Help for Japan!!

A challenge that will help Japan?

Yes!

Use it Tuesday is dedicated to help us dig into our scrappy stash. The more entries into their current challenge, open until Friday, April 1st, the more gets donated to Japan! Details here.

The challenge:

Please make a project using the color RED in honor of Japan. Remember to use something from your stash you have been hoarding and please tell us in your post or project description what that item (or items) is!

Since I didn't have anything in particular in mind, except that I wanted to use Lawn Fawn's Lunar Lights, I checked out the current sketch at CPS (and loved some of their samples!):


This is my project:

I don't "hoard" anything specifically, I just don't get a chance to use everything I have. For this project, I opened a brand new paper pack I've had lying around, Papertrey Ink's Green Tea Leaves. I also used Bitty Box Basics, which I haven't used in ages.

The frame was done with Squares and Grand Squares Spellbinders and then impressed with the Canvas side of the Linen & Canvas impression plate by PTI.  I inked the edges with Black Soot Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

I stamped the lanterns on the white background, coloring some with Copics and paper piecing others with dimensional adhesive. I added some shading to the patterned paper with a T1 Copic. Probably should have used T2 or T3.

Thanks for stopping by! I definitely encourage you all to join in on this to help support Japan!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: True Black, Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select
• Patterned Paper: Green Tea Leaves, Bitty Box Basics
• Stamps: Lunar Lights (Lawn Fawn)
• Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black Soot (Tim Holtz Distress Ink)
• Copics: YG91, YG93, YG95, 100, T1
• Dies: Squares & Grand Squares (Spellbinders)
• Other Tools: Linen & Canvas impression plate

Stamping Vacation: Lots of Paper Challenge

This week's Lots of Paper challenge at the Stamping Vacation blog invites us to go through our patterned paper stashes and find something with circles and squares on it.

I had to go through my patterned paper stash a ways before finding success but I loved what I found!

I made a very quick and simple masculine card by inking the edges, die-cutting a deckled rectangle out of it to show the stamped sentiment and then popping it up over the card base.  Finished it off with some twine and a button.

Every entry into a Stamping Vacation challenge gives the participant a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the place of the winner's choice!

Good luck!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Fine Linen
• Patterned Paper: MVP (We R Memory Keepers)
• Stamps: Daily Designs Sentiments
• Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black Soot (Tim Holtz Distress Ink)
• Button: Enchanted Evening
• Die: Deckled Mega Rectangles (Spellbinders)
• Other Tools: Jute Button Twine

Baby Shower Invites: Ariel

I ended up with some really tiny invitations! The only envelopes I had in sufficient quantity to make invitations with were my small squares... They have all the necessary info (on the back) so I guess it doesn't really matter, though I was sad not to be able to fit the baby shower stamp on the front...

I made 20 of these babies. Cutting out the undershirts was totally fine. Die-cutting and punching out the holes in the doilies, fine. What took the most effort and frustration was getting the die cuts OUT of the die!!! Ah, the pain!

I stamped and cut out the undershirts on feminine scraps I had. This was a great way to use up scraps!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Stamper's Select
• Patterned Paper: Bitty Dot Basics, Egg Hunt, Pretty Pastels, Happy Spots
• Stamps: Bitty Baby Blessings
• Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
• Die: Doily Details (C)

Card Fix-up

I have, on occasion, gone back and fixed up a card that I wasn't entirely pleased with. In this case, my silhouette card for Stamping Vacation's Have You Tried challenge went from this:

...to this:

I finally got my paper-piecing in!

{Supplies listed on original post here with only the addition of the A2 Envelope Liner die.}

Playing in Paradise: Photo Inspiration

This week at the Scrapbooker's Paradise Blog, our Playing in Paradise challenge is some delicious photo inspiration!

I chose to go with lots of neutral tones and some bare trees...

I usually try to avoid Papertrey Ink patterned paper and image focals when doing Scrapbooker's Paradise challenges but this was where the inspiration led me.

After embossing the Spellbinders Labels 15 onto cream cardstock, I stamped the image and sentiment in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with clear powder. Leaving the Spellbinders die in place (and with a bit of masking), I initially tried to Copic Airbrush over the image area using E43, but halfway through, I ran out of air! Whoops! So I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap to finish it up... Using a tissue, I gently wiped excess ink off of the embossed image/sentiment.

