Handmade Inspiration Board #2: Fall + Halloween

Hello, and Happy Friday! In celebration of Halloween weekend, I wanted to leave you with an inspiration board to help stir up some creativity for the festivities! I pulled together some great Halloween/fall images and embellishments to help get you in the mood! So enjoy, and whatever you're doing this weekend, please be safe! xo *wink*

Supplies Used; Patterned Paper- Crate Paper, Melissa Frances and Hambly Studios; Sitching Rub-On- K & Company Studio 112; Burlap Trim-Canvas Home Basics; Paper Flowers & Crocheted Flowers- Prima; Pocket Holder- Ki Memories; Mix Tape- American Crafts; Buttons, Ribbon & Embroidery Thread- Other

Images Used;  

Halloween Bunting- Craft Zine

Crocheted web- Betz White 

Dining room setup- Country Living 

Pumpkin Garland- Martha Stewart 

Trick or Treat boxes- BrownPaper Packages 

Rhinestone Pumpkin- Better Homes & Gardens 

(Photos of inspiration board by; Wahkuna)

Handmade Inspiration Board #1: Fall + Quilting

I recently learned of a great (compact) way to create inspiration boards from the very talented Holly Becker of Decor8. I love the idea of creating a board the size of a file folder that you can fold up and take anywhere- to use as reference or store very easily! It's large enough to include all the important details, but small enough to take on the go!

The first board I would like to share on my blog is inspired by fall + quilting (very similar to the card I posted here). Obviously I can't help but create fall inspired things during this season, and now is the perfect time to share it! The colors are; brown, ivory, red and navy. I hope this board helps you to come up with some great ideas for your next craft project! Enjoy! xo

Missing You...

Hello darlings! In the spirit of the season, today I'm going to show you one of my newest fall inspired cards. I created this card using the Napa Valley Studio Calico kit from November 2010. The colors and prints are truly fall and I love them! I referenced the tear sheet pictured above (in my mood board) from Flea Market Style magazine for the quilted stitch detail. I love the stitched quilted basket holding the apples (its so cozy) and thought it would be a great feature to incorporate into this card. Hope you like it!

Supplies; cardstock- American Crafts; patterned paper & gem brads- 

Making Memories; ribbon- Sweet Petites; thread- other

images by; Wahkuna

 

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping in! xo

Love is a friendship...

Supplies- cardstock; bazzill, patterned paper; sassafras & basic grey, rhinestone flourishes; prima, mini metal brads; making memories, distress ink; ranger/tim holtz, lace trim, thread & cameo embellishment; other 

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend! Today I wanted to share my newest creation. This is a love card that I made using some papers from my Studio Calico Metropolitan kit and some of my own supply stash. It's girly and cute with a hint of vintage. I also did something a little different by off setting the title to overlap off of the side. It adds a bit of interest, you know!?! *wink*

Steps;

1. Make card from cardstock
2. Print sentiment on contrast colored cardstock and cut to tag shape, ink edges. Then cut another tag out of the same cardstock used to create card, but 1/8" lager and use this one as the tag border. Attach with 2 mini metal brads on either end and add rhinestone flourishes. (put aside)
3. Cut patterned paper 1/8" smaller than size of card and distress edges.
4. Fold down top right corner and secure with a mini metal brad.
5. Cut strip of a coordinating patterned paper to adhere to bottom edge & stitch a piece of lace trim on top edge. (lace trim is distressed with ink)
6. Sew 2 rows of wavy lines around both pieces of patterned papers to add interest and adhere to card.
7. Create a bow with the lace trim and sew a cameo embellishment to bottom center, adhere to card.
8. Attach tag/sentiment to card using foam squares to add dimension.

Finished size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Family Bonding

kraft cardstock; bazzil, patterned paper; studio calico & making memories, border stickers; crate paper, clear stamps; studio calico & glitz design, paper flowers; prima, rhinestones/brads; making memories, paper lace ribbon; basic grey

Happy Monday!! Today is officially the first day back to the grind this year! Hopefully you all were able to have a relaxing yet wonderful Holiday season with your families.

Today I'd like to share my first LO of 2011. I worked on it Saturday night after a fun day out with the hubby and sister in-law in NYC.

This LO is of my mom and I, we went to the NJ Scrapbooking Expo together back in May 2008. This was my mom's first introduction to the scrapbooking industry and she LOVED IT! We both bought so many cools things and she discovered a new hobby! Little did we know that this "new hobby" of hers wouldn't really take off until this past November, when I introduced her to the December Daily project by Ali Edwards. Since then, she's been full speed ahead! Every week she's picking up some new supplies, becoming a scrapping addict like me!! I'm loving it, while I was visiting my family for a few days over the holidays, I helped her pick out some new organizing systems and we set them up together for her new crafting space in my old room. It was great bonding time and now I will also have a space to use when I'm there...perfect!

On this LO I used the Napa Valley kit from Studio Calico and the inspiration sketch came from one of Becky Fleck's  Nov. sketches (see below);

I loved using this kit, the papers are so colorful and coordinate so well! The stitching and layered border embellishments are my favorite part...

Birthday Wishes

Supplies: Textured Cardstock- Bazzil; Patterned Paper- Sassafrass; Ribbon- Making Memories;

Distress Ink- Ranger; Stamp/Button & Embroidery Thread-Other

home·spun

[hohm-spuhn]
–adjective
1. spun or made at home: homespun cloth.
2. plain; unpolished; unsophisticated; simple; rustic

Origin:

1580–90; home + spun


This birthday card I created a while back and thought I would share it with you today. I used the Studio Calico Back 40 kit. I really like the patterned papers that have the decorative scallop edge, they're perfect as a finishing touch! This patterned paper is from Sassafras and I love their papers, they always have a homespun feel, very vintage. The patterned paper is attached to the card using a zz stitch with a ribbon running across the center attached at the sides with zz.

The sentiment was created with a stamp on a piece of textured card stock that I shaped using a tag stencil. The border was made using a glitter gel pen and Tim Holtz's Ranger distress ink. The button is attached using ivory embroidery thread wrapped and tied into a bow.

Below is a color palette I've created inspired by this card. Maybe it will inspire your next project! Enjoy!

Album Project

Supplies: Flowers- Prima; Letter Stickers- American Crafts (thickers); Rhinestone Flourishes- Prima; Rhinestones- My Mind's Eye; Transparency Papers- Hambly & Best Creation Inc.; Floral Patterned Paper- Basic Grey; Circles Patterned Paper- Hambly; Cardstock- DCWV (Matchmakers)

al·bum

[al-buhm]
–noun
1. a bound or loose-leaf book consisting of blank pages, pockets, envelopes, etc., for storing or displaying photographs, stamps, or the like, or for collecting autographs.
2. a printed book containing an anthology of writings, reproductions of photographs or artwork, musical compositions, etc.

Origin:

1645–55; 1955–60 for def. 2; < L: neut. sing. of albus white, i.e., a blank (tablet) painted white for writing on


Recently I've been working on a new project, a scrapbook for a friend documenting her trip to Florida with her boyfriend. The challenge is not to make it too feminine, since it's essentially for both of them as an anniversary gift. Of course I reviewed the supplies that I chose with them both before beginning and there were no complaints (see above), which is a good sign! I want it to be pretty, but not "girly" if there is such a thing, anyway, I'm working on it! Here's a preview of the first page...

I created photo corners out of buttons with embroidery thread wrapped around them.

Here I made the butterfly embellishments out of a stamped image, added color using colored pencils and used rhinestones for the body. 

I stitched the flying path for the butterflies using embroidery thread, following a swirl line that I sketched out by hand first. Also the sides of the ground paper is painted with Tim Holtz  Ranger distress crackle paint in tattered rose & distress ink in shabby shutters.

Supplies: Cardstock- DCWV (Matchmakers), Patterned Paper- Making Memories; Transparency Paper- Hambly; Letter Stickers- American Crafts; Crackle Paint- Ranger Tim Holtz; Distress Ink- Ranger Tim Holtz; Butterflies- Stamped Image; Embroidery Thread, Rhinestones & Buttons- Other

For the title, I cut out a decorative border from a Hambly transparency paper and then layered on thickers letter stickers by American Crafts.

I'm still working on this, and the deadline is fast approaching! Trying to prioritize and make sure everything gets done in time, the Holiday season sure keeps us busy! Thanks for stopping in & come back soon!

Love You Forever

Now this post is going to feel a little like fall, a little pumpkin spice, a little apple streusel, reminds me of all the things I love about the change of seasons.

This card is titled "I Promis to Love You Forever", the colors and design create elegance and sophistication. Accents of pearls give it just enough texture and pop. The solid cardstock mixed with a herringbone print is also a great touch to add interest and the stitching creats that homespun look. With the fall season just around the corner, this spicy color palette is sure to stir some delicious creations!

Supplies; Cardstock-Bazzill; Ribbon-Cosmo Cricket; Border Embellishment-Cosmo Cricket;

Patterned Paper-Studio Calico; Pearl Flourish-Want 2 Scrap; Pearl Embellishments- Recollections

Old Friends~ New Tradition

At the end of last week I received a surprise in the mail. It was a card from a very dear friend of mine. We've been friends since 2nd grade (about 20 years as she put it) and have gradually grown apart over time due to distance and separate life paths. But the good thing about always remaining friends and staying in touch from time to time is that you always stay connected some how, and although it's far and few between, when you get together it's almost like yesterday and no time has past at all. That is how I feel around her...she is my special long distance friend. The funny part is that I've been thinking about her lately and how we've been  needing to catch up, which was exactly when I received her card. Life is funny like that.

