Happy Halloween

Every year I say I'm not going to buy anything new for Halloween and then PTI comes out with things I can't resist buying. I'm weak. lol

This card uses the new Scene It: Hallows Eve dies. Yep, couldn't resist them. There are 3 dies in the set - I die-cut the moon in Summer Sunrise cardstock and the other two pieces in True Black cardstock. Both of the other dies have trees on them but I cut one off because I wanted to put the house on the card.  (I did copy the idea for this card right from Nichole's blog).

I stamped the house in black ink, adding the purple windows and door. I didn't get the die for the house and fussy cut it, placing it on foam tape for a bit of dimension.  I stamped the bats and moon in black ink and added a few stars in Summer Sunrise and Royal Velvet cardstock.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink. I placed the panel on a Soft Stone cardstock card base and added Stone twine above the sentiment.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Haunted Headstones, Petite Places Spook Manor
• Paper:  PTI Soft Stone, White Stampers Select, Summer Sunrise, True Black, Royal Velvet
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Grape Jelly
• Dies:  PTI Scene It: Hallow's Eve
• Other:  Foam Tape; Twine
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Wish Upon A Star (MIM #228 - Pearlized Blending)

I wasn't planning to do this week's MIM but after watching the video decided to try it. Lizzie Jones shows us how to use Perfect Pearls to add shimmer to our cards in this post: Make It Monday #228 - Pearlized Blending.

I can't stop using my new Warmest Wishes stamp set (if you don't have it, I highly recommend it!!) and decided to use it for this technique. I die-cut the trees and embossed the image with white embossing powder. Next, using a blending tool, I rubbed Spring Moss ink on it. On top of the ink, I applied Versamark ink with a make-up sponge and brushed on white Perfect Pearls. I burnished it with a dry baby wipe per Lizzie's suggestion. I was amazed at how shiny it turned out!

The fox is die-cut and colored with grey Copics. I added a Berry Sorbet scarf and put him on fun foam for dimension. I cut a strip of Holiday Plaid pattern paper for the top of the card - this pattern has Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse and Ripe Avocado - non-traditional holiday colors for me. But I like it!

Before putting the card together, I blended a little bit of Aqua Mist ink at the bottom of the card to help reduce the whiteness. The lines at the bottom, stamped in Soft Stone ink are supposed to make it look like the fox is walking in the snow.

I stamped the sentiment in Berry Sorbet ink and the stars in Aqua Mist ink. To finish the card, I added glitter on the stars and the fox's scarf.  Fun technique!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Warmest Wishes, Circle Scribbles
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Berry Sorbet, Holiday Plaid
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss, Berry Sorbet, Soft Stone; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
• Copics:  R83, W1, W3
• Dies:  PTI Warmest Wishes
• Tools:  Corner Rounder; Heat Tool
• Other:  Glitter; Fun Foam; Zing Embossing Powder; Perfect Pearls
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Halloween Doodads

This year's doodad took no thinking at all, thanks to PTI and Betsy Veldman's Halloween Pin-Ups Make It Market Mini Kit. As soon as I saw this kit, I knew I had to have it!

I started with a glassine bag and added a strip of green, orange or purple paper in the center. I attached a spider web doily, purchased at Michael's on top.  For the clothespin, the kit included everything I needed to make adorable Frankenstein, Dracula, Ghost and Witch closures for the tops of the bags. I did add a little piece of magnet to the back of the clothespin (Amy Sheffer - thanks for the idea!) so they can be used on a refrigerator or desk after Halloween.

The coordinating tags were also included in the kit and I attached them to the bags with a bit of Halloween colored twine. I filled the bags with candy and they were ready to go! Quick, fast and a lot of fun to make!!

Here's a close up of one and photos of all 4 characters. Aren't they the cutest?

