Paper Trey Ink July Blog Hop

I have never had time to complete one of these challenges but I was home without Charlotte today and was able to play. The challenge was to use the photo below as inspiration for a card.

I would love to have a room this color!! My favorite are the red/orange curtains. I wonder if Chris would let me get away with something like this? Here is the card I created:

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey (Dark Aqua and Red), We R Memory Keepers (Green), Lemon Tart and Aqua Mist Cardstock by Paper Trey Ink, Ink-Versamark Embossing Powder: Personal Stamp Exchange-Holographic Powder, Stamps-Mehndi Medallion by Paper Trey Ink, Punches- Circle Punches by EK Success, Martha Stewart Butterflies, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Dies-Paper Trey Ink Victorian Lace Border and Love Lives Here, Gem-Basic Grey

The first thing I did was die cut the border out of different colored patterned papers with a PTI border die. I then stamped the Mehndi Medallion stamp with Versamark Ink onto a Lemon Tart Card. I embossed the image using holographic embossing powder. I had to blow the dust off my embossing tool it had been so long since I used it!! I repeated this process on the blue and red paper and punched the circles. I layered the borders onto the side, added the butterflies and I was done!! Hmm, it all sounds so simple but it took me a long time!!

Thank you for visiting!!

Nora

A Little Springtime in Summer!!

We have been busy this weekend trying to stay cool. Once again I am uploading layouts to this blog that I have created over the last few months. This post will be all about "spring." Each page contains something to do with spring.

My first page is about how coloring Easter eggs is always an after thought in our house. I can buy a die kit months in advance like I did this year and we still wind up coloring eggs in the late afternoon of Holy Saturday. (Please excuse the scan. For some reason I have a difficult time getting both sides of a Kraft Cardstock background to meet up!!) I created this page for a challenge over at Scrapjazz.com this month. If you want, come on over and join us. If you create a layout and upload it, you will be entered into a random drawing for a prize pack from Scrapbook.com.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Basic Grey Sweet Threads-Boutique Shopping, Drapery Top, Knotted Shirt and Weekend Look, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup-Dutch Mustard Soup Pea Pod Shapes and Watermelon Gazpacho Pea Pod Shapes, Paper Trey Ink border and banner die,  Stickers-My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Sunrise and Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Cardstock stickers Punches-EK Success Whale of a Punch Circle, Ink-Vintage Photo Ink , Pens-Zig Writer.


The next page is a simple page of Charlotte and her cousins on Easter. I love the striped border on this and the butterfly.

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park Splash Collection-Fish and Journaling, Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho 6" by 6" paper pad, Borders-Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Pea Pod Shapes and Bazzill Just the Edge French Vanilla Border, Stickers-Jillibean Soup-Glazed Green Cardstock Alphabet, My Little Shoebox Carnation Glitter Alphabet, American Crafts Thickers, and Heidi Swapp Bling, Pens-Zig Writer.


The last Spring page I designed I emphasized the white space. The photo was taken of Charlotte in Boston in a plaza by the Old North Church.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup 6" by 6" Paper Pad, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Pea Pod Parts and Journaling Spots, Punches-Marvy Uchida Extra Large Scallop Punch, and Stickers-My Little Shoebox Glitter Alphabet-Ruby and Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Cardstock Stickers.

Thank you for perusing my blog. I hope you have a great week!!

Nora

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #8!!

I left for a while and Nicole Heady put five more challenges up on her blog while I was gone!! I decided to complete only one more for the night. Challenge #8 was to create a card where the front cover was cut back by an inch or two. On this lip, you could put a sentiment, glitter, whatever you want.

The inspiration for this card was the positive piece I cut out of the card for challenge #3. I loved how it looked so I decided to carry on with the kraft/melon mambo/chocolate brown color scheme. The "edge" was decorated with a PTI border die cut out of melon mambo.

I think this is my favorite of all the cards I made today. I will definitely use this design again on some future cards.

