Say Cheese!; Card

Howdy and welcome.  Today is the first day of the Rubber Stamp Show, here in Albuquerque, NM! Yahoo!   This annual event is a great opportunity for rubber stamping companies from all over the United States to set up shop and sell their wares.  The show runs from 9:30a to 5p today and 11a to 4p tomorrow, I believe!  

During the show, they have a card contest.  Two contests (one of each day) and I entered this year.  It's actually a big accomplishment, because I always say that I will enter, and then life gets in the way, and I don't.  But, I actually sent in a card for this year!  I entered Sunday's contest, that has the theme 'Say Cheese".  [Saturday's contest theme is 'Across the Miles'.]

Sunday Card Contest theme: Say Cheese

My card was selected as their First Place winner!  I received $100 in 'show bucks', to spend at the Rubber Stamp Show.  I'm super excited and very proud of my work!  A huge 'Thank You', to everyone who voted for my card.  I appreciate it!
This card is the typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  

When I read what the theme was, I instantly thought of a camera.  And I have a camera stamp.  So, I set out in my craft room to see what I could create.  The only stamp I have with a camera, is this one from Paper Trey Ink: Shutterbug.  It's a 'vintage' camera, but so perfect for me, right!  I stamped the camera onto very vanilla card stock three times.  Yes, three times.  And then I fussy cut it out.  One whole image, and the then two downsized portions.  I used foam tape to stack the images on top of each other, to give the illusion that the camera is coming out of the card.  Perfect.  but now I needed paper.  

Since my camera image is 'vintage' why not pair it with 'vintage' paper.  Tilda, came to mind.  It's a craft company from Scandinavia and the pattern papers are just vintage, shabby chic perfect!  I layered three different pattern papers (large floral, tiny floral, and polka dots), and adhered to a Taupe card stock matt, by Amuse Studios.  I added a single, simple border stitch with my sewing machine.  Wrapped some crinkle seam binding, and crochet trim.  I didn't want to add adhesive to the trims, so I machine stitched them to the card front, using a zig zag stitch.

Adhered the card front to an A2 size card made with Crumb Cake card stock by Stampin' Up!  I just love the heavy weight of this card stock for the base of my cards.  

Tied a multi-loop bow, added a simple bow made with metallic bakers twine just under the seam binding bow, and topped that piece with a small, simple paper blossom.  Not too fussy, just simply pretty!

The Shutterbug stamp set has this adorable sentiment: Say Cheese & Eat Cake.  So I stamped it onto a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock.  Used a hand-help circle punch to create the sentiment tag.  I added a single faux brad to the top of the circle and adhered it to the card front with foam tape to get it over the edge of the camera.  I also made another sentiment tag, 'happy birthday'.  Its from the Tiny Wishes stamp set by Stampin' Up!  I just love the typewriter font.  I hand cut the sentiment out into a rectangle.  I sponged the edges of both sentiment pieces, to help convey the 'vintage' look and feel.  And it helps give the sentiment pieces some dimension.

Thank you for looking, and here I am with my fingers crossed, hoping I win, place, or show.  {smile}

[Win, Place, Show - are horse racing terms.  Win - 1st place, Place - 2nd place, and Show - 3rd place in horse racing.   The rubber stamp show is held at the Albuquerque Fair Grounds, which has a horse racing track.]  The prize for having your card voted 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place is receiving 'show' bucks to use at the Rubber Stamp Show.  It's like free money! {smile}

Sweet Vintage, Card

Howdy! and welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  Grab yourself a cup of joe, tea, or any other thirst quenching beverage, sit a spell, and have a look around.  I hope I inspire you, and give you something pretty to look at {smile}.  Life here in the country is good.  

As I said earlier, I really want to get some crafting done to participate in a few challenges.  I find it easier to double a few of my favorite challenge sites together.  More bang for my preverbal buck.

