Just a Note, Invite

Howdy!  I have been busy creating stuff for another party, next month.  I am hosting a Bunco night with my Bunco Ladies.  We each take a turn hosting, so no one person becomes overwhelmed, and we each get an opportunity to add our own spin on it.

I am sending our reminder cards for June, and need a sketch to get my creative juices flowing.  I stopped by Scrap Africa.  Here is their current sketch:

Now, how awesome is this sketch?  So many fun elements!  I got started right away!

I need to craft 14 invites.  One of the ladies in our group will not be able to attend, so she needs a sub.  I always mail a reminder card to everyone in the group and any subs we need.  That way, no one is left out.  {smile}  Yeah, even to the ladies who I already know can't make it.  It is always wonderful to receive 'happy mail'!
This particular card is going in the mail, to a wonderful lady, and friend.  {smile}

I didn't have enough pattern paper on hand to create so many same cards.  So, I went digital!  The main panel, the tag, the ticket(s) and the focal circle are all digital patten papers I purchased from Etsy.  The cards are all a mish mash of various colors and patterns.

11 cards

Recipe:  For the card base, I used kraft card stock from a big box store - HL.  The main panels are from various digital pattern papers (3 different collections, all together).
I added two different cream laces, and machine stitched them to the main panel.  Then I began layering.  I created the 'tags' from digital bookmarks.  I simply cut them down and mitered the top corners.  I strung some scrap pieces of seam binding through the top hole.  For this one card I did tie on a vintage button with kraft twine to the seam binding from the 'tag'.
I fussy cut some digital tickets, and sponged the edges.  Some tickets were layered over the 'tags' and some under.
The tea themed circles, originally, were digital 2 1/2" circles.  But I don't have a circle punch that big, so I printed them at 70%, which created the 1 3/4" circles.  I sponged the edges of them also, and adhered them to the front of the card with foam tape.
The paper blossoms are from the dollar bin at a different big box store - M.
And finally, the sentiment.  I stamped the sentiment, 'Just a note' onto the bottoms of the cards with Versa Mark ink, and used antique gold embossing powder.  I heat embossed all the cards with the same sentiment in the same color.  {smile}
I just need to add the reminder card to the inside, and they are ready to mail.  I wanted to keep them as flat as possible, so the postage would be more reasonable.
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired, and you should stop by the Scrap Africa challenge blog, and see what these talented ladies have created!

Bee - lieve, Card

Howdy!  Welcome! have a look around, and sit a spell.  {smile}  I had a great visit with a wonderful girl friend today.  She always makes me laugh, and we have a great time together.  Anyways, a mutual friend of ours, is having kinda a difficult time these days.  So, I set out in my craft room, to make her a sweet card!  I just want her to know that we care about her, and that she can always call.

I stopped by Mojo Monday to play along with their sketch challenge.  You see, its the first Monday of the month, so it's a contest/prize week.  So, here is this week's challenge sketch:

It was a lot of fun working with this weeks sketch, so don't be surprised if I submit more than one card for this challenge {smile}.  Here is what I created:

Recipe:  I used baked brown sugar card stock by Stampin' Up! for the card base.  Love their heavy weight card stock.  Very sturdy and beautiful colors.

The pattern paper is Just Saying, by My Minds Eye.  I just love the bright vibrant colors.   The gold accents really add a bit of sparkle. (smile).

I matted the largest pattern paper and the smallest pattern paper with the bright melon orange peel solid card stock.  The gold star pattern paper is matted onto a scrap piece of matching cardstock.  

I added a circle embellishment from this pattern paper coordinating embellishment.  It's a floral circle that has a sentiment inside. 'believe in yourself'.  I think the sentiment is perfect for our friend.  {smile}  I added a white resin crown from Melissa Frances.  I think it adds a little fanciness.  I wrapped apiece of sage green ribbon from Inspired Stamping, and tied it in a simple bow.  I added a piece of elastic trim just under the ribbon.  I love the gold arrows on the cream.  

I thought that there was something missing just below the bow.  So, I looked through my stash for some gold embellishments, and look what I found!  a gold bee.  I thought it looked great with the crown and 'believe'.  Queen Bee, and Bee-lieve in yourself.  Doesn't it look good?  I also added a trio of sequins.  A pair of small gold sequins and a large pale pink sequins.  The sequins are from Studio Calico.

Well, I need to go, so I can get this card addressed and ready to be mailed.  Take care.  and if you get a chance to play along with this weeks sketch challenge, good luck on the contest. {smile}

Blue Butterfly

Ok, don't fall out of your chair.  I know, what, Sharon has made two posts in the same week?  Yeah, I had a little alone time (thank goodness this time, it really recharges me) and sat down at my craft table, and just played {smile}.

