TSTR Week 29 - Pearls and Pastels

Welcome to week 29 in The Shabby Tea Room and what a lovely Monday it is!

This week Clare is our lovely hostess and she has chosen such a very feminine challenge for us.  It is called Pearls and Pastels.  Here is the gorgeous photo she has supplied us with for inspiration:

I WANT THIS BRACELET!

Seriosly though, it is just oozing with gorgeousness!

Here is my card and I've used the stamp set "Something Sweet" generously supplied by Just Rite Stampers.

This week's Tea Room sponsor is ... JustRite Stampers!

JustRite is hosting the 12 Weeks of Christmas blog hops each Wednesday through Thanksgiving -- wonderful Christmas project inspiration from about 20 different designers each week! Details at the JustRite Inspiration blog. The Shabby Girls will be hopping with JustRite on October 27th ... so mark your calenders for this fun event that you won't want to miss :)

This week awesome prize package valued at almost $60:

- Free 1-3/16” wood stamper with the purchase of Witch Way To The Treats or Holiday Cheer stamp sets. - 25% off new configurations of font.

Please don't forget to visit the other Shabby Girls and see what they have come up with this week for your viewing pleasure!  You're sure to be inspired!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - {TSTR Creator} - Simple Treasures

Cathy Clark-Santie - Papier Girl

Clare Buswell - Clare's Creations

Nicole Segnere - My Craft Room Creations

Pattie Goldman - The Pampered Paper Patch

Have a great week everyone!

{hugs} Lisa

Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop

YAY!  It's time for another blog hop with PTI!

My favorite time of month.  This month the blog hop is all about creating a project using one of your favorite learned skills.  I have so many techniques and skills that I have learned since I entered this Oh So Fun world of cardmaking that it is hard to narrow it down.....so I didn't.  LOL  Well I did narrow it down to 2 fun card templates and 1 super cool technique.

Oh and by the way, the Halloween themed Papertrey products have taken over this blog post!  I can't help it, I am in LOVE!

Lately I have been fascinated with making non-traditional cards and boxes.

I found some amazing tutorials on the Splitcoast Stampers website

and I'm going to share 2 of them with you today.  As for the super cool technique, I got a tip about a white gel pen recently in the Papertrey News e-mail from Nichole and Jennifer about their favorite products. 

So for a quick summary, here are the 3 skills I am sharing for this month's blog hop with pictures to follow:

1) Criss Cross Card by Beate Johns

2) Gable Boxes by Regina Andari

3) Faux stitching with a white gel pen

(Uni-Ball Signo favorite of Nichole Heady and Jennifer Ellefson)

For the 1st one, a criss cross card, by Beate Johns, I followed the template here at Splitcoast Stampers.

Here is what the insert looks like:

For the 2nd one, I made two gable boxes, by Regina Andare. 

I followed the template here at Splitcoast Stampers.

And finally for the 3rd technique thanks to Nichole Heady and Jennifer Ellefson for suggesting the Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen.  I have used many many white gel pens and I have never gotten the results that I achieved with this pen.  In a word it is AWESOME!  It is bright and white on dark paper and there is no scratchy missed spots when you are writing like with other gel pens!  I got mine at Scrapbook.com but you can get them in lots of places.  It was such a popular item that when I went to order it, I found out it was back ordered.  It finally came in the mail and it was worth the wait!

On this card I used the white pen to create the faux stitching around the border of the black card and around the border of the orange Mat Stack 4 die from PTI.

I love this pen and I will be reaching for it over and over again!  I even bought 2 so I wouldn't run out anytime soon since they are hard to come by!

Here are all of the products and supplies used to make my cards and boxes:

(All products PTI unless otherwise listed)

Criss Cross Card: Halloween Prints DP, Mat Stack 2 Die, Tiny Treats Halloween Stamp Set, Embellishments Stamp Set, McGill File Tab Punch, Stampin Up Scallop Border Punch, Ribbon from Michaels.

Gable Boxes:  Halloween Prints DP, Mat Stack 2 & 4 Dies, Tiny Treats Halloween Stamp Set, Rustic Jute Button Twine, Black Buttons, Stampin Up Scallop Border Punch, Ribbon from Michaels.

Faux Stitching Card: Halloween Prints DP, Mat Stack 2 & 4 Dies, Tiny Treats Halloween Stamp Set, Rustic Jute Button Twine, Black Button, Stampin Up Scallop Border Punch, Ribbon and Rhinestones from Michaels, Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen.

Ok that was a LONG blog post but I really had so much fun creating and so much to share!  Happy blog hopping everyone and thank you to PTI, Nichole Heady, Jennifer Ellefson, Beate Johns and Regina Andari for all of the wonderful inspiration!

Have a Super Week Everyone!

