My Favorite Things

Spring is in the Air

Hello there and happy Monday!  It's the first of the month and at Papertrey Ink, that means that it's time for the Senior Design Team Challenge.  With spring just around the corner, Nichole challenged us to use our favorite spring-themed stamp sets in conjunction with a fresh and springy color scheme to create a project.  I decided to show you today, how you can take the same color scheme and layout paired with different stamp sets to create a set of cards that all coordinate with each other, but with each one being a being unique and special.

 

I started out with my color scheme of spring moss, aqua mist, hibiscus burst and rustic cream.  I used all 4 of those colors on each of my 3 cards, however I changed up the arrangement of those colors on each card.  This allows each card to have a bit of it's own "personality" while still looking like a coordinated set.  The coordination is great if you're going to give a set like this away.  But even if you're keeping the set for your own use, taking this approach to making your cards will save you lots of time by limiting the decisions you have to make on each card.

I also used the same layout on each of these cards and repeated a few of the details to keep things looking cohesive.  You'll notice on each card, I inked the edges of the paper elements with vintage touch tea dye ink.  I also used the Polka Dot Basics impressions plate on each card front, before adding any of my stamped layers.  I love that extra bit of texture that it gave each card.

 

On my first card here, I used the Wishing You stamp set.  So happy and cheery are the little tulips and I love the font combination on the sentiments in this set.  

Each card also has a scalloped layer that I cut using the new medium scalloped border die.....here, that layer is in aqua mist card stock topped with a hibiscus burst bow and an aqua mist threaded button.

 

On my second card, I used the Spiral Bouquet stamp set for both the flowers as well as the sentiment.  Don't you just love the beautiful font used for the sentiments in this set?  A favorite of mine for sure.  

 

The flowers were stamped in hibiscus burst ink with spring moss stems.  Then, to add another pop of aqua mist (in keeping with my color scheme) I added a few small aqua mist buttons to the flower panel.  I finished this one off with a little bow of aqua mist topnotch twill ribbon.  That is some luscious stuff, let me tell ya.  :)

 

For the last card in my set, I knew my card base needed to use aqua mist card stock, since I'd already used the other two colors.  I also knew that my scalloped layer needed to be hibiscus burst, since I hadn't used that color of a border yet.  SO, I decided to stamp an aqua mist/spring moss lady bug (from Little Lady) and then stamped the little buggy trail in hibiscus burst to bring the pink back into the palette one more time.

I also couldn't resist adding some moss colored rhinestones to the dots on my little ladybug's wings.  I love the way it brightened up an already happy little card, even more!

I hope that you're inspired now to bust out a few of those older stamp sets that you may have sitting on your shelf.  (Or maybe you've added a few more to your wish list now??  Ha.)  Either way, I hope that you've seen how easy it is to create darling sets of cards with lots of character, just by mixing up the details a bit.  And whether it's already springy and warm where you live or whether you're still shoveling snow, I hope you've been inspired to get crafty with some springtime goodies!  

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the Nichole Heady and the other girls on the Senior Design Team today -- they've each got some cheery, SPRINGY projects to share with you!  

Betsy Veldman
Heather Nichols
Mish Wooderson
Lisa Johnson

and our Distinguished Guest Designer, Kelly Purkey, is playing along too!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll chat with you again soon.

 

{Happily Ever After supplies}
Paper: spring moss, aqua mist, rustic cream
Stamps: Wishing You
Ink: spring moss, hibiscus burst, aqua mist, vintage touch tea dye
Other: hibiscus burst classic grosgrain ribbon, aqua mist button, rustic cream button twine, Polka Dot Basics impressions plate, medium scalloped border die, corner chomper 

{Bloom supplies}
Paper: hibiscus burst, spring moss, rustic cream
Stamps: Spiral Bouquet
Ink: spring moss, hibiscus burst, vintage touch tea dye
Other: aqua mist buttons, aqua mist topnotch twill ribbon, Polka Dot Basics impressions plate, medium scalloped border die, corner chomper

{Happy Birthday supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, hibiscus burst, rustic cream
Stamps: Little Lady, Wishing You
Ink: aqua mist, spring moss, hibiscus burst, vintage touch tea dye
Other: spring moss saddle stitch ribbon, Polka Dot Basics impressions plate, medium scalloped border die, Kaiser Scrapbook rhinestones, corner chomper
 
 

Just Because

 

Sweet Melissa Phillips has issued another challenge using one of Leslie's gorgeous photos from A Creative Mint and you know I can't resist Leslie's photos!  (Thank you, Leslie!)  So, here's a card I created inspired by all of that delicious orange and purple and lavender and damasky-ness.  Yes, I'm sure that's a real word.  

I used my Damask Designs stamp set to create the large damask pattern.  It just really reminded me of that bold orange and white pattern in the photo.

 

I heat embossed the sentiment (also from Damask Designs) as well as the diamond pattern from Background Basics: Tin Types, both with clear embossing powder.  The lavender moon card stock was scalloped with the large scallop border die and I couldn't resist a bit of plum pudding saddle stitch ribbon.  I hope I did Leslie's gorgeous photo justice!  Be sure to keep an eye out for Melissa's "Creative Mint-inspired" project too!

Tomorrow is the first of March already (can't believe it!), so I'll be back with my first official Papertrey Senior Design Team Challenge post!  Yay....can't wait!

See you soon,

 

{Just Because supplies}
Paper: stamper's select white, orange zest, lavender moon
Stamps: Damask Designs, Background Basics: Tin Types
Ink: orange zest, versamark
Other: plum pudding saddle stitch ribbon, large scallop border die, clear embossing powder

 

A Few Tidbits

 

Hello there!  Happy Saturday to you!  Hopefully you're having a great day so far.  I've got lots of designing to do in the studio today, most of which doesn't involve paper crafting, however I had to whip up a card to share with you today 'cause well......I just had to.  :)

I decided to use Heather's Fillable Frames #1 stamp set and die as well as Nichole's Year of Flowers: Violet stamp set to create my card.  I stamped everything except the frame in ripe avocado ink.  By doing this, it helped to keep everything cohesive and really helped to reinforce my color scheme of ripe avocado, aqua mist and spring moss.  The patterned paper is from Heather's Pretty Pastels collection and the sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages.  I also added a few rhinestones to the centers of the flowers as well as some more of the new Martha Stewart glitter I used the other day on my cupcake card.  It takes on a totally different look when put on the flower like this, doesn't it?  So fun.

And now, a few other tidbits....

To all of you that participated in the Papertrey Blog Hop this week: 

I just want to say thank you.  If you participated in the hop by adding your link in the Papertrey forum, I want you to know that I peeked in at your blog to see your creation.  I SO wanted time to leave a comment for each of you.....I wanted to cheer for you and tell you that you'd created something beautiful, however time is not currently on my side.  With several deadlines before we leave for Australia (in less than 2 weeks!) as well as deadlines that will be here soon after we return home, I just didn't have the time to comment on all of your blogs.  But I certainly want you each to know how touched I was that some of you would create your own cards inspired by mine.  I had tears in my eyes reading some of the super sweet things some of you said about me.  Thank you for showing your appreciation....for encouraging me.  I just love you guys! 

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Update.....

Just wanted to let you know that we've gotten more of our itinerary finalized and we will definitely be ready and waiting to meet you at the 3 locations I posted a few weeks back.  If you come to the get-togethers, please please come up and say hi!!  Don't be shy!  You'll totally have me at a disadvantage -- You know what Bart and I look like.  I won't know if you've come to meet us or if you're just there to get a coffee (hahaha!) so I'm not likely to be running around the coffee shop greeting people!  LOL!  Below are the times, dates and locations of the get-togethers and again, this is totally informal so if you can pop in for a bit and say hi, feel free.  I'd love to meet you.  

Sydney - Wed. 3/17/10  7:00pm - Starbucks (525 George St.)

Broadbeach - Sun. 3/21/10  3:00pm - Three Beans (13/90 Surf Parade, Broadbeach 4218)

Cairns - Mon. 3/22/10  7:00pm - Bang Espresso (14 Spence St.)

Will you be coming?  If so, we'll see you soon!

All righty, I'd better tackle the next item on my to-do list while my hottie hubs is off wearing stripes and blowing his whistle.  If you're at his game, be nice to the referees.  It's not polite to yell at the officials!  Haha.  Of course, if you're at his game, then you're probably not reading this, but that's neither here nor there.  :)

Take care and I'll chat with you tomorrow,

{Miss YOU supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, ripe avocado, stamper's select white, pretty pastels
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Violet, Fillable Frames #1, Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: ripe avocado, aqua mist
Other: fillable frames #1 die, ripe avocado topnotch twill ribbon, Kaiser Scrapbook rhinestones, corner chomper, Fiskars apron lace punch 

Heartfelt Thanks

Hi there!  Just a little Color Couture action for you today.  I used the Volume 2 collection on this card.  The diamond oval, the flower, leaves and the dotted scalloped border are all elements from the Color Couture collection.  I love how you can stack 'em up, mix 'em up, distress 'em up.....you name it!  

 

I used some vintage touch tea dye ink on all of the edges here.  The green scallops were cut using the small scalloped border die and I used my corner chomper on the top two corners of the cream panel.  The sentiment is from Everyday Classics which is the free anniversary set from last year.  

Hope you're having a great day!  I've got worship team practice at church tonight.... I'm on the schedule to sing this week so I've been working in the studio while jamming to this week's worship songs on my ipod.  :)  

Gotta run and check a few more things off my list before I head out the door.  

Have a goodie, dear ones!

{Heartfelt Thanks supplies}
Paper: berry sorbet, ripe avocado, rustic cream
Stamps: Everyday Classics
Ink: pure poppy, vintage touch tea dye duo
Other: Color Couture Vol 2 embellies, pure poppy button, small scalloped border die, corner chomper

The Olympics of Stamping

 

Hello there!  Paper Crafts Magazine is celebrating their Stamp It! Cards issue this week and I'm excited to get to be a part of the fun.  I know I've already raved about how full of inspiration, this particular Stamp It! Cards is but if you haven't checked it out yet, it's totally worth perusing!  I was very honored to have several cards published in this issue along with lots of my sweet friends but I nearly flipped out when I went thru this issue drooling over all of the beautiful stamped cards.  This is SUCH a good issue.....truly one of my favorites ever.  :)

As part of the celebration, the Moxie Fab Blog is hosting a fun challenge for you.  All you have to do is create a card that fits one of their specific categories and post the link to your card over on the Moxie Fab Blog, in the Mister Linky widget.  PLUS, you can take it a step further and enter the same card in the 2010 Stamping Royalty Contest!  Why not, right?

 

I created a happy little cupcake card in honor of the festivities.  There's lots of stamping on this card.  The cupcake image and sentiment are both from Papertrey's Cupcake Collection stamp set (so cute!) and the dots on the bottom of the card are of course, my favorite Polka Dot Basics II stamp set.

 

That super fun glitter is something I picked up at Michael's the other day...it's Martha Stewart's course glitter in "crystal".  I stamped the cupcake icing in raspberry fizz ink first, and then after it dried, I stamped it again in Versamark ink and used heat & stick powder to adhere the glitter.  I also used Papertrey's new medium scallop border die to create the fun scallops.  (So in love with those!)  

Paper Crafts Magazine is also having a fun blog hop today featuring several of the designers that were published in this issue of Stamp It! Cards and not only that, but they're giving away a set of 12 stamp sets from "My Cute Stamps" to one lucky winner!  Each designer participating in the blog hop has created a fun new project to share with you.  All you have to do to get entered to win, is visit the blogs on the hop for inspiration and leave comments as you go.  If you comment on all 11 blogs plus the Moxie Fab blog, you'll have 12 chances to win!  Pretty cool, huh?

