Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Papertrey Ink 2017 Anniversary Set

Good morning! Today the Papertrey Ink Design Team is getting together to introduce this year's anniversary set, Grand Finale.


I’ve only just begun to explore all of the potential styles achievable with this year’s anniversary set. I had fun going in a cheerful, casual direction for today’s card, but I can imagine sophisticated embossing, elegant monograms, and gorgeous watercolor techniques in my future, too. I love sets like this one that get my imagination running even before I ink up my first image!

Grand Finale Hello There Card

I began by sponging a bit of Aqua Mist ink onto a white cardstock panel. Then I used diluted Aqua Mist reinker to add speckles. I used a few different concentrations to give a nice variation in color and I really like the way it turned out. Once the background had fully dried I stamped the square, ferny image in Prairie Grass ink sponged with Olive Twist for depth.

Grand Finale Hello There Close Up 2

I followed that with the flowers in Summer Sunrise sponged with Canyon Clay. The berry clusters came last stamped in Terra Cotta Tile. Next, I used the Edgers #1 die to give the white panel a decorative edge. I cut second layer from Terra Cotta Tile and layered the two. I adhered a strip of Aqua Mist patterned paper to a white card base and then mounted the focal layer to the card base with foam tape.

Grand Finale Hello There Close Up

Then, I stamped an additional square frame onto white cardstock and trimmed out the inside of the frame shape. I stamped the sentiment in Terra Cotta Tile ink and adhered the square to the card front with foam tape. As a finishing touch, I used Glossy Accents to add a bit of shine to the berries. I can't wait to try some of the other styles I have in mind!

Thank you so much for joining me today! Make sure to pop in on NicholeBetsyDawnHeatherKeewayLaurieMelissaMichelleStephanie, and Wanda for more inspiration with this year's wonderful set. Have a great day!

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Thursday, April 20, 2017

Throwback Thursdays: Dot Spot

Good morning! This morning, Betsy Veldman, Wanda Guess, and I are teaming up to share a few new projects featuring Papertrey Ink's Dot Spot stamp set. I’ve always been a big fan of the playful nature of dots. They add such cheerful whimsy whenever they’re in the mix! Dot Spot has been one of my favorites since its release more than seven years ago. It’s still as fresh and modern as ever, so I hope you’ll enjoy today's project!

Dot Spot Thanks Card

I began by stamping a variety of Dot Spot circles diagonally across a white card base. I made sure to use an odd number of each color and create visual triangles to give a sense of balance. The diagonal line also helps create movement in the design.

Dot Spot Thanks Close Up

Next, I sponged a bit of Aqua Mist cardstock with Tropical Teal ink. I die cut the top layer of the Layered Banner and stamped it with the "Thanks" sentiment from the coordinating stamp set. I stamped first with Tropical Teal and then a second time with VersaMark embossed in white to create a shadowed effect.

Dot Spot Thanks Flat

I die cut the back layer of the Layered Banner from Sheer Basics Vellum Stripe paper and adhered the two pieces together. I added the sentiment banner to the card front with foam tape to give it a bit of dimension. I love the way it turned out and I'm thinking I may want to make a set of these using a variety of colors to have on hand or give as a gift.

Thank you so much for joining me! Make sure to pop in on Betsy and Wanda to see what they have up their sleeves too. Enjoy the rest of your day!

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More Papertrey Ink Release - Quoted: Start Again

Good morning and welcome back for one more day of projects featuring the Papertrey Ink April release (all of the new products we've been sharing over the past several days are now available for sale on the Papertrey website)! This morning I'm sharing a card with Nichole Heady's new Quoted: Start Again set. This mini set includes a large quote surrounded by a beautiful, detailed floral illustration. I think the image would look lovely watercolored, embossed in with metallic powder, or even simply stamped. Today, I've decided to color it with Copic markers.

New Beginning Card

I began by sponging watercolor paper lightly with Aqua Mist ink. The idea isn't to create bold color, but rather add just a hint of background. I chose to use watercolor paper because the texture would add a nice, subtle variation in the background color.

New Beginning Card Close Up


Once the sponging was dry, I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment. I used black pigment ink and clear powder since I knew I wanted to add color with markers. I did just that, coloring with Copics. 

New Beginning Card Embossing

Next, I used a stiff-bristle brush and diluted Aqua Mist reinker to add speckles. I adhered the watercolor paper layer to a white card base. Then, I die cut the Noted oval from the center of a Classic Kraft panel, creating a frame. I added texture to the frame with the Woodgrain impression plate (one of my all-time favorites).

New Beginning Card Flat

I finished up by attaching the frame to card front with foam tape. I thought about adding glitter to the flowers or sprinkling on sequins, but in the end I decided that the simple, natural look was best. Sometimes, as the saying goes, less is more.

Thank you so much for joining me today! Make sure to check in at Nichole Heady's blog to see more of this month's release. Have a wonderful day!

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

More Papertrey Ink Release: Flower Mandalas II & Kay's Critters: Cuddly Cat Dies

Good morning and welcome back for more inspiration featuring the April Papertrey Ink release! Today we're showcasing Kay Miller's Flower Mandalas II Dies and Kay's Critters: Cuddly Cat Dies. I have my favorite project of the month to share with you today and I'm really excited, so let's get to it!

I've always loved those beautiful felt-flower-embellished wreaths that you often see on Pinterest and Etsy. I've wanted to make my own for ages, but with the release of Kay's new dies I finally decided to take the plunge.

Felt Flower Wreath

I used both the new Flower Mandalas II Dies and last month's Flower Mandalas I Dies along with the Easter Grass Die and leaves from the Happiness In Bloom Leaves Die and the Leaf Silhouettes Die.

Felt Flower Wreath Close Up 1

I die cut an assortment of flowers and assembled each bloom to be unique. The different sizes and shapes add such wonderful texture to the arrangement.

Felt Flower Wreath Close Up 2

I used Vintage Cream, Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, and Lavender Moon to create the flowers and hot glue to adhere everything together.

Felt Flower Wreath Close Up 3

I arranged the flowers on an 18" grapevine wreath and attached everything into place with more hot glue. I die cut the leaves from Simply Chartreuse and Spring Moss felt and tucked them into place between the blooms.

Felt Flower Wreath Close Up 4

I'll be honest, this isn't an hour or two sort of project (more like an all-day activity for a wreath this size), but it turned out so well that I definitely think it was worth the time. I love it!

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Next up, I have a card made with the Cuddly Cat Dies.

Nine Lives Card

I began by sponging a piece of Rustic Cream Cardstock with Classic Kraft and Cocoa Bean inks. I die cut the cats (I cut the backwards cat on a new plate to minimize scar marks from an old plate) and then I stamped them with triangles using an image from Sketched Shapes in Dark Chocolate ink.

Nine Lives Flat

Next, I added the die cut features and felt bellies. I used a fine tip Micron pen to create slits on the eyes before covering them with Glossy Accents. I die cut a Noted panel from white cardstock and sponged a bit of Aqua Mist ink across the top. Then I stamped the watercolor swoosh along the bottom, adding depth with a bit of sponged Hawaiian Shores ink on the swoosh.

Nine Lives Close Up

Next, I stamped the heart from Circled Symbols and the greeting from Everyday Cat Sentiments. I adhered a Simply Chartreuse panel to a white card base and then attached the Noted panel with foam tape. I finished up by adding the cats with more foam tape. These dies are so cute!

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