Ho {cubed}; It's Christmas

~ photo heavy post ~

The paper crafting continues {smile}.  I was struggling earlier yesterday, and couldn't figure out where to start.  So, I simply just started {smile}.  I used the current sketch from Cardabilities, to get the creative juices flowing.  And it did!  I created a pair of holiday cards using some sweet vintage-y style pattern papers from Paper Studio.  And I purchased these pattern papers on sale.  Cha-ching!

current sketch:

I'm also entering the current challenge over @ the Papertake Weekly Challenge.  Their current challenge is: Christmas; it will soon be here.  Check out their creative design team.  Very talented!

and what I created (the red version):

and the green version:

and yeah, I did stamp the inside:

The sentiments were stamped on very vanilla card stock.  I used two new holiday stamp sets by Stampin' Up!. (outside the card, uses Oh What Fun stamp set, and inside the card, uses Cozy Christmas stamp set.) They were hand-stamped with basic black classic ink.  All the pattern papers are from Paper Studio.  For the inside of the card, I cut a narrow strip of the margin pattern paper, and tore the end to resemble washi tape.  

I sponged all the edges, of the various papers, with crumb cake classic ink.  I also added machine stitching along the bottom portion of each card.  And machine stitched the cotton trim and cotton ribbon.  The cotton trim was purchased from a local sewing store.  The cotton ribbons are from Stampin' Up!

I added buttons from my stash (red corduroy and garden green button) are retired from Stampin' Up!. And a silver reindeer charm is tied to the bow with cream twine.  

Thank you for looking.  I'm planning on making a few gift card holders and gift bags using this festive holiday pattern paper.  Stay tuned {smile}.  And these cards will be for sale in my Etsy shop.

Sweet Music Note; card

Howdy!  Today I had a rough time getting started.  I have a list of paper crafting projects that I need to get done.  Get done in 4 weeks!  Yikes!  But to be honest, I feel overwhelmed.  Very overwhelmed.  So much so, I don't know where to begin, so I spent most of the morning looking @ Pinterest.  And its a love-hate relationship.  {smile}  I love the inspiration and ideas.  But boy is it a time sucker. Ugh.  At this point in my crafting, I just have to sit down and start.  Start somewhere.  Start with a theme, a color scheme, a layout, a project.  Just START!  

And so that is exactly what I did.  I picked up a digital image I just printed, and used that as my starting point.  Either way, I need to get stuff made, because time is running out.  My other obstacle is that I don't just throw stuff together.  Cards easily take 1 - 2 hours, and other paper crafting projects take more time.   I like balance, I like cohesiveness, I like shabby chic, and I like pretty things. 

So with my digital ATC card in hand, I picked up a sketch I had printed from a favorite sketch challenge site: Cardabilities.  I love their sketches, because they are super easy to work with, and the design team will certainly inspire you!

Before I show you what I created, I need to give a few explanations.  I used a whole doily, instead of a half doily.  I used a rectangle piece instead of the circle element.  I figured that the shapes were interchangeable.  And I used another rectangle piece instead of the leaves.  I kept the lines long to mimic the spray of the leaves.

here is my card:

I kept the colors of the card stock and pattern papers neutral, so they wouldn't compete with the digital ATC card, as my focal piece.  

Recipe:  I used vintage cream cardstock by Paper Trey Ink for the card base.  I just love the weight of this card stock.  The main panel is a ledger pattern paper by Melissa Frances.  I heat embossed some water spots on opposite corners of this pattern paper.  I added a strip of music paper.  I wanted to repeat the music script that is on the ATC card.  I layered a burlap doily over the music paper.  

For the trim, it's all machine stitched to the card front.  I first machine stitched the white cotton scallop trim.  Next, I machine stitched the rose pink scallop trim.  And finally, I did a zig zag stitch to attach the white crochet trim to the card front.  

I cut out an ATC size card, and used foam tape to adhere it over the layered card front.  I die cut a piece of card stock weight vellum, by Stampin' Up! for my sentiment piece.  I used a black ink and hand-stamped 'Just a Note' by Paper Trey Ink.  And then I added a white resin blossom, by Melissa Frances to the right of the sentiment piece.

To add a bit of sparkle, I added white, pale pink, and gold sequins to the card front.  

Thank you for looking.  This card will be for sale in my Etsy shop, HERE.  I hope that your weekend is going well, and that you get a chance to do a few fun things {smile}.

