Vintage Celebration for a Friend

This week has been a flurry of crafting, cleaning, and organizing.  No, it's not my version of Spring, here.  But, you never know, it could just sneak up on ya!

I don't know about you, but when I craft something that I'm super happy with, I tend to use the same papers again.  I don't know if it's because they are still on my craft table, or if I'm just head over heels with the colors, patterns and embellishments.

I needed to make a few, ok 5, more cards for Mother's Day, for my very close girl friends.  We do alot of different things together: craft, travel, lunch, dinner, drinks, movies, and most importantly, support each other is whatever matters the most to us individually.

The wonderful gals over @ Just Us GirlS Challenge have a fabulous sketch for you to try this week.   This sketch has alot of potential for your creativity!  I'm using this sketch to make these cards.

here is their sketch:

here is what I made:

I did change the sequence of how the two pieces are layered.  The other thing I changed, is the tag corners at the top.  I didn't make one large tag shape for the main panel, but rather added photo corners to the top of the card.

I did add a tag.  But, I kept the tag for the main layered piece.  I selected vintage shabby chic digital papers for the majority of this card.  

I stamped the mother and child figure onto a matted tag with basic black classic ink.  I just love how this silhouette evokes a smile. 

The card base is made from Sahara Sand card stock.  I matted the ledger digital paper onto Blushing Bride card stock.  I used my sewing machine, to give the panel a bit of visual interest.  I cut another floral digital paper piece down and matted it with Blushing Bride cardstock.

I wanted to keep the matts of these two pieces the same, so they would 'blend' together.  The tag, however, I wanted to use a different color matt.  I felt that this would elevate the tag forward.

I used the Love Lives Here stamp set, to stamp the My Heart ... sentiment.  I used my Love You Mother stamp set to stamp the silhouette.  

For the sentiment flag, I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  And for the tag's tag, I used the Lots of Tags stamp set.  

The embellishments were what I had on hand.  I used some silver glimmer paper to create the photo corners, and the heart shape.  I thought the sparkle really made the card 'shine'.  

I couldn't decide on using a crochet trim or a seam binding for the ribbon piece.  So, I used them both.  The crochet trim is wrapped around the main panel.  However, the pale pink seam binding is tied around the panel, and tied into a multi-loop bow.  

I added two buttons.  I love buttons {smile}.  I used a cream colored button for the tag.  And I used a clear button for the multi-loop bow.  I also distressed the clear button.  I didn't want to add a colored button here.  I thought the 'color' distracted you.  But the absence of a button made the card look like it was missing something.

Now, I need to finishing putting the other four cards together.  I'll be dropping these off at the post office tomorrow.  I secretly hope the same postal worker is there.  She loves my cards {smile}.

Don't forget, to stop by the Just Us GirlS Challenge to get inspired by their creative work! and I hope you get a chance to play along.  This sketch is really a lot of fun to work with!

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

Vintage You

There are a few colors that I just love.  Yes, love.  I love the hue, the depth of the richness, the feeling it provokes.  LOVE it.  Pink Pirouette, Soft Sky, Aqua Mist, Latte, Shell, Crumb Cake, River Rock, Sweet Blush, and Vanilla.  These colors are soft, sweet, and perfect for shabby or vintage paper crafts.

But, there are other colors that pair so nicely with these, that it is amazing how wonderful they look together.  My case in point, is this card that I made for the Nacho Average Challenge, this week.  The wonderful ladies over @ NAC, have a great sketch for you to try this week.  

here is this week's sketch:

here is what I created:

I started with Calypso Coral cardstock.  This color is rich and beautiful.  I thought that it help high light my accent colors.  The main panel is actually very vanilla cardstock matted with River Rock cardstock. I used the Very Vintage wheel and River Rock classic ink, to create the background stamp.  I wanted to add some contrast, so I used the Music Notes wheel and basic black classic ink.  I added three separate lines of music notes.  

The blossoms were made from very vanilla card stock, and sponged with calypso coral (outer petals) and pretty in pink (inner petals) classic inks.  I added a pearl jewel to the centers.  I used whisper white craft reinker and painted the tips of the petals and then dumped the whole blossom in dazzlling diamond glitter.  I used old olive cardstock and the build a blossom punch to create the leaves.

