Snowflakes Sparkle ~ PTI's MIM #145: 2013 A la Carte

Since I didn't blog much in December, now I'm trying to get back in the groove and make a few extra holiday cards for people I didn't include in my original Christmas card mailing. It's not too late to send them greetings for the New Year, at least that's my theory. Here's one for this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday, where we could choose one of the techniques or challenges from 2013.

The technique I chose was demonstrated by Betsy Veldman here called Inlaid Die-Cuts (MIM #138). So I could inlay my snowflake, I added a second layer of Kraft cardstock over my card base . All wrapped up in white crochet thread I finished this off with a little sprinkling of Silver Perfect Pearls, a stamped sentiment from PTI's In The Meadow using SU's Garden Green ink and a Fancy Flakes die-cut from green glittered paper (Joann's). 

Edited to Add: Also entering this in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge here using anything sparkly such as glitter, gems, stickles, glimmer sprays, paints, etc.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Kraft and green glittered paper (Joann's) 

Ink: SU Garden Green

Stamps: In The Meadow

Dies: Fancy Flakes

Other: (non-PTI) Silver Perfect Pearls and white crochet thread (Joann's)

Holiday Cards Tied Up With String (Take #4)

If you're still with me, this is my fourth take on PTI's December 2013 Blog Hop using string on a project. Some dear friends invited us for breakfast Christmas morning so wanted to make them a special card to show our appreciation for their thoughtfulness. I included a digital AMC gift card so they can enjoy a day or night out at the movies. They were so surprised but loved it and as always commented on the card. They really appreciate the effort (and love) that goes into handmade cards. Here it is:

My card base is Soft Stone with a second layer of SU's Not Quite Navy, all rounded corners. I heat embossed in Metallic Silver the "Snowflakes Sparkle and Tree Tops Glisten" sentiment from PTI's In The Meadow stamp set and sprayed Silver Perfect Pearls so it would glisten. The Fancy Flakes die was cut from blue glittered paper from Joann's. To finish it off, I wrapped up the card with about three rounds of SU silver stretchy cord and tied off in a bow. 

Here's the inside of the card admitting that I had an ink smudge (oops) that I covered up with the leftover star from my die-cut snowflake.   

Edited to Add: Also entering this in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge here using anything sparkly such as glitter, gems, stickles, glimmer sprays, paints, etc.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Soft Stone, SU Not Quite Navy and blue glittered paper (Joann's) 

Ink: VersaMark and SU Not Quite Navy

Stamps: In The Meadow, Signature Greetings and SU Holiday Wishes

Dies: Fancy Flakes

Other: (non-PTI) Corner Rounder, Metallic Silver Embossing Powder, Silver Perfect Pearls, SU Silver Stretchy Cord and SU Dimensionals

Holiday Cards Tied Up With String (Take #3)

And here's my third take using twine on a card ~ this time wrapped around one part of the card for PTI's December 2013 Blog Hop.

The patterned paper determined what other colors of cardstock to use for this design. It's pretty basic.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White, SU Real Red, SU Mellow Moss, Spring Rain, Harvest Gold & AC's Snippets patterned paper pad 

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Signature Christmas

Dies: Mat Stack #3, Fancy Flakes

Other: (non-PTI) Twinery Twine

Holiday Cards Tied Up With String (Take #2)

Here's another card for PTI's December 2013 Blog Hop, which was all about tying up projects using string in different ways.

This card uses a white card base with a second layer dry embossed using a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder, cut two pieces & inked the edges, leaving room for my "Merry Christmas" sentiment in black from PTI's Communique Curves stamp set. My Kraft tag was die cut with one of the Half & Half dies, which I shortened to fit at an angle. Using SU's Real Red ink, I stamped the plaid design from PTI's Half & Half stamps on white cardstock, die cut "ho" twice using Block Alphabet dies and rounded the corners. Also die cut the same "ho" from SU Real Red cardstock and adhered all three pieces to my tag. Finished it off by punching a small hole in the top of the tag and tying a piece of black & white Twinery Twine.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White, Kraft and SU Real Red

