Christening

There are a lot of uses for this Nestabilities cross set and I used two of them to make these girl and boy Christening cards.  I used Sweet Blush/Spring Rain for the card base, rounding the bottom corners.  I ran a piece of white through the Cuttlebug, using my Window Pane embossing folder, and again rounded the bottom two corners.

Next I cut out two crosses and layered them on top of each other; the top one is on foam tape for dimension.  I added four pearls to the top cross and tied sheer, white ribbon around the bottom.  A simple card to make but looks very elegant.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI Sweet Blush, Spring Rain, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  Crosses Two Nestabilities; Window Pane Cuttlebug Embossing Folder; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Pearls; Ribbon; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Enjoy Your Special Day

I have a new favorite stamp set - Natural Beauties - this was a free set PTI offered on their Stamp-a-faire day with a $100 purchase. The flowers on this set are so delicate looking with lots of shading and dimension.  I've been using it like crazy!

For this card, I used Hawaiian Shores for the card base and stamped the two sizes of the main flower in turquoise gem ink and the leaves in aloe vera ink.  The flower centers and little flowers were stamped in cantaloupe ink.  I stamped the sentiment in black.

The card looked fine to me but then I thought adding a few butterflies would add a nice touch to the card.  The butterflies were made from the punch outs from my Martha Stewart border punch.  I added a small gem to the center of each to complete the card.  Love this set!!!!!!!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Natural Beauties, Beautiful Butterflies
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Butterfly Border Punch
• Other:  Gems
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Banner Birthday

I haven't used this stamp set for a long time so it was time to dust it off.  I used Pure Poppy cardstock for the card base.  I stamped the banners and the sentiment on white rustic cardstock and ran it through the Cuttlebug with my Linen Impression Plate.  I rounded the corners on the bottom.

Next, I stamped additional banners in matching inks on a separate piece of white paper.  I cut them out and adhered them to every other banner on the card, placing foam tape underneath to give the card a bit of dimension.  Without doing that, the card seemed a little too blah to me - I like it much better this way! 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI It's A Celebration, Think Big Favorites #12
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, White Rustic
• Tools:  PTI Linen Impression Plate; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

• Use What I Have:  Haven't used It's A Celebration for a long time

Just Wanted To Say Hello

My friend's daughter is away at camp and she asked me if I would send her a card while she's there so she gets some mail.  I just bought this "telephone" stamp set and thought it would make a cute card for her. 

I used Simply Chartreuse for the card base and added a layer of telephone pattern paper, rounding the bottom corners. My friend (thank you Jill!!!!) gave me this telephone paper a while ago and it goes perfectly with the telephone stamp set!

I die cut the spiral notebook page and stamped the paper clip and sentiment onto it.  Next, I die cut the telephone, stamped it in green and red inks and adhered it with foam tape.  I added a piece of Charcoal twine for the phone cord.  For my last step, I placed the notebook page onto another piece of Chartreuse paper and added a gem to the phone dial center.  I think it turned out pretty cute!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Heart-2-Heart #4, Take Note
• Paper:  PTI Simply Chartreuse; Jillibean Butter Beans
• Tools:  PTI Heart-2-Heart #4 Die, Spiral Notebook Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Twine, Gem
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Multi Happy Birthdays

I was looking at all the scrap paper I have and decided to use some of it for part of this card.  I used Kraft for the card base and added a layer of polka dot pattern paper, rounding the right hand corners.  I die cut a bunch of colored cardstock using my Tag Trios die, and then randomly stamped them with "happy" or "birthday". 

I arranged the die cuts on the card in no particular pattern....I just wanted to make sure the colors looked okay together.  I added Caribbean Twine on the spine and the star to complete the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Paper Tray
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Tart, Winter Wisteria, Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Orange Zest, Hibiscus Burst, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Kraft, Happy Spots
• Tools:  Corner Rounder; Stampin' Up Small Star Punch; Tag Trios Nestabilities
• Other:  Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sending Prayers (CAS #15)

I love the color combinations of this card!  I used New Leaf for the card base and added a layer of black.  The leaves are stamped twice on white cardstock - once fully inked, and once where I stamped off the excess ink on a separate piece of paper, and then stamped over the original leaves to create a "shadow look".  I rounded the corners and adhered it to the card.

I added the sentiment and a few butterflies stamped in cantaloupe ink.  To finish the card, I added crystals to the butterfly centers.  Easy to make but looks elegant.

Card Details:  

• Paper:  PTI New Leaf, White Stamper's Select; Recollections
• Stamps:  PTI Turning A New Leaf, Beautiful Butterflies
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Gems
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Christmas In July!

Hard to believe Christmas is just 5 months away.  It reminds me that snow and cold weather will soon be here.  Snow I can do without, but I'm looking forward to much cooler weather!

I used Kraft for the card base and added a layer of red.  The stamped images are on Rustic White cardstock.  I stamped the light strings first, added the branches, stamping them in 3 shades of green and then added the red lights.

I stamped the sentiment in light brown to match the Kraft and added a few gold stars to help fill in the blank areas. Next, I edged around the card in antique linen distress ink to give it more of a vintage look.  I thought the card needed "something else" so added a little bit of glitter to the middle of each light.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Holiday Lights, Stylish Sentiments: Holiday, Take A Bough
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Rustic White; The Paper Company
• Other:  Martha Stewart Glitter, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

• Use What I Have:  Bought this set last September and never used it

Happy Summer Birthday

It's still hot here but getting closer to Fall everyday.  I thought this made a cute, summer birthday card.  I used Lemon Tart for the card base and added a layer of multi-striped pattern paper.  I used Card Edgers on the bottom to give it a scalloped look.

