NEW Make It Market: Garden Gate kit!

The next Make It Market Kit by Papertrey Ink will be released on August 1st, and it is entitled "Garden Gate". There are so many beautiful basics that will speak to any flower or garden lover!  The colors in the kit are lush and pretty, just like a summer garden in full bloom. Garden Gate is filled with lots of options for creating stunning cards with some fun interactive possibilities. Old-fashioned flower favorites such as wisteria, hollyhocks, and bleeding hearts are included, and will surely make you feel nostalgic as you use them. Pair these up with the coordinating dies to layer them over a garden gate, lattice, or even a wrought iron garden sign. The papers are cleverly designed to allow for gatefold cards, or you can cut them up to use for other design purposes. 

This kit is sure to be legendary, and you won't want to miss out on the chance to add it to your collection!

GARDEN GATE KIT CONTENTS:

Garden Gate stamp collection (2 sheets w/ labels)

Garden Gate die

Garden Gate Details die collection
Garden Gate: Accessories die collection
Garden Gate paper collection, (16) 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" sheets
Garden Gate Brass Gate Latch
Garden Gate Stencil collection (set of 3, 6" x 6")

Total Retail Cost: $96

There will be a limited number of these exclusive kits available, so be sure to get yours on Monday! The "Garden Gate" Kit will be available for sale beginning on August 1st at 10pm ET, only at Papertrey Ink. Read all the details on Nichole's blog or contact Customer Service with any questions.

Now let's get onto the projects! I have 3 cards to share with you. 

The first one is made with the pre-printed papers. I used the dies to trim out the frame and flowers/leaves, then backed it with a pre-printed paper! Super easy! I love how the frame adds the pretty embossed stitches too. (The ribbon is not in the kit.)

The second card utilizes one of the three stencils that you receive in the kit! I stenciled over it with Bright Buttercup ink first, then added a bit darker orange near the top of the stencil with Summer Sunrise ink to give it an ombre look - just like the pre-printed paper I used on the first card!

The next thing I did was use the dies in the kit to cut out the lattice behind the sentiment. I die cut and stamped the flowers and vines. 

The sentiment frame was cut from white cardstock, then I stamped the frame on it with Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. Next, I used Lovely Lady ink to stencil some pink ink over the white embossing. Last, I added a sentiment in Raspberry Fizz ink in the center. I used a tiny bit of Raspberry Fizz ink to add a darker look to the frame on the top and bottom with the stencil brush to make the white pop a little more.

My last card might be my favorite from the bunch. I just love red and pink. ;) This card is made with just the stamp set and the flower/leaf dies from the Garden Gate kit. I stamped the big swirl on the top and bottom in gray onto white cardstock, then filled it in with flowers and leaves.

Last, I added 3 die cut/stamped flowers and leaves over the top... popped up for dimension...with Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy and New Leaf ink. The top 3 leaves that are popped up are stamped with Ripe Avocado ink. I added a sentiment from the stamp set and a red border die cut with the Filigree Border Die (not in kit). The card is backed with Stormy Sea cardstock.

We hope you love the kit and will look for it on August 1st! Visit Betsy, Amy, Heather, Kay and Melissa for more ideas. Enjoy your day!

SAF 2016: Masterpiece Inspirations...

Welcome to the free online Stamp-A-Faire event by Papertrey Ink! Are you ready to get started with inspiration? Each person on the design team has chosen a Master artist for inspiration and have created a project based on that photo or idea. As a lover of watercolor paintings, I wanted to find a Master watercolor artist for inspiration. Born and raised in New York City in a cultured French family, John LaFarge became a leading figure in the arts in New York in the 1800's, known for his exquisite murals, stained glass designs, and innovations of technique. He also was a noted writer and lecturer on art. In London, he was much influenced by John Ruskin, who focused on the importance of art being morally and spiritually uplifting! To read that touched my heart, and I hope today's post uplifts your spirits as well and inspires you. HERE is the inspiration piece I found, a watercolor painting. Happy creating!

Inspired by the colors, the flowers, the pretty background and the watercolor effect, I started with the following ink colors by Papertrey Ink: Americana, Pale Peony, Green Parakeet, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Enchanted Evening and Aqua Mist. 

