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Happy Heart

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Another valentine, this time for the Addicted to CAS “Hugs and Kisses” challenge as well as the 
CAS-ology Challenge: Love. 

HappyHeart

Nothing but die cuts on this card, all from Simon Says. I love the new Heart Banner die. It makes an inlaid die cut so easy. I also like the soft gray, red, white, and Smoky Shadow color combination. I happened to find the perfect match sequins in my stash. I left the “valentine’s day” sentiment for the inside.

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We have happy hearts here today. Sarah, Adam, and Caleb are here for the weekend, as are Adam’s parents who flew in from Seattle last night. We all went to The Strong Museum this morning with Betsy, Matt, Skylar, and Ella. There’s nothing finer than having all your family in one place for a few days!

Shake It Valentine

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Once I saw the Virginia’s View Challenge for shaker cards, I knew I wanted to make a shaker valentine for Skylar this year, but didn’t have anything specific in mind when I started. For once, that turned out quite well.

#12 Shaker Cards

I started by tinting some transluscent embossing paste with a drop of Raspberry Fizz (PTI) reinker and using the “Falling Hearts” stencil by Simon Says. It makes an almost sparkling background.

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As I was looking through my dies for a heart I spotted this new one, “Surely Stitched Heart” which I received in my last order from Simon Says. I wasn’t sure I could make a shaker heart with such a thin die, but by die cutting the heart twice, and then a third time from fun foam, it went together surprisingly well, and I love how it looks. I filled it with a bunch of sparkly hearts and sequins, perfect for a little girl who loves pink and fancy things. I decided to leave the sentiment for the inside. The heart and mat are Hibiscus Burst by Papertrey Ink.

Here’s a closer look at the stenciled background.

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I’m linking up to two Simon Says Challenges as well:  Monday’s “Red and Pink,”

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and Work It Wednesday “Something New.” I’ve never used this die before.

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Some Valentine Challenges

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I’m jumping around with the Papertrey Ink Anniversary Challenges. Today I finally finished all the valentines I need, so you’ll be seeing quite a few cards in the next few days. The first one I made today fits today’s (#5) challenge at Papertrey Ink:  create a card with a new stamp set. “Circle Scribbles” arrived in my mailbox late last week. It had been out of stock for awhile, and when it came back in again, I decided not to wait. I actually used it for the card I made yesterday for the first anniversary challenge as well, but I think it still counts! I created a stamped background similar to one I saw in a Stampington magazine at Barnes and Noble when I was browsing through some periodicals last week.

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Here’s a better look at the card:

CircleHearts

I started with a Classic Kraft card, and randomly stamped two of the circles in white. I then added some red hearts from two Simon Says stamp sets. The die cut sentiment is from “Wet Paint” (PTI), and the rest of the sentiment is from the Winnie & Walter set “The Big, the Bold, and The Happy.”

This card also qualifies for the Addicted to CAS challenge:  Hugs and Kisses.

ATCAS - code word hugs and kisses
And Fusion’s challenge “Heartful:“

Heartful copy

 

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Challenge #1

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The first of the Papertrey anniversary challenges required that you choose a color combination and a sketch from a wonderful selection you could download. Here are the ones I chose:

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I knew pretty much what I wanted to do with this, but it did prove to be a challenge. The first attempt when in the trash, and once I got the main image watercolored, stamped, and splattered, finding a die cut word for the card proved to be pretty difficult. I have six die cut rejects in my little drawer to use for another project. 

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I first tried stamping and then watercoloring the “Scribble Circles” by Papertrey Ink. That was a failure, so the second time I watercolored the circles first ( by smooshing some color from the ink pads on my craft mat and picking up the color with a water brush) and then stamping on top. None of my Papertrey Ink dies seemed to work for the sentiment, so I used one from Penny Black’s “Hooray” collection, and once again, doubled it up so it popped up a bit. It’s already getting dark here so the photo is not the best. The card itself is really aqua (more like you see at left of the card).