Ink: SU Real Red and Momento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Communique Curves and Half & Half

Dies: Half & Half and Block Alphabet

Other: (non-PTI) Corner Chomper, Sizzix snowflake embossing folder & Twinery Twine

Holiday Cards Tied Up With String

PTI's December 2013 Blog Hop was all about tying up projects using string. Twine has taken a big leap in the crafting industry by being used in lieu of ribbon. Some of my holiday cards were finished off by wrapping twine around the edge. Here's one:

This card went together quickly using Echo Park's Winter Wonderland paper cut at an angle, stamping in black the sentiment from PTI's In The Meadow stamp set, adhering red sequins randomly and tying a bow of red/white twine around the front of the card base. This is a 4.25" square card.

Edited to Add: Also entering this in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge here using anything sparkly such as glitter, gems, stickles, glimmer sprays, paints, etc.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: SU Soft Sky & Echo Park's Winter Wonderland patterned paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: In The Meadow

Other: Red sequins (Joann's) and Twinery Twine

Hello ~ PTI MIM #140: Ink Pad Designs (Take 2)

Rather than waste my negative die-cut from Wonderful Words: Hello, I decided to make another card for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday challenge of using ink pads to create designs. This one is pretty self-explanatory.

Edited to Add: Also entering this in Simon Says Monday Challenge Got Ink. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse and Winter Wisteria

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Winter Wisteria, Kraft, Harvest Gold and Hawaiian Shores

Stamps: None

Dies: Wonderful Words: Hello (negative die-cut)

Other: (Non-PTI) pinking shears, Offray ribbon, Zig Zag embossing folder, gem adhesives and SU Dimensionals

Cheery Sort of Day ~ PTI MIM #140: Ink Pad Designs

It's Sunday and after watching Ashley's video here I'm posting my first creation applying ink pads directly to paper to create a design for this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday challenge. PTI's ink pads have a unique shape to them so I stamped all five colors that I own to create my design. Dragging my ink pads against another piece of white cardstock, I then die-cut "hello" using Wonderful Words: Hello and ran it through my polka dot embossing folder. To complete my sentiment I stamped in Chocolate Chip ink, "Wishing you a cheery sort of day" from Hello Friend. After rounding the corners, I adhered it to kraft cardstock on a white card base and raised up "hello" using foam tape. To finish it off, I added three epoxy stickers.

Edited to Add: Also entering this in Simon Says Monday Challenge Got Ink. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White & Kraft

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Kraft, Hawaiian Shores & Winter Wisteria

Stamps: Hello Friend

Dies: Wonderful Words: Hello

Other: (non-PTI) Corner Chomper, foam tape, polka dot embossing folder & epoxy stickers

'Tis The Season To Be Jolly ~ Make It Monday #139

Since I need to get started on some Christmas cards, I decided to try Dawn's technique again using border stamps to create a frame. To view Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #139 video showcasing Stamped Square Frames, click here.

Starting with a white card base, I then stamped Boutique Borders: Birthday four times using Simply Chartreuse ink on a smaller piece of white cardstock and adhered it to a piece of Simply Chartreuse which I popped up on dimensionals. The red sequins are placed at the four corners where the borders intersect. Hopefully, I balanced my card by adding a bow of red/white twine just above my stamped sentiment, 'tis the season to be jolly.

Each "ho ho ho" was die cut twice using white cardstock and stamping one of the Half and Half patterns using SU Real Red ink. Each letter was backed by another die-cut in SU Real Red cardstock. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White, Simply Chartreuse and SU Real Red

Ink: Simply Chartreuse and SU Real Red

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Birthday, Communique Curves and Half & Half

Dies: Block Alphabet

Other: Twinery Twine, sequins (Michaels) and SU Dimensionals

PTI Make It Monday #139: Stamped Square Frames

Thank goodness for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday challenges or I'd never get any cards made. This week Dawn McVey showed us how to use decorative-border stamps to create focal point frames. My options were limited because the only appropriate stamp set in my stash is Boutique Borders: Birthday. The rest of the border sets are still on my wish list. Anyway, I paired that up with Lovely Layers stamps and dies popped up to fill my frame. Since I needed a "thinking of you" card, I felt the sentiment from Stampin' Up's Thoughts & Prayers looked better than any others. I'm sure my sister will appreciate this as she is a cardmaker too.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Rustic Cream

