PTI March 2013 blog hop

Now, I have had sequins for quite some time, possibly because I have a daughter, and I used to make "art pieces" (can't think of what else to call them), for her room. One of her favourites were the Groovy Girls (still are I think). As I am no artist I used to trace the images onto canvas then paint them, which is where the sequins came in.  Most girly girls love sparkle.  

However, they have languished at the very bottom of my craft drawers till now.  PTI have liberated them.  

But, of course, any design is constrained by the colours i have.  So  went with a flower theme.  Love pretty much all the cards I have seen using this "hello" die so really needed to get it on a card quickly.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI rustic white

Patterned paper  - PTI Itty Bitty Polka Dot Basics

Stamps - PTI Fancy Flourishes

Ink - SU Lucky Limeade

Die - PTI hello

Sequins

Not raining .... but VERY hot

Interesting .....  how all my post titles are weather related.  Possibly because things in this part of the world have been so out of the ordinary.

What colour is "coral"?  There is the lovely hue in the challenge photo but I had nothing remotely resembling it.  SU used to have a coral colour but I always hated it (sorry Michelle!).  So, where to next.  I have opted for Tsukineko's official coral colour, a lovely pink tone.  So did the old smoosh on paper and love the result.  

There have been so many wonderful versions of  negative diecuts which I thought would be perfect for both these challenges.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black

Stamps - PTI Stitched Sentiments;  Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Words

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  Brilliance Pearlescent Coral

Dies - Memory Box Prim Poppy;  PTI Stitched Sentiments

*****

Now, this green - Glorious Green, is a difficult colour for me.  Not because I don't like it, I love its freshness, but my tastes really lie in the yellow-green spectrum.  

Which is probably why I went with minimal green of any kind (oh, and some new background stamps).  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black

Stamps - HA Number Pattern, Thank you, Lotus Leaves

Ink - Memento London Fog,  Versacolor Fresh Green;  Versafine Onyx Black

Gems - Kaisercraft.

*****

 I was going to stop there with the whole challenge thing this weekend, as I usually find after 2 or 3 I am no longer enjoying the "process".  But this one just wouldn't go away and after I saw a  post by Laura Bassen, it gave me an idea.

I tried this with the hexagon pattern in black, which I thought would work, but the white seemed more harmonious.  I wanted to work with my new extended collection of Inktense pencils but the effect wasn't as smooth as Copics.

Pretty happy with the effect actually.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, Express it blender card

Stamps - HA Luscious Frames

Ink - Versafine Onyx Black

Die - PTI Happy Hexagons

Copics

Corner Rounder - We R Memory Keepers

Lazy Sunday Afternoons

Scroll down for my earlier post for Runway Inspired and Cloud 9 challenges.

There is nothing like it .... 3 kids (one of them mine) right outside my window, re-enacting Harry Potter (no idea which book, possibly never entered JK Rowlings head, this storyline).  Lovely to hear but hard to think.  

My card is based on Karen's sketch, I completely forgot to add the tags at the bottom.  I may have another go at it if there is time.  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft;  SU Cherry Cobbler, white

DSP - SU Neutrals Collection

Stamps - SU Friends Never Fade;  PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Ink - SU Early Espresso;  Memento Morocco

Copic - Y38

Dies - MFT

Twine - The Twinery (buttercream)

Pearls - SU

For my second card, I wanted to stay with the darker colours, so while  the Neutrals papers were still out they got another go.

Again, my card is inspired by this past Sketchbook Saturday challenge.  

What you need

Cardstock - SU Black, Early Espresso, cream

DSP - SU Neutrals Collection

Stamps - PTI - Stylish Sentiments: Birthday

Ink - SU Early Espresso

Die - Spellbinders Labels ?

Pearls - Kaisercraft

Ribbon

On Cloud 9 with Kate Spade

Cloud 9 challenge time again.  

I was looking to capture a bit of the watercolour-like background with the help of Jennifer McGuire's latest video using Inktense pencils, but it didn't quite work so went with watercolouring the flowers.  My collection of pencils is sadly restricted but had fun colouring on yet another dreary weekend.  

