Sigh...

Due to the tsunami threat yesterday, I was stuck at home with nowhere to go or be. Bliss, I tell you. I created cards the entire day. I experimented with colors and really tried to step or at least dip my toes outside my comfort zone. Here are my efforts.

 

I tried Smokey Shadow ink for the first time. Not sure if I love it yet. I'm trying to design a thank you card for the swap at school, but I'm getting nothing. Grrrr. Thank goodness I have until March 22.  The colors are growing on me.

The second card was made after I explored Baby Button Bits a bit more. A friend just had her baby, and her favorite color is purple. She named her baby Brynna, so I thought the bee with the sentiment would be more appropriate than the card I made for the Poppy Seed challenge. "welcome, little baby bee." Get it? "Baby B." 

I continued the button theme inside. I ended up being pretty pleased with this one.












Card 1
Stamps used: Damask Designs
Paper: Pretty Pastels (PTI), Kraft (PTI)
Punches: Marvy Oval and Scallop Oval, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch

Card 2
Stamps used: Baby Button Bits
Paper: Plum Pudding Cardstock (PTI), Vintage Cream Cardstock (PTI)
Buttons: Plum Pudding (PTI)

Poppy Seed Challenge #1

 

I saw Lisa Johnson's challenge on the PTI forum and decided to stretch myself and go for it. Boy, am I glad I did. I got to break in the Baby Button Bits. I also decided to use this card for a friend who gave birth yesterday. 

I used a dark chocolate base and stamped my image on PTI's Stamper's Select White Cardstock.  I used SU's chocolate chip ink and PTI's orange zest buttons. I matted that with PTI's lemon tart cardstock. Then, I cut a butterfly using PTI's new dies out of lemon tart. I added three jewels down the middle of the butterfly.

This is the inside of the card.

 

Cardstock: PTI
Stamps: PTI's Baby Button Bits and Daily Designs Sentiments (sweet baby)
Buttons: PTI's orange zest

PTI Blog Hop

 I'm participating in my first ever PTI blog hop, and it's soooo exciting.

My first card was inspired by this card by Maile Belles.

 

I love the colors she used. I also liked the stark contrast of the polka dots. The design is so clean.

 

I wanted to use both of the main images in the set, so stamped the button jar in black for the background. I colored the ribbon image with Copics and popped it up, which is really difficult to see because of my horrible photography. I used a raspberry fizz button, and the "Thank You, Crafty Friend!" sentiment. 

My second card was inspired by Niki Estes and her use of butterfly dreams. I loved the way she used Background Basics: Text Style II behind the Butterfly Dreams background. I thought layering 2 background stamps was really cool!

 

My card doesn't look distressed the way hers does because...well, because I'm chicken and my inking edges NEVER comes out the way it's supposed to.  I used vintage cream as my base and added kraft and some raspberry fizz. I stamped the butterfly and colored it in with Copics. At the very last minute, I added some crocheted ribbon at the bottom to give it some texture. I'm still not really sure I like ALL that white space at the top of my card, but when I tried buttons, it looked off. So white it will stay.

LOAD DAY 22, 23, and 24

 

My budding artist. She said to me the other day, "Um, mom? I think I'm gonna be an author AND an illustrator." Okay, little one. Dream big!

 

 

Ignore the belly flab and the blurry picture. I might give this one to my dad and put it in a frame. 

 

These pictures were taken on our last family outing to Chinatown. I love that place. Yes, that's a dead chicken in the last picture. 

Dots and Spots, Butterfly Dreams, and Studio Style

Here are three cards I made with my new goodies. I love PTI!

  

All supplies PTI except for black ink, which is Memento.

PTI Dot Spot

I am loving PTI's Dot Spot. Yes, it does make my eyes a little wonky after a while, but it's such a fun stamp to use for a background. Three cards later, I'm even more in love. I used it with black ink on PTI's Kraft and PTI's white. It was so striking on the white.

I also finally figured out how to use the dies with the Sidekick. It took 6 pieces of cardstock and a layer of fun foam before I saw any cutting action. But cut it did. I had beautiful frames and butterflies cut out with the swirl of my wrist. Yay!

I used my Raspberry Fizz copics to color the butterflies...

Pictures to come tomorrow, when there's more light.

CPS- Sketch 155

Totally had fun with this card.

Cardstock: PTI dark chocolate
PP: Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg
Stamps: Hero Arts "Sweet Wonderful You"
Markers: Copics
Flowers: Prima
Button: PTI dark chocolate
Ribbon: American Crafts