Play Date Cafe Challenge #151

Hi there! I hope your week is going well, I am back to bring you this week's color challenge from The Play Date Cafe.

This week's colors are Wine, Pumpkin, and Moss - so perfectly fall!

We were sponsored by EAD Designs this week and they supplied us with some super cute vinyl stickers. I really haven't played much with stickers before I started on the PDCC DT, but I have to say - they are really fun!

I used the Fall Trees Stickerz set for my card. They were perfect for this week's colors!

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge. You have until next Tuesday to link your creation up over on the The Play Date Cafe Blog.

And another a huge thanks to EAD Designs for sharing some of their beautiful stickers with us this week! Their super fun Scrapbook Rub-Ons and Stickerz ship first class for FREE to US and International customers, so you should treat yourself!

Have a great day, my friends!

------------
Recipe
CARDSTOCK: Scarlet Jewel - PTI, Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Antique Linen, Walnut Stain Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Whisper White - SU!
OTHER: Fall Trees Stickerz - EAD Designs; Corner Rounder - We R Memory Keepers; Tea Party Embossing Folder - Lifestyle Crafts; Deco Scallop Punch - EK Success; Scarlet Jewel Button, Rustic Cream Button Twine - PTI

Orange Wheelbarrow

A happy Monday morning to you!

I have three minutes to pop in here and share a card with you that I squeezed in yesterday. Last weekend, I went to the Country Living Fair in Columbus, OH and saw this orange wheelbarrow.

I loved it and thought right away how fun it would be to use Happy Harvest and make a festive orange wheelbarrow.

I did my best to ink the wheelbarrow and wheel separately, just used the corner of my ink pads in the tight places. I combined it with some pretty sunflowers - the combination of orange and mustard yellow is one of my favorites right now.

I added a few pumpkins, too, and layered the sentiment. I wish that orange wheelbarrow could have come home with me, but this card is an acceptable substitute for now!

Have a great day!

------------
Recipe
STAMPS: Happy Harvest - Wplus9 Design Studio
CARDSTOCK: Sahara Sand - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Mischevious - My Mind's Eye
INK: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Gumball Green, Marigold Morning, Sahara Sand - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Happy Harvest Dies - Wplus9

Play Date Cafe Challenge #150

Hello, hello!

Welcome to The Play Date Cafe Challenge #150!

This week's colors are just yummy - rich and pretty.. we bring you flamingo, honey, and coffee.

We were sponsored by The Alley Way Stamps this week, and they generously sent me the super fun Monster Madness set to use for the challenge.

I had so much fun creating this week's slightly silly card...

Who knew building your own monster could be so much fun?? ;) I knew right away that I somehow had to use the moustache and those big fat lips, so this is what I came up with. A fun card for your sweetie, for sure.

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge. You have until next Tuesday to link your creation up over on the The Play Date Cafe Blog.

And a huge thanks to The Alley Way Stamps for sharing some of their wonderful stamps with us this week!

Have a great day, my friends!

------------
Recipe
STAMPS: Monster Madness - The Alley Way Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Creamy Caramel - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Whisper White - SU!; Wild Honey Distress Ink - Ranger Industries

CardMaker Blog Team Hop - Graceful Leaves

Hi there!

Things are sloooowly getting back to normal for me, I seem to be finding a bit of a balance again. I've been so flaky for the past few weeks, but am trying to get myself under control. :)

Today is blog hop day for the CardMaker Magazine Blog Team, and I am here to share my fall-themed creation. Our theme was 'graceful leaves', focusing on leaves and autumn colors. I pulled out one of my all-time-favorite autumn sets, Season of Thanks from Wplus9 to create my card.

Sigh. Don't you just love fall colors?

I started by stamping the small maple leaf in each different color and then cutting them out. I set these aside while I worked on the rest of my card, embossing the background and stamping the strip that is adhered along the bottom.

When I went to create my wreath shape, I started by die-cutting a circle shape from the same cardstock as the background (Oatmeal - Wplus9). I stamped my sentiment in the center (from Happy Harvest, another fab fall set) and then adhered this to my card. I used the outer edge of the circle as a guide for adhering my leaves. This helped me to keep things straight and even, in addition to having a nice flat place to stamp my sentiment.

The combination of the checkered border and leaf images along the bottom is something I have shamelessly stolen from Dawn W.  I think it looks so fabulous together, and I have been just waiting for a chance to use it on a card. A little stitching across the bottom and a simple twine bow finish it off.

The change of seasons may be just what I need to get back into gear. I just love creating with these images and colors! How about you? Is fall your favorite season?

