Happy Mother's Day!

Growing up I always remember my mom in the kitchen making something, whether it was dinner or baking cookies, she always made things homemade.  Rarely did we have take out or fast food!  I'm sure that's why I love to cook and bake so much.....it must be in my genes!  When I saw apron cards appearing on Pinterest, I knew I had to make one for my mom for Mother's Day.

I downloaded the apron pattern here.  I cut the apron shape from white cardstock and added a layer of flower cardstock.  Before I taped it together, I cut blue ribbon for the apron strings and placed it between the layers.  I cut the pocket in blue striped paper and added crinkled light green ribbon around the sides and bottom.  Using green paper, I cut eyelet border and placed it at the bottom, on the pocket and the card top.

My friend Jill sent me a bunch of cooking brads - a perfect addition for the apron pocket!!  I stamped the sentiment in red, die-cut it with a tag trio and added the spoon brad.  I punched holes in the top of the card, placed faux eyelets over them and threaded ribbon through them.

The pocket and the sentiment are on foam tape for dimension.  I just love the way this card turned out!

A closer look:

Close up of the pocket:

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Fillable Frames #4
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; DCWV Nana's Kitchen
• Ink:  Memento Love Letter
• Tools:  Tag Trio Nestabilities; Martha Stewart Eyelet Border Punch
• Other:  Brads; Ribbon; Foam Tape; Faux Eyelets
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday - Enjoy Your Special Day

I saw this card a few months ago on Cristina Kowalczyk's blog - Cristina is known for her "clean & simple" cards.  I didn't call this one a CAS card since it took me quite a while to line up all the squares!

I started with a piece of white cardstock, and I guess I "cheated" because I drew a pencil line where I wanted to stamp the squares, otherwise I know I wouldn't be able to stamp them straight!  I used my favorite 7 color combination (purple, blue, light blue, green, orange, pink, red) and stamped each square.  I stamped the extra large birthday sentiment in black.

I wanted to make my card a little different from Cristina's so I ran the white cardstock through the Cuttlebug with my linen impression plate.  I also the added red stars and maraschino twine.  

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Square Prints, Think Big Favorites #24
• Paper:  PTI True Black, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Sweet Plum, Summer Sky, Pear Tart, Cantaloupe, Rose Bud, Love Letter, Tuxedo Black; VersaMagic Aquatic Splash
• Tools:  PTI Star Border, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate
• Other: Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

1st Birthday

I struggled with this card trying to come up with the right colors to use.  You would think kid cards are easy to make, but I find them challenging!

I pulled out my Nana's Kids stack of paper and selected the green polka dots and animal sheets to work with. I used a white card base and added the green at the top and bottom, the animals in the middle, separating them with white scalloped edging, created by using a heart border.

I die-cut two circles and attached them to the card with foam tape for dimension.  Next I die-cut a "1" in white and one in blue and overlapped them slightly.  I die-cut a "s and t" and placed it next to the 1.

I wanted to put Parker's name on the front and die-cut it in blue.  I die-cut a couple of banners, stamping happy birthday on them.  I added Denim Twine around the spine and a few more stars on top of the polka dot paper.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Simple Little Things
• Paper:  DCWV Nana's Kids; Bazzill
• Ink:  Memento Blue Danube
• Tools:  PTI Alpha Block Upper & Lower Dies, By The Numbers Dies, Countdown Details Die, Heart Border; Standard Circles Nestabilities
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

So Happy For You

I'm not sure what type of card this is going to be - "so happy for you" - I suppose can cover a lot of occasions.  Maybe an anniversary card?

I used Orange Zest cardstock for the card base - I don't usually like orange but felt like using a color I normally don't use.  I stamped the flowers on white cardstock, using my new Rosie Posie Step 2 stamp set.  This set coordinates with the original Rosie Posie set but adds another layer onto the flowers and leaves - you can see how I did this by stamping the red on the orange flowers and the darker green on the leaves.

