Button Boutique

Hello and welcome! The Papertrey Ink Countdown has officially begun, yay! I bet you've been waiting anxiously for this moment. Well, today is also the Design Team Group Post day and Nichole has given us a super fun assignment: to create a project using the new Button Boutique stamp set and the rest of the new button product line-up (which is available Feb. 15th). Be sure to stop by Nichole's blog for all the details, your not gonna want to miss this one! Trust me.

So, today's post is all about buttons! And if you've been around me for a while, you will know that I am crazy for buttons. This is my kind of post!

So, this is how it all started for me...
Check out my fine pile of mini blank canvases. These little die cut coaster board gems have unlimited possibilities! After a fun session of stamping buttons, this is what I ended up with...
I love this mound of button goodness. This was fun! Now, let me give you a closer look...
This group was stamped using the images included in the new Button Boutique.
Next, I took it a step further and pulled out a bunch of previous set I thought would look great covering a button. This is my favorite, the flower/leaf collection. Sets used: Beautiful Blooms II, Beyond Basic Borders, Way To Go, Kiddo, Banner Builders & Floral Frenzy.

Here's a few patterned buttons using other sets. Sets used: Banner Builders, A Little Argyle, Cupcake Collection, Floral Frenzy, 2011 Birthday Tags & Asian Fuzion. I also used a couple soon to be released sets: Bitty Background Blocks & Background Basics: Newsprint.

A few of them were covered using a two step stamping process. Set's used above: Beautiful Blooms II, Beyond Basic Borders, Floral Frenzy & Bitty Background Blocks.

Here's How... First step: Covered the entire button using the large circle from Beautiful Blooms II. This time stamped in Summer Sunrise. This is a great way to quickly change the color of your handmade buttons.

Second Step: I stamped the pattern or flower. In this case, I used a flower from Floral Frenzy stamped in Berry Sorbet.

Then finally, I put these buttons to use. I strung them up with button twine and attached, at varying heights (using multiple layers of dimensional adhesive), to a Rustic White card base.

Finished it off with a sentiment.

How about a fun Button Card idea for sharing these little goodies...

Here's How: Also included in the Button Boutique set are images perfect for building your very own and unique button cards.

I started by die cutting the button card from both cardstock and Clearly Creative Cardstock.

I stamped the button card images onto the cardstock. Then stamped and threaded my handmade buttons; which I arranged and attached to the Clearly Creative Cardstock with dimensional adhesive (this way they can easily be removed and used by the recipient.

To attached the clear cardstock permanently to the button card: I flipped the clear cardstock/buttons over, placed Scor-Tape behind the buttons (this way the adhesive is hidden) and attached to the button card.

One last fun tip! I love the look of the real life iridescent and shimmery buttons. This same look can be achieved, on your handmade buttons, by using a shimmer spray or paint. Can you see the shimmer in the photo above? Pretty, don't ya think?!

For even more Button Boutique fun, stop by and check out what the rest of the Design Team has up their sleeves...

• Nichole Heady
• Betsy Veldman
• Dawn McVey
• Heather Nichols
• Lisa Johnson
• Melissa Phillips
• Michelle Wooderson
• Erin Lincoln
• Jessica Witty
• Danielle Flanders
  

Thanks for stopping by, have a great one!

Maile

Button Boutique Handmade Buttons:

• Stamps: 2011 Birthday Tags, A Little Argyle, Asian Fuzion, Banner Builders, Beautiful Blooms II, Beyond Basic Borders, Background Basics: Newsprint, Bitty Background Blocks, Cupcake Collection, Floral Frenzy & Way To Go, Kiddo
• Ink: Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avocado & Stormy Sky Ranger Distress
• Cardstock: Coaster Board
• Accessories: Buttoned Up #1 Die

Happy Birthday Card:

• Stamp: Tag It's #1
• Ink: Stormy Sky Ranger Distress
• Cardstock: Rustic White
• Accessories: Rustic Cream Button Twine & Button Boutique Handmade Buttons

Button Cards:

• Stamps: Button Boutique, 2010 Love Tags (solid heart circle) & Bitty Background Blocks
• Ink: Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Summer Sunrise, Lavender Moon, Dark Chocolate, True Black, Chai Vintage Touch, Stormy Sky Ranger Distress & Shabby Shutter Distress
• Cardstock: White, Kraft & Clearly Creative Cardstock
• Accessories: 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, Rustic Cream and Rustic Jute Button Twine, Scor-Tape, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze in Icicle & Button Card Die

All Eyes On...My Must Haves

This month the girls of Wplus9 are focusing on our "Must Have" supplies. Those go-to tools, supplies or accessories that we constantly turn to or rely on to make just about every card. Here are some of the items you will find on my supply lists.

Stamps
I am a stamper at heart and I rarely make a card that doesn't include some kind of stamping. My faves are: Wplus9, Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts & Lawn Fawn.The Birds & The Bees from Wplus9.

Cardstock
I pretty much use only one brand...Papertrey Ink. I love the quality and the weight of this stuff. With a weight of 110 lbs, it makes the perfect sturdy card base. You will always find a large stash of the white and kraft in my cardstock supply, these two are my must-haves.

Buttons
My go-to embellishment are buttons. I love to use these little goodies to help balance out my cards and add a bit of fun texture and dimension.
Vintage Buttons from Papertrey Ink.

Baker's Twine
This is a new item on my "must have" list, but I really can't seem to ever put this stuff down. This stuff is perfects to dress up those button holes, to wrap around a card a few times or to create fun little embellishments with.
New Leaf Baker's Twine from Papertrey Ink.

Adhesives
I had gone through a ton of adhesives before finding my "must have" favorites. Which are...
Tombo Mono Dot Dispenser Permanent Adhesive. You can find it in two sizes (39" and 49") and I prefer the one with a little extra to last me a little longer. I buy mine at my local office supply store.
Scotch Foam Mounting Tape. Just cut little pieces off of the roll and attach. I pick mine up at Walmart or my local office supply store.
Glue Dots Mini (1/4") & Craft (1/2"). This adhesive is perfect for adhering just about anything but, I usually use it for my buttons. I pick mine up at craft supplie stores.

So there you have it, a few of my favorite thing!

I've also created a card to share with you today, using most of these "must have" I have listed. Also, Dana Nelson had graciously asked if I would participate in this months Aspiring To Creativity Glimmer Challenge #2. So today's card was based off of the challenge. The prize up for grabs is a Wplus9 gift certificate. Check out the details here.

The challenge is to find inspiration in the photo pictured above and to incorporate an unused supply into your projects. I recently took a trip to my local scrapbooking store and picked up a few fun pattern papers from the American Crafts Dear Lizzy Collection. So the new/unused supply I chose to work with is a green polka dot sheet of adhesive backed fabric paper called Firefly Festival. Here is what I came up with...Stamped a white card base with a butterfly trail & sentiment from The Birds & The Bees. Cut hills from the fabric sheet and attached to the bottom of the card.

Attached the bottom fabric layer directly to the card base and the second layer I attached with my foam tape of choice. Embellished with Hibiscus Burst & Pure Poppy buttons and wrapped with New Leaf baker's twine.

So far I've created a button twine flower, a bee and now an adorable butterfly. Isn't he cute?!

Here's a picture to give you an idea of how to assemble the wings. First thread your button and adhere a glue dot (I used a 1/2" glue dots). Cut twine in two different lengths, loop and attach over the glue dots to create wings on one side. Layer another glue dot and attached second set of wings. Use a third glue dot to attach the butterfly to your card.

Be sure to visit the rest of the Design Team's blog to hear what their "Must Haves" are...

• Dawn
• Elise
• Heather
• Kerrianne
• Savitri

That's it from me today. Hope you enjoyed!

