Curtain Call Act 71

Welcome back, friends!  Are you ready for a new Curtain Call Color Challenge?  Check out these warm and cozy hues:

I decided to stamp a background using PTI's Tea for Two and Tea for Two Additions on Rustic Cream cardstock.  I added some dotted Crumb Cake paper on the bottom of the card and a ruffled Saffron ribbon.  I love that little teapot with the wood button!

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! (Cherry Cobbler), Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream), Bazzill (Kraft)

Patterned paper:  Stampin' Up! (Neutrals DSP)

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink (Tea for Two, Tea for Two Additions)

Ink:  Stampin' Up!  (More Mustard), Clearsnap (Chianti), Papertrey Ink (Chai tea dye)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (teapot die)

Accessories:  Stampin' Up! (So Saffron ribbon), Papertrey Ink (jute twine), wood button

Here's a peek at the inside of the card:

I hope you'll stop by and see what the rest of the DT has created this week.

Jean Martin at Stampin' Scrapper
Julie Lacey at Stamps & Taxes
Laurel Seabrook at Seabrook Designs
Makiko Jones at MakInk Studio
Monika Davis at M.A.D. Stamper
Piali Biswas at Touch of Creation
Silke Ledlow at My Life



...and February Guest Designer, Laurie Willison.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great Sunday!

Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop

Hey there, friends!  I have a quick post today to share my entry into this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop, which is focusing on scallops.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's creations!

See that gorgeous patterned paper at the bottom?  That was a wonderful surprise I got in the mail last week from my sweet friend, Diane at Peaceful Lane, some sheets of PTI's Color Couture patterned paper.  Thanks again, Diane!

I cut the scalloped borders from the Raspberry Fizz patterned paper, then sanded the edges to give them some definition before layering them on the kraft card base.  For the focal point, I die cut Mat Stack 4 from white cardstock and stamped it with BB:  Tin Types.  On top of that is a Raspberry Fizz doily, cut with Doily Details, then Fillable Frames #10 cut from Aqua Mist.  The frame and sentiment (from Signature Series:  Butterfly) are heat embossed in white.

For the final touch, I colored some pearls with a Copic marker to match and adhered them to the card base.

All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, white, Bazzill (kraft)

Patterned paper:  January Color Couture download

Stamps:  Background Basics:  Tin Types, Fillable Frames #10, Signature Series:  Butterfly

Ink:  Clearsnap (Seaglass, Frost White), Copic

Tools:  Medium scallop border, Mat Stack 4, Doily Details, Fillable Frames #10 dies

Accessories:  Queen & Co. (pearls), Stampendous (embossing powder)

Thanks for stopping by today!  Enjoy the rest of the hop!



Make it Monday #3

Hello, friends!  Just popping in with a quick post tonight to share a card for PTI's Make it Monday challenge.  This week Dawn McVey challenged us to use glitter strips.  I haven't had a lot of time for challenges lately with my parents visiting and my daughter home on a school break, so I kept this pretty simple.

I love playing with different combinations of PTI's Mat Stack labels and other die cuts for a focal point, and the new Doily Details dies add another fun option.  I layered a Simply Chartreuse doily over Mat Stack 4, then added a circle stamped with a frame and sentiment from Tag-its #1.  Sweet and simple, but it's such a cheerful and bright card in person.

All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse, white

Stamps:  Tag-its #1

Ink:  Clearsnap (Moss Green)

Tools:  Mat Stack 4, Doily Details, Limitless Layers dies

Accessories:  Martha Stewart (glittering tape), Jo-Ann (clear glitter)

Thanks for visiting tonight!  Have a great one!

ColourQ #73

Hello again!  I'm back with another color challenge from the ColourQ!  What a fun inspiration photo this week:

I thought these colors would be easy-peasy, but I admit I struggled with this combo.  I had to substitute for the Brocade and Brilliant Blues, but I think I came pretty close.

I used the large butterfly die from PTI to cut 3 openings in a white cardstock panel, then backed it with the blue and Razzleberry cardstock.  I added three scored lines to the right side of the panel to add interest to the white space.  Next I die cut and stamped three butterflies with Pear Pizzazz ink using PTI's Butterfly Dreams set.  These butterflies are mounted over the larger ones with foam tape.

