Pastel Christmas Greetings

Howdy, and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I've been a bit busy completing some special orders, and other everyday chores that all of us have {frown}.  But, I did have a chance to create something (I think) is sweet, and pretty {smile}.

I am entering my creation into two challenges:  Merry Monday Challenge  and  The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge .  

The Merry Monday Challenge, is a Christmas card challenge site, all year long!  How sweet is that?  Their current challenge is to use pastel colors.  And they have an inspirational photo to help get the creative juices flowing.

I just love the vintage ornaments that create the wreath! so pretty!

My next stop is the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge.  Their current challenge is anything Christmas.  This provides you with the ability to just create.  And so I did!

and here is what I created:

My 'card' is a packaged gift card holder.  That might sound a bit confusing, but it really only takes a few seconds to explain.  You know those packaged gift cards you purchase at the grocery store, or the 'always open' pharmacies?  Well, that's what fits inside!  Now, you don't have to rip open the packaging to get to the gift card.  Just simply slide the whole package inside this cleaver little card.

Recipe:  I used Dark Chocolate card stock by PaperTreyInk, for the card base.  I just love this creamy, rich brown color.  And their card stock is heavy weight, so it will stand up to being embellished.

The pattern paper I used, is from a digital collection I purchased last year.  I just love this collection of rustic, holiday images in pastel hues.  Simply beautiful.  I printed the pink pattern background onto white card stock by PaperTreyInk.  I printed the deer pattern paper onto white linen card stock by PaperTreyInk.  I love the texture.  I matted the deer pattern paper onto white card stock.  

I machine stitched the three layers of paper together.  I just love how machine stitching gives my paper crafts that homespun look {smile}.  On the bottom panel, I also machine stitched the white glitter snowflake to the layers.  I wrapped the top flap with white crochet trim, and an aqua polka dot satin ribbon (polka dot side down).  I tied a simple bow with the ribbon.  I tucked a half white glitter snowflake in behind the crochet trim at the left upper corner.  The main panel, was a 6" x 6" sheet of digital pattern paper, that I shrunk down 50% before printing.  That way I could print that sheet as a 3" x 3" piece.  I matted it with Mint card stock by PaperTreyInk, and then with Dark Chocolate card stock.  I used foam adhesive to lift this beautiful piece off the card front.  I added this piece to the right of the simple bow.   My pink satin blossom, is from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima.  I just love their blossoms.  And with the pretty rhinestone blossom center, it is perfect for this paper craft.   I hand-stamped 'joy' onto a scrap piece of the pink background pattern paper I used for the first layer. And then adhered it to the back of a tiny Melissa Frances resin frame.  The finishing touch was that tiny white present bow.  I thought is help tie-in all the white, and give my card a little more 'pretty' {smile}. 

Well, thank you for looking.  I hope you have a chance to create something beautiful this weekend.  I'm in the mood to bake some scones.  I found this delicious sounding recipe for Apricot & Brie scones.  YUM!

Christmas Craft Fair

Howdy.  and welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I received both good news and bad news this past week.  First, the bad news.  Who are we kidding.  Let's just get this over with.   The Tramway Community Church will NOT have a holiday craft fair this year.  Boo-Hoo!  I just love this craft fair. The fellow artists are true artist.  And the patrons are equally great!  I will miss the folks there.  I have had the same booth location for 5/+ years.  And well, I have gotten to know a few of my 'neighbors'.  I also have some shoppers who visit my booth every year.  They are familiar with my work, and rave about my creations.  So, I am on the look out for a 'new' holiday craft location.  If anyone knows of any that they are familiar with, please pass along the info. 

Now the good news.  I have been selected to participate in the La Cueva High School Holiday Craft Fair, again this year!  Yahoo!  This is another 'juried' craft fair.  So, you already know that the crafters are pretty good! and our creations are devine!

So, with all the frenzy of holiday craft fairs, I have started making items to sell.  And, as usual, I start with some easy things, and then get into my groove.  Today, I made a card with some holiday scraps. I'm pretty happy with how my card turned out.  Please stop by these two challenge sites, and play along!

I stopped by a 'new' to me sketch challenge site.  Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog.  The design team will certainly inspire you!

the sketch is easy to work with.  easy to create something beautiful in your own style.

My second stop is an all time favorite challenge.  Word Art Wednesday.  Their challenges are anything goes.  But their design team creates some beautiful cards!

and here is what I created:

this blank inside greeting card is A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used some retired and 'long-ago' products.  The card base is made form Night of Navy card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the dusky card blue.  The music sheet is a digital download that I printed on cream textured card stock.  It helps keep the paper from looking too flat.  I used a vintage Christmas ornament pattern paper for the main panel.  I machine stitched these two papers together.  I love the way machine stitching looks on cards.  {smile}

I took a scrap piece of scallop bordered eyelet trim and a dusky green seam binding, and did a quick and incomplete stitching to the paper stack.  I left the trims unfinished, to give the card a more homespun look.  I tied the seam binding into a double bow, and then tied a gold twine to the bow.  I finished the bow off with a snowflake charm.  Now the card has some glimmer. {smile}

I fussy cut an ornament block, and matted on a teal textured card stock.  I added some foam tape to the ornament square and adhered it to the front of the card.

I added a piece of vanilla card stock to the inside of the card.  That way, you have a place to write a special message, and you won't have to dig for a special pen!

Thank you for looking.  Now, I need to get back to crating a few more simple 'things'.

Pennant Birthday!

~ photo heavy ~

Howdy, and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I am having a good week!  Hope you are too!  One of the changes I have made this year, is to start each week writing down three things I am thankful for, from the previous week.  It is a way to reflect on my blessings.  By taking my life in smaller pieces, and reflecting, I am truly able to see the good.  And I am super happy with how this small step to 'count my blessings' is working for me!

I had a few moments, ok an hour, to create a card.  And I am sure you all can understand the drive to get your ideas made out of paper {smile}.  And I do know how truly blessed I am, to have a hoard stash I can craft from, when I can't get to a store.  {wink}

I am entering this card in four challenges.  I have to say, I typically don't enter this many, but I will relish in the oddity of this opportunity!

My firs stop is Mistress Owl.  This is an Eastern European challenge site.  They can a sketch for you to work with.  I strongly encourage you to pop on over to the their challenge site.  The design team will inspire you!  Their sketch was easy to work with, so that is always a huge plus in my book.

My next stop is Cupcake Inspiration.  I am always intrigued by their challenges.  This design team will knock your socks off!  Between the very user-friendly inspiration board, and the creativity of the design team, you will be crafting in no time!  I just love their photo this week!  Theme: Chalkboard!  And who doesn't love chalkboard.  It instantly reminds me of school days.  So retro, shabby, vintage.

Now, I just HAD to stop by another favorite challenge: Really Reasonable Ribbon.  This design team will certainly get you to add ribbon, twine, trim, and lace to everything!  The creations will inspire you to try a new technique, and put a bow on it!  Their current challenge is Celebrate!  So birthday, anniversary, new baby, new couple, etc.  You get the idea.

And finally, I stopped by Brown Sugar Challenge.  This challenge site encourage all crafting styles.  And the design team works with their sponsors, to showcase their products.  I think that's wonderful! Their current sponsor has digital images.  I just love digital paper.  And I am starting to embrace digital images/stamps.  Their current challenge is: Birthday!  And who doesn't need a birthday card in their stash?  So, please stop by and see what they have created.

now, roll all these challenges together, and here is what I created:

~ disclaimer: photographing a card with a flair button, is a bit of a challenge in itself!

my card was selected as a 'top 3' for the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog challenge!

Recipe:  This card is a typical A2 size card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  And yes, it fits inside its envelope.  The card base is kraft card stock.  I just love the color and weight of this paper.  It looks so 'old school'.  

I added this beautiful light blue and pink rose digital paper as my main layer.  I did dampen the edge of the paper (top right corner) and scrunch it a bit.  I also distressed the edges, and tore the bottom edge. I sponged a tea stain ink on all four edges.

I added a lace doily from Stampin' Up! to the top left corner.  I just love it peeking out from behind my journalling cards.  (I used two 'chalkboard' journalling cards for my Chalkboard element.)  I also inked the edges with the tea stain ink.

I stamped my sentiment onto the top journalling card in white craft ink, and then added clear embossing powder and used my heat gun to set the embossing powder.  

I fussy cut a digital tag and added it to the lower right of the journalling cards.  

