Saturday, February 27, 2010

Happy Always

Here's another sample anniversary card. I like this one much better than yesterday's. I'm not sure why but I just like the look of cards that open from the bottom as opposed to from the right. They also seem to photograph better! Perhaps I just can't find the right angle for cards that open on the right? Again, I kept it simple with this design. I used a pale shade of grey to keep the background subtle but up close the words can still be enjoyed. I added the scallop border and stitched row at the very last minute. This was a good impulse change!

For those of you who use watermarks, I have a question for you! Do you always place them in the same spot on your image or do you randomly choose a place where it suits your card but doesn't obstruct the details too much? The reason I'm asking is because I had a hard time placing the watermark on this one. Maybe it needed to be grey or black instead of white. I guess I have to go shopping for a new watermark. ;)

Sources: SU Real Red, textured Basic Gray & textured Black cardstock; PTI Background Basics: Text Style II; PTI Heart Prints; VersaFine Smokey Gray Instant Dry Pigment Ink; Memories Black ink; SU Scallop Border punch; EK Success Medium Heart punch; Gutermann thread; dimension squares

Friday, February 26, 2010

Love You Forever

My wedding anniversary is coming up next month so I've been thinking about anniversary cards. I'll be making a few different ones, then choosing the one I like best to give to hubby. I would call this card CAS except it took me a while to 'quilt' the ribbons. Then I put a button in front of the best part! LOL I also may have placed the sentiment a little too close to the rounded corner. Hmm...

Sources: SU Kraft cardstock; AC textured brown cardstock; PTI Heart Prints; SU Whisper White pigment ink; The Old Island Stamp Co. clear embossing powder; Hobby Hot Boss; SU 1-3/8" circle punch; AC Valentine 2009 ribbons; Basic Grey button; DMC white embroidery thread

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Pink Cat Studio ~ Feb 25th Rubber & Digi Release!

I thought the easiest way for me to feature all of this week's new Lily bug images would be to create a set! I knew I was going to score some borders (better seen in the close up photo below) but the rest of the design just came to me when I started to put the cards together. I had another sketch in my little book but I always seem to deviate from it at the last minute. My sewing machine also seems to go on a rampage when I'm in a rush! :P

I used my AtYou Spica glitter pen on all the grey areas of Lily's three costumes. I didn't even plan on pairing them all with red but it just turned out nicely that way! Don't you love Lily's beehive and bloomers? I couldn't help but giggle when I was colouring those little underpants with the frills. LOL I also love how the new SU scallop trim border adds some elegance to those fun sentiments!

Sources: SU Kraft & Real Red cardstock; GinaK 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Pink Cat Studio_Lily Bee, Butterfly and Ladybug digital images (also available in rubber); Copics; AtYou Spica glitter pen; Scor-Pal; QuicKutz Epic Six; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder; Gutermann threads; SU Scallop Trim Border; dimension squares

I made this get well card using sick kitty ages ago and sent it to one of my sister's BILs in Scotland. He had gone sledding with his two kids and ended up busting his knee. The bruising sent a blood clot to his lung several days later and thankfully his wife got him to the hospital in time! Now he's on a six month disability leave from his job as a fire fighter. Who knew something like this could happen to such a fit guy? Scary stuff! The family has a black and white cat named Hobbes which is why I chose this image. :)

Sources: SU Chocolate Chip, Kraft & textured Very Vanilla cardstock; AC textured green cardstock; Paper Reflections blue cardstock; GinaK 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Pink Cat Studio_Sick Cat digital image (also available in rubber); Copics; QuicKutz Epic Six; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder; Martha Stewart Picket Fence border punch; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; McGill 1-1/4" circle punch; SU 1-3/8" circle punch; Marvy Uchida tree punch; SU Crystal Effects; dimension squares

Let me show you all the mini sets being released today!

