Monday, May 31, 2010

Background Builders: Hearts

Hello! Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial weekend. Today is the release of the newest stamps from Wplus9, which I am loving! The Bird's & The Bee's and Background Builders: Hearts, these sets are a whole lot of fun! Check out the full reveal here.
Today's card uses Background Builders: Hearts... This kraft cardstock strip started out as a test piece. I was just playing around and testing my inks out on kraft cardstock, using the heart circles. But I loved how random and fun it turned out. So, I just went with it. Wrapped it with a couple twine bows and attached it to a kraft cardstock base.

This sentiment is from the other super fun set in this months release, The Bird's & The Bee's. Isn't this font just too cute! I love it! Stamped it onto a white circle and framed it with a few buttons and a third twine bow. Finished the card off with a rounded corner.

I really have been enjoying these new Wplus9 sets, I hope you like them too!

Have a wonderful day!

Maile


Sending You Lots Of Love:
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Friday, May 28, 2010

Card Creations Week Top Ten Blog Hop

Hello and welcome! I am so very excited to be participating in the Card Creations Week Top Ten Blog Hop in the Moxie Fab World! This week, both Moxie Fab World and Paper Crafts Connection blogs have been celebrating this fabulous issue... My goodness, Card Creations 8 is amazing! I love that it is packed full of a variety of styles, occasions, ideas and inspiration. It's a must have!
So here is the deal: The top 10 most published designers (well, it's actually 11 designers) from this issue have been invited to participate in a special blog hop to promote the 11 Top 10 Collections from CHA Winter. I chose to work with the gorgeous Hello Sunshine Collection from Lily Bee Design.
I am in love with this collection! The colors and patterns are so bright, cheery and fun. I am a stamper at heart. So, at first the thought of having to work with a scrapbook line kind of scared me. I usually stick to my basics of: cardstock, stamps, ink and a few embellishments. But honestly, this collection made it easy to create and I am extremely happy with the results! Check it out...
The rub-ons from this collection are fantastic! They are big and bold, which is perfect for creating a super simple card that really pops. I added this bright "{hello sunshine}" rub-on just over the edge of the white cardstock base and then tied some white crochet twine around the other end.
Again with the bright and cheery patterns and colors, aren't these chipboard flowers and buttons just too cute?! Finished the card off by layering the buttons over the flowers and then attaching them over the sunny sentiment.

Now onto the fun part! You have 12 chances to win these 11 Top Ten Collections (you can view all of them at the Moxie Fab World blog). Just stop by and checkout the amazing creations of the talented designers listed below and leave each of them a comment.

You have until midnight of Sunday, May 30th. One winner will be chosen from all of these blogs. The winners will be announced on the Moxie Fab World blog on Tuesday, June 1st. Now, have fun hopping!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Maile



{Hello Sunshine}:
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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Embellish Magazine Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to your next stop in the first ever Embellish Blog Hop! Here is what the excitement is all about, the Premiere Embellish Magazine issue! Check out the issue details here.
So, join me today along with Embellish Magazine for a blog hop filled with creativity, tips, inspiration and prizes.

The designers participating in today's hop have all created a project using the colors (red, turquoise, brown & kraft) and the embellishment (twine) from the new magazine issue. Here is my creation for the hop...
Stamped a kraft base with two different sized polka dot labels, from Vintage Labels, in Hawaiian Shores and rounded the bottom corners. Attached a strip of Beautiful Blooms pattern paper and stamped a sentiment from Up, Up & Away in Dark Chocolate.
To incorporate the twine element, I created this lovely. By using small lengths of twine and attaching the ends to the back side of a pretty button, I was able to create this super simple twine flower.
Just so you can see how easy this flower truly was to create, here is a picture of the back of the flower. Just used a 1/2" glue dot on the back of the button to hold the twine end in place. To attach it to the card, simply attach another glue dot atop the twine and adhere to the card.

Now for more fun and inspiration! Here is the list of participants:

Don't forget to leave comments on every blog. Embellish is offering four prizes for 10 lucky winners. The winners will be randomly selected from each of the blog hop participant blogs. A comment left on each of the blog hop participant's web site will give you an entry to win one of the prizes, which include Lawn Fawn stamps, May Arts Twine, Subscription to Embellish Magazine, and A New Design crinkly stained ribbon. All details can be found here.

