Happy News!

I am so happy - I was just accepted to be a member of the My Time Made Easy Pretty Palette team!
I have been a fan of Lauren's since her days at Papertrey Ink and since she started her own business, My Time Made Easy, I have followed her right along. Not only does she offer the greatest templates EVER but she also carries a fabulous line of stamps (both acrylic and digital) and digital papers, cut files - just so many awesome products! So I am over the moon to be working with one of her teams and with one of my very favorite type challenges - color challenges!!

So to start my term off, this is the beautiful color palette we are working with this week:

The colors were inspired by one of the digital paper packs called Romance...oh so pretty! I printed off one of the papers and used it on my card along with a couple of the images from the digital set, Winter Knits:

One of the things I love about digital stamps is how you can move them and resize them and use them in any which way. You don't even have to be a Photoshop pro! I lined up three of the hats and printed them on white cardstock and then Copic colored them using our beautiful palette of colors. I kept the layout simple, letting the hats take center stage, wight where they belong!

The layout is actually from Deconstructed Sketches where I will be entering this card as well. It's too cute to keep all to myself!

That's all for me. I'll be back every Sunday with another Pretty Palette project. And be sure to join in the fun! Any stamps can be used (but you will definitely want to check out Lauren's fabulous collection!). And did I tell you there's a prize up for grabs too? You heard that right! Oh and be sure to see what the rest of the Palette team has created...awesome!  See you soon!

Butterflies and leaves

Back when I posted this card, I mentioned that I had created 2 cards using the Rosie Posie set from Papertrey Ink. Well, I didn't have a chance to share the second card and today, when PTI announced another anniversary challenge, I thought this would be perfect opportunity!

The theme today is to create a card featuring butterflies and/or leaves.

This was an experiment using the background images in the Rosie Posie set and I'm not as excited about the results as I had hoped. Sometimes, things don't turn out as I picture in my head. But I perservered to the end  - what do you think? I stamped by background using Kraft and Autumn Rose inks (and a green from CTMH) and then added the butterfly from the Round and Round anniversary set (from a year ago - or was it 2?) in black. The main section was also stamped with an image from Round and Round and a little color was added to tie into the background. Black ribbon at the top finished off the card.

I am hoping to get some stamping time tomorrow on my day off and I need to get some masculine Birthday cards done so I hope to be back with more to show soon!

Another PTI challenge

Papertrey Ink's anniversary celebration is certainly keeping me stamping - not that I'm complaining! Today, Nichole provided 5 sketches. I chose sketch #2 and created this card - the last of my Valentine cards:

I used Soft Stone cardstock for my base which was impressed with the Damask impression plate (hard to see in the photo - sorry). I then cut my focal piece and used one of the Mat Stack dies to dress up the top edge. My lovebirds were stamped in Pure Poppy and caged in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then a banner of Pure Poppy, stamped in White Daisy ink (CTMH) was added across the bottom. In place of what looks like stitching on the sketch, I added some baker's twine to finish off the focal piece which is mounted to the base with foam tape.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will visit again soon!

More Papertrey Fun!

Today's Anniversary challenge at Papertrey Ink centered on color combos. I used Lisa's colors choices of Kraft, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss and Aqua Mist - although I added a few other colors as well.

I started with the Beautiful Blooms paper because I knew it had Pure Poppy in it. And something blue and green. OK, so it's not exactly Aqua Mist and Spring Moss but we're in the same color family, and that's not all bad, right? Then I added in a little Happy Spots paper, a little kraft cardstock and ink on the basket, and despite the photo here, that is Spring Moss ribbon tied on to the card (not sure why it looks so tan). Overall I did work in the challenge colors with a few twists of my own. And that's ok in creating! Or so I'm saying :)

Thanks for stopping by! If you like my projects, I hope you'll consider becoming a follower!

Another Papertrey challenge

Day 2 of the Anniversary celebration at Papertrey Ink and I hopped on the challenge bandwagon once again. Be sure to stop by Nichole's blog to get your free sheet of digi stamps from the PTI designers!

I used Lisa Johnson's image to create this simple card:

I think this would make an excellent image for a baby card too - and with a digital file, it's easy enough to remove the words before printing.

The paper is from the Happy Spots and Damask paper pads, also from PTI. Pearls are from Close To My Heart. The only thing I wish was different on this card is the color of the chicks (they could be lighter) or the color of the ribbon (could be a little darker). But working with what was on hand, I think it works ok!

See you again soon!

Have a little heart with Heart 2 Heart

It's almost time for Valentine's Day so we are celebrating love at Heart 2 Heart Challenges. We want to see what you create for someone you love and then link up at the challenge blog.

Here is one of the Valentine's cards I created for one of my family members - probably my son. Just frilly enough to be Valentine-y but not over the top.

I used the December Stamp of the Month (Mad about You) from Close To My Heart and two pink inks - Cotton Candy and Blush. I stamped the "circle-ish" image along the right side creating a geometric border of sorts. I also stamped three hearts that were cut with the Cricut and added them to the card front after tying some pink floss along the front of the card also. The words were added in black so they stood out. Simple but I like the results :)

I am also entering this card in the Color Throwdown challenge where the colors are Black, White and a bright pink.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll join us at Heart 2 Heart this week!

Papertrey Ink's 5 year Anniversary

Today marked the 1st day of celebrating Papertrey Ink's 5 year Anniversary and to play along with the contest for the day, we were challenged to find one of the Design Team member's post that inspired us to be creative - either by using some of their Favorite 5 PTI products or by getting inspiration from their artwork.

I chose Dawn McVey as my inspiration, not because her style is similar to my own but because I wish I had the talent she has in her little pinkie! Seriously, love her sense of style. And some of her Favorite 5 PTI products are mine as well - the Mat Stack 4 die, Rosie Posie and Cream cardstock among them.

So I got busy and created this card for today's challenge - and here's hoping to win the FANTASTIC prize package that is being offered!!

NOTE: If you don't want to see the PTI thank you stamp that the company has been sending in random packages. look no further. Don't want to spoil anyone's surprise -

I used Vintage Cream cardstock that I stamped with Text Style in the new Kraft ink (love!). I also added a few scattered flowers from Rosie Posie in Sweet Blush ink with Spring Moss leaves. The "Thanks" stamp was a gift from PTI in my last order and seemed the appropriate sentiment to use to send out a BIG thank you to everyone at Papertrey Ink - for all your fabulous products, your continual inspiration and great, friendly, customer service - THANK YOU!

And thanks to all of the great PTI fans that I have enjoyed getting to know through the forums, Facebook, and blogs - you are all a terrific bunch! And it's nice to have company when it comes to this happy addiction!

Be back again soon with more things to share!