Marie Antoinette Inspired Vintage Love

I am a huge fan of Marie Antoinette, her fanciful lifestyle, love of candy and her love of fashion. Although, she eventually lost her head, the world will be forever changed because of  her. I have started a line of Marie Antoinette inspired items. Enjoy...

Vintage Inspired ATC Cards

ArtI am currently in a swap on the Cricut MB which is entitled: Vintage Swap With A Twist. I finished all my items by the due date of October 15. Our hostess is and was very busy trying to get all the items done and organized and we ended up having one flaker in a few groups. I asked her if she needed an "angel," and she did. I needed to create more ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) that were vintage inspired. So, here are more Vintage Inspired ATC's. The ATC's that read: When I was just a little girl and I asked my mother what will I be, Will I be pretty, will I be rich... Those were lyrics from a song sung by Doris Day entitled "Que, Sera." With the baby ATC's I used a paper butterfly and attached it to the back of the baby and cut the baby out of the picture and sat her on the bird.

A Random Act of Kindness from a Dear Friend Michelle

A few days ago, I went to my mailbox and found a package there that brought a huge smile to my face. Recently, I have met so many wonderful ladies on the Cricut Messageboards and we have a tendinacy to mail RAK's (Random Acts of Kindness) to those we feel need a little spirit lifter from time to time. Michelle created a beautiful handmade card which she embellished and altered and sent me some amazing little Victorian Embellishments which I will use soon. I just wanted to thank her publically and show the world that something as simple as a nice card or letter can make the differance in a person's life.

Wishes Do Come True

Recently, on the Cricut Message Boards I joined in on the Wish List thread. What you needed to do was to grant someone's wish (es) of a person who granted anothers wish, sort of like a pay-it-forward theme, or a RAK (Random Act of Kindness). I granted 2 peoples wishes and in turn 2 people granted mine. Today in the mail I receieved a package from Catalynsmommy and Jewels19. I loved everything and thank them from the bottom of my heart!
Catalynsmommy( Package of Pre-Cut Chipboard to alter along with doorknob hangers to alter):

The second came from Jewels19 who lives in Canada and got to me super fast. She altered a wooden box for me, and included some goodies:

Cupcake Birthday Card

Cupcakes are so adorable and with many birthdays fast approaching in my family, I decided to make a cupcake birthday card for my niece. I used the Wildcard Cricut Cartridge and Cutting machine, stickles, brads, lace and cardstock to create this little card. The glitter mat stack was wonderful to use as the "icing" on the cupcake and gave it a sparkly and yummy look.

“All That I Am” Embellished Mother’s Day Card Friday Challenge

  
   Knowing that Mother’s Day is fast approaching, I knew that I needed to get, make or buy a Mother’s Day card for my beloved Mother. Each year, I stroll down countless aisles of “generic” or “mass-produced” cards to try and find the “right words” that describe my undying and grateful love for my mother. This year I decided that I would make my mother a card that said what I wanted it to say and have her and I weaved and created throughout my card. First, I was stumped on where to begin. My mind had been in a fog for quite some time. Then and idea came to mind and I decided to check out a new blogging website that I have grown quite fond of: Practical Scrappers. There I found a wonderful “Friday Challenge” for the week of April 9, 2010, where one of the Practical Scrappers design team members, Gloria, created a pattern or example to follow.

To find her challenge, click on the following link below.
                                                                 Practical Scrappers Blog Website

   So I dug out my paper, glues, brads, ribbon, charms, chipboard, images and many other embellishments. The front of the card has many layers to give it dimension and add interest to the eye. I love lace and doilies and added them to the front and in the inside of the card. I used bling around the “Happy Mother’s Day” sentiment. More bling in the form of adhesive Pearls were added to the upper right hand of the card. The ribbon lace has been run through a metal brad ribbon holder. I used the Clearsnap Cat’s Eye Chalk Ink throughout the entire card. I used a Martha Stewart Lace Border punch and Fiskars “Icing on the Cake” Embossed and Border Punch. To create the dragonflies, I used the Martha Stewart Dragonfly Punch. I altered a metal bottle cap and before I hammered the edges down, I added a pink diamond pattern paper, with the words “I love you” with a tiny bumble bee which is on the upper portion inside the card. I created my own sentiments for my mom. The sentiments on the upper portion reads: All that I am…; Because of you…

