Sweet Gold Card

Howdy!  I got a chance to head back into my craft room, again.  And that makes my heart happy {smile}.  I stumbled upon a challenge site, that I haven't seen before.  And thought, I should give it a try.   It's called: cure for the monday blues.  How fitting, huh?  The theme was 'golden gathering'.   Very classy, and chic.

*when I went to upload my card into this challenge, it had already closed. {frown} I missed my upload time by just a few hours.  But, I still urge you to check them out.

I visit retro sketches constantly.  However, I mostly don't play along.  Not that they don't have great sketches, or inspiring design team member... I don't really have an excuse {frown}.   Their sketch:

So, please don't let my absence influence you.  Play along with either or both of these challenge sites! here is what I created:

Recipe:  I used white card stock by Paper Trey Ink, for the card base.  It's a nice heavy weight card stock.  For the main matt, I used basic black by Stampin' Up!.  Love the true black color of this card stock.  The text pattern paper is actually a retired DSP from Stampin' Up!.  It's a newsprint pattern.

For my decorative corner, I added a 4" circle doily.  I purposefully allowed it to hang over the side and top.  I added a 2 1/2" circle of a yellow, glitter, text pattern paper, from My Mind's Eye 2.

For my sentiment block, I used the Hello There stamp set, by Stampin' Up!  I stamped the sentiment in Versa Mark, and added gold embossing powder.  Then heated it with my heat gun, and viola!  Beautiful gold raised lettering!  I used a scallop rectangle die, retired from Stampin' Up! to create the beautiful shape.  I layered it onto gold glitter paper, and then a scrap piece of the newspaper text DSP.  I took a fabric daisy and folded it into quarters, then tucked it under the sentiment stacked rectangle.  I also added a white button, by Bo Bunny, Enchanted collection.  I swiped some glue to the edge of the button, and then added gold glitter to its edge.  I tied a piece of white and black baker's twine to the button, and into a simple bow, and adhered it to the center of the quartered fabric daisy.

The card remains blank on the inside.  And will soon appear in my Etsy shop.  

hello, you Card

Welcome!  Sorry I have been absent lately.  I haven't really been paper crafting.  Shocking, I know.  But, I have been trying some different recipes to use the Meyer Lemons a sweet, and dear friend sent me {smile}.  I tried an 'easy' lemon chicken, from the barefoot Contessa.  And it was delicious!  and a Lemon Glazed Zucchini Bread.  I loved it! {smile}.  And a favorite: Lemon Bundt cake by Martha Stewart.   Cooking always gives me a break from the hum of life.  It allows me to slow down and concentrate on creating & crafting.  {smile}  Several of the grand kids did spend a few days at our house.  Anyways!  I did get a chance to head into my craft room, pull out some supplies and craft!  Yahoo!

To help give me some direction, I went to the internet and went to find someplace to play {smile}.  I stumbled upon a challenge site, that I don't believe I have ever played along with.  the Card Concept.  But, I do love their inspiration boards, and their design team will certainly inspire you.  And well, this weeks board really spoke to me!  Look at this!  I was inspired by the blossoms and the colors! (pinks, blush, and green)

I also stopped by a favorite sketch challenge site:  Cardaabilities.  These talented ladies, always have a great sketch, and the design team is sure to inspire you.  Here is their latest sketch:

here is what I created:

To start I need to give you the disclaimer -  this card was not created in simply an hour.  It was rather a labor of love {heart}  I will give you the supplies and tips of creating this card from the base to the last layer.

Recipe:  I used white card stock from Paper trey Ink.  They make great heavy weight card stock that will stand up to an embellished card.  The creamy, tan card stock, is actually Toffee card stock by Amuse Studios.  I just love the soft color.  The floral woodgrain pattern paper, is actually a digital download from a favorite shop of mine @ iralamija.  I added a simple machine stitch along the edge to create a sweet border.

The circle, is actually a cross stitch hoop shape.  I used a die from Paper Trey Ink.  It has a hoop and banner in the set.  I used a piece of a wood sheet, by Stampin' Up! (these wood sheets are retired. {frown})  I brushed clear crackle paint on the wood and then dipped the whole piece into my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I cut a 2 1/2" circle from a canvas sheet, by Stampin' Up!.  I sponged some crumb cake classic ink on the canvas circle to help give it some dimension.  I used a liquid glue to hold the canvas piece and the wood piece together.  

I used flowers from Prima marketing.  The larger pink blossom is from their Symphony Blend Amoraso Pink collection (#537852) and the two littler blossoms are from the Cabriole Aqua collection (#566807).  I used my hot glue gun to adhere them to the wooden hoop.   I tied a multi-loop bow with some old ribbon I had on hand.  Its a sheer shimmer vanilla 1/4" ribbon.  I tucked the bow just under the larger pink blossom.

For my banner piece, I stamped my sentiment onto whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I used Versa Mark ink, and gold embossing powder by Stampin' Up!.  I cut a flag end and an arrow end on the sentiment strip.  I used foam tape at each end, to attach it to the card front.  

I cut my leaves with a leaf die, using some retired pear pizzazz polka dot dap from Stampin' Up!.  And finally, I added a trio of white half faux pearls, by Mellissa Frances to the card front, along with a pair of clear sequins.

This hand made greeting card will be for sale in my Etsy shop.  Thank you for stopping by!  I hope I have inspired you to play along with either of these challenge sites, or simply craft something pretty! {smile}