Just Because (it's Spring)...

A happy Monday to you!  Today's card is a soft, pastel, shabby little spring number, for no reason other than to send something pretty with a short note inside. :)

After I had embossed the pale pink and yellow patterned paper, I decided I like the subtlety of the back side better than the deep detail of the front, so I ran a second sheet of the same paper through the embossing folder so the right side of the paper showed the wrong side of the embossing.  (There's no rule you have to do things "the right way," right? LOL)

Here's the end result...

Because the digital collage has a basket of flowers and roses beneath it, I keep the floral decoration on the card to a single pink rose on top of a couple pink bows...used a pearl spray in lieu of the usual pearl flourish...and tucked a tiny sentiment tag into a painted and embellished memo pin...

The frame around the digital collage is adhered to the card with foam tape...the collage itself is popped up again from the frame for even more dimension...

I couldn't find the right wider lace to run across the front, so I "made" one by running two lengths of narrow scalloped lace with the straight edges meeting in the middle, and ran a double row of pearls across the "seam" to hide it...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   Melissa Frances Pearl (pink);    Prima Divine collection (green dot)

Punches:   Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace and Medium Branch

Dies:   Spellbinders Opulent Ovals      Embossing folder:   Cuttlebug Geometric Rings 

Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com       Paper rose & pearl spray:  local craft store       Pearls:  Recollections

Tim Holtz Memo Pin       Hug snug seam binding

Digital collage elements:

Music paper:  FreeVintageDigiStamps.blogspot.com

Hexagon grid:  PrintablePaper.net

Pink paper:   Memory Makers Wild Sorbet

Flower basket and roses:   VintageImages.org

Tree:   TheGraphicsFairy.com

Ticket:  AstridsArtisticEfforts.blogspot.com

Thank you for visiting today...I hope your week is starting with a smile!

Hybrid Happy - Take Three...

And another happy Friday is upon us...the last one in April...this month has flown by so fast for me!

Today's card features the same digital paper used as the background for the card front and for the small digital collage that's the focal point.  Backgrounds of soft blue and yellow, with a touch of kraft around the edges, and tea-dyed lace, are contrasted by the bright colors in the teacup and bouquet of roses in it.  It uses one of my favorite sentiment stamps - it's such a wonderful sentiment for a friendship card, or as a thank you note...

There's such a light coating of clear coarse glitter scattered around the roses in the teacup that it hardly shows up in the photos - but it's there...

One single red rose centered between two pale yellow roses mimics the rose bouquet in the teacup...

And lastly, a view of the inside that also shows the dimension on the card front...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:  Designer Digitals/KPertiet Color Challenge 92009-1 (blue); 

 Playing with Brushes Torn Paper (distressed edges)

Digital Collage Elements:

Flowers and Grapes:  VintageImages.org     

French sign, teacup, spoon:  TheGraphicsFairy.com

Ticket:  AstridsArtisticEfforts.blogspot.com

Butterfly:  Dover Publications

Cuttlebug Textile Textures Embossing Folder      Lace:  TheFunkieJunkie.com       Sentiment stamp:  Technique Tuesday

Roses:   Wild Orchid Crafts       Pearls:  Recollections

Thanks for taking the time to visit today...I hope you have a great weekend!

Damask and Dots...

It all started when I opened the drawer of 12x12 patterned papers again (a drawer that's been a little bit ignored lately since I've been obsessively using my 6x6 pads of papers).   :)

I had decided to put some of my "older" papers to use...when I came across a wonderful soft aqua damask with corners fading to black and white polka dots.  Then I remembered I had another paper that was only black and white dots...and lo and behold, the dots were the same shades and the same size, even though they were different manufacturer's papers...and I was off and running with the design of today's card.

Small two-tone roses of white and aqua were the perfect fit here, as were two tiny pink rosebuds for just a touch of the unexpected color...

The shabby fabric rose started out white...I used a few different colors of watered down Distress Inks to get the soft aqua shade I was going for, and dyed some Hug Snug seam binding to match while I was at it...

A pearl corsage pin was embellished with a pink gem spacer, pearls in different sizes and shades, and an antique gold spacer...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   Kaisercraft Sublime/Majesty (dot);   Glitz Hoopla Pipework (teal damask & dot)

Dies:   Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeabilities;   My Favorite Things Royal Leaves

Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com        Paper  Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts         Shabby rose:   Frogfeathers on Etsy

Pearls:   Recollections and Prima       Hug Snug seam binding       Handcrafted stick pin

Thanks so much for visiting today!

TSTR - Spring Bliss...

It's the start of a new week, and  I'm tickled pink to have been invited to be a Guest Designer at The Shabby Tea Room . With the theme "Spring Bliss," you know it's going to be another fun challenge!  Debbie's our host, and our challenge is to use yellow, green, and white, and include a flower and polka dots.

