Designing with Digital Images Part 1

Happy Wednesday!  In the last year or so my blog posts have dwindled down to about one or two a month.  While working full time keeps a roof over my head, my bills paid and funds my creative addiction, it does get in the way of me having time to play!  So when I do get the chance to play, I'd prefer to play more and blog less.

My creative time during the work week is pretty much limited to blog surfing and dreaming up card ideas while I commute to and from work on the bus.  However, the free digital images offered up as part of PTI's anniversary celebration today and the chance to win some customized stamps designed by Nichole were enough of a driver for me to push through the work day fatigue when I got home tonight and I sat down and made 6 cards!  That's more than I make in a weekend sometimes.  Nothing like a little competition to get my creative rear in gear.  Here's my first card, which uses Heather's digital freebie:

 Most of the cards I made tonight have little to no stamping on them.  I did swipe some white pigment ink over the impressed numbers panel to add some interest on this card, though.  I'll be back shortly with another card.  I'll keep the chatting to a minimum, though.  ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

PTI January 2013 Blog Hop: Black Background

I'm back with my project for this month's blog hop which is to focus on a black background.  I have not really started on Valentines yet, and my limitless layer heart dies were sitting on my desk waiting to be used.  I also spied the rainbow color scheme worksheet from a recent MIM challenge that I didn't get a chance to play along with and decided to combine the two challenges together.  So here is my project:

I used the chevron embossing folder from Stampin' Up to add some interest to the black layer.  It felt strange to me not to put a sentiment of some sort on the front, but I couldn't really figure out a good place to add it, so I just left it alone.

Thanks for stopping by!  I look forward to seeing what you created!

Make It Monday #100

I enjoy the Make It Monday video series every week, but I usually run out of time and don't get to play along, or else I make the project but then don't create a blog post for it (that's usually the case for most of my crafting projects). This week though, I had the time to make the project and get my blog post done--perhaps the chance of winning a $100 gift certificate has something to do with it!

 

I decided to use an oversize envelope to package my card with the extended embellishments.  This challenge prompted me to use some new things I recently acquired--paper and an organization tool.  The floral paper comes from a new Recollections Valentine collection at Michaels.  I was able to use nearly the entire 6 x 6 sheet with this project.  That was satisfying because as much I love to use patterned paper, I'm often left with scraps of various sizes and then there is the dilemma of what to do with said scraps.  My other new purchase is the We R Memory Keepers Washi Tape Dispenser.  Depending on the size of washi rolls, the box says you can store up to 30 rolls.  I think I have about 22 stored in mine.  I wish I could say that took care of organizing my collection, but no, I still have nearly a shoe box filled with rolls of that lovely tape.  However, I've decided that I will swap the rolls out of the dispenser periodically with the change of seasons and holidays, thus giving more of my tapes equal opportunity for use.

 

Back to my project.  With this new organization tool, I now have some of my tapes more visible so when looking for a way to embellish my envelope, my eyes floated to my tape dispenser and I found two rolls that looked like they would pair nicely with the patterned paper.  And I really liked the look of the two tapes layered together.

That's it from me.  Have a wonderful week!

December 2012 PTI Blog Hop: White & White

Here it is, the end of December already.  I hope you had a wonderful holiday with friends and family!  I'm back with my final blog hop card for 2012, which was to create a white on white project.  My card celebrates the beauty of winter and the joy of the first snowfall:

Thanks for stopping by!  I look forward to seeing what you created!

Card details:
Cardstock:  shimmer white; Classic Crest Brilliant White (Neenah)
Stamps:  Peace Be Still, Winterberry (PTI)
Ink:  Essential Glue Pad, London Fog (Tsukineko)
Dies/Impression Plate:  Peace Be Still, Tiny Tags, Peace Be Still IP (PTI)
Accents:  white sheer ribbon; silver cord; Lily White glitter (Doodlebug); Vanilla shimmer mist (Smooch Spritz)

November PTI Blog Hop: Cover Inspiration

Happy November!  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I'm back with this month's projects for the PTI blog hop.  This month's challenge was to take inspiration from a book or catalog cover.  I've found that as I've gained experience in my crafting hobby that I regularly look at things with a critical eye, especially to see if I can translate an idea into my crafting projects.  Clothes, food, furniture and print material in particular are often the springboards for some excellent color combos or card layouts.

