Quilting Birthday Cards ala Papertrey Ink

Dear Reader,

Life is at last returning to normal at our household which is a huge relief.  I can't say how grateful I am not to have to make a daily trek to the hospital and eat take out.  With that said we have a family friend and a family member who are dealing with very dire health issues.

I recently made a couple of cards for quilters for their birthdays.  I had been eyeing some stamp sets from Papertrey Ink because my mom loves to sew and occasionally does some quilting as does her friends.  I finally bought the Quilter's Sampler and Stitches & Swirls stamp sets.

The first card up is all about warm fall colors and using the log cabin square from Quilter's Sampler.  I have been on a gold embossing powder kick lately so I embossed several squares on different pieces of patterned paper then I colored them in with Copic markers for more of variation in color.  All of this is mounted on red cardstock and then mounted on a piece of yellow patterned paper stamped with Stitches & Swirls in red ink and finally attached to a red card base. The banner is made from a Papertrey Ink die cut from patterned paper.

Inside the card is more gold embossing:

This second card is all about the hexagon die from Papertrey Ink.  I remember my great grandmother made my aunt a quilt in a hexagon pattern...perhaps that is the genesis of my hexagon love?  Whatever the reason, hexagons are definitely found in quilting and I like them so I was bent on using this new die with blue and green patterned papers.  The sentiment and the threaded needle image are embossed in white.  The button is wrapped around the navy strip several times.

Inside the card I added some more of the hexagons cut using the die:

Thank you for taking the time to stop by!

Have a fall-tastic day,
Shay.

Supplies:
Autumn Quilting Birthday Card
Stamps: Quilter's Sampler, Stitches & Swirls, Botanical Silhouettes, Papertrey Ink 
Ink: Versamark, Tsukineko; chili powder, Jenni Bowlin by Ranger
Cardstock: red, Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper: Random 6x6 paper pad, Crate Paper; Farmhouse 6x6 paper pad, Crate Paper; Little Bo Peep 6x6 paper pad, Crate Paper; Autumn Press 6x6 paper pad, Studio Calico; Stampin' Up!
Die: Double-Ended Banner, Papertrey Ink
Other: gold embossing powder; Copic markers

Blue and Green Hexagon Birthday Card

Stamps: Quilter's Sampler, Stitches & Swirls, Inside & Out: Birthday, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Versamark, Tsukineko; seed packet, Jenni Bowlin by Ranger

Cardstock: solar white, Neenah; navy, stash

Patterned Paper: PB&J 6x6 paper pad, Basic Grey; Pretty Party 6x6 paper pad, Crate Paper; Little Bo Peep 6x6 paper pad, Crate Paper

Die: Cover Plate: Hexagon, Papertrey Ink

Other: white embossing powder; button; white embroidery thread

Today's Wonders

Dear Reader,

I haven't anything to show you at the moment.  Rather I thought I would take the opportunity to list Today's Wonders or The Goods for today as too often I find myself dwelling on what isn't good.

In no particular order:

1. Texting.  I find texting a convenient way to communicate.  I will be the first to admit I was wrong about it (as I fought using it for years).  Speaking of texting, I still don't abbreviate overly much...it just goes too much against who I am.
2. Job.  First, I have one which is something to be grateful for.  My job affords me a lot of flexibility, freedom and little emotional burden.
3. Dogs.  This could undoubtedly be on my list every single day.  My dogs bring me an immense amount of joy because they are so happy and entertaining.  A lot of what I do revolves around them, but the brightness and routine they give me is well worth how silly I am about them.
4. Family.  My family are so much a given in my life, I often overlook them...I am pretty lucky.  They won't always be around so it is best to spend what time I have with them remembering how lucky I am.
5. Friends.  Today I am thankful for friends for their kindness and generosity of spirit.
6. Imagination.  Every Thanksgiving when we mention what we are most thankful for, imagination is on my list.  Without imagination, there would be no fiction, no art, no invention, no creativity and that would mean the color would be leeched out of my life in particular and I think the world in general.   When all else is going wrong in the world there is still the vast marvels of the imagination.

I hope your weekend is full of wonders,

Shay.

Button Birthday

Dear Reader,

I have a simple card for you today involving stamping on a one layer card.  As the birthday lady sews a lot I pulled out an oldie, but goodie from Studio Calico: my beloved button stamp set.  Such cute button images including a woodgrain button--what is not to like about that?

For more interest I chose happy colors (mostly yellow) and added one color in a slightly darker hue (seed packet) to keep it from looking too pastel.  Unfortunately, the pictures aren't ideal, but I still hope you like it!

Have a weekend full of delightful moments!

Shay.

Button Birthday
Stamps: buttons, Studio Calico; happy birthday from Botanical Silhouettes set, Papertrey Ink
Ink: chewing gum, chicken feed, lemon drops, seed packet, speckled egg, stick candy, Jenni Bowlin for Ranger
Cardstock: Georgia-Pacific

Celebrate

Dear Reader,

I am bringing you yet another masculine birthday card.  I seem to have to make so many masculine cards that they no longer phase me (much).  This cousin of mine whose card I just made turns 14.

I chose to begin by picking out Heidi Swapp's No Limits 6x6 paper pad with its blues, oranges and very male friendly designs.

Next, I pulled out a new stamp set by Basic Grey/Hero Arts from the Clippings collection.  I think this line is also very gender neutral and ageless.  I stamped the tag (I really need the background of the matching design) on a piece of orange patterned paper in spice tin ink by Jenni Bowlin for Ranger.  I ended up cutting into two pieces to use as elements in different locations.

From here I pulled out State Fair die-cuts from Studio Calico.  When these first came out, I was so excited and recently my excitement has been reignited.  I really love how older collections can be used with newer products for endless uses and possibilities.  Also used was a little die cut from the Bits from the original Amy Tangerine collection (love these!).

I added the sentiment in yellow Thickers...they are getting a lot of use lately as they are a great size and color.

Lisa Truesdell turned me onto multiple stamping of a date (my cousin's birthday this year) which seems appropriate and adds an interesting element.  I am not sure why they are mostly concentrated above the Thickers....

Because I love the diamond pattern found on the little tag stamp from the Basic Grey/Hero Arts stamp, I stamped the tag out again and punched out stars from it.

The right hand corner of the card is rounded because I felt it would help the card look less angular.

A quick peak inside (leftovers add a little of the outside to the inside):

And one more look before it goes into the mail:

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit!

Shay.

Celebrate birthday card
Stamps: Guest Check from Clippings collection, Basic Grey/Hero Arts; date roller stamp; Dear Lizzy (Studio Calico exclusive from Story Hour kit, March 2012)
Ink: spice tin and fountain pen, Jenni Bowlin for Ranger
Cardstock: solar white, Neenah Papers
Patterned Paper: No Limits 6x6 paper pad, Heidi Swapp
Other: Eric foam Thickers, American Crafts; die-cuts from State Fair collection, Studio Calico; Bits from Amy Tangerine collection, Amy Tangerine; star punch, Stampin' Up!; Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, We R Memory Keepers