I distressed the edges of some polka dot paper with my Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Distresser and added some ribbon from Tim Holtz's Lavish Trimmings.

Prize Info:  This week's prize from the new Winter CHA stock is a collection of Prima Flowers valued at $18! These babies look gorgeous!!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's projects!

Allison
Ally
Carla
Julie
Karan

Can't wait to see what you cook up! ;)

{Supplies}

• Cardstock: Vintage Cream and Fine Linen (Papertrey Ink)
• Patterned Paper: 2009 Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
• Stamps: Through the Trees (Papertrey Ink)
• Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap (Tim Holtz Distress Ink)
• Die: Labels 15 (Spellbinders)
• Ribbon: Lavish Trimmings (Tim Holtz)
• Other Tools: clear embossing powder (Filigree), ink blending foam (Inkssentials), Cuttlebug (Provo Craft), paper distresser (Tim Holtz), Bow Easy (Posi Bendr), Copic Airbrush system/E43

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop: Embroidery Floss

This month's blog hop at Papertrey Ink is all about embroidery floss. I knew immediately that I wanted to cross-stitch something... It's been too long! Plus, PTI already has the perfect stamp for this... Daily Designs by Alli Miles!

I cross-stitched the heart and a few random stitches on the Melon Berry. The stamped border on the doily is just paper-pierced. I kept the full 6-strand floss for the stitching and I think I regret it... The heart isn't too bad but the random stitches didn't turn out so well.

The background was stamped with A Little Argyle... I thought it was quite complimentary. Even though I used my Stamp-a-majig, background stamping is really not my forté.

Thanks again to Stef, who let me die cut a bunch of doilies with her dies! ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select, Melon Berry
• Stamps: Daily Designs, Daily Designs Sentiments, A Little Argyle
• Ink: Fresh Snow, Melon Berry, Dark Chocolate
• Die: Doily Details (B)
• Ribbon: Melon Berry saddle stitch
• Other Tools: embroidery floss (Prism) colored with Copic R02, lace (dollar store), paper piercer (Tim Holtz) and mat (Bazzill Basics), sewing machine/thread

Stamping Vacation: White Space Challenge

Forgot to post this earlier! Lots of stuff going on today!

Stamping Vacation's White Space challenge this month is to make a one-layer card!

This card isn't completed--I'm awaiting a specific stamp for the center--but you can definitely get the idea.

I love how bright and cheery this is! The masked frame gives the illusion of multiple layers.

Every entry into a Stamping Vacation challenge is an entry for a gift certificate drawing: $25 to the place of your choice!!

This card also works for the current Papertrey Playhouse challenge: create a card for your favorite season. My favorite season is Autumn BUT I definitely enjoy Spring as well, so this card is Spring images with Fall colors! ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select
• Stamps: Beautiful Blooms II, Turning a New Leaf, Framed
• Ink: Summer Sunrise, Terracotta Tile, Simply Chartreuse, Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Stamping Vacation: Have You Tried Challenge

This month's Have You Tried challenge at the Stamping Vacation blog invites us to make a regular stamp into a silhouette. One of the reasons I love working with Stamping Vacation is that it inspires me! I would never have thought of this idea on my own! ;)

Each entry to a Stamping Vacation blog challenge post qualifies towards a draw for a $25 gift certificate to the place of the winner's choice!

I finally got to use my Lunar Lights stamp set by Lawn Fawn.

I simply used a Copic (100) to color in the stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: True Black, Lemon Tart, Stamper's Select
• Stamps: Lunar Lights and You're Sew Lovely (Lawn Fawn)
• Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
• Copics: 100, Y15
• Other Tools: iRock/rhinestones (Imaginisce)

[Photo replaced with improved card/envelope on March 28/11.]

PTI Make It Monday: Copic Coloring on Colored Cardstock

Nothing like an alliteration in the title to draw attention...

This week's Papertrey Ink Make it Monday technique is copic coloring on colored cardstock rather than a neutral, like white or cream.

