Friday, May 31, 2013

a last Good Bye

It feels a bit rushed, to be at the last day of May.  But, here we are.  And if you purchase Stampin' Up! products, you know that, today is the last day, for you to purchase any 'retiring' products.  HERE is a hyperlink to my 'store' if you find yourself in need of any retiring products.
Now, on to paper crafting!  Patrice over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday is the creator of this week's beautiful sketch.  At first glance the sketch is a bit 'simple'.  But it doesn't lack in possibilities!


and here is what I did


I used some of the pattern paper that is retiring.  I really love this stuff.  I cut four equal rectangles and matted them with some pink pirouette cardstock.  Ran the whole piece through my sewing machine.  The card base is Regal Rose cardstock.  I love the two pinks together.  I did stamp with my 'splatter' stamp randomly on the card front.  Then heat embossed with white embossing powder, to help give the card a 'worn' look.  I fussy cut a 'frame' from pink pirouette card stock.  I cut the inside of the frame from very vanilla cardstock.  I splattered it with a crumb cake and pink pirouette marker.  Created one of my 'Dream' paper blossoms.  Punched some leaf shapes, and adhered the paper blossom to the middle of the frame.
I used some of the retiring seam binding, to create a multi-loop bow.  And used the banner stamp set for my sentiment.  Not a ton of products, but alot of fun to create!
So, join us @ SFF, won't you?  We would love to see what you create with this weeks sketch!  You can use any products you have.


Monday, May 27, 2013

a Splash of Daffodil Delight

I love creating.  Paper crafting, is the most accessible for me.  I have a 'ton' of paper crafting supplies, as I'm sure you all do too {smile}.  So, walking into my craft room and sitting at my desk, is as effortless as breathing, for me.  Creating, allows me to express myself, find joy, challenge myself, and it feeds my passion.   I love all kinds of creating; sewing, cooking, baking, cake decorating, paper crafting, and altering common items.   I also love sharing what I love doing.  So, that was the original push to creating this blog - an outlet to share what I make.  However, I don't share so much food, as I do crafting.
Today, I found out that I was last weeks winner @ the Shabby Tea Room, in their 'Open Window' challenge {smile}.  Thank you ladies for selecting my card.  Once I saw their challenge, I kinda already knew what products that I wanted to use.  I just needed to find an hour or so, to sit and create.  I have searched Lauren Meader's shop My Time Made Easy, and I'm narrowing down my choices.  And don't worry, I'll share my creation with you {smile}.
Today, I stumbled upon a different challenge site, Friday Mashup!, and they have a wonderfully creative challenge this week, called Hey, Get the Lead Out! with a wonderful twist: select a neutral with a splash of color, and use your pencil (#2).  Here is their inspiration board:
Here's your Mashup Challenge:
  1. Create a project using "your choice of a Neutral & a Splash of one Bright Color".
  2. Create a project "using a Pencil (regular graphite #2)".
  3. Or Mash it Up and create a project "using pencil & your choice of a neutral & a Splash of a Bright Color".
Ok, so if I told you that my neutral is crumb cake, you wouldn't be surprised, right?  And my splash of one bright color is Daffodil Delight.  And yeah, I used my #2 pencil {smile}.  The talented Lili over @ FM  also included a great tutorial, found here.  
here is what i made:


I used crumb cake card stock for the base of the card.  I had a scrap piece of this beautiful kraft and white floral pattern paper from Basic Grey, little black dress.  This scrap piece was a bit too small, so I matted it onto another piece of crumb cake card stock.  I distressed the edges with picket fence distress paint.  (I love this paint so much, I think I'm addicted.)  I added a strip of a yellow pattern paper from Teresa Collins.  I did a banner end, to give the card stock some pizzazz.  I wrapped a piece of daffodil seam binding around the top and tied a multi-loop bow.  I tied a yellow button distressed with picket fence paint and dazzling diamond glitter, with some cream twine.  I added some random swipes with the distress paint to the bow.  I made the flowers by hand, of course!  I used two different size scallop circles to create these little beauties.  I punched the scallop circles out of very vanilla cardstock and sponged daffodil delight along the scallops, and tightly wound.  I added a tiny floral punch piece from silver glimmer paper as their leaves.
I added some machine stitching around three sides of this card.  I think that little touch, adds a sense of 'home'.
I stamped my sentiment piece onto very vanilla card stock.  I used basic grey classic ink, and stamped off twice.  I used my #2 pencil to trace and shade.  I don't have one of those blending tools, so I used my finger.  I know its not precise, but it worked beautifully.  This technique reminds me so much of the chalkboard technique.  So, it was very comforting to try a new technique, and have a familiarity with it {smile}.
If you want to try your hand at this beautiful technique, please do.  It is rather pretty when you add just a splash of color, as with the challenge restrictions.  But, it isn't a restriction as so, but rather a venue to allow your pencilling to 'shine' and take center stage.  Add your pencil technique to the FM site.


