Saturday Sketch and a Peek!

Sorry to say I never got my Prettie Peek up yesterday. We had a massive wind/rain storm here Thursday night that knocked out power all over our state and NH. Thankfully we never lost power in our house but I know that some are still without!

It's time now for The Sweet Stop Saturday Sketch #45 and I've combined it with my Prettie Peek!  Maaarvelous Darling is the newest Sophia stamp for the month of March over at Paper Pretties. This image just makes me giggle!! Seriously, if you have girls isn't this just typical?  This sketch worked out so well with the stamp and I had the chance to have a little fun with the center panel. I cut the rectangle almost all the way around Sophia, but then used my scissors to do an "out of the box" technique with her cape. Very fun!  To see more Prettie Peeks today, please visit Jana, Christi and Jennifer!

The Paper Pretties release is March 1st, there will be 7 new sets (3 of them exclusively digital!) so be sure to check them all out!  Today, head over to The Sweet Stop to see today's sketch and all the pretty cards from the Sugar Babies!  We'd love for you to play along too!! If you do, leave us a link so we can check it out!

Korin Sutherland
Jodi Collins
Nicole Anderson
Ann Clack
Audrey Gonzales
Andrea Vernagus
Candace Mitchell
Renata Elenbaas
Lisa Hjulberg
Nancy Brown 

Have a wonderful day my friends.  Thanks so much for visiting, it really makes my day!! :)

Cardstock: Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink), Ivory (Gina K Designs), Baja Breeze (SU! retired), Patterned Paper: How Fortunate (Lucky Me from My Mind's Eye), Stamps: Maaarvelous Darling (Paper Pretties), Ink: Memento, Accessories:  Glossy Accents (Ranger), Copic markers, foam adhesive, pearls (Zva Creative), flower (Prima), Ribbon (Amercian Crafts), Nestabilities

Prettie Peeks Continue

Good morning! My Prettie Peek will be late today - sorry about that! But pay a visit to Frances and Kristy today for some peeks!

Papertrey Blog Hop!

 

Welcome to the monthly Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!!  I was so excited to have a chance to play along this month!  Enough chatter right? hee hee!  This month we were asked to show a card or project from the design team that inspired them and then make our own version.  Where to start? The dt is amazing!!  I love visiting each one during the month (although my checkbook doesn't!) for inspiration and ideas!

Today my project was inspired by this gorgeous card by Debbie Olsen. (You can click on the image to see it bigger or click the link to go straight to Debbie's post.)  I love how it's a little bit vintage - using the new Tin Type Impression Plate.  I love the colors - I don't use purple very often but it's such a pretty shade!  I love that the card is pretty CAS but with gorgeous style! And Debbie's coloring is always a joy to behold!

Here is my "take" on Debbie's card.  Sadly, I've needed a few sympathy cards this month and I think this is just perfect for sympathy cards. It'd be easy to change the color palette for a totally different look but Debbie's colors worked great so I stuck with them.  I love the Tin Type plate - it's subtle but so pretty!  I used In Bloom for my flowers and the sentiment is from Birds of a Feather.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to the whole amazing Papertrey Ink team - designers, owners, packers/shippers, etc. - you've filled our lives with beauty these 3 years!!! Here's to many more!  Enjoy the rest of the hop!

Cardstock: Plum Pudding, Spring Moss (Papertrey Ink), White (Neenah), Stamps: In Bloom, Birds of a Feather (Papertrey Ink), Ink: Memento, Accessories: Plum Pudding Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Nestabilities, foam adhesive, Tin Type Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink), Corner Rounder punch

Happy Day Cupcake

I recently threw my hat in the ring and tried out for the CAS team over on SCS.  The "try-outs" had Olympic themes and challenges and was a lot of fun!  Alas, I didn't make the cut but the competition was sure great!  I will be making an appearance as a guest designer in April though, so I'm looking forward to that for sure! 

