65th Anniversary

My dad asked me to make a 65th anniversary card since he couldn't find one in the store.  I think he knew mine would be better than any store bought even if he found one!  haha

I started with a piece of white cardstock and embossed it with the Cuttlebug.  I cut the oval center out of it and adhered it to an Aqua Mist cardstock card base.  Next, I stamped the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink, adding the "65" in blue ink.

I die-cut the flowers and stamped them in light blue, medium blue and yellow, adding black centers.  The leaves are stamped in green.  Some of the flowers are adhered with foam tape.

To finish the card, I cut "love" in Aqua Mist cardstock and attached it on a slight angle at the bottom.  I added a little bit of glitter to the flowers for some sparkle.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Inside & Out: Love, Ruby Reprise, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, Smokey Shadow; VersaMagic Mango Madness, Turquoise Gem
• Tools:  PTI Ruby Rose Dies, Wet Paint Cuts Die; Standard Oval Nestibilities; Cuttlebug Geometric Rings Embossing Folder
• Other:  Glitter; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Happy Birthday

I was in the mood to make something bright for today and think this nailed it!

I cut a piece of white cardstock and placed raspberry striped paper at the bottom.  I stamped the polka dot circles at the top in shades of blue, raspberry, orange and green.  I stamped the strings and bow on top in rosebud ink, adding part of the tag in light green ink.

For the tag, I cut a piece of white cardstock and stamped the border and the sentiment on it.  The tag is placed on foam tape for dimension.  I added a few stitched stars at the bottom in coordinating colors.  Who says polka dots and stripes don't go together??

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI No Strings Attached, 2012 Birthday Tags, Confetti Garland
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Raspberry Fizz Stripes, White Stampers Select, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Orange Zest
• Ink:  Memento Rosebud, Tangelo, Pear Tart, Tuxedo Black; VersaMagic Turquoise Gem
• Tools:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Stars
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

Has it been long enough since I used my Circle Scribbles dies?  I just love these!

I took a piece of white cardstock, impressed it with stripes and adhered it to a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base.  Next, I die-cut circles in Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist cardstock, placed them on the card, slightly overlapping one of them.

I die-cut the banner in Aqua Mist cardstock, stamped the sentiment in black ink and adhered it on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sketched Shapes
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Circle Scribbles Dies, Simple Stripes Impression Plate Die
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Friends Like You (CAS #25)

This is a quick card I made - really simple.

I stamped the circles onto white cardstock in 3 different colors of ink.  I stamped "friends" twice in black ink, once with the stamp fully inked and the second time slightly to the left to create a shadow look.  I added the bottom sentiment also in black ink.

I rounded the corners and added a few silver sequins to finish it.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wet Paint Cuts III, Sketched Shapes
• Paper:  PTI Stampers White Select
• Ink:  Memento Teal Zeal, Tangelo, New Sprout, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrate Your Day!

I've been so busy lately I really haven't had time to update my blog every day.  I'm hoping to get back on track.

This card uses the Tim Holtz "Splatters" stencil - I placed the stencil on top of white cardstock and using Tim Holtz distress inks and a dauber, placed the splatters on the cardstock and "colored" them in.  When finished, I flicked some water onto the image with a brush.  It was a lot of fun creating this look!

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a strip of Washi tape at the top.  The panel was adhered to a Pure Poppy cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Signature Greetings
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Festive Berries, Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Shabby Shutters Distress Inks; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Tim Holtz Splatters Stencil
• Other:  Washi Tape; Water; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-a-faire: Closing Ceremony

Well, it's hard to believe this year's SAF is over - the weekend went by so fast!  I'm happy I was able to participate in a lot of the challenges (now if I could only win one of them!).  The weather was really nice which helped keep my craft room comfortable to work in.  I made seven cards and learned several new techniques which I'll use again in the future.

Here are the cards I made and my messy craft table.  I only took a picture of a portion of the table, but the whole table looks like this - and it's 6 feet!  lol  It'll take me a while to put everything away....hmmm....maybe tomorrow....

A BIG thank you to PTI, Nichole and the Design Team for hosting this incredible SAF event each year.  I know it involves a tremendous amount of time and preparation to put together and wanted to let you all know it's very much appreciated by everyone!!

