Friday, August 30, 2013

Happy, Happy!


The TCP Tuesday challenge was to make a tall, thin card - like one that would fit into a business sized envelope.  I don't often make cards this size, but it was sort of fun!  Well, except for taking a picture.  That was a little tricky!!  i kept my card clean and simple - creating a little scene with cardstock and making PJ, from the Bearing Flowers set, the star of the show.   Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Tricia


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Reaping a Harvest


Hello friends!  I have a fall card to share today with products from the Stamp Simply Ribbon store... but it is hard to think about fall in the heat of summer.  It has been in the 90's all week and, unfortunately, we don't have any air conditioning.  In some small way that scenario is like the Verve Plain Jane verse that I used on my card.  The summer heat can make us weary and we think that it will never end, but soon the crisp autumn air and snows of winter will refresh us.  In the same way sometimes we weary of our struggle to do right and follow the Lord whole-heartedly, but if we press on we will reap the harvest of his "Well done!!".  Of course, that's just one tiny facet of this beautiful jewel of a verse.  Just like all of God's Word it is like a treasure chest to be mined!! 

On to card details!

I stamped my Plain Jane with Memento Black Ink on a piece of white cardstock that I had cut with the Floral Oval die.  While it was still in the die I sponged it with a variety of rust and orange inks.  I stamped a leaf from the JustRite Shabby Chic Autumn Leaves set and colored it with copics.  Then I started building my layers.  I started with a kraft card base, added some layers of Kaisercraft Devonshire paper, and added a piece of seam binding ribbon to ground my sentiment.  I attached the leaf with some 3D Foam squares and then finished it off with some rhinestones.  Just a sweet and simple card using some of my favorite products!!

Here's your Shopping list...



Thanks for stopping by!!

Tricia

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Something New

Hi all!

Something new for me today!  For my birthday I ordered the lastest Gina K Stamp TV kit as my present, cuz I *loved* the colors and the sweet stamps that were included.  Shipping was a little slow, cuz they are crazy busy cutting all the rubber stamps.  (How's that for a problem to have!  And they are cut amaze-ing-ly close.... WOW!!)  Anyway, my kit came today and I was SO impressed!  There is a LOT in there... 4 stamp sets, ribbon, brads, cardstock, and patterned paper, plus I got some free sets, too!  I showed it to my DH and even he was impressed.  Yes!  That means I might be able to get one next quarter, too!! : )

So I opened the plastic box that it is all stored in and spread everything out on my desk, and then I about hyperventilated, because there were SO MANY things to choose from.  And I was afraid to cut into any of the paper, because "if I did I might run out".  Seriously!  So I decided to jump right in with this week's Freshly Made Sketch and this sweet Autumn Blessings set.


Everything is from the kit except the brads - the ones in the kit were copper-ish - and the little piece of orange cardstock.  I used SU, Memento and MFT inks. ( Next time I order from Gina K I'll try one of their ink pads so I can let you know what I think. ) I cut the flags with MFT Fishtail Flag Layers DieNamics, and the orange piece is a leftover piece of Open Scalloped Border that I had on my desk.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I need to go clean up my stamping desk now... which isn't nearly as fun as making cards!! :)

A Giveaway!

Hi all!

I have a giveaway over on my stitching blog if anyone would like to stop by!!

The Stamper's Stitches


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Thanks a Latte

Hello, hello!

I have a Gina K card to share today!  I've been enjoying playing along with the challenges over on Stamp TV and the other day I actually was the random winner.  YAY!!  I received an AMAZING grab bag of goodies from Gina K today.  Just look!!!  I got a pack of GKD patterned paper, red brads, a roll of assorted black and white ribbon, 5 images and 4 sentiments!  Of course, every grab bag will be different, but I think this one was AMAZING!!


Of course I really wanted to play with my new paper, so I whipped up a card for this week's "Touch of Gold" challenge with an older GKD set called "My Cuppa Joe", some of the pretty Berries & Vines paper, and a few brads for my touch of gold.


For my birthday I ordered my first ever Stamp TV kit from Gina K and I'm expecting it any day now.   I can't wait to see what it's like!!  I'll let you know...

Thanks for dropping by!

Tricia


Monday, August 26, 2013

A Present Help


Hello friends!

