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!

Rustic Christmas

Happy Holidays to everyone.  I created a card for one of my favorite challenge sites.  And this has 2 happy endings - I got the opportunity to get back into my craft room, and I am a guest designer!  The wonderfully creative ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday have asked me to create a card for their current challenge {yahoo!}.

So, without further ado, here is my card:

Recipe:  this blank-inside card is a typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  I used a soft kraft card stock for the card base.  I just love this true 'cardboard' color.  I used a 'peeled paint' pattern paper as my first matt.  I love this worn look.  It reminds me of old country barns.

The second matt, is a soft, vintage plaid of red, green, and cream/vanilla.  It looks so country, and so home-y.    I did add a kraft matt, to this plaid matt, and then used my sewing machine to add a simple border stitch to this piece.  I wrapped a piece of red buffalo check ribbon around the pattern papers, and then tied a simple bow.  To keep with the over-all look of the card, I tied a wooden button to the bow with thin silver cord.  There is a tiny charm tied to that wooden button.  It is a vintage holy leaf with a bell.

To add a little flair, I added a candy striped poinsettia just above the button-bow combo.  This paper blossom is from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima. I thought the stripes matched beautifully with the plaid in the matt, and that vintage silver glitter just adds the right amount of nostalgia {smile}.  I used the word file provided by Word Art Wednesday for my sentiment.  I adhered it to the card front with foam tape.  And it works just beautifully!

My card is simple.  But, I think it has a lot of flair and country charm!  I hope you are able to play along with us @ Word Art Wednesday.  Because I know we just can't wait to see what you create!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas holiday, and was able to spend time with family and friends.

Heaven Sent Baby

Howdy! and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I have been creating, and running.  So, to say that I have been busy, would be correct {smile}.  But, today, I moved my running to tomorrow, so that I could paper craft.  It feels like forever, since I've paper crafted, and so the whole experience was well deserved, and surely needed {smile}.

I am entering my creation in two different card challenges:  Word Art Wednesday & Cupcake Inspirations.  I am happy with my creations and happy to have had this time to create.  {feeling blessed}

My firs stop is @ Cupcake Inspirations.  If you haven't stopped by their blog, please do.  This design team will certainly inspire you, and the cupcakes for inspiration are beautiful!

And then, I stopped by one of my favorite challenge sites:  Word Art Wednesday.  If you haven't stopped by this challenge site, I encourage you to do so.  This design team is very creative, and their challenges are always: Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  blank inside card is the typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").

I used Kraft card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the card base, due to the heavy weight.

I used pattern paper from Heaven Sent 2 by Prima.

I layered three different pattern papers and machine stitched them together.  

I added white embroidery trim and pale aqua seam binding across the card front.  I added a double bow tied with the same seam binding.  I added a tiny safety pin to the center of the bow.  I added a hand-stamped tag and metallic charm.  

I tucked-in a cream paper doily by Stampin' Up!.  I simply cut the doily in half, so I could use the other half on another card - see below.

I added a tiny embroidery hoop by Stampin' Up!.  I used pattern paper by Prima to back the hoop.  I hand-stamped 'Sweet Baby' in classic black ink by Stampin' Up! onto a scrap piece of pattern paper.  I added this little sentiment to the inside of the hoop with foam tape.  I hot glued a tiny white paper blossom inside the hoop.   The blue blossom is from Prima, and coordinates with the pattern paper.

I added a trio of tiny vintage buttons, tied with gold and white twine.  I hot glued the tied buttons to the card front.  

here is the other card I made with the same materials:

I am planning on creating a few more items with these materials, tomorrow.  Fingers crossed that I have the time needed.

Thank you for looking, and I hope that you have a chance to play along with either or both of these challenge sites.  

Beautiful You Card

Howdy, and welcome!  Today I wanted to share with you a card I hand-crafted.   I wanted to make something pretty, with a generic sentiment.  This card isn't for anyone, so nothing specific.  I just wanted to paper craft.   I set out looking at a few of my favorite paper challenge sites to get some direction, and I found some very fun challenges.  So, let's get started!

