Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Pennant Birthday!

~ photo heavy ~

Howdy, and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I am having a good week!  Hope you are too!  One of the changes I have made this year, is to start each week writing down three things I am thankful for, from the previous week.  It is a way to reflect on my blessings.  By taking my life in smaller pieces, and reflecting, I am truly able to see the good.  And I am super happy with how this small step to 'count my blessings' is working for me!
I had a few moments, ok an hour, to create a card.  And I am sure you all can understand the drive to get your ideas made out of paper {smile}.  And I do know how truly blessed I am, to have a hoard stash I can craft from, when I can't get to a store.  {wink}
I am entering this card in four challenges.  I have to say, I typically don't enter this many, but I will relish in the oddity of this opportunity!
My firs stop is Mistress Owl.  This is an Eastern European challenge site.  They can a sketch for you to work with.  I strongly encourage you to pop on over to the their challenge site.  The design team will inspire you!  Their sketch was easy to work with, so that is always a huge plus in my book.


My next stop is Cupcake Inspiration.  I am always intrigued by their challenges.  This design team will knock your socks off!  Between the very user-friendly inspiration board, and the creativity of the design team, you will be crafting in no time!  I just love their photo this week!  Theme: Chalkboard!  And who doesn't love chalkboard.  It instantly reminds me of school days.  So retro, shabby, vintage.


Now, I just HAD to stop by another favorite challenge: Really Reasonable Ribbon.  This design team will certainly get you to add ribbon, twine, trim, and lace to everything!  The creations will inspire you to try a new technique, and put a bow on it!  Their current challenge is Celebrate!  So birthday, anniversary, new baby, new couple, etc.  You get the idea.

And finally, I stopped by Brown Sugar Challenge.  This challenge site encourage all crafting styles.  And the design team works with their sponsors, to showcase their products.  I think that's wonderful! Their current sponsor has digital images.  I just love digital paper.  And I am starting to embrace digital images/stamps.  Their current challenge is: Birthday!  And who doesn't need a birthday card in their stash?  So, please stop by and see what they have created.


now, roll all these challenges together, and here is what I created:


~ disclaimer: photographing a card with a flair button, is a bit of a challenge in itself!


my card was selected as a 'top 3' for the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog challenge!

Recipe:  This card is a typical A2 size card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  And yes, it fits inside its envelope.  The card base is kraft card stock.  I just love the color and weight of this paper.  It looks so 'old school'.  
I added this beautiful light blue and pink rose digital paper as my main layer.  I did dampen the edge of the paper (top right corner) and scrunch it a bit.  I also distressed the edges, and tore the bottom edge. I sponged a tea stain ink on all four edges.
I added a lace doily from Stampin' Up! to the top left corner.  I just love it peeking out from behind my journalling cards.  (I used two 'chalkboard' journalling cards for my Chalkboard element.)  I also inked the edges with the tea stain ink.
I stamped my sentiment onto the top journalling card in white craft ink, and then added clear embossing powder and used my heat gun to set the embossing powder.  
I fussy cut a digital tag and added it to the lower right of the journalling cards.  
I originally wanted to add my sentiment across the card, very similar to the sketch.  And place my bow to the left of the journalling cards, but I don't have anything that would have worked.  {frown}  I guess I need to go paper craft shopping! {wink}
And then, I layered trims!  Oh my!  My first layer is a cream cotton eyelet trim.  Then a white sparkle tulle box pleat trim.  Then a mint swiss dot lace.  And finally, a pale pink seam binding.  Who doesn't love seam binding?
I tied a double bow with the seam binding, and added a silver metal button to the bow.  Then I tucked in a cupcake flair button just above the bow.  Viola!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these creative challenge sites.  You will not be disappointed in both the talent and the inspiration!


5 comments:

Sandy said...

Beautiful card! Thank you for playing along with us this week at Cupcake Inspiration Challenges.
-Sandy, DT

Karen Letchworth said...

Hi Sharon! WOWZERS, this is stunning! I hope you're having a great week. Thanks so much for sharing your amazing card in our Celebrations Challenge. It's always so nice to have you play along with us.
Karen L
Really Reasonable Ribbon

P.S. I'd love to have you play along with us at Word Art Wednesday, too.
www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

afreen said...

pretty card.. Thank you for participating in brown sugar challenege.. good luck
With love
Afreen (BSCB DT)

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

Sharon, this really is a lovely card! I love the pink and kraft color combo, the sweet little banners and that gorgeous bow! It's like a party on a card! Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Really Reasonable Ribbon "Celebrate" challenge

My hobby scrap said...

Very beautiful card! Thank you for playing with "Mistress owl"!