Vintage Chic Christmas Card

Welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  Grab a cup of coffee/tea, and scroll through my posts.  I have been busy crafting and posting what I have created.  I was browsing a local paper store, and stumbled upon this beautifully neutral pattern paper by Heidi Swap: Vintage Chic.  A beautiful collection of pattern papers in cream, black, grey, teal, and pink.  Amazing.   Now, if you scroll down a few posts, you will see that I have crafted two notebooks, a gift tote, and a few cards.  But, I am not done crafting with these beautiful pattern papers, yet! {smile}  

While surfing the web, I stopped by one of my favorite eastern European challenge sites: Scrap Magic.   Their current challenge is kraft & pearls, it is part of their 'contrast' challenge.  They also have a beautiful inspiration board.  And if you need a little more creative eye candy, please check out what the design team have created.  You will be pleasantly surprised {smile}.

*there is a translate button for this site

This challenge and my 'new' Vintage Chic pattern paper, are perfect together!

I also stopped by the Christmas Card Challenge.  I wanted to see what their new challenge is.  Their current challenge is Anything Goes.  Easy to work with {smile}.

and here is what i created:

*my mix of textures, and **my repeat of color

Recipe:  I used kraft card stock by Paper Trey Ink, for the card base.  I used mint macaroon card stock by Stampin' Up! for the matt.  I used 3 different pattern papers from the Vintage Chic collection by Heidi Swap: kraft & cream stripes, grey polka dots on cream, and ledger print on cream paper.  I sponged all the edges with crumb cake classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  It's a soft kraft color ink.

I adhered the kraft & cream stripe paper onto the mint macaroon card stock, and sewn a simple border stitch on the main panel.  

I used my Tasteful Trim die to create the large scallop panel with the grey polka dot on cream pattern paper.  I wrapped a piece of mint macaroon taffeta ribbon around the large scallop die cut piece.  

I used one of my digital bingo cards and matted it on mint macaroon card stock.  I tucked it just under the large scallop piece.  

I used a mini banner punch by Stampin' Up! to create my trio of banners.  I sponged all the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  I used a scrap piece of mint macaroon card stock to matt each banner piece. I adhered them to the main panel, and then used my stapler to secure them to the card front.  (*I love mixing different textures: paper, fabric, metal, pearls/rhinestones, etc.)  I tied my bow upside down.  I like how the bow sat, upside down, better then right side up.  

I stamped my sentiment in baked brown sugar classic ink by Stampin' Up!, onto white card stock.  I wanted a soft, creamy, kraft color, and love how this color looked.  I used mint macaroon as my matt. I used foam tape to 'lift' the sentiment block off the card front.  

I used one of my Prima: Coffee Break fabric blossoms, to add a feminine touch to the card.  I just love the lace and pearl center.  So delicate and pretty.  

For my final touch, I added some kraft-colored, flat-back pearls, and some mint-colored, flat-back jewels in two clusters of three.  (**Kraft and Mint are the two main colors, and so I repeated these colors whenever I could.)

Thank You, for visiting my blog.  I hope you have found some inspiration.  And I hope you have the opportunity to play along with either of these challenges.  I know that they would love to see what you have created {smile}.

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!  

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.

Mail

Aww, the weekend is upon us!  This is a welcome break, from the week of work I had.  Just busy, busy, busy.  So, on this weekend, I don't have any chores to do, or anywhere that i have to be today.  so, I have plans to sit at my sewing machine, and finish a sewing project. {smile}

But, before I get to that, I wanted to take a moment to get you inspired to play along with us this week @ Our Creative Corner.  Lori, is our hostess this week.  She would like you to use two different pattern papers to create a paper craft showing transportation or travel.

The very first thing that I thought of was a travel journal.  But, I guess the stress from this week's work, has really blocked me creatively.  So, I made a card.

This card is not my 'typical' style, but I do like the clean lines of it.  

I used a new DSP paper from Stampin' Up!  I used four different pattern papers for this card.  The airplane and 'heart' exhaust are heat embossed.  The banner piece 'sealed with a kiss' is adhered to the card front with foam tape.  I used the tasteful trim die to cut the large scallop trim.  I used my 1 1/4" square punch to make the banner end of the striped paper.

