Runway Inspired Challenge: Condolence Card

The Card

I wanted to make a condolence card, which is always a difficult one to make. I wanted something simple and elegant, with the emphasis on the recipient and not so much the artistic design of the card. I ended up with this card, which is along the lines of what I was imagining. 

The Challenge

The inspiration for this card is actually from a dress. Previously, I had seen other design team members enter the Runway Inspired Challenges, where you create projects based on fashion inspiration. I wasn't inclined to join in until I saw the photo of the current challenge. I thought it would really match the type of card I wanted to make. Also I had been working with vellum all week so it was just perfect. 

Instead of stamping in blue ink on white cardstock, I reversed the colors and stamped in white ink on blue cardstock. I also heat embossed my background image. I folded a piece of vellum over the card base and stamped the sentiment on the vellum in two tones of blue. I finished it with some ribbon and sequins. It was quite fun to design something based on fashion. Try it some time!

I'm also entering this in:
Simon Says Stamps: Anything Goes Challenge
I used a Paper Smooches Spiritual Sampler stamp set.

Thanks so much for droppin' by,

Caldey Island, Wales Layout

The Layout
This summer I visited Caldey Island near Tenby, Wales. It is a small island with 40 residents, 20 Cistercian monks and an Arts and Crafts style abbey. We walked to the southern point of the island which afforded spectacular cliffside views. I was twirling around like "the hills are alive" scene from Sound of Music. My Dad was reenacting the "It's..." scene from Monty Python and I don't know what the other two were doing, but we all had fun.

The Challenges
I used the September sketch from Life.Paper.Scrapbook. The main variation is instead of having thick strips of paper behind the photos, I made thin washi strips above and below the photos.

I chose my colors from their September Color Challenge, but muted them with vellum over the top. 

The Details
I chose some washi tape based on the color combo and placed it on white cardstock. I then placed a sheet of vellum over the top and stitched a seam down the middle of each strip. I cut out the strips in varying widths and adhered them on my layout.

On top of the strips below the photo, I placed my title with an embellishment cluster of stick pins and sequins. 

I placed some journaling spots on the side of one photo.

I toned down the colors of my background strips and embellishments so the photo colors would stand out. This layout came together quite quickly unlike some others that I keep altering and still can't get it right.

I'm also entering this in:
Ladybug Crafts: September Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

Paper House: Superhero Wall Hanging

The Project
I'm really excited to share with you my first project as a designer with Paper House Productions! I made a framed wall hanging for my nephew, documenting his latest interest - reenacting the exploits of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The Collection

When I looked through Paper House's extensive collection of scrapbooking sets, the one that really jumped out at me was the Birthday Boy collection. 

Even thought it was birthday themed, I really like the super hero aspect of it, which really matched my photos. 

The Details

I took two stickers, "birthday boy" and "birthday Hero," cut out the birthday portion, and reassembled them together to form my title, "boy Hero." Around the title, I added a few more stickers like the blue 3-D mask which matched my photo perfectly. I then added some goggly eyes on top of the sticker and some sequins and wood veneer stars for some finishing touches. 

For my layout design, I used the following sketch that I created. 

Since this was a gift, I framed my layout which turned it into a wall hanging. A layout tells more of a story and is more dynamic than giving just a framed photo. If you would like an instruction sheet with the sketch, here is a downloadable PFD.

Instructions Sheet PDF

Supplies:
Paper House Products:
Birthday Boy Collection (SBC-0161)
Happy Birthday Boy paper (P-0666E0
Super Hero City paper (P-0667E)
Birthday Boy 3D Stickers (STMD-0173E)
Birthday Boy Cardstock Stickers (STCX-0180E)
Other:
Frame for 8 x 10” photo
Sequins
Goggly Eyes
Wood Veneer Stars
Markers
Glitter Glue

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Rhedd and Rosie Challenge Blog: #16 Something for Men
Shopping Our Stash: #120 Kids

Thanks so much for flyin' by,

Sweet Stamps: Altered Birthday Frame

This is my last project for Sweet Stamps as a guest designer. I really enjoyed my time with them this month and loved working with all of their gorgeous stamps.

The Project
My grandmother celebrated her 92nd birthday this past weekend and I wanted to make her a gift and card set. I was thinking along the lines of something monochromatic and elegant, and here is the result.

The Process
Vellum is back in popularity right now and I thought it would be the right base for the wings of some butterflies. I used this medium butterfly stamp and stamped it onto vellum using white embossing ink and white embossing powder.

After heating it and cutting it out, I wrapped the butterflies with some wire floral stamen to make the antennae. If you want color on your butterflies, color the reverse side of the vellum with markers before cutting them out. 

I purchased a plain wooden frame from Target to hold a 5 x 7" photo. I chose a very wide frame so I had more room to decorate. Since I wanted more of a monochromatic look, I printed the photo in black and white. I toyed with the idea of painting a light coat of white paint over the frame, but decided the butterflies would stand out more over the dark wood. Instead, I painted some wispy tendrils using white craft paint. To make it more durable, I added Mod Podge over just the tendrils. 

