Coffee, Friends, and Birthdays

Howdy.  Me?  I've been crafting.  {smile}  Doesn't saying that statement, just make you happy?  It makes me happy!  One of my best friends, had a birthday last weekend.  And we celebrated today at work.  By 'celebrating' I mean, we had sweets, and ordered lunch.  I was going to make cupcakes, but she loves my fudge-y brownies.  So, I made brownies.  {smile}

I also made her birthday card.  I know that you are not surprised by that.  Right!  I was 'shopping' at a local paper crafting shop, when I spotted this new paper line by Julie Nutting French Flea Market.   This beautiful pattern paper collection, is perfect for both female birthday cards and Mother's Day cards.  

I stopped by one of my favorite sketch challenge sites: Mojo Monday.  This sketch challenge site is very user-friendly, and the design team will certainly inspire you with their creativity!

I love the large circle.  You know I instantly thought: doily!

I also stopped by another favorite challenge site: Word Art Wednesday.  I especially love this challenge site, because of their faith, creativity, and inspiration.    This challenge site, has Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  

and here is what I crafted:

Let me first apologize for the photography of this card.  I made the card @ 4a, and there was no natural sunlight.   And I was not able to download these images until after I delivered the card.  {frown}

Recipe: this is a typical A2 size card: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  I used the 'Accessories' paper for the main panel of this card.  I cut a narrow strip of 'Robe de Soiree' paper across the lower third of the card.  

I then sewn a simple border stitch around the card front.

For my large circle, I used a vanilla paper lace doily.  I thought it added a feminine accent.

I wrapped some pale blue seam binding around the card front, and tied a simple bow to the far right of the card.

I cut a scallop square from a die, using whisper white card stock.  I stamped my sentiment onto this scallop square.  I used the Prefect Blend stamp set by Stampin' Up! for the sentiment and the coffee cup(s).  I matted the sentiment square onto 'Belles Fleurs' paper.  

For the coffee cups, I did some stamping and fussy cutting.  I stamped the cups onto whisper white card stock.  And layered different pattern papers onto the stamped cups.  

For the bottom cup, I used back side of the of the 'Robe de Soiree' pattern paper.  I just love the blue damask print.  I used a scrap piece of the same paper for the coffee cuff.

For the top cup, I stamped the coffee cup onto 'Belles Fleurs' pattern paper.  I wanted to repeat the pink polka dots.  I stamped the coffee cuff onto a piece of 'Lettre D'Amour' pattern paper.  I adhered this cup to the card front with foam adhesive.  For a final touch, I added a tiny button to each coffee cuff.

Thank you for looking.  Again, my apologizes for the crummy photos.

Shabby Rose Birthday

Howdy, I hope this post find you well.  Me, yeah.  It really feels good to have less stress, less madness, less anger, less yucky stuff going on in my life.  Life is too short, to obsess over stupid, thoughtless, ignorant, and plain selfish people.  So, I have taken a vow, to choose happiness, choose love, choose friendship, and leave all that non-sense behind me.  I need laughter, love, companionship, and a place to express my creativity.  So here we are!  

I woke this morning around 3a with Mojo Monday's current layout rolling around in my mind.  I did resist the fierce urge to get up and creep into my craft room.  Instead, I went back to sleep, to give my body a change to rest, and to re charge.  And well, I bet you can guess what I did this morning!  Yeah, I headed into my craft room, and executed the 'idea' I had earlier this morning {smile}

If you haven't headed over to Mojo Monday this week, here is their current sketch.

here is what I created:

I have to admit, when I first saw this sketch, I didn't really like the circle piece so high from the banner piece.  But, after playing around with a few different arrangements, I'm embracing the height.

Recipe:  I started with Lagoon card stock by Stampin' Up!.  Love their heavy weight card stock.  The pattern papers (all three) are from a new collection I picked up a few weeks ago: Shabby Rose, by Our Daily Bread.  Love the soft colors, and the beautiful graphics.

I used my thread cutter to distress (rough -up) the edges of the pattern paper.  I sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  I took two simple, polka dot-ish pattern papers, and torn thin strips.  Each strip is roughly 3/4" wide.  I also sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.

I had a short strip of this beautiful white cotton trim sitting on my craft table, so I add this wide strip first.  Then I layered the two pattern paper strips.  I added a short cream crochet trim, by Stampin' Up! and then a shorter strip of white crochet trim.  I did a zig zag stitch over the white crochet trim to hold all these layers together. {smile}  I hand stitched the pearls to the front panel.  I used brown thread, to give it some contrast.  But, now, I'm not too sure if I like the contrast.  I took an extra pink paper blossom sitting on my craft table and added some silver glitter to the edges.  Set the glitter with Aqua Net hair spray.  I used hot glue to add the pink paper blossom.  I really wanted to emphasize the pretty blue tone in the main panel, so I added an aqua blue multi-loop bow tied with seam binding.  I tucked the seam binding bow in under the paper blossom.