This project took far too long so it’s all that’s getting done today. Soon we’re off to dinner at friends’ despite another winter storm warning. I’m guessing we’ve gotten another two inches already, and it’s suppose to snow through tomorrow. Really? I’ve had enough.

 

 

LOVE

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It’s Papertrey Ink’s 8th Anniversary, and every day a new challenge is posted. I thought I’d see if I could combine one of their challenges with another Valentine. This is the second challenge—to CASE a card by Maile Belle’s. That’s pretty easy, as her clean and simple style is a favorite of mine. This is the card I chose to CASE.

Maille

I don’t own that stamp set, but I do own the Papertrey Ink “Wonderful Words: Love” die and mini-stamp set which worked out perfectly.

LovePTI

I layered the three dies in the same configuration as Maille’s stamped sentiment, but doubled the die I layered on top to make it stand out a bit more. The three colors are Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Pink, and Harvest Gold. The enamel dots are MME, and I added one of the hearts from the die.

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While my desk is cluttered with Valentine supplies, I’m off to try to get another one done before I have to truck off to the gym.

Valentines

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Valentine’s Day was my father’s favorite holiday. Thinking about it now, it seems just a bit odd, since he was a very undemonstrative father. I could easily count the number of times he told me he loved me, but I was knew I was loved. He gave gifts on Valentine’s Day. When I was living at home, and even in college, he usually bought me a new outfit. He was a shopper, and he had excellent taste. I can only think of one time when he purchased an outfit that was totally inappropriate for me. I called to tell him, and he laughed, and said he thought it might be. All this to say, I still love Valentine’s Day. This year I’m making more cards than usual since I have several friends who could use some Valentine’s Day cheer as well as all the family. 

I’ve been working on them for a couple days now. The family ones won’t show up here until later since some of them actually do read my blog. But here’s one for a friend.

Sending

I cut the heart with a My Favorite Things die after watercoloring a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor paper. The Sending die from Simon Says is one of my favorites, and I love it cut from gold paper against the ombre watercolored heart. The sentiment stamped on the vellum banner (Simon Says die) is from the accompanying “Sending and Wishing” stamp set. It’s going to get a lot of use! Both the heart and the banner were layered on a Stitched Rectangle from Papertrey Ink.

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I’m quite happy with this card and am linking up to three heart related challenges:

Addicted to CAS:  Hugs and Kisses

ATCAS - code word hugs and kisses

Fusion-“Heartful” – see the photo below:

  Heartful copy

And Simon Says Monday Challenge: the Letter H (in this case, Heart)

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There will be more valentines coming . . .

A Card Set & CASe This Sketch Challenge

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A friend of mine was laid up for several months last year with a shattered wrist. She just got to the point where she could drive and get around pretty easily in November. Then early this month, she broke her heel! She’s been told she can’t put any weight on it for three months. She has a wonderful attitude, but when a mutual friend asked her what she needed she requested some thank you notes. In addition to sending over some meals, I thought I could contribute to the thank-you notes as well. I started with this sketch on CASe This Sketch.

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I chose to score the horizontal lines rather than use a patterned paper.

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The typewriter die is one of my favorites from Savvy, and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink’s “Live, Love, Life.”

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January Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

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The inspiration for today’s Papertrey Ink Blog Hop is hearts. That’s a theme that’s hard to resist this time of year.

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In my ongoing attempt to use products I’ve never used or haven’t used in a long time, I whipped out the “One Liner” Love die. I’ve had this for a couple years, and I’m quite sure I’ve never used it. (There are two other words in the set, so it’s not quite as bad as it seems.) Other brand new products include the sparkly tag which I picked up at 50% off at Paper Source after Christmas, and the gorgeous gold dot vellum by Teresa Collins in her 6X6 pad, “Studio Gold.” I layered the vellum on a piece of Select White cardstock.

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The red heart is the inside heart that pops out when you die cut one of the Stitched Heart dies (PTI), and the gold arrow is a die from Savvy. And the cardstock is my favorite, Pure Poppy.