I adhered the main panel onto a Pear Pizzazz card base.  The sentiment, from WPlus9's Funky Foliage, was stamped in Rich Razzleberry, cut out and mounted with foam tape.

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! (Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry), Papertrey Ink (Blueberry Sky, white), Bazzill (North Sea)

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink (Butterfly Dreams), WPlus9 (Funky Foliage)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (butterfly dies), Martha Stewart (Scoring board)

That's all, folks!  The rest of the Royal Court DT made some fantastic samples this week, so be sure to visit the rest of the gals for inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Curtain Call Act 70

Hey there!  I'm so glad to be back after a few days away from my craft table.  It's time for another Curtain Call Color Challenge, and this week was truly a challenge for me!  Check it out:

My card is pretty straight forward.  I stamped Polka Dot Basics with Hawaiian Shores, Pear Pizzazz, and Tangerine Tango for the background.  For the focal panel, I used a square Nestie to cut small cardstock squares, which I stamped and heat embossed with the cake image from PTI's Tag-its #1.  I popped them up with foam adhesive then scored three lines below them and stamped a sentiment from the Mat Stack 1 Collection.

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! (Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango), Papertrey Ink (white)

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink (Polka Dot Basics, Tag-its #1, Mat Stack 1 Collection)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango), Papertrey Ink (Hawaiian Shores), Clearsnap (Frost White)

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

Accessories:  Stampendous (white embossing powder)

The Curtain Call Crew will be ready to inspire you today, so be sure to visit:

Jean Martin at Stampin' Scrapper
Julie Lacey at Stamps & Taxes
Laurel Seabrook at Seabrook Designs
Makiko Jones at MakInk Studio
Monika Davis at M.A.D. Stamper
Piali Biswas at Touch of Creation
Silke Ledlow at My Life



...and February Guest Designer, Laurie Willison.  I can't wait to see what you create this week, too!

Thanks for stopping by today, friends!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Some annoucements

Hi everyone!

Sorry I have nothing crafty to share today, just a few announcements.  First, it will be quiet on the blog for the next several days while my parents are visiting.  I had hoped to get a few more challenges done before they arrived, but you know what sometimes happens to the best intentions!  I'll try to keep up with my Reader and be around making comments, but it will be less regular for the next week.

Next, I wanted to let you know that the first anniversary of my blog is coming up at the end of March, and I have some giveaways planned leading up to it!  It has not escaped my attention that I now have over 100 dear followers, and I am thankful for each and every one of you and the support you continue to provide.

Because I am so thankful to those of you who show your support by following, my giveaways next month will be for Followers only.  That being said, Google Reader indicates that I have 148 subscribers, so there are around 40 of you that I haven't had the pleasure of "meeting".  To be eligible for a prize on my blog, you have to click the "Follow" button over in the right hand margin so that I can see your beautiful face and have a chance to visit your blog, if you have one.

Thanks again for continuing to visit, and especially for your sweet comments.  I wouldn't still be blogging if not for all of you!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

ColourQ #72

Good morning, friends!  I hope your day is off to a great start!  Today is Tuesday, which means a brand new color challenge at the ColourQ.  Our inspiration photo for this week features a cozy looking sweater that would be perfect for today's blustery weather!

I thought these colors would work perfectly for a little Valentine's Day project I had in mind.  My kids love to write in notebooks, so I bought some $1 notepads at the craft store and made holders for them.  This one was for my 3 year old son, who loves all things that go!  I realized that I have a serious lack of little boy stamps, so I'll have to be on the hunt for more.  Let me know if you can suggest any!

I started by cutting and scoring a piece of kraft cardstock to wrap around the notepad, leaving a 1 inch flap to fold over the top.  I used an adhesive-backed circle of Velcro under the flap so that it will stay closed.  

