A Birthday and an Anniversary!

Happy Monday!! I wanted to start the week off right by posting a few things I made last week. I tend to take photos of my projects and then it sits on my camera. However, I pulled them off the camera yesterday to post my Paper Trey Ink's projects so I figured I would post them today.

The first card I created was an anniversary card for a teacher at work. I actually made two cards for him to choose from but only photographed this card. He and his wife were married on Valentine's Day so I wasn't sure if he would like the colors I used on this card or would want to veer away from the traditional red and pink. I should have trusted my gut because he chose this one!! This card was another CASE from someone else's card that I saw on the web. I do not have a link to the original and I apologize.

I used my Silhouette digital cutter to cut out all the hearts and then layered them over each other. I really like how this came out and will be making a similar design for Valentine's Day if I have a chance!! I will also post the inside of the card, though that is very simple.

I did not stamp directly on the inside of this card because I figured if the teacher didn't like it I would just pull the label off and put a Valentine sentiment inside. I am always thinking!!

The next project I created at 4:30 a.m.  Friday morning when I couldn't sleep. Work has had me stressed out as of late and I often wake up really early. I was actually awake at 3:00 a.m. but wouldn't let myself get up until 4:30 a.m. Imagine what I would have gotten done if I had?

I LOVE the colors on this card!! The patterned paper is a scrap of Sassafras Lass paper I had in my scrap drawer. I then used a Paper Trey Ink Mat Stack #3 to stamp and die cut to make the label. Out of all the Mat Stack's, this is my favorite. I keep hoping they will make some additions to the collection because I would buy it!! I then die cut and stamped an image from PTI's Cupcake Collection and layered it over a die cut piece of green cardstock. The bow was tied before I put the label on. I think this is my new favorite card and I just hated to give it away!!

To go with the card, I die cut a bag using my Silhouette digital cutter. I didn't have patterned paper the exact green color that I used above but the one I used was close enough.

I used PTI's Tag Its #10 set to make the little tag in the same colors as the card. I then further tied the two pieces together (and not literally!) with the same ribbon I used on the card.

Charlotte said the little girl loved the bag. It was big enough to fit a gift card and two nail polishes too!!

Thank you for looking. I hope this inspires you to create something yourself this week!!

Nora 

Paper Trey Ink Challenge

Paper Trey Ink kicked off their 5th anniversary celebration today. They issued a challenge to make a project that was inspired by one of their design team members favorite projects. I chose to use Dawn McVey's card. I LOVE almost anything she makes and am constantly stalking her blog for new ideas. Thank you Dawn for all the inspiration you have given me over the last year.

Below is the card by Dawn that inspired me.

One of the products that she listed as her "favorite" on her list was the Mat Stack #4 Die. I chose to use the colors on her card and the Mat Stack #4 die and stamp set on the two cards I created.

Card #1

The first card I made is just a simple Valentine. I used the Mat Stack #4 stamp set and the 2010 Love Tags to make this card. I then placed two heart glitter stickers over my stamped images to complete the card. Simple but effective!!

Card #2

The second card I created for the challenge I used almost all Paper Trey Ink products. The main image is a Mat Stack #4 stamp and die, and the overlaid frame is a Tag Its #10 Stamp. I embossed Raspberry Fizz paper with a Sizzix embossing folder and the butterfly I die cut from a 6" by 6" piece of Lily Bee paper. I really like how this card came out and it will go to a co-worker tomorrow. I am forever forgetting people's birthdays!! I should just make these type of cards in bulk!!

I just want to thank all of Paper Trey Ink's design team for all their hard work. Their designs are so inspiring and make me want to get all the products they use. That is a sign of good marketing!!

Thank you for looking and hope you are all having a fabulous time watching the Superbowl. I am choosing to create!!

Nora

A Challenge and a totally CASED Valentine Card!!

Thank goodness it it the weekend!! I live for the weekends, which I have to say is sad. It is the only time I have to get in my craft room and craft, unless I neglect my chores. Who needs to do those anyways?

For the first part of my post, I want to invite everyone to come to Scrapjazz.com and join me in the card challenge I posted. The challenge is to create a card using a holiday stamp (sentiment or otherwise) to create a Valentine card. The twist is to use an alternative color other then red/pink. I hope you come on over and play!!

