Beautiful You Card

Howdy, and welcome!  Today I wanted to share with you a card I hand-crafted.   I wanted to make something pretty, with a generic sentiment.  This card isn't for anyone, so nothing specific.  I just wanted to paper craft.   I set out looking at a few of my favorite paper challenge sites to get some direction, and I found some very fun challenges.  So, let's get started!

I wanted a bit more direction, so I decided on a sketch challenge.  I knew what I wanted to use, I just needed a little more direction.  So, I stopped by the Paper Craft Crew challenge site.  This challenge site mostly does sketches.  But every now and again they will throw in a theme, or tic tac toe board, but they will always inspire you!  

I didn't rotate or flip their current sketch.  I used it as is!  I also did not switch out the blossom images for any other shaped item.

Since I already knew what pattern paper I wanted to use, and I now have a sketch to work with, I decided to play along with the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday.  Their challenges are : anything goes, family friendly.  

You will be pleasantly surprised by this design team.  They are very creative and talented, and the submissions are pretty great too!

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  this blank inside greeting card is the typical A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used cream card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the card base.  This card stock is a beautiful heavy weight, so it stands up to my embellishing!  The main panel matt is Kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  I just love the neutral soft color of kraft. {smile}

The pattern papers are digital.  I use my at home printer to print these.  I used whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up! for 3 of the pattern papers.  This card stock has a 'slick' feel to it, and allows the card stock to take the ink from my printer beautifully! I have zero complaints.  The small square that has the sentiment on it, I shrunk down.  It would have printed 6" x 6", but I wanted the whole sheet of paper to be my focal piece.  And I just love the sentiment.  That piece I printed on Linen card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I felt the added texture would help give my card some depth, and not be so flat.

I cut my top pattern paper, so that the mix of floral images would have some blues in it, to help tie the bottom pattern paper that is a blue collage with copper dots.  

I added a simple border stitch with my sewing machine.  I think it adds a 'homespun' look/feel.  

To hide the seam where the two pattern papers overlap, I added a scrap piece of white cotton trim, and topped that with a scrap piece of pale pink seam binding.  I added a little machine stitching there too.  It holds the card front together, and continues with the machine stitching along the card's edge.

The pink polka dot pattern paper, I flagged the end, for visual interest.  

To make my 'tag' piece, I simply added my pattern paper square to a scrap piece of the same Kraft card stock I used for the main matt.  I used my scissors to make the tag shape at the top.  I used a traditional hole punch to give my tag that finished look.  I threaded a piece of pale pink seam binding through the hole and tied a simple knot.  I then tied a simple knot of pale pink tinsel to a rich brown button, and hot glued it to the top of my seam binding bow.  I adhered the tag to the card front with foam tape, to help elevate it off the front of the card.

The paper blossoms are from my stash.  The brownish blossom is from Prima.  I just loved the color.  Not quite brown.  Not quite copper.  The white paper blossom and the little pink paper blossom are from LemonCraft.  I added some white paint and glitter to the petals, of both blossoms.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look at what I created.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with either or both of these challenge sites.  Enjoy your Friday!

Arts & Craft Fair Schedule

Howdy!  The holiday craft fair season is quickly approaching!  And so, I have been busy crafting, but also making my craft fair 'schedule' notification fun, festive, and special!  In the past I have mailed out post cards announcing my locations.  But, I wanted to change it up a bit this year.  So, I made my own.  No, I didn't sew on postcards.  Instead, I made these cute 'tags'.  That way, my schedule 'tags' won't hog a lot of real estate on your refrigerator, or clutter your message board {smile}.  

There are several folks that I always mail these out to.  But, if you want one, and/or aren't sure if you are on my mailing list, please email me @ sharon_wheet@yahoo.com, and I will drop one in your snail mail {smile}.    

Thank you for stopping by my little piece of blog-land.  I hope you have been inspired to create something beautiful!

Happy Birthday T

Howdy! and welcome.  It was my daughter's birthday yesterday.  So, we spent half the day together {smile].  I got up early, and made her a dozen of ButterBeer Cupcakes.  She is a fan of Harry Potter.  On my way over to her house yesterday morning, I brought her, her favorite drink from Starbucks to start her morning.  Along with some roses and a hand-made Birthday card.  We spent a few hours, yesterday morning sitting at her dining room table chatting, like ol' friends.  It was a very good morning.  Then, I took her to lunch.   

