Back to School Card for The Shabby Tea Room

Hi crafty friends! I have another edition of The Shabby Tea Room for you today! This week we were inspire by a lovely back to school photo with yummy fall colours in it.

Aren’t shaker cards fun? Keep in mind that you can add things other than just beads, sequins, micro beads and glitter! There are lots of  new dies out there that make shaped confetti (though you may already have some small dies for flowers hearts and stars) AND you can use some larger 3-D items if you add some extra foam! I used some shaped buttons and brads, I just cut the backs off! I glued the school bus in place as I felt it would look weird upside down being so large. But everything else moves!

This week we were sponsored by Paper Temptress. I received quite a few different papers as part of my design team sample. My favourite was the Antique gold paper I used for the frame of my shaker. It’s such a deep rich gold! The links to all the papers I used are on The Shabby Tea Room website just under my name. Just a note: The Cryogen White is my card base. I sponged it to a rich brown to better match my card front.

I hope you will visit our challenge blog! Maybe you can be our next Top Three or our Winner! And even if you don’t enter, you can take in all the gorgeous projects by The Shabby Girls and leave comments! Thanks so much for joining me today!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Graphic 45 An ABC Primer
Ink: Archival Brown, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Walnut Stain-Distress, Memento black
Paper: All Paper Temptress except Patterned papers by Graphic 45 and green leaf-old olive CS-SU!
Accessories: Jesse James buttons (inside shaker), sequins-various, red button-Basic Grey, hardware-SU!, flowers-Really Reasonable Ribbon, measuring tape twill, lace-stash

Blingy Baby Love for Unscripted Sketches #244

This has to be one of the cards I’ve made that I’m most proud of lately. It suits my signature style of simple shabby (shabby without too many layers or embellies) and my favourite category of cards – baby!

No special techniques here to explain. I kinda enlarged one of the circles on the sketch and omitted one but I think you can still see the inspiration! I enlarged an angled view of the sentiment. I drives me nuts when I use lovely gold EP and it photographs really dark, even black!

I hope you enjoy playing with this sketch like I did! It’s really fun when you realize that you don’t have to use each element as you see it. Change the shapes, sizes, proportions, flip; rotate, mirror, whatever you like!

We’d love to have more people play our sketch so be sure to come by Unscripted Sketches this week!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Graphic 45
Paper: Graphic 45
Ink: Versamark, Vintage photo distress
Accessories: pearls-Recollections, oval die-Spellbinders, ribbon (chevron and silk to thread buttons)-May Arts, buttons-ebay, lace-stash, focal stickers-G45, foam dots-Jody Morrow, gold EP-SU!

Asian Lady Card for Unscripted Sketches

So this week I actually made something for Unscripted Sketches that has a full, proper name!! hee hee!! I got a gorgeous embossing folder but it was hard to use until I got some Asian paper to go along with it.

As you can see, this embossing folder wouldn’t suit a lot of designs as it is very Asian. But also very lovely! I needed a couple of get well cards for some classy ladies so this was a perfect design. The gold accents are just an ink pad swiped across the edges of the paper and over the embossing.

Here’s a tip for you. I didn’t want to raise the sentiment panel on two layers of foam dots. But the embossing underneath raised the lady panel up on one side so she would sit lopsided if adhered flat on the left. So I added scraps of the embossed panel under the lady panel on the left so it was balanced but still not higher than the foam raised panel above it.

I also used the WRMK envelope maker to make a matching envelope out of one of the busier patterns I’m less likely to use. I’m like most and have way too much paper so I’ve got to use it up! There’s always another new gorgeous paper pack on the horizon!

Please come on out and create something lovely with our super talented team this week at Unscripted Sketches! You can create anything your crafty heart desires from any type of artistic or creative endeavour! Just make sure we can still ‘see’ your use of our sketch. You can rotate, flip, turn and change proportions in any way you see fit and also change one shape for another. Have fun with it, take a pic and link it up! You don't have to have a blog to play!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: PTI
Ink: Encore gold pigment, rose shadow ink-HA
Paper: G45 Bird Song, Blushing Bride CS-SU!
Accessories: ribbon-American crafts, lace-vintage, Embossing folder-Spellbinders, rhinestones-TE, corner chomper, envelope maker-WRMK, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Elegant Anniversary Card

I made this a very long time ago, maybe a year and a half. Sometimes I browse my photos and wonder if maybe a card has been missed. Now I have a ‘Not Posted’ File so that helps but when I’m in a hurry, it’s so hard to keep track!

