Relax...Dream...Love...

Hello ....

I hope you are having a terrific week so far.

Mine has started off as a busy one and that's the way I like it!

I am super excited to share this new project with you.

If you regularly peek in at The Open Window you know I am a

huge fan of Little Yellow Bicycle

and I am so looking forward to my upcoming projects for

their Swoon Cycling Team.

Until then...I've been playing with one of my favorite collections

since 'Twig'...and that is 'Saturdays'.

I spied this great acrylic collage photo frame on one of my recent visits to

the craft store and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

I used a variety of elements from the 'Saturdays' collection for each of

the frames and for texture on the OUTside of many of the frames as well.

I loved the designs on each of the double-sided textured cardstocks.

I had a very limited amount of product to use I'm afraid as my trip to

Archivers proved a few days too late!  I knew this design from LYB

would be huge hit and clearly, much of it was picked over, but I made the best

of it and cut each 2"x3" very thoughtfully : )

Here is a view of the dimension this frame lends and the different textures

of both the cardstocks inside and the stickers on the outside can be 'felt'.

The additional element to this frame was the 'Twiggy Tree' from Memory Box.

Of course, no dimensional project is complete without a little bling & pearls

in just the right spots, so I added berries to the bicycle basket and LYB gems

here and there and and it just felt right to stop when I did.

Of course, this would be totally stunning if you substituted a few B&W photos

among these beautiful reds, blues & browns.  I didn't have anything chosen, 

but I thought of it the entire time...so I think I would LOVE to do 

another one with that in mind.

I sure hope you enjoyed this idea half as much as I enjoyed working on it.

You can find all the amazing products I used for this project over at LYB.

Thanks for stopping by and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new

challenge from The Play Date Cafe.  See you then!

Project Recipe:

Textured Cardstock, Decorative Edge Cardstocks,
5 Things Envelopes Embossed Stickers, Cardstock Stickers
Tear-out Ticket Book all from 'Saturdays' Collection by

 Little Yellow Bicycle
Embellishments: Jewel Stickers from 'Hello Fall' by Little Yellow Bicycle
pearls from Recollections
Tools:  Twiggy Tree die from Memory Box, Big Shot

Happy Saturday!

Hello!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog again today.

Hope your weekend is starting out nicely.

Today is Day Three of the New Release Previews for

This new set is by Kaitlyn Ord and it has so many

fabulous possibilities

This set is called 'I've Got Your Number'.

Oddly enough, I didn't use any of the numbers in this project.

I love the font in this sentiment!

It's surrounded by the lovely 'Frosty Border' from Memory Box.

Once I chose the paper from Authentique, 

the rest of was easy to put together.

The Craft's Meow is giving away this set of stamps!

All you have to do is leave a comment on the TCM blog

and keep your fingers crossed...well, make sure you can stamp with them

that way first!  I'd love to see you win!

Sunday will be the final day of previews before the blog hop on Monday.

That's when you'll be able to purchase all of the fabulous sets in the release.

If you've missed the last two previews, make sure you check them out

HERE and HERE!

Project Recipe: 

Cardstock: Spring Rain from Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Journey by Authentique
Stamps: I've Got Your Number from The Craft's Meow
Tools: Frosty Border by Memory Box, Big Shot

Embellishments: gems from Recollections

Be Mine

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am so happy that Paul has the day off today but he has been extremely

under the weather the past several days, so I think we will be

spending a nice quiet day together and staying in where it's

nice and warm.

I was determined this Valentine's Day to make Paul's card.

He is always so sweet and appreciative of each one that he

receives and I am really happy to be able to give him this one.

I love this paper from Prima and once I knew that I was going to be using

the glittered chipboard pieces from Making Memories, that it would be

the perfect paper to use as my 'wallpaper'.

I have been using the Lacey Circles die from Spellbinders a lot lately

and thought it worked well for this design.

Before I go, I wanted to slip in one more Valentine greeting that I created a couple

weeks ago using one my new dies from Memory Box.

I LOVE this tree die called 'Twiggy Tree'.

It was perfect for these tiny punched hearts, which I did using my

Martha Stewart Heart to Heart border punch.  It's a great way to make a whole

bunch all at once.  The sentiment on both cards is a vintage stamp from

the original PSX company{circa 1999} and is still one of my very favorites.

I hope you have a lovely day celebrating with the one you love.

Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to stop by and I hope

while you're here, you'll say hello.

