Trio of Blossoms

Happy Friday!  Well, it's time for another sketch from Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Tammy, is the designer of this weeks sketch.  I have to admit, I welcome a clean and simple sketch.  This cold is really kicking my butt.  I can't seem to focus, or concentrate too long.

I copied the sketch literally.

I used Pool Party DSP for the main panel.  I just love polka dots!  Instead of a top note shape, I used half a doily.  I stamped the blossoms from the Fabulous Florets stamp set, in Versa Mark ink, and heat embossed with white embossing powder on shimmer white card stock.  I used my aqua painter and pool party re-inker to water color the blossoms.  I used my detail scissors and fussy cut them out.  

I used silver glitter paper and the leaf die to create the foliage.  

I wrapped Pool Party seam binding around the card front and tied a simple bow.  I wanted to jazz up the bow, but nothing I had or thought of, worked.  So, its left plain.

I wanted to add a sentiment, so I made a thin banner.  For the sentiment, I stamped some words from the Gifts of Kindness stamp set.

I did add a single pearl jewel to the center of each blossom.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have been inspired to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what you create with our sketch, this week!

Christmas Ball Dome

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy.  Welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I have been sick for a few days now.  I think its just a cold.  But, I have to admit, I feel horrible.  At times I'm freezing, and then I'm dripping with sweat.  My nose won't quit running, and my throat feels like its on fire.  

I don't have time to be sick.  I have obligations, chores, and deadlines to get to.  My children are grown, so I don't have to watch children.  But, my dog Sasha, needs to go out.  She loves her walks, and she needs play time.

I took a bunch of medicine this afternoon.  I had to get some things together for a holiday celebration this evening.  I won't have time to jet home before the party, so I had to get everything together this morning, before I left for work.

A wonderfully charming lady makes lotion and soap from her goat's milk.  The lotion is fabulous.  It's silky smooth, without a greasy feeling/residue on your hands.  The soap is just as great.  Rebecca makes two scents.  One has a subtle spice, the other a subtle almond scent.  So, I purchased 12 lotions, and 12 soaps (6 of each scent) for my Bunco ladies.  I plan on letting them select their own preference.  To keep the two scents separated and so I don't mix them up, I packed each scent differently.  

I'm a big believer in reuse and up cycle.  So, I made the packaging simply, for a non specific holiday, and no gender.  I didn't sign the tag, incase the recipient needs to use that too.

Moroccan Spice

Almond Biscotti

 We are also celebrating our Christmas party, tonight.  We select a name, and then you provide a gift.  A secret Santa, so to speak.  Well, since I have been ill, I haven't had a chance to go shopping.  So, I made my gift.  I created a Christmas ornament.  I used a glass ball dome by Melissa Frances.

close-up of glass ball dome ornament

For the gift bag, I added a multi-ribbon bow with two painted and glittered jingle bells tied with white bakers twine.  I added a blue sparkle tissue paper, to provide the ornament with some cushioning.

close-up of the multi-ribbon bow

Well, thank you for stopping by.  I hope that you have been inspired to create something wonderful, for someone wonderful in your life {smile}.

Simple Christmas

Welcome.  I haven't been feeling too well this week.  So, this will be short.  

I am playing this week with Mojo Monday.  They have a simple sketch this week, and I just don't' have the energy to add to many extra pieces.

the sketch

here is what I made

I turned the sketch 90 degrees.  I didn't do any stamping.  I used pattern paper from Authentique.  I used their new holiday collection: Glistening.  I love the kraft and cream snowflake pattern paper, and the aqua circle/star pattern paper.  I used pool party card stock and soft suede card stock for this card.  I wrapped some aqua mist satin ribbon around the card front and tied it into a simple bow.  I added some crackle paint to the rim of a kraft button and dunked the button in dazzling diamond glitter, while the paint was wet.  I tied the painted button to the center of the bow with cream twine.
The sentiment piece, is actually a digital piece.  I used foam tape to adhere the sentiment piece to the front of the card.
Easy peasy.  No fuss.  Thank you for looking.  I hope you get a chance to play along with their challenge.  It's the first one of the month, so it is a prize challenge.  Good luck.

Sew Creative

Welcome back, for another look at a card I have created.  The lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have a beautiful color challenge for you to work with, this week.  I always struggle with color challenge.  But, as you can see, the colors for this challenge are more my style, so it was a bit easier.

here is what I created

I started with a card base in Island Indigo card stock.  I used the same sheet of pattern paper from the Etc DSP collection.  One side, as those beautiful calypso coral polka dots, and the other side, pool party seamstress-ledger pattern.  I added a quarter of a tea doily to the side of the banner piece.

I used Creative Elements stamp set to create the 'label' and sentiment stamped cluster on the lower left side of the card.  I stamped the label in island indigo classic ink.   I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink.

I used Notable Notions stamp set, to create the buttons and button card.  I stamped the button card in island indigo classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  I used my detail scissors to fussy cut this piece.  I stamped the large button in calypso coral classic ink, and the tiny button in island indigo classic ink.  

To create my 'buttons', I stamped the image onto card stock.  Then I used a 1/2" circle punch and a 1" circle punch, to punch 3 circles out of the chipboard that accompanies each DSP packet.  Stacking the circles, I used my tape runner to 'hold' the circles together.   I adhered my punched, stamped image to the top of each stack. 

