Wplus9 June/July Release: Day 1

It's time for Wplus9 Design's June/July Release!  Woohoo!  For this round, Dawn has cooked up a fabulous trio of deliciously charming stamp sets, all with coordinating dies, to sail you right through the summer months, including Fresh Picked, Fresh Preserves, and Fish More.  The latter is a must-have set for great, guy projects of all kinds!  So, let's just get started!  Shall we?  Today we're showing off Fresh Picked and its coordinating Fresh Picked and Label Layers 5 dies.  To start us off, I've whipped up a sweet, little gift for a dear friend that was there for me when I needed her the most.  Thank you, Carrie!

That's all the fixin's for strawberry shortcake, y'all, along with the recipe to recreate it herself, as well as a beautiful, thank you card.  So, let's take a look at each piece up close and personal, beginning with the card that inspired it all.

I started this card by stamping the mini strawberry images, in Riding Hood Red and Lucky Limeade inks, on a piece of  ink distressed, with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, White cardstock.  That tiny, little image actually comes from tomorrow's Fresh Preserves stamp set.  See.  I'm at it again, spoiling a set before you get a chance to really see it shine.  But I really wanted to create more of a petite background for this card, and the strawberry image you see above fit the bill perfectly.  As a side note, between Fresh Picked and Fresh Preserves, you get three different sizes of not only strawberries (You'll see all three sizes today.), but also blueberries and raspberries/blackberries, not to mention a handful of silhouette images, too.  Woohoo!  Okay... moving on.  I then framed it with a piece of Kraft cardstock and machine stitched, with pink-threaded, straight stitches, around its edges.

A strip of red, plaid, patterned paper, which had been trimmed, across its bottom edge, with a punched strip of pink, damask, patterned paper, was pieced near its horizontal center; anchored, between the piece itself and its punched trim with pink-threaded, zig-zag, machine stitches; trimmed, across its top edge, with a length of white, scalloped lace; and dressed up with a gemstone strip, as well as a length of white, seam binding ribbon, tied, in a dressy bow, near the prepped piece's left edge and embellished with a stamped, in Riding Hood Red and Lucky Limeade inks, on an ink distressed, White, cardstock die cut, from the Fresh Picked die, and glittered strawberry image, which comes from Fresh Picked and had been pierced with a memo pin and backed with a Baker's Twine bow.

Finally, I stamped the "Thanks so berry much!" sentiment, in Basic Black ink, just below the right, punched, patterned, paper edge, before adhering the entire piece, with foam tape, to the Pink Pirouette, cardstock, card face.

The shortcake was wrapped up with a length of pink, sheer ribbon, laced with a stamped, in White ink, on an ink distressed, Kraft, cardstock, label die cut, from the Label Layers 5 die, which I cut a couple of small slits in with a craft knife and had been filled in with stamped, in Riding Hood Red and Lucky Limeade inks, strawberries and the stamped, in Basic Black ink, "Sweet OF YOU" sentiment, and tied in a bow.

I tied up the little bag of strawberries with a length of Baker's Twine, laced with an ink distressed, White, cardstock, die cut tag, from the Timeless Tags die, which had been stamped, in Pretty ink Pink and Lucky Limeade inks, with the strawberry image and, in Basic Black ink, with the "You are just the sweetest!" sentiment.

Finally, I stamped the recipe card's frame and lines, from From the Kitchen Of, in Riding Hood Red ink, on a piece of ink distressed, White cardstock and gave it a few, stamped, in Pretty in Pink ink, labels, also from From the Kitchen Of, before filling in all the necessary information by hand.

I then topped it off with a stamped in Riding Hood Red ink, on ink distressed, White cardstock, and hand cut tab, from From the Kitchen Of, which was folded and filled in, on both sides, with the stamped, in the same inks as above, "SWEET" category, again from From the Kitchen Of, and strawberry image from Fresh Picked.

How about one more, for today, showing how that yummy label looks, front and center, on a card face?

