Papertrey Make it Monday #64 - Colour Inspiration of cool lavenders

This week's Make it Monday was all about using colour inspiration.  So I took the above colours to make my cards.  Always great to have a challenge to try something new ...

I took one of the new PTI die/stamp sets, Movers and Shakers, and cut a zippered frame.  These are great interactive cards and the person who opens the card rips the zipper open to reveal a message inside.  There are lots of sentiments in the set to use but I made mine more personalized and handwrote it.  I could've done a computer generated sentiment but my sister appreciates the handmade touches.  Here's a look at the hidden sentiment:

She is a new mother - to the most wonderful little boy.  I wanted her to know how amazing a mother she is.

The sentiment gets adhered with scor tape right behind the zipper die cut.  I used a scrap piece of card stock as you can see from the stamped edge of a Happy Day stamping mishap! :)

 I used my new corner rounder that is a much smaller rounded edge - I like the subtle touch it adds.

I used my beloved Quatrefoil cover plate as an impression plate for the Smokey Shadow background and used my new Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp in Versamark behind the Movers and Shakers sentiment.

A very unusual colour combination for me but I like the way the colours compliment each other.  Nichole Heady has such an artistic eye.

Okay, card number two:

Very simple and basically one layer if you don't count the pearls.  I took one of my favourite stamp sets that hasn't been used in a while (Delightful Doilies) and stamped in different colours, following the inspiration colour choices.  I used a combination of Fresh and Versamagic chalk inks.  I love the subtlety of these inks.

I selectively stamped the sentiment from Modern Wood Mats so that BRIGHTER was in an Ocean Tides shade (Fresh Steel Blue) and the rest in a Smokey Shadow tone (Fresh Slate).

Then I took some adhesive pearls and went to town.  I got a tip from a video I watched to use a craft knife to pick up and adhere the pearls - it works so much better than my clumsy hands ever could! :)  I rounded all the corners with my original corner rounder and that's it.  I stamped the following sentiment inside from an old Hero Arts set (Friends).

And my final card with this colour combo:

I have seen one of the DT members at PTI use the Wonderful Words dies as an impression plate so thought I would try this.  I rolled the 'happy' die through three times with it in different places.  I wasn't super careful about it being lined up perfectly so it is a little haphazard.  The last time, I rolled the paper through with my mats but without any dies so that the impression was the same on all three rather than being more prominent only on the last one.

I took the filagree border and cut a row and then attached four behind a Happy Days die cut.  I left the little bits in this time rather than punching them out

Some ever present foam dots helped to pop the die cut up from the card front.

Oh, and here's a card from my reject scraps - I originally was going to make a card with the Quatrefoil coverplate using all the colours from the inspiration pic but couldn't figure out a layout that I liked.  So I made a card with bits and pieces to send to my cousin. 

When I want to adhere intricate die cuts, I grab my Tombo Mono Multi glue.  This stuff is amazing!! It has a narrow tip at one end that works really well for those hard to adhere bits.  It dries clear and works so amazingly!  Here's what it looks like:

Have you ever used this?  If not, I highly recommend it!  I first saw it on Kristina Werner video and was impressed with the thin nozzle.  I keep mine turned upside down so that the glue is ready to go.  I even have a backup bottle for when I run out! :)

Supplies:

The World is Brighter
Paper: Staples 110lb white
Stamps: PTI Delightful Doilies, Modern Wood Mats (sentiment)
Ink: Versamagic Purple Hydrangea; Fresh French Lilac, Slate, Steel Blue,
Misc: K&Co adhesive pearls

Wonderful Mother
Paper: PTI Lavender Moon, Ocean Tides, Plum Pudding, Vintage Cream
Stamps: Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp, PTI Movers and Shakers
Ink: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc: scor tape, PTI Quatrefoil cover plate, corner rounder

Happy Mother's Day
Paper: PTI Ocean Tides, Smokey Shadow, Lavender Moon
Stamps: PTI Happy Day
Ink: Fresh French Lilac, Slate
Misc: PTI Wonderful Words die, Happy Days die, Filagree border die; corner rounder, foam dots

Quatrefoil heart card
Paper: PTI Lavender Moon, Ocean Tides, Smokey Shadow
Stamps: Wplus9 hearts
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc: PTI Quatrefoil cover plate, foam dots, Tombo Mono Multi adhesive

Happy Birthday SC and HA style

I bought some gorgeous Studio Calico papers and wanted to make a birthday card with them.  I grabbed my Hero Arts Friendly Flags stamp set, the papers and went to town.  I used a sentiment from Birthday Messages in my new Vintage Cream ink from Papertrey.

