Scallops & Glitter

Today's card covers two bases, PTI's monthly blog hop and Make It Monday #3.  Our challlenge for the blog hop is to use scallops and the Make It Monday challenge is to use a straight line glitter strip using scor-tape.  For the scallops, I cut the bottom front of my white card base 1/2 " shorter and adhered a scallop strip of Aqua Mist cardstock to line up with the card back.  I paper pieced 5 cute little baby images in colors of lemon tart and hawaiian shores.  Each image was popped up twice so it has some great dimension.  I embellished the images with some felt, twine, buttons and a few rhinestones.  These images fit absolutely perfectly into the scallops made by PTI's large scallop die.  I stamped Polka Dot Basics #1 onto the white cardstock after I masked off the image from Fillable Frames #4.  I cut a little Spellbinder tag and stamped the sentiment on it in true black ink.  A few lemon tart buttons and some more rhinestones embellish the tag.  To fulfill the Make It Monday challenge, I added a strip of hawaiian shores felt and ran a strip of score-tape over it.  Prisma Glitter adds a wonderful sparkly touch to this sweet little baby card.

Stamps:  Night, Night Moon, Polka Dot Basics #1, Fillable Frame #4, Technique Tuesday Cute as a Button
Ink:  Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, True Black
Accessories:  Felt, Score-Tape, prisma glitter, rhinestones, buttons, ric-rack die, large scallop die, twine

Inspired by Laurie Sympathy Card

Today I spent about an hour in blog inspiration heaven as I scrolled through about two months of Laurie's blog posts.  I have seen a card or two of Laurie's before, but today was the first day I really examined a ton of her beautiful cards.  I admit I copied and pasted quite a few for future reference, but today I did need to make a sympathy card and Laurie's card here was the inspiration:  http://soapboxcreations.blogspot.com/2011/01/cr84fn9.html
Here is my take on the card, slightly different, but still very recognizable as Laurie's original idea.  Thank you Laurie! 

The base card is Vintage Cream impressed with the Linen Impression plate.  I used my new Parisian doily die with Hibiscus Burst cardstock.  Those doilies are gorgeous.  I can not believe how beautiful they are in something other than "white".  I didn't even mind punching out the little pieces, only took about a minute.   I used Larger than Life on Mat Stack #4, impressed with the Woodgrain impression plate.  The sentiment is from Birds of a Feather.   I didn't have Spring Moss ribbon, so I substituted Simply Chartreuse instead.  After I got a good look at the picture, I trimmed the tails of the bow just a bit.  I think it was just a little too long for this card.   I need to order up some more ribbon colors to go along with the beautiful doilies I plan to be making.  Get ready to see a lot of "Inspired by Laurie" cards coming in the near future.  She is truly an inspiration to me.

Handmade with Heart



Today I made a card using my new Love Lives Here stamp set and the coordinating dies. I also wanted to use some of the other things I just got in my most recent PTI order. This card is so unlike my normal style. I almost never use patterned paper or lace. This stamp set just seems to bring all things lacey and frilly to mind, so I brought out some things that in reality truly aren't me. The patterned papers I have had for some time now, always thought were pretty, but have rarely used. They are from Prima, the Sasha Paper collection and go really nicely with Ocean Tides cardstock which I used for my base card. I did a little zig-zag stitching and stamped a spiral notebook page with Background Basics Sheet Music and wrapped a little pink rick rack around it. The sentiment is stamped on a punched tag and the flowers were cut from a little sprig I have had in my craft room since I made my first wedding book project two years ago. My daughter saw the card after it was done and actually asked if she could give it to one of her friends. The inside sentiment says, Friends...are the joy of life. I love that saying from Flutterby Friend. I use is often. Thanks for taking a look at Cathy...out of her comfort zone.

Papertrey Posse February Challenge & Make It Monday #2

I have to admit, I set out today to complete one card for two challenges.  Papertrey Posse and Papertrey Ink Make-It Monday #2.  I was so excited a few days ago when I was asked if I would like to join the Papertrey Posse blog group.  I have been wanting to join a blog group for a while now and was so happy to have been asked to join this particular group.  I already knew and admired several of its' members and am so looking forward to getting to know the members I don't know and to participate in their challenges.  The challenge today was by the February Hostess, Maggie.  The details of this challenge can be found here:  http://papertreyposse.blogspot.com/2011/02/papertrey-posse-february-challenge.html  Maggie challenged us to make a card using some of our favorite things.  One of my very favorite things to do is, Clean and Simple cards, white embossing and using a magazine picture as inspiration.  I was able to do all three with this one card.  I found this beautiful bedroom picture in a Better Homes & Gardens Magazine.

