Boo To You!...

I think this is my favorite card I made for Halloween this year, I love the colors and the little ghosts and bats flying around.

I started with a white cardstock card base and added a multi-colored, striped piece of pattern paper. I pulled out Take Three, a die I haven't used for ages and die-cut it in Green Parakeet cardstock. The ghosts are die-cut in white cardstock and the faces stamped in black ink. I added their bow ties in Amethyst Allure and Orange Zest cardstock.

The Take Three die-cut is centered on the card with the middle block stamped with black ink and popped up with foam tape for dimension. I added a couple of bats and spider webs die-cut in True Black cardstock. My last step was adding Halloween twine around the top of the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Polka Dot Parade #7
• Paper:  PTI Green Parakeet, White Stampers Select, True Black, Orange Zest, Amethyst Allure; DCWV
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Polka Dot Parade #7, Haunted Headstones, Take Three
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Spider Web Punch
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape

Halloween Doodad...

A friend of mine asked if I would make a doodad this year. I guess I didn't make any last year? I can't remember. I saw these cute boxes on Pinterest and thought they would be easy to make. You can follow the instructions here ⇨ Treat Box Instructions from the Chic'n Scratch blog.

PTI is now releasing double sided paper and it's a nice weight for making the boxes. I followed the instructions in the video to make my boxes, using Bitty Big True Black and Bitty Big Orange Zest pattern paper for the boxes.

The bottles were die-cut in Orange Zest, Smokey Shadow, Amethyst Allure and Green Parakeet cardstock, the labels in white cardstock and the bottle tops in Kraft cardstock. I stamped the sentiments in black ink, adding the blood in Pure Poppy on the largest bottle. The small bottle is on foam tape for dimension.

The candy is in a cellophane bag tied with a twist tie. I added orange or black fun fur and a spider ring to finish the treat boxes.

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wicked Elixir
• Paper:  PTI Bitty Big True Black, Bitty Big Orange Zest, Amethyst Allure, Smokey Shadow, Green Parakeet, Orange Zest, Kraft
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Wicked Elixir
• Other:  Foam Tape; Fun Fur; Spider Ring; Cellophane Bag; Candy
• Size:  4.0" x 3.0"

It's Your Birthday...

I must have been on a polka dot kick because several of the cards I haven't posted yet are covered with them!😊

For this card, I started with a piece of Raspberry Fizz cardstock and stenciled polka dots in Pure Poppy ink. Isn't this a beautiful color combination?

The flower and stem is die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Spring Moss, Summer Sunrise and Orange Zest inks. I placed the flower on foam tape for dimension.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink on a die-cut made with the Fabulous Frames die and is on foam tape for additional dimension. I added marigold twine and a few clear sequins to finish the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie Step 2, Ways To Say: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Rosie Posie, Fabulous Frames
• Tools:  Heidi Swapp Stencil
• Other:  Twine; Sequins; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Matting With Glitter (MIM #301)...

The weeks are going by so fast and it's already time for another MIM Challenge! This week Lizzie Jones shows us how to use glitter mats to add some sparkle to our projects. You can watch her work her magic here →→ Make It Monday #301: Matting With Glitter.

On a white cardstock card base, I added a layer of grey and white pattern paper from the Tinsel & Tags paper collection. I knew I wanted to make a Christmas card and selected the horse and carriage from In The Meadow.  I die-cut the image in True Black cardstock 3 times and glued them together. I adhered it to a piece of white cardstock, cut to 2.5" x 5.5" and stamped the sentiment in a medium grey ink.

Since I don't have the adhesive sheets Lizzie used, I improvised using scor-tape. I cut another piece of white cardstock 1/4" larger than my main panel and added 1/8" scor-tape on each side. I sprinkled sterling glitter on it, making sure it was firmly adhered to the tape. I placed the main panel on top and now it looks like there's a complete layer of glitter underneath the image! A fun, wintery looking card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI In The Meadow
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, True Black, Tinsel & Tags
• Ink:  Versafine Smokey Grey
• Dies:  PTI In The Meadow
• Other:  Martha Stewart Glitter; Scor-Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey October 2017 Blog Hop Challenge...

Well, the countdown is on - it's just 2 months until Christmas! Don't you think this year has gone by way too fast? I certainly do!

This month's inspiration photo had a lot of things to choose from, but I wanted to go really simple and focused on that single leaf in the second photo on the top row.

I die-cut my leaf in Ripe Avocado four times, stamping one with Olive Twist ink. The leaves are glued together for dimension. On a piece of Rustic White cardstock, I stenciled a portion of it with Spring Moss ink. If I didn't do this, it would have looked like too much of a white background. The sentiment is stamped in Olive Twist ink.