The team was announced last night here.  Congrats to the new team and the other guest designers!  As part of the Closing Ceremonies (hee hee - see how well the Olympic theme was carried out?) we were asked to make a card with a sketch provided by the team leader Jen (aka Miss Boo).  This is my card.

I had so much fun making this with the bright colors and the fun giant cupcake!  The stamps are from Kitchen Sink Stamps, called Happy Birthday Cupcake.  The bottom of the cupcake was paper pieced and the top was colored with Copic markers.  What makes this set extra great is that neat circle stamps (the one I stamped in Soft Sky) - I think I'll be using that a lot!!  The circular sentiment is part of another stamp in the set that I omitted when I inked the "happy day" (it's another, smaller cupcake - cute!!)

If you haven't already, give the Monday CAS challenges a try - the new team starts next week!!  Have a great day my friends!

Cardstock: White (Papertrey Ink), Patterned Paper: Hippity Hoppity Rainbows End and Easter Tree (We R Memory Keepers), Stamps: Happy Birthday Cupcake (Kitchen Sink Stamps), Ink: Soft Sky, Melon Mambo (SU), Black (Memento), Accessories: Button, Ribbon, Twine, Scalloped Die (Papertrey Ink), Copic markers, foam adhesive

Prettie Embossed Wednesday

Welcome to Prettie Wednesday!! Today our challenge comes from Heather - we are to emboss, either heat or dry embossing, or if you are like me . . . do both!!  This week's specials (which means they are 20% off) are Apple of My Eye and Apple of My Eye Scripture.  Hopefully you are coming here from Christie's blog so that you don't miss a thing!

For my card I used the scripture verse which was stamped in black ink.  I then stamped a solid image apple stamp in Versamark ink over the word apple and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  Once that cooled, I sponged on some red ink around the edges to make the embossed apple more pronounced - I think it looks kinda neat!

The cardbase was also dry embossed using a Quickutz Polka Dot embossing folder (I'm sort of on a polka dot kick lately, have you noticed?). 

We go back to the Prettie Peeks tomorrow - all leading up to the big release on March 1st so be sure to check in with the Prettie Girls all week!  Now, it's time to hop over to Jana's blog for her embossed goodies!! Have a great day!
. 
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, True Black, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink), Patterned Paper:  Report Card (October Afternoon), Stamps: Apple of My Eye Scripture (Paper Pretties), solid apple from 3 Step School Days (Kitchen Sink Stamps), Ink:  Black, Versamark, Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder (SU!), Pure Poppy ribbon, Vintage Button, Black Felt, Scalloped die (Papertrey Ink), Rhintestones (Kaiser), Nestabilities, Polka Dot embossing folder (Quickutz), Baker's Twine (Say It With Letters)

Ahoy Prettie Peeks!

Let the Prettie Peeks begin!!  March 1st is right around the corner and Paper Pretties has some adorable new stamps to bring you!! So all this week the Prettie Girls will be sneak peeking these sets.  Today you can see peeks from me, Frances, Kristy and Jackie.

The set I'm using today is called Ahoy Matey and it's just a darling image from the Petite Pretties line.  I made this card with a birth announcement in mind (you see, I still don't have Owen's birth announcements made or sent - bad, very bad mom!!!).  I just love this sweet boat with the patched stars and how about that adorable sentiment?!  Because I was thinking mass production here I kept the card fairly simple. I cut the blue cardstock with a wavy cutter to appear as water under the boat.

Thanks for visiting today!  Take a look at the other peeks and get ready to see all the new stamps on March 1st!  See you tomorrow with a Prettie Wednesday Peek.

Cardstock: Kraft, Spring Moss, Spring Rain, Dark Chocolate, White (Papertrey Ink), Stamps: Ahoy Matey (Paper Pretties), Ink: Memento, Accessories:  Nestabilities, Copic markers, Twill Tape, Vintage Button, Twine (Papertrey Ink), Swiss Dot embossing folder (Provocraft)

Make a Wish

 I have 2 posts today - please scroll down or click HERE 

to see my post for the Waltzingmouse Stamps Spring Blog Hop!  Thanks!!

