Creations by AR Blog Hop Winner

Happy Thursday, Friends! Thank you to all who commented and played along with us in the Creations by AR Blog Hop. I would like to announce the winner. Via Random.org, the number chosen was #11.

Congratulations Katiebar! You are the 11th commenter. Please email me at cardinspired@gmail for information on how to claim your prize!!

Hope you all have a fabulous Thursday!

Creations by AR New Release and Blog Hop

Hello Friends!!! Welcome to the Creations by AR blog hop and template release! Play along with us by commenting my post and answering the question "what type of challenge do you like best" . . .you'll have a chance to win a template by Creations by AR! The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 30th! You also have multiple chances to win by commenting each designers post! Okay, let's get started!

If you get lost along the way, here is the list of designers participating in the blog hop:

Adela Rossol
Amy Park
Lisa Somerville
Magdalena Cortez
Mandy Gill
Maria Bell
Sarah Gough

Creations by AR have 3 fabulous templates/cutting files being released today!

Elegant Sole
Gift Card Purse
Tray Chic

This is the sample of the "Tray Chic" template. I decided to design all of my projects in "shabby chic" style! I basically used similar materials and embellishments on each of my projects, pearls, lace, buttons, seam binding bows, fabric flowers, crochet flowers, designer paper, etc. so I won't really discuss the design of each project.

The tray made for a fabulous storage for my seam bindings, lace, and crochet flowers! I love it!

The tag says "inspiration". . .:)

This sample is for the "Gift Card Purse" template. It's such a cute card purse to give to someone. It opens up and it has a notch to hold your gift card!

Here is gift card purse opened up. As you can see, the notch holds the gift card!

Oooh pretty flowers. . :)

This is a sample of the "Elegant Sole" template! Too bad it's not a real shoe.. ..I would wear it. Hehe! This is a cute project . . .it can be used to decorate your space, a table or even be sent out along with your gift card purse!

I just had to add my crochet flower and fabric flower! I love crocheting and creating fabric flowers!

Okay, be sure to comment my post so you'll have a chance to win a template!

Next on the hop is Sarah Gough's blog. . .

Good luck!!

Hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday!

Altered Vintage Inspired Bottle and Card Gift Set

Hello Friends!! Happy Sunday! I decided to work on altering a bottle and creating a matching card. I've been admiring the altered bottles I've seen in blog land and I decided to work on one my self. There are various styles and approaches to altering a bottle but I wanted to create mine in a vintage shabby chic style.

The bottle makes for a great home decor item that can be placed on a night stand or to decorate an end table. It can also be used as a container to hold embellishments, buttons, lace, prima flowers, beads, etc.


First of all I worked on a card to match the bottle using the same embellishments so they coordinate with one another. I used a vintage image that I found at Vintage Holiday Crafts. I cut a strip of fabric and stamped flowers and sentiments using my Unity Stamps. I used Tim Holtz distress ink as well as SU Buckaroo Blue to ink up the stamps. I then created a bow with lace and attached a tag to it.


I sewn together a fabric flower and added a pearl to the center and adhered it to the bow. Finally, I added a lucite flower bead with a pearl bead to the center and a rose button to embellish the card.

I basically created the same design to the bottle as my card using the exact same embellishments. The only thing that I didn't add to the card that is on the bottle is the stamped clothes pin. . .again using the same sentiment stamp that I used to decorate the fabric strip. I tied the fabric around the bottle and tied a bow with the lace and added the flower and tag like I did with the card.

I love stamping on clothes pins. . .they are such a fun way to decorate a plain ole' clothes pin! You can't really see it too well in the photo but I also added the lucite flower and rose button to the side of the clothes pin.

I added the same bird image to the bottle by just inserting it into the bottle. I didn't glue it into the bottle, it's just there. It's an easy way to decorate the inside of the bottle.

To decorate the bottle cap all I did was decoupage a circle designer paper and added the rose button to the center. I also added lace and beads around the side of the bottle cap.

I have plans to alter more bottles! It's really fun. I have a lot of fun ideas on how to decorate the bottles. I can't wait to alter another one! It's a great way to salvage a bottle . . .rather than throwing it away, it's an eco-friendly way to refurbish it and create something pretty out of it! Try it out. . it's really fun!

Anyway, that's it for today. I'm hoping I can work on another one this week!!

Hope you all have a fabulous Sunday!!!

Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C93

Hello Friends! Happy Saturday! It's Crazy 4 Challenges time again! Gosh, the last time I made a card was on the last C4C . . .I'm seriously slacking when it comes to card making nowadays! Well, luckily if it weren't for C4C. . .I probably would not have made a card!

