Denim Pocket

 Sweet n Sassy Stamps is hosting a Stamp-A-Thon this week-end with lots of different challenges to participate in. Play along and you could win 1 of 5 $10 gift codes to the Sweet n Sassy Stamps Store. (There are freebies to be had as well!)

 My challenge is to "Add a Pocket" to your project, and all you need to do to participate is create a new project with a pocket of some kind and upload a photo to this  Stamp-A-Thon album on the  Sweet n Sassy VIP Facebook page. (It's not necessary to use Sweet n Sassy Stamps for this challenge.)

To create the faux denim look I swiped my white ink pad vertically and then horizontally over dark blue paper before printing this FREE pocket template over top

~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and Tools:

• These Sweet n Sassy Stamp Sets
• Delightfully Delicate Background 
• Springtime
• Canson Mixed Media Paper
• Sonnet Watercolors
• Doily Die (Sizzix - Tim Holtz) 
• Ornate Ovals (Divinity Designs)
• Black Jewel (Kat Scrappiness)
• Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Brilliance Moonlight White Ink (Tsukineko) 
• Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger)
• These colors of Distress Oxide 
• Worn Lipstick
• Fossilized Amber

This post linked to:
Little Red Wagon - Blue
Krafty Chicks Challenge - Stamp Act
If You Give A Crafter A Cookie - Inspiration Photo (chick)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge
Kat's Scrappiness - Spring Flowers
Country View challenges - Animal Magic

Autumn Coffee

It's time for our Wednesday challenge over at The House That Stamps Built. This week we have an inspiration board for you. This challenge is a fun cross between a photo challenge and a color challenge. You can choose to be inspired by the colors, the photograph, or both! I love this week's selection -- and chose to be inspired by the photo of coffee and sunflowers!

To create my happy little coffee shaped card I:

• cut a coffee cup shaped card (using the free template below) out of white card stock and inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
  
• cut the lid and wrapper from kraft card stock
• inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)
• ran the wrapper through my Fiskars paper crimper
• stamped 2826-H, Let Us... on the lid in Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Ranger) and glued it to the top flap of my card
• created an autumn collage on my wrapper using the following Repeat Impressions Stamps:
• 3312-E, Maple Leaf
• 3314-D, Birch Leaf
• 3313-E, Oak Leaf
•  812-G, Pine Cone
•  4313-K, Sunflower
• All the stamped pieces where inked with Fossilized Amber/Spiced Marmalade/Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)
• I added some brown (Studio G) glitter to the center of my layered sunflower 
• The extra vines are die cut from the Funky Flowers #1 thinlits (Sizzix - Tim Holtz) and Meadowbird Branch dies (Memory Box)

Free Printable Coffee Cup Template

• For my blog readers: Enjoy the 10% discount code to the Repeat Impressions Store posted on the sidebar
• There's a new challenge every week over at  The House That Stamps Built 
• you don't have to use Repeat Impressions stamps to link or win
• One lucky person will win a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate on the first Wednesday of every month

Check out what the other design team members created: 

Cheri  ~ Shirley ~ Heather ~ Laurie ~ Donna ~ Joy

This post linked to:

Make My Monday - Autumn/ Fall Colors

Paper Craft Crew - Photo Inspiration

Casting all your care

My (non-cardmaking) sister-in-law sent me the coolest one-layer long card for my birthday last year, which (of course) I used for inspiration in my handmade cardmaking! I gently undid the envelope and traced it off for a pattern which I'm sharing below.

I use a 8.5 x 11 stack of thin designer paper I bought a long time ago for making my envelopes. The paper isn't really my style anymore, so rather than throw it away, I turn it into envelopes for my odd shaped cards.  I usually add a little something to them to make them coordinate with the card.

Supplies and Tools: 
Kraft/Teal/White/Red Cardstock, Teacup Stamp (PSX), Paper Doily, Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Stamp and Cut Handmade Tags (Hero Arts), Choose Happiness (Stampin' Up), Different Strokes Stamp Set (Basic Grey), Washi Tape, Biblical Impressions, Sequins, Fired Brick , Mermaid Lagoon, & Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

FREE ENVELOPE TEMPLATE

This post linked to:
Coffee Loving Cardmakers - Spring 2017 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop
Tuesday Throwdown - Sparkles (I used sequins)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Crazy Egg/Anything Goes

Dear Jane Teacup

I've had a lot of fun playing along with the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop this week. Today's card is a super feminine teacup card full of roses and lace!

Using the Dear Jane Paper Stack (from DCWV) made coordinating all my layers easy! I even used a cut-out cameo from the pack to embellish the inside of the card.

To embellish my hand-cut teacup and saucer (template below), I inked the edges with distress ink and layered lace under the die cut roses and added a tiny teabag tag.

