Beautifully Baroque Mother's Day Card

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Hey crafty friend!  I wanted to share with you the card I made for my Mom this Mother's Day! I know it's late, but this would work for any occasion. 

She loves pink and green (like me) so I went heavy on the pink.  Beautifully Baroque is the dark background stamp (retiring), the flowers are Papaya Collage (also retiring!), and Dictionary for the light background. 

A couple of blossoms are stamped and fussy cut.  The lighter flower is just stamped off (the same ink stamped a second time without reinking), and fussy cut leaves scattered about for depth.  "Mom" banner is stippled with a little Chocolate Chip ink to grubby it up a bit.  The lace is a scrap from my room, and linen thread anchors it down.

Inside, more stamping, and the sweet sentiment from Feel Goods.  I love this one, and it's nice for a Mom card.  That wheel stamp is Chamomile and I believe it's been retired for a while, but you could surely substitute!

Having lighting issues!  Ugh.

This card was CASEd from Teneale Williams, via Pinterest.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Wonderful Mother - Mother's Day Card with Spiral Flower Die

Pin It Now! Spring is finally in swing!  I'm thinking ahead to Mother's Day, and bringing the sunshine indoors with this fresh color combo at Hand Stamped Sentiments...Coastal Cabana, Gumball Green, and Crushed Curry.

Do you ever make a card that requires you to tear into every corner of your craft room?  This is one of those!  I loved making it, but it took me 'round the crafty world, so to speak. Big Shot - Glue Gun (blistered thumb) - sewing machine in the far corner - heat embossing drawer - the punches - oh, and the box of SU goodies that was laying on the floor waiting to be unpacked!

The Originals Spiral Flower Die makes every card it sits on EXTRA special.  And that's what my mother-in-law is, so this will be headed her way next month.  Core'dinations makes these flowers so much easier to work with.  You can really grubby this cardstock up and it doesn't tear!  

Inside, a cluster of flowers from Simple Stems.  I have made a habit of adding a layer to the inside of my cards to strengthen it  and give a little more depth.  

I'm using our color combo at HSS, but also I'm playing along with Pal's Paper Arts.  Click the pics below to visit the sites for plenty of inspiration!

By the way, the sketch for this card is something I grabbed from page 99 of the Idea Book.  Different elements, but great looking layout!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS:  Chalk Talk, Delightful Dozen, Simple Stems, Blessings From Heaven

INK:  Versamark with clear Stampin' Emboss, Coastal Cabana, Gumball Green, Black Staz On

PAPER:  Afternoon Picnic DSP, Gumball Green, Coastal Cabana Core'dinations, Whisper White, Crushed Curry

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Basic Pearls, stitching

BIG SHOT:  Originals Spiral Flower die, Secret Garden Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits, Tasteful Trim

PUNCHES:  Scallop Oval

Flowers for Mother, the kind that last!

Pin It Now! I always tell my husband, please not to buy me flowers for holidays.  They are overpriced and are gone in a flash.  Pretty, but not for long!  He asked what I want...I said MONEY, of course!  Or a foot rub.  He asked how much money :-O Haha.  Enough for my first SU order from the new catalog will do!  But I digress...

I made this little paper flower bouquet to send to my MIL in Florida.  It will pack easily, won't be a bunch of money to send, and will last for a long time.  She is wonderful to us, and she always brags about my papercrafts!  Awww!

A combination of flowers, butterflies, and elegant backgrounds create this little gift set.  I'm using the color combo in the current Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge #159 - Use colors Real Red, Summer Starfruit, Bashful Blue, and Basic Black.

The card is stamped in Summer Starfruit with the big background Ex Libris stamp.  What an elegant stamp!  The top window portion is a separate piece of Vanilla, stamped with En Francais, hand cut and adhered.  The butterfly is layered with a Boho Blossoms flower in Real Red and embellished with a Bashful Blue glimmer brad.  "Mother" from Delightful Dozen, is punched and finished with tiny brads.

The mini milk carton is also stamped with En Francais in black, and a bunch of paper flowers are formed with the Boho Blossoms punch and 2-3/8" scallop circle punch.  They're hot glued to unfolded paper clips, and floral tape is wrapped around the base of the flower and the metal stems. A little more decorating with the Elegant Butterfly punch and Summer Starfruit stitched satin ribbon, and it's ready to ship!  

