BIG NEWS: Play Date Cafe

Hello, friends!  

I've got some very BIG, very sassy, very FUN news to share with you today:

I am joining the fabulous and oh-so talented design team at the 

Play Date Cafe

Pinch me.  I can hardly believe it.  Just run on over to the Cafe and check out all the eye candy... get inspired and play along.  I'll be joining the ladies officially on August 4th so mark your crafty calendars to join me then for some crafty fun.

I know that I've been away from blog land for a while, but I look forward to returning soon and being back in the swing of all things sassy!!

Hello, Vintage Girl

Pink Persimmon is introducing a new stamp set today: Hello Vintage Girl. Vintage Girl is stylish, sassy and chic - reminiscent of a 50's era woman.  She is the perfect size for card fronts and is great for Copic coloring and/or paper-piecing.  I must admit to being in love with a gal that wears a dress and heels while she chats on the phone.  What's not to love?

Her initial design was inspired by the imagery found on sewing pattern packaging.  I browsed the ever-knowledgable worldwide web and wanted to share some of the inspiration I found for my own design and packaging:

My "pattern packaging" using Hello Vintage Girl and a medium glassine bag:

The glassine bag as well as the focal image were heavily sponged using distress inks to give everything an aged feeling. My "PP" brand uses the Soda Pop alphabet. {Love this font!} 

Tucked inside the bag are some rosette embellishments that can be used by the recipient.  Using a Glue Dot, I adhered the rosettes to clear acetate (what clear stamps are typically stored on).  The dots should therefore be easier to remove and add to my crafty friend's projects.  The measuring tape twill is a perfect accent and is one of my favorite little somethings from the Pink Persimmon store.

Here's a better look at our girl:

Her dress was paper-pieced using the Odds and Ends collection from Cosmo Cricket.

Copic colors: Skin: Hair:

Thanks for visiting today... be sure to visit the other Pink Persimmon girls. 

{blog links in sidebar}

I know they will have lots of inspiration for you using Hello Vintage Girl.  

Just for You: Dad

This card is quick and oh-so manly.  Dad's day anyone?  It's also flat and perfect for mailing... woo-hoo!

I used the Limitless Labels dies and stamped the tree from Everyday Button Bits inside.  There's lots of subtle texture on this card - felt, ribbon, and woodgrain.  I like to add interest with elements like this when I'm not adding a lot of dimension.

Just a quickie post today... I've got lots of projects in the works... see you soon!

Stamps: PTI: Everyday Button Bits and Everyday Treats, SU! Woodgrain; Cardstock: SU! Kraft and Not Quite Navy, PTI Rustic Cream; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Early Bird; Tools: PTI Limitless Labels and Mat Stack 1 die, Fiskars Upper Crest punch; Sassy Somethings: PTI Fine Linen saddle stitch and Dark Chocolate felt

Gallery Idol: Congrats

I had a moment recently.  While prepping all the materials for a totally unrelated project (think: babies), I had an a-ha moment for the Papertrey Ink Alpha-block die.  Are you ready?  Are you sitting down?  SCRABBLE tiles.  Oh. My. Word.  The crafty-mojo goddesses are smiling on me. {click the picture for an enlarged view}

SO, a fantabulous idea such as this had to be for something special... something important... something sassy... something like PaperCrafts Magazine Gallery Idol competition.

I have to admit, Gallery Idol intimidates me a bit.  I mean, we're talking cream of the crop here - the most fantastic crafters from all around the world bringing their A-game to compete for some seriously awesome prizes.  It is worth a try - it is worth my best.  And scrabble tiles, my friends - well, I think they're pretty darn great.

My tiles were cut using coaster board and Papertrey's Alpha-block die then stamped with the My Favorite Things (MFT) Typewriter Alphabet (numbers are also part of the set).  I used Ranger Tea Dye distress ink and the PTI tea-dye duo for "antiquing".  A few of the tiles got a bit of Fresh Snow as well.  I didn't want them all to look the same - some needed to be more aged, etc.  Then, I embossed each tile with 2 coats of UTEE for dimension and shine.

The patterned paper is from October Afternoon and my tag was made using the MFT Notched Tag die-namic and stamps.  The little bit of sparkle makes me smile... something sassy to keep it "me".

Hope you have a great weekend... I've got Father's Day cards to get done so you can look forward to a few masculine cards next week.  HUGS!

What's that?  One more look?  Ok.

