Winter Wonderland in Blue & Green

Howdy.  I have another holiday-themed gift card holder.  I hope you are up for one more {smile}.  I am entering this gift card holder into two 'new-to-me' challenges: First Belarusian Challenge, and the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge .

My first stop is @ First Belarusian Challenge.  This is a challenge site from Russia, and yes, they do have a 'translate' button.  Their current challenge is Winter Fun.  You need to look at what the design team has created.  Truly creative and simply gorgeous!  They also have an inspirational board:

My next stop is @ the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge.  Their current challenge is Always Anything Christmas Goes.  This design team uses pattern papers and die cuts with a creative flair.  You will certainly be inspired!

and here is what I created:

and a different view:

Recipe:  The base of this gift card holder was made out of Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up!  I just love this soft, creamy, pale blue color.  I used two pattern papers from the same digital pattern paper collection.  I used Mint card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the matt of the music & floral pattern paper.  I added a simple border of machine stitching, to give it a homespun look and feel.  I just love the music & floral pattern paper, so I wanted the pattern paper to be center stage.  I added a pale green seam binding and vanilla crochet trim.  I just love how soft, and vintage seam binding makes projects, and the crochet trim to echoes the same softness.  The paper blossom is from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima Marketing.  I think this pink blossom goes very well with the pattern paper.  I added a double bow tied with the seam binding.  I tucked a sentiment chipboard piece to the opposite side of the paper blossom.  And finally, to add a bit more sparkle, I added several silver sequins.  I just love how shiny they are {smile}.  Once you open this 'card' you will find your gift.  Gift card, that is!

card opened:

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you aren't too tired of looking at Holiday/Christmas themed cards and projects.  I hope that you have time to play along with these or your favorite challenge site.  Crafting makes the soul happy {smile}.

Sweet Peppermint Kisses for Santa

~ photo heavy ~

Howdy, and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I hope your new year has gotten off to a roaring start!  Me, I've been doing what I always do: crafting, baking, running, and chores.  So, not much of a change.  But, I am ok with that.   

For my holiday break I got the Flu, and boy was that awful!  I was in bed for a week, and couldn't get  the energy to do much of anything productive.  Then, it was back to work, back to marathon training, back to life.  I have been working on a few special orders: cupcakes, and crafts.  Let's just admit it, those are my two favorite things!

I am entering one of my creations in three paper crafting challenges:  Paper Story, As You See It, and Word Art Wednesday.  We will start with International first, and finish at home.

I stumbled upon this incredible paper craft challenge site while following a favorite paper crafter overseas.  And I am happy I did!  The folks over @ Paper Story have a super talented group of designers who I am sure will inspire you!  This challenge site is from Russia, but they have a 'translate' button, so it is super easy to play along!  Their current challenge is called: Olivier.  It is a 'recipe-based' challenge.  They have given you mandatory elements, just like in a recipe, but with an option to switch one 'ingredient' with something else, just like a recipe.  How super fun is that?  Here is their recipe: Paper, Flowers, Lace, Beads (brads, buttons, chips, dots, sparkles), Chip (chipboard), Tape (cord/braid ok), and Machine Line.  

My next stop:  As You See It.  This challenge site has some very creative challenges, and their design team has a range of styles, so no matter yours, you will be inspired.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  (Love these)

I rotated this sketch 90 degrees left, and then mirrored it

And my final stop was Word Art Wednesday.  I just can't brag about this site enough.  The design team is super talented, the write-up is inspirational, and the site is just plain NICE!  Their current challenge is: Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  Who wouldn't want to play along?

and  here is what I made:

Paper: Sweet Peppermint, Flower: manufactured, Lace: two kinds, Beads: button and sequins, Chip: chipboard mittens, Tape: thin silver cord, and Machine Line: machine sewing on both panels.

another view:

Recipe:  This gift card holder was made with pattern paper from the Sweet Peppermint holiday collection by Prima Marketing.  The base of the 'card' is crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up!  I just love the heavy weight of it.  The matt is real red card stock by Stampin' Up!, as well.  

I used the tiny green dot pattern paper for the panels.  I didn't want any distractions from the focus: Santa!  I machine stitched this pattern paper to the red matt.

I then layered 4 different pattern papers from the Sweet Peppermint collection: the red stripe, the multi-check, the snowflake, and the multi-colored dot.  I did matt the snowflake pattern paper with crumb cake card stock, to give the layered rectangles a 'base'.  The sentiment/journaling card is adhered to the front with foam tape.  I also added a file tab, from the Sweet Peppermint collection, to the side of the Santa journalling card.

I wrapped two different lace trims around the top portion.  I just love the softness this brought to my 'card'.  I tied a double bow with one of the lace trims.  

The flower and leaves are both from Prima Marketing, as well, and yes, the same collection: Sweet Peppermint.  I just love the contrast between this mint color and the reds.

I added a chipboard piece from the same collection.  I thought mittens were a nice touch.  And the silver outline adds a nice sparkle!

