. . . little things . . .

It's the little things, that matter most.

One of the hot selling items at my booth, at this years holiday arts and craft fairs, are these cute little altered notebooks.  I have added my own personal style and touch to these little cuties!  They have 80 pages of lined paper inside.  I have also added pattern papers to the inside covers (front and back).  The mini black gel pen that comes with it, writes wonderfully without smudging.  A super big plus to me!

I made another 8 this week, and they are available for sale at my booth:  Designs by Sharon

I am at the Tramway Community Church, in Albuquerque, New Mexico this weekend.  Friday 10a to 5p, and Saturday 9a to 4p.  Please stop by, I am sure you will be able to find a gift for just about everyone on your list!

Day Dreams

I am addicted to Pinterest.  I just love the things people pin.  It really gives me ideas of doing crafting things {smile}.  One of the things I saw, were these beautiful paper blossoms.  But, the frugal part of me, didn't want to drive into town and purchase them.  Instead, I set out into my craft room, to see if I could make them.  That's the craft girl in me!

The talented Kim, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday gave us a creative sketch.  I was able to use my hand-made paper blossoms!

here is the sketch:

I love the colors and the lay-out of this sketch.  The use of various pattern papers, the cluster of paper blossoms.  Just plain pretty.  

here is what I created:

I started with pool party card stock.  But, you know me.  I thought that it looks too flat.  So, I used the very vintage wheel and pool party classic ink.  But, I thought that it needed a pop of something.  So I used white craft ink, white embossing powder and the distressed polka dot background stamp.  Heat embossed, and sponged some pool party classic ink along the edges.

For the top note shape piece, I heat embossed the hello doily back ground stamp onto old olive cardstock.  I heat embossed the large doily.  I fussy cut the doily out and sponged ink along the edges.

I had-made the paper blossoms.  I used a floral die to create the bottom blossoms.  I used the trio blossom punch to create the center piece.  I brushed white craft ink along the edges of the petals and dunked the paper blossoms into a tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I used the silver glimmer paper to punch out the leaf shapes.

I used the lots of tags die to cut the decorative label.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  I wrapped crumb cake seam binding around the main panel and tied a multi-loop bow.  The card base is made from crumb cake cardstock.

I hope that you are able to play along with us @ SFF.

a New Mom-To-Be

Hello.  If you found my blog, kudos to you.  For whatever reason, blogger is being a bit difficult.  These last few days, blogger couldn't find my blog, so I could fix a few type-o's, so it's been frustrating.  And then this morning I couldn't log-in to get this post up early.  So, I had another latte, and organzied some of my dies, and embossing plates.  This week, I am determined to tackle my whole craft room.  It has become a bit disarrayed.  So, I'm planning on going through boxes, bags, piles, and stashes, and purging.  So, look for a few 'bag bags' in my Etsy shop.  I will be providing free shipping for those.  

Yesterday, a very wonderful lady that I use to work with, threw her sister a baby shower.  Her sister is expecting her first baby.  A boy! And how exciting is that.  Well, my friend asked me to make her cake.  I love to bake, and cakes/cupcakes are a joy.  And since she is a wonderful person and a dear friend, I wanted to make her sister a lovely gift.  You know me.  Everything comes out match-y match-y.  A baby boy.  Then the cake board must be blue.  And I have an infinity for polka dots, so yes, the cake board was baby blue with silver polka dots.  

I love how yellow and blue compliment and contrast each other, especially when you select the perfect shades.  Authentique and My Mind's Eye helped me with that.

Here is the card and matching bag:

The card is a standard A2 size (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") and the paper bag is 8" tall.

I started with creating the card.  I wanted something pretty, but not too feminine.  So I selected this beautiful pattern paper by Authentique: Renew.  The colors are simply pretty.  The colors match very nicely with Stampin' Up!'s Baja Breeze, Pool Party, and So Saffron.  I like how the pattern papers have a bit of distressing.  

The card base is Baja Breeze cardstock.  I cut a piece of Pool Party cardstock a bit smaller to create a matt.  I used my Tasteful Trim die to create the collection scallop trims.  I just love the larger scallops.  It really shows off the pattern papers.

