My Paper Creations

Communique Curves Inspiration

It's time for another Papertrey Ink release!  I'm sure many (or most) of you have been following the sneak peeks on Nichole's blog along with the Senior team and stamp designers' blogs.  This month, Nichole challenged the design team to create a holiday card using Alli Miles' new Communique Curves and Communique Curves Sentiments sets (releasing on the 15th).  Then, she wanted each of us to recreate our card as a non-holiday card.  It's always fun to see how different a card looks by just changing out a few things like the colors, patterned papers, and embellishments.  Communique Curves is the perfect set for this challenge because it works with so many different themes.

 
I went with an easy to reproduce sketch for my cards.  Just a little patterned paper, cardstock, ribbon, and ink along with my seed beads.  I think adding the dark chocolate sponged ink along the edges and the stitching help add the "wow factor" without being too hard to reproduce.

 
First up is my holiday card.  I used some of the Rustic Snowflakes patterned paper that was released last month (design by Heather).  I love this paper!    I rounded the bottom corners on both my card and the patterned paper and sponged the edges with dark chocolate ink.  Then, I stitched the patterned paper to my card.  I stamped my sentiment and the circle of leaves.  Then, I stitched some red seed beads onto my card and added some ribbon and lace.  If you didn't want to take the time to stitch the seed beads in place, red stickles or red rhinestones would look great, too.


Then, I created a birthday card using the same steps.  I just switched out the colors, patterned paper, and sentiment.

I just love doing the group posts every month!  It's always fun to see how different everyone's creations are using the same set and assignment.  Now, keep hopping around to see what everyone else came up with for the challenge: Nichole, Becky, Betsy, Dawn, Debbie, Geny, Heather, Lauren, Lisa, Melissa, and Michelle.

Have a great day!

Niki

Recipe for Christmas card
Stamps: Communique Curves (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: ocean tides (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Rustic Snowflakes (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: true black, dark chocolate, ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: ripe avocado satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), crocheted lace, seed beads
Tools: sewing machine, corner rounder, sponge, red thread

Recipe for Birthday card
Stamps: Communique Curves Sentiments, Communique Curves (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: sweet blush (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Green Tea Leaves (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: true black, dark chocolate, ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: dark chocolate satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), crocheted lace, seed beads
Tools: sewing machine, corner rounder, sponge, white thread

peace love joy

 
Remember the Just Because card I shared last week?  This is the second card I mentioned that used that stamped patterned paper I made.  (Directions for creating the paper on in the other post here.)  I decided to use the paper again for a Christmas card.  The large red image reminds me of a poinsettia for some reason.  I stitched my paper to an enchanted evening base using red thread.  I adhered it to my card and wrapped an enchanted evening stitched ribbon around my card. I stamped one of the tags from 2009 Holiday Tag Collection on white cardstock, added an enchanted evening mat and adhered it above the ribbon.   I added a little red stickles to the berries on the tag to finish off my card.

Have a great day!

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: 2009 Holiday Tag Collection, Giga Guide Lines, Borders and Corners: Oval, Text Boxed, Polka Dot Basics, Guide Lines (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: white, enchanted evening, ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: pure poppy, ripe avocado, enchanted evening, sweet blush (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: enchanted evening stitched ribbon (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: sewing machine, circle nestability dies (Spellbinders), red stickles (Ranger)

merry & bright

 
I absolutely love the cute little gingerbread man in Papertrey Ink's Holiday Button Bits set!  I started by stamping my kraft cardstock with the mistletoe image from 2009 Holiday Tag Collection in ripe avocado ink.  I wanted the berries to stand out a little more (and not be green! *wink*), so I used a R29 copic marker and dotted each of the berries.  It works better to just dot each berry instead of trying to color them.  Doesn't it look like patterned paper?  I love how it turned out and it makes the perfect background for a clean and simple card.  Next, I stamped my sentiment on kraft cardstock, stitched it to a scarlet jewel mat, distressed the edges, and adhered the strip to my card.  Then, I distressed a scarlet jewel circle and adhered it to the left.  I stamped my gingerbread man on kraft cardstock with dark chocolate ink, cut him out, and stitched a couple buttons in place.  I added some white liquid applique to my gingerbread and heated it until it puffed up like real icing.  One it was dry, I adhered my gingerbread man with foam adhesive.

