Happy Birthday Circles

I can't believe it's the end of June already!  The year is going by so fast, but now we start the hot months of summer, which is not my favorite time of year.  Oh well, I'm sure it will go by fast!

I was in the mood to do a card creating my own background and pulled out this $5 set from PTI called "Boy Basics:  Simple Circles".  I picked out 4 ink colors - Tangelo, Sage, Summer Sky and Nautical Blue - and 4 different circles to use for my pattern.  Onto white, I started stamping the 4 colors and kept repeating the pattern (Tangelo, Sage, Summer Sky, Nautical Blue) on each line.  I really like this color combination!

I rounded the upper right and lower left hand corners with a corner rounder.  Next, I stamped "happy birthday" right over the circles.  I added a star, placed on foam tape for dimension and a little bit of jute.  I then adhered the white to a dark blue card base.  I think this turned out to be a really nice, masculine card!  

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Boy Basics: Simple Circles, Think Big Favorites #12
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Orange Zest, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  Star Nestabilites; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Jute
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Big Birthday Wishes (CAS #13)

Time for another quick card, and believe me, this was quick to make!  I have packs of ready made cards I bought at Michael's and used them for the card base for these cards.  I picked blue and green so they can be used for male and female birthdays.

I embossed white cardstock with my Cuttlebug using a "happy birthday" embossing folder.  I stamped the sentiment on white and layered it onto black/blue or black/yellow circles.  I added the metal star or crystal flower and twine (Charcoal/Lemondrop) and I was done. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  Recollections Cards; PTI Lemon Tart
• Tools:  Standard & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities; Cuttlebug "Happy Birthday" Embossing Folder
• Other:  Metal Star; Crystal Flower; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

happy happy birthday

This is for my parents' mail carrier - I always try to make her something "post office" related for her cards. I found this sheet of HOTP, 12x12 "stamps" pattern paper at Joann's a while ago, and bought it knowing I could use it for a card for Chris.

I cut the stamps out and randomly placed them all over the Kraft cardbase and then added white ink around the card edges.  I just really like the look of white edging on Kraft paper!

I stamped "happy happy birthday" and die cut it with a Labels 10 nestability.  I edged around the die cut with white ink and punched a hole in either end using my Crop-A-Dile.  I tied some red, white and blue twine through the holes (since these are the USPS colors) and mounted the sentiment on foam tape for dimension. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Kraft; Hot Off The Press
• Tools:  Labels 10 Nestabilities; Crop-A-Dile
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  5.25" x 5.25"

So Proud Of You

For this card I used blue for the card base and added a layer of black pattern paper with silver swirls and stars, rounding the bottom corners.  I die cut the banners; the larger ones are silver cardstock and the smaller ones on top are white.

Next, I die cut the numbers in blue to match the card base and adhered them with glue.  I attached the banners to a strip of Shore twine and mounted them on foam tape for dimension.  I tied a knot in the twine on both ends, letting part of the twine hang down the sides of the card.

The sentiment was stamped on white and layered onto matching blue cardstock.  I added two silver brads on either side of the sentiment to match the silver in the rest of the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Congrats All Ways
• Paper:  DCWV
• Tools:  PTI Banner Builder Dies, Block Alphabet Numbers Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Brads; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday - Quatrefoil

I've had PTI's Quatrefoil die for a while and really haven't used it much.  Then I saw Nichole use their new Hexagon Cover Plate on her blog using the popped out die cuts and wanted to try it myself with the Quatrefoil.

I ran the Quatrefoil die through my Grand Calibur machine and popped out the inserts.  I decided to use 4 colors to stamp them with:  Aquatic Splash, Rose Bud, Cantaloupe and Pearlescent Beige.  But first I had to figure out how I wanted to line up the inserts on the card which took a little bit of thinking.  Once I decided on the design, I used my Banner Builder stamp set to stamp the patterns on the die cuts - who knew that set had so many to choose from!

I started with a piece of 4.25" x 5.5" cardstock and used the Quatrefoil frame as a guide to line up the die cuts, adhering each one with a bit of Scor-tape.  I trimmed the frame to 4.0" x 5.25" and placed it on Aqua Mist cardstock for the card base. 

