A Manly{ish} Card

I know!!  It's like a record for me, three posts in one week.  I'm working on cutting back on several commitments so I can gain back some more crafty time, I'm really missing it.

So, today I have a manly-ish card to show you.  The -ish is because it has pink in it, and swirls, and pearls.  But I still think it can be considered manly.  Here, take a look:

I made this card for my dad for Valentine's Day.  Yep, I still exchange cards and small gifts with my family.  I'm always up for any holiday that involves presents! :)  So, is it too girly?  Aldo thinks it it.  But what does he know?  There's not a single bow on this one!

I started off with a smokey shadow cardstock base that I double stamped with the largest flourish from my PTI Fancy Flourishes stamp set.  Then I added a doily, that I misted with pink Tattered Angels mist.  Honestly, I didn't expect it to come out so pink, but it is Valentine's Day after all.  Once it dried, I stamped it with the same flourish pattern in black ink.  I die cut several book page layers with MFT's jumbo scallop border die, staggered the layers, and slightly curled them with my fingers for added dimension.  I added a section of pleated black ribbon to hide the seam between the border layers and the doily.  The star was die cut out of more smokey shadow cardstock and stamped with watermark ink using several stamps out of the Grunge Me stamp set.  The sentiment was stamped in black ink.  I couldn't help it and added three back pearls on the top right corner, it needed a little something up there. :)

Well, there you have it, my manly-ish Valentine's Day card.  What to you think?

Supplies

Cardstock: smokey shadow - PTI

Stamps: Fancy Flourishes - PTI, Grunge Me - PTI, Boy Basics: Game On - PTI

Ink: tuxedo black - Memento, Versamark watermark ink, pink Tattered Angels mist

Dies: jumbo scallop border - MFT, star - Spellbinders

Etc: black pearls - Pizzazz Aplenty, paper doily - Hobby Lobby; pleated ribbon

You Make Me Smile

I told you I'd be back. :)  I have another card to share with you today.  This one is for my mom's birthday.  Since I was on a Valentine's day kick, I just stuck with the same color scheme, just because pink makes me happy.

This is also a card I based off of a previous card, you can see the original one here. 

The card base is raspberry fizz cardstock with a sheet of patterned paper from MME's Lost & Found 2 paper pad.  I sponged the edges of the patterned paper with weathered wood Distress ink.  The doily was cut using my Parisian doily die out of smokey shadow cardstock.  I cut two layers of MFT's jumbo scallops out of smokey shadow and raspberry fizz cardstock and then layered them together so that just a tiny amount of smokey shadow peeks out underneath.  The raspberry fizz cardstock is stamped with Polka Dots Basics II in Memento Rosebud ink.  The die cut butterflies were attached to each other with a Maya Road stick pin before I adhered them to the card with a foam dimensional.  To finish it off, I used a sentiment from Verve's Blue Skies stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you later!

Supplies

Cardstock: raspberry fizz - PTI, smokey shadow - PTI

Paper: Lost & Found 2 - MME

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II - PTI; Blue Skies - Verve

Dies: parisian doily - PTI; signature series butterfly - PTI

Ink: rosebud - Memento, weathered wood - Distress

Etc: stick pin - Maya Road, satin ribbon - Hobby Lobby

Happy Valentine's Day

Hello, hello, is anybody out there?  My poor blog has been so neglected and abandoned.  But, I'm back today and, hopefully the next several days, with some Valentine's Day cards that I put together this weekend.  I apologize in advance for the terrible lighting in the photos, I took them at work with a borrowed camera.

Today's card is a quick and simple card that I cased out of one of my own creations.  I find that it helps to look back at my own stuff when I've been away from my papercrafting room for a while.  It helps get the creativity flowing again. 

I love the simplicity and clean lines of this layout.  The hearts were die cut out of PTI's true black and raspberry fizz felt and book pages from an old book.  I attached them to the card base using a straight stitch line from my sewing machine.  The sentiment is from Verve's Heart on Fire stamp set and topped of with a single pink rhinestone.  The bottom border was made using PTI's raspberry fizz cardstock and a Fiskar's border punch.  The ink on the paper hearts is Memento's Rosebud.

Thanks for stopping by today, I'll be back with another card later this week.

Courage

Happy Thursday everyone!  I'm back today with a quick and easy one layer card.

I made this card using the Grunge Me and Fancy Flourishes stamp sets from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped each of the images using various brown toned Distress Inks and embellished a few of the images with different colored pearls and rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty.  The sentiment, stamped in Rich Cocoa ink, is from Blue Skies by Verve.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fall Mantle

Two posts in one week!  I'm on a roll, lol.  I forgot how time consuming photo editing and blogging can be, but I'm glad to be getting in the swing again.  My crafty skills are also rusty from their summer vacation, the fall banner I made today took me way longer than usual.  That's okay, though, I totally enjoyed making this project.  Ready to see what I made?

