Papertrey Ink Create Along with Us December 2016

Hello there everybody,

I have been watching this months release from Papertrey Ink with great interest. I absolutely adore a lot of the stamps and dies this month.

So... for the first time, I am playing along with the Create Along with Us.

I simply love the posts from Kay Miller and Melissa Phillips. Both of these women do such amazing work so I have taken my inspiration from them.

 My card uses Spellbinders heart dies and also a rectangular die.

I used the Papertrey Ink Stitched Sentiments stamp set and tried to recreate the vine of flowers around the edge of the heart. I then added the teeny wee little flowers. I used Memento inks in Pear Tart, Summer Sky, Lulu Lavender and Angel Pink. The heart was stamped in Rose Bud.

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink Banner Sentiments stamp set and I used Memento Tuxedo Black for that.

I layered everything up using fun foam and a piece of pink ginghamy pattern paper that is from my stash.

Thank you so very much for stopping by and leaving me your comments. Have a wonderful day. Cheers.

 ~ Melanie ~

Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #269

Hello everyone,

I have just managed to get this card done in time to get it in the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday challenge and also for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. 

I have used the Papertrey Ink In the Meadow stamp set which is one of my very favourites. I have stamped the three focal images in black and then also stamped a number of the snowflakes which I have embossed in Detail White.

I have them used a Copic marker B93 to outline around he tree, deer and also the largest of the snowflakes. I then used several Tim Holtz Distress Inks to blend some colour onto the top of the card. I was going for the beautiful colours you often see in the night sky. Quite happy with the way it has turned out.

I then added some Stickles to the centre of the large snowflakes and also randomly on the tree.

Finished off with a vellum label on which I stamped the sentiment and embossed in white. 

I added a white snowflake brad to hold the sentiment in place. I bought a package of these brads ages ago and this is the first time I have finally gotten around to using them.

I am hoping that these last two photos will show the sparkle of the Stickles but very much fear that you can barely see them. :(

This was a really fun challenge and I am very happy with the way the card has turned out. Cross one more Christmas card off my list. :)

Thanks so very much for stopping by and leaving me your comments. I read them all and appreciate it so very much. Cheers.

 ~ Melanie ~

Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #268

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit with me. I certainly hope that all our American friends have had their fill of turkey and thoroughly enjoyed their Thanksgiving celebrations. It is now full steam ahead towards Christmas.

With that in mind I have a tag that I made for the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge #268 - Double Layer Tags. I chose to make a Christmas tag.

At the moment I only own one Papertrey Ink tag, namely Tag Sale 4 and I used it for the top layer, then used an very old Sizzix die called Oval Combo for the bottom layer using paper from an old Michaels Christmas paper pack.

My focal image on the tag is from the Papertrey Ink stamp set Peaceful Pinecones and I cut out the image with the matching die and stamped it with Memento inks in Cottage Ivy and Rich Cocoa.

I used the Papertrey Ink Double Edged Banner die for the sentiment, also from Peaceful Pinecones, which is stamped in Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink. I added a small heart from Papertrey Ink Love Lives Here Holiday in the same ink. I just LOVE that stamp set.

I used a piece of twine at the top of the tags and also added a red button tied up with the same twine. A really fun and quick project and the second tag layer really adds some interest.

Well that is all from me for tonight. I hope you will take a moment to share your comments with me as I read them all and love hearing from you. Cheers.

  ~ Melanie ~

Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #267

Hello there everyone,

I am participating today in the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge #267 - Assembly Line Card-Making. 

I had not begun any of my Christmas cards as yet so this was just the project that I needed to get me moving.

I will also apologize right now for the quality of the photos. I took them at night and the lighting was far from ideal. However, I am going to be out of town so needed to get these done tonight so really had no choice.

I chose to keep the design very simple and it is all just stamping with no die cuts this time.

The white card is roughly 4 1/2" by 5". I cut the stamping layer just a wee bit smaller. When I finished up the stamping I mounted it on the card using the same fun foam as in the video. It works just great.

I chose to use three Papertrey Ink stamp sets, Love Lives Here Holiday, Boards and Beams and Home for the Holidays.

I stamped the large house from Boards and Beams in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then added a section of fence from Home for the Holidays on either side. I also stamped the wee little wreath on the front door.

Above the house I used the evergreen garland from Love Lives Here Holiday which I stamped in Memento Bamboo Leaves. I added the small heart in Memento Rhubarb Stalk and then also added a small hanging bunch of evergreen with another heart. I absolutely love that garland and I use it a great deal. That is one of my very favourite stamp sets from Papertrey Ink.

