A Photo-Heavy Happy Leap Day!

A friend asked if I would make some Easter cards using some of the clipart I'd gathered up lately...two of each image. Now how could I say "no?"  Flowers, and springtime colors...no need to ask twice!

I did customize the mini collages at her request to remove the text/labels, so you may see some of these same images appear later on but in different configurations. :)  And even though I was making two cards with each image, I felt I had to make some slight changes to each one, so the recipients would know they were special enough for a one-of-a-kind greeting.

On all of the cards, the folds are at the top.

First up - the corals. On the first card, I reduced the size of the clipart to fit inside the Tattered Angels chipboard frame.:

On the landscape version, I kept the clipart at ATC size (2-1/2" x 3-1/2") and placed the chipboard frame at one end just to highlight the flowers and birds nest.

One thing I should note-when I have an A2 card with elements that might go over the edge of the card itself (as with the doily on this card), I use A6 envelopes (4-3/4" x 6-11/16") to mail the card to accomodate the oversized embellishment(s), rather than the usual A2 sized envelopes.

Supplies:

Patterned papers: Graphic45 Once Upon a Springtime/Spellbound (coral floral);

BasicGrey Wander collection (aqua solid)

Clipart: Robin's eggs nest: The Graphics Fairy ; Tulips: Dover Publications;

Dotted paper:  Free Vintage Digi Stamps 

Chipboard frames: Tattered Angels      German glass glitter: GlitterandKitsch on Etsy

Border punches: Martha Stewart Swirling Lace (bottom edges); Fiskars Threading Water (aqua strips)

Laces: local craft stores      Doily: Wilton      Hug Snug seam binding

Pearl & crystal flourishes: Prima      Pearl cluster: Recollections

Next up is the teal and violet set...I love the strong colors in this set...

On this set, the only changes I made to the landscape version were to change the size of the image, and accent with a pink bow instead of green:

Supplies:

Patterned papers: DCWV Latte Stack (solid lavender); Graphic45 Botanicabella/Secret Garden (green print);

Pink Paislee Vintage Vogue collection (light pink print)

Clipart: Small violet bunch: Dover Publications; Vase, Flowers, & Easter eggs: The Graphics Fairy

Paper doily: MFT Decorative Doily Duo     Edge punch: Martha Stewart Double Arches

Scalloped lace: LittleRedCottage on Etsy      Crocheted lace for "flower": local craft store

Pearls and flourishes: Prima      Hug Snug seam binding

And last but certainly not least, the pink set...lots of doily edging on this first card:

There was less room for layers of doily-edged papers on the landscape orientation card, but it still works. And the flower and bow accents are changed to green instead of pink...

Supplies:

Patterned papers: Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection (pink damask); BasicGrey Curio collection (green lace print);

BasicGrey Out Of Print collection (bright pink solid)

Clipart: Floral basket, egg & flowers: Bumble Buttons; Butterfly: Dover Publications

Laces: local craft stores      Edge punch: Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace      Pearls& flourishes: Prima

Fabric flowers: Frogfeathers on Etsy      Hug Snug seam binding

There isn't too much going on in the Korner so far this week...I've been a little under the weather.  But I hope to be back this weekend with some new projects to share.

Happy Leap Day, thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

Butterfly and Roses...

I recently found a package of K&Co diecuts in my stash...it hasn't even been that long since I purchased them, and still I forgot I had them. (I now have a basket devoted solely to recently-purchased goodies so this doesn't happen again - once I "put them away" in a somewhat misguided attempt at neatness, I tend to forget they're there!)

The diecuts are a printed chipboard, but I still had to do some embellishment.  A little Distress Ink for coloring, a light coating of clear coarse glitter...and yet it still looked "unfinished" to me. So I took a clue from the shapes on the piece itself, and covered the flower shapes with felt roses, the leaf shapes with paper leaves, the butterfly with a patterned paper butterfly, added a couple small bows and a pearl, and now it was ready to adorn a card.

Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Echo Park Be Mine collection (pink), Echo Park For the Record collection (kraft & blue pattern)

Crochet trim: LittleRedCottage on Etsy      Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeabilities (bottom edges)

Chipboard Diecut: K&Co Flora & Fauna Silhouette      Leaves: Prima      Pearls: Recollections and Prima

Hug Snug seam binding      Felt Roses: My Favorite Things Mini Rolled Roses die

I'll be back in a couple days with pics of a set of floral Easter cards made at the request of a friend...I'm having lots of fun with spring cards these days. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.



