Happy Birthday...

I can't believe that it's the last day of June! This month sure went by fast!

This watercolored panel is from Make It Monday #250. When I masked around the the bottom of my card and removed the tape, it was a bit crooked. I didn't want to throw the panel away and made it into this card.

The panel is blended with Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold and Green Parakeet inks and splattered with a bit of water. After it was completely dry, I stamped the sentiment in black ink, cut the panel down and rounded the corners.

The panel is adhered on a white cardstock card base and on fun foam for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Script Swirls: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select 
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold, Green Parakeet; Versafine Onyx Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stenciling With Texture Paste (MIM #254)...

It's the last week of the month already and time for another MIM! This week's Make It Monday #254: Stenciling With Texture Paste is hosted by Ashley Cannon Newell. Ashley shows us how to work with texture paste and how to easily add colors to it.

I have to admit when I was coloring my embossing paste, it looked like one big, old sloppy mess. And there I was, cursing the Design Team, not just Ashley....all of them....because they always make things look so easy and effortless! lol But when I removed my stencil I was very happy with the results!

I used a mesh stencil and spread the embossing paste over it on white cardstock. Next, I applied Aqua Mist, Spring Moss and Hawaiian Shores reinkers with a paintbrush, watering down the ink as needed. I set it aside to dry.

Celebrate is die-cut three times in True Black cardstock and stacked together. I applied Versamark to it, sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat set it. I repeated the process once more because it didn't look shiny enough the first time. The panel is trimmed to 3.75" x 5.0", placed on fun foam and adhered to a regular A2 size white cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, True Black
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Hawaiian Shores; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Good Times
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Memory Box Mesh Stencil; Embossing Paste; Zing Embossing Powder; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.0"

Thank You...

Each month I look forward to the new Splits design and really like the look of this one!

On white cardstock I stenciled the background with Lemon Tart ink. I didn't want to fill in the entire background so the stenciling is a bit random.

The Split is die-cut in white cardstock and heat embossed with white embossing powder. Using a blending tool, I rubbed Green Parakeet and Lemon Tart inks on it. The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

Instead of foam tape, I die-cut the Split three times and stacked it together. The panel is adhered to a Green Parakeet cardstock card base with a bit of the left hand side showing.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Splits: Thank You
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Green Parakeet
• Ink:  PTI Green Parakeet, Lemon Tart; Versafine Onyx Black; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Splits: Thank You
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing White Embossing Powder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey June 2016 Blog Hop Challenge...

It's the 25th again and time for another Blog Hop Challenge! Don't you think this month's inspiration photo has a lot of PTI colors in it? And that's what I centered my card on, the colors, not so much the design.

On a piece of stitched white cardstock using a blending tool, I rubbed circles of Hawaiian Shores and Raspberry Fizz to create my background. I watered down some Scarlet Jewel ink and flicked splatters on the background with a paintbrush.

The flower is die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Raspberry Fizz, Berry Sorbet and Scarlet Jewel inks, with the stem stamped in Simply Chartreuse and Ripe Avocado inks. The little white dots on the flower are embossed with white embossing powder. The flower and extra leaf is die-cut three times and stacked.

Sending is die-cut in Hawaiian Shores cardstock and stacked with 3 layers, with the additional sentiment stamped in black ink. I stamped a few extra flowers in Tropical Teal ink.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Painted Petals
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, Berry Sorbet, Scarlet Jewel, Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado; Versafine Onyx Black; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Painted Petals, Don't Forget To Write; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Paintbrush
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Father's Day...

This is another card I made a while ago for SAS4K since they were asking for Father's Day cards.

I placed a piece of pattern paper on a white cardstock card base. I used my Center Style: Masculine die as the focal point of the card, stamping the design at the top in Kraft ink. I added the banner across of the top, stamping dad in Dark Chocolate ink and the outline in Enchanted Evening ink.

