Ahhhh...to create for challenges again...how refreshing!! I've had a little more time with the critters back in school and was itchin' for a challenge! Embellish Magazine's most recent challenge..."Quirky - Cutesy - Clean Style" proved to be a serious challenge for this shabby, vintage lovin' girl. I wasn't sure if I had a quirky, cutesy or clean bone (or stamp set) in me (and one of my cards really shows it!)

I created this card after I felt I had totally failed on the first one (posted also below). I forgot I had picked up this sweet and inexpensive set at CHA...Up, Up and Away by Papertrey Ink. This little banner is certainly clean and tidy...

...as is this fun little airplane below! I colored them both with watercolor pencils and used my Copic blender pen to blend a little. My Aqua Flo brush just wouldn't allow me to stay in those tiny little spaces, but the Copic marker did the trick. I'm trying to build up my Copic supply so I can start practicing with those...but for now...the watercolor pencils did just fine. The clouds were cut out of white glitter felt with Papertrey's die cuts and then I stamped the polka dots (a little quirkyness?) on them (Background Basics - Retro - PTI).

The little plaid strip on the lower portion was made with some stripes from Background Basics - Retro again, with Melon Berry and Aqua Mist inks. I used PTI's ric rac die with their MB cardstock for the trim. It was all set on Kraft cardstock (PTI). I really like this little set and the way the card turned out. It was for our little next door neighbor.

The next card was my "failure" card when it comes to cutesy, quirky and clean, but I couldn't let it go to waste. I used a sentiment, stems and bumble bee image from PTI's Honey Bee's...another really nice and inexpensive set...

It's hard to see but I stamped some light "wheat" bees on the painted chipboard before applying some glittered clear embossing powder to the whole thing. The chipboard (Tim Holtz) framed in a little handmade flower (Sweet Blush and Melonberry cardstock) with some stems and leaves (Turning a New Leaf).

The sentiment described the little church friend this card was going to perfectly.
The "Mary, Mary..." papers from My Mind's Eye gave just a bit of a honeycomb feel and the Aqua Mist ribbon and buttons from PTI finished the whole thing off.

So, so happy to be creating again!! Next week will leave little spare time as I dig deep and prepare for new carpet to be put down in this 12 year old house. Hope to see you again soon, though!!

Have a great week!!

Geri

I'm sure many of you are like me and can't believe that summer is over (for all practical purposes) and it's once again time for school. This is my first year to say goodbye to all three kids on the first day of school, as my baby girl is finally in Kindergarten and heading out for the first time with her big brothers. Daddy took her and her 2nd grade brother. She gave me a big smiley, "Bye...I love you Mommy!!!" She didn't even let him walk her to her classroom. She went on her own with a lunch box, backpack and two bags of supplies hanging on her arms. Those of you who know her probably aren't surprised at that little strong-willed and independent spirit of hers shining through on her first day of Kindergarten, are you?! I wasn't either!

I was more surprised at how hard it was to drop the oldest one off at middle school for the first time and watch him walk away, knowing how nervous my big baby boy was. He was so excited though. "Just think...no more walking in lines, Mom!!" He and the others came home just as excited as when they left...Daddy and I were very relieved.

I got a back-to-school gig, myself! At the end of last year, the Title teacher at the kids' school 'ordered' 25 clipboards for the teachers to receive on their first day back this school year. I posted back in May some that I had made as door prizes for Teacher Appreciation week. Even though the Title teacher was in charge of organizing all the goodies for the teachers that week, SHE was the first one to win a clipboard. She like it so much, she wanted all the teachers to have one this year. This is what I came up with. Had to keep it somewhat simple since I was trying to keep the cost down, and knew that what ever I did, I would have to do it 25 times. Tried to keep it kind of a 'classic teacher look' that everyone might go for...

The black paper was from DCWV and the other paper was from Paper Pizazz. The sentiment at the bottom was from PTI's Teachers Apple and PTI inks were used also, as well as their ric rac die. I was really pleased the inks did not bleed at all under the mod podge.

