Spring into Action!

As the Papertrey anniversary celebration continues the challenges keep coming.  I am a few challenges behind, but today I am springing into action with an underused set.  The challenge actually called for using a set that you had never inked up, but I couldn't find one in my stash.  I'm pretty good about breaking out the new stuff, but sometimes the older stuff gets pushed aside.  As I was looking through my stuff, I came across Tiny Treats: Birthday.  I bought this set for the tiny rocket to match the bigger one that is part of their Boy Basics line.  I swore I would never buy a set of that size for one stamp, but when you are asked to plan a spaceship birthday party you do what needs to be done (ok, I'm a sucker for planning parties to the best of my ability!).  So, while I didn't have any unused sets I did have the rest of the set that was just going to be sitting until someone, or something, pushed it to the forefront of my mind.  So I came up with this sweet little card.

And then it occurred to me there are lots of stamps sitting in the stamp cabinet that have seen nearly enough use.  So...I took inspiration from the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch to get going on St. Patrick's Day cards.  The sketch is a great one to work with.

I brought in the rainbow and a cute little leprechaun to create this.

He's such a fun little guy!  I just don't make that many St. Patrick's Day projects to use him all that much.  And sadly he was purchased as an unmounted rubber stamp without any label so I don't know where he comes from.

Thanks for stopping by!

Amanda

Supplies

Birthday

Stamps: PTI (Tiny Treats: Birthday, Fancy Flourishes)

Dies: Sizzix (Label), PTI (Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circles), Memory Box (Square)

Paper: PTI (Kraft, Ripe Avocado Patterns, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy, Rustic White)

Other: Ranger (Distress Ink), Momento (Gray Ink), Ribbon

St. Patrick's Day

Stamps: Unknown

Paper: PTI (Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Lemon Tart, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, Royal Velvet, Rustic White, White), Stash Gold, Indigo

Other: Copics, Momento (Black Ink)

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge 2

Papertrey has announced that Maile is back this year as a stamp designer.  So the challenge is to be inspired by her and her work.  I took a perusal through her blog and found a few themes in her work that I really like.  She does a lot of little strips to cover the edges of pattern paper.  She also cuts a lot of strips in interesting places and at interesting angles.  And she uses a lot of ink colors on one card.  I chose to try the strip over the edge of the pattern paper. I broke out All About You for the card.

I also pulled out a pack of pattern paper that gets forgotten from time to time.  

Have a happy day.

Amanda

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (All About You)

Paper: PTI (Lemon Tart, white), Crate Paper (flowers)

Other: Momento Ink (Black), PTI Raspberry Fizz Ink

It has begun...

This month marks the 8th anniversary of Papertrey Ink.  Every year they have several challenges as part of the festivities and this year I am happy to join the party!  I really appreciate that their anniversary is in February, the grayest month of them all.  It seems this year they are allowing for more participation by extending the deadline of all challenges to the 15th so everyone still has time.

The first challenge was issued on the 5th.  The objective is to use one of the listed sketches AND one of the color combos on one card.   My choices:

And then I chose:

And I came up with:

It feels a little old school to me, but there's nothing wrong with that every now and then.  But I wasn't really done.  I had some extra time and honestly I had some conflicting ideas so I also used this sketch.

To come up with this.

Which was when I realized I really do need the tiny words from Tiny Tags II.

Thanks for taking a minute out of your day.  Let me know your thoughts.

Amanda

Supplies (Thank You)

Stamps: PTI (Think Big #2, Background Basics: Tin Types)

Dies: PTI (Beautiful Blooms II #3, Heart-2-Heart #7, Heart Border)

Paper: PTI (Hawaiian Shores Pattern Paper, Harvest Gold, New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, Kraft)

Others: Ink (PTI Raspberry Fizz), Buttons (PTI), Twine (The Twinery, Whisper Graphics)

Suppies (It's Your Day)

Stamps: PTI (Think Big #2, Tiny Tags, Fancy Flourishes)

Dies: PTI (Basic Bookmark 2, Tiny Tags, Heart Border)

Paper: PTI (Kraft, Harvest Gold, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores), Stash (Vellum)

Other: Pearls, Twine (The Twinery), Ink (PTI-Raspberry Fizz, Versamark)

Best Wishes as a Cure for the Monday Blues

This weeks inspiration photo at Cure for the Monday Blues is full of hearts and possible romance.  I took this opportunity to knock something off my "to do" list.