I wanted a bit more direction, so I decided on a sketch challenge.  I knew what I wanted to use, I just needed a little more direction.  So, I stopped by the Paper Craft Crew challenge site.  This challenge site mostly does sketches.  But every now and again they will throw in a theme, or tic tac toe board, but they will always inspire you!  

I didn't rotate or flip their current sketch.  I used it as is!  I also did not switch out the blossom images for any other shaped item.

Since I already knew what pattern paper I wanted to use, and I now have a sketch to work with, I decided to play along with the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday.  Their challenges are : anything goes, family friendly.  

You will be pleasantly surprised by this design team.  They are very creative and talented, and the submissions are pretty great too!

and here is what I created:

Recipe:  this blank inside greeting card is the typical A2 size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I used cream card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the card base.  This card stock is a beautiful heavy weight, so it stands up to my embellishing!  The main panel matt is Kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  I just love the neutral soft color of kraft. {smile}

The pattern papers are digital.  I use my at home printer to print these.  I used whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up! for 3 of the pattern papers.  This card stock has a 'slick' feel to it, and allows the card stock to take the ink from my printer beautifully! I have zero complaints.  The small square that has the sentiment on it, I shrunk down.  It would have printed 6" x 6", but I wanted the whole sheet of paper to be my focal piece.  And I just love the sentiment.  That piece I printed on Linen card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I felt the added texture would help give my card some depth, and not be so flat.

I cut my top pattern paper, so that the mix of floral images would have some blues in it, to help tie the bottom pattern paper that is a blue collage with copper dots.  

I added a simple border stitch with my sewing machine.  I think it adds a 'homespun' look/feel.  

To hide the seam where the two pattern papers overlap, I added a scrap piece of white cotton trim, and topped that with a scrap piece of pale pink seam binding.  I added a little machine stitching there too.  It holds the card front together, and continues with the machine stitching along the card's edge.

The pink polka dot pattern paper, I flagged the end, for visual interest.  

To make my 'tag' piece, I simply added my pattern paper square to a scrap piece of the same Kraft card stock I used for the main matt.  I used my scissors to make the tag shape at the top.  I used a traditional hole punch to give my tag that finished look.  I threaded a piece of pale pink seam binding through the hole and tied a simple knot.  I then tied a simple knot of pale pink tinsel to a rich brown button, and hot glued it to the top of my seam binding bow.  I adhered the tag to the card front with foam tape, to help elevate it off the front of the card.

The paper blossoms are from my stash.  The brownish blossom is from Prima.  I just loved the color.  Not quite brown.  Not quite copper.  The white paper blossom and the little pink paper blossom are from LemonCraft.  I added some white paint and glitter to the petals, of both blossoms.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look at what I created.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with either or both of these challenge sites.  Enjoy your Friday!

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}

Sweet Peppermint Kisses for Santa

~ photo heavy ~

Howdy, and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I hope your new year has gotten off to a roaring start!  Me, I've been doing what I always do: crafting, baking, running, and chores.  So, not much of a change.  But, I am ok with that.   

For my holiday break I got the Flu, and boy was that awful!  I was in bed for a week, and couldn't get  the energy to do much of anything productive.  Then, it was back to work, back to marathon training, back to life.  I have been working on a few special orders: cupcakes, and crafts.  Let's just admit it, those are my two favorite things!

I am entering one of my creations in three paper crafting challenges:  Paper Story, As You See It, and Word Art Wednesday.  We will start with International first, and finish at home.

I stumbled upon this incredible paper craft challenge site while following a favorite paper crafter overseas.  And I am happy I did!  The folks over @ Paper Story have a super talented group of designers who I am sure will inspire you!  This challenge site is from Russia, but they have a 'translate' button, so it is super easy to play along!  Their current challenge is called: Olivier.  It is a 'recipe-based' challenge.  They have given you mandatory elements, just like in a recipe, but with an option to switch one 'ingredient' with something else, just like a recipe.  How super fun is that?  Here is their recipe: Paper, Flowers, Lace, Beads (brads, buttons, chips, dots, sparkles), Chip (chipboard), Tape (cord/braid ok), and Machine Line.  

