Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Life's A Celebration...

Happy Tuesday, everyone...I hope your week started with a smile!

Today I have another card to share using a Lili of the Valley sentiment stamp as the focal point of the card. It's a pretty versatile sentiment - it's as good a birthday sentiment as it is for a congratulations note.

This card shows one of the reasons I love high quality clear stamps so much...the ability to snip them apart to fit to the space on my project, and then put them back together again for a different project.  In this case, I used a sentiment from Set 61 - Quotables/Celebrate, carefully cut off the "Enjoy It!" portion at the end of the sentiment to use it on a large tag in the floral cluster, and used the the beginning of the sentiment inside the die cut area in the center of the card...




Two die cut foliage stems anchor the small floral cluster that sits on top of a dyed seam binding bow...




The sentiment tag is shabbied with an edge distresser to blend with the edges of the background paper and cardstock...




And lastly, a peek at the inside...sometimes I'll leave the bottom edge of the inside piece straight, but this time I thought it looked better to be punched the same as the front piece...


Supplies:
Sentiment stamp:   LOTV Set 61, Quotables/Celebrate
Patterned paper:   Country Lady collection by NitWit Collections for Lili of the Valley
Dies:   Spellbinders Gold Labels Four, Labels Four, Foliage Two
Edge punch:   Martha Stewart Flower Bed          Lace:   Prima
Flowers and stamens:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Pearls:   Recollections
Hug Snug seam binding          Miscellaneous:   tea-dyed cheesecloth




Thanks so much for stopping by today!




Sunday, July 28, 2013

Not Your Everyday Wedding Card...

Here I am on a Sunday again. :)  Due to some custom projects I've been working on lately, my posting schedule is still a bit hit-or-miss, but I'll soon to be back to my Mon-Wed-Fri schedule.

Today I'm sharing a wedding card I was asked to make for a friend. Her daughter is getting married soon, and she asked me to come up with something "different", something "shabby/cottage-y," incorporating lots of gems, the wedding colors (coral/navy) and flowers (coral daisies), and a spiritual message.  So I pondered for a bit, and came up with the idea of a card that opens to a shadowbox inside...and then I got to work making it happen.  I first had to come up with a pattern for the pieces I needed, and to be honest, that went through a couple iterations before I came up with the exact dimensions I needed to make sure everything fit together in the end product. But it all worked perfectly, and now I have my friend's okay to show it off!  :)

So pull up a comfy chair, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and sit a spell, because I have lots of pictures to share with you today of a one-of-a-kind wedding card. I'm going to explain a bit of my process as I went along, but if you're not interested in that part, just skip along merrily looking at the pics.

Here's the front of the "card"...the lacy die-cut border adds another 1/2" to all three sides. You'll note there's no sentiment on the front...you'll see as we go along that it was unnecessary to put one here.




Here's a view from the side.  There's a 1" spine to accommodate both the shadowbox on the inside, and the embellishments I put on the outside edges of the shadowbox (you'll see those farther down the post).  The base of the card is cream, and it's topped with navy cardstock, then a coral dotted cardstock.  All these layers make it a nice, strong "book cover" base...




Here are some detail/dimensional photos of the front...there are lots of layers here. There's an additional layer of cream cardstock on the front, between the navy and coral. Then there's a layer of navy floral heavyweight paper that is beneath the layer of cream and coral damask papers, that are die cut to allow a die cut lattice display the navy floral beneath. (Phew! Got all that?  :) )

Now on to the fun part...decorating the front and weaving the embellishments in and out of the lattice layer in the center. Try as I might, I just could not find any coral daisies, the main wedding flower. So I picked up some white daisies from the local craft store, pulled the layers apart, and colored the petals with a Pale Peach Marvy LePlume II pen.  For the centers, I pulled a large round brad from my stash, dyed some white Flower Soft to a bright yellow, and glued that to the top of the brad.  After reassembling the flower with the brad in the center, I circled the center with tiny pearls.

The jeweled stick pin started with a Maya Road heart pin, with silver and gem spacers and white pearls added...



Die cut flourishes in navy and cream, and die cut leafy branches, form the base for lots of tiny white and small coral flowers, navy ribbon bows, and lots of pearls and clear crystals scattered about. Here's the center of the front...




And the lower right corner...



And on the upper left corner, more branches, and pearl flourishes wound on and under the lattice layer...



Moving on to the inside, here's a view of the inside shadowbox.  The depth of the shadowbox is 3/4" (remember the 1" spine on the outside pieces?).  By making the depth of the inside box 3/4", it left room for embellishments around the outside of the shadowbox, and still allowed the card front to lay flat when closed.

(I specifically designed the shadowbox card to stand upright like a standard card, and didn't want to have to use any type of closure on the side, like a ribbon tie or band.  I wanted the card to be able to be displayed so the front and the inside could both be visible while the card stood upright without anything dangling from the sides.)




