Monday, June 7, 2010

Hush Little Baby & The PCD Journey

There seems to be a lot of baby shower's coming up in the new future! So during the Barefoot Summer release I thought I'd challenge myself to make a baby card using the set. It wasn't too hard, granted I didn't use the stamp set as the focal point, but as a background. However I did use some of the new Blue and White Stripe.

I also used the Ivory Crochet. I don't know what it is about baby cards, but I'm pretty certain my rule is that they should all have some crochet ribbon!

For those of you that got the new set, I would really love to see what you make. You can either email me (see contact info on sidebar) or post your pictures to our Flickr group.  It's also a great place to get inspiration!

As we've been finishing everything up for this release, I realized that Practicing Creativity Designs has been around for 6 months! Isn't that crazy? We are still very much growing, so if you don't have our blinking you can grab it from my sidebar. I so appreciate you adding it to your blogs!

I also thought it would be fun to go back and review some of my favorite cards from each set. I know many of you are just finding out about us!

Our first set, Key to My Heart. A set that will forever be oh so dear to my heart.
 Next up was You're Dandy with those super fun rays. 

Look Up! was next and we moved to the official website.

I was thrilled to design For the Love of Dots and finally get some really large dots.

Then I recruited my husband to design You're the Man, because well he is the man for me!


And now we have Barefoot Summer. I can't believe time has gone by so quickly! And you can always see more on each of these sets by clicking on the appropriate stamp set name in my labels! Thank you all for coming along on this adventure with me!


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Just a few more days left to play along with the EBTKS challenge. The winner will receive a $30 DeNami Design gift card and the opportunity to be our next guest designer!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Introducing Barefoot Summer



Barefoot Summer is a 4x6 set with 26 interactive stamps and tons of flexibility. I can't wait to see what all you make with it.

Barefoot Summer is available for $12.99 at the store - www.practicingcreativitydesigns.com





Shipping for U.S. Customers is a flat rate of $4


Shipping for international customers is a flat rate of $6 
International mail will be sent via USPS First Class International.
Here's a few images of some of the new ribbon you'll find in the store as well! 

Barefoot Summer and Ribbon Collection Winners

Only an hour until the release of Barefoot Summer! Here are the winners for this release:

For the 10 yard of ribbon:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
18 
Timestamp: 2010-06-06 02:49:58 UTC

The winner is: Hannah said...
b.u.tiful!!

I love the striped ribbon. So pretty.

For Barefoot Summer:

Here are your random numbers:
111 
Timestamp: 2010-06-06 02:55:29 UTC

Ellie A. said...
I LIVE for Flip-Flops that is why I love the warm weather because that is the ONLY thing I wear.. I am known as the Flip-Flop mama.. so needless to say my heart skipped a beat w/this set! LOVE IT :)



 Girls please email me at Courtney@practicingcreativitydesigns.com!

I'll be back in an hour for some more fun!

Barefoot Summer!

Tonight's the night! Barefoot Summer will release at midnight eastern time. Until then we've got some more cards to show you! Today is all about the flowers. This set has two different groups of flowers. I think you'll love them.

For my card. I paper pieced several little flowers with kraft centers, and I used some of the new jute ribbon to make that super fun bow! Isn't that green awesome?


I also made my traditional video showing you how all of the pieces of this stamp work together!

You can also view the video over on YouTube here.

The design team has some beautiful cards for you as well!
When Alice colors it's just gorgeous! She used the small flowers and stems and one of the larger flowers to create the background.

I love how Dana used the buttons for the flower centers, but what I love the most is how she created the yellow flower to be the star of the show!
Paulina has a treat for us all. Not only has she made this super cute card using Barefoot Summer and You're Dandy, but she's shown us exactly how to make it.



Check out the design team's blogs for more details on their cards. Haven't they just done a wonderful job?

Today's the last day to leave a comment to win a new set. And now that you've seen most of the set what are you most excited about? I'll pick the winner tonight at 11 eastern for the ribbon and stamp set.

Friday, June 4, 2010

New Ribbon! And a giveaway!

Thank you to everyone for your super sweet comment on Stamping Royalty. I've been so exciting, but it's much more fun to be excited with friends. THANK YOU.


 I don't know about you all, but it is officially flip flop weather here in Tennessee. We've had 90 degree days every day this week! And speaking of flip flops we've got one last day of Barefoot Summer planned for tomorrow, but today we are taking a break to check out the new ribbon that will be in store June 6! 

Here's a video I put together to show off some of the new ribbon!
You can also view the video over on YouTube here.

You've already gotten some sneak peeks of the ribbon here and here. But I couldn't resist breaking out the orange and ivory stripe ribbon to make a flower. This card is 100% inspired by this amazing bag by Samantha at More Paper Please
To Make:
1. Stamp flower/circle shape on card base. 
2. Stitch around card. 
3. Stamp sentiment over and over to create a background and run through die cut machine. 
4. To create the flower, stitch down one side of the ribbon, pulling the ribbon tight. Once done, curl ribbon up and stitch back together to create flower. 
5. Using scrap paper cut two leaves. 



