Papertrey Ink April 2011 Blog Hop

Boys To Men

This month's blog hop is dedicated to all the boys and men in our lives!  

Now's your chance to create Father's Day projects, boy birthday cards 
and more to build up your stash!  Focus on masculine color schemes, 
fresh pattern combinations, understated embellishments and unique 
uses of images you may already have in your stash!

     Many card makers find masculine cards a real challenge, and I'm certainly one who struggles every time I have to make one. Texture and darker, traditional colours  always seem to be a safe approach, with a simple design and only a few embellishments.  

     Here's a card that will be perfect for my brother - his birthday is in the middle of May, 
so I will be ready for his big day!!

     I still haven't received my April Papertrey Ink order, so the little airplane from Fly Away has been stamped on white Bella paper, coloured with copics and then fussy cut.
      PTI's Blueberry Sky card stock was embossed with Stampin'Up's Square Lattice folder to crete the card base. A striped paper was used to form a base for the main image  and then this was mounted onto a cream coloured card stock. Thin strips of co-ordinating circular patterned paper was cut with my scalloped border punch and added to the top and the bottom of the focal panel. 
     Baker's twine and a red button finish off the left side of the card.  I used the circular image with a special delivery sentiment from Postmarks and accented this with the small star image from the same set and then placed it on the top right hand side of the card for some balance.

     The inside of the card uses a sentiment from Fillable Frames #6 . I used the two patterned papers to accent the bottom of the card -  a few thin strips of the striped paper and some punched circles.

Card Details:

Stamps:  PTI Fly Away, Postmarks, Fillable Frames #6

Inks:  CTMH Moonstruck, Cranberry, Holiday Red, Chocolate; Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers:  PTI Blueberry Sky card stock; Bella white card stock; Bazzill Cream textured card stock; We R Memory Keepers patterned paper

Other Supplies:  Stampin'Up Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder;  PTI Poppy Red Baker's Twine; red button; scalloped border punch;  circle punches: 1/2" & 7/8";  small corner punch

Thanks for stopping by - Enjoy the rest of the blog hop!!  

Karen

Floral Birthday Card with a Twist!!

      It's been quiet on my blog over the last few weeks. But . . . I have been working on lots of projects - just haven't finished many of them!!

That always seems to happen when I have too many ideas and not enough uninterrupted time.  I start a project and then set it aside because something else has 'caught my fancy'. 
     I finally finished this card after fussing with it for several days. I saw this "Hello Friend" card on Michelle Wooderson's blog and thought I would CASE it. I don't do very well when I'm trying to duplicate someone's work - it never seems to turn out the way I think it should. Sometimes I just don't have the right stamps, tools, paper or embellishments. That's when I have to "give up the dream" and try to work out something with the supplies I have on hand.

Here's the Twist

  Michelle often uses fabric on her cards, but on her sample, she used paper that looked like a floral fabric. Instead of paper I used a pretty pink and yellow fabric on my card; that's what you can see on the two small pinked squares and the scalloped edges. I was surprised how well the dies cut through the fabric pieces - I definitely will be doing this again, since I have a large stash of fabrics!!

Here's an overview of all the card details. Stamps, dies and the impression plate are from Papertrey Ink, inks are from Close to My Heart and most of the papers are odds and ends from my scrap pile!

Card Base: 

Pink card stock stamped with Tin Types in Hollyhock ink

White Card Front:

Linen Impression Plate was used to create a 'fabric effect'

Stamps and Dies: 

A sentiment from Floral Fusion #1 was stamped with Hollyhock ink.

Background Basics: Gingham was stamped above the sentiment using Sunny Yellow ink.  The Gingham stamp from Bitty Background Blocks was stamped in yellow ink and then two  1" squares were cut using an EK Success punch. These were layered onto floral fabric that was cut using the pinked square die from the Button Card Die  Collection. 

Other Details 

Flowers: 

Stampin'Up's Boho Flower punch was used to create the pink flowers. After they were punched out I crumpled the paper, layered two large and one small flower and then added a small yellow button with embroidery floss to the center of the flowers.  For another detail a small green leaf image from an EK Success punch was added to each flower.

Borders: 

The Banners Border Die was used to cut three scalloped borders from the floral fabric, and then they were positioned on the card with one scalloped edge facing up and two overlapping down.  A white ribbon and bow were placed over the edges of the borders to cover the 'seam'. I tried to create a 'splattered' effect on the ribbon using the yellow ink pad. (Michelle used Mr. Huey spray mist to make the splatters on her ribbon)

The Final Touch:

Three brads were added to the left side of the sentiment for some balance. The colours - pink, yellow and green were chosen to co-ordinate with the colours in the floral print.

