Vintage Tag Slider

I have been very busy lately on building my stock for the handmade cards, tags and what-have-yous I can sell to everyone. The stock is building up not as quickly as I want it because I am still missing some bits and pieces of embellishments that will complete the whole project. However, I am still working on meeting my goal of making maximum of 2-3 cards per week and some tags if I have the time and materials.

So, let me give you a peek of what I have done today so you know what to expect when I start peddling my handmade with love cards.

I printed some vintage images from the public domain, used Bo Bunny patterned paper, added crackle paint on the flowers, birds and the sentiment to add that aged and shabby look, also used embossing technique on the front tag, use Graphic 45 patterned paper for the pull out, some tulle for the ribbon, affixed a cabochon rose in peach color and lastly, hang 2 cute metal charms (key and made with love).

I'm really getting the hang of making vintage and shabby looking cards and tags. I am leaning towards plenty of rich texture and dimension, use of paper flowers, plenty of laces and ribbons and pearls. That's why I still have few more arts supplies to receive in the coming days to complete the stash. My last purchases will be more of inks, distress stains from Tim Holtz, rubber and cling ons, patterned paper and mulberry flowers. Then I can go full swing on creating lovely cards and tags for your special someone.

A Comeback to Making Handmade Cards

My creative tank went dry for more than a year. The last project I did was a special gift to a friend who turned 50 last year. I made her a scrapbook page and placed it in a nice frame. After that, I noticed I couldn't think of anything creative to do for my cards and scrapbook projects. So I gave myself a break from making cards. Months followed and there is still not a drop of creative juice flowing in my brain.

I did everything I could to crank the think-tank only to end up cutting papers but never piecing them together. So I stared a a blank canvas for so long that I almost gave up.

Recently, I made a card for my god daughter for her Confirmation. I was struggling so hard to come up with a decent design. I even sketched my layout and had to practice on news papers just to save my patterned papers. And alas! I finally made one and I am really happy that even if I took a while to complete the card (1 week because I was pausing a lot when nothing was coming out of my creative brain).

Then weeks passed again. I didn't attempt to make any cards anyway until today. I was browsing through beautiful photos of vintage-inspired and shabby-chic styled handmade cards and told myself that I could make one too. Perhaps not as pretty as the ones I have seen but presentable enough to get me started. So, I gathered some pieces of left over materials to put together and I did it in half an hour's time only.

I think my creative juice is trickling back. I hope it continues as I just recently purchased a Silhouette Cameo and I am so excited about it. I haven't received the package yet and when I do. I am sure that it will become an integral part of my way back to creating handmade cards with LOVE.

The House by the Sea

I have great fascination on anything vintage and that homey country or cottage look on furniture and fixtures. I remember my summers spent in my grandma's beach house when I was young. I used to admire her cream curio stand, the beautiful vanity table in her bedroom, the dainty bed and its thick mattress, the rich linens all in light hues and so much more. The accents of the furniture were truly enchanting. There were adornments of foliage, angels holding votive candles placed on the side table, white frames around the big mirror on the hallway, curtains cascading from the window valance with rich lace and wonderful floral prints. Even her beach shabby chic furniture were off-white and looked regal. I felt I was I big doll living in a big, country charm doll house. It was really a charming house by the sea.

I would spend endless hours checking out her stuff and always told her that one day, my house would be filled with shabby chic furniture appliques. I loved the way she would tell me how those dreams would take me to places and that one day I would definitely have those I dreamed of.

So, it came as no surprise when I had my first home at 26. I recalled how my grandma's summer beach house looked like and I wanted the same furniture and fixtures in my home too. If not the same, at least something similar I could afford then. I bought white vintage-looking furniture for my small living area. I had a spare room which I was not sure what to do until I found out I was pregnant. It was at that precise moment that I knew and decided it would become the nursery filled with shabby chic baby furniture. It was just like how I envisioned it when I was young. I used to daydream about how my future house would be like my grandma's - cozy, warm, accommodating, regal, charming and full of love.

Many years passed and she is long gone but the memory of my happy summers in her beautiful house near the beach is still fresh in my mind.