Pink, Aqua, & Yellow Fabric Strip Banner/Backdrop

I wanted to share with you the latest fabric strip banner/backdrop with you.  I finished this last week.  But with the limited day light hours, I wasn't able to get a decent photo until earlier today.  I can now finally share with you what I have created.

I used fabric from Tilda.  I just love the patterns, and the material washes very nicely.  It's a big investment.   The fabric is sold at a premium price and international shipping is a bit steep in price.  But, just look at the finished product.  I think it's worth it {smile}

The fabric banner measures 4 feet wide.  Yes, that's 48 inches of beautiful fabric and trim pieces!  Each fabric strip and trim measured 22-inches long before they were hand-tied to the jute twine.   I used a total of five fabrics: 3 tilda, one aqua blue with gold foil blossoms, and a white cotton with taupe heart trees.  I used trims, laces, and ribbons to help accent the colors and over-all look of the banner.

There are seam binding, laces, ruffled chiffon, cotton ribbons, and pink glittered tulle to accent the beautiful fabrics.  I just love how this shabby chic, pretty banner turned out!  And yeah, you can buy it! HERE

Why not add some sweet, shabby-chic prettiness to your home, or next party?  This banner would look adorable over a crib, or to decorate a cake table at a farmland, shabby chic wedding, or to the top of a window for a 'no-sew' window treatment in your creative space, or simply to add some homespun beauty to a kitchen.

I have shared a few banners, and I hope you like them.  If you love these, but would love a different color combo, or length, or width, just convo me.   Give me the opportunity to create something beautiful for you.  And as always, special orders/custom orders do NOT acquire an additional charge.  Ok, I am finishing a few wreaths, so I need to sign off.  I'll post photos of the new wreaths as soon as possible.  Also, these banners and wreaths will be for sale @ this years Trash to Treasure Trunk Show in Albuquerque, on Jan. 23rd, 2016, 9a - 5p.

Ho {cubed}; It's Christmas

~ photo heavy post ~

The paper crafting continues {smile}.  I was struggling earlier yesterday, and couldn't figure out where to start.  So, I simply just started {smile}.  I used the current sketch from Cardabilities, to get the creative juices flowing.  And it did!  I created a pair of holiday cards using some sweet vintage-y style pattern papers from Paper Studio.  And I purchased these pattern papers on sale.  Cha-ching!

current sketch:

I'm also entering the current challenge over @ the Papertake Weekly Challenge.  Their current challenge is: Christmas; it will soon be here.  Check out their creative design team.  Very talented!

and what I created (the red version):

and the green version:

and yeah, I did stamp the inside:

The sentiments were stamped on very vanilla card stock.  I used two new holiday stamp sets by Stampin' Up!. (outside the card, uses Oh What Fun stamp set, and inside the card, uses Cozy Christmas stamp set.) They were hand-stamped with basic black classic ink.  All the pattern papers are from Paper Studio.  For the inside of the card, I cut a narrow strip of the margin pattern paper, and tore the end to resemble washi tape.  

I sponged all the edges, of the various papers, with crumb cake classic ink.  I also added machine stitching along the bottom portion of each card.  And machine stitched the cotton trim and cotton ribbon.  The cotton trim was purchased from a local sewing store.  The cotton ribbons are from Stampin' Up!

I added buttons from my stash (red corduroy and garden green button) are retired from Stampin' Up!. And a silver reindeer charm is tied to the bow with cream twine.  

Thank you for looking.  I'm planning on making a few gift card holders and gift bags using this festive holiday pattern paper.  Stay tuned {smile}.  And these cards will be for sale in my Etsy shop.

Smiling Today, Card

I got a chance to head into my craft room today.  I have a few cards that need to be mailed out.  But, sometimes most times, I need a little inspiration.  I had recently purchased a few new items, and wanted to craft with those.  I just need a sketch.  So, I headed over to a 'new' favorite:  Friday Mashup - #195 sketch and project (use 2/+ embellishments)  I used the sketch and the embellishment requirements ( paper blossoms, a button, resin lock, lace, cotton ribbon, and pearls).

