Let It Snow, in January

Howdy, and welcome back.  I have been busy crafting, but not busy photographing what I have created {frown}.  But, I will work on being better at sharing what I create here, and on my Facebook page.  To be honest, sometimes, its just easier to take a quick pic with my phone and upload it on Facebook.  Yeah, that makes me sound lazy.  Honest. But lazy.  So, a New Year's Resolution has been declared!

I am playing along with three challenges: Just Add Ink, Paper Craft Crew, and Word Art Wednesday.  So, let's get started!  I stopped by Just Add Ink blog, and they have a color inspiration photo for their current challenge.

When I saw this photo, I instantly thought of a new line of holiday paper from Prima: Santa Baby.

For a little bit of direction, I stopped by the Paper Craft Crew blog.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  Perfect!  Here is that sketch:

I'm pretty sure I can work with this! {smile}

Finally, I headed over to the Word Art Wednesday blog.  Their challenges are Anything Goes, Family Friendly.  And the design team will certainly inspire you!

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  I created a standard A2 size greeting card (5 1/2" x 4 1/4").  I used PaperTrey Ink's Aqua Mist card stock for the card base.  I just love this soft, pale water color!  I added a piece of the 'houses' pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby.  I thought it looked sweet, and cozy.  

The next layer is the mugs of cocoa pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby, matted with Autumn Rose card stock by PaperTrey Ink.  

I then wrapped a piece of cream lace and pale pink seam binding around the second layer (similar to the sketch), and then I machine stitched these layers together.  I added my layered stack towards the right (as in the sketch).  I machine stitched the sentiment panel to the Aqua Mist card stock.  I slipped on a 'tree' paper clip.  And used foam tape to adhere it to the paper paper layer.  

I tied a double bow with the pale pink seam binding, and tied a tiny pale pink ornament to the bow with some gold and white bakers twin.  I adhered a paper blossom from the Prima: Santa Baby collection just above the bow.  I punched out some leaves and stuck them in behind the paper blossom (as in the sketch).  

I added a trio of crystals (as in the sketch) from Prima to the front of the card; two below the bow and one next to the tree paper clip.  I thought that they added the right amount of sparkle, even tho they are two different colors: aqua and pale pink.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope that you have a chance to play along with any or all of these challenges!  Enjoy your weekend, and I hope to be back soon!

is Christmas over?

Howdy.  Whew, I don't know about you, but this holiday season came up fast and went by in the same speed. {frown}  I had so many plans, wants, desires, and items I wanted to craft.  Well, I didn't get the time to do all of those things/crafts.  One of the most disappointing crafts I didn't get to, was my paper ornaments for the grandkids.  I had everything purchased and on hand, but didn't get the time to die cut shapes, and stamp items.  {frown}  It kinda breaks my heart.  I haven't totally let go of the idea, so who knows I just might make them anyways.  Let's see what kind of time the new year brings.

I did finish a gift card holder very (and I do mean VERY) last minute, and I wanted to share with you.  {smile}  But, I want to enter a few crafting challenges:

Crafting by Designs : Here Comes the Holidays

a Gem of a Challenge : Christmas & Anything Goes

My Time to Craft Challenge : Last minute Christmas Makes

Just Add Ink : Gift Card Holder

here is my Christmas gift card holder:

(due to the constant snow fall, and lack of natural light,
my photography skills were really challenged)

'drawer' is pushed open

Ok, my little gift card holder, is actually a match box with a decorative top and matching bottom.  How super cute is that?  The thing I love about these little boxes, is that you can embellish and decorate the whole box, and you don't have to untie the bow to open it! {smile}

here are a few different views:

Recipe:  I cut the top and bottom panels out of real red card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the depth and richness of this red.  The 'sleeve' that holds the box was cut with a scrap piece of holiday pattern print card stock.  It is a vanilla color with charcoal santas.  

The top piece is actually a printed 'tag'.  It looks like a Poinsettia stamped tag layered on black and white polka dot paper.  How super cute, and easy to work with.  

I added a few stands of decorative trim to the real red ribbon through the tag hole.

I added a strip of silver sequins, red pom pom trim and olive green striped think twine.   I tied them together with silver cord, and added a plastic tiny candy cane.   To help with the silver accent, I also added a rhinestone brad to the tag hole.  And then added a trio of loose silver sequins.  I also tied a mini plastic peppermint patty to the big black striped bow on the side of the box, with another length of silver cord.

