Poppy Seed Challenge

Lisa Johnson is one of the amazing designers at PTI and I check out her blog frequently. I get so much inspiration from her blog and now she is having a weekly challenge for even more inspiration. (go here ....

http://www.poppypaperie.typepad.com/ if you would like to join in!) .

It is called The Poppy Seed Challenge! Each week, she will announce the new seeds to create with.

The "seeds" for this first challenge are:

color.........................light yellow

embellishment....... crystals

image element....... flower

Sooo. here is my card....

It has been raining here ALL day (which we are definitely not used to, but I love!) so the picture might be a little dark. I used Papertrey Friends til the End and Big and Bold Wishes stamps. Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Lemon Tart card stock. Oh and I stamped the flower on white and colored it with my ONE yellow Copic marker and a couple green and a tan one. I was going to put a crystal in the center of the flower, but had this cool button that was screaming at me to use it instead! So I put some tiny ones around it and a bigger one by thank you sentiment. I also used Versa Mark ink to stamp the leaf image on the lemon tart paper. This was a really fun challenge and I am looking forward to more!

Butterfly Wishes

Sittin'. Waitin'. Wishing!

While I sit and wait for Papertrey to get this months' butterfly stamps and dies back in stock, I will have to use my old standby Martha's!! (But Papertrey pleeeaaasse hurry!)

And here is a thank you card. I like the sewing to be all wonky on cards. No pressure that way. I try to sew very straight when making things with fabric but for me card making is purely fun. The stamped sentiment is from Papertrey's Mega Mixed MessagesHave a great weekend!!

PTI February Blog Hop

This is my first blog hop and I am hoping I do it right. I cant wait to see what everybody else has created this month!

Happy Design Team Appreciation Day to you!!

I saw Betsy Veldman s blog for the first time about a year ago. Back when I was doing more scrapbooking than card making. I saw this layout and have been a fan ever since.

When I think of Betsy's work, the first thing that pops out at me is the COLORS! Nobody uses color like she does! Just pick the happiest colors available and use them all! She is truly a master at mixing and matching the colors and patterns.

The next thing I notice is her use of texture and how she sews on a lot of her cards. She uses her Cricut and different border edgers and buttons... here are some examples that show how truly gifted she is...

I envy the people who receive these cards and can just imagine their faces when they open them! How can these NOT brighten even the gloomiest of days! I smile just looking at them online! haha

OK, well here is my attempt to brighten someones day. I picked lots of cheerful colors. Did a little sewing and added buttons where I could. I used Specialty Paper from K&Co., PTI Aqua Mist, New Leaf, Pure Poppy and Lemon Tart card stock. Since I don't seem to know how to work my Cricut very well (I am scheduled to take a class next month) I used my Slice to cut the hug bug and used a flower shape for the sun.

I used Martha Stewart border punches as well as the butterfly. Papertrey sentiment from Everyday Button Bits in Dark Chocolate ink and PTI buttons for the wheels. For this next card I used a pure poppy card stock base, with kraft, aqua mist and sweet blush card stock. (Betsy's favorite color combo from a couple weeks ago :)) I stamped happy birthday from Around and About Sentiments in VersaMark ink on the aqua mist paper. I stamped the cupcake from Cupcake Collection and cut it out. I added Stickles to the candle and punched hearts.


I was at Jennifer McGuires ( http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/ ) blog and saw she is having a card drive for some great little kids that are dealing with some horrible things. I plan to make more but this next card is the first I made for the Cards for Kids Drive . I don't have too many cute kid stamps so I had some paper with these monkeys and cut them out, stuck them on card stock and cut them out again. I used my new PTI Violet Stamp for the background and embossed it in white. (I got a little dusting of powder where it is not supposed to be. I think I saw somewhere they sell some product that eliminates that?) Anyway, I wanted a little more color so I stamped some Lemon Tart Dot Spots in the back of the monkeys. I hope they bring some cheer!

PTI's design team is simply amazing. They are the most talented, gracious, encouraging, and generous people! They take time out from their busy lives to create and share with us and are soo inspiring and I cannot thank them enough! (But if you are reading this..THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! lol)

A Birthday Card

My daughter's friend turned 15 yesterday. It is funny how she comes to me the day before, and "Mom, I need a card for Katie tomorrow" as if I am a card dispensing machine! haha I will get right on it! (I actually kind of like having to drop everything to stop and make a card)

I used Everyday Button Bits from PTI. I used a nestabilities die to cut the scalloped rectangle then ran it through the machine again with a sizzix embossing plate for the diamond pattern. I don't know if you can see but there is a subtle yellow print on the paper. Then I punched out some scallop circles and cut them to put behind some of the buttons

Then I baked some chocolate chip cookies and put them in this box that I had. I just cut some paper to cover whatever was on top of the box.It isn't my usual type of birthday card (cupcakes haha) but Bailey said she loved it and that makes me happy. Hope you have a good day!

Valentine's, Birthday, and Welcome Cook

First up the Valentine's card I made for my daughter that's away at school. I used K&Co papers on a Papertrey vintage cream base. I used a heart stamp set(and the Love you sentiment) that I bought from Michael's. (I really want the one from Papertrey!) Scalloped edges with an EK Success punch and added jewels.

Next is the card I made for my son that is also away at school. Since it was after Valentines day that I sent it, I just made it a Happy today card. I used Polka Dot Basics and the flower from Around and About Sentiments.This card was for my daughter's friend that just turned 17. I used Papertrey's Everyday Button Bits and for the flowers, I used the birds feet upside down. And Background Basics Texts for the ground. I messed up and kind of double stamped the bottom but I like it.And here is a card for the new cook at my daughter's sorority house. (I made a card last week thanking the old cook who just quit and the girls wanted another one to welcome the new cook)This one used a Hero Arts stamp, DCWV paper. I paper pieced the apron and utensils again, colored with Copic markers and also used Souffle pens for added dimension.

Have a great day!

A Few more Cards...

I was checking out all the PTI designer's blogs (as I do everyday :)) and Betsy Veldman http://scrapbookgirl.typepad.com/paper_scissors_and_superh/has the cutest card ever that she paper pieced. I love everything she makes. It was published in the new PaperCrafts Magazine. She says that paper piecing is one of her favorite techniques. Well it just so happens that it is one of my favorites too! Thought I'd share a few cards that I made recently..

I don't even remember who this was for but it was in my camera. lol. I love PTI's cupcake stamp set and use it on almost every birthday card. I also just got Big and Bold Wishes and have been using that quite a bit also. The little birdie is from Hero Arts. I paper pieced the cupcake and bird with papers from K&Co and Basic Grey. The tail is just colored with Copics.




I made this next one for my daughters friend. I used Basic Grey stamp and paper. and PTI Polka Dot Basics and Around and About Sentiments. Used twine to hold the balloon that I just cut out of card stock. I paper pieced his hair and clothes then covered him and stamped the polka dots.





This one I used another Hero Arts stamp. And PTI card stock and ribbon. I colored it in Copics and added some jewels to the tree.This is my favorite. I made this for my daughter's House Mom at the sorority house. I used K&Co papers and just cut out a house. The stamps are Hero Arts (squirrel, bird, tree)And on the inside, I used PTI's Big and Bold WishesAnd my next favorite is this one that I made for her House Cook. It's a Hero Arts stamp, paper pieced and colored with Copics.(I cut out the apron and pockets) The base is more K & Co paper. (Cut and Paste stack) Here is the inside..This card is for my other daughters best friend that love monkeys. Used the same K & Co pad. I also used PTI card stock and the Cupcake Collection and Big and Bold Wishes again. The paper pieced monkeys were from a stamp set that I picked up from Target during the summer.And last but not least, here is a card that I copied completely from one made by the super talented Dawn McVey. (I only changed the colors and tried to do everything else exactly) I really like how it turned out. Oh..on her card she used Friends til the end paper and I didn't have any so I stamped some. and Dawn sewed on the ribbon but my machine broke so I stapled. haha almost exactly! Thanks for stopping by!

Another Papertrey Challenge

Today's contest is a color challenge. The winner gets a piece of art signed by 12 of the design team members. How awesome is that! Each of the design team members picked their favorite colors and we could choose any one we liked. I liked all of them but only had time to pick one. I randomly chose Lisa Johnson's color picks.

And here is the card I made. I used Polka Dot Basics and Mega Mixed Messages. The round punches are from the Paper Source (at our local mall) and the bottom is an EK Success punch (the little dots). Hope you like this and have a great day!