Mask & Stack (MIM #313)...

Betsy Veldman made the cutest card for this week's challenge - Make It Monday #313: Mask & Stack. I'm sure there will be a run on that adorable Cat's Meow stamp set! I don't do much masking, but it's really easy to do and gives a nice effect.

Since Easter is right around the corner, I decided to used the bunny from Polka Dot Parade #1. I die-cut some of the bunnies to use as a mask like Betsy did in her video, but found when I used the mask there was too much white showing around the bunny. I ended up stamping and cutting the bunnies out by hand to make the masks and used repositionable tape to hold them down.

I used two shades of purple for the bunnies and stamped them on white cardstock. For the sentiment, I used a Keep It Simple Frame, adding Amethyst Allure cardstock on the outer frame, and placed it on foam tape. I die-cut the tails in white cardstock and placed each one on foam tape. The panel is on a Lilac Grace cardstock card base with just a thin edge showing on the top and right hand side. I did this for last week's MIM and liked the look so did it again!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Polka Dot Parade #1
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Amethyst Allure, Lilac Grace
• Ink:  PTI Amethyst Allure; Memento Lulu Lavender, Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Polka Dot Parade #1, Keep It Simple Frames
• Other:  Foam Tape; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Papertrey February 2018 Blog Hop...

It's time for PTI's Blog Hop again and this month's photo inspiration is a sure sign that Spring is right around the corner! We had a few days of Spring-like weather this week, but now the temps are back to normal. It won't be long and I'll be complaining about the hot weather!😄

From the photo, I immediately saw the green and blue colors, the flowers, eggs and rabbit. I just received my February order yesterday and thought the new Egg Stripes set would be perfect to use for my card.

I die-cut the egg in Fresh Snow Linen cardstock and stamped the stripes in Versamark ink. I added white embossing powder and heat set it. Next, I took Green Parakeet ink and rubbed it on top, adding a bit of New Leaf ink to the edges.

The flowers are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Harvest Gold, Lovely Lady, Spring Rain and New Leaf inks, with black marker added to the centers. The rabbit is die-cut three times in white cardstock and stacked together. I stamped the image in black ink adding pink to the ears and nose with Copic markers. Three small pompoms were used for his fluffy tail.

To bring out more of the blue, I die-cut a speech bubble in Spring Rain cardstock and stamped the sentiment in black ink. The speech bubble and the blue flower are on foam tape for dimension. I placed the panel on a Green Parakeet cardstock card base.

The card looked like it had too much background so I added the Loop de Loop border die-cut in gold cardstock, which coordinates with the gold wrapped eggs in the photo. My final touch was adding a little glitter on the flowers.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Egg Stripes, Hippity Hoppity, Bitty Bouquets
• Paper:  PTI Green Parakeet, Fresh Snow Linen, Spring Rain, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Harvest Gold, Lovely Lady, New Leaf, Spring Rain, Green Parakeet; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
• Copics:  R81, R83
• Dies:  PTI Big Egg, Hippity Hoppity, Bitty Bouquets, Loop de Loop, Speech Bubbles
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Glitter; Pompoms; Foam Tape; Embossing Powder; Black Marker
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy 90th Birthday...

How many times do you get to make a card for a 90th birthday? I think I've only done it once before - such a milestone!

I started with a Soft Stone cardstock card base and added a layer of blue and grey pattern paper. The white panel is die-cut with Wonky Stitched Rectangles and the sentiment at the bottom stamped in black ink.

The 90 is die-cut in Blueberry Sky cardstock, three times and stacked together. I added the "th" die-cut in the same pattern paper as the background. For "happy birthday" I die-cut the banners in Soft Stone cardstock using Building Blocks and placed them on fun foam for dimension.

The white panel is also on fun foam. I don't have to worry about the thickness of the card since it will be hand delivered.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Offbeat Birthday, Birthday Basics
• Paper:  PTI Soft Stone, Blueberry Sky, Argyle Socks, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Building Blocks, Suffix Style; Stampin' Up Large Numbers Framelits; MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Framing Sentiments & Images (MIM #312)...

Thank goodness for PTI challenges - it's the only thing that's getting me motivated to craft right now! This week Laura Schmidlin shows us a fun way to use frames around sentiments in this week's video that can be viewed here ⇒ Make It Monday #312: Framing Sentiments & Images. Are we all thinking about Spring weather about now? I know I am and wanted to make a Spring-like card.

On white cardstock I stamped my sentiment in black ink. I masked it off and used a snow stencil and Berry Sorbet ink to create the background. I was thinking about doing splatters but thought this would work out just as well. I placed the Keep It Simple Frame, die-cut in Berry Sorbet cardstock around the sentiment.