Well, this week Lynda challenged us again with a fun challenge and this week it's a sketch challenge. I haven't done one of those for quite a while now so it's a nice change! Yay! Be sure to stop by C4C and check out all the lovely cards the crazy gals created this week or stop by their individual blogs:

* Barbara Anders

* Cindy Haffner
* Frances Byrne
* Jessie Rone
* Joanne Grzelak
* Joycelyn Pelkey
Lynda Benden
*Silke Ledlow
* Silke Kittmann
* Tammy Hershberger
Vicki Garrett

Shocker! I made a card using a cute image . . .it's been a while. Actually, it's been a while since the last time I used my Copic Markers! Poor markers are drying up from neglect! There was a time when all I did was color images. I would spend hours just coloring . . .I sort of went through a serious burn out and now, it's a struggle for me to color anything! So. . .this card is special to me because I actually colored an image! LOL! I also used my poor neglected TGF stamps. I haven't inked these puppies for over 6 months! I kid you not! Do I miss coloring? Not really. . .for some reason, I started to feel it was so tedious to color but I may be inspired to color again. I go through weird phases. . .I love things to death, then go through a hate phase, but I eventually start to love it again so who knows!

I used my Lil' Inkers die and stamp again! I love the flag die! I think it's my new favorite die! I added a small flower to the banner just so it won't look like it's just floating on the middle of my card and I added the same flower to the bow and to little girl's headband. By the way, the designer papers and card stock on my card are by Stampin' Up, good ole' SU. . .I remember there was a time when I was a SU freak! I still love Stampin Up. . .:)

Anyway. . .not much else is going on with this card. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Dangling Earrings and Yo Yo Flowers

Hi Friends! A post! Wow! I haven't been blogging much, it seems but I have been crafting. I don't like posting projects that appear too similar to a previous post. I mean who wants to see a similar project but just in a different color or variation? I don't know, I just don't think you do. Well, I did create a pair of vintage inspired earrings and a few yo-yo fabric flowers yesterday. A little different. . .I've never created yo-yo flowers so this project was fun to make.

I really love vintage style jewelry! Although the beads and findings aren't vintage, they do have a touch of vintage flare to them with the antique brass flowers and pearls. The earrings are pretty dainty. ..measuring only 2.5" in length, I like how feminine they look. It's an understated accessory. When I wear necklaces, I don't like wearing bold or large earrings because it just feels like it's too much. I've seen women who wear large bold earrings with an ornate necklace and I don't know, I just think it starts to look a bit loud. . .sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone . . .it's just my taste. . .I don't like looking overly stated and overly accessorized.

I worked on a few yo-yo fabric flowers. I had to hand sew them. . .I tried to make them using the sewing machine and nope, it didn't work out too well. . . so hand sew it is. I have a ton of fabrics and haven't been quite in the mood to sew bags or aprons. I've been really lazy lately when it comes to sewing. I need to allot some time to work on sewing projects. . .it's not something you can do on the fly.

Here is another set that I created. I like mixing the crochet flowers with the yo-yo flowers. I think I'm going to work on more of them!

Anyway. . .I've been having terrible allergy attacks lately and today, I haven't sneezed yet so I better work on a few things before I start sneezing again. I can't craft when I'm having allergy attacks. . .it just makes me so miserable but right now, I'm okay. Yay!

I listed these items in my Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted. Stop by my shop and check out the other items I've listed as well.

Crazy 4 Callenges C4C92

Hello Friends!! It's Crazy 4 Challenges time again and this week, Lynda challenged us to create a card using a twine, floss, or thread! Lil' Inker Designs is our sponsor this week and is offering a set of stamps for the winner! Yay! Hope you'll play along with us this week!

* Barbara Anders

* Cindy Haffner
* Frances Byrne
* Jessie Rone
* Joanne Grzelak
* Joycelyn Pelkey
Lynda Benden
*Silke Ledlow
* Silke Kittmann
* Tammy Hershberger
Vicki Garrett

I used the Lil' Inker Designs stamp set and flag die to create the "Happy Birthday" banner on my card! It makes making the banners so easy with their die! I love it!

I created this rosette using crepe paper! I'll be making a bunch to sell in my Etsy shop soon. I added a seam binding bo hand dyed in pink and stuck a few beaded pins that I created.

I love the tatted lace. . .it's so pretty! I love anything lacey. . .:) I added the vintage button to the end of the banner. . .I thought it would complete the vintage shabby chic look to the card.

Not much to chit chat on my blog today. . .I've been really busy this past week that I haven't had time to blog much this week! Hopefully life will slow down a little next week. . .my daughter starts summer school on Monday so I'll have more time to craft.

