August 31, 2017

saf2017


It’s August and I’m posting on my blog, so it must be time for Papertrey Ink’s Stamp-a-faire. For links to all of the challenges, you can make your way to Nichole’s blog. Because I’m playing beat-the-clock, I’m going to keep the chatter to a minimum.

TAKE TEN WARM-UP CHALLENGE



I take different approaches as I journal in my Bible. For this verse about comparison, 2 Corinthians 10:12, I felt that the sentiment from Choose Joy perfectly conveyed the meaning and no other words were needed. (FYI: Stamping in a Bible that is not specifically a journaling Bible has its own special set of challenges. Note the subpar stamping. And isn’t it appropriate that I feel the need to explain away my flaws when sharing a verse on not comparing yourself to others?!)

 
PAPER WITH LAURA

 
My intent for the paper scraps challenge was completely different until I saw this printable. I tried to use the vellum, but it just didn’t fit in this design.

WOOD WITH NATASHA

 
The woodgrain embossing folder was inked with Vintage Cream. I first tried Classic Kraft and Fine Linen, but both were too dark. The Vintage Cream adds a lovely subtle contrast that is visible in person, just not in my picture. I need Wanda to photograph my cards for me!

BRONZE WITH KIMBERLY

 
With this challenge, I was reminded of why I do not use Perfect Pearls. The shine is gorgeous, but it is messy on the card. I started making a different card with horizontal stripes under the sentiment, but the Perfect Pearls stuck to the cardstock along with the adhesive. After trying a few different ways to clean up the stripes, I had the brilliant idea (eye roll) of adding the Perfect Pearls to embossing paste. Because the shimmer was missing from the mixture, I added some of the Perfect Pearls over the paste while the stencil was still in place. The resultant grainy texture with just the very slightest of shimmers is fabulous for a masculine card. Score!

BRONZE WITH JESSICA

 
Like Jessica, I had to mix some bronze embossing powder. I used copper, gold and a little bit of bronze Perfect Pearls since that container was sitting right in front of me just daring me to do it. The bottom layer of the butterfly wings is edged in the custom embossing powder, too.

TIN WITH CARISSA

 
I do not have silver gilding flakes, so I used gold. It is hard to tell from the photo (Help, Wanda!), but the dots in the centers of the flowers along with a few around the arrangement have an amazing shine. I think this might be my favorite card from SAF.

I hope you had fun making your Stamp-a-faire creations.

nancy

February 21, 2017

pti celebrating the past, present and future


As usual, my blog post was not completed before the deadline for Papertrey’s anniversary challenges, but I thought I’d share the cards anyway. Here goes.

2007:  This card was heavily inspired by Heather’s Green Thumb card with a nod toward Kelly’s use of the Make It Monday gelatos technique. Besides the obvious, the biggest difference between Heather’s card and mine is the number of stamp sets used – Heather one, Nancy eight. I love how the simple addition of a darker ink along the side edges of the pot give it such depth.

 
2008:  Floral Frenzy is another stamp set that is not part of my collection, but that didn’t stop me from using Nichole’s sweet daisy card as inspiration. The flower in Flower Fusion #9 was a perfect substitution.

 
2009:  Simple Valentine was the first stamp set that I bought from PTI, so it holds a special place in my heart (so appropriate!). While using it on the next two cards, I was reminded of how charming the background stamp is.


 
2010:  The next card features the set Wreath for all Seasons and was influenced by a 2013 card from Melissa using Meadow Greens. What I discovered when embossing the wreath was to layer it – wreath, berries, wreath. The result is that the berries look interspersed in the branches rather than sitting on top.

 
2011:  Dawn’s artsy Background Basics: Newsprint card was the inspiration for my next card. I like hers better.

 
2012:  Sentiment Signs has fallen in with Birthday Basics as one of my main go-tos for the inside sentiment on birthday cards. In fact, once I discovered how perfectly it works that way, I haven’t even thought about using it on the front of a card. Shame on me. These next two cards using Don’t Forget to Write – same design, different color palettes – were inspired by a card from Stephanie Gold.

 
 
 
2013:  Surprising to me, this is the fourth card using kraft c/s. Heather certainly influenced my celebration of this anniversary! Of course, this next card is another remake of one of Heather’s cards, The Best is Yet to Be created in 2013. That is another set that I don’t own, so I substituted Garden Grace and Mini Blooms for the sentiment. I love how this card turned out



2014:  This next card was inspired by Michelle Leone’s color palette and Laurie Willison’s card using Hello There, a stamp set from 2014. First, without the MISTI, I would never have attempted this card. Second, remember to leave well enough alone. The bottom row of triangles are not needed.


2015:  And now we come to Brushed Blooms, one of my top five stamp sets from PTI. This is based on a card of Betsy’s using Painted Petals. The colors of the flowers are Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy and Scarlet Jewel for the petals and Green Parakeet and New Leaf for the leaves.


I always try to add something to the inside of a card even if only a strip of coordinating paper. For this card, I wanted to accent the sentiment in a way that echoed the front, but there are no leaves in Brushed Blooms that complement the little flower. Because that pop of green was needed, I searched until finding the tiny leaf in Stitched Sentiments. It is a perfect match and looks so sweet with the flower.


2016:  Painted Petals paired with Melissa’s watercolor card has been on my “try this” list for a year. While working on the card, I was disappointed with the colors. They weren’t as vivid as on Melissa’s card. I’m glad that I didn’t toss it and start over because the final card with the Mother Teresa quote (from Heart Print Sentiments) reminds me of a summer garden. And that’s a good thing.


Now it’s time to send some cards.

nancy

February 12, 2017

pti celebrating the past, present and future: favorites


During Stamp-a-faire last year, Nichole asked us to share the project that we are most proud of, our masterpiece. After much internal debate, I chose a 4th of July card.

Papertrey Ink is now celebrating its 10th anniversary and Nichole has once again asked us to share the one project we are most proud of. Rather than posting the same card, I thought that I’d share another card that I’m very proud of – one that I made in 2015 to celebrate baseball’s opening day.

 
I chose this card for a couple of reasons. The first is that, although I am no artist, I decided to try something new and felt I did a fairly credible job of painting a baseball. Thankfully, I had this painting to use as inspiration. The second reason is that my nephews actually took the time to let me know that was their favorite card I’d ever sent them – high praise, indeed.

Because that card only used PTI card stock, I wasn’t sure if that was enough PTI to be included and thought I should share a backup.

 
While that Advent card wasn’t first or second on my list of cards I am most proud of – and, no, I don’t have an actual list – it is still near the top. The 4th of July card was picked for selfish reasons, but the next two were chosen because of the reactions I received from the cards. The Advent card actually caused my daughter to cry. The reason behind the tears can be found in the last paragraph of this post.

It has been fun stepping down memory lane. I’ve been reminded of some fabulous cards, a few of which I’ve CASE’d. Thank you for that.

Happy 10th anniversary, Papertrey Ink!

nancy