Our first stop is a recent favorite of mine:  the Card Concept.  One of my favorite things about this challenge site is that they give you some of the most beautiful inspirational photos to work from, and the other is that they welcome all crafting styles!  Me, I'm mostly shabby chic, with a touch of vintage.  So, it's always nice to feel welcome.  And don't let me forget about the design team samples.  Holy smokes, can these ladies craft.  Beautiful work in various styles, using various products.  

here is the current inspirational photo:

The instant I saw this photo, I thought, 'Mother's Day'.  The texture in the pitcher and the various blossoms really shine in this inspirational photo.

My second stop, is a staple of my crafting sketches:  Mojo Monday.  The number one reason why I love this sketch challenge site, is their user friendly sketches.  They have very workable sketches, that just about everyone can play along with.  {love it}

here is the current sketch:

The hanging piece to me looks like a tag.  And the band at the bottom looks like trim!  So, without further ado, here is what I crafted:

Before we start, I just wanted to say, 'thank you' to my family, friends, and my followers for all of your support in my endeavor to find happiness in playing with paper.  I am truly grateful that you have embraced this passion of mine, and don't give me grief over the purchase of one more sheet of pattern paper, or the idea that just one type of trim is not enough to own.  I know I am blessed.  And I thank the Lord every chance I get.  But it is this true acceptance from all of YOU, who keep this drive, this willingness to craft, this love of sharing going.  THANK YOU!

The recipe:  I started my card, just like every other card I make with Stampin' Up! card stock.  This card stock is heavy weight, smooth, and just gorgeous!  Crumb cake is the kraft color I am working with today.  Lovely stuff!

The main panel is whisper white card stock.  I ran it through my vintage wall paper embossing folder.    (love the design on the pitcher in the inspirational photo)  Matted it onto a scrap piece of blossom blush card stock (retired).  I cut a strip of floral pattern paper from the Grace collection by Authentique.  I hand cut a flag end.  Then I ran it through my sewing machine to give it several passes of a simple border.  (I selected this pattern paper, because of the various blossom in the inspirational photo.)

Now, the focal piece.  I started with a canvas tag.  I had a few different trim pieces sitting on my crafting table (aka left overs).  So, I gave the two bottom pieces a quick sew and ruffle.  The top piece I used to help hide stitching of the other two.  For my center blossom, I had this paper blossom left over from a stacked piece that I took apart.  I added a thick rhinestone to the center, and then set the blossom in a bed of ruffled cream tulle.  I hot glued this piece to the canvas tag.  I put an ice pink pearl brad from Kaiser Craft toward the bottom right of the blossom.  I added a vintage brad to the top left of the blossom.  I felt that the repeat of the circles help ground the center blossom piece.  I covered the eyelet hole on the canvas tag, with a multi-loop bow/button combo I made myself.  I started with a pale pink crinkled seam binding, and created a multi-loop bow.  I tied on a white/clear tiny vintage button to the center of the bow with cream twine, and created a bow just under the button.  I adhered this piece with hot glue in the eyelet hole, on the canvas tag.  

For my sentiment, I stamped and heat embossed in silver this beautiful font: Thinking of you, onto a scrap piece of vellum card stock.  I created the same flag end to this banner.  I weaved it thru the ends of the pattern paper piece.  And finally, I added a simple staple to the right end of it.  I didn't want this card to be too specific.  And wouldn't it be wonderful to receive a hand-made card in your snail mail box?  To finish the card, I add a pair of marshmallow sequins to the top left of the banner piece, and a trio of the marshmallow sequins to the lower right of the banner piece.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope I have inspired you or at least directed you to a challenge site to participate in!  And as always, happy crafting!

'N' is for . . .

I wanted to share a quirky little side note with you.  But, before we get to that, a little back story.

I am a fan of monograms.  I actually do like them.  Not the weird, misplaced ones of yester-year.  The one's of today.  With scrolling beautiful fonts, and clever ways of incorporating them into our everyday lives.  And with this notion, I started altering chipboards letters.  I adhered strong magnets to the backs, and use them for decoration.  Ok, so the first one I made was for my locker at work.  But, I digress.  I loved the whole process, picking out the papers, collecting little embellishments, and decorating these stark, life-less letters into works of art.  My friends loved them, too.  So, I started making some for the various craft shows I sell my products at.  And what a hit!  These little gems do take quite a bit of time. But, they sure do end up very pretty to look at.  

