For You: Sweater Sweet

Sweater prints: I am currently obsessed.  Nordic sweater prints: better still.  What's not to love about giving cards the cozy feel of a favorite sweater?  Nordic Spring from WaltzingMouse is a great set... it perfectly captures the essence of classic hand-knit patterns. Pair it with houndstooth and doilies for a shabby chic card with a touch of winter charm.

The WaltzingMouse Sketch Challenge inspired my design... 

... thanks for popping in.  Happy Columbus Day! ;)

WMS: Nordic Spring, Heirloom Patterns, Dainty Doilies Large, Cameo to Go (sentiment)
Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate, & Kraft
Ink: PTI Autumn Rose, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, & Simply Chartreuse
Trim: PTI Autumn Rose saddle stitch ribbon, Prima trim
Sassy Somethings: Webster's Pages trinket pin

Cicely at Halloween - WMS Blog Party

Hello friends!  I'm popping in today to join in the WaltzingMouse Stamps Blog Party.  The theme is "fall" so I decided to ink up sweet Cicely at Halloween.  I love her vintage charm and thought it appropriate to give her a mis-matched look. (I call it "Anthropologie Chic". ;)

The backgrounds were created with the Heirloom Patterns set.  I think the argyle and houndstooth are so fun mixed together.  I always associate these textiles and patterns with fall clothing, so that was also an effort for me to play up the party's theme.

I hope to see you on the hop... I look forward to seeing how the fall season inspires your creations!

Stamps: WMS Cicely at Halloween & Heirloom Patterns
Paper: PTI Rustic Cream & Kraft / Ink: PTI Canyon Clay, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: PTI Parisian Lace Doily die, Seeing Stars dies

French Country - Play Date Cafe #124

Bonjour friends.  I've decided to go "french country" this week for the Play Date Cafe. My new WaltzingMouse stamps arrived and there is nothing quite like receiving an envelope labeled "royal mail".  Makes me feel like a princess. ;)

Our color story this week in the Cafe is beautiful:

Raspberry, Harbor, and Honey Mustard

I combined the color story with the sketch from WaltzingMouse.  Lots of stamping for this one and be warned: the Chicken Wire background is going to get a workout.  Love it!

A note about the inks I used: My "honey mustard"is the new Lido ink from A-Muse Studio. It's a perfect gold.  The "harbor" is Eucalyptus.  I use a lot of distress ink on my projects and I have learned to distress the elements before I stamp images.  Ex: Die-cut oval, distress, stamp with frame and rooster.  I'm currently in love with Creamy Brown ink from ColorBox and typically add PTI Chamomile tea-dye ink on top as well.

We hope you will stop by the Cafe and enjoy a "cup of creativity" with us.  We have a very special guest this week that you do not want to miss!  Happy stamping!

Stamps: WMS - Chicken Wire, French Country, Cameo Creations; PTI - Text Style, Mat Stack 5
Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream, Kraft, & Ocean Tides
Ink: A-Muse Studio - Lido & Eucalyptus; PTI - Raspberry Fizz & Chamomile tea-dye; ColorBox Creamy Brown
Tools: PTI - Mat Stack 5 & Double-ended Banner dies; Spellbinders - Classic Ovals Nestabilities (lg.)
Sassy Somethings: PTI - Kraft buttons

Doily Hugs

I'm at it again -- more doilies.  I can't get enough.  Stamped doilies.  Die cut doilies.  Doilies on a plane.  Doilies on a train.  Wait... mom mode just merged with crafty mode (and Dr. Seuss).  Anyway, I love a good doily and my favorites are the Doily Detail sets from WaltzingMouse Stamps.

Every week WMS hosts a fab sketch challenge and it worked perfectly to combine this week's sketch with the color palette from CR84FN.  Here are those challenge details:

WaltzingMouse Sketch Challenge #82

CR84FN Color Challenge

Thanks for stopping in - Doily HUGS to you and yours.

Stamps: WMS - Doily Details 1 & 2, Say It Loud, Gingham & Co.; Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream, Kraft, and Sweet Blush; Ink: A-Muse Blush and Cranberry, SU! Bashful Blue; Tools: PTI Scallop Border die (large) and Heart dies; Sassy Somethings: Crate Paper button

Cameo Crush - Play Date Cafe #114

Hi crafty friends!  The mojo is returning... the stamping goddesses are smiling... the color story this week in the Cafe is perfectly rich and wonderful.  We hope you'll join us this week for these regal colors...

Burgundy, Gold, & Plum

I created my own background paper by stamping vintage keys from Papertrey Ink's Lock & Key stamp set then filled in with a few red hearts.  I used Text Style over the print and heavily distressed the edges with Color Box Creamy Brown ink. (my new favorite for "strong-arming" my projects ;)

The overall layout was pulled from this week's WaltzingMouse sketch.  I have been sorely neglecting my WMS stamps and was so happy to get them inky this week!  I used Dainty Doilies, Cameo Creations, and Say it Loud for the sentiments.  A bit of trim and ribbon added some nice interest and textural detail.  Perfect for Valentine's Day... not for the hubs of course, but for someone dear.

Our sponsor this week at the Play Date Cafe is Simon Says Stamp... 

...such a great place to get  your crafty fix.  They have a wide range of products, and if you play along with us this week, you could be the lucky winner that gets to shop for free!  I can't wait to see your creations!

Stamps: PTI - Lock & Key, Text Style 1, Love Lives Here (heart) / WMS: Cameo Creations, Dainty Doilies, & Say it Loud; Ink: A-Muse Studio - Squash & Toffee (keys), Stampin' Up! - Riding-Hood Red, Crumb Cake, and Perfect Plum, Color Box - Creamy Brown, PTI - True Black; Cardstock: PTI - Kraft & Rustic Cream, Stampin' Up! - Riding-Hood Red; Tools: Spellbinders - Big Scalloped Circle Lg., PTI - Limitless Layers 1 & 2; Sassy Somethings: Stampin' Up! striped ribbon, Webster's Pages eyelet trim, Prima rose 

Year in Review 2011

A crafty year in review with 11 of my favorites from 2011. I hope you feel a fresh sense of beginning for 2012... I'm looking forward to it. I'm so grateful for the friends I've made through crafting... this sassy spot on the web is one of many things I include when I count my blessings.

Without further ado:

Papertrey Ink in all its glory.  

This card is at the tippy-top of my "love it!" list.

I branched out into Copics this year and absolutely love coloring the 

Pure Innocence kids from MFT. 

When I discovered WaltzingMouse it was love at first sight. 

I'm still proud of the Scrabble tiles I created using the PTI Alpha Block die. 

In 2012 I hope to find this clean balance again.  

My Mind's Eye paper collections are definitely favorites. 

I think this is probably one of the best cards to represent my style 

and how much I love sassy somethings.

Market Street Stamps - my favorite new company.  

I was honored to be included in their "Cream of the Crop" twice in 2011.

Being a part of the Pink Persimmon creative team was a highlight of 2011.  

Anything that Melissa Phillips designed this year for PTI was an instant favorite.  

Her style (and sweet spirit) constantly inspire me.

This Christmas card took me out of my comfort zone but I loved the result.  

I made it for the Play Date Cafe  - I'm so honored & blessed to be a part of their team. 

This fall card was featured on the cover of the November 2011 CARDS Magazine.  It is my all-time favorite from this year.  It represents so much for me, but mostly a dream realized... and the beginning of something that I hope continues to grow and blossom.

I would love to check out your "Year in Review".
 Karin is hosting a great place to link up to see everyone's 2011 favorites.
Join us HERE.

I raise my glass to you, dear crafty friends!  Here's to a New Year filled with mojo & sass!

Much love & HUGS!

Doily Bloom

It's been very shabby-chic around here lately {which is a good thing}, but I wanted to brighten things up a bit...

The Play Date Cafe has a lovely color story this week... so fresh and delightful.  

Here is their inspiration:

Can I just tell you how much I love lavender lately?

