Thanksgiving Thank You Card

Howdy.   I am still crafting for my last holiday craft fair.  December 3rd, @ La Cueva High School, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  But, I did stop for an evening to bake some pies that were ordered for today, and of course I had to make a Thank You card to go with them!

Typically, my baked goods are hand-held, aka small.  But a wonderful co-worker asked for 2 slab pies.  A slab pie, is a pie made in a jelly roll pan.  So, it has the ease of a sheet cake, but it's pie!  When we have pot lucks at work, and I am asked to bring dessert, I bring either cupcakes or slab pie.

I made my version of SummerTime Harvest Pie.  This pie has strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, red raspberries, green apples, and peaches.  I omit the top crust for a sour cream topping that is baked.  I feel that this keeps it 'light and sweet'!

here is the card:

When I was photographing this card @ 5a yesterday (no sunshine or full moon light available) I just loved how my white sweater Starbucks coffee-to-go ornament looked sitting next to the card, so I didn't edit it out.  I'm happy I left it.  I think it helps add some warmth to my photo.  {smile}

Recipe:  I used kraft card stock for the card base.  The heavy weight card stock is from Paper Trey Ink.   The polka dot pattern paper, is actually a digital paper that is printed on Linen card stock, by Paper Trey Ink.  

I sponged crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up! to the edges of all the papers and the doily.  I printed a sheet of floral tags (digital), and sentiment cards (digital) onto whisper white card stock, by Stampin' Up!  I layered the sentiment card on top of the floral tag, but left the blossom at the bottom showing, along with the text at the top of the tag.

I added a simple, single border stitch with my sewing machine around the top portion of the card.

I sewn a 'messy' pleat with a 2-inch wide cream cotton embroidered trim.  I then sewn a scrap piece of this pale pink seam binding over the cotton trim.  I didn't wrap the cotton trim or the seam binding around the card.  I wanted it left 'messy' with unfinished edges.

I tied a triple bow with the same pale pink seam binding.  I tied a snowflake dangle embellishment with kraft twine around the seam binding bow.  This 'bow' is adhered to the card front with hot glue.

Viola! done.  Not a ton of embellishments, and not a lot of 'stuff', and my card is done.  A 'quick' (for me) card that was completed in just under an hour.  

I tied each pie with a pink ribbon, and added a tag from the same sheet of tags I printed for this card.  That way, it all looks like it belongs together.  {smile}

Congratulations Cake: Card

Howdy!  I hope your weekend is going well.  Me, I've been busy, cleaning, and getting stuff ready for tomorrow - the beginning of the work week.  {grimace}  And, I came upon a card I forgot to post last week.  UGH!  But, have no fear!  I am posting it here! (cute little rhyme)

I am entering this card into two challenges, so without further ado, here we go!

My first stop is at this wonderfully creative Russian challenge site: Scrap Magic.  They publish Inspiration Boards, give you a few requirements, and then let your mojo run free!

Here is the inspiration board:

For this current inspiration board, you are required to use turquoise and pink colors.  And you need to add a cake/rose to your project.  Their design team is very creative and I am sure that you will find more than enough inspiration from their projects, and their wonderful inspiration boards.  Their challenge site is in Russian, but they have a 'translate' button.  It's super easy to play along.  

My next stop is Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #135.  Their current theme is: Celebrate.  This can be any type of celebration: birthday, wedding, baby, etc.  Their design team is clever and creative!  You will find a lot of inspiration regardless of your paper crafting style!
my card was selected as a 'Top Three' @ Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #135! Yahoo! and thank you ladies!  Look for my 'badge' on my AWARDS page.

here is my card:

Recipe:  This card is a A-6 size card (4 1/4" x 6").  The card base is Soft Sky by Stampin' Up!  I just love the soft, pale, blue color.  Very pretty, and a bit shabbylicious!  The pattern papers are from Tilda. (I used three different, but beautiful collections.)  I used my sewing machine to add a simple border stitch to the card front.  Yeah, the thread is a silver metallic.  I thought it added a homespun feel with some sparkle! {smile}

The journal card is actually a digital download.  I just love the stripes and floral images with the blue french as an overlay.  Super pretty!   The 'cake' is from Tilda, also.  I adhered the cake to the journaling card with foam tape.  I just love the stripes on the cake.  It looks yummy and beautifully stunning at the same time.

