Think To Remember Card

~ Happy Mother's Day ~

Howdy!  I hope this post finds you well, and happy! {smile}  Me, YeS!  I have made several cards for today, for some very special ladies, and today's post isn't any different.  This card is for my daughter.  She is a very good mom to her children.  

I used the current sketch from Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge to create a card for my daughter.  The sketches here are easy to work with, and the design team will certainly inspire you.  

My daughter isn't a shabby chic enthusiast like her mom.  She is more of a clean and simple gal, with a modern twist.  So, I wanted to make her card in a style she would love.  I picked up some (new to me) pattern paper at my local scrapbook store, and set out to make her a card she would love. {smile}

this is what I came up with:

Recipe:  I used Pool Party card stock from Stampin' Up! for the card base.  I thought it matched the light blue in the chevron striped paper.  I used three different pattern papers from the Think To Remember collection by Photo Play Paper Co.  I just loved the mix of patterns: bold stripes, chevron, and a pretty floral pattern.

I used the Tasteful Trim die (retired) by Stampin' Up! to create the large scallop piece.  I wrapped some pale pink seam binding around the card front and added a multi-loop bow.  I positioned a fabric covered brad just below the bow.  (the fabric is navy blue, with a light blue circle and tiny rhinestones on the light blue circle)

I stamped the sentiment in Not Quite Navy classic ink (retired) onto a scrap piece of whisper white card stock, both from Stampin' Up!.  I used a photo corner punch to create the banner ends.  I adhered the sentiment to the card front with foam tape.

At the top of this beautiful floral pattern paper, I added a trio of buttons.  A large navy blue button, a pale pink button, and finally a light blue blossom shaped button.  I wanted to repeat those three colors that I used on this card.  

I also finished the inside:

I have started 'finishing' the insides of my cards lately.  I'm not sure what started this habit, but I really like who 'finished' the cards become.  I cut a piece of Marina Mist card stock, by Stampin' Up!, for the matt.  I added a piece of whisper white card stock for the main panel, and then I added two scrap pieces of the pattern paper at the bottom.  Simple, sweet, and super pretty.  {I have since added a hand-written message}

Thank you for looking, and I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!  

Shabby Spring

I am happy to say, that I have found a new spark to help me create.  Nothing actually 'new', just maybe some rest, and a few walks to clear my head.  {smile}  I think, it's just a change of focus, and a chance to let my mind rest.  

As usual, the super talented ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room have a great inspiration board, as well as some wonderful eye candy to help get you inspired. They ask that you include the colors in the photo, and include flowers, lace and ribbon.

Here is their board:

here is what I made:

I used quite a few different products for this card.  But when I was creating, that was my focus, no limits, just add what I like.

I started with Sahara Sand cardstock by Stampin' Up!  They make some of the very best card stock out there.  It's a heavy weight to withstand front loaded cards, but it also is very workable (my old olive cardstock leaves).  I used a piece of Blushing Bride card stock (also Stampin' Up!) as the matt for the main panel.  I wanted to add some floral pattern paper.  But I couldn't find just the right paper.  So, I used a digital image:  Ledger Paper found here.   And while shopping, I found these wonderful Dream Tags, here.  I cut out one and matted it onto a scrap piece of Old Olive cardstock, by Stampin' Up!  I added a scrap piece of a cream ribbon.  I threaded my tiny clothes pin through.  I added a tiny tag that is stamped in crumb cake classic ink, using the tiny tags stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I distressed a cardboard heart and added a vintage button by Paper Trey Ink.  And finally, for the other panel I used some beautifully shabby 'label's: Pink Sugar tags, found here.  I matted the label onto a scrap piece of pool party card stock, by Stampin' Up!

The inspiration photo has a Ball jar, and so I just HAD to add a jar!  I decided to hand-stamp my jar, using the Friendship Jar stamp set, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the outline of the jar in soft suede classic ink onto very vanilla card stock, both products by Stampin' Up!.  I then stamped the polka dots in pool party classic ink.  For the jar lid, that was a bit of stamping and fussy cutting.  I stamped the lid cover onto a scrap piece of Grace pattern paper, by Authentique and fussy cut it out.  I then stamped the covered lid onto a scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut the 'ribbon' out.  I stamped the tag in soft suede classic ink, onto another piece of very vanilla cardstock and fussy cut it out.  And stamped the 'bow' onto another scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut it out.  I added adhesive and layered them.  I think of the cutting as therapy.  You can't think about the dishes, or laundry, or bills, or any other chore.  Just cutting.  Therapy.

