20+ Days of Cards: Day 16

This is a re-run of a card I did in September, but I liked it so well that I felt it should be included in this year's bundle.

Cardstock/Paper: SU - pink pirouhette, whisper white
Ink: SU - mellow moss, pink pirouhette
Stamps: PTI - With Sympathy
Misc: SU - pink grossgrain; Reflections - pearls; Stampendous - black embossing powder; pop dots; Zips; ScorPal

20+ Days of Cards: Day 11

The first time I saw this set of Papertrey stamps, I knew I had to have them. They're so versatile. And who doesn't love to receive flowers?! Once again, Dawn's color combo came to the rescue, and I borrowed the layout from this card in the PTI design gallery.

Cardstock/Paper: SU - always artichoke, pink passion, certainly celery; cream; watercolor paper
Ink: VF - onyx
Stamps: PTI - Autumn Abundance
Misc: SU - watercolor pencils, blender pen; MM - ribbon; Sizzix - Texturz #17; pop dots; Zips; sewing machine

20+ Days of Cards: Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of the project parade. Today we're giving thanks. Enjoy!

Cardstock: SU - kiwi kiss, tangerine tango, pumpkin pie, more mustard; watercolor paper
Ink: SO - timber brown
Stamps: SU - The More the Merrier
Misc: SU - Alpine Originals felt ribbon, watercolor pencils, blender pen, scallop circle punch; EK - 1.75" circle punch; Fiskars - 1" circle punch; Sizzix - Texturz #15 Lovely Flourish; pop dots; Zips; Zots
Inspiration card

20+ Days of Cards: Day 3

You may remember this gift set from last year. When I made this for my grandmother, it was with the full intention of refilling it each year. The card showcase you're enjoying is this year's refill set. Five of the designs (2 birthday, 2 sympathy, 1 thanks) were packaged in gift sets for several friends & co-workers. Each recipient was thrilled with their set of cards, and I couldn't have been more pleased! Enjoy today's sample.

Cardstock: DCWV - The Luxury Stack; SU - rose red, creamy vanilla
Ink: SU - rose red, handsome hunter
Stamps: SU - Close as a Memory
Misc: Sizzix - SU Top Notez; gel pen; SU - very vanilla grossgrain; Zips
Inspiration card

Close in Love and Prayer

In the last week, I've had need for several sympathy cards. I designed this simple card using one of my favorite sets from Papertrey.

Cardstock: SU - pink pirouette, whisper white
Stamps: PTI - With Sympathy
Ink: SU - artichoke, pink pirouette; VM
Misc: Black embossing powder; Reflections - pearls; MM - pink ribbon; Zips; pop dots

Beach Bums in Maui

Ahhhh, beautiful Maui - also known as the sunbather's paradise. This was the only port of call in which we chose not to schedule a daytime tour. Two whole days of relaxation. This is the beach day (obv). Look at that beautiful blue water!


Cardstock/Paper: TLC - Runway; DCWV; SU - chocolate chip
Stamps/Ink: PTI - Simple Alphabet; SU - taken w/ teal
Misc: grossgrain ribbon; K&Co - chipboard, stickers; Sizzix - Sassy Serif; Zips; Xyron; pop dots

Pub Crawl!

One of the many things we really loved about our Hawaiian cruise was the fun ship-sponsored activities. We never found ourselves wanting for anything to do. On one such afternoon, we participated in a pub crawl where we got to sample a drink at each bar, play some games, and make some great friends. We laughed ourselves silly that day!


Cardstock/Paper: TLC - Slumber Party
Misc: chipboard; pink gems; Sizzix - Broadway Melody; Uniball - Signo white gel pen; DCWV - rub-ons; misc. satin ribbon; Zips; Zots; Xyron; pop dots

Good Luck

This week my most favorite bus driver is leaving. It's an unfortunate part of riding the bus. We only get to keep our drivers for six months before they move on to other routes. I've been riding the bus for six years, and I cannot recall a driver I have liked more. Michael is courteous, polite, and takes a genuine interest in his riders. He notices when we don't ride. He holds the bus a few minutes when we're running late. He takes pride in his job. And it shows: he was selected as Driver of the Year for 2008. In short, Michael is a real gem. I made this card to wish him farewell and good luck as he moves on.

