Life is Sweeter With You, Card

Howdy!  WOW, I didn't realize so much time had passed since my last post.  My apologies.  I have had some health issues, work has been crumb-y, and various other life happenings.  {grimace}

But, have no fear, I will continue to carve out time to craft!  It's in my blood!  I dream of pattern paper {smile}.  

I am getting my crafting focused.  I have a craft fair in 2 months.  I also am hosting Bunco a few weeks following that.  So, I am trying to keep my crafting prioritized, so I can make the most of the time I have.  And trying not to get tunnel vision.  {fingers crossed}  I will post projects completed for Bunco when I get them done, so stay tuned. 

card flattened, so it will fit in an A-2 envelope

But, before I get started on some of the Bunco stuff, let me start with a new item I will be selling at this year's Spring Craft Fair on May 2nd, 2015.  I call them 'cards with movement'.  I have a board on Pinterest with the same name HERE.  I will have several of this type of greeting card (card-in-a-box), with a few different occasions.  But, I will also have a few of the 'explosion box' cards, too.  (stay tuned for a post on those, this week.)

So, without further ado, my version of the 'Card-In-A-Box' Card:

an angled view:

I used some pattern paper I already had on-hand, Signature Homespun.  I figure I should use the stuff I already have, instead of just spending more money on new stuff.  Right!  (One of this years New Years Resolutions.)

Recipe:  The card base is Cherry Cobbler card stock.  I used a numeric pattern paper and matted with Early Espresso card stock.  I also used a rustic red blossom, aqua polka dot pattern paper and matted that onto Cabana card stock.  (I am a fan of red and aqua.  Love the contrast.)  

For the center piece, I stamped the 'tag' in Chocolate Chip classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  I stamped the 'label' piece in cherry cobbler classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  I sponged the edges with soft suede classic ink*.  I used foam tape to life the label off the surface of the tag.

For the side panels, I cut 1 1/4" circles from the back side of the numeric pattern paper.  I cut a 1 3/8" circle with early espresso card stock.  Adhered them together.  I stamped the bow in versa mark ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  I added pool party embossing powder, and heat embossed.  I fussy cut each bow out, and used foam tape to adhere them to the center of the matted circles.

I stamped each blossom twice.  I used a hand held punch for the larger blossoms, and fussy cut the smaller blossoms.  I adhered two the same blossoms together, back to back.  So that the blossom would be seen from any view.

I added gold embossing to the center of the larger blossoms, and rhinestones to the center of the smaller blossoms.  

The bird is stamped in versa mark ink, onto whisper white card stock.  I added gold embossing powder, and heat embossed the bird.  The bird is adhered to the back of the card with foam tape.  

The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip classic ink, onto cabana card stock.  The large scallop circle is punched from cherry cobbler card stock.

I added leaves here and there, to give the illusion of a flower garden.  The back panel is left blank, so a hand-written note can be added.  These cards will be packaged with this 'note' panel un-attached, (so the piece can be laid flat when writing).

Thank You for looking.  This card is my 'sample' for the Spring Craft Fair.  I am heading back into my craft room, to make a few shabby chic 'card-in-a-box' cards.  {smile}.  Tuesday, I will be working on my sample 'explosion' box card.  I will try my best to get it photographed, and posted.  It will most likely be baby-girl themed box card.  I say that, because I already have a paper collection in mind.

If you have any suggestions, as to what you would like to see, let me know!  I'd love to know what folks could potentially be shopping for.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

*the edges of all solid, and pattern paper, as well as all stamped items were sponged with soft suede classic ink.

Paper Flowers

Happy you could drop by {smile}.  I wanted to share this sweet 'forever bouquet' with you.   It is another Bunco prize.  This sweet small bouquet has 4 pink paper blossoms, 4 vanilla paper blossoms, and 8 tiny white blossoms.  

I originally altered this mason jar to hold the paper blossoms.  However, it looks . . . odd.   I have come to the conclusion that the bouquet is too small for the container.  {frown}  So, I set out to find a 'better' container.  And, yeah, I had a smaller glass jar in my craft room.  Shocking, I know {smile}.

Anyways, I am in the process of painting that jar.  I used 2 coats of cream chalk paint and then a top coat of white chalk paint to create the above (masterpiece) mason jar.  So, I am in the process of doing the same to the glass jar.  Hopefully I will have a chance to share that jar, once it's done.

