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

Clean and Simple: Day 3 - Stamping Techniques (Gradient Stamping)

I was inspired by Jennifer's information on gradient stamping - what a fun idea!  I have seen the ombre effect around the blogs but hadn't really tried it myself.  I took out some sets to make some cards and had fun getting inky.

For my first card, I used WPlus9 Defining Words in a variety of  Jenni Bowlin inks (spiced tin, soap powder, speckled egg) and  Distress Ink in weathered wood.  I die cut a heart from WPlus9's Heartfelt Mix in PTI's Enchanted Evening and adhered it with foam dots and added some Rock Candy stickles.

 Here's a look at the Rock Candy Stickles - it looks like sugar almost - in person it is a pretty fun effect!

I made a simliar card with a Mat Stack 4 die cut and some sentiments from the ever so cute Studio Calico Snap On stamp set using Versafine Black Onyx for a bold message.  I added a pink heart from WPlus9's Heartfelt Mix stamped in Fresh ink (sugar) on the mat stack.

I used my Papertrey Vintage Tea dye duo to ink up the edges - adds a little more definition between the background and the die cut.

For my next gradient card, I grabbed the gorgeous Lovely Layers stamp set from Papertrey.  I stamped a row of the blossoms (or medallions?) in Fresh ink - sugar, fuschia, red currant and merlot.  I added a sentiment from Fabulous Frames using Fresh ink in chocolate.

 I like the look of the kraft cardstock with the gradient inks ... so simple but really effective.

I continued on my roll of gradient stamping and grabbed a graphic set, also from Papertrey.  Background Basics was designed by one of my favourite modern and clean designers - Maile Belles.  I stamped the circles in sugar at the top but they weren't very visible so changed my idea and stamped the rows in red currant, fuschia, merlot, and chocolate plus the solid ones in fuschia.  I mounted it to a white card base and added the sentiment from Signature Greetings in red currant.

 I kept it flat for easy mailing .... I usually use foam dots but resisted the urge this time! :)

Supplies:

Blue Gradient Heart Card

Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Enchanted Evening

Stamps: WPlus9 Defining Words, Heartfelt Mix
Ink: Jenni Bowlin inks (spiced tin, soap powder, speckled egg); Distress Ink (weathered wood).
Misc: foam dots, WPlus9 Heartfelt Mix die, Rock Candy stickles

Love you ... you rock

Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Enchanted Evening

Stamps: WPlus9 Defining Words, Heartfelt Mix; Studio Calico Snap On
Ink: Jenni Bowlin inks (spiced tin, soap powder, speckled egg); Distress Ink (weathered wood), Fresh ink (sugar), Versafine Black Onyx; PTI Vintage Tea Dye duo
Misc: foam dots, PTI Mat Stack 4

This is the life
Paper: PTI Kraft
Ink: Fresh ink (sugar, fuschia, red currant, merlot, chocolate)
Stamps: PTI Lovely Layers, Fabulous Frames

Love you so much
Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI kraft
Ink: Fresh ink (sugar, fuschia, red currant, merlot, chocolate)
Stamps: BB Circles, Signature Greetings

Papertrey's Impression Plates - samples and extra techniques

A friend of mine wanted to buy some of the impression plates offered at Papertrey so I offered to send her some samples.  I used the Curvy Labels punch and cut a whole bunch to impress.  I ran them through my Big Kick with the various IPs.  I even added some cover plates used as IP's as well as Wplus9's chevron IP.  Take a look if you want an idea of what they look like.  Click the images to enlarge:

I have always had really good luck with them just running them through my Big Kick and with my Cuttlebug when I had it.  I bought the embossing pads from PTI's website and they have served me well.  Some people have better success adding shims or misting the paper with alcohol or water but I haven't needed to do that.  I have used Perfect Pearls mist to add some shimmer but I get an excellent impression without adding anything.

I also love to do the letterpress technique where I use ink directly on the IP and then running it through the machine.  Here are some examples I have shared from this post:

Damask IP with Fresh Ink

Mehndi IP with Fresh Ink

Hexagon Cover plate with Fresh Ink

Cane Print with Fresh Ink

And this post:

Giga IP with Distress Ink

Gina K chocolate cardstock, PTI Diamond IP, Colorbox Frost White Ink

Gina K chocolate cardstock, PTI Moroccan motifs IP, Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid (pink)

Gina K sweet mango, PTI Giga Guidelines IP, Distress Ink Spiced Marmalade

Gina K sweet mango, PTI Sunshine IP, Colorbox Frost White Ink

Gina K chocolate cardstock, PTI In Bloom IP, Colorbox Frost White Ink

And the technique shared on a Make it Monday over at PTI about double embossing is really cool - you use an impression plate with a die so that the die leaves a negative area where the card stock is not embossed.  I made a card in this post using that cool trick!

