He is Risen!

Rejoice and Celebrate!

He is Risen! He is not here!

Happy Easter!

Enjoy,  Kristin

Clean and Simple Day 5

Today's class lesson was using techniques: watercoloring with Distress Inks.  I used PTI Iconic Images and Healing Touch Sentiments. I used clear embossing powder on regular cardstock (the Walmart brand)... I'm assuming watercolor paper would have made a more finished product.  Overall, it's a neat look.

Enjoy!

Kristin

Clean and Simple Day 4

This post is for the Clean and Simple class... day 4 (I skipped day 3... too busy now and it's better for me to skip and feel like I am keeping up!).  One stamp (in this case the background text) stamped in unique (or three different ways).  I chose to stamp it and emboss it and then mask out a shape of a stamped flower (PTI Dark Chocolate).  I have a threaded button on it as well.  The other flower is larger but the same image.  Then, just a strip of patterned paper (old My Mind's Eye) with pen stitching and sentiment is PTI B&B Wishes.

Enjoy!

Kristin

Clean & Simple Card Day 1

I signed up for a card making class.  I've never done this before but just what I read in today's notes showed me how much I will get out of this class!  I chose the 2nd sketch (of 3) and did a monochromatic look. I used all Aqua Mist colors from PTI, Rosie Posie Stamp set as the background image on the panel, and the sentiment from Little Labels (embossed) in white with a white button.

As my own critic, I would choose a *larger* sentiment.  I feel like it is getting swallowed up by the images on the panel.  But my larger sentiments (from Think Big Fave's -PTI line) were too big... I don't have any *medium* size that I liked.... hmmm.

What do ya'll think?

Enjoy!

Kristin

Dad's birthday

I used the new Layerz MS 1 die, MS 1 die, and MS 1 collection stamp outline.  Then, I piled lots of Happy Birthday stamps onto a big background block and alternated stamping over the card front.  I embossed the main image, popped it up, and put some ribbon behind it.

Dad loved it- that's all I needed :)

Enjoy!

Kristin

Make it Monday: Impression Plate Tricks (post 1...)

This will be a busy blogging day.  I have several creations to share but each has to have it's own post.  (because today is personally a difficult day for me... my dh gave me a lot of time to devote to my love of this hobby... he IS wonderful!)

This first post is for PTI's MIM series.  See the video here to find out how I did it!! Pretty neat, except I used a cuttlebug folder opened up.  Just remember... the cutting edge of the die towards the paper!! (and the ribbon is hiding the edge of the paper since I used 2 folders)

Enjoy!

Kristin

Lovely day

I *love* this card. Everything about it really. I submitted it for the Paper Crafts sketch call last month (or Feb??). Not selected. No idea why. This is the only card I actually think they were wrong in not choosing, lol! Meaning, other cards they didn't pick, it didn't bother me. No matter how hard I worked on them, I just don't have an issue with rejection- mainly because I grow to love my cards soooo much that many times I can't imagine giving them to someone who won't cherish them as much as I love making them!! (so to send it away to some *unknown* person left me a little concerned! ha!)

But, this was a unique and stand out card, in my very humble opinion. PTI Shimmer cardstock with cuttlebug embossing. SJ ink and mat cardstock and SSeries sentiment. The double hearts came from a Stampabilities set (that I made sure could still be gotten too by the masses).

I know I will use this for a precious couple's anniversary (I might even make a duplicate!) but it could be a wedding day card. :)

Enjoy!

Kristin

Make it Monday: Heat Embossing

So excited that I can post a project for another PTI Make it Monday! This week focuses on heat embossing.  Here I have used clear embossing powder with versamark on the Spring Rain cs with TS: II.  Also, I used All Booked Up on the circle image with black embossing powder.  I used watercolor pencils for the coloring.  All the other distressing and stamping look was done with PTI Tie Dye Duo.  I created the doily and tiny tag with my cricut.  The Storybook cartridge at 3" in Fine Linen for the doily and Plantan Schoolbook at 1" in Sweet Blush Bitty Dot paper.  The scallop circle was cut from the cricut at 2" in Hibiscus Burst.

