Modern Chic Card

Howdy!  I forgot to post this greeting card over the weekend.  {frown}  And the challenge has already closed.  Oh well.  I need to get a bit more organized.  But I still want to share it with you! {smile}

and a different view

I couldn't really decide which angle I liked best.  So, I'm sharing both with you!  This card is a bit 'flat' for my usual style, but I just thing it's perfect!

Recipe:  The card base is pink pirouette card stock, by Stampin' Up!  I just love this shade of soft pretty pink.  

The black and cream layer is a pattern paper from Stampin' Up! Timeless Elegance DSP.   I did add some gold stamping to this pattern paper.  I used a retired splatter stamp, randomly.

The pink polka dot pattern paper is a scrap piece I had left over from an earlier project.  So I don't remember who makes it.  I matted this pattern paper with gold foil card stock by Stampin' Up! as well.  

Next, I added a scrap piece of Birthday Bouquet DSP, by Stampin' Up!  Isn't this floral pattern paper just gorgeous!  I love it!  It is matted with basic black card stock, by Stampin' Up!  I added a simple border stitch with my sewing machine.  It holds all the layers together.  {smile}

Then, I added layers of embellishments!  First I added a piece of gold and white striped washi tape from Stampin' Up!.  A scrap piece of pink sheer ribbon, a piece of cotton eyelet trim, and a scrap piece of pleated tulle.  

I stamped the 'washi' tape in blushing bride classic ink, using another stamp set by Stampin' Up!  I stamped the sentiment from teeny tiny wishes stamp set, in basic black classic ink and fussy cut it out.  I stapled the sentiment right on top of the trim collection.  I used a gold sharpie to color the staples.  And Viola!

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired to create something pretty, even if it's just for yourself! {smile}

the last few months

and here are the last few months of the desk-top calendar I created earlier this week.

gold rim pearl brad

the tiny safety pin is stapled to the page

love all the layers

I added tiny holiday treasures, along with more machine stitching

the back cover.  Love these images.

thank you for stopping by!  I hope you loved what I created.  Now, I need to craft several more, using different paper collections.

a few more months

here are a few more months of the latest desk-top calendar I crafted:

more machine stitching, and a decorated paper clip 

 I created the ruffled lace trim by hand, while sewing.

The kraft twine is tied through the button and paper blossom, before tied into a simple bow.

 more staples

I loved this pattern paper so much, that I didn't want to 'hide' any of images by layering other pattern papers on top of it.  The cluster of images are just gorgeous to me.

Thank you for stopping by to see more of the calendar pages.  More will be posted tomorrow.

But Without Faith . . .

Welcome.  Come on in.  Sit a spell.  Take a look around.  I am happy you're here!

I hope you have something wonderful planned for this beautiful weekend!  Everyone deserves a chance to take a breath and recharge.   Work this week, has been . . . w o r k.  So, now lets take a moment to do something creative!  Paper craft!  But, lets see what some wonderful challenge sites would like us to create.  And use what we already have!

I first stopped by a new favorite challenge site:  Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog.  These creative crafters will sure to inspire you!  Very creative.  Very clever.  Just wonderfully talented.   There challenge this week:  #16 - who loves school and office supplies?  And who doesn't?!

The next stop I made, was over @ Word Art Wednesday.  These creative, talented crafters use bible scripture to inspire their crafts.  How super sweet is that?  They do provide a scripture that influences them, but you don't have to use that particular scripture.  But why not?  They create these scriptures with some beautiful fonts.  

And last, a well established sketch challenge site:  Mojo Monday.   This design team, has a variety of styles and use an equally diverse techniques, so I am sure that you will be inspired with their work, as well.  Here is this weeks sketch:

and here is what I made:

This card was a lot of fun to create, and to be honest, it really didn't take me a long time.  Easily an hour.  I used products that I love, and had on hand.  Which makes it very easy to create, no waiting for delivery {smile}.  Also, I did rotate the sketch.  My office supplies: staples, regal clip (paper clip), and a file folder.  I wanted a feminine card, and now the recipe {smile}.

The card base is Baked Brown Sugar (Stampin' Up!).  The aqua polka dot and ledger paper is from Library Ledger paper pack (Paper Trey Ink).  I did sponge the edges lightly with crumb cake classic ink (SU!).  The file folder is a die by PTI.  I used a digital pattern paper for that piece.  The sentiment (scripture) is downloaded from Word Art Wednesday blog.  I printed it on whisper white card stock (SU!) and matted it onto a scrap piece of pool party card stock (SU!).

I wrapped a piece of crochet trim (SU!) around the front of the card and tied it into a simple bow. I tied a cream button to the bow with some cream twine.  I added a trio of pearls on the sentiment piece, and I also added 5 clear sequins randomly, to give this card a more feminine look.  

I added a strip of aqua striped washi tape, and a fussy-cut, hand-stamped numeral washi tape to the lower left of the card.  I added a regal clip to this area.   I also added a trio of staples around the card.

