Simple thanks

As often happens in my workroom, this card came about not with a design in mind, but as a result of trying out a new tool, Stampin' Up!'s new Edgelits dies. I happened to have a piece of PTI's Ocean Tides card stock at hand so that's how the color was chosen. I love the shape of this oval edge and think that the oval Nestability die complements it perfectly.

To emboss the edge of the oval, I ran it back through the Big Shot, still in the die, with a piece of cork and then the rubber mat against the cutting edge (the cork was there to help protect the mat and provide more of a cushion for the embossing). It gives a nice definition to the oval die cut (hard to see on the photo, but it's a pretty detail).

Linda recently lent me her PTI Iconic Images stamp set and I had some Crumb Cake pitchers already trimmed out. I have only two PTI colors - Ocean Tides and Aqua Mist - and so stamped the flower spray with these, and added the ribbons (also PTI, same colors).

I love how soft the flowers are in Aqua Mist, and I love these colors together. The photo doesn't do it justice (I'm still using my rather pathetic set up for taking pictures...) The little "thank you" is from Tiny Tags.

I think the simplicity and plain, old-fashioned look to this card work well with the vintage pitcher image.

Now I'm off to try out another new tool... and to see what develops!

PTI Make it Monday challenge - glitter buttons

Even though I have been finding a little time here and there to work on cards during the last week, I haven't gotten around to posting until now. Papertrey Ink's challenges have been a good impetus to get me to share them on my blog.

When I began watching this past week's glittered button tutorial, my first thought was "Too messy!" I'm not a big fan of glitter, nor of spray adhesive, unless I can use it outside. Even before Ashley demonstrated using glitter glue, I remembered Dazzling Details (Stampin' Up's version of Stickles) and the challenge was on!

I used PTI's Iconic Images to stamp the cool batik-looking floret in Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Pool Party. I stamped the Whisper White banner (cut from the Petal Cone die) with an image from (retired SAB) So Happy for You and made a Pool Party banner to go behind it. I covered clear Itty Bitty Buttons with Dazzling Details, let them dry overnight and added a sliver of card stock as a faux stitch. I found I rather liked them with the thin coat of glitter; as plain clear buttons, they don't make much of an impact unless they are backed with colored card stock or a stamped image.

I made two very similar versions of this card, since I was just loving the batik flower. The banner on the other card is folded and popped up in the middle, and I used round buttons on the flowers.

I think I like the first version best; what about you?

The inside of the card was stamped with an old retired stamp - I don't remember which set it belongs to, as it has been in a drawer of stamps which have gotten separated from their sets. I thought it went well with the little "birthday wishes"; they have a similar style even though they're different fonts.

So even though I initially dismissed the technique, I'm glad I tried it. I may even use it again!

Up, Up and Away!

Today's challenge at Papertrey Ink was to make an interactive project, as they introduced quite an array of dies to make several different playful interactive styles. (I can't wait to try the zipper die!)

Well, since their new dies won't be released until tomorrow, I used a design I've used a few times before. I used PTI's Seed Packet die with SU's new Designer Series Paper called Everyday Enchantment, from the Sale-A-Bration catalog, to make a pocket for a gift card. The background paper is the reverse side of the same paper, and the card stock and ink colors are Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Riding Hood Red. I die cut the balloons from Very Vanilla using PTI's coordinating die and stamped the balloons and clouds from Up, Up and Away (I hand snipped the clouds - gotta remember to order that die!) A little Pool Party twine (from the Occasions mini catalog) around the "birthday wishes" banner finishes it off.


I also used the die to cut just the center section in Pool Party, stamped it with the clouds, and attached a cloud and balloon with Stampin' Dimensionals at the top. When you pull the tag, the gift card is revealed!

The inside sentiment is from Up, Up and Away Sentiments.

So now Eric's ready for a birthday party on Saturday, and I get to enter another of PTI's fun challenges, this one for a $500 gift certificate - yowza! How exciting is that!

Challenge-obsessed

Okay, really, this is it for today...

After looking at some more of the sketch challenge entries, I decided to make a third one, figuring this sketch would be quick to whip up. It was pretty easy, but of course, I kept wanting to tweak it a little. I changed my original color and ended up with Blushing Bride - to match my Twitterpated buttons - and Early Espresso. I really like the sentiment, from PTI's Garden Variety, showcased in the middle of the little hearts embossed with one of the Adorning Accents embossing folders. The background was too plain until I added a scored frame using the Simply Scored - a great tool!

The inside is stamped using two stamps: one from Sweetheart and one from I {Heart} Hearts. Now I have my third Valentine ready to put in tomorrow's mail!

Sketch challenge, take two

This is actually the first card I made tonight, because I didn't have much of an idea except that I wanted to use purple to make a Valentine card for my other sister (it's her favorite color). I knew she'd love the lace edge (PTI's Edgers #2 die) as well as the Floral background on the Wisteria Wonder base. The strip of DSP is from a (retired) In Color pattern pack from last year. The oval and heart embosslit are Concord Crush. The buttons are clear Itty Bitty Buttons, and I punched a bit of contrasting DSP with the matching punch to fit under each button for the flower centers. The leaves were cut from some River Rock DSP using an embosslit (I really should have my catalog so I can supply the names of these items - sorry!) The little "love" sentiment is from Tiny Tags and the inside sentiment is from With All My Heart.

I know my sister will love getting this card - it's more her style than mine, with the lace edge and the fancy floral design on the background. It's fun to design a card with a particular person in mind, focusing on details you know will please your recipient. And, I have to say, it's fun participating in these challenges. Hope to see you tomorrow!