My card was selected as a winner for this sketch, on Sept. 29, 2015.
I'm super happy and proud! {smile}

Cake : card-gift box

Howdy! and welcome {smile}.  So, yesterday, I spent quite a few hours in my craft room.  I have a craft fair coming up, and so the craft frenzy has begun {smile}.   I had a goal of creating 6 card-gift combo boxes.  And well.  I didn't.  I got three covers done, the inside templates are printed, the pattern paper has been cut to go on those, and the embellishments have been selected.  So that's a good start.  I also started 3 magnetic letters: O, E, and T.  And I started working on altering 6 tins.  All in all, not a wasted day.  By problem, was once I finished the covers of the 3 card-gift combos, I noticed that they all kinda look alike, and the creative juice for those had run dry {frown}.  That is why I started working on other projects.

Anyways, not to fret.   Today is a new day.  Let me share with you what I have done, and then I can get back into my craft room and either finish the magnetic letter, the tins, or start on some gift card holders.  Possibilities are endless in my craft room {smile}.

My typical style is vintage country chic.  Super easy for me.  I love lace, cotton trim, buttons, sequins, pearls, rhinestones, jars, banners, staples, metallic heat embossing, machine stitching, text, music sheets, and floral pattern papers.  

And sometimes I need a little help organizing these things and a direction of my crafting.  I stopped by a favorite challenge site to see what the current sketch challenge is @ Cardabilities.  There are two things I love best about this challenge site: 1) the sketches are very easy to work with,  2) a majority of the DT is in Europe.  Their perspective is completely different that American crafters.  So, it helps me broaden my horizons.  Here is the current sketch challenge:

and here is what I made:

At the time of photographing this entry, the inside box had not been completed.  That is why there is a gap where the bow is.  This grosgrain ribbon actually ties, to hold the box closed.  Untie the ribbon, and the card-gift box opens like a book.  You can place a smallish  gift inside the box (3" x 5 1/2" x 3/4").

Recipe:  The base is made from Ocean Tides card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  Love the color.  I used two pattern papers from the same collection Corner Shop by Tilda.  LOVE IT!  The cake poster card is one of the embellishments that is included in the pattern paper stack (12" x 12").

I add three different trims: a cream cotton trim, white lace, and a cream/pink saddle stitched ribbon.  I machine stitched them to the pattern papers.  I also included a large loopy double bow of cream twine.  

I added three blossoms, one pink and two aqua paper blossoms.  These were purchased from the dollar bin at a big box craft store.  (yeah, the dollar bin!  9 paper blossoms on a card! SCORE!)  I added some platinum sparkle to the petal tips. 

I tucked in a cake poster card.  I distressed the edges.  I added my sentiment banner of 'best wishes'.  This little gem can be used for a birthday, or wedding.

In the sketch there are some splatters, so I used sequins instead; Marshmallow and Pink Blush sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  I also tucked in a metal brad.
The ribbon to hold this little gem closed is also Ocean Tides, by Paper Trey Ink.

Here is a different view:

thank you for looking.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with the talented ladies over @ Cardabilities.  Now, back into my craft room! {smile}

XO's For You

Welcome.  I hope you are having a good first weekend of the year!  Me, I'm doing good.  {smile}  I don't know if it is the 'freedom' I feel, now that my craft room is clean and organized, or I simply found some mojo.  Either way, I will take it!

I visited a favorite sketch challenge blog site this week, Cardabilites, and finally got a chance to sit down at my crafting desk, and whip up a card.  Ok, I don't really 'whip-up' a card.  For those who know me, a 'fast' made card still takes me an hour or so.  This one, a bit longer.  I wanted to use some pattern papers I had already cut.  So, I dug through my scrap box to find: colors that I liked, pattern that went together, and papers that made me smile.  Simple process, really.  Now, I just needed to sit and put it all together.  And that is not always so easy.  Three hearts later, and two different blossom centers, I found created what works for me.  

To start, the sketch looks easy to work with.  Use a doily, add a blossom, and you have your two circle elements.  Well, that isn't exactly the direction I went.  

Recipe:  The card base is crumb cake by Stampin'Up!.  The first text matt is from Melissa Frances.  The next blue matt is a pattern paper I received as part of a prize from playing along with the lovely ladies over @ Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge.  The pink main panel is the only piece of this pattern paper from Bazzill I have left.  I sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up!, adhered them together and then did a purposefully 'sloppy' machine stitch.  I went around the card twice.

