Unscripted Sketches # 71

Happy Labor Day to everyone in the US!!!  It's a very beautiful, almost chilly morning here in northern Georgia, and after the incredibly hot summer we have had, it is a welcome change.

This past Friday, in anticipation of having some cardmaking time this weekend, I visited my local scrapbooking store (aka LSS) looking for some new patterned papers.  While browsing the store's shelves I happened upon this gorgeous piece of paper from Crate Paper's 'Restoration Collection' called "slipcover", and instantly fell in love!  Now - this isn't my usual style of paper, but I loved the flowers, the texture, the colors and the overall 'organic' feel of the design, and although it's not my usual style, I brought home one piece of it anyway.

Then the very next day I checked on my list of challenge blogs and found this sketch from Unscripted Sketches and went straight to work, using the new paper, of course!

And here is my take on their sketch . . .

Product Info:

• Cardstock is from Die Cuts With a View
• Patterned Paper is Crate Paper, Restoration Collection "slipcover", mat for sentiment is the reverse side
• Crinkled seam binding is from Bluebird Lane Etsy store
• Button from my stash
• Stickles 'Diamond'

Tips, Tools and Techniques:

• Card base cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card2 set at 5"
• Patterned paper cut on Cricut Expression using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card1 set at 5"
• Sentiment printed on ivory cardstock on ink jet printer.
• Sentiment and matting cut on Cuttlebug using Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Squares Small
• Brown ink was used to ink edges of card and around edges of sentiment
• Stickles was used on flower parts to add a bit of bling

I loved this paper, although it wasn't my usual style, and this card isn't my usual style either, but I have to say I love it!  The seam binding from Bluebird Lane matched the colors perfectly, and the Stickles gives it just a bit of glimmer so it isn't totally a flat look. 

Thank you so much for joining me today, and be sure to come back soon, because I have a card coming up for the CPS challenge that is totally my kind of card!.  Blessings, Becky

Amethyst and a Sketch

This card was in part very easy, and in part very hard for me.  It was only after I strayed a bit from the sketch that it finally became what I wanted it to be.  Did that make sense, or am I sounding as tired as I feel?

Anyway, the two challenges are . . .

Daring Cardmakers 'dare' for this week was to make a card using the color of the February birthstone, amethyst.

Tuesday Morning Sketches asked us to use the following sketch . . .

Here is my card for both challenges . . .

The Product Info:

• Base cardstock, and cardstock used in flower is from DCWV 'pastels' cardstock stack
• Patterned papers are both from NRN Designs, design by Judy Melvin Designs.  I've had it for at least three years, so I don't remember where I got it.
• 'Blessing' rub-on from Melissa Francis
• Clear flower from Heidi Swapp 'gel blossoms'
• Scrunched seam binding from Bluebird Lane
• Dotted ribbon used behind large button was gathered by hand with needle and thread
• Paper heart doily, buttons and dotted ribbon from my stash
• Zig Zag stitch done on machine

Cricut Info:

• Base card cut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card 2 set on 5"
• Bottom patterned paper cut using Walk in My Garden cartridge, card 1 set on 4 3/4"
• Lavender cardstock flower cut on Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, 'flower' set on 2"

I'm in love with this card, and I hope you enjoy it, too!  I'm looking forward to a cardmaking weekend, especially on Sunday while my hubby is watching all the hype before the big game, and then the game itself.  I'll just hole up in here with my TV, cricut and goodies and have a blast!  Hope you have a great weekend as well!  Blessings, Becky

Scrapbook Trends Challenge - No Pink or Red and SophistiCats Challenge - Love

The challenge over at Scrapbook Trends cards blog this week was to make a 'lovey dovey' valentines type card, but with no pink or red in it.  When I read that, I knew exactly what paper I wanted to use - don't you just love it when that happens?  And SophistiCats challenge this week is to make a 'love' card, so this card fits there, too!  Here is my card . . .

Isn't that cute cherub the sweetest thing???  There's another one behind the bow that is just as cute, but the bow had to go somewhere!  Here's all the info

Products List:

• Aqua cardstock and cherub/text cardstock both from Die Cuts With a View 'Be Mine' cardstock stack
• Seam Binding from Donna @ Bluebird Lane
• Bling is from Prima e. line Pearls and Crystals
• 'Love' rub-on from an old (very old) set from Walmart

Cricut Info:

• Base card and cherub paper both cut on Walk in My Garden cartridge.  Card 2 set on 5" and card 1 set on 4 1/2"
• Frame cut on Home Accents Solutions Cartridge @ 3 1/4"

I'm so loving this card, and I hope you like it, too!  This one may actually go to my hubby for Valentines.  Then again it may go on my Etsy shop!  Now, I've got a pesky squirrel to go run off of my bird feeder, blessings folks!  Becky

A Play Day, and Valentines Cards

Yesterday (Saturday), with snow still on the ground (see post HERE) and high temps in the low 20's and wind chill temps around the zero mark, I stayed inside, in my PJ's ALL DAY, and played and played!  I'm learning how to use my new Cricut a little better now, and so I put it to good use making a few Valentines cards.  I had such a nice day!

Here is the first card.  The red 'cut-work' was done on the Cricut using my new (and new favorite) cartridge, the Mother's Day 2010 limited edition. 

And a spotlight pic . . .

And the products list (a very short one for a change!) . . .

Cardstock is from a DCWV cardstock stack

Gems are 'bling it' rhinestones from Basic Grey

Cricut info:

• The 4" square card was cut using the Walk In My Garden cartridge, card 2 set at 4 inches
• The cutwork was cut using the Mother's Day 2010 Limited Edition cartridge, Doily 2 set at either 3 1/2 or 3 3/4 inches (my old timers has set in today!)

