  My mojo was not there.  I couldn't come up with anything that worked, and then kinda did this.  So, don't let my lack of creativity stop you.  Please join us!

Here is my card:

I have to admit, I'm a big fan of this new DSP: Attic Boutique.  And this new stamp set:  Rue Des Fleurs.  Actually, I love this new stamp set sooo much that I have it in English (wood-mount) and French (clear-mount).  And yes, both sets have been inked.  Isn't that just crazy?  Stampin' Up! does sell a 'yellow' taffeta ribbon, but I didn't have any left, so I dyed some white taffeta ribbon with my So Saffron re-inker.  The sketch has a row of buttons across it, and I know how shocking it is not to see a row of buttons across my card.  Just one lonely button brad.  I had to use some of my other all-time favorite DSP: First Edition.  The butterflies were made with a butterfly embosslit: Beautiful Wings.  I'm a super big fan of that little guy, too.  (I'm on my second one, the first one wore out-if there is such a thing.)  I used pool party for the card base to pull all the blue together.

Well, thanks for stopping by.  I hope this new year is starting quite wonderfully for all of you.  It has been going quite nicely for me.

And don't forget to play along with us @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.

a Shape Card

Happy Saturday.  I hope that you are enjoying your weekend!  Me, I am.   I am visiting a girlfriend, and we are having a great time catching-up.  She always makes me laugh.  So, it's a good time.

Anyways, Vickie from Our Creative Corner has a great challenge for us, make a shape card.  Any shape except A2 rectangle.  Sounds pretty easy, huh?  Well, I made a circle card.  I know, not very clever, but it does give you (hopefully) some inspiration.  Also...

The wonderful folks over @ The Shabby Tea Room, have an interesting challenge for us, too.  Titled, 'Time Flys', and you are encouraged to use anything with wings.  I instantly thought of a sparrow die that I have and so I set out to get to work in my craft room.  They also gave us a inspirational photo.  So, here it is:

And here is my Scallop circle card:

The nest is the only image on my card that is stamped.  I stamped the nest in black ink and used  a blender pen to add some color; baja breeze classic ink.  Once I finished coloring the eggs, I added some dimensional glaze, so the eggs have a 3-D affect.  I added a circle of pattern paper to the white doily tag.   I cut the sparrow from some silver glitter paper. 

The two large scallop strip pieces were cut with a die.  A strip of thin black taffeta ribbon is wrapped around the card front.  The black polka dot pattern paper, is  crushed velvet, so it is nice to the fingers. 

I had a scrap piece of hand-dyed seam binding.  So I made a multi-loop bow with it and attached the bow to the card front with a vintage brad.

I didn't stamp anything on the inside of this card.  But, now that I am finished with it, I notice that I didn't stamp anything on the outside, either!

I hope that you have gotten some inspiration from me.  And please play along with us @ Our Creative Corner challenge blog.

My friend

Happy Friday!  And that means that its time for another blog hop!  The wonderfully talented Tammy B. has designed this weeks sketch @ Sketch Frenzy Friday,  and we would love for you to play along with us.

Here is the sketch:

One of the things that I love about SFF, is that they want you to use your Stampin' Up! supplies.  And I think that its good when we are encouraged to use what we have.

Here is my card:

As you can see, I have used some of my favorite SU! supplies.  Crumb Cake is the card base.  I took a piece of very Vanilla cardstock and ran it through my vintage wall paper embossing folder.  I like how it gives the cardstock some dimension and depth.  The pattern paper is new.   I used the top note die to create the shape.  I wrapped a piece of the vanilla velvet ribbon around the card.  I created a bow with the same ribbon and attached it to the card front with a vintage brad.  The stamped piece was created with the perfect punches stamp set.  It was stamped in Pure Poppy classic ink and then the shape was created with a hand held punch: curly label.  I used foam tape on the back of the punched piece and viola!  Easy Peasy, and Beautiful!

Thank you for looking, now the next design team member is Tammy B. so don't forget to hop on over to her blog!  And don't forget to play along with us!

My Friend Sue

I have a friend, her name is Sue F.  Our husbands work together.  (You know how that is.)  We live in different states, but we see each other  4-5 times a year.  Our husbands talk on the phone at least once a week.  And we have gotten together on quite a few different occassions.  And through our joint meetings, we (Sue and I) have become pretty good friends.  She is a very nice person.  I know that I am blessed to have her in my life.  Since we don't live close,  we text more than we talk on the phone.

Anyways, I saw this small trinket the other day that made me think of her.  And we are going to visit them this weekend, so I just had to pick it up.  And well, I'm a paper crafter, so I decorated the box and made her a card.  Her are some photos:

I wrapped the box with a 2" wide strip of pattern paper.  I added some bakers twine.  The flower is from a faux floral stem.  I tied the button with the same bakers twine and added it to the center of the flower.  I stamped the vintage tag with 'friends' and attached it to the box with a tiny clothes pin.  To give the clothes pin some visual interest, I dabbed on some paint and dipped it in some glitter.  Quick, easy, and looks pretty fabulous!

The card was created with pattern paper from the same line.  The scallop trim was created with two of the pattern papers and a die.  I added some of my favorite crochet trim to the cardstock scallops.  I used a steel template to create the small notebook page.  I hand stamped the sentiment.  I wrapped the same bakers twine around the bottom of the 'page' and tied on a small brown button.  The tiny tag was stamped with the same 'friends' sentiment and adhered under the button.  I created the corsage pin with a rhinestone ring and a glass bead.  I stuck the pin behind a fabric flower.

I don't have an envelope template, so I'm not quite sure how to 'line' my envelopes, so I added some pattern paper to the outside of the envelope flap.  Thank you for looking.  I hope my friend Sue likes her little gift.

