Papertrey November 2018 Blog Hop...

Well, it's one month until Christmas.....how did that happen? I haven't been crafting much lately, I'm way behind due to some medical issues. Seeing the inspiration photo had me making a birthday card with a gift on it. That's what I see in the inspiration photo, all of the gifts! My card isn't a Christmas theme, but I think it still works!👍 And green is a Christmas color. lol

I started with a white cardstock card base and added a layer of Lemon Tart polka dots. Next, I pulled out my Wrap It Up die (which I really need to start using more often!) and die-cut the ribbons in solid Green Parakeet cardstock and Green Parakeet White & Basics pattern paper. I used a bit of foam tape to give some dimension to the bow.

Wish Big is die-cut in white cardstock and the little tag in Lemon Tart cardstock, tied with crochet thread to the bow. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Make It Monday Mini Clipsters
• Paper:  PTI Lemon Tart, Lemon Tart Polka Dots, Green Parakeet, Green Parakeet White & Basics, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Wrap It Up, Wish Big
• Other:  Crochet Thread, Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey October 2018 Blog Hop...

Isn't it great to see all the Fall items now? So nice that the cooler weather is here and the hot, humid summer is over.😀 This month's inspiration photo just screams Autumn, doesn't it? And hard to believe, but Christmas is now just 2 months away!

I concentrated on Fall colors for my card and pulled out Doodlie-Do, a set I haven't used for some time. It's always fun to stamp and color the images in this set!

On white cardstock, die-cut with a stitched border, I stamped the flower images and colored them with Copic markers.  The sentiment is stamped with Ripe Avocado ink and the panel adhered to a Kraft cardstock card base.  Just a quick and simple card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Doodlie-Do, It's The Thought
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Ripe Avocado
• Copics:  R32, R37, R39, Y35, YG93, YG95, YG97
• Dies:  Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Rectangles
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey September 2018 Blog Hop...

It's been a while since I made a card, but this month's inspiration photo was so Fall-like that I had to make something!

I concentrated on the Fall colors and the leaves around the pumpkins.  I pulled out Gran's Garden. I started with a white card base and added a layer of Summer Sunrise Bitty Dots. I stamped the flowers and leaves on white cardstock and die-cut them.

The sentiment is on a rectangle of white cardstock. I placed it on fun foam for dimension and arranged the flowers and leaves above it. I wrapped crochet thread at the bottom to fill in some of the space. I don' use orange much but I'm happy with the way this turned out.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Gran's Garden, Congrats: All Ways
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Summer Sunrise Polka Dots
• Ink:  PTI Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Spring Moss; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Gran's Garden; LID Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Fun Foam; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey August 2018 Create Along With Us...

Seeing all the Fall cards the week is making me happy, because I know it won't be long and Fall will be here! And that means cooler weather....yippee! I really like this card Heather Nichols made and it inspired me to make something similar.

I started with a piece of Rustic White cardstock and stamped the wreath twice in Cocoa Bean ink. I added sprigs around it, stamped in Kraft ink.

The pumpkins are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Ocean Tides, Kraft, Cocoa Bean and Morocco ink and placed on foam tape for dimension. The sentiment is also stamped in Cocoa Bean ink.

At the last minute I tied jute around the top of the card. Fun and quick to make!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Pumpkin Patch, Twig Wreath, Keep It Simple: Thanksgiving
• Paper:  PTI Rustic White, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Cocoa Bean, Kraft, Ocean Tides; Memento Morocco
• Dies:  PTI Pumpkin Patch
• Other:  Foam Tape; Jute
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Petite Pattern Play (MIM #332)...

It's time for another Make It Monday! This week Michelle Leone is the host and shows us how we can use some of those tiny stamps in our sets to create fun backgrounds. This was very easy to do and looks great - so it's something I want to use again in the future. You can watch her informative video here:  Make It Monday #332: Petite Pattern Play and try it out.

