Introducing Stitched Trays & More...

Do you like to hand sew? If "sew", we have a fun group post for you today!

Papertrey Ink has some fun new dies coming out on March 15th that allow you to stitch a square tray like the one I've done here and also a rectangle tray. I've used the Stitched Tray: Square Dies, the Stitched Tray: Square Trim dies and the Stitched Folk Flower dies here on my tray. The square trim dies allow you to cut the trim that wraps around the edges. I actually cut an inside piece from Sweet Blush felt, a middle piece out of cardstock that helps the tray be a little more sturdy, then a bottom tray piece from Berry Sorbet felt and layered them all together when sewing up the tray bottoms and sides.

The flower was stitched into place on the Sweet Blush felt before I put the 3 layers together to create the tray. As I mentioned above, I used a cardstock piece in between the tray layers to make it more sturdy, and actually the cardstock helped with the sewing. It made it easier for me to find the holes.

The flower was stitched a little bit differently than the samples you might see by Erin Lincoln (she will have some videos on putting these together on Nichole Heady's blog!). I just started stitching and went with it. I hope you enjoyed this post!

Folk Flower Stitched Tray:

DIES: Stitched Tray: Folk Flower, Stitched Tray: Square, Stitched Tray: Square Trim

OTHER: white floss, Berry Sorbet/Sweet Blush/Aqua Mist/Harvest Gold felt.

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Visit the rest of the Papertrey Ink design team to see more with these new stitching products! All of these new products that you see here will be available for purchase at 10pm EST on March 15th at PapertreyInk.com!

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

Creative Cardmaker: Inlaid Die Cuts...

Happy Thursday! This week I was up with another Creative Cardmaker post over at Scrapbook Expo's Weekly Scrapper blog. This time I have a tutorial on adding inlaid die cuts to your cards to get a really professional look!

This technique involves die cutting a word or shape out of the card front and inserting another of the same shape in a different color, like I did with the gold "birthday" here on this card.

The result is so lovely! I've used Papertrey Ink's Birthday Cheer dies, Confetti Toss stamps, The Sweet Life stamps and dies, gray paper from the new Stormy Sea + White Pattern Pack, True Black cardstock, and Luxe Gold Adhesive Sheets.

Stop by the Weekly Scrapper to read more about this process! Have a great day!
Danielle

SAF 2015: Threads Challenge...

Welcome to another challenge for the Stamp-a-Faire event today, this one is the Threads Challenge! I was assigned to work on a few projects using twine, so I came up with a "Ten Trendy Twine Techniques" video!

If you know me, you'll know I have a love for twine and seem to add it to almost every project! It gives that little touch of softness, color and dimension to a card that I just adore. In my video, you'll see ten twine techniques that I use quite often on my greeting cards...as well as some brand new twine techniques as well. Twine is inexpensive and so easy to add to your projects in so many different ways! CLICK HERE to watch the twine video, then create a project for your chance to win!

Official Customer Challenge:

Choose one of the ten twine techniques shown in this video and use it on a card, tag or project.

1. Wrap twine around a card where two patterns meet to create a border.

2. Add a piece of twine to a section of a card with staples.

3. Wrap twine around an embellishment before attaching to a card.

4. Create a twine nest or branches with jute twine.

5. Use twine as balloon strings.

6. Stitch with twine.

7. Bundle twine behind a focal point.

8. Tie twine onto a tag.

9. Create faux crocheted flowers with twine.

10. Create luggage tag tied buttons with twine.

Twine Techniques video supplies: 
STAMPS: Button Up, Cutting Garden, Background Basics: Herringbone
INK: True Black
PAPER: Spring Moss, white
DIES: Circle punch,Vintage Linens die, Button Up dies, 
Cover Plate: Stitched die, Tremendous Tags dies
OTHER: Twine (Colored twine, Rustic Cream Twine, Rustic Jute twine)

Stamping patchwork...

Well, hello there. My friend Claudia came over last weekend, and we were able to do some stamping and card making! So I decided to make a few things with the Quilted: Summer stamp set and dies by Papertrey Ink just for fun. I am a quilter at heart, so I just love this set and the fun patterns you can make with it. The design for these cards was originally by Betsy, which you can see in this post. I just used some different colors, added a little bit of Enchanted Evening, a pretty navy blue. Love how it looks with the Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy.