I wanted a little direction on creating her birthday card.  She isn't a 'shabby chic, vintage' kind of girl. She is more clean and simple, with a flair for modern.  

I stopped by the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge site.  Their current sketch, #168, was pretty easy to work with.  {smile}.

here is what I made:

Recipe:  I used one of my favorite kraft card stock for the base.  It's by Paper Studio.  Love the color! I added the last two scrap pieces I have of this beautiful pattern paper.  My daughter loves blue, and the confetti pattern paper looks festive!  I matted the confetti pattern paper onto a scrap piece of Indigo card stock by Stampin' Up!.  

I tied some thin pink ribbon around the card front, in place of the horizontal strip.  I also added a tag in place of the 'notch'.  I hand stamped the tag outline in baked brown sugar and the sentiment in basic black, both classic inks by Stampin' Up!.  and viola!  modern, and clean and simple.  

Yeah, I wanted to add some machine stitching, a button, and some sequins.  But, my daughter loves clean and simple.  And the card is for her.  {smile}  Happy Birthday!  

We are going out to dinner tonight.  My mom is in town, so it will be nice to have the whole family together.  Her birthday present is a bread maker.  She has been asking for one.

Floral Friend; Card

Howdy!  I needed to get a few cards in the mail, and so I set out to find some inspiration.  Along the way, I stumbled upon a new (to me) challenge site, and visited two favorite challenge sites.  The inspiration was infectious!  I hope you agree!

Let's start with the new challenge site, that I 'found'.  This is an east European challenge site.  They don't have a 'translate' button, but google translator works pretty well.  [Just copy and paste the text.]  Shabby Scrap.  Their current challenge is to use rose(s) on your project.  And your project can be just about anything! A card, a page, an altered item, a tag, a book, etc.  (I'm sure you get the idea) You will be amazed at the creativity of their design team.  This challenge runs from Feb 25 - March 24.  And here is their photo:

Ok, so now on with another of my favorite challenge sites.  {smile}  This next one, is another challenge site from eastern Europe - Shabby Chic.  This challenge site does have a 'translate' button.  So it's super easy to play along with {smile}!  Their current challenge  is to use butterflies.  Or simply one butterfly.  A very creative and feminine work by their design team.  Their challenge runs through March 25.

And for the finally challenge, it's one that is truly dear to me:  Just Us GirlS #333.  I started playing along with their challenges when I first started blogging.  Their current challenge for 'Word Week' is Flowers!  How wonderful!  I love adding flowers to my cards and projects!  You will certainly be inspired by their design team!

So, I have combined the challenges, not too hard really,
and created a card for a very dear friend!

Recipe:  I created another A6 size card.  To create the card base, I used a heavy weight card stock: Soft Sky by Stampin' Up!.  I just love the soft, pale blue color.   

I added three different digital papers.  I printed my digital papers onto whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love how clean the images come out, and how true to color they print.  

Anyways, I used a pale blue, pink floral pattern paper for the main paper.  I just love how pretty this digital paper is, and the way the pale blue background really makes the pink roses pop!  I cut the paper down to 4 1/8" x 5 3/4".  I sponged crumb cake classic ink along the edges.

I printed a library card, digital paper and cut it down a bit.  I used my corner rounder punch on two of the corners, and sponged the edges.  I adhered these two papers together, and then added my machine stitching.  I wanted the butterfly on the library card to 'pop', so I added dimensional glaze to it.

For the tag, yes, it's another digital paper.  I used my tag punch to create the top piece.   I added some aqua blue crinkled seam binding and tied a simple bow with some thin blue tinsel.  (I just love how soft this tinsel is!)  I added some foam tape to the back of the 'tag' before adhering it.  

I tied some twine through the trio of aqua mist vintage buttons before adhering them to the card front with my glue gun.  I also adhered the trio of blossoms with my glue gun.  

For the sentiment, I used the Signature Greetings stamp set by Amuse Studios.  I stamped the words in versa mark onto some card stock vellum, and used an antique gold embossing powder and heated the embossing powder with my heat gun.   I hand cut the banner ends, and added adhesive where the words are, so you wouldn't see the adhesive through the vellum.

I stamped two butterflies onto a scrap piece of the same vellum with Archival Black ink by Stampin' Up! and used markers to color the backs of the butterflies.  I folded the wings together to give them a 3 dimensional look.  I adhered them to the card front with dimensional glaze.  

