Friday, July 2, 2010

My Beach House - Day 2

Okay, I was totally wrong! It was not easy. I'm serious when I say it seems so obvious to me. Obviously I'm going to need to get another set of eyes on this next time. If you've been a reader for awhile you'll know of my obsession with decorating and my love of sea inspired decor. Granted, I don't live anywhere close to the sea, but I love to use elements and textures you would find in a beach home in our home. All of the stamps in this set are really inspired by my own home! So you want to see some cards?

For my first card, I wanted to use stripes of paper to create a kind of frame. I've stamped the anchor, the little sentiment, the coral, and the ropes on scratch paper. I've cut them all into stripes and arranged to go around the outside of my focal point. And then I topped it off with some of my favorite sunny yellow linen ribbon.


The design team and I have a special challenge for you too! We've created sketches from all the cards shown today, and we'd love for you to try your hand at them! I'll give you more details at the bottom of the post, but here's my sketch:

And let me show you what Alice, Dana and Paulina have come up with!

Dana has totally embraced this set. I just love her little collage of coral and shells! And how about that rope she's tied around her card? Just the perfect touch! Here's Dana's sketch:

Paulina shows her classic style with this fabulous card! The tone on tone coral is just so beautiful! And those flags, just wait until we get into the release to see the possibilities those hold! Here's Paulina's sketch:

 Don't you just love the variety of colors this set can be used with? When I started to look at all of our sketch cards, I was really shocked at the array of colors used! Alice's card uses the large rope background stamp in such a gorgeous way. And don't you love how the coral almost looks like seaweed?
And here is Alice's sketch:

So do you want to try your hand at one of these three sketches (or all three)? We sure hope so. So here's the deal. You have until midnight on July 15 to make a card, scrapbook page, really whatever your heart desires based of one of the sketches. Post your card on your blog or gallery, let people know you are playing the Practicing Creativity Sketch Challenge and come back here to link your card up! You don't have to use Practicing Creativity stamps, but we would love for you to if you have some!

But the prize ... we will be giving away a $50 credit to Practicing Creativity to the big winner.



And you can always comment on this post to be eligible to win the My Beach House! Just let me know something you like to decorate with!

Check back tomorrow for more on My Beach House!

July 3: Card showcase by the design team
July 4: Video tutorial and cards!
July 5: Release!

55 comments:

Dana said...

OMG. Are you kidding? I thought they WERE seaweed! LOL Coral? Really? *slapping hand to forehead* I'm a dufus!
Love your card and sketch!

Traveling Mama said...

This is SOO cute! I cannot wait to see more! I'm a sucker for sea shells. I love collecting them from all the different beaches we visit!

de said...

Amazing cards! And you are so right, it was NOT easy! LOL.

Ewww, and I want to play along! YEA!

Love the sneak peek!

Brandi said...

I knew I saw an anchor! Well I say that now after I saw the image! He He!

Brenda Weaver said...

oh how fabulous! A beach house set. I'm excited to see it. You disguised it very well. I had no idea! LOL!
Now I have to try to get in some crafty time to try your challenges. I've been so very horrible at challenges these last few months. Somehow with the kids being home my crafting time has been drastically reduced.

StampinCathy said...

The cards are fabulous and love the sketches. Lovin this stamp set.

Karen B. said...

Holy cow, your design team samples are just gorgeous, love the colors used in all of them. The sketches are fun too! I'm inspired by vintage finds for my house, love old windows, old chests, things like that. I like the dark wood colors.

Bonita Rose said...

Oh my gosh.. Love this set.. def on my wish list.. thks courtney for the chance to win, I'd LOVE LOVE to win this one!! hugs xo

FLEUR de Lo said...

What a fun idea! {the sketches} I like to use color in my decorating---most of my walls are a calm green. It seems to really set a cozy base for everything else.

Lillian Child said...

Love the sea!

I like to decorate with paint. It's fairly inexpensive and can chance the mood of a space or room instantly. And then I take any leftover paint and literally throw it on a blank canvas for "instant" wall art.

~amy~ said...

All the cards are fabulous!!!!!!! Can't wait for this release...you betcha that I'll play along with the sketch challenges!!

Nat said...

wonderful cards, this is such a great stamp set!!

Bonita Rose said...

I'm a total beach decor junkie too.. hv u seen the new book, WATERSIDE COTTAGES? it's on amazon.. it's amazing!

Anonymous said...

I love the sneaks!!! This set is so versatile and summery too...

I love decorating with throw pillows. I think they can really change the feel of the room...and it is such a cheap change too and much easier than painting =)

Michele Gross said...

Oh I just LOVES me a good sketch challenge and 4 to choose from! :D Love the sneaky peeks-the DT did an awesome job!! More please!! ;)

Diane Jaquay said...

I'm really loving the rope stamps in this set Courtney! I've been so inspired by beach decor that I've seen lately that I want to redo my living room that way! Right now it's very earthy with greens and browns, and bamboo blinds. I want something lighter and airier!!!

scrapsnsuch@gmail.com said...

The beach - perfect!!! That rope is fab. I hope to play along with you too - it's hard to resist good sketches.

Lynnette said...

I love sketches, they are so helpful for designing cards. These sketches are all so much fun :) My decorating is all over the place, right now I'm focusing more on the basics, painting and home repairs. Congrats on your new release!

Maile Belles said...

What a lovely set, can't wait to see the whole thing! I love to decorate with black and white accents.

Melissa said...

I LOVE the coral! I may have missed it but who makes the coral stamp? I live in Chicago and love all things beachy and it's really transforming our house from a design perspective as well. We are hoping to move someday to a more beachy area. We have a lake where we live but it's not the same as the East or West Coast.