I cut some wool felt from JoAnn's with one of PTI's Beautiful Blooms dies and free-handed some leaves to embellish the clip. The ruled ribbon was also from JoAnn's, and I was able to come up with 25 creme buttons from my own stash for the flower centers. I really enjoyed this little project. I love doing nice things to support teachers, since I was one myself and know what comes with the job. It's always nice to know you're appreciated. My goal is to come up with a little something each six weeks for my younger two kids' teachers and assistants this year. We'll see how that goes...I'll keep you posted (no pun intended!!)

I'm so looking forward to having a little more time to craft now that the kids are back in school. We had a great summer but I have to admit...a few hours in my craft room each week does wonders for my attitude and I have really been missing it the last few weeks! I'm so looking forward to it again!! It's almost a relief to know we'll ALL be more productive now that our "school days" are back.

Thanks for stopping!

Geri

Pretty summer colors from the latest Embellish Magazine Challenge, don't ya think? I like 'em so much I'd really like to get another card done with them, but I don't think it's gonna happen. I chose the softer side of all the colors in my card below. The patterned paper from My Mind's Eye is much softer than it appears in this photo. I put it with PTI cardstocks, Paper Studio and Prima flowers, and stamped images from Me&My Big Ideas-Sassy Icons.

I used VersaMark and chalk for all the stamping since I wanted everything to be extra soft and pretty! I blended a couple colors on the images on the bottom portion...it shows a little better below...

I know the use of ric rac is not real creative, but I wanted to keep it simple. Hope you like it!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Geri

O.K....what do ya think of this...I worked frantically last night to get this card done and submitted to PaperCrafts Magazine before midnight...but it wasn't meant to be. I was running out of time, wasn't at all happy, but already had some things adhered...there was no turning back and no time to start over. It has its qualities, but the layout and balance of it all just wasn't what I had hoped for. I was pleased with the flowers...

...I made them with PTI cardstock and the Beautiful Blooms 1 & 2 (I think) dies.
I love these colors together: pink, green, yellow, and peach (what I have used are all Papertrey). They were all in a beautiful floral inspiration photo for the Color Play category. I love making flowers and was really inspired by the photo to try to submit for this one, but...maybe there will be more 'flower-y' opportunities with the Spring issue. I did get two other cards submitted for another category earlier in the week!

Thanks so much for stopping, and I hope you have a great day!

Geri

This card is for The Shabby Tea Room's "Christmas in July" challenge. I've paired up some of my favorite colors with one of my most favorite things about Christmas: Music!! (I start listening to it more than a month before, and hang on to it for at least a month after. I always hate for it to end.) I layered some Paper Studio and My Mind's Eye papers on PTI cardstock with the Spellbinders Labels 1 die. I also used a Spellbinder die for the snowflake that is the 'o' in JOY. A friend cut the 'J' and 'Y' to fit with her Cricut.

Lots of edge-inking, some stitching, spritzing, glittering, and a few tiny embellishments later...it was all wrapped up. Merry Christmas in July, everyone!

Well here goes my second attempt at one of EM's lovely challenges. I was just sure I wouldn't
have time for this challenge when it was first posted, and was glad that the theme was "invitations", since I have minimal stamps fitting for an invitation...I was relieved that I wasn't missing out on too much. But since my most recent "busy phase" is over and the "invitation" challenge is still posted...and those colors are awfully pretty...and different...at least for me...so I started digging through stamps and found this one from Crafty Secrets Card Sentiments. A victorian looking rabbit...tooting his horn...announcing some grand party. I stamped him on a PTI Kraft Spellbinders Labels 1 and trimmed off the outer corners, then framed him in the next size up. I used Aqua Flo brushes and Stampin Up! inks to give him some color.


I had some velvety looking specialty paper that fit the color scheme (from JoAnn Fabrics and Hobby Lobby - sorry, no name). And my Technique Tuesday Rococco Stamps helped me fill in some dead space. Anyway, I came up with this fussy little number...
Not real sure what I think about it...probably too much going on, but I'm going to take our new pastor's stance on this..."if you're never failing...you're not trying enough new things". Who knows...maybe today, people are learning from my mistakes...and I guess that's OK...especially when I had so much fun trying!