Key to my Heart Project Recipe: 

Patterned Paper: Sparkling Spring by Prima
Stamps: Be Mine by PSX {1999}

Embellishments: Glitter chipboard Je t 'Adore by Making Memories,
Seam binding from Sugar Lump Studios Etsy Shop, pearls from Recollections

Tools: corner rounder punch by Fiskars
Lacey Circles & Standard Circles dies from Spellbinders, Big Shot

Tree Wishes Project Recipe: 

Patterned Paper: Gossamer from Memory Box
Stamps: Be Mine by PSX {1999}

Tools: Twiggy Tree die by Memory Box, Big Shot
Heart to Heart border punch by Martha Stewart Crafts

You Made my Day ...

FOR THE EAD DESIGNS 

COLOR CHALLENGE POST

CLICK HERE

I am really glad to say that as I type this, the weatherman assures me

that it will be sunny with beautiful clouds in the sky.

So fingers crossed that it will be that way when I awake on Thursday morning!

Jaclyn Miller, our Color Story Coordinator always knows 

how to bring the color and this week is no exception.

Personally, I am always stumped when it comes to bold

colors but it didn't take long to come up with my idea.

I recently bought a bunch of dies from Memory Box and couldn't wait

to play with this one.  The 'Country Landscape' is so delicate and was

a great way to highlight the golden yellow called for this week.

My favorite 'Clouds' die from Lil' Inker Designs was a perfect way to use

the two shades of blue and WA-LA!  

Clean and Simple indeed.

This week, we are happy to have

back with us as our sponsor.
They always offer a terrific shopping spree to the winner,
so you'll want to make sure to play!

Project Recipe: 

Cardstock: American Crafts
Patterned Paper: 'Blissful' from Authentique
Stamps: Rainbow & Clouds Sentiments by Lil' Inker Designs

Tools: Country Landscape die from Memory Box,
Cloud die from Lil' Inker Designs, Big Shot

Hearts a-Plenty!

Hey hey one and all!
Just a little card I have to share with you tonight.

I created this card for a specific project, but it didn't really work out,

but I thought I would share it anyway.

This card was created using lots of little elements, all just placed

strategically on the card, so no real instructions, but all recipe

of 'ingredients' are all listed below.

So glad you stopped by.
I always appreciate your visits and hope you
will stop by again soon!

Project Recipe: 

Designer Papers: 'Enchanted Woodland' by Martha Stewart

Embellishments: 'Sweet Talk' & 'Smitten' gems 
& 'Sweet Talk' Banner die cuts all by K&Company

Tools: Cherish border die (hearts) from Memory Box
Wavy Layered Frame die from Sizzix

Wrapping my World in Baker's Twine!

Sometimes all it takes is little color and

a little embellishment to make a card

complete.

That's what I LoVe about using my

baker's twine from The Twinery!

I loved using the 'Funky Foliage' set from

Wplus9 Designs and thought I

would enter this card in the current

Color Cue Challenge over there....

I used Cappucino and Lilac

and I love the affect with

the rest of the colors used

on this card.

I am sure you know by now, I think that

the baker's twine from

The Twinery

is the best quality and the

saturation of color is out of this world!

There are LOTS of twines out there that

are low-quality and one available in 2 or 3

'faded' colors.  For my money, it's

The Twinery all the way!!!

Ya know, they have a terrific

Sampler Pack for only 20 bucks!!!

All 11 colors (including the 3 newest colors)

15 yards of each!  It's a terrific deal!

I am really glad you stopped by!

I'd love to know if you've gotten your

baker's twine from The Twinery yet?

 Leave me a comment.......YAY!!

Today's Project Recipe:

Cardstock: The Paper Company

Designer Paper: Memory Box
Stamps: Wplus9
Ink: VersaMagic
Tools: Cuttlebug EF, Big Shot,
Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch

Embellishments: Baker's Twine from The Twinery

Pearls & Rhinestones by Recollections

Enjoy the Moment in The Play Date Cafe

It's hard to believe another week has come and gone

and come back around once again!

What am I talking about?

The Play Date Cafe Challenge, of course!

Look at this gorgeous color story!!!

I am the host this week and I just have to

say that this inspiration would not exist

without the kindness of a dear friend

of mine here in my hometown.

Polly owns a wonderful business and a

blog that holds the same name

Counting Your Blessings

where she specializes in all things

vintage and shabby chic.

I've always loved the look and try to bring

it into my home as often as I can, 

but this girl is the master!!!

I hope you will pop over to her lovely blog and

bring a cup of tea with you!

All week I thought about making something with a whole lot of

layers, flowers, lace, pearls...you name it.

But as you can see, I went clean and simple.

You would not believe what is waiting for you over in The Cafe!

