Merci

Thought I'd add a post today just because this date only happens every four years. Yes, it's February 29th or Leap Day.

I bought this set, City Scene a long time ago because I had to have it. Have I used it? No I have not! As I mentioned, I'm trying to use sets I haven't used yet or haven't used in a while. Inking up this set was long overdue!!

I rubbed a little bit of Aqua Mist ink on white cardstock to create the sky. The Eiffel Tower and the road are both stamped with Smokey Shadow ink. The trees are stamped in Kraft ink - a few are stamped fully inked and a few with the ink stamped off first.

The card and sentiment are stamped in Pure Poppy ink. I mixed a bit of Kraft ink with water and flicked the splatters on the card with a toothbrush. The panel is on a Pure Poppy cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps: PTI City Scene, Winter Hills, Special Delivery, Think Big Favorites #3
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Pure Poppy
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow, Kraft, Aqua Mist
• Other:  Toothbrush
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sending Get Well Wishes

I couldn't wait to get my hands on PTI's 2016 anniversary stamp set - I really like any type of layering done with stamps. This year's set is called "Painted Petals" and is available until February 2017 using "reward points" (see their website for details).

On white cardstock, I stamped the first layer of flowers in Berry Sorbet ink and the second layer in Pure Poppy ink. I used Harvest Gold ink for the centers and those surrounding little dots in Smokey Shadow ink.

The leaves are stamped in Spring Moss ink and the little flowers in Berry Sorbet. The sentiment is also stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. I like how the "g" in sending has a space where you insert the rest of the sentiment. I rounded the one bottom corner to finish the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Painted Petals
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow
• Tools: Corner Rounder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Watercolor Resist (MIM #240)

Lexi is the host for this week's MIM #240: Watercolor Resist, using rubber cement to create a watercolor resist effect. I didn't have any rubber cement so ran to the store yesterday to purchase it.

I drizzled the rubber cement on a piece of watercolor paper and let it dry. I wet the paper with water and brushed Spiced Marmalade ink over the panel, seeing the watercolor resist happen right before my eyes! I was surprised the ink turned out to look more yellow than orange, but that was okay. But now, what to do with this panel???

I'm trying to use some of my older stamps and dies that have been neglected and pulled out my Beautiful Beads die. I die-cut the panel and placed the strips diagonally across a piece of white cardstock, leaving a space in the middle for the sentiment.

Thanks is die-cut once in gold foil paper and twice in white cardstock, stacked and glued together for dimension. Once I had the card completed, I was happy with the way it looked. However, the embellisher in me wanted to add something else. I tried a butterfly and thought - you know, it looks good just the way it is. Walk away....walk away....walk away!  lol

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor; Gold Foil
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade Distress
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint, Beautiful Beads
• Other:  Rubber Cement
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey February 2016 Blog Hop Challenge

This month's challenge reminds me that Spring is on it's way with the soft greens and pinks in the inspiration photo. I knew I was going to use Spring Moss and Sweet Blush for my colors and just needed to come up with the right stamp set!

I decided to use Year of Flowers: Violets since it has a large flower like the one in the photo. I stamped the flower in Versamark ink, sprinkled it with Blush embossing powder and heat set it. Next, I placed a mask on top of the flower, stamped the leaves in Versamark, sprinkled them with white embossing powder and heat set them.

Using a dauber and Sweet Blush ink, I lightly rubbed ink on the flower, making some areas darker than others with a bit of Berry Sorbet ink mixed in. The leaves are done the same way with Spring Moss ink. For the flower center, I stamped it on white cardstock, heat embossed it and lightly rubbed Berry Sorbet ink on it. The middle dots are colored with a black marker. I fussy cut the center and placed it on foam tape for dimension.

To make the stenciled background, I covered the flower and leaves with a mask and rubbed Spring Moss ink over the stencil onto part of the panel. I thought this stencil design looked like the pattern on the napkin in the photo. I stamped the sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink and placed the panel on a Spring Moss cardstock card base. A bit of crochet twine and a few pink blush sequins (aren't those sequins in the photo?) finished off the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Year of Flowers: Violets, Think Big Favorites #24
• Paper:  PTI Spring Moss, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Spring Moss, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Smokey Shadow; Versamark
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  PTI Modern Background Stencils; Zing Embossing Powder; Crochet Twine; Foam Tape; Pretty Pink Posh Sequins; Black Marker
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrate - It's Your Birthday

Can you believe we're already more than halfway through February?

