Post It Birthday--Lorraine

This card is another Post It birthday card! I made it for Lorraine, the ever patient. Her birthday is December 2. I sent this . . . um . . . the very beginning of March? Anyway, she accepted the late birthday wishes with grace, and I vow to be more on top of things from now on! :-D

***I had the biggest thrill today! I was the featured customer on Our Daily Bread Designs design blog! Take a look! Isn't that cool? :-D

Supplies
Stamps: Skipping Stones Design--Funny Coffee Vol. 1; PTI--Tiny Treats: Valentine
Paper: PTI--Sweet Blush; K & Co.; Chatterbox; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Ranger--Old Paper & Frayed Burlap Distress Inks; Embossing Powder--Ranger Super Fine Detail
Die: Spellbinders--Labels 16
Copics: R20, RV32, E04, E17, E41, E70, YG91, YG93, YG97
Misc.: Flowers--stash; Ribbon--Michaels; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug; Corner Chomper, Sewing Machine

Make It Monday Challenge #8/CR84FN21

It's MIM time again at Papertrey Ink! This week's challenge is to use ink shading on your project. I've only ever inked the edges of my paper, so fortunately there's a video by Betsy Veldman showing how to do something a little more elaborate! I chose to use the colors from the CR84FN21 challenge--just because I loved them. Isn't their graphic gorgeous?

First I embossed BB: Text Style over the cream background with clear embossing powder. Next, I stamped images from Life in Smokey Shadow. Finally, I used three Distress Inks to shade the background, and wiped the excess ink off the embossing. I added mats, ribbon, a tag and trim, and trimmed one end with pinking shears. Not unique, but a good canvas upon which to practice a new technique!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Life, BB: Text Style, Tiny Tags
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Scarlet Jewel, Simply Chartreuse; stash
Ink: PTI--Smokey Shadow; Watermark; Versafine--Onyx Black; Ranger--Antique Linen, Aged Mahogany, Shabby Shutters Distress Inks; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear
Die: PTI--Tiny Tags
Ribbon: PTI--Scarlet Jewel Bitty Dot
Misc.: Trim--stash; Floss--DMC Ecru; pinking shears

Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge!

I can't believe I'm remembering--on time--to participate in this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop! The challenge is to use embroidery floss in a "fun and inventive way." Although I have just about every color DMC floss from my cross stitch days, I was initially stumped. And then one night, as I was just drifting off to sleep . . . this idea popped into my head! Fortunately, the next day was my day off so I could make the idea a reality before I forgot it, LOL!


I selected the butterfly image with the lines from Butterfly Kisses (one of my first PTI sets--I would love to see the Design Team revisit this one!) and stamped it in a very light color to use as a guide. I stitched every other line in a deep mauve color (please, PTI, come out with an ash rose/mauve color, pretty please!). Next, I blended a lighter mauve color with a platinum-y metallic thread and stitched the remaining lines. Using a Smokey Shadow-ish color, I stitched a little body and teeny antenna. Then I curved the Birthday Wishes stamp from the same set and stamped it underneath the stitched butterfly. I attached the circle they are on slightly tilted because, well, I thought it looked cooler that way! :-D I matted the white circle with a pearlescent mauve one, and placed them both on a Labels 3 die cut of Ocean Tides Bitty Box Basics.

The background on the Ocean Tides cardstock I created by stamping the asterisk-like flowers--big and small--and the littlest solid butterfly image, all from Butterfly Kisses as well, in watermark ink and then embossing them with a sparkly embossing powder. Finally, I made a french knot in the center of each of the larger flowers, in an Ocean Tides-like floss, to create some tone-on-tone texture. I hope you like it!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Butterfly Kisses
Paper: PTI--S.S. White, Ocean Tides, Bitty Box Basics; Best Occasions--Pearlescent Paper Pack
Ink: Watermark; Versafine--Onyx Black; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear and Ranger--Bridal Tinsel
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles & Labels 3
DMC Floss: 317, 778, 927, 3726, 30762

