Shabby Spring

I am happy to say, that I have found a new spark to help me create.  Nothing actually 'new', just maybe some rest, and a few walks to clear my head.  {smile}  I think, it's just a change of focus, and a chance to let my mind rest.  

As usual, the super talented ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room have a great inspiration board, as well as some wonderful eye candy to help get you inspired. They ask that you include the colors in the photo, and include flowers, lace and ribbon.

Here is their board:

here is what I made:

I used quite a few different products for this card.  But when I was creating, that was my focus, no limits, just add what I like.

I started with Sahara Sand cardstock by Stampin' Up!  They make some of the very best card stock out there.  It's a heavy weight to withstand front loaded cards, but it also is very workable (my old olive cardstock leaves).  I used a piece of Blushing Bride card stock (also Stampin' Up!) as the matt for the main panel.  I wanted to add some floral pattern paper.  But I couldn't find just the right paper.  So, I used a digital image:  Ledger Paper found here.   And while shopping, I found these wonderful Dream Tags, here.  I cut out one and matted it onto a scrap piece of Old Olive cardstock, by Stampin' Up!  I added a scrap piece of a cream ribbon.  I threaded my tiny clothes pin through.  I added a tiny tag that is stamped in crumb cake classic ink, using the tiny tags stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I distressed a cardboard heart and added a vintage button by Paper Trey Ink.  And finally, for the other panel I used some beautifully shabby 'label's: Pink Sugar tags, found here.  I matted the label onto a scrap piece of pool party card stock, by Stampin' Up!

The inspiration photo has a Ball jar, and so I just HAD to add a jar!  I decided to hand-stamp my jar, using the Friendship Jar stamp set, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the outline of the jar in soft suede classic ink onto very vanilla card stock, both products by Stampin' Up!.  I then stamped the polka dots in pool party classic ink.  For the jar lid, that was a bit of stamping and fussy cutting.  I stamped the lid cover onto a scrap piece of Grace pattern paper, by Authentique and fussy cut it out.  I then stamped the covered lid onto a scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut the 'ribbon' out.  I stamped the tag in soft suede classic ink, onto another piece of very vanilla cardstock and fussy cut it out.  And stamped the 'bow' onto another scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut it out.  I added adhesive and layered them.  I think of the cutting as therapy.  You can't think about the dishes, or laundry, or bills, or any other chore.  Just cutting.  Therapy.

I love the sound of a sewing machine.  Very soothing.  Well, to me.  I had a left over piece of some lace trim, that I had tea stained earlier.  The top edge is raw, so I used my sewing machine to attach the piece to the card front.  I just love the color of this seam binding, found here.  So I machine stitched that to the front, too!  I created a multi-loop bow.  I distressed a Bermuda button, by Amuse Studios, with some picket fence distress paint, by Ranger and some dazzling diamond glitter, by Stampin' Up!  I used some cream twine by Paper Trey Ink, to secure the button to the bow.  I also wanted to add a paper blossom.  So, I took a blossom from my Artisan Embellishment Kit, by Stampin' Up! and distressed it, just like the button.  I created leaves with old olive card stock and the build a blossom punch, both by Stampin' Up!
To create my sentiment banner, I used the Something to Celebrate stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock, then used a square punch to create the flag ends, all from Stampin' Up!
Finally, I gave the whole card a spritz of my home-made white frost glitter mist. What girl doesn't like a little sparkle, shimmer, and shine?  {smile}

Thank you for taking time to take a look.  I hope you have been inspired while visiting.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend, and I hope you stop by again.  {smile}

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

Frames

Oh, where do I begin?  The start of a crazy busy weekend, filled with paper, crafting time, good friends, laughs, snacks, and no chores!  Yahoo!  A dream come true, you ask?  Nope.  Just the Hen House Retreat!  

But, before I place my bags in the car, and load my craft projects, lets look at the challenge over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Robbie, is the designer of this week's sketch.  She is very talented, and really provides you with the elements you need to create a fantastic card, and gives you some freedom to make it your own and beautiful!  Here is Robbie's sketch:

here is what I did:

Let me start with the elements of Robbie's sketch.  She has provided us with 2 basic elements.  An object at the upper left corner and a band along the lower third.  Simple elements.  Alot of room for creativity, personal touches, and tons/little of embellishments.

And I'm sorry if I'm boring you with my color combo.  I have an infinity for pink.  I tried to keep the whole look simple.  Ok, simple for me.  I also have an infinity for polka dots, so that was the pattern that I repeated.  Polka dots embossed on the main panel of cardstock.  Polka dots in the frame.  And polka dots bordering the oval 'frame'.  I used pink pirouette and crumb cake classic inks to distress the edges of the cardstock pieces.  