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

This is stunning Courtney! I love that big bow, pretty ribbon and the color is just gorgeous! I normally don't like orange but this one really caught my eyes!
Looks like fun sketches here to play along with, will try to do one this weekend!
Thanks for sharing!

Elise said...

Oh, dear! Oh, DEAR! (*Thunk!*)

What a WONDERFUL menagerie of beachy goodness you and your AMAZING team have ... REELED IN! {Hee Hee} This is AWFULLY inspiring, you enabler, you! I can't wait to have a go at these sketches! Yeeeeee haw!

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

Fun! Have added you to FB now too, thanks for the link on the previous post. Decorating... need lots of help in that department. All I see is clutter and toys. If only I could keep my house CAS like my cards!

Lee said...

I love to decorate with paint. I just love a fresh can of paint. It is so easy and inexpensive to do over and over whenever a color hits me!! I love love love the rope stamp, it is sooo cool!!

Deb Neerman said...

Love this new set! A must-have!!

I'm inspired by antique and thrift shops, sea glass, old bottles, used book stores, and vintage advertising.

Thanks for the chance to win!

Stacie (craft-princess) said...

Great cards!! Such a wonderful new set!

Summer Braxton said...

looks good so far... i'm ready for the full reveal. My house guests leave tomorrow morning, so I'll be able to play along!!! Finally, some crafting time.

Kim Wilson said...

This set looks amazing Courtney! I cant wait to see it all! I LOVE the beach too! Hmm what I like to decorate with? Antiques, my husband hates them LOL but I think that its so fun to hold something with a history!

Unknown said...

Oooh, you are always SO on trend!! Nautical is HOT right now! Love it!

(-: Heidi

Lisa Petrella said...

Oh WOW, Courtney!!! This set looks like a goodie!!! Love the samples you and your fabulous DT made, too!! GREAT JOB! I love to decorate with things that we pick up during our travels and lots of earthy elements.

Winter said...

Dang, I was wrong! I thought it was sports! :)
Can't wait to see the full set! I love the cards! :)

Deanna said...

Stunning cards!

Alice said...

your card is soooooo cool, Courtney! love your sketch and that pretty ribbon!

Ashley Newell said...

Sooooo cute Court! I can't wait to try these sketches!!

Julie Ranae said...

I LOVE this set and how timely! I love using beach themes to decorate in the summer months, both in my home and on my cards...a few shells, nets and pale blue candles in off white mosaic votives...perfect!
Great job Courtney!

jen said...

Lovin' the samples!!! Can't wait to see the rest of your beach house! :D I love beach-themed decorating too- the calmness that it seems to instill....

Billie A said...

Cute cards I really like the anchor but all if what I saw was great, we live in Washington State so have the great pacific ocean and I love to collect sandollars, they look nice on a tray or in a glass bowl, with other shells. Thanks for sharing.

Amy Kolling said...

What fantastic sketches! I can't wait to play along! I really like to decorate and use color with reds, browns, greens. But seeing this beach stamp set, is getting me excited for our Cabo trip mid-July!

Lindsay said...

Super fun stamps! Love these sketches too!

Karen said...

Love seeing so many great cards! We collect drift wood, sea glass, and shells on our trips to the beach. As for what we decorate our house with, we like to look for a piece of art together each year for our anniversary gift to each other. :>

Ryann said...

This was fun! I'm not a big decorate person with themes. I'm more driven by colors. My living room is a combination of red and turquoise - one of my favor color combos in card making too!

~Tammy~ said...

Oh Wow! These are awesome! Living in Hawaii, I am inspired by beach and tropical decor so I am Influenced greatly by these things. I love to use Chocolate with sea glass colors as accents! So pretty!

Anita Rex said...

I love to decorate! I used to work in a stationary and frames dept of a store so since than I love different picture frames!

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

Okay, I did 3 of the 4 sketches! Woo hoo.

Sassy's Ramblin's said...

It is just amazing that the sets can be used some many different ways, for so many different looks!!!

Sassy's Ramblin's said...

I love to go to flea markets and antique/junk stores and get old bottles, I tie them up in three's or fours, to make hanging flower vases! :-) Its so cool and such a rustic look! I love all the DT's cards! WOW!

ScrappinCntryGrl said...

love the cards...i dont own any of your stamps, but thanks for the chance at winning some....

Suzanne C said...

Such lovely cards and sketches! Love all of them. I definitely have a few ocean themes in the house. Used fishnet in the kids bathroom with a few lobsters and such caught up in it!

Traveling Mama said...

This was so much fun to play with! Thanks for the inspiration!

Amy Kolling said...

Well, that was a fun sketch challenge!! I want to play some more because they are all great sketches!! I enjoyed playing along!

Kim Wilson said...

Thanks for the fun challenge Courtney! I made all three sketches but two are in one post so it wont let me link it up again :)

Irit Shalom said...

ok- another challnges for a challenge frick like me.. Be sure I am going to play and the sketches are great- very versatile.. AND A STAMP SET IS WOW- GREAT FOR MY FAMILY SEE PHOTOS TO SCRAP

Deb Neerman said...

I'm so desperate to win some of these fabulous stamps, I had to enter a card, lolol. It's a loose interpretation of Paulina's sketch but I'm a loose chick, so it all works out ...

Thanks for the chance to win ... and for a fun challenge!

paperpapier said...

i love the coral..i can use it to make background paper..

Kay said...

Wonderful, wonderful and more wonderful!!! That's an amazing prize you're giving away, girlfriend. Wow!!
♥♥ Kay