The Perfect Day!

I am so glad you came by today!

The designers of

are having a blog hop featuring the sweet stamp images

illustrated by Mabelle R-O

Hopefully you came by way of 

The Craft's Meow blog

If not, I hope you'll start there & visit all the

designer's blogs.  There is a prize up for grabs!

 

Here is what I have to share with you !

The journal card I chose as a frame for this card was absolutely perfect.

All I did was stamp my image and color it in.

This set is called 'Sweet Taste of Summer'.

It's really great when a scene is nearly all set for you !

Those who know me, know I am not a colorer, but this was

simply fun to do.  I added Stickles to the flower centers

as well as on her dress & hat.

Notice her hair is brunette . . . I would love to be her on the blanket !

Of course for me, no outdoor scene is complete without

a few little clouds, which I created with my dies from Lil' Inker Designs.

I also love how dimensional the banner appears.

It was simply a part of the journal card I used.

It's from Recollections.

It's time to send you on your way to the next

blog on the hop which is

Lin Brandyberry's blog

Before you go, please make sure you leave a note

so you have a chance to win a

STAMP SET OF YOUR CHOICE !

All the details on how you can win are over on

the TCM blog.

OH...and today is the final day to get

20% off your purchase from the TCM store.

Check out those details too !

Thanks for stopping !

Project Recipe:

Journal Card: Recollections
Stamps: Sweet Taste of Summer by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: Stickles from Ranger

markers from Copic & Spectrum Noir

 Tools: cloud die from Lil' Inker Designs, Big Shot

 

Zva Creative April Design Team Blog Hop

Zva Creative and my fellow Design Team members welcome you to our April blog hop! We are excited about month's hop and look forward to sharing our new work with you!

Today's Blog Hop begins at Zva Creative's Facebook Page! Be sure head on over to check it out! You will also find a complete list of all the participating blogs there (in case there is a glitch along the way). 

As you know, Zva offers many beautiful color groupings for pearls, flowers and crystals.  If you like what you see along the hop you can find a list of stores and online retailers that sell Zva HERE.

Today I am featuring Zva's brand new red crystal flourishes
and mini-gem flowers.
I've had a beautiful project-life 'style' paper pack
from Recollections that I have been looking forward
to breaking into.  It's called 'Beautiful Life'
and I thought it worked perfectly with this flourish.
I simply layered each piece of cardstock, added
the journal card & added my gems.
The mini white roses are also from Zva.

If you would like to play along with our design team, just follow along the blog path.  I am linking to one of the Zva designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. Be prepared to be inspired along the way!

The Blog Hop starts today, April 29^th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, April 30^th 

***Prizes***

Hidden on FIVE of the designer's blogs is a 

Zva Creative prize package! 

Winners will be randomly chosen after the hop is over. All you need to do is leave a comment on this Blog Hop post... you do not need to leave a comment on each and every designer's blog post to qualify. 

However, the more times you comment along the blog hop path, 

the more chances you will have to win.

The 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 1st

on Zva Creative's Facebook Page.  

We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to Zva's blog on Wednesday to see if you are a winner!

We also thought it would be more fun to add even more chances to win our blog hop prize!  To increase your chances of winning:

* Comment to let us know that you posted on your Facebook page about our hop (link to any of the blog hop posts)

* Comment to let us know that you "tweeted" about our hop 

(link to any of the blog hop posts)

* Comment to let us know that you asked your local store to carry Zva creative products.  If they already do, that's fantastic, maybe you can suggest other products that they don't carry.

*Hop over to Zva's facebook page and "like" our page or leave a comment there to tell us that you stopped by if you already like follow us there!

Mark your calendar to join us again on 

May 27^th for our next Zva blog hop!

 The blog hop begins at the Zva Creative FB Page

Your next stop is Nicole Martel's blog

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Patina flower embossed by Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Beautiful Life by Recollections

Embellishments: red gems flourish {CR-06CA-107}
mini flower gems {CRW-06CA-153}
mini flowers in white {FLBK-03CB-101}

from Zva Creative

A { Colorful } Challenge

It's quite a colorful day here at The Open Window

as we present a brand new challenge over at

This week, we are using the colors

Grass ... Rose Petal ... Hibiscus

I have been hanging on to a bunch of newer embellishments

from BasicGrey, including the 'Hey Girl' collection and I knew

this hanging banner would be perfect for these colors.

I grabbed some washi tape from Freckled Fawn & Recollections

to create a simple pattern on the base panel and brought

it all together with the sweet flower from Prima.

I find myself apologizing with nearly every post

for the poor lighting in my photos.  Yes, I have a light tent.

