Sending You Warm Hugs...

Well, I'm kind of glad the PTI 10th anniversary celebration is over so I can get back to my normal crafting routine. It sure was fun entering all the contests!!

Even though Spring is just a few days away, I made this card using a "mirror image" technique I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog - you can see it here on Jennifer's blog ➜➜Easy Mirror Image Stamping.

I stamped the mug on the left in black ink and stamped the same mug with the image reversed on the right side, following Jennifer's easy instructions. Having the Misti really helps with this technique! 

The sentiment is stamped in black ink and the mugs colored with Copic markers. I added the snowflake on the mugs, stamped in Enchanted Evening ink. I cut the panel to 3-3/4" x 4.5" and placed it on a white cardstock card base with a layer of Blueberry Sky polka dot pattern paper. 

This was a fun technique and one I'll be using more often!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Holiday Treats; MFT Merry Christmoose
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Blueberry Sky Polka Dot
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  B41, B45, E50, E74, R29, W1
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Day 14: PTI Release Day 5...

Today is the last day of PTI's release, although there's more to come tomorrow. The full reveal and I think their anniversary set? I can't wait to see what it is!

The challenge: "Create a new project based on improving a card you were not happy with."

I knew right away which card I wanted to improve. It's a card I made in 2015 and one I never published on my blog, it's just sitting here in a box (unloved 😞). 

This is the card I'm redoing. I never liked how I put the two flower arrangements on the card and wasn't happy with the color selections. 

For the makeover I die-cut the flower arrangement in white cardstock and stamped the larger flower with Hibiscus Burst and Pure Poppy inks, instead of Hibiscus Burst and Raspberry Fizz. I changed the medium flower from yellow and orange to Lemon Tart and Harvest Gold inks to soften it up.  The stems and leaves are stamped in Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks, the same as the original card. 

The small flowers are stamped in Aqua Mist ink and I added black centers with a marker. I think the  strip of gingham paper and sentiment at the bottom gives the card a more modern look. I die-cut two more of the flower arrangements and stacked them together for dimension. The die-cut also helped me with lining up the flowers - I think I did them wrong on the first card! lol 

I'm much happier with this new look!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Brushed Blooms, Perfect Pairing
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hibiscus Burst Gingham
• Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Brushed Blooms
• Other:  Black Marker
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Day 13: PTI Release Day 4...

Today we're having a major snowstorm and supposed to get 8-15" of wet snow. I can't complain too much since we really didn't have much snow or cold weather this season and it is pretty to look at. And Spring is right around the corner, right??

The challenge: "Create and decorate a bird house using the provided template."

Nichole provided the birdhouse template (⬅ click here) that she first made back in 2009. I wanted my birdhouse to be Spring-like in color and decided to use Lilac Grace cardstock. I traced the template onto the cardstock and cut it out. For a little designer flare, I used Guide Lines pattern paper for the sides of the house and around the opening.

For the roof I used Plum Pudding cardstock and die-cut it with a scalloped rectangle nestability.  I embossed it with a checkerboard embossing folder to give it the look of little shingles. Before attaching the roof, I punched two holes in it and threaded them with white tulle which I tied into a bow.

I die-cut a scalloped circle in Lilac Grace and one in white cardstock and stamped Happy Easter in black ink. The little tag is attached with white crochet thread.

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Hippity Hoppity
• Paper:  PTI Lilac Grace, White Stampers Select, Guide Lines
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  Standard & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Large Scalloped Mega Rectangle Nestabilities
• Other:  Birdhouse Template; Tulle; Crochet Thread; Cuttlebug Checkerboard Embossing Folder

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⭐⭐Guess what? I won for this entry too! Thank you PTI!⭐⭐

3/15/17 - From Nichole's Blog:

We are all winners of a $25 gift certificate!

Day 12: PTI Release Day 3...

We're only on Day 3 of the release and already my wish list runneth over! It's going to be hard to resist buying some of the new products since I would like to get everything!

The challenge: "Create a new project that incorporates your all-time favorite floral set."

Well, that's easier said then done because there are so many floral sets that I like! After careful consideration I selected Tulip Time which is definitely in my top 5.

I die-cut the tulips in white cardstock and stamped the flowers in Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold and Bright Buttercup inks. The stems are stamped in Mint Julep and New Leaf inks. I placed them on foam tape onto a white cardstock panel with stitching around the edges. The card base is Bright Buttercup cardstock.

Happy Easter is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. A few wraps of white crochet thread finished the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Tulip Time, Keep It Simple: Easter
• Paper:  PTI Bright Buttercup, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Bright Buttercup, Mint Julep, New Leaf, Smokey Shadow
• Dies:  PTI Tulip Time; MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Foam Tape; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Day 11: PTI Release Day 2...

Today is the second day of PTI's March release and there are already a couple of things that caught my eye. But, I need to wait until the full reveal before I can decide what I want to buy.

