Re-Purposed Cuff

Howdy!  I hope you are well.  I am doing ok.  Work has been work.  Enough said.  So, let's craft something!  I collect cardboard coffee cuffs.  Crazy, right?!  But, for a very good reason.  It's corrugated cardboard, that's thin.  That translates to easy cutting with my die cut machine!
I was looking at creating some gift card holders for a few friends, when I remembered a sketch challenge that was perfect for my little creation.
Jen, from Deconstructed Sketches has the perfect sketch for me to use my coffee cuff collection!  It's sketch # 173.  Here it is!

I traded the stitching at the top for a sentiment that I stamped directly onto the pattern paper.  The 'green' rectangle is actually the gift card.  The brown center rectangle is my re-used coffee cuff.  I used a banner piece in place of the scallop trim.  But the sentiment remains the same.   Here is what I made!

Ok, so here is the recipe:  The card base is always artichoke card stock by Stampin' Up!.  The matts are kraft by Recollections.  The two sentiments are from the same stamp set by Verve: Delightful and Delicious.  I think it's retired.  I believe that I purchased the stamp set over 5 years ago.
I took a 'collected' coffee cuff, and used the 'back' side.  (I didn't think the 'green' side would work.)  I wrapped some strawberry bakers twine around the card, and tied a green vintage button from Paper Trey ink to the front.  I used 3 (yeah, three!) glue dots to hold the button in place.
The pattern paper is: Happiness is Homemade by Tilda.  (I had to purchase the pattern paper from overseas.  Tilda is a company from Sweden.)
I inked the bottom of a 'favorite' coffee cup into soft suede classic ink, and 'stamped' it  right onto the pattern paper.  I thought the coffee rings would look sweet.  I then took a water mark/splatter stamp and stamped onto the pattern paper, too.
Ok, I made several (about 12) of these cards.  I used different papers for different 'looks'.  Here are a few others:

office theme

floral theme

and of course I had to make a holiday version!

holiday theme

And  yeah, these will be for sale at my Arts and Craft Fair this Saturday!  Thank you for stopping by! I am off into my craft room once more.  I need to create a few more notepads and notebooks, and a couple gift bags.  Thank you for stopping by!

Joyous

Welcome.  If I said that I am making Christmas cards, you wouldn't be surprised.  Would you?  Well, yeah, I have started.  For a little background information, if you didn't know, I sell my paper crafts at local Holiday Arts and Crafts Fairs in November and December.  So, to be honest, I am a bit behind in my crafting.  I set a goal for each week, what to have accomplished, and what to work on.  And well, I am a bit behind.  Have you ever had a day (or weekend) where you had chores to do, but just didn't have the motivation?  Well, that is how it has been for me.  So, my stock is low, my motivation is low, and my mojo is low {frown}  But, I hope to turn that around.  

I stopped by a challenge site that I stalk frequent, but never participate.  Not really sure why I don't participate.  It's basically up my alley.  So, I have run out of excuses.  Until today!  Today, I have made a decision to participate and see what I can create with the many boxes of Christmas paper crafting supplies I have on hand.  But, today I want to 'play' with some new supplies I received in the mail last week: Joyous by My Mind's Eye.  I love vintage, and nostalgia.  So, this paper collection is perfect for me!

Now, let's swing by Merry Monday Christmas Challenge to see what these talented crafters have created, and what our inspiration is for the week.

Ok, so Merry Monday asks that you use polka dots, or stripes, or both.   Are you kidding?  I can do that!  Now, look at this beautiful inspiration photo: stockings, red stripes, and holly trimming the fireplace.  How home-y is that?

ok, here is what I made:

Before you say anything.  I think the pop of blue really brings out the reds in this card.  I got the idea of using some blue from the main panel on this card.  The blue bird and the blue string that is tied to the sentiment tag.

Recipe:  I started with crumb cake card stock (SU!) for the card base.  I used 5 pattern papers from the 6" x 6" pattern paper pad (Joyous by MME).  First I cut the merry christmas pattern paper (4" x 4 1/4").  Then I added a strip of the deep red flourish pattern paper (4" x 1 1/2").  I purposefully have a 1/4" overlap, to allow me to adhered these two pattern papers together.  I then did a simple machine stitching all the way around the front panel.

Next, I cut three different pattern papers 1", 1 1/4", and 1 1/2" wide, and 3" long.  I used scissors to create my flag ends.  I adhered the banner pieces slightly off center and overlapping each other.  I trimmed the blue strip and kraft snowflake pattern papers so that they would fit on the card.  I added two random staples to the upper right corner of the card.

I machine sewn the deep blue seam binding and crochet trim to the card front, using a zig zag stitch.  I tied a long strip of the seam binding into a multi-loop bow.  Then tied the bow to the card front with a piece of kraft twine.  I tied a red button to the bow center, and created a simple bow with the length of kraft twine under the button.  I secured the bow to the card front with a few glue dots.

I took a twig punch and punned out three branches.  I painted the tips with picket fence paint and then dipped the tips into glitter.  On the top twig punch I added three dots of red stickles.

I was inspired by the photo, and used stripes (blue) and polka dots (red), along with some greenery with berries.  To finish my card, I added a light misting of shimmer mist.

