Shabby Spring

I am happy to say, that I have found a new spark to help me create.  Nothing actually 'new', just maybe some rest, and a few walks to clear my head.  {smile}  I think, it's just a change of focus, and a chance to let my mind rest.  

As usual, the super talented ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room have a great inspiration board, as well as some wonderful eye candy to help get you inspired. They ask that you include the colors in the photo, and include flowers, lace and ribbon.

Here is their board:

here is what I made:

I used quite a few different products for this card.  But when I was creating, that was my focus, no limits, just add what I like.

I started with Sahara Sand cardstock by Stampin' Up!  They make some of the very best card stock out there.  It's a heavy weight to withstand front loaded cards, but it also is very workable (my old olive cardstock leaves).  I used a piece of Blushing Bride card stock (also Stampin' Up!) as the matt for the main panel.  I wanted to add some floral pattern paper.  But I couldn't find just the right paper.  So, I used a digital image:  Ledger Paper found here.   And while shopping, I found these wonderful Dream Tags, here.  I cut out one and matted it onto a scrap piece of Old Olive cardstock, by Stampin' Up!  I added a scrap piece of a cream ribbon.  I threaded my tiny clothes pin through.  I added a tiny tag that is stamped in crumb cake classic ink, using the tiny tags stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I distressed a cardboard heart and added a vintage button by Paper Trey Ink.  And finally, for the other panel I used some beautifully shabby 'label's: Pink Sugar tags, found here.  I matted the label onto a scrap piece of pool party card stock, by Stampin' Up!

The inspiration photo has a Ball jar, and so I just HAD to add a jar!  I decided to hand-stamp my jar, using the Friendship Jar stamp set, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the outline of the jar in soft suede classic ink onto very vanilla card stock, both products by Stampin' Up!.  I then stamped the polka dots in pool party classic ink.  For the jar lid, that was a bit of stamping and fussy cutting.  I stamped the lid cover onto a scrap piece of Grace pattern paper, by Authentique and fussy cut it out.  I then stamped the covered lid onto a scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut the 'ribbon' out.  I stamped the tag in soft suede classic ink, onto another piece of very vanilla cardstock and fussy cut it out.  And stamped the 'bow' onto another scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut it out.  I added adhesive and layered them.  I think of the cutting as therapy.  You can't think about the dishes, or laundry, or bills, or any other chore.  Just cutting.  Therapy.

I love the sound of a sewing machine.  Very soothing.  Well, to me.  I had a left over piece of some lace trim, that I had tea stained earlier.  The top edge is raw, so I used my sewing machine to attach the piece to the card front.  I just love the color of this seam binding, found here.  So I machine stitched that to the front, too!  I created a multi-loop bow.  I distressed a Bermuda button, by Amuse Studios, with some picket fence distress paint, by Ranger and some dazzling diamond glitter, by Stampin' Up!  I used some cream twine by Paper Trey Ink, to secure the button to the bow.  I also wanted to add a paper blossom.  So, I took a blossom from my Artisan Embellishment Kit, by Stampin' Up! and distressed it, just like the button.  I created leaves with old olive card stock and the build a blossom punch, both by Stampin' Up!
To create my sentiment banner, I used the Something to Celebrate stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock, then used a square punch to create the flag ends, all from Stampin' Up!
Finally, I gave the whole card a spritz of my home-made white frost glitter mist. What girl doesn't like a little sparkle, shimmer, and shine?  {smile}

Thank you for taking time to take a look.  I hope you have been inspired while visiting.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend, and I hope you stop by again.  {smile}

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

School Days

I hope this week has started off nicely for you.  Me?  well, I think I will always be busy until I retire from my paying job.  So, until then, the lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge, have a great sketch for you to play with this week!  Here is the sketch:

Now, don't let this bold, plain sketch deflate your creativity.  Let's take a closer look.  The rectangle shape of the main piece can easily be changed into a shape.  The thick matt can easily be changed to a thinner matt.  The space on the main panel can easily showcase a large stamp, show-off a background stamp, or allow you to wow us with a technique.  

Here is what I did:

If you have searched the internet recently, you have seen alot of paper crafts with this faux chalkboard technique.  I think this look is 'old school', since most public classrooms have dry eraser boards than chalkboards.  A crime I say!  Anyways, I saw this fabulous tutorial, and decided to use the open space on this sketch to illustrate my take on the faux chalkboard technique.

I used one of my favorite 'thank you' stamps from the From My Heart stamp set.  I first stamped the image in Versa Mark ink and used white embossing powder.  Heat embossed this fabulous image.  I then sponged basic black classic ink along the edges.  I then sponged whisper white craft ink over the embossed image to represent chalk dust.  I then stamped over the image with the same image again with the stamp inked in whisper white craft ink.  I love how this turned out.  I used the top note die to create this fabulous shape.  I wanted to add something to the corner of this piece, so I did another layering.  I stamped the double-line heart from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set onto very vanilla card stock and fussy cut it out.  I added a multi-loop bow made from pool party seam binding.  I attached the bow to the front of the heart with a vintage trinket brad.  I added a blossom from the Flower Trim and a tiny tag, that says, 'Thanks'.  The school line paper is from a DSP pack.

