With Sympathy

I was just playing around with some inks on white cardstock and it didn't look too bad so I decided to make it into a card.

On white cardstock, I used Tim Holtz Distress inks - Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade to create the background. I wet the paper just a bit and with a brush, pushed the inks around to create the look I wanted.

After it dried, I stamped the flowers, dragonflies and sentiment in black ink. I placed the watercolor panel on a layer of black cardstock and onto a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base. I tied white crochet twine around the spine as the last step.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Places Please, Keep It Simple: Sympathy; Stampin' Up World Of Dreams
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, True Black, White Stampers Select
• Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Crochet Twine
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

All Is Calm, All Is Bright

Warmest Wishes has to be one of my favorites sets from PTI this year. I can't stop using it!

I started by placing a strip of Holiday Plaid pattern paper along the left side on white cardstock. Next, I die-cut the mountains and bear also in white cardstock. I colored the bear and mountain tops with Copics to match the colors in the pattern paper, so I didn't have to do much thinking about picking out colors! This bear is so adorable! I added a little pink to his cheeks because it must be cold where he is. lol

The bear is on fun foam for dimension. I stamped the sentiment and the stars in Scarlet Jewel ink. A little bit of glitter on the mountain tops finished off the card. I think Ocean Tides and Scarlet Jewel are a nice color combination.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Warmest Wishes
• Paper:  PTI Holiday Plaid, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Scarlet Jewel, Ocean Tides, Smokey Shadow
• Copics:  BG10, BG72, R59, R83 
• Dies:  PTI Warmest Wishes
• Other:  Glitter; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday To You!

For this card, I decided to use the "Bokeh" technique I see on a lot of cards. Bokeh is supposed to give a blurred effect.

On watercolor paper, I wet the paper with water and used purple and blue paints to fill in the entire panel. After it dried, I placed a circle stencil over the top and randomly filled in some of the circles with white ink. It's really hard to see them in the photo, but if you look close enough, you'll see them! I like how the blue and purple blended together so nicely.

Once it was dried, I stamped the sentiment in the center in black ink. I placed the panel on a white cardstock card base and added light purple ribbon.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  WPus9 Strictly Sentiments 5
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Colorbox Frost White
• Tools:  Colorbox Rounded Stencil
• Other:  Crayola Watercolor Paint; Ribbon
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Dashing Through The Snow (MIM #232)

I really like using white ink on Kraft, so this week's Make It Monday #232 - Layered Stamping on Kraft by Dawn McVey was calling my name.

I started with a piece of Kraft cardstock and stamped the sleigh in white ink. After it dried, I stamped it again with Blueberry Sky ink, slightly overlapping it just enough so you can see a trace of white. I made the snow along the bottom of the sleigh by rubbing white ink with a dauber. After I had the design I wanted, I pounced the dauber on top to make it look like the snow is being kicked up by the horse and sleigh.

I stamped the sentiment in Blueberry Sky and added the snowflakes. I placed the panel on fun foam and onto a Blueberry Sky cardstock card base. To add a bit of sparkle, I dabbed a little silver Stickles on the bigger snowflakes.

I like the look of this - it almost looks like a vintage style card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI In The Meadow
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Blueberry Sky
• Ink:  PTI Blueberry Sky, Fresh Snow
• Other:  Stickles; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Warm Autumn Wishes

Happy Thanksgiving! Can you believe it's here already???

I took the idea for this card from Amy Sheffer (PTI Design Team). In fact, seeing her card is what made me want this set so much!

On white cardstock, I did a little color blending around the edges with Ocean Tides and Aqua Mist inks. All of the pumpkins are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped in assorted colors. I like that the colors are a bit non-traditional!

I arranged the pumpkins on the card, placing a few on foam tape for a little dimension. I tied jute around the card and added glitter to the pumpkins. The last thing I did was round the bottom corners.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Pumpkin Patch
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Kraft, Dark Chocolate; Memento Morocco
• Dies:  PTI Pumpkin Patch
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Glitter; Foam Tape; Jute
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Papertrey November Blog Hop Challenge

This year I'm trying to use more non-traditional colors with my Christmas projects. So when I saw the inspiration picture for this month's Blog Hop, I had to make something. This is what we had to work with - Nichole pointing out the photo contained Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse colors.

