PTI ~ Make It Monday ~ Double Partial Die Cutting

Here's a couple of cards I made using Laura's mind blowing technique, double partial die cutting. You can find the video with all the details HERE.

My mind was going in two different directions with ideas on what I wanted to do so I created cards using both ideas.

Here's my first card:

I used Mat Stack #4 die and the word JOY from Holiday Double Cuts to create the focal point. I inked the background using the Hello Sunshine coordinating die. I cut a stencil from a piece of acetate and stenciled in the sun rays using Tim Holtz Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. I stamped some corner flourishes and finished it off with some pretty Easter Lilies that I colored with copics.

For this card, I used Mat Stacks #1 die and the bird from Songbirds to create the focal point. The sentiment is from Bitty Bouquet and Petite Pots. I raised the front panel using some fun foam to give this card some dimension. A stamped banner from Songbirds and a layered flower from Happiness in bloom finish it off.

I'm also entering one of these cards into the following challenges:
Simon Says Monday Challenge
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

With Love

There's a fun little game you can join in on over at The Paper Players...

I went right through the center with this card using 1)Die Cut, 2)sequins & 3)any shade of blue.

I started with a Berrylicious cardstock base from MFT and added a piece of script printed paper and then machine stitched a piece of vellum to soften the background. I heat embossed "with love" from PTI's Swoosh in gold. After that came all the fun! The bird is die cut using a Spellbinders die and the flower is called Stitched Daisies from My Creative Time. The ruler strip is cut from a piece of printed paper. After that, a junk bow, some cheesecloth underneath the bird and some pretty pastel sequins finish this card off.

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

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Just For You

This weeks challenge at CASology is "Style". I jokingly commented on my friend Joyce's blog that I didn't think I could join this week because "I have no style". Joyce came back with a personal challenge to join anyway either to prove that I'm right and I have no style or to prove that everyone has style! ;0) So, this card is for my sweet friend Joyce.
Thanks for encouraging me and being a great online friend.

I used PTI's Lovely Laurels Mini Kit to create this fun little dimensional card. With a name like "Lovely Laurels, it's got style built right in so I knew I'd be ok for this challenge.

For added dimension, I used vellum and two layers of green mulberry paper. Remember that paper that was really popular many moons ago? Yes, I still have some!

Some flower and leaf shaped sequins from the kit really add to this card without making it too busy. And that bird! I just love this bird image from PTI's Anniversary set, Petite Pots.

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

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Mixing & Matching Patterned Papers

Yes, another post today, also for PTI. Danielle Flanders did a great video on creating your own patterned papers. She makes it look very easy but I'm not great at mixing and matching patterned papers though it has been fun making them and putting them together.
Anyway, here's my card for the MIM Challenge.
We'll start with the papers. I pretty much went with the same patterns that Danielle did, just changing my color palette.

The large checked dot is from Ruby Rose, the small dot from Happiness in Bloom. I also used Brushed Blooms, Background Basics Gingham & Note Niblets.
My colors are Ripe Avacado, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Orange Zest, Terracotta Tile and Fine Linen.

Here's my cards

Using You've Been Framed Oval.

Using the label from Everyday Treats.

Using Sentiment Splits Horizontal.

Using the other label from Everyday Treats and the Heart Border Die.

I got 5 cards out of those 5 printed papers! Thanks Danielle for a fun challenge and for adding some great colorful cards to my stash!
Be sure to check out everyone else's fabulous creations from this challenge.
Thanks for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

My Sweet Friend

Good morning PTI friends! It's time for the PTI March Blog Hop. You can find all the details HERE.
Here's the fabulous inspiration photo that Nichole picked out

So fresh and springy, right!
Here's my card:

I started by die cutting the bouquet from Fancy Folk Art out of vellum. I then heat embossed the image in white and colored on the backside with my copics. I used spray adhesive to affix it to a white circle cut with Spellbinders circle die and then attached it to the Tag Sale #4 die. The card base is created with some random paper scraps from my stash and the Heart Border Die from PTI. The sentiment on the banner is from Flower Fusion #11. A piece of ribbon and a little flower sequin finish off my card.