To finish off the card I stamped the sentiment from Love Lives Here Holiday in the same Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink.

To get accurate placement of the house, fences and sentiment, I used my brand new MISTI which I simply love. I stamped the garland and hearts using a block.

Lastly I coloured in the teeny tiny little garland on the fences and the wreath on the door with Copics, YG67 - Moss and R39 - Garnet.

So there you have it. I have made 4 cards and it is a start on the Christmas cards. Great idea for a challenge to get us all moving.

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit with me today. Please do leave me your comments as I read every one of them and really appreciate you taking the time. Have a great day. Cheers.

  ~ Melanie ~

Simon Says Stamp - Penny Black Challenge

Greetings everyone,

I am back today with a very simple card that I made for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. The theme was "Thinking of You", preferably using a Penny Black stamp.

I do not own a lot of Penny Black stamps but I do have a few, most of them older models that I absolutely love. My card today uses my very favourite of all time. There is something so utterly lovely about the image that despite all the stunners that have come along over the years, this one remains my personal favourite.

I wanted to keep the card very simple so I limited my colour palette to just white and beige.

I began with a beige card. I stamped my Penny Black rose image with Memento ink on white card and cut it out with a Spellbinders die. I layered this over another Spellbinders die and adhered both to the card with pop dots.

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, again stamped in Memento ink and also cut with a Spellbinders die. I added a few pearls just for a bit of interest.

You can see from this photo that the card is very simple but I have achieved a bit of interest from raising up all the layers.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. Do leave your comments as they make my day. Cheers.

  ~ Melanie ~

MFT Sketch Challenge #305

Hello everyone,

I am participating today in the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #305 which you can see pictured below.

I chose to use a mouse from the adorable set "Harvest Mouse" for my focal image which I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with Copics and cut out with the coordinating die. I used a Copic marker to colour all around the outside of the image so that it would not stand out as white against the blue background.

My card began with a basic white card base over which I added a layer of chocolate. I used the MFT Homespun Stitch Lines die along the side and along the bottom to add a bit of interest.

Over that I layered a piece of rust cardstock and then an oval matted with the same chocolate cardstock. I sponged on some Distress Ink in Broken China and stamped the leaves and a bit of the bushel basket of apples at the bottom. They were also coloured with Copics.

I cut out several leaves with the MFT Falling Leaves dies and coloured them with Distress Ink in Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge and Festive Berries. I like that the veins in the leaves still show through.

A small piece of gingham ribbon was used for the "banner" and then it was just a matter of arranging the leaves around the focal image.

Thanks so very much for stopping by today. Please do leave me your comments as I do so love to read them all. Have a wonderful day.

  ~ Melanie ~

Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #266

Hello everyone,

At long last I am back to participate in the latest Papertrey Ink Make it Monday challenge which is called "It's a Wrap". 

This was a lot of fun to do. The challenge was to create a piece of wrapping paper. What a terrific idea, I thought. :) 

I chose to use the stamps from one of my most favourite sets, Love Lives Here Holiday.

 I stamped the sentiment in Memento Rhubarb Stalk and the evergreen boughs in Memento Pear Tart, adding the tiny cluster of hearts in the same Rhubarb Stalk.  Alas, I do not as yet own any of the yummy colours of ink from Papertrey Ink but I hope to do so one day.

I then wrapped up a wee gift, adding a bit of ribbon and a felt poinsettia which I think makes a really cute present.

Thanks so much for visiting with me today. Hope you have a wonderful day. Cheers.

 ~ Melanie ~

... Papertreyink Make it Monday 257

Hello everyone,

I know it has been quite a long while since I posted. Sadly we lost our beautiful big, sweet dog Teally to cancer in early May and I just did not have it in me to bother with "happy" pursuits.

I have spent my time working in our vegetable garden and fighting the horrible drought that my part of Ontario is experiencing. The weather here, in addition to being bone dry, has been lethally hot.

I thought yesterday that perhaps it was time to spend a bit of time in my studio and get back to card making.

The card I have today is for the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #257 challenge which is "Sentiment Strip Grounding".

I have used a basic white card base over which I added a piece of pattern paper from my stash. 

I added a white strip along the bottom section for the requisite sentiment strip. I have stamped it with a sentiment from Tulip Time in Memento Tuxedo Black and cut the bottom edge with a Spellbinders die.

I cut out the tulip shape with the coordinating die and stamped the images using Memento inks: New Sprout, Pear Tart, Angel Pink, Lulu Lavender and Lilac Posies. I popped up the tulips with dimensional squares.

