Happy Sunday, everyone!  If you follow me, you know I don't often post on Sunday, and I don't usually get much posted besides my Precious Remembrance, Fusion and Festive Friday projects...but when I saw the challenge at Simon Says to incorporate one of Simon's exclusive products...I had to play along.  I've only recently discovered them (SS), (Yes...I've been under a rock) and most of the little I was able to purchase were Simon exclusives...they just looked so fun and versatile to me...and I've NOT been disappointed!!! Both of my projects today use the Expressions for You set (stamps/die), and the Plenty of Hearts set (stamps/dies)...

You can see I used the 'you' die and the largest heart stamp/die pretty similarly on both projects, but the projects themselves are really pretty different...here's the first...

I wanted to play with layering the hearts on that one.  And on the next, I wanted to play with layering the different styles of the word 'you' that come in the 'You' stamp set...

I'm not totally happy with the layering/stamping there...but I decided there's no 'perfect', and I could live with what I had;).  I sure could have used more sunlight for my photos, too, but there's not much to be found today!  That's OK, though...we really needed the rain!

And I guess that's it! Thanks for joining me as I shared these products I so love!!!

~geri~

Happy Friday, one and all!!!  I have two festive projects to share today!  The first is for Festive Friday's brand new challenge starting today...

Yes...you need to include a star in your project!  I had to fuss around with this one for a bit, only to come up with somewhat of an 'understated' design...

This one was hard to photograph!  I've used PTI's Rustic Cream cardstock...it has a real creamy, warm look that certainly doesn't show here.  There's a sliver of cream glitter paper at the bottom of the gray panel, and that darker gray panel is framed in by a pale gray one.  And that little star...it's an oldie!!!  Probably one of the first clear sets I ever bought!

Hope you'll join us with some starry creations of your own!  If you need more inspiration...just head over to the blog...the rest of the designers never disappoint!  It's fun to watch the list of participants grow as it gets closer to the holidays!

Next I have a peek of a brighter, bolder Christmas card...

You'll find the rest of this one using the new Holiday Wishes set at the Precious Remembrance blog!

Thanks so much for stopping today!

Geri

No matter how hard I try...I can't seem to find a way to slow life down!!!:)  Here it is, the end of another busy week...gone like THAT!!!  My parents always said...the older ya get...the faster it goes...and my breaks don't seem to be working!!!;)  Oh, well...It IS Friday, and this one brings a new FUSION challenge...

What do you think about that photo inspiration???  I had to go with those fun, funky, retro images and colors, and see what I could come up with...

I knew I wanted clean lines for a 'modern' look.  Are you old enough to remember when everyone wanted everything to be 'modern'?  I know I'm dating myself, but...I am!!!  I wanted to mimic some of the clean retro shapes, too, but the best I could do was with my PTI Funky Flowers...the little 'stamen' centers from that set made me think of the green flower in the photo inspiration.  I used that repeatedly, and then sponged on ink to softly color the insides with green and aqua...

I really, REALLY wanted to use red enamel dots, but...I have none!!!  So I switched out a true red polka dot banner for the softer, pink-y red one actually on my card...my deep pink dots worked fine with that, and still kept the color scheme similar.  I really kinda like how this one turned out.  I think it has a really cheery and fun look!  I enjoyed it so much, I tried another...

. 

...in another color scheme, just for fun.  (Really loved the fun Paper Smooches sentiments for both of these!!!)  I'm linking this one up to Addicted to CAS's 'get well' challenge.  And that's all she wrote, folks! You'll find lots more FUSION inspiration at the blog, so be sure to visit to see the rest of the DT's fun cards!  Thanks so much for taking the time to drop in today!

~geri~

Hey, everyone!  Super quick post today!  There's a new challenge up at Festive Friday...a color challenge of Navy, White, and Silver!  The other designers always have amazing inspiration up at the blog for you, if you're interested in popping over.  Here's a peek at my project...

The navy and silver striped pattern on my little treat package (tissue roll) and matching note card was created using borders from the new Holiday Wishes set from Precious Remembrance.  You can pop on over to the blog for all the details of how it was made!
Have a great weekend!!!
~geri~

I've got a list a mile long of things that need to get done today, but I just couldn't get my heart into it until I got a couple cards created.  Unfortunately, I've found myself in need of several sympathy cards.  And, if there's a card I hate to purchase, it's a sympathy card...just can't stand some of that wording.  My high-schooler has a couple great young teachers who've both suffered significant loss recently.  I so appreciate their passion for their jobs, and compassion for their students, that I really want them to know my son appreciates it, too, and that we're thinking of them.  I'm hoping those hand-delivered thoughts might brighten their day...