The daughter of a friend recently moved her wedding up by four months.  Apparently she and her man didn't like the planning process and just wanted to be married.  It really was a last minute decision.  So clearly I needed a wedding card much sooner than expected.  And since my Valentine's were already done this was the perfect time.

I took inspiration from the pale background and the hearts and the little spring of greenery in the pitcher.  I love the hint of greenery in the photo.  I die cut hearts from the palest pink in my stash and used glossy white card stock behind the pink panel.  I also added some silver behind the focal point.

Thanks for stopping by.
Amanda

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI (Tiny Tags), Inkadinkado (Champagne scene)
Dies: PTI (Heart Prints)
Paper: Stash (pink, silver, glossy), PTI (white)
Other: Copics, Silver marker, Momento Ink 

With a Cherry on Top!

Today I am sharing a birthday card for a little girl whose birthday is coming up.  I used the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch with the Color Play Combo that was in the Papertrey newsletter this month.  The sketch is really fun.

And the colors screamed birthday.  After seeing the sketch I knew I wanted to use this oldie, but goody ice cream stamp and when I saw the color combo the rest just fell into place.

Normally I don't particularly like color challenges, but this one was screaming at me.  It fit perfectly with the image I had already decided to work with on this project. 

I stamped and embossed the ice cream then colored it to ensure maximum color pop and applied glitter on top.  I painted pigment ink on the hot fudge and embossed it with clear embossing powder to make it glossy like freshly melted chocolate.  The whole ice cream panel is popped up, though it's hard to tell in the photo.

Thanks for taking a peek.
Amanda

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' Up (ice cream from years ago), PTI (sentiment)
Dies: PTI (One liners: Happy)
Paper: PTI (Sweet Blush patterns, Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, White, Royal Velvet)
Other: Versacolor Ink, Momento Ink, Stampendous Embossing Powder, Copics, Glitter

The dark side

Today I am bringing you a very off season card.  Today I am sharing a Halloween card inspired by the challenge photo over at Fusion Card Challenge.

I know the photo is all about love and hearts and red and things.  But a forum friend gifted me a set full of cats and when I saw it the cats became the hearts which led to Halloween.

I used Psychedelic Embossing Powder to make the cats more magical.  I would love to use these cats with some black flock, but at the moment my flock supply is almost nonexistent thanks to the handy work of a little person who shall remain nameless.  The moon is simply silver vellum with added clouds.

Thank you for taking minute out of your day.
Amanda

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI (Superstition)
Dies: PTI (Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circles), Memory Box (Mini Clouds)
Paper: PTI (Enchanted Evening, Soft Stone), Stash (Vellum)
Others: Colorbox (Black ink), Judikins (Embossing Powder), Ranger (Pumice Stone Distress Ink)

Welcome...

Today I am sharing a card for a new baby.  The little one is due at the end of the month so I wanted to make sure it we had everything ready to give before he or she arrived so we could deliver it before he or she arrives.  This week's Make It Monday at Papertrey got the gears going.

A confetti garland on the front of a house seemed appropriate and worked well with the inside sentiment "There's nothing like a baby so lovable and sweet to make a family happy and make a home complete."

So I  used Kraft card stock to make a house base and dressed it up.  I added tiny tags to my confetti garland "announcing" the new baby to all the neighbors.  

I'd love to hear what you think.

Amanda

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (Home Made)

Dies: PTI (Tiny Tags, Sequins)

Embossing Folder: Sizzix

Paper:  PTI (Kraft, Fine Linen, Vintage Cream), Stash (Orange)

Other:  Ranger (Distress Ink), Sequins

 

Hello Friend

Today I bring to you a very happy card inspired by the Cure for the Monday Blues.  The photo this week is bright, and cheery, and just plain happy.  And really what could be better to help fight the gray February weather?  I absolutely love the inspiration photo.  It makes me want to throw an 80s party!

And it was so easy to get inspired by.  I pulled out a die that someone gave me that I *may* have never gotten around to using until now.  It, however, was perfect for the occasion.

The interpretation is pretty straightforward, but I had to do it.  I do not think I am done with this particular piece of inspiration.  There may be more to follow.

Thanks for looking.
Amanda

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI
Dies: Sizzix 
Paper: PTI and Stash
Other: Embossing Powder (Ranger), Versamark Ink

A wrapped heart

Here is the last of the Valentine's Day cards I have for you this week.  This one was inspired by the challenge photo over at The Card Concept.  

When I saw the photo I was immediately drawn to the wrapped letters and figured there must be some way to do that on a card.  It's not quite as easy as it looked, but I'm still happy with the results.  And more importantly, I'm sure the little person getting this card is going to love it.  

I took two heart die cuts and glued them together to add a  little stability before picking my pink twine to wrap the heart.  The wrapped heart is then attached to the card with foam tape to help overcome the twine.  There is a Stardream heart under the twine heart for some shine, The heart sits on a vellum back with a glittered border.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you have a minute, I'd love to hear from you.

Amanda

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (Heart Prints, Background Basics: Farm and Barn)

Dies: PTI (Limitless Layers Heart Stitches)

Paper: PTI (Fine Linen, Pure Poppy), Stardreams (Marcos), Stash (Vellum)

Other: Twine (The Twinery), Ranger (Distress Ink), Tsukineko (Versamark), Embossing Powder (stash), Scortape

Three hearts are better than one

I have a simple Valentine's Day card to share with you today, inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  The sketch was so easy to work with.  

I really wanted to make a few more cards using it, there were so many ideas popping through my head once I finished this one, but there just isn't time to create everything my brain wants to.  Into the sketch book they went for one of those days when my creativity fails me, or when I need a card last minute and don't have time to think about it.  

I pulled out Heart Prints stamps and dies to for Valentine's and embossed the dark pink paper to add some texture and visual interest.  

Thanks for looking and hope to hear from you.

Amanda

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI (Heart Prints, Damask Designs)

Dies: PTI (Heart Prints)

Embossing Folder: Sizzix (Psychedelic Dreams)

Ink: PTI (Raspberry Fizz)

Paper: PTI (Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy), Stash (Light Pink)

Love is in the air...

I've been gone a long time...I hate the excuse "life gets in the way" and yet, that seems to be what happened.  But here I am.  New house, new life, new focus.

I figured that Valentine's Day was a good as reason as any to get started again.  Now, truthfully, this is not my holiday.  I am not a pink girl.  Not even really a red girl.  But my little people like it and I use pretty much any reason to celebrate.  Why not?  Life is short.  By the way, tomorrow is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, if anyone is interested.

Anyway, Papertrey's Blog Hop this month was simply hearts.  It seemed like an easy way to get into the spirit of Valentine's Day.  I got out the oldie, but goody Heart Prints with lots of heart dies and went to work.  Here are some little treat bags.

These hold a few ready to color Shrinky Dinks that can be put on a necklace or a bracelet.  It will be a fun afternoon on the way to Valentine's Day.  

I used Tiny Tags, Background Basics Polka Dots 2, and lots of dies.  The idea originated with the Winter Wonderland Challenge to use one Designer Paper.  When I brought out the pattern paper with the hearts everything just kind of came together for me.  

Thanks for looking and I'll be back soon.

Amanda

Supplies

Stamps:Tiny Tags, BB:Polka Dots 2 (PTI)

Dies: Limitless Layers Hearts, Limitless Layers Hearts Stitches, Doily Details, Tiny Tags, Tremendous Tags (PTI)

Ink: Brilliance, Versamark

Twine: The Twinery, Divine Twine

Other: Glassine Bags, Doilies

Sweetest Wishes

The photo inspiration at Papercraft Star this week is this pretty little pic.

When I first saw it I immediately thought polka dots and set about coming up with a project idea.  Well, I never got anywhere with it.  Polka dots is where the inspiration started and then quickly halted.  I went back and took another, closer look.  This time I wrote down cupcakes, blue, lines, and repetition.  Back to the drawing board as they say. 

I kept thinking about cupcakes.  I pulled out my one and only cupcake set and played a minute or two.  Blue cupcakes...where is that going?  My littles really like Cupcake Wars on the Food Network which brought me to the "decoration" for the cupcake.  I think that's our favorite round.  Bring in Christmas Card Challenge's Snowman Challenge - snowmen and blue work together.  And while we're at it why not stick with blue throughout thanks to the Got the Blues Challenge over at Sweet Stampin'.  It seems impossible that this little card started out with the thought of polka dots, but here we are a Christmas Card all in blue for Little Man. 

