Anyone else love Gingham?

Okay, I know that I have post-arrhea right now. Sorry about so many posts in one day. You see, my mom is coming to visit for a week and I have lots of things to do before she gets here. And before Mother's Day weekend is in full swing I wanted to finish up a couple of challenges.

I don't know what it is about Gingham but it is one pattern that I just simply LOVE! I like Chevrons, Damasks, Polka Dots... but Gingham represents a warmth and coziness like my Grandma's house did when I was a kid. Maybe it is the fun memories of picnics, or being at the beach or just the homespun feel of it... I just love it. So when I heard that there was a challenge over at Moxie Fab World dedicated to my favorite print I just had to play along!

This thank you style card is made a little shabby and has lots of vintage summer goodness. Again, I had that picnic image in my mind and I couldn't wait to pick up my stash of Crate Paper. And, of course, summer means strawberries! So they needed a starring role in this affair as well. I used PTI's Strawberry Patch Stamps and dies as well as Perfect Patches dies. The sentiment is from the coordinating stamp set that goes along with Strawberry Patch (though I can't seem to think of the name of it off hand). I used some lace, some crinkle ribbon, some distress ink and lots of stitching to give this the look that makes my heart go pitter patter. :D

I will be putting this up in my etsy shop as soon as I can part with it. For now, though, it has a cozy spot on my desk.

Autumn Elegance - Ribbon Reel Challenge #12

Autumn is in full swing here and I just love making cards that showcase my favorite season. I made a thank you card for Ribbon Reel's Challenge. I also thought that it would work for the Shabby Tea Room's Challenge.

There are so many things to like about the fall. I love the natural earthy colors that get a little glammed up right before the season changes even cooler. Red maples, golden aspens, pale ornamental grasses blowing in the crisp breeze... what's not to love?

I wanted some of those things to come across in the pale card with just a hint of warmth. The challenge at Ribbon Reel was to create an elegant autumn card with orange, neutrals, and flowers. Sounds great to me! I tried something new by making some rosettes out of ribbon. It's not too difficult, just a little fussy trying to get it to lay just so. I stamped a verse on the main flower using PTI's Beautiful Blessings Stamps. The verse is 1 Corinthians 13 and is just a mixture of parts of verses in that "love" chapter. The sentiment simply says, "It's the little things that matter most". When someone does something out of the goodness of their heart and full of love, it really does show. Attitude can be such a little thing but in can make a huge difference!

As always, thanks for looking!

Materials used:

Inks and paints: fresh snow (PTI), Tea stain distress ink (TH), sugar maple (Glimmer mist), cream paint
Paper: fawn, cream, shimmery pumpkin (Bazzill), Simply Chartreuse (PTI) and cardboard; patterned paper "I do" wedding (EK)
Stamps: Beautiful Blessings, Gratitude Journal, and Bitty Background Basics (PTI)
Dies: Mat Stack 1, Beautiful Blooms 2, and Sending You (PTI)
Embellies: Summer Sunrise ribbon (PTI), Organza ribbon stained with sugar maple glimmer mist, cream crocheted lace, small brad, and machine stitching