The red borders were stamped with a little dash line from Quilted: Summer. I think it was meant to be a stick for the pinwheel, but it sure looks cute as a border also!

Ended up making 3 of these with different sentiments and just love how they turned out! I've used different sentiments on each. "Just because" is from the Scripted stamp set. "Warmest thanks" is from Bloomers.

The "sunshine" sentiment is from Quilted: Summer.

These were quite easy to do after I had the first one done and could copy where all of the colors would go. The trick for me was to start with the aqua one in the top center. That way I could center the triangles on the card quite easily. Added some twine and a flower die cut from Quilted: Summer. Might have to make more of these for little card sets!

You might have noticed at the top of my blog, I've started a "SHOP" link. Be on the look out for some cards for sale soon! :) Bye for now!

Quilted: Summer cards:

(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)STAMPS: Quilted: Summer, Scripted, Bloomers

INK: Aqua Mist, Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse by PTI; Soft Granite by Hero Arts

PAPER: white

DIES: Quilted: Summer

OTHER: twine.

Honoring Moms!

For today's group post, we are highlighting some of the new Mother's Day products that are coming out this month at Papertrey Ink! I can't tell you how much I love the new Bitty Bouquets stamps and dies! I stamped a few different ones here and tucked them around the new Keep It Simple Frames dies. I can see so many uses for these!

Hopefully you can see the beautiful embossed stitched detail on the frame. And the Sheer Basics Vellum paper pack is new to Papertrey Ink too! You get 3 sheets of 6 different patterns in an 8.5 x 11" format. I'll be using these quite a bit, love them! :)

Don't you think the card above could be used for so many occasions? I was thinking Mother's Day, but now that I look at it more, it reminds me of Easter. The "enjoy" is embossed with white embossing powder. I tried to stamp onto the vellum with permanent ink, but the polkadots resist the ink, so embossing is the way to go on this sheer vellum paper if you are going to be stamping on it!

Enjoy card:

STAMPS: Bitty Bouquets, Mini Blooms (tiny light pink flowers)

INK: Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, Simply  Chartreuse, Spring Moss

PAPER: Sheer Basics Vellum, Raspberry Fizz cardstock, Summer Sunrise Bitty Dot

DIES: Bitty Bouquets, Keep It Simple Frames

OTHER: white embossing powder.

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Next if you have a mom that's not really a pink person, I have one more that has a little more modern color combination, yet still feminine. :)

This card utilizes the Keep It Simple Frames dies again, love these. And the Bitty Bouquets. And the Sheer Basics Vellum. The sentiment is from a new stamp set called Tucked In: Mother, meant to be tucked inside, but you can see I used it on the front of the card instead of the inside! Works both ways, if you ask me!

The vellum can be easily attached under the flower bouquets where you won't see the adhesive. I tied the seam binding around the frame to hold it on.

Words Can't Express card:

STAMPS: Tucked In: Mother: Bitty Bouquets

INK: True Black, Harvest Gold, New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss

PAPER: white and gray cardstock, Sheer BasicsVellum Paper Pack

DIES: Bitty Bouquets, Keep It Simple Frames, Edgers #4

OTHER: seam binding by Zipperstop.

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Visit Nichole Heady's blog for more details on these products and how you can win a year of free stamps! Also, you can be entered to win an $80 gift certificate by building a bouquet on a card cover by combining more than one floral set like I did on my first card.  Good luck and have fun with it!

Papertrey Ink's new releases for February...

Today we are sharing the last few new stamp sets coming out this evening for February at Papertrey Ink! The new sets I used on this card are Leave It Be, A Little Inspiration, Monthly Moments: Slide Frame, and Monthly Moments: Library card, as well as Four Square and The Sweet Life.

On the Leave It Be leaves, I used Blush Zing embossing powder onto Classic Kraft cardstock. I really like the mix of the modern design in the Four Square frame and the black mixed with the soft colors of the felt and leaves. Eclectic, maybe you could call it?

