Goodness, it's been awhile!  So busy!!  But I'm in luck with Crafty Secrets' second Linky Party, as I recently had a published card returned (along with a box of goodies!!) from CARDS magazine that I used a CS stamp set on...just in time to post it for this months party!  This one was accepted for the style/color challenge of bees/honeycomb and the colors of melon pink, yellow and green.  The little bee and sentiment are from the small Queen Bee set.  This is the prettiest little set...I love the delicate little bee, and the garland of leaves, not used on this card, is so pretty also.

I've used the chipboard frame, a MF crown,  Prima flower, and some pretty Crate Papers, (and even a little die cut lace) all layered up in the perfect colors for the challenge...

I was pleased with this one when it was done, and, needless to say, was thrilled it was published!  Hope you like it, too!!
Have a great day, and thanks so much for stopping in!
~Geri~

Hello, everyone!  So glad you could join me today in celebrating The Polkadot Door's second Blog-iversary!  They're hosting a little hop to celebrate, with goodies involved, so you might want to go check it out!  You can play along if you'd like...here's the inspiration board...

The fabrics, handmade felt flowers and buttons are what caught my eye, and I was in the mood for something a little different than my typical cards, so I set to work with a small jar, some buttery looking fabric, quilt batting, and my own handmade flower...

That fluffy little thing is kind of like the cherry on top of my milkshake...or my cupcake...

Yep, it's a little cupcake pin cushion!  And it was really so easy!  I'm sure there are bunches of these around, but I was inspired this week by THIS ONE at Andrea Budjack's blog, to get creative with my own fabrics and whip up one of my own.  It was made with a whole lotta love and intended to bring a smile to a dear friend's face...

Hope it does the trick!

The trims, by the way, are from vintage table linens that I purchased quite some time ago for just the right project, and this was it.  They were not in colors I would ever use in my home, and on several, while the cloth was stained, most of the trim was NOT!  (That just meant I was able to get them pretty inexpensively.)  I just cut the pretty trim off the edges, leaving about a 1/4 inch of the cloth (and giving me space for glue!)  I wrapped the olive green around twice at the top of the jar, and then finished off with the white.  The ribbon that I pulled around the top of the jar covered up my raw edges.  I left a little more excess edge on the trim on top of the cupcake, and just tucked the excess down inside the "swirls" or folds.  And I thought the quilters pins to keep the pretty scallops down made great "sprinkles".  This was a no-sew project that I would highly recommend that you try!  So much fun!  If you would like to, and need more details...just let me know!

If you're hopping, next on the list is

Megan

If you would like to start at the beginning, just click HERE for all the details and the full list of designers.

Thanks so much, Rebecca and Sarah, for the invitation and the inspiration!

So glad you could stop in today!!

~Geri~

Welcome, everyone, to The Craft's Meow  April Release Blog Hop!  I hope you've enjoyed peeking in on all the previews this week.  I've had a blast, and am so thankful to The Craft's Meow for giving me the opportunity to design with these fun sets this week!

  

So here we are at The Hop...I'm guessing you've seen all the sets in full detail at the Craft's Meow blog.  The Design Team members have all come up with a final project to show off one or more of the April sets today.  If you would like a chance to win the BIG PRIZE...all the sets released this month...you'll need to comment on each designer's blog, and then leave a comment on The Craft's Meow blog to be entered.  Due to some problems with Blogger this week, TCM has some special info to make you aware of if you are interested in being entered in the draw...

'Blogger has been causing problems for some of our
designers all week long so you may come across a few
of our designer's blogs that do not appear updated
with today's blog hop post.
If that happens, please refer to the hop order at the end of
this post or on The Craft's Meow Store Blog
to continue on, but make sure you plan to check back
on the other blogs because you'll need to leave a comment
on each blog in order to win our BIG PRIZE!'

 OK...now that housekeeping is out of the way, I'll share my final project.  I've used 2 of the sets being released today.  I've used the little blossom images from Nature's Beauty to fill up a pretty little pocket...

For the sentiment, I used one from Inspired by Audrey that I really liked.  In the set, this sentiment is two lines on one stamp, but I wanted to use the lines separately.  I just masked the line I didn't want to stamp with scotch tape, inked up the stamp, peeled off the tape, and stamped...and just repeated the process for the second line...

The little filigree at the top is from Inspired by Audrey also. I liked the way it finished things off.  Hope you like it!

Here's the full list of designers, in case you've had to temporarily skip anyone...

The Craft's Meow Blog
Amy Tsuruta
Amy Wanford
Ivana Camdzic
Geri Freeman
Iwona Palamountain
Jackie Rockwell
Jean Martin 
Jen Cuthbertson
Jenny Suchin
Jessica Fick
Gini Cagle
Julie Ranae

Karen Baker
Lindsay Amrhein
Michelle Bertuzzi

Nina Brackett

Happy hopping!  Be sure to leave your comment on The Craft's Meow blog by 9:00 PM, PDT, April 23 to be entered to win.  And don't forget, Giddy Up, is April's free gift with a $50 purchase from TCM!  Thanks again for all your sweet comments this week...I really have appreciated them!
Enjoy!!
~Geri~



Well, howdy, folks! So good to see you back! Hope you've had fun this week with The Craft's Meow peeks! I sure have, thanks to you!! I have a sweet little set to share today...Giddy Up...It could be your gift with a $50 purchase this month!! The set includes several cute sentiments like this one...

