pti july blog hop...

Hey friends!!   Time for the July PTI blog hop.  While many of you will be hopping around, checking out all the beautiful cards and leaving comments I will be motoring down the freeway on my way to California with my boys.  But, before I left I had to make sure that I got a card made for this month's blog hop.   The inspiration photo for this month is so lovely.  I tried to pull some of the colors from the photo, as well as including butterflies.  My layout is based on one of the PTI release week sketches.  I used up a tiny amount of my huge supply of patterned paper for the background, as well as for the butterfly.  After trimming the patterned paper to fit the Rustic White card panel I adhered it and added the sentiment from Pretty Peonies in black ink.   Pretty Peonies is one of my very favorite PTI sets and the only one I own that has a butterfly in it.   I die cut the butterfly from Rustic White cardstock and then stamped it using kraft colored ink.  Some off white hemp twine was added behind the large butterfly (cut with a Stampin Up! die), adhered to the panel and then the smaller butterfly added.   Finished with a little paper flower.  This is another one of those cards that as I was making it I wasn't entirely sure if I would like how it turned out, but once I was done I really like it!  I'm also going to add this to the July SSS Work It Wednesday challenge:  die cuts.  

Thanks for stopping by today... I appreciate your comments and will return the favor once I have internet for my Nook tablet.  (Comment moderation is on so your comment will appear once I get the chance to approve them.)

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Rustic white, Stampin Up! Crumb Cake; Stamps:  PTI; Dies:  PTI and Stampin Up!; Inks:  Stampin Up! and Memento; hemp twine; Prima paper rose; Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye

be..you..tiful...

Hey friends!!  Yesterday I got some happy mail from Ellen Hutson.  I have been on a little craft fast for the last two months and that means no new stamps and dies.  I had been doing really well and not purchased anything new until Ellen Hutson had a recent sale.  But I couldn't resist getting a Essentials by Ellen set I have wanted for a long time, Bokeh Dots, and a die, Be-you-tiful.  I put both of them to good use as soon as I got them, lol!   I will be posting this to the current Ellen Hutson Pin-Sights challenge, as well as the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, sparkle and shine.   I used two different shades of blue and one shade of red ink.  After stamping all the images I die cut out the be-you-tiful from the panel.  Additional cuts were made using white and red cardstock and then layered back into the opening ending with the one originally cut from the panel.  I added some sparkle with clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  You can't see it in the photo, but I also added some partial embossing with a Stars embossing folder.  As I was checking to see what the new sketch was over at CAS(E) this Sketch I could believe my eyes... a sketch almost exactly like my card!!  How funny is that??  So... posting this to CTS, as well.  Also adding this to Simon Says Stamp's July Work it Wednesday.   Here is a close up of the die cutting and the sequins:

 

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white; Stampin Up! Night of Navy; Stamps and dies:  Essentials by Ellen; Inks:  Stampin Up! Night of Navy, Real Red and Marina Mist; Pretty Pink Posh clear sequins; Stampin Up! Stars embossing folder

 

two card post...

Hey friends... popping in with a couple of cards that I had the chance to make today.  Weather has been hot, hot, hot and for me that means stay inside as much as possible!   The first card was made for the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge "get in shape", as well as the current Colour Me...! challenge.   I have also posted this card in the SSS flickr group and entered it in the current SSS flickr group challenge:  die cuts.   Love the SSS Thank You Ticket die and wanted to use it in a different way so I die cut it from some SU! Watermelon Wonder cardstock, took it apart and then adhered it as you see.  The card was made using the largest die in the MFT jumbo fishtail flag stax set.  Stamped the card allover using some of the solid and line images from the Scribble Flowers set using Pear Pizzazz and Soft Sky inks.  Added in a few spots using kraft colored ink.  Adhered the tickets and then added the word "friend" from Artful Flowers in black ink. 

