Papertrey February Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: Hello there

What a beautiful inspiration picture for this month's blog hop at Papertrey Ink:

I decided to stamp a bunch of flowers and then layer vellum over top for a muted look.

I used Staples grey card stock as the base and stamped one of the blooms from Mini Blooms using Hero Arts Tide Pool ink.

I added the sentiment over top of the vellum in crisp black using  StazOn Jet Black.  Here's a picture showing the vellum layer:

Super simple but easy to mail! :-)

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: Staples grey card stock, Gartners vellum
Ink:  StazOn Jet Black 
Stamps: PTI Mini Blooms

Papertrey Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: hello

This month's challenge for the blog hop over at Papertrey Ink is all about spring colours and inspiration:

Dawn's fabulous Make it Monday watercolour video helped get me started on this card - gotta love watercolouring!

I used Distress Markers on watercolour paper for the background and layered blues and greens - such a peaceful colour combo with the white embossing.

I added the feather and sentiment using white embossing powder - simple but effective.

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: Artist's Loft watercolour paper, Recollections 110lb white
Ink:  Versamark
Stamps: PTI Fanciful Feathers, Mini Blooms (sentiment)
Misc:  Zing white embossing powder, Distress Markers

Papertrey February Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: From the bottom of my heart

Ah, sweet spring - what a great and timely inspiration as we are all in need of spring!

I just love that Aqua Mist shade in the pic above so used that as my jumping off point.  I took that as my card base and used some leftover hearts from the cover plate and a Pink Paislee patterned paper.

I stamped a line using Faux Ribbon and some  Colorbox Frost White Ink - love its crisp look on the card.  Confession time - I actually die cut a negative piece using Fabulous Frames' rounded label die but, stupid me, it was not straight!! So plan B - I covered my boo boo with a white strip stamped with polka dots and a sentiment from Fancy Flourishes.  My idea was to have the sentiment stamped on the inner part of the card peeking through the negative die cut ... alas, it was not to be!

Isn't that Fresh Birch ink a cool colour?  It looks very like Kraft to me ...

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: PTI Aqua Mist, Pink Paislee Color Wash 6x6 - left over cut hearts from PTI cover plate, Recollections 110lb white
Ink:  Colorbox Frost White Ink; Fresh Sugar, Birch 
Stamps: PTI Fancy Flourishes, BB Polka Dot Basics

Papertrey February Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: U rock

This month's challenge for the blog hop over at Papertrey Ink is all about spring colours and inspiration:

I took a piece of Sweet Blush card stock and stamped the arrows using  Colorbox Frost White Ink. This is a super crisp white ink for dark or light cardstock.  

I then added the sentiment using Fresh Steel Blue and Fuschia ... super simple card but my cousin will love it!

You can see it close up above - I just love layering sentiments like that.  Usually I use darker colours for one of the layers but kept it a little lighter this time around.

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush
Ink:  Colorbox Frost White Ink; Fresh Fuschia, Steel Blue 
Stamps: PTI Sketched Shapes

Papertrey February Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: with a grateful heart

Doesn't this blog hop image from Papertrey Ink make you think of bunnies, chicks and pastels?  Ahh, spring, how I miss you! :)

Looking at my inks, I wanted to try a different colour combo  --- and this is definitely out of my comfort zone and norm!  I used my Fresh ink in Peach, stamping off every second row.  I just love the graphic look of this pattern.

I then layered a sentiment in Turquoise ink using Papertrey's Birds and Bloooms set.  The ikat is mor modern and then the sentiment more traditional but I kinda like the juxtaposition.

Any unusual colour combos you've tried lately that are out of your norm?

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: Recollections 110lb white
Ink: Fresh Peach, Rurquoise
Stamps: PTI Irresistible Ikat, Birds and Blooms

Papertrey February Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: Today is a good day

Ah, sweet spring - will you ever arrive?  Here is the inspiration picture for this month's blog hop at Papertrey - gorgeous, isn't it?

I loved Dawn's video for this week's Make it Monday watercolour and combined the two ideas.

