I had a dream, PDCC and sneaky peeks of my studio!

Hi again

Warning this is a long post!

First let me start by saying 'hope your day is fabulous'!  I love that phrase.  Every day should be fabulous, shouldn't it?! I had a fabulous day the other day.  I found out I'd made the top 3 over at Unscripted Sketches sketch 57.  I wouldn't have realised until much later,  Shauna very kindly left me a comment to tell me!  Thanks Shauna!  I did a little happy dance, like you do!

Our sketch this week at the Play Date Cafe is to use Raspberry, Aqua, Kraft and White.  What a FAB colour combination.  Not colours I would normally work with, but it's got some bright in there, which I love as you know!

Here is the inspiration pic from Mona;

The colours are lovely and fresh aren't they?  I must be tired, I could snuggle up under that duvet right now! I'm in a coffee-no sleep spiral at the minute.  I'm not sleeping very well so am waking up tired, then I have to have coffee to keep awake during the day and then, well I'm sure you've guessed the rest lol

Our sponsor and guest designer this week is Courtney Baker.She is giving away the prize of this lovely stamp set, called 'Barefoot Summer'.   You can see more like this over at Practicing Creativity.

Aren't they sweet little images, those little flip flops are SO cute!

Today my post is a little odd, well probably more to me than to you. You see I had a dream.. about the card I made at the top of this post.  I'd seen the colours of the sketch for this week's challenge and I'd been pondering over a few design ideas and then I literally woke up at the weekend knowing exactly what I wanted to do, right down to the colour of the button, the stamps, punches..everything!!!   It is SO odd, it looks exactly like the card in my dream. Usually I have an idea and then when I put it together it's absolutely nothing like it was in my head lol.   Does that ever happen to you, or am I just completely mad?!!!

This challenge was great because as you may recall I have a list of different ideas that I want to try, that I add to as I come across inspirational cards/projects/tutorials etc.  For this card I achieved four things...

• To use kraft again (check!)
• To stamp a background (well I did a basic one if that counts!) (check!)
• To try out a twine flower behind a button (where oh where did I see this shown?  It was on someone's blog and I would love to give them credit for it.  If you happen to know who made it please can you let me know) (check!)
• To cut a circle off the side of the card ( this was inspired by a tutorial over at Hero Arts by Lucy Abrams (check!)

I had SO much fun with this card.  Thanks Mona for the inspiration!

So, onto the details...

(as my post is so long I've added a mini picture of the card, that way these details will make more sense!)  

1. Cut raspberry card to fit card base
2. Cut a square of kraft and using a Coluzzle cutter cut out a circle along the edge,  attach an aqua strip of card behind the circle, stamp large flower in raspberry ink
3. Stamp second smaller flower in raspberry onto kraft, attach to large flower, make a twine flower and finish off with a button, layering with pop dots
4. Stamp kraft with white flowers, add punched border 
5. Tie on polka dot ribbon before attaching to front of card, leaving a border at the top and bottom
6. Stamp sentiment onto aqua card, and mat onto raspberry, rounding opposite corners and finish with pearls
7. Be amazed that your card came together as a result of a dream!

I don't know if you know but I am the host over at PDCC this week, and the DT are sharing our creative spaces!  Here are some pictures of the studio where I create.

This table had a bit of drama attached to it.  I'd ordered a larger one, only to find we couldn't get it to fit through the utility door!  We ended up having to go for the smaller one instead!  I LOVE this table, the minute I saw it I knew I had to get it for the studio.  I keep my tools close to hand, and the baskets have brads, inks and cutters in.

To the left of that I have shelving (yet to be painted) above this unit..

This is where I use my Big Shot, and again the drawers are full of crafty bits and bobs!

To the right of the window I have this chest, with my heart wall hanging that I use to show cards for sale, and bits and pieces that inspire me!  I still need to get a clock and some pictures/wall hangings.  My walls are still a bit bare.

You may recall from a previous post that I love Betty Boop.  Our friends bought me this from an antique shop.  Unfortunately, some of my card magazines fell off the unit and broke her hand, but she always makes me smile when I see her!  It was such a lovely surprise to get her.  In the trug on the unit I keep most of my ribbons, well that's not true, some of my ribbons!  I have rather a few more than that!  Ian is working on getting a ribbon stand made for me so that will proudly house all of my gorgeous coloured ribbons!

This is to the right of  Betty Boop.  The drawers hold my 12 x 12 papers, each sorted by colour, and stored in 12 x 12 plastic storage boxes.  On the top of the unit I keep my Smooch paints, glimmer mist and some card magazines.  Next to that is my stamp storage and other crafty bits.  I've got my stamps sorted by theme.  Those plastic boxes need to go.  I really want to get some pretty baskets and bits!  All in good time, as my Marmie (Mum) says!

So that's where I create!  Ordered chaos!

Don't forget to check out the rest of the Design Team's creations, here's the list to make it easier..

Julie Ranae (Senior DT)

Mona Pendleton (Senior DT)

Sarah Anderson (Senior DT)

Lisa Somerville

Savannah O'Gwynn

Stephanie Kraft

Suzanne Czosek

Have a great day and join in with us this week at the Play Date Cafe Challenge, who knows maybe you will dream up a card design too! ;o)

ps - if you got to the end of this post well done, I'm proud of you!  ♥