I'm also using this as Day 21 of the 30 day coloring challenge.
Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. Have fun on the hop!
Blessings ~ Birgit

Oh Happy Day

This card was made for the Color Throwdown Challenge.

The chevron stamp is from Simon Says Stamp and the sentiment is from Sweet N' Sassy Stamps "Love Birds". Everything else is from MFT.
I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
The Paper Players
Word Art Wednesday

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Happy Spring to YOU!

Good morning and Happy Spring! Just wanted to pop in and give you all a card for spring, even though it's only 4 degrees here this morning.

Spring colors and butterflies make me happy and I hope you have a happy day as well! I also hope it's a little warmer and spring-like in your neck of the woods. ;0)
I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Thanks so much for visiting! Blessings~ Birgit

Unforgettable

Hello bloggie friends~ Do you feel a bit of Dejavu going on? I know this card has been posted just recently, but because I made it within just a couple of days of the Stamp Away With Me Throwback Thursday challenge, I thought I would re-post and enter it into the challenge. And, since I'm new to WPlus9, I don't have any of their older sets so my new sets will have to suffice.

I used WPlus9 Landscape Dies and Unforgettable to create this fun birthday card.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 14

Here's my card for day 14 of the 30 day coloring challenge.
I started by cutting a stencil using the circles cover plate from PTI.

I stamped over the stencil onto my cardstock base using PTI's text background and then while the stencil was still on, added some Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink to each of the circles. Doesn't this make a great background?
I cut a panel of vellum and heat embossed a flourish in each corner using gold embossing powder.
I then stitched the vellum over the top to soften the look of the background and also stitched in a burlap banner.
I cut an oval using Spellbinders Ovals for my sentiment and added a die cut laurel from Simon Says Stamp.

Some hearts and prima flowers finish this card off. The heart on the top left was only supposed to be a flower but I forgot when I glued everything down. It's a little much with the extra heart but it is what it is. Try removing something once it's been stuck down with Glossy Accents. That stuff is like cement!
Anyway, I'm still going to add this card to the following challenges:
The Shabby Tearoom
Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30 day ~ Day 13 ~ Simple Gifts

This weeks PTI MIM Video is all about confetti stamping with Lizzie Jones. You can check out her great video HERE.
I'm also using this as Day 13 of The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge.

I used the small stamps from Songbirds to create the bird image from the set.
This was a fun technique. One that I could use again and again.
I'm also entering my card into the following challenges.
The Curtain Call
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessing~ Birgit

CAS Hello

Here's a quick CAS card that I made for the CASology Challenge. This week is Blossom.
I used Woodland Rectangular Frame from Simon Says Stamp and Hello You from My Creative Time to create this quick and easy, CAS card.

I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge
and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.

Thanks for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 12

Today's card is a little out of season, but this set from Sweet N' Sassy Stamps is new to me and I just had to try coloring it using my copics.
This is for Day 12 of The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge

Once colored, this made for a very quick card to put together. Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 11

This post brings me up to date on Kathy's 30 day coloring challenge.
For this card I used the colors from The colourQ Challenge.

Don't laugh... I can't get enough of these cute little elephants from WPlus9.

I've been coloring these little elephants like crazy!
Here's a few more cards, just because it's my blog and I can! ;0)

I had to try coloring an elephant in something else other than grey. I think this one is my favorite!

I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 10

Here's my coloring project for day 10 of Kathy's 30 day coloring challenge.

The image is from WPlus9's Botanical Bunch. I used my copics for coloring and added some white gel pen accents and some black Wink of Stella to all the black parts of the bouquet.
I'm also entering this into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

P.S. I Love You!

Taking a quick break from the 30 day coloring challenge to make a card for the My Creative Time Challenge.

Sweet spring colors!

I was inspired by the wreath to use a woodgrain background. I used Stitched Daisies and a sentiment from To A Cute Little Chickie. I absolutely adore that sentiment because it can be used on anything! The leaves are cut using PTI's Songbird dies.
I'm also entering this into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 9

I find myself playing catch-up. I'm two days behind on my posts for Kathy's 30 day Coloring Challenge. I just received an order from WPlus9 and couldn't wait to ink up these happy little elephants from their set "Unforgettable".
My first card is a complete CASE from Dawn and her card found HERE.
I completely fell in love with her card and thought it was a good way to try coloring this image for the first time using my copics.

