Gingersnap Creations Border Punch Challenge

Today at Gingersnap Creations we are asked to pull out those fabulous border punches for the new Spicy Supply Challenge.  I don't know about you, but I sometimes tend to go for months where I neglect my punches.  I don't know why, I just get out of the groove.  So it was super-fun to get out a few and layer some frilly edges on a very spring-time card.  The gorgeous bluebird image is from Retro Cafe Art Gallery - Bird Love Collage Sheet.  Retro Cafe Art Gallery is our sponsor this month, so that means there is an absolutely fabulous prize up for grabs. (Seriously, all you altered art lovers, go look, it's amazing!)  Anyway, I added some distress inks to the edges, which were punched with Martha Stewart's Hydrangea edge punch (sadly retired, I nabbed one off e-bay!) and an EK success doily edge.  The background panel for my birdies is some very cool Jane Austin paper from Papertrey Ink, stamped with a floral motif and inked up with broken china distress ink.  I finished off the card with some lace and a pebble accent.

And in a new twist......  the Ginger Gems will be chosen by our blog readers!  All the details are on the Gingersnap Creations post. :)

Granny's Photo Album at Gingersnap Creations

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted! So sorry to have been AWOL for so long. Our entire household has had these terrible colds - a horrible cough, pink eye, congestion, fatigue - and I just haven't felt up to crafting, blogging, or anything much else. I am very much aware that this is the "small stuff" though - nothing major, nothing life threatening, and so we just carry on.  I am grateful for the health of my family, for sure.

So enough yammering on... today it's time for another fun month of challenges at Gingersnap Creations, and we're starting off with the theme of "Granny's Photo Album." Our sponsor this month is the fabulous Retro Cafe Art Gallery - with wonderful vintage images and collages that are right up my alley!

I decided to have some fun and came up with a piece that I imagined as "Grandfairy's Photo Album" - a little twist on the theme.  The adorable children's portraits are from the Oh Baby 2 collage sheet, and the lovely floral backgrounds are by Debrina Pratt - DP98.  I added in some stamped and distress stained wings, some charms, and a bit of chipboard here and there.  Some background inking and matting of the photos completed the look.  These could just as easily have been a set of ATCs, too - the backgrounds are sized accordingly on the collage sheet.

So all of you vintage-loving gals... how about giving this one a try?  Spin the theme however you wish. ;)

I am hoping to get back in the swing of things and get around to all of your beautiful blogs sometime this week.  Our schedule this week has slowed down some - my son is in between hockey seasons - his team just won the championship for his age division!!!  Wooohooo to my little goalie!  And my daughter's volleyball tournaments have been local as of late, so we've saved some driving time.  Now for my husband and I to kick our colds, and things should be back to "normal."  Stay warm and stay healthy, my dears!