Papertrey & 8 Project Favorites

Good morning, Friends! Today is the kick-off for Papertrey Ink's 8th Anniversary festivities. It's finally here - can you believe it?! There is so much good stuff coming at you over the next 10 days. For realsies, y'all, you're going to love it.

Today, Nichole is introducing the design and illustration teams with a contest over on her blog. You could win up to $300 in wishlist goodness, folks. That's huge! So you're definitely going to want to head over there and see what's what. Plus, there might be a new face. Just throwing that out there.

As part of today's introductions we're sharing a memory from the past year. I’ve been a part of the Papertrey Ink team since 2012, but this past year may have been the biggest one for me yet! For the first time I was able to participate in Stamp-a-faire as a presenter instead of just hanging out cheering from the sidelines. I was so excited to take on the challenge of coming up with techniques and projects, but it also meant I had to step outside my comfort zone and learn how to produce videos. You all should have seen the crazy contraption I put together to hold my camera! I’ll admit (months after the fact), I thought I was way in over my head a couple of times and I still have no idea how I shot in HD (ha!), but I had a wonderful time and your collective enthusiasm gave me the confidence to relax and enjoy the experience. I can’t wait to grow further and share even more with all of you in the coming year!

I also want to take this opportunity to thank Nichole, Julie, and Jane for keeping me around. I love this job, folks. In fact, it's barely a job. It's like...recess with deadlines. Ha! But really though, I seriously feel so fortunate. I get to work from my home doing something creative that truly makes me feel fulfilled. I mean, I get to help facilitate the creativity of others. How incredible is that?! I could not ask for more and I owe it all to Nichole, Julie, and Jane.

We're also sharing our favorite projects from the past year. It was so hard to choose! You can click on the title of each card to visit the original posts and see the construction details. Here we go!

Birthday Confetti Card

Y'all, I have a thing for confetti. This was also the first Text Block die in the series, so it holds a special place in by heart. I also love how colorful and texture-filled this card turned out. I've also noticed, while looking through my favorites from this year, that I tend to favor reds, oranges, greens, and blues. This card hits on all of those.

Stamps: Bitty Background Blocks II, Birthday Style, It's A Celebration (now in The Vault), Foodie Fun, Holiday Cheer - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Pinefeather, Scarlet Jewel, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores - Papertrey Ink
Other: Text Block: Birthday Die, Tremendous Treats Halloween Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; W2 Marker - Copic; Xyron Machine; Glossy Accents - Ranger; Foam Tape - Scotch

Moving Box Card

I thought I was so darn clever with this card. That newsprint makes it. Thank you, Dawn, for that ingenious background set. The 3D box was a lot of fun, too. Little did I know that just a couple of months later I would be packing up my own house. Ahhh, foreshadowing, how do I love thee? And look! More reds, blues, and oranges.

Stamps: Bowl Of Sunshine, Background Basics Newsprint, Putting Down Roots - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Terra Cotta Tile, Classic Kraft, Aqua Mist, Packing Paper - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Classic Kraft, Smokey Shadow, Terra Cotta Tile, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise - Papertrey Ink; VersaMark - Tsukineko
Other: Bowl Of Sunshine Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; White Detail Embossing Powder - Filigree; Foam Tape - Scotch

Celebrate Paint Splatters Card

Who doesn't love a rainbow paint splatter? The paint on the brushes is even glittered, people! I'm a glitter fan. The Wet Paint die cut was the perfect complement to the Friendship Jar image. And the white embossing kept the paintbrush image from overwhelming the sentiment. Nice and bright and clean and colorful. Love!

Stamps: Drips & Dribbles, Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Fillers, Wet Paint - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Soft Stone, Pure Poppy - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Winter Wisteria, Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow, Smokey Shadow - Papertrey Ink
Other: Wet Paint III Die Collection, Monthly Moments: Spiral Notebook Die - Papertrey Ink; White Detail Embossing Powder - Filigree; Foam Tape - Scotch; Fine Crystal Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Colored Pencils - Prismacolor; Glue Pen; Xyron

Birthday Bouquet Card

I'm not too proud to make myself a birthday card. Plus, this card features the rock 'n roll technique, which is one of my all-time favorites. The Larger Than Life images work beautifully with that technique. I used the Friendship Jar set on this card too, but this time I curved the die cut to give the card some dimension. 

