My Favorite Things

Papertrey Favorites

Hello there!  Today is the day that all of the Papertrey Anniversary Countdown fun begins!  Hold on to your hats, folks.....this release is gonna knock your socks off!

For today, Nichole Heady is making a few design team announcements over on her blog, so be sure and pay her a visit!  She's also doing a big giveaway that you won't want to miss out on!  

She's asked each of us on the design team to pick out our favorite project from the past year and one lucky winner will receive all of the Papertrey supplies needed to recreate ALL of our favorites for yourself!!  That's a lotttttta new goodies to play with!

For me, choosing a favorite project is a little like choosing a favorite child....it's kinda tough!  I have lots of favorites for different reasons, but for today, I went with this sweet little card set I created using one of my favorite sentiments from my On Ice stamp set as well as the totally fun label image from Everyday Treats that coordinates with the mat stack 4 die.  

I also love, loooove this card because of the pretty doily edge I was able to create using the Color Couture Doily Card Template from the October Download and a couple of small punches.  (1/8" and 1/16")  These cards are simple to recreate, but they're soft and sweet and they just make me smile!

Be sure to bop around and visit all the girls on the Design Team to check out each of their favorite projects!

Mish Wooderson
Heather Nichols
Betsy Veldman
Melissa Phillips
Erin Lincoln
Lisa Johnson
Maile Belles
Jessica Witty
Debbie Olson

and a great big welcome to our newest team member, Danielle Flanders!  And when you visit Nichole's blog, she'll have a free download for you with complete instructions for how to make each one of the design team's favorite projects.

Thanks for dropping by, friends!  I'll chat with you again tomorrow for more Countdown Fun!

 

Paper: vintage cream, pure poppy, berry sorbet
Stamps: On Ice, Everyday Treats
Ink: versamark, pure poppy, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Color Couture October Download - Doily Card Template, limitless layers: 1.75" circle die collection, mat stack 4 die, berry sorbet classic grosgrain ribbon, 1/8" & 1/16" hole punches, Kaiser Scrapbook large red rhinestones, Me & My Big Ideas small red rhinestones

Tiny Treats: Birthday and Color Couture January Download

Hi there!

Welcome back to Day 4 of the Papertrey Countdown!  All of the new products you're getting sneak peeks at this week will be available for purchase at Papertrey Ink beginning on Jan. 15.  

Today is Group Post Day at Papertrey and that means that all of the girls on the Design Team have projects to share with you and today, we're focusing on the new Tiny Treats: Birthday set.  

I mentioned the other day that we have a couple of little boys in our family that are turning 2 this year so Tiny Treats: Birthday was the perfect set to use to create some fun gift packaging for one of our little men.  Let's take a closer look....

First up, I stamped my own wrapping paper, all with a monkey theme.  I even tied some real twigs into the bow with a bit of rustic jute button twine to give it all a more jungle-y, masculine touch!

I pulled out some plain kraft wrapping paper and stamped it with branches and leaves from the Out On a Limb Revised stamp set using dark chocolate and new leaf ink.  Then, I used the monkey from Tiny Treats: Birthday, stamping him "hanging" from each of the branches.  I colored his body in with the E57 Copic marker and then I colored in his face and belly with the T1 Copic.  The T1 worked perfectly for adding a bit of color to his face and belly without being too dark.  

I also wanted to mirror the polka dots on the gift tag so I used a single dot image from Polka Dot Basics, stamping it randomly on the wrapping paper.

That adorable gift tag couldn't have been easier thanks to Tiny Treats: Birthday and the new coordinating Mat Stack 5 Die!  I simply die cut some stamper's select white card stock with the Mat Stack 5 Die and then stamped the daaaarling coordinating label image from Tiny Treats: Birthday in dark chocolate ink.  I turned the tag vertically and added a new leaf circle, die cut with a limitless layers: 1.75" circle die as well as a kraft layer.  On that, I stamped the circle image from Tiny Treats: Birthday as well as the monkey and the "go bananas!" sentiment.  I colored in the monkey with the same Copics and punched a small hole in the top of the mat stack layer allowing me to tie the tag to the gift with a bit of chocolate baker's twine.

Now let's talk about this card I couldn't resist making to coordinate with the gift and tag!!  I loooove the new By The Numbers Dies.  Have I said that yet?  Specifically, I looooove this "2" die!  Hee....look at what I did with it....

I die cut ten "2's" and inked the edges of each with a bit of vintage touch tea dye ink.  Then, I glued them all to the front of a kraft card base and trimmed them off around the edges.  I am in love with the texture of this background pattern and really, it was so easy!  (I love Papertrey dies.  Don't you?)  

The sweet little "make a wish" sentiment is from 2011 Birthday Tags....more about that set tomorrow!

To coordinate with the gift tag, I used a lot of the same elements on the card.  This time, I die cut the mat stack 5 layer from new leaf card stock and stamped it with versamark ink.  The kraft/monkey layer is stacked on a bit of dark chocolate card stock that was die cut with a limitless layers: 1.75" circle die.

Now before I go today, I want to give you a peek at the new January Color Couture Download!!  This download includes 3 Inspiration Inserts featuring new projects by Betsy Veldman, Melissa Phillips and myself, plus 6 downloadable patterned papers that coordinate with the Vol. 10, 11 & 12 Color Couture Embellies AND 3 Jumbo Scallops downloadable card templates with 3 corresponding mat layers!  And the beauty of these downloads is that you get ALL of that for just $5!

How about some projects using these goodies......

For this first card, I used the smallest card template....a darling little scalloped square.  I printed out the card template on stamper's select white card stock, cut it out and scored it.  Next, I printed out the fun striped patterned paper and then put it back in the printer and printed out the mat layer template directly on the patterned paper.  Then, I could just cut the mat layer template out of the patterned paper and stick it right on my card front. 

Next, I stamped one of the new images from the Mat Stack 3 Collection stamp set onto stamper's select white card stock that had been die cut with the mat stack 3 die, using pure poppy ink.  Then, I stamped another one of the pretty little frames from Mat Stack 3 Collection as well as a sentiment from the new Inside & Out: Birthday, cut the frame out and adhered it to the mat stack layer with foam adhesive.  To finish things off, I die cut two butterflies using the Signature Series: Butterfly die as well as the butterfly die from the Love Lives Here collection.  I love these two butterflies layered together!  I inked their edges and then stitched them together, right to the mat stack layer.  What a fun little birthday card that I can tuck onto a loved one's birthday gift!

This card uses the largest of the Jumbo Scallops Card Templates from the January Color Couture Download.....it's a standard A2 size.  I also printed out another of the fun flowered patterned papers from the January Color Couture Download and added a strip of it to the fine linen card base followed by a green "Sending Love" trim strip from the Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellies collection.  

For the focal point, I punched out one of the circle "Hello, happy birthday" sentiment embellies from the Vol. 12 Embellies Collection as well as some leaves.  I layered them on a bit of pure poppy card stock that was die cut using the limitless layers: 1.75" circle dies and piled that on some stamper's select white card stock that was die cut using the fillable frames #4 die.  To finish things off, I colored some clear rhinestones with the R29 Copic marker and added them on either side of the sentiment.

Well Friends, that's it for me today but you're in for a treat.....Group Post day means tons of inspiration awaits you!  Bop around and visit each of the Design Team girls....