{Photo Removed for Publication}

I started this card by framing a piece of gingham, patterned paper with a piece of Soft Suede cardstock; machine stitching, with white-threaded, zig-zag stitches, around its edges; and trimming its horizontal center with a strip of leaf, patterned paper, a length of white lace, a strip of blueberry, patterned paper, and a length of Peapod twine, which was wrapped, three times, around the prepped piece, tied in a double bow, and embellished with a lone pearl.

{Photo Removed for Publication}

I then trimmed the bottom edge of that row of horizontal embellishments described above with yellow, polka dot, patterned paper, pennant die cuts, using the Pile It On die and which were adhered, in their respective locations, with foam tape, before adhering the entire piece, with foam tape, to the Kraft, cardstock, card face.

 {Photo Removed for Publication}

 

The label, from Fresh Picked, was then stamped, in Soft Suede ink, on an ink distressed, White, cardstock, label die cut, using the Label Layers 5 die.  It was then filled in with the stamped, in Wild Wasabi ink, scalloped circle, from Kisses & Cuddles, which highlights the stamped, in Night of Navy inks, on a White, cardstock die cut, using the Fresh Picked die, and glittered blueberries, as well as the stamped, in Basic Black ink, "Berry BEST WISHES" sentiment, before being adhered, with foam tape, just to the left of the twine bow.

{Photo Removed for Publication}

A stamped, in Barely Banana and Daffodil Delight inks, on White cardstock, and hand cut butterfly, from Flora & Fauna I, was adhered, just at its center, to the top left of the stamped label and embellished with a row of pearls to complete the look.

 {Photo Removed for Publication}

 

I'm linking these cuties up for Tuesday Alchemy's Challenge #16: Fruitylicious.  That's all, for today, folks!  Don't forget to stop by the rest of the creative team's blogs to see what all they've cooked up, just for your viewing pleasure.  Then, please come on back, tomorrow, at the same time and place, to see a little from Fresh Preserves and its coordinating, Preserves Jar die.  Thanks, as always, for stopping by, and have a blessed day!  Oh!  And I'd just be tickled pink to read what y'all think.  Hugs! 

Cristina Kowalczyk

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

and our talented Guest Designer, Cherry Nelson (Please be sure to leave her lots of love ;)!)

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Fresh Picked - strawberries, sentiments, & label, Fresh Preserves - smallest strawberry, & From the Kitchen Of - makings for recipe card (Wplus9) Paper: Kraft & White (Wplus9); Pink Pirouette & pink damask (SU); red plaid (Crate Paper) Ink: Riding Hood Red, Lucky Limeade, Pretty in Pink, White, & Basic Black (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: pink thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Fresh Picked, Label Layers 5, & Timeless Tags dies (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); Dazzling Diamonds & Scallop punch (SU); white scalloped lace & pink sheer ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Baker's Twine (Clean Country Paper Supplies); white seam binding ribbon (Zipper Stop); memo pin (Tim Holtz); gemstone strip (Recollections); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives)

{Photo Removed for Publication}

 

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Fresh Picked - label, blueberries, & sentiment, Flora & Fauna I - butterfly, & Kisses & Cuddles - scalloped circle (Wplus9) Paper: Kraft & White (Wplus9); Soft Suede (SU); gingham & leaf & blueberry strips (Nikki Sivils); yellow polka dot (American Crafts) Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede, Barely Banana, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, & Night of Navy (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: white thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Label Layers 5, Fresh Picked, & Pile It On dies (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); foam tape (Scrapbook Adhesives); pearls (Zva Creative); Peapod twine (The Twinery); white lace (Hobby Lobby); Dazzling Diamonds (SU)

PDCC134

It's that time again!  Time for another, fabulous, color story at The Play Date Cafe!  And I've pulled together a sweet layout of my girl, which presents itself much better in person than in the photographs below, using this week's apricot, canary, latte, and rose colors, as well as Sketches in Thyme's Challenge #78 (I promised I'd try to sneak it in later in the month ;).), to share, with you all, today.  Check it out!

I started this layout by anchoring a strip of yellow, stripe, patterned paper, as well as a piece of rose, plaid, patterned paper, to the strawberry, patterned, paper, base page, with both brown-threaded, straight and back-and-forth, zig-zag, machine stitches, whose ends were tied off to the front of the layout.