The striped cardstock at the bottom is stamped with PTI's Distressed Stripes using Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, and Tangerine Tango ink.  I cut a border with a spiral notebook punch.  The truck was stamped onto Tangerine Tango cardstock, cut out and attached with foam adhesive.  I punched some confetti hearts to put in the back of the truck!  Finally, I stamped a sentiment using Martha Stewart letters.

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! (Tangerine Tango, Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy), Papertrey Ink (white), Bazzill (kraft)

Stamps:  Sandylion (Boy Clear Stamps), Papertrey Ink (Distressed Stripes), Martha Stewart (Serif Font), Inkadinkadoo (Chelsea Alphabet)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango), Inkadinkadoo (Black), Inkssentials (white gel pen)

Tools:  EK Success (border punch), Martha Stewart (heart confetti punch, Scoring board), Marvy Uchida (medium heart punch) We R Memory Keepers (Corner Chomper)

Accessories:  Michaels (notepad, Velcro spots)

Here's what the notebook looks like when it is open.  I should mention that I removed the magnet strip from the back of the notepad, then attached it to the cardstock using super sticky tape.

The only thing I'm not happy with is that the flap doesn't lay flat on the front.  I thought my 3 year old would need to have the flap this way in order to open it easily, but when I made one for my 5 year old daughter I folded the flap under the front cover so that it looks nice and flat.  Here's a peek at how it turned out:

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst, Spring Moss, white)

Patterned paper:  Papertrey Ink (2008 Bitty Dot Basics)

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink (Baby Button Bits), Martha Stewart (Serif font), Inkadinkadoo (Chelsea alphabet)

Ink:  Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (medium scallop border die), Marvy Uchida (medium heart punch), We R Memory Keepers (Corner Chomper)

Accessories:  Diamond Dust, button, DMC floss

Make sure you click over to the ColourQ to see what the rest of the DT has created this week, and be sure to link up your project to be in the running for the Colour Queen!

Thanks for checking in with me today!  I hope your day is a great one!

Curtain Call Act 69 & Mojo Monday 177

Hello there, friends!  How is the weekend treating you?  I hope you've carved out some time in the week ahead to play along with the latest Curtain Call Color Challenge!  I paired up this week's colors with the sketch at Mojo Monday, which I turned on its side.

The photo and colors inspired me to make one more Valentine.  I saw the triangle in the sketch as the bottom of a heart and took a few liberties to adjust the rest of the sketch to my idea, but I hope you can still see it in there.  I used a spray adhesive to attach the heart doily to a hand cut Cherry Cobbler heart.

Can you believe this is the first time I've made a card with a banner?  To make it, I die cut a border with PTI's Victorian Lace die from Real Red cardstock and cut it apart into "flags".  Each section is backed with kraft cardstock stamped with text.  

I stamped two flowers from Verve's Dream Big, cut them out and layered them with over some punched leaves.  The sentiment is also from Dream Big.

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! (Cherry Cobbler, Real Red), Papertrey Ink (Vintage Cream), Bazzill (kraft)

Patterned paper:  Stampin' Up! (Neutrals DSP)

Stamps:  Verve (Dream Big), Papertrey Ink (Background Basics:  Text Style)

Ink:  Clearsnap (Chianti, Cranberry), Ranger (Antique Linen)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (Victorian Lace border die), Martha Stewart (leaf punch)

Accessories:  Royal Lace (heart doily), Papertrey Ink (jute twine), thread

The Curtain Call Crew has samples to share, too, so stop by and see:

Jean Martin at Stampin' Scrapper
Julie Lacey at Stamps & Taxes
Laurel Seabrook at Seabrook Designs
Makiko Jones at MakInk Studio
Monika Davis at M.A.D. Stamper
Piali Biswas at Touch of Creation
Silke Ledlow at My Life



...and February Guest Designer, Laurie Willison, then link up your creation using this week's colors.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great Sunday!

Papertrey Ink Tag Challenge & Totally Hues Color Challenge

Hi folks!  Just a quick post tonight to share a card I made for today's challenge for the Papertrey Ink anniversary festivities.  Nichole challenged us to make a tag using a frame.  I also used the colors of Heather P.'s first color challenge, called Totally Hues.  Check out her super sweet graphic:

I've always admired Heather's choice of colors, so I had a lot of fun working with these bright hues.  I started with a Hawaiian Shores base, die cut with Tag Sale #1.  I stamped some polka dots along the bottom and heat embossed with white powder (thinking of Heather while doing it, because she does some amazing things with embossing powder too!).

