He means the world to me

Hi friends! No challenge card from me today, just popping in quickly to share the card I made for my hubby for our anniversary today. When I saw this sentiment and image in PTI's Masculine Motifs set, I knew they would be the perfect message for him. I haven't shared much of my personal life here, but I will just say that I have been very happily married to this amazing man for 9 years today. I couldn't do what I'm doing now without his unconditional support and love for me, and for that I am truly grateful.

(all supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted)

Cardstock: Rustic White

Stamps: A Little Argyle, Masculine Motifs

Ink: Enchanted Evening, Chamomile Tea Dye, Hampton Art (green)

Tools: Spellbinders (square die), Martha Stewart (scoring board)

As for the card, I saw on a blog recently that PTI's argyle background will fit across the width of an A2 card leaving 1/2 inch on either side. (Sorry I didn't make a mental note of the blog owner!). So I placed a scored line 1/2 inch in on each side and stamped the pattern between those lines. The cardstock is Rustic White with lots of Chamomile tea dye.

That's all for today! We're off to the zoo with the kids, then out for the evening to celebrate our day. Thanks so much for stopping by!

TESC #118

Hi folks! It has been very hot and humid here the last couple of days, which meant lots of browsing air-conditioned stores yesterday and little time in the craft room! But I managed to whip something up this morning for the sketch of the week at Taylored Expressions. Check out those cute scallops!

I decided to cut into another piece of patterned paper from my stash! I love this pattern from October Afternoon's Thrift Shop collection. I decided to mimic it in the focal image by stamping a small flower from Beautiful Blooms II and some leaves from Turning a New Leaf, both by PTI. The sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages. I thought I was all done, then decided to add the pearls, and I really think they complete the card.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy)

Patterned paper: October Afternoon (Thrift Shop collection)

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Turning a New Leaf, Beautiful Blooms II, Mega Mixed Messages)

Ink: Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado, Chamomile Tea Dye), Clearsnap (Cranberry)

Tools: Spellbinders (scalloped circle die), Papertrey Ink (scalloped border die), EK Success (corner rounder)

Accessories: Papertrey Ink (ribbon), Michaels (pearls)

Simple on the inside, as always. Everything got a good dose of Chamomile ink from PTI's Tea Dye Duo. This stuff still intimidates me, but it softens as it dries and I do like the aged look and warmth it adds.

I hope you're able to stay cool today, wherever you are! Thanks for stopping by!

ColourQ #38

I'm back with my second post of the day! Be sure to scroll down to see my card for the Curtain Call Color Challenge!

This card is for this week's challenge at ColourQ. I was so disappointed to miss out on the challenge last week when I was out of town, so I had to participate this week! And I'm just barely making it in time! Here's the inspiration:

I had so much fun with my last white on white card that I wanted to try it again with just a splash of the featured colors. I punched out all the butterflies with two different Martha Stewart punches, then adhered them in rows to a piece of white cardstock, using just a tiny drop of liquid adhesive in the middle of each butterfly. I then machine stitched a straight line down the center of each row. Finally, I put the whole panel into a Cuttlebug embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot. I pulled up the wings just a bit to give it more dimension and help the white butterflies to stand out. I also added a couple of rhinestones to the colored butterflies for sparkle!

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Spring Rain, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, white), Bazzill (green)

Stamp: Papertrey Ink (Signature Greetings)

Ink: Clearsnap (Black)

Tools: Martha Stewart (butterfly punches), ProvoCraft (embossing folder)

Accessories: Me & My Big Ideas (rhinestones), thread

I decided to put the sentiment on the inside of the card, so I picked one from PTI's Signature Greetings and added one more punched butterfly.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do! Enjoy your day, and thanks for stopping by!

Curtain Call Act #36

Hi there, and welcome back for another Curtain Call Color Challenge! This will be my last as Guest Designer for the month of June, and I just want to say what an honor it has been working with the fabulously talented ladies of the Curtain Call Crew! Thanks so much to all of you for making me feel welcome, and for all of the sweet comments over the last 4 weeks! I have enjoyed every minute!

Now on to this week's colors, which are very timely with Independence Day right around the corner here in the U.S.