For my sentiment piece, it is actually an extra Birthday banner I created last week.  I originally wasn't sure what color I wanted this sentiment, so I stamped and heat embossed this sentiment in a few different colors.  {smile}.

And as always, this card remains blank on the inside.  That way, you can add your own hand-written message.   And this card is created for the craft fair coming soon!  May 2, @ La Cueva High School, in Albuquerque, NM.

I hope you have been inspired to play along with this challenge.  I'm sure you will create something wonderful! Have a great day!

Birthday Balloon Card

Howdy.  Welcome.  A close, dear, and sweet friend of mine is celebrating her birthday this week.  And a celebration isn't complete without a card!

Recipe:  This sweet card was hand-crafted with various paper crafting supplies.  I started with solid card stock by Paper Trey Ink, in Ocean Tides color.  The pattern paper is actually both sides of the same page.  It is from the Birds and Blooms pattern paper collection by HeartFelt Creations.  

I added a tea dyed paper doily, a strip of ruffled cream tulle.  I added a strip of spring green seam binding and sewn the stack together.  I added a multi-loop bow made with the same seam binding.  I added a bow tied with pale blue twine.  I tied a vintage button to the center of this bow collection with a thin silver cord.  

I added a torn strip of music paper to the other side of the bow collection.  I stamped the balloon three times and adhered the pieces together, to give the balloon dimension.  I added a strip of white bakers twine to the balloon.  I stamped and fussy cut four tassels and adhered them to the balloon string.   I stamped the bow in silver ink and fussy cut it out, also.

I stamped the sentiment in Juniper classic ink, by CTMH, onto shimmer white card stock and cut a flag end.

Well, I hope my friend likes her card.  And now, I am heading into the kitchen to make her some cupcakes {smile}

Birthday Wishes, Friend

Welcome.  Glad you have a chance to stop by.  I have been busy this week, working on a recipe for a local baking contest (Sunday).  But I also had a chance to craft a Birthday card for a special friend.  

I used some new paper I received in the mail a few weeks ago.  The paper is called Vintage Bliss.  Ok, doesn't it just sound wonderful?

I did a little machine stitching, using my new favorite silver metallic thread.  Mostly a straight stitch, but I added a little zig zag stitching to add some interest.  I just love this text paper with floral images.  And I have a weakness for the pink polka dot paper and the multi-colored criss cross pattern paper, too {smile}.

I added some Lemon Whip satin ribbon, and added some machine stitching to that too!  I added a half doily under the satin ribbon.  I stamped the sentiment 'Birthday wishes' in a light grey classic ink.  I added a trio of half pearls under the sentiment.

The prize ribbon piece is actually a sticker.  It says, 'H is for Happy'.  I felt it needed something more, but I just couldn't figure out what.???

I made some home-made vanilla sugar cubes the other day.  I know.  How crazy, huh?  Well, I love to make, create, and cook.  What I figured what the heck?

I packaged some of these rough cut sugar cubes into a small craft bag and added a little decorations:

I folded a paper doily over the top edge and created two banner pieces from the same pattern paper.  For the sentiment I used the For a Friend Occasion stamp set by CTMH.  I stamped the 'MADE WITH LOVE' banner in crumb cake classic ink, and grey classic ink, then I fussy cut it out by hand.  I used Shell satin ribbon and added a sparkle clay button I made.

Thank you for looking.  {smile}  I'm pretty sure that my girl friend will love her gift.  She is a big tea drinker, so that was my direction in the gift. 

Trio of Card-Gift Combos

I have to say, making these Card-Gift Combo's, is a lot of fun! 

Whew, I have been busy making some paper crafts for my upcoming Spring Craft Fair @ Albuquerque Christian School, in March.  Ugh, next month.  So, as you can imagine, I'm crafting every chance I can.   One of the new items at my booth, are these adorable Card-Gift Combos.  I've featured several of these little beauties here, here, and here.  Not to mention the one I made this week.

If you are a new visitor, These little beauties, open like a card, but they store a drawer, that can potentially hold a gift.  The drawer has a lot of versatilities.  You can store hand-made embellishments, a necklace, a bracelet , a gift card, a set of movie tickets, event tickets, a hand-made ornament, etc.  See, a lot of potential {smile}.

I love to mix patterns and colors.

to celebrate almost any occasion 

another any occasion ticket

no sentiment, so you can add your own

I love to mix pattern papers, and to added different and interesting embellishments.  But, I have noticed through the years, that if I sit and make several of the same items, they all begin to look alike.  So, I am taking a break from making these little beauties.

Today, I will be working on some altered magnetic initials.  And yeah, I will be selling these, too.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have found something you like, and maybe be inspired to create something, too!