Shabby Girl's Life; Book

Howdy, and welcome.  I set back into my craft room, to create another spiral bound book.  I wanted to make something girly, shabby-chic, and a pretty place to jot down what makes you happy!  To help give me a direction, and a bit of inspiration, I headed over to a favorite sketch challenge site @ Cardabilities .  The design team, will certainly give you some inspiration and the sketches are so easy to work with.  

Here is the current challenge (soon to close)

I found this sketch a breeze to work with.  The simplicity of it, allows you to do a little or a lot.  And the layers!  Who doesn't love layers?  I do!  And what about that sweet banner hanging across the top!  You know I had to use this sketch!  {smile}

and here is what I created:

I haven't bound my book yet, with the spirals.  Only because I haven't finished the covers.  And this challenge is closing soon!  I also haven't decided if I want to put the spirals at the ends, or add them to the center.  hmmm.  But, without the spirals, let me give you the recipe.
Recipe:  I used chip board for the cover.  I adhered pool party cardstock to the chipboard.  I just love this color of aqua blue.
The text pattern paper, is Melissa Frances.  I just love this paper!  Love it so much I bought a whole package of it!  Yep! 25 sheets of this one pattern paper.  I did a simple machine stitching along the border, and added a trio of zig zag stitches at the bottom right and upper left.  You know, to add some spice {smile}!
I layered the text pattern paper with a scrap piece of Bazzil pattern paper,  the Vintage Marketplace collection.  Love this collection of shady chic sweetness!  I did a double border with my sewing machine.  I added a half pink paper doily to the lower third of this pattern paper.  Then I wrapped a piece of mint lace trim, from Stampin' Up! to cover the doily seam.
I stamped my sentiment in basic black classic ink, on very vanilla card stock, both by Stampin' Up!.  I used a favorite stamp set; Favorite Memories by Technique Tuesday.  I cut the banner end with scissors.  I adhered this piece over the top of the lace trim.
I wanted to add a little something else, so I cut out a 1" circle of a thread label and tucked it behind the sentiment, but purposefully left the 'Handmade' visible.  I just love the aqua blue color with the typewriter font!
I hot glued the paper blossom, to the left of the sentiment.  I tied a kraft vintage button by Paper Trey Ink, to a multi-loop bow made of pale pink seam binding.  I hot glued this ribbon 'bundle' and tucked it in close to the paper blossom.
For the banner swag, I die cut a row of hearts, using the reverse side of the Bazzill pattern paper.  I also machine stitched this banner to the front of the cover.
I used a thread cutter to distress the edges of the pattern papers.  I also sponged kraft ink on all of the edges.  I haven't decided if I want to add some white paint and glitter to the paper blossom petal tips.
I haven't quite decided if I will be filling this spiral notebook with blank pages only, or adding a few pockets.  And, I'm not too sure how the spirals may 'alter' the cover.
Stay tuned, I might be able to finish this spiral notebook this week.  And yeah, it will be for sale in my Etsy shop once it is done.   Thank you for looking!

Blue Scripture NotePad

Howdy, and welcome.  As some of you know, I sell a majority of my crafts at local Arts and Craft Fairs.  My biggest ones (traffic wise) are during the holidays.  And so, whenever I can grab an hour or so, I am using in my craft room putting something together.

Anyways, I have a few religious girl friends who share their thoughts and outlooks on life with me.  I have made them prayer books before, and little notepads with a scripture on them.  These little gems usually turn out quite beautiful and so I am making some for the holiday craft fairs.  

I am entering this little creation in the current challenge over @ Brown Sugar Challenge : 

anything goes

And since I originally got this scripture from the wonderfully talented ladies over @ Word Art Wednesday, I figure I'll enter their current challenge:  

anything goes / family friendly

Here is my hand-crafted skinny notepad:

I used some pattern paper I already had on hand.  {yeah, its ridiculous the amount of stuff my craft room can hold.}  The pattern papers (3) come from the same collection.  I machine stitched the seam binding and the lace trim to the cover.  The cameo is tied to the multi-loop bow with kraft twine, and adhered to the cover.  The cameo is not adhered to the cover, so it has some movement.  The light brown fabric blossom is adhered to the cover with a glue gun.  

The decorated clip at the bottom holds the notepad closed, incase you want to take your notepad with you.  It fits wonderfully in a tote/back pack/hand bag.  Or simply move the clip to the top of the notepad and it will hang from a message board.

