Pretty Peonies Birthday

My son asked me to make a birthday card for a friend .... something with pink flowers. I thought Pretty Peonies would fit the occasion. I started with the same card design used here, so the card went together very quickly.

 

* The white card base was partially embossed with the Swiss Dot folder, before adding a strip of polka dot paper and scalloped edges. These borders were made by cutting Spring Moss and Hibiscus Burst strips from the Heart Border die. 

* The sentiment (Through the Trees) was stamped below with Hibiscus Burst Ink.

* The flower outline image was stamped onto a piece of white card stock with Raspberry Fizz and then the solid flower was stamped over this with Hibiscus Burst. To achieve added dimension, I used  a variety of copic markers to highlight parts of the petals. I don't have the new Pretty Peonies die set, so I fussy cut the focal image :)

* I layered it onto a white circle (Limitless Layers: 2 1/2" Circles) with foam dimensionals. The circle was previously stamped with the leaf images in Spring Moss and the flower image in Hibiscus Burst. 

* The focal panel was mounted onto Tag Sale #4, cut from Hibiscus Burst card stock. The upper portion of the die cut was attached to the card base using foam dimensionals, since the lower half was mounted onto the polka dot strip and it was several layers thick.

* A small green bow was attached to the top of the Tag Sale die cut.

* To finish: one pink and two green pearls were added to the top right hand corner of the card front.

Here`s a quick and easy way to `dress-up`the inside of a card:
* I cut 2 strips of the designer paper and added them to either side of the card. The sentiment (Pretty Peonies) was stamped with Hibiscus Burst.

Card Details  (PTI unless noted)

Stamps - Pretty Peonies, Through the Trees,

Inks - Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers - Stamper's Select White, Hibiscus Burst, Spring Moss; Echo Park: Hello Summer

Dies - Heart Border Die, Tag Sale #4, Limitless Layers 2 1/2" Circles;

Other - Copic Markers; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; green satin ribbon; pink and green pearls

Thanks for visiting today!

Karen C. 

Papertrey Ink May 2012 Blog Hop Challenge

Here's another wonderful photo for this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge:

As soon as I saw this photo I knew I wanted to use:

+ a splash of green.

+ something 'polka dotty'

+ my newest Garden Variety II stamp and die set 

+ black and white gingham ribbon from my stash  

So ... combining all of these features, I designed two cards  ... 

 GARDEN VARIETY SYMPATHY

It's always so hard to create sympathy cards when you really need them and I rarely make them, so I thought this challenge would be a good opportunity to design one. 

Nichole suggested two colours (Simply Chartruese or New Leaf) as the option for green in the inspiration photo. I don't have either of these colours in ink, but I have a card stock sampler with both colours. I was able to colour the leaves from the Garden Variety II stamp with a Tombow marker and then stamp onto the white card stock. It didn't give a solid clear transfer, but the colour was a closer match to Simply Chartreuse than any other green inks in my collection. (SC ink is on my next shopping list!!)

From there I decided to add the small floral image using Spring Moss - it sort of reminds me of my sister-in-law's hydrangea bush - the white flowers have a light green tint.

I also added some light green rhinestones onto the floral images for a bit of contrast. The flower pot was stamped with Smokey Shadow and then the image panel was mounted onto a Simply Chartreuse Tag Sale #4 die cut. The black gingham ribbon was attached to the top of the tag.

The upper portion of the white card base was embossed with Swiss Dots embossing folder. A white strip of card stock was stamped with the polka dot block from Bitty Background Blocks and layered over several Heart Border die cuts in black and Simply Chartreuse, to create a small scalloped edge.

The sentiment, (Through the Trees) was heat embossed with black embossing powder below the focal point. Since I did not emboss this section with the polka dot, it was easy to add the sentiment.

Card Details: (PTI unless noted)

Stamps -  Garden Variety II, Through the Trees, Bitty Background Blocks

Inks - Versamark; Smokey Shadow, Spring Moss

Papers - Stamper's Select White, Black, Simply Chartreuse

Dies - Limitless Layers 2 1/2" Circles, Tag Sale #4, Heart Border Die

Other - Tombow #126 marker; green rhinestones; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder; Texture Trios Black Gingham Ribbon; Stampendous Detail Black Embossing Powder.

GARDEN VARIETY VIOLETS

The violet image from Year of  Flowers Collection was coloured, cut and sitting on my desk for the longest time. Even though the inspiration photo doesn't contain any purples or lavenders, I knew that it would look very dramatic with black, white and New Leaf Green. Since I had a lot of the  supplies out for the first card I went ahead and created a second card for the challenge:

 Here's how I incorporated some of the features from the inspiration photo:

Gingham: I used the gingham block from Bitty Background Blocks to stamp the Picket Fence die cut. The horizontal strips were stamped diagonally so that they would stand out against the pickets in the background. Little black rhinestone pearls were added to the slats at each end.