I die cut, stamped, and heat embossed Fillable Frame #10 on Hibiscus Burst cardstock and adhered the frame off the edge of the tag.  I topped it with a flower die cut with Beautiful Blooms II, a Harvest Gold button, and two leaves cut with the Dahlia small leaf die.  Phew, that's a lot of die cutting!

I never would have pulled out these colors on my own, but this made such a happy little tag that I will have fun attaching to a card or gift for someone special.  

Another fun share tonight is an award I received from super sweet Kim at Joyful Creations with Kim.  I'm so delighted that she chose to pass it along to me!

There's a fun twist to this award, which is to pass it along to bloggers from your reader who are fairly new.  I decided to take Kim's lead and choose some of my favorite blogs with less than 100 Followers.  I hope you'll check them out and leave them some love!

Nance Lempinen-Leedy at Canopy Crafts:  Not only is she an incredible stamper with a wonderful sense of design, but she is an absolute doll who always leaves me the sweetest comments.  It's the little details on her cards that set her apart, and her posts never disappoint!

Xiumayuki:  I adore her clean style, and she is one of the nicest gals I've "met" in blog-land!  She's been away from the blog for a few weeks but indicated she'll be back at the end of the month.  I, for one, am anxiously awaiting her newest creations!

Kara at K and R Designs:  I just discovered her blog recently and have been thoroughly impressed with her simple elegance.  She has some really lovely creations!

That's all I have time to share at the moment!  Ladies, enjoy your award!  And thanks again to Kim for passing it on to me!

Thanks for stopping by tonight!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned!

CR84FN14, WMSC #33, and PTI Button Challenge

Welcome back, friends!  I have a fun card to share with you tonight.  Have you been following along with the festivities over at Papertrey Ink?  Well, today's challenge is to use buttons in a unique way.  I immediately thought of this week's Waltzingmouse sketch challenge and the color combo at CR84FN.  Here's the inspiration:

Can I just tell you how much I enjoyed dumping out my buttons and picking through them to find the right ones?  They're just so much fun to look at.  This card actually came together fairly quickly.  First I cut a rectangular window in a piece of scrap paper to use as a mask.  I placed it onto Rustic Cream cardstock with removable adhesive, then stamped the Tin Types background onto the cardstock with Dark Chocolate ink.  

Next I took buttons from my stash and arranged them around the outside of the stamped area to make a frame.  You could adhere them with glue dots, but I prefer the look of stitched buttons, so I took a paper piercer and carefully pierced through each of the button holes.  Then I moved the buttons off of the cardstock, keeping them arranged in the same order so I would know where each one should be stitched.

Once the piercing was done, it was super easy to stitch on the buttons with coordinating floss.  I just used a long strand and did all of the bright pink at once, then the light pink, then the chocolate.

To finish off the card, I mounted the panel with foam adhesive onto a Sweet Blush card base and added a die cut teapot and label.  This little card makes me kind of giddy with all those darling buttons, and I feel good about clearing some out of my hoard collection.

All supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Rustic Cream, Sweet Blush

Stamps:  Tea for Two, Background Basics:  Tin Types

Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Chai tea dye

Tools:  Teapot die, Label die, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Accessories:  Dark Chocolate buttons, pink buttons (my stash), DMC floss, foam adhesive

So glad you dropped by tonight!  I hope you have a happy Friday!

Papertrey Ink Color Challenge-Melissa's colors

I'm back with my last submission to the Papertrey Ink Color Challenge.  My mojo was definitely waning by the time I got to card #4, so I'll have to file the other color combos for future inspiration!  This last card uses Melissa Bickford's favorite combo, shown below.  I also used the current sketch from Clean & Simple.