Project Details:

• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss Stripes, Orange Zest Stripes, Plum Pudding Bitty Dots
• Dies:  Halloween Pin-Ups
• Other:  Glassine Bags; Doily; Twine; Clothespin; Magnet
• Size:  3.75" x 6.25"

Thanks - Wine Bottle Tag

I see people who use a wine bottle tag die, but since I didn't have one decided to make my own.

I cut a piece of white cardstock 2-1/2" x 7" and scored it at the top and die-cut the circle using a nestability (which you can't see in the photo). 

I added a layer of black cardstock, topped with Soft Stone stripes. I die-cut the bottle and stamped it with Smokey Shadow ink and placed it on the tag. Thanks is die-cut four times in Autumn Rose cardstock, stacked, glued together and dipped in glitter. 

The banner is also die-cut in Autumn Rose cardstock, stamped with the sentiment and on foam tape for dimension. I added real cork for the cork and placed the "vintage wine" circle on foam tape on the top of the bottle.

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Uncorked, Friendly Flowers
• Paper:  PTI Autumn Rose, White Stampers Select, True Black, Soft Stone Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow; Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid
• Dies:  PTI Uncorked, Uncorked Words, Note Niblets; Standard Circle Nestabilities
• Other:  Glitter; Cork; Foam Tape
• Size:  2.5" x 7"

Papertrey October Blog Hop Challenge

How could I resist entering this month's challenge after looking at the inspiration picture? And I just received my Christmas PTI goodies and am anxious to start using them. Looking at the colors in the box, I knew I wanted to use Pure Poppy and New Leaf as my two main colors, with a touch of silver.

I die-cut the tags in white cardstock, using my new Folded Tags dies. At first I was surprised they were smaller than I thought, but after using them I love this size! I added a 3/4" strip of the new Holiday Plaid paper at the bottom - perfect for this since it has my two main colors in it!

I die-cut the circles from Wet Paint (love all things Wet Paint!!!) Holiday Tags in white and stamped them with Pure Poppy and New Leaf inks. I backed the die-cut with fun foam and placed it on the tag. Next, I stamped those cute sentiments at the bottom.

I wanted to add some silver, since the Christmas ball in the box looks like it has a silver color around it. I die-cut the stars from the new Star Scribbles set and placed a couple on the tag. Stretchy silver cording is tied around the top with coordinating twine (Maraschino, Peapod) through the tag hole.

For the inside I used the "to" and "from" from Wet Paint Holiday Tags - love this brushed look!! I added a couple stars inside too...I did this to cover up a boo-boo I made, but I actually kind of like them inside!

This tag combines some of my favorite PTI designs - Wet Paint, Brushed, Scribbles and Tags!

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wet Paint Holiday Tags
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Holiday Plaid
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, New Leaf
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint Holiday Tags, Folded Tags, Star Scribbles
• Other:  Fun Foam, Silver Cording, Twine
• Size:  6.5" x 1.5" (open) or 3.5" x 1.5" (closed)

Happy Birthday

I'm in the mood to make quick cards and since I still had my Mehndi Medallion stamp set on my desk, used it for this card.

I stamped the medallions in Sweet Blush ink on a piece of Vintage Cream cardstock, rounding the right corners. I placed it on a Sweet Blush cardstock card base.

Happy birthday is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. A little cream ribbon completed the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mehndi Medallion, Friendly Flowers
• Paper:  PTI Sweet Blush, Vintage Cream
• Ink:  PIT Sweet Blush, Smokey Shadow
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Ribbon
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

I like making quick cards and sometimes feel like it's cheating if I use stickers. But I had to make a birthday card for a 4 year old boy and thought this would be good for it.

I used Harvest Gold cardstock for the card base, a color I don't use much of. The stickers were all in a package I got from Joanns on clearance, including the strips I put down the sides of the card! I positioned the transportation items on the card, adding the "4" on the boat and stamping "happy birthday" on the truck.

