PPA 125 - Tag

Tag-you're it!  That's what comes to mind.  What also comes to mind the day after Christmas (for me, anyway) is to begin wishing everyone a Happy New Year.  So that, combined with a tag, resulted in this:

The cardstock is Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Naturals Ivory for the image and sentiment and some Confetti Cream under the image on the bottom.  The DSP on top is from K&C Company, called Black and Ivory Designer.  The Happy New Year sentiment is from Fiskars Holiday Hooplah.  The sentiment was punched with SU Large Tag punch and and the SU Horizontal Slot punch (retired), bordered in Basic Black and tied with some black polka dot ribbon.
Happy New Year 2012!

PPA 124 - Deck the Halls

We have a sketch challenge this week and I am in the middle of Christmas preparations so my card has a Christmas Theme.

My card stock is Stampin' Up! Naturals Ivory which I sponged with Tim Holtz's Tattered Rose Distress Ink.  I used designer paper from Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium Collection.  I have used this paper throughout this holiday season; I find it so versatile and I love the old fashioned look of this collection.

I clipped the Deck the Halls Carol from one of the pages and also cut the bottom border from one of their pages.  I used a coordinating DSP page to back the music graphic, cut the lace border with SU Lace Ribbon Border punch, and punch some scalloped circles.  The Merry Christmas sentiment is from SU Delightful Decorations and punch with a 3/4 circle punch.  I also sponged the edges of the ivory scallop and the circle with the tattered rose.

The Christmas Carol  and the scallops are popped up with dimensionals.

These are not your typical Christmas colors, but I like the look of Christmas of yesteryear.

Puttin' on the Glitz PPA 123

PPA Challenge 123 - Puttin' on the Ritz.

Using Crushed Curry, Red and Whisper White, I created the card.  Using a "Savvy" stamp and metallic gold ink, I stamped Merry Christmas.

And again this week I used 2 Memory Box dies: "Classic Ornament" and "Villanti Crest".

The glitz comes from the metallic red sparkle paper of the ornament and the metallic gold cord and bow.

PPA 122 Dasher The Rich Razzleberry Reindeer

OK, so I goofed this week but I am submitting this card anyway.  When I read the challenge I clearly read Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla.  But, when I went into my work room I used Rich Razzleberry, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla - and I don't know why...

Anyway, I ended up with Dasher the Rich Razzleberry Reindeer!  Either way, I would never have thought of using Cherry Cobbler or Razzleberry for Dasher.  As it turned out, this is a pretty neat combination of color.  When I sponged the edges of the Very Vanilla, I even covered the bottom for some Razzlebery snow!

The striped DSP is from SU's Spice Cake designer paper; I liked the way it looked with Always Artichoke.  The Merry Christmas sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes punched with the Word Window punch.

I used the Sakura Gelly Roll pen "Clear Star" to make Dasher's antlers sparkle a bit.  You may not be able to see that in the photo.  Thanks again PPA for getting me out of my comfort zone and challenging me to try new things.

Catalina Wreath PPA 121

I am really enjoying using the Memory Box die cut designs.  This week for the PPA Challenge, I am using the Catalina Wreath which I cut twice using a Holly design paper from Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium Collection.

Using Stampin' Up!'s Crushed Curry cardstock, I glued down the first die cut flat to the card.  Then I wrapped a string of pearls around the second die cut and placed it on top of the first die cut using dimensionals.  I added a few of SU Basic Pearls to the a few flower centers in the wreath.

I tied a grosgrain bow and added that, also with a dimensional.  The sentiment is from Savvy Stamps using SU Rich Razzleberry ink.

This is a really simple card.  I think this is going to be my Christmas Card this year.  Thanks for the inspiration PPA!

Flowering Christmas Tree

Hi!  My new job keeps me very busy these days and I missed last week's challenge.  But I finally got a chance to make a card for the PPA 119 Challenge. 

Here is what I used:

The Card stock is Stampin' Up! Confetti Cream, Old Olive for the die cut on the tree, and DSP Old Olive from the Patterns Stack for the bottom piece.   The "tree" is a hand cut piece of red metallic card stock.