love this card? purchase it here

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Spring Window #167

Whew.  A welcome break to the daily grind.  It's good to schlep around the house and wonder in and out of my craft room.  I'm hope you get a chance to relax in whatever fashion you desire.  But, please do not forget the true meaning of this holiday.   As tomorrow is Memorial Day, so please take a moment to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have.
Earlier this week, I saw this fabulous paper craft challenge over @ the Shabby Tea Room, and let me say, my heart sang.   The inspiration photo is amazing!  When I first saw it, my mind already decided on the pattern paper that I wanted to use; Melissa Frances.  So, here is the inspiration photo:


See what I mean?  The colors are crisp and delightful.  It gives me a sense of warm and home.  Here is what I made.  Alert: not my typical card.  It's kinda simple.


The pale aqua honey comb pattern paper, as well as the collage and hydrangea pattern papers are all from Melissa Frances.  Her papers are soft in color and simply beautiful to look at (smile).  I matted the honey comb pattern paper onto a piece of white cardstock.  I really wanted the white in the pattern paper to pop.  I machine stitched the top half of the card.  I felt it was 'missing' something, and basically I still do.  The collage pattern paper is Pink Lady.  I cut 3/4" strips and flagged the ends, to create a banner.  Then I lined the up, alternating the heights.  I cut a piece of silver glimmer paper with a scallop edge.  I wanted some sparkle, but not a glob.  I added a thin crochet trim piece to soften the shine.  I edged a cream button with picket fence distressing paint and added dazzling diamond glitter, while the paint was still wet.  I tied a piece of cream twine through the button and made a simple bow.
I die cut a top note shape piece of chip board and a piece of Hydrangea pattern paper.  Adhered the two pieces together.  The window is from Prima Marketing.  One of their resin pieces.  Love the simple look, not too ornate, just a bit rustic.  
The blossoms were made my hand.  I used a die from Heartfelt Creations.  I die cut several pieces in a pale plum and plum card stocks.  I used a stylus to create the bends in the petals.  I edged the petals with picket fence distressing paint and dazzling diamond glitter.  I used a white brad to hold the blossom together.  The leaves were made with a sizzix leaf die.  I cut two.  I used my stylus to ends of the leaves, to give them some 'life'.  When they are just cut, they are pretty 'flat'.
I used foam tape on the top half of the top note shaped piece.  The glimmer paper and crochet trim make a high spot in the middle of the card.

The butterfly comes from the Kindness Matters stamp set.  I stamped it onto very vanilla card stock and added just a schmiggen of color to the body.  I fussy cut it out.  I sponged crumb cake classic ink to the edges to help camouflage the outline of the butterfly and the scissor cut edge.
I stamped a tiny sentiment on the lower corner of the card. It actually comes from Button Boutique by Paper Trey Ink.  Because of the height of the paper blossoms and the fact that some of the leaves hang off the edge of the card, I decided to create an 'envelope' using a large glassine bag and an altered clothes pin.  I thought it would be a 'fun' way to give this card {smile}.
I hope you get a chance to play along in whatever challenge inspires you.  But, if you need some inspiration, please stop by the the Shabby Tea Room.  Their design team is incredibly talented and sure to give you some eye candy to oogle over.
Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day.  And to all those serving our country, past and present; Thank You for your service and sacrifice, from the bottom of my heart.  