What do you think of the color combo?  It's another grouping of colors that I would never, ever have chosen on my own, but I think its fabulous!  LOVE the challenges for breaking out of my bubble.  Won't you join in?  Click the pic below...

I was inspired by The Paper Players challenge for my project theme, too.  Give them a visit, their design team samples are just beautiful!

A blessed Mother's Day to all mothers, those who care for others like mothers, those who love their mothers, and to those who miss theirs as well.

SUPPLY LIST:

STAMPS: Ex Libris, En Francais, Delightful Dozen, Petite Pairs, Papillon Potpourri

INK: Summer Starfruit, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Basic Black

PAPER: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Summer Starfruit, Bashful Blue

EMBELLISHMENTS: Tiny Brads, Sponges, Summer Starfruit stitched satin ribbon, Real Red Stitched grosgrain ribbon, Glimmer Brad in Bashful Blue, Mini clothespin

PUNCHES / BIG SHOT: Boho Blossoms punch, Elegant Butterfly punch, Bigz Mini Milk Carton die, 2-3/8" scallop circle punch

Happy in '72 Layout {Mother's Day}

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I'm sharing a layout today of a photo that was saved from the trash bin. This was one of those instamatic '70s shots that are hard, like shiny posterboard. It was somehow split in half, and then tucked in a box for 30-some years! I found it and scanned it and it's been sitting in my folder for two years now. 

With Mother's Day coming up, it was serendipitous that it reappeared. This is me and my mother. I love the glow of her skin, and the way she's looking at me. Many of the pictures of when I was young are like this. It occurred to me that it is such a blessing to even have a photo taken of you, and then to capture a moment that shows love! Priceless. I am loved.

I'm playing along with the Jenni BowlinCentipede Challenge again, and this time I'm covering more than one challenge.

• I scraplifted a Design Team member's layout. I was inspired by Amanda's layout, shown here.
• Using text on a page. The “happy” heart was punched from a vintage Little Golden Book.

Paper punches from an old baby book from Goodwill. 

Here are some details on creating my layout:

• Since the picture was practically split in half, I printed a scanned copy and tied the blue ribbon vertically down the split.
• Two little vintage buttons and the clock charm (Stampin' Up) represent me, my mother, and the passing of time.
• The edges and music lines are stamped with my Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint. Many people are using Gesso in crafting now, and I use this as a substitute. I can stencil, paint, colorwash, and stamp with it, and the drying time is almost nothing!

Do you have a photo to scrap that keeps calling your name? Go! Do it! I've waited so long to start scrapbooking again, and I can tell you, any time and any photo is perfect to get started with.

I'm also participating in a blogging event at Notes on Paper by Julie Kirk. I want to share the foremost good thing that blogging has done for me. I've been blogging now for going on three years, and here's my favorite thing about it...

Validation. The fact that I'm not alone, and someone, somewhere poked her head into my craft room and said, “ I like what you've done here, and I understand you.” Moving 500 miles away from all the crafty people I know last year, this is a tremendous blessing, my online bloggers. So many days, I'll finish a post, and a friendly comment will make my phone chime, and from wherever in the world, I got a high five! So thank you, to every one who takes the time to visit, for being a support to those you like, and not just me. You are a blessing.

Have a great week, my friend!

SUPPLY LIST:

Sahara Sand cardstock base, clock charm, and Pool Party seam binding ribbon, doily, vintage trinket safety pin, linen thread: Stampin' Up!

Jenni Bowlin April minibook kit: tag, patterned paper, ribbons, die cut tags, music stamp.

My stash: vintage buttons, heart from vintage paper. You can buy some here in my shop.

Fresh Vintage Style Cards - April Jenni Bowlin kit

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Good day, friends!  I have a batch of super fresh cards from this month's Jenni Bowlin kit.  I subscribe to the mini album kits, as it has a variety of embellishments and styles from month to month.  This one was a beauty!  Lots of fresh spring blues and pinks, mixed with vintage die cut tags and luscious ribbons.  