 And now for a special treat from the queen of ribbon, Michelle Philippi!


Remember that old knock-knock joke?
The one with banana, banana who?, banana, banana who?, banana, banana who?....orange you glad I didn't say banana? LOL
Orange is one of those colors - you never hear anyone say it's their favorite. Poor orange. What'd it ever do to anyone? :( Well, I've got some pretty pretty pretty, like really pretty orange ribbon to share with you today courtesy of Practicing Creativity Designs. Courtney asked me to join them with their latest release showcasing lots of new and really hot ribbon; yum-o!

These 3 orange ribbons are new to the store this month. And I {heart} them so. I love thick ribbon. And these 3 are each so different. From easy to form with a subtle wire edge, to easy to mold with a real flowy texture, to holding it's form well having that tight grosgrain feel, these are great ribbons with a lot of versatility.

PCD12
I've been hanging on to this pretty orange patterned paper from Anna Griffin. I found the print almost intimidating. It's so bold...and really classy. Only an equally bold and classy ribbon would do - and I found it.
PCD11
I knew I wanted a big bow, so I tied it around the base of my card before doing anything else so that I could have a big side bow.
PCD10
I laid down my patterned paper over the ribbon using dimensional adhesive.
PCD9
And then I thought about making a tag - didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I like tags on cards...and they always allow me to use more ribbon *giggles*
PCD8
Yellow...goes great with orange. So I used this pretty transparency from Hambly on my taggie; and then I stitched down the bottom.
PCD7
And then thought about topping it with this flowy orange ribbon.
PCD4
Maybe a little scrunchy would be nice?
PCD3

Maybe a little stitchy with the scrunchy?
PCD6
Oh yeah - that's pretty.
PCD5
I finished off my tag - with a sweet sentiment from PCD - and then tied my bow; that's hot.
PCD2
Voila!

PCD1


Isn't that just gorgeous? Also check out  Dana's blog today. She's broken out some ribbon from the store as well!

Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite new ribbon to Practicing Creativity Designs is, and I'll pick a winner to choose 10 yards of ribbon from the store!!!

 Tomorrow is the last day of this release, and you won't want to miss it. We've got two videos for you! And then Barefoot Summer and the ribbon go on sale at midnight! I can't wait.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Barefoot Summer Day 3

I'm super pumped about all of the excitement over yesterday's tree. We'll keep moving along with more tutorials and cards for you until the set goes on sale at Midnight on June 6! Today we are focusing on the flip flops!

There are several different pieces that work great with the three sets of flip flops (all separate stamps for maximum flexibility). There is a clothes line and clothes pins to hang your flip flops. It's one of my favorite things about the set. So of course that's exactly what I did with my first card using the flip flops.
 Now do you see that green twill? That's some of the new ribbon coming to the store on June 6. I just can't get enough of the May Arts twill! For this card I paper pieced the tree trunk and flip flops and used my Copics on my tree leaves. The 'Thank You' stamp is from You're Dandy.

Alice utilized the three pairs of flip flops and the cute little flowers to create a background. I'm actually wishing I owned those yellow ones! So cute!

When it comes to mixing Practicing Creativity Stamp Paulina is the queen! First she's used the flip flops to create this super cute pattern. Then she's used stamps from Look Up! and You're Dandy to create one fabulous card.
Is that card just not awesome? I'm seriously so in love with the little scene Dana created. And what's even better Dana has created a short tutorial on how to recreate this look and how to use the clothes line with this set.
How awesome are these girls? Visit their blogs for more details on their cards! Michelle Philippi will have another card today featuring the new May Arts ribbon!


So what do you think? Flip flops on clothes lines... so fun right? Did you ever have a clothes line growing up? My mom did when I was really young and I so remember our clothes smelling so good. Leave a comment and I'll draw a winner on the 5th!

You don't want to miss tomorrow because it's all about the new ribbon! And we've got lots of it. Plus we have a special ribbon tutorial from Michelle Philippi!

June 5: Design Team cards from the new set and two special video tutorials for everyone.
June 6: Release of the new set!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Me??? Stamping Royalty???

I've been holding this in for awhile, but I got the word yesterday that I can finally share! I was selected as one of the winners for the Paper Crafts Stamping Royalty contest. I honestly didn't think there was even a 1% chance that one of my cards would get picked, and I was so surprised when I got the email. I'm also so glad there was not a hidden camera in my house when I found out!

So you'll see this card, and all the other winner's cards, in the Nov/Dec Paper Crafts Issue! I'm sure it will be as fabulous as all of their issues.

And I know I've said this before, but I remember not too long ago thinking I would never have a card even published.  I hope that encourages you all to keep pursuing your dreams!