Sympathy Card

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing a card that I created using products available from My Craft Spot.  Unfortunately, the brother of a colleague recently passed away rather unexpectedly.  I made this card to offer my sympathy.

I used Fancy Frames to create the frame to highlight the beautiful sentiment from My Craft Spot's With Deepest Sympathy stamp set.  The font on this set is simply gorgeous and there are such heartfelt messages available to choose from.  (You can click on the image of the stamp set below to enlarge it for a closer view.)  These messages are perfect for projects of sympathy following the loss of a loved one - but also for projects of encouragement when others are going through troubled times.

I embossed the background of my card using my Cuttlebug and also assembled a flower using cuts from Flower Shoppe.  I did some inking with some different colours of Tim Holtz distress inks too.  To finish things off, I added three little pearls under the sentiment and some fabulous Vanilla Bean crinkle ribbon, available from My Craft Spot.

 

For the inside of my card, I cut the outline of the frame used on the front and stamped another sentiment from My Craft Spot's With Deepest Sympathy stamp set.
 

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My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party - Day Three

Hello from Como, Italy!  My husband and I are still working our way around Europe so all of my posts are pre-scheduled this week.  It's our 20th wedding anniversary today!!  I'm so blessed to be loved by such an amazingly wonderful man and I thank God for our happy, love-filled marriage.

It's Day Three of the My Craft Spot stamp release party!  I have to say that today's set is something for which I have been looking for AGES!  I am so very thankful that Kimberly is releasing this set - and she's done such a lovely, lovely job with it!  This set is something I requested, so I feel especially touched that Kimberly has put it together.  You'll see its full beauty revealed on Saturday!

The back of this card is 4.25 x 5.5 and the front is 4.25 x 4.25 - plus a bit extra with the blue border, punched with a Stampin' Up punch.  The sentiment mats are from a Spellbinders Nestabilities set and the flowers are a combination of cuts from Flower Shoppe and some punches.  

I added a bow behind the flowers, using Vanilla Bean crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot.  In the centre of each flower, I added a drop of Liquid Pearls.

The inside of the card was stamped with another sentiment from today's elegant new release.  The little swirl is from My Craft Spot's Happily Ever After set (which was released earlier this year).

It's hard to believe that we are halfway through this fun week - but there is still more to come!  Be sure to head to My Craft Spot to see all the other gorgeous projects created by the rest of the design team - and to leave a comment for Kimberly for your chance to win today's prize, the Birthday Wishes stamp set.  And don't forget about Saturday's My Craft Spot blog hop - where EACH design team member will be giving away a stamp set (courtesy of Kimberly)!!  

I'll see you tomorrow with a peek at another new stamp set!

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With Deepest Sympathy

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is Buttons and Bows - and we are challenging you to include at least one button AND one bow on your project.  Unfortunately, the mother of a friend of mine recently passed away after a very short battle with cancer.  I made this card for Hettie and it was made with an enormous amount of love and prayers.

I used Easter 2010 for the cross and Flower Shoppe and punches for the flowers.  The cross is popped on the card.  I used a script Cuttlebug embossing folder for the mat.  The sentiment is computer generated and punched with a Stampin' Up window punch and shadow punch.  I used some lovely Sky Blue crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot and finished things off with a button and some pearls. 

If you are like me, you've got quite a stash of buttons, ribbons and twine in your collection of crafting supplies.  Why not get them out and make something for this week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut?!

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My Craft Spot Stamp Release Blog Hop

Check out the post below if you are looking for the Carson's Creations Embossing Blog Hop - but be sure to come right back here for the My Craft Spot Stamp Release Blog Hop!!

It's here!!  The My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party Blog Hop!  All week, the My Craft Spot design team has been showcasing projects made with the new stamps - and today you can see them ALL at the My Craft Spot blog!!  Plus, ALL sets are available for purchase and ready to ship today!  How exciting!  EACH design team member will have a stamp set to give away as well, so be sure to visit and leave comments at each blog along the way.  If you haven't been yet, start at My Craft Spot - the first stop on the hop!

I used a stamp from the Happy Easter set to make my card.  I went over the sentiment with my Stardust Gel Pen and also highlighted the edges of the sentiment mat with the same pen.  It looks so nice in real life, but I just couldn't get a photo to show the glistening.  The flowers and leaves were all cut with Flower Shoppe, each one inked.  I also dusted the edges of the large flower with some chunky glitter and spritzed the flowers with Glimmer Mist.  Everything is layered on a doily positioned on a floral embossed mat.  I finished things off with a pearl in the centre of my main flower, a couple of pearl sprigs and some Golden Harvest crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot.

As I mentioned above, EACH design team member will be giving away one of the NEW My Craft Spot stamp sets.  Kimberly has most generously donated Happily Ever After for me to give away!  This set is perfect for all your wedding creations- and then some!  (Click HERE to see projects made with the Happily Ever After set.)  For your chance to win, please follow my blog and leave a comment on this post.  I will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 3.  (And don't forget that I am giving away ANOTHER My Craft Spot stamp set on the Embossing Blog Hop post below.)

 

Your next stop along the hop is a visit to the wonderfully talented Ally at Rock Paper Cricut.  Happy hopping!!

Here is the complete blog hop line up:

Kimberly

Kate

Ally

Amber

Jayne

Bobby

Aymee

Candy

Marlene

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Cake Box

Happy New Year!  I've been on holidays (and enjoying a break from reality!) so haven't posted for a few weeks.  I do hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and holiday celebrations.  Today, we all head back to work and school.  Last semester, I finished up the course requirements of my M.Ed. and so begin my thesis project this semester.  I'm excited and scared at the same time!

