Friday, February 27, 2015

Simple Butterfly

This card was made with the CASology challenge in mind. The topic is "MINI".

I started by stamping my frame image in the center and then stamping the sentiment right below that, onto some Bazzil cardstock. I cut three butterflies from PTI's Beautiful Butterflies, in different printed paper and vellum. I stitched them onto the front panel and added three pearl gems.
I hope this fits the bill for the challenge. I'm also entering this into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday,
Simon Says Monday Challenge
and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Color Throwdown #331

Good morning friends~ Today's card was made using the color palette from Color Throwdown.

I had a couple ideas going through my head when I saw the challenge picture.
My first card uses the tulip image from PTI's Friendship Jar ~ Spring.

I colored the tulips in with my copics and added some Glossy Accents to the tips of some of the petals and leaves to make them look like water droplets. I stamped the woodgrain from MFT onto my kraft panel. After cutting a large circle out of the center with Spellbinders Circles, I added some printed paper behind the tulips. The banner is called Layered Banner Banter from PTI.

My next card uses some printed paper and the layered heart doily from Top Dog Dies. the flowers are cut using Pretty Petals, also from Top Dog Dies. The leaves are from MFT, Layered Leaves.

As I was going through my picture files I came across this card that I made recently and the colors were perfect for this challenge as well.

The branches are from Out On A Limb from PTI. The flowers from Embroidered Blossoms (PTI) were stamped first in white and then in Raspberry Fizz, but offset. The leaves are from WPlus9 Fresh Cut Florals. I added some deep pink stickles to the centers of each flower. More center detail was added to the flowers using a colored pencil.
I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday,
Simon Says Monday Challenge
and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

Thanks so much for visiting! Blessings~ Birgit

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

PTI's MIM Challenge ~ Sweet Boy

Today's card was made for the PTI Make-it-Monday Challenge. The sweet and soft spoken Melissa Phillips challenged us to anchor our card using borders and / or banners dies.
Here's my card:

I started with a Kraft cardstock base and built up my front panel using some printed paper from my stash, overlayed with a piece of vellum. I then added a banner using the Notched Star Banner Die set, where I stamped my sentiment from Sweet Baby. The top edge of the panel was then stitched on my machine using a large zig zag pattern to play off from the background paper.
I used the Heart Border die and a piece of ruler printed paper to anchor my focal point which is the medallion topped with the elephant from Sweet Baby. To that, I finished my card off with a couple of Button Stacks and a punched out heart tied with string.

Lots of layers and patterns going on here.
This is what I call a "Melissa Phillips style" card!
I'm also entering this card into the Simon Says Monday Challenge where it's everything goes.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Something New ~ Inspiration Saturday

Good Sunday morning! I know my title says Inspiration Saturday but today is Sunday. I've been wanting to start a new segment on my blog posting a card that I made that was inspired by something I've seen or by some of the incredible talent that's out there leading the stamping market. My day of choice was Saturday, but since I didn't get to post yesterday I thought I would start it today, although keeping my post day for Saturday. Make sense? ;0)
Anyway, today's card was inspired by the fabulous Kristina Werner. You can find her sweet card HERE on her BLOG.

Here's my card:

I used Simon Says Cupcake Party stamp set to create this card. My card is pretty much CASEd except that mine has a large clear acetate window allowing you to peek into the inside of the card. The window card was originally intended to be a shaker card, but my first card was a success leaving me with a second window card to do something different with.
On the inside of the card I stamped streamers from PTI's Birthday Style.


Even though this is a CASEd card, I put my own touch to it. Like any card, you can take the inspiration as far as you'd like according to your own taste. You can follow the recipe exactly, change a few things or simply use an idea as a jumping off point. Keep in mind that you cannot enter any card that is CASEd into any challenges unless it is your own work.

I enjoy Kristina's clean and simple style and her use of white space. The clean lines of this card really allow the sentiment and focal point to be the star of the show.
Thanks Kristina, for always inspiring us with your creative talents and joyful personality!
Be sure to stop back next Saturday for my next Inspiration Saturday. Thanks for visiting!
Blessings~ Birgit

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Simon Says Add A Little Texture

This next card was made for the Simon Says Wednesday challenge to "Add A Little Texture".
I stamped some flower images from PTI's Embroidered Blooms onto my card panel and then embossed just 3/4 of the panel using a woodgrain embossing folder to add texture. For further texture, I added a small die cut doily and some PTI Button Stacks.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Amazing Birthday

Today's card was made using the color palette from My Creative Time.