Originally I designed this layout as a ‘thank you for your business’ card, without the pearls and with black and gold or black and ivory paper on bottom, for a friend’s business. My BFF saw it and much to my delight, went on and on about how it was hte prettiest card she’d ever seen and how she’d frame it. So of course, I obliged making her one. Then I had the opportunity to make it again for a very classy couple for their anniversary . I thought adding the dancing couple was a nice touch.

I’ve made this as multiples so I know it isn’t that hard and I think it would also make great monogrammed stationery. It would also make amazing formal shower, wedding, anniversary party or any formal invites

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
please email for details. Most manufacturers are found in the tags.

Shabby Baby Card for Unscripted Sketches

This sketch was a lot of fun! Some of them kinda stump me at first but this one flowed easily!

The ‘Baby’ die is by Marianne I think and the baby things are by Memory Box. They are really quite teensy, for comparison, this is a 5x7 card. The bottle and rattle are about a bit less than an inch high and the soother is only about 3/8” high!

I coloured them with Copics and oh, so gently sponged them with Distress ink. I also had to be very careful with the word to get ink sponged on the inside areas of the die. I used a Fantastik for the tiny areas. It’s like a sponge tipped pen you can dip in ink. Also good for fixing missed areas of solid stamping.

The papers are from Little Darlings and G45’s patterns and solids pack. The baby face flower is a chipboard piece. The greyish buttons are Mother of Pearl and look so much nicer IRL!

I have a couple girlfriends who are pregnant right now so hopefully one of them has a little girl! I have several boy cards already in my stash.

I do hope to see you over at Unscripted Sketches later this week! We’d love to have you join us! Even if you can’t play. be sure to check out the DT’s awesome projects; they are a talented bunch!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Ink: Frayed burlap Distress ink
Paper: G45, Ivory CS-PTI
Accessories: EK Success mini scalloped punch, PTI buttons, MOP buttons-Ebay, G45 chipboard, Marianne Baby die, baby things die-Memory Box, Copic Markers, Flowers-Wild Orchid Crafts, Lace-stash, ivory iridescent sequins-Ellen Hutson

Miss You School-Themed Chalkboard Card

I’m entering a few challenges with this card. But mainly I want to encourage my son who is going into grade 1. It’s a big step and frankly, I’m worried how he will do. He’s plenty happy though, he has new markers! :)

So this is for Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Back to School.  And for Card Maker Blog’s Card Corner Challenge: Chalkboard. I thought I could enter this week’s Fusion challenge too but apparently I was thinking of last week’s. Bummer.

Very CAS (for me anyway) but it suited the papers, sketch and my kiddo. He’d just rip off fancy bellies and play with them anyway!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: alphabet-Graphic 45, sentiment-PTI
Paper: red, kraft-PTI, black-?, DP-OA
Ink: Versamark, archival black-Ranger, Frost white-Color Box
Accessories: buttons-Basic Grey, white EP-Hero Arts, twine-Divine Twine, foam dots-Jody Morrow

School Magnet Board for Moxie Fab Fall Challenge

I wanted to enter the Fall Home Decor Challenge in the Moxie Fab World but I couldn’t decide what to make. Fall is my least favourite season as far as decor goes and my second least favourite season as far as weather goes; I’m a fair weather lover. So a school themed project seemed perfect! Be sure to visit and play along.

The base is a plaque which I painted black on the edges and covered with the black DP. The metallic part which hte magnets stick to is under the lighter DP. I wasn't sure how to cover it up but it was pretty ugly metal so it needed some kind of covering. I might have painted it but I wasn’t sure my paint would stick since it wasn’t specially formulated for metal and wasn’t the new MS paint for any surface. It all came as a kit from my favourite cheap online store, ScrapbookSteals.com and included a stand in case you want to table mount it.

I will eventually cover or paint the magnets, I was just short on inspiration tonight. I added my children’s initials to the top so I can use this for school photos or inspirational back-to-school messages. That button isn’t orange, no idea why it looks that way!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Ink: Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: black CS-SU!, DP-Graphic 45
Accessories: red baker’s twine-Masterstroke ribbon, buttons-PTI, SU!, other twine-PTI, Glossy Accents-Ranger

Miniature Doll Bedroom with Matchbox Bed

As I’ve mentioned before, I swap quite a bit with Swap-Bot. I love getting fun mail, it makes an ordinary day much happier. I run a smaller subgroup which allows like-minded people to have even stricter rules and swap specific themed items which is fun but lots of work. One of my groups is Matchbox and More and I hosted a swap to make a doll bedroom.

