Aaahh! The post that almost wasn't! It's Spring Break here in Brazil, IN and the Freeman crew has been busy, busy, busy! Thought there would be no time for posting this week. (Oh, No!) It would be the first week since I started blogging that I wouldn't have posted! We couldn't have that now, could we?! So I squeaked this one out just in time for The Shabby Tea Room challenge: Spring Inspired with Stitching. I'm very inspired by Spring and I almost always stitch on my cards anymore, so I hated to miss this challenge. I'm really pleased with the card, although there was no sun today for the picture and I don't know that the picture shows the true detail and color. I cut out a bird from one of my Crafty Secrets scraps and framed it in a Spellbinders Fleur De Lis pendant (Thanks, Susan!). I spritzed the pendent more heavily with Tsukineko Sparkle and added just a little to the bird's belly. Gave him just a little glitter on his wings and edges. I also layered some vintage music paper and distressed it. (Everything was distressed on this card!) The vintage bow and ribbon, tag, and just a few embellishments finished it off. I printed my sentiments off the computer because I new what I wanted the card to say but didn't have the stamps.

Hope you like! Thanks for visiting...happy Spring, everyone!! If you haven't already, be sure to hop over and visit www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com

Geri

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Supplies:

Paper: K & Co., Basic Grey, Paper Studio, Papertrey Ink cardstock (vintage creme, spring moss)

Punches/Dies: Fiskars, McGill, Spellbinders, Martha Stewart

Ink: Papertrey Ink: dark chocolate, raspberry fizz, StazOn: Timber Brown

Other: Pearls (Studio His & Hers) Prisma Glitter, Tsukineko Spritz, JoAnn Fabric flower, MemrieMare (Etsy) vintage ribbon, Crafty Secrets Scraps, K & Co. rub-ons

Today's post and card is for a challenge on a new blog, "The Shabby Tea Room". You can find them at http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/ It's a brand spankin' new challenge blog...yeah!! They provide an inspiration photo, which, this week, had some of my favorite colors! We were to include red, pink, creme, brown and green.

My card looks like this...

For the focal point, I cut a Spellbinders Frameabilities die and distressed it...formed some roses from some creme felt strips and touched them up with a little pink ink...and punched and stamped my butterfly, distressed it and added glitter. The patterns on the paper were created with Papertrey Ink's Background Basic stamps, Retro and Tin Types.


It's going out to an "absolutely fabulous" friend of mine. (Better not say who!)

One reason these challenge blogs are great is that they encourage you sometimes to move out of your "safe zone" of colors or styles. I would normally stick with the pale pink, green and creme. But I really like the contrast of the bolder red. Everytime I try something new, I learn something new.

Hope everyone is having a great day! This is our second day of 60 degree temps and GLORIOUS sunshine here in Brazil, IN. What a blessing indeed!

I'd love to hear from you out there!

Be sure to say "hello"to "The Shabby Tea Room" girls!

Geri

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Supplies:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink: vintage creme, sweet blush, spring moss

Stamps: Papertrey Ink: Retro and Tin Types Background Basics and Mega Mixed Messages, Me and My Big Ideas: Sassy Icons. Paper Studio: distressed flourish style (name unknown)

Ink: VersaMagic Saraha Sand and Wheat; PTI's Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss; Stampin Up's Close to Cocoa, and VersaMark

Other: Hobby Lobby ribbon, Studio His and Hers pearls, prisma glitter, Bead Treasures gemstone, Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Borderabilities and Decorative Frames Frameabilities, Paper Studio butterfly punch. Creme felt from Walmart.

Oh, MY GOODNESS!! This card and I have been 'round and 'round! I could not get my hands and paper to cooperate with what my brain had in mind!! Finally...a finished product! It's for Melissa Phillips' photo challenge at http://www.lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com/. Lots of pretty pinks and blues in this photo...with a dab of a pretty golden yellow.

It began as a long overdue retirement card, but as I worked on it, I decided it needed to be a long overdue "Contratulations...you're finally pregnant" card. (There's no joy like that one...I know all too well!) So, anyway, here it is...hope you like it. If anyone has a favorite gooey adhesive for floral embellishments that doesn't STINK, please let me know! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!!

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Supplies:

Patterned paper: (Blue flourish) unknown scrap, My Mind's Eye, Paper Adventures

Ink: Versamark and PTI Hibiscus

Other: Comotion glitter embossing powder, A La Mode white emb. powder, K and Co. embellishments, Martha Stewart border punch, (ribbon) FX from Hobby Lobby, (chipboard and trims) JoAnn Fabrics

This is my first CPS challenge...something I've been anxious to do since starting my blog. But I hate to say...for my first challenge...I'm a little disappointed with my results. Don't know why...it's just not grabbin' me...too traditional looking maybe. Oh, well. I thought I had figured out how to get images (like the sketch from CPS) here on my blog but, no luck tonight. You can see the sketch at http://www.cardpostioningsystems.blogspot.com/, along with lots of other wonderful inspiration. It's one of my favorites!

My card looks like this:

I'm hoping to post again this week. Stay tuned...I'll try to be a litle more creative!!

Geri

Supplies:

Papertrey Ink: Star Prints, Sweet Blush ink and cardstock, Spring moss cardstock and ribbon, Bitty Dot Basics paper

Other: Spellbinder circle and scalloped circle dies, Fiskars star punch, A La Mode white embossing powder, Versamark, Recollections rinestones, Paper Studio distressed flourish stamp (name unknown), glitter paper (brand unknown), JoAnn Fabrics blossom (Silk Vision)

My card tonight is for a challenge by the oh, so talented, Melissa Phillips over at http://lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com/. Each week she has an inspiration photo...ususally full of beautiful colors and textures to get those creative juices flowing. This was the most recent one:


It worked for me...I wouldn't have chosen these colors on my own, but after seeing the photo...they seem to belong together. I love Melissa's vintage style...and she uses the most beautiful vintage looking embellishments. I've not collected many yet so I made my own flowers out of ribbon I already had. My focal point turned out like this:

Painted grungeboard by Tim Holtz also lended itself well to the style of the card. Hope you enjoy it:

I love challenges! This is only the second I've entered but I feel I'm already becoming more confident...coming up with something I'm happy with a little more quickly, and definitly thinking outside the box...learning to do more with the things I already have. Thanks to Melissa for her willingness to share the talent she has been blessed with, and for offering the challenges. Like lots of other challenges out there, they're lots of fun and are helping me to be a better crafter!! Hope everybody has a good night!!

Geri

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Supplies:

Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI), (Paper Studio), Sassy-Icons (Me & MY BI)

Paper: Vintage Cream Cardstock (PTI), Paper Pizazz

Ink: Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie (SU), Lavender Moon (PTI) Versa Mark

Other: Embossing powder: Comotion, glitter, A La Mode, white

K&Co. pearls, Plum Pudding twill ribbon (PTI), cream Offray ribbon, acrylic paint, grungeboard