Happy Father's Day is stamped in Enchanted Evening and Kraft inks and the dotted line in Dark Chocolate ink. I added the little heart stamped in Pure Poppy ink. I placed the entire die-cut on fun foam for dimension. It was nice to use this die again!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Father, Pencilgrams
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; DCWV The Little Mister
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy
• Dies:  PTI Center Style: Masculine
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Reverse Stenciling (MIM #253)...

I'm always delighted when I see an easy technique to try, and this week's Make It Monday #253: Reverse Stenciling is very easy to do. Betsy Veldman shows us how to ink up stencils with a brayer and transfer the image to cardstock.

I selected one of my Modern Backgrounds stencils and applied Hawaiian Shores and Green Parakeet inks with a brayer. I spritzed it with a bit of water, flipped it over and rubbed it onto white cardstock, filling about 3/4 of the paper. It really does have a nice, watercolor effect!

The balloon is die-cut three times in Green Parakeet cardstock and stacked together. I did the same for the balloon string in white cardstock. Celebrate is stamped in black ink. I placed the panel on a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base, leaving a bit of the cardstock showing on the right.  A bunch of sequins finished the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Splits: Celebrate
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select, Green Parakeet
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Birthday Style, Balloon Strings
• Tools:  Brayer
• Other:  PTI Modern Backgrounds Stencil; Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Just A Note...

I finally pulled out my Don't Forget To Write kit to make something with it! I think this kit will be a lot of fun to play with.

On white cardstock, I stamped the stripes in Mint Julep ink using a stamp from Watercolor Wonder. I die-cut the flower cluster in white cardstock and stamped the flowers in Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise and Harvest Gold inks. The leaves were stamped in Mint Julep and Green Parakeet inks, with the tips in Hawaiian Shores ink. Stamped little black dots were added to the flower centers.

Note is die-cut in Berry Sorbet ink and placed on a frame die-cut from the kit. I stamped the top and bottom flourishes in Hawaiian Shores ink. The frame was placed on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Don't Forget To Write Make It Market Kit, Watercolor Wonder, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Berry Sorbet
• Ink:  PTI Mint Julep, Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Don't Forget To Write Make It Market Kit
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Father's Day...

We all seem to struggle making masculine cards and for today's card, I couldn't decide on a stamp set to use. Originally I was going to use an airplane but decided to pull out Wetlands and use the goose.

I used a couple solid pattern papers that are male looking colors - dark brown and olive green - and layered them on top of a black cardstock card base. The goose is stamped in Dark Chocolate ink on Rustic Cream cardstock. I did a little masking so I could put the taller ferns behind the goose. I was going to color the goose with Copics but decided to leave it "as it". The image is layered on brown paper and matted on black cardstock and placed on fun foam for dimension.

I stamped the sentiment in Dark Chocolate ink on a small banner and layered it on a larger banner die-cut in brown paper. The banner is also on fun foam. To finish things off, I added 3 wood buttons and jute around the spine. Very masculine looking, don't you think?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Father; Stampin' Up Wetlands
• Paper:  PTI True Black, Rustic Cream; The Paper Loft Hooked On Fishing
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate
• Dies:  PTI Sketched Shapes
• Other:  PTI Wood Buttons; Fun Foam; Jute
• Size:  5.5" x 5.5"

Make A Wish...

This was a quick card to make since I started with pattern paper and didn't have to stamp the pretty background!

I wanted to use all the colors that were in the pattern paper and stamped the cake with Sweet Blush ink, Hibiscus Burst ink for the icing and Raspberry Fizz for the candles. The candles flames are stamped in Harvest Gold ink and the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink.

I added glossy accents to the candles and glitter on the icing. This is such a nice, feminine looking birthday card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Just Desserts
• Paper:  PTI Confetti Toss
• Ink:  PTI Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow
• Other:  Glossy Accents; Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday...

