Graphic 45: "Happy Birthday" card using French Country

Hey there friends! ♥ 

Today I want to share a special birthday card I created for my Dad. 

This past week, my Dad celebrated his 67th birthday and I wanted to make him a special card. I typically reach for Graphic 45's A Proper Gentleman or Olde Curiosity Shoppe for my masculine cards. But this time, I went for French Country and the blues, greens and kraft colors were perfect!

Here are some photos...

I always manage to do things in threes... here you'll see 3 Stamped Metal Brads filling in some of the real estate on the top right of the card to create balance...

The eye is immediately drawn to the Metal Tag adorned with a vintage label from French Country, then topped with a clock, Momenta metal corner and a lion head "door knocker" charm from Sky Blue Pink.

I kept this card clean and simple... no grunge here today! 

Instead of flowers, I used a "bottle cap" label from the French Country Banners set and layered a Stamp Metal Brad on top...

Here's a peek at the inside of this card...

The sentiments on the front and inside of the card are from the Place in Time Sentiments sheet.

For additional photos, check out the Graphic 45 blog where this card will be featured today!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a sweet, crafty week! 

xoxo ♥,

Product list

French Country 6x6 Patterns & Solids pad

French Country 8x8 Paper pad

French Country Banners

Place in Time - Sentiments

Staples Metal Tag

Staples Stamped Metal Brads

MFT cardsstock - Hot Fudge

Paper Trey Ink Kraft cardstock

Ranger Distress Ink - Walnut Stain

Momento ornate metal corner

Spare Parts clock face

Lion face mini door pull (Sky Blue Pink)

3M ATG adhesive

Sticky Stuff Dimensionals

Glossy Accents

E6000 glue

Graphic 45 A Ladies' Diary: "Sweet Nala" Layout

Hello blogging friends! I have a special scrapbook layout to share with you of my super precious and sweet baby girl yorkie Nala. I have a hubby and 3 little boys, so Nala adds the perfect touch of feminine balance to my household! ♥ She is just the sweetest little dog and I love her to pieces!

I created this scrapbook layout using one of my ALL TIME favorite Graphic 45 collections -- A Ladies' Diary! I love how Graphic 45 creates collections that you can use for all occasions. I've created wedding, birthday, family and personal keepsake projects using this collection. The papers are just THAT amazing! You can find several projects using A Ladies' Diary collection created by the design team on the Graphic 45 BLOG! It's just the right touch of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing! ♥

Here are some photos of the page I created:

I layered the design paper with Bazzill card stock and distressed the edges for a worn, shabby chic look...

I can't forget the doilies! They add the perfect layered touch to all projects. ♥

I also fussy cut flowers and clocks using the Moment in Time and Delicate Details papers...

(Don't you just love Nala's little pink dress? hehe!)

I added "Sweet" and "Nala" using the coordinating A Ladies' Diary alphabet stickers. The perfect companion when creating, along with the coordinating chipboard pieces!

Please be sure to hop on over to the Graphic 45 blog where my project will be featured today. My G45 DT teamie Maiko Miwa will also be sharing an AMAZING layout in the spirit of Project Life, so head over there NOW!

Thank you so much for joining me for today's project share!

Wishing you an AMAZING week. Happy crafting!

xoxo ♥,

Product List:

A Ladies Diary: 12x12 Paper Pad, Chipboard Die-cuts 1 & 2, Alphabet Stickers, Sticker Sheet

Bazzill cardstock

Recollections flowers

I Am Roses roses

White Doilies

Burlap twine

ScorTape

Dimensionals

3M ATG Adhesive

Tim Holtz distress tool

An Anniversary, a card and a tutorial video!

Another sweet year has flown by as my husband and I celebrated our 13-year wedding anniversary on Monday. It seems like it was only yesterday that I married my true love... my best friend in life! ♥

Here a pic of us taken at the T. Sattui winery in Napa just 2 weekends ago (that's our littlest man, Logan,  with us...)

