PTI October Blog Hop

Now THIS is an irresistible graphic.    The other colour combinations didn't really grab me but they would have been more of a challenge, if that was what I was looking for this week.  But, let's face it, term 4 at school, heading up to Christmas, the old brain cells are already in overload mode.  

Tomorrow the Grade 4's go up to Middle School for the day - mixed emotions for my daughter, but she won't be alone there.  The parents are invited to morning chapel then a tour of middle school, quite looking forward to it.  

Anyway, onto the card for this month's blog hop.  I wanted to imitate the panels behind the wreath, but the handmade version didn't work so went with an embossing folder.  The wreath looked odd in any other colour than brown but probably could have used a lighter tone. 

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, raspberry fizz, Hawaiian Shores

Stamps - PTI Wreath for all Seasons;  Tree Trimming Trio (sentiment)

Ink - SU Early Espresso;  PTI Hawaiian Shores

Embossing Folder - Sizzix

Die - PTI Ribbon Tails

Twine - The Twinery (Caribbean)

Gems - Kaisercraft

Springtime ... but it feels like winter

After the very warm days we had over the weekend, yesterday it poured with rain (nobody is complaining after having none for 2 months), and today it is very windy and cold.  Just can't pick it at the moment.

I have been wanting to get into the Hero Arts challenge a little more regularly, given the number of their stamps I have, which have hardly been touched.  So with a bit of help from a couple of other challenges, as the inspiration around here is a bit low, here is what I have come up with.

I have found lately that I need cards without a sentiment. When I write to my family, yes, snail mail style,  they love to get a card

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Stamps - HA Lotus Leaves, Pattern Hearts and Flowers, Year round sentiments.

Ink - SU Primrose Petals, Early Espresso;  Memento Cantaloupe.

Seam Binding - SU Pear Pizzazz

Gems - Kaisercraft

Summer is on the way .....

Great colours, great sketch!  After an appallingly hot day yesterday we had the mildest weather today.  Spring in Brisbane is a complete anathema to me, especially this year.  Normally we would have a bit of rain about this time, bur absolutely nothing, hence my rose investment has needed a great deal of watery indulgence.  This paid off today with milder weather but tomorrow will be just as hot again (of course it is a working day).  

Anyway, to the card,  afew new purchases from SU - the punch and pink paper.  It is hard to see the flower background as it is lovely and subtle.  But I know my aunt in Victoria will love this.  

What you need

Cardstock - SU black, white

DSP - SU Neutrals and Brights Collections

Stamps - SU Organic Grace;  Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments 

Ink - SU Pretty in Pink;  Memento Tuxedo Black

Punch - SU Elegant Butterfly

Die - MFT Fishtail Flag Stax

Twine - MME Lime Twist

Gems - Kaisercraft

******

Now, this one was slightly trickier -  which colour would be the dominant one.  Blue won out with a contribution from my Cristina Re paper collection.  I really wanted to use the striped image but had nothing, not even a stamp to imitate that.This is one of those endlessly useful "no sentiment" cards.

What you need

Cardstock - BB white; PTI Spring Rain, New Leaf, white

DSP - Cristina Re; PTi Men of Life

Stamps - PTI - Pretty Peonies

Ink - SU Daffodil Delight

Die - SU Branch with Leaves

Ribbon - Daffodil Delight satin

Pearls - SU

CR84FN #63

These seemed the perfect colours for a boys birthday card - I remembered I had this wonderful denim ribbon from SU and the star die I have been meaning to use for some time.  I am currently in the middle of the Kickstart online class, and Jennifer McGuire loves her techniques so remembered this easy non-messy pretend embossing technique and I think it looks really effective in Kraft.  Not sure I was wise in putting navy Stickles on the 9 as it took AGES to dry but I think Alex will like it.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI kraft, white;  BB dark brown
Stamps - PTI Mat Stack 4 collection
Ink - SU Early Espresso
Dies - MFT Stacks of Stars; PTI Numbers
Ribbon - SU
Stickles - Midnight Blue

Absolutely Fabulous

Well, it's school holiday time again, thank goodness!  It has been a long and tiring term for my little girl, they seem to have alot of extra curricular activities, so add this to what she is already doing and we have one had-it bunny.  

We have had a few days of the usual 6 monthly appointments and now a couple of days at home.  She is going camping with her Dad for a few days later this week while I catch up on work.  Hopefully the weather will be kind to them

So here is a card - wasn't sure when I would post again but these 2 challenges have brought me back.  I got some new SU goodies during the week including DSP brights collection.  I have seen some wonderful cards using this and can't wait to have a go myself.  

What you need

Cardstock - BB white; SU Rich Razzleberry, white, Old Olive

DSP - SU Brights Collecton

Stamps - PTI Mega Mixed Messages;  SU Organic Grace

Ink - SU Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive;  PTI Lavender Moon

Die - MFT Fishtail Flag Stax

Diamond Stickles

The Paper Players #110

I couldn't resist this sketch challenge and I haven't played along with these ladies for so long, I am remedying that.

