Simple Kraft

Welcome.  I had to switch my day off from work this week, and it has really messed-up my week.  I keep getting my days mixed-up, to say the least.  Anyways, enough about me {smile}.
This week over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, a new sketch is up and ready for you to play along.  But, before we get to that, I hope you find a bit of inspiration from what the design team has created!

here is what I did:

I made this card with a special girl friend in mind, Nichole B.  She, is a great person, and makes me laugh!  Nichole, paper crafts, too, and has an unique style of card making.  She is a 'clean and simple' type of gal.  And her favorite color combo is black and yellow.  

I used a build a background text stamp across the top.  I also added a flourish stamped in black to give her card a little pizzazz.  I added a strip of modern medley dsp to give the card a color scheme.  I also banner ended a strip of yellow pattern paper to give the card a pop of color.  I added a frame stamped in basic black classic ink, added a sprig of black leaves, a yellow flower and a vellum butterfly. 

Let's see what you create! and post your card on the SFF challenge site!

Flower in October

Can you believe that we are already in the second week of October?  This month is quickly leading the way to Christmas.  But before we get to Christmas, lets first think of Halloween!  The lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge, have a color challenge for you to try this week.  Once, I saw the colors, I instantly thought of Halloween.  Ugh, and I don't own any Halloween themed rubber stamps.  So, I tried to go a different direction with the color challenge.

here is what I did:

When I was crafting for this color challenge, I also realized that I don't own any dsp with these colors in it.  So, to say the least, this challenge was a bit frustrating.  But color challenges, are the hardest for me.

I randomly inked the Ex Libris background stamp in basic black classic ink.  I inked two wheels I have, one in summer starfruit classic ink and the text in pumpkin pie classic ink.  I made them into banners.  I cut a paper doily in half and added it to the left side of the card.  I stamped my blossom in the same colors, and did the 'rock and roll' technique.  I dyed my vanilla seam binding with pumpkin pie re-inker, and then did a zig zag machine stitch.  I added two tickets, stamped with the That's the Ticket stamp set.  And tucked in a sprig of leaves from the 2 step bird punch, using silver glitter paper.

I know that you will see some fabulous creations from the other ladies, and be inspired to play along with us @ NAC!  So grab you stamping supplies, and share with us what you create!

Baby Girl

I hope your week is off to a good start.  Me, now that we have power, I'm better.  Our power went out yesterday for 20hrs.  It snowed last night, too.  So, as you can image, I was not a happy camper.  To turn my frown upside down, I just found out that a card I created was selected as a top 3 winner @ The Ribbon Reel.   How fabulous! [here is that post]  To keep on my high, I went to my craft room, and I made a baby card.  But, I don't have anyone to give it to, so it will be for sale in my Etsy shop.  There are several photos of this card.  So, please be advised, PHOTO HEAVY POST.

Here is the card:

 I have a few close-up images of three of the corners.  I started making this card with some left over supplies, and it kinda grew! I did use the current sketch from My Favorite Things stamps blog site.  

The card base is crumb cake card stock.  The largest matt is white card stock that was run through my big shot, using the Vintage Wall paper embossing folder.  I thought the texture would give the card stock some visual interest.  The pattern papers used are from Prima.  Yes, Prima makes more than flowers. {smiles}  I added two Athena Flowers to this card.  I thought the pale yellow helped keep the card girly, without drowning the card in pink.  

The buttons are from Paper Trey Ink, all three pink buttons.  I used some light twine to tie bows behind two of the buttons.  

I used the 2-step bird punch from Stampin' Up! to create all the leaf sprigs.  The paper I used has a distressed white wash pink polka dot pattern.  

I stamped the stork in Basic Brown classic ink.  Mainly because the ink is water resistant.  So, when I used my blender pen to color various portions of the image, the ink wouldn't run.

For the rattle, I stamped the image and fussy cut it out.  I added a heart punched from some silver glimmer paper, and added a pearl.  I felt that that corner needed something, so that is what I did.

Yes, you do see some text paper peaking out from behind the white cloth ribbon.  I added a strip of First Edition DSP, and did a scallop trim edge to it.  I used a white brad to hold the multi-loop bow together, and added a half pearl to the brad, to jazz it up.  The tiny butterfly was a last minute addition.

As for the bottom right corner, it didn't really photograph very well.  The flower has leaves, pearl swirls, and a push pin.  See the green ball?  Well, it is a push pin by Webster's Pages.  It also has a clear butterfly just below the  green pearl.  I thought it helped pull the green from the floral centers.

That tiny photo frame from Melissa Frances, was a lot of fun to work with.  I know what I wanted to say, I just needed to find the right tiny stamp set.  And I did.  Its from a Monogram stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the words in a dark brown ink onto a subtle pink pattern paper.  I used a hot glue gun to adhere the photo frame to the card.

The main image is a stamp from Stampin' Up!.  I used Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, and Blush Blossom to color the image.  I used my white gel pen, to add white specks on the lens of the eye glasses.  I used foam tape to lift this decorative piece off the card front.  I wanted this card to have some dimension.

