Just Give Me Stamps...

Transformation Tuesday - Butterfly Thanks

Hi friends!  It's my turn to share a post for Papertrey Ink's Transformation Tuesday!  This has become one of my all time favorite challenges!  Although it's great to get a creative do-over, I also really enjoy recreating some of my favorite cards.  I especially like to do this when I'm short on time.

Since the end of the school year is almost here, I thought I had better start creating thank you cards.  I was looking back through some of my more recent Papertrey creations and came across this one.  I love the colors, images, and layout of this card so much that I wanted to recreate it.

 

You know those cards that just fall together?  The colors, layout, texture...everything comes together so easily?  Yeah, that is what happened with this one!  I ADORE Gran's Garden.  It will probably always be one of my favorite floral sets!  I enjoyed creating this one so much that I thought I would use the overall design to create some of my end of the year thank you cards.

 

I switched things up a little bit but kept the overall design the same.  Just like the original card, I used Gran's Garden for the focal images. 

 

In the original card, I used a colored card base and white die cut.  I flipped that in my remade card, using a white card base and Harvest Gold die cut (I used the Shape Shifters: Circle 3 die set).

 

Instead of a stenciled background, I used some of the Chicken Scratch Gingham patterned paper.  I softened it a bit by layering a piece of vellum cardstock over it.

I've definitely been in a yellow and red color combo groove lately.  I just really enjoy the bright cheery feel it gives!  :-)  To change things up a bit more, I added in a pop of teal.  Using both Aqua Mist and Tropical Teal, I stamped one of the butterflies from the Folk Butterfly stamp set.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Laurie

 

 

Papertrey Ink Favorites Challenge - Praying For Peace

It's Win It Wednesday time over on the Papertrey Ink blog!  There is another favorites challenge along with a contest and giveaway...so many different chances to win!

One of my favorite things to do when I am in a creative rut is to create a non-standard shaped card!  Tall and skinny, little square note cards, round, or even shapes (like hearts and cupcakes), there are so many different sized cards to try!

This week we are challenging you to create a new project featuring your favorite card shape!  Anything goes as long as it is not the traditional A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") size.  Just by playing along, you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate!

 

This week should be an easy challenge and one that anyone can play along with!  You can use dies to create your card base (such as this Shape Up: Cupcake die) or any of the Mix & Mat or Shape Shifters die sets (like I did on my card).  If you don't have any of these dies, you could always create a round or square card base.  One of my favorite square card base sizes is 4 1/2" square.

 

For my card, I used the Mix & Mat: Pinked Edge die set to create my shaped card base.  I decorated the front using the Grand Botanicals die set.  I absolutely love stand alone floral die sets and this one is a fun one!

 

Here's a peek at the back.  When using dies that aren't necessarily meant to be turned into card fronts, I measure it and then cut a simple folded card slightly smaller than the die cut.

The sentiment is from the Expressions of Empathy stamp set.  I embellished the card with a small wooden heart.

 

 

 

 

 

To read more about the challenges and to enter your creation make sure to check out the Papertrey Ink blog!

Thanks so much for joining me here today!
~Laurie

 

 

The Greetery - Fleur Impressions & Comforting Commands

Hi friends!  I am SO excited to share this post with you today!  I know I've mentioned a time or twelve what a fan I am of Betsy Veldman's designs (I mean, who isn't?)!  You can imagine how excited I was to find out that she is starting her own company!  I am just a firm believer that the world is a better place with her designs in it!  ❤️ 

Her new store, The Greetery, will be opening Friday April 26th at 10 am ET!   If you haven't been following along already, you can catch all of the sneak peeks over at the The Greetery Blog!

I'm so honored to help her introduce two new sets today!  Fleur Impressions is a show stopping, jaw dropping, gorgeous floral set!  THIS set is exactly why I adore Betsy's designs so much!!  Comforting Commands is a beautifully scripted sentiment set that, as per her usual style, is as meaningful as it is pleasing to the eye!

For my first project, I created a cheery encouragement card featuring one of the sentiments from the Comforting Commands set as the focal image.

 

I embossed the sentiment onto Aqua colored cardstock using white detail embossing powder.

I adorned the sentiment by adding several of the flowers from the Fleur Impressions stamp set around it.  For embellishment, I sprinkled of several white sequins.

 

For my next card, I featured the flowers from the Fleur Impressions stamp set as the focal image.  There are three separate stamps for each of the larger flowers.  I love how much detail and depth the different layers give each of the flowers.  I also love how EASY they are to line up!

I used blues and yellows for my color palette.  For a bit more texture, I splattered on some gold paint on the background layer.

 

I stamped one of the smaller sentiments from the Comforting Commands set using dark blue ink.  These smaller sentiments are designed to go with the larger script ones but I find several of them work wonderfully on their own as well!

 

For more detailed information about both of these new sets, make sure to check out today's post over at the The Greetery Blog!  You also won't want to miss checking out what the other talented guest designers have created:

Heather Nichols
Dawn McVey
Keeway Tsao
Amy Sheffer

 

Thanks so much for joining me here today!
~Laurie

 

 

 

 

 

Papertrey Favorites Challenge - Watercolor Thanks

Happy Wednesday friends!  It's Win It Wednesday time over on the Papertrey Ink blog!  There is another favorites challenge along with a contest and giveaway...so many different chances to win!

There are so many different coloring techniques out there today. Watercolors, colored pencils, chalk pastels and alcohol markers are just a few of the many options available to paper crafters.  For those of you who do not enjoy the traditional coloring techniques, there are other ways to add color to images (such as ink sponging, glitter etc.).

This week we are challenging you to create a new project showcasing your favorite coloring technique!  Just by playing along, you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate!

Even though I am by no  means an expert (at ALL), I do enjoy coloring.  My go-to is usually watercolors.  I not only adore the look, but really appreciate how fast it is!

 

I used Stemmed Sentiments for the flowers.  I embossed them in white on watercolor paper.   Once the paint was dry, I added some clear glitter to the flowers.  Flowers and glitter...now that is a match made in heaven!  :-)

I added some ink sponging to the bottom of the Pierced Feature Frame die cut.  The sentiment is die cut from the Big Basics: Thanks die (still one of my favorites).

 

 

 

 

To read more about the challenges and to enter your creation make sure to check out the Papertrey Ink blog!

Thanks so much for joining me here today!
~Laurie

Papertrey Ink Favorites Challenge - Grateful For You

 

Hey friends!  It's Win It Wednesday time over on the Papertrey Ink blog!  There is another favorites challenge along with a contest and giveaway...so many different chances to win!

From clean & simple to shabby chic, there are so many different card styles. Much like everything else, I have a really hard time choosing just one favorite. If I absolutely had to choose I would have to say a modified shabby chic (not too shabby but more chic) would top my list. My love for all things floral, layers, and girly colors fit right in with this style.

This week we are challenging you to create a new project showcasing your favorite style!  Just by playing along, you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate!

 

Happy sigh!  I looooove layered flowers!  Add those with soft and pretty colors, several layers, and a bit of distressing and in my opinion you have card nirvana!  :-)

For the background, I used an embossing folder from my stash.  I love the subtle texture!  It's hard to tell from the photo, but I lightly rubbed some Fresh Snow pigment ink over it making the the pattern stand out just a bit more.

The pretty frame is from the Stitch In Time stamp set (and coordinating die set).

For the focal image, I die cut and stamped several flowers and leaves from the Stitching Garden stamp set.  The sentiment is from the Banner Style set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To read more about the challenges and to enter your creation make sure to check out the Papertrey Ink blog!

Thanks so much for joining me here today!
~Laurie