WPlus9's Comfort Zone Challenge

WPlus9 turns 4, and they are having a "Comfort Zone Challenge", found here. My comfort zone is to make a card that has flowers, includes shades of pink, and is kept fairly simple. I was in need of a Thank You card, so I've chosen to use "Fresh Cut Florals", which is a favourite WPlus9 set of mine, combined with sentiments from "Fanciful Feathers". 

ETA: this card is a CASE of one of the design team's--during the monogram release--but I'm sorry I don't know who, and I don't have the link.

Thanks for looking!

Make it Monday #149 - Glitter Embellishments

I haven't posted any cards in awhile--been laid up in bed with a bad back! However, I did feel well enough these past couple of days to spend a little time in my craft area. I wanted to make my husband a Valentine's card, and thought I'd combine it with the glitter challenge this week. I originally had a heart on the tag that was covered in red glitter, but it didn't look very nice. Plus, I didn't think my husband would be too keen on glitter, so I ripped it off, re-did a heart and covered it with Wink of Stella pen, in gold, then in Glossy Accents. (The glossy accents isn't quite dry in this photo, so it's difficult to see the gold glitter, but I needed to get this photo taken so I could slip this card into this week's challenge--it's the 11th hour!) I also added some gold Wink of Stella onto the hearts stamped in kraft ink, and then some clear Wink of Stella onto the other hearts, which are stamped in red. I know it's difficult to see the glitter, but it's there!

All materials are PTI.

Thanks for looking!!

Stamps: Happy Hearts, Tremendous Treats:Valentine's

Dies: Happy Hearts cover plate, Sketched Shapes

Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Kraft, Rustic Cream

Ink: Pure Poppy, Kraft, Scarlet Jewel

Other: Wink of Stella glitter pen, Glossy Accents

Make it Monday #144-Heat Embossing on Vellum (Number 2)

I thought I was finished making Christmas cards, but thought of one more couple that I'd like to make a card for, so I used this week's inspiration from Papertrey Ink. For this card, I heat embossed the text background with gold embossing powder onto the vellum, then mounted that panel onto my cream card base. I used gold powder on the poinsettias, as well as on the sentiment. The flower centers have Stardust Stickles on them, which are really sparkly, in real life. I used a dark red Copic to give some dimension to the flower petals, and some Distress Ink to shade the flowers.

Thanks for looking!

All materials are PTI, unless otherwise indicated.

Stamps: Year of Flowers: Poinsettias, Silent Night, Vintage Life Backgrounds (Heartfelt Creations)

Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Pure Poppy, Vellum

Other: Stardust Stickles (Ranger), Filligree Gold embossing powder, Copic pens, Distress Ink-Peeled Paint (Ranger), Versamark Ink

Make it Monday #144: Heat Embossing on Vellum

Papertrey Ink's challenge this week is to use heat embossing on Vellum. Melissa created a wonderful card as a demo, seen here. I am a traditionalist, but I decided to go "outside the box", and use some non-traditional colours for my card. I used Postmarks: Holiday stamp set (PTI) and embossed three trees using silver, gold and copper embossing powders. For the sentiment, I used a Think Big Favourites (PTI), stamped in Versafine Black ink, and embossed it with clear powder. The snowflakes are from Lawn Fawn, and the copper and pearl embellies are from my stash. The cardstock is Hawaiian Shores, from PTI, which coordinated with the snowflakes really well. I also broke out my PTI shimmer cardstock, in copper, to use a a background mat for my vellum. The shimmer cardstock is gorgeous--I love it!! I heat embossed the sentiment inside, in copper, as well, on white paper.

Thanks for looking!

Make it Monday #141- Using Glitter and Heat Embossing

Papertrey's MIM has challenged us to use Heat and Stick Embossing powder, which I don't have, so I'm hoping that using this holographic powder will suffice! I think it looks similar to using clear embossing powder, followed by glitter. First I stamped the tree with a variety of green inks, then I stamped again using Versamark ink. I sprinkled on the holographic powder, then heat embossed. I used my new-to-me stamp set "In the Meadow", as well as the new One-liners die. The background snowflakes were heat embossed with clear, and Distress Inks used to sponge the sky.

One more card done!

Thanks for looking!

