The PaperPeasant

Antique Bottles Sketched

At times I do a few extra "random" cards {just because I can!} for my "Maine Mom," because she likes to send out all different types of cards. I know she enjoys the ones that can be used for any occasion which is why I make ones such as this.

I picked up this stamp at the local crafting store and when I saw the etching detail on it, I knew it had to be stamped on watercolor paper and then distressed! I have an aunt that ran an antique store at one time and I remember on multiple occasions venturing through her store to look at all the unique items she had on display. Her store was in a little country store in Maine and her style was very vintage, antique and I fell in love with it! I always dreamed of moving in to her antique store when I grew up, which of course couldn't happen....you can't take up residence in an antique store {Or, can you??} lol!

I stamped this image on watervolor paper using Momento's London Fog - I like how it softens the edges of the image on the paper. Still not giving the antique look I wanted, I pulled out the walnut distressing ink and aged it a bit.

Next came the Prisma pencils - I can't see this image being colored in anything other than Prismas! Lots of edge distressing, added another random layer off to the side (embossed with swirls), complimented by a beautiful sheer gold ribbon and the finished product is "antiquey" beautiful!!

I love these types of cards as they are simple to make but are so natural in their appearance. That's me....simple and natural through and through!

Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

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"Ready....Set....Christmas Cards!!"

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Ok, so it's a tad bit on the early side for Christmas but not for Christmas cards....especially if you're a crafter and need to make sure you have all yours made before the holiday season begins!

It's Week #4 over at Perfect Sentiments blog and boy do we have a challenge that we know you'll love! This week we're creating a Season's Greeting card that reflects a sentiment of Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah using the following sketch:

I fell in love with this challenge and right from the start I envisioned a red and white candy cane looking card....guaranteed to get anyone into the mood for the holidays!! I'll admit.... although I knew what I wanted to make, what was in my head took all afternoon to put together, but I'm oh so pleased with the results!

Here's how I did a few of the "Special affects":

Across the top are three top layers, the bottom was cut 1 3/4" x 4 1/8" and then punched using the EK Success Zipper Edge Punch. I laid a piece of white card stock on top of that measuring 1 3/8" x 4 1/8". I then punched a red strip of paper measuring 1 2/4" x 4 1/8" using the Martha Stewart's Infinite Loops punch. It looked to be a little lonely to me so I topped this off with red gems {ohh lala!}

Did you notice the ribbon candy embellishment? Are you drooling with envy wondering "how did she do that"? Well, sorry to disappoint you but it was quite simple for me to do. See.....it's an embellishment sold by Martha Stewart back a few years ago (sold in red and also in blue) and I bought up a bunch of them when they were on clearance...... I didn't make this one but it did make me curious as to how it was made by them so I tore one apart and am working on making one of my own....if I'm successful, I'll be sure to share a video so you all know how to make it as well!!

The Sentiment Stamp {Merry Christmas To You And Yours} is from Waltzing Mouse Stamps Christmas Cottage Collection. I can see this being used on many cards this holiday season!  

It's time to start making your Holiday cards and you can start your launch into the season by joining along in our challenge at Perfect Sentiments! If you join us, you'll have a chance to win a free digital image from our very talented sponsor Pattie Gomez! be sure to stop by Pattie's Etsy store and see all she has available!

 Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

 

For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
creations:

Jennipher 

Samantha   

Sarah

Abby

Jan

Kimberly

Rochelle

Shaunna

Stacey

Tere

"Family Collage......In 3d!"

I've ventured outside of my crafting box in an effort to learn new techniques and to use elements which I may not work with on a regular basis. I've had these canvases sitting in my studio for some time, begging me to put them to use, so I took the plunge!

I began with a canvas which is about 11' x 17". I got out several colors of distressing in and began to blend them with my Tim Holtz blender on the canvas. I learned quickly that canvas material is very forgiving if you're willing to be abstract with it. I inked up a section with one color, applied another, rubbed them together and applied more color if I was so inclined.