Thank you for stopping by.  And I'll post more projects I create with this lovely pattern paper line soon.

Bunco Nine

~ photo heavy post ~

As promised from yesterday, I have another Bunco prize/gift to share with you today.  We are currently at number nine.  (Counting down backwards from eleven)

If you are just joining me, I stamped and heat embossed this little mason jar in early espresso embossing powder, onto very vanilla card stock.  I punched a 3/4" circle from the same digital paper I used to make my reminder cards, and added (alternating) a gold or silver sticker number.  I fussy cut the jar image out with scissors and sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  I wrapped the top of the little mason jars with coordinating bakers twine.

As with all of the prizes, a kraft gift bag decorated, along with a matching little gift card.  An altered clothes pin to hold the prize number.  And of course, the prize!  But before I share the prize, I wanted to share a quick photo of the gift card.

This prize is a desk top calendar.  The finished size is 4" x 4".  That way, it doesn't has a large footprint, and is super sweet!  Here are the photos:

the cover.  super plain, but you won't see it.

I used Market Street pattern paper, from My Mind's Eye.  I just love this rustic, vintage-y look.  I wanted to keep the months kinda flat.  The pages lay better.  I used my Bind-It-All to put the spiral piece thru the little 'book'.

Thank you for stopping by!  See ya tomorrow!

Trio of Roses

close-up of the button card

Welcome.  And Happy Father's Day, to all the wonderful dads out there!  I know your job isn't the easiest, and we do appreciate all your efforts, commitment, and nurturing to our children.  {smile}   

I don't make my husband cards.  It's not that I don't love him enough, or that he isn't worth it.  I just can't.  To make a masculine card is like me trying to change the oil in my car.  I could if my life depended on it, but it won't be pretty, and the job will literally take me  a l l  d a y!

I am hosting Bunco next month, and I have been making some 'prizes'.  As promised, I will continue to post them here.  Not that my Bunco buddies don't love what I do, but I am pretty sure they don't 'follow me'.  Know what I mean?  So this is a safe venue to share.

This is a close-up of the focal point on a set of cards I made for one of the prizes.  Yeah, sorry, it's pretty girl-y.  But, I am trying to keep the crafts to follow the theme 'farmland'.  

I used the button boutique stamp set for the button card, and Life is Sweet, for the trio of roses.  It's one of those three-step stamps.  You stamp the main color first, then the petal base in another color, and then the outline in another color.  Sounds complicated, but really not.  The leaves are a two-step stamp.  The button card, trio of roses, and the leaves were all cut by hand, and the edges were sponged with crumb cake classic ink.  The trio of roses and one leaf were adhered with foam tape.  The iridescent sequins were glued-on by hand.

For the full-card:

I used crumb cake card stock for the card bases (6).  The rose colored paper is actually the back side of a green floral print paper I have had in my stash for almost 7 years.  Its from My Mind's Eye, their Tres Jolie collection, Ooh la la pattern line (Sunshine flowers paper).  The neutral pattern paper is a digital download (love them!).  The lace I purchased last year, or so ago.  I buy it in bulk, I believe this is a 25 yard roll.  It's about 2 1/2" wide.  Love it!  I machine stitched the pink pirouette seam binding and lace to the digital pattern paper and adhered to the rose colored paper.

I tied silver bakers twine to a cream vintage button and hot glued it on, just above the button card.  The 'handmade is best' and '25 cents' were stamped in crumb cake classic ink.

There is no sentiment, because I wanted to make a card set that allowed you to select your sentiment. I left a place across the card front, between the sequins for you to add the sentiment.  For those, I stamped them on vellum card stock and heat embossed them in white.  I cut a flag end to the banners, by hand.   I also stamped a tiny trio of roses in the same colors onto the cream envelopes.

6 card set.

I created the banners, in a way, so you just peel the one you want, off the piece of clear card stock, and place it on the card front.  The adhesive that holds the banners on the clear card stock, will also hold them to the card front.  Pretty clever, huh?  The neutral digital papers I selected are a mix of polka dots, text, and random designs in white, on a cream-colored background.  I wanted something with character, but not to distract the eye.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you have found some inspiration today {smile}.  

Blue Butterfly

Ok, don't fall out of your chair.  I know, what, Sharon has made two posts in the same week?  Yeah, I had a little alone time (thank goodness this time, it really recharges me) and sat down at my craft table, and just played {smile}.

I stalk follow some very inspirational blogs/websites, and just had to play along this week!  I went to My Favorite Things blog.  They have separate color and sketch challenges.  How fabulous is that? Anyways, I am playing along with the sketch challenge this week.  Here is their sketch:

I just love the layers and flag end banners {smile}.  Here is what I created:

I am currently working on two different parties, both with a country & western theme.  So, I imagine that is how the burlap print paper ended up on my card {smile}.  My youngest grandson will be turning one, so we are having a cowboy themed party for this little buck-a-roo.  And I am hosting Bunco in July, and my theme is 'farmland' (shabby chic style).

Ok, for this card:  I purchased some burlap pattern paper from a big box craft store earlier this year.  I felt that it grounded the card.  Gave it some visual interest without distracting your eye.