I really wanted to make a sweet, vintage, baby card, and I think believe that I have.  Sometimes, when you get lost in your own creativity, and the right style of music is playing, you I can make some really pretty things.

Thank you for looking.   I hope your week is going well.  Tomorrow, I have CAS baby card to share.

Wedding Congrats #23 and #98

Wow!  Where has the week gone?  Some Most weeks I feel like I am playing catch-up.  And, it makes me wonder if everyone else does.  It's hard to gauge your busy-ness, if your schedule is the only one you see, or measure.  Know what I mean?  So, to make the most of my time, I  have created a card that will allow me to enter two (yes, 2) challenges.  One is a sketch, and the other is a color & inspiration challenge.

The talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a great sketch this week! The ladies just ask that you use your Stampin' Up! supplies when you participate in their challenges.  And the wonderfully creative ladies over @ Shabby Tea Room have a pretty inspirational board and color challenge for us this week, entitled: Sparkle & Bright.  The colors are: white, cream, silver,  with a touch of pink!

So, here is what I made:

The inspirational photo made me think of either a vintage wedding, or tea with your grandmother.  So, I set out to my craft room.  I knew that I was going to use white and vanilla cardstock.  So, I pulled out a sheet of each.  Then, I wanted to see what I had for pattern paper in pink.  I wanted a simple, elegant pattern; not too bright, or too busy.  Twitterpated DSP worked.  The silver (a little glimmer) was easy-peasy: silver glitter paper.  

I wanted the card base to be white cardstock.  The panel to be vanilla cardstock with a design in white.  I inked up a large simple, delicate image in white craft ink, dusted the cardstock with white embossing powder, and heat set it.  Now the plain vanilla has a simple design to break up the empty space.  

I had a scrap piece of sahara sand textured cardstock, so I matted the blushing bride pattern paper to it.  That way, the pattern paper has defined borders.  I wanted some paper 'lace', so I used my lace-trim border punch and a scrap piece of first edition dsp.  

I kept my cut circle simple.  It started as a 3" circle of shimmer white cardstock.  I didn't stamp on it, to showcase the shimmer and keeping the card from getting cluttered.  I made the paper flower.  I punched the leaves using a textured sahara sand cardstock.  I cut some pretty, vintage ribbons (crochet trim, crumb cake seam binding, vanilla velvet ribbon) and added them just below my paper flower.  I have a weakness for those super cute mini vintage tags, so I stamped the word, 'love' from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set, in soft suede classic ink.  

I love this sentiment bracket from Creative Elements stamp set, so I stamped it in crumb cake classic ink, and the 'congratulations' from Wedding Sweet stamp set, in soft suede classic ink.  I tore around the bracket, sponged the edges with sahara sand classic ink.  I used foam tape on the back to lift it off the card.  

For the three tiny flowers at the upper left side, I first punched out the shapes, and then used my foam mat and a stylis to create the bend in the petals.  I added a half faux pearl to the centers.  I punched the leaves out of silver glitter paper.  

To finish the card, I gave it a spray (ok two) with my own home-made champagne shimmer paint.  I wanted the card to have a subtle glimmer.  A twinkle surprise, so to speak.

Thank you for looking.  And let me know how you start your creative process.  Let me know if you start with stamps or paper when putting a card together.  Or if it depends on the challenge requirements.  It's fun to see how our processes go.

thanks

Hi! and thank you for stopping by this Friday!  So, the weekend is right around the corner, and Sketch Frenzy Friday has another challenge for us today.  The sketch was brought to us by Angela, and the sketch is pretty 'user-friendly', and your only requirement is to us Stampin' Up! products.  I decided to use all current products, so if you find some inspiration, you can purchase all these products today!  Don't forget to stop by Tammy B. 's blog to see what she has created.

Here is the sketch

Here is my card

For some reason, I have this urge to use this same color combo.  Sorry!  But, isn't it just beautiful!  Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Pink Pirouette, Peach Parfait, and Very Vanilla!  Before you say it, yes, that is Stampin' Up! seam binding.  I just dyed it!  First, I measured how much seam binding I needed  and cut that measurement.  I sprayed the seam binding with water, and then added several drops of Pink Pirouette classic re-inker.  Then used my heat gun to speed up the drying time.  I wadded up the seam binding to help create the crinkled look.  

The flower was made with circle punches.  I used peach parfait card stock, pink pirouette card stock and First Edition DSP.  I used a metal button brad to hold the card stock flower together.  I punched the leaves from a scrap piece of Beau Chateau DSP and First Edition DSP.  

I used three stamp sets: Clearly For You, Creative Elements, and Notably Ornate.  I used the Lots of Tags die to create the fancy tag design from Calypso Coral card stock.  I also stamped the 'take note' in Calypso Coral classic ink.  The 'for you' and 'thanks' were stamped in Soft Suede classic ink.  The scallop piece is made from the Tasteful Trim die.  I added a small faux half-pearl jewel to the tag to help give it a girly look.

Thank you for looking, and now go play with your paper crafting supplies, and join us in this sketch challenge!

