PTI Past, Present and Future 2013: Ruby Rose Trio

The Papertrey Ink celebration focused on each of their past ten years of business may be officially over, but I want to finish it out.  I was able to do six cards during the event, which left four years undone.  I'm back today to post my cards for 2013.  Yes, cards.  I made three!  I own three of the featured sets and chose to use Ruby Rose for my projects.

This first one is a CASE of a card made by Nichole Heady back when Ruby Rose was first released.  It was one of the examples shown for the 2013 look back post and it caught my eye immediately.  So simple, yet very striking.  I love black and white cards.  The red ribbon really pops!

Stamps:  Ruby Rose (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  red ribbon
 
I wanted to see what this design looked like in reverse, so that experimentation led to this next card.  It turned out to be too much red, so I kept the sentiment black and added Black Diamond Stickles to the flower centers.  Not my favorite, but I'm sure a recipient would appreciate it, nonetheless.  If I were to redo it, I would stamp the small dots in black ink and use a black card base instead. 

Stamps:  Ruby Rose (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Black Diamond Stickles; black ribbon

The last card is my favorite of the bunch.  I started it days ago (last Monday, I think) and have been messing with it off and on since then.  It took me a while to get a clear vision for this card!  I channeled Dawn McVey and chose colors that I wouldn't normally put together.  She designed the set, so it seemed appropriate.  :)  The embossed polka dot Kraft background was in my scrap stash. 

I stamped the different flowers using Amethyst Allure, Berry Sorbet, Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, and Dark Chocolate inks.  Then I cut them out with their matching dies.  After matting the Kraft background with Hawaiian Shores cardstock, I arranged the flowers across the diagonal and bent the edges to add some dimension.

I glued the whole piece to a white card base that I stamped with my sentiment in black ink.  Ruby Rose by Papertrey Ink is such a fun stamp set.  I'm glad to have three more thank you cards in my stash!  You can see more cards using this set, as well as other sets from 2013, at this link here.

Stamps:  Ruby Rose, Polka Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Amethyst Allure, Berry Sorbet, Hawaiian Shores, Green Parakeet, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); VersaMark
Paper:  White, Kraft, Hawaiian Shores (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Ruby Rose dies (Papertrey Ink); white embossing powder (Filigree)

Framed Love

Time for the monthly Papertrey Ink blog hop!  Here's my card inspired by the photo.  Obviously, I was drawn to the dark gray, copper embossing, and bright pink.

I cut a piece of Smokey Shadow cardstock, embossed one of the borders from Background Basics: Retro using Not So Tarnished Copper powder, and glued it to a Hibiscus Burst card base.  I cut the Framed Love die from Hibiscus Burst cardstock twice, layering them for dimension.  For extra sparkle, I used a glue pen to add Sugar Cube glitter to the word portion.

Using the Beautiful Blooms II #3 dies by Papertrey Ink, I cut flowers from both Hibiscus Burst and Smokey Shadow cardstock.  I stamped each one with polka dots using Bitty Background Blocks and white pigment ink.  I created flowers by layering the two colors together and putting a rhinestone brad in the center.  I chose to use a coppery metal brad to echo the embossing.

I added the flowers to my card in opposite corners of the love frame.  It's quite whimsical with graphic elements.  I really like the combination!  Check out other cards for the blog hop here.

Stamps:  Background Basics: Retro, Bitty Background Blocks (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  VersaMark; Sweet Tooth (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Hibiscus Burst, Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Framed Love die, Beautiful Blooms II #3 dies (Papertrey Ink); Not So Tarnished Copper embossing powder (Powder Keg); Metallics Medium Jewel Brads (American Crafts); Sugar Cube glitter (Martha Stewart)

PTI Past, Present and Future 2012: Sunshine

I'm working against the clock now and probably won't get all the Papertrey Ink celebration challenges done in time for the link-up on Nichole Heady's blog.  It closes first thing in the morning and I have Symphony Chorale rehearsal tonight.  Not to mention, the sun is going down!  If I get any more done today, I will have to use indoor lighting.  Ugh.  I thought I had until tomorrow night.  Oh well!  I need to pat myself on the back for finishing six cards in one week, because that is an unusual thing for me.  :)

I only have one of the featured sets for the year 2012.  Naturally I chose to use it.  :D  Hello Sunshine is a favorite anyway.  I also used a few things from Blue Skies.

I cut a cloud backdrop using the Cover Plate: Blue Skies die by Papertrey Ink.  I sponged Spring Rain ink on the lower part below the clouds.  I cut the sun using the Cover plate: Blue Skies Rays die on Bright Buttercup cardstock.  I sponged Bright Buttercup and Summer Sunrise inks on it to add texture.  Then I stamped the circle image from Hello Sunshine on the bottom in Summer Sunrise ink.  I glued both pieces to a Spring Rain card base.

I cut the word sunshine from both Summer Sunrise bitty dot paper and the matching cardstock, gluing three layers together for stability and dimension.  (I had to cut the "i" dot twice, because I lost the first one!)  I stamped the hello sentiment on Spring Rain cardstock with black ink.  Finally, I stamped some bird silhouettes from Blue Skies in the upper right corner.