For the sentiment strip, I used lace border punch and whisper white card stock to create a decorative edge.  The very vanilla cardstock strip is only 1/2" wide.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink, using the Loving Thoughts stamp set.  I added a strip of very vanilla seam binding and a neutral glimmer brad to attach this multi-loop bow to the sentiment strip.  

The butterflies were stamped on very vanilla card stock using the Kindness Matters stamp set.  I fussy cut two of the butterflies out.  I scrunched the cardstock to create 3D butterfies.  I didn't want them to look too flat.

I sponged all the edges of all the cardstock with crumb cake classic ink.  I wanted everything to have some depth, and I didn't want the edges to look too 'clean'.  I gave the whole card a spritz (or two) of my home-made white frost shimmer mist.  (Sparkles are pretty!)

Each of us, on the design team, have shared our own  takes on this sketch @ NAC.  However, a majority of us did blossoms {frown}.  But don't let that stop you from using any other object for the cluster.  I know that I would love to see hearts, or a cluster of butterflies, or . . .

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

Tea Room Winner

Monday.  What a day.  Work was jammed packed with duties.  But it all seems right as rain, today {smile}.  I went to the Shabby Tea Room to take a look at this week's challenge.  I need a bit of inspiration to create some paper crafts due for this week.  And, well, I was last week's winner! Yahoo!  It was a surprise and my heart filled with joy!  Joy, because it is always so wonderful to have other's like appreciate your work!  Just ask the ladies at the post office.  I mailed my Mother's Day card today in a clear envelope.  My mom just loves it when I do that!  She says that she can never wait to take a peek at what I created.

So, I will be adding a new badge to my sidebar {smile}.  And I'll be heading into my craft room to create some more cards for Mother's Day.  I always make a card for my dear girlfriends.  There are six of us.  We are all moms and we really do put our families first. 

Thank you for stopping by today.  Don't forget, Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 12th.  I hope that you have a special someone to share this day with.

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

Shabby Spring

I am happy to say, that I have found a new spark to help me create.  Nothing actually 'new', just maybe some rest, and a few walks to clear my head.  {smile}  I think, it's just a change of focus, and a chance to let my mind rest.  

As usual, the super talented ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room have a great inspiration board, as well as some wonderful eye candy to help get you inspired. They ask that you include the colors in the photo, and include flowers, lace and ribbon.

Here is their board:

here is what I made:

I used quite a few different products for this card.  But when I was creating, that was my focus, no limits, just add what I like.

I started with Sahara Sand cardstock by Stampin' Up!  They make some of the very best card stock out there.  It's a heavy weight to withstand front loaded cards, but it also is very workable (my old olive cardstock leaves).  I used a piece of Blushing Bride card stock (also Stampin' Up!) as the matt for the main panel.  I wanted to add some floral pattern paper.  But I couldn't find just the right paper.  So, I used a digital image:  Ledger Paper found here.   And while shopping, I found these wonderful Dream Tags, here.  I cut out one and matted it onto a scrap piece of Old Olive cardstock, by Stampin' Up!  I added a scrap piece of a cream ribbon.  I threaded my tiny clothes pin through.  I added a tiny tag that is stamped in crumb cake classic ink, using the tiny tags stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I distressed a cardboard heart and added a vintage button by Paper Trey Ink.  And finally, for the other panel I used some beautifully shabby 'label's: Pink Sugar tags, found here.  I matted the label onto a scrap piece of pool party card stock, by Stampin' Up!

The inspiration photo has a Ball jar, and so I just HAD to add a jar!  I decided to hand-stamp my jar, using the Friendship Jar stamp set, by Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the outline of the jar in soft suede classic ink onto very vanilla card stock, both products by Stampin' Up!.  I then stamped the polka dots in pool party classic ink.  For the jar lid, that was a bit of stamping and fussy cutting.  I stamped the lid cover onto a scrap piece of Grace pattern paper, by Authentique and fussy cut it out.  I then stamped the covered lid onto a scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut the 'ribbon' out.  I stamped the tag in soft suede classic ink, onto another piece of very vanilla cardstock and fussy cut it out.  And stamped the 'bow' onto another scrap piece of Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella, and fussy cut it out.  I added adhesive and layered them.  I think of the cutting as therapy.  You can't think about the dishes, or laundry, or bills, or any other chore.  Just cutting.  Therapy.

