New and Quick

I'm finding more time to craft this week.  Hopefully this trend cares over to next week and next month.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.  

I am playing along in a shoe box swap.  The theme is to use new products out of the Spring Mini Catalog.  Sounds easy.  Oh, and since it's a shoe box swap, your card needs to be constructed in 10 min or less.  Even better.  

To create one of these cards, I have to change my thinking a little.  I can't spend all day in my craft room, tinkering around, and just creating.  I need to change my focus.  Most of my focus is on a simply beautiful layout and limiting my products to whats new in the Spring Mini Catalog by Stampin' Up!

So, I used a layout I have used several times over the last several years.  I wanted to add a beautiful banner.  Banners are big and very popular. 

Here is what I did:

I started with Pink Pirouette card stock.  I just love this shade of pink.  I then cut a piece of the new Tea for Two DSP to a 4" x 2 3/4" piece.  But, I wanted to give the DSP a bit of pop, so I matted it on Lucky Limeade card stock.  I used a new embossing folder, Needlepoint Border, to create the stitched and scallop edge.  For the sentiment, I used a scrap piece of card stock.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey classic ink.  I tapped the VersaMark ink pad on both ends of the banner piece.  I then dunked the ends into the silver embossing powder vial.  I used my heat gun to heat the embossing powder.  I used dimensionals to adhere the banner.  

These days, white space is a good thing.  For those who know me, I'm not a fan of white space.  I always see this 'white space' as empty space.  I always want to 'fill' the 'white space'.  But, I refrained.  So, I left it empty, blank, 'free'. 

I hope that you like this card.  It was super quick and easy to create.  

Pretty in Blue

Whew, it has already been a rough week at work, and it's only Tuesday!?  The wonderful ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge have a great color challenge for you to try this week.  Here are the colors:

here is how I put the colors together:

For the card base, I used Island Indigo cardstock.  I wanted the darker color to be the base of this pretty color combo.  I used some of the new DSP paper for the main panel; Tea for Two DSP.  Its a text paper (my favorite!), except there are some colored texts.  How pretty is that?  I used some Marina Mist DSP polka dot paper and the top note die to create the decorative piece on the left side of my card.  I added a doily and blossoms from very vanilla cardstock.  I used Lucky Limeade cardstock for  the leaves.  I added a rhinestone center.  That gorgeous floral lace trim is actually a new product from Stampin' Up!, too.  You can get this in the Artisan Embellishment kit, along with three other fabulous trims.  I used Lucky Limeade ruffle ribbon to tie the whole card together {smile}.  

I hope you get a chance to play along with us over @ NAC this week.  We would love to see what you create, and we hope we have inspired you!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

Embellished Friend

Happy Friday!  I hope you are all well.  The new year has started with a fast pace.  But, I did carve out a few hours to do some crafting.  It's funny, you can be super swamped with a thousand obligations, and just sitting down at your craft table can bring a sense of focus, calm.

Tammy, over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday has created a wonderful sketch for you to try.  The sketch has a lot of potential.  As you will see from the design team, the sketch can be used for a Clean and Simple design, or a layered embellished design, and everything in-between!

here is the sketch:

here is what I crafted:

This card was a lot of fun to create.  However, now that I look at it, there seams to be something missing.  Don't know what, and I couldn't figure it out when I was crafting.  I really wanted to add a button or two, a pleated piece of ribbon, or bakers twine, or something.  Here is my 'done' card.   The card base is Calypso Coral card stock.  I just love this color of pink-orange.  I added some new DSP.  The green pattern and the floral pattern paper is the same paper, just both sides.  The new DSP is called Tea for Two DSP.  This paper is very versatile.  

I matted the floral pattern paper on very vanilla card stock.  I added a scallop trim border done in Lucky Limeade card stock.  I used the scallop trim border punch.

The small doily is actually a stamp.  Very pretty and delicate.  I did a second generation stamp for the doily.  I cut the doily out with a pair of detail scissors and then sponged the edges with grey classic ink.  