Join us this week, and share with us what you have created from our challenges!

love this card? you can purchase it here, at my Etsy shop.

the Little Things

Happy Saturday!  I hope you are all well.  I'm busy just like usual.  But, I did carve out some quality crafting time.  The talented Paula over @ Our Creative Corner, have a creative sketch for you to play with this week.  When I first saw the sketch, I was a little intimidated.  But, hey, it's called a challenge, so here it goes:

Here is what I came up with:

I started working on this card, with the thought of creating a sweet card, that had a shabby chic feel to it.  I also wanted to add my own touches, without over doing it.  Here is the card recipe:

I used some of my favorite pattern papers.  The green pattern paper is Rose Garden by EP.  The two pink pattern papers are from the Lovely collection by Authentique.  The two different shades of pink paper is actually the opposite side of the two pink pattern papers.  I used my Top Note die from Stampin' Up! to cut the dark pink paper.  I used my Tasteful Trim die from Stampin' Up! to cut the light pink paper.  I ran my card through my sewing machine, and stitched along both edges of the pink floral pattern paper.

For the label piece, I used the decorative label die from the Lots of Tags die set, to cut the dark pink label piece.   The inner label piece is very vanilla card stock.   I stamped the flourish in crumb cake classic ink.  The flourish stamp came from the Established Elegance stamp set.  I then stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.  The sentiment is from the Little Things stamp set by Unity Stamps. 

I tied some cream twine from Paper Trey Ink, through a vintage button by Paper Trey Ink.

I had a scrap piece of cream dyed crochet trim along the lower edge.  I hand-dyed some seam binding with my Blush re-inker, by Paper Trey Ink.  I machine stitched these two trims together.  Then, I tied a multi-loop bow with the Blush seam binding.  I added a pearl brad by Recollections to the center of the bow.  I added a 'hand-crafted' tag to the trim.  

I hope the design team has inspired you, and you have a chance to play along with us @ OCC.

love it? This card can be purchased here

Holiday Note

Welcome.  I hope you are well.  I have been super busy, trying, and trying to get everything done this holiday season.  Wheew!  I think I forgot how busy this season is, and I am still struggling to get everything done.  I don't even have my Christmas tree up.  So, it really doesn't feel like Christmas.  Maybe that's why I'm having so much difficulty.  

I did find an hour few hours this morning to get a jump start on a few holiday thank you notes.  (the stores aren't open yet, anyways.)  

I was shopping at a local scrapbook store several weeks ago, when I saw these papers, and I just had to purchase them.  I knew that I wanted to do something with them, for Christmas, but didn't have any idea at the time of purchase.  Well, I found a  use for them!  Christmas 'Thank You' cards!

The card base is Old Olive card stock.  The pattern paper is from Authentique, it's one of their holiday lines, Peaceful.  I guess the first thing I thought was, green, black and cream for a holiday paper?  uhm.  Well, I have to admit, I just love the simplicity of it.  I used three of the pattern papers (the bird, the stripes, and the flourish) for my card front.  Because the papers were CAS, I wanted my card front to follow.  I used the Tasteful Trim die from Stampin' Up! to make the scallop trim on the card.

The sentiment panel is from Paper Trey Ink, called Stylish Sentiments.  This stamp set, has a variety of holiday stamps that are square (like this one), rectangle tall and rectangle long, with a variety of three different styles.  So, to me, very versatile and easy to work with.  I stamped my sentiment in Basic Black classic ink onto very vanilla card stock.  I distressed the edges with Crumb Cake classic ink and sponge, and swiped Pear Pizzazz classic ink pad across various spots.  I matted the sentiment square onto Old Olive card stock and used foam tape to 'lift' the sentiment square off the card front.  

I used some of my Old Fashion Christmas crinkled seam binding from Prairie Boutique , to tie a multi-loop bow, and secured it to the front of my card with a Recollections pearl brad.  I created two different tiny tags, one is 'Thanks', the other is from a holiday post mark.  Both tags where stamped with Old Olive classic ink, and the edges were distressed with Crumb Cake classic ink.  

The sentiment on the lower right side of the card is from Paper Trey Ink, called Signature Christmas.  The thing I love most about this set, is the small, beautiful font.  These stamps fit perfectly on tiny tags, and other small places.  One says, 'just a little Christmas note' and the other one says, 'A Christmas Thank You'.  

I stamped the envelopes this time, which is something I seldom do.  Not sure why, but I typically don't. I stamped a bird on a holly branch from Stampin' Up!, called Beautiful Season, in Basic Grey classic ink.  I stamped the sentiment that is included with this stamp set, 'thinking of you at Christmas', is stamped in Old Olive classic ink.

Thank you for stopping by.  Now, I'm off to the mall.  Wish me luck! and stop by tomorrow, if you have a moment.  I'll share with you a few photos of a holiday 'thank you' box I have made for the various families we visit on this joyous day: Christmas!  

