Printed Flowers in My Garden

Howdy.  I hope you are well.  I have been working on my 'month of happiness' goals.  I hope you have, too.  Or at least journalling what you are grateful/thankful for each week.   I have.   I think that, recognizing what has brought me joy, or what has lead me down the road to joy, makes my heart feel rejuvenated.  {smile}

I needed to make a card for a girl friend.  You see, I mailed her one a few weeks back, and it never made it to her house.  Super sad.  It was a 'Thank You' card, for her support on a fund raiser.  So, I set out to find some inspiration on the internet, to get me started.  I stopped by a few favorite challenge sites:  Crafting by Designs, Really Reasonable Ribbon, and Mojo Monday.

I stopped by Mojo Monday, first, to get the sketch!  I thought that their current sketch, looked easy to work with.  And, as always, it's 'user friendly'.

My next stop, was Crafting by Designs.  I wanted to see what their current challenge is:  Girls or Flowers.  How super sweet, and I can do flowers!

My last stop, was Really Reasonable Ribbon, and they have a Flower theme challenge.  But, remember, you need to include ribbon, lace, or trim on your paper craft!

and here is what I crafted:

Recipe:  this is a typical A2 size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  The two pattern papers, is actually the same paper.  I used both sides {smile}.

I cut the pink pattern paper too short, (as illustrated in the sketch).  But, to me, it looked 'too short'.  So, I added a strip of champagne glitter paper, and used a lace edge hand-held punch, to create the decorative border.  I love how it looks.  The glitter paper adds the right amount of interest and sparkle.

I used my sewing machine to add a simple border around the pink pattern paper.  I then adhered the floral pattern paper.  I added a simple machine sewn border to that paper, as well.  

I sewn the seam binding to the card front, to secure it.  I just love how the sewing machine adds so much character and homespun look and feel, to a card.  {swoon}

I cut a rectangle of very vanilla card stock, and stamped my sentiment using soft suede classic ink.  I used a favorite stamp set from Paper Trey Ink; Choose Joy.  I adhered the sentiment piece onto a scrap piece of the champagne glitter paper, and adhered the sentiment to the card front with foam tape.  

I tied a double loop bow with the seam binding, and tied a vintage button to the bow with kraft twine.  To finish the card, I added a cluster of clear sequins to the right side of the card.

I hope that my friend likes the card I made her.  Unfortunately, if I don't purchase tracking, I can't count on the United States Postal Service to deliver my cards.  I have had bad luck, when it comes to mailing my hand made cards.  My cards require extra postage, and require hand canceling, and they seem to get 'lost' at the post office.  How frustrating, and annoying.  So, I won't focus on the lack of professionalism, or providing the service that I have paid for.  Instead, I will look at this as an opportunity to hand deliver my card to my friend {smile}!

  

Pretty Collage

As promised, my post sharing another desk top calendar that I created.  Each of these desk top calendars, are for a specific person.  So, each one is unique.  This particular desk top calendar, was made for one of my very special, and dear friend.  This friend has a glamorous soul, who attracts pretty things.  So, I used a glamorous, pretty pattern papers, and kept my embellishments simply pretty!

Jan., Feb., March, April, May, and June

July, August, September, October, November, and December

I used Primrose pattern paper, purchased in a 12" x 12" pad, from a big box craft store.  I just loved the mix of patterns and florals.  The paper is just simply gorgeous!  There are some glitter accents on some of the pages, and who doesn't love a little sparkle?
I used the mini calendar pages from Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the months by hand, and highlighted some various holidays.  I stamped those in soft suede classic ink.
The girlfriend, who received this calendar, loves french things, so I used a Paris themed stamp set, to stamp the various french images on the calendar pages, in crumb cake classic ink.
I will share some individual images of my favorite months, soon.  Thanks for stopping by!

2014 Desktop Calendar

~ photo heavy post ~

Whew!  I am finished.  There is a great feeling of accomplishment when you finish a craft/project.   I almost stuck this whole project in another bag and pushed the whole thing into a drawer.  But, I printed my resolutions where I can see them each day.  To help motivate me, so to speak.  And, it worked.  I saw these resolutions again this morning, and made the decision to sit down, and finish this lovely project.  I'm glad that I had {smile}.

Here are the finished pages: 

January, February, March, and April

May, June, July, and August

September, October, November, and December

The bound, completed desk-top calendar

bound, and standing

I used a few pieces to complete this project:  Paper Trey Ink small calendar pack, Calendar Basics stamp set, Graphics 45 French Country pattern paper, and (2)  4" x 4" paper coasters.   To ensure that the calendar, as a whole, looks cohesive, I used the same elements, and simple layouts.
I stamped each month in soft suede classic ink, regardless of the colors in the pattern paper.  I did stamp a little symbol on a few American holidays: St. Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  I will stamp a few Birthdays, our wedding Anniversary, and a few other dates we celebrate: Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Grandparent's Day.
To pull/hold the desk top calendar together, I used my Bind-It-All {smile}.
I can add a whole lot of embellishments on a project.  But, I wanted to keep the pages flat.  That way they would lay flat, and not be too bulky.    However, I couldn't help myself with a few embellishments {smile}.

This week, I will share with you how each month looks.  I'm super happy with how the finished project turned out.  So much so, I'm anxious to start working on my next desk-top calendar.  I do want to use some different pattern papers, to give each calendar an unique look.  So, until then . . .  have a great week, and don't forget to carve out some time for you!

Altered Canvas

Happy Monday.  It's been a crazy busy past week, and this week doesn't show any signs of slowing down.  If you are a regular visitor/follower, you have noticed that I didn't post or participate in the OCC challenge this past Saturday.  And you would be correct.  Life has really gotten busy, and so I took the weekend off.  It was super nice to take a break.  But, this is a new week, and a new set of challenges to participate in!

I wanted to try my hand at mixed media art.  So, I took a blank canvas I had sitting in the top of my craft room closet.  (and yes, I purchased them in bulk several months back.)  

I started with painting the edges with a shimmer acrylic paint tinted with a super light beige re-inker.  So, while that dried, I started working on my layout.  Now, I don't scrapbook.  The 'canvas' is too vast for me.   So, it did take a while before anything certain came to me.  My canvas is 11" x 14".  I know, what a crazy size and talk about alot of space.  Anyways, I found some pretty pattern paper, some girl-y embellishments, and started.

Here is what I came up with:

For those who know me, my oldest granddaughter is 5 years old.  And she is my princess.  We cook, craft, dance, and sing together!  Her name is Haley.  And so, this altered canvas will go in her bedroom here at our house.  (yes, she has her own room here.)  I totally girl-ed it up, because she is a girl-y girl.  The pool party cardstock, is the matt in which her photo will sit.  My printer ran out of yellow, and so I need to get a new cartiridge before I can print her photo.  

Here are a few close-ups:

Yes, the buttons are hand-sewn onto the ribbon.  I created the monogram with stamps and used some foam tape to pop-up the monogram square.  The key and ribbon charm were put on jump rings and strung through a vintage trincket and pinned to the floral ribbon trim.  The large flower was purchased.  I did hand-stamp, ' when I count my blessings I count you twice' and 'Molto Bello {very beautiful}' in Soft Suede classic ink.

I love to mix textures, and so I added some fabric pieces, [there is a square that reads, 'earth angel' and then a small piece that has a dress on it] and some photo corner resin pieces.  

Thank you for looking.  This project was created with several different pieces, so for any inquirys as to what was used, please email me privately.

Thank you for stopping by today.  And I will be participating in several challenges this week!