The second card was made using July Viva La Verve sketch #3.  I used lots of patterned paper for this one and did some paper piecing, as well.  The papers are from an SU! paper stack.  The stamps are from the Verve set  Wonderfully Made.   A tab die from the Verve Flag It die set was used as well.   As I started this card and began adding all the different patterns I was a bit worried as to how it would turn out, but after I was done I was really pleased... I think it looks perfect!  The flower from Wonderfully made was stamped on several papers, trimmed out, adhered together and added to the card front.   I used black ink to stamp the sentiment, but for whatever reason it didn't stamp super dark so it looks kinda like grey!

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Fresh Snow linen; Recollections white; Patterned paper:  Stampin Up!; Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp and Verve; Dies:  Simon Says Stamp,Verve and My Favorite Things; Inks:  Stampin Up! and Memento

i think your quite nice...

Hello friends!!   Going to try to make this a quick one.  Have a card I made for the new PTI release week challenge:  Create Along with Us, as well as the current ColourQ challenge.  I almost didn't play along with ColourQ this week.   Summer Starfruit isn't one of my favorite colors, but I pushed forward and found some patterned paper that worked.    The idea behind the PTI challenge is to create something inspired by one of the design teams' release week projects.  I chose a card made by Laura Bassen.  I loved the angled frame part of the design.  I changed things up by not trimming of portions of the frame the way Laura did, as well as adding an additional layer to the card.  I used the Nostalgic Notions set for the flowers and sentiment.  The frame was die cut using my A Jillian Vance Design Polka Dot Backdrop dies.   Stamping the sentiment within the angled panel was a real bear... thought I was going to go cross-eyed or something by the time I had it done.  It came out pretty darn straight, but the more I looked at it the more off kilter it looked, lol!  And despite the fact that I don't like the Summer Starfruit color I really like how the card turned out.  I threw in some neutral colors (SU!'s new Tip Top Taupe and River Rock, as well as Simon Says Stamps' fog cardstock)

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white; SSS fog; My Mind's Eye patterned paper; Stamps:  PTI; Dies:  PTI and A Jillian Vance Design; Ink:  Stampin Up! Calypso Coral, Pink Pirouette and Rich Razzleberry; Crystal Stickles

a little cupcake...

Hey friends!!   Can't believe we are already in the middle of July... time sure does fly by doesn't it?   Despite time flying by rapidly I managed to capture enough of it to make a card for a few challenges:  CASology - cupcake, Color Throwdown, CAS(E) this Sketch and Seize the Birthday.  My niece turned 13 this week and so I will be giving her this card along with some birthday $$$.   I admit that I am not the most innovative or creative cardmaker out there, lol!  I tend to take things very literally when it comes to sketches and that is pretty much what happened with the CTS layout.   No harm in that, right?   Since I wanted to make a card with a cupcake on it I looked at the my stamp sets and realized that cupcakes are sorely lacking in my collection, but I managed to locate the one I used in my PTI Blue Skies stamp set.  It even comes with a cute little cherry!!  Die cut all the pieces using the matching dies and stamped them up with purple and pink inks.  Originally the small rectangle was die cut from white cardstock, but then I decided to switch it out for the black and I like it much better.  After adhering the cupcake bottom to the banner I added some silver metallic thread... that took much longer than anticipated, lol!  After adhering all of that I added the cupcake top and cherry using foam dimensionals.  The piece was adhered to white cardstock die cut using my A Jillian Vance Design rectangle polka dot backdrop die.  Added some pink sequins for and mounted it on some cardstock that matched the purple ink (PTI's Winter Wisteria cardstock and ink).

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white; PTI winter wisteria and black; Stamps:  PTI Blue Skies; Dies:  PTI Blue Skies, Spellbinders plain rectangles, MFT banner dies and A Jillian Vance Design;  Sequins:  Pretty Pink Posh; DMC silver metallic thread

Wednesday with... A Jillian Vance Design

Hey friends!!  Quick post to let you know that I have a little Christmas in July project up on the A Jillian Vance Design blog.  Here is a little peek:

Thanks for stopping by today... please pop over to the AJVD blog for a full look!

 

too much happy?

