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.

Homemade Happiness

Welcome.  

I had a little free time yesterday, so I created a card, to enter in two of my favorite challenges.  I have a few favorite challenge sites, that I stalk frequently stop by.   The first is Mojo Monday (#311)  Who doesn't love a great sketch?  The other is the Shabby Tea Room (#184)  The Shabby Tea Room, has some of the most wonderful inspiration photos.  Their photos are typically shabby chic in style.  But every once in a while they are vintage, and feminine.  Who wouldn't love that?

use white, cream, and neutral colors, and include twine

here is what I created:

I did use some creative liberties with this sketch.  I did keep the main elements, but it went together a bit different.   I pulled the circle element forward.  And, I turned the bow on its side.

I used the vintage wallpaper embossing folder to create some texture to the main panel.  To create the scallop edge on the vertical strip, I adhered the crochet trim with a zig zag stitch using my sewing machine.  For the ribbon, I crinkled some crumb cake seam binding.  I also used my sewing machine to attach the ribbon to the card front. {smile}  I just love sewing on cards.

I cut a scallop circle with the Perfect Pennant die, and adhered a lolly made from a black pattern paper.  I used the Stars #2 die, to cut a star out of silver glimmer paper.  To give the center of the star a little interest, I wrapped some linen thread around the star and tied a white vintage button and made a bow.

For the rectangle piece, I actually cut a decorative shape for my sentiment.  I used the Vintage Labels stamp set by Amuse Studios.  I stamped the border in soft suede classic ink.  Then stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.

I purchased the Country Born stamp set from a CTMH consultant several months ago.  When I saw the images and sentiments, I knew I just had to have it!  Unfortunately, this is the first time this stamp set has been inked.  (I imagine other crafts collect purchase stamps that don't always get inked in the first week month.  Right?)  The fonts for this stamp set, are beautiful.

Thank you for stopping by! and I hope you get a chance to play along with your (or mine) favorite challenge or two! {smile}.

Frames

Oh, where do I begin?  The start of a crazy busy weekend, filled with paper, crafting time, good friends, laughs, snacks, and no chores!  Yahoo!  A dream come true, you ask?  Nope.  Just the Hen House Retreat!  

But, before I place my bags in the car, and load my craft projects, lets look at the challenge over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Robbie, is the designer of this week's sketch.  She is very talented, and really provides you with the elements you need to create a fantastic card, and gives you some freedom to make it your own and beautiful!  Here is Robbie's sketch:

here is what I did:

Let me start with the elements of Robbie's sketch.  She has provided us with 2 basic elements.  An object at the upper left corner and a band along the lower third.  Simple elements.  Alot of room for creativity, personal touches, and tons/little of embellishments.

And I'm sorry if I'm boring you with my color combo.  I have an infinity for pink.  I tried to keep the whole look simple.  Ok, simple for me.  I also have an infinity for polka dots, so that was the pattern that I repeated.  Polka dots embossed on the main panel of cardstock.  Polka dots in the frame.  And polka dots bordering the oval 'frame'.  I used pink pirouette and crumb cake classic inks to distress the edges of the cardstock pieces.  

The butterfly was die cut from the silver glitter paper.  The paper blossom is from the Artisan Embellishment kit.  

I wrapped some crochet trim and crumb cake seam binding around the card front.  I did some machine stitching around the card and along the trims.  I tied the seam binding into a multi-loop bow and tied a clear button to the center with linen thread.  I wanted to add some sparkle in the lower right corner, so I added a lone rhinestone.

I hope you get a chance to play along with us @ SFF.  Show us what you create with Robbie's sketch!