I stamped a series of Mini Bloom flowers along the bottom and embossed using Teal embossing powder.  I also stamped a sentiment from Sketched Shapes ... super simple!

I did some messy watercolouring along the card front using strokes along the horizontal lines of the base.

You can see a bit of the shine as I added some Perfect Pearls to the water - this is a great simple technique to add a little something extra.

Some more shine featured above ...

So what have you watercoloured lately?

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: Recollections 110lb white
Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamps: PTI Mini Blooms, Sketched Shapes
Misc:  Zing Teal embossing powder, Distress Markers, Perfect Pearls

Papertrey February Blog Hop - Sweet Spring: it's your day

This month's challenge for the blog hop over at Papertrey Ink is all about spring colours and inspiration:

I also used the Make it Monday watercolour video that Dawn shared as my jumping off point.

It was hard to get a good photo showing the watercolouring and the heat embossing but it does show up in person, promise! I watercoloured using Distress Markers and a wide brush plus some Perfect Pearls mixed with water.   It adds some nice shine.

Here's a closeup showing the white heat embossing - simple but effective.

This card also fits in perfectly with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Wedding An niversary.

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies:
Paper: Artist's Loft watercolour paper, Recollections 110lb white
Ink:  Versamark
Stamps: PTI Think Big
Misc:  Zing embossing powder, Distress Markers, sequins

WPlus9 Trend Watch: Hello there

WPlus9 is having a Trend Watch Challenge and I decided to join in.  Here's some of the inspiration:

I kept my card simple and stamped some feathers that I painted with watercolours to stamp with and then layered over some outlines.  I misted the whole card front with  Studio Calico shine for a little extra sparkle - hard to capture on camera, but it's there ... promise! :)

Here's a shadowy shot:

And a closeup trying to show the shimmer:

So what trends have you tried out?

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Oh, and here's a look at all the Jenni Bowlin colours in their glory:

Supplies:
Paper: Recollections 110lb white
Stamps: WPlus9 Fanciful Feathers
Ink: Jenni Bowlin Spiced Tin, Lavender Sachet, Speckled Egg
Misc: Mister Huey's  Studio Calico shine mist

Make it Monday - Velveteen Stamping: You rock

I made another card using the velveteen stamping technique showcased over at Papertrey this week. Simply stamp white pigment ink using a background stamp and then layer more solid images in other colours over top.  I used PTI's World Map background stamp over the white layer and then added some solid flower images from Botanical Silhouettes.

The map background looks really cool with the flower layered over top.  I added some flat silver sequins with Rock Candy Stickles on top.

So have you tried this technique yet?  Any links to share?

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html

Supplies
Paper: PTI Kraft, Recollections 110lb white
Stamps: PTI World Map, Botanical Silhouettes, Four Square (sentiment)
Ink: Fresh Sky Blue, Navy, Steel Blue; Colorbox Frost White
Misc: Kelly Purkey flat silver sequins, Rock Candy Stickles, foam dots

Make it Monday - Velveteen Stamping: thinking of you

The fabulous Heather over at Papertrey shared the technique of velveteen stamping - layering darker inks over white stamped backgrounds.  Here is my attempt:

I used Papertrey's Background Basics Newsprint on the background using Colorbox Frost White - a great white ink that is nice and crisp on dark card stock (not that you can see that here!).  I then layered Fresh Pear inked Turning a New Leaf all over the cardbase.

It doesn't look like the Think Big sentiment is that dark but in person, it does stand out quite a bit more ... I am definitely no photographer! :)

The newsprint looks really cool in person - love this technique!  I first saw it on another blog a while back and was impressed that such a thing was possible.  Thank you, PTI, for reminding me of it!!

So, have you tried it yet?  Share your creations below! :)

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If you are in need of some crafty supplies, check out my sale page here.

Supplies:
Paper: Recollections 110lb white
Stamps: PTI  Turning a New Leaf, BB: Newsprint, Think Big (sentiment)
Inks:  Colorbox Frost White, Fresh Pear and Navy

Make it Monday - Velveteen Stamping: live love life

This week over at Papertrey it is all about Velveteen stamping - layering white or cream pigment ink with another (usually dye).  I forgot about using dye ink for the second layer but have done it in the past with two pigment inks and it works beautifully.  I love the subtle texture that seems to pop out from the white ink layer!

