Thursday, August 30, 2012

I'm Nutty!



It's another terrific week with a brand new challenge at


and these colors are absolutely stunning !
My card is a bit of a departure for me but I had fun
designing it once I knew the direction I was headed.


Each of our designers were given stamps to play with from 
our sponsor this week, Gel-`a-tins.
I decided to do a play on the actual sentiment on the stamp by
re-creating it elsewhere on the card too.
The giant alpha die has been in my stash for a l.o.n.g. time,
so I have no idea where it's from.  I inked it up to match the
cherry blossom color for the challenge and heat embossed 
with clear powder.  I cut the clouds & leaves using dies from
Lil' Inker Designs.
The #4 is from SRM Stickers.
From there, I just layered . . . easy-peasy.


A big thanks to


for providing fun stamps for our team and for
sharing an aMAZing prize package this week.

I hope you will take time to play along with us
and I'll see you in The Play Date Cafe


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Stamps: Nutty 4 U by Gel-`a-tins
Embellishments: #sticker from SRM Stickers
Tools: Cloud & Acorn (leaf) die by Lil' Inker Designs, Big Shot

Monday, August 27, 2012

Feelin' Groovy...


Smile . . . It's a new week & you know what that means . . .


I hope you came by way of my teammate

If not, I invite you to start at the beginning over on the
because there is a great prize for a lucky visitor!


I just love playing with retro images and this set of
'Groovy' Stickerz from EAD are great.  I love the colors
and I love the possibilities.
I embossed the background with a Paisley EF from Cuttlebug,
created a die frame using Spellbinders Lacey & Standard Circles
and embellished with tiny gems & pearls from Want2Scrap.


Here's the groooooovy set I used this week


and just to remind you 


I am the caboose on the blog hop train this week.
Hope you enjoy all the inspiration provided by the
design team.  I know I sure did !

Thanks for stopping and make sure you leave a
little love before you leave.  I'd love to see
you win this week's prize !


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs, Bazzill
Embellishments: Groovy Stickerz by EAD Designs
gems & pearls by Want2Scrap, Ribbon by SEI
Tools:  Paisley EF by Cuttlebug, Big Shot
Lacey Circles, Standard Circles by Spellbinders

Thursday, August 23, 2012

I'll Have a 'Splash' of Lime...Please



I'll give you one guess when it comes to the challenge
I have to share with you just now !

Yep . . . it's 'Color Splash' time over at


This time around, we are going with a simple splash of
Lime Green


This week, our designers were given a beautiful selection of
sticker images from our sponsor, SRM Stickers.
I planned everything around the beautiful sentiment and
ornate border from 'Fancy Thinking of You' stickers by SRM.
I created the medallion using Spellbinder's Moroccan Accents
and Standard Circles dies.
I want to thank a whole bunch of girls over on Facebook for
coming to my rescue when I couldn't get the papers to release
cleanly from the die because of their lovely detailing.
If you're not sure how to either, then I pass on to you the idea
to place waxed paper between the die & paper or cardstock.
They release like b.u.t.t.a.h. ! ! !


The gorgeous gem flourish is from Want2Scrap and the perfect
seam binding is from Ribboncarousel.com

As I mentioned, we are really happy to have


with us as our sponsor and you will be absolutely
blown away by what are designers did with theirs !
Hope you'll play along with us this week.


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Patterned Paper: PB&J by BasicGrey from StopandScrap.com
Embellishments: Fancy 'Thinking of You' Stickers by SRM Stickers
gemstones/flourish from Want2Scrap
seam binding from Ribboncarousel.com
Tools: Moroccan Accents & Standard Circle dies by Spellbinders
Big Shot

Monday, August 20, 2012

It's Tea Time with EAD Designs


It's always time for tea in my home !

Welcome in to The Open Window for another great blog hop with


Mondays are always very inspirational because the girls
over at EAD have so much to share.  
If you've come by way of
then you are in the perfect spot.

If not, why not start back at the
because there is always a terrific prize to be won.
There are only 10 blogs total
so it's easy-peasy !


'Tea Time' Stickerz are my theme today and they were so
much fun.  I started by placing the border stickers on my
American Crafts ribbon.  They stick really well to texture.
From there, I knew I wanted to simply place random images
on my panel.  I embellished my tiny flowers with gems
from KandCompany.

