Hello Hello

Dawn McVey, one of the Papertrey Ink design team members, posted a challenge today in the PTI forum to make something using our untouched stamps.  I have, ahem, quite a few sets that fall into that category.  More than I care to admit!  Although, technically, they have been used in my inventory book.  :D  I decided to take her up on this challenge and I'm so glad I did!

I adore this little stamp set called Heart-2-Heart #4, part of a series of twelve designed by Melissa Bickford.  It has sadly sat unused until now.  I used the matching dies to cut my pieces from white cardstock and then stamped the phone in black ink.  The circle diecut is actually from the Clock Face die set.  I needed a 5/8" circle and that's where I luckily found one.  (Thank heavens for my inventory book!)  I stamped the dial in Limeade Ice ink, adding a teeny heart outline in black.

I embossed little white polka dots from Polka Dot Basics on a strip of Limeade Ice cardstock and adhered my phone base, hand-drawing a cord using a black marker.  I stamped "just wanted to say" right above the strip and then glued the phone receiver at an angle.

I pulled out another unused stamp set called Bubble Talk, designed by Maile Belles, and stamped one of the images directly on the white cardstock using Limeade Ice ink.  Then I stamped two small sentiments from Heart-2-Heart #4 inside the bubble in black.

This card came together really quickly!  I love it when that happens, because it's such a rare thing.  It was quite fun to make!  Now what else can I use?  :)

Stamps:  Heart-2-Heart #4, Bubble Talk, Polka Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Limeade Ice (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento); VersaMark
Paper:  White, True Black, Limeade Ice (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Heart-2-Heart dies, Clock Face die (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black marker (Stampin' Up); white embossing powder (Filigree)

Sweet Sorbet Set

I made this set of cards to have something on hand when occasions come up.  I knew this pretty pattern from the Sweet Sorbet pack would make lovely cards.

So bright and springy!  I kept these cards very simple, putting the focus on the floral patterned paper.  I stamped four different sentiments (thinking of you, thank you, happy birthday, and with sympathy) on a pierced fishtail flag and bordered them on one side with another flag of Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock.  The sentiment placement is the same on three of the cards, but I moved it up one card because it worked better with the floral pattern.

I love how these turned out, not to mention how easy they were to make!  Now I have some pretty cards in my stash to use as needed.

Stamps:  Beyond Basic Borders, Boutique Borders: Birthday (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Crisp Cantaloupe, Sweet Sorbet dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Fishtail Flags STAX die, Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX die (My Favorite Things)

Hexagon Thoughts

Okay, so maybe that title is a little strange.  Thoughts are not geometrically shaped.  lol  That's the file name I gave my picture to distinguish it from all the other "thinking of you" cards I've made.  Whatever!  It works for me.

I actually made this card before the last couple of projects I posted, but wasn't in love with it.  In fact, I went in a completely different direction and made the set of "thinking of you" cards here.  Still, it's not a bad little card and would certainly brighten someone's day.

I cut the hexagon strip from Pool Party cardstock using a die by My Favorite Things.  I cut the smaller hexagons using the same die from Fall Flowers patterned paper by Stampin' Up.  The large piece of Sahara Sand cardstock was stamped with a linen texture using VersaMark and lightly sponged around the edges.  I stamped the large sentiment from Finishing Flourishes using Early Espresso ink.  Then I just adhered it all together!

Stamps:  Linen (Stampin' Up); Finishing Flourishes (My Favorite Things)
Ink:  VersaMark; Early Espresso (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Soft Sky, Sahara Sand, Fall Flowers dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Hexagons dies (My Favorite Things)

Love You Always

Here we are with a fresh new year and the first Papertrey Ink blog hop for 2015!  The challenge was to use hearts and then write a heartfelt message inside for a loved one.  I was thinking of my husband when I made this card.  Valentine's Day is coming up!

I cut the white scalloped heart and red heart using the Limitless Layers: 2-1/4" Hearts dies.  On the red heart, I embossed the word "love" from Wet Paint in white.  I immediately thought of this set when I saw the blog hop inspiration picture.  I love the bold, handwritten words in that stamp series!  I also stamped "you always" from the same set on a white strip cut with a Building Blocks die.

The flower and leaves are from the Ruby Reprise stamp set by Papertrey Ink, and were cut using the Ruby Rose dies.  I used Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse ink.  I added a tiny rhinestone in the center for a touch of bling.

I embossed the black panel using the Hugs & Kisses embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  I really like how it looks in black!  I adhered everything to a white card base.  I love how the red and white heart really pops.  I may go ahead and put this in my husband's suitcase on his next trip rather than wait till next month.  :)

Stamps:  Wet Paint, Ruby Reprise (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse (Papertrey Ink); VersaMark
Paper:  White, True Black, Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Limitless Layers: 2-1/4" Hearts dies, Ruby Rose dies, Building Blocks die (Papertrey Ink); Hugs & Kisses embossing folder (Cuttlebug); white embossing powder (Filigree); clear rhinestone 

Awash with Thoughts of You

I needed to make a set of thinking of you cards for a friend, so I pulled out my Awash With Flowers stamps from Stampin' Up.  Its' sketchy two-step flowers are perfect for making multiple cards.  I kept the same design, but made it in five different colors.

