a Rosewood Vintage Christmas Card

Howdy.  Welcome.  yeah, I've been busy making holiday stuff; cards, bags, boxes, jar toppers, and altered salt shakers.  {smile}  I tend to do a lot of shabby chic holiday projects.  But today, I have a vintage holiday card.  {smile}

and while I was looking around on the internet, I found some very interesting challenge sites.  There are a few that are 'new' to me, so I really wanted to play along.  {smile}

My first stop was Retro Sketches.  They have wonderful sketches that are easy to work with and the design team is pretty talented.  So I am sure you will find some inspiration.  {smile}  

Here is their current sketch challenge (#189):

I stumbled upon Shopping Our Stash weekly challenge.  Their current challenge (#229) is to use items from your stash, but no stamping.  So, you can use all those little pieces and bits that you have collected over the years, and create something handmade but without adding ink.  Sounds fun!

I also stumbled upon Unicorn Challenge Blog challenge site.  Their current challenge (#3) is: Christmas is Coming.  Sounds perfect, right!  You should check out what their design team has created, very beautiful!

and here is what I made:

I turned the sketch 90 degrees to the right

A sweet, rosewood colored, vintage Christmas card.  I used what I had on hand.  No purchase necessary.  So, that made me happy!  My card base is kraft card stock from Paper Studio.  I just love the color.  I added pattern paper I had on hand from Maja Road - Vintage Frost Basics pattern paper.  The paper pad also has three sentiment/design cards, a trio of postage stamp size images and a pair of tags.  {smile}

I did a purposefully sloppy double border machine stitch around the matt.  I just love the homespun look it gives cards.  I added a scrap piece of white cotton trim to the snowflake pattern paper.  (the sketch has a row of xxx's there).  Instead of a button (in the sketch) I added a 'winter' blossom.  It is actually a trio of pink fabric blossoms that I added white paint, glitter, and flocking to, before adding the rhinestone brad.  

There are two 'ribbon loops' on the sketch, that I wanted to add.  But, I settled for a collection of pretty trims.  I first machine stitched a trio of white crochet scallops, and then a pair of pink pom poms.  I think they add a little bit of whimsey and fun to the card.  And why not?  The girls are throwing snowballs for their dog to chase!

As always, my card remains blank on the inside, to provide you with room to add either your own hand-stamped sentiment, or a hand-written message.  {smile}

The photo doesn't really show it, but the card with the sentiment is adhered to the kraft matt with foam tape to 'lift' that piece higher.  I thought it would look 'cleaner' than plastering it down on top of the two decorate trims, and having bumps.

Well, I'm off to my craft room to finish up some desk top calendars.  {smile} I hope you get an opportunity to create something beautiful, too!

French Holiday Set

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy.  Welcome.  Before you asked, I haven't quite finished my trophy cups.  But, I promise, I will.  As they will be for sale at my next Craft Fair - this Friday!  I was able to work on a few other holiday projects.  For those of you who don't know, I love taking non-holiday pattern paper, and creating holiday projects.  {smile}  I do love typical holiday pattern papers, but sometimes, its fun to set out side of the box.  Exercise your creative mojo, so to speak!

A month ago, I saw quite a few wonderfully creative projects using Gilded Lily pattern paper by G45 (Graphics 45).  And let's just say that I fell in love with both the paper and the projects.  So much so that I went out and purchased a few sheets of the pattern paper.  Then, it just sat there.  (I'm sure this sounds familiar to a lot of you - smile)  This pattern paper has royal images of Marie Antoinette, crowns, lilies, script, dots, and flourishes.

I set out to start working on holiday projects to have for sale, at my next holiday craft fair.  And then, I grabbed that beautiful Gilded Lily pattern paper.  I also stopped by Mojo Monday challenge site to get a layout.  This is this week's sketch:

and here is what I did with the sketch:

Let's look at each piece separately!

First, the bag:

As you can tell, I rotate the sketch.  I also used a 'tag' for the circle piece.  The tag is heat embossed with pink embossing powder.  I used cream velvet ribbon for the top of the tag.  But I didn't want a lot of bulk with a traditional tag 'loop', so I tied the velvet ribbon with kraft twine, and added a jingle bell.  {jingle bells are fun!}  I switched out the floral accent piece with a holiday shabby chic piece.  {smile}

and a close-up:

I wanted the bulb and snowflake to move, so they are tied onto a Tim Holtz safety pin, that is secured to the front of the bag with a rhinestone floral brad.  I also added some fabulous trim in a make-shift 'junk bow': tulle, pom pom trim, crochet trim and thin ribbon.  I used kraft twine to hold everything together.