This card also fits two other challenges: Less is More which is a sketch challenge this week.

Lim #14.1 copy

And the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Have a Heart.

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We’re off to the movies to see “The Theory of Everything.” I think it’s close to the end of its run here. There are always multiple movies I want to see this time of year.

Variations on a Theme

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I need four birthday cards for guys by the end of the month, and decided to do the same design, with different papers and dies for all four. All four qualify for the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: It’s a Guy Thing,” as well as for the CAS-ology Challenge: NBUS. That may seem a bit odd, but it stands for “Never Been Used Schtuff.” All the patterned papers on these cards are from new 6X6 paper pads that I picked up while traveling, and I’ve never used the “Sending” die or stamp from Simon Says. 

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Week 129 - NBUS

There have been lots of cards in blogland recently with the design I used. I pinned this one by Laurie last month. On two of the cards I popped the panels out with foam tape.

Guys1

Cardstock: Select White and Pure Poppy (PTI), patterned paper: “Stitched” Amy Tangerine for American Craft; die & stamp: “Happy” Simon Says

Guys4

 

Cardstock: Select White, True Black (PTI); patterned paper: Kelly Purkey “Second City” for Basic Grey; die: “Wet Paint” (PTI); stamp: “Happy” Simon Says

On these two cards, I decided not to pop the panels. I like both ways, but I think the foam adds an extra element of interest.

Guys2

Cardstock: Staples, Smoky Shadow (PTI), patterned paper: “Stitched” Amy Tangerine for American Craft, die & stamp: “Sending and Wishing” Simon Says

Guys3

Cardstock: Rustic Cream & Kraft (PTI), patterned paper: MME Necessities: Wood,  
die: “Wet Paint” (PTI), stamp: “Happy” Simon Says

Cards for guys almost always take me a lot more time than usual, but these went together fairly quickly. They’re all different, but I think it’s a great design for a masculine card.

A Shaker Star for Marc

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When my nephew saw the shaker card I made for my mother-in-law this summer, he announced that that was the kind of card he wanted for his birthday.

ShakerStar

I found the perfect patterned paper in an American Craft paper pad, “Hip, Hip, Hooray.” I die cut two stars with Papertrey’s “Seeing Stars” dies to create the window and frame for the shaker. I used Jennifer McGuire’s tip to use fun foam as the backing for the shaker portion. Here’s a link to her video; what a difference it made—so much easier, and nicer looking, too.

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I think he’ll like it! Happy Birthday, Marc!

Card Remake

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In November I was searching my Pinterest boards for a card design for my nephew’s birthday card. I found one I liked (but can’t find it today after combing my Pinterest boards), and this is the card that resulted.

MasonBD

It was just OK. I used a triangle stamp from Alt&New’s “Schcahtoa” stamp set. It was bigger than I wanted, but I went with it. 

Recently, I found Mama Elephant’s “Trifecta” set and there was the perfect triangle! (This is what happens when you have too many stamps.) So even though, it’s too late for Mason’s birthday, I did a remake, and I’m much happier with it.

BDRemake

Both cards use Papertrey Ink cardstock in Select White, Enchanted Evening, and Limeade Ice. The sentiment’s the same as well, from the same Alt&New set, but the second time, I selectively inked it so the words sat on top of one another.

This would make a great card in lots of different color combinations. I can’t remember what colors the original was–but definitel not these colors. 

 

Mr. S’Mores

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My friend, Cheri, sent me this adorable die a few months ago. It’s taken me awhile to get to it, and Mr. S’Mores does take a bit of time since there are so many little pieces. He is, however, totally worth it; how cute is this?

Mr.Smores

Since the pieces are so tiny, I was able to use the pile of scraps waiting to be filed into my scrap folders. Before I pieced him together, I used Copic markers on a few pieces to give a bit of added dimension.

