Vintage Farm Happiness: Card

I actually was able to photograph this card during the daylight! Yeah!  Love it.  But, that also means that I wasn't able to complete my chores.  {frown}  Well, there is always tomorrow.  {smile}

I saw the sketch over @ Mojo Monday earlier this week.  And all I can say, is wow!  I will be using this sketch for several paper crafts I have on my 'to do' list.  

Here is the current sketch 

So when I saw this sketch, I thought blossoms in place of the stars.  

But, I didn't do that.  Here is what I created:

Ok, this is another small A6 size card: 4 1/4" x 6".    I just love this 'new-to-me' size card.  The card base is made from Ocean Tides card stock.  I added a matt of kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  The pattern paper is another digital download.  I did a single border machine stitching around the main panel. 

I added a strip of white cotton eyelet trim, then a scrap of mint macaroon lace trim (by Stampin' Up!) and cream twill ribbon (by Paper Trey Ink).

My focal piece is another digital pattern paper from the same collection as the larger piece.  I did another kraft card stock matt.  I did a single border machine stitch, but only on the bottom half of this piece.

I added a vintage price tag, and a vintage mini milk cap.  The vintage scale was hand-stamped from the A Second Helping of Sunshine stamp set, by Paper Trey Ink.  The sentiment is from Close to my Heart: Country Born stamp set.

I also added a Tim Holtz safety pin to the bow, and created a tag from the packaging of the 'helping of sunshine' stamp set.  I used a sentiment from the Friendship Jar stamp set, by Paper Trey Ink.  

I added a very vanilla card stock panel with a kraft card stock for the inside.  I also re-stamped the vintage scale on the lower right corner.

Thank you for looking.  I hope you have been inspired to create something beautiful!  Now I'm off to start my chores.  {frown}  And then I'll have a few evenings this week, to continue crafting! {smile}

Life is Sweet with You: Card

Howdy! and welcome!   I hope your weekend is off to a good start.  Me, I've been crafting, and will be heading out the door soon to go for a run.  [so for me . . . pretty good {smile}]

I have several challenge sites, that I visit on my day off, and on Tuesday, I saw the notice that one of my all time favorite challenge sites is stopping.  Card abilities  {frown}  This breaks my heart!  I have found their sketches to be very easy to work with, and the inspiration from the design team has always been spot on!  But, I must admit, that I totally understand their decision.  So, here I sit, with my fingers crossed, that they will find the opportunity to continue their sketch challenge site.  

So, for their last sketch (for now) I really wanted to play along.  I felt that I just had to!  And my week was spent trying to find the 'right' paper and the 'right' embellishments to play along with this awesome group of ladies.  I didn't just want to play along, I really wanted to show them my love for them, and that I will miss them {frown}.  So, here is the current sketch over @ Cardabilities :

Ok, see what I mean about their sketches?  Just gorgeous!

and here is what I created:

This greeting card, pretty much says it all:  Life is sweeter with you!  And it sure is!  This greeting card measures 4 1/4" x 6".  It's a tad smaller than an A6 card, and a bit larger than an A2 card.   I use A6 envelopes for this size card.  It's a bit large, but it really works with my embellishments.  And there is a nice size of blank space inside to write your message.  {smile}

Recipe:  The card base is made with cream card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  They make wonderful weight card stock.  The 'brown' matt is actually kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  And that gorgeous  pattern paper is actually a digital paper.  I brushed some shimmer paint and white paint randomly (and lightly) on the digital paper.

I machine stitched a simple border around the digital paper and the kraft matt.  I used an aqua polka dot pattern paper from Paper Trey Ink, some cream lace trim from Walmart, and cream twill ribbon from Paper Trey Ink, to give this card a shabby chic look.  And I machine stitched them to the card front as well.

I stamped my sentiment from Close To My Heart, in going grey classic ink, by Stampin' Up!, onto very vanilla card stock, by Stampin' Up!, too.  I added a matt made from textured pool party card stock, by Stampin' Up!  I hand cut the circle.  I used some sanding paper, to help smooth out the uneven edges.  I cut a scallop circle with my extra large scallop punch by Stampin' Up! and adhered this piece to the card front with foam tape (dimensionals) by Stampin' Up!

I added a trio of buttons.  [I love buttons.]  I had a lone pink paper blossom sitting on my craft desk that was the perfect color.  So, I brushed on some shimmer paint to the petal edges.  I made a bow from the cream twill ribbon and adhered them to the card front with hot glue.  I tucked three leaf sprigs under the paper blossom.

The bumble bee I made with some sparkle white clay.  I recently purchased the mold from a shop on Etsy.  And I love how they came out.  [I typically make several clay pieces, from several molds at one time.]

I did finish the inside of the card.  I started doing that recently, and I am happy so far with the look.