Nichole Heady

Mish Wooderson
Betsy Veldman
Heather Nichols
Debbie Olson
Melissa Phillips
Maile Belles
Erin Lincoln
Niki Estes
Lisa Johnson
Jessica Witty

Thank you so much for stopping by today!!  I hope you'll be back tomorrow because it's gonna be another jam-packed post for the last day of the Countdown!  See you soon!  In the meantime, what do you think of today's projects?

 

{Go Bananas Gift Wrap/Tag supplies}
Paper: stamper's select white, kraft, new leaf
Stamps: Tiny Treats: Birthday, Polka Dot Basics, Out On a Limb Revised
Ink: dark chocolate, new leaf, true black
Other: mat stack 5 die, limitless layers: 1.75" circle dies, Copic markers, rustic jute button twine, dark chocolate baker's twine, new leaf classic grosgrain ribbon

{Make a Wish supplies}
Paper: kraft, stamper's select white, dark chocolate, new leaf
Stamps: Tiny Treats: Birthday, 2011 Birthday Tags
Ink: dark chocolate, true black, versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: mat stack 5 die, by the numbers die, limitless layers: 1.75" circle dies, Copic markers

{Happy Birthday Butterflies supplies}
Paper: stamper's select white, pure poppy, berry sorbet
Stamps: Mat Stack 3 Collection, Inside & Out: Birthday
Ink: pure poppy, berry sorbet, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Color Couture January Download - striped patterned paper & Jumbo Scallops card template, mat stack 3 die, signature series: butterfly die, love lives here die

{Hello Happy Birthday supplies}
Paper: stamper's select white, fine linen, pure poppy
Ink: vintage touch tea dye
Other: Color Couture January Download - striped patterned paper & Jumbo Scallops card template, Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellies & Trim Strip, limitless layers: 1.75" circle die, fillable frames #4 die, rhinestones, Copic marker

Love Lives Here + Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds - Day 4

Hello there!  Welcome to Day 4 of the Papertrey Countdown!  (All of the new products you'll see today will be available for purchase at Papertrey beginning on Dec. 15.)  

It's a big day around these parts because not only do I have more Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds projects to share with you, but it's also Group Post day for the Design Team!  We're all focusing on a new set called Love Lives Here that Nichole Heady designed based on Melissa Phillips' concepts.  This set is gorgeous and so full of Melissa's heart....you can just see it!  

Our assignment for today was to create a gift using Love Lives Here.  I decided to create a beautiful banner that could be hung year round......a banner whose theme centers around love and home life and happiness.  By choosing a fairly neutral color palette to work with, this banner could be given to just about anyone, to be hung on a mantle, across a mirror, on a china cabinet, etc.  I snapped a photo of it here, hanging on our family room mantle.

Before I get to the details of the banner itself, I have a little tip for you.  Each time I use a doily and trim a portion off the edge of the card or tag I've put the doily on, I save those doily slivers.  You can see in the photo above that some have a bit of tea dye ink on them and some are still all white.  I save them all because you never know when they'll come in hand.......such as on a sweet little banner project!  Check it out....

I tucked one of the doily bits under the border across the top of each flag!  

On this flag, I used the boxy banners dies to create the main banner layers using rustic cream card stock and a really neutral pattern of my new Sweet Symphony patterned paper.  Then I used the banner borders die to create the scalloped aqua mist border across the top.  The little house was stamped and die cut using the new Love Lives Here stamp set and dies.  The little scalloped circle was also die cut with a Love Lives Here die.  Lastly, I die cut a strip of rustic cream card stock with the double-ended border die and stamped a sentiment from Love Lives Here in dark chocolate ink.

On this one, the banner layers are dark chocolate and aqua mist card stock.  Can you see that I used my new Sheet Music Impression Plate on the aqua mist layer?  Next, I stamped little hearts from Love lives Here and then layered on some limitless layers die cuts.  The small scalloped circle is a bit of Sweet Symphony patterned paper cut with a Love Lives Here die and the butterfly stamp and die are both Love Lives Here goodies as well.

The base on this flag is kraft card stock followed by another neutral Sweet Symphony patterned paper.  The circles were both cut with Love Lives Here dies and stamped with the coordinating image.  The "Love Lives Here" sentiment is also from the same set.

This little flag has a bit more of the Sheet Music Impression Plate used on the aqua mist layer.  The house was die cut with a Love Lives Here die and stamped with coordinating house-building elements from Love Lives Here and those little hearts are what were cut out of the center of the house with the die!  Handy!

The last flag has a bit more Sweet Symphony patterned paper.  The frame was cut with the fillable frames #4 die and stamped with the coordinating fillable frames #4 image, followed by a gorgeous sentiment from Love Lives Here.

Can you see yourself making a banner along these lines to give to a loved one?

Oooooh, so this next card?  Well this next card makes my heart positively sing.  I made this card totally with my husband in mind.  The sentiment is sooo true.  And the colors?  The doily and the pretty little texty butterflies?  The hearts?  It all works together to make me soooo happy!

 

 

I die cut the butterflies and then stamped them with pure poppy, hawaiian shores, dark chocolate, raspberry fizz and summer sunrise ink and then stitched each one to the card front.  Overall, it's a simple, simple card but I do love it so.  


 

How about Love Birds card next?  :)  This one has a raspberry fizz card stock base layered with a fun pattern from the Sweet Symphony patterned paper collection.  Across the top is a bit of dark chocolate card stock die cut with the banner borders die and then tied up with some dark chocolate topnotch twill ribbon.

 

I stamped the large bird cage from Love Birds in dark chocolate, as well as the chain.  The pair of birds were stamped in raspberry fizz ink and a few rhinestones were added to the top of the cage.  

I thought the "Home is where the heart is" sentiment from Love Lives Here would go perfectly with the sweet little Love Birds images!

 

Here's a peek for you, at the cover of the December Color Couture Download.  As you can see, the download includes 6 patterned papers, 5 Mirror Image card templates and 3 inspiration inserts featuring new, never-before-seen cards (with complete supplies and instructions) designed by Melissa Phillips, Betsy Veldman and myself......and all of that is included in the download for just $5!

 

Here's a card I created using one of the smaller card templates from the December Color Couture Download.  I simply printed the template, cut it out and then stamped some Background Basics: Sheet Music in orange zest across the middle portion of the card front.

I added a strip of dark chocolate card stock cut with the small scallop border die and then layered on a bit of orange zest card stock cut with the mat stack 2 die.  The summer sunrise layer was cut with a limitless layers die and I cut/punched out a few Color Couture Vol. 10 embellies to finish off the card.  Easy peasy!

That's it for me today, but you'll want to be sure to visit Nichole Heady and all of the Design Team girls for lots more Love Lives Here inspiration.  Melissa Bickford will also be showing you more of her new sets.

Melissa Phillips
Mish Wooderson
Heather Nichols
Betsy Veldman
Maile Belles
Debbie Olson
Lisa Johnson
Erin Lincoln
Niki Estes
Jessica Witty 

Have a wonderful Monday, sweet friends!  I'll be back for a big finish to Countdown week tomorrow -- one more day of Countdown fun this month!  I hope you'll stop back by!

Smooches,

 

{Love Lives Here Banner supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, kraft, dark chocolate, aqua mist, Sweet Symphony
Stamps: Love Lives Here, Fillable Frames #4
Ink: dark chocolate, versamark
Other: Sheet Music Impression Plate, Love Lives Here dies, boxy banner dies, banner borders dies, double-ended banner dies, fillable frames #4 die, limitless layers dies, vintage cream buttons, rustic cream button twine, paper doilies, vintage cream classic grosgrain ribbon, sewing machine/thread

{My Home is Wherever You Are supplies}
Paper: rustic cream
Stamps: Love Lives Here
Ink: dark chocolate, summer sunrise, pure poppy, hawaiian shores, raspberry fizz
Other: Love Lives Here dies, paper doily, sewing machine/thread

{Home is Where the Heart Is supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, raspberry fizz, Sweet Symphony
Stamps: Love Birds, Love Lives Here
Ink: dark chocolate, raspberry fizz
Other: banner borders die, dark chocolate topnotch twill, rhinestones, corner chomper

{Thoughts of You... supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, dark chocolate, orange zest, summer sunrise
Stamps: Background Basics: Sheet Music
Ink: orange zest
Other: Color Couture December Download - Mirror Image card template, Color Couture Vol. 10 embellies, small scallop border punch, limitless layers die, mat stack 2 die

Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds - Day 3

Hi there and welcome to day 3 of the Papertrey Countdown!  I've got lots more fun projects to share with you today showcasing my new Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds stamp sets as well as a few other fun goodies to share with you.  All of the products you're getting a peek at today will be available for release at Papertrey Ink beginning on Dec. 15.

All righty, so let's get started.  First up, I thought I would show you just how pretty sheet music can be when used on Christmas cards!  I am in loooove with how these cards turned out!  I created just one first and loved it so much, I decided to whip up three more for a pretty little set of 4 cards.  :)

I started out with a kraft card base.  Then I took a bit of rustic cream card stock and stamped the Background Basics: Sheet Music pattern using dark chocolate ink, over the entire piece.  I stamped off on scrap paper each time though, to lighten the color of the dark chocolate ink a bit.  

Next, I stamped the poinsettia from the new Year of Flowers: Poinsettia set in true black ink and then colored the poinsettia with Copic markers.  I love that you can still see a bit of the sheet music pattern thru the Copic coloring!  Such a pretty effect, don't you think?  I also stamped the "Merry Christmas" sentiment from Year of Flowers: Poinsettia in the space between the staffs.

I used the small scalloped border die to create the pure poppy scallops along the bottom of the card and then tied a simple little pure poppy topnotch twill knot.

Here are the two Copic colors I used to color the poinsettias.

As I was creating the cards, I decided that I could easily use the same techniques to create a sweet little set of one layer tags.  FUN!

I used the tag sale #1 die to cut out the tags and then followed the same steps that I did on the cards above.  There are two sizes of poinsettia images in the Year of Flowers: Poinsettia set, so for these tags, I used the smaller of the two flowers.  

I finished these off with a bit of fine linen topnotch twill.  It pairs so nicely with the lightened up dark chocolate ink of the sheet music pattern.  Wouldn't a set of these tags make a lovely gift?

Ahhhh......now here's a bit of fun!  I am thrilled to show you a peek or two at another new product I have coming out this month -- a patterned paper collection of dotty, sheet music!  Introducing, Sweet Symphony patterned paper!  I used a bit of it here, die cut with the mat stack 4 die.  Do you love how FUN it is??  :)

Under the mat stack layer, I stamped the "Hey There" sentiment from Big & Bold Wishes and added a teeny strip of dark chocolate card stock.  

Now I ask you, what cutie little red bird doesn't deserve her own red, ruffled bird cage???  Hee.  I couldn't resist adhering a pure poppy topnotch twill ruffle along the bottom edge of the bird cage from Love Birds and then stitching across the top edge of the ruffles with my sewing machine!  A girly bird cage if ever I saw one!  

And here's a bit more Sweet Symphony patterned paper -- this pattern much more neutral in color.  You could layer this paper on sooo many different projects!

I stamped the large bird cage and large pedestal from Love Birds in chai vintage touch tea dye ink and the stamped a little bird on top of the cage using dark chocolate ink.  The sentiment, "Wishing you a fabulous day" is one from my Signature Series: Dress Form stamp set.  I used the banner borders die to create the scalloped border peeking out from behind the bird cage panel.

Before I go, I've got one more card to share with you.....this one showcasing a bit of the Vol. 11 patterned paper from the December Color Couture Download.  Both the snowflake paper and the dotty paper are from the December Color Couture Download!  I just printed them out and cut them up to use on this project.  

To them, a looped strip of pure poppy saddle stitch ribbon.  Next, I added a mat stack 4 layer of hawaiian shores card stock and then a white limitless layers die cut.  Next, I used the new Fillable Frames #11 die and stamp set on berry sorbet card stock with berry sorbet ink.  To top things off, I cut out with scalloped scissors, one of the embellies from the Color Couture Vol. 11 Embellie collection.

All right, Friends....I hope that today's post has left you feeling at least a bit inspired to get crafty yourself!  Be sure to visit Nichole Heady, Lisa Johnson and Erin Lincoln for lots more inspiration, plus Heather Nichols and Melissa Bickford will have some more fun peeks at their new sets.

I'll be back tomorrow with lots more to share!  I hope you'll stop back by!

Happy Sunday!

{Merry Christmas Cards supplies}
Paper: kraft, rustic cream, pure poppy
Stamps: Background Basics: Sheet Music, Year of Flowers: Poinsettia
Ink: dark chocolate, true black
Other: small scallop border die, pure poppy topnotch twill ribbon, Copic markers

{Poinsettia Tags supplies}
Paper: rustic cream
Stamps: Background Basics: Sheet Music, Year of Flowers: Poinsettia
Ink: dark chocolate, true black
Other: tag sale #1 die, fine linen topnotch twill ribbon, Copic markers

{Hey There supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, dark chocolate, Sweet Symphony
Stamps: Love Birds, Big & Bold Wishes
Ink: dark chocolate, pure poppy
Other: Love Birds die, mat stack 4 die, pure poppy topnotch twill ribbon

{Wishing You a Fabulous Day supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, dark chocolate, Sweet Symphony
Stamps: Love Birds, Signature Series: Dress Form
Ink: vintage touch tea dye, dark chocolate
Other: banner borders die

{Wishing You Joy this Holiday Season supplies}
Paper: stamper's select white, hawaiian shores, berry sorbet, December Color Couture Download patterned papers
Stamps: Fillable Frames #11
Ink: berry sorbet
Other: Color Couture Vol. 11 Embellie, Fillable Frames #11 die, mat stack 4 die, limitless layers die, pure poppy saddle stitch ribbon

Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds - Day 2

Hi there!  Welcome, welcome.  Come on in, grab a cozy beverage, put your feet up and get comfy because it's Day 2 of the Papertrey Countdown and I've got lots and lots of goodies to share with you today!!  Thank you soooo much for your sweet comments about my Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds stamp sets.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate your kind words and it's so fun to hear your excitement about these new products that I've worked so hard on.

So enough mushy stuff.....are you comfy?  Got your feet up?  Let's get right to the projects, shall we?  :)

Remember that I told you yesterday that I was planning to highlight a different card theme(s) each day to show you just how versatile sheet music can be on your crafty projects?  Well, for these first couple of cards, I thought we'd focus on wedding & anniversary cards.  I know this may be another obvious match for most of you -- sheet music has such a pretty, elegant feel to it, that it seems ideal to pair it up with card themes that are a little more formal.  

