Saturday, December 27, 2014

love u

Howdy!  I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday! and that you were able to share it with family & friends.  We did!  We had a wonderful Christmas.  My mom came into town, and as always it is wonderful to spend some time with her {smile}.  We got to spend sometime at our daughters house.  Her children are just so precious.   Anyways, one of my new years resolutions (typically every new years) is to spend less on crafting supplies, use what I have, and get my supplies in order.  So, before I head into my craft room to clean up the clutter of holiday crafting these past several months, I want to share a card I made this morning.
The wonderful ladies over @ Divas by Design have a final challenge: anything goes!  
And here is what I made:


I didn't purposefully set out to make a valentines card.  It just kinda happened.  So, lets get started with the recipe and a few close ups {smile}.
The card base is aqua mist card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  I just love the weight of their card stock - heavy, yet workable.

The matt is lagoon from stampin' up!.  I just love this new color.  The floral pattern paper is a digital paper I recently purchased.  Love the polka dots and the colors.    The middle panel is also a recent digital purchase, also.  I thought the blue 'love' piece matched the blue in the floral pattern paper.  i also loved the flowers on this piece.
I matted that piece onto a textured pool party card stock by Stampin' Up!.  
I did a little machine stitching.  I just love the look.  The top banner piece is actually a christmas pattern paper that I had a scrap of, so I just flagged the end.  I did a sloppy machine stitch.
I tied a blush button by Amuse Studios with a thin silver cord.  I added a white tag that I had laying around my crafting space.  I die cut the 'U' from silver glitter paper, by Stampin' Up!.  

I added a scrap piece of white lace trim piece I had left over from holiday card making.  I also added some pink pirouette seam binding, by Stampin' Up!. I tied the seam binding into a multi-loop bow, and added a vintage kraft button by PTI.  I hot glued a Melissa Frances key hole.  And I added a pink heart stick pin.  To finish off the card, I added several white faceted sequins.

All the edges of the different papers were sponged with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up!

Thank you for stopping by.  Now, I must head into my craft room, and clean up the mess I created from my crafting for the past holiday craft shows.  See ya soon!


Friday, December 26, 2014

Happy Holidays

I want to wish everyone, including my family, friends, customers, visitors and supporters the Happiest of Holidays!  
I also want to announce a sale I am having at my Easy shop.  Use coupon code 'NEWYEAR' and take 20% off anything and everything from today till Jan 3rd, 2015.  

here is a little eye candy:


This ornament is not available to sale.  I made this for a very special friend, my daughter last year.  But I did want to share it with you {smile}.
Be safe out there if you are traveling.  And I hope this holiday brought you all your heart desired!
Happy Holidays!  and happy crafting, Sharon W.


Friday, December 19, 2014

Desktop Calendar

~ large photos ~

Welcome.  I have been a bit busy making some last minute special orders.  A very sweet, dear friend has asked me to make her a desktop calendar in my traditional shabby chic, vintage style.  And well, I couldn't say 'no', so I set out into my craft room, and started crafting.
I wanted to make her something 'one of a kind' and something very special.  So, I located some beautiful digital papers I had recently purchased, printed them, and then started crafting.
I am happy with how it turned out, so I wanted to share a few photos with you.  This first one is of the cover.  And the next two are of my favorite pages. {smile}


This is the cover.  These desk top calendars measure 4" x 4".  I use a 1" spiral ring for the binding. I love the large spiral, and the color of the metal {smile}
I used one sheet of this digital paper.  I love the mix of text, floral images, polka dots, calendar numbers, and ledger writing.  I added a spool label to the year.  I thought the colors and images looked perfect with the cover collage.  [My struggle with these pages is to keep them flat, and not too bulky.]
These are my two favorite months {smile}


February is my birth month, and so I believe that, that connection, helps my creative side craft something pretty, and St. Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday, so  there is a special place in my heart for this whole affair.  {smile} 
I used another collage digital paper for the main image.  Yeah, love the white text, the polka dots, the floral images, and the hand-writing.  I used another spool label behind the glitter trim.  I used a scallop trim border punch on a thin piece of gold glitter paper.  I machine stitched a piece of cream crochet trim to help add some softness.  I cut a tiny tag from a pink checkered digital paper.  I added a digital scrabble word across the tag.  I distressed a pink button with white paint and glitter.  I tied the button to the tiny tag with strawberry bakers twine.  I just love this month!