I was inspired by the banner that Nichole Heady made last year for her mantle.  To make the individual banners, I cut a terracotta tile banner, embossed it with my Seeing Spots CB folder, sponged it with Tea Dye Distress ink and layered it over a larger banner in dark chocolate.  I used MFT's large scallop die to die cut strips of summer sunrise cardstock which I embossed with my Polka Dot CB folder and sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink.  The rosettes were made using Martha Stewart paper.  The fall leaves were die cut with a nestie and secured with a large dimensional.  The glittered letters are Thickers from American Crafts.  To finish off the banner, I attached it to some orange ribbon and added brown buttons in between the banners.  I'm so happy with the way it turned out!

Since our living room is decorated in oranges, browns, and reds, decorating for fall is so easy in this room!  I just switched the greenery for a fall one, added a few gourds and nuts, threw in my new banner, and presto! my mantle is ready for the new season.  That's my type of decorating! Thanks for stopping by!

I'm still here!

I know, I know, it's been forever since I posted on here.  It's just that I really haven't done anything crafty in quite a while.  But, I've cleaned off my desk and I've done a little bit of reorganizing, so I'm hoping that will help me get my mojo back.  Meanwhile, here's a card I made a couple of weeks ago that I never got around to posting here.

Aldo and I are in the process of SLOWLY redecorating our room and we've gone with a corral and grey color palette.  I had pulled out some of my copics to help up decide on shades and those colors were the inspiration for this card.  I embossed a piece of Smoky Shadow cardstock with my Seeing Spots cuttlebug folder, stamped a piece of Berry Sorbet with my Newsprint stamp in Vintage Cream, layered some velvet ribbon and bling over the layers and added my butterflies from Blue Skies last. 

Earlier this week, I visited Archiver's while I was in Austin and I found tons of inspiration for my scrapbook for the cruise we took 2 years ago.  Yes, I'm that far behind. :)  I purchased a kraft 8.5 x 11 binder from Hampton Arts.  It's meant to be one of those everyday life journal/scrapbook type things, but I like the size and I like that the binder itself can be customized.  I took plenty of pictures, bought lots of paper and embellishments, and I am now ready to start scrapbooking our trip.  I already did one page, yay me!  And, I'll post it on here as soon as I remember to photograph it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Double Warp

Howdy, folks!  I'm back today with another beautiful image from Prickley Pear's new release.  I absolutely LOVE all the new beautiful vintage images that were released, I've got several of them on my wish list.

For this card, I combined my focal image with lots of PTI backgrounds.  There's lots of details, so I hope I remember them all...

I stamped the card base with PTI's Newsprint stamps in pink ink and then sponged the edges with distress ink to age it.  I stamped a piece of kraft cardstock with the largest dots from PTI's Polka Dot Basics II using pink acrylic paint, then I swiped the edges with white and pink acrylic paint for a shabby chic feel.  On a simply chartreuse Mat Stack 4 die cut, I embossed the dress form and then stamped Text Style print over it with distress ink.  For my bow, I double looped crinkly ivory ribbon, added a twine bow using a piece of twine that I colored with a copic and a pink ribbon rosette topped off with a bright green epoxy brad.  The two Maya Road stick pins were colored with a copic marker to coordinate with the rest of the card colors.

Whew, lots to remember!  Thanks for stopping by!


Paper: white, kraft, simply chartreuse - PTI
Ink: Rosebud - Memento; Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, Crushed Olive - Distress, Versamark
Stamps: Double Warp - PPRS; Newsprint, Polka Dot Basics II, Signature Series: Dress Form, Text Style - PTI
Accessories: acrylic paint, clear embossing powder, Mat Stack 4 die - PTI; pink ribbon - Hobby Lobby, epoxy brad, hat pins - Maya Road, copic marker, twine - May Arts

Prickley Pear Rubber Release

PPRS has a fun new red rubber release in store for you, packed with vintage images & images that are great for fathers day or just for him. Be sure to visit the whole PPRS design team today team for great card ideas as we all have something to show off today. Be sure to leave comments on each blog, as three random winners will be chosen to to receive awesome rubber stamps from this release party! Winners will be chosen and announced Monday the 23rd!

Ready to see what I've got for you today?  Here it is!

I used the same layout from last week's CASE study card just because I love it so much! I used several new toys for this card, the doily die, the stamp, and the ribbons are all new to me and I was just itching use them on a card.

