Magical Pink Christmas #91

I made this card earlier this week, and with everything going on, I am finally posting it now.  And it would make better sense to post it tomorrow, so the post would be on a separate day.  However, the challenge I made this card for closes at the end of today.  Uhg.

The wonderful folks over @ the Shabby Tea Room, have this perfect challenge: The Magic of Christmas.  Ok, the requirements are: pink, neutral, snowflake, flower, and gold.  The perfect colors for vintage!

Here is their inspirational photo:

Here is my card:

This card was actually fun to make.  The Christmas ornament pattern paper came from my stash.  It is probably around 3 yrs old.    I thought that it was the perfect pattern for this challenge.  The ornaments are actually embossed on the paper.  The little postcard, I actually made.  I first cut a piece of vanilla card stock to the size I needed.  I then added all the stamps.  It's a collection of three different stamp set (but only two companies).  I added the string of pearls to give it a feminine touch.  

The paper flower was white originally, but it didn't look like it was suppose to be there.  So, I took out my Blushing Bride smooch spray and gave it some color - pink!  The tiny tag was hand stamped and adhered to a pink button with some linen thread.  Which lays on top of a gold glitter snowflake!

For the 'Noel' tag, I first stamped the verse in Soft Suede classic ink, and then heat embossed the snowflakes.  I adhered the tag with some foam tape to give it some height off the card front.  The corset is from a new Stampin' Up! stamp set that is due out next month.  (a little sneak peak.)  I used my postage stamp scissors to create the fun border around that matt.  

I added one of my all time favorite crochet trims to the bottom of the card.  I layered this cute sewn ribbon on top of the crochet trim.  I thought the polka dot pattern paper looked vintage with the softness of the crochet trim and the silky-ness of the sewn satin ribbon.

All the edges were distressed to help with an aged look and feel.  Thank you for stopping by!

Feminine Ruffles

Hello.  I hope this weekend is not jammed packed with chores and requirements.  I hope that you are able to paper craft.  The wonderfully talented Anne Marie, has some pretty inspiration boards for this weeks Our Creative Corner challenge.  Here is what she has given us to work with:

How pretty, huh?  I think ruffles are soo pretty and soo girly.  The perfect accent!  

I wanted to make something pretty, girly, and special.  So, I decided to work on a hand-made book for my oldest grand daughter.  She is very precious, and she is a girly-girl.  Here is the cover of my hand-made book:

So, here is the cover of my hand-made book.  It's a work in progress.  I used products from a hundred different companies.  Here are some close-up's:

 All edges were sponged to give everything an aged look.  I have added all my favorite embellishments:  ribbon, buttons, bling, flowers, and more.

I have added a lot of different items to this cover.  This first close-up is on the small vintage tag.  There is a white resin architecture piece.  Hand-dyed seam binding, pink of course.  A vintage brad.  A small paper flower.  And a beautiful rhinestone ribbon dangle.  The large round image tag is beautiful.

This second close-up, shows the personal monogram I created.  I used a tag die to make the original cut.  I stamped the 'H' and then used a hand-held punch to create the center of the tag.  I also wanted to add that vintage card, 'G girl'.  So, it is sandwhiched between the two tags.

This close-up shows the ruffle/pleat I made with my satin ribbon and sewing machine.  I just love how tailored it looks.  I added this sewn piece to the top border of a paper piece I did a box pleat and large scallop on.   I just had to add this winnie the pooh quote stamp I have.  'sometimes it's the smallish things that take up the most room in our heart.'

I hope you find time and inspiration to play along with us!

Card of Scraps

For those who know me, I keep my scraps!  I'm not necessarily a' hoader' per say.  But, more like 'thrifty'.  I keep my scraps.  Yes, all sizes of scraps.  But, I'm an organized 'keeper'.  If its a package of DSP, I only open one end, and keep all my scraps in the 'package'.  If its loose paper (pattern or otherwise) I keep them in 12" x 12" sleeves.  And, its not as many sleeves as you would think.  I have one for each color 'family'.  So, all whites, vanillas, blacks, and greys in one sleeve.  All reds and pinks in another sleeve.  You get the idea.  I have one for the white family, the red family, the green family, the blue family, and the brown family.  (The brown family also contains all versions of yellows and oranges.)

  

The reason I've mentioned this tidbit of information, is that the wonderfully talented Maria, has a sketch for us @ Sketch Frenzy Friday!  and just look at the sketch!  It's beautiful! and it's calling my scraps! what a clever way to use what you already have, and roughly the correct size! Talk about an easy peasy card!  The sketch:

I wanted to use both some pattern paper I haven't used in awhile and a stamp set that has never been wet with ink.  Sounds pretty thrifty.  Ok, I have a few stamp sets that fit this little requirement of mine.  I selected a three stamp sets that are mounted, however, they just have never been used.  Wow! that's pretty sad, considering how much time and money I spend on paper crafting supplies.  So, here is my card. 

Now, I have a little challenge of my own.  If you can name one of the stamp sets that I used on this card, but have not used it before, I'll enter your name in a drawing for the stamp set.  The stamp set is clear.  It's already mounted.  Now, I have used it - once.   Before you start wracking your brain, head on over to Tammy's F.'s blog to see what she has created.  And join us, won't you?

Flowers in the Snow

Thank you for checking back with me.  It's Wednesday, so it's a Challenge day!  The wonderfully creative ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a pretty neat sketch for us to use.

