Hawaiian Shores and Pure Poppy, Take Two

I started by playing with the BB: Petal Power in Fresh Snow. It stood out so much, I decided to try to make it pop even more with some clear embossing power. Gosh, that gun was dusty. I don't think I've used it in YEARS! Anyway, since I was in the mood to experiment, I used my Nesties (Labels 2) for the first time. Fun! I'm definitely getting a few more of these...especially now that I have my Big Shot.

The Deets (All supplies Papertrey unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Delightful Dahlias, BB: Petal Power
Ink: Fresh Snow, Smokey Shadow, Memento Black Tuxedo
Paper: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores, Stamper's Select White
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Copic Markers, Nesties Labels Two

Hawaiian Shores and Pure Poppy

This card is inspired by Mrs. E, who made the mistake of dropping a piece of Pure Poppy on top of Hawaiian Shores. The mistake turned out to be a match made in heaven. I was skeptical at first, but after playing with it a little, I realized she was right. They are beautiful together.

I'm not sold on this card, but I love the colors together. And yes, I do enjoy placing three buttons together. Lol. I realize that many of my cards have the three-button grouping.

The Deets (All supplies Papertrey unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Studio Style, Fillable Frames #2, Fillable Frames #1 (sentiment)
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Hawaiian Shores, Memento Black Tuxedo
Paper: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores, Stamper's Select White
Other: Vintage Pure Poppy Buttons, Copic markers

More Dahlias...

I know. Everyone's probably sick of this set, and I promise...there are only a few more dahlia cards, and then I will put away the set for a while... I stamped the dahlias on patterned paper and used Polka Dot Basics II. I also used the large scallop die at the top. This one's for my grams, who'll celebrate her 89th birthday in a couple of weeks.

The Deets (All supplies Papertrey unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Delightful Dahlias, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: Smokey Shadow
Paper: Kraft, Pretty Pastels (Patterned Paper)
Other: Vintage Plum Pudding Buttons

Dahlias, Dahlias, Dahlias

I did a ton of dahlia cards. I experimented with different colors and patterned paper and coloring. Whew! I realized that I don't send birthday cards nearly as often as I should, so this one got put in the mail this morning. Yes, I realize the stamping isn't perfect. That's because ding dong that I am, I stamped the sentiment after I'd already popped up the focal point. Duh! This is one of the only times I've ever used Ocean Tides. It's kinda growing on me.

The Deets (All supplies Papertrey unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Delightful Dahlias
Ink: Smokey Shadow
Paper: Kraft, Ocean Tides, Stamper's Select White, Pretty Pastels (Patterned Paper)
Other: Vintage Cream/White Buttons

Clean and Simple

Love, love, love Polka Dot Basics II. I die cut a brown felt butterfly and adhered a sweet blush button. I used the sentiment from Delightful Dahlias which has done nothing but delight me since I got it. Fresh snow ink on kraft is sooooo pretty.

Crazy for Dahlias, Dahling

PTI's Delightful Dahlias. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it. That set had me at hello. It did. Not only did I fall in love with the images, I fell in love with the price. And the fact that there were matching dies. Be still my heart. Seriously. 

I loved all the ways the design team used the set. They used them in ways I'd never have thought of. Not in a million years. 

I stamped and colored some dahlias using my Copics. And then I realized after reading the boards that summer sunrise went with one of the patterns in Pretty Pastels. And off I went...

PTI Blog Hop

This is my second blog hop, and I have to admit, it's a lot of fun! This month's theme was buttons, which I love!

Luckily, my PTI goodies came with enough time for me to play. Hawaiian Shores felt is scrumptious, and I loved using it with the scallop die. Fun! I also tried a window with Fillable Frames 2. I used Hawaiian Shores and the ever popular Raspberry Fizz...and I couldn't make a card without Butterfly Dreams, which has been my go-to set since it was released.

Here's my second card, which uses Delightful Dahlias which I colored with my RV17 and RV19 Copics. I also used my rick rack die to hide the border of Polka Dot Basics II. I love these colors together!

Here's the inside of the card, where I got to use my Hawaiian Shores ink.

Butterfly Card

• STAMPS: Fillable Frames #2
• INK: Fresh Snow
  
• PAPER: True Black, Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz
  
• OTHER: Hawaiian Shores Vintage Buttons, Raspberry Fizz Vintage Buttons, True Black Vintage Buttons, Butterfly Die Cut, Hawaiian Shores Felt
  
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

Delightful Dahlias Card

• STAMPS: Delightful Dahlias, Polka Dot Basics II, Fillable Frames #2, Fillable Frames #1 (Sentiment)
• INK: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Fresh Snow, Hawaiian Shores
  
• PAPER: True Black, Stamper's Select White
  
• OTHER: True Black Vintage Buttons, Rick Rack Die, Hawaiian Shores Felt, Copic Markers RV 17 & RV 19
  
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

School Card Swap

After tons of encouragement from other teachers, I put together a card swap for our school. We ended up having 9 people participate. I had the most difficult time coming up with my design. The theme was "thank you cards."

