In the Meadow

Good afternoon!  I know it has been a long time since my last post.  I just haven’t been in the crafty mood lately.   However, I keep getting more and more new craft stuff to add to my stash even though I haven’t been using it.  I really just need to stop and use what I already have.  But who can resist with all the beautiful fall and winter stamps that have been coming out this year?  Thankfully, with the holidays rolling in, I am definitely getting more in the crafty mood.  I haven’t done much stamping, but have been helping my three year old daughter make some ornaments for her tree.  We have put together some simple holiday foam craft kits from the store, made some glitter ornaments, and paper snowflakes.  Next we will make the classic paper chain and some jingle bell bracelets.

As for stamping, I managed to make a card with my new Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamp set called In the Meadow.  This is one of the sets I was most excited to get.  I love the silhouette images.  I think this was the set that inspired me to finally break out of my crafting rut.  For my card, I did a simple brayer background.  This summer I took a wonderful class by Michelle Zindorf and learned so many great things including how to use my brayer.  I had one sitting around for many years, but only used it for smoothing paper together because I could never get my backgrounds to look right.  Well thanks to Michelle, I can finally get some real use out of my brayer.  You can check out her wonderful work here.  The background I did is actually really simple compared to some we did in the class.  So after doing the background, the rest of the card was as easy as using the companion die cuts for the In the Meadow stamp set.  The snow on the trees was made using a custom blend of white flower soft and three different types of Martha Stewart glitter.  By custom blend, I really just mean stuff I threw together trying to get a half decent snow look.  The sentiment is from PTI’s Think Big Favorites #8.  I hope you enjoyed this card.  I will try to make some more cards and not slack so much on posting.  

Thanks for looking!

Ingredients:

Stamps:  In the Meadow and Think Big Favorites #8, PTI

Ink:  Faded Jeans, Mustard Seed, Tim Holtz Distress Inks; Sky Blue Vivid Ink, Clearsnap; Onyx Black Versafine, Tsukineko; Summer Sky Memento Ink, Tsukineko; and Spring Moss, PTI.

Paper:  White, True Black and Kraft, PTI

Accessories:  PTI in the Meadow Die sleigh and snow drift dies; Flower Soft, Martha Stewart glitter, and Sakura Star Dust Pen.

PTI May Blog Hop

It is time for Papertrey Ink’s May Blog Hop.  The theme for this month is flowers.   I wasn’t going to participate, but had some last minute inspiration.  When I say last minute, I mean that I just made the card today.  It took me several hours of working on it in between feeding the kids, naps, play time, etc.   I decided to participate because I really wanted to try the trellis technique.  For a great tutorial on how to make the trellis, visit this site:  Valita's Designs.  One of my favorite things is a trellis covered with flowering vines.  Someday I hope to have one in my yard.  However, if you know me, you would know that I don’t like gardening.  I like flowers, but can’t grow anything if my life depended on it.  I very much have a black thumb.  The only flowers in our yard are due to my husband’s diligence.  Thank goodness for that.  If it were left up to me, we would probably have nothing but a sandbox for a yard.  At least I can’t kill paper flowers!  Well maybe I can…just keep reading after my picture.  So here is my card: 

Have you ever had one of those cards or projects that proves to be challenging just in the making of it?  This was one of those cards.  Between my inability to cut a straight and non-frayed edge with any of my paper cutters, finger prints, mystery smudges, exposed glue, smudged stamping, crooked impressions, and all the other problems with this piece, I am very surprised that I actually finished it.  So, I think that I can kill a paper flower.  I had to scrap a few due to some of the above listed issues.  Despite the problems, I still enjoyed trying this technique.  I hope you like the card.  Thank you for looking!

Ingredients:

• Stamps:  Dahlia, Sending you sentiment, Polka Dot Basics II: PTI
• Paper:  White, Kraft, Spring Rain, Argyle Socks PP: PTI
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Dandelion: Tsukineko
• Accessories:  PTI Cane Print IP; Mat Stack 4 Die, Double Ended Banner Die, Dahlia Die, Turning a New Leaf Die: PTI; Copics, Art Institute Glitter, Celebrate It Ribbon from Michael’s.    

With Sympathy

Unfortunately, this card goes along with my last post. I mentioned that my MIL was having a difficult time. Her Mother had an accident which led to brain surgery. Sadly, after an exhausting couple of weeks in the hospital, her mother passed away. She was laid to rest this past weekend surrounded by a large group of loving family and friends.

