Daring Cardmakers 'Draw a Bird' Challenge

I love playing along with Daring Cardmakers!  They have some really cute dares, or challenges, each week, and this week is no different.  Apparently, according to this week's challenge, April 8th is 'Draw a Bird' Day!  So, this week's challenge is to draw a bird or, if you aren't an artist, to stamp or paper piece a bird on your card.

I wanted to do something different from 'just a card', so I decided to make a 'tag' card.  Here is my take on this week's challenge . . .

This is the front of the card.  It consists of two #5 manilla tags that are 2 3/8" X 4 3/4".  Here is how I made it  . . .

Product Info:

• #5 manila tags
• Patterned papers are Echo Park's "For the Record" by Bella Road
• Stickers are from SRM Press
• Gem for bird's eye and center of yellow button are from Prima eLine
• Crepe paper, ric-rack, ribbon and button are from my stash

Ruffle made of crepe paper

Bird inked with brown ink, gem for eye

Flower made of crepe paper folded in half, stitched two edges together, gathered and shaped into flower.  Button for center.

Sentiment on front says 'Life starts here'

Ric-rack pointing toward next page, along with finger pointing sticker.  Vintage button with gem center.

Inside sentiment says today, dream, live, laugh.

Back side of second tag is blank so you can write a note.

Tidbits:

• Bird was traced using a template and cut by hand, then the edges inked with brown ink.
• When I tied the two tags together, I placed a pencil between them at the top so that I wouldn't tie the ribbon so tight they wouldn't open.
• Crepe paper is my favorite new product!  Trim edges with pinking shears, sew a basting stitch down the center and pull threads to gather - makes a great ruffle!  

I hope you've enjoyed this visit today!  I really enjoyed making the tag card - it's a lot of fun doing something different from your usual card, so take a look at your stash and see what you can use that may be outside of your comfort zone! Thanks for coming, and Blessings!  Becky

Mojo Monday Week 186

I am really loving this super creative 'zone' that I'm in these days . . . sad to say my house is showing the effects of me spending too much time in my studio.  But eventually the creativity will wane for a while and there will be time enough for cleaning then!  I used to 'play' with Mojo Monday regularly, but haven't participated in a while.  When I saw this week's sketch, I knew I wanted to give it a try because of all the different elements of the sketch.  Here is this week's sketch . . .

And here is my card based on the sketch . . . 

I really love the poppies image that I found online.  And the different shades of red in the paper really picks up the different shades in the image.  Here is all the info . . . 

The Products:

• Base cardstock, and green scalloped cardstock is from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) Textured Cardstock Stack - Darks
• Beige and rust cardstock in sentiment is small scraps from my stash
• Patterned paper (top and bottom) are from My Minds Eye - So Sophie "Anything for you" Reliable Red Paper
• Cream seam binding is from Bluebird Lane Etsy Shop
• Sentiment is from SRM Press, Sticker Sentiments #51006 Thinking of You
• Red twine is 'perle cotton' from my embroidery stash

The Details:

• Base card was cut using Cricut Expression 'A Child's Year' cartridge, card feature, Beach1-s set at 6"
• Scalloped edges of green cardstock were cut using Fiskars 'apron lace' Border Punch
• Stitching was done on sewing machine
• Cream circle and scalloped circle behind were both cut using Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Circles Small and Classic Scalloped Circles Small
• Cream seam binding was adhered using Glue Arts Ribbon Adhesive
• Perle cotton was threaded through a small slit in the edge of the card and wrapped around, criss-crossing a few times before tying in a bow
• Image and sentiment were adhered using foam dots for dimension

Hmmmm, I just remembered, today is the 27th anniversary of the day my hubby and I met for the first time on a blind date.  Guess who will be getting this card when he gets home from work!   I hope you have enjoyed this card and I really hope to see you back here again soon!  Blessings folks!  Becky 

Card Patterns . . . Sketch # 110 . . . Just Because

It's been a great weekend!  Hubby and I camped at a campsite only about 12 miles from home, on our beloved Lake Lanier.  The weather was great, the lake was beautiful, and I enjoyed cooking on my outdoor kitchen.  We came home fairly early, I got a shower because, after taking down the tent, cleaning everything up, packing and unpacking once we got home . . . can you say 'grungy'???  Then I got the laundry started and hit my studio to see what kind of challenges were out there.  I loved this one from Card Patterns!  Check out their Sketch 110 . . .

This week's sketch is sponsored by one of my favorite products, and a wonderful way to add a sentiment to your projects . . . SRM Stickers!   If you are like me, and not much of a stamper, SRM's stickers is a wonderful way to add sentiments to your card, layout, tag or other paper crafting project.  Luckily, I just got a bunch of new SRM Stickers last week, so I had some great ones from which to choose.

And here is my card based on the sketch . . .

As you can see I slipped the bow over to the left, and the image over to the right because I really wanted to use that 'just because' sticker.  Here are all of the details . . .