I purchased a new pattern paper pad from a big box store: Color Bok:  Signature.  It is a collection of shabby chic double sided patterns.  Very pretty. {smile}  The thing that really caught my eye, is the tab piece at the upper right corner.  Just love the thought of that.  And so, thats just what I did!

The sentiment says:  Thinking of you today and smiling.  I really love this sentiment.  {smile}  I will be mailing this card out to my friend Denita.  She is a very good person, and we have a good time when we get together.  I just want her to know that I was happy she came out to my house so we could craft.  {smile}

Here is the recipe:  The card stock is crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up!  The two pattern papers is actually the same page, I just use both sides {smile}.  

I cut a piece of blushing bride card stock, by Stampin' Up! and trimmed the edges with the open scallop trim hand punch.  I thought this type of scallop would look prettier.  I adhered these pieces together, and then used my sewing machine to add a simple machine sewn border.  I thought it added a bit of charm to the card front.  

I stamped my sentiment onto vellum card stock, by Stampin' Up! in versa mark ink.  I sprinkled on some white embossing powder, and then heat embossed the sentiment.  I used the  We Go Together stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.   I layered a piece of white polka dot and light aqua pattern paper under the vellum.  I cut the same flag end to both pieces.  I also made the polka dot pattern paper a bit longer.  I stapled these two papers to the upper right corner of the card.

I added a piece of white lace to the lower third of the card.  I strung blushing bride cotton ribbon, by Stampin' Up! through the 'holes' in the lace.  I adhered a white resin key hole over the lace/ribbon combo. 

I distressed two paper blossoms and a vintage button with white paint and glitter.  I thought it added a little shabbiness to the card {smile}.  I first added the pink blossom above the key hole.  Tied some cream twine through the light aqua button and tucked it just under the pink blossom.  And finally, I slipped the white rose bud in at the top of this embellishment pair.  

Finally, I added a trio of white half faux pearls to help add some softness, some sweetness to the card front.  I added a medium pearl to the right side of the staple, and a pair of tiny pearls between the embellishments and the sentiment banner.

I hope you get a chance to create a card for this challenge.  I'm sure you will fall in love with the sketch!  Carve out some time today, and create something beautiful and wonderful!  But, before I go, I was wondering, do you hand deliver or mail your hand-made cards?

Coffee, Chocolate, & Friends

Whew!  I apologize for being absent lately.  But, yeah, I've been crafting {smile}.  My last craft fair for this holiday season is Friday.  And well, between working full-time, taking care of my DH, attending 3 holiday dinners, and one doctor visit (that left me unable to walk for a day and a half) I haven't had a lot of time to post.  But, I have been taking pictures, so soon, my life will slow down a bit. {smile}  Pipe dream?  I hope not!

The wonderful ladies over @ Craft Hoaders Anonymous Challenge have a great challenge this week.  They want to see your holiday craft hoard used.  I don't know about you, but I have tons of holiday crafting supplies: pattern paper, embellishments, stamps, sentiments, trinkets, ribbon, buttons, and oh so much more!  I actually have so much holiday hoard supplies, that it is boxed up after each holiday season, because I don't have room in my craft room for all of it.  How incredibably crazy is that?  (between you and me, my husband doesn't use the word 'crazy' when the subject is brought up.  Lets just say that.)

Ok, so for this first project, you are probably thinking that I am not really showcasing my hoard collection, but this is a super cute gift.  

I attended a holiday dinner with a gift exchange for the lovely ladies that I stamp with.  For the gift exchange, there was a price limit of $10.  Ok, do you know how stinking hard it is to make a gift for $10?  If you craft, I'm sure you know what I am talking about.  If you don't, lets just say, it's difficult.

Anyways, these ladies are all Stampin' Up! demonstrators, so I felt the need to use current SU! products.  Hmm.  Maybe this doesn't qualify as a 'hoard'.  But, I have a lot of stuff!

I used the new holiday DSP (Nordic Noel).  I just love the houses.  The bright cheery colors is always a plus!  So, I positioned my DSP, so that the cut would be a row of full houses and not chopping them off. (It's the OCD in me.)

I matted this pattern paper onto coral card stock.  I added a strip of pool party cotton ribbon.  And yeah, I had to sew it on.  I made a simple bow.  But it still needed something, so why not add another bow.  Right?  So, I added another bow with the new gold shiny ribbon.  It help pull the baked brown sugar colored house out.  I also added one of the new snowflake charms to the gold bow.   To keep the sewing stitches from showing on the underside, I matted this whole piece onto a piece of cherry cobbler card stock.  I used a corner rounder punch to all the corners.  You know, since the corners are rounded on the tin.  (OCD shining through)

I used one of the new coffee collection stamp sets.  I stamped the coffee cup twice on shimmer white card stock in chocolate chip classic ink.  I stamp the coffee cuff onto  the back side of the house pattern paper, that how I got the stripes.  I fussy cut the cuff out and adhered it to the top coffee cup.  I put foam tape between the two coffee cups and adhered them to the front of the tin.  To jazz up the coffee cup, I added a tiny pool party button tied with white bakers twine.  I thought it gave the coffee cuff that 'home-made' feel.

For the inside of the tin, I wrapped some chocolates with the same DSP, and added a Starbucks gift card.  I actually found a Starbucks gift card, that had the same colors in it!  Yahoo! (another OCD affliction)  It's the one with the holiday Christmas tree that is decorated with ornaments.

And yeah, I added a piece of the coral card stock to the bottom of the tin.  (another OCD problem.)  I like things to look 'finished'. Not just 'done'.  I hope someone out there knows what I mean.  And now I realize that when I took this picture, I forgot to add my gift card addition.  Ugh!  

Anyways!  the lovely ladies over @ Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge want to see you use a portion of your hoard collection, and make something!  Oh, and don't forget to share!

Have a great day!  And who knows I may end up adding another project!

Roses & Reindeer

Well, the crafting hasn't stopped.  But, I am taking a small break to post a few pictures.  I love sharing what I create, but I always under-estimate the amount of time it takes to photograph, edit, and post images. {frown}

A wonderful lady who works at my Dentist office, came by my last craft fair (@ Tramway Community Church) and purchased all of the gift card holders I had created.  {smile}  It is very nice to 'sell out'.  And this gave me the push to create some new ones, using some different pattern papers, and embellishments.

These little cuties are a blast to create.  It really forces you to think differently.  The space to embellish is only 4" x 2 1/2", with a slope.  So, it needs to be minimalist, without looking bare.  It's always good to have a challenge, right?

I forgot to photograph these before I packaged them.  So sorry for the cello bag glare.  

Speaking of packaging.  What is stamped on the bag topper is what is heat embossed on the inside.  Also, there is a dot on the back of the bag topper, to show what color of embossing powder was used for the inside.

Recipe:  The top gift card holder:  I used the roses G45 Christmas paper for the outer flap.  The polka dot pattern paper is Aqua dots & stripes by Echo Park.  I used garden green card stock by Stampin' Up! for the base.  I also used the new real red cotton ribbon by Stampin' Up!.  It is soft and ties some beautiful bows.

The bottom gift card holder:  I used Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey.  That paper is easily 3 yrs old.   I only had scraps, so the top panel piece wasn't wide enough to fit across the whole card.  So I made it into a panel.  I added a text pattern paper So Noted by Carta Bella.  The gift card base is made with Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I also used the new cotton ribbon by Stampin' Up! in blushing bride.  

