With Appreciation

In this busy world we live in, we take so many things for granted. Sometimes you need to take a moment and just say "Thank you for all you do". This is for Nichole Heady of Papertrey Ink.



Nichole, I hope you get an opportunity to see this. I made this quite a while ago. Sorry it's not something new or unique, but the thought is the same. We truly appreciate everything you do. On a personal level, you have inspired me to create things I never dreamed were possible. Your fabulous designs and products have allowed me to learn and grow in this hobby and hopefully bring enjoyment to others. You have brought together such fabulous artists and designers in one place who, together with your work, daily inspire anyone who takes the time to explore your blog and gallery. It can never be said enough - Thank You!

Aspiring to Creativity Glimmer Challenge #2 & A Passion for Papertrey

ETA: And do I have a Passion for Papertrey! Aimes suggested I might want to add it to their challenge, so here it is. Thanks Aimes & Kate. I love your blog and check it often for all the lovely inspiration that is shared.

Aspiring to Creativity issued a challenge to"use the following photo as inspiration as well as a supply or tool that you own but have not used before." You can see the information here.



Here's my interpretation.



I only wish my execution could approach my concept. A close up might help.



Those are four stamps from the new PTI Embellishments set that combine to form the butterfly. They really achieve the graceful curve I was looking for. One each - mirror images - on the lower wing and two grouped to form the upper wing. Then those two had to be removed from the block and reversed for the other side. It's just I don't stamp well with white on darker paper. I hope you got the idea. I want to try it with darker ink on lighter paper.

In a drawer I found those beautiful pink pearl swirls by Zva Creative that I've never used. I snipped off one of the smaller ones and used it as the flight trail behind the butterfly. I added some gathered ribbon for the body and colored two corsage pins with Copics for the antennae.

I love the sentiment from PTI Butterfly Dreams for every child and here for Sabrina's granddaughter.

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies
Paper: Paper Company white CS, PTI 2009 Bitty Dot Basics New Leaf
Stamps: PTI Embellishments, Butterfly Dreams
Ink: PTI Fresh Snow, New Leaf, True Black
Other: Zva Creative Pearls, American Crafts ribbon, Craft store pearl corsage pins, Wavy scissors, Score Tape

PTI - August Blog Hop - Brown Bag Challenge

Hi and welcome to my stop on the August PTI Blog Hop. This month Nichole challenged us to

"dress up, alter, change an ordinary brown lunch bag into a paper crafting work of art."

Well, I don't know about the work of art part, but I turned a brown paper lunch sack into a vase.





I've done similar projects before, but never with any sort of decoration. On a few occasions I added one to a dinner tray I took to friends that were recuperating from surgery or experiencing other health issues. I think it added a delightful surprise and certainly brought a smile. Just soak a piece of Oasis in water, place it in a plastic bag and then into the lunch bag. You can add a bit more water if desired, but consider how you will be transporting your gift. You might want to let the recipient do that. And in the end there's no container to worry about or return. I wish I knew where I first saw this idea. I did a Google search, but was unsuccessful.

I thought many participants would go the school or lunch route, so I thought I would try a different angle. Here I chose to use Boards and Beams and make it a gift for a new neighbor. I had considered doing direct stamping on the bag, but that didn't work very well. My markers didn't work on the thin paper. So I resorted to stamping, coloring, and then cutting out the image.

I began by ironing the bag to try and flatten those pesky folds. Try explaining that to your husband. I rarely press a shirt! The tree and sentiment were stamped directly on the bag. Here's a closer shot of the stamping.



I hope you liked it. I'm excited to get started and see all the fabulous projects you all have made. Enjoy the Hop! Thanks for hopping by.

Supplies
Stamps: PTI Boards and Beams, Home Made, Through the Trees
Paper: PTI Soft Stone
Ink: PTI Pure Poppy, Momento Tuxedo Black
Other: Brown Lunch Bag, Copics, Westrim Jute Packaging Twine, flowers from our garden

Happy Birthday Mom

Well tomorrow is the big day, Mom's 89th Birthday! From the moment Nichole introduced her Year of Flowers series, I was hoping she would include Gladiolas for August. It's Mom's favorite flower and I try to get them for her birthday whenever possible. Grandpa never forgot. And if he didn't have any in the garden, then he'd go find them somewhere. I can usually get them up the hill from us at an Amish farm, but the last two years they were done by now. If I don't have any luck, at least I'll have these to give to her.




I didn't have lots of time and was so happy when my order came last week. I cut some corners by stamping the image on a tonal pink CS and just shaded the centers and colored the leaves. Then I cut it out - eek! - I didn't lose too much, just a few hairs. (I hope they were the gray ones) Then I popped it on a layer of Berry Sorbet. The ribbon was originally white and colored with Copic R20. I like how it turned out.

I hope you enjoyed your stop. Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, Berry Sorbet, K&Company Pink textured, tonal and green PP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Stamps: PTI YOF Gladiolus, Mixed Messages
Other: Copics, Martha Stewart tag punch, ribbon remnant

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #14

Sharron issued a color challenge using this picture as inspiration.



I've wanted to try doing some work in a more shabby, vintage style and I thought this picture gave me that opportunity. I stumbled upon this site while searching for something else -
Miss Cutie Pie
Here's how it all came together:



It's amazing how things you thought were white, turn out to be more in the cream family. In particular, the paper doily. I cut it in quarters and fan folded it. (It looks much better IRL) I added the white CS on the bottom, stamped with Vintage Cream. You may be able to see it better in the next photo.



I also experimented with dying the seam binding with Copic Various Inks as described by Debbie Olson.
This one's definitely going in a box. No envelope here!

Hope you enjoyed your visit.
Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies
Paper: PTI Harvest Gold, DCWV red paper, The Paper Company white CS
Ink: PTI Dark Chaocolate, Vintage Cream, Vintage Duo
Stamps: PTI Damask Designs
Printables: Miss Cutie Pie
Other: paper doily, Michael's Boutique Fleur, Star Dust Stickles, Martha Stewart punch, Hug Snug seam binding, Copic Bisque Various Inks refill

Papertrey Peeps Challenge #13

I'm back. At least for a little while. I told Carol I would have this done by the end of the week, just not which week. Now that Challenge #14 has been issued by Sharron, I'm posting #13. The faster I go, the behinder I get.

Carol's challenge was to make something in the style of Mary Englbreit. Here's what I came up with.



Supplies
Stamps: PTI Tea for Two, Vintage Picnic
Ink: PTI True Black
Paper: PTI 2008 Bitty Dot Basics Black, Harvest Gold
Making Memories Black Gingham
Printable Candied Apple Fun Flowers by Kristin Bueter for My Time Made EasyTM
Other: PTI Tea Pot die, Copic markers

That's it for now. Hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by.