Anyways, one of my good friends, Nichole, just loved the first 'N' that I ever made.  And boy, does she have an eye for pretty.  That letter 'N' was the first altered monogram magnet I ever sold.  And Nichole has loved every 'N' I have made since.  I typically create 'N's in black and white color combos with splashes of bright yellow.  But this year, I went another route. Cream and black with a pop of lavender. And it sold at my first arts and craft fair this holiday season!

packaged, and displayed on a framed metal sheet

So, my quirky little side note is this:  out of all the altered magnetic monograms I have created, the letter 'N' is my top seller!  I have sold more 'N's than any other letter, I have created.  Isn't that just funny?  And do you wanna guess what letter I am crafting again this week, for the upcoming craft fair?  Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!  'N'

Thank you, Nichole for all your love, support, and encouragement!

Happy Mother's Day + Blog Candy

Happy Mother's Day, to all of you who are celebrating!  I wanted to celebrate today with you all, and  give away some candy!  Blog candy that is!

here is the candy I am giving away:

The blog candy consists of one yard total of my favorite trims and two button cards of my home-made clay embellishments. 

The trims: one foot each of crochet trim
burlap ribbon, and pale pink crinkled seam binding:

one button card with two clay buttons:

one button card with clay embellishments
a disc with bird and flowers, a blossom, and a cameo

The clay embellishments are made from white sparkle clay and baked to cure. These embellishments will add a shabby touch to any craft.  Each clay embellishment is attached to the button card with a glue dot.

And here is how you enter.  Leave a comment with this post, letting me know your favorite childhood memory.  It can be anything; a family vacation, a stuffed animal you received on your birthday, the best cake your mom made you, whatever.  Also, include a way to contact you, if you are randomly selected as my winner, so I can mail you your candy.  (Candy will be mailed on Tuesday, in a padded envelope.)   Good Luck!

Oh, one little detail.  You have until Monday, May 13th @ 11pm MST to leave a comment, to be eligible to win.  One comment per person.

the sweetest sounds to mortals given

are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven

~William Goldsmith Brown

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Favorite Gift Bag

I hope this finds you well and  safe.  I had a wonderful time this holiday season visiting with family and friends.  I had a bunch of laughs, hugs, and some good chat time.   I have enjoyed making paper crafts for the folks in my life who appreciate my efforts.

One of my favorite challenge blog sites is the Shabby Tea Room, and they are having an interesting challenge this week.  They want us to share our favorite paper project.  And here is what I am sharing:  a beautiful, vintage gift bag I altered, to hold a gift I purchased for my oldest granddaughter.  I love altering paper bags.  I think the blank 'canvas' allows you to create what you want!

Here is a close-up of the gift bag:

The gift bag started as a simple white paper gift bag, with one rope handle.  I had a few scrap pieces of this pretty pattern paper, so I put them together.  I used a die to cut the grey polka dot pattern paper.  I wrapped a left over piece of crochet trim around the pattern papers to hide the seam.  I then used my sewing machine to add some stitching on this panel.  I made a multi-loop bow with some pale pink crinkled seam binding.  I attached the bow to the front of the panel with a pearl brad.  The sentiment tag peaking out under the bow says, 'JOY'.  I used a wide oval punch to punch out the little girl image from a tag.  I used another die to create the heart shape from some silver glitter paper.  I tied some pink bakers twine through a white button and tied it into a bow.  I adhered the button to the heart with my glue gun.  I wanted a simple tag, so I stamped and cut out the tiny 'top-note' shape.  I sewn a fabric initial to this tiny 'top-note' piece, and attached the monogram piece to the top of the gift bag with a glittered clothes pin.

One of my friends had a jewelry party before Christmas.  I attended.  (She's a very good friend.)  Well, it was with a company called 'Origami Owl'.  Never heard of it, so I looked it up on the internet.  And, really liked what I saw!  So, when I went, I knew that I was going to make a necklace for myself, and get something beautiful for my oldest granddaughter.  If you would like to 'shop', click HERE.  Jaime, is a wonderful person.

