Paper Trey Ink Botanical Blocks: Sunflowers

Happy Saturday!! I hope you had a fabulous week.

As you know, I saw Wicked this week. What a fabulous play! To be honest, I had no idea what it was even about. I thought it would be dark like the book but it was quite funny. The leads were fantastic and a rumor that I heard at the theater was for some of the leads, the next stop was Broadway. How cool is that after traveling with the show and then be able to do it on Broadway?

I went with two of my dear friends and it was just such a treat to spend time with them during the week. Things get so hectic that it is so hard to find the time to get together like we used to. To be young, single and carefree again!! Sometimes I miss that.

This week I have been working on a few things for a friend's birthday. It has become a tradition that I make a set of cards for her. Last year I created a cute card set using a Lawn Fawn set. I would link you to the cards but I just realized that I never blogged about them. The horrors!! This year, I chose to use Paper Trey Ink's Botanical Blocks and Botanical Blocks II stamp sets to create the cards.

To start with, here is the birthday card I created. My friend Jil LOVES sunflowers so this was the perfect way to start the process.

I kept it pretty simple, as I did all the cards. When you are making nine cards, simple is the way to go. To start the process, I stamped two of all but the sunflower blocks, which I stamped three. I then trimmed out each block and colored them using Copic markers. In this way, all the blocks were done and I just had to design each card base.

For the birthday card I sent,  I embossed and die cut a piece of chocolate card stock, and then inked over the embossing with Vintage Cream ink. Next, I adhered this to the mustard card base. I then adhered the sunflower block. I wrapped a piece of chocolate twine around the card front three times and tied it into a bow, inserting a button in between the button wrapped twine and the bow. In this photo, it is a bit loose but I fixed it before I sent it. My last step was to stamp the sentiment in brown ink.

I have to admit, this is not my favorite card but I know my friend will like it just for the sunflower. She knows that I made it from the heart, too.

The next two cards I created using the sunflower block are for the card set.

This card was a bit more fun. I stamped the polka dots using Classic Kraft ink on a Classic Kraft card base. I then inked Walnut Stain around the edge. This used to be my favorite technique on cards. I don't use it as much but I still do like the look.

If you notice, I cut the frame off of this sunflower bock and matted it with summer sunrise card stock, which I distressed using a distress tool. I tied my last bit of natural twine around the layers three times and added a sentiment block. I also added some Wink of Stella glitter pen but it is hard to see in this photo.

The last sunflower card was the easiest to create.

I die cut and embossed a piece of summer sunrise card stock and layered over the same color card base. I then stamped white polka dots on a piece of chocolate card stock and layered it over the yellow.

The sunflower block was adhered over all three. The last step was to add a frame using diamond Stickles.

These two cards are only the first two in the set. I will share the next six cards on my blog all this week. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. I always enjoy your visits.

Supplies:

Paper: Paper Trey Ink (white, Summer Sunrise, Classic Kraft), Stampin Up! (Chocolate, Mustard)

Stamps: Paper Trey Ink (Botanical Blocks, Polka Dot Basics)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Paper Trey Ink (Fresh Snow, Vintage Cream and Classic Kraft), Ranger Ink (Walnut Stain)

Dies: Paper Trey Ink, My Favorite Things

Other: Big Shot Machine, Diamond Stickles, Brown twine, natural twine, Tim Holtz Embossing Folder, Copic Markers

Lawnscaping Challenge, Throw Back Thursday and Happy Mail

Hello readers!! It is finally Thursday. One more day until the weekend and my night to go see the play "Wicked." I am so excited!!

Before, that, though, I am going to post a quick project I created for a blogger that has been having a tough time. It is just a few things that I picked up and one thing I ordered online when I put in an order for stamps last week. Sometimes getting a package with a card helps when you are down in the dumps. I am hoping this puts a smile on her face!!

I am not going to show the contents but here is what it looks like when I was done packaging it up.

I wrapped the gift in white tissue and put it in a glassine bag. I then put a few sequin leaves and stapled the bag shut. I used yellow wired ribbon I had for the bow. The tag was created using the retired "Season of Thanks" set from Stampin up! that was colored in using Copic Markers. If you remember, I used the same set for the card I created in this blog post.

I then die cut the image out with an MFT die that I adjusted to fit the image. I layered it over a plethora of leaves that I die cut with the Lawn Fawn "Stitched Leaves" die and a pre-cut doily from the craft store. This leaf set is one of my absolute favorites!!!

I adhered the embellishment to the ribbon using a tiny clothes pin. I really LOVE how this little gift came out. I am hoping that it gets to my blog friend in one piece!!

Thank you for browsing today. Have a great day!!

Fusion Card Challenge using Lawn Fawn's Monster Mash

I have a confession. I have been a bit obsessed with Lawn Fawn's "Monster Mash" stamp/die set. In fact, my daughter has been making fun of me because I keep using it on different cards. I even made a Christmas card using this set, which I will show you at the bottom of this post.

The first card I created was using the Fusion Card Challenge for this week as my jumping off point. For this challenge, I could use the photo, the sketch or both to create a card. I chose to use the photo as inspiration rather then the sketch, though I might go back and do another card with both.

Here is what I came up with:

I used different shades of aqua for this card, like the photo. I didn't do an ombre technique with it on the whole card but did break it up in the box with the way I cut the patterned paper with the card stock strip in the middle. I also colored the little monster with the bat wings in an ombre technique. The inspiration piece is below:

Each of the monsters was colored using Copic Markers. I used a three color technique and then dotted them with the darkest color to get the sort of pointillist look in the "shadows" of the monsters. 

You can see the coloring better in the image above. 

