Wplus9 Feb./Mar. Release: Day 1

So good to be back with a brand new line-up of goodies from Wplus9 Design!  Dawn has cooked up, for you all, this month, a trio of beautiful stamps, with coordinating dies, that utterly exude springtime and friendship and are deliciously sweet.  Today we're showing off Folkart Florals and its coordinating Folkart Florals die.  So, let's just dive right in.  Shall we?

I started this card by stamping the "Time spent with friends is time well spent." sentiment, in Elegant Eggplant ink, on a piece of Whisper White cardstock and framing it with the arched leaf image, which was stamped in Certainly Celery ink, as well as the smaller leaf and flower image, which was stamped in Certainly Celery and Perfect Plum ink and glittered, before adhering it to the Elegant Eggplant, cardstock, card face.

I then die-cut the frame, using the Label Layers 3 die, from a piece of Perfect Plum cardstock; machine stitched, with white-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges; dry embossed it with the polka dot image; distressed its edges with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks...

laced it with the green, stripe ribbon, which was tied in a bow and embellished with a white, crochet flower, as well as a green button, laced with white string; and adhered it, with foam tape, centered over the previously stamped images and sentiment.

I've also got a layout, for you all, today.  Check it out!

I started this layout by arranging the pictures, in a grid design, on the white, distressed, patterned, paper, base page.  I then anchored them with a piece of red, plaid, patterned paper, which was topped with a punched strip of vellum; anchored with brown-threaded, straight stitches; and served as the place to put my ink distressed, Whisper White, cardstock, journaling strips, which read, Ezekiel was so excited to show off the new bird house that Grandpa helped him build and tell us all the fun things he did with his cousin, Grant, when Adina and I picked him up from Grandma's.

I then filled in the spaces between the photographs with stamped, cardstock pieces, which were distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks.  The top one was stamped, in Wild Wasabi ink, with two, leaf images and given a little texture with both the stamped, in Crumb Cake ink, cross-hatch images, from Sweet Nothings, as well as brown-threaded, straight, machine stitches.

And the bottom one was stamped, in Pool Party, Perfect Plum, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, and Wild Wasabi inks, with lots of different floral images.  Guys, I'm telling you, the possibilities with these darling images are absolutely limitless!  It, too, was given the same texture treatments as the stamped piece above and flanked with a yellow, "My Treasures" tab.

Now, I'm giving ya'll an extra sneak peek; because those Whisper White, cardstock, doily die cuts, from the new, Circle Stackers 1 dies, are being introduced tomorrow.  I distressed them with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks and splattered them with Crumb Cake and Soft Suede inks, before scattering them, strategically, about on the page.  The top one was also stamped, in Real Red ink, with the partial, "HAPPY Spring" title and tucked behind the completed "BREAK" title, which was created from kraft, Hardcover Thickers.

The title was then flanked with a couple of die cut, from Wild Wasabi cardstock, leafy branches, as well as a little bundle of hemp twine bows.  A little, added dimension was given to those die cut leaves using Distress Inks and foam tape.

The bottom, doily die cut was partially tucked under the bottom edge of the photos and embellished with a Pure Poppy button, laced with Baker's Twine, as well as a kraft "DATE:" label, which was filled in with the March 17, 2010, date.

And the third, doily die cut frames the die-cut, from red, polka dot, and yellow, wavy, patterned papers, bird house, which was hung from the top edge of the layout with hemp twine and embellished with a mini clothespin, as well as a stamped, in Perfect Plum ink, on another peek of a future, release day, Timeless Tags 1, die cut tag, bird, which was tied, with Baker's Twine, to a leaf, trinket pin.

A stamped, in Jet Black ink, on a strip of vellum, "Though miles apart, still close at heart." subtitle, completes the look.

Inspiration for this layout came from PageMaps' CHAW12 Sketch Contest.

That's all I have, for you all, today; but we'll all be back, tomorrow, with another, stamp set, as well as more, Circle Stacker 1 dies, both of which coordinate beautifully with today's cuties.  Please be sure to stop by the rest of this talented team's blogs to see what they've cooked up, just for you all, today, and have a wonderful Wednesday!