The lace trim is a scrap, and I can't remember where I purchased it.  But, I'll need to buy more, I only have about 6inches left. {frown}  The seam binding is Soft Sky, by Stampin' Up!.  But I fear this may be a retired color.  And I used the last of what I had stashed.  {frown}  Ugh, this is dreadful!  I just love working with seam binding.  It is easy to manipulate and easy to color!

I tied a multi-loop bow with the seam binding, and then added my extras.  {smile}  I used some thin silver cord, to tie on a aqua mist vintage button, (by Paper Trey Ink) then tied on the key, and finally created a large loop bow behind the seam binding bow.  I adhered the bow piece onto the card front with my hot glue gun.

I added the key to the bow, because I think it signifies so many things to different people: the key to knowledge, the key to happiness, you hold the key to my heart, the key is the future, and so many other thoughts.

I made two trio clusters with some sequins (marshmallow, and pink blush) and one lone aqua mist vintage button to the card front.  I think it adds of bit of 'interest' to the card.

I stamped my sentiment in Going Gray classic ink, by Stampin' Up! using the Timeless Love stamp set.

Thank you for stopping by.  I do hope that you get a chance to play along in a challenge this weekend.  It is really great to see how others interrupt the sketches, inspirational boards, and such.  Ok, I am off to clean some floors.  WOW! sounds fun, huh?  But before I go, I want to remind you don't forget to stop back by on Tuesday, for my Triple T Tuesday segment.  {smile}

Grateful, for you : Card

Howdy!  Welcome.  I have a quick post this evening before I head to bed.  I was going to clean(ing) my craft table, to make space for a frenzy craft session this weekend, when I was stacking some scraps of digital pattern papers and a few scraps of trim, when a card came together!  I didn't use a sketch challenge or a color challenge or an embellishment challenge.  It just came together.  So, I distressed, machine stitched, heat embossed, glues, and voila!  I'm actually very happy with my little creation.  Start to finish it took 55 minutes!  Holy cow that's fast for me!

Recipe:  I used my new favorite kraft card stock from the big box store as my card base.  I added a text pattern paper from Paper Studio.  I just love this text paper.  They now make a white on black version too.  How super fun is that?

I machine stitched a floral wood pattern digital paper onto the text pattern paper.  I had several trim scraps on my craft table and they just kinda fell onto the stack.  So, I machine stitched them into place.  I knew I wanted a bow.  You aren't really surprised, are you? {smile}

So I also stitched some seam binding onto my trim stack.  I tied a multi-loop bow with the same pink seam binding, but it looked too flat, too pink, too blah.  So, I grabbed the golden tea dyed seam binding strip that was on my craft table and tied a bow with it.  Placed the pink bow on top, and it looked fabulous!  So, I grabbed my kraft twine and tied these two bows together.  I went digging into my button stash that sits on my desk.  {you know, when you are too lazy focused to get up and put things away.}  I think it looks pretty good.

I added a postage cancel stamp to the floral card.  But it needed something more, so I added some splatters.  I wanted to help bring out the gold in the tea dyed seam binding, so I heat embossed my splatters with antique gold embossing powder.  LOVE IT!

I wanted a sentiment, but didn't really have space, so I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment onto a scrap piece of vellum card stock that was already on my craft table.  I also used the stamp set i haven't put away yet, so it was already on my craft table.  I thought the sentiment banner needed a little something more, so I added some machine stitching to the wide open spaces of the sentiment.

I am super happy with my little quick card that came together while cleaning!  Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired to craft something beautiful today!  Even if it is just for you! {smile}

Shabby Rose Birthday

Howdy, I hope this post find you well.  Me, yeah.  It really feels good to have less stress, less madness, less anger, less yucky stuff going on in my life.  Life is too short, to obsess over stupid, thoughtless, ignorant, and plain selfish people.  So, I have taken a vow, to choose happiness, choose love, choose friendship, and leave all that non-sense behind me.  I need laughter, love, companionship, and a place to express my creativity.  So here we are!  

