My True North

Hello !

I'm so glad you could swing by The Open Window

because it's 'Splash' time over at

It's one of the favorites in The Cafe

and this time, we're using Emerald Green

Before I get to my project, I want to make sure you head

over to The Cafe this week because we have a brand new

joining us and I know you'll just love her!

 

I've been working a lot of Clean & Simple lately and seem to

always go that route when it 'splash' time.

I chose to use one of the sets from Avery Elle to make this card.

This is a true testament that you can use products meant for another time,

as this paper is October Afternoon's 'Witch Hazel' collection.

It was the perfect accent for the color story.

This week, we welcome back

as our sponsor.

Thank you oh so much for stopping by.

I always appreciate your visits.  I know how

many creative blogs are out there and mine is a

simple drop in the ocean, so thank you for your support !

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Witch Hazel by October Afternoon
Stamps: Let's Get Knotty by Avery Elle

Embellishments: gem & brads from Recollections

It's Our Final Splash!

Hello and welcome to a very busy day here at The Open Window !

I am super excited to share our last 'Color Splash' challenge

of 2012 over at 

I love this graphic chosen by our Color Story Coordinator

Jaclyn Miller and I think it's perfect for the season.

This time, the 'splash' is Maroon

I recently ordered a couple of stamp sets from Mama Elephant

and have not had much time to create with them, so I thought this

was a perfect opportunity to play with the snow globe in the set.

I stamped the cityscape using Memento's 'Rhubarb Stalk'.

The sentiment is from The Craft's Meow

I sure hope you can make time to play along this week.

It's always fun to see what 'splashes' you come up with.

This week's winner will win something fun from our prize vault.

I'll see you soon !

Project Recipe:

Patterned Paper: Bazzill
Stamps: Mama Elephant & The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: gems from Want2Scrap

I'll Have a 'Splash' of Lime...Please

I'll give you one guess when it comes to the challenge

I have to share with you just now !

Yep . . . it's 'Color Splash' time over at

This time around, we are going with a simple splash of

Lime Green

This week, our designers were given a beautiful selection of

sticker images from our sponsor, SRM Stickers.

I planned everything around the beautiful sentiment and

ornate border from 'Fancy Thinking of You' stickers by SRM.

I created the medallion using Spellbinder's Moroccan Accents

and Standard Circles dies.

I want to thank a whole bunch of girls over on Facebook for

coming to my rescue when I couldn't get the papers to release

cleanly from the die because of their lovely detailing.

If you're not sure how to either, then I pass on to you the idea

to place waxed paper between the die & paper or cardstock.

They release like b.u.t.t.a.h. ! ! !

The gorgeous gem flourish is from Want2Scrap and the perfect

seam binding is from Ribboncarousel.com

As I mentioned, we are really happy to have

with us as our sponsor and you will be absolutely

blown away by what are designers did with theirs !

Hope you'll play along with us this week.

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Pure Luxury by Gina K Designs

Patterned Paper: PB&J by BasicGrey from StopandScrap.com

Embellishments: Fancy 'Thinking of You' Stickers by SRM Stickers

gemstones/flourish from Want2Scrap

seam binding from Ribboncarousel.com

Tools: Moroccan Accents & Standard Circle dies by Spellbinders

Big Shot

Let's Chat & 'Splash' !

Welcome back . . . I'm so happy you had a moment to

stop by because I have a great challenge to share !

What a beautiful image, huh ? !

Our Jaclyn Miller knows how to create the

perfect color story for us.

This week, it's 'splash' week and we are using

Blue

It's definitely all about the 'splash' on this card.

I used one of my favorite stamp sets from Paper Smooches

called 'Vogue Abode'.

There's nothing like 'blinged-out' accessories !

 

The gems are a lovely shade of blue and were provided by

this week's sponsor . . .

Hey !  Don't forget that we are looking for additions to our design team

and we would love it if you would consider submitting.

We are adding 

SEVEN 

new designers to our team ! ! !

It's an exciting time to be a part of the PDCC family !

Check out the details on the DT Call and of course,

this week's challenge all over in The Cafe

I'll see you soon . . .

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Vogue Abode by Paper Smooches

Embellishments: gemstone from Want2Scrap

What's the Buzz?

It's that time once again!

Say it with me....

'Color Splash'  ! ! !

