Papertrey Ink July 2012 Blog Hop Challenge

 

It's been really quiet around my blog this summer. I just can't seem to get my 'ducks in a row' to get pictures and blog posts done. Must be the summer heat!! I really wanted to participate in this month's PTI Blog Hop, but really had some difficulty with the inspiration photo. 

 

Originally I wanted to create a 'bouquet of flowers' using the rose from Year of Flowers Collection, but after stamping and colouring five flowers in different colours I ended up just picking one of them to use on my card. Here is my very  "Berry Sorbet"  card with the marigold image:

 

I stitched a piece of dotted paper to the Vintage Cream card base. Tag Sale #4 was cut with Berry Sorbet card stock and adhered with the tag opening at the bottom of the card. A 2.5" circle was cut from Vintage Cream and then embossed with the Swiss Dot folder. Some Lemon Tart ink was rubbed over the dots to add a bit more colour and dimension to the background panel.

The marigold was stamped onto Stamper's Select White card stock and then coloured with copic markers and fussy cut. 

I actually took one of my lighter coloured marigolds (also fussy cut) and glued it to the circle, being careful not to glue the leaves down. The second marigold was added on top using foam dimensionals. The leaves were then 'curled' up.

Two pieces of  cream ribbon were added to the tag at the bottom; the sentiment (from Spiral Bouquet) was stamped with Berry Sorbet ink and three green pearls were added to the top right side of the sentiment. All of the edges were sponged with Berry Sorbet.

Card Details (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Year of Flowers Collection, Spiral Bouquet
Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black; Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart
Papers - Stamper's Select White, Berry Sorbet; My Mind's Eye: Follow Your Heart - Be happy
Dies etc. - Tag Sale #4, Limitless Layers: 2.5" Circles; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
Other - Copic markers, foam diomensionals, 1/16" cream ribbon; sewing machine.

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy the Blog Hop!

Karen C.

Happy Hexagon Mail

"Summer time .. and the living is easy"  .... 

This phrase sums up my motto this month!! I haven't updated my blog since July 1st!! My son and his girlfriend were visiting from the East Coast and left early this morning, so things might get back to my regular routine!!
I've been doing some crafty projects, but just haven't taken card pictures or written blog posts for a while. I made this card a few weeks ago, and decided to enter Hooked on Hexagons Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

I had so much fun stamping and organizing the little hexagons using the  
Cover Plate: Hexagons and the stamp set: Happy Hexagons.

I used Nichole Heady's Colour Planning Chart  (from this post), to create the arrangement of 5 coloured hexagons. It made the whole process so easy!!

I made a Colour reference sheet for myself using:

  
    A: Orange  
    B: Harvest Gold
    C: Sweet Leaf

    D: Crystal Blue

    E: Raspberry Fizz

* Although the Happy Hexagon set comes with a large variety of stamps, I kept it simple by using the same design to stamp all of the colours. I used Linen Vellum for the stamped hexagons as it resembles fabric. The turquoise card stock was from a paper pack I purchased from Michaels, but it is very similar to SU's Tempting Turquoise.

* After finishing all the cutting, stamping and assembling, I didn't want to cover up all the pretty little designs. I opted for a sentiment from the Happy Hexagons set, stamped onto a white  card stock square that was stamped with Bitty Background Blocks and impressed with the Canvas Impression Plate. The sentiment was stamped with SU's Tempting Turquoise ink. 

* The heart was die cut several times from the Flip Flop Die collection, so they could be stacked together ... this gives added dimension. (The top layer is stamped onto  the Linen Vellum with Raspberry fizz ink).
* The sentiment panel was mounted onto the turquoise panel (cut with Button Card: Fabric Swatch die) and then mounted to another Harvest Gold square. 
* The pink bow and mini pearl finish the sentiment panel. This allows the 'patchwork' pattern to really take center stage.
 

* The inside of the card uses more Happy Hexagons as a border along the bottom and a sentiment from Up, Up & Away Sentiments.

Card Details  (PTI unless noted) 

Stamps - Happy Hexagons, Bitty Background Blocks, Up, Up & Away Sentiments.

Inks - Raspberry Fizz, Harvest Gold; CTMH: Orange, Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue; SU: Tempting Turquoise

Paper - Soft Stone, Harvest Gold, Stamper's Select White, Linen Vellum; Recollections: Turquoise

Dies/Plates - Cover Plate: Hexagons, Canvas Impression Plate, Button Card: Fabric Swatch, Flip Flop Die Collection; Nestabilities: Large/Small Classic Squares

Other Supplies - Offray 3/8" Shocking Pink Satin ribbon; CTMH: Bitty Opaques; foam dimensionals

Thanks for visiting today!

