Rustic Rose Happiness

Howdy!  As you know, I work at a local hospital.  This is Nurse's Week.  The nurses who work in our Radiology department, are wonderful.  All of the nurses there, are incredible.  They always greet you with a smile, and they are always willing to help where they can.  Super group of ladies, and gent.

I am making them lunch tomorrow.  A simple gesture to show my graditude.  And I have to make a card as well! {smile}

I wanted to make a quick card, so I stopped by CAS(E) this Sketch.  This wonderfully talented design team will certainly inspire you, and encourage you to play along.  

and here is what I crafted:

Recipe:  I used crumb cake card stock as the card base.  I used the same sheet of pattern paper for both of the matt and the main panel:  Rustic Harmony by KaiserCraft.  I added some machine stitching around the border.  I wrapped a piece of taupe lace trim, and pink rose vintage seam binding.  I added a multi-loop bow with hot glue.  [My bow, replaces the blossom in the sketch, and my lace & seam binding replace the sentiment piece, in the sketch.]

For the sentiment, I added a sentiment block pre-made by Anna Griffin.  I added this rectangle to a scrap piece of the rustic harmony pattern paper.  I adhered these two pieces together with foam tape.  

I wanted a little bling (and what girl doesn't?), so I added a trio of rhinestones.  I adhered the rhinestones in locations on the card, similar to splatters on the sketch.

Now, all I have to do, is add my hand-written note!  This is as 'clean and simple' as I can do.  For those who are use to my style, know that I would love to add another layer of lace/trim, a paper blossom (or two) a button, and most likely some twine.  But, I am pretty happy with how this CAS card turned out.  {smile}  I hope the nurses love it too!

Sweet Rustic Mother's Day Card

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy!  and welcome back to my little slice of blog-land.  I've busy crafting, and I love it!  It is very good for my soul!  As many of you know, Mother's Day is right around the corner!  And I wanted to make something pretty, soft, vintage, country, and over all sweet!  So, while surfing the internet, I stumbled upon two (new to me) paper craft challenge sites, and I'm anxious to play along! So, without further ado, let's get to it! {smile}

I stopped by an old favorite challenge site to get a sketch:  Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.  These folks have some of the most user-friendly sketches out there!  And the design team will inspire you if you need it.  {smile}  Oh, and it's prize week!

My next stop is a (new to me) challenge site:  Crafting When We Can Challenge.  Their current challenge is: add flowers.  Oh my, YES!  The design team varies in styles, so I am sure that you will be inspired to play along with this talented group.

My last stop, is another (new to me) challenge site:  Robyn's Fetish Challenge.   This challenge is: Mother's Day Cards.  Thank you ladies, that's right up my alley!  This lovely group of designers will certainly inspire you with their soft, tender style!

and here is what I have created:

and different view:

Recipe:  The card base is crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up!  I just love this soft kraft color and heavy weight card stock.  The perfect card stock for your cards!
I used Ocean Tides card stock, by Paper Trey Ink, for the matts.  I just love this different shade of blue.  {smile}  The wood grain/floral 'pattern paper' is actually a digital paper.  I love the colors and the sweet rustic look.    The pale kraft star pattern paper is from Tilda.    Ok, we'll start from the top and work our way down the card.

The canvas banner piece is from Maya Road.  I adhered it to the card front with hot glue just at the top.  I wanted it to have some movement.
I added a trio of paper blossoms.  Each blossom was painted with white acrylic paint and then dunked in a tub a dazzling diamond glitter, by Stampin' Up!  I adhered the paper blossoms to the card front with more hot glue.
The large white blossom and the pale blue blossom are from a big box store, different Reflections collections.  The tiny white blossom is from Kaiser Krafts.  To help add a little bling, I added a trio of gold sequins to the top half of this card.  Yeah, they are tucked in, to reveal a sweet surprise.
I stamped the sentiment onto very vanilla card stock, by Stampin' Up!  I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso classic ink.  I used a very retired stamp set:  Something to Celebrate.  I used a photo corner punch to create the banner ends.  I adhered the sentiment piece to the card front with foam tape.