Product Info:

• Base cardstock is Bazzill
• Red cardstock is Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned paper is Jillibean Soup - Pasta Fagioli - clove fresh garlic (reverse)
• Image is from an old greeting card I found online
• Sentiment is from SRM Stickers - Sticker Sentiments #51006 Thinking of You
• Vintage lace and button are from my stash
• Vintage taffeta ribbon was purchased at an estate sale
• Heart pins are green quilters pins - see below for the makeover details
• Stickles 'Crystal'

How It Came Together:

Cricut Expression:

• Base of card was cut using Walk In My Garden (WIMG) cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper was cut using WIMG cartridge, card1 set at 5"

Other:

• Patterned paper was glued to cardstock.
• Image was printed on ink jet printer, then cut using Cuttlebug and Classic Circles Small dies by Spellbinders Nestabilities.  Red scalloped cardstock was cut using the Scalloped Circles Small dies, also by Spellbinders Nestabilities.  Image was glued to scalloped circle.
• Red cardstock rectangle was cut by hand and glued to the patterned paper.  Then the image and scalloped circle were attached using foam dots for dimension.
• Sentiment was attached and rubbed gently with a ruler to make sure it was attached firmly.
• White lace was attached to the card using Glue Arts Ribbon Adhesive.
• Ribbon was wrapped and bow was tied.
• Quilters pins with green plastic heads were painted with white paint and dipped into glitter and allowed to dry.  The glitter wasn't 'glittery' enough, so I topped that with some Stickles 'Crystal' and allowed it to dry.  When the Stickles was dry I stuck the pins through the knot of the bow and then cut off the sharp points with wire clippers.  Then the button was attached with glue.

I have to say I'm really loving this card!  I don't remember if I've told this on here, but a couple of months ago I lost my computer and all of my collection of images along with it due to a virus.  I have been working diligently at trying to rebuild my files of vintage images, and this is one of the new ones I found.  If - like me - you are not much of a stamper, there are all kinds of places online where you can find vintage images that are free to use in your projects.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope to see you back here again really soon!  Blessings, Becky

Unscripted Sketches # 101

Welcome back for Sketch It Saturday at Unscripted Sketches!  I hope you enjoyed our blogiversary celebration!  Be sure to check out the Unscripted Sketches blog to see if you won one of the great prizes!  

This week's sketch was a lot of fun for me . . . 

I simply turned it 1/4 to the left, and it was instantly easy to make a card that has become one of my favorite ever!  Here is my card . . .

Once again I used a vintage image that I got FREE at Free Pretty Things For You.  If you love very sweet vintage images, you really need to check it out!

And here are the details . . .

Product Info:

• Base cardstock is Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned paper is from Shabby Princess Collection by Bo Bunny Press
• Image is from Free Pretty Things For You
• Gems are from Prima eLine
• Stickles 'Diamond' 

Don't you love that sweet image?

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression:

• Card base was cut using Walk In My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper was cut using WIMG cargridge, card1 set at 4 1/2 inches for both front and inside of card

Other:

• Cut image and sentiment to size, backed with scraps of cardstock
• Popped image out with foam dots for dimension
• Added tiny bit of Stickles to a few elements in the design on the patterned paper.

This was a very easy card, made easier by the great sketch!   I hope you have enjoyed your visit today, and hope that you will go and visit the Unscripted Sketches blog to see the rest of our great design team's projects.  

Blessings, folks!  Becky

ICS # 109 . . . Hello Sunshine!

Hi Folks!  Just a quick post to share a card I made tonight for the Inspirational Card Sketches Sketch #109.  I have been a fan of ICS for a long time, and ages ago I participated pretty often, but I just don't have the time now, but I was determined to make a card tonight, and when I found their sketch, I just knew this was 'the one'. Here is their great sketch . . .

And here is my take on the sketch . . .

And all of the details . . .

Products:

• Black cardstock is Bazzill Basics
• All other cardstock is The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby)
• Patterned paper is Cosmo Cricket - Garden Variety
• Stickles 'Goldenrod'
• SRM Stickers #53002 'Hello'
• EK Success 3D-Dots

Tips Tools and Techniques:

Cricut Expression:

• Card base cut using Walk In My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper cut using WIMG cartridge, card1 set at 5"
• Yellow square cut using WIMG cartridge, card1 set at 3 1/4"
• Sunshine cut using Create A Critter cartridge, using Sun, and Layers 1 and 2, all set at 3"

Others:

• Assembled sun, added Stickles
• Placed stickers on orange cardstock and trimmed to size
• Placed yellow square on foam dots and placed in center
• Put sentiments in place
• Added foam dots to sun and put in place

This was a very easy card - once I got the sun cut out!  This was my first time using that cartridge and it took me a minute or two to figure out the layers, but after that it was easy.

Thanks so much for visiting, and I hope to see you again very soon!  Blessings, Becky