And here is my other favorite month: September.  Not necessarily the month, but rather the page.  I used another digital collage paper.  Again, a mix of polka dots, florals, text, and hand-written ledgers. I stamped the mason jar onto a different digital pattern paper and fussy cut it out.  I added a scallop trim piece of a different digital polka dot pattern paper.  I added a simple knot of a cream crochet trim.

All of the months have a simple machine stitch border.  Each month is matted with kraft card stock.  I hope my friend Cathy (MB) really loves her desk top calendar.  And I hope that you enjoyed my little share.  {smile}


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Jumbo Gift Card Holder

Howdy! and welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I'm so happy that you could visit.  Sit a spell, have a look around, and hopefully I have inspired you {smile}!
Yesterday, I confessed that I have already started thinking about next years holiday arts and crafts fairs, and a few new items I would like to sell.  Well, today I have a little sneak peak.  {smile}
If you are like me, you do give gift cards to those who either love them, or you aren't quite sure what they would like from their favorite place.  And if you are like me, sometimes these gift cards are purchased from grocery/drug stores.  And yeah, they have this big cardboard piece that advertises who they are, and they have that 'gorgeous' hanger hole at the top.  Sound familiar?  Well, the gift card holders I sell at my booth, only have space for the card.  Crazy, right?  Well, sometimes, you just don't want/can't tear that thing apart to get to the card.  So, I have made a 'Jumbo Gift Card Holder' for just that situation!
Well, to get some direction, I stopped by the Divas by Design challenge blog.  And well, they have a great challenge this week!  Seeing Red!  So they ask that you use lots of red!  And I think I have!


Ok, lets get started.  This is my version of the jumbo gift card holder.  {smile}  It measures 5" x 5 1/2".  In this view, the measurements look 'wrong', but they aren't.  Promise.  Anyways, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  I am thinking of possibly making a belly band, to help hold the flap closed, but haven't 'married' that idea yet.  I'm also thinking the belly band could potentially give me another pattern paper, to help give this large piece some more pattern.  I could attach the 3" x 4" 'tag' to it, also.  Hmmm, options, options, options.
Anyways, back to this one.  I used kraft card stock by Recollections for the base.  I used this new 'vintage'-y pattern holiday paper 'Snow Village' by Pink Paisley.  I just love the soft pretty colors and hip patterns.  {smile}
I cut a medium snowflake with the fancy snowflake die by Paper Trey Ink.  I used the gold glitter paper by Stampin' Up!.  Love the glitter/sparkle and shine!  I wrapped some of the new holiday Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon, by Stampin' Up! through the center of the snowflake and tied a simple bow.  I stamped the sentiment onto a tiny tag in Cherry Cobbler classic ink, by Stampin' Up! The tiny tag was made with the Tiny Tag die, by Paper Trey Ink.  The sentiment came from the Holiday Friendship Jar stamp set, by Paper Trey Ink.
I altered a jingle bell, and tied both the bell and the tag to the large bow with some thin silver cord, and made a simple bow with the silver cord.
Just like my other gift card holders, the inside flap of these will be embossed with a holiday message.  
This sentiment card came in the paper pack.  I did stamp the 'Love & Laughter welcome here at Christmas and all year', in cherry cobbler classic ink.  I felt the tag piece needed a little something more.  I hope my friend likes it! {smile}
Thank you for stopping by.  Now, I am off to cut card stock.  I have finished my 'sample' for our holiday Christmas card, and I need to get those made.
If you placed a special order, I will be working on those tomorrow and Tuesday.  Don't fret, I will have those done and ready to wrap by their guaranteed delivery date.  So, until we meet again, happy crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.


