Pretty Pink Christmas Card

Howdy.  Welcome.  and yeah, I'm still crafting for my craft fairs {smile}.  I have been working on several more clear box totes.  But, I took a quick break and created an A2 card with more shabby chic pretty pattern papers from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima.  I also inked a new stamp set that arrived in the mail, yesterday.  

I am entering this card in three card challenge sites:  Brown Sugar Challenge, Word Art Wednesday, and Stampin' Royality.

The first challenge, I am entering is Brown Sugar Challenge .  Their current challenge is Anything Goes.  I am sure that you will be inspired by this creative design team.

The second challenge, I am entering is Word Art Wednesday.  Their current challenge is Anything Goes.  This is a faith based challenge site.  You are not required to use the scripture, but I am sure you will be happy to do so {smile}.

The final challenge, that I am entering is Stampin' Royalty.  The design team uses Stampin' Up! products, but you are not required to.  Their current challenge is All That Glitters - use glitter somewhere on your project.  Easy peasy.  And who doesn't like glitter? {smile}

*my card was selected as one of the 'top picks' for this challenge!  Thank You!

here is what I made:

Recipe:  The card base is made with the Crumb Cake card stock by Stampin' Up!  I just love the heavy weight of their card stock.  And the color is so darn beautiful!

The pattern paper is Sweet Peppermint by Prima.  I just love both os these patterns:  the soft pastel colored polka dots with some random sheet music print.  And the white snowflakes and white polka dots on a mint colored background is so pretty and sweet {smile}.  I added a quick and simple border stitch with my sewing machine to help convey a homespun look.  

I added a rose pink cotton scallop trim and a kraft-dyed seam binding across the bottom third of my card.  I just love the softness of these two colors together {smile}.  I crinkled the seam binding, to help give it a 'worn' look.  I created a multi-loop bow with the crinkled, kraft-dyed seam binding.  

I used a medium snowflake die by Paper Trey Ink and silver glimmer paper (aka glitter paper) by Stampin' Up! to create the snowflake focal piece.  

I made a little tag, for my sentiment.  I used a scrap piece of linen white card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I inked up a new stamp set I received in the mail: Rustic Wreath by Paper Trey Ink.  I inked the stamp set with Baked Brown Sugar classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the soft pale brown ink color.  I tied a scrap piece of pink sequin trim to the tiny tag, with a length of candy pink bakers twine.  

My card is pretty plain, but pretty {smile}!  Thank you for stopping by!  I have finished a few more little wooden houses, so I'll share a few photos soon.  {smile}

Happy Birthday T

Howdy! and welcome.  It was my daughter's birthday yesterday.  So, we spent half the day together {smile].  I got up early, and made her a dozen of ButterBeer Cupcakes.  She is a fan of Harry Potter.  On my way over to her house yesterday morning, I brought her, her favorite drink from Starbucks to start her morning.  Along with some roses and a hand-made Birthday card.  We spent a few hours, yesterday morning sitting at her dining room table chatting, like ol' friends.  It was a very good morning.  Then, I took her to lunch.   

I wanted a little direction on creating her birthday card.  She isn't a 'shabby chic, vintage' kind of girl. She is more clean and simple, with a flair for modern.  

I stopped by the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge site.  Their current sketch, #168, was pretty easy to work with.  {smile}.

here is what I made:

Recipe:  I used one of my favorite kraft card stock for the base.  It's by Paper Studio.  Love the color! I added the last two scrap pieces I have of this beautiful pattern paper.  My daughter loves blue, and the confetti pattern paper looks festive!  I matted the confetti pattern paper onto a scrap piece of Indigo card stock by Stampin' Up!.  

I tied some thin pink ribbon around the card front, in place of the horizontal strip.  I also added a tag in place of the 'notch'.  I hand stamped the tag outline in baked brown sugar and the sentiment in basic black, both classic inks by Stampin' Up!.  and viola!  modern, and clean and simple.  

