The Rainbow

Sometimes we just need to be reminded... Reminded with a hug, a note, a prayer, a listening ear. Sometimes we just need to know that there will always be someone... Somebody that can give us a hug, a note, say a prayer or lend a listening ear... Sometimes we just need to know that everything will be ok, that the rainbow of life follows the storm...

When making this card, I felt like I was back in design school. "Your assignment is to design something to represent a meaningful quote." Quite philosophical-the black paper is the storm, the acetate the sky, the rhinestones represent tears of sadness, and then of joy. And the baker's twine-well, that represents happiness, the rainbow.

 The JUGS current challenge is to make a card with acetate, and that usually means a difficult card for me to photograph. There is an acetate layer underneath the black panel and in front of the white. I adore the brightness and thickness of the twine (which can be found here! Check back next week, I just might be giving some away for my birthday!)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Georgia Pacific, (Black) SU
Embellishments: (Twine) Divine Twine, (Rhinestones) Michaels
Tools: (Labels 8 Nestabilities) Spellbinders

In Wonderland Time

She's the one where you can email just about anything and get a response back that will make you laugh. She's the one that will eat cafeteria cheese curds with you and not make you feel guilty about your tight jeans. She's the one that will listen and offer advice only when she thinks you need it. My best ever co-worker's birthday was this past July. The July as in three months ago July. And now I'm finally getting around to giving her a gift.

You see, I'm fortunate that she likes to paper craft as well, so I filled this little number with some baker's twine and vintage buttons and make a card to match. The package design was based off the sketch at Card Patterns and the card was from the anniversary sketch at JUGS, who happens to also be celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month-awesome. Together, they make a presentation entry for Yvonne's Guest Designer's Challenge. I admire how Julie Elak can transform regular paper into objects that can actually hold something and look cute at the same time. Julie offers some really, really great tips for creating packages on this post here.

Here's the package:

And here's the matching card-the houndstooth pattern was stamped lightly underneath the flowers:

Supplies Used:
Package:
Cardstock: (Ivory) Georgia Pacific (Green) CTMH
Stamps: (Retro Christmas Backgrounds) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (River Rock Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Paper Rose) available at Perfectly Pretty Etsy Shop, (Rustic Twine) PTI, (Pewter Eyelets) SU
Tools: (Labels 4 Nestabilities) Spellbinders
Template: (Walztingmouse Stamps)
Card:
Cardstock: (River Rock) SU (Ivory) Georgia Pacific
Stamps: (Roses from Roses in Bloom) Waltzingmouse Stamps, (Sentiment from You're Dandy) Practicing Creativity Designs (Houndstooth Background from Retro Christmas Backgrounds) Practicing Creativity Designs
Ink: (River Rock, Old Olive Pigment) SU
Embellishments: (Rustic Twine) PTI

Half-Backed Pearls

Aren't half-back self adhesive pearls divine? I love the touch of elegance that they offer for card-making, and their ease of use. At the crop I went to this past weekend (imagine my sadness when I forgot ALL my pictures) I had the opportunity to work on some cards using other people's stamps. I found the sentiment stamp and based my card around it. The sketch layout is from the latest challenge at Just Us Girls. (Oh, how I wish I could choose two sets from WPlus9!) I also knew that at some point in time I needed to try another of those pom-pom flowers, so I created this one out of vellum and various Sizzix dies. Each petal has been distressed and sponged, then curled around the center of a divine half-backed pearl. The scalloped ribbon is so gorgeous and lush in real life as well, a soft velvety brown. The monotone color palette emphasizes each of the embellishment on the card, and I really like that. The card itself is a mini card- pretty small, in order to feature the sentiment and flowers.

Supplies Used: SU Kraft Cardstock, Cloud 9 DSP, Vellum (no source), SU So Saffron Ink, SU Wellness Wishes Stamp Set, Scallop Cirle Sizzix Die, Cuttlebug Scallop Circle Dies, SU Flower Trio Punch, Velvet Ribbon (no source), Pearls, Corner Chomper

The Sewn Butterfly

Sew. Sewing. Sewn. I did a lot of that on this card. And all who sew, please disregard the little (or big) imperfections that makes this card have charm. It was so much fun to attempt to sew straight lines and in circles for this card, which is for two challenges (Just Us Girls-Add Stitching and the Mojo Monday Sketch). After all the sewing, I didn't really have room for a sentiment which is fine with me because I could add one on the inside of the card for whatever occasion that I need it for. I really sort of like the quarkiness and complexity of this card.

Supplies Used: CTMH DSP, SU Big Shot Dies (Butterfly and Scallop Circle), SU Satin Ribbon, Fiskars Scallop Edge Punch, CM Circle Punch, Thread