The requirements were to use a matchbox as a bed, make a floor and two walls, one with a window and decorate the window and the room in general. And make or buy ‘someone’ to ‘live’ in the room. The matchbox used is approximately 2x1.5x0.5” so it’s pretty small. I used swatches from an online fabric store to make the sheet and blanket. The bottom of the blanket is loose so the drawer can come out then tuck back in. The headboard is actually part of the matchbox sleeve that folds up.

The room was sent flat so it is hinged on two sides but only temporarily adhered on the third side. The table is designed to fold flat too. The doll is made from felt and her features are sewn on using  thread as even one strand of embroidery floss was too thick! The curtain rod is part of a BBQ skewer and the curtains are more sample fabric with brad tie backs. The outer part of the window was cut with a square die but I didn’t have a die that perfectly cut the inner squares as the muntin bars would have been too thick so I used a die to cut the outer part of the square then trimmed the rest with an x-acto knife.

If you ever decide to join Swap-Bot, look me up. My username is thebragal.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper: Spring Moss, ivory CS-PTI, floral DP-Cosmo Cricket, wood DP-MME, chocolate CS-scrap, wall art-Little Darlings-Graphic 45
Accessories: all stash unless otherwise listed, brads-CTMH, square Nestabilities

Vintage Chalkboard Challenge Card

OK, so I have to admit, I’m not sure I like this card. I am so not a fan of black but I was dying to try the chalkboard technique.

But when I got done, I didn’t know what to pair it with! Uh oh! The black really threw me for a loop. So I went with some very bold G45 papers I bought only because I was making cards for a client and the elegant black patterned papers in the pack were perfect. Not my style really, well, at all and I hesitated to even publish it which is very unusual because I blog pretty much everything I make! I just had to blog it anyway because I it was for three challenges and even more so because I am thrilled with how the chalkboard technique turned out. I used a chalk pastel pencil for the lines. Not too many chalkboards have coloured ‘chalk’ but I have seen a few including a cool Nabob commercial.

This is for the Waltzing Mouse Blog Party to use Doilies. I just tucked bits under each edge. Also for Deconstructed Sketch 89 and Friday Mashup 97 to use Markers and add Texture. I used a marker to colour the white EP to match the DP and buttons. I fyou have any ideas what would go better with the black, leave me a comment!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WM
Ink: Versamark, white-PTI
Paper: kraft-PTI, DP-Graphic 45, black-SU!, doily-Wilton
Accessories: black ribbon-May Arts, buttons-SU!, scalloped border die-PTI, white EP-stash, Copics

Blue and White Snowflake Pillow Box

I signed up for emails from a new challenge, the Friday Mashup. They have a two part challenge. You can play one part or the other or combine them! I decided to go for both and combine that with making another project for my Swap-Bot challenge to use the stamp stamp multiple ways.

Sorry for not folding the box ends together. Funny, I didn’t even think about it until I had taken the photo, mailed it and realized it looks weird in the photo! Since we all know what they look like, I know you can use your imagination! Silly me! It did help it sit up there to photograph it since it was flat.

The little bottle is the same as the Vintage Parfum card, looks very different right? That was the point of that challenge, to use a stamp in lots of very different ways to get out of a rut of always using it in the same or similar ways. I thought it made a great tag. The box is great for gifts or gift cards.

It’s hard to see but the silver bow has a tiny rhinestone in the center and so does the snowflake on the bottle. Can you see the loops on the ribbon edges? It is formed from a looped cord attached to a tiny satin edge, so much classier than the old picoted ribbon I used to use in the late 80’s on country wreaths!

I

Click on the photo to visit the challenge post. I’m also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp ‘Anything Goes’ Challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe
Ink: Versamark
Paper: white CS-SU!
Accessories: ribbon-stash, pillow box die-PTI, rhinstones-TE, cord-SU!, hole punch-Fiskars, snowflake ribbon-May Arts

Vintage Parfum

I am in a challenge on Swap-Bot to use one stamp three different ways.

This was one of my projects. I am entering this in Unscripted Sketches 186 and Simon Says Stamp challenge ‘Anything Goes’ as well.

Sorry the formatting is messed up. I sent this via email and when I edited it in Live Writer, it seems a bit odd. The flowers are coloured with some Copics I rarely use but they look so pretty with these vintage colours. V91 and 95. I wonder if they make another V90 something… Incidentally, the stamp I used was the bottle and it conveniently has several different things you can stamp within the label! This one is definitely my favourite.

