You Are Never Alone

Happy Sunday !

I'm just popping in today with a card I recently made

to { hopefully } bring a smile to my mom.

I recently shared that she was diagnosed with lung cancer

and while she is going through treatment, I want to

make sure she knows how much I love her

and admire her strength.

 

She does read my blog from time to time, so hopefully

she will not 'peek in' for a few days so I can

make sure this card gets to her : )

 My mom has loved gardening since I was in high school.

She turned most of our backyard into the most

beautiful flower garden over 30 years ago and to this day, still has

the most beautiful blooms from Spring to Fall around

her entire condo.

 

I recently picked up these fabby vellum pages by Heidi Grace

and was so anxious to use them.

I used my Lacey Circle die from Spellbinders to create the frame

and placed it on top of yellow cardstock so the design

would stand out more.

I also created the base using the Swiss Dot EF from Cuttlebug.

The sentiment is from a beautiful set called 'Inspired by Audrey'

designed by Karen Baker for The Craft's Meow.

I simply embellished the flowers & umbrella with pearls & gems.

It's important she knows this sentiment is true and I hope

she enjoys it once she receives it.

 

Don't forget. . .

There's a terrific color challenge going on over at

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

I'll be back on Monday with a very special event

with The Twinery and Imaginisce !

Project Recipe:

 Cardstock: Recollections & Bazzill

Vellum: Sunshowers Quotes by Heidi Grace
Stamps: Inspired by Audrey by The Craft's Meow

Tools:  Lacey Circles die by Spellbinders

Lg Swiss Dot EF by Cuttlebug, Big Shot Embellishments: gems from K&Company

pearls from Recollections

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

Countdown to a Celebration!

Please Scroll Down for the

EAD DESIGNS BLOG HOP

Hello !

I'm back again with an uber-quick post.

I didn't have a chance to share the card I created for the current

challenge over at The Play Date Cafe due to a minor accident

involving my husband Paul last Wednesday evening.

I chatted with several of you over on Facebook, but long story short . . .

We were at Home Depot searching for some finished wood to use

as a base for our brand new 60-gallon freshwater aquarium.

The clerk asked Paul to help him move a few of the sheets

and on sheet #2, Paul lifted his head and cut it open on a metal

bracket above.  Needless to say, stitches were put in and the

evening got away from me.  Well, the rest of the week into

the weekend got away from me.

He is doing well now and I thank you for your kind

thoughts, messages and prayers, both on facebook

and via email.  It is always such a blessing to know I am

in a community of caring folks.

So here is this week's challenge

and here is my interpretation

I love this new paper from Prima's Rondelle collection.

As soon as I got my 6x6 pad in from StopandScrap.com,

I knew I wanted to use it for this challenge.

I created my frame using a Spellbinders die & matching

pearl Nestabling from Want2Scrap. I used a fab tiny print

stamp from Glitz Design and stamped it on the diagonal.

The sentiment is from PTI.

I really hope you will make plans to join us this Thursday, October 18th

as The Play Date Cafe celebrates it 3rd Anniversary.

We will party for FIVE days with . . .

alumni designers

 fabulous sponsors

and

great surprises

We are working hard to reach a milestone

2,000 follower mark

and prizes will be involved !

So I hope you will stop by and sign on to follow

{if you aren't already}

because we'd love to have you !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Gina K Designs & American Crafts

Patterned Paper: Rondelle by Prima

Stamps: Glitz Design & PaperTrey Ink

Tools:  Fancy Tags Two die by Spellbinders, Big Shot

Embellishments: Nestabling by Want2Scrap

gems by KandCompany

Peace & Love

Happy Labor Day to all of my U.S. friends and welcome
back to The Open Window.
It's Monday and that means . . .

We welcome our September Guest Designer

Wendy's blog
Scrappy Day in Paradise
 

and hopefully you came by way of her blog.

If not, I invite you to start at the beginning over on the

EAD Designs blog

because there is a great prize for a lucky visitor!

Last week, I played with retro images from the 'Groovy' Stickerz set by EAD
and thought I would share another CAS card with you.

I embossed the white panel with a heart EF from Sizzix,

and laid it on top of borders cut using a heart border punch from

Martha Stewart.  This card is all about the L.O.V.E.

Here's the groooooovy set I used this week

and just to remind you 

It's time to send you on your way to

Liz's blog Liz's Paper Loft

Thanks for stopping and make sure you leave a

little love before you leave.  I'd love to see

you win this week's prize !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs, Bazzill

Embellishments: Groovy Stickerz by EAD Designs
gems & pearls by White Blossom & KandCompany

Tools:  Heart EF by Sizzix, Big Shot

Heart to Heart border punch by Martha Stewart

It's Tea Time with EAD Designs

It's always time for tea in my home !

Welcome in to The Open Window for another great blog hop with

Mondays are always very inspirational because the girls

over at EAD have so much to share.  

If you've come by way of

Judith's blog Jay Gee's Nook

then you are in the perfect spot.

