Doily Friend

Time for the monthly Papertrey Ink blog hop!  July's challenge is an inspiration photo full of sweet elements.  I love the colors and patterns.

I chose some darling patterned papers from the Oh Darling pad by Crate Paper.  After cutting them into strips, I glued them to a white base and die cut it with the Tag Sale #11 die.   I also cut some Sweet Blush cardstock with the same die for the scalloped frame.

I cut the tag from a striped patterned paper and glued it to a white base for stability.  I added some pink baker's twine to the tag hole.  After assembling all the pieces, I die cut and adhered the word "friend" on top.  (I removed the "s" with scissors.)  The whole tag was placed on a white doily on a white card base.

Inside the card, I glued a row of patterned paper along the bottom using the same strips from earlier.  I added a piece of scalloped Sweet Blush cardstock and then a white strip stamped with a sentiment from Boutique Borders: Thinking of You.  The pretty prints really dress it up.

I love how my card turned out! It's perfect for an old friend who's been going through a rough time.  If you want to see other interpretations of the challenge, you can see them here.

Stamps:  Boutique Borders: Thinking of You (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink); Oh Darling 6x6 pad (Crate Paper); white copy paper
Misc:  Scallop Border punch (Stampin' Up); Tag Sale #11 die, Wonderful Words: Friends die (Papertrey Ink); English Tea Party die (Cheery Lynn Designs); Blossom twine (The Twinery)

Thanks Card Set

Remember the baby card in the last post?  This is one of the baby shower gifts that accompanied it.  I really enjoyed making this set of thank you cards.  Warning...lots of pics ahead!

I kept the same basic layout for each card, just changing up the colors and the thanks sentiment.  That made it much easier for me to do multiple cards.  I assembled them in sets of four, making two of each color/orientation.  In other words, four cards using Pistachio Pudding cardstock, but two of each sentiment in that color.  Make sense?  I made twenty cards in total.

I used a pretty striped patterned paper from the Sweet Sorbet pack.  (no longer available since it was from Sell-a-Bration)  I pulled my solid cardstock color choices from the pattern.  (five colors in all)  The scalloped strip was done using the Scallop Edge punch by Stampin' Up.

I used the Thanks Word die by Lil' Inker in combination with sentiments from Wonderful Words: Thank You and Wonderful Words: Hello by Papertrey Ink.

Quite a simple design, really.  It still took me several hours though.  It does take time to cut all the pieces before assembling, and then it took about fifteen minutes to make each set of cards.

It made me so happy to see my pretty pile of cards when I was done!  I didn't get to enjoy them long though.  I was in a rush by that point to get it packaged up for the baby shower.  When I went outside to quickly take pics, it started raining.  Wouldn't you know it?  I had to get my daughter to hold an umbrella over my usual photo spot while I took them.  lol

Since I was out of time to do anything complicated, I grabbed a white lunch sack to hold the set of cards along with envelopes.  I cut a strip of the Sweet Sorbet paper and Pool Party cardstock using Fishtail Flags Layers STAX dies.  I folded them over the top and stapled it in place.

I stamped an image from Baby Firsts on a die cut circle, quickly colored it with a few Copic markers, backed it with a Sahara Sand scalloped circle, and glued it in place. 

It turned out very cute for a rush packaging job!  I love that it matches the cards inside.

So there you have it!  I think this ranks as one of my favorite projects.  It was a very pleasant way to spend the day and was well received by my friends at the baby shower.  I hope it makes them smile every time they use the cards.  :)

Stamps:  Wonderful Words: Thank You, Wonderful Words: Hello (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Sahara Sand, Summer Starfruit, Sweet Sorbet dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Thanks Word die (Lil' Inker); Scallop Edge punch (Stampin' Up)

Stamps:  Baby Firsts (Stampin' Up); Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Pool Party, Sahara Sand, Sweet Sorbet dsp (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  0, E000, E00, E30, R20, BG11
Misc:  Standard Circles Large die, Classic Scalloped Circles Small die (Spellbinders); Fishtail Flags Layers STAX dies (My Favorite Things); lunch sack; dimensionals

A New Little Someone

Some family friends had a baby two months ago.  He was born premature and spent a long time in the hospital before he could come home.  Now that he's home and doing well, we finally had a baby shower for their family.  I made this baby card last night to go with our gift.

