Mixing Shabby Chic and Rustic Style

Mixing a little shabby chic style with some rustic cardstock, created this sweet Save The Date card.

We're Tying The Knot along with monogram cover is embellished with hand-stamped petite French image of floral spray and ivory seam binding knotted with tails.

The gate fold card opens to pull the seam binding knot together in the center.  Lovely images of ribbon tied flowers and a delicate wedding ring with bowed ribbon continue the petite vintage images inside.

The location of the event is on the left side panel and scripture from Ephesians 5:31 ...And the two shall become one graces the far right panel.

The rustic Kraft cardstock combined with the delicate seam binding added just the right touch to this cute Save The Date card.

God bless,

Valerie

Design Studio Sneek Peek

I've been renovating my design studio and am still in the process of painting, moving furniture, and re-organizing everything.  Thought I would share a little sneek peek into my design studio.

This is a painted cabinet that holds my cardstock, lace, trims, and product samples.  The cardstock sheet are in plastic expandable sleeves that have an opening at the top that snaps close.  I am able to keep all my scraps together with full sheets.

I am not fond of plastic storage, so I dressed up the front panels of these stacking drawers.  The unit is 15 drawers high and contains all my inks, tools, paints, rhinestone/pearl embellishments, glitter/embossing powders, punches, and swatch books.  I used Prima Marketing cardstock cut into strips, and then created a label to mark the drawers.  It really came out pretty!

I use glass Mason jars to organize many of my loose desk top supplies.

This old distress painted metal tin container holds all my art journaling supplies.

This is a little painted shelf unit that holds some of my favorite inspiration pieces from my travels.  Still painting the plaster wall behind the unit.  Going with Antique White walls.

Some of my bulk vintage lace stored in a large French metal container. 

This is one of my storage containers for my smaller trims and lace.

I have a lot of rare wood block mounted rubber stamps and use a wire rack system that goes from floor to ceiling to organize all of them.  Most are organized by subject matter: flowers, religious, animals, backgrounds, frames, toile, etc.

I know viewers like to see the complete studio tour, so I was thinking when my studio is finished, of producing a design studio tour video for YouTube. 

My clear stamps are organized using Avery Elle plastic sleeves, and Jennifer McQuire Ink YouTube video has the tutorial on how to set this up.  It does work amazingly!

My ribbons are stored by size and color in a drawer system.

I hope this sneek peek was a little interesting to those of you that craft.
If you have questions on how I store items, or you would like to see more studio tour info, please write me below.

Many thanks for stopping by.

God bless,

Valerie

A Beautiful Wedding In Croatia

I don't often get to see a finished product, in this case, a wedding program books we designed, at the event.  The wedding of Rebecca and James was featured in August 2014 Croatia edition of Nova, The Modern Magazine for the Bride and "low and behold" there was our wedding ceremony program!

Her wedding was spectacular as you can see by all the photography.

Our program was listed under wedding stationery and is in the center of the montage of pictures below.

An elegant and classic design was used to create this tri-fold ceremony program.  Textured heavy-weight cardstock, with top sheets of Classic Crest Natural White cardstock was used.  A soft pale pink 5/8" double sided satin ribbon wrapped around the program as was tied with a bow and tails.   The text was printed is grey inks.

The event was held in Dubrovnik, Croatia a town my husband and I visited a few years ago. 

I continue to pray for Rebecca and James as they share their life together as husband and wife, and am very grateful that they were so kind to include the ceremony program as part of their wedding photography.

God bless,

Valerie

Thank You In Any Language Is Lovely

I really enjoy designing thank you note cards for newly married couples.  It's a beautiful way to express themselves with personalize stationery using photos, their names, a personal messages, and scripture

that expresses their faith.

The note cards also show their character,  as well as the couples taste and style.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain:

faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is Love. 

This seems to be a favorite among newlyweds.

Are Thank You note cards going out of style.  Nope!  It is never "out of style" to send someone a personal note of thanks.  This is when an email or telephone call just won't do the job as those lines of communication 

are just too informal.

 

Having personalized stationery and Thank You note cards that are blank inside, provides the opportunity to express a quick note of Thanks for a special kindnesses, appreciation, or thoughtfulness that someone has shown.  Great scripture for these kind of notes is Philippians 1:3- I thank my God

every time I remember you.

Whether its for wedding, baby shower, Bat Mitzvah, 1st Communion, graduation, or any of life's many moments, saying Thank You in any language demonstrates an expression of gratitude that is one of the basic courtesies that should never be neglected.

 

Much love and God bless,

Valerie