Sweet Rustic Mother's Day Card

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy!  and welcome back to my little slice of blog-land.  I've busy crafting, and I love it!  It is very good for my soul!  As many of you know, Mother's Day is right around the corner!  And I wanted to make something pretty, soft, vintage, country, and over all sweet!  So, while surfing the internet, I stumbled upon two (new to me) paper craft challenge sites, and I'm anxious to play along! So, without further ado, let's get to it! {smile}

I stopped by an old favorite challenge site to get a sketch:  Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.  These folks have some of the most user-friendly sketches out there!  And the design team will inspire you if you need it.  {smile}  Oh, and it's prize week!

My next stop is a (new to me) challenge site:  Crafting When We Can Challenge.  Their current challenge is: add flowers.  Oh my, YES!  The design team varies in styles, so I am sure that you will be inspired to play along with this talented group.

My last stop, is another (new to me) challenge site:  Robyn's Fetish Challenge.   This challenge is: Mother's Day Cards.  Thank you ladies, that's right up my alley!  This lovely group of designers will certainly inspire you with their soft, tender style!

and here is what I have created:

and different view:

Recipe:  The card base is crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up!  I just love this soft kraft color and heavy weight card stock.  The perfect card stock for your cards!
I used Ocean Tides card stock, by Paper Trey Ink, for the matts.  I just love this different shade of blue.  {smile}  The wood grain/floral 'pattern paper' is actually a digital paper.  I love the colors and the sweet rustic look.    The pale kraft star pattern paper is from Tilda.    Ok, we'll start from the top and work our way down the card.

The canvas banner piece is from Maya Road.  I adhered it to the card front with hot glue just at the top.  I wanted it to have some movement.
I added a trio of paper blossoms.  Each blossom was painted with white acrylic paint and then dunked in a tub a dazzling diamond glitter, by Stampin' Up!  I adhered the paper blossoms to the card front with more hot glue.
The large white blossom and the pale blue blossom are from a big box store, different Reflections collections.  The tiny white blossom is from Kaiser Krafts.  To help add a little bling, I added a trio of gold sequins to the top half of this card.  Yeah, they are tucked in, to reveal a sweet surprise.
I stamped the sentiment onto very vanilla card stock, by Stampin' Up!  I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso classic ink.  I used a very retired stamp set:  Something to Celebrate.  I used a photo corner punch to create the banner ends.  I adhered the sentiment piece to the card front with foam tape.

For the lower half of the card, I layered a trio of different materials.  I cut a large scallop border out of a scrap piece of pale pink polka dot pattern paper with my Tasteful Trims die, by Stampin' Up!.  I added a strip of white cotton trim just above the pink polka dot pattern paper.  And then I wrapped a piece of this beautiful pale pink seam binding, that I purchased while junking in Phoenix.
I created a multi-loop bow with the seam binding.  I tied an altered wooden button* with kraft twine. (*white acrylic paint and glitter)  I created my own tag with the Tiny Tag stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the 'tag' in ocean tides ink.  (It is actually a second generation stamp) and I stamped the 'XOXO' in crumb cake classic ink.  I fussy cut the tag with a pair of small scissors.  I used sand paper to smooth out the rough edges of my hand cutting.  Strung the kraft twine through the tag and tied it to the multi-loop bow, and altered wooden button.  I cut a too long length of kraft twine, so I added a single loop of twine behind the seam binding bow.  I added a small piece of foam tape behind the tag, so it would be anchored to the card front.   I also added a pair of gold sequins around this beautiful bow.  {smile}
For those of you who are frequent visitors to my blog, you are probably wondering about the missing machine stitching.  And, all I can say, is me too!  I actually ran out of thread, and wasn't able to pick some up before creating this card.  So, I am trying to embrace this 'plain jane' card.
Thank you for stopping by.  I hope I have inspired you to play along with all or any of these challenges.  Hopefully your week is off to a great start!

SAB Card-Gift Combo

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy, howdy peeps!  Last week, I was pretty productive, I think.  I went to a get together with some crafty friends, and we did a gift exchange.  The rules were pretty simple: use current Stampin' Up! supplies.  Easy peasey, right?  

Well, I made a card-gift combo paper craft.  I posted a sneak peak on InstaGram earlier in the week.  But, I wanted to share the finished product with you, now.  I'm pretty happy with how it came out.  However, I must give you the disclaimer now.  The photos aren't the best.  I was running out the door, when I realized that I hadn't taken any photos.  So, I shot a few with my phone, because I couldn't quickly locate my camera.  (an organizing problem).