The little badge says 'Sheriff", but with the gold embossing and my new really wet embossing pad, it's kind of hard to read. And how about this beauty and her pretty saddle...

She's embossed with 'chestnut' powder. I used some pretty papers from My Mind's Eye. I thought they gave the card a pretty country feel...

And there she is! The other designers have some pretty, pretty cards to share using this set, too, so you'd better git on outta here and check 'em out. Don't forget to leave your comment by 9:00PM, PDT on The Craft's Meow blog for a chance to win this set!

Hope to see you tomorrow for the full reveal of the sets and the Team Blog Hop!! One faithful hopper will win all six sets!!

Thanks so much for visiting!!

~Geri~

Well, welcome back, everyone, to Day 3 of The Craft's Meow's April release previews!! I have had so much fun creating this week, and today's sets and projects were no exception! I warn you--I went back to my fussy, shabby roots for today's projects...no CAS here (turn AWAY, Amy!!! TURN AWAY!!!). Vintage Rides is up first! I personally fell in love with the little scooter image...and just HAD to make it girly...

I stamped it and then embossed with clear glitter powder and cut it out...then framed it up with some denim style paper (Crate) and bright girly colors (those are Melody Ross...Soul Food, I think...LOVE that pad!). Anyway...here's the finished product...

Makes me think of my little Jilli-bean!! (And I even got a compliment from my 13 year old son on that one! THAT doesn't happen very often!) And speaking of the little bean...the next project was inspired by her and her best neighborhood bud'. I've used the new set Owl Journaling on it. These little owl critters are cute...so pleased I finally own one...

As you can see, I did some paper piecing on him (or HER!)... 'it' is a nice size for that. Here are the two friends...
(My Jilli's on the right. People swear they must be related!) The little photo frames on the left are included in the set, along with the little banner the owl is holding (the flower and leaves were handmade)...and here are some other sweet accent elements...

I took my scissor to the "remember..." sentiment...it's just easier than masking sometimes! (Dare you, Meredith!)

Anyway...here's the finished page, which I've made to fit in an 8 x 10 frame. I plan on making another so both girls will have one...

I LOVED making this!! I was obviously inspired by these girls and their colorful personalities, but it really came together so easily with all the sweet little elements in the set! If you think you might want one for FREE, better get over the The Craft's Meow blog and leave your comment before 9:00 PM, PDT for your chance! Since there are two sets featured today, there will be two winners!!

Thanks for popping in!!

Ya'll come back tomorrow for a little cozy, country kinda card and set!

~Geri~

How sweet you all were to visit me yesterday! I sure appreciate your comments and encouragement, and am so glad to see you back for more of what The Crafts Meow is offering this month! Today's set is an awfully pretty one! What do you think of this pretty embossed image...

It's from the set, Inspired by Audrey, and the best thing about this set for me is...you can go soft and shabby, (one of my favorite things to do)...

Or really clean...

And really simple...

This second one is not like me at all...many of you know that...but I've been working on it! And the images in this set made it so easy...I couldn't help myself! (What's happening to me?!?) Some of the other designers have built some pretty backgrounds with it, too...you don't want to miss those! So, go on now...hop around...and don't stop until you leave a comment on The Craft's Meow Blog . It could very well win you today's set! (And don't forget to come back tomorrow! I had so much fun with those projects...I really hope you'll join me!)

Thanks again for stopping in!

~Geri~

Hello, everyone! Great news for you AND me today!! First, the good news for you...The Craft's Meow is about to unveil some sweet new sets!! And for me...as a result of a random draw from one of their Birthday Bash challenges, I get to design right along side the talented Craft's Meow Design Team this week!! Woo Hoo!!

To give you a little glimpse of what will be available for purchase at the end of the week, (and what you could win by commenting today on TCM blog) I have two projects to share (that means two winners today!). The first was made with the new set, "Travel Time"...

This was a fun card to make! I snipped apart the "bon voyage" sentiment in the set so that I could more easily shape and space the words the way I wanted, then softly stamped them across my "sky"...

Fun set!! Trust me!!

The next card uses images from the new set, "Natures Beauty". This was another fun one, as I got to use my distress inks to create a pretty little sunset...

Super simple card! But as you'll see from the other designers, the set offers lots and lots of pretty possibilities...you won't want to miss what everyone else has offered up!

Remember to head back to The Craft's Meow Blog by 9:00 (PDT) tonight to leave a comment for your chance to win one of these great new sets!

Thanks so much for visiting, and do come back tomorrow!!

~Geri~