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

PTI Make It Monday #150: Window Screen Cards - best wishes

Here is another card inspired by this week's Papertrey Make it Monday -I just love shaker cards so I thought I would try one of those combined with the window screen using a cover plate.

(See the video above for the helpful video by the talented Melissa.)

I cut a card panel using gold shimmer card stock (Recollections) and stamped it with PTI's BB: Circles using Vintage Cream ink.  I layered this with a Round and Round (PTI anniversary set) sentiment  StazOn Jet Black ink.

I used a grey (Staples) circles cover plate die cut with some acetate to make a window and added gold and red sequins.  I used lots of foam dots to pop it up off the card base (SU Basic Grey).

I just love interactive cards so this shaker card fits the bill!  If you have sequins, glitter or even wood veneer shapes, you can throw those in and get started with one of these.  Have you made any shaker cards lately?  

PTI Make It Monday #150: Window Screen Cards - baby

This week over at Papertrey, the talented Melissa shows us how to make window screen cards.  Love using my cover plates in a different way.  You can take a look at another card where I used it as a whole front - very delicate looking:

Anyway, back to this week's MIM ...  I decided to make a baby card that I needed to do for a colleague.  Here's what I came up with:

I started with a white card base and cut a Sweet Blush cover plate with the Hexagon Cover Plate.  I layered a light grey (Staples) card front with some Mini Blooms stamped in Fresh ink (red currant, fuschia, tuscan olive).

I decided the circle needed a frame so I added a Recollections silver shimmer frame and then a Raspberry Fizz 'baby' die cut from PTI's word dies.  I cut some thin slivers of foam tape and coloured it with a reddish pink Distress marker to blend it in a bit more.  I decided to add some Wink of Stella clear glitter - very subtle but love the way it looks!

Here's a better shot of the shimmery die cut - have you tried these pens?  They rock!!  I bought silver and gold too but I use the clear the most.

Are you playing along this week?  Any creations so far?

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