A cute and fast card - perfect for a little boy, don't you think?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Limitless Labels
• Paper:  PTI Harvest Gold
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  TPC Studio Transportation 3D Accents
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

With Sympathy

You know how you go for a long time not needing a sympathy card, and then all of the sudden you need more than you'd like? That's what going on with me right now so I'm making more cards for my stash. This card is a little hard to see - I just couldn't get a really good picture of it.

I mixed alcohol and Aqua Mist reinker and sprayed it onto a square piece of white cardstock. I stamped the Harvest Berries on it in Versamark ink, sprinkled it with white embossing powder and heat set it. I layered it onto another slightly larger square of white cardstock, using foam tape to give it a little dimension.

I placed the squares on an Aqua Mist cardstock card base. The sentiment was stamped in Smokey Shadow ink on a die-cut made from a Stampin' Up window punch. To finish the card, I tied white crochet twine around the bottom.

Too bad I can't get a better picture because this card is so soft and pretty looking!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Harvest Berries, Peaceful Gardens
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist Reinker, Smokey Shadow; Versamark
• Die:  Stampin' Up Window Punch
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Crochet Twine; Foam Tape; Alcohol
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Trick or Treat

It won't be long and Halloween will be here! I took this idea from Maile Belles, it was a clean and simple card to make and I changed it up just a bit.

On white cardstock I stamped the tombstones in orange, green and purple inks, adding the words in black ink. I stamped a bunch of bats and added green jute around the top. 

Trick or Treat is die-cut twice - once in Orange Zest and once in True Black and overlapped a little so you can see the orange peeking out behind the black.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Haunted Headstones, Petite Places: Spooky Manor
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Orange Zest, True Black
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink Spiced Marmalade, Shabby Shutters, Seedless Preserves; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Tricky Trio
• Other:  Jute
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Have A Happy Birthday

How about another male birthday card? Southwestern Style is a perfect stamp set to use.

On Kraft cardstock, I stamped the designs using Enchanted Evening and Scarlet Jewel ink. I went back and added another shape using Fresh Snow ink on the blue design.

I added a strip of Scarlet Jewel and Enchanted Evening cardstock down the side. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed using White Zing. I placed it sideways for a change of pace!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Southwestern Style
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Scarlet Jewel, Enchanted Evening
• Ink:  PTI Scarlet Jewel, Enchanted Evening, Fresh Snow; Versamark
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  White Zing
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You For Everything

Natural Beauties is one of the best stamp sets from PTI! So much depth to these flowers.

On white cardstock, I stamped the flowers in Mango Madness, the middle with Morocco ink and added a tiny black dot for the center. The leaves are stamped in Spring Moss ink.

I added a strip of Spring Moss stripes pattern paper at the bottom and stamped the sentiment in black ink. Another fast card to make!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Natural Beauties; WPlus9 Hand Lettered Thanks
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Spring Moss Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black, Morocco; VersaMagic Mango Madness
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Happy Happy Birthday!

Sometimes when I can't think about how to make a card, using pattern paper helps fill in that creative block.

I applied the patterned paper to a white cardstock card base. Happy is die-cut three times in Blueberry Sky cardstock and adhered to the card. I stamped birthday on a white banner and the card was done.

A very quick and simple card! 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Blueberry Sky; DCWV The Little Mister 
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI One Liners: Happy, Sketched Shapes
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Welcome Baby

A couple years ago I bought paper that was on clearance for 10 cents and this was one of the sheets. I've had it for a while and figured I better use it or get rid of it.....I decided to use it for this quick card.

I layered the pattern paper on a Vintage Cream cardstock card base. Using some of the leftover striped paper, I die-cut the banner and found a light green paper to cut the letters with. I placed twine behind the letters and adhered them to the card on foam tape.

I stamped "welcome" in Kraft ink on a Vintage Cream banner and placed it on foam tape. I rounded the bottom corners and the card was done. Cute and quick!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wonderful Words: Baby
• Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream; Masterpiece Studios; DCWV
• Ink:  PTI Kraft
• Dies:  PTI Banner Borders Collection, Block Alpha Upper, Building Blocks
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy 60th Birthday

Time to rub it in again to someone who's having a milestone birthday. lol And the "retro" stamps from PTI are perfect for this!

