Birthday Wishes @ Creative Sketches

Hello,  fellow paper crafters!  And welcome to my blog.  I am on the design team for a challenge site called Creative Sketches.  They host a different challenge each week.  And this week's challenge is a sketch challenge.

Here is the sketch:

We would love for you to play along with us!  You don't have to use any particular paper crafting supplies or specific paper company.  We urge you to use what you have.  These economic times are already difficult.  So, use what you have on hand.  Mix and match.  Be creative.  Let your inner artist take charge.  Use this time to escape and create something beautiful and uniquely YOU!

Here is my card:

I used Stampin' Up! products for this card.  The card base is chocolate chip.  (I know, it looks like Bravo Burgundy, but it's not.)  The pink layer is Pink Pirouette card stock.  I stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock and did a thin matt of Crumb Cake card stock.  I stamped the flower in Basic Brown. classic ink I used both blender pen and chalks to color this pretty image.  I added some white dots and colored the flower center white with a white gel pen.  I stamped the sentiment in Soft Suede classic ink.  I stamped the scratched background in Sahara Sand classic ink.  I had a scrap piece of off white felted wool, so I used the beautiful butterfly embosslit and cut out a small butterfly.  I added a faux half-pearl as its body and adhered the butterfly to the card front with a glue dot.  

I'm pretty sure this card would not need more than a general postage stamp.  The card itself is pretty flat, with just a tiny bump created by the butterfly.

Thank you for looking, and I hope you carve out an hour or so, and join us in this weeks challenge!

A Garden Variety Thank You

Good Morning, and thank you for stopping by!  I have had some wonderfully nice comments on my blog lately, and thank you to everyone who has taken the time to make a comment and make my day!  Wow! Thank you!  I have made another Thank You card.  Just for fun.  No challenge.  This card will be posted for sale on my Etsy shop this weekend, along with a few more that have been posted here:  Thank You #1 and #3.

All the supplies used to create this card, minus the bird, are from Stampin' Up!  I used the Sanded background stamp on the Crumb Cake cardstock, for the base of the card.  I took a scrap piece of Baja Breeze DSP and attached that across the middle of my card.  I had a scrap piece of First Edition DSP, that I wadded-up and then flattened, to give it a weathered-look.  I edged my Baja Breeze cardstock in white paint, to distress it.  The Very Vanilla panel, is layered with different stamps: En Francais in Crumb Cake classic ink.  The flower from Because I Care set is colored with markers: Marina Mist and Old Olive.  The Elizabeth stamp in done in Chocolate Chip classic ink.  I stamped the Thank You in Chocolate Chip classic ink, across a scrap piece of the twill ribbon and stapled it to the card.  I also edged the Very Vanilla panel in white paint.  I added the sticker last.  I thought that my card needed something more, but didn't know what.  And then I came across this sticker when I was looking thru my various stashes of stuff.

Enjoy your Friday!  I have a special order from Webster's Pages that has arrived, and I'm picking that up today after work!  I'm soo excited!  So, stay tuned!  I know what I ordered, but it was out of a catalog, and I haven't seen their stuff in real-life.  

Tomorrow is Saturday, and that's the first day of another challenge from Our Creative Corner!  And, it's not too late to submit an entry to the Creative Sketches challenge!

Wedding Creative Sketches Style

Well, its Thursday! And that means another challenge from Creative Sketches.  It's time for another 'holiday' themed sketch challenge!  The rules are super simple: make a paper craft item with a holiday theme and follow the sketch.  See, super simple!

Now, if you notice, not only did I flip the sketch, but I also did a mirror image.  I made a shabby chic wedding card.  For the main panel of aqua blue cardstock, I created my own background pattern paper.  I stamped the flourish repeatedly from the Friends 24-7 set and then stamped the Sanded background stamp. I wanted my paper to have some depth.  I had a scrap piece of First Edition DSP that I used to create my decorative square.  For the circle, I punched out the circle shape from a tag that was originally a rectangle,.  I wanted to add my sentiment on the circle and not the square, so I stamped the wedding congrats in Chocolate Chip classic ink.   I stapled the  scrap piece of crochet trim to the circle, I thought it added some shabby style to the whole look.  I also used my hot glue gun to attach the button.   I made the multi-loop bow out of Crumb Cake seam binding.  I wanted the  center of the bow to be a bit jazzy, so I made the pearl center myself.  I strung some loose pearls with beading wire and created the circle shape, then I used my hot glue gun to attach the pearl center to the bow.  I thought that the left corner seemed a bit bare, so I added a butterfly and gave it a rhinestone body.  To continue the pearls, I added two trio faux half-pearl lines to two different areas of the card.