The gift card holder:

I wrapped some white cotton trim and seam binding around the top flap of the gift card holder.  I  layered a silver glitter snowflake on top of the trims.  And then added that sweet bow, with a snowflake charm tied to it.  {smile}

And the inside of the gift card holder.  Simply tuck the gift card into the bottom flap.  The sentiment is heat embossed with silver embossing powder :  Greetings of the Season.  Elegantly simple.

and now the stocking stuffer - chocolate!

I used some of the scraps of the pattern papers, and wrapped some chocolate candies.  I added a cream crochet knot, tied on a simple tag stamped with 'Noel', and tied the gold cord into a simple bow.  {smile}  Something elegantly simple.  Perfect {smile}

Well, thank you for looking.  I hope you have found some inspiration and get an opportunity to craft something fabulous, too!

Vintage Winter Treasure Tin

Welcome!  I was surfing the internet, and stumbled upon two new challenge sites, that I should play along with.  I say 'should' because I need to get more holiday crafts completed.  

I stopped @ the Papertake Weekly Challenge.  They have a new challenge, titled: it will soon be here: Christmas!

I also stopped by A Snowflake Promise challenge site.  Their current challenge is: winter/Christmas.

here is what I made:

I have really loved decorating these blank tins.  {smile}  I first paint the tins with chalk paint, then distress with various sand papers, and finally seal the tin surface.  I wanted to make some tins that were event specific.  And I had some scrap pieces of this beautiful winter holiday pattern paper from Authentique.  {smile}

the outside of the tin:

I distressed the pattern papers, too.  I layered some of the papers, and added some machine stitching.  

This blank tin measures approximate 3 3/4" x 2 1/4".  

Thank you for looking.  I'm working on a few tins for 'new' babies.  {smile}

Magnetic A

Welcome.  Yeah, I've been busy crafting! and all I can say, is, YAHOO!  I just love it!  It really does my heart and soul good to create something with paper, seam binding, and buttons!  happy, happy, happy!  {big grin}

All of the items I am sharing with you, are for sale in my Etsy shop, HERE.  And what doesn't sell, will be for sale at several local (Albuquerque, New Mexico) holiday craft shows.  [please note, that I have not shared everything I have made for the craft fairs on my blog.  some items either don't photograph well, or don't ship well.]

One of my top sellers, are magnetic monograms.  I take 4" tall letters, and alter them.  I use pattern papers I have on hand, and add various embellishments.  You know me, seam binding, and a vintage button or two, and always something feminine like a rhinestone(s) or pearl(s). {smile}

All I have left to do, to finish this monogram, is to adhere the two round, strong magnets to the back, and viola!  

I used a scrap piece (4" x 4") of my favorite text pattern paper from Melissa Frances.  I love the dark grey color of the text, and the beautiful font.  This pattern paper is very easy to work with.  You add the color you love!  I painted the letter with a pearl cream color paint.  I wanted to keep the letter neutral, so the color doesn't compete with the pattern paper.

I wrapped some white crochet trim around the lower portion of the wide leg of the letter.  I wrapped some pale pumpkin dyed muslin around the middle of the letter and tied it in a simple bow.  I added a light coral lace blossom from Prima, Coffee Break collection.  I just love the soft, beautiful look of these lace blossoms.  

I added a light coral paper blossom just above the lace blossom.  I added some of the pearl cream paint to the tips of the paper blossom.  I tucked in a clock stick pin from Prima.  And finally, I added two berry sorbet vintage buttons, from Paper Trey Ink.  And finally, I wanted to add some sparkle, so I cut the legs off a rhinestone brad, and tucked it in close to the muslin bow.

Want to see more photos of this gem?  Head on over to my Etsy shop!  and Thank You for taking the time to visit me, and I hope I have inspired you, to create something beautiful, and in your favorite color!

Monochromatic

Whew!  I hope this day finds you well.  Me, a bit tired, from work, but, then again, what's new this year.  I am a bit late posting this, but I really liked how this card came out.  