For the lower half of the card, I layered a trio of different materials.  I cut a large scallop border out of a scrap piece of pale pink polka dot pattern paper with my Tasteful Trims die, by Stampin' Up!.  I added a strip of white cotton trim just above the pink polka dot pattern paper.  And then I wrapped a piece of this beautiful pale pink seam binding, that I purchased while junking in Phoenix.
I created a multi-loop bow with the seam binding.  I tied an altered wooden button* with kraft twine. (*white acrylic paint and glitter)  I created my own tag with the Tiny Tag stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the 'tag' in ocean tides ink.  (It is actually a second generation stamp) and I stamped the 'XOXO' in crumb cake classic ink.  I fussy cut the tag with a pair of small scissors.  I used sand paper to smooth out the rough edges of my hand cutting.  Strung the kraft twine through the tag and tied it to the multi-loop bow, and altered wooden button.  I cut a too long length of kraft twine, so I added a single loop of twine behind the seam binding bow.  I added a small piece of foam tape behind the tag, so it would be anchored to the card front.   I also added a pair of gold sequins around this beautiful bow.  {smile}
For those of you who are frequent visitors to my blog, you are probably wondering about the missing machine stitching.  And, all I can say, is me too!  I actually ran out of thread, and wasn't able to pick some up before creating this card.  So, I am trying to embrace this 'plain jane' card.
Thank you for stopping by.  I hope I have inspired you to play along with all or any of these challenges.  Hopefully your week is off to a great start!

Peach Matthew Card

Howdy.  I needed to get a card in the mail this weekend, and needed a bit of inspiration to get those mojo juices moving.   I am entering my card into five different, but very inspirational challenges.  Lets get started.  I stopped by Scrap Magic to work with their current inspirational board. 

Mandatory to use Peach and Green, you must also include floral pattern, fabric or gold.

I stopped by Sugar Pea Design to check out their sketch challenge.  These ladies are sure to inspire you with their creativity.

I stopped by the faithful challenge of Word Art Wednesday, to see what scripture they are using this week.   The scripture of Matthew 11:28 is perfect for my card.  {smile}

I stopped by the Brown Sugar Challenge, to see what this talented challenge site has for their current challenge: Anything Goes!  Well, that couldn't be simpler!

And finally, I stopped by Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog for their current challenge:  Flowers & Trim.  They don't have a required number of flowers, so this one will do {smile}.

and here is what I made:

this card was selected as a Top 3 Winner @ Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge Blog.  

Recipe:  I used crumb cake card stock for the card base.  I used a green polka dot pattern paper from Authentique.  The peach blossom pattern paper is from Authentique, from the Grace collection.  The peach pattern paper used for the scallop trim, as well as the peach text pattern paper are from the Grace collection, as well.  I added a simple border stitch with my sewing machine, to help convey that homespun feeling.

I tied peach seam binding around the card, and added a little more machine stitching.  I tied a multi-loop bow with the same peach seam binding.  I added a green paper blossom, from Kaiser crafts, just above the bow.  I tied a scrap piece of gold thin tinsel around the multi-loop bow.  

To help tie the gold accent, I added a trio gold sequins.  I printed the scripture onto whisper white card stock.  I cut the scripture into a tag, and adhered it to the card front with foam tape.  I added a scrap piece of peach seam binding.  I tied the seam binding with a scrap piece of pistachio twine.

Thank you for looking.  I might be able to get a better photo tomorrow.  

Daughter's Card

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful, selfless mothers out there.  I can now share a card I created.  I used the sketch over @ Mojo Monday for this card.  However, I wasn't a great fan of the diamond shape, so I used a different shape.  