Since I've only purchased from them once and one of my sets was a winter one, I found myself at a loss of what to create but I really wanted to enter into their challenge. I just adore their products and look forward to future purchases.
It finally hit me that I could use the little banner from Chocolate Greetings to create my own festive banner using their colors.

I started by stamping some streamers into the background of my front panel. Using the banner from Chocolate Greetings, I cut the length of the banners down, the long ones at 1.5 inches and the smaller ones at 1 inch and adhered them to my card front. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp. A few orange candy dots from Queen & Co finishes off my card!

I hope this is good enough to make the cut for their challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Thinking of You

Today's card was made using the fabulous color combo from ColorQ Challenge.

Since I don't have SU! colors I had to find the closest I had in PTI colors, which were Winter Wisteria, Autumn Rose, Scarlet Jewel and of course gold.

I started by dripping and spraying some gold distress spray from Heidi Swap onto my card base. The clock face was cut out of gold adhesive paper using PTI's Hands of Time die. I stamped the little hearts in alternating spaces using With All My Heart. The flowers and leaves are from Sweet Life. A few gold and purply sequins finish this off.
All products are from PaperTrey Ink.
I'm also entering this into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

A Note Of Thanks

Here's a card I made using the color challenge from Color Throwdown.


I started by cutting two panels using MFT's Blueprints #20 & #1. I ran the white panel through the Grand Calibur using PTI's Aida Cloth texture plate. I also created the button card using PTI's Button Boutique and Button Stacks die's and the leaves from Exploring the 1940's.
The little thread card was made using PTI's Hanging By A Thread and the thread lines were stamped using the lined image from Layered Banner Banter. It fit perfectly! A tiny ribbon bow finishes it off. The sentiment is from PTI"s 2014 SAF "Renaissance Kit".

I'm also adding this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Hello Dear Friend

Hello dear friends~ I made this card for all of you who visit my blog and leave such kind comments. It's also for those who like to pop in and leave un-noticed. I still thank you and count you as a dear friend.
I made this card using Laurie Willison's challenge to use a cover plate as a stencil and add embossing paste or in my case, I used Glossy Accents instead.

I started by cutting a Basic Bookmark #3 in Melon Berry cardstock. I used the Hearts Cover Plate and added the Glossy Accents down the center of my bookmark. While that was drying, I cut the daffodil from Year of Flowers and stamped it in fine linen ink and gave water coloring another try. There are so many talented artists out there who can make theirs look so good. I'm not one of them but I do want to learn and I love the water colored look.

Once everything was dry, I added a doily to the back of the bookmark. Another look I've been loving is string under a focal point so I added some under the daffodil. I gave my bookmark a Melissa Phillips "junk bow" (LOVE!) and added some yellow candy dots from Queen & Co. Everything is mounted onto a Kraft cardstock base.
Since this card has lots of texture, I'm also adding it to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge,
the tropical colors make it perfect for the Simon Says Monday Challenge,
and the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Monday, February 16, 2015

MFT Color Challenge

Happy Monday everyone! Here's a card I made using the colors from the MFT Color Challenge

Here's my simple card I made using the new Blueprints #22 & #14 and the Layered Leaves

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Friday, February 13, 2015

Sending Ombre Hugs

I wasn't sure if I was going to make it in on this PTI Challenge to create something using blue ombre.

I ran the white cardstock panel through my machine with the Linen and Canvas Impression Plate. Then I inked up a scrap piece of white cardstock with different shades of blue and die cut the word "HUGS" from their Big Hugs set. I was looking through my stamps and found these roses from Sweet Life that were already stamped in blue! How perfect!! After stamping the banner sentiment on the top, I mounted the panel to a Blueberry Sky card base. As a result, my card came together very quickly.

Tomorrow is the big day when we can see everything in it's whole glory! I don't know about you but my wish list far exceeds my allowance. It's been a fun time keeping up with all the challenges and seeing everyone's amazing, creative talents. Good luck to all!
Thanks so much for visiting. Blessings~ Birgit

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Wedding Wishes

Today's PTI Challenge is all about using only silver, gold and a neutral. That's a tough one for me because I'm not much of a shiny, blingy person. Once my idea started, it kept rolling and turned into this:

I was inspired by one of the photo's in Nicole's post today using this cover plate, so that was my jumping off point. Songbirds had the perfect airy leaf image, which I die cut three times using gold & silver kraft paper and vellum. I cut the sweet bird out in shiny gold cardstock, keeping all the details intact.
The flower is a combination of a larger flower cut from vellum and two smaller flowers from Flower Fusion cut using the shiny gold, all of which I formed using a ball stylus. I added some cheese cloth to the back and a pearl bead to the center. The banner was cut from vellum and gold heat embossed using the Wedding Wishes stamp from Songbirds.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

