Welcome, little one!

I was looking through the PTI archives and saw a card similar to this one that Nichole made.  I thought it was really cute!  I used Spring Rain cardstock for the card base and topped it with a layer of Vintage Cream that I stamped with Mehndi Medallion stamps in light green.  The elephant was diecut and stamped with blue ink.  I adhered the elephant to a Mat Stack 1 diecut, stamping the border and adding the pearls and sentiment.  I wrapped blue ribbon around the card and added a small heart tag with twine.

I also made one in pink using Sweet Blush cardstock:

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mehndi Medallion, Tiny Tags, Sweet Baby, Mat Stack 1 Collection, Hanging Out
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, Sweet Blush, Vintage Cream
• Tools:  PTI Mat Stack 1 Die, Tiny Tags Die, Sweet Baby Die
• Other:  Ribbon, Pearls, Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

2nd Birthday

I really like this bear - so cute for a child's card!  I used white for the card base and layered it with pink, white and a green/pink patterned paper.  The bear is stamped and colored with Copics; I added the hat cut with light green paper and topped with a pink pompom.  The bear image is mounted on pink and popped up on foam squares.

I stamped the balloons onto light green paper, cut them out and added the sentiment.  I placed them on foam squares and attached Blossom twine for the strings.  I diecut "reese" in pink and adhered them with coaster for support.  My final steps were adding the 2 to the balloon, tying the ribbon and adding the gems on the right hand side.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Beary Special; Inky Antics Birthday Elephant
• Paper:  DCWV; Me & My Big Ideas
• Tools:  Labels One Nestabilities; PTI Block Alphabet Numbers Die, PTI Block Alphabet Die Collection
• Other:  Coaster, Copics, Twine, Ribbon, Gems
• Card Size:  5.25" x 5.25"

sending birthday wishes (CAS #2)

This is another quick card to make.  I used white for the card base and added a layer of  Raspberry Fizz.  Next I took a piece of white cardstock and ran it through the Cuttlebug with a doily die, embossing the die into the cardstock (instead of cutting it out).  I punched two butterflies, cut with coordinating pattern paper, adding 2 small black gemstones in the middle of each.  I stamped the sentiment onto a banner strip and adhered it to the card with foam tape.  Easy!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Everyday Button Bits
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, White Stamper's Select, Raspberry Fizz Mix
• Tools:  Cheery Lynn French Pastry Die; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch; PTI Double Ended Banners Die
• Other:  Taylored Expression Gemstones
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thinking Of You Get Well

I got the idea for this card on Pinterest - what a great place to find ideas!  I used Fine Linen cardstock for the card base, layered it with Pure Poppy cardstock and Happy Spots pattern paper.  I stamped the teacups, "feel better" teabag and "thinking of you" sentiment onto a tag diecut made with Vintage Cream.  I added Kraft twine through the label hole.

But, look what you see when you open it!  There's a "tissue box" inside, complete with a tissue, made with a strip of paper that's scored.  Isn't this an adorable idea?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Tea For Two, Tea For Two Additions, Communique Curves
• Paper:  PTI Fine Linen, Pure Poppy, Happy Spots, Vintage Cream
• Tools:  PTI Tag Sale #1; Tag Trio Nestabilities; Scor-Pal
• Other:  Twine, Tissue
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You!

This is the flower box die that coordinates with the window card posted on March 8th.  I used Lemon Tart for the card base and added a layer of Hibiscus Burst.  The flowers were stamped onto white, with the middle flower stamped onto a diecut flower and raised with a foam square.  I used a black Glaze pen on the flower centers and a distresser around the edges of the white cardstock.  I diecut the flower box with a polka dot yellow pattern paper and adhered it to a piece of coaster diecut.  The finishing touch was the button laced with Pink Sorbet twine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Flower Fusion #4, Flower Fusion #12
• Paper:  PTI Lemon Tart, Hibiscus Burst, White Stamper's Select, 2008 Bitty Dot Basics
• Tools:  PTI Flower Fusion #12 Die; Poppystamps Flower Box
• Other:  Twine, PTI Lemon Tart Button, Distresser, Glaze Pen
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

70th Birthday

I cannot believe I'm posting this card for my friend's 70th birthday!  I used Aqua Mist for the card base and layered it with a blue/green pattern paper.  I cut a rectangle of blue-green cardstock and topped it with white cardstock, cutting the corners with an inverted corner rounder.  The cake is made with diecuts from coaster and then topped with the matching pattern paper.  I stamped the candles and sentiment, coloring the flames with Copics.  The 70 was also diecut first with coaster and covered with the matching blue-green paper.

I put square brads in the corners and mounted the rectangle onto foam squares. The presents were diecut first with coaster, covered with cardstock, I added the round brads and mounted them on foam squares.  I think the black brads bring all the black in the card together.  Happy 70th Birthday Denis!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Make A Wish
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist; Me & My Big Ideas; Bazzill; DCWV
• Tools:  PTI Make A Wish Die, Block Alphabet Numbers Die; Inverted Corner Rounder
• Other:  Brads; Copics; Coaster; Foam Squares
• Card Size:  5.5" x 5.5"

• Use What I Have:  Haven't used the Make A Wish stamp set for a long time, and of course, using up some more brads!

Daffodil Birthday

Daffodil is the flower for March.  The card base for this is Kraft, layered with polka dot pattern paper; both are edged with tea dye ink.  I stamped the daffodil onto Vintage Cream and colored it with Copics.  I stamped the sentiment, rounded the corners and added a bit of glitter to the daffodil center.  I edged around the cream with the tea dye ink and mounted it onto a piece of Ripe Avocado cardstock.  My last step was adding the sheer ribbon tied in a bow.  Happy Birthday Debbie!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Year of Flowers:  Daffodil, Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado, Happy Spots
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Martha Stewart Glitter; Ribbon
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

• Use What I Have:  I've had the daffodil stamp set for over a year and never used it!

Love & Marriage

I saw an anniversary card very similar to this on Nichole's blog.  I used Vintage Cream for the card base, layered it with black cardstock and a worded pattern paper.  The listed names are all one stamp and I added the "you and me"; all stamped onto Vintage Cream and layered onto another piece of black cardstock.  I diecut the hearts and placed them diagonally on the card, adding two pearls in the center hearts.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Love & Marriage
• Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy; Me & My Big Ideas
• Tools:  Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities, PTI Heart Border Die
• Other:  Pearls
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

birthday wishes

I've been seeing this window die all over and had to get it!  And I have to give a shout out to the place I ordered it from - it's called Absolutely Everything.  I was referred to them by one of the ladies on the PTI Forum and I have to say, their customer service and shipping is fantastic!  I ordered the window dies (also ordered one for my "enabler" friend Jill...) late on a Friday afternoon and had them in my hands the following Monday!  They also sent me a couple free goodies with my purchase!  I will definitely buy from them again.

For this card I used Lemon Tart for the card base and ran it through the Cuttlebug using a Linen & Canvas Impression Plate.  I cut a piece of white and lightly sponged it with blue ink for the sky.  Next I stamped the leaves, stamping once with a fully inked stamp and then again without re-inking.  I stamped the yellow berries and the dragonfly.

I used a piece of acetate for the window, adhering it to the diecut with Scor-tape.  I tied Lemondrop twine around the window sill and mounted the window onto 3d foamies; the last step was adding the sentiment.  I have since received a coordinating window box die and will be making another card with both dies soon.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Harvest Berries, Places Please, Up, Up & Away
• Paper:  PTI Lemon Tart, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  Poppystamps Grand Madison Window Die; PTI Linen & Canvas Impression Plate
• Other:  Twine, Acetate
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Office Happy Birthday

I was asked to make a card that was "office related" with Spring-like colors.  I used white for the card base and topped it with an orange/yellow flower pattern.  I used ledger paper (that my mom gave me and is about 50 years old!) and diecut it with a spiral notebook die.  I stamped the list of "things to do" on it, adding a bullet in front of each one.  I mounted the notebook onto a piece of Pure Poppy cardstock and added the brads in the corners.

Using Lemon Tart cardstock, I made a file folder using a Sizzie die.  I stamped "Mar 6" on the folder tab and happy birthday on the front, diecut the recipient's name and wrapped a bit of twine around it.  Next, I made the tickets, stamping them with the designs and sentiments and stapled ribbons onto them for tabs.

The card still needed something, so I added the buttons.  These were plain buttons that I sprayed with adhesive glue and sprinkled glitter onto them to make "glitter buttons", a new technique I just learned from Nichole's blog.  I also added the curly paperclips as the final touch.  This was a fun card to make!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Just The Ticket, Gracious Vases, Vintage Picnic Sentiments, A Day At The Beach, It's A Celebration, Flower Fusion #9, Take Note, Postmarks
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart; Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety
• Tools:  PTI Just The Ticket Die, Spiral Notebook Die, Block Alphabet Dies; Sizzix File Folder Die
• Other:  PTI Orange Zest Buttons, Martha Stewart Glitter, Ribbon, Mini Stapler, Curly Paperclips, Brads, Twine, Ledger Paper
• Card Size:  5.5" x 5.5"

• Use What I Have:  Obviously the ledger paper, some of the stamps I haven't used for a long time, and the Sizzix die, mini stapler and curly paperclips haven't been used for a few years.

With Sympathy (CAS #1)

Often handmade cards have so much detail on them.  I always see crafters making CAS (Clean and Simple) cards - and sometimes less is better.  So recently I've been making my own CAS cards, and have really enjoyed making quick cards that don't require a lot of steps (and are much easier to mail without all the embellishments!).  I will be posting more CAS cards in the future.

For this card, I used white cardstock for the card base and stamped it with the flowers from Lace Bouquet, stamping in 2 different colors of green ink.  I stamped the sentiment, added the butterfly, the pearls on the smaller flowers and the butterfly center.  That's it and the card was done!  Simple, but pretty.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Lace Bouquet, Botanical Silhouettes
• Paper:  PTI White Stamper's Select; Anna Griffin
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
• Other:  Pearls
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Just Thinking Of You

I made this card for a PTI contest from a few weeks ago and didn't get a chance to post it in time.  I used Kraft for the card base, rounded the bottom corners and edged around it with white ink.  I added a layer of Ocean Tides and a scalloped square of Dark Chocolate; I pierced the scallops.  The bird image was a free download from PTI; there were a number to choose from to use on your card.  I added pearls in the corners and tied it with ribbon and a flower. This was a cute and quick card to make.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Oceans Tide, Dark Chocolate
• Tools:  Scalloped Square Nestabilities; Corner Rounder; Paper Piercer
• Other:  Ribbon, Flower, Pearls
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"