Sending You Heartfelt Sympathy

To create this blue background I was playing around with blue gelatos.  I placed some of the gelatos on my craft sheet, mixed them with water and transferred them to watercolor paper with a brush.  After I was done painting, I really didn't like the way the entire piece turned out, so instead of throwing it away, I cut out the portion I did like to use as the background.

I took a piece of white cardstock, ran it through the Cuttlebug with a striped embossing folder and adhered it to an Enchanted Evening cardstock card base.  I cut the blue background just large enough for the Geneva Vine die-cut.

I die-cut the banner in white and stamped it with the sentiment in blue ink.  The banner is adhered to the card with thin foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Words Of Comfort
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening, White Stampers Select; Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Cotton Candy, Blueberry, Boysenberry Gelatos
• Tools:  PTI Double Ended Banner Die; Memory Box Geneva Vine Die; Cuttlebug Stripes Embossing Folder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Water; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

April Showers

April is almost over so I wanted to sneak this card in before it was too late.

I found a piece of pattern paper that had little dots all over it which reminded me of rain drops, plus it matched a piece of scrap Tropical Teal I wanted to use to die-cut the umbrella.  

I stamped the sentiment on white cardstock and layered it onto Lemon Tart cardstock.  I placed the umbrella on foam tape, added the sequins and adhered it to a white card base, rounding the bottom corners.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Classics:  April
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Lemon Tart, Tropical Teal; DCWV
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist
• Tools:  PTI Scattered Showers Die; Standard Rectangle Nestabilities; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Anniversary

More watercolor!  I really like 140# watercolor paper - you can really put a lot of water and ink on it without it curling too much.

I was really just playing around with a couple of metallic gelatos when I started this card.  I liked these two colors together and just randomly brushed them on the paper, overlapping them a bit in the middle.  I had no idea what I wanted to do but like how it turned out.

I had a few felt buttons that were already cut in Raspberry Fizz and Aqua Mist and added the twine to keep them together.  Using my new Initial Thoughts stamp set, I die-cut it in Aqua Mist cardstock and stamped the outline and sentiment in black ink.  I popped up the anniversary sentiment on foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Initial Thoughts
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist; Watercolor
• Ink:  Gelatos Metallic Mint, Metallic Melon; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Initial Thoughts Die, Button Stacks Die, Button Stacks Mini Die
• Other:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Aqua Mist Felt; Twine; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

I saw this card on Pinterest by Rita's Creations - she made it as a sympathy card but I thought it was perfect for a masculine birthday!  And it was an interesting way to make the stripes in the background.

I started with a piece of Vintage Cream cardstock.  Using masking tape and Tim Holtz Distress inks, I rubbed the tape in light green ink and transferred it to the cardstock, placing it on an angle.  I repeated the same technique with darker green ink for the second stripe.  The trees and the sentiment are stamped in pine ink; I wanted this to be the darkest green and to match the card base.

The edges have Antique Linen ink around them and are distressed.  I adhered the image to a Pinefeather cardstock card base and added jute around the spine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Masculine Motifs; Stampin' Up Lovely As A Tree
• Paper:  PTI Pinefeather, Vintage Cream
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Antique Linen; Memento Northern Pine
• Tools:  Distressor
• Other:  Jute; Masking Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Watercolor Splats (MIM #161)

I was very happy to see a watercolor technique on Papertrey's Make It Monday this week.  This technique is called "Watercolor Splats" and was fun to do.  Here's the link to the video and instructions.

I decided to use my Tim Holtz Distress inks for this technique (I know they work well with water) and pulled out 3 different colors to create an ombre look.  I cut a 3.75" x 5.0" piece of white cardstock and using a dauber, rubbed the ink up and down on the card, blending some of the colors together to get lighter and darker versions of the colors.

