Nature & Bling #252

Happy Saturday.  The wonderfully talented Paula over @ Our Creative Corner, has this most creative and beautiful challenge for you to try this week.  Paula says that, she is not a girly girl.  Her typical attire is 'tee shirts and jeans'.  A girl after my own heart.  But, Paula admits that, 'sometimes you just gotta whip out the shiny sparkly stuff and make it dazzle!'  So Paula wants you to use rhinestones, stickler, glitter, etc along with items found in nature (plants, animals, etc)!  A bit of bling mixed with nature.  Sounds super fun, huh?  Well, I knew what I wanted to make, I just needed to sit down at my craft table and create.

I loved the sketch Mojo Monday has this week.  So, I combined these two challenges.

Here is what I made:

I am really happy with how my card turned out!  I used scraps of pattern papers to create my 'natural' bling card.  The top music sheet paper is from Glitz.  The green floral pattern paper is from Wild Asparagus.  The middle panel is Road Show by Fancy Pants.  The scallop piece is actually the backside of the green floral pattern paper. 

The leaves are an unique mix.  The cream felted wool leaf was cut with a die.  The gold embossed leaf was first stamped onto First Edition DSP with Versa Mark.  I used vintage gold embossing powder to give the leaf shape some definition and sparkle.  I then fuzzy-cut the embossed leaf out by hand. The middle leaf was first stamped with certainly celery classic ink onto very card stock.  I then stamped the leaf outline marks in Old Olive classic ink.  I cut out the leaf.  I used a 2-way glue pen to do a rough outline of the leaf and then dipped it into a tub of dazzling diamond fine glitter.

I attached a button tied with cream twine to the stem of each leaf.  The felt leaf has a green button, the green leaf has a kraft button, and the embossed leaf has a vintage facet button.

I added a strip of Lichen satin ribbon from Amuse Studios.  I loved how the green ribbon didn't really compete with the card, but rather blended.

For the label/tag, I stamped the polka dot label in Twilight ink by Close To My Heart.  I used a sentiment from the Fall Elegance stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso classic ink.

Join us this week, @ Our Creative Corner for this fun and very creative challenge.  Nature and Bling!

yellow and blue

This has been my first whole week back to work.  And, all I can say, is that I am happy for the weekend.  I'll be spending this weekend cleaning out a few closets and organizing my ribbon 'collection'.  {smile}  I don't know why, but when I get my crafting space cleaned up, it feels wonderful.  I know, how silly.

Anyways, today is Friday.  And so that means its time for another blog hop with Sketch Frenzy Friday.  Robbie is our hostess this week.  so that means that she has designed the sketch that we are working with.  And let me say, Robbie has given us a very workable sketch.  If you create a card without any embellishing, you'd have a CAS card.  Or, you can embellish it, like I did, and create beautiful card.  Let's look at Robbie's sketch.

Here is Robbie's sketch:

And here is what I did with it:

I had a lot of fun creating this card.  The card base is pool party card stock.  The pattern paper is from the Comfort Cafe DSP.  The ribbon is new this year.  The ribbon color is summer starfruit.  I gave the ribbon a few pleats for visual interest.  I used a piece of water color paper to create the tag.  I stamped the floral image from Bordering Romance stamp set in Jet black Staz-On pigment ink.  I used re-inkers and an aqua marker to 'paint' in the image.  I added rhinestone jewels to the flower centers and pearl jewels to the tiny floral centers.  I stacked two different sizes and card stocks of butterflies.  The sentiment banner was created with a scrap piece of very vanilla card stock and basic black classic ink.

Now continue on with our blog hop, and stop on by Tammy F.'s blog to see what she has done with Robbie's sketch.

Thank you for looking.  Now, lets see what you create!  

Spooktacular Offer

It's already August! Where has this year gone?  Christmas is literally right around the corner.  So, let me help you get a constant discount on your holiday paper crafting supplies!  Have you ever thought about becoming a representative for Stampin' Up! ?  I totally understand during these difficult financial times, that one more commitment can be a bit over whelming.  But, it doesn't have to be!  If you are like me, you make your own cards, yes, even holiday cards.  You make your own party decorations and supplies.  And you need every little discount and coupon available to make your creative dollar go just a bit further!

Well, during the month of August, you can sign-up to join my team, Hoot's Got Stamps?, become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator  to receive a constant discount on all the products Stampin' Up! has to offer, and at the same time earn free stamp sets and products!  Receive business tips and participate in business exercises to further your Stampin' Up! career!

Also, it only costs $99 to join this month!  And you get to select what products you would like to start with, to create your own 'starter kit'.  

You will also receive this super fun and creative project kit, valued @ $60 for FREE!

Join my team and receive encouragement and guidance on this new adventure!  Contact me with all your questions.  We can meet to chat and have a coffee.  Join me, won't you?

SQSC #50/PCCC #1

It's Wednesday, and the talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, have a wonderfully creative sketch for you to try this week.

Here it is:

The first thing that first struck me about this sketch, is the different colors of the layers.  The other thing that I noticed about this sketch is the three circles in the rectangle.  At first, I thought of a snowman, or a trio of butterflies, or even some buttons.  And then it struck me, that I'm going to put three items in the rectangle.

