Clean & Simple Card Making Class Starts Today!

Just poping in to share something fun with you all today...

Class starts today and it's not too late to sign-up! I'm featured as the guess designer today and I love the cards that Kristina Werner and I have to share on this first day...

So, join Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire and special guest teacher Julie Ebersole for Clean & Simple Card Making!

In this class we aim to take the mystery out of creating a minimalist card that looks “complete,” and wow you with numerous tips and techniques for clean and simple cards! This upbeat and inspirational class will include nine fabulous guest artists (including me!), discounts to our favorite retailers, giveaways and a few surprises along the way! Clean and Simple Card Making will feature over 25 new card ideas and over 15 instructional videos. What better way to start the new year than with a wealth of new ideas to add to your card making arsenal and simplify your creations!

Class begins today and ends January 23, but class materials (videos, pdfs, etc.) will be accessible for a lifetime. Click HERE for an introduction video and more info!

Thanks for stopping by!

All Booked Up Revisited

First off, let me start by wishing you all a Happy New Year!

A new year is upon us and with it comes a new Papertrey Ink Senior Design Team Challenge. To start off the new year the Design Team is taking a look at another "oldie but goodie"... All Booked Up. It's been quite some time since I last pulled this set out, but I quickly remembered how fun these round images are to work with. For today's project I've whipped up a quick card and a few coordinating bookmarks. Take a look...
Drawing inspiration from the circular image I chose to work with I stamped a white card base with random polka dots in a color combo of Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist & Spring Moss.To create a strong focal point amongst the dots, I stamped the book circle and a sentiment below in True Black. Attached a True Black cardstock strip and embellished with a couple True Black buttons and twine.I then stamped four bookmarks in the same way as the card above.First, with the colorful dots. Second, with the book circle and sentiment. Then topped each with a coordinating colored ribbon, which was tied into place with white silk ribbon through a True Black button.

Well, that's it from me today. Now be sure to visit the other Papertrey Ink Senior Design Team girls for more All Booked Up goodness...

• Dawn McVey
• Betsy Veldman
• Heather Nichols
• Lisa Johnson

Thanks for stopping by today!

Maile

I Think Of Us As Bookends Card & Bookmarks:

• Stamps: All Booked Up & Beautiful Blooms II (for Polka Dots)
• Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise & True Black
• Cardstock: White & True Black
• Accessories: Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist & Summer Sunrise Ribbons, 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, White Embroidery Floss, True Black Buttons & Bookmark Die

Color Blocking With Dies

Thanks everyone for joining me today, for my first Papertrey Ink Senior Design Tip. I've got something fun to share with you today, it involves two of my current card making faves and I've been dying to share...

Dies have proven to be such versatile and trendy tools, and so... they have become a necessity in many card makers collections, making them a "hot item". Another currently trendy style, this year, has been the color blocked look. You can find this trend not only in the world of card making, but in the worlds of fashion and home decor. When you combine the two you get a trendy and unique look that's an easy addition to your own creations. Using the same techniques available to you through your dies, you can take them up another notch by die cutting color blocked shapes, focal points, borders, panels and so much more.

Let me show you what I'm talking about...

First up, a colorful color blocked Christmas tree to make the perfect thank you card for after the Christmas holiday. I started this card by trimming and stamping a white cardstock panel with a sentiment from In The Meadow, in True Black ink. Then attached the panel to a Soft Stone card base.

I then die cut the Christmas tree from cardstock colors of Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss & Hibiscus Burst. Attached the tree to the card base, touched up with glitter and embellished with a button and a ribbon bow.Let me show you how: Start with an assortment of colored cardstock strips cut to different widths.

Then attach the strips to a cardstock panel and trim the edges. Now you are left with a color blocked panel ready to be put to work.

Here's A Tip: Be sure to give the back of each strip a good covering of adhesive. Try to cover the entire piece.

There are two options available from this point...

You can either die cut a number of desired shapes from the color blocked panel. Like pictured above and below...Or die cut a single shape to create a color blocked panel for your card base, like on the card below...

