Sherbet Heaven

Howdy! I'm so happy that you could take a moment, and stop for a visit, here in my little piece of blog-land {smile}.  I went exploring the world wide web this morning, and decided to play along with some 'tried and try' challenges, and a brand-y new one to me {smile}.

Each Monday, the super talented ladies over @ Mojo Monday (#381) give you a sketch, and then give you some fabulous inspiration!  And well, this Monday, was no different!  The sketch is basic, but that only provides you with an opportunity to add your own flair!  here is this week's sketch:

And the wonderfully talented and gracious ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday (#166) share with us scripture each week, along with some very creative inspiration!  Their challenge site, has real life stories of people triumph and pearls and teaches us each, to have faith, to be good Christians, and in turn to be better human beings.  If you haven't had a chance to stop by their challenge site, I encourage you to do so.  You will not be disappointed.  And please, take a moment out of your busy day, to read their post.  It will truly inspire you!

Their challenge this week is Anything Goes.  So how fabulous is that? scripture and the freedom to create!  A true blessing to share your talents with them, and us {smile}!

Ok, and so I did stop by a 'new-to-me' challenge site this morning, to see, a wonderful color palette, right up my alley!  cure for the monday blues.  This week, we have been provided us with an inspirational board of pink, yellow, mint, and geometric shapes.  What fun!  and here it is:

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  I used Crisp Cantaloupe card stock, by Stampin' Up! for the card base.  I just love this soft peach-y color.  I used Lullaby DSP, by Stampin' Up!  Since the inspirational board has mint in it, I used the blue/green version of the polka dots.  I used Daffodil Delight card stock, by Stampin' Up! for my matts.  I just love this sunny shade of yellow, without a tinge of green.  I used the pink/brown version of the looped circles, as my main panel.

For the long rectangle at the top of the sketch, I used this to hold my sentiment, which is this week's scripture from Word Art Wednesday.  I added two aqua mist vintage buttons, from Paper Trey Ink to either side of the scripture.  I also threaded some 1/4" gold ribbon, from Stampin' Up!, through the buttons.

For the large circle piece, I machine stitched three different ribbons to a Martha Stewart doily.  I used a crochet trim by Stampin' Up!, an Aqua Mist satin ribbon, by Paper Trey Ink, and a pink, gold, and sheer ribbon I had in my stash.  The lacey blossom for the center of my doily is actually a 'flower' from Prima Marketing, their Coffee collection (#578527).

To help give my card a 'home-made' feel, I added some simple machine stitching around each panel piece, and finally to the rectangle.  I think it helps make the card look 'finished'.  To help tie in the pearl button center on the lace blossom, I added a trio of white half faux pearls, and a pair of clear faceted sequins.

Thank you for stopping by {smile}.  It is always great to have company.  If you see anything that inspires you, please let me know.  Your comments do make me happy! and helps motivate me to keep crafting.  Sometimes, we all need is a little encouragement, to know that what we do, does make a difference. {smile}  Have a great Monday!  Oh, and as usual, this card will be in my Etsy shop.

Coffee, Chocolate, & Friends

Whew!  I apologize for being absent lately.  But, yeah, I've been crafting {smile}.  My last craft fair for this holiday season is Friday.  And well, between working full-time, taking care of my DH, attending 3 holiday dinners, and one doctor visit (that left me unable to walk for a day and a half) I haven't had a lot of time to post.  But, I have been taking pictures, so soon, my life will slow down a bit. {smile}  Pipe dream?  I hope not!

The wonderful ladies over @ Craft Hoaders Anonymous Challenge have a great challenge this week.  They want to see your holiday craft hoard used.  I don't know about you, but I have tons of holiday crafting supplies: pattern paper, embellishments, stamps, sentiments, trinkets, ribbon, buttons, and oh so much more!  I actually have so much holiday hoard supplies, that it is boxed up after each holiday season, because I don't have room in my craft room for all of it.  How incredibably crazy is that?  (between you and me, my husband doesn't use the word 'crazy' when the subject is brought up.  Lets just say that.)

