A Note of Thanks

Wow, this month is off to a fast start!  That always seems to be the problems with short weeks.  As I sit here, I realize all the things I have yet to do this week, and the list keeps growing.  But, I won't fret.  Here is how I see it:  I'll do what I can.  No more and no less.  I finished my home chores for the week yesterday.  And the few days I have at home this week, I'll try to squeeze everything else in.  I have a few items that have to be taken care of each day, so I'm not too over whelmed.  And then I still have all my blog things to do.  design teams I still need to create for, posts that need to be written, and of course, paper crafts that need to be created.

In the mean time, the wonderful talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a great sketch for you to work with.  Here is the sketch:

 

  For this challenge, we are to use only Stampin' Up! products.  But, I'm probably like most of you, in that I don't have alot of disposable income to spend on my hobby these days.  So, I have opted to purchase some Designer Series Paper, and a few embellishments.  That way, I can spend $10 or so and have a few new things to 'play' with.  

Here is my card:

The DSP is called Attic Boutique.  Isn't is just gorgeous?  I just love how the images look crisp and vintage.  I wanted to showcase the different patterns.  But, I wanted a 'hand-crafted' paper piece, so I got my inspiration from a quilt square called a 'log cabin'.  I think its pretty interesting, and has a 'home-y' feel to it.  So, I cut my pattern paper, adhered it to a cardstock square and matted it onto Calyso Coral.  I wanted my solid cardstock to match my DSP, so I used my Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder so the very vanilla cardstock wouldn't look so stark.  I didn't want my card base to compete with the pattern paper, so the card base is crumb cake.

I couldn't decide between the very vanilla satin ribbon and the calypso coral ruffle ribbon.  So, I added them together.   

I thought that the bow needed something, so I added a new brad.  To keep with the vintage look, I added some vanilla smooch.           I wanted to give my card some feminine touch, so I added some half- faux pearls.  I used a stamp set that I have had for over 2 years.  This stamp set has 4 stamps that have different fonts and the sentiments are 'thank you'.   The sentiment was stamped in pure poppy classic ink.

Thank you for looking, and please play along with us.  This sketch is very user-friendly.  

Best Friends

Ok, so this isn't my best photography work. And yes, its prettier in real life.

This is also posted on 'Brag Monday's' over @ the Graphics Fairy

There is a group of us (6) who have become best friends. We really enjoy each other's company, and we actually care about each other and our families. So, when we get together, we 'let our hair down' so to speak. We come from all backgrounds, different socio-economic groups, and despite our differences, we connect on a higher level. So, I consider myself blessed. Blessed to have such loving, supportive, and creative women who I consider my best friends.

One of us had a birthday last month. And, well, did I mention our crazy busy schedules? So, we all went out to dinner last week to celebrate. Her favorite colors are black & white. So, I made her card black & white (posted last month or so) and inside I put a White House Black Market gift card. Oh, it matches the theme and is one of her favorite places to shop. I gave her this incredible beautiful, funky neckalace from Premier Jewelry. And, I had to craft something. So, here it is. I purchased a frame from one of those 'big box' craft stores, and made the insert. I wanted something simply shabby chic. And I hope I pulled it off. I found this graphic art over @ the graphrics fairy and thought it was perfect! I think its hilarious! three grown women in a toy car in someone's living room. Come on, its pretty funny.

I used mostly Stampin' Up! products to complete this frame insert. The base is Soft Suede card stock. The two strips of pattern paper on the left are First Edition DSP and Grand Soiree DSP. I stamped two different flourishes (friends 24-7 & bliss) in soft suede and basic black classic inks. I added a strip of Basic Black card stock and used my scallop edge border punch. The black flourish is a retired product from last year. The flowers I made from left over scraps and various shaped floral dies and punches. I used two of the vintage brads for the flower centers. I had a left over rhinestone floral spike, so I added that and a feather spike to the larger flower The little butterfly is from the Clearly For You stamp set. The tag is from a retired stamp set, too. The sentiment is from a PaperTrey word stamp set. I found this wonderfully elegant black pleated ribbon at the 'big box' craft store, so I added that, too along the bottom edge. To give the whole piece a little more worn look and sparkle, I sprayed it with both Log Cabin & Vanilla Smooch sprays.

Thank you for looking, and I hope I have found my mojo, from being out of commission these last few weeks. Have a wonderful week, and stop by soon. I hope to have more goodies posted through out the week!

You Have To Add a Card

I had sooo much fun altering a notebook for Dawn's Color Cue {11} challenge and JUGs wild card challenge, that I decided to make a card, to complete my 'gift'. These colors work beautifully together, and it so made me think 'wedding' and 'baby'. So, I chose 'wedding' and ran with it! Paper cones, and dollies are all the rage these days, so I put them together. The JUGs challenge is to make your own paper flower, so the 'aqua' flower in the cone I made, and the sponged 'aqua' flower on the seam binding on the paper cone, I made. The crochet flower, I purchased. I don't crochet. And if I did, I fear I'd be making too many of them. The ribbon rolled flower I purchased at one of those big box stores. It comes on a strip of toile and you purchase it by the foot. So, I just cut one off, and tucked the 'tails' underneath. I 'girl-y'ed my card, made it feminine, and tinkered with it for a day. The butterfly was a last minute thought. But, I think it looks great! I found these super cute bling-y 'beads' at a local bead store, so I added one to my corsage pin. I sprayed the whole card with some Vanilla Shimmer smooch. I like how it gave it a bit of sparkle without covering-up my stamping. My neutral for this 'item' was vanilla. At first, I didn't think it would go. But, I like how it turned out.

Thanks for taking a look. And, if you have time, you should check out the challenge blogs listed above and play along.

Let me know what you think about pairing vanilla/cream with white on a project. Have a wonderful day. Stay warm, and be safe out there!