I stalk follow some very inspirational blogs/websites, and just had to play along this week!  I went to My Favorite Things blog.  They have separate color and sketch challenges.  How fabulous is that? Anyways, I am playing along with the sketch challenge this week.  Here is their sketch:

I just love the layers and flag end banners {smile}.  Here is what I created:

I am currently working on two different parties, both with a country & western theme.  So, I imagine that is how the burlap print paper ended up on my card {smile}.  My youngest grandson will be turning one, so we are having a cowboy themed party for this little buck-a-roo.  And I am hosting Bunco in July, and my theme is 'farmland' (shabby chic style).

Ok, for this card:  I purchased some burlap pattern paper from a big box craft store earlier this year.  I felt that it grounded the card.  Gave it some visual interest without distracting your eye.

The blue pattern paper that is machine stitched to the burlap pattern paper, is actually a digital download.  (I use digital papers more and more.)  I purposefully ran a random/crooked stitch line.

close-up of the button-tag combo

The small text print is from My Mind's Eye, I believe it is from the Sweetest Things collection.  I created by own flag end with a pair of scissors.  The blue butterfly collage is another digital download.  (I print my digital papers on whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I love the how clean the colors come out of my printer, and I love the weight of their card stock).  I stamped the tag in going grey classic ink by Stampin' Up! , using the tiny tag stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  The sentiment in the tag in basic black classic ink.  I fussy cut the tag out my hand.  Not hard, just follow the borders {smile}.  I used some linen thread by Stampin' Up! to tie the white vintage button from Paper Trey Ink, to the tiny tag.  I tied the linen thread into a simple bow after I tied the button to the tag.  

close-up of the sentiment banner

I created by sentiment using a new stamp set by Inspired by Stamping.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey classic ink, by Stampin' Up!  I adhered the sentiment banner with foam tape to elevate it off the front of the card front.  All edges (yes, all) were sponged with crumb cake classic ink.  I also distressed the edge of the blue butterfly collage sheet with the blade of my scissors.

Thank you for looking.  Please, visit those blogs/websites that inspire you, and take some time to create something beautiful for you.  You deserve this creative time, and a little break from all of the hassles life throws at you.

Bunco Reminder

Howdy!  Well, I have been a little busy getting stuff together for my turn to Host Bunco next month.  I know what you are thinking. . . next month, you have gobs of time.  Well, kinda no.  I have prizes to make, a menu to develop, clean the house, celebrate 4th of July, and everything else the rest of folks have to do (work, chores, raise children/grandchildren, and take care of ourselves).

I send out a reminder card, when it is my turn to  host.  And yeah, it fits my 'theme' {smile}.  This year's theme is 'farmland'.  I needed a sketch challenge, to help me get those creative juices moving.  So, I went to Retro Sketches.  They have some beautifully simple sketches, that allow you to really embellish, or keep it clean and simple, and everything in-between.  So, that's where I started!

See what I mean!  Simply beautiful and full of a lot of potentials.  And here is what I did!

The card base is crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I love their card stock.  It is a nice heavy weight, that is perfect for card bases as well as another paper craft.

The wood-grain pattern paper is actually a digital download.  I just love the mix of wood-grain, florals, and text.  It's so pretty, country, and simply worn.  I matted this pattern paper onto a piece of Aqua Mist cards stock by Paper Trey Ink, and did a simple machine stitch along the four sides.

The pink gingham pattern paper is also a digital download.  I love this mix of patterns for the same reasons. {smile}

I wrapped a cream twill ribbon by Paper Trey Ink around these two matted pieces and machine stitched the ribbon to the card front.  I tied a simple bow.

The jar is stamped in crumb cake classic ink onto very vanilla card stock, both by Stampin' Up!  The jar is from Paper Trey Ink.  Then I stamped the polka dots onto the jar in Soft Sky classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  I fussy cut the jar out, and wrapped some cram twine, by Paper Trey Ink, around the mouth of the jar.  I added a tag, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the tag in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink, and the sentiment in the same color ink.  Fussy cut the tag out, and used a hand-held hole punch.  Tied the cream twine into a simple bow.

The burlap-lace ribbon is from a big-box craft store.  I thought it added a bit of country charm.   The sentiment banner is from a new stamp set I purchased from Inspired by Stamping.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey classic ink and used a square punch to create the flagged ends.

I added two vintage buttons (white and aqua mist) to the right side of the jar, and a white paper blossom to the left side of the jar.  I distressed the paper blossom by brushed some picket dense distressing paint on the petal tips and added some dazzling diamond glitter to give it some sparkle.  The leaves were cut from a text paper.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you found some inspiration, or at least something pretty to look at!