Stork Delivery

Oh my goodness.  Time just flies these days.  I have a craft fair tomorrow, and I feel like I haven't made a thing to sell.  {frown}   So, let me share with you a sweet baby boy card, and then I must head into my craft room and start creating! {smile}

I opened a delightful package of papers and embellishments from Melissa Frances the other day, and created some soft sweet cards, earlier this week.  Well, I just had to create one more.  Here it is!

Ok, a quick overview and then I must get started on a few other crafts.  I wasn't too wild about this one particular pattern paper.  The colors are soft and pretty but the design is kind of abstract.  So, to soften the whole look, I added a piece of vellum over the pattern paper.  I hope that isn't rude.  To help add some visual interest to the card, I also added some machine stitching using this wonderful silver metallic thread in a zig zag pattern.

Ok, so I have a few of these retired Tattered Angels frames.  LOVE THEM!  I used my TH Picket Fence distress ink to add a bit of a whitewash over the manilla frame.  And while the ink was wet, I dunked it into a tub of dazzling diamond glitter. For the sentiment I stamped and heat embossed in glacier white detail, 'Welcome Baby', onto a scrap piece of pool party card stock.  I added a small piece of a doily to the bottom.

I made two rolled flowers from (2) 1 1/2" circle of vellum card stock.  I added a pearl center, from MF.

I used a die to create the leaf shapes from SU! Neutrals DSP, with the gray polka dot pattern.

I wrapped a piece of white crochet trim over the seam of the vellum card stock.  I added a piece of this gorgeous pool party stitched saddle trim.  To add a little homemade-ness, I used my silver metallic thread and some machine stitching.

I used the same sweet pool party saddle stitch ribbon to make a tiny double bow.

I cute a tiny tag shape from a scrap piece of a pale blue pattern paper.  Stamped the 'Stork Delivery' with an old Crafty Secrets stamp.  I attached the little tag with a tiny safety pin.  I thought it added a little sweetness.  So why not?!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my little piece of blog-land and have a look around.

I will have todays card, and many more, available for sale at tomorrows Spring Craft Sale!  Hope to see you there!

Our Baby Boy

Happy Saturday!  And, let me start by saying, Murphy is right!  If it can/will go wrong, it will.  :/  

Tui, from Stampin' Time has a fabulous challenge for you over @ Our Creative Corner.  It's a masculine challenge.  Now, before you change blogs, lets examine this.  Ok, so if you are a follower, or frequent visitor, you know, that I don't do masculine.  I don't have boy stuff.  I have girl stuff.  I love pinks, ribbons, bows, buttons, bling, and all this girl-y.  So, I embraced the challenge.  And I encourage you, too, to embrace the challenge.  Step out side of your comfort zone, or the proverbial box.  Here are a few helpful hints.  Remember, boys are 'harder' than girls.  Instead of 'soft' embellishments, think 'hard': like metals, wood, corduroy.  Does that help?  

Here is my Masculine Project:

A 'close-up' of the bottom row of boxes.

This is one of those Solo ShadowBox's.  They come in either black or white.  Neither of which I wanted.  So, I selected white.  And then I painted it in a light beige paint.  I thought that it warmed up the stark white.  Then, I rubbed a nice, warm brown ink pad along the top rim to give it a 'walnut' look.  

I selected some of my all-time favorite photos of my grandson.  And then edited the photos, so I could control their size, without distorting their proportion.  Adding the tiny embellishments, was actually kind of fun.  Thinking small really does change your perspective.

Now, before you go a little crazy with what products I used.  I'll just let you know that I used products from 10 different companies.  Yeah, my craft room, is basically a store.  But, if you can name 7 of the companies I used in the comment section, your name will be entered in a drawing for a full roll of ribbon.  I'll draw a name at the close of this masculine challenge brought to you by Tui, and Our Creative Corner.

Not Big on Pink

Happy Saturday to ya'll!  Well, I am hosting Our Creative Corner this week.  And I have to admit, I love coming up with some fun challenges for you.  For those who know me, know that I am a girl-y girl.  I love all things pink, and little feminine touches of ribbon, buttons, bling,  and pearls.  But I have girl friends who don't like pink.  Crazy, I know.  So, for this week's challenge, I thought we could make something pretty for those who aren't a fan of pink.  

