Bordered Sentiment Cards

Last night I made a couple of cards for several challenges.  Both of them use the bordered sentiment technique described at PTI's Make-It-Monday.  The first card is a simple one-layer card also inspired by Less is More (something shiny) and One-Layer Wednesday.

The One-Layer Wednesday challenge, hosted by Heather Telford this week, is to make a card inspired by something in your kitchen.  I opened the pantry door and the first thing that jumped out at me was my daughter's water bottle.  It's been at school on her desk all year, but since Wednesday was the last day of school, it's back at home now.  I was inspired by the circle designs on the bottle as well as the colors.

I added bling to some of the circle images, so it also qualifies for the Less is More challenge to use something shiny.  I don't always know what to do with bling, but I love it on this card!

I made a second card using the colors from ColourQ challenge 142.  I have to say I never would have put these colors together, but I love them.  I used the same layout as the Make-It-Monday sample card.  Stamps are PTI Mehndi Medallion, which is one of my favorite sets.  I used some white ric rac, but in the morning light it looks much creamier.  I liked this card better last night at midnight! :) 

I tried it mounted on both white and dark blue.  Which do you prefer?

ColourQ Inspiration:

Less is More 70 and MIM 69

Just squeaking in on the last day with my entry for Less is More.  In honor of Jubilee Weekend, it's a color challenge to use red, white, and blue.  I never think of flowers for a red and blue color combo, so I decided to challenge myself to try something different for me.  I used flowers from PTI floral frenzy with buttons for the centers, and I think they're kind of fun.

My layout is based on one of the PTI sketches this week at Capture the Moment.  I liked the simplicity of this one (big surprise!).  I did change the sentiment a bit after much playing around.  The sentiment strip is popped up on dimensionals and scored on the top and bottom.  One of the flowers is also popped up for a little dimension.

sketch:

Pocket Cards

I loved the Make-It-Monday video at Capture the Moment this week.  It is all about making pocket cards, which is something I've never done before.  I played around and made three different pocket cards a few days ago, but am just now getting to blogging them.  I think these would be fun for invitations or for giving gift cards.

It's interesting to me how the french blue ink took on more of an aqua color on the kraft cardstock.  On the white I had to switch to robin's egg blue to match.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI kraft, white
Stamps: PTI turning a new leaf, think big favorites, Fiskars floral flair
Ink: Colorbox frost white, , french blue, robins egg, Memento tuxedo black

Supplies:
Paper: PTI kraft, white

Stamps: wplus9 guiding light, PTI think big favorites
Ink: Colorbox frost white,Memento

For this card I added a plum color to go with the ColourQ challenge this week.  I didn't have a good button to match, so my button is a little more reddish, but I'm still pleased with it.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI kraft, white

Stamps: PTI turning a new leaf, think big favorites, Fiskars floral flair
Ink: Colorbox frost white, french blue robins egg, Memento ocean depth, Versamagic perfect plumeria

 

Make-It Monday 65

It's been quite a while since I played along with the Make it Monday Challenge at Capture the Moment.  This week the challenge is to use pieces of patterned paper to make a background.  I love being able to use scraps, so I was all over this challenge!

I don't have any PTI patterned paper, so I pulled these pieces out of my scrap bin.  Not sure what brand they are, but I love them!  The kraft cardstock is PTI, as are the sentiments.  I pieced the strips together and then stitched them using a zig zag stitch on my sewing machine.   I finished them off with some flowers by Recollections. 

The layout is based on this beautiful card by Jennifer McGuire that I've had on my Pinboard for quite some time.  Love it!

As I'm posting, I just noticed that I flipped the background panel on the orange/green card.  I had planned it out with the wide orange strip of patterned paper at the bottom.  This is what happens when I make cards late at night!

Thanks for your visit.

Make It Monday 60

I'm back this morning to share two cards I made for the PTI Make It Monday challenge at Capture the Moment.  I haven't played along with this challenge in ages. The technique for this week is generational stamping.  I've never heard that term, but it's something I do often.  Essentially you just stamp an image repeatedly without re-inking.