It's Saturday, and so it's time for a new challenge over @ Our Creative Corner.  Now, when I say this is a challenge, that is exactly what it was for me.   The lovely and talented Liliani, has a super creative challenge for you this week.   Monochromatic white with a decorative edge!  

So, this is what I came up with:

For those who know me, using one color is really hard.  On a variety of different reasons, including my lack of white paper, embellishments, and trinkets.  But, this is how I did it!

 I started with heavy-weight white cardstock from Paper Trey Ink.  Then, I used my decorative edge die and embosser to create that beautiful edge.  Then, I used the same decorative edge die to cut the mat for the front of the card.  The mat is made from a 'white' texture paper.  I think the texture paper gives the large space some visual interest.

Then, to add a decorative piece, I took the same heavy-weight white cardstock, and a doily die from Paper Trey Ink, and cut a cardstock doily.  I sponged white craft ink, from Stampin' Up! along the edges of the doily, and then dipped the edges in dazzling diamond glitter.  A little sparkle makes very thing better {smile}.

I used a leaves die and some silver glitter paper, from Stampin' Up!  to create the folage piece.  I added some glass beads that I found in the wedding section of a big craft store to represent some floral pieces.  

The white paper blossom is not hand-made, but very easy to do.  Punch a floral shape from white card stock, and punch two daisy type floral shapes from white card stock.  Matt two tiny circles as your center (one white and one silver, or glittered).  Pretty simple. 

For the sentiment piece;  I cut white cardstock to 1/2" width, and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position my sentiment.  I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set from Stampin' Up! and Basic Grey classic ink.  I thought that black would be to harsh.  I used a square punch to create the banner end.  I took some crinkled white seam binding and created a multi-loop bow and a Recollections rhinestone brad to attached the bow to the sentiment banner.  Adhered this piece to the card front and Viola! a pretty white monochromatic decorative edge card!

I hope you get a chance to play along with us this week.  And don't let the challenge discourage you.  Use what you have, and I'm sure you will create something fabulous to share with us @ OCC.

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.

(love this card? you can purchase it, here)

Vintage Zone

Today is my second craft fair.  So this past week, i have been busy working on re-stocking my paper crafts for sale.  Yesterday morning, I started working on decorating some paper bags.  I don't know if I had the right music playing, the 'perfect' papers out, or I was just 'in the zone', but either way I just LOVE what I created.  I really enjoy creating vintage/shabby chic paper crafts, and yesterday was a perfect day for me. Here are some photos of what I created:

This is a food-safe bag.  I stamped the polka dots in white craft ink.  I love how the polka dots resemble falling snow.  Very pretty.  I used a wheel to stamp the lace.  I inked the wheel in basic black classic ink.  

For the tag, I used a decorative die to cut the kraft card stock.  

I printed the digital collage tags on white card stock, to keep the colors true.  I matted the vintage tags onto pink pirouette card stock.  I love how pretty this pink is.  It is a light color, not too much grey, not too much blue.  This color of pink is a soft, light, cool-color of pink.

I used a scallop punch to create the scallop edge in silver glitter paper. I added the scallop trim to the side of the matted tag.

I dyed some white seam binding with spun sugar distress ink.  I crinkled the seam binding, made a multi-loop bow and attached the bow to the matted tag with a rhinestone brad.

I cut a star from some corrugated cardboard.  I painted the edges of the star with picket fence distress ink and dunked the painted star into a tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I threaded the pink button with thin silver cord and tied a bow.  I attached the button to the star.

To attach the tag to the food bag, I included a wooden clothes pin.  To jazz-up the clothes pin, I painted the top with mod podge and dipped it in silver glitter.

I am planning on giving these bags out filled with home-made cookies, during a cookie exchange I am participating in next month.

I needed a few more paper gift bags for tomorrow's Arts and Crafts Fair, and this is what I set out to make.

For the gift bags.  I covered small paper bags with kraft card stock.  For the pattern paper, I used Market Street by Lost and Found 2. 

I added a decorated tag stamped with 'warm wishes' to help express the feeling of the season. 

I stamped the silhouette of the sledder in black pigment ink and used clear embossing powder to heat set this image.

I used the same corrugated cardboard to cut the snowflake.  I also did the same distressing technique with paint and glitter.  I attached a button to the center of the snowflake.  

