Lotsa Circles...

Well it's a super sunny Saturday here today so I'm zooming by to share a card with you before heading out the door to make the most of this autumn sunshine (I love it but I need to wrap up warm!)

*Shhh!* don't tell Kate or Caryn, but the Kraft strip features a non-PTI stamp but everything else is PTI!

In fact, I could enter this into our current challenge seeing as it's featuring so many circles (Well, that is, if I were allowed to enter and keep the sweet stamp set that's up for grabs and is currently sitting on my desk waiting for its destination to be announced!)

Could you be it's destination? Get your thinking cap on this weekend if you've got any spare inky time and think about geometric shapes in your design. Who knows, it might just win you some more stamps for your stamping pleasure :)

Aimes
x

Card Deets
{Happy Birthday}
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)/For the Love of Dots (Practicing Creativity)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)/Versamark
Cardstock: Soft Stone, Enchanted Evening, Kraft, Blueberry Sky, Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Enchanted Evening Satin Ribbon, Polka Dot Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink)/Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)/Clear Gems (Zva)/Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Challenge: Mad for Tags!

Hi everyone and thank you for joining us for another challenge! This time we're going mad for tags! Yep, we want you to make and tag and then incorporate it in a card or other papercrafting project. Remember, if you don't have any tag dies or punches you can always cut one yourself!

This is the first of many Christmas cards I'm embarking on - amazing for me in September! I went straight for one of my favourite Christmas colour combos - red, cream and kraft, and used the super-cute Tiny Tags Christmas set. I'm so looking forward to getting a lot of mileage out of this set this year!




Recipe:
Stamps: Tiny Treats Christmas, Fillable Frames 9
Card: Kraft, Vintage Cream
Paper: 2008 Bitty Dot Basics
Ink: Memento black, Vintage Cream
Other: Fillable Frames 9 die, Pure Poppy button, twine, Corner Chomper, Copic markers


Over to Caryn...

As I am now in proper panic mode in the run up to the BIG day - virtually every card that I create from now until December 24th (yes, I am NEVER completely in control) will be a Christmas card of some description. This year I am not putting myself under pressure to make the usual 150 plus that I do every year. I'm not a fan of the mass production approach as I get bored too easily so it's rare I make the same card twice. With that in mind I have set myself a target of 50 cards, all different for those people that I know will appreciate them. For those distant relatives and friends of the family that I don't really "know" but nevertheless exchange cards with every year, there will be a card, just not a special hand-crafted one! I know that's a bit naughty but I would rather put that time into making something for my dearest friends and family members who will feel that little bit more special knowing not every one got one!!

{Recipe}
Stamps: Big and Bold Holiday Wishes, Wreath for All Seasons.
Card: Rustic Cream, Kraft
Others: Bakers Twine (Pure Poppy), vintage button (Ripe avocado)grosgrain ribbon (SU!), gems (Papermania), woodgrain impression plate.

Over to Aimes:
For this tag-tastic challenge I adopted a miniature approach and found this the perfect opportunity to play with my tiny tags die and stamp set :)

Surprise, surprise - I actually used the other side of my linen and canvas impression plate *gasp!* I'm hoping that the plaid will give my card that guy feel as this was made with my nephew in mind who turns 12 soon. I assumed with the whole 'HB 2 U' sentiment it gives it that kinda cool edgy look *wink*

Card Recipe

{For You, Party, HB 2 U}

Stamps: Tiny Tags, Birthday Bash Sentiments

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)/Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Bakers' Twine, Linen and Canvas Impression Plate, Tiny Tags Die (Papertrey Ink)/Spellbinders Grand Calibur/Nestabilities

Ready to join in the fun? Here's what you can win:

Flower Fusion 1 set

And here are the deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes it's hard to see :D)

* All entries must be newly created (well, new to Blogland anyways!).  Please don't link to old posts that might happen to fit the brief of the challenge!!

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post. Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, October 3rd 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.
Have fun!

Kate, Aimes & Caryn xxx

Happy Happy Happy...

...Birthday...

To ME! :)

Yup, today I enter my final year of my twenties. Eeeek! Am I worried? Anxious? Sad? Nah! After all, I've been told that I act closer to my shoe size than I do my actual age and no doubt that will continue for many years to come!