Thanks to everyone who has purchased some stamps.  The packages all went out today.  Please let me know when they arrive safely.  Lots of stamps still need a good home if you'd like to check out what is left (sales page). 

Have a great day!

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: Holiday Button Bits, 2009 Holiday Tag Collection (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: kraft, scarlet jewel (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: dark chocolate, true black, ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: scarlet jewel vintage buttons (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: copic marker, circle nestability die (Spellbinders), liquid applique, edge distressor, sewing machine

Moxie Fab Christmas

Cath is celebrating her one year blogiversary over on the Moxie Fab Blog this week.  She invited the Papertrey Ink design team to help her celebrate in a special way.  She is featuring (and giving away!) three of the fun holiday sets that Papertrey Ink has released recently.  The Papertrey girls each created a new, never before seen card using one of the featured sets and you'll be entered for a chance to win the cards we created, too!  Fun giveaways, huh?

I used the fun Holiday Tree stamp set.  I just love these little snowmen!  I decided upon an aqua mist, pure poppy, and ripe avocado color scheme.  I started by stamping the wreath from the Believe set.  Then, I stamped the arms and faces of the snowmen.  I was inspired by Heather to roll the snowman base in aqua mist ink.  I love how it makes them look all cold and snowy!  I used some of the snowflake images from the set to stamp my card base and then swiped the edges with fresh snow ink.  Then, I added some ripe avocado and pure poppy cardstock and bitty dot paper.  I finished my card off with some aqua mist buttons tied with red bows.

Head on over to Cath's blog to check out all the cards and to enter for a chance to win!  Have a great day!

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: Holiday Tree, Believe (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: white, aqua mist, pure poppy, ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: 2008 Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: aqua mist, fresh snow, true black (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: aqua mist vintage buttons (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: copic markers, sewing machine, long rectangle nestability die (Spellbinders)

just because

 
It's been awhile since I shared a card with some hand stamped patterned paper.  I had to create some as soon as I received the Giga Guidelines stamp set.  I love looking through the sets and finding different images that will combine for a fun new pattern.  I started by stamped with one of the stamps from Giga Guidelines in pure poppy ink.  Then, I added the ripe avocado images using a stamp from Guide Lines.  I added some sweet blush polka dots to the center of the pure poppy images (from Polka Dot Basics).  Then, I stamped the dotted image in the center using enchanted evening ink (from Text Boxed).  Last, I stamped the enchanted evening image in the middle of the ripe avocado image (from Borders and Corners: Oval).   I stamped a half sheet of cardstock with my pattern and have another card to share with it soon.

After I created my stamped patterned paper, creating my card was pretty easy.  I cut my enchanted evening card base.  Then, I cut my stamped paper and stitched it to a ripe avocado mat using red thread.  Then, I stamped one of the sentiments from Giga Guidelines on white cardstock (love the mix of fonts and the large size!) and stitched it to an enchanted evening mat and a ripe avocado mat that had a scalloped edge.  Last, I added a large crocheted flower with some stacked buttons in the center before adhering all the pieces of my card.

My son is on the mend and was back to his old self today.  Thank goodness!  Thanks to everyone for their well wishes!  Well, I have been so tired lately with us all going through being sick and the stress of all the stuff yesterday with taking my son back and forth from the hospital, the doctor's office, home and repeating again.  I am signing off to go relax and be in bed soon.   Have a great day! 

