Think Ink Challenge - Make it Sparkle!

Here it is...this week's Artful INKable's Think Ink Challenge...
Make it Sparkle!
The design team host for this is Lisa Kind at Kind Creations. Her challenge to you is to create something that
'sparkles and shimmers'...that's it...easy-peasy!

For these tags, I featured AI's newest holiday set Holiday Treats & Tails. Using 2 different Nestibilities Tag templates, I layered them using Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses Paper Collection.
The sparkles come from Crystal AND Diamond Stickles, added not only to the edges but also to the holly leaves and 'berry' brads. A little American Crafts ribbon finishes them off.

I hope you will get over to the AI blog for all the details on how to enter the challenge. The winner will receive a grab bag of AI rubber stamps...SEE YOU THERE!

It's Beginning to Look....Well, You Know...

No....I am not quite ready for the Christmas Season, but I was really in the mood to make tags and 'glittered things' all weekend, so this is where I landed.

I must say that as we officially welcome autumn to our lives, it won't be long before we are totally focused on holiday projects.
Have you already planned out your holiday cards? I'm not there yet, but when I get the inspiration, there will be no stopping me!

I really enjoyed making these projects. This beautiful patterned paper from Foo-Fa-La was so easy to play with.



I have been using a lot of vintage buttons on my cards lately, too.

The other bits 'n' pieces to these projects include the Spellbinder's Snowflakes and lots of glitter!






The tags include the Martha Stewart Arctic Snowflake punch and Nestibilities scalloped circles and the tag template from Cuttlebug's Happy Halloween set.

So....I hope you enjoyed a little peek into the holidays with me. I am excited to be able to share this season with you as it approaches.

I am now off to finish my project for the 'Think Ink Tuesday Challenge' over at Artful INKables. I hope you will stop back tomorrow and see the results. In the meantime, I hope you will consider taking the challenge yourself.
Stop over at the AI blog and get all the details!

GCD Designs 'Provence'...Bold Pattern Series

I always look forward to Fridays, for many of the same reasons you do....the weekend is here, for many, it's a great 'date night'...but for me, it is also the night I have set aside to share with you a series of projects featuring specific colors, designs, themes and more. Tonight, I am happy to share a couple of projects that I made this week using a paper set that I showed you a couple of weeks ago and have been so excited to use! GCD Designs, which just finished a fabulous blog hop over at their site, is the name behind this series called 'Provence'. If you have come to know me, even a little, you know that my dream trip is to this region in the South of France. So let's go on a little tour of Provence right here at The Open Window.

If you have studied any French decorating, you know that the patterns and colors are bright and bold. Ochre, Cerulean Blue, Bordeaux...just to name a few. I think the colors and patterns on this first card are so classic. Stripes mixed with bold patterns. This card has a real feel of a wallpapered wall, don't you think? Because I have not seen these papers sold separately, I don't have names for the individual sheets, but what I do love, is that in each set, there are pattern choices on both sides. So coordinating is a cinch....especially when you are talking about 'busy' patterns. My philosophy is...if it's all in one set, you can mix any of it together!

I used the Martha Stewart Loop Around the Page punch just for something different as well as a vintage button and a soutache-style ribbon for focal points. Everything was aged using Ranger Archival ink in Coffee and the sentiment stamps
are from Scrappy Cat.

To quote Monty Python (and my friend Sarah!)...
and now for something completely different...

Yep....these patterned papers are from the very same set! What a change in theme though, huh?! I fell in love with the gold-striped paper, which I also used on the card above AND on the card from yesterday's post. It really set the 'gold tone' for this card. It also features one of the die-cut tags that was included in the set.

The 'extras' on this card include a very 'vintage' lace that I inherited from my seamstress grandmother, Martha Stewart rhinestones in my grandmother's birthstone Garnet, copper brads and these fabulous Holiday Brads from K&Co. The snowflake was cut using 'The Bug' and the Snowflake Nestibilities and then covered with fine gold glitter. Don't let glitter scare you! It's not nearly as messy as it used to be. There are so many great techniques for applying it as well as the quality...that can make all the difference in the world. The source for the rubber stamped sentiment is unknown, but I love the vintage 'feel' to it.

I'm curious....back to glitter for a moment....do you use glitter? How often and what's your favorite thing to make? Do you have a favorite brand? PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT because I would love to know what you do with glitter. I specialize in making themed glass ornaments all year-around and every ornament is 'tricked' out with some glitter.
I would love to share some of my glittering 'secrets' with you!

Good Tuesday Morning

Just a quick little post this morning as I await the arrival of my 1 year old grandson for a play date! It's going to be an absolutely beautiful day, so I am going to take him on a little excursion in the car, then probably for a walk around the neighborhood, followed by lunch and then a nap. Not sure what he is going to do while I take the nap, but I am sure he will find something to play with in Mema's art studio!

As you can see I am still playing with the new Martha Stewart Loop punches. I see all sorts of possibilities coming with these little accessories! If you are like me, I have experienced some difficulties punching through cardstocks with some of her punches, but these have worked very well, so I hope you will give them a try. Again, I used Basic Grey papers and Martha pink topaz rhinestones, because they are the perfect match! Oh and of course, put 'the bug' to use with the Spellbinders scalloped circles and the Cuttlebug dotted EF.

Hope you are having a good start to your day (or a good ending for our overseas friends). I will be back a little later to share another new project with you.