The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye and was a great match.
I've been using lots of 'stuff' from my personal stash
purchased from StopandScrap.com


It's time to get you on your way over to
She is the final stop on the hop and I know
she has created something great to share !

Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by . . . 

Make sure to leave a quick note so you can be
in the running for that great prize from EAD !


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury from Gina K Designs
Patterned Paper: Lime Twist by My Mind's Eye
Embellishments: Tea Time Stickerz by EAD Designs
gems from K&Company, brads from Recollections
ribbon from American Crafts

Friday, August 17, 2012

Bon Voyage with CAS-ual Fridays



Happy Friday !  WooHoo !

Even though I work from home, I still feel that sense of
'TGIF' because well . . . we all do, don't we ? !

I am coming to you tonight representing


They are sponsoring this week's brand new challenge over at


The theme is 'On the Sea' and I am loving it because
I have been playing with one of Pink Paislee's older
collections 'Nantucket', all week long !


I embossed my Gina K Designs cardstock using this great
diamond pattern from LifeStyle Crafts.  I love how it matches the
background panel from PP.  The small dies cuts were just perfect.

For me, nothing says 'On the Sea' like a beautiful old ship.


I hope you'll be able to play along this week with the
talented designers over at CAS-ual Fridays because
StopandScrap.com is providing a
terrific discount to everyone who does !
You will find the
discount code 
over at the challenge along with a
whole lotta inspiration !

Thanks for stopping by today . . . I'd love to know you came by,
so please say hello  : )


Project Recipe:
Patterned Paper & Die Cuts: Nantucket by Pink Paislee
color cardstock by We R Memory Keepers
Cardstock: white Pure Luxury from Gina K Designs
Embellishments: mini brads from Recollections
Tools: Diamond EF by LifeStyle Crafts, Big Shot

Thursday, August 16, 2012

'Fish'ing for Color


Welcome back to The Open Window !

It's time for another beautiful color challenge from


We worked with deep, delicious colors this week

Burnt Sienna . . . Mustard . . . Slate


As soon as I saw the color story, I knew I was going to pull out
the fabulous designs from Pink Paislee's 'Nantucket' collection.


If you follow me on FB at all, you know that Paul and I have recently
started a fresh-water aquarium . . . well, and now we have two !  LOL
So I am a bit obsessed with marine-life images
{which you will see in the coming days}

This card was simply all about adding layers on top of the
stamped 'advertising'.


You will not beLIEVE the inspiration over in The Cafe !
I know I say that a lot, but each week, I am more amazed
than the next.  Stunning creativity by some of
the best designers
in the world!

Look who's sponsoring this week . . .


YOU could be this week's 'Cup of the Week' !
I'll see you there !


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Patterned Paper, Die Cuts & Stamps: Nantucket Collection by Pink Paislee
Embellishments: Platinum Perfect Pearls by Ranger

Monday, August 13, 2012

Farewell to London


Happy Monday

It's time for another fabulous day with the designers from


If you've made your way to my blog from
then we've got you well on your way!

If not, just a quick pop back to the 
will get you started and of course you know
there's a prize at the end, so make sure to leave
a little love as you go : )

If you were living in my house for the past couple of
weeks, it would have been filled with the sounds of the
Olympics coming from London.
Although not my husband's home city
{he is from Manchester}
he has been a proud man for sure !

This card is my small tribute to the past couple of weeks . . .


I love this set of Stickerz called 'London Town' and thought it was
fitting for the festivities of the last two weeks.
These designs are all outlined in black and could easily be
colored in with your Copics or any alcohol-based marker.
I chose to keep it quite simple using bling from Want2Scrap
to light up the 'London Eye'


Here's the set in all it's glory . . . 


and of course . . . 


I hope you enjoyed my little creation and now it's
time to get you on your way over to

Thanks for 'popping in' and I'll see you again soon !


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Embellishments: London Town Stickerz by EAD Designs
gems by Want2Scrap

Friday, August 10, 2012

Hugs ... The Craft's Meow & Want2Scrap Blog Hop


Happy Friday !