My first circle element is a doily.  The doily was cut with a doily die, by Paper Trey Ink, using glitter paper by, Stampin' Up!.  The second circle element is a circle {smile}.  I used a white text, aqua pattern paper I think is from Carta Bella.  (It's another scrap piece.)  I used a die to cut this 2" circle.  For the cluster in the second circle element, I built my piece.  I cut a heart shape from some cream felted wool.  I used a retired heart die, by Stampin' Up!   I cut the same heart shape from some silver polka dot vellum card stock.  The flower shape was cut with another retired die, by Stampin' Up!  I used a small scrap piece of another pattern paper from the collection by Bazzill.  The smaller blossom was cut with the same retired die, by Stampin' Up!, but I used some aqua mist felted wool, by Paper Trey Ink.  I ran this circle collage through my sewing machine, using a simple stitch.  

I tied some cream twine through a cream vintage button, both by Paper Trey Ink.  I used hot glue to attach the button.  The leaves were made with a scrap of green pattern paper from Nostalgia.

I added a scrap piece of cream crochet trim, by Paper Studio.  I didn't have a long enough piece to wrap around the card front.  But after 'playing' with this trim, I found I really like how it doesn't cover the card front.

I didn't add blossoms and banner for my sentiment.  Instead, I made a multi-loop bow with 1/4" silk ribbon, by Paper Trey Ink.  I also cut a tag from Whisper White card stock, by Stampin' Up!.  I used the tiny tag die, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped my tag with two sentiments from the same stamp set, by Stampin' Up!.  This set has been retired for over 6 years.  I sponged the edges of the tag with more crumb cake classic ink.  

And finally, to give my card a more feminine feel, I added a collection of white half faux pearls and clear rhinestones.

I originally set out to make a St. Valentine's Day card.  So, that is why the sentiment is 'XO's For You'.  This card will be for sale in my Easy shop, HERE.   I hope you enjoy the rest of your first weekend this year.  I am off to the kitchen to make some fresh bread.  Nothing fancy, just white bread.  But it makes the house smell wonderful! and it tastes amazing!  I'll post a photo on my InstaGram page, HERE.

  

Featured Designer

Howdy!  Thank you for stopping by.  I apologize for being late on this post.  I should have posted yesterday.  Yesterday, when I received the news that I am a featured designer for the latest challenge (#106) for Cardabilities sketch challenge site.  Here is the original post.

So, here is a different view of the card, that won me this honor:

I am very happy with how my card turned out.  {smile}.  Creating, what I think is beautiful paper crafts, makes my soul happy and that puts sunshine in my life.  

If you get a chance, play along with any challenge, I strongly encourage you to do so.  You just may be amazed how supportive the other participants are! and just how your crafting skills blossom {smile}.

Patience

Howdy! I hope you had a good weekend.  We celebrated Labor Day, yesterday, here in the United States of America.  I had a wonderful weekend.  I did about everything I set out to accomplish.  So that always feels good.

I created a card during my break from 'work' (aka my paying job) and did some crafting.  So, that always makes me smile! {smile}   

A lovely lady, Karen L. had posted the sweetest compliment ever! on a recent post, and suggested that I give her card challenge (Word Art Wednesday) a go.  So, I did.  But, before I show you what I made, I have to admit, that I needed a bit of direction on my creation.  

I stopped by one of my favorite sketch challenge sites, Cardabilities and here is this weeks sketch:

I don't know about you, but I am a FAN of the banner.  Love it.  Don't know exactly why, but I do.

And here is this weeks challenge over @ Word Art Wednesday (challenges inspired by God's word):  

and here is what I created:

I was touched by the write up of the verse.  I don't know about you, but I really do need to learn to slow down, be patient, and give thanks for the moment.  I finally used this beautiful pattern paper I purchased from Poland - Lemon Crafts.  I used the pattern paper and paper blossoms from the collection.  I used a scrap piece of white trim, and white seam binding.  I created a simple bow, die cut some leaves, and distressed the blossom petal tips with white distress paint and diamond glitter.  I did some machine stitching (zig zag) to adhere the trim and seam binding to my banner piece.  I sponged all the edges of paper (pattern and solid card stock) with crumb cake classic ink.  I added a trio of sequins and tiny half faux pearls.
The card is too bulky to fit in an A2 size envelope, so I decorated a large glassine bag to hold the card.  And yeah, this little gem will be for sale in my Etsy shop, HERE.
I hope your week is good.  And don't forget to appreciate what you have, where you are, who loves you, and have patience with everyone around you.