I machine stitched each layer of scallops.  I then tied a strip of So Saffron Taffeta ribbon around the top of the card.  I created a multi-loop box and tied a white clear paper trey button to the center of the bow, with some yellow bakers twine.

I used my Modern Label punch to create the sentiment tag.  I stamped the sentiment with a stamp from the Something to Celebrate stamp set, by Stampin' Up!. (sorry, that stamp set is retired.)

I saw this adorable rubber stamp at a local stamp shop.  The baby lamb is actually from an Easter collection of stamps by Prickley Pear.  But, isn't it just too cute?  So, I stamped the lamb onto white cardstock with Jet Black Staz-On pigment ink.  I used my 2-way glue pen to adhere some white flock to the body.  I left the lamb's face and inner ears flock-free.  I used my Pear Pizzazz and Pool Party markers to color the flowers and foliage around the lamb's neck.  Then I dotted some more 2-way glue to the flower centers and dusted them with some dazzling diamond glitter.  

I matted the lamb the same  way that I matted the card's main panel: pool party and baja breeze cardstock.  

I added the trio of pearls, because the card seemed to be missing something to me.

I used a template that I purchased from Paper Trey Ink, called Around Town Tote.  I love the size.  It's 8" tall, and the bottom narrows down to just under 5".  The bag can be made to 1 1/2" deep, or expand up to 2 1/2" deep.  Depending on what you want to add.  So, I really love that!

For the decorating, I just copied what I did on the card.  The body ofthe card is made from Baja Breeze cardstock.  I layered and cut the pattern papers in the same manner as the card.  

I set out to make a matching set.  I purposefully made them 'the same'. 

For the sentiment, I wanted a more decorative tag, so I used my Lots of Tags die set to create the shape.  I used the same sentiment stamp: Welcome Baby stamped in Jet Black Staz-On pigment ink.

Instead of adding the trio of pearls under the tag, I added them to the decorative label.

The other thing that I changed on the bag, from the card, is that I didn't machine stitch each row of scallop trimmed pattern paper.  Instead, I machine stitched the taffeta ribbon.  Because I had a mis-stitch with my sewing machine, I added the multi-loop bow to the opposite side of the bag, compared to the card.

I stuffed the paper bag with yellow tissue paper, and added a hand-crafted altered baby onesie.  Yes, the fabric I selected was yellow and blue.  {smile}

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope I have inspired you to craft something today.  And yes, I consider baking/cooking as crafting.  I'm off to machine sew some tiny scallop squares together to alter a few more onesies.  It's good to have a few on-hand, and in my Etsy shop.

the Little Things

Happy Saturday!  I hope you are all well.  I'm busy just like usual.  But, I did carve out some quality crafting time.  The talented Paula over @ Our Creative Corner, have a creative sketch for you to play with this week.  When I first saw the sketch, I was a little intimidated.  But, hey, it's called a challenge, so here it goes:

Here is what I came up with:

I started working on this card, with the thought of creating a sweet card, that had a shabby chic feel to it.  I also wanted to add my own touches, without over doing it.  Here is the card recipe:

I used some of my favorite pattern papers.  The green pattern paper is Rose Garden by EP.  The two pink pattern papers are from the Lovely collection by Authentique.  The two different shades of pink paper is actually the opposite side of the two pink pattern papers.  I used my Top Note die from Stampin' Up! to cut the dark pink paper.  I used my Tasteful Trim die from Stampin' Up! to cut the light pink paper.  I ran my card through my sewing machine, and stitched along both edges of the pink floral pattern paper.

For the label piece, I used the decorative label die from the Lots of Tags die set, to cut the dark pink label piece.   The inner label piece is very vanilla card stock.   I stamped the flourish in crumb cake classic ink.  The flourish stamp came from the Established Elegance stamp set.  I then stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  The sentiment is from the Little Things stamp set by Unity Stamps. 

I tied some cream twine from Paper Trey Ink, through a vintage button by Paper Trey Ink.

I had a scrap piece of cream dyed crochet trim along the lower edge.  I hand-dyed some seam binding with my Blush re-inker, by Paper Trey Ink.  I machine stitched these two trims together.  Then, I tied a multi-loop bow with the Blush seam binding.  I added a pearl brad by Recollections to the center of the bow.  I added a 'hand-crafted' tag to the trim.  

I hope the design team has inspired you, and you have a chance to play along with us @ OCC.

love it? This card can be purchased here

Moments in Blue

It's Tuesday, and that means its time for a challenge from Nacho Average Challenge.  This week, is a sketch.  Here is the sketch and my card:

my card: (sketch rotated)

The card base is Basic Grey card stock.  The main panel is Pool Party Core'dinations card stock.  I love this sand-able card stock.  I kept this card basic, but with some WOW!  I used the Elements of Style stamp set.  I stamped the flourish in pool party classic ink along the left side of the card.  I wrapped a piece of pool party seam binding over the flourish.  I tied a faceted button to the multi-loop bow with some white bakers twine.

I used the scallop square hand-held punch for the Basic Grey pieces.  I cut  1 1/8" squares from pool party card stock.  I cut 1" squares of white card stock.  I stamped the large floral image onto the white 1" squares, in Basic Grey classic ink.  

I used the Floral Fusion die to create the blossoms.  I used the Blossom Petal Builder hand-held punch, to create the leaves.  I dabbed my 2-way glue pen along the edges of the blossom petals and then dunked the blossoms in my tub of Dazzling Diamond glitter.  I added pearl jewels to their centers.

To create the 'label' I used the Lots of Tags die.  I cut the label shape out of pool party card stock and white card stock.  I cut the oval center out of the tag and used my sanding block to smooth the edges.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey classic ink.

This card is basic.  But not boring.   I used beautifully colored papers and an elegant stamp set, to create this card.  I really think that the feminine touch of the pearls adds some polish to this card.

I hope we have inspired you to play along with our sketch challenge @ NAC.  I rotated the sketch.  I felt that it was easier to work with.   Lets see what you create! 

Purple Christmas

This month is really racing by.  I hope all of you have some sort of handle on your chores, obligations, and other items that need to be completed.  Me, I get them done as I need to.  I feel like I am always behind, and trying to play catch up.  I think, as soon as december is over, I should be ok.  But we all know that that isn't true.  It will be the start of the new year.  So, there are those obligations.  Then, I wanted to re-start my virtual card class.  I also wanted to get some crafters together to start another stamping class, that focuses on techniques.  So, as the days pass, the list of things to get done or at least started grows.

Christina, over @ Our Creative Corner, has a delightful challenge for you to try.  She asks, 'make a last minute Christmas card or project featuring the colors Purple and Silver.  You may add other colors, but make sure purple and silver are the focus colors'.

Here is what I created:

Let me start by saying, I struggled with this one.  I don't know about you, but there are a few things I can't always wrap my head around.  I struggle with Purple and Orange, when crafting.  I also have some difficulty with some of Tim Holtz techniques.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a super fan of TH.  But, I just don't think like that.  He is super talented and does stuff that I can't figure out how he thinks of this stuff.  Now, as with purple and orange.  I really struggle with these two colors.  They aren't ugly, I just get a mental block.

I started with one of the only purple pattern papers I have, from Dreamscape.  (Yes, I had one sheet that had a piece missing from a special request.)  The card stock is Elegant Eggplant by Stampin' Up!.  The sentiment tag is from a die set, Lots of Tags, by Stampin' Up!.  As well as the sentiment and the ink I used to stamp it.  The Santa in a purple robe was a digital download.  The purple striped pattern paper is the reverse side of the purple flourish pattern paper.  The silver glitter paper is from Stampin' Up!.  I used the eyelet border punch to create the scallops.   The purple crinkled seam binding is a small scrap I found in my ribbon stash.  The rhinestone brad is from Recollections.  

I was going to add a bit more, and matt the santa image, but the challenge is to make something 'last minute' so to me that means quick and easy.  I can easily spend 2 hours making a single card.  But, that isn't last minute.  

I hope you play along with us this week @ Our Creative Corner.  We would love to see what you create.  I know you're pretty clever, and hopefully you won't struggle as much as I did.  I hope you have been inspired.  The design team has created some wonderfully gorgeous paper crafts.  You should stop on over, and take a look.  You just might be making a last minute purple and silver Christmas craft!

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.

Vintage Zone

Today is my second craft fair.  So this past week, i have been busy working on re-stocking my paper crafts for sale.  Yesterday morning, I started working on decorating some paper bags.  I don't know if I had the right music playing, the 'perfect' papers out, or I was just 'in the zone', but either way I just LOVE what I created.  I really enjoy creating vintage/shabby chic paper crafts, and yesterday was a perfect day for me. Here are some photos of what I created:

This is a food-safe bag.  I stamped the polka dots in white craft ink.  I love how the polka dots resemble falling snow.  Very pretty.  I used a wheel to stamp the lace.  I inked the wheel in basic black classic ink.  

For the tag, I used a decorative die to cut the kraft card stock.  

I printed the digital collage tags on white card stock, to keep the colors true.  I matted the vintage tags onto pink pirouette card stock.  I love how pretty this pink is.  It is a light color, not too much grey, not too much blue.  This color of pink is a soft, light, cool-color of pink.

I used a scallop punch to create the scallop edge in silver glitter paper. I added the scallop trim to the side of the matted tag.

I dyed some white seam binding with spun sugar distress ink.  I crinkled the seam binding, made a multi-loop bow and attached the bow to the matted tag with a rhinestone brad.

I cut a star from some corrugated cardboard.  I painted the edges of the star with picket fence distress ink and dunked the painted star into a tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I threaded the pink button with thin silver cord and tied a bow.  I attached the button to the star.

To attach the tag to the food bag, I included a wooden clothes pin.  To jazz-up the clothes pin, I painted the top with mod podge and dipped it in silver glitter.

I am planning on giving these bags out filled with home-made cookies, during a cookie exchange I am participating in next month.

I needed a few more paper gift bags for tomorrow's Arts and Crafts Fair, and this is what I set out to make.

For the gift bags.  I covered small paper bags with kraft card stock.  For the pattern paper, I used Market Street by Lost and Found 2. 

I added a decorated tag stamped with 'warm wishes' to help express the feeling of the season. 

I stamped the silhouette of the sledder in black pigment ink and used clear embossing powder to heat set this image.

I used the same corrugated cardboard to cut the snowflake.  I also did the same distressing technique with paint and glitter.  I attached a button to the center of the snowflake.  

I wrapped a piece of crochet trim around the pattern paper, to hide the seam of the two different papers.   I added a TH ticket just below the crochet trim.  I cut a small tag shape from silver glitter paper and used a pink Basic Grey brad to attach the tag to the front of the bag.  I tied some vanilla seam binding into a multi-loop bow and tied a button to the ribbon piece, with some linen thread.

To help hold the bag closed, I tied some kraft twill ribbon at the top.  I added a narrow tag, stamped with a holiday sentiment.

Here is my little dilemma, I just love adore this little gift bag so much, I don't want to sell it.  Have you ever done that?  Created something for your 'shop' or a friend, and then just can't part with it?  To correct this problem, I mass produced some of these gift bags to sell at the Arts and Crafts Fair, and have kept this original one for myself.

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.

Springtime Wishes

Happy Friday to you! I hope that you are all well.  It's Friday, so lets play along with the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday!  This week's sketch is brought to us by Kim I.  She has done a wonderful job with the sketch.  

the sketch:

this week, I pretty much followed the sketch to a T.  

Here is what I created:

I have to admit, I'm a crumb cake addict.  I must use this card stock/ink on almost every project or paper craft item I create.  Ok, now on with the card!  crumb cake card stock as the card base.  very vanilla card stock was run through the vintage wall paper embossing folder.  A scrap piece of crumb cake dsp was added to the bottom half of the card.  I stamped a flourish stamp in crumb cake along the bottom edge.  The tag was made with the Lots of Tags die.  (another all time favorite).  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  I added three half faux pearls, and butterfly made from the silver glitter paper and a paper blossom from real red card stock.   wow, i use butterflies on just about every project or paper craft item, too.

I used the new red taffeta ribbon.  I wrapped the ribbon around the card and tied it in a bow.  I used pink pirouette card stock and first edition dsp to create the 'banner' pieces.  I cut the smaller butterfly from the die, using the silver glitter paper.  I made one of those paper blossoms out of circles.  You cut 3-4 different size circles and off set them.  You can either leave them crisp and new or distress them.  I like to distress, so I sprayed them with my home made shimmer paint, and scrunched them.  I used a basic black brad to hold the blossoms together.  The leaves were made with the blossom punch and pear pizzazz dsp.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate the company {smiles}.
Now, don't forget, its a blog hop, so stop by Tammy F.'s blog to see what she (and the rest of the design team) have created.

You're Sweet, Thank You

It's Tuesday, and I hope this week has gotten off to a good start for you.  Me, yes.  I'm really enjoying my day off from work.  No, I'm not sick.  Just a scheduled day off.  I have no plans to drive into town, and the snow has been falling for a few hours now.  So, it's good to be 'isolated' and no deadlines to get to.

For those who know me, I get up early, everyday.  Yes, even Saturdays, Sundays, and days off.  So, this morning I was looking at some of my bookmarked favorite blog challenge sites, and well I found three I can enter.  So, here they are:  the Sketch (lay-out) came from Card Patterns, the Color scheme came from CR84FN Color Challenge, and the 3-D/Template challenge came from Just Us GirlS.

Lets start with the 3-D/Template Challenge.  Just Us GirlS, wants you to create a 3-D item, using a template.  Easy peasy, right?  I wanted to create a card & gift in one.  So, I remembered that I had purchased a template from Adela Rossol, it was the Gift & Card Combo.  Just Us GirlS, also has a few requires, they want us to include: ribbon, button(s), and flower(s).  Sounds pretty, and girly, and that I can do!

I needed a color scheme to get going with papers and embellishments.  I headed over to CR84FN color challenge.  This week, they wants us to use Kraft, Yellow, and Gray.  Sounds pretty.  And if you look at the inspirational photos, there are butterflies, doilies, lemons and a heart.  I can use those.

Now, for a layout.  I headed over to Card Patterns, they always have a great design.  Easy to work with.  In their directions, they say you can rotate the sketch, so that is what I did.  I needed one that is vertical.

Here is what I came up with:

For those who know me, if you take away any company/manufacture restrictions, I can use just about everything in my craft room.  And with no company/manufaturer requirements, that's what I did!

Lets get started with pattern paper.  I used paper from Cosmo Cricket, Memory Keepers, and Melissa Frances.  (I used papers from my scrap box.)  The solid card stock is all from Stampin' Up!.  Crumb cake is the card base.  I did various matts in whisper white, going gray texture, and the inside 'gift' was made with very vanilla.

I used three ribbons total. For the outside of the card/gift, I used a crochet trim from Stampin' Up! and a polka dot Kraft ribbon from Paper Trey Ink.  On the inside, I used going gray taffeta ribbon and white bakers twine from Stampin' Up!.  

The butterflies were a collection.  The embossed butterflies are from an emboss-lit by Stampin' Up!, and the inside butterfly is actually a stamp I stamped twice (one on card stock and the other on vellum) from Paper Trey Ink.  I added half faux pearls from Stampin' Up! to the center of the butterflies, to help convey a girly, feminine 'feel'.

The buttons are a miss mash of Paper Trey Ink, Amuse studio, and CTMH.  For the buttons on the front, I sprayed  them with spray adhesive, and then dipped them in dazzling diamond glitter, by Stampin' Up!. I finished them off, with a spray of clear sealant.  (I didn't want the glitter to rub off, when I was working with them.)  

For the flowers on the front of the card/gift, I stacked a paper blossom on top of a fabric flower.  I hot glued this floral creation to the top of a gray heart cut from gray textured card stock.  I also distress the edges with some picket fence paint.  

The tag on the front of the card/gift, I cut from a die and stamped the sentiment in going gray classic ink.  I needed a small and simple tag, so not to distract from the pretty paper and embellishments.  I chose this sentiment, because I plan on putting candy inside the box, as the 'gift'.  How yummy!

I used the new frame dies from Stampin' Up! to create the inside window.  I stamped a leaf flourish in snow pigment ink and heat embossed the 'window' with clear embossing powder.   I added some kraft paper shred inside the box so you could see the white embossed leaves on the 'window'.  

The inside sentiment comes from Paper Trey Ink.  I added two hearts cut from the gray textured card stock to the inside, also.  One is under the embossed butterfly and the other is on the stamped butterfly.  I added half faux pearls to the butterfly bodies, to continue the design from the cover.  I tied a yellow heart-shaped button with bakers twine, to the gray taffeta ribbon. I will fill this box with my friends favorite candy: chocolate covered gummy bears.  

I opened the card/gift combo, so you could see the back of the 'card'.  I wanted to show you that I did pay attention to detail and use one large scrap to decorate.  I  also believe that if you continue the same elements and designs through-out your paper craft item, you will achieve a cohesive design with elements that 'belong' (because they are repeated). 

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you get a chance to play along in any/all of these fabulous challenges.

Design Happiness #46

WOW! can you believe that it is already Friday!  Well, I'm having a fun time working with these different challenges, and learning a few things to help my stampin' business.  The wonderful Tina from Sketch Frenzy Friday has designed a wonderfully creative sketch for us and YOU to work with.  The thing that I love the most about these great sketches, is that they allow you some creative freedom and use the wonderful Stampin' Up! products.  I mean how much more great can it be?  So, if you are a super fan of these products, but are either looking for a great challenge, or some inspiration, I encourage you to play along with us and take on the challenge.  We would love to see what you create!

Here is the sketch:

At first when I saw this sketch, I thought, ugh, I'm not a big fan of partial circles on cards.  But, then, I just let the sketch lay around for a few days, and then it occured to me, 'I don't have to make the half circle a piece of paper.  I can make it an image (medallion stamp, or a ring of butterflies, or...)  The rectangle could be a sentiment, or a label, or ...    So, don't be limited by just what you see, but what you 'see'.  Then I was looking for some inspiration, so I headed over to one of my favorite challenge sites, that I find a lot of inspiration; CR84FN color challenge.  This week, the colors are light pink, yellow, and a neutral.  It just sounds pretty and feminine, so that was the look that I was going for.

Here is their inspirational photo and quote:

Here is my card:

For this card I used So Saffron as my 'yellow'. and Pink Pirouette as my 'light pink'.  For the 'neutral' I used both black and white.  I first stamped the floral image in so saffron classic ink, onto so saffron card stock, randomly, and the very vanilla tag.  Then I stamped the 'hello doily' background stamp in versa mark and then poured white embossing powder on it.  Heated this gorgeously detailed image with my heat gun.  I created a flower with pink pirouette and first edition dsp with the bird & bloom die.  I created a tag with the lots of tags die and cut it out of very vanilla cardstock.  I stamped 'for you' in basic black classic ink  Then I a string of half faux pearls along one edge and a silver glitter butterfly to the other side.  I matted this whole piece onto a piece of basic black cardstock.  The card base is Very Vanilla cardstock.

I'm really happy with how this card turned out.  And I hope that you join this Sketch Frenzy Friday blog hop and see what Tammy F. has created.  And join us for a challenge.

Happy Moments

Hello!  It's Wednesday, and we are half way through the work week.  On the local news of Albuquerque, New Mexico, yesterday, said that the United Postal Service is working over budget, and can't seem to figure out how to control it.  Also, that folks get an average of one hand-written piece of mail every 7 weeks.  WOW!  That story made me almost cry.  And so, I have set a goal for myself to craft some hand-made cards and mail them out to my girl friends.  I will work on creating some 'flat' cards, so I don't exceed the 64 cent postage. :)

Anyways, the wonderfully talented Cristena @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge has a great sketch for us this week.  The sample shows a Christmas themed card, but, you know me... I do the obvious!  So, I created a 'friendship' card.  Probably because that news story made me so sad.

Here is the sketch

Here is the card I created

I used 'happy' colors: Calypso Coral, and Pink Pirouette.  I had a few scraps from Beau Chateau DSP.  I made some 'flowers' with various circle sizes.  I made the two centers different, to add some visual interest.  I punched leaves, using the 2-step bird punch.  The glitter butterfly is made from the silver glitter paper and the Beautiful Wings embosslit die.  I think the shine with all that silver glitter only makes you smile!