I know you were probably expecting a green-themed card but hey - as a card maker I'm really hoping that this is the one occasion I don't have to make a card for! This card is still one that makes me smile though as you can find it in the special issue of Paper Crafts: Card Creations 9!

I'm also super lucky to be born on the longest day of the year. So what are we doing here - let's go make the most of those hours :)

Aimes
x

CHALLENGE: It's Elementary!

Hello PTI fans and welcome to a new challenge over here at APFP. We're talking EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE {and water}! Yes, we want to see you include something to do with one of the four elements earth, air, fire and water. This can be incorporated in any way and PTI have TONS of stamp sets and dies that could fit in with this theme - even just a sentiment could be used (as in my example!!).

You Rock (get it? ROCK!!)

Card recipe {You Rock}:
Stamps: Boy Basics: Rock On; Grunge Me, Fillable Frames#4.
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Pure Poppy, Versamark.
Cardstock: Smokey Shadow, Stampers select white.
Other: Saddle Stich ribbon, FF#4 die, Guitar die, staples.

I used an A2 card base of Smokey Shadow card and die cut the Fillable Frame #4 shape from white and stamped it in Smokey Shadow ink. The sentiment is from BB: Rock On and is stamped in Pure Poppy with one of the Grunge Me elements. The guitar from Boy Basics: Rock On was stamped again in Smokey Shadow with a little detail added with a red ProMarker. The card base was stamped with two other elements from Grunge Me to give a bit of interest to the background and a strip of red saddle stitch ribbon was placed across the card and stapled at one end (to emphasize the rocker theme!). The focal point was then popped on to the card to one side using foam pads.
Caryn x

Over to Kate: " As I rummaged through my PTI stamps I stumbled upon my Scattered Showers set, I haven't used it much recently and thought it fitted the bill for this challenge - water! Also very topical given the amount of rain we've had recently! I made a real effort to get away from my normal colour combos, although a touch of Aqua Mist has slipped in there!"

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Scattered Showers
Ink: Ripe Avocado/Memento Tuxedo Black
Card: Kraft/ Ripe Avocado/ Stamper's Select White
Paper: 2008 & 2009 Bitty Dot Basics
Other: Corner Chomper/Ripe Avocado Twill/sewing machine/Tag Sale 2

Over to Aimes:

So which element did I go for? Well as a fiery redhead I had no choice to pick fire, right *wink*

I wanted to reflect my element mainly with my colour scheme but as luck would have it, I DID have a stamp that had a flame on it!

Card Deets
{HB 2 U}
Stamps: Around and About Sentiments, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Melon Berry, Orange Zest, Lemon Tart (Papertrey Ink)/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: True Black, Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Baker's Twine (Papertrey Ink)/Crystal Stickles (Ranger)/Chompy! (Corner Chomper - We R Memory Keepers)

It's a very graphic card with gradient stamping to reflect the look of flames. You might not see on the pic, but my flaming candles have added sparkle too :)

And now our lovely June featured stamper, Moe

Hi everyone!! I am so excited to be playing along with the Passion Ladies this month :) I am an ELEMENTary teacher so I had to giggle at the play on words.

The element I've chosen is "air." Maybe that's because we've just finished studying matter in my grade two classroom and one of the favourite experiments was blowing bubbles outside :) I was first thinking hot air balloons, but the Postmarks set has been sitting on my desk waiting to be inked up. It was like it was whispering "air mail" to me. THEN I thought it would make a fun birthday card for any dear friend who lived far away (shhhhh, you don't know anyone like that do you?). I cut the rustic cream panel to the size I wanted to use, then took out some stamps and laid them down to get a feel for size and mix of fonts and images. Then I stamped using a light gray. After, I took the "urgent" stamp and stamped it a few times randomly...love that look. I added the sweet little Love Lives Here butterfly stamped with the coordinating image, added some fun distressed dots paper and, of course, my beloved berry sorbet ribbon. I picked a bold sentiment from Big Birthday Wishes and added some bling.

Now that I think of it, there's a bit of irony with this card...our Canadian Postal workers are on strike right now (ugh!). They are on a rotating strike, though, so mail is moving, just a little more slower than before.

Can't wait to see what you all come up with!!

So what can you win this time around?

A fabulous Fillable Frames#8 stamp set.

Here are the full challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post. Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, June 27th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Can't wait to see your elementary creations!

Caryn, Kate, Aimes and Moe
xxxx

Summertime Vibes...

