Happy Butterflies

Welcome.  Today, I want to share with you a magnetic inspirational board.  I used a chipboard coaster.  You know, the kind you get at some restaurants.  (4" x 4")  

Recipe:

I covered the logo on the chipboard coaster with this teal, aqua colored pattern paper.  I distressed the edges with white acrylic paint.  Then I started on my main piece.  I used the other side of the white polka dot pattern paper, the butterfly side.  I distressed the edges with more white paint, and roughed them up a bit.  I added a purposefully sloppy double border stitch with my sewing machine.  I then added a strip of pale pink seam binding and a narrow cream cotton eyelet trim.  I machine stitched them to the paper.  I adhered this piece to the paper covered coaster with foam tape.

I printed a small Bingo card, and an ephemera piece.  The ephemera piece has butterflies, some washi tape, and a ticket that says, 'Happy'.  Who wouldn't love that?  I distressed the edges with more paint, and crinkled them.  I added more foam tape to these two ephemera pieces.  I tied a simple bow with gold tinsel, and layered a double bow tied with the pale pink seam binding.  I added some paint and glitter to a wooden button, and tied them all together with some gold bakers twine.  

I added my sentiment, or inspirational word just right of the bows.  I stamped the word in VersaMark, and used antique gold embossing powder, and heat set.  I also used the same heat embossing technique with a butterfly I stamped onto the ephemera piece.

And finally, I added some white paint to the seam binding bow.  Viola!  

Shabby Chic Vignette House

Howdy!  I was surfing the web, and came across some new releases from Tim Holtz, for the holidays.  Let me say, that I love his work.  I know its not girly, shabby chic.  But it is vintage, and retro, and quite gorgeous!  Anyways, I saw that he has these vignette house shadow boxes in his new holiday  release.  Along with some fabulous flash cards, some deer trophy heads, and some new smaller bottle brush trees, and so much more. 

I want to share with you what I did with this new house-shaped shadow box.  It's sweetly shabby!

I am happy with how my very first shadow box came out.  And I hope that you like it too!  And here is how I did it. 

Recipe:  I painted my vignette house with 2 coats of white chalk paint.  Once dry, I used a sanding block all over the 'house'.  I sealed the distressed paint with a matte finishing cream (sealant).  I cut two patterns of Prima's Sweet Pepperment paper collection.  I cut the polka dot & snowflake pattern paper to fit on the back wall and the two side walls.  I purposefully cut them too short and too narrow.  I wanted the distressed paint to be seen.  I also added a tear at the top and at the right side of the pattern paper on the back wall.  I wanted my pattern paper to look like worn wallpaper. I didn't paper the floor or ceiling.  I liked the 'worn' look.

I purchased these sweet bingo cards as a digital download, and printed them onto white linen card stock, by Paper Trey Ink.  I just love the look of shabby digitals printed on a white textured card stock.  It adds an element of texture and luxury to your printed projects.  I sponged crumb cake classic ink on the edges of all the papers.

I had an extra (ok, left over) burlap doily, so I cut a section off, and added it to the side of my bingo card (it is behind the tree).  I adhered these two joined pieced to the back wall of my house.  

I purchased some plain white resin mini frames from a big box craft store (M) last year, and decided to use the round one.  (yes, I am a hoarder collector)  I did add some gold paint randomly to the white 'frame'.  I used my hot glue gun to adhere the 'frame' to the back wall.  I adhered the deer trophy head to the center of the 'frame'.

I took a bottle brush tree I had left over from last year, and added a crystal star to the top.  (I bleached a lot of various sized bottle brush trees, and painted the tips with white paint.) I wrapped some gold bakers twine around the tree, as garland.  I thought the simple decoration added enough sparkle, and didn't distract you from the 'room'.  I tied on a narrow strip of fabric to the bottom of the tree.  It needed a 'skirt'.

The three gift boxes, I made.  I cut them from Kraft card stock with a die.  The finished boxes measure 5/8" cubes.  They are pretty tiny.  But oh, so, beautiful!  I wrapped each one with different ribbons: silver, gold, and pink silk.  I adhered the metallic ribbon boxes to the floor and the pink ribbon box to the attic.

I added tiny pink blossom to the floor with the boxes, along with a tiny candy cane.  I love little hidden 'treasures'.

The attic doesn't have too many items, a misplaced pink gift box, and a vintage ice skate.

