Getting Merry!

I cannot ever remember the last time I participated in a Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.  I am certain it's been donkey's years!  Even though I am not quite ready to take the leap into full steam ahead Christmas crafting just yet, I was happy enough to get a few tags on the go.  I made three, but the following wine bottle tag was the only one that fit the bill as far as being directly inspired by a specific group of colours for the blog hop, which is all about non-traditional holiday color schemes.

I suspect I have one of those wacky Papertrey Ink Sweet Blush ink pads that many folks have been talking about, as it is looking a lot less Sweet Blush/pink than advertised.  Oh well.  Lucky it still matches, I guess.  This bottle tag was further inspired by a tag I once spied ages ago from Betsy Veldman, I am pretty sure.  I am certainly having a vague moment on typing this post so forgive me if I got it wrong.  It was just one of those many offerings from the PTI DT that stuck in my mind and got me itching to craft not to mention part with a bit of my hard earned cash.  LOL

So,  that's it for me today.  Happy hopping!  

Celebrate Today In A Magnificent Rustic, Shabby-licious Way!

I've been a bit cranky of late, because I haven't had as much crafty time as I would like. Too busy with the not so fun chores of everyday life, I guess. So I had to quietly sneak in a few therapeutic and very precious moments to make a card, with the sole purpose of getting a wee crafty hit to see me through my seemingly hectic days.  I created this card inspired form the colors of the current CR84FN Color Challenge showcasing Light Pink, Tan, and Cream coupled with the gorgeous photo inspiration from The Shabby Tea Room.  Just what I needed to kick start a short, nurturing but much appreciated crafting session.  Ahhh!

My card ended up being a melange of shabby and rather rustic textures, textiles and tones.   I just aged, stamped, trussed, threaded, stained, clipped and snipped to my crafty heart's content.  Bliss.

Now back to the grindstone for me.  Thanks for stopping by.  Here's to more joyous times in our crafty havens!  

You've Got To Bloom Where You Are Planted.

Lord knows, I am all about making the most of whatever hand of cards I am dealt and trying my very best to metaphorically bloom where I am planted.  So much so, in fact, that with all the lemons life's given me, I most certainly now have honed a kick butt recipe for a mean batch of lemonade. When I first came across this sentiment from Papertrey Ink some time ago, I wondered what it would best be used for?  But now, I see it as the perfect sentiment for making the most of any situation and striving to be your best despite the odds perceived before you.  I could be reading more into it than is meant (more than likely), but to me, it's a great reminder to stand tall, take a deep breath or three, summon my best and Go For It!

So with this mantra ever in mind, I decided to take a little stroll over to The Shabby Tea Room and see what's doing over there, as it's been a terribly long time since I've participated in their challenges. This week's inspiration photo of a gorgeously laid table setting complete with crisp white embroidered linen and the prettiest roses and lisianthus  delightfully placed just so, called this sentiment to the fore.  The challenge was to create a project inspired by the image while using the colours Pink, Green and White and lace.  You and I both know that I cannot do proper "white" in all it's pristine glory to save my soul, but I did create using the typical Jen's Jacked-Up version of white in it's more aged, stained form. When it came to using pink and green, I squealed with glee as I adore this combination tremendously.  And the flowers...Oh Happy Day! 

Another of my many loves (yes, I have eyes for more than just roses) are vintage table linens.  I have quite a collection, certainly more than I have tables or opportunities to ever use them, but...  I do admire a beautifully laid table and should the occasion arise, I'll be ready.  *wink*  The circular scalloped shape of my card is a nod to the lovely place setting pictured specifically as the other elements of my card more loosely follow on from the other aspects in the inspiration photo.

Many thanks for stopping by and for allowing me to share with you just another of my many musings.  I appreciate your visit so.  Here's to a beautiful, bloom-filled day!   

Baby Boy Blue.

I always delight in making baby cards and revelling in the joy of a new birth.  There is something about  a new life that always reminds me how very blessed I am on so many levels.  The funny or rather quirky "me-like" aspect of this current paper crafting creation is that I actually don't have a current birth to celebrate, but felt like a little fanciful yet jubilant hit that only a new baby can bring.

This card was born out of the current CR84FN Color Challenge showcasing Light Blue, Yellow and Green.  I also wanted to take the opportunity to submit once again for the current call for DTs for this esteemed challenge.  I think that my last two submissions are all that are required, but I thought, why not...just to be sure to be sure that they know what a keen bean I am.  Overkill perhaps.

This card afforded me the opportunity to use the cutest Onesie die from Papertrey Ink.  This is such a fun die that can be used to make Onesie shaped cards or can be utilised as I have done as a Onesie shaped focal embellishment.   The Onesie was cut from a sheet of the sweetest 6x6 paper pack from Crate Paper called Little Boy Blue.  I highly recommend this pack if you are after delight after delight when it comes to delectable patterned paper 100% suited to wee boy bairn.  After cutting out the die and staining the edges, I glued a few snippets of the softest pale blue vintage lace I could find in my stash.  The die cut ovals with Waltzingmouse Stamps' "Wee Little Baby" sentiment is also from Papertrey Ink and is part of their Limitless Layers Oval set which is also a handy little set to have in one's stamping arsenal.

Lastly, I wanted to mention the cool knit textured background stamp from Impression Obsession that I stamped with Sky Blue ink from Memento.  It is one of those nifty, photorealistic, red-rubber Cover-A-Card stamps that I am so fond of.  I have a few dozen of them and would not want to be without them. Ever. 100% worth a look-see.

Thank you so much for popping by.  I enjoy each of your visits so.  Here's to a delightful day filled with the heavenly fragrance or thoughts thereof a new baby.  What joy!