Ginkgo Sympathy

Today I'm joining in on the February Papertrey Ink Blog Hop where we are to make a card inspired by this photo:

I was inspired by the gray background, the purple fruits, the gold bowl and lettering on black and the touch of pink of the jewelry boxes!

I gold embossed the Ginkgo stem from Harvest Berries onto a panel of Stormy Sea card, die cut and stamped the berry stems from Spruce and Sprigs using Plum Pudding card and ink.  I layered the purple berry stems over the ginkgo with foam dots.  I  gold embossed the sentiment from Round and Round on a black strip and layered it with foam dots as well.   I stamped the 3 dot clusters from Harvest Berries for a little interest and added 3 pink dew drops.  I layered the panel to a black panel and then to a white card base.

You'll find the PTI blog hop on Nicole's blog here -  I'm off to see how everyone else was inspired!

I'm also linking my card to:

Happy Little Stampers

 CAS(E) this Sketch

Stamps:  Round and Round (a free set for points), Harvest Berries, Spruce and Sprigs - PTI
Paper:  White, True Black, Stormy Sea, Plum Pudding - PTI
Ink:  Plum Pudding - PTI, Versamark
Accessories:  gold embossing powder, Spruce and Sprigs Die set - PTI, foam dots, dew drops.

The stockings were hung.....

Yes, more Christmas cards from me!  I made 3 of the same design using different colors.

I made my first card in non-traditional Christmas colors for this week's Color Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers - to use plum and two shades of blue.   I stenciled the brick in plum and used two shades of blue on the stocking.

I made the 'mantel' by cutting a piece of woodgrain DP, adhering it to a same-size cut piece of white cardstock to give it weight and popped it up on foam dots.   The holly is cut off of a larger ornament decoration from K and Co.  I inked around the stocking with Ranger Distress Ground Espresso Ink.

My next two card colors were chosen based on the Merry Monday Challenge

I used more traditional colors on these two cards

The only difference between these two is the color I used on the brick stenciling.

Stamps: Rustic Christmas set by Claire Brennan/Waltzingmouse - Retired
Paper:  White, Rustic Cream, Plum Pudding, Americana - PTI, DP Dream St. Papers.
Inks:  Perfect Plum - SU, Hawaiian Shore, Blueberry Sky, Americana - PTI, Ranger Distress Ground Espresso Ink Wendy Vecchi Archival Tree Branch.
Accessories:  foam dots, Holly from Layered Accents Visions of Christmas - K and Co, brick stencil - Wendy Vecchi.

Embossing with an Inked Embossing Folder

I'm excited to share with you that I  have a tutorial post over on the Clear Snap Blog for creating an inked embossed background using Eileen's new ColorBox Clear Blends Ink and an embossing folder.
I'd love for you to take a peak over there where you will find out just how I put this project together!
 

This month the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team is focusing on her new ColorBox Blends inks from Clearsnap -  Blends hold more than 10x the ink of a traditional ink pad.  The convenient foam sponge applicator keeps hands clean while applying ink directly to fabric, paper, wood, clay and more. Heat set for permanence.

I started by cutting Eileen's sweet Box with Scallop Flap and Flowers die out of White Little Sizzles Matboard, both from Sizzix.

I inked the inside of the top of Eileen's Daisy Wreath Embossing Folder using Tutu ColorBox Blend ink.   

Please check Eileen Hull's blog for more projects by the Creative Team using these fun new Color Box Blend inks!

 and check out the Clear Snap Blog for my complete tutorial!

You'll find lots of inspiration using Eileen's dies in this wonderful digi book - Die Cutting Magic.  I have a few projects in it!

Paper:  White Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix,  white card - PTI
Ink: Tutu - ColorBox Blend/Clear Snap
Accessories:  Die - Box with Scallop Flap and Flowers - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, white wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, black rhinestones, Daisy Wreath Embossing Folder - Eileen Hull/Sizzix.

