Belle Papier {pretty paper}

One of the first crafts I remember doing is learning to stitch along-side my aunt and my mom’s mother. I am so thankful for their patience in teaching me things and for not thinking that a child of five was too little for a needle. My grandmother was a seamstress in Belfast and managed to raise five children on her own when her husband’s heart failed young. I have no idea how she did it. I remember her making me lovely dresses for church and the most beautiful needlework pieces for her home. I think I started with easy cross stitches and then crewel work but a life-long love of creating was born.

While I rarely hand stitch any longer, I do love adding touches of sewing in most projects. For Cath’s current Moxie Fab World Fun With Floss Challenge, I just couldn’t resist playing along. This card incorporates floss in three different ways: tied on a button, a border along the bottom with stitched embroidery floss scallops and in french knots along a piece of eyelet lace. I chose three eyelet holes along the pattern of the lace and then accented them with french knots, repeating along with the repeat in the lace.

Sew Special

The scalloped border is part of a piercing and stitching template by Every Thing Creative.

Supply List: Piercing template by Every Thing Creative, ribbon by Making Memories, embroidery floss by Bazzill, flower by Bazzill, vintage style button by Jenni Bowlin, Journaling note by Maya Road, Sew Special stamp set by Cornish Heritage Farms, butterfly by Jenni Bowlin, white pigment ink by Clearsnap

Sometimes I just like the change of pace and style that simple cards bring. For me it’s always a great way to use up bits and pieces of goodies that I have and would like to use up. Sometimes it’s easier to make another card than put them away. Here’s a couple quick and easy cards to share with you today…

C U L8r

Playing around with chipboard letters is fun for me. This little Making Memories alligator epoxy sticker just begged to be made into a see you later card.

Simple Thanks

This paper was so yummy that I just couldn’t throw away the scraps. I paired them up for a clean graphic style and then layered this chipboard star negative shape over  top. What you may not have noticed from this photo is that I placed a piece of Wonder Tape behind the chipboard before adhering it.  Wonder Tape is incredibly sticky and I then sprinkled in some clear microbeads in the middle. I love how it sparkles but you can still see a muted pattern underneath. Some twine, ribbon, a Making Memories tag and a Trinket Pin finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by. See you later, alligator!

Since I’m getting back to scrapping, I thought it should be time to get around to scrapbooking some of the back to school photos.I know it’s not exactly the season of the year that you usually do this but better late than never, right? The first layout is one of my 30 in 30 layouts and the last I just did the other day.

Have you been putting off creating something you’ve been meaning to do? These cold winter days are the perfect time to do it!

Ready or Not

I had a lot of fun creating this sweet layout of my “baby’s” first day of school.  He’s number five so it was a while in coming but he was more ready than I.

Quick Tip: Change up the colors or fonts in your title letters to add interest or highlight a portion of it.

Supply List: Boyfriend patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket, chipboard by Bo Bunny, rub-ons by Pink Paislee, Stickers and Wild Card by October Afternoon, Edge Punch by EK Success, twine, Adage Tickets by Advantus

back 2 books

This layout uses some sweet papers by Lily Bee, cut into strips and then stitched together. I had fun incorporating the sweet tree image from the far left paper into a design accent by recreating it with ribbon and buttons.

Quick Tip: Adhere your paper strips onto a piece of scrap paper and then adhere and stitch. Trim edges neatly and then zig zag stitch to cardstock base.

Have a great weekend!

Time for one last adhesive tutorial in the CLASSroom today. This time for my stuck on you theme, I’ve paired up some fun ways to apply glitter with a layout on how I’m still stuck on my guy. Here’s the tutorial with step outs.

always

Thanks for stopping by!

I love lace. I don’t wear it but I do love it, especially on paper crafting projects. The softness and the texture just draw me in. In case you haven’t noticed (grin), I do love texture. Putting some goodies together the other day, I thought a lace challenge might be a fun one. Think so? If so, we’d love to have you play along here.

I think I forgot to mention yesterday that you have until midnight Sunday Feb 28th to comment on each of the twelve blogs for a chance to win those 12 stamp sets. Details are in the previous post. Judging by the amount of comments…this is one popular hop and prize. Thanks so much for all your sweet comments and good luck!

It also seems that everyone is lovin those Ranger Distress Inks. In case you’re interested…Ellen now has the 12 new Tim Holtz Distress Ink colors in stock. They are gorgeous!

Praying for You

I’m totally having a crazy day here today so I’ll keep this post short. Hope you’ll bear with me!

Quick Tip: Paint cardboard to highlight the texture.

Supply List:

cardstock by Bazzill, cardboard, White Studio Paint  Brush by Ranger, flower by Prima, lace by Making Memories and other, Whimsey Threads by Webster’s Pages, white pigment ink by Clearsnap, chipboard button by Jenni Bowlin, Backgrounder & Sympathy Expressions by CHF

Happy creating!