Fly a Kite - Ride a Bike

My husband loves to ride his bicycle - he will go for 25 - 50 km rides in a day!! 
So when I got this bicycle stamp from Close to My Heart I thought it would be perfect for a birthday card (this is the one that my son gave to his dad). I had a paper pack from Webster's Pages with kites and stripes so decided to combine it with the kite images from Papertrey Ink`s  Up, Up and Away stamp set to make this colourful card.

* I stamped the bicycle onto the patterned paper so it appears to be riding along on a grassy pathway, with a contrasting patterned sky. 
* This piece was then cut to size so that it would fit behind a Fabulous Frames die cut. Striped patterned paper was layered on top of a chipboard die cut and then the edges were sponged with Pure Poppy. 
* The frame was then mounted onto another piece of patterned paper and a card base of Hawaiian Shores. The sentiment (Tea for Two Additions) was stamped onto a strip of paper and then attached to the bottom portion of the frame.

 In this picture you can see the dimension created my cutting the frame from chipboard and adding the  kites (Up, Up & Away) with foam tape. The kite tails were selectively stamped with orange ink so they appear to be attached to the bicycle's handlebars.

The inside of the card has a paper pieced kite, sentiments from Movers & Shakers and It's Your Day (CTMH)
















Card Details (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Up, Up & Away, Tea for Two Additions, Movers & Shakers Sentiments; CTMH: It`s Your Day
Inks - Spring Moss, Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold, Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow; CTMH: Orange
Papers - Hawaiian Shores; Webster's Pages: Sunday Picnic & Everyday Poetry
Dies - Fabulous Frames
Other Supplies - chipboard, 3D Foam tape,

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Make It Monday #89: Window Card

Papertrey Ink's Nichole Heady presented a video on her blog, describing a very unique method for making a window card with a 'floating' image on the outside. I finally got a chance to try this technique and was so pleased with the results. It was such a fun card to make with some surprising results.

I used the 2.5" Limitless Layers Circles to cut the scalloped circle from the patterned paper and a plain circle from the Pure Poppy card base. The sentiment (Believe) was stamped with Versamark and then heat embossed with red embossing powder.

The patterned paper needed some more detail, so I decided to stamp polka dots (Kraft, Pure Poppy, New Leaf) in the spaces between the various cookie designs. This also inspired the strip of polka dots on the inside of the card. (They show through the window and provide a background to the Gingerbread Man!!) 
The edges of the paper were sponged with Tea Dye ink on both the patterned paper and the inside panel.

I just ordered the Holiday Button Bits die collection and matching stamp set this fall and was excited to use it on this card.  The Gingerbread Man was die cut and then stamped and embossed in a dark chocolate. The 'buttons' were made by stamping one of the patterns from Bits and Buttons with Versa Mark and then embossed with red embossing powder. Several layers were glued together to create  thicker buttons. 
I also die cut and stamped a second gingerbread man (it wasn't embossed) and glued it to the back of the first one. I used clear adhesive mini dots on the buttons and then attached this whole embellishment to the acetate window. 

 

When opened, the little Gingerbread Man appears to be doing a head stand!! Totally made me giggle when I realized this was the outcome.

The inside of the card is finished with the coloured polka dots, a Pure Poppy Loop-De-Loop Border die cut and a sentiment from Holiday Wishes.




I'll be searching my stamps and dies for other options that I can use for this technique. This was such a fun challenge and definitely one I want to try again.


Card Details: (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps -  Polka Dot Basics, Holiday Button Bits, Bits & Buttons, Believe, Holiday Wishes
Inks - Kraft, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Tea Dye Duo;  Versamark; Memento Rich Cocoa
Papers - Pure Poppy, Rustic Cream;  SU: Very Vanilla; 
American Traditional Designs: Holiday Cheer - Christmas Cookies
Dies -  Holiday Button Bits, Limitless Layers 2.5" Circles, Loop-De-Loop Border
Other Supplies - 5/16" circle punch;  clear acetate sheet; EK Success Mini Adhesive Dots;
Martha Stewart: Ladybug Embossing Powder;  SU: Early Espresso Embossing Powder.