I die-cut the "thank you" in the inked paper and die-cut it again in white cardstock.  The white die-cut was inlaid into the colored part.  I adhered the image to a white cardstock card base, and, using a paint brush and water, drew circles of water on the ink.  To get some of the smaller circles, I flicked the water from the brush onto the card.  Fun technique....I'll definitely be making more of these!

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink Festive Berries, Ripe Persimmon, Squeezed Lemonade
• Tools:  PTI Wonderful Words: Thank You Die
• Other:  Brush; Water
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Make A Wish

More watercolor!  I can't stop using this technique!

I started with a piece of 110# watercolor paper.  Using the "blue" (Cotton Candy, Blueberry, Boysenberry, Grape) gelato collection, I rubbed the ink on my kraft mat and dipped a brush with a bit of water on it into the ink.  I just tapped the brush on the paper to get this look, adding a little more color here and there to make the ink darker or lighter.  

I stamped the sentiment in Enchanted Evening ink and sprinkled it with clear embossing powder.  I heated it with my heat tool to give it a shiny, embossed look. 

I punched the butterflies in two different colors of purple cardstock and attached them with a glue dot, bending one of the wings for a little dimension.  I added the butterfly centers with Ice White Pearl Pen.  I'm so happy with the way this turned out!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Think Big Favorites #13
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Plum Pudding, Winter Wisteria; Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Gelatos
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
• Other:  Pearl Pen; Clear Embossing Powder; Heat Tool; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

Making my own backgrounds on cards is becoming a favorite of mine.  It just adds so much to the card.

I started with a Hibiscus Burst cardstock card base and stamped the flower images on it in Hibiscus Burst ink.  Next, I die-cut the flower layers in white cardstock, stamping them with Rosebud ink and the leaf veins in Dark Chocolate ink.  I put the layers together with thin foam tape and adhered it to the card.  I placed a small gem in the flower center.

I die-cut a banner in white cardstock and stamped the sentiment in brown ink.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Lovely Layers, Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Dark Chocolate; Memento Rosebu
• Tools:  PTI Lovely Layers Die, Sketched Shapes Die
• Other:  Foam Tape; Gem
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You

I made this card design before for a birthday.  I liked it so much I thought I'd repeat it as a thank you card.

I used white cardstock as my base and stamped two rows of little polka dots in light green ink.  I die-cut the flowers, stamping them in purple and orange inks; the leaves in green ink.  I added black centers to the flowers and placed them on the card; the bottom purple flower is on foam tape. 

I die-cut "thank you" in Plum Pudding cardstock and adhered it to the card.  At the last minute I decided to round the bottom right hand corner.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Ruby Reprise, Polka Dot Basics
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Plum Pudding
• Ink:  Memento Tangelo, Pear Tart, Tuxedo Black; Brilliance Pearlescent Purple
• Tools:  PTI Ruby Rose Dies, Wonderful Words: Thank You Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Congratulations

I still haven't heard of many boys being born in 2014, but it's still early in the year!

Using the back of a Sketched Shapes stamp, I stamped circles in Spring Rain ink on white cardstock. I flipped the stamp over and stamped the striped image in Blueberry Sky ink.  I never thought to use the back of a stamp before I read it on Nichole's blog!  I stamped "baby" on the circles in Enchanted Evening ink. 

I ran the stamped image through the Cuttlebug with my Swiss Dots embossing folder and adhered it to a Spring Rain cardstock card base, rounding the bottom corners.  I cut a strip of Spring Rain, stamped it in Blueberry Sky ink and matted it on a piece of Blueberry Sky cardstock.

The sentiment is adhered to the card with foam tape. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sketched Shapes, Congratulations, Tiny Tags
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, White Stampers Select, Blueberry Sky
• Ink:  PTI Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening
• Tools:  Corner Rounder; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

April Birthdays Are The Best!

I'm looking forward to each of the monthly birthday stamp sets PTI has this year.  I think it's a nice way to personalize a card a bit more.