I used this elegant sketch for the layout and am always in need of birthday cards.  

What you need

Cardstock - BB apricot, dark brown;  SU white

Patterned paper - MME Miss Caroline Howdy Doody

Stamps - Wplus9 A Special Lady, Filigree Frames

Ink - Versafine Onyx Black;  SU Early Espresso

Embossing Powder - Coloriser (clear)

Inktense pencils

Die - Spellbinders Banners

Twine - Jillibean Soup

*****

Kate Spade would have to be one of my favourite designers - I have nothing of hers except perfume, and a burning desire for a particular bag.  So I had to participate in this challenge.  

And CAS(E) this Sketch compliments the simple patterns perfectly.  I wanted to pick up on the black stripes and the yellow in the skirt.  So hopefully the text stamp sort of looks like stripes and my yellow girls I just love.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black;  BB yellow

Stamps - PTI Background Basics: Text Style;  Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Words

Ink - Versafine Onyx Black

Die - MFT

Pearls - Kaisercraft

WMSCCC March 2013

The Challenge, should you decide to accept it is ..... 

the colours are Navy and Citrus Green (Memento Pear Tart actually),  which, if you are looking for cardstock doesn't exist (please someone prove me wrong!)

I really like non- traditional colour schemes for Chrisstmas, because. let's face it. it doesn't matter what the colours are, it is the sentiment that counts. Actually my Mum is the one for out of the box so I am doing some pre-planning.  

I "inked" white card with Pear Tart to achieve this effect, the sentiment on its own on white looked awful.  Have fun with this challenge, it is my first host challenge anywhere in  blogland and I am very excited to see what people come up with.  The link to the gallery is  here

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, Midnight Muse

Stamps - WMS Vintage Christmas Background, Compliments of the Season II

Ink - SU Midnight Muse;  Memento Pear Tart

Dies - PTI Edgers, MFT

Ribbon - SU

Gems - Kaisercraft

Corner Rounder - We R Memory Keepers

Studies in rainy day colours

The colours in both these cards are fairly indicative of the weather we have had for the past few days.  Again, torrential rain, towns not far north of us are being flooded tonight for the fifth time in 12 months.    For the driest continent on Earth, this deluge is truly ridiculous.  

Initially, I was trying for the graphic of the tie, but the colours didn't quite work.  I have gone with a pretty but not too fancy female card - I hope.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, vellum

Patterned paper - Teresa Collins Carolina Breeze

Stamps - HA Year Round Sentiments

Ink - Memories Unicorn

Die - MFT Fishtail Flags

Butterfly - Jenny Bowlin

This next one, I had real trouble deciding which way to go with it.  I wasn't sure whether there was a hint of Houndstooth around the hem of the dress.  So, went with minimalist again, stamped the flowers then coloured in the leaves.

What you need
Cardstock - BB Dark Blue
Stamps - HA Pattern Hearts and Flowers
Ink - Memories Unicorn
Prismacolor white pencil
Uniball white gel pen
Gems - Kaisercraft

Last minute ColourQ

An unexpected day off has given me the chance to participate in one of my favourite challenges.  My daughter took a tumble at school yesterday, hitting her head so as a precaution she is home today just in case anything develops.  She seems to be OK though.

I have been wanting to do some more colouring, particularly watercolouring, so I have used this set from Hero Arts.  This technique is a bit hit and miss for me in terms of evenness of colour but it looks lovely in real life ..... really!

What you need

Cardstock - PTI kraft;  SU red;  watercolour paper

Stamps - HA Pattern hearts and flowers, Sending Smiles Messages

Ink - Staz On jet black;  Versafine Onyx Black;  SU Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, Gumball Green

Gems - Kaisercraft

February PTI Blog Hop

Monograms, for me, are one of the most elegant designs I know.  The clean and simple versions are my favourite.  We had one on our wedding invitations many years ago, an intertwined I and C which I loved.  So I was overjoyed to see it as this month's blog hop theme.  

