Playing with Carta Bella...

Happy Monday, all!  After an extra busy week last week, I sat down to play with papers from a new paper company...Carta Bella. Carina Gardner designed a beautiful collection called, appropriately, "Beautiful Moments," that's filled with wonderful patterns in pink, burgundy, gold, and brown. I'm still waiting for my 6x6 pad of reduced patterns to arrive, but in the meantime, I picked up a few full-size 12x12 sheets to play with.

For this card, I started with the "Cherish Paper" that has one side filled with decorative circles. I punched one with my 1-3/4" circle punch to form the medallion that's the focal point of this card (it's surrounded with scalloped circle punches in graduated larger sizes).  The pretty damask is the back of the "Stripes Paper."

I did a little "faux stitching" following the dotted lines in the pattern by punching and drawing the "thread" with a fine black pen between the punches, and added some mini pearls outside the "stitch" lines and a small pearl circle in the center for added charm.

The wide scalloped lace was purchased in white. After tea-dying it, I colored a few of the rows with an EK Success water pen and Spun Sugar Distress Ink refill ink.  To the eye, the pink shades are the same between the lace and the papers...but apparently not to the camera! :)

 A little peek at the inside...

Supplies:

Patterned papers: Carta Bella Beautiful Moments/Cherish Paper and Stripes Paper; Crate Paper Circa 1934 collection (black/cream); Prima Romantique (cream rose print)

Dies: Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeabilities; My Favorite Things Royal Leaves; Memory Box Woven Circle

Punches: EK Success circle and scalloped circles      Pearls: Recollections and Prima

Paper roses: Prima      Sentiment stamp: Papertrey Ink      Scalloped crochet lace: Fields of Dreams on Etsy

New projects will arrive a little slower this week from my little Korner workroom, so don't fret if you don't see another card for a few days.  It's all good, but I have some *major* straightening up to do after last week's frenzy of cardmaking (some of which you'll see here in a week or so), and then I can get busy making a new mess! LOL

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping in for a visit!

A Page From My Own Book...Well, Almost...

At the start of this month, I posted this card,

which used the design of a beautiful card I found on Irena's blog here (yep...I finally found the origin blog, after much continued sleuthing!). 

Today's card is another take on this same design...very similar, but with just a few minor changes, it has its own charm. I narrowed and lengthened the piece behind the digi collage, added a piece of lace trim beneath it, changed some of the border die cuts and the location of the doily piece...and here's the finished product:

The digi collage is another that I made...if you look closely, you'll see the faint outline of the Eiffel tower over there on the right.  Light touches of clear glitter here and there add a little sparkle...

all-white flowers and leaves, with the exception of one bright pink rose, are accented with pearl wire spirals...

Supplies:

Patterned paper: MyMindsEye Miss Caroline/Fiddlesticks collection

Digi collage elements: Floral bouquet: vintageimages.org;  French label, teacup, ornate frame, pink rose,

Eiffel tower: The Graphics Fairy

Dies: Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3, My Favorite Things Royal Leaves      Crocheted lace: The Funkie Junkie on Etsy

Mini paper roses: Prima     Mini hydrangeas: Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Hydrangea punch

Large pink rose: local craft store      Pearls: Recollections     Miscellaneous: Wilton doily, handcrafted pearl wire spirals

Thanks for visiting!  Today I finished up a special project that I'll talk about here in a week or so...it's something I'm very happy about. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Have a Sweet Day...

Just in case you're having a mid-week slump, this is me saying "Have a Sweet Day." :) The heat's back on here this week, so I'm holed up in the Korner working on a project and making more cards...and very thankful for a working air conditioning system! :)

This one was fun to make, because it came together so naturally. It has a bit of a shabby-chic tone, with the dry-brushed paint around the edges of the papers, and the imperfect stitching, and the colorful flowers and bows. Sometimes when you just let go and stop thinking about the design, it happens - and that makes the whole process so much more relaxing and fun.

...the floral cluster is made up of Hug Snug bows, paper and fabric roses, die cut leaves, a seed pod pulled apart from craft-store flowers, a handmade pearl wire spiral, and pearl leaf outlines...