First, I cut a Brushed Blooms flower and brought out my coordinating Brushed Blooms stamp set. I stamped the large stem in Green Parakeet with a bit of New Leaf on the edges of the stamp. It looks spotty right now, but will be smoothed out when I add water with my paintbrush.

Next, I stamped the Ripe Avocado ink onto the stamping block and used water on my paintbrush to add a bit darker color on the edges of the stem. I used a touch of water to smooth out the lighter green on the stem. You only need a tiny bit of water for this technique!

Then I stamped some of the flowers in Pale Peony ink onto the Brushed Blooms die cut.

The larger flower was dipped in Pale Peony, then the bottom edge of the stamp was dipped in Americana ink to add a darker color of shading to the flower. I will use my water and paintbrush again to smooth it out. (All of the pieces were cut with watercolor paper.)

Then I used Enchanted Evening ink, stamped it onto the block, and with a bit of water, painted the card background with it, adding New Leaf to the bottom of the background also to resemble the background in my inspiration photo.
Here is the finished flower and sentiment, using Walk by Faith stamps, stamped after everything was dry. I added some flower centers with Americana ink after the flowers were dry as well.

And here is the finished product!

Sequins were added for sparkle and dimension...

Well, I am in love this artsy technique of using watercolor paper, water and my Papertrey Ink stamps to achieve a painted look, and hope you will give it a try! Visit the rest of the team to see what Master artist inspired them and how they interpreted their inspiration piece! 

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

SAF 2016: Gilded in Gold...

I hope you are all enjoying Papertrey Ink's Stamp-A-Faire event so far! I have a painting technique to share with you. Gold embossed stationery and monograms are so trendy right now! In this tutorial, I will share with you a quick, simple way to add gold to your monograms with a product called Liquid Leaf by Plaid. It goes on thick, dries quickly and leaves a gorgeous shine to your die cut pieces, envelopes and tags!

Visit Nichole Heady's blog to watch the full video tutorial! I made a little monogrammed set for my daughter Kati, so she could send thank you notes for her birthday party.

In the video, I also show how to create these gilded tags and a gold pen to go with the ensemble! They would be cute all together in a gift box like these stationery boxes from Papertrey Ink.

The tags are made with Minute To Make: Holiday Tags die and Graceful Greetings I and II stamp sets, Liquid Leaf and white embroidery floss.

This next card set is made almost the exact same, but with the Noted: Scalloped Square dies instead of the Limitless Layers squares and circles. The Noted set has the scallops and the stitched circle die together in the set, unlike the first set I created with the Limitless Layers: Squares and Limitless Layers: Circles.
Thank you for swinging by today, and enjoy the fun Stamp-A-Faire event!! I hope you enjoyed this post and video tutorial. Have a great day!

SAF 2016: Free Exclusive Set!

This weekend Papertrey Ink is hosting a free online stamping event, and is open to all who would like to participate! We have a free stamp set that you can earn, just visit Nichole's blog for more information on this set, Art With Heart. What a beautiful set this is! I adore it!

I've made a card with the florals and sentiment in this set, and just love it so much. I've stamped the florals in pinks and reds on the top, yellows and oranges on the bottom corner and added a tag in the center with Tag Sale #4 die.

Then I added a Bright Buttercup striped paper underneath and rounded the corners on the right side of the card. On the tag, I did use a couple of small flowers from Calligraphy Classics in Pure Poppy, Bright Buttercup, Raspberry Fizz and Green Parakeet inks and stamped some of the Art With Heart leaves over the top in New Leaf ink.

The tag is popped up for dimension. The notebook edge is just from the watercolor paper that I used underneath, as I tore it out of the watercolor book and just left the torn edge on. A few sequins hide some of my inky mistakes!

Aren't you in love with this set? Oh my...so beautiful!

Art with Heart will ONLY be available on Stamp-a-faire day to all customers who make a qualifying $100 purchase. All orders made between 7am ET and 11:30pm ET on Stamp-a-faire Day tomorrow (July 23, 2016) that total $100 (before shipping) will receive the set for FREE! You will still earn Rewards Points on your order too, so it's an amazing offer! Please email Papertrey Ink Customer Service with any further questions.