I stamped "happy birthday" on another piece of Aqua Mist and adhered it on foam tape for dimension.  I really love how this card turned out!  Happy Birthday AnnK!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Banner Builder, Think Big Favorites #12
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  PTI Cover Plate: Quatrefoil Die
• Other:  Foam Tape; Scor-Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

•  Use What I Have:  Quatrefoil Die!

It's A Celebration

I have PTI's Birthday Bash Sentiments stamp set and never thought to use it this way.  That Nichole is so darn creative!

I used True Black for the card base.  I stamped the sentiments in Rhubarb Stalk ink all over a piece of Kraft cardstock and then ran it through the Cuttlebug, using my Woodgrain Impression Plate.

I stamped the "it's a celebration" in Versamark onto a piece of Scarlet Jewel cardstock, sprinkled it with white embossing powder and used my heat gun on it to emboss it.  I layered it onto another piece of True Black cardstock and tied a little bit of jute on the end.  Happy Birthday Joey!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI True Black, Kraft, Scarlet Jewel
• Tools:  PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate; Heat Gun
• Other:  Embossing Powder, Jute; Versamark
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Anniversary (CAS #12)

I'm still in love with PTI's Beautiful Butterflies stamps and continue to use it a lot on my cards.  At least I'm getting my money's worth from this set!

This was a simple card to make.  First, I cut the right side of the card with card edgers for a little different style of card.  Second, I stamped the leaves on the white cardstock and then stamped the butterflies on top.  Third, I stamped the sentiment.  Fourth, I added glitter to the edges of the leaves.  And a simple card looks not so simple.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Beautiful Butterflies, Turning A New Leaf
• Paper:  PTI White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  PTI Card Edgers #1
• Other:  Martha Stewart Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Father's Day

My friend Jill gave me this tie pattern paper a few months ago and I knew I wanted to use it for Father's Day.  Plus, I had a tie die from PTI that would go perfectly with the paper!

I used Aqua Mist for the card base and layered the tie pattern paper on top, rounding the right hand corners on each.  I diecut 5 ties (from paper scraps) to match the colors in the paper and mounted them on coaster for support.  I placed the ties on foam tape for dimension and adhered them to the card.  They looked a little plain so I added a crystal "tie-tac" to each one.

The sentiment is stamped on a piece of Aqua Mist cardstock.  And the last step was adding my usual "manly" jute to the spine.  Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Masculine Motifs
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, Enchanted Evening, Orange Zest, Lemon Tart, New Leaf; Jillibean "Macho Nacho Soup"
• Tools:  PTI Tie Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Crystals; Jute; Foam Tape; PTI Coaster
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Spring Birthday Arrangement

My favorite thing about this time of year is the flowers.  This Lockhart stamp, called "Spring Flowers", is so much fun to color because it has so many varieties of flowers.

I used white for the card base and added a layer of light purple and a layer of patterned purple.  I stamped the image on white and colored it with Copics.  The image was cut with circle nestabilities and layered onto a matching purple, scalloped circle; I paper pierced each scallop for a bit of variety.

I added the purple photo corners to really bring all the purple in the card together.  I stamped "happy birthday" onto a tag, tied a lilac bow on the end and adhered it to the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Lockhart "Spring Flowers"; PTI Fillable Frames #4
• Paper:  DCWV; Bazzill
• Tools:  Standard & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities; Martha Stewart Photo Corner Punch; Tag Trios Nestabilities; Paper Piercer
• Other:  Twine; Copics
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Get Well Soon

I was looking through stamps and saw this cute little doggie and realized I hadn't used it yet.  I used white for the card base and added a layer of green/blue striped pattern paper, rounding the corners on the right side.

I stamped the Ruffles image onto white and colored it with Copics.  The image was cut with square nestabilites and layered onto another dark blue square. I stamped the "get well soon" sentiment and tied jute on the card spine.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but I put white flock on the pillow to make it look fluffy.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Stampavie "Ruffles Get Well Soon"; PTI Mailbox Greetings
• Paper:  Bazzill; My Mind's Eye; PTI Enchanted Evening
• Tools:  Corner Rounder; Square Nestabilities
• Other:  Jute; Flock; Copics
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

•  Use What I Have:  Stampavie stamp

Male Dragonfly Birthday (CAS #11)

Ideas for making male cards have been coming to me a little easier lately, so I have to take advantage!  For this card, I used Kraft for the card base and added a layer of Blueberry Sky. 

I stamped the leaves, dragonflies (no butterflies, lol) and sentiment onto white and then ran it through the Cuttlebug using a woodgrain impression plate.  I'm happy the picture shows the woodgrain embossing!  The final touch was tying jute around the bottom.  I think this is a perfect male card, not too much of anything on it.  And it was another easy CAS to make!  

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Masculine Motifs
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Blueberry Sky, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate
• Other:  Jute
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Make It Monday #69

This was the Make It Monday posted on Nichole's blog earlier this week - she provided several sketches to choose from and I picked this one - it's a little different with the folded paper on the card.  I used Aqua Mist for the card base and a double-sided polka dot paper for the top layer.  Nichole provided a template to use for the folded part but it could easily be cut and folded without using the template.

I added the gift, diecut using matching polka dot paper, placed it on foam tape for dimension along with a yellow crystal.  I stamped yellow stars around it and put a little bit of Stickles in the center of each star.  I stamped the sentiments, cut them using pinking scissors (to give them a different edge) and adhered them to the card.  The folds on the card needed something so I threaded a couple buttons with Lemondrop twine and added them to the corners.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Heart-2-Heart #2, Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart; Stampin' Up
• Tools:  PTI Make A Wish Die; Pinking Scissors
• Other:  PTI Lemon Tart Buttons; Gem; Twine; Stickles
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Make A Wish Candle (CAS #10)

I forget where I saw this idea.....but it was a really simple card to make!  I used Lavender Moon for the card base, stamped the background with sheet music and edged around it with white ink.  I tied a bow around the candle and adhered it to the card with a glue dot.

I stamped "make a wish" on white, cut it out with rectangle nestabilities and layered it on a scalloped rectangle.  The card looked like it needed something else so I added the buttons.  Easy!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Make A Wish, Background Basics: Sheet Music
• Paper:  PTI Lavender Moon
• Tools:  Standard & Scalloped Long Nestabilities
• Other:  Candle, Buttons, Ribbon
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

In Bloom Birthday

I was looking through my stamp sets and haven't used "In Bloom" in a while.  I used Kraft for the card base, edging around it in white ink.  I stamped "happy birthday" at the top and then scored a couple of lines about three quarters of the way down on the card.

The flowers are stamped in white on Ocean Tides cardstock and cut out with scissors.  There are 3 parts of the flower each layered on top of each other; the end of the largest layer slightly overlaps the edge of the card.  I placed foam tape between the second and third layer for dimension and added pearls on the top flower.

I stamped the leaves in green on Spring Moss cardstock, cut them out and arranged them behind the flower; the one leaf overlaps the edge of the card.  I tied Honeydew twine around the bottom to finish the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI In Bloom, Botanical Silhouettes 
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Ocean Tides, Spring Moss
• Other:  Twine, Pearls
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

•  Use What I Have:  In Bloom stamp set

Happy Birthday Tickets

I guess I could call this is a "scrap" card since the majority of the card (tickets and stars) were made with scraps.  I used Pure Poppy for the card base and added a layer of polka dot paper.  The tickets were die cut and stamped with the star border, happy birthday and stars.

I arranged the tickets on the card, placing the middle red ticket on foam squares for dimension.  I added the larger star and placed the smaller one on top with another foam square for additional dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Just The Ticket
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, Spring Rain, Lemon Tart, Orange Zest, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening; DCWV
• Tools:  PTI Just The Ticket Die; Stampin' Up Star Punch
• Other:  Foam Squares
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

3rd Birthday

Yes, Olivia is turning 3!  I wanted to make something that wasn't pink for a change and decided to use purple.  I used Winter Wisteria as the card base and added a layer of  multi colored circle pattern paper. 

The animals image was stamped on white and colored with Copics.  I rounded the corners on the white, layered it onto another piece of Winter Wisteria and adhered it to the card base with foam squares for dimension.  Before adhering it, I wrapped Blossom twine around the card and tied it into a bow.

I die cut the letters in her name and the 3.  I made the "look who's turning" on the computer and die cut it with pinking nestabilities.  My final step was adding silver Stickles to the polka dots on the package.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Penny Black "Team Teddy"
• Paper:  PTI Winter Wisteria; DCWV
• Tools:  PTI Upper & Lower Block Alphabet Dies, PTI By The Numbers Dies; Pinking Nestabilities; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Stickles; Twine; Copics
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

•  Use What I Have:  Last used Team Teddy stamp in 2010.