Please join our challenge.  Let your creative spirit dictate your piece.  You never know, you could be our next 'winner'!  

Just a Note

I have made ONE card for THREE challenges!  How efficient!  So, check them out!
Color Challenge:  Creative Sketches has a color challenge this week.  The colors are:  Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede, & Whisper White!  These are beautiful together!  Please stop by and see what else the design team has created!  These are super talented ladies, and I am sure you will be inspired!
Sketch Challenge:  Just Us Girls, this week, it is sketch #87.  When you first look at their sketch, you think 'I can do that!' and you should!   I love user-friendly sketches.
Technique Challenge:  The Shabby Tea Room.  Week #65 - Embossing.  Wet or Dry.  See, how fun is that?

 Here are the inspiration boards:

   Creative Sketches - Color Challenge

 Just Us Girls - Sketch Challenge

 Shabby Tea Room - Technique Week

Here is my card:

I

close-up of the bird

close-up of the flower

Ok, alot is going on here, so grab another cup of coffee, (or other favorite beverage) and have a seat.  

The card base is Soft Suede.  I cut the main panel just slightly smaller than the card front.  Inked my Sanded background stamp in Soft Suede classic ink.  I then ran the stamped panel thru the Big Shot inside an embossing folder to give the main panel some interest.  And dry embossing!  Next, I made my tag.  I cut some Whisper White cardstock to an appropreiate size.  I first stamped the swirl in Soft Suede classic ink.  Then the flourish (Friends 24-7) in Wild Wasabi classic ink.  I sprayed the tag with Log Cabin Smooch spray, and one spritz of Gold Smooch.  I cut two circles from Wild Wasabi card stock and Wild Wasabi DSP, and used my Crop-a-Dile to create the hole and set my green eyelet.  I ran some Early Espresso Baker's twine thru the hole and tied a bow.  I made my flower with Real Red cardstock and used the Birds & Blooms die set.  I used some foam tape between the flower layers to seperate them.   I used the 2-step Bird punch and some Wild Wasabi DSP to make the leaves.  The bird  (Notably Ornate) is stamped in Soft Suede classic ink, and then again in Versa Mark, and heat embossed with clear EP.  I made the oval tag by coloring my stamp with both a Soft Suede and Wild Wasabi markers, and used the extra large oval punch.  My sentiment (Notably Ornate) is stamped in Soft Suede classic ink and I used the Modern Label punch to create the tag.  I lifted the tag off the card front with some foam tape.

CS Color Challenge

We are having a color challenge over @ Creative Sketches. The colors: Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, and Elegant Eggplant. And here is my card! I used all Stampin' Up! products.

Here is how I made my card: The card itself is Very Vanilla cardstock. I added a top panel of Bashful Blue. I first stamped it with the Sanded background stamp, in Bashful Blue classic ink. I then ran it through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. (I wanted the panel to have some depth.) I used Whisper White cardstock to create my flower. It is actually cut with the Birds & Bloom die. I sprayed the flower with my Frost White Shimmer Mist and crinkled the flower. I added a Daffodil Delight brad to hold the flower together. I added a scrap piece of cream colored tulle behind the flower to soften it a bit. I used First Edition DSP and my leaves die to create the sprigs of leaves poking out behind the flower. I stamped the butterfly, from Clearly for You stamp set, in Elegant Eggplant classic ink and fussy cut it out. I had a scrap piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, so I cut this cute little tag, and stamped 'A NOTE OF THANKS', from the Thank You Kindly stamp set, in Bashful Blue classic ink.

If you have a chance, come play with us over @ Creative Sketches, and give this color challenge a try. You just might surprise yourself, on how easy these colors come together. Upload your creation and insert a hyper link back to your blog! Its just that easy!

Vintage Background

Thank you for stopping by today, to see what I've been crafting. First, I want to thank my followers for their support, and all the lovely people who have posted comments on my postings. Your words of encouragement, and excitement, have really kept my spirits high, as well as my motivation. Thank You!

Ok, now on to today's card. I am on the Design Team (DT) for Creative Sketches. They are a wonderfully supportive group of ladies. Well, todays challenge is a layout. So, pop on over, and see what the other DT members have created (all of which is stunning!) and enter. Play with us! The layout is easy to use, and versatile - click here to play along.

I have seen alot of beautiful, lovely, stunning pattern paper out there. Too many companies to name. But, I don't want to run out to the store every time I need a pretty paper. So, I decided to try my hand at creating my own. I wanted to use the supplies I have already spent good money on. Make my supplies stretch, fit my needs, use what I already have! So, that's how my background paper came about. (Click on the image, so you can really see it.)

The card base is Basic Grey (SU!), the panel is Baja Breeze (SU!). I inked my french word background stamp - En Francais (SU!) in Crumb Cake classic ink (SU!) and stamped it using my finger tips. I didn't want to see all of the words, but rather a random viewing. So, it looks 'old'. Next, I inked my scratched background stamp - Sanded (SU!) in Baja Breeze classic ink (SU!) and stamped the whole panel. I used the same color ink as cardstock, because I didn't want to compete with the words, I just wanted it to look 'used'. I used the flourish stamp from Friends 24-7 (SU!), and dabbed some, almost white acrylic paint on it, and stamped the bottom of the panel. I really like the look, and how it turned out!

The Tiny Tags stamp set (SU!) was used to create the tiny tags. They say, 'hand crafted', 'friend', and 'thanks so much'. The ribbon is Stampin' Up!'s new 1/8" taffeta ribbon in Very Vanilla. I used one of the trinkets (SU!) pins, to hold my tags onto the bow. Let me just say that tie-ing that little bow on that little safety pin was a challenge. The stamped panel on the front says, 'You're a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness and love. I sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune.' I stamped that in Basic Grey classic ink (SU!) and the bird is from a different stamp set, one I purchased while on vacation. I stamped the bird in Baja Breeze classic ink (SU!). I added three tiny half pearls as the embellishment for the card.

So, stop on over @ Creative Sketches, and play along with us!

Shoe Box Swap

Earlier this week, I participated in a Stampin' Up! shoe box swap. There were a few requirements: use something new, and the card can't take more than 10 minutes to make. The hard part was designing a card with the supplies I had on hand. You see, we needed to make 24 whole cards, and the final numbers weren't revealed until 3 days prior.

I used two different stamp sets: Sanded (background stamp) and Nature Walk (occasions mini). I used two different DSP: newsprint, and sweet and sour. The flower was created with the Birds & Bloom die cut. I wanted to add some ribbon, but didn't want to fight with any bows or knots, so I adhered a strip along the front of my card.

Thank you for looking. Please stay tuned! I am participating in another card swap in a few days, so check back to see what I have made. Also, Our Creative Corner has a new challenge coming up, this Friday!

Leadership Swap

Howdy! I am in Nashville, Tenn. for Stampin' Up!s Leadership conference. I signed up for a card swap with some lovely ladies from SUDSOL. Now, I'm not a member (of SUDSOL) but I do hang out with some of the members. When I orginally signed-up, I thought, oh, 20-30 cards, no big deal. Well, it was a tad more than that. 51! The guidelines were simple; card front, use current/new products, and must be demonstrate-able. So, here is what I finally came up with. I used one background stamp and one stamp set. I did use 3 different punches. I used a little scrap piece of ribbon, so I didn't have to buy 20 feet of any one ribbon. But, I think I did a wonderful job on my little card. Now, I just hope the other swappers think the same thing, too!

Let me know what you think. And, if you want to book a workshop to share your stamping fun with your friends, we can make this card!

Leadership Hello

Ok, I think I have it. My last card uses 5 different stamp sets, and I thought the ladies would kill me. (You are suppose to make a card that is duplicate-able and can be mass-produced.) So, here is what I have come up with now. I only use one stamp set (Bliss), and a background stamp (Sanded). I used two punches (decorative label and the Big Flower). However, I also used one of the flowers from the new flower die. That is still a little iffy for me. However, I think that the flower is missing something. You know me. I need to put a button on everything! That's it! One of the clear buttons! The circle one with the scallop edge! And punch a scrap of ?Very Vanilla card stock behind it? Maybe, I'll just use one flower shape; to help keep the cost of reproduction down, too. Ok, so maybe this isnt' the final sample.

Well, I need to get ready for work and PLEASE leave me a comment, to let me know what you think about the different flower idea I have, or any other adjustments you think might work. Now, I like the empty space at the top half of the card. I don't feel the need to change that. Just the flower.

Thanks for your time, and please leave a comment!

Vintage Thank-You

I have made a card for two challenges, again; it seems the most efficient for me. One challenge is a layout challenge Saturday Sketch Challenge #184 -- Welcome to a New Year! The other is a color challenge (cream and blue) with a twist (you have to make a Thank You card and you have to add metal and vellum) A Thank You Recipe Challenge and a Design Team Call.

