Red, White & Blue!

Good afternoon, my friends!

WOW!  I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted!  Still visiting my parents, and as I'm sure you all know, when you're surrounded by family, time is definitely not your own!  (And I wouldn't have it any other way!)

I have managed, in the last few days, to steal away a bit of time and make a few red, white & blue-themed cards which I have to share with you today...

First, for this week's Crafty Secrets' challenge over at Splitcoast....to use red, white and blue, but NOT make it Fourth of July-ish....tricky, right?!  Here's my take on it...

I love this beautiful image from Crafty Secrets' new and improved (printed on BOTH sides!) "Garden" Creative Scraps...beautiful strawberries...perfect! 

Lots of pretty creamy lace, grosgrain & slim satiny ribbon, my favorite vintage mother-of-pearl buttons (I had to bring a bagful with me from home!)...

...Platinum Stickles, lots of Dazzling Diamonds...nice and sparkly...

Next, just a fun summertime card...

One of my favorite images from Crafty Secrets' "Summertime" Images & Journal Notes booklet...If I could have a bathing suit like this, I'd be out in the water MUCH more often!

Some pretty crocheted lace, nice fat rick-rack trim, and some fabulous sea shells...

...more Dazzling Diamonds to sparkle up the water and a bit on her umbrella, and surrounded by platinum Stickles.  I just printed up the "Bathing Beauty" on the computer...

And lastly, a little something for the Fourth of July...

This fun bunch of images comes from Crafty Secret's "Seasonal" Images & Journal Notes booklet...the three vintage images are quite small, and just seemed perfect to fit inside that wonderful journalling space...

Lace, some beautiful red Martha Stewart seam binding, my vintage buttons again...

...I cut out some cardstock to mimic the shape of the journalling image, and covered it with Glossy Accents and some fabulous bright blue vintage German glitter glass I just found at a wonderful antique shop here near my parent's house....found some real treasures I'll share with you later!  Also, some silver German glass glitter from the same shop--nice and chunky! 

Surrounded it all with some silver Stickles, just to clean up the edges...some Dazzling Diamonds on the sparkly parts of the little images...and that's about it!

I'll have some family time to share with you all when I get home in a couple of weeks, when I can edit things properly (it's hard on someone else's computer!) 

We're having a marvellous time with my family...lots of cousins for the kids to play with, warm & beautiful weather in the Rocky Mountains....just perfect!

Hope you're all having a most wonderful summer day, and I'll see you soon with something new!

Sweet Dreams and a Sweetie Pie…

Good afternoon, everyone!
Another weekend here already…time’s zooming past…summer will be here before we know it!
Just a couple of things to share with you today…This week in Splitcoast’s Crafty Secrets’ Forum, Pammyjo has challenged us to use zig zags or rick rack on our cards…easy peasy for this vintage girl!
Here’s my first:

Such an adorable vintage fantasy image…everything that’s going on around this little girl while she’s napping…

This image is from Crafty Secrets’ “Childhood” Images & Journal Notes booklet…I just typed up the “sweet dreams” sentiment on the computer using one of my favorite fonts—“Monterey BT”—love it!
Lots of Dazzling Diamonds on the dream creatures, silver Stickles around the image, card and on the buttons, lace, yummy silky ribbon, and rick-rack trim.
Since the rick-rack trim didn’t really stand out on this card, I made another…

Another sweet little image from Crafty Secrets’ “Domestic Goddess” Creative Scraps…

LOTS of rick-rack on this one—wanted to make sure the Splitcoast ladies could see it!  A paper doily, vintage buttons, PTI black grosgrain (love it!), a touch of Dazzling Diamonds, and silver Stickles….that’s about it!
Well, that’s all for me today…it’s going to be a busy weekend for us…lots going on…but that’s what weekends are all about, isn’t it?
Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you very soon with something new…
Julie

Calendar Girls...and My Very Own Badge!

Good afternoon, my friends!