The large daisy was put in the lower right corner for a couple reasons...one, because it offsets the daisy in the lower left corner on the front of the card, and two, because it wouldn't get in the way of the spine when the card is closed.  

The fun part about decorating the shadowbox was being able to put embellishments both on the outside edge, and on the inside of the box, to give it lots of dimensional interest.  Here, the daisy, ribbon bow, and a couple of the leafy branches and tiny flowers are adhered to the outside layer.  The white doily piece and the cheesecloth are also adhered to the top/outside layer of the shadowbox, but glued to the *underside* of the cutout...




In the center, the flourish is also glued to the underside of the outside edge, and pearls and tiny flowers are glued to the distressed navy blue cardstock paper that's the background for the shadowbox...




Here's what it looks like under the large daisy...looking in from the top of the card.  The orange flowers are adhered to the background of the shadowbox. You might not see all of them looking straight on when looking at the card, but you do see parts of  them "peeking through" and adding some color beneath the white doily and cheesecloth above the large daisy...




This is the flourish to the left of the large daisy...and the flowers and vines adhered to the shadowbox base beneath the flourish in the lower left corner of the shadowbox...




Up in the right corner, just a few little flowers and leaves to accent the beginning of the verse layer...




Here's a closeup of the verse.  I found a verse online, and my friend changed a few words, then I changed a few words, and after a few back and forth emails of "what about this?" we ended up with a verse she really liked... 




After all this, you might be thinking..."where do you SIGN the card?"  Never fear, I thought of that, too.  As I said, I designed the card so that it could stand upright and show both the front and inside. But that would mean Mom and Dad's personal message to the bride and groom would be visible.  So I made a small envelope from patterned vellum, and die cut a "message card" where my friend and her husband could enclose their private message, and attached it inside the front cover.  The little envelope is held closed with a small BasicGrey magnet beneath the tiny orange flower.  When the front is closed, that little flower falls into the empty space over the verse, so it doesn't interfere with the embellishments around the verse...




And now, the final question...how to present the card?  It won't fit in an envelope - it needed some type of box. Several possible solutions came to mind, but I had to remember that I needed to mail this to my friend without it costing her a fortune in shipping costs, so decorating a wooden box seemed a bit excessive. Some type of decorated, lightweight box was in order.  It took some hunting, but I finally found a box that had two 5x7 wooden frames in it...and the box itself was still in pristine condition....score!  It had a cutout on the front of the box...so I had to think about how to treat that.  In the end, I covered a few of the sides with the same coral cardstock I had used on the shadowbox card, die cut some doilies with the same edge as the lace edge on the front of the card, and diecut a piece of the same lattice as on the card for the cutout...and now there was a matching gift box to present the card in...

Supplies:
Patterned papers:   Paper Loft Well-Worn (navy blue floral and distressed  navy solid inside shadowbox);  
Bo Bunny Coral Dot;   Prima Almanac collection (coral damask)
Dies:   Spellbinders Grateful Lattice, Grand Labels Four, Decorative Labels Eight;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves;   My Favorite Things Faux Crochet Border and Decorative Doilies Duo;   Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork
Punch:   Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Hydrangea
Sweetheart Blossoms:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Daisies, fabric flowers, lace, ribbons:   local craft store
Pearls and crystals:   Recollections and K&Company          Sentiment stamps:   Fiskars
Miscellaneous:   Polar White Flower Soft, cheesecloth, patterned vellum, Wilton doily, handcrafted stick pin




It's not often I have this long a post, but every now and then it's fun to have a larger picture show - I hope I haven't left you on photo-overload. :)

Thanks so much for visiting today...I'll be back in a couple days with another Lili of the Valley card for you to see!





Saturday, July 27, 2013

There's still time...

Hi, again, all!  I just wanted to pop on quickly between projects to be sure you all know there's still a few days left to enter the current Lili of the Valley July Monthly Challenge.  This month the fun theme is Pretty In Pink, and there are a couple pretty cool prizes, too!

Just follow the link above for all the details, and to link your submission.

Have fun, and good luck! :)


Friday, July 26, 2013

The Deconstructed Sketch 111 - Hello, Friend...

First, I must say...WOW!  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the warm comments on my last post about my new design team position! There were so many comments and responses I don't have a prayer of a chance of replying to all of you individually, so I hope you accept my combined thanks, and know that it's sent with the same sincerity as if I was posting to you one at a time. :)

And what a fun surprise to find out that mine was the "lucky blog" for the LOTV prize drawing! Congratulations to Marlies whose name was picked in a random drawing from all the comments left below my post...I know you're going to love your awesome stamping prize!