I used a gelato on this card for my watercolor look.  I rubbed a bit of the gelato on my Tim Holtz non-stick kraft sheet, and using a brush with a little water, applied the ink to a piece of watercolor paper.  I used a thinner (90#) paper for this card since I knew I wouldn't be using a lot of water.  The ink is just randomly stroked on the paper.

I stamped the sentiment in black ink onto white cardstock, backed it with a piece of Tropical Teal cardstock and placed the circles on foam tape.  To complete the card, I wrapped white twine around the bottom and tied a bow.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Classics: April
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select; Watercolor
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Faber-Castell Spearmint Gelato
• Tools:  Standard & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Easter Blessings

It's Easter!  Wishing you a wonderful day with family and friends.  I know I'm looking forward to eating some chocolate today.  haha

I started with a white cardstock card base and stamped the vines in Fine Linen ink.  I randomly added the little, purple flowers and placed the image on a Winter Wisteria card base.

I die-cut two crosses in white, embossing the bottom one.  I placed the little cross on top of the bigger cross and adhered it to the card on thin foam tape, adding a small, white pearl in the center.

The sentiment is stamped on a white circle and layered onto a light purple scalloped circle.  To finish the card, I tied white ribbon around the top.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Embellished Elegance; Tag-Its #1
• Paper:  PTI Winter Wisteria, White Stampers Select; Recollections
• Ink:  PTI Fine Linen; Memento Lulu Lavender, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Spellbinders Crosses Two Dies; EK Success 1" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Scalloped Punch
• Other:  Foam Tape; Ribbon; Pearl
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hi There!

Well, this stamp set....Grid Lines Two....I don't think I ever used it and I believe I bought it at least 4 years ago...maybe longer?  I don't know why I haven't used it, maybe I was intimidated by it since I was more of a rookie stamper?

I started with a piece of Spring Moss cardstock.  I chose this color because my friend told me she just painted her craft room the color of Spring Moss.  When she picked out her paint, she actually took a piece of Spring Moss cardstock with her and had them match the color! 

Next, I stamped the grid lines on three quarters of the paper in Spring Moss ink, since I wanted the end to be solid.  To fill in the grid lines I used two different stamp images, one for the circles and one for the areas between the circles.  I thought this would be hard to do and was pleasantly surprised it wasn't!  Now I'll need to use this stamp set more often!

I die-cut the tiny tag and stamped it with the sentiment.  I rounded the bottom corners, tied Chalk White seam binding around the card and attached the tag with Honeydew twine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Grid Lines Two, Flower Fusion #1
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, Vintage Cream
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Tiny Tags Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Seam Binding; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Easter Doodad

What would Easter be without a doodad?  lol  Isn't this basket cute?  Of course I got the idea from Pinterest....I found a website where the person gave great instructions and pictures for how to make it.  The link to Rachel Ricks post is here.

The basket starts with a piece of 6" x 6" paper, and is scored at 2" and 4", turned and scored at 2" and 4" again.  It will end up looking like a tic tac toe board.  The two end boxes on both sides are cut into thirds, and part of the middle box gets trimmed.  It's hard to explain how to cut the paper, so I recommend you take a look at Rachel's site because she has pictures.  Her basket has two handles, but I thought one handle looked more like an Easter basket, but her basket was intended to be a sewing basket, not an Easter basket.

I edged around the basket in Tim Holtz distress ink.  The eyelet strip around the top of the basket was made  with a Martha Stewart border punch.  Can you believe it took a piece of paper 11 inches to go around this little basket!  I attached the basket handle with brads so the handle would move back and forth. And the circle that's under the handle helps hide the back of the brad on the inside of the basket.

I punched a scalloped and regular circle, stamped the sentiment and adhered it to the basket on a piece of foam tape.  I put the candy in a clear bag and tied it with a twist tie - I didn't want the candy to fall out!  To finish the basket, I tied ribbon in a bow on top.  I started to make these all in Kraft paper and ended up making assorted colors in light blue, pink and light green, which were just as cute. 

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Hippity Hoppity
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Core'dinations; Recollections
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress
• Tools:  EK Success 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Punches; Corner Rounder; Martha Stewart Eyelet Border Punch
• Other:  Foam Tape; Brads; Easter Grass; Candy; Clear Bag; Twist Tie; Ribbon
• Project Size:  Approximately 3.5" x 4.0"

Easter Eggs

This is another personalized Easter card.  Sometimes I find it's harder to come up with an idea when I know I have to put the name on it, but I get it to work each time!

I placed a layer of blue sky-like pattern paper on a white card base.  I die-cut the grass in two different colors of green and adhered it to the card.  I pulled out some scraps in pastel colors and die-cut the eggs, placing them in the grass. 

I die-cut the bunny, stamped the outline and colored his ears and nose with Copics.  He's attached to the card on foam tape.  I die-cut the clouds and placed two on foam tape (the sentiment was made on the computer).

To finish the card, I added ribbon around the bottom and a large pompom for the bunny tail.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Hippity Hoppity
• Paper:  PTI 2008 Bitty Dot Basics, Happy Spots, Egg Hunt, White Stampers Select; DCWV
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  R81
• Tools:  PTI Hippity Hoppity Die, Egg Die, Heart-2-Heart #6 Die; Martha Stewart Grass Border Punch
• Other:  Ribbon; Foam Tape; Pompom
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday (CAS #11)

This is another stamp set, "Mehndi Medallion",  that I don't use much, but should since it's a beautiful design.  The details in this stamp are really incredible.

Talk about making a fast card...I stamped the images onto white cardstock in Aqua Mist ink and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  It was adhered to an Aqua Mist card base and it was done!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mehndi Medallion, Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Easter

I got this idea from Heather Nichols, I thought is was such an adorable card.  She used a different stamp set for the flowers and different pattern paper, so I did change it up a little!

The flowers are stamped on white cardstock; I used the same technique as I did a few days ago, where I stamped the flowers once in a lighter color ink, and then stamped them again, slightly off the image in a darker ink.  I added little squiggly lines in light green ink and stamped the centers using the little dots from the Reasons To Smile stamp set.

The bunny is die-cut in white and adhered to the card with foam tape.  I colored his ears and nose with a light pink Copic marker, and bent his whiskers a little bit to add some dimension.

I placed a strip of pattern paper at the bottom of a Kraft card base.  I rounded the corners of the stamped image and adhered it to the card.  I made two different colors of the card, but the purple is my favorite!

Card Details:

Purple

• Stamps:  PTI Hippity Hoppity, Embellished Elegance, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select, 2008 Bitty Dots
• Ink:  Memento Lulu Lavender, Tuxedo Black, Pear Tart; VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea
• Copics:  R81
• Tools:  PTI Hippity Hoppity Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Yellow

• Stamps:  PTI Hippity Hoppity, Embellished Elegance, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select; Amuse Polka Dot
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy; Memento Rosebud, Pear Tart, Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  R81
• Tools:  PTI Hippity Hoppity Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Easter Chicks

Doesn't it seem like we were just celebrating Valentine's Day?

I wanted to make something that didn't have a bunny rabbit on it, and saw the Hippity Hoppity set had little chicks, and since I needed to put Olivia's name on the card, thought using chicks would work.

I started with a white cardstock card base and added a layer of flowered pattern paper.  I die-cut the "hills" in Spring Moss cardstock, adhering the bottom hill on foam tape for dimension.

I die-cut the chicks and colored their beaks and feet with an orange Copic marker.  I put a black dot for the eye, stamped the letters, and used thin foam tape to adhere each chick.  Thank goodness I still have those $1 stamps I bought years ago, they do come in handy for personalizing things!  The sun is die-cut in Orange Zest, embossed with Swiss dots and on foam tape.

I finished the card by stamping the sentiment and adding a couple of little eggs cut in pattern paper.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Take Three Spring; Studio G $1
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, Orange Zest, Lemon Tart, Egg Hunt
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  YR16, 100
• Tools:  PTI Heart-2-Heart #6 Die, In The Meadow Dies, Hippity Hoppity Die; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrate

What's a birthday without balloons?