We have the fabby Kazan Clark 

as our Guest Designer this week

and the most amazing inspiration from our entire design team.

Ruby McGuire

 Savannah O'Gwynn 

Andrea Ewen

Colleen Dietrich  

Fiona Shultz

Jaclyn Miller 

Jinny Newlin
Libby Hickson  

Michele Gross

Tracey Kuzniak

and of course, our honored guest...
Kazan Clark

 So glad you stopped by and I hope you'll 

leave a quick little note to let me know

you were here : )

Today's Project Recipe:

Cardstock: The Paper Company

Designer Paper: Memory Box
Stamps: My Mind's Eye, Memory Box, The Paper Company

Embellishments:  baker's twine from The Twinery, Stickles in 'platinum'

Pearls from Martha Stewart

Gift Tags Galore!

One of the things I enjoy making at Christmas time,

more than anything else

is gift tags...but not just plain jane tags.

I think all these tags qualify for CAS until you start

adding embellishments, which I love to do!

Die cut tags using Spellbinders Labels Four,

layered with a variety of designer papers from

Memory Box and K&Co.

The focal point sentiments for each of these are vinyl

'Stickerz' from EAD Designs.

Add pearls, gold twine and silk ribbon and there you go!

I am entering my set of tags above

for the Scrappy Saturday Challenge

featuring one of my favorite Christmas songs,

'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'

I made another set of tags using a wonderful rubber stamp

image from Memory Box.  I used a paper-piecing method

with the holly and added fabby pearls for the berries.

The holly is actually placed with 3-D tape for a

dimensional affect.

I am entering this set of tags over at

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge

and

Little Red Wagon Challenge #57

and

Sunday Stampers #132

Last but not least, another batch of tags

featuring EAD Designs 'Stickerz'...

Love the 'retro feel' to these ornaments.

I dressed them up a bit with Stickles in platinum

(which is my FAVORITE color)

and a lovely rhinestone for the center.

The stamped sentiment is from The Paper Company.

All of the tags in this post have been shaded on the edges

with Tim Holtz Distress Ink.  It adds depth and gives a

vintage-feel to paper projects.

Hope you enjoyed these fun little projects!

One more thing....

Monique Hanson, my design team-mate at The Twinery

and author of the blog, For the Love of Paper, honored

me with a sweet blog award today.

I thank her for thinking of me and I appreciate her

being a follower here at The Open Window.

I am going to 'cop out' a bit on the sharing the

personal things that most awards require, but only

because I just shared some pretty fun and in some

cases, surprising things in my interview with Ippity.

So if you have a moment, I would love if you

would click here and check out some fun facts

about Julie Ranae.

I didn't 'cop out' completely....Thanks again Monique!

Life IS Beautiful....

Technically, this makes two posts in one day

but the first one went on just after midnight.

I have been so inspired by Sarah's colors over

at The Play Date Cafe.

Here we are in the midst of autumn and yet

working with these soft tones has really been lovely.

It's been a blast pulling out a lot of the new things

I bought on my recent birthday trip to Archivers.

Starting with the base paper from My Mind's Eye.

The top panel is a die cut from Bo Bunny's

'Mama-Razzi' set.   Embellishing this layer

 was not difficult because of

the wonderful colors already offered.

The butterfly image is from Memory Box Stamps.

I inked it in a variety of shades until I got what

I wanted (which was debatable at the time!)

Before clustering those stunning

Prima 'Madrigal Blossoms',

I 'wrapped' it in 'Cappucino' twine

from The Twinery.

Hope you enjoyed it....

Now off to get my to-do list done!

Camels in a Queue...What?

To see the brand, new
Ippity Summer Collection
click here!

It's that time in the week once again....

The new colors are up for 

The Play Date Cafe Challenge.

Just take a look at these camels!

They crack me up!

We are in week #42 of our challenges which means in just

10 short weeks, we will be celebrating our

one year anniversary!!!

The time has sure flown by, hasn't it?!

I love this DP from the UK company
Papermania (thank you Sarah).
The designs include the lamp
and the wallpaper background.
I layered Spellbinders Labels 4 die cuts
to form a dimensional frame.
And the bit of striped paper is from
Memory Box.
Speaking of Memory Box.....

Guess who is sponsoring the challenge this week?

One of my favorite companies for sure...

And look what you could win...

and that's not all....

So make sure you get on over to 

The Play Date Cafe.

Never played with us before?

Then you are gonna love it!

Go see what the

world's best design team

have put together to inspire you

with this week's 'color story'.

I'll be back a little later with a
big look at the brand new

Ippity Summer 2010 Collection!