Happy <3 Day

I have never been that big on celebrating Valentine's day, but I've realized it is a nice way to slow down and show the one you love some extra special attention! And any excuse to have a nice dinner out, glass of wine & dessert works for me!

For the card I was inspired by this card I pinned by Debby Hughes. 

I used the same circle die-cut from Papertrey Ink {here} and added various patterned paper circles.  The candy jar stamps are from Clear & Simple Stamps here and colored with Prismacolor markers.  The sentiment is from Love Songs stamp set by PTI. The ribbon was to cover up an oops! {some schmootz got on the front of card from workspace} I don't like when that happens, but I try to embrace the imperfection {like this post}so I added the ribbon and some rhinestones.  I like everything in 3's, so this card reflects that...3 jars, 3 types of pp, 3 rhinestones.

One thing I made for my sweetheart besides a card this year was this little folio where I wrote a poem.  I once was told to be a true Renaissance man {person}, not only do you have to be immersed in various arts and intellects, but you must have been the subject of someone else's love poem.  In talking with my significant other about the concept of Renaissance man he said no one had ever written a poem about him {at least that he knew?!}  So I decided I would do so and complete his title of a true Renaissance man!

For this project I used a folded 8.5x11 piece of cardstock {Papertrey Ink} and wrote my poem by hand on a piece of graph paper inserted at the fold.  I used my new Amy Tan roller stamp to add "love love love Feb 14 2013" at the bottom of the poem.  

On the left are letter stamps from Technique Tuesday and the graphic was created with Papertrey Ink's Heart Prints & All About You stamp sets. I also punched with a small heart punch {fiskars} and washi tape from Crafty Steals.

For the front cover I clustered various embellies from my stash---->Jolee's hearts, washi tape, rhinestones, American Crafts ribbon, striped die-cut transparencies from BasicGrey, and the cardstock sticker from Creative Imaginations Love Struck line found here.

Hope you all get to share in a lil love this Valentine's day!

DIY Stamped Background: Cards

This project has been on my mind for some time and I finally got around to getting it together.  My first loves are scrapbooking & photography, but card making is just too practical to pass up with all of my supplies.  A few issues I run into with making cards:

• Not enough Birthday cards on hand
• Not enough masculine cards
• Cards that are too embellishment heavy (& too expensive to mail)
• Stamps I want to use but can't figure out how

Cards

  I wanted to use some of my favorite products & techniques in a card, and had an opportunity with this graduation card.


  I've been resorting to white cardstock bases for the most part, and making 5x7 cards lately.  I used a lot of Papertrey Ink supplies {cardstock, ink, stamps} in this one.
  One of my favorite products I purchased at CKC last year, was this Color Me paper by Hot Off the Press.  I used the silver stars for this one and colored it with Papertrey Ink's True Black dye ink.

 After inking it up, {any ink will do} wipe the embossed part with a tissue to return to silver, white or a variety of colors they sell.

For the details, I embossed a "Celebrate" stamp {Clear & Simple stamps) with clear embossing powder.  

I used a star from Papertrey Ink's Star Prints stamp set, and masked a small punched circle for a phrase from Tiny Tags II stamp set.  With the numbers on the star, it so happens there was "12" I highlighted with gold Stickles for "2012". 

To finish, I edged with some Momento Silver ink and attached some gold ribbon to the star.  

  
A relatively simple card, but with some details that take a little more time to put together.  


Here's the Father's day card I made this year using Papertrey Ink's Rhythm & Soul stamp set.

I used some Coredinations cardstock, embossed with a musical notes Cuttlebug folder.  Add America Crafts ribbon under the sentiment and popped with glue dots.  

Sewing on Paper

  Sewing is another favorite hobby of mine, although I am no expert, I have fun trying to hack away at patterns.  I have admired the look of sewing on paper, whether it be on scrapbook layouts or cards for quite some time and it has been on my {scrapbook bucket list}.  

  I have been hesitant to use my good sewing machine, and have looked into some of the mini versions, but have yet to make a purchase.  

  I needed to make a {thinking of you} card that was bright & cheerful.  I chose some patterned paper strips to embellish with and was inspired to sew the pieces on for the aesthetic look of the stitches.  

  
  I practiced first on a spare piece of the same patterned paper and cardstock combination.  After reading various tips online, I used an older, duller small needle in my sewing machine.  I set the sewing machine settings to a wider stitch so that it would be more visible and actually attach the pieces as well.  I had the perfect matching color thread all ready set up on a bobbin, so it worked out nice.

  The thinner pieces I sewed on both edges on top of the other two pieces.  

  
  I adhered the ends of the thread to the back of the layer with my tape runner and just trimmed the excess paper down until it was flush with the edge of cardstock.  

  I love the finished look and will be doing this more frequently now!

Supplies: Stamps: Papertrey Ink {Everyday Button Bits}; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey {Romani}, Galloping Horse Productions {Pink Floral}; Cardstock: Papertrey Ink {Hawaiian Shores & White}; Felt: Papertrey Ink {Aqua Mist & Harvest Gold}, Wollfilz {Coral}; Thread: Gutermann

Crop Success!

Attending embellish IT's Play All Day was a fun experience & a huge success!  embellish IT owner, Shelby, who I have attended classes with her previously, taught two classes with scrapbook layouts and cards.  The amount of supplies received was more than enough and I had a lot leftover for other projects.  The mood of the crop was relaxing.  We had the first (& only, fingers crossed) snow storm of the year in Jersey that day, so it was perfect for just hunkering down and getting some scrappin' done. 
 I was happy with what I accomplished, I got about 14 double sided page protectors about 85% completed...I had to go back to fill in some journaling or reprint other pics.  I also did some pages in my artist book (by fancypants),  & completed a few birthday cards with the Simple Stories Happy Day collection.  

Overall I was happy that I decided to attend the crop & now I am looking forward to more!  I even signed up for the next Play All Day event in September.  

(this was in the bathroom, what a nice painting!)