Wonderful You

Howdy!  I'm glad that you could stop by today and have a look around.  I really do love to paper craft, and being on different design teams actually gives me an excuse to be in my craft room.  I mean that I would already be in there, but now I have an legitimate reason. (smile)

The talented Jennifer, is the creator of this week's sketch over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  And this week's sketch is easy to work with.  I had fun making  this card.  Here is Jennifer's sketch:

I am a big fan of using what you have.  I'm also a fan of mix and match.  I believe all paper lines have potential to wow ya!  One of the requirements of playing along with Sketch Frenzy Friday, is that you use Stampin' Up!products.  So, in my usual fashion, I mix and matched different DSP collections.  I really loved the polka dot pattern paper from Berry Blossoms DSP.  And the loved the large yellow medions from the Flirtatious DSP.  So, I used scrap pieces of each.  There is a beautifully-font, word stamp set from the new occasions mini catalog: Loving Thoughts.  So, I combined the three and here is what I came up with:

I used some of the new bakers twine and tied a button to the bow.  I added a left over crochet flower and yellow rhinestone brad.  Elegantly simply.  Now, head over to Tammy F.'s blog, and continue with the blog hop. 

I belong to a RAK group.  That sounds almost 'wrong', doesn't it?  Because if the premiss is to do these act of kindness out of the goodness of your heart and not because you have to, then, can you have assignments?  Anyway.  I needed to get a card done, and sometimes my creativity needs a little jump start.  Between working full time, and taking care of my husband and dog, my crafting time is very limited.  I'd love to work part time, and have more time to play in my craft room.  But,  like the rest of you, and I have bills to pay, a mortgage and the other costs of living.  So, now for my inspiration.

The Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge have a very creative sketch this week.  The elements in this sketch, are very easy to work with, and very fun!

Here is the sketch for week #25:

The decorative square was fun to work with.  But, you could add an oval, a rectangle, a frame lit, pretty much any shape that gives you some real estate to work with.  The double white vertical lines made me think of ribbon.  But, they could easily be decorate strips of paper, or a decorative trim piece.  I didn't see a 'sentiment' so I added mine to the lower left side.  But I imagine that you could add yours anywhere.  A tag hanging off the bow.  The place the SQSC25 is located.  Or even somewhere on your decorative square.  See, a lot of options!

Here is what I created:

I just love the way crumb cake and basic black look together.  So refined.  So elegant.   So, that is where I started with my card.  I cut a scrap piece of crumb cake card stock and matt it with a scrap piece of basic black card stock.  I took out two stamp sets that haven't been inked in awhile; Delicate Doilies and Kindness Matters.  The doilies were stamped in basic black and crumb cake classic inks, and versa mark.  I took a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock and cut it down to the size of the embossed rectangle.  I stamped the butterflies in basic black and then dry embossed them.  I re-stamped the butterflies onto vellum card stock.  I colored the back side of the vellum with a lucky limeade marker.  I wrapped a piece of crochet trim the length of the card.  I then wrapped lucky limeade 1/8" sheer ribbon.  I made a multi-loop bow and used a new SAB brad to hold the bow onto the card.

This is the card that I have sent out for my RAK assignment.  Shannon lives in Texas, so hopefully she will receive this card any day now.  I love how this card came together.  Not a lot of anything, just simply beautiful!  Thank you for stopping by today.  Leave some blog love :)

I {heart} crafts

I can hardly believe that the weekend is already over.  I love the quiet time to sit in my craft room, and pull stamps out and play.  This weekend went by in a flash.  But, it didn't stop me from visiting a local craft store and several blogs to create this last card.

I came across some beautiful new St. Valentine's Day pattern.  They're so beautiful and fun.  

I also came across a sketch challenge @ Sasya-Sketches.  The sketch is fabulously user friendly.  And last, I came across a product challenge inspiration board for PaperTrey Ink by Mish Mash.  

Here are the sketch challenge and the inspiration board:

And here is my card:

The pattern paper are Love Me Plaid & Love Me Banners.  The stamp sets are Button Boutique & Studio Style.  The card base is Crumb Cake cardstock.  The button card is Very Vanilla cardstock.  The wrinkle ribbon is actually Rose Red seam binding.  The buttons came from PaperTrey Ink and a-muse studio.  I used two different dies for this card.  The vellum sentiment tag was cut with the cone die and the pink polka dot pattern paper was cut with the top note die.  The scallop scrap of material is from Stampin' Up!. 

This card was a collection of different products that I love!

