Violets for a Friend

Hello!

Today I'm featuring the first in a line of cards I'm designing this week that are geared towards friendship and/or thinking of you cards.  I will also be featuring some with inspirational quotes because everyone needs to be lifted up at some time in their lives.

This card is perfect for a thinking of you card and has been created in the soft spring colors of violet, fresh green and soft yellow.

The focal point for this card is a lovely image from a stamp set called "Violets" (I think) from Flourishes but which sadly has been discontinued.  I've colored it with Copics and used blue chalk for the soft background.  Flourishes stamp sets lend themselves so well to coloring, either with Copics or various other media.  The image was first die cut with an oval die and matted on a violet oval one size larger.

I love this ribbon, though I don't remember where I bought it.  Flourishes maybe.  It's lavender silk and luscious to the touch, and it ties the loveliest bows.  This one is double looped into which I inserted a small, handmade jeweled stick pin.

A bit of ecru lace trim, some stitching, and soft lavender flat back pearls on the four corners complete the front of this serene card.

The inside has a subtle greeting with plenty of room for a personal message.

Thank you for joining me today and here's wishing you a day full of happy thoughts and friendship.

Happy crafting!

This card is for sale in my Etsy shop.

 

Chicago Peace, and IBSIC Challenge #51

Hello!

Today is my third week as March Guest Designer to play with the lovely and talented Design Team over at Inspired By Stamping Inspiration Challenge (IBSIC), and I am so enjoying making these projects for them, but the time is flying by too quickly!  Wah!

This week's color challenge was truly a challenge for me and was inspired by this picture:

What was challenging is that it is completely out of my comfort zone of pinks, purples, vintage and/or shabby and required some creative thinking on my part.  But what good is a challenge if it's not, well, challenging?  At least I knew exactly which stamp I would use.

I used the single rose from the IBS Elegant Flowers set.  I've had this stamp for a few weeks and have been dying to color it.  I've attempted to color it as a Chicago Peace rose, though admittedly I took a little creative license with it.  OK, roses are the hardest flower to color, so I just did the best I could.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I colored the image with Copics and used the pointelle method behind it.  That white was just too stark.  Also too stark was the white doily, so I colored it with two colors of CI Paints, Mango and Peach.  One was too light, the other too dark, so I attempted to lighten it again.  Think three coats was enough?  *sigh*

Layered ribbon bows, a pearl, and a custom made stick pin form the embellishment, and a banner with a sentiment from the IBS stamp set Vintage Frames offset the central image.

A little stitching and a lacy border complete this card.  I hope you've enjoyed it, and I do hope you'll join the ladies over at IBSIC.  Make sure you stop by the DT to see the lovelies they've created for you this week!

Happy crafting!

Supplies:

Stamps: Elegant Flowers, Vintage Frames (IBS)
Ink: Versafine Smoky Gray, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie (SU), MME Miss Caroline Howdy Doody
Extras: Dies: Decorative Doily, Faux Crochet Border (Dienamics), ribbon, pearls, custom stick pin, sewing machine, Copics, CI paints, .

Challenges entered:

ALOTA #103 - Springtime
The Shabby Tearoom #158 - Anything Goes
Timeless Tuesday #212 - Bring On Spring!
Inky Impressions #102 - Flowers
3 Girl Jam #14 - Green with Ribbon
Really Reasonable Ribbon #68 - Flowers and Ribbon
Allsorts #198 - As Easy as 1, 2, 3 (3 embellies: pearls, bows, stick pin)
Pile It On #11 - Circles and/or Squares
613 Ave. Create #11 - Anything Goes (Optional: St. Paddy's Day Green)

Week #156 - Guest Designer for The Shabby Tea Room

Hello!

I am SO THRILLED today - I've been asked to be this week's Guest Designer over at The Shabby Tea Room, and I can't tell you what a HUGE honor this is for me!   I have loved their website ever since I discovered the wonderful world of paper crafts, and each week I get a fabulous dose of the most delicious shabby chic wonders which only whets my appetite for more; however, this week I get to play along with the girls!  Woohoo!!

This week's theme for Challenge #156 is "Frame It" - create a card/project using white/cream plus ONE other color AND a frame and using this photo as inspiration.

This is a birthday card using Paper Sweeties stamp sets Banner Wishes and So Sweet of You.  You'll notice the little banner-let peeking out from under the ribbon.  These sets are super versatile and so very useful.

See?  There's the teeny little sweet banner-let.  I've made a messy bow out of custom-dyed seam binding and added a rosette that I made using the same crochet lace as what is stretched across the front.  I made the stick pins specifically for this card, and I used a flower bead and seed bead to finish this embellishment off.

Underneath the lace is a strip of sheer, sparkly ribbon, then under that a die cut aqua border for a 3-layer dimensional border overall.

 A peek at the inside.

Thank you so much for taking the time to join me today, and please run, don't walk, over to The Shabby Tea Room to check out this latest challenge.  On the way, be sure and visit the Design Team to see what delicious creations they have up their sleeves this week!

Happy crafting!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Banner Wishes, So Sweet of You (all Paper Sweeties)
Ink: Baja Breeze (SU)
Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White (SU); Sweet Fairy (Prima)
Extras: Dies: SB Classic Ovals Large and Floral Ovals, Dienamics Triple Scallops Borders, seam binding, crochet ribbon (3 Girl JAM), pearls, Copics, dimensionals, custom stick pins, glass flower bead and seed bead

Challenges entered:

Simon Says...Anything Goes
Divas By Design - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me #122 - Dies or Punches
Crafty Ribbons #40 - Anything Goes w/Ribbon
Allsorts #196 - For a Lady
Sugar Creek Hollow #51 - Lovely Lace
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Pile It On #9 - Happy Birthday