Quatrefoil = love.  I have so many ideas for this cover plate floating around but most are feminine so I challenged myself and made this more masculine feeling one.  I added the cut out back to the design for more interest.  Kinda cute.

Paper: PTI - Pure Poppy and Ocean Tides; Staples - white cardstock
Stamps: Congrats All the Way
Ink: Versamark
Embellishments: PTI -Cover Plate: Quatrefoil
Other: Zing - white embossing powder; Cuttlebug

This week's Make It Monday challenge is it use glitter buttons in a project.  For this card I added a button in the flower center that I glittered with Prisma glitter.  

I used Aqua Mist as my base, Autumn Rose for the Quatrefoil die cut, and Lemon Tart under the die cut screen.  If you look close, the Lemon Tart was run through the Canvas impression plate for a bit of texture.  It actually looks like a smoothed piece sandstone with its smatterings of subtle pocks and lines.  The ribbon is white seam binding I dyed aqua with Copic BG11 and made on a Scor-tape circle I cut from a sheet.  I opted to dab my Aqua Mist button on my Essential glue pad to get the glitter to stick since someone dear to me had a bad experience with spray adhesive--lets just say a ceiling fan can spread that stuff further than you know... I kept this sentiment-free on the front so I can use it for a quick birthday or thank you by stamping the inside with the appropriate sentiment when needed.  
Paper: PTI - Aqua Mist, Autumn Rose, Lemon Tart
Embellishments: PTI - Quatrefoil cover plate, Canvas impression plate, and Aqua Mist button; Hug Snug seam binding; Copic - BG11; The Paper Studio - tiny rhinestones, Prisma glitter
Other: Cuttlebug, Scor-tape

I was so inspired by Papertrey Ink's 5th anniversary designer's favorite color combos download that I came up with four pages worth of my own combinations after looking at some inspiring pictures.  This is one of them: Kraft, Enchanted Evening, Canyon Clay, Spring Rain, Simply Chartruse, and cream.  

Today's card I have used some homemade washi tape for an embellishment.  It is made from cream tissue paper and Scor-tape.  My husband thought it was cool that I used masking tape on a card. *sigh*  Next time I'll use another color besides cream.  The wood grain came out fantastic!  Look at those deep grooves--so much interest with texture.

Inside I used the simple "and many more" sentiment to stay simple and clean.  (I was feeling a bit stamp happy so I really had to restrain myself.)  The edges of the Spring Rain cardstock were inked with Enchanted Evening.  I love the richness of this ink pad.

The back is fun as I continued the tape down the back instead of cutting it or folding it under the paper on the front.  My blog stamp and a "homemade for you stamp" finishes it off. 
Paper: PTI - Kraft, Enchanted Evening, Canyon Clay, Spring Rain; Staples white
Stamps: PTI - Happy Day and Homemade Hodgepodge; Technique Tuesday - Cake & Candles; Justrite - Brayton font
Ink: PTI - Enchanted Evening and Orange Zest
Embellishments: PTI - Simply Chartreuse vintage button; cream tissue paper
Other: PTI - Happy Day die; The Paper Studio - wood grain embossing folder; Cuttlebug

These patterned papers are from a super fun 6x6 stack called Fly a Kite by My Mind's Eye.  The colors exude happiness to me.  And then there is the orange chevron pattern; I'm in love and I think my husband knows. ;)  I finally got around to buying Papertrey Ink buttons with my last order and I must say that I cannot believe it took me so long because I truly have been missing out on beautiful button gloriousness.  This red one looks like a delicious hard candy.  

This dotted, scalloped paper accent on the inside worked well with this card.  I am glad I kept the scrap, but better yet I am glad I found the scrap so I could use it. Organization saves the day!

Paper: My Mind's Eye - Lime Twist collection - Fly a Kite stack -  chevron and number polka dots; PTI - Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores; My Mind's Eye - Lime Twist collection - Life of the Party stack - Sweet Cupcakes (green polka dot scollop runs around the edge of this paper); Staples - white cardstock
Stamps: PTI - Happy Day

Ink: Versamark

Embellishments: PTI - Pure Poppy button and Hawaiian Shores grosgrain ribbon; green floss

Other: Zing - white embossing powder; PTI - Happy Day die, dimensional foam adhesive, Cuttlebug

For Valentine's Day I made some pocket cards for my kids to give out to their friends and our family.  I have found that my text backgrounds are easily turning into a go-to set.  I adhered the card pocket to the small polkadot embossed red paper.  The tiny dots mimic the dots on the image of the front of the card.  The red satin ribbon was an afterthought, but I'm glad I found a use for some of the left over ribbon I had already run through my sticker maker months ago from another mass-made project.  

The heart with dots was stamped with Pure Poppy ink and "be mine" in Berry Sorbet.  I outlined the heart with my glitter pen, which gives such a nice subtle sparkle.  A little button for interest finishes the pocket off.

The spiral page lifts out of the pocket with a Valentine's Day message.  Here you can see the scribbled tops of my oldest child's name.  

Here are some signed and ready to go.  Don't you like the pop of the aqua?  Me too!  

All supplies are Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.