I included two of each color in the set, making a total of ten cards with matching envelopes.  It's very simple stamping.  I stamped the outlines in black ink and then filled in with solid color.  Easy-peasy.  I love the deliberate loose, non-matchy look.  I stamped a sentiment from Beyond Basic Borders by Papertrey Ink.  Then I just mounted each stamped piece on its matching color of cardstock and a white card base.

Aren't those such soft, pretty colors?  I really enjoyed making these cards.  After I finished them, I stamped a single flower in the corner of an envelope to match each color.  That extra step really dressed up the set of cards and added a professional look.

I hope my friend likes this set!  It makes me long for spring.  :)

Stamps:  Awash with Flowers (Stampin' Up); Beyond Basic Borders (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum, Crisp Cantaloupe, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum, Crisp Cantaloupe, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up)
 

Sending Smiles

The latest Freshly Made Sketch challenge caught my eye.  I wanted to make something simple, plus I had several white circles in my scrap drawer left over from making several bee cards earlier this month.  I pulled out this cute Up and Away stamp set by Mama Elephant, because the pretty blue striped paper reminded me of the sky.

I used Copic markers to color the bunny and balloons.  Part of me is seriously tempted to add glitter to those balloons.  lol  I shaded the clouds with just a touch of grey, although I think it's difficult to see in the picture.  According to the sketch, the sentiment strip is supposed to be on the circle, but it didn't work for my design, so I just moved it lower.  I put a cloud in its place instead.  After all, my little bunny is floating in the sky!

Stamps:  Up and Away (Mama Elephant)
Ink  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Tempting Turquoise, Brights Collection Paper Stack (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  0, C1, W5, E41, E42, E55, E57, E59, B000, B00, BV00, BV02, BV04, R20, R22, Y00, Y02, Y06
Misc:  Up and Away dies (Mama Elephant); Standard Circles Large die (Spellbinders); Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX die (My Favorite Things); Clouds 1 & 2 die (Papertrey Ink)

Winter Bella

I felt like coloring yesterday so I pulled out this adorable Uptown Girls image by Stamping Bella.  I recently got a few new colors of Copic markers, including these pretty yellows.  It was fun to get them out and play with no predetermined result in mind.

I picked this pretty patterned paper from the Retro Fresh pack by Stampin' Up for my background.  I thought the color and pattern had a wintry feel, which was perfect for this girl.  After coloring, I carefully cut her out and glued a few scrap pieces of cardstock underneath to raise her up just slightly. (mainly to keep her level with her boots, but it also adds a tiny bit of dimension)

I glittered a piece of white cardstock that I cut with the In the Meadow die by Papertrey Ink.  Of course, I realized afterwards that I forgot to shade under the girls' boots.  Oops!  I stamped my sentiment on a white pierced fishtail flag and added a pretty rhinestone brad.  I removed the prongs before sticking it down with a glue dot.

I love how it turned out!  This wintry girl really makes me smile.

Stamps:  Uptown Girl Quinn in Her Boots (Stamping Bella); Fillable Frames #9 (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); Retro Fresh dsp (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  0, C1, C3, C5, E00, E30, E42, E55, E57, E59, B91, B95, B97, B99, R20, Y00, Y02, Y06
Misc:  In the Meadow die (Papertrey Ink); Pierced Fishtail Flags STAX die (My Favorite Things); Crystal fine glitter (Martha Stewart); crystal brad (Making Memories)

Donut You Know?

Well, I'm finally getting around to my first post of the year!  A little later than planned, but that's the way life goes sometimes.  I've had this set sitting on my desk, so to speak, since Thanksgiving, just waiting to get inked.  A friend helped me out in a last-minute bind yesterday, so I decided to use it to make her a thank you card.

Ack!  Isn't that just the cutest?  I love the sentiments in this stamp set.  I used the matching dies to cut my donuts from Kraft and Pretty in Pink textured paper.  The white sprinkles were embossed and I lightly sponged the donuts underneath with Classic Kraft ink.  

I punched a strip of older SU decorative paper with a scalloped border punch and added a thin strip of black on top.  It gives the feel of an awning, plus the scallops mimic the shape of the pink frosting.  I popped up the center donut to add a little dimension.  Then I simply stamped the sentiment underneath in black ink.

I hope this card makes my friend smile.  I sure appreciate her coming through for me in a pinch!

Stamps:  Donut You Know (Reverse Confetti)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); VersaMark; Classic Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White, Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Pretty in Pink, Love dsp (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Donut You Know dies (Reverse Confetti); Scallop Border punch (Stampin' Up); white embossing powder (Filigree)