Before those stitches secured the left side of the rose, plaid, patterned paper, I tucked a quartet of ink distressed, kraft tags, which I laced with white string, tied in bows, under its edge.

My photos were matted with Whisper White cardstock, before they were adhered in their respective locations.  A hand cut strip of scalloped, woodgrain, patterned paper, as well as a yellow-framed, journaling card, which reads, You always like to be so close, when I'm getting ready; but today, you thought you'd be extra silly, and was secured with a simple, paper clip, were tucked under the bottom edge of the far left photograph.  The bottom of the journaling card was stamped, in Rose Red ink, with the partial, "berry sweet" title.  The completed "GIRL" title was created from wood alphas over a scrap of rose, damask, patterned paper, which was anchored with a couple of staples and had a hole punched in its center.  That hole was filled in with a cream doily, topped with a brown, heart crystal

I tucked a heart-trimmed, white, paper doily under the right side of the photographs; topped it with another one of those punched scraps, which received the same treatment as the previous one with the exception of a Build-a-Brad, embellished doily.  The Build-a-Brad was created with a stamped, in Daffodil Delight ink, on a punched, Whisper White, cardstock circle, mini flower image.

The top of the photographs received another one of the paper and cream doilies, as well as the punched scrap and staples.  The center of this doily was embellished with a kraft, butterfly sticker, topped by a yellow, resin butterfly.  A chipboard flower, topped with a pink Twinkle Goosebump and flanked with two, stamped, in Lucky Limeade inks, on Whisper White cardstock, and hand cut leaves, as well as a rose-framed, November 26, '09, date label round out the top of my design.

A duet of punched, from rose, plaid, patterned paper, photo corners complete the look.

There you have it!  Now, it's your turn!  I was so inspired by all your patriotic creations last week, that I simply cannot wait to see what you all do with this week's inspiration board for Challenge #134!

You have until the close of the day EST, next Tuesday, June 5, 2012, to link up your takes over at the challenge link above.  Please also use that link to see how my teammates have made this week's colors shine, as well as to find out what you're playing for.  Thanks so much, and have a blessed day!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Mother's Day Bouquet - leaves & Kisses & Cuddles - mini flower (Wplus9); "berry sweet" (MSS) Paper: Whisper White (SU); yellow stripe, strawberry, & woodgrain (Crate Paper); rose plaid & damask (My Mind's Eye) Ink: Basic Black, Rose Red, Lucky Limeade, & Daffodil Delight (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: brown thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Corner, 1-3/8" Circle, & 1/2" Circle punches & Build-a-Brad (SU); kraft tags (Maya Road); white string (Hobby Lobby); staples, stapler, & paper clips (office supply store); cream doilies (Jenni Bowlin); yellow butterfly (John Allen); kraft sticker butterfly (Studio Calico); chipboard flower (Dear Lizzy); pink Twinkle Goosebump (Queen & Co.); paper doilies (GCD); wood alphas (Pink Paislee); brown heart crystal (Prima); yellow framed journaling card (My Mind's Eye)

Papercraft Star 99: Aqua

This week, it's my turn, over at Papercraft Star, to showcase those fabulous images from our sponsor, The House Across the Bay; and I've gathered a collection of them to create a seafaring, Father's Day creation.

The sentiment panel for this card was completely created at the computer, beginning with the "Diary" base from 045 Blank Backgrounds.

The dates were already right as I wanted them, but the days of the week were a little off.  So, I blocked out aqua rectangles and added my own text.

I then created a transparency from two of the vintage, aqua, ship images in 166 Tall Ship Squares and pieced them right over each diary entry.

I did the same with the vintage script from 141 Text Writing Background Squares, placing one over each ship.

Finally, I created one, final, text box to type in my own "Happy Father's Day!" sentiment before printing on Whisper White cardstock.

It was then ink distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, before I embellished its top right corner with a "FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION" kraft tag, which I secured with a simple, paper clip; a chipboard button, laced with hemp twine; a stamped, in Jet Black ink, starfish, which I colored in with Pool Party ink and a blender pen; and a trio of pearls.