Stamp-a-faire: Time After Time Challenge

This challenge is to dig out an early project that we made and change it up, modernize it to the present.  I've been cleaning out my uncle's house and imagine my surprise when I found out he kept all the handmade cards I gave him.  And imagine my horror when I looked at some of my early card making days!  LOL  This beauty is from 2007 when the Cricut was just becoming popular.....

Remember those paper prisma flowers we all bought?  And all of those corner punches?  Yikes!  And what was I thinking with these colors for a man?  So here is how I redid this card to make it more modern and more like my style of 2014.  (I'm sure I'll look at this card in 7 years and wonder again, "what were you thinking"!)

I started with a Kraft cardstock card base and added a layer of Hawaiian Shores polka dot paper, die-cut with Card Base-ics #2.  I cut a piece of Rustic White cardstock to fit in the slots, rounding the corners.  "Happy" is cut three times in Pure Poppy cardstock and glued together - I really like doing this to give a little dimension to the word.  "Birthday" is stamped in black ink.

I die-cut the star border in Kraft cardstock and replaced the middle stars with Hawaiian Shores, adding additional stars around the wording.

Here's a side by side of both cards so you can see how it changed.  Gone are the flowers, replaced with stars.  The card is brighter, happier looking and has more masculine colors.  A huge improvement, don't you agree?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Classics: August
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Shores Polka Dots, Pure Poppy, Rustic White
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Card Base-ics #2 Die, Wet Paint Cuts Die, Super Star Border Die; Corner Rounder
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-a-faire: Challenge #13 Retro Rainbows

I'm still laughing from looking at all the styles from these challenges - and one that I really didn't like is rainbows!  Everything in the 80's had rainbows - belts, mugs, shirts, flip flops - you name it and it had a rainbow on it.  So, I just had to make a rainbow card and used this picture for reference.

(photo credit)

I wanted to make a simple card, after all, a rainbow is simple enough to make!  But I did it with a slight twist, incorporating the new trend of watercolor.  I used my Watercolor Wonder stamp set - it gave me the right look for making the rainbow.

On white cardstock I stamped the five colors of the rainbow.  I added the sentiment in black, slightly overlapping the bottom of the rainbow.  And the card was done --- clean and simple and looks bright and festive for a birthday card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Watercolor Wonder, Signature Greetings
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, New Leaf; Memento Tangelo, Bahama Blue, Tuxedo Black
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-a-faire: Challenge #12 Rad Ad Looks

SAF this year is all about time - from ancient Rome to the present.  This challenge focuses on the 1960's...ugh, when looking at some of the styles and colors from that time it makes me wonder "what were we thinking"?  Haha  Of course, 50 years from now people will be saying the same thing about us!

I was looking through my pattern paper and came across a pack of "Retro Kitchen" paper!  Oh, how perfect for this challenge!  I know it's a little bit of a cheat using pattern paper instead of doing my own stamping, but what other time would be more ideal for this paper?

I cut the pattern paper slightly smaller than A2 card size and rounded the corners with a small corner rounder.  The oval is die-cut in Spring Rain cardstock and the sentiment stamped in black ink.  It's layered on a scalloped oval in True Black cardstock and placed on foam tape for a little dimension.  The entire panel is adhered to a Spring Rain cardstock card base.  

Doesn't this just scream "good to the last drop" for a Maxwell House coffee ad from the 60's???  Plus, I think this blue color was the color of our kitchen growing up.  Oh, the memories.....

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Healing Touch Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, True Black; Nicole Retro Kitchen
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Limitless Layers: Oval Dies; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-a-faire: Challenge #10 Vintage Patterns

Seeing the card Betsy made with all the colors reminds me of tablecloths I used to see in my grandmother's house.  In fact, I just found several of them in her house while cleaning out some of the drawers.  Bright colors and lots of patterns was the style. 

For my "tablecloth" I used Lovely Layers stamps for the main focus of the card, using Hibiscus Burst ink.  I found the center of the card and stamped the first flower in the middle and lined the rest of the flowers up the best I could.

