Now and Always ...

I'm so glad you stopped by today !

It's time for another beautiful color challenge from

Everything about this color graphic reminds me of

RELAXATION

The colors are simply beautiful and perfect for

the celebration of Spring

I recently received these beautiful stamps from Gina K Designs

and thought they would be perfect with these colors.

Yep . . . it's Clean & Simple and straight to the color-point.

I stamped the 'Vogue Vases (2)' using inks from Colorbox & Ranger.

The beautiful 'Poster Board Sentiment(s)' was just the

right greeting.  The baker's twine is 'Orchid' from The Twinery

and the frame was created from paper by Lily Bee Design.

I hope you will come play with us this week.

We have a brand new sponsor joining us

and they have a terrific prize package on offer !

I know it's a short . . . post for today.

Things are busy here at Casa de Murray

but I'm always thinking of you ... 

and am so grateful that you stop by for a visit.

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Picket Fences by Lily Bee Design

Stamps: Vogue Vases 2 & Poster Board Sentiments 

by Gina K Designs

Inks: Banana Custard & Plum Berry by Colorbox, 

Dusty Concord Distress by Ranger

Embellishments: baker's twine in Orchid from The Twinery

 

Zva Creative March Design Team Blog Hop

Zva Creative and my fellow Design Team members welcome you to our March 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 blog! 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.

I've had my eyes on these fabby Martha Stewart

chipboard stickers for quite some time and

was thrilled to find them on sale recently.

I built my card around this die cut using MME's

'Love Me' for my wallpaper.  I simply wrapped

seam binding with a double bow for my

'chair rail' and placed my beautiful Zva gem

flourish over the ribbon.

The beautiful sentiment is from The Craft's Meow.

 

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, March 25^th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, March 26^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, March 27^th 

on Zva Creative's blog.  

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 

April 29^th for our next Zva blog hop!

 The blog hop begins at the Zva Creative blog

Your next stop is Jolanda Meurs blog 

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Love Me by My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Hope Blooms by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: pink gems flourish {CR-03CA-113}

from Zva Creative
die cut chipboard stickers from Martha Stewart, seam binding by Hug Snug

   

Memories with Zva Creative & Authentique

Happy Friday

and

Welcome in to The Open Window !

I am so glad you came by today because I am taking part in

day #3 of a very INspirational blog hop

I really enjoy being a part of the Zva Creative team

and adore the beautiful designs of Authentique . . .

it's a terrific match !

The beautiful 'Hope' collection from Authentique is simply lovely.

I love the double-sided papers because there are so many options.

I layered two designs as my base then placed the sentiment sticker

{which is in the shape of an file card} on top.

I cut the eggs from another designer sheet and layered those

over the beautiful Soft Blue Crystal & Pearl Flourish from Zva.

I centered my flowers from Prima with taupe pearls also from Zva.

Each element is layered 'above' the next to create lots of dimension.

Zva Creative will be selecting two lucky winners who comment along the three day blog hop to win a Zva prize package worth $30 and Authentique’s Hope collection.  All comments must be received by 11:59pm on Monday, March 25th EST.  The winner will be announced on Zva’s blog on Tuesday, March 26th.

Please make sure to leave a little love before

you move on because the more you leave comments

on the hop trail, the more chances you have to win !

Here's who's participating today:

Natasha Naranjo Aguirre

Julie Ranae

Lisa Somerville

Authentique Blog 

Zva Creative Blog

 

 

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Hope by Authentique

Embellishments: crystal & pearl flourish {CRB-05CA-108}

taupe pearls {CRW-04CB-139}

from Zva Creative
flowers from Tea-Thyme by Prima 

 

Happy 2nd Birthday to The Craft's Meow!

Oh me Oh my !!!

It's a very busy day here at The Open Window
as I bring you a FOUR-FUR !
That's FOUR BIG PIECES of news 
here in one post!

 BIG NEWS ...

It's the day we've been aiming for as we celebrate the
2nd Birthday over at

It's our New Release Team Blog Hop !

I sure hope you stopped by by way of my friend
Jessica Fick's blog

If not, I hope you will start at the beginning over at

The Craft's Meow blog
There are two ... count 'em TWO lucky people who
will win the complete new release collection.


MORE BIG NEWS ...

The Craft's Meow is rolling out it's
BRAND NEW GALLERY
TCM inspiration in one beautiful place.
We would love to have you come by and join us there.
You will be able to find inspiration from all of our
designers and quick & easy links to all TCM stamps.


