Rainbow Birthday Card & A Little Announcement

This is my second post today, so if you're looking for the Papertrey Ink Stamp Designer Showcase you'll need to scroll down a smidge.

Well, hello there! I still can't believe I get to make this announcement, but I've been chosen as one of this year's Paper Crafts Magazine's Stamping Royalty winners! Totally bananas. For realsies.

You see, last year I made a goal for myself to enter card making contests and start submitting for publication. Ideally, I wanted to get something going before my 30th birthday. Then, I spent eightish months largely neglecting my goal. I saw that the Stamping Royalty contest was about to open, so I thought I'd give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen? They say no? Imagine my surprise when I received the email! My husband's eardrums will never be the same.

I wanted to share a card with you all today and a sparkly, rainbow-y birthday card felt fairly apropos.

I love this sentiment and I wanted it to really stand out, so I kept the card pretty simple. I stamped the candle outline repeatedly and went back to fill in with a variety of colors.

The flames were all stamped with the coordinating image and embellished with a bit of glitter. I stamped the sentiment onto a Sketched Shapes die cut and mounted it atop the candles with a strip of foam tape. Easy!

Thank you so much for joining me today and thank you so much to the editors of Paper Crafts! I'll be here in giggly disbelief if anyone needs anything. Take care and I'll see you again soon!

Recipe:
Stamps: Wishes Come True - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: White - Domtar
Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Limeade Ice, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores, Winter Wisteria, Aqua Mist - Papertrey Ink; Rose Bud, Tuxedo Black - Memento
Other: Sketched Shapes Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; Foam Tape - Scotch; Fine Crystal Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts

Stamp Designer Showcase - On The Links

Hi there, everyone! I wanted to pop in today to participate in Papertrey Ink's monthly Stamp Designer Showcase. I thought I'd highlight On The Links today, as we're (finally) starting to see sneak peeks of golf weather here in Ohio. These images are also great for Mother's and Father's Days, both just on the horizon. How about we get on to some projects, eh?

The first card I'm sharing today is a simple "way to go" type of card.

I began by covering a white card base with Spring Rain Striped Paper that I'd trimmed on the diagonal. Next, I die cut my frame and flag shapes from white cardstock. The flag was stamped with the coordinating image and the framed was stamped with a sentiment, both with Pure Poppy ink. I embellished my frame with a bow tied from baker's twine and set it aside.

I then stamped my little scene onto a piece of Spring Rain cardstock that I'd cut just larger than the opening in the frame. The pin pole and the golf ball were both heat embossed using white detail powder. I adhered the scene piece to my card front and then added the frame with foam tape. The flag was also added to the pin pole with foam tape. Perfectly on par, if I do say so myself. Ha!

Next, I have an interactive number to share with you. I paired the golf cart in On The Links with the Movers & Shakers Spinners Die Collection to create a little movement. The dies I used are for spinning, but I used them to create more of a sliding function.

I began by die cutting the golf cart from white cardstock and the hills dies from New Leaf Patterned Papers and cardstock. I adhered the polka dotted paper hill to a cardstock piece and die cut the Movers & Shakers shape from the resulting panel. I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment onto the striped paper hill. Next, I stamped my background scene onto an Aqua Mist card front. I heat embossed the pin pole and created a sand trap with a piece of Scor Tape and some actual sand. The mini flag was achieved by masking off most of the flag when I inked the stamp.

Next, I adhered a polka dotted hill to the card front atop my pin and sand trap. This acted as a patch to hide the card front in the hole created by the Movers & Shakers die. I put the interactive elements together tucked them inside as I attached the die cut hill in place with some foam tape (I hope that makes sense). I adhered my sentiment hill on top with a bit more foam tape (there's a reason I buy this stuff by the football-field-long roll). Next, I stamped my golf cart shape with the coordinating image using Pure Poppy ink. I stamped the cart again onto scrap cardstock using gray ink and trimmed out the wheels. I adhered them onto my image and attached the wheels to the interactive spinner things already on the card.

Finally, I used Glossy Accents to give the wheels a shiny finish. I'm in love with my speedy little golf cart. It's so cute!

Thank you for joining me today! Have a wonderful week and I'll see you again soon.

