Just a little something...

TGIF! Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes yesterday. We are actually going to my brother's house tonight to celebrate my birthday, my Mom's birthday, and it's a housewarming party for my brother and sister-in-law. Are you still with me? Anyway, I need a housewarming card. Since I don't really know what I'm getting them yet, I know it's going to be "just a little something". This card came about because of the limited supply challenge today at SCS which was to use a die cut as your focal point and only sentiment stamps. So this card uses a bunch of dies (see supply list at the bottom). I used some stickles on the flower and leaves to brighten things up a bit.

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks so much for stopping by!

PS. It looks like you all really want to learn how to use buttons with shanks (yes, there is a term for the buttons with the loop on the back!!!) on your cards. I'm planning a tutorial but have to wait to get the 'go-head' from Paper Maniac. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read this post from yesterday.

{Just a little something}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: SS White, Ripe Avocado, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Old Olive (SU)
Accessories: Pearls (Michaels), Sizzix Top Note Die (SU), Sizlits Birds & Blooms Die (SU), Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger), Coluzzle, Edge Distresser (Heidi Swapp), Foam Dimensional Tape

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From me to you...and a quick question

Hello! First, if you missed my big announcement yesterday, click here!

Now, about the card. This card is tiny! It's 3" x 3", perfect to slap on a gift (and the sentiment is perfect for that as well).
Take a look at these buttons! My Mom just gave these to me last week. My Grandma has been collecting them for over 30 years! The buttons I used for this card came from this stash. They make perfect cherries!
Now, a quick question. Would you be interested in a tutorial showing how to use these types of buttons your cards (picture below)? I'll be doing some tutorials for Paper Maniac and this may be my first one if enough people are interested. It was not obvious to me how to use them, but I figured out a way and it's easy.

I hope you enjoyed another button card from me today. Also, today is my 30th birthday!!! Happy Birthday to me!

PS. This card uses office supplies (staples) which is for today's ways to use it challenge at SCS.

{From me to you}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: Lavender Moon, SS White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Certainly Celery (SU)
Accessories: Buttons (from my stash), staples, ribbon (offray), scallop rectangle nesties (Spellbinders), Foam Dimensional Tape

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It's Official!!!

I can officially tell you all that I am now on the Design Team for Paper Maniac LLC. If you are not familiar with Paper Maniac, it is a brand new online scrapping store that will be offering a wide variety of stamps, papers, tools, and embellies. Here's a little something from their website: "We are a brand new company established by avid crafters who are looking for high quality, unique products for our crafts and the classes and inspiration to keep us learning new techniques and new ways to use our stashes. We are also dedicated to providing goods and services not only to hands-on crafters, but those who work in the digital domain also." You can read the design team announcement on the Paper Maniac Blog.

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to be a part of this company. Thanks Patti!

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Sending a smile across the miles...

Hello! Here is my card for today's sketch challenge at SCS. I am determined to use every image and sentiment from my newest stamp set, Everyday Button Bits from Papertrey Ink. It's not very often that you love every single thing about a stamp set. I usually find myself using the same element over and over again. I thought the bicycle image went perfectly with the sentiment and I think the color scheme is very calming.

Well, have a great day everyone. I will be back soon with a big announcement!!!

{sending a smile across the miles}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: SS White, Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Modern Milan Paper Stack (me & my BIG ideas)
Ink: Not Quite Navy (SU)
Accessories: Scallop Rectangle Nesties (Spellbinders), Ripe Avocado Vintage Buttons (Papertrey Ink), Foam Dimensionals, Sheer Ribbon (Offray)

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A Raspberry Suite Card

Hello all!!! It's about time I returned with a card for you. We had a busy weekend and I needed an extra day to get caught up.

As you can see, I pulled out my sewing machine for this card. I think the sewing part turned out okay, but I fixed the tension and I think next time I try it will go a little smoother. Well, this card is for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. The challenge went up this morning just as I was deciding what I would do for today. I know you are probably sick of these balloons, but I love them and they are an easy way to add color to your card (especially in a color challenge).
Hope you enjoyed today's card. Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by today!!!

{Soaring by to say hi}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: SS White, Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Thread, Sewing Machine, Sizzix Top Note Die (SU), Ripe Avocado Vintage Buttons (Papertrey Ink), Glue Dots

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Papertrey Ink July Blog Hop

Hey guys! While you are reading this, I'm in the middle of my little girl's birthday party. I wanted to make sure I had a card ready to post and I'll have to sneak away to post a link on the Papertrey Ink Forum. This month, blog hop participants were to make a card/project using text of any kind. I chose to use a page from a magazine.

