Moxie Monday: Debonair from GCD Studios

I so look forward to Mondays, don't you? Moxie Mondays, that is!

I have been waiting with baited breath for the optimum moment to show you this line since the moment I was introduced to it at CHA Winter by Kent Chesley, the enthusiastic CEO of GCD Studios. I was thinking that it would be best to serve up around Father's Day, but then, in a dream, it occurred to me that we are all needing masculine products with which to create our gifts. And this, my friends, is no ordinary masculine product.

No need for waiting, friends. Here it is. I give you Debonair.

It has the refreshing combination of style and class. Its design is sincere. Its color combinations are rich and elegant. Its lines are precise and clean. The pop of orange makes me tingle.

This line takes me all over the world, capturing the inherent nature of its people.

I want to cover my walls with it.

All of them.

See for yourself:

Bora Bora

Athens

Moorea

Honolulu

Delhi

Cote d'Azurra

Nairobi

Capri

Barbados

Tahiti

This stuff is postively drool-able, friends! And besides masculine projects like birthday, anniversary, thanks for being such a great hubby, and I'm sorry for being such a doof, I'm also thinking this stuff would also be fantastic for home decor projects.

Besides, then they would match my walls. ;)

Leave me a comment saying which paper caused you to drool most and why by midnight MST on Thursday, April 2, and I'll send 2 lucky winners the actual stuff to really drool over.

My favies? I would like a rug made out of Barbados, a blanket made out of Delhi, and wallpaper made out of Cote d'Azurra and Tahiti. And a purse made from Nairobi, a jacket made from Capri, drapes made from Honolulu...yes, I really could go on and on.

Good luck choosing your favies!

~Cath

Five (x5) for Friday: Let's Go Fly a Kite!

It's a Five for Friday Sing Along, friends! All together now, follow the bouncing ball:

With tuppence for paper and strings

Universe Kite from brandistrickland

You can have your own set of wings

Mulititasking from jaffajam

With your feet on the ground

The Best Kind of Day from StephanieFizer

You're a bird in a flight

Spring Kites Cards from winifredStudios

With your fist holding tight

Belle and Boo Fly a Kite from belleandboo

To the string of your kite

September Wind from mapetitepapeterie

Oh, oh, oh! Let's go fly a kite

The Little Kite Birth Announcement from purplecactusgraphics

Up to the highest height!

Elephant Flying a Kite from barkingbirdart

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

Letter K Print from lindsayart

Up through the atmosphere

Kite Quilted Post Card Art from Daisycuts

Up where the air is clear

Wind Little Quilt for March from brenniequilts

Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Fly Away by lynseandfancy

When you send it flyin' up there

Hedgehog from erinaellis

All at once you're lighter than air

Red Kite from tinyandshiny

You can dance on the breeze

Hello How Are You Kites from juliepeach

Over 'ouses and trees

Carefree by sarahkdesigns

With your first 'olding tight

Kite Flying Ground Squirrels from foxyandwinston

To the string of your kite

Kite Card from erinaellis

Oh, oh, oh! Let's go fly a kite

Lets Go Fly a Kite by theglassmenagerie

Up to the highest height!

Kites Note Card from lindabutterfly

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

One Spring Day from yoote

Up through the atmosphere

Cat Flying a Kite from reidsrow

Up where the air is clear

Kite March Print from jengsshop

Oh, let's all go--fly a kite!

Let's Go Fly a Kite from vol25

Happy weekend everyone! I hope it's high flyin'!

Gunther Butterfly Kite from Into the Wind

Feeling kite-tastic,
~Cath

Stamp It! Week Challenge Winners!

Ready for another nod to Stamp It! Week? You just thought we were finished with all its stampy goodness--but today I've got a special treat for you--5 of the 10 winners of our Stamp It! Week challenge!

Friends, we are overwhelmed with your response to this contest and we want to thank everyone who entered! Whether you added color with markers, kissed with stamps, used dye ink sprays, built a scene, or created patterned paper with stamps, you wowed the Paper Crafts team with your participation, your enthusiasm, and your skill! I send you one big fat moxie fab woot your direction!

And if this online contest is any indication--the Stamping Royalty Contest is going to be one tough cookie to judge! Look for the winners in your November/December 2009 issue!

