Hello There Friend

Howdy.  I made a card yesterday for a special girlfriend.  She moved to Yuma about 4-5 years ago.  I miss her most days.  She was always easy to talk to, and had such a great outlook on life.  A very positive person.  Anyways, I wanted to send her a card.  A very special card, for a special woman.

I am entering my creation into the current challenge over @ Word Art Wednesday, for their anything goes challenge.

I am also entering the current challenge over @ Crafting by Designs, for their flowers & lace challenge.  My flowers are digital, but my lace is real.  {smile}

here is what I came up with:

Let me apologize for the 'rough' photo.  I am still figuring out the new upgrade on my photo program.  

Recipe:  I used white card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  I just love their heavy weight card stock.  It works great for card bases.

I used a scrap piece of baja breeze designer pattern paper, by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the faded blue color.  Very vintage, and works with shabby chic style paper crafts {smile}.  

I adhered a digital library card to the center.  I added a double border with my sewing machine.  I just love sewing on cards. 

I wrapped a piece of white lace and baja breeze seam binding around the lower portion of the library card.  I secured the trims to the card front with a double machine stitch.  

I tied a double bow with the seam binding.  I also tied a silver star with some thin silver cord, and created a simple bow.  I tied the silver bow and seam binding bow together with a pale pink button.

I inked the stamp with basic black classic ink, and stamped directly onto the library card.  

To add some softness (and hide an ink smudge) I added a trio of marshmallow sequins to the card front.  Now, I need to get this card into the mail.  Thank you for looking. {smile}

I really enjoyed working with these library cards, so I will be making a few to sell in my Etsy shop.

Pretty Vintage Mason Jar

So, I've been busy crafting.  I'm trying to get a few different, and new, items for this weekends Trash to Treasure Trunk Show.  But, I want to have repurposed, recycled, and reused items, that have a new, pretty life!  {smile} And one of the things I love to make for parties, is painted mason jars.  But I didn't just paint and distress my jars.  I also added some trims to jazz-up the jars! {smile}

To start, I painted the jar with cream/vanilla chalk paint.  I wanted a warm color under the main color, of white.  I allowed the paint to dry in-between coats.  I painted the jar with white chalk paint, as my final color and layer.
Once the paint was dried, I started distressing the jars with sandpaper.  I used three different grits of sandpaper.  I started with a medium grit, to knock off the most paint.  I did that, over all the raised lettering.
Then, I used the fine sandpaper to distress areas of the jar that would normally receive some 'wear and tear'.  And finally, some super fine grit sand paper, over the whole jar.  That way, all the brush strokes and 'thick' painted areas could be removed, and allow some varied imperfections to shine through. {smile}
The final touch was a layer of a creme sealant.  I hand-applied the sealant with a sponge and in a circular motion.  Once it set for 30 minutes, I used a soft rag and buffed the sealant.  Now, this distressed jar, will not 'distress' any further with normal handling.
No paint was applied to the inside of the jar; that way you can add fresh flowers, or a plant, or anything else that may require water.  *Just be careful not to soak or scrub the outside of the jar.

Now, let me share another jar.  This one is distressed in the same manner as the other jar.  However, I added some silver gilding randomly to add some antique sparkle.
I wrapped some taupe colored lace around the mouth of the jar.
I then added some antique pink tinsel just above the lace.
And then I added some pink and white paper shred garland.
The final touch, was a pale pink seam binding multi-loop bow, tied with thin silver cord, and an antiqued star added.
Thank you for stopping by today to see what I have been crafting.  I hope you have been inspired to paint and distress an empty jar for yourself.  And have FUN decorating it with what you have on hand.  {smile}