I used  Colorbox Frost White Ink on a piece of Recollections 110lb white card stock - this stuff rocks! It is nice and sturdy and has a smooth finish.  I waited for a 50% coupon to buy some since the Canadian prices are already so elevated.  I am so glad I took a crafty friend's advice - SO worth it! :)

The white layer is PTI's Houndstooth - it leaves a gorgeous pattern on the Lovely Layers flowers stamped in Fresh Navy, Fresh Lilac and Steel Blue.  The final touch was the sentiment from Sketched Shapes.  I withheld my impulse to add gems, rhinestones, Stickles or sequins ... truly one layer! :)

Have you tried this technique?  Link up so I can see your creation!

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If you are in need of some crafty supplies, check out my sale page here.

Supplies:
Paper: Recollections 110lb white
Stamps: PTI Sketched Shapes, Lovely Layers, BB: Houndstooth
Inks:  Colorbox Frost White, Fresh Navy, Fresh Lilac and Steel Blue

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Challenge - word focus + Cure for the Monday Blues

Today's challenge over at Papertrey is to create a project with the word as the focus.  I played around with watercolour stamping, stamping with mists and good old fashioned stamping with ink pads.  This does not lead to a perfect stamped impression but more of an artsy look ...

I used Distress Markers and water, Mistery Huey's gold mist and even my Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink pad and Soft Stone Hero Arts Shadow Ink.  All in all, there are probably about 6 different shades  (edited to add - just counted after creating my supply list - 8 colours altogether!!) ...

I added the Happy die cut as my central word focus (as per the PTI challenge) and used some gold glitter paper.

I tried to get some shots to show the sparkle of the stamping but not sure if you can even see it ... maybe a little?

I also used the Cure for the Monday Blues image as inspiration - the candy reminded me of these circles from the Sketched Shapes by the uber talented Maile Belles.  Taheerah found a great image to brighten our week:

I took the pinks and reds from the pic and added some golds to the mix for my creation.   Love those sprinkles in the shot! :)

Not sure if I am loving my final creation but I am posting it anyhow ... :)

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If you are in need of some crafty supplies, check out my sale page here.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI Rustic White, black glitter (DCWV)
Stamps: PTI Sketched Shapes
Inks: Mister Huey's gold, Brilliance Gold Galaxy, Hero Arts Soft Stone, Distress Markers (Antique Linen, Spun Sugar, Aged Mahogany, Picked Raspberry, Barn Door)
Misc: PTI Happy one liner die

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Birthday Card Challenge

I have been too busy to participate in all of the anniversary challenges but finally had a chance to make a card for the celebration.  Today's challenge is all about a birthday card ... I kept it super simple:

 I am loving the new Feather Finery set from PTI - the images are so gorgeous!

So we're supposed to also post a picture of ourselves with the card ... I'm a little camera shy, especially online, so here's what I came up with - my face is transparent but still visible - can you spot me?

 And here's a photo with my computer 'holding' my card as well:

Supplies:

Paper: Project Life gridded journaling card, PTI Aqua Mist

Stamps: PTI Feather Finery, Think Big bday sentiment

Ink: Jenni Bowlin speckled egg, Fresh turquoise

Misc: foam dots, faded china Stickles, PTI Spiral Notebook die

PTI Make It Monday #150: Window Screen Cards - to you. from me. with love.

I just love this week's Make it Monday using cover plates for window screens - what fun! :)

I took a rustic cream card panel and stamped Harvest Berries using Fresh birch ink all over.  I then cut out a Mat Stack window and a gold shimmer frame before adding a circles vellum cover plate piece.  To add some dimension, I made sure to pop this layer up on foam dots.

I stamped the sentiment (I just love this one!!) with Vintage Cream ink onto a double ended banner die that I nestled in front of the circles.

I mounted all of this on an LCI chocolate woodgrain card base.  Super simple and monochromatic ...

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Check out my crafty sale if you like:
http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2013/06/crafty-sale.html