I don't know which I love more....

the fact that we are trying out another neutral color

as our 'splash' for the very first time

or

this terrific graphic ?!

So here is another little fun fact that I am pretty sure I've

never shared...

I love rabbits.

I love real rabbits...

stuffed rabbits...

(especially of the handcrafted artisan-type)

and vintage-style figurines

So this graphic is one of my favorites we've had to date.

I knew right away that I would be pulling out my baker's twine for this one.

The Twinery's 'cappuccino' was the perfect color.  I paired it with 'charcoal'

and I really like the look.

How about this adorable stamp set from The Craft's Meow? !

It's a new release designed by NinaB Designs and is a limited edition

gift with purchase right now.

It's called 'Thanks Bee to Thee' and has become one of my faves.

{this is a post full of favorites : }

The sweet'heart' bee wings were filled in with platinum Stickles

{yes, my favorite color glitter glue : }

We are happy to be offering a wonderful prize from our prize vault

provided by The Twinery, so you too, can have these colors and more

for your baker's twine collection.

So head on over to The Cafe, check out the amazing inspiration

from our design team and come 'splash' with us!

Project Recipe:

Stamps:  Thanks Bee to Thee by The Craft's Meow

Embellishments: Cappuccino & Charcoal baker's twine from The Twinery

Platinum Stickles by Ranger

Enjoying the Moment

I am getting ready for a very busy weekend beginning

with this post...lots of challenges, new releases and blog hops

are on the agenda!

So let's kick it off with this week's challenge over at....

It's Color Splash Week and we are pulling out all the stops with

hot pink!

This week, The Twinery provided all of our designers with 

'Pink Sorbet' baker's twine

and it was a terrific way to add just the right 'splash'!

I heard from a lot of people when I featured this same flower on a post

earlier in the week...asking if I would please 

share a tutorial on how it was created.

So I am going to see what I can do to make that happen.

I love everything about this very Clean and Simple Design.

That's the great thing about the Color Splash....it's black and white

with just a 'splash' of one color...so let's see YOUR hot pink designs!

Many thanks to The Twinery, this week's sponsor.

A few of the designers there are also playing along, so make

sure you stop by The Twinery blog and check out even more creativity

in hot pink.

Check out the HUGE 10K GIVEAWAY GOING ON
AT THE TWINERY!  OVER $600 IN PRIZES
including complete baker's twine collections,
Xyron Creatopia, Momenta, Market Street Stamps & more!!

I look forward to seeing what you create...so make sure you hop on over

to The Play Date Cafe, get inspired by our designers and play along!

Project Recipe: 

Stamps: Heidi Grace & The Paper Company

Embellishments: Baker's twine in Pink Sorbet from The Twinery
Brad from Making Memories

Making a Holiday Splash!

I hope you are having a great week!

I am very excited to share the new challenge

from The Play Date Cafe.

I love this inspiration photo and so appropriate

for the Christmas season.

Because it is such a busy time, we thought it would

be a terrific time to make your challenge a bit 

easier to play.  All you'll need is ONE COLOR!

I am such a huge fan of our 'Color Splash'

challenges and it was nearly two years ago

that we had our very first one which featured

this beautiful color...teal.

This is a challenge that is always fun to create CAS.

I pulled out a sweet stamp set from Recollections and

stamped the trees.  Then I did a little 'faux watercolor' technique.

It's just using my Copics and the blender and letting it

leak beyond the design to give the effect of watercolor.

The beautiful sentiment is from Market Street Stamps.

We are really happy to have

Cindy Coutts Designs

as this week's sponsor and the wonderful prize

up for grabs is something featured on my card

this week.

So head on over to The Cafe...you are going to

be blown away by the design team creations on

display there.

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Essential Holiday Elegance from Market Street
Tree image from Recollections

Embellishments: Haute by American Crafts

Tools: Labels 18 from Spellbinders, Big Shot

A Splash of Joy

The week goes by so quickly, doesn't it?!

It is already time for another challenge from

 

 

It's 'Color Splash' time over in The Cafe

and it's always a party when it's a splash.

I am typically a 'purist' when it comes to

a color splash challenge.

Black and white with just a hint of color...

but I loved these little banner letters from

Little Yellow Bicycle and really enjoyed making this card.

 

 

 Yeah...it's just a little 'off-white' and I'm ok with that!