I'm not typically into a lot of Americana, but this was a fun color combo to work with given the upcoming holiday, plus I got to ink up my new stamp set, A Little Argyle! It was perfect for what I wanted to do with this card.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Enchanted Evening, white), Bazzill (kraft)

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Star Prints, A Little Argyle), Oriental Trading Company (circles)

Ink: Papertrey Ink (Enchanted Evening, Tea Dye Duo), Clearsnap (Cranberry), Jo-Ann stores (white)

Tools: Papertrey Ink (Woodgrain Impression Plate), Marvy Uchida (circle punch), Fiskars (star punch)

Accessories: Papertrey Ink (jute twine, button, ribbon)

I know, I've had several star cards lately, haven't I? PTI's Star Prints was a natural for a card to thank our heros for our many freedoms. I also used the Woodgrain Impression Plate to give the kraft some interest and add a masculine feel. The woodgrain was pretty subtle, so I lightly sponged some white ink over the top of the whole panel to bring out the texture. I love how this looks!

A bit more argyle for the inside of the card and a strip of Enchanted Evening ribbon. I did use the Tea Dye Duo again to ink up the edges, but I need to practice using them because I am always so afraid of adding too much and messing things up!

The Curtain Call Crew has samples to show you today, too, so make sure you stop by to see:

Amy White at Devlinwhite Designs
Andrea Roose at Andrea's Scrap- und Stampel Blog
Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) at Random Acts of Creativity
Julie Smith at Paper and Such
Lea Lawson at Lea's Cupcakes & Sunshine
Marisa Ritzen at Rosemary Reflections
Melissa Hubert at My Paper Obsession
Shelley Germann at Stampin' Garden
Sue Kohler at My Inner Reflection

...then play along with us and post your Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act 36 creation using Mr. Linky at Stacey's Stamping Stage.

Thanks again for stopping by and sharing some love!

Color Cue 5 & CPS 172

Hello, friends! Just popping in with my submission for 2 challenges: Dawn's Color Cue 5 at Stamp Away with Me and CPS 172. I added cream to my color combo in order to work with these patterned papers.

The papers are from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite collection. I've been collecting various papers from some of my favorite lines lately and hoarding them. I'm sure no one else ever does that, right? So I've been making an effort to use them on my cards lately.

Cardstock: Michaels (cream), Papertrey Ink (Orange Zest)

Patterned paper: October Afternoon (Fly a Kite collection)

Stamps: WPlus9 (Funky Foliage)

Ink: Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate, Tea Dye Duo), Clearsnap (Lettuce)

Tools: Spellbinders (scalloped circle die), Marvy Uchida (circle punch), EK Success (corner rounder, border punch)

Accessories: Papertrey Ink (ribbon), Pebbles, Inc. (twine)

I hadn't used the Funky Foliage stamp set from WPlus9 for a while, so it was definitely time to break them out for this challenge at Dawn's blog! I just love those little trees! I decided to leave out the arrow in the sketch and use a scalloped border and tied ribbon instead.

The inside is finished off with a couple of simple strips just to add some color. Oh, and I swiped some Chamomile ink from PTI's Tea Dye Duo onto all the edges.

That's all for now! Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the latest Curtain Call Color Challenge! Thanks for stopping by!

CardPatterns Sketch #69

Happy Friday, friends! It's a beautiful day here, and as you can guess from my card, I was in the mood to go strawberry picking this week. Sadly, I checked the local farms this morning and they are either out of berries or close to it. They're all running 10-14 days ahead of schedule! So I am very sad to have missed out and will have to remember next year to get my act together a lot sooner!

In the absence of actual berries today, I guess I will have to be content to admire the cute little strawberry on this card! Let me tell you, friends, this card didn't take long to make, but it took f-o-r-e-v-e-r to figure out what I wanted to do. I'm blaming it on the heat and humidity yesterday! I had absolutely no mojo or motivation, but the afternoon thunderstorms must have given me a little spark because I finally came up with something that I like! I used the current sketch at CardPatterns.

The papers and little strawberry image are from Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety line. I had yet to break out my Just for You stamp set from PTI, so I did just that! I also used the Mat Stack 2 die to make a label. It needed a little something to make it pop, so I cut a scalloped circle with one of my Nesties and placed it behind the label so it would just peek out.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Vintage Cream, New Leaf), Bazzill (kraft)

Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket (Garden Variety)

Stamp: Papertrey Ink (Just for You)

Ink: Clearsnap (Black)

Tools: Spellbinders (square die, scalloped circle die), Papertrey Ink (Mat Stack 2 die), EK Success (circle punch)

other: Papertrey Ink (jute twine), buttons, thread

I hope you have great plans for your weekend, or at the very least some peaceful crafty time! Thanks for stopping by today!

Sweet Sunday Sketch 74 & RCC#4

Hey there, friends! I thought I'd pop in on this steamy, hot day to share a new card with some bright, summery colors. This card was inspired by the Reader's Choice color combo at Kristina Werner's blog, and I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch of the week.