Now, you may have noticed on this first card that I didn't actually stamp the sheet music pattern.  That's because I used my new Sheet Music Impression Plate, another new item being released this month!!  (available Dec. 15)

 

I started out with a vintage cream card stock base and ran it thru my Big Shot with the Sheet Music Impression Plate, and then inked the edges a bit with tea dye ink.  Next, I layered on a paper doily, trimming off the bottom edge and then used a bit of scor-tape to secure some fine linen saddle stitch ribbon, looped on both sides.  To that, I added a mat stack 2 die cut (rustic cream card stock) that I inked around the edges and stamped with a new image and sentiment, both from the Mat Stack 2 Collection stamp set.  Above the mat stack layer, I adhered several fine linen buttons following the curve of the doily and the die cut.

Such a soft and elegant card, that would be ideal for a wedding, special anniversary, or even the arrival of a sweet new baby!

 

Here's a peek at the Sheet Music Impression Plate.  It is double sided with the same pattern oriented vertically on one side and horizontally on the other.

 

Here's another anniversary card I whipped up, also using the Sheet Music Impression plate on plum pudding card stock.  The card base is fine linen and I stamped the "Happy Anniversary" sentiment from Damask Designs in true black ink.  The scalloped layer is a bit of vintage cream card stock die cut using the eyelet lace border die.

Are you wondering about that flower???  :)  That's a new die that Nichole will have more info about for you so stay tuned for that!  What I CAN tell you though, is that I die cut the flowers from rustic cream card stock and then stamped them with Background Basics: Sheet Music in true black ink before stitching the flowers together with a big plum pudding button.  Creating your own custom sheet music embellies is fun, fun, fun!

I finished off the card with a bit of fine linen topnotch twill and some purple rhinestones.

How about we move on to some Love Birds cards now??  The card base is rustic cream card stock and to that, I added a panel of aqua mist card stock that I stamped with Background Basics: Sheet Music and hawaiian shores ink.  

Now for a really funnnnnnn tidbit to share with you!!  How about that darling red border along the bottom of the bird cage??  There is a tiny banner borders die included in the banner builder die collection and those tiny borders fit the bottom edge of the smaller bird cage in the Love Birds stamp set!!!  How fun is that?!  I stamped the smaller pedestal here on vintage cream card stock that was cut with the mat stack 3 die.  Then, I die cut the smaller bird cage using the Love Birds Die, stamped it in dark chocolate and added the pair of birds stamped in hawaiian shores ink.  The little red scalloped border was the perfect finishing touch for the little bird cage, don't you think?!  And you could use ANY of the 5 tiny borders from that die, cut from ANY color of card stock that you'd like!  FUN!

As for the sentiments, I paired the "Love Birds" sentiment with the "That's us" sentiment (both from Love Birds) to create a fun little card for my hubby.

To mirror that dotted scalloped border from the bird cage, along the bottom of the card, I added a scalloped hawaiian shores border that I die cut using the full sized banner borders die and then tied it off with some hawaiian shores classic grosgrain ribbon and a pure poppy button with pure poppy baker's twine.

 

One of the really fun elements in the design of the large bird cage is that the lines on the cage allow you to position your little birds wherever you like.  You can place them in the middle of the cage, on the bottom of the cage as I did on one of yesterday's cards, or even off to the side of the cage like I did here. 

The Love Birds stamp set has two cages, two pedestals and one chain image so you can mix and match the pieces by placing either cage on either pedestal or by "hanging" either cage on the chain.  There are also larger birds and smaller birds, single birds and pairs of birds, all of which fit nicely into either cage.  I think you'll love all of the design options that gives you when stamping with Love Birds!

 

I went with another mat stack 3 die cut for this card, only this time I used the large bird cage and die in conjunction with the chain image, stamped off the top of the mat stack layer.  To the bird cage, I added a couple of die cut hearts (watch Nichole's blog for more info about that) as well as a pink rhinestone.

 

I used that same "Love Birds" sentiment again on this card, only this time, I paired it with a "Congratulations" sentiment as well as the "And they lived happily ever after" sentiment from Big & Bold Wishes!  I stamped the long sentiment on some vintage cream card stock that I die cut using the double ended banners die.  

What a fun little card that could again be used for a wedding, an anniversary, an engagement, etc.

Next up, I thought I'd show you my favorite card template from this month's Color Couture Download!!  There are 5 different versions of this "Mirror Image" card template included in the December Color Couture Download, however this long, skinny guy happens to be the one I love the most!  (Don't tell this template's siblings that I love this one best!)  

Here's what the template looks like when you print it out, in this case, on rustic cream card stock.  I trimmed off the two straight edges with my paper trimmer and then used small paper snips to cut out the curvy sides of the card.  Then, just score and fold.

And here is the lovely little ditty I whipped up using that template.  Gah!!!!  I am fully aware that I don't normally use a ton of yellow in my designs but for some reason, I had yellow on the brain when creating this card and I don't think I could love it more!  Haha.  

The flower is another little die cut beauty using harvest gold felt and a cream button.  Ummmm......love, right??  

I also added a strip of distressed dots patterned paper and a strip of rustic cream card stock that I stamped with Background Basics: Sheet Music using summer sunrise ink.  To separate those two patterns a bit, I adhered a strip of summer sunrise topnotch twill ribbon using scor-tape and trimmed the edges of all the layers, around the curvy sides of the card.  Lastly, I stamped a sentiment from the new Mat Stack 2 Collection stamp set in between the music on the sheet music pattern, almost giving it the look of song lyrics.  Loooove that!

Ok dear friends, that's all I have for you today.  But, Nichole Heady and Heather Nichols are showcasing Heather's new sets today plus Melissa Bickford will have another peek for you at her new sets.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!!  I've enjoyed my time with you and I hope you've enjoyed your time with me as well.  I'll be back tomorrow with more Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds projects as well as another product introduction!  Hope to see you then!

Enjoy your Saturday,

{Best Wishes supplies}
Paper: vintage cream, rustic cream
Stamps: Mat Stack 2 Collection
Ink: dark chocolate, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Sheet Music Impression Plate, mat stack 2 die, fine linen saddle stitch ribbon, fine linen buttons, paper doily (Michael's)

{Happy Anniversary supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, vintage cream, fine linen, plum pudding
Stamps: Background Basics: Sheet Music, Damask Designs
Ink: true black
Other: Sheet Music Impression Plate, plum pudding button, rustic cream button twine, fine linen topnotch twill, eyelet lace border die, purple rhinestones,

{Love Birds That's Us supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, aqua mist, hawaiian shores, pure poppy
Stamps: Love Birds, Background Basics: Sheet Music
Ink: hawaiian shores, dark chocolate, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Love Birds die, banner builder collection die, banner borders die, mat stack 3 die, hawaiian shores classic grosgrain ribbon, pure poppy button, pure poppy baker's twine

{Congratulations Love Birds supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, vintage cream, distressed dots
Stamps: Love Birds, Big & Bold Wishes
Ink: dark chocolate, pure poppy
Other: Love Birds die, double-ended banners die, mat stack 3 die, pink rhinestone,

{Just Thinking of You supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, distressed dots
Stamps: Background Basics: Sheet Music, Mat Stack 2 Collection
Ink: summer sunrise, dark chocolate
Other: Color Couture Dec. Download - Mirror Image Card Template, harvest gold felt, cream button, rustic cream button twine, summer sunrise topnotch twill ribbon,

Introducing Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds

Edited to add: If you're visiting from the 2011 Hero Arts Blog Hop, scroll on down!  That post can be found just below this one!  :)

Hellooooooo!!  Welcome!  It's Day 1 of the Papertrey Countdown which means that for the next 5 days, we on the Papertrey Design Team, along with Nichole Heady, get to spoil you with lots of {hopefully} inspiring projects using all of the new December goodies that will be available for purchase on December 15!  