I tied on snowflake charms from Stampin' Up!.  Yeah, they are new this holiday season.

I created two different by equally perfect sentiment pieces.  I stamped both in real red classic ink onto whisper white cardstock; both from Stampin' Up!. 

Look for these and many more different styles of gift card holders at my next craft fair this Saturday @ La Cueva High School, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Thank you for stopping by.  I'm heading back into my craft room, to finish some more gift card holders.  And a few more cards, gift bags, and gift card/box combos. {smile}

the Scent of Roses

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope each of you has a chance to create.  Create something fabulous!  Something pretty.  Something you love.  {smile}  I use the word, 'create' because I think it encompasses all forms of self-expression.  Because isn't that what we are doing?  Doing what makes us happy, what calms us, what gives us joy!  I also don't mean this for just those of us who paper craft.  I want to wish everyone who crafts, joy!  Bakers, quilters, painters, paper-crafters, wood-workers, auto mechanics, welders, . . . everyone who creates something with their hands, uses their free-time to practice their 'craft', and everyone who finds pure joy in what they do!  {smile}

I had time today to create a greeting card.  And yeah, in my favorite color: pink.  I don't have a particular occasion for this card, but rather just the desire to create something pretty {smile}.

I stopped by Crafting by Designs to see what these talented ladies have been crafting.  The current challenge is: Pretty in Pink.  I got this!  This is an inspirational challenge site!  So check it out!

I also stopped by Retro Sketches, because these ladies are sure to inspire!  This is the current sketch:

The thing that I love the best about their sketches, is how simply beautiful they are!  It encourages clean and simple designers, and everything all the way to me!  Love the layers!

and here is what I created:

and here is how I created this card:  I started with Pink Pirouette card stock (SU!) for the card base.  The pink floral music sheet pattern paper, is actually a digital download.  I trimmed this paper and then sponged Soft Suede classic ink (SU!) along the edges, so that no white paper would peak through.   [all digital downloads are printed on whisper white card stock(SU!) and the edges are sponged with soft suede classic ink (SU!)]

I cut a piece of the cream/kraft polka dot pattern paper to 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".  (And yeah, another digital download.)  I added some machine stitching all the way around.  I wrapped a piece of Venetian crochet trim (SU!) around the polka dot piece.  The wrapped a piece of blushing bride 1/4" cotton ribbon just over the top edge of the crochet trim.

I printed the ticket (another digital download) and fussy cut the ticket out.  I added foam tape to the back of the ticket to 'lift' it off the front of the card.

I took a plain white paper blossom, and plucked the center out of the blossom.  I sponged Blushing Bride classic ink (SU!) on the tips of the petals.  I brushed picket fence paint (Ranger) to the petal tips, and then sprinkled the paper blossom with Dazzling Diamond glitter (SU!).  I adhered the paper blossom to the card front with my glue gun.  (love my glue gun!)

I added a strip of champagne colored half faux pearls just over where the two trims join.

I tied a simple bow with the same pink cotton ribbon, and adhered it just below the paper blossom with my glue gun {smile}.

I cut a strip of Very Vanilla card stock (SU!)  5/8" wide  (just over a half-inch) for my sentiment.  I stamped the sentiment 'Have a SWEET day.' in soft suede classic ink.  The sentiment comes from the Garden Variety stamp set (PTI).  I used my scissors to create a shallow flag-end to the banner.  I used my tape runner to apply some adhesive to the back of this sentiment banner, and added one lone staple to the left of the sentiment.

And finally, (right?) I adhered a trio of clear iridescent sequins to the card front.  At this time, I finally added the card front to the card base.  That way, the machine sewing and staple are not viewed on the inside of the card.

I am happy with how my card turned out.  It's not what I originally set out to create, when I walked into my craft room and sat at my craft desk.  I actually began working on a pink Christmas card.  It never came together.  {frown}  Oh well.  But I am really happy with what I did create! {smile}