I hope you join in and create something with heat embossing!  If you do, post your creation to the link page by Monday April 11th at 7am to be entered for a prize!

Enjoy!

Kristin

Challenge Cards: MIM and PTI PD

I have 2 cards today! Wow! The first card completes the challenge for PTI Make it Monday: Impression. I, sadly, do not yet own any PTI Impression Plates. I longingly look at them (especially Woodgrain, Book Print, and Linen/Canvas- hint, hint dh!! lol) but never end up getting any. So, I ended up using a cuttlebug folder (argyle) on the top portion of the card. I saw Erin Lincoln's idea on her PTI release post for putting a mat within the impression. Doesn't work in a cuttlebug folder people! Take my word for it! I don't think it's permanently ruined, but won't be doing that again soon!

Anyway, I then stamped from MS1 Collection in the "frame" area with Spring Rain ink on vintage cream cardstock and the celebrate sentiment from same set in CTMH Indian Corn Blue ink. Using same ink I stamped the other sentiment at the bottom. Tied the last of my sweet blue gingham ribbon between SR cardstock and VC cardstock. Bella baubles at the bottom and done!

The two cards together create a boy and girl *set* that completes the latest PTI Paper Dolls challenge by Leish. The girl card is also VC cardstock with score line around the edges. Masked off with MS1 stamp set for the *ribbon edges* (never sure what to call those) in SU ink that matches the PTI Sweet Blush cardstock cut in MS1. I did the same kind of technique using SS: Flower die and it worked great- impressed perfectly. Then, stamped the coordinating image. SU sentiment at the bottom and done!

The PTI MIM challenge is open until next Monday the 21st (but very early in the morning... then a new challenge is issued) and our PTI Paper Dolls challenge is open for quite a long time. A new challenge will be open tomorrow and a few others are already *out* and still open. Come play along!

Enjoy!

Kristin

Goodbye Teacher

Goodbyes are always sooo very hard. Especially when it is your own child saying goodbye to a wonderful teacher. And this year my 7yo son's first grade teacher had to leave unexpectedly after the Christmas break was over.

Can I brag just a little?? This ENTIRE card was his idea/design and execution. I only told him of the cuttlebug folder with dots for the dolphin. Also, he wanted the "sentiment" to be so large I changed "You Are" to U R because it wouldn't have fit otherwise.

This is all Papertrey product because she was THAT good of a teacher, lol! The cartridge we used was Life's a Beach. (I was so glad we had gone to the beach earlier last year because that is the only reason I owned it... when he said her card *had* to have a dolphin I knew LAB had one... otherwise that would have been a VERY expensive card!!).

Enjoy!

Kristin

Make It Monday Week 1 #1

What a FUN challenge! PTI is now issuing weekly "Make It Monday" challenges via a video on Nichole's blog and You Tube. It is open all week long and there is a prize at the end. This was the first challenge. We were to select similar type sentiments from a variety of sets and group them together. I've looked over a variety of cards (especially now with ANOTHER snow/ice day here in DFW today), and even though there have been several birthday cards... including Nichole's, I'm always needing masculine cards.

So, I pulled out my birthday sentiments... and I have finally accumulated *enough* (lol). Even though these came from only a few sets, there was a lot of variety. To help the black stand out on the Smokey Shadow I embossed the background sentiments. Then, I used soft stone and Matstack 1 and Enchanted Evening ink to soften that but keep it *manly*. Finally, it needed something extra, so I added a blingy rhinestone for the *I* in birthday on the MS the "to you" in Smokey Shadow ink and the EE ribbon behind the mat.

I might have to try this again in a few other color combos!

Enjoy!

Kristin

Beach Bum

I always make matching layouts for my son and daughter when it is some type of family event: Christmas, Easter, and vacations. This beach trip was no different except I used a different sketch. You can see/read about my daughter's layout here. Paper and many embellies are StoryTellers. The rest is PTI.

Enjoy!

Kristin

PTI Tag Card #2

Here's my 2nd submission for the Anniversary happenings over at PTI (scroll down for my 1st tag card). This tag was created by Heather Nichols. I loved that the colors matched CTMH Boom-di-ada paper and that I was able to use my favorite sketch!! I added some embossed lines to the cardstock strip on the bottom. The PTI Scarlet Jewel scallop circle is *way* too dark from the photography (sorry!) but it matches the paper beautifully!

