My Fabulous Mom

My new PAPERTREY Ink stamps arrived last week and I'd not had a chance to use some of them. So this morning I decided to get up early and create something "springy" for my Mom. The inspiration for this card came from the PTI Gallery of Betsy Veldman. I am finally learning that the best light for photographing my cards is the natural north light on my backporch fairly early in the day. Other than the vignette there were no other adjustments necessary. I've done some research and am going to try my hand at making my own "light box" before I decide to invest in a commercially made one for the times when my backporch is not suitable. A side note.. you might notice the screened effect in the background. It is exactly that.. the black vinyl screening used on my porch. I like the natural effect it creates.

Stamps: PTI- Friends Till the End, Journaling Lines, Women of Life
Paper: PTI - White, Kraft, Vintage Cream, Mellon Berry
Ink: Dark Chocolate, New Leaf, Versamark
Window Dressing: PTI - Buttons - New Leaf, PTI Vintage Cream Grosgrain Ribbon, Spellbinders - Tags, Moss Green brad

CPS-104

What a great sketch! I had a hard time deciding what direction to go with this, there are so many possibilities, but finally decided to follow as closely as possible the outlined design. I really enjoyed using this layout and will use it often.

Stamps: PTI- Tags for Spring
Paper: PTI - Summer Sunrise, White, Father Knows Best Patterned Paper, Vellum.
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate, Plum Pudding
Window Dressing: White Buttons, PTI Summer Sunrise Polka Dot Ribbon, Stamping Bella Fine Iridescent Glitter

Thanks for looking in.

Shirley's 2 Girls Very First Challenge

I ran across this new stamp company while surfing for new and different dog stamps to add to my collection. I fell in love with the cute and quirky images that Shirley's 2 Girls had to offer. Not only do the have a whole line of just the most adorable doggie stamps (and they keep adding more!) but great Ladies with Attitude. They will be hosting a Challenge the 2nd 2sday of the month at 2:00 pm. Be sure and stop by their blog and enter their Challenge and check out all the cool stamps they have to offer!


Their first challenge is a GREEN CHALLENGE utilizing a template that is posted on their blog and of course the colour GREEN. I created a little "envelope" to hold a string of pearls that I could give as a gift. The flap closes over a portion of the mermaid and is held in place with a silk "frog" cufflink from an ancient cuffed blouse that I'd long since put in the Goodwill bag (oops..! minus the two frogs). The inside of the envelope box is lined with a handmade oriental style paper and the background surrounding the mermaid is also from the same handmade paper stash.




Stamps: Shirley's2Girls- Mermaid with Sentiment
Paper: PTI - New Leaf, Handmade Paper from Michaels, Arturo Fine Stationery - Cream
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Window Dressing: Copics, Lyra - Rembrandt Polycolour Pencils, Oderless Mineral Spirits - Gina K., Fine Iridescent Glitter - Stamping Bella, Black silk frog cufflink.

This Week's Card Sketch - CPS103

I've had so much fun the last couple weeks participating in the Challenges and Blog Hops

that I am going to try and make it a regular happening. However, it still baffles how you ladies manage to juggle all your responsibilities and still find time to create, photo, manipulate, upload, and write in your blogs on a daily basis. By the time I get home from work and do my "housie" stuff and my "doggie" stuff and my other stuff, its nearly time to think about the stuff I need to do to get ready for my next day.. but I'm going to give it the old college try.. (cough cough) if I can remember back that far. I think I think i think can manage for starters a weekly Challenge.
*:D

CPS-103

Another one of the Shirley's 2 Girls stamps.. Definitely a Lady with Attitude!

Stamps: Shirley's2Girls , PTI - Polka Dot Basics
Paper: SU - Wild Wasabi, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, White
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, PTI - Summer Sunrise
Window Dressing: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, SU Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon, A Muse Rinestones, Lyra - Rembrandt Polycolour Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits - Gina K., Copic Markers, and decorated straight pins from which I tore the label off the container and don't remember where they came from *:/.

Publish Post

Shirley's 2 Girls

Shirley does mermaids too! Actually, I think her "girls" are her trademark stamps, but my original interest in this stamp company was the result of seeing her really adorable dog stamps on a blog I recently ran across. This little mermaid just radiated "sparkle" when I saw her in their online store.
Stamps: Shirley's2Girls- Mermaid, PTI - Polka Dot Basics
Paper: PTI - Ripe Avocado, Everyday Blessings Patterned Paper, Arturo Fine Stationery - Cream
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, PTI - Fresh Snow
Window Dressing: Ribbon - PTI Lemon Tart Grosgrain, Yellow button from my button jar, linen thread, Lyra - Rembrandt Polycolour Pencils, Oderless Mineral Spirits - Gina K., Fine Iridescent Glitter - Stamping Bella.

Papertrey Anniversary Friends to the End Challenge

My submission..


We were asked to create a card for a friend. My best friend is my sister. Although we are ten years apart in age I feel like she is my twin. We share a love of paper crafting and enjoy giving to others. She lives in Colorado and I live in Florida but there isn't a day that goes by that we don't talk on the phone at least once and often two or even three times. She always has time to listen and makes me laugh when I'm down, never judges me when we don't agree and always accepts me for who I am. I love you "little buddy" from the bottom of your BIG BUDDY's heart.

