day trip: rockport, ma

Today we took a day trip to Rockport, MA...when we left we thought we were only going to hit up the beach, but later found ourselves walking the really cute streets in the town center. Wishing I had my camera with me, I realized it would be great to blog about this adorable place. Then I realized that I could pin some pics of the key highlights to give you a feel for the day:

Source: google.co.uk via Jeanne on Pinterest

This is Motif No. 1...it is a famous fishing shack in the wharf along Bearskin Neck and has been called the most often painted building in America. It is famous because it survived "The Perfect Storm," the famous storm which the movie was based on.

Source: google.com via Laura on Pinterest

This is a photo of Bearskin Neck, probably in the off-season. Today all of these shops had their doors open and people were strolling everywhere. It was very "New England." There are lots of art galleries, jewelry shops, candy stores, and seafood restaurants...and a fabulous streudel shop that cannot be missed!

Today I got a cinnamon chip scone and it was fabulous!

Source: thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com via Tara on Pinterest

And nearly all of the stores have beautiful plantings in their window boxes and wine barrels outside their storefronts. I could walk around all day just staring at the flowers!

These last shots are from the Town of Rockport's website. The last two are pictures at the beach we visited today... It was a great trip. We were gone from the house for only 5 hours or so, and sneaking away for such a short time was worth it.

papertrey may blog hop challenge

The theme for this month's blog hop at Papertrey Ink is anything flowers, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to showcase my friend Christina MacLaren's talents, as she crocheted this beautiful flower embellishment for me:

I stamped BB Text Style in Versamark on the bird, and ran the Nesties frame through with the Woodgrain IP:

I am also entering this card in this week's CR84FN Challenge:

Happy Blog Hoppin'!

Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps:Background Basics Text Style, Wonderful Words (w/die); Paper: patterned paper by Echo Park (For the Record & Springtime collections), lavender moon, kraft, white; Ink: Rich Razzleberry (SU!), versamark; Other: Martha Stewart doily, Maya Road chipboard bird, woodgrain IP, grosgrain, pearl stick on & pins (Michael's), sewing machine, Sending You leaf die for bird wing, Label Nesties.

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I thought I would play along in this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge, and came up with this card late yesterday afternoon:

 

ETA: I was notified that this card also qualifies for the CAS-ual Friday Challenge this week, so I have entered it there as well!

I {LOVE} that yellow button from October Afternoon - makes my bow look like a daisy!
Have a great day!

Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps: Mixed Messages; Paper: Jillibean Soup, yellow shade from SU!, kraft, white, brown trim from KI memories; Ink: Dark Chocalate; Other: yellow button from October Afternoon, twill ribbon, crystals from Michael's, sewing machine, Memory Box doily die

for merry

We are all thinking of you today, Merry!

Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps:Inside & Out Birthdays; Paper: white, kraft, PP by Jillibean Soup; Ink: Dark Chocolate; Other: May Arts ribbon, mat stack die, orange buttons, sewing machine, border punch 

paperdolls challenge #37

Hi everyone!

I am hosting the current challenge over at the Papertrey Paper Dolls blog. This time around I challenged everyone to make a card using patterned paper everywhere, except as the card base. I hope you will stop on over and join us!

Here's my card:

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

XOXO,
Suzanne

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Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps: My Minds Eye; Paper: In Bloom PP, Distressed Dots PP, Bitty Box Basics PP, white; Ink: true black; Other: EK success border punch, white shimmer stickers, pearl stick ons (Michael's)

a little bit of country

Last week on the Create Blog, there was a fabric flower tutorial that I wanted to try out, and this week's CARDS challange was to make a project using a flower made in this style.

I don't have lots of scrappy fabrics around here, so I cut up some old maroon hospital nursing scrubs that were hand-me-downs from my sister.  The color of this fabric matched perfectly with some fun patterned paper that I picked up the other day:

I also used my new Memory Box die to cut the doily out of ocean tides paper:

And I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder:

Try it out! It's a lot easier than it looks!

Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps: Signature Greetings; Paper: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, In Bloom paper, white, ocean tides; Ink: Fresh Snow; Other: twine by May Arts, button from SU!, cloth, candy dots, EK Success border punch, Memory Box doily die

mojo190 & CR84FN27

Happy Tuesday with a card that's a double whammy for a color challenge and a sketch challenge this week: one is the Mojo Monday Challenge and the other is the CR84FN Challenge! Hope you can play along too!

I stamped off with the doily die to make the ink appear lighter in color:

Have a great night! Adele's on DWTS tonight! YAY!!!

Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps:Stella Rose by My Minds Eye, sentiment from Inside & Out: Thank You, Background Basics Retro; Paper: Echo Park Be Mine collection, smokey shadow, soft stone, vintage cream; Ink:smokey shadow, raspberry fizz; Other: raspberry fizz button, DMC floss, sparkle frame (Making Memories), paper rosettes from my wedding stash circa 2006 (ebay), double ended banner die, circle nesties

tissue paper magic

Here's a card that I made for both the Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #36 and for the Moxie Fab World Tissue Paper Magic Challenge, which ends tomorrow...so you still have time to play!

My idea was to layer tissue paper over other textures to create more visual interest, and even though there is a lot between the grosgrain, satin, tulle and tissue, I think it still looks pretty delicate:

Love these colors together!

Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps: Star Prints sentiment; Paper: patterned paper by The Girls' Paperie; Ink: true black; Other: coordinating brad from The Girls' Paperie, crystal swirls & pins from Michaels, nesties, white tissue paper, and green satin and tulle flowers from K & Co., white grosgrain ribbon 

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Hi everyone! I am back from an awesome trip to Denver, and have finally caught up on all my home duties to be able to play in my craft room.

My mother-in-law is on vacation today for Mother's Day, so that bought me extra time to make her card...and since orange is one of her favorite colors, this week's Play Date Cafe challenge was perfect:

And here is my card, using my new Memory Box butterfly die for the first time. I think I am in love:

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Supplies {by PTI unless otherwise noted}: Stamps: Well Scripted (SU!); Paper: summer sunrise, terracotta tile, Bitty Box Basics, Happy Day (SEI); Ink: True black; Other: punch (SU!), butterfly die (Memory Box), pearl stick-ons (Michaels)