Bunco Eight

Whew.  Sorry this is so late this morning.  My youngest granddaughter sleeps over a few Mondays a month, and yeah, yesterday was her sleep over day {smile}.  She will be two next month, so as you can imagine, her activity level is a bit higher than this grandma's.  

So, back on track with our Bunco prize countdown, from #11 to #1.  (#11 prize is the least in dollar value, and #1 is the largest.)

You have seen this prize before, it is my altered salt shaker photo holder and trinket holder.  I have to admit, I just love this!  I foresee me having several of these on hand at my holiday arts and crafts shows.  {yeah!}

Since I have shared a few photos of the altered salt shaker with you before, I'll start with a close-up photo of this adorable gift card.

I have to admit, I really love these two pattern papers together.  The mustard yellow and shades of blue pattern paper, remind me of wall paper in a country kitchen.  I know that sounds pretty weird, but I really like these two pattern together, and I think they fit my theme perfectly!

The mannequin is die cut and stamped from one of my favorite sets from Paper Trey Ink.  The little banner is stamped with the Friendship Jar stamp set by Paper Trey Ink, as well.  The buttons are a mixture of Stampin' Up! (two yellows) and Dress It Up.  

Now, two different photos of that adorable altered salt shaker:

In this side view, you can see some aqua mist colored buttons, a tiny clothes pin, a pair of tiny safety pins, and a few pearls.
The glass piece hanging from the glitter paper blossom, was purchased from the jewelry section of one of those big box stores.  I wanted a dangle and I think I found the perfect one {smile}.

And from this view, you can see a tiny wooden spool, a few more loose pearls, a cream fancy button, a clear faceted button, and a few stick pins.  All of which are laying on a thin layer of super fine glitter.

Ok, now that I look at my photo, The back of one of the tags, I see I was thrifty!  In that, I stamped on the other side of a already stamped card stock piece.  UGH!  Let me get back into my craft room, and 'fix' that.  (AKA re-do the tag, and re-string it through the knot.)

Thank you for stopping by.  I will post another prize(s) tomorrow.  And on Thursday, I will share a few of my decorations.  Friday a few more prizes, and hopefully on Saturday, I will have some pre-party photos.  I hope you have been inspired to create something wonderful!

Birthday Wishes From the Heart

What a crazy week.  I returned from Phoenix, Arizona Sunday evening, and have spent the last few days getting caught up on household chores.  So, I haven't spent too much  time in my craft room.  But, I was able  to sneak away, and create this evening {smile}.

One of the sketch challenge blog sites that I religiously visit is Retro Sketches.  These lovely, talented ladies have a creative perspective on paper crafting.  Their sketches are simple.  But, your interpretation doesn't have to be.  

here is this week's sketch:

here is what I created:

I used Aqua Mist card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  Love this color.  It's a sweet, soft blue, with a tinge of green.  I felt that the card stock was too smooth.  Is that possible?  Anyways, I'm not a fan of CAS.  So, I added a piece of textured Pool Party card stock from Stampin' Up!.  The colors aren't exact matches, but the slight differences do make a good pair.

I cut a piece of the 'Save the Date' Bouquet by Teresa Collins (winter 2014) to create the rectangle piece.  I matted it with a scrap piece of Soft Suede card stock by Stampin' Up!.  The thing that really caught my eye about this paper is the beautiful coral-ish colored roses.  The mint green leaves.  The tan stripes.  The tiny brown blossoms.  and the texture!  

I added a small scrap piece of light brown plaid ribbon to the lower left corner.  I attached the ribbon with a staple, and then added a white vintage button.

The sentiment piece was created with the stamp set and matching dies: Vintage Labels by Amuse Studios.  I stamped the outline in Soft Suede classic ink.  The sentiment is from the Signature Dress Form stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  I added a small piece of paper doily to the bottom portion.  I punched a heart shape from  the 'Save the Date' Ikat by Teresa Collins (winter 2014).  I adhered the heart with foam tape.  I added a button to the center of the heart with a glue dot.  To finish the card, I added a trio of facet cut faux half pearls.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you get a chance to play along with the talented ladies over @ Retro Sketches.

Text Mannequin

I have 'fixed' this card.  A tiny change, but I believe that it makes the card looked 'finished'.  
I have not uploaded the 'new' card to either challenge.
This week is off, to a crafty start {smile}.  It feels good to get time in my craft room.  I have craft deadlines, and so any free time, to create what I want to create, is time well spent.

I am playing along in two of my favorite paper challenges this week: the Shabby Tea Room and Mojo Monday.  The Shabby Tea Room (#180), has a beautiful inspiration photo, along with a few requirements: fabric, flowers, and use the colors in the photo.  Mojo Monday (#307), has a sketch.  Sounds like a match made in heaven, huh?

the Shabby Tea Room challenge #180

use these colors, fabric, and flowers

the Mojo Monday sketch #307

here is what I created:  (original)

'fixed' card (not an additional submission to either challenge)

I used bits and pieces from different companies, and brought them all together.  I started with juniper cardstock by CTMH.  The matt is crumb cake cardstock by Stampin' Up!.  The main pattern paper is Out and About by My Mind's Eye.  The triangle pattern pieces is Grace by Authentique.

I machine stitched the triangle pattern papers to the main panel.  I just love this little touch.  The inside edge was distressed with scissors.  I used a narrow piece of crumb cake cardstock and used a heart border punch to create the decorative edge.  I layered this decorative edge piece under the distressed edge of the triangles.  I cut two 3/4" strips of Life Stories pattern paper by My Mind's Eye.  I added a scrap piece of crochet trim for my third banner piece.  