Well that is all from me for today. Thanks so much for stopping by. Cheers.

 ~ Melanie ~

... very sick indeed

Hello everyone,

I am sorry that I will be away from blogging for the immediate future. 

My male dog, Teally, is very sick. We are hoping for a good outcome but we do not yet know for certain exactly what is wrong with him.

In the meantime, I want to spend all my free time with him, just in case things turn out badly. I am sure you can all understand. I can make cards anytime.

Thanks for your understanding.

... sick, sick, sick

Greetings to you all,

Just wanted to pop in to let you all know that I have not, in fact, fallen off the face of the earth. I have simply been unable to get time to do anything creative.

Alas, ALL of US have been sick. It started with our female dog Amber. We have found out that she has stomach acid issues, the poor little munchkin. She is now taking Pepcid AC twice daily and finally it seems to be working. We have had far too many late night vomiting sessions from her, thank you very much.

For myself, I merely ate something I should not have done and reaped the benefits of my own stupidity. That only lasted for two days.

Our big male dog has had some tummy issues of his own that fortunately resolved themselves in just a day.

And that brings me to my DH who is presently at home with a very nasty head and chest cold. Chicken soup being made in quantity.

I am hoping to get back into my craft room after I have disinfected the entire house. I am sleeping in our spare room in an attempt to remain as germ free as I can. He has been sick for about 4 days now and I am still OK at the moment. Fingers crossed.  :)

Have a great day, see you all soon. Cheers.

  ~ Melanie ~

... mojobella #5

Hello again.

I recently "rediscovered" a stamp company that I knew about some time ago.... Stampingbella. Emily at one time had a store at the north end of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) and that was my first introduction to "bella" when some friends took me there. 

Just lately I stumbled upon the Stampingbella website and rediscovered Emily's bellabeautiful stamps. I have just received my first Stampingbella stamp and had to use it immediately. It is utterly adorable. I encourage you to check out her website... www.stampingbella.com to have a look. All her stamps are stunners but my heart went out to the "stuffies". This is what I purchased, they are simply too cute for words.

Now that I have blathered on long enough, I have made a card for my first ever bella challenge which is based on a sketch which you can see here.

I started with a white card base over which I have layered some adorable pink gingham pattern paper. 

I stamped my bella beautiful beasties from the Stampingbella set Ellie loves Phant Stuffies with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and I watercoloured them. I simply cannot get over that sweet expression on their wee little faces.  :)

I trimmed out the image and then used a My Favorite Things Basic Stitch Lines die to add some detail around the edges.

The wee banner at the bottom was cut with Spellbinders Baby Buntings die from paper from my stash bucket and topped up with three pale pink pearls.

I cut the circle at the top with Spellbinders Picot Edge Circles die from a basic pink cardstock. I have used the sentiment from the same stamp set and added one of the tiny hearts from the main image.

A soft green polka dot ribbon finishes things off.

Thank you so much coming back to visit again today and I love it when you leave me your comments. Have a wonderful Sunday. Cheers.

  ~ Melanie ~

... PapertreyInk Make it Monday #239

Hello again,

I am back with a card for the PapertreyInk Make it Monday #239. The idea was to decorate pattern paper using stamps and then, of course, make a card.

I found this to be extremely difficult. It looked so easy in the video. Well, I do not have any lovely big dot paper. I hunted around through all of my stuff and finally settled on this tealish lined paper. Not happy.

I chose the Ruby Reprise stamp set and scattered the two smallest blossoms around the paper using Memento Teal Zeal and Love Letter inks.

Wanting to keep this as simple as possible I decided to die cut out the word Birthday from the PapertreyInk Birthday Trio die set in black cardstock and then added the word Hugs cut from Lawn Fawn Hugs die. I chose to use the same colour blending idea on the word hugs as was shown in the video.

So there you have it. Very simple card. 

Thanks so much for stopping by again. I love to read your comments so please do leave them for me. Cheers.

 ~ Melanie ~

... MFT Sketch Challenge #268

Hello everybody,

I have a card today, well, actually a few cards today that I made for the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #268 which you can see here.

This was an incredibly simple card to make.

I began with an ivory card base on which I added two different pattern papers from my stash. A simple piece of ribbon was added across the card. 

I then cut out the My Favorite Things Baby's Bib and the zebra from the Sweet Safari die set. I ran the zebra through a Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder. Both were added with foam tape for dimension.

The sentiment at the top is actually from the Papertrey Ink set Think Big Favorites #16. I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and also Teal Zeal ink.