I have designed two stamp sets being released this month, as well as several other new goodies that I'll be showing you throughout this next week.  WINK!!  You'll have to stay tuned each day for more product sneak peeks!  Hee.  

For today, I want to introduce you to my new stamp sets ($15 each) as well as a little set of coordinating dies.  First up -- Background Basics: Sheet Music.  Haaaaappy sigh!  I can. not. tell. you. how much I love this stamp set!  It was a labor of love, first of all.....and it's something that I've wanted to have in my own personal stamp collection for ages.  Background Basics: Sheet Music was designed in classic Papertrey Ink style, in that it consists of 3 different sheet music background building images that will allow you to change the look of your sheet music every time you stamp it.  The thing I can't wait to show you over the course of the next 5 days is just how versatile this stamp set is!  I think you may be surprised at how many different types of cards work really well with a sheet music print.  SO, with that said, I plan to showcase different card themes each day this week, highlighting Background Basics: Sheet Music's versatility.  For today, I thought we'd start things off with an obvious pairing......sheet music with a "Just a Note" type sentiment.  

For those of you out there that love punny sentiments, today's Background Basics: Sheet Music cards are just for you!  I did a quick search and came up with a whole list of Papertrey stamp sets that include some sort of a sentiment using the word "note".....all of which could easily be paired with Background Basics: Sheet Music for a little punny fun, and some of which, you may already have in your stamp collection right now!   

Mat Stack 2 Collection (available Dec. 15)
Signature Series: Dress Form
It's Official
Just the Ticket 
Daily Designs Sentiments
Favor It Weddings
Paper Tray 
Fillable Frames #1
Floral Frenzy
Mailbox Greetings 
Take Note
Take Three: Fall 

All of these stamp sets contain some sort of "note-ish" sentiment, such as "Just a note" or "Love Notes" and could easily be used with Background Basics: Sheet Music to create some darling cards that can be used year round when you want to send a "just because" type card.  I've whipped a couple of those very cards for you today!  

 

As you can see on this first card, I started out with a kraft card base and then stamped the Background Basics: Sheet Music pattern, two stamps at a time.  

Then, I went back with a third stamp from Background Basics: Sheet Music that was designed to let you continue the sheet music pattern, on longer or horizontally oriented cards.

I layered a paper doily on the left side of the card and trimmed it off at the edge of the card.  Next, I cut a strip of one of the new Color Couture Download - Vol. 12 patterned papers, trimming one edge with pinking sheers and adhered that on top of the doily.  Lastly for the focal point, I die cut a bit of stamper's select white card stock with the mat stack 2 die and stamped it with a coordinating image from the new Mat Stack 2 Collection stamp set being released this month.  I followed that up with the "Just a Note" sentiment from my Signature Series: Dress Form stamp set and finished things off with a few pure poppy buttons and pure poppy baker's twine.

Next up, I went with a berry sorbet card base and to that, added a bit of rustic cream card stock that I stamped with Background Basics: Sheet Music using pure poppy ink.  Goodness, red & cream sheet music is CUTE, no??  :)

I used the banner borders die to die cut a bit of pure poppy card stock for the bottom of the card.  To that, I layered a bit of pure poppy classic grosgrain ribbon as well as a big red rhinestone.  The sentiment on this card, as well as the pretty flourishes surrounding it are all from the new Mat Stack 2 Collection stamp set.  (available Dec. 15)

Next up, it's my pleasure to introduce you to my second new stamp set coming out this month called Love Birds!  This set consists of some adorable bird cage images and cute little birdies as well as a variety of thoughtful sentiments in a really pretty font pairing.  

On this card, I layered more of one of the new Color Couture Vol. 12 patterned papers from this month's Color Couture Download on rustic cream card stock and stitched a dark chocolate scalloped border.

The large bird cage and large pedestal from Love Birds were stamped using dark chocolate ink and then I followed up by stamping a single bird in the bottom of the cage using berry sorbet ink.  I paired the sweet sentiment -- "Nothing's the same when you're gone" -- with that lonely little bird image.  Love.  Some rhinestones set off the bottom of the cage perfectly.

 

Here's a little peek for you, at the pair of Love Birds Dies that I designed to coordinate with the two sizes of bird cage images that are included in the Love Birds stamp set.  And here, you can see how I used the smaller one.....

An aqua mist card stock base was inked around the edges with a bit of tea dye ink and the bottom corners were rounded with a corner chomper.  To the card base, I added a bit of Happy Spots patterned paper as well as a couple of thin strips of dark chocolate card stock.

For the focal point, I die cut some rustic cream card stock with the mat stack 4 die, inked the edges and stamped the "chain" image (from Love Birds) going off the top of the die cut.  Next, I used the smaller Love Birds Die to die cut a little bird cage, stamped the cage in dark chocolate and the pair of birds in aqua mist and mounted the bird cage to the mat stack with foam adhesive to give it the look of being hung from above.  

I am in LOVE with this sentiment from Love Birds that sooo makes me think of my husband -- "You are the beat of my heart".  I stamped the sentiment in dark chocolate ink as well as a set of 3 hearts (also from Love Birds) in aqua mist ink.

 

And what Countdown blog post would be complete without showing you a card made using some new goodies from this month's Color Couture Download?!  You've already gotten a peek at one of the two Vol. 12 patterned papers, but here I used the other by layering it on a fine linen card base.

I added a trim strip from the Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellies collection.  To that, I die cut a bit of pure poppy card stock and stamped an image on either side (from Mat Stack 2 Collection) and heat embossed that with clear embossing powder.  Then, I layered on a couple of embellies from the Vol. 12 Embellies collection that I cut out with scissors (the heart) and pinking sheers (the sentiment).  A simple red rhinestone was the finishing touch. 

Well, I certainly hope that you've enjoyed your visit with me today!  Thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me.  I'll be back tomorrow with more sneak peeks so be sure to stop back by!  Until then, Nichole Heady and Betsy Veldman are showcasing more new stamp sets today, and Heather Nichols and Melissa Bickford will also be sharing peeks at their new stamp sets.

What do you think so far, of Background Basics: Sheet Music and Love Birds?  You know I'd love to hear from you.  :)

See you tomorrow, Dearies....

