February 28, 2010

PTI Princess Challenge no.3--coloring

Happy Sunday everyone! Back to the grindstone tomorrow. I hope you got a bit of "playtime" this weekend, and a chance to relax. We just got back from a shopping (ugh) expedition. Target, Wegman's, Petsmart, Preimer Wines, Ashley Furniture Homestore and lunch out! Whewww. I'm beat. I despise shopping...unless it's online for stamping supplies *grin*!
This card is for another challenge (I've posted 3 challenge cards recently!)
The Papertrey Princess challenge this round came from Michele! She issued a coloring challenge and I was excited to get crackin' because I love my Copics. But I honestly have no idea how to really use them... *pout* I can color well in any medium, but I am not a "realistic" colorer...I can't add shadows, depth, nor definition with my Copics very well. (So I guess I'm not actually a good colorer...am I?)
But I gave it my best shot, and actually had fun while doing it, so that's what really counts, right?

Thanks for stopping by this evening!

February 27, 2010

Poppy Paperie challenge no.1

Lisa (of PTI Design Team fame) has begun a new challenge on her blog, Poppy Paperie. Well I'm up for a new challenge, aren't you? *grin*

You must use crystals, a flower stamp of some sort, and a bit of pale yellow for this round. "Well", thought I, "that shouldn't be too difficult..." And it wasn't!
I grabbed some Enchanted Evening, some Lemon Tart, and then threw in some Spring Rain and a touch of Scarlet Jewel for contrast.
The flowers on the BG are actually stamped with white pigment ink, but I love how they look like Spring Rain when they dry, don't you? I used white ep for the centers though to make them pop out a bit.
I used my Copics to color some clear rhinestones Scarlet, and then inked the edges of my cut-out flower with Scarlet Jewel too.

Thanks for stopping by this evening!
Hope you are having a relaxing, productive weekend! (that's a bit of an oxymoron isn't it?!)

February 26, 2010

Becky's challenge #5

I decided to stop stalking Becky's compose a card challenges and actually participate. I know, I know. What was I waiting for? *grin*
This week's colors were red, white, and aqua, and the only rules are you have to stay within her cutting guidelines and the color scheme. Simple, right?



This challenge was a lot of fun for me, because I was just playing around with no real "goal" in mind. It was nice not to HAVE to make a card for once!
I realize that the sentiment doesn't show up too well in these photos. It says "you're a true forever Friend."

Thanks for stopping by today!

February 25, 2010

PTI Blog hop night!


I really LOVED this month's blog hop challenge issued by Nichole Heady. Design Team Appreciation Day! Isn't that thoughtful of her to celebrate her designers who indeed contribute incredible amounts of time and thought into promoting PTI stamps?
I chose to focus on one project that really took my breath away when I first saw it.

This card, by Niki Estes literally made me gasp when I first saw it. All her inking really made this card soft, aged, and victorian looking. It's just lovely, and it makes me think of my grandmother (who died when I was 14). Thank you Niki for all you do, and for inspiring us humble devotees to PTI!
I tried several times to make my own "twist" using Niki's card as inspiration. Seriously, I have 4 different samples that weren't quite what I was going for!  I finally called it quits and decided to show two that weren't bad:

This one is my favorite of the four I made. I love the avocado and terracotta colors together, and if you ignore my terrible stitching,  as a whole the card is not half bad! Notice the right hand button? It only has three holes! LOVE IT!

I really wish I had some Smoky Shadow ribbon for this card, but all the other grey ribbon I had was too light, so I went with the Aqua Mist. I like the modern feel to this card, but wish I could change the ribbon!

Thanks for stopping by tonight!
And THANK YOU to the entire Design Team of Papertreyink!
You are all super-stars.

February 19, 2010

Birthday wishes

 This card is going out to Joyce, one of our PTI Princesses! (Yes, it's late. Very late. Shame on me.)

I really had fun stamping all the leaf images along the bottom portion in orange zest and summer sunrise. Then I used the tiny 3 dot image and the mini open leaf image from Out on a Limb. After stamping the open leaf in brown, I decided to color it in with a Copic.

Having all those fun, fall-like colors on my desk made me want to create another card, so I whipped up this one in about 5 minutes with things that were laying around!


It's always good to have a "just because" card on hand, right?