I started with Fresh Snow linen cardstock and sponged around the edges with Hawaiian Shores ink. Next, I stamped the tree in Kraft and Simply Chartreuse inks. The tree pot is stamped in Tropical Teal and the stars on the tree in Hawaiian Shores ink. The star on top of the tree is cut in silver foil paper.

Merry Christmas is cut in Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse cardstock, using the Type Strip Bit die and stamps. I stamped the Hawaiian Shores letters in Hawaiian Shores ink and the Simply Chartreuse letters in Simply Chartreuse ink and placed them a little wonky on the card. Who says sentiments have to be straight all the time?

The silver tree on the mantel in the picture reminded me I had silver Fun Fur and I tied a piece around the top. I also added silver Stickles on the tree to bring additional silver onto the card. I placed the panel on a Tropical Teal cardstock card base.

I love this color combination!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI O'Tannenbaum, Type Strips II
• Paper:  PTI Fresh Snow Linen, Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse; Silver Foil
• Ink:  PTI Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores, Kraft, Simply Chartreuse
• Dies:  PTI Type Bits Strip, Star Scribbles
• Other:  Stickles; Foam Tape; Fun Fur
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrate - It's Your Birthday

Last Wednesday I posted a Christmas card using the Star Scribbles stamp set and wanted to post another card using this set to show that it can be used for other occasions.

I started with a piece of Fresh Snow linen cardstock and added a strip of pattern paper down the side. I die-cut the star scribbles and stamped it with New Leaf ink. Can I say again "thank goodness for the MISTI!!", otherwise it would take me several attempts to stamp this so perfectly. I die-cut the circle again 2 more times, stacked and glued them together and placed it on the card, stamping the sentiment in the middle. It just fit!

The panel is attached to an Enchanted Evening cardstock card base. This makes a nice masculine card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Star Scribbles, Perfect Pairing
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Fresh Snow Linen; DCWV The Countdown Stack
• Ink:  PTI New Leaf, Enchanted Evening
• Dies:  PTI Start Scribbles
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Christmas

This is just the sweetest little snowflake set from PTI - a couple nice size snowflakes and cute sentiments. Plus dies to go with it too!

I stamped the snowflakes on white cardstock in Versamark ink, sprinkled them with clear embossing powder and heat embossed them. Next, I did a little color blending with Aqua Mist ink - rubbing it right over the snowflakes, but not covering the entire panel. 

Christmas is die-cut in white cardstock, 3 times, stacked and glued together. Can you tell I love doing this? So much easier than trying to get words on foam tape. The final layer is cut in silver foil paper. The panel is on an Aqua Mist cardstock card base.

White Fun Fur always reminds me of snow so I added a little around the spine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Snowflake Sparkle
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, White Stampers Select; Silver Foil
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist; Versamark
• Dies:  Wet Paint Holiday
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Fun Fur
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Friends

Red, white and kraft are a favorite color combination for me.

On Kraft cardstock, I stamped the first layer of the flowers in Berry Sorbet. The second layer is stamped in Pure Poppy that was spritzed with water to give it a little bit of a watercolor effect. I stamped the flower centers in black ink and added the little flowers in white ink.

I die-cut "friends" in white cardstock 3 times, and yes, stacked and glued them together. I added the last layer in gold foil paper. I rounded the bottom corners and the card was done. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Friendly Flowers, Clipsters
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select; Gold Foil
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint III
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Water
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Seasons Greetings (MIM #231 Motif Building)

This week's MIM #231 Motif Building by Betsy Veldman looked like a lot of fun. She makes everything look so simple to do! Well, maybe for her...lol...but it took me a while to pick out the stamps and the colors to use for this card. I'm still in holiday mode, especially since the radio station started playing Christmas carols today, so naturally I'm making another holiday card!

On white cardstock I started with the snowflake in the middle, stamped in Scarlet Jewel ink and added the trees in Ocean Tides ink around it. Next, I added the little gingerbread man in Pure Poppy ink.

