StarLitStudio

gift combo

This pretty floral print was in the paper stash - no idea who made it but the flowers had a shiny gloss to them.  Vintage text, leftover rosette from this project.  Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  Rose scalloped Venise lace.

Card interior features another PTI sentiment, and a leftover strip of the Lagoon cardstock (Memory Box).

A mini notebook was made with a PTI lined notepad to mimic the card.

I like the lined envelope (PTI die) and how these all coordinate - I'm making another one for a gift...wish I had bought more of this lovely floral paper.  This ensemble is in the etsy store. Thanks for stopping by today!

bye bye Irene & Halloween pocket cards

It was an experience Hurricane Irene, and we're glad you're gone.  If there are any Irene's reading this don't you wish they'd identify hurricanes numerically?  I search the hurricane name list every year when it comes out and am always thankful when my name is not on there, ya know?

We lost power for a few hours in the middle of the night (Sunday morning), lots of wind and rain, but other than having to backwash the pool and spend a few hours of cleaning up branches we're good to go.  Lots of downed trees and flooding in lower surrounding areas - I've heard Princeton is a mess.  Overall I feel we are quite fortunate and very lucky, and thankful we are on high ground.

I've been busy making a few Halloween cards...Halloween cards to me are an effective way to get the school photos of the kids (their photos arrive near the holiday) into the hands of family that don't get to see the kids much during the year due to time and distance. 

Or maybe they just can't stand us. 

This one is my favorite design of the two. 

These cute skull and bones stickers are from Jolee's Boutique.  Computer generated sentiment.  Cardstock is October Afternoon Night Light.

(the kids' pics shown are from last year)

Web punch is from Martha Stewart (newer version here), and round vertical die is from Papertrey Ink. 

Pocket card measures 4-1/2" x 6-1/4" - the card base is a non-gusseted, brown paper bag from this collection.  I assembled the patterned paper and sentiment strip, then stitched through all layers, so the sentiment strip is neatly attached, but yet still free-flowing.  Thanks for stopping by today!

balsa fence

Having read The Repurposed Library I ordered some 3" x 1/8" balsa strips to make an altered book box - tutorial online here.  A piece of balsa was left by the die cut machine, and one thing led to another...

Using a Papertrey die I cut the fence for this card, and used a leftover Penny Black sticker.  The edges of the balsa fence were inked slightly using Distress Antique Linen ink.  Vintage text, PTI button and some darling lace on a Parsley card base.

I used the Penny Black stamp with this image on the card interior, along with Papertrey Ink sentiments.  I experimented with balsa die cuts and Distress Stains - more to come this week.  Best wishes for a great week!

let them customize their cards

One of my neighbors teaches math at the local high school, where my oldest child is starting next month.  Last week she kindly took my daughter on a tour of the buildings and walked her through her schedule.  Much apprehension has been relieved, and I am ever so thankful for her kindness.

I wanted to create something special and custom for her, and I came up with this:  a series of cards wherein she can customize the interior to suit her needs.  I die cut around eighteen identical shapes (Spellbinders) and stamped various sentiments (Papertrey Ink) on them.

On each card interior, I cut a strip of Glue Lines, secured the strip but left the clear, protective layer.  She can select which sentiment she needs, and adhere the die cut of her choosing.
Torn sheets from a vintage text were used, along with tan Magic Mesh (remember Magic Mesh?) and some old SU hardware.  Floral stickers are from Penny Black, accented with Glintz.  Chenille dot ribbon is from May Arts.  This layout is from an ancient (maybe 2005, 2006?) SU catalog - whatever year they came out with their Hodgepodge Hardware.

I secured the Magic Mesh to a piece of cardstock (slightly smaller than the folded card base) using a mini stapler.  Finished size of each card:  4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

Packaged the cards, postage, envelopes, protective cardstock layers and the stamped sentiment die cuts into a pretty presentation box. 

She loved it.

Thanks for stopping by today and best wishes for a great weekend!

just a note

This cardstock color is long retired from Memory Box, but I am still in love with this color.  Spellbinders tag die with Want2Scrap bling.  Tag cardstock is Robin's Egg.  Ribbon was aged using Sprinklers Brown Bag, lots of spritzes of water and seam binding.

