PTI Blog Hop

I was sooo excited when I saw the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge this month-use a My Timeless Template, by Lauren Meader. I have purchased one and I LOVE it. It is the All Boxed Up template and it makes the cutest little gift set for cards. Today is the 25th and I just so happened to have a baby shower to attend this afternoon. So I got a two-fer with this one. I love to give my friends a stack of handmade cards they can use as thank-you notes once the baby arrives. So here's what I did. I used kraft, Spring Moss and Aqua Mist with accents of Chocolate Chip for my color pallet. I made a total of 8 cards and matching envelopes with the cute little turtle from Pond Life (I know, you all probably think this is the only PTI set I own, LOL! TRUST me, I own many, I just don't have any of the baby sets. Use what you got, right?). I also used my trusty Polka Dot Basics to make giant vintage cream dots on my cards and the box.

I made 4 cards with Aqua Mist as my base and 4 with Spring Moss as my base, the layout is the same for all 8 cards. Once I had my design, this project really came together so fast. If I had to guess, I'd say it took me an hour, maybe a little longer. Not bad if you ask me! I know my girlfriend is just going to squeal when she sees these and I'll pat myself on the back for another job well done! Man, I love this craft :) Can't wait to see all the wonderful projects created with Lauren's templates. They really are worth the $5 and an instant upload. Happy Hoppin'! Hugs, Lisa

CAS or Not?

There has been some interesting convo over on SCS regarding this topic. CAS stands for Clean and Simple. I use the term all the time. I like to think I am more CAS than not. With saying that, there are plenty of cards I make that don't fit this category. The definition of CAS is really open to individual interpretation. AJ started this thread yesterday and there is a lot of good input. AJ refers to it as Less is More. I like to think this is how I often create. Most of my cards are quick to make, I don't spend a lot of time on them simply because I have to be fast. The time I get to stamp each day is limited. I don't have an hour to spend on 1 card. Often times I have been thinking about the cards or projects I'll be making long before I actually get to sit down and stamp. I guess I have most of the creative process complete before I sit down. CAS, I think, is the overall look of a card-not a lot of layers or embellishments, one or two main colors, and a main focal point. I made this card yesterday and labeled it CAS. It didn't take me long to create and there are not a lot of layers. I guess it is my version of CAS. I'm sure there are many that would NOT classify this as CAS. See, there is a lot of grey area to this definition. Of course to me, the TRUE creators of FABULOUS CAS cards are Julie Ebersol, Kristie Lee Hersch and Kristina Werner, even Nichole Heady. So I ask you, What is your definition of CAS? Is this card CAS or not? Food for thought on a dreary Sunday! Hugs, Lisa

PTI Blog Hop

It seems like forever since I've gotten to join in on the fun for the Papertrey Ink blog hop. I was prepared this month and had my card done two days ago! How 'bout that for planning. The challenge this month was to create your own pattern paper using your PTI stamps of course. This is so easy to do with almost any set PTI has come out with. There are many sets they sell that were created just for this purpose-great customized designer paper. I went with an old stand by, Polka Dot Basics but jazzed it up a bit with some fishies from Pond Life set. I used lots of PTI colors-ocean tides, melon berry, berry sorbet, lemon tart, summer sunrise and even a little sweet blush in there. Here is my completed customized paper, before I cut it down to size.

And, dada, da, DA! Here is my finished card. It is just so bright and cheery! I can't wait to give it to my friend and neighbor on Friday for her birthday. I used Melon berry for my card base and then ran a piece of Berry Sorbet through my big shot with the Tiny Bubble embossing folder. I created the waves on my image panel with the slot punch (from SU) with some Ocean Tides cs and Soft Sky (again SU) cs. I finished the card off with some vintage buttons in melon berry, some twill ribbon and the Pond Life Sentiment, "birthday fishes"! I'm so excited to see all the other wonderful inspiration the rest of the PTI "junkies" come up with. Thanks for stopping by. See you over in the PTI forum. Hugs, Lisa

Not So Last Minute!

I'm a bit proud of myself. Usually when it comes to cards for my loved ones, I am a last minute girl. I am great at getting out BRAK's to my swap group girls, but to my family and friends, I am usually whipping it all together on the day of the occasion. I really am super busy in the next two weeks and I have my crafting time scheduled down to the minute (okay a slight exaggeration, but it feels like that). Today was my day to finish the Father's Day cards for the 3 terrific DAD's in my life-my Dad, my FIL, and my kids' DAD! I already posted the first card I made for this Occasion back on this post (it was when I first got the Pond Life set from PTI). Here are the two cards I finished today.

The fishy card is for my DAD. He loves to fish, so I chose these images along with strips of the Father Know's Best dp from PTI. The base is a 4 1/4 square card of choc. chip, then layered with a 4 inch square of Summer Sunrise. It's all tied up with a piece of Summer Sunrise twill ribbon.
This second card is for my DH. He is an amazing DAD to our three boys and works very hard to provide for us. It is because of his job that I am blessed and get to stay home with the boys. I love it, I only wish Tim's hours weren't so long. We leave for vacation next week, and it feels like he has been working everyday this month, just so he has 10 days off at the end of the month. He even has to work on Father's Day :( how sad is that. He knows he's loved, I just hope this card helps make his Sunday a little less poopie! This card is double duty (triple duty if you count the occasion it was made for). I'm behind on the last two challenges from the GSG Blog. I'm not quite sure I got the sketch challenge exactly right, but it was close enough for me since I was going off my memory. The other Challenge was a Ways to Use it Challenge. I had to dust off my crimper for this one. It is a fun tool, I just never think to use it. I crimped up the bottom strip of dp and the middle oval layer. I added some distressing and Antique Brass brads to give it a more manly feel. Done!

Hugs,

NMBS-NVR Swap

All these letters, what do they mean? NMBS is another swap group I am a part of, it stands for No More Bad Swaps. Normally we do all SU stuff, but with this swap those that participated wanted to show off some of the other non-SU products we have. NVR stands for No Vendor Requirements.
It's a dark and gloomy morning here but I wanted to get this card uploaded since I don't know when I'll be back on the computer today. This card uses the PTI set, Pond Life and the Lemon Tart Perfect Match Cs and ribbon. When I started this card I knew I wanted to use this turtle image and the rectangle die cut with my scalloped nestabilities. I pulled some colors to see what would look good with the Lemon Tart and soft sky and celery just spoke to me. Seriously they did. They said, "use us, make a baby card." Don't these colors just scream BABY! I ran the soft sky scalloped rectangle through the swiss dots embossing folder and used a few different words from two other PTI sets (I tried a bunch to see which would fit in the lg. star punch) to create the sentiment. The only SU products I used were the sky and celery cs and ink, and both star punches. Oh, and I used Crystal Effects on the shell of the turtle. I am please with how it turned out. Now I just need to get them out in the mail. Nothing like squeezing it all in at the last minute!

More PTI Fun!

After I finished planning for the workshop I'm doing today, I took some time yesterday to work with my new PTI set, Pond Life. It really is a versatile set. I can see myself turning to it many times to make cute little boy cards as well as cards for the grown men in my life.

The fishy card is my favorite card I've made so far with this set. It was heavily inspired by this card from Lauren Meader. I think using the page pebbles over the fish is brilliant. I also really love how the Tiny Bubbles embossing folder works with the images from this set. I combined the berry sorbet and summer sunrise PTI colors with SU's soft sky, guess what? I love these colors together and that satin ribbon-Yummy! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'll be back with more SU stuff this week. Hugs,