I'm so glad you've stopped by today, please make sure you hop on over to visit the other Blog Team members! I can't wait to check out what these outstanding ladies have come up with! We have also welcomed two new ladies to the team, be sure to say hello to Glenda and Jennie on their first team blog hop!

Anya Schrier - You are here!

Carolyn King

Colleen Schaan

Glenda Wyatt

Jennie Harper

Kimberly Crawford

Trudy Sjolander

Have a great day!


------------
Recipe
STAMPS: Season of Thanks, Happy Harvest, Country Charm - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Night of Navy - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Bravo Burgundy, Cranberry Crisp, Ruby Red, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Early Espresso, Night of Navy - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Woodgrain Impression Plate - PTI; Natural Button Twine Trim - WMS; Sewing Machine - Janome

WMS September Blog Party

Happy Monday, friends. Today is the Waltzingmouse Stamps September Blog Party. The theme for this month's party is fall, which happens to be my favorite season. Lynn prompted us to consider creations that include not only the colors and imagery but also the textures of fall.

Here is the card that I created, also tapping into some inspiration from this week's Sketch Challenge.

I started by die cutting the leaves (this is a Sizzix die, Leaves #2) then I stamped each of them with the houndstooth pattern from Heirloom Patterns. Houndstooth is definitely a fall-related pattern for me. I used a seasonal inspired color palette, rich yellows and browns.

As I was deciding how I wanted to lay out my leaves on my card, I saw the cardstock sitting there that I had cut the dies from and thought it was the perfect design. I took the cardstock and trimmed it to fit a card front, then stitched along the top and bottom edges. I inked the edges and gave it a quick misting before adhering it my card front.

I adhered the leaves using dimensional foam tape, replacing them back in the spots they were die cut from. Then I added a sentiment from Peace and Plenty, a set full of fantastic fall motifs.

If you'd like to join us for this month's Blog Party, create a fall-themed project and head over to the Waltzingmouse Blog and link it up. You have until 1:30 pm EST tomorrow before the links are closed.

Have a great day!


------------
Recipe
STAMPS: Heirloom Patterns, Peace and Plenty - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Kraft, Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Dusty Durango, Early Espresso, Cranberry Crisp, More Mustard - SU!; Antique Linen, Walnut Stain Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Dark Calico Spray Ink - Studio Calico; Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls - Ranger Industries; Leaves #2 Die - Sizzix; Sewing Machine - Janome

Posting on the CardMaker Blog

Good morning sweeties!
Today I am posting over on the CardMaker Magazine Blog. Pop on over there to see what I'm loving right now!

And speaking of things I love, tomorrow is the Country Living Fair in Columbus, OH. My Mom and I have gone together for the past few years, and I am looking forward to heading out early tomorrow for our annual visit.

AND Monday the 17th is the monthly Waltzingmouse Blog Party. This month's theme is FALL. All your details are here!

Thanks for stopping in - have a lovely day!

Play Date Cafe Challenge #149

Hiya!

It is time for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge! Are you ready? We have another round of gorgeous colors this week featuring orchid, sea foam, and tangerine.

Jaclyn always picks *the best* photos for the color stories!

These softer colors made me think of baby, so I made a quilty little baby card.

I started by cutting die B from Wplus9's Quilt Cuts 1 Die from Oatmeal cardstock. I die cut it five times, which was enough to cover the width of my card. Then I used each of the different patch patterns from Country Charm to stamp the hexagons in this week's colors. I adhered the quilt pattern to the bottom of my card with a bit of liquid adhesive. Then I added the sentiment, from Heartfelt Mix, to the card and accented it with a button.

Love it!

I hope you do, too, and will be inspired to join us this week. You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, September 18th to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from our fabulous challenge sponsor, Simon Says Stamp!

Thank you for sponsoring us this week, Simon Says Stamp!

I can't wait to see what you come up with for this week's challenge! Have a super day!

------------
Recipe
STAMPS: Country Charm, Heartfelt Mix - Wplus9 Design Studio
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Groovy Guava, Sage Shadow, Wisteria Wonder - SU!
OTHER: Quilt Cuts 1 Die - Wplus9; Melon Berry Button, Rustic White Button Twine - PTI

Harvest Birthday

Hello, my friends.

It feels like it has been ages since I've written a blog post and I feel like I need to do some catching up with you. I am suffering from some serious mojo issues here. I am experiencing some major changes at work (they will ultimately be good, but right now are a little unnerving.. my worries tend to manifest themselves as heartburn, so I'm carrying Tums around 24-7).