I layered the purple polka dot paper onto a white card base.  Next, I cut the diagonal strip and stamped "celebrate" onto it and placed it on the card.  

I die-cut the balloons in Raspberry Fizz and Hawaiian Shores cardstock and placed them on foam  tape, adding the balloon strings in Strawberry and Caribbean twines.

I rounded the bottom corners, placed sequins on the balloons and the card was done!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Think Big Favorite #13
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores; DCWV Nana's Kids
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Birthday Style Die; Lil' Inker Designs On The Diagonal Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape; Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thinking Of You

I'm having so much fun playing around with different watercolor techniques!  There are so many ideas to choose from.

For this card I started with a piece of watercolor paper and picked out two colors of distress inks:  Ripe Persimmon and Festive Berries.  I placed some of the ink on a clear stamping block, picked up the ink with a brush and a little water and stroked the ink onto the paper.  I applied it to the paper until I got the look I wanted, leaving some of the edges lighter than the rest of the card.

I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink, sprinkled it with white Zing embossing powder and heated it with my heat tool.  The image is mounted onto a white card base, with a little bit of white showing on the left side.  I also rounded the bottom right hand corner.

To finish the card, I added butterflies, cut in a pattern paper, placing clear gems in the centers.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mini Blooms
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Watercolor
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries Distress; Versamark
• Tools:  Memory Box Dancing Butterflies; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Heat Tool; Gems; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hello My Friend (CAS #10)

Here's another CAS card for today.  I'm certainly getting a lot of use from this stamp set!  And to think I wasn't going to buy it because I thought, do I really need a scribbled circles stamp set?  YES!!!!  I got the idea for this card from Cristina K, one of the PTI Design Team members.

I started with a white cardstock card base and stamped the scribbles on it in 3 different ink colors.  I added additional circles from Sketched Shapes in Aqua Mist ink

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added the sequins.  The sequins really add to the card!  I rounded the one corner on the bottom right to finish it.  Simple!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Circle Scribbles, Sketched Shapes
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Melon Berry; Memento Cantaloupe, Tuxedo Black; Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday (CAS #9)

Sketched Shapes is such a fun stamp set!  So many ways to use it.  I saw this card on Nichole's blog, and basically repeated what she did.  I'm sure I changed it up a bit, maybe with the sentiment?

I stamped the banners on white cardstock, overlapping them, using two different blue inks.   I stamped the sentiment in black ink to fit right in the corner of the two intersecting banners.

I die-cut a circle in  white, stamped "HB" (for happy birthday) on it and placed it on foam tape.  I rounded the bottom right hand corner and adhered it to a Hawaiian Shores card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sketched Shapes, Bountiful Banners
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  VersaMagic Turquoise Gem, Aquatic Splash; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Bountiful Banners Die; Corner Rounder; Standard Circle Nestabilities Die
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI Make It Monday #159: No-Sew Quilted Cards

This technique was so easy to do and is a good way to use up some of those scraps we don't like to throw away!  Here's the link to the video, this week hosted by Dawn McVey.

I needed to make an Easter card and went through my scraps and pulled out 4 different patterns to use.  I cut the pattern paper into 1.5" squares and placed them on a Spring Moss card front, following the design Dawn used.  For my first attempt, I eyeballed the line of squares going from the top left to the bottom right, but they weren't centered.  Since I'm a perfectionist, I had to correct that issue!  Here's a tip on how I fixed it:

Tip:  In pencil, I drew a light line diagonally from the upper left corner to the bottom right corner.  On the first square I wanted to use for the card, I made a small pencil mark at the bottom of the square in the center at 3/4" (the squares are 1.5"). Then I matched the mark on the square to the diagonal line on the card and the square was perfectly angled and centered. You don't have to mark any other squares, once you have the first one lined up the rest will fall into place.  Perfection!

