Wooden Thanks

Hello Blogland and hope your holidays were great!!



Ours were wonderful, except for the various flu's and bugs that kept circulating amongst the cousins (and inevitably ended up with me)



So starting to feel better and wanting to get back into the swing of things.



Got a card here that I made for my hubby's caretaker. He crafted a beautiful wooden gift for my daughter when she was born and I wanted to send him a special thank you card. I've had this wooden paper from Michaels and was glad for the chance to use it!




Cardstock is PTI's fine linen, and Enchanted evening. Mat stack 1 die cut and stamp set, stamps and sentiment are from SU's trendy tree's. Limitless layers die cut was used as well. the wood needs a really strong adhesive or it starts to curl so I'd recommend using scor-tape

thank!

engagement card

Hello!! seemed there was a abundance of events for us at the beginning of December, most of which we couldn't attend cause of the little one. But at least it was a great excuse to get crafty!



This was an engagement card for some friends of ours. I draped the frame image from Mat stack 1 collection-my FAV image in that set by far!- on smokey shadow cardstock in black. I also stamped it on a shimmer white mat stack, and again on some harvest gold. Cut out the yellow and placed it inside the frame. Made the mat stack hang from a little embossed swirly to match their invite. Tied some lemon tart satin around the bottom ..and done!

Mojo Monday - Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger

Well it's sunday night so time for me to get under the wire with the Moxie fab Tuesday trigger!!

Also used Mojo's sketch 168, except I tirned the squares into circles.

Love the colours this week, and think it's funny Cath picked THE MOST expensive ring in the sundance catalogue (of course I had to go check that beauty out and it is WAY out of my league!!)

But I loved the white gold colour with the purple so here is my take on it

Base and focal points are a stardream paper cant remember the name of the colour it has been in my stamp room FOREVER!!

Layer is PTI Plum Pudding with SU's toile background stamped in Brilliance Platinum ink. Stamp is SU's Greeting Card Kids which I lightly coloured with my copics. Sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Christmas. Ribbon is Paper source. LIghter purple is Paper SOurce as well. Enjoy....

Shimmer shower

Hello everyone, we are battening down the hatches preparing for our first big winter storm. Perfect time to curl up in front of the computer with baby in one hand and some cocoa in the other!!

Made this shower card in colours to complement the invite. Its a 5X7 so I could fit that lovely frame inspired by Carly Robertson. In fact her card was the reason I ordered labels 9!! Lets ignore the fact that its crooked (never try to align things from behind!!) its handmade!
Put a faint stripe in my ribbon with a copic (BG000) and used exactly 5 of my paper flowers. I'll never deplete that stash if I tried !!

Love that shimmer !!!

Cardstock Bronze Stardream, Vintage Cream and Aqua Mist by PTI

Pattern Paper - Library Ledger collection PTI

Stamps Victorian Frippery by Waltzingmouse, Scattered Showers by PTI

Other - Ribbon PTI, Prima paper flowers, Victorian Lace border die PTI, Copic marker, half back pearls SU

Moxie fab dress form

Every once in a while a product comes along that you didn't realize you wanted/needed it till you saw it.
Thats how I feel about this dressform die-LOVE it!! If my stamp room was on fire it would be the first thing I grabbed on the way out!!



Made a card with this for my sister birthday and a fun colour combo of raspberry fizz and hawaian shores
Stamped a design from damask designs on the bottom in a pigment ink I picked up at Michaels for $1 !! Perfect match!!!
2 strips of score tape and some MS glitter, and a paper source ribbon that matches raspberry fizz. Die cut and stamped the dressform, and layered it on a shimmer white mat stack 1. Sentiment is communiqe curves sentiments.

This also works for the Moxie fab challenge all that glitters here

Die Storage

I got a few questions about my die storage from my craft room post here so I took a few more pictures to share.

