Monday, August 31, 2015

Happy Little Stampers September Sketch Challenge

September is here! Oh my head spins when I think about how quickly summer went by. I love the change of the seasons, and fall is my favorite season of all! Sunflowers and Black Eyed Susans are in full bloom in my neck of the woods, so check out this card I made for the September Sketch Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.
Here's the sketch:


And here's my card:

I started with a white card base and a white cardstock panel cut using MFT's Blueprints #13. I stamped the flower image from Clearly Besotted Sunshine and Smiles and colored it in with my copics. The sentiment is stamped using HLS Butterfly Birthday. I then arranged three different sized rectangle dies from MFT's Stitched Rectangle Stax onto my colored panel and ran it through my die cutting machine. The panel was adhered to the card base and the cut rectangles were popped up in place using foam tape to give it dimension.
Easy Peasy!!

I hope you'll stop by the Happy Little Stampers blog to see what the other fabulous designers have up their sleeves for this months challenge
and be sure to join in on the fun!
Enjoy fall!!
Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings~ Birgit

PTI's Stamp A-Fair ~ Stamped & Stitched

This challenge was a tough one for me since I don't really have any stamps that look like stitching. I finally settled on this

I used the baby onesie die and made stitching lines around the onsie using a white gel pen.

I used the giraffe from the Sweet Baby stamp set and buttons for wheels to make it look like a pull toy. The white stitched don't show up as easily on the pink, but they're there!

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

PTI's Stamp A-Fair ~ Mixing Colors

Dawn's challenge was to mix up colors that would be unexpected or colors that we wouldn't normally put together. I got out my 1960's SAF set from last year. This set is way outside of my brains creative thinking skills so I thought it would be a good challenge for me.

Dark blue and orange are colors that I wouldn't normally put together but the yellow seemed to make it work. The cat is from Top Dog Dies.

As I was playing around with this set I all of a sudden saw trees using these two shapes and the funky little cross lines. Again, switching out the dark blue for a lighter blue, the colors still work!

Three funky, retro style Halloween cards! Check out the pumpkin made using the same shape as the tree! Double duty!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

PTI's Stamp A-Fair ~ Mix & Match Challenge

I'm trying to play catch up on the rest of the challenges that I missed on the day of PTI's Stamp A-Fair since my dad was here for dinner, I couldn't keep up with the day. Time with my dad was much more meaningful to me... sorry PTI. ;0)
This next card is for the Mix & Match challenge

For this card I used the patterned papers from Nostalgic Notions and the coordinating flower stamps to make this card.


On this card I used some random paper scraps from my stash and a wreath set from Simon Says Stamp. The sentiment is from PTI's Keep It Simple Thanksgiving Mini Set.
The layout of the papers is the same on both cards. The first one is simple with no embellishments and the second is much more detailed, like Melissa Phillips would do!

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Saturday, August 29, 2015

PTI Stamp A-Fair ~ Thread Challenge

Next up is a card using a thread nest. You can find the details of this challenge HERE.
This is quite a simple card but I'll post it anyway.

I dug out my over-neglected zipper die from the movers and shakers collection to create this masculine card. The sentiment is from Movers & Shakers Sentiments stamp set. I also used the sailboat from Guiding Lights to add to the jute twine thread nest.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

PTI's Stamp A-Fair ~ Patterns

This next challenge asks us to choose a pattern to create our card with.
I chose this pattern from Dawn McVey



I used the newly released Pumpkin Patch and Twig Wreath to create this card.
I used the colors and inspiration from this card I just made the other day.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

PTI Stamp A-Fair ~ Bridal Challenge

I'm playing along today with PTI's Stamp A-Fair and the first challenge is to make a wedding card using only white.

I started with the You've Been Framed Oval die set and added some polka dotted vellum to the background. The sentiment is heat embossed in silver using Make It Market Garden Gild. The leaves were cut from vellum using Songbird and the flowers from Oopsie Daisy. I formed them with my stylis and sprinkled some Martha Stewart glitter and sprayed them with homemade white shimmer mist. Some ribbon, string pearls and pearls in the center of the flower finish this card off.

You can find all the details about PTI's Stamp A-Fair at Nichole's blog. You're in for a fun filled day if you do!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Happy Bird-day

Popping in to post one more card to the Happy Little Stampers August Sketch Challenge.