This skinny notepad is prefect for making lists.  It has 25 pages of lined paper inside.  This notepad is currently for sale in my Etsy shop HERE.

Have a great weekend.  I am heading back into my craft room.  I want to make another book similar to the one I made yesterday.  But this one, I want to add some prayers.  I'm thinking 4 1/2" x 6", again, for the size.  That way, you have room for photos (from social media) and room to write, journal, or simply jot notes down.  I'm thinking of making about 10 of these for the craft fairs.  I'll post them in my Etsy shop first, before they make it to the craft fairs.  Remember, my first craft fair starts the beginning of November 2015.  So far, I am in 3 craft fairs.  I am a possible vendor for a fourth craft fair.  And as always arriving early provides you with the best selection.

5 x 5 Creative Challenge

~ Photo Heavy Post ~

Howdy!  So, I'm back.  I posted a few days ago, a creative challenge for you:  to simply note and photograph 5 things a week, to document those precious moments in your life.  I also stated that this challenge would begin on August 1, 2015, so you would have time to create a special book to keep your documented blessings.  I set out into my craft room today, to create my book.  And I want to share it with you.  

here is the cover:

I used the current sketch from Mojo Monday to help get the creative juices flowing for this project.  

Here is the sketch:

I hope no one is surprised that I used a flower for one of the circle elements {smile}

I am also entering the creative challenge over @ Scrap-Pygovka.   Their challenge is make a cover/book.  Something that holds documents/pages.

And that is what I have done.  This book contains blank pages now, but soon they will start getting filled with what I find precious, memorable, and meaning in my life. {smile}

Also, last but certainly not least.  I am entering the challenge over @Kafe Scrapo Mama.   These ladies are super talented and very inspirational.  I do encourage you to see what they have created.

Their challenge is to add one mandatory white flower to your project, and no other requirement.

More photos of my project:

inside front cover:

inside back cover:

and finally, the back of the book:

Recipe:  I used paper and embellishments I have in my craft room.  And I used what I love.  {smile}

Cover:  The pink text paper is from Webster's Pages, and the floral paper is from Tilda.  I used a big white Prima Marketing blossom.  I stamped the 'vintage' camera in black ink, onto very vanilla card stock, by Stampin' Up! and fussy cut.  I used foam tape to adhere the camera to a text print paper.  (The camera and sentiment both come from Shutter Bug stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.)    The clock brad comes from LemonCraft.  I added a scrap piece of that beautiful pale blue-green and brown polka dot paper  (Stella Rose) to the seam where the two pattern papers meet.  I also added some crochet trim and pale pink seam binding, and machine stitched them to the cover.  I added a multi-loop bow to the cover, and tied on an aqua mist vintage button, by Paper Trey Ink.  I added a double bow of the kraft twine under the seam binding bow.  The tiny brown paper blossom was tucked in just above the big white blossom.   

Inside front Cover:  I used pattern papers from the Stella Rose collection and machine stitched them to the front cover.  I added an ATC card from the Coffee Break collection by Prima.  I just love how positive the sentiment is.

Inside back Cover:  I used a large scrap piece of the blossom paper I used on the front cover, by Tilda.  I just love the tiny blossoms, and  the vintage look of this paper.  I added a long banner piece cut from the same Websters Pages paper.  I used a photo corner punch to create the banner end.  I added some machine stitching to the top of this banner piece.  I added another of the Coffee Break ATC's.  I love this piece.  A coffee cup, a vintage typewriter in that gorgeous aqua blue color and some beautiful home-grown roses.

Back Cover:  I used a scrap piece of the pink patten paper from the cover, by Webster's Pages.  I love the different fonts in white, and the scallop edge.  Very beautiful!  and I stamped my 'brand' on the back in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink, by Stampin' Up!.  

If you noticed, the pages inside are blank.  That way, I can decorate them as I want, as I go.  Because I am not sure on how I will display my photos.  And I wanted to use my favorite kraft card stock on the inside.  

I used my Bind-It-All, to create the holes and connect the spiral rings to my book.  I used 1" antique gold rings for this book.

Well, thank you for looking.  I hope you play along with my challenge.  This creative 5 x 5 challenge begins August 1, 2015.  All you need to do, is take 5 photos a week, capturing the moments that make your life special, memorable, and uniquely YOU, and write one minute for each photo.  Either share your photos in social media, a blog, or a journal.  I believe that a majority of our lives should be 'off record'.  And so, I will share with you, HERE on this blog, 2 of my weekly photos.  

