Rustic Christmas

Happy Holidays to everyone.  I created a card for one of my favorite challenge sites.  And this has 2 happy endings - I got the opportunity to get back into my craft room, and I am a guest designer!  The wonderfully creative ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday have asked me to create a card for their current challenge {yahoo!}.

So, without further ado, here is my card:

Recipe:  this blank-inside card is a typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  I used a soft kraft card stock for the card base.  I just love this true 'cardboard' color.  I used a 'peeled paint' pattern paper as my first matt.  I love this worn look.  It reminds me of old country barns.

The second matt, is a soft, vintage plaid of red, green, and cream/vanilla.  It looks so country, and so home-y.    I did add a kraft matt, to this plaid matt, and then used my sewing machine to add a simple border stitch to this piece.  I wrapped a piece of red buffalo check ribbon around the pattern papers, and then tied a simple bow.  To keep with the over-all look of the card, I tied a wooden button to the bow with thin silver cord.  There is a tiny charm tied to that wooden button.  It is a vintage holy leaf with a bell.

To add a little flair, I added a candy striped poinsettia just above the button-bow combo.  This paper blossom is from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima. I thought the stripes matched beautifully with the plaid in the matt, and that vintage silver glitter just adds the right amount of nostalgia {smile}.  I used the word file provided by Word Art Wednesday for my sentiment.  I adhered it to the card front with foam tape.  And it works just beautifully!

My card is simple.  But, I think it has a lot of flair and country charm!  I hope you are able to play along with us @ Word Art Wednesday.  Because I know we just can't wait to see what you create!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas holiday, and was able to spend time with family and friends.

Happy Birthday Lynnette

Thank you for coming back.  I want to share a Birthday card, I made for my friend Lynette.  If you saw yesterday's post, you know my friend loves a good book, and all things vintage.  {smile}

I used the same paper collection for the card: Something Blue by Prima.

Recipe:  I used the same Kraft card stock for the card base, that I used to create her paper tote.  I love this heavy weight card stock!

I layered the kraft, grey, and white bird pattern paper as the matt.  I added a scrap piece of the mint text pattern paper as the main panel.  I just love the contrast.  

I cut a decorative shape out of the text & fauna pattern paper.  [using the same pattern papers on the tote, and through out the 'gifts' helps tie the whole gift collection together.]  Then I added a simple border stitch with my sewing machine.   However, when I came to the decorative piece, I wanted the machine stitching to be decorative, too.  So, I did a zig zag stitch there.  I love how machine stitching adds some much love to paper crafts {smile}. 

The floral library card, is from a digital piece.  I thought the library card really conveys the book theme {smile}.  Yes, there are methods to my madness.

I used a sentiment from the Book Club stamp set by PaperTrey Ink.  I stamped the sentiment in dark grey classic ink.  

To add a bit of pizzazz to the card front, I added a junk bow to the top of the library card.  I used scrap pieces of mint lace, cream crochet trim, gold velvet ribbon, chenille trim, gold striped ribbon, aqua seam binding, pale pink seam binding, silver stripe cream ribbon, and cream lace.  I tied the junk bow together with silver cord.  I added an aqua mist button to the center of the junk bow.

I wanted to repeat the aqua color, so I added an aqua paper blossom.  

As usual, I wrote my 'note' on a post-it note inside the card.  That way, the recipient can re-use the card.  Not everyone does.  I have a friend who frames her birthday card each year. {smile}

Thank you for looking.  I hope your week is going well.  Remember, to take time for yourself.  If not every day, at least once a week.  You are important! and loved {smile}.

Evening Tea

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy.  I am trying to get back into my craft room, and create beautiful things again.  And yesterday, I was motivated to create something sweet, to share with a wonderful group of ladies.  As some of you know, I have started going to the gym.  Mostly, to help me with my running.  I still don't love running, but I want to improve on my time, form, and ease the struggles.  Anyways, I have met some of the nicest ladies there.  They don't judge, or sh*t talk about anyone.  They accept you for who you are, and encourage you to keep going.  How truly wonderful is that?  Anyways, I wanted to share a special treat with them, so I arranged to have an evening tea, to share with them.  (I made all of these arrangements back in April.  Thank goodness, because I am not sure I would have had the strength to do so now.)

And as you know, I can't just do a party!  There has to be favors!  But, first, let me enter my creations into a few challenges {smile}.  I love the challenges @ Really Reasonable Ribbon, basically, because they give you the freedom to just create, add ribbon, trim, or lace, and call it done.  Super sweet!