I cut out each of the pennants and attached them to the card front with my every trusty foam dots.  Love using those for some dimension.  I debated using a gel pen to draw some string or use twine, but decided not to.  I could've impressed it with the linen impression plate but left it smooth and simple.

 

 

This card turned out a lot more masculine than I thought it would, but I quite like it.  And it is always good to have some manly cards on hand, right?  And I am really enjoying the Vintage Cream ink - nice and juicy and quite opaque.  I think it might be just as nice as my other favourite light ink - Colorbox Frost White.

I am participating in the following challenges:

Amazing that two of them have birthdays today - CASual Fridays and Simon Says Stamp both have birthdays so let's help them celebrate!!

Simon Says Stamp - 3rd Birthday - Anything Birthday challenge

 

CASual Fridays - CFC51 Happy Birthday

Hero Arts May 2012 Birthday Challenge

Supplies:
Paper: PTI Fine Linen, Gina K Pure Luxury Chocolate; Studio Calico Vol 2 papers
Stamps: Hero Arts Friendly Flags, Birthday Messages
Ink: PTI Vintage Cream
Misc: foam dots

Inspired by Pinterest - Gayatri's Challenge

(Photo Credit)

The super talented Gayatri Murali has a new Inspired by Pinterest challenge on her blog and I decided to play along.  I made cards for two of her other challenges but can't seem to find them to photograph ... : ( Sorry, Gayatri!! 

(Photo Credit)

I found a sketch of a camera online to use as my digital image.  Check our her site with the cutest mouse pointer in the shape of a moustache!!.  I copied the image and made it into a digital paper in Word by resizing it and changing the contrast and brightness on every second camera.  I then printed it onto card stock to use for my card.

 I swiped Distress Ink's Antique Linen ink over the white card stock to change the background colour.  I then adhered it to a rustic cream card base.  I cut out Alphabet Block letters in rustic cream and painstakingly adhered them with foam dots.  All done!

I loved the image so much I made one more card with a larger printed version.  A little fussy cutting of the camera with some good snips made simple work of this!  I stamped Say Cheese with Paper Smooches' Alpha Dots stamps.  I can't get enough alpha stamps - they are so perfect for creating your own cusomized sentiments.  Great for stamping names too!

 I used my new Wplus9 chevron impression plate over top after stamping the sentiment and adhered the Hawaiian Shores card front onto a white card base.  I then stuck the camera image that I had cut out with some foam dots to the front.  Some Glossy Accents on top to add a little shine and voilà!

 Thanks for inspiring me to create, Gayatri.  Your cards are always so gorgeous. <3

Supplies:

Oh snap!

Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Rustic Cream

Stamps: digital image from here

Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink

Misc: PTI Alpha Block dies, foam dots

Say Cheese

Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Hawaiian Shores

Stamps: Paper Smooches Alpha Dots, digital image from here

Ink: Jenni Bowlin Fountain Pen

Misc: foam dots, Glossy Accents, Wplus9 Chevron Impression Plate

With sympathy and Hello Friend

My friend is going through a tough time ... she lost her dog last week and this week her cat passed away ... : - ( So I wanted to make her a second card to show her my love.  I made a simple card with my new favourite embossing folder - Craft Concepts' hexagons.  Love this!!  Thanks again, Gayatri, for the kind gift.

I stamped the outlined peony from Pretty Peonies in Vintage Cream ink before embossing but it is really hard to see.  I used the 'with sympathy' sentiment from Peaceful Garden - I just love the font used in this set.

I used Pear Fresh ink to stamp the outline peony around the outside of the card base before popping the spring moss embossed layer up with foam dots.  A super simple card with 'may peace fill your soul this day' stamped on the inside.  Oh, and I swiped some Vintage Cream ink around the outside of the Spring Moss panel.

My next card is for a dear friend and I went a little crazy with the Glossy Accents as you can see by the milky areas.  Ah, well ... I decided to embrace the imperfection!

I used my Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp with white ink (Colorbox Frost White) and then stamped the Think Big sentiment over top with black ink (Memento Tuxedo Black).

I cut out the hearts with my Wplus9 Hearts and Clouds dies and then filled in the space with Glossy Accents after I backed the negative space with some polka paper from my stash.  I think this was from a Making Memories wedding paper pad.

