Just Thinking of You

I was super inspired to play along with the Papertrey Ink - Make It Monday Series.  I went in my craft room to start and needed to clean a few things off my desk.  In doing so, I realized that I hadn't added Pinefeather to my color book.  As I was adding the color, it struck me how BEAUTIFUL Pinefeather and Aqua Mist were together.  So, this was the result . . .

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink unless noted:
Stamps: Mat Stack 3 Collection
Paper: Aqua Mist, Stamper Select White
Ink: Ocean Tides
Other: Pinefeather Felt, Beautiful Blooms Die, Doodlebug Sugar Coating Glitter, Scor-Tape, Picnic Plain Embossing Plate, Aqua Mist Button, White DMC Floss

I have been wanting to try the Betsy folded flower for so long.  I finally did.  Boy, that thing was SUPER hard to sew together.  But, the results are stunning in real life.  Thanks for stopping by to see my latest creation.

Love's Fairy Tale

I am sharing a sweet card that is special to me.  My brother-in-law is getting married in March, and I have been racking my brain for the "perfect" card for them.  I found it!!!  I cannot imagine that either one of them reads my blog so I should be safe.  :)

I started off making another Go-To Sentiment card for PTI's Make It Monday.  It just grew into the perfect love/wedding card for two people I love.  So FUN!

I searched my entire stash to come up with this one.  I am over the moon for this technique and love finding sentiments to coordinate together like this.  I kept the colors a very neutral wedding color (and I think they are having a very "black and white" affair for their wedding).  I loved the main sentiment from the time I laid my eyes on it.  Isn't that just the sweetest.  "Love gives us a fairytale."  Love.

Thanks for looking.  I am sure I will have lots more this week with all the PTI inspiration coming from the Anniversary celebration.

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink Unless notes:
Stamps:  2011 Anniversary Tag Stamps, Big & Bold Wishes, Enjoy the Ride, Love Tags 2010, Fillable Frames, Mat Stack 3 Collection, Borders and Corners Monogram, Everyday Button Bits; Mr and Mrs (); Happy Couple, Congrats to the Bride & Groom (SillyLeAnn 1.0); Now and Forever, Ring, I Do (Hampton Arts)
Ink: True Black
Paper: Smokey Shadow, True Black, Stampers Select
Other: 1.75 Circle Punch (EK Success); Limitless Labels Die; Crystals (My Paper Studio)

Holy Lots of Cards, Batman

I am a card making machine!  I have LOVED it!  I have had all sorts of life issues and priorities pop up the past few months.  I was talking to my husband about how spending time in my little card room makes me so happy and brings me such joy.  He is my biggest fan.  Weird, but so cool.  He encourages me to keep going, keep trying, and keep creating.  We decided that I should prioritize some time here and there to be able to do what it is that I love so much.  Obviously, I cannot spend every waking moment making cards (darn it!), but I should find time regularly to refresh.  Isn't he the best?  I mean there is a balance, but I am blessed for a husband that cares about the things I care about.  He will even try and offer compliments and critiques when I show him what I have been up to.  It is so funny to get his perspective.  Anyway . . . back to all these cards I have been making!

I made a very fun card to share today inspired by PTI's Make It Monday's series.  Because the prize is $250  in the PTI store, I may make like 100 or 200 of these just for the chance to win.  That is a lot of great goodies and well worth the time I put in.  :)  We were challenged by Erin Lincoln to make a Go-To Sentiment card.  I was thinking in my sleep last night (do you do this?) and thought about something I wanted to try.  So, here were the results.

I was reading through a fellow PTI'er blog, Sara Mac who blogs at The Unhurried Life.  She used a technique she picked up from Dawn McVey.  I loved the concept and have wanted to try it.  The idea is the heat emboss on Vintage cream.  The results are stunning in real life; I so wish the camera would pick up these details for me.  The technique just fit perfectly for this challenge.  Yeah!

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink unless noted:
Stamps: Big & Bold Wishes, Round & Round, Signature Greetings, Fillable Frames, Through the Trees, Mega Mixed Messages, Butterfly Dreams
Ink: Ocean Tides, VersaMark
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides
Other: Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger); Butterfly Dreams Die; Corner Rounder (Marvy Uchida)

You're the Best!