Make It Monday Challenge #7

If you frequent the PTI forum, I think you know who this card is for. Lee Anne has been in my thoughts since we heard the sad news, and I am praying for her and her son daily. I know from following her blog that Wishing You is one of her favorite stamp sets, so it was an easy choice for me when making her a sympathy card. I shaded the leaves and tulips a bit with copics, trying out this week's MIM challenge to use copics on non-neutral cardstock. Otherwise, it's a simple card for one of those very tough times.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Wishing You
Paper: PTI--Smokey Shadow, Simply Chartreuse, & Sweet Blush; Basic Grey--Olivia
Ink: PTI--Sweet Blush & Simply Chartreuse; Watermark; Versafine--Onyx Black; Embossing Powder--Stamp Diego Ultra Detail White
Die: Spellbinders--Labels 4
Brads: Basic Grey--Urban Prairie
Copics: R20, YG 95; Colorless Blender

HEC #15

HEC, it's time for Ted's Happily Ever Challenged again! (Details here.) For March, Ted's challenge requirements were that the card 1) include a shamrock (with three leaves not four!) and 2) be in the colors of the Irish flag: green, white, and orange. So here's my entry. I made my own shamrock, using three heart die cuts and a free-cut stem. I distressed the white layers with a little neutral distress ink and the orange layers with white. The ribbon is Martha Stewart seam binding. Right now, my Michael's has a ton of Martha Stewart ribbon on clearance for $1, regular price $6.99! I went a little crazy. ;-> I feel like I'm kind of stuck in a rut with those side loops w/buttons, but ribbon is generally my biggest challenge in card making. I need a remedial ribbon class, help! :-D

Supplies
Stamps: Impression Obsession--Mini Messages
Paper: PTI--S.S. White; Zoe Pearn digital paper--Hawaiian Sunset; stash
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Fresh Snow; Ranger--Pumice Stone Distress Ink; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear
Dies: PTI--Heart Prints; Spellbinders--Labels 8
Misc.: Border Punch--Fiskars; Embossing Folder--Cuttlebug; Copic--T1; Buttons--Foof a La; Baker's Twine--stash; Ribbon--Martha Stewart; Corner Chomper

Post It Birthday--Denise

This card was for sweet Denise. I used one of my all-time favorite PTI images--the cupcake from Baby Button Bits. LOVE. I had this on display in my craft room before I sent it (late, of course) and a friend saw it and went crazy for it. She said it was made in "ice cream colors" and she wants one just like it for her birthday! Well, that's one card I won't have to brainstorm. :-D

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Baby Button Bits & Vintage Picnic
Paper: PTI--Kraft; Kim Hughes--Mocha Chica
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Ranger--Frayed Burlap Distress Ink; Embossing Powder--Ranger Super Fine Detail Clear
Dies: PTI--Mat Stack 3; Spellbinders--Labels 8
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Ribbon: PTI--Sweet Blush saddle stitch
Button: PTI--Sweet Blush
Misc.: Pearls--Zva; Copic--E47 (for pearls); Corner Chomper

Post It Birthday--Anne

This is a fun card I made for Anne's birthday. It was a little late. :-D But it made it all the way to New Zealand safely--whew! I embossed the edges of the Labels 10 die cuts with crystal powder (looks greenish here?), and just kept bending up that ribbon! The hat is from a set by K & Co.--I fell in love with it and this is the first card I used one of them on. It won't be the last!
Happy Birthday again, Anne!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Birthday Bash Sentiments
Paper: PTI--S.S. White, Lemon Tart, Orange Zest & Hibiscus Burst
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Hibiscus Burst; Watermark; Embossing Powder--Stampendous Crystal
Dies: Spellbinders--Labels 10
Ribbon: Michaels
Party Hat Sticker: K & Co.
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Make It Monday Challenge #6

Hello! I hope you're having a good day as you read this! I've felt kind of "off" today, and am just now starting to feel like myself--just in time for bed, LOL! Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday challenge for this week is partial impressing/embossing. I used PTI's Book Print impression plate to make my impressed layer (the yellow one). I've added a close up of it in case the overall picture doesn't pick up the impression. I impressed at an angle, because I thought it fit in with my angled layers--in a way, it's like a fourth angled layer, don't you think? That giant flower is one I rescued--it was part of the decoration for an event at church, and they were just going to throw them away! Picture me leaping in slow-motion, my arms outstretched, "Nooooo" escaping from my lips as I catch the blossoms just before they hit the trash! Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit, but come on, a crafter can make anything work, right? I have two more to play with!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--It's Official
Paper: PTI--Terracotta Tile, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise & Vintage Cream
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Chai Tea; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear
Impression Plate: PTI--Book Print
Die: Spellbinders--Ribbon Tags Trio
Misc.: Border Punch--EK Success; Baker's Twine--stash; Flower--Michaels