I love the sound of a sewing machine.  Very soothing.  Well, to me.  I had a left over piece of some lace trim, that I had tea stained earlier.  The top edge is raw, so I used my sewing machine to attach the piece to the card front.  I just love the color of this seam binding, found here.  So I machine stitched that to the front, too!  I created a multi-loop bow.  I distressed a Bermuda button, by Amuse Studios, with some picket fence distress paint, by Ranger and some dazzling diamond glitter, by Stampin' Up!  I used some cream twine by Paper Trey Ink, to secure the button to the bow.  I also wanted to add a paper blossom.  So, I took a blossom from my Artisan Embellishment Kit, by Stampin' Up! and distressed it, just like the button.  I created leaves with old olive card stock and the build a blossom punch, both by Stampin' Up!
To create my sentiment banner, I used the Something to Celebrate stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock, then used a square punch to create the flag ends, all from Stampin' Up!
Finally, I gave the whole card a spritz of my home-made white frost glitter mist. What girl doesn't like a little sparkle, shimmer, and shine?  {smile}

Thank you for taking time to take a look.  I hope you have been inspired while visiting.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend, and I hope you stop by again.  {smile}

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

a New Mom-To-Be

Hello.  If you found my blog, kudos to you.  For whatever reason, blogger is being a bit difficult.  These last few days, blogger couldn't find my blog, so I could fix a few type-o's, so it's been frustrating.  And then this morning I couldn't log-in to get this post up early.  So, I had another latte, and organzied some of my dies, and embossing plates.  This week, I am determined to tackle my whole craft room.  It has become a bit disarrayed.  So, I'm planning on going through boxes, bags, piles, and stashes, and purging.  So, look for a few 'bag bags' in my Etsy shop.  I will be providing free shipping for those.  

Yesterday, a very wonderful lady that I use to work with, threw her sister a baby shower.  Her sister is expecting her first baby.  A boy! And how exciting is that.  Well, my friend asked me to make her cake.  I love to bake, and cakes/cupcakes are a joy.  And since she is a wonderful person and a dear friend, I wanted to make her sister a lovely gift.  You know me.  Everything comes out match-y match-y.  A baby boy.  Then the cake board must be blue.  And I have an infinity for polka dots, so yes, the cake board was baby blue with silver polka dots.  

I love how yellow and blue compliment and contrast each other, especially when you select the perfect shades.  Authentique and My Mind's Eye helped me with that.

Here is the card and matching bag:

The card is a standard A2 size (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") and the paper bag is 8" tall.

I started with creating the card.  I wanted something pretty, but not too feminine.  So I selected this beautiful pattern paper by Authentique: Renew.  The colors are simply pretty.  The colors match very nicely with Stampin' Up!'s Baja Breeze, Pool Party, and So Saffron.  I like how the pattern papers have a bit of distressing.  

The card base is Baja Breeze cardstock.  I cut a piece of Pool Party cardstock a bit smaller to create a matt.  I used my Tasteful Trim die to create the collection scallop trims.  I just love the larger scallops.  It really shows off the pattern papers.

I machine stitched each layer of scallops.  I then tied a strip of So Saffron Taffeta ribbon around the top of the card.  I created a multi-loop box and tied a white clear paper trey button to the center of the bow, with some yellow bakers twine.

I used my Modern Label punch to create the sentiment tag.  I stamped the sentiment with a stamp from the Something to Celebrate stamp set, by Stampin' Up!. (sorry, that stamp set is retired.)

I saw this adorable rubber stamp at a local stamp shop.  The baby lamb is actually from an Easter collection of stamps by Prickley Pear.  But, isn't it just too cute?  So, I stamped the lamb onto white cardstock with Jet Black Staz-On pigment ink.  I used my 2-way glue pen to adhere some white flock to the body.  I left the lamb's face and inner ears flock-free.  I used my Pear Pizzazz and Pool Party markers to color the flowers and foliage around the lamb's neck.  Then I dotted some more 2-way glue to the flower centers and dusted them with some dazzling diamond glitter.  

I matted the lamb the same  way that I matted the card's main panel: pool party and baja breeze cardstock.  

I added the trio of pearls, because the card seemed to be missing something to me.

I used a template that I purchased from Paper Trey Ink, called Around Town Tote.  I love the size.  It's 8" tall, and the bottom narrows down to just under 5".  The bag can be made to 1 1/2" deep, or expand up to 2 1/2" deep.  Depending on what you want to add.  So, I really love that!

