Office Boss Card

Howdy, and welcome.  Sorry that I have been 'missing' from my blog.  I have posted a few things on my Facebook page.  You are always to welcome to check that out.  I try to post different images there.  Only to help keep it fresh {smile}.

I made a card today for my bestie.  She is a terrific lady, and our lives have gotten very busy with our own families.  So, we haven't been hanging out as much as we use to.  We have started scheduling 'dates' each month, just so we don't loose touch.  Todays world has become so hectic and overwhelming, that most of us don't have time for ourselves, let alone some of our most cherished friends.  {frown}  It's not always by choice, but rather a simple lack of time.  

I am entering my card into three different, but equally beautiful challenges.

Let's start with the sketch.  I headed over to the Paper Craft Crew Challenge.  Their current challenge is a beautiful sketch.  One that is simple, but easily expandable.  Great, right?

My next stop was to get a bit more direction.  So I stopped by the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  A super fun and creative challenge site.  They use tic tac toe boards, so it allows you structured freedom.  Gotta love that!

stripes, ribbon, floral

And last, I wanted a bit more influence, so I stopped by the Double D Challenge.  This creative site has themes, items, and just a great variety of different challenges.  Their current one: twine!  How super fun is that? and twine is very easy to work with.  Give it a go!

and here is what I created:

Recipe: this card is a typical A2 size (5 1/2" x 4 1/4").  Blank inside.  

I used bashful blue card stock by Stampin' Up! for the card base.  (its a discontinued color)  I just love the softness, and the true blue color.  I also used not quite navy card stock by Stampin' Up! for the matting.  For the same reason.  The pureness of the blue, the beautiful heavy-weight of the card stock.

The pattern papers are from a digital collection I purchased.  I printed the stripes and small print onto whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  The slick-ness of this card stock takes ink beautifully.  The large print, base pattern paper was printed onto white linen card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  The sturdiness of this card stock, along with the texture, makes it beautiful to print on.  {smile}

The stripe panel is adhered to the card front with foam  tape.  The sentiment is adhered to the card front with foam tape, as well.

I tied bashful blue satin ribbon from Stampin' Up! (retired) to the 'tag' piece.  I tied a blue button to the center of the bow with a copper & cream twine.  The star I made.  I used sparkle white clay, and a star mold.  

The sentiment is hand-stamped.  I used ultra detail antique copper embossing powder for the sentiment.  I used the Label Love stamp set by Altenew.  And the final touch was the trio of copper sequins by Prima.

Thank you for looking.  I need to get this card in the mail!  Have a great day!  And I hope that you have a chance to play along with any/all of these challenges.  {smile}

Let's Cook

Howdy! and welcome!  I've been a little busy getting some cards made, and well, I wanted to share the last one I made.  I had a request for some cupcakes, and you know me, I have to make them look delicious, package them pretty, and send along a card!  {smile}

I played along with two Anything Goes challenges, so I could create something simple, pretty, and just what I needed.  {smile}

I picked up this 'baking' pattern paper from our local scrapbooking store several weeks ago, only because I loved the paper.  And I finally got a chance to cut it!

I am entering my card @ Word Art Wednesday, for their Anything Goes challenge.  If you haven't played along with this talented group of ladies, you are certainly missing out.

I am also entering my card @ Brown Sugar Challenge, for their Anything Goes challenge, as well.  This design team will inspire you!  Please stop by and have a look.

and here is my card:

my card was selected as a 'Top 3' @ Word Art Wednesday

Recipe:  The card is a typical A2 size card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used my favorite kraft card stock as the base.  I love the color and feel of this heavy weight card stock.

I used pattern paper from Bo Bunny, Kiss the Cook collection.  I just love the colors, the nostalgic patterns, and the beautiful images.  It reminds me of a church picnic.  Everything homemade, and delicious!

I layered two different but coordinating pattern papers and machine stitched them together.   I think machine stitching adds some much character to the card.  {smile}

I wrapped some mint blue seam binding around the card front.  Layered a paper doily from Stampin' Up! on top of the ribbon.  I stamped an oven mitt in Mint Macaroon classic ink, by Stampin' Up! onto white linen card stock, by Paper Trey Ink.   I used  the Country Kitchen stamp set by FarmHouse Paper Co.  I fussy cut the mitt out with my scissors.  And adhered it to the card front with foam tape.  I just love how this linen card stock gives the oven mitt the look of fabric!

Tied a multi-loop bow with the seam binding, and tied on a yellow button, to highlight the yellow in the pattern paper.

For my sentiment I used the Label Love stamp set by Altenew.  I am so loving this stamp set!  I stamped the sentiment  in basic black classic ink, onto vanilla card stock and fussy cut.  I adhered the sentiment bar to the card front with foam tape.

Viola!  My card isn't loaded with a pound of blossom, or trim, but I still think it looks sweet!  I hope you get a chance to create something beautiful and play along with these challenges!

Butterflies & Tickets

Howdy.  Whew, I've been a bit busy!  I almost feel like I have been pulled in 6 different directions at once.  But, I am happy that my life is settling down, or will be back to 'normal' tomorrow.  I don't know how some folks live everyday with so much stress {grimace}.  

