A {Get Well Soon} Card...

Another day, another PTI challenge.  I was so happy to see that today was a sketch challenge.  Today I used yellows and kraft, which I think is a widely underutilized color combo.  The light yellow is PTI's Lemon Tart and the darker yellow is CSS's Say Yellow to All Your Fans.  I love how they look together.

I decided to use an image stamp in the center of the card instead of just the sentiment like the sketch suggests.  I don't know about you, but it really doesn't bother me that the colors I use for the wreath/berries are those that wouldn't be found in nature.  Maybe a lemon tree?  Anyway, as long as it goes with the card, I'm cool with it.

The rhinestones were originally clear and I colored them with an orange-y yellow copic marker.  I love that trick!  


Well, it just started snowing here which is really exciting since we haven't really gotten any snow this year.  It's actually supposed to stick this time.  The kids usually have at least 5 snow days by now and we've only had one due to ice.  I'm making a big pot of chili tonight (bean chili that is) and I can't wait to have a cozy night at home.  At lease at home after my kids' Valentine's Day dance if it doesn't get cancelled due to bad weather.

My son's teacher asked me to organize this year's Valentine's Day party and I've been having so much fun finding activities.  I'm making a word search using all the names of the students in his class which my little guy is really excited about.  I also printed off some Valentine Bingo Cards and I'm going to punch a ton of hearts from card stock to use as covers.  It's going to be fun!

Have a great weekend!

{Get Well Soon}

Stamps: Wreath for all Seasons, Text Style, Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Say Yellow to All Your Fans (CSS), Lemon Tart (PTI)

Ink: Glamazon Green, Espresso Your Style (CSS)

Accessories: Clear Rhinestones, Buttons, Floss

Copic Marker: Y38 

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Papertrey Ink January 2012 Blog Hop...

I should be doing a million and one other things right now, but I'm just going to quickly post this for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.  The card on the left is one that I made last year for a Make-It-Monday Challenge and I just love it.  Click here to see that original post.  I happened to need a birthday card for my nephew today, so that's pretty much why I went in the direction I did.  Lots of masking going on here.

This card is pretty small, about 3"x 4".

Okay, off to wrap a present for my nephew to go with the card.

Have a great day!

{Make a Wish, Gabriel}

Stamps: Text Style, Fresh Alphabet (Papertrey Ink), Background Basics I (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Trendsetter Blue, Kraft Like a Rockstar (CSS)

Ink: True Blue Fan, Brown Leather Satchel (CSS)

Accessories: Circle Punch, Number 3 Mask (Silhouette), Brad, Stamping Sponge, Pen

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A Shabby Chic {Thinking of You} Card...

Look at me!  I totally remembered how to make a card. I hadn't planned on taking so long in between posts, but sometimes the mojo or the motivation is just not there.  I took a trip to Michaels on Friday since they had a huge sale on yarn + a 25% off your entire purchase coupon.  Anyway, I stocked up on yarn and lingered in the papercrafting department trying to find something that tickled my fancy, but I really didn't find anything.  I don't know what it is about Michaels, but I can have a gift card and coupons and still leave empty handed.

So, I ended up buying two paper pads by K & Co.  They are totally not my style.  I'm not a shabby chic person really, but I just had to buy something.  I think this card turned out pretty good though.  I really love the layout and the rhinestones.

It's actually been a while since I've used patterned paper on any of my cards.  It was fun mixing and matching patterned again.


Have a great day!

{Thinking of You}

Stamps: Text Style, Polka Dot Basics, Iconic Images (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Ancestry (K & Co.)

Ink: Brown Leather Satchel, Dish All the Dirt Brown, Paint the Town Pink (CSS), Vintage Cream (PTI)

Accessories: Tags Die 1 (CSS), Sheer Cream Ribbon (Offray), Rhinestones, Foam Dimensionals, Circle Punch, Button, Glue Dots

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A {hi} Card...

Today is the third day of our cruise and our kids will open this card:

I messed the background up on this one a bit, but not enough to scrap it and start over.  I know my kids won't mind since they will be too distracted by the glittery letters.


Today we are at sea.  We'll probably play some bingo, swim, lay in the sun, read, relax and eat a lot.

Have a great day!

{hi}

Stamps: Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Glamazon Green, Green With Envy, Kraft Like a Rockstar, A Blanc Check (CSS)

Ink: Glamazon Green, Green With Envy, Emerald Bling (CSS)

Accessories: Heart Punch (Paper Shapers), Foam Dimensionals, White Floss, Small Hole Punch, Edge Distresser, Chipboard Glitter Letters (Me & My Big Ideas)

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An {Ahoy!} Card...

Today is the first day of our Caribbean cruise!  We are going with some close friends.  It's sure to be a great time.  Our kids are staying with their grandparents and I've made a card for them to open each morning.  Today is the first morning and this is the card I made for them.  I think it's pretty appropriate.

Today we are flying from Cincinanti to Orlando and then driving to Cape Canaveral where we will board the ship.  As I'm writing this I'm missing my kiddos already, and we haven't even left yet!


Have a great day!

{Ahoy!}

Stamps: Across the Miles, Alpha Varsity (Clear & Simple Stamps), Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS), Spring Rain (PTI)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Your Style Blue Me Away, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Silver Brads, Foam Dimensionals, Top Note Die (SU), White Floss

Copics: B93, B95, W3, W5 

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A {Thinking of You} Card...

I think this is the first card I'm sharing using the new limited edition stamp set that I received at the PTI Stamp-A-Faire.  This set is full of iconic images like the silhouette I used on my card.  I also love that this set includes a few larger than normal sentiments.  


I masked the center of the card with a square post-it note, stamped the text, then outlined the pot-it note with pencil to create a frame.  I removed the post-it note and stamped the silhouette and sentiment.  The finishing touches are the rhinestones and the floss.

Have a wonderful weekend!

{Thinking of You}

Stamps: Iconic Images, Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Vintage Cream (PTI)

Ink: Coral Necklace, Dish All the Dirt Brown, Brown Leather Satchel (CSS)

Accessories: Brown Floss, Rhinestones, Pencil

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A {Celebrate Your Day} Card...

Hi all! I thought I would make a card for PTI's Make It Monday Challenge.  I think this'll be one of my new weekly challenges.   This week the challenge was to make a card using a two-step masking technique.  First you mask the center rectangle to create the outside frame, then you mask the outside frame to stamp in the center.  Nichole shows some shortcuts in her video that I wouldn't have thought to do.  It's always worthwhile to watch the video even if you are familiar with the technique.  I learn something new every week.

Like the card I made last week, I used a background text stamp to make the frame.  I masked off the frame and stamped the flower, then masked the flower to stamp the leaves.  There's a lot of masking going on!!!

The flower and leaves were colored with ink and an aqua-painter.  I did it quickly and it does look like watercolor.  I applied a red rhinestone to the center of the flower and then outlined it with some smaller clear rhinestones.  


I'm starting to love these one layer cards.  It's really getting me out of my comfort zone in a good way.  


Have a great day!

{Celebrate Your Day}

Stamps: Signature Greetings, Text Style, Friends 'Til the End (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: SS White (PTI)

Ink: Green With Envy, Dare to Be a Diva Red, Brown Leather Satchel, Dish All the Dirt Brown (CSS)

Accessories: Red Rhinestone (Kaiser Craft), Clear Rhinestones (Michaels), Aqua-Painter, Stamping Sponge

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A {So Sweet of You} Card...

Hello!  Well, I wasn't planning on making another card for PTI's Make-It-Monday Challenge, but I just couldn't get the idea of this card out of my head.  Like the card I posted on Monday, this card uses reverse masking.  I used the largest Labels 9 Spellbinder die to create a template (or stencil) with printer paper.  Once the I had the template in place, I stamped the text background in red and then sponged red around edges, lighter toward the center.

I picked up some new rhinestones at Micheal's the other day.  These are iridescent, which is a little hard to see in the photo. I love that they'll go with any card.  So fun!

Have a great day!

{So Sweet of You}

Stamps: Signature Greetings, Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft, Pure Poppy (PTI)

Ink: Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS), Vintage Cream (PTI)

Accessories: Rhinestones (Michaels), Labels 9 Nesties (Spellbinders), Baker's Twine

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A {Thank You} Card...

Hi!  We've had storms this morning and my kids totally subdued.  I've been taking advantage of that have been getting things done around the house.  So, this card is for this week's PTI Make-It-Monday Challenge.  I have found that even if I'm familiar with the technique, I still learn something new from watching the video.  In this one Erin showed how to make your edges of the reverse mask more defined by inking the edges.  


My card actually used two masking techniques.  First I cut out a rectangle of printer paper, placed it in the center and stamped text over it.  When I removed the mask I was left with a blank rectangle in the center of my card.  I used reverse masking for the red heart.  I punched a heart from some printer paper, used the reverse punch (paper with heart punched out of it) and stamped the flower image in the heart.  I then sponged some red ink lightly all over the heart.  Then I removed the printer paper.  

This card was so close to be one layer!  I couldn't help it to add that blue heart.  I decided to add a frame to clearly define the rectangle.  I used a plain old black ballpoint pen and ruler.  


Have a great day!

