Analogous Birthday

I am so happy that it is Saturday.  This has been a brutal week at work, and the thought of not dealing with all that, is calming.  And so, with this renewed mind set, I have created a Birthday card!  The super talented Sue, from Our Creative Corner is our hostess this week.  This small group of wonderful ladies, who make up the design team @ Our Creative Corner will surely inspire you with their creations.  

For this week's challenge, Sue, has asked us to, to create a 4-sided regular polygon with all sides equal! Commonly known as a square.  And you must only use Analogous colors in your design.  These colors are in close proximity to each other on the color wheel that share similar hue and saturation.

Ok, I have to admit, when I first read the challenge, I was at a lost of what to create.  But, I quickly remembered that I need a few Birthday cards to create, so that is my goal.  Now, colors.  I had alot of fun creating a green-blue and copper card last week, so I gravitated to a green-blue combos.  I added a green and a blue.  Then a darker blue.  And a richer green.  Here is what I ended up with:  

I used five different card stocks: Lucky Limeade (Stampin' Up!), Old Olive (Stampin' Up!), Juniper (CTMH), Aqua Mist (Paper Trey Ink), and Twilight (CTMH).  I also used four different pattern papers, from four different design companies: SAB 2012 - Stampin' Up!, Cosmo Cricket, Victoria Gardens by Echo Park, and Crate Paper.  I used two different trims: seam binding and crocket trim by Stampin' Up!.  A button by Paper Trey Ink.  A metal button brad by Stampin' Up!, and a metallic paper clip by Basic Grey.  Along with several pearls, cream twine, and some machine stitching.

   a few close-up photos:

close-up of the layered trims and machine stitching

close-up of the sentiment panel and  more machine stitching

a new angle of this card

This card was alot of fun to create.  I am still working with just scraps to complete cards.  I took me about 50 minutes to find papers that worked together.  I know that sounds like alot of time, spent mixing and matching.  But, I didn't have to cut any whole sheet of pattern paper or card stock.   I did use my paper trimmer to cut down a scrap, but not to add to my scrap boxes. Yes, I have two.  They are empty boxes that hold a dozen reams of printer paper.   I organize my scraps into color families: blue, green, red, brown, and black/white.

The tiny blossom is actually a stamp and die set.  I first stamped the blossom base in Pool Party classic ink, and then stamped the veins in Twilight classic ink.  I used the die to cut the two blossoms out, and one foam square separates the two blossoms, so it has height.  I brushed some picket fence distress paint along the petal ends and then dunked each blossom into dazzling diamonds glitter.  For the leaves, I punched out the leaves from Lucky Limeade card stock with my two-step bird punch by Stampin' Up!. I sponged the leaf edges with old olive classic ink. Then I brushed picket fence distress paint on the leaf tips and then dunked the leaves in dazzling diamond glitter.

I hope that we have inspired you to play along with us this week @ OCC.  Who knows, you may be our next Top Talent {smile}!

HB, Mom

Happy Friday!  I hope your week is going well.  Mine, crazy busy at work.  I have been coming home exhausted everyday this week.  So, the weekend is a welcome site!

And, as it is Friday, the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, have another amazing sketch for you to try.  This week, Jennifer is our sketch designer.  She has provided a sketch that will allow you some creative freedom.  Here is her sketch:

Here is what I created with this beautiful sketch:

This card was a joy to create.  I pretty much followed the sketch.  Right down to the floral object.  The card base is soft suede card stock.  The first layer is primrose petals card stock.  The main panel is pink pirouette card stock.  I used my vintage wallpaper embossing folder.  I then rubbed my white craft ink pad across the raised design.  

I layered the floral lace and the burlap ribbon, and machine stitched them to the card front.  I then tied a simple bow.  I added a trio of banner pieces.  The blossom I created myself.  It was actually alot of fun, and very joyful.

I started with white card stock.  I stamped the blossom from Mixed Bunch in pink pirouette classic ink.  I stamped 4 blossoms, and then punched them out with the blossom punch.  I cut one petal off of one blossom.  And I cut two petals off another blossom.  Then I cut three petals off the another blossom.  And then cut the last whole blossom in half (4 petals on each half). I used a wooden kabob screwer to bend and roll the petals.  I used glue dots to hold each layer together, and stacked the blossoms.  I used the blossom petal punch to create the leaves.  I distressed the leaves by hand.  aka: I lightly spritz the leaf with water and hand scrunched and bent the leaf.  I distressed the edges of the blossom petals and leaves with white craft ink and glitter.  To add a bit some sparkle, I added a scallop circle of  champagne glitter paper. 

I hope that you get an opportunity to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what you create!

I added a hand-stamped Birthday sentiment, that is 4yrs retired from Stampin' Up!.  

I also added a shell butterfly pin from my embellishment stash, to this card.

And finally, I added a glue dot to the trio of banners, to help secure them to the card front.

Happy Birthday MOM!

Twilight Metal

Happy Saturday.  This has been a rough week at work.  After weeks like this, I really have second thoughts about continuing to work.  There are alot of other things I would rather be doing, than doing time.  The stress at work mounts and crafting is really an escape for me.

