December PTI Blog Hop!

Happy Saturday!  I got some new PTI goodies for Christmas so I just had to get inky!
I am playing along with this month's Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop.  I started with the distressed dotted background in pure poppy.  I popped up this panel using fun foam.  I die cut the Tag Sale: Quilted die in pure black.  To give some new life to an older die, I used the Mat Stack 4 die as a stencil and just outlined the edges with a white gel pen to recreate the look of the white frame from the inspiration photo.  I white embossed the scripture sentiment from Phrases & Praises stamp set.  I sponged some white pigment ink around the edges and over top.  I added some foam tap to this tag as well as some black and white twine.  To ground this frame tag a bit, I used half of a doily die cut placed at a slight angle behind it to create some balance on the right side.

I used three of the same stamped sprigs from the Spruces and Sprigs set.  Two have new leaf ink the other one simply chartreuse.  For the flowers, I layered the tiny flowers from Graceful Greetings.  I finished my card with a few random white gel dots.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Guest Designing for Top Dog Dies!

I have a special post to share today.  I am guest designing for Top Dog Dies.  For my first card, I started with a piece of watercolor paper.  I did the smooshing technique using Ranger Distress Inks in Fired Brick, Dried Marigold, and Peeled Paint.

I used my heat gun in between each color.   Next, I added my die cuts from Top Dog Dies.  I die cut Vintage Alphabet die twice in black and stacked together the letters for some added depth and dimension to the "hello" sentiment.

 I added some loose threading behind and a sentiment below.  I finished with a heart die cut from Mr.and Mrs. Banner die set in white card stock and sponged with more of the Rangers Fired Brick ink.  I love the blend of these colors with the pop of the black letters in this fabulous font.  The perfect size letters, too!

For my next project, I used the Mr.and Mrs. Banner die set.  I wanted to create a wedding card that was elegant and full of love.  I started with some white linen paper.  I used the third die in this set to die cut two sets of graduated red hearts.  I glued the hearts together for thicker more dimensional hearts.   

I then used the the negative image as a stencil to line the hearts up and glue to the card.  To add a little pizzazz, I used glossy accents on all of the hearts.  They look really shiny and dimensional. I love the graduated effect as well.

I layered a gold metallic foil card stock behind the linen paper.  For the sentiment portion, I knew I wanted to bring in more of the gold metallic.  I die cut the Mr. and Mrs. banner three times.

I stacked three together, but instead of using all three in the metallic gold, I layered.  The bottom layer is white, middle layer kraft, and top layer gold.  This allows for a smooth transition from the white linen, but I do not have to use all my gold foil card stock to get the dimension I wanted.

For my last project, I am used the Make a Banner die set.  I started with watercolor paper.  I spritzed the paper first then brushed on different water color paints.  I used medium blue, water blue, and lime green shades.  I set it aside and let it dry completely.

Once it was dried,  I used the smallest of the dies in the Make a Banner die set and started die cutting the water color panel until I had twelve pierced squares cut out.  I added foam tape to the back of each.  I arranged my squares onto a white piece of card stock and layered with a pop of green to the white card base.

For the focal image, I used the largest of the dies from the Make a Banner die set and threaded a piece of black and white twine through it and glued to the back.  I added a sentiment in black ink.  I used foam tape with some loose threading behind to layer on the card.  I added an additional white embossed scissor cut sentiment to the front with more foam tape.  I finished the card with a twine bow and a few black sequins.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Merry Christmas!

Happy Sunday!  Popping in with another Christmas card!  I am playing along with this week's PTI Make It Monday Challenge...Gold Dipped die cuts.  

I usually have a stash of Christmas cards ready to go by this time of the year.  I was looking the other day and realized I have very few Christmas cards made.  I am trying to knock out a few this week.  

I started with pure poppy base.  I die cut the large frame from Fabulous Frames 3 times and glued together.  I stamped the sentiment from the Polka Dot Parade set before I glued all the panels together.  I die cut the Polka Dot Parade #9 die twice.  I stamped each section of the tree with coordinating image from the Polka Dot Parade #9 stamp set.  I used chartreuse, poppy, hibiscus burst, harvest gold, and limeade ice.  I used dark chocolate

for tree trunk base.   I swiped each piece at the scalloped edge with versa mark and gold embossed.  I glued all the pieces to a strip of card stock and glued to the back side of the fabulous frame.  I actually inked the entire tiny star and gold embossed the whole thing.  I popped the entire frame and tree using foam tape.  I added a few shiny sequins and my card was complete.  

While this card is mailing friendly and looks clean and simple, it is still labor intensive for mass producing.   I am using the sketch from this week's Retro Sketch.  

This challenge reminded me of the card I did for PTI June 2013 Blog Hop!  Check out the post Thinking of You.....memories!



As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Sending You Christmas Joy! MIM and More!

Happy Thursday!  It has been a busy week!   With school starting back in a couple of weeks, I am trying to cram as much into my days as possible.  I did take a few moments to play in my crafty space so I made a Christmas card.   I am playing along with Papertrey Inks Make It Monday Challenge.  This week we are to make borders using non border dies.  

I chose to use the Wonderful words die: Joy.  I started in the center of the pure poppy card stock.  I die cut only a portion of the word.  Just under the open letter O.  Majority of the word is cut out.  Once the center JOY was die cut, I  then die cut the word on each end.  I  die cut the word JOY 3 times using rustic white card stock.  I used the Wonderful Words Mini Joy stamp set and embossed in white the Joy musical sentiment.  Love the way the white on white looks.  

I glued the white embossed JOY words on top of the red just staggering slightly the white so the red shows as a subtle shadow underneath.  Next, I used a Big and Bold Wishes and Big and Bold Christmas Wishes and white embossed a sentiment.  I used the Basic Background Musical Score and stamped using versamark onto the pure poppy.  I love this subtle effect.  I cut the rustic white base with a portion cut out on the left to showcase the JOY border.  I stamped the background of the rustic white using Background Basics Super Stripes in red to create a tonal plaid pattern.  I love the bold red and white combo.  I glued the pure poppy panel to the rustic white base and the card  was done.  I debated adding an embellishment, but decided I liked it as it was and it would make mailing easier.  I also like the fact that I could orient the card horizontal or vertical.  Great option.  Could even make a cool pocket style to house a family picture or gift card for the holidays. 

 I am also playing along with Christmas Card Challenges:  Embellish It option(I chose not to).  I am also playing along with the Festive Friday Inspiration Challenge.  I focused on the sending.....the JOY of the Season is on the way!  Simon Monday Challenge:  Family!  Christmas is about being with family and sharing in the Birth of Jesus!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Thanks So Much! MIM and MORE!

I am playing along with this week's PTI Make It Monday Challenge.  This week we are to create a diamond wallpaper pattern.   I am also playing along with this week's Just Us Girls Inspiration Photo Challenge.

For my card I chose to use PTI Lovely Layers set to create my background image. I was playing off the many colors I see in the inspiration picture.  I thought this image looked like the different colored pinwheels.   For the centers,  I stamped the solid small floral image from Basic Backgrounds: Venice.  

I added the sentiment to the hello sunshine die cut from kraft card stock.  I stamped with true black ink the sentiment from  Mini Blooms stamp set.  I added some stitching.  I just had to add the larger of the new scribble dies cut from vellum.  I just love these dies to create a whimsical detail  element.  I finished with some homemade enamel dots.

I mounted my card to a kraft background to resemble the beige background wall in the photo.  I think my camera is on its last leg.  Boo Hoo!  It is not working right.   I will try to take a better photo in the morning and see if that will help.  


As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty