Front door Spring decor...vintage umbrella floral arrangement

Happy Spring everyone!  I so look forward to this time of year.  Charlie and I were just out in the flower beds, digging to see if we could find new little plant sightings.  Sure enough there are lots of new, green sprouts peeking out.  

With Spring comes a time of renewal, a change to change things up and start fresh.  Ever since I saw this umbrella floral arrangement on the cover of a Midwest Living magazine I've wanted to find an old umbrella and do the same.  I believe this is the cover photo but I'm not exactly sure...pretty close if not.  This photo is pinned on my March Inspiration Board: Going Green. 

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One day while out junking I found a vintage umbrella with a beautiful ivory looking handle.  I knew it had to come home with me and I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it.  A trip to Michael's for some fake florals and I was good to go.  The girls helped me select these flowers.  I love that they selected colors that just happen to coordinate with my color kit that I've recently been using for my Color Studio class assignments.  Large peonies are always a favorite flower of mine and these look pretty realistic. 

Here's my finished umbrella on my front door.  Pretty simple in nature and I added in my old chippy chair, suitcase and watering tins for a fun photo shoot.  

Such pretty colors and a fun welcome to our guests.

I just tucked in the florals, using a few grocery sacks for stuffing here and there.

My tried and true favorites, my watering cans are like old friends to me.  The suitcase?  I jokingly tell friends that I keep it packed with a few of Eric's things....just in case.

I'll be filling these up soon to water those first pretty flowers of the season.

Bright and sunny and so welcoming.  Bring on Spring...I'm so ready for you.  

Now.....I must go dig in my flower beds a bit more.  The girls made their first big outing in their new truck today with a friend.  They ventured into town for some Orange Leaf yogurt.  I worry.  Like all mamas do.  I worry more now.  I know they'll be okay.  But I worry....

Mum's the word...

If there's one flower that defines the Fall season for me, then mum's the word! Chrysanthemums to be exact. My dad just brought over this rusty, spiral, tiered plant stand that was my grandmother's. It was like a Christmas present to me! Dad and I both thought that some nice fall mums and perhaps some pumpkins from the garden would look great in Grandma's plant stand. I can't wait!

So today, I found some fabulous photos for you...straight from my inspiration files of online photos. Here's some beautiful yellow mums. And how about these.....would you say Berry Sorbet? Or Melon Berry?

Or mix and match 'em, I think all colors look great together.

Here's some tiny mums mixed in with some beautiful, creamy, dreamy spider mums.

And these beauties mixed in with some peachy/salmon colored roses are what inspired my color choices for today's projects. What a beautiful, simple arrangement!

And talk about Autumn Abundance, look at this awesome bucket full of mum and fall gourds and apples. Be still my heart!

And leave it to Martha to have something good too:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/from-the-garden-fall-favorites

I couldn't be more inspired! There's nothing like a photo or visual to get the creative juices flowing. Remember to cut out photos from magazines, take photos of your surroundings and google stuff like crazy. There's lots and lots of inspiration to be found, you just have to look for it.

Today, I'm going to be using Nichole's beautiful Autumn Abundance stamp set, in particular the mums. But first, I wanted to create some beautiful background papers. I stamped Melon Berry and Lemon Tart ink onto pieces of 2008 Bitty Dots Basics patterned paper. I'm reaching for this dotty paper more and more, I love it! I thought this little flower from Everyday Classics (PTI Aniversary stamp set) was very mum looking.
Next up was coloring Nichole's beautifully illustrated mum image. Here's my lineup of Copic Sketch colors.

If you zoom in close on the photo below, you can see that I used a variegated color scheme for my mums. The dark red(R59) was in the center with an orangey color (R02) next to that, and then my yellows(the Y's) on the outside tips of the mums. Just gorgeous colors, I say! I used the neutral colors to make a stoneware looking vase. After I was done coloring, I used the Colorless Blender (0) to make dots on my vase...gives it a mottled look.

For the oval shadow, I stamped the oval image from Everyday Classics with Spring Moss ink...first masking my vase off with Eclipse Masking Tape. Images were cut and embossed with a Spellbinder's Labels 1 Nestabilities die template. A length of pretty Summer Sunrise Swiss Dott ribbon finishes off the card fronts.

For my sentiment, I placed it on my clear block in a curved line then stamped it along the curve of the Labels 1 die edge. Cool!

And don't forget the buttons, the beautiful Vintage Buttons! I used one each of Lemon Tart, Melon Berry and Scarlet Jewel to reflect the three colors in my colored mums. Rustic Cream Twine finishes off the buttons. A Fiskars edge punch was used on the Lemon Tart cardstock for some added detail. Card bases are Kraft cardstock.

And here's my finished creations. Such beautiful colors, these are so pretty!!

So should I start stalking my greenhouse for potted mums yet? I cannot wait to decorate my porch for Fall now! I'll keep this beautiful summer weather......just give me some mums though and I'll be a happy camper!!

Vintage Picnic Possibilities

EDIT: Hello everyone, and WOW!!! Wasn't that an awesome group post by the Papertrey girls? I absolutely loved each and every project that I saw using Vintage Picnic!! I had some blog complications with my links last night but hopefully they are fixed now. Just got done with a two day garage sale....and guess what? On our way home, my mom and dad and I were scoping out more garage sales. You gotta go spend some of that money you make, right? Well, we're driving by a garage sale that my folks had already been to and they say there's nothin' there but old junk. Did they forget I like old junk? So we're driving past and I spy an old tin basket!!!! *gasp* I tell my dad to park it, I need out of the vehicle! I run up to the table and find an old picnic basket....actually it had no handles so my dad called it a bread basket. Whatever, I still wanted it! Guess how much? 25 cents!!!!!!!! Yipppppeee Baby, I'm the proud new owner of another vintage tin!! *insert big smiley grin here*.

I'm so excited about this month's Papertrey release of the new stamp set called Vintage Picnic. I sent the concept to Nichole and she designed the images and sentiments just as lovely as I'd imagined them. She did a great job translating my idea into actual stamps!! I'm excited as you are this month to see what all the Papertrey Design Team has done with Vintage Picnic.

I'm going to be showing you a patriotic themed idea using Vintage Picnic. With Josey's birthday on July 4th, my mom's on July 1st and our huge July 4th party we have every year, it's one of my holidays to decorate for. I've pulled some ideas from my Inspiration Notebook(see the label at the end of my post to check out more) to get the juices flowing. Love the flags and red/white/blue color scheme.....
...and the vintage look of my inspiration photos. It makes me so proud to be an American!!

So here's what I'm gonna do....I'm going to show you my Patriotic Porch Picnic Makeover this month. I bought this white picnic grouping at a junk store this Spring...it's just been waiting for something fun to happen.And it's the perfect time to show off the inspiration pieces that inspired the Vintage Picnic stamp set. These are a few of my vintage picnic baskets from my collection. I love them so much. I wouldn't trade them for anything.....and when I find a new one at a junk store or flea market my heart goes pitter patter!!So let's get the picnic started by sending out some fun invitations. Can you spy a new color....of course you can, you guys are like stamping detectives!! LOL! This view shows my invitation tucked into a pocket made by sealing and cutting off the top of an A2 sized envelope. I added a strip of old sheet music along the top with a covered clothespin and a handmade tag from the new Trademarks stamp set coming out this month.

And here's the actual invitation. It's a one layer tag that measures 4.25" x 5.5" with angles cut off to create the look of a tag. I added Bitty Dot ribbon to the top along with stars from Let Freedom Ring. Vintage Buttons tied with Rustic Cream Twine and a punched star create a fun border along the top of the invitation.

And using these Copic colors.......
I colored my picnic basket with the patriotic filler image. There are five basket options to choose from along with fillers for almost every season and occasion you need. There's also cute images that you can stamp onto the blank picnic basket and TONS of versatile sentiments. I'm loving the vintage typewriter looking font paired with the script on the sentiments. Perfection! I cut my image out using Spellbinder's Labels 1 Die Template, then inked all the edges with the Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo inks.

Here's a closeup of the top of my tag.

Be sure to stop by often this month as my Patriotic Porch Picnic takes shape! I've got some fun stuff planned and I'm so excited to share my ideas with you.