I added two buttons tied with cream twine from Paper Trey Ink.  The top button is from the vintage button collection by Paper Trey Ink, in aqua mist.  The bottom button is from Amuse Studios in Bermuda.

I did not use a circle for my large shape.  I really didn't like the look of the circle.  So, I changed the shape to a mini top note shape.  I really liked this look better.  I used a tiny blue floral print from Life Stories collection.  

I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink by Stampin' Up!.  The stamp set, is from Paper Trey Ink, and is one of the Signature Series stamp sets.  The dress form.  This set is a treat.  I added a aqua mist button tied with cream twine, just below the sentiment.

I used the dress form die to cut the shape, from basic black cardstock.  I used the die, again to cut the body of the mannequin from text paper.  I used scissors to trim the shape, and adhered it to the black card stock.

I wanted to add some kind of trim to the dress form.  So, I did a random pleat with some Paper Studio crochet trim.  I machine stitched the crochet trim to the dress form, to help secure it.  

I used a thin, 1/4" pear pizzazz taffeta ribbon to create the rolled ribbon rose.  I adhered it to the dress form with my hot glue gun.

I printed a digital spool label, and used a 1" circle punch to cut the shape.  I sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  That way, there wouldn't be a stark white space.  I tucked this spool label just behind the dress form.

I had an aqua blue paper blossom in my stash from a purchase I made almost 2 years ago.  I brushed picket fence distress paint on the petals.  While the paint was still wet, I dunked the painted blossom into my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I used my hot glue gun to adhere this sparkly paper blossom to the bottom of the dress form.

I hope you get a chance to play along with both of these fabulous paper craft challenge sites: the Shabby Tea Room and Mojo Monday. 

Renew Ribbon

Happy Saturday!  Glad that you have stopped by.  This is a special day for a few friends, and a sad day for some other friends.  Let's start with the good news... a dear, and sweet family friend is getting married today.  He is a wonderful guy, who always has a special perspective on life, and a deep devotion to his friends.  And now the sad news... Linda, the owner of Our Creative Corner has had some changes in her life dynamics, and the challenge site is closing.  This challenge over @ OCC will be our last.   

Irena, is our hostess for this one last challenge over @ OCC.  Irena, has given us an inspirational board for this style challenge.   Here is her inspirational board:

And the lovely ladies over @ the Ribbon Reel, have a 'Mix and Match' challenge.  We are to use 2 pattern papers, 1 solid paper, ribbon and twine.  Here is their inspirational photo:

So, I combined the two challenges, and came up with this card:

I used some pattern paper from Authentique pattern paper, called Renew.  The colors are cool, crisp and quite lovely.  I used paper trey ink solid card stock.  The card base is lemon whip and aqua mist.  I used Stampin' Up! pool party seam binding, and pool party bakers twine.  The buttons are from the aqua mist vintage button bag.  I added some random rhinestones to the card front.  I used the signature dress form stamp set and matching die to create the mannequin piece.

I added some machine stitching to the border of the card.  Also I stitched the seam binding to the card, before I added the top note shape.

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us @ OCC, as this is our last challenge.

Enjoy your weekend.  I am off to the store to find the perfect pair of shoes to go with my dress to the wedding.

love this card? you can purchase it here

Delightful Journal

Hello.  Thanks for stopping by.  I altered another blank notebook.  I just loved the pattern paper I used on the last spiral notebook I altered for my granddaughter.  I decided to alter another one, to sell in my Etsy shop.  The pattern paper is from Authentique.  They have created some really beautiful pattern paper this year.  And they have different styles to work with your different tastes.

To help me with my creative flow, I stopped by the Vintage Cafe Card Challenge.  They have the most interesting sketch for this challenge.  So, that is where I got my layout.   (Please note that this challenge site is in Polish.  They do have a translator button.  Please don't let that detour you from their site.)

Here is a look at their sketch:

See what I mean?  I found my self just staring at it, with the 'wheels' in my head turning!  Stop by their challenge site, and get some inspiration to play along too!  Without further delay, here are some photos of my altered notebook, using the above sketch:

 a few close-ups

Here are the particulars:  To give the pattern paper a vintage feel, and take away the white empty space, I stamped a French script in crumb cake classic ink.  Instead of a border trim, I used a piece of 2" white silk ribbon.  Also, to help fill-in the collection of flowers on the sketch, I tied the silk ribbon into a bow.  For my title piece, I stamped 'Bloom * Blossom * Become', from a Paper Trey Ink stamp set: Garden Variety.  In the middle of my altered journal, I have added a sticker: Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful.  The graphics are of a little girl selecting what to wear.  I also added a vintage shoe sticker, and a sticker tag that says, 'beauty'.  To help pull the 'getting dressed-up' theme, I die cut and stamped a mannequin in grey flannel ink.  I had a scrap piece of this absolutely beautiful vintage trim.  So, I made a 'make-shift' skirt out of this beautiful trim.  I added a skinny ribbon in delightful daffodil.  I thought the grey and yellow combo worked so well, and really made the pattern paper pop!  I added a white shimmer button and half faux pearl to it's center.  To make the paper blossom, it is really easy!  Cut your circles in different sizes.  I hand-cut, and punch different size circles.  Crinkle the circles and layer them.  To give the edges some sparkle, I used my 2 way glue pen and dabbed it on the edges and then dunked the paper blossom into my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  (The leaves were made in the same fashion.)  To keep the shabby chic look, I added some tied buttons, and half faux pearls randomly.  I added a resin white architecture piece to the right upper corner, to help give the spiral book cover some visual interest.  I added a long strip of polka dot pink scallop trim ribbon, to be used as a book mark.  That ribbon is attached to the spiral with a white brad.

I hope that you get a chance to play along with the creative ladies over @ the Vintage Cafe Card Challenge.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a great day.