Graphic 45's Place in Time paper collection is the PERFECT companion for all occasions! The papers are gorgeous and capture nearly all the seasons and celebrations throughout an entire calendar year! Check out the collection HERE on the Graphic 45 website. ♥

Here are a few photos of my card, but be sure to stop over at the Graphic 45 blog where there will be more pictures, a product list AND a video tutorial for you to enjoy! ♥

Have a fabulously, scrappy day!

xoxo ♥,

French Country "Mon Amie" Altered Matchbook Box & Mini Album + Tutorial!

Hey there, happy Monday! ❤

Today's blog post is featuring Graphic 45's French Country collection and Small Matchbook box. I decided to create a little keepsake from Winter CHA 2012, so I added a little mini album inside (created by hand.)

The French Country papers are simply beautiful. When you have the chipboard pieces, stickers, and coordinating card stock embellishments, it really does make creating so easy! On the face of my box, I used coordinating chipboard and Metal Staples...

The Ornate Metal Label Holder is fun to work with. I used a sentiment from the French Country 12x12 sticker sheet inside the holder...

When you pull out the little drawer...

... out pops a mini album!

The mini is the perfect size for wallet-sized photos. For measurements, see the video tutorial included below...

I used the spring from the Metal Clothespin to hang a key from the mini album binding...

The coordinating card stock pockets & tags really made it easy to pull this mini album together...

Because the mini album needs to fit flush in the drawer, I couldn't get too dimensional with the embellishments. I used the small petals from the French Country flowers set to keep the pages flat.

Here is a video tutorial I put together to walk you through the creation process:

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my latest Graphic 45 project!

I hope you give one of these altered matchbook boxes a try! ♥

Have a great week ahead!

xoxo ♥,

Products:

French Country: 8x8 pad, 6x6 Patterns & Solids pack, Chipboard #1 & #2, Stickers, Card stock Banners

Staples: Metal Tag, Ornate Metal Key hole, Metal Clothespin, Stamped Metal Brads, Ornate Metal Label Holder, Chipboard buttons

Lindy's Stamp Gang Color Shot: Dark Chocolate Truffle

Ranger Distress Ink: Walnut Stain

Paper Trey Ink black card stock

Co'ordinations black/red card stock

MFT Die namics Mini Doily Circles

May Arts ribbon

Recollections flowers

Prima flowers

I Am Roses flowers

Metal key & flower 

Gold stamen

Secret Garden Shabby Chic card & Flower Tutorial

Hello there blogging friends! I wanted to share my latest card creation with you today! 

I seriously cannot get enough of Graphic 45's new Secret Garden papers. Almost every time I sit down to create, I grab Secret Garden! The papers are just down right GORGEOUS, it's very difficult "not" to be inspired when you look at them! ♥

Graphic 45 came out with the new cardstock coordinates for both the French Country and Secret Garden collections. I love the new card stock flowers! I created a video tutorial showing you how I created the flowers on this card, so be sure to check it out below. 

But first, some pics...

The Metal Clothespin can add the perfect touch! I love how it appears the little girl is "reading" the sentiment below...

Doilies add the perfect feminine touch and layer to cards...

The coordinating Secret Garden paper flowers are the perfect accent for any project!

I finished off the inside of the card too...

 Here is my video tutorial for the paper flowers used on this card...

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my latest card creation! More details on this projecy can be found on the Graphic 45 blog HERE. 

xoxo ♥,

Products:

Secret Garden: 8x8 pad, 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pack, Cardstock Flowers, Cardstock banners, Chipboard #2, stickers

Staples: Metal Clothespin "Timeless"

PaperTrey Ink White and Kraft cardstock

I Am Roses flowers

Cheery Lynn Designs dies: Sophia's heart (doily), Leaf Flourish

White Doily

Zva Creations white pearl flourish

Recollections white pearls

Stamen

Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Secret Garden Stamps (embossed inside card)

Versamark

White embossing powder

3M ATG Adhesive

Glossy Accents