Be sure and check out Nichole's PTI blog for all the new products. The Kits are awesome and I am certain will be a top seller! If you take a look at the CPS blog you will be able to see one of the new stamp sets, "Friends to the End" that will be released February 15th. There are also some great projects using the new set by the CPS Design Team.

Stamps: PTI - Women of Life and Men of Life, Polka Dot Basics
Paper: PTI - Kraft, Vintage Cream, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Desert Sand
Window Dressing: Ribbon - PTI Summer Sunrise Polka Dot, Brown button from my button jar, linen thread.

Papertrey & Card Positioning Systems Anniversary Challenge

Card Positioning Systems and PTI are both celebrating an anniversary and in celebration have teamed up to present a Challenge for all of their followers. The card template Love #102 is shown above. Click here to check out CPS's blog and all they have to offer and to enter the contest.





This is my submission.

Stamps: PTI - Flower Garden
Paper: PTI - Patterned Paper Raspberry Fizz Mix & Black and White Basics, Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado, White
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, PTI - Raspberry Fizz (used on brad), Top Boss - Clear Embossing Ink
Window Dressing: Ribbon - PTI Ripe Avacado, Basic Gray large pink brad, Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel

Button.. Button.. Who'g Got the Button?

Answer: Papertrey Ink!
If you have time, look in on Nichole's blog and make a guess at how many buttons are in this jar for a chance to win its contents.

PTI Second Anniversary Bitty Dot Sketch Challenge

For more information on the challenge, the new products, the oodles of prizes, and the February Anniversary Release offered by Papertrey Ink and to download the Connect the Dots Puzzler click on Nichole Heady's blog.
My submission is a quick and simple card.

Stamps: PTI - Floral Frenzy, Polka Dot Basics

Paper:PTI - Kraft, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate
Ink: PTI - Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado
Window Dressing: Scor-It, The Robin's Nest baubbles

PTI's Second Anniversary Over the Rainbow Challenge

First, be sure and check out Nichole Heady's Blog for her exciting announcement regarding PaperTrey's new Cardstock Sampler that PTI will be offering along with all the details on the PTI Second Anniversary Celebration.

SUBMISSION OF MY ENTRY!



I fell in love with this clever way to use ribbon in a tutorial that I will have to go back and research and post a link to the blog giving credit to the originator, but due to the fact I am working on a deadline to post this project you will have to check back for the additional information later tomorrow. This is such a great colour combination and I have used it on several cards against a white card base, but I like it equally as well with the Kraft.



Stamps: PTI - Borders & Corners {Square}, Around & About Sentiments, First Anniversary Set Simple Little Things
Paper:PTI - Kraft, White
Ink: PTI - Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avocado, Ocean Tides, Memento - Rich Cocoa
Ribbon: Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avocado, Ocean Tides
Window Dressing: Cuttlebug Embossing Die

PTI's Second Anniversary It's In the Bag Challenge

If you haven't visited Nichole's Blog be sure to do so. PaperTrey Ink is celebrating its second anniversary with all sorts of exciting news and gifts.
A thank you gift made for my sister's friend Arlene for taking care of my sister's house while she and my niece were in Florida for the summer visiting our Mother and me. The inspiration came from a project Lisa Johnson, designer of the PTI stamp set Flower Garden, posted on her blog.

Stamps: PTI Flower Garden
Ink: PTI Spring Moss, Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding
Ribbon: PTI Spring Moss
Window Dressing: Plain cloth bag from Target, Cuttlebug Dies, Clear buttons from Stampin' Up!

Heart Lines

and other elements seem to be the focus of my card designs lately and I am enjoying using my stamps in ways beyond just the focal image of a card. I've even stamped on fabric creating an over all pattern prints. I'm working on dog neck scarves at the moment.


Stamps: PTI - Heart Prints, Guide Lines, Around & About Sentiments
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, PTI - Berry Sorbet
Paper: PTI - Vintage Cream, Kraft, True Black
Window Dressing: PTI Ribbon Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Bella Bling, Martha Stewart Snow Glitter, Robin's Nest Poinsettia Beads, Create-a-cut paper cutter, Scor-it.

A new card.. a new stamp company..

at least to me. Last week I was surfing some my favorite blogs when I ran across the cutest dog image. It was a Wire Haired Fox Terrier looking pup holding an envelope. Well, I love dog stamps and my sister has a Wire.. so one thing led to another and my order from Shirley's 2 Girls and I immediately began creating..

Stamps: S2G - What's New
Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa
Paper: PTI - Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Kraft
Window Dressing: PTI Ribbon, Copic Markers, Cuttlebug Embossing Die, Spellbinder's Nestabilities, Bella Bling, Martha Stewart Sugar, Flocking






P.S. Look for more of these darling images!

One of my favorite cards..

Stamps: PTI - Heart Prints, Guide Lines, Around & About Sentiments
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, PTI - Berry Sorbet
Paper: PTI - Vintage Cream, Kraft, True Black
Window Dressing: PTI Ribbon Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Bella Bling, Martha Stewart Snow Glitter, Robin's Nest Poinsettia Beads, Create-a-cut paper cutter, Scor-it.