The butterfly was die cut from the silver glitter paper.  The paper blossom is from the Artisan Embellishment kit.  

I wrapped some crochet trim and crumb cake seam binding around the card front.  I did some machine stitching around the card and along the trims.  I tied the seam binding into a multi-loop bow and tied a clear button to the center with linen thread.  I wanted to add some sparkle in the lower right corner, so I added a lone rhinestone.

I hope you get a chance to play along with us @ SFF.  Show us what you create with Robbie's sketch!

NAC #40

Welcome.  I hope your week is off to a good start.  Mine, light speed.  But then again, what's new?  This is a short week at work for me.  If you live in or near Albuquerque, then you know that the Hen House Stamp retreat is this weekend.  And what does that mean?  Well, if you're a paper crafter (like me) than you are welcome to spend the weekend with others with the same passion.  A whole weekend of uninterrupted time to paper craft.  Nirvana.

But, before I head out the door with a purpose, lets play along with the lovely and talented ladies @ Nacho Average Challenge.  This week, there is a color challenge.  And they are beautiful colors!

If you are a frequent visitor/follower, you know that these colors speak volumes to me.  I love soft, pretty colors.  And these colors scream feminine.  Let's inspire you!

Once I saw the color challenge, I instantly knew what I was going to do!  Use the perfect plum for a blossom.  Use the lucky limeade for folage.  Use the pool party for butterflies, and to ground the whole card add some crumb cake and first edition dsp.  Let's face it.  In my book, Pool Party is only second to Pink Pirouette, for me.  I also knew that I wanted to add some of that gorgeous floral lace trim from the Artisan Emellishment kit.  Add a little machine sewing, to help add charm.  If I could figure out where to add some pearls, you know you would see some.  But, I really couldn't get them to work.  I also really, really wanted to add a bow.   But the card doesn't have a bow or pearls.

Here is what I did.  

I cut twelve 1 1/4" squares of very vanilla card stock.  I placed them in the vintage wallpaper embossing folder, to give this neutral card stock some texture and a feminine feel.  I sponged crumb cake classic ink on all four sides of each square.  

I cut a piece of crumb cake card stock to 4" x 5 1/4".  I then adhered the sponged very vanilla embossed squares to the crumb cake cardstock.  This gave me my crumb cake fix!

I cut a strip of the floral lace trim to go across the card front.  I wrapped a piece of pool party seam binding.  I didn't crinkle the seam binding.  I felt that if I crinkled the seam binding, it would give this card a 'sloppy' look.  I wanted to keep the look clean, soft, and spring-y!  

Then, I added some machine stitching.  I first machine stitched the seam binding and lace.  Then, I started machine stitching the whole parameter of the card, roughly a 1/4" from the edge.  

Now, it's time to build the blossom, that will be the focal point of this card.  This blossom was built with three whole blossoms that were stamped, heat embossed, color washed, punched, cut, bent, stacked, glittered, distressed, and sponged.  Whew.  I used the same floral stamp to stamp on the first edition dsp, and used the build a blossom punch to punch the leaf shapes.  And of course, I distressed the edges of the leaves with crumb cake classic ink.

The butterflies were equally as much fun to create.  I used the kindness matters stamp set.  I stamped the butterflies in jet black staz-on ink, onto white shimmer cardstock.  I color washed the butterflies with pool party re-inker.  I used my detail scissors to fussy cut them out.  Then I sponged perfect plum classic ink on the forward wing tips, sponged pool party classic ink on the back wing tips, and then used a tiny paint brush to add some lucky limeade to the center of the butterflies bodies.  I outlined each butterfly with my 2-way glue pen and then dunked each butterfly into my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I used foam tape to adhere the butterflies to the card front.

I hope you have been inspired to create a paper craft item for our color challenge over @ NAC {smile}.

 

With Sympathy

Happy Friday.  I hope this post finds you well and motivated to create!  

The wonderfully talented Patrice has a fun and creative sketch for you to try over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.

Here is her sketch:

Here is what I did with this sketch:

When I first saw the sketch, I had several ideas about the trio of partial ovals along one side.  I was thinking, buttons, flowers, hearts, . . .  you get the idea.  Then I was thinking of adding eyelets and lacing ribbon through.  But, I couldn't get the idea/theme to move forward.  So, I scrubbed that whole thought process.  Then it hit me, what about butterflies cascading. 

For the cascading butterflies, I applied by 2way glue pen to the edges of each butterfly, and then dunked them in my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I added tiny pearls to the bodies of the butterflies.