I debated about posting this card because it kind of feels weird to post a sympathy card. However, I realize that we all need a sympathy card at some point in time. Unless made ahead of time, sympathy cards can prove to be very difficult to make. It usually comes at a stressful time when inspiration and creativity might not be easy to come by. I know this because I had to ask some very wonderful people on the PTI forum for some inspiration for get well and sympathy cards. Some great people responded with beautiful samples to draw inspiration from. Thank you to all those that showed their cards! After a lot of tinkering, this is the card I finally came up with:

I really like the way it turned out. I didn't want to use a lot of dark, dreary colors for this card. I used shades of grey, purple, and yellow. I really hope this card was able to give a little bit of happiness to my MIL during this difficult time. Thank you for looking!

Ingredients:

• Stamps: Larger than Life, Tag-its #3, BB Retro, Daily Designs Sentiments from PTI.
• Paper: Gray Cardstock Prism; Lemon Tart, Royal Velvet, Smokey Shadow, White, Argyle Socks PP from PTI; Silver Paper SEI.
• Ink: Gray Whale, Bisque, Blackberry Clearsnap Fluid Chalk Ink; Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Yellow.
• Accessories: Ranger Silver Embossing Powder, Celebrate It Ribbon from Michael's, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punches, Crystals from Mark Richards, Fiskars Border and Circle Punch, Doily Die PTI.

Thinking of You, MIL

Here is a quick post for today.  This is a card I made for my MIL, who is going through a difficult time.   I wanted a subdued, but striking look to the card.  I hope I achieved this with the minimal embellishment and color combination.  Thanks for looking!

Ingredients:

• Stamps:   Dandelion from Great Impressions; Mat Stack 3, Daily Designs, and Ribbon Tails (sentiment) from PTI.
• Paper:  Ocean Tides, White cardstock from PTI.
• Ink:  Fresh Snow Ink from PTI
• Accessories:  Krylon Gold Leaf Pen, Celebrate It Ribbon from Michael’s, Gold pearls from Mark Richards, PTI Mat Stack 3 Die.

Celebrate

Here is a fun card that I made to have on hand for an upcoming occasion like a birthday or anniversary.  I really want to start making a stash of cards for various occasions, because I consistenly and notoriously send out late cards.  It usually gets to the point where I end up running out to a store to buy a last minute card.  How bad is that?  My hobby is making cards and I send out more store bought cards than homemade ones! 

I made this card to be unisex.  At least I think it could be used for a man.  I have never been great at making masculine cards.  For this card, I used one of my favorite color schemes, which is red (Pure Poppy) and black (Smokey Shadow).  I threw in some blue (Spring Rain) and white (Rustic White) for some added interest.  I used a lot of PTI stamps and accessories on this card, as well as my old Sizzix Star #2 die.

This is my first card utilizing one of the big card making trends going on right now.  I am usually late to the game when it comes to trends.  Well, I am finally jumping in and joining the baker's twine trend.  I just received a sampler pack I ordered from the Twinery.  It contains 15 yards each of 11 different colors.  Check this out:

I went with the sampler pack because I didn't want to invest in a large spool of twine in one color.  For me, the sampler pack is perfect.  I get to try a lot of colors for a small price.  The colors are so pretty. I couldn't help myself.  I had to find a way to use some on this card.  Don't be surpised to see twine on a lot of upcoming cards.  It only took using it one time to fall in love with the stuff.  Now I see why it is so popular.   

Now that you endured my ramblings, here is my card:

I hope you enjoyed this project.  Thanks for looking!


Ingredients:

• Stamps:  All Stamps PTI: Mat Stack 1, BB-Gingham and Newsprint
• Paper:  Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow, Spring Rain, Rustic White, DP from DCWV
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Lipstick Red
• Accessories:  Sizzix Stars #2 die,  PTI 1 3/4" Limitless Layers Die, Mat Stack 1 Die, Spellbinders Label Die, PTI Canvas Impression Plate, Mark Richards Crystals, Charcoal Bakers Twine from the Twinery.

*Twine picture from the Twinery website*     

Egg Hunt

Wow!  It is really amazing these days when I am able to get more than one card completed in a week, let alone a month.  I managed to make another card this week because I really liked the sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges this week.  I thought I would make some kind of Easter card for this challenge.  I really love the stamp I used from Serendipity Stamps.  They have the cutest Easter stamps!  This card definitely gets me excited for Easter and taking my daughter on her first Easter egg hunt where she will actually understand and look for the eggs.  I can't wait for that!  I hope everyone reading this has a Happy Easter.  Thanks for looking.

