Let It Snow, in January

Howdy, and welcome back.  I have been busy crafting, but not busy photographing what I have created {frown}.  But, I will work on being better at sharing what I create here, and on my Facebook page.  To be honest, sometimes, its just easier to take a quick pic with my phone and upload it on Facebook.  Yeah, that makes me sound lazy.  Honest. But lazy.  So, a New Year's Resolution has been declared!

I am playing along with three challenges: Just Add Ink, Paper Craft Crew, and Word Art Wednesday.  So, let's get started!  I stopped by Just Add Ink blog, and they have a color inspiration photo for their current challenge.

When I saw this photo, I instantly thought of a new line of holiday paper from Prima: Santa Baby.

For a little bit of direction, I stopped by the Paper Craft Crew blog.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  Perfect!  Here is that sketch:

I'm pretty sure I can work with this! {smile}

Finally, I headed over to the Word Art Wednesday blog.  Their challenges are Anything Goes, Family Friendly.  And the design team will certainly inspire you!

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  I created a standard A2 size greeting card (5 1/2" x 4 1/4").  I used PaperTrey Ink's Aqua Mist card stock for the card base.  I just love this soft, pale water color!  I added a piece of the 'houses' pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby.  I thought it looked sweet, and cozy.  

The next layer is the mugs of cocoa pattern paper from Prima: Santa Baby, matted with Autumn Rose card stock by PaperTrey Ink.  

I then wrapped a piece of cream lace and pale pink seam binding around the second layer (similar to the sketch), and then I machine stitched these layers together.  I added my layered stack towards the right (as in the sketch).  I machine stitched the sentiment panel to the Aqua Mist card stock.  I slipped on a 'tree' paper clip.  And used foam tape to adhere it to the paper paper layer.  

I tied a double bow with the pale pink seam binding, and tied a tiny pale pink ornament to the bow with some gold and white bakers twin.  I adhered a paper blossom from the Prima: Santa Baby collection just above the bow.  I punched out some leaves and stuck them in behind the paper blossom (as in the sketch).  

I added a trio of crystals (as in the sketch) from Prima to the front of the card; two below the bow and one next to the tree paper clip.  I thought that they added the right amount of sparkle, even tho they are two different colors: aqua and pale pink.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope that you have a chance to play along with any or all of these challenges!  Enjoy your weekend, and I hope to be back soon!

Oh Deer, Winter . . .

~ photo heavy ~

Howdy, and welcome back.  Yeah, some days I craft, and craft some more, and other days, I am busy with life's chores.  Lucky for me, this weekend has been one of those craft, and craft some more days {smile}.  Now, before everyone gets too excited, it's snowing like crazy here, and the wind is blowing harder/faster than a ________.  (I'll let you fill-in-the-blank)  So, I have re-arranged my running schedule: todays run will be run tomorrow, and tomorrows run will be run on Tuesday.  The treadmill work will be done . . . . not sure at this moment, but I need to get some miles done.  So, I am focusing on that.

Ok, now for some crafting!  I am working on a few holiday themed orders, and entering one of them in three (yes, 3!) challenges:  Catch the Bug Challenge, Time Out Challenge and Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  Now, I believe that the last two challenges are 'new-to-me' challenges, so this will be fun!

Let's start with Catch the Bug Challenge.  I see their sketches a lot, and have wanted to play, so I am not one hundred percent that I haven't played with them before.  But, just look at this current challenge sketch!  How beautiful!

The first thing that catches my eye about this sketch is the simplicity: aka easy to work with!  You can do so much with it, or leave it clean and simple.  Me, I'm more on the more is better.  And if you haven't fallen in love with this sketch yet, simply look at what the design team has created, and you will be running to your craft room.  (just like me!) 

Ok, now on to the Time Out Challenge.  Their current challenge is to be inspired by words.  Their words.  Here is their graphics:

I went with: Gift & Open it

Ok, I don't know about you, but this screams gift card holder to me.  Or how about Birthday, or a Thank You gift, or . . .  another endless possibilities challenge.  Oh, and don't forget to see what the design team has created.  Super fun!