I used one of the new holiday word labels from Tim Holtz.  I painted the piece with white chalk paint, and then quickly wiped it off, so that the paint would only be in the depressions of the lettering.  I wrapped a piece of green ribbon around my house and through the word label.  Finishing it off with a single, simple bow.

I have a few more of these vignette house boxes to finish for my craft fairs.  I am planning on doing a vintage one, and a retro one.  I'm looking through my pattern papers to find the best ones.  Maybe, I'll need to purchase a few more, so I have a larger selection.

Thank you for looking.  Stay tuned.  I have painted and decorated tiny wooden blocks in the shapes of houses.  Yeah, they will be for sale, too! {smile}

Roses and Butterflies: Card

Howdy!  I am still working with my vintage spring pattern papers by Maja Design.  {smile}  This pattern paper I selected today, doesn't have pink or aqua colors in it.  Surprised?  It actually has purples, blues, and yellows in it.  The front side of this pattern paper has a faded calendar with yellow birds and April written in blue.  The other side of this pattern paper is paisley print.  

To help me get a direction on the construction of this card, I stopped by the Crazy 4 Challenges, to get a peek at their sketch.  And boy, am I in love with the sketch!  So many possibilities, and the design team did an awesome job with their inspiration.  {smile}

When I first saw this sketch, the circles look like the flowers, buttons, and pleated rosettes.  The white rectangle at the top looks like the perfect shape for a sentiment banner.  And here is what I made:

I made this card for my sweet daughter.  She loves blue.  It's her favorite color.  So, I was a little nervous about the faded color accents of blue, yellow, and purple.  But, I think she will love it {smile}

Recipe:  I started this card with my favorite kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  I just love the color and texture of this card stock.  I used one piece of pattern paper.  I just used both sides of the paper (not too clever, just resourceful).

My design allows me to showcase all three circles.  The large yellow paper blossom occupies the white circle shape.  And then I used a pair of yellow paper roses with leaves to occupy the small upper circle.  Then I added a multi-loop bow of pale lavender seam binding, and a white resin button to occupy the space of the small circle on the right.

I added a wide cotton trim to the left side of the top panel.  I however must confess that I cut my panel too short.  {grimace}

I machine stitched a double border around the center panel, and distressing to help the card look vintage.  I added some brown ink sponging along all the edges, along with a thread cutter and my finger nail to rough the paper edges.

The blossoms and seam binding were very 'clean'.  So, to help distress, I added some white acrylic paint to the blossom petal tips, and randomly on the top pieces of the seam binding.

I cut leaves with two different hand held punches.  I sponged the edges of the leaves with more brown ink.  I added a white butterfly stick pin I easily purchased 8 years ago at a local scrapbook store.

For the sentiment I stamped the greeting in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  Then I matted the sentiment onto a scrap piece of heather card stock by Amuse Studio.  I adhered the sentiment to the card front, but also added a staple to help add in the overall look.

To add a little sparkle, I added two sets of sequin trios.  Both trios consist of one 6mm marshmallow sequins, and two 4mm lemon meringue sequins, by Pretty Pink Posh.

Thank you for looking at my creation.  I hope you have been inspired to craft a beautiful card using this current sketch, and paper crafting supplies you already have on hand.  {smile}

Tiny Treasure Tin

~ photo heavy post ~

I had a fabulous afternoon, today.  I had a chance to craft more greeting cards that hold gift cards.  I know sometimes, you want to give a gift card, but want a beautiful way to present it.  {smile}.  I will have photos posted on my Facebook page in a day or two.  

I also got a chance to finish a blank mint tin.  I painted the tin with 3 different colors of chalk paint: burlap, cotton, and shell.  The top color is a beautiful pale pink.  I used a sanding block and 2 different grits of sand paper, along with a damp sponge to distress the tin.  Once I was happy with the distressing, I sealed the paint.  And then added pattern paper, embellishments, and sponged ink.

