Celebrate YOU!

Welcome.  I wanted to use some of the scraps I had left over from a beautiful paper collection by Prima - Rossibelle.  I just love the flecks of metallic mixed in with florals, stripes, & texts.  I am entering my card in three different, but equally wonderful card challenges {smiles}:  Double D, the Card Concept, and Tic Tac Toe challenges.

My first stop was Double D challenge site.  They have some pretty clever challenges and their current challenge is no exception: sequins.  Now, who doesn't love sequins?  Not this girl!

I sprinkled my sequins

My next stop was the Card Concept.  I love this challenge site, because they have a theme and a mood board.  So, no confusion, and you are given a direction for your entry.  Easy peasy.  Their current theme: old fashion LOVE.  I can do that!

I used pinks, and a blossom

And finally, my newest interest: Tic Tac Toe challenge.  I like these types of challenges, because it helps give your crafting a direction and takes away some of the restraints.  LOVE that!  Here is their current Tic Tac board:

I went down the right side: Celebrate, floral, ribbon

and here is what I created:

still learning how to photograph shiny things

I just love the mix of metallic, pinks, cream, and pops of black - pretty!

and a different view:

Recipe:  This blank inside card is a typical A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used a pale pink card stock for the base.  I believe its one of my last few sheets of Blush Blossom from Stampin' Up!.  

I layered a text pattern paper and a black design pattern paper from the Rossibelle collection by Prima.  Then I sandwiched a scrap piece of cream cotton trim between them, and machine stitched a simple border.  I rubbed some tea stain ink across the machine stitching to help it pop.  

Starting with the right upper corner:  I adhered a tag from the collection and hot glued a double bow tied with pale pink seam binding.  I found that sweet tiny button in my stash.  I believe it is from CTMH neutrals collection.  

The focal piece is actually a piece from the embellishment kit.  I adhered it to the front of the card with foam adhesive.

I adhered a fabric blossom to the left lower corner of the focal piece.  I then tucked in a cream button from Stampin' Up!.  I thought the button design matched with the cream cotton trim design.  {smile}

And the last two pieces from the Rossibelle collection to go onto my card were those two strips at the lower right corner.  The pink text paper is actually a strip from the text pattern paper.  The sentiment strip is a sticker from the same collection.

My two final additions were the metallic embossed sentiment piece, and the sprinkle of the copper sequins.  The sentiment piece was hand-stamped onto cream card stock and detail copper kettle embossing powder was used.  I adhered the 'CELEBRATE' to the card front with more foam adhesive.  I glued the copper sequins to the card front.  I added three tucked, so they would peak out, and the other four I wanted full view of.  {smile}

Thank you for looking.  I hope you get a chance to play along with any/all of these challenge sites.  Have a great weekend!  and do something that makes your heart happy!

Sweet Little Moments Card

Welcome.  I'm so happy that you had a chance to stop by {smile}.  I needed to make a card for a friend who is having a birthday this week.  And I needed a little direction, so I stopped by two Russian paper challenge sites, and one of my favorites here in the USA.

My first stop is @ CharmedScrap.  This challenge site, is from Russia.  They do not have a translate button, but there is always Google Translate {smile}.  CharmedScrap, gives you either a mood board, or sketches.  I  love their sketches, because they include layers and little pieces of interest.  Here is their current sketch:

My next stop is @ InterNitka.  This challenge site, is from Russia also.  And again, they do not have a Translate button.  But InterNitka, has some very creative challenges.  The current challenge is a romantic gentle moldboard:

And finally, I am entering my card @ Word Art Wednesday.   This challenge site, is always a Anything Goes, Family Friendly challenge.  This challenge site will certainly inspire you.  They always provide a scripture that you can use in your paper crafting, but is not required.  {smile}

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  I used various scrap pieces of pattern papers from the Rossibelle collection by Prima.  I just love the splashes of copper metallic on the pattern papers, the distressed, worn patterns, and the soft tones.  This collection has pinks, and a vibrant peach hue.  I started with a Cantaloupe card stock by Stampin' Up!.  Their card stock is heavy weight, and stands up nicely to embellishments.  I cut and tore different pieces of the pattern paper, and layered them together.  Some staggered, and some layered.  I roughed-up the edges with the edge of a pair of scissors.  I inked the edges with tea stain ink.  The grey polka dot pattern paper peaking out under the cream cotton trim, is a scrap piece from a holiday collection by My Minds Eye, from 3/+ years ago.  I did a simple double border stitch along most of the card edge.  I purposefully didn't complete the border.  I brushed white paint across the Bingo card, and the Ticket.  I added foam adhesive to the back of the 'sweet' piece.  I layered these pieces in a way to look random. The blossom is from the same collection: Rossibelle.  I added white paint and glitter to the petal edges, and brown ink to the back of the petals, so help show separation.  I tied a double bow of cream & black bakers twine to the dark button and tucked it at the top of the paper blossom.  The wooden disc, was hot glued to the top right corner of the sentiment cluster.  I brushed white paint and tea ink to the edges.

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you get a chance to play along with any/all of these challenge sites.  {smile}

Blah

Howdy.  I wish I had a more positive post to write, but, . . .  I don't.  A fellow blogger, that I follow religiously, wrote recently that she didn't feel like creating anything.  It's hard to believe that I am not the only one!  And the blogger asked, 'who else felt the same'.  I really wanted to scream 'ME'!  

I don't know if its the weather (it has snowed at my house the last two Saturdays), the barometric pressure, the sadness in my heart, or the hurtful words spoke at work (towards me), or the simple busy-ness in my mind.   Either way, or whatever reason, the desire to craft has escaped me.  So unfortunately I don't have a new craft to share with you.

I made twelve cards for my Bunco ladies, to send to them, to remind them that I am hosting Bunco in June.  The theme for my host night is 'High Tea'.  And well, I want to share two of my favorite cards.  And yeah, it wasn't the one I originally created for a challenge 10 days ago.

here is the pink one:

and here is the blue one:

so real quick.  the card base is made from kraft card stock from a big box store (HL).  The page isn't from a cook book, but rather a digital download.  As is the tag, the ticket, and the tea circle.  I did add a bit of sparkle by heat embossing the sentiment in unique gold embossing powder.  The paper blossoms are from the dollar bin at a different big box store (M).

Well, let me say, that it does touch my heart when you 'visit', and when you leave a comment.  It really does bring a smile to my face., and fill my heart with happiness.  Thank you!

I have been tinkering with some decorations, gift packaging, and place settings for my Bunco night.  I'll take some photos, and share my creations.   Thank you! and please visit again!  hugs!

Had a Lovely Time

Howdy! and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I'm so happy that you could stop by, and have a look around {smile}  Have you ever been to a party that was just so much fun, that you really wanted to send the hostess a card/gift/something?!  I have.  Not recently, tho.  But I have.  

After perusing the internet, and stopping at a few of my favorite paper crafting challenge sites, I have been inspired to create a card for that very occasion.  

The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Retro Sketches have a super fun sketch for you to try.  Here it is:

I just love the different pieces and parts.  But you should really check out what the design team has done with this sketch!  Holy Moly are they a talented and creative bunch!

Then, I stopped by one of my all time favorite challenges, the Shabby Tea Room.  I visit their blog every Monday, just to see what the challenge is for the week.  Yeah, I don't always have time or the creativity to play along every week, but I stop by!  And yeah, sometimes several times a week.  Those ladies on the design team, are just so darn talented!  It's like window shopping for some inspiration {smile}.  Anyways, this weeks challenge is: Let's Celebrate, and you have to use pink, lace, and flowers.  Here is their inspiration board:

And here is what I created.  But first, the disclaimer:  my card is a 'thank you' for the hostess for throwing such a fabulous party.  So, I'm not sure if this qualifies for the celebrate, but . . .

For the recipe:  The card base is kraft card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  The wood grain pattern paper, the recipe collage pattern paper, and the sweet ticket at the upper right corner, are ALL digital papers.  How fabulous, huh?  I did (and always do) print my digital paper on Whisper White card stock by Stampin' Up!   Their paper has this wonderful matt finish, and it takes ink beautifully.  Oh and my printer has no problem accepting it into the feed.  Gotta love that!

The white lace trim is from my stash that I purchased last year about this time, for a specific holiday craft.  The cream lace trim is from Stampin' Up!, it's a new item this year.  The pink paper/tulle blossom is from Prima, and about 5 years old.  The single pearl loop is from the wedding section of a big box craft store.  (Originally, the loop had 3 strands.  I just cut one off.)  I added a lone pearl just below the simple bow.  I felt it needed something, and just couldn't get a button to work.  Right?  How crazy is that!

Oh, one last bit.  I matted the recipe collage pattern paper onto card stock and did a double machine stitch.  I added the white lace trim, and did a single stitch.  Then I added the cream lace trim and did a zig zag stitch to hold everything together.

Now, I don't have a cake on my card, but look . . .

  

My recipe collage pattern paper has a recipe for a Birthday cake on it {smile}.  How super sweet is that?

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired, but please check out those challenge sites.  I am sure you will find some inspiration there!