Well, you can tell I'm enjoying Color Pop Florals because I use it all the time! And stenciling is so much fun and sometimes less stressful than stamping because it's really hard to make a mistake! I also like how I can control the depth of color by applying more or less ink.

For this card, I used Fresh Snow Linen paper and stenciled the flowers in Berry Sorbet/Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush/Berry Sorbet and Aqua Mist/Hawaiian Shores inks. The leaves are stenciled in Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink on a stitched banner die and placed on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Color Pop Florals, Birthday Basics
• Paper:  PTI Fresh Snow Linen, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Sentiment Flag
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Loss Of A Pet...

A friend recently had to put his cat down after having her for 19 years, so I thought I'd send him this card.

On white cardstock, I stamped the vines in Seattle ink and the flowers in Aqua Mist ink, adding the centers with a black, thin marker. The sentiment is stamped in black ink. The little paw prints are stamped in Soft Stone ink.

I placed the panel on an Aqua Mist cardstock card base, leaving a strip of the cardstock showing on the right hand side.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI With Sympathy, With Sympathy: Loss of A Pet, Painted Petals
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Soft Stone; Amuse Seattle; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Black Marker
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Dude You Rock...

This sentiment is one that I never thought I would use, but it goes great with this guitar paper!

The guitar paper is layered on white cardstock. I die-cut the stitched rectangle in Simply Chartreuse paper and stamped it with the sentiment. I placed it on fun foam for dimension.

This CAS will be a nice card for a teenage boy or even an "older" rocker!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Signature Greetings
• Paper:  PTI Simply Chartreuse, White Stampers Select; DCWV The Little Mister
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Other: Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Just A Note...

I kept seeing all these beautiful cards made with Altenew's Peony Bouquet stamp set and finally bought it. It's a multi layer stamp set and one I'm finding difficult to use - 1) to pick out the right ink colors and 2) lining the layers up correctly. I read using the Misti and the Stampamajig makes it easier and it did help me a bit.

On linen cardstock, I stamped the flowers in Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade and Abandoned Coral inks. The leaves were stamped in Spring Moss and Kraft inks and the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink. The panel was adhered to a Spring Moss cardstock card base.

I'm sure with more practice I'll grow to like this stamp set. For now, I find it very challenging, which is a good thing.....I like a good challenge!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Altenew Peony Bouquet, PTI Botanical Silhouettes
• Paper:  PTI Fresh Snow Linen, Spring Moss
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss, Kraft, Smokey Shadow; Tim Holtz Distress Dried Marigold, Spiced Marigold, Abandoned Coral
• Tools:  Misti, Stampamajig
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Shadowing With Copic Markers (MIM #252)...

Danielle Flanders is the host of this week's Make It Monday #252: Shadowing With Copic Markers. She shows us an easy technique that adds just a little extra something to a die-cut or stamped word with the simple use of a Copic marker. I'm sure you could use any type of marker or a colored pencil as well.

I selected my Sunshine & Rainbows mini kit again for this card. I love this kit! On white cardstock, I stenciled the same 5 colors I used on my last rainbow card (posted 5/28/16) but in reverse order. Do you ever keep using the same color combinations because you like them so much? Well, this is a favorite combo for me - Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise and Berry Sorbet. 

Rainbow is die-cut in Hawaiian Shores cardstock and the sentiment stamped in black ink. I wasn't sure what color to outline it with and picked a warm grey Copic, since I knew I was going to add raindrops in Soft Stone ink and thought they matched. Outlining was a little harder than I thought, I was a bit shaky doing it. I figured out it was better to just do one quick sweep of the marker rather than to do it slowly. I'll know better for next time. The last step was adding a few clouds on foam tape. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sunshine & Rainbows Make It Market Mini Kit
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Berry Sorbet, Soft Stone; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Sunshine & Rainbows Make It Market Mini Kit
• Other:  PTI Sunshine & Rainbows MIM Mini Kit Stencils; Foam Tape; Copic W3
• Size:  5.5" x 4.25"

65 Looks Good On You!...

It's been a while since I made a shaker card and I need to use some of the sequins I've collected over the past year! lol

On white cardstock, I stamped the streamers in 5 different colors of ink - Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores and Orange Zest.