Happy Holidays & Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

my friend

Thank you for stopping by this Friday.  I hope you are well.  And, to get your mojo moving, the ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday are hosting another blog hop.  So, won't you stop by the design team's blogs and get inspired to play along.

The lovely Deb. C. has a fantastic sketch for you to work with this week.  Here it is:

here is what I made:

This card was fun to create.  I used So Saffron DSP and solid card stock.  I thought this bright cheery color would be a nice change of pace.  I stamped the floral image in Staz-On, and used a blender pen to color the image.  I stamped the sentiment in Staz-On, too.  

Thank you for looking.  Now, head over to Tammy F.'s blog to continue the blog hop!

My Apology

This weekend, is a welcome sight.  The mere thought of sleeping past 5am, and schlepping around my house in my pjs, drinking coffee with no urgency to leave, is intoxicating!  So, that is my plan this morning; drinking hot coffee, sitting in my rocking chair, looking out the window across my back deck.  It started raining yesterday, and we have a forecast for more rain today.  So, I'm going to welcome the moisture in spirit, and stay warm and dry inside.  Later today, Sasha, will be traveling with us into town for a vet appt.  She will have her stitches removed and her knees will be checked.  

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, and get a chance to do something 'good' for your soul: relax and craft!  And, I have a challenge for you to join!  Meihsia Liu, @ Our Creative Corner, has a wonderful sketch challenge for you to try.  This sketch is just fabulous to work with!  Here is the sketch:

Don't forget, there is a requirement of including a ribbon bow on your project.  Here is my card:

I purchased these beautiful pattern papers a few months ago.  You know how that is.  You are shopping and see some pretty pattern paper, and even though there aren't any immediate plans to use them, you purchase them anyways.  And that is how I acquired these pattern papers.  

The pattern papers come from a collection called Pretty in Pink by Glitz.  (The pink rose paper, the music sheet paper, the pink stripe paper, and the pink drawing paper.)  I used a die called Tasteful Trim by Stampin' Up! to create the large scallop trim on both the First Edition DSP and the Pink Stripe paper.  The crochet trim comes from Spare Parts.   The sentiment tag was created with the flourish from the Creative Elements stamp set and one of the sentiments from the In A Word stamp set.  I used foam tape to adhere the circle to the card front.  The ribbon bow was created with rose red Seam Binding. I used a random brad to connect the multi-loop bow to the card front.  I used a hot glue gun to adhere the resin flower to the brad, by Prima.  The paper blossom and the resin frame are also from Prima.  The buttons are from Paper Trey Ink.  The metal rim butterfly 'button' is from K & Co.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have found some inspiration and interest to play along with us @ Our Creative Corner.

friend

If you are looking for a new sketch challenge, and a chance to win some blog candy, I have the perfect sketch challenge site:  Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  This sketch challenge site isn't brand new.  We have been playing for over 30 weeks now.  But, we'd like to have more folks play along with us each week.  So, by submitting a paper craft in our sketch challenge, you are entered in winning some blog candy.

Here is this weeks sketch challenge:

One of the things that I just love about these sketches is the empty space.  This allows you, the artist, to create an unique and wonderful paper craft.  Remember, just because there are two specific shapes, doesn't mean that you must use those shapes.

Here is my card:

I replaced the rectangle piece with one of those accent pieces from the Beau Chateau note package.  I just love this saying about your Friend.   I added a paper blossom for my circle piece.  

I also used my favorite color combination: soft suede and pretty in pink.  I used a scrap piece of soft suede polka dot pattern paper from the Mocha Morning DSP collection.  I added some half faux pearls to add a feminine touch.  You can't tell in this photo, but the whole card was spritz with home made shimmer mist.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Now head to your crafting space and play along with us this week,  You never know, you could be a featured stamper and win some blog candy!

Happy Birthday, Friday

I tell you what, this year is screaming by in a flash.  I feel like I have been playing catch up since Jan 1.  This week, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, it's another blog hop.  So, you stop by each of the design team member's blog to see what they have created with this weeks sketch.  Tina, is the designer for this week's sketch. 

Here is this weeks sketch:

The sketch is actually very user friendly.  The multiple squares can be substituted with different shapes.  And the scallop trim is a wonderful addition.  This sketch started out simple, but the possibilities are endless.  I used minimal supplies, to keep the essence of the sketch.

Here is my card:

I'm not too comfortable with a lot of empty space.  So, I just had to add a piece of DSP that had a small 'addition'.  I stamped various circles from the Circle Circus stamp set in various colors that are found in the floral image on the pattern paper.  