Cristina Kowalczyk
Dawn Woleslagle
Elise Durenberger
Jean Martin
Kerrianne Gwin
Lea Lawson
Savitri Wilder
 

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Folkart Florals (Wplus9) Paper: Whisper White, Perfect Plum, & Elegant Eggplant (SU) Ink: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, & Certainly Celery (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Label Layers 3 die (Wplus9); polka dot embossing folder, Dazzling Diamonds, green stripe ribbon, green button, & white crochet flower (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); white string (Hobby Lobby)

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Folkart Florals & Sweet Nothings (Wplus9) Paper: Whisper White (SU); white distressed (Basic Grey); red plaid (Crate Paper); vellum (Paper Studio) Ink: Perfect Plum, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, & Basic Black (SU); Tea dye & Antique Linen (Ranger); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: brown thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Folkart Florals, Circle Stackers 1, & Timeless Tags 1 dies (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Pure Poppy button (PTI); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); "DATE:" label & "My Treasures" tab (October Afternoon); Edger punch (EK Success); foam tape (Scotch); mini clothespin (Canvas Corp.); leaf trinket pin (Maya Road); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); kraft Hardcover Thickers (American Crafts)

Weekend Snapshots & a Winner

Happy Monday, ya'll!  It's been a busy morning, in our household, between laundry and bed changes and making a meal for another, new mom from our church.  So much so, that I was feeling icky by lunch time.  That's what I get for forgetting to eat breakfast and not taking care of myself.  Anyway, my hubby fixed lunch for the kiddos and even cleaned up a lot of the mess I made, from cooking, in the kitchen, before heading back to work.  So, I laid down for just a bit; and while I'm still not feeling 100%, I'm now able to function properly.  Thanks, Baby!

Anyway, I hope you all aren't getting tired of basketball shots of my big kiddo; because I've got a few more, for you, today.  He's learning so much, and while his team still hasn't won a game, they doubled their best score this week.  Woohoo!  Ezekiel even made two baskets.  Oh!  And just in case you haven't figured it out yet, Ezekiel's jersey number is one.

On the way home from basketball, our car lost a lot of value.  (Please ignore the dust on my dash.)  Sally (That's what Ezekiel and I named her about six years ago now.) has been such a great car for us.  And while there's many times that we wish she were bigger, we love the benefit of better gas mileage while we're tooting around town.

While the rest of our weekend was packed to the brim with visits from both sets of my kiddos' grandparents and church activities, I only have a few more shots to share with you all, and they boast my Birthday Giveaway winner as randomly chosen by my kiddos.

Congratulations, Diana!  Shoot me an email with your mailing address, and I'll get your package in the mail, to you, ASAP.  And thanks again, ya'll, for all the sweet, birthday wishes!  I also don't think that I ever said thank you for all your thoughtful, get-well wishes for Adina.  Her fever dropped last Thursday, but we really tried to take it easy this weekend, because she just hasn't been herself since.  I think we all just need a day to sleep, not have anything planned, and just be a family.  Keeping up with schedules is exhausting!

So, thanks so much for popping in here to check on me!  I'll be back, late tomorrow, with the start of five days of February/March Release sneak peeks from Wplus9 Design.  Have a wonderful, work week, ya'll!  Oh!  And if you haven't already, please go vote for Ezekiel to get one of the coveted Young Environmentalist slots for Sea Life Aquarium.  You can read about all the details in this post.  Unfortunately, the whole competition isn't based on what the children wrote or how creative they got with their drawings.  It's simply on how many people you know on Facebook, and to be honest, we aren't.  So, if it's not asking too much, please share the link on your Facebook pages, too.  Voting ends tomorrow, and he needs at least 80 more votes!  Thanks again and again!

MFW: Die Cutting Challenge & CTD176

Just popping in here, on this beautiful, chilly, Saturday morning, to share a few, more, Valentine cuties that I've made for Winter's Valentine's Day Card Drive.  She's accepting Valentines until the end of this month, so you've still got a few days left to get creative and send them in.

How about a little closer look?

I started this card by stamping the open hearts, in Crumb Cake ink, on a piece of aqua, patterned paper; machine stitching, with brown-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges; over stamping it, in Chocolate Chip ink, with the "be mine Valentine" sentiment; and adhering it to the 3-3/4" x 4", Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face.