                                                                              

I loved the colors, so bright and cheerful.  Who wouldn't love that bedroom, I know I would!  I loved the white flowers and also the green flowers mixed together on the blue background.  The polka dot pillow also stood out for me.  Here is  my card: 

To create the look and feel of this bedroom for my card, I used Hawaiian Shores cardstock embossed with Larger than Life stamps in white embossing  powder.  I used some Simply Chartreuse ink to add a few green flowers.  The white strip stamped with Polka Dot Basics 1 in Simply Chartreuse ink represents the sweet pillowcase I love so much.  Lastly, since I still needed a card to enter the last day of the PapertreyInk Make it Monday #2 challenge, I just had to add a vellum sentiment strip over the polka dot strip.  Just a tip:  To adhere the vellum, I sprayed the back of the vellum with Scotch Adhesive spray.  As long as you get it right the first time and don't have to reposition it, the spray adhesive is totally clear.  It doesn't show through the vellum at all.

I would like to thank all the members of the Papertrey Posse for inviting me into their group and I look forward to the monthly challenges as well as the friendship of so many wonderful crafty women.

Personal Milestone Giveaway

Edited to post the winner:  Debbie Gaydos.  Congratulations Debbie.  As soon as you pm me your email, I will get the certificate out to you.  Thank you to everyone who participated.

Today I passed two personal milestones.  I just got the 31st follower of my blog on my 31st wedding anniversary.  I know, the most romantic day of the year to get married, Ground Hogs Day.  I was also a finalist in a sketch challenge.  I got in the Top Six for the CPS 99 challenge.  http://cardpatterns.blogspot.com/2011/01/sketch-99-super-6.html
Actually, another PTI fan, Kristii was the winner!  Congrats Kristii.
To celebrate, I am going to give away a $25 PTI gift certificate.  To qualify for this giveaway, just:
1) Check out my blog.
2) Become a Follower of my Blog, if you already are, just let me know.
3) Try to leave a comment once in a while on a card that I share on my blog.  That's it.

I will draw a random winner on Feb. 14, just in time for the PTI February release.  I know everyone could use an extra $25 on release night.
Thanks for sharing my excitement!

Frame within a Tag

Todays challenge for the Papertreyink Anniversary is to create a tag with a frame incorporated into the design.  I made a tag to go along with the cupcake card I made a few days ago.  Here is the tag and the card that inspired it. 

I tried to do a miniturized version of the cupcake.  I used the same paper and used stickles in place of the hot pink pom-poms.  I cut a frame using Spellbinder dies and glittered it up after I ran it through my Xyron.  The tag itself is cut from Mat Stack #4 embossed with a cuttlebug folder.  It is difficult to see in the picture, the the little circle behind the cupcake is cut from Sweet Blush and is stamped with the script from Background Basics Hearts.  Even the little cupcake top is embossed with a swirl.  I plan to tie this onto the present I am giving my little niece tomorrow.  It should take a 2 year old about 10 seconds to rip up my two hours of work!

Valentine Friendship Swap Gift Package

This afternoon I got a wonderful surprise delivered to me.  It was a beautiful gift box created by Barbara DeBose (kssunflower_mom ).  She made a beautiful set of gifts for me that I would love to show you.  First, this is what I saw as I opened the box:

Very intriguing...

On the top was a beautiful card:

It is so pretty and my picture does not do the shiny gold paper the justice it deserves.

This is what I found when I removed all of the packing material:

A gorgeous hand-made box filled with York Peppermint Patties, one of my favorites.  The box matches the card so perfectly and the lid is embossed.  It is a large box, about 4" x 8" and just perfect.  She also gave me another hand-made little carrier with the best smelling cherry lotion and liquid soap.  They smell wonderful. 

Here is another look at this beautiful gift set:

I would like to thank Barbara for going above and beyond on this swap.  I love every single element of the gift and I will be sweet-smelling and several pounds heavier because of it.  Thanks again.  You can check out Barbara's blog here:   http://createdbybd.blogspot.com/

Make It Monday Personal Best

To say I embraced the first Make It Monday challenge would be an understatement.

It is not often that I can honestly say "I did my best, I tried my hardest or this is the best I can do."

For this challenge, this truly is my best.  At least at this point in time.

I normally just start stamping.  Not much thought or preparation.  This time I thought and thought some more.  I practice stamped, changed color schemes, laid out ribbon and twine without cutting it and changed die sizes and shapes a lot.  I really tried to compose the best photo I could,  given the camera and lighting that I have.  I tried to think like a designer, not just a person who likes to make cards.