The bouquets were die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with New Leaf, Green Parakeet, Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy inks. The large bouquet is die-cut 3 times and stacked together for dimension. I placed the panel on a Berry Sorbet cardstock card base showing thin edges on just two sides.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Beautiful Berries: Spring
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Berry Sorbet
• Ink:  PTI New Leaf, Green Parakeet, Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Beautiful Berries: Spring, Keep It Simple Frames
• Other: Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow Stencil
• Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

PTI 11th Anniversary Celebration - Day 10...

Day 10 Challenge:  Stripes - Use some sort of stripes in your project.

Well, it's been all about simple for me the last few cards I made, and I didn't change that for this card either.

I placed a piece of Black & White All Over striped pattern paper on a white cardstock card base. I die-cut the hearts using Limitless Layers: Hearts in Pure Poppy and Lovely Lady cardstock, placing foam tape on red heart. I picked these colors because Valentine's Day is fresh in my mind right now. 😃

The banner is die-cut in white cardstock, stamped in black ink and on foam tape for additional dimension. The card looked plain so I tied red thread around the bottom.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Love & Marriage
• Paper:  PTI Black & White All Over, Lovely Lady, Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Limitless Layers: Hearts, Fabulous Frames
• Other:  Foam Tape; Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Valentine's Day...

I've been so caught up in the PTI Anniversary celebration that I forgot I had something to post for today! I didn't make any Valentine cards this year, I just wasn't in the mood, but I did make a doodad!  Remember those hearts PTI had in their big January 2017 sale? Well, I bought a bunch of them and this is what I made.

I took the tin and wrapped pattern paper around the bottom and the lid. I die-cut the two hearts on top, stamped the sentiment in black and placed them on foam tape. I wrapped ribbon around the bottom tied in a bow. Of course I had to fill it with something and used red and silver Hershey Kisses! These really turned out cute!

I forgot to take a picture of all of them completed...these are pictures I quickly took on my phone to send someone. The pictures aren't that bad! 😍

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Tiny Treats: Valentine
• Paper:  DCWV; Recollections
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  Standard & Scalloped Heart Nestabilities
• Other:  PTI Heart Tins; Ribbon; Candy; Foam Tape
• Size:  2.0" x 2.5"

PTI 11th Anniversary Celebration - Day 8...

Day 8 Challenge:  Color Combo - Use one of the color recipes posted by the Design Team.

As soon as I saw this one by Laurie Schmidlin, I knew I was going to use it. I like seeing all these bright colors together!

I wanted to make a simple card and die-cut a banner in each of the colors. I placed them in an uneven pattern on a white cardstock card base and stamped the sentiment in black ink.

That's it! No sequins, no thread, no foam tape. It doesn't get any easier than this - I didn't even have to think about which colors to use!😄

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Birthday III
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Harvest Gold, Green Parakeet, Hawaiian Shores, Amethyst Allure, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Sketched Shapes
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI 11th Anniversary Celebration - Day 7...

Day 7 Challenge: Use Only Dies Not Stamps - Make a project using dies only - no stamps allowed!

This must be one of the simplest ways to make a card because I was done with this one in no time. Perhaps stamping makes us think too much?

I placed a piece of Soft Stone Bitty Dots pattern paper over a white cardstock card base. Next, I die-cut the gift box in Hawaiian Shores Stripes. The bow is die-cut in Hawaiian Shores cardstock with thin foam tape between each of the layers.

I die-cut Celebrate twice in white cardstock and glued them together. To finish things off, I added white crochet thread and clear sequins. I need to make more simple cards like this in the future!

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Shores Stripes, Soft Stone Bitty Dots, White Stampers Select
• Dies:  PTI Wrap It Up, Good Times
• Other:  Sequins; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI 11th Anniversary Celebration - Day 5...

Day 5 Challenge: Retirement List - Use a stamp set from the 2018 Retirement List on your project.

I have mixed emotions when PTI publishes their retiring stamps list. Sad to see so many favorite sets go away, but happy knowing it's to make room for new, fresh stamps to purchase.

I pulled out an old favorite, Year Of Flowers: Violets. On white cardstock, I stamped the flowers and leaves in Versamark, sprinkled them with white embossing powder and heat set them. Next, with a dauber, I rubbed on Lilac Grace, Amethyst Allure, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse and Lemon Tart inks. To add some interest, I didn't try to keep the ink inside the lines. The little dots were made with a black marker.

For the sentiment I used the Keep It Simple Frames die, stamped it with Smokey Shadow ink and placed it on fun foam for dimension. The panel is adhered to a Lilac Grace cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Year Of Flowers: Violets, Year Of Flowers: Carnations
• Paper:  PTI Lilac Grace, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Lilac Grace, Amethyst Allure, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Smokey Shadow, Lemon Tart; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Keep It Simple Frames
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other: Embossing Powder; Fun Foam; Black Marker
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI 11th Anniversary Celebration - Day 4...