Sketch challenge

When I saw the sketches for today's challenge this morning, I checked to see whether this stamp would fit on the oval die cut I had sitting on my desk. Then I remembered this (retired) DSP I've had for several years (I cannot remember the name of it but I love it and have been "saving" it for something special) and I knew I had an idea for a card. All day I looked forward to coming home from work this afternoon and putting it together.

The base is Soft Sky (one of my all-time favorite colors) and the oval is Very Vanilla, lightly sponged around the edge with Soft Sky ink. The sentiment, from a set by MFT called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was stamped in Always Artichoke. I was about to use some artichoke buttons when I realized I needed something from PTI: luckily, Linda had shared some of her Aqua Mist buttons, and I found a few that were closer to Soft Sky than Aqua Mist.

This is not my usual style (I almost never use patterned paper) but I really like it. Believe it or not, it's also my first time using a sketch!

Pinning...

Today's challenge is to find a source of inspiration on one of PTI's new Pinterest Inspiration Boards. (Just what I need: a new way to squander my time!) Seriously, though, it's a lovely way to see many of our favorite designers' ideas in one convenient spot; I just need to keep myself from wandering...

Source: danielleflanders.blogspot.com via Papertrey on Pinterest

I liked Danielle Flanders' pretty little hearts on the book print and since I wanted to make a Valentine card, I thought I'd start with this idea.

Well, I don't know how I got from there to here, but this is what I ended up with!


I knew I wanted to combine PTI's Text Style stamp with some hearts. I had a little leftover piece of Crumb Cake stamped with the text, and then I stamped it on some Cherry Cobbler with PTI Fresh Snow ink and punched out a myriad of hearts using various punches. I isolated the word "love" from a stamp in a (retired) set called Mother and Child with a marker and stamped it in lines at the top and bottom of a piece of Whisper White. I edged the Crumb Cake piece with a bit of twine and added some embossed hearts with one of the new Adorning Accents embossing folders in the Occasions mini catalog - love this!

I'll send this off to my sister on Saturday (don't worry, she doesn't read my blog - she is allergic to computers!) Mother Teresa is one of her heroes, and this quote (also from Mother and Child) is on the inside of the card. I know she'll be happy to get a Valentine in her mail box!

Inspired by color

When I saw today's PTI anniversary challenge to make something based on the favorite colors of one of the design team members, I didn't think I would be able to participate, since I only have a couple of PTI ink and paper colors. But then I remembered all the gorgeous felt I have been collecting from PTI and based my project on Ashley Cannon Newell's choices: Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Berry Sorbet, Hawaiian Shores and Sweet Blush.

The felt flowers were cut using Flower Fusion #2, #3 and #4 dies and the leaves with Turning a New Leaf die. The vase is punched out of SU's Tempting Turquoise (pretty close to Hawaiian Shores) with the Ornament punch, embossed with a Fiskars embossing plate and misted with Smooch Spritz (I forget which one!) The background was embossed with the Perfect Details Texturz plate and the corners were punched with the Scallop Trim corner punch.

The butterflies were made with a long-retired pink vellum using the Beautiful Wings embosslit; I hope this is close to Sweet Blush. "Thank you" is from a Taylored Expressions set called CreativiTea and was punched using the Word Window punch.

I really like the way the shape of the inside of the card mirrors the front. The sentiment ("for everything you are to me") is from Petite Pairs, stamped in Lucky Limeade; the little flower is from Flower Fusion (#2, I think) in Groovy Guava (which is so like Berry Sorbet).

I didn't think I'd have time (or the right colors) to participate today but my evening plans changed, and I surprised myself again by finishing another challenge entry. I am really glad for the inspiration and the motivation to bring out my creativity!

Another inspiration challenge

I don't know what's got into me, I've joined three challenges in one week! It's been more than a month since I felt like doing any papercrafting but it looks like I'm back!

My inspiration for this card was the felt flowers I saw on Erin Lincoln's and Melissa Phillips' posts (the folded flower idea is from an older post by Jessica Witty).

It's a really simple card but has a lot of drama due to the rich colors (gorgeous PTI Scarlet Jewel felt, Rich Razzleberry ink and card stock, and Pear Pizzazz ink for the stem). I used the flower from Flower Fusion #2 and the stem from Flower Fusion #9 - love those! I die cut three of the felt flowers and snipped them into three folded sections, then adhered them with a bit of glue and glue dots to another flower die cut from Razzleberry card stock. A jeweled rhinestone in the center adds a bit of sparkle.

The bow is made with SU taffeta in Rich Razzleberry and another rhinestone brad. The fabulous embossing folder, which works perfectly with the oval die cut, is from Cuttlebug. The sentiments are both from Flower Fusion #9.

I'm happy that I've been inclined to participate in these challenges. I really appreciate all the lovely inspiration shared by so many talented paper crafters - thank you!

Dimensional sentiment banner challenge

When I saw Nichole Heady's video tutorial on making a dimensional sentiment banner, I thought, "Hey, easy, I can do that..." Easier said than done, I have to admit.

I began confidently enough by stamping my first banner, both sides. I figured the hardest part was inking up the single sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Tea for Two set and stamping half in each of the two panels. Well, after folding about a dozen banners, I was finally able to shape one to fit my sentiment. I learned my lesson and folded the banners before stamping (after the first three!)

The reverse of the banner is stamped with an image from a new Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration set called Fresh Vintage; the background is the (retired) Floral background stamp. I used Wisteria Wonder and Concord Crush (for the sentiment and reverse side of the banner). The bow and the border of the oval were made with ruffled ribbon and an In Color designer brad.

The edges of the card and insert and the ends of the banner were shaped with one of PTI's Edgers #2 dies. I think the lacy edge really sets the tone for tea time, don't you?

This banner is not something I'm likely to do again anytime soon, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. It was interesting to try something new and it sparked a little creativity. Thanks for the challenge, Nichole!