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink October 2012 Blog Hop #3

"This month it is all about breaking out of your comfort zone and trying out some non-traditional color schemes for a holiday card or tag!  Six non-traditional holiday color schemes are provided. Pick one that inspires you and try your hand at using it as a starting point for a special holiday themed project!"

This is my third blog hop card!! You can see the other two entries for October 2012 here and here.

I had lots of fun creating another Christmas card for this colour challenge. It`s a great start on my card making for the holiday season! 

* The various baubles in the challenge picture wreath inspired me to use the round light bulb in the Holiday Lights stamp set. Each of the 4 colours was stamped several times along the string of lights.  (I did use Raspberry Fizz and Hibiscus Burst, but they tend to look very similar in colour.)

* In order to make the `glow` around each of the bulbs, I used one of the small flower stamps from Natural Beauties (Lemon Tart ink) and masked the lower half of it so that the image appears to radiate from the top of the light bulb.

* The card front was impressed with the Linen IP after stamping the images. 
* The Heart Border die was cut from Hibiscus Burst card stock, then attached to one side of the card front.
* Several rhinestones (1 pink & 2 aqua) were added to the top left corner. The sentiment was stamped with Smokey Shadow ink. 
* This panel was then mounted onto an Hawaiian Shores card base.

Card Details (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Holiday Lights, Natural Beauties
Inks - Smokey Shadow, Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Lemon Tarrt
Papers - Stamper's Select White, Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst
Dies - Heart Border die
Other Supplies - Linen Impression Plate, My Mind`s Eye rhinestones

Thanks for visiting today.  Have fun hopping!!
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink October 2012 Blog Hop #2

 

"This month it is all about breaking out of your comfort zone and trying some non-traditional color schemes for a holiday card or tag! There are six non-traditional holiday color schemes provided. Pick one that inspires you and try your hand at using it as a starting point for a special holiday themed project!" 
 
 I decided to make a second card for this month`s challenge; this time using the colour scheme above. I don't have all of the new Papertrey ink colours, so I used Close To My Heart Olive and Vineyard Berry which are good matches for PTI`s Avocado and Scarlet Jewel. In order to create a light pink (Blush) I used Hibiscus Burst and stamped it off before I stamped the image.

Love Lives Here: Holiday dies were used to cut four stockings and trim from Rustic Cream. These were stamped in the various challenge colours.  Another set of trims were cut from Stamper`s Select White and then layered with the stamped trims to create contrast. 
 (The 3 darker stockings represent my husband and two sons; the lighter pink stocking is mine!!)  
Dark brown brads were positioned under the pine branches and then the stocking dies were placed so they appear to be attached to the brads.

Vineyard Berry and light pink hearts were stamped along the pine branches and then Gold Stickles were added throughout the branches. The sentiment was stamped in Vineyard Berry. Foam tape was used to attach the card front to the Scarlet Jewel card base.

I finished the inside of the card with some 

of the same features used on the card front. 

Card Details (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Love Lives Here: Holiday
Inks - Hibiscus Burst;  CTMH: Vineyard Berry, Olive
Papers - Scarlet Jewel, Rustic Cream, Stamper's Select White
Dies - Love Lives Here: Holiday die collection
Other Supplies - Ranger Gold Stickles; brown brads;

Thanks for visiting today. Enjoy the rest of the Blog Hop.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink October 2012 Blog Hop #1

"This month it is all about breaking out of your comfort zone and trying out some non-traditional color schemes for a holiday card or tag!  There are six non-traditional holiday color schemes to work with.  Pick one that inspires you and try your hand at using it as a starting point for a special holiday themed project!"


 

I chose the above colour combo for my  card: 

The wreath was stamped with Smokey Shadow and then Aqua Mist 

and Twilight (Close To My Heart) were used to stamp the berries. 

A gold embossed sentiment (Holiday Lights), gold stickles around 

the wreath and a gold ribbon add a little extra colour and contrast.  

The card front (Soft Stone) was impressed with the Wood grain Impression Plate, mounted onto an Aqua Mist panel and then Ocean Tides card base. This same combination was used on the sentiment panel.

Card interior: Gold embossed sentiment and wreath image.

