Hello

It's hard to believe May is almost over!

On white cardstock, I placed a layer of Sweet Blush polka dot paper. I die-cut the elephant and colored him with Copics - he's so quick and easy to color!  I placed him on foam tape for dimension.

I used a Bubble Talk die (I'm starting to use these more and more!) for the sentiment, also placed on foam tape. I wrapped Stone twine around the card several times and rounded the bottom corners.

I know I'm repeating myself, but I think this elephant is the cutest stamp that's available - and there are a lot of elephant stamps right now!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  WPlus9 Unforgettable, Fresh Cut Florals
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Sweet Blush Polka Dot
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  R83, W1, W3
• Dies:  PTI Bubble Talk; WPlus9 Unforgettable
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

May Birthdays Are The Best

Sneaking in a May card before the month is over. May went by fast!

I wet the watercolor paper with water and put distress inks on a brush and dabbed it on the card. I didn't really have any idea of what I wanted to do with this, in fact, after I was done, I was going to throw it out but decided to use it anyway.

May is die-cut in Raspberry Fizz three times, stacked and glued together. I stamped the sentiment on a banner and adhered it with foam tape. I added 3 clear sequins and attached the panel to a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Classics: February
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Rustic White; 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberries
• Dies:  PTI Monthly Moments: May
• Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Wishes

I've used this stamp set a few times but don't think I posted anything with it yet. And I'm using the my favorite Pippi Butterfly die again - I really recommend this die!

I placed a layer of Aqua Mist gingham pattern paper on a white cardstock card base. I stamped a strip of white cardstock with the birthday "swoosh" in Smokey Shadow ink.

The butterflies are die-cut in Aqua Mist cardstock, once using a solid butterfly and again with the intricate butterfly. I added black centers to complete the butterflies. Both butterflies are on thin foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Swoosh
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist, Aqua Mist Gingham
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow
• Dies:  Memory Box Pippi Butterfly, Isabella Butterfly
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge

The challenge for this month is use this picture of wood blocks as inspiration. When I saw it, I immediately thought of falling stars.....I like using anything with stars on cards!

Using a star border punch and lots of PTI scrap cardstock, I punched 4 different sizes of stars in eleven different colors. This was a great way to use up some of those smaller scraps that I can't seem to throw away!

I adhered the stars to white cardstock, trying to follow the color layout in the wood blocks image. It took me close to twenty minutes to put all of the stars on here...there had to be an easier way, but it became therapeutic after a while. lol For the sentiment, I used one of the Bubble Talk dies, cut in Spring Moss and placed on foam tape. A perfect sentiment for the card!

The star panel is attached to a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base. I added Caribbean twine wrapped around the card as an embellishment.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Lil Inker Designs Bunny Star
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Spring Moss, Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening, Tropical Teal, Orange Zest, Plum Pudding
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Bubble Talk
• Tools:  Stampin' Up Star Confetti Border Punch
• Other:  Foam Tape; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You

This is such a cute stamp set - I really should use it more often!

On white cardstock, I stamped the flowers in five different colors (Rosebud, Tangelo, Aqua Mist, Pear Tart, Harvest Gold) and the leaves and stems in Pear Tart ink. The centers are stamped in Smokey Shadow ink.

I die-cut the banner in Aqua Mist cardstock and stamped the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink. The banner is adhered on foam tape. I added a bit of glitter to the flowers and rounded the bottom corners to finish off the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Oopsie Daisy, Peaceful Gardens
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow; Memento Rosebud, Tangelo, Pear Tart
• Dies:  PTI Uncorked
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

With Sympathy

I think this is the nicest tree stamp set out there - Stampin' Up's Lovely As A Tree. So many uses for it! For this card, I wanted to do some brayering.

First, on white cardstock, I stamped the trees in dark brown ink. Second, I masked off the top of the card using Post-It Notes, and with a brayer, rolled on two colors of orange distress ink (Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade), rolling darker and lighter for variety. Third, I masked off the bottom and rolled on green distress ink (Shabby Shutters), rolling it a little darker toward the bottom. Fourth, I used a Q-tip with Peeled Paint ink on it to highlight around the grassy mounds under the tree.

I stamped the sentiment in dark brown ink and adhered the panel to a Ripe Avocado cardstock card base. As this is a more masculine looking card, I tied jute around the spine. This really wasn't that hard to make, just a bit time consuming. I'm very happy with the way it turned out!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Botanical Silhouettes; Stampin' Up Lovely As A Tree
• Paper:  PTI Ripe Avocado, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate; Tim Holtz Distress Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade
• Tools:  Brayer
• Other:  Post-It Notes; Q-Tip; Jute
• Card Size:  4.25"x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

This was a very quick card to make and uses the "ombre" (color fading from dark to light or vice versa) look.

On white cardstock, I stamped the paint brushstrokes in Tropical Teal, stamping the first image fully inked; the second and the third images use the remaining ink on the stamp (I never re-inked the stamp). I used the same technique for the sentiment.