After stamping the vintage notepad image, in Basic Black ink, on a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, which had been distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, I anchored the printed piece to it with a length of aqua, woodgrain, Washi tape.  I then layered an aqua, striped tab, which was stamped, in Basic Black ink, with "With Love", over the tape and doubly secured the entire piece, near the diary sheet's page number, to the Pool Party, cardstock, card base, with a couple of staples.

Now, it's your turn; and here's a fabulous, inspiration board, for Challenge #99, to help get you started!

You have until next Monday, June 4, 2012, at 6:00 am EST, to link up your takes, over at the challenge link above, in order to be in the running to win digital sheets from our permanent sponsor, The House Across the Bay.

Please also use that link to check out what the rest of the team has been up to.  Thanks ever so much for stopping by!  Be blessed!

{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Damask Frames - "With Love" & Guiding Light - starfish (Wplus9); Vintage Notepad (MSS) Digis: 045 Blank Backgrounds, 166 Tall Ship Squares, & 141 Text Writing Background Squares (THATB) Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, & Pool Party (SU) Ink: Basic Black & Pool Party (SU); Jet Black (StazOn); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: kraft tag (Jenni Bowlin); staples, stapler, & paper clip (office supply store); chipboard button (Studio Calico); hemp twine (May Arts); pearls (Recollections); woodgrain Washi tape (Hambly); aqua striped tab (American Crafts)

Weekend Snapshots

Well, hello there!  So sorry that it's been a little quiet around here lately.  I've been busy playing with my family, and you know I've had my inky, little fingers all up in DT projects, too.  Can't wait to share!  But until then, how about a few pictures, before we're off to the park?

You may remember that Ezekiel was given a couple of tickets to Sea Life Aquarium for his efforts in the Young Environmentalist Competition.  Well, they had to be used by the end of May.  So, my hubby took off work, on Friday, with the intention of us all going as a family.  Then, he happened upon the reviews; and together, we decided that, due to the expense involved in buying two additional tickets for us all to go, he'd just stay home with Adina, while Ezekiel and I went.

Now, I have to be honest and say that I'm so glad that he did.  While we still had a good time, just being together and seeing the sights, it was, by far, not the best aquarium we've been to.  It is extremely overpriced and definitely geared more towards the littlest ones.  It even has a play area that requires one to be less than 4' 9".  Ezekiel's not quite that tall yet, but it was way too small for him!  It also has ramps and whatnot for strollers, but it is not stroller friendly.  The paths are just too narrow.  I mean, if you have any claustrophobic inclinations whatsoever, this is not the place for you.  Plus, I guess I was looking for the wow factor and never saw it, but be sure to check it out for yourselves.  Buy your tickets online, though.  Not only is it cheaper, but the line, for purchasing tickets at the doors, is outdoors, and that's just no place anyone wants to be in Kansas' hot and humid summer temperatures or piercing winter winds.  Oh!  And if you need to, be sure to use the ONE bathroom along the way, because it's nearly impossible to get back to it against the flow of traffic.

With that said, here are a few pics of our hour visit.  I have to apologize, in advance, for the color of them, too.  I felt like we were in an arcade the whole time and had trouble adjusting my photographs to accommodate that lighting.

The touch tank was pretty cool, especially because, being from Kansas, we're obviously a bit landlocked and don't get the opportunity to interact with sea life.  From said such comes our fascination with it as well ;).

We waited, in line, in a tunnel, and I might add with nothing but walls to look at, for more than ten minutes; because, of course, everyone wanted the chance to see what was swimming around, once the tunnel opened up to the tanks.

Fortunately, it opens to a big, airy, viewing area, for the sting rays, after that.

The one thing that keeps it entertaining for the older kiddos is a nine-step quiz trail.  If they get all the questions correct, on their scratch cards, they earn a medal from the gift shop.  Ezekiel is really proud of his medal ;).

We didn't have many other plans, for the weekend, other than staying close to home and just enjoying having BJ off work and around to help.  Oh!  And while I was getting creative, on Saturday afternoon, BJ built these domes for our upcoming Vacation Bible School's preschool program.