Here is the sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges:
 

Here is my card:

Ingredients:

• Stamps:  Serendipity (Main image); PTI (Sentiment and Sentiment Frame)
• Paper:  PTI Cardstock, Imaginisce DP
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Cantaloupe, and Copics
• Accessories:  Stickles, Crystals, Spellbinder's Nestabilities



PTI March Blog Hop a little too late!

Well I had intended to use this card for the PTI March Blog Hop, but didn't finish with the card, pic, and blog entry until too late.  Two minutes too late to be exact.  That is what happens when you have an unexpected vehicle problem and then have to deal with a baby and toddler!  I also made this card based on this week's SCS Card Sketch Challenge #325.  For the blog hop, we were challenged to use embroidery floss in a fun and inventive way on our project. This could include stitching, wrapping it around and tying it like ribbon, braiding, accenting tags, embroidered patterns or anything else we could come up with.  I don't think I did anything very inventive.  I just embroidered the stem of my center flower.  Sorry for the photo quality.  My digital camera broke and my husband took this picture on his Blackberry.  I am not very good with photo editing programs, so I couldn't make any adjustments.  Thanks for looking!

Ingredients:

• Stamps: PTI Flower Fusion 1 & 2; BB Gingham
• Paper:   PTI White, Spring Rain, and Plum Pudding CS; HOTP Paper Pizzaz DP
• Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink in Lime Pastel, Lavender, Wisteria, and French Blue
• Accessories:  PTI Wood grain Impression Plate, PTI FF 1&2 Dies, Beautiful Blooms II #1 Die,  PTI Button, DMC Embroidery Floss, Felt from Michael's, Jolee's crystals, corner rounder and Spellbinders Nestabilities.  

It has been a while!

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted anything.  When I started this blog, I intended to make regular entries showing my paper crafts.  However, I got side tracked with several things and have not made any projects for a while.  My biggest obstacle to making anything has to do with the fact that I have a very active 2 year old girl and I just had a baby boy in December.  My kids keep me very busy, to say the least.  I always want to work on my crafts after they are in bed, but I am usually too exhausted. 

Secondly, during the past summer, I decided to start on the massive undertaking of unmounting all my stamps.  For those that have gone through the process, I am sure you know my pain!  I intended to unmount all my stamps, remount on EZ Mount, stamp an index file, and finally store them in binders separated by category.  I planned to complete all this before the baby arrived!  I would say that I am approximately 95% done with the unmounting.  However, I have not remounted on the EZ Mount.  So right now, the majority of my stamp collection is stored in envelopes inside a very large storage tub.  Since I have not sorted into categories and have not stamped an index file, I really don't know what I have and where to find it.  I got burnt out during the unmounting process and stepped away for a while.  The problem was that I didn't get back to it before the baby arrived.  Now I don't seem to have the time.

I really wanted to reorganize my stamp system because I had way too many wood mounted stamps and no where to store them.  I had outgrown my previous stamp storage a while ago and just had bags and boxes of stamps everywhere.  I couldn't find a stamp without rummaging through tons of stuff.  My husband and I also did a massive overhaul of our bonus room/office.  Our craft area was previously in our bonus room.  We decided to turn the bonus room into a play room for our daughter.  We then turned the office into our craft room.  We totally splurged and purchased a ton of pieces from Scrap N Cube to organize our new craft room.  We couldn't be happier with the products!  Once I get rid of the clutter of my unmounted stamps, I will take and post some pictures of our craft room.

So now that you know why I haven't posted any projects for a while, let me get to the point.  I finally got a card done.  It only took me three days of trying to work at night after the kids went to sleep.  I needed a thank you card for a baby gift.  This is what I came up with.  I hope you enjoy it.  Thanks!
 

I stamped the leaf background with Papertrey Ink's (PTI) Turning a New Leaf set in brown ink.  I then stamped more leaves in green ink, cut them out, and adhered them with Pop Dots.  I made the accordian flower from patterned paper.  The center of the flower is a punch from an old book and sprayed with Smooch Spritz. The button is tied with twine. 

Ingredients:

• Stamps: PTI, Sentiment stamp unknown
• Paper: PTI,Kraft CS; Prism, Brown CS; DP, Bo Bunny
• Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Chalk ink in Dark Brown, Colorbox Pigment ink in moss Green
• Accessories: McGill, Flower and tag punch; SU scallop border punch; Clearsnap Smooch Spritz; twine; PTI button.