. . . little things . . .

It's the little things, that matter most.

One of the hot selling items at my booth, at this years holiday arts and craft fairs, are these cute little altered notebooks.  I have added my own personal style and touch to these little cuties!  They have 80 pages of lined paper inside.  I have also added pattern papers to the inside covers (front and back).  The mini black gel pen that comes with it, writes wonderfully without smudging.  A super big plus to me!

I made another 8 this week, and they are available for sale at my booth:  Designs by Sharon

I am at the Tramway Community Church, in Albuquerque, New Mexico this weekend.  Friday 10a to 5p, and Saturday 9a to 4p.  Please stop by, I am sure you will be able to find a gift for just about everyone on your list!

Happy Friday!  I am off today, to another arts and craft fair @ Tramway Community Church, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I will be selling my hand-crafted paper goods: greeting cards, gift card holders, gift bags, gift boxes, covered notepads, altered notebooks, and more!  My paper crafting style has a shabby chic/vintage feel to it.  If you are in the area, please stop by and say hello!

But, before, I get preoccupied with all of that, I took time out of my schedule to play along with the talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Patrice is the designer of this weeks sketch.

I have to admit, when I first saw this sketch, I was stumped.  But, don't fret.  Just see the 'objects' as that.  I took a little creative freedom.  but, here is what I did!

I used a half tea doily for the partial top note die.  I inked the Ex Libris background stamp with baked brown sugar classic ink, for the main panel.  I used the Flower Shop stamp set for the blossoms.  I stamped three blossoms in cantaloupe classic ink, and used the matching punch to 'cut out' the blossoms.  I added a half pearl to the center of each blossom, to give them a more feminine look.  I used the leaves die for the leaves, using soft suede card stock for the them.  I matted the main panel onto soft suede card stock.  The card base is cantaloupe card stock. 

For my sentiment, I used a hostess stamp set for the words; Express Yourself.  I just love this font.  It's pretty without being too flamboyant.  I added a very vanilla button to one side, to help give the sentiment banner a bit of flair.

Thank you for stopping by.  We sure do hope you find time to play along with us @ SFF.  

I'm off to Tramway Community Church, for todays arts and craft fair.

Post Card Christmas

Howdy.  Hope this post finds you well.  It's hard to believe that we are already into double digits of November.  Where has the time gone?  And before you know it, I fret that I will be scrambling for that last minute Christmas gift.  You?

Well, before I get too carried away, I wanted to share a card I made.  The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have this fun sketch for you to play with.

It looks pretty plain and simple, right?  Well, it actually lends itself to a lot of potential of creating an absolutely gorgeous card!  The simplicity of the sketch is actually a creative license.

I used the large 'empty' space to my advantage.  One of my favorite stamps is this 'postcard' stamp.  I don't really know why, but it calls to me.  And it was very easy to use it with this sketch.  {smile}.

I stamped the postcard in crumb cake classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock, and then cut close to the lines with my scissors.  I used my distressing tool, to rough up the edges.  

I stamped the winter tree in always artichoke classic ink.  Then I stamped the snowflakes randomly over the tree.  I stamped the little pinecone branch in crumb cake classic ink, on two opposite corners of the address side.  To 'decorate' the tree, I added three rhinestones and three pearls.

For my sentiment, I used the new holiday clear stamp set.  I stamped the 'christmas'  in always artichoke classic ink, and the other words in crumb cake classic ink.  Instead of adding a postage stamp, I added some seam binding.  The center of the bow, looked a bit bare, for me, so I tied some linen thread to the bow and created another bow.

I matted my post card onto always artichoke card stock.  Then added a sparkle-y border with champagne glitter paper.  Finally, matting this whole piece onto soft suede card stock.  The card base in crumb cake card stock.

Well, thank you for stopping by to see what I have created.  It's always nice to have company.  I hope you get a chance to create something with this sketch, and play along with us!  We'd love to see what you create for the NAC!

Pretty as a Cupcake

Welcome.  I've been a bit busy, and so this post will be short, but oh so sweet {smile}.  Sorry, I just couldn't resist.  Anyways, I finished another arts and craft fair, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, yesterday (Nov. 9, 2013).  I really love doing these little venues.  It's really nice to chat with other crafters, and to meet folks who can appreciate hand-made items.