I wanted the bag to be as beautiful as the tag necklace that I purchased for her.  So, I altered this plain white gift bag.

I tied the box with a satin ribbon, to make the box pretty, too.

Thank you for stopping by today. 

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

Holiday Note

Welcome.  I hope you are well.  I have been super busy, trying, and trying to get everything done this holiday season.  Wheew!  I think I forgot how busy this season is, and I am still struggling to get everything done.  I don't even have my Christmas tree up.  So, it really doesn't feel like Christmas.  Maybe that's why I'm having so much difficulty.  

I did find an hour few hours this morning to get a jump start on a few holiday thank you notes.  (the stores aren't open yet, anyways.)  

I was shopping at a local scrapbook store several weeks ago, when I saw these papers, and I just had to purchase them.  I knew that I wanted to do something with them, for Christmas, but didn't have any idea at the time of purchase.  Well, I found a  use for them!  Christmas 'Thank You' cards!

The card base is Old Olive card stock.  The pattern paper is from Authentique, it's one of their holiday lines, Peaceful.  I guess the first thing I thought was, green, black and cream for a holiday paper?  uhm.  Well, I have to admit, I just love the simplicity of it.  I used three of the pattern papers (the bird, the stripes, and the flourish) for my card front.  Because the papers were CAS, I wanted my card front to follow.  I used the Tasteful Trim die from Stampin' Up! to make the scallop trim on the card.

The sentiment panel is from Paper Trey Ink, called Stylish Sentiments.  This stamp set, has a variety of holiday stamps that are square (like this one), rectangle tall and rectangle long, with a variety of three different styles.  So, to me, very versatile and easy to work with.  I stamped my sentiment in Basic Black classic ink onto very vanilla card stock.  I distressed the edges with Crumb Cake classic ink and sponge, and swiped Pear Pizzazz classic ink pad across various spots.  I matted the sentiment square onto Old Olive card stock and used foam tape to 'lift' the sentiment square off the card front.  

I used some of my Old Fashion Christmas crinkled seam binding from Prairie Boutique , to tie a multi-loop bow, and secured it to the front of my card with a Recollections pearl brad.  I created two different tiny tags, one is 'Thanks', the other is from a holiday post mark.  Both tags where stamped with Old Olive classic ink, and the edges were distressed with Crumb Cake classic ink.  

The sentiment on the lower right side of the card is from Paper Trey Ink, called Signature Christmas.  The thing I love most about this set, is the small, beautiful font.  These stamps fit perfectly on tiny tags, and other small places.  One says, 'just a little Christmas note' and the other one says, 'A Christmas Thank You'.  

I stamped the envelopes this time, which is something I seldom do.  Not sure why, but I typically don't. I stamped a bird on a holly branch from Stampin' Up!, called Beautiful Season, in Basic Grey classic ink.  I stamped the sentiment that is included with this stamp set, 'thinking of you at Christmas', is stamped in Old Olive classic ink.

Thank you for stopping by.  Now, I'm off to the mall.  Wish me luck! and stop by tomorrow, if you have a moment.  I'll share with you a few photos of a holiday 'thank you' box I have made for the various families we visit on this joyous day: Christmas!  

Happy Holidays & Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

Anything Vintage Christmas Box

Happy Wednesday.  I hope this post finds you well.  I have been busy this week, trying to complete a few more items for this week's Arts & Craft Fair @ Presbyterian Hospital, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  While I was surfing the internet for some inspiration, I stumbled upon two different websites that are hosting vintage holiday challenges.  And so, I just HAD to create something for the challenges. I needed a break, and to recharge my mojo, so here we go!

Sugar Creek Hollow, has a #39 vintage Christmas challenge currently running.  They ask, 'We want you to make vintage or shabby chic Christmas cards or other paper-crafted projects that feature vintage Christmas images.'

Ok, I can do that.  I used a vintage tag that I purchased as a download.

Tuesday Alchemy, has a #42 anything goes challenge currently running.  They ask, 'Christmas will be arriving here very soon.  Since the season is a busy one, we are keeping it simply for you.  It's Anything Goes! You decided the challenge.  Create ANY handmade, new project you'd like and share it with us.'

