Papertrey October Blog Hop Challenge

Happy Friday everyone and thank you for stopping by for the Blog Hop!  This was a really fun challenge and it was great being able to break out my Christmas stamps again.  Oh, how I've missed them!

"Before you know it, all of the gift giving that goes hand-in-hand with the upcoming holidays will be here.  This month we thought we would challenge you to get a head start and create a quick set of five gift tags."  

 With that said, here are mine....

 

 

Papertrey Ink products used:  In the Meadow die, Snowflake Flurries, Chevron Vertical Cover Plate, Polka Dot Parade #9, and various inks.

Happy Happy Birthday

I just bought a new stamp set and I think I am already in love!  It's called DOT SPOT from Papertrey Ink.  This card didn't take long at all and was quite fun to do!  I can already see this set easily becoming one of my "go to" sets.  So, without further ado - here it is....

Supplies used: Papertrey Ink Dot Spot and all inks are Memento Luxe.  Colors:  Rose Bud, Morocco, Sweet Plum, Pear Tart and Lilac Posies.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week!

Happy 50th!

A friend of ours will be celebrating his 50th birthday tomorrow.  He is a former college soccer player and former youth soccer coach.  Now days, he can be found cheering on his own kids on the sidelines in high school and college.   Since his passion for soccer still thrives, I knew my card had to be very soccerified!

I really love how the background came out.  I used Papertrey Ink's hexagon coverplate to make the background and then went one step further and used an embossing folder for the white pieces.   That added some great dimension and had me doing cartwheels!   

And, here is a look at the inside.  I kept it pretty simple...

Thanks for stopping by!   Have a great weekend!

Supplies used: FRONT:  PTI Hexagon coverplate for the background, Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder, PTI Limitless Layers for the badge, PTI Suffix Style for the "th", Quickutz Biography for the 50, and also used Wink of Stella on the 50.  INSIDE:  MFT balloon stamp and matching die with clear embossing powder and the happy happy birthday sentiment is from Birthday Bash Sentiments also from PTI and is embossed in Zing blue.

Make It Monday #135: Layered Emboss Resist

The Papertrey Ink challenge for this week is called Layered Emboss Resist.  I have to admit, the name scared me a bit, but after watching the video (seen here) I knew I could give it a try!  These challenges are awesome and I've totally gotten hooked!  They really help me to go outside of my comfort zone and try some new techniques.  This technique was very new to me, but oh so much fun!  Here is my card:

Here are the supplies I used:  Thank You stamp - Papertrey Ink Think Big Favorites #4, Flowers - Papertrey Ink Beautiful Blooms II, Dot Background - Hero Arts Cling Dots, Text Background - Stampin' Up Friend Definition, Memento Luxe Pear Tart ink, Hero Arts mid-tone Wet Cement ink, kraft cardstock, white cardstock and twine.

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Hello!

Recently, I watched THIS Jennifer McGuire video on YouTube.  I immediately fell in love with the dimension of the word "hello" done by stacking several layers of the die cut.  The only difference is that she carried her background design onto the letters.  I tried that, but had to change it.  My background is way too busy and bright and the word got totally lost on the card.  I really had to struggle to see the "hello" on my card.  The background of her card is soft and subtle and it just "worked" to continue her background onto the letters and it was still very easy to read.  I also have to thank her for enabling  - now I "need" that new leaf stamp set by Hero Arts!  LoL!

I used the Snowflake Flurries set by Papertrey Ink for this card with the new Memento Luxe inks.  They are so pretty and so vibrant!  I also used Wink of Stella on the "hello" to add some pretty shimmer.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Papertrey September Blog Hop Challenge

"Dig out a favorite wreath stamp set, layer small die-cuts & punches or even use unconventional materials like buttons or rhinestones to create a wreath on the front of a festive card.  You can choose to make your card fall-themed, embrace the upcoming holidays or just something pretty to use for an everyday greeting.  Have fun experimenting with fun color combinations and layers of texture!"

