Sending You Heartfelt Sympathy

To create this blue background I was playing around with blue gelatos.  I placed some of the gelatos on my craft sheet, mixed them with water and transferred them to watercolor paper with a brush.  After I was done painting, I really didn't like the way the entire piece turned out, so instead of throwing it away, I cut out the portion I did like to use as the background.

I took a piece of white cardstock, ran it through the Cuttlebug with a striped embossing folder and adhered it to an Enchanted Evening cardstock card base.  I cut the blue background just large enough for the Geneva Vine die-cut.

I die-cut the banner in white and stamped it with the sentiment in blue ink.  The banner is adhered to the card with thin foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Words Of Comfort
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening, White Stampers Select; Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Cotton Candy, Blueberry, Boysenberry Gelatos
• Tools:  PTI Double Ended Banner Die; Memory Box Geneva Vine Die; Cuttlebug Stripes Embossing Folder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Water; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

April Showers

April is almost over so I wanted to sneak this card in before it was too late.

I found a piece of pattern paper that had little dots all over it which reminded me of rain drops, plus it matched a piece of scrap Tropical Teal I wanted to use to die-cut the umbrella.  

I stamped the sentiment on white cardstock and layered it onto Lemon Tart cardstock.  I placed the umbrella on foam tape, added the sequins and adhered it to a white card base, rounding the bottom corners.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Classics:  April
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Lemon Tart, Tropical Teal; DCWV
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist
• Tools:  PTI Scattered Showers Die; Standard Rectangle Nestabilities; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Anniversary

More watercolor!  I really like 140# watercolor paper - you can really put a lot of water and ink on it without it curling too much.

I was really just playing around with a couple of metallic gelatos when I started this card.  I liked these two colors together and just randomly brushed them on the paper, overlapping them a bit in the middle.  I had no idea what I wanted to do but like how it turned out.

I had a few felt buttons that were already cut in Raspberry Fizz and Aqua Mist and added the twine to keep them together.  Using my new Initial Thoughts stamp set, I die-cut it in Aqua Mist cardstock and stamped the outline and sentiment in black ink.  I popped up the anniversary sentiment on foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Initial Thoughts
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist; Watercolor
• Ink:  Gelatos Metallic Mint, Metallic Melon; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Initial Thoughts Die, Button Stacks Die, Button Stacks Mini Die
• Other:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Aqua Mist Felt; Twine; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

I saw this card on Pinterest by Rita's Creations - she made it as a sympathy card but I thought it was perfect for a masculine birthday!  And it was an interesting way to make the stripes in the background.

I started with a piece of Vintage Cream cardstock.  Using masking tape and Tim Holtz Distress inks, I rubbed the tape in light green ink and transferred it to the cardstock, placing it on an angle.  I repeated the same technique with darker green ink for the second stripe.  The trees and the sentiment are stamped in pine ink; I wanted this to be the darkest green and to match the card base.

The edges have Antique Linen ink around them and are distressed.  I adhered the image to a Pinefeather cardstock card base and added jute around the spine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Masculine Motifs; Stampin' Up Lovely As A Tree
• Paper:  PTI Pinefeather, Vintage Cream
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Antique Linen; Memento Northern Pine
• Tools:  Distressor
• Other:  Jute; Masking Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Watercolor Splats (MIM #161)

I was very happy to see a watercolor technique on Papertrey's Make It Monday this week.  This technique is called "Watercolor Splats" and was fun to do.  Here's the link to the video and instructions.

I decided to use my Tim Holtz Distress inks for this technique (I know they work well with water) and pulled out 3 different colors to create an ombre look.  I cut a 3.75" x 5.0" piece of white cardstock and using a dauber, rubbed the ink up and down on the card, blending some of the colors together to get lighter and darker versions of the colors.

I die-cut the "thank you" in the inked paper and die-cut it again in white cardstock.  The white die-cut was inlaid into the colored part.  I adhered the image to a white cardstock card base, and, using a paint brush and water, drew circles of water on the ink.  To get some of the smaller circles, I flicked the water from the brush onto the card.  Fun technique....I'll definitely be making more of these!

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink Festive Berries, Ripe Persimmon, Squeezed Lemonade
• Tools:  PTI Wonderful Words: Thank You Die
• Other:  Brush; Water
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Make A Wish

More watercolor!  I can't stop using this technique!

I started with a piece of 110# watercolor paper.  Using the "blue" (Cotton Candy, Blueberry, Boysenberry, Grape) gelato collection, I rubbed the ink on my kraft mat and dipped a brush with a bit of water on it into the ink.  I just tapped the brush on the paper to get this look, adding a little more color here and there to make the ink darker or lighter.  

I stamped the sentiment in Enchanted Evening ink and sprinkled it with clear embossing powder.  I heated it with my heat tool to give it a shiny, embossed look. 

I punched the butterflies in two different colors of purple cardstock and attached them with a glue dot, bending one of the wings for a little dimension.  I added the butterfly centers with Ice White Pearl Pen.  I'm so happy with the way this turned out!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Think Big Favorites #13
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Plum Pudding, Winter Wisteria; Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Gelatos
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
• Other:  Pearl Pen; Clear Embossing Powder; Heat Tool; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

Making my own backgrounds on cards is becoming a favorite of mine.  It just adds so much to the card.

