Tour de NEW CATALOG!!!

Yep, this month's theme for the Tour de Freaks is anything from the new catalog, woohoo! Since I love just about Every. Darn. Thing in that catalog, narrowing it down was a nightmare! I'm sure the other participants are going to wow you with their projects, so I guess I needn't worry that I couldn't cram them all in here. If you started at the beginning, then you just landed here from Wendy's blog, Wickedly Wonderful Creations. Weren't her projects uh-MAZE-ing? Especially because she just ran 500 miles, and then she ran 500 more! (Well, maybe that's exaggerating a bit....but she did run a half FULL marathon on The Great Wall of China!) To see ALL the Control Freaks creations, just click on the link at the bottom of each person's post.

In an effort to keep things moving right along, we try to limit ourselves to two or three projects, so with extreme reluctance and great self-sacrifice to be a good girl, I only made two cards to share (heehee!). I've really been on a water-coloring binge lately, and both cards reflect it. So, first up is a quickie watercolor wash background, which I think sets off the Flourish Thinlits die beautifully. It really lets the die cut stand out, doesn't it? At first I was going to use colored cardstock, but then thought the au naturel watercolor paper looked better. Some splatters from Gorgeous Grunge added some visual interest, too.

STAMPS: Flowering Flouishes, Gorgeous Grunge  CARDSTOCK: Watercolor Paper, Flirty Flamingo      INK: Flirty Flamingo, Basic Black Archival  ACCESSORIES: Aqua Painters, Big Shot, Flourish Thinlits Dies, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, 1/4" Gold Natural Trim, Metallics Sequin Assortment, Fine-Tip Glue Pen

The second card took me out of my comfort zone a wee bit. Cutesy cards are really not my style, but the Bella & Friends stamps are so adorable, I just couldn't resist. Besides, now I can make cards to donate to our local animal shelter! (I drew a smile on the pup, because my shelter-rescue dog is always smiling, if not downright laughing.) This would be a great birthday card for ANY age or gender!

STAMPS: Bella & Friends, Suite Sayings  CARDSTOCK: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Dapper Denim, Real Red, Watercolor Paper, Subtles DSP Stack  INK: Basic Black Archival, Soft Suede, Real Red, Crushed Curry  ACCESSORIES: Aqua Painters, Balloon Bouquet Punch, Project Life Corner Punch, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, Gold Metallic Thread, White Stampin' Chalk Marker

Because I was such a good girl (who's a good girl? I was! Yes, I was!), that's all I have for today. Now click the link and go see what Debbie Henderson made over at Debbie's Designs! Thanks for stopping by!

Freaky Mish-Mash

Welcome to the February 2014 Tour de Freaks! Our theme this month is "Mish-Mash", meaning we can do whatever we like! Which is right up my alley, because I like doing whatever the heck I want! It's the non-conformist creative person inside me showing through, heh heh.

I'm the first stop on the tour this month, but you may have just landed here from Judy DiScipio's blog. Weren't her projects great? There are eleven blogs linked and you can take the tour by clicking on the "next stop" button at the bottom of each blog.

My projects this month are from the All Occasions Class we just had. My idea was to create a bunch of different cards (without any greetings on them) to have available for any occasion that might pop up. Then all we'd have to do is add the appropriately themed greeting and get it right in the mail the same day! So you will see the "blank" card, and then one with a greeting added.

First up is something that could work as a masculine or a feminine card. The card uses Summer Silhouettes for the basic card, with a greeting from Perfect Pennants added on the second card.

STAMPS: Summer Silhouettes, Perfect Pennants  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Retro Fresh DSP  INK: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Cajun Craze  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Banners Collection Framelits, Gold Baker's Twine

Next up is a decidedly feminine card with flowers and butterflies. The basic card doesn't even use any stamps! The second card uses Perfect Pennants again for the greeting. This one is going to someone very special to let them know I'm thinking of them.

STAMP: Perfect Pennants  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Gingham Garden DSP  INK: Island Indigo  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Dies, Fancy Fan folder, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Pearls Basic Jewels

Up last, is another card that would work for a man or woman. I'm giving it to a family member (who shall remain nameless) whose birthday is coming up real soon!

STAMPS: Flowering Flourishes, Delightful Dozen  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Gingham Garden DSP  INK: Old Olive, Basic Black  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Modern Label Punch, Brights Designer Buttons, Brights Candy Dots

Yes, I realize the colors are different. I didn't have enough of the same style buttons!

Did you like the before and after ideas? I hope so! Having a ready-to-mail supply of any occasion cards is a good thing.

That's all for me this month. Next up is LeeAnn Greff's blog. Thanks for taking the tour this month. I hope you come back soon!