    Here's the inside of the card with a sentiment from the Big Birthday Wishes  set and the happy birthday sentiment from Little Bitty Birds, with Hollyhock ink.

The flower from Flower Fusion #1 was stamped with Hollyhock and Garden Green inks.

I used my new Dotted Scallop punch to create 'grass' and added that below the flower and sentiment. Yellow ink was sponged around the edges of the upper card and within the sentiment panel. Garden Green was sponged around the bottom portion.

There's lots of room to add a little note when I'm ready to give this to the birthday girl.

Hope everyone is having a great Easter week-end.

Karen

Some Crafty Inspiration

What is it about this time of year??! 

     So many crafters have commented about a lack of crafting inspiration, 

about losing their mojo, about making fewer blog postings.....

I know that feeling too!! Must be cabin fever!! 

     With that in mind, my husband and I decided it was time to take a little road trip south of the border - to northern Minnesota, that is!! So .... last Monday we drove 4 hours to Duluth to visit some of our favourite shops and restaurants. Thought it would give us a little 'boost' and help pass the time as we are waiting for the snow to disappear and spring to arrive!!

     Much to my dismay, the scrapbook store that I have always enjoyed visiting was no longer in business. Needless to say, I was so disappointed and my shopping list of inks, paper, accessories etc. had to be set aside.
  

So what's a gal to do? - 

Go shopping at fabric/quilt shops instead!! Here's some of the fun things that I found in my shopping adventure and I'm looking forward to using them for card making, scrap booking, quilting and sewing projects.

Michelle Wooderson has included fabric yo yos on some of her cards and talked about using these templates to make them. I found the small and extra small  templates - I've made yo yos for wall quilts, but thought it might be fun to try these templates for little flower embellishments on some cards.

I picked up several bags of buttons and accessories. Lots of fun options here!

I also got some extra colours of embroidery floss to use with the buttons.

FLORA BUTTON PACK

PINK BUTTON PACK

PASTEL BUTTON PACK

NATURAL BUTTON PACK

                   SPARKLING DRAGONFLIES (top)  LEAFY GEMS (bottom)

I found lots of fabric options along the way as well. Some prints will work on cards (I want to try some with PTI's Button Boutique & dies) as well as fabric yo yos.

Some fabrics for little baby outfits, bibs, and other "treats".

Some fun graphic prints.

     Here's some fabric I chose for book bag for my grand niece who turns 4
in May. She LOVES purple, so thought these colours were just right. I already have an idea for her card, so will share these with you when they are finished.

I couldn't resist this fabric - very colourful and bright. I want to make a 

few things for my niece's new daughter, who will be arriving in 2 weeks. 

I love sewing little wall hanging quilts, so I picked up a pattern book,

magazine and some quilt hangers at the Quilt Corner in Beaver Bay -

a small town along the west coast of Lake Superior. 

I'm excited to get started on a couple of spring and 

summer wall quilts that I can put on these hangers.

 

I found a few punches on sale at Michaels. With 40% off 

these were only $8 each, so I had to have them!!  (The regular 

price at our local Michaels is $24.99, so even with a coupon, they are $12 -$15.)

 DAISY CHAIN

DOTTED SCALLOP

A Final Note:  

Before we left on our little road trip, our whole yard and the field around us was covered in snow. This is what can happen with some warmer weather and a few rainy days.  It was pretty amazing to finally see grass!

And this is what it looks like today. . . .

We've had snow since Friday night - my husband is back outside
with the shovel!! Doesn't Mother Nature play amazing tricks on us??

    I'm going to spend time in my crafty space today - I just have to decide what to do first - sewing?  card making?  making yo yo flowers?  I'll share some of the finished projects with you next week.

Thanks for visiting. Hope you have a crafty week too!!

Sweet Baby Dress

     One of my neices is expecting her second daughter in two weeks. 
I already shared one baby card that I made for the new arrival, but last week I decided to pull out some stamps I've had for a while and make another card in a yellow and magenta combination.

      I started with this cute image from Stampendous. It's  stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black on PTI's Stamper's Select White and then coloured with copic markers. I fussy cut it so I could add it to the Mat Stack #3 die cut. Notice the little black pearl - it's acting as a 'peg' to hold the hanger!!

     An image from the Mat Stack #3 Collection was stamped in yellow to accent some of the yellow in the little dress. Stampin'Up's  "welcome baby"  was stamped on the Mat Stack's sentiment opening.

