PTI MIM #165: Artsy Watercolor Backgrounds

Had every intention of posting this earlier until a dear friend called to chat. I'm not really very "artsy" but wanted to try Betsy Veldman's watercolor technique as shown in this week's Make It Monday for Papertrey Ink.

Using PTI's Mum's The Word stamp set on Stamper's Select White cardstock, I inked up three different size mums with Harvest Gold, Tempting Turquoise and Pink Passion. With water and brush in hand, I drew out the inks to mimic Betsy's technique. When dried, that layer was cut in three pieces, adhered with SU dimensionals to "life" them up on the New Leaf cardstock and placed on a white card base. To finish it off, I added a little bling with coordinating sequins, stamped the sentiment from Stylish Sentiments: Birthday using New Leaf ink, and rounded two corners.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White and New Leaf

Ink: New Leaf, Harvest Gold, SU Tempting Turquoise and SU Pink Passion

Stamps: Stylish Sentiments: Birthday and Mum's The Word

Dies: None

Other: Sequins (won from Jennifer McGuire) and Corner Chomper

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge

This month's challenge here is to play around with the popular color combination of Aqua and Melon as shown from this gorgeous inspiration:

photo credits- roses:::maile's ikat cards:::bowls:::floral print:::tulips

Even though I've had several days to think about these colors, I still had no idea what I was going to design until I managed to actual create today. Here's what I came up with for my niece's birthday!

My white card base was covered with a layer of SU Soft Sky DSP before adding the Hexagon Cover Plate in SU Groovy Guava. I added a few hexagons to add some dimension. "Happy" was die cut from glittered paper, and "birthday" was stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I either need to get VersaMark reinker or new embossing powder because I was disappointed with the results. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Aqua Mist and SU Groovy Guava

Ink: VersaMark

Stamps: Stylish Sentiments: Birthday

Dies: Pretty Peonies, Bountiful Banners, Mat Stack #4 and Hexagon Cover Plate

Other: Sizzix Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, SU Soft Sky DSP, Melon Glittered Paper (Joann's), Clear Embossing Powder (Joann's), White Crochet Thread (Michael's) and SU Dimensionals

PTI MIM #164: Cluster Stamped Sentiments

Oh my goodness, I knew it had been a while since I was able to stamp, but didn't realize it has been over a month. No wonder I was going through withdrawals. Since I need graduation cards, birthday cards and congratulatory cards, I thought I'd give this week's Make It Monday a try. Well, Heather made it look so easy. The first three went in the trash last night because I just wasn't pleased with my cluster of hats and stars, and I kept smearing the ink.  So earlier today I attempted that same card again because I liked the idea I had in my head…just not so much on paper. I am satisfied with this one for a High School grad whose school colors are red and blue.

My next card is for a high school senior who achieved her personal bests in discus and shot put and hopefully qualifies for WA State Field and Track. Her goal is to participate in Junior Nationals again so I'm confident she will. 

My third and final card is a birthday card for my SIL, which I need to mail tomorrow. 

I apologize for not commenting regularly on blog posts, and hope to improve on that task soon. Thanks for reading this post, and I appreciate every comment. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Graduation Card

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, SU Brilliant Blue and SU Real Red

Ink: SU Real Red and VersaMark

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Congrats, For The Graduate and 2012 Birthday Tags (star)

Dies: Fabulous Frames (edge of frame only)

Other: Zing Metallic Blue Embossing Powder and SU Dimensionals

Congrats Card

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Berry Sorbet and Winter Wisteria

Ink: Berry Sorbet, Harvest Gold, Winter Wisteria and VersaMark

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Congrats and Flower Fusion #4

Dies: Tipped Tops

Other: White Embossing Powder, white crochet thread (Joann's), Summer Sun Sequins (Jennifer McGuire)

Yay! It's Your Birthday

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Harvest Gold and Winter Wisteria

Ink: Berry Sorbet, Harvest Gold, Winter Wisteria, Hawaiian Shores, Memento Tuxedo Black and VersaMark