It's another beautiful Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday - the last one for the month of February, amazing!!  This is the last week you have to enter the current KSS Crew challenge (you have until Friday night), have you entered?

I've been so inspired all week by talk of Spring and Easter!  It seems like we've a pretty mild winter here in Maine - although I know it's not over yet!! I'm ready for Spring!  So I pulled out some pretty colors and my 3 Step Butterflies set from Kitchen Sink Stamp and made a Spring- inspired card.  I just love this dp from October Afternoon - such a yummy green isn't it?  I got to play with my new Scallop Die from Papertrey Ink - love it!! (this is the large scalloped die)

I stamped the butterfly 3 times - once on the scalloped square and then 2 times on paper scraps which were then cut out.  I bent the 2 cut out butterflies slightlly and attached them for some movement and dimension.  The sentiment and flowers in the bottom corner are all from Happy Birthday Cupcake.  I love the look of the flowers stamped right on the patterned paper!

 

And just another little plug for A Card A Day, the fabulous new book from Paper Crafts Magazine.  In the back of the book there are a few pages of card sketches, just to jump start your creativity!  I thought it'd be fun to give them a try so this sketch is straight from there.  If you haven't picked up a copy you really should, it's such a beautiful book!

Thank you so much for visiting today!! Be sure to check out what the rest of the KSS Crew have made today, they always inspire!!

Angela • Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss (SU! retired), Ivory (Gina K Designs), Patterned Paper: Ducks in a Row, October Afternoon, Stamps: 3 Step Butterflies, Happy Birthday Cupcake (Kitchen Sink Stamps), Ink:  Lemon Tart, Hibiscus (Papertrey Ink), Accessories:  Hibiscus ribbon (Papertrey Ink), foam adhesive, rhinestones (Swarovski), Nestabilities (Spellibinders), Scallop edge die (Papertrey Ink)

Waltzingmouse Spring Blog Hop!

It's the wee hours of the morning (see, I feel Irish when I say "wee" - LOL!) to be posting but it's a special day!! Today is Waltzingmouse Stamps' Spring Blog Hop!!  If you just happened upon my blog please begin the hop on the Waltzingmouse Stamps blog so that you don't miss a thing!

I was a bit nervous to sign up for the hop since the only requirement was to make a Spring inspired card. I don't have any of the newer Spring sets from WMS but after a bit of thought I came up with a fun little St. Patrick's Day card (it's only a few days before Spring so that counts, right?).

The heart I used to stamp directly on dp for my shamrock is from Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy.  The stem and Nestie-friendly frame are from Very Vintage Labels No. 4.

The card is one of my current favorite sizes - 3.5" x 5" and I had fun rounding the corners and adding fun textures.

Thank you for hopping by!! Your next stop is Laurie Marmon - have fun!!

Cardstock: Kraft, Ripe Avocado,White (Papertrey Ink), Patterned Paper: Papertrey Ink), Stamps: Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Very Vintage Labels No. 4 (Waltzingmouse Stamps), sentiment from Ready 4 Any Holiday (Kitchen Sink Stamps), Ink: Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink), Accessories: Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Rhinestone (Kaiser), Corner Rounder punch, scalloped edge punch, ribbon (Papertrey Ink), foam adhesive

The Sweet Stop Saturday Sketch 44

Good morning!!  The Sweet Stop's Saturday sketch has a little twist today - you must include flowers.  Now you don't have to have all flowers (like I do) but it should have at least one flower.  That's pretty easy, right?!  We'd love to have you give the sketch a try.  Visit The Sweet Stop blog to see the sketch, leave a link and also view the cards made by the rest of the Sugar Babies!

