Shabby Toile & Chandelier

Hello there!  It's a matter of hours until the new-to-me Unity Opportunity challenge closes, so I'm sneakin' in pretty close.  It's called Pick A Challenge.  There are 4 challenges to choose from if you use Unity/ippity stamps.  I chose the also-new-to-me  Chick Challenges with Ippity.  Here's the sketch provided:

It's gorgeously simple, isn't it?  So many possibilities!  Of course, I had to dress it up a little and put a Dietrich Designs spin on it:

I ADORE the Unity Tea Time Toile background.  Love!  It's so pretty.

I also incorporated an embossed chandelier from Glowing Hours and aged script from Vintage Handwritten.  Dots of Liquid Pearls accent the Fleur-de-Lis frame.

Other challenges I've entered:

• Moxie Fab World Card Design Handbook Week 'Gallon/Quart/Pint' Challenge 

Hope Cath (of MFW) thinks I got this right.  You pick three colors (mine are white, green, and sand).  You use one of those colors liberally (think gallon - mine is white, in the paper, the frame, the embossed image, buttons, and 'pearls'), then the second one less liberally (quart - green, the stamped image and ribbon), and the last color gets just a small dose (sand).

I see some new Followers' pictures on my sidebar and I'm waving to you right now -- see my hand going crazy??  Thank you so much for putting yourself there.  I hope I always make it worth your while to come visit me.

And thank you to those of you who have already signed up for the email updates from Feedburner (top of the right-hand sidebar).  Just as a reminder, I am switching my method of email updates from Feedblitz to Feedburner as of 9/1/12.  If you have been with me a while, please make sure you sign up before then, for uninterrupted updates in your inbox.  Thanks!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Glowing Hours, Vintage Handwritten, Tea Time Toile - Unity
Paper: white - PTI; Sahara Sand
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake - SU; Versamark - Tsukineko
Fibers: Certainly Celery ribbon, white floss- SU
Other: Big Shot; Fleur de Lis Rectangle, Rectangle dies - Spellbinders; buttons; White embossing powder - Creative Inspirations; Liquid Pearls - Ranger; heat tool

You Inspire and It's A Girl

Hello friends! I've got two cards to show today, and the post is photo-heavy.  Just sayin'.  ;-)

This card is entered in a couple of challenges:

• Moxie Fab World's Card Design Handbook:  The Movement Challenge
• CASE Study - CASE a team member - I chose Clare Buswell's 'Happy Day' card.  I liked the layout, but decided not to add any ribbon to mine.
• The Shabby Tea Room - use damask, colors in photo and flowers

As for the Movement Challenge from Moxie Fab, here is what I hope your eye does when it looks at my card.  First, you notice the flower cluster, with my punched-inked-scored leaves, and then the sentiment --

and then your eye should travel to the SRM border sticker, punched edges and Liquid Pearls.

The last thing you notice is the scalloped border --

I hope I did it right!  It's a challenging challenge for me.  

Here's the next card:

This one is entered here:

• Moxie Fab World's Card Design Handbook Focal Point challenge
• Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - 'Butterflies, Bees, Spiders, Oh My!'
• The Shabby Tea Room - use colors in photo, damask, and flowers (mine is the paper medallion flower)

The focal point of my card is the large medallion cluster.  (I hope)

There's quite a bit of depth to it.  No fitting this bad boy in a regular A2 envelope, I'm afraid.

Under the medallion, lots of white ribbons with different textures and widths --

On a personal note -- I visited my doctor yesterday.  Yes, I am STILL having trouble breathing this summer.  At least it's not bronchitis this time.  When we went away to the Outer Banks, North Carolina a couple of weeks ago, my breathing got better, but when we returned home, problems came back.  My doctor said it's been a summer where all bets are off, no rules apply, when it comes to people and their respiratory problems.  He's seen patients for lung ailments that have NEVER had problems, and they're in their 50s, 60s, 70s.  To find out  just how bad our air quality is here in South Jersey, I checked THIS site called Sperling's Best Places and entered my zip code.  I discovered that out of a possible 100 points for air quality (the higher the number, the better), my town has 9.5.  Yep.  9.5.  Isn't that terrible??  Makes me want to move right now, but it's just not feasible.  :(  Guess I need to continue my medications.

Thanks so much for hanging in there with me!



