Be Still

Happy Memorial Day everyone!! I hope you're enjoying time with family and friends or finding bargains at the stores! 

Today, I wanted to share a quick card with you.  The sentiment on this card is another one of my favorite Bible verses and I thought it was perfect to compliment this image.  I kept this card very simple to make the serene scene stand on its own.  I love the scripture verses included in the "Everyday Blessings" set.  I'm sure you'll see me use this set quite often. 

I really like how the new Simply Chartreuse ink looks on the Aqua Mist cardstock with just a touch of brown to compliment the colors.

Hope you enjoyed today's card!!  Thanks for stopping by!  I'd love to hear your comments!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Through the Trees, Everyday Blessings
Paper:  Aqua Mist, Rustic White
Ink:  Simply Chartreuse, Jumbo Java VersaMagic
Other: Pop Dots

Thinking of You

Hey everyone!  I wanted to share a card I made using PTI's newest color, Simply Chartreuse!  I paired it with Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores & Summer Sunrise. I really like the way the colors pop when used together!  And, that Woodgrain background is so good for so many things!!  I just love the textured look it gives to the card!

I hope everyone has a really great 3-day weekend!  Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)

 Stamps: Background Basics: Woodgrain, New Leaf, Through the Trees (sentiment)

Paper: Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Champagne VersaMark, True Black

Other: Ribbon, Ek Success Border Punch

Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #5

This is my 2nd post for the day.  Sorry to post twice in one day but I needed to get this challenge card submitted before the end of the day today.  Hope you don't mind! :)

Michelle posted a fun color challenge for us this week on the Papertrey Paper Dolls blog (come & play with us, it is open to everyone!!) and this is what I made for it.   Here are the colors we were to use:

Isn't that a fun combination!  Here's the inside of the card:

I love the options that this sentiment set, Heartfelt Basics, gives!  So many options and it covers so many occasions...thank you, sympathy, friendship, birthday and even some general sentiments as well.  I also love how it was designed so that you can choose what words you want to put where and you can stamp them in different colors easily!

We'd LOVE for you to join us with this challenge!!  Even if you play late you can still add a link in the comments section!  AND...soon we'll leave our challenges open for 2-3 weeks so we'll all have more time to play!

Thank you for stopping by (again) today!!  Love you all! :)

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Swirly Bouquet, Heartfelt Basics, Beyond Basic Borders, Polka Dot Basics II
Paper: Brown, Ivory, Hawaiian Shores
Ink: Berry Sorbet, Vintage Cream, Champagne VersaMark, Jumbo Java VeraMagic, Hawaiian Shores
Other: Brown Pearls, Fiskars Border Punch, Ribbon

Graduation Balloons

Last night was 8th Grade Graduation and I needed some more cards.  I wanted to go the non-traditional route for a few of them since I have these sets that I just HAD to play with! :)  I did make a bunch of traditional cards too but didn't have enough left.  This card was for a boy and I got the warm color inspiration from my friend Amy's card here.  I did use Ripe Avocado instead of Spring Moss but will have to try this color combination with Spring Moss later. 

I LOVE this Sunshine Impression Plate too!!  It is SOOOO much fun!  Two of the balloons are popped up with pop dots.  The medium balloon has 1/16" pop dots and the large balloon has 1/4" pop dots to give them more depth and make it look like they are closer/farther away from each other.

Thanks for stopping by!  Thank you also to those of you who leave me comments! They really make my day and I appreciate hearing your thoughts so much!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Up, Up & Away and Up, Up & Away Sentiments
Paper:  Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avocado, White
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, Spring Rain, Pure Poppy, True Black
Other: Balloon & Cloud Dies, Sunshine Impression Plate, Linen/Canvas Impression Plate, Corner Rounder, Pop Dots

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge: Felt

Welcome to another Papertrey Ink blog hop!  This month our theme is felt!  I chose to make a scrapbook page which I haven't done in a while and a matching hair barrette.

