blue christmas

another quick and easy card (thank goodness ;) that I whipped up before Christmas.  I don't think there's anything quite as pretty as vellum and white embossing powder . . .

stamps:  papertrey ink
papers:  stampin' up, papertrey ink
die:  papertrey ink
embellishments:  silver cord, embossing pwd - stampin' up

rosy wreath

creating a bright and festive Christmas . . .

 

 

 

 

inside of card . . .

 

 

 

 

envelope . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  w+9, papertrey ink

papers:  papertrey ink, stampin' up

embossing folder:  sizzix

embellishments:  washi tape & rhinestones - stampin' up; baker's twine - pebble in my pocket

December 2015 Blog Hop

Unfortunately, I didn't send out as many Christmas cards this year as I usually do (thanks to my allergies that are TOTALLY out of control right now), but I did snap a few quick pics of a chalkboard style card I created . . .

 

 

 

I always try to make the inside of the card AND the envelope as pretty as the front of the card . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  stampin' up

dies:  papertrey ink, memory box

embellishments:  rhinestone - darice

 

handmade kindness

here's a little note I made for a co-worker - she's going to be able to return to her former position after conquering medical challenges for several years - happy news for everyone!!!

SHARE HANDMADE KINDNESS

CHALLENGE #1



stamps:  stampin' up, papertrey ink
papers:  stampin' up, papertrey ink
dies:  my favorite things, papertrey ink
embellishments:  twine - stampin' up; button - papertrey ink

add your favourite 3 colours . . .

(I'm in love with any shade of purple - in fact, I'm re-decorating my studio in these colors)  my co-worker really liked the colors I used for a recent card, so I thought I would make her birthday card in a similar color combo . . .

 

 

JUST ADD INK

#281

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  stampin; up, papertrey ink

dies:  papertrey ink

embossing folder:  stampin' up/sizzix

embellishments:  twine - pebbles in my pocket; rhinestones - stampin' up

 



cQc #308

a masculine scheme used in a feminine way . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamp:  papertrey ink

papers:  stampin' up, papertrey ink, watercolor paper

dies:  papertrey ink

embellishments:  felt - papertrey ink; pearl - darice; gold thread - sulky

 

gold tipped pine

there was so much fabulous inspiration from papertrey ink's September release, it was difficult to contain my creativity to just ONE snippet of inspiration . . . I actually combined two things I really loved . . .

Papertrey Ink's

"Create Along With Us"

 

first, I loved the striking red and white ribbon with a simple sprig of cedar . . .

 

 

 

and then I fell in love with Lizzie's deep red tone-on-tone buffalo plaid . . .

 

 

 

so, here is my combo of the two . . .

(a brand new versamark pad really made the pinecones pop - I love the finished project)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  stampin' up

dies:  tim holtz/sizzix, papertrey ink

embellishments:  ribbon - stampin' up; button - my stash; gold embossing powder - filigree/superior

apple birthday

ooooh, I love this color combo . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  stampin' up, papertrey ink

dies:  papertrey ink

embossing folder:  stampin' up

embellishment:  button - papertrey ink

 

camouflaged pocket inserts

after a fabulous roadtrip to the AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL oregon coast, I'm ready to get creative . . . I need to send a check to my gardening/stamping friend, so why not enclose it in something special . . .

Papertrey Ink's

MAKE IT MONDAY

233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  papertrey ink, stampin' up

dies:  papertrey ink

embellishments:  ribbon - textured trios (michael's)

 



red carpet challenge

. . . and so, stamp-a-faire 2015 must come to an end . . . left with memories and a mess . . . and VOLUMES of inspiration to draw from during the coming weeks and months (that's how long it will take me to try all of the tricks and tips the ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS design team has shared over the weekend!) . . . farewell until next year . . . oh wait - make-it-Monday is just next week  ;)

 

 

 

my creations

 

 

 

 

 

this is a "good " kind of mess  :)

 

 

 

 

 

more color, please . . .

I used this project to increase my use of color - I love color and pattern, but I find myself sticking to three main colors, forgetting to use other shades of the same colors, etc . . . a special card to welcome a beautiful new granddaughter  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  papertrey ink

die:  spellbinders

embellishments:  button - papertrey ink; embroidery thread

 

friday night stamp-a-faire 2015

papertrey ink's stamp-a-faire is DEFINITELY the stamping highlight of my year (right behind their monthly releases)!!!  this year I did some much needed pre-planning by organizing a specific list of cards to create, centralizing a collection of ideas I've been wanting to try, and re-organizing my tools & supplies. I did all of this over the past few weeks and it REALLY paid off - less time figuring out what I was going to create, less time searching for supplies, and WAY less mess!  + I only had one project I set aside, but then was able to re-do for the "make it work" challenge . . . so after dinner Friday night - I headed upstairs with my laptop and was "ready to roll" (literally)!

 

 

my "creativity on wheels!"