To continue to build outward, I added the stars in Scarlet Jewel ink on the tree tops and the tiny snowflakes in Aqua Mist ink around the gingerbread man. The sentiment is stamped in Ocean Tides ink and the panel adhered to an Ocean Tides cardstock card base.

At the last minute I decided to add the bows in the corners and clear gems to the center and points on the snowflake. This was a fun technique and I hope to use it again soon!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Tinsel & Tags, Snowflake Serenade, O'Tannenbaum, Keep It Simple: Seasons Greetings, Snowflake Sparkle, Holiday Treats
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Ocean Tides
• Ink:  PTI Ocean Tides, Scarlet Jewel, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy
• Other:  Gems
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Joy To The World

I've really been in the mood to make Christmas cards this year and that's all I've been working on recently.

On white cardstock, I stamped the starred circle and stars in Versamark ink, sprinkled them with gold embossing powder and heat embossed it. I used Berry Sorbet ink to lightly blend a little ink on the edges of the card.

Joy is die-cut in Pure Poppy cardstock, 3 times, stacked and glued. "To the World" is stamped in black ink and on Fun Foam for dimension. The panel is on a Pure Poppy cardstock card base with gold ribbon at the top to finish the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Star Scribbles, Wet Paint Holiday
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint Holiday Tags
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Fun Foam; Ribbon
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You For The Gift

I'm so happy that PTI keeps releasing the "Keep It Simple" series - it's so nice to pick up a stamp set and have a selection of 6 of the same sentiments in different fonts.

On white cardstock, I placed a strip of Holiday Plaid pattern paper along the left side. I stamped the mistletoe in Pistachio ink and the berries in Ocean Tides ink. The sentiment is also in Ocean Tides ink.

The panel is on an Ocean Tides cardstock card base. To add a little gold, I placed a thin strip of gold harlequin washi tape next to the pattern paper. This washi tape is so nice because of the width!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mistletoe & Holly, Keep It Simple: Gift Thanks, Harvest Berries
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Ocean Tides, Holiday Plaid
• Ink:  PTI Ocean Tides; Memento Pistachio
• Other:  Little B Washi Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

He Popped The Question...

I needed to make an engagement card and pulled out the Man & Wife Collection for it.

The card base is white, layered with Soft Stone that was impressed with the Linen & Canvas Impression Plate. I added the strip of hearts at the top in Sweet Blush cardstock.

The silhouette is die-cut in black cardstock, with the dress cut in white. The bride is on foam tape for dimension. I stamped the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink and added white ribbon and clear sequins.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Just A Kiss
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Soft Stone, True Black, Sweet Blush
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow
• Dies: PTI Man & Wife Collection, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate, Heart Border
• Other:  Ribbon; Foam Tape; Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Merry & Bright (MIM #230 - Cover Plate Watercoloring)

I like it when I can get more use out of my dies, and this week's MIM #230 Cover Plate Watercoloring shows us how to do that by using cover plates as a stencil to watercolor. Ashley did a great video with this technique - her card is beautiful!

I selected my Harlequin Cover Plate and placed the negative on a piece of 140# watercolor paper. I mixed Aqua Mist refill with a bit of water and colored in the 5 rows of diamonds. When applying the ink, it looked more like Pinefeather than Aqua Mist (I guess due to the strength of how I mixed it?) so I placed it on a Pinefeather cardstock card base.

Merry is die-cut 3 times, stacked, glued together and placed on an angle. I embossed "& bright" in gold embossing powder. To show a bit more gold on the card, I added two thin strips of harlequin Washi tape on the top and bottom. It's a nice addition since the diamond pattern is vertical verses the horizontal pattern on the card. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wonderful Words: Holiday
• Paper:  PTI Pinefeather; 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist Refill; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Harlequin Cover Plate, Wonderful Words: Holiday
• Tools: Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Little B Washi Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Wishes

I have a lot of Washi tape - I seem to hoard it and not use it much. 

I started with a white cardstock card base and added 3 strips of Washi tape on the right hand side. Birthday is die-cut in New Leaf cardstock, 3 times, stacked and glued. New Leaf matched the green polka dots perfectly!