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great weekend TGIF!

February 18, 2010

2010 PTI Princess challenge #2

Lee hosted the most recent challenge for our blogging group, and she added a bonus challenge to base your 3D project design on what you were putting in it!
Granted, I'm slipping my submission in just under the line (it ends today!), but better late than never, right?

Well a coworker of mine has a bit of a cold and I felt so sorry for her coughing away yesterday, so last night I grabbed a handful of Ricola natural cough suppresents intending to bring them to her today. Then I got inspired! Why not package them up in a cute little shaker box?!



You can see that I based my box design on the yellow and green with herbs bag that the cough drops came in.

I used stamps from Life, some antique brads, Ranger distress ink, PTI Ripe Avocado ink, and PTI lemon tart CS and PP. Thanks for a fun challenge Lee!

Dessert nachos anyone?

I'm working an a few crafty things so expect another post later today!
Our "puppy" keeps growing, much to my dismay!

The makings for Dessert Nachos! (home made cinnamon-sugar nachos, diced strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, bananas, Vanilla ice cream, thick caramel sauce, home made chocolate sauce, and whipped cream with a cherry on top!)

SO incredibly yummy! (and so calorie laden that we only have it once a year!) I think I posted a recipe somewhere...oh yes, HERE. And I blogged about them HERE too.

February 12, 2010

St. Valentine card

I know I gripe about this every year, but it irks me that the "Saint" part of St. Valentine's Day has been dropped commercially and in general. Poor guy. What if we dropped the "Saint" in St. Patrick's day? It would sound pretty goofy, don't you think? "Hey! Happy Patrick's Day man!" *chuckle*

Anyway, I made this card for my mom in about 20 minutes this morning. I wanted to try a technique that Nichole showcased on her blog (She used butterfly outline images), and ended up using TWO techniques from her.


My mother hates red and pink, so I was trying for a bit of non-traditional colors (other than the purple and lavender I usually go with for her).

After stamping the heart outlines with white pigment ink on kraft, I colored them in with copics and then cut the whole line of them out. I stamped the BG in white ink also and colored the tiny hearts in with the same copics, then added a ribbon, button, and sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!

February 09, 2010

PTI and CPS #153

It's been awhile since I participated in a CPS sketch and this one was right up my alley! I chose to work with Erin's colors for this challenge and whipped up this card using the CPS sketch.

I love simple cards although I generally have trouble with all the "white space." This one suits me though and I'm pleased with it! All PTI supplies.

Thanks for stopping by!

Another PTI challenge?

Who'd of thunk it?! *grin* This one is based on the PTI Design Team's favorite color combos. I chose Melissa's for my first try.
I like to stretch myself, and this particular color combination seemed like something I would NEVER put together. This card came together quickly and I actually like the way it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by.

February 08, 2010

Paint by number challenge

 I've been waiting with baited breath each day as Papertreyink reveals each new and amazing product they will begin carrying.
It's so exciting! There have been several challenges and contests, and although I've created a card each time, I never seem to have a moment to post them on the blog. Today they revealed paint! Actual mini paint cans with acrylic paint in each of PTI's signature colors! UNBELIEVABLE.
Nichole also issued a sketch and a color challenge based on your PTI forum user name.
This was my group of colors to use. Fun, huh?

Although I followed the sketch that was posted, I turned it on its side and moved the sentiment. The lemon tart comes in with the single button and the three bling jewels that I colored with a copic to be pale yellow.

I used Turning a New Leaf, Polka Dot Basics, Vintage Picnic Sentiments, Guidelines Two, and Background Basics: Text Style. It was so difficult to cut out those leaves!!

Thanks for stopping by!

February 01, 2010

Thank yous

Wow. Has it really been a whole week since I posted? Goodness, it seems like I've been creating up a storm, but I apparently haven't been posting them!

These two little square cards have a fun color scheme that I pulled out of my LLBean catalog. Aqua Mist, Spring Rain, Raspberry Fizz, White!

This one uses Blooming Button Bits without the leaves, and Mega Mixed
Messages. I drew a black border around the white square to pull it together, and sewed the ribbon on.


I loved Becky's video tutorial for a "no ends" bow, and gave it a try here on the Scattered Showers umbrella just as she did. The sentiment is from last year's Anniversary Set.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a great Monday!