Just be sure to have the order of your sandwich perfect, otherwise you will cut into the impression plate! :)

Cuttlebug Sandwich for double embossing:

A plate

B plate

Impression plate facing up

Die cutting side facing up

Paper facing down

Embossing mats - vanilla and tan

B plate

Which are your favourite impression plates?  Do you like the more subtle debossing they give rather than embossing folders?  What techniques have you tried so far?

Papertrey's Make it Monday #77 - Watercolouring with ink pads

Papertrey is back with another Make it Monday video for inspiration.  I love this technique and have done it before ... I pulled out an old favourite set of mine - one of the first I purchased, actually!

I heat embossed the black ink (stamped in  Versamark first and then Memento Tuxedo Black) before using ink pads with an aqua brush to colour in the flowers and the leaves.  I altered the colours and went with imperfection ... :)

I used a sentiment from Movers and Shakers on the front and on the inside reading I am reminded how wonderful you are.  The flower is up on  foam dots and the leaves are glued with  Tombo Mono Multi glue and then curled up a bit for dimension.

Have you tried this technique before? How do you like it?

Supplies:
Paper: Kraft, Smokey Shadow; Staples 110lb white
Stamps: PTI In Bloom, Movers and Shakers; Studio Calico Houndstooth cling stamp
Ink: Distress Inks Peeled China, Bundled Sage, Weathered Wood, Peeled Paint: PTI Vintage Cream;  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc: foam dots, Tombo Mono Multi glue

Embellish Bicycle Colour Trends Challenge

I saw this great challenge over at the Embellish (online) magazine and thought I'd use it as a jumping off point.  Here's what I came up with:

Although I love bicycle images, it turns out I only have one bicycle image in my stash from Papertrey's Everyday Button Bits.  I thought I'd find a vintage looking digital image online and try an inking technique over top ...  I printed it in a grey tone so it is not so stark against the ink.

I loaded my indestructible craft sheet with Distress Inks in rows of colour, spritzed with Perfect Pearls and Studio Calico shine mist and then smooshed my background stamp into the inky mess.  It gives a sort of watercoloured muted tone to the inks. 

You can't really see the shine in the picture but it's there, promise!

And card #2 ....
For this one I used some more of the ink that I had left over to stamp another background with my Hero Arts Classic Fabric cling stamp:

This is such a simple technique but I am definitely going to try it again.  Since I wanted four colours descending down my card, I just used the edge of my Distress Ink to put colour on my craft mat rather than the whole square.  That way, I was able to squeeze all four colours in. 

Some buttons and a sentiment and that's it!

I had lots of ink left on my craft sheet so stamped another three backgrounds and even spritzed some more to ink up some sticky back canvas I got on clearance!  You will probably see those inky backgrounds in some upcoming posts .... :P

Supplies:

Paper: Staples 110lb white, Gina K asparagus
Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits (sentiment), Hero Arts Alphabet pattern cling stamp
Ink: Distress Ink (dusty concord, spiced marmalade, broken china, peeled paint); Jenni Bowlin fountain pen
Misc: craft sheet, Studio Calico shine mist, online free vintage bicycle image

Paper: Staples 110lb white, Gina K asparagus
Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits, Hero Arts Classic Fabric cling stamp
Ink: Distress Ink (dusty concord, spiced marmalade, broken china, peeled paint); Jenni Bowlin fountain pen
Misc: craft sheet, Studio Calico shine mist, PTI buttons, rustic jute button twine

Passion for Papertrey - whatever the weather challenge

Over on A Passion for Papertrey, they have a challenge this week called Whatever the Weather.  I love their blog and try to join their challenges when I can.  They all have great style and I really enjoy their mad card skills!  Plus, I was inspired by the gorgeous weather today - really glorious sunshine.  After going for a walk with a friend along the seawall, I grabbed some of my supplies and got started.  I put on a movie I had recorded in the background (Jennifer Lopez's Back up Plan) and happily stamped away.

Here's my first one, which was actually the last card I made.  Not much stamping at all but the colours are sunny!

I split the Beautiful Butterflies set with someone for the sentiments only.  Gasp, I know!  I just decided I didn't need a whole set of butterflies even though they are truly beautiful. :)  I have a butterfly scene from Tim Holtz and also the gorgeous butterfly from PTI's Happy Trails.  So only the sentiments came home with me.  Oh, and I got this gorgeous patterned paper from the talented Aga in a prize pack she sent me a while back. 