{Just a Note supplies}
Paper: kraft, stamper's select white, Color Couture Vol. 12 downloadable patterned paper
Stamps: Background Basics: Sheet Music, Mat Stack 2 Collection, Signature Series: Dress Form
Ink: fresh snow, pure poppy, vintage touch tea dye
Other: mat stack 2 die, pure poppy buttons, pure poppy baker's twine, paper doily (Michael's), pinking sheers

{Just a Little Note supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, berry sorbet, pure poppy
Stamps: Background Basics: Sheet Music, Mat Stack 2 Collection
Ink: pure poppy, berry sorbet
Other: mat stack 2 die, banner borders die, pure poppy classic grosgrain ribbon, Kaiser Scrapbook rhinestone

{Nothing's the Same When You're Gone supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, dark chocolate, berry sorbet, Color Couture Vol. 12 downloadable patterned paper
Stamps: Love Birds
Ink: dark chocolate, berry sorbet, vintage touch tea dye
Other: small scallop border die, corner chomper, clear Kaiser Scrapbook rhinestones, sewing machine thread

{You Are the Beat of My Heart supplies}
Paper: aqua mist, dark chocolate, rustic cream, Happy Spots
Stamps: Love Birds
Ink: dark chocolate, aqua mist, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Love Birds die, mat stack 4 die, Kaiser Scrapbook pearl

{Wishing You Happiness supplies}
Paper: fine linen, pure poppy, Color Couture Vol. 12 downloadable patterned paper
Stamps: Mat Stack 2 Collection
Ink: versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellies, clear embossing powder, mat stack 2 die, Hero Arts red rhinestone

Holiday Hostess Gifts

The holiday season is upon us and with it comes family gatherings and get-togethers with friends and loved ones.  What better way to show your appreciation to the hostess or even your own guests, than with a sweet little gift, packaged up beautifully?  These holiday hostess gifts are not only ideal for taking along for the hostess when you go to one of those gatherings, but they'd also be beautiful when placed on your dining room table......one at each place setting for the ladies in your family.  Today, I'm so excited to show you these pretty and simple holiday hostess gifts that you can recreate with items you may already have mostly on hand!  Each of these gift packets contains a "card" for you to write a little note to the recipient on and three Christmas gift tags all packaged in a pretty little sleeve.  A thoughtful gift that's not too difficult to recreate.....you could even whip up a few in time for Thanksgiving!

 

I made a few of these little gift sets for some special ladies in my life and I can't wait to deliver them.  It was fun to think about each one as I made their gifts.....thinking about which color would best suit each one.  

 

This photo shows you the three little tags that I tucked into the back of each little sleeve as well as the sleeve & card combo.  

For the sleeve itself, I used a large glassine bag and adhered a sheet of vintage book print (Treasure Island, in case you were wondering :)  ) and then layered on some Distressed Dots patterned paper.  Next up, I stamped the "A Gift for you" sentiment from Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers on a bit of vintage cream card stock that I die cut with the Fillable Frames #4 die.  I cut off one end of the fillable frames die cut and adhered that little "tag" along the bottom edge of the dotty paper.  I also created my own rick rack with a bit of pure poppy card stock and my rick rack die, and adhered that along the top of the patterned paper.  Then, I tied a pure poppy classic grosgrain bow around the whole sleeve.  

TIP: Wait to tie the bow until after you've got the "card" tucked inside the sleeve.  It'll make it easier to tie the bow without smooshing the glassine bag.

I also added a paper doily as well as a bit of pure poppy felt that was die cut using one of the limitless layers dies.  I topped that with some vintage book print that I die cut with the beautiful blooms II #3 dies.  Those flower layers were stitched together with a pure poppy button and some baker's twine.

Here you can see the "sleeve" on the right and the "card" on the left.  The card is a flat panel (it doesn't open up) and I wrote the note to the recipient on the back.  

For the "card", I printed out one of the Color Couture Doily Card Templates (#1) from the October Download on kraft card stock, cut it out and punched holes with two different sized punches, along the top of the card to accent the doily pattern.  Instead of scoring and folding the card in half, I chose to keep it full sized and "open".  I adhered another sheet of book print to the front (what would be the "inside" of a folded card), covering up the printed score mark.  Then I added more Distressed Dots paper, another doily, a fillable frames #4 layer, another limitless labels layer and a 1.75" circle punched and stamped with a tag image and sentiment from 2009 Autumn Tags.  I kept all of these layers nice and flat so the card would slide into the sleeve easily.

Here you can see how the card slides right into the sleeve.  By using similar products on both the card and the sleeve, it makes for a really coordinated look.  All you have to do is change up the details a bit.

Here's the back side of the "card".  Nice and simple.......and plenty of room for jotting a little note to the recipient.

I also kept the tags fairly flat so they wouldn't be too thick to slide in behind the card.  I used the tag sale #1 die, more limitless layers dies and tag images from the 2010 Holiday Tags stamp set.

This photo shows you all of the pieces in the Simply Chartreuse ensemble I put together.  It's just like the red group.....I just swapped out the red pieces for green!  Easy peasy.

I hope you've been inspired today, to whip up a little gift for someone special this week, whether for a Thanksgiving gathering or "just because".

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Wishing you the happiest of Fridays, Friends!

much love,

 

{Holiday Hostess Gifts supplies}
Paper: kraft, vintage cream, distressed dots, vintage book print
Stamps: 2009 Autumn Tags, 2010 Holiday Tags, Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers
Ink: pure poppy, ripe avocado, true black, vintage touch tea dye
Other: tag sale #1 die, limitless layers dies, fillable frames #4 die, beautiful blooms II #3 dies, rick rack die, pure poppy & simply chartreuse classic grosgrain ribbon, pure poppy & simply chartreuse felt, pure poppy & simply chartreuse buttons, pure poppy & chocolate baker's twine, October Color Couture Download-Doily Card Template, small hole punches, large glassine bags, paper doilies (cake decorating supply-Hobby Lobby)

Signature Series Showcase

Hi there!!  Welcome to Day 5 of the Papertrey Countdown!  You're in for a treat because it's another fun Group Post day for the Design Team and today the entire team is showcasing my new Signature Series stamp sets!!  I'm so excited for you to see what the team has come up with....each girl has chosen one of the 4 Signature Series stamp sets to work with so you won't want to miss hopping around to visit them all!

Plus, tonight is the night of the big release, so all of the products you've been getting sneak peeks at all week long, will finally be available for purchase at Papertrey Ink beginning at midnight!  That includes all of the new Raspberry Suite goodies you've been spying all week.  Here's a quick recap for you....

• Signature Series: Cupcake stamp set  $5
• Signature Series: Cupcake die  $5

• Signature Series: Butterfly stamp set  $5
• Signature Series: Butterfly die  $5

• Signature Series: Dress Form stamp set  $5
• Signature Series: Dress Form die  $5

• Signature Series: Flower stamp set  $5
• Signature Series: Flower die  $5
• Color Couture Volume 10-12 Embellie Collection

 

Now for the projects......There are so many super cute, stitched and layered felt embellishments on the market right now, but of course they can get expensive so I decided to get a little crazy with the Signature Series: Cupcake die and make a fun embellishment of my own!  I die cut a vintage cream felt cupcake and another raspberry fizz felt cupcake.  Next, I trimmed the top off the raspberry fizz cupcake with pinking shears, laid the pink "cup" on the cream cupcake and stitched little rows with my sewing machine.  Then, I stitched a pure poppy button to the top of the cupcake with baker's twine and added glitter to the frosting!  

I stamped the "Love you, Doll" sentiment from Signature Series: Cupcake on this little tag, added a limitless layers die cut and then topped it off with my handy, dandy little cupcake.  This simple little tag would be great to tie on a gift for a girl friend or maybe even one of my sisters.  

I created a coordinating card using the Signature Series: Cupcake image which I layered on a mat stack 4 die cut that was stamped with one of the accent images from Mat Stack 1 Collection.  The patterned paper is one from the Simple Valentine collection and the bit of vintage book print peeking out at the bottom was die cut with the new banner borders die.  

 

The sentiment, "You've been such a dear", is one from Signature Series: Butterfly.

