Waltzing Mouse Sketch and CR84FN Color Challenges:

Hey, all!! I am combining two challenges today for this card. I have always wanted to play along with the Waltzing Mouse Sketch challenge, but just didn't feel it was right until I had some of their yummy stamps to play with. Well, I am happy to announce...I am now the proud owner of not one, but 2 (yes, I said 2!!) Waltzing Mouse stamp sets!! Don't anybody laugh at me...my Christmas list was so long...I had to spread it ALL over the place...a little dab from this company...a little dab from that company...Anyway with this sketch I wasn't able to use much from what I purchased (a label set and the Fancy Phrases set), but I thought the sketch looked fun (and I feel "legal" now)...

I also HAD to play along with Mona's color challenge again, because I can never resist the pretty color combo's she uses...

I used one of my 6-for-a-buck glittered star ornament treasures I had found at Hobby Lobby at Christmas and had set aside for the right project. I also used a new tool my wonderful friend, Susan, (who knows how much I like making my own flower embellishments) got me: this punch that I used with creme cardstock...

to make this...

I realize there's not always time to make flowers one-petal-at-a-time, but when there is...it sure is fun! (I love it, Susan!! Thank you again for such a "me" gift!!) By the way, I was inspired by Sue, on the DT (HERE), who used a similar punch. I used mine to form a rose rather than a pansy. I also used some Melissa Frances paper (pink) and some older Stampin' Up paper (lavender calico--thanks for that too, Susan!).

The little "Bravo!" sentiment and the little pink "scrollie" accents along the top are the Waltzing Mouse contributions. Hopefully, I can incorporate more next time (you know, since I have so much to choose from :)

Hope you like it! It was a little adventure that I very much enjoyed!!

Thanks so much for visiting me today!!

Geri

CR84FN Challenge: Meet my new pin cushion!!

So excited to finally get in on the fun of this wonderful new color challenge. I've been visiting for quite some time, hoping to get the time to participate, and it looks like this is my week!! And look at the colors for this week...
How rich and snuggly! Each time I came to visit, that soft, puffy heart kept catching my eye. And being inspired by the upcoming lovee-dovee holiday...I thought--that's what I've got to do!! So...I found some pretty red and white calico fabric, got my felt out, and started creating. I even found some Kraft-colored felt. I keep looking at the wool felts at JoAnns...hoping for new colors...(never happens)...but this color was just what I needed!! I cut and rolled a few flowers, and used my Papertrey Beautiful Blooms 3 for others. The large one used a Spellbinder scalloped circle and some soft sheer fabric, torn and gathered up...I liked the way they turned out...each one a little different...just like US...makes life beautiful, doesn't it?!?

This is the first time I've broken open my Papertrey Banner Builder set, too! I'm gonna love it!! I stamped part of a sentiment from the Love Lives Here set on it...
I also used the leaves from Papertrey's Blooming Button Bits with some brown Staz-On, along with some SU Close to Cocoa and PTI Pure Poppy. Anyway...meet my new pin cushion/needle holder friend...


I'm so excited about this--ALWAYS knowing where to find my needle and thread!! No more looking right at it on my messy craft table, and not being able to SEE it...it will be HANGING!! YEAH!!! I was really excited about making something so practical!!

Better finish this post up before time runs out!!

Hope you enjoyed yourself here today...have a great day...and DO come back!!

Geri

Fun, Colorful Embellishments

Hello, Friends!! Just here to share a colorful little creation with you...a PaperCrafts submission for their July/August issue...all about girfriends...

This card was made for the category of using handmade embellishments...something I love to do--so I thought I would give it a go, and came up with these colorful cuties...I just love em!!

I used my Papertrey felt, buttons, and Beautiful Blooms dies, along with a little calico fabric and some tulle to create the layered flowers. For the rolled flower, I used a Spellbinder circle--I think it was 1 1/2"--and cut in a circular/spiral fashion to the center...then started rolling/wrapping from the center out. That was the first time I had tried one of those. It was fun and easy to make...I'll definitely be trying that again. The sentimet (Inkadinkado) fit nicely inside the Mat Stack 1 die and stamped frame (Papertrey).

I really love this little card--I don't even mind saying. It's just so bright and cheery!! And I love the brights and the white on the soft Kraft cardstock. This is the first time I've used my Victorian Lace die (Papertrey)...LOVE it!! And I've just got a little taste of my Love Lives Here set with the little butterfly...can't wait to use it in a little more soft and shabby manner ;)

The style of the card is a little different for me, would you say? PaperCrafts goes for a little more simple...a little less fussy than what I post here on my little blog. What I've submitted over that last several months would probably surprise you. Obviously this card wasn't accepted...or I wouldn't be able to post it. But, the really GOOD news is that another one I submitted at the same time WAS accepted!!! Can I get a WOO HOO?!? I was so very excited--a first for me!! It has certainly given my spirits a lift, and has put a little spring in this ole mama's step!!

But, right now, this ole mama's tired, and I think I'm headin' to bed (if I can get the critters settled down!). Hope you've had a productive week and are ready for a relaxing weekend! I think we've got a fun one ahead!

See you next time!

Geri

Guest Designing in The Tea Room!

Hello all! Thank you so much for visiting today! It seems like forever since I last posted! This post is an extra special treat for me as I am Guest Designing for The Shabby Tea Room...one of my favorite spots for inspiration!

The challenge this week is to create following this sketch: I did something maybe a little too traditional, or "old school", (or something)...I took some new paper (new for me, anyway), and cut out and arranged some of the beautiful flowers and leaves for my focal point. I've done this once before on one of my favorite projects HERE and had fun with it.

I love the soft colors in this pad (Bailey). And while it is hard to see in the photo, the horizontal band in the sketch is creme tulle on my card. Had to wrap it several times to get it to show. I thought it would look pretty with the style and colors I chose.

I also used some more of my prize package of bunches of ribbons and trims from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. I wove some of my seam binding through the trim and added a few buttons. I've also used some pretty pearl swirls (Recollections) here and there. And I FINALLY got myself some of the Martha Stewart doilly style tags that I have been seeing forever...everywhere!!! Who would have thought those would be so hard to find! They're even prettier than I expected--so delicate!

If you haven't visited The Shabby Tea Room yet, you'd better skip on over there and see what's brewing! There is always plenty of sweet, shabby inspiration to be had!

I do appreciate your visit and hope you'll stop by again!!

Have a great day!

Geri

Baby's 1st Handbag

Just a quick post for a shabby little somethin' for The Shabby Tea Room's challenge, "Shabby Chic Baby". The inspiration photo was of a sweet baby girl's nursery done in pink and creme, and the rest of the challenge is to incorporate fabric into your project. I guess I've overdone the "incorporate fabric" part a little, as I have made a little fabric handbag with handmade fabric embellishments (no stamping...no paper)...

I won a wonderful prize package in the Fall from a TSTR challenge that was yards and yards of beautiful creme ribbons and trims from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. I was absolutely thrilled with it and used one trim for the purse strap, and some of the tulle on the main embellishment. I used my Papertrey buttons and dies with fabric and felt to create the rest of the embellishments. The trim around the purse flap is some vintage trim a neighbor found for me...

Very simple design...I layered the fabric onto felt to keep it simple. I thought it would be a cute keepsake at shower time that could hold some tiny baby treasures and/or a gift card. It was a fun project, especially creating the embellishments with the fabric and dies. I'll be doing that again real soon!

Hope you like it!!

I appreciate your visit and hope you have a great day!

Geri