So, with the last sheets of SU Bella Bleu, I thought these colours could make a lovely Christmas card.  The intention now is to convert this prototype into multiples which can be posted ie a thinner and leaner version.

What you need
Cardstock - BB dark brown;  SU vanilla
DSP - SU Bella Bleu, Neutrals Collection
Stamps - SU Spotlight on Christmas;  PTI Signature Christmas
Ink - SU Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Die - SB Fleur de lis
Pearls - Prima

OLW #102

Well, it has certainly been a while since I played along with this one, though I haven't played along with many challenges recently but this really caught my eye.  Over at Ardyth's blog the "subject" is well,  your favourite school subject.

Hands down, in Grade 11 and 12 it was Modern History, I loved learning about the incidents leading up to the world wars (seems we never learn) and more recent South African and American political history.  But my problem is that this subject doesn't really translate well into stamps - not mine anyway. So running a very close second was English, studying books that I still really love - Gone with the Wind (SOOOOO much better than the movie), To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre but the stand out, of course was Pride and Prejudice.  Oh swoon!  It is the only book I have read twice (don't do reruns of anything very well) and the BBC TV series that came out in the early 80's (not the Colin Firth one) was hot romantic stuff for 16 year olds as we were.

So, with that background here is my card

What you need

Cardstock - Neenah solar white

Stamps  - PTI Simply Jane

Ink -  Memento Tuxedo Black, London Fog

Die - Spellbinders Small Labels

One of the best lines in the book, and delivered with such arrogance - DIVINE!  It is the first time I have tried embossing with dies and I love the effect, so elegant, if a little difficult to see in the photo.  I had bought some Neenah cardstock a while ago but hadn't got to using it - it does stamp beautifully.

To finish with here is something I found on Pinterest a while ago,  I have no idea whose board it came from but so appropriate for this post.

Tis the season for birthdays ...

After 6 months of almost no cards for school friends, we have a rush in the second half of the year.  I thought these colours would be perfect for a friend whose birthday is next weekend, at the movies.  I can't believe what these kids get to do for parties, it isn't a big cinema so I imagine this group will have it exclusively.  They are seeing "The Sapphires" an Australian movie and dinner will be served during the session! WOW

Anyway, this little friend isn't really a girly girl, so have kept the design pretty simple.  There are grey flowers behind the sentiment but are quite hard to see.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, black

Patterned paper - ? SU Pumpkin Pie polka dot;  MME Lush 2 turquiose flocked stripe

Stamps - TE Friendship Blooms;  HA Many Birthday Messages

Ink - SU Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie;  Memento Tuxedo Black, London Fog

Gems - Kaisercraft

This is another card I did for a little friend's birthday yesterday.  She turned 5 hence the slightly younger theme.  

This set is from Clear and Simple stamps 1 or 2 releases ago, something so different and great for a few little girls in our life.

August 2012 PTI Blog Hop

This month's brief was autumnal patterns and textures.  It is very hard to imagine autumn here at the moment as we are having temperatures of around 27C during the day.  So I couldn't help but revert to my favourite PTI set of Autumn Abundance (so excited to see a larger version of the vase of flowers out now).  The copics worked surprisingly well on the on the papery newsprint, I felt sure they would bleed.  The cork banner is popped up a bit in the middle to give a bit of dimension.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI Terracotta Tile, white
Patterned Paper - SU First Edition
Stamps - PTI Autumn Abundance, Inside and Out:  Thank You
Ink - SU Early Espresso; Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers - Copics;  SU Real Red
Dies - Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles;  TE Banner
Cork

Still on my mission to use up 12 x 12 paper.  I have finished all the Christmas paper and now I am onto the blue hues.  Whilst I am happy with progress, I really should stop buying 6 x 6 pads as I will have to go through the same process.  Such is the life of a card maker - really tough!

Cloud 9 #2 in ColourQ colours

Back again for the second Cloud 9 challenge.  The simplicity of the sketch really lends itself to the subject I had in mind.  One of my daughter's teachers announced she was pregnant with her second child.  Thinking completely selfishly, my first question was when it was due in the hope that she would see out the year, which hopefully she will.  

So, as we don't know whether it is a boy or girl, I thought the latest ColourQ colours were entirely appropriate. The one stipulation my daughter wanted was a teddy bear of some kind.

Well, a rabbit is pretty close.  Unfortunately, the new SU colours have not hit our shores yet (I think I will be in big trouble when they do),  so went with the colours on hand.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white; MME Lush 2 Navy

Stamps - Wplus9 Kisses and Cuddles

Ink - SU Old Olive, Certainly Celery; Memento Rich Cocoa

Copics  YR 12,15,18

Die - MFT Fishtail Stax

Gems - Kaisercraft

Hopefully I will be back with another challenge card, I am working my way through the SU DSP, mostly Christmas paper.  I should have enough cards for several years to come.  May need to do some birthday cards just to break it up a bit.