Classic Thank You

Good Morning.  And welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I am still crafting with what I have in my craft room.  Let me just say, that it can be both overwhelming and liberating at the same time.  I have grown into quite the paper craft hoarder collector.  I believe with all honesty I could open my own paper crafting supply store with what I have on hand.  {yikes}

But, one of my New Year's Resolutions, has been to start using what I have instead of purchasing new supplies.  Now, don't get me wrong, I still make purchases, just a lot smaller in quantity and $$$.  {a whole lot smaller}  

I am playing along with two groups of wonderfully talented paper crafters today.  

My first stop is @ Paper Craft Crew Challenge #309.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  And I love a good sketch.  To me, a good sketch is one that is super versatile and can be embellished or clean and simple.  Here is their sketch:

(Stampin' Up! products used: card stock, glimmer paper, and thin silver cord)

See what I mean!  The circle can be any shape, or item (blossom, doily, star, witch, etc) and the scallop border can be just that, or any other decorative border, or lace.  Can you see it?

My next stop is over @ Word Art Wednesday  This beautiful challenge site, is always Anything Goes, Family Friendly.  Now who wouldn't love to play along with them.  They provide a scripture that you can use with your paper craft, but is not required.  

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  this blank inside greeting card is the typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  The card base is made with Lagoon card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the hue of this blue.  The blue pattern papers are from American Crafts.  I just love the aquamarine color.  And those grey and white blossoms are just gorgeous!

I used some glitter paper from Stampin' Up! for both the scallop trim and a small banner piece under the sentiment to add sparkle.  I had a scrap piece of a grey plaid pattern paper, so I'm not sure who the manufacturer is, but I believe it is core'dinations.  

I did a slim dark grey matt under the blossom pattern paper, and machine stitched all the layers together.  I also machine stitched the ribbon across the card.  I tied a double bow with the ribbon, and tied the bow to a vintage Aqua Mist button, by Paper Trey Ink, using  thin silver cord by Stampin' Up!.  I hot glued the bow-button combo to the card front.  I added a light grey faux half pearl to the center of the double bow.

I stamped my sentiment: Thank You, in a basic grey classic ink onto a scrap piece of shimmer white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I used a favorite stamp set by Altnew: Label Love.  I used foam tape to lift the sentiment off the front of the card.

I used my one and only dark grey fabric blossom by CTMH.  I thought it worked perfectly.  And my final touch, was the addition of a trio of brushed silver sequins.

Thank you for looking, and I surely hope you get a chance to create something beautiful today! {smile}

This & That, Photo, and Valentine; Card

Howdy.  I am sharing with you a card I made last night.  And I didn't get a chance to photograph it, until this morning.  I am using some new pattern paper from Echo Park.  These pattern papers are not Valentine Day themed, but I thought they worked very well for this card.  {smile}

I am entering three different creative challenges with this card.  Please check out the challenge host sites for a ton of inspiration!

My first stop was Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #134 - anything goes.  These lovely ladies use ribbon on everything!  How fabulous is that!  And I am a sucker for some beautiful ribbon, and it is one of my 'standards' on a paper craft.  

My next stop was Just Us GirlS Challenge - WORD week: Valentine.  They ask that you keep it nice and simple.  I love this challenge blog, because the design team has so much inspiration, that they will entice all crafters to play along.  Now, if you know me, I don't really do 'simple'.  But this card is pretty 'simple' for me {smile}.   this card was selected as the winner,  for their word week challenge #329.

And finally, my last stop was Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #433 - Contest Week.  Because lets just face it, they have some very user friendly sketches!

Ok, without further ado, here is my entry:

Recipe:  I used Basic Grey card stock by Stampin' Up! for the card base.  As you know, they make some wonderfully sturdy card stock for this type of project. {smile}

I used a solid paper from Echo Park for the main matt.  I wanted a color that matched perfectly, and didn't want to spend time trying to match or getting close to a match, so I purchased the solid color.

The two floral pattern papers are from the same collection 'Photo' from Jenni Bowlin Studio @ Echo Park.  I just love the blossoms, and polka dots, the pinks, and reds, and dark grey.  Beautiful.  

The ruler pattern paper is from the collection 'This & That' from Lori Whitlock designs @ Echo Park.  I just love the mix of fonts and colors of the rulers.  I matted this piece onto a light weight pale pink card stock by Amuse Studios.  

I added a simple machine stitch border.  I just love the look of hand made cards with a bit of machine sewing on them.  

I wrapped this country red gingham ribbon around the front of the card  and added some machine stitching to help hold it in place.  Then I tied the ribbon into a simple bow.

I took at journal card from the Photo collection and cut it down to 2-inch square and matted it with basic grey card stock.  I adhered this piece to the front of the card.  I then used the same reddish solid paper from Echo Park and cut a scalloped edge heart.  I then used a different journalling card from the Photo collection and punched a heart shape.  I adhered the heart to the scallop heart with foam tape.  To help give it some dimension.

I added a deep red paper blossom at the bow, and tied a silver tone key to the bow with some beautiful cream, charcoal, and silver bakers twine.  

My sentiment I hand stamped onto a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock, in Basic Grey classic ink, using the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I used a small square punch to create the banner ends, and adhered it to the heart, off center.  

Thank you for looking!  I hope you have been inspired to play along with these challenges!