The challenge: "Create a new project that incorporates multiples of a single shape, stamped or die-cut."

As soon as I saw "multiples", I knew I was going to use Cover Plate: Hearts to make a few quick Mother's Day cards. Using the Cover Plate, I die-cut the hearts in Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst and Lovely Lady cardstock. I used the negative of the die to perfectly line up the hearts on white cardstock, placing each one on foam tape. I stamped the sentiment in black ink.

I placed a layer of Hibiscus Burst leaves pattern paper on a white cardstock card base and adhered the heart panel on top. I have to keep using my HUGE stash of patterned paper! 😎 To finish the card, I tied a scalloped ribbon around it.

I also wanted to make a less feminine card for the boys to give mom and made the same card style using Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist cardstock for the hearts. I placed it on Hawaiian Shores leaves pattern paper and tied regular white ribbon around it.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Fillable Frames #4
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst, Lovely Lady, Hibiscus Burst Leaves, Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores Leaves
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Cover Plate: Hearts
• Other:  Foam Tape; Ribbon
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Nail Polish Marbling (MIM #277)...

Even with all the 10th anniversary posts going on at PTI this month, I'm surprised they still had a MIM for this week! Lizzie Jones shows us how to use nail polish to add a marbled look to a background with Make It Monday #277: Nail Polish Marbling. My first question is, who thinks of doing this? Did someone sit there and think "I wonder what would happen if I add nail polish to water and dip cardstock into it?" 😄 I suppose that's how it started...

The first thing for me was finding something to use for the water and nail polish that I could throw away and found a disposable aluminum pie pan. I only have a few colors of nail polish and used 3 - plum, navy and plum frost. 

Lizzie mentioned you really have to work fast and she's not kidding! By the time I got the nail polish to drip into the water (she made it look easy, me I struggled to get those drips to come off!) some of the nail polish was actually starting to dry on top of the water. It's interesting to see how the drips interact with the water as some float, some sink and some spread out.

I dipped my white cardstock into the water and was pleasantly surprised at how interesting it looked. I let the panel dry overnight and adhered it with lots of scor-tape to a white cardstock card base. The panel is really warped and some of the nail polish started to flake off a bit.

Hello is die-cut in Enchanted Evening cardstock and glued to the panel. It's an interesting technique but one I won't be doing again. It's very messy and because the panel is so warped, really won't pass quality control here. 😉 But I still give myself points for trying something new.

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Enchanted Evening
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint
• Other:  Nail Polish; Water
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

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⭐⭐Guess what??? I was a winner for this card! Thank you PTI!!⭐⭐

3/13/17 - From Nichole's Blog: 

Congratulations, Lainey! Please send an email to customer service and provide them with your full name and the email address you would like your gift certificate sent to. Thanks so much to everyone for playing along!

Day 8: Traveler's Journal Focus...

Another new feature going forward is focus on the Traveler's Journal product line and today Heather Nichols is the guest blogger. I don't have any of this product line but that could change in the future. lol

The challenge: "Create a new project that incorporates at least one photograph! This can be a card, layout, journal, altered home decor, etc..."

I found a lot of old photos in my grandmother's house. I don't know who this baby is or if it's a boy or girl, but look how cute he/she is posed! It may be a relative or perhaps someone gave my grandmother a picture of their baby. Too bad there aren't any markings on the back to solve the mystery. We think the picture is at least 100 years old. A friend of mine likes vintage things so a perfect card for her.

Using Journal Card #7, I die-cut the photo, I thought this made the photo look like the old time film on reels. I was really trying to think of a color to mat it on and then remembered the Dear Jane patterned paper I just bought. Doesn't it go great with this photo? I placed a layer of the paper on top of a Vintage Cream cardstock card base. The sentiment is stamped in Dark Chocolate ink on a Vintage Cream banner made with the Building Blocks dies and is on fun foam for dimension.

It still needed something so I added cream ribbon tied in a bow at the top. I'm really happy with the way this turned out and I'm sure my friend will just love it!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Amuse Just My Type
• Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, Dear Jane
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate
• Dies:  PTI Journal Card #7
• Other:  Ribbon; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Day 7: Moments Inked Planner Focus...

Lexi Daly is today's Guest Blogger, highlighting new planner products and different ways to use planners, all part of the Moments Inked system. I don't own any planners so I'm looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us....maybe she'll change my mind and I'll get one!

The challenge: "Create a new project that includes a card with coordinating altered envelope. And mail it!"

I'm glad the challenge wasn't to do something with a planner so I can play along! I have a friend that's a little down in the dumps so I'll be mailing this card to her.

On white cardstock I stamped the image in black ink and colored it with Copic markers. The sentiment is also stamped in black ink. I ran the panel through the Cuttlebug using wonky stitched rectangles (don't you just love the stitched look?) and placed it on a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base.