Ohhhhhhh, and I can't wait to visit the other girls' blogs to see their creations. Let the picnic begin! And a special thank you to Nichole for inspiring my creative side. She really is the best!!

Nichole Heady

Becky Oehlers

Heather Nichols

Lauren Meader

Lisa Johnson

Dawn McVey

Debbie Olson

Geny Cassady

Betsy Veldman

Melissa Phillips

Niki Estes

Spring Notebook and Cards

I had some leftover patterned paper from THIS PROJECT so I decided to use up my scraps before cleaning up my area. I noticed that this photo from my Inspiration File has lots of the fun colors I used on my projects so I thought I would share. Using my scraps, I made two square cards that I'll probably use for Mother's Day, and a little idea book to keep in my tote.

By making my cards 4.25" square, I was able to place my sentiment circle off the top of the card. The cards still fit in regular A2 size envelopes.

For my notebook, I created a round embellishment by using the *Absolutely Fabulous* sentiment from Mixed Messages and then spelling out *ideas* using small alphabet stamps. I also reach for more of those big honkin' Vintage Buttons that I love so much. I just scattered them on my notebook along the strips of ribbon. Notebook from Target.

Here's a little closeup shot of the buttons and the circle embellishment.

Supplies used for this project:

Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages, Borders and Corners Circles, Damask Designs, Spiral Bouquet, Guidelines, Guidelines Two, Everyday Classics, Garden of Life

Paper: Bitty Dots Basics patterned paper, Kraft Cardstock

Ribbon: Ripe Avocado Swiss Dot, Hibiscus Burtst Bitty Dots

Buttons: Vintage Buttons in White, Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst, Ripe Avocado

Other: twine string

Tip: Use up all supplies from one project before moving to the next project. If you think *I'll save these little pieces for another project*.....they'll most likely end up cluttering your space. Use it all up now, clean up.....then move on to your next project. It's a good thing. Enjoy your Sunday everyone!!

Spring Fling

April showers.......GO AWAY! Oh wait, that's not how the saying goes! And it's not April anymore, Happy May Day. But seriously, enough of the rain already, I need Spring flowers and sunshine. Today, the Papertrey girls are celebrating Spring, rain or shine. We've all selected an inspiration photo and made a project inspired by it. I chose this photo below from my Inspiration Notebook. The soft, pretty colors and florals remind me of what I love about Spring. After studying my photo up close, I saw several wonderful patterns that I wanted to create for my project. I wanted to create some custom designer papers that had the feel of Grandma's wallpaper. For all of my papers, I used the 2008 Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper for my base. I think this is a great little tip because you instantly have the fun polka dots and a soft colored background.

For my first design, I wanted to recreate the hat box design, zoom in for a closer look. I used an Aqua Mist base paper along with the following Papertrey supplies: Guidelines Two, Guidelines, and Everyday Classics stamps(white flower)...and Hibiscus Burst, Fresh Snow and Ocean Tides ink. I feel like you could peel this right off Grandma's wall!

For my second design, I wanted to recreate the pretty damask design on the wall. I used a Spring Moss background paper and the following Papertrey supplies: Damask Designs and Spiral Bouquet(word Bloom you can see if you zoom in)...and Fresh Snow and Spring Moss ink. Very designer looking.

For my last piece, I just loved the polka dots and roses on this fun tin container. I used a Sweet Blush background paper and the following PTI supplies: Garden of Life(flower, leaf and polka dot) and Spiral Bouquet(green sprig) stamps.....and Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado and Fresh Snow inks. To create the two toned flowers, I used the *rock and roll* stamping method...stamp flower in Sweet Blush then roll edges in Hibiscus Burst, then stamp.

Okay, I have my 3 custom stamped papers but now what? I wasn't sure what to make yet so I just pulled together some matching elements: Hibiscus Burst, New Leaf and White Vintage Buttons and Hibiscus Burst and Ripe Avocado ribbons. Notice these contrast a little with the colors on my stamped papers.....not overly matchy-matchy...and I like it.

I decided what I wanted to make....some covered notebooks for Spring gifts for friends and family. I wanted a little sentiment, so I stamped *celebrate today* from Mega Mixed Messages onto some of my custom patterned paper..then the loopy circle from Borders and Corners Circles. I used a circle punch and the Super Scalloped punch for quick work of making an embellishment.Then I just cut strips of my patterned paper and applied it to my notebook fronts. I just love the quirky, fun colors.