Here's A Tip: When die cutting through two layers of cardstock, you may need to make a few passed through your die cutting machine to ensure a clean cut. Another option (if you can't get your machine to cut through the two cardstock layers) would be to attach the cardstock strips to a lighter weight cardstock or even to computer paper. My die cutting machine has no problem cutting through two layers of cardstock.

I started by creating a color blocked panel from cardstock colors of Smoky Shadow, Berry Sorbet and Melon Berry. I die cut a Signature Series: Butterfly from the panel, wrapped it with Smoky Shadow Twill ribbon and attached it to a white card base using dimensional adhesive.

Within the die cut opening, I stamped a Signature Greetings sentiment. Then embellished with a Smoky Shadow button and glittered around the butterfly opening.

I hope all of you have been inspired by what I've shared with you today. One things for sure... you'll be seeing more color blocking with dies from me in the future. If any of you decide to give it a try too, be sure to share your projects with me. I'd love to see!

Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you have a blessed and wonderful one!

Maile

Thank You For The Gift:

• Stamps: In The Meadow
• Ink: True Black
• Cardstock: Soft Stone, White, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss & Hibiscus Burst
• Accessories: Hibiscus Burst Button, 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue (Rock Candy) & Christmas Tree Die

Girly, You Rock:

• Stamps: Signature Greetings
• Ink: Gray
• Cardstock: White, Smoky Shadow, Berry Sorbet & Melon Berry
• Accessories: Smoky Shadow Twill Ribbon, Smoky Shadow Button, White Embroidery Floss, Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue (Rock Candy) & Signature Series: Butterfly Die

Papertrey Ink December 2011 Release Projects

The Papertrey Ink December 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!...First up, Flower Fusion #11 and Happy Days.I stamped the Happy Days frame and the Flower Fusion flower and sentiment onto the card base. Die cut a strip of cardstock using the coordinating Happy Days frame die and adhered onto either side.Next, Lock & Key and Tag-its #11. Here is another use for those fun Cover Plate: Quatrefoil dies, just run it through your die cutting machine as if it was an Impression Plate. So simple!I just love this little air plane from Tremendous Treats: Valentine!Stamped the plane in gray ink and outlined the image with a few Copic Markers. I'm not so good when it comes to coloring in images, but this is an easy alternative that really looks great.What little girl doesn't want her own princess castle (from Little Princess) floating in the clouds?!Again, I used the same coloring technique as above. Then perched the castle onto white and white shimmer die cut clouds. Love it!The rest of the sentiment is embellished in the inside of the card.Here's Made of Snow Mini.Yep, it's the same coloring technique as above again. I combined this frosty friend with a heart warming sentiment from Big & Bold Holiday Wishes.This little number features a sentiment from Tag-its #11.I whipped out my Heart Border Die to create this one.Last but not lease... Tree Tops and Think Big Favorites #11. I perched a couple Love Birds into a clear embossed tree top.Framed the focal point with a die cut frame, which was created using the Mega Mat Stack #4 die, the rectangle die from the Button Card Collection and the Vineyard Impression Plate.

Well, that's all of them!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Teams fabulous projects as well:

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Maile

My Sweet Friend:

• Stamps: Flower Fusion #11, Happy Days & Background Basic: Retro
• Ink: Gray, Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz & True Black
• Cardstock: White & Soft Stone
• Accessories: True Black Button, White Embroidery Floss, Flower Fusion #11 Die & Happy Days Die

Love Is The Key:

• Stamps: Tag-its #11 and Lock & Key
• Ink: Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy & Gray
• Cardstock: White
• Accessories: Sweet Blush Buttons, White Embroidery Floss & Cover Plate: Quatrefoil Die

I Love You:

• Stamps: Tremendous Treats: Valentine
• Ink: Gray
• Cardstock: Soft Stone & White
• Accessories: Copic Markers & Cloud 1 & 2 Die Collection

My Little Princess:

• Stamps: Little Princess
• Ink: Gray
• Cardstock: Soft Stone, White & White Shimmer
• Accessories: Copic Markers, Little Princess Die Collection & Cloud 1 & 2 Die Collection

Warmest:

• Stamps: Made of Snow Mini and Big & Bold Holiday Wishes
• Ink: Gray & True Black
• Cardstock: White
• Pattern Paper: 2008 Bitty Dots Basics
• Accessories: 1/4 White Silk Ribbon, Copic Markers, Made of Snow Mini Die Collection & Corner Rounder