Once I was satisfied with the inks, I began t build the collage which would rest on top of the canvas. I cut the base squares at 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" - I find that keeping things square for collages makes them much easier to work with! The next layer is 2 1/" x 2 1/8". Once I had all of these cut out I began digging through boxes and bins to locate embellishments to top the squares with. Once I had all the squares built, I began placing them on the canvas but quickly realized that using the word "Family" required a picture so 4 of the squares had to go and were replaced with the center picture.

Once the canvas had all the squares on it, I felt it was missing something (crafters intuition!!) so I wandered through the house looking for something I could use as an accent across the top of the canvas. I took a twigg from the bedroom basket (it won't be missed) and combined that with this gorgeous wood flower which came in a diffuser bottle my sister gave me (Never throw those flowers away!!). I added some nice greenery I found in a box and added a little distressing ink to the flower. I tied twine around each end of the sticks to hold them together and used a glue gun to hold everything into place on the top of the canvas.

The finished canvas is now displayed in my kitchen and I must say, it adds a nice fall feeling to the room! The picture of my Dad and two nieces, Vali and Morgan makes me smile as they are all special people in our family!

Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

"Get Well" My Friend With Breast Cancer.....

It's week #3 over at Perfect Sentiments and time to join in on the 3rd challenge! Our challenge this week was to create a "Get Well" card that uses embossing, whether wet or dry. Join in on the creative fun, and to enter the challenge for a chance to win a $15.00 grab bag being sponsored by Sarah from "My Little Somethings"!

My card this week was a purposeful one, as I had previously decided that I was going to create something that would tie in to Breast Cancer Awareness month. You’re probably looking at the “Get Well” sentiment and wondering “how does that tie into it?”

Let me explain the purpose of my card and why I chose to create it……

This “Get Well” card was made for all those who are fighting the battle of Breast Cancer. There would be no way for me to create and mail each of you a card (I would if I could), so please accept my “virtual” card and this letter….it was created just for you…..

Dear Cancer Patient,

We may know each other, or maybe not. We may live in the same town, or thousands of miles apart. I may have walked the halls of the hospital where you were getting your chemotherapy, your radiation or your mastectomy, or, I may not even know the name of the facility or hospital you have been treated in.

We may know each other, or maybe not. Maybe we have sat side by side at the hairdressers; me getting a “new duo” and you getting a new hair piece. We may have shopped in the same department store, me for a new glitzy style, or you for a smaller size dress because you lost so much weight.

We may know each other, or maybe not. It's possible that we both attended church on Sunday, praying to God about our life struggles, asking Him to send an extra dose of love our way. I’m sure our struggles are quite different...yours being much greater than mine.

We may know each other, or maybe not. We may have cried, each with our own families…..me, because I was frustrated with how my life was going, and you, because you were frustrated with how your life was going…..obviously our frustrations are quite different, yours are obviously much greater than mine.

We may know each other, or maybe not. I wish I could meet you, talk with you, shake your hand, give you a hug, cry with you, wipe your tears and fight your disease right alongside you. I wish I could stop at your home or work or hospital room one day and tell you I had the cure and you were going to “Get Well”. I can’t tell you I have a cure because I don't and because I probably don’t know you, I can’t do any of these other things either. I’m sorry for this…..I truly am.

We may know each other, or maybe not. But for today, what I can do is offer you this card and letter, and tell you that it is sent from my heart. I may not know you, but with this card comes a prayer, from me to you; it was prayed especially for you because I want you to “Get Well”.

Please be strong, and on those days when you can’t be, just know that I pray for your strength to one day return. Also know that myself and many others may not know you but we do care about you and we want you to “Get Well.” You are fearfully and wonderfully made and for that, I thank God for the opportunity to pray for you and to send you this card and letter.

By sending you this card, and you accepting it, along with this letter, I’d like to think that you are also accepting my prayers and my friendship. Through this heartfelt “Get Well”, from me to you…….now we know each other and that feels good to me.

My special new friend…..Get Well…….

Theresa

P.S. If you know of someone who should receive my card and this letter that were made especially for them, would you pass it along and tell them I'm glad we have met?

 For additional information, or to become involved with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation

For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
creations:

Jennipher 

Samantha   

Sarah

Lynn

Abby

Jan

Kimberly

Rochelle

Shaunna

Shelly 

Stacey

Tere

 

Perfect Sentiments Friendship Challenge!

