I found this really funky Around the Block paper at Dollar Tree and it’s been sitting in my paper files ever since. I can’t tell if I love it or think it’s horrid. The color is indescribable, but it definitely has a retro feel. I had trouble with the lighting in the photo, so the color isn’t quite accurate. The green is far less lime and more olive, but not quite. I paired it with pumpkin pie cardstock, a retro flower, an orange button, and a lime flower brad. The letters are Funky Alphabet Sizzlits. The finished card size is 6×6 with a 1-1/2″ foldover on the front cover. I mirrored the flower on the inside. I wrote ”Hope your birthday was…” with a brown Sharpie, but you could print out a nice font on cardstock. Love it? Hate it? Feedback welcome.
Archive for February, 2010
Simply Groovy
Here comes the bride (and groom)
My brother is getting married this summer and I think it’s pretty safe to post my card ideas since I doubt he reads my craft blog. (His fiance came onto the scene after my blog hiatus began, so she’s not likely to see these either.) I heard through the grapevine that the wedding colors were “purple,” but I wasn’t sure if that meant true purple, or a lighter lavender. Then I ran across a single textured sheet of pretty purple cardstock and decided to have a go at an engagement and wedding card anyhow.
The ”Congratulations on your engagement” card (which I completely winged with no visual inspiration) is a basic, vertical, almost envelope-style tri-fold. I added a strip of gold cardstock under the flap (to lengthen it) and scalloped the gold. I added a ribbon to mask the transition between the two cardstocks and embellished with layered flowers and a tiny lavender flower brad. (The circular bronze paper clip was just there to hold the card shut for the photo, but I kind of like it and may work it into the card if I can.) Then, I wanted to incorporate some old Sell-a-bration stamped images that I had in my stash (already colored and decorated with dazzling diamonds!), so I first added a lavender layer to the inside of the card, then punched a circle in the lower flap, and glued on the “Congratulations” image to the inside of the card, lining it up to show through the window.
For the wedding card, I found my inspiration in Paper Crafts magazine (an older edition). I used the same base purple textured cardstock for a 6×6 card (12×6 folded in half), then layered with silver and shimmery white cardstocks. I used a fancy corner punch on the shimmery white, stamped and embossed in silver the word “love,” then cut three graduating rectangles out of a retired patterned vellum to create a wedding cake shape and glued onto the shimmery white. (Hint: run vellum through an adhesive machine for a perfectly even coating; otherwise, you may see the adhesive under vellum.)
I then embellished with paper flowers and small jewels (and probably overdid the jewels!). I may add more to the top of the cake to make it look more finished. I may not.
In hindsight, I wish I had converted the word “love” to a flower stem rather than placing the flower off to the left (which is how it was in the inspiration card). I could nit-pick this card to death, but it’s still rather pretty (especially in person) and I had fun making it. Isn’t that the point?
I’m baaaackkk…
I was beginning to think that my crafting hobby was a lingering, fuzzy memory from a past life. Then, a few months ago, I finally organized my long-awaited, cozy craft room, but I felt far too overwhelmed by too many supplies. Rubber stamps seemed completely daunting. And it was hard to remember what item was in which drawer. I felt like I was going shopping every time I looked for something.
But, last month, my son’s preschool hosted a grandparents day picnic and asked parents to bring a boxed lunch in a decorated a shoe box. I had several tin lunch boxes in my stash, so I went ahead and did a very basic design with patterned paper and a few embellishments on a couple of purse-style tins. They were too basic to warrant a photo, but Nana and Noni loved them.
With my confidence renewed, I was inspired. I tabbed through magazines, marking cards that I wanted to create. (Cards have a real appeal because they’re small, easy, and offer instant gratification.) But special occasions were flying by, work deadlines were pressing, and I just couldn’t carve out any significant time to wrap my head around a creative project.
I had these fab containers taunting me (from Wall Words, those vinyl removable sayings) and I had to do something with them. I thought I might decorate and fill them with goodies for Joe’s teachers, but Valentine’s Day rolled around and they were still sitting there, untouched. And I showed up at my son’s school Valentine’s party empty-handed. I came home from the party determined to at least make an effort. I found an easy recipe for a quick, homemade white-chocolate-almond-cranberry bark, then did a simple paper wrap and added a few embellishments and a tag. I was able to deliver them back to the teacher before they went home for the long weekend. I think they turned out pretty cute for someone who is baby stepping backwards into her happy hobby.
