Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Patterned Paper

HI! I was checking out Nichole's blog this morning and she had created a little "challenge" for us to try out. She made the most beautiful card by creating her own patterned paper by using the Polka Dot Basics set along with the new Pond Life set..you can see it here... She wanted us to create our own patterned paper by layering it over another background pattern. I am always looking around for inspirations, ideas and color combinations in my daily life. I have found the best place to find these are in all the catalogs I get daily in the mail. They are great to look at because they show the "in" colors, as well as the "in" patterns and prints of the season.. It is so fun to see a new color and pattern set in a catalog and then turn it into a card. Well, I did find some inspiration from the new Land of Nod catalog..They have the best prints and colors that I just fall in love with every time I see the catalog!! There are several bedding sets in this catalog that reminded me a lot of the new stamp set Garden of Life. So, that is where I started today with this card. I used Spring Moss Cardstock(my favorite) and stamped the solid polka dots from the Polka Dots Basic set in Seascape Palette Ink. I know Nichole had used this set also with her patterned paper..it's just such a useful set to use with cards..it really adds a lot to them. I then took one of the flowers from Garden of Life and stamped it over every other polka dot as the centers of my flower using Lavender Sachet Ink. I really like how the layering turned out. I then wanted to add something unique to the actual flowers, so I took a piece of cream colored vellum and cut 3 small scalloped circles with my Nestabilities . I stamped the same flower image in Lavender Sachet onto the vellum and placed those on the 3 center flowers on the cardstock. I then stamped the stems with Jardin Moss Ink and cut and placed those. I wanted to keep the focal point rather simple because of the craziness of the patterned paper. For my sentiment, I cut a strip of lavender cardstock and scalloped the edges and also cut a smaller strip of Spring Moss where I placed the sentiment. I finished this strip off with 2 silver squared brads. I love these colors together and have to admit it looks much better in person. I'm still learning the ropes on taking pictures of my cards!! Thanks for looking!!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

April Papertrey Ink Submissions...

I thought I would share a few of my creations I did for the April Gueststar stamper contest over at Papertrey Ink!! I had so much fun creating this month and just fell in love with each of the stamp sets I had purchased..I just wish I could afford all of them..There isn't one that I don't like..they are all amazing..I just wish I could get my husband to read this..Mother's Day is coming up here and a new stamp set would make a wonderful gift...LOL!! Anyway, the first card I created I used the flower image from Boxes, Bags and Tags..I stamped the larger flower and cut out the smaller flower to give some depth to the card. I used the stem image from the Spiral Bouquet set and I really like the simplicity of it. I created the flower pot from PTI cardstock and stamped and embossed the sentiment from the Birthday Basics set. One thing I love about this set is that many of the sayings can be used for other cards besides Birthday. There are some really heartwarming sentiments. I also incorporated the new PTI patterned paper and grosgrain ribbon. Both of those products are so nice to use.

The second card I would like to share is a Birthday Giftcard I created using the stamps from It's a Celebration. I love the party hats in this set but for this particular card, they seemed a bit big. So, I noticed when I turned the small banner flags upside down, they looked just like little party hats. I used my scalloped square cuttlebug die-cut, as well as my Marvy small circle punch. I also used the star stamp from this set but masked the little star so I just had the one bigger star to use. I used my small two punch for my ribbon and created this "envelope" card. Once you open the card, I stamped a Birthday sentiment from Birthday Basics in the center. I then just take my giftcard and place two small dimensionals on the back of the giftcard. I then place it over the sentiment I stamped. What I have found useful when doing this is to really push the dimensionals onto the back of the giftcard so they will stick to the giftcard and not the paper once removed from the card. I just love the pop that these colors give..a great "boy" combination.
The final creation I would like to share with you is this birthday boy combo set!! As I said earlier, I just love the adorable party hats in It's a Celebration. So, I decided to create a birthday theme around the hats. I first created a card and matching tag that would accompany the present. I cut out the small party hats and attached string to the bottoms. I just love that little detail because it really makes them look like party hats. Who doesn't remember squeezing their little chin under those things..OUCH!! I took one of the small glassine bags from PTI and filled it with green m&m's and created a placecard that would have each child's name on them. I also took one of the small square tins to give as a party favor. I didn't include the picture here but I took 4 mini snicker bars and white labels. I stamped the white labels with one of the simple label stamps from Limitless Labels and in the center stamped a small party hat. They looked really cute around the mini snickers and fit nicely inside the tin. My son will be turning 3 here in July and I may actually use this as his theme..if only I can get him away from Choo-Choo Trains..that's going to be tricky!! LOL.. Thanks for looking!!!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Wedding Cake Favor!!!