I decided to make a 5"x7" card for a change and started with white cardstock. I added the hills at the bottom in Spring Moss stripes. The "happy" sign background is die-cut in Spring Rain polka dot, light purple and Limeade Ice. I die-cut happy, 60th and the arrow four times and stacked them together, stamping the words. Four times seem to be my new favorite stacking amount!

1955 is stamped on Enchanted Evening cardstock in Versamark, sprinkled with White Zing and heat set. It's also layered 4 times. I placed it below the sign on the post, cut in True Black cardstock.

The smaller sign is die-cut in True Black cardstock and each sign is die-cut 4 times. I stamped the signs in Enchanted Evening, Lulu Lavender and Pear Tart inks. The clouds are die-cut in white cardstock, with the smaller ones on foam tape for dimension.

I wasn't happy with the really white background and sponged Spring Rain ink to help take away some of the whiteness. I think it looks much better! To finish the card I added clear sequins and Midnight Blue twine. My friend really loved his card! (And I think I should start making more 5x7 cards.)

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Reto Style Graduation, Retro Style Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Spring Moss Stripes, True Black, 2008 Spring Rain Bitty Dots, White Stampers Select, Limeade Ice; DCWV
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain; Memento Lulu Lavender, Pear Tart; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Retro Style, Clouds 1 & 2 Collection, Heart-2-Heart #6, In The Meadow, Note Niblets
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Sequins; Foam Tape; Twine; White Zing
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Sending Birthday Hugs & Kisses

Has it been long enough since I used this little cutie?  

On white cardstock, I used Aqua Mist mist (I mixed alcohol and Aqua Mist reinker) and my Falling Snow stencil to create the background for the card. I placed the stencil over white cardstock and misted it with the ink. It gave this card such a soft, pretty look!

The elephant and hat are die-cut in white cardstock and colored with Copics. The balloon is die-cut in Aqua Mist cardstock. I stamped the balloon string so it appears to be behind the elephant. 

The elephant is on foam tape for dimension. I stamped the sentiment, added a couple clear sequins on the balloon and white crochet twine around the spine. Love this little guy!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday; WPlus9 Unforgettable
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG23, R20, W1, W3
• Dies:  Unforgettable
• Other:  Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow Stencil; Sequins; Crochet Twine; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Sending Prayers

I pulled out my Lotus Blossom stamp set for this card. On white cardstock, I placed a strip of Lemon Tart stripes on the right hand side and rounded the bottom corner.

The flower is stamped in Harvest Gold and Cantaloupe inks (it's a multi layered stamp). The stem and the butterfly are stamped in Spring Moss ink. I added the little trail on the butterfly in the same color.

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a bit of glitter to the flower. This picture is not that great - took it on a cloudy day!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Beautiful Butterflies, Frog Hop; Stampin' Up Lotus Blossom
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Lemon Tart Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Harvest Gold, Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black, Cantaloupe
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy October Birthday

And here we are with a new month! The rest of the year will go by faster than the beginning.

I thought I'd start off October with an October card. I stamped the leaves on white cardstock, inking up the stamps and spritzing them with a bit of water to give them a watercolor look. The veins on the bigger leaves are stamped in Kraft ink, and the green leaves have Spring Moss ink. I was really happy with the selection of ink colors for this. 

October is die-cut in Terracotta Tile cardstock four times, stacked and glued together and placed on a slight angle. I stamped happy and birthday in Kraft ink. The panel is adhered to a Summer Sunrise cardstock card base. To finish the card, I tied jute around the spine. A nice autumn like card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Leave It Be, Birthday Classics: October
• Paper:  PTI Summer Sunrise, Terracotta Tile, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Kraft, New Leaf, Spring Moss; Memento Morocco
• Dies:  PTI Monthly Moments: October
• Other:  Jute
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"