Valentine's Swap

Now that I know my friend Sue Ann (Hi Sue Ann!) has gotten her package from the PTI Forum Valentine's Swap, I can post them here.

Let's start with the treat: I got this idea from a friend of mine - she loves to creatively play with food as much as I do with paper. For her Christmas party she had chocolate covered peanut butter cookies decorated as snowmen. I took this idea and altered it a little - I used regular and golden Oreos.

Here's the whole bunch - I'm amazed that only five of these were taste-tested before they were mailed.

To package these I used the PTI Keeping Tabs template - it has two pockets on the inside - perfect for two packets of cookies.

The Inside:

The outside:

I wanted to do something for Sue Ann's three little ones as well, so I pulled out the Favor Box 2 die and came up with these:

I also included the notebooks from this post and the card from this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

CASEing Erin Lincoln

I don't think it's any real secret, but I love Erin Lincoln's work. She has a way of looking at things outside the box and really putting stamp sets into a new perspective for me. 

I had the chance to meet Erin before Christmas and she's such a sweetheart. 

When PTI first came out with Merry Little Christmas, I didn't think I would need it. That is until I saw this card created by Erin

Isn't it just FABULOUS! 

When I finally got my hands on this set, the first thing I wanted to do was make a similar card. 

I realize as I upload this picture, that it's terrible - sorry about that! I used the tree, leaves, birds, and dotted line from Merry Little Christmas, with the "l" from Outlines Alphabet for the swing, and the grass from Love Lives Here. I finished it with the sentiment from In Bloom and some Pure Poppy buttons. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies 

Stamps :: PTI - Merry Little Christmas, Outline Alphabet, Love Lives Here, In Bloom

Ink :: PTI - Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse, True Black, Aqua Mist

Cardstock :: PTI - Stampers Select White, Aqua Mist

Other :: PTI - Pure Poppy Vintage Buttons  

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

It's that time again...time for the PTI Blog Hop. 

This month Nichole challenged us to use stamp sets that hadn't seen ink. 


"With the new year comes a clean slate along with many resolutions.  This month's blog hop challenge involves you challenging yourself to use a Papertrey stamp set that has yet to see ink or even one that might be collecting a little dust!  Go through your stash and see what little used treasure it might hold.  If you are in need of inspiration for your chosen set, feel free to utilize the gallery posted in the side bar of each set's sale page on our website, or go to the Previous Countdown page on Nichole's blog where each set is organized by month of release.  2011 is the year where what's old is new again!"


I'm still working with the sets I got for Christmas, so choosing a set wasn't that difficult. 


I loved all the countdown projects done with Love Lives Here. The sentiments alone had me hooked, then the cute distressed images just pushed me over the edge. I also pulled out a new-to-me die to complete this card. 

I'm pretty much smitten with this card - the first in a while that I want to hold onto instead of give away (although I think it's going to my hubby, so it won't be going far). 


Thanks for stopping by!





Supplies 
Stamps :: PTI - Love Lives Here
Ink :: PTI - Smoky Shadow, Ocean Tides
Cardstock :: PTI - Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides
Other :: PTI - Vintage Cream Twill Ribbon, Take Three Die, Love Lives Here Dies  

Hey There

Just in for a quick post today.

I made this card several months ago for a PaperCrafts Magazine sketch call. It didn't get accepted, but I really like how it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by!



Supplies
Stamps :: PTI - Big & Bold Wishes, Round & Round
Ink :: PTI - Simply Chartreuse, Tsukino - Versamark
Cardstock :: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Simply Chartreuse, Melon Berry, Kraft
Other :: PTI - Small Scalloped Border, Melon Berry Vintage Button, Filagree - White Embossing Power 

A New Toy - Cinch Machine

For my birthday my parents got me the Cinch machine (We R Memory Keepers). Over this long weekend I was actually able to make something.


After watching several videos on using the machine, and covering book board, and soliciting advice from my friends on the PTI forum I felt like I had a pretty good idea what I was doing. 

I am going to keep experimenting with the amount of paper in each - these vary from 60-80 pages. 

Thanks for stopping by!

So Blessed

I'm back with another take on the Mojo Monday sketch #173

I had a lot of fun with this sketch the second time as well.

The sentiment is photographing light, but it's actually Raspberry Fizz. 




Thanks for stopping by!





Supplies 
Stamps :: PTI - Signature Series: Cupcake 
Ink :: PTI - Raspberry Fizz
Cardstock :: PTI - Fine Linen, Kraft, New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss
Other :: PTI -  Distressed Dots, New Leaf Twill Ribbon, Rustic Jute Twine, Spring Moss vintage buttons, Beautiful Blooms III dies, Fillable Frames #11 die, Kaisercraft - pink and clear rhinestones 

Happiest with You

Recently, I made this card for my husband, just to say "I Love You."

I pulled out some of my new PTI supplies and this is what I came up with:

Sometimes I have a tough time creating cards for my husband. He's an artist - he has a deeper understanding of  design, color, and composition than I will ever have. He has never been anything but supportive of my cards, and provides constructive criticism when I ask. But making a card for him makes it feel like there is some added pressure for it to be a GREAT card.

