Welcome Spring

Tonight is the February Papertrey Bloghop
This months challenge is to put a little "spring" into your step, by incorporating the flowers, familiar sights and colors of spring into a project. This is what I came up with.




I started by printing out this birdhouse template and cutting it out of Papertrey Stampers select white cardstock. Then I used a small nestabilitie circle die to cut out the window and added a piece of acetate on the back. The next thing I did was mask and stamp the flowers from the Forest Friends, With Sympathy, Little Lady, Women of Life and Beautiful Blooms Sets on all sides of the box with,Plum pudding,Lavender Moon, Berry Sorbet,Summer Sunrise, and Raspberry Fizz Perfect Match Inks. I stamped the stems and leaves from the new Beyond Basics Borders Set with Spring Moss and Leaf Green Perfect Match Ink. When I was done with that I colored around the flowers with SU Pink Passion and Pixie Pink Markers. The word Welcome was stamped with the Simple Alphabet Set and Perfect Match True Black Ink. The little bees are from The Flower Garden Sentiments set and were stamped with Perfect Match True Black ink then colored with a Y15 copic sketch marker and a white gel pen. For the roof I started by making the pattern that came with the template bigger. I cut a piece of Stampers Select White Cardstock 1 1/2 x 4 3/4. Then I colored it with a Pink Passion marker. Next I stamped the tiny polka dots from the Polka Dots Basics set with Snow White Ink on top of that piece and then used scalloped scissors on the edges. After that I attached the roof on one side with Score tape and then filled the box with gummy bears. I added repositional tape to the other side of the roof so it could be opened to get to get the gummy bears out. You also could fill these little birdhouse boxes with seeds if you wanted to. I hope this little birdhouse has helped make you feel like spring is on it's way. As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great night.

Faux Silk With A Pop Video

Here is the video I promised you showing how I made the cards in the previous post. I would love to know what you think of it so leave me a comment and if you have any questions let me know too. I also wanted to tell you these cards are up for sale in my Etsy shop as a set in an altered heart tin like the one I made in this post If anyone is interested in buying them just click on the picture of them under My Etsy shop on the sidebar and it will take you to them. Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the video.

Love Notes

ETA: 2/14/09
Nicole Heady has a challenge on her blog this morning "Dawn's Favorites Color Challenge" which is to make a card using one of the color combinations she used this week to make samples with her new stamp set Damask Designs. Turns out these cards I made qualify for that challenge too. Here is her card that uses the same color combo. I am really hoping I will win her set because I can't afford to buy it this month.


Papertrey Ink is sponsering this weeks card sketch on the CPS blog. This is what I came up with using the sketch.
The patterned background paper is from the Raspberry Fizz Mix Paper Pack. The heart was made with the fault felt technique using Vintage Cream Cardstock and the large EK Success Heart punch. I made the pink background paper that the sayings from the Heartprint Sentiments set are stamped and embossed on using the faux silk technique with a twist. I am planning on making a video showing how I did that and how I made the lace on the bottom of that piece this weekend. I hope to have it posted the first of next week so be sure to check back. Until then I hope you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

CPS Sketch 100

I got so busy with the In The Bag Challenge and Nicole's Card Sketch that I forgot to share the card I made for CPS Sketch 100. There are going to be 2 winners chosen from this sketch challenge and the winners will get their cards published in Cardmaker Magazine. The colors for this card were inspired by Melissa Phillips Dawn McVey Challenge. This is what I came up with
I started by stamping images from the PTI Background Basics Star set using Versamark Ink on Glossy Cardstock then I embossed them with clear embossing powder. When I was done with that I spread some Raspberry Fizz reinker on a piece of acetate and using a paper towel I rubbed the reinker over the cardstock. When I had the whole thing covered I sprayed the cardstock with water and wiped off the ink on the part of the cardstock that was not embossed. When I was done with that I cut the pieces to the size I wanted them, rounded the corners and matted them on Raspberry fizz cardstock. The silver pieces were made by using the Cuttlebug script embossing folder on Silver shimmer cardstock then matted on Rasberry Fizz Cardstock. For the main image I stamped the dotted heart from the Boarders and Corners Heart Set on Vintage Cream Cardstock with Raspberry Fizz ink. The inside heart was made by punching out a heart with the EK Sucess Heart punch from sticker paper and then I cover it with pink glitter. Next I stamped the word love also from the Boarders and Corners Heart set in the middle of the glittered heart with Versarmark Ink and embossed it with silver embossing powder. To finish the main panel off I distressed the edges of the vintage cream cardstock and added some silver cording. I also machine stitched around the embossed pieces with silver thread. The final card size is 5x7. I have never had any of my work published so it would be nice if this was the first thing if not at least I tried and it was a fun challenge. That's it for now. I will be back with more things to share soon.

It's In The Bag Challenge

Edited to add: I had some time today to make some matching cards to go inside the purse. Turns out Nicole is hosting a sketch challenge contest on her blog today too so I used the sketch for the card layout. This is what I came up with. Here is a picture of the inside of the card holder too.

Today Nicole Heady is hosting a contest on her blog to create a bag of any kind. The winner will receive a$100.00 Papertrey gift card and a one of a kind embroidered shopping tote bag. When I saw the challenge this morning I didn't know if I would be able to come up with something in time but I did. This is what I came up with.
I found the directions for making a Card Purse on Juile Buhler's blog. I changed a few things though. I sewed the straps on with silver thread instead of using brads and I cut a small slit in the back instead of using a punch. I got the inspiration for the bag after seeing one like it from Jillie Willie on Melissa Phillips blog. I am planning on making matching cards to go inside the bag but they will have to wait for another day. I only had time to get the bag done today. I will add pictures of the cards when I finish them. That's it hope you like the bag and while your here check out the next post, I am having a giveaway you don't want to miss. As always thanks for stopping by and have a great night.