 MORE BIG NEWS ...

As if that weren't enough, I am really excited to share
that TCM is sponsoring our color challenge over at

Each of the designers there played along with stamps from TCM
and there is all kinds of inspiration for you to enjoy.


MORE BIG NEWS ...

I am also co-hosting over at The Twinery today
which is PERfect timing for a party because ...

In honor of TCM's Birthday, I am using 'Sweet Birthday'.
I simply stamped the balloons in a light shade of green
and strung my banners, which are stamped 'upside-down' party hats
from the set across the top of the card.  The baker's twine is
Platinum Metallic from The Twinery.
I used fun paper from Gina K Designs to give it even more color.

Here are the brand new stamp sets NOW AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE:

Sweet Birthday

Take the Cake

Birthday Pun

Sweet Silhouettes
(Available for a Limited Time Only as a FREE GIFT w/$50 purchase)


How would you like a chance to win the entire collection ?

Make sure you hop along with our team and leave a comment
when you visit each blog.  TWO LUCKY PEOPLE will be
drawn from the comments left on our designer's blogs.
Deadline to be eligible to win is 9pm PST, Sat March 23rd.

It's been GREAT FUN having March Guest Designer
Stacey Schafer with us and we say a very fond farewell
to TCM designer, Jen del Muro.
 

I TOLD YOU IT WAS A LOT OF GREAT NEWS ! ! !

It's now time to get you on your way to the VERY FUN
Lin Brandyberry's blog

Make sure to leave a note before you go... it's always fun
to know one of my followers just might be a winner !

Have fun !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Birthday Hoot by Gina K Designs
Stamps: Sweet Birthday by The Craft's Meow  

Embellishments: baker's twine in Metallic Platinum by The Twinery

{Sweet} Birthday with The Craft's Meow

It's getting closer!  We are just one day away from the

BIG 2ND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION over at

Today, it's Preview Day #4 featuring TCM's

FREE GIFT w/$50 purchase set

designed by Nina B Designs called

'Sweet Silhouettes'

I apologize for the lighting in this photo.

It's been an on-going struggle to get good photos lately.

I decided to go with the birthday theme since we are celebrating

TCM's birthday all week long.

I pulled out paper from BasicGrey's 'Fact or Fiction' line

and die cut the scalloped oval using a die from Sizzix.

I then stamped one of the many silhouettes available in the set.

I placed the oval cut out back on top & stamped the vines from

TCM's recent release 'Beautiful Hymns'.

I stamped the sentiment on to the scroll, cut it out & used

foam tape to give it some dimension.

A simple rhinestone heart finishes it off.

To celebrate this week, TCM will be giving away not one but . . .

TWO of the FEATURED STAMP SETS EACH DAY

Simply visit the TCM blog, leave a quick note to say hello

by 8pm PST each day & you just might win !

I'm so very glad you stopped by.

Make sure you let me know you were here and fingers

crossed that you'll be a winner !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Fiction by BasicGrey

Stamps: Sweet Silhouettes & Beautiful Hymns by The Craft's Meow

Tools: Scallop die by Sizzix, Big Shot

Embellishments: heart rhinestone by White Blossom

Take the Cake with The Craft's Meow

We are just a couple days away from the 

Big 2nd Birthday Blog Hop

It's Day #3 as we share the New Release Previews

and today's set is super-fun designed by Nina B Designs

'Take the Cake'

I actually stamped the cake stand using the opposite side of the stamp

which made for a thicker base.  Make sure you check out the projects

of my teammates to see what the actual base looks like.

From there, I created my cake layers using a variety of designs in this set.

I stamped them on pretty papers from BasicGrey's 'Hey Girl' collection.

I then used bling from Want2Scrap to decorate my layers

and topped off my cake with a flourish from Zva Creative.

The card borders were punched using an eyelet border from Martha Stewart.

To celebrate this week, TCM will be giving away not one but . . .

TWO of the FEATURED STAMP SETS EACH DAY

Simply visit the TCM blog, leave a quick note to say hello

by 8pm PST each day & you just might win !

I'm so very glad you stopped by.

