Wedding season is upon us.  

Here is a simple wedding card I made by die cutting letters from silver cardstock.  The heart rhinestone ribbon buckle had been sitting in my stash for awhile so I was excited to put it to use.  You can't really tell in the picture, but the card base is navy.  I am really liking mint and navy right now.

I have decided I like to keep wedding cards simple.  Do you like them simple or more elaborate?

Thanks for looking!

Paper: PTI - Enchanted EVening, Paper Studio - silver, Lifestyle Crafts - white letterpress cardstock
Dies: PTI - Block Alphabet and Linen Cover Plate
Embellishments: PTI - Aqua Mist satin ribbon, Paper Studio - rhinestone ribbon buckle

I was busy earlier this month making the keepsake shadow boxes my church gives to families who have their children dedicated.  I personalize each one, which takes some time, but it is totally worth it.

I took last names and the church name out to post them.

Each letter in the name is cut three times in white cardstock and glued together. Next, the patterned paper I chose is cut and glued to the now thick letter and popped up with foam tape.

The name and date tags are die cut on the girls' ones using Papertrey's Christmas Label die and on the boys' using Spellbinders Ribbon Labels.  At the bottom the white verse card is cut from Spellbinders Large Labels, the logo hand colored with a coordinating Copic, and the lamb is pieced together from Cricut's Create a Critter. Before piecing I run the white parts through a swirl embossing folder to get the texture.  After the lamb is complete, I use Glossy Accents on all exposed black parts for shine and dimension.

 This green and white ribbon is some May Arts ribbon I have been hoarding.  I finally used it here as I thought it went nicely with the paper on 'Claire.'  Use your nice stuff for the people you love--I have been living by this while making the shadow boxes and my cards lately and am liking the results.  I highly suggest it.

For the boys' shadow boxes this round, I used metal tape in copper to 'hang' the letters.  I just got it last month and am loving it! Such a cool, masculine textural element.

Yes, some of the dates are different.   Parents are asking for boxes for their children that were dedicated before we implemented these boxes.  I happily oblige.

Thanks for looking!

During the February Papertrey Ink release count down I was oohed by a card made by Cristina Kowalczyk (full post here).  

At the time I did not own the circle cover plate, but it found it's way into my cart. ;)

I set out to make a card using the elements Cristina used: circle plate, ombre, and tag at the top.

Inside got some stamping love and a library pocket for the gift.  

Had I not seen Cristina's card, I still would not have the circle cover plate.  I had to pay homage to the card that inspired me so. 

Thanks for looking!

Paper: PTI - Kraft, Soft Stone, Royal Velvet, Plum Pudding, Winter Wisteria, Lavender Moon
Stamps: PTI - Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
Ink: PTI- Royal Velvet
Die: PTI - Cover Plate: Circles
Other: Library pocket, Cuttlebug

For this simple card, I adhered six different colors of chevron die cut cardstock.  It's quite cheerful.  It sat on my shelf near my work area for a while just to make me smile when I looked over that way. :)

Have a happy week.
Paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Winter Wisteria, Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf, Lemon Tart, Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz
Stamps: PTI - Think Big Favorites #16
Ink: Raspberry Fizz
Die: Chevron Stripes

This card was tricky to photograph.  The teal mat, clouds, and airplanes are mounted on a piece of clear acetate.  The orange mat is mounted underneath on the chevron paper but when it is closed they match up so the orange mat makes an outline shadow for the the teal mat.

It was made for a baby shower for a little boy.  I chose to forgo a sentiment and instead made the formation of planes.  The orange mat was just the right size for a handwritten note. 

I need to make more cards with this technique as it was fun to make and the outcome is fun as well.

Thanks for looking.
Paper: Pebbles - Happy Thoughts; Duralar - Acetate Alternative; PTI - Stamper's Select White, Harvest Gold, Aqua Mist
Stamps: PTI - Little Hot Rod
Ink: Memento - London Fog
Dies: Little Hot Rod, Cloud Dies, Mat Stack 4, Mat Stack 4 Layerz

Here is my last card for today's challenge. This girl has got to sleep sometime! I have a feeling the three wee ones will be up early tomorrow...sigh...

This tag reads " A little thing called Love." It is designed by Maile Belles.  I filled in the white lettering with a couple Copics to give it some color. 

Valentine's Day is approaching fast.  

Thanks for looking!

Paper: Lavender Moon, My Minds Eye - heart patterned paper, Kraft, Pure Poppy, Staples - white
Ink: Chamomile
Dies: Tag Sale #7, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circles
Embellishments: Copics - BG15 & R29, Paper Studio - teal brads, Hawaiian Shores grosgrain

I know what you are thinking...another?  Have you seen the prize for winning today's contest?! It is a custom made back-of-the-card stamp with your name on it AND custom return address stamp!

This candle image is from Lizzie Jones. I thought it went nicely with the font for this sentiment.
Paper: Melon Berry, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse, Staples - white
Stamps: Heart-2-Heart #2
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Mat Stack 3 & Mat Stack 3 Layerz, Double Ended Banner, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circles
Embellishments: PTI printable, By the Numbers Impression Plate

I have another...this one was difficult to photograph because the pale pink 'love' sign language symbol wouldn't show up well.