To alter my envelope, I stamped it with coordinating leaves in the lower left corner and also colored them with Copics. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Doodlie-do, It's The Thought
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG15, R24, YG93, YG95, YG97, W1
• Dies:  MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI Day 6: Packaging Focus...

Packaging Focus is a new monthly feature showing tips and tricks for packaging and wrapping things. Should be fun to try each month! Rebecca Luminarias is the guest blogger for this month.

The challenge: "Create a new packaging project using details from the projects above as your inspiration."

After looking at the inspiration photo, I saw a lot of gold circles, black and ribbon. I thought, let's use some of that pattern paper you just bought and pulled out a piece of Gold Luxe Foil. I die-cut a Keep It Simple Frame in Fresh Snow Linen and stamped it with the sentiment in black ink.

I placed the sentiment on fun foam for dimension. A little white ribbon around the card completed things. Easy! A few ideas to use this card: wedding, 50th anniversary card or graduation.

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Congratulations
• Paper:  PTI Gold Luxe Foil Design, Fresh Snow Linen, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Keep It Simple Frames
• Other:  Ribbon; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI Day 5: Stitching Focus...

PTI is kicking off their March Release. Not only is it their 10th Anniversary Celebration, but they also have a new line up of blog posts every day for 10 days! Lizzie Jones is the Day 5 Guest Blogger Stitching Focus, highlighting the Stitched Coaster Dies. The inspiration photo below shows past projects from some of the other DT members. 

The challenge:  Create a new project using one of the stitching projects from above as your inspiration. 

I got ideas from each of the photos above, but the most from #3. The double stitching, the kraft and white colors were what gave me the idea for my card. (And I remembered a card that Heather Nichols made when the Splits: Love set was just released.)

I die-cut a piece of watercolor paper with the stitched die from the Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical dies. Next, I stamped the image in Versamark ink, sprinkled it with white embossing powder and heat set it. Using my Zig markers, I colored the flowers in pink, adding more of the same color to give them depth with shading. I outlined the flowers (just like I would with Copics markers) with grey.

The leaves are stamped in Spring Moss ink and the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink. I wanted to add some splatters and mixed some of the pink marker with water on a clear block. I picked up the mixture with a brush and carefully tapped the brush -- I was holding my breath did I didn't ruin it with this step!😀

I placed my completed panel on a stitched Kraft cardstock card base. I added crochet twine around the spine to complete the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Splits: Love; WPlus9 Fresh Cut Florals
• Paper:  PTI Kraft; Canson 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow, Spring Moss; Versamark
• Zigs:  Pink [025], Light Grey [091]
• Dies:  PTI Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical Die Collection
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  White Embossing Powder; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hoping Your Birthday...

This is a card I made a while ago and never got around to posting it. This cute little girl with her delicious looking cupcake is from Penny Black.

I stamped the little girl on white cardstock with black ink and colored her with Copic markers. I placed the panel on an Autumn Rose cardstock card base, rounding the right corners.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink. To jazz things up a bit, I added a strip of polka dot washi tape and a few clear sequins. I also used Wink of Stella (clear) on the cupcake but it's not noticeable in the photo.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Just Desserts Sentiments; Penny Black Sweet Thing
• Paper:  PTI Autumn Rose, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG10, BG13, E33, E35, E37, E50, R29, R81, R83, R85, Y35, W1
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins; Washi Tape; Wink of Stella
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Kraft & Colored Pencils (MIM #276)...

I was happy to see this week's Make It Monday #276: Kraft & Colored Pencils hosted by Melissa Phillips. Why? Because I love to color!! I always did as a kid, trying to be so careful to stay in the lines! 😀 Give me a coloring book and a pack of crayons and I was set for hours. That's why I knew this challenge was going to be fun for me!

I started with a piece of Kraft cardstock and stamped the flowers and leaves in Versamark ink. I did a little masking so the leaves look like they're behind the flower. Next, I sprinkled it with white embossing powder and heat set it. 

It was nice to pull out my Prismacolor pencils again! I used Kelp Green and Olive Green for the leaves and Lilac and Violet for the flower, shading as necessary. The center is an Orange pencil. I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added white crochet thread at the top.

The panel is adhered to a Plum Pudding cardstock card base made from the Don't Forget To Write die.  Doesn't this die make the nicest little notecard? Coloring is so relaxing for me so I really enjoyed this.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI In Bloom, Keep It Simple: Just Because
• Paper:  PTI Plum Pudding, Kraft
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Don't Forget To Write
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other: Prismacolor Pencils Lilac [WC2956], Violet [WC2932], Orange [WC2918], Olive Green [WC2911], Kelp Green [PC1090], Embossing Powder; Crochet Thread
• Size:  3.75" x 3.75"