Make sure you let me know you were here and fingers

crossed that you'll be a winner !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Hey Girl by BasicGrey

Stamps: Take the Cake by The Craft's Meow

Tools: Eyelet border punch from Martha Stewart

Embellishments: chevron gems by Want2Scrap,

Symmetrical flourish by Zva Creative (CRW-05CA-116)

 

Celebrate with The Craft's Meow!

Happy Monday and welcome in to The Open Window !

If you are just stopping by, you picked a great day

because it's Day #2 of the New Release Previews over at

We are on the countdown to TCM's 2nd Birthday Celebration

and release of our March images !

Today's preview is of a 'sweet'

{ I couldn't resist }

new stamp set designed by Mabelle R-O called

'Sweet Birthday'

I immediately knew I wanted to use fun, bright colors for my card

and the balloon in this set was so fun to play with.

I did a little simple 'masking' to make my bouquet using vibrant

ink from A Muse Studio (to order, see link below)

and stamped the sweet daisy on each balloon.

Prima's Doodle Deux made the perfect backdrop for the colors.

The sweet little double bow was made using yummy baker's twine

from The Twinery in 'Ocean' & the 

brand spankin' new 'Iridescent Blossom'

What I love about this set is there are so many fun & surprising elements

you can play with, right down to the little 'swirlys'.

To celebrate this week, TCM will be giving away not one but . . .

TWO of the FEATURED STAMP SETS EACH DAY

Simply visit the TCM blog, leave a quick note to say hello

by 8pm PST each day & you just might win !

I'm so very glad you stopped by.

Make sure you let me know you were here and fingers

crossed that you'll be a winner !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Doodle Deux by Prima
Stamps: Sweet Birthday by The Craft's Meow
Inks: Ocean, Bellini & Orange by A Muse Studio
Tools: Lacey Squares die by Spellbinders, Big Shot
Embellishments: baker's twine in Ocean & Iridescent Blossom by The Twinery
silver pearls by Recollections
 

All in Good {Pun} with The Craft's Meow

Hello & welcome to Day #1 of New Release Previews

and

the 2nd Birthday Celebration Week over at

It's so hard to believe that time has passed by oh so quickly!

We are really happy to welcome our March Guest Designer

Stacey Schafer

I know you will enjoy her inspiring designs this week!

Today, we kick off the New Release Previews with a peek

at a VERY fun set designed by Karen Baker called

'Birthday Pun'

I love . . . love . . . LOVE this set!

I created this card very simply by layering elements beginning with

the uber-large Geometric Medallion border by Martha Stewart.

On top of that, I placed a layer of beautiful paper from Authentique

and finally, shadow-stamped my elephant & sentiment.

I decided to add a bit more dimension by stamping the

chevrons from TCM's Geometric Foundations set.

OH ... the answer to the question is indeed stamped inside.

To celebrate this week, TCM will be giving away not one but . . .

TWO of the FEATURED STAMP SETS EACH DAY

Simply visit the TCM blog, leave a quick note to say hello

by 8pm PST each day & you just might win !

I'm so very glad you stopped by.

Make sure you let me know you were here and fingers

crossed that you'll be a winner !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Hope by Authentique
Stamps: Birthday Pun & Geometric Foundations by The Craft's Meow
Tools: Geometric Medallion Deep Edge Punch from Martha Stewart

Happy Easter with The Craft's Meow

I'm so happy you stopped by today because it's time

for a little inspiration for Spring.

It's our TCM March Blog Hop!

If you've already been hopping with us, then you

should be swinging by from my dear friend & teammate

Jessica Fick's blog

If not, I'd love for you to start over at

The Craft's Meow blog

and hop along with us.

Each designer has worked hard to bring you a

fabulous creation for Easter Encouragement.

Ever since TCM released the 'Easter Blessings' set

I've been in love.  The little critters in this set are so sweet.

I grabbed this Sizzix circle frame EF & embellished it with

a little ink & Liquid Pearls.

The paper is from Authentique.

The lacey flower was cut from a 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye.

I cut it out & embellished it with a fun button & baker's twine from The Twinery.

A few tiny pearls and done.

Here is the adorable stamp set I used...

 

The next stop on the hop today is the very creative

Lin Brandyberry's blog

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I'd love to hear from you !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Faith by Authentique

& Love Me by My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Easter Blessings by The Craft's Meow
Tools: Circle Frame EF by Sizzix, Big Shot
Embellishments: baker's twine in Strawberry by The Twinery

Liquid Pearls in Buttercup by Ranger

pearls by Recollections