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: Giga Guide Lines, Borders and Corners: Oval, Text Boxed, Polka Dot Basics, Guide Lines (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: white, ripe avocado, enchanted evening (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: pure poppy, ripe avocado, enchanted evening, sweet blush, true black (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: ripe avocado vintage button, pure poppy vintage button (Papertrey Ink), crocheted flower (etsy)
Tools: sewing machine, scalloped border punch (SU)

happy holidays

 
Are you all having as much fun with Papertrey Ink's Holiday Button Bits set as I am?  I just love this set!  It's so much fun to play with!  I created this easy one layer card using the set.  I stamped the leaves in the corner with ripe avocado ink.  Then, I stamped the sentiment and sponged the edges of the card with fresh snow ink.  I tied a ribbon around the side and stitched three pure poppy buttons to the card. 

We've been hit by our first bugs of the season.  A couple weeks ago, we all got sick.  Nothing serious, just some sore throats mainly.  My son, however, had a terrible cough and was congested at night.  Then, last week, he complained of his ear hurting and ended up with an ear infection.  Yesterday, he started coughing again and I was up most of the night with him. Today, after a couple visits to the doctor, a blood test, and an x-ray, he has the beginnings of pneumonia.  Luckily, we caught it really early and he is feeling a little better this evening.  Hopefully, he's on the road to recovery.  Please say a prayer that he gets better soon and doesn't get any worse.  I pneumonia in high school so I know how miserable it is and I really don't want him to go through that.

Oh, if you've ordered something from my sale page, I plan to mail it out in the morning when I go pick up my son's prescription.  Tons of stamps left if anyone is interested. 

Healthy thoughts to everyone!

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: Holiday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: ripe avocado, true black, fresh snow (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: pure poppy vintage buttons, pure poppy satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

gift tag matchbox

 

For the last release, I used Lauren's Perfect Matchbox template and created a matchbox to hold some holiday gift tags.  I printed my template on pure poppy and ripe avocado cardstocks and assembled the pieces.  Then, I cut a piece of Holiday Vintage Prints patterned paper, added a pure poppy mat, and added it to my matchbox. 

Then, I tied a pure poppy stitched ribbon around the matchbox.  I stamped one of the tags from 2009 Holiday Tag Collection on rustic white cardstock and used a nestability die to cut it out.  I added a pure poppy mat and punched a hole in the top so I could tie the tag to my box.  Then, I added a button to the center of the bow.

I wanted to create some very simple gift tags that I could add to my packages this year.  I created 12 tags with the same design.  I just changed the colors, patterned paper, and buttons.  I used patterned papers from the Vintage Holiday Prints paper pad.  I cut each gift tag 2 3/4" square.  Then, I cut squares of patterned paper 1 3/4" and stamped the ribbon (from Holiday Button Bits) directly on the squares.  I stamped the sentiment on each card and adhered a button the stamped ribbon center.  Then, I used foam adhesive to adhere each "present" to the gift tag.  The gift tags can be tied to a package with rustic twine or ribbons or you could just use tape.  The matchbox itself, filled with gift tags, would also make a great gift for someone.

Have a great day!

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: 2009 Holiday Tag Collection, Holiday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: ripe avocado, pure poppy, kraft, rustic white (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Holiday Vintage Prints (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: pure poppy, ripe avocado, true black (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: ripe avocado vintage buttons, pure poppy vintage buttons, white vintage buttons, pure poppy stitched ribbon (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: circle nestability dies (Spellbinders), embroidery floss
Template: Perfect Matchbox (Papertrey Ink)
 

may your Christmas be merry & bright

 

I'm back to share one of the cards I created with the new Vintage Ornaments stamp set.  I just love those large ornaments.  The strip of circles on the right was created using one of the holiday tags from 2009 Holiday Tag Collection.  I just stamped them side by side and cut the one side so it created large scallops.  I didn't cut each circle out, just one side so it was easy to attach behind my image panel.  I used the large frame from Take Note and stamped the ornament towards the top.  That way I had room for my sentiment below the ribbon.  I cut notches in each side and tied a pure poppy satin ribbon around the image panel.  I also pierced a hole and used a piece of embroidery floss to "hang" my ornament.  A little strip of patterned paper, ripe avocado mat, some stitching, and red stickles finished off my card.