It's a cheerful little card, isn't it?  Hop over here to see other cards featuring 2012 stamp sets by Papertrey Ink.

Stamps:  Hello Sunshine, Blue Skies (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise, Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White, Spring Rain, Bright Buttercup (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Cover Plate: Blue Skies die, Cover Plate: Blue Skies Rays die, Sunshine die (Papertrey Ink)

PTI Past, Present and Future 2011: Scatter Kindness

On to 2011!  For that year, Papertrey Ink featured two sets that I own: Garden Variety and Year of Flowers Collection.  I decided to use both!  They work quite well together.

I stamped the pansy image from Year of Flowers Collection on Kraft cardstock in white pigment ink.  After it dried, I outlined each flower with a Copic marker.  I stamped a sentiment from the same set in Dark Chocolate ink in the lower corner.  Interestingly enough, the white ink showed through the darker ink.  Looks pretty cool!

I cut out a seed packet frame from New Leaf cardstock and stamped the coordinating image from Garden Variety II using Pinefeather ink.  On the inner portion, I stamped text print using VersaMark ink and then sponged around the edges.  I stamped the gloves from Garden Variety in Dark Chocolate ink on white cardstock and cut them out by hand.  After stamping the pansy on white cardstock, I colored it with Copic markers, adding some yellow Stickles to the centers, and then cut it out.

I stamped the price image on Kraft cardstock with Dark Chocolate ink, also cutting it out by hand.  I cut a seed packet from Dark Chocolate patterned paper.  Everything was then glued to the card base.  I'm wishing I had some of the jute button twine on hand, because it would look nice tied around the seed packet.  Something more to add to the list!  lol

Check out other 2011 projects on Nichole Heady's blog here.

Stamps:  Garden Variety, Garden Variety II, Year of Flowers Collection, Background Basics: Text-Style (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Sweet Tooth (My Favorite Things); Pinefeather, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); VersaMark
Paper:  Kraft, New Leaf, Dark Chocolate Pattern Pack (Papertrey Ink)
Copic:  W1, G20, G24, G28, BV02, BV04, BV08, Y15
Misc:  Seed Packet die, Seed Packet Frame 2 die (Papertrey Ink); Yellow Stickles

PTI Past, Present and Future 2010: Sending Hugs

I'm finally back to post another card for Papertrey Ink's celebration of ten years in business.  For 2010, I own two of the featured sets:  Love Lives Here and Beautiful Blooms II.  I chose to use Love Lives Here, because I bought it used ages ago and had yet to get it inky on a card.  It was about time!  I combined it with another set called Big Hugs.

For my card, I adhered a strip of Pure Poppy patterned paper to the bottom of a white card base.  I cut a piece of white cardstock with the Stitched Scalloped Borders die by Lawn Fawn and layered it on top.  I cut the large Hugs word from Dark Chocolate cardstock, doubling it for thickness.  I love the Big Hugs dies!  I also cut two Love Lives Here hands from both Kraft and Pure Poppy cardstock.  Yes, one of them is upside down.  I thought it would look more like two hands hugging if they weren't facing the same direction.

I glued the large word to the card, making sure to layer the hands underneath.  I added clear Wink of Stella to the hearts for some shimmer.  Then, I stamped the banner sentiment from Big Hugs above and the heart sentiment from Love Lives Here underneath in Dark Chocolate ink.

Simple, but I really like it!  You can see other cards celebrating 2010 at Nichole Heady's blog here.

Stamps:  Love Lives Here, Big Hugs (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy Pattern Pack (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Love Lives Here die, Big Hugs die (Papertrey Ink); Stitched Scalloped Borders die (Lawn Fawn); clear Wink of Stella pen

PTI Past, Present and Future 2009: Chair-ished

I love this little card.  Just had to say that first!  On My Couch is one of my favorite Papertrey Ink stamp sets and it's one of the five featured for the year 2009.  I actually have four of them, so it was somewhat difficult to choose what to use.  These adorable little upholstered chairs won out.

I stamped the chairs on Happy Spots paper, which I recently purchased during the anniversary sale.  I am completely smitten by polka dots, so I also bought lots of bitty dot pattern paper.  So many pretty colors!  Expect to see it in future projects.  Anyway, I hand-cut the chairs to do paper piecing.

I cut my card base from Kraft cardstock with the Don't Forget to Write scalloped notecard die.  I stamped the sentiment along the bottom in Dark Chocolate ink.  Above it, I stamped the narrow oval rug in Classic Kraft ink.  I stamped the two chairs on the rug using Dark Chocolate ink and then added the little solid furniture feet in the same color. I also stamped the cat atop one of the chairs.

I glued down the patterned paper and voila - darling little polka chairs!  At the last minute, I decided I needed a pillow, so I stamped it on Kraft cardstock and used my finger to add just a bit of Dark Chocolate for texture.  In homage to Heather Nichols, one of the Papertrey Ink designers, I sponged white pigment ink around the card edges.  It adds the perfect little something.