I stamped the sentiment and added the little circles randomly on the card.  I mounted the image all the way to the left of the card to leave a little bit of orange cardstock showing on the right.  Last step was adding a little bit of glitter along the bottoms of the flower leaves.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie Step 2, Mini Blooms
• Paper:  PTI Orange Zest, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tangelo, Love Letter, Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Martha Stewart Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Birthday Wishes (MIM #114 - #2)

I made another card using blown ink from PTI's MIM #114.  After I made this, I realized it's quite similar to Dawn's original card she posted in the video!  I didn't do that intentionally!

I used Hibiscus Burst cardstock for the card base, rounding the bottom corners.  I used a piece of white cardstock that's impressed with my Linen Impression plate.  I blew Summer Sky, Rose Red and Pretty in Pink reinkers onto it for the design. (see my May 3 post for details how to do this).

Using my Limitless Layers circle dies, I die cut a pinking circle in Hibiscus and a regular circle in white, stamping it with the sentiment.  I added a row of stars in orange underneath the sentiment and placed it on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI 2012 Birthday Tags
• Paper:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Stampin' Up Summer Sun, Rose Red, Pretty In Pink Reinkers; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Limitless Layers Circles, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Straw
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

sending birthday wishes

I haven't been using my Copics very much lately and was in the mood to color today.  And I haven't used this vase set in a while either!  I started out by stamping the flower image onto white cardstock and colored it.  I used the colors in the flowers to pick out the cardstock I wanted to use.

I took a piece of Spring Moss cardstock and ran it through the Cuttlebug using my Swiss Dots embossing folder.  Next, I cut out the scalloped circle in the Spring Moss and placed it on a layer of Summer Sunrise cardstock and cut a standard circle in the middle of the Summer Sunrise.  I placed the flower image centered behind the Summer Sunrise circle.  Make sense?

I thought why not, so I also die-cut where the sentiment is, using a tag trio die to cut the shape.  I stamped the sentiment and adhered the layering to the white card base.  Final steps were tying Marigold twine around the bottom and adding a little bit of glitter to the flowers.  I really like the colors in the flowers and vase!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Autumn Abundance, Everyday Button Bits
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, Summer Sunrise, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  YG91, YG93, YG95, Y21, Y35, Y38, YR21, YR65, E08, E40, E42, E44, B0000, B95
• Tools:  Standard & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Tag Trio Nestabilities; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
• Other:  Twine; Martha Stewart Glitter
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Wish Big (MIM #114 - Blown Ink)

This is the latest "Make-It-Monday" from Papertrey (found here) and it looked like it might be a fun card to make.  It uses paper, reinkers and a straw.  I have a few Stampin' Up reinkers that I haven't used before so it's nice to use them for something!

I used white cardstock as my card base and squeezed out a few drops of Pretty in Pink ink and quickly blew them with a straw.  The ink just goes wherever it wants to, so you don't have a whole lot of control doing this, but you have to work fast otherwise the ink gets absorbed into the cardstock.

After I was satisfied with how much pink was on the paper, I did the same with Lavender Lace and Rose Red inks until I was happy with the results.  Let me tell you, I felt like I needed a bit of extra oxygen after doing the card!  lol

I decided to use a Fillable Frame #10 die-cut for the sentiment, stamped a red outline and the sentiment in black.  I placed it on foam tape for a bit of dimension and adhered it to a Pure Poppy cardstock card base.

This card was a lot of fun to make!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Fillable Frames #10, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Stampin' Up Pretty Ink Pink, Rose Red, Lavender Lace Reinkers; Memento Tuxedo Black; Colorbox Warm Red
• Tools:  PTI Fillable Frames #10 Die
• Other:  Foam Tape; Straw
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy 2nd Birthday

It's hard to believe it's May already!  The Spring weather has been really nice here, but it won't be long and it will be hot and humid.  Yuck!

I saw this card on Betsy Veldman's blog last year and when someone asked me to make a card for a 2 year old, I knew this was the perfect card to make!

