Best of Friends

It's late and I should be tucked in bed but I couldn't pass up participating in two challenges this week that spoke to my heart.  (And I had a box on my porch when I got home today filled with new Designer Series Papers - who could go to sleep with THAT in the house?!)  I am head over heels in LOVE with the Domestic Goddess collection!  The colors are gorgeous and the patterns are sooo wonderful!  I apologize ahead of time if you see lots of this collection in the coming days!

Using Whisper White cardstock as my base, I layered on the shabby.  Aren't those shades of coral and mint dreamy?  The check print was difficult to photograph and is more coral than red (as the picture would suggest).  My flower base began as wide lace and I added one of my crocheted doilies- then came a coral fabric flower and pearl.  The ribbon is white organza and the decorative pins are from Vio.   The sentiment can be found in Happy Greetings ... so sweet.

These gorgeous colors of Mint, Coral, and Ivory are the inspiration of the fabulous Design Team at The Play Date Cafe.  You should stop by and be amazed at their creations!

The theme is "Best of Friends" and is hosted by The City Crafter.  Isn't this photo collage from Ros adorable?  And she shares the following ...

National friendship week starts the first Sunday in August ...

Women's friendship week is the third Sunday in August

International friendship month is February ... and 

Old friends New friends week is the third week in May

What a wonderful reason to celebrate!  Be sure to pay them a visit and see all the wonderful entries!

That's it for me, my friends ... good night ...

Let the Sunshine In

Hello friends!  I've had such fun getting together with family this past week.  My brother and his wife have been staying with us.  Days have been filled with dinners, shopping, the new Harry Potter movie, visiting with family ... it's been just wonderful.  Shirley is a fabulous fabric and clay sculpture artist.  Her pieces are fun, whimsical, and make me smile.  Plus she has just started her own shop on ETSY that you can see - HERE!

I know I'm late posting and am just getting in under the wire.  The City Crafter Challenge Blog has an exciting event planned this week.  As usual, the Design Team has once again "out done themselves" and not only is the image gorgeous, but the prize is to be a guest designer on their blog!  Can you image that?!?!  Here's the beauty of their inspiration ...

I started with So Saffron card stock and layered on print paper from my scrap drawer in shades of yellows and orange.  Along the top is another print cut with the Scallop Edge Border Punch.  It brings a bit of interest to an otherwise simple shaped card.  The chipboard board frame (thank you Stella!) and the tag heart were painted with acrylics in shades of burnt orange and red.  Bits of lace made a bed for my handmade flower to rest.  I used the 5 Petal Flower Punch and the Fancy Flower Punch to create the petal shapes - dampened and crinkled each layer then stacked them ... adding a pearl bead on top.  A touch of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter makes this bloom even more special and creates my "shimmery sun".  The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and is from the Happy Greetings stamp set.

The bow is seam binding dyed with So Saffron Classic Ink and embellished with an adorable orange button from the Designer Buttons Brights Collection along with Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine.  The tag is stamped with Chocolate Chip ink and a cheery "hello" from Pennant Parade.  Very Vanilla card stock edged with the Scallop Trim Border Punch made my little tag more interesting.

Thank you for stopping by ... it's always a pleasure to see you here!

Welcome sunshine ...

Hello friends, the weekend is finally here and after these past waterlogged days ... I welcome the sunshine.  Forecasts predict blue skies and perfect temperatures for the next couple days.  Just what I need to catch up on my gardening.  My son, a young Marlin Perkins (I'm dating myself), is looking forward to all of the digging and planting.  I must admit,  I am too.

The Moxie Fab World blog has a Tuesday Trigger this week that I absolutely love.  The colors are so soft and the title "A Lovely Lullaby" perfect for the photo.  Just look at these gorgeous shades of blue, gray,  yellow and vanilla ... what's not to love?

My project began with Very Vanilla card stock and layers of pretty prints in shades of blues with some gray polka dots.  Those sweet little baby quails following their mother?  From the Happy Together stamp set.  The greeting is a new favorite ... Happy Greetings.  I love it!  A bit of lace, a button, and I'm almost done ...

 The seam binding is dyed in So Saffron Classic Ink.  A white felt flower with a cheery yellow center (a bit stronger than the inspiration) was added just because it makes me smile.  The pin is a Viola original.

Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with me...I enjoy your visits!

Soft and lovely ...

Hello friends.  I have another Birthday Celebration to share with you!  Did you know it's Cheryl's special day?  Kirsty along with all the lovely and talented ladies over at The City Crafter are "shouting her praises" and wishing her all the best ... be sure to stop by and share some love.

Soft shades of pinks mixed with the natural coloring of light browns ... I admit, it's a favorite of mine.  In the garden and in my craft room.  These patterned papers are thrown together from my scrap drawer - some from the Lap of Luxury collection, another from Newsprint Designer, the rest from "here and there".  I always enjoy the first step of creating ... pulling out all my goodies in the desired shades of color.  Putting this color with that color ... or maybe that pattern with this pattern ... having it all tossed about in front of me to play with - pure bliss.  The ribbon is seam binding dyed with Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink ... it's delicious and I love the mottled look.  A sweet pink button from Designer Buttons - Subtles with a delicate little pearl tops off my bow. 

The gorgeous globe stamp is part of the The Open Sea set and the sentiment (a wonderful font) is from Happy Greetings.  A pretty pink velvet leaf and handmade flower adds a soft texture and a touch of shimmer.  Yes, I've restocked my ETSY store with more blooms (I knew you'd ask).

Happy Birthday Cheryl ... thank you for all the inspiration you have given me and for all you do!