Stop by each of the design team blogs to see more with Art With Heart, and be sure to swing by Nichole Heady's blog to see how you can earn this  free stamp set!

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

Stamp-A-Faire event coming this weekend!

Join us for a free online event this weekend at Papertrey Ink! This year's Stamp-A-Faire has a "Masters" art theme to it... I am excited to see what the team has created and how they will inspire you to look at your supplies a bit differently! Here is a sneak of one of my projects to whet your whistle. Please come by the forum at www.papertreyink.com this weekend to join in and for your chance to win gift certificates to the shop! See you then!

NEW "Make It Market: Garden Gate" card kit, coming soon!

If you love card kits, you won't want to miss this next one by Betsy Veldman for Papertrey Ink! It's full of gorgeous floral pre-printed papers, stamps, dies, stencils and more. Here is a little sneak peek...

Join us on August 1st for the full kit reveal of the Make It Market: Garden Gate kit! These are limited edition, so there are only a specific amount of kits put together, and you can't get the stamps and dies separately. But you'll definitely want the gorgeous papers and everything, because it all coordinates so well and is so well put together and gorgeous! 

Release day...

Welcome to another release day at Papertrey Ink! All of the new stamps and dies for July are being released tonight at 10pm EST. I have several more cards to share with you using some of the new products. Let's get started!

First, I have a card made with the new Splits: Best Wishes stamps and dies. The leaves reminded me of Christmas holly for some reason, so I stamped them and colored them in with a green Copic marker. I used the new "happy" die from Just A Number dies and "holidays" is stamped with Home For the Holidays. The berries are just punched out with a hole punch, then I combined vellum with the Floral Sketches patterned paper and the Pure Poppy + White pattern paper. A happy little holiday card!

Happy Holidays card:

STAMPS: Splits: Best Wishes, Home for the Holidays

INK: True Black

PAPER: Sheer Basics Vellum, Floral Sketches paper pad, Pure Poppy + White

DIES: Center Style: Feminine, Splits: Best Wishes, Just A Number

OTHER: none.

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Next is a card made with the new Paper Clippings: Done In Love stamps and dies! Love these! The big heart was so easy to cut out and place on my Classic Kraft Bitty Dot paper and then just die cut and stamped a few pieces and added them over the top.

And there is an adorable "-Vincent VanGogh" stamp to add, how cute is that!

Done In Love card:

STAMPS: Paper Clippings: Done In Love

INK: New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Bright Buttercup, True Black

PAPER: white, Classic Kraft pattern pack

DIES: Paper Clippings: Done In Love

OTHER: none.

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Next is Number the Stars stamps and Number the Stars Banner die. I combined these with the previously released Shaker Shapes: Star die and the Sparkle & Shine Words die.

First, I added a layer of aqua ink in the background with my ink blending tool. Then I stamped the new Background Basics: Galaxy stamps (two-step) over the top, along with the Shaker Shapes: Star cut from Luxe Silver cardstock and the "shine" word die from aqua cardstock. A couple of vellum stars were added too.

You Shine card:

STAMPS: Number The Stars, Background Basics: Galaxy

INK: Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal, True Black

PAPER: white, Luxe Silver cardstock, What the Doodle: Map Coloring Sheets

DIES: Number The Stars Banner, Shaker Shapes: Star, Sparkle & Shine Words

OTHER: vellum, sequins, twine.

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Next is Dress Up Dolls: Rainy Day stamps and dies. I added the little flowers from Tiny Town: Sweet Shoppe to the boots and popped them up for dimension.

The umbrella was colored in with Copics.

When Life Gives You Puddles card:

STAMPS: Dress Up Dolls: Rainy Day

INK: Tropical Teal

PAPER: Chicken Scratch Gingham

DIES: Dress Up Dolls: Rainy Day, Tag Sale: Quilted, Tiny Town: Sweet Shoppe (flowers)

OTHER: Copic Markers, enamel dot, seam binding.

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Last is a gorgeous new set by Dawn McVey called Just a Number! I used the Cover Plate: Scallops underneath with Lovely Lady cardstock and the Shaker Shapes: Circle dies for layering.