Korin Sutherland
Jodi Collins
Nicole Anderson
Ann Clack
Audrey Gonzales
Andrea Vernagus
Candace Mitchell
Renata Elenbaas
Lisa Hjulberg
Nancy Brown

For my card I went with soft, light Spring colors and used 3 Step Honey Bunny from Kitchen Sink Stamps.  The set includes this beautiful Gerber Daisy that I love!  Once I stamped them, I added some microbeads to the center of each flower.  I also added a small butterfly (from 3 Step Butterflies also from Kitchen Sink Stamps) to the sentiment.

Click here to go to Kitchen Sink Stamps, enter code JULIE10KSS at check out and receive 10% off!

Here are the recipes for my flowers.
Purple:  Step 1 - Lulu Lavender (Memento), Step 2 - Lavender Moon, Step 3 - Plum Pudding (Papertrey Ink), Step 4 - Grape Jelly (Memento)
Pink:  Step 1 - Angel Pink (Memento), Step 2 - Sweet Blush, Step 3 - Hibiscus, Step 4 - Hibiscus (Papertrey Ink)
Yellow: Step 1 - Barely Banana (SU!), Step 2 - Lemon Tart, Step 3, Summer Sun, Step 4 - Camomille (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Textured Vellum (Papertrey Ink) White (Gina K Designs), Patterned Paper: Papertrey Ink, Stamps: 3 Step Honey Bunny, 3 Step Butterflies (Kitchen Sink Stamps), Ink: see above, Accessories: Nestabilties flower die (Spellbinders), Pearls (Zva Creative, Microbeads (SU!), foam adhesive

Feeling Prettie!

I had to play along with the January DD challenges since I just love the color - Tiffany blue - and love Audrey Hepburn! I immediately thought of the Sassy Shoes set from Paper Pretties - perfect! The sketch is FTL78 from Clean & Simple Stamping.

I'll be back tomorrow with The Sweet Stop's Saturday Sketch - have a great Friday!!

Cardstock: Cool Caribbean (SU!), White (Neenah), Black (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Bitty Dot (Papertrey Ink)
Stamps: Sassy Shoes (Paper Pretties)
Ink: Memento, Versamark
Accessories: Black embossing powder, foam adhesive, White ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Rhinestones (Kaiser), corner rounder punch, Copic markers, Nestabilities, Polka Dot embossing folder (Quickutz)

Salt Challenge: Continue in Prayer

It was my turn this week to pick a topic for the Salt challenge. I chose to focus on prayer and have used Colossians 4:2 "Continue in prayer." I have been thinking a lot lately about prayer and it's importance in the life of God's children. As a busy wife and mother it's often difficult to find time for a meaningful conversation with anyone!! And yet, prayer is most important especially when we are busy! I remember hearing this quote from John Wesley, "I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it." When I read the morning reading from January 2 out of Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon which used this verse as it's text I was convicted to be more prayful this year.

Please visit the Salt blog to read the rest of my post (which is an excerpt from Morning and Evening).  My card today is not what I had intended to use, however when I was preparing to make my ATC I discovered that my printer is out of ink - booooo!!  So, as I sat at my desk and wondered what to do now I saw this card which I had made on Monday for the CAS challenge on SCS.  It seemed to fit.  The stamps are all from Kitchen Sink Stamps.

I hope you will give the challenge a try - leave us a link if you do! Have a wonderful day friends!

Cardstock: Lavender Moon (Papertrey Ink), White (Gina K Designs)
Stamps: 3 Step Daisies, sentiment from Words of Comfort & Joy (Kitchen Sink Stamps)
Ink: Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding, (Papertrey Ink) Vintage Violet, Elegant Eggplant (SU!)
Accessories: Lavender Moon ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

Prettie CASE'd Wednesday

Happy Prettie Wednesday! Today your challenge comes from Jane.  She wants you to visit the Paper Pretties' Gallery and case (essentially copy) one of your favorite cards.  You should link to the card you've case'd and change 2 things about it in your card.  Also, the Featured Sets this week are Crafty Emergency and Game On - these sets will be 20% off all week!  Hopefully you've come here from Christie's blog which is where the hop begins.

