Friday, October 25, 2013

Simple Kraft

Welcome.  I had to switch my day off from work this week, and it has really messed-up my week.  I keep getting my days mixed-up, to say the least.  Anyways, enough about me {smile}.
This week over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, a new sketch is up and ready for you to play along.  But, before we get to that, I hope you find a bit of inspiration from what the design team has created!


here is what I did:


I made this card with a special girl friend in mind, Nichole B.  She, is a great person, and makes me laugh!  Nichole, paper crafts, too, and has an unique style of card making.  She is a 'clean and simple' type of gal.  And her favorite color combo is black and yellow.  
I used a build a background text stamp across the top.  I also added a flourish stamped in black to give her card a little pizzazz.  I added a strip of modern medley dsp to give the card a color scheme.  I also banner ended a strip of yellow pattern paper to give the card a pop of color.  I added a frame stamped in basic black classic ink, added a sprig of black leaves, a yellow flower and a vellum butterfly. 
Let's see what you create! and post your card on the SFF challenge site!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Thinking of You

Happy Tuesday!  I hope you had a good weekend, and that Monday was not too brutal.  Me, I had a fabulous weekend!  I spent three days crafting with two very wonderful ladies; Valerie and Nichole.  But, now it's back to work, back to the daily grind.  It's Tuesday, and that means that it is time for another challenge from Nacho Average Challenge.  This week, we have a color challenge.  And boy, color challenges are just that for me, a challenge.


here is what I made


I used daffodil delight cardstock for the base.  I used a pattern paper from the Gingham Garden DSP collection.  I also used the Kind and Cozy stamp set for this card.  I did a bit of machine stitching, to hold the banner piece to the card front, with a zig zag stitch.  
I cut a paper doily in half and used that to break-up the empty space.  I wrapped a piece of daffodil delight seam binding around the card front and tied it in a multi-loop bow.  I added a simple bow of white bakers twine.
The sentiment circle is stamped in primrose petal, and the sentiment is stamped in daffodil delight.  I used markers to color the floral images.  The  sentiment banner is stamped in midnight muse.  
I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ NAC.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Paper Gift Bag

This weekend had a very nice start!  I caught up with two of the most lovely ladies, to craft it up!  We get together a few different times of the year, and paper craft. We talk about what's going on in our lives, laugh, and truly enjoy each others company.  So, when The Hen House, hosted another stamp retreat this fall, we all signed up to attend, and requested to sit together.  
One of the paper crafting traditions, is to craft something for your table mates. Yes, there is such a term, and yes, that is what we are!  Since I have been making some holiday gift bags, I thought why not make a paper gift bag, to hold some treats for these ladies.  So, here is what I made!



I used paper that I already had on hand, and mix and matched different stamp companies.  The long text stamp is from Tim Holtz.  It says, 'imagination is more important than knowledge. for while knowledge defines all we already know and understand. imagination leads us to all we might yet discover and create.'   The initials and 'my friend' are from Stampin' Up!.  The tag at the top of the bag, 'just for you' is from Paper Trey Ink.  I adhered the same pattern paper to small clothes pins to help hold the bag closed.  The ribbons are from my stash, and the vintage buttons from Paper Trey Ink.
I hope this weekend finds time for you to do what you love!  And spend some time with those who are important to you. 
Well, I am off to bed.  I will share a photo of the cupcakes I need to finish tomorrow.  3 dozen white cake and 3 dozen chocolate cake, with a sweet cream filling, topped with a whipped pink butter cream frosting, and a light dusting of edible glitter.


Friday, October 18, 2013

Whew, it's Friday!  and I can now take a breath and focus on just crafting!  It's a true fun filled weekend for me.  It's the first day of the fall rubber stamp retreat.  Yep, three days of non stop crafting.  Your choice of what you craft, you bring what you want to work on.  Un-interupted crafting time, no chores to get done, no meals to make, no dishes to wash, and no children to take care.  
But, before I get my craft supplies loaded into my car, and start a weekend filled with girl time, laughs,  no sleep, and crafting, 
I wanted to share a card I created for the latest sketch @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Kim is this week's designer of the sketch, and I have to say, Kim did a fabulous job creating a very user friendly sketch.