Stamps: Friendship Jar, Larger Than Life, Wet Paint - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Terracotta Tile - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Aqua Mist, New Leaf, Limeade Ice, Summer Sunrise, Terracotta Tile, Smokey Shadow - Papertrey Ink
Other: Jar & Lid Die, Wet Paint Cuts Die Collection, Aqua Mist reinker - Papertrey Ink; Pearl Shimmer Spray - Tattered Angels; Crochet Thread; Foam Tape - Scotch; 3D Shimmer Paint - Scribbles

Watermelon Pop Card

I love this card so hard. I remember that I was so excited about the watermelon-rind pattern that I actually ran out to our backyard to show Sean. He was covered in mulch, but still willing to humor me. That man's a keeper! Anyway...I also love the glittered watermelon seeds on this card. They make the popsicle feel a little extra special. It's just so fresh and summery and, right about now, fresh and summery sounds perfect.

Stamps: Summer Sweetness, Watercolor Wonder - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: New Leaf - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Pinefeather, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, True Black, Classic Kraft - Papertrey Ink
Other: Summer Sweetness Die - Papertrey Ink; Foam Tape - Scotch; Fine Onyx Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Circle Die - Quickutz

Wherever You Go Card

I think the thing I love most about this card is the color scheme. It's simple and crisp and gender neutral, which is great for cards that you have pre-made and on hand for those last minute needs. I also really love the texture from the Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate. The impression plates are perfect for adding subtle texture and I use them a lot.

Stamps: These United States, For The Graduate - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Vellum, Harvest Gold - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: True Black, New Leaf, Harvest Gold - Papertrey Ink
Other: Mat Stack 1 Die, Trendy Tree Tops Die, Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate - Papertrey Ink; Circles Die - Quickutz; Foam Tape, Vellum Tape - Scotch; Glossy Accents - Ranger

On My Mind Card

I love the colors and textures on this card. That Rustic Burlap Impression Plate will always be one of my favorites. Using it with white cardstock gives it a clean, more modern look. I'm also still quite smitten with Bowl of Sunshine. Those bowls remind me of my childhood spent in my family's kitchens. Plus, it was made for a very special friend and it makes me think of her all over again.

Stamps: Bowl Of Sunshine - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Classic Kraft - Papertrey Ink; white

Ink: Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate - Papertrey Ink

Other: Bowl Of Sunshine Die Collection, Tag Sale #10, Rustic Burlap Impression Plate, Spring Moss Button, Rustic Jute Button Twine - Papertrey Ink; Foam Tape - Scotch

Desert Neighborhood Card

I love those dunes. I used actual sand to give them realistic texture and I was so tickled at how they turned out. The In The Meadow dies are so great for these layered hill details. I also adore the cactus paired with the Ikat pattern. The result is so fabulously southwestern-y. And those soft, overlapping clouds...so good. Also, green, blue, orange. Just sayin.'

Stamps: Putting Down Roots, Irresistible Ikat, Up, Up, and Away - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Spring Rain, Classic Kraft, Fine Linen - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate, Spring Rain, Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay - Papertrey Ink; VersaMark - Tsukineko
Other: Linen & Canvas Impression Plate, In The Meadow Die Collection, Rustic Jute Twine - Papertrey Ink; White Detail Embossing Powder - Filigree; Foam Tape - Scotch; Sand

So those are my favorites from last year. This year is going to be just as amazing. You can bet on it! There are so many wonderful and inspiring things coming your way. Make sure to check in with Nichole every day for more anniversary announcements and chances to win prizes. So many prizes! Have fun over the next several days and I'll see you again soon!