Pop-Up Card Full of Smiles

Maja Design Mood Board for March

This is a pop-up card I created for a great friend who recently had surgery.  I love pop-up cards because they are so unassuming -but open it up and it's like a pop of smiles.  And that's sort of how I feel when I make them lately.  

I created this for Maja Design Mood Board for the month of March.  I used the Maja Design Papers  - Life in the Country collection for this card as a perfect pairing for the Mood Board.  

How Do I Enter the Challenge? 

So what does it take to participate in the Mood Board? You do need to use Maja Design papers but you can interpret the Mood Board any way you like.  Use any of  the images as your inspiration.  Or perhaps the colors speak to you as inspiration.  You can also use the quote or even the inspiring words as your jumping point for the challenge.   There are no rules other than the ability to meet the deadline.

Email your creation to Maja Design by the 23rd of March.  moodboard@majadesign.nu

I'm tell you a bit about the products used on this happy card.

I mentioned previously the paper collection used from Maja Design.  This is Life in the Country - it's fresh and happy in my opinion.  Perfect for someone straight out of surgery and in need of a smile. 

The gorgeous flowers are from Petaloo.  I chose soft soothing colors that resembled the little flowers on the patterned papers. 

 Darjeeling Mini Mix Green 1462107

 Darjeeling Butterflies Tea Stained collection in Blue 1486-103

 Jeweled Florettes in white - 1350000D

The stamps and dies I used on this card are from JustRite Papercraft.

JustRite Papercraft - Small Oval Wishes - Clear stamps CR-05053

JustRite Paper Crafts - Large Oval Sympathy Clear stamps -CR05055

Justrite PaperCrafts - Hello Decorative Oval Frame Die - DIE05064

Thanks for stopping.  Have a joyful day full of good health.  I do not want to be sending a "get well" card to anyone.  Those are never fun to make. 

 Stay healthy.  

Maja Design Papers  - Life in the Country collection
Petaloo- Darjeeling Mini Mix Green 1462107
Petaloo Darjeeling Butterflies Tea Stained collection in Blue 1486-103
Petaloo Jeweled Florettes in white - 1350000D
Dovecraft - Sweet Paris 6 Pearl & Diamante Brads - DCES011
JustRite Papercraft - Small Oval Wishes - Clear stamps CR-05053
JustRite Paper Crafts - Large Oval Sympathy Clear stamps -CR05055
Justrite PaperCrafts - Hello Decorative Oval Frame Die - DIE05064
Lace Trim
Coffee Colored Ink

Cards for Valentine's Day - Petaloo

Hello.  I'm here with you to share some Valentine's or "appreciation cards" with you.   I'm calling them "appreciation cards" because I  have an outdated and old fashioned way of thinking about Valentine's Day - as a day set aside for your true love.  However I have many loves in my life  which obviously include my husband but extend to family and good friends.  Many of these loves in my life need to be appreciated and thanked for the amazing goodness they share with me.  

Thus "appreciation cards" or my modern day Valentines.  

Since my post is about love and appreciation, my cards are not complete until they have been adorned with another love of mine - Petaloo flowers.   I have two cards to share and both have some beautiful flowers on them from the Petaloo Darjeeling collection. 

I hope you enjoy them.  

This first card is a simple design but the intention is quite clear.  It's obviously a card to show my love, but not overly gushy mushy love.  That I save for my husband, lucky man.  

I used Graphic 45's, Off to the Races collection for my cards.  You may think that's such an interesting choice for Valentine's Day, but the patterns and colors are so fabulous together  and work absolutely perfectly with my Petaloo flower choices.  

 In addition to the Graphic 45 paper, matching Graphic 45 chipboard from "Off to the Races", I've used the following Petaloo flowers:

Petaloo Darleeling Dahlias Red 

Petaloo Darjeeling Mini Mix in Red 

I've also added a wonderful delicate heart chipboard piece from 2Crafty - the gorgeous delicate Lace Heart frame.  

This is the second card.  I'm sending it to my sister because she has the kindest heart and is such a helpful person who takes great care of my parents.  That certainly is a perfect reason to send a Valentine's appreciation card. 

