Junk Journal

Welcome.  I have been busy.  Busy in a few different directions.  1 - I have started planning my holiday craft fair items.  So that involves a lot of creative juices, ideas, and plans.  2 - I have been cleaning my craft room.  Not just the typical 'putting things away' type of cleaning.  But the 'over-haul' type of cleaning.  Taking everything out, going through everything to determine what I am going to keep, what I am getting rid of, organizing it, and then putting it back. and last, 3 - working on a few personal items.  I am pretty good at staying focused on each particular task, so I typically don't stray, and this week, it has remained the same {fingers crossed}.  Super happy to be so productive and focused.     

I purchased a digital junk journal 'a few' years back.  Ok, in 2012.  So I guess I should say 'several' years back.  I purchased the digital file, like so many of you; with a great plan to actually put it together.  Well, life gets busy, other crafts take president in the priority of completion, and the fear that I don't know what I'm doing. so I didn't put it together, because I simply didn't want to 'mess it up'.  My best advice to anyone who sits on this indecisive 'fence', JUST DO IT!  Jump in! Have fun.  Create something beautiful!  And when you are done, please remember to take a photo and share it with all of us!  Photography is another one of my down-falls.  I simply dread the uploading photos and editing.  That is EXACTLY why I don't do video.  I imagine that the more I do this, the more comfortable I am, and then the less 'scarey' the whole ordeal will be.  But, sometimes my fear is paralyzing.  Yes, me.  The lady who loves all things crafty!

I am entering my junk journal in the Word Art Wednesday, anything goes challenge.  I love this challenge blog.  They encourage you to simply create.  How fabulous is that?  Keep your craft family friendly, and they even provide a scripture to include in your craft if you like, but are not required.

and here it is:

The cover came printed with the bird sitting on the chandelier.  How super awesome is that graphic?  So, all I did was layer a few pieces at a lower corner of the cover: half a paper doily, a digital printed Bingo card, a digital journalling tag, an old paper ticket, and a banner piece.  I kept the pieces neutral in color, so not to distract from the chandelier.  

The Bingo card was printed onto white card stock, but out, and the edges sponged with craft ink.  The journalling card came with the junk journal.  I hand-stamped the 'Happiness is HOMEMADE' on to the card with black classic ink.  It's stamped a bit off center on purpose.  I thought it would add to the over-all character of the cover.  The old paper ticket I purchased from an Etsy shop a year (or so) ago.      I folded down the left corner, so that my hand-stamping wouldn't be covered up {smile}.  I simply adhered the pieces with a tape runner, and then added a few sloppy border stitches with my sewing machine.  The banner piece I created from printing the digital journal pieces onto white card stock.  I adhered it to the cover with foam tape, to lift it off the front.

The two white dots on the spine are for when you bind the pages inside.  Well, I did my binding a bit different.  So I will be 'covering-up' the two white dots.  I just haven't figured that out yet.  I know several of you are squirming in your chair with the thought of putting the album together, and I haven't finished the cover.  I promise, it will be a 'good' fix {smile}!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have the opportunity to play along with the wonderful design team @ Word Art Wednesday.  And create something pretty, even if it is just for YOU!

Christmas Craft Fair

Howdy.  and welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I received both good news and bad news this past week.  First, the bad news.  Who are we kidding.  Let's just get this over with.   The Tramway Community Church will NOT have a holiday craft fair this year.  Boo-Hoo!  I just love this craft fair. The fellow artists are true artist.  And the patrons are equally great!  I will miss the folks there.  I have had the same booth location for 5/+ years.  And well, I have gotten to know a few of my 'neighbors'.  I also have some shoppers who visit my booth every year.  They are familiar with my work, and rave about my creations.  So, I am on the look out for a 'new' holiday craft location.  If anyone knows of any that they are familiar with, please pass along the info. 

Now the good news.  I have been selected to participate in the La Cueva High School Holiday Craft Fair, again this year!  Yahoo!  This is another 'juried' craft fair.  So, you already know that the crafters are pretty good! and our creations are devine!

So, with all the frenzy of holiday craft fairs, I have started making items to sell.  And, as usual, I start with some easy things, and then get into my groove.  Today, I made a card with some holiday scraps. I'm pretty happy with how my card turned out.  Please stop by these two challenge sites, and play along!

I stopped by a 'new' to me sketch challenge site.  Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog.  The design team will certainly inspire you!

the sketch is easy to work with.  easy to create something beautiful in your own style.

