In the Mail

Happy Friday!  I'm glad you are able to stop by and visit.  I was looking at a few different blogs over the past few days, and one of the blogs that I follow, posted that she made her card (for a challenge) to actually mail.  What a great idea!  I make quite a few cards.  But, I don't usually mail them.  I do have them for sale in my Etsy Shop, here, but I don't typically put them in the mail for someone.  Until now.  I started thinking, and my good friend deserves a card, to let her know how much I appreciate her.  

So, for todays blog hop, hosted by Sketch Frenzy Friday.  I made my card to mail.   Tammy F. is the designer of this weeks sketch:

One of the things that I love about Tammy's sketches, is that she gives you room for creative freedom.  And that is what I did.  Here is my card:

Here is a close up of the bottom third of my card:

I used all current products for this card.  The card base is basic gray card stock.  I used the 'held-over' Twitterpated DSP.  I just love this paper.  Its so pretty and very easy to use on a variety of products.

I didn't wrap my ribbon around the card.  Instead, I used the banner as my ribbon length.  I did put on a bow.  I tied a simple bow and attached it the card front.  I added a short row of pearls to the banner, to help girl-y it up!

Won't you join us for this week's sketch challenge?  We'd love to see what you create!  Now, head over to Tammy F.'s blog!

A Note of Thanks

Wow, already Wednesday.  This week is just flying by.  I am back to work, still battling this kidney infection, and now I believe I have a sinus cold.  gotta love the winter.  So, this post will be short.  Sorry.

Anyway, the creative gals over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a great new sketch for you to play with.  Just remember to use your Stampin' Up! supplies.

Here is the sketch:

When I first saw this sketch, I did have to brainstorm for a day or so.  I knew what I wanted to do, just had to find the 'right' paper and stamps.  The card I created isn't what I originally had in mind.  I wanted to use a floral stamp as the main image.  But, you know how that goes.  And this is what I have created:

I used some of the new DSP: Attic Boutique.  I also used two stamp sets:  Rue des Fleurs, and Thank You Kindly.  The diagonal piece in the sketch really threw me.  I first thought of tying ribbon on the bias.  But, I like the 'sash' of vellum, better.  I only used one ink pad: Soft Suede classic ink.

Thank you for stopping by! I am off to bed.  I have work later this morning, and I need to get some rest.

Occasions Challenge

Thanks for coming back today for another look-see.  If you missed  yesterdays post, I am entering a few cards into a challenge that Stampin' Up! is sponsoring @ Leadership, this year in San Antonio, Texas.  The challenge is pretty straight forward, and allows any attending demonstrator some creative freedom.  All you need to do is make a card (preferably card front) using a stamp set from the new Occasions catalog.  Sounds pretty easy, huh?  Well, I posted a card yesterday that I am entering into this challenge, and here are two other cards, using the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set & Attic Boutique DSP.

And

Ok, here is the scoop on these two cards.  The first card, I used Attic Boutique DSP paper.  For the largest matt, I used the larger print of the pattern paper.  I just love the colors, the flowers, and the vintage images.  I added a strip of a 'whiter' pattern paper to help show case the yellow, and not take away from the card.  I added a scallop trim in the soft suede patter to help ground the brown.  I added a piece of pink pleated ribbon to help both hide the seam, and to accentuate the pink.  I stamped the umbrella in chocolate chip craft and used clear embossing powder.  I 'colored' the umbrella with a pink and a yellow marker.  I stamped the sentiments in soft suede classic ink.  I sprayed the stamped piece with vanilla smooch.  The vellum piece was cut with the petal cone die.   Now, for the second card, I used the same pattern paper.  But, with a little different twist.  I wanted to work with the yellow and blues.  So, I selected two of the pattern papers that showcased the yellow.  The largest yellow print was used for the largest matt.  I added a scrap piece of pool party texture paper at the bottom half of the card.  I wanted to use white as an accent.  So, I selected the pool party pattern paper.  I just love the doily print on this page.  I wanted to add purple as an accent color.  So, I added the new wisteria wonder card stock piece.  I used the vintage wall paper embossing folder to give the paper some depth, and texture.  I inked the four frames stamp set in the wisteria wonder classic ink to stamp the 'label', then stamped the 'thanks' in basic black classic ink.  I stamped the corset in classic ink, and then used a yellow and wisteria marker to color this image.  I added a small piece of silver glitter paper to help give the card some glitz.  I hand dyed the vanilla seam binding with elegant eggplant re-inker.  The fancy shapes were cut with the new labels collections die.  I used an in color designer brad to hold the bow to the card.  To give the card a 'finished' look, I sprayed the whole card front with vanilla smooch.

Well, thank you for looking.  Let me know which of the three cards (todays 2 and yesterdays 1) you like best.  The winners will be announced at the end of the week, so I'll keep you posted as to how I did.  

I don't know if most of you know this or not, but I also work full-time.  Some weeks are more of a jungling act than anything.  I just got home yesterday, from an extra long weekend with a girlfriend.  It's a bit rough getting everything back in order.  I did make my card and photograph it for this weeks sketch challenge over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  But, I forgot to post it here.  Talk about scatter brain.  So, I apologize for the lateness of this post.

The sketch this week is beautiful.  I didn't have much artistic license to change it up.  So, it pretty much follows the sketch.  Not that, that is a bad thing.  Just a side note.

