Love Pink

~ a few photos ~

Howdy, I have been busy making a few different cards, getting my tasks organized, and getting some running done. {smile}  But, I want to share with you, the a card I made today {smile}.

I stopped by a favorite challenge site, for some direction: the Card Concept to see what their current challenge is: Vintage.  I have to say, I am a sucker for text pattern paper, and I just love hearts!

My next stop, is an Eastern European challenge site:  Art-Kladovaya.  These talented ladies have a unique and creative take on paper crafting, so please stop by to see what they have created.  Anyways, their current challenge is:  Shabby Chic.

I used their inspirational photo as my palette.  I love the blossoms, and the pink & white color scheme.
I also want to play along with the wonderful ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday.  Their current challenge is: Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  They include a scripture to include in your paper crafting.  And their post are always inspirational!

and here is what I created:

This is a typical A2 size card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I added layers of my favorite papers: text, gingham, calendar, and floral.  I inked all the edges of all my papers with a tea stain ink pad.  All of my digital papers were printed on whisper white card stock, by Stampin' Up!.  I love the weight of this card stock, and how beautiful it takes ink.

I started with kraft card stock for the card base.  I just love the color, and the weight.  My first matt, is a text pattern paper from Melissa Frances.  I really like the softness of the cream and deep brown color.  My pink gingham matt, is a digital pattern paper.  I just love this pattern.  I think it adds a softness and vintage look.  {smile}

I machine stitched a taupe swiss dot lace and pale pink seam binding to these layered pattern papers.  I also tied a double bow, with the pale pink seam binding.

I cut down a calendar card, to allow the pink gingham pattern paper to show.  I then cut three squares (1 1/2" square) from another digital pattern paper.  I matted each square with a different digital pattern paper.  I just love the mix of patterns & texts.

I added some sparkles to the pale pink & brown paper blossom from Prima.  I adhered the paper blossom to the area on the card, that the missing square should have been placed.

I hand-stamped my sentiment in basic black classic ink, onto whisper white card stock.  I adhered the sentiment with foam tape, to give it some height off my card.  I used a new stamp set: Label Love of Altenew.

I added the champagne glitter hearts to the card front with glue dots.  I felt that it added balance and visual interest to my card.  And finally, I adhered the bow with hot glue.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope that you have been inspired to play along with any (or all) of these challenge sites.  Now, I'm off to get a few chores done before bed.  

For the Love of Coffee and You

Howdy, well, I had a little free time this morning to craft, before I had to run.  Literally.  I ran my first race of the year, this morning.  10K.  I'm not a fast runner.  11 minute miles.  But, I also don't think that I'm slow.  Anyway, the group of folks who ran today's race, run faster than me.  But, I am happy with my time.   And it was a beautiful day, to hit the pavement.  {smile}

I made a sweet pink heart card yesterday, and wanted to make another.  But this time a little less shabby, but still all girl!  So, I am playing along with a few of my favorite challenges.

The wonderful folks over @ Verve Stamps, have a free digital stamp set they are giving away.  And, it is perfect for all you coffee lovers.  So, that's me {smile}!  So the challenge on their blog, is to use the free digital stamp set.  No other requirements.  Well, except to have fun!  Check.

I also stopped by the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog to see what their current challenge is - Hearts and as always, use ribbon, trim, lace, or twine on your project.   Check.

I always love stopping by the wonderful Word Art Wednesday challenge blog.  These ladies are sure to inspire you!  Their current challenge is (as always): Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  Check.

And finally, a challenge site I visit often for inspiration: The Paper Players.  This group of super talented ladies, will certainly inspire you!  Their current challenge is: will you be my Valentine?  

and here is what I created:

I am pretty happy with how my card turned out.  {smile}  I was having coffee with a few girl friends on Saturday morning, and yes, we were at a Starbucks.  They had these pink heart gift cards, along with red heart gift cards.  I just couldn't pass these beauties by!  So, I picked up the pink one, and knew I wanted to make a Valentine's Day card with it on the front.  

Recipe:  The card measures the traditional A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used kraft card stock for the base.  The matt is Lavender Moon card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  The pattern paper is from 10 yrs ago, and I only had a 6" x 10" piece left, before I started.  I am not sure of the manufacturer or the name of the pattern.  The pattern paper has large, medium, and small blossoms, in various shades of pinks and purples, with a few orange blossoms.  The leaves and stems are all this beautiful deep, rich brown.  There are also some cream colored swirls and blossoms.  Just beautiful, and I hope you understand why I kept my scraps.  {smile}

I printed my digital stamp set, from Verve Stamps, onto white linen card stock, by Paper Trey Ink.  I just love printing on textured card stock.  It gives my projects a beautiful and rich touch.  I matted my sentiment rectangle onto a scrap piece of Lavender Moon and Kraft card stocks.  Those adorable coffee cups are included in the digital stamp set.  I used my markers to color the coffee cups.  I used Pumpkin Pie classic ink, and Regal Rose classic ink, by Stampin' Up! to give the hearts on the cups a coordinating color wash.  I used my Pink Pirouette classic ink marker to color the coffee cups.  For the coffee cuff, I used scrap pieces of the main panel.  This darker pink and orange circle pattern paper is actually the reverse side of the floral main panel.  I used foam squares to 'pop' the coffee cups off the card front.  

My beautiful pink heart, is actually a new gift card from Starbucks.  I just love how creative and inventive these folks are.  There was already a hole in the heart, so I simply tied some Chocolate Brown twill ribbon, by Paper Trey Ink into a simple bow.  I used a few foam squares to help 'pop' the heart gift card off the card front.

Now, I will need to swing by Starbucks tomorrow morning, on my way to work, and pick up a red one, to add to the front of a Valentine's Day card, too!

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these challenges.