Southern Scraps

Handmade square greeting card Today is  National Handwriting Day .  It's also John Hancock's birthday. The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association sponsored this day to keep an awareness of handwriting. They don't even teach cursive in school anymore, but I still appreciate a beautiful handwritten script.

I pinned this card because I loved it's simplicity. source   A couple of weeks ago I needed to make a quick birthday card for my brother.   I immediatelty thought of this one. And it was QUICK! Probably the quickest card I've ever made.      I punched some stars out of scrap paper. I cut a 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch upright card from kraft cardstock. I changed it up a little by using a slightly different stamp and moving a star to the side. I also added brads to the center of my stars. I made it "my own" creation but you can definitely still tell where the inspiration came from.   What have you "pinned" and made lately?   Sharing here:   Think Pink Sundays * Under the Table and Dreaming * Sundae Scoop * Creative Bloggers Party and Hop * Craftomaniac Monday * Make the Scene Monday * Make It Pretty Monday * Masterpiece Monday * Motivate Me Monday * Inspire Me Monday * Market Yourself Mondays at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff ...

I took my first try at a chevron design on a small scale. I know- I'm way behind and lots of you may be over chevron by now, but I just got interested. I only do projects or make things if I can use them. I needed to make a birthday card for someone recently so I decided I'd try a chevron pattern on the card. I used washi tape to make my pattern. (This particular tape came from Michael's.) I found a free chevron pattern printable on the internet and printed it off. I cut it out and lightly traced it with a pencil to get started. I ended up erasing most of the pencil after I got started because it was going to show through the washi tape, but it still helped me get the pattern going.  I stamped a sentiment and added some flowers. Overall I think it turned out cute. You can check out another washi tape card and gift bag here. Sharing here: Think Pink Sundays ** Under the Table and Dreaming * Sundae Scoop * Creative Bloggers Party and Hop * Craftomaniac Mond...

I wasted no time in trying out my washi tape . I gussied up a plain gift bag with it and created a matching card for Mother's Day.  Here is a close up of the card:  I did a generic sentiment on the bag so my mother can reuse/regift it if she chooses: The sentiments were stamped and adhered to a label cut with my Nestabilities Labels four in my Sizzix big shot. I really need to get back to more paper crafting. This was a fun project. I'll be linking up here: Think Pink Sundays ** Under the Table and Dreaming * Sundae Scoop * Creative Bloggers Party and Hop * Craftomaniac Monday * Make the Scene Monday * Making the World Cuter * Just Something I Whipped Up at TGC * Masterpiece Monday * Motivate Me Monday * Inspire Me Monday * Market Yourself Mondays at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff * Pink Hippo Party * More The Merrier Monday * Twenty Minute Tuesdays * Take a Look Tuesday * Handmade Tuesdays * Tuesday Time Out * Tell Me Tuesday * Tuesday Talent Show * My Uncommo...

I try not to brag on myself too much but I'm too excited not to share this. I've been featured three times this week! Mandy featured my ruffled scarf . TipNut included my Loft inspired bow cuff in a round up of 30 bracelet tutorials. And I'm the BFF at The Answer is Chocolate ! Go show these sweeties some love and tell them I sent you! And while I'm celebrating, I have a birthday Saturday. And since I'll be 30-something (for a couple of more years) I'm offering a 30% off discount in my shop . Use the code Birthday at check out. Go stock up on some birthday cards or any occasion to have on hand when that last minute event slips up on you, or get yourself or someone a gift.  Coupon is good until 11:00 p.m. Sunday July 24, 2011.

Mother's Day is a day set aside to show mother's they are special and to honor them. If you happen to be curious about it's history, there some information HERE along with poems and craft ideas. Here's the card I made for my mother-in-law this year. This is just one big stamped image colored with Copics. The image is a GinaK Designs stamp by Melanie Muenchinger . I used the following Copic colors: R22, R24, R29, G29, YG67, YG13, Y17, G05, G14, RV19, RV34, R83, BG11. Aren't you impressed that I actually wrote them down for you. I love Copics for blending and shading. I colored the trim around the sentiment with a metallic silver Prismacolor pencil. I even added a little something to the inside of this card. These are colored with Marvy Markers. They were already on hand in my basket of stamped and colored images. I cut them out and layered them inside. This is the perfect image to use for my mother-in-law. She loves gardening and grows the most beau...

I don't normally toot my own horn, but I had some of my etsy items make it into a couple of beautiful treasuries over the weekend. Go take a look. There are lots of great items by very creative artists there. Hurry Springtime Black and red Have a great week. 

Since I still haven't done any new crafting due to spending my time on the home clean up and organization project, today I'm sharing another project I made as a Christmas gift. Remember my fall felt brooch? I wore it when we visited my mother-in-law for Thanksgiving and she had a fit about it. So.. I made her one for Christmas. I made her's gray so she could get more wear out of it than just fall.  Again, I used my good ol' Sizzix and flower dies. I cut multiples in different shades and then layered them. The center of one flower is a vintage clip on earring and the other center is a brad. Both flowers are accented with some stitching. So easy and fun. Thanks for stopping by. I also want to let you know about an etsy project that is going on now- Share the Love. Read more about it HERE . Basically, they supply meals and greeting cards to elderly New Yorkers in February. If you'd like to participate by sending a card, stop by my shop and purchase one. Shipping ...

