Birthday Balloon Card

Howdy.  Welcome.  A close, dear, and sweet friend of mine is celebrating her birthday this week.  And a celebration isn't complete without a card!

Recipe:  This sweet card was hand-crafted with various paper crafting supplies.  I started with solid card stock by Paper Trey Ink, in Ocean Tides color.  The pattern paper is actually both sides of the same page.  It is from the Birds and Blooms pattern paper collection by HeartFelt Creations.  

I added a tea dyed paper doily, a strip of ruffled cream tulle.  I added a strip of spring green seam binding and sewn the stack together.  I added a multi-loop bow made with the same seam binding.  I added a bow tied with pale blue twine.  I tied a vintage button to the center of this bow collection with a thin silver cord.  

I added a torn strip of music paper to the other side of the bow collection.  I stamped the balloon three times and adhered the pieces together, to give the balloon dimension.  I added a strip of white bakers twine to the balloon.  I stamped and fussy cut four tassels and adhered them to the balloon string.   I stamped the bow in silver ink and fussy cut it out, also.

I stamped the sentiment in Juniper classic ink, by CTMH, onto shimmer white card stock and cut a flag end.

Well, I hope my friend likes her card.  And now, I am heading into the kitchen to make her some cupcakes {smile}

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.

Renew Ribbon

Happy Saturday!  Glad that you have stopped by.  This is a special day for a few friends, and a sad day for some other friends.  Let's start with the good news... a dear, and sweet family friend is getting married today.  He is a wonderful guy, who always has a special perspective on life, and a deep devotion to his friends.  And now the sad news... Linda, the owner of Our Creative Corner has had some changes in her life dynamics, and the challenge site is closing.  This challenge over @ OCC will be our last.   

Irena, is our hostess for this one last challenge over @ OCC.  Irena, has given us an inspirational board for this style challenge.   Here is her inspirational board:

And the lovely ladies over @ the Ribbon Reel, have a 'Mix and Match' challenge.  We are to use 2 pattern papers, 1 solid paper, ribbon and twine.  Here is their inspirational photo:

So, I combined the two challenges, and came up with this card:

I used some pattern paper from Authentique pattern paper, called Renew.  The colors are cool, crisp and quite lovely.  I used paper trey ink solid card stock.  The card base is lemon whip and aqua mist.  I used Stampin' Up! pool party seam binding, and pool party bakers twine.  The buttons are from the aqua mist vintage button bag.  I added some random rhinestones to the card front.  I used the signature dress form stamp set and matching die to create the mannequin piece.

I added some machine stitching to the border of the card.  Also I stitched the seam binding to the card, before I added the top note shape.

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us @ OCC, as this is our last challenge.

Enjoy your weekend.  I am off to the store to find the perfect pair of shoes to go with my dress to the wedding.

love this card? you can purchase it here

HB, Paula

Happy Saturday!  It's time for another challenge @ Our Creative Corner.  Paula, has an interesting color challenge for us to try this week.  Paula, wants you to create a cake creation using Red, Blue, and Yellow with layer upon layer.  My first question was what shade of red, or blue.  The yellow, I pretty much have that covered.  But, Paula mentions super hero s, so the shades I selected are deep and bright.  

Here is my card: 

For those who know me, this is not my typical color combo.  But, this is labeled as a challenge.  I selected Not Quite Navy for my card base.  I thought this color would help ground my card and give it a starting point.  Not only as the card base, but a base for coordinating the other colors.  The blue/yellow pattern paper is from a Teresa Collins collection, I believe.  The text pattern paper is from Paper Studio.  I used my red to showcase embellishments.  I used an Authentique Valentine's Day themed paper for the red/cream polka dot pattern paper.  I added a scrap piece of the red checker ribbon to add a splash of color towards the bottom of the card.  I used my Utility stamp set for the cake and the sentiment.  I used white embossing powder and my heat gun to emboss the cake image.   I just love the shading.  I added a lady bug fabric brad to attach the multi-loop bow to the top of the birthday tag.
I hope you get a chance to play along with us @ OCC.

Buttons, Burlap & More

Good Morning!  It's Saturday, and I'm getting ready to tackle some house chores.  It might seem 'crazy' to be excited about that, but, it gives me a chance to not think.  Not think about work, bills, and other obligations.  to just 'do'.  No time frame, no restrictions, no requirements.   Clean.

Well, let me start by apologizing for being late on this post.  Linda over @ Our Creative Corner, is our hostess this week.  And she wants you to make a paper craft item using Buttons, Burlap & More.  Sounds pretty easy.  Sounds a bit vintage.  I can do this!  I knew what I wanted to do in my head.  So, I set out to my craft room.  Took out my burlap (I have 2 colors) and tried, and tried to make a flower.  I couldn't get my burlap blossom just right.  It was either too flat, or incredibly too bulky.  UGH! now what?  So, I decided to use both the burlap and the buttons as accents.  My card is pretty much clean and simple, but it has alot of character, without too much stuff.  

I had two scraps of this beautiful Nostaligia pattern paper left over, and decided that they had the perfect vintage charm I was looking for.  