Phew! So I finally get some time to post something here on the blog - sorry it's been so quiet recently; let's just say this time of year is proving to be super busy!

I'm counting down to the summer holidays now I'm back at work for our final seven weeks (or 33 days to be exact *wink*) I can almost taste the summertime: the fresh, juicy strawberries, the ice-cream, the late night drinks during the light nights...bliss!

Here are a couple of cards I've not shared with you here that definitely make me think of summer:

I'm not one to love Berry Sorbet as a colour but I think that could change if the sunshine sticks around. I'm loving this paired with white for that clean, fresh look (makes me think of watermelon - yummy!)

And finally, summer wouldn't be summer without some heat so let's turn it up with a hot, hot, HOT colour combo:

Well I'm in a summertime mood now - how about you?

Aimes
x

Card Deets
{happy happy birthday}
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Detail White EP (Stampendous)/Pink Gem (Hero Arts)/Raspberry Fizz Grosgrain Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

{Celebrate Your Day!}
Stamps: Friends 'til the End, Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink)/ Versamark
Cardstock: Berry Sorbet, Stamper's Select White, Vellum Cardstock (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Detail White EP (Stampendous)/Bling (Hero Arts)/White Gel Pen (Ranger)

Challenge: A Recipe for Fun...

Hey!

It's time for a fabby new challenge here on A Passion for Papertrey; I hope you're ready to play along!

We've cooked up a fun challenge this fortnight with a recipe! Nope, we're not actually baking, but asking you to follow a recipe when it comes to your papercrafting. We'd like to see you include the following delicious ingredients:

• A dollop of colour (3 colours - plus neutrals if required, e.g black/white)
• A sprinkling of buttons (2 buttons)
• A pinch of ribbon (1 Ribbon)

I'm no masterchef, but this is my kinda baking *wink* Here's what I cooked up for ya:


Card Deets
{Happy Birthday}
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Simply Chartreuse Vintage Buttons, True Black Grosgrain Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)/Cuttlebug/Circle Nestabilities/Chompy! Corner Chomper/Bling (Zva)/Promarkers to colour clear bling!

Finally getting around to using up some of the yummy PTI DP that I hoard! I think this card would be suitable for any birthday during summer with those blooms. The coordinating bling was originally a clear gem that I coloured with an alcohol marker to coordinate with the colour scheme (I ♥ this trick!)

Over to Kate: "This was a fun challenge!! My (fabulous!) Modern Basics set has been sitting un-inked in it's case for way too long so I quickly inked it up with New Leaf and Aqua Mist for this card. My only gripe is that the New Leaf ink didn't stamp too well.... roll on the new inks from PTI!! Ps. Have you seen that sentiment somewhere before?!


Recipe:
Stamps: Modern Basics (PTI)
Ink: New Leaf(PTI)/Aqua Mist(PTI)/Memento Tuxedo Black
Card: Stampers Select White/ Hawai'in Shore/Aqua Mist (PTI)
Other: Corner Chomper/Beautiful Blooms Dies (PTI)/Buttons - New Leaf & Aqua Mist (PTI)

Caryn will be back soon from her travels to Scotland to add her card!

HERE I AM! Better late than never as they say! Got a bit caught up with work and family but finally managing to get my project photographed and uploaded. So here it is. I made a little wall/door hanging for my niece who is going to be 10 on the 10th June. I have also made her a matching name decoration for her room which I will share later this week. I cut the heart from thin chipboard using the heart nestibilities and the felt using the Beautiful Blooms dies. The "e" for Ellie is a rub on I had lying in my stash for years!!

And finally but by no means least, as our featured stamper for May, here's Jen:
The colors I chose to use for this challenge are Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush & Spring Moss (and I used Kraft as a neutral...I hope that that was still within the rules!!). I ordered a few of the fruit stamps from Papertrey's recent release and I am in LOVE!! I haven't had a lot of time to stamp lately, but when I do, I find myself reaching for these sweet little sets! I really like being able to cut these cute little fruit images out of felt, fabric or paper! I kept the focus of this card very clean & simple. The words from the Tag It's #1 set (LOVE that font so much!!) fit perfectly in the space of the frame!


I also wanted to take a second to thank Kate, Aimes and Caryn for allowing me to play along this month!! I’ve had the best time!! Thank you so much!

