Market Cardabilities

I really enjoyed making the paper mache book box.  But, it felt like something was missing.   Maybe a tag, to help package the gift.  Or possibly a card!

I used the same inspiration and sketch from Cardabilites # 91.  Their sketch is beautiful, and the inspiration from their design team is motivating.  So, without further ado, here is their sketch:

Beautiful sketch, huh?  Love the simplicity of the clean lines, and the option to embellish with a few items, or really bundle it up!

here is my card:

I used pattern paper is from Lost & Found - Market Street.  I wrapped some very vanilla seam binding around the main floral pattern paper piece and tied an upside down bow.  I added a Prima Market blossom behind/in front of the bow, depending on how you look at it.  I also flanked both sides of the blossom with Paper Trey Ink vintage buttons.  I tied each button with cream twine.  But, I felt it needed a little more glam.  So, I added a trio of gold sequins and peach half pearls.

For my sentiment banner piece, I actually made two banner pieces.  I stamped both sentiments onto pattern papers.  One is, 'HandMade with heart' and the other one is, ' thinking of you'.  One stamp is from Paper Trey Ink and Stampin' Up!

Thank you for looking.   I hope that you get time to create something.  Wether it is paper crafts, sewing, cooking, baking, or painting.  Whatever makes you happy {smile}.

I was a featured designer for challenge #91 @ cardabilities for this card {smile}.   Thank you for selecting my card.  This honor really made my day!

Sweet Nothing

Wow, it's already Friday, and the weekend is getting to start.  I don't know about you, but I feel like I have a thousand things to get done.  Ok, maybe not literally a thousand.  But quite a few.  So, before I start to tackle those, I wanted to share a sweet card I made for a sketch challenge:  Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Yep, I designed this weeks sketch, and I hope you get a chance to play along with us!

here is this week's sketch:

I don't know if you have noticed, but I have selected to stick with a few colors for my sketches: pink and brown.  I made the decision last year.  I felt it was a way to distinguish my sketches from the other ladies in the group.  If you noticed, they too, have stayed with the same few colors for the sketches that they design.

here is what I did with the sketch:

I know that it is not my typical style with a hundred layers.  But, if you look closely you will see my style shine through!  

I have a new love for machine stitching on my cards and other paper crafts.  And this card is no exception.  I did a machine zig zag stitch to the horizontal piece, and then a simple border stitch around the tag.  

I wanted my card to be clean and simple.  Or at least my version of clean and simple.

I used pink pirouette cardstock for the card base.  And a piece of floral and gingham pattern papers from the Gingham Garden DSP collection.  I actually cut the paper doily in half, and tucked the cut edge under the horizontal gingham piece.

The sentiment comes from the From My Heart stamp set.  Love the different sentiments and fonts.  Very pretty and easy to use.  

I matted a piece of very vanilla card stock onto melon mambo cardstock, for the tag.  I strung a piece of daffodil delight seam binding through the hole, and tied a vintage button to the seam binding with a piece of white bakers twine.  I adhered the tag to the front of the card with foam tape.

I jazzed up the tag with a simple floral stamp, from the Kind and Cozy stamp set.  I colored the stamp with different colors (markers) and stamped onto a very vanilla cardstock piece, then fussy cut the floral piece out with my detail scissors.  I adhered the floral bunch to the tag with some foam tape.

I think my card is simple and sweet.  What do you think?

I hope I have inspired you to play along with us over @ SFF.  Let's see what you create with my sketch this week!

Shabby Thank You

Happy Tuesday.  I hope this week has gotten off to a wonderful start for you.  Me, busy like usual.j  So, I'm not sure how any other speed feels.  The weekend was good.  I had a chance to relax for an afternoon.  So, that allowed me a chance to recharge.

The wonderful ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have another wonderful sketch challenge for you to try.  The sketch is pretty basic.  So, you do have some room to embellish and create a busier card.  Or, leave it clean and simple {smile}.

this week's sketch:

I just love the row of circles.  There is so much potential here.  Keep the row of objects as circles, and use buttons, flowers, or soda pop caps.  Or change it up, and replace the shape with another shape: stars, rectangles, hearts, etc.  The only suggestion that I have, is if you change the number from 5, to keep it an odd number: 3.  I think the same type of number stays true to the sketch.  

