Seize The Sketch #25 - a dainty 'Hello'

Hello everyone!  It's time for a new sketch at Seize The Sketch challenge blog, and our hostess is Mona Pendleton.

My card feels very dainty, if I had to describe it in a word.  The delicate font of the sentiment, the light and airy lace, and finely-detailed patterned papers make it seem very feminine, indeed.

Upon writing this blog post, I see that I did not place my sentiment properly, according to the sketch.  Oh well!  Better send the card police after me!

Thanks to the Clearance Rack at Stampin' Up!, I had bought the Everyday Enchantment designer series papers for a song.  The colors in the papers prompted my color scheme.  There were no red pearls in my stash, so I used a red Copic marker to customize a white one.  Super easy to do; just allow enough time to dry before adhering to your project.

 The focal point was created with a few layers of paper flowers (Prima), topped with a Webster's Pages Whimsy heart.

Sure hope you are inspired to join us!  The challenge lasts two weeks, and you can find all the details HERE.
Mind if I share?  I was tickled to find my pirate card from March 2013 featured over at Paper Crafter's Library recently!  You can see the Nautical-themed post HERE.  Thanks to Aliya White, who wrote the article and kindly asked my permission to use the card.

Thanks for your visit today.  =D

Stamps: Heartfelt Greetings - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Everyday Enchantment patterned paper - SU; True Black, kraft - PTI Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: lace Accessories & Tools: pearls; button; floss; paper flowers - Prima; heart Whimsy - Webster's Pages; blue leaf die cut border - K & Co.; red Copic marker

Monochromatic Sympathy for the Paper Players

This is my second post for today.  Please click here for a Pair of Retirement Cards.

I'm back already today, this time with a sympathy card that fits into the Paper Players challenge:  Monochromatic Clean & Simple.  Made this card a week or so ago, but just photo-edited yesterday:

The point of this card was to play with a new-to-me background stamp by Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz - Distressed Floral.  Isn't it gorgeous?  The Boutique Borders: Sympathy die and stamp from Papertrey Ink made a good pairing with the background, I think.

Yesterday I photographed 24 cards!!  Yikes, that's a lot of photo-editing facing me!  It'll take me some time.  I tend to do mine in batches, sitting for hours in front of the computer, banging out a bunch at once.  How do you do yours?  One at a time, or a group of them?

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Sympathy - PTI; Distressed Floral background - Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Paper: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Very Vanilla - SU; white - PTI Ink: pale taupe - Anna Griffin; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Sahara Sand - SU Fibers: ivory satin ribbon - Anna Griffin Accessories & Tools: Boutique Borders: Sympathy die - PTI; Elegant Scrollwork die - Memory Box; Branch punch - Martha Stewart; paper flower

A Pair of Retirement Cards

Hello everyone!  I realized a short while back that I had zero retirement cards in my stash. Thought it would be good to have at least a couple on hand -- and one of them already went to my father-in-law.  His is the second one.  But I'm sure you could guess that =D.

The girly one above makes great use of skinny scraps of patterned papers.  Couldn't we all make loads of 'em by doing this??  What crafter doesn't have skinny scraps!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes - SU Paper: white - PTI; Sahara Sand, patterns - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Ash Pink seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: pearls

And now, the more neutral / masculine card.

My inspiration jumping-off point was this badge from American Crafts. Reeeeallly wish they had printed the word 'relax' in a bolder color.  It's so pale!  But I took my color scheme from it, and grounded it with gray cardstock to tie in the color of the metal.  The green is an accent to help liven things up.  It seemed too sleepy with just the blue/yellow/gray combo.

Hope I've inspired you to make some retirement cards for your stash.  Thanks so much for your visit today!

Stamps: Essential Messages - Hero Arts Paper: Barely Banana, Basic Gray, teal dotted pattern - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: green twine - American Crafts Accessories & Tools: green button, green border sticker - SU; metal 'Relax' flair - American Crafts

The Card Concept #14 - Hugs

Bold card, coming at ya!  It's a reminder card so you'll come play with us at The Card Concept.  =)

Oooo, I'm rather liking a bold card once in a while!  The color combo for the current challenge pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit, and that's a good thing.

When I made my initial card for challenge #14, I had the Punched Tin background stamp from Market Street Stamps still lying on the table.  I put this one together that same day.  Actually, I like this card better than the first one!

If you'd like to play along with us, click HERE for more details on the challenge.

See you soon!

Stamps: Pennant Party - Paper Sweeties; Punched Tin background - Market Street Stamps Paper: True Black, white - PTI Ink: black - Rubber Stampede Fibers: red satin ribbon

Accessories & Tools: red gems - Queen & Co.; blue flower puffy fabric sticker - Carolina collection - Anna Griffin; circle die - Spellbinders; Mini Wavy Pennant die - My Favorite Things

Christmas Party Dress

Christmas in July!  How about a Christmas card to make us feel a little cooler?  I made this one a long time ago for a publication call, but it was not chosen.  It's okay:  I am so happy to share it here!  It also gives me a chance to play for the first time in a Virginia's View challenge:  Die Cuts.

This festive scene was so fun to create.  I used a Purple Onion Designs sentiment, and cut it apart, ransom style.  Behind it are a few die cuts from Anna Griffin, K & Co. and Colorbok.

I have my friend Carol to thank for this fabulous Sizzix Sewing Room Dress Form, which was die cut in chipboard. I painted it with Ranger Picket Fence Crackle paint and when it was dry, distressed the edges with ink.  The red top was hand-trimmed to fit, and pearls were added.

This is how I made the skirt:

1. Stamp Bijou Borders / Technique Tuesday on a rectangle of paper with two different inks (rose and cherry), then ink the edges. 
2. Punch a white strip of cardstock with the Doily Lace punch / Martha Stewart.  Ink scalloped edge, and adhere to the underside of the border-stamped rectangle. 
3. Using a scoring board - or just a ruler and bone folder or stylus - score lines every 3/8".  
4. Begin folding / pleating the piece in accordion fashion.  
5. When finished pleating, gather top portions together, filling craft glue between each fold.  Let dry.
6. Adhere to dress form with craft glue, and cover the top of 'waist' with ribbons or trims.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Size: 4.5” x 6 7/8”

Stamps: Bijou Borders- Technique Tuesday; (sentiment) Purple Onion Designs Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White - Stampin’ Up! Ink: Cherry Cobbler - Stampin’ Up!;, Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Tattered Rose - Ranger; Chestnut Roan - Clearsnap Fibers: gold thread;  white braid trim) Waverly Accessories & Tools: Paint: (Picket Fence Crackle) Ranger; holly border, framed holly - Anna Griffin, pink grid – Flea Market - Colorbok; pearls; Doily Lace punch, Scoring Board - Martha Stewart, Sewing Room Dress Form die - Sizzix