My second stop is an all time favorite challenge.  Word Art Wednesday.  Their challenges are anything goes.  But their design team creates some beautiful cards!

and here is what I created:

this blank inside greeting card is A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used some retired and 'long-ago' products.  The card base is made form Night of Navy card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the dusky card blue.  The music sheet is a digital download that I printed on cream textured card stock.  It helps keep the paper from looking too flat.  I used a vintage Christmas ornament pattern paper for the main panel.  I machine stitched these two papers together.  I love the way machine stitching looks on cards.  {smile}

I took a scrap piece of scallop bordered eyelet trim and a dusky green seam binding, and did a quick and incomplete stitching to the paper stack.  I left the trims unfinished, to give the card a more homespun look.  I tied the seam binding into a double bow, and then tied a gold twine to the bow.  I finished the bow off with a snowflake charm.  Now the card has some glimmer. {smile}

I fussy cut an ornament block, and matted on a teal textured card stock.  I added some foam tape to the ornament square and adhered it to the front of the card.

I added a piece of vanilla card stock to the inside of the card.  That way, you have a place to write a special message, and you won't have to dig for a special pen!

Thank you for looking.  Now, I need to get back to crating a few more simple 'things'.

Some Goodies for my Envelope

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy! and welcome.  I have completed some items that were stuffed in my over stuffed envelope.  Just a quick heads-up, I used papers from the Linen Closet collection by DCWV.  Grab that cup of Joe, and settle in.  The eye candy is gorgeous!

I will start at the top left, and move to the right and down.

So, at the top left, I have two decorated paper clips.  I used the bow punch by Stampin' Up! to create both.  The blue one is a double bow.  I used a pale blue brad to hold all the pieces together, and attaching to the paper clip with hot glue.  The yellow one is a single bow.  I tied a small vintage button to the center of the bow, and applied hot glue to hold the paper bow to the paper clip.   Both can be used with your office supplies, your planner, or to hold a tag to a gift.   I think they came out super sweet!

Next up is a gold mini envelope.  I added a rhinestone clip to it.  The clip can be used in your office supplies, or planner, or as a book mark, or anywhere you want to add some sparkle {smile}.  The envelope is just large enough to hold a gift card, cash, a note, a tag, or any other small treasure.

The glassine envelope is holding a kraft tag wrapped with two different colors of satin ribbon: blue and gold.  I included 2 years of each color of ribbon.  To decorate the glassine envelope, I simply wrapped a scrap piece of pattern paper around the bag, and adhered together.  I added a blue glass clip to the bag.  You can use the clip on any paper craft (card, project, scrapbook page, etc) in your office supplies, as a book mark, in your planner, etc.  The glassine bag is small enough to hold a gift card, cash, or any other small treasure.  

The next item is a stack (4) of four different tags.  These tags can be added to gifts, cards, scrapbook pages, paper projects, etc.  The backs of the tags remain blank.  So, you can either add your own hand-written note, or adhesive, etc.

The next item on the far right is a covered notepad.  The notepad is a long and narrow pad.  The perfect size for those folks who love to make lists, or to write down a quick note.  I layered pattern papers, and a long word: Notes, to the cover.  I punched a 'ribbon slide' hole in the right upper corner, and strung the blue gingham ribbon through.  I tied it in a simple bow.  I love the blues and gold, so I added a tiny tag punched from the gold pattern paper.  I tied a gold twine into a simple bow, around the ribbon.  I cut off the legs of a butterfly brad, and used hot glue to adhere it the center of the bow.  I added a trio of vintage buttons tied with scrap pieces of the gold twine, to the cover, to help give the notepad a homespun look.  

The covered notepad opens like a book.

I added two blank greeting cards to the loaded envelope.  I wanted to make the cards easy to use, and something generic, to ensure that they would be used {smile}

I cut the pattern paper to fit the front of each card.  I added a long word block that was simple, and generic.  I added two different ribbons: satin, and seam binding.  I wanted something a bit rustic and something a bit fancy.  

The last item (so, far) is my first-ever Lolly.  I have a whole board dedicated to them.  I just love them.  They look so pretty, and can easily be added to a gift bag, clipped to a package, or simply added to a vase.  But, I haven't made one before.  I just admired them from afar.  Until today!  I actually sat down and made one.  I used pretty pattern paper, a few paper doilies, and a tag from the paper pack for focal piece.  I added gold satin ribbon, blue seam binding, and gold sequin trim.  All of this pretty paper pieces sit on top of a light blue paper straw.  I did hot glue a gold and pearl brad to a double-bow tied with the blue seam binding.  I am pretty happy with how my first Lolly turned out.  So, look for these beauties at my local craft fairs!

Thank you for stopping by.  I do have a few more items that I want to make for my loaded envelope.  

Linen Closet Loaded Envelope

Howdy! and welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I am so happy you are here.  I have been working on a new-to-me project, and I couldn't wait to finish it, to share with you!  Now, please have a kind eye, as I said, this is new to me.  So, if you have any suggestions, please add in the comments {smile}.  I just love you guys!