I had a card base with Beautiful Blooms paper on it from a previously failed card attempt to use up. This is the result:

I used the vellum to hide a teensy bit of paper damage. I added visual interest by scoring it. The bottom leaf is hiding a teensy score error. ;)

I had to improvise a bit with the Copics since I ran out of Colorless Blender some time ago and have yet to replace it! *gasp!* I used BG0000 to help lighten things on the flower a bit.

Other than that, the card is pretty self-explanatory. I used PTI's Simple Alphabet to make a vertical sentiment. Definitely difficult to work with those teensy stamps... (I won't say "teensy" anymore, don't worry.)

Thanks to Stefanie for letting me die cut a bunch of doilies with her dies! ;)

OF NOTE: My card from last week was featured on Papertrey Ink.com's Facebook page!!!!! So stoked!


Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select, Hawaiian Shores, Ripe Avocado, Vellum
• Patterned Paper: Beautiful Blooms
• Stamps: Simple Alphabet
• Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
• Copics: BG0000, BG23, BG49, YG93, YG97
• Die: Doily Details (A), Beautiful Blooms II (#2), Delightful Dahlia, Double-Ended Banners
• Other Tools: iRock/rhinestones (Imaginisce), scoreboard (Martha Stewart)

Baby Presents!

Quick gift tags for twins...

Just a die-cut doily...

...with the names stamped on...

So pretty when the ink matches the ribbon!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select
• Stamps: Jessie's ABCs (Lawn Fawn)
• Ink: Lavender Moon, Aqua Mist
• Ribbon: Lavender Moon and Aqua Mist saddlestitch
• Die: Parisian Doily

Stamping Vacation: What a Guy Challenge and PTI MIM

This month's What a Guy challenge at the Stamping Vacation blog invites us to create a masculine project with a boating theme. I made a card for my dad's upcoming birthday that uses the technique on this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday: embossing/impressing only part of the cardstock.

I actually lucked out that the sail stamp seems to match the impression plate. Or maybe it was subconscious... ;)

Hope you'll play along with Stamping Vacation's challenge! Every entry on the blog gives you a chance to win this month's prize: a $25 gift certificate to the place of your choice! We also have a $20 gift certificate being awarded to one of our followers when we reach 400!

Take care and thanks for stopping by!

[Edited to add: This card was featured on Papertrey Ink.com's Facebook page!!]

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Fine Linen, Ocean Tides
• Stamps: Men of Life
• Ink: Ocean Tides, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream
• Impression Plate: Sunshine
• Other Tools: Scor-Pal

Playing in Paradise Challenge #7: Color Inspiration

It's my turn for the Playing in Paradise challenge this week at the Scrapbooker's Paradise blog! I took an adorable picture of my daughter, Averi, before her 2nd strabismus surgery (hence, the inturned eye). Be inspired by navy blue, an assortment of pinks with a touch of green!

There is another prize this week! An assortment of KI Memories Puffies from Winter CHA!! So make sure to play along! :)

I had so many ideas for this and am not entirely sure I'm pleased with what I ended up with...

This is a Glimmer Mist card! I used Sapphire, Pink Taffy and Meadow Green to coordinate with the challenge colors. When using Glimmer Mist, I use rolled up painter's tape to hold down my cardstock until dry.

The flower is from Spellbinders Blossom... They have so many varieties of these! I cut the petals so I could curl them a bit.

Be sure to check out the other Design Team projects!

Allison
Ally
Carla
Julie
Karan

Thanks for stopping by! Would love to see what you create!

{Supplies}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select (Papertrey Ink), assorted Bazzill Basics
• Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
• Ink: Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink), Pink Petunia (VersaMagic)
• Dies: Blossom and Deckled Rectangles (Spellbinders)
• Glimmer Mist: Sapphire, Pink Taffy, Meadow Green (Tattered Angels)
• Other Tools: rhinestone brad (Recollections), rhinestone leaves (dollar store)

Papertrey Playhouse: Second Chance Challenge

This challenge at Papertrey Playhouse is perfect to catch up on a past challenge that I didn't have the opportunity to participate in! We have the option of choosing from the past few PP challenges OR Papertrey Ink's last blog hop, which focused on scallops. I've been wanting to play with scallops and so here is my belated PTI blog hop card:

You can see that I ended up not even using the "real" PTI scallops... I felt inspired to use the new Edgers (this card uses Edgers #1). This is a scrap card! I pulled out a bunch of scraps and threw together a few that I felt went together alright.