Shabby Love

I have to admit that I am happy it's Friday.  I have this weekend off and I am looking forward to relaxing, doing some baking, and spending time with family.  But, if it's Friday, that means its time for another great sketch from the Sketch Frenzy Friday crew.   Deb, is the creator of this weeks sketch:

The sketch looks pretty straight forward and unassuming.  But, it also has LOTS of potential!  The banner piece alone could be your focus and embellish it pretty.  Or, you can  use the large center panel as your canvas to create your own background pattern, or showcase a large/background stamp.  

here is what I did:

When I first say the sketch, I knew what I wanted to do.  I used two of my favorite colors of cardstock for this card; Pool Party, and Crumb Cake.  I received a few new goodies from Stampin' Up! recently and well, I just had to play with them.  The black lace doily stamp is Gossamer Lace stamp, found in the large catalog.  I stamped the doily in basic black ink onto very vanilla cardstock.  I used detail scissors to cut out the doily.  The banner piece is from a new stamp set: Hearts a Flutter.  I stamped the banner in pool party classic ink onto very vanilla card stock and used the Hearts a Flutter embosslit to die cut the image.  The scallop trim heart piece is from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set, also.  I stamped the scallop heart in soft suede classic ink onto very vanilla card stock and die cut the image.  The floral lace trim, I folded in half and machine stitched it across the embellishment stack.  I added two flowers from the Flower Trim, and a button from the Artisan Embellishment kit, to the top-center of the scallop heart.  I tied the button on with linen thread and made a tiny bow.  I added a little tag made with the Lovely Little Labels stamp set.  LOVE, is stamped in basic black classic ink on very vanilla cardstock and sponged the edges with soft suede classic ink. 

For the main panel of the card, I used pool party card stock.  I used the Lacy Brocade embossing folder to give this large space some texture and visual interest.  I sponged pool party classic ink along the edges.  I used a sanding block to rough up the center and then also randomly sponged some whisper white craft ink.  

I used my liquid white glue to 'draw' my flourish in the lower right corner.  Then I added some faux half-pearls.

Thank you for looking.  I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what this sketch allows you to create!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

(love this card? you can purchase it, here)

Sparkle Christmas #140

Happy Friday!  I hope that you have gotten started on your grocery shopping for Thanksgiving.  It's right around the corner, and closer to Thursday it becomes, the larger the crowd at the grocery store.  I did my shopping last night.  And oh my, people's patience is running thin.  So, I needed some alone time.   A chance to sit in my craft room, and create something pretty.  Even though, that was not some folks attitude at the store.

Deb C. over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday has a wonderfully creative sketch for you to try.  Here it is:

Before I show you what I did with this sketch, lets look at its potential!  To start, lets look at the polka dot piece.  You could make this a shape, or you could stamp a background on a section of the card stock.  You could even stamp on a piece of clear card stock to add some visual interest to your card.

For the banner piece, you could make this out of card stock, or add a piece of ribbon.  For the oval piece, this could be your sentiment piece or a decorative piece.   There are a lot of different possibilities for this sketch.

For some color inspiration, I went to the Shabby Tea Room.  They have some of the most creative vintage style paper crafts.  This weeks inspiration photo is sparkle-y, vintage, soft, and simply gorgeous.  Here is their inspiration photo:

The ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room asks that you use colors found in this photo and sparkle/glitter.  So, here is what I created:

The card base is crumb cake card stock.  The main panel is very vanilla card stock that was run through the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.  I used a scrap piece of dsp and the top note die to create the decorative panel.  I stamped the tree from Lovely As A Tree stamp set in soft suede classic ink, onto a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock.  I used a square punch to create the banner end.  I matted this piece onto a scrap piece of pink pirouette card stock.  I wrapped a piece of crumb cake seam binding around the decorative dsp and tied a multi-loop bow and added a faceted button with linen thread.  I used the silver glitter paper to cut a snowflake with a die.  I added a pink button, and tied a bow with linen thread.  I added various sizes of rhinestones and pearls to the tree.  For my sentiment, I stamped Merry Christmas in soft suede classic ink onto a scrap piece of pink pirouette card stock and the modern label punch.  I adhered the sentiment piece with foam tape to elevate this piece off the card front.

Thank you for looking.  I hope you have been inspired and are able to play along!

Cowboys

Happy Saturday to you!  I'm pretty excited writing this post.  I am joining some wonderful friends for this weekends Stamp Retreat, here in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I have to admit, that this is my first one ever!  But, I think I'm more excited about spending the weekend with girl friends and paper crafting together.

As this weekend get a jump start with creativity, Liliana I. is our hostess over @ Our Creative Corner. Liliana, has a clever little challenge for us; create a card/project with a country/western look.  I want to see some plaid, such as in a ribbon or designer paper.  Also, use the picture to inspire you.