To make the raspberry rosette, I folded the ribbon in half, stitched it along the edges and pulled it tight.  I then slipped the rhinestone brad in the center.  I used the doily die from Dies Direct to make a doily using PTI's raspberry fizz cardstock and then I misted it with beige color mist.

Don't forget to leave a comment on all the blogs for a chance to win some rubber!  Thanks for stopping by!



Paper: Bo Bunny; DCWV - Luxury Stack; PTI - raspberry fizz; Neenah - cream cardstock
Stamps: PPRS - Geranium Flower Seeds
Ink: Memento - Rosebud; Distress - Antique Linen, Tea Dye
Accessories: Dies Direct - doily die; scrunched seam binding; The Paper Studio - crochet trim, brads; Prima - paper flowers; May Arts - ribbon

Another Case Study

Hi guys, I'm back with another Case Study card today.  This month's featured guest is Sarah Martina Parker.  I love her cards and have followed her for a while now.  I made the card a few days ago and completely forgot to post it! 

I chose to keep the layout and the shabby chic feeling of the card and several of the elements Sarah used in her card, but I changed the color scheme.  I used some paper from Cosmo Cricket for the background and added stitching to the middle panel.  I used a library card, like the CASE card.  I stamped mine out using PTI's library card stamp and then rounded out the edges.  The cute fairy with the dandelion is from The Craft's Meow and I absolutely love her!  I stamped her in red on cream cardstock and added a touch of sponging with Antique Linen.  The metal brads are from Hobby Lobby and the crochet rosette was made out of a scrap piece of trim.  Lots of elements went into this card, but I like it.

Prickley Pear will be releasing new rubber stamps on May 21, be sure to stop for the release!


Paper: cardbase - Neenah cream cardstock; Cosmo Cricket - Circa 1934, Social Club
Stamps: Butterfly Kisses - The Craft's Meow; Library Card - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento; Red Barn, Antique Linen, Tea Dye - Distress
Accessories: wrinkled seam binding; pearls - Pizzazz Aplenty; brads, crochet trim - The Paper Studio; burlap string - May Arts

Butterflies

As you may have noticed, I'm a bit obsessed with butterflies lately and the obsession doesn't seem to be letting up :)  I decided to use the classing yellow, white and blue palette for this card.  The butterflies were die cut out of vellum and stamped with blue dye ink.  I let them air dry overnight before pinning them together with a Maya Road pearl pin.  I tried to keep a subtle polka dot theme in the cardstock, stamping, and ribbon for a unifying look.

Thanks for stopping by!

You're A Treasure

I made this card quite a while back and completely forgot to post is here.  I used a Viva La Verve sketch for this card.  The background was stamped using Versamark on Ripe Avocado cardstock.  The library card is a stamp from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped it on Simply Chartreuse cardstock using Fresh Snow ink.  The metal flower is from Hobby Lobby with an epoxy brad on it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Prickley Pear Release

Welcome to the first day of the Prickley Pear's new clear stamp and die release.  We've got several sets to show you over the next several days so be sure to stop by Prickley Pear's blog to see who's featuring the new sets.  Ready for some eye candy?  Okay, here goes:

Today we're featuring the previously released scalloped circle die and the new coordinating stamp set.  I opted to keep the card rather clean and simple this time around.  I die cut the scalloped circle, stamped it with one of the coordinating borders and centers and added a few rhinestones for dimension.  The sentiment is also from the same set.

Be sure to check out the other design team members' blogs for more previews.  Thanks for stopping by!

Oh Baby

Hola amigos!  I've got another card to share today.  I'm just in love with MFT's a la mode girls.  I colored this cutie a while back and she has been waiting for me to use her in a card.  I used Shabby Shutters distress ink to stamp the damask design onto Ripe Avocado paper.  The tiny paper clip is from Stampin Up and it's been waiting for me to use it in a card as well.

Have a great weekend!

A Fabulous Day

Happy Friday!!  I'm so happy to finally be able to post again!  Our internet has been down for weeks and it's been driving me crazy!  Anyways, here's a card that's been waiting a while to be seen by the world. :)

Not much to tell about this card.  The butterflies were die cut out of felt and book print using PTI's  Signature Series Butterfly die.  And, that's about it. Easy peasy, right.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello Friend

Howdy, I'm back again with a card for this week's MFT sketch challenge. 

This card was super easy to make,  I kept the same color scheme from the CASE Study card I and just pulled paper from my scrap pile.  I happened to have this cute a la mode girl colored and waiting for me so it was just a matter of cutting and embellishing.  Yay for simple cards!!  The sentiment is from PTI's Embellishments stamp set.

Two posts in one day, not bad, huh.

Case Study

Hi guys, long time no blog, huh.  I'm back today with a card for this week's Case Study challenge.  This week's inspiration card kept running through my mind when I sat down to craft yesterday and I happened to have some butterflies colored in the inspiration colors so I just went with it.

