Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop!


It's that time again--PTI Blog Hop time!  I really like to participate in these, but slept in a *little* late this morning and then forgot to add my post!  Sigh.  :-)  The inspiration photo is gorgeous:
I went for some focused glossiness, but wasn't really feeling the rainbow; muted colors for me:
And took about 25 photos trying to get the "glossy" to show!  Man, that was challenging!  Happy hopping, and thank you for stopping by my late entry!

Supplies:  I forgot to keep track, but I know there is PTI paper, Jenni Bowlin paper, Beautful Blooms and Sending You dies, a Sizzix embossing folder, um . . . Filigree Clear Embossing Powder, and Crystal Effects!



Monday, March 24, 2014

MFTWSC168 & ColourQ Challenge #233

Today I am combining two challenges on one card, not something I do very often.  But the sketch and colors melded so well in my imagination, that I felt like they were meant to go together!  First up, My Favorite Things Weekly Sketch Challenge #168:
And next, ColourQ's Challenge #233

I fell in love with both the sketch and the color combo--and both were a bit out of my comfort zone, so I really enjoyed combining them:
The inside:
Aren't MFT's washi tape dies and patterns SO much fun?  I can't wait to use them again! 

***I want to say thank you to the gang at Merry Mondays for choosing my card (here) as an honorable mention for last week's challenge!  What a welcome!  They sure know how to get me to come back and participate again, LOL!


Recipe
Stamps:  MFT--Washi Tape Patterns, Distressed Diamonds, Read All About It
Paper:  PTI--S.S. White, Simply Chartreuse; stash
Ink:  PTI--Smokey Shadow; Watermark
Embossing Powder:  Filigree--Clear; Stamp Diego--Ultra Detail White
Dies:  MFT--Washi Tape; Spellbinders--Classic Circles
Twine:  The Twinery
Clear Button:  Foof-a-La
Doily:  Stash
Distresser:  Heidi Swapp
Punch:  ek success

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #100


I'm back today with a card for another new-to-me challenge.  Merry Monday is a challenge blog that calls for a Christmas card every week.  What a great idea!  I would love to enter this year's Christmas season ahead of the game for once!  So, I thought I'd try to play along at least once a month.  I absolutely loved the colors for this week's 100th challenge and enjoyed making my first Christmas card of 2014!
I could seriously decorate my whole house in these colors for Christmas!  It's hard to tell, but the white "snow" is fun flock--looks cool IRL!  And here's the inside:
 
Kind of boring, I see now, but I plan to add an inside sentiment when I know who this card is for.  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Recipe
Stamps:  PTI--Happiest of Holidays
Paper:  PTI--S.S. White, Hibiscus Burst, Classic Kraft; DCWV; stash
Ink:  PTI--Raspberry Fizz
Embossing Powder:  Filigree--Clear
Dies:  PTI--Trendy Tree Tops, In the Meadow
Fun Flock:  Stampendous--Cotton Ball White
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Corner Rounder:  WRMK

Friday, March 21, 2014

MFT Color Palette Challenge: March

Hello!  I'm sorry I didn't post for several days, it was a busy week!  The garage sale went decently, not the best one I've held but worth having nonetheless.  It was really hot last Saturday, so maybe that kept people at home/at the beach!

I thought it would be fun to participate in My Favorite Things' Color Challenge this month.  It's all soft pastel shades and I sure like those!  Plus, I have a sample pack of MFT paper now, so I could use the exact ones in the challenge.  :-)  Here's my card:

(I am having tons of trouble with my light box.  I'm not sure what's changed, but I just can't seem to get enough light.  I need to trouble shoot big time.)  I used the Jumbo Party Hat die for the first time.  I love to use party hats on birthday cards, so I bought this die when it was released.  I had fun putting together a festive hat and I know I'll be making more!  I put the sentiment on a flag looped over some aqua twine.  You can sort of tell here that the words are embossed in sparkly embossing powder.  I think that and the bling on the hat look really nice in person.  Here's the inside:

Again with the weird lighting.  Anyhoo, I'm happy to have this card for my stash, and happy to play along with MFT!