Love is in the Air

Happy Saturday!  Thank you for stopping by.  I'm the hostess this week over @ Our Creative Corner.  And since St. Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I created this weeks challenge around romance.  The rules are pretty simple: create a paper craft item (card, scrapbook page layout, 3-D item, an altered item) and use the colors: Pink, Grey, and Kraft.  Now, I'm a girly-girl, so I'd also like you to add some sparkle (rhinestones, glitter, metal) anything that shines!  And since its for St. Valentine's Day, don't forget to include a heart-shape!  Sounds pretty and romantic, doesn't it?

Here is what I created:

My card base is crumb cake card stock.  I layered various pattern papers from Authentique and Paper Studio.  The seam binding is hand-dyed pretty in pink.  The tiny tag was created with the jewelry tag and teeny tiny wishes.  I stamped '{love}' in going gray classic ink.  I sponged the edges of the tiny tag with crumb cake classic ink.  I tied a grey button on with white bakers twine.

The scallop circle was created with a perfect pennant die.  I added a 1 3/4" circle of pattern paper to the center.  I cut the heart-shape with the hearts die.  I added a lock from Melissa Frances.

I created the banner with the cone die.  The sentiment is stamped in grey classic ink and matted it on crumb cake card stock.  The circles were added to give the card some balance.  I applied the rhinestone flourish as my final touch.  Easy-peasy, stick and clip.  (Stick the rhinestone swirls down, and clip with scissors where the rhinestones fall off the card.)

Now, lets see what you create!  Stop on over to the Our Creative Corner to see what the super talented ladies have created, and hopefully we inspire you to play along!

Hello, Butterfly

Howdy to you!  I appreciate the company.   Over at Sketch Frenzy Friday, we share some of the responsibilities, and we each take a turn at providing the sketches.  That way there is a variety of creativity, and no ONE person gets stuck with all that.  So, this week, Deb C. is the master mind behind this weeks sketch.  And I have to admit, I loved the sketch!

The sketch:

You will need to look close, but there are three different size matts: dark pink, white, and a light pink floral.  Also, don't forget the grey circle.  And for those who follow, know that I like to mix things up.  I don't change or disregard the sketch, I 'play' with it.  I'll show you my card, and then explain.

Ok, so to start.  I didn't add the pink floral matt.  I also didn't tie a bow with my ribbon.  But, don't let that throw you.  Pennants are big right now.  And I love that shape.  So, I did the chevron cut at the end of one of my matts - green polka dotted paper.  This new Twitterpated DSP is just sooo gorgeous, so I HAD to use it!  So, the floral pattern paper, the baja breeze pattern paper, and the blushing bride pattern paper are all from the Twitterpated DSP.  Aren't they just soo pretty?  The pear pizzazz polka dot pattern paper and the pear pizzazz pattern paper used for the butterfly are both from subtles DSP.   I wanted to make the butterfly pop, so I clipped on one of those tiny clothes pins for its body.   I used my two-way glue pen to adhere some dazzling diamond glitter to the clothes pin.  But, it still looked too plain, so I added a tiny scallop circle of DSP, a tiny scallop circle clear button, and tied them together with some pool party bakers twine.  

Thank you for looking.  Now continue with our blog hop, and see what Tammy F. has created!

from my heart

I love, (really) a select few particular challenge blogs.  So much so, I have a habit of submitting a card to them, as often as I can.  And this week, is no different.  The Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge and CR84FN Color Challenge have gone hand in hand again this week.  What can I say.  I have a weakness for creative sites.  

So, here are the two challenges:

Can't you see how I would enjoy combining these two challenges?  Don't they speak to you?  They did, to me.  For the sketch challenge, I did turn the sketch on its side.  I used all current Stampin' Up! products.  I used Real Red, Pink Pirouette, and Baja Breeze cardstocks.  

Here is my card:

The card base is crumb cake.  The pattern paper is Everyday Enchantment DSP.  The stamp set is P.S. I Love You.  The scallop circle is a die cut from the perfect pennant die.  The heart is from an embosslit.  Not only does this little embosslit cut the scallops around the heart-shape, it also embosses the polka-dots.  The button is from the Neutrals buttons and the brad in the center of the button is from the vintage brad collection.  The ribbon, is actually seam binding.  Baja Breeze. 
I think this card has alot wow factor, and pretty embellishments. 
Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate the company.  Please take time and play along in any St. Valentine's Day challenge, that helps showcase your talents.  If nothing else, it gives you an excuse to create something lovely for someone who holds a special place in your heart.