     I had some difficulty deciding how to finish the card. I tried a variety of patterned papers and finally decided on one from Cosmo Cricket. Spellbinder's Contemporary Hearts Pendant was used to cut a circular 'doily' and then attached behind the Mat Stack. It really makes the image pop.

  The card front was then sponged with the magenta ink before being mounted onto a yellow card base.  I finished off the card front with three yellow buttons tied with some embroidery floss.
    


 Here's how I made the "patterned paper" that sits behind the focal point:

     I used the small dots from Polka Dots Basics and stamped it on white cardstock in a magenta colour that complements the patterned paper. 

     I felt like it needed a little more colour, so I inked up the polka dot stamp in yellow and found that it fit neatly in between the previously stamped dots. I really like the way it worked out - I was surprised that I was able to create a two colour combo using the polka dot stamp!!  The yellow and magenta dots are shown on the right side of the paper; the single colour is on the far left side.


     The inside of the card was lined with white card stock that was stamped with a little "vintage girl" from Stampin'Up's Greeting Card Kids and coloured with copic markers. PTI's Rick Rack border die was used to cut 2 strips - one in yellow and one in the patterned paper. 

 Card Details:

Stamps:  Stampendous Baby Boutique: Sweet Dress;  Stampin'Up Greeting Card Kids, Short & Sweet;
PTI Mat Stack #3 Collection;

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; CTMH Sunny Yellow; studio g Magenta

Papers: PTI Stamper's Select White; Cosmo Cricket Pixie-Licious patterend paper; yellow card stock.

Other Supplies: PTI Mat Stack #3 die, Rick Rack border die;  copic markers; buttons; embroidery floss; Kaisercraft metallic pearl.

Happy Anniversary

    I've been working with some of my pre-stamped and coloured images for the last few days. I have to start using stamps that have been sitting on my desk - not just collecting them!!

     Earlier this week, I showed this card using a little butterfly/flower image I had stamped and coloured a few weeks ago.  You can read about the card details here.

Here's the second version of  this image - blue, green and yellow - something soft and pretty for a spring time anniversary.

I've had this SU medallion stamp for some time, but hadn't used it. I stamped it on white card stock with turquoise ink, but decided to use it as a background to the butterfly stamp. I used my new PTI Limitless Layers 2 1/2" Circle Collection to create a 'doily' effect by cutting out the middle of the stamped medallion image.  Foam dots were used on the medallion and the butterfly image to give some added dimension to the focal image.

 An embossing folder was used on PTI's Stamper's Select white card stock as the background.


  
      The sentiment, from PTI's Mat Stack 3 Collection was stamped on a strip of acetate with black Stazon ink.  The strip sits on top of the green ribbon, so it looks as though the sentiment was stamped on to the ribbon.  (Note: I tried stamping on a scrap piece of ribbon, but it had a bleeding effect, so I knew I`d have to come up with a solution!!)  

      Three buttons were sewn with embroidery floss to the top left corner to add some interest. I used my Bow Easy to make the bow, which is `hiding`the adhesive I used to attach the acetate strip to the ribbon!! The front panel was sponged with the turquoise ink and then mounted onto a turquoise card base.

     I wanted to add some details to the inside of the card so I cut a Top Note die shape out of white card stock, but I didn't like the look of it on it's own.
I sponged the edges in turquoise and then took the 'frame' that was left over from the die cut and 'reassembled the Top Note die and the frame together to create a full panel on the inside!!  More sponging, the addition of a little butterfly stamp, a hand drawn dotted line and some yellow marker create a fun interior. The sentiment was stamped with PTI's Big Birthday Wishes - I like this sentiment, as it can be appropriate for many occasions.

Card Details:

Stamps:  PTI Mat Stack 3 Collection, Big Birthday Wishes;  Inkadinkado Butterfly flower; Stampin'Up Medallion, Sweet Summer.

Inks:  Versamark; Stazon Black ink; studio g Turquoise.

Papers: PTI Stamper's Select White; Bazzill Glitz

Other Supplies: PTI Limitless Layers 2 1/2" Collection; Details Black embossing powder; green ribbon; clear acetatestrip; Marvy markers; SU Fresh Favourites 1 buttons;  embroidery floss; SU BIGZ Top Note die; corner rounder punch;  Embossing folder: Sizzix Curlique

Just a Note

     When I have trouble creating a card, I start stamping and colouring images in my stash.  And that's what I did a few weeks ago. One of those images was a  butterfly/flower stamp that hadn't seen any love!!