I used a paper distresser (haven't used it in ages!) around the panel to rough it up a little. I placed the panel on an Olive Twist cardstock card base. A simple and quick card to make.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Autumn Hills, Leaf Prints
• Paper:  PTI Olive Twist, Ripe Avocado, Rustic White
• Ink:  PTI Olive Twist, Spring Moss
• Dies:  PTI Leaf Prints
• Tools:  PTI Modern Backgrounds Stencil; Tim Holtz Paper Distresser
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Halloween...

Halloween is just a week away now. I have to admit it's not my favorite holiday of the year, I don't like the colors associated with it. But what I do like is those bags of mini-sized candy bars that are on every shelf in the grocery stores!😄

I die-cut the bottles in white cardstock and stamped them with Amethyst Allure, Orange Zest and Green Parakeet inks. I die-cut the labels in Soft Stone cardstock and stamped the sentiments with black ink. For the bottle top, I die-cut it in cork to make it more realistic.

The bottles are on a white cardstock card base and on foam tape for dimension. I added a strip of Orange Zest stripes at the top and bottom and stamped the sentiment in black ink.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wicked Elixir, Keep It Simple: Halloween
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Orange Zest Stripes, Soft Stone
• Ink:  PTI Amethyst Allure, Orange Zest, Green Parakeet; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Wicked Elixir
• Other:  Foam Tape; Cork
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hope Your Birthday is Unforgettable...

It's been a while since I've use this cute elephant from WPlus9. I needed to make a birthday card for a friend who also bought the MFT Snow Globe kit and I thought I'd send her a shaker card using the kit.

I stenciled the clouds in Hawaiian Shores ink on a piece of white cardstock and die-cut the dome opening. I rubbed green ink on the bottom and stamped a few grass blades to create a grassy area. The elephant is die-cut in white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. His little hat is stamped  in Hawaiian Shores ink on white cardstock.

I placed the elephant on top of the grassy area, added clear, turquoise and silver star sequins and placed the dome shaker pouch on top. Then I placed the cloud stamped panel on top of everything, adding a strip of Hawaiian Shores at the bottom of the dome.

I stamped the sentiment in black and added white crochet thread at the top. MFT sure has made it easy to make shaker cards and I plan to make many more!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  WPlus9 Unforgettable
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  R20, W1, W3
• Dies:  WPlus9 Unforgettable; MFT Snow Globe Kit
• Tool:  MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil
• Other:  Sequins; Crochet Thread; MFT Dome Shaker Pouch
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Build-A-Wreath (MIM #300)...

I wasn't going to participate in this week's challenge but I was looking through my Christmas stamps and found Sprig Wreath and decided to make a card after all. This week's challenge is hosted by Melissa Phillips and is all about making wreaths. You can see her video here:  Make It Monday #300: Build-A-Wreath.

I didn't want to use traditional colors for my wreath, and Melissa seems to use soft, pastel colors quite often. I die-cut the wreath in white cardstock and stamped it first with Spring Moss ink, and then added Simply Chartreuse ink to the branch edges. It's so easy to re-stamp images now thanks to the Misti!

I die-cut some additional branches and pinecones in white cardstock, stamping the branches in Simply Chartreuse and the pinecones in Berry Sorbet, instead of a traditional brown. The wreath is on foam tape on a white cardstock card base, with the sentiment stamped in the middle in Berry Sorbet ink.

The branches and pinecones are on foam tape for added dimension. To finish the card, I added a coordinating strip of Holiday Plaid paper on the left side, glitter to the branches and white crochet thread at the top.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sprig Wreath
• Paper:  PTI Holiday Plaid, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Berry Sorbet
• Dies:  PTI Sprig Wreath
• Other:  Glitter; Foam Tape; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Trick or Treat...

Halloween is less than 2 weeks away! Why is it that the last 3 months of the year seem to go by so fast?

For this card I wanted to use clear texture paste again. Laurie Schmidlin used it on black cardstock for one of her cards and I thought it looked great, so I'm copying her idea for my background.

Using a polka dot stencil, I spread the texture paste on True Black cardstock and let it dry. I die-cut Text Block: Halloween in purple cardstock and added a piece of Orange Zest Stripes behind it. The panel is on fun foam for dimension.

I die-cut a few bats and added green jute around the top.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI True Black, Orange Zest Stripes; Recollections
• Dies:  PTI Text Block: Halloween, Haunted Headstones
• Other:  Heidi Swapp Polka Dot Stencil; Jute; Clear Texture Paste; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Love...

The Leaf & Sprig Frame die cuts out 5 frames all at once, so I had a bunch of them leftover since I only used one on a previous card. It's too bad this die doesn't cut out the frames individually.

I placed two of the leftover frames, die-cut in white card stock, on a Raspberry Fizz card stock card base. I added the word "love" and the heart, also die-cut in white card stock. 

Keeping with the white theme, I tied white crochet thread around the top.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, White Stampers Select
• Dies:  PTI Leaf & Sprig Frame, Inspired: Love, Wonderful Words: Love
• Other:  Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sentiment Windows (MIM #299)...

I'm always happy when the MIM challenge is something that doesn't make me think too much. Dawn McVey is the host this week and shows us how to stamp a sentiment in a die-cut window which becomes the focal point of your card. You can watch the video here ↪ Make It Monday #299: Sentiment Windows.

I pulled out Christmas Prints and placed a layer of it on top of a white card stock card base. I used a rectangle nestability to cut my opening in the card and stamped the sentiment in Blueberry Sky ink.

I added a few snowflakes (that hang partially in the window) and fun fur (snow = fun fur to me!) around the top and the card was done. This was certainly simple enough to do and a technique that should be used more often!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI In The Meadow
• Paper:  PTI Christmas Prints, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Blueberry Sky
• Dies:  PTI Winter Penguin; Large Standard Mega Rectangle Nestability
• Other:  Fun Fur
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

World Card Making Day 2017: Make & Mail...

Challenge 4:  Make & Mail - "Make a card. Mail a card. Do it now and don’t delay."

I knew the perfect card for this challenge using the Kitschy Kitchen set! It's just about time to start thinking about what type of Christmas cookies to make this year, and my baker friend and I get together to discuss what we're planning to make and any new recipes we want to try. "Happiness is homemade" is our motto! 😊 I'll be sending this as a reminder for us to set up our "baking appointment".

I started with a piece of white card stock and used a light grey ink with the English Brick Wall stencil to give the kitchen a brick wall background. I die-cut the shelf in Smokey Shadow card stock and each of the canisters in white card stock. 

The canisters are stamped with Ripe Raspberry, Summer Splash and Bubblegum inks and placed on the shelf with foam tape for dimension. I stamped the sentiment and canister labels in black ink. The panel is on a Ripe Raspberry card stock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Kitschy Kitchen, You Bake Me Happy
• Paper:  MFT Ripe Raspberry; PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  MFT Ripe Raspberry, Summer Splash, Bubblegum; PTI Soft Stone; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  MFT Kitschy Kitchen
• Other:  MFT English Brick Wall Stencil; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

World Card Making Day 2017: By The Numbers...

Challenge 3:  By The Numbers - "Create a card that features a number in a prominent way."

Since this is the 3rd challenge, I decided to make a 3rd birthday card using the Polar Bear Pals set. I started with a panel of white card stock, die-cut with Wonky Stitched Rectangles. Can you tell I really like these dies - I seem to use them all the time!

I die-cut the bear in white card stock, stamped him in black ink and colored his scarf with Copics using a favorite color combination - Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart and Green Parakeet. His cheeks have just a touch of pink. I placed the bear in the corner on foam tape for dimension.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink, with the 3 in the middle, die-cut in Hawaiian Shores card stock three times, stacked and glued together. The balloons are die-cut using the Heart Shaped Balloon in the same coordinating trio of colors and are placed on the end of balloon strings. I placed the panel on a Hawaiian Shores card stock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Polar Bear Pals, PTI Retro Style Birthday Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Green Parakeet, Soft Stone
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG23, R20, Y21, YG25, W1
• Dies:  MFT Polar Bear Pals, Heart Shaped Balloon, Wonky Stitched Rectangles; PTI Block Alphabet Numbers, Balloon Strings
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

World Card Making Day 2017: Die-namics Designs...

Challenge 2:  Die-namics Designs - "Create a card that features 100% die cutting."

Making a card that just uses dies is harder to do than it sounds. At least for me. Every time I came up with an idea, it involved some sort of stamping. Then I remembered my new Snow Globe Kit and thought it would be fun to make a tag using this set.

I used Kraft card stock for the tag and die-cut a circle in light blue for the background. Next, I die-cut the snowman in white card stock, adding his eyes, buttons, nose and arms. The scarf is die-cut in a navy blue polka dot pattern paper.

The snowdrift is die-cut in white card stock and the snowman placed behind it. I die-cut a few trees and added diamond dust before placing the circle shaker pouch on top, adhered with scor-tape. I placed another layer of Kraft, die-cut with a circle opening over the shaker and attached them together.

Thanks to MFT's quick shipping, I received my October order today, just in time to use the new Merry Christmas Circle Frame around the shaker. To finish the tag, I added Midnight Blue Twine through the top.

Project Details:

• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Spring Rain, Orange Zest, Dark Indigo, White Stamper's Select, Cocoa Bean, True Black, Bitty Dots
• Dies:  MFT Merry Christmas Circle Frame, Snow Globe Kit; PTI Tag Sale: Quilted
• Other:  MFT Circle Shaker Pouch; Twine; Diamond Dust; Scor-Tape
• Size:  3-5/8" x 4.0"

World Card Making Day 2017: ROYGBIV...

Today is World Card Making Day and MFT has four challenges we can enter today.

Challenge 1: ROYGBIV - "create a card featuring the rainbow — either a literal rainbow or, by simply integrating the colors of the rainbow into your design in any way you see fit."

How many people had to look up to see what the colors of the rainbow were? 😁 

I started by die-cutting the cute mugs from the Merry Christmoose set. Using Copic markers, I colored each one using a color of the rainbow, adding red to each for the peppermint sticks. I stamped the snowflake image on the mug with a coordinating ink color. The mugs are on foam tape for dimension and on a panel die-cut with Wonky Stitched Rectangles. The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

I placed the finished panel on a white card stock card base, covered with a layer of yellow striped paper to complete my rainbow.

Card Details:

• Stamps: MFT Merry Christmoose, Santa's Elves
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Lemon Tart Stripes
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Grape Jelly, Northern Pine, Paris Dusk, Morocco
• Copics:  B45, E50, E74, G24, R20, V15, Y38
• Dies:  MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles, Merry Christmoose
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Faux Epoxy Embellishments (MIM #298)...

Betsy Veldman is the host for this week's Make It Monday #298: Faux Epoxy Embellishments, where she shows us how to use die-cuts and embossing powder to make faux looking embellishments. I think I tried this several years ago, but it's always nice to have a refresher course!

I picked the dove from Christmas Faith, die-cut it in Vintage Cream card stock and stamped it with Pure Poppy ink. I brushed Versamark ink on top, sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and melted it. I repeated this process two more times. I die-cut the dove 2 more times and stacked and glued them together. 

On Kraft card stock, I stamped the branches along the left side in Olive Twist, Spring Moss and Prairie Grass inks. The string and sentiment are stamped in Dark Chocolate ink. I mixed white paint with a little water and flicked it on the panel, with the intent to make it look like falling snow.

I used the To The Point Edgers on the panel and placed it on an Olive Twist card stock card base. The star is die-cut in gold foil and is stacked on top of two die-cuts for dimension. To finish things, I added some jute around the top of the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Christmas Faith, Holiday Greens
• Paper:  PTI Olive Twist, Kraft, Vintage Cream, Luxe Gold Adhesive
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Olive Twist, Prairie Grass; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Christmas Faith, To The Point Edgers, Star Scribbles
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Jute; White Paint; Embossing Powder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Have A Frankentastic Halloween...

Halloween isn't that far away now and it always seems like the last 3 months of the year go by so fast!

I can't take the design credit for this card, it's very similar to something Betsy Veldman made when this kit was first released. It's cute so I thought I'd use her idea and change it up just a bit.

I started with a white card base and added a layer of striped, brightly colored pattern paper. I die-cut the journal card in white card stock and rubbed a little bit of green ink on it.

The Frankensteins were die-cut using the pattern paper included in the kit and adhered to the journal card. I added their hands on a bit of foam tape for dimension. The tag is also die-cut from pattern paper and is tied to the journal card with Honeydew twine.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Make It Market Mini Kit: Halloween Pin-Ups, White Stampers Select, DCWV
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters Distress
• Dies:  PTI Make It Market Mini Kit: Halloween Pin-Ups, Journal Card #5
• Other:  Foam Tape; Twine
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Autumn Greetings...

Well, some cool air has finally made it's way here and it feels wonderful! The weekend actually felt like Fall, but it'll be short lived as the temps will go up above normal the second half of the week.😞

I started by stamping the log, hedgehogs and pumpkins in black ink. I masked off about 1/3 of the card and colored the ground by rubbing Spring Moss ink on it, around each of the already stamped images. I added the blades of grass with Simply Chartreuse ink. The images are colored with Copic markers.

For the sky, I used a cloud stencil and rubbed it with Hawaiian Shores ink and a make up brush. I stamped the sentiment in Cocoa Bean ink.

The sky area was too empty looking so I die-cut the tree twice, once in Spring Moss cardstock and once in Kraft cardstock and slightly overlapped them. The panel was placed on a Cocoa Bean cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Sunny Studios Woodsy Creatures, WPlus9 Unforgettable
• Paper:  PTI Cocoa Bean, White Stampers Select, Spring Moss, Kraft
• Ink:  PTI Cocoa Bean, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  E13, E19, E23, E25, E50, G82, YG67, YR07, YR15
• Dies:  Memory Box Twiggy Tree
• Other:  MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"