Supplies:
With Sympathy
Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Spring Moss
Stamps: Pretty Peonies, Peaceful Garden
Ink: PTI Vintage Cream, Fresh Pear
Misc: Craft Concepts hexagon embossing folder, foam dots

Hello Friend
Paper: Staples 110lb white, Gina K grass green, Making Memories wedding paper pad
Stamps: PTI Think Big, Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp
Ink: Colorbox Frost White, Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc:  Glossy Accents, Wplus9 Hearts and Clouds dies

Papertrey April Blog Hop

From Nichole Heady's post on this blog hop:
We are excited to get back to our inspiration challenges for the blog hop each month.  For the month of April we wanted to focus on fun florals, damasks & polka dots.  Throw in the fun color scheme, and you have a recipe for the perfect project.  Use the inspiration piece as a jumping point for your color scheme, pattern combinations, overall design or whatever else inspires your creativity.

So I took the patterns, colours and feel of the inspiration picture as my jumping off point.


Meet card number one:

I inked up SU's Manhattan Flower embossing folder with some Jenni Bowlin cotton candy ink.  I ran it through letterpress style which gave me a nice inked up impression that I cut out.  I then used the new File folders edgers die from PTI to cut the Hawaiian Shores cardstock and stamped a sentiment from Pretty Peonies.  I used the Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp as my background with some Jenni Bowlin speckled egg ink to add interest.  I took a piece of pink ribbon I got for free in my last Ellen Hutson order and cut slits to slide it through.  Some foam dots to pop up the flower and that's it.

Meet card number two:

I used the same letterpress technique as I did yesterday and inked up my herringbone embossing folder with some Steel Blue Fresh ink.  I trimmed it down and adhered it to my white card base with some Tombo Mono Multi glue.  This stuff is awesome and works great for textured paper like embossed cs.  I then added the strip of Hawaiian Shores card stock that I stamped with a small Turning a New Leaf stamp in Colorbox Frost White.

I added selectively inked Wonderful Words additions sentiments and a fussy cut Pretty Peonies flower.  Man, do I ever have to practice my fussy cutting! :)  I popped up the sentiment strip as well as the flower with some trusty foam dots.  What would I ever do if I ran out?  Gasp!

Meet card number three:

I had some issues with the edgers dies but decided to just leave it so pretend you don't notice, ok?  I used some Eclipse masking paper from my last Impress order.  Handy stuff!

I stamped the flowers in Jenni Bowlin cotton candy and speckled egg.  Then I used Wonderful Words additions and Pretty Peonies for the sentiments in Memento Tuxedo Black.  I stupidly decided to stamp polka dots in Jenni Bowlin malted milk but hated the look so I swiped some gesso on top to mute it a bit.  Not perfect but too bad!  I went with the imperfection ...

Ok, card number four, here we go:
For this one, I was inspired by the bolts of fabric and decided to cut down strips of card stock and stamp them in different patterns.  So a damask, stripes, flowers, and polka dots.

I edged each of them with their ink to give them a bit more definition and then adhered them with Tombo Mono Multi.  Yup, that stuff works fabulously!  Here I was adhering it down onto textured card stock since I impressed the Damask Designs pattern into the card base.  Hard to see but adds a little je ne sais quoi in person.  Promise!

 A simple sentiment in black and that's it!

Well, happy hopping!  Enjoy all the great eye candy on everyone's blogs.  :)


Supplies:
Love you forever
Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Hawaiian Shores
Stamps: PTI Pretty Peonies, Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp
Ink: Jenni Bowlin speckled egg + cotton candy, Memento tuxedo black
Misc: SU Manhattan Flowers embossing flowers, foam dots, PTI File Folders edgers die

Thank you
Paper: Staples 110lb white
Stamps: PTI Pretty Peonies, Wonderful Words additions (selectively inked), Turning a new leaf
Ink: Fresh Steel Blue, Memento Tuxedo Black, Colorbox Frost White, Jenni Bowlin cotton candy
Misc: Herringbone embossing folder, Tombo Mono Multi glue

You make me so happy
Paper: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Staples 110lb white
Stamps: PTI Pretty Peonies
Ink: Jenni Bowlin speckled egg + cotton candy, Memento tuxedo black
Misc: PTI File Folders edgers die, Eclipse masking paper

Thanks for everything
Paper: Staples 110lb white
Stamps: PTI Damask Designs, BB Circles, Pretty Peonies, Faux Ribbon
Inks: Jenni Bowlin cotton candy, soap powder, speckled egg; Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc: PTI Damask Designs impression plate, Tombo Mono Multi glue

A card with a view - A Blog named Hero challenge

So I decided to participate in this challenge to create some cards with die cut windows.  What fun!

So here goes ... card #1:
I took the Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp
and stamped it with Jenni Bowlin speckled egg ink.  I then die cut the clouds with my new Wplus9 dies (Wplus9 Hearts and Clouds dies).   

I stamped Studio Calico grid pattern background stamp with Colorbox silver ink and inked up a HA Friends sentiment with Jenni Bowlin spice tin ink.  Finally, I mounted the front piece with  foam dots for some dimension onto an Enchanted Evening card base.  All done!

Oh, I forgot to mention that I did ink up the edges of the card front with the speckled egg ink from Jenni Bowlin to add a bit more definition.

Ok, card number two was really hard to capture on film  Not only are my photog skills horrible, the lighting is BAD in my place ... especially at night!  Enough excuses, let's see the card, right?

I took an Autumn Leaves card base (from a set I got at Walmart) and inked up the Studio Calico Alpha Pattern cling stamp with Fresh Tuscan Olive ink.  I then stamped the butterfly (PTI) in Fresh Lilac ink.

I die cut a double ended banner die (PTI) and stamped the sentiment from the Hero Arts Everyday Messages in Jenni Bowlin spice tin.  I filled in the space with a Versamark marker to define the area.

And here is my final card for this challenge:

I have a fabulous crafty friend who sent me this STUNNING hexagon embossing folder from Craft Concepts.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Thank you so much, Gayatri!  I inked it up with Fresh pear ink and ran it through my Big Kick.  I love the subtle letterpress technique it gives.

Then I die cut a heart from my new Wplus9 Hearts and Clouds dies and added a layer of Hawaiian shores cardstock that I had stamped with Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp in Jenni Bowlin speckled egg ink.  I added it behind with some Tombo Mono Multi glue (this stuff rocks!).  I stamped the xoxo from the Hero Arts Everyday Messages set using some Jenni Bowlin spice tin ink.  Some foam dots to attach it to my white card base and there you have it!

Supplies:

You inspire me
Paper: textured paper from stash, PTI Enchanted Evening
Stamps: Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp, Studio Calico grid pattern background stamp, Hero Arts Friends sentiment set
Ink: Jenni Bowlin speckled egg and spice tin, Colorbox silver
Misc: Wplus9 Hearts and Clouds dies, foam dots 

Just saying hello
Paper: Autumn Leaves kraft card (with matching envelope in set)
Stamps: Studio Calico Alpha Pattern cling stamp, Hero Arts Everyday Messages
Ink: Jenni Bowlin spiced tin, Fresh Tuscan Olive and Fresh Lilac
Misc: PTI Double ended banner, Versamark marker

xoxo
Paper: Staples 110lb white, PTI Hawaiian Shores, textured cardstock from stash
Stamps: Hero Arts Studio Calico lattice background stamp, Hero Arts Everyday Messages
Ink: Jenni Bowlin speckled egg and spice tin, Fresh pear ink
Misc:  Wplus9 Hearts and Clouds dies, foam dots, Craft Concepts hexagon embossing folder, Tombo Mono Multi glue

Fresh Inks - a product review

You know when you find something you love and makes your crafting even more fun?  Yup, well inks make me happy and pretty colours inspire me to create.

image from Impress Rubber Stamps

Now, don't get me wrong - I still love my Jenni Bowlin die inks (check out my post here for a product review about those) but when I want pigment inks, Fresh Inks are now my go to choice.  I purchased them from Impress Rubber Stamps and they have the full selection.  And when I mean full selection, I mean every single colour of the rainbow ....   41 GORGEOUS shades!!  Here is a pdf of all their colours.

Fresh Inks have vibrant colours and dry fast.  Excellent coverage for clear stamps and very little staining (more just a light tint and only with the darker colours).  I know most people say that staining simply shows that your stamps are well loved but after a traumatic experience with a beloved Papertrey floral stamp and Colorbox chalk ink, I have been slightly scarred! :-o

I have made colour swatches of the Fresh Inks I have so far and here they are:

Mmm ... I just love them all lined up!  I bought these when there was a sale at Impress.  Every once in a while, they have coupon codes and usually post them on their Facebook page as well. 

As for shipping, the great thing about this company is that they will ship to Canada and simply charge you the exact amount of shipping and it is very economical.  Score, right?

Oh, and btw, I am not getting any free product from the company for writing this ... just wanted to share a good find! :)

 Here are a few cards I've made using these inks:

 So what inks do you like and why?  Feel free to leave a comment ...