Now, head on over to Tammy F.'s blog, to see what she has created!  And I hope you have a chance to play with us this week!

Happiness Always

Happy Friday!  I hope this week has been good to you.  It's Friday, and that means its time for another blog hop by Sketch Frenzy Friday!  Maria, is the designer of this week's sketch.  She is pretty talented, so I'm sure that you will love to play along.  Let's see what Maria has designed for us to play with:

I know you can see all the possibilities of this sketch!  It's truly fabulous!  And in my usual fashion, I 'played' with the sketch a bit.  I just loved the circle across the 'ribbon'.  I used a new stamp set that hasn't been released yet.  So, I hope you can bear with me, and have a little patience.  Here is my card:

I used the new Everyday Enchantment DSP, as well as my all time favorite: First Edition DSP.  I stamped the 'label' from Everything Eleanor stamp set, in crumb cake classic ink.  I fussy cut  the 'label' out with my paper snips.  I stamped the 'Happiness Always' from the Happy Greetings stamp set, in early espresso classic ink.  I spritz the seam binding with some water and crinkled it by hand. I made one of my favorite multi-loop bows and tied a red button on with some linen thread.  I added a half faux pearl to the button center.  I also added some of the smaller half faux pearls along the scallop borders.  I cut two different pattern papers with the tasteful trim die, to create the scallop border.  I gave the whole card a sprtiz of home made crumb cake champagne shimmer mist.

Now, don't forget, this is a blog hop.  So your next stop is Tammy F. blog.  I hope that you join us in this challenge this week!  We'd love to see what you create!

It's week #22 over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge! and they have a super cute sketch for us to work with!  Here is the sketch:

This sketch has alot of potential, which is what I like.  I love a sketch that has shapes that are interchangeable and pattern that are easy to work with.  Well, this is it.  So, please play along with us.

I am also entering this card is an exclusive challenge that Stampin' Up! is hosting to those demonstrators who are attending Leadership this year.  The challenge, use a new stamp set from the Occasions mini, and win a prize.  So, here is one of the cards that I am entering in both the SU! leadership challenge and the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.

The new DSP is Twitterpated.  Isn't it just beautiful?  The stamp set I used is called Bordering on Romance.  It's an outline stamp, so you can use all sorts of coloring mediums to make this image so pretty.  To color these flowers, I did use the water color crayons and an aqua painter.  I love how smooth and easy it is to color with this medium.  I did cut the shape out of water color paper, with the new Labels Collections framelits die..  I stamped the flowers in jet black Staz-On.  I had to use the tasteful trims die with the first edition dsp. I love the soft feminine colors of this card, so I just had to add the mini vintage tag.  The 'hand crafted' stamp is from the Tiny Tags stamp set.  I just love the small size of these stamps.  And that cute little button is a Twitterpated designer button.  How cute is that?  So, play along with us and wish me luck on this challenge @ Stampin' Up!

a Shape Card

Happy Saturday.  I hope that you are enjoying your weekend!  Me, I am.   I am visiting a girlfriend, and we are having a great time catching-up.  She always makes me laugh.  So, it's a good time.

Anyways, Vickie from Our Creative Corner has a great challenge for us, make a shape card.  Any shape except A2 rectangle.  Sounds pretty easy, huh?  Well, I made a circle card.  I know, not very clever, but it does give you (hopefully) some inspiration.  Also...

The wonderful folks over @ The Shabby Tea Room, have an interesting challenge for us, too.  Titled, 'Time Flys', and you are encouraged to use anything with wings.  I instantly thought of a sparrow die that I have and so I set out to get to work in my craft room.  They also gave us a inspirational photo.  So, here it is:

And here is my Scallop circle card:

The nest is the only image on my card that is stamped.  I stamped the nest in black ink and used  a blender pen to add some color; baja breeze classic ink.  Once I finished coloring the eggs, I added some dimensional glaze, so the eggs have a 3-D affect.  I added a circle of pattern paper to the white doily tag.   I cut the sparrow from some silver glitter paper. 

The two large scallop strip pieces were cut with a die.  A strip of thin black taffeta ribbon is wrapped around the card front.  The black polka dot pattern paper, is  crushed velvet, so it is nice to the fingers. 

I had a scrap piece of hand-dyed seam binding.  So I made a multi-loop bow with it and attached the bow to the card front with a vintage brad.

I didn't stamp anything on the inside of this card.  But, now that I am finished with it, I notice that I didn't stamp anything on the outside, either!

I hope that you have gotten some inspiration from me.  And please play along with us @ Our Creative Corner challenge blog.

