thanks

I made this card for a Thank You card pack that I sold awhile back.  The cards had to be simple, easy to reproduce, and be able to lay fairly flat (to fit together in the packaging).  Oranges and yellows aren't my typical colors, but I like them paired with the kraft here.

stamp: Papertrey Ink banner & "thanks"

ink: ColorBox frost white

other: Papertrey Ink die cut

celebrate in style

My daughter had her 5th birthday party and requested an American Girl doll theme.  I wanted something easy to reproduce that was similar to the logo and color scheme.  I was able to find a comparable font online ("innerStar") for the inside information.

outside

inside

For those who don't know the logo:

stamp: A Muse "Celebrate in Style"; Papertrey Ink star line

ink: VersaColor opera pink, ColorBox frost white

other: Papertrey Ink die cuts, embossing powder

papertrey march blog hop

Papertrey's blog hop inspiration this month is yellow and aqua.  It's not a natural combo for me, but I remembered I had some great A Muse paper that I paired with a bunch of Papertrey Ink die cuts to create this fun and elegant (for me) mother's day card.  After making my first rosette, I made this one using the small dahlia die and popped in a rhinestone that I colored with a copic marker.

 

proof that the rhinestone is yellow

stamp: Papertrey fillable frame, text background, & "Happy Mother's Day"
ink: Impress lemon yellow & pale aqua
other: Papertrey die cuts, rhinestone, Copic {Y06}

{stars}

I love the bright cheery colors of the CR84FN Color Challenge 50.  The weather here has been dreary so I really wanted to start playing with spring colors.  Fortunately today the sun has popped out and the kids have been able to play outside.  I sure hope this sunshine continues!!

stamp: A Muse chevron; Papertrey Ink dots & swirls

ink: VersaColor opera pink; A Muse orange & buttercup

other: rhinestones, Papertrey die cut, corner punch

happy birthday

I have a small container where I keep extra scraps of paper and die cuts that I don't use.  I found the "5" and the "orange lace scallop" and whipped out this card.

stamp: A Muse "happy birthday"

ink: VersaFine onyx black

other: Papertrey Ink die cut, scalloped oval punch, circle punch, square punch

howdy!

I had time for another challenge.  This time it was the CAS-ual Friday 1, 2, 3, Challenge.  It requires a pattern, an image, and a sentiment.  I may have stretched the rules a bit.  I'm not sure "wood grain" is a pattern.  Plus I used "an image" twice.  Either way, it's definitely clean and simple.

 

stamp: Rubber Soul boot; A Muse "howdy"; Papertrey Ink wood grain
ink: A Muse french roast & latte
other: A Muse die cut, twine

happy birthday

I wanted to play along with the Embellish Magazine's Rosettes Color Challenge.  I've never made a rosette, but have seen many floating around on card blogs and projects on pinterest.  I followed this pictorial tutorial and made my first rosette.  It was easy and fun!

 

stamp: Papertrey text & "happy birthday"
ink: VersaFine onyx black
other: Papertrey die cut, A Muse washi tape, buttons, twine, circle punch, vintage label punch

{apothecary jars}

Since I cleaned out my space I had easier access to these sweet apothecary jars from my friend, Kathy.  I got to practice my coloring.  Not the best but it's fun to practice.

stamps & inks: done by Kathy for me
other: twine, colored pencils, Taylored Expressions die cut

happy birthday

Do you remember being in school, starting a worksheet, skipping the instructions and jumping right into the worksheet?  Yeah, I don't recommend it.  That was me with the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday #57.  This card took me way too long.  I started watching the video, paused it, and then got busy with the idea that jumped in my head.  I should have continued watching.  I had all this trouble with blurry images with my colored kissing technique.  I tried die inks, then pigments, then colored paper with die inks and pigment inks.  Nothing made the images any clearer.

Finally, I thought to watch the rest of the video. I noticed that Heather was stamping the solid image first, cleaning the stamp, and stamping the second time with the pattern.  How could I be such a fool?! {palm to forehead}  Everything went much quicker after that!

failed attempts

stamp: Papertrey Ink car, "happy birthday" & "enjoy the ride"

ink: A Muse sky, ocean, & blueberry

other:  Papertrey Ink die cut

life isn't about waiting for...

I have enjoyed playing along with challenges lately (have you noticed?).  It keeps me crafting even when I can't think of something on my own to create.  This time I participated in the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #43.  The goal was to make the sentiment the focal point of the card.

Ironically, it was raining when I took this picture.

stamp: Papertrey Ink cross & "Life isn't about waiting for..."
ink: A Muse grass; VersaFine onyx black
other: Papertrey Ink die cut, twine

thanks so much!

So I wrote this last night.  Maybe I was a bit harsh on myself?  I think I had a different vision and didn't pull it off.  It's not the best card, but it might not be that bad.

I decided to try a Runway Inspired Challenge.  I should not do that again.  I'm a "wear black all the time" person who maybe switches it up with some grey (real exciting, I know).  Runway fashion is always so bold and over the top. I have a hard time just picking one item and simplifying it the way Cristina or Angeline do.  Plus, I was trying to channel my inner Dawn McVey with the paper layers, but it just looks like a mess.

stamp: Papertrey Ink dots; A Muse stitching & "thanks so much!"
ink: Impress cherry pink; VersaFine onyx black
other: Papertrey Ink dies

Apologies if I just burnt out your cornea's.

thinking of you

Cristina wowed me again with this adorable burlap butterfly card.  I did my best to recreate it.  Fortunately, amuse|studio has a 3 sizes of butterfly dies, so I didn't have to hand cut my little butterfly.

stamp: Memory Box "thinking of you"

ink: VersaFine onyx black

other: A Muse butterfly die cut, burlap

celebrate today

I was intrigued by the Make It Monday #56  from Papertrey Ink.  The challenge is to use a partially die cut image.  I don't own any chipboard, so I had a hard time creating the right thickness to keep the one side from cutting, but it was fun to play with a die cut in a different way.

stamp: Papertrey Ink mat stack 4 & "celebrate today"
ink: A Muse slate; VersaFine onyx black
other: buttons, twine, mat stack 4 die cut, circle punch

papertrey february blog hop

Let me start of by saying, my cards are never interactive and I never take them to the next level.  If anything, I bring them down a notch (or two) and go for über simple.  Needless to say, this Papertrey Ink Challenge was challenging for me.  

My dear friend Linda Barker, taught me this card trick and it's easy and fun.  With a few simple folds of plain copy paper, you can make your cards pop!  Then in true Linda fashion, she taught me to use decorative scissors and a hole punch for a lacey look.

{Apologies for the horrible photos.  It was late, dark, and there was poor lighting with a poor photographer (me)}.

front

opening

completely open

stamp: Papertrey Ink flowers, "just for you", & "missing you"

ink: A Muse french roast

other: scalloped scissors, circle punch, square punch, Papertrey die cuts

studio stampers blog hop

If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come from Lianna Vigil's blog and if not, then you can start at Karen Crisp's blog and hop until you come to my blog.


I'm not the self-proclaimed "copying queen" for nothing.  Layouts and color combinations don't come easily to this brain.  That's why I love reading blogs and checking out Pinterest.  I was able to make two valentine cards that I stole from some very creative ladies for our studio stampers blog hop.


The first card is an adorable clean and simple card by the extremely talented Cristina.  My card is a complete joke next to hers, but you get the idea.

I stole the next card from Krystie Hersch.  I just love the tree and felt heart combo and wanted to "reuse" for Valentine's Day.  Krystie has an amazing eye for color.  Mine looks a tad christmasy.  I wish I did the tree in french roast.

What is the best Valentine gift you have ever given or received?
Contest is closed.
Leave a comment telling me about the gift by January 15th and you'll be entered to win a set of nine A Muse studio felt hearts (3 of each size) to play with.

i {heart} u

stamp: A Muse heart, & "i <3 you"
ink: A Muse cherry, orange, buttercup, grass, & ocean
other: twine




hello
stamp: A Muse tree & "hello"
ink: A Muse cherry & grass
other: A Muse heart die cut, tag, random ribbon i had





We hope you enjoyed the hop and found some inspiration!!
Complete list:

Karen Crisp

Kristen Watson 

Angela Schellenberg

Lianna Vigil

Kari Bell <-------you are here

thank you

Papertrey's Blog Hop challenge this month (thanks for getting me crafting again) is called "Holidays Leftovers".  My leftovers include tags, mini chevron envelopes, and ribbon from wrapping presents.  I made a little holiday thank you card, just one of the many I need to use for all the amazing gifts my family and I received.

stamp: Papertrey Ink wreath pieces & "thank you"

ink: A Muse grass, french roast, & cherry

other: A Muse die cut

papertrey ink blog hop

So it's been awhile since I have actually crafted a card.  The holidays, the vacations, and life with three kids under 6 has kept me away from my craft desk (that and the looming pile of junk treasures that need to be put away).  I was on Cristina's blog and loved her card and the Papertrey inspiration photo.  I noticed that I had precisely 37 minutes to make a card, photograph it, and blog about it.  Nothing like procrastinating to get me in gear.  I was drawn to the woods and the bright read and came up with this.  Plus I have always loved this Maile Belles card. (ugh, my card so needs a button!)

stamp: Papertrey wreath pieces, "happy", & "holidays"

ink: A Muse cranberry & french roast

other: twine, Papertrey Ink die cut

{blank fall}

Margaret and Kelly designed this fall/back to school card.  They die cut the apple twice (once in red and once in brown).  We just cut off the red stem and placed the whole brown apple behind the red.  Too cute!

happy halloween

So if all the cute little projects at our Ladies Cards Night wasn't enough, Margaret brought these cards for us to make.  She and her daughter, Kelly, designed, dry embossed, heat embossed, die cut, and pre-cut EVERYTHING.  All we had to do was glue!

live. laugh. love.

When I was making my sister's birthday card, I thought to use these flowers, but couldn't quite work them into it.  I was just forced to create another card, darn.

stamp: Papertrey flowers, banner, & "live. laugh. love"

ink: VersaFine onyx black; ColorBox frost white

other: Memory Box pearl stickers white; Papertrey die cuts