Next, I added dotted lines around the flowers in Cantaloupe ink.  I thought these lines looked a little bit like stitched lines.  I added the circles with the X in the middle, again to make it look like a stitch.  Each flower has a clear gem in the center.

I didn't want to take away from the pattern of the card and used one of my Building Blocks dies for the sentiment, stamping it in black ink and placing it on foam tape.  The panel was adhered to a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base.  I really do enjoy making my own stamped backgrounds!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Lovely Layers, Bountiful Banners, Buttons & Bits, Birthday Basics
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst; Memento Cantaloupe, Tuxedo Black, Tangelo; VersaMagic Turquoise Gem
• Tools:  PTI Building Blocks Die
• Other:  Gems; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-a-faire: Morning Timer Challenge (Take #2)

I didn't participate in the 10:00 challenge and thought I'd make another easy card.  For this card I chose the following color scheme and design sketch.  At least I'm more awake to do this one!  haha

I pulled out scrap pieces of the five colors above - don't you just love to use up scraps?  I know I do!  I cut them in various widths and adhered them to a piece of white cardstock, leaving a little space in between them. 

The sentiment is stamped in black ink on a Building Blocks die (I use these dies all the time!) and placed on foam tape for a little dimension.  I had both of the butterflies already die-cut (from a previous project) in the colors I needed and added them to the card, bending the wings slightly.

This is such a simple and quick design but looks like it took time to make.

Time to make the card:  19 minutes (yep, just under the wire....)

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #6
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Building Blocks Die; Memory Box Pippi Butterfly Die
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-a-faire: Challenge #1 Faux Frescoes

The challenge is to create a project that features some sort of "faux fresco".  Luckily, I just received a jar of embossing paste and used it for this card.  This is my first time using embossing paste...and what have I learned?

#1 - it takes a long time to dry

#2 - probably smart to wait until it dries completely before stamping on it

#3 - if you don't put it on thin enough, it really makes the card feel heavy

#4 - it's easier to work with than I thought it would be

#5 - it adds a really nice texture to the card!

I started with a piece of white cardstock and spread the embossing paste over it.  I used my heat gun to help dry it...not sure if that was smart to do or not.  I was originally going to stamp flowers on it, but since it's cooler today it feels like Fall weather so I pulled out my Leaf Prints stamp set.  I thought the paste was dry and started to stamp the leaves on it in dark green ink, only to find it wasn't completely dry.  Oops! 

I placed the finished panel on a layer of Dark Chocolate cardstock and adhered it to a Kraft cardstock card base.  I die-cut the banner in Kraft and stamped the sentiment in Dark Chocolate ink, placing it on foam tape.

I like the way it turned out and definitely will be using embossing paste again in the future.

And a close-up of the texture:

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Leaf Prints, Keep It Simple:  Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Dark Chocolate, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate; Memento Olive Grove
• Tools:  PTI Sketched Shapes Die
• Other:  Embossing Paste; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-a-faire: Morning Timer Challenge

This challenge is to select a color combination and a design sketch and create a card in 20 minutes or less.  What???  We were just talking about how long it takes to make some of our cards on the PTI Forum, and let me tell you, for some of us, 20 minutes Is.Not.Enough.Time!  But I'm ready for this challenge and will play along and do it in the allotted time frame.

I selected this color scheme and design sketch - hey, it's 7:00 a.m. here and I'm just about awake, so I need something E-A-S-Y!

I used Soft Stone cardstock for my card base and stamped the three rows of colors using the "road" from City Scene.  I couldn't think of another stamp stripe that was small enough to put across the card - it would take me 20 minutes or more just to go through all my PTI stamps!  haha

I stamped "thank you" on top using Smokey Shadow ink and rounded the bottom corners of the card.  This card is really simple for me....even looking at it I want to add some embellishments or at least emboss it. But I'll keep it this way, and in person, it doesn't look that bad.  Sorry the picture isn't better but it's a gloomy day here right now.

Time to make the card = 15 minutes   (mission accomplished!)

