Beautiful Text; gift card holder

Welcome.  This will be a quick post, as I am busy trying to get several crafts finished for a local craft fair on Saturday.  [these will be present for sale]

I wanted to share a sweet pair of gift card holders I recently made.  I am entering this other gift card holder in a challenge over @ Word Art Wednesday.  Their current challenge is 'Anything Goes' family friendly.

blue version

a little something for you

a pink version

a little something for you

Recipe:  I used vintage cream card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the base.  I love this heavy weight card stock.  Its nice and thick, and holds up to added embellishments.  {smile}
I used the same Melissa Frances text pattern paper.  I matted it with either pool party card stock, or pink pirouette card stock; both by Stampin' Up!  I did some machine stitching.  I stitched some scrap pieces of lace/toile trim to the fronts.  Made multi-loop bows out of seam binding.  And added a tag.
I used the same stamp on the inside.  Heat embossed.  One in blue. and one in blue.

Thank you for looking!  I hope you have been inspired to play along in either of these fabulous challenge sites.  {smile}

Special Edition #260: Card

Welcome.  I was busy late last week crafting, and then I went out of town.  I wasn't able to post before I left, and I didn't bring my laptop with me.  {frown; sorry}

I am still working on using my scrap pieces of pattern paper. I wanted to use the scraps I have left over from my little mini composition notebook, to create a card.  {smile}

To help me with some direction, I headed over to Just Add Ink Challenge.  These talented ladies have a great sketch as their current challenge.  You will be inspired.

Now, when I first saw this sketch, I instantly saw many possibilities.  The circle could be a doily, or a blossom. The rectangles could be pretty pattern papers.  And the banner, could be ribbon, lace, or words!  And that's just what I did:

Recipe:  I used Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up! as the card base.  Love this soft, pale blue color.  Very pretty!  I used Authentique Renew pattern paper (Flourish).  I added a double machine stitch border.  

For the center rectangle, I added a Coffee Break journal tag, by prima.  I love how the aqua blue and black polka dot tag coordinates so well with the Flourish pattern paper.

I added a pool party seam binding multi-loop bow, to cover the red blossoms on the journal tag.  I tied a vintage button to the center of the bow.  I added a double loop of cream twine below the seam binding bow.  I included a tiny tag, with Mother hand-stamped on it, in basic black classic ink.

I added a strip of white lace trim, where the banner piece went.  I also added a strip of aqua mist satin ribbon on top of the lace trim.

The aqua blue fabric blossom, I purchased.  It was on clearance at a big box store.  I just love well the colors match!

Stay tuned tomorrow.  I will be posting another card-gift combo, and a gift card holder.  I'll give you a little insight.  I used mostly white/cream!

Foot Loose, Noted

Welcome.  I'm still crafting with supplies I have on hand.  While I was looking through my scrap box, in the search of pattern papers to use in my altered, decorated tins, I found these beautiful aqua blue pattern papers.  I need at least one scrap strip 1" x 12", for my tins.  These beautiful aqua pattern paper scraps weren't the length that I was looking for.  But they are beautiful!  So, I looked through other my other supplies, and I found a mini composition notebook that I could alter and decorate. {score!}
So, I am entering my little notebook in two current challenges:  Brown Sugar Challenge and Crafts 4 Eternity.  Both of these challenge sites, have an anything goes challenge going on.  For great inspiration, and some very clever crafting, PLEASE stop by both of these challenge sites.  You WILL be inspired!

I used some 'old' Authentique pattern papers.  The inside of the notebook is lined with the aqua and black polka dot pattern paper, that I used on the inside of the pen barrel.

I kept the cover of this notebook fairly flat, because these little gems are a favorite to add to a handbag or back pack.  And yeah, I added machine stitching!

Lately, I have been obsessed with cotton trim along one side, or to help 'hide' a seam.  The focal panel on the front of this little notebook, is actually a journalling block.  I trimmed it down to be better proportioned to the cover, and to fit inside the machine stitching.  I really loved the splashes of yellow throughout this pattern paper collection.  So, I made sure I added yellow accents: fabric floral trim, and papaya satin ribbon (by Amuse Studios).

Thank you for looking.  I'm still crafting! {smile}

Roses and Butterflies: Card

Howdy!  I am still working with my vintage spring pattern papers by Maja Design.  {smile}  This pattern paper I selected today, doesn't have pink or aqua colors in it.  Surprised?  It actually has purples, blues, and yellows in it.  The front side of this pattern paper has a faded calendar with yellow birds and April written in blue.  The other side of this pattern paper is paisley print.  

To help me get a direction on the construction of this card, I stopped by the Crazy 4 Challenges, to get a peek at their sketch.  And boy, am I in love with the sketch!  So many possibilities, and the design team did an awesome job with their inspiration.  {smile}

When I first saw this sketch, the circles look like the flowers, buttons, and pleated rosettes.  The white rectangle at the top looks like the perfect shape for a sentiment banner.  And here is what I made:

I made this card for my sweet daughter.  She loves blue.  It's her favorite color.  So, I was a little nervous about the faded color accents of blue, yellow, and purple.  But, I think she will love it {smile}

Recipe:  I started this card with my favorite kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  I just love the color and texture of this card stock.  I used one piece of pattern paper.  I just used both sides of the paper (not too clever, just resourceful).

My design allows me to showcase all three circles.  The large yellow paper blossom occupies the white circle shape.  And then I used a pair of yellow paper roses with leaves to occupy the small upper circle.  Then I added a multi-loop bow of pale lavender seam binding, and a white resin button to occupy the space of the small circle on the right.