Three are the new Lily bugs, of course, and the others are some of Pink Cat Studio's most popular digis turned into rubber with their own sentiments. I think my favourite has to be sick Lily and Billy with their very own sick cat and dogs. You'll just have to get both mini sets to mix and match animals and sentiments! I also love that the robot comes with six sentiments! Heck, they're all great and so affordable, too! ;)

Last but not least, I'd like to wish Vicki Garrett all the best in her future design endeavours! I've really enjoyed working with her and she's decided to leave the PCS DT to pursue new challenges. I'll miss you, Vicki, and can't wait to see what you're up to next!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Get Well

I haven't had a lot of time to craft lately but I had to make a feel better card for my best friend's dad who's going through a lot of blood transfusions for a rare form of leukemia. He's fairly elderly and has already survived two other forms of cancer including prostate so he's a very strong man. Obviously my friend has been distraught over the situation, especially since the doctors can't even say how long her dad has. I know a homemade card will cheer him up. Being Greek and very traditional, I knew I had to make this card pretty yet masculine. That's quite a feat! I've been wanting to try this ruffly ribbon border for a while now and finally got a chance to put it in action. I have no idea if anyone's done it before but I think it turned out nicely and I'm definitely going to have to use it again.

Sources: SU Bashful Blue & Kraft cardstock; SBD white cardstock; SU Botanical Blooms; HOTP Tiny Words & Images; Memories Black & Sky inks; SU Bashful Blue 5/8" satin ribbon; Gutermann thread

Thursday, February 18, 2010

CAS Notes

I have a quick post today to show some very simple note cards. I haven't had much mojo lately but, frankly, I'd rather be watching the Olympics. HA! I created flowers using dollar store stickers and a marker! I love rare finds like these stickers which I layered in alternating colours to create each flower. I don't know if you can see it very well in the photos but I scored three lines on the bottom of the razzleberry cardstock to create a mock ground where the stems come out. I love easy cards like this!

Sources: SU Kraft & Rich Razzleberry cardstock; Provo Craft Slab IV dp; HOTP Tiny Words & Images 'Just a Note' sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Fiskars Nostalgia corner edger; Forever in Time Glitter Brilliance stickers; Bic Mark-it Black ultra fine point permanent marker

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pink Cat Studio Lily Bugs Contest

I'm taking a few days off from creating for myself but I've been making cards for the huge Pink Cat Studio digi and rubber release next Thursday, February 25th! Melissa has started a contest in preparation for the new release and you will love what she has in store for you. Please check this post on the PCS blog for all the details!

I’m sure you’ve noticed that Lily loves to dress up. Her closet is filled with a ton of costumes and on February 25th, she's going to show you three of her new bug outfits. If you can guess which cute bugs she’s dressed as then you could win the new stamps! Click here to add this blinkie to your blog and then be sure to leave a comment on the PCS blog with your guesses for a chance to win all of the new releases!

Friday, February 12, 2010

PTI Asian Fusion Origami Challenge

Wow, I just had a look at the sneak peeks of PTI's new Asian Fusion set and I couldn't resist playing along when Nichole Heady issued a challenge to make something with origami. I love origami and it's one of my favourite mediums - check out these cards I made recently with origami shirts! Since this weekend is Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and the Family Day holiday all rolled into one, we are kicking off celebrations tomorrow night by having a traditional 10 course meal at my parents' house. It's customary for older family members to give younger, unmarried family members to receive a red envelope with money. This year, the only one receiving red envelopes will be my little boy! Since I can't give my parents an envelope with money, I decided to make them a card with an origami red envelope. On it are the typical wishes we say to each other on Chinese New Year - love, good health, longevity and good luck. My envelope even has a gold lining! It's all about red and gold.

I created the floral background by embossing the flower stamp from the set called Four Seasons by Local King Rubber Stamp - click here to see how I used the Christmas ornaments and leaves from that same set. I couldn't get the light to bounce off the flowers just right but it looks so sparkly in person! I mounted the background on a plain white piece of cardstock for an edge that would pop it against a background of Japanese rice paper with gold and silver specks and fibres. I used my Scor-Pal to create an envelope of just the right size, created a little gold liner just in case my parents want to have a peek - they probably won't even notice but I love little details so I did it just for me. Haha! Then I rounded off the corners and embossed the blessings in platinum. I love how simple and pretty this turned out!

Sources: SU Kraft & Real Red cardstock; SBD white cardstock; Essence du Papier Japanese rice paper; The Japanese Paper Place gold origami foil; Local King Rubber Stamp Four Seasons (flower); Hero Arts? Chinese Blessings; Rubber Stampede Red pigment ink; ColorBox Platinum pigment ink; PSX Red embossing tinsel; Ranger Ancient Gold embossing powder; Hobby Hot Boss; Fiskars Nostalgia Corner Edger

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Pink Cat Studio ~ Feb 11th Digi Release!