While the last WMS release was going on, Bill and I were vacationing in California with one of my best friends from college.

We drove up the coast from LA and went to the beach in Cambria...

We stopped at the Hearst Castle...

Made our way up through Big Sur...

And visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Then we circled east and spent a few days in Yosemite National Park before heading back to LA.

It was wonderful.

Then we came back home and I had a day to pack up my office before we moved to a new location. Then I celebrated my birthday, and this amazing surprise happened.

Then this happened...

and this, too (why should we have all the fun? the doggies like treats, too).

See? He's happy.

It is no wonder I'm feeling a little out-of-touch with my craft room.

I spent some time there last night and did make a card to share with you today, if you're still with me :)

I used the Happy Harvest and Fresh Picked sets from Wplus9. See those peach sunflowers? I just loved Suzanne's pink flowers that she created for this month's Cloud9 Blog Hop, and was inspired to borrow her fab idea.

I found myself gravitating to a version of this week's Play Date Cafe colors with the peach and navy, opting for a little kraft instead of gray.

It felt good to get crafty and hopefully it is the start of getting back into the swing of things. Your encouragement and support is always so appreciated!

Have a wonderful day :)

------------
Recipe
STAMPS: Happy Harvest, Fresh Picked - Wplus9 Design Studio
CARDSTOCK: Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Nostalgia - My Mind's Eye
INK: Crumb Cake, Groovy Guava, Midnight Muse, Whisper White - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Label Layers 5 Die, Banner Trio Die - Wplus9; Baby's Breath Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft

September Cloud9 Blog Hop

Hi there,

How is your weekend going? The temperatures here have dropped a few degrees, and it is feeling so wonderfully fallish. I am here today to bring you my bit of inspiration for this month's Cloud9 Blog Hop. I have to say, I have had some other things going on recently that have been sapping my creative energy. But when I saw the picture that Suzanne chose for this month's challenge, I was excited to get crafting.

This month we are also welcoming Jill Norwood as our Guest Inspiration Team Member. We'd love to have you join us next month, so be sure to play along!

Here is this month's fabulous inspiration photo.

Beautiful - I'd love to be there. Here is the card that I made.

The hanging bird cages in the picture reminded me of the dress form from C'est La Vie. I started with that focal point and added the elements around it.

It was a good crafting session - I hope you are as inspired by the picture as I was and I hope you'll join us by linking up your project over on the Cloud9 Blog. In addition to the opportunity to join us as a Guest Member of the Inspiration Team, you could also win some Wplus9 loot!

Hope your Sunday is fantastic!

------------
Recipe
STAMPS: C'est La Vie, Mother's Day Bouquet - Wplus9 Design Studio
CARDSTOCK: Soft Sky - SU!; Kraft, Oatmeal - Wplus9 Design Studio
PATTERNED PAPER: For the Record 2 - Echo Park Paper Company
INK: Midnight Muse, Primrose Petal, Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, Whisper White - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Baby's Breath Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft

Play Date Cafe Challenge #148

Hi there!

Welcome to another Play Date Cafe Challenge! This week's colors are super trendy, fun, and so scrumptious! I really enjoyed creating with them and am looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with.

Here is this week's color story, courtesy of the fantastic Jaclyn Miller.

So delicious, no?

And here is the card that I created, using the Guiding Light set from Wplus9.

I used the new Pinking Squares dies to cut out a square frame. Then I backed it with some Soft Stone cardstock and layered my elements. The chevron embossing folder is from Sizzix - I am finding myself slightly obsessed with embossing folders right now. Could be worse, right?

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge. You have until next Tuesday to link your creation up over on the The Play Date Cafe Blog.

And a huge thanks to Tami Mayberry Designs for sponsoring our prize this week. You can head to the The Play Date Cafe Blog for all the details!

Have a great day, my friends!

------------
Recipe
STAMPS: Guiding Light, Guiding Light Sentiments - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Night of Navy - SU!; Soft Stone, White - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: PB&J - Basic Grey
INK: Night of Navy, Groovy Guava, Going Gray - SU!
OTHER: Clear Cut Stackers Pinking Squares - Wplus9; Chevron Embossing Folder - Sizzix; Button Twine - PTI; Sewing Machine - Janome

With Thanks .. CardMaker Magazine Post

Good morning, friends!

Today I am posting over on the CardMaker Magazine Blog - if you have a few minutes, I would love for you to go check it out!

I hope you have a good day, I've been enjoying a little laziness for the past few days, but need to get on my to-do list today!

Later!