Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge

Hello! I am participating in the Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge today. The challenge was to use black as your background cardstock. Here's how Nicole described the challenge on her blog:

"Last month the focus was one white, and this month we are going to turn our creativity towards black!  I have been drawn towards using black backgrounds for projects for a few months now and I find that it really allows the color combination to pop from the page.  Here is your chance to try black as a background yourself!  Pair it up with a bold geometric design or a brightly colored bouquet.  Heat embossing looks so elegant when used on a black background.  And don't forget how well white ink will show up as well.  Just pull out some black cardstock and have fun experimenting with a brand new look for a brand new year!"

So here's my take on the challenge. 

 I used the new Hands of Time stamp set and embossed the large clock face with white Filiagree Embossing powder. I stamped the hands of the clock onto white cardstock and then applied ultra fine gold glitter. I do not have the hands dies, so I did the best I could to cut them out. The sentiment is also from the Hands of Time set. I then impressed the black background with the By the Numbers Impression plate, swiped Fresh Snow ink around the edges to soften it a bit, then matted it with Pure Poppy cardstock and mounted it onto a white card base.

Hope you enjoy it and have fun with the other stops on the Hop!  Have a great day! 

Papertrey Make It Monday #101 - Layered Embossing

Hello! I have decided to try this technique Heather Nichols demonstrated in a video over on Nicole's blog here. It involves embossing multiple images, overlapping them. It tried it using stars from the Papertrey Starprints stamp set and Zing embossing powder. I didn't have any problems with it. There is a closeup below. A fun technique to try. Hope you enjoy it!

Papertrey Make It Monday #99 - Repeats and Rainbows

Hello! I'm back again today with the Papertrey Make It Monday challenge.

The challenge, created by Nicole Hardy over on her blog here, is all about repeating shapes and creating a rainbow of color on your card. Currently, I am working on a baby quilt for my granddaughter who is to be born this month, so I have had "quilts on the brain". So naturally, my repeats and rainbows card is a quilt - made with the hexagon cover plate. I used various Papertrey patterned papers, and had to substitute a couple because PTI has not released certain colors yet. The base rainbow I chose is:

I substituted Aqua Mist for Hawaiian Shores, and Raspberry Fizz for Hibiscus Burst.  

Here is the card I created. Thanks for looking!

Papertrey Make It Monday #98 - Chalkboard Technique

Well, I'm just making it under the wire this week with the Make It Monday Challenge at Papertrey. I've been trying to find time to try this out all week, and here it is 10:30pm on Sunday, and I'm finally entering my card in the challenge! Good grief!

Anyway, Betsy Veldman demonstrated how to make a card with the chalkboard technique that is so popular right now for this Make It Monday. You can see the video on Nicole's blog here. I used a few of the new December sets on this card - With All My Heart, Stitched Sentiments, and one from the previous month, Sew Simple Borders. It was alot of fun, kind of "getting messy" with this card. I used PTI Enchanted Evening cardstock and Fresh snow ink, as well as Versamark ink and white embossing powder. Hope you enjoy it!

A Couple cards to share today

Hello! I have a couple cards to share with you today. The first one is one of those cards you'd rather not have to make - a sympathy card. I remember though, when my mom & dad died 5 years ago, the many cards I received from friends meant so much. So I am glad to give back a portion of that to others that are suffering a loss.

 I pulled out the new Stitched Sentiments set for this card. I just love the vine wreath images - I've used them on several cards already. And this friend is a fellow quilter, so I know she will appreciate the embroidery hoop. The one thing I was not pleased with was the embossing job on the metal screw thing on the hoop - seems the embossing powder went places it was not supposed to go. But I'm sure she will not notice that. Next time I will use my embossing bag thing to make sure the powder only goes on the Versamark ink. I used PTI rustic cream cardstock with a color scheme of WInter Wisteria and Spring Moss. The hoop is stamped with Dark Chocolate ink. I also used the Filigree border die with some WW patterned paper.

 This card is for my grandson's 5 month birthday. He weighed only 2.5 lbs. when born, and is now up to almost 10 lbs. He is a joy! I send both him and my granddaughter a "birthday" card every month. I used Paper Smooches "A Little Loving" stamp set, as well as PTI Matt Stack 3 and the banner from Stitched Sentiments. I embossed the background with the PTI By the Numbers Impression plate. The little border on the bottom is from and Echo Park 6x6 paper pad. I used one of the hearts from the Heart 2 Heart series by PTI to circle the #5.

Thanks for looking! Hope you have a blessed day! 

Happy New Year - 2013!

Happy New Year to you! We actually stayed up last night long enough to see the ball drop in Times Square. The only reason I can think we stayed up that late was to enjoy the nice fire we had going in the fireplace. We are WAY past all the new music - didn't actually know who half of the performers even were. :)  But anyway, here we are in 2013. I have several things I'd like to accomplish this year - some painting in the house, a quilt for my new granddaughter, organization of my craft rooms, and the typical eat better and lose weight ones. We'll see how those go. I always like to clean out my pantry and medicine cabinet on New Year's Day - pitch everything that is out of date. It always surprises me how much there is that is out of date.

I have a few cards to share with you on this first day of the year. They are made with new PTI goodies from December's release. When I received the free Funky Florals set, the starbursts in it reminded me of fireworks, so my first card is a Happy New Year card with sparkly fireworks. I used my new Cameo to cut out the Happy New Year sentiment on the front. :) See the post from yesterday to see what other fun I'm having with my new Cameo! :)

I used PTI inks Aqua Mist, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening, Winter Wisteria and Royal Velvet. Then I used a Quickie Glue pen to add some glue and glitter. After all, you can't have a Happy New Year's card without some glitter - right?

This next card also uses the Funky Florals stamp set. I love how bright and cherry it turned out. It's also got some sparkle. :) I used Limeade Ice and Blueberry Sky cardstock and ink, and versamark ink as well as MS glitter. Love my glitter! :)

 This last card uses the new stamp set With All My Heart, which also came out in December from PTI. I decided to use my new Limitless Layers: Hearts dies to cut a heart out of PTI Scarlett Jewell  and Vintage Cream felt. The pink heart is cut out of pink felt from my stash (can't wait until PTI comes out with Sweet Blush felt!) Then I used a buttonhole stitch to join the three hearts together, and well as french knots on the light pink layer.   I stamped the "With all my heart" stamp both in the background, as well as on the small white felt heart, which was cut with one of the Heartprints dies.

I hope you enjoyed these cards, and have fun playing with your new sets if you've received them. Happy New Year to everyone!