Happy Birthday Mom; Card

Hello, and Happy Birthday Mom!  I made a birthday card a few weeks ago, and have kept it under wraps.  My mom reads my blog.  {smile}  The birthday card I made, is, yeah, for my mom.  Her birthday is actually today.  So, I can 'share' my creation with you today.  My mom's Birthday card will be in her snail mail box today!  Sure happy and sure excited for her!  Because who doesn't love snail mail that isn't a bill or some junk mail [that doesn't even make it in the house]. {smile}

Ok, this card is an A2 size card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  Love this size!  So, let's get right to business, so you know how I made it, and you can use some of these techniques yourself.

For the card base, I used Wisteria Wonder card stock by Stampin' Up!  It's a beautifully heavy weight card stock.  I used a light weight card stock by Amuse Studios in Taupe for the matt.  I used three different, but coordinating pattern papers from Tilda for the card.  I added a pale grey blue floral pattern paper for the main panel.  I added a darker blue tiny floral pattern paper and a pink leaf pattern paper.  [I matched the pinks in the blossoms when selecting the pattern papers.]

I used the edge of my scissors to rough-up the edges of the paper panels.  I did sponge some kraft ink onto the edges to help convey the 'time' or 'age' of the card.  I also used the edge of the scissors to create the 'rip'.  I added a polka dot pattern paper in that area.  I wanted something contrasting, but coordinating.  {smile}

I added a purposefully sloppy double border with my sewing machine.  [I love this look.]  I added some sponging on top of the stitching, to help them 'pop'.  

I had a scrap piece of white cotton trim that was tea dyed, so I stitched that piece onto the front of the card too.  

I strung kraft twine through a trio of lavender moon vintage buttons by PaperTrey Ink and adhered them to the pink leaf pattern paper.  I kept the twine long on purpose.  

The TAG:  this is the focal piece, and one that I'm super happy with {smile}.  I used a scrap piece of taupe card stock for the tag base.  I tied a small piece of wisteria wonder seam binding through the hole, but wanted something more.  so I added a bow tied with lavender thin tinsel.  I love how it adds some sparkle and softness to the over-all whole look of the card. {smile}

My sentiment was created with heat embossing and simple stamping.  I stamped the sentiment in versa mark onto vellum card stock and added silver embossing powder and heat embossed.  I just love how soft and elegant the silver embossing looks.  I used the hand script stamp set by PaperTrey Ink.  I added my adhesive to the back of the vellum piece where the sentiment is to help 'hide' the adhesive, which can be seen through this semi-translucent card stock.  I stamped the 'happy birthday' onto whisper white card stock in basic black classic ink, using Teeny Tiny wishes stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  Then I fussy cut the sentiment and adhered it to the vellum piece.  

I added a gift card to the inside of the card.  That way, my mom can celebrate HER day, anyway she wants: shopping, dining, relaxing at the spa, or simply going to afternoon tea with girlfriends.

Happy Birthday MOM!  I hope your day is fabulous and you get a chance to do what your heart desires.  Love you!

Thank you for stopping by and taking a moment to look at what I have been creating!  Enjoy your day! and come back soon.  I'll be sharing more.

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!