Welcome to my crafty blog... a "garden" of colourful cards, quilting, sewing projects, knitting...and what ever else happens along the way!!


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Papertrey Ink February 2015 Blog Hop

Blog-hop-logo

When I saw the inspiration picture for this blog hop, 
I knew I had to find some time to play along!! 
(You can see all of the details here.)
Blog Hop Inspiration

My husband and I are heading out this morning for a trip to visit my youngest son and his fiance in Vancouver and then on to a ten day trip to Hawaii. We're so looking forward to some warm days and sunny skies!!
My husband was packing and I was in my craft room making this card!


I started with a piece of water colour paper and LOTS of different colours of ink pads to create the background piece. I smooshed various inks onto an acrylic block, added some water and then painted the paper with a brush. 
It was fun playing watching the magic happen!!

Before assembling the card, I sprayed the background paper with Stampin'Up Vanilla Shimmer Smooching Spritzer. It creates a subtle effect, but is so pretty.  
I cut this paper into a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece and still had a strip left over. I turned this 'leftover' into a sentiment banner by cutting a Double-ended Banner die, stamped with a sentiment from Delightful Dahlias with Smokey Shadow ink.
The Quatrefoil Cover Plate was cut from Stamper's Select White card stock and layered over the background paper.

I cut the leaf and flower dies (Pretty Peonies) from water colour paper, heat embossed with white embossing powder and then used the same technique as above to colour the images. I layered several die cuts in order to create dimension and then added them to the sentiment banner.
Supplies (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Pretty Peonies, Delightful Dahlias
Inks - Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Winter Wisteria, Royal Velvet, Smoky Shadow; Versamark
Paper - Stamper's Select White; Watercolour paper;
Dies - Cover Plate: Quatrefoil; Pretty Peonies Die collection; Double-ended Banner Die
Other -SU: Vanilla Shimmer Smooching Spritzer; Recollections: Fine White Embossing Powder.

Thanks for visiting today. Enjoy the blog hop!!
Karen C.


Saturday, February 14, 2015

Papertrey Ink: Ombre Challenge

This is my  last project for the 8th Anniversary Celebrations at Papertrey Ink. 
It's been a fun filled and busy week with lots of inspiration.
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d0d047a1970c-pi 
Day 8 Challenge: 
For this challenge we were to use a blue ombre effect. 
You can check out the details here.
I wanted to use some of my new stamp sets 
(Little Human and Zappy Birthday) 
to make a birthday card for one of my grand nephews.


Supplies (PTI unless noted)
Stamps -Little Human, Zappy Birthday, Polka Dot Basics
Inks - Pure Poppy, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky; 
           SU: Bashful Blue; CTMH: Outdoor Denim
Paper - Stamper`s Select White, Blueberry Sky
Dies - Little Human, Zappy Birthday, Stitching Lines
Other -Linen Impression Plate

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Papertrey Ink: Metallic Challenge

I've been busy with another project for the 8th Anniversary Celebrations at Papertrey Ink.The focus for Day 7 was metallics - gold and silver papers and foils were featured. You can see all of these wonderful products here.
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d0d047a1970c-pi 
Day 7 Challenge: 
I like colour. I like bright colours. 
But today we were to limit our design to the use of neutrals 
along with gold or silver metallics. 
I found a small piece of gold paper in my scrap stash 
and decided to cut a word die with it. 



Once I finished making one note card, 
I went ahead and made 3 more, 
since one little bitty card just wasn't enough!! 
Each card measures 3" x 4"

I had enough gold paper to cut 2 "you" die cuts and 
2 "note" die cuts from Wet Paint II Die Collection
Time to get more gold and silver paper!!



The white card with black stamping and gold sentiments needed an accent, since they looked too plain. (remember, I'm a colour kind of girl). 
Lots of Gold Dot Sparklers in two different sizes (from my stash)  
were added to the right of the sentiment.

Supplies (PTI unless noted)  
Stamps - Circle Scribbles; It's Official
Inks - Versafine Onyx Black; Versamark
Paper - Stamper's Select White; gold paper scrap!
Dies - Wet Paint II Die Collection
Other -SU: Gold Embossing powder; Stampendous: Gold Dot Sparklers; corner rounder

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink: Spring Into Action

This is my fifth project for the 8th Anniversary Celebrations at Papertrey Ink.
I've made more cards this week than I have in the last few weeks!
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d0d047a1970c-pi 
Day 5 Challenge: 
The theme for this challenge - Spring Into Action - required us to use a stamp set that hasn't seen ink!! I have a few of the Phrase Play stamps and dies that I haven't used, so I chose to make a Valentine's Day card with Phrase Play #3.


I used a light copic marker (E000) to colour the white card stock as it looked too bright behind the Rustic White focal panel. It now has a pinkish tinge.