WMSC #38

I made a little something for Waltzingmouse's Sketch Challenge this week, and most importantly, I got it uploaded on time, LOL! I decided to make a tag, not something I do often--but the design just cried out for one, don't you think? Although I'm not particularly knowledgeable about it, I love Asian design & art and think Claire's Asian-influenced sets are just gorgeous. I don't have anyone in mind to give this to yet, but when I do, I'll make a card for the occasion to go with it. (And put a gift inside, of course!) :-D

P.S. They're hard to see, but there are three clear rhinestones on the tag where the three buttons are on the sketch.

Supplies
Stamps: WMS--Asian Gardens & Faux Fun Circles
Paper: PTI--True Black & S.S. White; DCWV--Cotton Bloom Stack
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Embossing Powder--Filigree Clear
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Circles
Misc.: Rhinestones--Recollections; Ribbon--Michaels; Twine--The Twinery Charcoal

JUGS #75 & Totally Hues #3

Hello! It's Papertrey release day and my day off! Woo hoo! ;-D I had a great deal of fun in my craft room making this card. Just Us Girls' challenge this week was to use the "acrylic smash" technique. Not only had I never tried this technique, I had never even heard of it! So of course I had to try it! It involves putting acrylic paint on the back of a stamped piece of acetate card stock, and wasn't hard at all, although it was a teeny bit messy and there's room for improvement. :-) I used the color palette from Heather Pulvirenti's Totally Hues #3 challenge because a) I loved it, and b) it references PTI colors, so I had the exact right ones. I can see myself using this color combo again, for sure.

Did you see what stamp set I used on the acetate? Yep, that's 2010's CHA exclusive set, Four of a Kind! After forever being too late to nab the ones that go on sale on the PTI forum from time to time, I lucked out--Lisa from Oregon (West Coast) put her items up at night, and I was the first person to PM her about this set! I will NOT let this year's CHA go by without a proxy shopper!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Four of a Kind, Background Basics: Petal Power, & Asian Fusion
Paper: PTI--S.S. White, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, & Clear
Ink: StazOn--Jet Black; Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, & Orange Zest
Paint: Making Memories--Sunflower; Plaid--Metallic Pearl White (I mixed them.)
Dies: Spellbinders--Classic Square & Labels 10
Misc.: Ribbon--Michaels; Baker's Twine--The Twinery Lemondrop; Tulle--Michaels; Button--PTI Summer Sunrise; Corner Chomper; Ranger Tiny Attacher

SSD #67

It's sketch challenge time for Skipping Stones Design. I *just* ordered a few sets (to add to my funny stamps stash :-) and was thrilled to have the time to make a card for this weeks challenge! I could not RESIST this newish set, Birthday Purses, because my girlfriends, who had been threatening to take me to the Coach outlet at the border for ages, finally succeeded and we spent a great afternoon purse shopping recently! (I was good and just got a makeup bag--which I needed--gotta save that disposable $$ for stamping supplies, right?!) This birthday card is for my BFF, who is somewhat obsessed with purses, lol. I always make her two cards, one funny and one elegant, so this can be the funny one! :-D I just got Cosmo Cricket's new UPcycle 6x6 paper pad--OMG, it's great! And just the thing for a card about purses . . .