I have to admit, when I saw this inspiration photo, I first thought of Thanksgiving.  So, I wanted to inspire you in a direction that might not be so obvious.  Here is what I created:

I just loved the orange in the plaid table cloth.  So, I looked through my scraps box, and found some wonderfully appropriate pattern paper from Cosmo Cricket.   I just love this pattern paper.  The pattern paper I selected for my card front, has the same 'orange' on a blue-ish woodgrain patter paper.  How pretty.  So, I collected two other papers from the same collection.  I added a cream and brown pattern paper and a blue-ish plaid pattern paper.

I thought the cowboy pattern paper fit this challenge beautifully, so I used it as my focal panel.  I cut a star shape from some left over burlap.  I stapled the folded brown plaid ribbon and burlap star to the cowboy panel.  I added a linen thread tied wooden button to the top right corner.  I thought that this card needed something else.  So, I added two staples to help give the card some visual interest, but not distracting.  I also added 3 copper brads to the lower right corner.  I thought the copper helped brighten the 'oranges' in the various pattern papers.

I hope you have been inspired, and decide to play along with us @ Our Creative Corner.  

Postage Due

Happy Friday!  I'm happy its Friday, but I have a busy weekend, so I don't get a break yet!  But for this Friday, we have another blog hop over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Tina, is our hostess this week.  And she has a clever and very user-friendly sketch for you to work with.  We hope you get some inspiration from the blog hop, but don't let us limit you!

Here is Tina's sketch:

here is what I did:

I just love working with sketches that have a lot of potential!  and by potential, I mean super easy to work with, and with a bit of wiggle room.  I don't want a cookie cutter sketch.  Let me get creative!  We want to see you get creative!  And Tina, pretty much has done that, with this sketch.  Love the empty space for me to fill, or leave blank.  Let me select the receptive image!  May it be flowers, tickets, buttons.  The possibilities are endless.  So let me decide what I want to work with.  Or use what I have.

I started with a crumb cake card stock.  I took a scrap piece of textured pool party card stock and used my vintage wall paper embossing folder with it, to give it a design on top of the texture.  I distressed the edges with my white craft pad.  I had a scrap piece of the real red polka dot DSP (summer smooches dsp), so I used the scallop edge punch to create a little flair to that piece.  For my 'row of multiple objects' I used postage stamps.  I inked the stamps with soft suede classic ink and stamped on to very vanilla card stock.  I used the postage stamp punch to create the decorative edge.  I applied foam tape to the back of the postage stamps to give them a little lift off the front of the card.  But, this card was missing something.  A flower, a button, something with pizzazz.  So, why not a multi-loop bow?  Using pool party seam binding.  But, it needed something else.  So, I tied on a real red button with some linen thread and created a bow with the thread.  I used a glue dot to attach the bow to the card front.  My sentiment is stamped in soft suede classic ink, towards the bottom of the card.

Hope this has inspired you!  And, continue on our blog hop and see what Tammy F. has created!

Domestic Artist

The weekend has really gotten away from me.  Ugh!  I hope all of you have had a chance to stop by Our Creative Corner to see what those super talented ladies have been creating!  I had my card done and didn't upload it.  Don't you hate that?  I'm pretty famous for creating something and not posting.  But usually it is to the challenge site and not my blog, too!

So, we are going to continue this rambling on a brighter note.  The creative Vicki is hosting a challenge for us this week.  It Paper Piecing with a twist.  The twist is that you can't use any ribbon, and only one embellishment.  Sounds fun.  And it is.  The way I learned paper piecing, is that you take an outline stamp and stamp in on to some pattern paper, to give your object some color, depth, texture, and an illusion of realism.  So, you don't have to color.  And, I'll admit, my mind is traveling in 30 directions as once.  I'm attending a stamping conference this week, and so my creative spirit is stuck creating for that, and my craft room is disassembled.  (we are moving furniture).  So, please bear with me.