Maile

You Make Days Brighter:

• Stamps: The Birds & The Bees
• Ink: Raspberry Fizz & Sweet Blush
• Cardstock: White
• Patter Paper: Firefly Festival Adhesive Backed Fabric Paper from American Crafts Dear Lizzy Collection
• Accessories: New Leaf Baker's Twine, Raspberry Fizz & Sweet Blush Vintage Buttons

Go-To Sketches Top 10 Blog Hop

Hello all and welcome to your next stop in the Go-To Sketches Top 10 Blog Hop! If you have stopped here first, be sure to hop on over to the Moxie Fab World Blog for the start of this Blog Hop celebration.


So, this is what the celebration is all about...This amazing Go-To Sketches issue! That's jam packed with inspiring and unique sketches, brought to you by the ever so talented Go-To-Gal's them selves! One of the sketches you will find amongst it's pages is the one pictured below, created by one of my inspirations: Jessica Witty. The top 10 most-published designers of this issue have all joined together and created a never seen before card, based off of this fabulous sketch...

For some reason I can't ever just stick to the rules, so here is my flipped take...

As you can see, not only did I reverse the scalloped border but I turned it into a row of yummy jumbled up buttons. To keep with the circular theme, I stamped the rectangular panel with polka dots from Dot Spot and rounded the bottom corner of the Kraft card base. Completed the card with a ribbon tab and more buttons.

I thought these jumbled up buttons created a super fun detail and a perfect compliment to this cheery color combo of Sweet Blush and Hawaiian Shores. For some reason this card kind of reminds me of bubble gum, mmmmmmmm!

To continue your inspiring Blog Hop journey, here is the list of participating designers:

• Moxie Fab World
• Betsy Veldman
• Heidi Van Laar
• Kim Hughes
• Kim Kesti
• Jessica Witty
• Latisha Yoast
• Maile Belles (That's Me!)
• Maren Benedict
• Rae Barthel
• Teri Anderson

In addition, we have a special guest who will be joining us: Donna Salazar! The Distrezz-it-All is one of the prizes that will be up for grabs, and since this is her tool, she wants to play along too. Please check out her blog as well to see her project using the sketch.

So, how about those prizes!!! Here is what will be given away to 2 lucky winners!

• A Distrezz-it-All
• 2 copies of Go-To Sketches (one to keep for yourself and another to share with a friend)

You have 12 chances to win, just leave a comment on the Moxie Fab World blog and the 11 other participants blogs.

One last tid-bit before I finish, be sure to stop by and post a comment on the Paper Crafts Connection blog for a chance to win a Card Companion Kit from Doodlebug Design.

Thanks for hopping by! Enjoy the Blog Hop and have a wonderful day!

Maile

Wish Big:

• Stamps: Dot Spot & Big and Bold Wishes
• Ink: Sweet Blush & Hawaiian Shores
• Cardstock: Kraft & White
• Accessories: Sweet Blush & Hawaiian Shores Vintage Buttons, Hawaiian Shores Saddle Stitched Ribbon & Corner Rounder

Hello Friend

Hello all and happy Monday! It is such a gorgeous day today, I thought it would be fitting to share this blooming card with you all...Using the Beautiful Blooms II #3 Collection Dies, I die cut flower negatives from my white cardstock block, rounded the corners and stamped the sentiment from Springtime Doodles. You all probably know this already, but here is a Clean and Simple tip: For a visually pleasing CAS design, group your images and embellishments together to create a main focal point and white space.

Debossed the front of the card base using the Polka Dot Basics II Impression Plate and carefully placed and attached the Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise & Raspberry Fizz buttons. Completed the card by attaching the flower negative block, using dimensional adhesive.

Hope you all have a great start to your week! Thanks for stopping by!

Maile

Hello Friend:

• Stamps: Springtime Doodles
• Ink: True Black
• Cardstock: White
• Accessories: Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz Vintage Buttons & Crochet Thread, Beautiful Blooms II #3 Collection Dies, Polka Dot Basics II Impression Plates & Corner Rounder

Get Well Soon

Happy Tuesday to you all! I've really been enjoying my new Terracotta Tile color collection. For me, it was one of those colors I had no idea what to do with at first; but once I pair it with just the right colors, it looks amazing. Today I have paired it with Melon Berry and New Leaf. I've also found that Terracotta Tile look great with Hibiscus Burst too. The text background (from Background Basics: Text Style) on the scallops and for the flower, were stamped in Melon Berry. Wrapped the Terracotta Tile cardstock with Melon Berry twill ribbon.