Green: I used New Leaf as the background mat for the focal point and then repeated the colour in the seed packet heading and flower title, as well as the single green butterfly. The green also is center stage in the leaves of the violets.

Black/White: The Seed Packet Frame #2 was die cut and then stamped with the coordinating stamp from Garden Variety II onto white card stock. This was mounted onto a black mat using foam dimensionals.  

The sentiment (Garden Variety) was stamped in the bottom corner in black ink.

The price image was stamped in black and then added to the bow on the picket fence.

Textures: The Vineyard Impression Plate was used to create texture on the card front; the Linen IP was used on the seed packet frame, as well as the two mats (black and green) to create dimension.

Other Details: The flower was coloured, cut and then popped in the opening using foam dimensionals. Winter Wisteria card stock was used to cut 2 butterflies and they joined the green one in the top corner. To finish the look, a small lavender bow was added to the picket fence.

Card Details: (PTI unless noted)

Stamps -  Garden Variety, GV II, Year of Flowers Collection, Year of Flowers Titles, Bitty Background Blocks II,

Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black, Close To My Heart: Clover Meadow

Papers - Stamper's Select White, Black, Winter Wisteria, New Leaf.

Dies - Seed Packet Frame #2, Picket Fence Die, Linen IP, Vineyard IP; SSU Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Other - Copic markers; black rhinestone pearls; Offray Ribbon; Sakura Yellow Gelly Roll pen; foam dimensionals  

Thanks for stopping along the way .... enjoy the rest of the Blog Hop!!

Karen C.

Happy 5th Birthday

My nephew and his wife had their first child on Mother's Day - 5 years ago.

Lily's favourite colour is purple, and since I had just received my new Winter Wisteria ink, paper and ribbon from Papertrey Ink, I used that as a starting point for her birthday card. I used a Krafting Kimmie image called "Nadine",  coloured with copic markers and fussy cut before adding it to the background panel. 

 The patterned paper is a Doodlebug design - I had some left over paper in my scrap bin, so I don't have the actual name of this design.  I 'pulled' lots of colours from this paper to colour Nadine and then stamped the polka dot background with Polka Dot Basics  (Spring Moss, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Raspberry Fizz, Lavender Moon, Winter Wisteria) on white card stock, cut with Nestabilities Label 11. Another mat was cut in an embossed card stock called Hearts Lavender from Micheal's Craft Store. The card front  was mounted onto a piece of Harvest Gold and then added to the Winter Wisteria Card base.

The circle tag was cut from the Tiny Tags and stamped with polka dots in Lemon Tart and the sentiment from Tag Its #1 in Winter Wisteria. I also added a bow with Winter Wisteria Bitty Dot Satin ribbon.

In the stamp image, Nadine  is holding a plate of cookies, but I was able to cut this out and then added the cupcake from PTI"s Tiny Treats:Valentine set. It was a perfect choice for a birthday card.

The inside of the card uses the same Label 11 as the front and the various colours (Spring Moss, Harvest Gold, Raspberry Fizz, Winter Wisteria) to stamp polka dots along the edge of the panel.
 The sentiment was made by selectively inking a stamp from Movers and Shakers (Celebrating your) in Winter Wisteria, "5" using CTMH Polka Dot Alphabet and then BIRTHDAY from the same Movers and Shakers sentiment. This stamped panel was mounted onto a mat of Harvest Gold card stock and a Winter Wisteria card base.

Card Details

Stamps - Krafting Kimmie: Nadine; PTI: Polka Dot Basics, Tag-Its #1, Tiny Treats:Valentine. 

Movers and Shakers, Fillable Frames #5, Close to My Heart: Polka Dot Alphabet

Inks - Spring Moss, Winter Wisteria, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Raspberry Fizz, Lavender Moon, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper - Winter Wisteria, Harvest Gold, Doodlebug paper; Bella White; Heart Lavender card stock

Dies - Nestabilities Label 11; PTI: Tiny Tags

Other - Copic markers; Winter Wisteria Bitty Dot Satin ribbon; Sakura clear Gelly Roll pen; purple embroidery floss

My brother and sister-in-law travelled to Southern Ontario for Lily's 5th birthday (and Mother's Day) so they were able to hand deliver this card for me. I decided to add some fun details to the envelope using Polka Dot Alphabet and PTI's  Postmarks, Tag Its #12; Mini Scrapbooking Series: Library Ledger & Additions.

