Aspiring to Creativity

Thanks Just Doesn't Seem Like Enough

I was flipping through my mom's pad of "sacred" SEI Moonrise papers when I came across the one below... I didn't have to beg too hard to get one from her. ;)

This set of cards was made for my 3 year old daughter's ophthalmolgist and surgical assistant (my sweet girl had a common procedure done for her strabismus). I have plans to make a festive banner for the Day Surgery unit to thank all the nursing and support staff. Oh, and note to self, don't forget the anesthesiologist!

I made the card on the right first, showcasing the paper in all its glory! I matted it with Vintage Cream and Ripe Avocado cardstock. The sentiment circle is made with the same but I punched a hole in the center with my Big Bite and fed a knot of 1/4" silk ribbon through it to add a bit of interest. The whole thing is popped up off of the card. The sentiment, from Round and About Sentiments, is stamped in Dark Chocolate ink.

Both 5 3/4" square card bases are made with a stripe-textured cardstock of (to me) unknown origin.

The 2nd card (the one on the left) was made up with scraps from the patterned paper. I used Spellbinders Squares to achieve my layers (thank goodness for Xyron!) and then popped them up on the card.

I'm really dissatisfied with the sentiment "strip." It's a simple ribbon tag (Spellbinders) with Vintage Cream grosgrain ribbon threaded through and wrapped around. Flat and boring compared to the top of the card. I did add several scorelines along the top and bottom but they didn't turn out perfectly due to the sentiment strip already being affixed. In retrospect, I wish I had something dimensional with the ribbon and popped up the sentiment. Oh well!

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all PTI unless noted}

Cardstock: textured brown (unknown), Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado
Patterned Paper: SEI Moonrise
Stamps: Autumn Abundances, Round & About Sentiments
Ink: Dark Chocolate
Dies: Spellbinders Squares, Spellbinders Circles, Spellbinders Ribbon Tags
Ribbon: Vintage Cream grosgrain, 1/4" silk
Other tools: Big Bite (We R Memory Keepers), Scor-Pal

Thank Yous - August Card Frenzy Continued

It has been a while since I posted some of my August Card Frenzy cards, so today I decided it's time to post a few of the "Thank You" cards I made.

I had thought it might be a good idea to make a masculine Thank You card. So, this is my attempt at it. It is a simple card, using dark brown circles I had left over from a class. It was easy to embellish them with stickers purchased from a Dollar Store that I've had for a while .

Another one that could be a masculine Thank You card, or even a possible Thanksgiving card.

Now comes a card that I thought I wouldn't post, but then thought, "Why not share my mistakes as well". Obviously I had pressed a little too hard on the stamp. I ended up putting it in our free bin in case someone wanted it any way. This card is made up completely of scraps.

.

Here is another card made with scraps. The gold paper has a blue/green flocked pattern.The stamp is Flourishes Chrysanthemums. I love the layout of this card, and will probably use it again some time

This next card could be used for other purposes, but today I decided to include it with the 'Thank You' cards as it could be used as such. I made three others just like this one with the exception that each has a totally different sentiment on the front. Since the initial card sale held August 28th, we had another at an assisted retirement home September 10th. There was one woman that was left at our booth in her wheelchair, and we showed her all the cards she wanted to see. She kept repeating that she had no money to buy any cards. She must have been at our booth a good 20 minutes to half an hour, and during that time she repeatedly wanted to look at one particular card. It was one of these cards. I decided to give her the card as a gift. I haven't seen anyone so happy in a long time, and she kept thanking me for the gift. Dana, ended up trying to find one of the caregivers to come and take her the rest of the way around the booths. It took a while to find someone, so in the meantime we chatted, and here is the card.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some more of the cards I created for the community markets we've signed up for.

Hive Creative Challenge: Autumn (3)

Another card for the Hive Creative Challenge here. I don't think Fall cards are very practical, except in an artistic sense, but I suppose they would work for Thinking of You cards or some such all occasion thing.

I started with an Orange Zest card base which I distress inked on the edges with Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz).

I embossed the Grace's Frame Cuttlebug folder on Dark Chocolate cardstock and cut it out around the edges. Using a craft knife and a ruler (for the straight parts), I cut out the unembossed center of the frame.

