Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #209 and Fusion

It's time for another Make it Monday at Papertrey Ink.   This week was a little out of my comfort zone.  It involved placing white die cuts on white cardstock and then choosing one die cut to pop out and color.  I am not good at white space.  I tend to fill up my cards which I know is less pleasing to the eye than negative space but I can't help myself!   If you haven't seen the video please check it out here. 

I decided to pull my colors from this week's Fusion Card Challenge.   (Oops missed the deadline!)

Would you believe I looked at this photo and didn't see red/white/blue!  It wasn't until I started my card that I realized how patriotic it is going to look!  DUH!

I didn't want to copy Lexi's card exactly but I didn't have many dies that match my stamps...so this is it!  I used PTI's flippin' out .  I split the set with another person so I only had the heart print flip flop stamp and the dies.  I cut the flip flop straps out of a brushed silver paint sample.  (Love these freebies for a little hint of metallic) I stamped the  white flower die cuts with a polk a dot  stamp from PTI's Happy Hexagons.   The sentiment looks black but I actually embossed it with silver embossing powder.  A rhinestone placed in the middle of the flowers finishes off the card.

I do like how the white space has texture without making the card too busy.  I think this technique would be great with some butterflies or flower dies.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please come visit again!

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PTI Make It Monday: #206 Stamping and Mixing Patterns

Have you checked out the latest MIM video from Danielle?  It's wonderful!   It involves stamping various patterned papers and using a mix of patterns in one project.  You can see it here.

I needed a sympathy card ASAP so this challenge was the perfect opportunity for me to make a quick card.  I used my go to sympathy sentiment.  I found it on Pinterest and don't know who to give credit to but you can find it here.   I sized the sentiment at 2.5" x 2".    I had soo much fun making my own patterned papers!  I used Recollections card stock which didn't stamp smoothly at all.  Thanks to the Misti though I was able to stamp triple to get a semi-decent image.  In this instance the splotchiness added to the rustic colors. 

I chose a color palette from the PTI Feb 2015 release.  I actually stamped two sets of these so I have plenty to use for future cards. 

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Here are the stamps I used:

Papertrey Ink:
Happy Hexagons
Turning a New Leaf
Honey Bees
Bells and Boughs
Everyday Classics (anniversary set)

Martha Stewart:
Scallop border

I used the latest Fusion Card Challenge Sketch:

I liked the colors in the fusion photo but didn't think they would work well for a sympathy card.

The hexagon background paper actually stamped fairly quick with the aide of a tip from Betsy Veldman.  She showed us how to line up the hexagon stamps to stamp rows of one color easily building the background.  You can see it here. 

It's hard to see in the photo (click to make it larger).  I stamped the row of hexagons on my stamp-a-ma-jig image sheet.  I then added some micropore tape to make a hinge to move the image sheet out of the way for stamping on my card.  Instead of moving my stamps I moved my card up and down using the image sheet as a guide.  Oh and I put down some post it tape on the left of my Misti to give me a guide to line up my card against since I would be stamping over the edge of the card.
 

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Fusion Card Challenge: Two Hearts

Above is the latest Fusion Card Challenge.   I just love those wooden hearts!  I couldn't wait to make a card using the photo as inspiration.  I decided to make a series of cards using two files of my own creation.

You cut the heart balloon overlay several times and simply layered the remaining pieces into the overlays like a puzzle.  Here is a closer look at the individual cards.

Once put together I ran the entire card through a SU texture plate which helped integrate the heart balloon  pieces better.  I added some glossy accents to the sentiment to give it some body and shine.  This set of cards came together soo quickly!  I think I might design a file with regular balloons.  I would love to make up a masculine set of these to have on hand for birthdays.

Thanks soo much for stopping by!  Please come back again! 

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Feminine Chalkboard Birthday Card

I hope you haven't fainted!  I just blogged yesterday and now I'm blogging again today!  An amazing feat for me since I'm not good about blogging.  One of my goals for this year is to get better at blogging so...hopefully you'll be hearing more frequently from me!

Yesterday I had posted a fun card using a wonderful  printable chalkboard sentiment from Nest of Posies.  Check out my post in case you missed it.  I printed 3 sentiments on a page so I had some left over and lots of birthdays this month so I figured why not make another.

Once again I used the current Fusion Card Challenge. 

I loved the colors in the sketch.  The mix of pink and gold is just beautiful.  I decided to use my Card Base 6 file again since it worked so well for my brightly colored card.

I was thrilled to finally get to use some of my handmade paper.  (My son got a paper making kit for his birthday one year.  It makes gorgeous paper from scraps!)  Keep in mind my KNK digital paper cutter will not cut the handmade paper since it is too fiberous.  However, It was easy to cut card stock triangles to use to trace a pattern on the handmade paper and cut out to place on the pennants in the top right corner.  I used a paper trimmer for the strip on the bottom.  This photo doesn't do the paper justice.  It has golden foiled diamonds and hand stitched swirls.  A few sequins and twine finished up the card. 