Paper rosette uses retired 7gypsies French script patterned paper, and old vintage shell buttons from grlyhead on etsy.  I love using these old buttons.

Daisy venise lace was securely adhered with red line tape.  Stamped sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  Natural linen thread was run through the button twice, formed into a bow then secured the bow knot with Glossy Accents.  Thank you for stopping by today!

get well

Computer generated name and sentiment.  I stamped a text image over the name, punched out (1" circle punch), and repeated this process with the bottle caps.

Ribbon is USA made from Strano Designs called Hazel, and the flower is Prima.  Sticker is from Penny Black and I've enhanced the flower centers with clear Glintz using Mini Glue Dots. Memory Box Currant card base - 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" and Papertrey leaf border die; Spellbinders backdrop using Licorice cardstock (Memory Box).

Spellbinders die with a Papertrey sentiment on white cardstock.  This was a custom card for a friend - the lady for whom this card was made had back surgery and I hope she is doing well.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Moxie Fab Sketch Challenge

Playing along on Moxie Fab with their Shaped Sketch Challenge.  You gonna play too?  It's a fabulous sketch:

 
Sketch #66 by Nina Bracket.

What I used:  Hero Arts sentiment from their Just Saying Hi set, combined with October Afternoon 5&Dime papers, tin pins and chipboard pieces.  The half circles are on the left edge of the chip 'n stick:

Memory Box Thistle and Parsley cardstocks used.

Everything used to create this card was made in the USA. 

Finished card size:  5-1/4" square.  Thanks for stopping by today!

the turquoise trend

Loving the turquoise trend.

The audubon word stamp is from Impression Obsession.  I used it on the envelope exterior and on the card interior.  Papers are from a Crafty Secrets notepad; script paper is retired 7gypsies.  Card base is Memory Box Robin's Egg.  Prima flower, pretty crochet ribbon with slim teal velvet ribbon woven with a large tapestry needle. 

Dyed seam binding ribbon was made using October Afternoon Sprinklers and Distress Stain - more info here.

Sparkle flourish is from Zva, pearl pins were accented with bead caps and pearl beads.  Thanks for stopping by today and best wishes for a great week!

grunge gears birthday card

Quietfire sentiment - stamped on a piece of white cardstock burnished with Antique Linen and Walnut Ink Distress inks.  Patterned paper is Idea-ology Retro Grunge.  Card base is from Memory Box.

Gadget Gears die from Sizzix - diecuts were cut from white cardstock and inked with Distress inks.  Phillips and flat head style brads source is unknown.

Interior sentiments are from Papertrey Ink.  Best wishes for a great weekend!

paper rosette invites

My neighbor and friend turns 50 and asked me to make her invites...required lots and lots of paper rosettes...

Started with October Afternoon's Lemon Drops and used Sizzix's Paper Rosette die.  Assembly video tutorial on these paper rosettes using this die is here.

To speed the process of assembling each rosette, I pushed the accordion-folded circle down on a glass surface (glass is slick and it speeds the process), then secured the wrong side with a foam square (available at office supply stores).

If you have foam tape (I had almost enough foam squares) just use two strips to quickly secure the rosette.  The foam squares are faster though.

Flip the paper rosette over to the right side and apply Glossy Accents to the center and surrounding center area.

Firmly press the pinked circle that accompanies this die over the Glossy Accents.

Apply a weight - I'm using a very heavy tape measurer here.  Leave sit for maybe 20 seconds.

To keep the production line going, it's easier if the Glossy Accents bottle is kept inverted.  To achieve this I use a small vase.

These will make a bunch of invites...

Printed on a laser printer using Memory Box Parchment, punched with a one-inch circle punch and adhered to a strip of Glue Dots.

Using the Glue Dot I adhered each printed circle to a bottle cap, the affixed a clear dome sticker...

...then ran them through a die cut machine, effectively smashing (okay you are crimping, but I love the sound of them smashing!) them. Very kewl effect.  The die cut machine firmly presses the clear epoxy sticker in place as well.

I opted to cut a larger pinked circle (Spellbinders) and adhere that over the smaller pinked circle.

A few rosettes were left over - here's what I did with them - reserved these for future cards or notebooks or something clever.  Prima rose leaves - center patterned paper from the stash.  Happy Friday!!