After all the squares were in place, I impressed the design with my Twist Cover Plate --- it really does give the illusion the card is quilted!  I made the sentiment on the computer and layered it on a piece of light purple paper, both cut with circle nestabilities and placed on foam tape.  To complete the card, I added a sheer, light purple ribbon at the top.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, Egg Hunt, 2008 Bitty Dot Basics, White Stampers Select
• Tools:  PTI Cover Plate:  Twist Die; Standard & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities
• Other:  Ribbon; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

For A Gracious Hostess

Okay, funny story about this card.  I needed to make a bunch of thank you cards and stamped "gracious" on the card.  I thought it said "gracias"......not gracious!  Luckily I had room to stamp a few more words to make it say "for a gracious hostess".  I should have realized it was "gracious" since the stamp set is called Gracious Vases!  lol

I drew a line in pencil on white cardstock so my vases would be lined up straight, and stamped them in three different ink colors:  Spring Moss, Lemon Tart and cantaloupe.  I added the contents of the vases in Spring Moss ink.

For the shelf, I cut a piece of Spring Moss stripe pattern paper and placed it under the vases.  I used a punch to create the half circle and tied Buttercream twine around the card.  The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

To add a little sparkle to the card, I put glitter on the items in the vases.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Gracious Vases
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, White Stampers Select, Spring Moss Pattern
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss, Lemon Tart; Memento Cantaloupe, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Circle Punch
• Other:  Twine; Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Anniversary

I'm still trying to add to my anniversary card stash!

I started stamping flowers on white cardstock, using a color combination Nichole used on her blog which  convinced me to buy this set!  The flowers are stamped twice, once is a lighter color ink, and then again in a coordinating darker color, slightly off image to give the flowers a more dimensional look.  I stamped the flower centers in black ink.  To fill in some of the spaces, I used a dot cluster, stamped in light green ink.

I stamped the sentiment in black ink, rounded the right corners and placed the image on a Tropical Teal cardstock card base.  I wasn't sure which color I wanted to highlight - the teal is just so pretty I really wanted it to pop!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Embellished Elegance
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy; Memento Cantaloupe, Tangelo, Rosebud, Teal Zeal; VersaMagic Turquoise Gem, Tuxedo Black, Pear Tart
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You

Well, I'm going to enter PTI's Make It Monday #158 again (see April 2 post for details).  Now I have two chances of winning!  haha

I've been looking at my Leave It Be stamp set sitting on my desk and decided to use it for this card.  I started with Rustic Cream cardstock and stamped the leaf images onto it.  The leaves are stamped in Spring Moss ink and spritzed with water, noticeable by the "watercolor" marks in the leaves.  I stamped the leaf veins in Kraft ink.  To fill in some of the spaces on the card, I stamped the fern from Lovely Layers, also in Kraft ink.

Using Sketched Shapes, I die-cut the banner in Spring Moss cardstock and stamped the sentiment in Kraft ink.  I wrapped a little bit of jute around the edge of the banner and adhered it to the card with foam tape.  I rounded the corners and placed it on a Kraft cardstock card base.

This will make a nice masculine thank you card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Leave It Be, Keep It Simple: Thank You, Lovely Layers
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Rustic Cream, Spring Moss
• Ink:  PTI Kraft, Spring Moss
• Tools:  PTI Sketched Shapes Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Jute; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Baby (CAS #8)

And another girl card!  I had to make more girl cards because two of my friends had their granddaughters born on the same day!  At least I won't have any trouble remembering both birthdays!

I started with a white cardstock card base and added a layer of light pink and this sweet shoe pattern paper, using Card Edgers #4 to shape the bottom.