The panel is adhered to a Tropical Teal cardstock card base. I added a clear sequin at the end of each brushstroke.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Watercolor Wonder, Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Tropical Teal
• Other:  Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Make A Wish (MIM #212 - Fussy Cutting Tips)

This week's Make It Monday #212 - Fussy Cutting Tips is by Ashley Cannon Newell. Fussy cutting is something I've done before, but I always just eyeballed it when cutting. I never thought to trace around the item first with pencil and then cut it! It's really so much easier to do it this way! Thanks Ashley for a great tip!

I used the Make A Wish stamp set for my card, stamping the candles in a variety of bright colors on white cardstock. The flames were stamped with Harvest Gold ink.

"Make a wish" is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink, also on white cardstock. I traced around the sentiment and cut it out. (Note: my tip after cutting is to use my sanding block to round off any corners that might not be quite as rounded as I'd like them to be.) I placed the sentiment on foam tape and positioned it about one third from the bottom of the card. The panel is adhered to a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base.

I added Glossy Accents to the candles and placed a few clear iridescent sequins on the card to make it a bit more festive looking.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Make A Wish, Think Big Favorite #13
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow; Memento Tangelo, Pear Tart, Rosebud
• Other:  Sequins; Foam Tape; Glossy Accents
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Let's Party

I was hoping PTI would continue with their Phrase Play dies this year but it doesn't look that way. 

I die-cut Phrase Play #12 in white and in Aqua Mist cardstock. I filled in all the stars and dots with scraps of paper, die-cutting and filling in the openings. I added the little banner, stamped with "let's" on foam tape.

Now that I knew what colors I was using, I stamped a white cardstock panel with coordinating colors and adhered it to an Aqua Mist cardstock card base. Phrase Play is on foam tape for added dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #12, Birthday Style
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Sweet Blush, Lemon Tart 
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, Lemon Tart, Smokey Shadow
• Dies:  PTI Phrase Play #12, Countdown Details
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

I know there are a couple of dies that cut paper on an angle, but I thought it was just as easy to do it myself.

I used an older PTI pattern paper for this card and layered it on a white cardstock card base. I used a piece of Berry Sorbet cut to A2 size, angled it and cut off the edges. Sure looks like it was die-cut to me!

Happy and the butterfly are both die-cut in Sweet Blush cardstock. Birthday is stamped in black and I added the antennae in black cardstock. The wings were sprinkled with glitter and are pushed up to give the card a little dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Pink Patterns, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, True Black
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI One Liners: Happy; Memory Box Pippi Butterfly
• Other:  Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Congrats - Baby Boy

Time for another baby card and I haven't used these stamp sets for a while.

I started with a Kraft cardstock card base and added a layer of blue polka dot pattern paper. I cut a rectangle of white cardstock and stamped it with one of the stamps from Watercolor Wonder in Spring Rain ink. I rounded the corners and adhered it to a slightly larger rectangle in Kraft cardstock.

The bear is die-cut in textured Bazzill cardstock, stamped in Kraft ink and mounted on foam tape. I die-cut "congrats" in Blueberry Sky cardstock....and you guessed it....three times, glued and stacked together. I tied a light blue twine around the bear's neck and added a few clear sequins.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Polka Dots Parade #4, Watercolor Wonder
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select, Blueberry Sky; Bazzill; Heidi Grace
• Ink:  PTI Spring Rain, Kraft
• Dies:  PTI Polka Dot Parade #4, Wet Paint Cuts III
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Sequins; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hooray! Hooray!

I was asked to make 5 kids cards - this is something I don't think I'm very good at. But I had a new Stampin' Up stamp set that I wanted to try....

First I picked out the colors I wanted to use - Summer Sunrise and Hawaiian Shores. Next, I die-cut the tag in white cardstock, stamped the bear and colored it with Copics. The recipient is turning 5 and I die-cut the 5 three times in Raspberry Fizz, and yes, stacked and glued them together for dimension. I added the little heart that I covered with Glossy Accents to make it shiny looking.

The banner is die-cut in Summer Sunrise cardstock and stamped in black ink. I adhered it on foam tape for addition dimension. I put the card together and added Marigold twine at the top. I think I'll get a lot of use from this stamp set!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Birthday; Stampin' Up Cheerful Critters
• Paper:  PTI Summer Sunrise, 2009 Bitty Dots, White Stampers Select, Raspberry Fizz
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  E30, E31, E33, R81, Y35, W1
• Dies:  PTI Tag Sale #7, Sketched Shapes, Block Alphabet: Numbers, Flipping Out
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape; Glossy Accents
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Mother's Day

I've been in the mood to use emboss resist lately and thought I would use it on today's card.

On white cardstock, I stamped the mums and leaves in Versamark ink, sprinkled them with Clear Zing and melted it with my heat tool. I did it in stages because I really couldn't see where I had stamped, since the Versamark is hard to see.