Friday, May 24, 2013

create

I have some productive plans for this weekend.  I need to clean my craft room.  I basically 'know' where everything is.  But, it really needs to get put back together.  My son-in-law is racing this weekend, too.  So, I'll be out at the race track, showing my support.  And, I need to spend some time with my grandchildren.  So, fun-filled, and busy.  But, I'm sure that your weekend is busy too.
Before the weekend, gets off to its official start, lets swing by the Sketch Frenzy Friday challenge blog to see what we can create.  Tammy, is this week's sketch designer, and here is her sketch:

the sketch

here is my take on this week's sketch:


I just love how wonderfully pink pirouette and calypso coral pair together.  And so, with no restrictions, I chose to work with these two colors.
The main panel is calypso coral with distressed polka dots heat embossed in white.  I just love how these polka dots look worn and vintage.  
For the strip of card stock that runs across the middle of the card is pink pirouette with some stamping.  I inked the very vintage wheel in calypso coral and ran it horizontally.  I inked the en francias back ground stamp in basic black classic ink.  Then I tapped the card stock, so that the text would be random.  I brushed some whisper white craft ink across this same panel randomly.  And lastly, I sponged some crumb cake classic ink along the edges of the panel.  I matted this piece with basic black card stock.  I used the scallop edge border punch to create the decorative trim.
Now, for this little cluster.  I stamped the grossamer lace in versa mark and heat embossed in white on vellum.  I just love this stamp.  And yeah, it's a retiring stamp. {frown}
The butterfly was created with the butterfly die.  I used pink pirouette card stock and stamped the en francias background stamp onto this butterfly piece.  I then edged the butterfly with whisper white craft ink using a paint brush. Then dunked the butterfly into my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  (the glitter adhers to the wet craft ink, and when dried, the glitter is fixed to the ink)  I layered a circle of first edition dsp. I also cut a blossom piece from pink pirouette card stock.  I made the button with some clay and a new button mold by Stampin' Up!  I tied the whole piece together with some linen thread.
For the sentiment banner, I used very vanilla and calypso coral card stocks.  I stamped the 'create' in basic black classic ink.  This word is from the creative elements stamp set.

I hope you have found some inspiration here.  And I hope that you play along with us.  Use your favorite color combinations, stamps and papers to create a beautiful paper craft to share with us @ SFF. 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Thoughts of Pink

Busy, busy, busy.  But who isn't these days.  I know I'm busy, so I can only assume you are too.  We all have families, work, chores around the house, errands to run, and well, it's hard to carve out some free time to do what you love.  Me, paper craft.  So, let's get some inspiration moving!
The ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have a wonderfully creative sketch for you to try this week.  And here it is:


when I first saw this sketch, I was at a lost.  But then, I really 'looked' at it.
here is what I came up with:


I hope that you recognize the paper blossom that I made.  It is a 'Dream' blossom.  I made quite a few of them in the last week.  And they are super fun to create.  I made several different ones and are available for purchase in my Etsy shop, here.  I am also working on an E-book for Amazon Kindle.  
The card base is soft suede cardstock.  The main panel is pink pirouette.  I used the very vintage wheel inked in pink pirouette classic ink, and ran the wheel across the front of the card.  I'm not a fan of 'white' space and 'flat' cards drive me crazy.  I knew that I wanted some text embossed on the front of the card.  but my background stamp in vertical. This card is horizontal.  UGH!
I inked half the stamp with versa mark ink and stamped half the card front.  I did the 'finger tap' technique, so the words would be random.  Then I inked the stamp again with versa mark ink and stamped the other half of the card front.  repeated the same technique.  I used white embossing powder and my heat gun to emboss this panel.
I wrapped a piece of first edition dsp around the center of the card front.  I made my sentiment piece a banner and used foam tape to elevate the sentiment off the front of the card.
For my two half circles, I did round clusters.  The left side is actually a paper 'Dream' blossom and a postage stamp.  The right side is two multi-loop bows and a ticket.  For the multi-loop bow bundle, I created two multi-loop bows, one very vanilla, and one dyed with calypso coral re-inker.  I threaded some white bakers twine through a facet button and tied the two bows together.
I just love this color combination together.  Now, lets see what you create!  Join us @ NAC!



