Heartfelt Thanks!

I'm so glad you stopped by today.

I am happy to share a colorful card with you today

to say 'Thank You' to teachers everywhere !

Yes . . . The Twinery is sharing all kinds of crafting goodness

this week in honor of educators.  

 

Our design team will be

sharing both cards & gifts using fun & fabulous baker's twine

in hopes of inspiring you to create something for the teacher in your life.

With four grandsons ranging from 4th grade to pre-school, I have had

the pleasure of making cards for their teachers for Christmas

 and the end of the school year.

I am definitely a card maker at heart & did I have fun putting

this card together !  I created the tag first and layered from there.

Both the tag & card base have washi tape from Freckled Fawn.

These alphabets remind me so much of grade school

[which was WAY too long ago]

I love putting a whole bunch of baker's twine together for

a tag 'tassel' and for this one, I used:

Charcoal, Mandarin, Buttercream, Marigold and the brand new

Rainbow Teal Shimmer.

All of these can be found over in The Twinery Store.

I used stickers from SRM for the sentiment & fun polka dots,

a fun pencil embellishment (which I've had for years)

and the flower is from Prima.

 

I hope you will stop by The Twinery blog this week and enjoy

the projects our talented designers have to share.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today !

 

 

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embellishments: washi tape from Freckled Fawn,

pencil button by Dress it Up, stickers from SRM Stickers

flower from Prima, all baker's twine from The Twinery

Happy Fall Y'all

For The Craft's Meow 
New Release Blog Hop
Please Scroll Down

It's another fabulously busy day here at The Open Window
and I am thrilled to be coming to you sharing a wonderful
collaboration between The Twinery and write.click.scrapbook.

I love being the Design Team Coordinator at The Twinery
and working with such a talented design team along with
such beautiful baker's twine are the reasons why.


I recently received a BIG order of seasonal new releases
from StopandScrap.com and couldn't wait to get started creating.

This card features one of the newest colors in baker's twine from  
The Twinery.
'Ocean' is quickly becoming a favorite for me !
I hung the banner stickers from the 'Harvest Lane' collection by  
Simple Stories
using the twine.  All I did was punch holes on each corner to weave
the twine right through.

I added a little Liquid Pearls to the tree to create a bit of dimension.

I hope you will join us over on The Twinery blog for more
beautiful inspiration and a big thanks to write.click.scrapbook.
for showcasing our baker's twine.

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Harvest Lane by Simple Stories

from StopandScrap.com

Embellishments: Harvest Lane Die Cut Stickers by Simple Stories

baker's twine in Ocean by The Twinery

Liquid Pearls by Ranger

 

Sketchin' as a Skipping Stones Guest Designer

Welcome back in to have a peek at The Open Window.

September is definitely upon us and with that comes

a terrific guest designer invitation that I've been

really looking forward to.

This month, we will be working with sketch challenges

designed by Kim Kesti and I'm joined with Laura Basson

to bring you inspiration using the fun stamps from SSD.

Here is the sketch . . .

and here is my take . . . 

I took a few liberties but used the same elements to make it happen.

I focused on the 'Everyday Blessings' set from SSD and found that I wanted

to do a little color-blocking with the sketch.

Each of the textured cardstocks match the colors of the leaves.
The sentiment is from SSD's Grunge 2 set.

I hope you will stop by the Skipping Stones Design Blog

and take a look at what each designer has to share.

Thank you for popping by.  I always enjoy your visits

and absolutely love to get a note from you so I
know you were here.

Have a great day !

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Everyday Blessings & Grunge 2 
both by Skipping Stones Design

Ink: Tuxedo Black by Memento, Copics

Dream Big !

It's that time again!

Time for another terrific challenge with another terrific color story from

Before I forget, I wanted to make sure to let you know

that next week in The Cafe, we will be sharing a

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ! ! !

So make sure you jot it on your calendar because you

won't want to miss it.

I have to tell you . . . I love this 'accent' set from The Craft's Meow.

It's called 'Typically Teen' and is this month's limited time

gift with purchase.  When I saw this week's color story, I

immediately knew the direction I wanted to go because these

colors work so well together as accents.

I simply used a few of my A Muse Studio inks in the matching

colors, then layered the cardstocks and embellished with

a few tiny gems and brads.

The sentiment is also from TCM.

 

This week's sponsor just happens to be

So I hope you will stop in to The Cafe and check out

all the 

FaBuLoSiTy 

from our designers

and play along!

Project Recipe:
Stamps: Typically Teen & Dads & Grads by The Craft's Meow

Inks: Slate, Blueberry & Ocean by A Muse Studio

Pumpkin Spice VersaMagic by Tsukineko

Embellishments: gems from Little Yellow Bicycle

brads from Recollections

 

Flower Garden ~ TCM New Release Preview Day One

For The Play Date Cafe Challenge

Please Scroll Down

I am in love with this stamp set and I'm so happy to share that it is

Day #1 of 

New Release Previews

 Each day this week, you will see a new set

revealed and have a chance to win a set each day!

Before we get to it, I am so excited to welcome our

May Guest Designers at TCM...

Sharri Seffens & Annette Allen

These women are super talented and I am so glad they

will be a part of the new release festivities.

Our first set was designed by the wonderful

Nina Brackett of NinaB Designs for TCM called

'Flower Garden' . . .

I love 'shadow' stamping and it was so easy to do with this set.

I created these beautiful flowers using a variety of inks

from A Muse Studio and embellished the centers with tiny pearls.

The sentiment is from the 'Inspired by Audrey' set, also by TCM.

I am entering this over at Simon Says Stamp for the
Clean & Simple Challenge.

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!

I am so glad you stopped by today and I hope

you will plan to come by each day this week

so you don't miss a thing!

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Flower Garden & Inspired by Audrey by The Craft's Meow

Ink: Blueberry, Fern, Grass, Papaya & Bellini by A Muse Studio

Tuxedo Black Memento by Tsukineko 

Embellishments: mini pearls from Recollections

Keep Calm...with The Craft's Meow!

The day is here !!

It's New Release Blog Hop Day at

If you have arrived at my blog from our talented

Guest Designer  

Gini Cagle'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.

 For this card, I revisited the sets called
'Vintage Rides' and 'Nature's Beauty'.
I thought it would be fun to do a little paper-piecing with papers from MME.
There's those great cloud dies from Lil' Inker Designs once again
and the sunshine was punched using one of the newest punches from
Martha Stewart's Loop Collection.
I'm sure you recognize my favorite baker's twine from The Twinery as well.

 I know you will see all the sets on the TCM Blog/Website, so I am going

to show you a very special one here...

  This adorable set is 'Giddy Up' designed by the lovely

Nina B Designs 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

{there's only 17 total}

and you have until 9:00pm PDT, Friday April 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 my friend
and newest stamp illustrator

Karen Baker's blog

Just in case there are any glitches in the blog hop,
here is a complete list of blogs participating for TCM:

The Craft's Meow Blog
Amy Tsuruta
Amy Wanford
Ivana Camdzic
Geri Freeman
Iwona Palamountain
Jackie Rockwell
Jean Martin 
Jen Cuthbertson
Jenny Suchin
Jessica Fick
Gini Cagle
Julie Ranae

Karen Baker
Lindsay Amrhein
Michelle Bertuzzi

Nina Brackett

 Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Fine & Dandy Boy by My Mind's Eye
Stamps:  Vintage Rides, Nature's Beauty
both from The Craft's Meow

Tools: Cloud die from Lil' Inker Designs, Big Shot
Large Dot EF by Cuttlebug
Circle Loop punch by Martha Stewart for EK Success

Embellishments:  baker's twine in charcoal by The Twinery

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Today is one of those days that I get to post whatever I want!

LOL

I love working for all my teams and who wouldn't?  To get to 'play'

with so many fabulous images and embellishments and of course,

you know me.  My passion is working with developing teams and

the social media that goes with building businesses.

So today, I do that behind the scenes on my laptop.

Last night I spent a couple hours playing with some new

'stuff' I picked up on a trip to Archivers during the day.

Paul and I had a daytrip out and it was a beautiful day.

How ridiculously cute is this line from Imaginisce?! 

It's called Sole Sisters and it's perfect for those girly-friend cards that we all

need to make once in awhile.  The pattern that I created the arched border from

is actually the backside of the shoe pattern in houndstooth.

I added tiny pearls to each of the shoes and to the marquis.

Here is another CAS card using the same theme of 'Girls Night Out'....

There's that houndstooth which in fashion, is uber-timeless!

I love the colors in this collection and the embellishments are AdOrAbLe!!

Tiny  pearls always bring a little somethin'-somethin' to a card.

I hope you enjoyed your visit today.

A BIG thanks to Imaginisce for featuring this card in the weekly

 

I've been working on a lot of cards in between my DT work, so I have

bunches of things to share, so I hope you'll stop by again soon.

Have a GREAT day!!