It's A Girl card:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Oh, Baby! - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Whisper White, Sahara Sand - SU; patterned paper Merryweather - K & Co
Ink: Old Olive - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other: flower - Petaloo; Liquid Pearls - Ranger; border sticker - SRM; Rose Leaf punch - Martha Stewart; Heart border punch - SU; Pointed Flower, Corner Rounder punches - EK Success

You Inspire card:

Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Dare To Be - Verve; Royal Day - Unity; butterfly, Bliss - SU
Paper: white - PTI; Sahara Sand, Pretty In Pink - SU
Ink: Old Olive, Pretty In Pink - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: various white ribbons
Other: 1 3/8" circle punch - SU; Pointed Flower punch - EK Success; Liquid Pearls - Ranger; white doily - Martha Stewart; circle die - Spellbinders

Shimmering Snowflake

I say it's never too early to get those Christmas cards going, 'cause the holiday season is just too busy to be making dozens of handmade cards!  Here's one to go in my ever-growing pile, using some Creative Inspirations Paints:

This is one of those cards that took a different direction from where I started.  I didn't take pictures along the way to show how I made it, but I can list the steps for you.

1. Make card base; emboss.
2. Cut red panel 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and patterned paper panel 3 5/8" x 4 7/8".  Adhere together and set aside.
3. Using a black piece of cardstock, set a circle die within a larger scalloped circle die; send through Big Shot to die cut a frame.  Save resulting circle for another project.
4. Place same circle die over red/patterned paper panels and send through Big Shot to die cut opening.
5. Holding die cut panel over card base, find approximate area that will show through the opening.
6. Paint Winter Frost shimmer paint over this area, being sure to extend it a little so you don't see the demarcation lines through opening.  Set aside until dry (it doesn't take long at all).
7. Adhere black scalloped circle frame to patterned paper panel.  Place foam dimensional stickers on underside of panel and adhere to base over painted area.
8. Use Evergreen paint to cover two white felt snowflakes.  Use craft glue to join them together once paint is dry.  Glue on rhinestones, then adhere to center of die-cut area with more glue.
9. Add strip of black ribbon, cinched in one place with thread.  Make a bow from ribbon and glue over cinched area.

This felt snowflake was white before painting.

Just a reminder:  these paints are 10% off during the whole month of August!

Thanks for joining me today!

Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black - SU; pattern - Christmas Home - Teresa Collins
Fibers: black satin ribbon
Other: Little Felt Flurries - SU; rhinestones - Queen & Co.; Big Shot; Sugar embossing folder - Sizzix; Scalloped Circle, Circle dies - Spellbinders; Evergreen, Winter Frost shimmer paints - Creative Inspirations Paints

Summer Delight

Hello friends!  I made a card for a neighbor who is celebrating a "big" birthday this year.  She's the kindest, sweetest woman, and it gave me great pleasure to make an extra-special card for the occasion.

My inspiration came from these challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - No Rules (but should be vintage)
• Unity - Friends with Flair - my first-ever FWF post! 
• Ribbon Carousel - Celebrating Summer - this is a summer birthday!

I used two Unity stamps for this.  The sentiment is from a set of the same name, and the rose is from the Provencial Collection.  I had bought a bunch of bee-autiful Unity goodies a while back (during a most awesome sale), and am happy to crack into them a bit more (this card and this one show more of the stamps I bought during the sale).  :o)

The ribbon is vintage, from my grandmother before she passed away.  It's at least 30 years old (and that's estimating on the safe side; it could be older), but looks very good.  She kept her things in tip-top shape.  I sure do miss her!  My girls never got to meet her.  She passed just months before my eldest daughter was born.  I had such a wonderful relationship with her.  She began crocheting a baby blanket for me using white (my request) yarn.  I don't think she got very far into it when fate stepped in.  Her older sister, Irene, took over from there so that I had a special blanket at the time of my baby shower.  Sigh...such a fond, bittersweet memory.  :o)

I wiped the edges of the Fleur-de-lis Rectangle die with white and dark umber inks, to give it a worn look to match the DCWV patterned paper.

Don't forget -- if you'd like to receive email updates from my blog, please sign yourself up using the Feedburner subscription tool on the top of the right-hand sidebar.  Just enter your email address, then confirm your subscription following the steps you will receive in an email from Feedburner.  As of September 1st, I will no longer be using Feedblitz, so be sure to sign up!

Thanks for dropping in!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Provencial Collection, Delight In The Little Things - Unity
Paper: Old World Matstack - DCWV; Natural White, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake - SU
Ink: Walnut Stain, Antique Linen - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Whisper White craft - SU
Fibers: vintage satin loop ribbon; twine - Creative Impressions
Other: pearls; Scalloped Ovals, Fleur-de-lis Rectangles dies - Spellbinders; kraft tag - SU (old); Copic markers

Little Sailboat and an Important announcement for email subscribers

Hello friends!  After catching up on all things home-related this past week after my vacation (laundry, dusting, vacuuming, errands, etc.), I made time yesterday for crafting.

Here's one of the cards:

My inspiration came from these two challenges:

• The Craft's Meow August Sketch 

• CASE Study - CASE one of the DT's creations - past or present.  I chose to CASE my oh-so-talented friend, Andrea Ewen.  She made a baby boy card that is SO precious!  Andrea used lots of neutrals, but I wanted to incorporate the traditional blues in my version.  

CASE Study is also looking for a guest designer, and I'm throwing my hat in the ring for a chance.  (-:

The stars and sailboat are from The Craft's Meow's It's A Shore Thing, and the sentiment is from Owl Be Thinking Of You.  The Lattice punch peeking out near the bottom of the card was one of the bargains I found on vacation, from TJ Maxx.  They had many EK Success punches on sale for $3.99 each (retail $15!).  I bought a few.  ;)

*** As we push ahead into autumn, I'm going to make a change on my blog concerning Feedblitz.  As of September 1st, I will be discontinuing this service. If you would still like to receive e-mail updates when I post, there is a section at the top of my blog on the sidebar for signing up through Feedburner. I will be using Feedburner exclusively from then on so make sure you subscribe. ***

I'm keeping this brief....we're visiting with family today and I need to get mooooooving.

Thanks for dropping by!



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: It's A Shore Thing, Owl Be Thinking Of You - The Craft's Meow
Paper: Bashful Blue, Kiwi Kiss - SU; white - PTI; Let's Party - Webster's Pages
Ink: Antique Linen - Ranger; Bashful Blue - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - Zipper Stop; twine - Creative Impression; lace - Simplicity
Other: blue bling - Want2Scrap; Copic markers; white button; Lattice punch - EK Success

Inspired By Stamping Recap Day - Thanks Berry Much

The August Release stamps at Inspired By Stamping are so sweet!  I hope you enjoyed the sneak peeks the other day.  I've got one more project to show you which showcases two new sets, Mason Jars and Mason Jar Add On.  

I created my background with a set that was released earlier this summer, Vintage Background.  I used a piece of Red Gingham Washi Tape over Baja Breeze cardstock to create interest behind the strawberry clip art.

I used two Fleur-de-Lis Motif die cuts, layered one upon the other, behind the berries.  I love to add pearls wherever I can!

I love how this little piece turned out!  First I stamped a doily from Delicate Doilies, then on a white scrap, stamped a sentiment from the new set, Mason Jar Add On, punched it out and placed on top of the doily.  On another scrap, I stamped the ribbon banner from Mason Jars in red, trimmed out and added beneath the doily.  It reminds me of a county fair (blue) ribbon!

To entice you even more, there's special pricing if you buy the whole stamp release bundle -- 15% off the total, and free shipping until Sunday with a minimum $20 purchase.

Check out the projects from my fellow team members --

Deb Hickman

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Kendra Sand

Kim Score

Tammy Hobbs

On a personal note, I'd like to enter this into Flourishes Sweet Celebration challenge (to use something sweet - like strawberries!).

Thanks for dropping in today.  :-)



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Vintage Background, Delicate Doilies, Mason Jar Add On, Mason Jars  - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: white - PTI; Baja Breeze - SU
Ink: Baja Breeze, Real Red - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white seam binding - Zipper Stop
Other: Red Gingham Washi Tape - Inspired By Stamping; Big Shot: Fleur de Lis Motifs, oval dies - Spellbinders; pearls - Queen & Co.; circle punch - Martha Stewart; strawberry clip art

Inspired By Stamping August Release Sneak Peeks!

Hello everyone!  It's Sneak Peek time at Inspired By Stamping, with the new August releases coming out this Friday.  If you're interested in some BLOG CANDY, there are two chances to win -- and here's the prize:

Be sure to comment on Joanna's Sneak Peek posts today and tomorrow, letting her know what you'd like to see in the future in her store.  One prize goes to someone from Wednesday’s comments and one from Thursday’s comments.

There is free shipping Friday through Sunday with a minimum $20 purchase, and no coupon code is needed!  Just drop your items into the shopping cart and the shipping will be deducted at check out.

And don't forget about the special pricing on this new release bundle of stamps - 15% off the total!  Also, select items in the store are 30% off until August 31st.  

I've got four projects to show you with lots of close-ups, so let's get right to 'em.

This was lots of fun to put together.  The Mason Jars set  is awesome!  I stamped the jar once on vellum (using StazOn ink, which can be used on slick surfaces) and once on white scrap paper.  I trimmed each, and then laid some punched hearts in between.  I used craft glue to seal up the edges.  The lid was stamped and trimmed separately (this set has many options for decorating your jar) and added with foam dimensional stickers.

The sentiment is from the Mason Jar Add On set and the little yellow polka dot pennants are also from Mason Jars.

Joanna's got some brand new crochet lace trims, washi tapes and ribbons in her store now!!  Here's a better look at the trio, all together:

Next up, a garden-inspired card:

I used strips of Anna Griffin papers (and one from Stampin' Up!) in the background, then layered on a "pot" of herbs with plant labels and 'greenery'.

The plant stakes are made with a Word Window punch and cocoa cardstock.  I slapped on some Crackle Paint (but it never crackled! hey!) to make them look aged.  The labels and herbs names are from the Spice Jar Labels set.

The pot is actually an ornament punch with the bottom trimmed off.  I sponged on some brown and white chalk inks for age, then tied a bit of twine around the top.

The Mason Jar Add On set has so many mix-and-match options.  I stamped "from" and "my kitchen" on a Lacy Square die cut, then sponged on some chalk ink.

Above is a closeup of another type of crochet lace trim for sale at the shop - love it!

How about some pink and black drama?

This card features a sentiment and frame from the Mason Jar Add On II set, as well as gorgeous little paper flowers from the shop.

The card base was made with a punch-around-the-page set of punches, and a smaller card set upon it.

My last project is a quick and easy way to present a simple lollipop, all dressed up.

I had one of these pink tags on hand, so I stamped a bow from Mason Jars and a little flourish in between the bows (it's from All Year Wishes I) to create a subtle background.

Two little holes on either side of the lollipop stem allowed me to thread through some pretty pink seam binding ribbon, also available at Inspired By Stamping.

This sentiment is from Mason Jar Add On. I dotted Liquid Pearls in pink and red around the label.  Don't look too closely...my dots are so uneven!

Ready for more inspiration?  Check out these DT creations today:

Deb Hickman

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Kim Score

Tomorrow's DT line-up:

Tammy

Debbie

Kendra

Joanna

Thanks for dropping in today.  I appreciate your time!  :-)



Jar of Hearts card:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Mason Jars, Mason Jars Add On - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, patterned papers - SU; white - PTI; vellum
Ink: Summer Sun - SU; Versafine Onyx Black, StazOn Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: Crochet Lace, Satin Ribbon - Inspired By Stamping
Other: Red Gingham Washi Tape - Inspired By Stamping; blue rhinestones - Want2Scrap; Heart-to-Heart punch - SU; key tag

Herb Pot card:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps:  Spice Jar Labels - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Anna Griffin, Webster's Pages and SU patterned papers; Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Cajun Craze - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamagic Niagara Mist and Sage Chalk Ink - Tsukineko; Chestnut Roan - Clearsnap; Whisper White - SU
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; Crochet Lace Trim - Inspired By Stamping; vine trim - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Other: Word Window, Ornament punches - SU; Picket Fence Crackle Paint - Ranger; Big Shot; Lacy Squares, Oval, Labels Eighteen dies - Spellbinders; pearls - Queen & Co.

Happy Birthday card:
Dimensions:  5" square
Stamps: Mason Jar Add Ons II - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Basic Black, Passion Pink, Whisper White - SU
Ink: Whisper White - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: polka dot ribbon - stash
Other: Deco Fan punches - Martha Stewart; Big Shot; Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - SU; paper flowers - Inspired By Stamping; pearls - Queen & Co.

Lollipop Tag:
Dimensions: 3 1/8" x 5"
Stamps: All Year Wishes I, Mason Jar Add On, Mason Jars- Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla - SU
Ink: Pretty In Pink - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: pink ribbon - Inspired By Stamping; white seam binding - Zipper Stop
Other: Ruby Red, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls - Ranger; Designer Label punch, tag die - SU; lollipop