I decided to break the kit apart, and rather than copying the kit instructions (which are awesome, btw), I thought I'd like to make a smaller tag album, and some cards.  I started by organizing my stash into a vintage muffin tin.  That way it's like an embellishment buffet, just poke around in each muffin spot and pick what you  want!  

And I can stack them when I need the space.

Need some?  I have a couple for sale in my Etsy shop :)

A lot of the paper, and the tags are set aside for the upcoming tag book.  

The first two cards share the same basic sketch, with the embellishments swapped out. This one has half of a mini doily, and the Dear Lizzy mason jar heat embossed in white on the Pretty Painterly patterned paper. It's sitting on one of the Webster's Pages tags, reversed, and stamped with my En Francais Stampin' Up! stamp in Early Espresso.  The pink ribbon and Mom stamp are also SU (1-1/4" two tone ribbon in Pink Pirouette & Family Reunion stamp). I drilled a hole through the butterfly bingo chip and added some ink and clear sealant to make it match :)  And I love the blue and white cardstock, it's SO thick and sturdy.

Second verse, same as the first!  Yellow crochet lace...is that not the best?! The little butterfly charm is tied onto the mason jar top.  

Movin' on, I used some more of that luscious lace to make a glassine bag gift card holder.  Carta Bella paper bow, and I painted another bingo chip with Annie Sloan chalk paint.  Linen thread is looped around the back and hot glued in place.  The flap still opens so you can stick a gift card inside.  Or a wad of cash ;) Broccoli, as my son calls it.

My last card was a 5" square, featuring a section of squares from the Carta Bella paper.  I stitched horizontally and vertically along the squares to make it look like real quilting, and added layers of doily, a pleated medallion, and a ribbon and lace flower in the center.  Thickers at the bottom, they're so sparkly, yet still vintage style...so so pretty!

I'm loving the kit, and am definitely getting my mileage out of it.  The tag album is coming soon :)

I'm linking up to Jenni Bowlin's Centipede Challenge - using vintage supplies for storage.

What's On My Desk...

Pin It Now! Since the purchase of my light box many months ago, I have taken pictures of my projects carefully quarantined to the stark white-grey of the lit box.  It's been nice, mainly because I can photograph night and day, and the color is always the same.  So I haven't had to take inventory of what's left on my desk after I finish a card.  I just pile it up and start a new project.  But I always save scraps!

Kimberly Van Diepen of Stampin' By The Sea has challenged her readers to make a card with with only what's on your desk. Easy for me, as most of the stuff I love most is on my desk :) So here I go!  Come along with me. Here's my card...

And here's how I got there.  I started by shifting around things that are just stacked.  Sahara Sand woodgrain circles, a random stamp, a butterfly.  I'd like to say that I don't usually wallow in this much stuff, but I'd be lying to you.  If I'm lucky, I have a 2' x 1' area to work, and then I'm bumping piles!  I have bowls, jars, baskets, and bins. Welcome to my world!

I decided that I like these together, and now I'll pick a background.

Ooh, this is springy!  Good, I'm going with the green.

Adding a few details, I'm not sure if I'm don't embellishing, so I'm tacking it down and I'll work some more bits around.  So far, I have a banner strip from Tea for Two and a tiny scrap of Naturals ribbon.  I stamped a Mother's Day sentiment on them.  Picked up a button from what's left of my Artisan Embellishment kit.  Linen Thread, and we're almost done.

Okay!  Done!  I placed all my goodies on an Island Indigo CS base, and added a few embellishments in the corner.  The little heart on the banner is punched from a piece of vintage poetry, and I purposely chose the word "grace" to show in the heart, as a little symbol of motherly love.  As you can see, a lot of what I use is right at my fingertips.  I love it that way, I love having all my pretties scattered around me.

 So what do you have on your desk?  Link up to Kimberly's post if you get the chance, and share with me on my post too!

Wonderful Mother Floating Twist Card HSSTC113

Pin It Now! Hi Friends!  I'm SO excited this week to be playing with Hand Stamped Sentiments' Weekly Challenge, more even than usual because they have chosen me to be a NEW Design Team Member!!!  I have been a huge cheerleader for them for some time now, and I'm so honored to be part of the inspiration that I've enjoyed.  :)

This week's challenge is All About Mom!






