Papertrey February 2015 blog hop - hello

This month's blog hop is all about the smooshing technique ... what fun!

In the past, I have used cheap watercolour paper and my pieces would always fall apart or the paper would start to ball up if I used too much water.  I invested in some thicker papers on discount and am so glad - what a difference it has made!

I used the gorgeous PTI background stamp (Venice) with some clear Zing embossing powder and Versamark powder.  I heat embossed and then added a variety of my new Avery Elle inks (see my swatch post here) and some Studio Calico shine spray onto my work surface.  I smooshed the heat embossed Strathmore watercolour paper into the mixture and held my breath.

The Studio Calico shine spray adds a nice extra sparkle to this simple card ... I couldn't quite get a very good picture but I tried ... it's late here and no natural sunlight!  What's new, right?!

I added a 'hello' die cut into the panel, popped the piece up with foam tape and added in the piece from the 'e' and 'o' to complete the card.  The Tropical Teal cardstock base adds a darker colour to the card.  

So how did you like the smooshing technique?  Please share your tips here!

I have some items for sale - check out my post here:

http://cardsbycara.blogspot.ca/2014/11/some-items-for-sale.html

Avery Elle ink swatches - set of 15

So, I have a bit of an addiction ... an addiction for inks and colour.  I just got some Avery Elle inkpads at a deep discount and decided to make some swatches to compare them to my others.  They are beautifully pigmented and the colours are gorgeous!  I used my MISTI and a Papertrey Ink die (tag sale #5) and stamp from the Four Square stamp set.

Colours pictured L --》R:

cherry, raspberry, fizz, mimosa, celery

lemon grass, sea glass, mint to be, aquamarine

 sapphire, pixie, orchid, sugar plum, fog

Avery Elle set of 15 colour chart

Papertrey Make it Monday - Cover plate stencils and embossing paste

This week's Make it Monday is all about using a cover plate as a stencil for embossing paste.  I love this technique!  The talented Laurie showed us her beautiful creation with transluscent embossing paste and although I have that, I decided to use pearlescent instead.  It has a gorgeous shimmer to it that I just love ...

I used a heart cover plate and washi taped off one row to use with the Dreamweaver pearlescent embossing paste.  I laid it on thick and then smoothed it out as much as possible.  I removed the stencil and let the paste dry.  I actually wrote some report cards while waiting ... might as well make use of my time! :)  Deadlines and all!

I added a sentiment from Luxe Letterpress using Fresh steel blue ink and some Mini Blooms in mint ink at the top and bottom.

I added some Wink of Stella clear on the flowers, cut down the white card panel (Recollections 110lb white) and added it to a PTI kraft base.  Easy peasy!

Papertrey inspired by Maile

Ahh, Maile ... how I love her style and her design sense.  If only I had an ounce of her creativity and talent!  I am so glad that she is back and will be designing for Papertrey again!  This challenge is inspired by Maile ... I took her tipped card stock design that she often does and added some gold foil CS (DCWV) to a cream linen textured card stock base.  (Click to enlarge any of the pictures to see the texture of this card stock - it rocks!)

I then stamped Sketched Shapes' sentiment in Fresh ink fuschia, triple stamping with my trusty MISTI and then Versafine onyx black for the 'smile' portion.

I added some Fresh sugar sketchy polka dots here and there as well, stamping some off of the edges and masking off the foil.

My pictures were all taken with my camera phone and I didn't have a chance to edit them from their oblong shape so my excuses!!

Papertrey Spring into Action challenge

I pulled out my Signature Greetings II set for this challenge to use an unused or only lightly inked set.

I took a 110lb white Recollectons card base and stamped the sentiment from Signature Greetings II in Fresh navy ink.

I did some rainbow watercolouring on a piece of Strathmore watercolour paper and cut it out with the Slide Frame die.

I added some foam tape underneath and popped it up on the card base.  Super easy and super simple!  I think I might take my Wink of Stella and add some shimmer to the die cut.

Papertrey blue ombre challenge

I am finally getting a chance to join in the festivities celebrating Papertrey's anniversary.  One of the challenges is all about blue ombre.  I made a stenciled card with various shades of blue embossing paste that I mixed up but it wasn't dry to play with yet so I'll just add it to this post when I finish the card.  Here is a clean and simple ombre card in the meantime.

I stamped an ombre design of progressively darker Fresh pigment inks using a Live Love Life stamp and then die cut 'forever' with a Wonderful Words die.

I added the die cut to a cream linen card base and added the Live>Love>Life stamp using Fresh ink in Turquoise triple stamping it to make it darker.

This will be a great simple easily mailable card - always a plus, right?  Usually I have foam dots or something to add layers but I kept it CAS.

You can really see the linen pattern on the card base - a great basic staple that adds just a little something extra to simple cards.

PTI Heavy Metal Challenge

I am finally getting a chance to post my creations for the Papertrey Anniversary festivities.  The Heavy Metal challenge is right up my alley - I love adding gold or silver accents.

I used some cream linen card stock and die cut some gold foil alphabets for the XOXO and added Live Love Life's gorgeous little circle with Versamark and Zing Gold Glitter heat embossing.

  I just love the shine of gold foil and glittery embossing powder!

I added as trip of washi tape from Little Bee that has a fab gold chevron pattern.  Wish I'd bought a second roll! :)

Happy anniversary to Papertrey Ink - to all the creators of stamps, dies and products and to the amazingly talented design team that inspires me each and every time I visit their blogs. <3 p="">
And, as luck would have it, this also fits into  CASology Week 133: Love.