I used the Lots of Tags die to create this pretty tag.  I used the You're Cherished stamp set for this simple sentiment.  I stamped it in Soft Suede classic ink, on a scrap from the Beau Chateau DSP.  I think it looks soo appropriate with the First Edition DSP.  And yes, I sponged all the edges with Crumb Cake classic ink.  I used the 2-step owl punch (pupils) to create the faux rhinestones.  And, yeah, it was from the scrap piece that I used from the butterfly die. :)

As always, thank you for stopping by.  For those who are looking for some direction or guidance on how to create a balanced/better card, I am working on a on-line class.

Lace Hello

On this Thursday, the creative folks @ Creative Sketches, have a fun and interesting challenge for you this week.  We have a sketch, of course.  But, we want you to add lace and silk flowers to your card.  See, doesn't that sound fun and creative?  And, you are welcome to use products from any paper crafting company you wish!  The sky's the limit, and there are endless possibilities!

Here is the sketch to work with:

Here is my card:

Don't forget, you can use products from any company.  And well, it almost looks like I used a million different products.  But, this card was very thrifty!  I had alot of fun creating this card, and I hope  you have the same experience!  I used scraps and bits and pieces to create this card.  I didn't cut a new sheet of cardstock, or unroll a new roll of lace.

To start, I knew that I wanted to use stuff that I already had on hand.  I didn't want to go to the craft store and spend $5, $10 or more on products to make a card.  Oh, not like I haven't done it in the past, but I want to use stuff I already have.

So, to start, I went through my scrap box and took out pattern papers that I wanted to work with.  I went through all the color sections.  I didn't want to over look a pretty paper calling my name.  So, here is what I ended up with.  Now, I don't know who makes the polka dot pattern paper, or the background paper.  The 'bingo' paper is from Authentique.  The text paper is from Stampin' Up! As well as the Soft Suede, River Rock, and Very Vanilla card stock.  The Juniper cardstock is from CTMH.  The flowers came from a silk flower stems that I disassembled when I altered a tin for another challenge.  The large rhinestone came off a wedding floral pick.  The lace was a scrap piece from a purchase I made several months ago.  The memo pins are from Tim Holtz.  I purchased the package several months ago, when a big box craft store had TH products on sale.  The 'HELLO' is heat embossed with Chocolate Chip craft ink and clear detail embossing powder.

I really do love this card.  I really like using pattern paper from different companies and working them together.  I think I'll start making more cards from my scraps!  I seem to really enjoy the end product!  Now, let's see what you make!  Join us with this fun and creative challenge!

thanks

Hi! and thank you for stopping by this Friday!  So, the weekend is right around the corner, and Sketch Frenzy Friday has another challenge for us today.  The sketch was brought to us by Angela, and the sketch is pretty 'user-friendly', and your only requirement is to us Stampin' Up! products.  I decided to use all current products, so if you find some inspiration, you can purchase all these products today!  Don't forget to stop by Tammy B. 's blog to see what she has created.

Here is the sketch

Here is my card

For some reason, I have this urge to use this same color combo.  Sorry!  But, isn't it just beautiful!  Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Pink Pirouette, Peach Parfait, and Very Vanilla!  Before you say it, yes, that is Stampin' Up! seam binding.  I just dyed it!  First, I measured how much seam binding I needed  and cut that measurement.  I sprayed the seam binding with water, and then added several drops of Pink Pirouette classic re-inker.  Then used my heat gun to speed up the drying time.  I wadded up the seam binding to help create the crinkled look.  

The flower was made with circle punches.  I used peach parfait card stock, pink pirouette card stock and First Edition DSP.  I used a metal button brad to hold the card stock flower together.  I punched the leaves from a scrap piece of Beau Chateau DSP and First Edition DSP.  

I used three stamp sets: Clearly For You, Creative Elements, and Notably Ornate.  I used the Lots of Tags die to create the fancy tag design from Calypso Coral card stock.  I also stamped the 'take note' in Calypso Coral classic ink.  The 'for you' and 'thanks' were stamped in Soft Suede classic ink.  The scallop piece is made from the Tasteful Trim die.  I added a small faux half-pearl jewel to the tag to help give it a girly look.

Thank you for looking, and now go play with your paper crafting supplies, and join us in this sketch challenge!