PTI anniversary sketch challenge, take 2.

*** for a chance at a gift certificate, click here ***

I couldn't help sneaking in one more card for today... the sketch (above) is so dainty and sweet, it begged for some frilly girlishness...

I started out with a berry sorbet card base (and by the way, this was my first order EVAH for PTI colored cardstock - love them, and would order more if it wasn't so costly for International orders!), and adhered a mat of "dearest jane" patterned paper.  The fancy flourishes were cut out of spring moss paper and stamped with versamark ink.  The new oval dies created the perfect backdrop for a subtle sihouette (from "simply jane".)  I brought in a lighter pink with the flowers (using an old SU! punch) and prettied them up with pearl centers.

Thanks for looking!

PTI anniversary, day 6: sketch challenge.

** there's a giveaway happening over here!**

I can't resist a sketch challenge, even on days where I have a playdate scheduled :)  In between slicing strawberries and running a quick vaccuum for my mommy-buddy, I managed to create a little something for today's festivities...

I used the sketch as an excuse to break out my "banner builder" set... it's been sorely neglected...

Sorry for the photos - they don't show off my stamped background, and the overall color is a bit off...

 But everything comes together more quickly with a sketch challenge :)

Happy friday, all!

PTI anniversary, day 5 + "things my kids said" thursdays

***there's still time to enter my gift-certificate giveaway!  Click -here-***

I thought I'd reverse the order today - kids stuff first, card second ;)  Time for my 2nd thursday installment - my 20-month-old Maia woke up with CRAZY hair the other day (I'd love to say it was an unusual sight, but no), and 2 tufts stood straight up on either side of her head.  Sofia, (she's 6), took one look at her, and yelled: "it's like a helicopter!"  I whispered a quick something into Maia's ear, and she gave a hearty "go, GADGET!" hee hee.  The things we teach our kids.  We were all in stitches - it was the most pleasant hurry-up-and-get-to-the-bus morning of the week :)  Don't forget to share your own kid-funniness in the comments section - I love hearing them!

Now, back to business/play time: today is Pinterest inspiration over at PTI.  Love it.  I pinned the print (above) this morning, and got busy.

My full-disclosure for today is that this is the 3rd take on the same card.  Some inking-problems, a few layout issues, but I'm happy to say I think I worked them out :)  I embossed my card base with an SU folder first. THEN I SET IT ASIDE (no red ink on this one, lol!).  Next, I stamped my aqua mist mat with polka dots in versamark ink.  The "you" was selectively inked from a "think big favorites" sentiment, and then flanked on either side with part of a picket fence die-cut.  The sentiment banner was created as per last week's MIM tutorial - I love the look!  I stamped the back-side of the banner with an image from the "mat stack 4" set.

I stamped the bird (from "happy trails") in aqua mist ink and then, with a sponge dauber, inked up his little belly in red ink.

Thanks for looking!

PTI anniversary, day 4: color challenge.

If you are looking for my giveaway post, click *here* - there's still time to join in the fun for a chance at a great gift-certificate!

I chose to work with Lisa's favorite color scheme:

The first thing that popped into my head was to create something floral.  The color palette just screams blue sky, green grass, and red blooms, doesn't it?  But I can't seem to get out of my "love" rut :)  The hubs better watch out: I'm gonna have to start hiding these cards in his sock drawer or something...

I stamped the fancy flourish in spring moss, created a bitty aqua mist envelope, punched out some "pure poppy" glittery hearts, and mounted it all onto a kraft base.

I created the little envie in a flash:  just grabbed a 1 3/8 inch square punch and scored around the edges.  Fold everything in and you have the perfect tiny envelope.  Good things come in little packages, right? (that's my motto, since I measure a measly 5 feet in real life... lol.)

Hugs to all my new followers!  I look forward to getting to know you better, and thanks for helping me start off my 2nd year of blogging with a bang :)

Blogging birthday + giveaways!

It's time to celebrate my 1-year blogiversary!!!

This last year of sharing my cards & creations, and a little bit of me, has been so great.  And that, because everytime I have posted something, SOMEONE has popped by and encouraged me.  If you hadn't have been here, it would have been all depressing and *cricket noises.*

So thank you for saving me from that :)

And, because I like to celebrate in style - I'm giving away a 15$ gift certificate to your choice of my favorite stores:  either Papertrey Ink, or Simonsaysstamp.

Also up for grabs is a cute little thank you set:

To qualify:

1. become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment saying you're a new follower OR

2. leave me a comment telling me you're already a follower.

I'll choose a winner by Monday morning, Feb. 13th (mostly so that the recipient would be able to use their GC in the PTI store on the 15th, if they'd like! woot!)

And, because it can't be all giveaway and no card:

It's my blogging-birthday card!  I started out with a kraft base (slightly smaller than a regular A2 size), and a mat of white cardstock.  The edges of the mat were distressed, and inked up to look like old paper.  I also stamped a background of "text-style II" over the entire thing, but I don't think the photo picked that up.  The silhouette is from "simply jane" and she was stamped directly onto the white panel.  The frame, from the same set, was stamped in "autumn rose" ink, and popped up on foam squares.  A little rose gem finishes it all off...

Thank you so much, friends, for popping by!

MIM #52: double-sided stamped die-cuts.

hi peeps!

I'm playing along with this week's MIM challenge - stamping on the reverse side of a die-cut, and folding it over to show the "other-side" stamping.

I used "in bloom" to stamp a border along the right side of the card, masking the leaves and blooms as I went along.  After I cut it out, I used a black marker to trace along the edge, to help it look more finished (sigh.  my markering skills look more than a little sloppy in the pictures, but more forgivable in real life.)

For the MIM technique, I stamped the same flower and leaves onto white paper, colored them, and cut them out (note to self: purchase dies.)  The leaf isn't symmetrical, but I made it work by only stamping part of the leaf on the backside, and only curling that small part of the paper.

Even though the border isn't perfectly cut out, I still like the look - I'll be trying this again!

Thanks for peeking!  And please, please, please come back tomorrow - it will be my 1 year blogiversary, and there will be a few giveaways! 

PTI anniversary, day 2.

Hi all!

A quick one today, with more pictures than type.  Check out the full sheet of freebie digital images to play with *here*

I chose the retro cassette tape to create a quick "welcome back" card for my hubbie (I was a superbowl widow yesterday, hee hee.)

I should get bonus points for creating my own sentiment with "simple alphabet" - those letters are TINY.

...was totally chewing bubble yum and twirling my hair while creating this card, 14 years old again...

I sparkly-heart love ya, babe!

and ps, my hubs and I have known each other since kindergarten.  I think I still have a mix tape or 2 lying around somewhere...