My own heart has certainly been heavy the last week with news of illness and horrible tragedy within our small community.  I wanted these cards to reflect that, with all my heart...I am praying, and will continue to pray for healing in these situations.  Sometimes it's all we can do, and I hope that these gals will be comforted in knowing that...while life continues to roll along...they remain in our hearts and in our prayers...

Considering the ages of these two young ladies...I wanted the cards to be a little more CAS and trendy, so I kept the colors simple and the lines clean...

I used some beautiful inspiration from the Simon Says Blog Hop, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  They're releasing a new die that's a simple curved edge...I mean really simple...yet it adds such a special and fresh touch to the designers' cards.  I used an old cutting system to get my curves, since I don't have the die...one symmetrical and one asymmetrical, as you can see.  I love the Studio Calico veneer frames I just picked up from JoAnn's of all places...delighted to see them there...better late than never.  I knew all kinds of things would look sweet in them, and for these cards, I used them with that little heart from my Simon Says 'Lot's of Hearts' set again.  I only wish I would have had that gorgeous woodgrain cardstock they carry...my PTI woodgrain impression, here, has a larger look than I would like for these small embellishments...but I'm still happy with the texture it adds to the card.

And now the to-do list awaits...but my heart does feel much better!  In the long run, maybe that will help!
Thanks so much for stopping!

~geri~

First of all, if you're finding yourself getting antsy about Christmas crafting, you may want to check out my earlier post from today, HERE.  You'll find the current Festive Friday challenge there and a new holiday set from Precious Remembrance, along with a chance to win it!

A new challenge begins today at FUSION!!!...

Now remember...you've got 3 options here...the photo, the sketch, or a combination of both inspirations for your project.  I often tend to 'fuse' the two, I must admit...and that's what I've done today...although it's not a strict translation of the sketch.  Here's my focal point...

I did a little stamping with some Neat & Tangled stamps on some Simple Stories bookprint...that's ever-so-subtle...but definitely adds interest...

...and I've stamped another little cloud to drop down under my panel that helps to create a sweet little space for my heart  (Simon Says--Lots of Hearts) and the sweet thoughts dripping down;).  And that's it...very simple in design, and maybe a little quirky...but I really kinda like it! And I have to say, I love that little Neat and Tangled set!!!  The font is so cute and cheery and is separate from the cloud, which also doubles as a speech bubble--there are some separate tiny bubbles to add when using it that way...OH...I'm just gonna go find it for you!!!

Here it is...Just Thinking of You...

See what I mean???  Is that not CUTE?!?!  May as well go grab the cute Simon Says set to share...another keeper with so many cute options, and dies that match...

(And now I'm off track!!!  Back to the challenge...)

We would love to see what you would do with the inspiration!  You'll find more projects by the team to inspire you if you're interested...so click on the links below, or pop on over to the blog where you can see the rest of the challenge details, along with winners from the last challenge!  You have almost two weeks to create!!!  Hope to see you in the gallery!!!

Thanks for your visit today!!!

~geri~

Kelly Griglione

Amy Tsuruta

Stacey Schafer

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan

~ Christmas in...SEPTEMBER ;) ~

Good morning, crafty friends!  I have an extra festive Friday post for you today!  First of all, Dyane has released a new set at Precious Remembrance called Holiday Wishes!  Take a look...

If you visit the blog, you'll find lots of beautiful goodies created by the team with this sweet set, and you'll be able to leave a comment which enters you in a random draw for a give-away of the set!  Here are my first creations with it...

A little tag, and a clothes pin you can use to clip it on a gift bag...

I used some fun My Mind's Eye Christmas papers on the tag and bag, along with some pretty snowflakes from PTI.  I hope you'll head over to the blog for your chance to win.  You'll find the set in Dyane's shop HERE.

Next up are two doses of Festive Friday goodness.  We had all kinds of issues trying to get the new challenge up last Friday, and with the holiday weekend, I decided to just save both projects for today, as we head in to the second week of this challenge...

Nice, huh???  Here are my projects...
For last week...

Just a little wood mounted stamp I picked up at Hobby Lobby with the slightest dab of color added...

and PTI Turning a New Leaf stamped at the top.  And for this week...

More PTI stamps, along with that pretty little border from one of last year's seasonal sets at JoAnn's.

Remember, you don't have to use the word 'Peace' on your card...we're just looking for cards that evoke the 'feel' of PEACE using color, images, and/or style/design.  Hope you'll join us...we sure have a sweet group of ladies participating each challenge!!!

Thanks so much for dropping in.  A new FUSION challenge goes up later today, so maybe I'll see you again then!

~geri~