Pennant Support

Oh my goodness, am I happy that it is Friday!  This has been an extra brutal week at work.  I am close to point of becoming a selfish co-worker.  I am sick and tired of folks taking advantage of my generosity and good natured disposition.  blah, blah, blah.  enough about work. . . 

The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday have another wonderfully executed sketch challenge for you to try this week.  Once again, this week's sketch has alot of potential and room for your personal style to shine!

Here is this week's sketch:

I'm pretty sure that you know by now, that I added my own flair and creative touch to this sketch.

Here is my card for this week:

When I first saw this sketch, the very first thing I thought of was a pennant or banner hanging to create the collection of DSP.  And, I just had to add some seam binding! {smile}.

The card base is basic grey card stock.  I added a panel of baja breeze cardstock.  I inked the En Francias text background stamp with basic grey classic ink.  I did that touch and tap technique to randomly stamp the text image.  

I inked the gossamer lace stamp in versa mark and used white embossing powder to create the small lace doily image.  I heat embossed, and fussy cut the lace doily by hand.  I inked one of my four frames stamp in basic grey classic ink.  

I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to help with the placement of my sentiment.  I tied some seam binding around the card front and tied a simple bow.  I added a faceted designer button to the bow, to help dress it up.

I used the banner piece from the Heart a flutter emboslit to cut the banner pieces.  I strung some white bakers twine through the banner pieces and left the tails.  I added a trio of rhinestones to the bottom right corner, to add some bling.

I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what you create!

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

NAC #3

I can't believe this month is half over.  Time is just flying by!  But, we have a great creative sketch for you to try over @ the Nacho Average challenge blog site.

This week, it is a sketch:

I used some of the new products from Stampin' Up! to create a card using this sketch:

I used some of the new DSP that is featured in the new Big Idea & Catalog.  And, as usual, I used seam binding.  I'm a huge fan of this ribbon!

Please stop by the rest of the design teams blogs and see how they used the sketch.

Anne Hayward - Stamping with Blue Moon Creations

Jenni Hogan - Stampin in the Son

Leilani McGranahan - Lani Stamps

Rose Alexa - RMA Stamps 4 U

Sharon Wheet - Designs by Sharon (here)

Tammy Fite - Stamp with Tammy

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us @ the Nacho Average Challenge blog!

Love Blog Candy

Howdy All!  I posted a project last week, and gave everyone  an opportunity to win some blog candy.   The original post can be found HERE.  I used a specific stamp set on an altered notebook that I made for a friend, who is traveling to France next month.  Here is a photo of that stamped sentiment:

To be eligible for the blog candy, you needed to tell me the name of the stamp set and who made it.  And Babe O'Mara, is the winner.  The stamp set was created by Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday, and the stamp name is Favorite Memories.  And here is what I have placed in the mail for Babe:

The card is a sweet, little size of 3" x 3" square.  There are 5 feet total of seam binding on the left.  Two feet of: baja breeze and very vanilla seam binding, and one foot of tea stained seam binding.  There are 7 feet total of ribbon on the right.  Two feet of:  pink pirouette taffeta ribbon, cream swiss dot ribbon and light blue ribbon, and one foot pear pizzaz pleated ribbon.
Hope all of you have a chance to craft something this week!

French 'Thank You'

On this Wednesday, I think I have found my vintage soul.  I love the look of shabby chic things, but I don't think I have the skills to really show case this style.  Even tho I try!  But, practice makes perfect, they say.  And so, I have been practicing.  I spent some valuable time in my crafting room, playing.

The lovely ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have been hard at work, to create some beautiful cards, to help inspire you.  So, let's take a look at this week's sketch:

When I saw this sketch,  I saw: open space to create, embellish, or let a pretty piece of pattern paper take the center stage.  The diamond at the top, is a wonderful shape to add my sentiment or just 'pretty' it up.  And the bow is always a welcome sight!  I think I can create something just lovely.  

So, here is what I did:

I'm actually very happy with how my card turned out.  The pattern paper is Twitterpated DSP.  Yes, both pieces.  The subtle blue pattern on the card base, and the gray floral on the main panel.   I used Basic Gray card stock as my base.  I love the soft, smokey look of this card stock.  

I matted the floral piece on top of a Baja Breeze card stock.  The decorative label is from the Four Frames stamp set.  I stamped this polka dot frame in Cherry Cobbler classic ink.  The sentiment, is stamped in Basic Gray classic ink, onto a piece of very vanilla card stock, and then punched with an oval punch.  The Merci is a stamp, from the french version of Rue Des Fleurs: Grenier Victorien.  And yes, I own this stamp set in English and French.

