This card is filled with things that I love!  October Afternoon's Miscellany kits are just packed with vintage ephemera & embellishments!  This one looks like it came straight from a vintage story book & I think it's as sweet as it could be!

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I cut circles from patterned paper using my Silhouette and then hand-stitched around them to give them a little pop.

Another thing that I'm really loving right now are flair buttons.  I layered this one onto a round label & I really like the dimension it gives to a previously flat card.

And... of course, I used my beloved denim paper as my background.  Sigh... I REALLY love this stuff!  :)

InLinkz.com

Go-to Gals Designer Challenge: A Muse Studio

Have you seen the newest special issue by Paper Crafts Magazine?

Stamp It! 3 Ways is a really fun issue!  On each page, three designers created a project using the same stamp set.  You won't believe how unique and creative each project is!  I love seeing new and versatile uses for stamps & this issue is packed with inspiration!

The Go-to Gals have taken this concept and adapted it to our monthly designer challenge. All 6 of us have taken the same stamps to create a project on our blogs today.  We decided to use the Harlequin background set & the Essential Sentiment set from A Muse to create a unique project.

I'm headed to California in just a few short days for the Winter CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) trade show... so I have travelling on the mind!

I found this airplane silhouette shape in the Silhouette Studio and used the negative space as my focal point.

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I stamped the Harlequin background image over my paper & embossed it with clear EP.  I placed the Air Mail layered sticker by Amy Tangerine  in the top corner so that my project would mimic a postcard.

I used A Muse's Ocean Pigment ink to stamp my sentiment.  I was really surprised how well it showed up on my bright pink paper!

I'm so curious to see what the other girls have come up with!  Make sure to visit each of their blogs today to get even more inspiration!

Betsy

Teri

Kim

Windy

& Jennifer

*Make sure to check the Paper Crafts Connection blog later today for your chance to win both of the stamp sets featured today.

Supplies Used: (Click pictures for links)

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Two Peas Gardeners' Digest

Welcome to the Gardeners' Digest!  The Gardeners' Digest is a monthly update from the Garden Girls, the design team at Two Peas In a Bucket.  You can hop from one blog to the next (beginning with Two Peas' Garden Girl blog) to see inspiring projects, sneak peeks, and fresh product picks.  You might even find a give-away or two, so make sure to read each post carefully.  ;)

Here's a project I've made recently using some of my favorite products:

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I am completely obsessed with the new Chap collection by American Crafts.  It's full of great patterns that can be used for masculine projects, but is so universal that it could be used for almost anything.

I've jumped on the Project Life bandwagon & am using the Chap line right now in lieu of purchasing specific PL products.  I'm going with a very carefree, whimsical approach & plan on changing up my supplies on a constant basis.

Speaking of Project Life, have you seen the new 2012: Captured series by fellow Garden Girl Lisa Truesdell at Two Peas?  If you've ever thought about doing PL, or even if you'd like to learn more, you would LOVE Lisa's free class.  I love her style of doing PL & I can't wait for this week's lesson!

Even before I was a Garden Girl, Two Peas has always been my one-stop shop for paper crafting supplies.  I love that they carry the latest & greatest... and I love the free shipping options.  :)  ***This month's free shipping code for orders $50+ is: NY2012

Each of the Garden Girls are sharing their top 5 product picks for this month.  Here are some that make my heart go all pitter patter:

1. American Crafts Chap Just Write Journaling Cards - I'm using these right now instead of the Project Life cards.  They fit the page protectors PERFECTLY!  The colors and designs are perfect for my very testosterone driven household.  The pack includes 24 frames & journaling cards (3" x 4", 4" x 6", + smaller banner/title cards.)

2.  Fiskars Jenni Bowlin Blue Ribbon punch - This has to be THE cutest tool I've seen in a long time. Of course, you can make blue ribbons with it, but it's perfect for banners too!  I'll show you more in my Finally Friday Video this week!

3. Smash Date Stamp - this stamp is perfect for Project Life!  I love adding a quick date to my pages!

4. Crate Paper's Paper Heart collection - my favorite Valentine's day collection!  The designs can be used all year long & are GORGEOUS!

5.  Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher - I use this tool on a daily basis!  It's perfect for securing washi tape, ribbon, & can be used alone as a design element.  Trust me on this one.  You need this tool.  :)

From here, make your way to Kimber McGray's blog!  xoxo

Station Wagons Are Cool Again

I don't know about you, but I have fond childhood memories of riding in the wood paneled station wagon.  We always fought over who would get to sit in the back seat because it faced backwards - and that was just too cool!  Those were the days before seat belt laws were enforced - so thank goodness the tank never got rear-ended!  Yikes.

But... I digress.  I discovered this chipboard sticker set from October Afternoon & snatched it up as soon as I saw this adorable station wagon.  It was just meant to be.  :)  

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I paired it with one of my favorite Lawn Fawn stamps (the Polaroid image from Say Cheese) & some of Crate Paper's Paper Heart paper/chipboard.  The sentiment is from another Lawn Fawn set  (Cruising Through Life) & I thought it was just the thing!

I just love the vintage/retro products that are popping up everywhere!  They just make me happy.  Thanks for taking a peek!  :)


Card Supplies:

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Handmade Holiday Gifts

I love everything about the word "handmade."  There's just something about the mix of creativity & working with my hands that just fills me with happiness.  In fact, that's one of the main reasons I chose the name of my blog.  So many times after I make something, I think... I wonder if this is a teensy taste of how God felt when He created us?  I'm just so glad that he made us to be creative people.  It's just so much fun.  :)

Anyway... I wanted to share some holiday gifts I made for one of our gift exchanges this year.  I made these for a creative God-loving girl who's also an amazing photographer.

I designed this cute camera and uploaded it on my Silhouette software.  (Did you know that the Silhouette cuts fabric too?) 

I hand-stitched the pieces together, using some retro fabrics and denim.

And... here is the same camera image, only smaller.  Can I just reiterate how much I LOVE my Silhouette?  I finally feel like I can get the designs in my mind out onto paper (or fabric, etc.)  ;)

I added a little button for the lens (loved that that little idea worked!) and a Studio Calico sticker as a monogram.  In lieu of string, I ripped a piece of left-over fabric to hang my tag.

Here is another creation I made thanks to my lovely Silhouette.  :)  I wanted to try my hand at creating my own stencils... so I created this design using the Fabric Ink Starter Kit.  The kit is marketed to add inks to t-shirts, etc. - but it works really well for all sorts of things.

I bought a package of Moleskine journals from Target & applied paint to my cut design.

I was just super excited about how it turned out.  I'm thinking about making some more items using my logo & possibly putting them in my Etsy shop???

Thanks for letting me share my handmade gifties with you!  Sometimes I get a little overly excited when things actually turn out the way I want them to... and I just have to share with someone who's been there too.  ;)

Supplies: (click pictures for links)

InLinkz.com

Happy New Year {in cards}

Happy New Year!!!  I have a couple of festive cards that I recently made for Two Peas to share today.

This card was really fun to make (and SUPER simple!)  I pulled out some of my favorite Studio Calico products for this one.  I love the muted colors from their latest collections.

And.. this one is kind of a Christmas/New Years mix.  I guess I had all of the holidays on my mind when I made it.  The champagne glasses are from Lawn Fawn's Happily Ever After set.

All of the supplies used for these cards can be found in my Two Peas Gallery.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year!!!