I then die cut the pocket from Chocolate Chip cardstock; embossed it with the weave pattern; tucked a small piece of rose, polka dot, patterned paper behind the die cut heart; and adhered it, with foam tape, centered above the stamped sentiment and over a length of hemp twine, which was tied, in a bow, just to its left edge.

The pocket was then stuffed with a glittered, leafy branch, which was die-cut from Crumb Cake cardstock, as well as a stamped, in Rose Red ink, envelope bundle, which I hand cut out and distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks.

Inspiration for these cuties came from the Die Cutting Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, as well as Color Throwdown's Challenge #176.

We're off to another, basketball game, of Ezekiel's, in just a bit.  Then, my crafty space is calling my name, and I'm hoping to find a little, quiet time to bust out a few treasures.  Until next week, ya'll, thanks so much for looking my way, and have a blessed rest of your weekends!  Oh!  And please don't forget that you have until the close of tomorrow CST to get in on my Birthday Giveaway.  Hugs!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: A Pocketful: Valentine - envelopes & sentiment & Background Builders: Hearts - open heart background (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, & Very Vanilla (SU); aqua (K&Company); hot pink polka dot (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, & Rose Red (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: brown thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Mini Leaves Sizzlit, Weave Texturz Plate, & Dazzling Diamonds (SU); Love Notes die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); hemp twine (Creative Impressions); foam tape (Scotch)

Friday Faves

It's that time again!  Time for my first Friday Faves of 2012, and it all begins, as has become tradition, with the fabulous, Noel Mignon Charm School Kit.  I am completely drawn to these types of collections for their not being matchy-matchy but still being completely coordinated, textural, and irresistible in every way.  I especially love the Hambly Screen Prints banners and the sweet pennants from October Afternoon's Sidewalks Collection.

Speaking of the latter, I adore the Sidewalks Collection, in it's entirety, from the colors right down to the theme, including the paper...

Label Stickers...

Word Stickers...

and Tin Pins.  Really there's just nothing not to love from this collection!

I'm also loving this gorgeous, new Vintage Button Mold from Mold Muse...

and while we're talking buttons, check out Basic Grey's amazing, new, Picadilly Wooden Buttons.  Stunning!

These Medallion Sparklers, from Webster's Pages, would add just the right amount of shine to any of my crafty needs...

and their Green Flowerdrop Trim is perfectly fabulous from the get-go.  I mean, what a great way to add a punch of color!  Right?!

You all know how much I love The Twinery, but I just couldn't love their new, Shore, Orchid, Cantaloupe, and Flax colors any more.  Delish!

I'm throwing in one stamp set, this month, for good measure.  The size and options, not to mention the simple sentiment, behind Gently Seasoned, from Paper Smooches, totally have me swooning.  FABULOUS!

And finally, I've shared lots of beautiful things from Gsakowski Designs, but I just couldn't resist showing ya'll another.  They're just so amazing, and someday, I really will be able to afford one ;).  LOVE this Azalea Pink Collette Scarf!

That's all, for this round, folks!  Enjoy your weekends!  My hubby and I are headed out solo, tonight, for a belated, birthday dinner.  Woohoo!

CQC #121 & CPS 252

I've got another, little trio of Valentines, for Winter's Valentine's Day Card Drive, to share with you all, this afternoon.  And I'm just going to get right to it, because it's been a busy day, and I still have a load of things to get done.

How about a little closer look?

I started this card by trimming the bottom of a piece of mustard, flourish, patterned paper with a punched strip of red, polka dot, patterned paper and the top with a punched strip of olive, paisley, patterned paper; machine stitching, with white-threaded, zig-zag stitches, between the patterned paper connections; and adhering the prepped piece to the 3" x 4", Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face, which had been stamped, in Basic Black ink, with the "You're a great CATCH!" sentiment.

I then wrapped a length of Baker's Twine, three times, around the horizontal center of the prepped, patterned, paper piece and tied it, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face.

The hooked worm was stamped, in Jet Black ink, on a Whisper White, cardstock die cut; surrounded with the stamped, in Old Olive ink, double frame; colored in with More Mustard ink and a blender pen; and dressed up with a couple of google eyes.  I then laid it in place to stamp the string, in Basic Black ink, from the top of the hook off the top edge of the card face, before securing it, in its proper position, with foam tape.