Now, how about some Christmas cards using a couple of the new Signature Series images and dies?  First up, Signature Series: Flower.  I die cut a bit of vintage cream card stock with the Signature Series: Flower die and then stamped it with the flower image from the coordinating stamp set.  The flower is adhered to a limitless layers die cut and that is topping off a tag with lots and lots of layers on it!  I used lots of die cut bits and pieces that were piling up on my desk.  :)  

The sentiments across the top of the card -- "'Tis the Season" and "To be merry and bright" -- are both from Big & Bold Holiday Wishes.

I layered the tag on a paper doily and I don't know how well you can see it but I used my Woodgrain Impression Plate on the card base to give it some texture.  In real life, this looks soooo neat on the cream card base!!

(You can click on any of these photos to see them larger.)

Here's a blissful little Christmas card with more woodgrain.  I used the Woodgrain Impression Plate on the dark chocolate panel and stamped the punched circle with Background Basics: Woodgrain in pure poppy ink.  The circle is adhered to a limitless layers die cut and adhered to a mat stack 1 die cut that was stamped with one of the images from Mat Stack 1 Collection.  

I used the Signature Series: Dress Form die and stamp set to create the cheery little dress form and finished things off with the "Merry Christmas to you" sentiment from Vintage Ornaments.  I love how wintery this card feels!

Lastly for today is one more Color Couture card.....this embellie collection has been so much fun to work with this week!  I started out with a fine linen card base that I stamped some leaves on (from Turning a New Leaf) in versamark ink and added to it, a bit of patterned paper from the 2009 Bitty Dot Basics collection as well as one of the trim strips from the Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellie collection.  

The mat stack 4 die was used on dark chocolate card stock to create the little frame peeking out from behind the focal point.  The "Sending Love" embellie and the heart were both cut out and adhered to the card front with foam adhesive.  Sigh.....that embellie just makes me happy.  

Well, be sure to visit all of the other design team girls today.....you won't want to miss a single post in the Signature Series Showcase....the girls have some adorable projects to share with you!

Nichole Heady

Heather Nichols
Mish Wooderson
Betsy Veldman
Maile Belles
Melissa Phillips
Lisa Johnson
Niki Estes
Debbie Olson
Erin Lincoln
Kim Hughes

Thank you soooo much for spending part of your week/weekend with me!  Do you have a favorite Signature Series stamp set or a favorite project you've seen this week?  You know I'd love to hear from you.  :)

Have a fabulous day, dear friends, and happy shopping (or wish list editing!  Hee.).  

 

{Love You, Doll supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, pure poppy
Stamps: Signature Series: Cupcake
Ink: dark chocolate, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Signature Series: Cupcake die, limitless layers die, tag sale #1 die, vintage cream/raspberry fizz felt, pure poppy button, pure poppy baker's twine, raspberry fizz classic grosgrain ribbon, glitter, sewing machine/thread

{You've Been Such a Dear supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, pure poppy, simple valentine, vintage book print
Stamps: Signature Series: Cupcake, Signature Series: Butterfly
Ink: pure poppy, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Signature Series: Cupcake die, banner borders die, mat stack 4 die, Kaiser Scrapbook rhinestone, sewing machine/thread

{'Tis the Season supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, kraft, pure poppy, distressed dots, it's official, vintage book print
Stamps: Signature Series: Flower, Big & Bold Holiday Wishes
Ink: pure poppy, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Signature Series: Flower die, banner borders die, limitless layers die, tag sale #1 die, small & medium scallop border dies, woodgrain impression plate, pure poppy topnotch twill ribbon, pure poppy baker's twine, pure poppy buttons, paper doily

{Merry Christmas to You supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, dark chocolate, pure poppy
Stamps: Signature Series: Dress Form, Mat Stack 1 Collection, Background Basics: Woodgrain, Vintage Ornaments
Ink: dark chocolate, pure poppy, versamark
Other: Signature Series: Dress Form die, limitless layers dies, mat stack 1 die, woodgrain impression plate, pure poppy button

{Sending Love supplies}
Paper: fine linen, dark chocolate, 2009 bitty dot basics
Stamps: Turning a New Leaf
Ink: versamark
Other: Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellies/trim, mat stack 4 die, corner chomper

Signature Series Stamp Sets - Day 4

Hi there!!  Happy Countdown Day 4!  Today, I'm thrilled to introduce to you, Signature Series: Flower -- the 4th set of my Signature Series stamp sets being released on Nov. 15 at Papertrey Ink.  The Signature Series: Flower stamp set is just $5 and just like all of the other Signature Series sets being released this month, there is also a coordinating die being released -- Signature Series: Flower die -- also for just $5!

Let's get right to today's projects!

First up is a little lavender number.....I started with a lavender moon card base and added a bit of dotted patterned paper from the Sugar Plum collection.  Above and below that are some borders that were die cut using the new Banner Borders die....the top one from rustic cream card stock and the bottom one from vintage book print.  Next up is a mat stack 1 die cut stamped with a flourish image from the new mat stack 1 collection stamp set.  The "Joy" flower from Signature Series: Flower was stamped in plum pudding ink on a piece of lavender moon card stock that was die cut with the Signature Series: Flower die.  I topped the card off with a gorgeous, sparkly lavender moon button that I threaded with a bit of rustic cream button twine.

Here's a tip for you when using the flower stamp and die cut flower......there is a definite "top" and "bottom" to this die so before stamping, be sure to look thru the clear block to see if the flower is lined up.  If all of the petals don't quite line up properly, just rotate the die cut until you find the proper "top" and "bottom".  For ease of use, I took a sharpie and marked the back side of my die with a tiny dot, indicating which petal goes on the bottom.  That way, when I take the card stock out of the die, I can easily line up my stamp with the bottom of the die cut.

For me, this sentiment totally and completely applies to my husband!  It's true......I'm happiest when I'm with him.  The great thing about this sentiment, is that it can apply to any of your loved ones as well!  I stamped it here in plum pudding ink on the lavender moon card base.

A peek at the Signature Series: Flower die.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you what is quite possibly the most neutral colored card I've ever created!!  Hahaha.  I really wanted to let all of the layers and textures of book print to shine, both on the flower and the ruffles.  I used lots of different borders that were die cut with the new Banner Borders die.  Each border was distressed with a bit of vintage touch tea dye ink, adhered to the card front and fluffed forward.  I finished off the ruffles with a simple knot of vintage cream topnotch twill.

 

The flower was created with more vintage book print (8 layers, to be exact) and the Signature Series: Flower die.  I inked the edges of the flowers and wrinkled them up a bit after stitching a dark chocolate button to the center with rustic cream button twine.  Behind the flower are a couple of dark chocolate leaves that were die cut using the Delightful Dahlia dies.  The flower was layered on kraft card stock that was die cut using the mat stack 3 die.  I stamped the sentiment, "You fill my days with joy", from Signature Series: Flower in dark chocolate ink and added one of the stripe images from Mat Stack 1 Collection in versamark ink just above the sentiment to anchor the flower.

Here's another card for my hottie hubs using the sentiment, "I'll love you forever and a day", also from Signature Series: Flower.  I paired this one with a couple of heart images from Heart Prints as well a heart background pattern from Background Basics: Hearts.  

I added a simple strip of dark chocolate grosgrain ribbon under the kraft/mat stack 4 die cut and accented one of the hearts with a terracotta tile button that I threaded with some chocolate baker's twine.