All of my grandchildren are in Elementary School, and well, that translates to several fund raisers from each grandchild.  Now, if the fund raiser is unique, or something a bit more creative than candy bars, I will schlep their products or schpeel to work and pitch to my co-workers.  My oldest grandson's class was selling car wash vouchers.  Everyone needs a car wash, and well, I haven't seen this one.  So, I took the order form to work, and went around pedaling car wash vouchers.  And viola! I sold over 30 car wash vouchers!  Now, I need a way to present them.  And let's face it, if the packaging is pretty, and you already bought the product, it just makes it better!  And now, I just need a little inspiration from some favorite challenge sites, to get the creative juices flowing!  This also gave me a chance to play along with a few of my favorite paper crafting challenges - sounds like a 'win-win'!

My first stop was Mojo Monday.   I needed a sketch to get me started, and it's contest week, so why not! Right!  These talented folks always have consistent user-friendly sketches.  And since this is the first full week in the month, it's a contest.  3 random winners are selected.  How exiting is that!  

here is their current sketch:

You know, when I first saw the sketch, I instantly thought of a doily for the large circle.  Well, so did everyone else.  And no one likes to be a sheep, so I switched it up!

My next stop was Word Art Wednesday.  Now, if I was to give an award, to a challenge site for having the nicest design team, they would win hands down!  This team, is talented, but also very nice.  You always feel welcome to join their challenges, and the inspirational quote is just begging to be used in your paper craft.   Their theme is: Anything Goes & Family Friendly.

I don't always use the scripture that they provide, but it is always fun to see what their design team comes up with.  Very, very talented group of crafters.

here is what I created:

my card was selected as a 'winner' for Mojo Monday card contest

and as a 'top 3' for Word Art Wednesday challenge

I switched the large circle element for a rectangle.  

And I replaced the red blossom with a sentiment.

Recipe:  This is a traditional A2 card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  And it fits in the envelope beautifully!  I used a random butterfly pattern paper for the main panel.  This pattern paper is from Crate Paper, and is from the Notes & Things collection. I just love the artsy version of the butterflies.  

I used a 'ticket' for the large  circle shape on the left of the card.  It is actually a pattern paper of random tickets.  The 'ticket' pattern paper is from Crate Paper also, but from their Confetti collection.  I just cut a 3 3/4" x 3 7/8" piece off.   (when I find a pattern paper that is very versatile and easy to use, I purchase the whole package = 25 sheets.  And that is what I did with both of these collections.)

I didn't want too much pattern on my card, so I opted for a ribbon piece in place of the long rectangle.   And I tied my bow upside down, so you could see the silhouette I stamped.

I stamped my silhouette in Soft Suede classic ink, by Stampin' Up! onto white shimmer card stock.  I wanted a little more character from the card stock, so my circle wouldn't look too flat.  I picked up the silhouette stamp from a clearance bin @ a big box store for 72 cents.

I stamped my sentiment onto white card stock in basic black classic ink, by Stampin' Up! and then fussy cut the sentiment.  I used my Label Love stamp set from Altenew.  I am really loving this stamp set.  I adhered it to the card front with foam tape.  To help elevate it off the card front.  Viola.  Quick, and easy.  I had over a dozen of these to make, so I wanted something I could mass produce, but not too plain.  I had so much fun creating this card, that I will make a set of these and put them in my Etsy shop for sale.  I'll add some machine stitching and a few other pieces.  So, look for those soon.

Thank you for looking.  I hope you get a chance to carve out some crafting time, to create something beautiful!  It really does the soul good, to just create!  This weekend, I will be baking something sweet! and I'll share a photo or two!  Fingers crossed that it comes out just as I planned.  {smile}

Gingham

I just wanted to share a card I made this morning.  I used some of the new products in the Stampin' Up! Big Idea & Catalog.  I was surprised when so many wonderful stamp supplies retired.  But, after looking through the new catalog, I know room was created for more wonderful stamping supplies.

I held a class this morning to show some of these new products off, and to give some of my hints and tips.

Here is the card we made:

I just LOVE the new incolors.  They are soft, sweet shades of some of the prettiest colors.  So, that just makes them super easy to work with.  The new stamp set I used is very versatile.  Easy to work with.  And then there are some of my favorites: a wheel, and a gorgeous new button!

I used some of my favorite products that are still current.  I just love the kraft colored cardstock, called Crumb Cake.  The color goes with jsut about everything!  So, I used the cardstock as the card's base and again as a matt for the polka dot embossed piece.  I really wanted to help tie the color in, so I also used the same color in classic ink for the polka dot frame.
Two new in colors that I also used are: Baked Brown Sugar and Crisp Cantaloupe. 
I used two different label-type stamps: four frames and label love and layered them.
The polka dot frame was stamped in crumb cake classic ink.  A large oval was punched from baked brown sugar cardstock, to create the center of the frame.  I stamped the label love in crisp cantaloupe and stamped the same stamp in the baked brown sugar.  I fussy cut the sentiment bar and adhered it to the center of the label with foam tape.
The gingham strip is actually a wheel stamp.  I inked the wheel in baked brown sugar classic ink, and stamped on a strip of very vanilla cardstock.  I used a square punch to create the banner end.
I used my favorite crochet trim across the middle.  I tied one of these new buttons onto the card front with some calypso coral bakers twine. 

Thank you for stopping by!  I am adding two more crafting classes to my calendar.  So, if you are in the Albuquerque area, and are interested, please attend a class!  Stop by tomorrow, to see a list of new classes during the summer.