Here's my card for this week's challenge...

based on this pretty photo:

Yes, I can guess what you're probably thinking. When I first saw this photo, I pulled daisies out of my flower stash to use on my card.  But then I remembered that I had some cherry blossoms in there, too...and cherry blossoms are one of the first signs of spring...so white cherry blossoms it was...just for the fun of it. :) 

As you can see, there was a lot of die-cutting done for this card.  The outside finished dimensions are 4" x 6", and the largest die on the front is backed with lightweight white chipboard to support the edges while the card is standing upright.  The inside die cut topped with the yellow polka dot paper is adhered with foam tape for just a bit of dimension.

Then the spray of cherry blossoms, leaves, pearls, and a small yellow seam binding bow were added...

and just a snippet of pretty white lace topped with a double line of white pearls...

and lastly, a peek at the inside...

Supplies:

Patterned paper:   Echo Park Dots & Stripes/Candy Shoppe collection

Dies:   Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles;  Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork;  My Favorite Things Royal Leaves

Cherry blossoms:  Wild Orchid Crafts       Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com       Pearls:   Recollections

Sentiment stamp:   Inkadinkado       Hug Snug seam binding

Thanks for stopping in for a visit...I hope your week is starting with a smile!

Squaring Off (From A Different Angle)...

Happy Friday, everyone!  I'm ending the week with a short post of a happy little card.

I was playing with another new die set the other day, and one of the pieces is a large "corner" die. I've seen dies similar to this used on square cards, but they were smaller dies than this one, so my new toy required a little bit more imagination on my part to make it work on the size cards I tend to make.  But I think I was successful! :)

Once I decided on the background paper, and placed the die on the diagonal, it took a bit of shuffling the pieces around to decide where I wanted to place the flower cluster and lace.  Once again, it meant I had to keep myself from going with familiar placements and just let the embellishments "go with the flow" of the design...

By running the tea-dyed lace up the diagonal line between the die cut and paper, it almost forced the cluster to the top corner...putting it there keeps the design balanced now, but also leaves me the option to add a sentiment on the lower right if I decide to do so later...

I cut one of my handcrafted pearl wire spirals in two, putting the shorter piece on the top of the cluster, and the longer piece at the bottom over the small seam binding bow...

Supplies:

Patterned paper:  Prima IOD Rue 88 Coordinates 3 (digital)

Dies:   Spellbinders Gold Elements One;   My Favorite Things Royal Leaves;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves

Punch:  EK Success Double Crochet Lace       Scalloped lace:  TheFunkieJunkie.com

Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts       Pearls:  Recollections       Handcrafted pearl wire spiral       Hug Snug Seam Binding

Thank you for visiting today...I hope you have a great weekend! 

Blessed to Call You Friend...

Today  I chose a card to feature that uses soft, calming colors...one of which, yellow, is a color signifying hope, optimism, healing energy (in feng shui), and in Japan, of courage...wished for all of those affected by Monday's tragic events in Boston.

When I find a trio of patterns I want to use together, I usually turn to a "tried and true" paper layout, and put a bit of a different spin on it, by varying sizes or shapes with different edges, as on today's card...

Only the top pieces were edge punched with a decorative scallop...but the edges of all the pieces were dry brushed with white paint for a shabby touch...

The chipboard heart frame was painted, inked, then lightly glittered...and there's just one lone pale grey-blue flower admidst all the pale yellow ones...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:   Kaisercraft Rustic Charm collection       Chipboard heart:   Maya Road        

Gold rose trim:   SuhaFuha on Etsy         Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com       Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts      

 Pearls:   Prima and Recollections       Sentiment Stamp:  Papertrey Ink        Punch:  Martha Stewart Medium Branch

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Just A(nother) Note...

Happy Monday to you!  This week is starting off with a light and fun note card...and believe it or not, no additional flowers except those in the digital collage on the card front!

Without a flower cluster to assemble, it seemed as though this card went together so quickly - but each time I played with adding more dimension to it with embellishments, it looked overdone - so I left it alone.

Once again, I used the dry brush technique around the punched edges, and some ink, paint, and distressing on the paper/cardstock elements...

I used a heavier coating of clear coarse glitter on the Eiffel Tower to give it the illusion of the tower sparkling with tiny lights...it adds a nice dimensional touch to the flatness of the digi collage...

A couple Hug Snug bows topped with a single large pearl are accented with a pearl wire spiral and a tiny sentiment tag...

And finally, a peek at the inside...all the edges of this card were dry brushed with white paint...inside and out, front and back...

Supplies:

Patterned paper:  Prima Divine collection       Edge punch:  Martha Stewart Cherish PATP   

Hug Snug seam binding       Large pearl:  Recollections       Lace:  TheFunkieJunkie.com

Leaves:  My Favorite Things Royal Leaves die       Handcrafted pearl wire spiral

Digital Collage elements:   

Eiffel Tower, Eiffel Tower postmark, French labels:  TheGraphicsFairy.com

Roses:  TheVintageMoth.blogspot.com;  VintageImages.org

Ticket:  AstridsArtisticEfforts.blogspot.com

Papers:  Designer Digitals: MTerasawa Color Challenge July 19 (aqua);  KPertiet Inspiring-4 (dot);

LynnG Crisp 2 (edge detail);  KHMize Measured Edges Grungy (rulers)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit...I hope your week is starting with a smile!

(Pretty in) Pink Thank-Yous...

Happy Friday!  I have a fun photo-heavy post to end the week on, so I invite you to pull up a chair and visit for a few minutes while you sip on a favorite beverage, and maybe sneak in a snack or two. :)

I mentioned last week that my crafting had gone on a "pink streak" lately...it seemed that no matter what color I started with, pink worked its way into the design.  Sometimes I wonder if I should buy Core'dinations Lotus Flower cardstock in bulk, because it seems to be the perfect shade of pink to work its way onto so many of my card projects!

The first thank you card for today is French-themed, with a fun digi collage as the focal point, and lots of lacy accents...

Soft pink, cream, and neutral paper roses and pearls are clustered to the right of the collage and the strip of tea-dyed crocheted lace that's also accented with small pearls...

The sentiment was stamped on a small tab to the left of the collage, and accented with pearls...I put the sentiment to this side so I could bring the tan color back to the left side to counter all the tan on the right side...

And if you know me, you know glitter has to work its way onto the collage somehow :)...just a light touch...around the petals of the roses at the top of the boot...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:  Graphic 45 A Ladies Diary collection/Timeless Memoir & Delicate Details

Die:  My Favorite Things Royal Leaves      Punch:  Martha Stewart Doily Lace       Lace:  TheFunkieJunkie.com

Pearls:  Recollections       Roses:  Wild Orchid Crafts       Sentiment stamp:  Papertrey Ink

Digital Collage Elements:   Boot/flowers, Rose cluster:  VintageImages.org;    French label:  TheGraphicsFairy.com;

French postmark:  SKrieger/French Laundry Frames;    Background paper:  Samantha Walker Cuckoo Melon Dot

Next up, a sweet pair of Thank-You minis...3-1/2" x 5" cards that pack a big punch for their smaller size...

The portrait-oriented card is done in soft shades of pink, cream, and taupe. Hopefully you can see this detail, but on both cards, the tulle bunched under a corner of the flower has a light dusting of clear coarse glitter...it adds a beautiful sparkle to the shabby details of the flowers...

The lace on this card is tea-dyed, then touched up with some Spun Sugar Distress Ink on a watercolor pen for a little extra blush of color next to the taupe shabby flower...

The landscape-oriented card is all pink and bright white, for a livelier feel...

And lastly, a peek at the insides, that have been "shabbied up," too...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:  Glitz French Kiss collection;  Basic Grey Cream Basics and White Basics collections;  Bo Bunny Chiffon Dot;  Echo Park Dots & Stripes/Candy Shoppe collection

Shabby fabric roses:  Frogfeathers on Etsy       Punches:  Martha Stewart Cherish;  EK Success Dotted Scallop

Dies:  My Favorite Things Royal Leaves       Laces:  TheFunkieJunkie.com

Sentiment stamps:  Fiskars       Pearls:  Recollections       Paper flowers:  Prima and Wild Orchid Crafts

Miscellaneous:  tulle, clear coarse glitter

Thanks for visiting today...have a great weekend!

Sending Smiles...

Good Wednesday morning, all!  With today's card, I got my "crafty" on. :)  I put together another digital paper with a fun torn paper edge detail, then got out the paints and dies for the window...shabbiness everywhere on this one!

I like this sentiment, because it's appropriate for several different card-sending reasons...friendship/have a nice day...get well...so sorry you're going through tough times...and maybe a few more.  I always like to keep a few of this type of card handy...you never know when you'll need one quickly.

I wanted this card to be feminine with a definite spring/summer feel, so there had to be lots of flowers along with the shabby crocheted laces...

The old and worn looking window was fun to make.  I started by die cutting the window from white chipboard, then coated it with a medium-thick coating of Ranger Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.  When that had dried and crackled (with a little assist from my heat gun...have I mentioned that patience is not really one of my virtues? LOL), I brushed on a coating of white acrylic paint, wiping some of it away here and there.  The final step to making it look very old and worn was to take the tip of my craft knife, and actually chip away some of the paint all the way down to the chipboard base...

Here's a better view of the bottom of the window...

A side view, with a peek to the inside...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:  Digi paper (blue):  KPertiet/Designer Digitals/Color Challenge 92009-1;  Playing With Brushes Torn Paper;    Prima Almanac collection (pink)

Dies:  Poppystamps Small Madison Window;  Sizzix Flowers Branches and Leaves

Embossing folder:  Cuttlebug Dots       Flowers:  Prima, Wild Orchid Crafts, local craft store       Pearls:  Recollections

Laces:  local craft stores      Hug Snug seam binding      Handcrafted stick pin

Thanks for visiting today...I hope your week is a fun one so far!