Here is my card:

The card itself is pretty simply (for me).  I used 1/3 sheet of 12" x 12" pattern paper, from Crate Paper.  One side is the larger matt (blue-green pattern), the other side is the inside matt (large floral).  The brown matt is a scrap.  I have this stamp set, from Unity, that I really love the graphics.  They look 1950's style.  Very retro and fun.  So, I inked an image from that set, in crumb cake classic ink, and stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock.  I then used sahara sand classic ink and sponged ontop of the white card stock and edged it.  The white cardstock looked too stark.  I re-stamped the right side of the stamp onto my pattern paper scrap and cut out the blouse.  I found a perfect matching button from my jar o' buttons.  (Don't we all have one of those?) and tied some linen thread through it.  I added a scrap piece of my favorite crochet trim, and VIOLA!

Flowers in the Snow

Thank you for checking back with me.  It's Wednesday, so it's a Challenge day!  The wonderfully creative ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a pretty neat sketch for us to use.

 

When I first saw this sketch, I instantly thought of a snowman, or some snow flakes.  But, I thought that, 'that was too obvious'.  So, I decided to work with the shapes already there - flowers.  I also wanted to make a card that wasn't Christmas/Winter themed.  I imagine that we all can pretty much look outside to see those images.  I also wanted to work with a stamp set that hasn't felt ink in awhile.  We all have those stamp sets.  When you first see them, you just gotta have 'em.  Then after a few months, they get pushed back in the back, behind other 'forgotten' treasures.  

Now, for a color scheme.  Outside, its green, brown, and white.  Not very pretty for flowers.  So, I grabbed an old time favorite flower color scheme. Can you guess what that would be?  I selected - Calypso Coral & Pretty in Pink.  (if that was what you guessed, bravo!)  

Maybe I'm right eyed, or something, but I didn't like the way my card looked with the matted/scallop piece looked on the right, so I flipped it.  I know you aren't surprised that I used First Edition DSP, right?  I'm also not a big fan of text paper with the wrong orientation.  But this time, I kinda liked the look.  So, my text paper runs along the side and not up and down.  (sorry, if that bothers you.)  To create the background 'paper' I first stamped the french script using the 'finger tap' method, so the whole script wouldn't stamp.  I then stamped the french floral image in pink, using the same technique.  I stamped the flowers onto very vanilla cardstock and then hand-cut each one out.  And then gave each petal a little fold, to create a realistic petal.  I stacked the flowers together, and gave each blossom a half faux-pearl center.  The leaves were a second generation stamp in Old Olive classic ink.  The 'No. 5' is a second generation stamp in Soft Suede classic ink.  To give the eyelet border trim a little pizzazz, I scored the paper every 1/4" and then punched the edge.  

The little banner I made myself.  (It's pretty cute how I did that.) I used a scrap piece of very vanilla cardstock.  I stamped the word first.  Then used the word window punch to create the top and bottom edges of the banner.  I then took the photo corner punch and created the snipped part.  Adhered that piece to a scrap piece of crumb cake cardstock and using the very vanilla piece as my guide, I hand-cut the trim.   I thought it was pretty clever.   All the edges of every piece is sponged in Sahara Sand classic ink.  I wanted to add a little sparkle to my card, so I used the Silver Glitter paper to make the three butterflies.  I also punched out 2 tiny circles to add some pizzazz to the two little lonely flowers.

Lets see what beautifully-creative paper craft pieces you create for this challenge!

A different Christmas

It's the last day of this long weekend for me.  I need to get a few things cleaned up, and a few loads of laundry done, to be prepared for the upcoming work week.  But, you are probably in the same boat as me, and so 'ahoy matey'.

I have distressed this christmas card, to give it that worn look, (a favorite of mine).  I also used the colors in the CR84FN color challenge: brown, green, and tan.  So, you see, these are NOT the traditional colors for christmas.  But, these are the colors I use to decorate our home for the holidays.  So, it only seems fitting to use these colors to create a christmas card.  

Here is the inspirational photo:

Here is my card:

*If you click on the photo, you will get an enlarged image, so you can see the detail.  But, I have provided you with a close up the the birds.  (I love birds)

For this card, I used a lot of Stampin' Up! products.  One of which is my new favorite 'tool' - distressing kit.  You get a blank red rubber stamp.  The theory behind the blank stamp is that it gives you a surface to apply ink randomly to your paper; pattern or not.  You also get four typical distress ink colors, to help get that wildly seen distress look.  (you get a sanding block and some files, to help rough edges and get a sure 'fit' on covered chipboard pieces.)