I really LOVE how this card came out. These little monsters inspire me!!

Okay, now for the little off the beaten path card. I decided to mix "Making Frosty Friends" with the "Monster Mash" set and create a Christmas themed card. As I have said, my daughter thinks it is just weird!!

To start with, I created the background using distress ink and the snowflake stamp from "Snow Day." The ink was applied using an ink blending tool and the snowflakes were embossed in white. 

I then die cut a hill and inked around the edges a bit with the blue. Next was to layer the creatures together. 

I started with the snowman in the middle, adhering it directly to the background but tucking it under the snow bank a tiny bit. Then I used foam adhesive to adhere his hat and the monsters around him.  Are they not the cutest?

I then adhered google eyes on two of the monsters to give them a little bit more character. All the images were colored using Copic Markers. I did the pointillist technique again but also added some tiny dots of Stickles for added sparkle.

I do not care what my daughter thinks but I LOVE this card. What do you think? It is unusual but oh so cute!!

Thank you for stopping by today!!

Supplies:

Stamps-Lawn Fawn (Monster Mash, Snow Day, and Making Frosty Friends)

Paper-Paper Trey Ink (Stamper's select white card stock)

Dies-Lawn Fawn, My Favorite Things and Simon Says Stamp!

Ink-Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, Stampin Up! Gray, Versamark and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Other-Big Shot, Copic Markers, Ranger Ink Embossing powder (white), google eyes, Signo Uniball Pen, Stickles

Happy Monday and a Wedding Card

I hope everyone's Mondays are going well. Monday is my least favorite day of the week because it means I have another five days before the weekend!! I also am going to see "Wicked" on Thursday and cannot wait. I am going with some friends I graduated from High School with. We try to go out once a month to dinner, which easier said then done. They are my tried and true friends, though, and make me LAUGH when I need it.

Today I am sharing a wedding card I created for a co-worker. The theme of the wedding was "travel." My co-worker said the invitations were boarding passes and the RSVP's were luggage tags. Too cute!! She wanted a special card that went along with that theme. Below is what I created for her:

I started by softly stamping the white card base with a retired Stamping Up! script background stamp in gray ink. I then inked the edges in Pumice Stone and Stormy Sky distress ink. The post card and the envelope were pre-made embellishments that I found at Michael's and just had to have. I am so glad that I bought them because I found out that I do not own that much travel stuff!!

The tag is a Lawn Fawn die cut, which I stamped using Paper Trey Ink's "Grand Ampersand" set. I then inked the edges with Vintage Photo and Pumice distress ink.

I die cut the red hearts using a Simon Says Stamp! heart die. The little silver hearts are from Pretty Pink Posh.

I have to admit that this card severely intimidated me. I do not usually take special orders for cards because a) getting time during the week to craft is often difficult and b) if I don't have an idea, I am up a creek!! Once I figured out what I was doing, this card came together in no time, though.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by.

Lawn Fawn and Case this Sketch #99

Hello everyone!! Two posts in the past week-that is a record for me these days. I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. It has been a really nice one here. Typical fall temperatures yesterday but in the 50's today. I will take that!!

I have been busy this week creating things when I get the chance. I have been forcing myself to get into my room a couple times a week to try to make something. Some days are more successful then others, though.

Right now my craft room is A MESS!! I have piles of NEW stuff everywhere. I don't like to put new things away until I have used a product at least once. When your mojo has fled, this can become a bit of a problem. Here is just a glimpse of couple areas on my desk:

And on the floor:

My thirteen year old daughter came in and told me I needed to clean my craft room this week. Coming from her that, is bad because her room is a disaster! Cleaning is something that is on my agenda for later today. It all has a place to go but I just have to get it there.

Now for the card I am sharing with you today. For my inspiration, I used Case this Sketch #99 as my jumping off point.

I started by stamping and die cutting the hippo onto gray polka dot paper. I then stamped and colored the bird and the balloon with Copic markers. It is hard to tell because the pieces are so small, but I did a three color blending on both of these. (Uh oh-I just noticed I forgot to color in the beak!!) These images are from the Lawn Fawn "Year Four" stamp set.

I then went through my plethora of 6" by 6" paper pads and chose a piece of My Minds Eye large polka dot patterned paper to use as the strip on the left hand side. To jazz the card up a bit, I die cut a small scallop out of a teal scrap to go under it to separate it from the embossed piece of card stock on the right.

I layered all the pieces together, using foam adhesive to pop up the bird and the balloon.

My last step was to randomly adhere a few sequins and attempt a technique with Stickles that I saw on Sandy Allnock's blog. She used the Stickles on her project and after they dried, she applied Glossy Accents of them so they would almost look like an enamel dot. I loved the look so I thought I would try it.

I do have an admission to make, though. while I was waiting for the Stickles to dry, I was trying to find something on my messy desk and placed something over the dots and some of the glitter glue got a bit crushed. Another reason I should clean my desk, don't you think? I do like the look, though and will be using this technique again on a future project.

Well, that is all for today. Thank you for stopping by and taking a peek. Tune in tomorrow for a unique wedding card a co-worker had me make for her. Have a nice day!!

Supplies:

Paper-Paper Trey Ink (select white card stock), My Minds Eye ("Wild Berry" 6" by 6" Designer Card Stock Paper Pad)

Copic Markers- BG10, BG11, BG13, R24, R35, R59

Stamps-Lawn Fawn ("Year Four")

Dies-Lawn Fawn ("Year Four") and My Favorite Things (scallop edge)

Other-Big Shot, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Doodlebug Design Sequins (Swimming Pool), Stickles (Peacock and Diamond), Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink, and Glossy Accents.