These binders are the mini binder boxes from Taylored Expressions meant to hold unmounted stamps. You can find them here

I bought the panels from them as well. I then adhered adhesice magnets sheets to the panels. Taylored Expressions do sell magnetic sheets, but I got mine at Walmart (Elmers brand)

They hold my nesties and PTI dies beautifully. Even the border dies.
It's such a great system, as they take up such little space, are all together and can't fall out as the binders are enclosed.
Hope that helps !

another in bloom framed combo

I loved the set of thank you cards from the last post , and now that I have my long requested in bloom die I decided to make some more cards. Plus, there's been some talk on the PTI boards about Fine Linen and I wanted to challenge myself to use it.
Die cut and stamped 3 of the large flowers from in bloom onto pure poppy card stock. Shaded a but with a red copic marker and cut out the layers. Did some copic shading on the leaves too.Stamped the frame from Framed on Fine Linen. Stamped sentiment. Attached to Dark chocolate base.
Seriously, this card could not have been any easier!! I made 3 more like it this week!

Thank you set

Here is a set of thank you cards I made for the lovely ladies my hubby work with-they bought an adorable gift for the baby.

I cased Nicholes countdown post for framed where she did this with In Bloom. I already had the 3 flowers embossed and cut in my ready image box so the cards came together quickly- and happy that I'm using my odds and ends!

I am in sore need of a new heat gun though. Mine just blows all the embossing powder off the image. Cut the leaves freehand and sewed them on, used various thank you sentiments. All supplies are PTI.

Not a card but still crafty

I just had to pop on and share this beautiful peice of art that was created for the baby by the caretaker at my husbands school.

I was just flabbergasted when he came home with it yesterday

Enjoy

Scheduled - Wedding Cards

HAALLLOOOO everyone. This is a scheduled post as I'm taking care of a newborn and hopefully myself as well !



M brother got married in October and here are some cards I made for him (one from me and one from my sister)


Their colours were Black and silver, and I wanted the cards larger so I didn't have to fold monetary gifts into a A2 card. ALSO, I guess it just makes you feel more important to walk into a formal even with a larger card. My MIL request all her cards in 5X7 !!

First up is a scalloped creation from me. I loved the layer of silver frills on the bottom of this. PP is Making Memories wedding paper, and it's great with a teeny bit of sparkle.
Used labels 5 for the main image, and the sentiment from Big and Bold wishes from PTI (flourish is theirs as well) Tied off with some black satin ribbon.


Next up a card inspired by Regina Magnum at the stampin bean. She had this great layout and I thought it would be perfect with this paper. The panels are popped up on dimensionals, and there is a sentiment beside the row of rhinestones although hard to see (It says "And they lived happily ever after) from PTI"s Big and Bold wishes as well. Ribbon is SU gray taffeta.




Thanks for looking !!

Soft Congrats

Hello blog land of the future. Scheduled some post for you while I"m taking care of newborn ... and myself!!
Then after making this card, using WM stamps, Claire comes out with a sketch that it fits exactly. SO I'm going to link it up there !!

I wanted to make a card and was really inspired my Melissa J (Melissa's paperie, link on my left) Her cards are so soft and pretty, and she makes awesome use of her background stamps.



Started with a base of PTI blueberry sky, and a mat of Fine Linen. Stamped the lace stamp from Faux Fun onto my card stock diagonally in Marvy Matchable Salvia blue - a great match for Blueberry sky.

Die cut and stamped another BS piece (that blueberry sky in case your mind took it somewhere else!!!) and filled in the oval with some more Fine Linen. Decided I need to take some lessons on sponging, or invest in the ranger tool or SOMETHING to make my edges look soft and distressed. I wet this whole piece with my aqua painter after sponging to try and soften it up a bit. ANYWAYS.....sentiment is from WMS Say it with style, frame is from Vintage labels 4, Ribbon is PTI BS as well as SU's Very Vanilly grosgrain which is a good match for Fine linen (but not so much with Very Vanilla!!)

Added the pearls as it needed something. Not sure if this was the thing but they're there!

Thanks for looking !!!

Baby girl cards

I thought this post would be sorta appropriate. I scheduled some posts as I'm most likely giving birth and caring for our new little bundle of joy - a girl set to come any day now. SO I thought I'd put up some baby girl cards I had made. HOwever, now I need to go in and edit it as I"m still preggo !!



Working of files on my computer so these were taken in the car on the way to my cousins who had just had a baby girl a few months ago.