and here is what I created


For this card, I tried to keep it pretty flat.  So, it could be mailed easily!  I used a few different stamp sets to create this card.  I stamped the label piece, from Everything Eleanor in baked brown sugar.  I then stamped two blossoms with versa mark ink, onto pink pirouette cardstock, and then added white embossing powder.  I heat embossed the blossoms, and fussy cut them with scissors.  For the leaves, I used the Gently Falling stamp set.  The leaf outlines were stamped with baked brown sugar, and the body of the leaf was stamped with pistachio ink.
I cut two banner pieces out of a few scrap pieces of patten paper.  I added a few lines of machine stitches to add a little home-y touch.  and then a few pearls.  
For the sentiment, I stamped a postage stamp and a itty bity banner piece.
I hope that you get some inspiration from the design team.  We really have quite a few different crafting styles.  I hope that you get a chance to play along with us this week @ SFF!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Friend and Strength

Thank you for stopping by today.  I have a few things to share with you.  First, I made a quick and easy card.  Ok, maybe not so quick.  And there is a sewing machine involved, so maybe not so easy, either.  Ugh.  Ok, for me, this was quick and easy.  Quick, in that it only took about 30 minutes to make.  
Mojo Monday, has a great sketch for you to try this week.  I love it!  Sketch #315.

and here is what I created with this sketch:


I had to run into one of those big box crafting stores yesterday.  I'll admit, I am using a product that is currently on sale.  And since I was already inside the store, I might as well look around, right?  Anyways, they had this beautiful pattern paper by Prima: Botanical Collection 'my darling' and Romantique Collection 'estella'.  Don't they look just fabulous together?  I matted the 'my darling' pattern paper onto a piece of very vanilla cardstock and machine stitched a simple border.  I then matted the 'Estella' pattern paper onto a piece of Pistachio cardstock, and did a simple border with my sewing machine.  I added some banners made from an old Teresa Collins pattern paper.  I added a hand-dyed pistachio seam binding to the floral piece and tied the seam binding into a multi-loop bow, and added a PTI vintage button tied with cream twine.  I also added a trio of half pearls, to give this card front a sweeter look.  
The sentiment stamp, is also from the big box craft store.  And it was only $1.99 (regular price) and I used my 40% coupon.  I stamped the sentiment in soft suede classic ink, onto very vanilla cardstock.  And matted the sentiment piece onto a piece of crumb cake cardstock.  I used foam adhesive to lift the sentiment piece off the card front. 
I'm pretty happy with how my card came out. Let me know what you think! 
Now, onto to the covered notepad I mentioned in yesterdays post.  I made this notepad cover with a fabulous new stamp set from Farm House: country kitchen.


I love the vintage style labels in this stamp set, along with two different bottle stamps.  The floral pattern paper and the striped pattern paper that I used, is left over from when I made our Christmas cards last year.  Yep, I didn't use 'holiday' pattern papers.  I actually love making holiday cards out of 'regular' pattern papers.  I think it helps freshen the whole season a bit.  Don't get me wrong, I am still a huge fan of pretty holiday pattern paper.  Sometimes, I just really love the unexpected {smile}.  Oh, I almost forgot, the red houndstooth pattern paper is Teresa Collins, He Said, She Said, 'Rulers Paper'.
Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you have been inspired, and get a chance to create!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Glistening Pretty

I had a very productive day, yesterday.  I  made some covered note pads, gift bags, canned 2 recipes of  Christmas Cranberry Relish, and 30/+ bottles of homemade vanilla.  I have a few holiday Arts and Craft Fairs coming up, soon.
When I started crafting for Arts and Craft Fairs, about 5 years ago, I have alway created holiday paper crafts with non-traditional Christmas colors.  When I say, 'non-traditional' I mean color combinations that aren't 'red and green', or 'blue and silver'.  My first holiday card of non-traditional colors, was Spring Moss and Basic Black.  It was a big hit.  Alot of folks liked the 'freshness' of this color combination.
Over the last few years, I have become a big fan of Authentique paper.  I love the colors, patterns and graphics.  One of the new holiday collections I have purchased and crafted with is:  Glistening.  It has a soft brown, a pale aqua, a mauve, and cream color combination.  The patterns have polka dots, snowflakes, plaid, lines, and vintage drawings.  I purchased a few sheets to see what I could make with this pattern paper.  And, now I am in love with this pattern paper!
Here is a sneak peak of a gift bag I crafted today.