Her card is much cuter and colored much better but I'm happy to be making the attempt to improve my coloring skills throughout this 30 day challenge.
Here's my next card:

Aren't these elephants just the cutest?

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 8 & Watercolor Smooshing with PTI

Today's card meets two challenge requirements. Betsy's Make It Monday challenge goes hand in hand with a coloring technique for The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge.
The colors I used for Betsy's smooshing technique were Raspberry Fizz, Limeade Ice, Harvest Gold and Winter Wisteria.

What a fun coloring technique, as it's a surprise every time, how the inking will come out.
I heat embossed the image and sentiment in black, from Doodlie-Do and finished it off with some sequins from Lawn Fawn.
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 7

A quick post today for day 7 of The Daily Marker Color challenge.

Another card using PTI's Year of Flowers.
This 30 day challenge is proving harder than I thought it would be. I'm finding it difficult to devote time every day to my craft room. I'm still hoping to make it to the end but the warmer temps here in Maine are calling me to spend more time outside walking and snowshoeing. Cold weather is returning in just a few days so hopefully I'll be able to stay on target.
Thanks so much to those of you who have been so kind in visiting my blog each day and leaving me words of encouragement. It really means a lot to me and is a real bright spot in my day.
Thanks for visiting! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 6

I'm back again with my coloring project for Day 6 of the Daily Marker Coloring challenge. I'm back to my copics today because I needed to make a set of cards for a gift.

I used PTI's Year of Flowers to make this set of cards.

They are all finished off with some Wink of Stella. So pretty!

I put them in a clear box and added a pretty little pen, ready to gift.
Thanks for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 5

Good morning. Yes, I know it's Monday. I missed posting yesterday, day 5 of The Daily Marker challenge because it was a busy day filled with snow shoeing and family. Delightful!

Since I didn't have a chance yesterday to practice my coloring skills, I thought I would share a little known secret with you. I am also a painter. Not the true artsy kind of painter but I learned to do decorative painting a number of years ago using acrylic, craft paints. So I thought I would share a couple of past painting projects for Day 5 since it still involves coloring using paints.

This was one of my very first painting projects I did in paint class. The style is somewhat primitive, which is what I love! I gifted this painting to my sister who likes the same style I do.

This is the first paint project I did on my own at home using a free pattern I found on line. I painted it on an old cupboard door that was sitting in our basement for a long time. I gifted this one to my sister in-law.
I was painting for well over a year before I painted something that I kept for myself.
This was the first project I did that I kept for myself.

It's painted on a pine board that's about three feet long.
I haven't painted now in almost a year because it's difficult to see the little details with my eyesight growing worse. I wear glasses, but the strain makes my eyes extremely tired and it's very frustrating.
So anyway, that's my day 5 coloring to share with you today.
Thanks for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

#thedailymarker30day ~ Day 4

Today, Kathy, over at The Daily Marker did a mixed media project. I don't have those kinds of supplies so I used my time to try no-line watercoloring, using Tim Holtz Distress Inks. I found a couple of YouTube videos and went for it. Here's my piece:

I used Botanical Beauties from PTI. I love the image but it was a hard image to paint for my first try. I'll be looking for simpler images next time.
Thanks for looking at Day 4! Blessings~ Birgit

Beautiful Bouquet

This sweet card was made for the WPlus9 Throwback Thursday Challenge using their Fresh Cut Flowers stamps and dies.

I created the bouquet and planted them in a pot cut from an old Quickutz die. I used a piece of scrap script paper from my stash for the background but found that it was too bold for my images so I machine stitched a piece of vellum over the top. The bouquet is attached to the vellum and the whole thing mounted to a piece of bright raspberry colored cardstock.

I couldn't decide on a sentiment so I left it as is. I kind of like it because you can really appreciate the pretty script paper in the background and this card can be for any occasion.

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

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit