You Make my World Go 'Round

Are you ready for a really fun color combo ?

It's time for this week's new challenge from

I really love this graphic... L.O.V.E. I.T.  ! ! !

This week, I got to play with a new 'Pinwheels' stamp set & brads

from Close to my Heart which also happens

to be this week's prize.

I grabbed inks to match the color combo and got to work.

When you see the stamp set, you'll see how easy it was to

do this card.  Simple layers.

This week's sponsor is

Elizabeth Mindemann

I really hope you'll come by The Cafe, check out

all of the amazing projects from our team and play along !

Great to see you here ... please say hello before you go !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: dot embossed by Bazzill

Stamps: Pinwheels from Close to my Heart

Inks: A Muse Studio 

Embellishments: pearl brad from Close to my Heart

 

Bold & Beautiful

HELLO ! ! !

I'm so glad to be back at The Open Window !

If you're one of my Facebook friends, you may know that

my house has been running rampant with Influenza B.

Paul & I both had the pleasure of having it at the very

same time, so for the past couple weeks, it has

been quite the time here.

We are both feeling much better, but it has knocked

us for a loop and we've been slow to do ANYthing !

I am so happy to be here to share this week's challenge

over at

This week's colors are . . .

Hot Pink...Shadow...Lightning Yellow 

Each of our designers is featuring stamps from our sponsor

CAS-ual Fridays and I was really inspired to use the set

'Truth Is' with these colors.

I simply took my inkpad 'direct to paper', then stamped

each image on top.

I first saw this technique done by UK designer

Paula Whittaker, back when I first began my blog.

You can see my very first card using this technique

by clicking HERE

{it's from one of my favorite projects of 2009}

 I hope you will play along with us over in The Cafe.

The colors are vibrant & fun and our sponsor is terrific !

Hope you will say hello . . . I'd love to know you came by : )

Project Recipe:
Stamps: Truth Is by CAS-ual Fridays

Embellishments: gems from Recollections
Ink: Bubblegum & Papaya by A Muse Studio

Celebrate with The Craft's Meow!

Happy Monday and welcome in to The Open Window !

If you are just stopping by, you picked a great day

because it's Day #2 of the New Release Previews over at

We are on the countdown to TCM's 2nd Birthday Celebration

and release of our March images !

Today's preview is of a 'sweet'

{ I couldn't resist }

new stamp set designed by Mabelle R-O called

'Sweet Birthday'

I immediately knew I wanted to use fun, bright colors for my card

and the balloon in this set was so fun to play with.

I did a little simple 'masking' to make my bouquet using vibrant

ink from A Muse Studio (to order, see link below)

and stamped the sweet daisy on each balloon.

Prima's Doodle Deux made the perfect backdrop for the colors.

The sweet little double bow was made using yummy baker's twine

from The Twinery in 'Ocean' & the 

brand spankin' new 'Iridescent Blossom'

What I love about this set is there are so many fun & surprising elements

you can play with, right down to the little 'swirlys'.

To celebrate this week, TCM will be giving away not one but . . .

TWO of the FEATURED STAMP SETS EACH DAY

Simply visit the TCM blog, leave a quick note to say hello

by 8pm PST each day & you just might win !

I'm so very glad you stopped by.

Make sure you let me know you were here and fingers

crossed that you'll be a winner !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Doodle Deux by Prima
Stamps: Sweet Birthday by The Craft's Meow
Inks: Ocean, Bellini & Orange by A Muse Studio
Tools: Lacey Squares die by Spellbinders, Big Shot
Embellishments: baker's twine in Ocean & Iridescent Blossom by The Twinery
silver pearls by Recollections
 

New Beginnings with The Craft's Meow

To visit my post for The Twinery
Please scroll down
or click here

Welcome back to The Open Window

I am really excited to share today's preview from

It's New Release Week and today's set is simply  . . .

' sweet '

It's called 'Easter Blessings'

designed by Karen Baker

Nothing says 'New Beginnings' to me like Dogwood blooms.

I couldn't resist these from Martha Stewart and thought they

were the perfect addition to these sweet little animals from TCM.

Once I inked each stamp, I pressed it on scrap first so I could

create a simple ' shadow ' of each creature.

The inks were from A Muse Studio.

Although it's not as visible in the photos, I embossed

the beautiful cardstock from Bazzill using the

' Stylized Flowers ' EF from Cuttlebug.

The ribbon is also from Martha Stewart.

How would you like a chance to win this set ?