Anyway, hope you all have a beautiful Saturday!

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C91

Hey Friends! It's that time again! It's Crazy 4 Challenges time and this week Lynda's challenge is to create a masculine card. Considering Father's Day is right around the corner, this is a perfect challenge. I don't make masculine cards too often. . .actually rarely. . .as a matter of fact, only when Father's Day comes along or it's my husband's birthday.

Stop by Crazy 4 Challenges and check out all the awesome masculine cards the crazy gals created or stop by their individual blogs:

* Barbara Anders

* Cindy Haffner
* Frances Byrne
* Jessie Rone
* Joanne Grzelak
* Joycelyn Pelkey
Lynda Benden
*Silke Ledlow
* Silke Kittmann
* Tammy Hershberger
Vicki Garrett

I dug through all of my Unity stamp sets and found one with a Father's Day sentiment. I also used the tree image because it's neutral but still pretty. It can be used for both male or female. I kept the card simple with very little bling or frilly stuff which is very difficult for me to do. It took all my will power to not put a flower or ribbon on the card. It was tough!

I just realized the word father is sort of missing the letter "f". . .ugggh!!! I'll need to fix that. Funny how I always notice these things only after I post the photo of the card on my blog. . .LOL!

I did add a embroidery thread to the card and tied a bow but it still looked pretty masculine

I've had these alpha brads like . . .forever. I don't scrapbook often and I don't have the sufficient amount of vowels to create different words but luckily I had the alphabets to create the word "dad". I had to raise the letter "a" above the "d" because I didn't what the word too spread out over the top. Overall, the card is simple enough for a man. . .I think I'll have my daughter give this card to my husband.

Anyway, hope you'll play along with us this week! This will be a great time for you to make your Father's Day cards!! Okay, that's it. . .hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Dainty Heart and Flower Earrings

Hi Friends! I made another pair of earrings!! Yay! I haven't created any jewelry for over a month and in the past few days I've been on the roll! It's really fun to see the end result of your hard work. It's very satisfying.



Anyway. . .a little info on this pair of earrings that I created. The heart bead is made of agate and the flowers are made of lucite. It took quite of time to put all the beads and flowers together but it's sort of therapeutic. It has a very dainty romantic look to it! I'm going to work on more earring and maybe the next one won't be pink! Hehe. . .I'm so into pink right now.

There are a total of 9 round beads and 4 lucite flowers and the one agate heart bead on each earring. I was having a bit of a problem putting together the finding and the beads together because of the size so I had to buy a magnifying glass lamp. Wow, it sure made a difference. The magnifying glass lamp made it so easy to see what I am doing!!!

I'm planning to make another set. Hopefully, I have enough of the same beads to create another one.

I listed this pair of earring in my Etsy store: Inspired & Unscripted

That's it for today! Hope you all have a wonderful Friday!

More Shabby Chic Inspired Earrings

Hi Friends! I worked on a few more earrings. I love dainty earrings. . .soft and romantic. There's something very feminine about them. . .they're understated but still stand out. Creating for me is very random. One day, I'll love bold colors, the next day, pink, white, vanilla. Right now I'm in the soft color phase.

I won't go into the mechanics of the earrings. The components of the earrings are quite simple. I did use resin rose beads and a polished marble heart bead to create this pair of earrings. I used an antique bronze hook and findings to give it a more vintage appearance.

With this one, I used antique silver butterfly beads, vintage pearls and lucite flower bead. I'm waiting for a few bead caps that I purchased. Hopefully, they'll arrive soon so I can use them on the earrings. Bead caps give earrings a pretty vintage shabby chic look.

Anyway, I listed these earrings in my Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Dangling Crochet Flowers Agate Heart Shabby Chic Earrings

Hello Friends! I decided to work on earrings today. Because it's summer, I thought crochet earrings has a summer vibe so off I went and worked on it. I have a few rolls of thicker crochet threads that are stiffer so they work nicely as a jewelry component. They don't hang flimsy when wearing them.

To create the earrings I added a lucite flower beads to the center of the crochet flower and added a vintage pearl bead to the center. I added the an pink agate heart and the pearl beads to complete the earring. I think the earrings have a shabby chic, artsy look to them. . .kinda bohemian-ish.

I have difficulties taking photos of shiny things. . .in person the agate hearts are a bit more shiny looking. I'll work on earrings this week. . .I haven't created any jewelry items for a while now and it's fun to do something different!

I listed 2 sets of this pair of earrings in my Etsy Shop: Inspired & Unscripted

Anyway, that's it for today! Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!