So, with that said..... Here is my card:

As many rubber stamps as I have, I've realized that I do not own a single wreath stamp.  I remembered seeing wreaths made out of leaves or snowflakes before, so I opted to try my hand at a snowflake wreath.  I used a matching green circle ring as my guide and I began to layer the snowflakes.  The card came together pretty quickly once the wreath was finished.  I bought this patterned paper just last week -  it's the new 6x6 Doodlebug Christmas pad and I was way too excited to break it open!   I used some ribbon from my stash, cut the scalloped edge in my Big Shot, added some bling and called it DONE!  Oh, and the cute little red bow?  Courtesy of my Bow-Easy!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm off to do some wreath blog hoppin!

Make It Monday #133

Another Monday.  Another challenge!  Today's challenge over at Papertrey Ink is to use a cover plate as a stencil.  This sounded like fun, but I had no idea of where I would go with this, since I have never done any stenciling. Period.  I have a few in my collection of "stuff", but that's as far as it goes!  Does that count?  I have to admit, making this card was quite fun.  Anything that gets your fingers dirty and stained has to be fun, right?

To begin my card, I first ran a half sheet of white cardstock through my Xyron.  Then I placed the hexagon cover plate from PTI over it and ran it through my Big Shot, and voila,  I now had a stencil.  I peeled off the backing and adhered it to a card-sized piece of Neena solar white cardstock and braced myself for a new adventure!

Next I got out three colors of distress inks... tumbled glass, peeled paint and dusty concord.  Working from top to bottom, I applied each color and blended them together.  Then came the fun part.... peeling away my white, xyroned , homemade stencil.  Got adjectives?  This process was purely exhilarating as I watched this background come alive, hexagon by hexagon!

I wanted to keep this card simple as not to take away from the background, so I embossed the word "thanks" (from SSS) in white embossing powder on a banner of kraft cardstock.  I added the green button and thought it still needed a little "something", so I thought to add a tiny gemstone in each of the hexagons.  And I liked it!  Here's my card:

                                                                                

 

And the BEST news?  I am no longer a stencil-virgin!  LoL!  As always, have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Guido from Toledo

Happy Monday!  I am here with a new card after a brief hiatus.  Thanks to Jennifer McGuire, I have been in massive organizing mode.  I have been transferring all of my clear stamps and dies to her awesome system seen here:  STAMP STORAGE and here: DIE STORAGE.  What fun I had today making a card and being able to find everything so easily with this new system!  It is pure perfection!

First off, I think my card needs a little explanation.... here's the story.  My husband and I went out to dinner with some friends this past weekend (Peggy and Mike).  During our conversation over dinner, Mike mentioned a couple times about a ficticious "friend" of his who is in the "mafia"!   For example, if one of us was being hassled, Mike would say that he would have to call on his friend, "Guido from Toledo" to get things under control!  I also realized that evening that Mike had just celebrated his 60th birthday.  I had no idea that he had a birthday recently and I felt badly that I didn't send a card.  On the way home, I thought it would be funny to send Mike a birthday card, from none other than Guido from Toledo!

Lord knows that I don't have any mafia-related rubber stamps, so I did the next best thing and turned to Google.  I found the cutest little "Guido" and so I began.....

It was a little tricky with the cut-out circle on the front and getting Guido centered on the inside.  I had to print him 3 times before I finally got it right.

 

There are a couple things that I would change on the inside if I were to do it over, but DONE IS DONE.   The "Happy Birthday" is from Paper Smooches and the GUIDO text on the bottom is done with individual letter stamps from Hero Arts.  This will be a fun card to give, sure to give Mike a chuckle!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

MY FIRST Papertrey Ink July Blog Hop Challenge

I can't believe this is my first challenge EVER.  I can already tell that I will soon be addicted!  This was so much fun!  The theme of this challenge is The Fruits of Summer.  Here is the color palette that I chose:

And here is my card:

I just love this color combination and I'm not sure that I would have come up with putting these colors together on my own.  Two different shades of green and 2 different shades of pink.....  I love the look of these colors against the black, it sure gives it a nice POP!