Supplies
Stamps: SSD--Birthday Purses
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream & Hibiscus Burst; Cosmo Cricket--UPcycle
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Ranger--Mustard Seed & Antique Linen Distress Inks; Embossing Powder--Ranger: Super Fine Detail Clear
Dies: Spellbinders--Labels 14; PTI--Eyelet Border
Misc.: Flowers--Prima; Pearl--American Crafts; Ribbon--Offray & Michaels; Pen--atyou Spica Sand & Pink; Raindrops--Cloud 9 Design; Corner Chomper(s)

Make It Monday Challenge #5

Make It Monday challenge #5 from Papertrey Ink was to distress your edges! (Details here.) No problem . . . I had some fun distressing all the edges on this card, both with a distresser tool and with ink. Hopefully it will brighten someone's day!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Floral Frenzy & Up, Up and Away
Paper: PTI--Spring Rain & S. S. White; stash scraps
Ink: PTI--Fresh Snow; Versafine--Vintage Sepia; Ranger--Antique Linen Distress Ink
Dies: PTI--Beautiful Blooms II #2 & Buttoned Up #2
Misc.: Felt--PTI Harvest Gold; Ric Rac--stash; Floss--DMC Ecru; Heidi Swapp Distresser; Corner Chomper

Papertrey Paper Dolls Blog Hop Challenge

Looking back, I *think* the first challenge I ever entered was one from the Papertrey Paper Dolls--one of the supportive blog commenting/challenge groups that have sprung up on the PTI forum. I joined the Pixies when it was formed, but that group has unfortunately fizzled out, so I leaped at the chance to join the Post-Its, which is proving to be a wonderful experience! Anyway, I have kept a sweet spot in my heart for the Dolls, and so I wanted to be sure to participate in their first blog hop and blog hop challenge! (Info here, go check it out! Lots of VERY talented ladies!)

The challenge is to use items for/on your card that begin with "P," "T," and "I" to honor the PTI stamp company that brought them all together. Fun idea, huh? The Dolls are coming up on a year together, as well as welcoming some new members, so I made them a card celebrating that! For my card, I used: P = paper (hee!), pennants, purple, polka dots, and presents; T = twine, both baker's and jute-style; and I = impression plate (linen on the solid purple layer, doesn't show up at all (!), and ink: stamp ink, shading ink, and the white ink I used to color in the flowers on the kraft layer.

Ta da! Congrats on your first happy year, Paper Dolls, and may you look forward to many more!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Make a Wish, Fresh Alphabet, Polka Dot Basics II, Background Basics: Spots & Dots
Paper: PTI--Royal Velvet, Kraft, S.S. White; stash
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Watermark; Ranger--Dusty Concord Distress Ink, Memento--Grape Jelly
Dies: PTI--Banner; Spellbinders--Classic Ovals
Twine: PTI--Rustic Jute; The Twinery--Lilac
Punches: Hole punch--Fiskars; Border punch--Martha Stewart
Misc.: Fun foam

JUGS #74

(Apologies for the not-so-fancy picture--I missed this card when I had my "stuff" set up--probably because it was on display!) :-)

This week's Just Us Girls challenge is a sketch challenge (details here) and isn't this a unique sketch? It's based on a card by Lauren Meader--her card is gorgeous, see it here--and I had to try it out. I embossed the card base with dots, added Egg Hunt papers from Papertrey Ink because it's feeling Springy around here, and used a coaster, trim, and flower to match. No stamps, I can't believe it! Might be a first. :-D

Supplies
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Egg Hunt
Ink: Ranger--Antique Linen Distress Ink
Buttons: PTI--Plum Pudding & Orange Zest
Misc.: Coaster & string--We R Memory Keepers; Flowers--Prima; Die--Spellbinders Mega Ovals; Corner Chomper

ODBDSLC #51

This card is for Our Daily Bread Designs' challenge this week: to use at least two of the following colors: ivory, yellow, pink, and blue. I, of course, chose all of them. :-) I made this for a friend who's going through a bit of a tough time right now and can use some encouragement. I notice that the pink looks peachy in this picture, and it is, but not quite *this* peachy. It's a really pretty paper from Sassafras's Indie Girl pad, and I noticed that Michelle Wooderson used it on her project for today too! (And the color is a lot better on her blog. I really need some tips for my dark pictures!) Creative minds think alike? More like "coincidences happen," LOL!

Supplies
Stamps: ODBD--Grow in Grace
Paper: PTI--Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening, Lemon Tart; Sassafras--Indie Girl; stash
Ink: Versafine--Vintage Sepia; PTI--Chai Tea Duo; Embossing Powder--Ranger Super Fine Detail Clear
Copics: R01, R12, R21, YR23, YR31, G21, G99, YG63
Dies: PTI--Medium Scalloped Border; Spellbinders--Labels 16
Misc.: Ribbon--stash; Raindrops--Cloud 9 Design; Impression Plate--PTI Linen; Sewing Machine, Corner Chomper

Christmas in . . . March!