I cut out a piece of Summer Sunrise cardstock to fit beneath the frame, distress inked the edges with Wild Honey (Tim Holtz) and then embossed it with D'vine Swirls. Using a clear Spica pen, I went around the embossed ridges of the swirls (difficult to see in the picture). I adhered it to the back of the frame with plain ol' Scotch tape.

For the sentiment, I die cut and embossed kraft cardstock with a Deckled Mega Rectangle die (Spellbinders) and distress inked the edges with the Rusty Hinge. Using Versamark ink and clear embossing powder, I stamped and heat set the sentiment. Using a Xyron, I adhered the sentiment to the mat.

For the "flower," I arranged some fabric maple leave and punched a hole in the center with my Big Bite (more difficult than it sounds!). I inserted a fall-themed brad through the hole and clamped in place. Using a hot glue gun, I adhered it to the assembled mat and then adhered the whole mat to the card at an angle.

I used the A2 Envelope Liner die and Autumn Abundance patterned paper to finish off the kraft envelope.

{Supplies--all PTI unless noted}

Cardstock: Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate, kraft (unknown brand)
Patterned Paper: Autumn Abundance
Stamps: Autumn Flower (Stampendous!)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz Distress Ink), Wild Honey (Tim Holtz Distress Ink)
Dies: Deckled Mega Rectangles - lg (Spellbinders), A2 Envelope Liner
Embossing Folders (all Cuttlebug/Provo Craft): Grace's Frame, D'vine Swirls
Other: fabric maple leaves (Hot Off the Press), clear Spica (Atyou), brad (unknown - dollar store)

Hive Creative Challenge: Happy Fall (2)

Here's another card for the Hive Creative Challenge here! If you decide to join the Hive, remember to "Like" my post! ;)

Burlap goes perfectly with this season!

I started with the scraps from this project here and cut out a Dark Chocolate cardstock mat and a matching size of burlap. I took out some of the edge threads to get a frayed look. I sewed the burlap to the mat and then adhered each of the felt pieces with Scor-Tape. I suppose I could've used a Xyron for the felt but was concerned with residual stickiness within the leaf cutouts. I also just realized I could've sewn them to the mat... That would've been fabulous, though difficult...

I then punched a hole for the sentiment tag with my Big Bite and attached the tag with an eyelet. You can see the card base (Orange Zest) showing through! The sentiment tag was cut out using Cuttlebug Tiny Tags and I inked the edges with Dark Chocolate ink. The sentiment itself is from 2009 Autumn Tags (Papertrey Ink, of course!)

I used Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink to ink the edges of the Orange Zest card base and then adhered the entire front mat.

The envelope was lined using a die and patterned paper from Autumn Abundance.

Thanks for visiting!

{Supplies--all PTI unless noted}

Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest, Kraft (unknown brand)
Patterned Paper: Autumn Abundance
Stamps: 2009 Autumn Tags
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Walnut Stain (Tim Holtz Distress Ink)
Felt: Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Harvest Gold
Dies: Tiny Tags (Cuttlebug), Fall Leaves (Cuttlebug), A2 Envelope Liner
Other Supplies/Tools: burlap (unknown source), sewing machine (Viking), Big Bite (We R Memory Keepers)

Funky Ribbon Techique

Check out Kerianne's creation (Retro Girly Creative blog) for the Color Cue {8} challenge on Stamp Away with Me (the WPlus9 Design Studio blog)... This ribbon technique is stunning!

Thanks for sharing, Kerianne!!

Upcoming Scrapbookers Paradise Class

It's time for Fall and Thanksgiving cards!
Thursday, September 16th is my next Scrapbookers class. We will be making three Thanksgiving cards that involve - a lot of ink distressing, dry brush inking technique, Spellbinders tracing for a narrow framed mat for the same die cut, Spellbinders die cut within a die cut with recessed image, cutting a Spellbinders die shape with the 'old school' border cutting scissors, border punching, Cuttlebug and Spellbinders embossing, and more!
I must give credit for the beautiful brown and peach Thanksgiving card you see, laying flat, to Maile Belles for the design and colors I used. Her card was designed as a Wedding card, however, but I thought her design would lend itself well to a more contemporary - less rustic and more feminine, non-traditional Thanksgiving card.
See all of you that have signed up for the class Thursday evening! There is still a couple of openings remaining; so if you have a friend or relative that may wish to come along with you, have them register at Scrapbookers.(this is for 'Calgarians')

For a closer look at each card, click for a better view.

