Papertrey Playhouse and Moxie Fab

A new Papertrey Playhouse challenge is up: mix up some PTI stamp sets! I used Door to Door, Damask Designs and Spiral Bouquet for my Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger inspired card.

I took the tulips and damask elements of the photo and incorporated it into my project. I have another idea for this, too, but doubt I'll have time to squeeze it in. ;)

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Fine Linen, Stamper's Select White
• Stamps: Damask Designs, Spiral Bouquet, Door to Door
• Ink: Versamark, Memento Desert Sand (both Tsukineko), Frayed Burlap Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Dies: Door to Door Accessories
• Other Tools: Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), iRock/rhinestones (Imaginisce), Copics

Papertrey Playhouse: My CAS Challenge

I recently took the Clean and Simple course at OnlineCardClasses.com, though I haven't had a chance to participate in any of the "challenges." I thought I would carry the theme over to the new Papertrey Playhouse challenge.

The Challenge:  Create a card using only 3 decorative elements, not including the card base (or sentiment, if applicable).

For my card, I used a strip of patterned paper, a Spellbinders die and a pearl heart.

Hope you'll play along! You can link up at the Papertrey Playhouse blog or below. A new challenge will be up in two weeks.

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select White
• Patterned Paper: Simply Valentine
• Stamps: Fillable Frames #10
• Ink: Pure Poppy
• Dies: Labels 4 (Spellbinders)
• Other Tools: Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), pearl heart (dollar store)

A Bit of Quick Gift Tag Mass-Production

I don't know if this counts as "Faux Mass Production" or not but I used Kay's idea from the last Papertrey Playhouse challenge.

I threw together a few Christmas tags using the similar elements and slight layout variation.

Here's a shot of a single tag:

Super simple process! Die cut tag, punch out snowflake, I used some Tiny Tag and Holly Jolly die cuts I had left over from other projects and, after a bit of quick stamping, added rhinestones.

I've always been of the mind that using pre-made tags is much simpler but all my pre-mades moved to Victoria with my mother (by accident).  ;)  Since I've already wrapped some presents, tags are pretty handy to remember what's inside for who!  ;)

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Kraft, green (Bazzill?)
• Patterned Paper: Holiday Flourishes & Swirls
• Stamps: Tiny Tags II
• Ink: Pure Poppy, Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
• Dies: Tag Sale #4, Holly Jolly, Tiny Tags
• Other Tools: snowflake punch (Martha Stewart), jute button twine, red rhinestones (dollar store)

Sending Hugs

It's been awhile!!

I've been keeping busy trying to organize my house... If you're interested, feel free to check out my little projects here.

I managed to squeeze a card in today for a friend who's unwell. Even though I usually keep track of blog challenges that I'd like to participate in, I didn't have anything in mind for this other than using some PTI that I haven't yet used (Papertrey Playhouse challenge here). It turned out amazing! ;)

I based my card on the Half & Half stamps/dies. Loved this idea by Nichole (and still do)! I stamped the pattern with Aqua Mist ink and the flourishes and sentiment in Dark Chocolate. I inked around the die cut and the Vintage White card base with Dark Chocolate ink. I scored between the lines of the sentiment and used it as a guide to place a string of pearls. I also placed a pearl in the center of the flourishes.

The sunflowers were die cut, stamped in Memento Cantaloupe ink and edged with Tea Dye Tim Holtz Distress Ink. I didn't like the amount of white around the petals (since I ended up going with a Vintage White card base) and so trimmed them up. The leaves are Ripe Avocado ink and the center is, once again, Dark Chocolate.

The card accompanied some delicious Pumpkin Loaf! I usually make this type of stuff from scratch, but this was a pre-mix from Costco and SOOO delicious!

Looking at this, I wish that I had remembered to coordinate the envelope... It would've been so much prettier!

Thanks for stopping by!

[Edited to add:] Linking this up to the Bling challenge at Lily Pad Cards!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Vintage White, Stamper's Select White
• Stamps: Half & Half, Simple Sunflower
• Ink: Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado, Memento Cantaloupe (Tsukineko), Tea Dye Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Dies: Half & Half, Simple Sunflower
• Other Tools: pearls, ink blending foam (Inkssentials)

Papertrey Playhouse "Use It" Weeks 3 & 4: Dies, CAS-ual Fridays and Simon Says Stamp

I'm back with Part 2: Weeks 3 & 4 of my Papertrey Playhouse "Use It" challenge. This time I'd like to encourage you to use a PTI DIE that you have yet to use!

It's quite possible that you HAVE used them all, so you can, alternatively, use one that hasn't seen love in awhile.

I hadn't used my Vines border die (among several others!)...

I used the CAS-ual Fridays challenge as a guide for this one: 3 monochromatic colors plus brown.

Simon Says Stamp has an "anything goes" challenge going on right now. Love!

Hope you'll play along!

[Edited to add:] I'm linking this to the Lily Pad Cards bling challenge here.

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst
• Stamps: Baby Button Bits
• Ink: Dark Chocolate
• Dies: Vines
• Other Tools: E57 Copic, glue pen & Prisma glitter, Dark Chocolate and Sweet Blush buttons, white embroidery floss, Stardust Stickles (Ranger)

"Use It" Challenges at Papertrey Playhouse/Use It Tuesday and Freshly Made Sketches

I volunteered to fill up a month-long gap between challenges we had over at Papertrey Playhouse. I decided that I wanted to use this opportunity to give my uninked Papertrey Ink stamp sets some love! So...

Weeks 1 & 2: Create a project that uses a stamp from a stamp set that has never seen any ink!

(The beaks and legs don't look green IRL!)

I used two previously unloved stamp sets here: Bundle of Love and Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs. As this is the first multiples card I've had the pleasure of creating, this sentiment has never seen ink either.

I set the scene with a whole lot of paper-piecing! My favorite little feature is the "bow" I stamped on baby girl's head using the tiny hearts from Bundle of Love. It's difficult to tell in the photograph, but there is the teeniest pink rhinestone I've ever worked with at the junction! And check out those cute little rosy cheeks peeking out! I'm gushing like an idiot...  ;)

After laying the focal point on the card base (sometimes I remember not to stick everything together right away!), I decided I didn't like all that white space. Too much white just didn't work with this card! The problem was that I couldn't find a substitute card base color that I cared for. So as a Papertrey fanatic, what did I do? Stamped it, of course! The tab image worked absolutely perfectly around the square focal point! It looks like whimsical lace or something.

I may go back and round the corners... Anyone for? Against? Love feedback!

The interior of the card (not pictured) uses Fillable Frames #5, another stamp set that hadn't been used.

This sketch also works wonderfully for this week's Freshly Made Sketches: 

Thanks so much for stopping by... I hope you'll make sure your crafting money hasn't been wasted along with me!

Incidentally, if you're not a PTI owner, this challenge is still a terrific idea! Head on over to Use It Tuesday where they have the same challenge on a more general level. I've certainly entered into it!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Lemon Tart
• Patterned Paper: Bitty Box Basics, Pretty Pastels, Polka Dot Parade
• Stamps: Bundle of Love, Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs, Bitty Baby Blessings, Up, Up & Away
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Mango Madness and Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid (all Tsukineko), Fresh Snow
• Copics: E000 & R30 (baby faces), B0000 (not noticeable on the baby wraps), W1 (birds), T1 (shading on baby carrier blankets--will probably darken with T3)
• Other Tools: sewing machine/thread, grass punch (Fiskars), iRock/rhinestone (Imaginisce)

Papertrey Playhouse Tag Challenge

Krista came up with the unique and well-prepared idea of sending the other Papertrey Playhouse gals an assortment of die cuts and a semi-premade tag to put towards a project. I admit that I'm very curious to see what the other ladies put together! I'll be taking a peek as soon as I have submitted this...

I decided to keep it as a tag rather than apply it to a card. It came assembled with: jar stamp, patterned papers, lace and stitching. I added the dress form and Larger than Life die cuts, as well as the die cut heart (which I inked over Pure Poppy), the sentiments and ribbon.

Thank you, Krista, for having such a fun idea!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Stamps: Tiny Tags
• Ink: Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst
• Other Tools: ribbon (Michael's clearance bin)

New Papertrey Playhouse Challenge

I've whipped up a challenge at the Papertrey Playhouse blog! There's a fab prize in store for a random winner so please hop on by!

If any of you are like me, you have a drawer/box/bag (or two or three!) full of embellishments. I usually pop in once and a while for rhinestones or pearls but the rest go largely ignored.

I remember when I first realized that I preferred to make my own embellishments rather than buy them. I did a massive purge to get rid of soooo many things!

Still, there really are many wonderful embellies that one cannot pass by at the local scrapbooking store. So I definitely kept a few.  ;)

I decided to challenge myself, and anyone else interested, to use up an embellishment that has been sitting around gathering dust.

A cute little bee embellishment survived my purge and was the inspiration for this card. The mantra I used for the project was "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."   ;)

Something Old: The sentiment is from Vintage Picnic Sentiments, a stamp set I purchased on one of my first PTI orders.  :D

Something New: I defined this as something I hadn't used before. Aside from the bee embellishment, the Picnic Plaid impression plate hadn't seen my Cuttlebug yet.

Something Borrowed: My friend, neighbor and PTI buddy, Stefanie, lent me her Friendship Jar Spring Fillers stamp set.

Something Blue: I used PTI's Blueberry Sky cardstock.

Now it's your turn!

