Shabby Chic Valentine

In my quest to use my stash, I have had a both of the papers featured on this card for a while but this project is the first time I have used them on anything.  I adore DCWV paper stacks and on this card I used Burlap Paper and Adhesive Fabric Paper in Pink.  Not my usual style, but it was fun trying out some new textures and color combinations. 

What I Used to make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Scrap of Vanilla Cardstock
DCWV Adhesive Fabric Paper in Pink, 12 x 12
DCWV Burlap Paper, 6 x 6
Happy Valentine's Day rubber stamp (manufacturer unknown)
Brads from Making Memories
Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet
Wendy Vecchi Ink in Potting Soil
Silhouette Cameo
Cut File - Heart

The Fabric Paper from DCWV

I wanted to create something old fashioned-looking, sort of shabby chic if you will.  I started the card by choosing the 2 papers. I have never worked with either of these papers, and I was surprised that the burlap paper is truly burlap, but it is much easier to use.  I got out my sheet of burlap (they are only 6 x 6) and cut it to fit on the top of the card so it appeared that the entire card was made out of burlap (but don't attach it to the card yet!). I edged the burlap panel with the Wendy Vecchi's ink in Potting Soil to give it some oomph. I went to my Silhouette machine and found a heart, sized it down to fit

Close up of the Heart

on the card, and cut it out of the fabric paper.  That was an experience since I didn't know which setting to use, but I settled on the light fabric setting and it cut out fine.  I thought I might have to help the fabric heart stick, since it was burlap, but it grabbed on with no problem! At this point the burlap is still not glued to the card, you still need to work with it.

Then I chose to stamp the sentiment on vanilla card instead of white, white just seemed so stark next to the warmth of the card.  I used Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet and I think it matches the colors in the heart perfectly! I also lightly edged the sentiment with the Potting Soil ink.  I decided to use brads to attach the sentiment to the card and I found these light green ones in my Making Memories brad stash - I usually use plain old silver or gold brads, but these sort of matched the green in the heart,  and the other colors were just too loud.  Once I added the sentiment to the card, I then glued the burlap panel to the front of the vanilla card.  I stepped out of my safety zone and I am so glad I did! Thanks for stopping by and please consider following me as I am on a quest to get 100 followers! Fondly, Christi

Another peek at the final card

I would like to enter my Shabby Chic Valentine in the following challenges:
Artistic Stamper - January Challenge, New Beginnings 
Die Cut Diva's - January Challenge, Anything Goes
Silhouette Challenges - January Challenge, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Shopping our Stash - #186, Love Me Do

Button Christmas Tree for Altered Electrics Design Team

For my very first challenge at Altered Electrics I decided to make something that Pinterest inspired me to make.  First, here is my version:

My version

 As I browse through the hundreds of images - and waste lose so much time (hey, it’s for inspiration!) - I came across these beautiful trees made out of jewelry – like this:

Pinterest Inspiration

I do have some jewelry that could be used in this way, but I have many more buttons.  I recently got some of burlap panels by Tim Holtz and I think they are perfect for a project like this.  So, let’s get started!

Burlap Panel, 6 x 4, Tim Holtz TH93063

Holiday Words: Script die set from Tim Holtz Alterations 660058

Pale Gold Shimmery Paper

Remnant Word Band from Idea-ology (Tim Holtz) Observations Set TH93084

Buttons

Adhesive

Distress Paint in Picket Fence

Star (mine was from some table scatter that I had already colored gold)

Most of the components - I used a different gold paper for the die cut

I have my buttons sorted by color (sort of) and I knew I wanted a vintage look so I grabbed my white, cream and light brown buttons. I have been collecting buttons for ages and I have so many I had to stop! I literally just began placing them on the panel until I got the tree shape I wanted.  The hardest part was choosing which button to use as the trunk of the tree! And I remembered I had gotten some table scatter shapes, so I dug those out and the gold star fit perfectly on the tree! 

Once I settled on the tree shape and glued the buttons down I got started on deciding what else I wanted to put on the panel.  I suppose it would have been fine if I left it alone, or used some Christmas embellishments, but I wanted to

Awesome Die Cut Set!

be able to display it all year long.  I recently bought the Holiday Words die set (the same time I got the burlap panels – I got tons of other goodies as well, all from my favorite store, Alleystamp ) and I felt that peace is appropriate all year long, so I used that die and some pale gold shimmery paper that I got eons ago to cut the word out of.  Trying to get glue on the back of that word made me so happy I have toothpicks in my studio!

So I had one embellishment chosen, what should I put on top? I had the Tim Holtz Word Band already on my desk (part of my use up old stuff quest) and since the project sort of looked like a remnant, that word would be perfect!  I dabbed some Distress Ink in Picket Fence on the band to bring out the letters a tiny bit and wiped it off. I actually did this a few times to get the look I wanted.  Once the buttons were dry I attached the Word Band to the top of the panel and the peace die cut to the bottom and there you have it!  This project was super easy and SO much fun, I’m glad I have 3 more of the panels to play with. I hope you will join us at Altered Eclectics during our 2 month "Anything Goes" challenge and do come back and visit soon! Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Button Christmas Tree in the following challenges:
Completely Christmas - #40, Anything Goes
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - #21, Celebrate the Season (the buttons I used are OLD - I have had them for ages!!)
Crimbo Crackers - #70, Buttons
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -Anything Goes