I woke this morning around 3a with Mojo Monday's current layout rolling around in my mind.  I did resist the fierce urge to get up and creep into my craft room.  Instead, I went back to sleep, to give my body a change to rest, and to re charge.  And well, I bet you can guess what I did this morning!  Yeah, I headed into my craft room, and executed the 'idea' I had earlier this morning {smile}

If you haven't headed over to Mojo Monday this week, here is their current sketch.

here is what I created:

I have to admit, when I first saw this sketch, I didn't really like the circle piece so high from the banner piece.  But, after playing around with a few different arrangements, I'm embracing the height.

Recipe:  I started with Lagoon card stock by Stampin' Up!.  Love their heavy weight card stock.  The pattern papers (all three) are from a new collection I picked up a few weeks ago: Shabby Rose, by Our Daily Bread.  Love the soft colors, and the beautiful graphics.

I used my thread cutter to distress (rough -up) the edges of the pattern paper.  I sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  I took two simple, polka dot-ish pattern papers, and torn thin strips.  Each strip is roughly 3/4" wide.  I also sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.

I had a short strip of this beautiful white cotton trim sitting on my craft table, so I add this wide strip first.  Then I layered the two pattern paper strips.  I added a short cream crochet trim, by Stampin' Up! and then a shorter strip of white crochet trim.  I did a zig zag stitch over the white crochet trim to hold all these layers together. {smile}  I hand stitched the pearls to the front panel.  I used brown thread, to give it some contrast.  But, now, I'm not too sure if I like the contrast.  I took an extra pink paper blossom sitting on my craft table and added some silver glitter to the edges.  Set the glitter with Aqua Net hair spray.  I used hot glue to add the pink paper blossom.  I really wanted to emphasize the pretty blue tone in the main panel, so I added an aqua blue multi-loop bow tied with seam binding.  I tucked the seam binding bow in under the paper blossom.

For my sentiment piece, it is actually an extra Birthday banner I created last week.  I originally wasn't sure what color I wanted this sentiment, so I stamped and heat embossed this sentiment in a few different colors.  {smile}.

And as always, this card remains blank on the inside.  That way, you can add your own hand-written message.   And this card is created for the craft fair coming soon!  May 2, @ La Cueva High School, in Albuquerque, NM.

I hope you have been inspired to play along with this challenge.  I'm sure you will create something wonderful! Have a great day!

Spring Birthday, Card

~ photo heavy post ~

WOW!  I have been busy crafting, and that always makes me happy {smile}.  I have also been busy cooking/baking!  Another happy chore!  So, lets get right to the paper craft you have come to see {smile}.  Today, I am entering a card in a few four paper crafting challenges.  Some of these challenges are new to me, and some are favorites {smile}!

For the sketch, I stopped by the Retro Sketch Challenge site.  They always have easy to use sketches, and the inspiration from the design team is always great to look at {smile}.

Then I stopped by a 'new to me' recipe challenge site:  Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge.  Their current challenge is : R#218 Pastel Shades.  Now, if you know me, I can do this {smile}!

I also stopped by another 'new to me' challenge site:  Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge.  Their currently challenge is: Girly.  Now, I can do girly very well, if I say so myself!  And I love their quote: 'less is more . . . but more is better'.  LOVE IT!   Because if you know me, I love embellishments and layers!

And my last stop is by a favorite challenge site, that I have to admit, I don't play very often with: Crazy 4 Challenges.  Now, don't let that discourage you.  These ladies are super talented and they have some very fun, and creative challenges.  I just, well, kinda get side tracked.  But check out this 'still open' challenge:  Put On A Bow!  Now, if you know me, I love bows.  I put bows on almost everything I make, and not just a simple bow, but my favorite multi-loop bows!

Ok, so with all of this inspiration! and creativity! HERE is what I made:

Recipe:  I started with white card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  They make some of the best heavy weight card stock in the industry.  