I also used dimensionals to pop up the button card.  I didn't want my card to look too 'flat'.  Finally, I tied a piece of pool party seam binding into a simple bow, at the top of the button card.

Now, it's your turn!  Let's see what you create with our colors this week @ NAC!

fluffy bites of heaven

I love to cook bake.  I really mean it.  I'll find a recipe that just sounds wonderful and head straight for my kitchen and make it.  My husband loves it, too.  His waist band, not so much.  (We won't discuss my waist band.)  Now, not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty good at it, too!  My friends always ask me to take pictures of what I cook, and sometimes most times I forget.  Well, not necessarily forget, I just get too excited to taste my creation, that I don't reach for a camera, but rather a fork.  I'm working hard at trying to correct this habit.

Anyways, the reason I'm rambling about baking, is, I see this commercial on TV, asking, 'if you could do anything, and someone would pay you, what would you do?'  Folks answer, 'open a book store', 'pie maker', 'gardener', 'architect', yada yada yada.  You get the picture, right?  Well, this guy goes on to tell you that, that is what retirement is for.  Ok, not to be a negative Nancy, but that's not realistic.  Who do YOU know, who is retirement age (65/+) who is able to start a new career, or 'work' their dream?  Me, I don't know anyone at that age, who can physically do their dream job.  My mother, for example, is in her late 60's.  Recently retired.  Her dream job was to have a dog grooming business.  My mother, is in no physical condition to be on her feet 12 hours a day, hunched over a tub washing dogs.  I don't want to wait another 20 years, to pursue my dreams.  I hate that commercial.

Ok, I guess I'm rambling.  I have a dream, and yes, it is fueled by my passion to bake.  I want to have a food truck.  Crazy, huh?  But no.  I'm serious.  I don't want any food truck.  I want a vintage-style food truck.  You know, that soft bluish-green, with white trim.  Totally cute.  A cute little awning over the service window to provide shade, when you are placing your order.  But, I don't want to serve lunch.  Oh no!  I want to sell you a cupcake. And not just any cupcake.  But an original cupcake.   I want to sell cupcakes and frostings/icings separate.  So, YOU can select what icing you want on your cake.  I'll provide daily specials, like Chocolate birthday cake, with double-chocolate buttercream icing.  A red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.  But, it will also give you the freedom to mix and match.  Why not have carrot cake with a vanilla-bean buttercream icing, instead of the traditional cream cheese icing? 

My passion for baking has fueled a dream.  I even have a name for my little business.  (It's a secret, until I can 'purchase'/license the name).  I know I want to package my custom cupcakes in pink pastry boxes, with my logo embossed in silver.  

So all this talk about baking, has lead me to grab my camera, (instead of a folk), to share with you what I made.  

I found another recipe for home-made marshmallows.  I say 'another' recipe, because I have made these before, a few times, with horrible results.  I almost gave up on this treat.  But, I'm pretty stubborn.  And, I am super happy to have found a recipe that is workable, and comes out as planned.

All I have to say, is, 'these are delicious!'  So, if you are a regular recipient of my home-made goodies at Christmas time, keep an eye out for a package of these fluffy bites of heaven, to be in your 'goodie-box' along with some blended double-chocolate cocoa.  Because what is better, than a mug of deep, dark, rich cocoa topped with a home-made vanilla-bean marshmallow?  Not too much.

Thank you for stopping by.  I know that this is a crazy, busy time of the year, and I'm glad that you stopped by.  Be safe.  Until next time, happy crafting, whatever that 'craft' may be: sewing, baking, paper crafts, wood-working, canning, cake decorating, etc.  {smile}

Countdown Begins

December first!  WOW!  If you haven't started your holiday shopping, you better get a move on!  Black Friday is behind us, and Cyber Monday is quickly approaching!  Ugh, tomorrow!  So, this will obviously be short.

If you are new to my little space in blog-land, then let me start by saying, 'I love paper.'  All paper.  Pattern, solid, printed, digital, water colored: all of it!  I love to make things from paper, with paper, and add paper embellishments.  

I also love creating for holidays.  Christmas is my number one holiday, that I craft for.  Valentines Day is second.  But lets stick with Christmas.

A very sweet, and wonderfully talented lady teaches paper crafting at a local craft store, in Albuquerque, NM.  We have been friends for over 4 years now.  And I love her like a sister.  She is super funny, a great listener, very crafty, super easy to talk to, and we always have a blast together.  Anyways, she taught a class last month on creating a 'countdown calendar' of sorts.  I took the class to  support her, spend time with her, and to make a countdown calendar.    Everyone in the class was able to select their paper and ribbon, to create our own beautiful 'count down' calendar.  

Anyways, I want to share what I made, basically because I love how wonderful it turned out.  But also, because I need a bit of motivation to finish my holiday shopping {smile}.

the numbers flip to countdown the days

Now, for those who know me, I have an infinity for pink.  So, they will be shocked that I created something so 'dark' and totally LOVE it!  But, it is my 'style':  a bit shabby, a bit sweet, and a bit girl-y.  Just no pink {frown}.  It lives on our mantel in the living room.  So the colors work wonderfully with our space, and I have to say, I really do love it, even though it's not pink.  I am really happy with how the green and grey work so well together.  Anyways I digress.  No advent calendar.  But, a super creative way to countdown till Christmas!   

Let me know how you 'countdown' to Christmas.  I'd love to hear about you {smile}.