Saturday, December 13, 2014

Peace & Joy

~ large photo post ~

Howdy, howdy, howdy!  Whew!  my craft fair circuit is done.  And I have to say, 'thank you!' to all of the folks who had stopped by my booth to look, investigate, and purchase my hand-crafted paper goods.  It really feels good, to have folks (other than your family) 'like' what you do.  It validates your efforts, your vision, and your artistry.  thank you so much! {smile}
I already have ideas for next years craft fairs.  How crazy, huh?  But, before that, I need to work on the job at hand: my Christmas cards.  Yeah, I haven't even started making them.  But I know what I am going to make.  And I have already calculated how much pattern paper and card stock I need to make my Christmas cards.  So, before I head out to the store, let me share a craft with you.
The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge want to see your holiday hoard collection being used.  I know you aren't surprised that I have quite a hoard collection.  So, let me share with you another craft I made.



These gift bags are made with a majority of Stampin' Up! supplies.  Yeah, I have a hoard collection of that, too! {smile}   The finished bags measure 3 3/4" x 8 1/2".  The bag inside measures roughly 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" x 2".  So, not a lot of space.  But, these are so sweet, that the bag also works as part of the gift.  So, small trinkets fit: lotion, candy, jewelry, gift card, gloves, perfume, etc.
Recipe:  The bag base is made with Pool Party card stock.  The matt is made with Lagoon card stock. I used the new All is Calm DSP (designer specialty paper).  I just love the blues (and greens) with white and silver sprinkled through.  So, I paired two 'similar in concept' (snow falling) pattern papers.  (dots and snowflakes).  
I did a single machine stitch border around the top pattern paper.  The bottom pattern paper is able to 'stand' on its own, with the large silver embossed font.
I stamped the sentiment in versa mark, and sprinkled with silver embossing powder.  And heat embossed: this creates a raised lettering.  
To hide the seam, I wrapped a piece of white lace trim around this piece, and topped it off with a piece of the lagoon satin ribbon.  I tied a simple bow with another piece of the lagoon ribbon.  To jazz up the bow, I tied another bow with a piece of thin silver cord and an altered jingle bell*.
For the top of the bag, I cut two snowflakes.  The large snowflake I used dazzling diamond glitter paper.  The second snowflake I used the silver/vellum pattern card stock.  I added a bermuda button and tied it with thin silver cord.
The angel is a free download found here.  I adjusted the size and printed onto whisper white card stock.  I used foam tape to pop the angel. {smile}
To finish the bag, I glued a piece of the white/silver pattern paper (from the same collection) to a small clothes pin.  I also added a long piece of pool party cotton ribbon (2 feet).  I used coordinating but different ribbon, to repeat the different colors of blue in the pattern paper.  
For the tag at the top, I stamped the sentiment in lagoon classic ink onto whisper white card stock, and matted it onto pool party card stock.  I used the cordinating oval and scallop oval hand-held punches by Stampin' Up!. 
The stamp set  used to stamp the bags is Snowflake Serenade.  The stamp set used to stamp the tags is Signature Christmas stamp set.  The die to create the snowflakes is the Fancy Snowflake die.  All of which are from Paper Trey Ink.
Thank you for looking.  I hope you all are having a great weekend.  I am off to town, to pick up the last few sheets of pattern paper, and rolls of ribbon to complete our family Christmas card. {smile} Don't forget to head over to Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge.  I'm sure you can whip up something with your precious collection of holiday crafting supplies! {smile}


*altered jingle bell: paint your jingle bell with acrylic paint (I used titan white). While the paint is still wet, dip the bell in glitter (I used dazzling diamond glitter).  Once the bell is dry, spray with Aqua Net hairspray.  This will seal the glitter to the bell, so it doesn't flake off.  

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Coffee, Chocolate, & Friends

Whew!  I apologize for being absent lately.  But, yeah, I've been crafting {smile}.  My last craft fair for this holiday season is Friday.  And well, between working full-time, taking care of my DH, attending 3 holiday dinners, and one doctor visit (that left me unable to walk for a day and a half) I haven't had a lot of time to post.  But, I have been taking pictures, so soon, my life will slow down a bit. {smile}  Pipe dream?  I hope not!
The wonderful ladies over @ Craft Hoaders Anonymous Challenge have a great challenge this week.  They want to see your holiday craft hoard used.  I don't know about you, but I have tons of holiday crafting supplies: pattern paper, embellishments, stamps, sentiments, trinkets, ribbon, buttons, and oh so much more!  I actually have so much holiday hoard supplies, that it is boxed up after each holiday season, because I don't have room in my craft room for all of it.  How incredibably crazy is that?  (between you and me, my husband doesn't use the word 'crazy' when the subject is brought up.  Lets just say that.)
Ok, so for this first project, you are probably thinking that I am not really showcasing my hoard collection, but this is a super cute gift.  