The Challenge: Root through your existing, and perhaps decaying, embellishments to find something that inspires you! Link up the specific blog post or gallery image at the Papertrey Playhouse blog challenge post!

The Deadline: Tuesday, July 26th at 11:59pm MDT

The Prize: A random entrant (selected using random.org) will receive Papertrey Ink's 4th Anniversary stamp set, Botanical Silhouettes!

The winner will be announced at the Papertrey Playhouse blog on Wednesday, July 27th.

Thanks for stopping by!!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Lemon Tart, Blueberry Sky
• Stamps: Friendship Jar Spring Fillers, Vintage Picnic Sentiments, Background Basics: Gingham
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Fresh Snow
• Dies: Lacey Ovals and Deckled Ovals (Spellbinders), Edgers #1, Double-Ended Banners
• Copics: E55, 57, 59, Y21, YR23, YG11, 13, 17, T1, W1, 0
• Other Tools: Picnic Plaid impression plate, bee embellishment (Recollections)

Papertrey Playhouse: Monochromatic Challenge

Hi there!

I've issued the newest challenge at Papertrey Playhouse and it's a monochromatic challenge!

As a bonus, it would be interesting to incorporate a technique or two from previous Papertery Ink Make It Mondays, but not mandatory.

Here's my project:

I did, obviously, cheat a little bit... But, as I stated on the Playhouse blog, I couldn't resist adding that bit of Liquid Pearls right at the end!

The Make It Monday techniques I used are: a) impressing on part of the cardstock (my A7 was too big for the impression plate so I improvised), and b) Copic coloring on colored cardstock.

Hope to see your entries! Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening
• Stamps: Year of the Flowers: Gladiolus (image), Year of the Flowers: Lily of the Valley (sentiment)
• Ink: Enchanted Evening
• Ribbon: Enchanted Evening saddle stitch
• Impression Plate: Vineyard
• Copics: B91, B34, B97, T1
• Other Tools: Lemon Yellow liquid pearls (Ranger?), Scor-Pal (Scor-Pal), Bow-Easy (Posi-Bendr)

PTI Make It Monday: Clear Heat Embossing

I think it an awesome coincidence that this challenge also coincides with Papertrey Playhouse's current challenge! (I entered another card for that one here.)

A card for my aunt who is struggling with cancer...

I distressed this card on purpose--my husband said it looked like it was for an old lady. I clear embossed with Text Style first and then Embellishments. I die cut the Mat Stack 2 out and then stamped the sentiment on the Sweet Blush beneath, using the Hibiscus Burst strip as a guide. I inked the edges of the Hibiscus Burst strip and then rolled/folded the upper right corner... a trend I noticed from Julee Tilman and then Dana Seymour. I adhered the top using dimensional adhesive and added the pearls.

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Smokey Shadow, Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst
• Stamps: Background Basics: Text Style, Embellishments
• Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Smokey Shadow, Pumice Stone (Tim Holtz Distress Ink)
• Dies: Mat Stack 2, small scalloped border
• Other Tools: clear embossing powder (Filigree)

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)

Papertrey Playhouse: Ella Color Inspiration

As I stated in Papertrey Playhouse's challenge post this morning, I often find myself inspired by my children's clothing. In this case, my 1 1/2 year old daughter's shirt kept calling to me!

So, using the colors Orange Zest, Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz and Hibiscus Burst, I came up with the following:

The "birthday" looks like gold glitter, but it is really just drawn over with a Sakura Stardust pen.

I hope you're inspired to join in on the challenge! There's nothing like bright colors to get me motivated!

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Orange Zest
• Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes
• Ink: Dark Chocolate
• Ribbon: Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst grosgrains
• Other Tools: Stardust gel pen (Sakura), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), pink rhinestone (dollar store)

Paper Crafts Color Inspiration Challenge #1: Dana

I LOVE this color combo and had to participate in the Color Inspiration Challenge #1 put on by Paper Crafts.

I'm really not sure I'm pleased by the end result. I was going for unique and think I came out with weird... ;)

It's hard to tell from the picture but each of the colored cardstock pieces are distressed and the whole card has been misted with bleach.

I rounded alternating corners, stamped some background pattern and added some interesting flair. Kind of a marriage between vintage and contemporary...

This card was also made with Papertrey Playhouse's current challenge in mind. It asks us to create a Valentine's card with non-traditional colors...

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse
• Stamps: youare2kind (The Stamps of Life), Background Basics: Geometrics
• Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko)
• Ribbon: American Crafts
• Other Tools: white embossing powder, bleach, paper distresser (Tim Holtz), pins (Making Memories), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Papertrey Playhouse: Stamped Background

The first challenge of the year is up at Papertrey Playhouse! Adele has asked us to get creative with stamped backgrounds. I decided to be daring and try something new for me.

I stamped a background pattern from Asian Fusion on to a section of vellum in Berry Sorbet. Then I used the tiny solid flower stamp to cover over the solid flowers with Pure Poppy. Using ink blending foam, I inked the edges and corners with the Pure Poppy, though it blended with the Berry Sorbet to make a lighter color.

After the vellum was dry (next day), I flipped it over and adhered it some white cardstock. Attached some gorgeous flowery tulle (discovery from Laurie Willison) across the front and pasted the whole thing to a Pure Poppy card base.

The sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages, stamped in Pure Poppy on a Tiny Tag (Cuttlebug die), heat embossed with clear powder and edge-inked with Berry Sorbet. Threw on some silk ribbon and adhered to the card.

This card is different for me; I'm still on the bench about it.

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select, Vellum
• Stamps: Asian Fusion, Mega Mixed Messages
• Ink: Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet
• Ribbon: Bloomer's Deluxe Card (Webster's Pages) (gray), 1/4" wide silk (creamy-white)
• Die: Tiny Tags (Cuttlebug)
• Other Tools: clear embossing powder

Christmas Package: Taylor's Caregiver

My laptop died and I can't access Photoshop on my other (old and SLOW) computer, so hopefully these photos will do...

My 5-year-old son, Taylor, has a before-and-after-school caregiver. I made up a small assortment of goodies for her and her four children.

I finally used my Favor It Box 2 die. In an interesting accident, I was able to use the extra tabs as tags.

This little package conforms to Papertrey Playhouse's last challenge here.

This card was a quickie. I borrowed Stef's Peace, Be Still dies and stamps, using them for the snowflakes shown.

For the kiddies, I made these cute little snowmen chocolate bars.

Hope to post more projects as I complete them!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select, Pinefeather
• Patterned Paper: Christmas Prints
• Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, Holly Jolly
• Ink: Cottage Ivy (Memento), Aqua Mist (VersaMagic)
• Felt: Pure Poppy
• Ribbon: Pinefeather saddlestitch
• Buttons: Blueberry Sky
• Dies: Peace, Be Still; Double-Ended Banners; Favor It Box 2; Circles (Spellbinders); Inverted Scalloped Circles (Spellbinders)
• Other Tools: sewing machine/thread; red and white embroidery thread; assorted generic fabric material and ribbons

Papertrey Playhouse Challenge #4: No More Layers!

Will add details soon! Just wanted to post this at Papertrey Playhouse before the challenge linky disappeared! :)

Okay, the details...

One layer = Difficult!!

I pulled out my Spellbinders Snowflake Pendant, impressed it onto some Stamper's Select and Enchanted Evening cardstock. Leaving the die in place, I spritzed on some Tattered Angel GlimmerMist in Glacier and Frost, Marshmallow and Pearl (respectively). The sentiments are from Holiday Button Bits.

Okay, maybe not that difficult. ;)

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Stamper's Select, Enchanted Evening
• Patterned Paper (envelope liners): Bitty Dot Basics
• Stamps: Holiday Button Bits
• Ink: Enchanted Evening, Versamark (Tsukineko)
• Other Tools: white embossing powder, GlimmerMist: Glacier, Frost, Marshmallow, Pearl (Tattered Angels), 2010 Snowflake Pendant (Spellbinders), A2 Envelope Liner die

Saddlestitch Ribbon Flower Attempt #1

Okay, so since the last custom card I made for a man's wife didn't work out, I tried one last time. (These cards also coincide with Papertrey Playhouse's Challenge #3 which is now over.)

I'm really happy with this one. The colors are what was further specified and the design is unique. I meant it to look like a present but not sure it turned out. The main thing I want to focus on is the ruffly thing...

Laurie gave a fabulous tutorial on how to make saddlestitch ribbon flowers (see photo below) and I failed miserably. I watched her video several times but didn't have it handy when actually making my creations. Hers are fabulously lush and fluffy.... Mine ended up falling tragically and woefully short. :(  In the photo above, I had to hide the deficiency with a brad (thanks, Mom).

My ruffly thing is a bit better this time around (I made the ribbon longer) but still not a flower... So I threw on another brad.

These cards actually only took an hour each for me to do, a sort of record for me! I think they're quite nice!

{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}

• Cardstock: Blueberry Sky, Pinefeather, Stamper's Select
• Patterned Paper: Library Ledger, Christmas Prints, Bitty Dot Basics
• Stamps: Fillable Frames #9, Fillable Frames #4, Background Basics: Retro, Round & Round
• Ink: Versamark, Jumbo Java (Versamagic), Aegean Blue (Versamagic), Pure Poppy, Pearlescent Ivy (Brilliance)
• Ribbon: Blueberry Sky saddlestitch, Pinefeather saddlestitch, Pure Poppy saddlestitch
• Dies: A2 Envelope Liner, Fillable Frames #9