The squares were punched using a 1.25" punch, then I just rounded one of the corners.  The sentiment on the bottom is embossed in white and I just so happened to have the perfect ribbon to match!  Don't you just love when that happens?

The card went together pretty quickly once I had an idea of how I wanted the card to look.  I tried to use as many PTI products as I could and I used quite a few!

As always, thanks for stopping by!  (I might just go make another card for the challenge!)

Supplies used:   Papertrey Ink - Around and About Sentiments, Think Big Favorites #13, Beautiful Blooms II with coordinating flower die and Hibiscus Burst ink

With Sympathy

Happy Sunday, everyone!  It's such a gorgeous day today, but since I am still dealing with a broken foot and still on crutches, I figured I would spend some time playing in my craft room.  I found out this morning that a friend of mine just lost her dad, so I needed a quick card.  This one went together pretty quickly since I just wanted something simple.

I used the Tri Square die from Simon Says Stamp on the front of the card.  I placed some Neena white cardstock on the inside (tacked it down with some washi tape) and lightly traced the squares for the flower placement.  I removed the white cardstock, stamped the flower images, colored them with copics and then erased the pencil lines.  Easy peasy.

I added the twine, but it still needed "a little something" so I just added a strip of washi tape along the top.  I think it worked... kept it simple, yet fill that void that bothered me so!  The sentiment on the bottom is from a Hero Arts set called Remember.

The flowers are from a company called Anita's.   I must have bought them at a rubber stamp show, I can't remember.   Also, the "With Sympathy" is stamped a little crooked and it REALLY bothers me, but it's going to have to do.  That is so un-me.... usually I would rip it up and start over, but I am really trying to not being so picky.  Go me!

Have a great week!  As always, thanks for stopping by!

Baby Oh Baby!

Since hexagons are all the rage right now, I figured I may as well jump on the bandwagon too!   I bought the coverplate hexagon die and hexagon stamp set from Papertrey Ink a few months ago and have been burning it up!  The design options, color choices, patterns, oh my!  So many ideas, so little time!

The baby stamp that I used is from Stampin' Up from the Cause For Celebration set.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Thank you!

Hi all.  Since all its been doing here lately is rain, I have just been crafting and pinning away!  I saw a card similar to today's card on Pinterest and quickly fell in love with its simplicity.  I made a couple changes/additions, but its pretty darn similar.   Why fix what isn't broken, right?   (you can see it here: My inspiration)    I have been in Papertrey Flower Fusion heaven these days.  I just can't seem to put these sets away!  They are so versatile!   I used Flower Fusion #5 for this card.

Please pardon the shadows in my photos.  I have a broken foot and I am on crutches, so  I had to make due and take my pictures with my cell phone!

And here is the inside:

 

As always, thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Happy Graduation!

Since it is officially graduation season, I thought I would post one of my graduation cards.  This is a very simple card and a great way to use up your scraps.  I have quite a stockpile of these cards in an array of school colors!  It's so nice to have a bunch of these on hand and not have to keep running to the drugstore!  Plus, it's much easier to crank them out when you don't have to keep coming up with new ideas!

The inside of the card is computer-generated.  I do have the stamp of this little ditty, but I just couldn't get a perfectly stamped image.  So, after trying one too many times, I just decided to type it on my computer and print it.  Pretty hard to goof it up that way!  When I saw this stamp at a craft show, I just HAD to have it!  It is so me!  Oh, and the stamp is from DRS Designs.

Well, that's it for today.  Gotta put one of these babies in an envelope and head to ANOTHER graduation party!  Until next time......

One Amazing Friend

Ta-Dahhhh!  I'm back!  There's been so much going on in my little world the past several months that I haven't been very good at keeping up with this blog.... but I am here now with a new card!  It feels so good to be back in my craft room again!  My inspiration for this card came from HERE.

The flowers are from Papertrey Ink from the set called Flower Fusion #1.  The scallops are cut from an MFT die and the sentiment is from Hero Arts embossed in white.  Oh, and I used the Bow Easy for the little bow.  Such a great gadget!  I really like how all the colors work together with the kraft cardstock.  

Thanks for stopping by.  I've missed you!