Flourishing Thanks - The Craft's Meow Blog Hop

The day has finally arrived !

It's The Craft's Meow 
June Release Blog Hop

I hope you stopped by from my friend & new TCM designer

Jinny Newlin's Blog

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

The Craft's Meow Blog

because someone is going to win

all four stamp sets
and it could be you !
More on that in a moment !

Today, the entire collection goes on sale!

For today's project, I revisited the

'Fancy Flourishes' set

designed by NinaB Designs

which is this month's

FREE GIFT w/$50 purchase

I created the 'wallpaper' for my card using the beautiful papers

from Authentique.

I added a ribbon border in the middle and the

stunning gem flourish is from Zva Creative.

This set has so many possibilities...create fun graphic elements

or simple elegance.  Either way, it's a GREAT ADDITION

for your stamp collection !

 

Here is another quick peek at the card I created using

the same set during our Preview Week.

 

The colors were inspired by this week's challenge at

 

 

 

 

You can view

the details of this card by clicking HERE

 

Here is the complete set . . .

and remember, it's only available for a limited time

FREE w/$50 purchase

YOU COULD WIN
the entire collection of new releases

pay a visit to our designer's blogs,

leave a comment and cross your fingers

all by 8pm PST, Sunday June 23rd.

One random winner will be chosen 
from one of the blogs on the hop

so make sure you leave a comment
here before you leave.
 

Speaking of the hop, it's time to send you on to

Lin Brandyberry's Blog

Thanks so much for coming by . . . Fingers crossed you win
and enjoy the rest of the inspiration from the TCM team !

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Renew by Authentique
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes by The Craft's Meow

Ink: Lido & Slate from A Muse Studio
Embellishments:  Smoke Crystal Flourish {CRB-05CA-113}
from Zva Creative
Elle ribbon from American Crafts

Fancy Flourishes with The Craft's Meow

Hello and welcome to the final day of

New Release Previews for

Today we have a great set called

'Fancy Flourishes'

illustrated by NinaB Designs

 This set is TCM's

FREE GIFT w/$50 purchase set

I am taking my inspiration from the new color combo

over at

Now... you may not see the Chartreuse or Jade in this photo,

but I assure you,the daisies on this card

are the perfect color in real life.

I've had this DCWV pad forever & found the design on the paper

was perfect color-wise.  So all I had to do is add the Orange Zest.

I stamped the 'Fancy Flourishes' as an over-lay on the paper...

Easy-Peasy!

The beautiful flower centers are from Zva Creative.

As always, YOU have 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 8pm PST, tonight to comment to be eligible.

Tomorrow all sets go on sale & our fabulous design team

will bring you their creations during the

New Release Blog Hop...please make plans to join us.

 

So glad you could stop by today !

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Ledger by DCWV
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: Crystal gems {CRW-06CA-148}

from Zva Creative

Sweet Memories with The Craft's Meow

Hello !

I'm so glad you could stop by today because I have

another New Release Preview for you from

Today we have a great set called

'Sweet Memories'

illustrated by NinaB Designs

 

This is a great set for those who enjoy doing 'Project Life' !

I pulled out some more new 6x6 pads, this time from GCD Studios
and got to work with layering.
I stamped my journal card image and worked from there.
The lovely pearl flourishes & mini-roses are from Zva Creative.
I thought they added just the right touch of embellishment for this card.

The swiss-dot ribbon is one of my favorites & no longer sold.
I try to keep a little in my stash but it's dwindling.  I thought the
color worked really well for this card.
It's from Autumn Leaves.

As always, YOU have 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 8pm PST, tonight to comment to be eligible.

I'll be back tomorrow with another TCM preview.
So glad you could stop by today !


Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Journeys & Happiness from GCD Studios
Stamps: Sweet Memories by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: Pearl Flourish {CRW-06CA-145}
and mini-roses in lavender & lime transition from Zva Creative
French Twist ribbon from Autumn Leaves
Stardust Stickles & Liquid Pearls from Ranger,
mini brads from Recollections

Kindred Spirits from The Craft's Meow

It is Day #2 of

NEW RELEASE PREVIEWS WEEK

at

Today we have a beautiful set called

'Kindred Spirits'

illustrated by Karen Baker

Paul and I love pansies.  We see 'faces' in each different design

and with this set from TCM, you will have an opportunity to put

beautiful 'faces' and color combos together.

For this card, I used a variety of inks from Memento to create

an overall background . . . very bold and bright !

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 8pm PST, tonight to comment to be eligible.

I'll be back tomorrow with another TCM preview.


Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: gingham from A Muse
Stamps: Kindred Spirits by The Craft's Meow

Inks: Memento
Embellishments: Amy Tangerine ribbon from America Crafts,
Stardust Stickles & Liquid Pearls from Ranger,
mini brads from Recollections

So Blessed ~ 4 Years of Blogging

Happy Monday and the beginning of a great week here

at The Open Window.

I am celebrating FOUR YEARS of blogging

(my first post was June 14, 2009)

and the sentiment on today's card says it all.

In so many ways, it seems like just yesterday

I posted my first thoughts & photos.

I've also been blessed to work with some pretty

aMAZing companies along the way.

Today....I come to you representing one of

my very favorites !

It is

NEW RELEASE PREVIEWS WEEK

at

Let's get things started here with a gorgeous set called

'Beautiful Rose'

illustrated by Nina B Designs

 I recently picked up a batch of new 6x6 pads on an Archivers
shopping trip and couldn't wait to start using them.  Most of the paper
on this card feature 'Down by the Shore' from Fancy Pants Design.
The rose was cut from Authentique's 'Pride' collection.
Although there are a few elements on this card by way of punched
borders using Fiskars Apron Lace ( great go-to punch),
a hand-cut flag & baker's twine in Canteloupe & Denim from The Twinery,
it still goes back to that 'Beautiful Rose'

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 8pm PST, tonight to comment to be eligible.

I've also had the pleasure of working for
aNOTHer aMAZing company
for the past
3 years and wanted to let you know that there is a
TERRIFIC CHALLENGE
going on right now over there . . .

Whether you use a 'little' or a 'lot', 
as long as you use baker's twine on your project
YOU CAN ENTER!
Check out all the details HERE

I sure hope you'll leave a little note here as well.
I'd love to know you stopped by.
See you again tomorrow for another
terrific preview from TCM!

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Down by the Shore by Fancy Pants Design
and Pride by Authentique
Stamps: Beautiful Rose by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: baker's twine in solid Canteloupe & Denim by The Twinery
Tools: Apron Lace border punch by Fiskars

Blue Skies Smiling at Me

H.E.L.L.O !!!

I know I've been a little absent this week.

It's been a busy time at Casa de Murray, but it's great

to be here to share the brand new color challenge over at
 

This is one gorgeous color palette, isn't it ?!!

I just love it and it was the perfect setting for the stamps

I used for this card.
 

This week's sponsor in The Cafe is Great Impressions & these stamps

are simply sweet.  I pulled out my favorite Cloud & Rainbow dies

from Lil' Inker Designs and used DCWV paper for the colors.
 

I sure hope you will join us this week!

It's sure to be colorful and someone is going to win a

wonderful prize from ...
 

Thanks again for stopping by and please say

hello before you leave.

Project Recipe:

 Cardstock: Collage Art by DCWV
Stamps: Birdies on a Swing & For Friends by Great Impressions
Tools: Rainbow & Clouds die from Lil' Inker Designs, Big Shot

Zva Creative May Design Team Blog Hop

Zva Creative and my fellow Design Team members welcome you to our May 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.

Each Zva designer has a schedule of the color they are to feature
each month and for me, it is black.  Because I typically use 'partial' flourishes
on my cards, I am always trying to 'think outside of the box'  I certainly did
that with the flourish I feature today, as this is one that actually is
the 'feathers' of a peacock turned upside down.

When I thought of the perfect sentiment, I couldn't help but think
of ocean waves or 'sea billows' and this verse from The Craft's Meow
was a great fit.

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, May 27^th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time ^{Tuesday, May 28th}

***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 

June 24^th for our next Zva blog hop!

 The blog hop begins at the Zva Creative FB Page

Your next stop is Anna Zaprzelska's blog

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Beautiful Hymns by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: Fancy Bird flourish {CR-04CB-102}

from Zva Creative
Tools: Swiss Dot EF by Cuttlebug, Big Shot

You Make my World Go 'Round

Are you ready for a really fun color combo ?

It's time for this week's new challenge from

I really love this graphic... L.O.V.E. I.T.  ! ! !

This week, I got to play with a new 'Pinwheels' stamp set & brads

from Close to my Heart which also happens

to be this week's prize.

I grabbed inks to match the color combo and got to work.

When you see the stamp set, you'll see how easy it was to

do this card.  Simple layers.

This week's sponsor is

Elizabeth Mindemann

I really hope you'll come by The Cafe, check out

all of the amazing projects from our team and play along !

Great to see you here ... please say hello before you go !

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: dot embossed by Bazzill

Stamps: Pinwheels from Close to my Heart

Inks: A Muse Studio 

Embellishments: pearl brad from Close to my Heart