I used the Baby Tees wheel to stamp one of the tees on some patterned paper, masking off the star before stamping, because I wanted the cute argyle pattern to stand out.  I then carefully cut it out.  I added a tiny hand cut bowtie that was stamped with some polka dots.

Another piece of patterned paper from the same pad was trimmed to fit and die cut along the top edge with a scallop die.  I randomly cut the word BABY using my Block Alphabet dies.  I stamped the sentiment and then stitched the whole piece to my card with some blue thread.  Once this was done, I carefully added the center pieces of the letters.  I adhered a skinny strip of Ocean Tides cardstock underneath the stitched piece.  The onesie was popped up with dimensionals.

Inside the card, I added some strips of patterned paper to hide the stitching and stamped the word "Congratulations".  Naturally, I forgot to take a picture of that.  :)

Stamps:  Baby Tees wheel, Well Scripted (Stampin' Up); Polka Dot Basics II (Papertrey Ink); Hope Blooms (Verve)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); VersaMark
Paper:  Kraft, Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink); Marjolaine 6x6 pad (Basic Grey)
Misc:  Block Alphabet dies (Papertrey Ink); Blueprints 3 die (My Favorite Things); thread; dimensionals

Scatter Sunshine

I finally got my Shakers & Sprinkles Make It Market Kit last week.  I splurged on it back in May and then had to wait two long months to get it.  Not sure I'll do that again, but I was pretty excited to get this kit despite the drama.  I fell in love with the dies most of all, but I also love the stamps and luscious sprinkle/sequin mixes!

I spent the day over a friend's house who I don't see often, but is one of the few friends I have that love to stamp.  I got to check out her new Stampin' Up goodies as well.  :)  I stamped out a few cute Chubby Chums images from her Paper Smooches stamps, so hopefully you'll see some cards using those soon.  We both made shaker cards using my new kit. 

I haven't made a shaker card in years and these dies made it super easy, especially with the full sheet double-sided adhesive foam included in the kit.  Not to mention all the other goodies!

Bet that made you smile!  It's so pretty and cheerful in person.  I used one of the patterned papers from the kit for the background.  I stamped the sunrays image in Harvest Gold ink on the white oval, as well as the word "sunshine" in black ink.  That's where I messed up slightly.  After adhering the white oval to the back of the sticky foam, I realized I hadn't had my oval straight when stamping.  It's not super obvious, but the oval is slightly tilted on the card to keep my sentiment straight.  lol  Oops!

I used Harvest Gold cardstock for my frame and Summer Sunrise cardstock for the diecut word "scatter".  Obviously, I got those colors from the sequins and patterned paper.  I added glitter to the word before gluing it in place.

I love glitter on cards.  It adds so much pizzazz.  A girl has to have a little bling!  Don't you just love that sequin mix?  Such darling little flowers.  I had fun making this card.  :)

Stamps:  Shakers & Sprinkles (Papertrey Ink)
 Ink:  Harvest Gold (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Shakers & Sprinkles kit, Clear Cardstock (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Shakers & Sprinkles sequins (Papertrey Ink); adhesive foam sheet, Sugar Cube glitter (Martha Stewart)

Watercolor Thanks

This is the last of the workshop cards I made at my Stampin' Up demo's house this week.  It's my favorite of the lot.

I love these colors!  It's also a really easy technique.  First, I embossed the large "thank you" sentiment with white embossing powder on watercolor paper.  Then, I used a waterbrush with reinkers to add strokes of color, making sure to blend in between.  I blotted excess ink off the sentiment with a paper towel when I was done.  I wanted it to stay crisply white!