{Thank You}

Stamps: Friends 'Til The End, Text Style, Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: SS White (PTI), Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful, Perfect Little Black Dress, Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS)

Accessories: Heart Punches (Paper Shapers), Ruler, Black Pen, Foam Dimensionals, Red Rhinestone (Kaiser Craft)

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A {Welcome Summer} Card Re-do...

Hey guys!  I'm almost embarrassed showing my face today.  I can't believe it's been 6 days since I've posted anything.  It was a totally unscheduled break.  For some reason, the last few weeks of the school year are always crazy busy and this year wasn't any different.  When I had time to be creative, I was exhausted.  I know you guys understand.

So, I was getting some cards ready on Monday (63 to be exact) to submit to CARDS Magazine (hopefully at least one will be accepted) and I was looking at some of my really old cards, ones that I would be too embarrassed to give away.  Do you have a stack of those?  Anyway I was thinking it would be fun to re-do some of those cards and see how much better my skill set is now.  Well, the first card I picked was one I made before I began blogging.  It was a Christmas card I made about 60 of and sent out to all of our friends and family.  I really liked the layout, so that's pretty much all I kept the same.

Original Card

Card Re-do

I really do still like the original card.  I love those lightbulbs and how they look like glass (they were covered with glossy accents).  It would be fun if I still had those stamps to make use them, but that was all the way back in 2007.  So, my new card uses 4 stamp sets.  I didn't have that luxury back in the day.  If you are having a hard time reading the sentiment, it says "Welcome Summer", which we finally are doing.  


The major differences are the stamps used and the overall feel of the card.   I replaced the brads with buttons, used some edge distressing, added a little interest around the sentiment (they are little cream leaves).  I left the ribbon off completely   

Original Card

Card Re-do

I also added some dimension to this card by using foam dimensional adhesive behind the leaf squares.  


I hope you thought today's post was fun.  Hopefully I make-over a few other cards.  It's fun to see how we've all evolved in this little crafty world.  

Have a great day!

{Welcome Summer}

Stamps: Icons I, Happy Fall (Clear & Simple Stamps)Wreath for All Seasons, Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Glamazon Green, A Blanc Check (CSS)

Ink: Green With Envy (CSS), Vintage Cream (PTI)

Accessories: Buttons (PTI), Edge Distresser, Foam Dimensionals, 

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A {One-of-a-Kind Friend} Card...

Hey friends!  I received so many kind comments on the text background and layout of this card, I thought I would try it again.  The Silhouette Studio Store has a free image every week and last week the free image was the dress form I used on today's card.  It cuts in two pieces, the entire dress form and then shirt/dress part.  


To make the masked text background I created an image using the Silhouette Studio.  I simply made a rectangle that was 5.5" x 4.25" and then inside that rectangle I cut another rectangle that was 3.5" x 2.25".  Once this was all cut out, I removed the middle rectangle, placed the paper (looking like a frame) over the card front and then stamped the text.  Since the text turned out so faint I used a white gel pen to outline the box, tracing along the lines of the mask.  Easy peasy!


I have a fun weekend planned.  Tonight is a girls dinner at my friend's house.  She has a meal planned that celebrates the Chinese New Year.  That should be fun and interesting.  It's impossible not to have fun when I'm with those girls.  Tomorrow night is a date night with my hubby.  Hopefully dinner and a movie and then we'll end the night watching our cousins make fools of themselves doing karaoke.  And then of course Sunday is the SuperBowl.  We'll be cheering on the Packer's at a party at another friend's house.

Hope you all have a fun weekend ahead of you!

{One-of-a-Kind Friend}

Stamps: Friends 'til the End, Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Patterned Paper: Early Bird (Cosmo Cricket)

Ink: Warm Red (Colorbox), Chocolate Chip (SU)

Accessories: Foam Dimensionals, Red Floss (DMC), Red Rhinestone (Kaiser Craft), Circle Punch (SU), Digital Cut Dress Form (Silhouette), White Gel Pen (Sakura)

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An {I love you} Card...

Hey guys!  Valentine's Day is coming up and I've been noticing that I've been making a lot of cards with hearts on them lately.  Feeling all lovey-dovey I guess.

I started this card off with some cream card stock, I masked the edges before I stamped the text.  The heart was cut using patterned paper and my Silhouette. I love the window effect.

It's hard to see, but all of the edges of the cream card stock are sponged with light pink ink.  I struggled with adding more to this card.  I thought of adding a little something to the sentiment panel, but in the end I like the CAS look best.

Thanks so much for stopping by for a little visit.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!