So, a few years back, Loaded Envelopes were all the rage.  Me, I just couldn't jump on board, because I just couldn't see the loveliness of them.  Well, that all changes about a week ago.  (Hey, better late then never.)  

And, probably like a lot of  you, I didn't want to use 'reserved' paper for a new project.  So, I went hunting in my craft room, and found an unopened paper pad.  Shocking right? like that has never happened to you? {smile}

So, I am entering my new project in a few challenges, but wanted to share my uncompleted project now.  I will add some more photos as it progresses {smile}.  I have to admit, that I am super excited!

My first challenge entry is an all time favorite: Word Art Wednesday - anything goes.  This group of super talented ladies will certainly inspire you!

and my second entry is to the wonderful Brown Sugar Challenge Blog - anything goes.  Another great place to be inspired.

and here is what I made:

empty envelope

loaded envelope

So, like I said, a project in the process.  I did complete a few things, and added them.  But, I have a few more items that I want to add.  I used the paper pack: Linen Closet by DCWV (Die Cuts With a View).  I purchased this paper pad almost 2years ago, when Jo-Anns was having a huge paper sale.  I knew that I would eventually use it, just hadn't decided on what.  

I love this paper pad, because it all coordinates.  The papers are a mix of blues, cream/white, and yellow, with gold accents.  Simply beautiful.  

I didn't want to over load this post with a hundred photos, so I will be sharing photos throughout the week(s) to come.  (promise {smile}).

Before I head out the door to run errands, I have to give credit to my envelope construction.  I found this tutorial on Pinterest, by Michelle Randolph.  [And here is the link]  Easy to follow, and easy to make your own.  BRAVO!

Stay tuned!  Bye for now. 

Celebrate Rossibelle Card

Howdy! and welcome!  I hope that on this special holiday weekend, that you are enjoying what makes you happy, and finding the time (and energy) to partake in your passion.  For me, my passions are baking, crafting, and running.  The baking and crafting give my mind a chance to create something beautiful and tasty {smile}.  The running keeps me active, and makes eating clean easier {smile}.  [I post running and food on my InstaGram acct.]  Here, is where I post my creative side!

I purchased a few items from the Rossibelle collection from Prima Marketing.  I just fell in love with the mix of patterns (stripes, texts, and florals) and the colors (various shades of pinks & charcoals, black, and metallic copper)  I used the scraps of this collection to make a card for a few challenges.  I think you will be happy!
My firs stop is Freshly Made Sketches.  This challenge site has some very creative and user-friendly sketches to work with.  I know you will be inspired {smile}

The simplicity of this sketch is what made me want to play along.  The cluster of shapes, can easily be transformed into almost anything: a bouquet, a collection of words, a large image, etc.

My next stop is If You Give a Crafter a Cookie.  I have played along with this challenge site a while back, but came back.  This challenge site has come very clever inspirational boards.  So, I am sure that you will be inspired to play along.  Don't forget to check out their design team; very clever.

The polka dots, stripes, and blossoms is what swooned my heart.  The overall color palette really spoke to my heart, too!  I love the words on the cookies, too!
My final stop is Word Art Wednesday.  This challenge blog, is Anything Goes.  So, create what you want, and enter their challenge.  Easy peasy.  But, please take a moment to read their write up.  You will certainly be inspired.  They also give you a free image of their scripture piece.  So, download it, print it out, and use it on your paper crafts.  The design team will certainly inspire you!  You won't be disappointed.

and here is what I created:

This card is a typical A2 size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  I used scraps of 12" x 12" paper I left over from a previous project.  I did set aside a few other larger scraps to decorate a notebook (a share for later).

I used basic black card stock from PaperTreyInk for the card base.  I just love their heavy weight card stock.  I did add a panel of very vanilla card stock to the inside of the card.  That way, a hand-written message could easily be added, without a metallic pen.

I inked the edges of the papers with charcoal ink, to help define the edges.  The metallic accents on the papers is how the paper is printed.  I just love the random-look of it!

For my 'cluster', I layered a few pieces of Ephemera - red ticket, S playing card, and the floral clock face.  I added a medium shade pink fabric blossom.  I tied a double bow of pale pink seam binding, and tucked it in between the blossom and clock face.  I wanted a little more sparkle of copper, so I added a copper brad.  I took off the legs of the brad, and was left with the cap.  I hot glued the cap to the center of the double bow.   

For my sentiment, I stamped in Versa Mark ink, and used an 'ultra fine copper kettle' embossing powder, and heat embossed.  I cut the sentiment out by hand, to look like a wrd made with a label maker.  I think it adds a super sweet, and simple sentiment that can easily be used for almost any occasion - birthday, wedding, anniversary, retirement, graduation, promotion, etc. {smile}         Viola!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have an opportunity to craft something beautiful today, just 'cause.  {smile}.  I'll be starting on my holiday craft fair items this week.  Super excited!