And my last stop, is Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  Another fun, and creative group of folks.   This may be a regular challenge for me.  (smile)

I went diagonal: light blue, ribbon, and sequins

and here is what I made:

and another view:

This over-sized card, is actually a 'packaged' gift card holder.  It's for those gift cards that are purchased that have these think wrappers.  So, instead of ripping apart the packaging to get the gift card out, simply slide the whole package into the pocket of this gift card holder!  Ta-Da!

Recipe:  I used Cocoa Bean card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  Love the heavy weight of their card stock, it gives these types of projects stand-up power!  I used Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up! for the matts.  I just love this shade of pale/light blue.  The pattern papers I used were from the same collection: Oh Deer! by Close To My Heart.  (It was from 2016)  and yes, I hoard saved my scraps.

I did some machine stitching to hold the layers of paper in place, along with some adhesive.  The gold satin ribbon and cream crochet trim are also machine stitched to the cover.  I thought the gold satin ribbon matched the music pattern paper beautifully.

The sentiment rectangle is actually a journalling square that was cut down and matted with a scrap of Cocoa Bean card stock.  I added a retired mini paper clip to the top left corner of it, and a pair of silver sequins to the right corner.  It is adhered to the card front with foam tape to lift it off the card front.  

The paper blossom is actually from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima Marketing.  I just love how it adds just the right amount of contrast to the blue, without looking too gold.  

I painted and glittered two silver jingle bells, and tied them with some silver and cream bakers twine.  I then tied a triple-bow with the same bakers twine, and tucked it under the paper blossom.  I added a retired Stampin' Up! snowflake charm to the knot.  I added one lone silver sequin just to the left of the paper blossom to help repeat the silver accents.

The three banner pieces peaking out from under the pinecone pattern paper are simply scraps of this beautiful collection.  I flagged the ends with a pair of scissors.

Since my focal piece is the sentiment, I decided to add some embellishments to the lower right corner, instead of a sentiment.  So, I took two silver foil embossed pinecone die-cuts from the Oh Deer! collection and adhered them.  The top pinecone is adhered with foam tape, so that they wouldn't be smashed on.  I tied some of the same silver and cream bakers twine to a snowflake charm, and hot glued it to the stacked pinecones.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these challenges.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Hope to be back soon {fingers crossed}.

Winter Friendship Tea

~ long, and photo heavy ~

Howdy!  whew, another year.  But this one will be better: more joy, more laughter, more time with friends, and more time creating!  Like most of you, I too, have resolutions.  Mine are basic: all of the above, and better health, and eating better.  My promise to myself, my family, my friends, and my followers. So, here is where we start.  

Day one:  I have plans today.  I had a 'good' breakfast (eating better).  I will go for a 5 mile run (better health), once I finish here.  And then, I will drive into town and pick up a planner.  So, I can start writing down what I need to do.  Pencil in time for what I want to do.  And get my gym schedule on the book.  This will help me organizing my time better.

My plan for tomorrow: clean my craft room (getting organized).  Yes, clean.  It will most likely take me 5/+ hours.  It is a disaster.  So much so, it has spilled onto the dinning room table, and one counter in the kitchen.  It is a mess.  And a nightmare.  My poor husband doesn't say a word.  Gotta give the guy props!  

But first, I took some time to craft.  Before you give me a pat on the back, or a bravo, it is late crafting.  Late, in that this project should have been done at least a week ago, if not sooner.  You see, I am having a winter/Christmas Friendship tea for 10 wonderfully charming, and dear friends.  Next weekend.  Yep, January 7th.  They all know about it.  They received their unofficial, invite 4 weeks ago.  And, unfortunately, I am just now getting their official invites in the mail.  This project was put on the back burner (so to speak) for two reasons: time, and creativity.  

