Creating shaped borders with non-border dies...

Good morning, all! I have another new Make It Monday video up this morning at Papertrey Ink. Today I'm showing how to create shaped borders to your cards without using border dies. You can use almost any dies in your stash for this technique! Visit Nichole's blog to see the video: Make It Monday #175. My girls start school in one week, so I've got school on the brain lately. Shopping for school clothes and school supplies has me in the mood to make something special for the new teachers.

I've used the Apple Prints dies and coordinating stamp set, along with Teach & Inspire stamp set. You'll want to work with some dies that have a coordinating stamp set to go along with it, so you can stamp the shape into the cut out and make the shaped edges look seamless.

During the last monthly release, I made a card with this technique using Life Is Beautiful stamps and dies, you can see that one here, just to get more ideas of what you can do with this fun technique. I hope you have fun with it! Join us in this challenge, and you might win a $25 gift card!

more Monthly Moments: July...

I'm back with one more project using the Monthly Moments products by Papertrey Ink for July. Although the July products are more travel themed this month, I thought I'd show you how you can use them on a non-travel themed scrapbook layout as well! I used the Monthly Moments: July stamps, July dies, Monthly Moments: Travel Plans stamps, the Journal Card Collection and the Journal Pocket 2 die.

First, I watercolored the background with a teal color and added a few splashes with my paintbrush, let it dry, then I die cut some Lovely Layers flowers from the Journal Cards. I used the Journal Pocket 2 die to hold a few photos of my girls together. Here are all of the photos tucked in the pocket, just a little series of pics I took of my girls one evening on a walk together:

The pocket was cut out of vellum and stamped on. I added a Wonderful Words: Love die cut. The little geotag die from the Monthly Moments: July dies works great for centers of flowers! I die cut 4 of them and placed them in the center of a couple of flowers. The other flower centers have enamel dots and gold chipboard stars.

Almost all of these patterns are from the Monthly Moments: July Journal cards. Aren't they cute? You can buy all of these items I mentioned today separately, or get the whole collection HERE (not including the Monthly Moments: Travel Plans stamps). The little straws were cut in half before adhereing them to the page, and I thought they'd be a fun, colorful addition. I hope you found some ideas that will work for your next card or scrapbook page!

You are Here scrapbook layout:

(All supplies by PapertreyInk.com unless otherwise noted.)

STAMPS: Monthly Moments: July, Monthly Moments: Travel Plans

INK: True Black

PAPER: watercolor paper, Monthly Moments: July Journal Card Collection, Aqua Mist Pattern Pack, Fine Linen Pattern Pack, Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist cardstock, vellum - craft supply

DIES: Monthly Moments: July dies, Lovely Layers dies, Wonderful Words: Love die, Journal Pocket 2 die

OTHER: watercolors and doily - craft supply store, chipboard stars by Studio Calico, enamel dots by MME, straws from Target.

new Make It Market kit by Papertrey Ink...

Tomorrow, August 1st at 10pm EST, Papertrey Ink will have another card kit available for purchase put together by Betsy Veldman. This one is called County Fair, and I personally think this might be the best one yet! The colors are so HAPPY!

On the "Enjoy Your Day" card,  I used two papers from the kit and the border die, which is actually a die to make medallions! Silly me, I thought it was a border die. Ha. Oh well, it's cute as a border too! I die cut and stamped the "best" and the flowers and banner tails.

On the "Enjoy the Ride" card with the adorable ferris wheel, I used another cute paper from the kit! I added the blue checked paper at the top and cut a straw in half to add for more color... love these!

For dimension, I also stamped a little heart and popped it up over the existing heart on the paper. The ribbon is just folded into two loops and stapled on.

On the last card, I used the A2 sized cover plate die (Bandana Cover Plate) in the kit to cut out the design from white cardstock. When you get the kit, you'll see that some of the papers in the kit coordinate exactly with this die, so I backed the white one with a blue bandana paper. Isn't it neat how the designs show through the holes? I love how the die matches up with the papers! So cool!

Then I trimmed an orange bandana paper, just the center of the paper, to place in the middle of my card. I wanted to add a little bit more color to the white.

The sayings are stamped with the County Fair stamps, and I die cut the "best" from red cardstock and the flowers from white, then stamped the flowers.

There is SO much more in the kit... ribbons, tickets, medallions you can make, a quilt block die, berry baskets...etc, etc, etc... that I wish I would have had more time to make more with it all! Below is a little more info about the kit. Grab one quick, because I don't think they are going to last long!!

County fairs are the highlight of the summer!  From quilt shows to pie baking contests, midway rides and gunny sack races, fair days are filled with old-fashioned down home goodness...and this kit is reminiscent of all those things.  The NEW! County Fair Kit designed by Betsy Veldman exclusively for Papertrey Ink is full of specialty items that will instantly bring back summer memories when you open up your box!  If paper crafting is all about *fun* for you, then you are definitely gonna want to get your hands on this kit!  Of course there are gorgeous limited edition stamps and innovative dies, but all of the special little extras that are included are truly inspiring!  You will love mixing and matching all of the unique embellishments on your cards and experimenting with the fabulous packaging supplies to wrap up some special gifts!

• County Fair stamp set (2 sheets)
• County Fair die collection
• County Fair Words die collection
• County Fair Medallion die collection
• County Quilt Block die
• Bandana Cover Plate die
• County Fair Patterned Paper Pad (8-1/2" x 11")
• Custom County Fair Ribbons (set of 3)
• Berry Baskets (set of 4)
• 1 popcorn box
• 1 peanut bag
• County Fair Paper Straw Collection:

1. Cherry Pie Swiss Dot Paper Straws (set of 2)
2. Dark Denim Stripe Paper Straws (set of 2)
3. Buttermilk Yellow Stripe Paper Straws (set of 2)
4. Cotton Candy Blue Chevron Paper Straws (set of 2)
5. Pink Lemonade Stripe Paper Straws (set of 2)

• County Fair Mini Clothespin Collection:

1. Cherry Pie Mini County Clothespins (set of 5)
2. Dark Denim Mini County Clothespins (set of 5)
3. Buttermilk Yellow Mini County Clothespins (set of 5)
4. Cotton Candy Blue Mini County Clothespins (set of 5)
5. Pink Lemonade Mini County Clothespins (set of 5)

• County Fair Ticket Collection:

1. Cherry Pie Customizable County Fair Tickets (set of 8)
2. Dark Denim Customizable County Fair Tickets (set of 8)
3. Pink Lemonade Customizable County Fair Tickets (set of 8)
4. Buttermilk Yellow Customizable County Fair Tickets (set of 8)

• County Fair Fibers Collection:

1. 5/8” Burlap Cherry Pie Center Stitch Ribbon (1 yard)
2. 5/8” Burlap Dark Denim Center Stitch Ribbon (1 yard)
3. 2mm Cotton Candy Blue Paper Cord (1 yard)
4. 5/8” Pink Lemonade Wired Raffia Bow String (1 yard)

The total retail cost of this kit is $105. There will be a limited number of these exclusive kits available so be sure to get yours tomorrow! The County Fair Kit will be available for sale beginning on August 1st at 10pm EST, only at Papertrey Ink. Read all the details on Nichole's blog or contact Customer Service with any questions.

Visit Betsy, Dawn, Heather and Melissa for more ideas with this kit!