One-Layer Wonders at an Angle

Thanks for joining me today for this weeks Papertrey Ink Design Team Tip!

One layer cards are easily my favorite kinds of cards to create.  And when you have a versatile and simple design that just works in a number of different ways, you've got yourself a go-to favorite.  This diagonal design that I have to share with you today is exactly that and it's one I turn to time and time again.  It's a simple idea but it's one that will surely get those creative juices flowing.

Check it out...

Stamp a layered background or piece images together (like a puzzle) at either angle to create a perfectly flat and mail friendly card.

Here's How: This simple and versatile design begins with a temporary guide-line, drawn by hand using a straight edge and a pencil.  From here you can stamp above or below the line, use it as a guide for a masking technique, align a sentiment and so on.

My first card uses the guide-line to stamp a double layered background.  

The polka dots first, were stamped just below the guide-line in true black. Here's a Tip: These tiny polka dots are so versatile!  Pair them with almost any image or background, just make sure you pair them with something a bit larger in size for a good contrast.

Over that I layered the ikat pattern, stamped using Irresistibly Ikat in a color combo of tropical teal, aqua mist and blueberry sky.  For an unexpected look I stamped this layer just past the edge of the polka dots.  Here's a Tip: Because of this detail, I felt the card was interesting enough and didn't need any further embellishments.  Oh yeah!

Here the guide-line was used as the edge when piecing these tiny tags (from both Tiny Tags I & II) like a jigsaw puzzle.  Color combo used... plum pudding, summer sunrise, sweet blush and melon berry.  Here's an Idea:  I can envision this same puzzle look being achieved with a floral set, one that includes individual blooms, stems and leaves to arrange randomly. 

After stamping the tags I stamped the repeating sentiment just above the temporary guide-line. Then erased all evidence of it once done.

To give this card its finishing touch I embellished it with a few silver glitter enamel dots.

So what do you think?!  Could this become your next go-to design?  I sure do hope so!  Well, that's it from me today.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Maile



Hey There Card
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics and Irresistibly Ikat
Ink: True Black, Tropical Teal, Aqua Mist and Blueberry Sky
Cardstock: White

Celebrate Today Card
Stamps: Tiny Tags, Tiny Tags II and Monthly Moments: Tabbed
Ink: Plum Pudding, Summer Sunrise, Sweet Blush and Melon Berry
Cardstock: White
Others: Basic Grey Silver Candy Buttons

Papertrey Ink June Release Projects

The Papertrey Ink June countdown is about to come to an end and I'm here to share my final projects with you today. But, before I do, let me remind you that everything you've seen peeks of will be available for purchase through Papertrey Ink beginning 10 pm EST tonight.

Now, let me get started!...

 Phrase Play #5 by Nichole Heady.

Topiary Trio by Nichole Heady.

No Strings Attached by Nichole Heady.  

Cat's Meow and Monthly Moments: Tabbed by Heather Nichols.

Friendly Flowers by Dawn McVey and Keep It Simple: Wedding by Nichole Heady.

All righty, that's all I've got for you today.  Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Teams fabulous projects as well...

• Nichole Heady
• Betsy Veldman
• Heather Nichols
• Dawn McVey
• Melissa Phillips
• Erin Lincoln
• Laura Bassen
• Danielle Flanders
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Laurie Willson

Thanks for stopping by!

Maile



Butterfly Happy Birthday Card
Stamps: Phrase Play #5 and Life is Beautiful
Ink: Autumn Rose and Smokey Shadow
Cardstock: White and Limeade Ice
Others: Autumn Rose Button and Phrase Play #5 Die

With Thanks Card
Stamps: Topiary Trio
Ink: True Black, Limeade Ice, New Leaf and Autumn Rose
Cardstock: White
Others: Wet Paint Cuts Die Collection

Happy Birthday Wrap Card
Stamps: Wet Paint and No Strings Attached
Ink: Sweet Blush and True Black
Cardstock: White
Others: Studio Calico Gem

Meow Card
Stamps: Cat's Meow and Monthly Moments: Tabbed
Ink: Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding and True Black
Cardstock: White and Plum Pudding
Pattern Paper: Sweet Blush
Others: Stitched Rectangles Die Collection, Cat's Meow Die and Embroidery Floss

For Your Wedding Card
Stamps: Friendly Flowers and Keep It Simple: Wedding
Ink: Plum Pudding, Autumn Rose and True Black
Cardstock: Plum Pudding and White
Others: Stitched Rectangles Die Collection and Studio Calico Gems

Introducing Bowl of Sunshine

Welcome to the final day of the Papertrey Ink June countdown and the second design team group post day. Today's group post is focused on the new Bowl of Sunshine stamp set and the Berry Basket II die.  You are all in for a sweet treat!  I'm sure every one of the Design Team projects has something great in store for you today.  I'm joining in with a sweet treat of my own, sweet yet zesty key lime cookies packaged up tastily using today's featured stamp set and dies.