Fancy joining us for a this recipe for fun? Well to tempt you a li'l bit more, up for grabs for one randomly selected peep is this super sweet stamp set:

Fruit Fusion: Cherries!

Here are the full challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, June 13th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

We can't wait to see what you rustle up with this recipe!

Aimes, Kate, Caryn & Jen
xxxx

Challenge: A Sketch!

Hello all, hope you had a fabulous weekend and enjoyed the extra days off - woo hoo! Everything is starting to go back to normal now (humph) so to cheer us all up here is a new challenge to sink your teeth into!

Thanks to Caryn for the first time here on A Passion for Papertrey we are giving you a sketch to follow! It's pretty simple and don't forget you can interpret it in any way you wish. As always you need to use at least one PTI product to be eligible for the prize.

So here is the sketch:


And here is my take on it - I stayed pretty close to the design, using a yummy colour combo of aqua, cream and red :)




Recipe: (PTI unless otherwise stated)
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments/Friends 'Til the End
Ink: Memento black
Card: Pure Poppy/Vintage Cream/ Library Ledger paper
Other: Labels One dies (Spellbinders)/Copic Sketch Markers/Aqua Mist saddle-stitch ribbon/Rustic Twine/Aqua Mist button


Over to Caryn ...

"I used a mix of Spring Moss and Pure Poppy (yum) and the focal point image comes from Blooming Button Bits. The buttons actually came off an old dress belonging to one of my girls!!! I stamped the sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages onto some off-white ribbon I had in my stash and used some off-cuts of paper from the Rustic Snowflakes paper pad."

And here's Aimes:
"Y'know I love a sketch challenge to kick-start the creative mojo - I find I get a little stuck in a rut otherwise, sticking to the same layouts all the time! For this sketch I flipped the stripes and moved the circular shape slightly to create a super-bright (well, it's bright IRL!) birthday card:

Card Deets
{BIG birthday wishes}
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, True Black, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Lemon Tart, Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Plum Pudding (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/True Black Vintage Buttons and True Black Grosgrain Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

I'm not sure if you can tell on the pic, but three buttons are peeking from behind the sentiment. :) And the best part about this card? It was created mainly from my scraps of coloured cardstock - bonus!"


And here is our fabulous May Featured Stamper, Jen...

“I really enjoyed working with this sketch and I couldn't resist pulling out one of my favorite color combinations, pure poppy & aqua mist with a neutral mixed in. I also couldn't resist adding a little yellow too. This color combo has always drawn me in and I love working with it! The patterned paper is from one of my favorite PTI pads, Bitty Box Basics (I would LOVE to have this paper in all the PTI colors!!) and the border strips were die cut with the Simple Circles border die which is quickly becoming a favorite die because it is so versatile! Throw in a Parisian Lace doily and some paper flowers and you have a fairly quick and simple card!”

And what is up for grabs this week? A fabulous 'Fly Away' mini PTI set!





Here's the boring bit...

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, May 16th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Looking forward to seeing all your fabulous sketch interpretations!
Kate, Aimes, Caryn & Jenxxxx

"Piece out, man"!!

Geddit? Piece, peace??? Ok, it's tenuous but a link all the same to our lovely new challenge which is to use paper piecing in your project. I love to do paper piecing but it can be time-consuming. I have to say though the result is usually worth it and PTI have loads of fabulous sets that lend themselves beautifully to this technique.
For my sample I chose a set that hasn't seen much love in a long time (hides head in shame). I love this cute little set though - it was among the first I bought. I have stamped it onto my favourite PTI paper too - the polka dot one from the Raspberry Fizz collection - yum. The sentiment is also from the Scattered Showers set.

Caryn

Recipe
{Wishing You Sunshine}
Stamps: Scattered Showers, Background Basics: Hearts (Papertrey Ink), Legder Stamp (Hero Arts)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Versamark, Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Raspberry Fizz collection (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:Raspberry Fizz twill ribbon/, Medium scallop border die (Papertrey Ink)

Over to Aimes:
Believe it or not, I don't actually own that many PTI sets that scream out, "Paper-piece me, girly!" but it is a technique that I seriously love when I've got the patience to do it, and it's a great way to use those diddy scraps you've been hoarding too *wink*

So after rooting through some of my sets, I came across the solid outline stamp of a butterfly from Butterfly Dreams; rooted through my Bitty Dots DP Scrap bag (yes, I am an organised, verging-on-OCD kinda gal when it comes to scraps!) and got busy:

As you can hopefully tell, I wasn't happy with just a pinky, dotty butterfly: I wanted a shiny, super glittery butterfly instead. Cue a good dollop of the Glossy Accents and glitter for a blingin' butterfly so bright it'd blind ya LOL!