Day 4 Challenge: Florals - Pull out your favorite floral sets and create!

I wanted to pull out a set I haven't used in a while and the lucky winner was the Make It Market Kit: Garden Gate. What a wonderful kit - I wish I would use it more often!

I started with a white cardstock card base and stenciled the lattice work in Aqua Mist ink. The garden gate is die-cut in white cardstock and backed with a piece of Aqua Mist cardstock. I stamped the top of the gate in Smokey Shadow ink.

The flowers were die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Green Parakeet, Amethyst Allure, Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet, Harvest Gold and Summer Sunrise inks. I added some additional coloring/shadowing to the leaves with a green Copic marker. I had so much fun creating these flowers!

The sign is die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Amethyst Allure and Smokey Shadow ink. The top flowers are on foam tape for dimension. I tied white sheer ribbon in a bow around the card front and added a bit of glitter to the flowers.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Make It Market Kit: Garden Gate
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist
• Ink:  PTI Green Parakeet, Amethyst Allure, Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Smokey Shadow
• Copics:  G82
• Dies:  PTI Make It Market Kit: Garden Gate
• Other:  Ribbon; Fun Foam; Glitter
• Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

PTI 11th Anniversary Celebration - Day 3...

Day 3 Challenge: Transformation Tuesday -  Take a card you've made in the past and transform it in some way. 

Old Version: I made this card sometime last summer and never liked it and it's been sitting here ever since, so this is a perfect card for me to transform! I watercolored the background with a few colors. Happy Birthday is die-cut in white and black cardstock and layered for a shadow effect. I added a layer of black cardstock over a white card base and some splashes of black paint.

New Version: I decided to go with different colors and use pattern paper for the background. I placed a piece of green Ombre Stripes paper over a white cardstock card base. Happy Birthday is die-cut in gold adhesive paper and adhered to a piece of vellum, die-cut with a scalloped circle.

The balloons were die-cut in Simply Chartreuse cardstock and adhered with foam tape for dimension. I attached white crochet thread for the strings and tied them with a bow. To make the card a little more festive looking, I added a bunch of gold star sequins. I'm much happier with this look and it's a little trendier with the gold.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Ombre Stripes, Simply Chartreuse, Luxe Gold Adhesive
• Dies:  PTI Birthday Style, Shaped Sayings: Birthday, Scene It: Basic Backer
• Other:  Crochet Thread; Foam Tape; Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI 11th Anniversary Celebration - Day 1...

Another year has gone by and it's time to participate in PTI's Anniversary Celebration! It's hard to believe it's been 11 years...seems like it was just yesterday when I first heard about this new stamp company.

Day 1 Challenge: Anniversary Sketch - Create a project using one of the Design Team's Sketch Recipes.

I picked the sketch from Lizzie Jones. I like how she used the Cover Plate as the background and just added a few flowers and sentiment on a strip of paper.

I started with a white cardstock card base and added the Cover Plate: Hexagon on top, also cut in white cardstock. I cut a strip of white cardstock and stamped the sentiment in black ink. To help bring out the colors in the flowers, I added a layer of Pure Poppy cardstock behind it.

The tulips are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Scarlet Jewel, Simply Chartreuse and Ripe Avocado inks. I placed each of them on thin foam tape for a bit of dimension. This was a really easy design to do!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Tulip Time, Keep It Simple: Sympathy
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Pure Poppy
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Scarlet Jewel, Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Tulip Time, Cover Plate: Hexagon
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Using Different Types Of Papers (MIM #311)...

I think most of us just use cardstock or patterned paper when we make cards. This week Stephanie Gold challenges us to use different types of paper in the video Make It Monday #311: Using Different Types Of Paper. I haven't been crafting much, sort of lost my mojo right now, so I struggled to come up with an idea.

I started with a white cardstock card base and added a layer of Hawaiian Shores cardstock, scored every 1/2 inch. I added a layer of silver foil and white cardstock, die-cut with Mix & Mat:Snowflakes.

The two banners are die-cut in vellum and Aqua Mist cardstock. I stamped the sentiment on the right in black, fully inked and the sentiment on the left without inking up the stamp again to give it a shadowy look. The banner is on foam tape for a little dimension.

And what would a winter card be without some white fun fur?😃

It was really hard taking a picture without me or the camera reflecting in the foil! This is the best I could do.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI On Ice
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist; Recollection Silver Foil Cards; Vellum
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Mix & Mat: Snowflakes; MFT Fishtail Flag Frames
• Tools:  Scor-Pal
• Other:  Foam Tape; Fun Fur
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"