PTI Make-It-Monday and September Papertrey Peeps Challenge

It's been quite some time since I played along with PTI's Make-It-Monday challenge, but this week's video and challenge about coloring with Prismacolor pencils could not be resisted. So yesterday morning, I ignored my household chores, poured that second cup of coffee, turned on an audio book, and stamped and colored--such a good morning.  While last weekend had a hint of fall, the temperatures and humidity have risen steadily through the week and yesterday's temperature hit a new high for September 2; even so fall was calling me with PTI's Autumn Abundance, one of my favorite fall stamp sets.  I am still wishing for a similar set for each of the seasons.

And to my fellow Peeps, I know you are wondering what is going on that I have met Carol's September challenge to use fall as our inspiration during the month the challenge was made. To further amaze you, please note that I have completed two more cards for our Peeps challenges and will soon have those posted. Now I just have to catch up on visiting your blogs, oh yeah, and finish those chores I ignored yesterday.
To those of you in the states have a great Labor Day and to everyone enjoy the weekend.


Supplies:
Stamps: Autumn Abundance, Limitless Labels, Just the Ticket, Places Please,Background Basics: Gingham (PTI)
Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo, Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Tangelo, Versamark (Tsukineko); Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Terracotta Tile (PTI); 365 Degrees Paper Pad (Pink Paislee)
Other: Parisian Lace Doily Die, Just the Ticket die, Terracotta Tile Vintage buttons, Rustic Cream Button Twine (PTI), Prismacolor pencils

April Showers Bring May Flowers in August

April showers bring May flowers in August? Those May flowers will bloom in August if one is long overdue in meeting the May Papertrey Peeps challenge.  This is my second "make-up" post in my unmet Peeps challenges.

I used Life and Iconic Images (PTI) for the focal point. The background was stamped with Stella and Rose-Gertie "Girly" (My Mind's Eye). Of course, I had to add a strip of gingham with PTI's background stamp. I mean I hadn't used a gingham stamp for several weeks.Speaking of backgrounds, did you order the new houndstooth background stamps from PTI?  I'm feeling a a little regretful for nor ordering them,but I decided to wait and hear the feedback from others. I'll be interested if they truly are easier to line up.
Today, I'm shopping at a new vendors market in town which is only opened three days a week. It just opened last weekend, but we were out of town. One of the booths is owned by Cerrie of  The Little Pink Studio. I was introduced to her online store via Melissa Phillips's blog. I was surprised to learn she lives in Knoxville and was thrilled to learn she has opened this booth.  You can check out her charming booth here.
Do you have something fun planned for today?

It's Early and I Can't Think of a Clever Title

Hello dear friends! It's good to be back to blogland after another lengthy break.  I decided  that as I headed back to crafting and blogging, I'd  take care of several of the Papertrey Peeps challenges I missed and  use some stamps that have been waiting to get inky . So with my head hanging shamefullly because of the delay, let's take a look at  the Peeps April  challenge to use black.  I made a small favor/placecard.

I made a triangle box using Tag, Bags, Boxes, and More Cricut Cartridge  Then I stamped  PTI's Tranquility Trilogy on  three die cuts in gold ink and embossed with sparkling embossing powder.The stamped die cuts are added to the three visible sides of the box. The guest's name is added to double ended banner which is edged with  gold ink. The banner just slides into to the box. 

 I'm not sure  I would make these for many guests because I was pretty slow in creating one--die cut, stamp (sometimes multiples before I had one I was satisfied with), run to the kitchen, emboss while carefully holding with tweezers, return to study, stamp, go to kitchen, emboss.....  I think my limit would be four before frustration level reached its peak. But I can  see the table set with sparkling china and crystal, gleaming silver, crisp white linens, and  the votive candles glittering in our wrought iron and crystal chandelier, so I guess I'll crank out a few more and plan a dinner. Or maybe I'll make just one more, and Ed and I will have a special dinner.

June Papertrey Peeps Challenge

Where did May go? Oh my goodness--my last post was at the end of April! May was such a busy month for me--filled with lots outdoor work, tutoring, and vacation. And then on May 24, my 86-year-old mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital. She was discharged this Thursday and now is in a nursing home receiving some physical therapy, so hopefully she can go home soon. We are lucky that she does live in town, but we know we are facing some new challenges in the future. 
My  limited crafting time has been spent finishing a promised project and organizing some purchases.One morning I did manage to stamp some images that I cut out and colored while sitting at the hospital.
Luckily, I am the host of this month's Papertrey Peeps challenge, which forced me to create a new card, and spurred me to post. Because my challenge is to create a masculine card, I made a card for the most important man in my life--my husband. 