P.S. For those that love the little details: I had hubs look up the values for the Scrabble tile letters so that they would be accurate.  My type-A personality loves that sassy something!  ;)

Stamps: My Favorite Things - Typewriter Alphabet and Notched Tag stamps; Cardstock: PTI Kraft, Aqua Mist and Rustic Cream; Patterned Paper: October Afternoon - 5 and Dime collection; Ink: PTI tea-dye duo, Memento Tuxedo black, Ranger Tea Dye distress ink; Tools: PTI Seeing Stars dies and Alpha-blocks die, MFT 1/4" Rosette die-namic and Notched Tags die-namic; Other: Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel by Ranger (available at Michaels); Sassy Somethings: PTI Basic Black grosgrain, Glass glittered star from MemrieMare on etsy

Doily Bloom

It's been very shabby-chic around here lately {which is a good thing}, but I wanted to brighten things up a bit...

The Play Date Cafe has a lovely color story this week... so fresh and delightful.  

Here is their inspiration:

Can I just tell you how much I love lavender lately?

I used the bright colors to create a twist on one of Mona Pendleton's recent projects for Waltzingmouse Stamps.  I loved her layered doilies and was inspired to create my own "doily bloom".  I'm popping this over into the CASE Competition at WMS... check it out, you'll be inspired!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Dainty Doilies (large & small), Say It Loud; PTI - Sending You (leaves); Patterned Paper: Echo Park Springtime collection; Cardstock: PTI - Vintage and Rustic Cream, SU! Kiwi Kiss; Ink: SU! - Kiwi Kiss, Purely Pomegranate, PTI - Hibiscus Burst, Memento - Tuxedo Black; Tools: Spellbinders Scalloped Circles Lg.; Sassy Somethings: PTI - Lavender Moon buttons and Simply Chartreuse saddle stitch

CARDS Magazine - May

Hello friends!  I had a few cards published in the May issue of CARDS Magazine and wanted to share them here with you:

Celebrate Today

Included in: "Inside and Out"; pg. 90

My husband loved this card - which is sweet because he rarely takes much notice of my foofy things everywhere, but perhaps this is simpler and more his style. ;)

I really love how the main embellishment looks like a compass.  I created it by layering 2 felt stars cut with PTI's Seeing Stars die collection.  Patterned papers are October Afternoon - Thrift Shoppe.

the inside:

I Love You

Included in: "Jewels"; pg. 49

Just little bits of sweetness added to a cute cupcake. 

Personal Note: I've got a goal to blog every-other day this fine month of June. 

So hold me accountable and keep me crafty.  HUGS. ;)

Pink Persimmon Creative Team

Hello, friends!  I have something special to share with you today... something I have been keeping a secret... something I am SO excited about...

I am joining the Pink Persimmon Creative Team!

Pink Persimmon is a family business founded by two sisters: Judi and Darcy.  The stamps are created from the highest quality clear photopolymer and manufactured in the USA.  They have a great selection of designs, many vintage-inspired, and plan to release several more sets throughout the next few months. All of the images are beautiful and extremely versatile.

My project today uses the You're A Jewel stamp set.  It brought to mind my grandmother's brooches and antique jewelry.  Brooches, jewels, crystals... these are {hot} trends right now for crafting.

{click photo for enlarged view and sharpened image}

Buying clunky embellishments can get expensive - or be too heavy for card fronts.  These stamps are a great solution for creating custom, one-of-a-kind "sparklers" for your paper projects.  With the wide variety of rhinestones and colored pearls on the market, your jewels can always coordinate with your favorite patterned papers, etc.

Heat embossing is a fabulous touch for these to get lots of shine.  For my large jewel I stamped in VersaMark and then embossed with silver powder... a few silver rhinestones were the perfect touch.  On my smaller "brooch" I stamped in brown and embossed with clear powder then added pearls and rhinestones for my "bling".

Looking forward to sharing more Pink Persimmon with you in the coming weeks... be sure to check out their website and blog to stay up to date on creative team projects/tutorials as well as stamp releases.  HUGS.

Stamps: Pink Persimmon: You're A Jewel; Ink: VersaMark {jewels} and ColorBox Creamy Brown for edges; Paper: Melissa Frances' 5th Avenue collection; Sassy Somethings: Kaisercraft clear rhinestones, SU! pearls, Webster's Pages Spring Market eyelet trim, Cabbage Rose ribbon from MemrieMare on Etsy, and Maya Road trinket pin