Shabby 3x3 notes Part Duex

I posted a little swap from 2 Shabby Sisters a bit ago, here is the other set of cards I made to go along with it.  Remember, the presentation for these had to be a little special... so I went to my stash of cute bags and dressed one up to hold this set of 3x3 cards.  I am still using up the last of that amazing Prima Primrose paper, added a great metal filigree from Butterbee Scraps on Zibbet (my new favorite obsession), and  a great paper flower that came to me in a swap from the super generous Amelia.  I layered that all on to a couple of top notes and edged everything with Black Soot
I just love how these note cards turned out.  I stamped one of those sweet $1 stamps from Michaels on a softly patterned paper, edged with black soot and layered on a bit more shabby pink.  That black trim is a pleated trim from May Arts Ribbon which I just love.  Finished off with a simple flower to draw your eye right to the stamped image.

 Six of these tucked in a little bag on their way to my swap partner - hope she enjoys!!

Shabby Notes

My passion for all things shabby chic has led me to a ning group called 2 Shabby Sisters.  This was one of the first swaps I joined there.  3x3 note cards, they needed to presented in a pretty way and have a string/ribbon for attachment.
I made a little box from the green card stock, and layered on paper and a butterfly from the Prima Prim Rose collection.  The flowers were from my stash... it wasn't quite as vivid as this.. I promise!! lol

But I was really happy with the closure.  I call this the manilla envelope style  I use a button with a shank, punch a hole so the shank can 'hide', but still it still allows the height needed for the pretty twine to wrap behind it.  The little beading on the end is a nice touch, too.

I made three of two different designs - this one is more green and I used papers from the same collection and added a little key a lot of gold heat embossing.

The second set of three in the little box is more pink and the tiny script is a Prima stamp.  I punched two butterflies and layered them to give a feeling of movement... topped off with tiny pearls and the coordinating lock from the keys on the other half of the set.

Here is both of them side by side - coordinated but not too matchy/matchy... I hope :)

Father's Day Card... a bit late

Life has been crazy!!  I have taken the summer off from all design team obligations to focus on projects just for me... and that means less posting, sorry about that.  I have been snapping pics and have a whole bunch to load so hopefully, we can get you inspired again.
This card was made for a special guy's first Father's Day.  I made this card using the amazing layering pieces from Anna Griffin.  I just love LOVE her card kits ... see why!!

Pocket Full of Hope

Your Paper Pantry has a 'Pocket for Your Thoughts' swap... which your's truly will be hosting for a few months come August.  But in July, Roxy asked us to make three little pockets for someone in need of some Get Well Wishes.  I focused on the cancer treatment gals.  Sadly, we all know someone who is going through the horrors of trying to get and stay healthy - and their bag of love is a little different from chicken soup and cough drops.  .  I filled it with a few things like hand sanitizer and airborne - because staying healthy during treatment is so hard and so important, added some tums... never enough of those, chapstick and hard candies.
To make the bag topper I cut a piece of card stock as wide as my bag and 5 inches long - then scored at 2 inches so I had a good base to fold over the top and staple it all closed.  The HOPE was cut on my cricut and then I just had fun layering pretty pink/white/black flowers and brads.

 This beautiful metal filigree is from Butterbee Scraps, which I love these days and topped off with a large bit of bling.  I sure hope these help make someone's time in 'the chair' just a touch more pleasant.

Altered Book Cover

More swapping fun with Your Paper Pantry - I love this altered book cover idea.  Originally, I was going to go super crazy and make a mixed media collage.  But as I started with it, I just LOVED the way the pretty blue of the book was showing through the Gesso.  On the spine I added a brad from Tim Holtz called Ring Fastener; this makes hanging a charm ... charming!  Lots of metal from Butterbee Scraps - the corners and two pieces under that AMAZING flower that came to me in a fabric flower swap.  On the bottom is a bit of antique lace topped of with ribbon from Love Bug Creations

 Here is an up close of that flower - isn't it beautiful!!  As much as I hated to part with it, it was a little easier knowing my swap partner would appreciate it.  Head to YouTube to check out the video

Pretty Congratulations

I just can't tell you happy I am to have found these card kits by Anna Griffin... When I need a special card these are my go to pieces.  The way they layer and all coordinate make the cards look so finished and artful, in a very quick... run out the door kind of time!!  Seriously, this card took me less than 3 minutes start to finish!!
I have made so many of them, I am finally starting to see where other products, like Butterbee Scraps metal fits right in.  And of course, every special girl deserves some bling on her big day.