The lovely and talented Meihsia, from Our Creative Corner, has a wonderful challenge for you to try.  She has included an inspiration photo, and has asked that you use the colors in the photo and include a metal embellishment.

here is the photo

ok, when I first saw this photo, the first thing I thought of was the beautiful blue and white, with splashes of copper.

here is what I created:

This card was alot of fun to create.  I just love the colors and the challenge of this.  I really, really wanted to pair a light pink with this shade of green/blue. {smile}

The card base is more mustard card stock.  The color panel is twilight, from CTMH.  The main panel paper is from Echo Park.  I added bits and pieces from my scrap box.  The gold glitter polka dot pattern paper is from Lost and Found, Sunshine collection.  The mustard houndstooth pattern paper, I'm not sure who.  The yellow pattern paper used for the leaves of the paper blossom are from Teresa Collins.  The white cardstock doily is a die cut from Paper Trey Ink.  I did add a circle of the houndstooth pattern paper to the paper doily.  I thought that it needed a splash of color.  The white seam binding is an online purchase.  

For my metal embellishment, I used a pearl center brad and a metal button brad.  I just love the look of this distressed metal.  (A little goes a long way.) 

The stamp is from the Puns from the Past, stamp set.  The frame is from Four Frames stamp set.  I added two pearl trios at opposite corners.

I hope you get a chance to play along with us @ OCC.

Pennant Support

Oh my goodness, am I happy that it is Friday!  This has been an extra brutal week at work.  I am close to point of becoming a selfish co-worker.  I am sick and tired of folks taking advantage of my generosity and good natured disposition.  blah, blah, blah.  enough about work. . . 

The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday have another wonderfully executed sketch challenge for you to try this week.  Once again, this week's sketch has alot of potential and room for your personal style to shine!

Here is this week's sketch:

I'm pretty sure that you know by now, that I added my own flair and creative touch to this sketch.

Here is my card for this week:

When I first saw this sketch, the very first thing I thought of was a pennant or banner hanging to create the collection of DSP.  And, I just had to add some seam binding! {smile}.

The card base is basic grey card stock.  I added a panel of baja breeze cardstock.  I inked the En Francias text background stamp with basic grey classic ink.  I did that touch and tap technique to randomly stamp the text image.  

I inked the gossamer lace stamp in versa mark and used white embossing powder to create the small lace doily image.  I heat embossed, and fussy cut the lace doily by hand.  I inked one of my four frames stamp in basic grey classic ink.  

I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to help with the placement of my sentiment.  I tied some seam binding around the card front and tied a simple bow.  I added a faceted designer button to the bow, to help dress it up.

I used the banner piece from the Heart a flutter emboslit to cut the banner pieces.  I strung some white bakers twine through the banner pieces and left the tails.  I added a trio of rhinestones to the bottom right corner, to add some bling.

I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what you create!

love this card? you can purchase it here, @ my Etsy shop.

Seamstress Find

Sorry this is late.  And the weekend is almost over { :( }.  The wonderfully talented Meihsia, over @ Our Creative Corner, has a creative and lovely challenge for you to try this week.  She has provided us with a photo for inspiration, as well as a few requirements:  colors in the photo, fabric blossoms and a crown.  How lovely is that?  Here is her inspiration:

Don't you just love the soft colors and the vintage/shabby chic feel of the whole thing?  I love how they incorporated bits of bling with those fabric blossoms!  

here is what I made:

I have a girl friend who is quite the seamstress and so I thought of her while creating this card.  I used some valentines day themed pattern paper and just added bits and pieces.  I made my own button card.  I added a blossom to my button card, made from felt and fabric.  I added a few quick stitches with my machine, to hold the fabric blossom to the button card.  I wanted to mix a metal piece with the fabric, so I added the metal crown to the button card.  I just love how the crown looks so regal sitting at an angel.  I machine sewn some crochet trim to the side of my card.   I created my own half hazard bunching.  I attached a trio of buttons with cream twine.  The zipper blossom is actually made from zipper ribbon.  I added the vintage pearl brad to the center.  I then created a thread card to hold some seam binding.  The polka dot doily I cut with a die.  The bee brad is from a Basic Grey collection several years old.  I thought the bee went very well with the crown.  I stamped a simple sentiment, 'vintage style' in the lower right corner.

I hope you get a chance to play along with us @ OCC!  We would love to see what you create!

Please stay tuned for my Chocolate Fantasy post.  

thinking of you in blue

Happy Friday, to you!  I hope this week has been inspirational.  If not, grab a coffee/latte/tea/coke, whatever the beverage of your choice.  The talented Tammy F. from the Sketch Frenzy Friday, has a fun and creative sketch for you to try this week.  Here is her sketch:

For those of you who visit, know that I trade shapes for shapes.  This sketch has four squares clustered together.  And, I didn't use four squares.  Here is my card:

The card base is very vanilla cardstock.  The main panel is pool party textured cardstock.  I just love this paper.  It's new and in the mini catalog.  You can sand the cardstock to reveal the white core.  Very fun!  I used my framelets to cut the basic black cardstock.  I inked the text background stamp: En Francias in VersaMark ink and used white embossing powder and heat embossed the text.  I used my trio blossom hand-held punch to create the blossoms.  I used First Edition DSP and a scrap piece of the pool party I used for the main panel.  I added a pearl center.  For the fourth 'square' I opted to create a sentiment banner.  Can you guess, that I just love these?!  I cut a scrap piece of very vanilla cardstock to 1/2" wide.  I stamped the sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in basic black classic ink.  I used a square hand-held punch to create the banner end.  I used my sewing machine to secure the banner to the decorative label piece.

I hope we have inspired you to play along with us this week @ SFF.