Birthday Wrap Inspiration...

Today we are previewing a new stamp set called For You and some tag dies and Wrap It Up dies! Let's get started! First I have coordinating tag and card set. I die cut the "happy" tag and colored the word with Copic markers in an ombre fashion with red, orange and yellow, then backed it with the pink/red Ombre Stripes paper. It's stamped with For You as well.

Then I have a coordinating card to go with it, with the same design, just a different sentiment from For You, and backed with a Noted: Scalloped Square die cut card base.

Coordinating Happy Birthday Card and Tag:

STAMPS: For You

INK: True Black

PAPER: white

DIES: For You

OTHER: Copic markers, stars from Studio Calico, twine.

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Next up are the new Wrap It Up dies, which include this square and adorable 3 layer bow that I cut from the star patterned Sheer Basics Vellum! I used For You again to stamp the sentiment.

I thought this would be fun for a gift card holder. I was going to add the tiny "to/from tag" in the set, but forgot before I took my photos! Darn it! You'll see more of the balloon stamp I used in tomorrow's post!

Don't you think this would make a cute pocket too for a party favor filled with colorful, fun goodies like these straws? A pocket could be made by just stitching or adhering the sides and bottom.

Something For You Gift Card Holder:

STAMPS: For You, Invitation Basics, Polka Dot Basics III

INK: Lovely Lady, Bright Buttercup, Aqua Mist, True Black, Vintage Jadeite

PAPER: white

DIES: Wrap It Up

OTHER: gold tape, twine.
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Don't forget to shop on November 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink 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

Cards With Dimension: Embellishments...

Happy Tuesday, and thank you for stopping in today! When I first began to create cards, I was more of a scrapbooker and hadn’t really dabbled in stamping all that much. This meant that I started to see my scrapbooking products in a whole new light…on cards! My style was very layered, and I loved to use embellishments! Embellishments were my absolute favorite thing. They added that touch of detail to my cards, a slight bit of dimension and extra interest that I didn’t feel a flat card could offer as well as an embellished card. My style is still very layered, and I love to use embellishments, but I like my cards to be clean looking as well, with a bit of white space.

Embellishments I love to use include, but aren’t limited to, chipboard elements, tags, rub-ons, sequins, ribbons, brads, rainstones, enamel dots, twine, etc.

For today’s card, I found a Heidi Swapp Washi Tape booklet in my stash that I hadn’t used yet, a Crate Paper tag and rub-ons, some Heidi Swapp chipboard pieces, enamel dots, and twine. I chose some of my favorite washi tapes from the booklet and attached them to a piece of white cardstock, then trimmed it down and rounded the corners. I added a “love you” rub-on to the tag. I stamped “Friend” on the card in Stormy Seas ink by Papertrey Ink from the Bitty Bouquets stamp set and “just thinking of you” with the Mat Stack 2 Collection stamps. I used a little hole punch to punch little notches for the twine. This way the twine will stay put while wrapped around the front piece.

When mixing embellishments, here are some tips: look for colors that complement each other (mix at least three for more interest!) and use different sizes of items – something small, something medium, and something larger in scale. Here the washi tapes add pattern and scale. The tag is the large item, the patterns are medium, and the enamel dots and text are small. It gives the eye so much detail to see! The black twine adds contrast to the lighter colors, which also keeps it interesting. Different shapes are good as well; see how the roundness of the enamel dots give the card softness from all of the hard edges?

Balancing the colors around the card in a triangle will also help you achieve success with embellishments. I have the aqua color spread around the card with the dots and washi tape. And I also have a triangle of black by using twine, tape, and sentiments in black.

If you are interested in learning more about my style of card making, I have an online class that I recently filmed here in Denver with Craftsy.com called Cards With Dimension: Lovely Layers, Textures and Embellishments. I have seven video chapters on adding dimension to cards, and working with embellishments is just one of the chapters, with three lessons in each chapter! Since March is National Craft Month, they are hosting a fun promotion for the next two weeks. Everyone who is new to purchasing a Craftsy class right now will be entered to win a $1,000 to donate to your favorite crafty charity. If you’ve been thinking of trying an online card class, now is a great time to give it a try! AND…as a special blog reader, I get to offer you 50% off! Click the link above!

