No Sunshine When You're Gone

It's my "Blog-o-versary" today!  One year ago today I created my first blog post!  Thanks for dropping by and leaving comments whenever you do!


There was a time when I didn't own Scattered Showers or Scattered Showers Additions.  Then, one day I decided I had lived long enough without either of them, and ordered them.  Boy, am I glad I did.  I love this set designed by Dawn McVey.  I also love Summer Sunrise with Enchanted Evening.

Supplies: (all Papertrey Ink unless noted) 
Paper:  Stampers Select White, Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise
Ink:  Smokey Shadow, Summer Sunrise, Enchanted Evening, and some light blue I had before I discovered Spring Rain (why did THAT take so long?), Versarmark
Ribbon: Enchanted Evening Twill
Other:  clear embossing powder

Give You a Lift

I love PTI's Everyday Button Bits!  It's a wonderful set that is so versatile, has great images, sentiments and fonts. Since PTI began this series in July 2009, they've released 3 other button bit stamps: Holiday Button Bits, Blooming Button Bits and Baby Button Bits.  I'm hoping for more, but I don't know what else they could do.  

Supplies: (all Papertrey Ink unless noted otherwise)
Stamps:  Every Day Button Bits
Paper:  Stampers Select White, Hibiscus Burst
Ink:  Hibiscus Burst, Ripe Avocado, Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise
Buttons: Enchanted Evening, some pink buttons that aren't PTI
Ribbon: Hibiscus Burst Satin
Other: Fiskars Border Punch, random pearls colored with black markers

Butterfly Happy Birthday

I knew the moment I saw the sneak peek for Butterfly Dreams that I had to have it.  I love butterflies, and the designs that Niki Estes created are fabulous!

I tried the emboss resist technique with not much success, but I still like how the card turned out.  Is there a better color than Spring Moss?  Maybe Spring Rain, or Summer Sunrise, or Ripe Avocado, or OH - Enchanted Evening?  You get the picture!

I need a photography lesson too!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: (all Papertrey Ink unless noted)

Paper: Vintage Cream and random kraft

Ink:  Tea Dye Duo, Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss

Stamps: Turning a New Leaf, Background Basics: Tin Type, Butterfly Dreams

Ribbon: Spring Moss Twill Tape

Other: Aquacolor pencils, dove blender pen, embossing powder, corner rounder, PTI's Fillable Frames #1 Diecut

Poppy Seed Challenge #1 (2nd post for today!)

Lisa Johnson has created her first in a series of challenges on her blog.  You can see the requirements above and full details here.  I love challenges and Lisa has made this one an easy one with just 3 requirements.  That left it open to all sorts of things!  Here's my card for it:

Supplies: (all Papertrey Ink unless noted)

Cardstock:  Stampers Select white, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss

Patterened Paper: Bitty Dot Basics in Spring Moss

Ink:  Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, Versamark

Stamps: Wishing You, Scattered Shower Additions
PTI's medium scallop die

Not PTI:  clear embossing powder from, rhinestones, Sakura Stardust pen

Fill This Day With Joy!

I made this card for a friend who agreed to be a long-term substitute for another friend recovering from hip replacement.  I thought she would need an little motivation to come out of retirement into a class of 11-year olds!

Supplies:
Paper:  kraft cardstock, Stampers Select White (PTI), Green Tea Leaves patterned paper (PTI)
Stamps:  Background Basics: Text Style, Every Day Button Bits - sentiment (both PTI)
Ink:  Fresh Snow, Tea Dye Duo (both PTI)
Other:  pearls, white gel pen

PTI February Blog Hop!

 

It's time for Papertrey Ink's February Blog Hop.  This month Nichole writes: "Since we just finished up our 3rd Anniversary Festivities, we thought we would do something extra special for this month's Blog Hop!  Design Team Appreciation Day!  Your challenge is to go through the Design Team gallery or any of the Design Team Members' blogs and find a project that is especially inspirational to you!  Then recreate the project with your own spin, making it unique! "

I have two cards for this challenge.  The first is from Lisa Johnson who used her scraps to make the card you see on the left.  You can see her post here.  I've made half a dozen of these cards.  For one, I used the exact colors that Lisa used and then I changed it up a bit.  You can see one of the color changes on the right.  I also combined Hibiscus Burst, Spring Moss and Spring Rain on a set of cards I made for a friend's birthday.  I love Lisa's Flower Garden set.  Love.  It's one of the first PTI sets I bought.