Then, I entered the challenge over @ Word Art Wednesday, because this group of talented ladies are inspiring with their words and creations.  They basically have the same philosophy: create something beautiful, made with your heart, and share it with the rest of us.  Simply wonderful!  Just like my gym ladies!

The theme for last nights evening tea, was Mid Summer's Night, by William Shakespeare.  The decorations were wonderfully right on point.  And the food was simply amazing!  I am never disappointed, or dissatisfied.  My friend Beth, always puts on the most amazing events!  So, my favors need to be worthy, and pretty, and shabby chic, of course! 

Here is what I made:

my favorite pink version:

and my favorite blue version:

Recipe:  I used simple 8oz mason jars.  I used various papers from the Jolee's Boutique paper pad, the Parisian Collection.  I cut pattern paper 8 1/2" x 2 1/2", and wrapped it around the jar.  I made sure the top edge of the paper went along the rim of the jar, to keep it straight.  I cut two strips, and used a lace border punch, to create the decorative kraft paper pieces.  I adhered them to the second strip of pattern paper 8 1/2" x 1 1/4".  I adhered these strips to the top center of the first pattern paper.  I wrapped seam binding around the jar, for decoration, and to help secure the pattern papers.  I tied the seam binding into a simple bow.  I used hot glue to secure the bow to the pattern papers.  I stamped my word friends in basic black ink, on to the same kraft paper, and punched a tag shape.  I tied the tiny tag to a matching button with kraft twine and hot glued the button to the jar.

For the lid, I cut out a paper doily, and used the jar's lid to hold it in place, and hot glued a paper blossom to the doily.  Viola!  not to crazy involved, but simply pretty.

So, inside the jars are some homemade Vanilla-Orange sugar cubes, and 2 Cinnamon Honey tea bags.

I wanted to make something sweet for my hostess Beth, so I added some homemade Vanilla-Orange sugar pieces to smaller mason jars (4oz), and created a simpler version of the jar decorations.

and a 'gift' for the hostess and her helper:

I added a strip of pretty pattern paper around the jar, tied some vanilla crochet trim around the jars.  I made the same tags, and tied them to cream vintage buttons.  For the tops, I added pale mint velvet leaf, and two paper blossoms in black and cream to match the pattern papers.

There were two ladies who did not make the tea, so I left their favors for Beth and her assistant.  I hope everyone enjoyed their time last night.  As we got a chance to sit and chat, and talk about ourselves, and what makes us happy.  Of course, we laughed, and shared our time together.  The food was delicious, the tea selected was a perfect pairing, and the company was unforgettable!  

I hope you get a chance to create something pretty and share it with the rest of us!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I want to take a moment, and wish everyone around this beautiful globe, a very Merry Christmas!  With today's technology we are able to reach out to folks across the globe, and to connect with other cultures, and through other languages, than our own native tongue.  I hope all people find hope, love, and happiness during this season of giving.  And that they start a new year, with a new purpose of forgiveness, love, and laughter.  Our globe is becoming more and more small, and our need to learn to  work and live together becomes stronger and stronger.  May we all find Peace!

I make my own cards, as you all know.  And I make my own Christmas cards, as well.  Typically, I make one card.  But there are years, and this one is no different, that I make 2 cards.  I can't decide which one I like better, so I make both, and it is generally a roulette as to which one you will receive. {smile}  I wanted to share them with you, here, @ my little piece of blog-land: Designs by Sharon.

This one I made first, and I loved the large sentiment piece.  

So of course, I had to add a large bow. {smile}

I wanted a smaller sentiment, but one just as 'pretty', 

to show-off that beautiful pattern paper!

Recipe:  I used Stampin' Up! crumb cake card stock as the base of these cards.  Their card stock is a nice heavy weight, that will stand up to my layers.  {smile}

The layers:  first piece is Mint Macaroon by Stampin' Up!.  I just love this shade of blue green.  It is soft, sweet, and super easy to work with!  

The next layer, is a retired piece from Stampin' Up!.  It came from a holiday collection last year.  I just love sheet music!  

The next layer, is a candy stripe from Sweet Peppermint collection of pattern paper by Prima.  I just love the red and white diagonal stripes.  The shade of red is vintage, and really pops with the mint macaroon.  