You know how over at the PTI forum, there's a thread that focuses on getting Christmas cards done throughout the year rather than facing a huge task at the last minute? Here's my first effort for Christmas 2011! These are the first of the cards for my book group. I can't resist stamps that involve books and/or reading, and so when I first saw Bellas a couple of years ago, it was a no brainer that Bookwormabella was my first one! I decided on an easy to reproduce design, and it proved to be . . . except for the coloring, of course! Man, that takes a long time. But, I only have 12 to make, so if I do 4 per month, I'll have them done in no time. I, um, was way too on top of things and cleaned everything up without writing down a supply list so . . . sorry about that. :-> That's Bookwormabella by Stamping Bella, of course, sheer ribbon from Michaels, buttons from PTI, a Spellbinders labels nestie, and odds and ends of Christmas papers from the last few years. And a bunch of Copics. :-D

Happy Little Bitty Bird Birthday!

Here is a card I made for a friend who loves to sing. I think she'll get a kick out of it. :-) I've had the Beautiful Blooms II paper for awhile . . . and I finally used it! I just got Little Bitty Bird, and I've already used it! I'm so proud of myself, LOL. Here are the details:

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Little Bitty Bird, Birthday Basics, Background Basics: Sheet Music
Paper: PTI--S.S. White, True Black, Beautiful Blooms II
Ink: Versafine--Onyx Black; Versacolor--Bamboo; PTI--Chai Tea; Embossing Powder--Super Fine Detail Clear (Ranger)
Dies: PTI--Little Bitty Bird; Spellbinders--Big Scalloped Squares
Buttons: PTI--True Black
Ribbon: PTI--Pure Poppy
Misc.: Rhinestones--Andro; Copics--YG91 & YG93; Smooch--Pool; Brads--American Crafts

Mr. & Mrs.

This card was for a young couple at church who eloped. It was so romantic! They're so young! I feel so old, LOL! :-D I drew the colors from their invitation to the reception and was happy that the Linen Closet papers were a perfect match. (You can't tell, but the flowered paper is glittery IRL.) I finally got to use a lovely organza flower I won as blog candy from Michelle Philippi awhile back because it was just the right color. Simple, but I love it.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Big & Bold Wishes & Fancy Flourishes (on envelope); Verve--Thankful Accents
Paper: PTI--Fine Linen, Aqua Mist & Hawaiian Shores; DCWV--Linen Closet
Ink: Watermark; Embossing Powder--Filigree Gold
Ribbon: Offray
Flower: Handmade Flowers (etsy)

Make It Monday Challenge #4

This week's Make It Monday challenge for Papertrey Ink is to use fun foam on your project for stamping and/or embellishments. (Details here.) I was wowed when I watched Heather Nichols' video on using fun foam--it was an "a-ha" moment when I saw how easily it cuts with even intricate dies and realized that you can stamp on it too! Ooh, the possibilities! So, I thought of what I considered a clever idea using Wise Owl. I sat down tonight to execute it and . . . I struggled. I mean I really, really struggled. Nothing came out how I pictured, and I was hampered by the fact that I only had fun foam in one color--white--which I had *just* purchased to make buttons with PTI's new button dies. I scrapped my first idea and went with #2. That was just as bad, although I did keep the die cuts to use on something else later. I really wanted to both stamp with and use fun foam die cuts on the card, so finally, I threw my hands up and did something simple, not-so-creative, and boring. Ta da! LOL! But I got something done, darn it, and if a great new idea pops into my head tomorrow at work, I'm ignoring it! ;-D

Supplies
Stamps: PTI--Fillable Frames #5 & 6
Paper: PTI--Kraft
Ink: PTI--Plum Pudding & Fresh Snow; Versafine--Onyx Black
Dies: PTI--Fillable Frames #6, Buttoned Up #1, and Beautiful Blooms II #3
Misc.: Fun Foam; Twine--Lilac, The Twinery