The Petaloo Darleeling Dahlias Red looks wonderful paired with the Graphic 45 paper collection, "Off to the Races".  I have accented the red Petaloo Dahlia with some white pearl berries from Petaloo Spring Berry Cluster.  I also used the sweet hemp bow that comes with the Berry Cluster.  It's a perfect little topper. 

Here's an angled look at the card to show the dimension.   This card also has a chipboard piece from 2Crafty - the Elegant Heart.  

 You can find more Petaloo products listed here, and we invite you to join and LIKE us on Facebook right here.    You can find more Graphic 45 products right here.  

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget all the folks you love and appreciate this Valentine's Day.  They all deserve cards adorned with Petaloo!

Don't forget the new Petaloo collections will soon be available.   You can see  Magnolia sneaks here, Garden Roses here,  and adorable Glittered Bugs ( Butterflies and Dragonflies) right here. 

Petaloo Products Used:

Petaloo Darleeling Dahlias Red - 1467-101R

Petaloo Darjeeling Mini Mix in Red 1462-101R

Petaloo Spring Berry Cluster in White 1105-100

Other Products:

Graphic 45 -Off to the Races 8x8 paper collection 4501459

Graphic 45 -Off to the Races chipboard 4501465

2Crafty Chipboard ( Elegant Heart m00473), ( Lace Heart Frame - fr0087)

ribbon

Martha Stewart edge punch

Stamping Up  - Thank you stamp

DIY Home Decor Wooden Purse - Petaloo

Refreshing and updating that old knick-knack 

I had a cute wooden purse knick-knack that I bought at a thrift store.  It was cute 10 years ago in a little girl's room but definitely needs some updated love and attention... and some Petaloo flowers to bring it back to life.  I say, "Let's give tired purse a second chance at love".  If you scroll down through this post, you'll find some helpful DIY tips as well to help make your projects 
durable.

Now here's my big secret in refreshing and repurposing items.  If at all possible, I try to salvage what I can and do as little painting as possible.  My expertise is in decorating - not painting.  I know painting can take a lot of time, effort and finesse.  I do not have an abundance of any of those.   So my philosophy is to work with what I have when possible - meaning no painting.  

The Graphic 45 "Place in Time" collection had perfect papers and colors for this project and worked well with the purple and green in the purse.  A project doesn't get much easier for me if I can leave the original paint alone.  

Making your home decor durable  

Another important aspect of home decor items is durability.  When making home decor pieces, I always think about pieces being handled, touched, dusted, moved.  Unfinished and untreated paper can become stained, get fragile, warp and the edges can rip.  You can add durability to your home decor paper pieces by coating it with a clear matte finish.   

I chose Mod Podge because that's what I had available, but you can make your own inexpensive finish by mixing white school glue and a bit of water and painting onto the project.  You can also use a clear, matte gel medium.  

The key to using these mediums as sealants and protective coatings is to make sure your edges are completely coated and adhered. 

I do not use glue on the paper.  I used the Mod Podge as glue.  To do this, I make sure to add the Mod Podge to both the wood and the backside of the paper.  Once the paper is down, it's important to  smooth out all air bubbles with your fingers, brayer or such like that.  Once satisfied, add a final layer of Mod Podge over the paper paying special attention to the edges making sure they are all secure.  

Before adding my gorgeous Petaloo embellishments, I wanted to add lace to the project but I realized the paper is busy.  In order to make my lace pop and give it some definition, I added a layer of paper behind it.  This prevents the delicate lace from getting lost in the busy patterns and embellishments.  

Here are some more close ups of the Petaloo flowers and  finished project along with the backside of the purse.  Here is a list of the Petaloo flowers that I added as perfect accents:

Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Anenome Purple 

Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Purple Petites 

Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Teastained Mini Butterflies 

Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Mini Green Rosettes 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Petaloo Products:
Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Anenome Purple 1490104
Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Purple Petites 1465104R
Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Teastained Mini Butterflies 1486104
Petaloo Darjeeling Flowers - Mini Green Rosettes 1492107

Other Products:
Graphic 45  - Place in Time Deluxe Collectors Edition 4501470 (March Cut-Aparts)
Graphic 45  - Place in Time  Chipboard
Creative Charms - Vintage Brads VP-8210 Purple
ModPodge Matte
Green crystal flourish
Lace