The balloon is die-cut in Raspberry Fizz cardstock. I die-cut "hooray" in Summer Sunrise cardstock and stamped "hip, hip" on the back panel. Acetate was placed between the layers, held together with foam tape. Before sealing the top, I dumped in a variety of sequins in assorted colors and shapes.

The "65" is die-cut 4 times...3 times in white and once in gold. The sentiment is stamped in black ink. I had too much white showing at the bottom after I placed the balloon on the card and scored 4 lines at the bottom. That sure is a good "filler in" technique!

The panel was placed on a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base. My last steps were adding the balloon string and a few more clear sequins.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Hooray, Big Birthday Wishes
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, White Stampers Select, Gold Luxe Adhesive
• Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Orange Zest; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Shakers Shapes: Balloon, Block Alpha Numbers
• Other:  Sequins; Foam Tape; Acetate
• Size:  5.0 x 7.0"

Happy Birthday...

I think Tulip Time is one set I could never get tired of using! Such a pretty design!

On white cardstock, I stenciled the background with Lovely Lady ink using a Modern Background stencil. The tulips are stamped in Lovely Lady, Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy inks and the leaves in Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks. I used the Misti to make sure the flowers were lined up and stamped perfectly! The sentiment is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink.

I placed the design on a Lovely Lady cardstock card base. A cluster of pink blush sequins was the final touch. I'm very fond of this color combination!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Tulip Time
• Paper:  PTI Lovely Lady, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Lovely Lady, Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Smokey Shadow
• Other:  PTI Modern Backgrounds Stencil; Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Healing Wishes...

I'm still playing with my Color Pop Florals kit! So much fun!

I die-cut the flowers in Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart and Aqua Mist cardstock and stamped them with coordinating ink. The leaves are die-cut in Spring Moss cardstock and also stamped in the coordinating ink.

I placed the die-cuts (a few on foam tape for dimension) on a piece of Soft Stone striped pattern paper, layered on a Berry Sorbet cardstock card base. I followed the design layout from one of the A2 pattern pieces included in the kit.

Healing wishes and the outline around the words is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. I added a bit of glitter to the flowers to finish the card. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Color Pop Florals, Keep It Simple: Surgery, Outlined
• Paper:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Soft Stone Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Smokey Shadow
• Dies:  PTI Color Pop Florals
• Other:  Glitter; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5

Gradient Watercolor Die-Cuts (MIM #251)...

Wow, it's June!! Are the weeks going by faster and faster or is it just me? Here we are with a brand new Make It Monday #251: Gradient Watercolor Die-Cuts hosted by Dawn McVey. Dawn shows us how to create gradient watercoloring on die-cuts.

I used Zig markers to create this look and struggled to color and blend the colors with a water brush like Dawn did...she made it look so easy! Maybe she used a better watercolor paper or has practiced more?? You know that DT is so darn talented with everything!

I picked out 5 Zig markers and scribbled each one on an acetate block, mixing it with a little water. I picked up the color with a brush and swabbed it across the paper, making 5 rows of colors and slightly overlapping them.

I ran the design through the Cuttlebug with my Cover Plate: Horizontal Stripes die. Each stripe was first adhered to a strip of white cardstock and then placed on a white cardstock card base. I stamped the sentiment in black ink.

Too, too plain looking.....so I added a trio of clear sequins to help make it a little more festive. This card looks much better in person - I can't get the lighting right for some reason today!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; 90# Watercolor
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Cover Plate: Horizontal Stripes
• Other:  Zig Markers #41 Light Green, # 40 Green, # 31 Cobalt Blue, #30 Blue, #80 Violet; Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"