Nora

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #3!!

For Paper Trey Ink's Challenge #3 we were supposed to create a window card and tie a piece of ribbon or twine from the window to the edge of the card.

I chose to use the hot pink color again for this card. I stamped with Stampin Up!'s Melon Mambo ink and used PTI's Flower Fusion #1 stamp set and Polka Dot Basics #2. I used Mat Stack #3 die by PTI to create the window for the flower to peek out of. I apologize for the photo but I didn't realize how blurry the image was when I took it. I like how this card came out but I think I will rethink the punched borders if I use this design again.

Nora

Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #2!

I am back again with my take on Paper Trey Ink's challenge #2. The challenge was to create a card using a hot pink, like PTI's Raspberry Fizz and pair it with a charcoal grey. For some reason, I only saw the "grey" part in the challenge and so I used the ONLY grey I have in my thousands of pieces of paper. It was a light grey, almost white. Guess what color cardstock I will be buying next? I used what I had and created a birthday card that I will send to my friend next month.

For this card, I used Paper Trey Ink's Cupcake Collection stamp set and die cut. I stamped it with Stampin Up! die ink in Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink. I used Raspberry Fizz paper from PTI, Pretty in Pink from Stampin Up! and the gray is unknown. I had fun embossing various textures for this card and layering them over each other. All in all, I really like the way this card came out. I think I will be making a few more to go in my stash!!

Nora

Paper Trey Ink Stamp-A-Faire Challenge #1

I had a fun time playing along with Paper Trey Ink today and doing some of their Stamp-A-Faire challenges. I would have loved to go to their fun convention but alas, it was too far and not a great time to take off and go to Ohio. Instead, I played along for a while completing a few challenges.


The first challenge was  create a project featuring patterned strips that were created with some of of my favorite decorative elements. Since I am limited in the amount of PTI stamp sets that I own, I chose to stamp my background with PTI's Label Basics and sea spray chalk ink. I then distressed the edges with a tonic distress tool and inked with Vintage Photo Ink.


For the focal point of the card, I chose to use the PTI's stamp set Gracious Vases.  Again, I used chalk various colors of chalk ink. I punched the images into a circle and then inked with Vintage Photo Ink. 

I used my Big Shot to cut out some die cuts and layered the stamped images over them to make them pop. I wasn't sure how this was going to come out but am pretty pleased with the results. If you have time, go over to Nicole Heady's Blog and have some fun!!

Nora

Another Long Hot Day!!!

I cannot wait for this weather to break. As my husband will tell you, I am AWFUL in the heat. I get ugly and complain a lot. Don't hate me but I really prefer the cold. I very rarely complain about winter, unless we have TOO MUCH snow. It sure beats being hot in my book!

Today I am  uploading some layouts that I have created over the last few months. There is not particular rhyme or reason to them. I just create what photos strike me at the moment.

The first page is a rare 8 1/2" by 11" creation for my "Book of Me." My mother LOVED butterflies so every time I see one, I think of her. Charlotte and I scout butterflies out and she says "Grandma Mary Ann is watching out for us today" when we do see one. This photo was taken at Wickham Park in Manchester last year.

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Lauderdale-Rose Colored Glasses and Clam Bake, and Basic Grey Gypsy Collection (background Green), Bazzill Brown Cardstock Punches-Matha Stewart 3-in-1 Classic Butterfly and Fiskars Apron Lace Border, Stickers-Basic Grey LilyKate Alphabet Stickers, Font-Lucida Handwriting, Other-Jillibean Soup Journal Spots 


The next page I created is all about Charlotte's "rivalry" with our dog Zack. They literally fight over me. It can be funny but it usually winds up with the dog being yelled at and Charlotte running to her room crying. I guess I should have had another child and then maybe this wouldn't happen!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzil Frosted Yellow Cardstock, Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Wavelength, SPF, Bikini Time, Coastline and Clear Water, Punches-Fiskars Scallop Sentiment Border,  Paper Shaper Medium Circle Punch, and EK Success Bracket Edger Punch, Stickers- Basic Grey Lauderdale Alphabet and My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Indigo, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup Die Cut Pieces, Christmas Red Stickles, Stamp-Unity Stamp Bella Blvd Collection Family Tree, Zig Pen and various colored inks.


