Happy Birthday

Are you surprised?  It's not a Christmas Card!  In truth, I have been making loads of cards, however, I can't show them yet because they have been made for birthdays that have not yet happened..So, for now, this is one I can share.

This is, if you haven't guessed, Blue Fern Paper. The Heartland Collection.  Locally you can find these papers at Ever After in the Paradise Scrapbook Boutique booth.  You just might find this card there too.

I'm always asked where did the inspiration come from?  Actually, lots of places.  I follow other paper crafters blogs, I follow through Pinterest and most often, I am inspired by those around me.  I am also inspired by parts of a piece of decorative card stock.  For this card I was inspired by a portion of the card stock.  The two lovers.  I fussy cut around them and started pulling embellishments that I thought would look pretty with them.  I decided to make a square card 6x6.  One of the papers in the Heartland collection was the perfect background.  Next came the torn piece that allowed the graphic a place to sit, but I needed something to separate the graphic from the background....doilies are perfect to add separation.  Next I gathered flowers to make a bouquet.  I added seam binding that I'd sprayed with water to get a crinkled effect.  I needed a sentiment, and I chose Just Rite Happy Birthday and cut it from gold paper.  When I began assembling, I thought the card looked too flat and needed something more.  I added the leaves behind the bouquet.  Nice but something more needed to be added. Can you see the gold bits in front of the doily?

I'm not sure what it is called.  I bought it to add glitz to my tiny Christmas tree.  I think it's perfect for this card.  If you want to know more about it, Kim at Ever After could put you in contact with the vendor selling the product.  It doesn't look like this when you purchase it, it looks like a cord, but when you stretch it, this is what you get. I like it!

I still wanted to add something vintage to this card, so I created the cameo and placed it below the ribbon.  The frame of the cameo is from Epiphany Crafts and it started it's life silver in color.  I didn't want silver with the gold, so I colored it using Spectrum Noir alcohol ink pens.  The graphic was cut from one of the pieces of Blue Fern card stock.

Well, that tells you what I did to create the front of this card.  Now for the inside.....

The photo isn't the best, but I think you get the idea.  I used parts of the same card stock.  I like giving my sentiments a place to sit.  These little envelopes are a great place to put gift cards.  

Most all supplies for this card were purchased at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique.  I hope you enjoyed reading about my little creation.  I love reading other blogs about how something was created.  

I'm off......I'm sending you wishes for a most happy day.  I hope you find time to sneak away to create.  

Hugs from my world to yours,

Mary Mac

AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Let's Make it a Krafty Christmas

It's time to Sparkle....well it's Sparkles Christmas Challenge and this month Jane picked a fun theme.  A Krafty Christmas.  Your card must use kraft paper.  I'm using the kraft card stock for my base and also for layers.  On the outside I ran the kraft stock through a Christmas Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I thought it needed a bit more dimension.  The decorative papers are all from the Graphic45 St. Nicholas collection.  They all were pieces left over from making Christmas cards and decorations.  I'm using pieces from the 8x8 and 12x12 paper pads.  I've framed them with the solid green pieces and used Tim Holtz Distress inks to outline the papers.  After doing a test layout, I thought it might be nice to add a bit of sparkle.  I outlined the decorative papers using Stickles Mercury Glass.  Well, that's the outside and now for the inside.

It's pretty much a repeat of the outside.  I did add a stamped Sentiment using my favorite Christmas sentiment.  It's from Stampability.  That's it.  Pretty simple really and a great way to use up all those bits and pieces .  You will probably see many of this type of card as I have many bits and pieces to use.

Now it's your turn....Create a Christmas project using kraft somewhere on your creation and link it on the Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  All the rules (and there are only a few) can be found on the Sparkles site.  I'll be looking in to see what you've made!

Until next time....Happy Crafting.

Hugs from my world to yours,
Mary Mac
AKA:  GlitterGrammy