You're A Star...

I'm back to using my favorite color trio again (I did give it a break for a little while lol). This is a cute little stamp set I got for free with my Fun Stampers Journey purchase. 

On white cardstock I stamped the stars in Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet and Harvest Gold inks. The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

I placed the panel on a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base flush against the left and top. A few sequins and the card was done!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Fun Stampers Journey Star Marquee
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, Harvest Gold; Versafine Onyx Black
• Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

With Deepest Sympathy...

I made this card a while ago when I first received the Spring Woods stamp set. Another nice stamp featuring birds.

On white cardstock I lightly rubbed Aqua Mist to create the sky background. I stamped the branches in Kraft ink, the flowers in Lovely Lady ink and the leaves in Spring Moss ink.

I die-cut the bird in white cardstock and stamped it in Ocean Tides, Kraft and Dark Chocolate inks, placing it on foam tape for dimension. The sentiment is stamped in Kraft ink.

The panel is adhered to an Ocean Tides cardstock card base with the edge showing on the right.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Spring Woods
• Paper:  PTI Ocean Tides, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Lovely Lady, Hibiscus Burst, Spring Moss
• Dies:  PTI Spring Woods
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Wishing You The Coolest Birthday Yet...

Time to relax after a very busy SAF weekend and the Blog Hop yesterday! It's been a couple of fast and fun-filled days, that's for sure!

It's still very hot here, in fact, should be around 100 degrees today. I'm so tired of this hot weather and can't wait for cooler days. Here's a quick card I made to help beat the heat! lol

On white cardstock I stamped the popsicles and drips in Berry Sorbet, Limeade Ice and Summer Sunrise inks, adding the sticks in Kraft ink. The sentiment is stamped in black and Berry Sorbet inks.

I rounded the bottom corners and added glitter to the popsicles to make them look "icy".

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Summer Sweetness
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Limeade Ice, Summer Sunrise, Kraft; Versafine Onyx Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey July 2016 Blog Hop Challenge...

I really like this month's photo - it has a nice selection of colors, shapes and flowers to use as inspiration! When I look at it, I see Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist and Soft Stone colors, the Quatrefoil rug, flowers and leaves on the pillow. This was an easy one for me to get ideas!

On white cardstock, using a make-up brush and Soft Stone ink, I lightly brushed the ink on the negative from the Quatrefoil Cover Plate.

The flowers are die-cut from the new Some Like It Hot set and stamped with Pale Peony and Berry Sorbet inks, with the centers stamped in Lemon Tart and black inks. The leaves are from Lovely Layers, stamped in Aqua Mist and Tropical Teal inks. (It looks like leaves to me on the pillow.) I placed a few of the flowers on foam tape for dimension.

Wonderful is die-cut in Berry Sorbet cardstock three times, stacked and glued together. I added the additional sentiments stamped in black ink. To finish the card, I added glitter to the flowers and white crochet twine tied around the card top.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Some Like It Hot, It's The Thought, Mistletoe & Holly, Birthday Classics: February
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Berry Sorbet
• Ink:  PTI Soft Stone, Pale Peony, Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Some Like It Hot, Lovely Layers, It's The Thought, Cover Plate: Quatrefoil
• Other:  Foam Tape; Glitter; Crochet Twine
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Farewell...

I can't believe SAF is over already and it's time for the final challenge - to "show off" what we made during SAF. I'm happy to say over 2 days I participated in all 9 challenges this year! I did learn from last year and paced myself a little better to give my back a break! What I need to do for next year is to focus on being more prepared (I said this last year too lol). Yep, that's right, I'm planning for SAF 2017!

Once again, I have to thank PTI, Nichole, the fabulous Design Team (Amy, Ashley, Betsy, Danielle, Dawn, Erin, Heather, Kay, Laurie, Lexi, Lizzie, Maile and Melissa) for another successful SAF. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time and work it takes to put SAF together, but please know we all appreciate everything you do to make this happen!! It's a weekend I look forward to every year!

Here's a look at my nine "masterpieces" (you can read about each individual card in the posts below) and my annual little message to the PTI family:

Stamp-A-Faire: Colorblocking...

Wasn't colorblocking popular in the 80s? I'll admit when I first saw this technique I wasn't crazy about it, only because I'm not really a fan of colorblocking. But making this card turned out to be a lot of fun and something I'll use it again in the future. Our challenge - "create a project featuring some kind of color blocking".

Using a nestability, I die-cut each of the blocks in Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart, Hawaiian Shores and Pure Poppy cardstock and placed them on a piece of True Black cardstock. The coffee cups are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with colors that coordinate with the cardstock (thank goodness for the Misti!)

I placed the panel on a white cardstock card base and stamped the sentiment. This was a quick and easy card to make!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Heart-2-Heart #1, Shapes By Design
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart, Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select, True Black
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart, Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Heart-2-Heart #1; Standard Rectangle Nestabilities
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Watercolor Like A Master...

This is another video I was anxious to see because Kay Miller does beautiful watercoloring! I can never seem to master this technique, but watching the video sure helped. We were asked to "create a project that features watercoloring". I try to use different stamp sets than the DT uses, but this card was so pretty I just had to try it myself. I did use different color inks!

On watercolor paper, I stamped the mums in Tropical Teal and Aqua Mist inks, putting both inks on the stamp at the same time. The leaves are stamped in Spring Moss ink. I added a few little loose leaves in Tropical Teal ink. After the panel was stamped, I took a paintbrush with water and softened all the edges and spreading the ink. It didn't look that great until it started to dry. I flicked on splatters with Tropical Teal and Spring Moss inks.

I placed the "artwork" on a Tropical Teal cardstock card base, rounding the right hand corner. The sentiment is stamped in black ink on Aqua Mist cardstock and on fun foam for dimension. I think this is my favorite card I made for SAF!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mum's The Word, Beautiful Butterflies
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, Aqua Mist; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Tropical Teal, Aqua Mist, Spring Moss; Versafine Onyx Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Pointillism...

To be honest, I never saw this technique done before so was delighted to see Heather's video. Our challenge is to "create a project using some form of pointillism". I don't know what made me think to use this Christmas set, maybe my brain saw pointillism and thought of poinsettias? lol

I stamped the flower in Versamark ink on white cardstock, sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat set it. Next came the fun, filling in the flower with dots. I tried to use a pencil, but apparently old, dried up erasers don't like ink. Then I found an older stamp set, Over Under Easy that had 3 polka dots in it that worked perfectly. I stamped the flower in Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy inks with Harvest Gold and Summer Sunrise inks in the center.

I fussy cut the flower and placed it on foam tape onto a stitched rectangle cut from Fresh Snow Linen cardstock. The sentiment is stamped in Pure Poppy ink and the panel is adhered to a scalloped Pure Poppy cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Year of Flowers: Poinsettias, Over Under Easy
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Fresh Snow Linen, Pure Poppy
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Noted: Scalloped A2 Die Collection
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Mastering Drips & Splatters

This challenge, to "use drips and splatters to create your own background for a project" sure was fun to do! It was nice to see a variety of different ways to add splatters/drips to a project. And I'm glad Lizzie suggested wearing gloves if we used yarn because it was a bit messy!

I found a piece of yarn and dipped it in Lemon Tart reinker, mixed with a bit of water. I randomly dropped the inky yarn on watercolor paper in several spots. Next, I flicked on splatters of Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy inks.

I placed the panel on a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base. For the sentiment, I cut a piece of Hawaiian Shores cardstock, stamped it in black ink and adhered it to the card on fun foam. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Lemon Tart, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy, Green Parakeet; Versafine Onyx Black
• Other:  Yarn; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Masterpiece Inspirations...

Nichole posted several artwork pieces that we could select from for this challenge, which is to "use one of the inspiration pieces that the team selected as a jumping point for your own piece of art". The one that spoke to me was Melissa Phillips' choice because it had a pineapple in it, and I've been wanting to use the pineapple from the new Some Like It Hot stamp set. Here's the inspiration photo:

I die-cut two pineapples in white cardstock and stamped them with Harvest Gold and Summer Sunrise inks, and the leaves in Green Parakeet and New Leaf inks. I just love the detail on the pineapple! I die-cut several leaves and stamped them in the same green inks.

I placed a piece of Ombre Stripes paper on a white cardstock card base and stamped the sentiment in black ink. I arranged the pineapples and leaves on the panel (the left pineapple is die-cut 3 times and stacked for dimension). For a bit of color, I added three little flowers stamped in Pale Peony and Berry Sorbet inks. A little glitter on the pineapples leaves finished the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Some Like It Hot, Topiary Trio
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Ombre Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Green Parakeet, New Leaf, Pale Peony, Berry Sorbet; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Some Like It Hot
• Others:  Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Floral Impressionism

Onto the next challenge - this one is "use your paper crafting supplies to create an impressionistic look". I struggled with this challenge - first I don't have a lot of stamps with layers and second, I don't really know how to create a romantic looking card. So I did my best with this one. After playing around with several stamp sets and ink colors I was able to complete a card.

I used Friendly Flowers and die-cut two large flowers in watercolor paper and stamped them with Pale Peony ink. Next I added that dotted layer, stamping it with Versamark, sprinkling it with white embossing powder and heat setting it. I repeated the embossing one more time. With a waterbrush, I applied Berry Sorbet ink to the flower centers. 

The leaves are also die-cut and stamped on watercolor paper and embossed as above. I didn't add any additional ink color to them. I stamped the flowers centers with black ink.

On a piece of white cardstock I stenciled the background using Pale Peony ink. I arranged the flowers and leaves, placing one flower on foam tape for dimension. I stamped the sentiment in black ink and adhered the panel to a Pale Peony cardstock card base. I don't think this looks impressionistic or romantic..... lol

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Friendly Flowers, It's The Thought, Rosie Posie Step 2
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Pale Peony; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Pale Peony, Berry Sorbet, Green Parakeet; Versamark; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Friendly Flowers, Friendly Flower Extras
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  PTI Modern Background Stencil; Zing Embossing Powder; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Gilded In Gold...

The next challenge is to "create a project featuring an element that you have gilded with gold". I didn't have any gold leaf so decided to use gold embossing powder. 

I placed my stencil over white cardstock and rubbed Versamark ink on it. Next, I sprinkled it with gold embossing powder and heat seat it. I placed that panel on a Pure Poppy cardstock card base, leaving the edge showing on the right.

On a stitched rectangle, I stamped the sentiment in Pure Poppy ink. The rectangle is on fun foam for a bit of dimension.

Nothing better than making a Christmas card when it's 98 degrees out!  lol (This card looks better in person - I can't get good lighting today.)

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Seasons Greetings
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy; Versamark
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Other:  PTI Modern Backgrounds Stencils; Zing Embossing Powder; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Starry Night...

This is the challenge I was looking forward to the most - "create a starry night sky background". Amy Sheffer makes it look so easy to create a night sky, but as usual for me, things are not as simple as they appear. It took me several tries to create a sky that I thought looked decent. I think the answer is practice and once SAF is over, I'll take another stab at this. I did find using the smoother side of the paper was better than the rougher side.

On watercolor paper using a blending tool, I rubbed on Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Pale Peony, Aqua Mist, Winter Wisteria and Mint Julep inks (same colors as Amy). Next, I spritzed it with water and added additional colors with ink and water (at this point it didn't look so great). After I dried it with my heat tool, I flicked white paint splatters on it with a small brush.

The headstones are die-cut in Soft Stone cardstock and stamped with coordinating ink. I stamped the sentiments in black ink. The ground is die-cut in True Black cardstock with the headstones adhered on foam tape for dimension. Happy Halloween is stamped in black ink on a strip of Soft Stone cardstock and placed on fun foam.

The panel is on a white cardstock card base. I added a few silver stars and the bats to finish the card. Once it was completely done I was much happier with the way it looked! This dark and creepy looking sky is perfect for a Halloween card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Haunted Headstones, Keep It Simple: Halloween
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Soft Stone, True Black; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Pale Peony, Aqua Mist, Mint Julep, Winter Wisteria; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Haunted Headstones, In The Meadow
• Other:  Fun Foam; Foam Tape; Star Sequins; White Paint
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Master Color Recipes

The first challenge of the day is "use one of the color recipe cards provided in the Masters Sketchbook" (available by download here on Nichole's blog). I decided to go with the Green Wheat Field by Vincent Van Gough. This doesn't seem too difficult for the first challenge of the day at 7:00 a.m., does it?

On white cardstock, I stamped each of the colors using the stamp from Brushed Off. Next, I cut out each of the letters three times in True Black cardstock, stacked and glued them together. 

I placed the panel on fun foam and adhered it to a white cardstock card base. I thought this was going to be easy, but my creative juices don't appear to be awake yet -- it took me longer than I thought to come up with this CAS card! lol

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Brushed Off
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, True Black
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Vintage Jadeite, New Leaf, Green Parakeet, Bright Buttercup
• Dies:  PTI Block Alpha Upper
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Share Your Masterpiece...

Tonight is the kick off of PTI's annual Stamp-A-Faire (SAF) day. It's hard to believe a year has gone by already! I'm looking forward to seeing what the fabulous Design Team has in store for us - just looking at the previews has me excited about learning some new techniques! There will be lots of challenges and contests and, of course, the chance to win prizes!!

The first contest is "share a project you are most proud of". Hmm.....I had to think long and hard about this one. I decided to go with a card I made for the June 2015 Blog Hop because I thought I did a really good job matching my card to the inspiration photo.

Here's the inspiration photo:

And what I created:

You can read my full post about how I made the card and the supplies used here.

Hooray...

It's been a while since I used this stamp set - so cute for little kids birthday cards.

On white cardstock I stamped the rabbit in black ink and colored it with Copic markers, outlining the image with a light grey. I stamped Hooray and the sentiment in black ink.

The streamers are stamped in Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush and Aqua Mist inks. I rounded the corners of the panel and placed it on fun foam before adhering it to a card base covered with a pink, pinstripe pattern paper. I really like the way this turned out - simple and cute!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Hooray, Good Times; Stampin' Up Cheerful Critters
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Amuse Petite Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  R20, R22, W1
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Spritzed Stamps (MIM #256)...

This week's Make It Monday #256: Spritzed Stamps is a technique that's been around, but Melissa Phillips gives it a fresh look by suggesting the use of watercolor paper and using a few ink colors on your stamp before stamping. I've done this before but never used watercolor paper and I really like the look of it!

Using a piece of watercolor paper, the flowers were stamped by first inking the stamp and then spritzing it with a bit of water. I used Bright Buttercup and Summer Sunrise inks for the large flowers, with Dark Chocolate centers. Next, I added the stems and leaves in Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks, again with the spritz method.

For additional color, I stamped a few smaller flowers in Aqua Mist ink. The sentiment is stamped in black ink. My last step was running the panel through my die machine using a stitched rectangle. I placed the panel on a white cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Painted Petals, Tulip Time
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangle
• Other:  Water
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday...

I hope the stencil trend never goes away because I really like using them on everything!

On white linen cardstock, I rubbed Lovely Lady ink on a stencil to create the design for the background. I stamped the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink.

I die-cut the flowers and leaves from Color Pop Florals. The larger flower is rubbed with Hibiscus Burst ink and stamped with Raspberry Fizz ink in the center. The smaller flower is rubbed with Lemon Tart ink and stamped with Harvest Gold ink in the center. The leaves are rubbed with Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks. The flowers are on foam tape for dimension.

I placed the panel on a Lovely Lady cardstock card base, leaving a little bit of the cardstock showing at the bottom.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Color Pop Florals, Think Big Favorites #13
• Paper:  PTI Lovely Lady, Fresh Snow Linen
• Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Lovely Lady, Smokey Shadow
• Dies:  PTI Color Pop Florals
• Other:  PTI Modern Background Stencil; Foam Tape; Dauber
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

National Ice Cream Day...

Today is National Ice Cream Day - it's the third Sunday of every July, a holiday declared in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan to help promote the economic well-being of the U.S. dairy industry. Sounds like a great holiday to me...and what's more refreshing on a hot day than some ice cream! I know I'll be celebrating!!

I die-cut the background panel in white cardstock using Wonky stitched rectangles - I love the uneven stitching this die creates! Next, I die-cut the cone stamping it in Kraft ink, and two scoops of ice cream, stamping them in Raspberry Fizz and Summer Sunrise inks. Before adhering the ice cream cone with foam tape, I splattered some ink on the panel in the same colors as the scoops.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink. The panel is on fun foam and adhered to a white cardstock card base, covered with a striped orange pattern paper. To finish things off, I added a little glitter to the scoops.

I had so much fun making the card that I decided to make another one in different colors. This time the scoops are stamped with Limeade Ice and Hawaiian Shores ink.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sweet As Can Be
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Recollections Paper Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Limeade Ice, Kraft; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Sweet As Can Be; MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Fun Foam; Foam Tape; Glitter; Paintbrush
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Joys Of Summer...

I can't name too many joys of summer right now with temps in the 90s - other than air conditioning!!  It's just too hot to do anything! I was looking through my wood stamps the other day and came across my Lockhart stamps and this one that I never used. I picked this sentiment for the card because swimming is a joy of summer to many people (although maybe not putting on a bathing suit! lol)

The image is stamped in black ink on a stitched rectangle and colored with Copics. I placed the rectangle on fun foam and adhered it to a white cardstock card base with a layer of polka dot pattern paper.

I tied a bit of crochet thread around it and it was done. Not much effort at all!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Day At The Beach; Lockhart 3 Bathing Suits 
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Amuse Petite Polka Dots
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Copics:  BG10, BG13, BG15, R5, R27, Y6, YG11, YG13, YR15, W1
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Other:  Fun Foam; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Just A Note...

I really haven't used my Don't Forget To Write kit very much yet - and I keep seeing all these cute little note cards being made with it.

The card base is die-cut in Berry Sorbet cardstock - I really like the small scalloped edge on this with the stitching! Next, I took a piece of white cardstock and stamped stripes on it with Lemon Tart ink. The frame is die-cut in white cardstock with the edges stamped in Berry Sorbet ink and placed on foam tape for dimension.

Note is die-cut in Mint Julep cardstock. I added the little flower cluster, stamped in Summer Sunrise and Mint Julep inks and sprinkled it with a bit of glitter.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Don't Forget To Write, Reasons To Smile, Watercolor Wonder
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Berry Sorbet, Mint Julep
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise, Mint Julep; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  Don't Forget To Write
• Other:  Foam Tape; Glitter
• Size:  3.75" x 3.75"

Big Birthday Wishes...

Isn't this whale from PTI cute? Hmm, can a whale be described as cute? lol 

I started by embossing the waves with clear embossing powder on white cardstock. With a dauber, I rubbed on Stormy Sky and Tumbled Glass inks to create the water.

The whale is die-cut in white cardstock, stamped with Enchanted Evening ink and placed on foam tape. Each of the fish are die-cut in colored cardstock, stamped in Enchanted Evening ink and also on foam tape.

I added the water spout and the sentiment in Enchanted Evening ink. I splashed a bit of water on the panel with a brush before adhering it to a white cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep Swimming, What The Doodle: Waves; Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, Green Parakeet
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Tim Holtz Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass Distress; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Keep Swimming
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Foam Tape; Water
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Praying For You...

I saw this color combination on someone's blog, but unfortunately I don't remember who it was. I really liked it and decided to use it myself.

Using a stencil, I rubbed Melon Berry ink on the butterflies. The next layer is stamped with Enchanted Evening ink and the center stamped in black ink.

I stamped the sentiment in Enchanted Evening and added splatters in Melon Berry ink. The panel was adhered to a Melon Berry cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Color Pop Butterflies; Keep It Simple: Praying For You
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Melon Berry
• Ink:  PTI Melon Berry, Enchanted Evening; Versafine Onyx Black
• Tools:  PTI Color Pop Butterflies Stencil
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday...

I made this card a while ago but just gave it to the recipient  - I didn't want to post it here before she got it! This is another attempt using Altenew's Peony Bouquet, but this time with watercolor, which was easier to do than lining up the stamps!

On watercolor paper, I stamped the outline of the flower in white embossing powder and heat set it. Using Zig markers, I colored in the flower with violet and the leaves in grey, using different amounts of ink for shading.

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added the splatters made with grey ink and a little water. At the last minute I decided to add stitching to the card and ran the panel through the Cuttlebug with a stitched rectangle. The panel was adhered to a white cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Botanical Silhouettes; Altenew Peony Bouquet
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  Amuse Seattle; Versafine Onyx Black; Versamark
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zig Markers (80 Violet, 91 Light Grey); Zing Embossing Powder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

String Art Using Die-Cuts (MIM #255)...

This week's Make It Monday #255: String Art Using Die-Cuts is hosted by Amy Sheffer. This technique reminded me of the "Spirelli" trend from about 10 years ago. Luckily, I never got rid of my Spirelli punches and threads and they sure came in handy for this week's challenge. Don't they say if you wait long enough a trend will repeat? lol

I punched out the sun in Lemon Tart cardstock and wrapped gold, metallic thread around it. On white cardstock I stamped the sand in Kraft ink. Next, I masked around the edges of the card and the sand with washi tape, since I wanted a nice white border to show. Using a make-up brush, I lightly brushed on Aqua Mist ink for the sky. Let me just say that using a make-up brush to get a soft background is the way to go! I learned about this technique from Betty Wright who posted pictures of the brushes and where to buy them on her blog - Crafting With Betty. Thank you Betty!

Once the background was done, I added the umbrella in Raspberry Fizz ink, the flip-flops in Hawaiian Shores ink and the shells in Kraft ink. I stamped the sentiment and a few birds to help fill in the sky.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Day At The Beach, Sand Swatch, Birthday Classics: June, Splits: Get Well Soon; Lawn Fawn Happy Summer
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Lemon Tart
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, Kraft; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies: Spirelli 
• Other: Sulky Metallic Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"