I originally wanted to add my sentiment across the card, very similar to the sketch.  And place my bow to the left of the journalling cards, but I don't have anything that would have worked.  {frown}  I guess I need to go paper craft shopping! {wink}

And then, I layered trims!  Oh my!  My first layer is a cream cotton eyelet trim.  Then a white sparkle tulle box pleat trim.  Then a mint swiss dot lace.  And finally, a pale pink seam binding.  Who doesn't love seam binding?

I tied a double bow with the seam binding, and added a silver metal button to the bow.  Then I tucked in a cupcake flair button just above the bow.  Viola!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these creative challenge sites.  You will not be disappointed in both the talent and the inspiration!

Shabby Chic Feminine Magnetic N

Howdy, I had so much fun creating a beautiful monogram for a customer, that I just had to make another to put in my Etsy shop, HERE.

I take naked, plain, boring letters, and paint them, add paper, trims, buttons, and bows!  To create beautiful, one-of-a-kind, magnetic monograms.  Here is my latest creation, and yes, it is available for purchase!

These little beauties are approximate 4 inches wide and 4 inches tall.  I love to add layers of pretty pieces from my stash.  Unfortunately, the photography doesn't do them justice.  You can't tell in the photo, but that pale pink thin tinsel is actually tied around the khaki seam binding, with a button between them.  

If you would like a special magnetic letter, too! just convo me @ my Etsy shop.  Let me know what you love, what you hate, and attach any inspirational photo.  Give me a week, and see what I have created just for YOU!

On the {Shabby} Farm

Howdy! and welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I have missed quite a few posts and been a bit absent.  Life has really gotten busy, and I have struggled to find time to do the things that make my soul happy.  {frown}  Things like paper crafting, baking, sewing, and sitting in the {mountain} quiet.  But, I can see the 'light' at the end of this busy tunnel {smile}.  I am working on scheduling time to do those things that make me the happiest!  Have patience and you will be delighted!

Last week, was 'Antique Week' in Round Top, Texas.  And yes, I hopped on a plane, and traveled over 700 miles, to hunt, peck, and look for antique, rustic, shabby treasures.  Oh my!  Was it splendid!  A wonderfully adventurous girlfriend accompanied me.  And, yes, we did have a blast!  We stayed at this super cute, super country, incredibly nostalgic farm-style cottage @ Olle Hotel, in Flatonia, Texas.  LOVE IT!

Anyways, I wanted to make the B & B owner a hand-made card, thanking her for the hospitality and great attention to detail.  I am entering this card in a few challenges, too!

The wonderful talented folks over @ Brown Sugar Challenge Blog, have an Anything Goes challenge.  

The creative & whimsical folks over @ Crafty Sentiments Designs, want you to use Lace & Pearls on your entry.

here is what I created:

Recipe:  I used kraft card stock for the base of the card.  I used card stock from paper trey ink.  I just love the heavy weight of their card stock.  I added two strips of pattern papers from two different manufacturers.  The pink gingham is the reverse side of a pink floral pattern paper from Lost & Found.  The pink, yellow, and grey floral pattern paper is from My Mind's Eye (My Sweetest Things).

I sewn a simple border with my sewing machine to help convey a homespun look.  I added three trims: white lace trim, white cotton trim, and a pale pink seam binding.  All of which were machine sewn to attach them to the card front.

I created a multi-loop bow with the same seam binding.  I tied a vintage pink button with cream twine to the seam binding bow.  I also added a double large loop bow with the cream twine.  I stuck a large perl stick pin in just behind the bow.

I added a square of dark grey polka dot pattern paper as the matt for the yellow stamped distressed square.  I stamped the distressed square, onto a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock, in so saffron classic ink.  I fussy cut the square and inked the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  I stamped two images in going grey classic ink.  The 'post mark' was masked not to go beyond the edges, and the farm silhouette.  

I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink onto a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock.  I used a photo corner punch to create the flag ends.  I sponged the edges of the card stock with crumb cake classic ink.  I adhered the sentiment banner with foam tape to 'lift' it off the card front.

I added a single white paper blossom.  I painted the petal tips with white paint and added glitter before allowing the paper blossom to dry.  

The final touch was a single white/clear vintage button tied with cream twine.  And you know me, I could add sequins, and white paint to the edges of the card.  But, I showed restraint.  I wanted something simple, sweet, country, and shabby.  Not too over done.

Thank you for looking!  Oh, I only used one stamp set: On The Farm, by paper trey ink.