I decided to try a new fancy fold technique this week, because if your momma doesn't deserve something special, then who does?!  It's a Floating Inset Twist Card, and I learned this technique from Ustamp With Dawn and Friends Cards With Cool Moves Event. It is a very impressive fold!  I have to say, it's tedious at first, but once you realize which end is up (LOL) it goes together quite easily.  It's hinged in the middle so it pops out when opened.






Here's the bird's eye view of the opened card.






...And here is the back view.





This is the front of the card when closed.  I used that sweet tree image from Forever Young, I just love the little girl sitting on the swing.  Stamped with Marina Mist, and dotted with pink rhinestones from the Blossom Builder Designer Printed Kit (#125410) from the Spring Occasions Mini.  This die cut kit is worth the purchase just for the bling, and it's only available till the end of April!  I know somebody who has another kit coming from the UPS man this week!

After the tree image is stamped and blinged, it's tied with a length of Whisper White Organza Ribbon, and a Heart Trinket is tied on with a single strand of Linen Thread.  I like to pull the layers apart when the project is more delicate looking, like this one.

The sentiment banners are from Delightful Dozen.





Here is the back of the card, when closed.  The same tree from Forever Young is used, just stamped around the edge of the Top Note die.  Then a bunch of Whisper White butterflies cut from the Beautiful Butterflies Embosslit, and my last three tiny pink rhinestones!






Some close up detail of the front and back.  I really love the pink "blossoms" on the tree.






I hope you've enjoyed my first DT card!  Please play along with HSS this week, so I can leave you blog love!

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: Forever Young, Delightful Dozen
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Marina Mist
DSP: Beau Chateau
INK: Marina Mist, Soft Suedes
ACCESSORIES: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Top Note Die, Big Shot, Simply Scored Tool, Clear Window Sheet, bling from Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit, Linen Thread, Heart Trinket, Sticky Strip

Here's my sweet mother, with me on the beach, circa 1970-something! 

Have a blessed & creative day!

Cards with COOL MOVES! Spring Shadowbox!

Pin It Now! I'm SO thrilled about this round of UStamp with Dawn and Friends! 

We're doing all gorgeous card sets, and ALL of them have a card with a Cool Move...shaking, popping, sliding, exploding....you know what I'm talking about! 

This is my first project, and it's a BONUS early bird project, as the official every day posting will begin March 23rd.  It's called Springtime Shadowbox and Occasion Cards.  I love the colors!  So fresh and springy!  And do you recognize the DSP?  You probably have it in your stash right now, it's Pocketful of Posies, a release from last year's Idea Book & Catalog. 

My Cool Move card is a Mother's Day card with a pop-up windowbox inside.  The lower shots show this card opened and closed.  I LOVE fancy folds and origami of all kinds, so this was a fun challenge for me!

The second card is a St. Patrick's Day banner card! A punched shamrock, set on a scalloped centerpiece, and the inside is just as pretty. ...and the tutorial contains an alternate non-St. Patrick's version. Here's a hint....it used lots of luscious golden glitter :)

The third is a punched bird card, alternating and repeating papers for a cool graphic look.  Pretty details and easy to do!

I hope I've enticed you to give Ustamp With Dawn and Friends a try!  If you'd like to check out my tutorial and more than 50 others for only $24.99, plus prizes, chats, and galleries just for you, click here to visit the site.

MOJO MONDAY 189! MOTHER'S DAY, ON THE GROW

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I'm so excited to participate in my first online card challenge! I've wanted to try Mojo Monday for awhile, since it's my go-to site for a card template in a pinch. You'll never be able to use ALL the template they store online for you, there's something for everything.

My card uses a few new supplies from Stampin' Up. The Four Frames set & Paisley Petals designer series paper are available in the all-new Idea Book & Catalog 2011-2012 coming out July 1st. From the Summer mini catalog is the On The Grow set, it's sister stamp is an adorable scooter.

Here are the other supplies used:
Designer Label punch
Scalloped Ribbon punch
Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon (carried over from Spring Occasions Mini)
Stampin' Write Markers
Basic Pearls
Cardstock: Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Color Spritzing Tool

All of these supplies are available for order on my Stampin' Up Website: http://www.erikaclark.stampinup.net/



On The Grow (clear mount)123077

 Thanks for stopping in!