If you'd like to try one of the other paper craft classes at a discount, you can view them HERE. Have a crafty, creative day!

Danielle

Make It Monday: Splattering...

I am up this morning with a Make It Monday video! Today I'll be sharing a couple of ways to get the "splattered" look on your tags and cards.

There are a couple different ways to splatter...well, I'm sure there are MANY different ways, but in the video, I'll show you two techniques, a fine splattered look and how to get the big droplets, as well as how to make these pretty tags!

Swing by Nichole Heady's blog to see the new Make It Monday video tutorial! Have a very happy Monday!

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!

Nativity Inspiration...

Papertrey Ink has a new nativity stamp set and some dies coming out this month, so today we are previewing the new products. My first project is a very easily mass produced tag that you could use on a package or napkin wrap like I have done here. This tag is cut with the new Minute To Make: Holiday Tags die and stamped with Petite Places: Nativity.

A bit of garland is wrapped around the napkin, and I made a sugar coated candy cane (with pipe cleaners and fine glitter). I might use real ones for my dinner table, but these are pretty cute too. :)

O Holy Night tag:

STAMPS: Petite Places: Nativity
INK: True Black, Pure Poppy
PAPER: White cardstock, red plaid - Simple Stories' Summer Fresh

DIES: Minute To Make Holiday Tags

OTHER: pipe cleaners, fine glitter, jingle bell, garland - craft supply, tinsel - Melissa Frances.

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Here is a card with Petite Places: Nativity. I'm not going to lie...I have a hard time knowing what colors to use with the nativity set. So this one is a little unconventional. Papers are from the Nostalgic Notions kit. I can't wait to see what everyone else did with this set.

The steeple is cut from a new die called Petite Ornament: Square. I just used the front of it, not the whole die, backed it with more Nostalgic Notions paper and then added some pieces from Petite Places: Nativity dies.

O Holy Night card:

STAMPS: Petite Places: Nativity
INK: Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise

PAPER: White cardstock, Nostalgic Notions paper

DIES: Petite Ornament: Square, Petite Places: Nativity

OTHER: twine, sequin - Pretty Pink Posh, chipboard star- Pink Paislee.

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The next project is a little 3D ornament and a sleeve to tuck it into.

To create the layers on the ornament, I used some new dies called Scene It: Bethlehem, and it's backed with the Scene It: Scalloped Tag Base.

This sleeve is die cut with the Front & Center #1 die and folded in half to create the pocket.

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him ornament and sleeve:

STAMPS: Petite Places: Nativity
INK: Enchanted Evening

PAPER: white, Classic Kraft; Simple Stories - Summer Fresh

DIES: Petite Places: Nativity, Front and Center die

OTHER: Pure Poppy ribbon, chipboard stars - Pink Paislee, gold tape, twine, fine glitter.

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That's it for me for today! The nativity products you see here today will be available Sept. 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
Erin Lincoln
Heather Nichols
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Maile Belles
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Quick + Easy Holiday Wraps...

We have another group post today for Papertrey Ink today, this time it's all about quick and easy holiday tags, wraps, gift card holders, bags and boxes. All of the new products we share peeks of today will be available for purchase at Papertrey Ink on Sept. 15th at 10pm EST.

First up are the Minute To Make: Holiday Tags 1 stamps and Minute To Make Holiday Tags die. I love these! They are really quick and easy to make a ton of tags in no time!

I've found a couple of cute, inexpensive gift card boxes at Target to match my tags. I think you can get them at Walmart even cheaper (for $1) when the holiday boxes and gift wrappings come out. The tags are super quick and easy.

