Love: card-gfit box

If this is your first visit for this day (04/12/2015) Welcome!  I have an earlier post (today) that kinda helps explain my crafting.  If you stop by that post you can read my rantings here.  Now, lets get started with this post! {smile}

I created a few of these little gems.  I call them 'card gift combo boxes'.  Here is why:  You open them like a book, but there is a box inside to hold a gift (3" x 5 1/4" x 3/4").  Super sweet, right!  So the inside flap of the 'book' holds your hand-written message, just like a card.  The ribbon holds the 'book' closed.  Pretty sweet.

I needed some direction for the cover, so I stopped by a favorite sketch challenge site:  Mojo Monday.  For 2 reasons; 1) there sketches are easy to work with, 2) the design team is very inspirational!  These ladies are very talented, so if you need to get those creative juices flowing, just take a sneak peak at their work.  

here is the current sketch:

and here is what I made:

Now, before you say a word, I know that this is not my typical vintage country chic style, per say.  Sometimes its good to change things up.  And, I have the whole collection of this pattern paper and embellishments.  And I need to start using what I have.  But, lets take a closer look!

Recipe:  I used Real Red card stock by Stampin' Up! for the base.  LOVE their card stock.  The blue solid card stock is Taken with Teal (retired) by Stampin' Up!, too.

The pattern papers are from the Heart Strings collection by CTMH.

The embellishments, oh my there are lots, and from everyone.  The teal blue brad at the spine is from MME, the Nostalgia collection.  The white doily is from Martha Stewart.  The red fabric blossom is from a big box craft store (J).  The teal blue heart stick pin is from a big box store (J).  The teal blue velvet ribbon is from Stampin' Up! (retired, probably 10yrs).  The blue polka dot paper blossom is from a big box store, dollar bin (M), I also added silver super fine glitter on the petals.  The super fine glitter is from Martha Stewart.  The ticket is actually a painted wood ticket, from the dollar bin, at a big box store (M).  I added the letters, they are rub-ons from a different big box store (HL). I painted some mod podge over the rub-ons to help seal them to the wooden ticket.  The heart is Heidi Swap, I used silver metallic ink on this resist chipboard piece.   

The sentiment is stamped in basic black classic ink right onto the text pattern paper, using the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I also used the fancy label punch to create the decorative piece.

The grosgrain ribbon to hold this little gem closed is Real Red ribbon (retired), by Stampin' Up!.
My little card-box combo was selected as a 'winner' @ Mojo Monday sketch challenge.

different view

This will be for sale at the Spring Craft Fair @ La Cueva High School, in Albuquerque, NM, on Saturday May 2, 2015.  If you are in the area, please stop by my booth.  I'd love to meet you,  and show you what I have crafted!  

Love, Miss You Card

~ photo heavy post ~

This post is  l o n g  and has several images.  So, grab a latte, tea, or any other beverage of choice. {smile}  Lately, I have been surfing the internet.  Love the internet! and Pinterest!  With this 'free' time, I wanted to create something pretty.  Only because I don't feel so 'pretty' today {frown}.  Ugh.  So, let the crafting begin!  I stopped by a favorite sketch challenge site:  Mojo Monday: #382 - tall & skinny.  If you aren't a fan of 'tall & skinny', you are free to adapt the sketch to whatever length/width that fits your fancy*.

I also stopped by a favorite color challenge: Creative Color Challenge: #28 - photo inspiration

use pink, green, pattern papers and laces

And then, finally, I went to a challenge site I frequently visit: Craft Hoarders Challenge:  choose your challenge.  For this month's challenge, there is a grid of different crafting elements, and you are to select at least one option from the list in each category (coloring medium, fiber, technique, texture, and embellishments).

ok, so that you have an idea as what I need to craft, let's just get to it!  

