Altered Serving Platter

I was on vacation last week visiting my family in Connecticut and upstate New York, and while in NY we hit up a few antique shops. I didn't get a lot, only picked up two things, because I didn't want to ship anything home...it was going in my luggage or carry-on. I picked up a vintage milk bottle that I plan to use for small flowers or as a bud vase (after all this time, I don't actually have anything small for single flowers or buds...it was perfect). I also picked up an old silver serving platter that I altered with some pretty patterned paper, ribbon, letter stickers, tags, and a photo of my sweet hubby and I at a concert a few weeks ago (I will share that adventure soon...still trying to get used to being back from vacation...and get back into my crafty groove). I used lots of Authentique on this (from the Journey collection) and added some Papertrey Ink ribbon because it matched perfectly!!

I had originally planned to use the Uncommon collection, but I couldn't find a pattern that I loved for the base of this project. So I pulled some Journey and the paper with the flourish was just perfect!! Then I just started layering. I pulled some doilys from my stash, but the rest is Authentique.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

10 things

It's the 10th...so that means it's time for another 10 things!! I didn't plan for this months post at all...so I am just going to wing it!! I loved Shimelle's 10 things post about her town (London) and it's making me want to get a passport and take a trip across the pond!! For me, it was the part about the history...since I LOVE history!! But for now, I will hopefully convince a few people to visit my town...Orlando, FL!!

Attractions: We are home to Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios (which...hello...has Harry Potter!!)

Space Travel: A quick drive east and you'll find yourself on the space coast, and while the shuttle program is officially over, it's still a pretty cool place to visit. The VAB (vehicle assembly building) is HUGE and it's a pretty neat sight to take in a launch pad...or even a rocket launch if you visit when one is scheduled!!

Beaches: go east or west and you're going to hit a beach...it's just a given!!

State Parks: Weikiva Springs is a natural spring you can swim in, it's attached to the river that you can canoe up, or you can just have a fun afternoon picnic!! It's a bit of country inside the city!!

Hot Air Balloons: I see them flying every morning on my way to work!! What a great way to see Orlando!!

Water Parks: Don't feel like going to the beach...we've got a few water parks to help beat the heat!! Wet n' Wild, Aquatica, Disney's Blizzard Beach, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon...just to name a few!!

Car Racing: Daytona International Speedway (and world famous beach) are just an hour away!!

Cirque Du Soleil: La Nouba...one word...Amazing!!

Weather: If you like the heat...well, this is your town!!

Discovery Cove: Did I mention that we have a place where you can swim with dolphins??

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

halloween

I am up next hosting the challenge over at the Papertrey Playhouse!! I have had a busy few weeks and was sadly not able to play along with the last challenge to make a Christmas project. However, in keeping with the holiday theme of that challenge, I thought it would be fun to make a halloweek (or fall themed project if halloween isn't your thing)!! I decided to make a treat bag instead of a card. I figure this will be a just start in getting some fun things made for the people I work with!! Last year, I made everyone little glassine treat bags, this year, I think I make a bunch of these...or something very similar.

I decided to keep the project pretty simple, and yet it took some time to put together! I only used Sweet Treats II for this card, stamping the spider web all over some white cardstock to create my own background. I then used Favor It #3 to create my little bag (love this die...how have I not used it yet)!! I stamped my focal image and sentiment onto some Orange Zest cardstock and punched it out with a 3" circle punch. Then I tied some orange zest ribbon around the treat bag and adhered the focal image using some foam adhesive! Again, pretty simple in design, but packs a lot of punch!! And for a crew of co-workers that LOVE Halloween, this will be perfect...just need to whip up 29 more!! Thankfully I've got time for that!!

So the challenge: Make a Halloween or Fall Themed card, layout, or other project!! Hop on over to the Papertrey Playhouse post and leave a link to your project! I'd love to see what you make!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Deb

Congrats Grad

Quick post today since I am headed back home to FL. I had a blast visiting my family and a few old friends too!! I wanted to share a layout of my neice, who graduated pre-K this past June. She's growing up way too fast, and will be starting kindergarten in the fall!! I can't believe that!! It's making me feel very old!!

For this layout I used Echo Park's Country Drive collection (and some button dies from Papertrey Ink for that embellishment cluster on the bottom left). The colors in the patterns matched the photos perfectly without taking the focus off the photos!! And how cute is she in that cap & gown??? So proud of her!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

Pearl Harbor

I have another layout to share today!! I haven't worked on layouts for our Hawaii trip album in quite some time, so I thought it would be nice to get back into those layouts since I don't have too many left! This is going to be the first layout in the album for our visit to Pearl Harbor.

Since I have my degrees in American History, and as someone who loves History in general, no trip to Hawaii would have been complete without a visit to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial! Thankfully, as an Army vet, my husband felt the same way!

In keeping with the rest of the album, I used a lot of American Crafts Margarita collection on this layout (there is also some Technique Tuesday, Basic Grey, and October Afternoon as well). Because of the history that surrounds this place, I didn't feel right using some of the brighter papers from this collection, instead, I kept with just the blues and greens. I did this mainly to reflect the palm trees of Hawaii and the blue water. For these layouts, I didn't want to take away from the seriousness, but I also wanted them to flow with the rest of the album. So I just made the collection work for me!! And I LOVE that is does!!!

Hidden journaling on there (much like April's 4x6 photo love class...just flipped around). And I added some stamping too, using a Studio AE stamp set from Technique Tuesday. Those sentiments just fit perfectly!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

I {heart} you

I had made this card a while ago and never got around to sharing it. I made it right when I got my Background Basics: Chevron Stripes stamp set from Papertrey Ink....so it's been a while! I can't believe I haven't shared it!! I used untraditional 'love' colors on this card...aqua, pink, and white. I think this is going to be amongst my favorite color combos.

I love the simplicity of this card!! That chevron stamp set is so fabulous!! I am going to be playing around with that set again very soon! I also love that, with the exception of the ribbon, this is a single layer card, which means it should mail pretty easily!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

Distress Stain cards

A few weeks ago Jennifer McGuire shared a technique over at the classroom blog using Distress Stains, Perfect Pearl Mists, Watercolor paper, and Stamping! I tried it and was instantly hooked. I posted a card for the last week of Summer Card Camp using this techinque (you can see that here). When I was first playing around with this technique I had to try as many stamps and colors out as I could...and as a result, I made a bunch of cards!!

I used plain white Prima flowers and colored them with the distress stains! I don't think I will ever get another package of colored flowers again because I love the customized look of these!! And they match perfectly to the stamped image!! What could be better than that??

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb