Creative Cardmaker: A touch of gold...

Today I have a blog post up over at Scrapbook Expo's Weekly Scrapper blog on adding a touch of gold to your cards.

I've used a few things by Papertrey Ink here, the gold die cut is cut with the Star Scribbles die in Luxe Gold Adhesive cardstock. The stamped snowflakes are from Quilted: Winter, and the Let It Snow was cut out with the Christmas Cheer dies (love these and can't get enough!).

This card literally took me just a few minutes to make. The background is a snowflake doily from Michaels. Hope you will swing by to read more about this card and see a couple other of my favorite projects using gold!

Have a creative day!

Danielle

Creative Cardmaker: Sugared Candy Canes...

It's been a busy time for me, as the girls were home all last week for fall break! We had sleepovers and a trip to the pumpkin patch and so much more...busy, busy! I forgot to post this new tutorial over at the Scrapbook Expo Weekly Scrapper blog on sugared candy canes! I know you've seen them before last winter on my blog, but I thought it would be fun to revisit this idea and show you exactly how I made them.

You can use these sugary candy canes on a card, hang them on a tree, or even to decorate gift packages and tags! I used Papertrey Ink’s Holiday Plaid paper pad in the background, the Center Style: Feminine die (frame), the Christmas Cheer die (sentiment), Santa Stationery stamp set (sentiment stamp), and the snowflakes are stamped from the Snowflake Medley stamp set. Swing by to see the full tutorial!

Have a wonderful and creative day,
Danielle

Release Day...

Tonight is the night all of the new products will be up for grabs at Papertrey Ink at 10pm EST! Have you seen something you can't live without? I have a few more things to show you today.

Here is Enclosed: Wreath. It's a two-step process really, with the top "Peace" circle that lays over the top of the stamped wreath portion. The wreath is glittered with fine glitter.

The background was stamped with the new Fair Isle Borders stamps. Love these! I didn't want it to compete too much with the wreath, so I added a strip of vellum under the center to tone down the spot where the "Peace" was.

Peace card:

STAMPS: Enclosed: Wreath, Fair Isle Borders
INK: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado

PAPER: white, vellum

DIES: Enclosed: Wreath

OTHER: fine glitter.

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Here is Cup of Cheer and Keep It Simple: Gift Thanks.

The frame is die cut with Center Style: Feminine Die. I love how you can add a little scene in the center of the card, and it just frames it nicely. The cups were die cut and popped up for a little dimension. "Thank you for the gift" is stamped with Keep It Simple: Gift Thanks.

Thank You for the Gift card:

STAMPS: Cup of Cheer, Keep It Simple: Gift Thanks
INK: Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, New Leaf, Versamark

PAPER: True Black and white cardstock, Holiday Plaid paper pad

DIES: Cup of Cheer dies,  Center Style: Feminine die

OTHER: white embossing powder.

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This is the new Joyful Christmas stamp set (pretty bottle brush trees!). I used Christmas Cheer stamps and dies on this card as well ("Happy Holiday to you").

The Joyful Christmas trees were heat embossed with white embossing powder, and I've added some pretty faux snow to the bottoms of the trees for sparkle.

Happy Holiday to You card:

STAMPS: Joyful Christmas
INK: True Black; Versamark - craft supply, Soft Granite - Hero Arts

PAPER: Holiday Plaid paper pad, Aqua Mist cardstock; other - gray cardstock from craft store

DIES: Center Style: Feminine Style

OTHER: Faux snow, twine.

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On the last card, I've used Warmest Wishes (let it snow) and Snowflake Sparkle (snowflakes).

The large JOY letters are die cut from the new Wet Paint Alphabet Upper dies.

Joy card:

STAMPS: Warmest Wishes, Snowflake Sparkle
INK: Enchanted Evening, New Leaf, Tropical Teal, Aqua Mist, True Black

PAPER: Aqua Mist/white cardstock, Enchanted Evening Pattern Pack

DIES: Wet Paint Alphabet Upper

OTHER: Wood stars - Make It Market Mini Kit: Holiday Folk.

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The new products you see here today will be available tonight, October 15th, at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink. Here are the other design team members' wonderful blogs...stop by and visit them to see more!

Amy Sheffer
Ashley Cannon Newell
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Heather Nichols
Kay Miller
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Holiday Style...

Welcome to another Papertrey Ink group post! Today we are previewing the new Wet Paint Holiday Tags stamp set, Star Scribbles and the Folded Tags dies. First up, a set of tags. I used the Wet Paint Holiday Tags stamp set.

The new Folded Tag die was used as the bases for these. Super quick and easy to make assembly-line style!

Gift Tag Set:

STAMPS: Wet Paint Holiday Tags
INK: Hibiscus Burst, Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal, Aqua Mist, New Leaf, True Black

PAPER: white

DIES: Folded Tags

OTHER: twine.

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Next a quick card using the Star Scribbles stamps and dies and the Wet Paint Holiday Tags dies.

The pretty paper at the top is from the new Pure Poppy + White Basics paper pad. I cut out, stamped and embossed the gold Star Scibbles. Maybe a fun card for a guy? 

For You card:

STAMPS: Star Scribbles
INK: True Black; Gray -Soft Granite by Hero Arts

PAPER: Pure Poppy + White Basics, black, white

DIES: Wet Paint Holiday Tags, Star Scribbles

OTHER: gold embossing powder, gold tape - Luxe Letterpress kit.
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That's it for me for today! The new products you see here today will be available October 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink. Here are the other design team members' wonderful blogs...stop by and visit them to see more!

Amy Sheffer
Ashley Cannon Newell
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Heather Nichols
Kay Miller
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Winter Florals...

We are back with another Papertrey Ink countdown post! We are previewing more new stamps and dies being released on Oct. 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink. First, I've used the new Spruce & Sprigs stamp set and dies. I must have been in a red and green mood, as you'll see in all of my projects today!

On white cardstock, I stamped the pine boughs in a circle to resemble a wreath and added some die cut berries over the top from Spruce & Sprigs.

Strips of the different Holiday Plaid papers were adhered to the top, along with a strip of gold tape, which was from the Luxe Letterpress kit awhile back.

Really love how these turned out. They have a lot of interest, yet they're still flat for mailing.

Thank You card set:

STAMPS: Spruce & Sprigs
INK: Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy

PAPER: Holiday Plaid paper pad, white cardstock

DIES: Spruce & Sprigs

OTHER: gold tape -Luxe Letterpress kit.

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Next up are the Botanical Blocks III stamp set and the Botanical Blocks Basics dies used on this tag.

 The Botanical Blocks III floral design was stamped with Versamark ink, then heat embossed with white embossing powder onto watercolor paper. I used watercolor pencils to color in the design. Then with a bit of clean water, smoothed out the pencil lines, which creates a pretty watercolor look, and the raised embossing keeps the watercolor inside the lines!

Happy Holidays Tag:

STAMPS: Botanical Blocks III
INK: True Black, Versamark

PAPER: Holiday Plaid paper pad, white cardstock, watercolor paper

DIES: Botanical Blocks Basics, Tag Sale: Quilted

OTHER: white embossing powder, watercolor pencils, seam binding - Zipperstop.com.

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Last is a new cover plate called Cover Plate: Winter Floral. I put another piece of cardstock under it when running it through my Cuttlebug, which caused it to dry emboss the paper instead of cutting out the design.

The Spruce & Sprigs stamp set and dies were used again on this card. The sentiment is stamped with Tucked In: Holiday. And the "peace" word was cut with the previously released Wet Paint: Holiday dies.

Peace card:

STAMPS: Spruce & Sprigs, Tucked In: Holiday
INK: Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, True Black

PAPER: white, gray

DIES: Cover Plate: Winter Floral, Spruce & Sprigs, Wet Paint Holiday

OTHER: none.

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That's it for me for today! The new products you see here today will be available October 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink. Here are the other design team members' wonderful blogs...stop by and visit them to see more!

Amy Sheffer
Ashley Cannon Newell
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Heather Nichols
Kay Miller
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Holiday Pin-Ups Kit + Petite Places: Holiday Lane...

Welcome back to the Papertrey Ink countdown! We are previewing a few new products that will be release on October 15th at 10pm EST: the Holiday Pin-Ups mini kit and the new Petite Places: Holiday Lane stamps and dies. First up, I have a mini tag. I used the new Tag Sale: Quilted die and folded it in half. The front is decorated with the Petite Places: Holiday Lane stamps and dies.

The trees and the top of the Santa's Workshop are glittered with fine glitter.

On the inside, I've added more stamping with Petite Places: Holiday Lane. This could be used on a package as a to/from tag, clipped onto a treat bag, etc.

Santa's Workshop tag:

STAMPS: Petite Places: Holiday Lane
INK: Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, True Black

PAPER: white

DIES: Petite Places: Holiday Lane, Tag Sale: Quilted

OTHER: twine, fine glitter.

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Next are some treat bags and clips made with the Holidays Pin-Ups kit, stamps and dies!

The little Rudolph is die cut and stamped, but the snowman is just die cut from the patterned paper. I wanted to show that once the kit papers run out, you can always stamp your own and they turn out just as cute! Tags were die cut from the kit papers. The cute bags are in the kit too!

Holiday Treat Bags:

STAMPS: Holiday Pin-Ups kit
INK: Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy

PAPER: Holiday Pin-Ups

DIES: Holiday Pin-Ups

OTHER: treat bags/twine/clothespins - Holiday Pin-Ups kit.

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That's it for me for today! The new products you see here today will be available October 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink. Here are the other design team members' wonderful blogs...stop by and visit them to see more!

Amy Sheffer
Ashley Cannon Newell
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Kay Miller
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Quilted: Winter + Tag Sale: Quilted die...

Welcome to the Papertrey Ink countdown where we'll be showing you sneak peeks of the new products coming out on Oct. 15th at Papertrey Ink! I am working with the new Quilted: Winter stamps and dies today + the Tag Sale: Quilted die.

I'm also using some new paper! Check out the background paper, isn't it adorable!! This is from the new Holiday Plaid Patterned Paper Collection. I love, love, love this paper pad. You'll be seeing it a lot from me this release. I used the Tag Sale: Quilted die in the background with Aqua Mist cardstock, then added the Quilted: Winter die cut over the top.

Some of the snowflake pieces were stamped and tucked back into the snowflake to add color. A bit of fine glitter was added over the top.

Wrapped In the Warmth card:

STAMPS: Quilted: Winter
INK: Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal, New Leaf, Dark Chocolate

PAPER: new Holiday Plaid Patterned Paper Collection, Aqua Mist, Classic Kraft and white cardstock

DIES: Quilted: Winter die, Tag Sale: Quilted die

OTHER: twine, fine glitter.

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Here is a set of gift tags. I cut the Tag Sale: Quilted die frame in white, along with the Quilted: Winter die in white as well, but this time, I used the Quilted: Winter stamps to stamp the backgrounds in a couple of shades of ink before adding the snowflake frame over the top. (You could totally do a shaker style tag with this idea, just pop up the snowflake frame and add a clear acetate window with glitter or raindrops underneath!)

The cute banner die comes with the Tag Sale: Quilted die set. I added some Rainstones over the top.

Wrapped In the Warmth Tag Set:

STAMPS: Quilted: Winter

INK: Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal

PAPER: White, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist

DIES: Quilted: Winter die, Tag Sale: Quilted die

OTHER: twine, rainstones.

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One more with a bit more stamping involved on this one...

For this card, I was inspired by colors in the Holiday Plaid paper, so I cut out the snowflake die, stamped the little pieces and placed them back in. I used Scarlet Jewel, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides and Classic Kraft inks.