I used pattern paper from Kaiser Craft.  When I saw this pattern paper, I instantly thought Mother's Day.  Don't know why, but that was my first thought.  Maybe its because it reminds me of vintage wall paper, or the fact that I truly miss my grandmother.

here is the sketch:

here is my card:

The polka dot pattern paper is from Heidi Swapp.  The reverse side has different texts on it.  But there is just something about this color of polka dot pattern.  Its not blue, its not green, is something that is a wonderful blend of the two.  

The floral and rich red pattern paper is from Kaiser Kraft: Telegraph Road. I just LOVE it.  

Ok, I changed the diamond shape for this top note shaped piece.  And the rectangle piece I switched for a coin envelope.  (Yeah, I made my own.)  I added the red pattern paper to the outside of the envelope to help give it some character.  I machine stitched the pattern paper to the envelope.  I used some gold bakers twine and tied a double bow, tied the key and button to the flap.  

I added a tag to the envelope.  I stamped 'Happy Mother's Day' and 'I can't imagine a wold without you' on the tag.  Because I truly can't.  It's amazing to me how when we are younger, us girls don't want to be our mothers.  But when we become mother's ourselves we immolate them.  And we are happy to.  

I did change the banner piece coming out of the rectangle piece.  I simply used a tiny vintage safety pin to elevate my banner.  I stamped 'made with {heart}' on the banner piece.  Because I truly did {smile}.

The key was purchased last year, for a craft I was working on for some Christmas craft fairs, and I have a few left over.  Oh, and the stamps are from Verve: One Person.

Well, I am off to my daughter's house to have lunch with her and her family.  Then to a local restaurant to take my mother-in-law out to dinner.  Take a moment to let your mother know how special she is today.  and always.

Altered Paper Mache Book Box Complete

~ photo heavy post ~

Whew.  A finished project!   I finished my paper mache book box this morning.  Took quite a few photos and now I'm ready to share with you, this labor of love.  I purchased a paper mache book box from one of those big box craft stores.  So, they should be relatively easy for you to find one.  You can always order one off the internet, but I'm not a fan of shipping costs.  (Frugal, one might say)  The book box measures 4" wide by 6" tall and 1 1/2" deep.  So, it's not huge, but the measurements are perfect when using 12" x 12" pattern paper.   I used a sketch from Cardabilities #91 for my inspiration to create the cover.

Let's start with the cover:  

I first painted the box with gesso.  Then a light sand color paint.  I spritz the box with an alcohol mist, and rubbed some of the sand color paint off, to give it a worn look.  I also used fine linen distress ink on the edges.  I used pattern paper from Lost & Found - Market Street.  I machine stitched the main panel to a crumb cake card stock.  The chicken wire images are stamped from Distressed Background by CTMH.  The sentiment is stamped from On the Grown by Stampin' Up!.  The lilies and white rose are made from clay.  The butterfly is a resist chipboard piece from Heidi Swap.  The pale green paper blossom is from Kaiser Krafts.  The cream button is from Paper Trey Ink, and the gold sequins are from Stampin' Up!.  (If you saw yesterday's post, I hadn't added the button yet, its tucked-in, between the pink seam binding and the pale green paper blossom.)

a close-up:

Let's open the box.  Here is the inside cover:

I used the same pattern paper threw out this alteration.  To keep everything looking like it belongs.    I did however, use a tag from Prima - Almanac.  Love the chicken.  I did a little stamping:  some more chicken wire, and a country phrase along the left side of the tag from Country Born by CTMH.  I also  created a tiny tag using a stamp from Friendship Jar by Paper Trey Ink.  I added a pool party polka dot brad by Stampin' Up!  I created a banner with the same pattern paper; Market Street.  I added some sweet tiny cream buttons from Paper Trey Ink, that I tied with some cream twine. (if you saw yesterday's post, I had not finished the banner.)  I added a white resin key by Melissa Frances, to help balance the page, and to add a sweet little surprise.  (If you saw yesterday's post, I had to flip the key around, so that the box would close shut.)

the inside of the box:

I just love this floral pattern paper by Market Street.  It adds so much sweetness without giving you a cavity (haha).  I wanted to add a little surprise, so I placed a small white crochet doily and a pale pink paper blossom to the bottom right corner.  I also added a little bit of sparkle by including a link from a Melissa Frances dangle.

here is the close-up:

here is the back of the box:

I wanted the back to have a bit of charm, too.  But, I also wanted to keep it flat, incase the owner wants to lay the book box down.  I used the same pattern paper - Market Street.  But I used a part of a pattern text paper that had this open area.  So, I used a stamp from The Sweet Life by Paper Trey Ink.  I thought is was fitting for a memory box.  I also added my signature stamp along the bottom.  

here is the spine:

I stamped the 'title' with a stamp from Loving Thoughts by Stampin' Up! onto a scrap piece of the Market Street pattern paper.  I also added a white resin lock by Melissa Frances.

I used a scrap piece of some beautiful peach colored silk ribbon by Martha Stewart.  I purchased the ribbon probably 5 years ago from a local scrapbooking store.  I thought the ribbon matched perfectly.

All the edges of the pattern papers were distressed with ink or ink and scissors.  I used scor tape to adhere the papers to the box.  I used my glue gun to hold the various embellishments to the box.

oops! I forgot to show you the bow!

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look.  I am off to my craft room once again to finish my desk top calendars.  Yep, I still have 2 more to make.  And January is almost over!

Blue #58 Mother's Day

Last week, I shared the Mother's Day card I made for my mom.  (here)  And, if you remember, this card show-cased a button card.  Now, my mom isn't one of those mom's who sew everything.  But, when I was a kid, she did sew some of my clothes.  ANd, the whole idea of a button card, just seemed warm and cozy; like home.

This week, I'm going to share the Mother's Day card I made for my daughter.  (Yep, she is a mom, too.)  She is a good mom.  She really gives her children her time and attention.  I'm very happy with how she nurtures her children.  My daughter isn't one of those girl-y girls.  She is a tom boy.  She drives a motorcycle, and can keep up with her husband, who is a professional race car driver.  One of her favorite colors is blue.  So, I set out to make her a beautiful, blue Mother's Day card.  Because she is truly a beautiful person, and mom

I stumbled upon this creative sketch challenge site, and the sketch looked perfect for what I am creating.  The talented Chupa, has given us another sketch challenge this weekend @ Sketchbook Saturday Challenge.  Here is her sketch:

Once I saw this sketch, I knew that I had to play along.  I love the layers and the open space.  Awhile ago, I purchased this pretty pattern paper by Teresa Collins, called Everyday Moments.  This pattern paper has blues, yellows, text, polka dots, stripes, flourishes, and flowers.  It's pretty without being too girl-y.  Just right for my wonderful daughter.  Here is what I created:

The card base and satin ribbon are from Stampin' Up!, Marina Mist.  The color is blue with a slight complexity and depth.  My first layer is the yellow floral text background pattern paper.  I added a trio of half faux pearls to the right upper corner.   I used the venetian design as my horizontal layer.  I had a scrap piece of white crochet trim, so I cut it in half length-wise and adhered the top to the top of the horizontal piece, and the scallop bottom to the bottom of the card stock piece. 

I had a scrap piece of the blue flourish piece, so I matted what with a darker blue texture piece.  I added a lone pale yellow paper blossom from Kaiser Krafts.  I used a glue pen on the petal edges and dusted it with dazzling diamond glitter.  I adhered a trio of half faux pearls to the bottom right corner.   

I had to include a piece of the text paper.  I matted the text onto a scrap piece of stripes and words. I stamped the sentiment onto my banner piece. I added a row of 5 half faux pearls to this piece, also.  I had a white button, that I just had to add.  So, I tied it onto the bow with some cream twine.  I tied the cream twine into a bow that matches the ribbon bow {smile} and added a half faux pearl.

Thank you for stopping by.  I'll be posting more this week, so swing by later.