My Friend Sue

I have a friend, her name is Sue F.  Our husbands work together.  (You know how that is.)  We live in different states, but we see each other  4-5 times a year.  Our husbands talk on the phone at least once a week.  And we have gotten together on quite a few different occassions.  And through our joint meetings, we (Sue and I) have become pretty good friends.  She is a very nice person.  I know that I am blessed to have her in my life.  Since we don't live close,  we text more than we talk on the phone.

Anyways, I saw this small trinket the other day that made me think of her.  And we are going to visit them this weekend, so I just had to pick it up.  And well, I'm a paper crafter, so I decorated the box and made her a card.  Her are some photos:

I wrapped the box with a 2" wide strip of pattern paper.  I added some bakers twine.  The flower is from a faux floral stem.  I tied the button with the same bakers twine and added it to the center of the flower.  I stamped the vintage tag with 'friends' and attached it to the box with a tiny clothes pin.  To give the clothes pin some visual interest, I dabbed on some paint and dipped it in some glitter.  Quick, easy, and looks pretty fabulous!

The card was created with pattern paper from the same line.  The scallop trim was created with two of the pattern papers and a die.  I added some of my favorite crochet trim to the cardstock scallops.  I used a steel template to create the small notebook page.  I hand stamped the sentiment.  I wrapped the same bakers twine around the bottom of the 'page' and tied on a small brown button.  The tiny tag was stamped with the same 'friends' sentiment and adhered under the button.  I created the corsage pin with a rhinestone ring and a glass bead.  I stuck the pin behind a fabric flower.

I don't have an envelope template, so I'm not quite sure how to 'line' my envelopes, so I added some pattern paper to the outside of the envelope flap.  Thank you for looking.  I hope my friend Sue likes her little gift.

thanks

Hi! and thank you for stopping by this Friday!  So, the weekend is right around the corner, and Sketch Frenzy Friday has another challenge for us today.  The sketch was brought to us by Angela, and the sketch is pretty 'user-friendly', and your only requirement is to us Stampin' Up! products.  I decided to use all current products, so if you find some inspiration, you can purchase all these products today!  Don't forget to stop by Tammy B. 's blog to see what she has created.

Here is the sketch

Here is my card

For some reason, I have this urge to use this same color combo.  Sorry!  But, isn't it just beautiful!  Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Pink Pirouette, Peach Parfait, and Very Vanilla!  Before you say it, yes, that is Stampin' Up! seam binding.  I just dyed it!  First, I measured how much seam binding I needed  and cut that measurement.  I sprayed the seam binding with water, and then added several drops of Pink Pirouette classic re-inker.  Then used my heat gun to speed up the drying time.  I wadded up the seam binding to help create the crinkled look.  

The flower was made with circle punches.  I used peach parfait card stock, pink pirouette card stock and First Edition DSP.  I used a metal button brad to hold the card stock flower together.  I punched the leaves from a scrap piece of Beau Chateau DSP and First Edition DSP.  

I used three stamp sets: Clearly For You, Creative Elements, and Notably Ornate.  I used the Lots of Tags die to create the fancy tag design from Calypso Coral card stock.  I also stamped the 'take note' in Calypso Coral classic ink.  The 'for you' and 'thanks' were stamped in Soft Suede classic ink.  The scallop piece is made from the Tasteful Trim die.  I added a small faux half-pearl jewel to the tag to help give it a girly look.

Thank you for looking, and now go play with your paper crafting supplies, and join us in this sketch challenge!

Surprise Birthday

Howdy!  Glad that you could stop by today and see what I've been crafting!  A girlfriend had asked me to make her some Birthday invites for another friend, but it's a surprise party!  How fun!  I think those parties are generally the best!  You get to make it all fancy and special, and the recipient  gets to bask in the special efforts, surrounded by her friends!

here is the invite:

I used four different pattern papers from three different companies.  Once I figured out what I wanted to do, finding the perfect pattern paper wasn't soo hard.  Just a few minutes to hunt and peck!  I have to admit, I just love the scallop trim piece from the Tasteful Trim die by Stampin' Up!  I think it helps give any project a little feminine touch, without being over whelming.  I sprayed the whole card with some 'home-made' shimmer mist.  I used the champagne shimmer paint by Stampin' Up!, a drop or two of Sahara Sand re-inker and rubbing alcohol.  The champagne paint has gold mica flakes, so it gives a soft golden shimmer.   The 'shh' was stamped each letter at a time.   I 'painted' the 'flame' from the candle with white craft ink and then added some dazzling diamond glitter by Stampin' Up!