Proud-of-You Shaker Card

It's a rare sight here on my blog.

This is the second shaker card I ever made! If you missed the first, check it out. It's the second card in the post. They're not difficult to make, but they take a bit of extra time, and often, I'm in too much of a hurry to do it.

The Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle dies were used here as the frames. After popping the smaller one up on foam dimensional tape, I didn't like the look of the card from the side. The foam tape looked really messy, and so I wound hemp cord around the frame twice, tying it off in a bow to one side.  

On a smaller white cardstock circle in the back of the frame, I stamped Bella's Bloom from Stampin' Up!  The 'window' is a scrap piece of acetate with black polka dots on it (found in a $1.00 Scrap Bag). The sequins are nothing fancy, culled from my kids' art stash from when they were younger.

I'm glad you came by today. Thanks for your visit!

Stamps: Bella's Bloom - Stampin' Up!; Small Phrases - Verve Paper: white - Papertrey Ink; Sahara Sand, clear acetate with polka dots - Stampin' Up! Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: hemp cord - Hemptique Accessories & Tools: sequins - kids' craft stash; Stitched Circles dies - Simon Says Stamp; corner rounder punch - Fiskars

Guesting over at Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine

Hello everyone!  I'm truly excited about being a Guest Designer today!  Catherine, the publisher of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine, asked me to contribute to their weekly blog feature, Card Cafe Thursday.  It's a thrill to be asked.  :-)

I'm sharing the article I wrote for SCT with readers here at my own blog, but I certainly welcome you to visit the SCT blog and have a look around.  Their website is so bright, fresh, and lovely.They offer papercrafting challenges and sketches, free digital magazine content, and more. 

Here we go!:

I’d like to share with you a few cards that feature some of my favorite embellishments: sequins and pearls.  These little beauties always add pizzazz to a project.  I've long been a fan of pearls on my cards, but admit that my recent addiction to sequins might have taken over.  :0) I add ‘em to nearly everything lately!

Imagine this baby card without its deep orange and white sequins. 

When I first created the card, I thought the butterflies-in-a-jar motif added such a fun touch, and I thought it was finished…until I spied new-to-me Pretty Pink Posh sequins on my work table.  By adding a smattering of these little gems, this card suddenly came to life. 

Stamps: butterflies - Springtime Beauty II - Inspired By Stamping; sentiment - Absolutely Fabulous - Stampin' Up! Paper: Vintage Cream, white, True Black - Papertrey Ink; gingham - Garden Vignettes by Carina Gardner - My Mind's Eye Ink: Pumpkin Pie - Stampin' Up!; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Marshmallow, Bronze sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; Baby die - Papertrey Ink; Modern Label punch - Stampin' Up!

I love making black cards because they are dramatic, and very eye-catching.  On this example (my very first shaker card, woohoo!), I’ve got several details that take it to the next level.  A My Favorite Things / Die-namics ‘Fancy Flourish’ die cut, also in black, provides subtle texture, as does flocked patterned paper and a black seam binding ‘Colleen Bow.’  (P.S., I have a bow tutorial on my blog here.) 

The stitched rectangle frame adds more subtle interest, and how about that dotted acetate?  There are iridescent hearts, and even some lip sequins in this shaker.  Initially, I had trouble deciding where to put a sentiment on this card, and I put the project away to think it over.  The next day, the idea of a little tag at the top of the shaker popped into my head.

Stamps: sentiment - Fresh Cut Wreaths - Wplus9 Paper: True Black, white - Papertrey Ink; dotted acetate - Stampin' Up!; lavender and black flocked pattern Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: black seam binding - Hug Snug - The Zipper Stop Accessories & Tools: assorted sequins; Fancy Flourish die - My Favorite Things/Die-namics; lavender rhinestone - Queen & Co.; Tiny Tags die - Papertrey Ink; Stitched Rectangles die - L'il Inker Designs

One of my most favorite card-making styles is a shabby chic / vintage vibe.  And you know what I love to pair with that?  PEARLS!

The inspiration for this card was a piece of packaging from some stickers.  It’s pink, with text all over it, and I just couldn’t throw it out!  I had die-cut a spiral notebook page from it for another project, and saved the negative, which happily fit this card perfectly.  I backed it with some lined patterned paper, added an Altenew sentiment, a couple of buttons, and scattered pearls.

The rooster image, as well as the flowers, were trimmed from patterned paper and added with foam tape for dimension.  And do you spy even more pearls in the bower of flowers?  I’m telling ya, they make everything better! 

Stamps: Sentiments & Quotes - Altenew Paper: Pink Pirhouette, damask, rooster/flower/lined patterns - Stampin' Up!; text/pink packaging Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Walnut Stain - Ranger Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; Sahara Sand ribbon - SU Accessories & Tools: Spiral Notebook Page die - Papertrey Ink; pearls; pale blue buttons - SU

Since I tend to use gem and pearl stickers quite often on my projects, I keep a pretty box full of them near my work table.  Inside, gems and pearls are separated by color family in zip-top plastic sandwich bags.  My absolute favorite brand is Queen & Co., not only for the variety of colors, but also their budget-friendly price. 

Thanks for allowing me to share my joy about being a Guest Designer with YOU!