Supplies and Tools:
Dear Jane Paper Stack (DCWV), Tiny Tattered Florals Dies (Tim Hotlz), Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Lace, Baker's Twine, Embroidered Lace Deep Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Die Cut Sentiment from Momento

FREE TEACUP & SAUCER TEMPLATE

This post linked to:
Coffee Loving Cardmakers - Spring 2017 Coffee Lovers Blog Hop
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Spring or Easter
City Craft Challenge Blog - In Bloom (use flowers)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Valentine Bouquet

Here's the project I shared

on the CropStop blog.

to get the new link party started today!

 What says "I love you!" better than a bouquet of red roses?

(Especially if their accompanied by a box of chocolates!)

I created this mini picture tutorial to show you how

I made the rose bouquet on the front of this card.

Supplies and Tools: Spellbinders Scallop Circle Die, Flower Punch, Stylus, Cardstock, Hot Glue Gun,  Dictionary page or newspaper (also useful the Craft Molding Mat )

 

To start with Punch 4 flowers from cardstock and cut one Scallop Circle from dictionary page or newspaper  

Step 1 Fold Scalloped Circle as shown above 

Step 2 Using your stylus, lightly press the center of two punched flowers to fold upwards

Step 3 Using the small end of your stylus, fold two flowers up over the end to form a tight center for your rose 

Step 4 Assemble flower by hot gluing the two tightly folded petals together

 Step 5 Add inside layers to the two slightly cupped flowers to complete your rose

Free Heart Template

Supplies and Tools: 

Kraft/Red/Black Cardstock, Text DP, Paper Crimper (Fiskars), Word Die (Momenta),

Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fired Brick), Spellbinders Nestabiblies (Scallop Circle), Frond Punch (Martha Stewart)

Flower Punch, Stylus, Red Baker's Twine, Crochet Lace Trim (Petaloo), Dictionary Page

This post linked to:
The Card Concept - Love and Romance
(I chose Shabby Chic and Vintage)

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Hearts

The Paper Players - Will You Be My Valentine?

Thankful Banner

I've had this idea pinned since last year....a Thankful Banner for the month of November.

My daughter and I are doing it together using the free templates from here.
It's hanging in my craft room across one set of shelves.

This post linked to: Word Art Wednesday

Ice Cream Cone

A little while back we were eating sugar cones for dessert.  My 8 yr. old daughter "disappeared" for a bit and then returned with the above card.  She'd gotten the bright idea to use the cone wrapper as a template and make an ice cream cone card out of it.  I did not help her at all, in fact I didn't even know what she was doing till she "reappeared."  I thought it turned out so pretty and wanted to share the templates I made for the cone (and also a scoop of  ice cream template).

You can use this template two ways:
1. Cut out the sugar cone and fold in half using the cone as a card (as my daughter did)
2. Cut out the sugar cone/fold in half/glue down the right side and use it as a pocket for the tag (illustration below)

Either way it makes a fun summer card and I'm glad my daughter thought of it!
This post linked to:
Craft Catwalk
Made With Love Monday
Whatever You Want Wednesday

Sketch Challenge

The sketch my friend picked for the month of March was the 1st one on this page from Page Maps. I really like the way they do their sketches up with so much detail.....and there's lots to pick from as well.
I've become a procrastinator of late - and didn't start working on this till a few days before it was "due."  BUT I had a lot of fun with it and was able to incorporate a few of my favorite things....i.e. a dictionary page, dress form, fun embellishments!
Here's the finished product:

I know.....that tag on the right isn't in the sketch -- but you'll forgive me for adding just one little thing to it, won't you?
Supplies used:

• The dress background came from Mel Stampz
• Dictionary Page
• Lacy material
• skirt
• Pearls
• Hat stamp (I think it's Anna Griffin)
• Blue embossing powder
• hat
• Blue Metallic Bic Marker 
• around dress form/tag/DP - on the little tab
• DP - Classics (K & Company)

I searched "high and low" on the web for a dress form template, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted.  Ended up making my own and I'll share it with you in case your interested in using it.

 If you use it - please link back here-- and leave a comment so we can all see your creative work!
As usual this little challenge was with a friend - click here to see what she made.
This post linked to:
Whatever You Want Wednesday
Thrilling Thursday at Paisley Passions 
Crafty Friday Mash Up

Happy Anniversary!

An anniversary card.
I've seen cards like this before, but had no template.
Using a Print Shop program I have, I inserted a round corner rectangle and re-sized accordingly....making each layer a little smaller than the last.
Very easy and simple!
I embossed the cake to give it some texture and added a few flowers and rhinestones.

I got to thinking that a chocolate cake would be yummy!
Here's a bigger version of the same cake - this time chocolate with pink flowers.

Patterns and Templates

Free Patterns and Templates