Sneak peek: Handmade floral envelope

 Here is a little peek at my latest creation, a handmade envelope I created for a farewell card I was commissioned to make.

Each commission is an adventure into outdoing myself. Challenges make my creative life fun.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Stay tuned to many more creations to come!!

Envelope: Timeless

This envelope was a challenge I made to myself so I could use my stash of supplies.

I have always loved anything Tim Holtz makes. The paper is from his paper pack. The brads are from Oriental Trading, a great resource for the frugal scrapbooker. The baker's  twine is from Martha Stewart crafts. It is all put together with paper tape.

It is a great use of a 12" x 12" sheet of scrapbook paper, and it is so easy to make once you have the proportions right.
I welcome your  feedback. Thanks for stopping by!

Mini journal: Graceful as a butterfly

As a part of my new beginning I have set out to participate in many more online challenges this year. I find it helps me to focus my energy in a useful and productive way. In this page from my mini journal, the challenge was to use a quote in your project. The quote I chose was from a Chinese proverb that states "To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root." The genealogist in my nature could not agree with that statement more. The photo is of my grandmother when she was a young graceful lady. The grace I embodied through the use of the feather, lace border and pearls.
My grandmother was an accomplished pianist, violinist, and a gifted seamstress. I have inherited her gift in art and some have said I bear a striking resemblance to her. I was blessed in knowing her.

Challenge: Got Sketch Butterfly

My dear friend Melina has always been there for me.... and this week she invited me to do an online challenge with her. It gave a nice kick in the pants I did not know I needed. The sketch was from Got Sketch. As far as the sentiment I could not come up with one that I liked.

Challenge: Color Me Daisy Brown and Blue

This is my submission to a Color Me Daisy challenge. The guidelines were to use a BROWN and BLUE color combination. I used my photos (30 years apart).

Cardstock: Stampin Up Very Vanilla

Patterned paper: Creative Imaginations Floral, SU Designer Series Notebook

Flowers: Prima

Letters: American Crafts Thickers Rootbeer Float and American Crafts LAX Remarks

Rubons: K&Co Wild Saffron

Inks: Versamagic Jumbo Java

Challenge: Crossroads

I love doing interesting challenges and this is one I found on Stacy Julian's Blog. The basics were Nature photo + Highlight Color + Inspiration. This photo was taken on my trip to Fort Worth when my cousins (Jenna, Sabrina, Mic) took me to the STOCKYARDS. The sun was setting and it was bringing out the gleam in all the metal around the train tracks. I chose metallic tones as my highlight color. The inspiration was that aside from the physical crossroads I was at an emotional one that had brought me closer to long lost cousins. I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge. Thanks Stacy!

Cardstock: Stampin Up Apricot Appeal

Patterned Paper: SU Designer Series Berry Bliss, SU Designer Series Au Chocolat

Letters: American Crafts Rootbeer Float Thickers (White)

Inks:Tim Holtz Distress

Pens:Krylon Copper leafing, Zig Painty Gold

Embellishments: Tim Holtz Grungeboard Elements (Flourishes), Bo Bunny swirl, American Crafts thickers chipboard accents, Doodlebug jewel

Chipboard: SU On Board Accents

Cards: Celebrate with ribbon closure

This is in response to Shelli's creative challenge. I saw this wonderful video on YouTube by the uber-creative Marion.
I welcome anyone to visit her blog which is chock full of awesome ideas and techniques. I used Stampin Up chocolate chip cardstock and Prints pack patterned paper (Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue), Stampin Up flower fusion flower, Ek success flower punch, Stampin Up Celebrate everything stamp set (#109525).

Cool challenge - Old and recent photo

My friend Melina invited me to participate in another cool challenge today. The challenge was "create a layout that incorporates one photo that is at least five years old (can be older) and one photo that is less than a month old. Find a connection between the two photos and create a layout about it. You will get brownie points from me if you incorporate some really old supplies with some new ones too". I found a photo of me taken 38 years ago and set it alongside one I took of myself less than a month ago. Yes, I know I'm pretty brave LOL. Both photos show me with tousled hair and allowed me to use some of my oldest materials (Creative Memories letters, Mrs Grossman's stickers) and some of my newest materials (Heidi Swapp month stamp, Stampin'Up paper) among other things.

Challenge: Flower Power

My friend Melina called me today to invite me to participate on this awesome FLOWER power online challenge. When I was done and started counting I had used 50 flowers....that's including each layer of flowers, scallop punches, brad, and rubons. I had to double check because I could not believe I had THAT many flowers in my stash. It showed how many flowers I have in my stash. I can't wait for the next challenge.

Cards: Color inspiration 13

Receiving this challenge was an amazing gift!
Seeing everyone's take on this challenge has been a bigger inspiration than I could have imagined.

These are the materials I used:

- Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi long notes card
- Felt Fusion flowers
- Stampin' Up Berry Bliss Designer Series Paper
- Stampin' Up Purely Pomegranate
- Stampin' Up Whisper White
- Stampin' Up scallop punch
- Heidi Swapp pink jeweled brad (not pictured)
- Stampin' Up Accents & Elements (Lone Star)
- Stampin' Up rubons Eastern Elegance


I love using the scallop punch and I even recycled in this project...



I took Kristina's advice and decided to take these pictures without flash. I love the softness. Using the macro setting of my digital camera is also a favorite. Still getting used to the many features of Photoshop Elements so all the colors may not be as TRUE as I would like them to be.

I noticed the faintest hint of a paisley pattern in the inspiration photo and since I love paisley I decided to use it on my card. The scallops in white and pomegranate i used to create a pillow effect on the card. Here is where I recycled...The circle under the felt fusion flowers is actually from the back of the So Many Scallops (pre-punched) Stamp Set #111409. PLEASE NOTE: I stapled the circle to the card and then roughened the top with basic grey file so the pop dots would adhere.