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI City Scene, Keep It Simple: Thank You
• Paper:  PTI Soft Stone
• Ink:  PTI Simply Chartreuse, Smokey Shadow; Memento Morocco, Cantaloupe
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey Stamp-a-faire 2014

I can't believe it's here already.....the year went by so fast!  I had so much fun participating in this event last year, although I was exhausted after it was over!  haha  I'm looking forward to seeing what the fabulous and brilliant PTI Design Team has come up for us to learn and play with this year.  

Today is another perfect weather day for this - it's only going to be in the upper 70s so a great day for me to spend in my craft room.  I'll be posting my creations here throughout the day.  Well, I better get busy crafting...have fun everyone!

May The August Sunshine.....

August is already half over --- that's hard to believe.  We continue to have below normal temps here so I am actually loving summer this year!

This is the August monthly stamp from PTI.  I've been using this chevron stencil quite a bit, and this time used cantaloupe ink with it.  It's really a lot of fun to color in!

I die-cut the stitched circle and stamped the sentiment on it in the same color ink.  To add a little color, I stamped a flower in the center in Pure Poppy ink with a gem center.  The panel was placed on a Summer Sunrise cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Classics: August, Note Niblets
• Paper:  PTI Summer Sunrise, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy; Memento Cantaloupe
• Tools:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Circles
• Other:  Memory Box Modern Chic Chevron Stencil; Foam Tape; Gem
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

I pulled out my gelatos and wanted to make another summery looking card.  This reminds me of a late summer sunset when you see those beautiful colors in the sky.

Using my Stripes Horizontal Impression Plate, I impressed the image into a piece of watercolor paper.  I wet it with water, and applied four different gelato colors (Red Cherry, Tangerine, Mango, Buttercream) onto it with a brush.  I moved the color around until I was happy with it.

I die-cut "happy" in Summer Sunrise cardstock.  Birthday is stamped in black ink onto a Building Blocks die (I'm getting a lot of use out of these dies too!).  I placed the panel onto a white cardstock card base and added the two enamel dots.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wet Paint
• Paper:  PTI Summer Sunrise, White Stampers Select; 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Wet Paint Cuts Die, Building Blocks Die, Stripes Horizontal Impression Plate Die
• Other:  Gelatos (Red Cherry, Tangerine, Mango, Buttercream); Enamel Dots
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday Champ

I've had this stamp set for several months (April!) now....not sure why I haven't used it yet, but pre-season football has already started!  I'm sure I'll have no problem sending this card to one of my sports friends.  A big thanks to Danielle Flanders for this card idea!

I stamped the stripes in Blueberry Sky and Spring Rain inks and placed it down the center of the card.  I die-cut the footballs and stamped them with Dark Chocolate ink, placing them on foam tape.  I stamped the sentiment and added the stars in Kraft ink.

 I backed the panel with Blueberry Sky cardstock and placed it on a Kraft cardstock card base. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Football Frenzy, Background Basics: Random Stripes, Ballerina Beauty
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Blueberry Sky, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain, Kraft
• Tools:  PTI Football Frenzy Die
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Your Kindness Melts My Heart

This Popsicle set can be used for so many occasions!

I wanted to make a really bright, summery looking card and pulled out this orange polka dot paper.  I stamped one of the Popsicles on white cardstock in three different inks - pink, yellow and orange.  For the second Popsicle, I die-cut it first, stamped it and placed it on foam tape, slightly overlapping the first Popsicle.  I added the drips and a little glitter to them to make them appear to be icy.

Using a scalloped rectangle, I embossed the image into the white cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and placed the panel on foam tape.  To finish the card, I tied white twine around the bottom of the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Summer Sweetness
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Amuse Polka Dot
• Ink:  PTI Harvest Gold, Kraft; Memento Rosebud, Tangelo, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Summer Sweetness Die; Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities Die
• Other:  Glitter; Twine; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrate - It's Your Birthday (CAS #24)

I'm using one of my favorite color combinations for this card - Aqua Mist and Melon Berry.

I stamped the stars randomly on white cardstock in both inks and the sentiment in black ink.  I rounded the corners and placed it on a Melon Berry cardstock card base.  

This was certainly a quick card to make!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wet Paint III
• Paper:  PTI Melon Berry, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Melon Berry; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hello

I'm still enjoying the watercolor craze!  And my Wet Paint stamp set!!