 

When I first saw this sketch, I instantly thought of a snowman, or some snow flakes.  But, I thought that, 'that was too obvious'.  So, I decided to work with the shapes already there - flowers.  I also wanted to make a card that wasn't Christmas/Winter themed.  I imagine that we all can pretty much look outside to see those images.  I also wanted to work with a stamp set that hasn't felt ink in awhile.  We all have those stamp sets.  When you first see them, you just gotta have 'em.  Then after a few months, they get pushed back in the back, behind other 'forgotten' treasures.  

Now, for a color scheme.  Outside, its green, brown, and white.  Not very pretty for flowers.  So, I grabbed an old time favorite flower color scheme. Can you guess what that would be?  I selected - Calypso Coral & Pretty in Pink.  (if that was what you guessed, bravo!)  

Maybe I'm right eyed, or something, but I didn't like the way my card looked with the matted/scallop piece looked on the right, so I flipped it.  I know you aren't surprised that I used First Edition DSP, right?  I'm also not a big fan of text paper with the wrong orientation.  But this time, I kinda liked the look.  So, my text paper runs along the side and not up and down.  (sorry, if that bothers you.)  To create the background 'paper' I first stamped the french script using the 'finger tap' method, so the whole script wouldn't stamp.  I then stamped the french floral image in pink, using the same technique.  I stamped the flowers onto very vanilla cardstock and then hand-cut each one out.  And then gave each petal a little fold, to create a realistic petal.  I stacked the flowers together, and gave each blossom a half faux-pearl center.  The leaves were a second generation stamp in Old Olive classic ink.  The 'No. 5' is a second generation stamp in Soft Suede classic ink.  To give the eyelet border trim a little pizzazz, I scored the paper every 1/4" and then punched the edge.  

The little banner I made myself.  (It's pretty cute how I did that.) I used a scrap piece of very vanilla cardstock.  I stamped the word first.  Then used the word window punch to create the top and bottom edges of the banner.  I then took the photo corner punch and created the snipped part.  Adhered that piece to a scrap piece of crumb cake cardstock and using the very vanilla piece as my guide, I hand-cut the trim.   I thought it was pretty clever.   All the edges of every piece is sponged in Sahara Sand classic ink.  I wanted to add a little sparkle to my card, so I used the Silver Glitter paper to make the three butterflies.  I also punched out 2 tiny circles to add some pizzazz to the two little lonely flowers.

Lets see what beautifully-creative paper craft pieces you create for this challenge!

snow day

Howdy, my paper crafting friends!  There is a classic Christmas time song that keeps running through my head, as I look outside my window.

'the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.'

We are on day 2 of being snowed in.  At first, I was anxious.  But, then, I just accepted it.  I have a few paper craft items to work on, so the isolation is a welcome state, now.  

We have over a foot of snow.  All of which dropped Sunday night and Monday.  The plows have come through the neighborhood, and my husband is out with the snow blower.  So, I should be able to get out later today.

One of the things I have been working on, is some home-made hand-stamped Christmas wrap.  Sounds pretty crazy, huh?  You know that brown paper you get in a shipment, well, I stamped that to create my own wrapping paper.  Added some fabric, and a flower from my stash.  Made a little tag, and viola!

 

Stop by tomorrow, and I'll have a card.  Thanks for stopping by.  Stay warm, and be safe!

Winter Picnic

Hi bloggers!  I hope this post finds all of you well, and happy.  Me?  I'm doing pretty good.  I think I have found my mojo, and the feeling is wonderful!  Today, I am at another craft fair.

Wendy, over @ Our Creative Corner, has a very clever challenge for you!  She has provided a 'basic sketch' and is asking that you 'decorate it'.  Pretty creative, and very interesting.  

I stopped by the Shabby Tea Room, to see what their challenge is.  Theirs, to use the inspiration photo and a few required colors.  Easy-Peasy to put these two together.  So, I sat down at my craft table, and began putting things together.

Here is the sketch challenge from Our Creative Corner

Here is the inspirational photo from Shabby Tea Room

(use white/cream, neutrals, silver, and glitter)

Here is my card:

This card was actually fun to make.  I started with selecting some pattern paper that kept within the limits of the color challenge - neutrals.  I selected two different patterns, to keep it visually interesting.  I knew that I wanted to use my silver glimmer paper, so I punched a scallop trim border, so there would be some sparkle peeking thru.  (how cute, huh?)  I knew that I wanted to use a 4" doily for the circle image.  But, when the doily was forward, it seemed to take over the whole card, and nothing seemed balanced.  

Here is a close-up of the flower.  I stamped a flourish onto the smaller doily, to break up all the white.  I thought the game piece #25 gave my card some added texture, visual interest, and a vintage feel.  I thought that the push pin looked 'naked' even with the added pearls, so I added three white feathers to help soften the pin, and to continue the long lines.  The music sheet (Around the Christmas Tree), is actually a free download from graphics fairy, that I shrunk, to create a smaller version.  

Here is a close-up of the bottom portion of the card.  I stamped the sentiment in black.  I added both the fabric flower ribbon and some vanilla seam binding to cover the seam from the silver glitter paper.  I tied a simple knot with the seam binding.  I then added a button over the knot, to give this card a shabby look.  I stamped the same flourish over the sentiment, to break up the vertical lines.

Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits and love your comments.  Please take time to play along with us @ Our Creative Corner.