Mother's Day is just right around the corner (how is this possible ALREADY???) and this year I vowed to actually make my Mom's card.

I know, I know.

Yes, I usually just swing by Target and pick up a card. BUT not this time.

Yay, me.


I was super-inspired by Maggie Holmes' cards in the Studio Calico Gallery lately. She's been using a lot of layers and banners and they are just so fantastic.

So these are some of the things I started with...


...a couple of Lifestyle Crafts flag dies...I thought these would make perfect little banners...a Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder (Dainty),and some embroidery floss and a paper piercer. I also grabbed a few pieces of the new Glitz Design Carpe Diem paper to use for my layers.


I started by using my Evolution and Genius Platform to cut the flag dies. The little holes you see in the die above are to stick a little pin or stylus through to help you remove your cut paper from your die...but I thought it would be fun to use them as a stitching guide. Soooo, after the banner was cut, I left the paper in the die and used my paper piercer and mat to make the holes that I would use to complete my stitching.


See the little embroidered flag up there??? So cute, right? Love it.

Then I used the other flag die to cut the little lattice-pattern piece you see above. I love using the dies...they make such a sharp, perfect cut.

A few more pieces of the gorgeous Carpe Diem paper fussy cut into banners and I've got almost all my layers ready to assemble.

Next I grabbed a piece of Lifestyle Crafts No. 10 letterpress paper to use for my card base. The No. 10 paper is 4x9.3" and folded in half it's the perfet size. It's also super-thick and soft and is just beautiful and classy-feeling.

After I had my base I took one more piece of No. 10 and cut it just shorter than half. I ran this piece through my Evolution with an embossing folder (Dainty)...and out it came with those fantastic circles of dots you can see just poking out under some of my paper layers.

Almost done gathering my layers!


I've been adding vellum to almost all of my projects lately. I had a small piece and some little punched banners leftover from a layout I had been working on, so I grabbed those for my card, too.

Now here was the fun part. I started with my embossed paper...on top of that I added my vellum. Then came my various banners...I added a small amount of adhesive to the backs of each banner as I was layering them and then I ran the top edges through my sewing machine...randomly adding little vellum punches along the top as I sewed.

Next came my stitched flag...I added that right to the top of the rest of the layers.

Almost done!

Then I took the whole stack and adhered that to my card base.

To finish things off, I added a line of pink stamp ink around the edges of my base (not sure I like this, but meh...it'll do) stapled the little "favorite" sticker (also from the Carpe Diem collection) to my stitched flag, and adhered "LOVE YOU" to the front of my card using a beautiful silver glitter alpha (from Pink Paislee).


ooops! Forgot! Just one more thing...I add a few drops of pink mist to the top of the card...just for some extra ooomph.

And that's it! I love the look of the little embroidered banner...and I want to check all my other dies to see if they have those holes around the edges...so fun!

Like some of the products you've seen? Don't forget you can get 20% off any item you purchase from We R Memory Keepers using the promo code: MIDWESTERN ...so awesome!



Supplies used:

Big Picture Classes, the leader in memory-keeping classes, and Maggie Holmes, an absolutely amazingly talented scrapbooker, designer and photographer are teaming up to bring you Photo Connections: Capturing the True Essence of People and Relationships Through Photographs.




From the BPC website:

• Take group shots that evoke the essence of the relationship between the subjects (for example: deep devotion, playful camaraderie, the bloom of new love)
• Take portraits that have a strong sense of affinity between the photo subject and those who view the photo later
• Use the rules of composition to enhance the visual connections
• Connect to your most important stories and relationships through your photography, with tips for telling those stories on scrapbook pages

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Each month, from the 27th through the last day of the month, Studio Calico offers free shipping on every purchase made by kit subscribers!

Were you there?!?! At reveal???

Have you seen the new kits????



Amazing, right? Per usual...

I've been so excited to show you my gallery for these kits! Are you ready?





Check back tomorrow to see what I scooped up during the mad rush!

woo hoo!

Class supplies for Kal Barteski's life | scripted class are now 40% off at Studio Calico!

I love when this kind of stuff happens...absolutely perfect timing!

I'm just starting to run out of my stuff and now I don't have to worry about paying full price...so awesome!



Not yet enrolled? No problem! Class is still open for registration! Although the class took place back in February, it is now offered as a self-paced class! Love love love that. Self-paced classes are totally my thing...

To enroll, just click on the image below!

Studio Calico has just released it's newest collection for pre-order!

LIMITED TIME BUNDLE

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I'm pretty sure that "i'm sorry..." stamp was made just for me.

Not a rewards member? No worries! This stamp set will be available for purchase soon...just click the "notify me" to be alerted by email when it's available.

So what are you waiting for? You know these collections fly out the door...grab the entire bundle with FREE shipping while you still can!

See the full kits (and order fun new products and add-ons!) at noon Eastern (for subscribers) and midnight Eastern (for non-subscribers) on the 27th!

Not yet a subscriber? No worries! You can subscribe starting with the April Blue Grass Farm Kits right here!

I am so excited for reveal! Make sure you're there!

Want to learn from some amazing teachers? Well, here's your chance!

Studio Calico's Mixed Media class is currently enrolling (through April 30!) and is the perfect introduction to this amazing trend.

The class began on April 1, and will continue to post new material every Tuesday through April, but the content will be available to students forever, so there is no worry about trying to catch up or trying to get everything done quickly...(which is totally awesome, because, I admit, I haven't started yet...).

And with your enrollment in this class you will get a bunch of exclusive printables and cut-files (as always!) from the ridiculously talented Shanna Noel. Just check these out!



Aaaack! The colors on those printables are so fantastic!

What are students creating with what they're learning? Here are some of the projects from the classroom gallery that really blew me away...


from 3littleks...


from hazenstyle...


by natalieelph...


by pennypumpkin...


by wendymorris...

And these are just a few of the inspiring projects you'll find!

Looks pretty amazing, huh?

And one of the best parts about this class is that you can take what you learn here and use it on home decor projects, scrapbook pages, mini-albums, and art journals!

So, what do you think? Are you ready to become a mixed media artist?

I hope to see you in the classroom!

Kelly Purkey is teaching again at Studio Calico! She's bringing back her Sketchbook class and I couldn't be more excited!



So awesome, right?