Cardstock/Paper: TLC - black, cream underground; SU - real red, very vanilla

Stamps: Luxe - Swirls; SU - Figures of Speech

Ink: Versamark; SU - real red

Misc: Stampendous - midnight black embossing powder; MM - red star brads; white satin ribbon; red velvet ribbon; Zots; Zips; pop dots; Sizzix - top notez; circle cutters; star punch

Inspiration layout

Smell Cake?

When I saw this card on SCS, I fell in love with it and knew it would be perfect for my co-worker Carol.


Cardstock: SU - sage shadow, whisper white, more mustard
Stamps: TCP - Smells Like Cake
Ink: VF onyx; SU - creamy caramel
Misc: Zips; Zots; ScorPal; SU - mustard grossgrain, linen thread, 1/4" circle punch, watercolor pencils, blender pen; button; flower; pop dots

Bow-Wow Birthday

August seems to be one of those months chocked full of birthdays. I've worked fast & furiously to keep up. I made this card (inspired by this card) for a co-worker who turned 50.

Cardstock/Paper: SU - pacific point, real red, tangerine tango, sweet always, whisper white
Stamps: TCP - Smells Like Cake
Ink: VF - onyx
Misc: zips; zots; pop dots; MM - crystal brads; SU - pacific point brad, watercolor pencils, blender pen; misc. grossgrain; Sizzix - Texturz #15, #17; Stickles - crystal; CM circle cutter

Sweet One

I was hired to make this card for a baby shower. The mom-to-be is having a boy, but I didn't want to make the card too masculine so I pulled the softer, more neutral colors. I wanted it to look like a wall with beadboard (though that is really difficult to see in this photo...sorry!), chair rail, textured wall on top with a baby-themed wall hanging. It turned out even better than I'd hoped.

Cardstock: white; SU - barely banana, bashful blue (banner), brocade blue (frame), so saffron (moon)

Stamps: SU - So Many Scallops

Ink: Versamark

Misc: Stampendous - midnight black e.p.; Sizzix - Texturez Tween Stripes; MM - FA Trims (Sidney), silver star brad, thin black wire; Zips; tacky tape; CM - circle cutters; Xyron

HOOT!

June is a busy month in our family with two birthdays, and anniversary, and Father's Day. I've been busy working on cards, especially since we'll be gone for a week right around the time I would ordinarily sit down to make most of these cards.

For this card, I used Dawn's Raspberry Suite #4 color combo b/c it really gives the masculine feel I was going for. I realize that may seem a little surprising, but I think (hope?) you'll see what I mean. I also used Jen del Muro's SFYTT sketch from the end of April to build the layout. The stamps are some of my favorite critter sets: Wise Owl from Papertrey Ink.

Color inspiration

Layout inspiration

RECIPE

Base: white pre-scored card

Paper/Cardstock: SU - Windsor Knot; white

Stamps: PTI - Wise Owl

Ink: VF - onyx (I really need to get some brown!!)

Misc.: MM - metal tag; SU - watercolor pencils, blender pen; Zips; pop dots; white satin ribbon; Sizzix - Texturez Texture Plates #17, tween lattice

Cupcake Surprise

Have you ever been thwarted by a plan in your head that just didn't seem to look right on paper? Then you have to figure out whether you're going to start over or try to make it work? That's what happened with this card. I wanted the penguins to be surrounded by lots of packages, but then I realized that they were going to be overwhelmed by them - at least in the way that I'd stamped them. So I decided to put the penguins on pop dots in hopes that the extra dimension made them ... well, pop out. But that still wasn't enough to really make the penguins and the cupcake stand out. Then it occurred to me. They could be lighting the cupcake getting ready to yell "SURPRISE" to the birthday person. So I sponged the background, hoping to give that effect. Did it work?

Cardstock: SU - pretty in pink, sage shadow, baja breeze, chocolate chip, autumn vine (?); kraft

Ink: VF - onyx

Stamps: TCP - smells like cake

Misc: zips; zots; pop dots; Stickles - crystal, pink, lime green; pink floss; SEI - lime grossgrain; SU - buttons, watercolor pencils, blender pen, pink grossgrain

Inspiration (layout & elements)

Eat Cake

I have lots of birthdays to send cards for in the next week. This one came out pretty darn cute, assuming you like pink. *wink*

Cardstock: TM - queen's diner; SU - pretty in pink, cameo coral, pale plum

Ink: VF - onyx

Stamps: TCP - smells like cake, you say it's your birthday

Misc: zips; MM - dk. pink eyelets; Sizzix - circles #2; SU - watercolor pencils, blender pen; crystal stickles; silver glitter pen; pop dots; raspberry satin ribbon; raspberry fiber

Inspiration

Owl Be Yours

'Tis the time to begin thinking about that special someone. Have you bought a card yet? Since I'm home sick and feeling a little more human today, I decided to get a jump on Valentine's Day.

