Feeling Pretty Square with The Craft's Meow

Welcome to another peek inside The Open Window

It's Day #3 of New Release Previews over at

I hope you've been able to join us along the way

because the inspiration from our design team

has been simply amazing.

Today, we share sneak peeks at the new set

'Geometric Foundations'

designed by Karen Baker

 Graphic design is so on-trend and this set is right there !

Although my coloring skills leave a bit to be desired

( it's the 52 year old eyes . . . )

I love that the shapes in this set are so easy to color

AND

will be so easy to paper-piece.

Along with the shapes, there are terrific sentiments to match.

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, February 20th to comment to be eligible.

Thanks so much for coming by.
I would love to hear from you and I'll keep my fingers crossed
that YOU win this beautiful set.
Just in case, make sure you put it on your ' must have ' list !

Project Recipe:

 Patterned Paper: Fiction by BasicGrey
Stamps: Geometric Foundations by The Craft's Meow

Markers: Mallow & New Leaf by Copic 
Embellishments: micro gems by 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

Fall with Fibi & Lilly

It is Day #3 of New Release Previews over at

and today we have TWO fabulous sets
we are featuring designed by the
talented Mabele R-O
and I had a blast playing with both of these sets.

The first is called 'Fall Blessings'

As you can see, all I did was choose the images I wanted to include,
stamped, colored and layered each one.
The clouds were cut using my die from Lil' Inker Designs

The next set is called 'Fall with Fibi & Lilly'

Again...such a simple CAS card!
I just cut & colored the image, layered it on a frame created
with oval dies from Spellbinders and added Stardust Stickles

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 each new release

each day, so make sure you leave a comment

on the blog for a chance to win!

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Fall Blessing & Fall with Fibi & Lilly
both by The Craft's Meow 

Embellishments: Stardust Stickles by Ranger
Tools: cloud die by Lil' Inker Designs, Big Shot
Standard Ovals die by Spellbinders, Copic Markers

S.M.I.L.E.S.

For the 3rd Anniversary
Celebrations,
CLICK HERE
There is still time to get in on
over $750 in prizes !

 

FOR THE EAD DESIGNS

MONDAY BLOG HOP

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN

It's Day Two of New Release Previews at

and these sets are super-DUPER adorable

and is by none other than the fabby

Nina Brackett for TCM called

'Stitched Flowers' & 'Stitched Sentiments'

For this card, I used a variety of ink from A Muse Studio and

created a background for the base panel.

I then stamped the focal image & sentiment and colored those with Copics,

centered each flower with buttons & baker's twine in

Canteloupe, Buttercream & Honeydew from The Twinery.

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!

So glad you stopped by . . . there's always something fun going on !

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Stitched Flowers & Stitched Sentiments by The Craft's Meow 

Ink: Burano, Lido & Grass from A Muse Studio, Copics

Embellishments: baker's twine in Canteloupe, Buttercream & Honeydew
from The Twinery

Sweet Simple Things

Happy Monday to one and all.

How true is this sentiment ? !

It is the perfect sentiment for my project this week for the ....

If you've reached my blog by way of
Judith's blog Jay Gee's Nook
then you are headed the right direction for the hop.

If not, I hope you will pop over to the
EAD Designs Blog
and get started there because there is always a great prize
for a lucky winner each week.

Last week, I shared a card using a sentiment from this very
same set of Stickerz from EAD called 'Believe in Make Believe'
and mentioned that I would be sharing one more using the same set.

This set just 'screams' simple and all I did was use a few of my
Copic & Sharpie markers to color in the tree & decorations.
Any alcohol-type marker will work and the affect is really pretty.

I am the final stop 
on this week's hop! 

Before I go, I would like to share a
photo taken on Sunday at my niece's
bridal shower.

It's moment's like this one that remind
me of the sentiment above.
I hope you have something 'simple' that
makes you smile too!

Project Recipe:

Embellishments: Believe in Make Believe by EAD Designs

Tools:  Copic Markers

Take it With a Grain of Salt...

I've been trying to live by this little mantra lately...

and besides, there are a lot of good things

in life that taste good with *salt*

It is time for the new 

Market Fresh Sketch

from Market Street Stamps

I had a lot of fun creating this card.

Most of you know that I am more of

a color challenge kinda gal but I like

stretching myself to work with something

outside the box!

I love this set called 'Tiki Time' from MSS.

So many FAB possibilities.

I used a variety of embossing folders (see below)

and my starburst border punch from Martha.

I think my favorite part is....the salt!

 

Created with a little Stickles in 'Frosted Lace'

I hope you will stop by the Market Street Blog

and check out all the inspiration there from so

many amazing designers and then plan to

play along with us!

So grateful you stopped by today...

If you've come looking for updated information

on the benefit for

Please click here and thank you so much!