Be Mine:

• Stamps: Tag-its #11
• Ink: True Black
• Cardstock: Rustic White & Pure Poppy
• Accessories: Heart Border Die

Hugs & Kisses:

• Stamps: Tree Tops, Think Big Favorites #11 & Love Birds
• Ink: Pure Poppy, Chai Vintage Touch & Versamark
• Cardstock: Kraft, White & Spring Moss
• Accessories: 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Mega Mat Stack #4 Die, Button Card Die Collection & Vineyard Impression Plate

Love & Marriage

The final day of the Papertrey Ink Countdown is here and the Design Team has one final group post to share with you today. This time around we bring you a look at Love & Marriage, designed by Nichole Heady. This set offers several different ways to express love to someone you care about, create projects for a couple you know and so much more.For today's project I've created a card perfect for an engagement and I chose to work with this lovely tree image. I started by stamping "True Love" in True Black onto Spring Moss cardstock.Over the sentiment I layered the tree in Versamark ink, embossed with clear embossing powder and trimmed. Embellished the bottom edges with a die cut Filigree Border, attached to a block of True Black cardstock (with dimensional adhesive) and then adhered to a Rustic White card base. Finished the card of with a True Black button and a silk ribbon bow.For the inside I incorporated a little something special. I stamped the Love & Marriage border in Spring Moss and then layered a message (from Congrats All Ways) in True Black ink.

Well, that's it from me today. Be sure to see what the rest of the Papertrey Ink design team has in store for you today. I know I can't wait to see!...

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Maile

True Love:

• Stamps: Love & Marriage and Congrats All Ways
• Ink: True Black & Versamark
• Cardstock: Rustic White, True Black & Spring Moss
• Accessories: 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, True Black Button, Clear Embossing Powder & Filigree Border Die

Rosie Posie

Hello everyone and welcome! It's day four of the Papertrey Ink Countdown, as well as group post day one. Our challenge this month was to find an inspiration photo and create cards featuring the new set Rosie Posie as both a focal point and a hand stamped background. I've got a bunch to share with you today, so let me get started...My first card was inspired by this gorgeous indoor living space (photo from here). I love the bold and clean color combo of black and white with a pop of color. Here's what I came up with...The boldly striped curtains and the damask pattern on the pillow lead to this hand stamped card base. I stamped it using two of the three background building strips included in Rosie Posie, in True Black ink onto a white card base.For a pop of color I stamped the flower stem in Spring Moss, just off of the edge of a white cardstock block. The sentiment used is from Birthday Bash Sentiments. For the flower... I die cut and stamped the base image; then stamped, trimmed and attached additional layers to give this gorgeous flower tons of dimension.I fell in love with the colors of this next inspiration photo (photo from here). Here's what I came up with...And here's my single layer card for the day. I started with a Soft Stone card base and stamped the large flower in a color combo of Summer Sunrise, Terracotta Tile and Sweet Blush. Added a sentiment (from the new Flower Fusion #11 set) stamped in Dark Chocolate and finished the card of with a scattering of brown rhinestones.Check out this gorgeous chair, it makes for perfect inspiration!Here's how it all started... Drawing inspiration from the bird and flower pattern and the yummy yellow color of the chair, I hand stamped my own pattern paper. I chose to combine a few of the flower and leaf images from Rosie Posie with butterflies from Butterfly Dreams. The dots are from Rosie Posie (large) and Polka Dot Basics (medium and small). Here's How: I basically stamped this pattern by starting and building from one corner, arranging and fitting the images closely together (but without touching each other) like a puzzle. Then filled in any gaps with the three different sized dots (starting with the largest dot).I stamped an additional pattern using one of the background patterns from Rosie Posie. Trimmed both pieces, wrapped with white embroidery floss and attached them to a white card base with dimensional adhesive.Finished it off with Harvest Gold sentiment strip (sentiment from Fillable Frames #1).My final inspiration is from Heather Bailey Online (here). I love the look of the colorful blossoms included in a lot of her fabrics. My hope for this last card was to incorporate that idea onto a paper flower in the same fashion. Here's what I came up with...I started by die cutting a Mega Mat Stack #4 from Aqua Mist cardstock. It's a bit hard to see in the photo above (you can get a much better look in the photo below), but I stamped the Aqua Mist Mat Stack with different sized leaves using Fresh Snow, Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks. Stamped a sentiment (from the new Happy Day set) and attached the panel to a white card base.Here's where I tried to achieve the look of a signature Heather Bailey flower... I die cut and stamped the flower in Sweet Blush ink. Then touched the flower up with an orange and red Copic maker (using very light strokes). I think I can use a few more practice runs before I achieve the look I'm going for. Anyways, you get the idea.