I'm giving this card to a friend who stepped in during a frightening experience two weeks ago.  She calmed my anxiety and fear, and was a great support when I felt overwhelmed by the situation.  I'm so thankful for her friendship!  Head over to Nichole Heady's blog to see more cards using 2009 sets.

Stamps:  On My Couch, On My Couch Additions (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); Sweet Tooth (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Kraft, Happy Spots (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Don't Forget to Write die (Papertrey Ink)

PTI Past, Present and Future 2008: Frenzied Hello

I have three of the stamp sets featured on the Papertrey Ink blog for 2008.  After much debate, I decided to use Floral Frenzy.  I was inspired by Michelle Leone's card where she used one of the patterned circles to create a graphic design.  The leaf image in the set caught my eye, so I created my own graphic-style background.

I stamped the leaf image using Tropical Teal and Tuxedo Black inks in an interlocked design on white cardstock.  I matted the piece with True Black cardstock and then adhered it to a Tropical Teal card base.  The color is actually a bit more green than my picture shows.  In real life, it's a rich teal.

I cut two black leaf silhouettes using a die, doubling them for extra thickness.  I stamped the hello image on white cardstock and punched it out with a 7/8" circle punch, matting it with a black 1" circle so it would stand out better from the background.  Finally, I stamped a sentiment directly on the card base just above the pattern.

Simple, but striking!  Go here to see other cards for the 2008 Papertrey Ink celebration.

Stamps:  Floral Frenzy (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Tropical Teal (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White, Tropical Teal, True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Leaf Silhouettes die (Papertrey Ink); 7/8" and 1" circle punches (EK Success)

PTI Past, Present and Future 2007: Spiral Joy

Papertrey Ink is doing a series on their blog this month looking back at their ten years in business.  I've been following them since the very beginning, so it's quite fun to walk down memory lane and see new ideas using older sets.  Each day there is a challenge to create a card with one of that year's featured stamp sets or a design inspired by one of the showcased design team cards.  For 2007, their inaugural year, I chose to use Spiral Bouquet.

My oldest son just got engaged so I have wedding on the brain!  I stamped the solid floral images in Going Gray ink on white cardstock and then stamped the swirly outline in black ink.  I spattered some gold paint over top.  I was a bit annoyed when I got streaks along with the spatters, but I decided to embrace the imperfection.  I mounted the panel on black cardstock and then adhered it to a white card base.

I cut a black heart using the Limitless Layers 2-1/4" Heart dies by Papertrey Ink, gluing it slightly off the edge for interest.  I had this gold-painted Wonderful Words: Joy die cut in my stash from last year's Stamp-a-Faire challenges and it fit my theme perfectly!  I love how it looks on the black heart.  I stamped part of a phrase from Strawberry Patch Sentiments on white cardstock and cut it into a strip.

It is so fun to go back to these older stamp sets and use them again!  I hadn't pulled Spiral Bouquet out in ages.  It makes an elegant wedding card.  Go to Nichole Heady's blog here to see more projects using this set and others from 2007.

Stamps:  Spiral Bouquet, Strawberry Patch Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Going Gray (Stampin' Up); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Limitless Layers: 2-1/4" Hearts die, Wonderful Words: Joy die (Papertrey Ink); Splendid Gold paint (DecoArt Dazzling Metallics); chipboard; paintbrush

You're Brrr-fect

I was commissioned recently to create a Valentine's Day card for a friend to give his wife.  After asking about her preferences, I narrowed it down to purple, penguins, and a punny sentiment.  Here is what came from that!

Fun, huh?  I kept it pretty simple because it has been one tough week and I needed to take the pressure off of myself.  I embossed a piece of white cardstock with the Conversation Hearts folder by Taylored Expressions and added clear Wink of Stella shimmer to the hearts.  Then I glued it to an Amethyst Allure card base.  It's such a pretty purple!

I cut a heart from the same purple cardstock using a Limitless Layers 2-1/4" Hearts die by Papertrey Ink.  I stamped the punny-style sentiment from Chilly Chums by Paper Smooches in black ink.  After stamping the two penguins from Arctic Penguins by Mama Elephant on white cardstock, I added some orange to their beaks and feet along with some pale pink cheeks using Copic markers.  I hand-cut the images and then popped them up with foam tape.

To make it easier to write a message inside the card, I added a panel of white cardstock that I stamped with a sentiment from Sweet Valentine by Verve Stamps.  I colored the little hearts using a Lavender Lace marker.  I'm wishing now that I had covered them with Wink of Stella for a bit of shimmer.  Too late now!  I already delivered the card.   :)

It turned out so cute!  For a matching envelope, I stamped one of the penguins in the lower left corner and used my Copics to add the same minimal coloring as on the card. 

Stamps:  Arctic Penguins (Mama Elephant); Chilly Chums (Paper Smooches); Sweet Valentine (Verve)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper:  White, Amethyst Allure (Papertrey Ink)
Copic:  0, R30, YR15, Y38
Misc:  Lavender Lace marker (Stampin' Up); Limitless Layers 2-1/4" Hearts die (Papertrey Ink); Conversation Hearts embossing folder (Taylored Expressions); clear Wink of Stella pen