Hey friends!!  Super quick post sharing a card that I made last week using a Splitcoaststampers color combo.  I posted the card in my Splitcoast gallery, but decided to share it here, as well since it fits the current challenge over at Time Out (nature with a twist of animals... not sure if a butterfly counts, lol!).  Also posting this to the current Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge of anything goes.   Used some of my favorite Stampin Up! stamp sets on this one (Kinda Ecelectic, Butterfly Basics and Yippee-Skippee!).   The color combo was SU! Melon Mambo, Island Indigo and Sahara Sand.  I used Ranger's Pumice Stone distress ink since I don't have Sahara Sand and it is a good match.  Had fun going a little crazy with the stamping.  After I finished I decided to add some bits of stitching using silver metallic thread.  I used my PTI Stitching Line dies (is that what they are called??) and die cut to lines of holes and then added the stitching.  Threw a bit of washi tape on there, too!  The card is kinda funky, but I do like it. 

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white, Stampin Up! Sahara Sand; Inks:  SU! and Ranger; Stamps:  Stampin Up!; Dies:  PTI; Thread:  DMC silver metallic thread; My Mind's Eye washi tape

i will never forget...

Hey friend!!  Hope your week is off to a good start.  Have a card to share for a few challenges:  Sweet Sunday Sketch, MFT Color challenge and Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge:  anything goes.  Last night I was hunting around for a few challenges to play and decided to check to see if MFT had their color challenge posted and they did... YAY!  I haven't played along in an MFT challenge in... well... I can't remember, lol!   I really liked the color combo so I combined it with the new layout from Sweet Sunday Sketches.  I used an older MFT set designed by Lisa Johnson called Forget Me Not.  I think I have only used this lovely little set once!  Played around with the colors a bit and settled on using the peachy color for my flowers and the yellow and lavender colors as accents.  The lavender cardstock I used is from Stampin Up!, but I'm not entirely sure if it is Wisteria Wonder or an older SU! color called Lavender Lace.  Whatever the case it worked, lol!  The peachy ink color I used is Simon Says Stamp's Pale Blush.  The yellow is Memento Dandelion and the green is Memento Pear Tart.   Die cut the flowers and stem with the matching Forget Me Not dies and then stamped them.   After I finished stamped the border image in yellow I decided to do some partial embossing on the panel and then added the strip of black cardstock.  Layered up the die cut circles, added the sentiment and the flowers and I was done. 

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white; Simon Says Stamp fog, SU! lavender; Inks:  Simon Says Stamp and Memento; Stamps:  MFT Forget Me Not; Dies:  Spellbinders circles and MFT Forget Me Not; dotted embossing folder

shine brightly...

Hello friends!!   Things have turned a bit gloomy and cool here in the Puget Sound area and with that comes the opportunity to stay home and do some crafting.  Using the inside time I created a card for the July Verve Diva Inspiration challenge (stripes) and the July Viva La Verve challenge (week 2 sketch).    Using up some more of my patterned paper.  This time from the My Mind's Eye Kate & Co Oxford Lane 6x6 pad.   Lots of nice stripped papers in that little pad.    I cut the main panel using the Avery Elle Dotted Elle-ments die and then added a panel of plaid striped paper to the center.  A Wilton doily was layered over that.  Two tags were die cut using my Reverse Confetti Tag Me die one from striped patterned paper and one from white cardstock.  The white cardstock tag was stamped with a sentiment from the Verve set Shining Star in navy ink.  Some stars were die cut using the Verve Starry die and added to the tag.  Finished things off with some ribbon and twine.  I do think I'm stretching the stripes idea a bit with the plaid patterned paper so I hope this is strippy enough for the Diva Inspiration challenge. 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white, Stampin Up! Night of Navy; Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye; Stamps: Verve; Dies:  Verve, Reverse Confetti & Avery Elle; PTI ribbon; hemp twine; Wilton doily

what makes you different...

