My Paper Creations

life can get messy

I mentioned before that I missed working for Lili of the Valley.  This past winter and spring were just so hectic with family stuff that I didn't really feel like stamping at all.  My mojo completely left me and I had no desire to create cards.  I did still create the occasional card for my design team requirements and I enjoyed it when I sat down to create, but I never felt the desire to do it just for fun.  I ended up leaving a couple design teams during that time as well.  (I left for personal reasons and it was no reflection on the companies.  I still love both companies and the owners of all were wonderful to work for!)  The desire to stamp and create cards didn't really come back at all until last month.  I finally wanted to stamp again!  I think I just needed a break from it for a while. 

Lili of the Valley was one of those teams that I left last winter.  I regret now that I left, but it was something I needed to do at the time.  I will continue to use their adorable stamps even if I'm not designing for them because I love them!  They are always some of my favorite stamps to use.  Maybe some day, I might get the chance to design for them again.  If not, I will still use and love their stamps.  Oh, and they have a new release of Christmas stamps coming out next week that look so cute! :)

Anyway, I thought the sentiment on this card was the perfect chance to talk a little bit more about why I left some design teams since I mentioned something about it a week or two ago.  I didn't want anyone thinking that it had anything to do with the companies.

This cute little image is from illustrator Mo Manning.  It's called Buskettie and comes with the sentiment if you purchase the rubber version from Stamping Bella.  You can get it here from Simon Says Stamp.  I colored the image with copic markers, but I didn't write the markers down this time.  Sorry!  The corregated stars are from Close to My Heart and the buttons were from my stash.

Have a great day!

Niki

life gets messy card supplies:
Stamps: Buskettie (Stamping Bella)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), dark orange
Patterned Paper: A Boy's Life (Echo Park)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Embellishments: corrugated stars (Close to My Heart), buttons, twine
Dies: circle nestability dies (Spellbinders)
Copic Markers

happy birthday and many more

My daughter turned five years old last week.  When I was deciding what image to use for her birthday card, I came across this Stampavie Birthday Fairy Lee image from Mo Manning and it was perfect!

I paired the image with some patterned papers from My Mind’s Eye’s Just Dreamy 2 line.  I stamped my image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  I die cut the image with a petite oval nestability die.  Then, I colored it with copic markers.  I used these marker colors: W1, W3, E33, E35, E37, BG11, BG13, BG18, Y35, R00, R02, R27, R29, R46, R89, E00, E21, E11, R12, colorless blender.  Then, I put my image back in the die and drew around the inside with a black pen.

I stitched my layers together and wrapped some cream crocheted lace and red satin ribbon around them before adhering them to my card base with glue dots.  Then, I added a red scalloped oval (die cut with a petite scalloped oval nestability die) to my image and adhered my image and sentiment (from Catslife Press) to my card with foam adhesive.  I added some prima roses and some greenery punched with a Martha Stewart branch punch.

I used a Sakura Gelly Roll pen to add a little sparkle to my fairy’s dress and wings and to the stars and sprinkles on the cupcake.

Have a great week!

Niki

Congratulations

It seems like this school year is already rushing by.  Before we know it, we’ll be congratulating all those kids (and adults) in our lives who are graduating from school.  The adorable Catgrad image from Stampavie's Mo Manning line is the perfect image for graduation cards.  Isn’t this such a cute image?! 


I paired the image with some patterned papers from October Afternoon’s Report Card line.  I stamped the image on Copic X-Press It cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I used these copic markers to color my image: W1, W3, W5, W7, E51. E53. E55. R27, R29, B34, B37, B39.  I die cut my image with a rectangle nestability die.  I stitched my patterned papers together and wrapped some twine from my etsy shop around them.  I added a few buttons and then adhered my papers to my card base.  Last, I added my image and sentiment to my card with some foam adhesive. That great sentiment is from Catslife Press.

I also wanted to mention the Stampavie design team call in case anyone missed it.  Stampavie is looking for 4 full time designers to add to the design team.  You can find out all the details on the Stampavie blog here.  There are only about 2 more days left to apply.  Good luck!

Have a great day!

Niki

hugs & kisses

I've had this adorable image from Mo Manning, Bella and Bronte, for a while now and finally got the chance to ink it up.  It's such an adorable image!  It reminds me of my little girl.  I'm not sure why since we don't even have a dog!

I paired my image with some patterned papers from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite paper pad.  After coloring my image with copic markers, I die cut it with a circle nestability die and sponged some chalk ink around the edges while it was still in the die.  I added a sentiment to the bottom and stitched my layers.  I finished off my card with some beautiful roses.

Have a great week!

Niki

Supplies
Stamps: Bella and Bronte (Stampavie), sentiment (Catslife Press)
Cardstock: white, kraft, pure poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Papre: Fly a Kite (October Afternoon)
Ink: tuxedo black (Memento), peach pastel (Colorbox)
Accents: roses (Prima Marketing)
Tools: copic markers, sewing machine, circle nestability die, scalloped circle nestability die (Spellbinders), border punch (SU), branch punch (Martha Stewart), sponge

birthday girl

I had the chance earlier this week to play along with the current Wild Orchid Crafts challenge which is to use pearls and pins on our cards.  This was a great challenge for me because I've had these pins for years and I don't know if I've ever used them!  They look pretty, but I always worry about them poking the person who receives the card! lol  I was able to avoid that, however, because I poked them through the paper behind the bow so the end is covered and the card is safe to handle!

The cute little image on my card is a Mo Manning image called Ruby available through Stamping Bella and the sentiment is from my Butterfly Dreams stamp set.  The flowers are white cherry blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Aren't they pretty?  I just love cherry and apple blossoms. 

Here's the copic markers used to color the image:
skin: E000, E00, E21, R12
hair and bag: E33, E35, E37
dress, hat, and shoes: R00, R02
tights: E51, E53
necklace: RV29

Okay, I am off to pick my son up from school.  Have a great rest of the day!

Niki

Supplies
Stamps: Ruby (Stamping Bella), Butterfly Dreams (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: white (Papertrey Ink), pink (Prism)
Patterned Paper: Tres Jolie (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: tuxedo black (memento), peach pastel (colorbox)
Accents: vintage cream satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), white cherry blossoms (Wild Orchid Crafts), stick pins (CTMH), pearls
Tools: copic markers, rectangle nestability die (Spellbinders) circle punches, sewing machine, branch punch (Martha Stewart), sponge