Life Doesn't Have to Be Perfect

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today I have a fun, contemporary look for my card of encouragement, along with a bit of traditional too.

On Confetti cardstock, I sprinkled several colors of Brushos, and then spritzed with water to make the powder active and run. Once that was dry, I stamped my sentiment (Stampin' Up!) with Archival Black ink (SU!), I adhered this to a panel of purple cardstock, and tied a triple bow around the card using the beautiful Tiny Sheer Purple Floral Organza ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon. This ribbon is so sweet, and allows for the colors to show through beautifully.

I added three Cosmos Daisy Stem Flowers in shades of purple on top of the bow. All of my layers are adhered with 3/8" Scor-Tape. I like the mix of contemporary and traditional looks! What do you think?

Wishing

One of my very favorite ribbon styles is the beautiful wrinkled ribbon from May Arts. The Really Reasonable Ribbon Store has so many gorgeous colors. It's so easy to work with and to add embellishments. My card today uses the beautiful White Wrinkled Ribbon:

I watercolored my main panel background using the Wrinkle Free Distress technique (funny, since my ribbon also has wrinkle in the name!), and added a die cut word from Simon Says Stamp. I tied a simple bow with the White ribbon and added some Gold Metallic Baker's Twine for added interest and to match the gold in my background paper. 

In the center I added a delicate and spring-y Apple Blossom from the Mixed Assortment. A few sequins for shine and I have a mixture of contemporary and traditional styles. I love how it turned out! All of my layers are held together with 3/8" Scor-Tape.

Dragonfly Journeys #86 – Bodacious Bows  
613 Avenue Create #194 – Anything Goes  
Word Art Wednesday #270/271 – Anything Goes  
TTCRD – Anything Goes  
Tuesday Throwndown #331 – Favorite Embellishment (ribbon and twine)  
Artistic Inspirations #173 – Anything Goes   
Glitter n Sparkle - W, F - #228 Anything Goes

Hello Love

Welcome to the February Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop! If you arrived here from Ginny's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along, be sure to start at the beginning at the RRR Blog (I am the third stop, so you don't have far back to go!) so you don't miss out on the awesome projects, fun news, and a prize from Really Reasonable Ribbon! Our hop goes live at 6:30 AM Central.

I am continuing, for a bit longer, my stamping goal to make and work on cards that are CAS (Clean and Simple) and/or flat and mailable. I tend to use a lot of embellishments and layers and make it so expensive to mail cards. And that is the other part of the goal -- to actually mail them!
So with that in mind, I present you a slightly, almost flat, CAS design for the hop today!

Each 13th of the month it's the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop where we highlight the Ribbon Club! My favorite color is pink, so I was thrilled with the choices in the February Pink & Green Mix ribbon club package. If you really love ribbon and would like to have a wonderful assortment of ribbons sent to you automatically each month, just join the Really Reasonable Ribbon Club! Monthly ribbon club assortments are selected and pre-packed to reflect a specific theme, color, or holiday season.

For this month's card, I used three of the ribbons in the assortment and made my design using the Iris Twist (Iris Folding) Technique. An old technique, but one that recipients always love. All of my layers are held together with Scor-Tape.

You can find many patterns and instructions if you Google "Iris Folding Patterns". Pinterest also has oodles! I used this pattern for my card:

I used Archival Black ink (SU!) for my sentiment (Sealed With Love by Stampin' Up!) and Hobby Lobby's Heavyweight White CS. The back panel is Glitter Green cardstock from DCWV. I added a few Doodlebug sequins for my simple embellishments.

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays - chocolate and handmade cards! What could be better?
 
Now off to Cheryl's blog, where you will have a feast for the eyes!

I am having a huge craft sale in a Facebook Group page! A whole lotta crafty goodness from my stamp studio -- for you! Lots of stamps, dies, ribbon, paper, stickers, embellishments and more! Lots of your favorite brand name companies - and more added each week!

Here is the link!

CHALLENGES:

The Ribbon Girl – February Card Challenge
Allsorts Wk 402 – Hearts and/or Flowers
Brown Sugar #237 – Rhinestones and/or Ribbon
Crafting with Friends #36 – Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft #43 – Anything Goes
Crafting with an Attitude #24 – Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations #33 – Anything Goes
Creative Moments #111 – Anything Goes
As You Like it Challenge – Do you prefer ribbon or lace?  I love lace! It gives such a feminine, shabby chic touch to everything!

Happy For You

Today I want to share some of the details of the card I made for our Really Reasonable Ribbon Pink/Red Challenge last month. 

I chose White Crochet Lace, Ivory Burlap String, and Pearl Pink Chevron Ribbon for my trims. 

My bird (SU!) was stamped in Archival Black Ink (SU!) and watercolored with Kuretake Paints. I dry embossed my main panel, using the Falling Hearts embossing folder from Stampin' Up!, and stamped my sentiment with Archival Black. 

I added the banner with crochet lace attached, and pleated my Chevron Ribbon across the middle, and off the end. I wrapped it with Burlap String to hold the pleats down.

After I adhered the circle and bird, I added some embellishments: a string bow, with a corrugated heart and Resin Flower. I think it turned out so cute! What do you think?