I made a few small ribbon roses and adhered the butterflies and roses onto the frame with come clear craft glue. 

I also added some smaller butterflies I punched from vellum using a Martha Stewart punch that matched the look of my stamp. I finished it off with some adhesive pearls.

I made a matching card using vellum over white cardstock. I drew in the tendrils and wrote the happy birthday sentiment in Chinese with a white pen. I added three of my extra butterflies, a few pearls and some Prima ribbon. I hope my grandmother will like this matching set.

If you have a project with roses on it, please join Sweet Stamps this week in their roses challenge. 

I'm entering the frame in the following challenges:

Altered Eclectics: Anything Goes Altered Items

Ladybug Crafts: September Challenge Anything Goes

I'm entering the card in the following challenges:

A Little Bit Crafty: Clean and Simple

Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings: #80 Shabby Chic and Ribbon

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

Sweet Stamps: Paper Piecing and Western Challenge

I have two cards to share with you today as a guest designer for Sweet Stamps.

Paper Piecing Card
The current monthly technique challenge at Sweet Stamps is on Paper Piecing. Here is my contribution:

I started by stamping this bee on two separate sheets of patterned papers. I cut out the eyes and wings from the pale blue sheet and popped it on top of the yellow sheet.

I wanted a school theme so I placed the bee in front of a slate board and paper pieced some chalk and a chalk holder. I had the bee write the sentiment, which is actually this stamp. 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

365 Cards: Day 259 - In a Bubble

Lady Anne's Challenges: #11 Anything Goes

Western Card

The current weekly challenge theme at Sweet Stamps is Western. I made a shaker card for my nephew since he likes to dress up like a cowboy when he goes to Knott's Berry Farm. 

I made a scalloped frame around the photo using some punched circles of a horse silhouette stamp. Here is the card when it is shaken. 

I used a quick and easy washi tape technique to make the shaker element. 

If you would like further details on either card, please see this post. If you would like to enter the paper piecing challenge, please go here. If you would like to enter the Western challenge, please go here. 

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Divas by Design: Anything Goes

Inklings & Yarn: Inky Linky Party 30

Clear it Out Challenge Blog: Theme - Boys, Stash - Circle Punch

Thanks so much for moseying on by,

Sweet Stamps Guest Designer: ATC Card

The Challenge
This week's challenge theme at Sweet Stamps is ATC (artist trading card). It measures 2.5 x 3.5" and is a mini work of art. It can also be layered onto a card. Here is my contribution as a guest designer.

The Card
I go to a monthly ATC trade at my LSS, Pages from the Heart. The owner calls the customers her Peeps and there are Peeps decorations throughout the store. For the SoCal Shop Hop she had an Easter basket with a Peeps chick outfit you could wear for the photo op. Here is our ATC group posing with the Peeps Easter basket during one of our trades.

So when I saw this Bunny Peeps stamp set, I just had to use it for this month's ATC trade. It was just too perfect.

I stamped and embossed the sentiment in white on white cardstock. I cut out some tiny clouds as a mask and dabbed on some ink to create the background. Here is a peek at my process. 

I made 16 cards and passed them out to my peeps. For more information on this card, please see today's post at Sweet Stamps. To see all the other designers' card and to enter this week's challenge, please see this post. There is a $20 prize for the winner to use at Sweet Stamp's online store so enter your ATC this week. 

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

Cards und More: #89 Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes

Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog: #69 Sentiment on Front

Thanks so much for hoppin' by,

Sweet Stamps Guest Designer: Butterflies

The Challenge
This month I am thrilled to be a guest designer with Sweet Stamps. I love working with their red rubber stamps which gives a much cleaner edge than clear stamps. They have weekly and monthly challenges, so there are 5 challenges a month if you'd like to participate. The challenge theme this week is Butterflies. If you have a project which features butterflies, then link it to this post at Sweet Stamps.

The Layout
For my butterfly project, I wanted to make a layout with butterfly patterned paper. I stamped my own background using just one stamp (Bold Medium Butterfly) in a variety of colors. To keep the emphasis on the colorful butterflies, I faded my photos prior to printing them. For more details on this layout, please visit Sweet Stamps' blog.

The Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned Papers: My Mind’s Eye

Chipboard Stickers: My Mind’s Eye

3-D Stickers: My Mind’s Eye

Alphabet Stickers: Doodlebug Design

Brads: My Mind’s Eye

Wood Shape: Studio Calico

Stamp: Sweet Stamps

Date Stamp: American Crafts

Ink: Prima Marketing, Stampin’ Up

Pens: Copic

Glitter Glue: Ranger Ink

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More!: Anything Goes

Flutter By Wednesday: #251 Anything Goes with butterflies or fairies

Thanks so much for flutterin' by,