If you would like to purchase my file...please click here or on the preview below.

The kids had a snow day today.  They are loving having the day off..but I bet they will be awfully antsy in June when they are still in school!  I hope the weather is good in your neck of the woods! 

Have a wonderful week!  Please stop by again!

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Chalkboard Birthday

Hello everyone!
I have a whole bunch of birthdays to remember to send cards to in January.  I depleted my stash so the first place I turn is card challenges.  I came across Fusion's Card Challenge first and didn't need to go any further.

The challenge involved using the gorgeous photo and/or the sketch for inspiration.  I was so excited to see the chalkboard sign.  I have long been wanting to incorporate the chalkboard technique into my crafting projects but never really looked up how to create the look.  I was pressed for time and had to get that card in the mail.  So I looked up chalkboard printables and came across this amazing birthday signs from Nest of Posies.  Thanks Kellie!  Click here to see them yourself.  I sought out my Card Base 6 file and in minutes I had a wonderful card!

I had have a horrible time creating masculine cards so I hope this passes for one!  I wasn't too sure about the balloon background.  Do you think it's too busy?  It is festive that is for sure!  The chalkboard sentiment was the perfect focal point of this card.  I can't wait to use more of these in the future!

If you haven't given chalkboard sentiments a try..I encourage you to do so!  If you would like you can click here or on the preview above to purchase this file.  I printed 3 sentiments on a sheet of white card stock.  Honestly, it didn't even take as much ink as I thought it would.

It's time for supper and my belly is rumbling!  My wonderful hubby made turkey meatloaf, rice and brussel sprouts...yummy!

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again!

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Card A Day Blog: Get Well and Fusion #2

It's my turn again to continue the Get Well theme at the Card A Day blog.  This is a theme card that should be always in one's stash.  But guess what it's never in mine!  I needed two cards for two friends who recently had surgery.  So this one will be used immediately and I may just duplicate it for the other friend.  Note to self:  make more Get Well cards!

I decided to use the Fusion Challenge #2 for the inspiration of my card.

When I saw this photo I immediately thought of bees!  Weird huh!  Well it works because I have an adorable bee stamp set that I was dying to use.  Let me show you my card then I'll explain more of how it came about.

I wanted to use hexagons with the bees and since the fusion sketch didn't have any hexagon shapes I sought inspiration elsewhere.  I had pinned this card by Sheri Feypel.  I loved her use of hexagons..embossing..and butterflies.  I figured bees would work just as well as butterflies so I got to creating.  I punched the hexagons using the 1 1/4 inch size.  I used Papertrey Ink's honey bees stamps and embossed the bees.  Does embossing powder get old?  I tried various inks and two different embossing powders plus different papers but the surface failed to get raised and shiny.  Eventually I ended up using Versamark ink stamping...heat embossing then stamping image over the embossing before then heat embossing again getting the raised image I wanted.  Thank goodness I was using clear stamps or that would have been impossible!  I used some fun flock on the the largest bees yellow body to make it nice and fuzzy.  The sentiment is from PTI's honey bee sentiments.  I embossed the background with a wood grain embossing folder to mimic the fusion photo then rubbed some grey ink over the embossing to bring out the details more.  I added some white sequins to mimic the flight of the bees and add movement to the card. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Please come back again..I'll have another challenge card to share soon.  It's freezing here..hope it's warm where you are!  I think I need to buy more sweaters!  Brrr!

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Fusion Card Challenge #1

I'm back again as promised.  I have another challenge card to share.  I stumbled upon the Fusion Card Challenge last week.

It's an interesting concept....you can use just the sketch or just the photo for inspiration...or go for it all and use both!  I really loved the orange/grey/white color combo but unfortunately I used most of my grey cardstock up for the previous challenge so instead I used a piece of pattern paper and pulled my colors from there.  Hmm..guess it would be best just to show you my card before I explain any more huh!

I absolutely adored design team member Betty J's card example so I decided to case hers.  I used one of my card base files to add some decorative border strips to the sides.  The butterflies are from my 3-D butterflies file.  (Both files are coming soon to my new store!).   I actually made two cards one with the embossed butterflies and one with plain butterflies.  I definitely like the texture the embossed butterflies add to the card.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's. Happy Hexagons mini stamp set.  I was very happy to dig out my dusty/forgotten fiber to wrap around the bottom of the card.  It is hard to see in the photo but it's tiny pom poms on a string...adds a fun element to this card.  Oh and some more of those gems designed for jeans was added to the center of the butterflies.  The wings were attached with a tiny piece of foam tape allowing them to be folded slightly in the middle to give a 3-D effect.

Time to get the kids ready for bed.  I'll see you back here on the 17th for my Card a Day blog post.  Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the rest of your week!

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