Love You No Matter What card:

STAMPS:  Leave It Be, A Little Inspiration, Monthly Moments: Slide Frame, Four Square, The Sweet Life, Monthly Moments: Library card
INK: True Black, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado by PTI, Versamark, Soft Granite by Hero Arts
PAPER: white cardstock, vellum
DIES: Monthly Moments: Slide Frame, The Sweet Life, Leave It Be
OTHER: enamel dots by MME, Melon Berry felt by PTI.

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This one is made with Be Happy stamp set! Of course, I had to use happy colors to go with the Be Happy stamps. I stamped the background with the flowers and leaves and then added a layer of vellum in the center for a light, airy feel behind the butterflies.

I stitched the vellum and butterflies right onto the stamped pattern on the card front before adding it to the card base. This way I didn't have to use any adhesive on the vellum and have the adhesive show through.

Someone Who Mean So Much card:
STAMPS: Be Happy 
INK: New Leaf, Spring Moss, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise
PAPER: White, Lemon Tart, vellum
DIES: Be Happy dies
OTHER: machine sewing, resin by Melissa Frances, sequins by Pretty Pink Posh.

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Last is more of a bold card stamped with Sweet Speech.

The Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal die was used in the background with Soft Stone cardstock and is backed with Enchanted Evening cardstock.

Hello card:
STAMPS: Sweet Speech
INK: Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise
PAPER: Soft Stone, Rustic White, Enchanted Evening
DIES: Cover Plate: Horizontal, Sweet Speech
OTHER: seam binding by Zipperstop.

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I have one more thing to share with you. It's a little sneak of a new CARD KIT by Papertrey Ink!!! Yes, a card kit! And you are not going to believe who is behind the design of this...Ms. Betsy Veldman herself, card maker extraordinaire! I love her style and am so happy to see her designing the stamps, dies and every little piece of these kits! I will have more to show you of this kit on 2/28, the last day of the month. You are not going to BELIEVE all the goodies in the kit! Everything single thing you see here to make this card was in the kit....and so much more. Click HERE to read more.

Don't forget to order tonight at 10pm EST to grab all of the new products for February at Papertrey Ink! For more inspiration, visit the rest of the PTI team:

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

orange, hot pink and a touch of gold...

Need inspiration today? How about a color challenge. Pink Paislee has a beautiful Color Crush image on the Pink Paislee blog, and the team is playing along in the challenge. I thought I'd make a card just for fun with it - with oranges, hot pinks and even a touch of gold.

I used the Artisan papers by Pink Paislee with some stamping inks by Papertrey Ink to make the big flower. All I did was swipe the ink pad over the papers, and it brings out this gorgeous embossing that's already on the paper. I used the Notched Flower dies to cut the flower layers and the Turning a New Leaf die to cut the leaves out of the Artisan paper after it was inked. The ink colors I used were: Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise and Ripe Avocado.

I placed a circle under the flower from the Artisan Circles and some twine. For the bottom, I stamped a Sentiment Series: Scallop Symbols (a new stamp set by Pink Paislee) trimmed it out and placed it under the white cardstock. The Thank You sentiment is from Mums The Word. The whole card front was placed onto a Luxe gold striped paper.

Are you going to play along in the challenge? Link me up if you do, I'm anxious to see what you'll do with this.

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!

Release day.

It's the 15th, and that means we get to share all of our Papertrey Ink creations for the month! This was the first card I made when my goodies arrived. I LOVE the hexagons and can see a serious addiction forming!

I used the Hexagon Cover Plate with Soft Stone cardstock. I left some of the Soft Stone hexagons in and added other stamped hexagons with the Happy Hexagons stamp set!

Happy Birthday card:

STAMPS: Happy Hexagons

INK: Spring Moss, Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Orange Zest, True Black, Blueberry Sky

PAPER: white and Soft Stone cardstock

DIES: Cover Plate: Hexagon

OTHER: rustic twine, dimensional adhesive.

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And because I couldn't stop playing with the hexagons, I made this.

Way to Go card:

STAMPS: Happy Hexagons, Think Big Favorites #17

INK: Sweet Blush, Spring Moss,Winter Wisteria, Plum Pudding

PAPER: White cardstock, Soft Stone cardstock

DIES: Cover Plate: Hexagon, Eyelet Lace Die

OTHER: floral pin, Smash Tape, pearl, Papertrey Ink felt, dimensional adhesive.

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The next card was made with the new Lovely Layers stamps and dies. I was feeling the purple again.