Monday, May 20, 2013

Paper 'Inspire' Blossoms

Creating is such a wonderful outlet for me.  It allows me to focus on the task at hand, and use the other side of my brain.  If you stopped by yesterday, you saw some beautiful hand-made paper blossoms that I created.  The encouragement came from two wonderfully supportive girl friends, who enjoy paper crafting as much as I do.  Well, after I had made those 'Dream' Blossoms, in a variety of colors, I wanted to create a different looking paper blossom.  So, back into my craft room, I went.
I created these paper 'Inspire' blossoms.  And, I wrote a tutorial, that Amazon Kindle has published.  The e-book is published in a variety of languages and can be purchased and downloaded here.  I also made a pair of these 'Inspire' blossoms to sell in my Etsy shop, here.


Thank you for looking.  I hope you have found some inspiration here, and create something beautiful!


Sunday, May 19, 2013

Paper Dream Blossoms

What a gorgeous day!  I had the most lovely lunch with two very special girl friends.  Both of whom have taught me so much about friendship, paper crafting, and business.  It is from their encouragement, that I have taken another leap in expanding my paper crafting hobby/business, and to further my teaching.  I am writing a few tutorials to be published.  
But, before I tackle that venture, I wanted to share my latest 'love'.  Hand-made paper flowers.  


lush full blossoms  

After our lunch, I headed straight for my craft room, and to create more of these paper blossoms.  I sat down and made six different colors of these beautiful paper Dream blossoms.  Since these paper flowers are hand-made, each one is unique, so no two will be a carbon copy of the other. 
At first, I wasn't quite sure what to name them.  I had used these paper flowers on a card that I made for a challenge earlier this week. I used the sentiment that I stamped on the card: Dream.  And now, these hand-made, paper flowers are for sale in my Etsy shop, found here.  They are officially named: Dream Blossoms.  I made a pair in green, blue, pink, purple, yellow, and grey.  Each pair of paper Dream blossoms are sold on a hand-stamped button card.  A paper Dream blossom measures approximate 2" wide and 1" tall.  I used Stampin' Up! card stock, classic inks, and shimmer paint to create these unique and one-of-a-kind paper flowers.  If you need a specific color, i.e. pretty in pink, old olive, pool party, soft sky, etc, please contact me privately, either at my Etsy shop here or @ bachnucmed@excite.com

I hope this weekend is wonderful for you!  I am off to my craft room, to create a different style paper blossom.  I'm excited to start this new venture!


Friday, May 17, 2013

Day Dreams

I am addicted to Pinterest.  I just love the things people pin.  It really gives me ideas of doing crafting things {smile}.  One of the things I saw, were these beautiful paper blossoms.  But, the frugal part of me, didn't want to drive into town and purchase them.  Instead, I set out into my craft room, to see if I could make them.  That's the craft girl in me!
The talented Kim, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday gave us a creative sketch.  I was able to use my hand-made paper blossoms!
here is the sketch:
I love the colors and the lay-out of this sketch.  The use of various pattern papers, the cluster of paper blossoms.  Just plain pretty.  
here is what I created:

I started with pool party card stock.  But, you know me.  I thought that it looks too flat.  So, I used the very vintage wheel and pool party classic ink.  But, I thought that it needed a pop of something.  So I used white craft ink, white embossing powder and the distressed polka dot background stamp.  Heat embossed, and sponged some pool party classic ink along the edges.
For the top note shape piece, I heat embossed the hello doily back ground stamp onto old olive cardstock.  I heat embossed the large doily.  I fussy cut the doily out and sponged ink along the edges.
I had-made the paper blossoms.  I used a floral die to create the bottom blossoms.  I used the trio blossom punch to create the center piece.  I brushed white craft ink along the edges of the petals and dunked the paper blossoms into a tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I used the silver glimmer paper to punch out the leaf shapes.
I used the lots of tags die to cut the decorative label.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  I wrapped crumb cake seam binding around the main panel and tied a multi-loop bow.  The card base is made from crumb cake cardstock.
I hope that you are able to play along with us @ SFF.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Spring Roses