I used Everyday Button Bits as for my stamp set. I love this set (so glad I was able to get it before they were sold out!). I used my Coluzzle to cut out the big circle and the small ovals. The edges of the ballons are sponged with pink ink, but it didn't really show up in the picture. I cut little pink triangles to make it look like a real balloon with a knot.

Here's a close up to show that the balloons are popped up on foam dimensionals. If you want to see all of the other blog hop entries, click -->HERE and look for "July Blog Hop" and then "list of participants".

Have a great rest of your weekend and enjoy the hop!

{here to give you a lift}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado, Plum Pudding (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink), Pink Passion (SU)
Accessories: Edge Distresser (Heidi Swapp), Coluzzle, Foam Dimensionals, Rhinestones (Michaels), Magazine Page

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One more birthday card...

Here is the last birthday card I needed to make for the big birthday party this weekend. Today's card is for my niece Lexus. We are having a birthday party for my daughter Halle and her two cousins since their birthdays are all within a few weeks of each other. You can see Halle's card here and Kimberly's card here.

Once again, this card uses Everyday Button Bits from Papertey Ink. I cannot tell you how much fun this set is to play with. I sewed the buttons right on the card with one length of floss instead of sewing six buttons and tying them individually. KWIM?

Okay, I'm to start cleaning the house for the big party. Have a great weekend blog buddies!

{Lexus' Birthday Card}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: SS White, Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink) Certainly Celery (SU)
Ink: Certainly Celery, Ruby Red (SU)
Accessories: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Buttons, Floss (DMC), Scallop Edge Punch (SU), Foam Dimensionals, Stampin Sponge (SU)

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Halle's Birthday Card...

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by today. We have a big birthday party coming up this weekend for my daughter Halle, and her two cousins, Lexus & Kimberly. So, that means I need three birthday cards. This card from yesterday is for Kimberly and today's card is for Halle. She specifically picked the hot air balloons for her card. She also wanted a little girl standing by the balloons (which I guess would be hand drawn by me) but I think I'm going to try and do that on the inside- LOL!
Here's a closer view so you can see the dimension of the image panel and the curve of the sentiment (you can see another card with that same technique -->HERE).

I'll be back tomorrow with a card for Lexus. I have it all sketched out, but for some reason it never turns out like I expected. Have a great rest of your day!

{Halle's Birthday Card}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: SS White, Raspberry Fizz, Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive (SU)
Accessories: Floss (DMC), Buttons (Stash), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Corner Rounder Punch (EK Success), Foam Dimensionals, Glue Dots

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Sending Birthday Wishes

Hello! This card uses a new Papertrey Ink stamp set that just came yesterday. It's called Everyday Button Bits and I am quickly falling in love with it. This is one of those sets that can be used for any occasion and come with such a great mix of images and sentiments.

This card is clean and simple and I love all the white negative space. So crisp!
It is dark and rainy here today, so I had to take these pictures inside. Sorry for the dreary-ness. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

{Sending Birthday Wishes}

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: SS White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Urban Priaire (Basic Grey)
Ink: Basic Black (SU)
Accessories: Green Vintage Button (Papertrey Ink), Other Buttons (Walmart), Corner Rounder Punch (EK Success), Pink & Yellow Ribbon (Offray), Foam Dimensionals

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"Diagonal Rays" Card

Hello! I watched this fun video on Kristina Werner's blog last week and thought I would give the "Diagonal Rays" technique a try.

The patterned paper I used is from K & Co. (designed by Amy Butler). I think it's the first pack of patterned paper that I have used every single piece all the way down to the scraps. Such a great value and I love how all the papers go with each other. You just can't go wrong mixing and matching your papers with this pack.

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by!

{"Diagonal Rays" Thank You}

Stamps: Thank You Kindly (SU)
Card Stock: Kraft, Ivory (SU)
Patterned Paper: Amy Butler Pattern Pack (K & Co.)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Accessories: Pearls (Michaels), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Ribbon (Offray), Foam Dimensionals

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A masculine "I love you" card...

I am so glad I made a card last week and didn't post it. It came in handy to post today since I am exhausted from a totally fun weekend. The entire Grothaus clan went boating yesterday. It was a lot of firsts for me and the kids (Scott is a veteran boater). We went water skiing, tubing, and I even tried kayaking. Such a great time. It really felt like going on vacation even though we were only 30 minutes from our house and we didn't stay overnight. We forgot our camera, but I'll definitely post some pics when I get some from my Sister-in-laws.

Anyway, I have been browsing the new SU catalog and have realized how I've been neglecting my curly label punch. That was a "must have" purchase and I used it a lot in the beginning and then I think it got lost in my punch drawer.

This is a very clean and simple card. No need for bows and bling on a guys card. The curly punch is popped up on foam dimesionals for added interest. I used a 1/2" circle punch to round the edges on the sentiment panel. Hope you like it.

I'm off to take a pain reliever. This amateur is sore from having so much fun yesterday. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

{I love you}

Card Stock: Garden Green, Ivory (SU)
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch (SU), Foam Dimensionals, Pearls (Michaels), Script Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Ribbon (Michaels), Chit Chat Rub-ons (SU)

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Oh, Happy Day!

I love this card!!! I saw this technique in the new Stampin' Up Catalog and I just had to try it. I'm going to call this technique "faux tufted buttons". Hope that makes sense. Here is a picture of a tufted couch. Pretty cool, huh? Anyway, the scoring was a bit difficult, but I finally figured it out after the third try.

I forgot to mention that this card was made using Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I didn't have any dark red paper or ink, so I decided to print my own sentiment on the computer in a burgandy color.

Here is a close up of the sentiment. I used a Curly Label Punch popped up on foam dimensionals. The leaf was stamped on cream paper with Certainly Celery Ink and then sponged with the ink as well. The edges of the sentiment panel are sponged in Pink Passion.

I love those pearls. The perfect accent!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

{Oh, Happy Day}

Stamps: Friends til the end (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: Spring Moss, Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink), Cream (SU)
Ink: Pink Passion, Certainly Celery (SU)
Accessories: Paper Trimmer w/ Scoring Blade, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Curly Lable Punch (SU), 1/4" Circle Punch (SU), Latte Pearls (Kaiser Craft), Stampin' Sponge (SU), Foam Dimensionals, Mono Aqua Liquid Glue (Tombow)

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A Perfect Pair

Hello! Thanks so much for stopping by today! I made another long and skinny card today. The finished size is 4"x8". I really should get some long and skinny envelopes so I can actually give them away. This card uses today's "ways to use it" challenge which is to use a pair of anything on your card. I picked butterflies from the Papertrey Ink set called Butterfly Wishes. I had not intended for this card to be monochromatic, but that's how it ended up.
Check out this curved sentiment. I've been seeing that treatment a lot lately and thought I would give it a try. I just used my scissors on a narrow strip of paper like you would use to curl ribbons on a present.
I love how my butterfly centers look. I believe this is the first time I've sandwiched a larger pearl between two smaller ones. The pearls add a certain elegance to the card.

Hope you've enjoyed today's card!

{A Perfect Pair}

Stamps: Butterfly Kisses (Papertrey Ink)
Card Stock: Sweet Blush, SS White (Papertrey Ink), Ruby Red (SU)
Patterned Paper: Urban Prairie (Basic Grey)
Ink: Ruby Red, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Pearls (Michaels), Chit Chat Rub-ons (SU), Red Grosgrain Ribbon (Offray), Lattice Arch Punch (Martha Stewart), Button (Walmart), Thread (DMC), Glue Dots

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KWerner Color Challenge #56

Here's my card for Kristina Werner's Color Challenge #56. I was working on a card this morning when this challenge was posted. I completely abandoned the card I was working on so I could participate in the challenge! I am a challenge junkie. I admit it. Anyway, this card is a CASE of a card on page 62 of the new Stampin' Up catalog. I was looking through the catalog last night copied down a few layout sketches to use in the future. The finished size of this card is 8"x4"- a long skinny card.
Here's a close-up so you can see the layers and dimensions.

Have a great day!!!

{my fabulous friend}

Stamps: Friends 'til the End, Butterfly Wishes, Around & About Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: SS White, Lemon Tart (Papertrey Ink), Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red (SU)

Ink: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss (SU)

Accessories: Gem Rhinestones (Martha Stewart), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Coluzzle, Foam Dimensionals, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart)

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