I die-cut a square from scrap paper to use as my template and stamped the snowflakes in Hawaiian Shores ink. I trimmed the panel, placed it on a piece of True Black cardstock and adhered both to a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base.

The adorable bear is die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with black ink. I added his Hawaiian Shores sweater, just stamping the image on it. He's on foam tape for dimension. The sentiment is also stamped in black ink. I added silver Stickles to the snowflake centers and eyelash glitter around the spine of the card.

Riddle me this: Does making a winter type card, when the heat index is close to 100°, make a person feel any cooler? The answer is a big fat NO.😁  "Only" forty five days until Fall now. 👏

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Warmest Wishes, What The Doodle: Snowflakes
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, True Black, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Warmest Wishes
• Other:  Foam Tape; Martha Stewart Eyelash Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Creating Mixed Background Texture (MIM #331)...

Stephanie Gold is the host for this week's challenge showing us how to combine die-cuts with stamping to add a mix of texture. You can watch her video here: Make It Monday #331: Creating Mixed Background Texture. It's a very simple technique and it does add a little more pizzazz to the card.

I started by die-cutting Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal in white cardstock, cutting off a little over an inch at the top. Before adhering it to the card base, I masked off the top portion and stamped the pineapple leaves in Green Parakeet and New Leaf inks.

In white cardstock, I die-cut the pineapple, flowers and leaves, stamped them in a variety of colors and arranged them on the card front, placing the pineapple and large flower on foam tape for dimension. I used one of the strips from the Cover Plate and stamped the sentiment in black ink. The sentiment is on fun foam for added dimension.

Confession time.😞 After the card was done, I decided to add more leaves in an open space and even though I masked the top of the Cover Plate die-cut, I made a booboo and ink got on the top of it. Instead of redoing the card, I added the strip of Hawaiian Shores cardstock to cover up the mistake. It does help bring out more of the Hawaiian Shores on the card. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Some Like It Hot, The Skinny
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  PTI Green Parakeet, New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Some Like It Hot, Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal
• Other:  Foam Tape; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Repeating The Greeting (MIM #330)...

Another week has gone by and it's now 59 days until the first day of Fall, as I continue my countdown to cooler weather. 👍 For this week's challenge, Make It Monday #330: Repeating The Greeting, Lizzie Jones shows us how easy it is to use the same sentiment several times on a card for a different look. 

I started with a piece of white cardstock and used a stitched edge on it. I stamped the sentiment 3 times in Mint Julep ink and once in black ink, adding a second sentiment underneath.

I feel like I cheated and used a ready made die-cut from Don't Forget To Write, but I was looking at the kit and saw the Mint Julep in the leaves and thought it would be a good match. I adhered it with foam tape and placed the panel on a Mint Julep cardstock card base.

And that was it, the card was done! Simple to do and I really like the look of the repeated greeting!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sentiment Staples: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Mint Julep, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Mint Julep; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Don't Forget To Write Make It Market Kit; MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey July 2018 Blog Hop...

I'm still suffering from the hot weather and that means my lack of ambition continues😒. This month's Blog Hop photo didn't do much for me so I struggled to come up with an idea. I only have one set of fish stamps, and of course I'm now wishing I bought the flora and fauna stamp sets PTI released last month! Oh well, I'll get them later.

Looking at the inspiration photo made me think of a fish traffic jam! lol All those fish trying to get somewhere and bumping into each other, just like cars on the road. I came up with this quick, clean and simple card.

I started with a piece of Spring Rain cardstock and added a section of white cardstock for the sand at the bottom. I stamped a few leafy thingies and starfish along with the sentiment.

Lots of blue in the photo so I stamped the fish in Enchanted Evening and Blueberry Sky, adding a few in Fresh Snow and Berry Sorbet inks. The bubbles are stamped in Spring Rain ink.