The die is from Memory Box and is called Flowering Christmas Tree.  I placed the die cut on the red paper with a few small gold brads.  The glitter gold ribbon is from Offray and the twine is called  Doodletwine "Christmas" by Doodlebug Designs.

The stamped images are from Stampin' Up!'s Delightful Decorations.

PPA 117

Today is my husband's birthday.  It is also Halloween. I decided to enter a combo Birthday / Halloween card for the PPA 117 challenge.

All products are Stampin' Up!  Basic Black and Naturals Ivory card stock, Dark and Dreary and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp sets and Raven Trim Lace for the ribbon.  The DSP is Pick Your Poison from the Holiday Mini.

Happy Birthday Dennis!

No time to Stamp this week

My husband and I both started new jobs today!  I participated in a Craft and Vendor show on Saturday (to meet new folks and generate some interest in workshops) so I didn't have much free time on the weekend.  Even though time was short, I did not want to miss an opportunity to participate in the PPA Challenge.

So I used some paper from Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium Collection for the PPA 116 sketch challenge.  The card stock is Stampin' Up! Dusty Durango and the DSP are both Graphic 45.

I cut the image of Santa and the Children and placed it on a piece of plaid on the diagonal.  The ribbon is a sheer navy blue with gold metallic stripes.  Using a Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star pen I outlined the border of the image and also outlined the bricks.  I am not sure if that shows up in the picture, but the glitter pen adds just enough sparkle to make the card festive.  

No time to get elaborate, but enough time to make a card I am very happy about.

PPA 115

This card was fun to make for the Fall/Thanksgiving challenge.  I made the leaf pattern paper by randomly stamping different size leaves with Burmuda Bay, Dusty Durango, More Mustard and Close to Cocoa SU inks.  I placed that paper on  Dusty Durango card stock with a Scallop Trim Border punched from Burnuda Bay.  The card is SU Close to Cocoa.

PPA 114

This week's Color Challenge is:

I used  Halloween Stamp sets from Hero Arts and Stampin' Up!.  The paper is Stampin' Up! and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up!'s Wicked Cool.  I wanted to keep adding spiders, but I controlled the urge. 

PPA113

Pals Paper Arts wants us to raise it up this week! Add charm and elegance to a design with embossing! Using a heat gun and embossing powder to raise an image, a sentiment - or both! Heat embossing is such an easy way to add the WOW factor to your card!

This is a technique I learned at a Stamping Blitz last Fall at Bella Art in Johnston, RI.  The image is stamped and then embossed in gold.  I then used Inkadinkado Iridescent Watercolor Paint to paint the leaves in fall colors

I also embossed the sentiment in gold.

Paper Lace

The white textured card stock which has been embossed with the big shot is my look of lace for this challenge.

PPA 111 variation on a Sketch

This week's challenge is this sketch:


I am still on the Alice kick since the last challenge, so my submission is this:

Yes, the recipient of this card is invited to tea...a formal tea, hence the 3 top hats along the side.
Seriously, all the paper is Stampin' Up!: Crumb Cake, Basic Black and the DSP is from the SU Neutrals Collection Stack.  I cannot be without that DSP stack.  I also made the envelope from the DSP stack.

The table scene image is from TJ Designs - The Mad Hatters's Tea Party.  The small top hats are from Inkadinkado.  Images are stamped with Versafine Black Onyx and colored with watercolor pencils.  I swished the SU aqua painter lust a little over the colored areas.

The "You're Invited" is from a retired (2007) SU set called Hugs and Wishes.

This also makes a nice masculine birthday card.

 I used the "Wishing You a Happy Birthday" stamp from Stampin' Up!'s "Happiest Birthday Wishes" set 2.   The sentiment can fit in the opening of SU's  Modern Label Punch if you punch just above the lower dots. I love the old-fashioned look of this stamp.

Made the envelope with the SU Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  Since I purchased my Simply Scored, I have made my own envelopes for every card.

PPA 110 Curiouser and Curiouser

This week's PPA theme is Halloween.