For the large circular object, I went with a doily from the Artisan embellishment kit.  But it looked a bit flat, so I stamped a flower on the doily.  I stamped the flower image from Oh Hello stamp set, in soft suede classic ink.  I thought that shade of brown paired very nicely with the pool party shade of blue.

I wanted to add some pretty embellishments, so I added a metal button from the Artisan embellishment kit.  But, I couldn't decide if bakers twine or ribbon or linen thread threaded through the thread holes.  So, I added a pearl to help soften the whole look.  

I machine stitched a strip of soft suede taffeta ribbon to the front of the card.  I threaded the tails of the taffeta ribbon through the thread holes of the vintage faceted button.  I tied the ribbon into a simple bow.  

I stamped the sentiment in soft suede classic ink along the bottom of my card.  I used a sentiment from the Loving Thoughts stamp set. 

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with us @ SFF.

love this card? you can purchase it here, @ my Etsy shop.

Notes Measured

Happy Friday!  I hope you have had a chance to get work settled, and have an opportunity to play along with some of your favorite challenges.  The wonderfully creative Maria, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, has a lovely sketch for you to work with.  Here is her sketch:

Here is what I did:

I wanted to create a card with some pretty spring-themed colors.  It's been snowing here, and all I see is white, green, and brown.  So, I decided to work with some Stampin' Up! soft subtle colors.

The card base is So Saffron card stock.  I first stamped the large doily (Hello, Doily!) in VersaMark and used some white embossing powder.  I heat embossed the doily partially off set.  I stamped the outline stamp in so saffron classic ink randomly on the card front.  

I used the Music Notes wheel and Basic Grey classic ink, to create the music sheet.  I used the Measure Stick wheel and whisper white craft ink and white embossing powder to create the measuring tape.  I layered these two pieces.  I used some Pink Pirouette re-inker to dye the very vanilla seam binding.  While it was wet, I crinkled it.  I hurried the drying time, with my heat gun.  I laid the dyed seam binding across the two stamped pieces, and then machine stitched along the seam binding.  

I used the scallop heart stamp and basic grey classic ink, to create the heart piece.  I used the matching die to cut the scallop heart out of whisper white card stock.  I used the small heart die, from the same set, to cut the so saffron heart.  I used dimensionals to lift the yellow heart off the front of the scallop heart.  I added some pearls around the border.  I stamped the banner piece in basic grey classic ink, and then hand-cut the banner,  I adhered the banner with a dimensional, to lift it off the hearts. 

I dyed a longer piece of very vanilla seam binding, and created a multi-loop bow.  I tied the bow with some white bakers twine and added a button from the Artisan Embellishment kit.  I tied the bakers twine into a bow, and glued a pearl to the center of the bow.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.

Texture and Hearts

This is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love to see all the new Valentine's Day themed products out.  The hearts, the glitter, the sweet sentiments, and all the girl-y touches.  It just makes my heart happy {smile}.  

So, when I saw the new color challenge from Nacho Average Challenge, I knew I wanted to make a Valentine's Day card.  

Here are this weeks colors:

Here is what I did:

Stampin' Up! has come out with some new and wonderful products, and I  have used some of them.  The card base is pool party cardstock.  I just love this shade of blue.  It's soft, has a bit of green in it, and just so pretty!  I then added a matt made from the new Core'dinations cardstock in pool party.  This new texture paper has a white core, so when you sand it, the white core is revealed, and gives such a pretty contrast.  I used some of the new Designer Series Paper (pattern paper), too!  This collection is called More Amore DSP.  I just love the colors and the patterns.  I matted the tiny heart paper onto some real red cardstock.  Then I layered some of this beautiful double heart paper onto some primrose petal card stock.  I added an embossed heart, made with real red cardstock and the Fashionable Hearts embosslit.  The banner piece I made myself.  I cut a piece of very vanilla cardstock to 1/2" width, and stamped my sentiment in basic grey classic ink.  I used a square punch to flag the end.  Matted this sentiment piece onto some primrose petal card stock.  Then I layered a pool party decorative button from the Artisan Embellishment kit.  I used some plain white bakers twine to tie the bow through the button.  I wanted to add a feminine touch, so I added some of the pearl jewels to opposite corners.

This card was quick and easy to put together.  Stampin' Up! makes it simple.  There is a color chart with each pattern paper collection (DSP) that lets you know which colors of solid cardstock will cordinate with each collection.  All you need to do, is add your own personal style {smile}.