I'm not crazy about this card but at least I made something to enter the contest! Oh, it's just 5 months until Christmas! Think cold weather and snow. 👍

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep Swimming, Day At The Beach, Lilies Of The Field
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain, Berry Sorbet, Fresh Snow
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

_____________________________________________________________________________________

⭐⭐ Wow, I was a winner of a $25 Gift Certificate! Thank you PTI!! ⭐⭐

7/26/18 - From the Papertrey Ink Blog:

Creating Stencils From Die Cuts (MIM #329)...

Well, we are halfway through July which is good news because it's getting closer to Fall. I can't stand this constant hot and humid weather we've been having - I don't feel like doing a thing! So I forced myself to go into the craft room and make a card to participate in this week's challenge → Make It Monday #329: Creating Stencils From Die Cuts hosted by Melissa Phillips. Melissa shows us another way to use dies by using the negative as a stencil.

I started by using the die-cut from Cover Plate: Twist and stenciled it on white cardstock with Hibiscus Burst ink. I die-cut the stenciled panel with one of the dies from Mix & Mat: Snowflakes and placed it on fun foam, onto a white cardstock card base covered with a piece of Hawaiian Shores bitty dots pattern paper.

The flowers and leaves are die-cut from Gran's Garden and stamped in Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores and Green Parakeet inks. The flower centers are stamped in black ink. I placed the main flower on foam tape for dimension.

The banner is stamped in black ink - I decided to go crazy (must be the heat getting to me 😎) and placed it on an angle instead of straight. My final step was tying crochet thread around the top.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Gran's Garden, Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dots
• Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Gran's Garden, Mix & Mat: Snowflakes
• Other:  Foam Tape, Fun Foam, Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Enjoy Summer...

I thought I better post this card before the summer is over (which can't happen fast enough for me)! I can't take credit for this design, Lizzie Jones one of PTI's Design Team members made this several years ago when this stamp set was first released. While looking at Popsicle cards on Pinterest, this card came up so I thought I'd make one of my own.

I started with a piece of New Leaf cardstock and stamped the watermelon stripes in Pinefeather ink. Doesn't it make it look like watermelon! I die-cut the Popsicles in white cardstock and stamped the top portion, masking off areas so I could stamp the red and green areas. The sticks are stamped with Kraft ink and the seeds with black ink.

The speech bubble is die-cut in white cardstock, stamped with black ink and placed on foam tape for dimension.

I don't like summer at all, but I do like watermelon!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Summer Sweetness, Watercolor Wonder
• Paper:  PTI New Leaf, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Pinefeather, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Kraft; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Summer Sweetness, Bubble Talk
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Creating Shadow Backgrounds (MIM #328)...

It's time for another challenge! This week Laurie Schmidlin shows us how to create a shadow effect on cards by using outline stamps and light colored ink. You can see her informative video here → Make It Monday #328: Creating Shadow Backgrounds. Every time I need to use an outline stamp, it reminds me I don't have that many outline images! I looked through my stamps and decided to use the car from Enjoy The Ride.

I started by stamping the car outline in Soft Stone ink on white cardstock. I die-cut the car in white cardstock, stamped the outline in black and the solid portion in Tropical Teal ink. I added some additional coloring with Copic markers. I stamped the sentiment (birthday boy) on the main license plate and also on the background cars.

The car is popped up on foam tape. I placed the panel on a Tropical Teal cardstock card base with three edges showing. This is for a friend who complains about his awful commute....doesn't it look like a car in the middle of a lot of traffic?😎

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Enjoy The Ride
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Tropical Teal, Soft Stone; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  T1, 100
• Dies:  PTI Enjoy The Ride
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 5: Symmetry...

Today is the final day! The topic for today is Symmetry, which means positioning your elements mirrored across an imaginary line that divides your project into even segments. Okay, here's my attempt! 

I started with a piece of white smooth cardstock and added the polka dot strips down the sides. I die-cut three mugs, stamped the image in black ink and colored them with Copic markers. I added a snowflake image to them in blue ink. The mugs are on foam tape, centered about one third from the top of the card.