Recipes:
You're A Pro Card
Stamps: On The Links - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Spring Rain, Spring Rain Striped Paper - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: New Leaf, Pure Poppy - Papertrey Ink; VersaMark - Tsukineko
Other: On The Links Die Collection, Fabulous Frames Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; White Detail Embossing Powder - Filigree; Cherry Baker's Twine - Divine Twine; Foam Tape - Scotch

Golf Cart Card
Stamps: On The Links, Up Up & Away - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: New Leaf, Aqua Mist, New Leaf Pattern Pack - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow, Enchanted Evening - Papertrey Ink; VersaMark - Tsukineko; gray pigment - Studio G
Other: On The Links Die Collection, Movers & Shakers Spinners Die Collection, In The Meadow Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; White Detail Embossing Powder - Filigree; Foam Tape - Scotch; Glossy Accents - Ranger; Scor Tape; Sand

Little Floral Coin Purse

Hello, All! I hope you're all having a wonderful day. It's simply gorgeous here today and I'm looking forward to getting outside for a while later this afternoon. I just wanted to pop in today with a little coin purse I put together with the new Coin Purse Die from Papertrey Ink. It's adorable and totally easy!

Lately, we've had a few activities that require lots of patient sitting. I'm not good at patient sitting. I get twitchy and irritable and ask when we'll get where we're going or when we can leave. I'm also really bad at watching TV for the same reasons. Anyway, I knew I was going to have some waiting rooms and car time in my future, so I put together a couple of kits containing cut felt pieces, embroidery thread, needles, scissors, and buttons to keep myself occupied and out of everyone's hair. This is the result of that first kit.

I used Aqua Mist, Limeade Ice, Pure Poppy, and Vintage Cream felts. I used the Beautiful Blooms II #1 Die Collection for my flowers, the Buttoned Up #2 die for my flower center, and the Doodlie Do Die Collection for my leaves. I embroidered most of the decoration onto the leaves before stitching them to the coin purse (the bottom two veins and the stems are all stitched to the purse). That leaves their tips loose enough to give a little movement, but not so loose that I worry about them getting pulled off. I stitched through the flower, felt button, and real button with a couple of stitches to secure them. This purse is a bit more decorative/not as hardy as the other examples you may have seen, but I like not having everything stitched down too tight.

Thanks for popping in today and I hope to see you again soon. Enjoy your weekend!

Recipe:
Felt: Aqua Mist, Limeade Ice, Pure Poppy, Vinage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Dies: Coin Purse Die, Beautiful Blooms II #1 Die Collection, Buttoned Up #2 Die - Papertrey Ink
Other: Harvest Gold Button - Papertrey Ink; Embroidery Floss - DMC; Zipper - Coats & Clark

March Papertrey Ink Countdown - Day 5

Hello, Friends, and welcome to Day 5 of the March Papertrey Ink countdown! I am so glad to hear that you all have been enjoying the peeks of the new products for this month. I can't wait to see how you use the Text Block: Friends Die and Putting Down Roots! I have a couple of additional projects to share with you today, so let's get to it!

Today, I wanted to focus on showing you how using your background sets can add wonderful dimension and texture to the plant pots in this new set. I was partly inspired by these Hive Vases at West Elm.

I have one of these and it lives on our mantle (with or without flowers). I thought it would be fun to recreate the look with dies and stamps.

I started by die cutting the plant pots from Terra Cotta Tile and Canyon Clay cardstocks. I stamped the round planter with the small pattern block in Background Basics: Farm & Barn. I masked off a stripe on the tall planter and stamped it with the medallion background from Bitty Background Blocks. Next, I stamped two of the plants from Putting Down Roots onto Rustic White cardstock using Limeade Ice, Ocean Tides, Pinefeather, and Dark Chocolate inks. I heat embossed the needles on the cactus to give them a more realistic finish.

Then, I adhered the plant panel to a Classic Kraft card base that had been stamped with the sentiment and textured with the Linen & Canvas Impression Plate. I adhered the planters into place and embellished the cactus with a Canyon Clay bloom. I added a Victorian Lace strip in Ocean Tides and embellished the card base with some Rustic Cream Button Twine and a Terra Cotta Tile button.

My second card uses another background to dress up my planter.

On this card I began by stamping a Spring Rain card front with the house from Boards & Beams using Fresh Snow ink. I adhered that to a white card base and added a Photo Finishers strip that had been stamped with my sentiment. I stamped my plant twice, once in Simply Chartreuse and once in Limeade Ice, for a little extra volume.

Then, I die cut the pot and stamped it with the Crackled Mini background using Blueberry Sky ink (that I'd stamped off to soften the color slightly). I also stamped the plant fronds on the front of the pot before adhering it to my card front with foam tape.

My final card of this countdown is a shaker card using the new Text Block: Friends Die.

I began by simply stamping a pattern down the left side of a white card base using Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, and Summer Sunrise inks. Then, I created the shaker feature by die cutting a piece of Hawaiian Shores cardstock that I had run through my Xyron machine. I adhered that piece to a piece of clear cardstock and created a frame of foam tape on the back of the outer edges. I filled my shaker with an assortment of glitters and sequins for prime shake-ability.