Karen C.

Papertrey Ink: Make It Monday #72

Hope everyone is enjoying a sunny and relaxing week-end. 
It's July 1st - Canada Day here and we're celebrating with family ... a bar-b-que on the deck and viewing the city fireworks later this evening. 

I just wanted to pop in with a quick entry for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #72. You can view the video here. Dawn McVey challenged us to 'Step-it-Up" by creating embellishments that use something "extra". Since I got the Lovely Layers stamp and die set last week-end, I couldn't resist giving it a test run.

I used the photo from the PTI June Blog Hop as the colour inspiration for my card:  inks, papers and pearls in a combination of Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise and Aqua Mist and a little bit of Hawaiian Shores. 

* Dimension was added by using the Vineyards Impression Plate (on the Harvest Gold Nestabilities layer) and a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder on the Aqua Mist layer and the two Rick Rack Border die cuts across the bottom of the card. I used Versamark on both the IP and the embossing folder before running the card stock through the Cuttlebug. This darkened the colour of the paper a little, but it also highlights the embossed images.

* Machine stitching around the patterned paper and Harvest mat die.

All of the lovely layers!!

* Harvest Gold card base

* Grid patterned paper (My Mind's Eye)

* Aqua Mist and Harvest Gold Card stock

     - die cut with Nestabilities Label #1

* 2 sets of leaf  dies (Lovely Layers)

     - stamped with Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores

* 2 sets of  die cuts from Lemon Tart card stock 

     - stamped with Summer Sunrise

* Large flower

     - stamped with Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores

 

* Flower center

     - stamped with Aqua Mist and Lemon Tart

* Pearl - Coloured with copic markers (Aqua Mist)

 A sentiment from  Say It In Style  (Close To My Heart) was stamped with Aqua Mist ink and yellow and aqua pearls were added on either side.

I'm not sure what I will use this card for, so I kept the front sentiment very simple and will add appropriate details to the inside when I'm ready to use it!

The inside of the card was finished with the dies and stamps from Back Pocket Basics - using Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold and Canyon Clay inks.














Card Details: (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Lovely Layers, Back Pocket Basics; CTMH: Say It In Style

Inks - Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise; Canyon Clay; Versamark

Paper - Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Soft Stone; My Mind's Eye: Follow Your Heart.

Dies - Lovely Layers Die Collection, Rick Rack border Die; Back Pocket die collection; Nestabilities Label #1

Other Supplies - Vineyards Impression Plate; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; pearl adhesives; Copic Markers; foam dimensionals; sewing machine.

Thanks for visiting. Have a great Day!

Karen C.

Papertrey Ink June 2012 Blog Hop Challenge

This month's inspiration is a fun take on florals, ruffles & pleats.  

You could include New Leaf ink stamped onto Aqua Mist card stock 

with some pops of Harvest Gold or Lemon Tart die-cuts! 

Have fun with your favourite ribbons to make pleats or ruffles!

 

I had originally planned on using my new Lovely Layers stamp and die set to create a focal point for this card, but after I finished the background stamping and colouring the added detail it looked to be too much!! So I decided to set aside the layered embellishment for another day and go with this clean and simple card!!

I used lots of inspiration from this photo .... a circular image, yellow pleated ribbon and the colours of green, aqua and yellow. 

Various images from Stitches and Swirls were stamped with Clover Meadow (Close To My Heart) and then coloured with copic markers. The small yellow dots were stamped with Lemon Tart using a dot from Beautiful Blooms II. 

The sentiment and ribbon are positioned over a little stamping blooper!!

* The circle was stamped with an old set from Art Warehouse in Hawaiian Shores and then the sentiment (Trendy Tree Tops) was added with green ink. 

* Three 'sparkles' (aqua and light green) were added above the sentiment.

* Two 'loops' of Lemon Tart Satin ribbon were attached to the card front and then the round sentiment panel was mounted with foam dimensionals.

Card Details:  (PTI unless noted)

Stamps -  Stitches and Swirls, Beautiful Blooms II, Trendy Tree Tops;  Art Warehouse: Interactive Circles

Inks - Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart; 
CTMH: Clover Meadow

Paper - Stamper's Select White

Other Supplies - Lemon Tart Satin ribbon;  CTMH: "Sparkles" (green and blue); foam dimensionals; 1 1/2" circle punch;  
Copic markers: YG11  YG13  YG17  BG11  BG13  BG18  Y21  Y15  C0  C1  C3  W1

Thanks for visiting.  Enjoy hopping today!!