For the decorating, I just copied what I did on the card.  The body ofthe card is made from Baja Breeze cardstock.  I layered and cut the pattern papers in the same manner as the card.  

I set out to make a matching set.  I purposefully made them 'the same'. 

For the sentiment, I wanted a more decorative tag, so I used my Lots of Tags die set to create the shape.  I used the same sentiment stamp: Welcome Baby stamped in Jet Black Staz-On pigment ink.

Instead of adding the trio of pearls under the tag, I added them to the decorative label.

The other thing that I changed on the bag, from the card, is that I didn't machine stitch each row of scallop trimmed pattern paper.  Instead, I machine stitched the taffeta ribbon.  Because I had a mis-stitch with my sewing machine, I added the multi-loop bow to the opposite side of the bag, compared to the card.

I stuffed the paper bag with yellow tissue paper, and added a hand-crafted altered baby onesie.  Yes, the fabric I selected was yellow and blue.  {smile}

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope I have inspired you to craft something today.  And yes, I consider baking/cooking as crafting.  I'm off to machine sew some tiny scallop squares together to alter a few more onesies.  It's good to have a few on-hand, and in my Etsy shop.

Welcome, Baby {CS35}

Well, its Thursday, and that means its time for another challenge over @ Creative Sketches!  This week it is a sketch that we are working with.  I hope that you all have a chance to play along.  The rules/guidelines are posted on the challenge blog.  

Here is the sketch:

Looks pretty 'user-friendly', doesn't it?  So, take some time, sit at your craft table, and create something wonderful, and link it to the challenge!  You never know, you could be our challenge winner!  To give you a bit of inspiration, this is what I came up with:

A Boy Baby Card:

I used Crumb Cake cardstock as my card base.  I layered a piece of Baja Breeze DSP as my main panel. Yes, its the same piece of paper, just the other side!  How resourceful, huh?  I wanted to tie in the Soft Suede, so I added a thin piece of a scallop trim border to separate the two different patterns of paper.  I added a piece of Baja Breeze seam binding to hide my seam.  Slipped on a silver ribbon slide.  Pretty, and I didn't use a hundred products!  The three stamps are all retired.  The baby onesie is from a hostess set featured in the Occasions Mini catalog earlier this year (A Slice of Life).  The fancy frame is from Sale-a-Bration last year (Vintage Labels), and the sentiment is from a hostess set from the Occasions Mini catalog that just expired (Something to Celebrate).  I used Baja Breeze, Bashful Blue, and Pink Pirouette markers to color the onesie.  I added some foam tape behind the two 'tags' to elevate them off the card.  I didn't want it to look too flat.  See, easy peasy!  Enter our sketch challenge, and use colors and products from any company you have on hand.  You don't need to go out and buy new stuff to compete!  Lets see what wonderful things you can create! and share them with us and everyone who stops by!  You just might inspire someone!

Designer's Challenge

My usual Saturday mornings I am surfing the web for some fun, creative, and not too to challenging challenges.  And I hit the jack pot!  Those super creative girls @ Color Combos Galore have a new Inspiration Board #194 this week.  You see, my wedding anniversary is today, and I could not come up with a card for my husband to save my life.  And then, I saw this:

I know what you're thinking, 'these are girl colors with flowers for the inspiration'.  But, take another look.  These colors can easily be for a masculine card.  And the challenge is to use numbers.  Think Tim Holtz.  Now do you see it?  

So, here is my card:

and a close-up of the clear card stock & calendar:

I started with a matt piece I ran thru the Big Shot using an embossing folder, so the card wouldn't look so flat.  I used Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Sahara Sand, and Pure Poppy card stocks, classic inks, and embellishments, all of which are from Stampin' Up!.  I printed the calendar from Crafty Secrets blog (its a free download).   I matted it onto a scrap piece of pattern black paper.  That piece is layered onto a piece I cut with a 'spiral notebook page' die from PTI.  The # '29' and 'frame' (Vintage Labels) were stamped in Whisper White craft ink onto clear card stock, and heat embossed with glacier white detail EP.  The only flower I did not make was the center yellow flower.  The rest I made with dies and punches.  I used the leaf portion of the 2-step bird punch to create leaves.  The ribbon is a retired ribbon from Stampin' Up!, I think its 3 yrs old.  I made the banner with a Stampin' Up! die and a recent retired stamp set, 'Something to Celebrate'.  I sponged everything with matching classic inks.  Some pieces received a heavier hand in sponging then others.

Thank you for looking.  My wonderful husband and I have been married 12 years.  I know that doesn't sound long, but we are happy!