Hope you enjoy the hop!!!

Maile


Thank You:

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Thanks For The Lift

Hello all! Yesterday was the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. I hope you all had fun participating and viewing all the amazing projects. This months hop was all about fabulous felt and the many unique and fun was to use it. I'm a day late but, here is my felt creation...Using the Up, Up & Away die, I cut the hot air balloons from Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores & Raspberry Fizz felt. Stamped the balloon images (from Up, Up & Away stamp set) onto the felt using Pallette Noir and attached them over a white cardstock panel, stamped with clouds and a sentiment, in Aqua Mist and True Black. Scor-Tape works wonderful for the job of attaching felt to cardstock. Next, tied the white cloud panel with 1/8" white silk ribbon and attached it all to a Hawaiian Shores card base.
Finished the card off by embellishing the balloons with Stickles glitter glue and a True Black flower button. Card measures 7" X 3.5".

Tomorrow is an exciting day! Embellish Magazine will be hosting a super fun Blog Hop, celebrating their Premier Issue! Be sure you all stop by the Embellish blog for the start of the hop and even win some prizes!!!

Thanks for taking the time to visit today, hope you have a wonderful one!

Maile


Thanks For The Lift:
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Monday, May 24, 2010

Christmas in May

Yes I know, Christmas is a long ways away. But, since waking up to a couple inches of snow just this last Sunday. I thought it would be fitting to share this Holiday creation with you... This card was created for one of the last Paper Crafts Magazine calls, but never got picked up. So why not share, it's always a good idea to get a head start on the season. My inspiration for this card actually came from a pair of my favorite Christmas socks. They were made of the exact argyle pattern I created here on the card (using A Little Argyle by Lisa Johnson). The layout was easy, it's the same layout as the one used for the card on this post.
Created the pattern by stamping the solid argyle pattern block in Pure Poppy, used the single diamond to randomly stamp the Sweet Blush, Spring Rain & Spring Moss and then topped it off with the black linear argyle pattern block. Stamped the tree and sentiment from Winter Swirls onto a punched circle and embellish with a few True Black buttons.

Hope you enjoyed a little Christmas cheer today! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful Tuesday!

Maile


Happy Holidays:
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Sunday, May 23, 2010

2S4Y - Sponsored by Wplus9

Hello my friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! This week, Wplus9 is sponsoring the latest 2 Sketch 4 You challenge. Check out the great sketch...As per my usual style, I changed things up a bit. Here is my take...
The little wooden train is from Kisses & Cuddles. I stamped it multiple time onto kraft cardstock, colored with Copics, cut out and assembled. Added a few extra box cars by simply stamping, coloring and cutting out. Got the adorable train car idea from my good friend Kim Wilson's card here.
Finished the card off with True Black satin ribbon and a gorgeous sentiment (from Kisses & Cuddles) nestled next to the bow.

Be sure to stop by and see what the 2 Sketch 4 You design team has created using this fun sketch along with some Wplus9 stamps.

Thanks for visiting. Hope you have a great start to your week!

Maile


Hopes & Dreams, Love & Possibilities:
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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Embellish Color Challenge With Butterflies

This Friday is the start of another Embellish Color Challenge! Check it out... This weeks challenge is to use the fabulous colors pictured above and to incorporate butterflies into your designs. Our wonderful sponsor is Skipping Stones Design, you really should stop by and check out their great selection of stamps! My challenge card uses the gorgeous Healing Wings set...
Isn't this butterfly image just stunning?! It reminds me of stained glass. I used this image in two different ways. First, stamped it in True Black ink onto kraft cardstock to create a strip of hand stamped pattern paper. Second, to create a focal image...
In keeping with the stained glass idea, I heat embossed the butterfly in black onto vellum cardstock and then colored it using Copic markers. The sheer and shimmery effect is gorgeous in person, but is really hard to capture in a photo. Layered the butterfly over a Mat Stack #1 die cut and three Simply Chartreuse buttons.

I do hope you too will give these fabulous colors a try and join us in this latest Embellish Color Challenge! You can find the challenge and prize details here. Hope to see your creations soon!

