So little time to craft and visit around lately. But I thought this challenge of Deb's was too much fun to pass up...so I squeaked out this card earlier in the week. Should have been doing a thousand other things...

Love that sentiment! The challenge was about goin' retro and using Crafty Secrets products, if possible. The above image came from a page of images/scraps that I received as a freebie with my last order (and it was a tiny order--but they always send a freebie!) It was perfect for this challenge. I used some pretty Crate Papers and some parts of an old hanky...

And of course, I paid no attention to how uneven my gathers were until they were stitched down! Oh, well! It was nice to play a bit! Here's the inspiration photo if you're interested. The challenge is open til midnight. Thanks, Deb!!

Have a good week, everyone!

Geri

Isn't this a lovely photo Nichole has offered for this month's bloghop?...

I loved it when I saw it at release time and had an idea in my head of a little treat bag to fill. Melissa Phillips has made these out of the pretty glassine bags, and depending on how fussy you want to be they can be a pretty quick little project... You just fold up the bottom portion to form a little pocket and add some pretty paper and trims...




Stitching makes it secure and that much sweeter! I used the Larger Than Life stamps and dies for my little bouquet of flowers poking out of the pocket and a Tiny Tag peeking out from my bow...

It could be packed up with all kinds of slender little treats...and a matching card in the back slot is always nice. I wanted an all-over pattern showing through, like the one in the pretty lining of the little case in the photo, so I stamped a background pattern using Boxes Bags and Tags and Mehndi Medallion. I thought this subtle pattern would look pretty even when the treats were packed in...

I love the new Think Big Favorites sentiments and added one to the bottom. Some little pearls in the centers of the medallions and flowers would have been sweet but, sadly, I am out. I didn't have my treats to pretty up and pack in on hand--really didn't think I would even get to participate today, so I wasn't quite prepared. But you can use your imagination on what would be nice to tuck in. Hope you've enjoyed your visit today!

Enjoy the rest of the hop! I have only glanced at the entries so far but saw some awfully pretty ones and can't wait to do some visiting!

Geri

I had all but finished another Craft's Meow August Sketch card this past Sunday evening, but just wasn't crazy about it so I set it aside (and stuck my tongue out at it as I walked away!!). But I picked it up today and decided to put on the finishing touches and post it anyway. Nothing I worked that hard on should go in the trash! This was the sketch...

I used the pretty birdcage from the Fly Free set, embossed it and cut it out...

...then dangled it down over this too big frame. There was one of my issues right there...needed it to be big enough for the cage, but then I felt it was too big for the card, and I didn't have enough room for a sentiment. Poo-ey, I say!! I ended up using a Papertrey Tiny tag for a tiny sentiment...since that was all I had room for!

My other issue was that these colors would be great for a "welcome baby" card...but this wasn't a "welcome baby" card now, was it?! They ended up a little too light and syrup-y sweet, I thought. Anyway, it is what it is, and I'm not a perfect card-maker, am I?! I, and my cardmaking, am a work in progress, and I'm o.k. with that! (Hope you are too, and will come back again anyway! ;)

Have a goodie!! Thanks again, Lisa, for the chance to win some sweet stamps!

Geri

Cosmo Cricket...for you!

ETA: Photos were removed for publication in CARDS--March, 2012.

Hello, friends (and let's not forget FAMILY!) Found this pretty little sketch from Debbie Olsen that is up on the Cosmo Cricket blog...

Love it, and was so happy that just this past weekend, when we went to "the BIG city", I made my very first Cosmo Cricket purchase ever! Then I saw this sketch and was so thankful I had something to play along with. The only problem is that I don't usually tempt myself with all the the matching embellishments, stickers, etc. A very small stack of pretty new papers is usually my treat, and two lovely pieces of the Odds and Ends collection were in my stack. Love them, and have been admiring them on Debbie's blog for awhile now. Anyway, (enough of the blah, blah, blah)...with none of the fancy schmancy embellishments/stickers...I had to get creative with a focal point. Loved how kraft and creme looked with my papers, so I made a rolled rose out of a natural fabric...


...and layered it with some pretty label type images from the scrappy side of one of my pieces. (Thank goodness for that "scrappy side"!!) I also used some Papertrey Ink dies...for the little notebook page and the "you"...