Enjoy!

Kristin

PTI Tag Card #1

This is my first submission for the 2nd day of festivities over at PTI. I created this card with the tag from Beth Silaika. I used CTMH Boom-di-Ada paper, and then PTI Matstack 3 Die and Stamp Collection. I love that I decided to emboss the banner and sentiment at the bottom. Since this can be used for either an anniversary card or a wedding card, it adds the *richness* to the card that those types of celebrations deserve.

Happy Anniversary PTI!!

Enjoy!
Kristin

PTI Customer Pick 2010

This weekend marks the beginning of Papertrey Ink's anniversary bash! I am so excited to show off my favorite card of 2010! And, fitting for the occasion, this was the anniversary card I made for my wonderful husband this past June. Here is the original blog post. Here and here are some other anniversary cards I made for him (with REALLY sappy write ups!!) if you are interested. But be kind, one of those was in the days when I scanned my cards instead of photographing them!

Anyway, this card is made with Scarlet Jewel base and Shimmer White mat. I embossed the Shimmer cs (my fave thing to do with it besides stamp on it!), then matted a smaller piece for stamping the sentiment. I punched out holes to run sheer white ribbon through and the card was done.

It took me awhile to figure out his perfect card, but it came together perfectly. For PTI's anniversary pick... it was an easy choice. Happy Anniversary PTI!!

Enjoy!

Kristin

Cricut & PTI= my favorites!

Yea! I uploaded my pictures and submitted some cards. This one is so pretty (but doesn't pass the "neutral background" requirement. I used the card feature on one of the cartridges and some pretty paper; along with some great PTI products (with some cuttlebug embossing thrown in for good measure!) and I came up with this fun card for a friend's birthday earlier this month. On the vellum envie, I just turned it over and used the "back side" to address it. I learned a couple of years ago that in the US the postal system doesn't really care so I've done this kind of thing before with good results.

Enjoy!
Kristin

My Top 10 Cards of 2010

Here are the details. Enjoy! (SECOND post for today... please SCROLL down to see the other!)

These are my favorite of 2010 (in no particular order... bc that is WAY TOO HARD, :)!)

Christmas Gifts 1

(TWO POSTS TODAY... scroll down!)

For Christmas this year several special women in my life received a hand crafted calendar for next year. These were truly a labor of love! Each was unique and I took special care to choose a "theme" or color scheme that they would appreciate and enjoy all year long. Then, each calendar fit into a CD case that would convert into an easel that would help them to display it on their desks at work or home!

(All supplies were PTI, unless noted otherwise; INCLUDING the basic idea and stamp set)

The top: Each was polka dots in versa mark ink. The front color shows the color scheme for the year. This was a true birthday/anniversary calendar.

Second: Three color scheme using my all time favorite tree from PTI, embossed no less (before I discovered PTI embossing powder!) in white. Only time I used the image to border the calendar. This one was ALL MINE!

Another post to follow!

Enjoy!

Kristin

Christmas Cards 3

Sorry about missing yesterday! Here are a few more Christmas cards to get you in the mood!! (Just realized that I forgot to put this in... Rejoice is a CASE from Nichole Heady and Joy is inspired from one of her cards as well. Holy Night is inspired from one of her cards from last year.

Enjoy!
Kristin




































































Rejoice
CS: PTI Scarlet Jewel, Gold Shimmer
Stamps: PTI WFAS, HSS
Ink: Versamark
Other: Gold Embossing Powder

Joy
CS:PTI Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy
PP: SU Sending Love
Stamps:PTI WRAS, HSS
Ink: PTI VC, PP
Other:PTI MS 3, VC Ribbon

Holy Night
CS:PTI Pinefeather, Gold Shimmer
Stamps:PTI SN, TS II
Ink: Versamark
Other: Gold Embossing Powder

Verse
CS:CTMH Olive,PTI Fine Linen
PP: CTMH Mistletoe
Stamps: PTI SN
Ink: CTMH Olive
Other: PTI MS 4