Busy Making Cards

I didn't feel the long weekend at all. It's already Saturday and I'm back to work tomorrow when I still have plenty of things to do in my craft zone. I have been busy making cards.

I started making cards but not in full swing as I don't have that much materials. I have to buy more flowers, ribbons, laces and other patterned papers with shabby and vintage designs. I'm getting my hands on making shabby inspired and vintage looking handmade cards with lots of paper distressing to give it that old feel. I'm still learning the process and I have made 3 cards this week. It took me approximately 1 - 2 hours for each project only because I didn't want to force my brain to think hard. I didn't want my project to turn out "forced." I am happy I took my time developing the design in my head and executing it longer than usual. Hey, my creative mojo has been gone for more than a year so it's hard cranking up this rusty engine.

I am starting from square one again. I kept my old notebook of inspirations and started with a fresh one for 2013.  I have also been learning some tips and techniques to better my craft as I really intend to sell them. I want someone to have the cards I made with love. Isn't that a great thing to give to someone special?

Anyway, I wish the days are longer when I am at home so I can achieve so much. I am looking into sewing as well. I am keen to do this small online business on handmade stuff and promote everything handmade. It's like being organic - in a material way.

So, I hope next week, I'll be able to make few cards again and build up my stock until my Silhouette Cameo arrives. I want to make at least 50 cards before I decide to open my small handmade cards business. I also need to buy commercial license from other designers because I plan to incorporate their designs in my limited number of handmade cards.

 This is me, following my dream. I know one cannot make mega millions just by making handmade cards but the feeling of seeing something I created out of love is I think and feel, worth more than a million.

Re-post: Handmade Wedding Card

This is the stuff that I miss so much! If you have been following this blog, I have reiterated my desire to get my sleeping monster (a.k.a. CREATIVITY) to wake up from its slumber. It's been sleeping for the last 5 months and that's not good. I normally don't have a lull moment when it comes to creating crafty cards and scrapbook pages. This is different. So, to re-live that moment when inspiration comes in and I create something fancy, here is a re-post of one of the handmade wedding cards I have made for a colleague.

oOoOo

My colleague will soon tie the knot. I am not really sure what she likes for her wedding so I decided to make a card for her. As usual, a handmade with love kind of card.

I used a champagne bottle template and traced it on a card stock. Then I used patterned papers from http://www.making-handmade-cards.com/. I love the way the doodles are done on the patterned sheets. Looked so whimsical and I love whimsical stuff!

I also used ribbon rosettes and flat-back pearls as embellishments. The cork-like top is a scrap of card stock which I distressed using Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink to make it look like a cork. Well, I hope I did justice on that one :)

I just wrote the sentiment using a slightly pearlized felt pen. I couldn't find my glittery gel pens so I settled on this one. I outlined the words with a fine-tip permanent marker to bring out the letters. I used the remaining piece of the card stock as mat for my card's sentiment. It i glued to the card with square foam adhesives for the 3-d effect.

I used shiny ribbon for the bottle and the bucket too. Speaking of bucket, the champagne holder is also made from scrap card stocks. I glued two of them but left the back bare (I couldn't use too much patterned paper or else, the entire design will look too loaded and I am trying to avoid that). For me, simplicity is still the best. The slit is about 6 inches and .5 cms so I can slightly tilt the bottle-card. The tag is one of the flower-doodle patterned papers. The tiny flower affixed to it is a ready-made foam sticker I bought for my scrapbook stuff many moons ago. I have finally found a good use for it! The back of the card also carries my trademark logo - Handmade with Love by Ria Cervantes.

It's a blank card so I can write my sentiments inside. I wonder what to write though...

Hope you like this creation. It's made out of love.

Batik - Loving it!

I was only 5 when I had my first batik t-shirt and shorts as a Christmas gift from my aunt. I remember how I used to keep wearing it and my mom would wash it again so I could wear it some more. I just love how it felt on my body, smooth, warm and perfect.

It's not a surprise that I am a fan of batik stuff. I was able to visit a Handcrafted Batik Store on my trip to Kuala Lumpur few years ago and understood then why batik was (and still is!) very famous. Batik clothing or accessories are done by hand to be able to produce the high-quality batik. I really love it.