I used the kraft card stock to make the matt.  I added very vanilla card stock for the inner piece.  I had a scrap piece of the aqua polka dot pattern paper on my craft desk and thought I should add that to the inside.  I also machine stitched a scrap piece of cream pom pom trim.  I think it looks sweet.

I will have this card for sale in my Etsy shop, HERE.

I hope you get a chance to play along with this wonderful collection of super talented ladies over @ Cardabilities.

Thank you for stopping by.  I am heading out the door for a run.  I am happy that I am sticking with this running thing.  It really does give me a chance to clear my head, and do something good for my heart {smile}.

Altered Paper Mache Book Box Complete

~ photo heavy post ~

Whew.  A finished project!   I finished my paper mache book box this morning.  Took quite a few photos and now I'm ready to share with you, this labor of love.  I purchased a paper mache book box from one of those big box craft stores.  So, they should be relatively easy for you to find one.  You can always order one off the internet, but I'm not a fan of shipping costs.  (Frugal, one might say)  The book box measures 4" wide by 6" tall and 1 1/2" deep.  So, it's not huge, but the measurements are perfect when using 12" x 12" pattern paper.   I used a sketch from Cardabilities #91 for my inspiration to create the cover.

Let's start with the cover:  

I first painted the box with gesso.  Then a light sand color paint.  I spritz the box with an alcohol mist, and rubbed some of the sand color paint off, to give it a worn look.  I also used fine linen distress ink on the edges.  I used pattern paper from Lost & Found - Market Street.  I machine stitched the main panel to a crumb cake card stock.  The chicken wire images are stamped from Distressed Background by CTMH.  The sentiment is stamped from On the Grown by Stampin' Up!.  The lilies and white rose are made from clay.  The butterfly is a resist chipboard piece from Heidi Swap.  The pale green paper blossom is from Kaiser Krafts.  The cream button is from Paper Trey Ink, and the gold sequins are from Stampin' Up!.  (If you saw yesterday's post, I hadn't added the button yet, its tucked-in, between the pink seam binding and the pale green paper blossom.)

a close-up:

Let's open the box.  Here is the inside cover:

I used the same pattern paper threw out this alteration.  To keep everything looking like it belongs.    I did however, use a tag from Prima - Almanac.  Love the chicken.  I did a little stamping:  some more chicken wire, and a country phrase along the left side of the tag from Country Born by CTMH.  I also  created a tiny tag using a stamp from Friendship Jar by Paper Trey Ink.  I added a pool party polka dot brad by Stampin' Up!  I created a banner with the same pattern paper; Market Street.  I added some sweet tiny cream buttons from Paper Trey Ink, that I tied with some cream twine. (if you saw yesterday's post, I had not finished the banner.)  I added a white resin key by Melissa Frances, to help balance the page, and to add a sweet little surprise.  (If you saw yesterday's post, I had to flip the key around, so that the box would close shut.)

the inside of the box:

I just love this floral pattern paper by Market Street.  It adds so much sweetness without giving you a cavity (haha).  I wanted to add a little surprise, so I placed a small white crochet doily and a pale pink paper blossom to the bottom right corner.  I also added a little bit of sparkle by including a link from a Melissa Frances dangle.

here is the close-up:

here is the back of the box:

I wanted the back to have a bit of charm, too.  But, I also wanted to keep it flat, incase the owner wants to lay the book box down.  I used the same pattern paper - Market Street.  But I used a part of a pattern text paper that had this open area.  So, I used a stamp from The Sweet Life by Paper Trey Ink.  I thought is was fitting for a memory box.  I also added my signature stamp along the bottom.  

here is the spine:

I stamped the 'title' with a stamp from Loving Thoughts by Stampin' Up! onto a scrap piece of the Market Street pattern paper.  I also added a white resin lock by Melissa Frances.

I used a scrap piece of some beautiful peach colored silk ribbon by Martha Stewart.  I purchased the ribbon probably 5 years ago from a local scrapbooking store.  I thought the ribbon matched perfectly.

All the edges of the pattern papers were distressed with ink or ink and scissors.  I used scor tape to adhere the papers to the box.  I used my glue gun to hold the various embellishments to the box.

oops! I forgot to show you the bow!

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look.  I am off to my craft room once again to finish my desk top calendars.  Yep, I still have 2 more to make.  And January is almost over!

Je t'aime

First, let me welcome my new followers!  I hope you find some inspiration here.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me @ bachnucmed@excite.com

Second, I want to wish every woman out there who is a mom,  Happy Mother's Day!  I hope that this special day, is lovely, and that you are surrounded by both family and friends. {smile}

Third, I have a card to share.  I woke up kinda early today, as my dog was getting restless, so she was my alarm clock.  After enjoying my first cup of coffee, I went browsing the internet to help get some creative juices flowing.  And, I saw this weeks sketch @ Card Patterns.  And, I knew exactly the papers I wanted to use.  (Now, if you visited yesterday, these papers are familiar, but never tiresome.)