Ok, I can do that.  I need to make a gift box for an upcoming holiday event.

here is what I created:

Here is what I used:

I made the box with Cherry Cobbler card stock from Stampin' Up!  Its the same box I made for my daughter's baby reveal baby shower, earlier this year (here)  I also made this box for a Valentine's Day gift (here).  I purchased the pdf for the directions and pattern for this box from My Time Made Easy.

I wanted to decorate the top of the box, so I used some pattern papers I already had on hand.  The Christmas pattern paper is Festive from Authentique.  The text paper is Twas the Night from Amuse Studio.    For my vintage image, I used a vintage tag that I had purchased earlier this month, I reduced their size before printing to 70%.  I purchased the holiday cheer tags from Iralamija Shop @ Etsy.  She does some very pretty, vintage-style, digital collage paper crafts.   I did stamp on the tag.  I wanted to put something in the open space, so I stamped, 'Merry & Bright' in basic black classic ink.  The stamp is from a set, Signature Christmas, from Paper Trey Ink.  

I also added two snowflake buttons at opposite corners of the box front.  I wrapped some crinkled seam binding I had purchased from Prairie Bird Boutique @ Etsy.  This pretty green is in the Old Fashioned Christmas bundle.  You will receive 15 yards.

You know me, I HAD to add a button.  And so I did.  On top of the bow.  The button is from Paper Trey Ink.  The tiny tag that is tied to the button, is actually part of a stamp. Pretty clever, huh?  The stamp set is Winter Post  from Stampin' Up!.  But hold on, this stamp set is retired.  Sorry.  I kept it because I just love the images and the sentiments.  The 'date' is actually from the post mark stamp in this set.  I punched the date out with the jewelry tag punch from Stampin' Up!.

I filled the box with some holiday peppermint pretzels.  What a cute little 'thank you' gift for our holiday party. 

I hope you have been inspired to continue creating your hand made Christmas items, or inspired to start.  Either way, I hope you have enjoyed the photos.  Let me know what you would put inside these little boxes.  Their dimensions are kind of small:  3 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/4".  Actually a gift card fits nicely in the bottom, and I could always add a chocolate truffle or two {smile}.

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

Silhouette Challenge

Happy Saturday.  So glad you could pop-in.  This week, I actually struggled with the challenge @ Our Creative Corner.  The super talented Marcy, is our hostess, again this week.  Marcy, would like you to use either a silhouette stamp or a cut-out on your paper craft project.   I know what you're thinking, 'that sounds pretty easy and exciting!' and well, I think any other week it may have been.  But my focus these past few weeks, have been towards creating Halloween gifts, Thanksgiving tags, Christmas packaging and other paper crafts for the upcoming Arts & Crafts Fairs, that I am attending this holiday season.

So, without any further ado, here is what I made:

I had a few scraps from a fabulous shabby chic paper pack.  I layered the aqua text paper, with the pink polka dot paper.  I covered the seam with a scrap piece of crochet trim.  To distress the edges of the various papers, I sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  Then, I used my sewing machine to run a simple stitch along each side.    I wrapped a piece of spun sugar dyed seam binding around the main panel, tied a multi-loop bow and secured the bow to the card front with a Basic Grey brad.  I used a Spell-binder die to create the small 'top-note' shaped  piece.  I stamped the mannequin and heat embossed the shape on the decorative panel piece.  I also heat embossed the same stamp shape onto basic black card stock and fussy-cut it out.  I used small pieces of foam tape to lift the mannequin piece off the card front.  The heart is punched from a discarded coffee cuff.  I painted the edges with picket fence distress paint and dunked the heart into a tub of glitter.  I tied cream twine through each of the buttons.  I created my own little banner piece.  I cut a thin piece of card stock, stamped the sentiment, and then curled the banner piece.  I tucked the tiny banner behind the corrugated cardboard heart.

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you get a chance to play along with us @ Our Creative Corner.  This card will be available for purchase at my booth during my craft fairs.