Happy Friday!  I am off today, to another arts and craft fair @ Tramway Community Church, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I will be selling my hand-crafted paper goods: greeting cards, gift card holders, gift bags, gift boxes, covered notepads, altered notebooks, and more!  My paper crafting style has a shabby chic/vintage feel to it.  If you are in the area, please stop by and say hello!

But, before, I get preoccupied with all of that, I took time out of my schedule to play along with the talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Patrice is the designer of this weeks sketch.

I have to admit, when I first saw this sketch, I was stumped.  But, don't fret.  Just see the 'objects' as that.  I took a little creative freedom.  but, here is what I did!

I used a half tea doily for the partial top note die.  I inked the Ex Libris background stamp with baked brown sugar classic ink, for the main panel.  I used the Flower Shop stamp set for the blossoms.  I stamped three blossoms in cantaloupe classic ink, and used the matching punch to 'cut out' the blossoms.  I added a half pearl to the center of each blossom, to give them a more feminine look.  I used the leaves die for the leaves, using soft suede card stock for the them.  I matted the main panel onto soft suede card stock.  The card base is cantaloupe card stock. 

For my sentiment, I used a hostess stamp set for the words; Express Yourself.  I just love this font.  It's pretty without being too flamboyant.  I added a very vanilla button to one side, to help give the sentiment banner a bit of flair.

Thank you for stopping by.  We sure do hope you find time to play along with us @ SFF.  

I'm off to Tramway Community Church, for todays arts and craft fair.

Celebrate with Me

This week, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, I am the designer of this week's sketch.  How cool is that?  I have to admit that I do love creating sketches.  I do try to keep them 'user-friendly'.  I do understand how frustrating it can be when a sketch stumps you, creatively.  So, I try to keep that in my mind when I design a sketch.

Here is this week's sketch:

and here is what I created:

The card base is made from baked brown sugar cardstock.  I love how this kraft-colored paper has a 'goldfish tint.  Beautifully neutral.  

I used pattern papers from Etc. DSP for the different pattern papers.  I used the scallop trim border punch to create the scallop trim.  I used my sewing machine to create the sewn borders.  I wrapped crochet trim around the layered pieces and tied the trim into a simple bow.  I created the buttons with clay and the new buttons and blossoms molds.  

I used the four frames punch to create the decorative edge to the 'tab' piece.  I also added a zig zag machine stitch to adhere that decorative piece to the card front.  I created the blossom with the floral fusion die and bent the petals and distressed the edges.  I added a pearl center.  The leaves were made with the 2 step bird punch.  I distressed their edges, too.

The sentiment was stamped with basic black classic ink and used the express yourself stamp set.  Of course, I had to use my stamp-a-ma-jig to ensure that the sentiment is straight.

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  I would love to see what you create with my sketch!  

Hope that you have a fabulous weekend!  

Mixing

I started teaching technique classes again.  I really love teaching.  The reason I love teaching, is that I love sharing what I love {smile}.  I have a passion for paper crafting, and I want to share what I love with others.

I taught a 'Mixing Pattern Papers' classes this past weekend.  When I started writing down the principles that I use, I found it a bit difficult.  Not that I don't 'know' what I'm doing.  It's just that it was hard to put what I do into words.  The 'why's and 'what to do's.  Each person who attended this class was given my guidelines of mixing pattern papers.  

a full-size card:

a refrigerator magnet, to hold a wallet-size photo:

We used different packages of pattern papers and supplies from Stampin' Up!  I also taught them how to make my favorite multi-loop bow.  

My next technique class is in July, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I'll share what we make in that class, too.  Thank you for stopping by.  {smile}

Classic

My apologies, for this being tardy.  There has been a bit of a jumble in our household, and it has thrown me off my schedule.

This is week #51 for the talented ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge.  I know what you are thinking . . . #51, what's the significance.  Well, at this point in time, #52 will be our last challenge.  Sad, huh?  There have been some real gorgeous challenges to play along with, and some real tuffys!  So, all in all, it has been wonderful, challenging, and full of creativity!

this week's challenge:

Oh yes!  a card full of banners!  Yahoo! what a gorgeous sketch, if I say so myself.  And yes, I had to add a little bit of my style to my finished card.  Here it is!

I have a girlfriend who just adores black and white, with a splash of color.  Any color, she doesn't care. And so, with her in mind, I created this card to go with this week's sketch!  And I have to admit, that the splash of color really makes this card look classy and elegant!  Thank you, Nichole {smile}.

The card base is basic black cardstock.  I wanted to add a splash of a soft, pretty color, so I added soft sky cardstock.  But the blue became over powering, so I matted a piece of very vanilla cardstock on top of the soft sky cardstock.  I cut my banners from the Modern Medley DSP.  Love this paper.  The possibilities are endless.  I made the banners in various widths.  The middle music sheet is 2 inches wide.  There are two @ 1 1/2" and two @ 1 1/4" wide.  I stacked, layered and staggered them.  There is a tiny piece (1/2" wide) of soft sky card stock at the top of the banners.  I cut a strip of silver glitter paper with my scallop edge.  That piece is butted right up to the soft sky cardstock.  I didn't have the energy to dye my seam binding with soft sky re inker, so I left it vanilla.  I machine stitched a strip across the card front.  I made a multi-loop bow.  (love those bows!)  I also added a new subtles button to the center.  I used a skinny strip of vanilla card stock as my 'thread', and adhered it to the center of my bow.

The sketch doesn't have a sentiment 'spot', so I improvised.  I created a label with my four frames stamp set.  I stamped the frame in basic black classic ink.  The sentiment comes from a new hostess stamp set, 'Express Yourself'.  I really love the font in this stamp set, and can you really have too many sentiment stamp sets?

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you find some inspiration to play along with our challenge over @ NAC.  I know we would love to see what you create with our sketch!

Have a wonderful day.  Stay cool, and see you soon {smile}.

this card is for sale in my Etsy shop, here

Mixing Pattern Papers

Thank you for stopping by today.  I've been a bit busy behind the scenes.  (that translates to me creating stuff that I can't share yet.)  and well, it has put a kink in my routine.

I am the sketch creator over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday this week.  And, I based my sketch on a card I had created several weeks ago.  I just didn't post it.  I'm kinda weird about posting photos of my grandkids on my blog, and the card has a photo of my oldest granddaughter at last years ballet recital.

Anyways, here is the sketch:

I think it's easy to work with.  But, maybe it's because I created it?  The circle can be changed to any shape.  Make it match your theme.  The rectangle can be a large stamped piece, or pattern paper.  You can add more to the sketch, too.  Maybe add a scallop trim border just under your ribbon/seam binding.

I just love mixing pattern papers.  I used paper from two different packages.  The houndstooth and the advertisement paper are both from the new Ectetera DSP and the white text on the black background is from the Modern Medley DSP.  I love how they work so wonderfully together.  I also used a new vanilla button.  I love this collection of buttons.

I matted the light blue pattern paper on very vanilla card stock.  I machine stitched around the whole piece.  I added crumb cake seam binding, and yes, added  multi-loop bow.

I matted the advertisement pattern paper onto a scrap piece of old olive cardstock.  The stacked circle is tucked under this piece.  I tied some linen thread through the button and adhered it to the text circle.

I inked the sentiment in basic black classic ink, and stamped right on the pattern paper.  This is a new hostess stamp set: express yourself.

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you have been inspired to play along with us this week over @ SFF.  Remember, you can use whatever products you have on hand.  The design team uses Stampin' Up! products {smile}.

this card is available for purchase, in my Etsy shop, here