The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Brown Sugar Challenge, have a current challenge: distress!

closed lid

Recipe:  I painted Burlap chalk paint first.  I wanted this soft brown color to peek through.  Then I painted a soft white (cotton) chalk paint.  And the final color is shell chalk paint.  I did dry embossing first.  Then I used a damp sponge to do some wet distressing.  The final step is to add a sealant.  {smile} 

the lid

For the lid, I tore two pinkish pattern papers.  Adhered them together.  Sponged some brown ink all around.  To cover the paper seam, I added a die cut rose from the Tilda paper collection.  I added a scrap piece of cream crochet trim by Stampin' Up! , just below the die cut rose.  I added a simple bow tied with pink pirouette seam binding by Stampin' Up!.  And then I added a pink vintage button tied with cream twine by Paper Trey Ink.

opened

The inside lid, has two different pattern papers from the Corner Shop collection by Tilda.  I just love this paper collection.  The bottom pattern paper is an aqua blue pattern, to help bring out the blue blossoms in the floral pattern paper.  I added a strip of cream crochet trim and a scrap piece of pink pirouette seam binding to the pattern paper stack.  I added some machine stitching, to add to the soft, sweet look of the tin.  I added a sweet, adorable flair button, and a white heart pearl brad, before adhering it to the inside of the mint tin.  Finally, I added a trio of sequins from Pretty Pink Posh (marshmallow and mint).  I added a pair of soft green sequins to help bring out the green in the foliage of the floral pattern paper.

wide opened

The pink polka dot pattern paper is from Carta Bella, baby girl.  I sponged the edges of the pink polka dot pattern paper with brown ink.  I added a die cut teddy bear, from the Corner Shop by Tilda.  I sponged the edges of the teddy bear before adhering it to the inside bottom of the mint tin.

I am calling these little altered, decorated mint tins as Tiny Treasure Tins.  Because these adorable little tins should hold a tiny treasure {smile}!

Thank you for looking.  I will be making several more of these little treasure tins for an upcoming craft fair.  

Grateful, for you : Card

Howdy!  Welcome.  I have a quick post this evening before I head to bed.  I was going to clean(ing) my craft table, to make space for a frenzy craft session this weekend, when I was stacking some scraps of digital pattern papers and a few scraps of trim, when a card came together!  I didn't use a sketch challenge or a color challenge or an embellishment challenge.  It just came together.  So, I distressed, machine stitched, heat embossed, glues, and voila!  I'm actually very happy with my little creation.  Start to finish it took 55 minutes!  Holy cow that's fast for me!

Recipe:  I used my new favorite kraft card stock from the big box store as my card base.  I added a text pattern paper from Paper Studio.  I just love this text paper.  They now make a white on black version too.  How super fun is that?

I machine stitched a floral wood pattern digital paper onto the text pattern paper.  I had several trim scraps on my craft table and they just kinda fell onto the stack.  So, I machine stitched them into place.  I knew I wanted a bow.  You aren't really surprised, are you? {smile}

So I also stitched some seam binding onto my trim stack.  I tied a multi-loop bow with the same pink seam binding, but it looked too flat, too pink, too blah.  So, I grabbed the golden tea dyed seam binding strip that was on my craft table and tied a bow with it.  Placed the pink bow on top, and it looked fabulous!  So, I grabbed my kraft twine and tied these two bows together.  I went digging into my button stash that sits on my desk.  {you know, when you are too lazy focused to get up and put things away.}  I think it looks pretty good.

I added a postage cancel stamp to the floral card.  But it needed something more, so I added some splatters.  I wanted to help bring out the gold in the tea dyed seam binding, so I heat embossed my splatters with antique gold embossing powder.  LOVE IT!

I wanted a sentiment, but didn't really have space, so I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment onto a scrap piece of vellum card stock that was already on my craft table.  I also used the stamp set i haven't put away yet, so it was already on my craft table.  I thought the sentiment banner needed a little something more, so I added some machine stitching to the wide open spaces of the sentiment.

I am super happy with my little quick card that came together while cleaning!  Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired to craft something beautiful today!  Even if it is just for you! {smile}

So Sweet of You!, Card

~ PHOTO HEAVY POST ~

Howdy.  Welcome.  Yeah, I have been busy crafting.  Busy making paper crafts for my upcoming craft fair, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.  But, I took a few minutes and photographed a very special card I created for a current card challenge.   It is in my shabby chic style, with my favorite color: PINK {smile}.

I started with a sketch from a great challenge site: Just Add Ink.  These ladies are very inspirational, and creative working with their sketch.  Please take a moment to head over, and have a look {smile}.

And then I headed over to a very inspirational challenge site: Shabby Chic.  For this current challenge, they have a color challenge!  Remember though, that you have to create in shabby chic style.  Also, they are restrictive on neutral colors.  

and here is what I made:

different views:

Recipe:  I used kraft card stock to create the card base.  I didn't want a color to compete with the main panel, so I choose to use a contrasting color.  The text pattern paper is actually from Melissa Frances.  I just love this paper.  The writing is in a dark grey color, on white paper, so their isn't any distractions.  Your eye moves over it very easy.