I tried to keep as true to the card as possible without directly copying the sketch.  The orange paper is from pink paislee.  For the bottom scalloped panel, cut a piece of Hawaiian Shores cardstock, stamped my sentiment in brown ink and added two score lines on either side of the sentiment before punching the border with a Martha Stewart punch.  Some felt ric rac, an orange button, and brown twine completed this panel.  The white panel is stamped in brown with PTI's Fancy Flourishes.  I stamped the largest butterfly from Blue Skies, colored them with copics, cut them out and attached them with glue dots.  Some brown bling on the butterflies and on the bottom scallop finished off the card.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Birthday Gabby

We celebrated my friend Gabby's birthday last weekend and this was the card I gave her with her gift.  Since the colors were so strong, I tried to keep the layout simple.  I took inspiration from several PTI designers in making this card.  First I stamped some Hawaiian Shores cardstock with images from Delightful Doilies in white ink and Versamark, I rounded the top corners and sponged the edges with more white ink.  Then, I die cut the number from Smokey Shadow cardstock and embossed them with my Seeing Spots embossing folder.  I stamped the sentiment from Big Birthday Wishes onto vellum and embossed two lines on the vellum before attaching it to the card.  To attach it, I hid the adhesive under the sentiment.  A few strategically placed gemstones finished off the card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Playing Catch Up

Hi guys, I've got another card that I made a while ago and didn't get a chance to post here.

I made this card using MFT's weekly sketch, I believe this one is sketch #9.  I started out with Simply Chartreuse and Kraft cardstock and layered it with some beautiful medallion patterned paper from SEI that I've been hoarding for quite a while. :)  I embossed a strip of Ripe Avocado with my Seeing Spots embossing folder and added a Kraft Open Scallop border strip.  To layer my image, I used a Tag Sale 4 die cut.  I wanted to make my sentiment pop up in the middle, so I layered two of Jody's AMAZING dimensionals.  Some green twine and a few buttons finished off my card.  Oops, I almost forgot, the image is from My Favorite Things.  I colored her with copics, of course.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Viva La Verve!

I made this card a few weeks ago and then forgot all about it!  It took forever to make, so you would think that I would be eager to post it here, lol.  It features several different elements so let's see if I can remember them all.  I started out using some Graphic 45 paper for the background, then I added the Ripe Avocado accent strip stamped with a flourish from Fancy Flourishes.  I added a crystal swirl that I colored with a copic marker for a more muted feel.  I took some white satin ribbon, sprayed it with my Glimmer Mist, crumpled it up and let it dry before adding it to the card.  Then, I die cut a Tag Sale 4 die out of Dark Chocolate cardstock and sponged the edges with white ink, layered it with the medium Delightful Doilies die cut stamped with one of the images from the Delightful Doilies stamp set, then I layered that with a Dark Chocolate scalloped circle stamped with same image but with white ink instead.  On top of all those layers, I added a designer grommet that I aged a bit with some metallic acrylic paint.  To make my butterfly, I die cut several layers of book print, crumpled them up, then lightly coated them with a few coats of Tattered Angels Glam and let them dry.  I die cut another butterfly out of Ripe Avocado cardstock, brushed it with brown metallic aryclic paint and then wiped some of it off with a moist paper towel while still wet.  This gave it a wonderful distressed look!  I layered them all together and added a crystal strip to the middle.

Whew, that was quite a mouthful!  I hope it makes sense. :)

Resurrection Joy

Whew, where has the time gone?  It feels like forever since I've blogged and even longer since I've played in my scrap room.  I finally got a card done by taking a few minutes here and there and I have to admit, it's taken me a while to get my creative mojo flowing lately.  Well, hopefully that's behind me and I can get down to papercrafting again.  So, ready to see my card?

I made this card using some new Prickley Pear stamps that came in the mail last week.  To begin with, I attempted to make a subtle background on harvest gold card stock with versamark ink, but it ended up being too subtle :\  I decided to use some more of my Webster's Pages stash since it coordinated so well with my yellow and blue color scheme.  The oval frame and the sentiment are from Prickley Pear's new stamp release.  I framed the sentiment and frame with more harvest gold cardstock and matted it onto an enchanted evening Mat Stack 4 die cut.  A crystal flourish and a pearl swirl finish out the card.

Quick tip: To make sure your patterned paper completely spans your card, cut your piece wider than your card.  Attach it to your card front, flip it over and trim the excess with a sharp craft knife.

One more picture before I go:

This silly one is lounging here with me while I attempt to get my room back in order.  At least he's taking a nap instead of trying to root through my trashcan. :)

Thanks for stopping by!