It's Okay To Be Happy...

Hello and happy June! The months sure seem to be going by faster and faster!!!!!

My friend let me borrow her new Lawn Fawn die that creates a pop-up on the inside of the card. I watched Jennifer McGuire's video (Jennifer McGuire Pivot Pop Up Cards) to see how to use the die which really helped.

First, I created the inside banner by creating the clouds background with a stencil on white cardstock. Next, I die-cut the grassy hills and the trees. My last step on the banner was stamping the sentiment - I stamped half of it with brown ink on one panel by masking a portion of the stamp and then repeated the same technique for the remainder of the sentiment on the other panel.

I wanted the card front to be similar to the inside and again created the clouds background and die-cut the grassy hills and trees. The sentiment is stamped in the same brown ink. I added a few die-cut clouds placed on foam tape for dimension.

This was fun to make and it's a clever idea, but it's also a lot of work!😊 I'm sure if I make another one it'll be much easier to do.

Here's the front and the inside of the pop-up card. The lighting isn't great here today since it's overcast. The entire sentiment is "it's okay to be happy with a simple life...delight in the little things". I'm sending this to my friend who lent me the die!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Twig Wreath
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Dark Chocolate, Green Parakeet
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate, Hawaiian Shores
• Dies:  PTI In The Meadow; Lawn Fawn Pivot Pop-up
• Tools:  MFT Mini Clouds Stencil
• Other: Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Cascading Die-Cuts (MIM #323)...

Well, last week flew by and another Monday is here and time for a new challenge! This week Stephanie Gold shows us how to make dimensional, cascading die-cuts on card fronts. It's an easy thing to do and really adds a little extra to the card. You can watch how to do it here ↪ Make It Monday #323: Cascading Die-Cuts.

I picked Fancy Foliage dies because I haven't used them much at all. I positioned them on a piece of white cardstock and ran it through the Gemini (with intricate dies like this, I find the Gemini works best!) I used the Linen & Canvas Impression Plate to give the panel a little texture and placed the negative on a Green Parakeet cardstock card base. I'm so in love with Green Parakeet!

The die-cuts were put back in place with the edges slightly curved up for dimension. I added a strip of striped Green Parakeet at the bottom to help cover up all that white space. Finally, I stamped the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink.

I have to admit, staging photos is hard work - kudos to those who do it all the time! So I think I may go back to just taking a picture of the card itself, much easier and no thinking involved. lol

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Friendly Flowers
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Green Parakeet, Green Parakeet & White Basics
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow
• Dies:  PTI Fancy Foliage, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey May 2018 Blog Hop...

Another month has passed and it's time for PTI's monthly Blog Hop. This month's inspiration picture reminds me that summer is almost here. The first things I noticed were the black and white gingham tablecloths and the pretty pink and purple flowers on the tables. So that's what I made the focal point of my card. 

I placed a layer of True Black gingham pattern paper on top of a white cardstock card base. I haven't rounded the bottoms of a card for a long time, but it sort of went with the rounded top of the camper in the background.

I die-cut the lilies in white cardstock and stamped them Lilac Grace, Amethyst Allure, Raspberry Fizz and Pure Poppy inks. The leaves are stamped in Green Parakeet ink and the flower centers in Lemon Tart ink.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink. I placed the flower above the sentiment on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Lilies Of The Field, Sentiment Staples: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, True Black Gingham
• Ink:  PTI Lilac Grace, Amethyst Allure, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Green Parakeet, Lemon Tart; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Lilies Of The Field
• Other:  Fun Foam; Corner Rounder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Above & Below (MIM #322)...

This week's challenge is hosted by Lizzie Jones where she shows us how to make the sentiment the focal point of the card by surrounding it with something. You can watch her fun and informative video here: Make It Monday #322: Above & Below.

I'm trying to use some of my pattern paper and started by placing a piece of Soft Stone stripes over a white cardstock card base. I die-cut the stitched circle in white cardstock and stamped the sentiment in black ink.

The flowers are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Pure Poppy and Scarlet Jewel inks. Instead of using the usual green for leaves, I used a smokey grey, which coordinates well with the striped background. The large flower is on foam tape for dimension.