This shows that with such wonderful dies that My Favorite Things has to offer it is easy to create a cute card without actually stamping the focal image. 

Here are the other two cards that I made. The same, but just a different colour scheme. One for a little girl, the other for a little boy.

Thanks so much for visiting with me today. I appreciate you leaving me your comments and I read all of them. Cheers.

  ~ Melanie ~

... Taylored Expressions Challenge #23 Take Two

Hello again,

I am back with another card for the Taylored Expressions Challenge #23 which you can see here. I decided to base my card loosely upon the sketch but to also use the Tic-Tac-Toe straight up the middle - Ribbon, Flowers and Embossing. 

If you follow my blog it will certainly come as no surprise that I love floral images. My second card uses the beautiful Calla Lily stamp set from Taylored Expressions. 

I began by stamping out the Taylored Expressions Apothecary Shelf and the Calla Lily images using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I then cut them out with the coordinating dies.

After contemplating various different ways to colour the images I settled on watercolour as I like the fluid look and I find it is a much "freer" way to colour.
I used a Pilot gold pen on the drawer pulls on the shelf.

My card starts with a white 5 x 7 base over which I have added another layer of white run through the Anna Griffin Circular Grid embossing folder. I have added a strip of embossed card from the coordinating border folder that comes with it. Beside that is a strip of ribbon. I adhered this panel to the base with foam tape. I love that look of giving the card some extra dimension.

I used the same foam tape to attach both the Apothecary Shelf and the vase of Calla Lilies which appears to be sitting upon it.

I used a Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags die to cut out the wee tag and used a sentiment from the Calla Lily set, again stamped in Tuxedo Black ink. To soften the edges a bit I sponged on a wee bit of Memento Angel Pink ink and then tied it to the vase of flowers using some pink and white twine.

I must say that I do love the floral stamps from Taylored Expressions. I have a couple more of them ordered and cannot wait until they arrive so I can start to use them.

Thanks for stopping by again. I cannot wait to see the comments you will all leave this time.  Cheers.

   ~  Melanie  ~

... Taylored Expressions Challenge # 23

Hello everybody,

I am sorry it has been a while since I posted anything but we have been dealing with an incredible amount of snow (about 18" or so) and a very sick dog. :(   Fortunately my DH does most of the work taking care of the snow. However yesterday I did get stuck at the end of my driveway when the plow came by. I was late for an appointment and had to get the shovel and try to dig myself out. Thankfully a neighbour heard my wheels spinning (in more ways than one!) and came by to pull me out. The kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze. I barely know this man but he drove over just to help me out, bless him. 

The sick dog is another matter altogether. It is my female yellow Lab Amber. She has been diagnosed with Acid Reflux and hiatus hernia and she is on meds. Unfortunately she is in a lot of discomfort and her only solution to this problem is to lick all the hair from her bed to try to make herself sick. I will not go into all the nasty details of what that means. :(  Suffice it to say, it has been most unpleasant around here lately.

Anyway, today I finally managed a few minutes to myself and made a quick card for the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Challenge #23. You can see the sketch and details here.

I used this cutie patootie puppy for a birthday card that will eventually be sent to my niece who is a serious dog lover.

I am using the Taylored Expressions stamp set Paw-some. I cut out the image using the coordinating die and then stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I decided to colour him with watercolours. He has such a sweet expression on his little face!

For the card I began with an A2 pink card base over which I layered a bright green which had been partially put through a Cuttlebug Swiss dot embossing folder. I added a strip of green ribbon along the edge.

The puppy and friends are popped up on a bright pink circle cut from Spellbinders Lacey Circles die. The colour of the card and the circle are matched by the colours in the party hats.

I added two pieced of gingham ribbon as banners and then stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set at the top, also in Tuxedo Black ink.

I added some Stickles in Crystal to the hats and to the dog tag.

I have added another of the sentiments from the set inside and because we ALL make boo-boos sometimes and I put my sentiment too far to the left, I added a little heart beside it for balance. By this time the card was done and that was my solution to fix the problem. :)  Note to self: ALWAYS stamp the sentiments first!

Thanks so very much for visiting with me today and leaving me your comments. They make me smile every time I read them. Cheers.

 ~ Melanie ~ 

... Power Poppy Challenge

Hello again,

I am back with a second card for this month's Power Poppy Challenge which is to use a different sort of colouring medium from what one would normally use as shown here.

The first card I did for this challenge used a technique of using water to remove distress ink from an image. This time I have opted to use Tombow markers on vellum. I like this technique although I do not use it very often.