Ok Friends, lastly for today is another Color Couture Embellies-Volume 12 card.  Is this fun, or what?!  SOOOO simple, but an adorable little card to send off to a friend!

The card base is fine linen stamped with Polka Dot Basics II using versamark ink.  The mat stack 1 die was used to create the hawaiian shores layer.  To that, I stamped a label image from the Mat Stack 1 Collection in versamark ink and on either side of that layer, I added a small flourish image also from mat stack 1 collection in dark chocolate.  The "Thinking of you" embellie was cut out using scalloped scissors.  Lastly, I cut out the flower and leaves, adhered them to the "Thinking of you" embellie and added a pink rhinestone!

Well, I hope you've enjoyed today's posts!  This is my first of two posts for today, so be sure to scroll up and check out my "It's a Banner Day" post!  I'll be back tomorrow for the last day of Countdown fun.....you won't want to miss it!  :)

 

{I'm Happiest When I'm With You supplies}
Paper: lavender moon, vintage cream, rustic cream, sugar plum, vintage book print
Stamps: Signature Series: Flower, Mat Stack 1 Collection
Ink: plum pudding
Other: Signature Series: Flower die, banner borders die, mat stack 1 die, lavender moon button, rustic cream button twine

{You Fill My Days With Joy supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, kraft, dark chocolate, vintage book print
Stamps: Signature Series: Flower, Mat Stack 1 Collection
Ink: dark chocolate, versamark, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Signature Series: Flower die, banner borders die, delightful dahlia dies, mat stack 3 die, dark chocolate button, rustic cream button twine, vintage cream topnotch twill

{I'll Love You Forever and a Day supplies}
Paper: terracotta tile, kraft, rustic cream
Stamps: Signature Series: Flower, Heart Prints, Background Basics: Hearts
Ink: dark chocolate
Other: mat stack 4 die, dark chocolate classic grosgrain ribbon, terracotta tile button, chocolate baker's twine, large heart punch

{Thinking of You supplies}
Paper: fine linen, hawaiian shores
Stamps: Mat Stack 1 Collection, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: versamark, dark chocolate
Other: Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellies, mat stack 1 die, pink rhinestone, scallop scissors

Signature Series Stamp Sets - Day 3

Hello there!!  It's Day 3 of the Papertrey Countdown....I hope you've been enjoying the countdown so far.  Today, I'm happy to show you a bit more about the set you saw during the sneak peeks -- Signature Series: Dress Form.  I think you're going to love playing with this dress form image but not only that, this $5 stamp set has 4 other hand-written sentiment stamps that you just might find yourself reaching for again and again!  

On this first card, I started out with a rustic cream card stock base and added a layer of my favorite dotty paper from the Sugar Plum collection.  Next up, I stitched around a layer of lavender moon card stock and stamped one of the sentiments from Signature Series: Dress Form -- "You are a treasure".  I love this sentiment.  Obviously on this card, it's paired with soft, feminine colors, and details but this sentiment could easily be used on a masculine card, a card for your children, or any other loved one, for that matter.

 

For the dress form, I used the Signature Series: Dress Form die to cut out a bit of kraft card stock and then stamped the dress form image in dark chocolate.  Next, I used the Signature Series: Dress Form die again to die cut a bit of vintage cream felt.  I cut the pedestal and top portion off of the felt piece and adhered the felt to the kraft dress form.  I added a lavender moon button to the felt, topped with a few purple rhinestones to sort of create the look of a great colorful broach!

A peek for you, at the Signature Series: Dress Form die.

Next up is a simple, simple card that you could whip up in minutes!  I started out with a kraft card stock base and added a die cut trim strip of vintage cream card stock as well as some strips of raspberry fizz card stock and some Dotty Biscotti patterned paper.  I stitched a single line up one side of the Dotty Biscotti paper with my sewing machine.

Vintage Cream card stock was die cut with the Signature Series: Dress Form die and then stamped with the coordinating dress form image in raspberry fizz ink.

The "Wishing you a fabulous day" sentiment from Signature Series: Dress Form was stamped in dark chocolate ink. 

How about a cheery little damask dress form?  One of the larger damask images from Damask Designs was stamped along the bottom of the ripe avocado card using versamark ink and then I tied a knot with coordinating ripe avocado topnotch twill ribbon.  

This dress form was die cut from simply chartreuse card stock and then stamped with the smaller damask image that matches the larger pattern on the card base.  The tiny damask was stamped using ripe avocado ink on the simply chartreuse dress form.  I added a hawaiian shores button to the dress form and then layered that on a bit of hawaiian shores card stock that was die cut with the mat stack 4 die.  This sentiment is another from Signature Series: Dress Form....."May your birthday be filled with all the desires of your heart".

Ok, so how about a peek at the Volume 12 collection of Color Couture Embellies?  I'm thrilled with how these turned out and have been so enjoying playing with this color combo!  Here's a card I whipped up with some of these new embellies.

Seriously, doesn't this card just make you smile?  Ooh la la!  A perfect little note card to send off to a girlfriend.  And the best part is that this card is sooooo simple to recreate!  I started out with a fine linen card base and stamped a pretty flourish image from Fancy Flourishes twice using dark chocolate ink.  Then, I added a stripey Color Couture trim strip along the bottom of the card using that as a bit of an anchor for the embellies.  I punched out the "Ooh la la" circle embellie with a 1.75" circle punch and layered it on a limitless layers die cut.  Then, I cut out two flowers and a pair of leaves and layered them on the card.  All that was left, was to add some pink rhinestones finishing things off nicely!

Today, Nichole Heady, Lisa Johnson and Maile Belles will be showcasing more new goodies and Heather Nichols and Alli Miles will also have sneak peeks for you as well.

I'm off for now, but I'll be back tomorrow with another new Signature Series stamp set to show you......can't wait!  What do you think of Signature Series: Dress Form and the Volume 12 collection of Color Couture Embellies?  I'd love to hear from you!  Thanks so much to each of you that have already been leaving comments for me this week, sharing your thoughts on these latest Raspberry Suite products!  I appreciate your feedback so much!

See you tomorrow!

 

{You Are a Treasure supplies}
Paper: rustic cream, kraft, lavender moon, sugar plum
Stamps: Signature Series: Dress Form
Ink: dark chocolate, plum pudding, vintage touch tea dye
Other: Signature Series: Dress Form die, vintage cream felt, lavender moon button, purple Kaiser Scrapbook rhinestones, plum pudding topnotch twill ribbon, paper doily, sewing machine/thread,

{Wishing You a Fabulous Day supplies}
Paper: kraft, rustic cream, raspberry fizz, dotty biscotti
Stamps: Signature Series: Dress Form
Ink: dark chocolate, raspberry fizz
Other: Signature Series: Dress Form die, sewing machine/thread,

{May Your Birthday Be Filled... supplies}
Paper: hawaiian shores, simply chartreuse, ripe avocado, rustic cream
Stamps: Signature Series: Dress Form, Damask Designs
Ink: versamark, hawaiian shores, ripe avocado
Other: Signature Series: Dress Form die, mat stack 4 die, hawaiian shores button, ripe avocado topnotch twill ribbon, scallop scissors

{Ooh La La supplies}
Paper: fine linen, stamper's select white
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes
Ink: dark chocolate
Other: Color Couture Vol. 12 Embellies, limitless layers dies, pink rhinestones