Anyways, back to my card-gift combo.  I call it that, because it acts like a card (open the flap) and has a drawer to hold a gift.  Simple.  But, a wonderful surprise!  Here are the pics and a little bit about it {smile}:

the cover

I used very vanilla card stock for the whole project.  But, I wanted to add a little more heft, so I matted all my pattern papers with pretty card stock.  The whole outside, is matted with pool party card stock.  I used a new pattern paper from the Sale-A-Bration catalog: Sweet Sorbet (#133521).

a close-up of my paper blossom

To create this paper blossom, I used the Flower Shop stamp set (#130942/130939).  I used the coordinating punch: Pansy (#130698) to punch out three stamped blossoms.  Then I cut, rolled, bent, and shaped the petals into this beautiful blossom.  I added some glitter to the petal tips, to add some sparkle.  I added a clay button I made, and tied it with some of the new bakers twine: Gold Bakers Twine (#132975).  I thought that the metallic threads added a little bit of glamor to the project {smile}.

the side

I used Pool Party Seam Binding (#125582) to hold the 'card' closed.  I think it adds a bit of softness.

open

the inside 

I used a Window Sheet (#144323) to hold the 'gift' within the 'box' portion of this project, and to provide a little sneak peak of the gift.  The 'gift' for this project are the hand-made embellishments.  The paper blossoms and clay embellishments are all hand-made and use exclusive Stampin' Up! products.  

The 'gift' is contained in a 'drawer', so you slide-out a tray, that holds the embellishments.  I kept the inside simple, so not to distract from the beauty of the hand-made embellishments.  (I stamped the 'box' portion before assembly, using Creative Elements (#128523/122647).

and the matching bag

I used the same pattern papers Sweet Sorbet to decorate the front of the gift bag.  I like things to match {smile}.  Then it looks like it belongs.  I did use the Blue Ribbon stamp set (#131964/125981) to make that adorable 'ribbon' for the sentiment piece on the bag.  I think it adds a bit of fun, to the over-all look.

I did stamp the back of the white bag with my custom stamp for branding.  I used pewter embossing powder and heat emboss the image.  It came out real pretty, but for some reason, I can't get that image to load.  UGH! how frustrating.  (the image is on my InstaGram acct.)

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you like my creation.  If you want to get your hands on these (and other Stampin' Up!) supplies, just stop by my shop here!  And receive a little surprise in the mail, from me, with every order during Sale-A-Bration!  (Jan 28th - March 31st, 2014)

Now go create something beautiful! {smile}

Retro & Fresh

Howdy, I don't have all of my planned projects finished, but I needed to change my focus and work on a new project.  I will be doing a card swap this Saturday.  I only have to make 8 cards.  Easy Peasy.  But, I needed some direction and inspiration.  So, I turned to retro sketches : a challenge.  They have this fun and unique sketch this week.  So, this is where I started.

retro sketches is posting their #99 sketch!  Yahoo!  Congrats to this wonderfully talented design team.  They come up with a lot of inspirational work.

here is the card that I made:

I used some new products from Stampin' Up!.  Sale-A-Bratin starts today, and I used some of these exclusive products.  The pattern paper is called Sweet Sorbet.  This pattern paper has a bright, fun, and charming look.  

The card base is Calypso Coral card stock.  I matted the narrow piece with basic black card stock.  I used a circle punch to create the 'window' piece.  I tied a simply bow with pool party seam binding.  I tired a vintage faceted button with white bakers twine, to the bow.  I added half a tea doily to the punched side.

close-up

The blossom, was stamped using the Stippled Blossoms stamp set.  I stamped the blossom in crushed curry and so saffron classic inks.  The leaves were stamped in pear pizzazz and pistachio pudding classic inks.  I fussy cut them out.  Manipulated the pieces, to give them some texture and to keep them from looking too flat.  

The sentiment piece was stamped in basic black classic ink, using the So Very Grateful stamp set.  Finally, to add a bit of sparkle and fun, I added three gold sequins.

Thank you for looking.  Hope you get a chance to play along with your favorite challenge {smile}.  I finished another desk top calendar.  i'll be sharing some photos soon.  Stay tuned!

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!