I dyed the seam binding myself. I added several drops of blush reinker and a tiny, less than a drop, amount of Antique Linen to some water. It’s hard to see but the ribbon is unevenly dyed which makes it look old and stained. TIP: To achieve that effect, I added the blush reinker directly to the water but smeared the Antique Linen directly to the bag. I smushed the ribbon in the water and squeezed it dry. Then I dragged the wet ribbon into and through the AL. Means the ribbon gets unevenly dipped in the AL and a stained look. Perfect!

Isn’t this bottle so pretty? I stamped it on a solid coloured paper from the pack. Then I shaded both the label and the bottle but subtly. I twisted the ribbon that goes around the card because I didn’t like how much it covered the lace. I like the look!

I’m also entering this in the Shabby Tea Room Challenge to use Neutrals as well as twine or ribbon and a sentiment. Mine is little but it is there, on the tag. Click on the photo to visit the challenge post.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe
Ink: chocolate-Papertrey Ink, old Paper, frayed burlap distress. perfect plum-SU! (envelope)
Paper: true thyme CS-SU!, ivory CS-scrap, DP-Capella Basic Grey
Accessories: Copics, tag die-Quickutz, HugSnug Seam Binding, blush reinker-SU!, Antique Linen reinker, vintage MOP button, lace-stash, foam dots-Jody Morrow, twine-PTI

Ocean Themed 250 ct Diorama MB

I love the ocean so it was a natural choice for my diorama matchbox!

I used a scallop die to make the waves. The sand is stamped with kraft ink then stamped again with a glue pad and gold glitter was added. The fish ‘bubbles’ are Dew Drops and the water is glittered along the edge and blinged with rhinestones. The sea bird dangles from a piece of rickrack.

The cover features pieces I cut from a Graphic 45 paper pad. Along with a die cut doily and some cool bling! In case you are familiar with a normal 250 ct MB, yes, this is much thinner. I specified that the box be thinner so it would cost less to mail. So it is only 1/2” high. Since I was sending it all the way to Australia, I’m glad I made it thinner! $4.85 vs closer to $10!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: crab, post-Shore Treasures CDS, bird-Seashore Crafty Secrets, sand-SU!
Ink: Memento black, kraft, chocolate-PTI, Versamark
Paper: Aqua Mist, Kraft, Hawaiian Shores-PTI, white CS (clouds)-Taylored Expressions, x-Press It white CS, vintage typing paper (doily)
Accessories: cloud, scallop, doily die-PTI, fish button, gold swirl-Jesse James, Dew Drops, rhinestones-stash, coloured glitter-Art Institute, white glitter-SU!, foam dots-Jody Morrow, bling strip-Recollections, vintage lace, May Arts ribbon, rickrack-stash

Curiosities Slider Box Hostess Gift for Unscripted Sketches

Before I talk about -my project, can I just give a shout out to the gals at Unscripted Sketches? Not this Saturday but last, I got the Top Three award for the 4th time! I love you guys, thanks so much!

I have decided to try and always take a hostess gift when I am invited somewhere. Someone brought me one a few years back and I thought it was the nicest thing! It was just a bar of goat’s milk soap in a pretty wrap but it obviously made an impression! So I made this when I was invited out to a friend’s house for my 15th Anniversary celebration!

You can find the instructions at Splitcoast Stampers under Slider Box. It was actually pretty easy but read my comment underneath if you decide to try and make one. I added some important tips. When you pull on the drawer, the tag at the top pops up. It is a really fun surprise for the recipient! Everyone will think you are a paper goddess!

It would make a great gift box for jewellery or a gift card but I added some candies. Nice for a hostess gift.

And here is what it looks like closed. Just a regular old box… NOT! I used this week’s Unscripted Sketch to make this. I really enjoy their sketches. Click on the sketch to visit the blog post.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Home Made-PTI
Paper: black CS-SU!, Curiosity Shoppe DP-Graphic 45
Ink: Vintage photo Distress
Accessories: foam dots-Joy Morrow, rhinestones-Kaisercraft, gold ribbon-Offray, striped ribbon-May Arts, gold paint pen-Krylon, Tim Holtz hitch fastener

Butterfly Thank You Card

I pulled out a bunch of paper packs to show my son so I could pick a style for his teacher thank you card. I figure teachers are people too and probably get tired of teacher-y themed cards. He has no idea which style best suited her but chose 7 Gypsies papers for this card. He thought she would like the butterflies.

