Color Throwdown # 152

Hello!  I hope you have all had a restful weekend and are ready to get started on a new week.  I have been delayed getting this post ready but finally, it is here.  

This challenge, was well, challenging for me.  I got a little hung up trying too hard to strictly stick to the colors named in the challenge and I don't have any of them!  So improvisation took over.  I recently admired a card I saw on Rossella Cards: 5097932.  What an inspiring site!  So my card is a take on hers. I think I will be using this negative design element again and again.  

I love using ribbon so a new way to apply it was fun for me.  Because the ribbon adhered to the card stock under the star shaped cut out is a little thick, the kraft layer with the background design on it is popped up with foam adhesive.  All other layers are flat.  I really enjoyed using the Background Basics: Twinkle and adding a little sparkle to each tiny star with my clear Stardust pen.  What you can't see, is that the ribbon on the right side of the card extends over the top and down the back of the card and is embellished with the same tiny star at the banner cut end.  Please see the details below and leave a comment!  

Thanks, For stopping by!

Suzanne

All products are Papertrey Ink unless noted:

Cardstock:  Kraft, Hibiscus Burst

Stamps:  Background Basics: Twinkle, Star Prints

Ribbon:  Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz

Die:  Seeing Stars

Other:  Rhinestone stars by the Paper Studio, Rich Cocoa ink by Memento, Copic marker #RVo4

Stamp-a-faire Challenge #10

Hello again!!  I am so delighted to share this card with you because I spent Saturday having a full blown pity party since I couldn't participate in any of the challenges from the PTI Stamp-a-faire!  Thanks, Nichole for saving this one just for me!

I am really giving this stamp set a workout!  Daydreamers may be the easiest set I have ever used.  The simple verticality and clean lines really suits my style.  The challenge is to stamp a focal point over a background stamped with a lighter design.  I chose the two circles that remind me of dandelions as they float off into the air for my background.  These were stamped with Haystack Palette Ink.  The flower heads  are stamped with Ocean Tides and the stems and leaves with Memento Bamboo Leaves on PTI  Vintage Cream Card Stock, matted on Ocean Tides Card Stock,  and the card base is Fine Linen.  For the sentiment tab, I did some alterations on my Spellbinders Labels 10.  The ivory layer is scored so that it literally folded over the ocean tide tab mat.  It is also stamped with the same background design and the sentiment is in ocean tides ink as the flowers.  I rounded the corners of the first layer only, adhered it to the mat layer and then adhered the mat layer with dimensional foam to the card base of Fine Linen.  It was pretty simple to execute and I am happy with the way it turned out.

I have so enjoyed all of the beautiful cards and inspiration from this busy weekend and Monday at Papertrey Ink.  Thanks to all of the design team and many, many participants in the blog hop, MIM, and Stamp-a-faire.  I feel like I'm running with the big girls!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and leave a comment for me.  I love getting to know all of you in this talented and creative community!

Suzanne 

Less is More-Week 25-Recipe

Good Morning!  After my "too-tired-to-be-doing-this" attempts at posting my blog last night, it's good to have a fresh perspective.

Here is my entry for the challenge from Less is More.  This challenge is to use ribbon or buttons.  I love the look of stitching on cards these days but I am unwilling to drag out my way-to-heavy sewing machine each time I would like to use it and there is no place left in my crafting area to leave it set up.  SO, I was delighted when Papertrey Ink produced a stamp set called Button Boutique which includes a line of zig-zag stitches!  Cute, eh?  It seemed to fit with the whole button idea.  Those beautiful red buttons are from PTI as is the patterned paper, from the Beautiful Blooms collection and the die called Simple Circles Border.  I almost forgot the Baker's Twine in Pure Poppy and the sentiment from Make A Wish, are (you guessed it) PTI.  VersaMark ink and Tsukineko embossing powder in Candy Red gave the sentiment a little shine. The white card base is from Hobby Lobby.

Hope you will leave a comment.  Thanks for stopping by!

Suzanne

Blogs and Inspiration Galore!

Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #42

It's Renee here from ItsAPatchworkLife with the latest Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge...

make a card using Laurie's gorgeous rolled roses.

Here's her card for this week's challenge...

Soapbox Creations

Rolled Roses?  I love rolled roses!  This is a challenge I can really get into.  In fact, I have two cards to share with you tonight.  The first one, "Congrats"  is one I made for a friend who just built the most beautiful new home.  I look forward to taking her something fresh baked and getting "The Tour".  Secondly, the "Dreams" card is playing dual roles tonight in this challenge and the July Papertrey Blog Hop as well, which is a color inspiration challenge.  (scroll down to see photo credit and "Dreams" description)

This is an unusual color combo for me, but it seemed warm and inviting.  AND yellow roses are my favorite color!  I am particularly enjoying using the new leafy vine die from Papertrey Ink's July release and I am equally pleased to have the sentiment options provided in the Congrats All Ways stamp set that I used here.  The cardstock and pattern paper are Papertrey Ink also:  Kraft, Lemon Mist, Ripe Avocado, and the polka dot background is from Dottie Biscotti.  The roses are made with MFT's rolled roses dies, The leaves behind the roses are made with PTI's Turning a New Leaf dies.

Next up:

July 2011 Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to the July Papertrey Blog Hop!  We are so thrilled to see you here!  First, the challenge...

{photo credit}

We have another amazing inspirational photo for you this month that we just know will bring out the very best in your creativity!  Look closely and there are so many directions to go in!  you can choose to focus on the colors, the motifs or the overall design!  We look forward to seeing your projects!

I'm sorry that I had to photo this at night because it is so hard to see the soft Aqua Mist card stock color which is such a beautiful combo with the Orange Zest.  I really enjoyed making this card in large part due to the patterned paper strip and butterflies I created using Mehndi Medallions stamp set. (Best $5.00 I ever spent on a stamp set!)

I used a sheet of Vintage Cream cardstock and stamped it with the large medallion in Ranger's Distress Ink, Brushed Corduroy, and the smaller medallions in a Martha Stewart orange called Pineapple.  I also added Ranger's Tumbled Glass straight from the ink pad making 

squares of color and letting it overlap with the background design. I finished it off with swipes of Aqua Mist ink also straight from the pad.  Here is a scrap since the details are definitely lost in the photo of the finished card.

The rolled rose is made using PTI's Hawaiian Shores cardstock, the leaves behind the rose are made from Ripe Avocado.  Butterflies are made with Martha Stewart's butterfly punch and the sentiment is PTI Daydreamers.  I am especially fond of these beautiful sentiments not only because of what they say but that they are more vertical in design (and very cool font combinations!)

I guess that's all for tonight.  I seem to be having lots of trouble getting this post to look the way I would like for it to, maybe I'm too sleepy!...

At any rate, thank you so much for peeking in!  I would love to hear your comments.

Suzanne

Color Throwdown #151

Hello There!  This is my first Color Throwdown Challenge and I must say I really like it.   Especially since I  received my July release shipment from Papertrey Ink today and I got to use brand new stuff!  I doubt that I  have ever used SEVEN colors of cardstock on one project before.  This was amazingly simple: run each color of card stock through the Big Shot using the new Leafy Vine Border die and make another run using the die called Jar Labels which coordinates with  the Little Labels stamp set . I used Little Labels for the oval border and "Hello Friend" sentiment.  There you have it-easy peasy!

Thanks for stopping by, 

Suzanne 

Card Details:  All products are by Papertrey Ink except where noted

Card Stock: Royal Velvet, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise (card base), New Leaf, Enchanted Evening, White

Stamp set:  Little Labels

Dies:  Leafy Vine Border die, Jar Labels

Ink:  Summer Sunrise 

          Memento Tuxedo Black

Make It Monday #23: Pockets with Edger Dies

Just when you think a tool has just one use, somebody gets all clever on it and creates something new. Follow Dawn's lead and make a pocket with your edger dies this week.

Hello again!

 I have already been lax in keeping up with my blog and it's not even a month old yet!  My husband and I flew to Denver to visit our son and then to Colorado Springs for a brief stay at The Broadmoor.  There is no place I would rather be during the heat of summer than this glorious old hotel at the base of Cheyenne Mountain.  AND we got to see two days of practice rounds before the LPGA Open being held there.  So fun and SO inspiring!

Ok, so back to the REAL reason for this post!  Here is my take on a pocket card-A Pocket full of Posies.  I think you could say I went on a die cutting binge with this one.  The little pocket is just the right size for a gift card to peek out over the front edge.  I have listed the supplies below.

This is somewhat of an homage to my mother who loved growing, drying, and arranging flowers.  We had buckets and baskets of her "Everlastings" in every room of the house.  Her gardens overflowed with perennials, herbs, vegetables, gourds that became bird houses in the fall, bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies!  Then there was the small border of roses at the edge of the patio...  So much beauty!  So much pleasure in what came out of the earth!  I guess my favorite memories of Mother are during the summer months as our family enjoyed the bounty of food and flowers fresh from the garden.  My daughter associates the smell of fresh basil with her grandmother because there was pesto and chiffonade of basil in salads, dressings, and especially in her homemade tomato sauce for pasta. That was a different time and place but the traditions and pleasures live on as the summers come and go.  Thanks, Mom!

Supplies for A Pocket Full of Posies:
(All Papertrey Ink unless noted)
Cardstock: Kraft, Black, White, Simply Chartreuse, Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise
Patterened Paper:  from Sugar Plum Collection
Stamps:  Turning a New Leaf, Flower Fusion #3, All About You
Dies:  Edgers #1, Turing a New Leaf, Flower Fusion #3
Ink:  Rangers Black Soot, Colorbox Frost White
Other:  GellyRoll opaque white pen, Stickles Icicle, foam adhesive, Zig 2 way glue pen, Marvy corner rounder punch, black polka dot ribbon (from my stash) Tombo tape runner and adhesive


Thanks for stopping by!
Suzanne