Stamps: Stylish Sentiments: Birthday and 2012 Birthday Tags (star)

Dies: Fabulous Frames and Tipped Tops (star)

Other: White Embossing Powder and Enamel Dot (Joann's)

PTI MIM #159: No-Sew Quilted Cards

Sure glad there is a weekly Make It Monday here at PaperTrey Ink so I force myself to squeeze in some time in my stamping room. And yes, once again it is Sunday night, and I'm racing to beat the deadline for the challenge by Dawn McVey. We had such a beautiful weekend here in Western Washington that I felt compelled to do some yard work but would have preferred stamping. No doubt my body will remind me that I put it through torture the past two days. Without further adieu, here's my take on the challenge.

After cutting 1.5" squares of four different patterns, I followed Dawn's lead and left some white space when adhering them to the card base. Then I embossed the card with the Hexagon Cover Plate and finished it off heat embossing silver powder for my sentiment on vellum. The tiny star stickers cover up the vellum tape runner & glossy accents I used for adhering the vellum. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select, Vellum

Ink: VersaMark

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Thanks

Dies: Hexagon Cover Plate

Other: Martha Stewart Paper Pack, Zing Silver Embossing Powder, Vellum tape runner, Glossy Accents, Silver Star stickers (stash)

PTI MIM #158: Stamping With Watercolor Mediums

Back from a much-needed vacation in sunny California and dealing with lots of personal matters following the death of my BIL, I was eager to get back in my stamping room. After watching Heather perform her magic using Gelatos and water brushing or misting her stamp, I decided I'd attempt this technique. Guess I'm so out of practice because my first one went in the trash. I'm still not thrilled with the second one, but I'm entering it anyway in this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday. Should have pulled out my watercolors because my pastel SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons didn't show up very well, but here it is anyway.

Below is a close-up of my watercolor experience using the misting technique. 

Also entering in this Wednesday's Simon Says Stamp challenge, because Simon Says Happy Birthday. 

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: White, SU Certainly Celery and Lavender Lace

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons (pastels)

Stamps: Pretty Peonies and Big Birthday Wishes

Dies: Pretty Peonies and Linen/Canvas Impression Plate

Other: We R Corner Chomper, White Crochet Thread (Joann's) and SU Dimensionals

Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge

High gloss is definitely a trend, especially in cardmaking. Here is this month's Blog Hop Challenge for Papertrey Ink, which was to incorporate anything glossy.

For my card, I opted to use white embossing for my sentiment and glossy accents on my "flying" butterflies. This birthday card really shines. Check it out below:

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Berry Sorbet, Hawaiian Shores & Stamper's Select White

Ink: VersaMark, Spring Rain, Harvest Gold, Berry Sorbet, Winter Wisteria, Aqua Mist and Sweet Blush

Stamps: Half and Half and Beautiful Butterflies

Dies: Half and Half

Other: White Embossing Powder, Glossy Accents, Hawaiian Shores button,Twinery Twine and 

SU Dimensionals

PTI MIM #155: Create Confetti with Papertrey Ink Dies

The past several weeks my time was consumed assisting my DH with moving his brother to an adult family home as his COPD continued to worsen. We were so thankful he agreed to this transition because just two weeks later our Lord was calling his name. After 10 days of company and the burial four days ago, our last guests left Saturday. It was a beautiful celebration and fabulous tribute in my BIL's honor. Needless to say, we are looking forward to our vacation in another week.

It felt so good to get back in my stamping room today for some quiet time. After watching Danielle's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday video here, I decided to give it a try. Some of the hearts are popped up for added dimension. The strip of patterned paper just above my rounded corners helps ground the sentiment.

Supplies: (all PTI unless noted)

Cardstock: Ocean Tides, Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold & SU Rose Red

Ink: SU Basic Gray

Stamps: Stylish Sentiments: Birthday

Dies: Bubble Talk

Other: Corner Chomper, SU Dimensionals and patterned paper from DCWV's The Kidlet Stack