Here is my card:

So. let me explain my card, and how it fits these challenges.   Let's start with the sketch - I turned it upside down!  How clever, right?  For my circle element, I used a large fabric blossom.  The green polka dot pattern piece is the 'grey' rectangle piece. The 'green' rectangle is actually a layered element.  I used a wide, silk ribbon.  Then sewn a piece of layered, ruffled tulle, and sewn a piece of crochet trim on top of the tulle.  And finally, the thin banner piece was created with two elements to create a line: the 'love' bulb, and the green seam binding bow.

The creative color - I used two pattern papers.  The largest pattern paper has pink blossoms, and pink stripes over a sheet of music.  The large blossom and large sequin are both pink.  The small, green pattern paper has green polka dots.  There is a green seam binding bow, and a pair of green sequins.   The lace portion, is a bit of a stretch.  I have a piece of layered, ruffled tulle, along with a piece of crochet trim.

And finally, the craft hoarders challenge -  the coloring medium: ink and paint.  The 'miss you' sentiment is stamped, and the edges of pattern papers are sponged.  I painted the edge of the pink button and white resin frame, with white paint before dunking them in glitter.  The fiber choice: twine, ribbon, and seam binding.  The twine was tied through the distressed button.  Pink silk ribbon, cram tulle, and crochet trim across the card front.  Green seam binding tied into a bow.  The technique I used was stamping.  I stamped the sentiment.  The texture I selected was distressing tool.  I distressed the edges of the pattern papers with a thread cutter.  The embellishments I selected were flower, button, and bling.  Bling was defined as glitter, pearls, and sequins.

Ok, now for the recipe:  Whew!  Never thought that we would get to this part!  The card base is blushing bride by Stampin' Up!.  Love their heavy weight card stock.  Just wonderful to work with.  The two pattern papers I used are both digital papers, and from the same collection.  I used a thread cutter to distress the edges, and sponged crumb cake classic ink.  I ran a simple stitch along the edges of the pattern papers.  I also did a little zig zag stitching to add some pizzazz!  

I wrapped a wide strip of pale pink silk ribbon around the card front.  I did some sewing to hold the layered, ruffled tulle to the silk ribbon, and then one more layer of sewing - the crochet trim on top of that!  I think it adds a sweet, soft, delicate, shabby chic-ness to the card {smile}.

For the blossom, it's a Prima pink, felt-like flower.  I painted the edges of the petals with glue and then sprinkled some fine gold glitter from Martha Stewart, onto the blossom.  I just love how pretty gold and pink are together!  I used my hot glue gun to adhere it to the card front.

I tucked in a Prima treasure 'love' light bulb.  I just adore these little treasures {smile}.  To give my blossom some foliage, I added a light green multi-loop bow, made with 'Ocean Front' colored seam binding.  I tucked in a white distressed, tiny pink button tied with cream twine, just below the seam binding bow.

I stamped my sentiment with baked brown sugar classic ink, from the Mixed Messages stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  I adhered a tiny white resin frame, from Melissa Frances, around the sentiment piece.  I painted some glue on the edges of the tiny frame, and added more fine, gold glitter. I also tucked this piece in between the blossom and green bow.

To add a little bling, and continue with my shabby-chic look, I added two faux pearl swirls, and a pair of faux pearls at the bottom right corner.  And finally, I added a trio of sequins: a pair of small green sequins near the top right corner, and a lone large pink sequin above the bulb.  I thought these little touches help create a home-made, shabby chic card {smile}.

Whew! a lengthly write-up.  But, I like to give you info on what I used, so you have the information.    And as always, if you have any questions, please let me know {smile}.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I sure do love the company.  I also hope that I have inspired you to participate in any or all of these challenges!  And remember, whatever you do, do it from the heart {love}.

Joyous

Welcome.  If I said that I am making Christmas cards, you wouldn't be surprised.  Would you?  Well, yeah, I have started.  For a little background information, if you didn't know, I sell my paper crafts at local Holiday Arts and Crafts Fairs in November and December.  So, to be honest, I am a bit behind in my crafting.  I set a goal for each week, what to have accomplished, and what to work on.  And well, I am a bit behind.  Have you ever had a day (or weekend) where you had chores to do, but just didn't have the motivation?  Well, that is how it has been for me.  So, my stock is low, my motivation is low, and my mojo is low {frown}  But, I hope to turn that around.  