Which left me with more little scraps that I used to make more cards...

The color's off in this photo but this is the basic idea of my scrap cards... So quick and easy to throw together in a pinch!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

Thank You Very Much

• Cardstock: Kraft
• Patterned Paper: Bitty Box Basics, In Bloom, Distressed Dots
• Stamps: Fillable Frames #2
• Ink: Dark Chocolate
• Ribbon: Ripe Avocado twill
• Die: Edgers #1
• Other Tools: lace (dollar store)

Thanks So Much

• Cardstock: Kraft
• Patterned Paper: Bitty Box Basics, Bitty Dot Basics, In Bloom
• Stamps: Think Big Favorites #1
• Ink: Ripe Avocado
• Other Tools: Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

You're Too Kind

• Cardstock: Kraft
• Patterned Paper: Bitty Box Basics, Distressed Dots, In Bloom
• Stamps: Think Big Favorites #1
• Ink: Ripe Avocado
• Other Tools: Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Playing in Paradise: Sketch Challenge

Allison Fillo provided a terrific sketch for us to work with on this week's Playing in Paradise challenge at the Scrapbooker's Paradise blog. (Read below for PRIZE information!)

 I wanted to play with some patterned paper and chose some vivid, Spring-y colors.

I used Doodlebug's Limeade Serenade patterned paper and added a strip of vellum that I punched with Martha Stewart's Ribbon Loop punch.  I use my Xyron to adhere vellum... I love my Xyrons!

I dry embossed the dark purple cardstock with Cuttlebug's Moroccan Screen folder and rounded two corners with my Corner Chomper by We R Memory Keepers.

I added a splash of yellow using yellow Bazzill Basics cardstock and the same ribbon loop punch by Martha Stewart. The ribbon is twill.

The sentiment was done by die-cutting and embossing Spellbinders Labels 9, then leaving the die in place while using ink blending foam to add the yellow ink. The sentiment/edge ink is Memento's Grape Jelly.

Prize: This week, and for the next several weeks!, there will be prizes! New supplies from CHA!! How exciting!! For this challenge, the winner will not only get to play along with our next challenge as our Paradise Player, but they will receive a Pebbles stamp set and stickers and gems from the new Ever After collection (approx $25 retail)! So join us for a chance to win!!

Make sure to check out the other DT projects:

Allison
Ally
Carla
Julie
Karan

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies}

• Cardstock: Vellum, Stamper's Select and Royal Velvet (Papertrey Ink), yellow Bazzill Basics
• Patterned Paper: limeade serenade (Doodlebug)
• Stamp: merci (Lawn Fawn)
• Ink: Lemon Tart (Papertrey Ink), Grape Jelly (Memento)
• Die: Labels 9 (Spellbinders)
• Punch: Ribbon Loop (Martha Stewart)
• Other Tools: Moroccan Screen embossing folder (Cuttlebug - Provo Craft), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Lemon Tart twill ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Bow Easy (Posi Bendr)

PTI Make It Monday: Distressed Edges

This week's Make It Monday at PTI is one of my favorite techniques and so it was super easy for me to find a way to incorporate distressed edges in a project.

The white piece on this card was a scrap from this project here. I used it as a mask and loved the colors that were left on it. I stitched a border, distressed the edges and threw it on a beautiful Spring-colored card base (Harvest Gold)...

I love how the doily cutout looks like a flower for Spring or a snowflake for Winter...

I'm loving these PTI Make it Mondays!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Harvest Gold, Stamper's Select
• Stamps: Tags for Spring
• Ink: Summer Sunrise, Bundled Sage (Tim Holtz Distress Ink)
• Die: Doily Details Collection (C)
• Other Tools: sewing machine/thread, paper edge distresser (Tim Holtz Tonic)

Color Cue {12} Challenge

I'm sneaking this one under the wire! The deadline for the Color Cue {12} challenge is tonight!

My girlfriend is having a birthday tomorrow, she likes these colors and will enjoy this fun sentiment from WPlus9 Design Studio's So 80's stamp set (love it!).

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Kraft, Stamper's Select
• Stamps: So 80's (WPlus9 Design Studio)
• Ink: Plum Pudding, Hawaiian Shores, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
• Other Tools: Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)