The sentiment is stamped in coordinating blue ink, about one third from the bottom of the panel. I added a little bit of Wink of Stella to the marshmallows for a touch of sparkle.

I completed all 5 days of the challenge! Thanks MFT - it was fun attending Summer School and creating during this heat wave!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Merry Christmoose; PTI Holiday Treats
• Paper:  MFT White Smooth; PTI Blueberry Sky Bitty Dots
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  B41, B45, E50, E74, R29
• Dies:  MFT Merry Christmoose
• Other:  Foam Tape; Wink of Stella
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 4: Complementary Colors...

Can you believe we're on day 4 already! Today's challenge is to use Complementary Colors - those that are opposite each other on the color wheel, i.e. red/green, yellow/purple or orange/blue. I thought making a Christmas card would make me think it was colder outside (ha, like that worked!) so I chose red/green for my colors.

I started by stamping the sentiment (don't you just love the font in Hand Lettered Holiday?) in black ink on a piece of smooth white cardstock. Next, I die-cut the holly in two shades of green and the berries in red and placed them on the panel. I added a strip of green striped paper at the bottom. The panel is adhered to a piece of cherry red cardstock.

The good news is I now have one Christmas card done!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Hand Lettered Holiday
• Paper:  MFT Smooth White, Wild Cherry; PTI Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss Stripes
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Holly Jolly
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 3: Repetition...

Today is all about Repetition and something easy to do! The hardest thing was picking out which image I wanted to use. I haven't used my Kitschy Kitchen set in a while and that bowl was calling my name.

I die-cut five bowls in white cardstock and stamped them in a variety of colors. I took a piece of white cardstock and using a stencil, created the subway tile background. I stacked the bowls and added the sentiment.

The panel is on a Gumdrop Green cardstock card base. This color really does remind me of green gumdrops!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Kitschy Kitchen
• Paper:  MFT Gumdrop Green; PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  MFT Ripe Raspberry, Daffodil, Gumdrop Green, Summer Splash, Orange Fizz; Memento Tuxedo Black; PTI Soft Stone
• Dies:  MFT Kitschy Kitchen
• Tools:  MFT English Brick Wall Stencil
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 2: Primary Colors

Today is about Primary Colors. I knew I was in trouble with this challenge because we had to use  blue, red and yellow only. Yellow is my least favorite color! So I used a slight variation of yellow to make my card.

I started with a piece of white cardstock and stenciled the mini clouds in the background with blue ink. I die-cut the bear and bucket in white cardstock, stamped the images and colored them with Copic markers. The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

After I put the card together I thought the sky needed something else and added the stitched clouds on foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Polar Bear Pals
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG05, R29, Y35, W1
• Dies:  MFT Polar Bear Pals, Stitched Clouds
• Tools:  MFT Mini Clouds Stencil
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 1: White Space...

MFT is having a contest on their blog for a few days and I thought I'd participate. It "forces" me to make a card and take my mind off this HOT weather we're having!

The first day is White Space - creating a card using a lot of white space. Well, I don't like seeing a lot of white on a card, so this was a bit of a challenge for me. 

I die-cut the cat and flower from Meow Mix and colored them with Copic markers. Next, I die-cut a speech bubble and stamped the sentiment in black ink. I took a white panel of cardstock and used Wonky Stitched Rectangles on it and adhered it to a white cardstock card base.

The three items on the card are stacked 3 times for dimension. This sure is a lot of white....I really wanted to add something else but stopped. lol

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Meow Mix
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG13, BG23, E30, E33, R83, Y02, YG23
• Dies:  MFT Meow Mix, Wonky Stitched Rectangles, Speech Bubbles
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Inchie Elements (MIM #326)...

I always like it when Lexi Daly hosts MIM because it's usually something simple to make. And she did it again with this week's challenge Make It Monday #326: Inchie Elements. Lexi shows us how to make a fun card using inchies - remember those from years ago? They were all the rage. I still have my "inchie" punch which came in handy for my card.