I stopped by a challenge site that I stalk frequent, but never participate.  Not really sure why I don't participate.  It's basically up my alley.  So, I have run out of excuses.  Until today!  Today, I have made a decision to participate and see what I can create with the many boxes of Christmas paper crafting supplies I have on hand.  But, today I want to 'play' with some new supplies I received in the mail last week: Joyous by My Mind's Eye.  I love vintage, and nostalgia.  So, this paper collection is perfect for me!

Now, let's swing by Merry Monday Christmas Challenge to see what these talented crafters have created, and what our inspiration is for the week.

Ok, so Merry Monday asks that you use polka dots, or stripes, or both.   Are you kidding?  I can do that!  Now, look at this beautiful inspiration photo: stockings, red stripes, and holly trimming the fireplace.  How home-y is that?

ok, here is what I made:

Before you say anything.  I think the pop of blue really brings out the reds in this card.  I got the idea of using some blue from the main panel on this card.  The blue bird and the blue string that is tied to the sentiment tag.

Recipe:  I started with crumb cake card stock (SU!) for the card base.  I used 5 pattern papers from the 6" x 6" pattern paper pad (Joyous by MME).  First I cut the merry christmas pattern paper (4" x 4 1/4").  Then I added a strip of the deep red flourish pattern paper (4" x 1 1/2").  I purposefully have a 1/4" overlap, to allow me to adhered these two pattern papers together.  I then did a simple machine stitching all the way around the front panel.

Next, I cut three different pattern papers 1", 1 1/4", and 1 1/2" wide, and 3" long.  I used scissors to create my flag ends.  I adhered the banner pieces slightly off center and overlapping each other.  I trimmed the blue strip and kraft snowflake pattern papers so that they would fit on the card.  I added two random staples to the upper right corner of the card.

I machine sewn the deep blue seam binding and crochet trim to the card front, using a zig zag stitch.  I tied a long strip of the seam binding into a multi-loop bow.  Then tied the bow to the card front with a piece of kraft twine.  I tied a red button to the bow center, and created a simple bow with the length of kraft twine under the button.  I secured the bow to the card front with a few glue dots.

I took a twig punch and punned out three branches.  I painted the tips with picket fence paint and then dipped the tips into glitter.  On the top twig punch I added three dots of red stickles.

I was inspired by the photo, and used stripes (blue) and polka dots (red), along with some greenery with berries.  To finish my card, I added a light misting of shimmer mist.

Thank you for stopping by.  And I'll post more projects I create with this lovely pattern paper line soon.

Vicki's Sketch

It's Saturday! and boy am I tired!  My daughter and her wonderful husband went out of town and the grand kids get to spend the weekend at my house! oh, and did I mention that they are both sick. :(  

Vicki, has a super 'work-able' sketch for you all to try @ Our Creative Corner, this week!  I strongly encourage everyone to stop by the challenge site and submit an entry!  You'll be amazed at what this design team have created!

So, this post is super late.  My apologies to Vicki and all the wonderfully talented and patient ladies on the design team.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

This card uses alot of different products.  So bear with me.  I used two different stamp sets.  I stamped the flourish in grey, and the sentiment in Basic Black classic ink.  The pretty paper is actually two-sided.  So, I used one side for the card base and the other side for the square piece.  I matted the floral side in Rose Red cardstock.   I used Stampin' Up!'s Designer Frames embossing folder for the sentiment tag.  I don't know if you will be able to see it, but I sprayed the whole card with some home-made shimmer paint.  I wanted it to have some sparkle, but couldn't get a rhinestone swirl to look like it belong.

Thank you for stopping by, now go create something fabulous and enter our challenge over @ Our Creative Corner!