{Hugs} Lisa

Polka Doodles Week 38 Challenge - Hidden Element

Welcome to the Polka Doodles week #38 Challenge!  This week the challenge is to hide something within, perhaps inside a box or a card.  I am in love with this template that I found on Splitcoast Stampers for a gable box and it can be made to any theme!  Nikky's new CD Sundae of Seasons has just about all of the cute graphics you could find for all of the seasons!  I chose to go with a winter theme and make a box that could easily hold or hide, a small package of hot chocolate!  The box itself is made from one of the background papers from the new CD and the adorable mug and holly leaf are from the winter section!

Don't forget to check out what the other girls have created for you!  You will love the projects they made with their hidden elements, from boxes to cards to CD cases! 

Enjoy and have a great weekend everyone!

{hugs} Lisa

 

Exciting News To Share!

Today I have some exciting news to share with all of you who may stop by!  I received a blog highlight on Kazan and Laura's 2s4y blog!  I am so excited and honored.  I love their website and their great sketches!  They have an amazing design team and I love to see their work each week!

Is this a great hobby or what?

Have a great day everyone!  I already am!

{hugs} Lisa

TSTR week 28 - School Days & Welcome To Our New Shabby Girls!

Welcome Back Students - School is now in session!

Can you guess the theme this week in The Shabby Tea Room?

Yes we are back to school and I've officially regained my title of "Mom's Taxi Service"!

Oh well, at least I've only got another 12 years of taxi duty! 

Oy Vey!

Ok, so thanks to our very own talented shabby girl Cathy, we were challenged to make a card or project with a school theme.  Here is the inspiration photo:

Our generous sponsor this week in the Tea Room is:

Digi Doodle Shop is the result of a mother and daughter’s love for the arts and crafts. It was started just a couple of months ago with a little more than 100 stamps, and has since then grown to over 250 stamps - now available.

Digi Doodle Shop has generously supplied the Shabby Girls with a complimentary image to design with and I chose the Clutch Purse Set.  It was quite a challenge to incorporate those beautiful purses into a school theme but then I remembered that Teachers are part of the whole back to school theme and presto, it came to me.  Classy purses - Classy Teachers and voila - "Teachers Have Class"

Please don't forget to visit the other DT members and see what they have come up with this week for your viewing pleasure!  We happen to have some of the most talented designers on the web.... I'm just sayin'

Oh yeah and speaking of DT members, would you officially help me welcome our 2 newest Shabby Girls!

*****************Drumroll Please******************

Clare Buswell - Clare's Creations

&

Pattie Goldman - The Pampered Paper Patch (how cute is that name!)

These 2 ladies have been loyal Shabby Tea Room followers for a very long time now and they are going to make a lovely addition to our little team!  They both have a unique vintage and shabby style and their work is just gorgeous!  I know you will help me in giving them a warm welcome to the team!

And don't forget the rest of the team:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - {TSTR Creator} - Simple Treasures

Cathy Clark-Santie - Papier Girl

Nicole Segnere - My Craft Room Creations

Sadly though, we are saying goodbye this week to 2 of our DT members as their term is up.

Audrey Pettit - Audrey Pettit's Weblog

&

Melissa Hubert - My Paper Obsession

Audrey and Melissa we will miss you but we are sure that you will frequent the Tea Room as often as you can and share a cup of tea with us!  Audrey and Melissa have been with Debbie in the Tea Room since it's inception and I have been honored to design along side of them! 

Whew!!  I think I got it all in!  All that's left to say now is have an awesome week and don't forget to show us your school projects!

{hugs} Lisa

Polka Doodles week 37 - Easel Card

Here is sweet little Polly Pumpkin!  I wonder what spell she is looking up?  I just love Halloween!  Great bold colors and such cute cute graphics!  Nikky Hall at Polka Doodles has done it again!  She has created such cuteness that you must check out her new CD titled "Sundae of Seasons"!  Her Halloween Doodles have the cutest witches, pumpkins and ghosts on it to play with, you'll be glad you checked it out!  Actually all of the seasons on the CD are just brimming with wonderful graphics and background papers! 

Our challenge this week at Polka Doodles is to create an easel card.  I personally love making easel cards, they are so much fun and they really lend themselves to such cute embellishments! 

 

Don't forget to check out what my teamies have done with their easel cards!  They are showcasing the new CD as well and you are in for a treat!

One last picture of my card with a closeup of the sentiment and bow in the top corner!  Did I mention I am in love with this card??!!!

Ok everyone!  Have a great weekend and show us your easel cards!

{hugs} Lisa

Missing Mojo :-(

Seriously, am I the only one who loses their mojo now and then?  Sometimes I don't even feel like going near my craft table and sometimes I can't get enough!  So many supplies and so many ideas and not one iota of inspiration lately...  I don't know what happens.  Well late last night I was blog hopping as usual and I came across Kazan's sketch #61 over at 2s4y and I thought I'd give it a whirl. 

I am actually very happy with the way this card came out.  There are a few things that can generally make me happy and that is PTI products and the color scheme on this card.  I just love the sweet blush and aqua mist combo together and a satin pink bow will usually put me over the top!  I am also in love with the new mat stack die from PTI on my card, not to mention that cute butterfly!  Ok enough rambling, here is the card, I sincerely hope there will be more to follow!