Well, that's it from me. Be sure to see what the rest of the Papertrey Ink design team has in store for you today. I know I can't wait to see!...

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Maile

Happy Birthday:

• Stamps: Rosie Posie & Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Ink: True Black, Spring Moss & Hibiscus Burst
• Cardstock: White
• Accessories: Rosie Posie Die Collection

You Make My Life Blossom!:

• Stamps: Rosie Posie & Flower Fusion #11
• Ink: Summer Sunrise, Terricotta Tile, Sweet Blush & Dark Chocolate
• Cardstock: Soft Stone
• Accessories: Rhinestones

Hello:

• Stamps: Rosie Posie, Butterfly Dreams & Fillable Frames #1
• Ink: Summer Sunrise & True Black
• Cardstock: White & Harvest Gold
• Accessories: White Embroidery Floss

Happy Mother's Day:

• Stamps: Rosie Posie & Happy Day
• Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Spring Moss, Fresh Snow, Sweet Blush & True Black
• Cardstock: White & Aqua Mist
• Accessories: Red & Orange Copic Markers, Rosie Posie Die Collection & Mega Mat Stack #4

2012 Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the 2012 Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop. Today I'm joining friends in this blog hop to share previews of the new 2012 stamps. I've got a couple cards to share with you today, so let me get started...First up, I've used the large clock image from the new clear set, Special Time (CL579), stamped it in Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise and Terracotta Tile onto a Rustic White card base. Finished the card off with a sentiment, from the same set, stamped in black. Attached a couple True Black cardstock strips and embellished with a couple buttons.Next up is a fun new clear stamp sentiment set This is Big (CL570). I love clear and large sentiment stamps, they makes perfect placement a breeze. This was the key when crating this card, I wanted the chosen sentiment to stand on its own and to take center stage by stamping it onto different parts of this color blocked card front. I carefully inked the top portion of the sentiment stamp and stamped it onto the edge of a Spring Moss card stock block. Then carefully inked the bottom portion and stamped it onto the edge of an Aqua Mist cardstock block. Both panels were then attached to a card base.For a bit of texture and detail, I heat embossed a clear cardstock panel with dots (from Life of the Party) in clear embossing powder. The clear cardstock warped a little in the process, but I liked the effect and went with it. To attach the clear cardstock to the card base... I first attached a white cardstock strip to the front of the clear cardstock panel. Then, to hide the adhesive, I attached another strip of adhesive behind the white cardstock strip and then adhered to the card base. Finished the card off with a few True Black buttons.

Done with the cards, now how about a giveaway! Hero Arts will be giving away 5 prize packages that include brand new 2012 Catalog stamps. The five winners will be randomly chose from ALL of the blog hop comments received by midnight PST on Monday, December 12, and will be announced on the Hero Arts blog shortly thereafter.

And lastly, hop along to the next fabulous designer!...

• Kristina Werner

Remember, if you find a link that doesn't work, you can always hop back to the Hero Arts Blog for a list of direct links to all the blogs in the hop.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the Blog Hop! Thanks for hopping by!

Maile


Make Every Moment Count:

• Stamps: Special Time (CL579)
• Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise, Terracotta Tile & True Black
• Cardstock: Rustic White & True Black
• Accessories: True Black Buttons & Cream Twine

This Is Big:

• Stamps: This is Big (CL570) & Life of the Party Dots (CG598)
• Ink: True Black & Versamark
• Cardstock: Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, White & Clear Cardstock
• Accessories: True Black Buttons & White Embroidery Floss