Inspiration for these cuties came from ColourQ's Challenge #121...

and Card Positioning Systems' Sketch 252.

I've got a few, more Valentines, for the children's hospitals' kiddos, that I'm still working on and hoping to share, with you all, before the close of the week, as well as before Winter's deadline; but I've also got a lot of work still to do to really show off a trio of beautiful stamps and coordinating dies that Dawn has cooked up, for you all, this month.  So, cross your fingers and wish me luck to get it all done ;).  Thanks so much for stopping by, ya'll, and have a truly terrific day!  Hugs!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Hooked On You - hooked worm & sentiment, Brothers & Sisters - frame, & Classic Christmas - string (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake & Whisper White (SU); mustard flourish (Basic Grey); olive paisley (K&Company); red polka dot (KI Memories) Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, & More Mustard (SU); Jet Black (StazOn) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); All Occasion Label die (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Edger punch (EK Success); Upper Crest Border punch (Fiskars); foam tape (Scotch); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); google eyes (craft supply store)

PDCC116 - Sweet 'n Sassy

So fun to have you visiting for The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #116!

I had the treasured privilege of having dinner with my sweet friend, Lynn Mangan, last week.  And not only did we get to spend time catching up and learning more about one another, but she paid for my dinner and all.  What a blessing!  I was so surprised, and I know that it's just a card; but I so wanted to say a big thank you, even if it is in such a small way.  So, this sweet thing is for her.

I started this card by trimming the bottom of a wide strip of blue, floral, patterned paper with a slightly shorter strip of punched, Whisper White cardstock.  I then trimmed the space just above that punched strip with two, punched and layered strips of chartreuse, patterned paper to represent the grass, before machine stitching, with white-threaded, straight stitches, the lengths of the top and bottom edges of the blue, floral, patterned paper and adhering it near the bottom of the Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face.  A white embossed "You make days brighter and life sweeter." sentiment rounds out the bottom of the design.

The top edge of it was then dressed up with a plum ribbon, tied, in a bow, near the left edge of the card face.

And a couple of punched, from Whisper White, textured, cardstock, clouds turn our attention to the mid section; where I hand cut a chartreuse, glitter tree from patterned paper and adhered it with foam tape, before finishing the design with a trio of embossed and die cut, from Elegant Eggplant cardstock, butterflies, which were adhered just at their centers and embellished with clear gemstones.

I'm also turning this one in for The Punches Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  And now, it's your turn; and I hope you all won't turn running from this challenge but will really dive into your stashes and hunt for just the right elements to make these plum, chartreuse, and moldy cheese colors shine.  You have until the close of the day EST, next Tuesday, January 31, 2012, to link up your takes over at the challenge link above.  Please also use that link to find out what the rest of the team has been up to, as well as to find out what you're playing for, this week, from our fabulous sponsor, Sweet 'n Sassy.

We're also saying goodbye to Michele Gross and Andrea Ewen this week, and I cannot tell you all how much I'm going to miss these ladies.  I had the privilege of working side-by-side with Michele, in cahoots with sponsors and guest designers, way back in the beginning of my first term here at the PDCC.  From that interaction, I learned that she is literally one of the kindest, most flexible, willing to bend over backward for you kind of people I've ever known, and that's not even to mention that she ROCKS a CAS design.  And Andrea portrays pure perfection when it comes to the vintage, shabby chic world.  Plus, if it's possible, she's even sweeter than her unending creations.  I have no doubt that both of these ladies will go so far and wide into the future with their creativity, and I know that they'd really appreciate it if you'd stop by their blogs to wish them well.  Big hugs and tons of blessings, ladies!

Thanks for peeking in, ya'll!  Have a terrific day!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: The Birds & the Bees (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, & blue floral (SU); chartreuse (KI Memories); tree (DCWV) Ink: watermark (VersaMark) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Scallop punch, white embossing powder, & Beautiful Wings Embosslit (SU); Big Shot (Sizzix); Grass & Cloud punches (Fiskars); plum ribbon (Hobby Lobby); clear gemstones (Paper Studio); foam tape (Scotch)