The main panel is a pink and white design and text pattern paper from Teresa Collins.  I sewn a double border simple stitch to adhere the two card stocks together.  I rough up the edges my finger nail, and the tip of scissors.

For the tag, I added the opposite side of the pink pattern paper by Teresa Collins.  This side of the pattern paper uses the same colors of pink and white, however, the pattern is all text.  I cut one white paper doily in half and adhered it to both sides of the tag.

I added 5 lace trims to the bottom portion of the tag.  (bottom to top) Cream wide lace.  White cotton trim.  Cream tulle fringe.  White lace.  White crochet trim.  These layers are machine stitched to the tag.  

I tied a multi-loop bow with some white seam binding.  Then I used some pale pink seam binding to tie the white bow to the front of the tag, and created a simple bow.  I tied some cream twine around the bows, and tied it into a simple  bow.  I cut the 'legs' off of a white sparkle brad, and used hot glue to attach the center of the brad to the bow collection.

I had a white fabric blossom laying on my craft desk, so I added it, just under the bow collection.

For the sentiment, I heat embossed my sentiment onto vellum card stock, using gold embossing powder.  I hand cut the banner ends to the sentiment piece.  I adhered the sentiment right onto the tag.

Thank you for looking, I hope you have been inspired to play along with either or both of these challenge sites.  You won't be disappointed {smile}!

Wooden Pins

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you are well.  I have been busy crafting, and photographing.  The holiday craft fair season is quickly approaching, and so I have been trying to get as much crafts made as I can.  I also want to make my crafts available in my virtual shop HERE.  Remember, if you live/work in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area, and don't require shipping, please use the coupon code: ALB87, and no shipping costs are acquired.  Just leave me a note as to how to contact you so I can get your order to you {smile}.  Also, don't forget if you are a previous customer to my virtual shop, you have been emailed a special coupon code to reduce your merchandise total.

I made another recipe of my home-made chalk paint.  And painted some wooden clothes pins.  Then I used sand paper to distress them.  I also did some hand-stamping.  (I sealed the stamped area.)  The paper blossoms have been painted and glittered before added.  I tied some seam binding into multi-loop bows and adhered them just below the paper blossoms.  And finally, I added a single half faux pearl.  

Some of my altered/decorated pins have push pins, magnets, or plain to simply hold messages together.  The magnetic clothes pins aren't quite dry yet, so they aren't available, at this time.  But come back soon.

If you have any questions, please contact me.  My virtual shop will be closed the day before, day of, and day after my craft fair schedules.  Early shopping ensures the largest selection.  However, if you are looking for something you don't see, please convo me, and maybe I can make a custom order for you!

Bingo!

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone had a tolerable week and is anxious for the weekend.  I know I am.  Well, my weekend already kind of started.  Today, I am at a Craft Fair in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  I haven't done this venue before, so my fingers are crossed that it will be successful.  Now for me, a successful craft fair, is that I make back my booth rental, and have a fair amount of foot traffic. 

I wanted to share a card I created, it will be for sale at the craft fairs this weekend.

I came across three wonderful challenges:  Sugar Creek Hollow (Bingo), Cardabilities (Sketch), and the Shabby Tea Room (Bingo).

and here is what I made:

Ok, lets get started on the particulars.  For the bingo challenge over @ Sugar Creek Hollow,  I used the right column down (sewing, distressing, and die cut) and the diagonal right to left (sewing, ribbon, and flowers).  For the bingo challenge over @ the Shabby Tea Room, I used the right column down (buttons, polka dots, and vintage trim) and the middle column down (fabric, ribbon, and flowers).

For the recipe:  I used this beautiful pattern paper, I believe it is Teresa Collins.  I like it, because it doesn't have too much going on, so it is beautiful as a supporting, coordinating pattern paper.  As for the gorgeous floral pattern paper!  Oh, my!  I now wish I had purchased 3 sheets of it.  I only bought one (frown).  And it was a purchase I made in Phoenix, so it's not an hour drive into town for me {frown}.  So, I have been hoarding it.  Notice the small scrap?  At first, I was going to accent the pink flower in the pattern paper, but the blue was so much easier to match.  The doily is Martha Stewart.  The white lace trim is from a local sewing store.  The crinkled seam binding is from my stash.  The buttons are Paper Trey Ink vintage in cream, white, and kraft.  The paper flower is from Reflections.  I added white distressing paint and dazzling diamonds glitter to it.  The sentiment is from Verve.  I purchased the stamp set probably 5 years ago.