Today I'm sharing a card I made following this week's  Deconstructed Sketch 111.  If you think something about it looks a little familiar, it might be because two of the patterned papers are the same as those used for the card I shared on my July 8 post. But this time, instead of a pale pink cardstock background, I used coral...and instead of bright aqua accents, I used a smoky, gray-blue cardstock...and of course, the design is different...LOL



Here's Donna's sketch...obviously, I adapted the design to fit an A2 size card instead of a square as in the sketch...but I think it still works!





The die cut 1/2 doily serves as the base for the floral cluster...




and the small sentiment tag, that was punched on the end with a Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace punch...




A couple small banners have an arc of multi-sized pearls over the ends...and I snuck a small snippet of tea-dyed lace beneath them both...

Supplies:
Patterned papers:   Authentique Grace collection 6x6/"Sweetness" (a&b sides) & "Poised" (dot)
Dies:   My Favorite Things Decorative Doily Duo;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves
Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Pearls:   Recollections
Lace:   local craft store          Miscellaneous:   hemp twine



Thanks for visiting today!  I'll be back on Sunday to share what I call  "not your everyday wedding card."




Monday, July 22, 2013

Lili of the Valley...Some Fun News!

Happy Monday evening to my US friends, and Happy Tuesday morning to all my UK friends.  I'm calling out my UK friends separately today, because I'm pleased as punch to announce that I'm the newest member of the Design Team for Lili of the Valley  (LOTV), a fabulous stamp manufacturer in the UK!

My work on the team will consist primarily of using LOTV's fun and varied sentiment and background stamps. The other ultra-talented Design Team members will awe you with their abilities to bring the wonderful image stamps to life on their gorgeous projects.

So in the spirit of "jumping right in," I'm participating today in Lili of the Valley's design team blog hop to celebrate the launch of their gorgeous new Christmas stamps. This is the first set in their 2013 Christmas collection, and is an adorable mix of 16 cute characters...I think you're going to love them!

The stamps will be available to buy on the website from midday on Thursday July 25th (UK time) along with some fabulous new art pads and patterned papers.

I'm sure you know what to do...just "hop" from one blog to another following the links, and leave a comment on each card. I know you'll get lots of ideas and inspiration along the way, no matter what your style is.

There is a fabulous prize up for grabs on this hop, and we don't know where it is hidden.  So make sure you visit and comment on every blog in the hop. We will let you know tomorrow evening (Wednesday, July 24, UK time) which blog in the hop was the "lucky blog," and a winner will be drawn at random from all the comments that were left on that blog.

The prize is a full set of the new Christmas stamps...
that's 16 stamps, one each of all the new designs!

Here's a link list of all the blogs taking part, and remember that you will need to visit them all and *leave a comment on each one* to have the best chance of winning:

Kathy (you're here!)

Here's my card for the hop.  Now, I know what you're probably thinking - "doesn't look like Christmas to me!" Did I mention I'm new to the team?  As in really *new*?  LOL  Never fear...by the time the next blog hop rolls around, I'll be in full sync with the rest of the team. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy what I've made with this birthday sentiment, from Set 61, Quotables/Celebrate.  (I couldn't resist...there's something fun and funky about putting a quote by "The Red Rocker" on a decidedly shabby and softly feminine card! LOL) 



My goal was to make the sentiment stand out, front and center...so I used a light and airy floral cluster based with a couple flourish die cuts to border the sentiment, and used the placement of the ribbons and darker roses to bring focus to the start of the phrase...


Supplies:
Sentiment stamp:   Lili of the Valley Set 61 Quotables/Celebrate
Patterned papers:   Authentique Cherish collection (A & B);  
 My Minds Eye Lost and Found/Madison Avenue collection (dot)
Dies:   Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork;   My Favorite Things Royal Leaves
Pink roses:   LayoutsFromTheHeart.etsy.com          Sweetheart blossoms:   Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon:   Offray          Pearls:   Recollections



Your next stop on the hop is Kim's blog...if you want to start at the beginning, head back to LOTV's Ideas to Inspire blog to get going on your inspiration journey with a prize at the end.

Don't forget to stop by the Ideas to Inspire blog Wednesday evening when you can find out who the lucky winner is of the great prize.

Thanks so much for visiting today. Have fun on the hop...and good luck! 








Saturday, July 20, 2013

I'm Still Here...

In spite of the fact I haven't posted much this week, I have been working in the Korner with the time I have available. Starting next week, I'll be able to share some of the things I've been working on lately. And I have some fun news to share along with some of the new work.  :)

In the meantime, I can share a card I made at the request of a friend. Sympathy cards are always a little difficult for me to make up in advance and have at the ready. I like to customize this type of card in any way I can, whether it's with colors or embellishments, to reflect a bit of the special preferences of the bereaved, as well as to celebrate the person who has passed. In this case, I was fortunate that my friend was able to give me some of these details so I could customize this one just a bit.