I started with a Sweet Blush card base and stitched on a Bitty Dot Ripe Avocado panel.  I layered Spring Moss cardstock and looped ribbon on top.  The doily is a Martha Stewart tag, which I topped with a layered Hibiscus Burst flower cut with the Beautiful Blooms dies.  The sentiment (from Tea for Two Additions) was stamped in white ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.

All supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Sweet Blush, Spring Moss, Hibiscus Burst

Patterned paper:  2008 Bitty Dot Basics

Stamp:  Tea for Two Additions

Ink:  Frost White (Clearsnap)

Tools:  Beautiful Blooms dies

Accessories:  Spring Moss ribbon, Sweet Blush button, doily tag (Martha Stewart), embossing powder (Stampendous), DMC floss, thread, foam adhesive

Thanks so much for hanging in there through all of these posts tonight!  Good luck to everyone else playing for a chance to win!

Papertrey Ink Color Challenge-Lisa's colors

Back again!  Are you still with me?  This is my third card for PTI's Color Challenge.  This card uses Lisa Johnson's color combo shown below.

I started with a kraft card base, then added a scalloped border and Spring Rain dotty ribbon.  I cut a Vintage Cream panel, rounded one corner, and debossed it with the Book Print impression plate.  The flowers were cut with the Beautiful Blooms dies from Pure Poppy felt and topped with a Vintage Cream button.  The sentiment is from Signature Greetings.

All supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Vintage Cream, Spring Rain, kraft (Bazzill)

Stamp:  Signature Greetings

Ink:  Cranberry (Clearsnap)

Tools:  Beautiful Blooms dies, Medium Scallop border die, Book Print impression plate, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Accessories:  Pure Poppy felt, Spring Rain ribbon, Vintage Cream Button, pearls (Queen & Co.), DMC floss, thread

One more to go!  I hope you'll come back to check it out!

Papertrey Ink Color Challenge-Maile's colors

Hi folks!  I'm back with my second entry into PTI's Color Challenge, this time using Maile's favorite color combo shown below.  I rarely use either Lavender Moon or Harvest Gold, but I am loving this combination!

I started with a kraft card base and rounded a bottom corner.  I debossed a strip at the bottom of the card with the Polka Dots impression plate.  With Mat Stack 3, I cut a label from Lavender Moon cardstock and stamped one of the coordinating frames in Versamark ink.  I added a Fine Linen butterfly stamped with text from BB:  Text Style, then a Harvest Gold butterfly and button.  The sentiment is from the Mat Stack 3 collection, and the rhinestones were colored with a Copic marker to match.

All supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Lavender Moon, Harvest Gold, Fine Linen, kraft (Bazzill)

Stamps:  Mat Stack 3 Collection, Background Basics:  Text Style

Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Versamark, Copic marker

Tools:  Mat Stack 3 die, butterfly dies, Polka Dots impression plate, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Accessories:  Fine Linen ribbon, Harvest Gold button, DMC floss, rhinestones (Me & My Big Ideas)

Thanks for checking in again!  I'll be back in a bit with card #3!

Papertrey Ink Color Challenge-Erin's colors

Hello, friends!  Today's challenge over at Nichole Heady's blog is to use one or more of the DT's favorite color combos to create a project.  If you know me, you know I love a color challenge so I had to try as many of these as I could.  I managed to finish four of them, so bear with me over the next few posts as I share them!

My first card uses Erin Lincoln's color combo shown below.  Love her card!  I used it to make a get well card for my FIL, who just had a hip replacement and is recovering.

I used Mat Stack 5 to cut a label from Vintage Cream cardstock and stamped the trees from Masculine Motifs.  I used Ocean Tides and Ripe Avocado ink to sponge color onto the label.  The sentiment is from Healing Touch Sentiments.  I used my all-time favorite PTI tool, the Woodgrain impression plate, on the Dark Chocolate panel.

All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides

Stamps:  Masculine Motifs, Healing Touch Sentiments

Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides, Ripe Avocado

Tools:  Mat Stack 5 die, Woodgrain impression plate

Accessories:  Ripe Avocado buttons, foam adhesive (craft supply)

I'll be back shortly with card #2!  Thanks for visiting!