Here's the list of blog hop participants:

Betsy Veldman    

Dawn McVey      You're Here!

Debbie Olson   

Julia Stainton     

Kimberly Crawford    

Latisha Yoast     

Lisa Johnson    

Maile Belles   

Sarah Martina Parker     

Teri Anderson    

Tina Fussell     

Be sure to head over to the Moxie Fab Blog while you're hopping so you can see all of the stamp sets that are up for grabs, plus you can get all of the details for the card challenge, including what categories to choose from when creating your cards.  

Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today!  I hope you've enjoyed your visit.  Have fun on the hop!


  

Comments to win the My Cute Stamps prize must be made on all blogs by midnight on Sunday, February 28.

Challenge projects for the Olympics of Stamping must be uploaded on the Moxie Fab blog Mister Linky widget by Monday, March 8. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 10 on the Moxie Fab World blog.

{You Make Life Sweeter supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, aqua mist
Stamps: Cupcake Collection, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: dark chocolate, raspberry fizz, vintage touch tea dye
Other: dark chocolate button, dark chocolate topnotch twill ribbon, medium scallop border die, Martha Stewart crystal course glitter 

Color Cubbie Winner

The winner of the color cubbie is Cari who said this....

 

Congratulations, Cari!!  Email me your mailing info and I'll get it right over to Tami at Studio 3 Solutions so she can send you your prize!

Thanks so much to each of you that took time to comment and share your dream crafting spaces with me.  It was such a joy to read about the things you dream of.  You all have some great ideas!  Dreams are good.  :)

 

I have a super simple little card to share with you today, that uses the Circle Doily cling stamp from Hero Arts as well as a pair of sentiments from Papertrey's Big & Bold Wishes set.

 

I used lavender moon card stock for the doily, but I decided to shake things up a bit so I used Spring Rain ink!  The result is this really great periwinkle color!  Cool, huh?

I hope you're doing well today!  I'm thinking of you and wishing you a fabulous day!  I'll be back tomorrow with a fun post so I hope to see you then!

Smooches,

 

{Thank You supplies}
Paper: raspberry fizz, lavender moon, stamper's select white
Stamps: Hero Arts Circle Doily, PTI Big & Bold Wishes
Ink: spring rain, raspberry fizz
Other: lavender moon saddle stitch ribbon, Hero Arts gemstones, corner chomper

Zesty Monday

     

Here's a little card using some Orange Zest ink and ribbon for your Monday.  Keepin' it spicy, you know.  :)  I used some orange zest bitty dot ribbon as well as stamped images and a sentiment the new Year of Flowers: Violets set plus, I couldn't resist using the new Fillable Frames #1 die too.  I also colored the flower centers just a smidge with a Copic marker.

 

Hope you all had a great weekend.  I've got loads to get done this week and it occurred to me this morning that we leave for Australia in just over 2 weeks!  ACK!  Totally excited and totally not ready yet, at the same time!  Haha.  Starting to think about packing flip-flops though, and swimsuits and shorts.....meanwhile, there's still snow on the ground here.   :)

Take care, Dearies, and have a fab-o week!
 

{Thanks supplies}
Paper: kraft, rustic cream, dark chocolate
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Violet
Ink: orange zest, dark chocolate
Other: orange zest bitty dot ribbon, Fillable Frames #1 die, Copic marker
 

Color Cubbie Giveaway!

Hello there and a very happy Sunday to you!  The super sweet Tami McBeain over at Studio 3 Solutions has offered to sponsor a giveaway here at the blog-o!  

In my previous post, I told you all about how much I love my new Color Cubbie and Tami has generously offered to give away ONE Color Cubbie to one randomly selected winner here on my blog.  Yay!

