Super quick post today. I had another idea for a card for the Polka Dot Door Blog Hop Challenge that I didn't have time for 'til now...

This was the inspiration...(LOVED it!)

Still hooked on those pinwheels in pots...

Used some My Mind's Eye and Papertrey Paper, along with some Fiskars stamps to come up with this...

Hope you like it, and hope you'll consider linking your own project up to The Polka Dot Door!!

If you didn't see my previous post and have any interest in more pinwheels, potted plants, crocheted flowers, or teacher gifts...click HERE!

Thanks so much for stopping!

I'm racing off again!!

Geri

I almost hated to press the 'publish' button on this post...Please forgive all the extra empty spaces throughout it--I cannot seem to correct it!! :(

So very glad to see you today!! On behalf of Rebecca and Sarah of Polkadot Door Designs...WELCOME to the very first Polka Dot Door Blog Hop. Excuse me while I wish them a Happy 1st Birthday!! To celebrate, they've planned a very inspiring Hop for us all to join in on and they plan on making this a monthly tradition!! I know they've worked so hard and are excited to see this day finally here! I'm so very honored they asked me to do what I can to help make it special! Thanks so much, Rebecca and Sarah!!

Take a look at the fun inspiration challenge for this very first hop...

Notice the 3 elements?... (1)the "smile" sentiment, (2) the crocheted flowers, and (3) the photo itself. I thought the multi-element idea was a fun one! The rest of the Guest Design Team and I were challenged to come up with our own projects with those 3 elements in mind. While I didn't initially plan on it, I've also used Teacher Appreciation Week as a source of inspiration, as I was in need of some small tokens of appreciation for several teachers and assistants. I thought the pinwheels would be a sweet reminder that summer break is just around the corner for some weary teachers!
I first HAD to try my hand at those cheery pinwheels-n-pots. I used some of my favorite, cheery papers from My Mind's Eye and used the crocheted flowers and buttons for the centers...

I made 3 little pots...

I used a Papertrey sentiment to stamp "smile" on the ends of some wide ribbon...

These truly did bring smiles to faces today...The teachers seemed delighted!!

I wanted to try one that would be more of a keepsake, in a little more "classic teacher" style, so I came up with this...

I had some double sided Cosmo Cricket paper that had "teacher" written all over it...almost literally!...

I really liked the big crocheted flower I was able to use on this one...put a vintage style button in the center. The head of the pinwheel is kind of simple, but I was able to dress things up around the base...

After filling the pot with styrofoam, I cut a solid red circle and then placed a doily on top. Perfect fit!! I wrapped the dowel with seam binding and then made a pretty bow with it, too. Dressed it out further with wider ribbon, buttons, another flower, a trinket pin and some paper leaves cut with a Spellbinder die. I wanted the back to be pretty, too, in case it wound up on a desk, so I dressed out the back with a Papertrey Doily die cut and another crocheted flower and button.

There's a handmade chiffon flower and button at the base.

And finally, the card. I worked the Book Fair everyday this week at our elementary school and saw the CUTEST little die cuts on a poster. Thank goodness I have connections since I previously taught there, and I was able to take my paper in to get my own little cuties! This little guy was hooked together with four other cute boys and girls and was intended to be a border die cut. He was on the end, though, so I just snipped him away from the cute little girl he was holding hands with (so much for THAT romance! They were too young anyway!) to make him the focal point of this card. Look how excited he is to be taking his teacher a treat...

I had ONE crocheted flower left and used it to embellish the card (THANK YOU, Kathryn, for the flowers!!)...

You can see that I stamped the little Papertrey 'smile' sentiment along the ribbon I used.

The tiny pinwheel head looks a little distorted in this photo...it was made with a 1" square. I think that's about as tiny as I would want to work with!!

Believe it or not...I think that's everything from me. Hope I didn't keep you too long, because you have more stops to make! Be sure to comment here on my post, and then visit the rest of the designers below (and comment!) for a chance to win 2 different prizes. There is also a chance to share your own take on this inspiration challenge by linking your project at the Polkadot Door. Winners will be chosen from those who've participated in the challenge, and additional prizes will be awarded, along with the chance to be a guest designer for the June Blog Hop. You can find each and every detail at The Polkadot Door! I hope you'll all join in to make this first hop a lot of fun and a huge success for Rebecca and Sarah.

Kim

Natasha

Amanda

Valerie

Jean

Diana

Nicole

Yvonne

Amy

Dana

Jennifer

Polkadot Door Designs
Thanks so much for stopping!! Have fun!!

Geri

Somebody really needs to bring these babies inside...


...they're awfully tired of this chilly, endless rain, you know. And so am I! I guess that's why I was drawn to this sweet image from Made by Janet. I have a whole page of sweet little birdies and this one with the tiny umbrella is one of my favorites.

I framed it in with a couple clipboard pieces, some K&Co papers and a Making Memories journaling note for this card. I used another image from Janet for a birthday card...

...used another journaling note and paper from Papertrey, along with one of their Tiny Tags and a Martha Stewart tag for this one...

Finally a little project for our local "Crop for the Cure"--a fun day of scrapping and visiting--and I'm sure there was a little food involved...all for a good cause. These pin cushions were used for door prizes, and thanks to my procrastination...were made quickly with things I had on hand from my Blog-aversary cushions. I actually had this project, and the pink 'breast cancer awareness' ribbons in mind when I chose this fabric.

I really like how the embellishments nestled right into the pink ribbons. Hope they found some happy new owners.

Finally--a picture of my little Jillian. She had a field trip today that I got to join in on. It was a great hands-on experience for her and her Kindergarten friends--many of whom will never travel to the beach to experience these critters in their natural environment.

We had a great time! It's been, and will continue to be, a busy time for me with all the end-of-the-school-year activities with my kids. We'll take them out of school a few days early (due to snow make-up days) at the end of the month to go on our trip to Disney. Then we'll come back to our usual summer busy-ness...swimmin' and playin' in the backyard, and meeting Daddy now and then while he's teaching week-long classes here and there around the state. In other words...my time for creating will be limited, as it has been the last couple weeks. Along with that--my time to visit you all will be limited also. I am behind in that area, I know, and I apologize...I sure do miss keeping up with everyone, and always appreciate that you check in on me.

I do have a date with a blog hop this weekend that I am excited about. There is a great photo for inspiration--hope you'll join in for fun, prizes and a chance to provide some of the inspiration for the next hop as a designer!

Until then (Saturday)...I'll pray for sunshine for you all!! And if you have any extra...please send it my way!!

Thanks so much for stopping!

Geri