PTI January blog hop - gathering dust

Updated to include sentiments; I decided to forego Mat stack 2 die, and use a simple sentiment that didn't compete with the graphic nature of the pattern.  The new photos are not as crisp and done is worse lighting, so I kept both before and afters.

The challenge was to use a set that hasn't seen ink in awhile.  And while I'm pretty good about rotating through my stamps, it's been several months for this one. 

I envisioned two baby cards - stereotypical baby blue and pink.  I used Guidelines to stamp a pattern on white cardstock, and then coloured it in with copics.   Unfortunately I'm waiting for the Mat Stack 2 die to finish them off (darned customs!), so just imagine a frame just right off the middle for the greeting (in deep blue and pink respectively). :)

Supplies; Stamps - Guidelines, Mat stack 2 sentiment, Ink - spring rain and sweet blush copics, Paper - spring rain, sweet blush, grey, white.


Winter wedding

It was a bit hectic as the wedding was on Dec 27th, but I had stamped a damask background on shimmery paper a long time ago (like, in the spring), so it came together quickly.  I love, love, love the Damask designs stamp set!!

The card is a large one - a 11 x 8.5'' paper folded in two.  Lots of room for wishes.  I die cut the mat stack on vellum paper, and stamped a text background in white, followed by the greeting in black/versamark and heat embossed it. 

Here's a photo of the shimmery background.

Supplies - Stamps; Damask designs, Giga guidelines, BB: Text;  Paper - Fine linen, black, silver shimmer, vellum; Ink - Black, white, versamark; Other - Mat stack 4 die, cream satin ribbon.

The last of the Christmas tags

Supplies; Stamps - Holiday tags 2010, Wreath for all seasons, Paper - Aqua mist, Enchanted evening, Pure poppy, Kraft, cream, white, Other - copics, ribbons (new leaf twill, hawaiian shores twill, spring rain satin, red bakers twine, crochet trim), glitter glue, tag sale #2, limitless layers, 1 1/4'' circle punch.

THE Christmas card

That is going out this year.  It's challenging to make 'flat' cards to send out, but I'm happy with how they turned out.

Made half with rustic white, the other with rustic cream.

Added some glitter berries on the wreaths.  There are a couple of scored lines above the greeting.

Supplies; Stamps - Wreath for all seasons, Paper - Pure poppy, rustic cream, rustic white, Ink - Real red, chocolate, vintage cream, mushroom for sponging, Other - Mat stack #4 die, red glitter glue, score pal.

Cards for little people

I made some little cards for my daughter's friends.

I made an A2 card that has a fold on the 5 1/2'' side, then cut it in half through the fold, so the dimensions are 2 3/4 x 2 1/8''.  There's just enough room for a little message inside.  I attached a tag onto the front, and put into a glassine bag.  Quick and cute.  I wanted to put some treats inside with it, but still too much of a choking hazard at this age.

Supplies - Stamps; TT: Christmas, Paper; Pure poppy, kraft, cream, Ink; Real red, copics, Other; red glitter, candy cane bakers twine, glassine bags.

Meaning of Christmas

Here's a traditional card I made for my parents.  I'm really excited about this one, because I love the image, and there are several new techniques that I tried. 

First I stamped the image on vellum and heat embossed with gold powder.  Then I coloured the underside with copics, which was a bit tricky in that they don't fix permanently, so the ink keeps getting moved around.  I added some glitter to the Babe's clothes with a two way glue pen.

Then I applied glossy accents over the front of the image, working in between the sections of embossing.  It looks really cool in real life - like a stained glass window. 

Unfortunately the glossy accents really warped the vellum!!!  I tried to straighten it by putting it between old heavy textbooks (yeah - stamping instead of studying at night!  woo hoo!!) for a couple of days, but it only worked a little.

And then I couldn't attach the vellum using glue of any sort (because it was warped), so I had to use brads which I'm not crazy about. 

And THEN I was so worried that all that work would be ruined by a misaligned greeting (...because the vellum is warped), that I can't bring myself to do it.  I want to put it in the upper right corner.  So it might just stay like this. 

Next time, I'll do a double sided sheet of vellum (wrapping to the back) so that I can just tie a ribbon through the spine and not have to glue it, and I'll stamp the greeting early on.

Supplies - Stamps;  ?numerical name (Stamp barn), Paper - Scarlet jewel, vellum, white, Ink - versamark, copics (Scarlet jewel, Lemon tart, Spring rain), Other - yellow brads, gold embossing powder, glossy accents, glitter.  

Congrats on license

Quick 4 1/2'' square card I made for a friend who passed her driving test.

I added the buttons for the wheels to spotlight one of the car images.  I thought the green ribbon was symbolic - green means go.  :)

Supplies; Ink - white gel pen, Paper - Patterned (?), Spring Moss, Other - New leaf twill ribbon, Chocolate buttons, Labels #1 die

Card + Gift bag

I found this stunningly gorgeous card here.  I tried to recreate it, but my proportions were all off.  I started down the wrong path because of using a very large greeting font, then I couldn't place the trim on the same side of the bow...  But I like the results anyways.

My mom requested a card for a friend's birthday; the person loves soft greens and browns.   I also decorated a small kraft gift bag;

Supplies; Stamps - Giga Guidelines, Vintage Labels, free set from SU, Ink - Brown, Spring Moss, Crumb Cake, versamark, Paper - Rustic cream, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate, Other - Dark Chocolate satin, Spring Moss satin, Cream grossgrain ribbons, 1/8'' silk thread,Victorian crochet trim, Spring Moss button, Mat Stack 4 die, In Bloom impression plate, pearls.

Who lives in this snowy winter house?

I CASEd this from last year's Christmas card series from Kristina Werner.

My alterations - made a larger card, dotted the perimeter instead of slashes, and added a thick ribbon of 'snow' underneath the snowman.  The ribbon has a wire edge which made it easy to fold over for added dimension.

 

Supplies: Paper - kraft, Ink - white gel pen, Other - cream buttons (PTI), red saddlestitch ribbon, wire edged ribbon.

Playful Christmas

This was my first ever Copic-coloured image.  Back in July!  I took one look at the stamp, and decided to take the Copic plunge.  I didn't actually complete the card until now.  I just can't get into Christmas themed things before December.

Supplies; Stamps - Penny Black, Ink - Black (Memento), Tea Dye (Tim Holtz), Copics (Old Avocado, Real Red and New Leaf), Paper - Ripe Avocado and Ripe Avocado distressed dots PP (PTI), Other - dark chocolate baker's twine.