Here is this weeks sketch:

As for me, tags have been a general focus lately.  But, I did struggle with it a bit.  My mojo was not there.  I couldn't come up with anything that worked, and then kinda did this.  So, don't let my lack of creativity stop you.  Please join us!

Here is my card:

I have to admit, I'm a big fan of this new DSP: Attic Boutique.  And this new stamp set:  Rue Des Fleurs.  Actually, I love this new stamp set sooo much that I have it in English (wood-mount) and French (clear-mount).  And yes, both sets have been inked.  Isn't that just crazy?  Stampin' Up! does sell a 'yellow' taffeta ribbon, but I didn't have any left, so I dyed some white taffeta ribbon with my So Saffron re-inker.  The sketch has a row of buttons across it, and I know how shocking it is not to see a row of buttons across my card.  Just one lonely button brad.  I had to use some of my other all-time favorite DSP: First Edition.  The butterflies were made with a butterfly embosslit: Beautiful Wings.  I'm a super big fan of that little guy, too.  (I'm on my second one, the first one wore out-if there is such a thing.)  I used pool party for the card base to pull all the blue together.

Well, thanks for stopping by.  I hope this new year is starting quite wonderfully for all of you.  It has been going quite nicely for me.

And don't forget to play along with us @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.

Banner Thank You

It's Wednesday, and that means that the super talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a clever sketch for us to work with.   If you have some crafting time, I encourage you to play along.

Here is the sketch:

I wanted to work with some new Stampin' Up! products, so here is a sneak peak at some new pattern paper, a new stamp set, and some new ribbon.  

The sketch is pretty user friendly.  Don't just see circles, but rather objects.  You could easily replace the circles for butterflies, flowers, hot air balloons.  The objects are virtually endless.  And since its not a color challenge, you have no limits.  Easy peasy.  Right?  Well, I loved how the circles were strung across the card, so I punched 1" circles out of this new beautiful pattern paper.  And strung them on some white bakers twine.  I didn't want a bow to take up some real estate on my card, so I grabbed the new machine stitched satin ribbon.  It's pretty, huh?  (but remember, you can create this look with your own sewing machine.)  I just LOVE the silver glitter paper, so I added a strip of scallop trim and a straight piece above and below the stitched ribbon.  The 'Thanks' is a new stamp, too.  I love how it looks all flow-y.  

Join us won't you?

Tomorrow, I will be posting a CAS card for another challenge, and announce a blog candy give-a-way.  

Attic Merci

On this snow packed Friday, I am searching for something soft, pretty, and feminine.  

Welcome back to another blog hop brought to you by Sketch Frenzy Friday!  The creative Robbie (from Sketch Frenzy Friday) has a delightful sketch for you to try.

Here is their sketch:

When I first saw this sketch, all I could think of was all the snow outside.  And with the wind blowing, I have drifts.  And the 'circle' in the upper right corner made me think of snowflakes.  But, I wanted to make a card that was prettier, and feminine.

I turned the sketch on its side.  But, other than that, I kept the sketch in its original configuration.

Here is my card:

I used some new DSP and a new stamp set:  Attic Boutique DSP, and the french version of Rue Des Fleurs. I also used two of my all time favorite colors:  Soft Suede and Pool Party.  I crinkled some Crumb Cake seam binding and tied a bow around the left side of the card.  If you look super close, I added three faux half-pearls, along the left of the seam binding.

Now, head on over to Tammy B.s blog to see what she has created!

And if anyone needs to head out to finish their holiday shopping, please be safe!

Magical Pink Christmas #91

I made this card earlier this week, and with everything going on, I am finally posting it now.  And it would make better sense to post it tomorrow, so the post would be on a separate day.  However, the challenge I made this card for closes at the end of today.  Uhg.

The wonderful folks over @ the Shabby Tea Room, have this perfect challenge: The Magic of Christmas.  Ok, the requirements are: pink, neutral, snowflake, flower, and gold.  The perfect colors for vintage!

Here is their inspirational photo:

Here is my card:

This card was actually fun to make.  The Christmas ornament pattern paper came from my stash.  It is probably around 3 yrs old.    I thought that it was the perfect pattern for this challenge.  The ornaments are actually embossed on the paper.  The little postcard, I actually made.  I first cut a piece of vanilla card stock to the size I needed.  I then added all the stamps.  It's a collection of three different stamp set (but only two companies).  I added the string of pearls to give it a feminine touch.  

The paper flower was white originally, but it didn't look like it was suppose to be there.  So, I took out my Blushing Bride smooch spray and gave it some color - pink!  The tiny tag was hand stamped and adhered to a pink button with some linen thread.  Which lays on top of a gold glitter snowflake!

For the 'Noel' tag, I first stamped the verse in Soft Suede classic ink, and then heat embossed the snowflakes.  I adhered the tag with some foam tape to give it some height off the card front.  The corset is from a new Stampin' Up! stamp set that is due out next month.  (a little sneak peak.)  I used my postage stamp scissors to create the fun border around that matt.  

I added one of my all time favorite crochet trims to the bottom of the card.  I layered this cute sewn ribbon on top of the crochet trim.  I thought the polka dot pattern paper looked vintage with the softness of the crochet trim and the silky-ness of the sewn satin ribbon.

All the edges were distressed to help with an aged look and feel.  Thank you for stopping by!