Recipe
Stamps:  MFT--Party Balloons
Paper:  MFT--Kraft, Grapesicle, Berrylicious, Sour Apple; PTI--S.S. White
Ink:  PTI--Lavender Moon
Embossing Powder:  Moon Glow--Angel Wings Gold
Die:  MFT--Jumbo Party Hat
Ribbon:  American Crafts
Twine:  Pretty Pink Posh
Rhinestones:  Kaisercraft
Embossing Folders:  Stampin' Up and Lifestyle Crafts
Copic:  RV32 (used to color rhinestones to match)

Friday, March 14, 2014

PTI's March Inspiration Archive

Hello!  How is this week treating you?  I've been busy getting ready for a garage sale tomorrow, but took a few minutes to pop in here and post a card!  It's one I made from one of the "Inspiration" color combos Papertrey Ink had in their March newsletter.

Isn't that a gorgeous combo?  I could not resist.  :-)  Here's my card:

And the inside:
I will be using this color combo over and over I think!  I hope everyone has a fun weekend planned--maybe with some crafting time included!

Recipe
Stamps:  PTI--Healing Touch Sentiments, Leave It Be, Background Basics: Text Style
Paper:  PTI--Soft Stone, Soft Stone Patterns, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, True Black
Ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black; Versamark
Embossing Powder:  Filigree Clear
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Corner Punch:  WRMK
Enamel Dots:  Recollections
Flourish:  Recollections
Dies:  PTI--Beautiful Blooms II #1, Leave It Be
Felt:  PTI--Raspberry Fizz

Monday, March 10, 2014

Fusion Card Challenge #5

It's my second post today!  (For the first one, an MFT sketch challenge, go here.)  On another blog, I saw the graphic for a new challenge, called "Fusion."  It gives you a choice of using the sketch, the inspiration photo, or both.  I couldn't resist the challenge of creating a card based on both.
In the photo, I saw turquoise, mustard, white, grey-green and lace.  Not a combination I would have put together on my own . . . therefore I wanted to try.  :-)
Hee!  Thanks so much for stopping in and taking a peek!  I hope you are having a lovely week!

Recipe
Stamps:  Skipping Stones Design; PTI--Polka Dot Basics II
Paper:  PTI--Rustic White, Ocean Tides, Hawaiian Shores; Sassafrass Lass; stash
Ink:  PTI--Smokey Shadow; Versamark
Embossing Powder:  Filigree Clear
Dies:  Spellbinders--Classic Circles; PTI--In the Meadow
Doily:  Martha Stewart
Brands:  American Crafts
Pen:  Kuratake--Gold


MFTWSC166

Hello there!  Today I'm participating in a challenge--something I haven't done in sooo long!  It's a sketch challenge sponsored by My Favorite Things, #166 to be exact.  Here's the sketch:
I thought it smart to start with something simple, so when I saw this week's sketch, I thought it would be perfect for diving back into the challenge waters.  :-)  Here's my take on it, inside and out:

What do you think?  I do wish the detail on the leaves showed better--I used MFT's Royal Leaves Die-namics, and these leaves have such wonderful vein detail!  Did you notice my white gel pen stitching?  My poor sewing machine has decided to go on strike!  Too much sewing on paper, perhaps?  :-)  I need to take her into the shop and see how I broke her, lol!  In the meantime, it's stamped and penned stitching for me!  Here are the card details:

Recipe
Stamps:  MFT--Cheerful Blessings
Paper:  MFT--Razzle Berry, Cotton Candy, Chocolate Brown
Ink:  PTI--Dark Chocolate
Embossing Powder:  Filigree Clear
Dies:  MFT--Royal Leaves, Layered Heart Border (solid); Spellbinders--Classic Circles
Punch:  Fiskars
Ribbon:  Michaels
Flower:  Recollections
Rhinestone:  My Paper Studio
Pen:  Signo--White
Embossing Folder:  Lifestyle Crafts


Saturday, March 8, 2014

Amazing Friend

Hello!  Right off the bat, please forgive the photography on this card.  I made it during my hiatus, and felt at the time that it was too much effort to get the photo box, etc. out, so I did it the lazy way.  :-)
It was a fun card to make!  I know you can't tell but there is a score line about 3/4 of the way down.  Above it, the card is embossed with a Tin Types Impression Plate (PTI).  I wish it showed!  :-)  Anyhow, I got the flowers in some blog candy I won and I love them--although I didn't form them into flowers myself, it is technically my first card with sequins!  That counts, right?