And the top layer, is this fun, festive advent calendar holiday print from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima.  It has numbers, words, images; everything you would find, or need on an advent calendar.  I thought this paper was just divine, with a bit of nostalgia.  {smile}

I added a simple machine stitch border all the way around.  And yes, sewn through all the layers. {smile}

My sentiment pieces are on whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I love both the weight of this paper and the feel.  The weight is light, so it won't add bulk to your projects.  The feel is super smooth.  It takes ink (any variety) beautifully!  I matted the sentiment piece with another piece of mint macaroon card stock.  I thought it would help give some definition for that piece, and repeating the same color help solidify that color as belonging to the project.  I kept my sentiment colors, to those I used in the layers of pattern papers.  I didn't want to distract the eye.

I tied bows in either mint macaroon lace or a vintage red gingham print.  The mint lace repeats the mint color from the layers, and the red gingham print repeats the red candy stripes, anchoring both ribbons to the project.  I then tied the embellishment to the bow with thin silver string.  I wanted a sparkle of metallic.  I used either a frosted candy cane or a shiny pine cone.

The cards remain blank inside, and this year I actually wrote in them.  Shocking, I know.  If you didn't know, I never (until now) write in my cards.  I add a hand written note, or typed note to the inside of the card.  That way, you have a card to give.  It's like receiving two gifts in one {smile}.

Well, I am off to the kitchen to get a few dishes started for Christmas dinner.   I hope you are able to share this beautiful season with family and friends.  I think being surrounded by those who love you, and care about your happiness, is enough to bring you joy!  And my heart goes out to those who are serving abroard and can't be with their love ones.  It is a sacrifice to keep our nation safe.  So be vigilant and guard us well.  Merry Christmas! and Peace on Earth.

Blessing Card

Howdy.  Welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I have been blogging about paper crafts for several years now, and I haven't gotten tired of it yet.  {smile}  If you have seen some of my earlier work, you have seen my transformation in my work.  My beginning work was flat.  Simple.  yet pretty.  Now, it is layers, filled with embellishments, trims, and soft colors.  My favorite embellishments are buttons and trims.  And I now find a way to add machine stitching on almost every project.  I really do love the homespun look and feel of how I craft/create now.  

One of my all time favorite challenge sites, I have played along with since I started blogging - Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge - has given us their last sketch for this year.  Their design team is taking some time off for the holidays.  Bravo to them!  If we give them a break, and a chance to recharge, they will return with a new vigor, a new insight and a renewed passion for paper crafting.  So, let us not disappoint them, and play along.  Here is their new sketch challenge:

and look at this perfect sketch they have given us to work with!
Love the simple lines, and the tag!

You could easily make a holiday card with this sketch.  I just might!

here is what I made:

The reason why I started this blog post the way I did; with a remembrance of my beginning paper crafting, is because I have created a simple card, again.  This card.  I used pattern paper from Simple Stories So Fancy for this card.  I used two different papers: the first is that beautiful floral pattern, and the second is that pretty polka dot pattern paper with gold metallic dots.  (the music pattern paper is the reverse side of the polka dot paper)  Even the metal rim epoxy 'dot' is from Simple Stories {smile}.

Recipe:  I used Lavender Moon card stock by PaperTrey Ink.  The kraft card stock matt is from PaperTrey Ink, as well.  

I cut and layered these pattern papers, and then did a simple machine stitching along the borders.  I cut a piece of very vanilla card stock into a tag shape.  

I hand-stamped the sentiment in a dark grey classic ink.  The sentiment is from the Signature Greeting stamp set, by PaperTrey Ink, too.  I just love the mix of fonts.  The simple typewriter style font and the curve handwritten font.  The tag is adhered to the card front with foam tape.

I then tied a simple bow using Lavender Moon satin ribbon, from PaperTrey Ink.

For the final touch, I added a trio of gold sequins from Pink Posh.

This card is going in the mail tomorrow.  I am sending this 'blessing' card to a super great friend {smile}.  My friend, has been there for me during ups and downs, and has given me the encouragement to do things I didn't know I could.  {smile}

Now, I need to get back into my craft room and get some gift card holders completed and a special ornament.  Yep, out of paper!

Pretty Thank You: Card

Welcome.  I took an hour this morning to make a card for a very special friend.  She has been my rock when I needed it the most.  She is always available when I need her.  And always helps me see the bright side to life.  I really do love her, and I know I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

a sneak peak

I needed some inspiration and direction, so I went to a few of my favorite challenge sites:

I started @ Shabby Chic.  Because let's face it, that is my easiest style to craft {smile}.

Their challenge is two parts: include an apple(s) or/and use the required colors: soft pink, pale green and white.   Also, your craft must be in Chebbi or Provence style.  Easy for me!

I next stopped by I Love Scrap.  They have sketches that are so easy to work with, and the design team really can get your creative juices flowing with their creativity and clever use of embellishments {smile}.   