I wrapped a piece of crochet trim around the pattern paper, to hide the seam of the two different papers.   I added a TH ticket just below the crochet trim.  I cut a small tag shape from silver glitter paper and used a pink Basic Grey brad to attach the tag to the front of the bag.  I tied some vanilla seam binding into a multi-loop bow and tied a button to the ribbon piece, with some linen thread.

To help hold the bag closed, I tied some kraft twill ribbon at the top.  I added a narrow tag, stamped with a holiday sentiment.

Here is my little dilemma, I just love adore this little gift bag so much, I don't want to sell it.  Have you ever done that?  Created something for your 'shop' or a friend, and then just can't part with it?  To correct this problem, I mass produced some of these gift bags to sell at the Arts and Crafts Fair, and have kept this original one for myself.

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.

Rotary Phone

This is a rare post.  I wanted to participate in a challenge, were I'm not on the design team.  I just wanted to create.  Have you ever had that urge?  I wanted to sit in my craft room, create something in my style, not for a deadline, not for a craft fair.  Just for me.  

I'm a big fan of the Shabby Tea Room #132, and I wanted to play along with them this week.  The requirements this week, are to use the colors in their inspirational photo, and include something rustic and something elegant.  This sounds a bit like shabby chic! and this is right up my alley {smile}.  

I also used a sketch from Crafting Life's Pieces #52.  I wanted to participate in their month long challenge.  So, I combined the two challenges and created a wonderful card.

Here are the challenges:

and here is what I created:

I used some 'vintage' styled pattern papers for this card.  I actually used pattern papers that I received as an attendant gift @ the Inspired Retreat, sponsored by the Hen House Paperie, last month; Market Street by Lost & Found. I just loved the floral-text papers, and I'm a super fan of all text papers.  I sponged some of the pattern papers with a kraft ink.  But, I wanted a different distressed look on the center green floral pattern paper.  So, I brushed picket fence distress paint along the edges, and then dunked the pattern paper in a tub of dazzling diamond glitter.

One of the requirements, was to include something rustic.  My rustic; the painted wooden button, the cream twine, and the cardboard butterfly.  Another requirement, was to include something elegant.  My elegant; the rhinestone brad at the center of the butterfly, the trio of half pearls, and the glittered distressed edged pattern paper.  I think that I did include the colors in the inspirational photo; brown, pink, silver, green, and white/cream.

That clever telephone stamp is from Unity Stamps.  I stamped the 'call me' stamp in a soft suede classic ink onto a piece of vanilla card stock.  I then matted it on a scrap piece of pink pirouette card stock.  I wanted the focal point of this card to pop, so I used foam tape behind this telephone piece.
I use a lot of seam binding on my paper crafts.  I just love the crinkled look, and the variety of colors, you can purchase.  This beautifully crinkled ribbon is from Prairie Bird Boutique, an Etsy shop.

Thank you for taking the time, to stop by and have a look.  Leave me a comment, and let me know what you think of this card.   Happy crafting!

Twinkle Rhinestone Brad

It's Friday!  And you know what that means? The weekend is quickly approaching! and I hope you have some great paper crafting plans!  And to help get it started, the lovely Patrice @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, has an interesting sketch for you to try!

Here is her sketch:

Here is what I created:

When I saw Patrice's sketch, the first thing I thought of was those oriental picture panels.  I thought who lovely, to make one.  So, I stamped the large floral image (from the Elements of Style stamp set) in Versa Mark ink onto Very Vanilla card stock.  Then, I sprinkled some white embossing powder onto the image and and heat set it, with my heat gun.  I put a drop or two of different light subtle classic inks onto a plastic plate and used an aqua painter to 'color' the images.  I then cut the large rectangle, into three equal parts.  Then, I matted these pieces onto some silver glitter paper.  Instead of stamping my sentiment onto the card front, I made a tag.  I took the pink pirouette taffeta ribbon and created a multi-loop bow and attached the bow to the card front with a retiring pink square rhinestone brad.  I gave the whole card front a sprtiz of home-made glimmer mist.  The card base is crumb cake card stock.  The main panel is blush blossom card stock, matted with basic black card stock.

Now, to keep the momentum of this blog hop going, stop by Tammy F's. blog to see what she has done with this fabulous sketch!