In Bloom

Hi there! Hope you are all enjoying you're weekends!

So as promised yesterday, today I share with you my card using the new In Bloom stamp set from Papertrey Ink. So here you go...

This flower image would be fabulous all colored in, but I am not a colorer at all! lol! So my way of adding color is to stamp the images in different colors. The large bloom was stamped in Raspberry Fizz and the smaller ones were stamped in red. I stamped the images multiple times and cut out different sections of each flower, then adhere them together with dimensional adhesive to give it a layered look. Just like Nichole Heady did for this card.

I gave the card a little extra detail with black rhinestones, black scallops and a sentiment stamped in black as well. Again with the "skinny" card, it just makes such elegant cards. So this may seem like a lot of work for a card, since this is the first time playing around with this set. But I have had this idea in my head ever since ordering it and couldn't wait to create it. It turned out just like I had envisioned, which rarely happens. Usually my cards come out completely different from the original idea. How about you, do your cards usually come out as planned or off on some other tangent?

So, I'm loving this set and have already made a few more cards with it. I look forward to sharing them with you soon. So hope you'll stop in again soon. Talk at you later!

Maile

Thank You:

• Stamps: In Bloom & Damask Design (Sentiment)
• Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado, True Black & SU Real Red
• Cardstock: Kraft, Vintage Cream & Bazzil Black
• Accessories: Kaiser Craft Black Rhinestones, Apron Lace Punch & Corner Rounder

Button Tread

Happy Friday everyone!

I have some more new goodies to share with you (I promise, I'm rarely this fortunate), my new PTI order came in yesterday. Yeah! :) In Bloom and Everyday Button Bits were on back-order, so as soon as they came in I had to place an order. So today's card was made using Everyday Button Bits (I'll post a card with In Bloom tomorrow)... Using my punches again! :) As soon as I saw these Spring Rain vintage buttons I immediately thought of tire tread. What better way to use them than on a bike! Here is what I am talking about...

See that tread like detail, it's a perfect fit! Did you notice the button threading? Just thought I would try something new (sorry for the glare), I thought it might make the bike look like it's in motion. Not sure if it worked. It is a cute detail though!

If you guys haven't noticed already, I love my corner rounder!!! I use it on almost every card, it just adds a nice subtle detail. Don't get me wrong, I love all my punches but this one just seems to fit every card no matter what the style is. Do any of you have a go-to tool like this?

Anyways, I have a birthday celebration to go to tonight (my niece is turning 5!), but other than that no big plans for the weekend! Hope you all have a wonderful one!

Maile

So Sorry I'm Late:

• Stamps: Everyday Button Bits & Polka Dot Basic II
• Ink: SU Bashful Blue & Grey
• Cardstock: PTI White & SU Basic Grey
• Accessories: Spring Rain Vintage Buttons, Twine, Spring Rain Twill Ribbon, Apron Lace & Embossed Curves Border Punches, Corner Rounder

Hey There cupcake!

Hey there! Hope you are having a good week.

Earlier this week my sister and I (Hi Sis!) did some shopping together. I found a great sale on a couple of border punches I have been eyeballing. I've been seeing them all over cards lately and have been dying to get my hands on them. So today's card showcases my new toys...

Another purchase I made was with my 40% off Michaels coupon, on a new Heat Embossing Tool. A few months ago I had dropped my last one, it didn't like me after that (lol), and it quit working. I had forgotten how much fun this tool was! The polka dots on the blue strip are embossed with clear powder. For a special touch on the cupcake I gave it a good coating of yum yum frosting using white embossing powder. Mmmmmm! :) Check out this yumminess...

The flower button and ribbon detail (one on the left side) is one of my favorite things about this card. The button is adorable, but it only had one large hole in it. So I tied a knot in the ribbon, strung it through the hole and wrapped it around the card. Such a simple detail but it adds a lot, going to have to do it again!

So what do you think of my frosted cupcake? Does it look good enough to eat? I'll pretend it's my sisters homemade frosting, she makes a killer cream cheese frosting! Lol! Mmmmmm!

Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for visiting me today and sorry if I've given you the urge to eat something sweet and unhealthy. :)

Maile

Hey There Cupcake!

• Stamps: Cupcake Collection, Polka Dot Basic II
• Ink: Raspberry Fizz, SU Bashful Blue, SU Choc Chip, SU Craft White & Versamark
• Cardstock: Kraft, White, Dark Choc & SU Bashful Blue
• Accessories: Apron Lace & Embossed Curves Border Punches, Corner Rounder, Raspberry Fizz and Spring Rain Twill Ribbons and Fizz Vintage Buttons, Twine, Clear & White Embossing Powder, Stickles

Bold & Bright

Today's card was inspired by this photo in Better Homes And Gardens Magazine, August 09 issue...This photo really stood out to me because of its bold, bright and fun colors. This is not a usual color combo for me, I'm not really a fan of purple and don't usually go so bold; but I just love how these colors came together in this bouquet. Here is my interpretation... The colors used were: Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado & SU Perfect Plum. I have a very small stash of purple cardstock (one 12X12 sheet) and this card almost used it all up! lol!. I may not be a fan of purple but the other two are a couple of my favorites.