A Note of Thanks

Wow, this month is off to a fast start!  That always seems to be the problems with short weeks.  As I sit here, I realize all the things I have yet to do this week, and the list keeps growing.  But, I won't fret.  Here is how I see it:  I'll do what I can.  No more and no less.  I finished my home chores for the week yesterday.  And the few days I have at home this week, I'll try to squeeze everything else in.  I have a few items that have to be taken care of each day, so I'm not too over whelmed.  And then I still have all my blog things to do.  design teams I still need to create for, posts that need to be written, and of course, paper crafts that need to be created.

In the mean time, the wonderful talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a great sketch for you to work with.  Here is the sketch:

 

  For this challenge, we are to use only Stampin' Up! products.  But, I'm probably like most of you, in that I don't have alot of disposable income to spend on my hobby these days.  So, I have opted to purchase some Designer Series Paper, and a few embellishments.  That way, I can spend $10 or so and have a few new things to 'play' with.  

Here is my card:

The DSP is called Attic Boutique.  Isn't is just gorgeous?  I just love how the images look crisp and vintage.  I wanted to showcase the different patterns.  But, I wanted a 'hand-crafted' paper piece, so I got my inspiration from a quilt square called a 'log cabin'.  I think its pretty interesting, and has a 'home-y' feel to it.  So, I cut my pattern paper, adhered it to a cardstock square and matted it onto Calyso Coral.  I wanted my solid cardstock to match my DSP, so I used my Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder so the very vanilla cardstock wouldn't look so stark.  I didn't want my card base to compete with the pattern paper, so the card base is crumb cake.

I couldn't decide between the very vanilla satin ribbon and the calypso coral ruffle ribbon.  So, I added them together.   

I thought that the bow needed something, so I added a new brad.  To keep with the vintage look, I added some vanilla smooch.           I wanted to give my card some feminine touch, so I added some half- faux pearls.  I used a stamp set that I have had for over 2 years.  This stamp set has 4 stamps that have different fonts and the sentiments are 'thank you'.   The sentiment was stamped in pure poppy classic ink.

Thank you for looking, and please play along with us.  This sketch is very user-friendly.  

Late Birthday Wishes

While surfing the web over the weekend, I found alot of inspiration from some of the folks that I follow.  And I wanted to try an interesting color combo.  I found this decorators photo on Little Princess Cards blog. The colors are pink, yellow, and black.  I know, this color combo sounds far fetched.  But, I was determined to see if I could get it to work.  So, I rummaged threw my scrap stash.  I located some pink and yellow ribbons.  And set out to work.  I needed a bit more direction, so I went to a sketch challenge blog @ Simple Desire to scrap.  This challenge blog is in Russian, so you will need to translate the blog if you are interested in reading it.  (This blog has a translate button at the top of the page.)

Here is the original inspiration photo:

 Here is the sketch:

  

And here is my card:

When I first saw this color combo, my first thought was, 'are you kidding?'.  But I really like it!  Like I said this card is made from scraps.  I believe the large yellow polka dot paper is a Cosmo Cricket paper.  The pink script is from Sceinic Route, the hounds tooth pattern paper is from Authentique, the cream text paper is from Stampin' Up!, as well as the yellow small polka dot paper and the glitter paper.  The pink flourish paper I have no idea.  The yellow ribbon is from Stampin' Up! and the pink small polka dot ribbon is from Paper Trey Ink.  The ribbon slide is from Paper Studio.  The stamps (Birthday Wishes, and friends) are from Stampin' Up!  So is the die to cut the cardstock scallop circle.  The flower comes from Kaiser.  The card base is Crumb Cake, from Stampin' Up!.  

Thank you for looking! and I hope this new year is off to a great start for you! 

Happy New Year

Well, my husband and I started the new year right: together and in our pajamas.  I hope that you started your new year with those you hold close, and with a renewed look at the year.  I know for myself, I am looking at this year, as my chance to do a few things my way, to look at what I need, want, and desire.  I know that sounds selfish, and well, it is.  As you see, I am a mother, a wife, and a grandmother.  I do for others before myself.  And well, sometimes my wishes get shoved back.  So, this year, I am going to do things for me, too!  Don't get me wrong, I will still do things for others, but I will make me a priority.

I looked over the blog candy comments, and I have to say that you folks have some wonderful new years wishes.  I have a few new years resolutions of my own: 1) to organize my craft room supplies, 2) stop hoarding collection paper crafting supplies, and use them, 3) start working on all those projects I keep putting off, and 4) make some of my needs a priority.  

I have selected the winner of my New Year's Blog Candy:  #6 - Beth, who wrote:  My hope for next year is to work on updating my blog more often, I make things but don't post them. Happy New Year to you and your family!  Congratulations Beth, please contact me, so I can get your candy in the mail!

I have started on my NYResolutions already.  I have a wonderful husband, who keeps promising me that he will build me some shelves for my craft room.  Well, I gave him 5 years to do so, and then I went out and bought some,  but not all that I need.  Well, we have been in this house for 4 years now, and I am still waiting on the rest of the shelves.  So, this morning I ordered the last bit.  I ordered a new crafting table, and a flat file cabinet with a shelf.  Next, I am going to one of those big box home improvement stores today, and have a few pieces cut to finish the shelves that he started almost 10 yrs ago.  Then, I'll see what I can do with the closet space.   This will give me a chance to go through my supplies and see what I have.  So, there will probably be a private sale going on!  I do plan on taking a few days off from work to tackle this project.  That's how important it is to me.  

Well, I hope you all are safe from your own celebrating, and start today on what you want, and do carve out time in your busy life to do something that makes you happy.  Thank you for your continued support!