Cheerful colors, don't you think? I thought these would be great for a young child's birthday card. I layered a journaling sprout with the number 3 on top of some red stamped stars, then stamped another star onto orange cardstock with Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder. This one I layered on top with a yellow button. This block seemed like it still needed something, so I added the black line around the edges to finish it off.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Spring Rain, Lemon Tart, Orange Zest, Stamper's Select White), Bazzill (royal blue)

Patterned paper: Jillibean Soup

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Star Prints, Background Basics: Tin Types), Fiskars (sentiment)

Ink: Clearsnap (Cranberry, Royal Blue), Versamark, Jo-Ann stores (white)

Tools: Fiskars (border, star punch)

other: Jillibean Soup (journaling sprout), Papertrey Ink (button), Stampendous (clear embossing powder), Sakura (pen), DMC floss

The red grid paper is from Jillibean Soup, and the royal blue cardstock is Bazzill stamped in white with a background from Background Basics: Tin Types.

I finished off the inside with a couple more stamped stars, some star punches, and a sentiment in blue from Fiskars.

Time to head off to the sprinkler park with the kiddos! Thanks for stopping by today!

EBTKS sketch 17 & PDCC 34

Hi! I'm back after a weekend away and it was so wonderful to return to all of your lovely comments. I specifically want to say thank you to all those who left congratulations on this card that made Kristina Werner's Top Ten last week! I am so honored to be included among so many beautiful creations, and all of you who encourage me and leave love on my blog are by far my favorite part of blogging! Thank you!

On to today's card, which is for two challenges: the current sketch challenge at Everything but the Kitchen Sink and a color challenge at the Play Date Cafe. This is my first time playing at the Play Date Cafe, but I was very drawn to the inspiration photo this week and loved the idea of using black and white with a splash of color.


I've been really inspired by these fab floral embellishments I discovered on Dawn McVey's blog not long ago. Her post here showcases one, but be sure to look for others on her blog, as they are completely cute and fun to make. I used one of the Martha Stewart lace tags layered with a blossom from Beautiful Blooms II (which I hand-cut; must get these dies soon!). The flower itself was stamped with Versamark on Hawaiian Shores and heat embossed with clear powder. I didn't have any turquoise floss, so I just took some white floss and dragged it across my Hawaiian shores inkpad a few times, then let it dry for a couple of hours before threading the tag and button.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Hawaiian Shores, True Black), Michaels (white)
Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Beautiful Blooms II, Mega Mixed Messages)
Ink: Clearsnap (black), Versamark, Jo-Ann stores (white), Papertrey Ink (Hawaiian Shores)
Tools: ProvoCraft (embossing folder), Spellbinders (circle die), McGill (tag punch), Fiskars (hole punch)
other: Martha Stewart Crafts (lace tag), Papertrey Ink (ribbon), Stampendous (clear embossing powder), DMC floss, button

The black cardstock was embossed using a folder from ProvoCraft, then I gently sponged some white ink across it to make it stand out a bit more.

The inside of the card was finished with another stamped and heat embossed flower.


That's all from me today! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 35

Welcome back for another round of the Curtain Call Color Challenge! Stacey has picked some fabulous fresh colors this week!


The challenge for me this week was definitely working with this color scheme without having to do much stamping, because I don't have ink in these colors! So I pulled out this cute little card from Cosmo Cricket's Farm Fresh line.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (New Leaf, Hawaiian Shores), Michaels (white)
Patterned paper: Frances Meyer, Cosmo Cricket
Stamp: Papertrey Ink (Background Basics: Tin Types)
Ink: Jo-Ann stores (white)
other: Papertrey Ink (buttons), thread

The only stamping I added was the Tin Types background from PTI on the turquoise cardstock. I like how clean and colorful it turned out!

The Curtain Call Crew has samples to show you today, too, so make sure you stop by to see: Amy White at Devlinwhite Designs
Andrea Roose at Andrea's Scrap- und Stampel Blog
Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) at Random Acts of Creativity
Julie Smith at Paper and Such
Lea Lawson at Lea's Cupcakes & Sunshine
Marisa Ritzen at Rosemary Reflections
Melissa Hubert at My Paper Obsession
Shelley Germann at Stampin' Garden
Sue Kohler at My Inner Reflection

...then play along with us and post your Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act 35 creation using Mr. Linky at Stacey's Stamping Stage.

Thanks for stopping by!

