Vintage Jar of Flowers

Happy Sunday, friends!  It's a warm, sunny, windy, summery kind of day today.  Hubby has been outside mowing all day and I've been cleaning up in my studio.  I'm going country on this card with this fun gingham paper and this rustic jar of flowers.

I started with a piece of Kraft cardstock cut in half (4.25" x 11) and then folded it in half to make an A2 sized card. I cut the red gingham paper from the Summer Fresh 6x6 paper pad (Simple Stories) to 3.25" x 5.5". Some white paper was cut with the Country Girl Border die (Cheery Lynn Designs) and I glued it to the sides of the red gingham paper before adhering the paper to my kraft card base.

Next, I die cut the Tall Canning Jar from white cardstock. I pulled out my Salty Ocean Distress Stain and dabbed it all over the jar. Once this blue coloring dried, I dabbed some Brushed Pewter Distress Stain all over the blue jar and spritzed it with water to help the stain move. I didn't want it to look completely silvery - I just wanted a hint of shine. I let this dry and checked out the color. Since I wanted a rustic country look, I sponged some brown ink around the edges. Now it looks like an old vintage jar that's been sitting out on a country porch for years.  You can see the shine as well as the sponging in this close up picture below.

I set the jar aside to dry completely while I cut out my flowers. I die cut the Honey Blossom Sprig from green paper and then again from white paper. I dabbed the white flowers with the Squeezed Lemonade Distress Stain and set it aside to dry. Once it was dry, I cut out the pale yellow flowers and glued them over the top of the green ones. I cut the lower pieces of the sprig off and arranged them all so they would fit into the jar and then taped the pieces down on the back. I then wrapped some linen thread around the neck of the jar for that final country touch. The jar was affixed to the red gingham paper with some Joy Foam Pads.

This turned out so cute! Now it's got me thinking what else I can put in that jar. Any ideas from you crafty gals out there?? :-)

Please feel free to use this code, Holly-10, when you go shopping at Classy Cards 'n Such.  You can pick up these dies and distress stains and papers as well as tons of other crafty supplies.  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Ink on my Fingers #258 - Vintage/Old

Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes

Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes

Craft Calendar May Challenge - Blooms and Blossoms

Honeybees and Beehive

Hi crafty friends! Have you seen the great new Memory Box dies in the Classy Cards 'n Such store lately? I ordered these as soon as I saw them, and I am in love with these new frames. I think I'm going to have to pick up a few more - they are just gorgeous!

I started this card by die cutting the new Honey Blossom Frame from green paper. I cut it again with a soft yellow paper and cut out the flowers and glued them on top of the green ones. It's a little time consuming but so easy and the results are so pretty. I then cut some white paper with the Debutante die and sponged it with blue ink around a scratch paper Classic Scallop Oval (Spellbinders) die cut. This is how I created my cloudy sky background. Some glue was lightly applied around the back of the frame and I pressed it onto my cloudy background piece.

Next, I die cut the fun Honey Bee Skep (beehive) from soft yellow paper. To give this some realism, I sponged some saffron ink around the edges and then I took a marker and colored in all the horizontal grooves. The little door was colored with a dark brown marker and then taped in place on the backside. This beehive was affixed to the card with some Joy Foam Pads (small).

The Jolly Bumblebees were cut twice - once from dark brown paper and once from soft yellow paper. I then glued the appropriate pieces to the bodies and glued them down onto my card. The last thing I did was stamp the sentiment from Anytime Sentiments (Impression Obsession) with dark brown ink onto the lower right corner of my cloudy background.

These frames are perfectly sized for a regular A2 card. The Debutante die goes with all of these larger frames, such as Honey Blossom Frame and Twirling Vine Frame. These are in the store now with more to come.

You can always save 10% off your order by using this code, Holly-10, when you check out at Classy Cards 'n Such.  I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #79 - Things with Wings

Creative Corner #18 - Things with Wings

Sister Act #6 - Anything Goes

Get Inky #4 - Show Us some Die Cuts

Challenges 4 Everybody #20 - Anything Goes

Hello Blooms

This is a different sized card than what I normally create. This one will fit into a #10 business sized envelope. I cut the orange cardstock to 9.25" by 8" and folded the 8" side in half at the 4" mark. I added a layer of Kraft cardstock (new in the Classy Cards 'n Such store!) which measures 9.25" x 3.25", and then a layer of white cardstock which is 9.25" x 3".

Next, I cut a length of the Chalk White seam binding so that it would wrap around the card with a little extra so I could tie a bow. Do you see the interesting colors on the seam binding? See how it is pale in some areas and darker in other areas? I love that hand-dyed quality in this seam binding. I created that by using the fabulous Evergreen Bough Distress Stain. It's really easy to use - just press the bottle over the ribbon and let the color flow until it is dyed to your liking. I wanted a faded aspect to my ribbon, so I misted it with some water and scrunched it around in my hands and let it dry.

