Let It Snow, in January

Howdy, and welcome back.  I have been busy crafting, but not busy photographing what I have created {frown}.  But, I will work on being better at sharing what I create here, and on my Facebook page.  To be honest, sometimes, its just easier to take a quick pic with my phone and upload it on Facebook.  Yeah, that makes me sound lazy.  Honest. But lazy.  So, a New Year's Resolution has been declared!

I am playing along with three challenges: Just Add Ink, Paper Craft Crew, and Word Art Wednesday.  So, let's get started!  I stopped by Just Add Ink blog, and they have a color inspiration photo for their current challenge.

When I saw this photo, I instantly thought of a new line of holiday paper from Prima: Santa Baby.

For a little bit of direction, I stopped by the Paper Craft Crew blog.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  Perfect!  Here is that sketch:

I'm pretty sure I can work with this! {smile}

Finally, I headed over to the Word Art Wednesday blog.  Their challenges are Anything Goes, Family Friendly.  And the design team will certainly inspire you!

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  I created a standard A2 size greeting card (5 1/2" x 4 1/4").  I used PaperTrey Ink's Aqua Mist card stock for the card base.  I just love this soft, pale water color!  I added a piece of the 'houses' pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby.  I thought it looked sweet, and cozy.  

The next layer is the mugs of cocoa pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby, matted with Autumn Rose card stock by PaperTrey Ink.  

I then wrapped a piece of cream lace and pale pink seam binding around the second layer (similar to the sketch), and then I machine stitched these layers together.  I added my layered stack towards the right (as in the sketch).  I machine stitched the sentiment panel to the Aqua Mist card stock.  I slipped on a 'tree' paper clip.  And used foam tape to adhere it to the paper paper layer.  

I tied a double bow with the pale pink seam binding, and tied a tiny pale pink ornament to the bow with some gold and white bakers twin.  I adhered a paper blossom from the Prima: Santa Baby collection just above the bow.  I punched out some leaves and stuck them in behind the paper blossom (as in the sketch).  

I added a trio of crystals (as in the sketch) from Prima to the front of the card; two below the bow and one next to the tree paper clip.  I thought that they added the right amount of sparkle, even tho they are two different colors: aqua and pale pink.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope that you have a chance to play along with any or all of these challenges!  Enjoy your weekend, and I hope to be back soon!

NAC #14

Wow, I can't believe that it is already Tuesday.  I know that sounds crazy.  But, I spent this past weekend at a stamp retreat.  It started Friday @ 3p and we finished everything up at 1p on Sunday.  To say that I had a fabulous time, is a total understatement.  I truly enjoyed myself.  It gave me a chance to craft uninterrupted for the whole weekend.  No, 'when's dinner?', or 'can you take the dog out?', and even, 'did you wash my hockey stuff?'.  It was truly delightful!!!

But, now it is time to share another creation for Nacho Average Challenge.  These talented ladies will inspire you with Stampin' Up! current products.  Please join us with this weeks challenge.  It's a color challenge.  Here is the color board.

Here is what I created:

I am a super big fan of pink and brown.  Don't know if its the contrast or the creamy dreamy colors together.  Either way, it's a favorite.  I wanted to use two of my all time favorite stamp sets:  Artistic Etchings & You Are Loved.  I also love the technique of masking.  I think it really helps give your craft some depth and a lot of visual interest.  That is exactly what I did, to keep the flowers from being on top of the Eiffel Tower.  I used my markers to color the floral images.  I also used little bits of So Saffron to help accent my card; the tag matt, and the tiny postage stamp.  I thought the postage stamp really added balance to the 'AMOUR' tag.  I used Pretty in Pink re-inker to 'color' my very vanilla seam binding.  I also crinkled it.  I just LOVE the look of worn, tattered look of the seam binding.  I think it gives my paper crafts a 'vintage' look.  

Please play along with us @ Nacho Average Challenge.  We hope we have inspired you!

Featured Stamper

I just got back from Las Vegas! and boy did I have fun! It was really good to get away and recharge. And it was a super boost to my ego to be selected as the 'featured stamper' on the Creative Corner Blog Hey Chickadee! Inspiration Challenge. This is the card that I submitted for the challenge that was posted last week. I'm pretty excited and honored to be chosen. They have a new challenge this week, so if you have time, you should participate!

Diva Coffee Break Design Color Challenge #142

Well, I'm not sure how this will turn out. I got so excited about posting my entry into the challenge, then I forgot that I needed to post it on my blog, before I submit my entry. Well, I tried to do it backwards. Guess what? It put up a fight.

I am holding a card technique class this month in New Mexico, called 'Creatively Faux". You will learn four different techniques, while making three cards for $12. This class will be held at my home on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd from 7p-9p. (Please arrive early to eat and visit before we start.)

This is the card we will be making for the faux postage stamps technique. I fell in love with the Charming stamp set out of Stampin' Up! holiday mini catalog. So, I had to use it. I love all the stamps in this set (Charming), and as you can see, I have used just about all of them. There is this cute little butterfly that I used on the inside of the card. To give the card a more polished, finished look, I used a technique called masking on the left side of the card. And, as you can tell ribbon is one of my all-time favorite embellishments. (if I could have found a way to add a button, trust me, there would have been a button on this card. :)