This was a very simple card because the machine did most of the work.  I will say that . . .

1. it takes quite a while to cut, and
2. thank goodness for my Zig 2 Way Glue Pens (fine tip and chisel tip) because they made glueing all those little red lines much easier, and no, I didn't glue each bit, but the outer edges and larger bits.

Card # 2 is another 4 inch card . . .

 

And a couple of spotlight pics . . .

 

And the product list . . .

Cardstock and patterned paper from DCWV "Prints for the Year"  Ultimate stack

Stickles 'stardust'

Gems from Basic Grey 'bling it'

Cricut info:

• The 4" square card was cut using the Walk In My Garden cartridge, Card 2 set at 4 inches
• The patterned paper was cut using the Walk In My Garden cartidge, Card 1 set at 3 1/2 or 3 3/4 inches
• The heart and letters were cut using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge
• The white frame was cut using the Mothers Day 2010 Limited Edition cartridge, Frame 3 set at I believe 3 1/4 inches

I really like this card, and could make tons of them since the parts come together very easily!

The next two cards are 5 inch square cards.  The first one was VERY easy!  Here is a picture . . .

 

And a couple of spotlight pics . . .

 

 And my product list . . .

Lavender cardstock is Bazzill

White cardstock and patterned paper is DCWV from same stack as above

Scrunched seam binding is from Grandmother's Lilac Bush collection from Bluebird Lane

Millinery flowers are from Glitter Your World

Cricut Info:

• The 5" square card was cut using the Walk In My Garden cartridge, Card 2 set at 4 inches
• The patterned paper was cut using the Walk In My Garden cartidge, Card 1 set at 4 1/2 or 4 3/4 inches
  
• The 'love' sentment was cut on the Walk In My Garden cartridge set on 1 1/2 inches, with the white cardstock cut on the same, but adding shadow
  

And the last card for the day, and my favorite is . .

And a few spotlight pics . . .

 And my product list . . .

Pink, yellow, blue and lavender cardstock is Bazzill

White cardstock and patterned paper is DCWV from same stack as above

Ribbon is 'ribbonFX' from Hobby Lobby

Buttons are from my stash

Left and right flowers are bumped up on foam squares

Cricut info:

• The 5" square card was cut using the Walk In My Garden cartridge, Card 2 set at 4 inches
• The patterned paper was cut using the Walk In My Garden cartidge, Card 1 set at 4 1/2 or 4 3/4 inches
• The 'love' sentment was cut on the Walk In My Garden cartridge set on 2 1/2 inches, with the white cardstock cut on the same, but adding shadow
• The flowers were cut on the Walk In My Garden Cartridge using (left) 'crpsis' set at 2 inches and blue shadow at the same, just using 'shadow', and (center and right) 'blossm' set at 2 inches and shadows at the same, just using 'shadow'

I  L*O*V*E this card!  It just came together so easy, and it could easily be used for an Easter, birthday, baby, etc. card by just changing the sentiment.  My problem now - gotta find some 5" square envelopes!

Thanks for visiting, I've enjoyed sharing my play day with you.  Now back to making some more cards!  Blessings, Becky

Sharing Goodness!

I think it's really something special when you find a source for supplies where your business is appreciated and you are treated like you matter.  A while back I said goodbye to a scrapbooking store in my area because my business was not appreciated, and the store owner didn't keep her promises.  And I won't be going back.  But for every one business that treats you like you don't matter, there are others out there waiting to take their place who do want your business, and appreciate you as a customer.

One example is an Etsy store that I stumbled upon last week.  It's called Bluebird Lane, and the 'shopkeeper' even lives in my home state of Georgia.  Anyway, she sells the most scrumptious seam binding and French gift tags, etc., that I just had to order a few things from her.  And they came today!

My first indication that this order was going to be something special should have been this . . .

 . . . the cute French stamp on the {blue} shipping label.  How cute is that?  Even though my package came from a couple of hours away from me, I immediately felt like I was somehow getting a package from France.  Then I opened the box, and found a cloud of shiny white tissue paper, and beneath the tissue paper was this . . .

A sweet little bundle, wrapped in more white tissue, with a gorgeous robins egg blue seam binding, and one of the cute French gift tags which she sells in the shop, a pretty 'Decadent Paperie' tag, complete with some bling, and a pink silk rosebud.  So pretty!!! 

When I took the bundle out of the box I really felt like I had a gift to open, so I untied the first little knot in the seam binding and released the Paperie tag, then the next knot released the birds nest gift tag and the rosebud, and the last knot revealed a greeting card and a sticker that was holding the tissue together.

Every step of opening the package was special, and that was part of what won Donna at Bluebird Lane a new customer.  Another part was that her communications on Etsy were quick and friendly, and that even though it was Christmas weekend, the package went out right away.

There was even a little freebie of a pack of her gift tags in the package.  Now, I don't know if she does that for everyone, but it was a special touch, as was the hand written note in reply to a conversation I sent her on Etsy.  She could have just replied to my communication, but instead she answered it in a hand written note.  Those little extra touches that mean so much!

But the number one reason I fell in love with this shop was the actual products!  Such yummy colors, fresh and bright and crisp, and even the yardage of seam binding I bought was presented in such a pretty manner, who could resist such sweetness!

I got five bundles of scrunched seam binding, in such gorgeous combinations as "Rainy Day in Paris Blues", "Creamsicle", "Grandmother's Lilac Bush", "Traditional Valentines", and "Blueberies, Cocoa and Cream".  And there were others that I didn't get, but now wish that I had!

Be looking for some new cards made using this scrumptious stuff soon, and if you are looking for gorgeous goodies with a French flair, please check out Donna at Bluebird Lane by clicking on the link, or the button in my right hand column.  You'll be glad you did!

Blessings folks!  Becky