The sentiment is a little hard to see clearly, here is a better shot...Now that I'm thinking about it, I should have stamped the sentiment on a purple strip of cardstock in white ink. This probably would have helped it stand out better. Too late now, oh well. Live and learn. :)

Ok... I guess the purple is kind of growing on me. :) Maybe it just needs to be combined with the right colors.

So how about you, what are your favorite colors or least favorite colors? Do you like to go for Bold & Bright or Soft & Subtle? I'd love to hear your take!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!!! Thanks for visiting!

Maile


Thanks You:

• Stamps: PTI Background Basics: Retro, Fancy Flourishes & Damask Design (Sentiment)
• Ink: Su Perfect Plum
• Cardstock: White, Ripe Avocado, Raspberry Fizz & SU Perfect Plum
• Accessories: Ripe Avocado Satin Ribbon, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Raspberry Fizz Vintage Button, MM Button, Twine, Scalloped Edge Punch, Corner Rounder

I'd Pick You!

Happy Tuesday!

Today's card was inspired by a challenge I gave my self. I have this huge white button that I could not figure out what to do with. So I challenged my self to put it to use and I turned it into a double button flower...

Wow, look at me... no polka dots this time! :) To make it look more like a flower, I gave it a green center using a smaller Spring Moss button. Three buttons are place on the right side of the card to help balance out the massive button and to make your eye flow along the card from left to right (to make it visually pleasing).

Here is a better shot of the double button flower...

I'm sure you've already noticed, but I've been trying out a new card size. This card measures 7" X 3 1/2" (7"X7" folded in half). It's fun to work with the extra length and it looks great with lots of blank/open space. It's easy to work with visually too.

For a challenge I think it turned out ok, let me know what you think! Maybe you too can switch up the dimensions of your next card or challenge your self to use something from your stash that keeps you puzzled. :)

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a good one!

Maile

I'd Pick You:

• Stamps: Beyond Basic Borders, Background Basics: Retro & Green Thumb (Sentiment)
• Ink: Ripe Avocado & SU Craft White
• Cardstock: Kraft, White & SU Bashful Blue
• Accessories: White & Spring Moss PTI Vintage Buttons, Twine, Scalloped Edge Punch & Corner Rounder

Cupcake Goodness

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I had a very productive one, finished painting the ceiling in one day! Very glad its done!

So this weeks CAS Challenge is to use stitching, real or faux. I kinda laughed when I first saw this, it's the perfect challenge because I had been working on this technique for the last week. So here is a card I made before the challenge was posted, but fits it perfectly...

I prefer to do my stitching by hand with embroidery floss, I really like the thicker stitches and prefer the look. I'm also too lazy to keep lugging the heavy sewing machine in and out of the closet. :) Here I did a Zig-zag stitch along the seem of the two polka dots. I'm not sure if Zig-zag is the correct term exactly, but that's what it looks like to me... lol. The button is threaded with the same brown floss to match the stitching. Here is a tip I find very handy: Make sure to pierce all the holes, with a paper piercer, before using the needle and thread/floss. Its much easier on the fingers.

I'm really liking this color combo, Chocolate with berry and orange. This combo was made for cupcakes! Polka dots were made for cupcakes too, hope your not tired of them yet.

I pulled out my neglected Stickles for this card and went to town. Here is a close up of the glittery goodness!...

I really like the way this card turned out. It's cute, simple and has lots of fun details! Hope you like it too!

Hope you have a great Monday!

Maile

Eat Cake:

• Stamps: Cupcake Collection & Polka Dot Basic II
• Ink: Summer Sunrise & SU Choc. Chip
• Cardstock: Berry Sorbet, Dark Choc. & White
• Accessories: DMC Floss, Circle Punch, Corner Rounder, Stickles (Stardust) & PTI Berry Sorbet Vintage Button

Beautiful Blossom Fun!

Happy Saturday! I hope you all are having a great weekend. My husband and I plan to paint our ceilings today. Fun, fun, fun, not!. So I need to keep this super short so we can get prepping asap.
Today's card is a fun one for sure. I've been playing around with embroidery floss a lot lately, trying new stitches and incorporating it into cards in different ways. It's been fun! So on today's card I played around with my blossom nestabilities. I stitched around the edges of the blossoms and tide french knots in the center. The leaves were cut by hand and stamped with Polka Dots (again with Polka Dot Basic II, I'm tellin' ya I just cant put it down...lol!). I love the way it turned out!!! So what do you think, have I enticed you to pick up a needle and thread? It's really much easier than it looks!

Hope you guys have a great weekend and I'll try not to have too much fun painting our ceiling!!! lol! Thanks for stopping by today!


Maile


Beautiful:

• Stamps: PT Polka Dot II & Beautiful Blooms (Sentiment)
• Ink: Ripe Avocado & SU Choc. Chip
• Cardstock: PTI White, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss & Bazzil Red
• Accessories: DMC Floss, Blossom Nestabilities & Corner Rounder