Gotta love me some super-shiny-shimmery goodness :)

Card Deets
{Happy Birthday}
Stamps: Butterfly Dreams, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Versamark
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Basic White 6x6 Pad (Basic Grey)/Hibiscus Burst Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Simply Chartreuse Felt, Eyelet Border Die, Simply Chartreuse Button (Papertrey Ink)/Cuttlebug/Circle Nestability (Spellbinders)/Glossy Accents (Ranger)/Prisma Glitter/Chompy (Corner Chomper - We R Memory Keepers)

Over to Kate: "The minute I thought about this challenge I reached for my On My Couch set, and paper pieced the sofa with one of the papers from Turning a New Leaf - then added some shading with a copic marker to make it add a bit of dimension. A simple, CAS card for a special friend!"



Recipe:
Stamps - On My Couch/On My Couch Additions
Ink - Memento black
Card - Vintage Cream/Dark Chocolate
Paper - Turning a New Leaf
Dies - Mat Stack 5/Ric-Rak

So what's on offer this time round for all you lovely challengees?? It's this........

Fillable Frames #5 stamp set.

Here are the challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, March 21st 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Caryn, Aimes and Kate
xxxx

A new challenge!

Hello there! Thank you for joining us for another challenge! Before we go any further today we have just a bit of house-keeping for you - we've decided to change the day we start our challenges to a Tuesday. Our deadline will still be 9am on Monday morning (two weeks after the challenge has been set) with the winners being announced later that day. The new challenge will then be set on the following day.

OK, onto far more interesting business! For this challenge we're planning parties!! Ok, you don't actually have to plan a party (but if you do will you invite us!) - but we'd like to see what you can come up with when making an invite for a party. In fact in can be an invite to any event - wedding, christening etc - so long as it's an invitation and it features at least one PTI product you can enter the challenge!

For my sample I made a pocket card, using some scrummy Hawai'in Shores card and ribbon, and the Green boutique papers. Here's how it will be received:


And the recipient will pull out the card to reveal the invitation (which I will hand write on the white card).



Card recipe: (All PTI unless otherwise stated)

Stamps - Tags for Spring, Birthday Bash Sentimens
Ink - New Leaf
Card - Stamper's Select White, Hawai'in Shore
Paper - Green Boutique
Ribbon - Hawai'in Shores Saddle Stitch
Dies - Ric-Rac, 1 3/4in circles
Other - Corner Chomper

Over to Aimes
"Hmmmm....invites.....well I'll be the first to admit that I don't really make invites. Contrary to what you may believe, I'm not the 'Hostess with the Mostess' (I leave that trait to both Caryn and Kate LOL!) but I do love being invited to a good shindig *wink*

So I tried something a little different. Still on my tag kick from our last challenge and a vellum kick from the previous PTI Make It Monday challenge, I combined both to come up with this invite:

Yup, it's my party and everyone is invited! (But you'll have to share this one invite, OK?! Ha!)

The addition of a layer of a vellum on the tag tones down the bold background stamping underneath slightly. You could also use your printer to print the party details directly on to your sheet of vellum and then die cut out after. The transparency of the vellum means you can die cut after printing to absolute perfection :)

Invite Deets
{it's my party!}
Stamps: Damask Designs, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)/Sentiment from Frame-It (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink)/Versamark/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, Vellum (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provocraft)/Raspberry Fizz Grosgrain Ribbon, Tag Sale #1 Die, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Collection Dies, Medium Scallop Border Die(Papertrey Ink)

With hindsight I've realised that I could have also put a vellum overlay on the back of the tag as an RSVP too. Well if I ever do host anything I'll remember that tip for next time..."

And now to Caryn..