The ribbon and pattern paper are retired products of Stampin' Up!.  The card base is Crumb Cake card stock, with an Old Olive card stock, that was dry embossed with the vintage wallpaper EF.  The scallop trim is Soft Suede card stock.  I made a frequently seen rolled flower using the First edition DSP.  The buttons are a random collection from my stash.

Thank you for stopping by this busy holiday weekend.  I hope that you were surround by friends and family, and where able to give 'Thanks' to those who have earned/deserve it.

Spooky Black Bird

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to stop by and have a look around.  Today, I have a few photos of this cute little Halloween box I made.  I got the idea out of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog 2011-2012, pg.10.  I used all Stampin' Up! products (minus the bird and paper mache box) to create this adorable decoration.

Isn't he just adorable?  Before your mind starts going crazy...the paper mache box is upside down.  I attached the bird with a hot glue gun.  The Raven Lace is a retired product from last year.  But everything else I used is current and you can purchase them today!  

At first, I wanted to create this project as a Virtual Kit for October.  However, I have had a bear of a time finding the non-Stampin' Up! products (aka: paper mache box and bird).  So, I made just one.  I may make one for my daughter, as she just LOVES Halloween!  I think she likes it more than Christmas!  But, that wouldn't be surprising.  {For those folks who know me, know that I LOVE  St. Valentine's Day more than Christmas.}

I did use the Vanilla Smooch spray to give the finished project some random shimmer and gleam.  I left some of those hot glue strings on this project, as they kinda look like old spider web strings.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd change the hat.  In the mini catalog, the hat doesn't have a rim.  I thought it should have a rim, you know like a witches hat.  But, it was a bear to create.

Anyways, enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks again for stopping by!

Products used: Pick Your Poison DSP (#124001) and Accents (#124263).  Piece of Poison stamp set (#123754).  First Edition DSP (#121878).  Mini Jingle Bells (#124116).  Mini Vintage Tags (#118763).   Antique Brads (#117273)  Linen Thread (#104199)

Fruit stand in Our Creative Corner

It's Saturday! Yahoo! so, you know what that means! It's time for another creative and inspirational challenge from Our Creative Corner.  Our hostess this week is Kristin from Lily Beth Boutique.  She has this fabulous inspirational board full of photos from fruit stands.

Here:

I found this wonderful free download of these two cute children eating cherries.  But look at this little girl.  She is hanging a cherry from her ear.  Did you ever do that as a child?  I did!  We use to pretend they were our fancy earrings.  How funny, huh?  So, naturally when I saw this old photo I just had to use it!

Here is my card:

Believe it or not, this card only uses four different pattern papers.  The larger pattern paper was used in my granddaughters birthday party invites from when she celebrated her 3rd birthday!  Yeah, that was 2 years ago, and I only had this scrap left, so I'm not sure who made it.  The muted pattern paper is a scrap from some Valentine's Day cards I made earlier this year.  The text paper is First Edition DSP.  I used a die cut to create the spiral notebook sheet.   I stamped a few letters onto the writing paper in Pure Poppy classic ink.  I adhered the free download to the card with some foam tape.  I added a few buttons tied with linen thread.  I also added a layered circle embellishment to help continue the circle shape and glitter.  I had a scrap piece of crochet trim that really had to go onto this card.  I had a single paper flower that really matched the shades of red that has some glitter on its petal edges.

Leave me a comment, and let me know what you think, and share a shopping secret: where do you purchase your fruits & vegetables?  Me, I prefer to make those purchases at the Farmer's Market on Eubank & Snow Heights in Albuquerque, NM.

Stop by the challenge blog to see what the rest of the design team have created.  They have made some absolutely wonderful cards!  Different styles, and some very talented artist!  Play along with us and upload your card to be eligible for our Top Talent Award!

thinking Sketch Frenzy

Happy Friday!  It's time for another sketch from Sketch Frenzy Friday!  This sketch is pretty user-friendly.  I flipped it and then mirrored the image, so the sentiment is no longer at the lower left corner, it is now at the upper right corner.  