Yeah, I wanted to add some machine stitching, a button, and some sequins.  But, my daughter loves clean and simple.  And the card is for her.  {smile}  Happy Birthday!  

We are going out to dinner tonight.  My mom is in town, so it will be nice to have the whole family together.  Her birthday present is a bread maker.  She has been asking for one.

Roses and Butterflies: Card

Howdy!  I am still working with my vintage spring pattern papers by Maja Design.  {smile}  This pattern paper I selected today, doesn't have pink or aqua colors in it.  Surprised?  It actually has purples, blues, and yellows in it.  The front side of this pattern paper has a faded calendar with yellow birds and April written in blue.  The other side of this pattern paper is paisley print.  

To help me get a direction on the construction of this card, I stopped by the Crazy 4 Challenges, to get a peek at their sketch.  And boy, am I in love with the sketch!  So many possibilities, and the design team did an awesome job with their inspiration.  {smile}

When I first saw this sketch, the circles look like the flowers, buttons, and pleated rosettes.  The white rectangle at the top looks like the perfect shape for a sentiment banner.  And here is what I made:

I made this card for my sweet daughter.  She loves blue.  It's her favorite color.  So, I was a little nervous about the faded color accents of blue, yellow, and purple.  But, I think she will love it {smile}

Recipe:  I started this card with my favorite kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  I just love the color and texture of this card stock.  I used one piece of pattern paper.  I just used both sides of the paper (not too clever, just resourceful).

My design allows me to showcase all three circles.  The large yellow paper blossom occupies the white circle shape.  And then I used a pair of yellow paper roses with leaves to occupy the small upper circle.  Then I added a multi-loop bow of pale lavender seam binding, and a white resin button to occupy the space of the small circle on the right.

I added a wide cotton trim to the left side of the top panel.  I however must confess that I cut my panel too short.  {grimace}

I machine stitched a double border around the center panel, and distressing to help the card look vintage.  I added some brown ink sponging along all the edges, along with a thread cutter and my finger nail to rough the paper edges.

The blossoms and seam binding were very 'clean'.  So, to help distress, I added some white acrylic paint to the blossom petal tips, and randomly on the top pieces of the seam binding.

I cut leaves with two different hand held punches.  I sponged the edges of the leaves with more brown ink.  I added a white butterfly stick pin I easily purchased 8 years ago at a local scrapbook store.

For the sentiment I stamped the greeting in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  Then I matted the sentiment onto a scrap piece of heather card stock by Amuse Studio.  I adhered the sentiment to the card front, but also added a staple to help add in the overall look.

To add a little sparkle, I added two sets of sequin trios.  Both trios consist of one 6mm marshmallow sequins, and two 4mm lemon meringue sequins, by Pretty Pink Posh.

Thank you for looking at my creation.  I hope you have been inspired to craft a beautiful card using this current sketch, and paper crafting supplies you already have on hand.  {smile}

Unite & Excite

yeah, some machine stitching

Today, Stampin' Up! held a business conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 'Unite & Excite'.  This session was based on the business aspect of stamping.  You know. . . how to build your client base, how to attract more customers, how to recruit hostess's, and so much more.  It was very informative and a great opportunity to network and reconnect with other Stampin' Up! demonstrators.

Anyways, 2 of my downline attending this event with me.  And so, I wanted to make them a little gift to help with note taking, use some of the new products and create something pretty.  So, I took these little narrow (3" x 5 1/2") flip notebooks and decorated/altered them.  I had so much fun decorating/altering theirs, that I also did one for me {smile}.

here is what I crafted:

I used Lullaby DSP for the pattern paper.  The card stocks are Cabana, Curry, and Baked Brown Sugar.  The banner at the top and the banner at the bottom were both created on my lap top and printed on whisper white card stock.  The 'cre ate' piece was hand-stamped in baked brown sugar classic ink.