Joy & Peace Tags:

STAMPS: Minute to Make: Holiday Tags 1

INK: Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse

PAPER: new tag cardstock

DIES: Minute to Make: Holiday Tags dies

OTHER: seam binding.

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Next up are the new Ribbon Sliders stamps, dies and papers. These are ones I cut out of the patterned paper pack.

This is a gift box from Target that had the dots already printed on it, but I wanted to dress up the top with some stamping with the arrow from Ribbon Sliders and added a preprinted slider that I cut out with the dies.  Quick, right?!

The box had pre-cut holes for the ribbon, which was perfect, but you could make your own by using a paper piercer to punch holes in the sides of a box for the ribbon to tie your ribbon slider on.

A Little Something Gift Box:

STAMPS: Ribbon Sliders

INK: Fresh Snow

PAPER: Ribbon Sliders

DIES: Ribbon Sliders

OTHER: gift box - Target, white embossing powder.

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Next is Christmas Tree Change Up stamps and dies.

Mine is a little bit different. It's not a box. I created a wrap instead and added a cellophane bag in the middle full of mints. The front and back are stapled at the top with the bag stapled right in between, then the twine is added and a star to cover the staple.

 Merry Christmas Treat Wrap:

STAMPS: Christmas Tree Change Up

INK: Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush

PAPER: white

DIES: Christmas Tree Change Up Box

OTHER: twine, sequins, cellophane bag, mints.

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Last are the new In the Bag stamps and dies. I didn't do a holiday project this time.

The In the Bag stamps and dies make a cute little bag to add to the front of a card to slide a gift card into. (I totally forgot to add a gift card before taking my photos, sorry about that!)

Thanks card:

STAMPS: In the Bag, Vintage Linens

INK: Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, True Black by PTI; Soft Granite by Hero Arts

PAPER: Mood Mix collection from Stamp-a-Faire2015

DIES: In the Bag

OTHER: twine, enamel dot.
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All of the new products you see here today will be available Sept. 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
Erin Lincoln
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Maile Belles
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

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)

Hallow's Eve inspiration...

We've got so much to show you today with the Papertrey Ink countdown! It's all about Halloween today as we share some new products coming out on August 15th. First up is the Halloween Pin-Up kit by Betsy Veldman.

The little pin-up kit comes with a stamp set (used on the "Eat, Shriek and Be Scary" tag), dies that I used on the boots, tags, clothespin bodies and Frankenstein's head...also a bunch of treat bags, clothespins, twine and some really cute pre-printed patterned papers! The kit makes it easy to create cute treat bags in no time.

Treat Bags:

STAMPS: Halloween Pin-Ups stamps 
INK: True Black

PAPER: Halloween Pin-Ups kit, white

DIES: Halloween Pin-Ups kit dies

OTHER: Halloween Pin-ups kit, enamel dots, seam binding.

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Next a card with the new Shaker Shapes: Candy Corn dies.

Thought it would make a fun birthday card, so I added an October die with the Monthly Moments: Year Round 2 die and "happy birthday" from one of the Birthday Classics sets.

Happy October Birthday card:

STAMPS: Birthday Classics: August
INK: Terracotta Tile

PAPER: Terracotta Tile, Orange Zest, white, True Black Pattern Pack, 
Black & White All Over Paper Pad

DIES: Shaker Shapes: Candy Corn dies, Monthly Moments: Year Round 2 die

OTHER: twine.

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On this one, I used the new stamps called Haunted Headstones and Petite Places: Spook Manor, along with the Scene It: Hallows Eve dies.

I used a Luxe Foil paper in the background that has little silver dots. It's hard to see in the photos, but it's very subtle and pretty in real life. 

Happy Halloween Scene card:

STAMPS: Petite Places: Spook Manor, Haunted Headstones
INK: Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding

PAPER:  Silver Luxe Patterned Paper Foil collection, True Black, white

DIES: Scene It: Hallows Eve dies, Petite Places: Spook Manor

OTHER: twine.

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Next is the Cover Plate: Night Sky die that I trimmed from Scarlet Jewel cardstock and added it over the top of the Classic Kraft patterned paper.