It's week #2 over at  Perfect Sentiments and time to join in on the 2nd challenge! I'm so excited to be able to create designs for the challenges being promoted over at Perfect Sentiments and I hope youll join in and enjoy the creative fun as well!

Today’s Challenge can be found by visiting the Perfect Sentiment website (keyword: PSC02). This  2nd challenge is "Friendship” and provides a beautiful inspiration peice! I am excited and blessed with the opportunity to share with you my contribution for this challenge!

Our sponsor for this week is Leah at Heart Song Designs and boy does she some spectacular images for you to see!  Please be sure to visit Leah at Heart Song Designs and let her know that Perfect Sentiments sent you! Heart Song Designs is going to be giving our lucky winner a free digital image from the shop so be sure to enter your creation for a chance to win!

My creation comes as a result of the color pallette provided by Perfect Sentiments (aren't these colors wonderful?). We also had to design the card around the topic of friendship which I believe makes for a wonderful combination! I set out on a mission to my favorite local craft supply store to locate the perfect paper and embellishments for this and then got down to "creation business" with putting my ideas into action!

Last week, over at SplitCoastStampers Beate demonstrated, with a tutorial, how to construct a Double Z-Fold Card and I just knew that I would have to use this as a card base for this weeks challenge! I love how all the wonderful, vibrant colors melt together in this design and create the perfect friendship card! I have a very special friend in mind for this card and can tell you that she deserves to get a special friendship card every day of the week!

Now it’s your turn!! Please join me and the rest of our talented design team over at Perfect Sentiments and link your project by Tuesday at 10PM (EST) for a chance to win Heart Song Designs prize and you just may be selected as one of our “Perfect 3”!! (Winners of our "Perfect 3" will be announced on Friday so be sure to check back in to see who wins!)

For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
creations:

Jennipher 

Samantha   

Sarah

Lynn

Abby

Jan

Kimberly

Rochelle

Shaunna

Shelly 

Stacey

Tere

 

Hope you enjoy! Until next time!

Theresa

 

It’s Perfect Sentiment’s Challenge Blog Launch Day!!

Hello everyone! Is there any chance that you are excited as I am about today? Perfect Sentiments is launching their challenge blog and we all get to join in on the fun!

Today’s Challenge can be found by visiting the Perfect Sentiment website (keyword: PSC01). The first challenge is “Perfect Sentiment/Perfect Product” which to make a sympathy card using lace!! As a Perfect Sentiments Design Team Member, I am blessed with the opportunity to share with you my contribution for this challenge!

Our sponsor for this week is Stef over at Glitterbabe’s and I got to work with one of her fantastic digital images! Please be sure to visit Stef at Glitterbabe’s and let her know that Perfect Sentiment sent you. She’s going to be giving away $10 to her store which is enough to get 3 digi’s so be sure to stop in and see her and link to her store!

My creation includes one of Glitterbabe's wonderful digi images {lucky me!!} When I received the image, and knew it would be incorporated into a sympathy card using lace, my muse kicked in and led me to create a card which had a vintage feel to it. The image is printed on vellum and colored with Copics.

Once everything was ready to put together, I suddenly realized that I didn’t ha ve access to any lace because all of my sewing supplies are packed away in the closet. A need for lace……No lace to be found…..solution……cut it off of something!! {oh  yes I did!!} I didn’t care for that top anyway so it’s all good! {teehee!!} It was a worthy donation and I’m pleased with its contribution! Once I soaked the lace in distressing ink, it fit right in with everything else! {Anything goes for this challenge...including the lace!!}

Now it’s your turn!! Please join me and the rest of our talented design team over at Perfect Sentiments and link your project by Sunday at 10PM (EST) for a chance to win Stef’s gift certificate and you just may be selected as one of our “Perfect 3”!!

For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
creations:

Jennipher 

Samantha   

Sarah

Lynn

Abby

Jan

Kimberly

Rochelle

Shaunna

Shelly 

Stacey

Tere

 

Hope you enjoy! Until next time!

Theresa