Friday, March 16, 2018

Beautiful You Card

Howdy, and welcome!  Today I wanted to share with you a card I hand-crafted.   I wanted to make something pretty, with a generic sentiment.  This card isn't for anyone, so nothing specific.  I just wanted to paper craft.   I set out looking at a few of my favorite paper challenge sites to get some direction, and I found some very fun challenges.  So, let's get started!
I wanted a bit more direction, so I decided on a sketch challenge.  I knew what I wanted to use, I just needed a little more direction.  So, I stopped by the Paper Craft Crew challenge site.  This challenge site mostly does sketches.  But every now and again they will throw in a theme, or tic tac toe board, but they will always inspire you!  


I didn't rotate or flip their current sketch.  I used it as is!  I also did not switch out the blossom images for any other shaped item.
Since I already knew what pattern paper I wanted to use, and I now have a sketch to work with, I decided to play along with the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday.  Their challenges are : anything goes, family friendly.  

You will be pleasantly surprised by this design team.  They are very creative and talented, and the submissions are pretty great too!


and here is what I created:


Recipe:  this blank inside greeting card is the typical A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used cream card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the card base.  This card stock is a beautiful heavy weight, so it stands up to my embellishing!  The main panel matt is Kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  I just love the neutral soft color of kraft. {smile}
The pattern papers are digital.  I use my at home printer to print these.  I used whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up! for 3 of the pattern papers.  This card stock has a 'slick' feel to it, and allows the card stock to take the ink from my printer beautifully! I have zero complaints.  The small square that has the sentiment on it, I shrunk down.  It would have printed 6" x 6", but I wanted the whole sheet of paper to be my focal piece.  And I just love the sentiment.  That piece I printed on Linen card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I felt the added texture would help give my card some depth, and not be so flat.
I cut my top pattern paper, so that the mix of floral images would have some blues in it, to help tie the bottom pattern paper that is a blue collage with copper dots.  
I added a simple border stitch with my sewing machine.  I think it adds a 'homespun' look/feel.  
To hide the seam where the two pattern papers overlap, I added a scrap piece of white cotton trim, and topped that with a scrap piece of pale pink seam binding.  I added a little machine stitching there too.  It holds the card front together, and continues with the machine stitching along the card's edge.
The pink polka dot pattern paper, I flagged the end, for visual interest.  
To make my 'tag' piece, I simply added my pattern paper square to a scrap piece of the same Kraft card stock I used for the main matt.  I used my scissors to make the tag shape at the top.  I used a traditional hole punch to give my tag that finished look.  I threaded a piece of pale pink seam binding through the hole and tied a simple knot.  I then tied a simple knot of pale pink tinsel to a rich brown button, and hot glued it to the top of my seam binding bow.  I adhered the tag to the card front with foam tape, to help elevate it off the front of the card.
The paper blossoms are from my stash.  The brownish blossom is from Prima.  I just loved the color.  Not quite brown.  Not quite copper.  The white paper blossom and the little pink paper blossom are from LemonCraft.  I added some white paint and glitter to the petals, of both blossoms.
Thank you for stopping by and having a look at what I created.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with either or both of these challenge sites.  Enjoy your Friday!


Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Pretty Little Birdie

Howdy.  I want to share with you another gift card holder I created for a very special someone.  I hope you like it {smile}


Recipe:  I used digital pattern paper, that I printed on both white Linen & whisper white card stock.  I used the textured (Linen card stock) to print the taupe pattern paper and the cream pattern card stock. I just love this added texture of the paper.  I added some machine stitching to help convey the homespun look and feeling {smile}.
The card base was made from Sahara Sand card stock.  I just love the soft color, and the heavy weight card stock is strong to hold up for these projects.
I matted the blue pattern paper to a pale pink card stock.  I wanted to highlight the pale pinks {smile}.  I also added a thin strip of the pale pink pattern paper to the top of the gift card holder, over the bow & scallop white cotton trim.   The pale pink pattern paper has taupe colored birds, flying in multiple directions on a pale pink background.  Super sweet!
The main panel was matted with a light taupe card stock, to help highlight this piece from the card front.
I added a sweet, delicate, paper doily to the main panel.  To help off set it, I added a piece of light blue pattern paper behind it.  This pattern is that taupe-y color hearts on top of the pale blue background.  I thought this heart pattern paper mimics a polka dot pattern paper, and so I just fell in love with it!
I added a large pink crepe paper blossom on the delicate paper doily.  To help tie the colors together, I added a triple bow tied with coconut seam binding.  I thought this color really matched the over-all taupe color.  To help the pale pink color to pop, I added a pale pink button to the center of the bow.  I also wanted to add some sparkle, so I tucked in a rhinestone charm.  It's a silver floral shape with a rhinestone center.  Just the right amount of sparkle.
The sentiment was hand-stamped in basic black classic ink, onto a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock.  I used a very retired stamp set from Stampin' Up! I just love the font!
Thank you for stopping by.  This gift card holder has already been mailed, and I hope the recipient is happy with my work {smile}.


Monday, March 5, 2018

Happy Moments of Spring

Hello.  Welcome.  I want to share an altered notebook I hand-crafted.  I started with an ugly notebook I found in a $1 bin, and decorated it, to give it a new look! and I am super happy with how it turned out!  I am entering my altered/decorated notebook in three different challenges (one in the US, and 2 overseas).
My first stop was the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  They use a tic tac board, and you choose which row you are working with.  Super fun, and it gives you options {smile}.
I went diagonal with Floral, Gold/Silver, & Sequins
My next stop is a new favorite challenge site from Russia.  They also have a translate button, so it really makes it easier to play along: Paper Story.  They have given us an inspiration board, and you pick what inspires you.  You gotta love that!  Their theme:  sweet inspiration
inspired by the colors, and blossoms
and finally, my last stop is at SaratovScrap.  They have given us an inspiration board as well.  Their theme is:  March banner, freshness of the spring day, tenderness of the first flowers, letters about love.
inspired by the softness, the colors, the blossoms, and the notecard
and here is what I made:


Recipe:  I used a pink and cream pattern paper from Bazzil.  I loved how the random pattern was vague and pretty at the same time.  I had a scrap piece of a digital floral pattern paper, that was just the right size to matt with kraft card stock.  I added cut pieces of different 'tickets', and layered them. 
At the top, I added a scrap piece of cream cotton trim.  I wanted to bring out the pale aqua color in one of the tickets, so I added a scrap piece of an aqua and cream pattern paper and layered a cream text pattern paper on top.  I also added a 'notebook tab' piece of aqua and cream polka dot pattern paper to the top left of the notebook.
I loved the floral pattern from the cream cotton trim, so I added a cream button with the same design to the top of a double bow of pale pink seam binding.  I tied the button to the bow with kraft twine, to help add a little contrast, softly.
The fabric blossom is actually a warm taupe shade, to help help blend it into the background, and not take center stage.  I added a pair of champagne glitter leaves to the blossom, to help add some sparkle.
I added a pair of flat buttons tied with the same kraft twine.  I also added 5 pale pink sequins, to help add a little more pink (my favorite color).  I wanted more sparkle, and found a short piece of rhinestone trim, and so I added it to the  bottom of the top 'ticket'.  
I added a 'hair tie' to the bottom of the notebook, to hold it close.  I just love the pale taupe color and the sparkles is just a bonus.  I did some machine stitching to help hold the pieces together, and to give it a homespun feeling.
Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you get a chance to play along with any/all of these challenge sites!