Funky Pin Cusion

Over at Your Paper Pantry we swapped pin cushion recently... I used an old ice cream cup for this one.  I used Adirondack Ink's Stream to color the inside.  The 'cushion' is made of a soft creamy felt, I thought this looked a bit like the scoop.
I used a super HUGE piece of blue rickrack around the edge and layered on a pretty white trim.  For the focal point I hand dyed a big ribbon rose, layered on a metal filigree piece and pretty brad I have been hoarding.  I tucked some mulberry flowers in to the valleys created by the rickrack.
I topped it off with some pretty stick pins... should have taken some close ups of those :/
There is a quick video for a more close up look ... here

Open for Business

I live in an AMAZING city... and super fortunate to live across the street from a great little BYOB place that I have loved since they day they opened their doors.  They had this sad little hand written "OPEN" sign and I told them... I am going to have to fix that...  Well, I finally did.
I watched hours and hours of mixed media canvas tutorials on YouTube - especially those from Arlene who is Butterfly Kisses on YouTube.
I have never done something so unsctructured but I LOVED using all these great little finds from my stash.  Here is the finished piece and some detail shots below.  It won't be possible for me to call out every detail... just keep looking - like an I Spy game :)
I finished it off with watered down Gesso and a variety of ink sprays to highlight different aspects of the canvas.

 Here is a bit of a crown, some filigree and a huge paper flower.

 A wooden dress form, a collage of paper flowers and metal pieces.  As I got close to finished, I realized I needed some parts undiluted with the Gesso - so this blue bling added a great sparkle

 

 Here is a collection of paper flowers and metal pieces and a large 'chunk' of ribbon trim.  Honestly, that is the one thing I won't do again.  It didn't adhere as well as smaller pieces, though the effect of the Gesso in the roses is kind of coo.

When I got it all done the OPEN part faded a way.  So I went over the chip board letters with a versa mark pen and very delicately added perfect pearls to give a pop

Long Necked Cards

It is with a very heavy heart I make my final post for Love Bug Creations.  I have so appreciated being a part of this creative team.  I have learned so much from each and every fellow member.  Kim and Pam run this company like true professionals - and that is a lovely gift in the craft world.  I am so grateful for all they have done to promote me and my brand.
I wish I had the time to give them and their amazing product the attention it deserves but I am not going to pursue another term.  I will miss you all!!!
OK - enough sniffling... on to the post...  I am giving you a twofer this week.  Same great stamp from  Paper Trey Ink, but one card with Simply Black Rumple Ribbon and the other with Momma's Mesh.  I really like how the mesh repeats that 'girafee feel'

Anna Griffin Card Making

Have you tried these card kits yet??? You can find them on HSN and HOLY COW!!!! They make the nicest, most detailed cards in literally minutes! Now, the kits include perefctly coordinated little bows, but I have to confess, I prefer my Rumple Ribbon from Lovebug Creations. I like to wrap around a card and often like the knot as opposed to a bow. You might see a few more of these in the next few posts because I just LOVE how quickly they come together. This Garden Window set is perfectly matched to the Spring Collection Lovebug

New Stamps and a Pinterest CASE

People seem to always ask... what is your inspiration... Sadly, it is new product!  I ordered a big (BIG!) box of Paper Trey Ink Stamps and I just LOVE this pretty little butterfly that also has a matching die. I wanted to use it so I went to Pinterest and found a sketch with an image about the same size. This one didn't have measurements, so I eyeballed it - I just love how the papers coordinate and that Caddy Blue Rumple Ribbon from Lovebug Creations is a perfect match!

DCWV Navy Swap

How fun!!  The Basically Bare folks worked with Die Cuts With a View.... and the stack they set us... The Hey Sailor Stack... Just after my daughter was giving me a hard time for not yet making her a mini for her Navy pics!! 
I picked the Krafty Keepsake from Basically Bare to showcase this great paper collection.
I just love how pretty and gold and reflective it is (Even if that did make the video a bit...bright!)
On the cover I added a huge anchor charm, centered some papers from the collection, a sticker and a great gold flower from Michaels

This mini comes with four #10 envelopes, I extended the flaps to allow for a pic and added.

This collection has large and small journaling cards and I added a belly band with an anchor and pockets to hold them.

Here is a close up of the knot my daughter can't tie (even though she was in the Navy!!)

Here is a belly band and the front of the chipboard piece.  I fussy cut one of the great ships from the collection and added a smaller tag.

 

The back cover - how great is that gold!!! I just added NAVY in big gold letters.

Sweet Needle Book

HOW FUN IS THIS!!!!  This is a one on one swap with the Marie Antoinette group and I just loved making this for my partner.  It measures 4.5 inches tall by 4 inches wide when closed.... when closed with that BEAUTIFUL blue Rumple Ribbon from the new spring collection.  I  just love how versatile this product it is.  I really use it on 90% of my projects!
Here are a few pics - but for a better look, stop by the Video.  To help secure that large piece of lace I added some buttons and a stick pin.