Hi there! Pink Cat Studio is back this week with St. Patrick's Day digis and they are cute, cute, cute! Besides celebrating with our best Irish friends, drinking green beer and wearing our most flattering green outfit, who wouldn't want to be sliding down a rainbow into a pot of gold? Let's not delay and have a look.

This week I chose to make my card with Itty Bitty Betty in a pot of gold. Doesn't she look happy tossing those gold coins? This reminds me to check my lottery ticket. LOL Be sure to click on the DT links on my sidebar to indulge in all the St. Patrick's Day delights that were created this week! Thanks for looking and see you back here soon. :)

Sources: SU Kraft cardstock: AC textured earth tones cardstock; GinaK 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Pink Cat Studio Itty Bitty Betty_Pot of Gold digital image; Copics; HOTP Tiny Words & Images; Memories Artprint Brown & Black inks; Basic Grey ribbon; Darice hemp cord; Forever in Time round gemstone stickers; SU scallop border punch

Monday, February 8, 2010

CAS Birthday Wishes

I was so happy when this set of thank you cards was recognized as one of the SCS CAS faves last week. That marked the fourth time one of my cards was chosen but I'm always surprised and delighted because there are so many amazing cards uploaded every week! It literally makes my day every time. Thanks to all those who have recognized and commented on my creations!! Perhaps I've found my niche with CAS cards? :) Since that last notification, I was inspired to make another set of CAS cards - birthday ones this time - for my sister's stash. Here's a close up of one of the cards:

Whenever I'm putting my son to bed, my brain works in overdrive and I come up with a million ideas for card layouts and sketches. Then I have to immediately jot them down in my little book otherwise I won't remember when I actually sit down to create. I haven't made a card this shape since October and I thought it would add a little fanciness. I've also neglected my alphabet punch set and used that to punch out half of the sentiment. Originally I was going to put "Birthday" along the bottom but decided it looked better and more unusual at the top of the vertical "wishes". Since there were several different little birthday images in the HOTP set that I used, I picked a different one for each card in this set. To add a bit more pizzazz and colour, I added a tiny piece of Basic Grey dp before attaching matching ribbon. There's variation in all the bows but that's not my strength and after all it's CAS, right? ;)

Sources: SU Rich Razzleberry & Kraft cardstock; TPH 111lb matte white cardstock; Basic Grey Indian Summer maple sugar dp; HOTP Tiny Words & Images; Memories Artprint Brown ink; ICG Lower Alphabet Punch Set: Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; SU 1-3/8" circle punch; SU Rich Razzleberry 1/2" polka dot grosgrain ribbon

Friday, February 5, 2010

Emboss Resist with PTI

Today's Day 5 of Papertrey Ink's 3rd anniversary celebrations and Nichole Heady has a wonderful tutorial on the emboss resist technique. Nichole makes it look so easy and all the samples were so beautiful that they inspired me to make a card using this technique. I didn't have a lot of time and my son got pretty impatient with me after he got bored with his crayons. I had to give him my ribbon tape and a ruler to keep busy. LOL

To make this card, I also decided to try out Dawn McVey's poofy flowers as shown in her tutorial here. I stamped text from PTI's Background Basics: Text Style II at an angle and then clear embossed the polka dotted small heart from PTI's Heart Prints set across the text. I sponged SU inks in light and dark pinks across the hearts which you can see better in the close up photo. It created a beautiful effect with so much depth that I'm going to have to use this technique more often! The third thing I learned from this experience is that I need to purchase graded colours of inks. Therefore, it would be an absolute dream to win all of PTI's inks!

Sources: SU Kraft & Real Red cardstock; AC textured pink cardstock; PTI Background Basics: Text Style II; PTI Heart Prints; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Pink Pirouette & Rose Red inks; Zig Emboss Writer; The Old Island Stamp Co. clear embossing powder; Hobby Hot Boss; SU scallop trim border & scallop circle punch; Forever in Time button; Darice hemp cord

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Pink Cat Studio ~ Feb 4th Digi Release!

Welcome back! I'm really giddy about this week's releases. Aren't these images CuUuTE?! I love it when simple things like this make me smile. Melissa has done it again! Without delay, let me show you my first set of cards.