I have a pretty card to show you today that uses more of the beautiful Kaisercraft Devonshire paper from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  I've made a number of cards with this pad of paper and I haven't even used a number of the patterns yet.  Which is nice because it is a *perfect* fall/autumn pad and we're just heading into the fall season!  For this particular card I actually just combined some strips of leftover paper that were on my desk and stitched them onto a green cardstock mat.  The gorgeous Cluney lace adds some elegance to the card, and I carried that over into the sentiment by stamping a few flourishes around the Psalm 46:1 Plain Jane.  After cutting out the sentiment and mat with some oval dies, I hand cut the kraft mat with some scalloped scissors, and then added a sweet silk bow and a few rhinestones for sparkle.

Thanks for dropping in today!  Your comments make me smile!!

Supplies from the  Stamp Simply Ribbon Store:

Sunday, August 25, 2013

PTI Thanks

Hi everyone!  I had a few minutes to play this afternoon and thought it would be fun to join in with the PaperTrey blog hop!  I chose to work with the green and yellow color palette and this cute sketch.  And since the theme was "Fast Food" I thought that fallish flowers in a Vintage Picnic Basket would be just the ticket. : )

Here's my inspiration recipe...

And here's my card...


Thanks ever so much for stopping by!!

Tricia

Saturday, August 24, 2013

A Pair of Christmas Cards

I must be in the mood for "cute" right now! :)  Here are a couple of fun cards using some adorable critters.  I can see the first tucked in a box with a Christmas gift, or even used as a "welcome baby" card around Christmas time.  The second will probably be a birthday card for one of my friends with a Christmas-ish birthday. : )

Stamps:  Verve - Santa's Helper, Making a Statement; MFT - Tag, You're It
Dies:  Verve - Scalloped Rectangle, Mini Pennant

BTW!!  Did you know that DeeDee's Digis is open again???  This is one of the adorable images in her new shop.  YAY!!  I loved working with her digis!!

Digi Image:  Deedee's Digis
Sentiment:  Verve - Birthday Phrases
Dienamics: MFT- Wonky Scallop Border, Mini Tabs

 Thanks so much for stopping by!  See you Monday!

Tricia




Thursday, August 22, 2013

Dear Friend


It's Thursday, which means it's time for another Stamp Simply Ribbon Store card here on my blog!  My card today features a beautiful stamp from "Deep Red" - a new-to-me stamp company.  The stamps are cling mounted and the foam and rubber are both nice and thick, to give you a GREAT impression when you are stamping.

I stamped my Songbird with Memento Black Ink and then colored with copics.  After I cut out the image using a Classic Large Circles Die, I sponged it lightly with ink before mounting it on a Lacey Circle mat.  The designer paper is all from the My Mind's Eye - Tangerine paper pad.  Did I mention that I REALLY like this paper pack?? I love the soft oranges and blues!!

I stamped a little tag with a sentiment from JustRite's Shabby Chic Autumn Leaves set and tucked a little "postmark" from the set in a corner of my main image while I had it handy, then I did a little machine stitching to add some texture.  I added a few 3D squares under my focal image for a little lift, sprinkled some rhinestones here and there and finished it off with a 1/4" silk bow.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  The Stamp Simply supplies I used are linked below. :)

Blessings!
Tricia

Stamp Simply Supply List:

Spellbinders Classic and Lacey Circles


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Hoppy Birthday!


Good morning, everyone!

I have a fun, fun card featuring the bunny from Verve's Hoppy Easter set today!  I colored the bunny with copics and paper pieced his tummy with some My Mind's Eye Tangerine paper from the Stamp Simply Store.  Isn't it a pretty paper pad??  I love the ORANGE!!! :)  Orange makes me happy. :)

Anyway!

I followed this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, so I used a classic and petite scalloped circle nestie to frame my bunny and I cut two different flags - one with MFT's Fishtail Flags Layers and the stitched one was cut with Blueprints 2.

The sentiment is a combo of two stamps.  I used Hoppy, which was part of 'Hoppy Easter' from the Hoppy Easter set, and Birthday, from 'Birthday Wishes for You', which is part of the Making a Statement set.  (Both from Verve)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Tricia

Monday, August 19, 2013

The MFT Elf's Blueprints Challenge - DETAILS HERE!!



Hello friends!  Welcome to the MFT elf's Blueprints Challenge!!  Who is the MFT elf, you ask?  Well, actually, no one seems to know, but he came to life during the last MFT release party in this poem that I wrote on a whim...