Supplies:

Patterned papers: MyMindsEye Miss Caroline/Dolled Up collection (stripe); On the Bright Side Two (dot);

Miss Caroline/Fiddlesticks collection (damask)

Dies: Spellbinders Labels 8; Memory Box Woven Circle; My Favorite Things Vintage Cameo (oval)

Cotton lace: The Funkie Junkie on Etsy & Zibbet      Sentiment stamp: Papertrey Ink

Paper roses, pearl flourishes, pearl leaves: Prima      Fabric rose & seed pod: local craft store

Loose pearls: Queen & Co.      Hug Snug seam binding     Handcrafted pearl wire spiral

Thanks for visiting today!

Lacy Birthday Wishes...

Happy Monday to you!  I'm starting off the week with a lacy little number that's based on sketch #229 from the Card Positioning Systems blog. 

When I use sketches, I start off with every intention of sticking to the design of the sketch, but it rarely ends up that way. Halfway through the construction of the card or layout, I usually get an idea and end up changing up the design to go with my idea.  I realize that's a good thing, but it makes for some puzzled expressions when I say I used a sketch yet my project looks nothing like it!

But this time I stuck to the sketch design, just adding a round doily to soften all the squares and angles, and adding a piece of lace down the entire left side...well, and the flower and bow cluster...but at least you can actually *see* the sketch design here. :)

lots of pearls scattered around the card...on the white wire spiral, the stick pin, a small flourish beneath the Hug Snug bows...

...more pearls at the end of the sentiment as a decorative ellipsis, and some adorable scalloped lace, adorned with more pearls, on and above, of course... 

Supplies:

Patterned papers: Echo Park This & That/Graceful collection (damask & dot); This & That Charming collection (stripe);

Crate Paper Random collection (yellow)

Dies: Lifestyle Crafts Antique Doily; My Favorite Things Royal Leaves     Ric-rac-edge cotton lace: local craft store

Scalloped lace: The Funkie Junkie on Etsy & Zibbet      Sentiment stamp: Papertrey Ink

Loose pearls: Queen & Co.; Paper Studio      Paper rose: Prima      Hug Snug seam binding

Pearl flourish: Recollections      Handcrafted pearl wire and pearl stick pin   

Thanks so much for visiting today!  I'll be back on Wednesday with a sweet all-occasion card.

  

Because You're Special...

I'm ending the week on a soft and flowery note, with an all-occasion card filled with lace and flowers.

It started with the soft floral print of the My Minds Eye paper, and once I put the pink flowers against it, I knew where it was going.  The design is very basic, and the embellishments are in control on this card.  The background patterned paper is aqua, but when I inked the edges with Pixie Dust (pink) VersaMagic ink, it gave the edges a tone similar to the grey/violet in the floral paper...a happy discovery!

The base of the embellishment grouping is a shabby fabric rose sitting on top of a piece of scrunched cheesecloth...a mini rose and unopened rosebuds, paper leaves, and pearls top the cluster...tea-dyed seam binding bows, a pink pearl flourish, die cut branches and leaves, and a sentiment in an embellished memo pin surround the floral cluster...

up in the corner, a small punched butterfly of lightly glittered vellum flutters by...

Supplies:

Patterned papers: MyMindsEye Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks (aqua & floral); Miss Caroline Dolled Up (gold dot)

Dies: Sizzix Flowers, Branches, & Leaves; My Favorite Things Royal Leaves

Crochet lace: local craft store      Edge punch: Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace     Fabric rose: Frogfeathers on Etsy

Rosebuds: Viola Mahr      Paper flowers, pink pearl flourish: Prima     Mini aqua pearls: Kaisercraft

Butterfly punch: Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly      Tim Holtz memo pin (embellished)      Hug Snug seam binding

Thanks so much for stopping in for a visit... have a wonderful weekend, and I'll be back on Monday!  :)



A Page From My Own Book, Part I...

What do you do when you get in a design "slump?"  I have a few solutions I often use...check out challenge and sketch blogs, look through interior design sites, look at fine art sites...and check out my own previous projects. 