Just look at those ladybug lips! HaHA! Can you believe I've never used rhinestones until now? I love how everyone else uses them but I'm never sure where to put them. I suddenly had a breakthrough when I made these ladybug cards. Originally I was going to use ribbon but it didn't fit well into my design and made it look too busy. The card was too plain without some kind of embellishment and then it dawned on me! Since these ladybugs were smooching, I thought I'd make some love drops rising from their antennae. Things are getting steamy between those two ladybugs. LOL

Sources: SU Kraft, Real Red & textured Black cardstock; GinaK 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Pink Cat Studio Ladybugs Kissing digital image; Copics; PSX Red Embossing Tinsel; Hobby Hot Boss; Forever in Time round gemstone stickers; SU scallop trim border punch; EK Success dotted wave border punch

Next up we have the uber cute owl couple. I didn't get to play with all the owls from the Oct 16th release so I just had to use this image. This is pretty much all I had left of this dp which I seem to pair it up with owls, the last of which was when I made this card for my boss. This time I actually used both sides of the dp. Who would've thought plaid owls would be so cute! I used the 'Hoot Hoot Hooray' sentiment from the PCS Q.T. Hooty rubber set on the reverse side of the polka dotted ribbon. I wanted to add a subtle sentiment but couldn't fit it in anywhere else without making the card look too busy and I think it worked out really well. This must be a week of firsts because this is also the first time I've ever used a paper piercing tool. Ack! I know, I could definitely use some practice. ;)

Sources: AC textured yellow cardstock; SU Real Red cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Wednesday dp; Pink Cat Studio Owl Couple digital image; Pink Cat Studio Q.T. Hooty Owl (sentiment stamped on ribbon); Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Copics; SU paper piercing tool; SU Real Red 3/4" polka dot grosgrain ribbon; dimension squares

Be sure to visit the other DT blogs and enjoy their scrumptious creations! Hopefully we've inspired you to create something with these new digis!! If you'd like to purchase any of this week's images, head on over to the Pink Cat Studio store by clicking here. Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you again soon!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Heartfelt Thanks

I'm so excited that I'll get to see my sister, brother-in-law, and gorgeous niece again at Easter. They'll be coming up from the good ol' U.S.A. for the long weekend and, as usual, my sister will be carting up a bunch of stuff that I can't get here in Canada. How sweet!! To thank her, I told her I would like to make her a bunch of cards since she uses tons of them. I asked her what types would be most handy and she said thank you cards and birthday cards. So these are the first three thank you cards I made her. I'm not sure if I'll make more like this or try a different style. I must've been in my groove because I didn't even have to think to make these and they were so easy! However, I had a hard time making the centre of the bows flat but I think they turned out like roses so maybe they don't look so shabby after all. LOL Last but not least, the sentiment is a Verve stamp that I received when I placed my last order. I didn't expect a freebie at all so it made me feel very special. Not only is this sentiment gorgeous, it's perfect. Thanks so much, Julee!

Source: SU Bashful Blue, Kraft & textured Very Vanilla cardstock; Provo Craft Slab IV dp; Verve Celebration of Thanks; Memories Artprint Brown ink; SU 1-3/8" circle punch & scallop trim border punch; SU Bashful Blue 5/8" satin ribbon

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

PTI Birthday Bash Challenge

{Please note: The photo has been updated since the original post.} I've had a rough couple of days so I really should be in bed already but I had to make this card for PTI's Birthday Bash Challenge. I've been a huge fan of PTI for a long time and have never participated in any of their card challenges...until now that is! All of the stamp designers created free digital birthday images and I choose Dawn McVey's for my card. I kept it relatively simple by embossing kraft cardstock for a subtle background, then stamped text from PTI's Background Basics: Text Style II in the receded chocolate area with white ink. I used some of my new Valentine ribbon to soften the edges and popped the focus image on at a slight angle. I normally photograph my cards in the daytime since I don't have a lightbox but since I made this one tonight I had to use the flash so I apologize for the crappy photo. I'll try to take a better one in the morning if I have time but I had to post this now since I won't be up before 7am! ;)

Sources: SU Kraft & Chocolate Chip cardstock; GinaK 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Free Birthday Graphic by Dawn McVey; PTI Background Basics: Text Style II; ColorBox Frost White pigment ink; Spellbinders Nestabilities in Standard Circles Large; QuicKutz Retro Diamonds embossing folder; QuicKutz Epic Six; AC ribbon; dimension squares