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!

Baby Girl Cube

~ photo heavy post ~

Welcome!  I hope you are enjoying your weekend!  I am!  I had my first arts and craft fair yesterday @ Grace Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and boy was it a good time!  I met a lot of super nice folks and I had the chance to chat with a few return shoppers and friends!  YAHOO!  what a great day!  

I sold out of a few crafts, so today, I am back in my craft room.  My task (originally) was to finish some baptism cards.  I picked up some metal cross charms, to get those on the cards, and well, my crafting took a different turn!  I started distressing some paper flowers, which lead me to a wooden block I had been working on.  And my focus went elsewhere! If you are a fellow crafter, you know you can get side tracked.  (I don't force myself to craft something I just don't have the mojo for, because it never turns out right. So, I typically work on something else, or take a break to change my focus.)  And well, my original task turned into this!  

An altered wooden block: for a baby girl

gentle wash

a fabric tag and brad

an acrylic piece

fabric blossom and fabric tag

top of the block

a drawer pull for a topper

a clay blossom to conceal the push pin
and acrylic pacifier tied with silver bakers twine

close - up of my push pin creation

Ok, here are the details!  Everything I used to make this decorative piece is from my stash.  My husband refers to my stash as a 'store'.  But, he really means 'collection'.  {smile}  I painted the wooden block with gesso and then white paint.  I sanded the block to make sure it was sooth.  I also knocked off the tips, so it would have rounded corners.  I think it adds a worn look.  I adhered the pattern papers to each side and sealed them with Mod Podge.  Yes, the bottom of the block is also finished.  The papers are from Teresa Collins, Authentique, and My Mind's Eye; scraps in my stash.

I used white, and pink pirouette seam binding, along with crochet trim from Stampin' Up! to make my shabby bow.  

The drawer pull is from the hardware section of a big box craft store.  Yeah, I had a different project in mind when I made this purchase almost 2 years ago.  (told you I hoard collect) {smile}  

The acrylic pacifier is from a craft show that my daughter and I attended 9 years ago.  We originally purchased the pacifiers for baby shower party favors, when she was expecting her first child.  But never used them, because we just couldn't get them to work.  The silver bakers twine is from Stampin' Up!.  The clay rose I made with white sparkle clay and a mold I purchased earlier this summer.

The push pin is from Maya Road.  The beads are a collection from the jewelry section of any big box craft store: crystal bead, pearl, and rhinestone spacer.

The fabric tags I purchased almost 7/+ years ago, when that was all the rage.  I keep a lot of old retired stuff.  That's one of the ways that my crafts are unique, and very personable.  You can't simply go out and copy them exactly, or mass produce them.

The pink brad with the fabric tag, is retired from Stampin' Up! (3/+ years).  I simply cut the legs off and used hot glue to glue it on.  

The acrylic sentiment piece was purchased from a big box craft store a few years ago, too.  I originally purchased the set with a different craft in mind, too.  Oh boy, I think I see a pattern!  Yikes!

The only hand stamping on this little cutie, is the tags.  I used a retired stamp set from Stampin' Up! and a mini stamp set from Paper Trey Ink.  I used the jewelry punch from Stampin' Up! (yeah, retired) to create the tag shape.

So, look for this at my next craft fair on November 14th and 15th @ Tramway Community Church Holiday Craft Fair, in Albuquerque, New Mexico!

Now, I really need to head make into my craft room and see if I can finish those Baptism cards.  Enjoy your extra hour today, and do something that makes you happy: crafting, baking, sewing, visiting with a friend, read to your child, whatever makes you HAPPY!