Blissful Wedding Wishes

Oh, my face is red.  I was suppose to post this card on Monday, for you to look at.  But, I got busy and a bit side tracked.  Anyways, I needed a card for a good friends daughter wedding.  So, I went to two of my favorite challenge sites for inspiration and direction.

My first stop was Cardabilities #96.  I stopped there for their sketches.  I just love them!

Ok, now i need a bit of inspiration and a few requirements.  So, I headed over to another favorite challenge blog:  the Shabby Tea Room.  This challenge blog has some great design team members.

Here is their inspirational photo and requirements:

the theme for this challenge blog is Pretty in Pink.  The required elements are: white and/or cream, pink, green, flowers, lace and/or ribbon.  

Once I saw this inspiration photo, I just fell in love with the fabric blossoms.  They are so gorgeous! and the layers of lace and trim is so pretty, too!

Another card, that I didn't do a lot of stamping.  Just the sentiment: Love.  I distressed the edges of the tag with a sponge and classic ink.

I used a font pattern paper by Melissa Frances for the main panel.  I just love this paper.  It's so vintage.  I added some machine stitching along the edges, to add some home-made-ness to it {smile}.

I added a paper doily to the top of the card.  I wrapped a piece of retired lace trim across the card front.  I machine sewn some light green seam binding across the lace trim.  I thought it added a sweet touch.

I tied on a multi-loop bow using the light green seam binding.  I tied a button and sentiment tag to the bow with some cream twine.  

I tucked two cream fabric blossom shapes in with the pink blossoms.  

I added a white button just below the large pink blossom.

I added some fabric blossoms to the front of the card.  

I added three tiny silver glitter butterflies and three clear sequins.  I think this card turned out sweet, and perfect for a bridal shower.

Now, head over to these two challenge blogs, get inspired, and play along!
this card was selected as an honorable mention over @ the Shabby Tea Room, here.

Glass Globe

Whew, the holidays are upon us!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  Our weekend was spent sharing Christmas with out-of-town family.  Our daughter and her family, hosted both days, Saturday and Sunday.  My mom came up to Albuquerque on Saturday.  My husband cooked a prime rib roast on the smoker, and I made cheesecake.  No holiday flavor of cheesecake, just plain vanilla bean cheesecake.

I took a jar of my home-made Blueberry Spoon Fruit, to add for a topping {smile}.  We had a wonderful meal, opened presents, and played several rounds of tri-ominos.  It was really good to share some time with family, and not be rushing with  stuff.

I also hope that you have all your shopping done.  I have 3 gifts to get today.  And the whole thought of heading out to the shopping center is dreadful.  But, I will make the trek, and have some holiday cheer in my heart.  {smile}  We were invited to share Christmas Eve with my daughters in-laws tonight.  So, I need to get a few things baked and packaged.  But, before I head out the door,  I wanted to share a gift I made.  My daughter asked me to make a glass ornament for her mother-in-law for Christmas.  I just love making these little guys.  Her only request was that it had to have an angel.  That's easy peasy!

I just love making these little scenes.  But I hate photographing them.  I need to figure something out.  Because currently, I hold the ornament with one hand and the camera with another.  So, between the globe swinging, and my hand(s) shaking, it takes several (and I do mean several) clicks of the shutter until I have one decent photo.  

But, I have to say, I am very happy with how it turned out.  My oldest granddaughter loved it!,and she is in my craft room, putting one together for her family.  So, anyways, I used a bottle brush tree from Melissa Frances, I hand glued those tiny faux peals for ornaments, and disassembled a link on a rhinestone bracelet for the tree topper.  I also used an angel punch out, and the glass dome are from Melissa Frances.  I added a Tim Holtz button, in front of the tree, to give the scene some vintage love, and to add a feminine touch.  Finally, I added a bingo piece '25' for the date.  I used mica for the 'snow'.  I tied some crinkled pale aqua blue seam binding to the top, and added a clay rose I made.  I also added some tiny cream pom-pom trim to the bottom of the globe.  I hope she likes it {smile}.  

I'll post a photo of the glass dome my granddaughter is making tomorrow or the next day.  It all depends on how much I need to get done.  Well, until then, have a wonderful day! and carve out sometime for someone special {smile}.

Spring Window #167

Whew.  A welcome break to the daily grind.  It's good to schlep around the house and wonder in and out of my craft room.  I'm hope you get a chance to relax in whatever fashion you desire.  But, please do not forget the true meaning of this holiday.   As tomorrow is Memorial Day, so please take a moment to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have.

Earlier this week, I saw this fabulous paper craft challenge over @ the Shabby Tea Room, and let me say, my heart sang.   The inspiration photo is amazing!  When I first saw it, my mind already decided on the pattern paper that I wanted to use; Melissa Frances.  So, here is the inspiration photo:

See what I mean?  The colors are crisp and delightful.  It gives me a sense of warm and home.  Here is what I made.  Alert: not my typical card.  It's kinda simple.

The pale aqua honey comb pattern paper, as well as the collage and hydrangea pattern papers are all from Melissa Frances.  Her papers are soft in color and simply beautiful to look at (smile).  I matted the honey comb pattern paper onto a piece of white cardstock.  I really wanted the white in the pattern paper to pop.  I machine stitched the top half of the card.  I felt it was 'missing' something, and basically I still do.  The collage pattern paper is Pink Lady.  I cut 3/4" strips and flagged the ends, to create a banner.  Then I lined the up, alternating the heights.  I cut a piece of silver glimmer paper with a scallop edge.  I wanted some sparkle, but not a glob.  I added a thin crochet trim piece to soften the shine.  I edged a cream button with picket fence distressing paint and added dazzling diamond glitter, while the paint was still wet.  I tied a piece of cream twine through the button and made a simple bow.

I die cut a top note shape piece of chip board and a piece of Hydrangea pattern paper.  Adhered the two pieces together.  The window is from Prima Marketing.  One of their resin pieces.  Love the simple look, not too ornate, just a bit rustic.  

The blossoms were made my hand.  I used a die from Heartfelt Creations.  I die cut several pieces in a pale plum and plum card stocks.  I used a stylus to create the bends in the petals.  I edged the petals with picket fence distressing paint and dazzling diamond glitter.  I used a white brad to hold the blossom together.  The leaves were made with a sizzix leaf die.  I cut two.  I used my stylus to ends of the leaves, to give them some 'life'.  When they are just cut, they are pretty 'flat'.

I used foam tape on the top half of the top note shaped piece.  The glimmer paper and crochet trim make a high spot in the middle of the card.

The butterfly comes from the Kindness Matters stamp set.  I stamped it onto very vanilla card stock and added just a schmiggen of color to the body.  I fussy cut it out.  I sponged crumb cake classic ink to the edges to help camouflage the outline of the butterfly and the scissor cut edge.

I stamped a tiny sentiment on the lower corner of the card. It actually comes from Button Boutique by Paper Trey Ink.  Because of the height of the paper blossoms and the fact that some of the leaves hang off the edge of the card, I decided to create an 'envelope' using a large glassine bag and an altered clothes pin.  I thought it would be a 'fun' way to give this card {smile}.

I hope you get a chance to play along in whatever challenge inspires you.  But, if you need some inspiration, please stop by the the Shabby Tea Room.  Their design team is incredibly talented and sure to give you some eye candy to oogle over.

Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day.  And to all those serving our country, past and present; Thank You for your service and sacrifice, from the bottom of my heart.