Karen C.

Playing with Stamps and Dies

Design by Dawn Mcvey

  

When I first saw Papertrey Ink's Lovely Layers stamps and dies during the June release,  I was immediately impressed with the possibilities of layering the various images and colours. Dawn McVey's card (right) was only one of many samples that convinced me I needed this set!! You can see lots of inspiration here.

  

I couldn't wait until my set arrived, so last week I decided to 
see if I could use some of my supplies to create a similar look. 

The Focal Image

* I started by die cutting four of the smallest leaves from Sending You Die Collection  in Soft Moss and then stamping them with the leaf veins from Delightful Dahlia. Since they were all separate, I used a small punched circle to adhere the points in the center, creating the diagonal effect. This four leaf unit was then attached to the square card base using foam dimensionals.
* The small brown  accents were made by die cutting the branches (snowman's "arms and hands") from Shape Up Snowman Die Collection. I cut them down quite a bit so they are just "peeking" out from under the leaves. 
* The flower was created by using the 2 smallest flowers from Bloom Builder's #3 Die - each cut twice from Spring Rain card stock. A Dark Chocolate circle and a green brad finish off the center of the flower.

* The square panel was made by cutting 3 Nestabilities Classic Squares:

* The first layer (Stamper's Select White) was stamped with circles from Background Basics: Postmarks and the edges were sponged in Bashful Blue.

* The second layer is a plain white square, with blue inked edges.

* The third layer is cut from Dark Chocolate card stock.This whole panel is mounted on the card front with foam dimensionals.

Other Card Front Details

* The upper half of the card front (Spring Rain)  was embossed with Dots and Spots Embossing folder. 

* The white card base was stamped with Text Style and edged with Bashful Blue ink.

* A dark brown and white polka dot ribbon was added vertically and horizontally.

The sentiment (Mega Mixed Messages) was stamped in Rich Cocoa ink.

The inside was a quick and easy design.

 * Text Style was stamped across the center of the card. Two lines were drawn above and below the text and then a green copic marker was used to fill in. 

* The main frame from Framed Out #1 was stamped in Bashful Blue and then cut out with a small Nestabilities square die. 
* The sentiment (Mega Mixed Messages) was stamped in brown ink. I also added a thin brown line around the square sentiment panel using a brown marker.

Card Details (PTI unless noted)

Stamps - Delightful Dahilia, Mega Mixed Messages, Background Basics: Postmarks, 

Text Style, Framed Out #1

Inks - Spring Moss; Memento Rich Cocoa; SU Bashful Blue;

Paper - Spring Rain, Spring Rain, Stamper's Select White, Dark Chocolate

Dies - Bloom Builder's #3, Sending You, Shape Up Snowman Die Collection,

Nestabilities Classic Squares - Large & Small

Other Supplies - Cuttlebug: Dots and Spots Embossing Folder; Zig brown marker; green brad; brown/white polka dot ribbon; copic markers;  foam dimensionals.

P.S.   I just picked up my new order today (I travel to an outlet across the U.S.- Canada border). 
         I'm looking forward to making a  "real"  Lovely Layers project.  It's a beautiful set!!

Thanks for visiting today!

Karen C.

Anniversary Wishes - Hearts & Patches

My crafting mojo has been on a little vacation, but I'm back with a project that I finally finished this week. After viewing this video from Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #70: Puffed Fabric Accents  (June 11, 2012).  I decided to make an anniversary card - a number of family members have summer anniversaries, so I thought this would be a good start.

My colour scheme was determined by the fabric that I chose for the puffy heart - red, white and light blue. Originally I was going to use a Confetti White card base and add the details on top of that. However, I had some difficulty using the Canvas Impression Plate, so I ended up cutting the impressed card stock and attaching it to the Pure Poppy card base.

Some of the other details include:

* The sentiment (Love Lives Here) was stamped with Pure Poppy.

* A Heart Print Die was used to cut an opening in a 2.25" circle  (Limitless Layers Circles) This circle was stamped with a leaf image from Just for You, using Bashful Blue ink. (Stampin'Up)

* Two pieces of white felt were cut slightly smaller than the heart and mounted under the checkered fabric scrap. This created the 'puffy' heart. A blue felt 'button' was cut from Button Up Die #2. A red heart brad was attached in the center.