The banner strip is cut from Baja Breeze card stock.  I made (another) multi-loop bow, and attached the bow to the banner piece with an Antique Brad.

Now, to get the worn, vintage look of this card, I distressed all the edges.  I used a thread cutter to wear the edges of the card stock.  I sponged all those edges with Crumb Cake classic ink and then Baja Breeze classic ink.  I then took a blank red rubber stamp and added some tea stain to various portions.  I had a small piece (2" x 2") of First Edition DSP.  So, I added pieces of my scrap piece to the holes made by my thread cutter.   For the top corner piece, I curled the edge with a stylus.

For the ribbon, I took the edge of my scissors and ran it under the seam binding ends, to help fray them.

Thank you for looking.  I hope you have an opportunity to play along with us @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  

Note: I'm not French, but I do purchase some of my stamp sets in the French language version.  I just love the look of a foreign language on some of my cards.  I think it helps give them a romantic and 'worldly' look.

from my heart

I love, (really) a select few particular challenge blogs.  So much so, I have a habit of submitting a card to them, as often as I can.  And this week, is no different.  The Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge and CR84FN Color Challenge have gone hand in hand again this week.  What can I say.  I have a weakness for creative sites.  

So, here are the two challenges:

Can't you see how I would enjoy combining these two challenges?  Don't they speak to you?  They did, to me.  For the sketch challenge, I did turn the sketch on its side.  I used all current Stampin' Up! products.  I used Real Red, Pink Pirouette, and Baja Breeze cardstocks.  

Here is my card:

The card base is crumb cake.  The pattern paper is Everyday Enchantment DSP.  The stamp set is P.S. I Love You.  The scallop circle is a die cut from the perfect pennant die.  The heart is from an embosslit.  Not only does this little embosslit cut the scallops around the heart-shape, it also embosses the polka-dots.  The button is from the Neutrals buttons and the brad in the center of the button is from the vintage brad collection.  The ribbon, is actually seam binding.  Baja Breeze. 
I think this card has alot wow factor, and pretty embellishments. 
Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate the company.  Please take time and play along in any St. Valentine's Day challenge, that helps showcase your talents.  If nothing else, it gives you an excuse to create something lovely for someone who holds a special place in your heart.

Blue Christmas #93

Happy Monday.  I know for a few of us, this is a crazy Christmas shopping day.  But, I wanted to take a break, and share a card with you.  If you are one of the few folks who receive a hand-made Christmas card from us, this is the card you have received in the mail.  

I purchased this paper several years ago; probably 4-5 yrs ago, when this company, Scenic Route, was experiencing some financial difficulties.  The store in which I purchased it, only had 10 sheets left.  well, I bought them all.  And yes, I have been hoarding them, until I found the perfect project.  Well, this is the year!  

But, I needed some guidance, so I went over to Sasya Sketches for a look see.  Well, they have a few days left on their card sketch challenge, so here it is:

This sketch was easy to work with, and you could potentially make a variety of cards for different occasions.  So, why not our annual Christmas card? and here it is:

I wanted my card to look 'vintage' without too much work.  Not that I'm lazy.  I just need to make 40 of them.  So, you see, I didn't want to distress or work on a hundred little pieces.  Plus, I needed them to be relatively flat.  They need to be mailed.  I didn't want to spend $2.25 on postage for each card.  Not that I'm cheap.  I just need to mail 40 of them.

I wanted our Christmas card to have a 'cozy' feel to it.  So, that is how this gorgeous snowflake pattern paper came about.  I added one of my all time favorite crochet trims to the card.  Along with one of my multi-loop bows made from seam binding and a button brad.  Along with my all time favorite vintage tags, which has a snow flake heat embossed on it.   I just had to tie a button and tag onto the crochet trim.

To give my card a bit of sparkle, I did add a rhinestone jewels to the center of the printed snowflakes.  No shimmer mist on this card.

I used products from three companies: Stampin' Up!, Scenic Route, and Paper Trey Ink.  Not too bad, if I say for myself!  I did want to add some hand-painted jingle bells to the cards.  But, they would have driven the price of postage through the preverbal roof.  So, if your Christmas card is hand-delivered, look for those hand-pained jingle bells.

Happy Holidays!  Check back periodically this week, as the design teams are still busy, and I'll also be posting some photos of hand-made Christmas gifts.