As I was looking through my PTI stamps, I thought this technique would work well with leaves so I used Out on a Limb and Out on a Limb Additions.  I sponged some blue ink on a piece of white cardstock before stamping the branches.  Then I used a single leaf from the additions set, inked in red brick, and stamped repeatedly along the branch before re-inking. 

For my second card, I chose to use a branch from Hero Arts delicate leaf clusters along with a PTI sentiment.  I masked a narrow strip near the bottom before stamping the branch repeatedly.  This card is more subtle than the first, as the second time stamping produced a very light image.  I peeled back the mask, stamped the sentiment, and scored a line along the top and bottom of the masked area.  I sponged a little ink around the edges and mounted it on PTI ripe avocado.

Barbles Challenge & Make-it Monday

Barb, from the beautiful blog Kinsale Creations, is hosting an inspiration challenge this month based on this beautiful photograph from her friend's wedding reception.  I was inspired by the black and white damask table runner and the touches of green from the granny smith apples and hydrangeas.  I was inspired to make two cards for her challenge.  Pop over to visit her blog and play along if you get the chance.

 

I used a beautiful ruffled green Offray ribbon and the pleated ribbon technique from PTI's Make-it Monday challenge.  I stamped the bottom of the panel with PTI damask designs and then pleated the ribbon above the stamped section.  The sentiment is Hero Arts and I added a few Recollections gems.

 For the second card, I stamped damask designs on the bottom portion of the card base.  This ribbon is flat in the middle and ruffled on the edges, so I ran it across the card and placed a narrow black ribbon on the flat part.  The sentiment is Hero Arts in a PTI fillable frames stamp and die.

I made both cards into Christmas cards, since that is what I'm working on these days.  I've finished my cards for the year, although I may make a few more for various challenges.  The vast majority are non-traditional colors, which has made my card-making fun and interesting.

Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:
Paper: PTI
Stamps: PTI damask designs, fillable frames, Hero Arts sentiments
Ink: Memories black
Other: Offray ribbon, Recollections gems

Make It Monday 40 and CFC 28

I've been playing with the featured technique at PTI's Make It Monday, which is to use reverse applique on your card.

I found a small scrap of kraft cardstock, used a PTI apple die to cut three apples, and placed some very old scraps of plaid paper behind the openings.  Over the summer my 6-year old was chasing our dog through the house (big no-no!) when they knocked my sewing machine off the table and onto the floor.  It's not worth the cost of fixing it and I haven't replaced it yet, so no machine sewing for me today.  Instead I pierced holes around each apple using a straight pin.  I distressed the edges of both the kraft panel and the green mat and added brads to the corners.

 

My second card is for both Make It Monday and CAS-ual Fridays, which is to use a tag.  I cut the tag with a Sizzxx die.  The actual die is much longer, but by rolling it partway through my Cuttlebug and then back out, I was able to make it the size I wanted it. For this card, I pierced holes around the apple and hand-stitched with green embroidery floss.  I added a button and more green floss at the top of the tag to finish it.  

Both of these cards ended up having a 'country flavor' which is unusual for me.  I think it was the apples and the stitching that sent me in that direction! :)  At any rate, they will be handy to have when teacher appreciation week rolls around.

It was fun to experiment with new-to-me techniques (the reverse applique, paper piercing, and stitching), and I know I will use them again in the future.  Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:

Paper: PTI kraft, green and patterned scraps from scrap box

Stamps: PTI Communique Curves sentiment

Ink: Versamagic hint of pesto

Others: brads from stash, PTI apple die, button from stash, embroidery floss, Sizzix texture plate, Sizzix tag die

PTI Make-it Monday #39

The challenge at Capture the Moment is multi-stamp background building.  I've been mulling this over all week, and this is what I've come up with.  I used a leaf stamp from Turning a New Leaf and a tiny flower from Tag-Its #3.

I was planning to use red and white on kraft, but at the last minute I decided to see what it would look like with a more rustic red, so I used red brick.  This is almost a brownish red, and I think this card would be appropriate for Thanksgiving, but because I'm full on into my Christmas cards, I went with Christmas!