Time: between holiday parties, retirement teas, and 3 days of family obligations during Christmas, oh, and 2 holiday events, and one wedding; I was running out of time.  Yeah, still working 40hours a week at the hospital, and taking call 3 nights a week.  I cook dinner almost every night.  And my dog Sasha depends on me for everything: walks, meals, love, attention, and play time.  Did I mention I have a husband?  Yep.  I have one of those, too!  Time, is something I barely had any of this past month.  

Creativity: I made all the decorations, food, and personal touches to the retirement tea, crafted 4 kids ugly sweaters (for the annual ugly sweater contest), decorated a trophy for said event, made dishes for Christmas Eve lunch, and dinner.  More dishes for Christmas dinner.  Made birthday cards for a group of us ladies who paper craft.  Made the Secret Santa gift for said holiday party.  Made Cinnamon nuts for my grandchildren's teachers and coaches holiday gifts, and decorated the jars.  Helped my oldest granddaughter make Peppermint Bark for her dance team.  And we made custom tags, and packed them rather sweetly.  And one last craft fair that required almost non stop crafting to get inventory up for the event.  So see, my creativity was there.  Just buried under everything else.  Now that I have had a chance to catch my breathe, and before I put away all my holiday themed crafting supplies, I needed to create one more thing: Winter Friendship Tea invites.

I am entering them into two challenges:  Brown Sugar Challenge & Word Art Wednesday Challenge.  Both challenge sites are anything goes & family friendly.

I made these 'flip' book/cards:

here is the inside:

one more:

and the inside:

Recipe:  I used the Mistletoe Collection, from Kaisercraft, one sheet of stickers, and one package of diecuts.  I printed my 'tags' (invites) onto whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  Trimmed them to 3 1/4" x 3 3/4".  I cut a scrap piece of the shimmer ribbon from Stampin' Up! and stapled it to the top of each invite.  I rounded just the top two corners.

Each panel measures 4" x 6".  I wanted to get the most pieces out of my paper.   I adhered the pocket to the inside of the front panel before adding washi tape.

I 'trimmed the edges with washi tape, and then used my corner rounder.     

From the cover to the back-

cover:  I cut a piece of coordinating pattern paper 3" x 5" and used my spiral notebook punch to create a decorative edge to one side of the pattern paper.  I used my corner rounder on the two corners that were left plain.

I cut my border stickers into 3" segments.  I stamped my sentiment 'To my friend' onto a 3/4" wide white card stock, and stamped in Lagoon ink.  I used a square punch to create the flag/banner end.  I adhered the sentiment piece with foam tape just on top of the border sticker.  

I stamped my 'TEA' image onto white card stock, using real red classic ink.  I added an image and a word from the stickers and die cuts to each cover.  

inside cover:  I created the pockets with the same pattern paper.  Each pocket is cut 3 3/4" x 2".  The bottom corners are rounded.  I made paper bows using my bow builder punch by Stampin' Up! with the scrap pieces of pattern papers.  Then I added either a sticker or die cut just below the bow.

inside back panel:  I added adhesive to the back of each of the little silver polka dot treat bags.  I added a scrap piece of pattern paper to the top of each bag, and adhered them.

I added a decorative strip of paper to the bottom portion of each bag.  A creative way to help secure the bag to the panel.  I added a word from the word page with foam tape.  Inside each bag is a tea bag.  Fitting I thought {smile}.

the back panel: is left blank.  I simply stamped my trademark in dark grey ink.  I thought that since the treat bag is silver metallic and the washi tape is either silver/gray, the ink should also coordinate with the whole over all look.  

I packed each invite in a clear envelope.  This works two ways: eye candy for our mail carriers, and a look at your treasure in your snail mail {smile}.  It's the easiest way to share a smile!

Thank you for looking.  and yeah, these aren't really 'flip books', because there is no 'flip'.  But I was inspired by what I found on the internet.  I hope that I have given you a smile, too!  a quick note: I saw a video on how to make flip books on youtube using project life cards HERE.  That is where I got my inspiration.