I started with a Hibiscus Burst cardstock card base and stamped the flower images on it in Hibiscus Burst ink.  Next, I die-cut the flower layers in white cardstock, stamping them with Rosebud ink and the leaf veins in Dark Chocolate ink.  I put the layers together with thin foam tape and adhered it to the card.  I placed a small gem in the flower center.

I die-cut a banner in white cardstock and stamped the sentiment in brown ink.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Lovely Layers, Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Dark Chocolate; Memento Rosebu
• Tools:  PTI Lovely Layers Die, Sketched Shapes Die
• Other:  Foam Tape; Gem
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You

I made this card design before for a birthday.  I liked it so much I thought I'd repeat it as a thank you card.

I used white cardstock as my base and stamped two rows of little polka dots in light green ink.  I die-cut the flowers, stamping them in purple and orange inks; the leaves in green ink.  I added black centers to the flowers and placed them on the card; the bottom purple flower is on foam tape. 

I die-cut "thank you" in Plum Pudding cardstock and adhered it to the card.  At the last minute I decided to round the bottom right hand corner.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Ruby Reprise, Polka Dot Basics
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Plum Pudding
• Ink:  Memento Tangelo, Pear Tart, Tuxedo Black; Brilliance Pearlescent Purple
• Tools:  PTI Ruby Rose Dies, Wonderful Words: Thank You Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Congratulations

I still haven't heard of many boys being born in 2014, but it's still early in the year!

Using the back of a Sketched Shapes stamp, I stamped circles in Spring Rain ink on white cardstock. I flipped the stamp over and stamped the striped image in Blueberry Sky ink.  I never thought to use the back of a stamp before I read it on Nichole's blog!  I stamped "baby" on the circles in Enchanted Evening ink. 

I ran the stamped image through the Cuttlebug with my Swiss Dots embossing folder and adhered it to a Spring Rain cardstock card base, rounding the bottom corners.  I cut a strip of Spring Rain, stamped it in Blueberry Sky ink and matted it on a piece of Blueberry Sky cardstock.

The sentiment is adhered to the card with foam tape. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sketched Shapes, Congratulations, Tiny Tags
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, White Stampers Select, Blueberry Sky
• Ink:  PTI Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening
• Tools:  Corner Rounder; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

April Birthdays Are The Best!

I'm looking forward to each of the monthly birthday stamp sets PTI has this year.  I think it's a nice way to personalize a card a bit more.

I used a gelato on this card for my watercolor look.  I rubbed a bit of the gelato on my Tim Holtz non-stick kraft sheet, and using a brush with a little water, applied the ink to a piece of watercolor paper.  I used a thinner (90#) paper for this card since I knew I wouldn't be using a lot of water.  The ink is just randomly stroked on the paper.

I stamped the sentiment in black ink onto white cardstock, backed it with a piece of Tropical Teal cardstock and placed the circles on foam tape.  To complete the card, I wrapped white twine around the bottom and tied a bow.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Birthday Classics: April
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select; Watercolor
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Faber-Castell Spearmint Gelato
• Tools:  Standard & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities
• Other:  Twine; Foam Tape; Brush
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Easter Blessings

It's Easter!  Wishing you a wonderful day with family and friends.  I know I'm looking forward to eating some chocolate today.  haha

I started with a white cardstock card base and stamped the vines in Fine Linen ink.  I randomly added the little, purple flowers and placed the image on a Winter Wisteria card base.

I die-cut two crosses in white, embossing the bottom one.  I placed the little cross on top of the bigger cross and adhered it to the card on thin foam tape, adding a small, white pearl in the center.

The sentiment is stamped on a white circle and layered onto a light purple scalloped circle.  To finish the card, I tied white ribbon around the top.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Embellished Elegance; Tag-Its #1
• Paper:  PTI Winter Wisteria, White Stampers Select; Recollections
• Ink:  PTI Fine Linen; Memento Lulu Lavender, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Spellbinders Crosses Two Dies; EK Success 1" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Scalloped Punch
• Other:  Foam Tape; Ribbon; Pearl
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hi There!

Well, this stamp set....Grid Lines Two....I don't think I ever used it and I believe I bought it at least 4 years ago...maybe longer?  I don't know why I haven't used it, maybe I was intimidated by it since I was more of a rookie stamper?

I started with a piece of Spring Moss cardstock.  I chose this color because my friend told me she just painted her craft room the color of Spring Moss.  When she picked out her paint, she actually took a piece of Spring Moss cardstock with her and had them match the color! 

Next, I stamped the grid lines on three quarters of the paper in Spring Moss ink, since I wanted the end to be solid.  To fill in the grid lines I used two different stamp images, one for the circles and one for the areas between the circles.  I thought this would be hard to do and was pleasantly surprised it wasn't!  Now I'll need to use this stamp set more often!

I die-cut the tiny tag and stamped it with the sentiment.  I rounded the bottom corners, tied Chalk White seam binding around the card and attached the tag with Honeydew twine.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Grid Lines Two, Flower Fusion #1
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, Vintage Cream
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  PTI Tiny Tags Die; Corner Rounder
• Other:  Seam Binding; Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"