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Monday, April 16, 2012

Four of a Kind April Edition- French Country


See all those roosters?  That is just a very small sample of my rooster and hen collection.  It started 15 years ago when we bought our house and I found a really pretty valance to hang in the dining room.

Here is the valance that started this "Rooster" madness.

I loved those roosters the minute I saw them.  Once I started collecting, everyone I know gave me something to do with roosters and chickens for every gift-giving occasion there was.  My china cabinet is packed.  We eventually got wood shutters in the dining room and no longer have the valance up, but I couldn't get rid of it and have saved it for quite a few years now. 
Then Waltzingmouse stamps released a stamp set that brought back all those great rooster memories. It's called French Country and there are several rooster images, both small and large.   This month, Renee Lynch is our Four of a Kind hostess and did I scream when I opened up my package.  Inside was just about the  most beautiful stamps, diecuts and patterned papers all from Waltzingmouse French Country.  Check out the kit Renee sent us:
Photo courtesy of Renee Lynch
I have been on vacation for a large part of the month, so I only got the chance to make 3 cards for today and one more I will be sharing tomorrow for the Waltzingmouse Blog Party, but I loved working with this stamp set.  Here is my first card:

Can you believe I cut up one of the valance panels that started my collecting craze?  I ironed on some fusable material to add some stiffness to the fabric and carfully cut it out with some very sharp scissors.  I used a glue stick to adhere it to the chickenwire stamped panel and embossed the Thanks sentiment in black embossing powder.  In person, the woven texture of the roosters is really pretty.
My second card uses some of the really pretty patterned paper Renee included in our kit.

Don't you love that background pattern stamp?  It looks so nice stamped in the black ink and when you add the yellow gingham paper, so country-looking.  I added the red/white gingham ribbon that our package was tied up with and you didn't think I could make a 4 of a Kind project without using one of the window dies, did you?  I perched my red rooster on a yellow fence and added a little cloud lined with a gray copic marker. It really makes it pop against the blue background. I added a couple of the stick pins that Renee sent and used the sweet Good Morning sentiment.  I can totally picture a rooster crowing outside a country window. 
My last card is my favorite.
This card uses the extra large border stamp in French Country.  Renee sent us both a black and a red image.  I layered the black image onto a black border and some black/white gingham paper.  I added a filagree border diecut on the bottom.  I think that particular border adds a really elegant look to my card.  The sentiment is stamped on a Spellbinder Label and the small rooster is cut out and popped up on the label.  Told you I loved roosters.
Here's all my cards together:
I loved this month's kit, Renee could not have picked a better stamp set for us to use.  I had a great time using Waltzingmouse French Country.
Make sure you check out Renee, Joyce and Kim's blog to see what they did with our April Kit.

14 comments:

The Paper Parade said...

Oh my goodness, I love the card with the window!! The gingham and the black and white paper with the reds yellows and blue...and that yellow fence?! Oh geeze, this card is awesome! And I think that is awesome that you cut up one of your valances to make your first card :) It definitely has sentimental value!

Joyce said...

OMG. You totally outdid yourself. First of all, I had no idea you were into roosters. Secrets, secrets. I always thought it was bees. (ha ha). I am so glad that our 4 of a kind kit is not a contest, because you would beat me every time. I love all of your cards. The window card is darling--why didn't I think of a rooster crowing outside my window? I think my favorite is the last one. I just love what you did combining the French Country border with the filigree border. Great job on all three cards.

carol (krillsister) said...

Lovely set of cards. Love the rooster you used on the first card.

Pauline said...

These are all fabulous Cathy, what a great use of your old valance. Beautiful cards Cathy!

Kim Heggins said...

Wow!!! That rooster on your first card, just incredible and all of the time you must have spend cutting that guy out, awesome! Your second card with the rooster on the fence is my favorite and just so clever...I am so happy to have left overs from my kit and this stamp set because I will be casing this card. Just beautiful.

Marybeth said...

Oh my gosh! What a great idea to cut up your valance rooster and put it on a card! I love that one because I love the chicken wire and it just looks great as a card. Renee sure sent out a wonderful kit. The window card is also adorable , you win with the window cards every time. Beautiful cards all of them!

Renee said...

Are you kidding me...
you cut your valances?!!!
I would have taken those!!! :)
So perfect for my French Country redo...
the colors!!
And I can see the texture on the card...
they were gorgeous!!
But they also made a gorgeous card! :)
LOVE that rooster on the fence...
all the elements with that one...
it screams "COUNTRY!!!" (in my best Mel Gibson voice ;) )
These are just gorgeous!!
You 3 put me to shame this month...
so many gorgeous cards!!
Now I can't wait to see what you have coming for us!! :)

Anonymous said...

The rooster on the fence is just brilliant. I love, love, love tht card! It's just so cute and cheery! All your cards are fantastic!

Laurie said...

Great job with these cards! Love the rooster in the window! too cute!

Teresa said...

WOW! Cathy, your cards are just gorgeous! I love that you cut up your valance to make a card. :) The rooster on the fence, through the window is gorgeous!

Christina said...

These are all so fabulous, Cathy, but I am just smitten over the rooster in the window! The colors and mix of patterns are incredible!

BethieJ said...

Cathy LOVED your clubs kit this month! How FUN it was something you LOVE so much too.. and WOWY you cut the valance! It looks LOVELY on the card!! All 3 cards are WONDERFUL!!!
So excited our kit club will be shared today.. in a bit.. a little busy and a day late we are! HA HA!
Have a GREAT day!!!

BethieJ said...

Cathy LOVED your clubs kit this month! How FUN it was something you LOVE so much too.. and WOWY you cut the valance! It looks LOVELY on the card!! All 3 cards are WONDERFUL!!!
So excited our kit club will be shared today.. in a bit.. a little busy and a day late we are! HA HA!
Have a GREAT day!!!

Sharron said...

These are all so amazing, Cathy! Can't believe you cut the valance but it does look awesome on your card. Have you thought of framing it! And your card with the rooster in the window is so adorable. I just love it!