Hive Creative Challenge: Happy Birthday - Fall Theme

I love Fall colors and was excited to finally pull out my Autumn Abundance patterned papers from Papertrey Ink!

I started by stitching papers together over a Kraft mat, adding a stitched border as well. The sentiment (Vintage Picnic) was stamped with Dark Chocolate ink on Rustic Cream cardstock that had been die cut using Fillable Frames 2. The frame was stamped using Terracotta Tile ink. The sentiment piece was popped up over some Terracotta Tile saddle stitch ribbon. I was DYING for Dark Chocolate saddle stitch ribbon, but it's not offered by PTI due to some sort of manufacturer error...

The image adhered next to the sentiment is from the Autumn Abundance stamp set. I stamped it on Rustic Cream cardstock, colored it with the Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest and Summer Sunrise Copic trios (I don't have any Terracotta Tile Copics!) and then carefully cut it out!

I lined the Kraft envelope with more paper from the Autumn Abundance patterned paper set. Very festively fall, n'est-ce pas!?

This piece goes along nicely with the first official Hive creative challenge here. If you decide to join the Hive, remember to "Like" my post! ;)

{Supplies--all PTI unless noted}

Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Kraft
Patterned Paper: Autumn Abundance
Stamps: Vintage Picnic, Autumn Abundance, Fillable Frames #2
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Terracotta Tile, Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Ribbon: Terracotta Tile saddle stitch
Dies: Fillable Frames #2, A2 Envelope Liner
Other Tools: Copics (E59, E57, E59, YR12, YR15, YR18, Y32, Y35, Y38), sewing machine

CPS & Embellish Combination Challenge Entry by Sabrina

CPS #184 combined with Embellish Paper Piecing Color Challenge :: Sponsored by My Favorite Things

I have entered a previous posting for the CPS #184 challenge, with a commitment to enter another in case a previous posting was not allowed. So, this time, I have combined it with Embellish Magazine's color and paper piercing challenge. I ended up making this card twice because I got carried away with the paper piercing and did not care for it. I was able to save the card base with the paper pierced border I created, and may use it some time in the future. So, this card is the second try.

I used scraps to make this card for...Did I mention that this card is for my daughter's Mother-in-law's birthday? Spellbinders, Labels 4 is what I used to cut the shape around Penny Black's Poppy Quote stamp which I used my daughter's Copis for to fill in. The kraft card base and Labels 4 shapes are ink distressed with Versa Magic Tea Leaves and VersaFine Vintage Sepia. The yellow Labels 4 shape and the green. yellow, and white patterned paper are pierced around the edge.
The darker green required for the Embellishment challenge is found in the ribbon I pleated, The sentiment and the Poppy Labels 4 piece are popped up. To completed the card I constructed a handmade envelope.

I know that Wendy will love the colors, as yellows and greens are some of her favorite colors. At least they were a couple of years ago when we were talking about changing colors in her home.

PTI Moment: Erin Lincoln

Erin Lincoln, of Procrastination Station, is one of Papertrey Ink's newest design team members. I was checking out her latest for the September release when I stumbled upon this from the August release...

Now, Gobble Gobble was not on my list of stamps to get (still isn't) but I love this card! The color combo, the argyle block matted with white that's adhered askew and the dash of Harvest Gold ribbon! Be still my heart! The cloud die thought bubble is an added bonus!

There's also this stunning concoction:

Thanks, Erin!

CPS #184 Challenge Entry by Sabrina

This is the CPS #184 sketch, which, again, I happen to have a recent posting (Aug. 31) that I can apply to this challenge sketch. I do, however, plan on completing another just for this sketch (and hopefully I'll be able to get to it).

The card I'm submitting is square and can be used as a masculine congrats card. It is a simple card where the paper and the design play the major role, but the cutting out of the flourish took care and time. The flourish is from s.e.i's Bridgeport clear stamps. I then took my favorite VersaFine Vintage Sepia ink and distressed it. It reminds me of some of the hand carved flourishes found on antique handcrafted furniture, and very befitting a man - don't you think? Copper brads are in the four corners, and smaller ones on either side of the popped-up sentiment.