For the pink blossoms, I used the new spiral flower die from Stampin' Up!.  I ran my pink pirouette card stock through my paper crimper 5-6 times before I die cut the blossoms.  I rolled them, and used my glue gun to hold the blossom together.  I brushed the tips of the petals with clear crackle paint and dusted each blossom with dazzling diamonds glitter.

For the vanilla blossoms, I used the pansy punch from Stampin' Up!.  I punched four blossoms for each flower.  I cut a petal or two off each punch and pieced the blossom together.  I brushed the petal tips with white crackle paint and dusted them with dazzling diamond glitter.

The white tiny blossoms were created with a retired punch by Stampin' Up! (boho blossom).  I punched two florals for each blossom, and used clear crackle paint and glitter to the petal tips.

The leaves were made with the pick a petal punch by Stampin' Up! (retired) along with a pear pizzaz polka dot DSP (retired, too). 

To create the shapes, I used different 'tools' to bend the petals/leaves.  I also used my stylus to create curves.  I sponged all the edges of the papers, so it would give definition to the petal/leaf shapes.  I sprayed everything with water, and used my heat tool to speed the drying.   (This step creates a permanent, tough as steel, shape.)

All blossoms were attached to wires, and the wires are covered with florist tape, to hide the different colors, and to give the bouquet a finished, collective look.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have found some inspiration here {smile}

SAB Card-Gift Combo

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy, howdy peeps!  Last week, I was pretty productive, I think.  I went to a get together with some crafty friends, and we did a gift exchange.  The rules were pretty simple: use current Stampin' Up! supplies.  Easy peasey, right?  

Well, I made a card-gift combo paper craft.  I posted a sneak peak on InstaGram earlier in the week.  But, I wanted to share the finished product with you, now.  I'm pretty happy with how it came out.  However, I must give you the disclaimer now.  The photos aren't the best.  I was running out the door, when I realized that I hadn't taken any photos.  So, I shot a few with my phone, because I couldn't quickly locate my camera.  (an organizing problem).

Anyways, back to my card-gift combo.  I call it that, because it acts like a card (open the flap) and has a drawer to hold a gift.  Simple.  But, a wonderful surprise!  Here are the pics and a little bit about it {smile}:

the cover

I used very vanilla card stock for the whole project.  But, I wanted to add a little more heft, so I matted all my pattern papers with pretty card stock.  The whole outside, is matted with pool party card stock.  I used a new pattern paper from the Sale-A-Bration catalog: Sweet Sorbet (#133521).

a close-up of my paper blossom

To create this paper blossom, I used the Flower Shop stamp set (#130942/130939).  I used the coordinating punch: Pansy (#130698) to punch out three stamped blossoms.  Then I cut, rolled, bent, and shaped the petals into this beautiful blossom.  I added some glitter to the petal tips, to add some sparkle.  I added a clay button I made, and tied it with some of the new bakers twine: Gold Bakers Twine (#132975).  I thought that the metallic threads added a little bit of glamor to the project {smile}.

the side

I used Pool Party Seam Binding (#125582) to hold the 'card' closed.  I think it adds a bit of softness.

open

the inside 

I used a Window Sheet (#144323) to hold the 'gift' within the 'box' portion of this project, and to provide a little sneak peak of the gift.  The 'gift' for this project are the hand-made embellishments.  The paper blossoms and clay embellishments are all hand-made and use exclusive Stampin' Up! products.  

The 'gift' is contained in a 'drawer', so you slide-out a tray, that holds the embellishments.  I kept the inside simple, so not to distract from the beauty of the hand-made embellishments.  (I stamped the 'box' portion before assembly, using Creative Elements (#128523/122647).

and the matching bag

I used the same pattern papers Sweet Sorbet to decorate the front of the gift bag.  I like things to match {smile}.  Then it looks like it belongs.  I did use the Blue Ribbon stamp set (#131964/125981) to make that adorable 'ribbon' for the sentiment piece on the bag.  I think it adds a bit of fun, to the over-all look.

I did stamp the back of the white bag with my custom stamp for branding.  I used pewter embossing powder and heat emboss the image.  It came out real pretty, but for some reason, I can't get that image to load.  UGH! how frustrating.  (the image is on my InstaGram acct.)

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you like my creation.  If you want to get your hands on these (and other Stampin' Up!) supplies, just stop by my shop here!  And receive a little surprise in the mail, from me, with every order during Sale-A-Bration!  (Jan 28th - March 31st, 2014)

Now go create something beautiful! {smile}