For the sentiment piece, I stamped the greeting in basic black classic ink, by Stampin' Up! onto white card stock, and used my scissors to fussy cut around the words.  I did add some sponging to the edges of the sentiment piece.  I did that to cut down on the stark whiteness.  I added foam adhesive to the back of the sentiment piece to elevate it off the front of the box.  I didn't want it to look too flat.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope I have inspired you to think of a different way to present a gift card.  {smile}  I am having an End of Year Sale in my Etsy shop, HERE.  So, please check it out.  I need to make room for some new crafts.  {smile}  Also, if you are going to be in Albuquerque, NM around the end of next month, stop by my Trash to Treasure Trunk Show!  Come see my crafts in person!

Special Edition #260: Card

Welcome.  I was busy late last week crafting, and then I went out of town.  I wasn't able to post before I left, and I didn't bring my laptop with me.  {frown; sorry}

I am still working on using my scrap pieces of pattern paper. I wanted to use the scraps I have left over from my little mini composition notebook, to create a card.  {smile}

To help me with some direction, I headed over to Just Add Ink Challenge.  These talented ladies have a great sketch as their current challenge.  You will be inspired.

Now, when I first saw this sketch, I instantly saw many possibilities.  The circle could be a doily, or a blossom. The rectangles could be pretty pattern papers.  And the banner, could be ribbon, lace, or words!  And that's just what I did:

Recipe:  I used Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up! as the card base.  Love this soft, pale blue color.  Very pretty!  I used Authentique Renew pattern paper (Flourish).  I added a double machine stitch border.  

For the center rectangle, I added a Coffee Break journal tag, by prima.  I love how the aqua blue and black polka dot tag coordinates so well with the Flourish pattern paper.

I added a pool party seam binding multi-loop bow, to cover the red blossoms on the journal tag.  I tied a vintage button to the center of the bow.  I added a double loop of cream twine below the seam binding bow.  I included a tiny tag, with Mother hand-stamped on it, in basic black classic ink.

I added a strip of white lace trim, where the banner piece went.  I also added a strip of aqua mist satin ribbon on top of the lace trim.

The aqua blue fabric blossom, I purchased.  It was on clearance at a big box store.  I just love well the colors match!

Stay tuned tomorrow.  I will be posting another card-gift combo, and a gift card holder.  I'll give you a little insight.  I used mostly white/cream!

So Sweet of You!, Card

~ PHOTO HEAVY POST ~

Howdy.  Welcome.  Yeah, I have been busy crafting.  Busy making paper crafts for my upcoming craft fair, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.  But, I took a few minutes and photographed a very special card I created for a current card challenge.   It is in my shabby chic style, with my favorite color: PINK {smile}.

I started with a sketch from a great challenge site: Just Add Ink.  These ladies are very inspirational, and creative working with their sketch.  Please take a moment to head over, and have a look {smile}.

And then I headed over to a very inspirational challenge site: Shabby Chic.  For this current challenge, they have a color challenge!  Remember though, that you have to create in shabby chic style.  Also, they are restrictive on neutral colors.  

and here is what I made:

different views:

Recipe:  I used kraft card stock to create the card base.  I didn't want a color to compete with the main panel, so I choose to use a contrasting color.  The text pattern paper is actually from Melissa Frances.  I just love this paper.  The writing is in a dark grey color, on white paper, so their isn't any distractions.  Your eye moves over it very easy.

The main panel is a pink and white design and text pattern paper from Teresa Collins.  I sewn a double border simple stitch to adhere the two card stocks together.  I rough up the edges my finger nail, and the tip of scissors.

For the tag, I added the opposite side of the pink pattern paper by Teresa Collins.  This side of the pattern paper uses the same colors of pink and white, however, the pattern is all text.  I cut one white paper doily in half and adhered it to both sides of the tag.

I added 5 lace trims to the bottom portion of the tag.  (bottom to top) Cream wide lace.  White cotton trim.  Cream tulle fringe.  White lace.  White crochet trim.  These layers are machine stitched to the tag.  

I tied a multi-loop bow with some white seam binding.  Then I used some pale pink seam binding to tie the white bow to the front of the tag, and created a simple bow.  I tied some cream twine around the bows, and tied it into a simple  bow.  I cut the 'legs' off of a white sparkle brad, and used hot glue to attach the center of the brad to the bow collection.

I had a white fabric blossom laying on my craft desk, so I added it, just under the bow collection.

For the sentiment, I heat embossed my sentiment onto vellum card stock, using gold embossing powder.  I hand cut the banner ends to the sentiment piece.  I adhered the sentiment right onto the tag.

Thank you for looking, I hope you have been inspired to play along with either or both of these challenge sites.  You won't be disappointed {smile}!