the simple LIFE card

Howdy.  thank you for stopping by.  I know that I have been absent, so I truly appreciate your patience, and willingness to stick around.  I was getting some craft supplies in order, when I found this pretty pattern paper that I had had stashed for almost a year.

I wanted to create something shabby, vintage, and country.  But, I also needed a little direction.  So I stopped by the Paper Players blog, to see their current sketch, and wow!  Very work-able!

See what I mean?  Beauty in simplicity!

I stopped by one of my all time favorite blogs, Word Art Wednesday, because they are always inspirational!  Their challenges are Anything Goes, and they will inspire you with both their crafting, and their scripture.

And finally, I went to Really Reasonable Ribbon blog to get some more inspiration!  Their theme is Anything Goes, just use trim, lace, and/or ribbon on your hand-crafted piece.  Easy-peasy!

and here is what I created:

The card is the typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  The pattern papers is actually one sheet of two-sided pattern paper.  This vintage beautiful pattern paper is from Adrienne Looman, called Dream Big.  I love the soft tender aqua color, with a sweet, deep pink, and pops of red.  Simply pretty!  The white doilies, flowers, and kites give this pattern paper a vintage nostalgic feel.

I machine stitched the two pieces of pattern paper onto the white card stock.  I added a scrap piece of white eyelet trim, and wrapped a pale aqua blue seam binding around the card.  How beautiful!  I tied a multi-loop bow with the seam binding.  I tied a red button to the bow with gold and white twine.  Simple, but beautiful!  

I hand-stamped a half circle in real red classic ink.  The stamp set is from the Farm House paper company.  The stamp set is called Country Kitchen.  

The sentiment is hand-stamped in basic black classic ink, right onto the pattern paper.  I used the Country-Born stamp set, by Close To My Heart.

I love how simple but pretty this card is, and I hope you do too!  I am truly happy to be crafting again {smile}.  My mind is at peace, and my heart is full.  Thank you for hanging in there with me, and for everyone's support and words of encouragement!  LOVE you all!!!

Friend and Strength

Thank you for stopping by today.  I have a few things to share with you.  First, I made a quick and easy card.  Ok, maybe not so quick.  And there is a sewing machine involved, so maybe not so easy, either.  Ugh.  Ok, for me, this was quick and easy.  Quick, in that it only took about 30 minutes to make.  

Mojo Monday, has a great sketch for you to try this week.  I love it!  Sketch #315.

and here is what I created with this sketch:

I had to run into one of those big box crafting stores yesterday.  I'll admit, I am using a product that is currently on sale.  And since I was already inside the store, I might as well look around, right?  Anyways, they had this beautiful pattern paper by Prima: Botanical Collection 'my darling' and Romantique Collection 'estella'.  Don't they look just fabulous together?  I matted the 'my darling' pattern paper onto a piece of very vanilla cardstock and machine stitched a simple border.  I then matted the 'Estella' pattern paper onto a piece of Pistachio cardstock, and did a simple border with my sewing machine.  I added some banners made from an old Teresa Collins pattern paper.  I added a hand-dyed pistachio seam binding to the floral piece and tied the seam binding into a multi-loop bow, and added a PTI vintage button tied with cream twine.  I also added a trio of half pearls, to give this card front a sweeter look.  

The sentiment stamp, is also from the big box craft store.  And it was only $1.99 (regular price) and I used my 40% coupon.  I stamped the sentiment in soft suede classic ink, onto very vanilla cardstock.  And matted the sentiment piece onto a piece of crumb cake cardstock.  I used foam adhesive to lift the sentiment piece off the card front. 

I'm pretty happy with how my card came out. Let me know what you think! 

Now, onto to the covered notepad I mentioned in yesterdays post.  I made this notepad cover with a fabulous new stamp set from Farm House: country kitchen.

I love the vintage style labels in this stamp set, along with two different bottle stamps.  The floral pattern paper and the striped pattern paper that I used, is left over from when I made our Christmas cards last year.  Yep, I didn't use 'holiday' pattern papers.  I actually love making holiday cards out of 'regular' pattern papers.  I think it helps freshen the whole season a bit.  Don't get me wrong, I am still a huge fan of pretty holiday pattern paper.  Sometimes, I just really love the unexpected {smile}.  Oh, I almost forgot, the red houndstooth pattern paper is Teresa Collins, He Said, She Said, 'Rulers Paper'.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you have been inspired, and get a chance to create!