Celebrate with Me

This week, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, I am the designer of this week's sketch.  How cool is that?  I have to admit that I do love creating sketches.  I do try to keep them 'user-friendly'.  I do understand how frustrating it can be when a sketch stumps you, creatively.  So, I try to keep that in my mind when I design a sketch.

Here is this week's sketch:

and here is what I created:

The card base is made from baked brown sugar cardstock.  I love how this kraft-colored paper has a 'goldfish tint.  Beautifully neutral.  

I used pattern papers from Etc. DSP for the different pattern papers.  I used the scallop trim border punch to create the scallop trim.  I used my sewing machine to create the sewn borders.  I wrapped crochet trim around the layered pieces and tied the trim into a simple bow.  I created the buttons with clay and the new buttons and blossoms molds.  

I used the four frames punch to create the decorative edge to the 'tab' piece.  I also added a zig zag machine stitch to adhere that decorative piece to the card front.  I created the blossom with the floral fusion die and bent the petals and distressed the edges.  I added a pearl center.  The leaves were made with the 2 step bird punch.  I distressed their edges, too.

The sentiment was stamped with basic black classic ink and used the express yourself stamp set.  Of course, I had to use my stamp-a-ma-jig to ensure that the sentiment is straight.

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  I would love to see what you create with my sketch!  

Hope that you have a fabulous weekend!  

Au Natural, with a twist!

Well, it's Saturday, and that means another creative challenge from the gals @ Our Creative Corner!  Linda, is our hostess this month, and she has a super challenge this week!  Use your light neutrals (ivory, cream, light grey, beige, etc.) for the main colors in your project.  Use dark neutrals (black, chocolate, dark grey, etc.) as your accents.  The twist part, is you must also use a button and some lace. How fun is that?  So, without further ado, here is my entry:

Ok, so here are the deets:  I used all Stampin' Up! supplies, minus the template and the two pearls.  Pretty cool, huh?  For all those who know me, know that I don't smoke.  But, doesn't a cigarette box, make the cutest 'holder'?  I know!  So, before we get too involved with the all the particulars. . .   Do you know what you can fit inside a cigarette box?  Well, this one, you can fit business cards, ATC's, chap stick and a few small goodies (band-ades, ointment), a gift card, and more 'stuff'.  So, how cute would it be to swap ATC's carried in your cute little altered cigarette box?  Or hold all your 'crafty' business cards in?

Ok, onto the box.  I printed the template onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  I found the template @ Just Something I made  you will need to locate her Wednesday April 29th 2009 post.  It has a free download. (put in 'Cigarette box' into the search box at the top, and you'll find it quick and easy.)  My printer doesn't accept cardstock, or at least good quality cardstock.  So, I take my template and cardstock to my local Kinkos and print there.  (It's only 9 cents a copy.)

I didn't want to stamp directly onto the template, so I made 'panels' out of scraps of Very Vanilla cardstock.  I did a collage stamp on each panel and then adhered them to the box.  Pretty simple.  I used three different stamp sets.  Charming, Clearly For You, and Vintage Labels (retired).  I used Going Grey (retired), Sahara Sand, River Rock, and Crumb Cake classic inks.  I used a scrap pieces of First Edition DSP and tore little pieces, sponged and adhered to the panels.  To make my flowers, I used the Square Lattice embossing folder to give the Soft Suede cardstock some texture, and then used the small die Flower Fusion.  I used the left over scrap pieces of the Soft Suede cardstock and the Beautiful Wings die to create the butterflies.  I sewed the pearls onto the flowers with Linen Thread and an upholstery needle.  I had some left over length of the Linen Thread, so I made little loops behind the flowers.  I added a scrap piece of Chantilly Crochet Trim to the cigarette box.  To keep the box closed, I sewd 2 flower shaped buttons from the Neutrals collection with the Linen Thread, and strung some Early Espresso Bakers Twine around the buttons.  To keep the text straight when I stamped it, I did use a Stamp-a-ma-jig.  The rest, I eye-balled.

Thank you for looking, and I hope we see a creation of your over @ Our Creative Corner Challenge blog.  And if you have a moment, please stop by Linda's blog The Funkie Junkie.  She is super talented, and always has some eye candy!

Have a great weekend!  And let me know what you'd put into a 'cigarette box'!

MoJO Monday Challenge #124

Here is my entry to the MoJo Monday Challenge #124. I used products from various companies. The bird I stamped using the 'rock and roll' technique. I'm really happy how it came out. I had originally stamped the bird in both colors, and they both looked flat. The rock and roll, really gave the image some depth. I used felt flowers to help give the card some texture as well as soften it abit. Thanks for looking, recipe follows:

Card stock: solid- soft sky (SU) and ripe avocado (PTI). Pattern paper: Rockland (SRP).

Inks: Baja Breeze (SU) and Ripe Avocado (PTI). Ribbon: Rain (PTI). Flowers: Flower Fusion I & II (SU). Brad: blue (LI). Stamp set: Very Thankful (SU)