I picked one of the latest trends--award ribbons and I created one, using PTI  and Spellbinders dies.

I hope to catch up on  recent Peeps challenges and blog visits very soon. You peeps are the best in so many ways!

I hope you can join our Peeps challenge this month and link your project on the Papertrey Peeps blog.
And as always thank you so much for taking the time to visit,


Supplies:
Stamps: Say It With Style, Limitless Labels,Background Basics:Distressed Stripes (PTI); Anytime Messages(Hero Arts)
Ink:Versamark, Red Brick VersaMagic (Tsukineko); Ocean Tides (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Terracotta Tile,Vintage Cream (PTI); Restoration Paper Pad (Crate Paper)
Other: Double Ended Banner Die, Limitless Layers-1 3/4 inch Dies(PTI);Scalloped Circle die(Spellbinders); 1 1/2 inch circle punch, corrugated cardboard

March Peeps Challenge

With one day to spare, I am posting my card for March's Peeps Challenge even though I made my card a couple of week ago. Kim's challenge is to make a good luck card using different symbols of good luck. You can read all about Kim's challenge here.
I chose the lady bug as my symbol of good luck.

I  finally used my Nursery Rhymes Cricut Cartridge which was a Christmas gift.The grass tickling the little lady bugs' toes is cut with the die from My Favorite Things. The sentiment is from PTI's Mixed Messages, and the lady bug on the label is from Flourishes' Sunflowers.

As always thanks for stopping by, and I hope your day is filled with good fortune.

Papertrey Peeps Challenge and a Huge Thank You

I hope  the beginning of  2011 has been positive for you. I love the fresh feeling of a new year--the Christmas decorations are put away and the house feels lighter; there are plans,goals, and possibilities to meet.   I am feeling postive about this first week; we have  had two lovely snows, perfect for cozying inside. And I did work on some of my goals for the new year.  I made it to the fitness center for four classes this week, did some decluttering and organizing,  and even did a little crafting beginning with this card for the first Papertrey Peeps challenge of 2011, hosted by Rhonda who challenged us to make and send a Thank You Card.  You can check out the challenge and fellow Peeps by hitting the links on the right, and please join our challenge.

This card, using some of her favorite bold colors, is for fellow Peep Terri who keeps us organized by scheduling the challenges and hosts for our blogging group. She also keeps the Peeps Blog updated and recognizes our birthdays with gorgeous virtual cakes.
 I have so enjoyed meeting these ladies and being inspired their incredible creativity. I am looking forward to our challenges and visits this year.
So Terri,  a huge Thank You for all you do for the Peeps!

Supplies:
Stamps: Delightful Dahlia, Background Basics: Tin Types, Inside & Out: Thank You (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamagic Turquoise Gem (Tsukineko)
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Hawaiian Shores (PTI)
Other: Delightful Dahlia Dies, Eyelet Lace Border Die, Pure Poppy Felt, Hawaiian Shores Grosgrain Ribbon (PTI); Copics

Holiday Planner, Peeps Challenge #20

Many are gearing up for the holidays. Here in the U.S. Thursday is Thanksgiving, so I have been busy planning our menu , grocery shopping, and the preparing the house for Thanksgiving guests.  I love making lists and checking off items. Are you a list maker? As a list maker, I love Michelle Wooderson's notebooks. Last year I gave a holiday planner to my SIL. This year she is participating in a stocking party with her coworkers and asked me make some holiday planners which I made last month but never got around to posting. (My first official commissioned work!)

 Some small gift tags to tuck  in the interior pocket.

A few large tags to dress up the packaging. I used the Limit Layer Die and followed Nichole Heady's tutorial to make the rosettes.

I hope these planners help these ladies organize their holidays.

Since I am behind in the Papertrey Peeps Challenges, I was glad to see Kim's challenge to use a PTI product line since several of the stamps I used fit the requirement.

Now I'm going to check off a few items on today's to-do-list.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
 
Supplies:
Stamps: Take Note, Tiny Treats:Christmas, Distressed Stripes, Fillable Frames #9,Holly Jolly (PTI)
Ink: Simply Chartreuse (PTI),  Memento Black Tuxedo (Tsukineko), Cranberry Pigment Ink (Colorbox)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Patterned Paper-Tinsel and Twig (The Girls Paperie)
Other: Copics, Christmas tree die (Spellbinders); Button die (MFT); Limitless Layers Die, Rickrack die,    Tag die, Fillable Frame #9 die, Simply Chartreuse felt (PTI); baker's twine, holly punch (Martha Stewart)

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #14 and Storage Cubby

Good Monday morning! How was your weekend? Ours was good! Saturday morning was cool and rainy. 
It was so relaxing to have the windows open with cats perched in them and listen to the rain--one of those perfect moments! I did a little stamping., starting on dh's  birthday cards; his birthday is in a couple of weeks.
Yesterday, was an absolutely gorgeous day! I spent some time on the screened porch reading with a little cat nap thrown in.  I made lasagna for dinner which we enjoyed on the porch. It is wonderful to be able to eat on the porch again after such oppressive heat and humidity this summer.  There is definitely a touch of fall in  the air now!
Speaking of fall ,Angy  posted this gorgeous photo as inspiration for the Papertrey Peeps Challenge #15.

I chose PTI's Autumn Abundance set for the focal point of my card

I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and mounted on Terracottta Tile cs which I stamped with Embellishments in Versamark. The card base is stamped with Text Time in Versmark (It was sooo difficult to see the stamped text to stamp the next section! Fortunately, there is only  a small stamped border  to be seen, and hopefully no one will be looking too closely--there is definitely a handcrafted feel to this portion of the card--in other words, imperfections!)

I also wanted to share a photo of a new addition to the study/studio.My crafting space is a  portion of our small study . On one wall between two windows, I have a small desk with a hutch and a small matching two drawer cabinet. On another wall between two doors I have taken over a small chest for storing supplies as well as my paper trimmer.
As many people do,  I love this cubby organizer from Pottery Barn.

 However, I didn't like the fact that it's shallow depth meant my cd cases would protrude and the size meant it would have to go above the small chest.

So hubby built a smaller version that is deeper  And it only lcost $5! He had the stain and several pieces of left over wood, so all he had to purchase was a piece of wood for the back. This fits snuggly between the window and desk  hutch. It's always a joy to determine where we can attach something thanks to our uneven log walls and the chinking between the logs.  :)  Although my first choice for height didn't work out, we did find a good spot to hang the storage cubbies.

As you can see,  I am currently storing my PTI stamps and nugget tins with buttons here with my colored pencils on top   I think I'll have to add a couple of more stamp sets this week. :) I am so lucky and thankful that sweet hubby likes to get handy around the house.  I think some storage cubbies for copics would be another nice little project for him.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Supplies:

Stamps: Autumn Abundance, Embellishments, Background Basics: Text Time(PTI)

Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo,Versamark, VersaMagic-Red Brick (Tsukineko)

Paper: Smokey Gray, Terracotta Tile, Stamper's Select White (PTI);white (Georgia Pacific)

Other: Mat Stack Die 4(PTI),Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Prismacolor Pencils

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #14

After taking a little break from blogland but not from crafting, I'm back with a card for Papertrey Peeps Challenge # 14 hosted by Sharon who posted this great inspiration picture from Country Living.

And here's Sharon's challenge: Make something using RED, YELLOW and CREAM with at least a dollop of WHITE!

I started with a card base of Harvest Gold (such a yummy color!)  and swiped a little ivory paint on the edges. The Pure Poppy panel is impressed with PTI's picnic plaid impression plate while the cream panel is stamped with Background Basics: Botanicals. The flourishes  from Embellishments stampset are stamped on white (my dollop of white). I resisted as long as I could, but finally bought the Beautiful Blooms II die which I stamped with Mini Scrapbook Series: Library Ledger and Background Basics:Petal Power. The Harvest Gold scallop is impressed with the Linen Texture plate and pays homage to the scallop on the table in the inspiration photo while mirroring the shape of the flower blossom. With the finishing touches of a  little Martha Stewart baker's twine and  a Pure Poppy button, I have a bright cheery card with  plenty of pattern and texture.
(All supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted)

Thanks Sharon for a fun challenge!

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #13

Have I mentioned before how lucky I am to be part of the Papertrey Peeps. These girls are so amazingly creative! Every visit to their blogs makes my eyes pop and jaw drop. Thanks girlies, for all the beauty, fun, inspriration, and kindness!
 Carol  has issued a fun challenge on the Papertrey Peeps Blog to use Mary Englebreit as our inspiration. I always check out the Mary Englebreit dollar bins at Michaels and have some really cute notepads to use as shopping lists  However,I am not sure how Ed feels as he is walking through the grocery store with his bright, happy and CUTE grocery list. Hee-hee.

I made a couple of tags trying to capture Mary's style. I went through my PTI stamps first looking for images that reminded me of M. E. The most obvious stamp to me was a stamp from Everyday Buttons Bits. Mary and cherries--yep!  So this was the beginning of the first tag.

After cutting the tag with my Cricut, stamping the image and cutting it with Nestablities, I headed to the jumbled ribbon drawer where I discovered the ribbon I had forgotten. Yes, that is ribbon from the Mary Englebreit dollar bin at Michaels. Woo hoo! Love it when I make a discovery, even if I feel kind of foolish because I my memory has failed me once again.
The beginning of this next tag was an image from this year's PTI anniversary set with a paper base of Raspberry Fizz and Plum Pudding Bitty Dot Basics.

I stamped the flowers in Raspberry Fizz ink. The black and white borders are a stamp from a Crafty Secrets Halloween set that I trimmed after stamping, and the stamped border on the Aqua Mist is from Fanciful Flourishes (Flourishes).

A couple of happy tags to brighten some kraft gift bags!


Supplies:
Stamps: Everyday Button Bits, Round and Round 2010 Anniversary Set(PTI); Fancy Flourishes (Flourishes); Halloween Fun (Crafty Secrets)
Ink: New Leaf, Rapsberry Fizz (PTI); Black Tuxedo (Memento)
Paper: Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, Bitty Dot Basics in True Black and Plum Pudding(PTI); gingham (Paper Studio)
Other: Tags, Bags, Boxes (Provocraft); Nestabilities; Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon(PTI); Mary Englebreit ribbon (Michaels)

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 76 and Peeps Challenge 7

Once again, I am posting my card for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge on the last day. The host for this challenge is Barbara Anders who chose this photo from A Creative Mint as our inspiration .

Oh, how I wish I was talented enough to capture the beauty of those roses with my coloring. I'd like to blame my poor attempt on not having the right color of Copic markers, but in truth the fault lies in the user not the materials.  The photo is has a fresh simplicity to it, so I tried to keep my card design simple.

I chose the summer wreath from Flourishes A Wreath for All Seasons stamp set as the focal point.  I stamped it in Rich Cocoa (Memento) ink.  I used these Copics for the roses: R30,R32, R35 and RV10, RV11, RV13. I used YG91, YG93,YG95, and YG97 for the greens. I also used RV000, RV91, and RV95.  The sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages (PTI). The patterned papers are from Webster Pages' Petite Pad Lullaby Lane and Life's Portrait. I chose the striped for the freshness displayed in the photo, and the design of the bottom piece mirrors the design on the scrap of paper attached to the jar in the photo. I added the white ribbon and the buttons to give some to balance the card; otherwise it seemed a little top heavy. The final touch-- a tiny butterfly.

Since the inspiration photo is from A Creative Mint , this also counts for Papertrey Peeps Challenge which for some reason I never completed. Now I am only behind one Peeps Challenge--another goal for the week.  You can check out the Papertrey Peeps Challenges by clicking on the button on the side. 

As always thanks for taking the time to stop by,

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #11

Nichole, one of our Papertrey Peeps challenged us a couple of weeks ago to do something outside of our comfort zone. I decided to try the blackboard technique with Prismacolor pencils. You learn more about this technique on Jennifer Ellefson's blog here and here.

I chose PTI's Year of Flowers:Lily of the Valley.

I stamped the image using Fresh Snow Pigment Ink and heat set it before I began coloring the image. I also added some Fresh Snow to the edges. I sprayed the image with Krylon's Workable Fixatif. This keeps the image from fading and it also makes the colors a little more vibrant.
Here's a second card using this technique.

For the second card, I used my trusty deckled rectangle die and stamped the image while the paper was still in the die. Remember you can wipe the ink off the die. I left a little more of the white showing through the leaves on this one. The image is mounted on a panel of white stamped with Tin Types in black.
Thanks Nichole for this challenge. I now have a new technique that I will be using again.
 The blackboard takes me back to those many years of using a chalkboard when teaching before white boards and smart boards came along. Yes, I am old enough that when I first started teaching students got the privilege of beating the erasers on the sidewalk and we diagrammed sentences on the chalkboard.
Have great weekend!

Supplies:
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley,  Background Basics:Tin Types, Mega Mixed Messages(PTI)
Ink: Fresh Snow(PTI)
Paper: True Black, New Leaf (PTI)
Other: Button(Paper Studio), ribbon (Hobby Lobby), deckled rectangle Nestabilities, Prismacolor pencils

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #10

Happy official first day of summer! It's a sunny, hot day here, but at least the humidity is low.

There is new challenge, hosted by Heather, posted on the Papertrey Peeps Blog. Heather, known for her great use of color,  is challenging us to use these colors: turquoise, chartreuse, purple, gray and white. I started on my card Saturday morning after reading Heather's challenge; however, I had short term memory loss and forgot the color purple until the card was almost put together.

I used a card by Jessica Witty in  Card Creations Vol. 8 as my inspiration.
I began with a card base of Smokey Shadow and then added the large scalloped piece in turquoise. I stamped the large fleur de lis in Hawaiian Shores, the sentiment in Smokey Shadow, and the text at the bottom in Simply Chartreuse. I planned on using the chartreuse ribbon with a turquoise button. . As I was thinking I wish I had some chartreuse cs as a matte, I had the epiphany that there was another color in this challenge: purple, so I made the matte purple and added a bold purple button. The final touch is a more delicate beaded pin with a lavender pearl and turquoise and green gems.
A peek inside

Thanks, Heather, for a great challenge.

Supplies:
Stamps: Damask Design, Inside and Out: Thank You, Background Basics: Text Style,Simply Stationery(PTI)
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Simply Chartreuse,Hawaiian Shores(PTI)
Paper: Smokey Shadow, Hawaiian Shores, Plum Pudding, Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Other: Border punch(EK Success), Simply Chartreuse satin ribbon, Plum Pudding Vintage Button (PTI)

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #9

Over on the Papertrey Peeps Blog, Linda is challenging us to think about summer travel and vacation.  With this fun challenge, I gave my PTI set Up, Up and Away its initial inking. Although my summer travel plans don't include balloon travel, I love seeing hot air balloons sailing peacefully against a blue sky.

I just received the latest issue of PaperCrafts, where there is a shaped card by Betsy Veldman like one in this post. Using Betsy's card as inpsiration, I used Label 8 Nestabilities to die cut my card. 

I used two layers for the front piece. Then after sewing the front to the back of the card base, I added another layer to the back, to hide the "uglier"  side of my stitching. Usisng two layers also means that all sides of the card base show the "good" side of the die cut. I used some lighter weight ( cheaper) white cardstock since there were two layers. After cutting the blue piece I ran it through the Cuttle bug with PTI's canvas impression plate. I inked the edges of the cloud, and those balloons---so much fun to color.  In fact I rate coloring them right up there with coloring the dahlias from Delight Dahlia. And think of all the coloring options you have!
No soaring in the sky for me today,  I will be close to the ground. Work in the back yard is necessary. My plants have had a real growing spurt and must be trimmed to find the stone path. I mean I love a lush garden, but one does need to be able walk through it without a machete in hand. And with humidity this morning at about 200%, it does feel like a jungle.

 Have a good weekend!


Supplies:
Stamps: Up, Up and Away; sentiment from Everyday Button Bits (PTI)
Ink: Black Tuxedo, London Fog (Memento)
Paper: Spring Rain (PTI), Dear Lizzy Spring Dragon Fly Dance (American Crafts), Georgia Pacific
Other: Copics Y13, Y15, B41, B45, RV32, RV34, G21,G24, R22, R24, E25,E29,E43; Rustic Cream Twine(PTI), button(Paper Studio), balloon and cloud dies (PTI)

Little Sweet Pea

I am beginning to catch up on the Papertrey Peeps challenges--one down, two to go. All three are great challenges, so I don't know why I've been such a slug-a-bug. Lori's challenge here is to use red and green without a Christmas theme. I went to Baby Button Bits and the sweet pea image and to Cosmo Cricket's
Garden Variety Mini Deck for my card.

Steps:
1. Cut A2 card base in Vintage Cream.
2. Stamp bottom portion of card base with Polka Dot Basics 1 in Simply Chartreuse.
3. Cut patterned paper.
4. Cut border trim. Attach to patterned paper.
5. Attach patterned  paper  and trim to card base.
6. Cut scalloped oval and attach.
7. Stamp pea image in Simply Chartreuse ,cut, and attach to scalloped oval with dimensional tape.
8. Thread buttons with embroidery thread and attach.
9. Stamp sentiment in New Leaf ink. (The sentiment showed up much better on the dots when I tried it on scratch paper. It's so frustrating when my stamping works better in practice)

Note: I am having a lot trouble getting a good color with the Simply Chartreuse ink. I have the cube which is very moist; I've stored it face down; I used the spoon-smooshing technique, and I've stamped many times,
and the ink still has a very grey tint to it. Any other suggestions?

Finally, congratulations to Lori McAree the host of this challenge who is  the featured stamper in June's PTI Newsletter.


Supplies:
Stamps:Baby Button Bits (PTI)
Ink: Simply Chartreuse, New Leaf (PTI)
Paper: Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream(PTI), Garden Variety Mini Deck(Cosmo Cricket)
Other: New Leaf Vintage Buttons (PTI), Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Apron Lace border punch (Fiskars)

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