My next stop:  As You See It.  This challenge site has some very creative challenges, and their design team has a range of styles, so no matter yours, you will be inspired.  Their current challenge is a sketch.  (Love these)

I rotated this sketch 90 degrees left, and then mirrored it

And my final stop was Word Art Wednesday.  I just can't brag about this site enough.  The design team is super talented, the write-up is inspirational, and the site is just plain NICE!  Their current challenge is: Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  Who wouldn't want to play along?

and  here is what I made:

Paper: Sweet Peppermint, Flower: manufactured, Lace: two kinds, Beads: button and sequins, Chip: chipboard mittens, Tape: thin silver cord, and Machine Line: machine sewing on both panels.

another view:

Recipe:  This gift card holder was made with pattern paper from the Sweet Peppermint holiday collection by Prima Marketing.  The base of the 'card' is crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up!  I just love the heavy weight of it.  The matt is real red card stock by Stampin' Up!, as well.  

I used the tiny green dot pattern paper for the panels.  I didn't want any distractions from the focus: Santa!  I machine stitched this pattern paper to the red matt.

I then layered 4 different pattern papers from the Sweet Peppermint collection: the red stripe, the multi-check, the snowflake, and the multi-colored dot.  I did matt the snowflake pattern paper with crumb cake card stock, to give the layered rectangles a 'base'.  The sentiment/journaling card is adhered to the front with foam tape.  I also added a file tab, from the Sweet Peppermint collection, to the side of the Santa journalling card.

I wrapped two different lace trims around the top portion.  I just love the softness this brought to my 'card'.  I tied a double bow with one of the lace trims.  

The flower and leaves are both from Prima Marketing, as well, and yes, the same collection: Sweet Peppermint.  I just love the contrast between this mint color and the reds.

I added a chipboard piece from the same collection.  I thought mittens were a nice touch.  And the silver outline adds a nice sparkle!

I added some silver sequins to mimic the sparkle from the glitter on the flower and the silver on the chipboard.  I added an aqua vintage button to the lower right corner of the journalling card.  I thought it matched the flower beautifully, and tied it with some slim silver cord.  

here is what the 'card' looks like opened:

I love making these 'packaged' gift card holders, because it makes gift giving super easy.  Now, when you purchase your gift cards from the store, you no longer have to rip them open, to give the card.  Just slide the whole thing, right into the pouch, and viola!  I make a lot of these for my Holiday Craft Fairs, and folks seem to really enjoy them.  {smile}  My crafts are 'one-of-a-kind', in that I do NOT mass produce.  It makes each item special.  Now, I do make similar, but not match-matchy, carbon copies.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these challenge sites.  Enjoy your weekend, and take care!

It's a Blue Wednesday

Welcome.  I am so happy you have decided to stop by today.  I have some good news.  I am a Guest Designer, again, for the wonderful ladies @ Word Art Wednesday.  {smile}  How absolutely fabulous is that?

If you have a chance, you really must play along with this challenge site.  The ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday, run their challenges for 2 weeks, provide you with a scripture to add to your paper craft, and their theme is generally Anything Goes - Family Friendly!  How wonderfully different.

here is what I created:

Recipe:  This blank inside greeting card is a typical A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  I used crumb cake card stock by Stampin' Up! as my card base.  I just love this creamy kraft colored, heavy weight card stock for card bases.  

I then layered two pattern papers from Prima Marketing Something Blue collection.  I just love the vintage look of these papers.  I layered the vintage, faded green text pattern paper on top of the distressed black text paper.  I added a simple single border stitch, with my sewing sewing machine.

I wrapped both a matching seam binding and a soft, delicate lace trim around the front of the card.  

I printed a digital library card, that I believe matched these pattern papers beautifully.  

I printed the scripture onto whisper white card stock, then matted it on a scrap piece of crumb cake card stock, and adhered it to the card front with foam tape.

I selected a few pale blue-green blossoms to add to the front of my card.  But first, I painted the petals with a pearl white paint and then dusted them with fine glitter.  I adhered those paper blossoms to the card front.  And then tucked a double bow tied with the seam binding, just below the largest paper blossom.  And the final touch was adding a clear faceted button just below the bow.  Viola!