Recipe
Stamps:  Hero Arts--Thank You for Being My Friend
Paper:  PTI==S.S. White, True Black
Ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black
Embossing Powder:  Filigree Clear
Flowers:  Creative Charms
Impression Plate:  PTI--Tin Types
Border Punch:  ek success
Score Pal, Sewing Machine

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Bingo Birthday

I really should have Birthday Week, or, no, Birthday Month on the blog--it seems like I am always making birthday cards!  I'll bet you feel the same, right?  :-)  This was for a sweet friend:
 I loooooove using cupcakes on birthday cards, less calories than eating them, LOL!  The "bingo card"-looking paper is just that, paper.  I didn't have an actual card, so I simply cut a section out of a 12x12 piece of numbered paper so that her age would be the center, then stamped a circle.  Not really a bingo card, but it conveys the gist, right?

Recipe
Stamps:  Inkadinkado--Birthday Cupcake; PTI--School Time
Paper:  PTI--True Black; K&Co.--McKenna; October Afternoon--Cherry Hill; stash
Ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black
Embossing Powder:  Filigree Clear
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Seam Binding:  Christopherpines (Etsy)
Rhinestones:  Recollections
Buttons:  PTI--Berry Sorbet
Floss:  DMC
Copics:  E33, E57
Other:  Corner Rounder--WRMK; Sewing Machine

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Baby, Baby, Baby

I was in need of a quick baby card recently, and it's amazing, really, how quickly this one came together.
Some PTI goodness, a few buttons and a bow and . . . instant card!  Okay, not instant, but definitely quicker than usual for me.  :-)  The baby was a girl, she's here now and cute as can be!

Recipe
Stamps:  PTI--Sweet Baby
Paper:  PTI--Harvest Gold, Lemon Tart Patterns, Classic Kraft, Vintage Cream; stash
Ink:  PTI--Classic Kraft
Embossing Powder:  Filigree Clear
Dies:  PTI--Sweet Baby, Mat Stack 3, Layerz Mat Stack 3, Doily Details A
Buttons:  PTI--Lemon Tart
Ribbon:  Offray

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Happy 80th!

Today I had the privilege of helping to celebrate the 80th birthday of a very dear lady.  She is one of the sharpest, most active, and adventurous women I know.  She is truly 80 years young!
For her card, I wanted to use her favorite color (and mine), pink, and lots of bling.  I had a hard time picking which picture to use because I couldn't get the lighting quite right to show all the sparkle.  The background patterned paper is actually fully glittered, and of course the numbers "80" are too, but you can kind of see that.  The rhinestone bling I wanted to be reminiscent of a crown, since she's definitely a queen!  :-)  Also, the ribbon looks sort of reddish, but it is actually the same deep pink as PTI's Raspberry Fizz cardstock.  And here's the inside:
What looks like water drops is actually a confetti stamp that I stamped in Versamark and embossed with crystal embossing powder--it looks pretty cool IRL.

Thanks for stopping by a taking a look!  Have a great week!

Recipe
Stamps:  PTI--Bountiful Banners, Birthday Basics,  Birthday Style
Paper:  PTI--S.S. White, Raspberry Fizz, Plum Pudding; DCWV; stash
Ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black; PTI--Raspberry Fizz, Plum Pudding
Embossing Powder:  Filigree--Clear; Ranger--Bridal
Dies:  PTI--Bountiful Banners, By the Numbers; Spellbinders--Big Scalloped Circles
Punch:  WRMK
Brads:  Basic Gray
Ribbon:  Michaels
Rhinestones:  Glitz Design 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

A Tropical Bridal Shower

Here's a card I made for a friend's Hawaiian-themed wedding shower.  I made the invitations too, but forgot to photograph them--doh!  :-D
And the inside:
I am so bad at photographing insides, because the cards will so rarely stand up.  I need to think of a solution for that!  Any ideas? 