Here's a shot of my sentiment embellishments, up on pop dots for emphasis.

And here's a shot of a little strip embellishment I added. I adhered my ribbons and tied Vintage Buttons to Kraft cardstock. There's machine stitching around the edges and the bottom edge is punched with an EK Success border punch. All Kraft edges are inked with Fresh Snow ink.

I wanted to recap some good tips for you to keep in mind, here goes:

1. Stamp designs on patterned paper for a new look instead of using plain cardstock.

2. Mix and match your stamp sets to get the most bang for your buck...I used EIGHT different sets to create my custom papers.

3. Don't be so matchy-matchy with your colors..let loose, get funky with it.

4. Use those big honkin Vintage Buttons on projects like this that don't have to be mailed. They add some great dimension to your projects.

5. Use Scor-Tape to adhere items like ribbon snippets and bulkier items like stitched cardstock.

6. Use punches when mass producing to make quick easy work.

7. Start your Inspiration Notebook today, you'll never be without an idea.

Now.....since I think I must hoard these two little morslets of Spring goodness for myself, I must create more to give away. I hope you are inspired to make some fun little creations for yourself. Check out Nichole's BLOG for a challenge.

And check out these PTI girls' blogs for even more Spring inspiration:

Lisa Johnson
Lauren Meader
Becky Oehlers
Heather Nichols

Kelly Lunceford

Tea for Two

A couple summers ago my good friend HB (Carol) sent me this adorable vintage strawberry teapot. Jordan and I had been having little tea parties out on the porch, using a bunch of other strawberry themed goodies and HB thought this would make the perfect addition. I adore this tea pot and I think of HB every time I see it. Well, as you know by now Papertrey is introducing a cute new set this month called Tea for Two, designed by Nichole. I immediately wanted to create something for a strawberry themed tea party. So I got out my tea pot, some vintage rick rack, some fabrics I purchased to make a table runner or something cute...and I found these three pages below from my Inspiration File. Zoom in to see the photos, I particularly love the red and white vintage fabrics in that cute table scape.

I went to work right away, starting with some home made patterned paper. I used Guidelines and Guidelines 2 to make some vintage looking patterns, using inks in Pure Poppy, True Black, Aqua Mist, Ripe Avocado, and Spring Moss. These stamp sets remind me of Frank Lloyd Wright patterns (Arts and Crafts style architect). Zoom in to get a good look at the colors.

Here's my finished cards...perfect little invitations for a couple of girl friends. I used my original Tent Topper card layouts for these, putting the teapots front and center.

Here's a close up of the tea pots. I first outlined the inside edges of the teapot image with a tan Copic marker (E31), then blended it with a Colorless Blender(0). The red I used for the details is a Copic red (R29). The teapots are accented with the small strawberries from Green Thumb. Tiny vintage rick rack from my stash is along the bottom of the teapots. I cut and embossed the teapot images with square Spellbinder's Nestabilities and matted the images with a Pure Poppy square Spellbinder's Nestie.

For the bottom of the cards, I used a fun sentiment from Tea for Two, stamped onto a strip of cardstock. I embellished the strip with a Vintage Button (guess the new color), tied with black twine. Vintage yellow and red rick rack from my stash finishes off the sentiment piece.

As a little party favor for my tea party, I made some homemade tea bags using my mom's Orange Spiced Tea recipe. I spooned some into tiny zip lock bags (available at craft stores)...

...and then inserted the bagged tea into Small Glassine Sacks. I punched a scalloped square, then stamped on the *tea for two* sentiment from Tea for Two, and the cute little tea cup from Everyday Expressions(PTI's anniversary set). I finished off the little squares with some tiny red rick rack and then messy stitched the tag right onto the glassine sack.

And here's all my goodies together. Now who could I invite over for a little tea party??

Be sure to check Nichole's BLOG to see more of Tea for Two. I know many of you are already excited...the entire set is so darling and as usual Nichole has added in the best sentiments. I can't wait to see more creations with this set. I know they will be tea-riffic.