PTI Edger #1 die

Hello! I was curious how a square would look when edged on all four sides with the new PTI edger #1 die. I started out with a 4 1/4" square and then edged each side with the die - I really like the results! I can see using this as a mat on the front of a card.

Paper is a digi paper from the Tiny Princess Collection at digichick.com. ISN'T IT SWEET?

WMS case card challenge

Hello! WMS is having a party! They are making cards using all kinds of Spellbinders products, including their new Grand Calibur machines (I'm so jealous!). After all the DT showed their projects, Claire is having a case challenge, where we were to case one of the DT's projects and make our own version of it.

I chose to case Sandi's card here. I made mine more of a vintage card, distressing everything in sight. One of the things I liked about Sandi's cards was the stitching - you can never have too much stitching on a card! I also loved the offset of the middle square and the wrinkle ribbon. So here's my version - hope you enjoy!

Supplies I used were: PTI white and kraft cardstock, October Afternoon thrift shop paper, classic circles and scalloped circle nestabilities, WMS stamp sets Vintage Circles and Say It With Style, and some homemade wrinkle ribbon and KaiserCraft Pearls. Also used PTI terracotta ink, Versafine black ink, and Ranger Antique Linen ink.

Papertrey January Blog hop

Hello! I am participating in Papertrey Ink's January blog hop. It's been quite a while since I've done this, but the challenge to ink up a set I haven't used in a long time, was such a great challenge. Especially considering that one of my goals in 2011 is to use what I already have on hand instead of buying and buying more.


Here's the challenge: With the new year comes a clean slate along with many resolutions.  This month's blog hop challenge involves you challenging yourself to use a Papertrey stamp set that has yet to see ink or even one that might be collecting a little dust!  Go through your stash and see what little used treasure it might hold. 

I used the set Made of Snow for my card. I've never made a card from this set before, and with the weather tomorrow calling for 5+ inches of snow in our area, I thought it appropriate to break out this set. I used PTI rustic cream cardstock, torn PTI white cardstock for the snow hills, made my snowman using the Made of Snow stamp set, colored the scene with copics, and added some flower soft to the hills, trees and snowman. The sentiment is from the set also, stamped on a double ended banner by PTI. Hope you enjoy the blog hop!

My Stamping Room

I think it's about time I documented my craft area for creating cards and such. I really liked the craft island Pottery Barns sells, but just couldn't see paying that much - there's always a better way, right? At least if you're able and willing to put some elbow grease into it. There is a store called Solid Woods here in Winchester, VA, and I stopped by one day to see what they had. All their furniture comes unfinished. The Pottery Barn setup is basically two 3' x 3' bookcases with a solid top on top of them. So what I found at Solid Woods was - you guessed it - two bookcases made up of 9 square cubbies. I was also able to get the guy who makes them to make me a top out of oak with an edge around the sides to lay on top of the bookcases. I also purchased the same style bookcases, but with 6 cubbies by 3 cubbies - like stacking the two bookcases on top of each other, but one solid piece. I also purchased two chairs - one for each open side of the table. It was alot of work to sand and paint all the pieces ( which I did on s sweltering hot July 4th weekend), but it was well worth it. For about $1100 I was able to get all these pieces, where as I would have paid almost that just for the table at Pottery Barn. My area is in the finished part of our basement. Here are some pictures.

 This shows one end of the craft table. Each cubbie is about 12 x 12, which is great because I can store scrapbook paper in them.

 This is the table from the side that I use for scoring with my Score-Pal and cutting with my smaller cutter. It's also a great place to work when the other side is cluttered. :) I covered the oak top of the table with a 1/4" piece of glass I got custom cut from a local glass company. That way, I can always wipe it clean.

 This is the other side of  the table which is covered with a piece of black velour, which I had been using in photography. It protects my cardstock from light. There are french doors right across from it.

 This shows my paper storage with the velour raised up.

 This is the 6 x 3 bookshelf I purchased. I put it on it's side so I could use the top for storage also. All along the top, I have my ribbon stored in glass jars I purchased from the dollar store. It's so pretty to see all the colors! I used to be a Longaberger consultant, so that's why so much of my supplies are stored in L. baskets.

 This is an antique Housier cabinet I use for my larger cutter and my Big Shot. Lots of storage in it too. To the right of the Housier is my sewing machine.

I made the two green wall boards and usually display cards I make that I really like. A nice inspiration board for me. The two antique printer drawers on the floor are great storage for wood mounted stamps. I need to hang them on the wall at some point.

 This cabinet is the coolest thing int he room! I purchased it at an antique market in PA for $120. It was lime green when I purchased it. Another labor of love! I stripped all the green paint off and discovered it was made from mahogany! It is an antique dental cabinet. It is perfect to store wood mounted stamps, although my husband keeps telling me it would be perfect for his fly tying supplies also. :) All the knobs but one were there - just needed polishing up. It took a lot of elbow grease to get this in the shape you see it, but I just love how it turned out! I've seen them on ebay for over $2000.

 This is a collage my daughter made me for Christmas this year. It houses all the paper products we made for her wedding this past October. It is very special to me.

