Play Date Cafe (PDCC122)

I thought I was overdue for a color challenge. I really don't do well with color challenges because they are usually out of my comfort zone. Today is no different. The Play Date Cafe's colors to use are:

Charcoal, Ash, Butter

I would love to tell you that I whipped this card up in no time. But it took me a VERY long time. It was frustrating and I had/have 2 other cards sitting on my desk that just aren't working out. Yet! I kept going between the 3 of them and making changes here and there. I also had to sew and re-sew, then cut the mistakes off the paper, re-sew again, rearrange the layout....but I'm happy with how it came out in the end. Next I hope to finish off the 2 cards that are staring at me and mocking me right now. We'll see who wins.

I will be mass producing this card and sending them off to Operation Write Home. The deadline is
March 31st for Mother's Day cards if anyone is interested!



Stamps: Hero Arts, Verve, Stampin Up
Ink: Tim Holtz Black Soot, Amuse Slate, Memento Dandelion
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream and Rustic Cream, Bazzill, Vellum, October Afternoon Sidewalks
Misc: PTI Die, Hero Arts Die, sewing machine

Shabby Shutters

I decided that while I was waiting for the new shutter dies by Poppy Stamps, I would try to make my own. First I cut some kraft paper 1-1/2" x 2-3/4". Then I impressed them with PTI's Woodgrain Impression plate. Next I cut them into 3 equal pieces, inked the edges and roughed them up a bit with my kraft knife. I did the same techniques with the horizontal wood pieces and then glued them on. Behind the shutters I used 2 pop dots stacked on top of each other to add dimension, but I also adhered the cardstock closest to the window with my glue.

That butterfly landed there because I got an ink smudge on the window.
Of course the smudge happened after I put the card together. 

I hope you are having a great day! I'm going back to procrastinating on what I should be doing today.

Stamps: PTI Tiny Tags, unknown brick background stamp
Ink: PTI Kraft
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, Spring Rain and Kraft, SU Ruby Red, Vellum
Misc: PTI Kraft Satin Ribbon, Amuse Butterfly Die, Poppy Stamps Window Die, 
PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate

Sending you Sunshine

Finally the sun is shining today! So I thought it only appropriate to share this card.

{All products PTI}


And I'd also like to share some exciting news. I am now a part of a wonderful group of bloggers. I have always admired them. They all exude a class and dignity that I really appreciate. Especially these days. You can visit their blogs via my left sidebar.

Be on the lookout for monthly challenges! The first one will be next month. I can't wait!

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Day 9 Butterfly Challenge #4

Okay, this is probably the last card for today. It's Monday night and I gotta catch some of my favorite shows. One is an awful program that I'm embarrassed to even admit that I watch. But it's my only guilty tv pleasure. Alright, there are 2 shows. But that's it!

Stamps: PTI sentiment, My Cute Stamps image
Ink: Amuse and PTI Kraft ink (love it!!)
Paper: PTI
Misc: Amuse butterfly die

PTI Day 9 Butterfly Challenge #3

Another entry for the challenge. I'm telling you, if I had more time today I would have had about a dozen cards made!

Maybe I can squeeze in just.one.more before the end.

PTI Day 9 Challenge #2

I attempted to make a one layer card. These are so difficult for me! I used a few different sets and my $15 grass stamp. ;)

PTI Anniversary Day 9 Butterflies and Leaves Challenge

Huge prize up for grabs at PTI today. I am obsessed with butterflies. I love how beautiful they are and what they represent; new beginnings. They also mean that whenever I see one, my late Sister-in-Law is saying hello to me. So butterflies are very special to me! Be warned, once I get the new Beautiful Butterflies set, I will probably saturate this blog with butterfly cards. ;)

Stamps: PTI Out on a Limb, Hero Arts (sentiment)
Ink: Amuse
Paper: PTI
Misc: Poppy Stamps window die, Amuse butterfly Die

PTI Anniversary Day 7 Challenge

Nothing like the prospect of free stamps to get me out of my card making rut. ;)
I stuck with the same color combo since it takes less thinking. And less sorting through all of the different cardstock, ink and ribbons. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with too many choices!

I used PTI's new heart border die to cut out all of the hearts and line them up in the shape of a heart. It's not perfect. But as usual I am rushed for time. We are going to see the US Women's soccer team play today. My 9 yr old is a huge soccer fan so she's very excited. Honestly I'm not looking forward to sitting outside in the 34 degree weather. But I shall reward myself with new stamps on the 15th. ;)

All product Papertrey Ink

Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Sketch #5 Challenge

In between getting the kids from school, going to the eye glass store and trying to figure out what the heck is for dinner before tonight's Valentine's Dance at the school, I put together another card. The flowers on the patterned paper didn't *quite* go with the shading of the butterfly so I used a copic and flicked some color onto the flowers.

Off to make another card, er, I mean dinner.
Maybe.

All products Papertrey Ink except for the Hero Arts butterfly and October Afternoon patterned paper.

Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Sketch #1 Challenge

All products Papertrey Ink except the butterfly die by Amuse.