Holiday Sweet Peppermint

~  photo heavy ~

Howdy!  I wanted to share with you a craft I made during the holidays.  I think it turned out super sweet, and well, I was really in love with it! {smile}  So, I want to share it with you!

Now, along with sharing this craft with you, I am entering it in 5 different challenges.  Wow, five.  That's a lot.  But, why not share what you love with the world, right?!  And so, grab a cup/glass of something: coffee, tea, champagne, or simply water.  

My first two challenge site stops are from Russia.  Yep, all the way over there!  I just love how different cultures 'see' paper crafting.  Simply gorgeous work, from all aspects of the world.
My first stop in Russia, is a challenge site:  Shabby Chic.  Their current challenge is Magic Frost.  You should really check out this group of talented ladies work.  Their work is very pretty, shabby, and super sweet.  Their current challenge has two required elements: paint and lace.  That just sounds like a fun, and creative!  (They have a translate button)

The next challenge site from Russia is Mistress Owl.  This wonderfully creative design team has sketches, and mood boards, that are very user-friendly!  Their current challenge is a sketch.  (They have a translate button)

Now, the next two challenge sites are Anything Goes.  First one, SugarPeaDesigns.  The thing I love about this challenge site, is the time it allows for challenges - a month.  Very accommodating for all of us living busy lives, but still find time to craft!

And the other Anything Goes challenge is Crafting By Designs.  The challenge site is very family friendly, and encourage the best of everyone who crafts.

And my final challenge site, is As You See It Challenge.  This challenge site provides sketches, themes, and color challenges.  So a little bit of a variety to keep you interested in playing along with each new challenge.  Their current challenge is a theme challenge - Sparkle.  So, you can add sequins, glitter, shimmer, etc.  And who doesn't love glitter/sparkle? {smile}

Now, before I reveal what I created, let me say, I hope all of you had a wonderfully grand holiday!

my paper craft project:

and a different view:

It's a packaged gift card holder.  Here is a view of this gift card holder opened:

Recipe: I started with Crumb Cake card stock by Stampin' Up!.  Only because they have a great heavy weight card stock, that won't buckle with embellishments.  The red card stock matt, is actually Pure Poppy card stock by PaperTreyInk.  Again, another great heavy weight card stock that won't collapse.  

The pattern papers that I used as both from the same collection: Sweet Peppermint by Prima.  Yeah, it's a Christmas collection.  It debut last year.  Once I saw what Frank Garcia did with it, I just had to make a purchase.  To add a homespun look to my paper project, I added some machine stitching to the pattern papers.  Then, I simply added various embellishments to make it both fun, and pretty! {smile}

I also machine stitched some cotton scallop trim lace to both flaps.  I then added some red and white striped ribbon.  I just love the red color and the stripes on this cotton ribbon.

I edged the chipboard wreath in white paint and glitter.  I tucked a Bingo card behind in behind the wreath, just a bit off-center.  I thought the layer added some visual interest.

I added a scrap piece of the pattern paper to the inside of a small resin frame.  I had quite a few different selections (sledding children, bird, girl, santa, and others), but decided on the Santa Claus, because let's face it, Santa is King!

I added some paint and glitter to a pair of red jingle bells.  Once dry, I threaded some silver bakers twine through the jingle bells, and strung them to the left of the wreath.

I painted a white, creamy Prima paper blossom with more paint, and glitter.  Then adhered it just above the left side of the wreath.  A loop of the silver twine is peaking out of the upper right of the painted and glitter paper blossom.  I thought it added additional visual interest. {smile}

I tied a simple bow with that beautiful red striped ribbon.  And then tied a tiny plastic candy cane with thin silver twine to the center of the bow.  The bow was adhered to this projects front with my hot glue gun.  I selected to add the bow here, because my strips of red stripe ribbon didn't quite line-up as well, as I hoped they would.  So, why not turn a 'mistake' into 'an opportunity to embellish'!

I hand-stamped my sentiment with basic black archival ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  I used a sentiment from the Love Lives Here Holiday stamp set by PaperTreyInk.  Then matted it with a scrap piece of the Pure Poppy card stock.  Finally, adhering it the gift card holder with foam tape.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have a chance to play along with any (or all) of these challenge sites {smile}!