I used all Stampin' Up! supplies for this challenge.  And I have to say, I really like this card :)

This sketch is brought to us by Tina Taves.  I love a great sketch and Tina has really made this challenge a pleasure to be a part of.   For your next stop on our blog tour, please stop by Tammy B. blog.

I used three different stamp sets, but that was only because I wanted a pretty, feminine font for the sentiment.  I used Creative Elements for the flower and the sentiment tag.  I used Best Friends Forever for the leaves.  The card base is Crumb Cake.  The largest matt is Calypso Coral.  I stamped on the First Edition DSP to help create a background that tied the floral arrangement to the card.  I just love the crochet trim, but it seemed a bit 'light' and that it didn't look grounded to the card, so I layered a scrap piece Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon under the crochet trim.  I tied a random SU! button onto the ribbon with some linen thread.  I made a bow with the long length of thread I originally cut.  I did the 'rock n roll' technique on my flower.  I stamped the whole flower in Calypso Coral classic ink and then rolled the edges in Crumb Cake classic ink.  I actually stamped the flower three times, and layered the different cut-outs with foam tape.  I added some faux half-pearl jewels to keep that pretty, feminine look.  And I finished the card with a few spritz of my home-made shimmer mist!

Beautiful Baby

Happy Saturday!  Yahoo, the weekend arrived!   Well, I am the hostess again, over @ Our Creative Corner challenge blog!  I have to admit, I really do enjoy being the hostess.  
Anyways, I have another challenge for you: creative a baby-themed paper craft.  There are a few requirements for your entry to be considered as one of our top talents.  Your paper craft item (card, 3-D, scrapbook page, etc) must include: kraft card stock, at least one button, and some trim.  Trim can be lace, ribbon, crochet trim, etc.  Doesn't that sound easy?  Well, if you need a little inspiration, head on over to the challenge blog: Our Creative Corner and see what the design team has come up with.  These are super talented ladies, and their paper crafts are just sooo beautiful, and couldn't be more different!  So, I'm sure a creative spark will ignite!

Here is my card:

close-up of the tag:

close-up of the star:

Lately I have been on a scrap kick.  And this entry is no different.  I found some wonderful teal blue-ish scrap pieces of paper in my scrap-stash that coordinated really well together.  I think the floral one is fancy pants,  and the other piece is bo bunny.  I had a scrap piece of the kraft polka dot DSP, so I used my lace trim punch to help give it some pizzazz.  The blue-ish saddle stitch ribbon is Anna Griffon, and is easily 6 years old.  To make the star, I used my die to cut a light weight piece of chip board, a 2-way glue pen, and some super fine reflections glitter.  I added some faux half-pearls to two of the buttons, and adhered them to my card with glue dots.  The tag is the only thing I stamped.  I have this little clear stamp set and it fit perfectly to my tiny tag.  I made a multi-loop bow with some kraft seam binding, and tied a button to the center with some linen thread.  I used a vintage trinket safety pin to attach the tag to the button.  The 'Tender Bubbles' advertisement is actually a sticker I purchased a few years back.  I adhered it to a scrap piece of kraft card stock, and used my white paint to distress the edges.  and viola!  So, if you have some time on your hands this holiday weekend, and you get a chance to craft, you should join us! 
Please, have a safe and super fun weekend!  
(this card will be for sale on my Etsy shop following the close of our challenge.)

Vintage Valentine

St. Valentine's Day, is my favorite holiday. I love everything about it! I'm a romantic, what can I say? I wanted to make a 'pretty' card to celebrate this event, and this is what I came up with. I used products from everyone, so if you have a questions about a specific product, please post in comments, and I will get that information to you. I wanted a card, that looked and felt 'romantic', vintage, unique. The main image on my card, is actually a label. And yes, its from the most romantic city in the world: Paris, France! I added little touches to give this card some punch. I threaded some beads onto my corsage pin, and tucked it in the flower, and added a half-pearl to the flower center. I adhered some glass glitter on a heart shape to give the card some sparkle. I tied a key onto a button with some linen thread, for a rustic look. I added some crochet trim to a scrap piece of pattern paper, that I used an eyelet border punch on, to help soften the card. All pieces were sponged with a light tan ink, to give everything a distressed look.

Thank you for looking! Let me know what's your favorite holiday.