Sympathetic Birthdays

I'm trying to get my cards posted for the Papertrey Ink 10 year celebration before the deadline!! - so I have 3 to share today.

I just loved Betsy's sample card here using the 2008 set Out on a Limb so I decided to CASE it in a more CAS design and using a sympathy sentiment from Out on a Limb Sentiments.  I stamped the images on a panel of watercolor paper and layered it to Dark Chocolate and then a Vintage Cream Base.  I used both Prairie Grass and Blueberry Sky inks on the leaves to give a two tone look. I added tiny rhinestones to 3 of the leaves - can you see them?!

For the year 2013, I used the Watercolor Wonder set along with sentiments from Wet Paint (from 2014) to make a masculine birthday card - using Vintage Jadeite and Cocoa Bean colors along with metallic sequins.

here's what I stamped on the inside using the same sentiment set.

For the 2014 celebration - I used Wet Paint (same as above's card sentiments) making this one CAS and happy by using Hibiscus Burst, Vintage Jadeite and Blueberry Sky inks and some tiny rhinestones on the end of each word!

Here's the inside of this card using the same stamp set.

I have really enjoyed getting out my older Papertrey Ink stamp sets and using them again!  I especially liked finding all the sentiments in each set that I had forgotten and can use on my new  cards!  I think we stampers keep buying new sets and forget what we have!

I'm also linking my sympathy card to:
Addicted to CAS

Also linking my Happy Happy Happy card to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps

Less is More - Alphabet

The Paper Players

Sympathy:
Stamps:  Out On a Limb, Out on a Limp Sentiments - PTI
Paper:  Arches Watercolor Paper, Dark Chocolate and Vintage Cream - PTI
Ink:  Prairie Grass, Blueberry Sky, Cocoa Bean - PTI
Accessories:  Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions

Enjoy Your Day:
Stamps:Water Color Wonder, Wet Paint - PTI
Paper:  White, Vintage Jadeite - PTI
Ink:  Vintage Jadeite, Cocoa Bean
Accessories:  Metallic Sequins

Happy Happy Happy:
Stamps:  Wet Paint - PTI
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Hibiscus Burst, Vintage Jadeite, Blueberry Sky
Accessories:  Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions

Destination Inspiration - Terminal #3

Hi all -  I have a Destination Inspiration post over on the A Vintage Journey blog today.  

I had to make a project using the supplies in our Travel Bags for February.  

This month the supplies are:

1.  Product - Kraft Card

2.  Technique - Stenciling

3.  Colour - Fired Brick/Dark Red

4.  Substrate - Burlap

Here's what I made:

I'd love for you to check out my post over at A Vintage Journey - where you'll find out just how I put this together!    Thank you!

I'm also linking my project to:
February Crop Stop link Party

 

Paper:  Kraft, True Black - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Ground Espresso
Accessories:  5"x7" burlap bag,  Ranger Distress Spray Stain - Fired Brick, Ranger Distress Paint - Fired Brick, Scribbles Stencil - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, Idea-ology: Black Paper String, Small Talk, Chit Chat, Word Keys, Word Bands, Loop Pins, Dies - Artful Dwellings - Tim Holtz/Alterations, Thinlits Handwritten Vacation, Black wrinkled seam tape.

Wreath for a Happy Birthday

I'm participating in some of the Papertrey Ink 10 Year Birthday challenges.  Today I have a card using a set from 2010 - A Wreath for all Seasons.

I love how you can stamp all the pieces in this set separately so you can make the colors seasonal and you can make the wreath simple or full.   Clean and simple is the way I roll - unless I'm doing something in Mixed Media! 
I'm also linking this card to:
Seize the Birthday

The Heart Desires Challenge

Stamps:  A Wreath for All Seasons - PTI

Paper:  White, Hibiscus Burst - PTI

Ink:  Vintage Jadeite, Blueberry Sky, Hibiscus Burst, Saffron Spice, True Black - PTI

Accessories:  Winter blend sequns - Avery Elle.