Not much to explain about this one. Lots of inking and distressing. I used Unscripted Sketches #159. Click on the sketch to visit the challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: PTI Mixed Messages
Ink: Memento black, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress, kraft, vanilla, black CS-SU!
Paper: Graphic 45 Curiosity Shoppe, 7 Gypsies (butterfly panel)
Accessories: vintage buttons, ribbon-stash, tag die-Quickutz, gold string-SU!, foam dots- Jody Morrow,

Celebrate–You Deserve It!

I managed to do the March SFYTT! Third one in a row! I can’t believe I remembered! Hubby got a promotion in Feb and it took me this long to make him a card, shame on me.

I used Graphic 45 Le Cirque paper because it is so masculine. Hubby took one look at the card and said, “It’s very guy.” Yep, definitely not girlie. The sentiment panel is much more obvious and intense looking IRL. The EP is called Medieval Metals and is a mix of gold, silver and copper. You can’t see that it is metallic in the photo. Yeah, you can probably tell that the little words on the Kraft paper were not my original intention. I wasn’t sure if the EP would be OK for the tiny lettering. I decided it would be fine but I accidentally grabbed another colour of EP. Nuts! And it did NOT look good. But I think it looks OK in the end. I inked the DP the embossing is on so the embossing would show up more.

The star is cut from DP glued to thin chipboard. Then I glittered the edges with black glitter. I figured glitter was OK because circus costumes are so sparkly. And it is black. I cut the bottom panel with a large scalloped punch because I thought it looked  like a curtain held back with cords or rope.

Click on the sketch to see visit the site. You only have a few more days to participate.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS Say It Loud
Ink: Versamark, Vintage Photo Distress, chocolate-SU!
Paper: Graphic 45, black, kraft CS-SU!, chipboard-Ellen Hutson Craft-a-Board
Accessories: WRMK heart distresser, punch-EK Success, twine-Karen Foster, Medieval Metals EP-Sweet Stamps, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Sizzix star die

Vintage Shoe for Doodle Pantry

I absolutely love this image; isn’t it gorgeous?

I just love the ribbon and pearl embellishment on the front. I used halfback pearls for all of the full-sized pearls, I couldn’t use them around the middle because they overlap so I just coloured them.

I used the Midnight Madness Sketch for this card. I like that they now have a simpler version as well but of course, now that I’ve finally played again, I used the more complex version!

Click on Sketch for link to Midnight Madness Blog

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Images: Doodle Pantry Fancy Shoe
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: DP-Romantique Graphic 45, natural white CS (base)-SU!, ivory CS (corners)-SU!, white CS (printed images)-Taylored Expressions 
Accessories: individual pearls-Dollarama, Copics YR00,02,20, YG63,67, G21, E29,33,35,37,47,49, W00,1,3, Clear Spica, 00, Cuttlebug corner die, pearl swirls-Recollections, Label 1 Nesties

Seaside Journal

Boy was it hard to part with this one. I may have to make another for myself. I joined a very long intensive swap called “Theme a Day Journal”.

The swap assigned 30 questions or topics for you to answer. Anything from your 10 favourite people and why to your bucket list to your goals for this year and where you expect to be in 10 years. Very soul searching! So I finally finished it and realized I had a huge chunk of all the things I care about in there. SO I asked hubby to copy it for me so we have it somewhere. I hope my kids enjoy it in 20 years or so because they are in there a LOT!

In addition to the journaling, it was recommended to doodle on or decorate the pages and a requirement to decorate the front and back covers. The back cover has the same stamped cardstock as the front but nothing else. The binding is covered in a fabric self-adhesive tape I’ve had for ages. To my mind, it doesn’t really match but it was all I had. I later found out that many people just cover it in CS. Why didn’t I think of that? Minus the binding, I adore how this turned out. I am CRAZY about the seaside, not a dumb old lake but the OCEAN. Shame I live thousands of miles away.

If you’d like read the topics or complete a similar journal, you can see all of the topics here http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/60624. I really found it thought provoking. Even if you don’t journal all of them or any in fact, it still makes you think and can even bring some perspective to a busy schedule.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SU!, JustRite alphabet
Ink: chestnut-ColorBox chalk, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: saffron, kraft, confetti white CS-SU!, DP-Graphic 45
Accessories: Labels 8 Nesties, MS starfish/sand dollar punch, fabric tape-Making Memories, composition notebook-Dollarama, sandpiper charm-Jesse James buttons