 

 My second card also uses Flower Garden.  I loved Nichole's use of Butterfly Dreams and how she overlapped the butterflies and colored them in with her markers.  Here's her post for it and knew I wanted to try something like it.  My result is on the right.  I used Aquacolor pencils and a blender pen.

Thanks for looking!

Hero Arts Cards

This month's theme at the Hero Club Blog is "Flowers and St. Patricks Day."  It's been so long since I participated in a challenge, that I almost forgot how.  On a recent trip to Archivers, I killed my gift card from Christmas and bought 3 Hero Arts Stamps, among other things.  I got, "Stamp Garden", "Oceans of Joy", and "Monster Fun."  LOVE them all.

I submitted two cards this weekend.  The first is for a friend recovering from surgery.

Supplies:

Hero Arts- "Monster Fun" and "Striped Scallop"

PTI - Hibiscus cardstock, stampers select cardstock, New Leaf cardstock, Hibiscus satin ribbon, Hibiscus ink

Other: gel pens, rhinestones, flowers, EK Success border punch

Here is the second card.  I wanted to color, so I did. My son was sitting beside me stamping dinosaurs while I colored.

Supplies:

Hero Arts: Scallop Borders, Everyday Sayings

PTI: Flower Garden, Lemon Tart cardstock, stampers select cardstock, smokey shadow ink, new leaf ink

Other: Aquacolor pencils, dove blending pen, stickles, rhinestones

Thanks for looking!

PTI and CPS

Papertrey Ink is celebrating its 3rd Anniversary with a big party!  They've paired up up with this week's challenge at CPS!  It's been awhile since I've participated in a CPS challenge, so I was glad to visit them again.  Don't know why it took me so long?

Here is this week's sketch:

And here is my card:

Supplies:

Paper: Lemon Tart (PTI), unknown pink cardstock, patterned paper is My Mind's Eye 

Stamps: Blooming Button Bits, Birthday Basics (PTI)

Buttons: Hibiscus Burst (PTI)

Ribbon: Making Memories
Spellbinders Scalloped Circle Nestabilities

PTI Anniversary - Day 8

Nichole Heady is celebrating Year 3 of PTI.  Her challenge today was to use a sketch and a specific color palette to create a card. Here are the sketch and color palette:

And here is my card:

 

In retrospect, I probably should have moved the ribbon and flowers down a little, but I'm happy to work with a different color scheme.  This is definitely out of my box!

PTI Anniversay Celebration Day 5

N

Nichole's challenge was to use the emboss resist technique! Here's my submission! The main stamp is Damask Designs. The background is the text from Background Basic Hearts. Thanks for looking!

PTI Anniversary - Day 2!

Nichole Heady is celebrating Papertrey Ink's 3rd Anniversary this month with a big party. Today is Day 2 and her challenge was to use a digital stamp designed by one of the team members in a birthday card. The stamp I am using is from Beth Silaika.

Supplies:
Paper: New Leaf, Hibisucus Burst, Vintage Cream (all PTI)
Ribbon: Hibiscus Burst (PTI)
Punch: EK Success
Gel pens, pop dots, rhinestone, stickles

January Card Chain Challenge

January Card Chain Challenge sponsored by Deborah. Click here to see the challenge!
I made this card for my pen pal, Lynda in New York. I cut out the heart and put little pearls all around it. Behind the heart, I placed a piece of white cardstock embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. I stamped the bottom with Text Style I (PTI) and added a ribbon. The inside sentiment, "Heartfelt Wishes", is stamped inside from a Hero Arts Set, "All Occasion Messages."

November PTI Blog Hop

The challenge this month says:

"The holidays are going to be here before you know it! No matter how much planning you do, there always seems to be last minute gifts and wrapping to do! This month's Blog Hop Challenge is to create a quick & inexpensive wrap or tag that can be the perfect solution for "grab & go" gifts! We can't wait to see what you create!!!"

Supplies:
-Pre-made tags
-Life Stamp Set (PTI)
-Polka Dot Basics Stamp Set (PTI)
-New Leaf Ink (PTI)
-Pure Poppy Ink (PTI)
-Pure Poppy twill ribbon (PTI)
-Diamond Stickles (on one tag)
-Glue pen and Hero Arts Prisma Glitter (on the other)
(wanted to see the difference)

Quick and Easy

I'm a little short on Christmas stamps, so I borrowed this set from Tanna. We are working on making some projects to sell to our faculty. Just wondering if we can get our feet wet, quit teaching, and scrapbook for a living. The Magic 8 Ball says, "All signs point to doubtful," but we'll try. I guess I should purchase at least one Christmas stamp set, but I don't intend to make my own Christmas cards, so I can't justify the purchase.

Supplies:
-Imaginisce Snag 'em Stamps - "Believe"
-Pure Poppy cardstock (PTI)
-Tag
-Versamark ink
-Zing white embossing powder
-True Black ink (PTI)
-Aquacolor pencils
-Dove blending pen
-Pure Poppy Twill ribbon (PTI)
-Sakura Glaze pens

I won!

(Click photo to enlarge)

Last week on the Hero Club Blog the challenge was to use torn paper on a project. I have had this card in my head for awhile and tried to adapt it to different challenges, but never had the time. I stamped, watercolored and paper pieced the owls. Then I cut them out, created the gate-fold card, stamped my sentiments and used pop dots for the owls. I won second place for the contest and am blown away! There were a lot of good projects for that company to choose from! I can't believe they chose me!

Here's the link to the announcement:
http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/10/29/paper-tearing-challenge-winners/

Supplies:

Hero Arts
-Bit Hoot (owl)
-All Occasion Messages

PTI
-New leaf cardstock
-Pure Poppy cardstock (paper pieced)
-Spring Rain cardstock (paper pieced)
-Bitty Dot Basics paper
-Fresh Snow Ink
-True Black Ink
-Rustic Jute Twine
-Every Day Button Bits Stamp Set ("you")

Other
-red button
-green gems

PTI Blog Hop - October

The challenge this month was to show everyone plans for holiday projects. I plan to make tags for my family presents and here is one example. I used Polka Dot basics to make the tree.

All Supplies PTI:
Stampers Select White Cardstock
2008 Bitty Dot Basics Paper (pure poppy)
Polka Dot Basics Stamp Set
Pure Poppy Ink
New Leaf Ink
Dark Chocolate Ink
Summer Sunrise Ink
Pure Poppy Twill Ribbon

Other: Black pen

Hero Arts - Holiday Accessory Challenge

Here I used Polka Dot Basics 1 background on the blue paper and then went over the dots with Stardust Stickles. I stamped and embossed the white snow mounds and sentiment. After stamping and embossing the Dots and Flowers stamp on the green paper, I added the red gemstones and white pearls. To make it look like snow was on the tree, I brushed a little of the white ink on the edges and added the button with the gemstone for the star. I added a piece of the brown corrugated paper for the trunk and pop-dotted the tree onto the blue background. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Hero Arts Stamps
-Dots and Flowers S5213
-All Occasion Messages CL272

Papertrey Ink Supplies
-Polka Dot Background Basics 1
-Everyday Button Bits
-Stampers Select White Cardstock
-Enchanted Evening Cardstock
-New Leaf Cardstock
-Fresh Snow Ink

Other
-Versamark
-Stardust Stickles
-Zing White Embossing Powder
-Clear Embossing Powder
-gemstones, pearls, button -brown corrugated paper

PTI Challenge #4 - Austrailia

The last challenge at PTI was to apply dotted outlines or masking to the card like the Aborigine tribes in Australia. I went ahead and did both. First I stamped the butterfly and then outlined it with my gel pen. Then, I used a mask to stamp the orange polka dot background.

PTI:
Polka Dot Basics 1
Every Day Button Bits
True Black Ink
Orangerie Ink
Twine

Other:
Hero Arts Heart Winged Butterfly
Souffle white gel pen
Kraft cardstock
Black cardstock
Aquacolor Pencils
Dove blending pen

PTI Challenge #3 - India

This is the card for PTI's 3rd challenge which is to use the Indian culture as inspiration and add rhinestones, sequins or jewels.

PTI Stamps:
Polka Dot Basics 1
Every Day Button Bits

PTI Paper:
New Leaf

Other Supplies:
Rhinestones
Making Memories Ribbon
Memento ink
Corner rounder
Versamark
Clear Embossing Powder

PTI Challenge #2 - Mexico

I used the colors from the Mexican flag, including the gold center, for inspiration for this challenge. I tried to keep it clean and simple.

PTI Stamps:
Flower Garden
Everday Button Bits

PTI Ink:
Pure Poppy
New Leaf

PTI Ribbon
New Leaf Swiss Dot

PTI Paper:
Stampers Select White
New Leaf

Other:
Yellow gemstone

PTI Challenge #1 - Japan

When I think of Japan the colors of black, red and white always come to mind!

PTI Stamps:
Polka Dot Basics 1
Every Day Button Bits

PTI Inks:
Pure Poppy
True Black

PTI Paper:
Stampers Select White Cardstock

Other materials:
red, black cardstock
red gemstones
silver nailheads
Zing white embossing powder
Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Christmas in July - Caardvarks Challenge

Click picture to enlarge.

This is a card for the Caardvarks challenge. The challenge this week is to use a winter theme and is sponsored by Hero Arts.

The green, red and brown from yesterday's Hero Arts Blog is a great combination for me and I've really been inspired by the Clings and Holiday stamps we've been seeing this week. I used the new Striped Circle cling stamp and clear embossed it on green paper, then cut the center out and decorated my wreath. I tried to make the card resemble a door, so the button is there as the door knob.

BTW, my outdoor thermometer says 108. It's hard to be in the Christmas spirit when it's 108.

Supplies:
Hero Arts Striped Circle Cling Stamp - CG101
Ink: VersaMark, brown chalk ink
Ribbon: PTI - Pure Poppy Saddle Stitch
Clear embossing powder
Gemstones
Cardstock: New Leaf & Dark Chocolate (PTI), random cream
Font: CK Ali's Hand (free font!)

4th card for this week's challenge at Hero Arts

Click photo to enlarge.

Lisa's video on Wednesday's blog at Hero Arts inspired me to make this card. The colors were great together and she made the technique look easy. So, I thought I'd give it a try. Now, I guess I need to go and get all the tools she used because this was FUN! I am waiting to place a sentiment on the card until I need to use it. (Found that ribbon in my stash - how lucky!!) I placed some clear star glitter pen ink on some of the dots to make them shiny. Hope you can see that.

Supplies:
Pop Stems stamp from Hero Arts (borrowed from Tanna - thank you very much)
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate - all from PTI
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate (PTI) and cream from my stash
Random ribbon
Sakura Clear Star pen

Christmas in July - Caardvarks Challenge

Click on image to enlarge.

This is the card for the Caardvarks challenge. Click here for their blog. The challenge this week is to use a winter theme and is sponsored by Hero Arts.

I used the new Hero Arts Striped Circle cling stamp to represent a Christmas ornament. I stamped it in pink and red and then heat embossed it and cut it out. I found a random Christmas tree stamp (not sure where it is from), stamped it in green, colored and decorated it with stickles and gemstones. Then I attached a ribbon and used 3D dots to adhere it to the background that I sewed. Next came the sentiment. It is another random stamp.

It was hard to think of Christmas when it is 104 outside!

Supplies: Hero Arts Striped Circle Cling Stamp - CG101 Random tree and sentiment Ink: Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst, New Leaf - all from PTI Clear embossing powder, aquacolor pencils, Dove blending pen, gemstones, Stickles Cardstock: New Leaf (PTI), DCWV mat stack (red and pink)

More Hero Arts

Hero Arts is giving sneak peeks this week of their new stamps coming out at the end of the month. The Blog's challenge this week is to find inspiration in their sneak peeks. I feel like it was kind of a "free for all" challenge open to wide interpretation. Here are my cards so far.

