Happy Mother's Day, Mum!

It's Mother's Day this Sunday....over in Great Britain.

'Mothering Sunday'....it's called and this card is getting

ready to go in the 'post' today.

(I am now channeling my husband)

I believe my mother-in-law will love this bright and cheery greeting...

at least I hope so.

If you BOO like I do, you may recognize this DP

from Making Memories...yep, it's 'Chloe's Closet'.

I just used a variety of border punches including 

Martha's Eyelet and Fiskars.

I used a little 'weathered wood' Distress Ink

from Tim Holtz around the edges 

to give it a bit of depth.

The crochet flower is GCD's Artsy Urban

and the center is My Mind's Eye.

Finished off with a few rhinestones and ribbon

with a sentiment from Studio G.

I apologize for the quick post...I am working on

the design team announcement and challenge over at

The Play Date Cafe which is very exciting!

I noticed that we have had a record number of

players this week!  YAY!

There will be a very fun opportunity for you to

win a fabulous prize, so stay tuned to this station!

One more thing....I SO appreciate your comments,

please let me know you were here.

A simple 'hi' will do   : )

It Required a Hunt! The Play Date Cafe Challenge

This has been a rather bold and bright week at The Open Window.

Lots of vibrant colors inspired by so many things.

Recognize any of this yet?  Yep, more of the new

'Mariposa' Collection from DCWV.

But I am happy to say that I managed a little BOO on this project.

Don't know what BOO is?  Click here to find out!

Before I go any further, here's an explanation for all the color...

This week's challenge is just that...A CHALLENGE!

All the designers said so...including our fabulous  
design team host, Sarah.

But there IS a story to go with these colors, so make sure you hit
The Cafe to read the inspiration behind this challenge.

So what did I come up with?

Here are the details...

The birdcage and collage-element paper are from DCWV.   

Prima flowers centered with fabric brads

from My Mind's Eye (thank you, Sarah) and Melody Ross' Artsy Urban for GCD Studios.

The orange panel was stamped with a beautiful butterfly from  

Elusive Images (again, thank you Sarah)

and the BOO on this card IS that orange panel.

Get this...I wanted just the perfect shade of orange and I literally (yes, really) looked for over an hour through every last orange 'thing' in my stash and then...  

I found it! 

 A brand, new blank mini scrapbook still in the package.  It was a freebie that came with an issue of Simply Scrapbooks

(now out of print).

Yes, it required that I cut it apart, but I was thrilled to find it!

Thank you dear Sarah...not only for the goodies used that were

sweet gifts from you,

but for dragging me out of my comfort zone with  

one terrific challenge!   : )

Vintage Valentine for Embellish Magazine.com

OK...does this just scream vintage valentine?  I hope so.

It's just a glimpse of my entry for
Embellish Magazine.com's New Year Challenge.

I took a bit of liberty with my shade of red, but I think it works.

I used a few of the papers from GCD Studios'
'Artsy Urban Collection' to get the job done.

You recognize the vintage foil hearts from my recent entry for  
The Play Date Cafe Challenge.

Love playing with that foil! 
The silver metallic is embossed using a Cuttlebug EF.

I 'pinked' up my white crepe paper rosettes with a little VersaMagic ink.

Nothing says vintage like lots of flowers.
thanks to Prima and Making Memories for these beauties!

Add a few satin pearls, gathered trim
and button brads for flower centers.

Speaking of GCD Studios, if you haven't left your comment for the
BIG giveaway, you still have time.

Just click HERE for all the details!

One more thing then I am off to make my husband his favorite
Italian Chicken dinner...

Julie's Open Window is now on Facebook!
I would LOVE it if you would become a fan.

Just scroll down to the FB badge just under my
followers beautiful faces and click.

When you get to Julie's Open Window on FB,
click 'Become a Fan' and that's it!

See you soon!

Shifting Gears...Babies & Valentines...

 I have been having so much fun playing with two different paper collections, so I thought I would share these with you.

The first is Graphic45...'Baby 2 Bride'.

 

I used 3 different pages from this collection.

The base is 'Sentimental Baby' that I ran through

'The Bug' using the Swiss Dot EF.  I love this page because it has the verses to 'Rock a Bye Baby'

The next layer is 'Unforgettable'.  This page has a variety of squares that can be used together or can be cut apart.  I used 6 squares together.

The final addition was the sweet tag from the 'Tags' page.  This page has the most beautiful tags to choose from.

I distressed the edges of two layers and embellished with satin pearls, trim and platinum Stickles.

Now for something completely different.....

This Valentine card features the beautiful 'Artsy Urban' collection from GCD Studios.

I love the texture of all the collections from this company.  These papers are no exception.  The linen finishes and embossed glittered roses are so beautiful!

I die cut the scalloped hearts from Spellbinders and layered them using dimensional tape.  I added Prima flowers and centered one with an 'Artsy Urban' crochet flower.

The sweet angels were taken from 'The Book of Friendship'.  I love these chunky books that can usually be found in the Bargain Book section of Barnes & Noble.  They make great clip art!

Of course,
I couldn't finish without some vintage lace, vibrant rhinestones and icicle Stickles.

So there you have it....two VERY DIFFERENT creations.

Both will be available in my Etsy shop.

Before I go, I wanted to say thank you TO YOU!  I have loved getting to know so many of you through your visits to  

The Open Window.

I think 2010 will contain some very exciting months as we continue to communicate and share through this fabulous place.  My plans for New Year's Day is to play and create...I am making a deal with myself to use what I have.  Now, that doesn't mean that I won't be out there buying up the latest papers and stamps...that would be ridiculous!  No...my intentions are to try and use at least one thing I already have on hand in each of my projects and then share that with you.  So what do I have the MOST of that I need to use?  Paper...paper...PAPER!  Of course, many of us have things that we just don't want to part with...and I will hang on to those (and maybe share those along the way as well).  But I do need to start using more of my papers no matter how old they are.

So here is what I want to know from you?  What do you have the most of that you would be willing to try and use more of in the coming year's creativity?  I am sure we would ALL LOVE TO KNOW...so please leave me a comment....

Let's have fun with this!