Winter Snowmen

I'm playing along with this week's Merry Monday Challenge - to use snowmen!

I decided to get out my Tim Holtz Alterations die - Winter Wonder and made some shape cards!  They measure 5"x3"

I made the two below using colors from this weeks Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge - melon, mint and blue - strange colors for snowmen but I think they came out fun!!

And then I made the Plaid Twins - so I'd get my 6 cards in for my Christmas Box!

I used this fun older snowman die from Tim Holtz, cutting two out of white card stock for each card - and one out of the patterned papers. I layered the patterned paper over one of the cardstock snowmen.

I sponged the edges with Ranger Distress Ground Espresso ink. I scored across the plain white snowman above the rim of the hat and then I adhered a back to a front just at the hat (above the brim). Then you bend the back at the score and the snowman opens and will stand up. I cut a little bit off of the bottom of the snowman so it's flat.

I added a black pearl for the eye and tied the wrinkled seam tape just around the neck of the decorated front. I stamped a sentiment and snowflakes from Winter Snow Globe set from Papertrey Ink.
I'm also linking my card to the PTI 10th Birthday challenge 2012

Winter Snow Globe is a set released in 2012

Stamps:  Winter Snow Globe - PTI
Paper: white - PTI, DP 6x6 Pape rpad This and That/Echo Park, Indian Summer - Basic Grey paper pad
Ink: Ranger Distress Ground Espresso, True Black - PTI
Accessories: Die - Winter Wonder - Tim Holtz Alterations, wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy shop, black half pearls.

A Green Thumb

I have another card to share for Nicole's Papertrey Ink 10th Birthday celebration challenges.  Today I'm using a stamp set from 2007 -  Green Thumb.

I randomly stamped the larger flower in Royal Velvet and the smaller one in Soft Stone on a white panel.  I added a sentiment from Damask Designs (a 2009 set) in black and purple rhinestones to the centers of the larger blooms.

I'm linking my Praying for You card to Nicole's 2007 Challenge

I made a second card using the same flower but using different colors and a birthday sentiment from Damask Designs.  I stamped these flowers in Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst, and Harvest Gold.  I added coordinating colors of rhinestones to 3 of the blooms.

 I'm linking this birthday card to:
Addicted to Stamps - clean and simple

 

The Heart Desires

I was inspired by the colors and flowers

Stamps:  Green Thumb, Damask Designs - PTI
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  True Black, Soft Stone, Royal Velvet, Hibiscus Burst, Harvest Gold, Hawaiian Shores - PTI
Accessories:  rhinestones - Kaiser Craft.

Mid Month February CAS Mix Up Challenge reminder - Corrugated Cardboard

Hi friends!  I'm here with another card made for the CAS Mix Up Challenge - we're at the mid-month mark so we just wanted to remind everyone there's still time to join in!

 I used stamps, corrugated cardboard, embossing and die cuts.

 For this second card (see my first one here), I cut a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" piece of corrugated cardboard box and tore off some of the top layer. 

 I brushed over the cardboard with a wash of white acrylic paint and water and let it dry overnight.

 I die cut the PRAYER out of black card and embossed the sentiment and hand in white on black card.

I die cut a doily out of white card, adhered it on the card base and layered the corrugated cardboard piece over it.

So please join us in the February CAS Mix Up Challenge -  by creating with stamping, corrugated cardboard and your choice!  The challenge is open 'till Feb 24th! You'll find a list of choices and more inspiration from the rest of the team here. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

Stamps:  Inspired: Prayer - PTI, Stop & Go - Neat and Tangled
Paper:  True Black, white - PTI
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories:  hite embossing powder, Dies: Inspired: Prayer - PTI, Dynamics Open Scallop Doily - MFT, white acrylic paint, water, brush, corrugated cardboard.