The first card was inspired by Monday's blog post - using red, green and pink. I also wanted to use one of the new Cling stamps they are debuting.

I colored in some of the lines and scallops with Aquacolors and blended. The cupcake is colored and has some Diamond Stickles for glitter. Hope you can see that in the photo! You can follow people's comments by clicking on the link here.

Hero Arts Supplies:
"Write Your Own" Cling Stamp
"Cupcake" Sparkle Clear Set
"Happiness Message" Clear Design Set
Spring Mixed Notecards
Small Blossom Gemstones

For the second card, I loved Lisa's colors of blue and yellow on Tuesday's blog, and I had this new Cling stamp just sitting there staring at me, so I thought I should use it. Since I don't have the Heart Winged Butterfly stamp (kicking myself very hard right now), I stamped the Striped Circle in blue ink and used my Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is from Clear Design Happiness Messages. (So glad I bought that set - I use it ALL the time!) The cardstock, ink and ribbons are all from Papertrey Ink. You can follow people's comments to this card by clicking here.

I'm trying to participate as much as possible this month since I head back to teaching on August 17th!

Hero Arts Monochromatic Challenge

The Blog's weekly challenge is to create a card with monochromatic colors.

I started this one by first trying out stamping on the flowers. It worked! I was thrilled. Then, I stamped the Raindrop Background on PTI Sweet Blush using PTI Hibiscus Burst ink. I secured a piece of Hibiscus Burst ribbon across the bottom and secured my flowers on top. Then I added some pink gemstones for the center.

I started the butterflies by stamping on PTI Hibiscus Burst cardstock in PTI Snow White ink. After lifting the stamp, I poured Hero Arts Prisma Glitter over the dots and let it sit. When it was dry, I punched out my butterflies with my new Martha Stewart punch that I bought at Michaels with a 50% off coupon. After adding some rhinestones for the body, I secured only the center to the card, and lifted their wings a little.

The sentiment is from Hero Arts Trees, Birds and Messages, stamped in - you guessed it - PTI Hibiscus Burst. You can follow comments left by others at Flickr.

Links to supplies:
Papertrey Ink
Hero Arts

Hero Arts Website Challenge - Part 2

This is my second submission for Hero Arts this week. The Blog's weekly challenge is to find a card on the Hero Arts Website and create your own version. I found this "One of a Kind" card by Shari Carroll on their site (the top card above), and created my own version of it, "You Are My Sunshine" (the bottom picture) You can follow people's comments about the card here on the Flickr group!

Supplies:
Green Cardstock
White Stampers Select cardstock (Papertrey Ink)
Handwritten Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Button
Twine (Papertrey Ink)
Hero Arts "Happy Thoughts" set - bird
Hero Arts "Trees, Birds and Messages" set - branches embossed on green hill, tree
Hero Arts Gemstones on the hill & tree
Bitty Dot Basics Pattern Paper (Papertrey Ink)
Yellow Bazzill cardstock
Green Sakura Souffle pen (to color in the tree)
Embossing powder

Hero Arts Website Challenge

Hero Arts is launching a new and improved website on July 15th! The Blog's weekly challenge is to find a card on the Hero Arts Website and create your own version. I found this "Sweet Baby" card by Kelly Rasmussen on their site (the top card above), and created my own version of it, "Hello Birdy!" (the bottom picture) I've already received lots of nice comments on the Flickr group!

Hero Arts is Having a BIG Week!

Click over on Hero Arts Blog to see the big party going on. They are launching a new website and store with so many of their fabulous stamps for sale for delivery or pick up at your favorite store! Yippee!

Photo Bookmark

Here's a bookmark I made for my friend's son. He loves to read and recommends books to my 4-year old. Click on the picture to zoom.

Supplies:

Hero Arts Curly Alphabet

Hero Arts Galaxy of Stars

My Mind's Eye Dreamy 2 patterned paper

Paper Trey Ink white cardstock

Zing White Embossing powder

Blue cardstock

Crate Paper Samantha Collection Ribbon