It's Cosmo Cricket's DeLovely and all the patterns and colours are bright, and well ... lovely!  Thanks, Aga, as it has inspired me to make some more bright and fun cards. :)

I used PTI's Limitless Layers to cut the circle and mat behind.  As you can see, there is the sentiment Like a Rainbow, you color my world stamped in Fresh navy ink as I felt black would be too harsh.  I still have a tough time with the American spelling since to my Canadian eyes, it looks like it's not spelled right but what are you gonna do?  I would actually selectively ink and try and add the 'u' but I was going for a quick fun card after all the that masking I did in this next pic...

So here it is, card number two:
Obviously my masking (and sponging) skills need some work but it is a bit more blended in person ... really! :)  Don't believe me, huh?  Well, I decided that even though it's no masterpiece I would post it.  Even if it's shameful ... <----- insert embarrassed emoticon here ...

I originally stamped over each sponged section while masked with a variety of stamps (BB Retro, Text Style, Turning a New Leaf, Polka Dots, In Bloom) but since I used Jenni Bowlin's Malted Millk, it didn't show up enough for my liking.  I like subtle well enough but it was beyond subtle.  So I used my new Market Street Stamps background honeycomb stamp over top in Distress Ink Marmalade.

I just love this sentiment from Modern Wood Mats - it's such a sweet one, isn't it?  Oh, in this closeup you can see the Malted Milk ink peeking through a bit but it just wasn't enough.  I used the Sunshine impression plate inked up for a letterpress technique with the DI's Marmalade as well.

This one is a more literal scene of sun and clouds.

The rays are Faux Ribbon with a Modern Wood Mats sun and I used an inked up Mehndi Medallions impression plate for the letterpress technique on the clouds.

If you look closely, you can see Text Style used as a background on the front panel.  Oh, and Studio Calico grid pattern background stamp was stamped on the card front and just peeks through from behind.

Okay, last one based on this challenge:

I grabbed a piece of Lemon Tart cardstock and used the Sunshine Impression plate on it after stamping the sentiment on the selectively inked Think Big hello and a spelled out Outline Alphabet's sunshine.  When using the impression plates, I have learned that it is always better to stamp first then impress.  I have done it the other way around when I change my plan and it will sometimes work quite well but the best impression of the stamped image is on smooth cardstock.

I stamped the Outline Alphabet stamps in Jenni Bowlin Chicken Feed and the hello in Distress InkMarmalade and you will notice that there is basically no difference.  I thought it might be a nice subtle ombre sort of gradation but nope! :)
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My last one is not for the challenge but had my yellow ink out and thought I would get a start on my graduation cards.  I have eleven advisees graduating this year and always make personalized cards for my students for holidays, end of year and graduation.  This year since they are graduating and (most) have been my advisees for five years, it is extra special.  Our school colours are yellow, grey and blue so I went with yellow and blue for my colour scheme.

I bought a little mini graduation set called Hats Off from Ditto at Michael's for a couple of dollars.  So the hats are from this set and I simply repeated the pattern.

I impressed the circle with the Text Style impression plate after stamping the sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages.

In hindsight, I should've completely dried the Vintage Cream inked sentiment with my heat gun, inked up my Text Style impression plate with Versamark to dry emboss, and then heat emboss in clear but oh well!

This will be a good one for one of the boys in my advisee group.  They all compare their cards so I like to make them as different as possible.

Supplies:

Like a Rainbow
Paper: Staples 110lb white, Cosmo Cricket DeLovely
Stamps: PTI Beautiful Butterflies (sentiment)
Ink: Fresh navy
Misc: PTI Limitless Layers circles, foam dots






 
 The World is Brighter
Paper: Gina K pure luxury sweet mango, Staples 110lb white
Stamps: Market Street honeycomb background, Modern Wood Mats (sentiment)
Ink: Jenni Bowlin weather vane (sentiment), lemon drop; Distress Ink marmalade
Misc: foam dots
PTI Sunshine impression plate, Eclipse masking paper, Ranger foam blending tools

Hello, Sunshine
Paper:
Stamps:
Ink: Jenni Bowlin chicken feed,Distress Ink marmalade
Misc: PTI Sunshine impression plate

The Sun and Cloud
Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Enchanted Evening
Stamps: PTI Text Style, Modern Wood Mats (circle), Faux Ribbon (rays), Studio Calico grid pattern background stamp (background of card base)
Ink: Jenni Bowlin lemon drop, chicken feed, malted milk; PTI Vintage Cream
Misc: foam dots, PTI Mehndi Medallion impression plate

Congrats to the Grad
Paper: PTI Enchanted Evening, Staples 110lb white
Stamps: Ditto Hats Off, PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: Jenni Bowlin lemon drop, PTI Vintage Cream
Misc: 1 3/4" punch, foam dots, PTI Text Style impression plate