When I finished, I still wanted to see what it would look like with a brighter red, so I made another using Brilliance rocket red for the flowers.  Two more Christmas cards checked off this list! :)

Supplies:

Paper: PTI kraft, white, rustic cream

Stamps: PTI turning a new leaf, tag-its 3, fillable frames, mega mixed messages

Ink: Versamagic red brick, Brilliance white, rocket red

Other: ribbon and twine from stash, PTI fillable frames die

Make-It-Monday 31

It's been quite a while since I've played along with Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday challenge. The challenge this week was to use non-background stamps to create a background.

I used a couple of the smaller stamps from Mehndi Medallion to create a background for my first card. It is somewhat hard to see, but I stamped the sentiment over the larger medallion, which is stamped lightly in lavender. I love the look of this sentiment over that medallion, and I know I will be making a set of clean and simple cards in a variety of colors, with just this element surrounded by beautiful white space!

For my second card I used a small image from Damask Designs for the background. I wanted to try black on kraft, but I stamped the image off on paper first before stamping on the card base. I wanted a weathered look to it. I used some orange-red flowers from my stash to finish it off.

My cards usually have more white space than these do, but it was fun to play around with using small stamps to create backgrounds. I know I'll use this technique again.

Supplies:

Paper: PTI

Stamps: PTI Damask Designs, Mehndi Medllaion

Ink: Memento lulu lavender, sweet plum, lilac posies, Brilliance graphite black

Other: KaiserScrapbook flowers, Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones

Make It Monday 19 - CAS Teacher Thank You Cards

The Make it Monday challenge at Capture the Moment is to use the rock and roll stamping technique.

My kids have two days of school before summer vacation and I was in need of some super quick teacher thank you cards. I pulled out the apple in the fruit fusion mini apple set and used the rock and roll technique with yellow and red Brilliance ink. I rolled more heavily in the red than I would normally do, but it gives just a little yellow highlight to the apple that I love.



I made two CAS cards on white PTI cardstock. On one I used the apple die and popped it up on dimensionals. On the other I simply stamped straight onto the card base. I made a third card with some red and yellow layering, but I have to say I prefer the bright pop of color on the simple white cards best.




Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Stamps: PTI fruit fusion: apple, Stampa Rosa sentiment
Ink: Brilliance rocket red, sunflower yellow, pearlescent ivy

Papertrey May Blog Hop and CFC#3

The blog hop at PTI this month is all about flowers. I made several cards using Year of the Flowers: Lily of the Valley. I am a clean and simple kind of girl, so my cards don't have a lot of frills and layers. I think the beauty of this image speaks for itself.



I chose a bright happy pink for my first card. I stamped in Memento Rose Bud and used Raspberry Fizz as the card base. I added some glitter to each lily for a little sparkle. I think it adds a little extra touch to a CAS card. The first has just a touch of sparkle on the underside of each flower, and on the second I went a little crazy and really glittered it up.



I also wanted to make a sympathy card for Make it Monday, so I switched to a deep purple card base. I couldn't decide if bling was fitting for a sympathy card, but my rhinestones were a very subdued purple color and I thought they looked tasteful, so I added them in the end.


I am also submitting my cards to CAS-ual Fridays, a new CAS challenge blog I've been wanting to participate in. Since my cards got blinged up a bit with glitter and rhinestones, I think they'll work for CFC #3: Bring the Bling!

Supplies:
Paper: PTI
Stamps: PTI Lily of the Valley, Mega Mixed Messages, Communique Curves Sentiments
Ink: Memento Rosebud, VersaMagic purple hydrangea

Less is More 12 & Make it Monday 12

It is week 12 at Less is More and Capture the Moment's Make it Monday. I haven't participated in either of these challenges the last couple of weeks as other things have been keeping me busy. I stole a couple of hours late last night to make a card for both challenges as they compliment each other so well. Less is More Week 12 is to make your focal point off-center and PTI Make it Monday 12 is to use line frames. I love using broken line frames when I have stamped off-center or off the edge, as I think it really gives the card some balance and ties it all together.