A dear girlfriend is celebrating her birthday this week.  And, yeah, she is pretty crafty.  In fact, she taught me how to do scrapbook pages.  So, I really want to make her something special.  I created a card and box combination.  That way, one creation does two jobs.
To help get my mojo working, I visited a few different challenge sites, to see what their challenges are this week.  I really needed a starting point: a color combo, a sketch, and a technique or embellishment requirement.  And here is what I found: the Shabby Tea Room (#166),  Mojo Monday (#293), and Just Us GirlS challenge (#188).

color combo:  pink and green
(and include a sewing element):
a button and machine stitching


the sketch:
rotated veritcle

a technique:
(use white ink)
white craft ink and white paint

and here is what I made:

Wow, so where do I start, with my notes.  These card-box combos are alot of fun to create.  You create a card, add on a box, and let you gift 'shine' {smile}.  This template was purchased here.
The card/box base is Vanilla cardstock.  I used Paper Trey Ink cardstock.  It's a heavier weight than Stampin' Up!, because I needed a heavy weight cardstock to hold up to the layers.


We'll start with the front.  I rotated the sketch 90 degrees, so it would be a portrait orientation.  I used a piece of sage shadow card stock, hand-stamped the text with white craft ink, and heat embossed white embossing powder.  I used some digital papers I had on hand.  I selected rose prints that have pinks and greens in them.  I matted the larger paper with shell card stock.  To define it from the main panel.  I then  added some machine stitching.  I didn't use two circles like the sketch.  Instead, I used a circle and a square.  The back square in a text pattern paper.  The forward circle is actually a digital image of pink macaroons.  I think these little cookies are a fabulously-glamorous birthday cookie.  I matted this circle onto a darker green cardstock.  I used white paint to distress the edge of the circle.  I also hand-stamped the doily in white ink and used white embossing powder, on vellum card stock, to create the lace doily.
I used a white/black text pattern paper for my strip.  I also matted it with a beige and ivory floral pattern paper.  I took a strip of pom-pom trim and machine stitched that piece on, too.  I added a hand-made white clay blossom to this strip.
I used two different shades of pink seam binding.  The lighter pink seam binding was tied into a multi-loop and one of my hand-made white clay buttons was tied onto the bow with cream twine.  I added a circle tag.  I hand-stamped 'celebrate' on a circle tag.  I distressed this tag with white paint, and tied it to the bow.  The darker pink seam binding was tied around the card-box combo.  I used a rhinestone brad to secure the seam binding to the spine of the box.  


Ok, for the inside, I continued the white stamping and white embossing.  I used a flourish stamp to add the white swirl to the rose digital paper.  The 'happy birthday' square is hand-stamped in black ink on vanilla cardstock.  The cupcake image is cut from a digital paper.

The front of the box, is decorated with a cream and green pattern paper.  I stamped text onto it, with white craft ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I matted the pattern paper onto mellow moss cardstock.  I added a decorative label with stamped 'Birthday Wishes'.  I added a circle of pink roses.  I also stamped 'friends' in black classic ink onto a different pink floral pattern paper.  I added a heart of silver glimmer paper.
Inside of the box, is two glassine bags of hand-made white clay buttons.  I altered a clothes pin with silver glitter.  I used this glitter clothes pin to hold the two glassine bags closed and together.
I left the back au natural.  Thank you for looking.  I hope you have a chance to play along with your favorite challenge site, too!  It's alot of fun, to create something beautiful for someone.

Bold Colors

I need to change gears, so to speak.  The lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have a color challenge for you to try this week.  The colors are bright and bold.  Lets see what you create!
here are the colors:

these aren't colors that I normally use, so this was a challenge for me too


To help pull the Melon Mambo color in the card, I did some random stamping and created a focal point.  The summer starfruit was easier for me to incorporate.  I made a simple banner flag with the dsp and card stock.  Then I did a repetitive stamp in the same color.  The DSP has the summer starfruit and island indigo.
I hope you get a chance to play along with us @ NAC


Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day + Blog Candy

Happy Mother's Day, to all of you who are celebrating!  I wanted to celebrate today with you all, and  give away some candy!  Blog candy that is!
here is the candy I am giving away:


The blog candy consists of one yard total of my favorite trims and two button cards of my home-made clay embellishments. 