All you have to do is stop by the TCM blog and leave a note

to say you stopped by for a visit.

Each day of the previews will bring another set up for grabs.

You have until 8pm PST, February 19th to comment to be eligible.

Thanks so much for coming by.
I would love to hear from you and I'll keep my fingers crossed
that YOU win this beautiful set.
Just in case, make sure you put it on your ' must have ' list !

Project Recipe:

 Cardstock: Berrylicious by Bazzill
Stamps: Easter Blessings by The Craft's Meow

Ink: Slate, Papaya & Latte from A Muse Studio
Tools: Stylized Flowers EF by Cuttlebug, Big Shot
Embellishments: Dogwood stickers & Vintage ribbon
both from Martha Stewart

Happy as a Lark!

It's getting closer!

We're on Day #3 of the New Release Previews over at

and today we share two sets with you,

one is this month's 'free gift with purchase'!

Today's sets are . . .

'Happy as a Lark'

and
'Lark Additions'
designed by the talented Karen Baker

I simply adore these sets.  

I love the images . . . I love the fonts of the sentiments . . .

I love them all !

This card is fairly straightforward in it's design.

I used a very old {and I mean like, 14 years old}

cloud template to create the subtle sky,

then stamped each image and layered things as you see.

 

For the tree trunks, I actually stamped in brown first

then 'shadowed' in gray to create dimension.

The inks are Memento & A Muse Studio,

the baker's twine is Cappuccino & Ocean from The Twinery.

'Lark Additions' is this month's 'Free Gift w/$50 Purchase'

It's such a fabulous addition with it's pretty sentiments.

Free for a limited time!

How would you like a chance to win these sets ?

All you have to do is stop by the TCM blog and leave a note

to say you stopped by for a visit.

Each day of the previews will bring another set up for grabs.

You have until 9pm PST, January 20th to comment to be eligible.

I'll be back tomorrow with the final fabby preview.

See you soon ! ! !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Coordinations & GinaK Designs

Stamps: Happy as a Lark & Lark Additions by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: baker's twine in Ocean & Cappuccino
from The Twinery 

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Are you ready ??

It's time for the January New Release Previews from

If you've been visiting the TCM blog, I'll bet you've been

'intrigued' by the sneak peeks and today, we start revealing

more each day.  Our design team is simply...fabulous

and I know you'll be inspired.

This month, TCM welcomes

Jennifer Ingle

as our Guest Designer.

Her design work is, well ... AWESOME!

Today's set is called 

'Beautiful Hymns'

designed by NinaB Designs for TCM.

{I apologize in advance for the lighting in these photos...dreary days here}

I love sets that have vines, ivy ... any type of free form stems

that can be stamped as an accent.  I used the one from this set

by stamping it in green & teal.

I still love this patterned paper from SEI and thought it paired

nicely with the 3-D sticker from KandCompany.

The hymn featured in this set is called 'Great is Thy Faithfulness'.

It's a song I grew up singing in church and still means

a lot to me today.

How would you like a chance to win this set ?

All you have to do is stop by the TCM blog and leave a note

to say you stopped by for a visit.

Each day of the previews will bring another set up for grabs.

You have until 9pm PST, January 18th to comment to be eligible.

I'll be back tomorrow with another fabby preview.

Don't forget, a brand new color challenge is up and running over at

See you soon ! ! !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: GinaK Designs

Patterned Paper: 'Couture' by SEI

Stamps: Beautiful Hymns by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: die cut sticker & gems from K&Company
Ink: A Muse Studio

Simply Beautiful

It is Day # 3 of the New Release Previews from one of my

favorite stamp companies

Today we are 'dressing up' with a set called

'Beautiful Shelf'

I love this set !  It was so fun to place things on the little

 lacey 'shelf' . . . oh so girly !

Whenever I would visit my grandma's bedroom, she would always

have little 'knick-knack-y' things on her dresser and that's

what I thought of as I stamped this card.

I'm not sure why, but when I think of my grandma, I always

think lavender, so that's the color I focused on.

I embellished the hat and the card base 

with a little bakers twine from The Twinery and added

tiny pearls and brads to complete the look.

You have a chance to win this set !

Make sure you stop by  

The Craft's Meow Store Blog

and leave a comment . . . Easy-Peasy !

We're getting closer to the release, which is this Friday !

Thanks for stopping by !

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: A Muse Studio
Stamps: Beautiful Shelf by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: bakers twine in Lilac & Ocean from The Twinery

 

 

Holiday Inspiration with The Craft's Meow

Happy Monday !

It's hard to believe the holidays are upon us, but they most

definitely are on the way.

Today, the designers of

are coming together for a

Holiday Card Blog Hop

to inspire YOU this season !

All of the seasonal sets being featured are

on sale 15% off through this Thursday!

If you came by way of my very talented friend

Jessica blog iEmbellish

you are right where you should be to be

eligible to win a TCM stamp set of your choice !

If you just happened to swing by, I'd love to invite you back to

The Craft's Meow Blog

to start there.  When you do, just leave a comment and

YOU could win !

This is one of my favorite sets from TCM called 

'Warm Winter Wishes'.  It's a great set for paper-piecing.

The paper is from Recollections with the scarf & mittens adorned with

baker's twine in Ocean & Honeydew from The Twinery.

I am loving these colors for the winter season !

On a completely different note . . .

'Holiday Foundations' is an absolutely aMAZing set with so many great possibilities.

This CAS card was easy-peasy and could be done in varied colors.

Here are the sets I featured today

 

To be eligible to win a set of your choice, just make sure

you visit the blogs on the hop and leave a comment over

on the TCM blog by 9pm PST, Wednesday Nov 14th

It's time to send you on your way to my friend

Karen blog The Bald Dragonfly

So glad you stopped by !

You Warm my Heart Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned Paper: Jolly & Bright by Recollections
Stamps: Warm Winter Wishes by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: baker's twine in Ocean & Honeydew from The Twinery

Stardust Stickles by Ranger, gems from A Muse Studio

 

 

Happy Holidays Project Recipe:

 Cardstock: Bazzill & Recollections
Stamps: Holiday Foundations by The Craft's Meow

Ink: Cherry & Grass from A Muse Studio 

Embellishments: gems from K&Company

 

 

Labeled With Love

For The Skipping Stones
New Release Blog Hop
Please Scroll Down

It's Day Two of New Release Previews from

Everyone loves a beautiful label set and here is another one

created by Elizabeta Kushner

called 'Lovely Ovals'

Any time I use these colors together, I immediately think of the city I
live in as it has quite a Swedish heritage.  I pulled these colors from my
A Muse Studio ink collection.  When you see this complete set,
you'll see just how easy it is to line up any of the border stamps
so you can alternate colors, if you wish.

Make sure you pop by

 The Craft's Meow Blog

and check out the fabulous-ness

from all of the designers.

TCM is giving away a new release set

each day, so make sure you leave a comment

on the blog for a chance to win!

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Stamps: Lovely Ovals by The Craft's Meow 

Ink: A Muse Studio
Embellishments: seam binding from Anna Griffin
pearls from Recollections

Hello...One Scoop or Two?

Welcome back!

We are celebrating Day Two of New Release Previews for

Summer is in full swing and today we have two

fabulous sets that will make you smile.

The first was designed by our newest designer

Mabelle R-O and is called
'Sweet Taste of Summer'

This set is full of fun images & I chose to go very simple for this card.

Those of you who visit often KNOW that I am not much of a color-er,

but this sweet set begs to be colored !

I love the design of these butterflies and chose to use them.

I used a few Copics to get the job done and added tiny pearls

for dimension.  The clouds were created by sponging ink

around a cloud template that I've had in my tool drawer for

over ten years.  It's one I never want to lose.

The next set was designed by our British designer, 

Amy Wanford called 'One Scoop or Two' . . .

What did I tell ya ? !  Just in time for summer !

There are so many possibilities with this set.

I can imagine using bold, bright, yummy colors...but I went pastel.

I just can't seem to capture white panels on cards very well

with my camera and light tent . . . but I love the patterned paper

from American Craft's 'Neopolitan' collection.

Perfect with these ink colors.

Make sure you pop by

 The Craft's Meow Blog

and check out the fabulous-ness

from all of the designers.

TCM is giving away each new release set

each day, so make sure you leave a comment

on the blog for a chance to win!

I am so glad you stopped by today and I hope

you will plan to come by each day this week

so you don't miss a thing!

Hello Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Neopolitan by Dear Lizzy for American Crafts
Stamps: Sweet Taste of Summer by The Craft's Meow
Ink: A Muse Studio 

Embellishments: pearls from Recollections

Cherry on Top Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Neopolitan by Dear Lizzy for American Crafts
Stamps: One Scoop or Two by The Craft's Meow
Ink: by A Muse Studio, Copics