I used the scalloped rectangle die cut from PTI's Nostalgic Notions to cut the pink panel and the stamped panel is cut using MFT's Stitched Rectangle Stax. The streamers are stamped using PTI's Birthday Style and the birds are from an old set that I don't remember the name or the company. (sorry) They are colored with copics and the party hats and sentiment were added using My Creative Time's Tweet Me set. Some candy dots from Queen & Co. finish this card off.
I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

You have 3 days left to join in on the fun over at the HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS BLOG!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings~ Birgit

Warm & Cozy Fall Quilts

I've been inspired by some of the fall quilted cards I've been seeing lately on the internet and thought I'd make some cards using PTI's set called Quilted - Spring. Even though the name suggests spring, I thought they came out beautiful in these festive, fall colors.





And this is a bonus card I made using the extra pieces I had left over from the other cards.



The pumpkins are cut using old Quickutz dies and the sentiments are from WPlus9's Fresh Cut Flowers.

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

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Ink Resist Fall Cards

Good morning~ Last week my crafty friend, Marcia, did an ink resist tutorial on her blog. I couldn't wait to try it so today I have two cards to share that I made using her fabulous instructions.

On this card I used the leaves from MFT and used Ranger Distress inks in the background using a flower center from PTI's Funky Florals.


This card uses MFT's Primitive Pumpkins.
I love watching the magic happen when rubbing the ink onto the stamped versamark image. So cool with beautiful results!

I'm entering one of these cards into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

PTI August Blog Hop

Hello PTI friends~ I'm joining in on the fun for PTI's August Blog Hop using this fabulous photo for inspiration.


This was the first card I made using the colors from the photo
I used Brushed Blooms and the horizontal Sentiment Splits die to make this card.
My next card combines the Make-It Monday challenge with the inspiration colors from the blog hop

I used Watercolor Wonder and stamped it onto the Garden Gild cover plate like Betsy did. The sentiment is from Graceful Greetings. It's kind of hard to tell in the photo but I used red, orange and yellow blingy gems to coordinate with the colored stripes that they are adhered onto.

Thanks so much for looking! Have fun along the hop! Blessings~ Birgit

Friday, August 21, 2015

Brown Eyed Susans

Hello paper crafting friends~ Fall is just around the corner and I'm ready to start playing with some fall colors so I'm using the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch for my Brown Eyed Susan's card.



The daisy stamp is from My Creative Time called "Hey There Little Lady" but I've been wanting to color it to look like the Brown Eyed Susan's that are in full bloom in my yard.
I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Masking Sentiments with PTI

Hello friends~ It was Ashley's turn to host this week's Make-It Monday and she talked about masking sentiments. You can find all the details HERE.
Here's my card for this challenge

I used the sentiment from Ruby Rose and masked it off to stamp the flowers and leaves from Happiness In Bloom. I love how the images surround the sentiment. So simple and it makes for a nice flat card for mailing.
I'm also entering this card into the Word Art Wednesday Challenge. They're getting close to their 200th challenge and are trying to get that many entries, so be sure to pop over there and join in on the fun too, where anything always goes!

Thanks for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

ColourQ Thanks

Here's a card I made using the colors from ColourQ

Kind of springy colors but fun, nonetheless.

I used a grid stencil from MFT and inked on the background using Soft Stone ink. The flowers and leaves were die cut using PTI's Make It Market Garden Guild Kit and colored using my copics. The sentiment is from Heart 2 Heart #3. Some candy dots in the center of the flowers finish this card off.

I'm also adding this card to the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Marcia & Me ~ A Personal Challenge

Hello Marcia and friends~ Last month Marcia and I challenged each other to use a stamp that we were both struggling with how to use it. You can find that post HERE. We enjoyed our little personal challenge so much that we decided to try another challenge to make a card using a style of one of our favorite designers, Melissa Phillips. Melissa has a gift for mixing and matching patterned papers and adding little details to her cards that make them almost as sweet as she is. Even though I love her style, it's not a style of card that comes easy to me so this challenge really stretched me, in a good way! Here's my Melissa Phillips style cards. (don't laugh ;0) )

For this card I started by stamping a script background and flowers from Happiness In Bloom. To soften the background I heat embossed the sentiment onto vellum. Now, looking back at this, I should have cut the vellum smaller than the card itself to allow some of the true colors to come through. (Lesson #1 learned) I stamped and die cut the flowers and added stickles to the centers and attached them to the vellum. I'm more of a CAS card maker so my brain told me to stop here. Again, I think I could have added some ribbon, a bow and button to the top to give it more interest. (Lesson #2 learned)


This card was made using the little pinking square die from Button Boutique, cut out of different patterns of scrap paper. Rosie Posie continues to be one of my favorite flower stamp sets and I thought the generous size made a good focal point for this card. I added button stacks to each of the other squares and a little tag for the sentiment. The polka dotted ribbon and bow is so sweet!