 Thisis the side of the table I do most of my stamping from. Looks kind of messy right now, but believe me, that's clean! My inkpads are on the left, my adhesives are in the basket in front, and my tools are in the turn-about to the right.

 This is a serving basket I use to hold my  ink pads. It's working for me now, but I may go more vertical at some point with them.

 My adhesive and acrylic blocks are in this basket within easy reach.

 The two white boxes on the right hold my PTI stamps. They are in alphabetical order. See photo below. I need another box!!!

 This is how I store my WMS stamps. I use a large 3 ring binder with plastic sleeves that close on the top. I jsut slip the stamp set on the plastic sheet it comes on inside the pocket.

 A little closer view.

 My punches are kept in baskets on the big shelf. I don't have a ton of them yet, so this is working for right now.

 My white boards to remind me what cards I need to make for people.

 My craft table from the french doors.

 My computer sits to the left of my craft area - nice to have them both close.

 A final picture. Hope you enjoyed, and maybe picked up a few ideas. Maybe some day I'll post pictures of my out-of-control quilting room too!

Playing with my new PTI Number dies!

I was so excited to see my PTI box on my front porch yesterday! It really came fast! I had some time last night to try out the new PTI number dies and it was perfect timing since I had to make a 30th birthday card for my daughter, and an 18th birthday card for my neice. I made them both exactly the same - just used different numbers. I was so pleased with how they came out. Now I'm thinking up all kinds of ways I can use those number dies. Hope you enjoy the card!

I used PTI aqua mist cardstock, Big Birthday Wishes stamp set, Just the Ticket stamp set, the new number dies, edger dies and the ticket die, as well as some bakers twine and a couple rhinestones for some girly bling.

A masculine birthday card

Hello friends! I was checking out the design team examples from the PTI January release and spied this great masculine card that Dawn McVey made here, using new dies soon to be released by PTI. I was curious to see if I could duplicate the card using the supplies I already have on hand. I have invested a good amount on Spellbinders Nestabilities and thought I'd try using them. I really like the number impression plate background in Dawn's card, but don't have that, so I just used a background I created with a Cover-a-card stamp. I already had brads that would work. I think it turned out pretty well, for "making do". What do you think?

I used the 2.5" circle Nestability, and the appropriate next size up of the scalloped circle. I also own the Lacey circles and need to give them a try as the mat. They are very similar to one of the Limitless Layers mats. I know you can get pinking shear type Nestabilities also - I don't own them. I also used Heather's Falling Leaves set, the sentiment from Matt Stack 1, and the new border die, as well as PTI spring moss cardstock. Thanks for looking!

A worthy cause

I write today with a story about a fellow crafter. I work in a church where I see prayer requests everyday from people who have cancer. It is never an easy road. I came upon this story while reading one of my favorite card making blogs, the Waltzingmouse blog.  Katie's story, in particular, has touched my heart. Maybe it's because she is a fellow card maker, maybe it's those young boys of hers, whatever it is, I consider it a privilege to help out in any way I can.

Katie Emmerson Renz married to Kevin with 3 beautiful boys the twins Nate & Will aged 5 and Hunter aged 10 had some news just before Christmas that has rocked their world as they know it.

Katie has been diagnosed with stage 4 Stomach Cancer and is currently undergoing her only option which is Chemotherapy.

Katie is a fellow crafter and is loved within the crafting community.You can read Katie's story on her own blog here.

You can help Katie with her finances by going to this blog, where some of her dear friends have put together digi images for you to purchase. After purchasing them myself, I have made this card with a couple of the images and dedicate it to Katie.

 Supplies used are PTI spring rain and white cardstock, PTI fillable frame 3 die, and the digi images from Doodle Pantry. Please help out Katie if you can!

Thinking of You cards

I guess I'm getting caught up after the holidays. I'm having so much fun using my new (and old) PTI stamps! The following 5 cards were made using the Library ledger patterned paper, the Matt Stack 3 die, and the Matt Stack 2 stamps set. I've found that so many things fit on the Matt Stack 3 die cut! Plus a little bit of bakers twine and a few pearls. Here you go - enjoy!

I especially like this last one where I stamped the sentiment on the background paper too. Fun!
Thanks for looking!

Thank you cards

HI! Thanks for stopping by my blog! These are some thank you cards I made for a friend for a Christmas gift. Hope you enjoy!

 Uses PTI Delightful Dahlia set, Friendship Jar label die, Banner die and PTI cardstock.

 Uses PTI Wreath Building set, WMS Frame It set, and WMS text it set, PTI cardstock

 Uses PTI Wreath Building set, WMS Frame It set, WMS text it set, and PTI cardstock

Uses PTI Larger than Life and Life sets, Fillable Frame #8, and PTI cardstock

Merry Little Christmas card

This is a card I made using Papertrey Ink's sets "Merry Little Christmas" and "Quilter's Sampler". A group of my quilting friends exchange Christmas gifts each year, and this was their 2010 card from me. I think it's probably my favorite card I made with PTI stamps this year! It was just such a perfect fit for the occasion. Hope you enjoy!