I am super excited to be playing along with all of the Papertrey Ink's 4th Anniversary Celebration activities.  It is not short on fun, inspiration, and A-MAZ-ING prizes!  It is so kind of PTI and gang to offer free downloadable stamps for us to play with.  I usually don't play with a set of stamps so quick, but the prize of working with Nicole is too good to pass up.  I mean I don't know what I would say to her to help design a set.  It would just be a stick figure of me - wetting my pants - because that is probably what I would do if I won.  I mean where do you even begin in designing a set of stamps.  I never know what I want until I see some fabulous stamps from PTI and THEN the lightbulb goes on.  So, if I win, look out!

I choose to play with this cutie by Tiffany Pastor.  It was the first one to speak to me, so I went with it.  It seemed so "beachy" to me, but I couldn't find my inner beach bum with all this snow around me.  Hmm, maybe that is what all the black clouds are about.  Shrug.  But I still like it.  :)

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink unless noted
Stamps: 2011 Anniversary Tags, Mat Stack 3 Collection, Up Up and Away, Mat Stack 1 Collection
Ink: True Black, Fresh Snow
Paper: Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf, Stampers Select White
Other: Mat Stack 3 Die; 1.75 inch Circle Punch (EK Success); Copics; Edgers #1 Die; Black Grosgrain Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Thanks for looking and wish me luck!!!

Happy Anniversary

There are lots of anniversary celebrations going on.  Most of you know that Papertrey Ink is in the middle of their 4th Anniversary celebration.  But, did you know that my husband has a dear, sweet aunt that celebrated her 50th Anniversary?  No.  That's ok.  Let me tell you then.  My husband's aunt Liz and her husband did celebrate their 50th Anniversary with a surprise party with many close family and friends.  It was a great night to celebrate a sweet person.  This is the card that I made for them.

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink unless noted:
Stamps: Turning a New Leaf, Fillable Frames
Ink: Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold (look-a-like ink from Michaels $1 bin)
Paper: Stampers Select, Harvest Gold
Other: Flower Punch (EK Success); Jewels (Hobby Lobby)

Thanks for looking.  Today would mark THE very first time I have ever made a one layer card that I liked.  :)  I was super happy because I wanted something simple yet pack a punch.  Not many 50th Anniversaries come around that much, ya know.

Favorite Papertrey Ink Card

Papertrey Ink is having their Anniversary Celebration. Nicole challenged us to pick out our favorite card from this past year. This was HARD! I narrowed it down to about 5 cards before I made the tough choice.

I would like to introduce to you my personal favorite.

I love this card for so many reasons. First, I am in love with Summer Sunrise, the color. I cannot seem to get enough of it. This card also came together so easily. I had the vision for it, and it just worked. I don't know about you but that doesn't happen to me a lot. I get all excited when it does. Last, I am a sucker for bright fall colors. This certainly fits the bill for bright and fall.

Thanks for looking at my favorite. I am so looking forward to seeing everyone elses.

Happy Birthday

Things are beginning to somewhat, in some way, resemble normal.  I will hold on to the small pieces of normality in light of the past 2 weeks.  I have a quick share today and an update on my personal life.  I think I must be feeling "blue" lately.  :)  Thanks for looking!

All Supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted:
Stamps: Inside and Out Birthday, Background Basics: Tin Types; Beautiful Blooms II
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Spring Rain
Paper: Vintage Cream, Spring Rain
Other: Mat Stack 1 Die; Beautiful Blooms II Die: Spring Rain Button; Spring Rain Satin Ribbon

Update on our house:  We are still in the planning phase, but to be truthful, things are going a lot easier than I had originally anticipated.  My stress levels have come down about it, and we feel really good about the progress we have made to this point.  I am so hopeful that things are going to remain "easy" and progress will be quick.

Days and Days and Days

It has been days!!!  Days!!!  DAYS!!!!  Yes, it has been days since I left my house.  If you haven't heard, my kids and I all came down with the flu last week.  YUCK!!!  As we were somewhat coming out of the flu coma we were in, the blizzard hit.  DAYS!!!  :)  Despite the weather, my mood, and how I felt, I of course still found a little crafty time.  That is just how I roll!

I have a really fun (and deceptively easy) card to share today.  I was trying for a little bit more mature card.  So, although a stretch creatively, I was super happy with the results.  I stamped the flower directly on the pattern paper.  Then, I took my copics and added just a slight shadow on the petals to give it some dimension.  Easy-peasy!  I will definitely revisit this idea again.  The tone on tone effect is beautiful and a whole lot easier.

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink unless noted:
Stamps: Psalm (Verve Stamps); In Bloom
Paper: Bitty Dots, Vintage Cream
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Spring Rain
Other:  Ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Jewels (Hobby Lobby); Spiral Notebook Die; Copics

Thanks for looking!  I hope you have a WARM and safe day!