Sunday, May 13, 2018

Mother's Coupon

Howdy.  I hope you are well.  Me, I'm busy, tired, training, and still working.  I don't always get to craft as much as I want.  But, I did carve out some time, to get this card created, and in the mail.  It's a hand-made card I made my mom, for Mother's Day.  I used items I already had.  Because sometimes you just need to stop spending $, when your stash is overgrown.  {smile}
here is what I created:


an angled view:


The card base is made from Pink Pirouette card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the heavy weight of their card stock.  Sturdy, and holds up to embellishing.  And the soft sweet color is perfect.
The plaid pattern paper is Chicken Scratch from Paper Trey Ink.  It's a River Rock or Fresh Linen color.  I thought it matched the leaved in the pattern paper almost perfect.  The floral Pattern Paper is from American Crafts.  
I took one paper doily and cut it in half and adhered it to opposite corners.  And then machine stitched the pattern papers together.  I just love the homespun look cards have with machine stitching.  I took a scrap piece of cotton trim and wrapped it around the pattern papers.  I added a piece of soft pale pink seam binding to the cotton trim, and machine stitched them to the card front.  
I hand-stamped the coupon onto a scrap piece of white linen card stock, in crumb cake classic ink.  I adhered the coupon onto the card front with foam tape.  I hand-stamped the 'Love You' onto a scrap piece of vellum card stock, in Versa Mark.  I used Early Espresso embossing powder, and heat embossed the sentiment.  I cut the the vellum card stock with scallop scissors.  (yeah, I still have several pairs of those scissors.)
I added two different, white, paper blossoms to the right side of the coupon.  I tucked in some leaves that I hand-punched from a green and mint card stock.  I tied a double bow with the same pale pink seam binding, and adhered it to the card front just under the paper blossoms.  I adhered a white glitter clay rose to the center of the bow.
Thank you for stopping by.  I mailed this card to my mom earlier this week, and super happy she received it before today {smile}.  I want to wish all the moms out there Happy Mother's Day!  Being a mom is hard work, but super rewarding!  


Thursday, May 3, 2018

a bowl of cherries

Howdy, and welcome.  I am super excited today to share with you some happy news and a card!  I recently won the challenge over @ Tic Tac Toe Challenge and was given the opportunity to be a guest designer!  How fabulous is that, right!  So, without any delay let's get to their current challenge #tttc046!

right column: fruit, watercolor, free
Now, before you get discouraged, here are some ideas.  For the 'fruit', you could add apple(s) and create a Teacher Appreciation card.  Or lemon(s)/lime(s) for a Summer themed card.  Or add a pineapple for a Hostess card.  For the 'Free', simply add your favorite item: machine stitching, a button, sequins, a paper straw, etc.  The list is almost endless.  Don't forget to use what's in your stash, and most importantly have fun!  This Tic Tac Toe card, really does lean towards a Summer theme.  I can't wait to see what you create.  Here is what I made:


Recipe:  my card, is a typical A2 size greeting card.  (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  
FRUIT: cherries, WATERCOLOR: color wash on watercolor paper, FREE: machine stitching, button, seam binding, and lace.
The base of the card is made with Crumb Cake card stock by Stampin' Up!, due to their lovely heavy weight card stock.  The main panel is made from a linen plaid card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I love this soft color!  I added a piece of 6" lace over the main panel.  I 'attached' the lace with some machine stitching along three sides.  I did a quick, purposefully sloppy double border stitch.  I love adding machine stitching to my crafts.  I think it adds a homespun look/feel.  
I adhered a 4" paper doily to the right side of the card.  I simply folded the over-hang around the main panel.  I machine stitched a strip of pale blue seam binding along the lover third of the card to help anchor the seam binding to the card front.  I tied a double-loop bow, and tied a 'swirl' red button to the center of the bow with some gold twine.  This 'fancy' button reminded me of a cherry with its imprinted design.  {smile}
The sentiment is stamped and heat embossed on a scrap piece of white card stock.  I rounded one end, and pointed the other end.  I thought this shape looked like one of those garden/plant markers.    Super sweet, right? {smile}
I made my own embroidery hoop.  I used a die to cut the shape.  I used a scrap piece of wood veneer 'paper'.  I just love this stuff.  But my shock is dwindling.  {frown}. For the inside of the hoop, I took a scrap piece of watercolor paper and stamped my bowl in Versa Mark ink, and added white detail embossing powder.  I used Versa Mark ink to stamp the cherries, and added deep red embossing powder.  I heated the paper, and my bowl of cherries came to life!  I misted the water color paper heavily with water, and then washed it with a pale blue color.  I wanted the cherries to pop! and the bowl to have some contrast, to showcase the bowls design.  I used a fine tip brown marker to create the cherry stems.  (hand drawn)
The final touch was the trio of wood grain printed sequins.  I felt that they helped tie the wood-grain hoop to the card.  I adhered the main panel of this card to the card front with foam tape.
I believe that if you repeat elements/colors, it helps tie that element to your card.  The color I washed the watercolor paper with, matches the seam binding.  The red in the cherries is repeated with the same color of the button.  The wood grain of the hoop is repeated with the sequins.  The white doily and card base are repeated in the plain paper.
I hope that you join this beautifully talented group of ladies over @ the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  Just let them know which row you are using on their tic tac toe card, and don't forget to have FUN!  Create something beautiful to share with us, but to also share with your family and friends!  Trust me, they will appreciate your efforts in creating something handmade!