sneak peak: gift bag
I used a retired mauve card stock: pale plum.  I also used Aqua Mist by PTI and Soft Suede by Stampin' Up!.  I cut a snowflake using silver glitter cardstok.  I painted the edges of the heart with some picket fence distress paint and glitter.  I tied an aqua mist vintage button to the cardboard heart with some cream twine.  The snowman and children silhouette stamp is from CTMH, and was stamped with baked brown sugar classic ink.
Thank you for stopping by, and see what I've been doing.  Tomorrow, I will share a sneak peak of a covered notepad I made yesterday.  I used some vintage inspired pattern paper.  A little teaser: I used a stamp set from Farm House.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Happy Sketch

oh my, not sure what happened, but this didn't post.

Howdy!  Glad you could stop by today.  It's nice to see what folks are creating and I have a pretty pink Birthday card to share with you.  The lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge, have a creative sketch, that will allow you do alot with this week's sketch.


See what I mean?  You can layer papers, add patterns, stamp, embellishments, the world is your oyster, so to speak.


I paired one of my favorite color combos together: pink and brown: Blushing Bride and Soft Suede.  I wanted to make a girly card for a very special friend.  She is celebrating her birthday this weekend, while we are at the rubber stamp retreat.  How exciting, huh?
I used shimmer white cardstock, instead of flat white.  Love the added shimmer.  Also, I punched some leaves with the 2 step  bird punch.    The blossoms were made with the shimmer white, pink pirouette and blushing bride card stocks.  I stamped the sentiment in soft suede classic ink, onto blushing bride cardstock.  I tied some of the new chevron stripe ribbon around the card front, and made a simple knot.
Let see what you create with this very user friendly sketch!  Who knows, you could be the next top nacho!  So, come, and play along with us @ NAC.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Peace on Earth Dove

I hope your weekend is going good.  Me, it is.  I saw a bunch of friends yesterday, to celebrate a colleague retiring after 43 years of work.  Wow, thats some love of her job!  Anyways, I also got to craft a few more things for the up coming arts and craft fairs.  I don't make my paper crafts in mass production.  I make a few and then move on to the next project.  So, my 'stuff' is original.  Oh, and I don't make only holiday themed items.  That way, these paper crafts are still usable after the new year.  More bang for your buck {smile}.
I shared with you some covered notepads and altered notebooks earlier this week, here.   So, at the start of the arts and craft fairs tour, I will have 12 holiday themed and 12 non-holiday themed, of each notepads and notebooks.  So, when I need to replenish my inventory for the next arts and craft fair, they will be different.  A new selection.  I do take special orders.  However, some papers/embellishments may not available any longer.  Case in point, these four gift bags I made:

gift bag

See that beautiful neutral background paper?  The pale green, with snowflakes and dots of kraft and a darker green?  I only had a partial sheet of that paper.  So, I made four gift bags.  That paper is no longer available.  Its 4/+yrs old.  It's beautiful and very easy to work with.
I stamped 'Peace on Earth' onto the pattern paper.  I did some machine stitching to create a border.  For the focal piece I added a white paper doily, added a circle of text print paper, and layered a silver glitter paper snowflake.  To hold the whole center piece together, I added a multi-loop bow made of seam binding, and tied a button to the center.  To add a little visual interest, I heat embossed the dove, fussy cut it out, and tied a thin silver cord around its neck.
I hope you get a chance to visit one of the arts and craft fairs I am selling at this year.  It is always nice to see what other create.  And I have a fondness of home-made, hand-made items.  If you do make it to one of the craft fairs, please stop by and say 'hello!' its always nice to see a friend!