 Card Details  (PTI, unless noted) 
Stamps - Wreath for All Seasons, Holiday Lights
Inks - Aqua Mist, Smokey Shadow:  Versamark;  CTMH: Twilight
Paper - Soft Stone, Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides,
Other Supplies - Wood grain Impression Plate; Stampendous Gold Detail Embossing Powder; 
Ranger Gold Stickles;  gold glitter ribbon (from my stash)

Thanks for visiting. 
Enjoy the rest of the Blog Hop.
Karen C.

Pocketful of Balloons

Where has this month gone?? I've been busy with various projects, but have let my blog posts slide ... I'm back today with a birthday card I made last month for my youngest son.  I combined stamps and dies from Papertrey Ink and a set from Close to My Heart to make this card:

* I started with a Rustic White card base and then added a 3" strip of Summer Sunrise cardstock (impressed with the Canvas Impression Plate) onto the left side of the base. I wanted to create a pocket that resembled the dark denim look with the contrast stitching. To do this I stamped the stitching lines (Rugged Dude) with Versamark, onto Summer Sunrise card stock and then used clear embossing powder. This allowed me to stamp the coordinating 'denim texture' (CTMH Moonstruck ink) leaving the embossed stitching the original colour. I really like how this turned out and will definitely try it again.
* Six balloons were die cut with Heart-2-Heart #2 die and then stamped with red, green and blue polka dots, attached to the card front with foam dots and finished with Linen thread and a little bow.
* The sentiment is a combination of Back Pocket Basics and  "birthday wishes" from Vintage Picnic Sentiments. Three amber coloured stars from my stash were added to the top right corner.

Card Details:  (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Back Pocket Basics, Heart-2-Heat #2, Vintage Picnic Sentiments; CTMH: Rugged Dude
Inks - Soft Moss, Blueberry Sky, Pure Poppy; CTMH: Moonstruck;  Versamark;
Papers - Summer Sunrise; SU: Rustic White
Dies - Heart-2-Heart #2
Other Supplies - Canvas Impression Plate; Clear embossing powder; SU Linen Thread; Amber rhinestone star adhesives; 3D dots;

Racing Car Birthday

My niece's son celebrated his 2nd birthday this summer with a "racing car" theme. I didn't have a racing car stamp, but decided to do a search for free images on the internet. 

* I found a racing car on a site for free colouring book images; re-sized it and then printed it on white Bella card stock so that I could use my copic markers.

* The image was fussy cut and mounted on the Label Basics Angled die cut. The frame was stamped with Pure Poppy and the panel was embossed with the Wood grain Impression Plate for a bit of dimension.
* The fire image (Boy Basics: Out of This World) was stamped and then coloured with copic markers, before being tucked underneath the back of the racing car. The sentiment is from the same set.
* The card base (Stamper's Select White) was stamped with Sunny Yellow (Close To My Heart). Yellow stitching creates a frame along the outside edge. 
* The stamped black and white checker board strip (Waltzingmouse Stamps) makes me think of an image you would see at a race track. I stitched around this panel with black thread before mounting it onto the front of the card.
* Two red buttons with yellow embroidery floss are the finishing details.

I did a lot of experimenting with colours and details and I'm really pleased with the final results. Definitely a fun boy's card!!

 Inside

I always like to add some fun details to the inside of the card. I carried through the colour scheme by stamping the sentiments in red and black and adding the yellow stamped stars and the larger yellow die cut. The green "2" celebrates the birthday boy's age!!

Card Details: (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps -  Polka Dot Basics, Boy Basics: Out of This World, Label Basics, Big Birthday Wishes; Fillable Frames #1, Love Lives Here: Holiday , Waltzingmouse: Off Beat Backgrounds
Inks -  Pure Poppy, Memento Tuxedo Black; CTMH:  Sunny Yellow
Papers - Stamper's Select White;  Bella: White; yellow and green scrap card stock
Dies - Boy Basics: Out of This World die collection,  Seeing Stars, Label Basics Angled Die collection, Block Alphabet Numbers
Other Supplies - copic markers; red buttons; sewing machine; yellow embroidery floss;  3-D Dots

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.