Valentine's Day Series

As Valentine's Day is fast approaching, I thought I would post a card for the lovers' holiday daily! So here is Day 1:

Lots of layering and stamping in this card! Started with a cream heavy cardstock base, topped with patterned paper from Crate Paper and then overlayed a pink vellum sheet that is held in place with heart brads. I then topped that with Spellbinders' Decorative Labels 22, cut out from paper from My Mind's Eye and then basic Labels 22. The center piece was created using PTI's 2nd to last Polka Dot parade stamp set, which I think is just utterly charming! So there you have it, I'll check back in with another post tomorrow!

Craft on!

-O

PTI's Make It Monday #149

This week's challenge was to create glittered embellishments, here is my take. Enjoy!

I cut out the banner first by using the Tremendous Tags from PTI and then pressed Versamark ink all over it. I partially heat embossed Ranger's Sticky Embossing Powder and then sprinkled crushed, chunky glass glitter from Stampendous over it and finished the embossing process. I love the sticky embossing powder because once set, the glitter truly does not budge! The next photo is a close up

Here I basically used the same technique but just used a finer glitter from Martha Stewart Crafts for a softer look. Same tag used except in the first example I attached "tails" to create a banner. 

Hope this inspired you and until next time!

Craft on!

-O

So recently I've been on a shabby chic style kick inspired by Mellisa Phillips-- I just love how romantic and soft her cards are and wanted to step outside my comfort zone. Also, as mentioned I've really been enjoying coloring with my Spectrum Noirs and Copic markers. Here are a few card projects:

This first one is shabby but still a bit cleaner, not too much fuss. Rustic Cream cardstock from PTI for the base, layered with patterned papers from Echo Park and then topped with Spellbinders' Labels 1 & Decorative Labels 8. The stamp set used is Ruby Reprise from PTI, such a charming and beautiful set! Embellished with some flowers, pearls and ruffled satin. I love the combination of cream and various shades of green.

 This anniversary card was quite a bit of fun to create-- It was actually inspired by the large flower. I took apart petals from a fabric flower and took a strip of Blush colored felt, created a 'lolly' flower and topped with various sized pearls. I knew I wanted to use it in a card project and when I came across my stash of Prima Almanac collection papers, I knewI was in business! The base is Cream from PaperAndMore.com (a wonderful source for cardstock!!) , topped with the Prima patterned papers, glued down Flora Lace from The Ribbon Retreat and then I once again used Spellbinders' Decorative Labels 8. I first cutout the largest size and then took the next to largest one and solely embossed it into the first cut. I then layed a tag from Spellbinders' Decorative Tags and topped it off with another die cut from Decorative Labels 8. Finally stamped the sentiment in Memento ink, added pearls et voila!

This card is most likely either appropriate for a baby card or for the special little girl in your life! The stamp is from a set I purchased from Michaels, though I cannot recall the name. I then went ahead and colored it in using my Spectrum Noirs. I backed it with Decorative Labels 1 and a larger sized mat of Labels 1. I slightly distressed the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink . Then to add a bit more interest, I tucked another Decorative tag at the back. The base is a cream cardstock bu layered with 3 different patterned papers all from the Easter 2013 Doodlebug collection. Between each layer, I applied ribbon-- the bottom is ruffled organza, in the middle a ruffled sation and finally at the top crochet lace. Topped it all off with some blush colored pearls and it was done! 

Hope you enjoyed these cards and I will be back with more soon!

Craft on!

-O

Bookmarks...

I recently received a new stamp set "All Booked Up" from PaperTrey Ink and just absolutely love it! I'm an avid reader and jumped at the opportunity to make adorable bookmarks that could be distributed as gifts to all! Here are a few:

 For this first one, I was going with a Shabby Chic look and what I love is that it allowed me to use a bunch of scraps-- I had a cream card base and then pieced together various scraps I had left over from other projects, added some distressing to each corner, lace between the different patters to break it up a bit and add interest, a sentiment on a Spellbinders label et voila!
 

Close up 

Here is another shabby chic bookmark-- similar color scheme and design but different colors and patterned paper. I just love the rustic look using distress inks with a stamp gives!

This one I wanted a cleaner and simpler look, though there still is quite a bit of "oomph". I used the brand new, lovely and FREE stamp set from Papertrey Ink called Ruby Reprise. Just a beautiful stamp set that allows for spectacular shadowing and dimension by layering the flowers. 

This bookmark is similar to the previous in that it is not quite as 'frilly' as the more vintage looking ones but still has plenty of interest. I used a stamp set from Penny Black for the florals and then colored them in with my Spectrum Noirs. I just really started getting in to coloring with alcohol markers so you will be seeing quite a bit of it from here on out

This final bookmark resembles the first two a bit more as it does have some of the same elements-- differing patterned papers, distressing, lace etc though the focal is this beautiful stamp from PTI that I of course colored in with my Spectrum Noirs again. As you are sure to notice, I absolutely love any color remotely close to aqua/teal so I implement it quite a bit into all of my artwork and cards!