I was able to sell some home-made baked goods at this craft fair, and of course I took a picture.  However, once again it was with my phone, and well, it was with my phone.

I kept my table coverings the same: white table cloth with burlap overlays.  I also kept all my display trays white.  I changed my signs from pink and white, to this fabulous soft pale blue.  I changed the color to blue, to give some separation.  (Separation from home-made baked goods and home-made paper crafts.)

Before you ask, those trays holding the food, were actually purchased at a big box store (W*mart).  They were those cheap-o, flimsy cookie sheets that you can buy a three pack for like $4.  I purchased a can of cream spray paint from a big box craft store (H*Lobby).  Spray painted them, so they would match my shabby chic/country look.  Easy peasy.  However, it did take 3 coats of paint.  But trust me, I didn't stand there watching the paint dry.  I used that time, to keep crafting! {smile}

So, from left to right: the kraft bags, have cinnamon-spiced mixed nuts (almonds and pecans).  I added a pink gingham bow, along with a label in kraft, black and white.

The 3 loafs in front of them, are Pumpkin-Cranberry bread.  I tied the tins closed with white curly ribbon, and added a soft orange label.

The middle tray holds Double Chocolate Brownies.  I added a strip of parchment paper cut with peeking sheers over the saran wrap.  To help secure the parchment paper strip, I added a white and silver ribbon, and a green label.

And the tray with the puffy packaging are Vanilla Cupcakes.  The cupcakes have pink icing and edible glitter.  Because don't pink cupcakes need glitter?  I think it is actually a culinary rule {smile}.  Each cupcake is in a clear 9oz beverage cup, inside a clear cello bag, tied with gold and white curly ribbon.  I affixed a blue-ish green label to the outside of the bag.

I had several folks stop by, just to see my display, and comment on how pretty everything was.  (very sweet to hear - no pun intended).  Some folks thought the cupcakes were soap, candles, or bath bombs.

Comments I heard, were that they were too pretty to eat!  How sweet, but no, these cuties actually taste as fabulous as they look!

My next location:  Tramway Community Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico.  November 15th (Friday) and 16th (Saturday), 2013.  So, please stop by, if you haven't' already.  It will be great to see folks!  Remember, when you purchase a hand-made item, you support the artist by allowing them to continue to create what they love!

Arts and Craft Baazar

my booth, is in this gym

The Arts and Craft Bazaar held at Cleveland Middle School, in Albuquerque, NM, is today!  The Baazar is from 9a to 4p.  I'll be here selling my paper crafts and a few pantry items:  Vanilla Cupcakes, Double Chocolate Brownies, Cinnamon Spiced Nuts, and Pumpkin Cranberry Bread.  All fresh baked and packaged yesterday!

I won't have my vanilla or canned fruits with me today {frown}.  But, I have increased my paper craft inventory.

I have made a few more (4) magnetic letters: M, J, G, and A.   I have made some more altered covered notebooks (with 80 pages of lined paper).  These little cuties were a big hit at the Craft Fair @ Grace Church, last weekend.  I also have added a few more (4) decorated gift boxes.

So, if you are in the area, please stop by!  Even if it is to say 'howdy'!

As I am preparing for this weekends upcoming arts and craft fair, I stopped for a bit, to create a card for the current sketch challenge @ Sketch Frenzy Challenge.  The talented Kim, is the designer of this week's sketch.

This sketch has a lot of potential.  I think the rectangle on the left side of the main square, could easily be an object.  A star.  A snowflake.  A multi-loop bow.  A sentiment square/circle.  The multi-colored banners along the bottom main square could be scallop border.  Be creative, and lets see what you craft!

I used the ledger paper from the Etc DSP collection.  I wanted a subtle pattern, but not too distracting.  I added a scallop trim border, in place of my banner edge.  Another piece of pattern paper from the Ets DSP collection.  

I just love the blossom and font with this stamp set.  So, I included these two items, and added another sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  I kept the card front clean and simple, but while I was creating, I almost started over.   While crafting I started to see the abundance of possibilities of this sketch.

Well, I'm back into my craft room, trying to get a few more altered notebooks done before Saturday.  And I also need to get started on my baked goods: cupcakes, brownies, and bread.  Craft Baazar @ Cleveland Middle School, Saturday Nov. 9th.