I bought the Shaker Shape: Balloon die a few months ago, and of course I'm just getting around to using it. I wish I could be more timely using my things but I don't seem to be able to work that out. lol

The balloon is die-cut with Blueberry Sky polka dot pattern paper and adhered to white cardstock at a slight angle. Celebrate is die-cut three times, stacked and glued together. I added the balloon string in Kraft cardstock and placed the panel on a Kraft cardstock card base.

The sentiment is stamped on Kraft cardstock in Blueberry Sky ink and on fun foam for dimension. I added the stars in Blueberry Sky and Kraft inks.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Good Times, Star Scribbles
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select, Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky Polka Dots
• Ink:  PTI Blueberry Sky, Kraft
• Dies:  PTI Shaker Shapes: Balloon, Good Times
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sending You Birthday Wishes

It's been a while since I used a Phrase Play die so I pulled it out for this card.

I started with a piece of Enchanted Evening cardstock and added a layer of Blueberry Sky polka dots.  Phrase Play is die-cut several times with Kraft, Enchanted Evening, White and Pure Poppy cardstock. I placed the completed die-cut on a white stitched rectangle.

The stitched stars are die-cut in Pure Poppy cardstock. I tied light blue string around the bottom of the  card....I'm not using jute for once! The rectangle is on fun foam for dimension. My last step was stamping "birthday wishes" on Blueberry Sky cardstock and adhering it with foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #6
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening, White Stampers Select, Pure Poppy, Blueberry Sky, Blueberry Sky Polka Dots, Kraft
• Ink:  PTI Blueberry Sky
• Dies:  PTI Phrase Play #6; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Stitched Stars
• Other:  String; Fun Foam; Foam Tape
• Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

2016 Calendar

Last year I made a bunch of these calendars, but ran out of time to make them for this year. So I only made one for a friend that uses it on her craft table.

For the design I used Winter Woods, stamping the branch in Dark Chocolate ink and the leaves in Spring Moss ink. The bird is die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Enchanted Evening and black inks. I placed the bird on a bit of foam tape for dimension.

The calendar is layered on a piece of Spring Moss cardstock with a piece of fun foam for dimension. The top portion of the card is cut in Enchanted Evening cardstock with Card Edgers #4. I tied a single piece of jute around it, threaded with a New Leaf button. I also added glitter to the leaves.

The size of the calendar is 4.5" x 5.5, so it's a perfect size for a small area.

Project Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Winter Woods
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Spring Moss, Enchanted Evening
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Enchanted Evening; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Winter Woods, Card Edgers #4
• Other:  PTI New Leaf Button; Glitter; Fun Foam; Jute; Taylored Expression Calendar
• Size:  4.5" x 5.5"

Customizing Patterned Paper (MIM #239)

I wasn't expecting a Make It Monday this week and certainly not on a Wednesday....but there it was posted on Nichole's blog today! MIM #239: Customizing Patterned Paper is hosted by Lizzie and she shows us how to change pattern paper with stamps.

I wasn't sure which patterned paper to use and pulled this box pattern from Chocolate Remix. I stamped the star circles in Blueberry Sky and Pure Poppy inks. To the center of the stars, I added a smaller star in the opposite color ink.

Celebrate is die-cut 4 times in Pure Poppy cardstock, stacked and glued together. I wasn't sure I liked the red on red and die-cut the word again in Blueberry Sky cardstock, slightly overlapping it to show both colors.  I placed the panel on a Pure Poppy cardstock card base, leaving 1/4" of the card base showing on the left hand side. I wrapped jute around the spine and rounded the corners.

This sure makes a nice masculine birthday card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Boy Basics: Simple Circles, Star Scribbles
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, Blueberry Sky, Chocolate Remix
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy, Blueberry Sky
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint III
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Jute
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Praying For You

Time for another simple card.