Have a great day!

Niki
 
 Recipe
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments, 2009 Holiday Tag Collection, Take Note (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: white, enchanted evening, ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Holiday Vintage Prints (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: ripe avocado, enchanted evening, pure poppy, true black (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: pure poppy satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: sewing machine, circle punch, scissors, embroidery floss, glue pen (Sakura), red glitter

Holiday Greetings and a stamping on painted canvas tutorial

You all know I love stamping with fabric.  Today, I have a fun card to share using some Papertrey Ink stamps and some sticky back canvas from Ranger.  I cut my card base first and sponged dark chocolate ink around the edges.  Then, I stitched my canvas to my card front.  Then, I cut some circles using nestability dies and stamped a stocking on the spring moss circle.  I shaded the cuff slightly with a gray marker.  Then, I stamped the stocking again with pure poppy ink on white cardstock, cut it out, and adhered it to my circle.  I finished my card off with some buttons, twine, and a sentiment stamped on rustic white cardstock.

I've put together a short tutorial explaining how I created the stamped and painted canvas below.

Have a great day!

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: Peaceful Poinsettia, Signature Christmas, Stocking Prints (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: kraft, spring moss, pure poppy, rustic white (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: pure poppy, true black (Papertrey Ink)
Accent: pure poppy vintage buttons, rustic twine (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: circle nestability dies (Spellbinders), sewing machine, sticky back canvas, paint (Claudine Hellmuth - Ranger)

 

Stamping on Painted Canvas Tutorial

I am using Claudine Hellmuth products by Ranger.  I love the quality!  The sticky back canvas is so nice because it's not super sticky.  It's just tacky enough to stay in place while you work with it, but you can move it around.  That's also helpful when you want to sew around the edges because it will stay in place.

Supplies:
white sticky back canvas from Claudine Hellmuth (made by Ranger)
paint brush (Claudine Hellmuth - Ranger)
acrylic paint (Studio brand by Claudine Hellmuth - Ranger)
mini mister (Ranger)
craft sheet (Ranger

 

Dab some acrylic paint directly onto the craft sheet.  I love these craft sheets because things wipe right off with a damp cloth.

Water the paint down with the mini mister.  You want it to be very diluted so it's almost like a paint wash.  Just mist with water (many times) and mix with the paint brush.

Adhere the sticky back canvas to the craft sheet and paint.  (You can see how watery the paint is on the edges.)

Once the canvas is dry, wipe up the excess paint and it's time to stamp.  I used the background stamp from Peaceful Poinsettias and stamped the entire canvas with pure poppy ink.

There will likely be a few spots where the ink is a little lighter than other spots because you are stamping on fabric with all it's texture.  I like the way it looks when it's slightly uneven, though, because it looks like worn fabric.

I purchased all of my Claudine Hellmuth paint, sticky back canvas, mini mister, and craft sheet from Scrapbooking Alley.  Shipping is free for any amount, but it takes a week or two to get your order.  I've had great service through them.

deck the halls

 
How about some non-traditional holiday colors?  My mom always decorates her tree each year with blue and white ornaments.  I think that is what inspired my enchanted evening ornaments.  I paired them with some sweet blush cardstock for a non-traditional card.  The card base is stamped with enchanted evening ink and a BB: Retro stamp.  Then, I sponged all the edges with enchanted evening ink.

Hope everyone has some great weekend plans!  We are having my son's 6th birthday party tomorrow so I am cleaning house (yuck) and baking a cake today.

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: Holiday Button Bits, Background Basics: Retro (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: sweet blush, enchanted evening (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: enchanted evening, true black (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: enchanted evening vintage buttons, enchanted evening satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: square nestability die (Spellbinders), sewing machine, embroidery floss, sponge