It's Still Winter...No, It's Spring....Wait...

I don't want this to sound like I'm complaining, because I'm not...but the weather this winter is just plain wonky!  We've had a much drier than normal winter so far, and I believe more nights at or below freezing than usual.  But even nights in the low 30's doesn't mean daytimes don't reach high 50's to low 60's. This week, a high front parked itself off the Pacific coast, and we've had temps in the mid-70's for the last couple days...it's supposed to "drop back down" to low 6o's in a day or so (to me, that's still spring-time temps...ha).  And this is Northern California, where it's supposed to be "cooler."  It's crazy...but in a nice way!  I just hope it's not a sign of a hotter-than-usual summer for us, because it's plenty hot enough up here in the summer, thank you.  :)

So in the spirit of the "season" here are a couple spring-colored all occasion cards, one brighter and bolder, and one softer and shabbier...although this first one would be perfect for the sentiment "sending smiles across the miles" as a get well card....hmmmmm.....

I guess you've noticed by now, but I can't resist adding a little bit of clear coarse glitter to these clipart images, and maybe a few bitty pearls to accent.  

Supplies:

Clipart:  The Vintage Workshop blog   (French postcard),  The Graphics Fairy  (bird),

Dover Publications (flower basket)

Patterned Papers: BasicGrey (teal solid), Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection (damask)

Paper Doily: Wilton      Pearls: Recollections      Hug Snug seam binding      Lace:  LittleRedCottage on Etsy     

Button, twine: stash      Handcrafted stick pin using Maya Road leaf stick pin base

I "distressed" the little Maya Road scalloped kraft envelope on this next card with white ink, and ran parts of it through my crimper...I couldn't resist changing it up a bit...LOL

Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection (orange), BoBunny Gabrielle collection (stripe),

BasicGrey Sweet Threads collection (brown plaid)

Maya Road kraft scalloped envelope      Handcrafted stick pin      Lace: local craft store     

Hug Snug seam binding       Fabric flower: Frogfeathers on Etsy      Buttons, twine: stash    

Paper leaves, paper flowers, & pearl flourish: Prima      Paper doily: Spellbinders Eyelet Circles die

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm off on a quest on the web...I spotted something the other day that I thought would make a darling storage option for my handcrafted stick pins.  Problem: I didn't bookmark it...arghhh.  Wish me luck!

The One That Started the Rest...

I just realized that I posted the gift bag sets that were inspired by one I made for myself...and forgot to post the one that started it all...oops!

So a quick post today to show off the original set-this time in blue. As with the others, I used Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangle dies for the large "frame" for the clipart, Martha Stewart Infinite Loops Trim punch for the paper lace around the center of the bag, and Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeabilities for the bottom edge of the tag card.

 

Additional Supplies:

Gift Bag:

Floral Clipart: The Vintage Workshop blog, and Dover Publications

Sheer ribbon & button: local craft store      Hug Snug Seam Binding      Pearl/crystal flourish: Prima

Tag Card:

Floral Clipart: The Vintage Workshop blog, Dover Publications

Patterned Paper: MyMindsEye A Beautiful Life collection      Hug Snug seam binding

Lace "doily": cut from lace yardage from LittleRedCottage on Etsy

Felt rose: My Favorite Things Mini Rolled Roses die      Wool felt: local craft store      Pearl: Recollections

It was a slower crafting week than normal in the Korner last week, but I still have some new project photos to share, so I'll be back soon.  Thanks for visiting!

    

Sending Smiles...

One more day until we celebrate another holiday here in the States (Presidents' Day) - rain or shine, long 3-day weekends are welcome! Hope you have some fun planned for the rest of your weekend, whether it's one more day or two. :)

There's a whole collection of pictures of these vintage "flower girls" - this one is my favorite - she just looks so bright and happy. Perfect for a "sending smiles" card!

Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Echo Park For the Record collection; BoBunny dots     Paper leaves and pearls: Prima

      White flowers & lace: local craft store      Hug Snug seam binding      Buttons & twine: stash

Clipart: The Graphics Fairy (flower girl & blue flowers), Stampington (postcard text),

Dover Publications (butterflies), unknown source for bingo card text

All occasion cards are fun to make...there's no limit to what types of embellishments you can use, no real need to leave a space for a specific sentiment, and every reason to make them cheerful and fun. This one uses vintage clipart from The Vintage Workshop blog (postcard background) and The Graphics Fairy (flower urn and orange roses).

