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}.

Legacy Desk-Top Calendar

Welcome.  I have been busy crafting items for several holiday craft fairs.  I didn't get a chance to finish the cover to this calendar, until today {smile}.  I didn't find a sketch, or a layout that I liked, and wanted to use with these papers.  I looked at a few sketch challenge sites yesterday, to see what was new, and I was pleasantly surprised.

I stopped by Vintage Cafe Card Challenge, and instantly fell in love with their current sketch challenge.  These wonderfully talented ladies are sure to inspire you, if you aren't instantly inspired by the sketch.

Their requirements: vintage or shabby chic styles, and your creation must remain horizontal.

here is what I created:

I crafted, by hand, this desk-top calendar.  This is the cover.  I used Legacy pattern papers by Simple Stories.  I used a digital 'ticket', a blue vintage button, mustard twill trim, and kraft twine.  I used my Rol-a-Desk punch to create the unique holes on the floral pattern paper, and added two staples to add a metal embellishment.

here are the first few months:

yes, the circles are machine stitched

gold glitter hearts add pizzazz

the polka dot pattern paper was torn to resemble washi tape

I added machine stitching to almost every page.  I kept the pages as flat as possible, so that the calendar wouldn't become too bulky.  For those who know me, this 'flat' style was 'difficult' for me.  I love to add multi-loop bows, paper blossoms, buttons, and pearls.  This pattern papers were fun to work with, but different for me.  I typically 'collect' pink, vintage, shabby chic inspired pattern papers.  You know, sometimes, it is really nice to stretch your creative muscle {smile}.

Thank you for stopping by!  I'll be posting more photos over the next few days.  I am still working on my box advent calendar.  I have been stuck for several days.  I don't know what to add to each flap, so the recipient knows the direction the boxes open.  So, if you have any suggestions, please comment.  The boxes are 2" cubes.

Cottage Chic Shaker Card

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy!  It's 100 degrees here in the southwest region of the United States of America.  However, up in the mountains, its about 10 degrees cooler.  I know 90 degrees doesn't sound 'cooler', however, here in the desert, it is {smile}.  I did get a few Craft Fair applications out this week, so I am starting on my holiday craft fair materials.  Yes, Christmas in hot June!

I love old stuff (vintage), and anything farmland.  That includes mason jars, lace, seam binding, buttons, twine, and paper blossoms.  And so I set out to make something pretty, and feminine.  I did stop by a few international challenge sites, and oh my, there is a lot of inspiration out there!

I am using the current sketch from Vintage Cafe Card Challenge.  The ladies on this design team love vintage, shabby chic, and provence style crafting.

Look at this beautiful sketch.  I love the layers.  The circle element will be easy to work with.  And the sentiment label, adds the finishing touch.  Love it! and check out the crafts from the design team.

I also stopped by SaratovScrap to see what their current inspirational board looks like.  And oh my, you would think it was made just for me!

I love the sparkle, the hay bales covered in lace, the translucent balloons, the pearl and glass dangles, and all the flowers.  Very pretty, very country chic!

And finally, I stopped by Paper Ladybirds, to use their current color challenge, again.  

A pale pink, a spring green, and a warm toffee/kraft color.  Take a look at what the design team made!  Very pretty, and inspirational!

and here is what I made:

and a different view:

Recipe:  I used a warm, soft, beautiful kraft cardstock; Paper Studio.   [The card measures 4 1/4" x 6".] I used a pink, wood-grain pattern paper with pink blossom clusters on it.  I love pink, have I mentioned that? {smile}  I did a simple, double-border, machine stitch along the sides.  I then added a scrap piece of white cotton trim, and a scrap piece of vanilla lace trim.  I machine stitched them to the  card front, too.  

I cut-down a birthday cake recipe, collage paper to 3 1/4" x 5".  I did another double border machine stitch on it, too.  I added a kraft paper doily to the top 2/3 of the recipe paper.  

I created a 'shaker' mason jar from my Friendship Jar stamp and die set by Paper Trey Ink.  I added sequins from Pretty Pink Posh, and Stampin' Up!  I decorated the jar with a pale pink material that has a scallop edge.  I layered a white crochet scalp trim on top of the pink material.  I tied a light kraft bakers twine around the mouth of the jar, and tied it into a simple bow.  I made a tiny tag and hand-stamped 'wish' onto it.  I added a trio of tiny paper blossoms I purchased from LemonCraft.  I also inserted a white star decorative stick pin.  I added a paper blossom to the bottom right corner of the jar.

For my sentiment, I hand-stamped my greeting, and hand-scissor the banner end.  I did a double machine stitch to the right side of the banner.

I added clear sequins and half pearls to both the upper right and lower left of the shaker jar.

I haven't made a shaker card before, and so I know a few things to do differently.  I would have used a thicker foam tape, and added a little glitter.  I am happy with how this card turned out.  But, I think I would like to do another shaker card, with the trim having a random pleat, and possibly a seam binding bow.  

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have been inspired! and have an opportunity to play along with any (or all) of these challenge sites.