The Anniversary Celebration Continues

Hello!  You've made me smile with your kind comments and happy wishes for the one year anniversary of my blog!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  :)

Today I am featuring some of my favorite cards I made from November 2010 through January 2011.  This week I'll have one more look at my past favorites, and then it's time for Blog Candy!  Stay tuned...

Just click on a photo to go to the original post for that card. 

I sometimes surprise myself by the different styles of cards that I do.  They can be clean and simple, a little whimsical, or vintage(ish).  I don't like to stay in one category.  It's more fun to test my boundaries from time to time. 

Hope you've enjoyed my parade today.  :)

Colleen

More Blog Anniversary Celebration!

This week marks the first anniversary for my blog!  I began my celebration HERE by showing some of my favorite cards from the past year. Today I have more for you to see.  At the end of this 'Trip Down Memory Lane', I'll be offering Blog Candy, so keep checking back!

If you want to see an original post, just click on the picture.  :)

These cards are from August through November 2010:

After my Blogaversary post on Friday, I received such nice comments and compliments from you all!  Thank you for the anniversary wishes.  :-)  It really made me happy to read that my work inspires you, and that we can go ahead and call these cards "Art" after all!  LOL  (if you didn't read the original post about that, my kids had scoffed - lovingly - at me when I called my cardmaking "art").

I'll be back soon with another anniversary post, showing off more of my work from the past year.  Thanks for joining me!

Colleen

Mark's Finest Paper 57 - Lace And Ivory

Hello!  I am hosting the Mark's Finest Paper challenge this week, and the theme is "Lace And Ivory".  Now, when I came up with that idea, I had planned on an all-ivory creation.  However, the day I made my sample card for the Design Team, my creativity wasn't working as it should.

Today I had a bit of time to do the card that was intended all along:

And can you believe I put a hat pin on here??  I figure it's pretty safe and secure, tucked into the foamy dimensional sticker under the sentiment.  That made me feel more relaxed about using it.  :)

I used a stamp from a June release called Floating Along.  It has water lilies, a pretty scene with a swan, and some terrific assorted sentiments. 

Here is the other card I had originally done as my sample card for the challenge:

Not as much ivory and lace here, huh?

I used a wreath and sentiment from Seasonal Poinsettias, but turned this into a sympathy card by putting a "With Sympathy" stamp inside.  The patterned papers are all from MFP.

I hope you can come and play in my challenge this week!  Cards should be uploaded HERE by Friday, June 3, 2011 at 3:00 PM EST. 

Thanks for joining me today.  :)  Stay tuned for more Blogaversary posts coming soon!

Colleen

Top Card -
Stamps:  Floating Along - Mark's Finest Papers
Paper:  Ivory by MFP, kraft by SU
Ink:  Early Espresso - SU
Other:  Big Shot, oval and scalloped oval Nesties by Spellbinders, pearls by Recollections, lace from stash, pin from Jenny Bowlin Studio, dimensionals

Bottom Card -
Stamps:  Seasonal Poinsettias,
Paper:  Ivory cardstock, patterned papers - MFP
Ink:  Tattered Rose Distress Ink, Sahara Sand
Punch:  scallop border by SU
Other:  Big Shot, circle Nesties by Spellbinders, pearls by Queen & Co, lace from stash, dimensionals

Happy Blogaversary To Me!

My first year anniversary of blogging is fast approaching.  I can't believe it's been one year!  I can't imagine life without it.  When I was young, I always kept diaries and journals.  These days, blogging takes the place of them, and I get to combine it with showing off my artwork.  I do think of cardmaking as an art form, although my children beg to differ.  :)  They do not agree that it can be considered art!

To celebrate, I will be featuring some of my favorite cards from the past year.  At the end of this Trip Down Memory Lane, I'll be offering some Blog Candy! 

Today I am looking back at May, June and July 2010.  If you want to see an original post, just click on the photo.