Here's my take on this set...

I've chosen to work with a citrusy combo of limeade ice, new leaf, ocean tides, kraft and smokey shadow for today's ensemble.

This little goody basket, constructed from limeade ice and ocean tides cardstock, is filled with some homemade key lime cookies (tasty recipe found here).

Tied to it is a sweet tag (used the Tag Sale #9 dies) embellished with a bowl full of limes.

And finished off with an enamel dot and cream baker's twine.  I just love this color combo!

Drawing inspiration from the tag, I created a coordinating card using the same images but a different sentiment.

Trimmed off the base of the tag to fit along the bottom edge of the card front.  The pattern paper strip along the side was hand stamped using an image from the new Ombre Builder stamp set.

Well, that's all I've got for you today. Just remember... everything you've seen peek of today will be available for purchase through Papertrey Ink, beginning June 15th. 

Now, be sure to see what the rest of the Papertrey Ink design team has in store for you today...

• Nichole Heady
• Betsy Veldman
• Heather Nichols
• Dawn McVey
• Melissa Phillips
• Erin Lincoln
• Laura Bassen
• Danielle Flanders
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Laurie Willson

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Maile

Introducing Ombre Builder

Hello and welcome to the fourth day of the Papertrey Ink June countdown and the first Design Team group post! 

Today's group post is all about Ombre Builder.  This set is a dream to work with! Today we are showcasing this new set in two ways. One project using the set as intended, to build some sort of ombre pattern by repeating/layering the borders. Second project uses the stamps in a different way.

Hope you like what I have to share with you today...

Today's cards are a couple of simple one-layer wonders.  :)  My fave!

For my typical ombre look I've chosen to work with a non-traditional ombre color scheme, one perfect for the 4th of July holiday.  I used the colors pure poppy, blueberry sky and spring rain.

After stamping the festive ombre stripes I finished the card off with a sentiment (from Birthday Classics: July) and a few star embellishments.

For my out-of-the-box idea I chose to create a fun randomly stamped backdrop for a die cut sentiment in a color combo of orange zest, ocean tides and sweet blush.

The "Celebrate" is from the Block Talk dies, which I die cut from smokey shadow cardstock.  I attached this to the card base with a bit of hidden adhesive behind a star button.

Well, that concludes my look at Ombre Builder. Just remember... this stamp set and and other product I've used today will be available for purchase through Papertrey Ink, beginning June 15th. 

Now, be sure to see what the rest of the Papertrey Ink design team has in store for you today...

• Nichole Heady
• Betsy Veldman
• Heather Nichols
• Dawn McVey
• Melissa Phillips
• Erin Lincoln
• Laura Bassen
• Danielle Flanders
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Laurie Willson

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Maile

July Birthday

Stamps: Ombre Builder and Birthday Classics: July

Ink: Pure Poppy, Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain and True Black

Cardstock: White

Others: Black Rhinestone Stars Jenny Bowlin

Celebrate

Stamps: Ombre Builder

Ink: Orange Zest, Ocean Tides and Sweet Blush

Cardstock: White and Smokey Shadow

Others: Block Talk Die Collection and Orange Star Button

Monthly Moments: June

Hi there! Welcome to day three of the June Papertrey Ink countdown.  I'm joining the design team today in sharing sneak peeks of the new Monthly Moments: June.  June is a time for fun in the sun!  My focus for today is exactly that.  A super simple sunny card perfect for the little sunshine in your life.  Keep in mind that this set will be available for purchase beginning June 15th at Papertrey Ink.  

So, let me get right to today's project...

This happy little number combines the Monthly Moments: June set with the new Stitched Rectangles die cut.

Sunny shades of embroidery floss were threaded through the holes (taped onto the back side) and then topped with a sentiment and a precisely stamped sun.

Well, that concludes today's look at Monthly Moments: June. Just remember... this set will be available for purchase through Papertrey Ink, beginning June 15th. 

Now, be sure to see what the rest of the Papertrey Ink design team has in store for you today...

• Nichole Heady
• Betsy Veldman
• Heather Nichols
• Dawn McVey
• Melissa Phillips
• Erin Lincoln
• Laura Bassen
• Danielle Flanders
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Laurie Willson

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Maile

Thank You Kindly and Stitched Rectangles die collection

Hi there! Welcome to day two of the June Papertrey Ink countdown.  I'm here today to share a few samples using one of this months new stamps sets and some dies... Thank You Kindly and the Stitched Rectangles die collection. As you can tell below I had a bunch of fun exploring and pairing these items in unique ways.