Used the Haunted Headstones stamp set again for the bats and sentiment. 

Hello, Happy Halloween card:
STAMPS: Haunted Headstone
INK: True Black
PAPER: Scarlet Jewel, Luxe Gold Adhesive Sheets, Classic Kraft Pattern Pack
DIES: Cover Plate: Night Sky die, Swoosh die, Haunted Headstones dies
OTHER: Studio Calico gold chipboard star.
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All of these new products will be available August 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink. Thanks for stopping by! Visit the team to see more:

Ashley Cannon Newell
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Erin Lincoln
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Maile Belles
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Introducing Seeds of Knowledge...

The Papertrey Ink team is back with a group post to preview a few more new things coming out on April 15th! Today we are showing sneaks of the new Seeds of Knowledge stamp set, the new Pencil Blooms dies, Pint Size Wrap dies and Pint Size containers.
First, I have a pencil bloom bouquet to share with you. I really wanted to go a different direction than the typical apple red for a teacher gift. I found THIS pic on Pinterest that inspired me to do something different!

Here's my pencil bouquet! I'll tell you how I put it together...

To start, I remembered that I had this gold paint... it's called Liquid Gilding by Martha Stewart, so I painted all my #2 pencils gold. It dries almost immediately! And covers so well, I love it! I think it's oil based though, so use an old paintbrush if you try this, because it's hard to clean out the brush afterward.

Much better than the #2 yellow! (My girls saw these and both want one to take to school. lol)

Next, I used a Tag Sale #4 die to cut a black tag and stamped it with Seeds of Knowledge. I embossed the white portions with white embossing powder (sentiment). The blue flower was embossed with Powder colored Zing. Then to get the green flowers, I didn't have the right color of embossing powder. So I actually heat embossed them in white, then took a Copic marker and colored right over the top of the white embossing powder to make them green! I used YG63.

Here you can see the cute Pencil Blooms dies cut with the Sheer Basics Vellum and layered onto the pencils. I used the new Enclosed: Apple die to make the leaves. The large tag is taped onto a cute straw from Target. Adds just a bit more pattern.

This is a better shot of the gold pencils. I used the Pint Size Die to cut the white wrap for the inside. It slipped right in and fit nicely into the jar. It's stamped with the new Graceful Greetings stamp set (thanks and flowers). The mini tag is an American Crafts DIY Shop tag that I stamped with Seeds of Knowledge and embossed. Everything is tucked into a Kerr jar.

Thanks Pencil Bouquet:
STAMPS: Seeds of Knowledge, Graceful Greetings
INK: Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, True Black
PAPER: Sheer Basics Vellum, white and True Black cardstock
DIES: Pencil Blooms, Pint Size Wrap 
OTHER: DIY Shop tag by American Crafts, Papertrey Ink twine, #2 pencils, Kerr jar (5" high), gold
paint - Liquid Gilding by Martha Stewart, Zing embossing powders, straw from Target, Copic Markers.
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Next are some coordinating tags that you could use on a card or just as a gift tag on a package.

They are cut with a Tag Sale #4 die, then stamped and embossed with white embossing powder. All of the images were then colored with Copics like I explained above! The line under the teacher tag is a Seeds of Knowledge die cut. You can add white ink over the top for the "chalkboard effect" with your finger or a blending tool, or you can leave it plain like the teacher tag for more contrast.

Embossed and Colored Gift Tags:
STAMPS: Seeds of Knowledge, Graceful Greetings
INK: Versamark ink for embossing
PAPER: True Black, white; Soft Granite by Hero Arts
DIES: Seeds of Knowledge, Tag Sale #4
OTHER: twine - The Twinery, Copic Markers.
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Visit the rest of the team to see more with these products.
Everything will be available for purchase on April 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink!

Nichole Heady
Amy Sheffer
Ashley Newell
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Heather  Nichols
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Maile Belles
Melissa Phillips