 Inside, I made a little pocket for some treats.  That Momma's Mesh always comes in handy for pockets.  And a isn't that rick rack HUGE!!  I liked the layering of the two.

 Here I stitched in a few pieces of felt to hold the needles and pins.  On the blue page I added a little piece of lace and I just love how pretty and simple that looks!

Spiral Mixed Media for Basically Bare

Today I have made a mini album to share with you using the mixed media spiral book.  Here are a few pics - but to see it all be sure to stop by the video.


I just love using a complete paper line like G45 with these books.  They just come together so quickly.  The acetate page is really thick and took the stamp very well.  I can't wait to add some double sided memorabilia to it.


And this canvas page is perfect to add a swatch or a flower petal  I didn't think it needed anything other than a pretty stick pin to hold 'something' in place later - just a million ideas!

Spring Trim Jars

A couple of my favorite crafty girls host the Scrap Cafe on Facebook.  I don't swap with them often (enough) but I just couldn't pass up the spring mason jar filled with lace and trim (no ribbon).  We were to bling up the outside of the jar in a 'spring' feel and I thought the green Momma's Mesh screamed SPRING to me!! Around the top of this one I added a piece of I Love Grunge (I just can not get enough of that one!!) and a pretty spring button. Hope the girls can use their new goodies :)

Happy Birthday Steph!!!

Time for a birthday girl's best wishes!!!  Hope you enjoy this BIG Beautiful Blossom and the new pretty Rumple Ribbon from the Spring Collection, and have yourself a FABULOUS day!!

 These great big roses are so flat they are perfect for cards and nothing says ' Have a Great Birthday' like Rumple Ribbon.

Dressy Dress Forms

For the Spring Fabric Flower swap with the Marie Antoinette group I needed a pretty way to display each of these flowers I created.  So I started with my Basically Bare Dress Forms.  I covered them with Gesso from Art Anthology (Basically Bare's sister company) then a thick layer of Viridian to give that pretty blue sparkle. 

Then, to make them a little more 'dressy' I added a 'belt' of ribbon and used twine to attach a pretty little heart locket.  I like how there are several sizes of forms in this packet I found them very veristile.  Your local Scrapbook/Paper shop can get info on how to carry them ... HERE

We love hops and birthdays!

If you are paying attention, here with the Lovebug Creative team... we love hops and birthdays!!
And our Kimi- who makes it all happen for us.

I made a 5x5 easel card to help her celebrate.  I hope she has a fabulous day!!

I used Momma's mesh in black and the Hugs color of the sheer ribbon.  I have found that to be the perfect match to most G45 paper collections.

I think you hopped here from Stephanie

But if you started in the middle, please give all my CT girls some love on their blogs, too!

Pam (Mama LoveBug) - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
Tanya - http://www.scrappinkymomma.blogspot.com/
Stacey - http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Tanya Hahn - http://craftingoncaffeine.blogspot.com
Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
Stephanie- www.stephanie-eaken.blogspot.com
Katie - www.craftykhandy.blogspot.com
Kathy - http://kathyand3kids.blogspot.com
Dawn - http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com
Christine  http://www.scarletcalliope.com
Kristi- http://littlepapersprinkles.blogspot.com

French Country Treat Bag

So this week, a boy made dinner for me!  Long story short - once upon a time I dated a nutcase who wouldn't let me in his home.  Since then, I don't give up the good stuff until I see the house. 

So, the current gnetleman asked me - oh so tenderly.... ummmm, when?  I said, I must see your home.  This was Sunday... he made us dinner Tuesday!  LOL

I knew he went to a lot of trouble planning and cooking so I wanted to take him a little treat ( a martini shaker - he doesn't drink them, but he makes them for me.  I rightly guessed he didn't own one....he does now!)

You know I love a decked out bag for gifts, and he was no exception.

That layer of black Momma's Mesh really helps to keep it masculine, don't ya think!  And of course a little red rumple, too!

Travelling Mini

Everyone knows I love a good swap!  And this mini is travelling around for a 7 month tour of swapping!! 

For this Your Paper Pantry swap we create the covers and give some guidelines on how to fill the pages inside.  I asked for a Marie Antoinette/Paris/Chic look. I created the cover with some of my favorite stash goodies like the felt bird cage and flat back back pearls.  Of course, I added my favorite Rumple Ribbon in Butter Cream and I Love Grunge... and it is off travelling to 7 other swappers to have the pages filled out..

 Up close and personal with those beautiful pieces of Rumple Ribbon.  This was the very last tiny scraps I had of Buttercream.  I am off to order more - you can, too.

I used a ribbon holder, flat back black pearls and some shabby ribbons I just love and since they come back to me - I will see them again!!  I covered the chipboard with pretty mulberry paper (You might remember from some baby shower goodies) and shabby flowers.