I decided to try a Petal Card.  This Petal Card was the Wednesday tutorial by Beate Johns on SplitcoastStampers.  Link to The Weekly Inking  http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2443390005842735970

I used Stampin' UP! (SU) Basic Black card stock for the 4 Beaded Circle die cuts.  The Beaded Circles are from Spellbinder's Nestabilities. I used SU DSP, Pick your Poison, from the Holiday Mini.  The sentiment inside the card is also SU from the stamp set Wicked Cool.

All the other DSP is from Graphic 45, Hallowe'en Collection.  I am a big Alice in Wonderland fan and I ordered this paper on line a few weeks ago.  I believe it has just become available.  I thought this challenge would be the perfect time to use this paper.

Making this card was a challenge.  The most important thing to do is to be sure all the angles are 90 degrees.  The Simply Scored Tool was perfect for checking the the corners were square.

This photo shows the card closed with the belly band on:

This photo shows the card open:

In the third photo I tried to show the petals partially open, but the petals kept popping open; however, I think you can see how the card works.

Learning to make this style card was fun.  Thank you PPA and SplitcoastStampers.

PPA 109 Color Challenge

Color Challenges are always tough for me.  This combination was especially challenging. 

The Basic Gray was continually reminding me of a silver anniversary, so I created a 3D project that could be used as a favor or a small token remembrance.

Instead of submitting a favor with a "Thank You" sentiment, I changed this to a small gift box of candy with the sentiment "Happy Anniversary".

The "nugget" box was cut from Red Riding hood, 4" X 9.5" and scored at 5/8" and 1 and1/4" on all four sides.  It is then assembled like the SU matchbox, this is just a longer box ( cut and scored manually)  The instructions for this box can be found at Fabulously Artsy at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eVNkZEv6K8&feature=related

The Basic Gray is from the SU Patterns Stack, Neutrals Collection.  I  used alternate sides of the designer paper for the box cover and belly band (paired with the Calypso Coral) and for covering the nuggets.  The milk chocolate Hershey Nuggets are wrapped in silver foil, which complimented the Basic Gray nicely.

Knitting takes the edge off

PPA108-CAS-Elements of Style-Soften the Edges




Life gets a bit rough now and then and sometimes you need to soften the edges. Pals Paper Arts challenges you to do just that this week! Create a CAS card and round some corners - or adorn some corners.......whatever you need to do to take the edge off!

Using K&Company paper collection Black and Ivory, SU Naturals Ivory and Basic Black, Versafine Black Onyx ink and SU Hand Knit stamp set, this is my submission:

I masked the needles to make them look like they are inserted in the skein of yarn.  I think knitting does take the edge off.

I submitted late this week, thanks to Irene. 

PPA 107 Sketch Challenge

Click on image to enlarge.

This is my submission for the PPA 107 Sketch Challenge:

The stamp set and sentiment is from Magenta.  The DSP is from Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Stack Brights Collection.  I used both sides of one double sided sheet.  The Scalloped Edge punch is from Martha Stewart.  I colored the images with water color pencils and then painted with an Aqua Painter.

I am learning that my favorite color for card making is green.

Thank you PPA for the opportunity to exercise creativity!

I thought I would add the original card that the sketch inspired. Can you see the stickles on the berries?   I couldn't submit it for the challenge because it didn't fit the sketch requirements.  I did manage to morph it into a more appropriate submission for this particular challenge.

PPA 106 Dress for Success

This week's challenge is this:  Use 1 piece of designer series paper, 1 punch and 1 sentiment.

I used SU Kraft card stock, the DSP is SU Spice Cake, from the Holiday Mini, the punch is SU Bird Builder and the sentiment is from SU Language of Friendship.  I used Versafine Vintage Sepia ink to stamp the image in order to capture the detail on the bird and the leaves. 

I sponged the edges with the Vintage Sepia and rounded the corners with my snips (not as perfect as a corner rounder, but I had already used my one punch).

The ribbon is SU Scallop Dots in Chocolate Chip.

I was more pleased with the photo this week.  I had a great tip from Patti McLeith regarding using "Daylight" bulbs.  Thanks Patti, I am having much better results.