The problem is my creative space is getting smaller by the day

and I've not had room to put it back up, so I have to fiddle with

the editing of my photos more and more.

I love this card (I must admit) but the photos do nothing for it.

On a GREAT note . . .

You know I love The Twinery and we are happy to

be providing a prize from this fabby baker's twine company.

Make sure you get over to see all the yummy new

'Metallic Shimmer' twines !

I'll see YOU in The Play Date Cafe !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper & Banner Embellishment: Hey Girl by BasicGrey
Embellishments: washi tape from Freckled Fawn & Recollections

flower from Prima, pearls from Recollections

Give Thanks

The day is here !!

It's New Release Blog Hop Day at

If you have arrived at my blog from the talented 

Elizabeta'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.

It's a bittersweet post today as TCM says farewell to
designer Amy Tsuruta  : (
She has been a part of the TCM family from the very beginning
and will be missed by us all.
I have the pleasure of continuing the creative journey with her
at The Play Date Cafe, so I am one lucky girl!
We'll miss you at TCM, Amy!

I'm totally excited about the new challenge over at

 

because this card is a sure-fit for their theme.

Clean and Simple.
I've had this window card in my stash for y.e.a.r.s and thought this
pumpkin from the 'Fall with Fibi and Lilly' set was just perfect.
I love the mix of fonts in the sentiment from the 'Fall Blessings' set.

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 'Golden Days' 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

You have until 9:00pm PDT, Sunday September 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 

 

Enjoy the hop !  There is a lot of beautiful inspiration
out there for you by some of the most talented designers around.


Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Farmhouse by Crate Paper
Stamps:  Fall with Fibi & Lilly, Fall Blessings
both from The Craft's Meow

Embellishments:  brads from Craft Essentials

Counting My Blessings

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood here at

The Open Window and I am sure glad you stopped by.

I am continuing the fun over at Skipping Stones Design

as one of the September Guest Designers

Here is the beautiful sketch we are working with today

 and I couldn't wait to break out my new flowers from Prima

Actually...the flowers and paper are both from Prima's new

'Rondelle' and 'Tea-Thyme' collections.

The bottom layers of my flowers were die cut using scallops

from Spellbinders and the very bottom scallops were stamped

with matching inks using Skipping Stones Designs'

'Garden Stamp Kiss' set.  The sentiment and scroll border

is from 'Everyday Blessings'.

I hope you will pop over to the Skipping Stones Design Blog

and take a look at all the beautiful inspiration from the designers there.

Thanks so much for stopping by . . . I'll see you again soon !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Patterned Paper: Rondelle by Prima  
Stamps: Everyday Blessings & Garden Stamp Kiss
both by Skipping Stones Design

Ink: A Muse Studio
Embellishments:  flowers Tea-Thyme Collection by Prima
pearl flourish by Want2Scrap, brads by Recollections
Tools: Scallop die by Spellbinders, Big Shot

Summer Fun with EAD Designs

Welcome to a new week here at The Open Window.

I love kicking off Mondays with the

because there is always so much fun inspiration

from the designers on this team.

I am the third stop on today's hop and hopefully

you've arrived here by way of

Judith's blog Jay Gee's Nook

If not, I would love for you to join us from the start at the

EAD Designs Blog

because you just might be this week's winner!

We are smack-dab in the middle of summer here in

Northern Illinois on week #3 of 90+ degree days

and today's forecast is for 100.

Speaking of summer . . . doesn't this scene just SCREAM good times ? !

I combined two sets of 'Stickerz' by EAD

'Pocketful of Sunshine' & 'Cute Transportation'

along with the sentiment by The Craft's Meow.

I remember the days of riding a bike like this when I was

in grade school and sometimes I wish I could go back to

those days of 'breezing' around the neighborhood with

very few cares in the world  : )

 

To create a little 'shine', I added Stickles in Stardust

to the sunshine & clouds.

Here are the sweet sets I used today:

and the GREAT NEWS is . . . 

So head on over to the EAD Store and take a look around.

These sets are only $2.50 each and with free shipping,

I'd run . . . not walk  ; )

I've made it really easy for you too with a direct link

right to the Stickerz ! ! !

OK . . . it's time to get you on your way to

the next stop on the hop, our July Guest Designer

Kate's blog Scrapper Creative Corner

Thanks for stopping by on a busy Monday !

I'm SO glad you did !

Project Recipe:

Embellishments: Pocketful of Sunshine & Cute Transportation Stickerz 

by EAD Designs
pearls by Recollections, Stardust Stickles by Ranger

Stamps:  Summer Fun by The Craft's Meow

Inks: Slate & Burano by A Muse Studio

Patterned Paper:  Tea for Two by Cosmo Cricket

Triple Scoop Anyone?