Thank you for looking!  I hope you have been inspired to play along with any (or all) of these great challenge sites!

Blessing Card

Howdy.  Welcome to my little slice of blog-land.  I have been blogging about paper crafts for several years now, and I haven't gotten tired of it yet.  {smile}  If you have seen some of my earlier work, you have seen my transformation in my work.  My beginning work was flat.  Simple.  yet pretty.  Now, it is layers, filled with embellishments, trims, and soft colors.  My favorite embellishments are buttons and trims.  And I now find a way to add machine stitching on almost every project.  I really do love the homespun look and feel of how I craft/create now.  

One of my all time favorite challenge sites, I have played along with since I started blogging - Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge - has given us their last sketch for this year.  Their design team is taking some time off for the holidays.  Bravo to them!  If we give them a break, and a chance to recharge, they will return with a new vigor, a new insight and a renewed passion for paper crafting.  So, let us not disappoint them, and play along.  Here is their new sketch challenge:

and look at this perfect sketch they have given us to work with!
Love the simple lines, and the tag!

You could easily make a holiday card with this sketch.  I just might!

here is what I made:

The reason why I started this blog post the way I did; with a remembrance of my beginning paper crafting, is because I have created a simple card, again.  This card.  I used pattern paper from Simple Stories So Fancy for this card.  I used two different papers: the first is that beautiful floral pattern, and the second is that pretty polka dot pattern paper with gold metallic dots.  (the music pattern paper is the reverse side of the polka dot paper)  Even the metal rim epoxy 'dot' is from Simple Stories {smile}.

Recipe:  I used Lavender Moon card stock by PaperTrey Ink.  The kraft card stock matt is from PaperTrey Ink, as well.  

I cut and layered these pattern papers, and then did a simple machine stitching along the borders.  I cut a piece of very vanilla card stock into a tag shape.  

I hand-stamped the sentiment in a dark grey classic ink.  The sentiment is from the Signature Greeting stamp set, by PaperTrey Ink, too.  I just love the mix of fonts.  The simple typewriter style font and the curve handwritten font.  The tag is adhered to the card front with foam tape.

I then tied a simple bow using Lavender Moon satin ribbon, from PaperTrey Ink.

For the final touch, I added a trio of gold sequins from Pink Posh.

This card is going in the mail tomorrow.  I am sending this 'blessing' card to a super great friend {smile}.  My friend, has been there for me during ups and downs, and has given me the encouragement to do things I didn't know I could.  {smile}

Now, I need to get back into my craft room and get some gift card holders completed and a special ornament.  Yep, out of paper!

French Holiday Set

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy.  Welcome.  Before you asked, I haven't quite finished my trophy cups.  But, I promise, I will.  As they will be for sale at my next Craft Fair - this Friday!  I was able to work on a few other holiday projects.  For those of you who don't know, I love taking non-holiday pattern paper, and creating holiday projects.  {smile}  I do love typical holiday pattern papers, but sometimes, its fun to set out side of the box.  Exercise your creative mojo, so to speak!

A month ago, I saw quite a few wonderfully creative projects using Gilded Lily pattern paper by G45 (Graphics 45).  And let's just say that I fell in love with both the paper and the projects.  So much so that I went out and purchased a few sheets of the pattern paper.  Then, it just sat there.  (I'm sure this sounds familiar to a lot of you - smile)  This pattern paper has royal images of Marie Antoinette, crowns, lilies, script, dots, and flourishes.

I set out to start working on holiday projects to have for sale, at my next holiday craft fair.  And then, I grabbed that beautiful Gilded Lily pattern paper.  I also stopped by Mojo Monday challenge site to get a layout.  This is this week's sketch:

and here is what I did with the sketch:

Let's look at each piece separately!

First, the bag:

As you can tell, I rotate the sketch.  I also used a 'tag' for the circle piece.  The tag is heat embossed with pink embossing powder.  I used cream velvet ribbon for the top of the tag.  But I didn't want a lot of bulk with a traditional tag 'loop', so I tied the velvet ribbon with kraft twine, and added a jingle bell.  {jingle bells are fun!}  I switched out the floral accent piece with a holiday shabby chic piece.  {smile}

and a close-up:

I wanted the bulb and snowflake to move, so they are tied onto a Tim Holtz safety pin, that is secured to the front of the bag with a rhinestone floral brad.  I also added some fabulous trim in a make-shift 'junk bow': tulle, pom pom trim, crochet trim and thin ribbon.  I used kraft twine to hold everything together.