I chose this fun card by Jane - she used Dreamboat from Paper Pretties.  I chose to use Crafty Emergency and made my card with a totally different color scheme.  I also didn't use all the buttons.  Instead I used many of the images from the Crafty Emergency set and a few squares of patterned paper.  I did keep the basic layout (my squares are each 1 1/4" and the card is 4 1/2"). a even cut out my ambulance and used foam adhesive to pop it up a bit. 

Your next stop is wJana's blog. Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Cardstock:  Soft Stone, Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink), White (Neenah), Patterned Paper:  Pink Paislee, Stamps: Crafty Emergency (Paper Pretties), Ink: Memento, Accessories:  1 1/4" punch (SU!), Copic markers, Red ribbon, Twine, Vintage Button (Papertrey Ink), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), foam adhesive

A Couple Challenge Cards

There were a bunch of fun challenges around blogland last week - and speak of challenges I'd love to have you hop over and play along with my Inspiration Challenge on Stamping Around!!  There's still time and there's a great prize!   But I also played along with the Paint By Numbers challenge on Nichole's blog last week. Since my user name everywhere is "jmasse" (how original is that?!) this was my color palette to use:

I used Scattered Showers to make my card - the color palette was actually fun!  It's difficult to see in the photo but I stamped the cloud image from Scattered Showers Additions on the white cardstock using Versamark and embossed it using Clear embossing powder.  I love how it's "there" but not glaring at you! 

The rest of the card is pretty self-explanatory. 

Cardstock: Terra Cotta Tile, White, Orange Zest (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper; Bitty Dot (Papertrey Ink)

Stamps: Scattered Showers, Scattered Showers Addition (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink)

Accessories: Raspberry Fizz ribbon, Twine, Button (Papertrey Ink), Clear embossing powder (SU!), foam adhesive,

I also made a quick card for a CAS (clean and simple) challenge on SCS.   The inspiration card was just beautiful so I took the layout and made this birthday card using Everyday Button Bits.  The colors make me happy so it seemed perfect for a birthday card!

Cardstock: White (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Black (Memento)

Accessories: Vintage Buttons, Raspberry Fizz Twill (Papertrey Ink), Copic marker, rhinestone

Thanks for visiting today!

Baby Thanks

Welcome to Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday! Did you have a great Valentine's Day?? We had a wonderful day!! I have a CAS KSS card for your today - it is actually the thank you card I've been using for baby gift thank yous.  I have to admit, I basically case'd Maria's card - but I loved it so!! I just changed the sentiment and added one tiny rhinestone to it.

The colors for the shoes are:
Step 4: Paris Dusk (Memento)
Step 3: Ballet Blue (SU!)
Step 2: Bashful Blue (SU!)
Step 1: Summer Sky (Memento)

The card is 3.25" x 4.25" - that way I was able to get 3 cards out of 1 piece of cardstock.

Remember that we currently have a KSS Crew Challenge going on - read all the details HERE.  You have until February 26th to submit your card for a chance to win one of 3 prizes!!  Please visit the rest of the KSS Crew for more Monday inspiration!  Have a wonderful day!

Angela • Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

Cardstock: White (Gina K Designs)

Stamps: Multi-Step Baby, Other Important People (Kitchen Sink Stamps)

Ink: Summer Sky, Paris Dusk (Memento), Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue (SU!)

Accessories: rhinestone (Taylored Expressions)

Saturday Sketch 43

It's time for The Sweet Stop's Saturday Sketch #43.  I decided to sneak one more Valentine's Day card in (although I'm not promising that you've seen the last of hearts and pink!).  The image is a fun digi stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, (which incidentally just announced that they have gone entirely digital now!) called Winter Love - aren't they sweet?!  I haven't bought very many digi stamps before but these were super easy to download and print out. 