I'll also be putting it up at the Blue Christmas in September Challenge at Here Come the Boys and the Anything Goes Challenge at Papertake Weekly.

And now, here are the sweetest wishes...

The cupcake and frosting are stamped with the same ink, the frosting is just stamped off twice to get a much lighter feel.  The snowman is popped up on foam. 

Thanks for looking.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Stamps from PTI and Basic Grey
Die from Sizzix
Ink from Tsukineko and Momento
Copics
Glitter from Martha Stewart
Ribbon from Stash

Halloween treats with Cheesecloth!

This week Papertrey's Make It Monday challenge was to use a fabric stabilizer to help you make fabric die cuts.  Well, who would want to do that?  Being the planner that I am, I wanted to do something for the coming holiday, but what?  If only I had cheesecloth.  Someone gave me a ghost die cut a couple years ago for Christmas and I can't say it had ever been used.  Sometime I forget some of the stuff I have, especially when I receive it off season and then don't use it right away.  Anyway, I happen to remember that I do have cheesecloth sitting in a jar, left over from a project one of my littles did a couple years ago.  Now, where was the stabilizer?  Surely I have some, but where did I put THAT?  I head to the closet where most of the sewing stuff is and it turns out that at some point I bought heat-n-bond.  Why?  I don't know.  I didn't find the stuff I thought I was going to, but I can use this.  Finally, I can try and get this project started...

So I get these oh so adorable cheesecloth ghosts die cut.  Now what?  Well, Halloween treats are always a hit around here.  I already have so many things planned what else can I do?  Aha!  I have glassine bags I bought years ago and then didn't know what to do with.  So let's make this work.  And it did! 

Here is the final product.

So much fun!  Now I just have to make a few more so everyone around here gets one.  And with all that stuff I forgot I had - heat-n-bond, cheesecloth, dies - I am putting this up in the Forgotten Things Challenge at Our Creative Corner.  I'm also putting in over at the Anything but a Card Challenge over at Gingerloft Challenges.

Thanks for looking!

Supplies
Dies from Sizzix
Cardstock from PTI
Ink from Ranger
Glassine bag, cheesecloth, Heat-n-Bond

From our house

I was reminded last night about the Holiday challenges over at Moxie Fab World.  I had wanted to get some of my items done and ready for the holidays in time for the challenge, but there were other things to do with the littles.  I know they're only little once so they, of course, got my time.  Yet, I woke up this morning determined to get something done to submit.  I had a few ideas, but time is always the magic ingredient that seems to be missing.  In the end, I did it!  So here is my treat box that serves a dual purpose as home décor.  When I finished it I wasn't sure which category to put it in, so I'm putting it in both and perhaps some of you can offer your opinions on where it goes. 

In a perfect world we will give this to someone filled with treats and then they can leave it out on their table or counter with treats in it to grab all season long. 

This little house is made from a template from Papertrey.  I know it's been around for a few years, but it's still a winner to us. 

Once that was done, and believe me it took a long time with so many interruptions, I moved on to gift wrap.  I like to have a few cards set at the ready for those times when you are invited to a last minute party, or the hubby comes home announcing he needs a gift for tomorrow.  Knowing this, a package for one of these sets seemed the way to go. 

This box also used a template from Papertrey.  The ornaments in the wreath actually tiny ornaments that I picked up forever and a day ago and completely forgot I had.  Yet, they were perfect for this project.

Supplies
(House)
Template from Papertrey
Cardstock from Papertrey
Stamps from Papertrey and Stampendous
Ink from Tskineko
Glitter from Martha Stewart
Tombow Watercolor Pens
Vellum
(Card Box)
Cardstock from Papertrey
Garland from stash
Ornaments from Stash
Bells from Stash
Ribbon from Stash

Celebrate the Season with Snow

Another Christmas card to add to the pile.  This is another one of the ones that will go out this season.  I need four that are reproducible so I don't get too bored during the process.  Every year there is a snowman card and thanks to some prompting by a few challenges I have it done. 