I'm participating with the Etsygreetings team in a Love is Handmade Sale Jan. 17-21. Every card in the Valentine section of my shop and every item with the tag "Valentines" or "Valentine" has been marked for FREE SHIPPING. So go get those Valentine's cards or a fabulous brooch or necklace for yourself! Other participating shops can be found at etsygreetings.blogspot.com .

If you are not brave enough to fight the Black Friday crowds, or just prefer to shop online, I'm having a sale in my etsy shop . Certain sections, including Christmas and jewelry and gifts are marked down 10% for Black Friday. AND I'm participating in Somewhat Simple's Holiday Boutique so if you visit there, you'll find an additional coupon code. Here are some of the items available in my shop: Colorful memory wire bracelet Rejoice greeting card set Gift card holder Thanks for visiting and have a safe and blessed Christmas!

I started working on some Christmas card and tag designs this weekend. (I'm really behind the curve on this.) Sketches are always a great inspiration for me. I almost always reach for a sketch when designing a card. I used this sketch from Jen at i{heart}tostamp for my cards.  One of my cards does not follow the sketch EXACTLY because I only have one embellishment/flower instead of two. But that's the beauty of a sketch- you are free to use your own interpretation. Here are my cards: I used BasicGrey Wassail papers and some vintage digital images from VintageHolidayCrafts. When I finished the cards, I used the scraps to make some tags. The next time you need some inspiration, turn to a sketch and your scraps. 

NOW CLOSED: I tossed the names in a hat and picked one out. The winner is Jamie! NOTE: I've bumped this up to the top until Oct. 14. If you're looking for another post, please scroll down.  Scroll down for blog candy on World Card Making Day on Oct. 2. Hi, and welcome to my blog and my giveaway. I'm hosting a giveaway for a set of four handmade greeting cards. Two are 5.5 inches x 4.25 inches. One is top folding and the other is a regular side fold. The other two cards are square shaped. One card is a thank you card and the others are all ocassion. All are blank inside and have been created with quality acid free papers and supplies. You will receive envelopes also. So, what do you have to do to win?   I'm trying to improve my etsy shop and increase sales. I've recently begun some activities that have increased traffic to my shop, but still no sales. I'd like to have your feedback. Please visit my shop . Then come back and leave a comment with feedback or...

I did get to make cards today on World Card Making Day. I actually started on Christmas cards! Here are the two cards that I completed: The first one is for a release challenge at StampTV to make a 2 3/4 x 4 1/4 card. I've never made this size but I like it. I'm thinking that it would make a cute place card for a dinner table with the right image and words. The sentiment and image are from GKD Simple Pleasures . I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. The second one is the Christmas card. It's also for a StampTV release challenge to use two sets from one set. I used two different ones from A Very Merry Christmas . I stamped the one on the background and heat embossed it using Stampendous jeweled gold. I love how it sparkles. The picture does not do it justice. Sometimes embossing doesn't turn out so well for me, but this did beautifully on the Gina K cardstock , so I embossed enough for a set of six and also embossed the tree from this stamp ...

It's World Card Making Day. I really need a holiday like this. LOL, like I really need an excuse to make a card or craft. I do need the push to start those Christmas cards. I hope to make some cards to share here with you later today, but hubby says we are painting and doing some house projects, so we'll see what happens. While you're here browse around- I do have plenty of cards posted. Maybe something will inspire you. And... to celebrate I have a little "candy". Just leave me a comment to let me know you visited. You have until Sunday October 3 at  8:00 p.m.  Spread the word too- twitter, facebook, your blog, wherever. I'm also giving away a set of four handmade cards. You can enter to win that HERE . (Comment on this post for the above candy only.)

Yesterday I posted this bookmark . Months ago Yikes, over a year ago,  I posted this altered notebook .  All of these little goodies have been put into this paper tote gift bag that was crafted from BasicGrey Sugared designer paper. These are fun little gifts, just wish it didn't take me so long to get it all together. This set includes a set of four handmade greeting cards, a bookmark, a post it note holder, a mini notebook, and a beaded keychain. This has been listed over at SouthernScraps on etsy. Linking up here and other parties listed on the sidebar

After a three month sabbatical of no card making, I've made a card. I told you I wouldn't give it up completely. I just needed to take a break and spend my crafting time trying some of the other things on my list. I'm using the sketch from The Sweet Stop . I'll also be linking this up at Papertake Weekly's "just the one" challenge . I used "just one" flower and "just one" piece of ribbon. Here is my card: Image: Whiff of Joy Paper: BasicGrey Sugared

No new cards made, but some have been listed in my shop if you're interested in purchasing them. Here are a couple: You can click on the pics to go straight to the listing! Thanks for stopping by!

It's definitely spring, maybe closer to summer here, and the yards are calling for some attention. This has taken away from my crafting time so I haven't gotten much done lately. I did sneak in a few challenges with this card. Stamps: Victoria Case for SCACD; Studio G Sentiment Paper: We R Memory Keepers Tools: Nestabilities; Creative Memories circle punch ; copics Accents: Ribbon Challenges: Sketch Saturday sketch Stamp Something - Pink Stampin for the Weekend - Bows and ribbons The Pink Elephant- Nature

Here's a bright gift and card combo "Just Because"... FLOWER BLOSSOMS Ceramic Tile Coasters (Set of 4) - Hot Pink/White or Blue/White by craftation Beautiful butterfly greeting card by SouthernScraps

Know someone who likes vintage? This would make the perfect gift and card. Vintage Set of 8 Floral Teacups and Saucers by shabbychic72 Vintage floral thinking of you greeting card by SouthernScraps