Make a paper craft item (card, layout, scrapbook page, 3-D item, etc) using any shade of blue, add some texture (ribbon, fabric, floss, etc) and something metal (push pin, charm, brad, etc).  And the twist is to add a smidge of pink.  Any shade of pink.  And not too much.  (if you need a number, make it 1/5 or less pink.)  To get some extra inspiration, please stop by Our Creative Corner and see what these super talented ladies have created.  You won't be disappointed!

Here is what I have made:

 

 And if this seems too busy for your taste, I made another sample to show that less can be more.

Both cards were made from my scrap box.  I'm on a thrifty kick these days.  Please join us for this fun and create challenge!

More Bunco Prizes

So, last night was Bunco.  And it was my turn to be hostess.  My theme isn't original or very clever, but the ladies know what it is before they come out-no surprise!  'Home-made, Hand-made'.  The food is all home-made.  (So, its from scratch.)  No pre-made stuff.  This is an absolutely wonderful group of ladies, so they DO deserve the very best.  The prizes are all hand-made, and almost always a paper craft item, or an altered item.  So, its not a surprise, but it is well received.  

So, as promised, here are a few more photos: 

(each set matches in theme, color, embellishments, paper, etc.)

A stationary set: holder, 4 blank cards, & a mother's day card

paper tote: cardstock tote bag, 4 blank cards and a Mother's Day card

Frame Insert: photo frame, insert, 4 blank cards, & a Mother's Day card

As you can tell, each set is unique and different.  This group of ladies have different tastes, different styles, and are unique themselves!  The evening was a blast, and it was very nice to make everything for them.

Share your thoughts with me.  And, for a complete list of products used for any item posted, please email me separately.  As with all paper crafters, sometimes we hoard our supplies, so some items may not be found or produced any longer.

Hope everyone's week is going great! and don't forget to come back tomorrow for my post with the gals @ Our Creative Corner challenge!  It's a new week, so there's a new challenge!  See ya then!

Bunco Prizes

Yes, I play Bunco!  And each year, I have a turn at hosting.  My 'prizes' are known, in that, I make all the 'prizes'.  They are generally some form of paper crafting item.  I also do some altering pieces as well.  Each 'prize' comes with a set (4) blank A2 cards, that match the 'prize' in color and scheme.

So, as promised, here are some of the 'prizes' I have made:

Altered mini bird house & cards

Stamped candle & cards

It's a clear CD case that holds a notepad and pen & cards

I have used products from every paper crafting company out there.  I am very partial to Stampin' Up! products, so those are the most used.  And as an added bonus, I have also made matching Mother's Day cards for each 'prize'. 

Thank you for looking, and there is more!  I made a total of 11 'prizes' and this is only 3!

Sewing Magnetic Board + Card

I am selling some of my hand-made cards at the Craft Fair @ Tramway Community Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday November 12th & 13th. However, I wanted to make a few different paper-craft items to sell also. I had a wonderful time making a magnetic message board for a Stampin' Up! class, and really loved the one I made for my granddaughter. So, I decided to make a few for the craft fair. This one is an original, one-of-a-kind. I made the card out of the scraps of paper I had. I thought, that if someone buys this one for a 'gift', they might want a card to go with it. The pattern paper I used is from Cosmo Cricket. The solid cardstock is Stampin' Up!. The buttons at the bottom of the board are magnets.

To be eligible to sell your wares, you must pass a voting committee, and your items must be hand-made. So, I am selling individual and boxed hand-made greeting cards, a few ribbon book marks, a few metal book marks, some natural stone coasters, a few magnetic message boards, and a few different altered photo trays. I will also have some home-made pumpkin-cranberry bread, and a few jars of blueberry spoon fruit. If I knew how to sew, I'd probably have a few sewn items, too. So, if you're in the area, stop-by, shop, and don't forget to say 'hi'.