I've always wanted to make a little cake-shaped box, and this week's "It's Delicious" challenge at My Craft Spot has provided me with the perfect opportunity to do so.  I used Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for the box and used a Martha Stewart lace punch for the trim.  I added cream seam binding from My Craft Spot around the trim.  The large paper flower and leaves were cut with Flower Shoppe and I used little punches to make the smaller flowers on the top and back of the box.  Glass beads were added to the centre of all the flowers too.  

I finished things off with some Vintage Vanilla crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot and a My Craft Spot sentiment from the Friends and Neighbours stamp set.  Papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Double Deck stack and the tag was hand cut from a piece of scrap cardstock. 

Please head over to My Craft Spot for some more It's Delicious inspiration, and to add your own delectable paper treat to this week's challenge for your chance to win a super prize.  Be sure to check out the new baker's twine, stamp sets and Bitty Bags too - all perfect for your Valentine's creations!

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Flower Shoppe Birthday Card - and a winner!

Welcome to another My Craft Spot challenge!  This week, it's all about Handmade Flower Power!  This provided me with just the right opportunity to use my Flower Shoppe cartridge again.

I had such a fun time creating this 5x5 card!  It came together so easily with the Flower Shoppe cuts.  I can understand why this cartridge gets such rave reviews - and I'm joining in the accolades too!  I used kraft cardstock, a blue/grey shimmer paper from DCWV's Luxury Stack and some green patterned paper from my scrap file.

The larger flower was cut using Heart2 and Scallop4.  (I cut off one of the petals on the very top layer.)  After inking the edges with a pale blue ink, I used a petal tool to distress and curl the petals and then added a touch of Glossy Accents and crystal glitter.  The double pearl center is actually from a necklace I purchased at the dollar store - with crafting in mind!!  The leaves are Ruffle5.  I scored down the middle of each and shaped a bit with the rounded end of my petal roller.  I created the small flowers in the corner by punching little flowers using various paper punches that I have and layering the cuts.  I inked the edges of those and added little pearls to the middle of each.

The frames (white and green) are both from Elegant Edges.  I also did a double border using a lace punch from Martha Stewart, sewing them together and then adding some My Craft Spot Sky Blue Crinkle Ribbon above.  The sentiment is from My Craft Spot's Inside & Out Set #2.  As it's a clear polymer stamp, I was able to round it on my acrylic block in order to fit the shape of the frame.  Once I had stamped it, I went over the sentiment with my StarDust Gelly Roll pen.  I stitched the borders of this card and added more pearls to finish everything off.  I'm so happy with how this turned out.  It was created for the woman I most love, admire and respect in this world, my wonderful mum.

Now it's your turn to create a project with a handmade flower for the My Craft Spot Handmade Flower Power challenge!  If you have a Cricut, there are all sorts of cartridges that can help you.  You can also create flowers with paper punches - or simply by cutting paper, cardstock, tissue, etc.!  I can't wait to see what you make!

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Thanks to all of you who played along in last week's Fantabulous Cricut Harvest Blessings Crawl.  I appreciate all your lovely comments on my rosette pumpkin.  I went to Random.org, and the lucky winner of the $15 My Craft Spot gift certificate is #60 - Tanya of Nonna's Craft Corner.  Congratulations Tanya!!  Please email me your contact information at smallbitsofpaper @ hotmail.com [remove spaces].  You have two weeks to claim your prize.

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Open If You Dare!

It's time for some 3-D Halloween fun at My Craft Spot, where this week's challenge is to create a 3-dimensional project with a Halloween theme.  I decided to make a "grown up" treat bag.  Initially, I was thinking of making something fun for the kids but I received Flower Shoppe a few weeks ago and have been itching to play with it since.  I decided to combine the My Craft Spot challenge with my insatiable urge, and this is what I came up with...

I used Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for the bag itself, and then cut a panel for the front from the same purple cardstock that I had used for the bag.  Both were inked with black ink, and I also used my Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls folder to emboss the extra panel.  I cut a web frame from black cardstock using Happy Hauntings and then created my flower by cutting different sizes of Ruffle4 and Sunflwr2 from Flower Shoppe.  The majority of the cuts are black, with a few purple thrown in there too.  I assembled the flower with an oversized black brad to hold each layer together.  Once the panel, web and flower were on the bag, I spritzed it with some Stampin' Up Smooch Spritz.  I cut a thin "Drippy Goo" border and covered it with Glossy Accents.  This was attached to the top of the bag.  I stamped a My Craft Spot sentiment (from the Happy Haunting set) on purple cardstock and heat embossed it, adding two little black brads to the tag.

I made my own grass to to in the bag (by running some paper through a crimper, cutting it into thin strips and then squishing it in my hands). To finish things off, I cut a small bat from Happy Hauntings, attached it to a bit of black wire which I had coiled, and added it to the bag.

Please head over to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the design team inspiration.  We've got some new members on our team - and each one of them has incredible talent and creativity to share!  Also, in two weeks' time, Kimberly will be releasing more stamp sets.  I've had a sneak peek and LOVE each set.  I know you will too!!  She's also just released seam binding (her wonderful crinkle ribbon - only smooth!) so you will want to check that out as well.  Head to My Craft Spot to be part of all the excitement!

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