I used a rustic cream base, layered with dark chocolate and rustic cream, impressed with the Linen & Canvas impression plate from Papertrey Ink (OH how I LOVE it!!). I added a die cut stamped with the Love Birds set, stamped a sentiment from Signature Series: Flower, and completed it with some chocolate bakers twine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps :: PTI - Love Birds, Signature Series: Flower
Ink :: PTI - Chamomile Tea Dye
Cardstock :: PTI - Rustic Cream, Dark Chocolate
Other :: PTI - Linen & Canvas Impression Plate, Love Birds Die, Misc. - Chocolate Baker's Twine

Gratitude Journal #1

Today, I'm thankful for long weekends. No, wait. I'm thankful for a job that allows for long weekends. This time last year I was in a different employment situation, I was miserable and I am grateful that this job came along. The long weekends (and working from home) are just great perks! 


I'm grateful for old friends, you know the kind. You talk once in a while, see each other only a couple of times a year, but when you're together it's like you talk every day. 

I love these girls, and I've been lucky enough to spend time with both of them in the last couple of weeks. This picture was taken at my bachelorette get together. Don't we look like a bunch of party-animals?!


Today I'm also thankful for warm blankets, hot chocolate and movie night on the couch with my hubby. 


Thanks for stopping by!

In Dreams and Love

I have been seeing Mojo Monday sketches all over blog-land recently and this week I decided to play along (twice actually, but I'll be back with the second card tomorrow.) 


This week's sketch #173 is super cute! 

Here is what I came up with:

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Supplies 

Stamps :: PTI - Heart Prints, Heart Prints Sentiments, Vintage Labels

Ink :: PTI - Pure Poppy, True Black

Cardstock :: PTI - Stampers Select White, True Black

Other :: PTI -  Pure Poppy Satin Ribbon, Heart Prints Dies, Bitty Boxes Patterned Paper

Tuesday Trigger: Bright Spot

I'm back with this week's Tuesday Trigger.

This one had me stumped for awhile - until I saw the bowl on the table. I love the varying widths of the stripes. Add the oranges and perfection!


Here's my take:

The trigger is open until Sunday - stop by and check it out! 


Thanks for stopping by!



 Supplies 
Stamps :: PTI - Dot Spot, Signature Series: Cupcake
Ink :: PTI - True Black, Orange Zest
Cardstock :Stamper's Select White Harvest 
Other :: Spellbinders - Circle Nestibilities 

Cheery Card Set

A couple of weeks ago I saw a post by Debby (limedoodle), that I can't seem to find today. ETA: I found them here.


She made a fantastic CAS card set that I just HAD to CASE.


Her cards were square, and since I can't ever seem to make square cards work for me, I changed them to A2. 


I used Signature Greetings and Big & Bold Wishes from Papertrey Ink for the sentiments, and Friends 'til the End for the flower.

I can't tell you how much I LOVE these cards. I plan to make many more to keep on hand for times I just need a quick note. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Supplies
Stamps :: PTI - Friends til the End, Signature Greetings, Big & Bold Wishes
Ink :: PTI - True Black, Tsukino - Versamark
Cardstock :: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Hibiscus Burst
Other :: Filagree - Clear Embossing Power

Goals for 2011

I’ve been MIA again. Did you miss me? 

There are a ton of reasons I could give, but they are pretty much just excuses. In all truth, I've just been lazy when it comes to blogging. If you’re still here, thanks. I owe you one big blog-land hug for sticking with me.

I’m not really one for resolutions, but I did set a couple of crafting/blogging goals for 2011.

I need to put them here so I can remind myself, and maybe I’ll follow through with them.

Goals for 2011:

1.       Play along with every Tuesday Trigger. I think these are great, but I don’t ever seem to sit down and create what’s in my head.  

2.      Keep a Gratitude Journal – right here, in this spot.  

3.      Do a “My Favorite Things” type post once a month. A blog I follow does a post called “All Things Loved” for each month. I look forward to it every month and want to incorporate something similar into my blog.

4.      Post with regularity – and on a schedule.  I haven't set it yet, but I'm hoping it will come to me soon. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Tuesday Trigger: Winter White

As one of my blogging goals for the year (I'll be back to share those soon), I decided I wanted to participate in Trigger Tuesday weekly.

I have always loved the inspiration shared by Cath on Moxie Fab World - it's about time I drew from it and actually made something!

This week's Trigger was a beautiful cake from Martha Stewart

Isn't it just great?!

I took my inspiration from the monochromatic layers to create this:

I used Papertrey Ink's Stampers Select White as a base and impressed it with the In Bloom impression plate. I die cut several flowers with the In Bloom dies from Vintage Cream, and embossed them with white embossing powder using the coordinating In Bloom stamp set. 

I added the sentiment from Signature Series: Dress form in Chamomile Tea ink to a Fillable Frames 10 die cut.

I was surprised at how well this card came together for me. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies
Stamps :: PTI - In Bloom, Fillable Frames 10, Signature Series: Dress Form
Ink :: PTI - Chamomile Tea Dye, Tsukino - Versamark
Cardstock :: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Vintage Cream
Other :: PTI - In Bloom dies, Fillable Frames 10 die, Fillagree - White Embossing Powder, Kaisercraft - Clear Rhinestones