The flower was created by using the large Beautiful Blooms II #2 Die, to cut a negative space from the Terracotta Tile and sentiment (from Fillable Frames #2) cardstock block. Stamped the sentiment and leaves (from Beautiful Blooms II) in New Leaf and embellish with a button strung with silk ribbon, which has been my new favorite way to thread my buttons lately. :)

Hope you all have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Maile

Get Well Soon:

• Stamps: Background Basics: Text Style & Fillable Frames #2 (Sent.)
• Ink: Melon Berry & New Leaf
• Cardstock: Kraft, White & Terracotta Tile
• Accessories: Melon Berry Twill Ribbon, 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, New Leaf Vintage Button, Beautiful Blooms II #2 Large Die, Medium Scalloped Border Die

Precious Baby

Over the weekend I had attended a baby shower for a very dear friend of mine. She of course is having a girl and when creating her card, I found inspiration through the crib bedding she had selected for the babies room.The bedding is brown with a pink damask pattern. I flipped the colors and stamped Dark Chocolate damask, from Damask Designs, onto Sweet Blush cardstock. Scalloped the top edge using the Small Scalloped Borders die, wrapped with Sweet Blush ribbon and a button.

Attach the hand stamped pattern paper over a white cardstock strip, stamped with a sentiment and embellished with a couple more Sweet Blush buttons. She was very pleased!

Thanks for visiting today! Hope you all had a great weekend and have a wonderful start to your weeks!

Maile

Precious:

• Stamps: Damask Designs
• Ink: Dark Chocolate
• Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush & White
• Accessories: Sweet Blush Grosgrain & Vintage Buttons, Twine & Small Scalloped Border Die

So Thoughtful

Hello all, hope you had a great weekend! Here is a little button goodness for you today... Stamped the card base with Background Basics: Diamonds (in Aqua Mist) and attach a Melon Berry cardstock strip, stamped with Polka Dot Basics II.

Instead of just a row of Aqua buttons, I switched it up a bit by adding a pop of Melon Berry. I love it when I can put those huge buttons to good use. When attaching the button row I made sure to leave room for the sentiment, from Signature Greetings.

Hope you all have a fun start to your weeks, thanks for stopping by!

Maile

Thank You For Being So Thoughtful:

• Stamps: Background Basics: Diamonds, Polka Dot Basics II & Signature Greetings
• Ink: Aqua Mist, Melon Berry & Versamark
• Cardstock: White & Melon Berry
• Accessories: Aqua Mist & Melon Berry Vintage Buttons, Twine & Corner Rounder

Just Us Girls #23 Sponsored By Wplus9

Today's card is based off of the latest Just Us Girls Challenge, sponsored by Dawn Woleslagle of WPlus9 Design stamps. Check out the fun sketch...Up for grabs are two Wplus9 stamps sets! So stop by JUGS for the details and see what their design team has come up with, using Wplus9's stamps.

Here is my take...
Using a few of the tree top images, from the super fun Funky Foliage stamp set, I was able to create these adorable little flowers and leaves.

The sentiment is from Funky Flowers, another fun set! Used a fun color combo of Hibiscus Burst, Melon Berry, New Leaf, Kraft and Dark Chocolate. A new combo for me, since I finally got my hands on some Hibiscus Burst goodies.