Here is a close up.

Isn't that cute?! When I saw it I had to make a card with it!
Paper: Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst, Kraft, Staples - white
Dies: Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circles, Happy Day die, Heart Border

Yep, another Papertrey card made tonight. The free printable had me inspired! 

Paper: Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse Stripe, Staples - white
Stamps: Heart-2-Heart #1 & #2
Ink: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores
Dies: Mat Stack 3, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circles
Embellishments: Pure Poppy saddle stitched ribbon, PTI printable

This card for the contest features Heather Nichols' design from the printable.

I added some glossy accents to the aqua banner for dimension.

The party hat is a fun embellishment from Jolee's Stickers.

Fun little birthday card with a pom pom to boot.

Paper: Spring Rain, Limeade Ice, Staples - white

Embellishments: Jolee Stickers, orange pom pom, glossy accents, PTI printable

Papertrey Ink's Anniversary extravaganza continues! The challenge today is to use the free printable with a design from each stamp designer on it.  

This card features Dawn McVey's design.

Paper: Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, Simply Chartreuse, Staples - white cardstock
Dies:  Heart Border, Limitless Layers: 1 3/4" circles
Embellishments: Cuttlebug - polkadot embossing folder

The first challenge for the anniversary kickoff over at Papertrey Ink is to use a design team member's project as inspiration.  For my first card in this challenge, I chose one from Jessica Witty.

I love the roses coming out of the vase so I did some in a mason jar.

The pink base that is off to the left side is very Jessica Witty in design--all I needed was a button trio to complete it. :D  I chose to emboss the pink strip instead.

Thanks for looking!
All products are PTI unless noted.
Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Rustic Crean, White, Aqua Mist stipe
Stamps: The Sweet Life, Friendship Jar, Script Sentiments
Ink: Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Orange Zest, Hibiscus Burst, Memento - Tuxedo Black
Embellishments: Raspberry Fizz saddle stitch ribbon, Cuttlebug - Japanese flowers embossing folder

Today I have a juvenile boy birthday card to share.  

I believe this is the first time I have used my ticket border die.  For this card I tore the perforations to stack the tickets.  

For a little interest, I added embroidery floss to anchor them.  

Paper: Close to My Heart - star paper; PTI - Lemon Tart, Pure Poppy, and Blueberry Sky
Stamps: PTI - Just the Ticket
Ink: PTI - Simply Chartreuse and Orange Zest
Embellishments: blue floss, PTI - ticket die

Lately, I have been inspired by simplistic design.  I thought I'd give it a go with some modern looking stripes.  

*Tip* I learned that if you are going to emboss with multiple stripes with tight grooves like this, then it is best to do so before adhering the paper down or you get it in them. 

Rookie mistake. I learn something new everyday.  :)   

I liked this design so much I made a thank you card, too.  

As you see I had learned my lesson with the embossing powder and the grooves. :) White ink to the rescue!

Paper: PTI - Soft Stone, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening, and Kraft.
Stamps: PTI - Congrats All the Way, Think Big Favorites #16
Ink: Versamark - Watermark, PTI - Fresh Snow
Embellishments: Zing - white embossing powder, The Paper Studio - screw brads

I have an amazing friend and this is the card I made to tell her so.  :)

I was pleased with the way these roses turned out.  The triple process stamps require a bit more time, mess, concentration, work but the result is completely worth it.  

These roses are vibrant and exude happiness--just like my friend.

Yes, I did fussy cut the roses.  I have found it easier for me to cut them than try to die cut and then stamp all the layers. I waste so many rose dies trying to stamp it on the die right. 

Thanks for looking.

All items are PTI unless noted.
Paper: Kraft, Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartruse, Select White
Stamps: The Sweet Life, Script Sentiments, Paper Smooches - Geo-graphic
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse, and Fresh Snow

For my daughter's first birthday we went with a cupcake theme.  In the hospital for her birth, my husband nicknamed her CupKate and it stuck.

I began the idea of a cupcake invitation with these die cuts that I first stamped with the coordinating frame and then with the cupcake image.  Thinking ahead I stamped extras just incase some didn't turn out right.

I colored the cupcake wrapper with Copics and used hot pink slick puff paint for the frosting detail.  After the paint was thoroughly dry, I applied purple glitter glue for the sweet star. When they were ready, I realized I had forty-eight cupcakes that were usable--way more than I needed.

This is the invite.  The aqua is glitter cardstock and it is a pain to adhere things to, but I really the sparkle it adds.  I used a ridiculous amount of Scor-tape on these to get the ribbon and Mat Stack to stick.

The inside had the party info and a cute little coordinating cupcake which I embossed with aqua embossing powder.

I was pleased with how the icing turned out.  It had a great subtle bumpy texture as if it was hand frosted. :) It dried much quicker than I thought it would so that was a bonus too.

With the extra cupcakes, I whipped up these thank you cards.  I used letterpress paper so it took the embossing folder nicely.  