No supply list for this one, but I did use PTI's Scattered Showers stamp set and the tropical papers are from a massive paper pad from . . . DCWV?  Either that or Recollections.  I still have tons and can't wait to use it some more this summer!

Thanks for visiting, and TGIF!  Anyone have any crafting time coming up this weekend?


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Happy Birthday, Friend!

Whew!  That was a fun blog hop!  I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the comaraderie of it all!  Today, in my quest to gradually get caught up, I have a friend's birthday card to show:

I didn't keep track of supplies, but I do remember that the paper was from a 6x6 pad (K&Co. maybe?)  And the flower is from Michael's house brand, Recollections.  They always seem to have a few on clearance, and that's when I pick them up because I can't resist anything floral! 

I decorated the inside, which I almost always do, but also added an envie liner, something I rarely take the time for.  I just loved the paper so much, I wanted to keep using it!  :-)  Oh, and the ribbon?  That was off a package--it happened to be the perfect length, no trimming necessary, and the same color as the flower!  That will never happen again, LOL!  (And the stamps are PTI--can't forget that!)  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Papertrey Ink February 2014 Blog Hop!

Welcome PTI fans!  I'm sure I know many of you, and I'm glad to meet any new folks!  I am so happy to be participating in Papertrey Ink's monthly blog hop again after so long!


The theme is "Sweet Spring."  (I think it's to cheer up those who've had such a cold, snowy winter!)  Here's the inspiration picture:






Isn't it just darling?  Well, here's my card:




And the inside . . .




The colors (Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, New Leaf, Limeade Ice, Lemon Tart and Melon Berry) just spoke to me of spring, of fresh, clear, bright colors poking up from the ground with the promise of beautiful days ahead.  I tried really hard to make a single-layer card, something out of my comfort zone (just to challenge myself) and I almost did it!  That little pink butterfly just sneaked on there, LOL!

Thank you SO much for hopping by and I hope you visit again soon!

Recipe
Stamps:  PTI--Embossed Blooms
Paper:  PTI--S.S. White, New Leaf
Ink:  PTI--Limeade Ice, New Leaf, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Melon Berry, Pinefeather
Embossing Powder:  Filigree--Clear
Butterfly:  Recollections

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Belated Birthday





I am going to post some cards I made during my "hiatus" so I can feel caught up.  The problem is, I don't have materials lists for most of them--sorry!  :-)  What I do remember about this one is using PTI's Birthday Bash stamps for the sentiment, and Banner Builder stamps and dies for the banner & pennants.  The paper was PTI's S.S. White and the patterned paper was from a 6x6 pad, but I don't remember which one.  Ribbon is Michaels and button & twine are from my stash.

*I have a question for you Blogger experts out there--is there a way I can make the size of my pictures bigger?  I seem to remember getting to choose the size once upon a time, but after lots of time looking, I can't find anything to do with picture size today.  Does it have to do with the size of my blog columns?  Any suggestions appreciated!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Hello Again!

I'm back in blogging land!  It's been over a year-and-a-half since I last posted and I have missed it!  I've made it a point to get back to papercrafting in 2014, so I am happy to have a card to post today!  (I hope I can remember how to do all this--my brain needs to become reacquainted with Blogger!  :-)
 


Recipe
Stamps:  PTI--Asian Fusion
Paper:  PTI--S.S. White; MME--On the Bright Side One
Ink:  Versafine--Onyx Black
Embossing Powder:  Filigree Clear
Dies:  MFT--Flower & Leaf Trio, Perfect Petal Trio; Spellbinders--Ribbon Tag Trio 3
Border Punch:  ek success
Brads:  K&Co.