The next layout is Charlotte swinging at the park last summer. I had fun distressing the edges of all the papers on this page and then "messed it up" using Stickles like a paint to "splatter" in strategic areas on the layout. It was an experiment that I will be repeating because it was so fun.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill White, Basic Grey Lauderdale-Bikini Time, Coastline and Cut Offs, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup Die Cut Pieces, Stickers-Basic Grey Lauderdale Alphabet Stickers,  My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Sky and Glitter Alphabet, Sassafras Lass Cherry Delicious Collection Alphabet Stickers, Fontwerks Label, Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly, Stickles-True Blue and Orange Peel, Zutter Distress It All Machine, Stamps-Stampin Up! Chicken Wire Stamp and Paper Trey Ink's Basic Label Die and Stamp, Black Zig Writer and Memento Orange Ink.


The last page I created is going to be framed for my friend. I caught her son dancing on film when we went to the park one day last year. I used spray mists on this to get the effects I wanted. I had never used them before and had a lot of fun!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Smooth White, Doodlebug Design and Bo Bunny Press, Mist Sprays-Tattered Angels Sweet Clover, Jazz Blue and Electric Blue, Punches-Paper Shaper Small Circle and 7/8" nesting punch, Silhouette Die Cut Machine.

I hope you enjoyed my pages and are keeping cool!!

Nora

Very hot outside and what to do?

We have had record highs outside the past few days. I have wanted to make cards and scrap but my scrap room does not have air conditioning and the room was too hot to even think. What is a girl to do? I decided to update my blog!! I promised in June to update regularly but as you can see, I have not done so. I plan to do a few entries ahead to get it back in gear, though.

For this entry, I want to concentrate on some cards I have created.

The first two cards I created I used a Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and paper from Basic Grey's Lauderdale collection. They are simple but I love how they came out!

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Bikini Time and Coastline, Card stock-Hero Arts- Kraft Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly Stamps-Hero Arts Things Ink-Vintage Photo Ink .


The second card I added a couple Jillibean Soup products. I just love quick cards!!

Supplies: Paper-Hero Arts Kraft Cardstock, Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Wavelength, Jillibean Soup- 6" by 6" Dutch Mustard Soup Paper Pad and Dutch Mustard Soup Die Cuts, Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly.

The next card I created for an article I wrote to review Martha Stewarts Punch Around the Page punches. You can view that here. The punch had holes around the heart that were prefect for stitching. I also raised the front of the card with pop dots to give it some dimension.  I think it is one of my favorite cards that I have created in a long time!!

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park-Gingham Gabby and Jody's Stripe, Bazzill White Cardstock, Punches-Martha Stewart Studded Heart Punch and Classic Butterfly, EK Success Large Corner Rounder, Stickers-Echo Park Little Girl Alphabet and Hero Arts Diamond Bling, Other-DMC Floss, Stampin Up! Cameo Coral Ink, Stamps from Stamps by Judith.


The last card was a quick card I created for my nephew's birthday. It is very simple as I always have a difficult time coming up with ideas for masculine birthday cards. Maybe if I had them in my stash, I wouldn't miss so many birthdays!!

Supplies: Paper-Jillibean Soup-Watermelon Gazpacho Collection, Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Ink-Stampin Up! Navy, Tsuekineko Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Stamps-Paper Trey Ink 2011 Birthday Tags, Birthday Bash Sentiments and Label Basics, Die Cuts-Paper Trey Ink Label Basics and Banner Die, Other-Red Ribbon from Michaels


That is all for now. Tune in tomorrow for some layouts!! Try to keep cool!!

Nora