Stock Your Stash Challenge with Reverse Confetti

Hello friends!  Thanks for stopping by today as I share a fairly simple card I created for the fun challenge at Reverse Confetti (a store that I absolutely adore, and with designers who inspire me so much).  Let me first admit that this isn't by any means a super "fancy" or intricate card, and that's because (as most of you know) I'm post-surgery for my right rotator cuff.  And since my right hand/arm is my dominant arm, my crafting abilities are extremely limited.  I have this sweet (older) Reverse Confetti stamp set with matching Confetti Cuts (dies), and I really wanted to use them for this challenge.  I used a stamp set called North Pole Wishes and the coordinating North Pole Wishes Confetti Cuts to create my card.

I started with a Bazzill cardstock base, added some sweet new Prima Santa Baby patterned paper, and then I stamped the cute sentiment,holly leaves and little pink envelope from the Reverse Confetti stamp set. I added some puffy epoxy stickers from the Prima Santa Baby line, some seam binding, stamens, tiny pearl accents, and a rusty paper clip.  That's about it....like I said, simple.  But for me, this was A LOT of work with only one hand.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a blessed day!

Karen

I'm excited and delighted to share my card in the following challenge:

Reverse Confetti:  Stock Your Stash December Challenge - Theme: Holiday/Winter - As explained above, I used the Reserve Confetti stamp set called North Pole Wishes and coordinating North Pole Wishes Confetti Cuts.

Addicted To Stamps - Challenge #68 - Anything Goes/Use Ribbon - I used a sweet stamp set from Reverse Confetti and lots of fabulous ribbons!

Back To School for Someone Special

As most of you already know about me, our children are grown and past "school days".  So, when I think about "Back-to-School", I think about other members of our extended family and how getting back into the swing of things at school time affects them.  One of those very special people in my life (yes, besides my adorable niece Alexa) is my niece, Brittany.  She is number three of six children and she is a Special Education Teacher in Duluth, Minnesota.  She's been busy getting her classroom ready for school to begin, and preparing for yet another crazy busy school year.  I always like to send Brittany special little cards and notes to encourage her.  I realize how hard teachers work.  But that's not the biggest burden on Brittany's heart right now.

Brittany has been working very hard, and just received her Bachelor's Degree in June.  She's been dating the same guy for three years now.  They had everything planned out (or so she thought) for her to get engaged this summer. In fact, they even took a trip to Europe (via Paris, France and other such romantic spots) so she was really expecting a proposal.  She says they had talked about it several times.  She's starting the school year......not engaged.  OK....and now here's what really makes it harder.  Brittany's oldest sister, Margaret, (the first of the six children in Brittany's family) has been dating her boyfriend for three months now, and.....they just got engaged.  Poor Brittany.  I adore this sweet girl and I just know her heart is hurting, and that she's feeling crushed.  I made this card with her in mind.....and I really hope it cheers her up.  Of course, I tucked a Starbucks gift card inside the kraft envelope, and I know that will make her smile.

My card was created using a kraft base, a piece of navy patterned paper, a Maya Road kraft envelope with navy brads, vintage striped baker's twine, a red and ivory JilliBean Soup journalling card (family), boy/girl paper-pieced people, stamped sentiment from Paper Sweeties (Love You To Pieces) using Tim Holtz Distress Inks, a wooden heart, a Maya Road canvas tag, a piece of Tim Holtz ruler ribbon, a piece of vintage scotch tape, and two Tim Holtz rusty paper clips.   I love that the Maya Road kraft envelope makes a great focal point as well as a perfect place to tuck in a gift card.

Here's where I will be playing along with my sweet little Back-To-School card for Brittany:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says "Back to School" - As detailed above, this card was created for my niece, Brittany, who is a middle school Special Education Teacher.

Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Back To School - My back-to-school story is shared in detail above.  I had a lot of fun creating it!

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - Challenge #210 - Anything Goes With Sentiment - I stamped my sentiment (Love You To Pieces).

CropStop Challenge Blog - August Linky Part #42 - Anything Goes - I used lots of Tim Holtz products including the ruler ribbon, rusty paper clips and Distress Inks.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Guest Designing at CropStop

Welcome by today, everyone!  I'm happy to be Guest Designing for CropStop this month.  If you're not yet familiar with this fun store, I suggest you stop by and check it out.  CropStop carries a little bit of everything; including stamps, dies, stencils, inks, adhesives, and.....well, the list truly never ends because they're always stocking new merchandise.  You're sure to find something you'll love.  AND....they have a fun monthly challenge where you can play along for a chance to win some CropStop goodies of your own, or even to become a future Guest Designer.

This card started with a piece of Ivory Bazzill card stock that I used to create a textured background.  I used a plastic Tool (similar to this, but you can use a plastic knife) to place Prima Gesso on the card stock by laying a circle patterned Stencil on the paper and spreading the Prima Gesso.  Using a Sponge Dauber is another great way to add color to just about anything, and CropStop carries just about every shade of the fabulous Tim Holtz inks/paints to make all your projects pop.  Using some more Stencils, I took the Sponge Dauber and applied some color to the background including Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Ink, Tim Holtz Marmalade Distress Ink and Tim Holtz Dusty Concord.  I also used Tim Holtz Twisted Citron Distress Ink to stamp some swirls.

Next, I die-cut a "chicken wire" piece for the back drop using a Darice Embossing Die.  I used only a portion of this die-cut in the lower right corner of my card.  This completed the background I wanted, and now it was time to add a sentiment and some embellishments.  I started by cutting some greenery (branches) using a Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson branch die-cut, and I placed them strategically in the lower right corner.  To that, I added a length of bundled Ivory Burlap String and topped that with some gorgeous Petaloo Flowers and leaves.

All that was left was my sentiment, so I grabbed my Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink to stamp my sentiment on a Spellbinders die.  I inked it with some Tim Holtz Forest Moss Distress Ink, and added some Ivory Burlap String, Olive Burlap String, a flower and some sequins.

I encourage you to try something new.  I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone as well.  Perhaps picking up some Gesso and giving the textured background a try, or getting some new die-cuts.  CropStop has so many FABULOUS products as well as a fun monthly challenge on the CropStop Blog.  Be sure to stop by and check out everything CropStop has to offer.

Have a great week!
Karen

Here's where I'm playing along:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says "Anything Goes"

Three Amigos Challenge Blog - Challenge #15 - Machine Die-Cutting - As listed in detail above, I used several dies on this card.

CropStop Challenge Blog - Linky Party #40 - Anything Goes - All my CropStop products are listed (with links) above.

Scrapyland Challenge #92: Anything Goes - I used a Spellbinders die as well as a Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson die.

Creative Moments: Challenge #147 - Anything Goes: Optional Summer Theme - All my products are listed in my blog post.  I tried to create a summer theme with all the flowers.