The banner is die-cut in black cardstock with "wishes" embossed in white. I placed the banner on a little foam tape and the card was done. Easy!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #6
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, New Leaf, True Black
• Ink:  Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Birthday Trio, Building Blocks
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Washi Tape; Zing Embossing Powder; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Enjoy Your Birthday

I really like using the Phrase Play dies from PTI because they can be used for so many different occasions.

I die-cut Phrase Play in white cardstock and placed it on an Aqua Mist cardstock card base, adding a strip of Spring Moss stripes in the window. I cut "enjoy" in Hawaiian Shores cardstock to fill in the word. 

The balloons are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Hawaiian Shores and Harvest Gold inks. I placed them on foam tape, adding the strings in Buttercream and Caribbean twine. The sentiment is stamped in black ink on a banner die-cut in Summer Sunrise cardstock. A few clear sequins complete the card. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #4
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, White Stampers Select, Spring Moss Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Phrase Play #4, Birthday Style
• Other:  Sequins; Twine; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrate The Season (MIM #229 Fabric Strip Christmas Trees)

I didn't think I was going to participate in this week's MIM and then remembered I had fabric from my cross-stitching days  - it must be about 15+ years old so time to use it for something else!  lol Melissa really wowed me with her video:  Make It Monday #229 Fabric Strip Christmas Trees.

I picked a light green straw and started to tie the ripped pieces of fabric and ribbon around it. This is the pattern I used: cream and beige ribbon, red snowflake print, green print, plain red and shiny green ribbon. I repeated this 3 times on the straw for a total of 15 strips.

I tied on a few of PTI's wood buttons with gold cording. The tag is cut in Vintage Cream cardstock with Antique Linen ink edged around it. I added a little strip of Pinefeather cardstock at the bottom and stamped the sentiment in the same color.

The background is Vintage Cream cardstock, embossed with Mistletoe Kisses. I rubbed Antique Linen over the top to help give it a more vintage look and placed the panel on a Pinefeather cardstock card base. To finish the tree, I die-cut a star in gold paper and placed it at the top.

I will admit, this card took me longer to make than expected, because I kept giving it a "haircut" until the tree looked perfect to me. lol  But I love the way it turned out and will give it to someone special at Christmas.

 Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Framed Out #8
• Paper:  PTI Pinefeather, Vintage Cream
• Ink:  PTI Pinefeather; Tim Holtz Antique Linen
• Dies:  PTI Tremendous Tags; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Stars
• Tools:  Cuttlebug Mistletoe Kisses Embossing Folder
• Other:  PTI Buttons; Fabric; Ribbon; Straw; Gold Cording
• Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Sending Prayers

November 4th...where is the time going?? 

This is another quick card I needed to make. On white cardstock, I stamped the butterflies in Rosebud, Harvest Gold and Hawaiian Shores inks. I stamped the detailed layer of the butterfly in Versamark ink, sprinkled it with black embossing powder and heat set it. It added a little "extra" to the card.  The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Beautiful Butterflies, Beautiful Butterflies Layers
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Harvest Gold, Hawaiian Shores; Memento Rosebud, Tuxedo Black; Versamark 
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Let It Snow

I'm using Warmest Wishes again. Love this set!!!!!

I started with a piece of white cardstock and added a layer of bluish, snowflake pattern paper. I don't remember buying this DCWV stack, but it has a lot of beautiful patterns in it! I die-cut the snowdrifts, adding glitter along the edges.

The penguins were die-cut in white cardstock, stamped and colored with Copics. Each penquin has a fun foam backing for dimension. I added their little hats - thank goodness for the MISTI because these hats are tiny....I'd never be able to stamp them without it.

Stacking them up on their heads - I saw that idea from Heather Nichols. I stamped the sentiment in Pure Poppy, added clear sequins and tied Fun Fur around the spine.

Don't they look like they're having a good time in the snow?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Warmest Wishes
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; DCWV Christmas & Winter
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy
• Copics:  BG13, N4, R27, V15, YG23, YR15
• Dies:  PTI Warmest Wishes, In The Meadow
• Other:  Sequins; Fun Fur; Glitter; Fun Foam
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"