 

 

unconventional materials challenge

MASCULINE BIRTHDAY CARD:  while I was rummaging thru all of my husband's hardware supplies in the garage, I thought I could just throw a handful of small screws, washers & nuts in a shaker card and call it done, but that seemed way to easy . . . my husband is legally blind, so I appreciate these larger sentiments from papertrey . . . happy birthday, honey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  stampin' up, papertrey ink, pebbles

die:  papertrey ink

embellishments:  wood accent - stampin' up; baker's twine - hemptique; button - my stash; caster cup - our junk drawer!

bridal challenge

PACKAGE TOPPER/GIFT BAG TAG:  I didn't really need a wedding card, but I do love a fun oversized tag on my kraft gift bags AND there's just nothing quite like white ink on vellum!  (the butterfly was cut from a scrap of vellum I stamped in white years ago for my daughter's wedding invitations.)  glitter and a few clear sequins added some sparkle . . .

stamps:  papertrey ink, stampin' up
papers:  stampin' up, papertrey ink
dies:  sizzix, papertrey ink
embellishments:  glitter - stampin' up; sequins - avery elle; tulle - scrap from my stash

 

make it work challenge

ANOTHER MINI BIRTHDAY CARD - never can have too many of these:  I had planned on whipping up an elegant black lace creation, but gave that idea up pretty quickly!  Wanting to do something other than flowers, cherries seemed the perfect theme for this color combo and was also a great opportunity to use my gelatos  . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  papertrey ink, scrap

dies:  papertrey ink

embellishments:  ribbons - offray; baker's twine - pebbles in my pocket; gelatos 

runway challenge

MINI BIRTHDAY CARD FOR MY STASH @ WORK:  I'm not a gold person - I prefer silver every time, but this jacket was so gorgeous . . .  had to try to create something . . .  even if it was outside of my comfort zone.

It was time for me to finally go to bed last night when that little gold dot I was trying to adhere flew across my table - I was too tired to search for it in ALL OF MY MESS, luckily I had another one (wonder how many months it will be until I find it :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  papertrey ink, watercolor paper

dies:  papertrey ink

embellishments: vellum - stampin' up; gold dots - eyelet outlet; watercolors - prang

 

mix+match challenge

MINI BIRTHDAY CARD FOR MY STASH AT WORK:  these little scraps have been sitting on my table for weeks . . . and now the perfect opportunity to turn them into a cute little birthday card . . .
I'm a girl who LOVES color and pattern, so I'm feelin' happy-go-lucky with this challenge  :)

stamp:  papertrey ink
papers:  papertrey ink, my mind's eye, cosmo cricket, october afternoon
die:  papertrey ink
embellishments:  clip - making memories; felt flower - stampin' up; mini brad - making memories; baker's twine - my stash

pins & needles challenge

NEXT ON MY LIST:  a special card for a co-worker who is retiring at the end of the year . . . she is anxious about the realities of retirement, but is looking forward to crocheting to her heart's content  :)
I've been loving Melissa's use of gingham, so I pulled out my background stamp and then I dug thru my stash of older sewing stamps and came up with this awesome pattern stamp - perfect for this project . . . I've been sewing for one of my new little granddaughters - the machine was already out, my pile of trims was still on the table, so I just transferred part of my sewing projects to this sweet card . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



stamps:  papertrey ink, stampin' up
papers:  papertrey ink, american crafts
die:  papertrey ink
embellishments:  ribbon - stampin' up; buttons - papertrey ink

accessories challenge

JUST FOR FUN:  here it is, almost September, and we still have at least 4-5 more weeks of hot weather ahead of us here in California - as usual, I'm looking forward to FALL!!!  I think this "apple prints" set is so cute (and underused).  I stitched a bright little apple pin to wear this fall . . . apples are grown just up the hill from us, which means it won't be long until we'll be attending the annual Johnny Appleseed day celebration with the yummiest apple concoctions ever!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

paper:  stampin' up

felt:  papertrey ink

dies:  papertrey ink

embellishments:  button - my stash; baker's twine - pebbles in my pocket; embroidery thread - dmc; pin backer - my stash

threads challenge

SUNNY BIRTHDAY CARD:  I love using baker's twine, so I've collected tons of fun colors . . . Danielle has so many great ideas!  I grabbed my mini stapler and used it to attach the birthday sentiment (I'll have to revisit all of the stamp-a-faire videos until I've tried each of the design team's techniques - like Laura's thread "nests," etc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  stampin; up

papers:  papertrey ink, stampin' up

dies:  papertrey ink

embellishments:  baker's twine - pebbles in my pocket; washi tape - stampin' up; mini staples - stampin' up

patterns challenge

I'm beginning Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire this weekend with a LONG list of cards I need to make . . . hope I can cross a few off my list!

THANK YOU CARD:  my supervisor has been reassigned to another area of our office (boo, hoo) so I wanted to make her a special card, in her favorite colors.
Of course, the design team had an abundance of fabulous inspiration to choose from . . . I used Dawn's layout for my project . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink

papers:  papertrey ink

dies:  papertrey ink

embellishments:  rainstones - papertrey ink

Bauer 41

here's a quick little birthday card I put together for one of the guys at work (a diehard miami dolphins fan) . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stamps:  papertrey ink, stampin' up

papers:  stampin' up, papertrey ink

dies:  my favorite things, papertrey ink

embellishments:  baker's twine - the twinery