 The fun, glittery, stripy paper is American Crafts as is the matching ribbon.  The woodgrain paper is Cosmo Cricket (Nutmeg collection).  It's hard to see but I've added a bit of Sparkly Fluff to her scarf and ear muffs (ha ha - ear muffs on an owl! That cracks me up!)  The glittery heart is from Zva Creative and it's so pretty IRL!!  I forgot to photograph the inside, which is where the sentiment is since I ran out of room on the front! :)

Head over to The Sweet Stop to see the sketch and leave a link if you play along and please visit the other Sugar Babies for their take on the sketch!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Korin Sutherland
Jodi Collins
Nicole Anderson
Ann Clack
Audrey Gonzales
Andrea Vernagus
Candace Mitchell
Renata Elenbaas
Lisa Hjulberg
Nancy Brown

Cardstock: Kraft (Papertrey Ink), White (GP), Patterned Paper:  American Crafts, Nutmeg Collection (Cosmo Cricket), Digi Stamps: Winter Love (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Accessories:  Ribbon (American Crafts, Rhintestone heart (Zva Creative), Copic markers, Sparkly Fluff (Our Craft Lounge), Nestabilities, Corner rounder punch

Papertrey Ink Click Simple Sneak Peek #2

I have another peek of the new Spring Fling Click Simple template designed by Kim Hughes for you today.  These templates are so much fun to use and have so many great uses!!  Have you enjoyed seeing all the amazing projects by Nichole's design team?   I think this release is going to be the best ever!

My project today uses the basket card template and I'm going to show how I turned it into a simple little treat holder!  Imagine how cute this would be with yellow peeps or some sweet pink bunnies!! (I looked several places for them, but the Easter candy just hasn't hit the stores around here yet.  So . . . we'll just pretend those cute bears are bunnies, k?)

 I started by printed the basket card template onto regular copy paper (you can print it directly onto your cardstock, but I didn't want any lines to show after I cut it out). I traced the template onto my folded cardstock and cut it out.  I inked the edges of the basket with Tea Dye ink which helps to mask any crooked cutting.

For the box part I cut a piece of cardstock 4.5" by 7.5".  Then scored all 4 sides at 1.5", cut off each corner diagonally as seen in the picture (you can click on it to enlarge it) and cut where I've indicated with an arrow.

Before taping up the box, I cut a 1" slit in the middle of the front fold of the box (this is how the basket will stay together).  Cut a piece of cardstock a tiny bit less than 1" and about 1.5" long.  I cut the corners off of one end using a tag corner punch and scored it at about .5". Now tape the box together using Scor-Tape or redline tape.

With the box finished, I taped one side (the back) to the back of your basket card, lining up the sides and bottom.  I attached the little tab I made to the front of the card lining it up with the slit in the box.

The final step is decorating the little basket box. I cut a mat out of Aqua Mist cardstock a bit smaller than my card and ran it through my Cuttlebug with a Quickutz embossing folder (but how cool would it look with the new Tin Type dies that Papertrey will be releasing?!)

I used the Spring Fling flower templates included in this download to make pretty polka dotted blooms which were embellished with buttons and adhered to the front of my basket.  They were very easy to resize before printing them!.

The final touch was a bit of Lemon Tart ribbon which was stamped (using Stazon in) with a pretty sentiment from Everyday Button Bits - I just love how that looks!

And here is the final product - the perfect little Easter basket to fill with candies, maybe a few little hairbows or some other little treats.

I'm sure you've been there already, but remember Nichole is counting down to the release with lots of sneak peeks!  Thanks for visiting today!

All Supplies from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted

Cardstock:  Kraft, Aqua Mist

Patterned Paper: Bitty Dot

Ink:  Tea Dye Duo, Black (Stazon)

Accessories:  Spring Fling Click Simple Template, Twine, Vintage Buttons, Lemon Tart Stitched ribbon,  Embossing folder (Quickutz)