Once my seam binding was dry, I wrapped it around the card and tied a bow in the middle. I cut some large daisies from the Daisy Strip die (Cheery Lynn Designs) and arranged them on the card. Some small circles were punched from the Kraft cardstock and adhered to the centers of the daisies. Then I die cut some letters from both the Parker Upper Alphabet and the Parker Lower Alphabet dies and spelled out "Hello" on my flowers.

Isn't that cute? These colors just make me happy. I hope this card makes you happy, too! :-)  Remember to use this code, Holly-10, when you go shopping at Classy Cards 'n Such to save 10% off your order.  I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Card Mania Challenges #20 - Flower Power
Love to Create #65 - Flowers
Songbird Challenges #20 - Bloom and Grow

Peace Quilt & Design Team Call

Hi folks! I'm sharing a sympathy card that I created using one of the new Cover-A-Card background stamps. It's never easy to make sympathy cards, so I wanted to have a few on hand for those times when they are needed.

I started by cutting some Kraft cardstock (new in the store!) to 5.5" x 8.5" and then I folded it in half to create my card base. Next, I cut some plum cardstock to 3.5" x 4.25". I stamped this plum cardstock with the beautiful new Quilt Cover-A-Card background stamp using Versamark. I covered this with Clear Detail Embossing Powder, tapped off the excess, and used my heat gun to melt the powder. Using a clear embossing powder usually means that you will get a deeper shade of the original cardstock color. (This doesn't work on pale colors such as white or vanilla.) I really love this Quilt stamp and how it pops out because of the clear embossing powder. So beautiful!

This embossed plum cardstock piece was adhered to my kraft card base, and then I added a strip of dark brown cardstock above that. The ends were simply notched out with scissors.

For the sentiment piece, I cut out some vanilla cardstock with a Labels 18 die (Spellbinders). While the cardstock was still inside the die, I sponged some plum ink around the inside and then removed the cardstock from the die. I stamped the sentiment from the With Sympathy set (JustRite) with plum ink and then adhered it to my card.

I kept this card simple because I wanted the gorgeous richness of the embossing on the plum cardstock to stand out. This Quilt background is so lovely and elegant and perfect for all kinds of cards, whether they are birthday cards, sympathy cards, thank you cards, or even holiday cards.

If you would like to go shopping and pick up a few things at Classy Cards 'n Such, feel free to use this code, Holly-10, to save 10% off your order.  While you are shopping there, check out the Design Team call that was just posted: Design Team Call at Classy Cards 'n Such.  If you want to be on a Design Team and earn free products, give this a shot!  I'd love to have you on the team with me!  :-)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #45 - No designer paper

Simply Create Too #37 - Anything Goes

Lady Anne's Challenge - Anything Goes

Divas by Design - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime #9 - Emboss (wet or dry)

Friends fill your life with Joy

Hi friends!  Happy May Day!  It is a very warm and humid day out there today but that's going to change in the next few hours.  We are supposed to get a cold front and we might wake up to temperatures in the 30's.  Wow!  Seems like the weather is getting crazier every year, huh?  It's a good thing I can stay inside to play with my stamps and papers and dies!

I saw a sketch on the Random Acts of Creativity blog and I just fell in love with it.  I decided to combine it with the Bling challenge on the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge blog.  So I pulled out my Vintage Bliss 6x6 paper pad (Simple Stories) and cut the blue chevron paper and the floral paper and adhered them to a white card base. Next, I cut some orange paper into a small rectangle and cut a smaller piece of white paper. I stamped this beautiful sentiment from the Floral Vintage Labels 2 set (JustRite) with black ink onto the white paper.

Now here's the fun part - playing with the new Cheery Lynn Designs dies that were just released a couple weeks ago. I started by cutting some orange paper with the new City Girl Edger and I adhered it to the bottom of my sentiment piece. The blue flower was cut with the new Shasta Daisy Strip die (gorgeous!) and the orange flower was cut with the new Sweet William Strip die (love the new smaller sizes!). I fastened both flowers together with some rhinestone brads.

I added a piece of the Silver Rhinestone Swirls across the sentiment piece and up into the floral paper. The blue and orange flowers were affixed at the bottom of the rhinestone swirl. I die cut some leaves from the new Ivy Strip die (Cheery Lynn Designs) and tucked them in around the flowers. The last thing I did was cut a piece of Chalk White seam binding, tied it into a bow, and glued it down under the leaves in the corner.

Have you ordered any of the new Cheery Lynn Designs dies from the Classy Cards 'n Such store yet? You will love playing with these new dies. I am certainly having a great time creating with them! As always, you can use this code, Holly-10, to save 10% off your order when you go shopping.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs #78 - Bling It Up

Saturday Sketchbook Challenge #95 - Sketch
Love to Create #63 - Punches and/or Dies
Pile it On #17 - April Showers bring May Flowers
Stampavie and More #192 - Lots of Die Cuts
Fresh Brewed Designs - Flowers
Crafts and Me #131 - Floral Frenzy

Feathers in Vase

Hi friends! I've been playing with some of the wonderful new Cheery Lynn Designs dies from Classy Cards 'n Such and I made this non-traditional Mother's Day card to share with you.