"Hey there folks and happy Tuesday. It's happy for me as it's half term here and that means no morning routine of getting the children to school -yay! I'm sure Aimes is with me there ;0).
Now, invitations. As much as I LOVE to entertain I too am a bit like Aimes and don't really get round to the invitation sending part. I tend to go for group texts!!! However, I have decided that for my hubby's 40th birthday in July (yes, I'm getting ahead of myself for once) I am going to do ACTUAL invites!! The card I've made here won't be the finished design - it'll be a bit more grown up (!) but this was the mood I was in when I made it so it's a bit more childish! Actually, when I think about it this would suit my other half perfectly!


{Recipe}
Stamps: Everyday Classics (2008 anniversary set), Round and Round (2009 anniversary set), Banner Builder
Card: Simply Chartreuse, Stampers select white.
Paper: Beautiful Blooms
Ink: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse
Accessories: Mat stack 4 die. Papermania gems.

As our featured stamper for February, here's Imke's fabulous invitation showing that you don't have to think of just parties for an invite. This sweet card is a lovely way to invite a friend for a get-together!

And here is the fabulous prize up for grabs! This super cute mini PTI stamp set will go to a randomly drawn winner -



Here are the challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, March 7th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.



Kate, Aimes, Caryn & Imke
xxxx

Background Basics...

Ahhh! Christmas: the presents have been unwrapped, the turkey has been cooked (and a month's worth remains in the fridge), and I've still got numb fingers from building lots of Lego toys with my nieces a nephews! Love it! I hope you've all had a happy Holiday
too!

Apologies for this challenge being posted later than usual: straight after Christmas I had a birthday to celebrate and a very snowy wedding to attend! I'm still recovering from the drinking, eating, celebrating and socialising (not necessarily in that order) that I can't believe I've even managed to get my head around posting this challenge!

We know it's still a super busy time of year so our challenge is pretty simple to join along with if you're lucky enough to find a few spare, inky moments *wink* For this fortnight's challenge we'd like to see how you use your background stamp sets on your projects. Don't own a background set? Then get creative and make your own if you fancy it!

My example is actually the card I gave to my mum for her Birthday (celebrated on Boxing Day so it's present galore all over again for us!)

Card Deets
{happy biRthDay}
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments, Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink)/London Fog (Memento)
Cardstock: White and Pink Shimmer Cardstock (Papetrey Ink)
Accessories: Fresh Snow Satin Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)/Chompy (Corner Rounder)/Ribbon (Scraps!)/Clear Gem (Hero Arts)

I do think Polka Dot Basics II is my most favourite background stamp set ever (don't tell my other sets that though!) nothing like a few polka dots to add an element of fun to a project!

Over to Kate:

"A very Happy Christmas to you all! I hope everyone has had a happy and peaceful few days, and now the festivities have quietened down a bit maybe you're even finding time to sneak into your craft room! My samples for this challenge are some Christmas cards I made a few weeks ago - I went for a slightly unusual Christmas colour (Hawai'in Shores) then like the card (and the speed with which it came together!) that I made a few more in other PTI colours:

Hawai'in Shores:


Ocean Tides:


Enchanted Evening:


Raspberry Fizz:


Recipe:

Stamps: Peaceful Poinsettia (background stamp)/2010 Holiday Tags
Ink: Fresh Snow/Versafine Black
Other: Adhesive Gems/Mat Stack 3 Die/White Grosgrain Ribbon

Over to Caryn:

"Hi there folks and a happy holiday season to you all. We have had another fantastic Christmas in our house and once again everyone is feeling very happy and a bit spoiled - me included! My card sample this week is, I'm sorry to say, ANOTHER Christmas card!! I know, probably the last thing you all want to see now but all I've made recently are Christmas cards, I can't think about anything else at this time of year. This card features the Big and Bold Holiday Wishes and Background Basics: Christmas sets. I love that little peppermint background stamp! Now I promise my next challenge card won't be a Christmas card - although I fully intend to make them throughout the year so there's no panicking at the end as usual!!"


And as our featured stamper for December, here's Aga:

"I love stamping custom backgrounds. It's a quick and easy way to create your own patterned paper and it gives you an almost endless possibility to create something unique!

Here are my samples of background stamping: two cards I made using one stamp from Guide Lines set. The sentiment comes from Blooming Button Bits set. Both are super quick and easy to make!"



So what else could tempt you to play along with us this fortnight? Well how about a sweet little stamp set:
Yup, one randomly selected European peep could be the owner of this new Signature Series: Cupcake mini stamp set!