Paper: Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet, and Hawaiian Shores

Stamps: Tag-Its # 11, Happy Day, and Background Basics: Text Style

Ink: Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet

Embellishments: Pure Poppy vintage button and Spiral Page die, Ribbon Boutique - red satin ribbon

Other: Cuttlebug - machine and Swiss Dot embossing folder, Atyou Spica glitter pen - clear

Monochromatic color schemes can be so classy looking.  As some of you may have figured out by reading this blog, PTI's Enchanted Evening is one of my absolute favorite colors and used with Blueberry Sky it is my kind of happy.  When I received this limited edition stamp set I thought it would pair nicely with my new swirly embossing folder.  This is the result.

I enjoy the different textures here and found myself feeling this card quite a bit.  Quite pretty indeed...I mean quite masculine indeed. *insert manly grunt here*
Paper: PTI - Enchanted Evening & Blueberry Sky
Stamps: PTI - A Big Thank You (limited edition)
Ink: PTI - Enchanted Evening
Embellishments: PTI - saddle stitch ribbon - Enchanted Evening; The Paper Studio - swirls embossing folder
Other: dimensional foam adhesive and Cuttlebug

Today for Papertrey Ink's 5th Anniversary day 4 challenge we were asked to create a project with one of the favorite color schemes from their designers.  I chose Betsy's favorites:

During nap time I played in my craft room.  I was excited to create with these inspiring colors.

The Stitches and Swirls flowers were stamped with Plum Pudding and the sentiment with Raspberry Fizz.

The flower has a sneak of Kraft ribbon peaking out and topped with a Plum Pudding button.

I outlined all the papers in clear Spica glitter pen as well as the centers of the flowers on the Aqua Mist to finish it off. Thanks for stopping by!
Papers: PTI - Berry Sorbet, Melon Berry, and Aqua Mist
Stamps: PTI - Stitches and Swirls, Think Big Favorites #10
Ink: PTI - Plum Pudding, Raspberry Fizz
Embellishments: PTI - Plum Pudding button, Kraft saddle stitch ribbon, Spica glitter pen - clear
Other: PTI - Beautiful Blooms II #1 dies, dimensional adhesive

Today is the second day of Papertrey Ink's 5th anniversary extravaganza and the challenge was to create with the freebie digital stamps that were revealed for us.  This cassette tape caught my eye and I immediately knew I needed to make a mix tape happen.  To go with the retro feel, I went with a great Beatles song, All You Need Is Love, which I just so happened to have a stamp that said that.  *wink*  

Paper: Papertrey Ink - Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet, and Stamper's Select White

Stamps: PTI - 5th anniversary download set, Background Basics: Text Style, Tag-Its #11, Boy Basics: Rock On

Ink: PTI - Pure Poppy, Memento - Tuxedo Black

Embellishments: PTI - Pure Poppy buttons, pink floss

Other: Atyou Spica - clear; Copic markers - R20, R22, R24, R27, R29, R59, and 0; craft knife; dimensional adhesive; printer

I had a little boy's 2nd birthday card to make and thought a shaker card would be fun.  

After some thought, I purposely put a lot of these red beads inside the pocket so it had to be shook to read 'happy' and 'birthday.'  I have literally had these beads since 2001.  I haven't a clue why I purchased them as I haven't used beads in my other crafty endeavors but they work great here.

The Papertrey Ink Make It Monday #50 last week was on how to make a shaker card.  Since I wanted to use this cute paper, I opted not to use a die to cut the pocket area in the paper and fun foam layers but instead used a craft knife.  The city blocks are so well defined I thought it lent itself to have one cut out for the shaker pocket.

I kept the inside of the card simple as well--two strips of paper and a sentiment.  Easy peasy.  Now I just need to get more beads in my stash to make more shaker cards.  I like beads in the shaker instead of confetti, little paper cutouts, glitter, etc. because of the movement, sound, and texture.  
Paper: Echo Park - Little Boy stack - Road Map; Papertrey Ink - Hawaiian Shores and Pure Poppy, Staples - white cardstock; acetate
Stamps: PTI - Birthday Basics
Ink: PTI - Pure Poppy and Orange Zest
Embellishments: red beads (unknown)
Other: fun foam and craft knife

When I began organizing my stamp collection (blog post all in itself), I found I really did not have anything for preteen and teen boys.  I knew right away this set could be quite useful for me.  


Yes, I am on a torn paper kick.  You'll see it here and there in my upcoming posts.  I ruin a lot of paper to get the right torn look sometimes, but it is worth it to me.

I heat embossed the skateboards with black and aqua embossing powders.  The aqua powder I grabbed on clearance last week!  It is my first colored embossing powder and I must say I really like it.   The glossiness is a nice contrast against the matte papers. 

I kept the inside pretty simple with the torn paper detail and the framed sentiment.  I really like how the orange ink pops here. 

This little stamp is on the back of the card and is one of my new stamps from Homemade Hodgepodge.  Cute, cute.  I usually stamp my blog address on the back of my cards, but I left the stamp at home while I was at the craft retreat.  I'm hoping these stamps will quell some of the questions of "Did you make this?"  Why, yes, I did and you would be surprised at how long it took me to make it since I am normally a slow crafter.  Just don't throw it away in front of me, okay?  :o)
Paper: Authentique - Freebird stack - polka dots and distressed orange; PTI - Simply Chartreuse; Staples - white cardstock
Stamps: PTI - Boy Basics: Skater Dude, Fillable Frames #4, Homemade Hodgepodge
Ink: Versamark; PTI - Hawaiian Shores and Orange Zest
Other: PTI - Boy Basics: Skater Dude die; Fiskars - corner rounder; Zing - black & aqua embossing powders; dimensional foam adhesive, cuttlebug