If not, why not start back at the

EAD Designs blog

because there is always a terrific prize to be won.

There are only 10 blogs total

so it's easy-peasy !

'Tea Time' Stickerz are my theme today and they were so

much fun.  I started by placing the border stickers on my

American Crafts ribbon.  They stick really well to texture.

From there, I knew I wanted to simply place random images

on my panel.  I embellished my tiny flowers with gems

from KandCompany.

The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye and was a great match.

I've been using lots of 'stuff' from my personal stash

purchased from StopandScrap.com

It's time to get you on your way over to

Liz's blog Liz's Paper Loft

She is the final stop on the hop and I know

she has created something great to share !

Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by . . . 

Make sure to leave a quick note so you can be

in the running for that great prize from EAD !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Pure Luxury from Gina K Designs

Patterned Paper: Lime Twist by My Mind's Eye

from StopandScrap.com

Embellishments: Tea Time Stickerz by EAD Designs

gems from K&Company, brads from Recollections

ribbon from American Crafts

I Thank God ... For New Opportunities!

Hello and welcome to The Open Window today.

It is a truly exciting day as I have some fun & fabulous

things to share with you.

You may have heard me talk about my friend Tanner Bell

from time to time.  He is a 13 year old entrepreneur who loves

creating.  A little over a year ago he started a new blog & new

stamp line known as 'Mr. Cricut Crazy' and today, he starts

a new chapter with . . .

 Tanner reminds me a lot of ME when I was his age

as I would go door to door selling personalized

Christmas cards . . . of course, this was back in

the 70's, but the story is still so much the same.

To have an opportunity to encourage & promote his passion

with TBD is a real treat for me.

I am excited to be one of TBD's first guest designers

along with one of my besties, Savannah O'Gwynn and

in a sec, I have more fun news to share !

The newest releases from Tanner Bell Designs are all sentiments & have

so many wonderful possibilities.

For this card, I used 'Enjoying the Moments' and thought it was the

perfect sentiment to go with this beautiful felt embellishment

by Susan Winget for K&Company.

Here are both sets which are 

now available from TBD . . .

How would you like to WIN both of these
brand new sets ?
Just pop by the brand new Tanner Bell Designs Blog,
leave a little love & YOU just might win !

I've often talked about my love for retail marketing,

as it has been my career for over 30 years.  I am fortunate

to be able to do for a number of companies, big & small.

I've been working behind the scenes with Tanner for a several

months now as his marketing coordinator & today I am happy

to share that I will be working with Tanner Bell Designs

as the new Design Team Coordinator as well.

I love working with new businesses and although Tanner

has been in business for over a year, the launch of his new

blog & store website is a new beginning I am happy

to be a part of.

With the launch of his brand new site

{which looks totally fab, btw}

we are having our first ever

For all the details on how to submit, please make sure

you visit Tanner's new blog HERE .

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

I hope you will take a moment to stop by Tanner's new blog

and leave a little love.  He is truly a great guy & I want

you to get to know him.

He is headed in such a fabulous NEW direction

and I couldn't be happier for him !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Bazzill
Stamps: Enjoying the Moments by Tanner Bell Designs

Embellishments: felt stickers by K&Company

The Craft's Meow New Release Blog Hop

FOR THE EAD DESIGNS

MONDAY BLOG HOP

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN

The day is here !!

It's New Release Blog Hop Day at

If you have arrived at my blog from our talented

Guest Designer  

Annette Allen's Blog

then you are in the right place!

If not, start back at the beginning at the

TCM Blog

 and get started there because

when you do, you could win big!   
All SIX stamp sets !!!

More on that in a sec.

Today I am featuring one of the new releases from TCM that is
quickly becoming one of my favorites called 'Flower Garden'.
I stamped the leaves in basic greens, then 'shadowed' them
in coordinating shades.
I then stamped the tulips directly on the panel, then topped
them with bright yellow tulips for a pop of color.
The sentiment is from the 'Inspired by Audrey' set from
the April release.

I know you will see all the sets on the TCM Website, so I am going
to show you a very special one here...

 This terrific set is 'Typically Teen' designed by my friend

Karen Baker for TCM and for a limited time is only available

as a gift with a purchase of $50 or more.

I used this set in my post from yesterday as well...

you can check it out here

So here is how you can win....

Visit each designer's blog on the hop, leave a comment

{there's only 16 total}

and you have until 9:00pm PDT, Wednesday May 23rd to do so.

They are all on sale today!!!

Don't wait!

Look forward to your comment and I will keep my fingers

crossed that YOU are a winner!

The next stop on the hop IS the talented


Karen Baker's blog

Just in case there are any glitches in the blog hop,
here is a complete list of blogs participating for TCM:

The Craft's Meow Blog
Amy Tsuruta
Amy Wanford
Ivana Camdzic
Sharri Seffens
Iwona Palamountain
Jackie Rockwell
Jean Martin 
Jen Cuthbertson
Jessica Fick
Annette Allen
Julie Ranae

Karen Baker
Lindsay Amrhein
Michelle Bertuzzi

Nina Brackett

 Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Bazzill
Stamps:  Flower Garden, Inspired by Audrey
both from The Craft's Meow
Inks: Burano, Papaya, Titian & Grass by A Muse Studio

Embellishments:  gems from K&Company

 

It's a Jungle Out There !

I am so happy to be back with the EAD Design Team after taking

a few weeks off during my recent dental surgery.

I've missed Mondays with the girls!

If you've reached my blog by way of our May Guest Designer

Anita from Happy Paper Craft Happenings

then you are in the right spot to continue the hop.

If not, then pop back just a few blogs to the

EAD Designs Blog

and get started there.

There's always a terrific prize when you visit & comment

each blog on the hop and there is SO much inspiration.

How fun is this set of Stickerz from EAD Designs ? ! !

It's called 'Elephant Friends' and I just love it !

The background paper is from Echo Park and I thought the patterns

worked well with the colors of the Stickerz.

Because they are transparent, I placed them on white cardstock first,

then cut out the images before adhering to the card.

The border and 'corner sunshine' punches are by Martha Stewart.

I placed an actual rhinestone heart on top of the heart in the sentiment.

Here is the set as it comes . . .

You can order from the EAD store HERE

and remember  . . .

 I hope you enjoyed your visit !

Don't forget to leave a quick note before you leave.

Your next stop on the hop is my creative friend

 Lauren from Lauren's Creative

Have a great day !

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: This & That Boy by Echo Park

Embellishments: Elephant Friends Stickerz by EAD Designs

heart gem from K&Company

Tools: Sunburst border & deep edge punch by Martha Stewart

It's 'Color Splash' Time

It is so great to be back with you here at The Open Window.

With each post, I am so thankful to be past the dental surgery

and on my way to healing, and this post is no exception.

It is time for this week's challenge over at

The Play Date Cafe and it's that time again....

I'm with you...I love me some 'color splash' ! ! !

This week's 'splash' is MUSTARD

I love these felt stickers from K&Company and thought it was the

perfect way to spotlight this week's color.

The embossing folder is a new one for my collection from Sizzix

and the sentiment is from The Craft's Meow.

Been working a lot of CAS for projects lately and this one is
going to be entered over at Simon Says Stamp.

This week's sponsor provided a key element that each of our

designers used for their projects.

 The black pearl trail was created using the beautiful embellishments by

and this week's 'Cup of the Week' is going to win a terrific

shopping spree from Want2Scrap.

Check out all the fabulous 'splashes' from our designers

and this week's guest, Karen Taylor

and make sure you play along...we'd love to have you ! ! !

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Nature's Beauty by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: pearls by Want2Scrap
felt dragonfly sticker by K&Company

Tools:  Birds EF by Sizzix, Big Shot

A Star is Born...The Twinery / SRM Event

It's Friday here at The Open Window
( and most likely where you are too  : )
and I'm excited to share today's post with you.

I love being a designer with The Twinery and especially when
we team-up with awesome companies.

It's Day #2 with

A variety of our designers have had a ball playing with
the beautiful stickers {and more} from SRM.
Of course, combined with what, in my opinion, is the
best baker's twine on the planet
our two teams have incredibly inspiring projects to share.

The majority of my card uses stickers from the 'We've Got Your Border'.
Banners & buntings are still quite trendy and my favorite go-to for
hanging them of course, is baker's twine from The Twinery.
I braided the colors Buttercream, Honeydew and Shore
and curved these fab stickers across the top of the card.

The panel of the card is embossed with the large dot EF from Cuttlebug,
but only 2/3 of the panel is embossed.  The flat 1/3 is decorated with more
sticker borders and the sentiment is also from SRM.

I went into my 'archives' stash and found the cute little metal star
from KandCompany and attached it to a baker's twine bow.

I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge as well
as their theme is 'Anything Goes'

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN
THREE SPOOLS OF BAKER'S TWINE 
IN YOUR CHOICE OF COLORS
FROM THE TWINERY ?

All you need to do is visit & comment on The Twinery's
participating designer's blogs.  Easy peasy!
A complete list for both days can be found on
The Twinery blog and to help you out, 
I am including it here as well.
You have a few days to get your visits in and there are
only 20 visits total
(including 2 at The Twinery)
Deadline to leave comments is 11:59pm EST
Sunday, April 29th.

I hope you enjoyed your visit today.
Make sure you leave a note before you leave and I'll
keep my fingers crossed for you!

The Twinery's Participating Designers Blogs
for The Twinery / SRM Stickers Product Showcase

Karola
Julie Ranae
Kellie
Jennifer
Kathy
Jamie
Dorangela
Angi

Natalie

Amy

Jessica

Katarina

Tifany

Monika

Carolyn

Ashley

Project Recipe:

Embellishments: baker's twine in Buttercream, Honeydew & Shore
from The Twinery
We've Got Your Border stickers by SRM Stickers
metal tag by KandCompany, gem by Martha Stewart
Tools: Large Dot EF by Cuttlebug, Big Shot