The two pattern papers are from a craft company LemonCraft, in Poland.  The paper collection is called Heart Painted.  It is a collection of sweet, floral, vintage-y papers in green, pinks, polka dots, music sheets, and text.  Yes, a treasured purchased {smile}.  I added a strip of wide cream lace between these two pretty pattern papers along the left side of the card. 

So, I used a thread cutter to rough up the edges of the two pattern papers, and in doing so, I had a heavy hand on a small section of each paper.  I added a scrap piece of music paper to fill the 'hole'.  I then I inked them with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up!  I just love their products!  Great quality and beautiful production!  

I'm a big fan of sewing on cards, and so I did a double messy border stitch along the smaller pattern paper.  I made sure not to stitch over my tear {smile}.  I think machine stitching always adds such a 'home-spun' look, and helps elevate the craftsmanship.  (my opinion)

I had three small scraps of some of my favorite trims sitting on my craft table.  And you know me!  "Use what you have!"  So, I machine stitched the tulle ruffle piece under the cotton trim piece first.  And then machine stitched the white thin crochet piece over them {smile, love it}.  I purposefully left the top of the cotton trim peeking out over the crochet trim.  I also used the edge of my scissors to help 'un do' the cut edges.

I made a double bow with some cream cotton twine from Paper Trey Ink.  I just love this stuff!  And then I made a double bow out of some pale pink seam binding.  But, it looked too pink for this card.  (hard to believe anything could be 'too pink'.)  So, I had a left piece of light cream seam binding sitting on my craft table, so I tied a bow around the pink  double-bow, to create this triple-bow piece.  I think that the light cream seam binding helps soften the look, and adds a little neutral to the pink.

I took off the legs of a vintage pearl brad, and used glue dots to adhere the brad top to the bow collection.  And then I added a clear crystal dangle in the bottom of the multi-loop bow collection.

I pulled out two small pink and white paper blossoms.  I added white paint to their pink petals, and some glitter.  And adhered them to the top of my sweet bow collection.

For the sentiment, I stamped the piece onto shimmer white card stock by Stampin' Up! in versa mark ink.  I added some pale pink embossing powder and heat embossed this piece.  I added some foam tape to the back and adhered it to a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock, by Stampin' Up!.  I fussy cut the very vanilla piece by hand, and used a photo corner punch to make the banner ends.

I actually finished the inside of the card.  I took a piece of whisper white card stock and matted it with some blushing blossom card stock, both by Stampin' Up!, and did a little machine stitching and some hand stamping {smile}  Hoping these two steps would show some cohesiveness of the card front and inside.

Well, thank you for visiting, and getting the scoop on my creation.  Now, I need to get this card in the mail.  Yeah, it is actually going to someone special.  Sorry if you were looking to purchase this card out of my Etsy shop, HERE.  {frown}  I hope you have been inspired, or motivated to play along in any of these challenges!  All of them are great, creative, and inspiring on their own, too!

Wooden Pins

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you are well.  I have been busy crafting, and photographing.  The holiday craft fair season is quickly approaching, and so I have been trying to get as much crafts made as I can.  I also want to make my crafts available in my virtual shop HERE.  Remember, if you live/work in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area, and don't require shipping, please use the coupon code: ALB87, and no shipping costs are acquired.  Just leave me a note as to how to contact you so I can get your order to you {smile}.  Also, don't forget if you are a previous customer to my virtual shop, you have been emailed a special coupon code to reduce your merchandise total.

I made another recipe of my home-made chalk paint.  And painted some wooden clothes pins.  Then I used sand paper to distress them.  I also did some hand-stamping.  (I sealed the stamped area.)  The paper blossoms have been painted and glittered before added.  I tied some seam binding into multi-loop bows and adhered them just below the paper blossoms.  And finally, I added a single half faux pearl.  

Some of my altered/decorated pins have push pins, magnets, or plain to simply hold messages together.  The magnetic clothes pins aren't quite dry yet, so they aren't available, at this time.  But come back soon.

If you have any questions, please contact me.  My virtual shop will be closed the day before, day of, and day after my craft fair schedules.  Early shopping ensures the largest selection.  However, if you are looking for something you don't see, please convo me, and maybe I can make a custom order for you!