I have been photographing and scanning my scrapbook pages and cards since I started making them in earnest about 11 years ago.  I used to submit pages for publication, so I needed those photos and scans for that. For cards, I wanted to be able to see what I'd sent when and to whom, so I didn't duplicate the next year.  So, by now, I have a pretty good "library" of projects to cruise through.  Granted, my style has gone through a few changes over the years, but the design placements often work regardless of style.

As an example, today's card uses the same basic design as this card posted last month...

and this card from March of this year...

and this card from March, 2011...

and there are more, but you see where this is going. :)

The basic design has a rectangular vertical block over a base block, with a horizontal strip between the two. By varying the shape of the card, the width and the side the vertical strip is on, the colors of the papers, and the embellishments, you can get quite a different look between the finished cards.  Sometimes, the challenge to come up with something different using the same design is the biggest part of the fun!

So, here's today version of that same basic design. I was using some of my newer My Minds Eye papers, and a bit of a different color combo than I usually turn to, and I think I've come up with another variation to add to the collection! :)

I'm going to have to hunt down some more of these fabric roses...I seem to have developed a real affinity for them lately...

the "border" along the side of the floral paper block is actually one side from the Fleur de Lis Square die...

Supplies:

Patterned papers: MyMindsEye Miss Caroline/Fiddlesticks (floral) and Dolled Up (gold dot)

Dies: Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares; My Favorite Things Royal Leaves; Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork

Fabric rose: local craft store      Mini paper roses & pearl flourishes: Prima

Wide crochet lace: The Funkie Junkie on Zibbet       Mini loose pearls: Kaisercraft       Handcrafted stick pin

Thanks for visiting today...I hope your week is going well!



A Special Happy Birthday...

Some say Friday the 13th is a unlucky day...but not me...or my mother-in-law, whose birthday fell on Friday the 13th this year. :)

I chose the image on the front of the card because it reminds me of a teacup and saucer that once belonged to my husband's grandmother...and that his mother passed down to him. So I thought it would be fun to make this image the centerpoint of her birthday card.

Once again, I used one of my favorite paper collections for the background paper...Echo Park Victoria Gardens. :)

I added little touches of clear glitter to the flowers, and used a GellyRoll Clear Stardust pen on the ""gold" accents on the teacup and saucer...

Supplies:

Patterned paper: Echo Park Victoria Gardens     Paper roses: Prima

Dies: Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves; Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals Small, Classic Ovals Lg, Floral Ovals

Teacup image: Digital Paper on Etsy      Sentiment stamp: Papertrey Ink

Stick Pin: Handcrafted with Maya Road flower pin as base      Handmade pearl wire spirals

Thanks for visiting...hope you're enjoying the start of a wonderful week ahead!

Bet You Can't Make Just One...

On Wednesday I posted a card inspired by the latest challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room using cream, pink, kraft, and  lace.  All the while I was making that first card, this second one was percolating in my brain...a shaped card with lots of soft flowers in a cluster, using papers from an Authentique collection sitting in my stash and as yet little-used, but perfect for the colors in the challenge.

So it appears, like the potato chips that advertise "bet you can't eat just one," I seem to have a similar issue with color challenges. :)  This design is nothing like the first - the laces form the base for the large floral cluster instead of being the center of attention, and the kraft paper is heavily "distressed" with dry-brushed white acrylic paint. I guess there's little consistency to my design ideas lately!

A large crocheted lace medallion and a few cuts from a scalloped lace strip are peeking out from under the flower cluster above a piece of cheesecloth...

...a piece of gathered cotton lace is the base for the large flower, while a light & airy white lace forms a little bow for extra frills...

...a peek at the inside...

Supplies:

Patterned paper: Authentique Uncommon collection     Pearls: Recollections

Dies: Spellbinders Grand Labels 4; Sizzix Flowers, Branches, & Leaves

Lace medallion: Little Red Cottage on Etsy     Crochet lace: The Funkie Junkie on Zibbet

White lace (bow) & large fabric rose: local craft store      Paper roses: Prima

Tim Holtz memo pin (embellished with gems)     Miscellaneous: cheesecloth, handmade pearl wire spiral

Thanks for stopping by...here's wishing you a very *lucky* Friday the 13th!

Gotta Love It When the Stars Align...