Please join us this week @ Nacho Average Challenge.  As we would love to see what you create with this week's color challenge!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

Shabby Love

I have to admit that I am happy it's Friday.  I have this weekend off and I am looking forward to relaxing, doing some baking, and spending time with family.  But, if it's Friday, that means its time for another great sketch from the Sketch Frenzy Friday crew.   Deb, is the creator of this weeks sketch:

The sketch looks pretty straight forward and unassuming.  But, it also has LOTS of potential!  The banner piece alone could be your focus and embellish it pretty.  Or, you can  use the large center panel as your canvas to create your own background pattern, or showcase a large/background stamp.  

here is what I did:

When I first say the sketch, I knew what I wanted to do.  I used two of my favorite colors of cardstock for this card; Pool Party, and Crumb Cake.  I received a few new goodies from Stampin' Up! recently and well, I just had to play with them.  The black lace doily stamp is Gossamer Lace stamp, found in the large catalog.  I stamped the doily in basic black ink onto very vanilla cardstock.  I used detail scissors to cut out the doily.  The banner piece is from a new stamp set: Hearts a Flutter.  I stamped the banner in pool party classic ink onto very vanilla card stock and used the Hearts a Flutter embosslit to die cut the image.  The scallop trim heart piece is from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set, also.  I stamped the scallop heart in soft suede classic ink onto very vanilla card stock and die cut the image.  The floral lace trim, I folded in half and machine stitched it across the embellishment stack.  I added two flowers from the Flower Trim, and a button from the Artisan Embellishment kit, to the top-center of the scallop heart.  I tied the button on with linen thread and made a tiny bow.  I added a little tag made with the Lovely Little Labels stamp set.  LOVE, is stamped in basic black classic ink on very vanilla cardstock and sponged the edges with soft suede classic ink. 

For the main panel of the card, I used pool party card stock.  I used the Lacy Brocade embossing folder to give this large space some texture and visual interest.  I sponged pool party classic ink along the edges.  I used a sanding block to rough up the center and then also randomly sponged some whisper white craft ink.  

I used my liquid white glue to 'draw' my flourish in the lower right corner.  Then I added some faux half-pearls.

Thank you for looking.  I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what this sketch allows you to create!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

(love this card? you can purchase it, here)

Pretty in Blue

Whew, it has already been a rough week at work, and it's only Tuesday!?  The wonderful ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have a great color challenge for you to try this week.  Here are the colors:

here is how I put the colors together:

For the card base, I used Island Indigo cardstock.  I wanted the darker color to be the base of this pretty color combo.  I used some of the new DSP paper for the main panel; Tea for Two DSP.  Its a text paper (my favorite!), except there are some colored texts.  How pretty is that?  I used some Marina Mist DSP polka dot paper and the top note die to create the decorative piece on the left side of my card.  I added a doily and blossoms from very vanilla cardstock.  I used Lucky Limeade cardstock for  the leaves.  I added a rhinestone center.  That gorgeous floral lace trim is actually a new product from Stampin' Up!, too.  You can get this in the Artisan Embellishment kit, along with three other fabulous trims.  I used Lucky Limeade ruffle ribbon to tie the whole card together {smile}.  

I hope you get a chance to play along with us over @ NAC this week.  We would love to see what you create, and we hope we have inspired you!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

Vintage Artisan

Aww, it's Friday!  I have been super busy over the holidays, and so I missed last week's challenge over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, among other challenges.  Unfortunetely, I couldn't find time to craft.

I am this week's 'creator' of the sketch for the sketch challenge over @ SFF.  I hope you like this sketch.  I wanted to give you something different and something fun!  Enjoy! 

Here is this week's sketch:

Here is what I created:

I used all Stampin' Up! products to create this card.  I am sharing a sneak peak of some new products that will be available next month.  I started with crumb cake card stock as the card base.  The first layer is Pink Pirouette card stock.  I added a pieced  of Tea for Two DSP for the main panel.  I added a 'new' paper doily.  (I have to admit, I just LOVE these new products!)  The square piece is very vanilla card stock matted with pink pirouette card stock.  The stamp is available during Sale-A-Bration next month as well, in a set called Vintage Verses.  The stamp is done is basic black classic ink.  The paper flower and 'LOVE' ticket are available in the Artisan Embellishment kit.  I used a retired punch to create the leaves.  I used whisper white craft ink to distress the edges of the leaves.  I wanted to add some pearls, so I took my liquid white glue and made a thin line to create a curve, and applied the pearls.  I tied some pink pirouette taffeta ribbon around the bottom third of the card.  And viola! 

I hope that you get an opportunity to play along with us this week.  The new year will be celebrated in a few days, so please carve out a bit of time to play along with us @ SFF.

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.