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C.

Trendy Trees Anniversary

My brother and sister-in-law celebrated their 39th anniversary at the beginning of May. I thought the Trendy Trees dies would make a perfect anniversary card for them.  I did not purchase the stamp set, so I had to plan my card with patterned papers and other stamp sets and various inks  to create dimension and interest on the card. (I've already added the stamp set to my next order!! I love all the looks you can achieve by combining  the dies and stamps together!!)

I used various scraps from my stash to cut the three tree tops - when I started assembling the card I decided to cut one tree top to a smaller size and used a 1 3/4" circle punch on the far left tree. The 'hills' were created using In the Meadow snow drifts. I then added Polka Dot Basics with Spring Moss ink and sponged the edges to create further dimension. The tree trunks were cut from chocolate card stock and then the Woodgrain IP was used to add texture.

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Here's a close up of the trees. I used some Score tape on a piece of card stock before running it through my Cuttlebug with the heart image from Trendy Trees. This allowed me to add the Fire Red glitter to the heart - I think the bird and butterfly (Stamping Up Embosslits) on either side of the "heart tree" makes a great combination for an anniversary card!! I also used the Cane Impression Plate on the Kraft card front before attaching it to the Dark Chocolate mat.

After adding the sentiment on the lower right hand corner, I felt that the left side needed some detail. I used three brown eyelets and then tied some Rustic Jute through and knotted them. It adds a bit of rustic charm!!

Card Details:  (PTI unless noted)

Stamps - Polka Dot Basics, Mat Stack 3 Collection

Inks - Spring Moss, Kraft, Close to My Heart: Chocolate

Papers - Vintage Cream, Chocolate; from my scrap bin: blue, green dots, brown, hearts

Dies - Trendy Trees, In the Meadow Snow Drifts, Cane Prints Impression Plate;  

Wood grain Impression Plate;  SU/Sizzix Beautiful Wings Embosslits; 1 3/4" circle punch

Other - Rustic Jute Twine; brown eyelets; Scor-tape; Glitter Ritz Microfine Glitter:Fire Red ; 

mini brown pearl

Inside:

I stamped 2 co-ordinating frames from Framed Out #3 using Chocolate and Spring Moss inks. 
The sentiment combined:
'celebrate today' (Mat Stack 3) and 'forever & always' (Fillable Frames Additions #2), using Chocolate ink.

Thanks for visiting today!

Karen C.

A Little Birdie Told Me ...

I have been busy using Sewing Box Hugs (Waltzingmouse) for some of 
my cards this spring. I love the hand stitched effect of the images ...
they really speak to the sewer and quilter in me!!  Earlier I made 
this card - a watering can shaped card with flowers from the stamp set. 
I then decided to use the same idea to make a birdhouse for the little 
birdie from Sewing Box Hugs.

I created a template for the birdhouse using graph paper. 
This allowed me to cut various pieces for the card front.  

The card front was cut from Harvest Gold card stock and then the lower
portion was cut a second time from yellow patterned paper. A circle was punched into the paper to create an 'opening' for the bird house. An
orange piece of patterned paper was cut to create a frame for the opening.

 The gable end of the bird house was created by cutting lots of strips from the Heart Border die (Papertrey Ink). The paper strips were positioned to create a small scalloped effect (like shingles). Two pieces of orange paper were 'wrapped' around the edges of the roof line. A little copper coloured pearl was placed on the top point of the roof.

The bird, branch and flower were all stamped and hand cut using the Sewing Box Hugs set. Another little pearl was added to the center of the flower. A strip of Harvest Gold card stock was stamped with the sentient and attached to the lower edge of the card. All edges were sponged with Tea Dye Duo - Chamomile and Chai inks

A portion of one of the Photo Finishers die was cut from Harvest Gold card stock. The sentiment on this strip was created by combining "it's your" (Fillable Frames #8) and "birthday" (Tag-Its #10)  The second sentiment is from Flower Fusion #1.

Card Details

Stamps - WMS: Sewing Box Hugs; PTI: Flower Fusion #1; Fillable Frames #8, Tag-It's #10

Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black; PTI: Tea Dye Duo

Papers - My Mind's Eye Fine & Dandy: True Blue; PTI: Harvest Gold, Fine Linen; various blues and greens from my stash.

Dies - PTI: Photo Finishers die; Heart Border

Other Supplies -  Kaisercraft pearls; circle punches

A Decorated Envelope!

I decided to add some fun to the envelope, since I am going to hand deliver this to my niece on her birthday. I used a combination of stamps, inks and copic markers.

Waltzingmouse: Sewing Box Hugs;  Close to My Heart: Polka Dot Alphabet; Papertrey Ink: Postmarks.

 

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C.

Watering Can Card

I've finally had a chance to play with Sewing Box Hugs (Waltzingmouse Stamps.) When looking for inspiration, I found this free template  for a Watering Can card on the WMS site and decided to give it a try!!  There was lots of stamping and fussy cutting for the flowers and leaves and tracing and cutting of the watering can.

The flowers were stamped onto a variety of designer papers (see supplies list below) and some plain yellow and pink paper scraps that I stamped with one of the squares from Papertrey Ink's Bitty Background Basics. I love that I can create coordinating papers from ink, stamps and paper from my stash.

The watering can was hand cut from Aqua Mist card stock and then impressed with the Vineyard Impression Plate. (I  left the end of the spout flat, as the watering can template was wider than the impression plate - I actually like the way it turned out!)
I used a marker to outline the bottom of the spout to give it some definition.
Chamomile and Chai inks were swiped across the paper and around the edges to add a vintage feel to the watering can.

I used another piece of designer paper to die cut the butterfly and then added faux stitching with a black marker. Little black pearls create the butterfly's body.

The Angled Rectangle Die Collection (Label Basics) was used to make the sentiment panel - one from Aqua Mist and the other from white card stock that was liberally swiped with more of the Tea Dye Duo inks. Little metallic pearls were attached on either end to resemble rivets that hold the label onto the watering can.

The inside of the card uses a sentiment from Sending You (Papertrey Ink) and then a few little circles from Sewing Box Hugs that were stamped from the designer papers, fussy cut and then glued to the card. (After I finished the card, I got some ink on my finger which ended up on the card interior. My fix: little circles, randomly scattered around the sentiment!!)

Card Details:

Stamps -  Waltzingmouse Stamps: Sewing Box Hugs;   Papertrey Ink: Sending You, Bitty Background Basics

Inks - PTI Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise, Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo; Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers - PTI Aqua Mist, Stamper's Select White;   Basic Grey: Sweet Threads;   Sassafras: Count Me In; yellow & pink from stash.

Other Supplies - PTI Vineyard Impression Plate,  Label Basics- Angled Label Dies;  
Stampin'Up "Beautiful Wings" Embosslits;   markers; metallic pearls.

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C.

Garden Delights!!

Debbie Olsen Design

Happy May Day!!

  I have always loved the card Debbie Olsen created for Papertrey Ink's May 2011 Product Release.  You can find the details about her card here .

  

It has so many layers and details that make me think of a happy spring/summer day!!  I wanted to make a card using some of the same elements. 

I started by using the bright green card base and embossing it with 

the Curlique folder. Then I layered lots of PTI goodies onto the base:  

Seed Packet: die cut from white card stock and then stamped with Polka Dot Basics and Summer Sunrise ink. The oval frame (Postmarks) was stamped in Clover Meadow ink. The sentiment (a gift for you) is from Tiny Tags II.

Garden Variety Seed Frame:  cut and stamped onto white card. The sentiments are all from Button Boutique. The frame was then mounted onto the Button Card (also stamped with more Polka Dots)

The Flower Fusion #2 stamp and die, along with the Flower Fusion stem/leaves from Flower Fusion #1 create the main focal point. The center of the flower is stamped with Canyon Clay ink using an image from Flower Fusion #4.  I stamped the leaves on both sides of the card stock and curled them up so they stand away from the stem. You can see all the dimension above.

Picket Fence:  stamped with Background Basics: Wood grain and the flowers and grass from Garden Variety. The addition of some butterflies and Baker's twine create another layer of detail. I also added pearls to the center of the flower and the butterflies.

The inside of the card uses more of the flower images from Flower Fusion #2 and the sentiment from Flower Fusion #1 finishes the inside of the card.

Card Details:

Stamps -  PTI: Flower Fusion #1, #2, #4;  Background Basics: Wood grain; Polka Dot Basics, Garden Variety, Postmarks, Tiny Tags II, Button Boutique

Inks -  PTI Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay;  CTMH: Clover Meadow; Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers -  PTI: Summer Sunrise, Stamper's Select White; SU: Whisper White;  

Best Occasions "Brights" Card Stock Pack

Dies -  PTI:  Button Card Die,  Seed Packet Frame, Seed Packet,   
Flower Fusion #2, Flower Fusion Stem, Picket Fence,

Stampin'Up "Beautiful Wings" Embosslits

Other - The Twinery Bakers Twine; Kaisercraft pearls; Sizzix Curlique Embossing folder; 
Sakura Clear Gelly Roll pen; corner rounder