Play Day Friday

  Reminder; my giveaway closes Sat. March 29 at midnight EST so if you want a chance  (or two) to win one of the packages you still have time. Go HERE for the post and details. Edited: this giveaway is now closed.Look for the winners names on Mon. March 31.

  Some weeks ago Suzy of Suziqu's Threadworks posted about some lovely gifts including a group of crocheted flowers she received. You can see them in this post. It got me thinking of how I used to crochet-A LOT- but it got away from me. Until I saw those beautiful flowers. I grabbed my hooks and some threads and began making some.

  Now , these flowers cannot compare to Julia's intricate beauties but they're a start :) The only thing I forgot to add to the supplies above is the ball of black yarn I used for the larger, heavier weight flower. Fun! The crochet hooks belonged to my grandmother-who taught me how to crochet. I still have sets of the placemats I sewed and crocheted years ago (a sample of each in the photo).  You really must visit the two blogs I mentioned above-especially if you love vintage and laces etc. Suzy's blog is stunning!


  I already used one of the flowers on a card. The following cards were made for the Simon Wednesday Challenge  theme of "anything goes with buttons". I am also linking to a new to me challenge- Freshly Made Sketches. Each week a DT member produces a new sketch design for you to create cards by. Check them out! Here is this week's sketch:

  And here are my cards:

 

 It was fairly easy to whip up three cards by keeping with a specific color palette and theme. These remind me so much of my great grandmother's dining room with the vintage flocked wall papers, patterns all around and of course lace.


  Products: 5" x 7" note cards (The Philadelphia Group); patterned card stock (La Creme Matstack-DCWV); Onyx Black Versafine ink (Tsukineko); UM clear stamps (Mega Mixed Messages-Papertrey Ink); "special day" rubber stamp (source unknown); assorted laces (JoAnne Stores); paper flowers (the Paper Studio); hand crocheted flower; buttons (vintage).

  My last project for today centers around the book "The Art of Whimsical Lettering" by JoAnne Sharpe.
I received my book recently-have already read it cover to cover and am now ready to begin the practices and techniques. I began by covering a plain composition book and making a title for it as suggested both in the book and in JoAnne's private FB group.

 The front cover:

                I have never used my washi tapes more since taking her classes and I love it!

 Front and back covers:

 

  Most of the papers I used are copies of my own hand painted or marbled papers. If you enjoy COLOR-LOTS of it, if you enjoy wHiMsY and perfectly imperfect, then you will LOVE JoAnne's  book!!! 

I'd love to know if you have it and /or in the FB group:)

 Besides the above mentioned challenges I am also linking to Art Journal Every Day, Creative Every Day, and Paint Party Friday. Let the weekend fun begin!

"Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul." W. Somerset Maugham