February Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

I have been contemplating doing a Papertrey Ink Blog Hop for months and months (sounds better than years and years), but I have been chicken until now.  Suddenly I am fearless.  I have a brand-spanking new blog, attempting challenges (one challenge rather) and a blog hop.  Watch out world! 

As it is Design Team Appreciation Day, February's blog hop challenge was to use a card or project done by one of the ladies of the Papertrey Ink Design Team to inspire your own.  Honestly, this was a pretty difficult assignment for me simply because:

1. I had to chose one from a bevy of talented ladies with a tremendous ability to create inspiring cards and projects; and
2. Once I decided on one design team member I had to chose a card/project (I imagine I could have chosen more than one designer and/or project, but I am still getting my sea legs).

Nichole Heady of Papertrey Ink mentioned we could use this post to voice our appreciation and I really should because all of the ladies of Papertrey Ink's Design Team (of course also Nichole Heady and the whole Papertrey Ink family) are magnificent.  Their blogs and projects have brought not only inspiration, but happiness into some days that needed a little creative happiness and beauty.  Even good days were better for their efforts.  So, thank you Betsy Veldman, Dawn McVey, Debbie Olson, Erin Lincoln, Heather Nichols, Kim Hughes, Lisa Johnson, Maile Belles, Melissa Phillips, Michelle Wooderson and Niki Estes (I was going to write their first names only, but I felt I was being too familiar like referring to Martha Stewart as only Martha) for making life sweeter and prettier for sharing your talents with us all!  

Ultimately, I picked a truly darling card by Betsy Veldman (when does she ever disappoint?).  I happened to need a sympathy card for clients who lost their beloved dog this week and thought why not do a card using my With Sympathy and With Sympathy: Loss of Pet sets using Betsy Veldman's card as my inspiration. 

Betsy Veldman's card (didn't I tell you it is darling?):

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My card (not anywhere near as darling, but then I am no Betsy Veldman):

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Beloved Pet Card
Supplies (all Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Squares (from the Borders & Cornes {square} set),  Lines (from the Guide Lines set), Flowers (from the With Sympathy set), Sentiment and Paw Print (from the With Sympathy: Loss of Pet set)
Inks: Spring Rain, Aqua Mist and Raspberry Fizz
Cardstock: Spring Rain; Natural White and Earthstone, Neenah Papers
Punches: Border and Royal Butterfly, Martha Stewart; 1" Square, EK Success
Other: Gems, The Paper Studio

Happy Friday

Happy, happy Friday!  Fridays are a favorite day of mine having been born on a Friday and since it marks the end of the work week and the beginning of the weekend.  Who doesn't love their days off work though?   I adore being able to sleep in (or at least linger in bed for a while), stay in my pajamas (Isn't "pajamas" an intriguing word?  Where did it originate?  I like the sound of it) longer than I should, watching morning cooking shows, reading a book if I like, blog-jumping...just having the freedom to use my time how I decide.  What are your favorite bits of the weekend or the days you have off?

Anyway, I thought I would continue on with the Kenner Road stamp theme (by the way, make sure to check out Kenner Road's gallery and blog as the design team is excellent).  I love this sweet polka dot bird.  I decided to paper piece the wing.  In all I was pleased with how this card turned out. 

I don't think the luscious metallic green color comes across very well in the picture.  I have been painting cardstock for ages now.  When on a budget (or even not) there is nothing better than being able to easily and inexpensively alter that plain white cardstock we all have easily.  I have found that the metallic craft acrylic paints have the best feel on paper...they feel smooth and the paper is still very flexible while other craft acrylic paints can make the paper feel almost chalky and brittle.  Perhaps a coat of gesso before the craft acrylic paint would alleviate this issue.  I also believe that higher quality acrylic paints like Golden would make the paper feel more like the metallic variety than the craft acrylic paint.

The other stamps I used were from Unity Stamp Company.  I have many of their Kits of the Month which are great deals and full of really cute stamps.  The frame stamp is fantastic and comes from the November 2008 Kit of the Month.

Happy creating!

Happy Bird Birthday Card

Supplies:

Stamps: Bird, Kenner Road; Frame (from the enjoy YOUR STORY...laugh set) and Happy Days Are Here Again Happy Birthday (from the Fresh Beginnings set), Unity Stamp Company

Inks: Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Fizz, Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: White, Georgia-Pacific; Kraft, Papertrey Ink

Patterned Paper: Spring Silhouettes Designer Series Paper, Stampin' Up!

Acrylic Paint: Metallic Peridot, Folk Art (Plaid)

Embossing Folder: Swirls, Cuttlebug

Border Punch: Scallop Dot, Martha Stewart

Other: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, We R Memory Keepers; Pink Colored Pencil; Foam Dimensional Mounts

Enabling: Kenner Road

I thought I would share another card of mine with you.  This one makes me laugh because unintentionally I made a Christmas birthday card for someone whose birthday is November.

Perhaps it is the red and white color scheme or candy striped ribbon?  Regardless, I hope the person I sent it to felt a little more jolly (ha, ha) from receiving it in the mail. 

One of my missions in making this card was to use one of my many Kenner Road stamps.  I compulsively collect buy these stamps.  They are beautiful vintage style stamps that are included in the swoon-worthy Kenner Road kits (I have never swooned, but I imagine it is something akin to the loss of breath from the excitement and joy I feel just looking at these kits).  If you love paper crafting of any sort and have a hankering for vintage go check out Kenner Road.  This is vintage loveliness at its best and the lady--Kerry Lynn Yeary known as kl--who lovingly designs the kits (when you see the kits you will know she puts a lot of care into creating them which can only be described as love) is an awesome paper craft artist.  kl has a great blog: live. craft. learn.  

Be inspired and don't blame me too much if you can't stop yourself from subscribing.  I admit it: I am an enabler.

Not-Meant-To-Be-Christmas Birthday Card

Supplies:

Stamps: Scalloped Hexagon, Kenner Road; Flowers (from the Office Accoutrement set) and Flourish (from the Kind Thoughts set), Stampin' Up!

Ink: Fired Brick, Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ranger); Basic Gray, Stampin' Up!

Cardstock: White, Georgia-Pacific

Acrylic Paint: Metallic Bright Red; Folk Art (Plaid)

Border Punch: Apron Lace, Fiskars

Other: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, We R Memory Keepers; Candy Stripe Wire-Edged Ribbon, Kirkland; Signature; Flower Gemstone, The Paper Studio (I think); dimensional foam mounts (not sure which company as I have a bag full of them from various companies and use whichever work at the time)

The Easier Route

One of my favorite easy cards for guys involves Tim Holtz's compass mini mask and Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash in one of my favorite colors: lettuce.  I am addicted to this color.  If you had told me a few years ago that I would reach for green over and over again and especially a green with a touch of acid I would have thought you crazy, but tastes change. 

I don't know about any of you, but I am a slow cardmaker.  I can easily whittle away an hour or two (or more sadly enough) on a single card.  I think it is because I don't usually plan the card in advance.  I start rummaging through my studio trying to find images or materials that I think appropriate for the person I am making the card for..their favorite colors, style, images, etc.  I often will have made many elements only to put them away for another day as they do not work.  It drives me a little crazy how I can agonize over a card.  It is a relief to have some cards that can be produced in a short time.

Navigated Path
Supplies:
Cardstock: Kraft, Papertrey Ink
Color Wash: Lettuce, Tim Holtz Adirondack by Ranger
Mask: Compass mini mask, Tim Holtz Idea-ology (Advantus)
Border punch: Upper Crust, Fiskars
Other: antique copper mini brads;Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, We R Memory Keepers