First up is a card that I made using some cute Martha Stewart Paper. It's textured and kinda reminded me of a quilt so I matted it on some vintage cream that I cut with my MS rotary cutter to make it look like a quilt.
Used Baby button nits for the rattle, and some PTI silk ribbon copic dyed.
Some Sweet Blush and Raspberry fizz finish it up.


Next is a soft little bear card with the curtest button tummy ! Coloured the bear with some copics onto Kraft to make it really soft. Corduroy brad for bear tummy, and mounted on a distressed (tea dye due) cream mat. The background is stamped with Background Basics Petal Power onto sweet blush.



Thanks for looking.

HUGE Blog candy at Wee Memories

UM.....wow. You must go there now and enter !! Deadline is Nov 30th

Mojo sketch...and some crow

Isn't that what it's called when you eat your words?? Eating crow ??
A few posts down I made a discovery about distress inks combined with water based markers and was so smug about not needing a ton of colours. Well I got the ink applicator and a few more colors and I'm addicted!!!!!!!
However, I'll try this technique again with the markers and ink applicator and tell you how it goes.

This next card was made for mojo's sketch 165 .

Stamped the Knit image from in versamark and embossed with clear ep. Sponged broken china distress ink onto layer.
Kept sponging.
Sponged some more.
Stamped circle and punched with 1 3/4 punch. Stamped snowflake and added bling.
Had a hard time with the angle...but forced myself to do it so I had to compensate by straightening sentiment from PTI made of snow.


And I just had to ask....does anyone else do this ??? Faux knit layer, snowflake AND sentiment are all stamped on the back of the white paper that tells you what colour your PTI cardstock is. When I put my CS in the hanging folders I couldn't bring myself to throw them away and now I have plain white CS (that works great even in finicky punches) to last me a while !!!

Stamps - Vintage Circles Small and Faux Fun Waltzingmouse, Snowflake serenade and Made of Snow PTI

Paper - Pure Poppy and White PTI, Tempting Turquoise SU

Ink Broken China Distress Ink, PTI Pure poppy

Ribbon Pure poppy saddle stitch PTI, FElt PTI Pure poppy, Martha Stewart coarse glitter in crystal

Spellbinders labels 5 die, PTI Victorian lace border die and limitless layers die

Evolution....and Resolutions

Strange title for a blog post I know. But I was thinking about my style and confidence as a card maker. I've been doing this for about a year now. I love to create, but felt much better re-creating. Or I would create many elements and never know how to pull them together on a card. I must say, now that I'm starting to branch out on my own I'm enjoying it SO much more. Figuring out who I am and what my style is - or what it is for that day! SO, here is a thank you card I made in about 20 minutes (another plus to this great confidence surge!!)

I started off with a tag that I stamped WAY BACK when Clarie's Very Vintage Christmas was released (that's a whole year ago !!) I pulled it out of my box (using my pre-stamped images is one of my new crafting resolutions!!) Also, after some discussion on the PTI board about distress inks I went out and bought 2 colours to add to the one I had, as well as an ink applicator. I distressed the tag with worn lipstick and it blended beautifully into the already stamped tag. Thank you is from Say it with Style, and cream layer is stamped in the faux lace image from Fax Fun - all Waltzingmouse. PP is PTI's library ledger paper, and base is Vintage cream. My little flower was die cut with MFT"s rolled flower die, and felt leaves behind it are from SU. PTI silk ribbon, and a little trio of rhinestones (inspired by Laurie Beth) to finish of the taggy part. I had so much fun distressing this tag, I cannot believe I waited this long to try the distress inks !!

AND......Just had to take this AFTER Picture of my desk. Yes, this pic was taken AFTER i made my card.

So proud of myself !! My first card made in my newly organized space feels great.

What would feel even greater is if little miss decides to make her appearace soon .... passing your due date is NO FUN !!

The great craft room ren-organization

Like my new word ????

So, this post has been exactly 18 months in the making. That's how long ago my husband finished a portion of our unfinished basement for me. It taken me a while to tweak, organize and buy what I needed (and to figure out how to stop outgrowing it !!) But I think I"ve done it.

Long post with many pics....

So the first photo is the view as you walk down into the basement. It was a very awkward little corner that I wanted to take for a few reason. One - so that I didn't take away from the family play space, two so I could be close to the stairs and thus with the open door still feel like I"m a part of the family, and lastly so I could use it as a bargaining tool later on!!

Please keep in mind that my hubby has yet to place the door on the will hide the electrical panel !

This little grouping of drawers is where I do my die cutting, as well as store the things I don't need at hand. Alter ables, tins, Christmas stamps, bags, magazines and such. The top two drawers on the left are for all things Die cutting related, as well as the basket under my big shot. DH built that half wall behind them so I could keep kiddos out, and it has a surprise inside......

Next I have a little pantry in my corner that houses extra paper (unopened packs) my SU stamps, things like Calendar supplies etc.

I have a little Bestscrapbook shelf that I got for my b-day last year (thanks DH!!) that houses all my 12x12 paper and card stock, loose wooden stamps like lockhearts, my Waltzingmouse stamps and some random things.

This pic shows you a bit of the awkward corner. The two ink units are from Bestscrapbookshelf as well, and I highly recommend them for the price - they fit my SU inks and PTI inks with a small insert as well. Now, lets see about the next batch of inks !! My sewing machine - doesn't get used often enough- and an Ikea cupboard underneath it (Alex)

Here is my room head on. My desk is in the middle of a sea of ribbon and punches !! I love displaying my ribbon, I use it more, and I find it inspiring - and decorative! And the rods are just the cheapest and best way to store punches. They are all from IKEA. I have a while Alex drawer on the left hand side of my desk to store everything I need at hand (don't worry I'll show you!!) I think storage at hand is SUPER important to working efficiently. No need to get up, and if everything has a place it should go back there.

The Desktop. Lots of organizational theory going on here.

The Ikea rods of course. My Copics in a MM round organizer. I keep $5 PTI and some misc stamps in a little organizer beside that, and behind that is my little bin of coloured images. Going to have to force myself to "shop" that bin when time is short in the near future!!

I've also got a little shelf thingy on the left that I keep most used things. Stamp scrubber, little CM trimmer, most used (currently) PTI sets. The bottom houses some large punches and my chalks. ATG in it's ever present spot. Scor pal that doesn't leave my desk...my trimmer is on the floor. It's a cheap fiskars trimer that's light enough for me to pull out when I need. I have found anything that cuts accurately enough for my tastes - and I don't want to have to get up to cut ALL the time!! TO the right is my clip it up.

Another shot of the right. LOVE that CLip it up. All my pearls and Rhinestones, as well as many embellishments and clear stamps on there. My Clip it up is on a little shelf that houses my envelopes and some misc embellishments. And there is the surprise in my half wall - built in shelves!! Houses all my PTI goodies.

Here is a big obstacle in my room - and why I deserve something nice for picking this space. The big honking column. So I decided to make it work for me. Put up some hooks and found these little containers in the craft section at walmart. House all my PS eyelets, brads and snaps. Scor-tape is on the bottom, along with an MS ruler for use with her rotary cutter. On the other side I permanently house my heat tool and tray. Another look at my half wall of PTI goodies.

The wall of PTI. LOVE IT!!! I store all my PTI stamps and buttons (in nugget tins) on this half wall. It easy to get to - arms reach remember- although the other side of the column is a bit of a stretch so I house my really specific stamps there - teacher, Halloween, Christmas etc. I've got room for a few more releases. Beside and under that is more envelopes.

TO the left of my desk is my filing cabinet. Ran out of hanging folder so I still need to complete it, but it holds all my paper. PTI on top, SU and other on the bottom. All my scrap go back in their respective coloured folder....I LOVE IT. If anything has really changed my space and thse way I craft it has been this little filing cabinet (that my FIL found for me!!)

This little bookshelf above my filing cabinet houses my SU Clearmount stamps, my PTI and 6X6 paper pads, some odds and ends embellishments and paper. And some more ribbon. I LOVE RIBBON !!
On top of my desk is a bin I have of already stamped background paper and miscellanea that I"ve left mid project. Got to use that !

And now for the fun part. WHATS IN YOUR DRAWERS???