With a dauber, I rubbed Sweet Blush ink on the flowers, going a little bit outside of the edges. Then I used Berry Sorbet ink on the centers to give them a two tone look. The leaves were rubbed with Aloe Vera ink - it was the softest color green I could find in my ink stash. I wanted the card to look very, very soft. I filled in the entire card with the inks.

I die-cut a Keep It Simple Frame in white and Berry Sorbet cardstock and stamped the sentiment in Berry Sorbet ink. I placed the frame on foam tape. To finish the card, I tied Berry Sorbet twill ribbon around the spine. It's been a while since I used any of my PTI ribbon!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mum's The Word, Happy Day
• Paper:  PTI Berry Sorbet, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush; VersaMagic Aloe Vera; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Keep It Simple Frames
• Tools:  Heat Embossing Tool
• Other:  Ribbon; Foam Tape; Zing; Dauber
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Anniversary Wishes (MIM #211 Using Gelatos with Stamps)

This week's Make It Monday #211: Using Gelatos With Stamps gives me another use for of all those gelatos I bought a few months ago. This was a simple technique and adds a nice look to the card.

I started with a piece of Fresh Snow Linen cardstock and stamped the first layer of flowers in Rosebud ink and the leaves in Spring Moss ink. For the second layer, I used Pure Poppy ink on the flowers and Pistachio ink on the leaves.

Next came the fun part - rubbing the gelatos on top of what was stamped with a paper towel. I used two different color pinks for the flowers, first rubbing the darker pink (Bubble Gum), and then I went over it again with a lighter pink (Guava). The leaves were rubbed with Pistachio. It softens up the card after doing this and really brings out the linen texture!

I added a strip of Spring Moss stripes along the right hand side and stamped the sentiment in black ink. I wanted to bring out the black a little more (love black and raspberry together!) and stamped little dots around the images in black ink. 

My final steps were rounding the corners and adding a bit of coarse glitter to the flower tops. The panel was adhered to a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie Step 2, Keep It Simple: Anniversary, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Fresh Snow Linen, Spring Moss Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Spring Moss; Memento Rosebud, Tuxedo Black, Pistachio
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Gelatos (Guava, Bubble Gum, Pistachio); Glitter; Paper Towel
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks

This is another set I don't use much, No Strings Attached. I don't know why I have to have these sets and hardly ever pick them up?? Because this is a nice set to make a quick card with!

I used Dark Chocolate cardstock for the card base and added a layer of coordinating polka dot pattern paper. I stamped the strings in Dark Chocolate ink.

The tag is cut in Vintage Cream cardstock and stamped in Dark Chocolate ink. I stamped the bow right over the tag and onto the paper so it appears as if the bow is on top of the tag. I punched a hole in the end of the tag and placed it on foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI No Strings Attached, Gracious Vases
• Paper:  PTI Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Chocolate Remix
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday To Someone Special

I'm using the Retro Style stamps again, this time combining the birthday and graduation sets. There are so many possibilities with these sets!

I started with a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base and went to town! First, I added the grass using some of those leftover Easter scraps of Spring Moss stripes. Next, I die-cut the sign on the left, using leftover Lemon Tart stripes, the arrow is cut in Spring Moss cardstock and stamped in Spring Moss ink. The bottom portion is stamped in Hibiscus Burst ink and Happy in Hawaiian Shores; Happy is on foam tape for dimension. I added the sign post in True Black cardstock.

The other sign is die-cut in Smokey Shadow cardstock with the signs cut in white and stamped with Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores and Harvest Gold inks. I thought both of the signs next to each other just flowed perfectly! To finish the card, I added a couple of clouds, die-cut in Bazzill white cardstock. One of the smaller clouds is placed on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Retro Style Graduation, Retro Style Birthday Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, True Black, Smokey Shadow, White Stampers Select, Spring Moss, Spring Moss Stripes, Lemon Tart Stripes; Bazzill
• Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Retro Style, Clouds 1 & 2 Collection
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Grass Border Punch
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Hip Hip Hooray

Ok, I cased this card from Laura Bassen - when I saw it I just knew I had to make one too - I did change it up with the colors and banner width.

This was a good chance to use up some scraps. Using the banner from Sketched Shapes, I die-cut two banners each in Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz and Pure Poppy. I adhered them to the very right of the card.

Phrase Play #11 is die-cut in white and placed over the banners. I die-cut the little star at the top in Hawaiian Shores and stamped the sentiment in black ink to finish the card.

Easy to make but impressive looking. Thanks Laura for the idea!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #11
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Phrase Play #11, Sketched Shapes
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Wishes

Can you believe it's May already?

It's been a while since I used this stamp set - Birthday Style. I die-cut a stitched rectangle in white cardstock and stamped two of the balloons, slightly overlapping them. I die-cut the third balloon in white cardstock and stamped it with Hawaiian Shores ink. The balloon is adhered on foam tape.

The sentiment is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. I added the balloon strings in Soft Stone ink and a few star clusters. The panel is on a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Style, Mailbox Greetings
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Soft Stone
• Dies:  PTI Birthday Style; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Other: Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"