Ok, so for the rectangle strip, this can easily be replicated.  Make it a banner of pattern paper.  A strip of wide ribbon.  A stamped piece.  I would make sure that the bottom isn't straight.  So a decorative end.  A hand-held punch can easily be used to create that decorative detail.  Like I said, 'a sketch with alot of potential'.  Love it.  And so will you {smile}.

here is what I did:

I'm not a generation X, Y, or any recent name.  All that white space makes me crazy.  So, I dry embossed a piece of crumb cake cardstock with the houndstooth embossing folder.  I sponged crumb cake classic ink on all four sides.  The card base is basic black card stock.  I love how these two neutrals look together.

I cut my banner piece out of vanilla card stock.  I stamped the large sentiment piece is basic black classic ink.  This large sentiment pieces comes from the From the Heart stamp set.  I just love the font and the decorative curves.  I wanted to continue the black on vanilla look.  So, I stamped the flourish frame in basic black classic ink on very vanilla cardstock.  I used the matching label punch, to punch the shape.   

For the five circles, I selected the blossom trim from the Spring Mini Catalog.  I love the clean lines.  But, I'm a fan of layering.  So, I cut a strip of the fabric burlap ribbon, and created a box pleat.  Then I machine stitched the pleated ribbon.  I used red sticky strip to hold the pleated ribbon and the row of fabric blossoms to the card front.  I then wanted to add a splash of color to the field of neutrals.  So, I hand-dyed vanilla seam binding with pink pirouette re-inker.  I used my heat gun to speed the drying time.  I created a multi-loop bow with the hand-dyed seam binding.  To hold it all together, I used a black glimmer brad.  

I hope that we have inspired you.  I know that I would love to see what you create with our sketch @ NAC.   Please, play along with us. {smile}

Thank You Greeting

My last Arts & Crafts Fair for the holiday season is on 

Saturday, December 8, 2012.

It will be at the North Valley Academy from 10a to 3p.

Hope to see you there!

On this Friday, I am participating in the sketch challenge brought to you by Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Maria, is the designer of this weeks sketch.  Maria, does a fabulous job on giving us a very user friendly sketch.  Here is her sketch:

See, what I mean?  You can keep this sketch clean and simple, or embellish the heck out of it!

Here is what I created:

These past several weeks, I have been busy making many, many holiday themed paper crafts.  So, this week, I took a break from Christmas themed cards.

The card base is pool party card stock.  For the main panel, I used the polka dot background stamp.  I stamped the polka dots with Versa Mark ink and used white embossing powder.  I wanted a subtle and feminine background.  So, that is what I came up with.

I have to admit, that I really love pool party and summer starfruit together.  Just pretty.  So I added a strip of summer starfruit pattern paper for my horizontal piece.  I crinkled some very vanilla seam binding.  I wrapped the seam binding around the pattern paper piece, and then created a multi-loop bow.  I secured the bow to the card front with a sparkle-y black glimmer brad.  I stamped and attached the 'thanks' tag to the glimmer brad.

For my focal pieces, I stamped the 'Thank You' stamp off the very vanilla card stock piece.  I sponged crumb cake classic ink along the edges.  For my frame piece, I first dry embossed the frame in pool party card stock.  I distressed the edges with crumb cake card stock, too.  I cut the very vanilla piece to fit inside the frame.  I sponged the edges here, too.  I stamped the little girl in basic black classic ink.  I used my heat gun to speed the drying of the ink.  Then carefully, I used a blender pen to color the image.  I used crumb cake for her hair.  I used pool party of various portions of her outfit.  I used blush blossom to color her skin.  For the heart, I used pink pirouette classic ink.  Then, I used my 2-way glue pen and dazzling diamond glitter to the heart.

I hope that you have been inspired and can play along with us @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.