Here is my final effort:  A card, gift bag and tag set

A close-up of the card:

The tag:

The gift bag:

I used lots of PTI stamps, papers, ink and ribbon.  I also used a PTI Click Simple Shaped card for the cute little elephant.  There are banners, twine, ribbon, and flourishes.  Yes, flourishes.  I have never used my PTI flourishes.  I love the look of them when others use them on their cards, but never have the guts to include them in my projects.  This was my "out of my comfort zone ingredient" on this card.  Two simple flourishes.  Guess that proves I am a CAS style stamper, doesn't it.  For a flourish to be my "outside of the box" ingredient!  LOL.

The funniest thing about this project, I don't even know anyone who is pregnant, much less with a boy!  I am going to have to save this and hope that one of these days, the right occasion will present itself.

Thank you so much for taking a look at my personal best.

Nichole's Tag



Step away from the craft room.  That is what my husband just told me.  So, I will.  This is really the last thing I am going to make today.  Quick tag using Nichole's tag, polka dot embossing folder, Martha Stewart tag and a Limitless Layer die cut.  Very fast and not too much thought to it, but I am pretty sure I will be able to tie it onto a future birthday gift. 

Dawn McVey Tag



One last card today using Dawn McVey's free tag download.  For some reason I can't quit using butterflies on my cards lately.  This card was going to be nothing but the tag and the Victorian Lace border.  At the last minute, I cut a couple of butterflies, one in felt, one in distressed dots paper and one in Summer Sunrise paper and added a few rhinestones and glued it onto the card.  It's funny, because I have never liked butterflies before...must be the felt and the patterned paper combination.  I really like it.  Dawn's tag is a great freebie as any sentiment can be added to it and you have an instant focal point.  Love it.  That's it for today, its Super Bowl time here in CA. 

Maile Belles Tag



This is a very quick card today made with a free tag download from PTI.  Maile Belles is designing stamps now and for the PTI Anniversary celebration today, we were given a free download of tags by all of the PTI stamp designers.  I chose Maile's tag to create a little card that can be given for just about any occasion.  I colored the little pinwheels with copics, used Mat Stack #3 and paper pieced a polka dot background using distressed dots paper.  Some patterned paper called Happy Day by Chatterbox is bright and cheery.  I used a Martha Stewart tag and some rhinestones to bling it up a bit.  That's it for this card, on to the next.

Sweet Cupcake for Hayley



My little niece who is the sweetest thing I know turns 2 the day after Valentines Day.  I knew immediately that I wanted to make her a cute cupcake card.  I used the same svg file as I did for my last blog hop card made by Maria Bell.  Here is her link: http://stampininspirations.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-cs-new-relese-cc-design-stamps.html
 This time, I cut the card base from Hibiscus Burst cardstock.  The cupcake base is Bitty Box Basics paper scored with my score-bug from the underneath to imitate the fluted edges of a cupcake wrapper.  The frosting was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and sprinkled with some rhinestones.  I used some cute pom poms to line the rim of the frosting.  I cut a couple of leaves from felt and used a PTI Raspberry Fizz button for the cherry on top.  The number 2 was cut using the Century font and SCAL.  I really love the inside too:

I loved using Background Basics Tin Type for the cupcake liner on the inside.  I used a little prisma glitter for a bit of sparkle.  The sentiment is from Big Birthday Wishes.  There were so many wonderful sentiments to choose from with this set.  Perfect for the inside or outside of birthday cards.  I can't wait to give this to her next week.  She won't get it yet, but her mom is the only relative I have that loves crafting.  I know she will love it.

HEC #14 & Mojo Monday 176

It is with the greatest of respect that I am posting this card today for Ted's HEC #14 challenge.  I would never have made this card, were it not for the respect I feel for Ted and his challenges.  For this challenge which you can read about here: http://www.happilyevercrafter.com/2011/02/happily-ever-challenged-14-tribute-to.html

we were to make a valentine card which was very easy for me.  I used Mojo Monday  as the design for the card.  Read about Mojo Monday 176  here: 

http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2011/01/mojo-monday-176.html 

I was very happy with my card right up until the point where I had to fulfill the most difficult part of Ted's challenge, to use my own handwriting on both the INSIDE and OUTSIDE of the card.  I hate my own handwriting.  That is why I love stamps and use the PTI Inside/Out series of stamps so often.  As I said, I loved my card right until I wrote two little tiny words directly onto the card.  Awful, Awful, Awful.  Wrong look, wrong scale, everything wrong.  Almost threw the card in the trash.  After making Ted's ears burn with several choice words, I just cut a little banner, wrote a different set of words onto the banner in white and glued it right over the even worse original words.  Ted, I am sure St. Valentine, who was about to be executed would have been happy with this card, but I am not.  I will give it to my daughter who won't even tell the difference.