Project: Candle Decor

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to today's post! Christmas is getting closer and closer! Are you ready?! I certainly am NOT, but I think I feel this way each and every year! I am certainly ready for Christmas break though! This next long vacation cannot come soon enough.  Four days and counting...

This year I was excited because there seemed to be lots of opportunities to showcase some of my papercrafts and share my love of crafting with lots of different people.  From candle exchanges to ornament exchanges, it has been fun thinking of new ways to wrap fun little gifts.

And here is today's project...

My daughter's school hosts a "Moms Christmas Party" each year and I was excited to attend my first event with this mom group.  It included a candle exchange and overall was a wonderful evening. 

This is a very simple and quick project to create.  It starts with a candle as the base and I was just looking to decorate the top of the candle for just a little something extra.  The color combinations are very classic Christmas: Real Red, Mossy Meadow and Whisper White.  Pair those colors with a simple "Merry Christmas" sentiment and holly die-cuts to produce a quick and easy candle topper.  The Layered Circles die-cuts happened to be just the right size and added a great base in the Christmas colors.  Need another project idea?!...This could easily be transformed into a gift tag!

Project Details
Paper: Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red
Stamp Set: Half Full
Tools: Alpine Adventure die-cuts, Banner Triple Punch, Layering Circles die-cuts
Accessories: Metallic sequins, Linen Twine

Keep Austin Crafty!

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• Leave a comment below! I love to hear your thoughts on the day's project!
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Card: Wine Time!

Hello and Welcome! 

Wow! Who can believe it's already Thursday!? This week is flying by and having that extra weekend day for Memorial Day really threw me for a loop.  I thought it was Monday, but it was already Tuesday (i.e. I missed my Tuesday post)...and now it's already Thursday! My little is officially off for summer, so we have been trying to enjoy some outdoor time before the Texas heat takes over!  She was only three days a week for preschool this year, but I quickly realized how much I was able to get done in those few days! Now card-making is being done late into the night as I prepare for my first ever stamp class...YEAH!!! 

So I thought today's card was pretty perfect as we roll into summer which hopefully means a glass of wine (or two) enjoying a gorgeous Texas sunset :) 

And here is today's project...

The Half Full is a new addition to my stamping collection and I am already a huge fan.  I just think it will come in hand for so many occasions.  I finished off some wine tags for a customer a few weeks ago with this set and I love how they came out.  I love the simplicity of the set, so I'm glad I picked it up before we had to say goodbye.  

The background leaves are from the new Magnolia Memory Die set which will be released staring on June 4th, 2019.  I think this goes to show the versatility of that set as well.  I always find it good to have several different leaf shapes in my stash of die-cut tools.  The wine bottle was fussy-cut after being stamped and this is a technique that I find myself using more and more.    

Card Details

Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" 

Paper: Whisper White, Fresh Fig, Old Olive, Kraft (non-SU), Vellum

Ink: Crumb Cake, Blackberry Bliss Stampin' Blends (light and dark)

Stamp Set: Half Full

Tools: Magnolia Memory Die, Layering Circle Die, Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder

Accessories: Linen Thread

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges: 

Freshly Made Sketches #390

Color Throwdown #545

Keep Austin Crafty!

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• Leave a comment below! I love to hear your thoughts on the day's project!
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Wine Tags: Friendly Assortment

Hello and Welcome!

A happy Tuesday to all of you out there! Long time, no see...wait, no blog.  Thankfully, it is not because I haven't been creating, but because I received my first custom order and have been working hard to complete it.  I received an order for custom wine tags.  I hope that I have delivered some beautiful tags that bring a smile to someone's face...not just because they will be receiving a bottle of wine, but because the bottle will be decorated so beautifully!

I tried to create a variety of styles using different colors, inks and stamp sets.  In addition to what I would consider a "traditional" wine theme, I wanted to feature friendship as a part of the project.  Friendship is the focus of this week's challenge at The Paper Players and I thought this was the perfect project to incorporate with this challenge.  As the stamp set says, "The best wines are the ones we drink with friends".  Couldn't be more true! So grab your favorite glass and have a look...

Here is today's project...

Colorful and unique.  Just the right touch of sophistication to a bottle of wine.  I had a lot of fun putting these together and really enjoyed papercrafting beyond just the traditional card.  I think it helps with one's creativity to take a step out of your comfort zone and create something you don't usually do.  Of course, I had so much fun these just might become a regular project! 