I still had extra ribbon so I made these drink labels for the party.

And yes, we served cupcakes. :)

Paper: PTI - Raspberry Fizz, Plum Pudding, Stamper's Select White; The Paper Studio - aqua glitter cardstock; Lifestyles - white letterpress paper
Stamps: PTI - Tremendous Treats: Birthday & Tiny Treats: Birthday
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, PTI - Raspberry Fizz
Dies: PTI -Mat Stack #5 & Modern Alphabet, Spellbinders - Labels 4
Embellishments: Tulip - pink Slick Puff Paint; Bo Bunny - striped ribbon; purple Stickles; Cuttlebug - thank you embossing folder; Fiskars - corner rounder

This week's Make It Monday Challenge over at Papertrey Ink is glitter detailing.  Hold the phone! Glitter?! YES!

Now you must know I have a love/hate relationship with the sparkly stuff; if I am near it I get it in my eyes & hair, on my face & children, and sometimes even on my husband. I have learned that Stickles glitter glue works better for me than the loose kind. 

I used the Canvas & Linen impression plate on New Leaf cardstock and then embossed it with a Sizzix folder, sewed the perimeter, and added glitter with gold Stickles.  

I embossed the sentiment, added a strip of Scor-tape to help me pleat the ribbon, and attach it quickly. 

The die cut & stamped poinsettia got some foam adhesive for dimension and it also helped it sit better on the pleated ribbon.  I applied clear Distressed Stickles all over the green center and dotted gold Stickles on top. 

The inside got some stamping love with off-the-edge poinsettias.  I used another sentiment from Christmas Poinsettia set on the inside, which I placed in the Fillable Frames #4 image--it fit nicely too! 

Thanks for looking! 

Paper: PTI - New Leaf & Stampers' Select; Staples - white cardstock; The Paper Studio - red
Stamps: PTI - Christmas Poinsettias & Fillable Frames #4
Ink: PTI - New Leaf & Pure Poppy; Versamark - Watermark
Dies: PTI - Christmas Poinsettias
Embellishments: Ribbon Boutique - red satin ribbon; Filagree - gold embossing powder; PTI - Canvas & Linen IP; Sizzix - diamond embossing folder; Stickles - Gold; Distress Stickles - Clear Rock Candy; white thread

Taking a small break from all the feminine cards with this masculine thank you card.  Simple but interesting with the chevron.  

The nice thing is it came together quite quickly as I already had the green chevron strips die cut.  

One day a few months ago, I felt like die cutting things so I cut several chevron strips from a rainbow of colors. I keep them in a little drawer and they have come in handy a few times now! 

I glued these green chevrons down with Zig Two-Way Glue Pen but I think next time I use some of these chevron strips I am going to run them through my Xyron sticker maker.  It will make this even easier. I might just do that today!

Thanks for taking a look. :)

All items are Papertrey Ink.
Paper: New Leaf & Enchanted Evening
Stamps: Think Big Favorites #4
Ink: Fresh Snow
Dies: Chevron Stripes

Mmm...texture.  It's my favorite!  This card has some fun textures with the embossed vine background, pleated ribbon, embossed edge on the Spellbinder mat, pointed petals on the flower, and smooth button.  

It is hard to see in the picture but the flower has text stamped on it.

This medium pink, aqua, orange, and cream color combination is pretty cheerful. 

How do you mail cards with thick layers like this one?  The orange mat is raised with dimensional foam and so is the flower that also has a thick button.  I'm thinking in a bubble envelope.  How would you send a thick card?

Thanks for looking!

Paper: PTI - Berry Sorbet & Aqua Mist, Close to My Heart - orange polkadot
Stamps: Think Big Favorites #3
Ink: PTI - Berry Sorbet & Smokey Shadow
Embellishments: cream seam binding, PTI button - Aqua Mist, PTI - beautiful blooms II #1, Spellbinders - labels 4, Cuttlebug - vine embossing folder
Other: Cuttlebug

I have been wondering how I was going to utilize this squiggly lines paper so when I was browsing my pattern paper stash during my WOF card series marathon, I grabbed it.  I had a feeling this particular polkadot paper may work so I found it and was delighted that it went together; combing different companies' stuff is fun for me. 

I had received a sweet gift of Close to My Heart patterned paper and stamps a few months back but was hoarding them as they were too pretty to use.  Enter my new resolution to use the things I hoard because I love so much.  The pack contains several polkadot papers in many colors.

The flowers got some bling and slightly distressed edges to finish them off.

Next, I added some torn aqua cardstock and ran with it.  I don't use lavender paper often but was excited that it went with the squiggle paper so I used it as my base.

The sentiment is from a Stampabilities set and was stamped in dark gray.

That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping in.

Paper: My Mind's Eye - squiggles, Close to My Heart - pink polkadot, PTI - Aqua Mist & Lavender Moon

Stamps: Stampabilities - faith set

Ink: PTI - Smokey Shadow

Embellishments: PTI - beautiful blooms II #1, The Paper Studio - rhinestone brads

Other: Cuttlebug, Crop-o-dile