I hope that you have found some inspiration, and join us this week with this fun sketch @ NAC!

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.

(love this card? you can purchase it, here)

Wisteria Romance

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with great food, family and friends.  We sure did!  We ate too much and had a wonderful time visiting with family.  I generally don't venture out on Black Friday, as there really isn't anything I need so bad that I will be at a store @ 4a or battle an unruly crowd.  So, here I sit with a card to share.  The ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday have a sketch that I am sure you will love.

Here is what I did with it:

For me this is not my typical card.  I love layers and embellishments and this and that.  So, here is a lot of white space.  The card is pretty simple.  My main panel is actually a piece of water color paper.  I stamped the floral image in Staz-On jet black.  I used the reindeers to water color the flowers with my aqua painter.  I created the large scallop from a scrap piece of silver glitter paper.  I tied a piece of the ruffle ribbon in Wisteria Wonder.  My sentiment is the tiny tag, that I attached to the simple knot with a tiny safety pin.   To jazz up the simple image, I added half pearls and rhinestones to the flower centers.

I hope you have an opportunity to play along with us @ SFF!  We would love to see what you create with this fabulous sketch!

happy crafting.  hugs, Sharon W.

Thanks Tag

Thank you, for taking the time to check back with me.  If I were to say, that this weekend was a challenge, I think I would be sugar coating it.  I created a tag for the challenge over @ Our Creative Corner.  Susan, wants you to create your own background on your paper craft, and absolutely NO pattern paper.  And don't cover up your background.  Sounds like a fun challenge, huh?  Well, I have been making paper crafts for the Arts & Crafts Fairs that I am selling at, and well, my focus has been on Holiday themed items.  I needed a little inspiration, so I headed over to Tim Holtz blog, to see what he has done for the November Tag.  And so, I basically did what he did.  I did a stamp resist technique and a color wash for my background color.  I used minimal embellishments, which was a struggle for me.  So, here is the tag that I created.  It is not my typically style, but I do like it.

Let me first apologize for the photo quality.  I took the photo of this tag earlier with my camera.  But then I lost my camera.  I know that sounds odd, but, I can't' find it anywhere.  So, I had to use my cell phone.  Then I had to email the photo to myself.  Then our modem crashed.  Replaced the modem.  (yes, we had to drive into town to do that.)  Then our internet went out.  Not sure if it is from the snow (yes, we got snow), or our mountain location (elevation 7500ft), or my luck.  Either way, I really had to work at this post.

Here is how I created this tag:

I cut a tag from Shimmer white card stock, 4 1/4" x 2 1/4".  I stamped the two leaves from the French Foliage stamp set, in Versa Mark, sprinkled on some ultra detail clear embossing powder, and then heat set it.  I sprayed the tag with water, and used my aqua painter to 'water-color' the tag with So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive re-inkers.  I did spray the tag with a spritz or two of more water, to help blend the colors.  I used my heat gun to speed up the drying time.  I stamped the sentiment in Jet Black Staz-On.  The stamp is a little off set.  I did that on purpose.  I used some crumb cake seam binding to tie the bow at the top of the tag.  I stamped the small thanks onto a vintage tag in soft suede, and used a tiny clothes pin to attach the vintage tag to the seam binding.  For the butterfly, I used a die to cut the shape from some beautiful pattern paper (city sidewalk from Pink Paislee).  I used picket fence distressed paint to edge the butterfly, and then dunked the painted butterfly into my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  I had a beautiful black crystal brad left over from my MME lost and found 2 collection.  And viola!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have a chance to play along with us this week @ Our Creative Corner.  I know you will have fun!  And if nothing else, it gives you an excuse to 'play' in your craft space {smile}.

Delightful Journal

Hello.  Thanks for stopping by.  I altered another blank notebook.  I just loved the pattern paper I used on the last spiral notebook I altered for my granddaughter.  I decided to alter another one, to sell in my Etsy shop.  The pattern paper is from Authentique.  They have created some really beautiful pattern paper this year.  And they have different styles to work with your different tastes.

To help me with my creative flow, I stopped by the Vintage Cafe Card Challenge.  They have the most interesting sketch for this challenge.  So, that is where I got my layout.   (Please note that this challenge site is in Polish.  They do have a translator button.  Please don't let that detour you from their site.)