My last card uses papers from My Minds Eye called Find Your Wings & Fly. I added a pink heart border that is hard to see in the photo but shows up better in real life. The flowers are stamped using Just Rite Botanical Medallions and Banners and colored using my copics. The sentiment is stamped and heat embossed on a vellum banner in gold. The gold sequins finish it off.

As I said, it was a super fun and challenging challenge for me and I hope you'll pop over to Marcia's blog to see her Melissa Phillip's style cards. Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Best Friends At the Beach

Hello~ just popping in with a quick post for a card I made for The Paper Players "at the beach" challenge.


The image is stamped using Cornish Heritage Farms "Best Friends" (which is listed for sale in the Yard Sale tab of this blog). I colored it quite a long time ago when I first got my copics and found it in a baggie of paper odds & ends that I'm trying to go through and use up. The shells are stamped using PTI"s Friendship Jar Fillers ~ Summer and I fussy cut them out. I added some Wink Of Stella to the shells but it doesn't really show up in the picture.
I'm also adding this to the Word Art Wednesday Challenge where anything goes, all the time!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Your Thoughtfulness & Yard Sale

Hello~ I've been working on downsizing my stamps and some of my mom's stamps since she's passed. I just listed some stamps for sale in my Yard Sale tab. You should find all the necessary details there. Here's one of the cards I made using the Just Rite Wild Roses stamp set that is top on the list of sale items.

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Love Your New Age!

I created this card using this months sketch from Happy Little Stampers


I used PTI's Hooray stamps set and a very old turtle stamp that I don't remember the company it came from.
I'm also adding this card to the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday


Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Mason Jar Birthday Flowers

Hello~ I'm popping in to post this card that I made for the PTI Create Along With Us. I'm so glad I still have something to look forward to on Monday's during their release. My inspiration came from today's post from Amy Sheffer. I just love what she did using the Friendship Jars and thought I'd give it a try using the Flower Favorites and strawberries from Friendship Jar Spring Fillers. The sentiment is from Beautiful Butterflies.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings~ Birgit

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Sending Prayers

I'm in need of a sympathy card so I thought I'd use the colors from The Paper Players


I used Just Rite's Embroidered Lacy Borders Two, roses from PTI's The Sweet Life and leaves from Songbird to create this card. the sentiment is from PTI's Beautiful Butterflies. A few scattered sequins finish it off.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
The Paper Players
Word Art Wednesday

Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Best Birthday Wishes

Happy Sunday~ Just popping in to post this precious little birthday card I made for my little nephew.

The base panel is embossed using a birthday embossing folder from Sissix. I then cut two of MFT's Stitched Rectangle Stax from printed paper and one from white cardstock. The cute little elephant is stamped from Simon Says Stamps Birthday Celebration set and colored with copics. The sentiment is from PTI's Sentiment Splits and was stamped on a pierced Fishtail Flag Stax from MFT. A button and packing string finish it off!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Seize The Birthday
CASology
Word Art Wednesday
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge
Simon Says Work It Wednesday
Thanks so much for looking! Blessings~ Birgit

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Die Cut Mini Notebooks with PTI

I finally found time to play in my craft room this week and try my hand at making Melissa's super cute mini notebooks for the Make-It Monday Challenge. I am completely smitten with Melissa's flawless style and her attention to detail and this challenge was as fun as ever!
I've made two of the sweet little notebooks today using Still Life Summer and printed paper from American Crafts called Neopolitan. They came together so quickly and easily, I could sit and make them all afternoon.

I used the scalloped rectangle from the Nostalgic Notions for the base of both notepads. I added a little scalloped edge to the design paper that holds the pages into place and the note pages are cut using the notebook page die cut. I love that the notebook page die cut is perforated at the top, so I was careful to staple above the perforation so that the pages will rip out easily as needed. I added magnets on the back so they can hang on the refrigerator.

I used the sentiment from The Sweet Life on this second notepad.

I'm also entering these into the challenge at V's Sweet Ideas

Thanks so much Melissa for this fun project and thanks to everyone who's stopped by. Hope your day is blessed! ~ Birgit