To anchor my image, I looped several layers of seam binding (MemrieMare, Etsy), tied them in a knot, then snipped all the ends to form a festive little...shall we say..."thingie". ;) The solid paper was a suede type of paper, but the gold embossing did fine and added a much needed finishing touch. I also like the thin line of gold embossing on the outer edge.

Gotta git!!

Enjoy your day!!

Geri

PS...This is my first time using Papertrey Ink's Kraft cardstock (I know, where have I been!)! Oooooo...I love that stuff! Also, I am having serious issues with this layout!!! I am going to have to leave it as is, as I keep accidentally deleting pictures trying to get these two small pix at the bottom side by side. Just know...I'M NOT HAPPY!!

Ahhhh!!! Sunday night...the critters are tucked in...hubby is tucked in his hotel room in Indy for the week (miss you, babe!)...and I am breathing a sigh of relief as a string of 3 busy, busy weeks is finally over. I don't dare wish the time away but, I am sure you know how there are short periods of time here and there that simply have to be taken one day at a time...to look at it any other way would be simply overwhelming! I wouldn't dare bore you with all the details, or as our pastor put it last Sunday...the "distractions"...but there are a couple things pertinent to this post. The first would be that we had to say goodbye to Papa Bill a week ago as he (my husband's father) passed away. The blessing being in that he did not suffer, and that we were allowed time to share, laugh and be comforted by wonderful friends, family and neighbors. Once again I have been reminded of, and amazed by, how good and kind friends and neighbors can be...just when you need them most. It is also a blessing to be reminded of the wonderful circle of life because, the week before we said a special 'goodbye', we were saying a special 'hello' to a brand new, teeny, tiny, beautiful baby girl, Audree...my sister's oldest son's new daughter...and the most adorable answered prayer! So, we stayed busy visiting with family and friends by day, and by night, the wee hours of the night(s), I was working on these...

(Photo's removed for publication in Simply Handmade July/August 2013  Baby Shower edition.)

...table centerpieces for the baby shower!! It was a baby carriage theme and, I don't know about you, but I haven't seen an abundance of decoration ideas for baby carriages. So I made up my own. They stand about a foot tall, I would say, are probably around nine inches long, and 3" wide. Hours and hours went in to them, but they were worth every second, and I enjoyed every minute of doing what I love for such a special occasion. The plaid paper was used on the invitations and on the sweet little paper 'basket' favors that were made to hold some yummy fudge. Pretty colors!!

Had I been making only one, I would have added more details, but making 8, total, I had to keep them somewhat simple. Only one stamp used...the large flourish from PTI's Fancy Flourishes dressed up the side well. A little button on each side held the "handle" on. My Martha Stewart border punch gave the look of eyelet trim on the sides.

The legs/wheels were a bit of a concern but turned out fairly sturdy. I wrapped a rectangle of foam board with the patterned paper, punched a hole in each corner, inserted two separate pieces of wire, then pulled and twisted the pieces together on each side and curled the ends around. After I had that base sitting fairly square, I glued the finished carriage onto it. I just added the fresh flowers after all the carriages were leveled on their tables, just before the shower.

There they all are...minus the one that Mommy kept. The little lace trim at the top is hard to see but was a last minute thought that really finished them off! They were so girly and cheery!! Now...the question is...What in the world do I do with them?!? Oh, well, that's not important, is it!! If anyone has any bright ideas, though, I would love to hear them!

Now...how about a give away!?! Tell a friend...if I have at least 15 comments by the end of the week, I'll randomly pick one to receive a brand new stamp set! Can't say what it will be but, hey, it's free, right!?

Hope you all have a great week with some time to do what you love!

Geri

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Other supplies:

Paper: PTI's Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, and Sweet Blush cardstock, Paper Studio's Sweet Pea Plaid, My Mind's Eye's Tiny Pink Flowers

Ink: PTI's Hibiscus Burst

Other: Silk flowers (taken apart), 14 gauge craft wire, and doilies from JoAnn Fabrics, large pearl embellishment (?) Hobby Lobby, PTI's HB and SB buttons, 1" Paper Studio flower punch, thick clear craft glue for base...forget what it was called and it's all gone!!