Hey friends!!   Have a little card to share that I made today for a few challenges:  Color Throwdown, Reverse Confetti July Sketch for You to Try and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge:  furry friends.   I will state upfront that my "furry friend" is a flamingo, but I figured it was okay to enter the SSS challenge since two of the design team members used flamingos on their cards.  I think flamingos are probably rather furry when they are babies, lol!   Anyway... I used the Reverse Confetti set Fabulous Flamingos and the matching dies.  When I saw that set I had to have it because I have a little thing for flamingos (a tiny little thing... I have one flamingo statuette that I purchased from an antique shop years ago and that is it, lol.).   Still trying to make a dent in my huge patterned paper collection so I tried to find papers that worked well with the current Color Throwdown combo.  Found good matches in two different pads (one is a My Mind's Eye pad and the other is a BasicGrey pad).   Die cut and stamped the flamingo using pink and orange inks.  Brought in the green with patterned papers and the black with ink and black cardstock.   Attached the little banner (from the RC die set Tag Me) using a couple of staples.   After everything was adhered to the card base I decided to add a little pink button tied with some black baker's twine.  

Thanks for stopping by today...

 

 

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white; Stamps:  Reverse Confetti; Inks:  Stampin Up! Pumpkin Pie and Pretty in Pink; black baker's twine; Dies:  Spellbinders plain circle dies, Reverse Confetti Tag Me  and Flamingo Confetti Cuts

Wednesday with A Jillian Vance Design...

Hey friends!!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up over on the A Jillian Vance Design blog.  Here is a little peek at my card:

Thanks for stopping by today... I hope you will take the time to head over to the AJVD blog.

you are so awesome...

Hello friends!!  Hope everyone in the US has a wonderful 4th of July!  We hung out at home and when it got dark my two pyrotechnic freaks (hubby and my youngest) got to work setting off our little backyard show!  Early in the day I had a little crafty session and made this little card using the ColourQ combo and the July week one sketch from Viva La Verve.   Still in using up my patterned paper mode.  This card using papers from two different 6x6 pad (Teresa Collins Family Stories and My Mind's Eye Moments).   I used the Verve stamp set So Fluttery along with the companion Flutterby die.   I stamped the outline butterfly using SU!'s Midnight Muse and then the solid image using SU!'s Pool Party.  After layering up all the elements and adhering the butterfly I added some Crystal stickles to the butterfly body.  With all the dots on this card I think I will also add this to the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge:  getting dotty.  As I was putting this card together I wasn't sure about all the patterned papers I used, but after I got it done I really liked how it turned out.  Sometimes you just don't know how things will turn out until you give it a try!!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white, PTI kraft, SU! Poppy Parade; Stamps:  Verve; Dies:  Verve and Spellbinders; Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye, Teresa Collins; Crystal Stickles; Inks:  Stampin Up! and Memento

make do and mend...

Hello!!!  WOW... it is darn hot here in the Pacific Northwest!!   As I am typing this post it is 91 degrees!!   Too hot for me, lol!!   Thank goodness we have an air-conditioned house otherwise I don't know what I would do!!  All this heat has left me with an acute lack of desire to make anything, but I had some design team work to do so after I finished up that project I made this little card using the current layout from Freshly Made Sketches, as well as the current Color Throwdown combo of turquoise, orange, kraft and white.  Since that is a rather summery color combo I think I will post this to the current Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge, as well.  I combined some old things (the patterned paper I used) with some new (the newest PTI Make it Market kit Nostalgic Notions).   I really liked the simplicity of the layout and so kept my design simple, as well.  I used the heart shaped button die from the kit to make my button and then stamped it with corresponding images from the little button stamp set included in the kit.  After adhering my patterned paper stripes to a piece of white cardstock I added the little corner images using orange and turquoise inks and then the sentiment in black.  Some kraft colored twine was tied around the piece and the button adhered.  Mounted it on a kraft card base.   Well... gotta make dinner and then I think the boys and I will head out into the heat to watch our church's annual 4th of July celebration.  No fireworks at this celebration... just lots of good music, patriotic music that celebrates God and our great country! 

 

Thanks for stopping by today...

Supplies:  Cardstock:  Recollections white, PTI kraft; Patterned paper:  Stampin Up!; Inks:  Stampin Up! Tempting Turquoise, Hero Arts Orange Soda; kraft bakers twine; Stamps and dies:  PTI Nostalgic Notions

Wednesday with AJVD...

Hey friends... hope your week is going well.  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the A Jillian Vance Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of my card:

Thanks for stopping by today... I hope you will take the time to head over to the AJVD blog and leave a little love!