PTI Make-It-Monday #202: Anchoring with Border and Banner Dies

This week's Make-It-Monday challenge is hosted by the lovely and ever so talented, Melissa Phillips.  She is the master of layering and has shown us some of her tricks and techniques.  If you would like to check the challenge out for yourself, you can find all the information here.

For my card, I chose to use a pattern paper background, with a Linen Vellum tag, topped with a skyscape die, die cut stars, star garland, and a cutie patootie cupcake.  I even managed to stamp a matching envelope.  Yea, me!  lol!

Thanks ever so much for stopping by!

PTI February Blog Hop Challenge

This month's PTI Blog Hop is an inspiration photo challenge.  Check out this sweet little number that Nichole Heady has found to inspire us to get crafty:

So what do you think about that photo!  Isn't it just lovely?  I love the watercolor look and the gorgeous colors!  Those are the two things that inspired my project today.

I used the Year of Flowers: Violets stamp set heat embossed in clear, and watercolored using Tim Holtz Distress Inks as my medium.  I typically make cards for my projects, but decided to keep this beauty for framing.  Thanks for the inspiration, PTI!

Thank you ever so much for stopping by!

PTI Make It Monday #182: Mason Jar Stamping

This month's Make-It-Monday challenge is hosted by the Queen of Shabby Goodness, Melissa Phillips.  She has shown us her techniques for creating fun home decor by painting and embossing on mason jars.  If you would like to check things out for yourself, you can find all the info here.

For this challenge, I first painted my mason jar a vintage green color.  Then I stamped using the Autumn Adornments set using white, orange, and red embossing powders.  I decorated a trimmed down Tag Sale #9 with a sentiment from Sunflower Bouquet.  I tied on some ribbon and trims using Melissa's fabulous junk bow technique and lastly, added a few crinkled and inked leaf die cuts to accent.

This technique was much easier than I'd anticipated and it sure gives a lot of bang for your effort!  Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your talent and ideas with us!

Thanks ever so much for stopping by!

PTI September Blog Hop

This month's PTI Blog Hop is an inspiration photo challenge.  Check out the gorgeousness that Nichole Heady has found to inspire us to get crafty:

So what do you think about that photo!  Isn't it just lovely?  I really like the pattern on the pail, the softness of the knit sweater, the purple berries, and the cool color palette.  What's not to like, right?  So let's get to some projects!

I started with the pail as inspiration.  I pulled out some embossing paste, tinted it grey, and used the PTI Twist cover plate as a stencil.

I added a sentiment from the Beautiful Brushstrokes kit, Sweet Life die cuts, Scribble Circle die cuts, some splatters of ink, and finished with a few drops of Glossy Accents to add some interest.

While I had the embossing paste out, I used another stencil to make an angled ombre(ish) pattern for this card:

I kept the card CAS, adding an ombre-inked die cut sentiment and some color-coordinated homemade enamel dots using Betsy Veldman's clever technique.

And, since I had all the stencils out, I decided to try an inking technique to make a colorful background for this card:

I used another sentiment and more die cuts from the Beautiful Brushstrokes kit.  I also crocheted a stand of grey yarn to use for the bow.  I really like the soft touch the yarn lends to the project.

The pattern of the pail made me think of Betsy Veldman's Luxe Letterpress impression plate.  I started with a lavender moon panel and masked off around the center panel to stamp the floral pattern.  When I was done, I decided it was all too monochromatic (i.e. boring :), so I used the coordinating die to cut the center of the panel out and die cut the letter L from the center.  To finish, I positioned the center piece underneath an ivory impressed panel.

Lastly, I have a card using the interesting technique from this week's Make-It-Monday challenge.  Danielle Flanders showed us a neat way to craft with toilet paper.  Yes, I said toilet paper!  Image that!  If you would like to check out the video, the challenge, or the great projects made with toilet paper, you can find it all right here.

I added some color to my toilet paper medallion using splash inks.  I used Marybeth's idea of adding my medallion behind the card's front panel.  I like the finished look doing so lends to the project.  Thanks for the inspiration, Marybeth!

That's all for me today.  Thanks ever so much for stopping by!  Happy Hopping!

PTI Stamp-A-Faire 2014!

The event we've been waiting a year for is finally here!  I've been so excited!!!  There is so much crafty inspiration to be had and tutorials to drool over, I thought my head might explode!  ha!  The posts and videos are still free for the viewing, but the challenges aren't, so let me get right to it!  And, incase you would like to check out all the fun for yourself, you can find it on Nichole Heady's blog.

I got a late start this year, as there was a soccer game that I just couldn't escape!  On the bright side, I was able to get started around noon with a crafty friend by my side this year!  I was thrilled to be able to share in this craziness with someone who GETS it!  Thanks, Mackenzie!  :)

Here is the low down on the projects that were made over the weekend.  I'll be brief for now and edit to fill in with more writing tomorrow!

The Regency Era:

The 1920's Era:

The 1940's Era:

The 1980's Era:

Sadly, that's a SAF 2014 wrap!  I wish I had another week free to complete all the other eras!  I leave you with a photo of all the projects together:

Thanks ever so much for stopping by!

PTI Make It Monday #174: Diamond Wallpaper Stamping

This month's Make-It-Monday challenge is hosted by Ashley Cannon Newell.  She has shown us a technique for using our stamps to make a diamond wallpaper look for our crafting projects.  If you would like to check things out for yourself, you can find all the information here.

I thought this challenge would lend itself perfectly to a nautical theme, so I set about making a monogram card set to gift to my step-mother.  She and my father are happiest when they are cruising around on their boat in the sunshiny summertime.

I created my diamond pattern with New Leaf ink using the same stamp set and technique as Ashley.  I added the anchor image in Spring Rain ink followed by the rope image in Copic-safe Memento Expresso Truffle.  After coloring the rope image with Copics for some definition, the monogram was stamped with Blueberry Sky and Enchanted Evening inks.  The main panel was then added to some dark navy card stock.

While I usually gift card sets of 6 to 12 cards, I petered out after the second card in the set. lol!  The result is beautiful, but the stamping is a bit much.  I have until October to complete this project in time for my step-mother's birthday.  Anybody want to make a wager on whether I manage to make more cards to add to the set?  :)

Thanks ever so much for stopping by!

PTI Make It Monday #173: No Outline Watercolor - Part 2

This month's Make-It-Monday challenge is hosted by the talented Heather Nichols.  She has shown us a special technique for using our stamps to make us all look like watercoloring experts.  If you would like to check things out for yourself, you can find all the info here.

This is my second post for this week's MIM challenge.  If you would like to see some rainbow watercoloring using the No Outline Method, you can see them in this post. 

For this card, I used the PTI Harvest Berries stamp set and Distress Inks (which are turning out to be my favorite watercoloring medium to use for great vibrant colors).  After the watercolored panel was added to the card base, a strip of Pure Poppy was added along with a die cut from the Filigree Border die.  A sentiment from the Mini Blooms stamp set and a few wraps of red bakers twine finished off the project.

All supplies are from PTI (aside from the watercolor paper and Distress Inks).

Thanks ever so much for stopping by!