Happy Monday to you!

It's time for this week's blog hop with

If you are visiting from the hop, you will have come from

Judith's blog Jay Gee's Nook

If you just happened to stop by, then I invite you back to the

EAD Designs Blog

leave comments along the way and YOU could win!

We are really excited to welcome

Kate Cordero 

as our July Guest Designer too !

It's going to be a FABulous month ! ! !

It's summertime and I crave ice cream ! ! !

How about you ?

I created this 'sweet' card using 

'Strawberry-licious' & 'Random Words' 

Stickerz from EAD.

I was so glad to have the patterned paper from Bella Blvd.

It was a perfect match for the theme.

I thought I would 'glaze' that strawberry on top with a

little Stickles in Stardust.

Here are the fabby sets I used today :

I am the very last stop on the hop.

I hope you enjoyed your visit and look forward

to seeing you again soon !

Oh . . . by the way . . . ice cream triple scoop . . .

I say 'Go For It' !

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Sunshine Happiness from Bella Blvd

Embellishments: Strawberry-licious & Random Words Stickerz 

by EAD Designs

baker's twine in Shore by The Twinery

Stickles in Stardust by Ranger

Rhinestones & pearls by Little Yellow Bicycle & Recollections

Tools: Apron Lace border punch by Fiskars

 

 

Just for You . . . Welcome to The Craft's Meow

It's Day Number Three of the New Release Previews at

Everyone loves the labels set and here is another one

created by our newest illustrator

Elizabeta Kushner

called 'Lovely Labels 14'

I chose the beautiful papers from 'Sweet Day' from Echo Park for this card.

I layed the 'wallpaper' then proceeded to layer

hand-dyed seam binding with a beatiful pale

orange rose.

The label was stamped on yellow gingham and embellished

with pearls.  I paper-pieced the small butterflies at the

bottom of the frame.

 The pearl flourishes are just the finishing touch.

Lots of textures and layers on one card.

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:

Patterned Paper: Sweet Day by Echo Park
Stamps: Lovely Labels 14 by The Craft's Meow 

Embellishments: seam binding from The Ribbon Carousel
gem flourishes by Want2Scrap, pearls by A Muse Studio
rose by Recollections

Vacation Time !

Welcome back to a busy day here at The Open Window !

It's Monday Blog Hop day with my teammates from 

Hopefully, you've made your way here by way of

Judith's blog Jay Gee's Nook

If not, I'd love for you to stop back at the

EAD Designs blog

because we always have a fantastic prize for a lucky blog hopper.

It's summer and for many, that means a little 'vacay' time.

How cute is this sweet Stickerz set called, what else 

'Cute Transportation' ? !

I simply placed the images where I wanted them, used a little

Stardust Stickles around the rainbow and stamped the sentiment

by The Craft's Meow.

Oh...a little bling is the perfect touch for the airplane contrails.

Here is the actual set I used . . . 

So glad you could stop by !

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

Lauren's blog Lauren's Creative.

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Travel Time by The Craft's Meow 

Embellishments: Cute Transportation by EAD Designs
Stickles in Stardust by Ranger

tiny gems by Recollections

Imagine . . .

It's Monday and it's that time once again . . .

If you've been hopping with us, then you will have come by way of

Judith of Jay Gee's Nook

If not, pop back to the beginning over at

EAD Designs

because there is always a nice prize for a lucky hopper!

I picked up a little packet of embellishments on clearance recently

and included was this large chipboard frame & the pearls.

The frame was the perfect size for the antique clock from the

'Vintage Furniture' Stickerz set from EAD.

All I did was layer each element including the sentiment, also from EAD.

I absolutely love the font !

Here are the sets I used this week . . .

Vintage Furniture

Random Words

Before I send you on your way, I wanted to make sure

you knew that this week is a VERY special week here

at The Open Window.

Beginning Thursday, June 14th through Sunday, June 17th

I will be celebrating my 3rd anniversary of blogging.

As part of the celebration, I will be spending time sharing

stories and introducing people who have been a special part

of the past 3 years for me.

There are LOTS of companies offering prizes as well including

EAD Designs, so make sure you plan to stop by each day

for fun and a chance to win !

You can join the PRE-party now over on Facebook

for a chance to win prizes NOW!

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

Lauren of Lauren's Creative

Have a great day and I'll see you soon !

Project Recipe:

Embellishments: Vintage Furniture & Random Words 

Stickerz by EAD Designs
chipboard frame & pearls by Recollections