Here is this week's sketch:

This sketch was very easy to work with.  And I'm pretty happy with how my card turned out.  See:

For those of who aren't familiar with my work, if I don't have restrictions as to company/products to use, I pretty much use everything.  And this card, (like yesterdays) is no exception.  

The card base is Autumn Rose by Paper Trey Ink.  I sprtiz the card front with my own home-made shimmer mist.  I then stamped the flourish form the Creative Elements stamp set by Stampin' Up!, using Versa Mark ink.  The brown matt panel is Early Espresso by Stampin' Up!.  The two pattern pieces are the Pretty in Pink collection from Glitz.  And so is the pink striped paper I ran thru my Big Shot, using the Tasteful Trim die by Stampin' Up!.  The ribbon is a vanilla velvet ribbon that Stampin' Up! sold during the holidays.  The butterfly is cut with the Beautiful Wings die and Silver Glitter paper by Stampin' Up!.   The pretty beige flower is from Prima Marketing.  The glitter trimmed button is from Bo Bunny.  The rose shaped bead is from Close To My Heart.  The sentiment panel is a collection of different die cut and printed heavy card stock by Stampin' Up!, so all I had to add was the half faux pearls by Close To My Heart.  The kraft button is from Paper Trey Ink, as well as the cream twine I used to tie a bow.  The heart is die cut from a heart die from Stampin' Up!  

The main panel, as well as the sentiment panel were adhered to the card front using foam tape.  This card is still blank inside.

Thank you for looking.  I hope you have an opportunity to do what makes you happy today.  Me, well I spent my morning in my craft room.  And this evening my wonderful daughter and I are going to see a comedian.  So, hopefully, we will be driving home with tummy aches from laughing too much.  

Take care, and come back soon.  You never know when I will be posting something new!

Feminine Ruffles

Hello.  I hope this weekend is not jammed packed with chores and requirements.  I hope that you are able to paper craft.  The wonderfully talented Anne Marie, has some pretty inspiration boards for this weeks Our Creative Corner challenge.  Here is what she has given us to work with:

How pretty, huh?  I think ruffles are soo pretty and soo girly.  The perfect accent!  

I wanted to make something pretty, girly, and special.  So, I decided to work on a hand-made book for my oldest grand daughter.  She is very precious, and she is a girly-girl.  Here is the cover of my hand-made book:

So, here is the cover of my hand-made book.  It's a work in progress.  I used products from a hundred different companies.  Here are some close-up's:

 All edges were sponged to give everything an aged look.  I have added all my favorite embellishments:  ribbon, buttons, bling, flowers, and more.

I have added a lot of different items to this cover.  This first close-up is on the small vintage tag.  There is a white resin architecture piece.  Hand-dyed seam binding, pink of course.  A vintage brad.  A small paper flower.  And a beautiful rhinestone ribbon dangle.  The large round image tag is beautiful.

This second close-up, shows the personal monogram I created.  I used a tag die to make the original cut.  I stamped the 'H' and then used a hand-held punch to create the center of the tag.  I also wanted to add that vintage card, 'G girl'.  So, it is sandwhiched between the two tags.

This close-up shows the ruffle/pleat I made with my satin ribbon and sewing machine.  I just love how tailored it looks.  I added this sewn piece to the top border of a paper piece I did a box pleat and large scallop on.   I just had to add this winnie the pooh quote stamp I have.  'sometimes it's the smallish things that take up the most room in our heart.'

I hope you find time and inspiration to play along with us!

Friends

There is a small group of us ladies (5), who, have stuck together over time. We value each other's friendship, and cherish each others company. I don't know if age has anything to do with it [we are all over 30, some over 40 :)] but we each know that there is someone out there who we can count on. That is for everything. Unfortunately, it takes a little work, for all of us to get together. So, every December, we meet at this one particular restaurant and exchange gifts. Oh, did I mention that we are all talented paper crafters? We are. Its funny, no two of us has the same style. But we all ROCK! Well, with the economy in the toilet, I decided to shave a few dollars off my expenses and make each one of these very special ladies a little something. Its a little 'box' that holds little note cards (3" x 3") and envelopes. I made each box in the favorite colors of each lady. I also stamped each note card specific to what each lady likes. Well, need less to say, they were a hit. I took a few pictures of my finished project, which for some reason, I always seem to forget, and after viewing the photos, I should have taken more. Oh well. So here are a few (and I mean a few) photos.

I used products probably from every company out there: Stampin' Up!, Paper Trey Ink, Close to My Heart, Basic Grey, SEI, and more. If you would like the supply list for any specific card, please email your request. The box template (Keeping Tabs) I purchased from Paper Trey Ink. I just love them. I print them off onto copy paper, and copy them directly onto card stock. Pretty easy!

Thank you so much for taking the time to take a look. Remember, comments always make my day!