Alright. That does it for me this countdown. Thank you so much for joining me this week! Today is another group post day, so Nichole, Betsy, Danielle, Dawn, Erin, Heather, Laura, Laurie, Maile, Melissa, and Melissa have even more to share with you today. Enjoy your weekend and I'll see you again soon!

Recipes:
Southwestern Housewarming Card
Stamps: Putting Down Roots (available March 15th), Bitty Background Blocks, Background Basics: Farm & Barn - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Classic Kraft, Rustic White, Ocean Tides, Terra Cotta Tile, Canyon Clay - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Limeade Ice, Ocean Tides, Pinefeather, Dark Chocolate, Terra Cotta Tile, Canyon Clay - Papertrey Ink; VersaMark - Tsukineko
Other: Putting Down Roots Die Collection (available March 15th), Victorian Lace Border Die, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate, Rustic Cream Button Twine, Terra Cotta Tile Button - Papertrey Ink; Foam Tape - Papertrey Ink

New Home Congratulations Card
Stamps: Putting Down Roots (available March 15th), Boards & Beams - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Spring Rain - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Fresh Snow, Simply Chartreuse, Limeade Ice, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening - Papertrey Ink
Other: Putting Down Roots Die Collection (available March 15th), Photo Finishers Die Collection - Papertrey Ink

True Friend Shaker Card
Stamps: Autumn Pattern Pieces - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores, Clear cardstock - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise - Papertrey Ink
Other: Text Block: Friends Die (available March 15th) - Papertrey Ink; Foam Tape - Scotch; Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; sequins

March Papertrey Ink Countdown - Day 4

Good morning and welcome back to Day 4 of the March Papertrey Ink countdown! I have a few more projects to share with you today showcasing the new Putting Down Roots stamp set and Text Block: Friends Dies (available March 15th). Shall we get to it?

I wanted to use the Putting Down Roots pots with other small florals you might already have in your collection. I thought I'd give it a shot today with Mini Blooms and I'm thrilled how it turned out!

I began with the tag. I die cut a Tag Sale #8 Die and stamped it with the flowers from Mini Blooms, pot from Putting Down Roots, and sentiment from Tag-its #2 stamp sets.

I die cut the flower shapes and used a mix of flat and foam adhesives to give the bouquet a bit of dimension. I then added an Aqua Mist layer that I'd cut into a frame. I finished the flowers with a bit of Crystal glitter for some sparkle.

I started the card by stamping the Aqua Mist card front with the large plaid pattern from Autumn Pattern Pieces using Fresh Snow ink. I adhered that to a white card base and set it aside.

Next, I stamped the bouquet onto a strip of white cardstock. Then, I die cut the sentiment banner from Spring Moss cardstock, stamped it with the sentiment from Fillable Frames #4, and added a couple of white stitches with white crochet thread. I adhered the floral panel to the card front and mounted the sentiment atop it with foam tape. I die cut the pot and flowers and stamped them with the coordinating images. I added those to the card front with a mix of flat and foam adhesives, just as I had with the tag. I finished it off with a bit of crystal glitter.

My last project for today features the new Text Block: Friends Die.

I began by Xyroning and die cutting several of the Text Block shapes. I stacked them together for sturdy dimension and glittered the top layer. I then stamped a patterned circle from Polka Dot Basics III on a Soft Stone card base using Raspberry Fizz ink. I layered the glittered Text Block stack over that circle.

Here's the sneaky thing about this card. A hidden pop of color!

That's all for me today. Thank you so much for visiting! Make sure to check in with Nichole, Betsy, Danielle, Dawn, Erin, Heather, Laura, Laurie, Maile, Melissa, and Melissa for even more inspiration. I'll see you again tomorrow!

Recipes:
Mother's Day Bouquet Ensemble
Stamps: Putting Down Roots (available March 15th), Mini Blooms, Tag-its #2, Fillable Frames #4, Autumn Pattern Pieces - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Spring Moss - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Spring Moss, Sweet Blush, Autumn Rose, Scarlet Jewel, Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Fresh Snow, Fine Linen - Papertrey Ink
Other: Putting Down Roots Die Collection (available March 15th), Mini Blooms Die Collection, Tag Sale #8, Get A Handle On It Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; Crystal Fine Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Foam Tape - Scotch; White Crochet Thread

Stacked Text Block Card
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics III (available March 15th) - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Soft Stone, Raspberry Fizz - Papertrey Ink; white
Ink: Raspberry Fizz - Papertrey Ink
Other: Text Block: Friends Die (available March 15th) - Papertrey Ink; Crystal Fine Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Xyron