Sending Greetings card:

STAMPS: Quilted: Winter

INK: Scarlet Jewel, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides, Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate

PAPER: Scarlet Jewel Pattern Pack, Holiday Plaid Patterned Paper Collection, Classic Kraft and Rustic White cardstock

DIES: Quilted: Winter die, Tag Sale: Quilted die

OTHER: seam binding, rustic jute twine.

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That's it for me for today! The new products you see here today will be available October 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink.  Visit Nichole Heady for links to more sneak peeks!

Creative Cardmaker: holiday cards...

Are you getting a jump start on your holiday cards yet? I went to the Scrapbook Expo last Friday with my friends Claudia and Laura and picked up the super cute Claus & Co. line by Simple Stories. I couldn't wait to make some fun cards with it.

So today on the Scrapbook Expo blog, I have a tutorial up to show you how to make FIVE holiday cards! CLICK HERE for the tutorial link. I'm also going to be putting these five cards up for sale in a little card set soon. Be looking for these and more on the "shop" tab at the top of my blog.

Supplies: Simple Stories – Claus & Co. 31 Chipboard Stickers, Chipboard Frames, Wood Veneer, Washi Paper Tape, Interactive Elements. Other: Super Star Borders die by Papertrey Ink, Wet Paint Holiday stamps and dies by Papertrey Ink, twine by the Twinery, clear 6 MM sequins by Pretty Pink Posh and gray cardstock from the craft store. 

Thanks for swinging by! The next Papertrey Ink countdown will begin soon, and we have LOTS to show you, so stay tuned!

Stylish Sentiments: Holiday revisited...

Each month the Papertrey Ink Senior Design Team revisits an older stamp set to give you extra project ideas in between the fun countdown posts that go on each month...and guess what? Little ol' me was asked to be a part of the senior posts, so you'll be seeing more posts from me here and there! I'm thrilled to be a part of such talent!

Today we are revisiting a stamp set called Stylish Sentiments: Holiday. I can't tell you how much I love the fonts in this set!

I've made two cards and have paired Stylish Sentiments: Holiday with the Peaceful Pinecones stamp set and the Holly Jolly dies.

First, I used True Black cardstock for the base and embossed the Stylish Sentiment saying and Peaceful Pinecones in white. I added a strip of patterned paper at the top from the next Make It Market kit, All Through the House (coming out tonight at 10pm EST)!

Happiness and Joy card:

STAMPS: Stylish Sentiments: Holiday, Peaceful Pinecones

INK: Versamark

PAPER: True Black, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss cardstock; patterned paper from Make It Market: All Through the House kit

DIES: Holly Jolly

OTHER: white embossing powder, sequins, hole punch, twine.

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On the next card, I stamped the Stylish Sentiments: Holiday sentiment in the center with Pure Poppy ink, then added a Peaceful Pinecone stamping in the corner. I dipped the pinecones in Classic Kraft ink, then Dark Chocolate before stamping and just love how it created more depth and a shadow effect to the pinecones. (Plus the lighter area of the pinecone allows the sentiment to show through.)

Then I happened to have one of these Embroidered Frames: Dots cut outs lying on my table from a previous project. I love how it framed out the sentiment, but it covered up my pinecone stamping. So I die cut and stamped one more stem to the pine with Peaceful Pinecones dies and placed it over the top of the frame in the corner.

Added the finished piece over a Make It Market paper again, the red stripe from the All Through the House kit. The wooden stars were colored with a red marker and are from the Make It Market mini kit: Holiday Folk. Hope you enjoyed these ideas. This is one of my favorite stamp sets ever! I'm inspired to make more with it!

Cheer Throughout the Year card:

STAMPS: Stylish Sentiments: Holiday, Peaceful Pinecones

INK: Pure Poppy, Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado

PAPER: white; patterned paper from Make It Market: All Through the House kit

DIES: Peaceful Pinecones, Embroidered Frames: Dots die

OTHER: wooden stars, red marker.

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For more Stylish Sentiments: Holiday ideas, visit: Betsy, Dawn, Heather,  and Melissa. Here is the link to the October newsletter.