Bigger Gift Card Holder

~ photo heavy post ~

welcome.  I hope you are well, and finding time to express your creativity.  Me, yeah.  I love cooking/baking, as much as paper crafting.  So, I have been busy making bulk meals.  You know, where you make 3-4 dinners of the same dinner, and freeze them for later.  That way, when you are running late, you just pop them in the oven, and viola!  Lasagne, casseroles, meatloaf, enchiladas, and roasted chicken are what I make.  I do a traditional lasagne and a 'white' lasagne.  The white lasagne has chicken, an alfredo sauce and green chili in it.  A 'New Mexico' spin on a wonderful dish.  I also roast chicken breasts and thighs.  I prefer mine with the bone-in and skin-on.  Rub the skin with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper, in an 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  De-bone the chicken, cut up the meat, package in 2 cup freezer bags, and viola!  Now you have chicken available to add to recipes and go!

But through all of this, I did stop and craft {smile}.  I make gift card holders to sell at my craft fairs.  But these holders hold just the gift card.  You know, the kind you get at Starbucks, or a major retailer. I have a girl friend who buys all of her gift cards at the grocery store or Walgreens.  And well, those gift cards are 'packaged'.  And she doesn't want to rip them open to get to the gift card to put in one of my gift card holders.  So, I am making some of the holiday craft fairs, to see how well, or not so well they do.  

I made one last year for this particular friend, (see post here) and she just LOVED it!  So, I am on a crafting mission.  However, when I made that one, I didn't write down dimensions, because I thought that I would remember.  Well, I didn't and I didn't show images of it opened.  {frown}  

so without further ado, here it is:

I am not too set with the straight edges.  But, I am happy with how the front looks.  I used this beautiful pale aqua blue color card stock in solid and two various patterns for the front.  The polka dot paper is from Paper Trey Ink, and the interlocking circle pattern paper is from Carta Bella.  The floral pattern paper is actually a digital paper.

I did a simple border stitch with my sewing machine, around a few pieces.  I just love the look it gives my crafts.  {smile} homemade!

Here is the flap open, to 'present' the gift card.  I continued the polka dot pattern paper on the inside.  The 'label' is heat embossed with the sentiment: happy birthday, in silver.  That panel is not attached, so you can write something.  I'm not too sure about that either.

I think I would like my 'holder' panel to have a higher bottom lip.  But, I haven't totally decided on that.  I also think that I would like a belly band.  But, I wasn't too sure when I created one, here.  Maybe a bow to hold it closed?  But, can everyone re-tie the bow?  UGH!

I tied a junk bow on the front.  I thought these little scraps of trim looked sweet with the front.  And yeah, I do have seam binding that matches that pale purple textured card stock.  

The polka dot brad I had on my craft table, and unfortunately, I can't remember where it came from.  If I had to guess, I'd say My Mind's Eye Nostalgia collection.  But, I could be wrong.  The silver rim makes me think that it could be from Carta Bella.  {frown}

My other 'problem' with this gift card holder, is that it is a bit flimsy.  Because the top and bottom flaps have layers and embellishments, the over all holder seems light in the back.  And that makes me want to add pattern paper to the back.  And I don't know if I want to do that.  Maybe, I'll add a matt to the inside of the holder, where the gift card sits, to allow a space to write a note.  I know this shouldn't be this hard!  And I also need to have a price.  Let me get a prototype complete that I am super happy with first.  And then I can easily do a price.  And I promise, I'll share that one with dimensions!  But, I am sure that, that won't be this weekend.  

Enjoy your weekend!  I'm headed into my craft room, to create my 'book' to hold my 5 x 5 weekly challenge (here)! I think I'll be using the current sketch from Mojo Monday.  {fingers crossed}

Creative Challenge

Good Morning.  I know from the title of this post, you are probably expecting a paper craft challenge.  But, no.  I have something else in mind.   Last year, I joined a 'team' and took part in the '100 day challenge'.  This challenge required you to take a photo of something that gave you joy that day, and post it.  Sounds simple, right?  Well, did you try it?  I did.  Twice.  And yep, I wasn't able to complete it.  My biggest obstacle was the photography.  I don't want photos of my kids, grandkids, husband, or home on the internet.  Call me paranoid.  But, something things I believe should NOT be on record.  And so, I didn't complete the challenge.  My own obstacles kept me from completing it.   Sad, but true.  