I added a wide cotton trim to the left side of the top panel.  I however must confess that I cut my panel too short.  {grimace}

I machine stitched a double border around the center panel, and distressing to help the card look vintage.  I added some brown ink sponging along all the edges, along with a thread cutter and my finger nail to rough the paper edges.

The blossoms and seam binding were very 'clean'.  So, to help distress, I added some white acrylic paint to the blossom petal tips, and randomly on the top pieces of the seam binding.

I cut leaves with two different hand held punches.  I sponged the edges of the leaves with more brown ink.  I added a white butterfly stick pin I easily purchased 8 years ago at a local scrapbook store.

For the sentiment I stamped the greeting in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink, onto very vanilla card stock.  Then I matted the sentiment onto a scrap piece of heather card stock by Amuse Studio.  I adhered the sentiment to the card front, but also added a staple to help add in the overall look.

To add a little sparkle, I added two sets of sequin trios.  Both trios consist of one 6mm marshmallow sequins, and two 4mm lemon meringue sequins, by Pretty Pink Posh.

Thank you for looking at my creation.  I hope you have been inspired to craft a beautiful card using this current sketch, and paper crafting supplies you already have on hand.  {smile}

Sew Glad We're Friends, Gift Card Holders

Howdy!  If you stopped by the other day, I shared with you a greeting card, and a decorated mini notebook I crafted using some special pattern papers from Maja Designs and Pion Designs.  Well, I didn't stop there!  I used some of the scraps to make two different, but equally beautiful gift card holders.  I am entering them in a current challenge over @ Word Art Wednesday.  They have an 'Anything Goes, Family Friendly' challenge.  The ladies on this design team, as super talented.  They always include a scripture from the bible, and provide a clip art of the verse to use in your paper crafting.  I however, did not include the scripture.

here is my entry: friends

For this gift card holder, I used a seriously retired pale plum card stock from Stampin' Up!.  I thought this color of card stock matched the background on the pink floral pattern paper.  The scraps I had were a bit narrower than I wanted, so I matted them onto Heather card stock from Amuse Studio.  I like how it compliments the pale plum card stock.  

Anyways, I did some machine stitching, added a scrap piece of white lace.  I have just a few of these half spools left over from a Tilda purchase last year.  [yes, I hoard some things {smile}].  I wrapped a scrap piece of cream crochet trim from Stampin' Up! I had laying on my craft table.  I created another double bow from this pale lavender seam binding.  I stuck in a button stick pin, from a recent Etsy purchase.  I also added a tiny hand made tag, that is hand-stamped with 'friends' in basic black classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  The inside of this gift card holder is hand-stamped and heat embossed with 'Wonderful You', in pewter embossing powder.

For this gift card holder, I used Lagoon card stock by Stampin' Up!.  Instead of using solid card stock for my matt, I used a scrap piece of this pattern paper.  Its this wonderful grey, charcoal-like color.  It matches the colors in the leaves of the blue floral pattern paper.  [the reverse side, is what I used for the pink lady on the previous gift card holder.]

I added some machine stitching, as well.  I also added a scrap piece of this white crochet trim I recently purchased from Etsy.  I added a pale pink triple-bow, and tied a vintage cream button to the bow.  I made another tiny tag, and hand-stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink, by Stampin' Up!  This inside is also hand-stamped with 'Wishing you all the Best', and heat embossed with pewter embossing powder.

Thank you for looking!  I am really working on using what I have, and that includes scraps.  I know these are all one-of-a-kind creations, so it will be hard to reproduce them without making another purchase.  I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it. {smile}

Vintage Butterfly

Welcome.  I opened a pattern paper purchase, I have been saving.  Yes, saving.  I imagine all of us who have a passion for paper crafting, we save special, pretty pattern paper for just the right project.  And, I really need to use what I have.  {smile}.  

This pattern paper is Maja Design, and Pion Design, both companies are from Sweden.  Yes, I ordered paper from a cross the pond.  And yes, paper is heavy.  But, I am truly happy with my purchase from almost 2 years ago.  {smile}  Vintage Spring (butterfly pattern paper), Vintage Summer (floral pattern paper), pattern papers from Maja Design.  The text paper is from Pion Design.

Ok, so back to my crafting.  I wanted to make several items with these papers, but needed a little inspiration.  So, I stopped by Cardabilites to get a peek at their current challenge.  The design team really craft some gorgeous paper crafts.  You should check out their creations.  {smile}

here is the card I made using this sketch:

I am also entering the challenge over @ Just Add Ink.  Their current challenge is to use sequins.  I love adding these little sparkly gems {smile}.

I also covered and decorated a mini composition notebook.  The notebook is also lined with this beautiful blue floral pattern paper.  The text paper was added to the barrel of the pen. {smile}

I used a  thread cutter to rough the edges of this heavy weight pattern paper.  I sponged all the edges with corduroy distress ink.  I did machine stitch these pattern papers together.  I just love how home-y machine stitching gives a craft.

The fancy oval frame I stamped onto vellum card stock and used pewter (card) and antique gold (notebook) embossing powders.

I used a pale pink seam binding to make my double loop bows.  The greeting card also has a pale cream seam binding bow tied around the pink bow.  I tied a button to each multi-loop bow.  I also added these faceted pearls.  On the greeting card, I added pink and marshmallow sequins to the card front.

The butterflies are actually cut with an embossing die.  I used some retired wood sheets from Stampin' Up! for the added rustic charm.

Thank you for looking.  I will try to get some beautiful photos of the gift card holders I crafted, using these pattern papers.  And yeah,  these items will be for sale at my Spring Craft Fair Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Albuquerque, NM, @ La Cueva High School.  My booth assignment is M-31.  Main concourse.  Hope to see you there!