And there she is! As always, I'm already picking it apart in my head as I type...but, oh well! Sometimes I really feel the urge for a do-over, and this is one of them, but time won't allow...housework is calling! (actually...housework is SCREAMING!) Hope there's something in it that inspires you a bit, and hope you have a great day!

Thanks, Cosmo Cricket for the sweet challenge!!

Geri

Hello, friends! A little challenge today that I'm excited about. I finally had time to experiment with my new Craft's Meow stamps. I only have two small sets but I just love them, and I WANT MORE!!! So I'm participating in this sketch challenge...

A lucky random winner will win a set of their choice!! I flipped the sketch for my card. I used a $4 set, Friend of Mine, ( 4 BUCKS!!! And shipping was SO reasonable!!!) for my focal point, along with a Maya Road chipboard frame...

Is that sentiment not the prettiest thing!?! I also used some pretty MMEye papers (hope I'm right on that...forgot to check) and stamped the tiny butterflies from Fly Free onto a Making Memories journaling piece. And stitched a little (of course)...here she is...

Lots goin' on, huh?! Maybe too much! Oh well, craft 'n' learn...hope it doesn't scare you away! I don't mean to be greedy, but I hope to get a couple more done by the end of the month to increase my chances! So there could be a Crafts Meow August Sketch Challenge part II and III ;) Thanks for the chance to win, Lisa!!

Have a great day!!

Geri

No challenges today! Just catching up on sharing some things that, for some reason or another hadn't been shared before now...

...like this one...with an image from Heartsong Designs. My friend, Leah, (who just might be on her way home with her new baby boy AS WE SPEAK--an answered prayer!!) asked me to dress up one of her images. I did my best, but you all know, I'm not a color-er and have little to color with. So I used the only pencils I had, and kept it soft. I had waited around for a pretty challenge to put it in but nothing seemed to fit...

Wanted to post it before the light and airy colors of summer were a thing of the past. (Thank you, Leah, for sharing with me!)

And speaking of light and airy...here's another one of those...

...a birthday card for a little church friend...with pretty girly papers from HERE (just LOVED them!)

And another card for the nursing home...

Again, I try to keep these simple (I pre-cut everything). It's hard not to incorporate ribbons and bows, but I thought that could be complicated for many of the residents and make the cards less mail-able. I got to hear stories of how their first cards were received, and how the recipients were so surprised to receive a handmade card. Music to my ears!

Finally, a birthday card for my dear friend, Susan...to go with her watering can...

Realized when I looked at this photo that I needed to add a little tag under the bow...

...there...NOW it's done!

Thanks so much for stopping in! Hope you're having a great, crafty day!!

Geri

I'm so glad to get in on this challenge with Polkadot Door Designs. I haven't been able to participate since the very 1st challenge, but I think they're just so much fun. I love the thought of a three-part challenge...an inspiration photo that offers color/style, an element of some type (this time it's felt flowers), and a sentiment. I love the challenge of incorporating the three into one project. Here is the inspiration board for the current challenge...

And here is my card...

I used my new Mehndi Medallion from Papertrey--perfect for the circular elements in the photo, and one of their Beautiful Blooms dies for my flower. I cut two of the largest flowers from Papertrey's Harvest Gold felt and cut the petals off of one of them. Then I stitched some long stitches along the bottoms of the petals and gathered them up. It gave the flower some dimension without being too bulky. I kept the center simple by just stitching in a few pink pearls.

I felt like the style of my card called for one larger word for the sentiment, rather than all the little ones in the original challenge sentiment. I found a pretty font on the computer and printed it in a pretty gray.

I like the way this one turned out! Really loved the challenge colors, and although I didn't have perfect matches, I think I came up with a similar scheme. This is my first time using the Mehndi Medallion set (only $5!!) and I think I'll be using it lots and LOTS!

I hope you'll visit The Polkadot Door, and if you have any time at all, I sure hope you'll participate and support it. I really think these gals have worked hard to come up with a really nice monthly challenge and I would love to see more get behind it!!

I appreciate your visit today and hope you'll come again!!

Geri