I attended a holiday dinner with a gift exchange for the lovely ladies that I stamp with.  For the gift exchange, there was a price limit of $10.  Ok, do you know how stinking hard it is to make a gift for $10?  If you craft, I'm sure you know what I am talking about.  If you don't, lets just say, it's difficult.
Anyways, these ladies are all Stampin' Up! demonstrators, so I felt the need to use current SU! products.  Hmm.  Maybe this doesn't qualify as a 'hoard'.  But, I have a lot of stuff!
I used the new holiday DSP (Nordic Noel).  I just love the houses.  The bright cheery colors is always a plus!  So, I positioned my DSP, so that the cut would be a row of full houses and not chopping them off. (It's the OCD in me.)
I matted this pattern paper onto coral card stock.  I added a strip of pool party cotton ribbon.  And yeah, I had to sew it on.  I made a simple bow.  But it still needed something, so why not add another bow.  Right?  So, I added another bow with the new gold shiny ribbon.  It help pull the baked brown sugar colored house out.  I also added one of the new snowflake charms to the gold bow.   To keep the sewing stitches from showing on the underside, I matted this whole piece onto a piece of cherry cobbler card stock.  I used a corner rounder punch to all the corners.  You know, since the corners are rounded on the tin.  (OCD shining through)
I used one of the new coffee collection stamp sets.  I stamped the coffee cup twice on shimmer white card stock in chocolate chip classic ink.  I stamp the coffee cuff onto  the back side of the house pattern paper, that how I got the stripes.  I fussy cut the cuff out and adhered it to the top coffee cup.  I put foam tape between the two coffee cups and adhered them to the front of the tin.  To jazz up the coffee cup, I added a tiny pool party button tied with white bakers twine.  I thought it gave the coffee cuff that 'home-made' feel.
For the inside of the tin, I wrapped some chocolates with the same DSP, and added a Starbucks gift card.  I actually found a Starbucks gift card, that had the same colors in it!  Yahoo! (another OCD affliction)  It's the one with the holiday Christmas tree that is decorated with ornaments.


And yeah, I added a piece of the coral card stock to the bottom of the tin.  (another OCD problem.)  I like things to look 'finished'. Not just 'done'.  I hope someone out there knows what I mean.  And now I realize that when I took this picture, I forgot to add my gift card addition.  Ugh!  
Anyways!  the lovely ladies over @ Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge want to see you use a portion of your hoard collection, and make something!  Oh, and don't forget to share!
Have a great day!  And who knows I may end up adding another project!


Saturday, December 6, 2014

Angel Gift Card Holder

Whew!  Sorry I have been absent.  I have been crafting all hours.  I did very well at the Tramway Community Church Arts and Craft Fair last month, and have been busy making more stuff to sell at todays Arts and Craft Fair @ La Cueva High School.  And, well, I did very well at todays craft fair, too. So, I am heading back into my craft room to get more stuff made.  My next (and last) Arts and Craft Fair this holiday season is Friday, December 12th, at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Here was one of the new gift card holder I made:  


I found these adorable angel buttons at a big box craft store.  I just love how it looks with this holiday pattern paper.  I was busy getting these crafted, and packaged, that I forgot to take the photos before it was packaged.  {frown}  
What is stamped on the bag topper is what is stamped inside the gift card holder.  Also, it is heat embossed in white.  (the back of the topper shows what color of embossing powder I used on the inside.)  The tiny tag says: Holiday Happiness
I used Snow Village pattern paper by Pink Paisley.  The base is made with pool party card stock by Stampin' Up!.  The tiny tag was made with the tiny tags die by Paper Trey Ink.  The tag was stamped in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink by Stampin' Up!  The sentiment is from a tiny sentiment stamp set that is easily 8/+ yrs retired by Stampin' Up!  I believe that it was from a spring/summer occasional catalog.
Thank you for stopping by.  I will try harder to get some photos posted before the Arts and Craft Fair.  I know for sure that I will be making another dozen of the dry snow globe jar toppers.  Take care, and have a great weekend.  {smile}



Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Roses & Reindeer

Well, the crafting hasn't stopped.  But, I am taking a small break to post a few pictures.  I love sharing what I create, but I always under-estimate the amount of time it takes to photograph, edit, and post images. {frown}
A wonderful lady who works at my Dentist office, came by my last craft fair (@ Tramway Community Church) and purchased all of the gift card holders I had created.  {smile}  It is very nice to 'sell out'.  And this gave me the push to create some new ones, using some different pattern papers, and embellishments.



