Butterfly Dreams

I have wanted this stamp set since PTI released it in February. I just love how Niki designed it!! Butterflies are one of my all time favorite images. And they have a special place in my heart. Whenever I see one, I always think of my sister-in-law who passed away from Hodgkins Disease 15 years ago. It's like a sign that she is near me. It's funny, I just now realized that rainbows used to be the sign (long story) and here I made this card in rainbow colors. It was definitely not intentional! But I am loving the coincidence!!

Anyway this card was made for the PTI swap that I am in over at SCS. Angela gave us sketches to choose from and boy was this one a tough one for me. (Sorry, I can't find the sketch right now.) But once I got it together, everything fell into place. I love how that happens.

Stamps: PTI Butterfly Dreams
Ink: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Versamark
Paper: PTI White, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, SU Old Olive, PTI Hawaiian Shores, PTI Bitty Dots paper in Summer Sunrise & Berry Sorbet,
Misc: PTI Butterfly Die, flat back pearls

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #4

This is my first time doing a Papertrey Peeps Challenge. You can find their blog here. This challenge was to CASE one of Nichole's cards made from one of the last two releases and using a set NOT from that release, make a similar card.

This is the card that I chose:

I used an image from the first PTI Anniversary set to create my background. I don't have the new Dies so I cut out my vellum with my Silhouette machine. This card was super quick and easy to create. I am so used to wasting time making decisions on color combos, which images to use, type of ribbon. I think I need to CASE more often!! As a matter of fact, I just might do that today. :)

Stamps: PTI Simple Little Things
Ink: PTI Sweet Blush
Paper: PTI White &; Sweet Blush, Vellum
Misc: PTI Fresh Snow Grosgrain Ribbon, Sweet Blush Button, Vintage Cream Twine, Silhoutte Machine

Masculine Thinking of You

{you can click the pictures to enlarge}

Hi everyone! I want to thank you for all of your comments on my blog. It truly makes my day!  I haven't had too much time to visit all of your blogs recently and I apologize for that. I've been either too busy or my 7 yr old is on the computer. I think we need to get her her own. We used to have a laptop but the hubs took it apart one day several months ago. And it still sits in a thousand pieces in the box! Although if it were fixed I think I wouldn't get so much stamping done. ;-)

This is my second card for the Manly Card swap I'm in over on SCS hostessed by my friend Jen. I'm not sure the ribbon belongs but at least it's not Satin. Or polka dots. Or pink. :-D

Did you notice that I used PTI's Spring Moss pigment ink again? I am SO happy that I now know how to use this ink properly. I am seriously getting more and more addicted to Papertrey products. Didn't think it was possible! Look for more cards this week. I should be getting the new release items on Tuesday!!!!
Stamps: PTI On My Couch & Homemade
Ink: PTI Spring Moss, SU Chocolate Chip & Really Rust
Paper: PTI Spring Moss & Vintage Cream, SU Really Rust & Chocolate Chip, My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus Patterned Paper
Misc: SU Certainly Celery Twill Ribbon, Misc Button, Heidi Swapp Distresser tool

The Case of a Masculine card

 

I always struggle with Masculine cards. In fact, I only owned one set by SU and I just sold it. (To buy more PTI. Surprise!)  I cased this card from a lovely one that I found on SCS here. I used some twine for the swing rope and the very last of the PTI Wood buttons that my sweet friend Angela had sent to me months and months ago. It feels good to use hoarded product. I must remember that. ;) I have another masculine card completed that I will post later on. I'm so happy because I was in a huge creative slump but I think my Mojo is back. And just in time for my huge PTI order to arrive next week!

 

Stamps: SU Thoughts & Prayers, PTI Birthday basics & Turning a New Leaf

Ink: SU Old Olive, PTI Spring Moss, Adirondack Lettuce, Versafine Sepia

Paper: PTI Spring Moss, SU Textured Chocolate Chip

Misc: SU Top Note die, twine, PTI Wood Buttons

PTI Ink Success!!!

After I watched Nichole Heady's videos last week, I decided to give the PTI inks another chance. I just love PTI and I refused to give up. Plus I can be a bit stubborn. Just ask the husband. ;) I noticed that she did a lot of soft dabbing on the ink pad. That definitely wasn't my technique. It was more like smush, smush, smush, dab, dab, dab...stamp. She has also suggested to use the back of a spoon to get the ink incorporated. I'm too lazy to go all the way downstairs for a spoon so I just used my finger. My new technique is to smush the ink pad with my finger, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab and lightly press onto the paper. IT WORKED!! I was soooo happy!! Especially since the new Hawaiian Shores ink pad is on it's way to my hot little hands!


Stamps: PTI Floral Fusion, Fancy Flourishes, Communique Sentiments, BG: Texts
Ink: PTI Sweet Blush, Spring Moss
Paper: PTI Spring Moss, Sweet Blush
Misc: PTI Sweet Blush Ribbon, copic marker, CB Butterfly die, flat back pearl

Thank you for your Hospitality

I've been kind of blue lately, so I thought I would make a nice Spring like card for our PTI Swap over on SCS. We take turns hostessing and it's my good friend Angela's turn. I've been in lots of swaps before, but our PTI swaps are hands down, the best. I've basically stopped swapping except for our PTI Swaps. Anyway, I always have a difficult time coming up with something new and fresh every time. I thought this one turned out cute. But I'm hoping it's not too cute. (Sometimes I go overboard with the cutesiness. Ahem.)