Project Recipe: 

Cardstock: Bazzill
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento & Copic Markers
from A Muse Studio
Tools:  'Stylized Flower & Dotted Swiss'
Embossing Folders from Cuttlebug

Standard Circle dies from Spellbinders, Big Shot

Fiskars Corner Rounder punch 
Starburst Border punch from Martha Stewart

Embellishments:  Stickles in 'Frosted Lace'
Twill Ribbon from A Muse Studio
 

Blast Off with Market Street Stamps!

Check out the current challenge at

The Play Date Cafe

CLICK HERE

I am super excited to be sharing this post with you today

in my official capacity as a Senior Designer over at

Market Street Stamps

I absolutely love playing with these fun & fab

'peach-tinted'...yes...'peach tinted'

stamps!

You know that I now have four grandsons and I am 

constantly thinking boy-themes lately.

I think my oldest grandsons CJ (who is 8)

would love this card!

It's difficult to see in the photo, but I used 

silver metallic cardstock underneath the

cut panels, so it lends a real 'space' feel.

I used the Blast Off set and oh what fun!

Hey!!  You are gonna love this next part!

In honor of the new design team week,

look at what Market Street Stamps is offering...

You can get in on an amazing giveaway!

Pop over to the Market Street Blog by clicking here 

each of the new designers has chosen their

favorite stamp set and they are being given away!

You have until 11:59 CST, Thursday Aug 4th to enter

It's a pretty big deal and you could win!!

So glad you could stop by today!

Today's Project Recipe:

Designer Paper: 'Planes & Trains' by GCD Studios
Stamps: 'Blast Off' by Market Street Stamps

Ink:  'Tuxedo Black & Paris Dusk' Memento, Copic Markers

Tools: Fiskars corner rounder

Embellishments: 'Stardust & Platinum' Stickles

Socializing at the Sweet Stamp Shop!

It's Blog Hop Time for 

The Craft's Meow

Click HERE to hop along!!!

It's a busy Monday here at The Open Window!

I have a *sweet* announcement that I have been

excited to share and today is the day....

There's a *sweet* new stamp company in town!

Talented designer Nicole Rixon is bringing

her own brand of *sweet* to you at

Sweet Stamp Shop

and I am

very happy to be a part of the

brand new design team as a the

Social Media Coordinator

I will also be designing as a

*Sweet Tooth Girl*

and it's going to be a blast!

Take a look at these images from

'Old School Rock'

You know I'm not much of a color-er, but these stamps make

me HAPPY to get out the Copics...and the 'Radiant Circles'

punch as the 'sound waves' was a really fun element.

I hope you will join us for the

*Sweet Stamp Grand Opening Blog Hop'

It's gonna be *sweet*!!!

(you know I had to : )))))

Today's Project Recipe:

Stamps: 'Old School Rock' by Sweet Stamp Shop

Ink:  'Tuxedo Black' by Memento, Copic Markers
Tools: 'Radiant Circles' by EK Success, Fiskars corner rounder

Getting To Know You...Part 2

It has been so absolutely wonderful hearing from all of you regarding the new design team.
Most of us met as strangers and have become quick friends as we go through this new journey together. Now it's time to share with you a little about Sandi.

I met Sandi as an early follower of my blog. You might know her as Celticwoman. She has been a constant supporter here at The Open Window. I was so happy to find out one day that I had become the winner of some blog candy she was giving away! What I loved even more is that it was a handcrafted journal that is even more beautiful than the photo, which you can see here. If you love color...if you love TO color, then you will love following Sandi and being inspired by her...let's hear from her:

Sandi writes: Hello, welcome, I am so excited to be here to help kick off a great weekly challenge. My name is Sandi Kelly, I live outside of Sacramento but must be part Irish Gypsy because I have lived on every coast line of these great United States, although
I was born just north of Chicago.
I am married to my high school sweetheart and together we are care givers to 3 knawrly cats. They will come and get you when they want to be let outside, if you do not respond within 5mins. they will begin a destructive attack to get your attention.

Color and paper have been passions of mine
for as long as I can remember.
I was an exhibiting watercolor artist for many years in Laguna Beach and Fair Oaks, CA but gave it up for a little slower pace of creativity.
There is barely a day that
I do not spend in my studio, rising at 3AM,
I normally create
until about 1:30 or 2PM.
My object of passion at this time are my
Copic Markers and Airbrush System,
oh my goodness the color!

So...that's Sandi...hope that gives you a glimpse into what you can expect from
her fabulous challenges.
Tomorrow, you will meet our
UK/European designer, Sarah!

BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY...Just a reminder! If you haven't grabbed your Play Date Cafe button yet, there is still plenty of time. You will find it to your right, the one that says 'I Play at the Play Date Cafe'. Copy and paste it to your sidebar, leave me a comment and let me know...that's it. The 'candy' is a surprise, but I promise, YOU WILL LOVE IT! Even more importantly, we hope you are planning to play along when the challenges start and PLEASE...share the news with your friends. Deadline for the blog candy is Wednesday, October 21st.

I will be back a bit later with a new post and a new project from Arful INKables as well as

information on the AI blog hop,

which begins at midnight! See ya then!