Happy Moments

Today, is our new blog hop over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  There is a new sketch challenge on our main challenge site.  But, to see what the design team has created, you will need to visit each DT members blogs!  Doesn't that sound like fun!  Robbie, has created this weeks sketch:

So, I created this:

I wanted to make a card that has a different 'look' than my usual.  I typically make something that looks vintage or shabby chic and has crochet trim, first edition dsp and some sort of feminine embellishment: button, butterflies, smooch spray, etc.  I used the new hostess DSP: Cheerful Treat DSP.  I used lucky limeade card base and one matt.  The other matt is melon mambo.  

I hope that you get a chance to play along with us this week.  Now, head on over to Tammy F.'s blog and she what she has done with this sketch.

Paris, Shutters

Wow!  The wonderful ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room, have selected their winner, the top three, and honorable mentions for their previous challenge: Shabby Shutters.  And my card is listed on the honorable mention list! Yahoo!  How exciting!

Here is one more look at my card:

I'm so happy that my card got picked! How fabulous!  Now, don't get me wrong, I'd love to win 1st place, but to be mentioned, is still an honor.  Thank you.

Calorie Counter + prize

I have decided to keep track of my calories and hopefully loose weight.  But, I needed something unique to write my food journal.  So, I went to a big red store and purchase a notebook from the clearance rack.  And used some pretty paper to alter the notebook.  

I worked with the sketch from Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  Why don't you play along with us this week?  There is a prize this week, also!

Here is the sketch:

And here is what I created:

I know, there aren't any circles on my card.  I followed the curves of the circles and made the scallop edge of my 'layers' of ruffles.

I used some of the new DSP from Stampin' Up! and used one of the new edge dies.  

For my flower I used a die to create the paper blossom.  I added some very vanilla seam binding and a new designer brad.  

I used a mini vintage tag, and a soft suede marker to write my '1800'.  I also added a big half faux pearl over the hole.  

I used the BFF stamp set to stamp the worn flourish onto the DSP before adding my scallop trims.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you play in our challenge this week.

Paris, retro

This is my second post today.  I stumbled upon this new sketch challenge blog, and I thought that the sketch was very interesting, so I am playing along.  As I was surfing the web, I also came across this beautiful color challenge at one of my favorite challenge blogs, and so I have decided to play along in that challenge as well.

The new challenge, is entitled:  Retro Sketches.  And one of my favorite inspirational challenge blogs is: the Shabby Tea Room.  

Here are their boards:

For my card, I did use the required neutral colors and Navy.  My distressed element is my postage stamp and background panel.  For the sketch, I did turn it on its side, I wanted something vertical.  

Here is my card:

I used two stamp sets to make the distressed background: sanded and friends 24-7; both sets are retired from Stampin' Up!.  The stander background was stamped in sahara sand classic ink, and then the flourishes were stamped in not quite navy classic ink.  

To make the main panel I did some collage stamping, using two different stamp sets: Paris, and Carte Postale.  I stamped the Eiffel tower in soft suede classic ink, as well as the 'Bonjour'.  I stamped Paris and true friend in not quite navy classic ink.  I stamped the postal mark and the flourish in crumb cake classic ink.  I stamped the paris address in sahara sand classic ink.  I stamped the postage stamp in going gray classic ink.  I stamped the floral strig in grey flannel ink.  

The two sentiment banners were made with vellum card stock.  

I distressed the edges of the light panels with crumb cake ink.  I added some buttons from my jar o'buttons.  I tied a piece of white taffeta ribbon around the bottom of the raised panel.  To finish the bow, I  added a floral rhinestone brad to the center.  The card looked like it was missing something, so I added a paper blossom on top of a scrap piece of frayed crochet trim.  

Thank you for looking, and I hope you have/had a chance to 'play' in your craft spaces this weekend!

Chic of the Week!

I have been waiting for a free moment to share my news with you!  Last week, I needed to make a thank-you card for a wonderful friend, who through her own struggles, found time to remember me on my birthday.  And so I wanted to let her know how special she is!

Well, I went surfing to find some inspiration and possibly a challenge or two.  And I found three challenges to get some inspiration and that I could enter.  So, I set off in my craft room and started 'playing' and I came up with this very stylish card-gift combo:

And, well, long story short, I was a winner on one of the challenges!  I was selected as 'Chic of the Week #125' for the Just Us GirlS template/3-D challenge! I was sooo excited when I found-out!  I have added my 'badge' to my blog, to display it proudly!  Here is my original post, here .

Wedding Music

The weekend is upon us, and it's a beautiful day, today! The sun is shining and there are snow clouds in the sky.  It's a good day, to sit in my craft room, with the blinds open and view is beautiful.  I'm not sure how you craft, but me, I listen to music.  All kinds of music, everything from Van Morrison, Poco, to Creed.  And we all know how music changes your mood.  A nice simple beat of regae can turn an otherwise 'rough' day, into something 'happy'.  And the fast beat of metal can cause you to drive faster, and a bit more aggressive.  Well, for me, the same is true with how music can influence my crafting.  I tend to listen to 'old' music to create a calmer mood in my craft room.  It allows me to think clearer and not rushed.  

The reason I rambled on about music, is because Holly over @ Our Creative Corner, has asked us to: "take inspiration from a song and work it into any papercraft project you'd like. Just make sure your post includes the song title (and if possible the artist) that inspired you!"  What a creative idea!

Here is my card:

Angel from Montgomery by Bonnie Raitt

I wanted to make something 'pretty' and I wanted to use this fabulous sketch @ Sasya-Sketch, here:

I know, I wasn't very creative with this sketch.  But, it was just so beautiful, that I wanted to use it, in its original state.  No flipping, no changes, just keep it as is.

This card is also another one of my collaborations of a 'million' products.  No restrictions, just create.  So, here we go.  

I used pattern paper from Cosmo Cricket.  I used solid card stock from Paper Trey Ink and Stampin' Up!.  I used ink from Paper Trey Ink and CTMH.  I used crochet trim from Paper Studios.  My main flower is a collaboration from several.  The yellow one is from a company that is no longer around.  The white one, is a 'naked' flower mean for 'coloring'.  The next white flower below that one is one I cut from waffle paper and then adding dazzling diamond glitter to the tips.  The two white leaves came from a wedding floral sprig.  The tiny yellow flower comes from Webster's Pages.  The tag comes from Melissa Frances.  The buttons are a collection of Amuse Studios, Paper Trey Ink, and CTMH.  The stamps are from Stampin' Up! and Amuse Studios.  The label is from Amuse Studios.  I used a distress paint on the edges of the pattern paper pieces.  I made a cluster of various rhinestones at the top of the main flower.  The large half faux pearl was added at the end of this creation.  I added a string of half faux pearls to the bottom of the sentiment, and wanted to continue that elegance, that softness.  I think the scrap piece of crochet trim helped.

Thank you for stopping by.  Leave me a comment, I'd love to know what types of music help you create!