   The sentiments in the lower half of the card read:

Traveling on the road of life,

There are paths we must choose to take,

To help us fully realize that it was the little

Stops along the way that made for our best

Hopes, Dreams and Memories.

   I wanted the back of the card to be just as special as the rest of its counterparts and so used the dragonfly punch to make 3 dragonflies on the dark red paper. In between the dragonflies, I placed a vintage pink and white button between the spaces. I used a 7 gypsies Romantique label sticker and placed the word “Smile ” on it using double sided tape and mini black brads. I used mini white brads to further secure the label.

A few months ago, I picked up a stamp that I truly loved and it reads:

If you had any idea

How long it took me

To make this card, you

Would never throw it away.

   So, you may be wondering how long this card took me to make? Let’s just say around 5 hours. Yes, you read right. I wanted everything on the card to read and show how much impact my mother had on me. Mom, if you are reading this, I love you with all of my heart, and all that I am is because of you…

To All Those Dear, Special and Wonderful Women in Our Lives:

            Happy Mother's Day!

Little Girl's Pink Ballerina Dress Card and Scrapbooking Embellishment

       
       One day I was needing a ballerina embellishment to add some depth to a scrapbook page I was making. I searched endlessly through my Cricut Cartridge Collection, and nothing extraordinary appeared. So, I started to trace a pattern onto some cardboard and made my own dress. I used a heavy duty pink cardstock for the base of the dress and some frosted vellum to create a mesh sort of skirt. I distressed the edges of the little dress. When I made the small little V belt, I added a small flower and on others these little beady things that us crafters call: Skittles. I further enhanced it with a little strand of connected pearls that are normally found down the Wedding Aisle at stores. I used glue dots to piece everything together. I found the perfect quote and printed it out and used foam to  lift the quote from the cardstock that it was on. My page was complete and I truly enjoyed making the first one so I ended up making another 20 all hand cut and home-made. This would surely brighten any girls page, or to add to a card.

All Kinds of Handmade One-of-a-Kind All Occasion Cards (Birthday, Anniversary,New Baby, Wedding, get-well, Cancer, & others

                         Before I started doing scrapbooking, I enjoyed making cards. Sometimes it is just plain hard to find that "perfect" card for that "special person and occasion." My solution was to make a card to fit the occasion and the reciever of the card. I used all sorts of techniques for the cards and used a variety of glues, foam, distressed, added charms, well, let's just say if the card making technique is out there, then I most likely have made it. The following cards are just a small sampling of what sort of cards I have made. The card with the tree is a magnet and there is a quote underneath.There are a few that I have made for those who have had cancer and the people I have given them to have told me that it was such a blessing a spirit lifter for them. I have a rubber stamp that says: If you knew how long it took me to make this card, you'd never throw it out. So, here we go:

Beautiful Handmade Cards and Prima Inspriration Easter Paint Can

During a recent Easter Paint can swap, I had two partners who created some of the most beautiful items, cards, cans and blessed me with so many scrapbooking, crafting items. I recieved 3 of the most beautiful handmade cards that have so much detail, ribbon, bling and embossed paper, and much more. I think the cards and the Paint can were my most favorite from my wonderful partner -*Kristina*-.

Here are some various angles of the Paint can and all of the wonderful goodies inside:

Another surprise in the package was the most adorable "cupcake" towel holder wrapped with purple mesh type materials. Kristina is so talented. These would make wonderful hostess gifts, bridal shower gifts, wedding gifts, parties and much more. It is so beautiful I don't have the heart to use it at the moment.