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When I finished the tag, I decided it deserved a card of its own. Not sure whether it’s going to be a winter birthday card, or a Christmas thank you note.

Thanks, Cheri. I know this little guy will see some more action!

Christmas Cards

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My Christmas cards are all in the mail. Since I send so many, I usually mass produce one design. This year I did three different designs which made it more interesting. When I’m sure all the recipients have their cards, I’ll post them. After I was done, I played around with another design, and made a couple of these as well which I’ve used for folks I also need to remember with a monetary gift.

JOY

The beautiful wreath image is from Avery Elle and I die cut the sentiment with Memory Box’s Typewriter Alphabet in red foil paper. The “berries” are my favorite pearls from AMuse. Here’s a better look at the foil paper and gold embossing.

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We’re off in a minute to stop at Matt and Betsy’s to see that cute baby and wish them a Happy First Anniversary. Then we’ll go to the later church service where the choir and orchestra are presenting Bach’s Cantata 140. It will be wonderful, as it always is!

Happy Birthday, Dane!

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My brother celebrated his birthday this week, and it was the perfect opportunity to break out a new stamp set from Papertrey Ink called “Uncorked.” I knew as soon as I saw this set that it would make great birthday, congratulatory, and hostess gift cards and tags. I sent my niece a check and the card and tag ahead of time so she could buy Dane a bottle of wine for his birthday.

UncorkedPair

The card was cased from one Erin Lincoln posted during the Papertrey Ink release last month.

Uncorked

The three wine glasses and one of the tags were die cut from vellum. I used the Simon Says Stars Borders die along the right edge and lined it with gold paper behind. “Celebrate” is also part of the Uncorked set.

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I love the sentiments that came with the set. This is just one of several great ones.

The wine bottle tag will probably get more use that anything else. Taking a bottle of wine to friends’ homes is something we do all year long. Once the holiday is over, I hope to make several of these to have on hand.

UncorkedTag

I love the font they chose for the die cut words in this set. The third die cut word is “Thanks,” another card I make frequently.

 

 

Back in Business

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We had a fabulous few days with family over the Thanksgiving holiday. We stayed up too late chatting with Sarah and Adam, and up too early with Caleb who decided after a couple of nights, that 5:30 am was about the right time to get up. We’re partly responsible for that since he’s allowed to watch PBS Kids in the morning at our house (but definitely not at his house!) We got a lot of family time with Matt, Betsy, Skylar, and the new little one, Ella. She’s a keeper! She sleeps 3-4 hours between feedings and is a totally content little girl. Here’s a cute photo of the three cousins. You can see that Ella is nonplussed by the three year olds.

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Sarah, Adam, and Caleb left here after church on Sunday. When they left, I’d barely begun with preparations for Christmas, but I’ve accomplished a ton in the last 2 1/2 days:  Christmas cards are finished (but not yet addressed), shopping is nearly done, and most of the handmade gifts are completed. We put up our Christmas tree this afternoon, but still have to decorate it and the rest of the house. Aside from needing to complete several assignments for two online classes, I’m feeling like things are under control.

Sarah and I did a little crafting while she was here. I’ll share that in a later post, but I managed to squeeze in time to make a birthday card and get it in the mail.

Enjoy

I knew I wanted to use Papertrey’s Star Coverplate, and hunted through my 6X6 paper pads until I found Lawn Fawn’s “Into the Woods.” I die cut the cover plate twice, once with the patterned paper and again with Tropical Teal card stock so I’d have a few solid colored stars for accent. The Lawn Fawn enamel dots in my drawer matched perfectly. I love how the patterned paper behind the cover plate shows through the stars. The sentiment was die cut and stamped with Papertrey’s “Wet Paint.” Then the whole cover plate was attached to a top folded card made from Canyon Clay cardstock.

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I’m posting this card on two challenge sites. First on Less is More, where the challenge is “Celebrations,”

LIM for blinkie

 

and then on the Simon Says Wednesday challege: “Anything Goes.”

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