I punched a butterfly from Coastal Cabana cardstock, but it seemed a bit too plain, so I stamped some tiny Flower Patch images and also smudged ink on the edges with my finger.  I added three rhinestones for the body.  Then I bent the wings to add more dimension.  

I adhered the watercolored panel to a Coastal Cabana cardbase.  Isn't it pretty?

Stamps:  Another Thank You (Stampin' Up)
Inkpad:  VersaMark; Coastal Cabana (Stampin' Up)
Reinkers:  Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Canteloupe, Strawberry Slush (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Coastal Cabana (Stampin' Up); watercolor paper
Misc:  Elegant Butterfly punch (Stampin' Up); white embossing powder (Stampin' Up); waterbrush

Pinwheel Card

On to the third workshop card!  Ironically, it's the first card I made that night.  :)  This one was fun and easy.  I used a pinwheel and supplies from the latest My Paper Pumpkin kit.

I folded the pinwheel (it came precut) and flattened the folds completely since I was using it on a card.  Then I put the large silver brad in the center.  I notched the ends of some patterned paper strips and stamped the word "celebrate" along with a star from the kit.  They were all adhered to an embossed piece of Night of Navy cardstock and then put on a Smoky Slate cardbase.

Quick, simple, and oh so festive!

Stamps:  My Paper Pumpkin kit (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Night of Navy, Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Night of Navy, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, My Paper Pumpkin kit (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Delicate Dots embossing folder (Stampin' Up); large silver brad; pop-dots

Soft Hello

Here's card number two from the Stampin' Up workshop.  This one was free reign.  My demo showed us how to cut the layered angle piece and then provided several choices of patterned paper, cardstock, embellishments, and ribbon.

Would you believe this is the first time I've used washi tape?  It's been all the rage for ages.  :)  I just never got into it.  I collect enough crafty stuff as it is.  lol

I stamped the word "hello" in Smoky Slate and then added glitter to the letters.  It looks so pretty with the grey underneath.  To be fair, I copied that idea from one of the other workshop attendees.  I did some generational stamping with Flower Patch in Crisp Cantaloupe ink.  I wanted to fill the space, but keep it subtle.  I added some tiny pearls and a candy dot to the centers of the flowers.

The pretty faceted button is embellished with a bit of twine.  My knot looks a bit weird because I tied one piece and then knotted another one to it to get more fullness.  Now I realize that I should have put two pieces together and then tied them so as to have a single knot.  Hindsight - can't fix it now, but I would if I had more twine!  lol

I adhered a piece of satin ribbon to the opposite corner along with a torn strip of washi tape.  I like the look.  It balances the funky panel and adds interest.

Stamps:  Flower Patch, Four You (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Crisp Canteloupe, Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Crisp Canteloupe, Lullaby dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Epic Day washi tape, 5/8" Silver satin ribbon, Neutrals Candy Dots, Vintage Faceted designer button, glitter, twine (Stampin' Up) 

Abstract Love

I attended a workshop at my Stampin' Up demo's house last night where we made four cards.  It's always nice to get out of the house and be creative!  This particular card was a challenge for me.  I don't typically do artsy random-style cards.

We used the new in-colors and each stamp from Work of Art was assigned a color, so I couldn't change it up too much.  Normally, I would not put all these colors together!  I struggled a bit to make something I liked.  lol

I ended up spritzing my first layer of colors with water.  I had previously stamped off before adding each color to the card, and then double-stamped in a few places.  After letting the water dry a bit, I added a few more images in full color strength.  Once I was fairly happy with how it looked, I embossed the heart and "you" in gold.  I smooshed the VersaMark pad on two corners and embossed those as well for more of the artsy touch.

Voila!  It turned out pretty well and I was able to add my own personal touch.  My finished card looked quite different from the sample by the time I was done.   :)

I'll post the other three cards over the next few days.  Stay tuned!

Stamps:  Work of Art (Stampin' Up)

Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist (Stampin' Up); VersaMark

Paper:  Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon (Stampin' Up); watercolor paper

Misc:  gold embossing powder, water spritzer