What a wonderful day it's been for this girl, and it's going full-blown, non-stop till I hit my head on the pillow...who knows when tonight!  Hope your day has been great, as well!

Just a couple of things to share with you today really quick, then off to pick up my girls...

First off, this week's challenge over at Splitcoast is to use a calendar in our cards...I was having a tough time with this, so here's what I came up with...

...I used this GORGEOUS image from Crafty Secrets' "Seasonal" Images & Journal Notes booklet, and then stamped the April 2010 with stamps from their "Calendar" stamp set---just what I wanted for this!  So, not a calendar exactly, but....a slight variation thereof!

Aren't they beautiful?!  Just enjoying a beautiful spring day...one has her camera in hand, like so many of us bloggers do...just waiting for a special moment to capture...

Lots of pretty papers, glitter, lace and ribbon on this one...that's about it!

Now, THIS was fun to do!

A month or so ago, Elizabeth of Creative Breathing was inspired by a beautiful name tag--or blog tag--that Laurie of Magpie Ethel created for her blog. 

Elizabeth made one for herself, and challenged any of us who wanted, to play along!  Well, I finally got my chance!

I showed my daughters some images I loved, and asked them to choose one that they thought represented me...and they chose this one.  I love everything about this one, so I was happy to proceed!  The images are from Crafty Secrets' "Altered Fairies" Creative Scraps--one of my very favorites!

I got a bit gaudy with the glitter...I do realize this...but there's really nothing I can do about it!  I've just got an addiction--there--I said it!...and I'm running with it!

I guess this little vintage pocket watch says it all for me..."Follow after your Bliss..." 

Sounds like good advice to me!

Hope your day is magical, blissful, and everything else you wish for!

I'll see you soon with something new!

***Piney Rose is offering a beautiful tussie mussie in her blog giveaway...stop by and say hello!***

A Little Birdie Told Me.....It's Time for the 12th Play Date Cafe' Challenge!

Good evening, everyone!  Hope it's been a great day for you!

I have a couple of things to share with you today...first of all, it's The Play Date Cafe's 12th challenge this week--so much fun!  A big thanks to everyone who's playing with us--you make it so much fun!  This week, our host is Alison, who chose these beautiful, icy cool colors--just perfect for the chilly winter most of you are having right now!

See what I mean?!  This was my take on the challenge this week:

Ahhhh, more lovely Graphic 45 papers from the gorgeous "Renaissance Faire" collection!  The image is from the same collection--I just love it! 

Used my favorite real silver shavings glitter, some grey silky ribbon, and some yummy turquose crystal rhinestones to sparkle it up a bit...also went a bit too heavy with the Clear Crackle Paint...

...but when I got over that fact, I kind of liked the aged, crackly look it gave the image--like a close-up view of an oil painting...

Can't wait to see what you all have to share for the challenge this week!

Next, I played along with the Crafty Secrets' challenge at Splitcoast this week--love those ladies in the CS forum--they've become such dear friends!  Hi, girls!  The marvellous Darlene was our hostess this week, and challenged us to do a card with a birthday theme--a good thing, as I've got lots of birthdays coming up and needed some more cards!

I love this image from Crafty Secrets' "Birds & Blossoms" Creative Scraps--they're all just so beautiful!  Also, used my Martha Stewart Eyelet border punch...love it!

Typed up my own sentiment on the computer using one of my favorite vintage fonts--"Apricot". 

I treated myself to a new Martha Stewart punch heart punch the other day--has slits in it for sliding a ribbon or string through--it's scalloped and everything--just perfect!  (thank-you, 40% off coupon!)  I covered it with Glossy Accents and then with Dazzling Diamonds...they look like miniature sugar cookies!

...and some Swarovski crystal rhinestones just HAD to make an appearance on this sweet birdie's crown!

Finished it off with more silver shavings glitter, some gold Stickles, crocheted lace, ribbon...and that's about it!

Well, that's all for tonight!  Hope you have a wonderful evening with your families...anyone already hooked on this season of "American Idol"?!  I'm afraid we are!  See you soon!