It's a great day to visit The Open Window because the
designers over at


are blog hopping with the designers of


Hopefully you made your way her by way of my friend

If not, I'd love for you to start at the beginning of the hop at the
because there are great prizes up for grabs!
The Craft's Meow is giving away 
a stamp set of your choice
and W2S is sharing bling too!

I thought the colors on this card worked really well
for the newest challenge over at The Play Date Cafe too!



Summer is still in bloom and here it is no exception !
I love the bright colors in this paper from Doodlebug Design and thought
it was a great way to showcase the 'Stitched Flowers & Sentiments' from TCM.
And how about those pearls ? !
Gigantic flower centers and the pearl flourish really create
a dimensional design, don't they ?


I'm so glad you popped by and now it's time to send
you on your way over to my talented friend
I know she has some very fun designs to inspire you.

Before I go, I also wanted to let you know that
The Craft's Meow is retiring a variety of stamp
sets & accessories and is having a Summer Sale.  
You can save up to 50% off
and you know what it means when
a set is retired . . . so make sure you visit the
and add what you can to your own stamp collection !

Have a great Friday !



Project Recipe:
 Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Patterned Paper: Sugar & Spice by Doodlebug Design
Stamps: Stitched Flowers & Sentiments by The Craft's Meow
Embellishments: pearls from Want2Scrap

Thursday, August 9, 2012

I Like Hanging with You!


Hey hey !  Welcome to The Open Window !

It's time for another BEE-autiful challenge over at


and these colors just 'scream' summer !

Before I share the rest of my project, I am so
happy to welcome another new designer to The Cafe.
Jen Cuthbertson will be sharing her fab style with us
each week and I know you will just love her !
Make sure you stop by and take a moment to 
welcome her to the family.


I was so happy to get a really adorable 5-piece stamp set by Emma Ball
with a recent purchase of one of my favorite UK magazines called
'Simply Homemade'.  So I pulled out these fun beach chairs from
that set, did a little coloring with my Copics, added my favorite
baker's twine from The Twinery in Pink Sorbet & Canteloupe
and stamped one of my favorite sentiments and WA-LA !
The fun polka dot paper is by American Crafts and came
from my favorite online papercrafting store, StopandScrap.com

Quick little story . . . the sentiment is one I purchased back in 1995
from a great stamp shop down in Clearwater, FL called Treasure Cay.
It was the summer before we opened our stamp store and I made
the trip down there to do some research on the business.
It's one of the few 'vintage' stamps 
{ yes... mid-90's is now vintage }
that I still have in my collection and it's one of my faves.


This week, we are happy to have

Simon Says Stamp

back in The Cafe as our sponsor.
We always appreciate their support.

I hope you will make time to play along
with us this week.  There is all kinds of
fabulous inspiration from our design team, so come
visit and share in the fun !


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs
Patterned Paper: Neopolitan by America Crafts from StopandScrap.com
Stamps: Emma Ball Ltd & Treasure Cay
Embellishments: baker's twine in Canteloupe & Pink Sorbet
 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Heaven Sent ...


Well what do you know ? !
It's Monday and of course, that means it's time for . . .


If you are hopping with us, you would have come from

If you just happened to stop by, then I would love
to invite you back to the
because there are fabulous prizes each week!

A big welcome to our August Guest Designer
Angela of ScrapAlappin
We know you will love her creativity.


I just love this 'tweet' little birdie from the 'Feathered Friends' Stickerz set
from EAD Designs and thought it was a perfect
centerpiece for everything around it.
The papers, fabric butterflies & 'logs' are from Heidi Grace,
the clouds are my favorite dies by Lil' Inker Designs and the
very sweet sentiments are from Tanner Bell Designs.


I thought the little nest needed a bit of sparkle and that was
easily accomplished with Stardust Stickles.


Aren't these gorgeous ? !

Don't forget . . . 


and there's a whole bunch of new designs just
in time for the fall season.

Well . . .  It's time to get you on your way to see
I know she has something fun & inspiring today for you.


Project Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Luxury from Gina K Designs
Patterned Paper: Tweet Dreams by Heidi Grace
Stamps: It's a Baby by Tanner Bell Designs
Embellishments: Feathered Friends Stickerz by EAD Designs
fabric stickers Daydreams by Heidi Grace
Stardust Stickles by Ranger
Tools: Clouds die by Lil' Inker Designs