The card I created for this challenge I used a penguin Christmas Eve Chowder by Unity Stamp as the focus of my card. I didn't have a sentiment that I liked so I printed one out using the computer. This is a great technique if you are ever in need of one and you don't own the right stamp!!

I chose Aqua as my alternate color choice but had to add the red hearts and the red twine for a splash of color.

My next two cards are a CASE. I loved this card by Maile Belles but didn't have the "exact" supplies she used so I improvised. I seem to be the queen of that lately!!

The first card I used a polka dot embossing folder by Quickutz for my background. I then placed a heart border that I cut using my Silhouette digital cutter. I used the Paper Trey Ink stamp Tag It's #10 to stamp the heart and sentiment and layered another Silhouette die cut of a key over it. This was SO EASY and I love the way it came out.

The second card I chose to follow the same basic design but I used patterned paper and a brighter pink for the stamped image. I also chose to mimic Maille's design a bit further by adding the buttons at the bottom of the stamped heart.

I am not sure which one I like better but both will be sent out to a special friend for Valentine's Day!!

I hope you have a fabulous Saturday full of FUN!!!

Nora

Getting ready for Valentine's Day

Over the past few weeks I have been making tons of Valentine's cards and attempting to design some Valentine treat bags that I can reproduce in a significant quantity. It took me a few tries but I think I have found what I am looking for!!

I die cut this bag out of Kraft card stock using my Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter. I then stamped the heart using a Studio G $1 stamp combined with the key from the Paper Trey Ink Tag It's #11 stamp set. It is an extremely simple design but I like the way it came out.

The second treat bag I made is not one i will be recreating in quantity. I received a Paper Trey Ink order in the mail and I had to try out the Favor It Box die #1 that I had bought. I stamped in pink using the Paper Trey Ink Mat Stack #1 stamp and die cut it for the front of the bag. The hearts I die cut using my Silhouette Digital Cutter. This is actually the back of the bag. The front of the bag is below.

The love tag is from Paper Trey Ink's 2010 Love Tags stamp set. I like how it came out except for the smudge. Sometimes that just happens!!

The two cards I created are very similar. I used a kraft card stock base and layered patterned paper elements over it. 

I have been attempting to use my die cut machines and my punches more often in my card making. On this card, I used a heart punch as well as a heart border punch and 2 different types of die cut machines to create the paper elements. 

For the second card, I used an embossing folder and a heart border punch behind the tag. I love the glitter heart because it already had adhesive on the back.

I think that is enough Valentine's Day ideas for one day. Come back tomorrow for a few more!! Have a great day!!

Nora

Monday, Monday!!

Happy Monday! Ok, there really isn't anything "happy" about Monday but it is almost over and that is a good thing. I am ready for Friday. How sad is it that I now live for the weekends? I cannot seem to get anything done during the week, with the except of cooking dinner-and if you knew me, that is an accomplishment in itself. I do not have a huge love of cooking but am trying to shake up my meals this new year. So far the family has been receptive and I haven't poisoned anyone!

Today I am going to share a few projects I created last week. Two separate people at work lost someone in their life so I made some sympathy cards and a little treat bucket for my friend to cheer her up.

The first card I used a bunch of scraps to create. The background is an old piece of Basic Grey paper and the butterfly is a Cuttlebug die cut. It is very simple and I love the way it came out.

The second card I created I used the Paper Trey Ink Anniversary stamp set for the focal point image. I really love this stamp and will definitely be making all different occasion cards with this set.

The ribbon is seam binding that I dyed myself using Tattered Angels mist spray. I dyed a bunch during this session and it was fun EXCEPT I didn't use gloves. I had blue hands for a few days!! I will be using this technique again but next time I will variegate the color. I like the solid look of the ribbon but showing some of the white background of the seam binding would also be pretty.

Excuse the photograph for this third project. It was dark and I don't have a light box!! To make this,  I used a bucket I had lying around and filled it with some candy that I know my friend enjoys. I then wrapped it in tulle and tied it with a satin ribbon. I created the tag using Paper Trey Ink's Tag Its #3 stamp, Fillable Frames #1 stamp and a bunch of die cuts to layer the stamped images on. I really like how this came out and will be making a few more as occasions come up.

Wishing you a great night!!!

Nora