Etsy Inspired #97--7.17.10

Happy Saturday!


I hope you are doing well this week! My week has been so busy! I have been working on tons of designs for a submission call, and I will finally be getting the designs in on Monday. Some of my hard work paid off, as one of my designs was accepted by Cards magazine for their December 2010 issue, so yay!


My husband has been gone all week on a business trip to his company's corporate office located in Brighton, Michigan. The upside is I have uninterrupted time to create, but the down side is that I have uninterrupted time to create. A girl can't win. It's nice to have a husband around to share my work with, share my day with and talk to. As much as I love Mr. Green, our parrot, it's just not the same. So, I am looking forward to next thursday when he comes home.


This week was an exciting week for me. Three things happened, two good and one bad, we'll start with the bad news. On Sunday my second sewing machine broke! I was so frustrated! Singer's quality has really gone down. For two weeks my Pixie Plus worked perfectly! Then on Sunday it jammed, and never could pick up the bobbin thread. So, after reading it's terrible reviews thinking, "why did I buy this?" The good news is that my dear husband felt so bad that he helped me research, and buy a new machine. I don't need something advanced, as I am not a serious sewer, but I read a lot of terrific reviews on the Brother xl3750 , so I got that one! I hope I don't break it!


The other good news is that I finally was able to order my birthday gift!! I have been dying for a Die Cut machine, so that I could make die cut and emboss not only paper, but chipboard, fabric and felt so that I can make my own embellies! Well, I looked around and got a Big Shot by Sizzix on sale for 40% off from Joann's, the cutting mats were also on sale and I got three dies on sale too! I got the Spellbinder's Labels two and Labels three and the Large Classic Squares Dies. I will of course act super surprised, and even better--I got free shipping!


Well, now we get to the main fabulousness of this post! This week's inspiration is
Mermaid's Tears. This shop sells handmade Sea glass or Mermaid's Tears as it is also known. Sea glass is a wonderful natural creation filled with magic, legends and an air of mystery. Designs are all creative and original and include beautiful materials such as Swarovski starfish, sterling silver, sea glass in rare lavenders, blues, greens and other colors. This shop can provide many paths of inspiration for you! As an added bonus, Mermaid's tears may be able to give you your inspiration piece (a $25 value!)


Some beautiful images I really enjoyed and were inspired by were the

Sea Glass Necklace Pendant

Frosty White Sea Glass Sea Goddess

Sea Glass Earrings

Obviously, I can't exactly replicate these beautiful works of art verbatim, but I did come up with my own adaptations!

For the card above I sewed Jolee's Jewels onto a card in vertical lines. The jewels are actually crystallized with Swarovski crystal elements so the jewels really sparkle! The grouped in little clusters to create fun points of interest. I was inspired by the jewels used in the Frosty White Sea Glass  Sea Goddess pendant to create the "Life's Simple Pleasures" card

For second card above, I was inspired by the dangling Sea Glass earrings. I like the metal scroll work of the earrings. I cannot make that beautiful scrollwork, however I used metal clasps that I found at Joann's Fabrics as one of the main elements in my card. I also love the sea glass used in Mermaid's Tears shop, so I found some beads that look like sea glass and placed them between the clasps. The kraft cardstock resembles the sandy beach, and makes for a nice contrast.  

This week our sponsor is  Denami Design.  Denami makes fun, whimsical stamps and sells quality ink, stamping supplies and other paper craft products. For ideas, tips and techniques visit Denami's blog. Denami is offering this week's winner a $30 gift certificate to use in their store!! You can get whatever fabulous product your heart desires!

Oooh! Were getting close to Etsy's 100th Challenge Event

As you've probably already noticed our Etsy challenges are getting closer to the #100! To celebrate our 100th Etsy challenge we will have the opportunity to not only win the Sponsor's prize, but also to win a prize from each of the design team's blogs. Here's how it works: submit your design to the Etsy for a chance to win the spnsor's prize (100 goodies!), but you can also win by leaving a comment on each design team's blog for a chance to win the prize  that they're giving away. I hope you'll join us for this fabulous event

So, make sure to post your design by friday to Etsy Inspired Challenge for your chance to win. For inspiration from our wonderful team of designers check out their blogs.

Ashley

De

Emily N

Joy

Kerry

Savannah

Stephanie

Virginia

Heather

MATERIALS:


Life's Simple Pleasure's Card:
CARDSTOCK: (White) Papertrey Ink
ACCENTS: (Crystals) Jolee's Jewels
CLEAR STAMP: (Sentiment from Shapes by Design) Papertrey Ink
CHALK INK: (Tea Leaves) Tsukineko

Make a Wish Card:
CARDSTOCK: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink
ACCENTS: (Beads) Blue Moon (Clasp) Joann's
CLEAR STAMP: (Sentiment from Mixed Messages) Papertrey Ink
CHALK INK: (Creamy Brown) Clearsnap
OTHER: (Circle Punch) Fiskars