For the 'button' I stamped the crown image from the Established Elegance stamp set in Calypso Coral classic ink and used the 1 3/8" circle punch.  I stamped the 'admit one' ticket in Lucky Limeade classic ink, and then used the ticket punch.  For the banner, I used very vanilla card stock and used the cone die for the banner piece.  I stamped the '{friend to friend}' in basic black classic ink.

I hope that you have a chance to play along with us @ SFF.  We would love to see what you create with our sketch this week!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

NAC Floral Thank You

Hello! and I hope you had a safe and joyous New Year's Eve!  I spent my time in Las Vegas, sin city! and WOW! did I have a great time!  If you have been a frequent visitor or a faithful follower, you know that I have a love for Paris.  I love the food, the cooking, the quant homes, the feminine decorating, and it's the language of love.  We stayed at the Paris hotel and casino right on the strip.  It was a lot of fun.  We had our New Year's Eve celebration @ Mon Ami Gabi.  We were out on the terrace, with a lot of heat lamps and champagne in our glasses.  We were able to view the fireworks let off by Ceasars Casino, the Cospolitan, as well as our casino.  It was spectacular and very exciting.  They closed the strip for all the foot traffic.  Very exciting!

For the new year, I have decided to re-start my virtual classes.  But in a different format.  I will be selling the class kits on my Etsy page, here.  That way, if you miss a month, or would like to purchase past month's class, you will be able if kits are still available.  I will also introduce each month's class in the middle of the month, the 15th.  So, please stay tuned!

Now, onto crafting!  There is a fabulous challenge for you to try this week, over @ Nacho Average Challenge!  It's a sketch this week, #27.  I love some guidance when I create cards.  It helps me focus on my creation, and helps directs me to a fabulous creation.  Here is this weeks sketch:

here is what I created:

I used some new designer pattern paper that will be available this week, called Tea for Two DSP.  The paper pack itself comes with a coordinating collection of different fun, and pretty patterns.  I just love how they paired this blue (Island Indigo) and yellow (So Saffron) together.  I just love polka dots and text, too!  The lower panel is First Edition DSP.  I added a strip of So Saffron card stock punched with the scallop trim border punch, to help accent the Island Indigo ruffle ribbon.  I colored a floral stamp with Island Indigo and Pear Pizzazz markers, and then randomly stamped on the text paper.  The 'Thanks' stamp is done in Island Indigo classic ink.  I used the scallop oval punch to create the piece. 

This card was quick and easy! so, I hope you can find a few moments to play with us this week over @ NAC. We would love to see what you create!

Happy Crafting! hugs, Sharon W.

Vintage Artisan

Aww, it's Friday!  I have been super busy over the holidays, and so I missed last week's challenge over @ Sketch Frenzy Friday, among other challenges.  Unfortunetely, I couldn't find time to craft.

I am this week's 'creator' of the sketch for the sketch challenge over @ SFF.  I hope you like this sketch.  I wanted to give you something different and something fun!  Enjoy! 

Here is this week's sketch:

Here is what I created:

I used all Stampin' Up! products to create this card.  I am sharing a sneak peak of some new products that will be available next month.  I started with crumb cake card stock as the card base.  The first layer is Pink Pirouette card stock.  I added a pieced  of Tea for Two DSP for the main panel.  I added a 'new' paper doily.  (I have to admit, I just LOVE these new products!)  The square piece is very vanilla card stock matted with pink pirouette card stock.  The stamp is available during Sale-A-Bration next month as well, in a set called Vintage Verses.  The stamp is done is basic black classic ink.  The paper flower and 'LOVE' ticket are available in the Artisan Embellishment kit.  I used a retired punch to create the leaves.  I used whisper white craft ink to distress the edges of the leaves.  I wanted to add some pearls, so I took my liquid white glue and made a thin line to create a curve, and applied the pearls.  I tied some pink pirouette taffeta ribbon around the bottom third of the card.  And viola! 

I hope that you get an opportunity to play along with us this week.  The new year will be celebrated in a few days, so please carve out a bit of time to play along with us @ SFF.

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.