Ok, so for this first project, you are probably thinking that I am not really showcasing my hoard collection, but this is a super cute gift.  

I attended a holiday dinner with a gift exchange for the lovely ladies that I stamp with.  For the gift exchange, there was a price limit of $10.  Ok, do you know how stinking hard it is to make a gift for $10?  If you craft, I'm sure you know what I am talking about.  If you don't, lets just say, it's difficult.

Anyways, these ladies are all Stampin' Up! demonstrators, so I felt the need to use current SU! products.  Hmm.  Maybe this doesn't qualify as a 'hoard'.  But, I have a lot of stuff!

I used the new holiday DSP (Nordic Noel).  I just love the houses.  The bright cheery colors is always a plus!  So, I positioned my DSP, so that the cut would be a row of full houses and not chopping them off. (It's the OCD in me.)

I matted this pattern paper onto coral card stock.  I added a strip of pool party cotton ribbon.  And yeah, I had to sew it on.  I made a simple bow.  But it still needed something, so why not add another bow.  Right?  So, I added another bow with the new gold shiny ribbon.  It help pull the baked brown sugar colored house out.  I also added one of the new snowflake charms to the gold bow.   To keep the sewing stitches from showing on the underside, I matted this whole piece onto a piece of cherry cobbler card stock.  I used a corner rounder punch to all the corners.  You know, since the corners are rounded on the tin.  (OCD shining through)

I used one of the new coffee collection stamp sets.  I stamped the coffee cup twice on shimmer white card stock in chocolate chip classic ink.  I stamp the coffee cuff onto  the back side of the house pattern paper, that how I got the stripes.  I fussy cut the cuff out and adhered it to the top coffee cup.  I put foam tape between the two coffee cups and adhered them to the front of the tin.  To jazz up the coffee cup, I added a tiny pool party button tied with white bakers twine.  I thought it gave the coffee cuff that 'home-made' feel.

For the inside of the tin, I wrapped some chocolates with the same DSP, and added a Starbucks gift card.  I actually found a Starbucks gift card, that had the same colors in it!  Yahoo! (another OCD affliction)  It's the one with the holiday Christmas tree that is decorated with ornaments.

And yeah, I added a piece of the coral card stock to the bottom of the tin.  (another OCD problem.)  I like things to look 'finished'. Not just 'done'.  I hope someone out there knows what I mean.  And now I realize that when I took this picture, I forgot to add my gift card addition.  Ugh!  

Anyways!  the lovely ladies over @ Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge want to see you use a portion of your hoard collection, and make something!  Oh, and don't forget to share!

Have a great day!  And who knows I may end up adding another project!

Pink and Gold Glitter

Howdy.  Sorry I have been absent.  I have been busy crafting for an upcoming Arts and Crafts Fair.  I purchased some gold glitter paper from Stampin' Up! recently.  And well, a friend had asked what I was creating with it.  Because this glitter paper is really sparkle-y and yellow.  I was actually surprised of the color.  But, I had some crafts I wanted to create with it, so, I set out to my craft room.

I made a greeting card, a gift card holder, and a card-box combo.  Now, the photos don't really do these crafts justice.  Please look with a kind eye.

greeting card

card-box combo - closed

card-box combo - opened

gift card holder

The pink pattern paper is from Echo Park.  I used both sides.  The cream and white pattern paper is from Anna Griffin.  The white portion of the pattern paper is actually flocked.   Its easily 4/+ years old.  I had been hoarding saving this paper for a special project.  {smile}  The card bases are pink pirouette yardstick.  The ribbons are white seam binding, think gold ribbon, gold bakers twine, and the new gold sating ribbon from Stampin' Up!  The buttons are blush by Amuse Studios.  The glitter paper is actually gold.  It looks way better in person.

The snowflake die is from Paper Trey Ink.  The scallop trim die and the leaf punch are both from Stampin' Up!  The poinsettia die is from Heartfelt Creations.  The sentiments are a mix of different stamps I had on hand.

Thank you for stopping by.  I'll post some more of what I have been creating soon.   Oh, I will have some of those flip desk top calendars for sale at my next arts and craft fairs.

Baptized

WOW!  Can't believe that I haven't posted for almost a week!  Yikes!  But, I have been busy paper crafting.  I went to a paper craft retreat over the weekend.  Had a fabulous time.  I went with a super duper bestie! and it was a retreat that was super productive!  We actually got projects done, AND won stuff!  So, how great is that?

My oldest granddaughter was baptized this past weekend also.  I was able to craft a few cards for this super special event.  Here is what I made:

For this card, I used pink pirouette card stock for the  card base.  I just love the heavy weight of Stampin' Up! card stock.  {smile}

I took a piece of white card stock and dry embossed it with an embossing folder.  Love the pretty design.

I matted the embossed paper onto a piece of gray card stock.  I felt that brushed silver looked too brassy.  (not sure if that makes sense.)

I wrapped a piece of sweet blush satin ribbon (by Paper Trey Ink) around  the lower third of the card and tied a simple bow.

I threaded white bakers twine through the bow and tied the bakers twine into a simple bow, also.  However, I did string a cross dangle with the bakers twine.  I love how the silver looks with this pale pink color.  And the rhinestone center adds a little sparkle.  (gotta love that!)

I made my sentiment in a word document (on the computer) and printed it on shimmer white card stock.  I used my 2 1/2" circle punch.  

The pale pink doily was made with blush card stock by Amuse Studio.  I used the doily trio die by Stampin' Up!

I wanted something sweet, but large enough for the sentiment circle.

My mother couldn't find a card from her local card shop (Hallmark, and Taget), so she asked me to make her a card to give our latest baptized baby.  So, here is what I made her:

For the card base of this card, I used white card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I used their card stock because the white card stock is a lovely heavy weight card stock.  Very sturdy.

I printed the pray onto shimmer white card stock.  Trimmed the size and matted this poem onto brushed gold card stock.  Love the amount of shimmer and metallic glitz.  

I used my very last strip of an exclusive Stampin' Up! floral lace trim.  I wrapped it around the front of the card.  

I added a strip of gold satin ribbon by Stampin' Up! across the center of the lace trim.

I added a cream paper blossom by Recollections to the right side of the card.

Viola!  not a lot of fuss.  But very elegant and very pretty.

I selected gold for my accent color, because my mom had purchased gold cross earrings for our oldest granddaughter.

Thank you for stopping by.  I am working on creating some very similar baptism cards to add to my 'stock' for upcoming Arts & Crafts Fairs in Albuquerque, New Mexico next month.  Yeah, next weekend.  However, once I have them finished and photographed, they will be added to my Etsy shop, HERE.  Give me a few days to get some of that done.

Celebrate Lagoon

Welcome.   I am on my way out the door to attend a Stampin' Up! meeting.  I just love attending these meetings!  It really does provide a chance for us SU! demonstrators a chance to re-connect with our friends, and fellow SU! demonstrators.  We exchange tips and tricks on paper crafting and on the business of being a demonstrator.  

Anyways, we always swap (share) cards.  We make a single card design and then crank out a dozen to give to the attendees of the meeting.  I knew what I wanted to use - something new.  I am crafting for some upcoming holiday craft fairs.  So, let's make it holiday inspired.  But, what?  Ugh, I was drawing a blank.   I couldn't get my mojo moving.

So, I headed over to Retro Sketches.  They have some very wonderful, user-friendly sketches.  So, here is this week's sketch (and yeah, I have already posted a card with this sketch):

See what I mean?  It is easy to really embellish this sketch.  Or simply keep it clean and simple.  That's what I really love about this sketch challenge site.  You get to showcase your style, use your products, and simply let this sketch shine!   Here is what I made:

I know.  This is not a typical card for me.  But, I rather like it {smile}.  I used some new holiday pattern paper, matted the pieces.  And then simply stamped right on the card front.  Yikes! that was nerve wracking for me!  I wrapped the center square with the new gold sating ribbon and the new Lagoon taffeta ribbon.  Simply pretty, huh?

Like I said, I'm running out the door.  Take care.  And I hope you get a chance to play along with your favorite challenge!