The Old Is New Again

Hello PTI friends~ I was able to make a couple of cards using PTI's next challenge to use a set that hasn't seen ink yet, or one that hasn't been used in a while. I'm embarrassed to say that I've had the set All About You for a really, really long time and have never inked it up until today. To be honest, I kind of forgot I had it (long story). Anyway, here's a card I made using that set:

Since there's no dies for this set, I cut the flower part out using a Spellbinders Scalloped Circle die and stamped my flower image onto that. I stamped the main sentiment and three of the accompanying sentiments on a layered banner. I made it check-box style by selectively inking a square from another company's stamp set and using the check mark that went with it.
I think I'll keep this set on my craft table for a while and give it more love.
ETA: The leaves are from MFT and they're called Layered Leaves.
Here's a couple more cards using Vintage Picnic, which I hadn't inked up in a very long time.

I made a masculine card and a feminine one using this set.
I also used Topiary Trio and Boutique Borders Father for the sentiment.

Are you having fun with all the daily challenges? I'm doing my best to keep up with them and am glad to spend extra time in my crafty space doing it.
Thanks for visiting! Blessings~ Birgit

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Creating A Bouquet

Today's PTI challenge, was to create a bouquet using different stamps sets.

I used Embellished Elegance, Happiness In Bloom, Ruby Rose and Beautiful Blessings to create this. The lattice is from Spellbinders and the border frame and sentiment frame are both from Simon Says Stamp. I just got the lattice yesterday so I had to use it.

I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge for All Things Bright & Beautiful.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Gift Packaging with PTI

Two posts in one day! I didn't want to fall behind on the daily challenges for PTI's 8th Anniversary so I enjoyed a couple of hours this morning in my craft room playing catch-up! Here's my entry for today's challenge on making a tag and gift bag.


I used the Folded Foodie Tag Die to create my tag. To color it, I smooshed some Blueberry Sky and Winter Wisteria onto a large acrylic stamping block and spritzed it with water. I then pressed the front of the tag onto the block letting the colors absorb into my cardstock and let it dry. I used Rosie Posie using the same colors and Simply Chartreuse for the leaves and added them to the front of my tag finishing it off with another smaller tag which was stamped using a sentiment from SAF 2014 1940's kit.

The inside of the tag was stamped using the same image and colors I used on the front, except that I stamped them off once to create a lighter color value. The "To:" and "From:" is from Painted Poinsettia's.

ETA: Thought I would add a couple other pictures of gift sets that I've made in the past using PTI products since I've never posted them to my blog.

This set was inspired by the lovely and talented Melissa Phillips using the Garden Variety and Vegetable Garden sets. It was was a gift of home made chocolate chip zucchini bread, home made salsa and recipe cards that I gave to a dear friend.


This was a set of cards using Beautiful Blessings and Songbirds that I made for a friend who's ministry is helping others in need.

A small file box to hold the cards

One of the cards and coordinating envelopes. All the cards were the same, but different. There's lot of pictures to this set, so if you're interested I can post them in a future post.

Please leave me a comment if you've stopped by so I'll know you've been here and I can be sure to visit your blog and leave you some love.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Sending Encouragement

Hello PTI fans~ I'm back with my entry for the Maile-Belles Returns challenge. She has so many amazing cards it was hard to choose just one to try. Hence the word T~R~Y. I've wanted to try her Cut Out Panels ever since I saw THIS POST on her blog and today was the day to bite the bullet and t~r~y.

I used A Sweet Life to try my cut~out panel card. It was actually easier than I thought it was going to be and I'm eager to make another one using this technique.
The sentiment is from A Cheerful Heart. Colors are Sweet Blush, Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse and Smokey Shadow.
Have fun with the rest of the festivities. I'm looking forward to crafting more with PTI! Blessings~ Birgit

Friday, February 6, 2015

MFT Sketch Challenge #214

I'm here with one more card I made using the MFT sketch challenge. As you can see by the card, I'm ready for spring to arrive soon!

I love the clean and simple style of the sketch and the Lily dies were just calling my name.

I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge, All Things Bright & Beautiful.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

PTI's 8th Anniversary Festivities

Hello PTI friends~ I'm here with a card I made for the PTI 8th Anniversary Challenge. There were so many great color combinations and sketches to choose from, it was hard to choose just one so I made three! Since I can only enter one into the challenge, I'll choose this first one. The others are there for your enjoyment and inspiration. Ha!

I used the following color and sketch:

Here's a couple more cards.



Have fun hopping all the blogs to see some fabulous PTI inspiration and enjoy the festivities as they celebrate their 8th year! Hugs~ Birgit