I placed a smaller sprig at the top of the sentiment to help highlight it. Gran's Garden still remains one of my favorite flower stamps!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Gran's Garden, Think Big Favorites #3
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Soft Stone Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Scarlet Jewel; Versafine Smokey Gray, Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Gran's Garden; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Circles
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey May 2018 Create Along With Us...

I'm so thankful for the PTI challenges because at least I'm crafting each week to enter the contests. Still waiting for my desire to create to come back. 😞  When I saw this card by Heather Nichols it reminded me I haven't used my Sweet As Can Be stamp set for a long time. Time to ink it up again!

For my card I started with a piece of white cardstock and stamped the 3 cones in Kraft ink. I added the scoops of ice cream in Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst and Green Parakeet inks and stamped the sentiment in black ink.

I placed a layer of Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dots on a white cardstock card base, trimmed down the ice cone panel and placed it on fun foam for dimension. What's an ice cream cone without sprinkles so I added coarse glitter?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sweet As Can Be, Birthday Classics: June
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, 2009 Bitty Dot Basics
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst, Green Parakeet; Versafine Black Onyx
• Other:  Fun Foam; Coarse Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Masking Sentiments (MIM Throwback #221)...

This week's challenge Make It Monday Throwback: Masking Sentiments is hosted by Ashley Cannon Newell. This technique is one we've seen before, but I always like to be reminded so I'll use something different on my projects!

I started with a piece of white cardstock and placed my heart mask about 1/3 from the top. Next, I stamped Gran's Garden flowers in Raspberry Fizz and Pure Poppy inks with black centers. I added the leaves in Spring Moss ink. Don't you just love this set? It sure makes such a beautiful background. 

Before I removed the mask, I traced a black line around it so it would stand out. Thanks Ashley for that tip! I stamped the sentiment in black ink.

I added the dot thingies in Raspberry Fizz ink (stamped off once) to add some more color. Since I'll be hand delivering this I added a seam binding bow.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Gran's Garden, Keep It Simple: Mother
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss; Versafine Onyx Black
• Other:  White Chalk Seam Binding; Thin Black Marker
• Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Ink Blending On Colored Cardstock (MIM #321)...

I'm late making my card this week because my lack of creative mojo continues. But I needed to make a birthday card so this was a way to kill two birds with one stone. 😊

This week Melissa Phillips is host and shares tips for ink blending on colored cardstock. It's really easy to do and looks amazing! You can watch the video here:  Make It Monday #321: Ink Blending on Colored Cardstock.

For my card I started with a piece of Hibiscus Burst cardstock and stamped the rather large butterfly from Ever So Much in Versamark ink. I didn't realize how big this butterfly was because I haven't used this set yet! Next, I sprinkled it with white embossing powder and heat set it. I blended Raspberry Fizz over the butterfly and the outlines. To add some fillers, I stamped a few flourishes in the background.

The panel is on an Aqua Mist cardstock layer and on a white cardstock card base with a layer of Sparkle & Shine pattern paper. I stamped the sentiment in black on a piece of Aqua Mist cardstock and placed it on fun foam for a little dimension. My last step was adding a few clear sequins.

Fun technique! Now if I could just get in the mood to craft!!! (Still practicing the "flat lay"  photography technique).

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Ever So Much, Fancy Flourishes, Keep It Simple: Birthday III
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Sparkle & Shine
• Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Sequins; Fun Foam
• Size:  5.0" x 6.5"

Papertrey April 2018 Blog Hop...

Can the months be going by any faster? Hard to believe it's almost the end of April and time for another Blog Hop challenge. This month's inspiration photo had a lot of colors to choose from, but right now I'm stuck in a Hawaiian Shores/Tropical Teal mode and those are the colors that jumped out to me.

I wanted to make a quick, clean and simple card for a change. On white cardstock, I randomly stamped the mums in Hawaiian Shores and Tropical Teal inks, adding a few small leaves in Spring Moss ink. The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

That's it! Wow, this sure was a short post for me!😎 I'm playing around with the "flat lay" photography tips that Lexi Daly shared with us. I need to practice a bit more, specifically how to take more of a close up. I used my iPad camera for this - boy this camera takes nicer pictures than my actual camera!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mum's The Word
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal, Spring Moss; Versafine Onyx Black
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Spot Color Word Die-cuts (MIM #320)...

This week Betsy Veldman is showing us how to "combine spot coloring with your favorite word dies and outline images or backgrounds". She has a very detailed video you can watch here:  Make It Monday #320: Spot Color Word Die-cuts.