My Style

It's Saturday!  That means its time for a new challenge @ Our Creative Corner challenge blog.  This is a new and different challenge this week.  It's a Design Team call!  So, the challenge is to create a new card showcasing your abilities and talents!  So, use whatever colors inspire you, and use any layout that showcases your talent!  This design team call challenge closes July 8th.  So, what are you waiting for?

here is my style

If you look at my blog posts from previous challenges, you will see that my style is generally vintage/shabby chic.  I love to stamp on pattern papers, if I'm not making my own.   My two favorite card additions are a button and soft ribbon/crochet trim.  I really enjoy using those doily tags, too.  I generally make my own flowers out of cardstock or synthetic fabric.  If I add a corsage pin, I usually make my own, and that is what I did this time, too!

I cut two pieces of pattern paper to fit off-set onto my card front.  I added a piece of First Edition DSP as the matt.  I made a wide scallop trim border from a coordinating pattern paper.  I added a slim strip of crochet trim over the scallops.  I stamped 'ADORE' in Jet Black Staz-On onto the bottom pattern paper.  I punched a 1 3/8" circle from the First Edition DSP, and added it to the center of the doily tag.  I punched 4 scallop circles from River Rock cardstock, sprayed them with my home-made white shimmer mist, crumpled them, and hot glued a button to the center of the flower.  I distressed the edges of the paper flower with white paint, and gave them a few spritz of vanilla shimmer mist by Smooch.  I made my own push pin, and stuck it behind the flower.  I punched some leaves with the 2-step bird punch.  I cut the butterflies from the same blue pattern paper I used for the scallop trim, and added some faux half-pearls for their bodies.

Thank you for looking.  Now, its your turn!  Create something that showcases your style, and submit it to us @ Our Creative Corner.  As part of the design team, you will need to submit an entry weekly to for our challenges.  You will also need to take a turn at hosting a challenge during your 6 month term.

Inspirational Challenge

Inspiration Photo

Those wonderfully talented ladies over @ Our Creative Corner have an Inspirational photo to challenge you.  And to help with what or how we have gotten our inspiration, each DT member have given a little blurb about how they were inspired.   Please check out what the other DT members have created!  You will be inspired and aw struck!

My Card

When I look at the inspiration photo, the objects that I instantly focused on, were those wonderful pillows!  I just love the stripes on the round pillow.  It has so much character and is simply pretty!  And, how can you resist those orange pillows!  The polka-dots, and those kraft pom-poms!  The colors remind me of nature, and the photo shows all natural materials.  So here is what I made.  

The card base is Chocolate Chip.  The main panel is a simple green pattern on green cardstock; simple and elegant.  The stripes are layered onto the green piece, just like the pillow sits on the green sofa.  The orange polka-dot piece mimics the adjacent pillow.  I felt that the kraft pom-poms made such an inpact, that I had to re-create the pom-pom and put it on my card.  I made the kraft flower out of 'natural' coffee filters and a scallop circle die.  I cut 12 scallop circles and stacked them.  Then I crumpled each one individually.  With all the natural materials in the photo, I wanted an 'earthy', simple material to wrap around my polka-dot piece.  So, I chose a thick hemp twine.  I kept the leaves simple, few and a 'background', just like the potted plant in the photo.

I used this weeks Mojo Monday Sketch, to help me with the layout.  All paper craft supplies are from Stampin' Up!  However, most are retired.

Designer's Challenge

My usual Saturday mornings I am surfing the web for some fun, creative, and not too to challenging challenges.  And I hit the jack pot!  Those super creative girls @ Color Combos Galore have a new Inspiration Board #194 this week.  You see, my wedding anniversary is today, and I could not come up with a card for my husband to save my life.  And then, I saw this:

I know what you're thinking, 'these are girl colors with flowers for the inspiration'.  But, take another look.  These colors can easily be for a masculine card.  And the challenge is to use numbers.  Think Tim Holtz.  Now do you see it?  

So, here is my card:

and a close-up of the clear card stock & calendar:

I started with a matt piece I ran thru the Big Shot using an embossing folder, so the card wouldn't look so flat.  I used Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Sahara Sand, and Pure Poppy card stocks, classic inks, and embellishments, all of which are from Stampin' Up!.  I printed the calendar from Crafty Secrets blog (its a free download).   I matted it onto a scrap piece of pattern black paper.  That piece is layered onto a piece I cut with a 'spiral notebook page' die from PTI.  The # '29' and 'frame' (Vintage Labels) were stamped in Whisper White craft ink onto clear card stock, and heat embossed with glacier white detail EP.  The only flower I did not make was the center yellow flower.  The rest I made with dies and punches.  I used the leaf portion of the 2-step bird punch to create leaves.  The ribbon is a retired ribbon from Stampin' Up!, I think its 3 yrs old.  I made the banner with a Stampin' Up! die and a recent retired stamp set, 'Something to Celebrate'.  I sponged everything with matching classic inks.  Some pieces received a heavier hand in sponging then others.

Thank you for looking.  My wonderful husband and I have been married 12 years.  I know that doesn't sound long, but we are happy!