I ended up case'ing one of Debbie Olson's cards, but using different colors. The colors were inspired by Cinnamon Girl's reusable bags they give out when you purchase a dress. The bags are dark chocolate with plum pudding printing. Yes, I think in terms of PTI when I talk about colors. Lol. Anyway, this is what I ended up with.

I also made a sheet of butterfly and Turning a New Leaf embellies for everyone for participating. I forgot to take a picture of those though.

Poppy Seed Challenge #2

I have to say that when I started this card, I had no idea what to do in mind. I literally grabbed two bags of buttons, Polka Dot Basics II, smokey shadow ink, Baby Button Bits, and spring moss cardstock. I felt mojo-less last night, and I just knew the card was NOT going to turn out.

I started by stamping the polka dots on the spring moss. After deciding it was going to be a girl baby card, I added sweet blush buttons to my new leaf pea pod. I matted it with sweet blush and stamped the sentiment in smokey shadow. Ugh. I didn't like it.

I rounded the edges. Ugh. Still didn't like it.

Then, I added the lace, and it seemed to soften it a bit. After hating the original, I decided I kinda liked the way it turned out. So, no, not tooting my own horn but proud that I didn't give up.

Thank You Notecards and A Boy Card

This was made a couple of weeks ago for a friend who recently had a beautiful daughter. Unfortunately, since I procrastinated, I wasn't able to get the album done in time. I made something small for them. It's just a set of notecards with die cut butterflies and a little Spica glitter pen on the black lines. I packaged them in PTI's clear box. I used two sets of PTI stamps: Butterfly Dreams and Fillable Frames.

Since I bought Skater Ian and Football Ian, I've been doing a ton of coloring. I used some old Scenic Route paper that matched his clothes and used a sentiment from PTI's Fillable Frames. I popped him up of course, just to give the card a little dimension.

Overall, I had a productive past few days. My school's card swap is due on Monday, so I can post those cards then.

PTI Release

Had WAY too much "fun" shopping PTI's March release. Luckily, Mrs. Enabler and I were able to purchase everything we wanted. I even got the rick rack die, even though I heard it sold out pretty fast. We even got the buttons, which thrill me, for some reason. Why I get so excited over PTI is scary. Mrs. Enabler, who's MUCH better dealing with restraint than I am has promised to reign me in for a while. Unfortunately, next month is her birthday month, so we'll HAVE to order. We can skip May, but June is my birthday month, and there's no way I can NOT order on my birthday month, right? I can't wait to get my goodies.

I have two swaps due soon, and I am worried. I am a procrastinator by nature, but I have not started either. Grrrrrr. My goal: Design at least one of the cards by tonight...

Sympathy and Kids' Cards

I had to make a sympathy card for a funeral I'm attending on Sunday. I used Becky Oehler's first Compose-a-Card sketch as my foundation.

Then, after staring at one of the Love Anya images I recently colored, I realized it matched Basic Grey's Sultry line, so I paired the patterned paper and the image, and voila, this...

I also wanted to share the cards the kids have been making. The one with the two boys is Kahia's creation. He used the two new images I bought...Skater Ian and Football Ian. The jersey number is 10, which is extremely cool because that happens to be his jersey number as well.

The other card is Kawai's.

I really like that this is helping them with their coloring. For some reason, when they have to draw and color at school, they get low marks. Kahia tends to scribble one color over the whole picture, and Kawai gets told she needs more details. Maybe them coloring these images will help with that.

Mojo Monday #129 and Lunchbox Love Notes

This card was fun to do. I like doing the challenges because it forces me to layer, which is sooooo against what I'd do naturally.

Stamps: Butterfly Dreams (sentiment)

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Basic Grey (Sultry)

Other: Pink Flower (unknown), chiffon ribbon

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

These are the love notes I made for the kids' lunch boxes. I used Tiny Treats, which I just adore.

Stamps: Tiny Treats: Valentine

Ink: Memento

Paper: Stamper's Select White

Other: Copics,  scallop circle punch (EK Success)

CPS Sketch 157

 

Easy peasy card using die cut butterflies (PTI) with Turning a New Leaf patterned paper (PTI). I did a double layer of butterflies and popped up the second layer. I added the "just a note" tag. 

Stamps: Daily Designs Sentiments

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: Stamper's Select White, Turning a New Leaf patterned paper

Other: Dark Chocolate button

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Love Notes

Last night I didn't feel like making cards, so I started a project I've been meaning to do for a while.

I made the kids lunchbox love notes with Tiny Treats: Valentine. I used my Copics and had a blast. I'll post some pictures later this afternoon.

Here's to hoping they stayed dry in the lunch boxes.

Birthday and Thank You

I made these two yesterday. The first is really, really simple, but I like the colors.

Stamps: Butterfly Dreams (sentiment)

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: Kraft, Pretty Pastels, In Bloom

Other: oval scallop punch (Marvy), oval punch (Marvy)

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

The second card is more my style. Red, black, kraft, buttons. I'm loving Polka Dot Basics II. Seriously.