I sure was punch-happy those months!
Soon I'll have another post with more faves from my past.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Colleen

Play Date Cafe 83 - Farewell to Sarah

We say goodbye this week to a member of our team - the lovely and oh-so-talented artist,  Sarah Anderson.  Sarah's favorite Play Date Cafe challenges have always been "Color Splashes," so we are honoring her with a very special Splash. 

This week, use black and white with a SPLASH of green.  Just a hint, a smidge, a teeny bit!

Here's my card:

Our sponsor this week is Skipping Stones Designs, and they gifted each of us on the design team with a stamp set of our choice.  I picked this one, called Timeless Textures:

I used the medallion stamp to create the background behind my butterflies.

I don't think the pictures do justice to this card.  I LOVE how it turned out! 

Julie Ranae asked each of us to visit the archives of The Play Date Cafe, and find our favorite project that Sarah made over the past year and a half.  I chose this one:

As I looked through many of our old challenges, I noticed that MOST of Sarah's projects in the first year contained butterflies!  I almost picked another card as my fave, which had pinks and purples, but this won me over with the black and white damask and script backgrounds.

And isn't it funny how I picked Sarah's card that features the same BLACK / WHITE / GREEN Color Splash as we are having right now??  Coincidence, I swear!

PRIZE ALERT!!
In addition to the prize for Cup of the Week, we have a special prize during our Blog Hop this week.  Visit each designer's blog and leave a message on their Play Date Cafe post.  There's a prize this week for one lucky winner who hops along and leaves a little love for each designer!!

Andrea

Libby

Colleen - You Are Here!

Jaclyn

Michele

Jinny

Savannah

Tracey

Fiona

Ruby

Julie

...and Sarah!  Leave her some happy thoughts and wishes.  :)

Our sweet Sarah leaves one Cafe for another.  She is working at The Bean and Brush Cafe in Sale, England.  We wish you all the best, Sarah, in your new endeavors and we will miss you!

Colleen

Stamps:  Timeless Textures by Skipping Stones Designs
Paper:  Basic Black, white by PTI, green patterned paper from SU scrap stash
Ink:  Basic Black
Punch:  deep edge Martha Stewart
Other:  Big Shot, butterfly Embosslit. bling from Queen and Co. and Recollections, dimensionals

Guest Designer at City Crafter

I have the pleasure of being a Guest Designer at City Crafter Challenge Blog this week, where the theme is "I've Been Framed."  Kirsty Vittetoe asked me a while back, and I felt completely honored.  Her challenge is one of the best out there, featuring stylish designs from the Design Team and the players, week after week.  Thank you for having me, Kirsty!

More than a year ago I picked up two framed items from the dollar store, specifically for the frames, and never did anything with them.  This was the perfect opportunity to alter one.

The cross is set back, shadow-box style.  The back of the mat, which features the words, looks like this:

I cut a piece of pink cardstock the same dimensions as the mat.  I used a craft knife to cut out the opening.
Then I decorated the mat with all sorts of papers, stamps, trim and punches.

In the recessed area, I stamped different images from a new-to-me set by Our Craft Lounge called Vintage Traveler in light shades of Distress Inks.  Then I added a large fleur-de-lis brad, which at first was too bright-shiny-gold for this project.  I sanded it with a nail file, then rubbed some white craft ink over it, and wiped with a tissue to remove the excess ink. 

Some pearls were added in the corners -- of course!

The patterned papers are bits of the most beautiful giftwrap I have up in the attic.  Since I bought it, I've been dying to use it in crafting somehow.

If you want to play with us, head over to the City Crafter blog and check out the details.  :)
Thanks for joining me today!

Colleen

Stamps:  Our Craft Lounge 'Vintage Traveler', Stampin' Up! 'Elizabeth'
Paper:  Pink Pirhouette, Very Vanilla, Whisper White cardstock; gift wrap
Ink:  various Distress Inks, Always Artichoke, Whisper White craft ink
Punches:  Iron Gate and Lattice Edge borders by Martha Stewart
Other:  pearls and fleur de lis brad by Recollections, gold cord