{I love you so much}

Stamps: Text Style, Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Patterned Paper: Be-Loved (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: A Clean Slate (Clear & Simple Stamps), Pretty in Pink (SU) 

Accessories: Foam Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge, Digital Cut Heat (Silhouette)

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Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - January 2011

Hello blog hoppers!  It seems like a while since I've been able to participate in the PTI blog hop.  I'm so glad that Papertrey made their hops all day long so people like me that forgot still have time to participate.  This month the challenge is to use a PTI stamp set that you've bought and not used yet (none of those here!) or to use a set that you haven't used in a while.

So, for my card I chose to use the sentiment from A Wreath For All Seasons.  I bought the set to make Christmas cards, which I did, and then they haven't seen any ink since. I also used Text Style to create a block background type of effect.  I thought I would use this set all the time, but I haven't used it in a while either.  

Thanks so much for stopping by for the hop.  Have a great day!!!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: A Wreath For All Seasons, Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: Be-Loved (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: A Clean Slate (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Accessories: Digital Cut Flowers (Silhouette), Foam Dimensionals, Button, Floss

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My Official 2010 Christmas Card...

Hello, hello!  I mailed out our Christmas cards on Friday, so I thought it would be safe to share them with you here today.  I tried to pick a very simple design, but nothing is ever simple enough when you are making 75 cards!  My cards used 5 different stamps (wreath, sentiment, text background, trio of berries, single berry).  What was I thinking?  I spent two Girls Craft Nights, a Sunday in front of the tv watching the Bengals lose, and an evening home alone to make these cards.   


So, here it is. Our official 2010 Christmas card:

Sorry it's a little bit dark, I took about 40 photos and I couldn't get it any better than this.  Here's another view of the sentiment and text background:

And here's the inside:

And here's my name stamped on the back:

And here's what my kitchen table looked like as I was getting ready to adhere the inside panel, stuff them in envelopes and apply the mailing labels.  

I mailed 60 of these.  My extended family is rather large!  The remaining 15 will be delivered in person to neighbors and teachers accompanying some homemade goodies.


Whew, I feel so much better now that these are finished!  If you are interested, here are my 2009 and 2008 Christmas cards.


The kids had their first snow day today.  We're getting ready to head out and play in the snow.  Have a great day!

{Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year}

Stamps: Signature Christmas, Wreath for all Seasons, Text Style (Papertrey Ink) 

Card Stock: Kraft, Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Moss Green, Warm Red (Colorbox), Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Spiral Notebook Die (Papertrey Ink), Foam Dimensionals, Red Floss (DMC)

 

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OCC Challenge - Sketch Challenge

Hello!  I'm here with a fun sketch challenge from Our Creative Corner.  I seriously think sketch challenges are my favorite.  It's so easy to make a card when you don't have to decide on a layout.  I am really digging the color combo on my card.  Blues, browns,and a lime-y green have such a calming feel.  

The background text is stamped using Versamark.  I love the pops of green and I tried to use the "rule of threes" by having those pops of green on three place on my card.  I think it looks balanced, what do you think?

I hope you'll check out all the other awesome creations over at Our Creative Corner.  If you're getting crafty this week, I hope you'll join our challenge.  


Have a great rest of your weekend!!!

{Thinking of You}

Stamps: Text Style (Papertrey Ink), Essential Messages (Hero Arts)

Card Stock: Ocean Tides, SS White (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: Offbeat (Basic Grey)

Ink: Moss Green (Colorbox), Versamark

Accessories: Coluzzle, Parakeet Brads (Bazzill), Heart Punch (Paper Shapers), Foam Dimensionals

 

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Our Creative Corner - Inspiration Challenge

Hello!  I hope you are all enjoying your Saturday so far. This week is an inspiration challenge at Our Creative Corner.  Diane has picked a lovely and serene image for us.  I took inspiration from the soft, muted colors as well as the vase of flowers.  

I broke out my Pocket Silhouettes set from Stampin' Up.  I haven't used it in forever because, quite frankly, I thought it was retired.  I have to say those images go perfectly with the inspiration photo.  

It's very subtle, but I stamped text using cream ink onto the kraft card base. I think it really softens the card.  

 If you feel like getting crafty you should definitely give this challenge a try.  Make sure you stop by Our Creative Corner and check out the rest of the card samples.  

I hope you all have a great weekend and have a safe Halloween.  Don't eat too much candy!

{Friend to Friend}

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes (SU), Text Style (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft, Lemon Tart, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink), Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery (SU)

Ink: Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink), Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan (Colorbox), Certainly Celery (SU)

Accessories: Spiral Notebook Page Die (Papertrey Ink), Floss (DMC), Curly Label Punch (SU), Stampin' Sponge (SU), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Latte Pearls & Light Green Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft)

 

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