Purple Christmas

This month is really racing by.  I hope all of you have some sort of handle on your chores, obligations, and other items that need to be completed.  Me, I get them done as I need to.  I feel like I am always behind, and trying to play catch up.  I think, as soon as december is over, I should be ok.  But we all know that that isn't true.  It will be the start of the new year.  So, there are those obligations.  Then, I wanted to re-start my virtual card class.  I also wanted to get some crafters together to start another stamping class, that focuses on techniques.  So, as the days pass, the list of things to get done or at least started grows.

Christina, over @ Our Creative Corner, has a delightful challenge for you to try.  She asks, 'make a last minute Christmas card or project featuring the colors Purple and Silver.  You may add other colors, but make sure purple and silver are the focus colors'.

Here is what I created:

Let me start by saying, I struggled with this one.  I don't know about you, but there are a few things I can't always wrap my head around.  I struggle with Purple and Orange, when crafting.  I also have some difficulty with some of Tim Holtz techniques.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a super fan of TH.  But, I just don't think like that.  He is super talented and does stuff that I can't figure out how he thinks of this stuff.  Now, as with purple and orange.  I really struggle with these two colors.  They aren't ugly, I just get a mental block.

I started with one of the only purple pattern papers I have, from Dreamscape.  (Yes, I had one sheet that had a piece missing from a special request.)  The card stock is Elegant Eggplant by Stampin' Up!.  The sentiment tag is from a die set, Lots of Tags, by Stampin' Up!.  As well as the sentiment and the ink I used to stamp it.  The Santa in a purple robe was a digital download.  The purple striped pattern paper is the reverse side of the purple flourish pattern paper.  The silver glitter paper is from Stampin' Up!.  I used the eyelet border punch to create the scallops.   The purple crinkled seam binding is a small scrap I found in my ribbon stash.  The rhinestone brad is from Recollections.  

I was going to add a bit more, and matt the santa image, but the challenge is to make something 'last minute' so to me that means quick and easy.  I can easily spend 2 hours making a single card.  But, that isn't last minute.  

I hope you play along with us this week @ Our Creative Corner.  We would love to see what you create.  I know you're pretty clever, and hopefully you won't struggle as much as I did.  I hope you have been inspired.  The design team has created some wonderfully gorgeous paper crafts.  You should stop on over, and take a look.  You just might be making a last minute purple and silver Christmas craft!

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.

Flowers in the Snow

Thank you for checking back with me.  It's Wednesday, so it's a Challenge day!  The wonderfully creative ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a pretty neat sketch for us to use.

 

When I first saw this sketch, I instantly thought of a snowman, or some snow flakes.  But, I thought that, 'that was too obvious'.  So, I decided to work with the shapes already there - flowers.  I also wanted to make a card that wasn't Christmas/Winter themed.  I imagine that we all can pretty much look outside to see those images.  I also wanted to work with a stamp set that hasn't felt ink in awhile.  We all have those stamp sets.  When you first see them, you just gotta have 'em.  Then after a few months, they get pushed back in the back, behind other 'forgotten' treasures.  

Now, for a color scheme.  Outside, its green, brown, and white.  Not very pretty for flowers.  So, I grabbed an old time favorite flower color scheme. Can you guess what that would be?  I selected - Calypso Coral & Pretty in Pink.  (if that was what you guessed, bravo!)  

Maybe I'm right eyed, or something, but I didn't like the way my card looked with the matted/scallop piece looked on the right, so I flipped it.  I know you aren't surprised that I used First Edition DSP, right?  I'm also not a big fan of text paper with the wrong orientation.  But this time, I kinda liked the look.  So, my text paper runs along the side and not up and down.  (sorry, if that bothers you.)  To create the background 'paper' I first stamped the french script using the 'finger tap' method, so the whole script wouldn't stamp.  I then stamped the french floral image in pink, using the same technique.  I stamped the flowers onto very vanilla cardstock and then hand-cut each one out.  And then gave each petal a little fold, to create a realistic petal.  I stacked the flowers together, and gave each blossom a half faux-pearl center.  The leaves were a second generation stamp in Old Olive classic ink.  The 'No. 5' is a second generation stamp in Soft Suede classic ink.  To give the eyelet border trim a little pizzazz, I scored the paper every 1/4" and then punched the edge.  

The little banner I made myself.  (It's pretty cute how I did that.) I used a scrap piece of very vanilla cardstock.  I stamped the word first.  Then used the word window punch to create the top and bottom edges of the banner.  I then took the photo corner punch and created the snipped part.  Adhered that piece to a scrap piece of crumb cake cardstock and using the very vanilla piece as my guide, I hand-cut the trim.   I thought it was pretty clever.   All the edges of every piece is sponged in Sahara Sand classic ink.  I wanted to add a little sparkle to my card, so I used the Silver Glitter paper to make the three butterflies.  I also punched out 2 tiny circles to add some pizzazz to the two little lonely flowers.

Lets see what beautifully-creative paper craft pieces you create for this challenge!

SU! Birds Card Class

I was surfing the web a few weeks ago, and came across a beautiful (outstanding) card. I usually document the designer/website to give credit where credit is due. However, I didn't, so I don't have the designers name. Sorry. This is my take/CASE of her card. This is one of the cards you will make at my 'SU! Birds Card Class' in April. We will be making 5 different cards using 5 different stamp sets that showcase beautiful birds. I am hosting this card class on two different dates, so everyone has an opportunity to attend. Sunday, April 11th from 12noon-3p. OR Saturday, April 17th from 10a-1p. There is also two different prices. If you want to make one of each card (5 different designs) envelopes included, and a holder, there is a non-refundable fee $15. If you want to make two of each card (5 different designs) envelopes included, and a holder, there is a non-refundable fee for $25. Class size in limited, so register today. If you do not live in the Albuquerque area, or are unable to attend, you can purchase a kit. The shipping and handling is $5. All kits come with a supply list, and directions with color photos.