The popsicle is made from a paint chip!  I keep saying you can't throw anything away anymore!  I cut the paint chip, added a real popsicle stick to the back of it and adhered it to the card.  I wrapped some pink, sparkly ribbon around the stick and added the sentiment. 

This card was made mostly from "recyled" items.  The popsicle sticks came from my grandmother - she had a huge box of them.  The paint chips courtesy of Home Depot.  And the ribbon was wrapped around something I ordered from a craft website.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Bash Sentiments, Mailbox Greetings
• Paper:  PTI Lemon Tart; DCWV Spring Fling & Summer Days
• Tools:  PTI Card Edgers #4
• Other:  Ribbon, Popsicle Stick, Paint Chip
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

SAF: Handmade Embellishments Challenge

The challenge was to create custom embellishments from one of the posted videos.  I chose Dawn's because she used butterflies, and well, I like butterflies.

I used Dark Chocolate for the card base and added a layer of ivory patterned paper from Chocolate Remix.  I die cut two different butterflies using Dark Chocolate and Sweet Blush pattern papers.  I layered them on  top of each other and added a Sweet Blush button threaded with Flax twine.

I die cut Mat Stack 1 from Sweet Blush and stamped it in brown and added the sentiment from Framed Out #1.  I adhered the die cut to the card.  Looking at it, it was too plain to me so I added more twine around the middle, tying it in a bow.  I think that completed the card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mat Stack 1 Collection, Framed Out #1
• Paper:  PTI Sweet Blush, Dark Chocolate, Pink Patterns, 2008 Bitty Box Basics, Chocolate Remix
• Tools:  PTI Beautiful Butterflies Die, Mat Stack 1 Die
• Other:  PTI Sweet Blush Button; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

SAF: Tie-Dye Techniques Challenge

The challenge was to choose one of three techniques.  I chose Nichole's - "Marbleized" tie-dye.  Believe it or not, you use shaving cream to create this technique!  You can find the 3 techniques videos here.

I spread shaving cream on a cookie sheet, about 1/2" thick.  I used Pretty In Pink and Summer Sun reinkers, letting the ink drip randomly over the shaving cream and then stirred the shaving cream in circles, using the end of a paintbrush.  Next, I laid a piece of white cardstock directly on top of the shaving cream, making sure the front side of the cardstock was completely immersed in the shaving cream.

I carefully lifted the cardstock off the shaving cream, turned it over and scraped off the shaving cream with an expired gift card (I don't throw anything away anymore! lol).  Once the shaving cream was cleared off, I had this really nice, marbleized pink and yellow effect!  Who thinks up these things???

I used Hibiscus Burst for the card base and cut my design to 3-3/4" x 5.0".  I used my Filigree Border die to cut a strip in Lemon Tart and placed it over the design.  Next,  I die cut a scalloped square, piercing the scallops.  I stamped the sentiment on a Lemon Tart square, adhered it to the scalloped square and placed it on foam tape for dimension.  My last step was adding white ribbon on the spine.  Fun technique - a little messy, but a nice looking card that also smells good!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Framed Out #1
• Paper:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  PTI Filigree Border Die; Standard & Scalloped Square Nestabilities; Paper Piercer
• Other:  Stampin' Up Pretty In Pink, Summer Sun Reinkers; Shaving Cream; Ribbon
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

SAF: Limited Supply Challenge

I thought this was going to be tough to do as we could only use a limited supply of items - 1) a floral stamp set, 2) White, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist and Simply Chartreuse cardstock, 3) Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dot ribbon and 4) Simply Chartreuse buttons.  Luckily the only item I didn't have was the ribbon!  But we could also add twine, glitter or use dies.  Whew!

I used Hawaiian Shores for the card base and added a layer of Aqua Mist cardstock.  I stamped the pattern background by using Flower Fusion #12 and Harvest Berries and adhered it to a piece of Simply Chartreuse cardstock, cut with Card Edgers #4.  I placed this on top of the Aqua Mist cardstock.

I stamped "in my prayers" onto a double ended banner made with Aqua Mist cardstock, cutting off the tail on one side so it lined up with card.  I added a button and some Honeydew twine to complete the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Flower Fusion #12, Harvest Berries, Gracious Vases
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Simply Chartreuse, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  PTI Double Ended Banners, Card Edgers #4
• Other:  Twine, PTI Simply Chartreuse Button
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

SAF: Ribbon Techniques Challenge

This is the next project I'm doing today which uses ribbon.  There are a variety of techniques posted and I chose Dawn's use of Saddle Stitch ribbon.  I used Summer Sunrise card stock for the card base and layered it with Aqua Mist pattern paper. 

I cut a Mat Stack 3 die from white cardstock and stamped it with cantaloupe ink using the stamp from Mat Stack 3.  Next, I stamped the happy birthday sentiment (from Beautiful Butterflies) in black and adhered it to the card.  I cut the butterfly using a Beautiful Butterflies die and stamped it in black with a Mehndi Medallion stamp.  I placed the butterfly on foam tape for dimension and added a clear gem to the center.

My final step was to tie the ribbon using Summer Sunrise saddle stitch ribbon. I used to have trouble tying ribbons and bows, but then I watched a great video Dawn McVey posted on her blog a long time ago and that was the answer to my problem!  She has posted another video on Nichole's blog today to show how easy it is to tie a ribbon!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Beautiful Butterflies, Mehndi Medallion, Mat Stack 3
• Paper:  PTI Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist Pattern Pack, Aqua Mist, White Stamper's Select
• Tools:  PTI Mat Stack 3 Die, Beautiful Butterflies Die
• Other:  PTI Summer Sunrise Saddle Stitch Ribbon; Gem
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"