I made two cards using PTI's Year of Flowers for May, Lily of the Valley. For the first card, I wanted the flowers to be white like real lily of the valley, so I stamped on kraft. I colored the leaves with a prismacolor pencil and dabbed white ink on the flowers with a q-tip. I saw this tip on Capture the Moment, and I love the soft look of it. I added a line frame 3/4 of an inch from the edge and stamped a sentiment.


For my second card I stamped the image on white cardstock. Again, I colored the leaves with colored pencil and as I wanted just a touch of color on the blossoms to stand out against the white card, I used a pale pink pencil for the flowers. I added the line frame 1/2 inch from the edge and stamped my sentiment.


I very rarely color on my cards, so it took several tries to get something presentable. Not wanting to waste paper, I kept turning the card over and trying again on different sides. When I finally had one I liked, the inside and back of the card had all my trials. Am I the only one who does this? Anyway, I ended up with cards I liked that weren't usable. :) While I do like them as one-layer cards, I cut them down and matted them on green cardstock so they can actually be sent to someone. Lo and behold, I really like them this way!


Jenny, of the fabulous blog Crafting in the Country, sent me a Versatile Blogger award. I'm quite new to this blogging thing, but once I get it figured out and have a little time I'll pass it on! Thank you, Jenny!

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI Year of Flowers, PTI sentiment
Ink: Stazon black, Brilliance moonlight white
Paper: PTI

Make It Monday 8

I've been away all week and only just returned from vacation today. I discovered the Make It Monday at Capture the Moment is all about sponging this week, which is a technique I've been having fun playing with lately. I decided I needed play along before the new Make It Monday comes up in the morning.

Two weeks ago I made this masculine card using sponging for the Less is More challenge. I liked the idea of taking the same card and changing the look by changing the colors of the ink, so I decided to remake the above card in blues and purples for a winter look. I masked the moon and then sponged two blues and a purple using a cosmetic wedge sponge.

When I was finished I accidentally smudged the crisp, white border I had masked, so I had to trim it and mount it on white cardstock. I adhered it slightly off-center and added a sentiment in white. I decided not to distress the edges as I had done on the fall-colored card. A clean, crisp edge seemed to go better with the winter theme.


Supplies:
Paper: PTI white, enchanted evening
Ink: Versamagic ocean depth, brilliance moonlihgt white, Colorbox pigment inks for sponging
Stamps: Rubber Stampede Winter Woods, Hero Arts sentiment

Make it Monday 4

I'm just squeaking in for Make-It Monday at Capture the Moment. This week's technique was to use fun foam. I have oodles of the stuff in my kids' craft bins, yet I have never thought to use it on a card. I take that back. My kids have made many cards with craft foam; I have not.

Some of the cards that have been linked up are very elegant (who knew that craft foam could be elegant?), but kids' cards are what came to my mind. I made a simple boy birthday card in blue, green, and white. The number and the scalloped circle are cut out of green foam. I had planned to use orange, but the green was in better condition.


Simple. Easy. Just right for a little boy's birthday. My girls could do this themselves.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI White, PTI enchanted evening
Other: craft foam from stash, Cuttlebug for embossing, number die

Make It Monday 2

This is the second card I made for Make It Monday #2 at Capture the Moment. The challenge was to use a vellum sentiment strip. The white flowers and pearls seem more "wedding" to me than "birthday," but alas, I have no wedding sentiments.


Supplies:
Paper: PTI
Stamps: Bo Bunny

Make It Monday # 2

This is my first challenge. Ever!

At Capture the Moment there is a new Make It Monday series. This week it featured a vellum sentiment strip. I have stamped on vellum before, but never done the scoring. I got a scoring board from my mother-in-law for Christmas, and I was anxious to try it out.

Here is my first attempt:


Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado Doodle Flowers
Paper: PTI white, aqua mist, ocean tides
Ink: VersaMagic oasis green and aspen mist