The Golden Rule with Elusive Images

I LoVe this sentiment, don't you?!!

I feel like it's a part of the

'Great Commandment'

and

'The Golden Rule'

all wrapped into one sweet verse.

Speaking of LoVe...

Yep, you guessed it!

I absolutely LoVe this color combo

at The Play Date Cafe.

As your host this week, I wanted to help

inspire you to start creating your holiday cards

 a little early this year, but I couldn't go with

the standard green & red...oh no!

How about a little

Green & Melon!

All of our designers were given a variety of amazing rubber

stamp images from this week's sponsor

This was my set....

As you can see, I only used a portion of

the large poinsettia image and the verse.

It's important in the creative process to remember

that you don't have to 'follow the rules'.

(not to be confused with following 'the golden rule')

In other words, when you get an idea in your

head go outside the box to make it work for you.

Just need a small poinsettia and all you have is

this big one?  You get the idea!

Glenda Waterworth, owner of Elusive Stamps is

this week's guest designer and has most generously

offered our 'Cup of the Week'

Four amazing stamp collections

worth $100!

And that's not all!

For the first time, 'The Fab 4' will also

win one each of the same great collections.

So you have to play...

you have more chances to win!

Get over to The Play Date Cafe

and check out all the inspirational designs

from 'The World's Best Design Team'!

See you there!

Jump Starting Creativity...A Couple of Challenges

As you know by now, I have been out of commission

for over a week, so I was delighted to find a few challenges

that peaked my interest and I thought it would be a
great way to jump start back into my art studio  : )

I thought I would enter this card in 2 different challenges.
First, Paige over at the CARDS blog issued a
challenge using 'woodgrain'.

I used DCWV's 'Green Stack' and with
Earth Day just around the corner, it's great to use
something made from 70% recycled material  : )

Then the girls over at OCC are getting into the

'Spring' of things with butterflies.

This fabulous butterfly stamp is from the UK company

Elusive Images (thank you, Sarah)

and was stamped in two parts.  

The sentiment is from Scrappy Cat.
I used Martha's Loop punch and
assorted pearl and rhinestone embellishments
to finish it off.

 See you soon!

It Required a Hunt! The Play Date Cafe Challenge

This has been a rather bold and bright week at The Open Window.

Lots of vibrant colors inspired by so many things.

Recognize any of this yet?  Yep, more of the new

'Mariposa' Collection from DCWV.

But I am happy to say that I managed a little BOO on this project.

Don't know what BOO is?  Click here to find out!

Before I go any further, here's an explanation for all the color...

This week's challenge is just that...A CHALLENGE!

All the designers said so...including our fabulous  
design team host, Sarah.

But there IS a story to go with these colors, so make sure you hit
The Cafe to read the inspiration behind this challenge.

So what did I come up with?

Here are the details...

The birdcage and collage-element paper are from DCWV.   

Prima flowers centered with fabric brads

from My Mind's Eye (thank you, Sarah) and Melody Ross' Artsy Urban for GCD Studios.

The orange panel was stamped with a beautiful butterfly from  

Elusive Images (again, thank you Sarah)

and the BOO on this card IS that orange panel.

Get this...I wanted just the perfect shade of orange and I literally (yes, really) looked for over an hour through every last orange 'thing' in my stash and then...  

I found it! 

 A brand, new blank mini scrapbook still in the package.  It was a freebie that came with an issue of Simply Scrapbooks

(now out of print).

Yes, it required that I cut it apart, but I was thrilled to find it!

Thank you dear Sarah...not only for the goodies used that were

sweet gifts from you,

but for dragging me out of my comfort zone with  

one terrific challenge!   : )