So here are some details...

Size: All tags measured 3 1/8" x 8 1/2", card stock is scored at 3 1/8"

Tag Circle: 2" circle die cut

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Mint Macaron, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Share What You Love DSP, Botanical Butterfly DSP

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Fresh Fig

Stamp Set: Half Full, A Big Thank You, Home to Roost, Daisy Delight

Tools: Well Written Die Cuts

And here are some close ups of what I think are my favorites :)

Some of today's tags were inspired by the following challenge:

PP440 - A Theme Challenge

Keep Austin Crafty!

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Did you like today's post?!  If so, don't forget to...

• Leave a comment below! I love to hear your thoughts on the day's project!
• Check at the ATXPaperHouse Card of the Month Club!
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Card: Black and White Checks

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to today's post.  I'm back today to share a card that was inspired by a few different challenges this week.  I was happy to pull out this black and white checkered paper because it was so fun to work with! The paper was clean and simple and served as the perfect background for today's sentiment.  

Cute little story on the selection of today's sentiment...My daughter and I recently cleaned up our garden for Spring.  We added our new hummingbird food to the feeder, which sits right next to our kitchen window.  Just yesterday, we got our first hummingbird of the season and her response "Hello Friend!"  So when I was putting together today's card, I had her cute little bird friend in mind.  

And here is today's card...

Aren't the details of the embellishments wonderful?!?  The white, flowered vines and bird die cut are part of the Well Said Cling Bundle Set.  The set was a must have for me because I loved the detail of the die cuts.  And those pearls just add the perfect touch to the end of the vines.  

And check out the envelope! Took Tuesday's post advice and inked up the front of the envelope for some added design.  

Card Details

Size:  5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Paper: Basic Black, Botanical Butterfly DSP, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Fresh Fig, Crumb Cake

Stamp Set: A Big Thank You, Make a Difference

Tools: Well Said Die Cuts, Rectangle Stitched Die Cuts, Circle Punch

Accessories: Pearl embellishments

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges:

SUOC #220: Designer's Choice

The Paper Players PP436

CAS(E) this Sketch! #316

Keep Austin Crafty!

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Did you like today's post?!  If so, don't forget to...

• Leave a comment below! I love to hear your thoughts on the day's project!
• Check at the ATXPaperHouse Card of the Month Club!
• Follow me on Pinterest.
• Check out my Etsy Shop.

Card: Can't get enough of those Butterflies

Hello and Welcome!

Today's card was inspired by a few of this week's challenges.  It has been a cold and dreary day here in Austin, so it was the perfect day to snuggle up in my "she shed" and make some cards.  Even my little one is feeling the cold because as I write this she is quietly sitting beside me making her own card.  It's a good day for crafting!

I had to stick with the Botanical Butterfly DSP as a the centerpiece of this card.  The paper is just beautiful and I love using it as the focal point. 

And here is today's card...

Step-by-step instructions

1.)  Start with a piece of Grapefruit Grove cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" as the card base. 

2.)  Trim a piece of Botanical Butterfly DSP to 4" x 5 1/4" and adhere to the card base using snail adhesive. 

3.)  Stamp the sentiment and design from "A Big Thank You" stamp set in Tuxedo Black ink on Whisper White card stock. 

4.)  Crop the sentiment, a piece of Grapefruit Grove card stock and a piece of Basic Black card stock using the Rectangle Stitched Framelits.  Adhere the Grapefruit Grove card stock with snail adhesive.  Add a piece of linen thread underneath the Basic Black card stock before adhering with mini Stampin' Dimensionals.  Adhere the sentiment crop using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #377

Sunday Stamps SSC#199

Keep Austin Crafty!

Case it UP Tuesday: Share What You Love DSP

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to CASE it UP Tuesday! Ever see a beautiful card on Pinterest or in a catalog and think "I wish I could make that?!"?  Well, I'm here to tell you that you can! Even the best creative card maker could use a little inspiration sometime, so I have started this bi-weekly post dedicated to CASEing (Copy and Share Everything)!  You can learn to make a card exactly as you see it, use only certain elements (i.e. embellishments and ribbon) or take the layout as a starting point.  What's important is that you take time to create and make something beautiful!  