So, this is what I came up with. I used Crumb Cake cardstock as my base. Matted my Very Vanilla card stock with a piece of Baja Breeze cardstock. I have really started to embrace making my own 'background' stamped piece. I stamped the Sanded background in Sahara Sand ink. Stamped the Flourish (from Bliss) in Baja Breeze ink. Stamped the 'no. 147' and Bird Cage from Nature Walk in Crumb Cake ink. The Thank you is from Because I Care set, stamped in Baja Breeze. I used the Modern Label punch to create the tag. My metal piece is a metal button brad (Vintage Trinket). My vellum piece is a butterfly, with a little pearl on it. I made my tiny tags from The Tiny Tags stamp set. I used linen thread to tie them onto the scallop trim border. I crinkled some Baja Breeze seam binding and tied in into a bow, to hide the knot of linen thread; just to 'clean it up' a bit.

Thank you for looking. I'm considering making this my card, as my swap card, to take to Leadership, in Nashville. Let me know what you think!

Nacho Average Stampers- shoebox swap

Wow! Let me first apologize for being absent. I do not know where the week went. And I had every intention of posting this on Thursday evening.

The Nacho Average Stampers group that I belong to, meets the fourth Friday of each month. And we do shoe box swaps, card challenges, or stamp camps. This month, it was a shoe box swap. The guidelines were simple: create a full card, either Halloween/Fall themed, and everything to create your card fits in a shoebox. So, here is my card. I wanted to create something that didn't require a million $ in product. Use a stamp set, that I am sure almost everyone has. Make it easy enough that a beginner can do, but interesting enough that a seasoned stamper won't be bored. I think that I did that!

If you don't have the greeting stamp set, use what you have and adjust the oval accordingly. The oval was made with the ovals die that can be found in the back of the big catalog. Also, I used the new 'sanded' background stamp. If you do not have a catalog and would like one, just place a $25 minimum order with me (on line, email, or phone) and I will send you a free catalog. On-line, 24 hour shopping @ inkwithsharon.stampinup.net

Recipe:

cardstock: pear pizzazz, very vanilla, and always artichoke

ink: pear pizzazz, always artichoke, soft suede, (for the leaf) peach parfait, cajun craze, and wild wasabi.

misc: early espresso satin ribbon, and vintage trinckets (tiny safety pin).

Thank you for looking, and stay tuned! My Sunday Advanced Card Club meets tomorrow, and I will post their cards this weekend! (Most likely early Sunday morning!) And, you will be glad you came back. Enjoy your weekend, and remember, take time out of your busy schedule to create something wonderful! (paper crafting is always wonderful, but cooking, sewing, gardening, and other hobbies count!)

Stampalisious Card Club

My Technique & Tool Usage Card Club meets this Saturday! (the third Saturday of each month). This month the Techniques we are working with are: Heat Embossing and Dry Embossing. The Tools we are working with are: the Big Shot and the Heat Gun.

The first card, we are using an embossing folder, they are the easiest, but I will also get out my plates so they can have a try at that.

The second care, we are heat embossing the tree. (We will also be using the 'stamp-a-ma-jig' for placement.) I just L o v e the new raven lace trim Stampin' Up! has come out with. It is so delicate and beautiful, without being too 'girl-y'. I had to add a sparkly brad. Come-on it was screaming to be put on. :)

These cards aren't challenging with 50 steps, so my ladies will love them. Sometimes, you just want to make a card in under an hour. Know what I mean?

Thank you for looking! Have a wonderful week, its half over, so its all downhill from here!

Halloween Challenge JUGS#49

I needed to make a card for my downline group to complete at our next meeting, and I saw the sketch challenge #49 on Just Us Girls website.

My downline group, 'Hoot's Got Stamps' meets this upcoming Wednesday. I always do a make-n-take. But, I like to show them how to use a product or show a technique. So, for this month's meeting, I am showing my downline how to use 'Build-a-Brad' (#109128). Also, I want them to use their background stamps, so they can get full potential out of their supplies. I used the background stamps Sanded (#109294) and Bella Toile (#111598) to create texture on the card front, and a 'paper' for accent. The main image and spider are from the 'Dark & Dreary' stamp set (#121151). I created my tiny tags with the 'Tiny Tags' stamp set (#118592). I love how delicate the Raven Lace Trim (#120988) is, and how it gave my card a visual interest.

Thanks for looking, and you can purchase all of these Stampin' Up! supplies on my website @ http://www.inkwithsharon.stampinup.net