I hope that you have an opportunity to play along with the wonderful ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday.  {smile}

Guest Designer

Now, for the most exciting news:  I am the Guest Designer @ Word Art Wednesday!  How super fabulous is that?  I know I am blessed to have this opportunity to share my paper crafting with all of you, and I hope I don't disappoint you!   My crafting style is vintage, shabby-chic, with a little country flair thrown in.  Let me explain.  Vintage, because I like everything to look worn, used, old, but not grungey.  Think peeling paint, scruff marks, weathered.  Shabby-chic, because I like to add buttons, seam binding, machine stitching, pinks, blues (or any soft hue), and a splash of elegance/bling.  Country flair, because I like 'farmland' imagery: milk caps, chicken wire, vintage scales, mason jars, burlap, chickens (birds), and some recycled items.  I hope that makes my 'style' a little easier to understand/translate. {smile}

The lovely, and super talented ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday, have an Anything Goes - Family Friendly challenge for you to participate in.  The challenge runs for two weeks, to help give you time to play along.  They provide you with a piece of scripture that you are welcome to include in your paper craft, but it is NOT required.  The design team has a wonderful collection of different style of crafters, so I am sure at least one of these creative ladies will inspire you to play along!

Here is the current challenge scripture:

and here is what I made:

Recipe:  I used vintage cream card stock as my card base.  I just love this heavy weight card stock.  It's thick, so it will stand up, even with all my layers and embellishments {smile}.

I used pattern paper from Prima Marketing.  It's not holiday themed paper, but this paper is easy to work with!  

I added a paper doily peaking out of the bottom of the top layer.  Then added some machine stitching.  

I wrapped some pale pink seam binding around the card front and tied a multi-loop bow.  I then tied a pink button to the center of the bow.  I also added a trio of sweet buttons along the bottom left corner.

I printed the scripture onto very vanilla card stock and adhered it over the seam binding.

I cut out a snowflake using champagne glitter paper.  I tucked it in under the sentiment piece.  I then stamped some pine braces using light grey and light pink ink.  I added glitter to the paper blossom, and then adhered it over the pine branches and snowflake.  To give my card a bit more sparkle, I added some sequins around the blossom.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you visit again! 

Christmas Past

Howdy.  Yeah, I've been crafting! and it really makes me happy! {smile}  Sometimes, I need a task, and sometimes I just want to make pretty things.  This is task orientated.  But, it's good to have a focus {smile}.

I am entering my paper craft in three different challenges:  Double D Challenge, and If You Give a Crafter a Cookie.

My firs stop is Double D Challenge.  Their current challenge is: Here Comes Santa - Santa must be present on your craft.  You will certainly be inspired by this creative design team.

Next, the lovely folks over @ If You Give a Crafter a Cookie, their current challenge is a photo inspiration.  (santa's suit)  How perfect.  Oh my, the creativity and sweet Santa's.

and here is what I made:

card stock gift tote

decorated mini composition book

Recipe:  I used Kraft card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  I just love the heavy weight of their card stock.  Especially when creating boxes/bags.  {smile}

The pattern paper and tags are from Melissa Frances, the Countdown to Christmas collection.  I just love this vintage, nostalgic look of this holiday paper.  (I believe that this paper is from 3 years ago.)

I matted with Stampin' Up!s Very Vanilla card stock.  

I did hand-stamp the sentiment, for the card stock tote.  The sentiment on the mini notebook is actually a rub-on.  Yeah, I still have some of those {smile}.

I added machine stitching to both projects.  I felt that a simple border stitch would work nicely with this pattern paper collection.  

The tags are adhered to the front of the projects with foam tape.  

I used retired Stamping 'Up! ribbon for each project.  And I simply added odds and ends from my holiday embellishment stash - buttons, tinsel, jingle bells, fringe trim, chipboard stars, flat-back faux pearls, and tiny candy cane.

Thank you for looking.  These items (and so much more) will be for sale @ my holiday craft fair - held @ La Cueva High School.  Saturday, 9a - 4p.  Shop early for the best selection!

a Bright Pink Holiday

Howdy.  I hope you are well.  Me, I've been busy crafting.  I have a craft fair this weekend coming up, and so it's a 'craft-apolooza' here {smile}.  I have to stop myself, and take photos, or I'll just keep crafting.  Not, that that is a bad thing.  It just means I can't share what I've made.  {frown}

I came upon this bright pink and blue pattern paper.  Now, I'm not a bright any-color kind of person.  But the graphics in the patterns were just too sweet!  To me, it looked like something my oldest granddaughter would love.  So, yeah, I purchased the paper.  and I crafted a few things for the craft fair, too!

To help get my work out there, I am entering three different challenge sites: Get Creative Challenge, A Snowflakes Promise Challenge, and Word Art Wednesday.  My typical style is shabby chic.  But, this paper is just too sweet to pass up!

The folks over @ Get Creative Challenge, current challenge is: Holidays.  The design team will certainly get you inspired with their creative work.

The folks over @ A Snowflakes Promise, current challenge is: Anything Goes.  But don't let that stop you.  The design team has created some sassy paper crafts {smile}

And last, but certainly not least; the folks over @ Word Art Wednesday, current challenge is: Anything Goes - Family Friendly.  This group of super talented ladies will certainly inspire you.  They start each challenge with an explanation of a specific scripture.  And they provide you with a word document to add to your paper craft.  But it is not required.  

and here is what I made:

Let me first apologize for the photography.  It was getting late, and the lighting  in my house is awful for photographing, but wonderful for romantic evenings.  {smile}  The photo shop program I use, will lighten up the shadows, but washing out the bright hues of the colors.  So, this was a happy medium I found.

Recipe:  I used Mambo Pink & Tempting Turquoise card stocks from Stampin' Up!.  I used a die from Paper Trey Ink, to 'cut' the tote bag panels (front and back).  I used a snowflake die set by Paper Trey Ink to cut the snowflake pieces.  I used Dazzling Diamond glitter card stock from Stampin' Up! for the snowflakes.  Bermuda Blue ribbon from Amuse Studios.  The paper blossom is from a big box craft store.  The button is from the vintage aqua mist button collection, by Paper Trey Ink.  And finally, the silver snowflake charm and silver twine is from Stampin' Up!.

I just love the pink stripe pattern paper, so I used that as my main panel.  To introduce the bright blue, I added a strip of triangle pattern paper as the belly band piece.  I wrapped a piece of white cotton trim around the triangle pattern paper, to accent the softness & femininity of the collage pattern paper. 

I added some machine stitching to the main panel.  I just love how sweet it makes my paper crafts {smile}.   But, my heart just swoon over the holiday collage paper, so I made that my focal piece.  I matted the collage piece with Tempting Turquoise card stock, to help pop that blue!   And you know I just had to add some machine stitching to this piece, too!  I used foam tape to adhere this piece to the front of the 'tote'.  To add some sparkle, and tie into the theme, I cut out two snowflakes, using glitter paper.  I added a bright pink paper blossom to the larger snowflake, and an aqua button to the smaller snowflake.  I tied a silver snowflake charm to the vintage button, using silver twine (more sparkle).  I used hot glue to adhere the snowflakes and blossom/button, to the front panel.

And once I had the 'tote' put together, I wrapped the 'tote' in Bermuda blue satin ribbon.  This is a single sided satin ribbon.  That means that one side is shiny and the other matt.  I kept the ribbon shiny side up, to help add more sparkle.  (But, I just love the contrast of the matt side.)   Viola! that is my sweet bright pink holiday tote!

Now, don't forget to photograph your creations, or at least do it when the light is better, and then share what you made with all of us!  Have a great week!

A Shabby Country Christmas

Howdy, and welcome.  This post is a bit long, so grab a cup of tea, coffee, or any other favorite beverage.  Today, I felt like 'talking'.

For those who know me, or follow me regularly, you know that I have a weakness for pinks, blues, creams, and trims.  I think I can make just about anything shabby chic, with little to no effort.  Just give me a hot glue gun, a jar of buttons, my basket of seam binding and cotton trims, and watch out! {smile}  I also know that it is not the 'love' of everyone. (not quite sure why not, but oh well.)

I posted a decorated notebook I made last night, and well, I just HAD to make more.  I ended up decorating three large notebooks (5 1/2" x 7"), and three little ones (3" x 4 1/2").  They all ended up being just as sweet as can be.  But, I figure you already knew that {smile}.  So, this morning I woke up and started decorating a few more notebooks, but wanted to use some of this 'new to me' pretty paper.  So, I am sharing my creation with you and a few challenge blogs:  Scrapslet, Your Next Stamp, and Word Art Wednesday.  Here we go!

My first stop was Scrapslet.  Their current challenge is a color challenge.  This challenge is from Russia, but they don't have a translate button {frown}.  However, this collection of crafty ladies will certainly inspire you!

My next stop was Your Next Stamp.  Their current challenge is both a sketch and an inspirational photo.  You can use either, or both.  I am using the sketch.  I love their sketches, because they allow you to add your own style to these super user-friendly sketches.  This challenge is no exception.

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees.

And my last stop was Word Art Wednesday.  This is a constant for me.  Their challenges always have a scripture and the warmth and acceptance from these ladies is contagious!  I have never met any of them in real life, but I imagine they are the kind of ladies you invite over for tea, and sit and chat for hours.  Just plain lovely folks.  Oh, their current challenge is anything goes - family friendly.

and so, here is what I did:

decorated notebook (5 1/2" x 7")

Recipe:  I started with an ugly black notebook.  Then, I grabbed supplies from my craft room, and made it pretty!  {smile}  I used a chocolate brown card stock as my base, and layered on some pretty digital paper.  I used my corner rounder punch to round the bottom corners of a few of the papers, to mimic the notebook cover.  

My firs layer of paper is this beautiful blue winter pattern paper.  I added a strip of tiny polka dot paper across the top.   I then cut a rectangle piece of the brown reindeer pattern paper and adhered it on top.  The sketch has this piece under the band.  But, I wanted it to peek out of the top of the trim.

I next used a die to cut the decorative piece of pink pattern paper.  And a different die to cut the sentiment piece.  I thought that the various decorative edges would work well together, and break up the repeating pattern of rounded corners.  I hand-stamped my sentiment onto the scallop trimmed rectangle and adhered it to the front of my paper stack with foam tape.  I then took this stack of papers to my sewing machine and started sewing.  I did simple borders on all the pattern papers, except the scallop rectangle (due to the foam tape).  

I wrapped the cream cotton trim around the band at the top.  And wrapped a pale pink seam binding piece around that.  I tied the seam binding into a simple know.  I didn't want the bow to compete with any of the embellishments.  (To me Junk Bows are eye catching!  so that is why I kept it simple.)

I used a medium size snowflake die to cut a snowflake out of white glitter paper.  I cut the snowflake in half, to embellish my blossom.   For the blossom, I stacked three 4-petal flowers on top of each other, staggering the petal placement.  I secured the three blossoms with a brad.  I hot glued a faux pearl & rhinestone gem to the center of the blossom.  I hot glued the blossom and the two pieces of snowflake to the lower left corner of the notebook.  I also hot glued a silver decorative snowflake to the right upper corner of the sentiment piece.  

And the big finale is the snowflake charm on the spiral and a coordinating pen.  I cut a thin piece of pattern paper, rolled it up tight, and stuck it in the barrel of the pen.  I hope you like it.  I think it came out beautifully.  Oh, and here is a photo of the second notebook I decorated with the same pattern paper.

Thank you for stopping by to have a look-see, as to what I crafted.  And yeah, I'll post again soon.  Sometimes its just hard to stop crafting and take a photo.  But, I'm working on it! {smile}

My one and only holiday craft fair is December 2, 2017 @ La Cueva High School (Albuquerque, NM) from 9a to 4p.   Come out and see my crafts in person.  I promise you won't be disappointed!