I wet my watercolor paper with water and dabbed on this pretty teal paint color with a brush.  I just used a cheap set of watercolor paints I bought at AC Moore.  After it dried, I rounded the corners and splattered some black ink on it. 

Using the inside part of Tag Sale #8, I stamped hello in black ink and placed a silver brad on the end.  The sentiment is on foam tape and the panel adhered to a Tropical Teal cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wet Paint
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Tag Sale #8 Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Watercolor Paint; Brad
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

Stencils continue to be the trend right now....need to use them before they're "out".

I placed a chevron stencil on white cardstock and using a dauber, colored it with Pear Tart ink, leaving the center open for the sentiment, stamped in black ink.

Using Button Stacks dies, I cut them in Raspberry Fizz and Simply Chartreuse felts, tying them with white twine.  The panel is adhered to a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Think Big Favorites #12
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Pear Tart, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Button Stacks, Button Stacks II
• Other:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Simply Chartreuse Felt; Memory Box Chic Chevron Stencil; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks (CAS #23)

I was looking through my paper and found a few pads I bought, oh, maybe ten years ago.  Think it's time to use it?  lol

The pattern paper is double sided, so I used the pattern for the background, placing it on a True Black cardstock card base.  I die-cut the diagonal piece in Vintage Cream and added "thanks", die-cut from the other side of the pattern paper so it would coordinate perfectly.

And, um....done!  Can't get any faster than this.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, True Black; ATD Story Of Us
• Tools:  PTI Wet Paint Cuts Die; Lil Inker Designs On The Diagonal
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sending You Get Well Wishes

I saw this card on Heather Nichol's blog and loved it!  I needed to make a quick card for someone and basically copied Heather's idea, changing it slightly.

Using the Phase Play #6 die, I ran it through the Cuttlebug die-cut with several colors of cardstock to embed into the die.  Kraft is the base of the die - I added Hawaiian Shores, white and Pure Poppy cardstock to get the look I wanted.  

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and placed that piece on thin foam tape for a little dimension.  Drake's name was made using my new Alphabet Soup die - this is a perfect letter size for adding names on cards!!  The panel was placed on a white stitched rectangle onto a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base.  I really, really like this Phase Play die!  So many possibilities!!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #6 
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy, Kraft, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Phrase Play #6 Die; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles; Memory Box Alphabet Soup Die
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Summer Birthdays

This is another flower set that just makes me happy.  I don't know why, they just do.

I stamped the images on white cardstock, using black for the outline and Melon Berry and Pure Poppy inks for the flowers.  The stems are in Spring Moss ink, the sentiment in black ink.  For the flower centers, I cut the circles in black cardstock to give the card a little texture.

I rounded the corners and placed the panel on a Berry Sorbet cardstock card base.  Simple enough?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Oopsie Daisy, Birthday Classics: June
• Paper:  PTI Berry Sorbet, White Stampers Select, True Black
• Ink:  PTI Melon Berry, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Stampin' Up 2 Step Owl Punch; Corner Rounder
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hello There

For this card, I used the cardstock and leftover paint from my post of 7/25/14.

I applied the green and blue distress paints to the embossing folder, spritzed it with water and placed watercolor paper on top, lightly pressing it into the paint.  Once it was dry, I die-cut it with a large scalloped banner.  The banner is on New Leaf cardstock that was embossed with woodgrain.  

I die-cut a stitched circle, stamped the sentiment in black ink and placed it on foam tape.  Notice the New Leaf paper is on a white cardstock card base, but slightly to the left of the card for a different look.  

To complete the card, I added a butterfly and sequins.

Card Details:

• Stamps: PTI Mini Blooms
• Paper:  PTI New Leaf, Hawaiian Shores,Watercolor 90#
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Notched Hearts Banner Die; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Circles; Memory Box Pippi Butterfly Die; Tim Holtz Woodgrain Embossing Folder; Darice Swirl Embossing Folder
• Other:  Tim Holtz Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean Distress Paints; Foam Tape; Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

It's funny how these scribbles make me happy.  Such a simple concept.

