I'm Sew Excited! Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

Okay, so technically I have not entered this card into a challenge and since these sewing themed cards are my current pride and joy I just had to join in the fun over at Moxie Fab.

Head on over, get inspried and take a look at the creative entries.  The black and white image on my card was downloaded from The Graphics Fairy.  The floral and striped paper are from The Thrift Shop collection (October Afternoon) and the last paper is from the Kaisercraft Timeless Collection.

Sentimental Sundays Challenge

Gosh, it has been a while since I have participated in a challenge but I could not resist this week's challenge from Sentimental Sundays.  The fact that my sister and I had made a set of cards this week using the most beautiful handmade flowers was an added bonus!

The tissue paper flower was made from a old pattern.  Simply cut out a few layers using a scalloped punch, staple them together in the centre and ruffle up the layers to "fluff" your blossom up.  If you read my post from yesterday you would already know that the crocheted flower was handmade, with love, by my mother.  Only a mother will do these things for you.  My sister and I packed up a an entire set of these sewing themed cards and our mother ended up making over 100 of these soft blossoms.  Sew sweet!

If you have never headed over to Sentimental Sundays then do yourself a favour and be sure to stop by for some inspiration and for a wonderful set of sentiments each and every Sunday.

Sew much fun ...

Hello all.  It has been a while since I have blogged but I wanted to stop in and share this card kit, which my sister and I put together for our shop, with you.  

I really enjoyed making these cards and love the quirky sentiments.  We even gave up our beautiful stash of vintage buttons to pack up the kits. Our mother was also roped into this kit and spent hours crocheting blossoms (more than 100 of them) for us.  

My mom is trying to teach my sister and I to crochet but I have to admit that it is not going too well for me.  I can barely get past making a chain and feel like I have 16 fingers on each hand with no comfortable way to hold everything.  Anyhow, I will persevere and hopefully one day I will be crocheting beautiful blankets for my own granchildren.  At least I have a good few years to learn before I become a grandma!

Winter is settling in here so hopefully more time indoors will mean more crafting.  In the meantime, my sister and I are kept so busy with projects and classes at the shop that I need to be content with that for now.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hopefully, I will be back soon.

A-tisket, a-tasket, a cute Easter Basket

Just stopping by to share this cute folded basket with you.  In fact you have probably seen it or come across it before.  This little basket was so quick and easy to make that it was almost disappointing.  A customer bought a basket like this into the shop and a quick search on the internet led me straight to a set of simple instructions on Splitcoast Stampers by Beate Johns.   This folded basket would make a great gift holder for all sorts of goodies and I will most definitely be using it over and over again.  If you really want to make it even quicker you could just use a sheet of double sided patterned paper and be done.  This one was made from a sheet of cardstock and embellished with squares of patterned paper with a contrasting cardstock mat.  Since the bunny has not been I did not have very much here to fill the basket but here it is.

One down and only a dozen or so to go. 

Baby Cards

I have been very busy this week preparing these pre-packed baby card kits.  Those gorgeous soft velvet frames are from the Making Memories "Pitter Patter" collection and they really add the finishing touch to these sweet baby images.  In fact, the cards really did not need much embellishing.  A pretty pearl here and there, a touch of cotton lace and some soft ribbon.

Ever wondered how many times you can remake the same card? Unfortunately, too many times if you ask me.  Because the cards were going to be packed as a kit they had to be remade with product that I knew for sure we could get in quantity.  It was fun but I think I have had enough of baby cards for now!

Each card had to be made up twice in order to mix up the sets.  One in pink ...

... and one in green.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you are all enjoying a restful Sunday.  I am off to hunt for some sweet royalty free retro/vintage kitchen images to use with the Kaiser release, Nan's Favourites.

 

Life and Card Kits

I have been prompted to share some personal stuff with you today after a message from a follower wondering where I have been.  This is what I love about the paper crafting industry - complete strangers being aware of the fact that you have not been around for awhile.  Unfortunately life has been in the way.  If you have the time and want to listen to me having a moment then read on, if not then skip to the good stuff at the bottom of this post.

Four and a half years ago I began a journey of self, self, self!  Mostly it involved me going through a crisis of never following my dreams, of never indulging in my own needs and of me never having the courage to take a chance.  Besides my children and family the one thing I am most passionate about is paper crafting and so I decided it was time to start turning some dreams into reality.  My sister and I decided to open a specialty scrap book shop together.  Not just any shop.  A shop where woman could come and escape, create, enjoy good coffee and great company.  A beautiful shop with fantastic service, awesome lessons and up to date stock.

It was a huge leap of faith opening the shop and with absolutely no money in hand and many declined loan applications I convinced my husband to loan the money on our mortgage.  It seemed like a good idea at the time but brings me to my current situation.  Despite the fact that we have managed to keep our doors open, the shop has not made a cent of profit and it has been so stressful trying to keep the doors open.  At some point I think we both realised that it was time to let go but we just could not walk away.  It is so hard to come so close but at the same time be so far.  My sister and I have worked hard, made many mistakes, laughed, fought and cried.  This business has proved to be a true test of all the relationships in our lives and a real challenge to our own well being.  It has been the most difficult road that I have ever travelled and at the moment it is completely breaking me down.  It has also been one of the most fulfilling things that I have ever done and we have met the most incredible people and friends along the way.  I am so proud of our shop and in many ways feel like it really has been a huge success and personal fulfillment for me.  However, the financial situation just keeps getting worse.  Online stores offer prices we cannot compete with, the economy keeps getting worse and the bills are mounting.  We cannot sell the business under the current conditions and our debt is overwhelming us.  My passion for creating is buried under all the stress and I just feel completely numb over the current situation.  I know this is unrealistic and I am so grateful for my health and for all the blessings I have in my life but unfortunately money is evil and creeps right into your spirit.  It keeps you up at night, makes you feel nauseas, causes strain on your marriage, turns you into a very grumpy mom and steals your creative mojo.  It is time to let go.  It has been on my mind all week and I am now at the end of the road and not sure which direction to take.

We have another 5 months left on our lease and we are doing all we can to keep it going.  There is a little crafting happening in between though so now that my therapy session is over (thanks for being such great listeners) I can show you what we have been up to.

This set of cards was created using the American Crafts Botanique range.  The collection was on sale and although it is not a range I would normally gravitate towards I like the end result.

We used the Tim Holtz Alteration Paper Rossette die which really is such a pleasure and well worth purchasing.  I think I am going to get lots of use from it.

The sentiments were printed onto the paper and cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Small.

We kept the cards simple and just added a few pearls, buttons and ribbon.

Of course we just could not resist adding a little Tim Holtz Tea Dye to the edges even though it really did not need it.

There are six cards in total.

Wow, that must be the longest and most emotional post I have done to date.  I am off to work tonight.  We packed 32 of these card kits and the classes are more social than work.  Everything is pre-cut and ready to stick.

Thanks again for stopping by.