The gift card holder:

I wrapped some white cotton trim and seam binding around the top flap of the gift card holder.  I  layered a silver glitter snowflake on top of the trims.  And then added that sweet bow, with a snowflake charm tied to it.  {smile}

And the inside of the gift card holder.  Simply tuck the gift card into the bottom flap.  The sentiment is heat embossed with silver embossing powder :  Greetings of the Season.  Elegantly simple.

and now the stocking stuffer - chocolate!

I used some of the scraps of the pattern papers, and wrapped some chocolate candies.  I added a cream crochet knot, tied on a simple tag stamped with 'Noel', and tied the gold cord into a simple bow.  {smile}  Something elegantly simple.  Perfect {smile}

Well, thank you for looking.  I hope you have found some inspiration and get an opportunity to craft something fabulous, too!

Beautiful Text; gift card holder

Welcome.  This will be a quick post, as I am busy trying to get several crafts finished for a local craft fair on Saturday.  [these will be present for sale]

I wanted to share a sweet pair of gift card holders I recently made.  I am entering this other gift card holder in a challenge over @ Word Art Wednesday.  Their current challenge is 'Anything Goes' family friendly.

blue version

a little something for you

a pink version

a little something for you

Recipe:  I used vintage cream card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the base.  I love this heavy weight card stock.  Its nice and thick, and holds up to added embellishments.  {smile}
I used the same Melissa Frances text pattern paper.  I matted it with either pool party card stock, or pink pirouette card stock; both by Stampin' Up!  I did some machine stitching.  I stitched some scrap pieces of lace/toile trim to the fronts.  Made multi-loop bows out of seam binding.  And added a tag.
I used the same stamp on the inside.  Heat embossed.  One in blue. and one in blue.

Thank you for looking!  I hope you have been inspired to play along in either of these fabulous challenge sites.  {smile}

So Sweet of You!, Card

~ PHOTO HEAVY POST ~

Howdy.  Welcome.  Yeah, I have been busy crafting.  Busy making paper crafts for my upcoming craft fair, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.  But, I took a few minutes and photographed a very special card I created for a current card challenge.   It is in my shabby chic style, with my favorite color: PINK {smile}.

I started with a sketch from a great challenge site: Just Add Ink.  These ladies are very inspirational, and creative working with their sketch.  Please take a moment to head over, and have a look {smile}.

And then I headed over to a very inspirational challenge site: Shabby Chic.  For this current challenge, they have a color challenge!  Remember though, that you have to create in shabby chic style.  Also, they are restrictive on neutral colors.  

and here is what I made:

different views:

Recipe:  I used kraft card stock to create the card base.  I didn't want a color to compete with the main panel, so I choose to use a contrasting color.  The text pattern paper is actually from Melissa Frances.  I just love this paper.  The writing is in a dark grey color, on white paper, so their isn't any distractions.  Your eye moves over it very easy.

The main panel is a pink and white design and text pattern paper from Teresa Collins.  I sewn a double border simple stitch to adhere the two card stocks together.  I rough up the edges my finger nail, and the tip of scissors.

For the tag, I added the opposite side of the pink pattern paper by Teresa Collins.  This side of the pattern paper uses the same colors of pink and white, however, the pattern is all text.  I cut one white paper doily in half and adhered it to both sides of the tag.

I added 5 lace trims to the bottom portion of the tag.  (bottom to top) Cream wide lace.  White cotton trim.  Cream tulle fringe.  White lace.  White crochet trim.  These layers are machine stitched to the tag.  

I tied a multi-loop bow with some white seam binding.  Then I used some pale pink seam binding to tie the white bow to the front of the tag, and created a simple bow.  I tied some cream twine around the bows, and tied it into a simple  bow.  I cut the 'legs' off of a white sparkle brad, and used hot glue to attach the center of the brad to the bow collection.

I had a white fabric blossom laying on my craft desk, so I added it, just under the bow collection.

For the sentiment, I heat embossed my sentiment onto vellum card stock, using gold embossing powder.  I hand cut the banner ends to the sentiment piece.  I adhered the sentiment right onto the tag.