I seem to be on a bit of a red, white and black bender at the moment, but when thinking minimalist, black and white with a dash  of colour makes it for me.  There are tonnes of images out there and the style that appealed to me was this design.  I have computer printed our name, stamped my all time favourite wreath and diecut the "J".  

I have to say, this Ritz Glitter is brilliant!  I have always found using it messy, but once you rub over the glitter on the diecut, there was none anywhere else.  

I popped the J up for a bit of dimension and remembered my stash of tiny 2mm gems

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black, pure poppy

Stamps -  PTI Wreath for all Seasons

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Die - PTI Upper case

Ritz Glitter - Fire Red

Gems - Pizzazz Aplenty

Font - MS Engravers MT

The weekend that was

Now, this was a challenge.  The colours are a couple of favourites, but how to use them with this sketch. Hmmm  I didn't want to put Island Indigo card over the top of the Pool Party so went with vellum.  It is hard to see but the vellum is stamped with white flowers and then stitched

What you need

Cardstock - SU Pool Party, white, vellum

Stamps - SU Fifth Ave Floral;  TE Treasure Life

Ink - PTI white

Thread - DMC 598

So to my other card of the weekend - pink, black and white, wonderful.  I have tried the layering thing again, but with plenty of white space still.  I have used one of the older Mojo Monday sketches that I really loved.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black;  SU basic grey

DSP - SU Brights Collection

Stamps - Verve Amazing Wishes

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Die - MFT flourish

Ribbon - PTI Smoky Shadow satin

Flowers -  Prima

An afternoon's hard work !?! ....

 Not really....  it was nice to have the time to catch up on a few colour schemes and sketches that didn't happen late last month.  Like this one ..

Now Vintage/Shabby Chic isn't in my comfort zone and as I have said before, I am very jealous of those who achieve it so effortlessly.  Not sure why I opted for brown tones, except that it is easier for me to get that vintage look with these hues.  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI rustic white, cream;  BB dark brown

Patterned paper - MME Miss Caroline Howdy Doody

Stamps - HA Pattern Hearts and Flowers, Large Flower Background, Year Round Sentiments, Newspaper Background

Ink - SU Early Espresso, Crumb Cake;  Memento Rich Cocoa;  PTI Chai

Dies - MFT Jumbo Fishtail Flags;  SB Classic Circles

Copics - R11, R12, R14, R22

Gems - Kaisercraft

Dark brown ribbon

*****

I CANNOT resist a pink and green colour combination.  It is my all time favourite and again a sketch from the recent past

On the whole, I really like the new SU colours (not sure about Summer Starburst but I guess it will have its uses).  The new pinks I particularly like, but the jury is still out in the Jones craftroom on the stamp pad itself.  Either it takes a bit to get ink on the stamp or it's far too moist.  Still, I am probably in the very small minority on this matter.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Regal Rose

Stamps - TE Make it Amazing

Ink - SU Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso

Dies - PTI Zig Zag;  SB Deckled Rectangles, Classic Rectangles

Gems - Kiasercraft

*****

Now this sketch stumped me for a while, how to cut those rectangles.  I used MFT Fishtail Flags off the end of my Bigshot and it worked a treat.  Not much more to say really ....

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black

DSP - SU Brights Collection

Stamps - PTI Inside and Out:  Thank you

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Embossing Folder - Sizzix Dots and Flowers set

Die - MFT Fishtail Flags

Gems - Kaisercraft

******

OK for my final card for this Sunday before I put the finishing touches to our lamb roast for dinner (my favourite).  I really wanted to have a crack at this colour scheme, very intriguing.  Couldn't find my So Saffron inkpad but remembered this VERY old DSP.  Again this sketch was from a few weeks ago but I just love the simplicity of it.  Night of Navy has always been my favourite "navy" but this new one has a bit more black in it and I love it.

 What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, Midnight Muse
DSP - SU So Saffron
Stamps - The Craft's Meow Timeless Tags
Ink - SU Midnight Muse
Die - MFT Fishtail Flags
Brads - SU

That's it for today.  My daughter is still unwell, listless and a very sore throat, not sure if she will make it to school, though she tells me she has to be there for Maths - maybe we are getting through on that front.