I always love the layers in the sketches, and the design team will sure to inspire you.  They have various styles of crafting, but all of them are beautiful!  You just might find a new blog to follow.  {smile}

And finally, I stopped by another creative challenge site:  Brown Sugar Challenge.  Their current challenge theme is: make the sentiment BIG!  I have noticed that several crafting companies have started creating large sentiment stamps and chipboard words.  This is your perfect opportunity to use those large sentiments.  

and here is what I created:

and a slightly different view:

the Recipe:  I used kraft card stock from Paper Trey Ink for the card base.  I love the weight of this card stock, and I really wanted a 'light' kraft color.  

The text matt is a pattern paper from Melissa Frances.  I love the dark grey text on white paper.  It's very beautiful!  The cream floral pattern paper, is from Tilda: Happiness is Homemade.  I used a thread cutter to distress the edges.  I also added some machine stitching along one corner (upper right corner).

I machine stitched a strip of this beautiful gold lace trim to the pale green tiny star pattern paper.  This is also from Happiness is Homemade.  I adhered this piece to the left side of the card.

For my large circle piece, I cut an embroidery hoop out of a thin wood sheet.  I sponged white ink on the edges to help give the hoop some dimension.  I adhered the same dark grey text pattern paper to the inside of the hoop.  I felt that the repeating of this pattern paper would tie the large matt into the over all look of the card.  [I thought that a different pattern paper would look too random and possible out of place.]

I tied a multi-loop bow out of a pale pink seam binding.  And tied a button to the bow, and tied the whole piece to the hoop with some kraft twine.  I made sure my twine had a double wide loop bow, too.

I added a trio of paper blossoms to the lower right of the embroidery hoop.  I selected pale, soft colors that matched the required colors of the Shabby Chic challenge.  I stuck a button stick pin into the floral cluster.

For my sentiment, I could find the right font, the right words, the right shape.  And then, I decided to use vellum as my 'paper', and use embossing powder as my 'ink'.  It sounds relatively simple, but I did stamp several different sentiments in various colored inks, on various shaped papers, before I thought of using vellum.  I selected gold embossing powder, because gold is the accent color on the lace trim.  I used the Hand Scripted stamp set by Amuse Studios, the sentiments are big and 'hand written' style.

I also added a scrap piece of gold washi tape to the bottom right corner on the inside of the card.  And yeah, I added some machine stitching, to tie it all together. {smile}

Thank you for looking.  I'll post some photos of my advent calendar tree soon.  It's super cute!

Blessings

The holidays are quickly approaching! and I have been a little busy getting some crafts complete.  To be efficient, I have combined some challenges.  I know, I could probably make more stuff if I separated the challenges, but I am in a pinch for time.

We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year.  And, well, I always do more than I have to, and I really like everything to 'belong'.  So, I do a place setting, a Thanksgiving trivia card, and of course a little 'party' favor.  So, I sent out to find some inspiration to get my decorations in order.

I went to some favorite challenge sites, and found some great inspiration!  First stop:  the Shabby Tea Room.  They have a great fall inspired photo to help get those creative juices flowing! oh, and a requirement: burlap and/or twine.  How country/shabby is that?  Awesome!

Here is their inspiration photo:

and then I headed over to Word Art Wednesday.  Their challenge this week is: Anything Goes!  They always include a wonderful scripture, and this week, it fits perfectly with the above inspiration photo.

here is what I made:

I needed to make 5 cards,  and well, the only 'thanksgiving' pattern paper I had, that had colors in it like the inspirational photo, were only scraps (Authentique).  So, that is what dictated the card layout.  I used Scarlet card stock for the card base, by Paper Trey Ink.  I matted the two pattern papers onto Linen card stock, by Paper Trey Ink.  [it is very close to River Rock card stock by Stampin' Up!]

I machine stitched a purposeful 'sloppy' border stitch around the card twice.  I just love how random, and home-y it looks. {smile}

I cut a large scallop trim piece from kraft card stock, by Recollections.  I used this piece to hide the seam where the two pattern papers meet.  

I wrapped a piece of Scarlet satin ribbon, by Paper Trey Ink around the scallop trim.  Then I wrapped kraft twine by Paper Trey Ink, around the ribbon and tied on a wooden button.  (I used glue dots to hold the button in place, so it wouldn't flop around.)

I printed the scripture onto very vanilla card stock, by Stampin' Up!.  Then I did a double matt: scarlet and kraft.

Easy peasy, and pretty plain for me.  But, I do love it!  