Thank you for looking, I hope you have been inspired to play along with either or both of these challenge sites.  You won't be disappointed {smile}!

Bunco Reminder

Howdy!  Well, I have been a little busy getting stuff together for my turn to Host Bunco next month.  I know what you are thinking. . . next month, you have gobs of time.  Well, kinda no.  I have prizes to make, a menu to develop, clean the house, celebrate 4th of July, and everything else the rest of folks have to do (work, chores, raise children/grandchildren, and take care of ourselves).

I send out a reminder card, when it is my turn to  host.  And yeah, it fits my 'theme' {smile}.  This year's theme is 'farmland'.  I needed a sketch challenge, to help me get those creative juices moving.  So, I went to Retro Sketches.  They have some beautifully simple sketches, that allow you to really embellish, or keep it clean and simple, and everything in-between.  So, that's where I started!

See what I mean!  Simply beautiful and full of a lot of potentials.  And here is what I did!

The card base is crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I love their card stock.  It is a nice heavy weight, that is perfect for card bases as well as another paper craft.

The wood-grain pattern paper is actually a digital download.  I just love the mix of wood-grain, florals, and text.  It's so pretty, country, and simply worn.  I matted this pattern paper onto a piece of Aqua Mist cards stock by Paper Trey Ink, and did a simple machine stitch along the four sides.

The pink gingham pattern paper is also a digital download.  I love this mix of patterns for the same reasons. {smile}

I wrapped a cream twill ribbon by Paper Trey Ink around these two matted pieces and machine stitched the ribbon to the card front.  I tied a simple bow.

The jar is stamped in crumb cake classic ink onto very vanilla card stock, both by Stampin' Up!  The jar is from Paper Trey Ink.  Then I stamped the polka dots onto the jar in Soft Sky classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  I fussy cut the jar out, and wrapped some cram twine, by Paper Trey Ink, around the mouth of the jar.  I added a tag, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the tag in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink, and the sentiment in the same color ink.  Fussy cut the tag out, and used a hand-held hole punch.  Tied the cream twine into a simple bow.

The burlap-lace ribbon is from a big-box craft store.  I thought it added a bit of country charm.   The sentiment banner is from a new stamp set I purchased from Inspired by Stamping.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey classic ink and used a square punch to create the flagged ends.

I added two vintage buttons (white and aqua mist) to the right side of the jar, and a white paper blossom to the left side of the jar.  I distressed the paper blossom by brushed some picket dense distressing paint on the petal tips and added some dazzling diamond glitter to give it some sparkle.  The leaves were cut from a text paper.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you found some inspiration, or at least something pretty to look at!

Tag, You're It

Holy Moly, is it really great to be home.  For those of you, who don't live here in central New Mexico, we had a bit of snow fall on the city.  That isn't the tragedy.  Well, the storm really hit the northern border of Texas and Oklahoma.  So, they closed I-40 East.  They closed the freeway Sunday evening, and didn't re-open it till Tuesday.  I take the freeway to get home from work.  And I was on-call at the hospital Sunday night.  And the snow plows didn't start on I-40 East in our area till after 3a Monday.  But then again, they don't really know how to plow anyways.  They are better at dumping red dirt on top of the snow.  Blah, blah, blah . . .   I could go on, but I'm sure that you didn't stop here to hear about my crying.

The wonderful ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have a very creative sketch for you to try this week.  I'm sure you will have fun with this sketch!

Before you pass us by.  Don't let the large pennant discourage you.  I added a torn edge, a doily, and a slightly off-center tag.  Here is what I did!

I did alot of masking on the tag.  I stamped two postage stamps and two flowers.  I inked my text wheel and ran it across the lower third of the tag.  I stamped the flowers again and fussy cut them out  and used foam tape to pop them off the tag.  I stamped a sentiment banner and machine stitched it to the tag.  I used a 'water mark' stamp to help age the tag.  

I tore a measuring tape DSP to resemble some what of a triangle shape.  I also added a paper doily.  I ran a strip of crochet trim and vanilla seam binding down the middle of the card.  I machine that too.  I tied a multi-loop bow with the seam binding and added a fabric blossom to the center of the bow.

I hope you get a chance to play along with us @ NAC.

I am participating in the Natural History Museum Chocolate Fantasy, again this year.  I'll post photos of my chocolate sculpture on Sunday, as the judging is on Saturday.  Wish me luck!