OK, I hear you, just get on with it already, Cath!

I'm pleased to present 5 of the 10 winners here. For the other 5, make sure you visit Paper Crafts Connection and leave a comment to congratulate them as well.

For the dye ink spray category, I present this beautiful card by 1_gruvy_scrapper:

Inkgenious is an ink genious in the stamp kissing category:


Congrats go to julie_stamps for the build a scene category:


Look at the amazing things Jeanne Streiff did with coloring with markers:


And for creating patterned paper with stamps, this gorgeous card from NikiE:


Again, thanks to everyone who played. Leave a comment telling these ladies what you love about their stamped cards, as I'm sure they'd love to hear from you. And don't forget to click on over to the Paper Crafts Connection to see the other winners!

Ladies, email me your addresses with Stamp It! Challenge Winner in the subject line and I'll send you your prizes: 5 sets of stamps from some of your favorite companies!

Before I go, a couple of reminders: you've got until tonight at midnight MST to leave a comment here, you've got until Sunday night at midnight MST to leave a comment here, and you've got until Monday night at midnight MST to submit projects to our November/December issue by clicking here.

Have a great Thursday!
~Cath

Editor's Choice: Brandy Jesperson Talks Trends in Thrifty Handmade Home Decor

Happy Wednesday, friends, and welcome to a new feature here in the Moxie Fab World: Editor's Choice. My trusty editor friends here at Paper Crafts and Creating Keepsakes, our sister publication, are in step with the trendiest trends tantalizing the territory which make them tremendously worth tapping into, truth be told!

Today, Paper Crafts managing editor Brandy Jesperson talks trends in home decor. I've always admired Brandy's eye for fun, simple, and hip home decorating ideas both on her personal blog and in the way she decorates her home, and today she shares some trendy ideas that are all the rage because they pair three trendies: thrifty, homemade, and hip.

Join me in welcoming Brandy to the Moxie Fab World by reading on! Take it away, Brandy!

Shabby chic. Vintage finds. The Etsy movement. No matter how you say it, the recent shift in our economy has made frugality fabulous! Whether it’s scouring thrift and discount stores for well-priced gems or purchasing one-of-a-kind Etsy trinkets, the face of trendy home décor is changing. So get out your crafting supplies, put on your creativity cap (hopefully it’s marvelously knitted with a giant silk flower on the side), and step aboard the trend train. My name is Brandy and I’ll be your conductor for the day – woot, woot!

Perusing the fabric store used to be a humdrum experience for me. But with a plethora of patterned paper designers expanding into textiles, I now find myself in houndstooth, damask, and polka dotted fabric heaven. With so many yummy fabrics how can anyone resist buying a yard or two and creating a stunning throw pillow?

I love the way these handmade pillows from the Purl Bee combine quality handmade construction with trendy geometric patterns. The fact that the colors match my family room only add to their fabulosity!

If you don’t have the time to create your own home décor projects, online hot spots like Etsy are now making it easier than ever to purchase trendy handmade items. So even if you aren’t as crafty as you’d like to be, you can fake it when it comes to your home décor. :)

I fell head over heels for this Etsy print when I first saw it. I adore the colors, the message, the style of the gocco screen print, and the price (print+ frame=$9).

Repurposing items you already have around the house also makes for amazingly trendy and cost effective, home décor. We all know that banners are all the rage, but have you considered using your photos as a simple year-round garland for your mantle?

*Swoon*. I love the way this banner adds playfulness and personality to the room. Not only is this a great conversation piece, but it’s also an interactive way to ensure that your home décor is always evolving…whenever you leave the house you get to take some silly photo booth pictures to add to your collection—so fun!

The back to basics trend doesn’t end when you leave your front door. Paper crafting manufacturers like American Crafts have even hopped on this trend train with their Craft Fair collection.

Inspired by trendy handmade crafts and homegrown items you’d find at your local craft fair or famer’s market, this collection just screams, “Use me!”

Thanks for joining me on this little adventure through Trendy Town. I hope you enjoy this chic style of home décor as much as I do. As a little thank you I’d like to offer one lucky winner the ENTIRE CRAFT FAIR COLLECTION from American Crafts. That’s right. Leave me a comment by Sunday, March 29 at midnight MST telling me what frugal find or handmade gem tickles your fancy and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win $140 worth of this trendy product. Make sure you get in on the fun!