I don't have any large words and picked out a medium sized word - "friend". I started by stamping a white piece of cardstock with Mehndi Medallion (an old time favorite!) and black ink. Once I was finished stamping, I die-cut "friend" from the panel. I thought this word was attached, but each letter was on it's own.😩 To make coloring it easier, I die-cut the word again in another piece of cardstock and placed the letters back into the negative and colored it with two Copic markers. 

I placed tape behind the negative on the stamped panel and easily placed the letters in place. I added "hi there" above the word and adhered the panel to a New Leaf cardstock card base. 

Fun technique, although I think the word is a little hard to read.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mehndi Medallion, Mixed Messages
• Paper:  PTI New Leaf, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG49, G14
• Dies:  MFT Friends
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Graffiti Word Art (MIM #319)...

This week's challenge looked like a lot of fun to do and it was! Lexi Daly is the host and shows us how to "create die cut word art inspired by street art". You can watch her informative video here  ⇨ Make It Monday #319: Graffiti Word Art. I wasn't sure what I was going to do for this because I don't have many large word die-cuts and hoped a smaller word would work. And it did!

I started by die-cutting the word "celebrate" in white cardstock and rubbed on Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart and Green Parakeet inks - I just love this color combo! I stamped Versamark ink on top of the word, embossed it with clear embossing powder and rubbed Hawaiian Shores ink over top. I didn't get a sharp "shadow look" from doing that so I die-cut "celebrate" again in True Black cardstock and backed the word with it, slightly offset to give it a shadowed look. Much better!

On a piece of white cardstock with a stencil, I stenciled splatters for the background in the same colors, stamping the sentiment on an angle in black ink. As I was thinking about this artwork being on a wall, I remembered I had a brick wall stencil I could use! 

I wanted to add some additional splatters and mixed Black Soot ink with a bit of water and flicked the splatters with a paintbrush. The panel is on a Tropcial Teal cardstock card base. I'm so happy with the way this one turned out - doesn't it look like it could really be street art on a wall?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Good Times, Ways To Say: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select; True Black
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Green Parakeet; Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress; Versafine Onyx Black; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Good Times
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Tim Holtz Brick Wall Embossing Folder; Tim Holtz Spatters Stencil; Embossing Powder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Simple Stitched Stems (MIM #318)...

Another week has gone by and it's time for a new challenge. This week Michelle Leone is host and shows us how to create stems with stitching. You can watch the video here ↠ Make It Monday #318: Simple Stitched Stems. It really is an easy way to add a little texture to your project. After pulling out my embroidery thread it reminded me of how much I miss doing cross-stitch and crewel work!

Michelle's card looked so cute with Tag Sale: Quilted that I decided to use the same die and die-cut it in white cardstock. I stamped the flowers in Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy with Lemon Tart centers. I added the dotted centers and sentiment with black ink.

I didn't want to use green for the stems and opted for a light grey, done with backstitches. I added the leaves, placed on foam tape in Soft Stone cardstock. The entire die is on fun foam for dimension. I placed it on a white cardstock card base covered with a piece of Berry Sorbet polka dots. My final step was adding grey and white twine through the top.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mixed Bouquet, Winter Hills, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Soft Stone, Berry Sorbet Bitty Dots
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Tag Sale: Quilted
• Other:  DMC Floss #762; Foam Tape; Fun Foam; Stone Twine
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Using Outline Images (MIM #317)...

This week's challenge looked easy enough to do, and it was once I found an outline stamp! Surprisingly, I really don't have many at all. Our host Stephanie Gold shows us how to use outline images to accent our projects. You can watch the video here ⇢ Make It Monday #317: Using Outline Images.

After going through all my stamps, I saw that Oopsie Daisy would work. On white cardstock I stamped the colored images in Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores inks, adding Tropical Teal centers. The outline images and the sentiment are stamped in black ink.

I wanted to add another color and used Lemon Tart ink with one of the tiny stamps from Circle Scribbles. I haven't used this stamp set in a long time and was reminded of it after seeing Lisa's lovely entry for this challenge (she's #17).

I trimmed the panel down just a bit  and adhered it to a Tropical Teal cardstock card base. Quick and easy!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Oopsie Daisy, Keep It Simple: Friendship, Circle Scribbles
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal, Lemon Tart; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"