There are not enough hours in the day for me when it

comes to the new dies and EF's from Sizzix/BasicGrey.

I love this background and whenever I use it,

the sentiment on this card rings true.

The Twinery's 'Charcoal' bakers twine is the perfect hanger.

We are sponsored this week by

and the prize is pretty phenominal!

So make sure you pop over to The Cafe and check

out all the inspiration from our designers.

To quote my teammate Michele...

It's time to get your 'splash' on!

Project Recipe:

Tools: Pear Vine EF by Sizzix/BasicGrey

Embellishments: Bakers Twine in Charcoal by The Twinery
Hello Fall Alphabet from Family Tree Kit by Little Yellow Bicycle

Sailing with a 'Splash' of Color

Lots of black and white with just a 'hint' of color

can only mean one thing...

 It's 'Color Splash' week

over at The Play Date Cafe!

This week, it's a Player's Choice and you get

to choose your own 'splash'.

Each of our designers featured their splash of

 color using baker's twine from our sponsor...

 The Twinery has THE BEST baker's twine

on the planet!  Of course, you may think me biased as

I am the design team coordinator for them...

but if you want beautiful 100% cotton in very

saturated colors, then you want baker's twine

from The Twinery.

I have loved all the nautical-themed stamps and papers

this summer and thought it would be a good theme for the splash.

I grabbed this fabulous stamp featuring a Webster's Pages

design from Unity for my focal point this week and used

'Caribbean' baker's twine for the sailboat ropes.

We are saying goodbye to one of our fabulous 

designers this week.  Fiona Schultz has finished her term with

us and is moving on to do things in her country

of Australia, focused on family and her creative work.

I know I will miss her and I thank her for all the

inspiration and friendship she has brought to me.

I hope you will pop by her blog and wish her well

and join us this week in The Cafe.

I'll be back tomorrow to share a few photos from

the CHA Show in Chicago.

Project Recipe:

Stamps:  'Celebrate' by Webster's Pages for Unity

Embellishments:  'Caribbean baker's twine by The Twinery, 

Tools:  Embossing Folder by Quickutz, Big Shot

A Farewell Blog Hop with a Splash



This week's challenge at The Play Date Cafe is a very

special one as we say goodbye to one of it's creators...

Our Senior Designer & my bestie Sarah

is officially leaving us to pursue a wonderful

opportunity in her hometown in the UK.

All of the details are over in The Cafe....so I hope you

will read the story of our humble beginnings

and the story of what's next on her creative journey.

Of course, we will always be close and connected

and I thank her from the bottom of my heart

for all of the inspiration she has brought to the challenge.

Sarah LoVeS doing the color splash challenge and I

thought it was a terrific way to send her off to new adventures.

This week's splash of color is GREEN

and is sponsored by

The images used on this card are from our sponsor.

To honor Sarah, our design team wanted to do a

blog hop with each of our designers and when you

hop along to each of our designers' blogs and leave

a comment, you will be entered to win a prize

from The Play Date Cafe Prize Menu.

You'll find each of the links

over in The Cafe.

 

Today's Project Recipe:

Cardstock & Designer Paper: A Muse Studio
Stamps: Skipping Stones Design
Ink: Memento in 'Tuxedo'
Markers:  Copic

A Bird on a Wire Cage in The Play Date Cafe

I spy with my little eye black and white with a

splash of color!

You know what that means....

It's 'Color Splash' time in The Cafe!

Now I know we are all knee-deep in

Christmas creations, but why not spice it up

a bit with a non-traditional color??!!!

Yes I know...my card is hardly Christmas-themed

but it sure could be.  I could have added white poinsettias

and a sweet holiday sentiment.

But I chose to use these sweet little blossoms by

Making Memories that my friend Mona Pendleton

sent to me in a lovely gift package awhile back.

They were just calling my name!

The MM set came with tiny silver brads, but I 

switched them for tiny yellow ones.

How about that little yellow bird in a cage?!!

We have Jolee's Boutique to thank for that

lovely acetate embellishment.

The beautiful flourish circle frame is from 

Mark's Finest Papers, a recent sponsor

over in The Cafe.

So how about it?

I would love to see your creativity using

black, white and a splash of yellow!

Go check out the rest of the fabby creations

by our fabby design team

and then get your thinking cap on and play!