Stamps: Daily Designs (sentiment), Take Note (circle), Polka Dot Basics II

Ink: Fresh Snow

Paper: Pure Poppy, Kraft, Black and White Basics

Other: circle scallop punch (EK Success), circle punch (EK Success), pure poppy buttons, MM floss

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

CASE'ING to Get the Mojo Moving

I totally cased Dawn's card from Jan/Feb 2010 PaperCrafts (pg. 42). I thought the way she used Pure Poppy with Berry Sorbet was eye-popping. Plus...I'm kind of enamored with Damask Designs right now. When I created the card, I didn't have Polka Dot Basics, so I subbed Text Style. I also didn't have Fancy Flourishes, so I used a flourish from a Hero Arts set. And...because I'm STILL trying to figure out my card for the upcoming swap, I made it a "thank you."

The second card was a little more experimentation. And while I was making the first card, the post man came and dropped off Polka Dot Basics (no kidding), so I got to ink it up right away. Because I liked the chocolate chip ink on aqua mist, I thought I'd try it with lavender moon and see if it made me as happy. It didn't, but it didn't turn out hideous, so I kept it. I also didn't have the right color button, so I subbed plum pudding.

Art in Our Family

I've been scrapbooking ever since the kids can remember. We always do art projects, together and separately. The office is chock full of art supplies for them. It's no wonder they love art. Kawai's thing recently has been making me stamp images for her to color. Now, if it were up to her, she'd be all up in my Copics. Not happening. She's been told to stay out of the Copics and use the Marvy LePlumes, which are...like 8 years old. Lol. Yesterday, when she walked into the office, she saw my Love card. She asked me to stamp her an Ian and Anya, and because I didn't want to have to pull everything out again, I stamped her a whole page of the images she wanted.

And she was off. She kept asking me what color I used for this and what color I used for that...so I ended up putting the card right in front of her. She's been grumbling for a while about not having "skin colors." I keep telling her to use the crayons or color pencils, and she keeps resisting. This time though, when I plopped the twistables (with peach) in front of her, she used it. She said, "Mommy, I want my Ian and Anya to look like yours." Wow, she's only 5 and she's already CASE"ing". I'm a proud mommy. 

Interestingly enough, Kahia had to write an essay today about what his favorite subject is. He wrote about art, saying "It calms me down in tough situations." I love that art is an outlet for both of them. 

After the little princess was done with her coloring, I got a chance to make some cards without interruptions. Here's what I made, and as Sara has noticed, I am kinda getting into the Smokey Shadow.

 

I cased Mish's sketch found here. 

Stamps: Butterfly Dreams

Ink: Fresh Snow, Smokey Shadow, Black(Versafine)

Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream, Pretty Pastels

Other: Lace Ribbon, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

The second card I made was after checking out PTI's gallery and deciding that I really need to practice using my background stamps. I saw Niki Este's card and knew I needed to try Damask Designs again...with SU's chocolate chip ink on Aqua mist cardstock. I wasted some cardstock, but I did get a big enough piece to use.

 

Stamps: Damask Designs

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist, Kraft

Other: Chiffon ribbon

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

 I was also able to take some better pictures using my cardstock back drop and new flower frogs. The light was semi-decent today, but I know that if I'm going to continue this blog, I need to figure out something a little more permanent for taking card and layout pictures. 

Thanks for visiting today.

Dot Spot and Fillable Frames

 

Notice something new in this picture? 

I used Dot Spot and Fillable Frames. I did use Nichole Heady's trick with the post it notes to make sure I stamped straight on the frame. I also used contrasting colored ink...pure poppy and smokey shadow. It was Mrs. Enabler's idea to use two colors, and I love it.

Mojo Monday and PTI Spring Color Challenge Entry #2

Here's my kill-two-birds-with-one-stone card. I used the Mojo Monday sketch (128) AND I used Heather Nichols' spring colors.

All supplies PTI unless otherwise specified

Stamps: Daily Designs and Daily Designs Sentiments

Ink: Smokey Shadow

Paper: Spring Moss, Lemon Tart, Pretty Pastels

Other: American Crafts Ribbon

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

PTI'S Spring Color Challenge

Used Lisa Johnson's spring colors to create this card. I actually colored Ian and Anya last night and couldn't figure out what to use them for. Then, when I saw Nichole's post, I knew they'd be perfect. Spring...time for love.

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Dressy Anya, My Guy Ian, Tiny Treats: Valentine, and Background Basics: Text Style II

Ink: Sweet Blush, SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream

Other: Copics

Finished Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Embellie Kick

I've been on sort of an embellie creating kick since seeing Dawn and Mish's posts about them. I can't show you the ones I really want to show because I'm using them as thank you's for a swap...and some of those people read the blog.

These are some simple flowers I created after making this layout. The color on the layout is closer to the real color than the color above. Boy, shows you how much I need to work on figuring out how to photograph my layouts and cards and such.

My crafting partner in crime, the wonderful Mrs. Enabler has just started up her blog... She is one of the most creative people I know! Although we started with Copics together, she's way out of my league when it comes to coloring. She's not afraid to try new things, and her color combinations are fantastic. If you get a chance, go give her some bloggy love.