I used white cardstock for the card base and added a layer of Spring Rain that I embossed with clouds.  I die-cut the airplane, colored it with Copics and placed it on the card with foam tape for dimension.  I die-cut additional clouds in white and added them to the sky.

I stamped "happy birthday Eddie" to help personalize the card.  Since he's turning 2, I die-cut the 2 and placed it on another cloud.  I attached the plane and added twine on the tail, connecting it to the cloud.

It still needed something else so I die-cut the stars, placing them on the two ends of the card.  This is such an adorable card....thank you for the idea Betsy!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Fly Away, 2012 Birthday Tags; JustRite Times New Roman 15 Pt.
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Love Letter
• Tools:  PTI Fly Away Die, Heart-2-Heart #6 Die, Alpha Block Numbers Die, Clouds 1 & 2 Collection Die, Stars Border; Darice Clouds Embossing Folder
• Other:  Copics; Twine; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thinking Of You With Sympathy

This was a fairly quick card to make.  I used Lemon Tart cardstock for the card base.  I stamped the leaves in green ink onto white cardstock and distressed the edges.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink, tied a bit of Buttercream twine around the bottom and adhered it to the card base.

I die-cut the flowers, stamped them in yellow ink and randomly placed them on the leaves with foam tape for dimension.  I added yellow gems to the flower centers for a bit of bling.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Flower Fusion #6, Mailbox Greetings, Turning A New Leaf
• Paper:  PTI Lemon Tart, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  VersaMagic Aloe Vera, Thatched Straw; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Flower Fusion #6 Die; Tim Holtz Distressor
• Other:  Twine; Gems; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrate Today

I made this card for my parents anniversary and used a few new PTI items I bought over the last couple of months.  I'm so far behind using my stuff again!

I used Aqua Mist cardstock for the card base and added of layer of white, using my Cover Plate: Twist die.  Isn't that a nice die-cut?  I die-cut leaves in Spring Moss cardstock and arranged them on the card, letting some of the leaves overlap the ends of the card.  I also die-cut a bunch of flowers in Aqua Mist, stamped them with turquoise gem ink and rose bud ink for the centers.  The flower centers were placed on foam tape for dimension. 

I die-cut the banner, stamped the sentiment and placed it on foam tape.  I punched the two hearts in Raspberry Fizz and placed them on the banner.  I finished the card by adding gems to the flower centers.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Happiness In Bloom, Bountiful Banners
• Paper:  PTI Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, White Stampers Select, Raspberry Fizz
• Ink:  VersaMagic Turquoise Gem; Memento Rose Bud, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Beautiful Blooms II #1 Dies, Cover Plate: Twist Die, Turning A New Leaf Dies, Bountiful Banners Dies; EK Success Heart Punch
• Other:  Gems; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Welcome, little one!

I can't believe I haven't posted a baby card this year.  I used white cardstock for the card base and added a layer of striped pink paper, rounding the right hand corners.

I die-cut the giraffe and stamped it with pink polka dots and backed it with coaster for support.  I tied a ribbon around the neck and adhered it to a lattice rectangle with foam tape for dimension.  I stamped a few pinks hearts next to the giraffe.

I stamped the sentiment on the bottom and wrapped additional ribbon around the spine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sweet Baby, Hanging Out
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Sweet Blush Stripes
• Ink:  Memento Angel Pink, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Sweet Baby Die; Lattice Rectangles Nestabilities; Corner Rounder
• Other:  PTI Coaster; Ribbon; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

happy Birthday (CAS #11)

Time for another card using washi tape - they are so easy to make and look really nice!  For this card I used Kraft cardstock for the card base.  I put the strips of black and white washi tape onto white cardstock and adhered it to the Kraft.

I stamped the sentiment at the bottom and added the little star tag that I die-cut and tied with jute.  That's it - the card is done!  A nice masculine card?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Embroidered Blooms, Tiny Tags II
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Tiny Tags Die
• Other:  Washi Tape; Jute
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"