Hope you enjoyed these and that it inspires you to make some of your own!


Craft on!

-O

As the holiday season is absolutely upon us, I thought it would be nice to put up some gift tags and a few holiday cards... so here we go!

First up is a Christmas card but with non-traditional colors. I wanted something that was elegant and neutral-- I used a metallic cream as my card base, matted with Kraft cardstock and then embossed the top layer. Above that, I cut by hand 3 triangles, embossed and embellished with pearls and mounted with dimensional adhesive. The hint of blush color was neatly 'tied in' with the bow and the small tag with "Merry Christmas" to finish it off. Next is a tag,

The base is from Spellbinders label 8 and then topped with a scalloped circle, 13/4 inch in size. The strung lights are from a Bo Bunny Christmas stamp set and then "to" and "from" are from Papertrey Ink's "From Me to You" stamp set. 

This was a bit more organic with the added raffia and simple font used but I think simplicity really adds to the tag.

This tag has the argyle design in the back and topped with a label that I painted with distress inks, Red Barn and Pine Needles and then sprayed heavily with water.

These were fun to make and absolutely useful for the holidays! I have more coming so stand by. :)

Craft on!

-O

For the Y Chromosome...

I know how to make gushingly feminine cards, it's become quite the easy recipe but it's when I am commissioned to make a masculine one that my heartrate increases, my palms get sweaty and as my two-year old likes to say "It makes me nervous!!". But with the new nautical theme being incredibly popular, I think I have finally found a pretty good 'recipe' that turns out with rather acceptable results! Here are so recent Y-Chromosome-Centered cards:

Gift Tags...

This is another entry for this week's Make-It-Monday challenge from PaperTrey Ink. A while back
I purchased their superb stamp set To You From Me and just absolutely loved the versatility. While of course it can be used for gift tags, bookmarks and labeling, the designs also lend themselves as wonderful frames for sentiments. Here are a few I recently created:

 In this gift tag, I once again used the texture technique, though it's quite a bit more subtle. I took the tree from PTI's Love and Marriage stamp and swiped it across Hero Arts' Soft Lilac shadow ink. Gave it a beautiful yet soft textured look.

A close up. The wreath, "with love" and the "to" and "from" are all part of the newer stamp set.

Here I used the cake from the "Foodie Fun" stamp set and then embellished with a very muted wreath at the bottom.

This gift tag feel a bit more organic with the kraft cardstock and natural hemp twine. I wanted  a much more simple layout so not too much 'glitz' on this one.

This combined the To You From Me stamp set with the Polka Dot Parade "THANKS" stamp and die set. I absolutely love the coral and mint color scheme, as exemplified by nearly all of the tags here! ;)

Hope you enjoy and craft on!

-O

Another week, another Papertrey Ink Challenge!

This week's challenge is for "textured stamping", where you simply swipe a solid stamp across an ink pad and it gives it this distinct texture. Here is my take on it:

There seems to be babies, babies everywhere... I always need more of these cards so thought it might be a good idea to be prepared! 

Thanks and craft on!

-O

*Of note, this card was featured in PaperTrey Ink's monthly e-newsletter as the top pick of the challenge by the owners and designers! Woo hoo!

Papertrey Ink's Make-It Monday Challenge

As you surely must know, seeing as though I seem to _always_ be using one of their stamp sets, I am quite the Papertrey Ink fan. This post is a submission to this week's Make-It- Monday Challenge, which is "layered embossing resist". The task is to stamp a background or onto patterned paper, then use clear embossing powder for the "resisted" elements. Then, use ink along with a blending sponge to "bring to life" those stamped images. You end up with the stamped image resisting the patterned paper or stamped background underneath! Here is my take:

Here is a closer view

Thanks for stopping by and craft on!

-O

Babies, babies, babies!

Is it just me seeing babies everywhere?  Perhaps it's due to my large family but it seems that everyone is having babies...what a joyous, exciting time! So, in honor of this corporeal miracle, here are some baby cards I have made recently:

 Have I ever mentioned how much I love PaperTrey Ink? Hmm, probably numerous times... ;-) Here I used the Polka Dot Parade Easter stamp and die for the bunny and then "True Love" was from a miscellaneous stamp set from one of my Michaels' excursions! Matted with a Sizzix oval die, Doodlebug paper and finished with ribbon and rhinestones. Next a close up of the bunny...

B is for...

B is for ...baby bottle, booties, bibs and more! LOVE my Silhouette Cameo, which cut the B out like butter. Yes, "butter" starts with a B, I couldn't help myself!

Shabby Chic Baby #1

Shabby Chic Baby #2