* The focal image was attached to a Spring Rain Limitless Layers scalloped circle. Faux stitching was hand drawn around these edges using a blue marker.

* Nestabilities Label #11 was die cut and then stamped with Background Basics: Gingham using Pure Poppy ink. The edges were machine sewn.

* The main focal image was mounted onto the gingham background.

* The Hearts Border Die was used to cut two borders: 

1. Pure Poppy border was cut in half (upper and lower) and positioned  onto the gingham panel so that a mat was created for the blue hearts.

2. Spring Rain - border was embossed with SU Square Lattice Textured folder.

I had fun creating the inside of the card too! 
* Confetti White card stock was used
* Edges were stitched with red thread 

* A strip of square patches was added to the bottom of the card. This was created by stamping the gingham pattern (Pure Poppy) and the leaf design (Bashful Blue) on scraps of card stock and then using a 5/8" punch. Each square was edged with ink before being glued and then sewn into place. 

 * The sentiment (Quilter's Sampler & Mat Stack 3 Collection) was selectively stamped with both ink colours to tie in with the colour scheme.

Card Details  (PTI, unless noted) 
Stamps - Love Lives Here, Background Basics: Gingham, Just for You, Quilter's Sampler, 
Mat Stack 3 Stamp Collection
Inks - Pure Poppy;  SU: Bashful Blue
Paper - Spring Rain, Pure Poppy;  SU: Confetti White
Dies - Limitless Layers 2.25" Circles, Heart Prints, Hearts Border Die, Button Up Die #2; Nestabilities Label #11 
Other Supplies -   Canvas Impression Plate;  SU: Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder; Zig Blue Jay marker; red heart brad; EK Success 5/8" square punch, corner rounder;  From my Sewing Room - Sewing machine, red thread; blue & white felt;  fabric scrap;

Thanks for visiting today!

Karen C.

Tricycle Birthday Boy

My grand nephew is celebrating his 3rd birthday this week.
Bye, Bye Boy by Mo Manning (Stamping Bella) was perfect for a busy little boy!

* The edges of the striped designer paper were machine stitched with dark brown thread and attached to a Dark Chocolate card base. 

* The focal image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured with Copic markers. 

* The frame was created by cutting red paper with the Button Card die to make the 'opening'. I then measured and cut a thin frame and rounded the corners. The white image panel actually sits under the frame. The small yellow stars are the 'leftover' center stars from cutting the Star Borders die. You'll see that border in action on the inside of the card.

* The large layered star in the corner was made from various papers using the Seeing Stars die and the star from Tiny Tags die. The large blue star was hand cut to create a mat for the yellow star. The smallest blue star was made by layering several punched stars over a cardboard base to create a thicker star.

* The sentiment (It's a Jungle) was stamped with CTMH Chocolate ink.

* The inside of the card uses more of the designer paper on the bottom edge. 

* Star Border Dies were used along the edge of the patterned paper .... the die with the open star center was cut with the yellow paper and a second die was used to cut the red border; then they were layered ... yellow on top of red.   

* The 'faux' stitching was done with a brown marker.

* Another star was die cut with Seeing Stars die and the '3' was cut using the Block Numbers die. 

* The sentiment grouping was created using a variety of stamps: 

    hip hip HOORAY! (Fillable Frames #3);   YOU'RE (Star Prints);   today (Mat Stack 3 Collection)

Decorated Envelope:

I've been trying to embellish my envelopes lately, if I know the card will be hand delivered ... it gives me another reason to use my stamps and dies!!

* The name was cut using the Block Alphabet dies (lower case).

* A variety of stars were stamped with Star Prints.

* The Postmarks set was used to create the postal images at the top corner.

Card & Envelope Details  (PTI unless noted)

Stamps - Stamping Bella: Bye, Bye Boy; It's a Jungle, Star Prints, Postmarks, 
Mat Stack 3 Collection

Inks -  Memento Tuxedo Black; Close To My Heart: Chocolate, Moonstruck; 
Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise

Papers - Dark Chocolate; Stamper's Select White; 
We R Memory Keepers: Explore/Rucksack; Fancy Pants: It's Your Day/Hoopla

Dies - Star Borders, Seeing Stars Collection, Button Card Die, Tiny Tags, Block Alphabet and Numbers Die Collection; small star punch

Other - Copic markers, sewing machine, Sakura clear Gelly Roll Pen; foam dimensionals.