The trims: one foot each of crochet trim
burlap ribbon, and pale pink crinkled seam binding:

one button card with two clay buttons:

one button card with clay embellishments
a disc with bird and flowers, a blossom, and a cameo

The clay embellishments are made from white sparkle clay and baked to cure. These embellishments will add a shabby touch to any craft.  Each clay embellishment is attached to the button card with a glue dot.

And here is how you enter.  Leave a comment with this post, letting me know your favorite childhood memory.  It can be anything; a family vacation, a stuffed animal you received on your birthday, the best cake your mom made you, whatever.  Also, include a way to contact you, if you are randomly selected as my winner, so I can mail you your candy.  (Candy will be mailed on Tuesday, in a padded envelope.)   Good Luck!

Oh, one little detail.  You have until Monday, May 13th @ 11pm MST to leave a comment, to be eligible to win.  One comment per person.

the sweetest sounds to mortals given
are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven
~William Goldsmith Brown

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Remember this . . .

time well spent.  
That is a wonderful memory that makes you feel warm, loved, and truly happy.  The kind of happy that evokes a smile inside out.  Few things in life give me this.  My children/grandchildren are the first things that come to mind.  I believe that it is their innocence.  Their thirst to experience life.  My dog, Sasha, is a running second.  I have to admit, its this 'unconditional love', that feeds my soul.  It gives me a feeling of calm and the courage to 'spread my wings'.  It's from this passion that motivates and inspires me to create. 
With Mother's Day right around the corner, ok, tomorrow.  I'm sure you have a memory that makes you happy, proud to be a parent.  Whether its the first time your child rode their bike without training wheels, their first ballet recital, their first time in a T-ball uniform, their first 'A' on a spelling test, or any other wonderfully sweet exhibit of their independence.  These milestones are actually stepping stone in parenthood.  Because your love started when their first breath took yours away!  Now, you need to nurture their desires, their interests, their passions, their independence.  Help them become responsible, loving, mature people, who have a passion, an interest, a goal.

The talented ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room have a beautiful challenge this week.  The inspirational photo has a collection of stacked soft, neutral blankets in a wicker basket.  They ask that you also use some dry embossing and stitching to help add some texture.
Here is their inspirational photo:


This inspirational photo, stirred these parental feelings in me.  The different textures, the ruffles, the stripes, the crispness of the wicker, the contrast of the white numbers.  A collection of 'life', so to speak. 
This photo brought memories of my daughter.  I know that just sounds crazy.  But, this stack of blankets are 'her'.  She is a warm and compassionate woman to her friends.  A loving and patient mother to her children (she has 3, with one on the way).  A best friend and partner to her husband.  And a wonderfully warm, kind, and funny person to everyone who interacts with her.  She values her family, and is grateful for her blessings.  So, her Mother's Day card was made with this inspirational photo.  
here is what I made:



This collage is the result of the inspiration photo.  All the different elements make me think of her, my daughter.  The dry embossing comes from the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder by Stampin' Up!.  I sewn a border around the card front with my sewing machine.  I find the hum of the machine soothing.

I used two different neutral floral pattern papers: the rectangle with the glitter photo corner, and the matt behind the black pattern paper on the doily.  The floral pattern paper shows how she isn't exactly a girly-girl, but still very much a woman.  
The mini post card is actually a digital download, from Ephemera's Vintage Garden: little blackbirds, found here.  It represents her love for keeping in touch with family and friends.
The clock image, is hand-stamped onto a piece of a balsa wood sheet.  The stamp comes from Hero Arts: Keeping Time.  The clock represents how time flys!
The 2 cent stamp and the ticket stub, are stamps from Stampin' Up!: Postage Due and That's the Ticket.  These two pieces represent the memorabilia from different family vacations.
The white shabby resin lock, is from Melissa Frances.  The lock with bow represents home.  My daughter does everything that she can to keep a clean, comfortable, and loving home for her family.  
The white paper doily is from Martha Stewart: Doily Tags.  This soft, sweet addition, reminds me of the softer side of this  adventurist mom.
The black and white text paper, is from Prima: Printery Collection.  This is the contrast to the doily.  My daughter is a strict but fair parent.
The butterfly is made with a grey puffy fabric.  The center of the butterfly is made with a floral shape of glimmer paper and a fabric blossom; both by Stampin' Up!  I love the butterfly.  To me, it represents 'change'.  Life is full of change.  So embrace it.  Or it'll run you over.  The fabric blossom represents growth.  My daughter's growth as a young woman, wife, and mother.  This collection is for the sweeter side of her.  She is a strong person, but also tender-hearted.