Have a great day everyone!

{hugs} Lisa

**P.S.  If you find my missing mojo, please return immediately to my studio!!  It is dearly missed!**

TSTR week 27 - Fresh Living

Welcome to Monday and another challenge in The Shabby Tea Room!

This week is hosted by Audrey and our challenge is titled Fresh Living.

Our challenge this week is to use a nature/green theme in our projects and our wonderful sponsor is

Tiffany Doodles.

Tiffany Doodles in an online digital image shop with the most adorable hand drawn images.

Tiffany is offering 10 digi images for winner; 6 images for 1st runner up; 4 images for 2nd runner up; 2 images for 3rd runner up, so play along with us this week for your chance to win!

The Design Team was also provided with some images to play with and my card above features the topiery set in keeping with the nature/green theme.  I colored my trees with markers and then cut them out.  They look so nice popped up on this cream colored tag.

Don't forget to check out what the other design team girlies have created for your "green" inspiration!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - {TSTR Creator} - Simple Treasures

Audrey Pettit - Audrey Pettit's Weblog

Cathy Clark-Santie - Papier Girl

Melissa Hubert - My Paper Obsession

Nicole Segnere - My Craft Room Creations

Have a great week everyone!

{hugs} Lisa

TSTR week 26 - Tag You're It

Welcome to another Shabby Tea Room Monday Morning!  I have such a fun project to share with you today!  Recently I was blog hopping along and I came across the cutest little gabled box template and video on the Splitcoast Stampers website.  I just knew I had to make one!  The first one I made was a cute Halloween themed box that I will definitely be making again in a few weeks for my son's classmates.  It was sooo cute I had to make it again for my sweet Sunbonnet Sue image this week from Bugaboo Stamps!

Our theme this week in The Shabby Tea Room is "Tag You're It" and our lovely host is our very own fearless leader Debbie. 

Bugaboo Stamps is our generous sponsor this week and has supplied the DT with the most adorable digis!

Bugaboo is owned by Jodie Mackrell and in her shop she has a variety of images from cutesy to sassy ladies.

I chose the adorable Sunbonnet Sue image with a basket of strawberries in honor of my Mom!  She is a Sunbonnet Sue lover and she even made a quilt for my daughter once with several Sunbonnet Sue patches on it!  I decided to make a card and a matching treat box with my adorable image.  Here is the card:

And here is the cute little box:

I used my cute little tag die from Papertrey Ink to stamp Sweet on the card and the box in keeping with the Tag You're It theme.  This little box was so easy to make, it only took one 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper, a scor board, some adhesive and some scissors (or paper trimmer) and a circular or oval punch for the handles.  Easy Peasy!  Try one, you'll be smitten too!

Don't forget to check out what my other teamies in the Tea Room have made for you to be inspired by!

You can visit their individual blogs here:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - {TSTR Creator} - Simple Treasures

Audrey Pettit - Audrey Pettit's Weblog

Cathy Clark-Santie - Papier Girl

Melissa Hubert - My Paper Obsession

Nicole Segnere - My Craft Room Creations

Ok!  Ready, Set, Go use your tags and have some fun!

{hugs} Lisa

Polka Doodles Week 35 Challenge - Shaped Card

Welcome to another Polka Doodle Challenge! This week it is Ruth's turn to host the challenge and she has asked the Design Team to pick one from a choice of three of the brand new templates which were released in July. The templates that she asked us to use were Baking / Gardening Theme, Twittie-Twoo or Hugo Pandapaws.  As you can see from my creation above, I chose the Baking/Gardening Theme and I have embellished this Oh So Cute Apron!  I am just in love with the way it turned out and I think instead of a card, I might just pop this little cutie onto a recipe book for my daughter.  I used background paper from the Candy Doodles CD and I am really happy with the way it came out!  Nikky Hall has done it again with her super adorable designs and wait til you see what she has up her sleeves for Autumn and Winter!!!

So the challenge to all of you is to create a shaped card. We don't want to see squares, rectangles or circles but something unusual. If you are a little short of inspiration, have a look at the samples the Design Team has created for you! 

Did I mention that I love this apron?  hee hee hee!

Recipe for Apron:
Background Paper - Candy Doodles CD by Polka Doodles
Apron Template - Nikky Hall for Polka Doodles
Green Cardstock on pockets, Twine, Polka dot stamp and 2 small tag sentiments - Papertrey Ink
Scallop Edge Punch - Martha Stewart
Scallop Circle Punches - EK Success
Rhinestones and Pink Ribbon - Michaels
Sentiment on scallop circle - computer generated
Felt Flowers on pockets - Joann Fabrics

Ok so I think that's everything for now!  Be sure to let me know what you think of my little apron!

Have a great day everyone!  I already am!

{hugs} Lisa