I added some silver sequins to mimic the sparkle from the glitter on the flower and the silver on the chipboard.  I added an aqua vintage button to the lower right corner of the journalling card.  I thought it matched the flower beautifully, and tied it with some slim silver cord.  

here is what the 'card' looks like opened:

I love making these 'packaged' gift card holders, because it makes gift giving super easy.  Now, when you purchase your gift cards from the store, you no longer have to rip them open, to give the card.  Just slide the whole thing, right into the pouch, and viola!  I make a lot of these for my Holiday Craft Fairs, and folks seem to really enjoy them.  {smile}  My crafts are 'one-of-a-kind', in that I do NOT mass produce.  It makes each item special.  Now, I do make similar, but not match-matchy, carbon copies.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these challenge sites.  Enjoy your weekend, and take care!

Happy Owl

Hello!  I want to welcome my new followers: welcome, please have a look around, and I hope you find something pretty and inspiring {smile}.  And I hope I am inspiring my seasoned followers.  {smile}.  My style has changed over these last few years.  I have really embraced the shabby-chic, country-glamour 'look' of paper crafting.  I just love machine stitching, seam binding, buttons, bows, and polka dots!  But, in my craft endeavors I have learned that sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone, and spread your wings.  {smile}

Teresa Collins creates some very glamorous pattern paper lines.  And I have to say, that I was really drawn to the Stationary Noted pattern paper collection.  This line is crisp and simple.  Blues, grays, with bits of red, library pockets, simple sayings, and elementary designs.  I'm not knocking this line, but rather elevating the simple beauty of it.

I used a sketch from the wonderful sketch challenge site, Cardabilities.  Typically the sketch designs are beautifully simple.  So you can either embellish your heart out, or keep it minimalist.  And then everywhere in-between.  How wonderful is that?  Here is the current sketch challenge:

I used my Stationary Noted pattern paper, and made a more modern, clean lines card.  There isn't any machine stitching.  No seam binding.  No buttons.  But, I am really happy with how it turned out. {smile}

Recipe:  the card base is made with Bordering Blue card stock.  Retired from Stampin' Up!.  The blue is kinda dusty, soft, mute color.

The blue and white flourish pattern paper is the type writer paper reverse side.  I matted the typewriter paper onto true black by paper trey ink.  It has a clean black color.  

The ledger-owl piece is actually a cut out from another pattern paper from this collection.  I matted this piece onto a scrap piece of bordering blue card stock, just to tie everything together.  The red houndstooth paper was added to help highlight the red label piece.  This red houndstooth pattern paper has rulers on the reverse size, and is also from Teresa Collins, but another collection.  

I added a coordinating brad, and a chipboard sentiment.  I love the bike and sentiment.  It reminds me of a wedding, or anniversary.  

I added my own black bakers twine.  I tied a bow first, and then looped the long tails through the brad's legs.

I love the open label piece on the pocket card piece.  You could stamp a date, or a word, or small sentiment inside.  Or simply leave it blank.  It doesn't look like it's floating, or that its incomplete. 

I hope I have inspired you to craft something using the sketch from Cardabilities.  And use a style of pattern paper that is different from what you typically use, and spread your creative wings {smile}!

wish Banner

If you live in the United States of America, this weekend is a holiday for us.  This weekend we celebrate the American worker.  So, there is no work on Monday, allowing us to recharge.  For me, it has given me another 'free' day to create and craft.  Lately, I have noticed that I need to give myself deadlines on certain crafts, or they just don't always happen.  I find myself 'playing' at my craft table doing everything else, except working on a specific craft or completing a certain task.  So, this weekend, my two goals are: 

1) to create a banner 

2) finish a frame.

I have seen quite a few gorgeous banners on the internet, and well, yes, Pinterest.  But, I have never made one.  Always wanted to.  But never sat down and created one.  I have a few holiday craft fairs coming up, and thought that I could make one with my name on it: Designs by Sharon.  That way, it gives my booth a personal touch, and a bit of flair.

I have also learned through the years of crafting, that you don't always make the best 'thing' your first time around.  A bit of a learning curved, so to speak.  And well, this is the perfect example.  I didn't rush through this.  It literally took me several hours.  When I started creating this banner, in my mind, I had the fabulous idea of making several of these and adding them to my sale items.

Well, I have to admit.  I love this one.  I don't think that I will sell it.  It doesn't have my 'name' on it.  I wanted to start with something small.  So, it says, 'wish'.  I used papers that I really love.  I added enough stuff to make it pretty, but not too much stuff that it's confusing and over cluttered.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  But, there are little mistakes.  So, don't look too close, and have a gentle eye.

here are the close-ups of each letter, remember, this is my first, so be kind.

I have read, that you can machine sew on chipboard.  I didn't sew the tops onto the chipboard.  I created the banner first, and then adhered it to the chipboard.  The lollies I created by hand.  The letters already came that color, I just added glitter.  I doilies are actually adhered to the paper, before adhering to the chipboard, also.  

I now see that the letters are not straight.  I also notice that the banner pieces are not cut straight, either.  UGH!  But, I really do love it!  So, it will be hung in my craft room for now.  And maybe in my booth at my holiday craft fairs, but NOT for sale.  

I'm heading back in my craft room to finish a craft that has been half complete for over a week now.  A few more  altered mini composition notebooks.  I tend to create these in pairs.  And I promise, I will get to that frame later today.  I hope that it turns out as wonderful in real life as it is in my mind.  Cross your fingers and wish me luck!  Enjoy your Labor Day, and have a safe weekend.