The two trims across the card front were selected because of the inspiration photo. The mix of textures, fabrics, and neutrals. I added the trio of buttons to represent the way a mother 'holds her family together' with love, praise, and support.
Also, I just love this grey-ish polka dot distressed pattern paper by Glitz.  It looks like fabric, to me.  I thought it paired nicely with the over-all look of the card.
Finally, the sentiment says it all!  This sentiment comes from the Everyday Moments stamp set by Teresa Collins.  'I want to always Remember...'.  I believe that this sentiment is very personal to each person who reads it.  And I didn't want to add a generic sentiment. But rather an unique sentiment to go with an unique, special card, to celebrate Mother's Day!  

Thank you for looking.  I hope I have inspired you to play along with the latest challenge over @ the Shabby Tea Room.  Let the photo help you create something wonderfully beautiful and personal {smile}.
Happy Mother's Day, to all of you who have 'children', whether they are human, canine, bovine, etc.  When we nurture, love and support another, we in turn help ourselves grow.  


~stop-by tomorrow, for a chance to win some blog candy~

Friday, May 10, 2013

Hello Baby

On this Friday, Jennifer is our sketch design artist for the sketch challenge over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Jennifer has created a wonderful sketch.  I think it works for a large variety of paper crafters.  This sketch is very workable if you're a CAS type of gal, or a layering fool (like me) {smile}.
the sketch:

When I saw the sketch this week, the first thing I thought of was to stamp flowers in the opposite corners.  But then, that just didn't seem like 'me'.  The other thing that came to mind, was to use some products that I just love, but are retiring from Stampin' Up! this month.  A way to use things I like before I can't.  
here is what I created:


The card base is made from River Rock card stock.  I love this shade.  It's a neutral that has some green in it.  It looks like a linen shade, to me.  And then I decided to use some pretty soft colors, to help showcase this shade.                                            
The large panel is made from pool party card stock.  I used the distressed polka dot background stamp.  (Another retiring product.)  I stamped the polka dots in whisper white craft ink and white embossing powder.  I heat set the embossing powder.  I sponged some pool party classic ink on the all the edges, and randomly over the embossed polka dots.  I used a kleenex to wipe any ink off the embossed polka dots.    
   
The card base is made from River Rock card stock.  I love this shade.  It's a neutral that has some green in it.  It looks like a linen shade, to me.  And then I decided to use some pretty soft colors, to help showcase this shade.                                            
The large panel is made from pool party card stock.  I used the distressed polka dot background stamp.  (Another retiring product.)  I stamped the polka dots in whisper white craft ink and white embossing powder.  I heat set the embossing powder.  I sponged some pool party classic ink on the all the edges, and randomly over the embossed polka dots.  I used a kleenex to wipe any ink off the embossed polka dots. 
The upper corner has a strip of crochet trim and burlap ribbon stapled to the corner.  I layered a fabric blossom on top of a silver glimmer paper flower.  I stamped the baby ticket and adhered it on top of the ribbon tails.  The pink panel is made from pink pirouette card stock.  I stamped the doily in whisper white craft ink and used white embossing powder.  Heat set the doilies, swiped pink pirouette classic ink across the raised doilies.


As with the sketch, there are two embellishments at opposite corners.  I wanted to make a soft, pretty, sweet card for a baby shower.  So, I didn't want to specify a girl or boy baby.  That's another reason for the pink and blue.  I also selected neutral vanilla-colored embellishments.  I did all the stamping with basic grey classic ink.
The bottom corner has a postage stamp and a ticket.  Both pieces were stamped in basic grey clasic ink onto very vanilla cardstock.  I layered them, and added the button to hide the text.  I tied some white bakers twine through the button.
The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, in basic black classic ink.  This is my version of a clean and simple card.  It isn't one layer, or 'flat'.  But, it is a pretty basic card for me {smile}.
I hope that we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what you create with our sketch!


~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~