First Stop on the Inspirational Tour of the World

Hope you have been a follower of my blog

for awhile, because I have a question for you.

Where in all the world would I

most like to visit?

The reason for my question is it's the first stop on my  

'Inspirational Tour of the World'

over at The Play Date Cafe. 

Not only would I love to visit, but being an avid

'student' of Provence, which is in the South of France,

I would love to live there in a farmhouse surrounded

by vineyards and lavender fields.

For now....the rest of the design team and I

want to inspire you to create with the colors used in

this wonderful, Provencal kitchen.

I love these simple designs from Ippity.

I used 3 different stamps from 3 different collections

(all available from my Ippity page HERE).

The Prima flowers and the Debbie Mumm ribbon

add to the bold and luscious colors, to be sure.

We have a NEW celebrity guest designer

this week, Mariana Grigsby, who brings her wonderfully

bold style to The Cafe.

So get out your box of 64's (crayons, that is) 

and start creatin' because the sky is virtually the limit!

A Little French Inspiration

It is SO good to be back in my little

art space.  I confess that

I haven't had much time to create

this week, and it just so happens that

I chose to participate in a couple of

challenges, which is a great way

to get you focused.

.....One challenge is simple in it's sketch

and one that's inspires layers......

If you have read my blog for any length of time,

you probably know that I am in love with the

Provence region of France.

So when I saw City Crafters' theme this week

was 'I Love Paris', I knew I wanted

in on the fun!

The sketch over at Card Patterns was just

right because it was simple enough to allow

for lots of creativity on the page.

I went major BOO on this card.

The DP is actually stationary from

The Paper Company which

I purchased many years ago along with

a little DCWV accenting.

The 'Paris postmark' stamp is Stampabilities.

The fab die-cut in the center is from

Tattered Angels 'Creme Collection'.

I'm sure you not only recognize the 

Martha Loop Punch, but also the bird die cut,

which is from Tim Holtz and the Spellbinders 

Nestibilities scallop.

The bling and flowers are from Prima.

Glad to be able to share this with you.

I hope when you stop by, you will take a

moment to say hello...

Provence on Paper...I Love GCD Studios

Decided to take a break from my seasonal projects and break out the fabulous papers from GCD Studios.  Awhile back, I shared my love of Provence with you.  When I finished this card, I think my husband's exact words were "that sure screams Provence".  Now, I think...that was a back-handed compliment, but he was right on the money because this paper is from the Provence Collection, so good eye, Paul!

I used a variety of the designs and included 3 of the die cuts from the set.  Even the 12 x 12 sheet that I cut had a die-cut edge.

I 'blinged' up the rooster with a little Diamond Stickles and added a few punch cut-outs with pearl centers.

Just a little project to brighten (literally) your day!

 Have you seen either of these fabulous cups lately?

If not, then you have not been to The Play Date Cafe.

 Thursday starts a brand, new challenge with our brand, new designer, Jules Campbell so make sure you stop by and check out the FaBuLoUs colors for this week's challenge!

I am THRILLED....Thanks GCD STUDIOS!

Well...the news came via Vanessa in Germany! So I ran right over to the GCD Studios Blog and there it was! I was this week's winner of a $100 prize from both GCD Studios and Grafix! I am just thrilled. If you remember the post I did on my love of Provence....this is the company that produced that fabulous line of patterned papers. I also featured it on my very first Friday Night Series. Click here and here to see those posts.

Anyway...thank you so much GCD Studios and Grafix...
I am both shocked and amazed and can't wait to play
with this fabulous prize!

GCD Designs 'Provence'...Bold Pattern Series

I always look forward to Fridays, for many of the same reasons you do....the weekend is here, for many, it's a great 'date night'...but for me, it is also the night I have set aside to share with you a series of projects featuring specific colors, designs, themes and more. Tonight, I am happy to share a couple of projects that I made this week using a paper set that I showed you a couple of weeks ago and have been so excited to use! GCD Designs, which just finished a fabulous blog hop over at their site, is the name behind this series called 'Provence'. If you have come to know me, even a little, you know that my dream trip is to this region in the South of France. So let's go on a little tour of Provence right here at The Open Window.

If you have studied any French decorating, you know that the patterns and colors are bright and bold. Ochre, Cerulean Blue, Bordeaux...just to name a few. I think the colors and patterns on this first card are so classic. Stripes mixed with bold patterns. This card has a real feel of a wallpapered wall, don't you think? Because I have not seen these papers sold separately, I don't have names for the individual sheets, but what I do love, is that in each set, there are pattern choices on both sides. So coordinating is a cinch....especially when you are talking about 'busy' patterns. My philosophy is...if it's all in one set, you can mix any of it together!

I used the Martha Stewart Loop Around the Page punch just for something different as well as a vintage button and a soutache-style ribbon for focal points. Everything was aged using Ranger Archival ink in Coffee and the sentiment stamps
are from Scrappy Cat.

To quote Monty Python (and my friend Sarah!)...
and now for something completely different...

Yep....these patterned papers are from the very same set! What a change in theme though, huh?! I fell in love with the gold-striped paper, which I also used on the card above AND on the card from yesterday's post. It really set the 'gold tone' for this card. It also features one of the die-cut tags that was included in the set.

The 'extras' on this card include a very 'vintage' lace that I inherited from my seamstress grandmother, Martha Stewart rhinestones in my grandmother's birthstone Garnet, copper brads and these fabulous Holiday Brads from K&Co. The snowflake was cut using 'The Bug' and the Snowflake Nestibilities and then covered with fine gold glitter. Don't let glitter scare you! It's not nearly as messy as it used to be. There are so many great techniques for applying it as well as the quality...that can make all the difference in the world. The source for the rubber stamped sentiment is unknown, but I love the vintage 'feel' to it.

I'm curious....back to glitter for a moment....do you use glitter? How often and what's your favorite thing to make? Do you have a favorite brand? PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT because I would love to know what you do with glitter. I specialize in making themed glass ornaments all year-around and every ornament is 'tricked' out with some glitter.
I would love to share some of my glittering 'secrets' with you!

Dreams of Provence...and Paper...

Are not these papers beautiful? These are from the new Autumn Splendor collection from Making Memories and I L*O*V*E them! There's glitter, patterns, die-cuts and foils.

On this card, I used the glittered wheat sheaths paper as a border. It's hard to see in the photo, but it's just lovely. To make a nice backdrop for the photo, I used one of the die cut papers.

The stamps are from Inkadinkado and the embossing powder is metallic bronze from JudiKins.
Now on to the next batch of yummy.....

These unbelievably cool papers are from GCD Designs. The set is called Provence and I can't wait to get my hands on these. All the papers in this collection are linen-finish, they almost feel like wallpaper. They are two-sided so coordinating will be so easy.

Now...here's a new little tidbit about your host here at The Open Window. One of these days, I want to be able to say that I looked out an open window in Provence. I love all things french, but I want to go and experience Provence in the worst way.

As you can tell by my reading material, I have spent some time 'lapping up' all I can about the region. I have many coffee-table books on the subject as well, but they were too heavy to hike up on the table! It was Peter Mayle's 'A Year in Provence'
that first whet my appetite.
(Sarah...do you recognize the Van Gogh book below?)

So as I close out this post for Friday, here is my question for you...where in the world would you like to go, if you could go anywhere in the world? If you have already lived that dream, I would love to hear about it...especially if you've been to Provence. Leave me a comment and let's 'travel together'....
see you Saturday!