Be sure to stop by Dawn's blog to see her gorgeous creation for the challenge, and for the latest on the new release coming up very soon! Also... my fellow talented Design Team members Savitri Wilder and Elise Durenberger have joined in on the JUGS fun too.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Maile

Happy Birthday Friend:

• Stamps: Funky Foliage & Funky Flowers (Wplus9)
• Ink: Dark Chocolate & New Leaf
• Cardstock: Kraft, White, Dark Chocolate, Hibiscus Burst & Melon Berry
• Accessories: Hibiscus Burst Saddle Stitch Ribbon, Hibiscus Burst & Melon Berry Vintage Buttons, White Twine, Medium Scalloped Border Die & Coluzzle Circle Cutter

Embellish Color Challenge With Borders

Time for another Embellish Color Challenge... to use the colors pictured above along with a decorative border (punched, die cut, decorative scissors), check out the details here. Our sponsor for this week is the fabulous Verve Stamps and you've got to check out the prize... by participating you have a chance to win four gorgeous Verve stamp sets!

Here's my take...

The stamp set used is Verve's Everlasting Life, such a gorgeous set! I use two different sized scalloped borders, which were die cut using the new PTI Scalloped Borders Dies (LOVE these!!!), in Sweet Blush and Lemon Tart cardstock.

The cross was stamped using Spring Moss ink, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder, for a bit of elegance. Attached a couple Melon Berry buttons, tied off with white silk ribbon, to the scallops.

This second card was created using Miracles Blossom...

Using a cheery color combo of Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, New Leaf, Dark Chocolate & White. The scallops were cut using the Small Scalloped Border Die.

An Aqua Mist cardstock strip was stamped, in New Leaf, with Background Basics: Tin Types. I am really loving the look of the New Leaf on Aqua Mist! Stamped the sentiment (from Everlasting Life) in Dark Chocolate, then emphasized it with a New Leaf cardstock strip. Finished the card off by adding a few layers to the Lemon Tart tulips, for a bit of fun dimension.

After creating both of these cards, I am definitely ready for Spring! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you give this challenge a try. I can't wait to see what you all create!

Maile

He Has Risen!:

• Stamps: Everlasting Life (Verve Stamps)
• Ink: Spring Moss & Melon Berry
• Cardstock: White, Spring Moss, Lemon Tart & Sweet Blush
• Accessories: 1/8" White Silk Ribbon, Melon Berry Vintage Buttons, Clear Embossing Powder, Small & Medium Scalloped Dies & Corner Rounder
  

Rejoice:

• Stamps: Miracles Blossom, Everlasting Life (Verve Stamps) & Background Basics: Tin Types
• Ink: New Leaf, Dark Chocolate & Lemon Tart
• Cardstock: Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, New Leaf & White
• Accessories: Small Scalloped Die

February PTI Blog Hop

I'd like to start off today, by sending out a huge Thank You to each and everyone of you who left me such kind and encouraging words yesterday. Definitely made for a fun day, reading what you all had to say.Now onto the February Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. This months blog hop is in honor of the PTI Design team. The challenge is to select a project they have created, use it as inspiration and recreate a project with your own spin, making it unique. I have always found the ladies of the PTI Design Team to be full of talent and have always looked up to them for inspiration. I count it as a huge blessing to be apart of such a talented team.


I fell in love with this card by Dawn McVey and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to give it a try. I would have never come up with an idea like this on my own, wouldn't it be awesome to get inside of Dawn's head and see how her creative mind works! Here is my take...

I changed up the layout and the color combo (added Aqua Mist and used White instead of Rustic Cream). Dawns butterfly was created using a larger scaled flourish (from Fancy Flourishes) and its mirror image, I went with two smaller flourishes and the coordinating mirror images.

The Aqua Mist card base was stamped, in Versamark, with an image from Background Basics: Tin Types. Embellished the butterfly with Berry Sorbet vintage buttons (strung with yellow embroidery floss) and a Lemon Tart bow. Stamped the sentiment, from Asian Fusion on a Lemon Tart strip and trimmed the edge with scalloped scissors.

Thanks Dawn for such great inspiration and thank you for hopping by! Enjoy the Blog Hop!

Maile

Birthday Wishes:

• Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Background Basics Tin Types & Asian Fusion
• Ink: Dark Chocolate & Versamark
• Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart & White
• Accessories: Lemon Tart Satin Ribbon, Berry Sorbet Vintage Buttons, Coluzzle Circle Cutter & Fiskers Scalloped Scissors