My Mind's Eye Challenge & A Sweet Gift for Cindy...

My Mind's Eye has Card Challenge #31 going on over at their blog, so I thought I would play along. I am recently obsessed with all the glitter MME has been using on lots of their papers.  Lost & Found II is so beautiful! I also adore the new FunDay Collections, I think I must have purchased every single bit of it. The kraft paper and the wood veneer banner pieces are the coolest! As for the card itself, the springboard for my creation is that of Anam Stubbington's amazing sketch. I used to work on her design team at Twisted Sketches, and I loved every second of it. Anam's designs always "push" me to a new level of thinking with my creativity. She always couples it with a theme to make it extra challenging. :)

My cousin Cindy's birthday was on Wednesday, and what a perfect excuse to create such an elaborate card. :) I used lots of different MME products to create this little gem...

MME Lost & Found II: Sunshine "Memories" Blossoms Paper, Rosy "Everything" Acrylic Stamps
MME Lost & Found Christmas: Peace Paper
MME Lost & Found: Union Square Brads
MME Kraft FunDay: Everyday Fun Wood Banners, Happy Days Die-Cut Borders

There is lots of layering on this card which includes machine stitching and foam dots for extra dimension. (I told you I would be showing off my new found sewing skills!) Love, love, love the feel of a sewn card. It has such a finished look that seems to "hold" everything together. :)

In addition to Cindy's card, I found this sweet "hat box" purse at an estate sale a year ago. I have been hoarding it since then to find the perfect way to update it with a little extra. I created the big flower on the front using burgundy and red dupioni silk. I did lots of layering underneath to give it a more rounded, realistic look. I also added a Webster's Pages Berry Bouquet & some black pokkadot feathers. On the inside I added a baroque frame around the mirror. I filled it with fluffy kraft krinkles and a journal with matching red houndstooth pencils for a finishing touch. I love the way the gift "ensemble" turned out. I know I get a little crazy with the way I coordinate my gifting, but to me the presentation is the most fun. :)

I thank you again for stopping by and always appreciate your comments. You all inspire me to continue doing what I do. Have a wonderful weekend and happy crafting!
Amy

All We Need Is Love @ Paper Issues!!!

 Valentine's is officially one month away, and what a great time to start preparing for the love!  Paper Issues' newest theme is "All We Need Is Love."  From now thru  February 14 we will be celebrating the upcoming holiday by featuring some "sweet" creations made by you!  Be sure to link up your images and share the love!  :)

To get your creative juices flowing, I would like to share with you some of my Valentine creations...


"Wings of Love" (pictured above) has to be one of my favorite mosaic creations I have made to date.  I made it a few years ago and thought I would share it with all of you!  Basically what initially inspired it was the very ornate embossed heart in the center.  It is the lid of an old ceramic jewelry box...one of my many treasured estate sale finds.  I created the wings from a vintage vase.  The background paper is from Paper Mojo.  The damask aqua & copper were the perfect dramatic backdrop.  Don't you agree?


 Also, here are two of some of my rather intricate Valentines I created this past year.  The XOXO card was created for a Valentine Swap.  The red heart on the wings is actually a functioning heart lock.  Isn't it the cutest?  The LOVE card I made for my husband.  You are probably wondering why I added the kelly green?  He loves all things Irish, and I thought it would add a nice personal touch.  :)

I hope to create lots of Valentines sweets to share with you over the next month.  Won't you share your sweets with us?  http://www.paperisssues.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Amy

Sewing Love & ELEVEN83 Designs Giveaway!!!

I was at my mom's house the other day and decided it was time to just hang out and piddle around with her sewing machine.  There are lots of you creative geniuses out there who drive me nuts with your sewing capabilities, and I have been very anxious to "try" and sew on paper like many of you do.  I took home ec like 20 years ago and I don't recall anything about sewing other than it was extremely frustrating...needles breaking, string tangling up like crazy, sewing hideous darts and zippers.  No thanks! 

Basically I have not attempted to sew anything with a machine since then.  My mother is a sewing guru, so I have always just gone to her with any sewing projects.  Three years ago my mom got me a sewing machine for Christmas and I had yet to take it out of the box.  Yes you heard me right, three years!  After tinkering on her machine for 3 hours the other night, those days are over!  I just took it out of the box this morning, and I must say that it looks beeeuutiful!  I need to clean and better organize my craft area and find it the perfect home...permanently on my crafting table for quick access.  Plan to see lots of sewing on my creations in the near future...it is so addicting and fun!  Check out what I did on mom's machine the other day...I think I did a pretty good job following the curves if I do say so myself!  :)

Now onto the really good stuff!  I have a dear friend, Ms. Lindsi who is extremely creative and rather new to the blogging world.  I encouraged her to start a blog awhile back and she took the plunge!  Won't you stop by her amazing blog and show her some love?  Let's welcome her to this crazy blogging world we all live in!  :)  When you are there, be sure to check out her gorgeous Valentine's canvases...Valentine's canvases...she is giving away TWO of them!  Lindsi's blog is ELEVEN83 Designs.

That's all I have for now.  Stay tuned on Saturday, as we reveal the newest theme over at Paper Issues!
Amy

We've Got Your Number & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Paper Issues has unveiled the latest theme, "We've Got Your Number." What a perfect time for me to share another one of my most recent calendars. :)

Since Jack has been in Kindergarten, I have presented each of his teachers with a handmade calendar for Christmas. With Jack being in the 2nd Grade now, this is the 3rd one. Trying to get custom orders completed for the impending Christmas deadline, I always run short on time for this special gift. Jack really stressed as to whether I would get it done this year. It was two days before Christmas Break and I still hadn't even started it. To ease Jack's mind, I approached his teacher and told her that Jack would be bringing his gift to her the next morning. She smiled and said that she was really looking forward to it. (She had been told by Jack's 1st Grade teacher that the calendar she had received last year had to be the best teacher's gift she has received in 20 years of teaching!) Needless to say, I knew a gift certificate wouldn't suffice so I was determined to burn the midnight oil until complete.

I created this calendar using lots of my typical vintage ephemera with some scrapbooking pretties thrown in for extra color. The background paper is from the Rosy "Remember" Lost & Found Collection Two by MME. I LOVE the glittered damask border and the imagery at the bottom. When photographing the calendar, I really tried to capture the "sparkle" but unfortunately these photos don't do the paper justice. In addition to My Mind's Eye, I used some Jenni Bowlin, Pink Paislee, Maya Road, Prima, Fancy Pants & Martha Stewart to name a few.

I truly hope that Ms. Estes adores her new calendar. I know Jack was beaming upon presenting it to her, and that makes me happy. :)

As for Paper Issues, we would LOVE to see what you have to share! What do "numbers" mean to you? Please link up your projects here! Also, be sure to check out Paper Issues on Etsy. Loads of fun goodies currently on sale for 20% off! Just use code LOVE20 at checkout.

Thanks for stopping by; but most of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR'S 2012!!!