Thank you for stopping by!  Hope you have a great weekend, and get a chance to do what makes you happy! {smile}

the Scent of Roses

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope each of you has a chance to create.  Create something fabulous!  Something pretty.  Something you love.  {smile}  I use the word, 'create' because I think it encompasses all forms of self-expression.  Because isn't that what we are doing?  Doing what makes us happy, what calms us, what gives us joy!  I also don't mean this for just those of us who paper craft.  I want to wish everyone who crafts, joy!  Bakers, quilters, painters, paper-crafters, wood-workers, auto mechanics, welders, . . . everyone who creates something with their hands, uses their free-time to practice their 'craft', and everyone who finds pure joy in what they do!  {smile}

I had time today to create a greeting card.  And yeah, in my favorite color: pink.  I don't have a particular occasion for this card, but rather just the desire to create something pretty {smile}.

I stopped by Crafting by Designs to see what these talented ladies have been crafting.  The current challenge is: Pretty in Pink.  I got this!  This is an inspirational challenge site!  So check it out!

I also stopped by Retro Sketches, because these ladies are sure to inspire!  This is the current sketch:

The thing that I love the best about their sketches, is how simply beautiful they are!  It encourages clean and simple designers, and everything all the way to me!  Love the layers!

and here is what I created:

and here is how I created this card:  I started with Pink Pirouette card stock (SU!) for the card base.  The pink floral music sheet pattern paper, is actually a digital download.  I trimmed this paper and then sponged Soft Suede classic ink (SU!) along the edges, so that no white paper would peak through.   [all digital downloads are printed on whisper white card stock(SU!) and the edges are sponged with soft suede classic ink (SU!)]

I cut a piece of the cream/kraft polka dot pattern paper to 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".  (And yeah, another digital download.)  I added some machine stitching all the way around.  I wrapped a piece of Venetian crochet trim (SU!) around the polka dot piece.  The wrapped a piece of blushing bride 1/4" cotton ribbon just over the top edge of the crochet trim.

I printed the ticket (another digital download) and fussy cut the ticket out.  I added foam tape to the back of the ticket to 'lift' it off the front of the card.

I took a plain white paper blossom, and plucked the center out of the blossom.  I sponged Blushing Bride classic ink (SU!) on the tips of the petals.  I brushed picket fence paint (Ranger) to the petal tips, and then sprinkled the paper blossom with Dazzling Diamond glitter (SU!).  I adhered the paper blossom to the card front with my glue gun.  (love my glue gun!)

I added a strip of champagne colored half faux pearls just over where the two trims join.

I tied a simple bow with the same pink cotton ribbon, and adhered it just below the paper blossom with my glue gun {smile}.

I cut a strip of Very Vanilla card stock (SU!)  5/8" wide  (just over a half-inch) for my sentiment.  I stamped the sentiment 'Have a SWEET day.' in soft suede classic ink.  The sentiment comes from the Garden Variety stamp set (PTI).  I used my scissors to create a shallow flag-end to the banner.  I used my tape runner to apply some adhesive to the back of this sentiment banner, and added one lone staple to the left of the sentiment.

And finally, (right?) I adhered a trio of clear iridescent sequins to the card front.  At this time, I finally added the card front to the card base.  That way, the machine sewing and staple are not viewed on the inside of the card.

I am happy with how my card turned out.  It's not what I originally set out to create, when I walked into my craft room and sat at my craft desk.  I actually began working on a pink Christmas card.  It never came together.  {frown}  Oh well.  But I am really happy with what I did create! {smile}

Coffee and Friends

Today, is the big day!  The Nacho Average Challenge site is back from our summer hiatus.  Personally, that was a welcome break.  The summer time is always super busy for me and my family.  It was very nice to focus on them.  Now, before we get to the new challenge, I'd like to welcome our new members.  Howdy, and welcome!  We have a sketch for you to try.  But don't forget to stop by our challenge site for some inspiration!

challenge #53

I have to admit, when I first saw the sketch, I instantly thought of a floral sprig.  But then, I thought that was too predictable.  I love the banner piece.

I have an infinity for distressing, and machine stitching!  The card base is crumb cake.  You aren't surprised are you?  I used some of the new fall themed DSP - Sweater Weather.  I love the soft, comfortable colors and patterns.  I distressed the edges of the soft sky polka dot pattern paper with whisper white craft re-inker and a brush.

For the chevron pattern piece, I used this beautiful blue plaid paper.  I matted it with soft sky card stock.  I used my distressing tool on all the edges, then sponged some crumb cake classic ink.  I tore the upper right edge, and then scrunched the lower left corner.  I added a scrap piece of the text paper under the imperfections.  I machine stitched the plaid and soft sky cardstock together.  I purposely didn't stitch those areas, to keep with the distressing.

For my banner piece, I matted a yellow pattern paper with crumb cake cardstock.  I distressed the crumb cake with whisper white craft re inker and a brush.  I stapled the banner piece to he plaid pattern paper.  I felt the metal embellishment added a grunge look, so to speak.

I stamped the coffee to-go cup in early espresso classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  I fussy cut the to go cup out and used dimensionals to lift the cup off the card front.  I stamped the coffee cuff onto the yellow plaid pattern paper.  I stamped the sentiment right onto the pattern paper.

Thank you for stopping by.  Now, hurry to your crafting supplies, and lets see what you create!  Don't forget to upload your creation to the NAC site.