Happy Spring!...CCG #224

What happened to the glorious weather we were having? Last two days it's been cold and damp, can't wait for the sun to come back! Well, I am still trying to catch up with good ol' blogland. Seems I am always missing the train and am never on schedule. Work, supplemental-homeschooling, Book Fair Week, birthday parties and almost everything else that I got lost in this week. Today I have a card for the CCG Challenge #224. Cards Week that went up on Sunday. Definitely come by and play a few of the color challenges! It's always nice to meet new people and see old scrappy friends again! There is plenty of time to get your card in, challenge closes on the 31st.

So we are "A Little Crazy" for National Goof Off Day. This Alice in Wonderland tea photo was just divine! Drawing inspiration from the key, I made this week's Designer's Challenge to use metal in the design.

Featuring Studio Calico "Field Guide" & The Craft's Meow

Sorry for the photo, it looks a bit bright. Please bear with me and my stupid camera and lack of proper photography skills. Looking at it on-screen, the "tan" is showing up WAY yellow, really it's more subtle IRL. It looks like I am totally off, not something I like to do when working the color combos. Well, I found this gorgeous color combo of blues and tans in the Studio Calico - Field Guide Kit (November 2011). I subscribe to four kits a month and really, I hoard them all. I was on Skype with past DT Member Fiona Kenward while I was making my card, and told her I was always afraid of cutting paper, it was just too pretty. Or to use up gorgeous supplies? What if I wanted to use them later and didn't have because I already finished them up? She just laughed. Yes, I hoard.

I recently made a fabulous purchase at The Craft's Meow, they are having their First Birthday! Included in the festivities are a couple of sketches so I played along using their spring themed Fly Free stamp set. I loved the pretty birdcage!

{ My Inspiration }

My design was inspired by a few challenges:

I needed metal for the CCG Designer's Challenge, for the added Bonus Challenge, I was further inspired by the key and type of metal - antique brass. So I dug deep into the back of my scraproom for the Making Memories spiral clips and metal brads I just know I still had. Oh Gosh, how old are THEY?

I recently bought the Tim Holtz distressing tool and used it to rough up the edges of the BasicGrey papers, then created some faux stitches with my piercing bug and white UniBall pen (also brand new, been doing quite the shopping lately). I am also considering buying Ingvild Bolme's distressing tool, looks awesome. Would love to try it out.

I heat embossed my image and dabbed some Stickles to the bottom and added my little butterfly. I used adhesive pearls to dress up the metal ring and a flourish behind the bow. Finally, stamped the "Happy Spring" sentiment from the same TCM Fly Free stamp set.

design inspired by:

Color Combos Galore Color Combo: light blue - warm tan - light beige - medium brown; Designer's Challenge: use metal
The Crafts Meow Birthday Bash Sketch
Tuesday Throwdown Hoarded Supplies
Divas by Design Distressing
Flutterby Wednesdays Use a butterfly
The Crop Stop Flourishes
Pattie's Creations Anything Goes - must use an image
Stamping for the Weekend Anything Goes
Flourishes: Bring Back Beautiful Spring
Whimsical Designs Spring
The Pixie Cottage Spring
Paper Craft Star Spring

Until next time...

Happy Scrappin'!!!!
xoxo

Project List:

{ Happy Spring } Card:
Finished Size: 4¼ x 6¼

Kit: Studio Calico - Field Guide (October 2011 Page Kit)

• Basic Grey: Picadilly - Bread Box
• Basic Grey: Little Black Dress - A La Vogue
• Studio Calico/Sassafras: Butterfly Chipboard
• Studio Calico: Journal tags

Inks & Mediums:

• Inks: ColorBox - French Blue, Chestnut Roan
• Embossing: VersaMark - Watermark Pad; Ranger - Scattered Straw Embossing Powder
• Stickles: Ranger - Scattered Straw
• Pens: uni-ball - Signo Gel Pen White

Misc:

• Punches: EK Success - 1½" Circle; Piercing Bugs; Marvy Uchida - 2½" Circle Scallop
• metal brads (Making Memories); pearl flourish; ribbon

Stamps, Dies & Inks: (personal favorites)

My Toolbox:

linked products available at simonsaysstamp.com