These little cuties are a blast to create.  It really forces you to think differently.  The space to embellish is only 4" x 2 1/2", with a slope.  So, it needs to be minimalist, without looking bare.  It's always good to have a challenge, right?
I forgot to photograph these before I packaged them.  So sorry for the cello bag glare.  
Speaking of packaging.  What is stamped on the bag topper is what is heat embossed on the inside.  Also, there is a dot on the back of the bag topper, to show what color of embossing powder was used for the inside.
Recipe:  The top gift card holder:  I used the roses G45 Christmas paper for the outer flap.  The polka dot pattern paper is Aqua dots & stripes by Echo Park.  I used garden green card stock by Stampin' Up! for the base.  I also used the new real red cotton ribbon by Stampin' Up!.  It is soft and ties some beautiful bows.
The bottom gift card holder:  I used Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey.  That paper is easily 3 yrs old.   I only had scraps, so the top panel piece wasn't wide enough to fit across the whole card.  So I made it into a panel.  I added a text pattern paper So Noted by Carta Bella.  The gift card base is made with Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I also used the new cotton ribbon by Stampin' Up! in blushing bride.  
I tied on snowflake charms from Stampin' Up!.  Yeah, they are new this holiday season.
I created two different by equally perfect sentiment pieces.  I stamped both in real red classic ink onto whisper white cardstock; both from Stampin' Up!. 
Look for these and many more different styles of gift card holders at my next craft fair this Saturday @ La Cueva High School, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Thank you for stopping by.  I'm heading back into my craft room, to finish some more gift card holders.  And a few more cards, gift bags, and gift card/box combos. {smile}


Monday, December 1, 2014

Inked Rose

I supported a local small business on Saturday.  Yeah, a local scrapbooking store.  I made a paper purchase, because I needed a few sheets to complete a project.  But, while I was there, I found some beautiful pattern paper. {smile}
I took a small break from holiday crafting, and made a Thank You card.  I used pattern paper from three different collections, three different companies.  And I am happy with the outcome!


the card recipe:  The card base is made with Not Quite Navy card stock by Stampin' Up!.  And yeah, it's a retired color.  But I still have a package of card stock.  I love the color.  It's dark blue without being too dark, and with a subtle gray tone.
Ok, the polka dot pattern paper is from Echo Park, Quotes.  This is actually the reverse side of the paper.  I love polka dots!
The text paper is from Carta Bella, their Sew Lovely collection, Lovely Floral.  And yeah, another reverse side of paper.  The paper on the other side, has single blossoms repeated.  But, I love the text. I adhered the text pattern paper onto the polka dot pattern paper, and then ran a simple border stitch with my sewing machine, before I adhered this piece to the card front.  That way, the stitching isn't seen on the inside of the card.
The bold floral pattern paper is from We R, Inked Rose.  The reverse side of this patten paper is stripes in the seafoam green color.
I matted the floral pattern paper onto a scrap piece of NQN card stock.  And then matt this piece onto Rose Red card stock.  
I added a banner piece to the top right corner and the lower left corner.
The upper right corner is a scrap piece of the polka dot pattern paper, matted onto a scrap piece of pool party card stock.  I added a button tied with silver bakers twine.
The sentiment was stamped in NQN classic ink, onto a scrap piece of whisper white card stock.  I created the flag end with scissors.  And stapled this piece.
I will have this card for sale in my Easy shop, HERE.  and if it doesn't sell this week, it will travel to my next craft fair on Saturday!  {smile}
Well, thank you for looking {smile}.  I'll post a few gift card holders I crafted this weekend, later this week.  Hope you come back for a look {smile}