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Maile

Gratitude Unlocks The Fullness Of Life:
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Play Date Cafe

Hello and welcome! This week, I am honored to be the guest designer for The Play Date Cafe! Check out this weeks gorgeous color inspiration...This is definitely a color combo I am very comfortable with! I've combined this color challenge with the latest All Eye's On, featuring Paper Piecing. So here is what I came up with...
These colors just spoke baby to me. So, I went with the super adorable mobile image from the Kisses & Cuddles stamp set. As usual, I kept things super simple yet interesting by adding a few fun details. Tied some Simply Chartreuse swiss dot satin ribbon at the top and rounded the bottom corners.
To create this paper pieced mobile I simply, stamped the image onto Sweet Blush cardstock and cut out. Then colored the trim green with a Copic marker and stamped it with polka dots in Fresh Snow (which is a little hard to see). Stamped the mobile image a second time onto the card base and then attached the paper pieced mobile using dimensional adhesive. Embellished with buttons, tied with pink embroidery floss and finished it off with a sentiment from Signature Greetings. For perfect placement of the floss: pierce holes at the top and bottom of the placement, thread floss through holes and tie into a bow at the front of the card.

Be sure to stop by and see what the other Play Date Cafe designers have created to inspire you with! Check out their gorgeous creations here. Thanks Ladies for this opportunity!

Also, check out what a few of the other Wplus9 designers created for All Eye's On... Paper Piecing here.

Thanks for visiting! Have a wonderful day!

Maile


Congrats On Your New Little Bundle:
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Ribbon Color Inspiration

Hello, everyone! I've got a Papertrey Ink Up, Up And Away creation to share with you today... This time around I chose to color the hot air balloons using Copics. So, after cutting them out (using the matching Up, Up And Away balloon die), I stamped them in Pallette Noir and colored them in with a fun color combo of Raspberry fizz, Plum Pudding & Spring Moss or Simply Chartreuse. I love how this color combo came to me, simply opened my box of Papertrey goodies and right on top was a row of ribbons. Next to each other was the Raspberry Fizz, Plum Pudding & Simply Chartreuse swiss dot satin ribbons. They looked so great together I just had to turn it into a color combo for a card.
Next, I die cut a few felt clouds and mounted them onto the kraft cardbase (using Scor-Tape). Stamped a Dotty Biscotti patterned paper strip with a sentiment and attached it over the clouds. Then adhered the hot air balloons. This card measures 5" square.

Thanks for visiting today, hope you have a good one!

Maile


Thinking Of You:
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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Happy Birthday, Birthday Boy!

Hello friends! I have a simple little Papertrey Ink creation to share with you today... So, this little car from Enjoy The Ride is just too cute! I had to pull him out and of course give him a couple racing stripes again (like the card on this post). Mounted him up onto a Spring Rain cardstock circle (impressed with the Sunshine Impression Plate), since I didn't get a chance to use this Impression Plate earlier for my release projects. It's such a fun look! Then used the border image, stamped in True Black, from For The Graduate, to create the sentiment strip.
Aren't those head lights just too perfectly cool! So excited about them! I had recently acquired these glass brads that I had been saving for just this purpose. Used Copic Markers to draw, by hand, the racing stripes and then to touch up the card with a few chrome accessories/parts.

That's it from me today! Hope you have a great day and thanks for taking the time to visit!

Maile


Happy Birthday, Birthday Boy:
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Monday, May 17, 2010

Color Cue {4} Challenge & A Handmade Necklace Note

Hello all! Hope you had a great weekend! (Please make sure to scroll down to the bottom of today post for a note regarding my handmade fabric flower necklace.)

It's time for another Wplus9 Color Cue Challenge. The colors I used were Papertrey Ink's White, Lemon Tart, Enchanted Evening and Spring Rain. Here is what I came up with... I used the newest Wplus9 stamp sets: Kisses & Cuddles and Design Basics: Background 1. The pattern strip was stamped using the stars background image, stamped it in Enchanted Evening, and then stamped a few polka dots of Lemon Tart (using a circle stamp from PTI Beautiful Blooms II). Wrapped it with some Lemon Tart twill ribbon and then attached it to the white card base.
Stamped the teddy bear from Kisses & Cuddles in Enchanted Evening ink onto Spring Rain Cardstock. Stamped the bow in Lemon Tart and colored the bears feet, ears & buttons using a Copic marker. Then attached the teddy over the sentiment label, which was created using a sentiment from Kisses & Cuddles and the frame from Fillable Frames #4.