I machine stitched my card, twice.  I guess for good measure.  (just kidding).  Sewing 'random' is very hard.  I guess it's a habit to sew straight.

Well, thank you for stopping by my little piece of blog-land.  I hope you get a chance to play along in all, some, part, on maybe one of these challenges.  All three sites have wonderful inspirational work by their design teams.  I am off to load the car for my 1st craft fair of the weekend.  

Mason in Pink

I don't know about you, but I have a love for mason jars.  I didn't always have this passion.  This new 'romance' has only been around for a few years, now.  I started canning a few years ago.  Nothing fabulous, just home-made goodies: strawberry jam, blueberry fruit, cranberry relish, and sliced peaches.  I do a water bath canning process.  I don't have a pressure cooker, and so vegetables don't get canned at my house {smile}.

I embraced this new 'romance' whole heartily.  That translates to mason jars can be seen in my paper crafting.  I now own 4 rubber stamps, that are mason jars.  I have embraced their sense of home, farm-land, comfort, and vintage implications.  

And so, I have a 'board' on Pinterest titled, Jars.  I love the creative look of altered mason jars.  Painted, wrapped in lace, or bits of burlap/twine.  All clever and beautiful!

here is what I did:

If you love these gems, and want to distress them, grab a drink, and settle-in.  There are hundred of different tutorials on how to distress these kitchen common items.  And there are just as many different techniques and tips to help you achieve this look.  So, my suggestions, are to look for a tutorial that provides you with a complete list of supplies, photos to show the process, and techniques that you are comfortable preforming.  To me, there is nothing worse, than spending a bunch of $ on supplies to 'try' something new, to find that you are incapable to completing the task.  The end product is hours spent in frustration, an uncompleted project, materials that you (now) have no use for, and disappointment.

I wanted to paint the outside of my jar.  That way, I can put flowers (and water) on the inside.  I also wanted to use materials that I already had on hand.  And, I wanted to utilize techniques that I am comfortable with.

So, I painted the outside of the mason jar with baby pink craft paint.  Two coats.  I also used a foam brush, instead of a bristle brush.  I let the jars dry for a few days, to allow for the paint to cure.  Then I used a few different grits of sand paper, to distress (remove the paint) from various portions of the jar.  Ok, I raided my husband's work shop {smile}.  I sanded the paint off the threads at the top of the jar, the raised lettering, the bottom rim, and then random places.  Then, I gave each jar a few coats of a clear sealant, to help protect the outer surface.  Tada!  I'm totally happy with how my painted distressed jars turned out!  

I hope your crafting attempt, inspired from Pinterest, is successful, too! 

Paper Dream Blossoms

What a gorgeous day!  I had the most lovely lunch with two very special girl friends.  Both of whom have taught me so much about friendship, paper crafting, and business.  It is from their encouragement, that I have taken another leap in expanding my paper crafting hobby/business, and to further my teaching.  I am writing a few tutorials to be published.  

But, before I tackle that venture, I wanted to share my latest 'love'.  Hand-made paper flowers.  

lush full blossoms  

After our lunch, I headed straight for my craft room, and to create more of these paper blossoms.  I sat down and made six different colors of these beautiful paper Dream blossoms.  Since these paper flowers are hand-made, each one is unique, so no two will be a carbon copy of the other. 

At first, I wasn't quite sure what to name them.  I had used these paper flowers on a card that I made for a challenge earlier this week. I used the sentiment that I stamped on the card: Dream.  And now, these hand-made, paper flowers are for sale in my Etsy shop, found here.  They are officially named: Dream Blossoms.  I made a pair in green, blue, pink, purple, yellow, and grey.  Each pair of paper Dream blossoms are sold on a hand-stamped button card.  A paper Dream blossom measures approximate 2" wide and 1" tall.  I used Stampin' Up! card stock, classic inks, and shimmer paint to create these unique and one-of-a-kind paper flowers.  If you need a specific color, i.e. pretty in pink, old olive, pool party, soft sky, etc, please contact me privately, either at my Etsy shop here or @ bachnucmed@excite.com

I hope this weekend is wonderful for you!  I am off to my craft room, to create a different style paper blossom.  I'm excited to start this new venture!