This time of year seems to bring a lot of junk to my mail box, however even if I don't plan to buy anything from a catalog or promotion mailer, sometimes I save it because I'm drawn to the graphics.  This was the case for my two inspiration pieces for my blog hop projects.

My first project was inspired by this ad from Bath and Body Works:

I liked the bright colors, the warmth of the cozy slippers and the pretty bow.  All of these elements I tried to incorporate into this card:

The striped patterned paper reflects the candy cane border of  the ad; the stockings represent the slippers; the sentiment band takes the place of the green satin ribbon.

I decided to make a second project because I was also inspired by this catalog from Franklin Covey:

I was drawn to the graphic gray chevrons paired with the bold red and white snow background and the decorative frame for the focal image and came up with this:

Thanks for stopping by!  I look forward to seeing what you made for the hop!


Card details:

Deck the Halls
Cardstock:  Pure Poppy and Rustic Cream (PTI)
Paper:  Red and White stripe (Authentique)
Stamps: Love Lives Here: Holiday; Holiday Photo Finishers (PTI)
Ink:  Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Sweet Blush (PTI)
Dies:  Love Lives Here: Holiday; Holiday Photo Finishers (PTI)
Accents:  Lily White Sugar Coating glitter (Doodlebug); glitter pens in red, yellow, pink (Spica)

Happiness & Joy
Cardstock:  Soft Stone, Pure Poppy (PTI); white (Neenah)
Stamps:  Background Basics: Chevrons, Stylish Holiday Sentiments (PTI); Snow Day Background (A Muse Studio)
Die:  Tag Sale #6
Ink:  Fresh Snow, Pure Poppy, Soft Stone (PTI) Tea Dye distress (Tim Holtz)
Accents:  rhinestones (K and Co.); silver glitter brad (Making Memories); peppermint candy punch (Martha Stewart)

October PTI Blog Hop: Non-Traditional Holiday Color Schemes

Another month gone by already?  Boy this year is flying!  I'm back to share a couple of cards I made for this month's PTI blog hop.  My friend Kristie came up to visit me last weekend for some crafty shopping and card making!  I was sorry to see the weekend come to an end, we were having such a good time!  Anyway, I have been debating about purchasing PTI's Vintage Ornaments stamp sets and dies for awhile now.  Kristie has them and brought them up with her so I could try them out and decide if they needed to move from my "maybe list" to my "buy list."  Verdict's in and the stamps and dies are now on my buy list!

I apologize for the poor lighting in the photos.  Photographing at night, even with an Ott light is not ideal.  I made one card using the Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores combo.  The pink and blue striped paper from Candy Cane Prints worked perfectly for this card.  I think this one is my favorite of the two:

My second card uses the Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf and Simply Chartreuse color combo.  I also got to try out my new Diagonal Stripes impression plate:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I look forward to seeing your creation too!

PTI September Blog Hop: Felt & Fabric

Happy Fall!  I'm back with a couple of projects I made for this month's PTI blog hop.  My first one is a re-purposed tea canister (if you are a tea drinker and enjoy apple cider, try Republic of Tea's Hot Apple Cider herbal tea--it tastes just like cider without the sweetness and it smells heavenly!)  that I dressed up with some patterned paper, a strip of brown fabric as a bow, a handcrafted tag and some die cut foliage.

The tag features the Autumn Acorns stamp set and dies and the Borders & Corners Circle set.  The die cut orange sprigs that are tucked under the fabric are from the Winterberry die set.  This little canister would be perfect for packaging up some ginger spice cookies and sharing with a friend.

 

My second project is a Halloween treat bag that I crafted using the larger boxy banner die.  I cut two of the banner shapes out of orange felt.  Then I used the jack-o-lantern face dies from the Shape Up pumpkin die set to cut out the face pieces from black felt.  I stitched the face onto the front of one of the banner pieces, then blanket stitched the two banners together creating a pocket.  Some chartreuse ribbon stitched in for a handle, and you have a little handmade treat sack for a special pumpkin in 

your life!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I look forward to seeing what you've created for the hop!