Friday, October 11, 2013

Kraft Christmas

Happy Friday! and thank you for stopping by.  The lovely Tammy @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, has a great sketch for you to work with this week.  I know that you will be inspired by the great creations from this design team.
here is the sketch


here is my creation


I have been busy making holiday crafts for some upcoming arts and craft fairs, that I will be selling my hand -made paper crafts at, this holiday season.  So, my mind is in that mode.  I have to admit, that I don't have many current holiday stamp sets by Stampin' Up!.  Not that they aren't gorgeous, or very usable.  I just have too many retired stamp sets. 
So, with a restricted budget, this allows me to really use what I do have.  It also gives you some inspiration and ideas on using stamp sets that you may already have {smile}.
The card base is crumb cake.  The green, is pear pizzazz.  I just love this shade of green.  I used a scrap piece of modern medley dsp (black text paper) to have some contrast to my card.  I stamped the tree in basic black classic ink onto white shimmer paper.  I wanted to add a bit of sparkle.  I stamped the sentiment in the same ink, on the lower right corner of the card.
I created the blossom with clay and the blossom and button mold by Stampin' Up!.  I struggled with this.  I really wanted to add a button, or a star.  But, I didn't like anything I had.  And I had an extra clay blossom, and it looks great there.  If you really think about it, it's an odd object to place there.  It doesn't really fit the theme or the concept of the card.  But, somehow it works for me.  Maybe, its the white.
I felt the banner piece was missing something, so I tied a simple knot with some natural trim ribbon.  I selected this type of ribbon, because I felt that it fits the theme of the card (kraft).
Head on into your craft room, and play along with us @ SFF.  And share with us, your paper craft!


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Note Pads

I have been working on some crafts for some upcoming holiday arts and craft fairs, held here, in Albuquerque New Mexico.  A couple of the items that I really enjoy making is altered notebooks and covering note pads.  I know that sounds kinda boring.  But, I find the whole process alot of fun!  I always make some of these items in non-holiday themes.  That way, this item is also appropriate after the holidays.
covered notepad

altered notebook
The covered note pads have 25 pages of lined paper.  The altered notebooks have 80 pages of lined paper.  I don't make my crafts in mass production.  So almost everything is an original.  The most of one thing I have made is a gift bag.  I made four.  I'll share a sneak peak photo this weekend.  So stay tuned.


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Flower in October

Can you believe that we are already in the second week of October?  This month is quickly leading the way to Christmas.  But before we get to Christmas, lets first think of Halloween!  The lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge, have a color challenge for you to try this week.  Once, I saw the colors, I instantly thought of Halloween.  Ugh, and I don't own any Halloween themed rubber stamps.  So, I tried to go a different direction with the color challenge.

here is what I did:


When I was crafting for this color challenge, I also realized that I don't own any dsp with these colors in it.  So, to say the least, this challenge was a bit frustrating.  But color challenges, are the hardest for me.
I randomly inked the Ex Libris background stamp in basic black classic ink.  I inked two wheels I have, one in summer starfruit classic ink and the text in pumpkin pie classic ink.  I made them into banners.  I cut a paper doily in half and added it to the left side of the card.  I stamped my blossom in the same colors, and did the 'rock and roll' technique.  I dyed my vanilla seam binding with pumpkin pie re-inker, and then did a zig zag machine stitch.  I added two tickets, stamped with the That's the Ticket stamp set.  And tucked in a sprig of leaves from the 2 step bird punch, using silver glitter paper.
I know that you will see some fabulous creations from the other ladies, and be inspired to play along with us @ NAC!  So grab you stamping supplies, and share with us what you create!

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Holiday Crafts

I hope you had a fabulous weekend.  I did.  I spent some quality time with my husband.  It was very nice, to spend some unhurried time with him.  But, we also did some chores.  Sasha, needed to go to the vet again.  She has an UTI that isn't clearing up.  So, she had her first Ultra Sound.  And yes, they do, do those for canines.  We also went and looked at RVs.  Recreational Vehicles.  A passion of my husbands.  We went out to dinner two nights in a row.  A miracle!  My husband loves my cooking, so getting him to eat out is a chore in itself.  I know I am blessed {smile}.  And we watched our two youngest grandchildren, all-day Sunday (over 6 hours).  
But through it all, I did get some crafting done.  Yesterday was World Card Making Day, but I also made a few different items.  The cards I am waiting to post.  There are a few challenges for those, and so we'll see how I do, before I show them.
Anyways, I did get some holiday crafting done.  I made some cute little things.

