Lovely Thanks

~ second post for today ~

Welcome.  I have been waiting to use this 'new to me' paper pad from Prima: the Printery collection.  I know it's not a new release, but I only recently picked one up, back in August.  So, it's new to me.  {smile}.  I just love the abstract images, the little office supply introduction, and the lovely color scheme.  I also purchased some 'new to me' prima blossoms: Guava Peony Brahms, back in August.  So, why not pair them together!

Now, I just need a little starting point!  So, I headed to a sketch challenge site that I adore.  They make some of the most beautiful sketches I have seen.  Easy to work with.  Easy to embellish or leave simply beautiful.  Cardabilites.  The design team has some gorgeous creations, and a lot of inspiration to help get those creative juices flowing!  Here is the current sketch:

A lot of potential here!  Love the absence of required layers.  Love the emptiness to allow you to 'see' what 'speaks' to you creatively.  And who wouldn't love to add a sentiment banner piece?

here is what I made:

Recipe:  I used ripe avocado card stock by Paper Trey Ink for the card base.  I just love this shade of deep green.  Not to 'fresh' and not to 'old'.  Just the perfect shade.   I  took a sheet of 6" x 6" pattern paper and cut it down to 3 7/8" x 5 1/8".  Then matted it onto a piece of true black (by paper trey ink) cut to 4" x 5 1/4".  [Oh, sorry.  The card is traditional A2 size 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".]  

I wrapped a piece of cream lace around the layers.  Machine stitched some black seam binding to the front of the card.

I hand stamped the sentiment in basic black classic ink by Stampin' Up! onto very vanilla card stock scrap.  I used scissors and hand cut the banner end.  I matted this piece onto a scrap of ripe avocado card stock.  I also hand cut the banner end.  [the stamp was a 'gift' from Verve Stamps.  It was a 'thank you' for an order I had placed a few years back.]

I used my hot glue gun to attach the flower first.  I didn't want any of the petals to hang over the edge of the card.  I then added the multi-loop bow made from the same black seam binding.  I wanted my bow tucked under the blossom, just a bit.  I attached the bow with my hot glue gun, too.

I used scor tape to adhere the sentiment piece.  And finally, to add a little visual interest, I added five clear sequins: there below the blossom and two above the blossom.  I adhered the sequins to the front of the card with a glue pen.

Not a lot of layers, or a ton of embellishments, but I really do like how simply sweet this card turned out.  Because lets face it!  Sometimes you just need to say 'thank you' without a huge production!

I hope that I have inspired you to use what you have in your stash.  I know it is super easy to 'want' the latest and greatest paper crafting products.  But why not use what you have in a different way?   Decorate a box.  Transform a tin.  Embellish a basket.  Dress-up your packaging.  Or simply make a card with a lot of character without spending a bankroll.  {smile} and no, that's not the Industries new motto! {smile}  Just me crafting on a budget.

Had a Lovely Time

Howdy! and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I'm so happy that you could stop by, and have a look around {smile}  Have you ever been to a party that was just so much fun, that you really wanted to send the hostess a card/gift/something?!  I have.  Not recently, tho.  But I have.  

After perusing the internet, and stopping at a few of my favorite paper crafting challenge sites, I have been inspired to create a card for that very occasion.  

The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Retro Sketches have a super fun sketch for you to try.  Here it is:

I just love the different pieces and parts.  But you should really check out what the design team has done with this sketch!  Holy Moly are they a talented and creative bunch!

Then, I stopped by one of my all time favorite challenges, the Shabby Tea Room.  I visit their blog every Monday, just to see what the challenge is for the week.  Yeah, I don't always have time or the creativity to play along every week, but I stop by!  And yeah, sometimes several times a week.  Those ladies on the design team, are just so darn talented!  It's like window shopping for some inspiration {smile}.  Anyways, this weeks challenge is: Let's Celebrate, and you have to use pink, lace, and flowers.  Here is their inspiration board:

And here is what I created.  But first, the disclaimer:  my card is a 'thank you' for the hostess for throwing such a fabulous party.  So, I'm not sure if this qualifies for the celebrate, but . . .

For the recipe:  The card base is kraft card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  The wood grain pattern paper, the recipe collage pattern paper, and the sweet ticket at the upper right corner, are ALL digital papers.  How fabulous, huh?  I did (and always do) print my digital paper on Whisper White card stock by Stampin' Up!   Their paper has this wonderful matt finish, and it takes ink beautifully.  Oh and my printer has no problem accepting it into the feed.  Gotta love that!

The white lace trim is from my stash that I purchased last year about this time, for a specific holiday craft.  The cream lace trim is from Stampin' Up!, it's a new item this year.  The pink paper/tulle blossom is from Prima, and about 5 years old.  The single pearl loop is from the wedding section of a big box craft store.  (Originally, the loop had 3 strands.  I just cut one off.)  I added a lone pearl just below the simple bow.  I felt it needed something, and just couldn't get a button to work.  Right?  How crazy is that!

Oh, one last bit.  I matted the recipe collage pattern paper onto card stock and did a double machine stitch.  I added the white lace trim, and did a single stitch.  Then I added the cream lace trim and did a zig zag stitch to hold everything together.

Now, I don't have a cake on my card, but look . . .

  

My recipe collage pattern paper has a recipe for a Birthday cake on it {smile}.  How super sweet is that?

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired, but please check out those challenge sites.  I am sure you will find some inspiration there!