I pulled out some scraps of Spring Moss, Hawaiian Shores and Lemon Tart, die-cut them with the scribbles dies and adhered them to white cardstock.  Adhering them takes a little time...I guess I could use spray adhesive but sometimes that's messy.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink on an Aqua Mist banner and placed on foam tape.  The card base is Hawaiian Shores cardstock.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Circle Scribbles Dies, Sketched Shapes Die
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You

I wasn't real crazy about this stamp set when I first saw it, but then the PTI Design Team worked their magic and it jumped into my shopping cart.

Using a honeycomb stencil, I placed it over white cardstock and using a dauber, randomly colored in the stencil with Lemon Tart ink.  I stamped the dotted image and thank you in Kraft ink.

I die-cut the topiary in white cardstock, stamping the pot in Kraft ink.  I die-cut the top portion again in Spring Moss cardstock and layered it over the white.  The topiary is on the card on foam tape.

The panel is attached to a Kraft cardstock card base with Flax twine around the bottom.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Topiary Trio, Vintage Labels
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select, Spring Moss
• Ink:  PTI Kraft, Lemon Tart
• Tools:  PTI Topiary Trio Dies
• Other:  Tim Holtz Honeycomb Stencil; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday Olivia

This set is just too darn cute for a little girl!  Yep, there's Olivia turning 5 already, seems like she was just born.

I used white cardstock for the card base, edging around it in purple ink.  I die-cut the scalloped top in a piece of scrap paper.  I die-cut the ballerina, once in white and once in the purple pattern paper for her outfit.  I colored her with Copics, placing her on foam tape on a stitched oval.  Before I attached her, I pleated some white glitter tulle around the skirt.  To help tone down the white background, I stamped stars on it.

The "5" is die-cut in Plum Pudding cardstock with a coaster backing and on foam tape for additional dimension.  Olivia's name is stamped in purple ink, using Football Frenzy Additions and also on foam tape.  I stamped Happy Birthday in black ink, tied ribbon around the top and added a clear gem to her hair bow to complete the card.  Yes, purple is her favorite color!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Ballerina Beauty, Football Frenzy Additions
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Plum Pudding, Egg Hunt
• Ink:  Memento Sweet Plum, Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  E33, E35, E50, R81, V95
• Tools:  PTI Ballerina Beauty Die, By The Numbers Die, Card Edgers #4 Die; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Ovals; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Glitter Tulle; Gem; Coaster
• Card Size:  5.5" x 5.5"

Enjoy Your Day

Yes, that's the Wet Paint stamp again - hey, at least I'm using it!  haha

This effect uses paint - two of my favorite "male" colors - Faded Jeans and Weathered Wood - rubbed on my Traffic Embossing folder and sprayed with water.  I laid the white cardstock on top of the paint and lightly pressed it into the paint.  This is so easy to do and looks much harder than it is!

After it dried, I rounded the corners and stamped the sentiment in blue ink.  It's adhered to an Enchanted Evening cardstock card base with Stone twine tied around the bottom.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wet Paint
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Tim Holtz Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood
• Tools: Corner Rounder; Cuttlebug Traffic Embossing Folder
• Other:  Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thinking Of You

Yikes!  It's August already!!  Did July go by even faster than June?

This is a technique I learned in my Online Watercolor Class - stamping images and making them look like watercolor by using a brush and water to spread the ink.  I used 90# watercolor paper and distress inks -  distress inks work really well with water.

I stamped the vase in a light brown ink and used a brush with water to spread the ink until it was very light, adding more ink inside the vase for shading.  I stamped the flowers and kept adding enough water until I was happy with the way it looked.  I added a little light grey ink for the vase to sit on and flowers to appear as if they fell off the flowers in the vase.

The sentiment is stamped on another piece of watercolor paper just for a little texture.  I adhered the image to a Terracota Tile cardstock card base and tied white chalk seam binding around the spine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  WPlus9 Fresh Cut Florals, Milk & Cookies
• Paper:  PTI Terracotta Tile; Watercolor 90#
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Pumice Stone, Antique Linen, Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries, Shaded Lilac, Shabby Shutters; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Seam Binding
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"