Bloom Builder ##

TodayI received my box of PTI goodies that I ordered Monday at midnight.  I immediately took the new Bloom Builder #3 die out so I could make a flower.  Initially, I wanted to use pattern paper.  However, I discovered that is is almost impossible to punch out because it is so lightweight.
I proceded to use PTI cardstock  and what a difference.  The flower just popped out like in Nicole's video.  It is best to push the flower down like she instructed. I made the flower as I watched Nicople's video. I am so happy with the result.

MIM # 28 Glitter Die Borders

     When I first saw the video this week for MIM, (Glitter Die BordersI I wasn't exactly thrilled.  I am not a fan of glitter.  Althought I have about 7 jars of various colors, I use it sparingly.       My first thought was which die would I use as a border.  The one that immediately came to mind was the butterfly from Dawn McVey's Signature Series.  Initially, I wanted to use blue for the butterfly.  As I was browsing through my pattern papers, I spotted one with delicate, red flowers.  After I cut the butterfly, I laid it on a Pure Poppy diecut from Sending You to outline it with glitter.  Then I propped it up with some dimensionals and added some crystal gems.



     I had practice this technique on scrap paper first. I noticed that it was hard to remove the die without smudging the glue. (Erin laid her die so a portion was sticking out; so she didn't have to deal with that.)  I tried using a magnet to lift the up the die, and it worked.  The glitter I used was actually lime sherbet.  In real life, the glitter does have a hint of green, but it doesn't show up in the photo.


     I decided to use more of the pattern paper in my card. I ran it through my cuttlebug using the Cane Print IP to give it some texture.



     The green in the pattern paper was an exact match to New Leaf.  I die cut some New Leaf  cardstock with a die from TANL and used fresh snow around the edges to soften the green.

     I added some ribbon, a sentiment from Simple Sunflower, a little red edging around the sides, and more dimensionals to create this card.

     Although I am glad I tried this technique, I don't think I will be using it as much as some others I have learned.  MIMs are awesome. They encourage me to try something new as well as use my supplies.  I hope they continue into 2012.

Supplies: CS: PurePoppy, Sweet Blush

Stamps: Simple Sunflower

Cane Print IP

Dies: Sending You, Signature Series: Butterfly, Turning a New Leaf

Misc: Denami Lime Sherbet glitter, Zig Glue Pen, dimensionals, crystals, PP (from my stash)

Tranquility Trilogy

 I made this card last month when I received my July PTI order. Every time I tried to take pictures of it, the glare from the glitter ruined the photo.  I decided to change the location and finally got a half way decent picture.  The colors are muted in this photo as I used a medium gray bazzill cs and sweet blush stamped with Memento London Fog.

The colors in this close up shot are more reflective of the colors in the card.



I love the simplicity of the designs in this stamp set.  I need to give it more love as I haven't used it since.

Supplies:  CS: Bazzill medium gray, Sweet Blush

Stamps: Tranquility Trilogy

Ink:  Memento London Fog

Die: Edgers #1

Misc: score tape 1/4 inch, hero Arts Prismo Glitter

MIM: Copic Colored Ribbon

I've always admired the beautiful ribbons Nicole Heady has created using her copic markers. This week's MIM challege on her website, Capture the Moment, involved using copics on ribbon.
Not wanting to waste any of my precious PTI ribbon and knowing how lousy I am at drawing a straight line with a ruler, I used some satin ribbon in my stash. 



Let's just say I am no Nicole Heady when it comes to drawing lines on ribbon.  I used the ribbon on a Christmas tag. It looked half way decent.  However, when I took pictures, the details were washed out, so I didn't post a picture of the tag.


I figured wider ribbon would have been better.  Realizing that one did not use a lot of ribbon, I took the plunge and tried this technique on my precious PTI ribbon.  Earlier in the week my son learned that he was selected for a new position he recently applied for as a clerk to a Federal Magistrate Judge. So I made him this card.

 

I'm still no Nicole when it comes to this technique.  I need to practice more as I haven't mastered the right amountof pressure to put on the point when one begins.  The ends of my ribbon were saturated with color and bled.  They are tucked nicely under the first layer.


Supplies: CS: Vintage Creeam, Harvest Gold
Ink:  Momento Dandelion, Agean Sea
Stamps: fillable Frame #1, Star Print, Impression Obsession Cover-a-card Thick N Thin
Other: vintage Cream grograin ribbon, Copic B45, star punch, computer font, dimensionals

MIM #26 Decreasing Aperatures

This is my second card for MIM.  When I first saw the video, the die from "Sending You" immediately came to  mind. I knew I wanted to use flowers with it too.

I really only used two layers this time instead of three,but now that it is completed, I realized I could have used the Flower Fusion #4 as the third layer. I do like how the card turned out. Looks like I need to trim the edge of that ribbon. (Definitely need a pair of scissors just to cut ribbon.) Here is a close up of the two aperatures.

I love the color combination of Pure Poppy with Sweet Blush & Berry Sorbet.  This card is going to a very sweet PTI forum member.
Thanks for looking.

Supplies:
CS: Vintage Cream, Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy
INK: Berry Sorbet, Memories Black, Marvy Lt. Green
Stamps: Botanical Shilouettes, Flower Fusion # 6
Dies: Sending You, Flower Fusion # 4 & 6
 Misc: Berry Sorbet Grograin ribbon, pearls

MIM: #26: Decreasing Apertures

Now that I am back in the swing of things, I created a card for this week's MIM #26: Decreasing Apertures.
I began by looking through all of my dies and paired up three that would go together: Tag # 1, the sunflower burst & circle from Limitless Labels.

      I picked Tag # 1 for two reasons.  I haven't used it even though I ordered it when it was first released, and I wanted to get a head start on my Christmas cards even though I am waiting (im)patiently for PTI's release of 2011 Christmas stamps.  (I wish they would do a release in July; you know the theme: Christmas in July.)


At first I picked three colors of cardstock: kraft, white and aqua mist.  But when I created a prototype using Tag # 1, I realized that I needed pattern paper under it. 


So I went through my Chrismas papers and found this:

I changed my colors to white & Spring Rain.  Here is my final product. 

The snowflake is stamped with Momento Summer Sky. You can barely see it, but I also inked around the circle to break up the white on white. I didn't stamp a sentiment on the outside.  I am hoping that there will be something in the 2011 Christmas release that I will be able to use.

After I made the card, I made a 2nd one using Enchanted Evening as the background cardstock.  The snowflake is stamped in Fresh Snow. I added pearls this time.  Even though I like the first card, I think the 2nd card is much prettier. Perhaps it is the sharp contrast. What do you think?

A close up view of the snowflake.       

Supplies:
Cardstock: White, Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening
Stamps: Rustic Snowflake
Dies: Tag #1, Limitless Labels
Misc: Spring Rain satin ribbon, Hero Arts Gemstones, K& C Speciality Paper, pearls.

Love Frog

It's been three weeks since I last posted.  It seems like forever!  I was busy making cards for the #24 MIM challenge, and some goodies for my sister's birthday.  Accomplished what I wanted to do, but never took pictures.  What a bummer. Last week my sister, JoAnn,  & I flew to Arizonia  to surprise my other sister for her birthday.  (The birthday is actually tomorrow.  Happy Birthday, Vicky!)  Was she ever surprised!!!!  I wish I had taken a picture as she opened the door. We had a nice girls' weekend visiting Prescott, Jerome and Sedona.  I also had the opportunity to spend some time with my three neices who also live in Arizonia.  I got to meet Baby Liam (2 months old) and Thea (3 years old).  When I arrived home from Arizonia, my sister spent 2 days with me before heading home to Jersey.

Today I am back in my routine: spending time at the gym and in my craft room.  There's a story behind the card I created today. Back in April, I took one of my students to the Newport Aquarium in KY as she had expressed an interest in becoming a marine biologist. I had arranged for her to meet with the biologist.  She took her behind the scenes to get up close & personal with the penguins.  Meanwhile, I went exploring in the gift shop.  While browsing, a kid's purple tee shirt caught my eye.  (Purple is my granddaughter's favorite color)  It had a cute little frog on it with the vertical word:  Love.  Much to my disappointment, they did not have the tee shirt in my granddaughter's size.

I had just ordered Boy Basic: Frog Hop and thought I would use the tee shirt as an inspiration for a card.
Here's the card.  (I wish I had a picture of the tee shirt.  It was stinkin cute!)

I used dimensionals to raise the word Love.  I drew the two lines on the half & half banner.

To make the letters, I used a stamp from Boxes, Bags & Tags. I cut out the letters in the word love using the font from my Sizzlits.

After that I sponged a negative image for each letter.

Here is a close-up of the frog.  I used dimensionals to prop him up too!  Since I am new to coloring with Copics, I haven't nailed down the blending technique yet.

 I will probably give this card to my grandaughter on her first day of pre-school.
Thanks for bearing with me today as my post is lengthy.  Did I mention that  it's great to be back?


Supplies:
CS: white, purple, green (all from my stash)
Stamps:  Boy Basic: Frog Hop, Boxes, Bags & Tags, Half & Half
Dies: Boy Basic: Frog Hop, Half & Half
Misc: dimensionals, Copics