Girls Night Out Project Recipe Includes: 

Patterned Paper & Die Cuts: Sole Sisters by Imaginisce

Embellishments: pearls by Recollections

Tools: Lacey Circles & Standard Circle by Spellbinders, Big Shot
Lattice Arch border punch by EK Success

Happy Bird-Day with The Craft's Meow

For the EAD Blog Hop

CLICK HERE

  

The day is finally here!!

It's the New Release Blog Hop with

the designers from

If you've arrived here from the very talented

Jessica Fick's blog

then you are in the perfect spot.

If not, I would love for you to start over at

The Craft's Meow blog

because you will have a terrific opportunity to

win all 4 brand new releases!

They all go on sale TOday!!!

Today I combined 'Tweet of You' and 'I've Got Your Number'

to make one sweet birthday card.

Whenever I have an intricate pattern with a stamp, I immediately

think 'paper-piecing'.

I did the same with the little bird on the cage.

The numbers in this set are so fantastic with a distressed-feel.

They make great foreground AND background images.

 Here are the 4 brand new sets you have a chance to win...

I've Got Your Number

 Tweet of You

 Owl See You in the Spring

 Sew Lovely

To win, just make sure you stop by each of the blogs

on the hop and leave a comment when you do.

Visit and comment by 9pm PST, Tues Feb 21st

and you could be the winner of these fab stamps.

It's time to send you on your way to my dear friend

Lindsey Amrhein's blog

I'll see you again soon...have a GREAT day!

Project Recipe: 

Patterned Paper: Citronella & Berry Sweet by K&Company

Stamps: Tweet of You & I've Got Your Number by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: gems by Me and My Big Ideas

Ink: Tuxedo Black from Memento & Slate both from A Muse Studio

 

Wearin' O the Green

For the

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge

CLICK HERE

It's Day Two of the New Release Previews at....

Today we are sneak peeking the new set designed
by Jenny Suchin.

This set is called 'Owl See You in the Spring'

It's been a long time since I spent time creating a card for
St. Patrick's Day.  With a mother-in-law and father-in-law originally
from Northern Ireland, you would think I would have occasion to do so.

I originally created this card with the idea of being able to detach the
'bookmark' but ended up permanently attaching it to the card.
It would be so easy to make this a card with a use-able bookmark
and could have any theme imaginable.

How would you like to win this set before it goes on sale?
All you have to do is 
visit each of the TCM designer's blogs and leave a comment.
SO EASY!!!

There are two more releases to preview before the stamps go on sale
so make sure you plan to stop by again tomorrow to see what's next!

Don't forget to leave a comment and I'll see you again soon!

Project Recipe: 

Patterned Paper: green gingham from A Muse Studio
Stamps: Owl See You in the Spring from The Craft's Meow
Ink: Bamboo Leaves by Memento, Adirondack Mushroom by Ranger,
Memories ArtPrint Brown by Stewart Superior

Embellishments: ribbon from American Crafts

Using What You've Got...It's a Giveaway!

One of my so-called resolutions for 2010 was to do my best to use a little 'somethin' that I have had for a long time.  My priority is to use my paper stash first followed by embellishments.  Oh my goodness!  As I organize, it's like Christmas everyday as I find things I forgot I had!
I know...that's your story too, isn't it?!

My mom called the other day and said she needed 12 valentines, 
any style, any color.  PERFECT!

I immediately began to think of ways I could put my plan to use,
but make the cards quick and simple.

One way to accomplish this is to get out of the box color-wise.
So here is the result...

 This is just one of the cards I came up with.  The patterned papers came with a British magazine that Sarah sent to me.  So I used the Sizzix Flower Layers die cut and highlighted the edges with  

Stardust Stickles.

My friend Mona sent me the rhinestone brads from Making Memories and the border punch is Eyelet Lace from Martha Stewart.

The colors are a bit unconventional for a typical valentine, but why not?

While I had the Sizzix die cut out,

I decided to continue on with my plan...here's what I made...

I have had the polka dot paper forEVER!
It's called Penelope's Potpourri from SEI.

The pink flower was made from the same paper on the card,
but now for my favorite....

THIS lovely flower is my favorite!  Adorned with Platinum Stickles.

The contest...

What can YOU tell me about the patterned paper that was used?

Take a good look at the photos above and really zero in on the patterned flowers on the left.

1. Who manufactures this paper?

2.  What makes this particular 'sheet' unusual?

Leave a comment with your guess.  Feel free to try and guess both answers.  I will take all correct answers and draw a winner.  You have until 11:59pm EST, Tuesday, January 19th to enter your guess.

The winner will receive a package of papers from this particular collection AND a completed flower embellishment.