Feelin' Retro...

Here is a simple card that I created for (yet another!) June Birthday. However, it could certainly work for many other occasions, like Mother's Day or Hello Friend. I found the inspiration for this card in my April/May 2008 issue of Paper Crafts magazine. Leslie Webster designed her "Stylish Pleated Dress Card" using Bambi64's template from the SplitCoastStampers' website. (I have cleaned up Bambi64's pattern and saved it in PDF format. You can download it here.) For my dress, I added my own personal touches using a piece of velvet ribbon and a fabric rose which I hand-sewed to my card.

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Assorted Box of Cards from DCWV; Classic K McKenna Mat Pad by K&Company
• Patterned Paper: Rosey Nook Blossoms from Scrapbook Walls line by Chatter Box; Retro Beads from Paper Pizazz line by Hot Off the Press
• Fibers: Dashes, Dots & Checks ribbon by Michaels
• Accents: ribbon rose
• Template: from SplitCoastStampers.com member Bambi64

Finished Size 4.25" x 5.5".

So Honored...

I was oh-so-pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Tammy Morrill last month. Tammy is the editor of Paper Trends, one of my favorite magazines. Anyway, Tammy wrote me asking if I would like to be a part of their "1 Sketch, 4 Styles" feature for their October/November issue. I was (and still am!) sooo honored! This is the first time that a publisher has specifically approached me to be in their magazine -- as opposed to my flooding them with my submissions!

As the issue is coming out at the end of the year, I chose to create a card with a Christmas theme based on their sketch. I titled it "Holly and Snowflakes." I hope all of you Paper Trends readers enjoy my design! (My blog readers will be able to see the card posted here in December.)

With their acceptance of this card, I will have not one, not two, but THREE of my creations in one magazine! WOO HOO!!! A new record for me!

Happy Birthday, Everyone!

June is a very big birthday month here amongst the Sgro friends and family (including Yours Truly!). So in honor of all the June birthdays out there, here are two simple birthday cards that I created this month...

Happy Birthday Flowers I


Both of the cards in this Birthday series are variations on my "Wishing You Flowers" card that I designed last year. I began by printing my sentiment on a piece of transparency film which I then trimmed to 5" x 10" and folded in half to create my card base. I attached a 4" square of double-sided patterned cardstock to the back of my card with eyelets. I then arranged my plastic flowers across the front of the card, attaching them with colorful brads.

Bonus Tip! When attaching the flowers to the transparency film, first pierce a hole in the film using a paper piercer or pin.

Supplies:

• Patterned Paper: Brenda Walton Neopolitan Mat Pad by K&Company
• Transparency Sheet: for inkjet printers by 3M
• Accents: Watercolor Brite mini circle brads, flower brads & eyelets by Making Memories, Greenhouse plastic flowers by American Crafts

Happy Birthday Flowers II


For this second card, I started with the same base design as the previous card. But for this card, I decided to create a softer, feminine feel using a pastel swirl double-sided patterned paper and silk flowers instead of the previous plastic variety. I folded a silk leaf in half and adhered it using Glue Dots. I then clustered my silk flowers in the center of the card front, attaching them with brads. For additional dimension and layering effect, I folded some of the silk flowers in half and tucked them under the attached flowers, using more Glue Dots.

Supplies:

• Patterned Paper: Wedding Multi Mat Pad by K&Company
• Transparency Sheet: for inkjet printers by 3M
• Accents: Watercolor Brite mini circle brads & eyelets by Making Memories
• Silk Flowers & Leaf: Michaels Stores

Finished Size 5" x 5".

Bonus Tip! Both cards are easily adaptable to any occasion - wedding, anniversary, friend, sympathy, etc.