TCM Previews: Christmas Lantern

I have a houseful of little ladies for my birthday girls' combined slumber parties right now. It's tiring, but oh so much fun to watch them enjoy their childhood. My kids are growing up too fast and someday I'll miss these beautiful chaos in our home. :)

Anyhoo, welcome to day 3 of The Craft's Meow's October previews. Today we're showing a beautiful set by my friend Clare Buswell called Christmas Lantern. It has one big stamp that is fun to color, which I did here on my card with Copic markers. The little strip of patterned paper is October Afternoon. 

The doily background is something I designed that I cut with my Silhouette Cameo. Some Want2Scrap bling embellished the different elements of my card.

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews, including a chance to win today's set! Enjoy your day!

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Things that Made Me Smile

I have some happy lovelies to share with you today. SCS has the Hope You Can Cling To going on now and one of the challenges is to create something that makes you smile. The Craft's Meow is one of the prize sponsors.

My first is a card that uses some October Afternoon papers that evoke happainess and joy. I love this bike sticker. The sentiment is Chalkboard Birthday. I added the Twinery twine for streamers.

I'm entering this to the Moxie FabWorld's Ready Made Embellishments Challenge and Twinery In The Round Challenge:

And since we're on the subject, here are a few other things that made me smile lately. These were posted on my friends' Facebook pages. I hope they will bring a smile to your face today, too.

 A friend's son's handiwork :).

 And I can totally relate to this one :).

Here's a lovely song that I think is so sweet. It's sung by a talented young husband and wife duo:

Finally, another thing that makes me smile are sales and specials from my favorite scrapbooking companies. Here are a few:

Want2Scrap Free Shipping Promo!- valid from Oct 11-13, 2013

Scrapbook STEALS always have something I want at a huge discount.

Two Peas in a Bucket - valid until Oct 14, 2013
Check out their SALE items, too!

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The Craft's Meow Previews: Rustic Greetings and Chalkboard Faith

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's September previews. Today we're showing two sets, one designed by Angelica Suarez called Rustic Greetings and another by me called Chalkboard Faith.

I have two cards for you. The first one uses Chalkboard Faith in a feminine card. I looked for quotes by some of my favorite Reformed authors and preachers. Today's card uses one by Charles Spurgeon, sometimes referred to the Prince of Preachers.

I white embossed the quote and the border that is also in the set. I then die cut the cardstock using Spellbinders Labels 29. The papers are Teresa Collins. A couple of Want2Scrap rhinestones accent the chalkboard panel.

My second card uses Rustic Greetings. I stamped the background using 3 of the plaid-making designs in the set. I created a panel for the dear using one of my new Spellbinders die designs called Exquisite Labels 11.

I also die cut the oval using Spellbinders dies.

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews, including a chance to win today's set! Happy hopping!

The Craft's Meow Previews: Speaking of Fall

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's September previews. Today we're showing a sweet fall set, Speaking of Fall, designed by my friend Angelica Suarez. My card again today is CAS.

I first stamped a frame from my Sweet Memories set on the October Afternoon patterned paper. I inked the edges of the papers. Using Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares, I adhered a panel stamped with the lovely subway art sentiment from Speaking of Fall. I did a quick zigzag stitch on the right for more interest and texture.

I embellished the text with some cute paper pieced leaves also from the set. Some Want2Scrap rhinestones, Twinery and button decorated one corner.

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews, including a chance to win today's set! Happy hopping!

The Craft's Meow Previews: Autumn Border

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's September previews. Today we're showing a lovely autumnal border set by my friend Clare Buswell. My card today is almost CAS. I colored the main image with Copic markers. the papers are October Afternoon.

Here is a close up of the pumpkin border. I added blue Want2Scrap pearls for added interest.

Make sure you go to the TCM blog for more info on today's previews, including a chance to win today's sets! Have a great Tuesday, friends!

Penny Black Colorful Christmas Wreaths

I have a Christmas card for you today that follows Penny Black's color challenge going on now. Here is the inspiration:

And here's my card using one of my newest Penny Black stamps, Wreath Celebration. This stamp comes as one piece, but I bravely cut the hanging wreaths apart so I could color them separately. I had to do this carefully because the images are so close together, but I did it and I'm glad I did!

The gray in the color scheme is represented in the October Afternoon patterned paper and the Want2Scrap bling that embellished the wreaths.

I feel accomplished to have made my first Christmas card for this year. I've usually finished all 150+ by now, but with our busy summers and beginning school year, I'm far behind.  :) Here are my new Penny Black stamps that were recently released. Click on the photo to go to the Penny Black store:

  

Hello, Sweet Lady

Long time, no post...I know. I am stateside right now with lots of travel. I have projects to share, but haven't been able to find a block of time just to sit down and work on the computer. It has been a wonderful time of reunion, fellowship and just enjoying every conversation in our native tongue! :) We got to celebrate 4th of July on American soil with our loved ones here and that was such a treat for our family.

Today's card uses two of my favorite sets, Sweet Silhouettes and Sweet Sentiments. The frame is die cut with Spellbinders Labels 10.

The papers are October Afternoon. I embellished the card with my staple Want2Scrap pearls, doily, buttons, ribbon and paper flower.

Have a wonderful day and stay cool!

TCM June 2013 Blog Hop: Masculine

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's June Blog Hop. Our theme this month is Masculine. If you came from Lin Brandyberry, then you're at the right spot. Please check the TCM blog for the complete list.

I used my Let's Face It stamp set again for today's card.  I love these vintage and trendy elements of this set to create your own "man."  I stamped the different parts to coordinate with the scrap ribbons I used. Because the majority of the card elements are neutral (Kraft, brown, cream), I was able to add the different colored ribbons and they all still work together well.

I inked the edges of the panels to enhance the vintage feel. The white stitches from SRM Stickers was just the perfect addition to the dark brown background. The papers are October Afternoon.

I made a feminine version of this card that you can find HERE. This is the sketch I used for both cards. If you were inspired to use it, feel free to share the link in the comments so I can see. :)

One commenter will get a stamp set of their choice. Deadline to be eligible for prize is 11:59 EST, Thursday June 9th. Check the TCM blog for more detailed info.  Your next stop is Sharri Seffens. Happy hopping!

Little Joys Chalkboard Card

I have a card for you today using my new Chalkboard Birthday stamp set, this month's Free with $50 purchase over at The Craft's Meow. I heat embossed the sentiment with white on black for the chalkboard look.

The papers are October Afternoon's 9 to 5. Some pearls colored with black Copics and a strip of silver bling, both by Want2Scrap, along with seam binding, buttons and twine, adorn the card.

This is the stamp set I used, Chalkboard Birthday:

Have a great one, friends!

Glamorous Happy Birthday

I hope you all had a great weekend, friends! We had a 4-day one and took a quick trip to Budapest, Hungary. One of the perks of living in Croatia is we're close to many European sites. We took advantage of the weekend and had a much needed break before a crazy summer.

I have a card for you today that uses TCM's Let's Face It and Chalkboard Birthday stamp sets. With this set, you can do 2-step stamping. First stamp the outline image of the pretty lady, then stamp the shawl and hair. I had to add these retro glasses to make the lady more glamorous :).

The papers are October Afternoon. I added a couple of white SRM Stitches Stickers on the background. I used some scrap ribbons and lace on the background.

Here are a few photos from Budapest. It's a beautiful town!

 At night..

And this is the real reason we love Budapest. It's where the closest TGIF is! :) I initially thought, what bad timing to have gallbladder issues when we get to eat at this restaurant (which is real treat and only happens once every few years). But they had delicious salmon that was worth the wait!

Have a great week!

TCM Cards and Winners!

Thank you all for the lovely comments from the OWH blog hop! Before I announce the winners, I have a couple of new cards that I wasn't able to share during The Craft's Meow's release previews.

The first one uses Wildflowers, a set of whimsical flowers with both silhouette (the image on my card) and line art for those who like to color and/or paper piece. It also comes with two sentiments with a lovely vintage font. I made a tag that I inked with Distressed Inks. The main image was stamped with Versafine ink. The papers are October Afternoon. I embellished my card with Want2Scrap chevron bling, ribbon, button and burlap twine.

My second card uses Let's Face It. This is a set that is outside of my norm, but I had so much fun designing it! I stamped a "face" of a hipster man with inks that match the October Afternoon papers. Some buttons and twine are just the perfect embellishments.

Here are the stamps I used: Wildflowers

Let's Face It

***AND NOW THE WINNERS!***

From the NinaB Designs blog hop: Prize package #1 is...Mary Ann!

Prize Package #2 is...Jan!

From the OWH Memorial Day Hop...Jennifer Leung!

Winners, please email (via Contact tab above) me with your info within 4 days (till June 1) in order to claim the  prize. Mary Ann and Jan, please put under Subject, "May 2013 NBD Hop Winner." Jennifer, please put "OWH Winner" under Subject. This will help with organization and to avoid getting your email lost in my ever growing inbox. Thanks for understanding. Thank you all for entering! Have a great day!