Holiday Stitching

~ photo heavy, long post ~

Howdy.  Whew, what a crazy, busy weekend.  But busy in a great way!  I had a very successful holiday arts & crafts fair, this past Saturday!  Very exciting, and very enjoyable!  It was sweet to meet so many wonderful folks.  And I had a chance to chat with everyone!  Who wouldn't love that? {smile} 

I started off this week, at getting back to the gym and running.  Yes, it's never ending.  But I love it.  The gym gives me a chance to work out some aggression.  If you work in corporate america, you know exactly what I mean.  And running, gives me a chance for me.  It's just me, my music, and the road.  Some quality time for me to sort my thoughts, and get some clean, fresh, mountain air, and take a break from corporate america.  {smile}

I wanted to share a few of my favorite things I crafted (and sold) from last weekend.  So, I will post today, most likely tomorrow, and maybe another day this week.  It all depends on my energy level. 

I am entering my large gift card holder in the Word Art Wednesday : Anything Goes challenge!
*my large gift card holder was selected as a 'Top Three'!  Thank You Word Art Wednesday.
I am also entering my large gift card holder in the Retro Sketches challenge.  it's a sketch!

I love fabric (along with paper).  But, I don't sew garments.  I don't sew toys.  I sew on paper.  And I know a lot of folks who make wearables.  Not me.  But I understand the thrill of finding a gorgeous print.  Or the perfect shade of pink (or any other color) to finish a project.  

I collected some pattern papers from Carta Bella, the Sew Lovely and So Noted.  I wanted to make something sweet, pretty, and practical.  

a sweet gift tote (to hold fabric, or supplies):

a covered notepad (to jot down sketches, supplies, etc):

and finally, a large gift card holder (it holds a pre-packaged gift card):

I just loved how the green stripe and the blue ruler pattern papers looked together.  Not really christmas-y, but simply pretty!  And if you craft (any kind) you know if you find something that works really well together, you don't 'un-do' it.  

I used a variety of stuff from my stashes, so it would be ridiculous to name everything.  But, I'll list a few.  And as always, if you have a question about a particular product, please just ask.

The blue-ish solid card stock used for everything is Mint Macaroon by Stampin' Up!  The cream cotton embroidered trim is from an internet purchase.  The stamping for the gift card holder is from Paper trey Ink (no peeking: holiday friendship jar.  homespun: love lives here holiday).  I stamped in Mint Macaroon and Basic Black classic inks by Stampin' Up!  The pink seam binding is from Stampin' Up!.  However, it is retired: Pink Pirouette.  The sewing theme fabric brads are from LemonCraft.  (LemonCraft is an eastern european company)  The silver scissor 'charm' is an internet purchase.  The large snowflake is a die from PaperTrey Ink, and the glitter paper is from Stampin' Up!.  The green check pattern fabric strips are from an internet purchase as well.  It was listed as fabric ribbon.  And as always (ok, almost always, always) I did machine stitching on my projects.  I think it adds a 'homespun' touch! {smile}

Well, thank you for stopping by!  now, I am off to finish some holiday shopping, and to get a few items out in the mail!  I hope you have been inspired, or at least the creative wheel is turning!

Red & Green Christmas

Oh my goodness.  I forgot to photograph my red and green Christmas card today.  Sorry, I had to take a few photo real quick, and edit.  I'm super proud of myself for creating a red and green card.  I don't typically make holiday cards with these colors.  Not that they aren't pretty.  It's just not my comfort zone, and so it takes a bit of time.

The pattern paper is from Yellow Bicycle.  And probably about 2 years old.  So, I don't know if you can still find this pattern paper at your local scrap book store.  The tree was purchased from a big box craft store about 3years ago.  The red ribbon is actually new!  Its the current real red ribbon from Stampin' Up!.  The sentiment is heat embossed in early espresso powder by Stampin' Up!.  The stamp set used is Love Lives Here Holiday, by Paper Trey Ink.

Thank you for stopping by!  I am finishing a few more items for the craft fair tomorrow.  If you are in the area (Albuquerque, New Mexico) please stop by Tramway Community Church on Manitoba & Montgomery, from 10a to 4p.