Here is a look at their sketch:

See what I mean?  I found my self just staring at it, with the 'wheels' in my head turning!  Stop by their challenge site, and get some inspiration to play along too!  Without further delay, here are some photos of my altered notebook, using the above sketch:

 a few close-ups

Here are the particulars:  To give the pattern paper a vintage feel, and take away the white empty space, I stamped a French script in crumb cake classic ink.  Instead of a border trim, I used a piece of 2" white silk ribbon.  Also, to help fill-in the collection of flowers on the sketch, I tied the silk ribbon into a bow.  For my title piece, I stamped 'Bloom * Blossom * Become', from a Paper Trey Ink stamp set: Garden Variety.  In the middle of my altered journal, I have added a sticker: Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful.  The graphics are of a little girl selecting what to wear.  I also added a vintage shoe sticker, and a sticker tag that says, 'beauty'.  To help pull the 'getting dressed-up' theme, I die cut and stamped a mannequin in grey flannel ink.  I had a scrap piece of this absolutely beautiful vintage trim.  So, I made a 'make-shift' skirt out of this beautiful trim.  I added a skinny ribbon in delightful daffodil.  I thought the grey and yellow combo worked so well, and really made the pattern paper pop!  I added a white shimmer button and half faux pearl to it's center.  To make the paper blossom, it is really easy!  Cut your circles in different sizes.  I hand-cut, and punch different size circles.  Crinkle the circles and layer them.  To give the edges some sparkle, I used my 2 way glue pen and dabbed it on the edges and then dunked the paper blossom into my tub of dazzling diamond glitter.  (The leaves were made in the same fashion.)  To keep the shabby chic look, I added some tied buttons, and half faux pearls randomly.  I added a resin white architecture piece to the right upper corner, to help give the spiral book cover some visual interest.  I added a long strip of polka dot pink scallop trim ribbon, to be used as a book mark.  That ribbon is attached to the spiral with a white brad.

I hope that you get a chance to play along with the creative ladies over @ the Vintage Cafe Card Challenge.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a great day. 

Soar

It's Saturday, so that means it's time for another challenge over @ Our Creative Corner.   Holly has a very interesting challenge:  Tic Tac Toe, so to speak.  Holly created a tic tac toe grid, and all you have to do is select your embellishments in a diagonal, straight across, or down in a row. 

Here is Holly's tic tac toe grid:

My first thought was to go across the top: brads, pink, flowers.  But, then I thought  that was too obvious and easy.  I can make a pink card.  I'm not a big fan of stickers.  So, I went down the left side: brads, buttons, and blue.  I don't really make a blue cards, so I thought why not, it's a challenge, right?

Here is my brads, buttons, and blue card:

To start off, I picked up some new pattern papers from Authentique.  I just love the vintage look of their pattern papers.  Very pretty.  Not too girly, and yet, not too masculine.  

I took various stamps and stamped on the notebook paper.  I was trying to achieve a vintage, worn-look to my papers.  

I had one bird left from my Melissa Frances stash.  So, I added the bird. 

I added some buttons from Lost & Found.  I wanted to add a fabric brad to add some softness and character, so that went on, too.

Thank you for looking.  I hope that you, too, get a chance to play along with us @ Our Creative Corner.

Have a great weekend!

Home for the Holidays

Oh my!  It's Christmas eve!  I hope everyone has their gifts done, and wrapped.  Me?  Well, there are a few things left to pick up, so I'll be one of those folks out on the road today, kinda in a hurry.  

But, today is also SATURDAY! and that means that it is time for a new challenge over @ Our Creative Corner!  And guess what?  I'm the hostess this week!  Can you believe it?  So, this challenge theme is pretty simple:  Home for the Holidays!  That's right!  Use the scenery around your home for your inspiration!  Use the ornaments (or theme) on your Christmas tree.  The winter weather outside your home.  The Christmas wreath on your front door.  Whatever tickles your fancy, so to speak.  Oh, and you need to add a little sparkle/glimmer, too.  But that's pretty simple.  Just add some glitter, or a piece of shimmer paper, a few rhinestones.  Whatever you have on hand that will shine.

So, for this challenge I used the ornaments on our Christmas tree.  About 75% of the ornaments are snowflakes.  But all kinds of snowflakes: glass, metal, wood, crystal.  I also have some nature items too: glass acorns, metalic leaves.  You get the picture.

But I also needed a little creative help, so to get those creative juices flowing, I also stumbled upon this holiday color challenge, at the Shabby Tea Room.  They want you to use: USE KRAFT, RED, NEWSPRINT, SILVER AND A STAR!

Sounds pretty rustic and hand-made to me.  So I combined the two challenges and here is what I came up with:

 Here are my tree ornaments that helped me move towards this direction:  a metal snowflake ornament that has been painted white, with a silver cord to hang on your tree; and a glass acorn with a glitter cap, and uses a piece of white taffeta ribbon to hang on your tree. 

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us over @ Our Creative Corner.  We would love to see what you create.  Remember, it can be a card, a scrapbook page, a 3-D item, or even an altered item. 

I want to first say, 'thank you' to all the folks who like my work enough to be a follower.  I do appreciate the company.  And, it does make it easier to create when someone is interested enough to take a look.  Second, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!  I hope that this season of love and faith finds all of you safe, happy, and surrounded by family and friends.

Stay tuned, as I will have a special post this up-coming week.  And all who post a comment, will be entered in a drawing for some blog candy.  You know, to start the new year right!

Merry Christmas!   hugs, Sharon.