Other Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Pink Paislee Nantucket collection (oranges), K&Co Ancestry collection (green)

Hug Snug seam binding      Orange crystals: Heidi Swapp

Pearl spray, pearl button, scalloped lace: local craft stores      Handcrafted jewel stick pins (Maya Road green leaf pin)

Thanks again for stopping by!



Little Rose Twins, Take 2

Using more clipart images from Karen at The Graphics Fairy,  I made a couple more ATC-sized chips to adorn a new set of "rose twins"...mini 3-1/2" x 5" all occasion cards.  I guess you've noticed by now that I gravitate to the floral and vintage images...the colors just seem to attract me the most.  :)

So without further adieu, here are the newest little cuties...

Supplies:

Pink Landscape Card:

Patterned Papers: Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection (damask), Making Memories Sabrina (pink mini dot)

Lace: LittleRedCottage on Etsy, & local craft store      Hug Snug seam binding      Pearls: Prima

Clipart: The Graphics Fairy (pink roses, label, postmark, frame); Dover Publications (butterfly)

Red Portrait Card:

Patterned Papers: Basic Grey Curio collection      Hug Snug seam binding      Pearls: Prima

Clipart: The Graphics Fairy (French label and red rose)      Laces: LittleRedCottage on Etsy, & local craft store

Here's another of the gift bag/matching tag sets that I made up...this one with pink, red, and lavender colored flowers on the red base.  The fun part of making these three sets was finding artwork and embellishments that all worked with the red bags...and even more fun was finding out how many actually did!  This time, the large floral and butterfly clipart images are from Dover Publications.

Once again, I used Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangles die for the background, and Martha Stewart's Infinite Loops Trim punch for the paper lace trim around the center of the entire bag...

Other Supplies for the gift bag:

Pearl/Crystal flourish: Prima      Hug Snug Seam binding

Button & sheer ribbons: stash

The bottom edge of the tag is scalloped with Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeabilities, and EK Success Abstract Flower punch was used on the pink mini dotted strip across the front of the tag...

Other Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection (damask), Making Memories Sabrina (pink mini dot)

Cotton lace: local craft store    Hug Snug seam binding   Paper leaves: Handmade

Lace doily: made with yardage of cotton lace from local craft store      Pearl: Recollections

Felt Rose: My Favorite Things Mini Rolled Roses die

Thanks for visiting!



For Any Reason or No Reason at All...

During the past couple weeks, I took some time off from working with paper to working on my computer for a bit, playing with some new-to-me techniques. I'm not a digital scrapbooker or cardmaker, because I can't give up the fun of playing with papers and dimensional embellishments. But I decided it was high time I catch up and learn a little bit more...which then led to using some of that newly found knowledge to create some new embellishments for cards...which finally led to reorganizing and backing up files on my hard drives...and before I knew it, a week had gone by and I hadn't pushed a piece of paper around once!

But mid-week, I got busy with the papers again, and now I have some more goodies to share with you.

To start, here's an all occasion card - no sentiment, just a card for any reason, or no reason at all. :)

Supplies:

Patterned Papers: Sassafras Sweetly Smitten collection (floral); K&Co Ancestry collection (green)

Background paper, label text, flower urn clipart on embellishment chip:  The Graphics Fairy

Laces: LittleRedCottage on Etsy & local craft store      Pink pearl flourishes: Prima

Spellbinders Labels 8 dies      Hug Snug seam binding

Handcrafted stick pin      Button and twine: stash

Next up for today, something a little different. Using an 8x10 paper gift bag, I embellished the bag and a matching gift tag card.  I decided to make the tag in a card format so the recipient could easily reuse the bag and tag by cutting off the back of the card tag at the top fold (where I would write my to/from message) and still have a useable tag with a blank back for them to use a second time to a new recipient. (hope that makes sense! :) )  The tag is approximately 3"W x 5"H.  The first set turned out so well I made two more to put in the Etsy shop.

Here's how the purple set turned out:

Supplies-Tag Card:

Floral clipart: The Graphics Fairy      Patterned Paper (tag): Basic Grey Oh Baby! collection

Lace "doily": cut from lace yardage from Little Red Cottage on Etsy      Pearl: Recollections

Felt rose: My Favorite Things Mini Rolled Roses die      Hug Snug seam binding

Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeabilities       EK Success Abstract Flower edge punch

Supplies-Gift Bag:

Floral clipart: The Graphics Fairy      Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangle die

Looped paper trim: Martha Stewart Infinite Loops Trim punch 

Sheer ribbon and button: local craft store      Hug Snug seam binding     Pearl/lace flourishes: Prima