Make a Wish

I'm so glad to have you back here at The Open Window.

It's time for another fabby color challenge over at

Today is a very special day . . .
It's my daughter's 29th birthday.

I can't believe so many years have passed.
She is so beautiful, both inside & out.

Choosing the sentiment for this card was a simple choice!

Because I've been personally busy for the past few weeks, I didn't
devote nearly the time to getting my card done this week as I
would have liked.  I tried photos both indoors & out, but still struggled
to find the right lighting.

Very clean & simple, I used the 'Dandelion Wishes' stamps
and dies from My Favorite Things.
It's very special to know that my long time blogging friend
Mona Pendleton is the illustrator of these beautiful images.

I love the intricate detail of these stamps.

Many thanks to Mona for providing not only the stamps/dies
for this week, but also the most generous prize for our challenge !

You'll find all the details over in The Cafe.

I hope you will play along with us this week!

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Ledger from DCWV

Stamps: Dandelion Wishes by My Favorite Things

Ink: Slate & Latte from A Muse Studio

Tools: Die-Namics Steps & Toppers for Dandelion Wishes
from My Favorite Things

Welcome to the Soiree!

For my Guest Post with

Little Yellow Bicycle

please scroll down

I think by the looks of this card, SOMEone is getting ready to

have a BIG celebration!!

Yep!

It's a surprise birthday party for Korin Sutherland,

the very sweet owner and designer of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!!

In true surprise party fashion, we are celebrating a day early

to keep it a real secret.

If you arrived here from my talented friend

Jessica Fick's blog

you are in the perfect spot not to miss a thing.

If you'd like to make sure you visit each designer

who is partying with us today, then make sure you visit

Taylor Usry's blog

and make each stop along the party route.

I broke out the Pink Paislee 'Soiree' collection to create today's card.

I simply cut bits and pieces out of the paper and then layered matching

dimensional stickers along the way.

I really hope you will be able to visit each blog on the party route.

A complete list of blogs is listed below.

Of course, please stop by and wish dear Korin a very happy birthday!

Thanks for swinging by...hope you found some colorful inspiration

today here at The Open Window.

Taylor Usry 

Beate Johns

Bridget Finlay

Holly McMillen

Lydia Fiedler

Chrissy Dickinson

Dina Kowal

Leslie Hanna

Lisa Hjulberg

Kim Schofield

Jessica Fick

Julie Ranae

Monika Davis

Jessica Diedrich

Cathy McCauley

Makiko Jones

Kim Singdahlsen

Mary Faus

Deb Felts

Lori Craig

Giovana Smith

Kim O'Connell

Wendy Jordan

Julie Smith

Michele Single

Jeanne Streiff

Lee Murphy

Project Recipe: 

Patterned Paper & Embellishments: 
Soiree by Pink Paislee
 pearls & gems from Recollections

Happy Bird~Day

I mentioned in my previous post that it was going to be a busy
weekend here at The Open Window and is one of the reasons why.

It's the beginning of New Release Previews for

Over the next four days, each of the designers from TCM
will share with you beautiful and creative ways to get
started with the new releases which will go on sale
during our finale blog hop on Monday, Feb 20th.

Our first preview if a set designed by NinaB Designs
called 'Tweet of You'.

Although this set has a real whimsical look to it, I decided to go a little
more vintage with my colors.  I grabbed one of Nina's frames from her
last release to enclose the birdcage.
I then punched dozens of tiny daisies using a Fiskars punch.

I love the tiny bird, don't you?!

How would you like to win this set before it even goes on sale?

Just make sure you pop by the blogs of each of our designers
{a complete list is on my sidebar and also at the TCM blog}
and leave a comment to win.  There are only 11 blogs in total to visit.
Easy-peasy!

Hope you enjoyed your visit and my fingers are crossed that YOUR
comment may be the winner!

Project Recipe: 

Patterned Paper: Anna Griffin {circa 2000}

Stamps: Tweet of You, Lovely Labels 18 both by The Craft's Meow

Tools: Standard Circles, Labels 18 by Spellbinders, Big Shot
small flower punch by Fiskars
Embellishments: Buttercup Liquid Pearls, white embossing powder
Ink: Shell by A Muse Studio, Old Paper Distress Ink 

Choo-Choo Birthday at CAS-ual Friday

I have been in such a 'boy-themed' creative mood

lately and I have a feeling it's because we are still

awaiting the arrival of our newest grandson

{which should be any day}

This week's challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays

is to use stickers or rub-ons and is sponsored by...

EAD Designs

and each of our designers was given their choice

of beautiful designs from their vinyl 'Stickerz' collection.

These are so cool, removable & repositionable.

I chose this fabulous set...

Birthday Trains

Because I've been thinking about all my grandsons, it was a 

no-brainer on which set I would choose.

5 year-old Caleb has always loved

'Thomas the Tank Engine' and this set definitely

reminded me of him.

I just added these fab clouds made from dies by

Lil' Inker Design.

I hope you'll come play this week...you could win

a $35 shopping spree over at EAD Designs!

Project Recipe:

Cardstock:  'Kraft' by The Paper Company
Ink: 'Sky' by A Muse Studio
Embellishments:  'Birthday Train' by EAD  Designs

Tools:  'Clouds' die from Lil' Inker Design, Big Shot

A 'Virtual' Community Project

I finally had a couple of minutes to upload this

gigantic greeting card that I made for my

mom's 70th birthday.

She loves greens and peaches and

garden-themed things, so I thought this

DCWV 'Mariposa Collection' was

just right for her special greeting.

Along with the Prima 'bling' I added

extra sparkle with 'diamond' Stickles.

Then I sewed a 'binding' to 

hold it all together.

There were so many of you who had a

hand in this card and I want to thank you

for sharing your thoughts and

well-wishes with her.

 There were 5 very full pages!
To accommodate all the messages,
I formatted it in 8.5 x 11.

I used Papertrey Ink's 'Dot Spots'

 and butterflies from Sandylion

to add color to the inside pages.

Suffice to say, she was stunned and thrilled to read

all of your sweet greetings and.....

I think she liked the card a little too.  : )

Celebrating a Birthday...aaah...Not Mine

Just a quick post today....

To wish my favorite daughter

(my one and only, of course  : )

A Happy 26th Birthday.

Love you with all my heart, Mallory!

And to those of you who visited, I will be
back tonight by midnight EST with a little
H{ippity} Hop!