Ready to play along? I hope so! Here's the deets:
* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've got a text based linky thing and not a piccy one at the moment!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, January 10th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Aimes, Kate, Caryn & Aga
xxxx

Happy, Happy, Happy...

Saturday already! Can't quite believe how quick the weeks are zooming by, is it really only 35 days until Christmas?!?! Eeek! I've only made one Christmas card so far......

So in typical Aimes style, I'll be making Christmas cards on Christmas Eve no doubt. But I digress anyways as I'm sharing a Birthday card with you today and not a Christmas one!


A pretty bright colour combo for me but the recipient of this card was my niece who wouldn't appreciate my preferred muted colour palette. Don't tell anyone, but I actually enjoyed playing with such bright, fun colours; it certainly brightened me up!

Hope your weekend is super bright too, maybe just with the crafting if the weather where you are is anything like it is here in Sheffield today!

Oooh and if you've got some scraps to use up, then why not spend the perfect day crafting away with 'em for our current challenge *wink*

Right, I'm off to make a real start on some Christmas cards.....

Aimes
x

Card Deets
{Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Birthday!}
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments, Polka Dot Basics II (Papertrey Ink)/Ledger (Hero Arts)
Ink: Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink)/Versamark/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores, Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Hibiscus Burst Grosgrain Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)/Bling (Hero Arts) /Chompy (Corner Chomper)

Scrapalicious!

Ready for a new challenge?! Well we wanna see what you can do with your scraps. Yup, that's right - you've been saving them forever, promising yourself that you'd use them for something and now is your chance. The moment to let those scraps shine! LOL!

Kate is off for a while dancing in Cuba. (No, seriously! She is! Lucky gal...hope she brings some sunshine and warmth back with her when she returns!) So that leaves Caryn, Bev and myself for this challenge.

I'll confess that although I'm a messy crafter, I'm meticulously organised when it comes to scraps. I have card, patterned paper and ribbon all in separate bags divided by colour. I'll scrimp and save the tiniest scraps of ribbon and that's what I focused on for this challenge.

Ribbon can be tricky - it frays, you need long strips to tie the prettiest of bows with it, so what do you do with the little bits that you're left over with? Well create your very own banner of course! I was inspired by the new PTI release and those banners in particular - *drool*


Card Deets
{It's a Celebration}
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Antique Linen (Distress Ink)/Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Cardstock: Fine Linen (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Library Ledger Collection (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon Scraps, Jute Ribbon Twine

I love that you could take this idea and create custom banners for any occasion! Just think, polka dots, satin, bitty dots or whatever colours you fancy - the possibilities are endless!

Over to Caryn:
Firstly, can I just say I LOVED this challenge! I have a drawer overflowing with the tiniest little scraps of PTI "waste" (gasp - can I say that??) and found it SOO liberating to make a use of some of those abandoned little treasures! Other than the base card which is Rustic Cream all the other bits and bobs came out of the scrap drawer. I already had the stamped frame and scallop border in there so that was my starting point - everything else just fell into place and I am right chuffed with the end result!

Now over to our lovely November featured stamper, Bev:
Like many crafters I find it hard to throw away scraps! I often die cut more shapes than I need when making a project and the ones I don't use end up in a box to use on a later project. Same goes for ribbon scraps, the little pieces after making a bow end up in the same box. I have to say it's not very often I go to the box to see what's in there! It's usually when I am faced with a challenge like this one that I go to the box!

After perusing Nichole's blog this morning the card she had made with the Hibiscus Burst & Scarlet Jewel colour combo jumped out at me as a fantastic colour combo and a combo I'd never attempted. I had a look in my now called 'scrapilicious' box and found these:

A while ago I was on a butterfly embellishment kick after seeing them on Dawn McVey's blog! I'd die cut loads of butterflies in an array of colours. The pink one using the Butterfly Dreams stamps and die was one I'd made for a set of Christening cards I'd made for a friend.

I used Nichole's card LO changing it slightly!

So have we tempted to you go rooting through your scraps?! I hope so! Remember that it doesn't have to be a card you create for your own entry - any paper-crafting project will count! And just to tempt you a bit more, up for grabs this fortnight for one randomly picked participant is this super sweet Fillable Frames stamp set #4:



Ready to play along? Here are those all important deets:
* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post. Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, November 29th 2010 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

So don't delay - root through your scraps today and turn something bland into something beautiful!

Aimes, Caryn and Bev
xxx