On white cardstock, I stamped the leaves in Spring Rain ink and the berries and sentiment in Smokey Shadow ink. The panel is adhered to a Spring Rain cardstock card base.

I added white crochet thread around the card to jazz it up just a bit. Sometimes less is good. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Harvest Berries, Keep It Simple: Praying For You
• Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Spring Rain, Smokey Shadow
• Other:  Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Valentine's Day!

I didn't post this yesterday because I planned on posting two items for PTI's 9th Anniversary Celebration and three posts in one day seemed a bit much! 

On white cardstock I layered the black and white pattern paper, adding a strip of red polka dots at the top and bottom. I die-cut three hearts, one in solid red, one in polka dot and one in white, where I added the red outline and sentiment. The hearts are on foam tape for dimension.

I tied seam binding in a bow and placed a heart stick pin through it, adding a couple of beads and pearls. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Framed Out #11
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select; Authentique Lovely
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Limitless Layers: Hearts, Framed Out #11
• Other:  Stick Pin; Seam Binding; Foam Tape; Beads; Pearls
• Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

PTI 9th Anniversary Celebration - Day 10

Here's my second post for today. We've come to the end of the anniversary celebration.....now all that's left to do is buy the new products tomorrow! I can't wait to place my order!!

Day #10 Challenge:  Paper Crafting Alphabet Challenge! Use anywhere from the first three to ALL of the letters in your first or last name. (Nichole provided the alphabet list.)

Using my first name, this is what I had to work with:

l - lean your sentiment on an angle
a - add a border
i - use an impression plate or do some sort of dry embossing
n - try a new product that you purchased but haven't used yet
e - incorporate an emboss resist technique
y - incorporate a shade of yellow

I used my Linen & Canvas Impression Plate on white cardstock. Next, I die-cut the onesie in white cardstock, stamped the image with Versamark ink, sprinkled it with white embossing powder  and heat embossed it. Using Lemon Tart ink, I rubbed the ink over the onesie, adding a bit of Harvest Gold ink to the edges. I stamped the little elephant in the center using Mint Julep ink and placed it on a stitched circle cut with Mint Julep cardstock, a new color I haven't used yet. The circle is on fun foam for dimension.

For the border, I cut a 1/4" piece of Lemon Tart Stripes paper. The sentiment (also not used yet!) is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink on Lemon Tart cardstock and placed on an angle above the onesie. The sentiment is on foam tape. For embellishment, I added a few clear sequins and white ribbon.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Bitty Baby Blessings, Keep It Simple: Baby
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Mint Julep, Lemon Tart, Lemon Tart Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow, Mint Julep; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Linen & Canvas Impression Plate, Bitty Baby Blessings; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Circles
• Tools: Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Ribbon; Pretty Pink Posh Sequins; Fun Foam; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

PTI 9th Anniversary Celebration - Day 9

Today Nichole would like us to send a card to the PTI warehouse staff, those who are responsible for getting our goodies packed and shipped out to us F.A.S.T. They do a great job and should be recognized!

Day #9 Challenge: Create a thank you card and mail it to our warehouse staff.

On white cardstock, I rubbed a little bit of Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores inks to create the sky. The mailboxes are stamped in black ink and colored with Copics. I normally color the mailboxes in grey, but I wanted the card to be brighter and selected a few of my favorite PTI colors. It's hard to pick just four since I like almost all of them! lol

I was going to put grass around the mailboxes, but with the frigid weather we're having right now, a  snow drift seemed more fitting! I placed it at the bottom of the mailboxes and added a glitter line along the drift. I stamped a few letters in coordinating cardstock and put them in the snow like they fell out of the mailboxes.

After I completed the card, I decided to add falling snow. I used a stencil and embossing paste to create this look. I was going to mask the mailboxes but I think the snow on top of them looks more realistic. I stamped the sentiment on a piece of Hawaiian Shores cardstock and placed it on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mailbox Greetings, A Big Thank You
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select, Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG49, E33, E35, R27, RV17, T2, W1, Y38, YG93
• Dies:  PTI In The Meadow
• Other:  Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow Stencil; Embossing Paste; Glitter; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"