New releases for March!

We have been counting down to the 15th (when all of the new stamps and dies are released at Papertrey Ink), and today I have a few more things to show you. Everything will be up for sale tonight at 10pm EST.

First is Gatsby Glamour. I used the gorgeous frame and embossed it in white on vellum and die cut it with the coordinating die. I also cut it with Soft Stone cardstock again and inserted the Soft Stone center into the middle. The background is stamped with Background Basics: Art Deco. And yes, if you are wondering, I did put the frame upside down on purpose! It think it looks like a tag this way, don't you? I like it a lot.

The "thank you" if from a new stamp set called Keep It Simple: Thank You.

Thank You card:

STAMPS: Gatsby Glamour, Keep It Simple: Thank You, Background Basics: Art Deco, The Sweet Life

INK: Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal and True Black by PTI; Soft Granite by Hero Arts

PAPER: White and Soft Stone

DIES: Gatsby Glamour, The Sweet Life

OTHER: pearl by Melissa Frances.
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The swirls on this card are from the Putting Down Roots set. I wanted to use them in a different and unique way. The spiky cactus would look great as a sun ray too! I tried that at first, but ended up with this instead. You can use so many unique things to create a frame for your focal point. Try looking at your stamps differently to see what would make a cute frame! It's heat embossed on vellum. 

Behind the vellum is a stamped background made with Background Basics: Art Deco. I love these little diamonds that look almost like raindrops! The flowers are from Just Smile, the banner and sentiment is from Stitched Sentiments, and the "you" letters were cut with Script Alphabet dies. I cut the banner in white cardstock and just dipped my finger in Sweet Blush ink and rubbed it across the banner to color it. Creates a soft effect.

You Always Make My Heart Smile card:

STAMPS: Putting Down Roots, Just Smile, Background Basics: Art Deco, Stitched Sentiments

INK: Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Tropical Teal, Versamark

PAPER: Aqua Mist, white, vellum, Harvest Gold Pattern Pack

DIES: Just Smile, In Stitches

OTHER: white embossing powder; pearls by Melissa Frances.
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Next is Just Smile. I made some little cookie bags and stamped the background, folded the edge up to create a ledge to hold the cookies in place and wrapped it up with acetate, then a coordinating tag finishes it off!

To make these, I cut a piece of white cardstock 5 1/2" x 3". Then I scored it at 1/2" from the end and 1 1/2" from the end and folded the paper to create a little nook for the cookies. This allows you a little more than an inch to slide the cookies in. I used 3 cookies. (No, I didn't bake them, they are Chips Ahoy! HA!)  Here is a little peek at my process. You can stamp the backgrounds, or just use patterned paper. I stamped the pink and aqua floral ones.

Clear cellophane bags would have worked better than the cellophane on the roll, not so much bulk at the top when you tie them. But the roll of cellophane worked ok! Measure out how thick the cookies are and make sure the bottom of the holder will fit your cookies.

Cookie Bags:

STAMPS: Just Smile

INK: Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Tropical Teal, Aqua Mist

PAPER: Harvest Gold Pattern Pack, Sweet Blush Pattern Pack, white

DIES: Just Smile

OTHER: pearls by Melissa Frances.
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Last is Wet Paint. I painted some backgrounds with my watercolors and added these cute brush stroke stamp sayings on top! To get the drip look, I used a lot of water and held the card up, let the paint drip down and let it dry. Artsy!

Thanks for Everything card:

STAMPS: Wet Paint

INK: True Black by PTI, Soft Granite by Hero Arts

PAPER: white, watercolor paper

DIES: none

OTHER: sequins by Pretty Pink Posh.
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The other Papertrey Ink team members have a ton to show you also, so stop by and say hello!
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Erin Lincoln
Heather Nichols
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Maile Belles
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Spring Fling ...

Papertrey Ink will be releasing its new products for February on the 15th at 10 pm EST. Here are a few more fun things coming out this month...today it's all about SPRING! See Nichole's blog for the Scavenger Hunt information if you want to play along!

This card was made with the new Garden Grace stamps and dies. I first die cut the big floral piece, then stamped the leaves, which is all one stamp. I used Harvest Gold and Sweet Blush ink for the flowers, Aqua Mist ink on the leaves, and Fine Linen around the edges of the flowers. To create the flowers all different colors, I stamped them individually onto the die cut.

The new Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal die was cut from white cardstock, and I wrapped the seam binding around it before attaching it to the white card base. To adhere the the cover plate, I used 1/8" Scrappy Tape, which is just like Scor-Tape. Worked like a charm to hold all of the strips down!