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip and Groovy Guava

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Birthday, Lovely Layers and SU Thoughts & Prayers

Dies: Lovely Layers

Other: SU Dimensionals

PTI MIM #138: Inlaid Die-Cuts (Take 3) Happy Birthday & SSS: Anything Goes

Here's one more attempt at Betsy's inlaid die-cuts technique as demonstrated in a video on Nichole Heady's blog for PTI's Make It Monday challenge. This birthday card was done without using any stamps ~ just die-cuts. And let me just add, that it was very time-consuming finding and adhering those little tiny pieces that matched the background patterned paper. It's my own fault though because I dumped them in my trash because I forgot I needed to keep them. Don't think I'll make that mistake again. Both "Happy" and "Birthday" are inlaid dies in case it's not easy to see in the photo.

I'm also entering this birthday card in the Simon Says Monday Challenge: Anything Goes. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Harvest Gold, White & SU retired DSP

Ink: None

Stamps: None

Dies: Pretty Peonies, Wonderful Words: Birthday & Heart Border

Other: Hawaiian Shores button, Twinery Twine & rhinestones

PTI MIM #138: Inlaid Die-Cuts (Take 2) Thinking of You & SSS: Anything Goes

Once again I tried Betsy's technique of Inlaid Die-Cuts as shown in her video here. Funny how one looks at their dies in a different light and feels the need to buy more. Great marketing scheme, don't you think? I die-cut a Limitless Layers: 2-1/4" Oval from PTI's Harvest Gold (HG) cardstock (saved for another card) and a second one from "Snippets" paper pad from American Crafts for my inlay. After embossing the HG with PTI's Linen/Canvas Impression Plate, I backed that with SU's Baroque Burgundy (BB) before adhering to my white card base. Another strip of "Snippets" and BB were added down the left side. To finish it off, I added a Harvest Gold button with white crochet thread bow, stamped my sentiment and rounded the corners.

I'm also entering this in Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Harvest Gold, White, SU Baroque Burgundy & Snippets paper pad from AC

Ink: SU Baroque Burgundy 

Stamps: Botannical Silhouettes

Dies: Limitless Layers: 2-1/4" Ovals & Linen/Canvas Impression Plate

Other: HG button & white crochet thread

PTI MIM #138: Inlaid Die Cuts & Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Since I needed a 75th birthday card for a male friend of ours, I decided I would try Betsy Veldman's technique of inlaid die cuts as shown in her video here, Nichole Heady's blog. It's difficult to see in the photo below, but I did die cut and remove the numbers from my stamped Vintage Cream cardstock. Then I die cut another "75" from Simply Chartreuse and "inlaid" the numbers in the opening. To finish off the sentiment, I added a folded banner with tails cut on both ends and raised it up using foam tape. Three sequins added a little sparkle to the leaves.

I'm also entering this in Monday's Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold & SU Really Rust

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold & SU Really Rust

Stamps: Leaf Prints & Big Birthday Wishes (Think Big Favorites #12 "Happy Birthday" inside sentiment ~ oops, not pictured)

Dies: By The Numbers

Other: Sequins & foam tape

PTI MIM #137: Dimensional Leaf Wreath & MFW: TT: Enthralled with Fall (Take #2)

Here's my second card for the Make It Monday challenge on Nichole's blog asking us to make a dimensional leaf wreath. Melissa Phillips shared her card creating details in a video. Had lots of ideas spinning in my head and even though my Leaf Print die cuts didn't work with my first design, I used them in this "thank you" card. 

Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger "Enthralled with Fall" also motivated me to make this card piling on the leaves in a variety of colors. Here's the trigger:

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Kraft, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, SU Bravo Burgundy & SU retired DSP

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Stamps: Leaf Prints & Grunge Me

Dies: Leaf Prints & Fabulous Frames

Other: Button, twine, foam tape & Corner Chomper

PTI MIM #137: Dimensional Leaf Wreath & MFW's TT: Enthralled with Fall

Another Make It Monday challenge on Nichole's blog asks us to make a dimensional leaf wreath. Melissa Phillips showed us in a video how she created her lovely Fall card. I attempted to follow by example and came up with this birthday card wishing a dear friend a fabulous day.

The glitter really sparkles and added a lot to the Turning A New Leaf die cuts that I adhered to a white circle to form my wreath. It's difficult to see here, but the embossed burgundy cardstock is raised up on a white card base, using foam tape. 

I'm also entering this Fall card in Moxie Fab World: Tuesday Trigger: Enthralled with Fall. The gorgeous Fall colors and the leaves helped inspire my wreath card above. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White, Vellum & SU Baroque Burgundy

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, SU Pumpkin Pie, SU Cherry Cobbler & VersaMark

Stamps: Turning A New Leaf & Boutique Borders: Birthday

Dies: Turning A New Leaf & Nestabilities Circles

Other: White Embossing Powder, SU brads, glitter glue, SU vertical stripes embossing folder & foam tape

PTI Make It Monday #135: Layered Emboss Resist

It sure is a good thing that Papertrey Ink has a weekly challenge, or I might not get any cards made. This week the talented Heather Nichols has shown us once again how to use VersaMark ink to emboss resist over stamped layers. Well, here's the idea I had in my head for our grandnephew, but the results aren't really that wonderful. Guess that's how we learn and encourage ourselves to continue trying these techniques over and over again until we're satisfied. Unfortunately, I don't have time now for another attempt so it is what it is.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Simply Chartreuse, Rustic Cream & Dark Chocolate

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Kraft, SU Chocolate Chip & VersaMark

Stamps: Grunge Me, Birthday Style & Studio Calico Napa Numbers

Dies: Limitless Layers: 2-1/4" Ovals

Other: SU Dimensionals, Sponge dauber & Twinery twine for balloon strings

PTI Make It Monday #134: Repeat + Lift (Take #2)

Just had to see what kind of results I'd get using "Wonderful Words: Hello" for Nichole's Repeat + Lift technique for PTI's Make It Monday this week. I'm not sure my second attempt was much easier, but I wanted to try different colors than I used on my first one.

Happy World Card Making Day!

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White, SU Pixie Pink & SU Groovy Guava

Ink: SU Pixie Pink, SU Groovy Guava & SU Basic Gray

Stamps: Wonderful Words: Hello

Dies: Wonderful Words: Hello

Other: SU Dimensionals, Foam Tape & pink heart rhinestones (Studio G)

PTI Make It Monday #134: Repeat + Lift (Take #1)

I know, I know, it's only Saturday, and I'm posting my first attempt at PTI's Make It Monday where Nichole shows us her technique called Repeat + Lift. This was a little trickier than I thought it would be getting the ink so it looks like a shadow of the die cut. Nichole makes everything look so easy.

Happy World Card Making Day!

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Harvest Gold & SU Really Rust

Ink: Harvest Gold, SU Really Rust & SU Chocolate Chip

Stamps: Wonderful Words: Birthday

Dies: Wonderful Words: Birthday

Other: SU Dimensionals & Foam Tape

PTI September 2013 Blog Hop ~ 2nd Card

Here's my second card for PTI's Blog Hop where the challenge was to create a wreath on a festive card front. Before running my Vintage Cream cardstock through my Big Shot, I inked the woodgrain impression plate using PTI's kraft ink and cut the piece in fourths. These were attached using foam tape to add dimension, and so was my wreath. This was created using one of the Limitless Layers 1-3/4" Circle dies, and the circle die from Hello Sunshine Collection for the wreath's center.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream & SU Really Rust

Ink: Kraft

Dies: Limitless Layers 1-3/4" Circles, Hello Sunshine & Woodgrain Impression Plate

Other: Gold cord for bow, glitter & foam tape