I was at the store the other day and saw the latest Somerset Life at the newsstand, and picked it up.  It is one of my favorite magazines.  I love this magazine for its articles.  Articles on creative people, how the juggle everything life throws at them, and articles on creative projects.  Beautiful, creative projects.  While reading this beautiful magazine this morning, in the quiet, with a hot latte, and my dog at my feet, the pages just turned themselves on inspiration from other bloggers.  

The article that totally captivated me, was 'The Simplicity of Showing Up: the 5 x 5 Creative Challenge'.  This article was written by Christina Rosalie (pg 17-23).  Very creative, very articulate, very motivating.  Her challenge is 5 photos and 5 min of writing a day.  Ok, I couldn't do the 100 day challenge of 1 photo a day.  So, to keep my spirits up, and my motivation right there with it, I have modified this challenge.  Instead of a 5 x 5 daily challenge.  I encourage you, to do the 5 x 5 weekly challenge with me!  Within a week (7 days: Sunday thru Saturday) take 5 photos of what documents your life, and gives your cause to pause and reflect on your blessings, and write one minute for each photo.  Sounds easy enough.  So, in your life of 'busy', 'not enough time' panic, and the continuous chores, slow down.  Take notice.  And document.  

Slow down in your own life, to notice these things.  As Christina says in her article, "Remember right now...  The dreamy, hazy golden light on the coast the day before your birthday... holding hands with your littlest... walking your dog under the streetlights past the rosemary and lavender bushes... remembering the taste of mint leaves and pomegranate in your salad... or the view lifting off at the airport at sunrise.  Document life with a simple noticing of the smallest moments."

You can either share with the rest of the world and post your challenge photos and writing, or simple keep it for yourself.  Make your own life documented book.  But do it!  I know for myself, these days have been jammed packed with deadlines, requirements, obligations, and necessities of life.  But it doesn't have to be mundane, or torturous, or unfulfilling.  It's your life!  Make it count!  Make memories of sweet moments!

So, to give everyone a chance to embrace this challenge, get organized, get creative, and find your own platform to 'share', this challenge will officially begin August 1, 2015, or now.  My commitment to you, is to share at least 2 photos a week here!  Somethings I just don't want out there on the www.  I do hope you join me.  Help yourself give your life sweet memories, and an inner joy.  {smile}

Vintage Green Birthday; Card

A little teaser of the card I made earlier today.  Yeah, still fighting with the internet.  Gotta love it!  It's teaching me how to have patience, and good old fashion reading from a book.  {smile}

Us ladies at work, are throwing a birthday party for one of our co-workers.  And, I was asked to make a card.  Me? Easy peasy!

I went to one of my favorite sketch challenge sites to help get the creative juices flowing:  Mojo Monday.  The sketches these ladies create are just so easy to work with.  And the design team will not disappoint you, they will inspire you!

here is the current sketch:

I did flip the sketch, so the star element is on the right side, instead of the left.

Here is what I crafted!

Once again, I used crafting supplies I already had on hand.  I originally started with a pink and green pattern papers.  But, something just didn't look 'right'.  So, I decided not to fight with it, and look at other options.  The pattern paper is Stella Rose.  I used three different papers, but four patterns.  The butterflies are the flip side of the dark wood grain pattern paper.

I used my favorite kraft card stock by Paper Studio.  This card is 6" x 4 1/4".  And uses an A6 envelope.  I layered the pattern papers, sponged the edges, and distressed.  

I used the Tasteful Trim die from Stampin' Up! to create that beautiful scallop piece.  I added a scrap piece of a delicate cream and gold lace trim to the scallop piece.  

For the star element, I used a teal paper flower.  I tucked a simple bow tied with Aqua Mist satin ribbon, by Paper Trey Ink.  

I added a trio of tiny vintage buttons is cream, aqua mist, and linen.  I tied a simple knot with kraft twine.

For the sentiment, I stamped 'Birthday Wishes' from the Watercolor Trio stamp set, in Baked Brown Sugar classic ink.  I hand cut the banner end.  I layered the cream card stock onto a scrap piece of kraft card stock, and adhered it to the top left corner of the butterfly pattern paper.

a different view

I hope our friend and co-worker likes her card, and our little party.  She is really sweet, easy to talk to, has your back, and is always willing to help you with whatever comes along.

Well, let me get this posted while I still have working internet {smile}.