CPS 171

Happy Friday! I'm on my way to Maine this weekend to escape the heat we're supposed to get and to visit with friends and my FIL. And speaking of my FIL, I have this little Father's Day card for him that I thought I'd share today. I used the sketch at Card Positioning Systems for this week.


Those diamonds immediately made me think of the sails on this sailboat stamp from PTI's Masculine Motifs. I borrowed an idea from Nichole Heady again and stamped the boat once with Enchanted Evening ink, then again to one side without re-inking. I decided to stamp the middle boat again on cardstock and cut it out by hand to pop it up on foam adhesive. I added some machine stitching below to mimic water and add some subtle texture. Oh, and I had to use the Linen & Canvas impression plate again to add that fantastic distressed look to the cardstock. Seriously, I {heart} the L&C plate!

all supplies from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Stamper's Select White
Stamps: Masculine Motifs
Ink: Enchanted Evening
Tools: Linen & Canvas impression plate
other: thread (non-PTI)

In case you were thinking I forgot something, the sentiment is stamped on the inside of the card. It just didn't seem to fit anywhere on the front, and this way my FIL can leave the card out long past Father's Day. He lives to be on the water, and his home is filled with nautical themed decor, so I'm sure this will find a place!



That's all, peeps! Have a fantastic weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Sunday Sketch 73 & Loonie Stampers 96

Hello! It's almost the end of another week! Today I have a card to share for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge using the colors for the Loonie Stampers Challenge. This is the first time I've played along with the Loonie Stampers, but color challenges are my fave so I just had to try it out.








I couldn't wait to ink up my new stamps from Prima's Cantaria and Iron Works sets. The damask patterns are so detailed and lovely and would make wonderful focal images or backgrounds. I used the biggest image from Iron Works to stamp in pink on the white background paper, then used a small damask image from Cantaria to stamp a subtle background in Versamark on Hibiscus Burst cardstock. That gorgeous chandelier is also from the Cantaria set and is embossed with clear glitter powder, although the lighting did not let me get a picture of that.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Hibiscus Burst, True Black), Michaels (white)
Stamps: Prima (Cantaria, Iron Works), Papertrey Ink (Signature Greetings)
Ink: Clearsnap (black), Versamark, Martha Stewart Crafts (hibiscus)
Tools: Spellbinders (circle dies)
other: Stampendous (embossing powder), Me & My Big Ideas (rhinestones)

I added a sentiment from Signature Greetings by PTI and some rhinestones to sparkle it up a bit. The inside of the card has just a simple strip of Hibiscus Burst stamped with the small damask pattern.



That's all for me today! I'll be back with a simple Father's Day card tomorrow. Thanks for stopping in!

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge with Labels

Hi there, friends! I finally had some time to work on the latest color challenge from Embellish Magazine. Aren't these colors fresh and fun? The challenge also calls for the use of a label.


I broke out this darling little stamp set from Maya Road to stamp two rows of houses. Then I stamped two more houses on coral and yellow cardstock and adhered them with foam adhesive to pop them up. I just used a smidgen of a die-cut label to highlight the sentiment, which is from WPlus9's Funky Foliage.

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate, Lemon Tart, Berry Sorbet), Michaels (cream)
Stamps: Maya Road (houses), WPlus9 (sentiment)
Ink: Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate)
Tools: Papertrey Ink (Linen & Canvas impression plate), Spellbinders (label die)
other: Making Memories (trim), thread

The inside of the card has another row of houses--I just couldn't stop stamping those cute little things!


So glad you stopped by today! Have a lovely day!

A Krafty Father's Day

Hi there, folks! No challenge entries today, just a Father's Day card I whipped up using my new Masculine Motifs set from PTI. When this set was introduced, Nichole Heady showcased this tree image and an easy Copic technique she used to color them. I have been slowly collecting Copic markers but have been afraid to use them, so this seemed like a low-stress way to get started!

Cardstock: Bazzill (kraft), Papertrey Ink (Ripe Avocado)
Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Masculine Motifs)
Ink: Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate, Tea Dye Duo), Copic markers
Tools: Papertrey Ink (Linen & Canvas impression plate)
other: Papertrey Ink (jute twine), wood button

I used the Ripe Avocado Copic Trio available from PTI. I added a strip of Ripe Avocado cardstock below to ground the image, which was distressed a bit using the Linen & Canvas impression plate. The kraft background panel and the main image were also impressed with the Linen & Canvas plate.

Now I just need to get this in the mail so it will arrive on time!

Thanks for all the lovely comments you've been leaving--I do read each and every one and appreciate them all! Have a great day!