Once there was a little elf 
Who lived at MFT
While other elves would pack and ship
A playing he would be.

First he found a protractor,
And then a metal ruler
And then he started drawing things
That couldn't have been cooler.

He started off with Blueprints One,
And added something grand - 
Sweetly stitched embellishments
That we don't do by hand!

A trip into the attic
Inspired Blueprints Two...
A ladder, tag and oval frame
And more stitched accents... SWOON!

Soon Blueprints Three was on the way,
And Elf said with a smirkle,
"I know, I know what I will do!
I'll pierce this strip and circle!"

"I need a heart," he said one day.
And how would a star do?
Blueprints Four will have them - 
And a mini scallop, too!

"Let's make mats with rounded corners,
Bracket dies and flowers sweet.
Blueprints Five's my finest yet!
It just can't be beat!"

But then one day, he thought, AHA!
And there was Blueprints Six!
With doily edges, frames and tags,
And buttons in the mix!

I saw the Elf the other day,
As busy as a bee.
Might there be a Blueprints Seven?
Guess we'll wait and see!

Well, one thing led to another, and at the end of the party Kim, the MFT Lady herself!, sent back this poem on behalf of the elf ...

Once there was a little elf,
Who was busy as can be,
Hard at play, all by himself,
Making Blueprints for MFT.

The little elf received a gift; 
A special poem for him.
His response was rather swift,
From ear to ear, he grinned.

He contrived the perfect stint,
Nothing would bring more joy,
Than to gift those beloved Blueprints,
For a special girl to enjoy.

He knew she had just 1 and 3,
But that just wasn't right.
He had to send out 2 and 4,
On that very night.

But even still it didn't seem,
Like that was quite sufficient.
Suddenly, his face, it BEAMED,
He knew his final mission.

He grabbed set 5 and then set 6,
And added them together.
A box of goodies he did ship,
To give her quite the treasure.

The moral of this story,
Is this simple bit of news.
Poems bring quite the glory,
To both elf and his muse.

------

Wasn't that just the most amazing gift???  I was OVER.THE.MOON!  I love, love, love my Blueprints DieNamics - as I think everyone does who tries them.  Have you seen the product review over at Splitcoast???  Anyway, my mission over the next several months is to make a card with each of the provided sketches for each of the sets of Blueprints that I have.... and I'm hoping some of you will join me!!

I'm going to start the first week of September, making a card from the first sketch for BluePrints One.  Week two will be sketch two and so on.  In October we'll be using Blueprints Two... In November, Blueprints Three...all the way through Blueprints Six... and maybe even beyond!! :)  You can play along with each of the Blueprints, or just join us for the ones that are in your stash.  Sound like fun??

Each month we'll upload our creations to the SplitCoast gallery with the keyword I'll give.  And there just might be a prize drawing at the end of the month, if you play along with all of that month's sketches.  Nothing amazing, you understand, just a little treat from the elf's muse...  :)

So there you have it in a nutshell!  I hope you'll spread the word and be ready to join me here and on SplitCoast for the first sketch on Monday, September 2nd.  And I'll bet if you'd like to play but don't have Blueprints One yet you could still get it in time for the challenge.  Just sayin!! ;)  See you then!

PS... BTW, This isn't an "official" MFT challenge... you know - like the one on their blog with samples by the DT... In fact, if any of the DT play along I'll probably faint!  I just asked Kim and Jody at MFT for their permission to use the MFT name and hostess this challenge, and they said "Go For It!"...  So let's have some fun with this!!! :)  See you soon!!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

MFT Blueprints and Plaid

Hi everyone!

I'm back today with a card for this week's MFT Sketch Challenge.  I went wild with my Blueprints DieNamics and scraps of DP for this narrow card, and, oh, how fun it was!! :)


First I cut a piece of white cardstock to 6x6" and folded it in half to make a longish card. My pink piece wasn't quite long enough, so I trimmed down the card to work with it.  I'm thinking the card base ended up being about 5.75" when I was done.

