Provence-Style Rose

Howdy!  Hope this post finds you well, and enjoying your weekend.  Me, busy as a bee.  But, what's new.  I always wait patiently for the summer, because I tell myself, 'life will slow down, and I can catch my breathe.'  And we all know that is so far from the truth.  No one's life 'slows down' during the summer.  Actually, it is quite opposite.  We are all in a rush to get in some vacation time, and attend as many cook outs as possible.  {smile}

I did however, take some time for myself this morning to create a card for a challenge or two.  (ok, 3) So, here we go!  I stopped by the creative challenge site: Crazy 4 Challenges.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  Awesome!

I turned the sketch 90 degrees to the left

My next stop, was the beautiful challenge site:  Scrap Magic.  They always have great inspiration boards.  Their current challenge is to craft in Provence Style.  {I'm going to try it}

And last, I stopped by the Brown Sugar Challenge site.  Their current challenge is - Anything Goes.

here is what I crafted:

Recipe:  I used kraft card stock for the base of the card.  I love the rustic look of this paper.  I used two different pattern papers, and both are years old.  (sorry, I'm trying to use what I have on hand.)

The main panel is a Valentine's day theme paper from My Minds Eye.  It has that weathered look to it.  The blossoms are done in a faint reddish purple color.  I used the edge of my scissors to distress the edges.  I then swiped some white canvas ink over the edges.  And finally, I added some machine stitching.  

The grayish polka dot pattern paper is from a Christmas collection.  (my scrap piece no longer had the manufacture name on it.  If I had to guess, I'd say another My Minds Eye pattern paper.  I matted that piece with a scrap piece of kraft card stock.  A little more machine stitching.

The cotton-rhinestone piece is actually from Prima.  And probably 6/+ years old.  I still have 5 of these left, in a cream, a brown, and this beautiful rose color.  [I know this sounds like I'm a hoarder, but, really just a collector.]  I painted a wooden button with white acrylic paint, and dunked it into a tub of glitter.  Once the paint was dry, I took a small piece of sand paper to the button, to rough it up a bit.  I tied the button to the card front with kraft twine, from Paper Trey Ink.  I tied a double bow between the card and button.

I added a scrap piece of cotton trim just above the cotton-rhinestone piece.  I felt that the card needed another layer of fabric.  

My sentiment piece is hand-stamped and machine cut.  I used a coordinating stamp and die set from Amuse Studios for that piece.  [Vintage Labels is the die & stamp set]  I stamped the outline, and sentiment with basic grey classic ink, by Stampin' Up!  The Hand Scripted sentiment stamp set comes with various words to mix and match.  The card stock I used for the sentiment piece, is actually the back side of the weathered blossom pattern paper I used for the main panel.  The grey streaking is a distressed look for the paper.

I added a white resin piece from Melissa Frances.  I thought the basket of blossoms was a perfect fit for this card.  I used a retired Pale Plum marker, by Stampin' Up! to color two blossoms and the bow. I thought this color of purple matched the cards overall look perfectly!  And finally, I added a trio of pearl halves.  {smile}

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that I have inspired you to create something beautiful or simply to play along in any or all of these challenge sites!

Foot Loose, Noted

Welcome.  I'm still crafting with supplies I have on hand.  While I was looking through my scrap box, in the search of pattern papers to use in my altered, decorated tins, I found these beautiful aqua blue pattern papers.  I need at least one scrap strip 1" x 12", for my tins.  These beautiful aqua pattern paper scraps weren't the length that I was looking for.  But they are beautiful!  So, I looked through other my other supplies, and I found a mini composition notebook that I could alter and decorate. {score!}
So, I am entering my little notebook in two current challenges:  Brown Sugar Challenge and Crafts 4 Eternity.  Both of these challenge sites, have an anything goes challenge going on.  For great inspiration, and some very clever crafting, PLEASE stop by both of these challenge sites.  You WILL be inspired!

I used some 'old' Authentique pattern papers.  The inside of the notebook is lined with the aqua and black polka dot pattern paper, that I used on the inside of the pen barrel.

I kept the cover of this notebook fairly flat, because these little gems are a favorite to add to a handbag or back pack.  And yeah, I added machine stitching!

Lately, I have been obsessed with cotton trim along one side, or to help 'hide' a seam.  The focal panel on the front of this little notebook, is actually a journalling block.  I trimmed it down to be better proportioned to the cover, and to fit inside the machine stitching.  I really loved the splashes of yellow throughout this pattern paper collection.  So, I made sure I added yellow accents: fabric floral trim, and papaya satin ribbon (by Amuse Studios).

Thank you for looking.  I'm still crafting! {smile}