Every card looks naked without sequins now to me...I've got a problem. :) Sentiment is stamped on vellum with the Garden Grace stamp set. Vellum, another addiction of mine!

Happy Mother's Day card:

STAMPS: Garden Grace

INK: True Black, Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Fine Linen

PAPER: White, Sweet Blush Pattern Pack

DIES: Bunny Bag die (heart), Garden Grace, Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal

OTHER:  sequins by Pretty Pink Posh, vellum, clothespin by Pebbles, seam binding by Zipperstop.

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Next is the Bunny Bag die, which makes a cute little favor/gift bag!

The bunny bag when put together is roughly 4" high (with the ears about 6 1/2" high) and about 2 1/2" wide. I cut this one from Sweet Blush Patterned Paper and added Classic Kraft felt for the nose and inner ears and twine for the whiskers. (Holes are already cut for you when you cut the bag! All you have to do is slide in 3 pieces of twine, wire or pipe cleaners for the whiskers!) There are also dies included to stitch the ears and nose if you'd like to add stitching. I bent one of her ears over for a floppy ear.

You can position the arms, so that the bunny can hold something. I randomly stamped some flowers with the new Garden Grace stamp set, trimmed around them and tucked them under the bunny's arms. Then I made a little sign to hang over her arm. To hang it, I made a loop with twine and taped it onto the back of the sign with washi tape. Sentiment is from the new Hippity Hoppity stamp set.

Some Bunny Loves You gift bag:
STAMPS: Hippity Hoppity, Garden Grace
INK: True Black, Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Fine Linen
PAPER: Sweet Blush Pattern Pack
DIES: Bunny Bag die
OTHER:  twine and Classic Kraft felt by Papertrey Ink, pearls by Melissa Frances.
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Visit the rest of the PTI team to see more with these fun spring products, available on 2/15 at Papertrey Ink.

Ashley Cannon Newell
Betsy Veldman
Cristina Kowalczyk
Dawn McVey
Erin Lincoln
Heather Nichols
Laura Bassen
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Boutique Bargains at Papertrey Ink...

Burlap, linen, canvas....think of all the possibilities with texture!

Starting this month, Papertrey Ink is now going to be stocking a few "boutique bargains" in their shop. These items won't be stocked permanently like their stamps and dies. They will change every now and then. Here are a few of the new Boutique Bargains this month: burlap rolls and bags, linen and canvas bags, resin blossoms and cork sheets!These cute little bags can be stamped on, stitched on, embossed, adorned with a tag, etc. So many things you could do to make them unique!

I used one of the linen bags as a card holder and dressed it up with a little flower made from burlap. I cut a strip of burlap about an inch wide and about 18 inches long, then rolled it to create a flower (or is it a nest?). I used some of the little resin flowers in the center and attached it to the bag with hot glue. Perfect for a spring or summer gift!

Twine was added underneath the flower (or nest!) in a messy fashion. I think it really adds to the handmade or "boutique" feel of the bag. Also added a button which is stitched right onto the bag with rustic twine and an embroidery floss needle.

The bags have 2 little straps on the sides, so I used a piece of Vintage Cream Satin Ribbon and looped it through the 2 ends, pulled it together in the center and tied it in a bow.

Inside I tucked a card and some candies. Let me show you the card...

I used a doily from my stash, folded over the top and bottom and cut a piece of kraft cardstock to fit inside. I stamped "thank you" with the Think Big Favorites #2 Mini Stamp Set in True Black ink.

Here you can see how the little card slides out, and a message can be written on the back. I trimmed the ends with a punch.

I cut a little flower from felt with the Lovely Layers dies.

Visit Nichole Heady's blog for more information on the Boutique Bargains!

jolly treats...

Thought I'd pop in and show you some little treat bags made with the Echo Park Season's Greetings line! I still can't get enough of this line. It's just so cute! Wouldn't you agree?

To create these, I just sewed paper together to form the pockets, then inserted a glassine bag inside. To create the shredded paper, I cut little strips and folded them back and forth. I don't have a shredder, so I just cut and folded a bunch at a time! You don't have to be precise with them at all. Slice them with your paper cutter (12"), cut them in half so you have smaller pieces to work with, then grab a bunch and fold them all at the same time. Insert some of these with a few pieces of candy.

These are all papers, brads and stickers from the line! Ribbon is from my stash and the glassine bags are by Papertrey Ink. These went so fast, I can't wait to make them for the kids in my girls' classrooms this holiday!