Here is what I came up:

The card base is Early Espresso card stock, and the center matted piece uses real red card stock.  The ribbon is red taffeta ribbon.  The decorative label piece is punched from First Edition DSP.  I created the pinecone using the scallop oval.  I added some dazzling diamond glitter to the edges of my paper pinecone.  The tag was made with the jewelry punch and the tiny tag stamp set.

Isn't this new holiday dsp just beautiful?  Candlelight Christmas DSP.  Well, today is the first day that you can order yours!  Please go to my Stampin' Up! store to order this and other fabulous new holiday crafting supplies  here .  (click on the 'shop now' button)

I hope that you have been inspired, and you find some time to play along with us @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  This month, the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, is going through some transitions, with a new blog address and some new challenges.  One of our largest changes is our name change.  After this month, (and now) we are the Paper Craft Crew Challenge.  This is our transition month, so by the end of the month, you won't be able to find us as the Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge.  Hope you follow us on over.  Change can be good.

NAC #5

This week is off to a roaring start!  and it's only Tuesday!

Anyways, I hope you are doing well.  I believe my health is improving with each day.  I go back to the MD office next week, so hopefully I receive some good news.  (I have been 'gone' for a few weeks due to some health issues.)

Now, onto crafting!  This week over @ Nacho Average Challenge, we are working with a sketch.  Some sketches have a lot of potential.  You know what I mean.  And this week, we have another wonderfully creative sketch for you to try.  Here it is:

Pretty straight forward.  But, easily adaptable to allow a little creative freedom.  Here is what I made:

To create this card, I used one package of DSP, one stamp set, and one ink.  Birds of a Feather DSP, Grenier Victorien stamp set, and Midnight Muse classic ink.  The new ink pads are foam pads.  And I just love how it stamps.  The images come out crisp and clean!  I used a wider ribbon than I normally use, because I wanted a big fat bow.  I really love how pretty this card turned out.

Don't forget to stop by the rest of the design team, to see what they created:

Anne Hayward - Stampin' with Blue Moon Creations

Jenni Hogan - Stampin' in the Son

Leilani McGranahan - Lani Stamps

Rose Alexa - RMA Stamps 4 U

Sharon Wheet - Designs by Sharon (you are here)

Tammy Fite - Stamp with Tammy

Join us this week @ Nacho Average Challenge.  We would love to see what you create!  And you never know, you just might be our next Top Nacho! 

Color, Fabric, and Circles

I want to Thank everyone who has sent well wishes, and kept me in their prayers.  This has been a difficult few weeks for me, both physically and emotionally.  Thank you my friends!

Also, I want to thank my followers for sticking by my side.  I know in this crazy busy world, it is too easy to give up on someone, or to just move-on for your inspiration.  Thank you for your patience and belief that I would return.

Now that I am feeling stronger, in every sense of the word, lets get crafty!  As you read yesterday, the ladies over @ Our Creative Corner have a color challenge with a twist!  You need to use all the colors, and include either circles, fabric, or both!  So, without further delay, here is the inspiration board:

Once I saw this fabulous inspirational board, I knew that I needed to at least try to make something!  The colors are so vibrant and cheerful!  If you are a Stampin' Up! fan, you know that 'poppy' is a retired color.  So, that may be a hard color to work with.  But, I'm pretty sure you clever, creative sorts can improvise!  And, you really only need a scrap or two!

Here is what I created:

The card base is white card stock.  I thought that would be the easiest place to start.  I wouldn't have to color match, or 'work' with any specific color.  The floral pattern paper is roughly 7 years old, from ChatterBox.  And the piece on my card is actually my last scrap.  The bright green polka dot pattern paper is retired from SU!, easily 3 years old.  The text paper is from Paper Studio.  The scallop trim border punched piece is a scrap piece of pure poppy card stock.  The little banner tag was stamped in Pure Poppy classic ink.  (yes, I keep my retired inks, papers, ribbons, DSP, and basically everything else I have - you never know when you'll need it. )

The notched circles that make my medallion center are a collection of various materials.  The largest piece is white felted wool.  *very easy to make your own.  The middle notched circle is fabric from SU!, and the smallest notched circle is a scrap piece of the bright green DSP.  (So, I have my fingers crossed that notched circles will count for circles.)  The butterfly was created with the butterfly emboss lit and vellum card stock.  The center circular fabric blossom is from a Tim Holtz collection.  The center rhinestone was sitting on my craft table.  The tag was created with the jewelry tag punch and a simple stamp.  I wanted to add some leaves to my blossom, but couldn't get anything I thought of to work, so I just added a snippet of lucky limeade ruffled ribbon.

I hope that you have a chance to play along with us @ Our Creative Corner.  We would love to see what you create and if you got some inspiration from us.  Remember, you can't be selected as our Top Talent, unless you play along!  

Thank you, for stopping by!  Hugs, Sharon W.

* to make your own felted wool, take a wool piece, usually it is a sweater, and wash it like your not suppose to.  Use hot water and a regular cycle.  This will cause the wool to become 'tight'.  And viola!