I used two 3" envelopes as the card base, punched two tiny holes and tied them together with twine. The new Limitless Layers 2.25" Square die fits right in the pocket! I cut it from Soft Stone cardstock and added some teal felt leaves with a pin.  (You can add an earring back to the pin if you are worried about the recipient being poked. Or just trim the end off with scissors to remove the point.)

On the inside, I tucked another little note with the Limitless Layers die again. I embossed some sayings on the envelope and added some hexagons for color.

So Grateful for You card:

STAMPS: Lovely Layers, Happy Hexagons

INK: Fresh Snow, True Black,Sweet Blush, Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding

PAPER: white, Soft Stone cardstock

DIES: Lovely Layers, Cover Plate: Hexagon, Limitless Layers 2.25" Square

OTHER: True Black ribbon, Aqua Mist felt, 3" envelopes by PTI, True Black button, pearls, Maya Road pin.

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Here is the new Framed Out #5 stamps and die in action. I cut the frame from the Fine Linen Pattern Pack and used Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy inks for the flowers and sentiment, and yellow (Harvest Gold) for the leaves. Who says leaves have to be green? :)

Wishing You Well card:

STAMPS: Framed Out #5, Natural Beauties

INK: Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Fine Linen

PAPER: Rustic White, Sweet Blush

DIES: Framed Out #5

OTHER:Seam binding.

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Next is Background Basics: Rainbows and a We Go Together sentiment.

I started by stamping the Pure Poppy ones with Orange Zest in the middles, then the Summer Sunrise ones with Harvest Gold centers. The clouds are cut with a die and the heart is cut with the Tiny Tags die. Love these happy little rainbows!

You Make Me Happy card:

STAMPS: Background Basics: Rainbows, We Go Together (sentiment)

INK: Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, True Black

PAPER: Pure Poppy Pattern Pack (heart), My Mind's Eye (gray), Harvest Gold and Rustic White cardstock

DIES: Clouds die, Tiny Tags

OTHER: staple, floss.

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This one is made with Military Stars and another We Go Together sentiment. I used Spring Moss, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky and Soft Stone for the background circles.

A Harvest Gold star is popped up with dimension. I thought to add the file folder tab at the top to go with the saying "for the record".

For the Record card:

STAMPS: We Go Together, Military Stars

INK: Spring Moss, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Harvest Gold, Soft Stone, True Black

PAPER: Fine Linen Pattern Pack, Aqua Mist Pattern Pack

DIES: Desktop File: Left die

OTHER: Fiskars star punch.

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Here is Military Stars with Military Hero sentiments.

I used Spring Moss, Spring Rain and Harvest Gold for the stars in the background, then stamped the sun rays over the top with Soft Stone ink (from Hello Sunshine).

Our Hero card:

STAMPS: Military Hero (sentiment), Military Stars, Hello Sunshine

INK: Spring Moss, Spring Rain, Harvest Gold, Blueberry Sky, Pure Poppy

PAPER: White cardstock, Simply Chartruese Pattern Pack

DIES: none

OTHER: pinking shears, star punch by Fiskars.

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The last card features the little banners and saying from Heart-2-Heart #5. I actually used the big star from Military Stars (yellow one) to stamp all over the card. Then I cut the little banners out and stamped them in all different colors, and placed them over the top of the big stars to form my own little patchwork looking stars! In other words, I used the large stamped stars as a guideline to build stars with banner shapes!

I added a Super Stars Border Die cut from Summer Sunrise paper.

Celebrate Star card:

STAMPS: Heart-2-Heart #5, Military Stars

INK: True Black, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Sweet Blush, Harvest Gold, Spring Rain

PAPER: White and kraft cardstock,

DIES: Heart-2-Heart #, Super Stars Borders Die

OTHER: Pure Poppy ribbon.

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That's it for me. I hope you enjoyed the projects today. I have to say this was one of my favorite months ever at Papertrey Ink! Visit the rest of the team to see more samples with these products, and be sure to grab the products tonight beginning at 10 pm EST at Papertrey Ink!

Ashley Cannon Newell

Betsy Veldman  

Dawn McVey

Debbie Olson

Erin Lincoln  

Heather Nichols  

Jessica Witty  

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips

Nichole Heady