Thursday, July 28, 2016

A Kitchen Table Update


Yay! I finally finished painting the kitchen chairs for the table in the sun room! I really love the look.


I also re-oriented the table and moved some furniture around in this space. I like this configuration so much better. Even though the light fixture is not directly over the table (the Mr. Monk in me was bothered by this before), I think that changing the direction of the table now gives the illusion that the light fixture is centered somehow.


Don't get freaked out by pumpkins in July! I just liked the black wool appliqued runner for the center of the table better. And I like pumpkins all year round. Yeah, I'm weird that way.


I've worked and worked and worked to make the kitchen and sun room and family room a more unified space, and I think I've finally done it. It only took one year to make it happen, but it's totally worth it.


The black elements in the family room now tie in to the black chairs and dark light fixtures, which ties in to the dark counters and tiled back splash.

And now, the small check of the curtains ties in to the pillow and chair cushions in the sun room.




We couldn't update our kitchen table and chairs without giving Jemma a fancy new table, too!




Yep! I think it's a winner!


Another job crossed off the Fixer Upper list! Hooray!

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Monday, July 25, 2016

SAF2016: Master Color Recipes


I have one last creation to show you tonight! I chose this color "recipe" from Van Gogh's Green Wheat Field to make a nature-inspired card.


And here it is:


{Today's Brew: Spring Woods stamp set and dies (PTI), Phrases and Praises stamp set (PTI), PTI inks and card stock, doily, washi tape, sun stencil}


I hope you've enjoyed my cafe creations! Thanks so much for visiting the cafe for the Stamp-a-Faire celebration!


Blessings from your barrista!

SAF2016: Pointillism



I'm not rushing the seasons! I promise! But when I wander through the yard, I do see a colorful variety of leaves that blow from the trees and shrubs in my yard...green, purple, red, and even a few gold.

I decided to use leaves to try my hand at pointillism. I used some small dots from the stamp set Twig Wreath, stamped the leaves and dots on water color paper, and did a little wet brush blending.


{Today's Brew: Leave It Be stamp set (PTI), Twig Wreath stamp set (PTI), Phrases and Praises stamp set (PTI), PTI inks and card stock, PTI Button twine, SU ribbon, PTI gingham paper}

SAF2016: Watercolor Like A Master




Did you ever start a project that kind of went off the rails? You thought you were heading in one direction, but through the magic of the "creative process", you end up somewhere completely different.

That's what happened with this card.

I started with water coloring...stamping on water color paper, using a wet brush to blend and add a few splatters.

And then I added some lines.

And then I added some washi tape, and some more washi, and then some more.

I added an enamel dot.

I added a little scallop awning.

And I almost added some ribbon before the little voices in my head said "Enough already!"





{Today's Brew: Ruby Rose stamp set (PTI), PTI inks and card stock, scallop die (MFT), enamel dot (MME), washi tape}


This is a far cry from "watercoloring like a master", but hey, even the masters had fun once in a while, right?

SAF2016: Floral Impressionism


Hello, cafe friends! I'm serving up a cool concoction for a hot day. This card is for the SAF challenge "Floral Impressionism", and I think I got just the right combination of soft and sweet. I used Soft Stone ink and card stock for this project, and I have to confess...my ink cube was still sealed when I grabbed it. What?! I've never stamped with Soft Stone ink?  I opened it, tried it, and swooned with happiness...I LOVE it! Soft and vintage, just what I was hoping for!

The peonies were embossed with white ink, and then colored using my Prima watercolor pencils and a water brush pen. Ah, I love these pencils from Prima! Best craft purchase this summer!



{Today's Brew: Pretty Peonies stamp set and dies (PTI), Background Basics Sheet Music stamp set (PTI), Soft Stone ink and card stock (PTI), Proma watercolor pencils, SU seam binding, MME pin}


I thought this card needed a big frilly bow to go with those big frilly peonies. Something tells me this bigger and bulkier card will need to be hand delivered this summer. :)

SAF2016: Masterpiece Inspirations


Good morning, cafe friends! I'm serving up nice iced lattes today for some summertime inspiration! And what could be more inspiring in the summertime than Van Gogh's sunflowers?



{Today's Brew: Simple Sunflowers stamp set and dies (PTI), Ruby Rose stamp set (PTI), PTI inks and card stock, SU seam binding, Simple Stories Gingham paper, MME stick pin}

I'm a little low on birthday card inventory right now, so this will help increase my stash for the friends and family who have birthdays in the summer. (I think I need to get busy on a few belated cards, too! Oops!)

Sunday, July 24, 2016

SAF2016: Mastering Drips and Spatters


This challenge was inspired by Jackson Pollock, also known as Jack the Dripper. I love to add a little spatter with my wet brush dipped in Gansai Tambi water colors!


{Today's Brew: Friends Til The End stamp set (PTI), PTI card stock, Gansi Tambi water colors, rhinestones}


I added a little bling to the flower's center with some adhesive rhinestones.

SAF2016: Gilded In Gold


I love adding a little gold to my projects, so the Gilded in Gold challenge was a fun one!


I combined gold washi tape with gold ribbon and gold embossing for triple the gilded!


{Today's Brew: Meadow Greens stamp set (PTI), Pretty Peonies stamp set and die(PTI), Phrases and Praises stamp set (PTI), PTI ink, gold embossing powder, washi tape and ribbon from Target dollar spot}


More projects to come tomorrow, so stop back to the cafe for some iced latte-style inspiration!

SAF2016: Color Blocking


For the next challenge, we were inspired by Andy Warhol to try our hand at color blocking. I simplified mine a bit by using one image stamped four times on four squares of patterned paper.


For the seam binding, I used a sponge to custom dye the white ribbon with PTI ink. Worked like a charm!


{Today's Brew: Warm Happiness stamp set (PTI), patterned paper (PTI), PTI ink and card stock, seam binding}


Warm and cozy wishes, cafe friends!

SAF2016: Color Blocking


For the next challenge, we were inspired by Andy Warhol to try our hand at color blocking. I simplified mine a bit by using one image stamped four times on four squares of patterned paper.


For the seam binding, I used a sponge to custom dye the white ribbon with PTI ink. Worked like a charm!


{Today's Brew: Warm Happiness stamp set (PTI), patterned paper (PTI), PTI ink and card stock, seam binding}


Warm and cozy wishes, cafe friends!

SAF2016: Starry Night

Cafe friends, it has been one long, hot weekend...a great time to stay indoors and stamp in a nice, cool basement studio!

And what better weekend to stamp than the Stamp-a-Faire Weekend at Papertrey Ink! I loved this year's theme: Masters! So much inspiration from the great works of art by Masters like Van Gogh, Matisse, Degas, Monet, Warhol, Seurat, and so many others.



I'm going to show you several posts today from four different challenges. The first challenge is Starry Night!


I created a starry background using various shades of ink, sprayed with water, and sprayed again with glimmer mists.

{Today's Brew: Star of Wonder stamp set (PTI), Holiday Home dies (PTI), Thankful Wpords die (PTI), PTI ink and card stock, PTI button twine, rhinestones and sequins}

And I thought this sentiment worked well for the inside:


Blessings, cafe friends!