The blue pattern paper that is machine stitched to the burlap pattern paper, is actually a digital download.  (I use digital papers more and more.)  I purposefully ran a random/crooked stitch line.

close-up of the button-tag combo

The small text print is from My Mind's Eye, I believe it is from the Sweetest Things collection.  I created by own flag end with a pair of scissors.  The blue butterfly collage is another digital download.  (I print my digital papers on whisper white card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I love the how clean the colors come out of my printer, and I love the weight of their card stock).  I stamped the tag in going grey classic ink by Stampin' Up! , using the tiny tag stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  The sentiment in the tag in basic black classic ink.  I fussy cut the tag out my hand.  Not hard, just follow the borders {smile}.  I used some linen thread by Stampin' Up! to tie the white vintage button from Paper Trey Ink, to the tiny tag.  I tied the linen thread into a simple bow after I tied the button to the tag.  

close-up of the sentiment banner

I created by sentiment using a new stamp set by Inspired by Stamping.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey classic ink, by Stampin' Up!  I adhered the sentiment banner with foam tape to elevate it off the front of the card front.  All edges (yes, all) were sponged with crumb cake classic ink.  I also distressed the edge of the blue butterfly collage sheet with the blade of my scissors.

Thank you for looking.  Please, visit those blogs/websites that inspire you, and take some time to create something beautiful for you.  You deserve this creative time, and a little break from all of the hassles life throws at you.

the Sky's the Limit

Ok, so here is another craft I finished today (sunday).  I have been wanting to do this project for quite a while now.  But, finding the time, and the right paper has been a challenge.  I wanted to altered some blocks.  Now, this isn't a ATC piece.  So, there isn't any objects on the blocks.  Just paper.  Pattern paper.  Pattern paper from My Mind's Eye: Sky's the Limit.

I originally selected this pattern paper, because the graphics are just gorgeous!  I love the polka dots, the florals, and the little stacked text papers.  Just so pretty!  Each block has the same 6 patterns, I tried to show case the different designs.  I first cut the blocks.  Yes, it is real wood.  Not card stock folded into a cube.  I then painted on 2 layers of gesso.  I cut and distressed each piece of paper to fit the blocks perfectly, if I say so myself.  I then brushed on glossy mod lodge sealant.  That way the papers are sealed and protected,  and a final touch to complete the project.  

This project, along with the wall hanging earlier posted will be for sale at my Arts and Craft Fairs.  Come out and see what else I have created!

Baby Blue

Whew.  It's been a week since I posted.  My apologies.  I have been busy crafting, and getting some new items in my Etsy shop.  But, I did sit down and craft some projects in blue.  The wonderfully talented ladies over @ the Shabby Tea Room have a super fun and creative challenge this week, entitled: Spring is Near. 

Here is their inspiration photo:

Ok, how gorgeous is that?  The requirements are to use baby blue, a bird and spring flowers.  I'm all over that.  {smile}

here is what I came up with:

Ok, I kinda took the requirements literally.   I don't have any embellishments that are flowers, but I have used some floral pattern papers {don't know if that counts}
Anyways, I used some new and not so new pattern papers.  The  bottom main panel is Melissa Frances.  As for the banners:  Paper Studio, Stampin' Up!, Melissa Frances, Authentique, and My Mind's Eye.   That gorgeous saddle stitch ribbon I used is retired Stampin' Up! and so is the stork image {frown}.

How funny that I used a stork for the 'bird'.  Anyways, I stamped the stork in Jet Black Staz-On solvent ink.  I used my blender pen to 'color' pieces of the image.  The baby is colored with blush blossom classic ink.  The baby's sash and ribbon is Bashful Blue classic ink by Stampin' Up!.  I matted the main image onto a piece of sky blue card stock.  I used a watermark stamp and stamped some random water marks.  

The 'It's A Boy' stamp is from Crafty Secrets.   It's probably 5 yr old, so it may not be available any longer, also.

I used my silver metallic thread to sew the saddle stitch ribbon.  I thought it would add a nice sparkle. {smile}

This pretty organza ribbon is bashful blue by Stampin' Up! and it's retired, too.  Good golly, you'd think that I hadn't shopped for a paper craft item in over 2 years.  I created a simple double bow with the organza ribbon.

I created the tiny tag with the tiny tag die by Paper Trey Ink.  I just love the punched heart piece.  The tag sentiment is from a retired stamp set from Stampin' Up! too; tiny tags.  I stamped 'baby' in Jet Black Staz-On, only because I didn't want to get out of my chair to grab my basic black classic ink.  

To attach the tag to the bow, I simply used a tiny safety pin, in distressed silver.  Nothing fancy, but I thought the addition was quite cute {smile}.

Well, that's all for now.  I'll post a few of the other crafts I have been working on, probably tomorrow or the next day.  Just a heads up, they all use about the same pattern papers and ribbons.  Once I got everything out and started crafting, I just couldn't stop.  I don't typically like things to look too similar, but I am beginning to embrace 'change'.  {smile}

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have found some inspiration, and play along with the Shabby Tea Room challenge.