To accommodate the request to incorporate crosses somehow, I attached a couple small cross charms to jump rings around a small piece of pearl "ribbon," then wound the pieces of pearl ribbon through the floral cluster...







I chose this particular verse because I thought it went well with the spiritual theme, as well as with the flower and leaf clusters used to embellish the front of the card. I printed the sentiment on my computer before attaching it behind the oval cutouts with foam tape...



Supplies:
Patterned papers:   Authentique Cherish collection 6x6  (B, E, & F)
Dies:   Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large and Small;  Foliage Two
Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Pearls:   Recollections          Charms:   local craft store
Miscellaneous:   tea-dyed cheesecloth



Thanks so much for visiting today...have a wonderful summer weekend!





Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Miss You...

I'm changing up my posting days this week, so instead of wishing you a happy Monday, it's "Happy Tuesday!"  Today's card is straying a bit from the soft, feminine colors of late to the strong, bold shades of navy and yellow, mixed with a bit of soft blue.  It's a combo I haven't used for a while, and I wanted to play with something a little bit different.

In addition, last month there was a fun sketch challenge here, at Passion Cartes Creatives, that I had hoped to participate in, but life got in the way and I wasn't able to get it started in time. So I filed it away for later use, and brought it out when I made this card...



Here's Sandrine's sketch that it's based on...





I couldn't resist adding in two lilac blossoms among all the blue and creamy yellow flowers...just a pop of the unexpected to make you really take notice...LOL




And so happy I finally had the perfect card to use the dark blue rosebuds that I've had in my stash for so long now...




The distressed chickenwire pattern on the yellow oval background was made using modeling paste applied in a light and random manner using a template...


Supplies:
Patterned papers:   Glitz Vintage Blue collection,  Glitz Pretty in Pink collection (music print)
Dies:   Memory Box Tiffany Frame;   Spellbinders Opulent Ovals,   Classic Scalloped Ovals Small,   Classic Ovals Small;
Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves
Template:   The Crafters Workshop Mini Chickenwire Reversed 6x6 template
Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com          Flowers:   Wild Orchid Crafts & local craft stores          Pearls:   Recollections
Sentiment stamp:   Papertrey Ink            Miscellaneous:  modeling paste



Thanks for visiting today...I hope your week started with a smile!



Sunday, July 14, 2013

Mojo Monday 301

Hi, there...not used to seeing me on Sunday, are you? :)  I'm working on some projects that I can't post for a bit, and in between working on them, I'm trying to make some cards that I can share now.  My little room is filled with half-finished projects these days...but it's sure a fun "mess."

Today's card is inspired by last Monday's Mojo Monday sketch.  I wanted to play with one of my newest embossing folders and use my Rose Creations die for a frilly center rose, and this sketch was perfect for that.  Here's how it turned out...




I turned the sketch on its side for my card...





Instead of gluing the lace strip down on the ends, I adhered it only in the center (beneath the flowers) and left the ends free for a looser, shabbier look.  The leaf flourishes and paper roses hold it down except for the very ends...







I wanted a golden yellow rose for the center, but with all the colors of cardstock in my stash, not a one was the right color of yellow gold. So I die cut a cream cardstock rose, and used yellow gold acrylic paint, dry-brushed around the edges, to get the two-toned color I was looking for.  I think it worked pretty well!


Supplies:
Patterned papers:   My Minds Eye Miss Caroline/Howdy Doody collection
Dies:   Spellbinders Rose Creations and Foliage Two;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves;
Memory Box Woven Circle
Embossing folder:   Cuttlebug Modern Wallpaper            Lace:  TheFunkieJunkie.com
Mini roses:   Wild Orchid Crafts           Pearls:   Recollections            Hug Snug seam binding
Miscellaneous:   cheesecloth;  handcrafted pearl stick pins


Thanks for visiting today!



Friday, July 12, 2013

Thankful for You...

I'm ending the week the way it started, with a shabby and feminine card...and oh look, there's pink again! LOL

This time the pink is an accent to the rest of the papers that are earth-toned backgrounds with pink in the prints...





This little glittered patterned paper butterfly was in my "stash" of pre-made embellishments. I knew it would find the perfect home one of these days! 






In keeping with the patterned papers, I made the floral cluster and leafy branches cream colored, and accented it with just a couple small pink roses...



Supplies:
Patterned papers:   Authentique Cherish collection (Cherish A, D, & F);  Grace collection/Poised
Rose crocheted lace:   Prima            Sentiment stamp:   Fiskars             Pearls:   Recollections
Die:   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves           Butterfly punch:   Martha Stewart          Miscellaneous:   twines



Thanks so much for visiting today...have a wonderful weekend!


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