a food-safe bag for some home-baked goodies

magic reindeer food
I hope that you get a chance to create, and craft.  It really gives me a chance to 'escape' from real life, and find some peace.  But it also gives me a chance to exercise the other half of my brain.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Sweet Nothing

Wow, it's already Friday, and the weekend is getting to start.  I don't know about you, but I feel like I have a thousand things to get done.  Ok, maybe not literally a thousand.  But quite a few.  So, before I start to tackle those, I wanted to share a sweet card I made for a sketch challenge:  Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Yep, I designed this weeks sketch, and I hope you get a chance to play along with us!
here is this week's sketch:

I don't know if you have noticed, but I have selected to stick with a few colors for my sketches: pink and brown.  I made the decision last year.  I felt it was a way to distinguish my sketches from the other ladies in the group.  If you noticed, they too, have stayed with the same few colors for the sketches that they design.
here is what I did with the sketch:


I know that it is not my typical style with a hundred layers.  But, if you look closely you will see my style shine through!  
I have a new love for machine stitching on my cards and other paper crafts.  And this card is no exception.  I did a machine zig zag stitch to the horizontal piece, and then a simple border stitch around the tag.  
I wanted my card to be clean and simple.  Or at least my version of clean and simple.
I used pink pirouette cardstock for the card base.  And a piece of floral and gingham pattern papers from the Gingham Garden DSP collection.  I actually cut the paper doily in half, and tucked the cut edge under the horizontal gingham piece.
The sentiment comes from the From My Heart stamp set.  Love the different sentiments and fonts.  Very pretty and easy to use.  
I matted a piece of very vanilla card stock onto melon mambo cardstock, for the tag.  I strung a piece of daffodil delight seam binding through the hole, and tied a vintage button to the seam binding with a piece of white bakers twine.  I adhered the tag to the front of the card with foam tape.
I jazzed up the tag with a simple floral stamp, from the Kind and Cozy stamp set.  I colored the stamp with different colors (markers) and stamped onto a very vanilla cardstock piece, then fussy cut the floral piece out with my detail scissors.  I adhered the floral bunch to the tag with some foam tape.
I think my card is simple and sweet.  What do you think?
I hope I have inspired you to play along with us over @ SFF.  Let's see what you create with my sketch this week!


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Collage of Autumn

Happy Tuesday!  I hope your week is off to a good start.  Me? it's doing ok. (smile)
I want to share a card with you today.  The lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have the cutest sketch.  And the weather here is turning cold.  It was 48 degrees yesterday when I left the house to drive to work.  YUK!
here is the sketch:

and here is what I created:

A bit different.  A collection of various elements.  But, I kinda like it!  I wanted to use colors that are easily found this time of year: green, cajun craze, daffodil delight, slate, kraft, and soft suede.
I used crumb cake cardstock for the card base.  Always good to have a common color used, to help ground the card.
I stamped the flourish in smoky slate.  I love how soft this color is.  I added a green stripe pattern paper from the Etc. dsp collection.  I machine stitched the pattern paper on.  
I stamped the leaves in cajun craze and soft suede, using the gently falling stamp set.  I fussy cut around the leaves and sponged the edges.  I cut a simple tag shape from very vanilla card stock, and layered the leaves behind the tag.  
I cut a scallop circle from the perfect pennants die, using daffodil delight cardstock.  I sponged the edges also.  For the center, I stamped the aspen background in crumb cake classic ink.  I didn't want anything to compete with the print.  I then stamped the acorn in soft suede classic ink, right over the aspen image.  I used my 1 3/4" circle punch to create the center.  I sponged the edges.
For the banner piece, I stamped the banner stamp in old olive classic ink, fussy cut it with my scissors and used foam tape to elevate the banner off the card front.
I hand dyed the vanilla seam binding with my basic black re inker.  I made sure I used just a few drops, so it wouldn't come out too dark for me.  Dried the hand dyed seam binding with my heat tool, and strung it at the top of my tag.
For the sentiment tag, I stamped the aspen background in crumb cake classic ink, and then the sentiment over it, in soft suede classic ink.  I used the decorative label punch to create the fancy piece.
I hope that we have inspired you, and you get a chance to play along with us over @ NAC.  
Hope you have a wonderful start to your week!