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have been inspired to play along with both of these fabulous challenge sites!

Thank You Mojo

Happy Tuesday, I hope this post finds you well, and able to craft today {smile}.  I made a card today, for a very special new friend.  I met her over the weekend, and let's just say we are 'birds of a feather' {smile}.  These folks are very rare and very special.  

Anyways, I wanted to make a special card for this lady.  She opened her home to a few of us, to sell our 'not recently used' craft supplies.  She didn't ask for contributions or a fee.  Just out of the goodness of her heart.  That is really awesome!  I don't know too many folks who would do that.  In reality, I only know a very few who would.  So, my hat is off to you!

I headed right to an old favorite sketch challenge site:  Mojo Monday.  Mojo Monday has some very creative sketches, and they don't have restrictions of products.  This makes it 10 times easier to use what you have on hand.  Here is this weeks' sketch:

and here is my whole card:

And here is what I did!  

I started with kraft card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  Love the heavy weight of it.  I used pattern papers from Prima Marketing: Madeline 6" x 6" stack.  yeah, it is probably 3years retired.  But, I just love the colors and graphics.  Also, I don't typically buy 6" x 6" stacks.  [I only have about 7, that is in comparison to having 4 (yeah, 4) 12" x 12" paper towers.]

I did a simple machine stitching all away around the first layer.  I purposefully did the 'not so straight' stitching.  I think it adds a 'homemade' feel to the card.  I then layered different but coordinating pattern papers (from the same paper stack) to the card front.  I used my Tasteful Trims die from Stampin' Up! to create the scallop border.  

The sentiment banner is made from very vanilla card stock by Stampin' Up!  The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  The stamp set is Water Color Trio.  Yeah, it is probably 5 years retired.  Some crafting supplies are just too fabulous to get rid of.  

All of the edges of each cardstock/paper was sponged with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up! to help define their borders.

The seam binding is Pool Party, by Stampin' Up!.  The blossom is from Prima Marketing, I believe.  I took off the center of the blossom and added a pale green half pearl.  [I kept the center of the blossom incase I need a tiny flower.]

As with 98% of my cards, I have left the inside blank.  I add a handwritten note to the inside.  That way, if the recipient needs a card, they have one on hand.  {smile}

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  I hope that you find some time today (or at least this week) to craft something: paper crafts, baking, sewing, knitting, painting, whatever lets your inner artist a chance to emerge and create!

Kraft Christmas

Happy Friday! and thank you for stopping by.  The lovely Tammy @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, has a great sketch for you to work with this week.  I know that you will be inspired by the great creations from this design team.

here is the sketch

here is my creation

I have been busy making holiday crafts for some upcoming arts and craft fairs, that I will be selling my hand -made paper crafts at, this holiday season.  So, my mind is in that mode.  I have to admit, that I don't have many current holiday stamp sets by Stampin' Up!.  Not that they aren't gorgeous, or very usable.  I just have too many retired stamp sets. 

So, with a restricted budget, this allows me to really use what I do have.  It also gives you some inspiration and ideas on using stamp sets that you may already have {smile}.

The card base is crumb cake.  The green, is pear pizzazz.  I just love this shade of green.  I used a scrap piece of modern medley dsp (black text paper) to have some contrast to my card.  I stamped the tree in basic black classic ink onto white shimmer paper.  I wanted to add a bit of sparkle.  I stamped the sentiment in the same ink, on the lower right corner of the card.

I created the blossom with clay and the blossom and button mold by Stampin' Up!.  I struggled with this.  I really wanted to add a button, or a star.  But, I didn't like anything I had.  And I had an extra clay blossom, and it looks great there.  If you really think about it, it's an odd object to place there.  It doesn't really fit the theme or the concept of the card.  But, somehow it works for me.  Maybe, its the white.
I felt the banner piece was missing something, so I tied a simple knot with some natural trim ribbon.  I selected this type of ribbon, because I felt that it fits the theme of the card (kraft).

Head on into your craft room, and play along with us @ SFF.  And share with us, your paper craft!

Changed Card for the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack

The pink card at the top left of the samples for the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack, we needed to change. That particular card used 4 different stamp sets. A bit much. We loved the color combination, but wanted to make it a bit simpler for the people attending.

Remember, seating is limited. So, if you will be in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area on Oct 24th, and would like to come out and make 30 Christmas Cards (5 each of 6 different designs) envelopes included, please contact me so I can hold a seat for you. It is a non-refundable fee of $45 (includes lunch). Door prizes will be handed out during this event. Just bring your favorite adhesive!