I used Blueprints 1 to cut the two strips of faux-stitched designer paper, and then I used Blueprints 4 to cut a little scalloped edging from white cardstock for one of them.  The white layer is actually a tag from Blueprints 6, and I stamped the plaid pattern with three different MFT inks... Red Hot, Kraft and BubbleGum... using the journaling lines from the "DC Tag, You're It" set.  LOVE!!!  The cute little kraft sentiment strip is from Blueprints 2 and stamped with a greeting from "Pretty Poppies" and the flower is cut with dies from Blueprints 5.  Now if I could have only gotten something from Blueprints 3 on there I would have used them all! :)

I really, really love the Blueprints for doing sketch challenges.  There are so many options that work perfectly!  Thanks, MFT, for making stamping easy!!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Stamp Simply - Christmas Trio

Hello again, friends!  Ready to see some more gorgeous goodies from the Stamp Simply store??  I don't know as my cards are that spectacular, but I *love* the pretty ribbons and flowers!!



I'm looking ahead to Christmas today, using some new sets released last month by JustRite.  My mission was to use more of the Kaisercraft Devonshire pad if I could, even though it is an autumn colored pad, and just LOOK at the pretty colors I found!  Don't they make you think of a lazy snowstorm with you all curled up inside in front of a fire, drinking hot chocolate and reading a good book?!

Let's start with the clean and simple one...


I started this super simple card by cutting a layer of Kaisercraft Devonshire paper 1/8" smaller than my card base.  I made sure I cut it so the pretty flourish on the paper would be along the right side of the card.  I then cut and embossed a petite circle and trimmed off an edge, so it could fill in on the left side of the card.  I stamped the snowflake from JustRite's Holiday Magic in light blue ink and added a sentiment from the JR Christmas Inside Wishes set in navy ink.  A little stitching and some Kaisercraft Rhinestones finish it off.


My next card uses another sheet of Devonshire paper, this time cut 1/4" smaller than the card base.  I used a leftover piece from my first strip to make a banner, and found a matching tag in the back of the pad.  My sentiment - from JR Festive Poinsettia - was stamped in navy ink on a Teardrop Circle that had been cut and embossed with a Spellbinders die and attached with a 3d foam square.  I added a few gorgeous Prima flowers and leaves, some Kaisercraft Rhinestones, and a pretty seam binding bow tied with string to finish it off.



My last card is just simple, soft and pretty.  One more sheet of Devonshire paper; a Christmas tree from the Justrite Holiday Magic set stamped in blue ink on a lightly sponged Classic Oval diecut; a handcut tag tied with string, with a sentiment from the JustRite set 'Festive Poinsettias'; and a big, soft, gorgeous May Arts silk bow embellished with a couple of Maya Road pins.  

Here's my supply list for the three cards...

Tree...
Bouquet:
Snowflake:

 Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Tricia






Tuesday, August 13, 2013

MFT Thanks


Hello again!

I'm putting in my MFT Sketch card under the wire again this week!  Somehow my weeks get busy! :)  For this week's card I layered some of the Pretty Poppies stamped in Red Hot and Factory Green inks, onto a pierced circle cut with the die from Blueprints 3.  LOVE!  There is a little hemp string in the buttons, a seam binding bow and a little sentiment flag cut with the smallest Fishtail Flags Layers die.  Of course the layout is MFT sketch challenge 136.

Have a blessed day, and be sure to stop by Thursday  (I almost said tomorrow!  I'm so confused!!) for my Stamp Simply post.  I'm thinking ahead to Christmas!! :)

Monday, August 12, 2013

Stamp Simply - Monochromatic

Hi friends!  I get an extra spot on the Stamp Simply roster this week!  Love it when that happens!  I decided to put together a very sweet and simple card with a single sheet of paper from My Mind's Eye Tangerine and a Verve Plain Jane stamp


I matted the designer paper with a piece of rust cardstock leaving a 3/8" border of my card base showing.  After stamping my sentiment - Verve's Psalm 37:4 Plain Jane - with Memento Black ink, I cut it out with a Labels Four die and sponged it lightly with VersaMagic Jumbo Java Ink.  I layered a strip of the patterned paper (The opposite side of the pattern I used!) about a third of the way up the card and then added some stitching, after attaching it with scor-tape.  Next came a piece of seam binding, then, before attaching my sentiment popped up with 3d foam, I punched two holes in the diecut piece and made a cheater's bow, topped off with a tiny string bow.  Do you remember cheater's bows??  They are a wonderful way to add a flat embellishment to your card.  Simply make two holes next to each other - I use a 1/8" hole punch - and insert the ends of a piece of ribbon or seam binding into each hole in the front.  Next, bring each tail back up through the opposite hole and adjust as desired.  VOILA!  A cheater's bow!

