JANUARY SKETCH CHALLENGE (CLASS SWAPS)

For my class swap this month, we used this sketch that I found on Pinterest:

At first glance, I thought it would be perfect for an assortment of colors, images, textures, etc. but, when I sat down to work on my swaps, it became clear that this sketch was somewhat challenging.  I think my stampin' friends did an awesome job!  Just look at their works of art:

The inside of Terry's card

The inside of Jane's card

I don't remember if I tossed one or two of my attempts to follow the sketch, but this is the card that I swapped:

A FUN (WOODEN) MASON JAR PROJECT

These three items . . . 

became this:

Over the weekend, I painted the unfinished wooden mason jars with chalk paint and, once the paint was dry, I lightly sanded them to create a smooth surface.  A small amount of wax was applied to the surface where I would use Chalkology Paste, but I wouldn't say that wax is a requirement.  I used images from Chalk Couture's Under the Sea transfer to decorate the jar using Thai Teal, Nantucket, Mint, White, and Evergreen Chalkology Paste.  The top needed something, and didn't the twine finish it nicely?

TOPPED IT OFF WITH A BIRD

As I looked at the chalkboard that I decorated for Valentine's, I kept thinking that it needed a little something.  A bird on the branch!

I had a little goof by his tail feathers but, still . . . it looks complete now, don't you think?  The bird image is one of the transfers that comes with Bless Our Nest.

A CHALKY VALENTINE DECOR PROJECT

Today I played with Chalkology Paste to create a Valentine decoration for my home.  My surface is the Aiden chalkboard from Chalk Couture, and I absolutely love that I was able to wash off this Christmas design and re-use the chalkboard:

Aiden Chalkboard decorated for Christmas

Aiden Chalkboard decorated for Valentine's

Notice the ombre technique on the hearts border along the bottom?  That was created by blending the red Chalkology Paste with the white (obvious, huh?).  I have a video of this project HERE.  Be sure to Like, Follow, and Share my Facebook page and the post featuring this project!  :-)

Chalk Couture products featured on the Valentine project include:
Bless Our Nest Chalk Transfer (re-useable)
Cut Apart Hearts Chalk Transfer (re-useable)
Red Chalkology Paste
Bubble Gum Chalkology Paste
Peachy Chalkology Paste
White Chalkology Paste
Mocha Chalkology Paste
Small Squeegee

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAURA!!!

Yesterday was my sweet stampin' friend's birthday, which means that I can now share the card that I made for her.  

Making a card for Laura isn't an easy task.  She's a very talented stamper and is always coming up with or finding fun folds/designs, and I was feeling a wee bit stressed over what to make for her.  For this card, I cut off the top half of the front and added an embossed strip of white cardstock to the interior (so it would be present behind the front focal point).  The stamped images are from Stampin' Up!'s Perennial Birthday stamp set, and I think they are so fun to color!  I almost didn't purchase this stamp set because it seems so similar to another set that I have, but I have no regrets.  I love that the large flower with leaves can be used alone as a focal point or combined with other images as I did for Laura's card.  The images are also a wonderful size for decorating a coordinating envelope!  Finishing touches to this card were the purple sequins.  

Laura, I hope your birthday was filled with much happiness . . . enough to last until this time next year!

SNOW GLOBE SHAPED CARDS

If I'm not mistaken, all of my blog posts featuring shaped cards are prefaced with a statement that goes something like this . . . I love love love shaped cards!  I used to really enjoy designing shaped cards on my handheld Gypsy (by Cricut), which seems so very primitive in comparison to the ease of designing projects via Cricut's online Design Space.  I also remember when my Gypsy crashed and had to be reset, which resulted in the loss of ALL of my design files, and I thought that I would never get over that.  I did, of course.

While it snowed yesterday, I enjoyed designing and assembling these cute snow globe cards:

I could have gone to the extra trouble of creating a framed acetate layer--and I did consider that--but I thought the cards had enough layers and looked really sweet without the fuss.  It's difficult to tell, but the cardinals were cut from shiny red foil paper, and the large blue background (and Frosty's hat, too) is cut from thick glittery and sparkly cardstock.  The "thank you" card that's front and center is the one that I put in the mail to cousin Mildred (see THIS related post), and the others were mailed to some special people who will enjoy the mail.

A TREASURE + MY WOOLY HEARTS TAG

Has it really been almost a month since I last posted?  I don't think I have ever gone that long without posting something since I started this blog, and I hope I won't let that happen again.  I offer no big excuse . . . I've just been focusing some energy on purging in my craft room and moving some things around.  I still have TONS of stuff that needs to find a new home, so if you're looking for, wanting, or can use anything in particular, let me know because I'd sure love to make a deal with you.

I have a real treasure to show you today.  This past Sunday, my mother, sister, and I visited cousin Mildred (my second cousin, actually), and she asked if I'd like to have this photo:

Say what?!?!  I'm sure she noticed my excitement because I love (and I mean l-o-v-e) old photos whether or not I know the people in them.  I found this picture even more endearing when I learned that my eyes were "meeting" my great-great-grandparents for the first time.  Let me say that another way . . . I now know what my grandmother's (favorite) grandparents looked like!  The fact that this jewel was already framed and in great condition is a bonus!

Of course, I will be making a special thank you card for Mildred, but I decided to also whip up this 5" x 6"  wooly hearts tag (my own design) that she can hang in her sewing/quilting room.

During our visit, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing many of Mildred's quilts--not just the ones that she has made, but some that are antique treasures made by her mother, mother-in-law, and other special loved ones.  

I hope to have a stamped project to share soon--it might just be my thank you card to Mildred.  :-)