I tried using PTI's new formulated Spring Moss ink but it just doesn't seem to like me. I ended up using a Martha Stewart chalk ink for the door. (I like Martha's pigment inks much better than PTI's. Shhh..don't tell!) But that's okay because I just can't get enough of those PTI stamps. Or ribbon. Or buttons. Or cardstock. Never enough. It's an illness.

I hope that wherever you are, you are staying warm, spending time with your family and are surrounded with love. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: PTI Home Made, On My Couch additions, Floral Fusion

Ink: Versamark, SU Old Olive, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa,Versamark Sepia, Martha Stewart Chalk Inks

Paper: PTI Spring Moss & Vintage Cream

Misc: PTI Spring Moss Satin Ribbon, clear embossing powder, brad, pop dots

Crafting away those Winter time blues

Hiya!! Have you missed me? I sure have missed blogging!! I got too busy with life and then I lost my Mojo. Luckily, a sweet little contest given by PTI got me back into the groove. In case you live under a rock, Nichole issued a challenge for her anniversary festivities here.

We got a record breaking 7 inches of snow the other day. It's extremely rare in this part of the country to get any snow! The kids were ecstatic and we jammed packed the day with every snow activity possible. I was frozen to the bone! So I thought some Spring Time colors were in order for today. I used PTI's Friends Til the End set. I definitely do not utilize it enough. I just love it. I thought it was perfect for the flower embellishments challenge. I am going to send it to my Mom since she has been going through a rough time taking care of my father after his bypass operation. Hopefully it will brighten her day. Take care blogging friends! Hope to be back again soon!!

Stamps: PTI Friends til the End, Communique Sentiments, Turning a New Leaf, Background Basics: Text Style
Ink: SU Whisper White Craft ink, PTI Raspberry Fizz, Memento Black, Ranger Lettuce
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss, New Leaf, White Select, Clearly Creative Cardstock
Misc: White embossing powder, PTI Buttons & Twine, Rhinestones, glue dots, pop dots

Sweet as can Bee

It's been a long ten days since I've posted. Lots going on and not enough time for me. I got my new PTI stamps last week and I couldn't wait to ink these cutie pies up! I snuck away this morning and whipped out this card while the girls watched tv. Sometimes I feel guilty but in reality, it will  probably be the only "alone" time I will get all weekend.

I put some glitter on the wings and adhered a rhinestone to the bee's head. Gotta have that bling! For the sentiment I used two different stamps. I always have trouble lining it up. So this time I stamped the last word first, which was "bee". Then I stamped the beginning of the sentiment and lined up the last word with the "bee" word. I think it came out pretty straight.

Hope you all have a great weekend! :)

Stamps: PTI Baby Button Bits
Ink: Versafine Sepia
Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart, Select White & Bitty Dots in Spring Moss
Misc: PTI Lemon Tart buttons, Spring Moss Satin Ribbon, rhinestone, Martha Stewart Glue & Glitter

Saturday Scrapbook Sketch Challenge #2

Over at the Inspired Crafters Blog we have a scrapbook sketch every Saturday. We take turns posting either the sketch or an inspiration piece. This week was a wonderful sketch taken from the 52 sketches blog.

I grabbed a photo that was on my daughter's All About Me poster that we did for school last year. It's such a cute picture. I found her walking around the house like this and I just grabbed the camera. It's not the best picture, but it caught her at the moment that I wanted to remember.

I'm not 100% happy with this page. But I'm just chalking it up to practice. I should have inked the flourish in a darker color and I should have used a darker journaling pen. But other than that, I guess it' okay. I'm normally not a circular type of girl. I like those boxy, clean lines. I know, how boring. I tried to match up the DSP with her cute little strawberry dress. And I couldn't resist using the PTI buttons. I've never been in love with buttons before, but PTI makes it easy. :)

Stamp: PTI Fancy Flourishes
Ink: Martha Stewart chalk ink
Paper: SU Certainly Celery, PTI Spring Rain & Sweet Blush, Basic Grey Nook & Pantry DSP
Misc: MS Journaling marker, PTI Sweet Blush buttons, flat back pearls, EK Success scallop punch, prima flower, Creampuff font for title, leaf die cut from Silhouette

Holiday cards...too early or too late? hmmm...

Over at the Inspired Crafters Blog we are holding challenges to get our holiday cards done early this year. Great concept for this procrastinator who didn't even send any cards out! It's unfathomable isn't it? A card maker did not send out cards for the biggest card sending occasion of the year. But this year things are changing. It makes this all very convenient when you have a basket full of stamps, dsp, ribbon, punches and embellies sitting on your craft table from last month.

This card came together easily. Well, besides the fact that I didn't have to look very far for the supplies...but because I had this cute Basic Grey paper that I loved. And it matched up perfectly with the cute stamped image of the eskimo girl. I doused her in some Martha Steward Glitter. LOVE this stuff!! I have been a glitter avoider for years and years. I hate that it gets everywhere. But Martha makes it easy to love. So much so, that I am now the proud owner of about a dozen bottles of her shiny happiness. Don't be surprised if you start seeing it on all of my projects in the near future. ;)

Stamps: PTI Holiday Button Bits, Basic Grey Snow Baby Bitsy Stamp
Ink: SU Ruby Red, Ranger Tea Dye Ink
Paper: PTI Aqua Mist, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses
Misc: SU Certain Celery twill ribbon, MS Glitter, pop dots, copics