The top banner is machine stitched to the pattern paper, before I adhered the pattern paper to the solid card stock.  That way, the machine stitching doesn't show on the inside.  Kinda weird, huh?

Thank you for stopping by today.  Hope your weekend is wonderful and that you get to do what makes you happy!  Me, I'm going to clean the house, and then possibly work on another e-book.

Butterflies and Flowers

As this work week comes to an end, I hope you find the energy to play in one more challenge.  The talented Tammy, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, has an unique sketch to push your creativity.

here is what I made:

I used things that I love.  Circles, butterflies, buttons, flowers, and burlap-type ribbon, and a lot of machine stitching.  I do know that not all girls are girly girls, so this card is for them.

The card base is baked brown sugar cardstock.  I used two different pattern papers from the same collection: Etc. dsp.  

The circles are made from soft suede card stock and Etc. dsp.  I used the ruler print.

The butterflies were cut from soft sky cardstock and stamped with en francias inked in crumb cake classic ink.  The centers are different.  I thought it would add a bit more visual interest.  I used the trio blossom punch for two of the floral shapes and the floral fusion die for the 4 petal flower.  The bottom flower and the top button are created with clay and the Buttons and Flowers molds.  The center butterfly has a simple floral shape with a pearl center.

All edges are sponged with crumb cake classic ink.  (all edges: the panels, the butterflies, and the blossoms).

I love adding machine stitching to my cards.  And this card is sporting some stitching {smile}.  I did a simple border around the center panel.  I also did a quick stitch through the strips of burlap ribbon.

The butterflies are adhered to the card front with dimensionals.  The floral centers are adhered to the butterflies with dimensionals

I added a simple sentiment tag.  I really wanted to add a tiny tag, but its retired.  So, I have to move on, and embrace these current products.  I added the simple 'Thanks' to the lower wing of the middle butterfly.

Once the card was complete, I spritz it with some smooch, and a few splatters of crumb cake ink.

Thank you for looking!  Now head to your craft space, and share with us what you create with our sketch over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  

this card is now available for sale in my Etsy shop, here

Gingham

I just wanted to share a card I made this morning.  I used some of the new products in the Stampin' Up! Big Idea & Catalog.  I was surprised when so many wonderful stamp supplies retired.  But, after looking through the new catalog, I know room was created for more wonderful stamping supplies.

I held a class this morning to show some of these new products off, and to give some of my hints and tips.

Here is the card we made:

I just LOVE the new incolors.  They are soft, sweet shades of some of the prettiest colors.  So, that just makes them super easy to work with.  The new stamp set I used is very versatile.  Easy to work with.  And then there are some of my favorites: a wheel, and a gorgeous new button!

I used some of my favorite products that are still current.  I just love the kraft colored cardstock, called Crumb Cake.  The color goes with jsut about everything!  So, I used the cardstock as the card's base and again as a matt for the polka dot embossed piece.  I really wanted to help tie the color in, so I also used the same color in classic ink for the polka dot frame.
Two new in colors that I also used are: Baked Brown Sugar and Crisp Cantaloupe. 
I used two different label-type stamps: four frames and label love and layered them.
The polka dot frame was stamped in crumb cake classic ink.  A large oval was punched from baked brown sugar cardstock, to create the center of the frame.  I stamped the label love in crisp cantaloupe and stamped the same stamp in the baked brown sugar.  I fussy cut the sentiment bar and adhered it to the center of the label with foam tape.
The gingham strip is actually a wheel stamp.  I inked the wheel in baked brown sugar classic ink, and stamped on a strip of very vanilla cardstock.  I used a square punch to create the banner end.
I used my favorite crochet trim across the middle.  I tied one of these new buttons onto the card front with some calypso coral bakers twine. 

Thank you for stopping by!  I am adding two more crafting classes to my calendar.  So, if you are in the Albuquerque area, and are interested, please attend a class!  Stop by tomorrow, to see a list of new classes during the summer.