~Brandy

Stamp It! Week Comment Winners!

Congratulations to our Stamp It! Week winners! I'm glad all y'all had such a great time in the Moxie Fab World and on Paper Crafts Connection! Thanks to everyone who left comments during this stampy stampy week and showing us so much Stamp It! Week love! I just can't wait for the next special issue to come out so we can do it all again!

OK. You've waited long enough. Here are all the winners from all the posts last week. Send me an email with your address to cedvalson@ckmedia.com with the words Stamp It! Week followed by the bolded titles in the subject line, depending on which prize you won.

Moxie Monday: 6 stamp sets each from Papertrey, Ink!

Kerry who said:

Those tags for Spring are calling my name! Love that set! Thanks for the chance to win some fabulous PTI stamps!

Elena who said:

I love Papertrey Ink! So glad they are getting the attention they deserve! I loove 'Friends Till the End'...it's gorgeous!

Stamps Galore, Part I: 13 moxie fab stamp sets!

Heather D. who said:

WOW! Another great prize! How exciting. Fun Blog!!

Stamp It! Most Published Designers: 10 Original Handmade Cards!

cgargus who said:

What a great bunch of talent!! Dawn's is great with the bright colors, so cheerful. Debbie's card is also so cool with the chicks stamped and on the background paper! Thanks so much for sharing and for the chance to win!

Stamps Galore, Part II: 15 moxie fab stamp sets!

Gabrielle who said:

WOW Look at all these super FAB stamps!I {heart} the Branching Out set from Taylored Expressions. So full of nature goodness! :)Thanks for a chance to win!

5 for Friday--Stamping Inspiration: A copy of Stamp It! Cards, a stamp set and some Zing! embossing powder from American Crafts, and other assorted stamps.

Karen who said:

It's been a great week here. I love the simplicity of Julie's card. Lovely.

~amy~ who said:

Gorgeous cards...all of them...what I think inspires me is all the soft spring colors...soooo pretty!!

Deanna who said:

Wow, these are awesome! I have to say the soft almost country feel Lisa Johnson was able to achieve with the bold PTI tuplip images and the handmade background... inspire me to come out of my box! :)

aprongirls who said:

the most inspiring thing to me is how julie ebersole can make a 1 layer card that is so simple, elegant and happy. i want to make cards like that without having to always use all the extras.

Casey who said:

I really like the Easter greetings. The illustration is so sweet, and it reminds me of Easter books from my childhood.

Phew! That's alotta prizes! But then again, that's the kind of fun we like to have in the Moxie Fab World!

I've got a treat for you tomorrow--so be sure and stop on by!

Happy Prizeday!

~Cath

Moxie Monday: Whimsy from Die Cuts With a View

It's Monday! Moxie Monday! Woot! Let's get right to it!

Remember the Dutch Folk Art trend we talked about way back in December? Well, I'm excited to show it alive and well in the Whimsy Stack from Die Cuts With a View.

First, you start with some tulips:

Sprinkle in some hearts:

Add a friendly woodland creature or two:

Paying special attention to the birds:

...which, in folksy modernization morph into owls:

These patterns remind me of the old country, and yet they have a flair that brings them to the present:

A folksy stripe:

A paisley with tulips in the center:

Some awesome sentiments with a western flare:

And strikingly different but appropriately paired, the furniture of our lives:

With a stitchy patchwork quilt that ties it all together:

This line is folk meets whimsy. It's springy! It's fun! It makes me happy! It's moxie fab!

Leave me a comment letting me know what you love about this line by midnight MST on Thursday, March 26 and I'll draw two random, lucky winners!

Just a couple of reminders before I sign off for the day: There's still time, but just barely, to enter the Stamp It! Week Challenge and the Stamping Royalty Contest. And if you left a comment anytime during Stamp It! Week, I'll be posting all the winners tomorrow, so be sure and stop by and give a look-see!

Thanks for spending some of your Monday with me friend! I hope whatever's left of it is moxie fabuloso!

Keepin' it groovy,

~Cath