Glitter Houses PTI Blog Hop November

My sister had the great idea of making glitter house Christmas ornaments for our children and grandchildren, so she came over for a visit, and we did them together. It was a lot of fun making up these Melissa Frances kits. I made 8 houses altogether, as you can see in this photo.

PTI's Blog Hop coincided with this project, which was fortunate! I used a little PTI cardstock, and sprinkled all of the houses with Prisma glitter, overtop of the other glitter, for some extra shine.

These two were made with glass glitter, from Melissa Frances (brown chunky glass glitter) and Art Institute (fine," antique-looking" glass glitter). The brown glitter reminds me of a stone cottage! I enjoyed using glass glitter as there is some weight to it, although the fine, traditional glitter worked well, too. I used Aleen's Glitter snow on the roof, fence and trees, as well as a fine dusting of Prisma Glitter over top of pretty much everything! I sprayed a glossy fixative over the whole houses and bases, in hopes of sealing in any glitter in years to come. I put some yellow vellum behind the window and door sashing to make it look like light is coming from inside.

This shows them all lined up on my mantle with the sun shining on them. The glitter really sparkles!

This shows what the snow on the roofs look like, and if you click on the photo, you'll be better able to see the Prisma Glitter sparkling.

The large, green house in the back is for my son and his wife, while the two pink ones are for my 2 granddaughters. The pink glitter on the right is Martha Stewart glitter, while the other two are glass glitter.

And these last 3 are extras, using the template from the Melissa Frances kits and cardstock, to make up a few more. I kept one template behind, for each of the styles of houses, in case I want to make some more next year.

Thanks for looking, and have a great day!

Make it Monday, #140: Ink Pad Designs

Ashley has challenged us to use our ink pads to create a background, so I've used several of my ink pads to simulate a sunset scene. I used PTI's "In the Meadow" stamps and dies, then added some Prisma Glitter on the snow and star, and some Stickles  on the tree to glitter it up.

Thanks for looking!

Make it Monday #139, Stamped Square Frames

Dawn, over at Papertrey Ink, has done some lovely cards using the frames from Boutique Borders, so our challenge this week is to create a square frame, using stamps. I've chosen the Boutique Borders:Birthday frame, stamped in dark chocolate ink, as well as PTI's Scentimentals stamps to make this card for my granddaughters. I was a bit disappointed with the "scratch and sniff" powder I made up--perhaps my ginger powder was just old, as there is almost no scent whatsoever. I even mixed in a bit of cinnamon.
I Case'd a card Nichole Heady made, back when this stamp set was introduced. The pine boughs are from Peaceful Pinecones, and the holly dies are from Holly Jolly, all PTI. I used Spellbinders squares behind the focal image, and popped the gingerbread man up on foam tape.

Thanks for looking!

Make it Monday #138 - Inlaid Die Cuts, Post #2

I had a crafting marathon this afternoon, and made 3 Christmas cards! I used my new stamps, "Stained Glass", as well as "In the Meadow", which I just ordered after having it on my wish list for the past year. I think I'll have fun with this set :)

After this photo was taken, I added even more Stickles onto the tree. Now, I'm wishing I'd put something on the bottom of the card to ground the inlaid die cut...Darn. But the good news is, see what I'm learning by watching the PTI design team?!? (You'll have to imagine the light gray Copic shadows that I'm going to put underneath the horse and sleigh...)

 I used PTI's Sunshine impression plate on the next two cards--one side of the impression plate for each card--and Copics to colour the focal image, as well as some gold and clear Zig Wink of Stella pen for some glittering. There is also a little Glossy Accents on the halo of baby Jesus, and on the star above his head.

Thanks for looking!

Make it Monday #138: Inlaid Die Cuts

Betsy's challenge this week is to use inlaid die cuts, which is always great when you have to mail a card. I've used PTI's "Beautiful Butterflies" stamps and dies, as well as "Boutique Borders" to make this card for our great-niece, who is turning 12 next week. I got my inspiration from one of Maile Belle's cards, seen here. One butterfly has some design paper in the negative space, and some rhinestones to embellish it. There is a butterfly stamped on the inside, as well as on the envelope, which you can see peeking out from behind the card.

Thanks for looking!