Remembered Moments

Waltzingmouse Stamps is celebrating its first anniversary. Congratulations, Claire! If you've not checked out these wonderful stamps, you must go now. If you use Spellbinders Nestabilities you will love the coordinating stamps, but there are more than these Nestabilities stamps. Claire in her first year has offered a wonderful variety of beautiful stamps. And wait until you see what she is releasing next!  And her pricing and shipping are very reasonable. She is even offering a special on shipping as part of her anniversary celebration. You can check out all the details at the website.
She is also hosting a sketch challenge.

Here is my card, using a vintage look to qualify for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC64) hosted by Karen Wallace.

And here are the steps:
1.Cut a 4 1/2-inch square card base.
2. Cut piece of patterned paper, ink the edges, distress the edges. Stitch. (I do not actually stitch the panel to the card base because I do not want the stitches to be visible inside the card.) Attach to card base.
3.Stamp one of the circle designs from Vintage Circles-Small. Stamp the sentiment from Falling Leaves(Flourishes). Stamp the design  also from Vintage Circles under the sentiment. Cut out with Nestabilities. Distress edges. Attach.
4. Attach flower and bow.
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend,

Supplies:
Stamps: Vintage Circles-Small Nestie Friendly(Waltzingmouse Stamps), Falling Leaves(Flourishes)
Ink: Ocean Tides(PTI), Antique Linen(Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Something True(Cosmo Cricket)
Other: Circle Nestabilities, Ribbon (Deb's Simple Treasures) Ocean Tides Vintage Button(PTI), flower (bridal department at AC Moore), paper distresser

Comforts of Home

Laughter
A favorite throw for naps
Tears
Sun streaming through windows with tiny cat nose prints
The accomplishment and beauty of cleaning
Shared secrets, fears, frustrations, dreams
Baking cookies
A sad movie or funny sitcom
No make-up
A cat curled up in a lap
Memories of a mother's love

These thoughts were prompted by The Shabby Tea Room's Challenge: " Using this photo for inspiration, create a card or project that shows us what your 'Comforts of Home' are! "

I think the vintage image  on this card captures the comfort of home---- happiness and love.

Unfortunately, I did not record the source for this image. But the patterned papers are from K and Company. The card base  and tag are PTI's Vintage Cream.  The sentiment stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia is from Tags for Spring(PTI). The ribbon is from Deb's Simple Treasures.

PTI Blog Hop--Tissue Paper (and a Flashback)

This month's PTI Blog challenge is all about tissue paper. Nichole Heady writes, "It has become one of the hottest trends in the paper crafting world and we want to see you take it on! Whether it is die-cutting it to make beautiful layered blooms, the faux silk technique, creating layered backgrounds or even delicate stitched pleated borders, we want to see you get creative! "

Tissue paper---I confess I had a flashback to the early 80s when as a senior class sponsor for some crazy reason we chose to have the prom in the school's gym. Someone (not me) had the idea of hiding some of the bleachers with chicken wire stuffed with tissue paper--a lot of chicken wire and a lot of tissue paper!  Trust me, chicken wire and tissue paper does not turn a gym into a magical place. 

But I am much happier with these tissue flowers, and there is nothing magical about making them. A set of Cuttlebug flower dies, some colored tissue paper, a brad, some scrunching and fluffing--- and a flower! Easy peasy!

I chose a sketch by Betsy Veldman in PaperCrafts Go to Sketches. The patterned panels were created with three background sets. The panel on the left is BB:Botanicals stamped in New Leaf on Rustic Cream cs. I used Copics YR02 and RV14 to color the ovals.  Just a dot or two with the Copic is all that is needed. The next panel is also BB:Botanicals stamped in Raspberry Fizz. For the third panel from the left, I used BB:Tin Types stamped in Orange Zest and the tiny floral stamp from BB:Botanicals. The panel on the right is stamped with BB:Petal Power.  I stitched the panels onto New Leaf. The card  base is Rustic Cream. The sentiment  Fillable Frames 3 is attached with dimensional tape.  With the exception of the tissue paper, all supplies are from Papertrey.

I am looking forward to visiting blogs and seeing what you talented PTI fans have created.

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #6--Bling on the Old

First, I have a question for anyone who takes spinning classes. How many days should I expect before my thighs feel normal and I can move without moaning. I have a recumbent bike at home that I ride regularlry,so  I tried my first spinning class on Thursday because I hurt my foot in a Zumba class week. I can't decide which hurts more when I walk. Ok, enough about my painful efforts to mix up my exercise routines.

I have been a poor host; I am late in posting my card for the Papertrey Peeps Challenge I am hosting here For most PTI fans those days or weeks after the 15th of the month are spent anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new orders. Of course it's fun to purchase and play with new stamps, but I think sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we can enjoy creating with our older sets,so my challenge is to use some of our older or less used PTI stamps and add some bling. One set I that I really like for its classic designs but that I haven't used often is Simply Stationery.

 This clean designed thank you card is so quick to make.  I even addied a little detail inside.

Which of your stamps need some lovin'?

P.S. My PTI order arrived this week,and I'll admit it was difficult not to use some of my new stamps on this card.


Supplies:
Stamps: Simply Stationery, sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Ink: Enchanted Evening(PTI)
Paper: Enchanted Evening(PTI)
Other: Circle Nestabilities, Labels 3(Spellbinders), gems

Come Party and See Rock City

With the warm spring weather, singing birds, and blooming flowers and trees, party time here means a casual outdoor party.  A red and white color scheme would be cheery and so easy to accomplish with red a white checked tablecloths easy to find and red bandanas as inexpensive napkins. These ideas along with several challenges are the inspiration for this invitation and party favor. The bird house is a template by Nichole Heady found here.

I know guests here would be delighted with this favor with a few chocolates nestled inside. I'm not sure if their delight would result from the chocolates or the reference to the tourist attraction  Rock City near Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is about two hours away. You can read about the history of Rock City here. When Rock City opened in the early 30s, the advertising campaign was quite simple--farmers' barns were painted with the simple message--See Rock City. From Michigan to Florida and Texas, one man, painted the barns to promote Rock City. You can read more about the history of these barns here. Many of these painted barns are still around today.

While not everyone can have a barn painted, anyone can have a souvenir bird house such as these.

And if you come to my party, you can have a tiny bird house with a treat inside.
So are you ready to come party or visit Rock City? If you visit Rock City, let me know what you think because I have never been.  I've seen the barns. I 've seen the birdhouses. But I've never seen Rock City.

This card and favor are linked to these challenges:
*Papertrey Peeps
*Embellish Magazine
*Compose a Card Challenge #9
*The Shabby Tea Room

Supplies:
Stamps: Background Basics-Botanicals,Bird Watching(PTI); sentiment- Mouse Party(Crafty Secrets)
Ink: Pure Poppy (PTI), Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Kraft, True Black, Pure Poppy(PTI)
Other:  Rutstic Jute Twine(PTI), Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Plantin School Book Cricut Cartridge

Fourishes Release Week Challenge

I am anxiously waiting for Flourishes next release scheduled for this Friday while enjoying their challenge. The "Release Week Challenge is all about…. .TWINCHIES! What’s a twinchie you ask? It’s a 2 by 2″ little work of art that loves to take center stage on your card." Many of Flourishes stamp sets include smaller images that work perfectly in a 2-inch square, so the problem wasn't finding one, but choosing one.

The yellow gerber daisies,colored with Copics,  reminded me of a  summer picnic, so I used the Picnic Impression plate with kraft cardstock. I stamped it with Versamark, stamping more heavily in some spots for a mottled looked--much like an old picnic basket might look.  I didn't want a heavily patterned background for the focal point, but plain Hawaiian Shores cs was just too plain for me, so I stamped in Versmark with Background Botanicals for a subtle pattern. I matted the daisies with dark brown. I like how the daisies pop against the turquoise. After adding the sentiment, I felt the card needed a little more dark brown, so I added the rickrack paper trim.

I you like floral stamps, you need to check out Flourishes. Marcella Hawley has created some of the most beautiful floral images.




Supplies:
Stamps: Gerber Daisies(Flourishes); Background Botanicals,Vintage Picnic Sentiments(PTI)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Versamark
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Hawaiian Shores, Dark Chocolate, Kraft (PTI)
Other: Copics; Picnic Impression Plate,Rickrack Die,Rustic Wood Button, Hawaiian Shores Twill Ribbon, twine (PTI); Ribbon Label Die (Spellbinders)

FTTC 61-- Bought It, Use It

This week's host of Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge is Barbara Anders who challenges us to use those things we've bought but haven't used.  I have a few items that fit in that category, but I chose to use some trim I bought. Here's the quick story behind the trim purchase. I never buy trim or ribbon at Hobby Lobby unless it is on sale or I have a coupon.  We have to reasonable about some things in our hobbies. Thinking, this trim was 50% off,  I had the lady cut it. Unfortunately, I had misread the sign, and when the cashier rang it up, it was full price. OUCH!  And of course, I had already used my coupon on another more expensive item. Hobby Lobby's policy is one coupon per customer per day. But the cashier was so sweet; she offered me another coupon to use, so I got the trim with a 40% discount.  Yea!  I love
 the ribbon, but it's been unused for several months now. Thanks to Barbara and her challenge, it's now out of the drawer and on a card.

I colored the pansies from A Year in Flowers Set 1with Prismacolor pencils.The sentiment is from Damask Designs.
Now break out those embellishments or paper you haven't used yet. 

Supplies:
Stamps: A Year in Flowers Set 1 (Flourishes), Damask Designs(PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Plum Pudding, Bitty Dot Basics (PTI)

Compose a Card #8

Becky Oehlers's challenges are always great! She provides such wonderful inspiration photos, challenge elements, and even a song!
The dresses worn by the Becky's beautiful daughters are the inpsiration for her latest Compose a Card challenge.

I chose black and white polka dots and New Leaf green as the the basis of my card.

I started with a card base of New Leaf. On top of that I added a piece of white cs stamped with Background Botanicals. On top of that I added Bitty Dot Basics with a scalloped edge. The focal point is from Baby Button Bits, and the sentiment is from Mixed Messages. I tried green buttons and black buttons, but I really felt I needed another color,so I tried different colors finally choosing yellow (which look more cream than yellow in the photo) for the blooms.  You know I can never have enough prints :), so I  continued the dot motif with a polka dot ribbon to finish the card.

I'm not happy with my bow.Is there a trick for tying bows with ribbon that is patterned on one side only?

Supplies:

Stamps: Background Botanicals, Baby Button Bits, Mixed Messages(PTI)

Ink: New Leaf(PTI), Tuxedo Black(Memento)

Paper: New Leaf, Bitty Dot Basics(PTI)

Other: Rectangle and Scalloped rectangle Nestabilities,buttons and ribbon from stash, scalloped border punch(Martha Stewart)

Wee Houses

Shame on me! I had these stamps for over a week before inking them. I actually was getting ready to make a different card when I saw some chipboard embellishments I had purchased in the $1 bin at Michael's and inspiration knocked me in the head. I knew I wanted to mount these tiny houses on black. So pushing aside other supplies, I set to work on these 2x2 1/2 gift enclosures. After stamping the houses, I colored them with Copics, cut them out, and attached each to a black rectangle cut with Nestabilities die.  If you're a PTI fan, you recognized that wonderful rick rack die cut.   Oh yeah, I  also stamped the bird and flowers from the set inside the cards, but forgot to take a picture.
This really is a happy stamp set; you just have to feel better while stamping with this set.
Have a great weekend!

Supplies:
Stamps: Wonderfully Whimsical(PTI)
Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo
Paper: Bitty Dot Basics, Lemon Tart, True Black(PTI); gingham(The Paper Studio)
Other:  Rickrack Border die (PTI), Rectangle Nestabilities,Copics

Best Wishes

This week's The Shabby Tea Room challenge is "Embrace the White"---"create a card or project using mainly white or cream and one other subtle color." Here is the inspiration photo.

Although I don't decorate in this style (picture black cat fur on that white sofa), I've always loved the idea of decorating in shades of cream and white. What a calm atmosphere those rooms project!
It is important when decorating this way to use different shades and textures to give the room warmth, so  I applied this principle to my card.

I used a white card base with layer of cream cs I ran through the Cuttlebug with PTI's Picninc impression plate. The white doily was stamped with a vintage script in Tea Dye ink, and the edges inked. I also added a couple of butterflies in Spring Moss. The sentiment from Crafty Secrets Card Sentiments was cut with a ribbon label die . I would have loved to have used some of the trendy crinkled seam binding ribbon or some  wide satin ribbon for more elegance, but since I had neither, I decided to add a more rustic element with cream twill.  I used the Peony Spellbinders die  and Dawn McVey's video for the flower. After putting the flower together, I added a little glue and glitter to the edges.
I like the mixing of different elements--yep, I'm the one wearing strings of pearls  and multiple lockets with her t-shirt and  jeans!


Supplies:
Stamps:Card Sentiments(Crafty Secrets);Notary, Garden Gate(Prima)
Ink: Tea Dye Distressed Ink(Ranger), Spring Moss(PTI)
Paper: Vintage Cream(PTI), white(Georgia Pacific)
Other: Peony Nestabilities, Ribbon Labels(Spellbinders);Picnic Impression plate(PTI);twill ribbon(Wrights); glitter(Martha Stewart)

Birthday Butterfly

I've been away from the craft desk for awhile--busy enjoying the exceptional weather we've been having. Yesterday was a record breaking 86 degrees!  Hubby and I had dinner outside at one of our favorite places on the revitalized Market Square downtown. It was great to see so many people enjoying the wonderful weather--parents strolling with their children, people walking their dogs, musicians playing and singing, people lining up for a concert next door to the restaurant. One more hot day is predicted and then back to the 50's for a few days--a good time to accomplish some those neglected household tasks or go blog hopping :)

Of course, I haven't completely neglected the craft desk. I made a card for these two challenges:
*Embellish Magazine challenge

and
*CPS sketch #161.

1. Cut card base from kraft cs.
2. Cut pink patterned paper.Round corners. Adhere.
3. Cut aqua patterned paper.Round corners. Stitch to pink paper.
4. Cut cream cs. Round corners. Stamp sentiment and scroll. Color sentiment with Copic RV000. Attach to card.
5. Stamp butterfly. Cut out. Adhere to card.
6. Color gems with Copic RV13. Attach to card.

Thanks for stopping by,

Supplies:
Stamps: Say it with Style,Vintage Labels(PTI),Garden Gate(Prima)
Ink: Rich Cocoa(Memento), Aqua Mist(PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream(PTI); Pink patterned(My Mind's Eye), Aqua patterned paper( the Paper Studio)
Other: Copics, gems

Berry Basket

Today's card is for two challenges.
First, the 2S4Y Sketch 49

Second, the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge this week includes three inspiration photos. I chose this one.

If you've visited frequently, you know I often use gingham on my cards. My love affair with it goes back to my childhood. My mother made my sister and me as well as herself matching dresses, each in a different color of gingham, with a cross stitched embroidered border near the hem. What a lovely trio we must have made! LOL. But still I love gingham .A few years ago I just had to have a pink gingham raincoat, so on our way to Savannah, we had to make a side trip to Charleston where at the second Anne Taylor Loft, I found my prized raincoat. I've decided now I may have finally outgrown wearing gingham, so I'll have to settle with using it on my cards.

Gingham, strawberries, and peonies---signs of spring and summer!

Supplies:
Stamps: Strawberries(Flourishes)
Ink: Tuxedo Black, Paris Dusk(Memento);Antique Linen(Ranger)
Paper: Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush, Stamper's Select White(PTI); gingham(Paper Studio)
Other: Copics; Oval Nestabilities; Tin Types Impression Plate(PTI); ribbon(Hobby Lobby)

Spring Baskets

Sunnylicious! describes the weather here. Like much of the country we are having gorgeous weather with unusually warm temperatures. Today's high should be close to 80! This means great weather for working and relaxing outside; the 10 scoops of mulch were delivered last week, and dh has been busy spreading it.  I did promise to help more today since we took the day off from yard work yesterday. He played golf while in afternoon I pursued my outdoor activity--reading and a little napping on the screened porch. And last night we had our first dinner of the season on the porch. Love my porch!
The grape hyacinths and daffodils are beautifully blooming. I love this image because it includes these flowers. These Easter cards went out to my MIL, SIL, and sister.

 

This stamp is from a set my sister gave me for Christmas. The cards on the left and the middle were colored with Prismacolor pencils while the one on the left was colored with Copics. The plaid paper was a recent find at Hobby Lobby. It coordinates with so many PTI colors! Yes, I am the lady with her PTI swatches matching paper at the craft and stamping stores. I'm always afraid when I put the swatches back in my purse, someone will think I'm shoplifting. LOL.
Well, hubby just headed outside, so I'm off to put on the work gloves and spread some mulch.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend,

Supplies:
Stamps:Signs of Spring(Flourishes)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper:  Stamper's Select White, Lemon Tart, Lavendar Moon, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, Pretty Pastels (PTI); plaid paper(Paper Studio)
Other: Oval, Deckled Rectangle, Square Nestabilities, Fair Isle Pendant (Spellbinders);Copics; Prismacolor pencils;  yellow grosgrain ribbon(Hobby Lobby)

Bunny and Lace

Good Thursday morning. This will be a quick post; I've restarted Pilates classes, so I've got to head out soon.
It's been awhile since Melissa Phillips posted this inspiration photo

from A Creative Mint.
And it's been over a week since I made this card.

I knew when I saw the photo that I wanted to use white with different textures and that I wanted to stamp on a doily that I first saw on Sarah Martina Parker's blog. However, you can't really tell the doily is stamped except in the middle which I covered up. Underneath the doily is a piece of embossed white cs. I cut the bunny using my Cricut and then stamped it. The flowers are more of the hydrangea blossoms I mentioned in a previous post. I colored them with Copics and added the pearl centers. The sentiment is from Tags for Spring. This card reminds me of young girl's Easter dress.
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day,

Supplies:
Stamps: Tags for Spring (PTI), Notary Background (Prima Marketing)
Ink: London Fog(Memento), Rouge(Color Box Chalk)
Paper: Spring Moss(PTI)
Other: Copics, Spring Moss twill ribbon(PTI),Cuttlebug embossing folder, Cricut Easter Cartridge, Tags Trio(Spellbinders)