Oh my goodness..I'm soooo excited!! I was chosen as one of the winners this month for Papertrey Ink's Gueststar Stamper!! I can't believe it and am just so excited!! Thank you so much Nichole..this means so much to me!! I had so much fun creating this cake and to get to share it with others is just a blessing!!! I'm getting to do something that I love and I'm just so happy I found the Papertrey Ink company!! They are awesome!!!
I just love the pink patterned paper from PTI and that is what I used for each cake layer...the paper is just the right weight and is just adorable.. I also cut strips from another pattern to use as my ribbon base on each layer. I then used the flower stamps from Boxes, Bags and Tags to embellish my cake..there are just so many ways to change up this cake and "decorate" it. What I love about this easy favor is that you have the option of using all 3 boxes to fill or just using the largest bottom layer. Thanks again Nichole!! My cheeks hurt from smiling so much!!!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Jen Sketch!!

I was so excited this morning..I got a very nice comment from Jen Del Muro on my blog..I just love her work and it was so nice of her to come over to my blog and take a peek..well, I stopped over at her blog once again this morning and saw one of her sketches..I thought I would give it a try.. I had bought some cute patterned paper from Paper Studio that I used as my color scheme..I was thinking "boy" birthday for some reason so that is what I went for. I haven't had a chance to use the cute little jungle animals from the Stampendous set I just bought so thought I would incorporate those, as well. I just love that little giraffe..so cute.. I masked off his ears a bit so I could stamp a party hat on his hat. The party hat stamp is actually from the It's a Celebration set from PTI..it is one of the small banners..I just flipped it over and used it as a hat instead...I went through and stamped a small star in each of the circles on the patterned paper.. and placed clear circular pebbles randomly on a few of the circles..I just love those pebbles..they are just a unique little detail... I felt like a needed a band of some sort to tie it all together..(hopefully, it didn't add too much).. It was pretty funny because about 6 years ago, when I was in college I worked at a Michael's..I had a great discount and would basically spend my paycheck every week on everything in the store..well, I was really into the decorative scissors at the time and bought every kind..I was looking through them this morning and found this particular style that I used on the bottom portion of my sentiment... I thought it coordinated well with the giraffe's spots... thanks for the fun sketch Jen!!!

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Supplies
Patterned Paper: Paper Studio
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Clear Stamps: (Giraffe)Stampendous; (Sentiment, exclamation, party hat, star) Papertrey Ink
Ink: Palette Hybrid Inks
Accents: Clear circular pebbles; orange brads; decorative scissors; edge distressor

Monday, April 7, 2008

Happy Birthday Dad, Brothers, Father-in-law

I was on my daily blog trip this morning when I came across Lisa Johnson's blog and her amazing "man card"(that cracks me up)!! She is so talented and creative..I just love her work..It isn't over the top and she always uses the best color combos!! I can only wish to create at her level...Anyway, she gave a little challenge to see our "man cards" so I thought I would give it a try!!! As soon as the kids were down for their naps I went to work.. I had this great Paper Studio patterned paper that I used..It just seems to be more masculine with a bit of softness to it. I distressed the sides of the paper with scissors to make it a bit more rugged. I stamped the presents from It's a Celebration (PTI) and cut them out. I used dimensionals behind the presents and glue dots behind the ribbon.. I also used the tag stamp from this set, cut it out and placed it on the paper with a small brad. I really love this tag stamp and have found so many useful ways to use it on cards and gifts...Both of the sentiments are from Birthday Basics (PTI).. I'll definitely hang on to this until one of the men in my life have a birthday..not for a few more months..thanks for the ideas Lisa!!!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Welcome Baby!!

I dragged my kids to Hobby Lobby once again this week..I just can't get enough of it..I need to get my fix in..pathetic, I know!! If you can believe it..I broke down and bought stamps that are NOT Papertrey... I saw the cutest baby set from Stampendous..and because I have several family members and friends having babies..I definitely needed to buy it!! At least that is what I told my husband!! I just love the designs in this set and look forward to stamping them on onesies..they make fun little gifts to give!!! I only had about 30 mins today to create a card and decided to try out the card sketch over at splitcoaststampers...it's so much fun to create your card and then to look through all the other designs...so much inspiration and creativity..it amazes me how we all follow the same sketch, yet no two cards are exactly alike..God really is amazing...he gave each of us the gift to share our souls with one another!!!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Present time!!

I wanted to share a quick card with you that I made for my sister-in-law's birthday..nothing spectacular, just fun!! I used the new sets: It's a Celebration and Birthday Basics. I also incorporated the new PTI cardstock from this past month. The cardstock color is Sweet Blush and the paper is such high quality. I really enjoy crafting with it..It's almost too nice to even use!! For this card I stamped the present on sweet blush cardstock and cut it out. I then used a dimensional to give the present some depth. I like how the polka dotted paper flows with the polka dots on the present.. I also just love the sentiment.."Wishing you a beautiful year of promises fulfilled, joys discovered, and dreams come true"...she is expecting her first baby this August and thought this fit perfect!!