First, the scrapbook page:

Here's a closeup of the felt embellishment in the corner:

I liked that custom embellishment, die cut with PTI's Beautiful Blooms II dies, so much that I decided to make a matching hair barrette.

 
Isn't she the cutest model?  Yep, I agree.  She is! :)

Thank you SO much for stopping by!  I'd love to hear what you think! 

Be sure to check out the other blog hop participants!  Blog posts can be added until 11:00 PM Central Time tonight so be sure to check out Nichole's blog for an updated list!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Scrapbook Page
Stamps:  Guide Lines II
Paper: Lemon Tart, Sweet Blush, White
Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Raspberry Fizz, Giverny Green Palette
Other: Felt, RF, HS & LT Buttons, Beautiful Blooms II Die, Ribbon, Cricut (for scalloped border), White DMC Floss, Pop Dots


Hair Barrette
White Felt, RF, HS & LT Buttons, Beautiful Blooms II Dies, White DMC Floss, Hair Clip, HS Satin Ribbon

Summer!

Here's another card from PTI's new Up, Up & Away stamp set!  I {gasp} used Summer Sunrise!!  You know, I think I could become friends with this color after all! :)  I thought that this color combination was a nice, bright sunshiny combination and after a week of rain I was ready for sunshine!

Tip:  I sure love the cloud dies!  You can't SEE where I used them on this card, but I did!  I took a post-it note, and my cloud dies, ran it through my Big Shot with the sticky part on the top of the clouds and then had an instant (and easy!!) mask!  Then, I just laid the post-it notes over the clouds I had already stamped and then stamped my sun.  EASY!!!

Speaking of sunshine, I used both sides of the "Sunshine" impression plate for the card front and mat on this card.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this plate!!  Wow!  It is so cool! 

When this set was first unveiled, I wasn't sure that I would like the "distressed" clouds but guess what?  Once again Nichole is a genius!  The way she designed these clouds as "distressed" makes them appear textured...just like clouds should be!  I really, really like that about this set now!  Also, this card layout came from a sketch in the current "Stamp It!" magazine.  I love to use sketches when I create cards.  It takes so much of the guess work about placement away.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I love all of you!  Have a very good weekend! I'm looking forward to a great church service today and a church-wide BBQ and family activities afterward.  Should be a fun filled day!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps:  Up, Up & Away & Up, Up & Away Sentiments
Paper:  Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, White
Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Summer Sunrise, Spring Rain, True Black, Raspberry Fizz
Other: Ribbon, Sunshine Impression Plate

The Sky is the Limit

Yep!  This is my 2nd post for today but I just couldn't help myself!  My new PTI release order (which was my Mother's Day present) came in the mail this morning and I had, and I mean HAD, to play with it all!  So, this card uses quite a few new products.  I'm loving this new Up, Up and Away set!!  So much fun!

I cut just a little bit off the card's width so that I could hang those clouds off the side and still allow it to fit in a regular sized envelope.  I LOVED how Dana did this on her card here.

Here's a closeup of the texture on the card.  Of course it all started out as smooth cardstock.  I used the linen side of the new Linen/Canvas Impression plate on the sky background and I used the canvas side on the clouds to add texture.  That green balloon is stamped with the new PTI color, Simply Chartreuse.  The verdict is still out on that one...not sure what I think of that color yet.

Here's another closeup, this time of the dimension.  I popped up one cloud and two of the balloons with 1/16" pop dots.

And, last by not least is the matching envelope!  I like how it turned out as well.  I stamped the clouds in Spring Rain to match the sky background on the card.  Oh, and one more tidbit...I finally used Summer Sunrise, that color scares me a little.  I actually really liked it and will have to use it again.