First up is acrylic blocks and scissors/cutting tools. I used whatever containers I had on hand as I did not want to go buy anything new !! Glitter I use a lot and some pre-made embellishments.

Next up is adhesives, pens, pencils and sponges.

All my ink spots and misc. Ink fits in this drawer. The drawers are REALLY deep and you can pull them all the way out I love that.

Glitter and various powders (embossing, flock) also my twines and some small punches. Notice how I labelled my glitter ?? A little glue dot on top of each. Yeah - don't try this. Hubby made me take a shower before hugging him.

And lastly some misc liquids (Crystal effects, dove blending solution ) and my PTI felt. Hope you enjoyed my tour of my room as much as I loved doing up this post - which has taken me FOREVER !!!!! Thanks for reading up to here and let me know if you have any specific questions !!

Thank you - and a new technique

Hello All. I've got quite a real labour of love to show you today.

My sister in law asked for a few personal thank you cards for the people that threw her a bridal shower - my mom being one of them I put a ton of effort into this card and LOVE the result.

First though, I want to show you something I discovered very accidentally. While sponging some distress ink onto my focal point, I was using a scrap piece of paper underneath that my son had coloured on with my SU markers- he's not allowed to touch the copics so these distract him !!!

The sponge with the distress ink started to pick up the ink underneath it. After ruining the first focal point, I scribbled with a marker that MATCHED my colour scheme and loved the results. Now I fell like I don't need to many of the distress colours- at this point all I would use them for is to sponge my edges. I'll just scribble with a SU (or any water based marker) and can use the ONE colour I have to pick it up - BTW, the colour I have is Tea Leaves.




This was taken a while ago, when still using my phone to photograph!











The paper is SU's newsprint DSP, and the ribbon is also SU. I made a custom spritz bottle of Rich Razzleberry and Tsuikineko's API in champagne to spray on the cream layer, the PP layer and the ribbon. Brad is a half pearl set into SU's build a brad. Stamp set it Big and bold wishes, with an accent from an SU set cant remember which !! Base card is Scarlett Jewel. Punches are both SU.

Thanks for looking.

Tuesday Trigger

I was so excited when I saw this weeks Tuesday trigger over at the Moxie Fab Blog . This shade of blue is my ABSOLUTE favourite. I was so excited when SU brought back Pacific Point (although I was well stocked up for a while)




As much as I love this blue I dont think to pair it with cream cause it's so bright...but the pcture inspired me to try.


I used my new PTI set Framed, in a card inspired by Becky's countdown for the set.

Punched 2 heart with my EK success heart punches, broke down the fibers and pulled them apart to mimic the suede. Stamped the frame in PP ink, and then stamped a decorative element from Giga Guidelines of the side, in a stamped off once colour variation of Pacific Point.

Buttons are PTI.

Thanks for looking !!

Thank you Nichole, and everyone at PTI

The gang at the PTI forum decided to do a special surprise blog hop to say thanks to Nichole, Jane, Jule, Jennifer and all the fantastic DT at Papertrey ink for EVERYTHING you do for us, and we all made a thank you card.

Here's mine. It was a beautiful Giga Guidelines tutorial from either Debbie Olsen or Betsey Vekdman, and I loved the way she layered guidelines with other sets (in this case peaceful pointsetta)
I stamped the images on sweet blush with Fresh Snow, Sweet Blush and berry sorbet. Punched a strip of Berry Sorbet, even pulled out the sewing machine and sewed on a piece of sweet blush grosgrain.

Used some liquid pearls in the centre.

Thanks again Nichole. We are excited to continue on this fantastic journey that PTI has become !!!

Sort of Craft Related

I couldn't resist but share some pics of my little guy enjoying some paper and glue...the makings of a future papercrafter ???!!!

Other CHA goodies

I wanted to play with my other fun goodies that I got at CHA - these new clay chalks from Pebbles.
I have the original shimmer chalks, and was a bit skeptical at how these were different but after seeing them being demonstrated I was sold !
I used copics, shimmer and clay chalks on the flower, and some paper from DCVW.
Popped up the flower and added some lavender moon grosgrain.

I got a close up of the shimmer and I'm super glad again that I bought these ! They blend BEAUTIFULLY, can be coloured over with copics...just super versatile.