Supplies (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Phrase Play #3, Love You To Pieces Additions, Polka Dot Basics
Inks - Pure Poppy; SU: Pool Party
Paper - Stamper's Select White, Rustic  White, Pure Poppy
Dies - Phrase Play #3, Stitched Rectangles
Other -Close To My Heart: Bitty Sparkles (clear); copic markers

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink: Build a Bouquet Challenge

This is my fourth project for the 8th Anniversary Celebrations at Papertrey Ink.  Betsy Veldman has created some sweet floral bouquets for the February release.
You can see more details on Nichole Heady's blog.
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d0d047a1970c-pi 
Day 4 Challenge: 
For this challenge we were to use several stamp sets to create a floral bouquet. My desk was littered with five or six sets, as I was testing out various combinations. I finally decided to create a bouquet with Turning a New Leaf, Happiness in Bloom, Birds & Blooms, Mini Blooms and Daydreamer. My flowers were grouped together in the jar from Friendship Jar.

My Card
Card Size - 3 3/4" x 5 1/2"

Supplies (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Turning a New Leaf, Happiness in Bloom, Birds & Blooms, Mini Blooms, 
Daydreamer, Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Spring Fillers, Crackled
Inks - Kraft, Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise, Lavender Moon, Spring Moss, Limeade Ice; 
Close To My Heart: Grey Wool; SU: Pool Party
Paper - RStamperès Select White, Vintage Cream;  SU: Pool Party
Dies - Friendship Jar (label), Mini Blooms; SU: Beautiful Wings Embosslits
Other -Linen Impression Plate; copic markers; Close To My Heart: Blue Sparkles; corner rounder

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink: Tag & Bag Challenge

This is my third project for the 8th Anniversary Celebrations at Papertrey Ink. Each day PTI fans are given a chance to win fabulous prizes, by entering various challenges. You can see the third challenge outlined on Nichole Heady`s blog.
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d0d047a1970c-pi
Day 3 Challenge: 
This challenge focuses on tags and packaging for gift giving.
I often like to sew or knit gifts for my wee grand nephews and nieces. 
I have 8 grand nieces in my family, so I'm always looking for ideas for little girls. With that in mind, I used  a pink and white colour scheme and Stitched with Love stamps and dies to create this tag to go along with a pink striped gift bag. 
A striped Hibiscus Burst Bag is accented with the handmade tag 
and a white grosgrain ribbon.


The main circle panel was stamped with Hibiscus Burst several times 
(using my new MISTI), but the ink seems to have bled 
into the sentiment "just for you". 
I'm wondering if I could use a white gel pen to highlight these words. 
I'll have to experiment!!

I added the top white panel to a circle notecard cut using 
Limitless Layers 2 1/2" circle die. 
Two holes were punched at the fold into order to thread 
a piece of crochet cotton through.

Supplies (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Stitched With Love
Inks - Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, Simply Chartruese; Versafine Onyx Black
Paper - Stamper`s Select White, Hibiscus Burst; Hibicus Burst Striped Patterned Paper
Dies - Stitched With Love Die Collection, Limitless Layers: 2 1/2" Circle Die
Other -White crochet cotton; white grosgrain ribbon' small circle punch

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink: Inspired by Maiie Challenge

This is my second project for the 8th Anniversary Celebrations at Papertrey Ink. Maile Belles is back designing stamps and dies and 
was showcased in this blog post by Nichole Heady. 
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d0d047a1970c-pi 
Day 2 Challenge: 
For this challenge we were to use one of Maile's cards as an inspiration for our design. I decided to use one of her stamp designs (Trendy Tree Tops) and her card as my starting point.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI5o6njwveQkAJ6DRmHpPtzWDwPeJ2iuKYrN6qFHI7nZxNL9DzVTr0T2oeK0BKRyfMGIvwnQGOL2eBTcgO3REZzTWJ_aduZ9B0YJs5gvMOvNTg6kf_0Tz3TZw4oskWDYh0Q-4mYKVf6fe/s1600/DSC_0062E.jpg
Maile's Card

My Card
I decided to make this card for Valentine's Day to give to my husband. 
I liked the idea of using non traditional colours for an occasion that's usually a red, pink and white day. This gives the card a more masculine feel.



Supplies (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Trendy Tree Tops
Inks - Dark Chocolate, Canyon Clay, Summer Sunrise; Close To My Heart: Orange
Paper - Rustic White; Dark Chocolate, Canyon Clay, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest
Dies - Trendy Tree Tops (heart)
Other -Brass adhesive gems

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink: Colour/Sketch Challenge

It 's time for the 8th Anniversary Celebrations at Papertrey Ink. 
Lots of fun announcements, product releases and challenges 
have been highlighted on Nichole Heady's Blog.

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d0d047a1970c-pi 
Day 1 Challenge: 
Combine one colour recipe and one sketch recipe, to create a card.
Doodlie-Do stamps and dies were chosen to create the floral embellishment using the sketch as a guidleine. I tried to incorporate all of the colours, but in the end, just focused on three of the five colour choices.

PTI8-color-inspiration-7PTI8-sketch-inspiration-7

My Card

The sequins are much softer colours in real life. 
The colours shown here are much more intense and brighter.


Supplies (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Doodlie-Do, Sending You; SU: Off the Grid
Inks - Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, Harvest Gold; Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - Stamper's Select White
Dies - Doodlie-Do
Other - copics; Sakura Clear Gelly Roll pen; sequins (from my stash)

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.