The inspiration for today's card came from the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog (pg. 176).  I purchased the Share What You Love DSP as part of my new demonstrator goodies and I love it.  The paper is gorgeous and the coordinating pieces really help to pull everything together.

And here is today's card...

Step-by-step instructions

1.)  Start with a piece of Grapefruit Grove card stock cut to 3 1/2" x 7".  Score at 3 1/2" for a square card base. 
2.)  Emboss with the Lovely Floral Embossing Folder. 
3.)  Attach a piece of Share What You Love DSP cut to 3" x 0.5" across the bottom of the card base.  I choose to cut the edges of that DSP into a "banner" but you could leave it a basic rectangle shape. 
4.)  I manually cut a few of the flowers from the Share What You Love DSP and added them behind the sentiment. 

The technique of "fussy cutting" is new to me and what a great concept it is (thanks Mom!)!!  As someone still building their stock of die cuts and stamps, being able to manually cut the designs straight from the DSP is wonderful.  You can still get that die cut look, your paper colors are perfectly matched and you can use all that beautiful paper.
5.)  Stamp the sentiment in Tuxedo Black ink and crop in the die cut of your choice. 
6.)  Add a bit of linen twine to create a finished look. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget about all the great deals going on during Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration event!

Keep Austin Crafty!

Card: Valentine's Love

Hello and Welcome!

I hope all my fellow crafters are feeling the love on this Valentine's Day! I know everyone has been busy making some beautiful Valentine's Day cards and this girl was no exception.  I made today's card for my wonderful hubby. 

This is just a quick post today as I need to get my little ready for her daddy/daughter Valentine's date.  It is the 2nd annual, so it is becoming quite the tradition.  They are super cute when they get all dressed up and it just makes my heart melt!

So here is today's card...

 
The details on this card are just lovely and this is my first card with an embossed background.  I know that is a pretty basic technique, but it is one that I am trying to work on incorporating into more of my cards.  I only have one small and one large embossing plate, so hopefully I can use those a little more often.

The card is a larger one at 5 1/2" x 7" with two layers of cardstock and a overlay of vellum.  The rose die cut is one that I have had in my stash and I thought it went perfect with today's card stock. 

Keep Austin Crafty! 

Flirty Flamingo!

Hello and Welcome!

A happy Tuesday to all of you out there! Today's card is just too darn cute! I got these flirty little flamingos at Michael's a few months ago and was super excited to finally put them to good use for today's card!  This is a CraftSmart set with one die cut and multiple stamps.  Hope to use these again real soon!

And here is today's card...

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1.) Start with a 5" x 5" white cardstock as the card base.
2.) Cut a 4" x 4" black cardstock for the first layer.
3.) Cut a 3.5" x 3.5" white cardstock for the second layer.
4.) Each colored cardstock is 1/4" in width.  Once the pieces are glued down to the white cardstock, trim the excess colored portion. 
5.) Stamp the flamingo feathers in SU Powder Pink ink and the flamingo outline and sentiment in Tuxedo Black.

Here's a close up of this little cutie!

And because I am trying to get better about not forgetting the inside of my cards and couldn't resist adding another flamingo...here is the inside of the card.  

I hope this fun, colorful and happy card brought a smile to your face.  I know I'm feeling a little bit more cheerful after putting this one together!

I was inspired by the following challenges for today's card:

CAS(E) this Sketch #304

Keep Austin Crafty!

Welcome Home!

Hello and Welcome!

Happy Thursday!  I hope everyone enjoyed a spooky Halloween evening!  Ours was a little rainy, but that didn't stop us from gathering a year's supply of candy in one bucket!  The sugar rush eventually wore off and we went to bed tired and happy!

Today I am featuring a simple housewarming card to send to a dear family who just relocated to North Carolina.  It is a new adventure for them and they do not know anyone in the area.  I wanted to make sure they knew we were sending some love from good 'ole Austin.

The stamp set is another one of my yard sale finds and I have been looking forward to using it.  It is actually a four house stamp, but I managed to ink the first two for the front of the card and the second two were inked for the inside of the card.  I thought the houses were just perfect for the occasion.

Supplies used: Jack and Jill by Lori Whitlock cardstock, Sizzix square framelits, SU Early Espresso ink, SU linen thread

Keep Austin Crafty!