The flowers are from Forget Me Not.

Happy Birthday Scallop card:

STAMPS: Just A Number, Forget Me Not

INK: Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, New Leaf

PAPER: Lovely Lady, Harvest Gold pattern pack

DIES: Just A Number, Forget Me Not, Shaker Shapes: Circle

OTHER: seam binding

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Don't forget to shop tonight at 10pm EST at PapertreyInk.com to get all of the new products we have been previewing this week! Stop by each of these blogs to see more: 

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

Wanderlust inspirations...

Today we have quite a few new travel themed stamps, dies and papers to share with you! All of the new products will be available for purchase on July 15th at 10pm EST at papertreyink.com. First up, I have a travel journal to show you.

To create the journal, I used the new Traveler's Journal: Outer Cover dies for the cover and words, and the new Travelers' Journal Pages for the inside pages. Heather will have a full tutorial on how to assemble these books on Nichole Heady's blog. I love that the pages are already cut the correct size and holes are already punched for easy assembly. I used the dies, stamps and papers on the front cover, along with some shipping tags and burlap stars from my stash.

The stamping on the front cover is done with What the Doodle: Map (adventure) and Traveler's Journal: Adventure (stripes).

Here is a view from the top of the book with the pen holder I made and stitched into my book. (Made with fabric that I will show you more of later in this post!)

On one of my page spreads, I made a vellum envelope with the Sheer Basics Vellum and the new Traveler's Journal: Envelope die. It comes with the circle die also to create the fun clasps! You can hold tickets, memorabilia or even small photos inside. Added some stamping, chipboard star, washi tape and a fun die cut arrow from the envelope die.

On the right side, I added a "travel" die cut, some stamping and then a star pin...I thought it would be fun to attach a small photo with the pin on this page, or a little piece of memorabilia. The little sayings on this page spread were stamping with Traveler's Journal: Typed Notes.

Here you can see a pen holder that I made on the back of the inside cover. I folded a Moda fabric swatch in half and machine stitched it onto the page to hold a pen.

For another page spread, I wanted to create lines for journaling and a frame for either a photo or memorabilia. I used the inside of the cut out frame on the left page and Journal Accessories stamps to create the dotted lines. "Adventure awaits" and the stripes were stamped with Traveler's Journal: Adventure stamps.

The stars are stamped with Background Basics: Galaxy. I love the different sizes of stars and will be using those often!

"We were here" was stamped with Traveler's Journal: Adventure and the little "happy place" was stamped with Traveler's Journal: Typed Notes.


Of course you could leave many of the pages blank too to write in your travel plans or journal about your day! So many fun possibilities for decorating these adorable journals!

 Travel Journal supplies:

STAMPS: Traveler's Journal: Typed Notes, Traveler's Journal: Adventure, 
Background Basics: Galaxy, What the Doodle: Map

INK: Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate, Enchanted Evening, Aqua Mist

PAPER: Traveler's Journal paper collection, Sheer Basics Vellum

DIES: Traveler's Journal: Outer Cover, Traveler's Journal: Envelope

OTHER: Traveler's Journal Pages, twine, burlap stars, star pin, fabric squares by Moda, shipping tags, gold thread, Pink Paislee chipboard star, washi tape, paper clip, enamel dot, Studio Calico shiny star.

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Last is a little card I made for a congrats...I thought it would work well for a graduation card. I used the Traveler's Journal: Adventure stamps, along with Postmarks and Some Like It Hot (flower).

The square is cut with Traveler's Journal: Outer Cover dies, and the scalloped base is cut with Noted: Scalloped Square die collection that was previously released.

Life Is An Adventure card supplies:

STAMPS: Traveler's Journal: Adventure, Postmarks, Some Like It Hot

INK: New Leaf, Tropical Teal, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Enchanted Evening

PAPER: Aqua Mist, white

DIES: Traveler's Journal: Outer Cover dies, Some Like It Hot

OTHER: enamel dot.
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Don't forget to shop July 15th at 10pm EST at PapertreyInk.com to get all of the new products we have been previewing this week! Stop by each of these blogs to see more ideas!

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