I started by punching nine squares in white cardstock. On six of the squares, I stamped sand along the bottom and added a beach item from Day At The Beach. I often think of selling this stamp set, but can't seem to be able to part with it!😊 On the three remaining squares, I stamped the sentiment in black ink. The sentiment squares are stacked 3 times for a little dimension. When assembling the squares, I used a T-Square ruler to help make sure the inchies were perfectly lined up.

The card looked like it had too much white (what is it with me and too much white?😎) so I stamped more sand at the bottom of the card. I added a little glitter to the drink for the "salt" and teal/kraft twine for my finishing touches. Fun way to make a card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Day At The Beach, Sand Swatch, Birthday Classics: April, Birthday Classics: August, Keep Swimming
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Kraft, Harvest Gold, Tropical Teal, Raspberry Fizz, Amethyst Allure, Green Parakeet; Memento Bahama Blue, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  1 Inch Square Punch; T-Square Ruler
• Other:  Martha Stewart Twine; Coarse Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Papertrey June 2018 Blog Hop...

This month's inspiration photo has to be one of my all time favorites! So much color in the photo and those delicious looking Popsicles and fruit make me think, yes, summer is here! I don't like the heat that goes with summer, but I do like the food associated with it!😎 Nothing better than a nice, cold Popsicle or bowl of fruit on a hot, humid day!

I was drawn to the Popsicles and realized I haven't used my Summer Sweetness set for a while. I die-cut the Popsicles in white cardstock and stamped each in a color I saw in the inspiration photo. The sticks are stamped in Kraft ink. I added glitter to each one, giving them a frosty look.

I arranged the Popsicles on a white cardstock card base and stamped the sentiment in black ink. I haven't used my Swoosh stamp set for a long time either! It's always nice to pull out an old set to use. Now I want to make more cards with this set!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Summer Sweetness, Swoosh
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Tart; Memento Tangelo, New Sprout, Lulu Lavender, Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Summer Sweetness
• Other:  Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Flowers In Reverse (MIM #325)...

Time for another challenge! Our host this week is Dawn McVey where she shows us a different way to use flowers and leaves. I have to say I never really considered using all white for my flowers, but after I put this card together I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it! You can watch Dawn's fun video here:  Make It Monday #325: Flowers In Reverse. 

I wanted to have a textured background and embossed white cardstock with the Hexagon Cover Plate. I die-cut the flowers in white and the leaves in Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores cardstock, stamping them with their coordinating ink. I stamped the flower centers in black ink.

I arranged the flowers and leaves on the panel using thin foam tape for dimension on the flowers. The banner is die-cut in Hawaiian Shores cardstock and the sentiment stamped in black ink. I placed the banner on an angle for a different look.....isn't it nice to see it this way for a change?😀

My final step was tying crochet thread around the top, and of course I used white! The abundance of white with the few pops of color and the black ink all worked so well together. I really enjoyed making this card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Gran's Garden, Embroidered Blooms, Bountiful Banners
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Gran's Garden, Beautiful Blooms II #1, Sketched Shapes, Hexagon Cover Plate
• Other:  Foam Tape; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Papertrey June 2018 Create Along With Us...

Do you ever think you have a ton of flower stamps and then try to find one that'll work for your project and realize you actually need more flower stamps?😄 That's what happened when I tried to replicate this simple, but gorgeous card Betsy Veldman made. 

For my card, I picked a flower from Mixed Bouquet. I started by stamping my sentiment in black ink and placed my flowers (sort of) in the same places as Betsy. The flowers are stamped in Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise and the stems in Green Parakeet and New Leaf inks. The centers are also stamped in black ink.

I also used a stitching die around the edges and attached the panel to a white cardstock card base. It was a quick and simple card to make. Not nearly as nice as Betsy's, but a decent attempt.😎 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mixed Bouquet, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Green Parakeet, Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"