My kiddos spent lots of time trying to beat the heat by playing in the water.

LOVE these action shots!

We were also grateful for the extra time we had to accomplish those nagging chores and relished in being able to linger around the table, after meals, just talking.  All in all, it was a very relaxing long weekend, which we rounded out with a Memorial Day BBQ and strawberry shortcake.  Yum!

Don't forget that you have until the close of tonight EST to link up your takes on The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #133.  Then, I'll be back, first thing tomorrow morning, with my take on a brand new challenge from Papercraft Star.  Until then, thank you ever so much for stopping by, and have an undeniably blessed week!  Hugs!

A Little News

I don't know if you all have heard or read the latest news about Market Street Stamps' Market Fresh Kits.  If you haven't, here's said such in Angelica's own words...

We started our Market Fresh Kit club in January, with the intention to bring not only amazing stamps, but to bring incredible selections of paper products each month. Stephanie Washburn is a born designer, and I'm pretty sure her blood runs in color harmonies. She's just GOOD. However, as it sometimes happens, the world did not seem to be ready for us, and we've decided to put the Market Fresh Kit Club on hiatus for the time being. It was such a difficult decision, but I think you will find in the coming months, that when we stick to what we're GREAT at, the possibilities are endless.

You can probably imagine my deep disappointment by this announcement, as every month, all over again, Stephanie made me fall in love with a fabulous selection of coordinating, paper products, and I wasn't the least bit shy about telling you all just that.  LOL!  But with this sad news also came a bit of excitement for me.  Angelica asked me to stay on as a Market Street Stamps Designer.

Of course, I was beyond thrilled to say, "Count me in!  Woohoo!," and cannot wait to get started with an uber talented team and amazing, whimsical, June release, which I just know you'll all be absolutely in love with!  If you're interested you can read the announcement here.  Thank you, again and again, Angelica, for believing in me enough to represent your brand!  I'm honored beyond words!  And thanks, to you all, for coming here, time and time again, just to say hi or to see what things I've been up to in Kansas City or to get a little inspiration or to find a great challenge or... Well, whatever it may be, I appreciate YOU!  Hugs!

Friday Faves

Welcome to the May edition of my Friday Faves!  I'm beginning this month with Simple Stories' glorious, new Summer Fresh Collection Kit!  Be still my little heart!  This collection sums me up perfectly from denim, polka dots, and gingham to the innumerable outlets for journaling 'til my heart's content, not to mention pennants, lace, pinwheels, pockets, strawberries... Well, this one is just a must-have!

And since we're talking collections, how about trying on October Afternoon's Woodland Park Collection Kit for size?  Now, this one has a few papers that are a little too bright and busy for me; but flip them over, and I'm as happy as a lark!  LOVE that!  Plus, the color palette is divine...

and who can resist these coordinating Chip 'n Stick Printed Shapes...

and Designer Brads?  So sweet!

LOVE the versatility of these stylish Quilted Memo Stickers by Jenni Bowlin!  I've gotten to play with a colored version, but I'm an absolute sucker for black and whites, not to mention that I adore those sweet polka dots!

Speaking of Jenni Bowlin, in my monthly kit, I was introduced to Maya Road's cute and versatile Mini Kraft Jotter Tags.  I loved them so much, that I went hunting, on their website, for other new, krafty goodies and found these similar Decorative Kraft Journaling Tags...

these Black Kraft Typography Letters...

and this Hexagons Chipboard Set.

I also can't get enough of their Alterable Wood Buttons.  Yum!

Isn't this Clouds & Hearts Washi Tape, from Love My Tapes, the cutest?!

And I just can't mention "cute" without thinking Paper Smooches.  Their Happy Camper stamp set is said such from the get go, and it would be perfect for scrapping pics of my family's camping trips!

And finally, because it's Memorial Day weekend, I just had to throw in these fun Mini Flags...

and Badges from We R Memory Keepers' Red, White, and Blue Collection.  What a great way to express our patriotism, flaunt our pride, and say thank you to all the service men and women who gave their lives for our freedom!

That's all, for this month, y'all!  Thanks so much for peeking in, and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day weekend!  Hugs!