     I stamped it 2 times with Versamark and embossed with black embossing powder. Then I coloured one of the images in blue, green and yellow and the other one in yellow, pink and orange. I set them all aside in a little pile, hoping to be inspired later. . . . And then I got a parcel with some PTI goodies and made two very different cards. Here's the first one:

     I cut a pink scalloped circle from one of PTI's Limitless Layers 1 3/4` Circle Collection, embossing it with a Cuttlebug polka dot folder and sponging the edges. This was mounted onto one of the doilies from PTI's Doily Details collection. The flower/butterfly image was fussy cut and placed on the pink circle with dimensionals. The center of the image has a pink brad.

     I think this is the first time I have ever used black for a card front, but I really wanted to use this gingham ribbon.  Black seemed like the only background that made the image pop!!  The top portion was embossed with an folder from Stampin'Up to add some texture and the lower portion was created using 5 layers of scallops.  It's all ruffly and girly!!  Dawn McVey  uses this technique often, and it's something I've always wanted to try!!

     The black front edges and scallops were sponged with Fresh Snow ink and then mounted onto a white card base that was sponged with black ink. The sentiment, from the new Postmarks stamp set, was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black. Three black accent dots were added to the bottom of the card.

    I decorated the inside of the card with my new Gingham Background stamp and then added a pink rick rack border on top. I know I'm going to do this again. I really like how it has some of the elements from the front and adds a bit of colour. The sentiment, from PTI's Up,Up and Away Sentiments, was stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with black powder.

Flowers and butterflies drift in color, illuminating spring.  ~Author Unknown

Card Details:

Stamps:  PTI Up, Up and Away, Postmarks, Background Basics: Gingham
Inkadinkado Butterfly Flower;   
Inks:  Versamark; PTI Fresh Snow; Memento Tuxedo Black; CTMH Hollyhock

Papers: PTI Stamper's Select White, True Black; pink card stock

Other Supplies:  PTI Doily Details die, Limitless Layers 1 3/4` Circle Collection, Rick Rack Border die; Details Black embossing powder; gingham ribbon; Marvy markers; Kaisercraft black dots; Stampin'Up scallop border punch;  corner rounder punch; 
Embossing folders: Cuttlebug Polka dots, Stampin'Up Square Lattice Textured Impressions.

I'll be back later with my Blue-Green-Yellow version of the Butterfly flower.
I still have a few details to finish.
 

Thanks for visiting. Have a great week!!

Turning a New Leaf Birthday Wishes

     It's a birthday celebration for a member of the Papertrey Ink Post-Its.  Danielle has a wonderful shabby chic style that I admire. You can visit here blog here to see her beautiful creations!!

Happy Birthday Danielle!!

     Papertrey Ink's Turning a New Leaf is a favourite for many stampers. 
I finally added it to my collection in January and decided it was time to 
get it 'inky'. I searched the PTI gallery for some inspiration and found this card  by Melissa Phillips.  I loved the way Melissa stamped the curly leaf design in brown, adding accents in pink. Here's my version!!

  

     PTI's  Canvas Impression plate was inked with Bamboo ink and then used to impress and colour a piece of vanilla card stock. The leaf image was then stamped in Chocolate ink. A magenta colour was used to stamp two of the flower images (from Beautiful Blooms II) on to card stock that had been cut with the matching dies.  These were attached to the card front using dimensional dots.

     A small leaf stamp was used to make some additional magenta images in a few spots around the larger leafy design. The magenta flowers and  leaf images were highlighted with small pink pearls.

 

     Here's a second card I made using the same details, but this time I reversed the sentiment panel.  The sentiment,  from Mega Mixed Messages, was stamped onto a die cut frame from Tea for Two.  
(Just a note about this stamp - The Tea for Two Label stamp has words inside the frame, so in order to create a blank frame, I first stamped the image on a post-it and then cut out the center so it could be used as a mask. This allowed only the frame to show and then I was able to stamp  the "birthday wishes" sentiment inside.)

     Chocolate card stock was used as the card base and the edges were sponged with Vintage Tea Dye Duo.

     The inside of the card was stamped with a sentiment from Big Birthday Wishes and a floral image to match the front of the card was added to the bottom corner.

Card Details

Stamps:  PTI Beautiful Blooms II, Turning a New Leaf, Tea for Two, Big Birthday Wishes.

Ink:  Close to My Heart Chocolate, Bamboo; PTI Vintage Tea Dye Duo; Studio g Magenta

Paper:  Vanilla & Chocolate card stock

Other Supplies:  PTI Canvas Impression plate, Beautiful Blooms II #2 die, Tea for Two label die; Kaisercraft pearls