Hope you enjoyed this card and if you haven't received your new PTI order yet, I hope you get it very, very soon!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Up, Up & Away, Up, Up & Away Sentiments, Fancy Flourishes
Paper: Spring Rain, White
Ink: Spring Rain, True Black, Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, Champagne VersaMark
Other: Cloud Dies, Pop Dots

Polka Dots & Butterflies

I think that a card with big bold polka dots was long over due!  So, that was the inspiration for today's card. LOL!!

I embossed the polka dots with white embossing powder to really make them pop!

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed the card!  Have a GREAT weekend!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps:  Polka Dot Basics II, Text Style II, Fancy Flourishes
Paper: Pure Poppy, White, Blue Patterned Paper
Ink: VersaMark, Champagne VersaMark, Noir Palette
Other:  Butterfly Dreams Die, White Embossing Powder, White Pearls, Fiskars Border Punch

Have a Ball!

I have been working on some masculine cards for our Card Ministry at church.  I've finished up several and just need to make a matching envelope and then I'm done with these.  I kept these super simple but used colors to make them pop!

Here's a trio of the cards.  I varied the placement of the balls, popped some of them up on pop dots and left others directly on the cardstock.  I also used ink around the edges of the cardstock to keep in the sports theme.

I tried to make the basketball in this next card look like it was moving but I'm not sure that I achieved that.  I have some other ideas to try with this still.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoyed these simple but fun cards!!  Have a great day!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Have a Ball & Enjoy the Ride
Paper: Kraft, Hobby Lobby Patterned Paper
Ink: Pure Poppy, Tea Dye Duos, Terra Cotta Tile, Noir, Burnt Umber & Reflection Blue Palette
Other: Pop Dots, Circle Punches

Papertrey Paper Dolls Feminine/Masculine Challenge

Hi everyone!!  I am hosting the challenge over on the Papertrey Paper Dolls blog this week.  The challenge I am issuing is to create two cards (I know, double the work).  First, create a masculine card and then using the same stamps and basically the same layout create a feminine card as well.

Here are my samples:

And here is the feminine version:

(sorry the sentiment is so hard to see on this card...it says "It's Your Day")

Here I rubbed my Brilliance Moonlight White ink pad on top of the woodgrain impression plate.  I love how this looks.  It makes a great sky background for the airplane.

In both cards I used the same stamps: Fly Away, Vintage Labels & Star Prints. I also used the woodgrain impression plate behind the airplane and the same basic layout.  But, one is masculine and one is feminine.

I hope you join us with this challenge! I can't wait to see what YOU make!! Be sure to post your card link below the Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #4 post!

Supplies
Masculine Card
Stamps: Fly Away, Vintage Labels & Star Prints
Paper: Kraft, White, DCWV Green, Patterned Paper
Ink: Palette Giverney Green, Prussian Blue & PTI Terra Cotta Tile, Tea Dye Duo
Other: Fiskars Crest Border Punch, Sanding Block, Nesties Label 1, Pop Dots, Woodgrain Impression Plate

Feminine Card
Stamps: Fly Away, Vintage Labels & Star Prints
Paper: Kraft, Hawaiian Shores, White, Dotty Biscotti Patterned Paper
Ink: Plum Pudding, Hawaiian Shores, Melon Berry, Brilliance Moonlight White
Other: Fiskars Border Punch, Nesties Label 1, Pop Dots, Woodgrain Impression Plate

Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #3

I'm getting in my entry for the Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #3 at the very last minute!

Here's my card and you can see the sketch by Suzanne below:

The card opens in the middle and there is a band around it that slides up and off so that the card can be opened.

I used the Beautiful Blooms II stamp and dies to make this flower.  I really like how it turned out.

I kept the inside simple and tried for an elegant look all around.

And, here's the sketch that inspired it all:

Great sketch Suzanne!  Thanks so much for the challenge! It was a lot of fun!