For more inspiration using these challenge colors be sure to check out what the rest of the Wplus9 Design Team has created:
Hope you will join us in this fun challenge! You can find all the details for this challenge over at Dawn's blog.


Note: After my PTI Handmade & Homemade Just For You post many of you had asked me to do a tutorial and possibly sell my creation. I will be working on a tutorial on how to make the fabric flowers and possibly another tutorial on how to create the necklace. So that, if you choose to do so, you can recreate your very own. However, as of now I am unsure whether I will be selling the actual gift set I originally made or recreating any to sell. Since jewelry is only a secondary hobby of mine, which I rarely do these days, I am afraid that I may not have the time to do so. Although, my mom who is the true jewelry artist and who taught me my skills, is willing to help me if I do venture to do so. Thanks for all of your support and I hope you all can understand. :)

Thanks for dropping by today!

Maile


A Star Is Born:
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Friday, May 14, 2010

Papertrey Ink - April 2010 Release Projects

Happy Friday to you all! Another Papertrey Ink countdown had come to an end, so that mean I get to share a few new creations with you. Yeah!...
First up is this cheery card, the only stamp set used is Get The Point Sentiments (created by Beth Silaiki). I also incorporate some of the brand new Color Couture Collection (created by Dawn McVey) as well. I used a flower, leaves and a polka dot strip which are included in Volume 5. Dawn has come up with amazing color combos for the newest volumes (4-6) and an amazing selection of accents that all work together perfectly.
Selected a few word to describe any special recipient and stamped them in Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, Terracotta Tile & Ripe Avocado. To help emphasize "You" I tucked it between an Orange Zest button and the flower.
Next up is another amazing creation of Dawn's, the new Aloha stamp set. Such a unique and fun set this is! I was going for a little beach scene for my card, created the look of sand by using Dotti Biscotti pattern paper to cut curved edges, distressed and then layered.
Tucked a girly surf board, colored using Copics, into the sand and embellish with a Hibiscus Burst button. The sentiment is a combination of two of the sentiments in the set ("Surfer Dude" & "Hula Girl"). Just carefully inked up the word I wanted and then stamped. I had my sister and adorable niece in mind when creating this card, you will always find them at the beach and glowing with a gorgeous tan.
Next up is the next set in the Year Of Flowers series: Lily Of The Valley (created by Nichole Heady). Each month this series seams to be getting better and better. This set is a stunner!
For my lilies I pulled out the Copic markers again. For more of a realistic look, I touched up each flower with a little green at the stems and a little yellow in the center. Used a Copic blender pen to help blend and soften the colors added. Then hand cut the flowers out and attach them with dimensional adhesive. The leaves were paper pieced using Spring Moss cardstock. Pulled out some more of that Dotti Biscotti pattern paper and used Fillable Frames #4 and Inside & Out: Thank You to create the sentiment. I love the way this card turned out, it was definitely worth the effort!
My final card for today was created using the new Up, Up & Away set (also created by Nichole), the matching Clouds 1 & 2 Dies and the Linen & Canvas Impression Plate.
Started with a Rustic Cream cardstock piece, then textured it with the Impression Plate and then die cut a few clouds. To get the look of three different clouds I ran the cardstock through my die cutting machine with both the large and small cloud dies first. Then ran it through again with the small cloud die, just flipped the die and hung it over the edge for a slightly different look. Attach the Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse and Terracotta Tile balloons, stamped the sentiment and finished it off with some twine.

Hope you all have been enjoying this months release, I know I have. Hard not to when it's full of amazing goodies!

For a good dose of major inspiration, be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has created!
Thanks for stopping by!
Maile
Genuine You:

Surfer Girl:

Thank You:

Thanks For The Lift:

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Thursday, May 13, 2010

Take Three: Summer

Yeah, this is the last day of the Papertrey Ink countdown! Just think, you will be able to see all the new goodies (in full reveal) tomorrow. I am so excited about being given the opportunity to be a apart of this months countdown and showcase Take Three: Summer with you today. This is the next set in the fun Take Three series (created by Alli Miles), which features fun and funky birds and flowers. This set is available for purchase tomorrow May 15th.

