Rustic Valentine

After a few days of not crafting it felt good to get back in my craft room. Today's card features something that I have seen popping up all over the paper crafting world lately, paper doilies. What with Valentine's Day not too far away it seemed a fine idea to incorporate a doily into a Valentine themed card.

One of the things I really like about this particular design is the combination of the more rustic and natural elements such as kraft card stock and jute twine, with the softer ones like the doily and red crocheted heart I made. I love all the different textures!

The main image panel is popped up with foam tape and also lightly stamped with French Script. The paper edges were antiqued with the darker ink cube in the PTI Tea Dye Duo.



I have made a few of these little crocheted hearts now. They are very simple to make and can be done in just a few minutes. I really like the pop of red against all of the neutral shades! The instructions to make your own crocheted heart can be found on the Little Birdie Secrets blog.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!




SUPPLIES:
Stamps: French Script
Paper: Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Tea Dye Duo (PTI)
Accessories: paper doily, crocheted heart, button, jute twine

French Flair

I hadn't quite gotten over my black and yellow color scheme from last week so here is another card sporting that combo. I even used the same yellow floral pattern paper. :)

The stamps are from a lovely set called Paris by Cavallini. The images have a delightfully vintagey vibe about them. The Eiffel Tower image was stamped in Basic Black and the word "Paris" in the background was stamped in Crumb Cake (the color formerly known as Kraft). hehe

I also tried out a new toy. I received the Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo by Papertrey Ink for Christmas and gave it a spin on this card. The Duo is basically two small ink cubes, one light and one a bit darker, that are used to antique the edges of the paper. Nicole Heady gives a good tutorial on her blog. I used the lighter of the two cubes to antique the edges of the pattern paper and also the edges of the focal image.

I stamped a French postmark on the bottom inside corner, just for fun. The bottom of the pattern paper was scalloped to mimic the black scallops that frame the oval and I added black brads to the top corners. A little black satin ribbon (and of course a button!) finish it off.



SUPPLIES
Stamps: Paris (Cavallini)
Paper: Vintage Cream by PTI, Basic Black, Parisian Summer dp by SU!
Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake by SU!, Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo by PTI
Accessories: large oval and large scalloped oval Nestabilities, corner rounder punch (guide removed), black satin ribbon, button, thread, black brads

A Note of Thanks

The color scheme for this card was inspired by a gift bag I spied when I was out and about recenty. It had a very fun floral motif in black and yellow. Hmm, I said to myself, that sounds like a great color combo for a card! So here it is. :)

The sentiment was stamped on a strip of Very Vanilla card stock. I also scored lines above and below the sentiment for some added detail and interest. Ditto the three little paper piercings to the right of the words.



The bird is embossed in black to make it a bolder image. I also used my aqua painter to put a light yellow wash behind the bird to tie in with the pattern paper and also help it show up better. Some yellow brads and a bit of black grosgrain ribbon finished it off!





SUPPLIES
Stamps: Friends 24-7, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Parisian Summer dp
Ink: Basic Black, Versa Mark, Barely Banana, Summer Sun
Accessories: black embossing powder, Making Memory brads, black grosgrain ribbon, Cutter Bee Circle System, corner rounder punch, aqua painter

Sweet Pea

Can I toot my own horn? I love how this card turned out! Believe me, this is not always the case. In fact, this little fella went through a few permutations to get where he is.

The sweet pea image was stamped with Versa Fine's Onyx Black ink. That way I could do my water coloring without worrying about the outline smudging all over. I used two shades of green with my aqua painter to color him in, Old Olive and Certainly Celery.

The "congratulations!" stamp is from Baby Bundle. I simply stamped it over and over in a row to make the sentiment strip at the bottom.

On the inside I added a bit of the same pattern paper that is on the front, trimmed with some scalloped green paper to echo the scalloped oval that is also on the front. :)

A ribbon bow and button finished it off. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!








SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Event Full, Baby Bundle
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, pattern paper by Scenic Route Paper Co.
Ink: Versa Fine Onyx Black, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
Accessories: oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities, aqua painter, blue grosgrain ribbon, button, thread, corner rounder punch

Valentine Button Bouquet

Valentine's Day will be here before we know it so I thought I'd start getting ready. I love using buttons as flowers, it's so cute and fun! This stem image is perfect for creating little button bouquets. And what I like about this card is that since there are no hearts and it doesn't say "love", it can be for your sweetie or a gal pal. It's just a sweet little card. :)

SUPPLIES
Stamps: Flower Filled, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive
Accessories: buttons, thread, red satin ribbon, corner rounder punch
 

A Warm Brew

I'm snowed in today and enjoying a day of work from home. In honor of the wintry weather I thought I'd share a card featuring a warm cuppa. Isn't this little mug image cute? I love the foamy topping and the peppermint stick peeking out. :)

The peppermint stick really inspired the rest of the card. I tied in the candy cane theme with the red striped pattern paper and the red and white baker's twine on the button and tag.

Wouldn't this be a great card to send a friend inviting them for a coffee date? Or you could tuck in a gift card to your pal's favorite coffee shop. :)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're staying warm!


SUPPLIES
Stamps: Like it a Latte, Happy Moments, small heart image from Somerset Alphabet (Inkadinkado)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Pattern Prints dp, Bella Rose dp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: button, baker's twine, red satin ribbon, word window punch, foam tape

Thanks with a Flourish

I recently got the Stampin' Up! set Friends 24-7 for my birthday (thanks Mom!) and I can't put it down! I am in love with the flourish image and keep reaching for it no matter what type of card I am making. Sorry if you get tired of seeing it!

The design is based on this card that I have admired for a while. I changed up the colors and papers and simplified things a bit. The green paper is part of SU!'s Bella Rose collection that retired a few years ago, and I am almost out, so sad! I love this green pattern!

Everything is pretty straight forward on this card, just lots of layers and matting. I like how the black makes the pastels pop. And of course I had to add some bling to the flourish. *grin*

Hope you are having a great week so far!


SUPPLIES
Stamps: Friends 27-7, Thank You Kindly
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Bella Rose dp
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black
Accessories: 1/2" black satin ribbon, rhinestone sticker