Thanks everyone for stopping by today! I 'd love to hear what you think!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps:  Fancy Flourishes, Beautiful Blooms II, Fillable Frames 3
Paper: Smokey Shadow, Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy
Ink: Champagne VersaMark, Palette Charcoal
Other: Beautiful Blooms II Dies, Button, Scrapper's Floss

Bundle of Joy

This is for a neighbor who I desperately need to get a baby present too (I've had it for WEEKS now and have never taken it to her!).  I know...very bad!!

I really like the contrast that the New Leaf paper provides against the Hibiscus Burst paper!  Since this stamp set came  out, I've always loved that flower image!  It makes great background paper!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you had a good weekend and enjoy your Monday!  It's rainy and cold here and I need to get out and get groceries.  Hoping the sun makes an appearance very soon! :)

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps:  Baby Button Bits, A Little Argyle
Paper: Hibiscus Burst, New Leaf, Rustic White
Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Palette Noir, Champagne VersaMark
Other: Border Punch Fiskars, PTI Button, Ribbon

Great Stamp Cleaner

I know that many of you who follow my blog may already know this, but recently someone on the PTI forums linked us to a blog with a "miracle" stamp cleaner (her terms).  I don't know about you, but I get so frustrated sometimes with how brown and icky my stamps get AFTER I clean them with my stamp scrubber from the ink residue and stamp cleaner all left behind.  I recently tried using baby wipes instead but didn't really like that option either.

So, after reading about "The Absorber" on this blog, I went out and bought one.  Let me tell you, it is wonderful!  The absorber "captures" the ink so it doesn't get back onto my stamps as I try to clean them.  It is washable!  So, when it is old and yucky I can throw it in the washing machine and it is as good as new! 

It comes on a roll in a tube.  I cut mine to twice the size of my stamping scrubber and then folded it over, so it is 2 layers thick in the tray.  When I close the scrubber tray, the absorber stays wet and it doesn't get moldy!! YEA!!  If you happen to forget and leave it out and it gets hard, all you have to do it re-wet it and it's as good as new!  When I feel like it needs more stamping solution, I just spray a little on and start cleaning.  If  I'm using a stamp that is larger than my scrubber tray I take the cloth out and wipe my stamp clean. 

If you don't own a stamp scrubber, that's ok!  You can store this in a plastic bag or one of the plastic cases that your stamps came in (if you use TAC or SU! stamps).  Then, just take it out each time you need to use it.

If you've tried it, I'd love to hear what you think!  If you haven't and you're fed up with the traditional methods of "cleaning" your stamps, try this out!  It's about $10 at Walmart or Target and you'll have plenty left over after cutting your pieces!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!

This is the card I made for my mother-in-law this year.  I really like these colors together!  It's hard to see in the photo, but I used the woodgrain stamps on my background.

I used the woodgrain impression plate on the New Leaf layer.  Can you see my "oops" in this picture?

I hope that all of the mother's that visit my blog have a great day today and that you get spoiled rotten!  As for me, I asked for a "PTI order" for Mother's Day!!  Notice how I didn't specify a dollar amount! LOL!!  And, for those of you who aren't mothers, I hope that you enjoy your day as well!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Round & Round, Woodgrain, Blooming Button Bits (Sentiment)
Paper: Lemon Tart, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, White
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Tart, Champagne VersaMark, Palette Giverny Green
Other: Fiskars Border Punch, Ribbon (Michael's), Labels 6 Nestabilities (I think), Circle Punch

Mother's Day

I have the best mom!!  Here's the card that I made for her this year.

The bird, birdcage and branch (which I {heart}!) is from My Cute Stamps "Ashley's Blossoms".  And, of course the sentiment is PTI!! 

I embossed the branch and used a tiny little bit of water color crayon on the flowers. 

I hope that all of you who are mothers, have a great Mother's Day!!  Thank you for stopping by today!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: My Cute Stamps "Ashley's Blossoms" & PTI Signature Greetings
Paper:  Aqua Mist, Rustic White
Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores, VersaMark, Palette Burnt Umber
Other: White Embossing Powder, Aqua Color crayons, Glitter pen, ribbon