Pennant Support

Oh my goodness, am I happy that it is Friday!  This has been an extra brutal week at work.  I am close to point of becoming a selfish co-worker.  I am sick and tired of folks taking advantage of my generosity and good natured disposition.  blah, blah, blah.  enough about work. . . 

The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday have another wonderfully executed sketch challenge for you to try this week.  Once again, this week's sketch has alot of potential and room for your personal style to shine!

Here is this week's sketch:

I'm pretty sure that you know by now, that I added my own flair and creative touch to this sketch.

Here is my card for this week:

When I first saw this sketch, the very first thing I thought of was a pennant or banner hanging to create the collection of DSP.  And, I just had to add some seam binding! {smile}.

The card base is basic grey card stock.  I added a panel of baja breeze cardstock.  I inked the En Francias text background stamp with basic grey classic ink.  I did that touch and tap technique to randomly stamp the text image.  

I inked the gossamer lace stamp in versa mark and used white embossing powder to create the small lace doily image.  I heat embossed, and fussy cut the lace doily by hand.  I inked one of my four frames stamp in basic grey classic ink.  

I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to help with the placement of my sentiment.  I tied some seam binding around the card front and tied a simple bow.  I added a faceted designer button to the bow, to help dress it up.

I used the banner piece from the Heart a flutter emboslit to cut the banner pieces.  I strung some white bakers twine through the banner pieces and left the tails.  I added a trio of rhinestones to the bottom right corner, to add some bling.

I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what you create!

love this card? you can purchase it here, @ my Etsy shop.

Notes Measured

Happy Friday!  I hope you have had a chance to get work settled, and have an opportunity to play along with some of your favorite challenges.  The wonderfully creative Maria, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, has a lovely sketch for you to work with.  Here is her sketch:

Here is what I did:

I wanted to create a card with some pretty spring-themed colors.  It's been snowing here, and all I see is white, green, and brown.  So, I decided to work with some Stampin' Up! soft subtle colors.

The card base is So Saffron card stock.  I first stamped the large doily (Hello, Doily!) in VersaMark and used some white embossing powder.  I heat embossed the doily partially off set.  I stamped the outline stamp in so saffron classic ink randomly on the card front.  

I used the Music Notes wheel and Basic Grey classic ink, to create the music sheet.  I used the Measure Stick wheel and whisper white craft ink and white embossing powder to create the measuring tape.  I layered these two pieces.  I used some Pink Pirouette re-inker to dye the very vanilla seam binding.  While it was wet, I crinkled it.  I hurried the drying time, with my heat gun.  I laid the dyed seam binding across the two stamped pieces, and then machine stitched along the seam binding.  

I used the scallop heart stamp and basic grey classic ink, to create the heart piece.  I used the matching die to cut the scallop heart out of whisper white card stock.  I used the small heart die, from the same set, to cut the so saffron heart.  I used dimensionals to lift the yellow heart off the front of the scallop heart.  I added some pearls around the border.  I stamped the banner piece in basic grey classic ink, and then hand-cut the banner,  I adhered the banner with a dimensional, to lift it off the hearts. 

I dyed a longer piece of very vanilla seam binding, and created a multi-loop bow.  I tied the bow with some white bakers twine and added a button from the Artisan Embellishment kit.  I tied the bakers twine into a bow, and glued a pearl to the center of the bow.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.

School Days

I hope this week has started off nicely for you.  Me?  well, I think I will always be busy until I retire from my paying job.  So, until then, the lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge, have a great sketch for you to play with this week!  Here is the sketch:

Now, don't let this bold, plain sketch deflate your creativity.  Let's take a closer look.  The rectangle shape of the main piece can easily be changed into a shape.  The thick matt can easily be changed to a thinner matt.  The space on the main panel can easily showcase a large stamp, show-off a background stamp, or allow you to wow us with a technique.  

Here is what I did:

If you have searched the internet recently, you have seen alot of paper crafts with this faux chalkboard technique.  I think this look is 'old school', since most public classrooms have dry eraser boards than chalkboards.  A crime I say!  Anyways, I saw this fabulous tutorial, and decided to use the open space on this sketch to illustrate my take on the faux chalkboard technique.

I used one of my favorite 'thank you' stamps from the From My Heart stamp set.  I first stamped the image in Versa Mark ink and used white embossing powder.  Heat embossed this fabulous image.  I then sponged basic black classic ink along the edges.  I then sponged whisper white craft ink over the embossed image to represent chalk dust.  I then stamped over the image with the same image again with the stamp inked in whisper white craft ink.  I love how this turned out.  I used the top note die to create this fabulous shape.  I wanted to add something to the corner of this piece, so I did another layering.  I stamped the double-line heart from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set onto very vanilla card stock and fussy cut it out.  I added a multi-loop bow made from pool party seam binding.  I attached the bow to the front of the heart with a vintage trinket brad.  I added a blossom from the Flower Trim and a tiny tag, that says, 'Thanks'.  The school line paper is from a DSP pack.

I hope that you have found some inspiration, and join us this week with this fun sketch @ NAC!

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.

(love this card? you can purchase it, here)

Shabby Love

I have to admit that I am happy it's Friday.  I have this weekend off and I am looking forward to relaxing, doing some baking, and spending time with family.  But, if it's Friday, that means its time for another great sketch from the Sketch Frenzy Friday crew.   Deb, is the creator of this weeks sketch:

The sketch looks pretty straight forward and unassuming.  But, it also has LOTS of potential!  The banner piece alone could be your focus and embellish it pretty.  Or, you can  use the large center panel as your canvas to create your own background pattern, or showcase a large/background stamp.  

here is what I did:

When I first say the sketch, I knew what I wanted to do.  I used two of my favorite colors of cardstock for this card; Pool Party, and Crumb Cake.  I received a few new goodies from Stampin' Up! recently and well, I just had to play with them.  The black lace doily stamp is Gossamer Lace stamp, found in the large catalog.  I stamped the doily in basic black ink onto very vanilla cardstock.  I used detail scissors to cut out the doily.  The banner piece is from a new stamp set: Hearts a Flutter.  I stamped the banner in pool party classic ink onto very vanilla card stock and used the Hearts a Flutter embosslit to die cut the image.  The scallop trim heart piece is from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set, also.  I stamped the scallop heart in soft suede classic ink onto very vanilla card stock and die cut the image.  The floral lace trim, I folded in half and machine stitched it across the embellishment stack.  I added two flowers from the Flower Trim, and a button from the Artisan Embellishment kit, to the top-center of the scallop heart.  I tied the button on with linen thread and made a tiny bow.  I added a little tag made with the Lovely Little Labels stamp set.  LOVE, is stamped in basic black classic ink on very vanilla cardstock and sponged the edges with soft suede classic ink. 

For the main panel of the card, I used pool party card stock.  I used the Lacy Brocade embossing folder to give this large space some texture and visual interest.  I sponged pool party classic ink along the edges.  I used a sanding block to rough up the center and then also randomly sponged some whisper white craft ink.  

I used my liquid white glue to 'draw' my flourish in the lower right corner.  Then I added some faux half-pearls.

Thank you for looking.  I hope we have inspired you to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what this sketch allows you to create!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

(love this card? you can purchase it, here)