Once I've chosen a set of stamps for my card (Wise Owl by PaperTrey Ink in this case), I, unlike most of you talented people out there, do not begin sketching but instead go in search of a design to inspire me. Today, however, I just didn't find anything. And I actually had an idea spring to mind. So I got out my pad of paper and began with a rough design {pictured top left} - two snuggling owls holding hands with eyes closed in contentment.

Because I don't have a tree limb in my vast array of stamps, I knew I was going to have to either draw one or create one somehow. I sketched it first but didn't really like where that was going. I'm a pitiful doodler. I ultimately decided I could come back to that quandry later and decided to get started on the card instead. I could at least get the paper cut, base down, and my owls going.

As I began laying everything out, it dawned on me that I might be able to use some of my fiber stash to create the tree branches. And I was pretty sure I had just the thing. Sure enough, two strands side-by-side sufficed to create the illusion of a tree branch. Voila! Since this is intended as a valentine, I opted for small hearts as leaves. All in all, I'm quite pleased with the result.

The inside sentiment is also from Wise Owl. A few years ago I wouldn't have really understood this verse. But it means a lot to me now.

Incidentally, how do you like my watermark? I couldn't decide between having it in color or not. My mom really liked it in color best, and so do I. Hopefully it's not distracting? Anyway, I figure I should put my stamp, so to speak, on my custom card designs since they're so few & far between.

Cardstock: SU - mellow moss, chocolate chip, windsor knot; kraft; white

Stamps: PTI - wise owl, around & about sentiments; SU - happy hearts

Ink: SU - chocolate chip, really rust, mellow moss, real red

Misc: SU - alpine ribbon, hodgepodge hardware, watercolor pencils, blender pen; SU/Sizzix - top note; pop dots; Zips; Zots; Crop-a-dile; brown felt fiber; Paper Adventure - punch wheel: heart

Around & About Thanks

Using another of my new PaperTrey Ink sets, I made a whole set of these thank-you cards. This set of stamps is so versatile. I'm really liking what I can do with it, like stamp on ribbon as I did here.


Cardstock: kraft; red; black; white
Ink: SU - real red; VF - onyx; CB - frost white
Stamps: PTI - round & about sentiments
Misc: SU - scallop border punch; red gems; Zots; Zips; red grossgrain; pop dots; Sizzix - Circles #2
Inspiration

Variation on a Theme

Using the same inspiration as yesterday, I made a second thank-you card but changed up the color scheme a bit.

Cardstock: SU - old olive, chocolate chip; kraft

Ink: SU - chocolate chip

Stamps: SU - cheery chat, frames with a flourish

Misc: SU - felt double-stitched ribbon; gems; pop dots; Zips; Zots

Thanks

It's that time of year where you send out oodles of thank-you notes for all of the wonderful Christmas loot. I'm a wee bit behind the eight ball this year, but I figure it's better late than never. *grin* (Although, in my defense, I didn't get some of my gifts until last week so technically I'm right on time ... at least for those. *wink*)

Cardstock: SU - windsor knot, baja breeze; kraft

Ink: SU - chocolate chip

Stamps: SU - cheery chat, frames with a flourish

Misc: SU/Sizzix - top note; pop dots; brown stitched grossgrain; yellow button; twine; gems; Zots; Zips

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 15

And now ... {drum roll please} ... the last card of the boxed set of twenty cards. This is the fifth sympathy card that was included in the box. I really like it for its elegance & simplicity.

Base: white pre-scored card

Ink: VF - onyx; SU - bashful blue

Stamps: VV - Filigree Fantasy; SU - Little Hellos (sentiment)

Misc: ScorPal; gems; Zots; SU - black grossgrain; Zips

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 13

I hope you're enjoying the gift set thus far. We only have a few more cards to go & then ... well, I'll have to get to work on something new. *grin*

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: DCWV - luxury stack; SU - brocade blue; black; lt. grey

Ink: VF - onyx; SU - brocade blue

Stamps: SU - Close as a Memory

Misc: MM - black brads; SU - black grossgrain, ticket corner punch; Zips; Crop-a-dile 

Inspiration here