I am entering this in the following challenges.
It's snow business over at Crimbo Crackers.
Anything but a Birthday Card over at Aud Sentiments
Anything Goes over at Created With Love
Christmas over at Crafty Boots
Anything Goes over at Craftin' Desert Diva's
Holiday Card over at Moxie Fab World

It seems a lot of people are thinking about the holidays, not just me.  That does make me feel less alone. 

Here are the snowmen, or is it people?

It's a really simple card.  The most time consuming part is coloring, which was done with Tombow watercolor pens. 

Thanks for looking. 

Supplies
Cardstock from Papertrey
Watercolor paper
Stamps from Northwoods Rubber Stamps and Papertrey
Ink from Ranger
Embossing Powder from Stampendous
Tombow Watercolor Pens

Tea Stained Treats

One of the challenges at Stamp-A-Faire was tea staining.  There were a few techniques they demonstrated one of which involved Kool-Aid which had amazing results.  Unfortunately I didn't have any Kool-Aid in the house so I'll have to try that one at a later date.  I did, however, have tea.  One of the tea techniques involved dying muslin.  I had picked up these cute little muslin goody bags for this treatment and went right to work.  I made really strong tea apparently because I was able to get a good stain in very little time. 

These little Halloween bags will be filled with some fun, festive goody in the coming weeks. 

Let me know what you think.

Supplies
Watercolor Paper from Michaels
Buttons from PTI
Bags from Stash
Stamps from Stampers Anonymous, Stamps by Judith, Inkado, Northwoods Rubber Stamps, Stampin' Up, and unknown
Ink from Ranger and Momento
Die from PTI
Twine from PTI

Stamp-A-Faire Bake and Take

The first of the challenges was a fun little color and sketch combo.  I selected the following color combo.



And this sketch.



I flipped the sketch upside down and came up with this.

Clearly I was very into this tree die yesterday. 

Thanks for looking.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Die from PTI
Stamp from PTI
Rhinestones from stash
Copics

Rolled Dough Designs

This was another slightly frustrating challenge for me since I am not good at waiting.  I didn't realize the drying time on the Paperclay was so long and while I could have tried to speed it up I didn't want to mess it up and have to run to the store for more.  Luckily, things fell into place so I was busy most of the wait time.  I am sure this particular technique needs a bit more work on my part as I had trouble cutting it with the dies.  I also had a few ripping issues when I did get a good cut.  Not everything can work out as we plan the first time, or the first day for that matter. 

Here we have a super simple Holiday card.  The dimension of the Delight Paperclay was so unique and pretty (I added chunky glitter before rolling.) I didn't want to overshadow it.  I added "lights" with various colors of Stickles.

I really must find a better way to take photos...

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Die from PTI
Embossing Folder from Sizzix
Stickles
Delight Paperclay
Glitter from stash

Mixing Mists

I love mists, though I don't really like the mess.  It's not even the mess really, it's the idea of having a mess I must walk away from when the littles decide to make one of their own.  And trust me, my littles can make one in two seconds flat.  This was a fun challenge if for no other reason than I got to make a mess without worrying about the littles. 

Now for this technique I only had the older version of reinkers, which is not what the design team was using.  It did take a lot of ink and I never really got the color I was trying to make, but I did make a perfect match to Melon Berry.  Easy peasy!  I just revamped the colors for the card to make it work. 

Yes, another Halloween card.  We are big Halloween people.  I mean BIG.  Halloween is a month long celebration leading up to the Great Pumpkin's visit in this house.  I see now most of the detail was lost in my poor lighting situation this afternoon.  The image was stamped and embossed with black embossing powder that has rainbow glitter mixed in.  It was then colored with Copics and the stars were colored with Stardust pens to add a little sparkle. 

Thanks for looking.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Stamps from PTI
Ink from Clearsnap and PTI
Dies from PTI
Embossing Powder from PSX (yes, I've had it that long!)
Copics
Stardust pens

Sprinkle of Salt

Nichole over at Papertrey always makes water techniques she does look so easy and yet, I always have trouble getting them to work for me.  I had more success this time with the salt technique, but it took several tries and a lot of frustration.  Even still, I'm not sure I did a great job.  Of the ones I did here are the two best of the effect. 

I like the way the watercolors came out.  I'm just not sure the salt effect is noticeable. 

Let me know what you think.

Supplies
Cardstock from PTI
Stamps from PTI and Michaels (Inkado, I think)
Ink from Ranger
Die from PTI
Divine Twine