I began by stamping that beautiful large image from the Power Poppy Olive & Oak stamp set with Versamark ink on cream coloured vellum. I embossed with black detail powder.

Then I coloured up the image using the Tombow colours that you see below. I use the markers on both the front and the back of the image. I try to stay away from the embossing. I truthfully do not know if the embossing damages the point of water based markers the way it does Copics but I do not like the take the chance so I try to be very careful.

After I finished the colouring I got myself a cup of coffee and sat down to fussy cut out the image. I actually enjoy doing fussy cutting. I must say that I know that it is a task that not everyone enjoys. :)

To assemble my card I began with an ivory card base and found this great piece of brown embossed paper in my stash. I have absolutely no idea where it came from but it was perfect for what I wanted. I cut a creamy speckled piece of pattern paper with Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Rectangles.

Along the left edge of the card I have added some gold ribbon tied with a very simple knot and tucked in a small tag cut with Papertrey Ink's Tiny Tags die. I chose the sentiment from the Power Poppy Geraniums Take Two stamp set and stamped it with Memento Espresso Truffle ink and then distressed around the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I simply tucked the end of the tag under the ribbon.

The large Spellbinders die is adhered with foam tape. I then added the fussy cut focal image with tiny little shreds of foam squares placed strategically all over the image to hold down all the little bits and pieces.

In actual fact, the card is simplicity itself, if you do not count all that cutting. That gorgeous focal image carries the who thing.

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit with me today. I hope you will leave me your comments as I love to read them. Cheers.

 ~ Melanie ~

... Taylored Expressions Challenge #22

Greetings everyone,

It is a glacially cold day here in Ontario with temperatures sitting at -29C, or about -35C with the wind chill. And I tell you, it is a blowin' out there today! For you folks in the US, that is about -8F, plus the wind chill.

It is a perfect day NOT to go outside but rather stay in and be cozy in my craft room making cards. :)

I have one today that I have made for the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Challenge #22. You can see the details and the sketch here.

I started with a white card over which I have added a strip of pattern paper down the left side. For the remainder of the card I used white cardstock run through the Anna Griffin embossing folder called Circular Grid. I love using embossing folders and I have a real beauty on order from Taylored Expressions that I cannot wait to get my hands on! But I digress.... :)

The focal image is from the Taylored Expressions stamp set called In Other Words ~ Tea. I just love it. I stamped out the image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then pondered how to colour it. I wanted to keep the image very soft. I finally decided upon using chalk and a Dove Blender. I have not used that medium in ages but after filling up the little pen, it worked like a charm. 

I have cut out the focal image with a Spellbinders Lacey Ovals die. I sponged on a little bit of Memento Angel Pink ink while the image was still in the die.

For my tag I hauled out a very old Sizzix die called Super Scallop Tag and used some paper from my stash. Some pink gingham ribbon knotted on the top finishes off the tag nicely.

I have used the Spellbinders die called Petite Labels One for the sentiment at the bottom of the card. I absolutely adore this sentiment because it makes me think of a wonderful friend of mine as we sat at her kitchen table for hours, drinking tea and talking endlessly. We live many miles apart now but this brings back wonderful memories and I do miss her greatly. I have stamped the sentiment with Memento Paris Dusk ink and then sponged on a bit of the same pink ink again. Finished off with a twine tied pink button.

Thanks so much for visiting on such a blustery day. I hope to be back if the creative juices are flowing. Please do leave me your comments as they make my day to read them. Cheers.

  ~ Melanie ~

... MFT Challenge #267

Hello again,

I am back with a card for the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #267. Here is the sketch.

 I decided to use the Pure Innocence Purrfect stamp set from MFT. I stamped out the image of the girl holding the kitty with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured her with the Copics shown below.

 I used an ivory card base and stenciled it completely with the MFT stencil Staggered Paw Prints using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Wild Honey. Those little paws are just so cute. :)

I used an old MFT die to cut out the tag. I chose to use this particular sentiment from the same stamp set as I think it makes this card much more versatile. It is stamped with Memento Espresso Truffle ink. I popped up the focal image on some foam tape as well as the sentiment banner.

Ribbon and a button at the top of the tag and a die cut from MFT Pet Accents on the bottom held to the sentiment banner with a gold brad finishes off the card.

Lots of fun to make. If you follow my blog you will have realized by now that I am truly a sucker for kittens and puppies. Just love using them on cards. Almost as much as flowers. Almost, but not quite. :)

Thanks a lot for stopping by today. Please leave me your comments as I love to read all of them. You can make my day even better if you decide to follow my blog as well! Have a tremendous day! Cheers.

   ~ Melanie ~