I die-cut "baby" in the same pink paper and in coaster for support.  I didn't want to put "baby" on foam tape so the coaster helped add a little dimension.  To add a little sparkle, I put coarse glitter on "baby".  This was really quick to make but looks like it wasn't.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; DCWV; Me & My Big Ideas
• Tools:  PTI Card Edgers #4 Die, Wonderful Words: Baby Die
• Other:  PTI Coaster; Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

After I dug out my watercolor markers the other day, I also found a spritzer tool (another ancient QVC purchase).  I can remember using it a few times, but now see it's trendy!  I guess it pays not to get rid of craft items because eventually, like fashion, they'll be back in style!  haha

I started with a piece of white cardstock, and using the spritzer tool, sprayed 3 different colors of pink on the background.   I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added the border around the card.

I die-cut the balloon and stamped it in rosebud ink.  While it was still wet, I sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat embossed it to give it a shiny look (which can't be seen in the picture).

I added a piece of Charcoal twine and attached the twine to the card with mini glue dots to create the swirled look.  The balloon is on foam tape for dimension.  The image is adhered on a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base.  Very festive looking!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wet Paint, Birthday Style
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Rosebud; Watercolor Markers
• Tools:  PTI Birthday Style Die
• Other:  Color Spritzer; Twine; Foam Tape; Filigree Embossing Powder; Heat Tool; Glue Dots
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

Has it been long enough since I posted a card using the Be Happy set?  haha  I'm so happy I'm getting so much use out of this set!

I started with a piece of white cardstock and stamped the box in the center in light brown ink, delighted it was straight and centered!  Next, I stamped the butterflies in turquoise ink, adding the antenna in black ink.  I die-cut the butterfly bodies and stamped them in rosebud ink, attaching them on foam tape for dimension.

I wanted more of the rosebud ink on the card and stamped the stripe at the bottom.  The sentiment is stamped in black ink.  I rounded the corners and adhered it to a Hawaiian Shores card base.  It is a happy looking card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Be Happy
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch, Rosebud, Tuxedo Black; VersaMagic Turquoise Gem
• Tools:  Be Happy Dies; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:   4.25" x 5.5"

With Sympathy (MIM #158)

PTI's Make It Monday #158 this week is "Stamping With Watercolor Mediums", and since I've been playing with watercolor techniques recently, I thought I'd enter my card. 

I started with the stems, inking the stamps with two different green watercolor markers.  I bought these markers about 10 years ago from QVC and I was shocked they still worked!  After I inked up the stems, I added a bit of water on the stamps with a water filled brush and stamped them onto watercolor paper.

For the flowers, I inked up the stamps with red and orange distress inks and spritzed them with water.  I used this same technique for the butterfly, and after it was dry, added the flying trail, antenna and little dots to the butterfly body.

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and adhered the image to a Pure Poppy cardstock card base, leaving a bit of the red showing on the left side.  My last step was rounding just one corner on the bottom right.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Botanical Silhouettes, Places Please, Embellished Elegance, Be Happy
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy; Watercolor
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries Distress Ink; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Water Brush; Watercolor Markers
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday (Scraps)

Happy April!  We are finally supposed to get some Spring-like weather this week.  It's been a long time coming!

Isn't this a clever, but simple card?  I saw this card on Pinterest via Judy's Card Corner - this is the link to the home page of her blog.  Unfortunately, whoever originally pinned the card didn't do it correctly and I couldn't find the actual card on her blog, but wanted to give her credit for the idea.

I took a piece of white cardstock and made two score lines (hard to see in the picture) around the edges - the first line is 1/4" from the edge and the second is 1/8" next to the first line.  I stamped the sentiment on the bottom in purple ink.

The boxes are made from scraps - I cut one box 1-5/8" x 2" and the other 1.25" x 2.5.  I die-cut the bows in coordinating cardstock (also scraps), placed them on the boxes and adhered them to white cardstock. For a little dimension and bling I added the little silver gems to the bow centers.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Plum Pudding, Spring Moss, Happy Spots, Polka Dot Parade
• Ink:  Memento Sweet Plum
• Tools:  Memento Crisp Bows Dies; Scor-Pal
• Other:  Gems
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"