Now, how about some cards using this fabulous set... First up is a combination of both the adorable birds and funky yet super fun flowers. Using Fresh Snow ink, I stamped the images onto Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores & Spring Moss cardstock. Embossed them with white embossing powder, cut them out and attached them to the card base. The white embossing really lets the bright and cheery colors pop off of the simple Kraft cardstock base, wouldn't you say?!
Finished it off with the addition of a couple buttons, a ribbon tab and a sentiment.
Next up is a bit of a fancier take. By stamping one of the flower images in Palette Noir and adding color to the otherwise open flower, I was able to create a gorgeous image perfectly made to stand on it's own. I wanted the focus of the card to be the flower. So, I enhanced it with a few black rhinestones, a piece of the new Beautiful Blooms II pattern paper and a bow made from the new Simply Chartreuse ribbon (I am so in love with this new color, I am a sucker for gorgeous greens).
Finished the card off with a few more touches of black by stamping a label (from Vintage Labels) and a sentiment (from Take Three: Summer) in True Black.
Last and definitely not lease is this little pink number. Using a single flower image, stamped in Versamark onto Hibiscus Burst, I was able to repeat the image to create this gorgeous pattern paper. I am so happy with the way it turned out!
For the focal image I simply stamped the image again in Hibisucs Burst ink, a sentiment in True Black and cut it out. The black tabs are from the new Mat Stack #2 Die, just cut the ends off and adhered them behind the flower. Then wrapped the card with a bow made from 1/8" white silk ribbon.

As you can probably tell, I've truly had a whole lot of fun with this new set. I was really trying to create and inspire you with unique and different ways to use this set, I hope that's what I have accomplished today!
Be sure to stop by and see what Nichole Heady, Lisa Johnson, Heather Nichols, Melissa Bickford, Alli Miles and Beth Silaika have in store for you too!
Thanks For Stopping by and hope you enjoyed.

Maile


On Your Birthday:

Wonderful Friend:

Celebrate You:

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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Handmade & Homemade Just For You

So many of us card makers have either gotten our starts through or still delve into other crafts and creative outlets. I am one of them. The last craft I was into was jewelry making, but it never stuck like stamping and card making has. Stamping is my true crafting passion!

So, how fun it is that Nichole Heady has asked the Papertrey Ink Design Team to combine our passion for stamping with our other crafting loves. Over at Nichole's blog, she is showcasing Lisa Johnson's new set called Just For You, which is perfect for such projects. This new set (which is available on the 15th) is perfect for creating one-of-a kind packaging that's sure to wow the recipient, for your handmade or homemade projects.

My project today is a gift box full of jewelry and flower accessories... I've package everything up nice and tidy in a large clear top hinged tin and topped it with a handmade label using images from Just For You.
To create the handmade label, I simply stamped the circular "Just For You" sentiment in gray, "handmade" in Melon Berry & the tiny vine in Aqua Mist. Then punched it all out using a 1 3/4" punch and attached it to a Melon Berry mat cut using the soon to be released Mat Stack #2 Die (which has been designed by Lisa and also coordinates with the Just For You set). Embellished it with a couple ribbon bows and a pearl. For the bows I used a 1/8" hole punch to punch two holes on either side of the circle center, strung the ribbon through and tied.
The label was then attached to an Aqua Mist cardstock strip, which was wrapped around the tin top and sides, then attached using double sided adhesive onto the inside (as show above). This allows the box to be opened while leaving the wrap and label in place.

This is what's inside...
Four beautiful fabric blossoms, created using the Beautiful Blooms II #2 Die Collection, and a handmade pearl necklace. You can find an amazing tutorial (by Nichole Heady) on how to create the divider inserts here and here. There is quite the selection here for the recipient to choose from, depending on the style they are going for in any given day.

Like elegant...
Or Vintage/Shabby...
More of a fun and funky style...
Or possible even modern...Either way, the options are there! Now here is what really makes this project super versatile...
With a pin attach to the back of each blossom (and yes that is the smallest of the Beautiful Blooms II #2 Dies cut from felt and used to hold it all together!), they work perfectly alone as a pinned embellishment or combined with the handmade pearl necklace like so...
Just pin the blossom onto the chain and your good to go. Once again, change out the blossoms to fit the style of the day. So many options!

For some incredible creations be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has come up with...

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed!

Maile


Jewelry Gift Box:

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