I used the bright colors to create a twist on one of Mona Pendleton's recent projects for Waltzingmouse Stamps.  I loved her layered doilies and was inspired to create my own "doily bloom".  I'm popping this over into the CASE Competition at WMS... check it out, you'll be inspired!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Dainty Doilies (large & small), Say It Loud; PTI - Sending You (leaves); Patterned Paper: Echo Park Springtime collection; Cardstock: PTI - Vintage and Rustic Cream, SU! Kiwi Kiss; Ink: SU! - Kiwi Kiss, Purely Pomegranate, PTI - Hibiscus Burst, Memento - Tuxedo Black; Tools: Spellbinders Scalloped Circles Lg.; Sassy Somethings: PTI - Lavender Moon buttons and Simply Chartreuse saddle stitch

Postage Please

Sometimes the best notes to receive are "just because"... just because I'm thinking of you, just because I love you, just because you're special... just because.  For such a sweet sentiment, a post card can be the perfect little something.  Full of vintage tidbits and shabby postal elements this little piece of crafty goodness is definitely a treasure.

I used lots of Papertrey Ink tea-dye duo.  I "smooshed" (technical term) the die-cut postage stamps into the lighter Chamomile color and then inked the edges and corners in Chai.

The soft color palette is from this week's CR84FN Color Challenge.

I was honored that my card from last week was chosen to be included in the Top 3... woot, woot!

The Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge was the starting point for my layout.  I used the WMS Musical Backgrounds set for the card edge.  I love using background stamps for borders and accent strips.

I hope your holiday weekend is filled with relaxation, family, and crafty goodness!

Stamps: PTI Postmarks, WMS Musical Backgrounds; Ink: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, and Plum Pudding, PTI tea dye duo; Patterned Paper: Webster's Pages - Hollywood Vogue; Sassy Somethings: PTI Fine Linen satin ribbon, Tim Holtz accoutrements, Webster's Pages trim

Cards & Cuppies

Happy birthday, Waltzingmouse Stamps! I have fallen in love with Claire's style and sense of humor... so glad to be a small part of such a fantastic celebration.

I loved the colors of this week's CR84FN Challenge... rich red, golden yellow, and cream.

Cuppie Love for Claire's Tea Party

WMS sets: Say it Loud, Gingham & C0., Roses in Bloom, Dainty Doilies 2

Please note: I may become obsessed with pom-pom trim and need to use it on every project for the rest of forever.

Give a {glittery} Gift

Today's project is 100% glittery Valentine's Day goodness. The design is inspired by the WaltzingMouse Sketch Challenge... which reminded me of a cute gift bag. I also managed to squeeze some WMS on it with the 'mom' sentiment from Roses In Bloom.

I used Papertrey Ink's Timeless Template: Around the Town Tote to whip up the bag and think this will be a template I return to many times for packaging presents.

All the glittery paper makes me smile, and I know it will make my mother smile when it's filled with goodies on February 14th.

Template: PTI Around the Town Tote; Stamps: WaltzingMouse - Roses In Bloom (sentiment); Cardstock: SU Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla; Patterned Paper: SU Sending Love specialty (retired); Tools: PTI large Scalloped border die; SU Corner Rounder and Large Oval punch; Ribbon: SU Vanilla grosgrain, PTI Pure Poppy grosgrain; Sassy Somethings: PTI cream button and twine, Kaiser rhinestone

Through the Trees

Simple and sassy today for the Play Date Cafe where this week's color challenge is grass green, gold, and silver. An unusual combination, but I enjoy giving the 'ole crafting 'noodle' a work-out every now and again. Honestly, I love the result - it struck the right balance for me.

My background was created using WaltzingMouse Musical Backgrounds. {sigh} It is a perfect stamp set. Paired with the lovely image and quote from Through the Trees (PTI), I hope it will be warmly received by its recipient - a beautiful person that is in my thoughts daily.

ETA: This card was created for fellow stamper, blogger, and mom, Katie Renz. She is battling Stage 4 stomach cancer. You can read her story here. It touched my heart and reminded me to be grateful for the blessings and small moments that colour my life each day. As you can imagine, treatment and health expenses are piling up. A lovely group of digital stamp designers have put together a special bundle of images and are collecting donations for Katie's family with the purchase of the images. Please check out the images and consider helping Katie and her family during this difficult time.

Help for Katie - Digital Images and Donations

Stamps: PTI Through the Trees, WaltzingMouse Musical Backgrounds; Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream and Pinefeather, SU Old Olive; Ink: SU Basic Gray, PTI Vintage Tea Dye duo - chamomile, VersaMark; Tools: SU Corner Rounder, PTI Heart Prints dies; Sassy Somethings: SU gold glitter, Stampendous Sterling Silver embossing powder