congratulations

For The Paper Craft Crew Challenge #48, I looked to my color coach for inspiration.  Baked brown sugar, crisp cantaloupe and bermuda bay seemed to be just what I was looking for.  I was making a congratulations card for someone I had been working with for a long while who accomplished an amazing feat of perseverance.  The Stampin' Up! flower shop bundle and the new stretchy in color ribbon was just what I needed to convey my pride and joy.

click here to go to PCCCS

A Beachy Get Well

I have a few friends going in for surgery soon.  I am sending them lots of mental positive thoughts, but I thought I should send them a get well card too.  Inspired by this weeks Freshly Made Sketches challenge, summer, and theirs (and my) love of the beach, I came up with this card.  Pool party and chocolate chip, wow!  Nothing says beach and feel better soon than that!

find the Freshly Made Sketch challenge here

A Father's Day card for my Honey

So, it's the day before Father's Day and I haven't made a card yet for my husband.  I've sent my Dad's off in the mail, but I was still percolating on Eric's card.  I looked around on some of the various challenge sites, and was inspired by two.  Create with Connie and Mary's color challenge and the sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches (both new to me).  It always amazes me how with just a bit of guidance, ideas abound. After going to the gym to sub a TRX class on Saturday morning, I was inspired on the drive home.

When I got home,  I went to work.  A little bit of the Soho DSP, the banner and letter stamps from the polymer stamp sets, and stamps from two of The Paper Pumpkin kits.  It's fun how lots of different bits can come together. So let me know how you enjoy the card.  Thanks!

and the inside:

Weddings.

This my card for The Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch Challenge.

I have a college friend getting married in a couple of weeks.  He saw some of the cards I made on Facebook and wondered if I could make him a card to give to his wife on their wedding day.  I thought "sure." Then all that happened is I bought paper in their wedding colors.  Then I saw this weeks sketch challenge and I was inspired.

So let me know how you like it.  He's like it to say their names if possible instead of the Mr. & Mrs.  I'm going to try out a few things and I'll let you know.  Happy crafting!

gears!

I love this set.  It is so cool.  For the Paper Craft Crew Challenge #44, I had fun stamping lots of gears.  And I don't think you can lose with the rugged epic day DSP. Enjoy.

Cards with Feeling

So I was thinking about The Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge and how it's such a nice guide to challenge myself to create a mostly original card.  Then I was thinking about my friend at work who's mother-in-law passed away last week. I had not yet made a sympathy card on my card making journey and I just got my Stampin' Up! order in the mail.  So as they say, all the planets aligned and I got to work.

You know, there is just something about making a card with a specific person in mind.  I followed the sketch pretty closely, but each decision was made from a place of empathy for my friend.  The colors and design came together to honor my friend and her mother-in-law.  So with that in mind, I share my card.  May you also enjoy creating cards with feeling.

Audra

Butterflies and Rainy Day Street Fairs

So my first ever participation as a vendor at a community fair was today.  It rained.  Not the best beginning to the journey, but that's OK.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but was definitely disappointed in the weather.  The good thing was that everyone was so nice.  And in good spirits.  Fortunately the rain was not too severe, and there were times when it was just a drizzle or not raining at all. The tent set up I borrowed from my Mom worked out well, thanks Mom!   I didn't sell much, and I only made a few contacts, but I learned a few things.  People like butterflies.

I was looking for some wow items to help draw people in and I saw these really pretty butterfly mobiles on Pinterest.  However when I clicked on the links there were not very many directions.  Well luckily for me not too many were needed, so I gathered up some materials and got crafty and figured things out.

I used an embroidery hoop, fishing line, some wire, two different sized Stampin' Up! butterfly punches, Stampin'Up!s really awesome card stock, vellum paper, ribbon, and glue dots and ribbon for the top hanger part.

1. Punch a ton of butterflies (even better if you can convince your kids to do some of this part).
2. Then attach them to the fishing line with a glue dot between them.
3. I used 8 strings per mobile.  I crossed 2 wires on the embroidery hoop, (think a circle with a plus sign in it) so there are 4 inner strands and 4 outer strands (2 different lengths).  I think I like the longer set on the inside best.  I just tied the strings on with several regular knots.  I put a glue dot on each of the strands on the four wires and tied a piece of the small ribbon on each (see next step).
4. Then cut a bunch of ribbons about 6 inches long (depends on the thickness of your hoop and tie them all around.
5. To make the top hanger part, take some thicker, yet light ribbon (4 pieces maybe 20-24 inches long) tie at the halfway point in four spots, then bring up in two bunches and tie together (double knot).

This is definitely an inside mobile for decorative purposes.

I have only made the two, the white one with white and vellum butterflies and the "ombre" style one going from black through blues to white.  They were a big draw to get people to come over, and I did sell the blue one to a guy near the end of the fair.  He said that he just had to come over as he was so drawn to it.











I also made a bonus butterfly branch (Pinterest inspired too).  I do think brighter colors might be better.  And lastly, here is my booth set up.  Happy butterflying.