In response to her thoughtful card, I of course had to make one to send back. The sentiment is so fitting- I miss you. To create this card I used part of my July Studio Calico kit- Continental. I love Studio Calico coordinated kits, they are always so fun and have such great color combos/embellis! I also LOVE to incorporate stitching (whether by hand or on the sewing machine) and also some kind of fabric or ribbon. That must be due to my fashion/apparel background. I spend my days around clothing, fabric/swatches, ribbon, buttons and fasteners. It always spurs up some kind of creative ideas! Here is the outcome;

Supplies; Textured Cardstock- DCWV(matchmakers); Patterned Paper- Studio Calico;

Flower- Studio Calico; Textured Fabric- K&Company;

Distress Ink- Tim Holtz(pumice stone);

Rhinestones- Other; Sentiment Stamp- Other.

I love the color palette for this card. Its sweet yet sophisticated with a little bit of distressing to produce a worn look. For the flower design on the top left, I cut it out of a Studio Calico advertisement card that was patterned on the back side, and I couldn't resist using the pattern, it's so beautiful and adds a great focal point to this card! I definitely think my friend will enjoy receiving this in the mail. It's worth saving! I would like this card-giving to become a tradition, almost like a pen pal, a new way to stay in touch more. Since we live far apart, I'm hoping that we are able to constantly write to eachother to stay connected and keep our friendship strong, afterall...who has time to sit on the phone for hours anymore! And being a memory preserver, having everything in writing and documented makes it so much better for future keepsakes (which reminds me, I still have all of her letters from Middle School!!!) :-)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I wanted to be sure to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day!! Today is traditionally a day about love and appreciation towards others with gifts, etc. but I've realized over the years that nothing means more than kind words and acts of love that come straight from the heart. Flowers, gifts, candy and dinner only last for a short time, but the memories are what lasts forever! So enjoy this day with the ones you love and be sure they know how much you love and appreciate them!

Supplies- Floral Patterned Paper: Anna Griffin; Textured Cardstock: Basic Grey; Polk-a-dot Patterned Paper: Studio Calico; Chipboard Letters: Basic Grey; Ribbon; Flowers: Prima; Chipboard Embellishment: ki Memories; Clear Transparency Title & Journal Tag: Me

I would also like to share a couple Valentine"esque" pages that I've recently done.

This first one is a LO about my two cousins, our grandmother and I. The photo was taken at my cousin Lanita's (all the way to the right) surprise birthday party. It was a wonderful night and this picture definitely captured a special moment. This is one of the photos that I will definitely cherish because there's really no other image that has been taken like it (atleast recently since we've all grown older).

I used Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 to alter the photo just a bit. I wanted the subjects to stand out in the foreground so I selected the background, made it black and white

and blurred it just enough so that there are no clear images that are noticeable. I love all of these women to death and they are definitely a few of the prettiest ladies I know! The color scheme I chose is great too! When I recieved the floral patterned paper from Studio Calico I was in LOVE! I think this paper looks great with the mix of white, blue, green, red and a pop of light pink! The floral pattern is very modern and chic which makes this layout fun and pretty! I also used my new BossKut Gazelle to creat the red heart die cut that I zig zag stitched ontop of another decorative heart design that I created by hand. The machine stitch definitely give this layout a handmade feel. I LOVE handmade! Also, one more important element to note on this layout is the floral chipboard that I adhered to the bottom right hand corner of the picture which is from k.i memories, but the original prints where designed by my long time friend Christine! She's an AMAZING print designer working in NYC and when I recieved this package of chipboard embellishments from her I was so excited and taken back! It's very meaningful to use such elements on LO's that I will cherish forever!! Thanks again Christine!!

 The next LO is one that I created about Chris and I of the good times we've had together the last 3+ years. He's a loving husband who's smart, funny and great to be with! I'm very happy that we chose eachother! With this LO I wanted to make the solid cardstock in the background more interesting so I stamped along the edges using a scroll butterfly stamp. I also made 1 of the 4 photos black and white to create a bit of contrast and interest with the subjects. The title reads exactly how I feel...that we are "Better 2gether", inspired of course by the Jack Johnson song Better Together. Love his music. Until next time...Take care and enjoy your loved ones today and always! :-)

Supplies- Solid Cardstock: American Crafts; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Ribbon; Buttons; Letter Stickers: Pink Paislee; Chipboard Letters: American Crafts; Clear Stamps: Studio G; Paper Flowers: Prima

Sweet Baby Boy

Look at that cute little bundle of joy! His name is Josiah and he's my little 2nd cousin! I recently came across these adorable pictures of him and couldn't resist scrapping them! I love the one with him sleeping...he looks so innocent and peaceful! What a life! :-)

I incorporated a little handmade creativity for this LO. I added some color with my set of prisma color pastels which add a soft touch and also created the round embellishment out of marker paper that I painted with watercolor and embellished with some die cuts from the animal crackers kit.

I also used the letter patterned paper from the "Jack" collection as a border and decorative frame then tacked on some of the kits' chip board letters for the title with some brown thread. The pictures on the right are also stitched on by hand creating a simple border.

This little man is such a happy baby and I'm happy to have captured his smile forever!

Wahkuna
xo