The Play Date Cafe Challenge #15

 

I have to say that I love these colors.

The Play Date Cafe Design Team have had these on their plate for

going on 3 months, so I for one, am glad the time is here to use them.

I love the inspiration photo and thought of 

100 different directions I could have gone.

Things I put to use....

Sizzix die cuts 'Flourish' and 'Build a Lilac'

Metallic chipboard letters from Making Memories

'Cherry Blossom' stamp from Inkadinkado's 'Asian by Design' set

The doily effect was stenciled using VersaMagic in 'Aloe Vera'

Platinum & Icicle Stickles for a little shimmer

Bronze brads and pearl rhinestones

Martha Stewart satin ribbon

SO HERE'S SOME NEWS....

There will be a design team call 

very soon for a new batch of designers for The Play Date Cafe.  

If you love color challenges and can handle a project a week,

then we hope you will consider submitting your application.

Stay tuned as the call will be coming VERY SOON!

More Romance with Gingersnap Creations

I'm very happy to be participating with the fabulous
Gingersnap Creations Challenge

representing the creative team at The Artistic Stamper,
this month's sponsor.

The theme for this week's challenge is 'Romance'.
These birds look like they know a thing or two about romance, so they were my inspiration.

 

I used the fabulous new stamps from

Artistic Stamper's 'Romance' Collection.

The wonderful 'Heart Background' is so versatile.  

I also used the 'Roses are Red' set 

to stamp the heart shape and the sentiment.  

I used Ranger's Crackle Accents for a special effect on the heart.

I also used a variety of Stickles to highlight the clip art which is from Sandra Evertson's 'Wedding' Book.

Prima Flowers add the finishing touches.

Hope you will stop by Gingersnap Creations and see what their design team have offered for inspiration for this week's challenge.

Hope your week is going well.  We are half way through and it's been a busy and creative one for me.  Make sure you stop by tomorrow to see the new challenge from The Play Date Cafe.

Romance is in the Air...

 

Wanted to share a quick post with you today using a fabulous, 

brand new stamp from Artistic Stamper's 'Romance' Collection.  

Although this center heart is rather small, this stamp is HUGE!

 

It's a full size background of fun hearts!

I used VersaMark to create a subtle background and then outlined EVERYTHING

with Stardust Stickles.  

A little 'BOO' with the Heidi Grace DP from this past summer.

All the edges were distressed using the Tim Holtz tool.

Found these great tags that are used for tying treat bags 

and thought they would be great for an instant greeting.  

Not a fan of the photo, but it was the best I could do for a Monday...

I KNOW you know what I'm talking about!

Pretty self-explanatory, this one.  

Used my 'Bug' and the Paisley EF for the background 

(thank you Mona). 

Then a little more embossing with the Swiss Dot EF and 

the Scalloped Circles from Spellbinders.

I wish the silver metallic was just a bit 'shinier' in the photo, 

but you can see it.

Well...like I said before, it's Monday.  So need to get to 'Monday stuff'.

Hope you will leave a comment to let me know you were here.

It's the only way I can comment back.

I love hearing from YOU!

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!   : )

Get Your Sunglasses...And We Have A Winner!

Alright!

I have decided before I go any further that I need to have
an acronym to let you know

when I am using my New Year's Resolution in my projects.

One more reminder of what it was.

I decided in 2010 to use at least one 'OLD SOMETHING' from my stash of papers, embellishments, stamps and more, 
in at least one project a week.

I've been doing really well with it.
In fact, for the most part, I have made this work

in just about EVERY project I've made so far this year.

So from this point on, when I 'BREAK OUT THE OLD' or 'BOO',

you will know exactly what I'm talking about!

Going bold and bright, so this is where you need your shades!

Lottsa BOO here!  Broke out my Heidi Grace from this past summer to create this fun Valentine card.  Still working on those cards that my mom needed and this is one of the final creations.  The only thing that is not Heidi Grace is the heart just under the 'love' heart.

That's a bit of Prima's Harlequin pattern from their
'Nursery Rhyme Collection'.

While I had the Heidi Grace at hand, I couldn't resist making another batch of these

fabulous layered flowers that I featured last week

(you can see those HERE).

And while I was at it, a little more BOO with very, very old  
Keeping Memories Alive paper.

I have to tell you that, these papers are so old,
they came in 8 1/2 x 11 only...it was

BEFORE 12 x 12 was really on the market!
I believe the large polka dots were from

My Mind's Eye's 'Wild Asparagus' line....I think.

A little something new... the beautiful 'Mariposa Collection'

from DCWV.  I know, I know...a little crazy with the flowers!

But that brings me to the winner of the

'Using What You Have' Giveaway.

The contest was...

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?

OUR WINNER IS...

 Kathy W  
Kathy had the closest guess.  

You all did a fabulous job and gave it some real thought.

 The actual answer to question # 1 is Prima

The answer to question #2 was a bit tricky, but I told you it was something unusual.

The flowers were actually made from 
the front cover art of the entire collection.

Kathy, I just need your mailing address so I can send out your

Prima Sampler Paper & one of my handmade flowers.

Email me at julieranae@hotmail.com 

I know this has been a long post,
but here's what I want to know from you...

If you were to do BOO along with me, what would be one of the OLDEST

things from your creative stash that could be used?

I won't hold you to using it, after all, there are many reasons why we haven't! (Can anyone say 'emotional attachment?)

Please leave a comment 
and let's have fun with this trip down memory lane!

Romance...In More Ways Than One

Romantic Style...what does that look like to you? 

I think like anything else, it's different things to different people.

You know I love the 'shabby-chic' style...although pastels are a bit harder for my brain to work with,

when this card came together,

I just sat back and took a deep breath in.

I love the background stamps from Artistic Stamper.   I used the Polka Dots image for the bold background and the Simple Swirls for the subtle pink background and the gray foreground on the tag.

The sentiment is from Wordsworth.  There are all kinds of 'extras' that complete this card including the Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Around the Page Border, Prima Flowers and silk ribbon.

As I continue to clear my stash, this is a very old die cut from Colorbok that I embellished with

'Carrera Marble' Tinsel Glitter also from Martha Stewart.

Now for romance of a different style.

I love the new 'Mariposa Collection' from DCWV.  The 12 x 12 stack is perfect for card-makers because there are so many wonderful images that can be cut out and layered.

Yep...more Prima Flowers.  Such a quick and easy embellishment.

Although I didn't use them on this project, I also purchased the box of die-cuts that match this collection.  They are beautiful, so I am sure they will turn up here soon!

Quick little story...My dear grandmother, who was one of the biggest influences on my creative life, bought me a sewing machine many, MANY years ago and truthfully, the only time it was used, was when her machine had to go in for servicing.
She would borrow my little unit to get her by.

I finally broke out that machine a couple weeks ago, but for the life of me, I could not keep the bobbin thread from tangling with every effort I made to sew.  I mentioned it to my mom who said, "You know, I think your grandma had the same problem with that machine every time she borrowed it.  I have her machine stored away,
maybe you should give it a try."   
Grandma was a master, self-taught seamstress.
Well, grandma's machine had the magic touch!

I put it to use for the first time on these cards
and I just love the results.

My stitches aren't perfect....
but romance sometimes isn't either.....

Retro Fun at The Play Date Cafe!

I am very excited about the color inspiration for this week's

Play Date Cafe Challenge.

And how fun is this inspiration photo?

Julie Campbell is actually our challenge host this week, but as she is away at CHA in Anaheim, I offered to fill her shoes with an offering of inspiration.

The verse I used for this card was from Scrappy Cat and it's in tribute to my UK friends, Jennie and Hels.  I serve on the creative team with them at Artistic Stamper and have been in LOVE with the grungepaper roses that they are so proficient at making.

Because I STILL need to get myself some grungepaper to make the actual roses, I decided to put my own spin on them using the same

'retro' feel of the inspiration photo.

I created the flowers using my Sizzix Flower Layers die cuts.  The patterns were created with Artistic Stampers' Houndstooth and Polka Dot background stamps.  Although houndstooth never goes out of style, I think it has a very 'retro' vibe to it.  I outlined each flower with turquoise and silver Stickles and centered them with zebra-print brads.  Fun...fun...FUN!

So you have two places to visit.   

The Play Date Cafe of course, and then head on over to

Artistic Stamper.

Tell them hi from me!

A Little Inspiration for Valentines

I don't have much to share today as I am working on a couple of fun projects that I look forward to sharing in the coming days, so I thought I would show you a few more 'peeks' of the cards
that I made for my mom.

I know in my last post I mentioned working outside the color 'box' for Valentines, but of course, it couldn't last forever.  Found myself right back into the reds, pinks and whites with a hint of
something 'extra' here and there.

Definitely getting some mileage out of my Sizzix Primitive Hearts die cuts, but once again, I have stuck to using papers that I have had for awhile.  The theme for me though, was to continue to keep these very simple so I could get a variety done in a short amount of time.

Love the new Martha Stewart punches for spring.

The 'eyelet lace' and 'pansy' punches will get a lot of use.

Also new for spring are the K&Company 'Ka-Zoo' foil sticker borders.  These fabulous hearts are from that collection and the tiny hearts in the photo before this one are the 'cutouts' from the border.

If you haven't entered your guess for the

'Use What You've Got Giveaway',

you have until tomorrow to do so.

Just click HERE for the details. 

It's been a lot of fun to see what you have come up with for guesses and I think you are going to be

TOTALLY surprised by the answer!