The Shabby Tea Room 129 - Summer Cottage

Hi there friends! I hope your weekend was lovely. It's Monday and it's my last week as a Guest Designer over at The Shabby Tea Room. It's been such a great month. I have enjoyed it so much! 

Challenge 129 is themed Summer Cottage. And here's the beautiful inspiration photo.

The assignment is to use the colors from the photo, include some distressing/shabby elements, and add a title/sentiment.

Here's my project for this week's challenge. I took some of the colors from the inspiration photo for my card. Also, I used the idea of the two large cabinets in the background and decided to make banners that mimicked them. 

Then I cut a strip of vintage cream cardstock and used Lovely Layers from PTI and stamped some of the smaller flowers and leaves on it.

For my main image, I used layered the beautiful flower image, also from Lovely Layers, and stamped them in different colors. I inked the edges of my card and flowers with some distress ink. Then to soften the card, I tied a ribbon and added a little flower on top of it. 

Are you ready to get your shabby chic hat on? If you are, head on over to The Shabby Tea Room and join us for a little inky fun. You also have to see what the DT has for you!!! They are AMAZING! Thanks for stopping by today! I'll see you all again soon! :)

PTI August Blog Hop

*** Please scroll down for my WMS 112 post. ***

Hello again! Happy Saturday! PTI is hosting its August Blog Hop today! I haven't joined in months. I used to join each and every blog hop. So I'm going to make up for all that today! 

I love argyle! And lately, because of PTI, I've grown to love using felt on my cards. For me argyle usually triggers a masculine inspiration. So I made a card for my nephew whose birthday is this coming September! I made an argyle border on the bottom of my card using  A Little Argyle stamp set.

I adhered a strip of burlap and tied a ribbon around it for a little more texture. Also to give a more separate look to the two areas of my card.

My nephew Ryan is such an active little boy. Always running around, playing and getting into all sorts of mischief. We used to joke around and call him "monkey boy". So I grabbed Tremendous Treats: Birthday because of the cute monkey image.

I stamped the image, colored it in with Copics, and hand cut it. I also die cut some leaves from Sending You dies, it seemed appropriate at that time. And it came out really nicely when I was putting my elements together. 

I used Alpha Blocks and die for my main sentiment. And added a few more from Movers and Shakers Sentiments to complete the card. Before adhering the main panel to my card base, I distressed the edges.

That's it for me! I'm sending this half way across the world. I just hope he gets it in time and intact! :) Thanks for stopping by today! :)

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 112

Hi there! Welcome to Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 112! Did you see all the submissions for the last challenge?! We were totally blown away!!! I had such a hard time choosing my top picks. It seemed like every card I looked at was awesome! I hope you'll just us again in this challenge. For this week we have a sketch from the amazing Ms. Mona Pendleton.

When I saw the sketch I naturally planned on going the shabby chic route and add flowers and ribbons and such. Then as I was going through my Waltzingmouse Stamps I changed my mind. I'm a fan of the Half Pint Heroes and Heroines stamp sets and I realized that I hadn't used it in a while. So I grabbed the Half Pint Heroines set and started there.

I stamped a strip of vintage cream cardstock using Faux Fun. Then I rounded the corners with my corner chomper. I adhered it behind a strip of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye. I stamped some clouds on the main panel and outlined them with my Copic marker. I inked the edges then ran it through my Cuttlebug to dry emboss it. I also die cut a strip of stars for the top border. Then I ran it through my sewing machine. Before I added the patterned paper panel onto the main panel, I added a strip of crocheted lace beneath it.

For the main image, I stamped this super cute girl image and some clouds then colored them in with Copics. I hand cut them and arranged them over a doily that i had die cut from some patterned paper. I also wanted a pop of that yellow-orange...so I die cut a felt star and adhered it with the cloud. 

Please join us for a little crafty competition over at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog. There's 1 stamp set of your choice up for grabs! I'll see you over there! :)

The Shabby Tea Room 128 - Shabby Patterns

Hello there! Welcome back to The Shabby Tea Room 128! If you just got here, I'm guest designing for The Shabby Tea Room this month of August. This week's challenge is called Shabby Patterns. The assignment is to use damask print and the colors on the inspiration photo. Let's get to it! :)

I used Damask Designs from PTI and stamped a strip of vintage cream card stock. Then I adhered it over a striped patterned paper panel. Zigzag stitched them together and also stitched around it.

I added a strip of lace slightly over the zigzag stitch. Then I stamped my sentiment over it. I die cut some flowers and stamped some Rosie Posies on it. And to add a little faux dimension on it, I colored it in some more with my Copic markers.

I stamped and die cut a label from Christmas Labels. Then I stamped an additional sentiment on it. I adhered it over the flowers and doily. 

I would love to see your beautiful work over at the Tea Room. So please join us this week for some inky fun. I'll see you there! :)

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 111

Hi there! It's me again... back with another card. This time it's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 111.  Our sketch for this week is from Julia. Here it is. And we're in for some wonderful background stamping! :)

I was looking through some of my favorite websites and found a wonderful array of handmade invitations. I decided to give it a try as well. Here's what I came up with.

I stamped this beautiful doily image from Dainty Doilies - Large Set. I saw a blog friend use this and color in the circles of the doily. She made it so beautifully that I wanted to try that too! :)

I stamped the image using Ocean Tides and colored a few parts with Copic markers. Then I wrapped twine around the kraft cardstock several times. Above it I tied some gray lace trim, added a button and some embellishments on it. 

For the label, I used Florentine Frippery. And the sentiment is from Join Us. I thought there was too much space above the sentiment. So I added a little bling from Want2Scrap.

I'm going to have a little card making break this weekend. But I promise I'll see you again on Monday! Please join us for a little friendly competition and some prizes over at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge! :)

The Shabby Tea Room 127 - For the Love of Books

Hi there! I'm back with another card today. Whew! I'm totally beat from all the cards that I've had to make since last week. I actually haven't stopped yet, I have more to make this week. I've been having card-maker's block the whole weekend. I'm probably going to be scrambling all week to try to finish the rest off. It's a good thing I made this one in advance! :) Yay!

So welcome to The Shabby Tea Room 127 - For the Love of Books. 

Since the theme of this week's challenge is all about books, I used book print as the main background panel for my card. I stamped a strip of vintage cream cardstock with kraft chevrons and adhered it over the book print panel. I also adhered a strip of lace in the middle and a strip of...lol I really don't know what that is. Can someone tell me what the trim with little cotton balls is called? Hee hee. 

Then I added the ribbon and flowers for some texture and color. I die cut a cardstock doily and attached my sentiment over it.

I attached some banners underneath the doily sentiment to balance things out. It's also a great color addition to an otherwise neutral card.

 

This is a wonderful, wonderful challenge! So make sure you join in! Head on over to The Shabby Tea Room for more inspiration from their fabulous design team! See you there! :)

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 110

Hey there! I have one last post for the week. Whew! It's been such a busy week. It's not yet over though, I have more DT projects to work on this weekend. Please join us for Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 110. This week's sketch is from Laurie.

It seems that I've been using cute images for my cards these past few days. So I found myself reaching for more cute stamps. I used Half Pint Heroes and My Island on my card for this project.

I stamped the cute little submarine image and colored it in with Distress Ink Markers. I also took the port hole and colored it in as well. Then I hand cut them. I die cut a piece of vintage cream cardstock and stamped this background image from My Island on it as well as the sentiment.

I also die cut a strip of stars and adhered it on my main background panel. I tied some twine around it and run it through the port hole and button. I adhered the submarine on the piece of vintage cream cardstock with some foam tape.

Oh, I almost forgot, I also stamped the submarine several times on the my kraft background panel. I managed to make a boy card! Yay! :)

Come join us for a little fun over at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. You'll have a chance to win a stamp set of your choice as well! How great is that?! See you there! :)

TCM & Want2Scrap Blog Hop

Hi there! Welcome to The Craft's Meow and Want2Scrap Blog Hop! We're doing a cross promo with Want2Scrap and we would love for you to join us! Prizes galore are being given away! So make sure you join the hop and leave comments on each participating blog! 

  

If you just came from Alyssa McGrew's blog then you're in the right spot. If not please head on over to The Craft's Meow Blog or Want2Scrap Blog for the list of participating blog hoppers. The assignment was to make a project using TCM stamp sets and bling from Want2Scrap. Let's get to it then! :)

For my project I used Summertime with Fibi and Lilly. I stamped one of the main images onto my vintage cream cardstock and colored it in with Distress Ink Markers. I wanted to add a little textured feel to it, so I added banners above my image. The colors were inspired from PDCC 143. I was so bummed that I wasn't able to join in the challenge. But hey, at least I got to use it here. :)

I added a strip of polka dot patterned paper on the bottom of my card. Then layered a strip of kraft card stock that I used a edge punch on. It was the perfect spot to display my Want2Scrap bling! Their products are just beautiful and so easy to work with. 

If you're done here, you can head on over to Karen Baker's blog. Don't forget to leave comments on each blog for a chance to win some prizes. Deadline for leaving comments to win is Sunday, August 12. And the winners will be announced on both blogs on August 14th. Hop on!!! :)

WPlus9 August 2012 Release Previews - Group Post

Hello! Hello! I would love to hear your reactions to this month's WPlus9 Full Reveal! Aren't the sets and dies just delish?!  I totally enjoyed making my cards for this release. And I really hope you had a lot of fun with our release. It's not over just yet, today's our Group Post! So more inspiration coming! Let's get right to it!

I have a very colorful card for you today. I used Happy Harvest, Happy Harvest die, Country Charm, Quilt Cuts 1 die, and A Pocketful.

I wanted to show the versatility of these stamps and dies, so I made a Birthday card instead of a Fall card. I stamped Country Charm several times and used the patterns to die cut with Quilt Cuts 1 die. I had so much fun with them in my previous card that I decided to make another quilt design on the bottom of my card. I used a strip of green cardstock to separate the top portion of the card from the bottom. I also die cut a strip of grass to coordinate with the wheelbarrow theme.

I die cut and stamped the wheelbarrow. And just before I adhere it to the card, I stamped the stars from A Pocketful so that it would look like fire crackers just broke out of the wheelbarrow. I also die cut the number two and adhered it to the left side. I stamped my favorite border image from Country Charm at the top of the card. Then stamped my sentiment underneath it. What do you think? :)

Please check out the WPlus9 blog because Dawn is giving away stuff! And check out what the rest of the DT have for you!

Elise Durenberger

Cristina Kowalczyk

Jinny Newlin

Kerrianne Gwin

Lea Lawson

Savitri Wilder

And our Guest Designer Maureen Merritt

I hope you're ready to do some shopping! Enjoy!