For the Love of Coffee and You

Howdy, well, I had a little free time this morning to craft, before I had to run.  Literally.  I ran my first race of the year, this morning.  10K.  I'm not a fast runner.  11 minute miles.  But, I also don't think that I'm slow.  Anyway, the group of folks who ran today's race, run faster than me.  But, I am happy with my time.   And it was a beautiful day, to hit the pavement.  {smile}

I made a sweet pink heart card yesterday, and wanted to make another.  But this time a little less shabby, but still all girl!  So, I am playing along with a few of my favorite challenges.

The wonderful folks over @ Verve Stamps, have a free digital stamp set they are giving away.  And, it is perfect for all you coffee lovers.  So, that's me {smile}!  So the challenge on their blog, is to use the free digital stamp set.  No other requirements.  Well, except to have fun!  Check.

I also stopped by the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog to see what their current challenge is - Hearts and as always, use ribbon, trim, lace, or twine on your project.   Check.

I always love stopping by the wonderful Word Art Wednesday challenge blog.  These ladies are sure to inspire you!  Their current challenge is (as always): Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  Check.

And finally, a challenge site I visit often for inspiration: The Paper Players.  This group of super talented ladies, will certainly inspire you!  Their current challenge is: will you be my Valentine?  

and here is what I created:

I am pretty happy with how my card turned out.  {smile}  I was having coffee with a few girl friends on Saturday morning, and yes, we were at a Starbucks.  They had these pink heart gift cards, along with red heart gift cards.  I just couldn't pass these beauties by!  So, I picked up the pink one, and knew I wanted to make a Valentine's Day card with it on the front.  

Recipe:  The card measures the traditional A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used kraft card stock for the base.  The matt is Lavender Moon card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  The pattern paper is from 10 yrs ago, and I only had a 6" x 10" piece left, before I started.  I am not sure of the manufacturer or the name of the pattern.  The pattern paper has large, medium, and small blossoms, in various shades of pinks and purples, with a few orange blossoms.  The leaves and stems are all this beautiful deep, rich brown.  There are also some cream colored swirls and blossoms.  Just beautiful, and I hope you understand why I kept my scraps.  {smile}

I printed my digital stamp set, from Verve Stamps, onto white linen card stock, by Paper Trey Ink.  I just love printing on textured card stock.  It gives my projects a beautiful and rich touch.  I matted my sentiment rectangle onto a scrap piece of Lavender Moon and Kraft card stocks.  Those adorable coffee cups are included in the digital stamp set.  I used my markers to color the coffee cups.  I used Pumpkin Pie classic ink, and Regal Rose classic ink, by Stampin' Up! to give the hearts on the cups a coordinating color wash.  I used my Pink Pirouette classic ink marker to color the coffee cups.  For the coffee cuff, I used scrap pieces of the main panel.  This darker pink and orange circle pattern paper is actually the reverse side of the floral main panel.  I used foam squares to 'pop' the coffee cups off the card front.  

My beautiful pink heart, is actually a new gift card from Starbucks.  I just love how creative and inventive these folks are.  There was already a hole in the heart, so I simply tied some Chocolate Brown twill ribbon, by Paper Trey Ink into a simple bow.  I used a few foam squares to help 'pop' the heart gift card off the card front.

Now, I will need to swing by Starbucks tomorrow morning, on my way to work, and pick up a red one, to add to the front of a Valentine's Day card, too!

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these challenges.  

Christmas Wrapping

Howdy! and thank you for stopping by!  Glad you are here.   I have another gift I 'wrapped' and wanted to share with you what I did.  Typically, my favorite Christmas colors are Blue, Green, and Kraft/Brown.  And so, I have made a few gift bags using those colors {smile}.

The lovely ladies over @ Vintage Cafe Card Challenge  have a 'Gift Wrapping' challenge.  And so I want to play along.  If you want to play too, you still have time, as this challenge is open until Dec 26.  {yahoo!}  So even if you are finishing things up on Christmas Eve, take a photo and upload it as soon as you can, and you too, can play along {smile}

Their only requirement:  your 'play-along' must be in 

Shabby Chic, Vintage, or Rustic style.

*Please be aware, that this challenge site is in Russian language.
They do have a translate button. 

here is what I did:

Recipe:  I used a plain kraft handled bag as the bones of this gift.  I used mint macaroon card stock as my matt.  I machine stitched a scrap piece of the holiday kraft DSP from Stampin' Up! (retired).  I added a strip of holiday music sheet to the center, from Stampin' Up! (Home for Christmas DSP)  I added a strip of burlap ribbon and mint macaroon lace the center.  I machine stitched the ribbons to the front of the bag, but didn't stitch to the ends.  I tied my gold sating ribbon through the center of the large snowflake cut with a Paper Trey Ink snowflake die, using dazzling diamond glitter paper.  I tied a few trims to the bow: aqua pom pom trim, gold tinsel, and a gold sequin mini ornament.  For my tag, I wanted a pop of color, so I added a Starbucks gift card to the handle with thin gold ribbon.

closer look at the embellishment

This gift wrapping is for a very best friend.  N, has been through it all with me.  And I love her dearly.  She is the one who ran my first marathon with.  And she is the one who has encouraged me to join the Duke City Challenge.  She is my confidant and the one I turn to when I need a shoulder to cry on.   The gifts inside are trivial.  I have a small box of chocolates:  Lindt Peppermint Truffles, a small box of Christmas Jelly Bellys, a Doterra hand cream and lip balm, and a gnome Christmas ornament. The sweets are because I love her.  The hand cream and lip balm are for her soul.  And the Christmas ornament is something she loves: gnomes.  So, I made sure that the wrapping was special!  

N, paper crafting style is 'less is more' while I just want to keep adding things.  I hate 'white space', and N, she loves 'white space'.  I love all things shabby chic and vintage with a little retro thrown in there.  While N, loves classic and modern.  So, I tried my very best to make something a bit more her style.  

Well, I am off to another holiday gathering.  But don't fret.  I will be back to play along with a few more challenges I eye spied.  {smile}  And I need to get my Christmas ornament photographed.  Take care, and I hope you come back soon {smile}.