Keep in mind that these items will be available for purchase beginning June 15th at Papertrey Ink.  Plus, more info and a detail look at these items can be found on Nichole Heady blog today.

So, let me get right to today's projects...

First up, I've combined the versatile "thank you" banner with a medium sized stitched rectangle.

Instead of stitching around the entire rectangle, I threaded through a couple top holes and tied the ends together into a bow.  Then finished the card off with a few golden dots.

Next, I used the second largest stitched rectangle in a non-stitching kind of way.  Just slightly out of the box by die cutting it from pattern paper, stamping and then trimming into two panels.

Then completed this card with sentiment banners, stamped with Thank You Kindly sentiments and then trimmed by hand.

Lastly, the most complicated one of the bunch.

I began with largest rectangle, which I trimmed into two pieces and tacked into place (I was careful to adhere only along the outer edges, leaving me room to work the floss through) onto the card front.  Then carefully threaded embroidery floss through the holes using a needle.  Tightened and tied the edges then trimmed off the excess.

Then finished the card off with a die cut framed thank you attached across the floss.

Well, that concludes today's look at Thank You Kindly and the Stitched Rectangles die collection. Just remember... these sets will be available for purchase through Papertrey Ink, beginning June 15th. 

Now, be sure to visit Nichole Heady for the details on today, day two of the countdown.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Maile

EXCITING NEWS + GIVEAWAY

Hi there!  I've got something new and exciting to share with you today!  My good friend and favorite cardmaker, Cristina Kowalczyk, has some exciting news. She’s also an author (she writes under her maiden name – Cristina Henriquez), and her novel, The Book of Unknown Americans, comes out TODAY! To celebrate, I, along with a few other crafty friends, are helping her spread the word about her book.

Ben Fountain said it was “a triumph of storytelling,” Heidi Julavits called it “extraordinary,” and Amazon editor Chris Schluep chose it as his “must read for summer,” saying, “This novel snuck up on me. It’s moving and beautifully written, never overwrought, and I read it virtually in one sitting. It’s compelling, tragic, sometimes funny, uplifting and heart-wrenching. I can’t stop thinking about these people.”

Cristina is giving away 5 signed, first-edition copies of The Book of Unknown Americans. And because this is all about spreading the word, there are four ways to enter.

1.      Tweet about The Book of Unknown Americans (#UnknownAmericans)

2.      Write a Facebook post telling your friends about the book

3.      Pin the cover of the book on Pinterest

4.      Or simply leave a comment on Cristina’s blog

If you do all four of those, that’s four entries! (On Cristina’s blog, submit one comment per entry. For example: “I tweeted!” “I put it on FB!” “I pinned it!” etc.)

From all the comments on her blog, Cristina will choose 5 people to win a copy of the novel. Plus, one lucky person will win the grand prize, a signed book plus a giant stash of craft supplies – stamps, dies, inks, you name it!

For more info about the book and other ways that you can show your support, head over to Cristina’s blog. Also be sure to check out what our other crafty friends are saying about Cristina: Julie, Virginia, Jennifer, Debby, Wida and Laura. 

I am so thrilled for Cristina and so blessed to call her friend.  Though we are many miles apart and have yet to meet in person, I have a real connection with this dear friend and I couldn't be more proud.  Huge congrats my friend!  I'm anxiously awaiting for the arrival of my very own copy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Maile

Simply Jane Revisited

Thanks for joining me today for the June Papertrey Ink Senior DT Challenge. This time around we are bringing back Simply Jane!  

I am a simple stamper at heart and I was excited to take on this months challenge of using Simply Jane not only in a simple way but in a more embellished and layered way too.  From simple to lots of layers, Simply Jane is one of those sets that will give you a timeless and perfectly polished look every time. Take a look...

Here's a perfectly polished and simple look.  It can easily be recreated too!  The background was stamped in sweet blush using the large frame included in the set.

Embellished with sweet blush ribbon and a gem.  Finished with a sentiment.

Now for some lovely layers... a portion of the Delicate Details large die and strips of cardstock cut from Autumn Rose.  On top of that a focal point stamped onto a die cut Half & Half panel.

A layering of stamped images and glitter dots to top this card off.  I was totally inspired another card of mine, found in this blog post.

Well, that's it from me today. Now be sure to visit the other Papertrey Ink senior design team girls for more Simply Jane goodness...

• Dawn McVey
• Betsy Veldman
• Heather Nichols
• Melissa Phillips

Thanks for stopping by today!

Maile