Mojo Monday Challenge #127

Howdy All! I didn't realize that it has been almost a week since my last post. Sorry about that. The only excuse I have, is that I can't find enough hours in the day to get everything done that I need/want to get done. But, I think we are all in this boat.

So, here is the card I made for a few reasons. 1- one of my best friends S is also celebrating her birthday this month. Her favorite color combo is black and white. We are all meeting tomorrow for our dinner celebration! 2- mojo monday is having another layout challenge. 3- I saw a card while surfing the web, and loved their creation so much I wanted to try it. 'Mels Stampz', if you have a moment, check out her creation. She printed her digital image on vellum card stock, and while the ink was still wet from coming out of her inkjet printer, she poured embossing powder on her image. Pretty smart. :)

I used scraps of black and cream paper I have from several years ago. I treat it like gold. You know how that is. You find a paper that works so well that you buy several sheets of it. Then, when you need a page or two, you can't find it anymore :( (Now, I always buy 10-12 sheets of paper that I really fancy.) Most of the supplies I used are from Stampin' Up! The card stock is basic black, very vanilla and vellum card stock. The flower image is a Martha Stewart acrylic stamp. I stamped on the vellum card stock with a black pigment ink and used black embossing powder (SU). The 'happy birthday' is from a stamp that was offered in a mini note card set last SU catalog. I used SU markers to color the flower. I colored the back side of the vellum three different shades of pink (pretty in pink, regal rose, and pink passion). I stamped the 'HB' in basic black on the very vanilla card stock and layered the colored, heat embossed vellum card stock on top. I used zip glue to adhere the vellum to the very vanilla card stock. I used SU very vanilla satin ribbon and a scrap piece of a pink ribbon to my card. If you look at the layout challenge, the ribbon is over the diamond card stock. If I put my ribbon over the card stock, you wouldn't be able to read the 'HB', so I tucked it under the card stock. The black half pearls I purchased at one of those big craft stores last Christmas when they were on sale. To add a little sparkle to the center of the flower, I dipped the tip of a sewing needle into the shimmer paint (SU) and added little specks of shimmer paint to the center of the flower.

Thank you for looking! I hope my best friend S loves this card. She's a very special friend, that holds a special place in my heart. Please post a comment. It always makes me smile to see your words of encouragement and appreciation.

MOJO Monday Challenge #122

Here is my entry to the MOJO122. I'm truly in love with this paper! fancy pants Vintage Valentine. The solid card stock is bazzil; two different shades of brown. The ribbon is from Martha Stewart. The stamp is a Stampabilities, inked with Bravo Burgundy from Stampin' Up! I used the I used the heart to heart punch from Stampin' Up! for the hearts.

Thanks for looking. Please leave a comment.

Vintage Valentine

My friend, Ronda (yes, I spelled her name correct) teaches a 'Heritage' class at Scraps Galore, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She loves the 'shabby chic' papers and the 'old' look of materials and photos. So, she is not only talented, but has a great eye for these things, you know the type-simply amazing. Anyways, I started taking her class because I wanted to scrapbook my family's history, so to speak. She is a wonderful teacher; very knowledgeable, talented, great eye for design and color. Well, I finished that scrapbook album years ago, probably 3 years now. Through that time, I have made some friendships with some great women who take Ronda's 'Heritage' scrapbook class, too. Anyways, I finished my album and keep taking the class. Ronda has so much to teach, and lets face it, it is a chance for us ladies to get out of the house and spend some quality time with the girls.

So, back to my card. I used the papers not for a scrapbook layout, but for a card. I fell in love with the papers Ronda had chosen for the class. They are simply amazing! The company is fancy pants. The line is Vintage Valentine. The ribbon is from Martha Stewart. I purchased the ribbon by the yard at the scrapbook store, so I'm not sure of the color name. I loved how my card turned out. I love how the polka dots, stripes and flowers all go together! See, I told you Ronda has an eye for these things!

Thank you for taking a moment out of your busy schedule to take a peak at what I have been doing. As always, its nice to hear for you, so please leave a comment.