Lighting, Light Boxes and Photographing True Color

This week's PPA Challenge is a color challenge using:
Try as I might, I cannot capture the true color of my project.  I purchased a light tent and photo lights this week, and even using these I am not happy with the photo results.  The greens and indigo are not true.  The card base and the 3" scallop circle are the same card stock, yet the color looks different on each. In addition to learning this craft, I need instruction in photography.

Hello

This week's PPA challenge was Paper Piercing.   I selected a piercing pattern and pierced the design onto SU Crushed Curry.  I cut out the center with a Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Oval.  The card stock is SU Pumpkin Pie.  I stamped the cat and the hello with SU Pumpkin Pie ink using the Touch of Kindness stamp set.  I die cut the stamped image with the next smaller scalloped oval in the set.  I then pierced each scallop.   Because of the amount of piercing, I did not embellish any further.

40. Diane from Rhode Island

40. Diane from Rhode Island

Yay! My Stampin' Up! order came in and I am using my new stuff for the PPA 102 challenge.
I used my new Touch of Kindness stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog. The card stock is Daffodill Delight from the Brights Collection abd the DSP is from Just Add Cake. The image is stamped on Very Vanilla.

I used my new Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch to make the DSP "ribbon" The "Hello" sentiment is from Swirls and Curls Verses punched with the Curly Label punch atop an altered Decorative Label punch. The little blue bird singing above the hello is a great match for his feathered friends enjoying the bird bath. Summertime and the Livin' is Easy.

The Birdbath

Yay!  My Stampin' Up! order came in and I am using my new stuff for the PPA 102 challenge.

I used my new Touch of Kindness stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog.  The card stock is Daffodill Delight from the Brights Collection abd the DSP is from Just Add Cake.  The image is stamped on Very Vanilla.

I used my new Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch to make the DSP "ribbon"  The "Hello" sentiment is from Swirls and Curls Verses punched with the Curly Label punch atop an altered Decorative Label punch.  The little blue bird singing above the hello is a great match for his feathered friends enjoying the bird bath.  Summertime and the Livin' is Easy.

It's Time to Bloom

Well it is official.  I have registered as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  I will be organizing my first workshop soon.  This is very exciting.

The PPA 101 theme is Summertime Blues.  As we all know, "there ain't no cure for the summertime blues..."  Blue is not a color I often use.  No reason why, I am just not drawn to it, so this was a struggle.

Using SU Not Quite Navy, SU Bella's Bloom, Boho Blossoms Punch and some heat embossing, here is my submission.

...pie oh my...

For PPA 100 I am submitting a very simple technique.  I stamp the design multiple times on different papers, cut out portions of the design and glued them in place where they belong on the stamped design.

This "window" stamp and the sentiment are from the Lockhart Stamp Company.  The design was stamped on Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla.  The shutters are stamped on SU Kraft paper, then cut out and attached.  The card stock used for the card itself is Jen Wilson's 29th Street Market two-sided paper; a floral design on one side and a distressed green on the reverse side. I used the green side for the curtains, cut them out and glued them in place.  I colored the pie, cut it out and glued it in place.

The Very Vanilla is layered (on dimensionals) over SU Rich Razzleberry.  I colored the flowers, the pie and the window sill with watercolor pencils.

All the stamping was done with Versafine Onyx Black.  I don't often stamp the sentiment on a floral print, but I did this time; I like the result (...pie oh my ...)  The Sentiment on the inside of the card is "Happy New House" by Stampotique Originals, Inc.  This card is for a friend who just bought her first home and will be moving in soon.

Thank you PPA for all the inspiration, week after week.

The Pick Up

After many months I am back to stamping.  I finished school, moved and have been working on a crafting space.  Thanks to my husband, I am now in a new space.  So,  I can participate in Pals Paper Arts PPA96 Color Challenge -Masculine.

For my masculine card, I began with a digital image, The Old Truck, from Fred She Said.

I then colored the image with water color pencils and "painted" with an Aqua Painter from Stampin' Up!  The sentiment is also from Stampin' Up's "All Holidays".  I used SU's Scalloped Edge Border punch for the Cherry Cobbler scallops on the sentiment and under the Truck image.

Its good to be back participating in PPA's challenges.