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.

more pages . . .

~ photo heavy post ~

A few more pages of the latest mini album I created.  Just a heads up, some text has been added to the photos to keep this write up short.  Also, I will be 'teaching' this mini album at a private craft retreat this Saturday.  I am really looking forward to this class.  I'm pretty excited and I sure do hope the ladies are too!  {smile}
So, we turn the page, and we are on page two.  Yep, the other side of the page with the glassine envelope.  Not so much interaction, but very pretty.

I made a simple pocket page here.  I didn't add a tag, so you can add your own memorabilia, or photo(s), or whatever {smile}.  Now for the first flip flop page.  Pull the pink journalling square on page three, and . . .

A journalling side bar is right/write at your fingertips.  There is a faux pocket to hold these two paper pieces: a journalling tag and a coin envelope.  But, you can simply tuck a photo in behind these two paper pieces.  The coin envelope was fussy cut and a small journalling block in tucked inside.   Yeah, linen thread is used to hold the envelope closed. (pretty sweet)

So, the 'flip' part is the opening of the little flap.  Now, here comes the 'flap' portion:  pull the floral pattern page up and viola!

You now have two large spaces to hold photos, private notes, or anything flat that can be tucked into the photo corners.  Pretty cool, huh?
We turn the page, to reveal the center of the mini album.  And this is where the long photo spread is housed.

A photo corner is added to each page to hold photos or any flat memorabilia.  Now, open these two pages and reveal . . .

I added photo corners in a way, that either two large photos can be displayed or four smaller photos can tell a story {smile}  Fold these pages back in, and turn the page. . . .

As you can see, another flip flap page {smile}.  I just love the movement.  This page works the same as the earlier one, but opposite.

Open the flap with the journalling tag on it, to reveal another faux pocket.  I hand-stamped the 'LOVE THIS' on the side bar journal spot.  I also hand-stamped 'Love' on the page divider (above the INSPIRED label).
Ok, we will take a break here.  {smile}  I will post the rest of the mini album in a few days, most likely Thursday.  But Friday the latest.  I hope you are enjoying this little peak at my latest creation.

Black and Tan

First let me thank all of those who have sent warm wishes to a speedy recovery. Thank you! your thoughtfulness has really touched my heart {smile}.  

I did get a chance to finish my card for uhm, last week's color challenge over @ Nacho Average Challenge.   Basic Black, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede.

If nothing else, that mishap in my life has really made me thankful for what I have: family, friends, and a desire to get back on my feet, as well as a well stocked craft room.  So, without further ado, here is last weeks card.  My apologizes for the tardiness.

I finished my card yesterday.  But, I can't get my photoshop program to open, so I can't add a water mark.  So, this image is 'naked'. heehee.

I hope everyone has been inspired by the super talented team @ NAC.

And on another note, my Etsy shop is now open!  I have added several clear mount and wood mount stamp sets!  If ordering between 11/24 and 12/24, and you purchase $25/+ in products, use coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY, to receive free shipping!

Thinking of You

Happy Friday!  It's time again for another blog hop from Sketch Frenzy Friday.  The wonderful Deb C. has provided us with a this week's sketch: 

Deb has provided us with a very user-friendly sketch.  There is a lot of different possibilities to create something special, unique, and pretty.  Here is what I did with this sketch:

I wanted to make something pink and something vintage.  So, here it is!  I used crumb cake card stock as the base.  I added a panel of pink pirouette card stock under the First Edition DSP panel.  I stamped on the text paper.  I stamped a flourish in crumb cake classic ink.  Along with a splatter mark in pink pirouette classic ink.  I stamped the pen top in various lengths in basic black classic ink.  I wanted the text paper to be 'dressed-up' and a bit classy.

I stamped the typewriter in basic black onto a piece of very vanilla card stock.  I stamped the splatter in pink pirouette classic ink along two of the edges.  I also sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  The blossom was made from a retired emosslit: Birds & Blooms.  I crumpled the blossom and stacked them off-set.  For the center of the blossom, I added the small vintage faceted button tied with linen thread into a bow.

For the sentiment, I used a retired stamp set: Bird on a Branch.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink and sponged the edges (again) with crumb cake classic ink.  I used a square punch to create the banner ends.  I used a row of dimensions to pop the sentiment banner off the card front.  

Finally, I gave the whole card a sprtiz of vanilla smooch.

Now, head on over to Tammy F.'s blog to see what she has created with this fabulous sketch.  And don't forget to visit the blogs of the other design team members.  I'm sure that you will be inspired to play along with us @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.

Frame Nature

This week is really rolling by.  One of things I really love about being on a design team, is the challenges. Challenges as in working with creative sketches, limiting what you use, or color combinations.  And, sometimes I even challenge myself.  This week, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, the talented Patrice has given us a great sketch.  But, I also wanted to see what I could do with minimal supplies.  FYI, not using half the stuff in my craft room, is 'minimal supplies'. {smile}

Here is Patrice sketch:

At first, I was considering using a butterfly instead of a flower.  You know, something different and interesting.  But, I just couldn't get it to work.  Oh well.  As for the matted center square, I was having a problem getting that to work, too.  I was having a bit of a struggle.  

So, I started with the paper.  I wanted to use a paper I haven't really used, in that, I still have all the paper. I love the black/cream color combination, so I selected Timeless Portrait.  The graphics in this collection of DSP, is really pretty.  So, I selected a large and a small print.  Then, I looked through my stamps to see if I have something that 'matches' the graphics in the Timeless Portrait DSP.  I grabbed the Frame It stamp set, and loved how this frame looked with the paper.  Now, I needed a sentiment.  I love the font in the You're Cherished stamp set.  But, I still had the problem with the object at the top right corner.  And what would I put inside the frame?

Well, I made my own flower sprig.  Which I just love how it looks.  Looking through my stamp sets, I came across Nature Walk, and saw the butterfly image.  I have a weakness for butterflies and birds, and they do make me happy.  So, I stamped the butterfly inside the frame.  I'm pretty happy with how this card turned out.  Take a look, and let me know what you think.

Continue on with this blog hop, and see what Tammy F. has created, using the same sketch.  Take care.