Now if that explanation was a clear a MUD, just let me know and I'll put together a little picture tutorial for next time. : )

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day, and don't forget to check out all the new goodies in the Stamp Simply store!

Friday, August 09, 2013

Surely Goodness and Mercy


I love this Surely Goodness set from Verve.  The font and the flowers... sigh!  I stamped the flower on dp and colored in some of it with copics.  It's one of the smaller flowers from the set and I cut a section of leaves from the larger flower to use behind this one.  The scalloped frame die is one of my favorites from Verve, but this little banner die is going up in the favorites list quickly.  I love not having to cut all those flags by hand!  The embossing folder is from Hobby Lobby ... Paper Studio brand. And the grid stamp behind the words is from another Verve set called Making a Statement... I think! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

Thursday, August 08, 2013

Leaves of Friendship



Welcome friends!

It's really Thursday now!  Not like yesterday, which Blogger thought was Thursday!  Sorry about that!  ANYWAY... Thursday is now Stamp Simply day on my blog!!  Hooray!  I had a hard time knowing what to share with you first, but I must be in the mood for fall, because this gorgeous JustRite Shabby Chic Autumn Leaves set was calling to me!  I decided to make a sponged background to set off the leaves, so I cut a rectangle with a Spellbinders Classic Rectangles, and sponged it with different colors of ink while it was still in the die using some Sponge Daubers.  I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black first and then added some of the other images in the set in a variety of browns, rusts and even a little Ranger Distress Antique Linen.  I cut a scalloped mat from Kaisercraft Devonshire Paper - what a GORGEOUS paper pad!! - and then stamped my focal image leaf in Memento Ink and colored it with copics.   i attached the leaf to the main panel with some 3D Foam Squares, and then I added some beautiful Kaisercraft Rhinestones in Orange to give it some sparkle.  The panel is attached to the cardstock with 1/2" Scor Tape.   Have you used Scor Tape on your cards?  I've used an ATG gun for awhile, but you have to use a LOT of tape to make sure you have a good hold.  With the Scor Tape you know it will stick with just a few small pieces.  LOVE IT!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Oh!  And let me know if you like reading the "details" or if a supply list at the end is just as well.  I don't want to bore you! :)

Blessings!

Tricia

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Wonderful Wintertime!



One of the fun things about the challenges was the opportunity to pull out older sets that are retired.  This sweet little set from TAC is a perfect example!  I also tried to use up older pads of patterned paper.  And I used LOTS AND LOTS of cardstock and copic ink. I need to restock both!!

Be sure to stop back tomorrow.  It's my first DT post for Stamp Simply and I can't wait to share it with you!

Blessings!

Tricia

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Pretty Pansies


Good morning, friends!  

Did you think I fell off the planet?
After the week of challenges at SplitCoast, I think my creative brain shut down. : )  That's ok, because I have LOADS to share with you over the next number of weeks!

Today's card was made with the Flourishes Botanical Bookplates set.  I love pansies and these were so much fun to color with my copics.  The sentiment is from another Flourishes set - Autumn Blossoms.  I really like the little flourish on the "Thanks".  It looks so elegant!   All throughout the DTGD challenges I was trying to keep my cards somewhat clean and simple.  With 42 cards to do in 7 days, that was sort of important to me!  But I also wanted to make them pretty enough to send and not be embarrassed, so I tried to add in extra touches like stitching, buttons, gems and ribbon.   It was SO much fun to find my own style again and not try to copy someone else!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

Friday, August 02, 2013

It's August!

Sentiments:  Verve
DieNamics used:  Blueprints 1, First Place Award Ribbon, Small Scallop Border
It's the first Friday in August and that means it's time for a new Viva La Verve sketch!  I really like how this one came together.  I used both the Circular Sayings set and the Small Phrases set from Verve and the end of an MME paper pad.... and my LAST piece of Kraft cardstock!  I need to order more soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tricia

Thursday, August 01, 2013

Enough Caffeine

Just a silly card today!  I'm the bunny that is face first in the cup!! : )  

Stamps:  MFT Tea for Two, Verve Better with You