I love the new vases and the new dream catcher dies from the latest Cheery Lynn Designs release. The feathers are from the Dream Catchers #2 (Cheery Lynn Designs) set. These sold out immediately within hours of being available in the store, and there is another shipment en route. That's why you will see the "Pre-order" notice on this particular item right now.

When I set about making this card, I had Mother's Day on my mind since this week's challenge is all about Mothers Day on the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge blog. I knew I wanted to do something different. When I saw the feathers in this Dream Catchers #2 (Cheery Lynn Designs) die, it niggled in my brain as a possible cool alternative to flowers. When I saw the Vase (set of 4 from Cheery Lynn Designs) die set, my plan fell into place. Yup, feathers in a vase instead of flowers - totally PERFECT!!!

Since I was already doing a "different" card, I decided I wanted to go with non-traditional colors for my card. That meant no pastels, no flowery papers, no obvious "girly" stuff. So I pulled out a piece of Kraft cardstock and stamped it with the Shabby Music background stamp (JustRite) and then sponged the edges with a brown ink. I adhered this music piece to a vanilla card base, and then I pulled out my Country Girl border die (Cheery Lynn Designs). I die cut the border from dark brown cardstock as well as a deep rose cardstock. I cut the deep rose Country Girl border in half lengthwise and adhered it below my music background piece. I then set aside my dark brown Country Girl border piece and picked up the negative piece (the outside part you would normally throw away) and affixed it over the music background piece and the deep rose border piece. I love how it fits so perfectly over the triangles in the deep rose border.

The Vase (Cheery Lynn Designs) was cut from vanilla cardstock and I stamped the sentiment from the Hugs & Kisses Sentiments set(JustRite) directly onto the vase. I cut the Mini Fanciful Flourish (Cheery Lynn Designs) from the same deep rose cardstock and inserted it into the top of the vase. Then I cut the feathers from the Dream Catchers #2 set (Cheery Lynn Designs) from dark brown cardstock and arranged them inside the vase with the mini flourish. The vase was affixed to my card with some Joy Foam Pads.

I hope you've enjoyed this non-traditional Mother's Day card! :-) You can use this code, Holly-10, to save 10% when you go shopping at Classy Cards 'n Such. I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs #77 - Mother's Day
Perfect Sentiment #76 - Mother's Day
Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Sentiment
Stamp and Create - Use at least one die cut
Stamping for the Weekend - Die Cuts and/or Punches

Glittery Purples

Hello friends!  I saw a couple of challenges today and I was immediately inspired to create this monochromatic purple card.  The challenge on the Cheery Lynn Designs blog is Pretty in Purple and the Cardabilities blog has this wonderful sketch so that was the starting point for my card.  I was in the mood for glitter, so I pulled out some gorgeous Lacy Lilac glitter from Classy Cards 'n Such and set about creating this card.  Wanna see a close-up of that lovely glitter?

I started with a white card base and I added a layer of a shimmery amethyst cardstock. I die cut the Mesh border (Cheery Lynn Designs) with white cardstock and cut a little "v" at the bottom with some scissors. I cut the Lady Kate edger (Cheery Lynn Designs) with white cardstock, painted it with shimmery Light Purple Creative Inspirations paint and adhered it to the sides of the Mesh border before affixing this to my purple background.

Next, I die cut a white oval, embossed it with a dotted embossing folder and set it aside. I cut another oval with a smaller oval die inside to create the frame. I covered this frame with glue and then poured the Lacy Lilac glitter on top. After shaking off the excess glitter and returning it back to the jar, I glued this frame to my white oval and then glued this down on top of the mesh border.

While I still had the glitter out, I found a large brad, covered it with glue, and then dipped it into the Lacy Lilac glitter. I set this aside to dry while I die cut my leaves and flowers.

The leaves were die cut from the Flourish Leaf Strip (Cheery Lynn Designs) and the flower petals were cut from the Sweet William dies(Cheery Lynn Designs). I sponged some purple ink onto the edges of the flower petals and then curled the petals with my fingers. I carefully arranged the flowers (2 of the smaller size, 3 of the larger size) and pushed the glittery brad through the centers and fastened the brad in the back. This flower was affixed to my card and then I adhered the leaves underneath.

I love how this card turned out! That glitter makes me happy!! Check out all the colors of glitter in the Classy Cards 'n Such store HERE. Which color would you use to make a card like this?  You can use this code, Holly-10, to save 10% off your when you go shopping at Classy Cards 'n Such so stock up on glitter, dies, paper, and stamps today.  :-)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs #76 - Pretty in Purple

Cardabilities #73 - sketch

Creative Inspirations Paint - Inspired by Spring Colors (I used Light Purple CI Paint)

Creative Card Crew #34 - Handmade Flowers

Paula Holifield Crafts - Anything Goes

Natalie and Amy #8 - Monochromatic

Love To Scrap #4 - Cut it Out (dies/punches)

Crafting for All Seasons #50 - No stamps allowed