I was certainly in the mood to create again this week...after all, I'd been "off my game" for a couple days, and was ready to get back into the fun. But I needed a jump start...and a visit over to The Shabby Tea Room  to peek at the newest inspiration photo was just the fix. 

I remembered a birthday for an old (as in lots of years as friends, not in age...LOL) friend is coming up next week, and another glance at the photo brought to mind some wide lace I had in my stash, which brought to mind a card I made a year and a half ago that might be the perfect design (with a few minor changes) for the occasion and the challenge. Within an hour, I had a birthday card ready to go.  Just love it when all the pieces come together like that, including having the time to make a card while the mojo is still hot!

Here's the challenge photo...

and our challenge was to use cream/white, kraft, and pink, and incorporate lace.  See those lace pieces hanging off the side of the bed? They gave me the inspiration to use this particular wide lace on the card front.

velvet ribbon is a wonderful textural contrast to the lace and flowers...

the chipboard flourish is covered with clear German glass glitter for texture and just a hint of sparkle...

Supplies:

Digi collage elements: Flower basket-Dover Publications; bird-The Graphics Fairy; postcard-Vintage Workshop

WIde crochet lace, cotton lace: local craft store      Paper roses, pearl flourishes, loose pearls: Prima

Paper hydrangeas: Martha Stewart punch       Fabric photo corner: K&Co.    

Dies: My Favorite Things Royal Leaves; Spellbinders Floral Flourishes

Thanks for stopping by today!



Just For You...

Pastel colors are fun to work with, but can make you reach for the Advil bottle when trying to photograph accurately...at least for an amateur like me...LOL. When I photographed this card in indirect light, it was a little TOO indirect, and the colors looked very dark in spite of the white background.  When I photographed it in brighter light, the pale-colored details didn't show up well.

I compromised, by using my light box...and a little more patience...and here's the final result...Just For You...

There are bits of purple and pink in the paper, so I used a purple Prima flower as an accent to bring those colors forward. And that layer of purple beneath the flower and eyelash fiber? It's a dyed (with a mister and diluted Distress Ink refill) and gathered piece of a used fabric softener sheet...they make fun textural layers! (An easy way to get a few of these dryer sheets ready to go is to wet a clean bath towel, and throw in 3-4 sheets as the towel dries...sheets are ready to go and your towel is now REALLY soft! :) )

I die cut a flourish from cardstock, then covered it with a light coating of clear glitter...it made the flourish bend a bit, so I left it that way to add dimension!

Supplies:

Patterned papers: MyMindsEye Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks (floral & stripe) and Dilly Dally (aqua dot) collections

Edge punches: Martha Stewart Daisy Edge and Doily Lace      Crochet lace: The Funking Junkie on Zibbet

Dies: My Favorite Things Dizzy Border (paper lace); Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork (flourish)

Pearl flourish, ruffled flower, mulberry leaves: Prima      Pearl strip: Kaisercraft

Sentiment stamps: Papertrey Ink and Hero Arts      Miscellaneous: eyelash fiber, dryer sheet

Thanks for visiting today...and I have a second card to post in a few hours...it's a productive week so far here in the Korner!



Flower-y Twins...

Happy Monday to you!

Today I have a couple more "mini" cards to share.  I like to make these in pairs...no special reason why, just seems if I'm going to make one, I should make two. :)  They're 3-1/2" x 5", so they're just big enough inside to write a short note of thanks, or a quick note to say "hey, I'm thinking of you!"

So without further ado, may I present...the flower twins...

I couldn't resist adding mini crystals and a touch of glitter to the centers of the flowers in the images...

and I love the effect that little swirl of crystals and pearls gives beneath the scalloped lace - almost like a draped chain of gems over a painted wood fence...

Supplies:

Patterned papers: MyMindsEye Miss Caroline Dolled Up (floral) & Dilly Dally (woodgrain) collections

Dies: Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop Edges; Memory Box Woven Circle (doily)     Lace: Little Red Cottage on Etsy

Vintage floral images: Vintage Workshop      Pearl/crystal flourishes: Prima

Pearls: Recollections      Hug Snug seam binding

Thanks for visiting...I'll be back on Wednesday with a soft, summery pastel pretty to share.