I love the sound of a sewing machine.  Very soothing.  Well, to me.  I had a left over piece of some lace trim, that I had tea stained earlier.  The top edge is raw, so I used my sewing machine to attach the piece to the card front.  I just love the color of this seam binding, found here.  So I machine stitched that to the front, too!  I created a multi-loop bow.  I distressed a Bermuda button, by Amuse Studios, with some picket fence distress paint, by Ranger and some dazzling diamond glitter, by Stampin' Up!  I used some cream twine by Paper Trey Ink, to secure the button to the bow.  I also wanted to add a paper blossom.  So, I took a blossom from my Artisan Embellishment Kit, by Stampin' Up! and distressed it, just like the button.  I created leaves with old olive card stock and the build a blossom punch, both by Stampin' Up!
To create my sentiment banner, I used the Something to Celebrate stamp set by Stampin' Up!.  I stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock, then used a square punch to create the flag ends, all from Stampin' Up!
Finally, I gave the whole card a spritz of my home-made white frost glitter mist. What girl doesn't like a little sparkle, shimmer, and shine?  {smile}

Thank you for taking time to take a look.  I hope you have been inspired while visiting.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend, and I hope you stop by again.  {smile}

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

Breakfast @ Tiffany's

The movie, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' is a classic.  The warerobe is classy, and the jewels re big!  One of my bestfriend's daughter's name if Tiffany.  And Tiffany is getting married next month.  Today is her Bridal Shower.  And yes, the theme is 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' {smile}.  The invitation asks that you wear your best little black dress and costume jewelry.  I picked out a tank style black dress with black sandles.  I put on my pearls, and made sure my hair was big and curly.  I selected a gift card from Soma, so she could get something just for her.  

And I needed to make a card.  I wanted to make something clean, classic and Tiffany blue.  I also needed to incorporate something wedding-ish.  I used black as an accent color.

Here is what I made:

  

The card base is Pool Party cardstock by Stampin' Up!.  I just love this color.  I added a panel of pool party textured card stock, matted with basic black card stock, as the main panel.  I added a strip of script pattern paper by Paper Studio to the Right side of the card.  I added a strip of white crochet trim and Aqua Mist satin ribbon to the card front.  I added some machine stitching.  I machine stitched just under the top border of the white crochet trim, to hide the sewn line.

For the tag, I cut a tag shape out of the pool party card stock and heat embossed the wedding cake in white.  I puched some flower shapes out and distressed the petal tips.  I added pearl centers.  I made a multi-loop bow out of the aqua mist ribbon and attached it the tag with an antique pearl brad.

Thank you for looking!  I hope your weekend is classy and fabulous!

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~

Simply Birthday

I live in the southwest of the United States, and the weather has turned cold again.  We have a 'front' moving in.  So, when I was pulling out of the driveway to get to work, the thermometer showed 35 degrees.  Brrr! Baby it's cold outside.  In fact, we haven't turned our heaters off yet.  Our wood pellet stove still runs everyday.  I always wonder how other folks are doing.

I'm not a fan of cold/cool weather.  If it snows, I want to stay home, start a fire, get cozy and craft.  Other than that, I want it to be warm, light breeze, and the sun shining.  Anything else, I'm pretty miserable.

Deb, over @Sketch Frenzy Friday, has created an absolutely wonderful sketch.  But, I really had a time with it.  I blame the weather, and my extra hours put in at work.  Im sure that you will create something just stunning!

Here is Deb's sketch:

See what I mean?  A great sketch!  Let's create!

I really enjoyed the process of making this card.  I used river rock cardstock as the base.  I used Fan Fair DSP for this card.  I matted the graph paper in not quite navy cardstock.  I used two other patterns from the same package.  I used a square punch to create the flag ends.  I used the first edition DSP to create the paper blossom.  I scrunched them and used a small soda pop top to create the center of the blossom.  I punch a super small circle out of the FF DSP and early espresso bakers twine tied in a bow.  

I opted to add two stacked embellishments to the lower corner.  The ticket was stamped in Not Quite Navy classic ink, and the postage stamp in Soft Suede classic ink.  This card is pretty much Clean and Simple, for me.

I hope that you have found some inspiration.  I'm sure that we would love to see what you create!

~stop by Sunday, May 12th, for your chance to win some blog candy~