Last week, I was tea dying some seam binding.  I also frayed both edges to help give it a worn look.    I had a few feet left over, so, I decided to add a piece of that.  The seam binding is rather wide, a good inch or so.  So, to help camouflage the width, I added a scrap piece of crochet trim to the middle.  To help 'use' some of that ribbon real estate, I hand sewn some buttons onto the card front with cream twine.

As for the blossom, I have a few beautiful paper blossoms from Prima laying around.  So, I added two different shapes and colors of burlap behind the paper blossom.  I thought it helped give it a rustic look.

I knew that I wanted to stamp the sentiment on the bottom right corner of the card.  I also knew that I wanted a large enough type, so it wouldn't look odd, or mis-perportioned.  So, I grabbed one of my favorite Paper Trey Ink stamp sets, and stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  And since the sentiment mentions a 'heart', I made a heart too.  I cut the heart shape out of a scrap piece of Glitz pattern paper and chipboard.  Adhered the two pieces together, and then tucked the heart behind my blossom.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ Our Creative Corner this week.  I know we would love to see your wonderfully beautiful creations made with Buttons, Burlap & More!

Happy Easter, every bunny

It's Saturday, and that means that its time for another creative challenge @ Our Creative Corner.  Marcy, is our hostess this week, and she wants us to design a card/project that is inspired by a frilly Easter bonnet.  In that, use elements that you would put onto your own bonnet, such as lace, flowers, pearls, etc.  I have to admit, that I was at a bit of a loss on this one.  So, I set out to make an Easter card, and add frilly stuff to it: lace, flowers, pearls, etc.

The talented ladies over @ the Vintage Cafe Card Challenge, ask that you create a vintage inspired paper craft item that has pearls.
So, with this task at hand, I set off to my craft room, and mix and matched this and that, embossed, sprayed, and sponged.  

Here is what I created:

I just love how all of this came together.  The pattern papers are from Prima.  They are from a 6" x 6" pad, so that's why the patterns are small in scale.   The vanilla card stock between them, was run through an embossing folder to give it some texture and visual interest.  I sponged it with crumb cake classic ink.  

The buttons are from the Spring Vintage Collection, and I used a cream linen thread to tie through the button holes.  The 'circles' that the buttons sit on, are actually floral images that were heat embossed with pink vintage embossing powder.  I used the Raining Flowers stamp set for those small bud images.  The 'label' piece the bunny is sitting on, was heat embossed with the same embossing powder.  I used the Four Frames stamp set to create the 'label'.  The Easter bunny was stamped in Jet Black Staz-On onto shimmer white paper.  I used an aqua painter and Pretty in Pink and Pear Pizzazz re-inkers, to water color this image.  

I stamped the sentiment in Black ink onto a vanilla piece of card stock and used my photo corner punch to create the banner piece ends.  I ran some silver glitter paper through my butterfly die to create the various sized butterflies.

As for the fibers that run through my card, I used a gold shimmer mess as my first layer.  I then added some white crochet trim onto of that.  I sprayed my vanilla seam binding with a shimmer paint and then wadded it up.  I wanted it to look crinkled.

For my bow, I made a multi-loop bow with my crinkled seam binding, and some pink taffeta ribbon.  I then added this 'bow' to the body of a larger butterfly.  The butterfly was added to the center of a fabric blossom.  I hot glued a small paper blossom to the center of the multi-loop bow.

As for my pearls, I added cream colored pearls to the sentiment banner.  I added white colored pearls to the butterfly bodies.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and take a look at what I have been working on.  I always love to hear from you.  Have a safe and fun Easter.  I hope you all find the 'golden egg'.

Heartfelt Thanks, #129

WOW!  Sometimes life gets you so busy, you don't get a chance to 'stop and smell the roses' or get a chance to catch your breath before you start another assignment/adventure.   As most of you know, last week, I was doing tax stuff.  And generally (ok, the past few years) this task didn't take me more than a day.  However, for some reason, this year, I spent more than 4 evenings on it.  To say that my life is kinda busy or packed with other obligations, is an understatement.  I work full time during the day, and take call at two local hospitals 4 nights a week.  I  have a husband that I cook and clean for.  And 4 grandchildren that I see each week.  And yes, I teach card classes and have two card clubs each month.  So, when I have to spend extra time on one task, it really throws my whole momentum on my other projects. 

So I didn't get a chance to see that I won Chic of the Week #129!  I just popped over today, to see what the wild card challenge was this week, so I could play along.  And, there was my card set!  [see original post here.]

This challenge was a lot of fun! and it gave me an excuse to use some new Prima paper.  (yes, Prima makes more than flowers. {smile})

So, I will be posting this card set in my Etsy shop, by this evening.  I want to thank the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Just Us GirlS, for giving us such wonderful challenges each week, and for their inspiration.  These ladies have a variety of styles, and use a variety of wonderful products available!  Just by looking at their 'samples' you could easily go into your craft supplies, and create a winning paper craft item.  

Thank you, to everyone who looked, participated, and voted for me.  Displaying the badge (of honor) is a truly wonderful gift!