I love to dream big and to hear your big dreams too, so for today's contest all you have to do to enter to win, is to leave a comment on this post and tell me about your dream studio!  If you could have any creative space to devote to this beloved hobby of ours, what would your studio space be like?  Would it be huge or would it be small and cozy with a fireplace and comfy chairs in the corner?  What color would the walls be?  Would it have work space for just you or room for your friends to come over and craft with you?  Would you fill it with antique furniture or matching pieces from Pottery Barn?  Would you have big windows for perfect lighting or tons of shelving to hold your treasured supplies?  

As you can see, the possibilities are endless and since we're dreaming big here, the sky's the limit!  I can't wait to hear how you'd design your perfect craft space!

Happy dreaming and have a GREAT day, my friends!

 

Contest details:  Only one comment per person.  This particular giveaway applies to US residents only.  Contest runs until Monday, Feb. 22 at 10pm CST.  Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on the blog-o on Tuesday.

(Sweet readers outside the US, you can still feel free to leave your dream studio comments -- I'd love to hear them -- but only US residents will be eligible to win the Color Cubbie.  If you're outside the US, please let me know in your comment.  Thank you!)  

A Storage Solution

Hi there, Peeps!!  Happy FRIDAY!  I have a handy little storage solution to share with you today.  Tami McBeain from Studio 3 Solutions, emailed me not long ago asking if I'd be interested in trying out one of their new Color Cubbies.  I was happy to try it out since I previously didn't have a very good plan for storing my Copics and other markers.  Tami sent the Color Cubbie right over and I have to say that I am so impressed with the quality of the cubbie (it's so sturdy) as well as how much storage it actually provides without taking up much of a "footprint" in my studio.  You can see in the photo above, that it tucks nicely up against the wall on my sewing desk, right next to my Clip-it-Up.  The Color Cubbie can hold 120 Copic markers, although you can see I've got a ways to go to fill it up completely!

 

As you can see here, it holds all of my Copics as well as my old collection of Stampin' Up! markers.  Also, see the piece of paper in the bottom of the photo?  That's Papertrey's color chart for the Copic markers that coordinate with Papertrey's Perfect Match colors.  (Just click on the "Download Copic chart" button when you're on the PTI page)  I printed that sheet out and keep it with my Copics so if I need to find specific colors to coordinate with whatever colors I'm using on a project, I can quickly determine which colors to grab from my cubbie.  I keep the color chart folded up and tucked in the top section of the cubbie as you can see in the photo below.

 

The shelves of the cubbie are slightly slanted to the back making it easier to read the numbers on the ends of the markers.  I LOVE having my markers stored relatively flat versus standing on end, so that the ink is evenly distributed between the two tips of the marker.

 

Just look at how many Copics you can fit on each shelf of this baby!  I grouped mine by color family.....reds/yellows/oranges, pinks/purples, blues/greens, browns/neutrals and I use the bottom shelf for my SU! markers.

 

 

I would highly recommend the Color Cubbie! (and no, I'm not being paid to say that!  Ha.)

Head over to Studio 3 Solutions to check them out for yourself.  They're a great value at just $16.95.  (Thanks so much, Tami.  I love my cubbie!)

I also wanted to let you know that I'm in the process of loading more cards back into my Raspberry Suite Etsy Shop so feel free to pop over and take a peek!  

Have a FABBY weekend,

 

Flourishes and Butterflies

Hi there!  Did you know that you can use two of the flourishes from Papertrey's Fancy Flourishes stamp set to create a butterfly?  There are two larger scale flourishes in the set that are mirror images of each other so you can easily stamp them both, add a few buttons for the body and voila!  A butterfly!  I added some dots in the background, stamped in summer sunrise and the pretty sentiment is from Birds of a Feather.

 

Hope your week is going well.  The weekend is almost here!  Yay.  

I'm enjoying being able to have the Olympics on while I'm designing this week.  Are you watching?  

Have a goodie,

 

{Spread Your Wings supplies}
Paper: berry sorbet, rustic cream
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Birds of a Feather, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: dark chocolate, summer sunrise
Other: dark chocolate buttons, rustic jute button twine, sewing machine/thread