Sneak Peek: Papertrey Ink Train set

I always wanted to create a set which I could use for my son Xavier! I hate to toot my own horn, but this set came out SO cute! I cannot wait to share more with you over the coming days!



And the best thing about this set - it comes with my first coordinating die to make creating projects ...easy peasy lemon squeezy!





Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Celebration! {Stamp Designers} and a FS card

Three years ago, I was sitting on pins and needles waiting for Nichole to announce my addition to her Papertrey Family. Somedays, I still have to pinch myself. I cannot believe that I am part of this amazing ride. I have learned so much about design over the past few years and find my style changing a little bit with each stamp set that I design. What is amazing to me, after all this time, is that I can create a stamp set...and once it goes to Nichole and the design team - they bring the stamps to life....that is what makes the customers gasp and squeal with delight!

I am so thankful to be a part of Papertrey. It is so awesome to go into craft stores, flip through a magazine and see my stamp sets in action!


Nichole has the Anniversary Celebration down to a science - and tonight's {spotlight} is on the Stamp Design Team. There were a few changes in the team this year! Maile Belles is the new member of the team, so be sure to stop by her blog {simply stamped} and give her a warm welcome!

The team was challenged to come up with a tag for customers to download. Guess what you could potentially win? {go on....guess} The winner will have the opportunity to be a Papertrey Ink Guest Stamp Designer and work hand-in-hand with Nichole to help conceptualize a set they have always wanted to see come to life. SHAZAM!

{Here} is a link to the download! FUN STUFF!

Here is my creation, which is also based on a card by {3bugs&me}. Lori's card {Tea Party} really caught my eye.

I changed the colors & the stamp (obviously).


White base with a layer of a aqua mist, embossed with the giga guidelines impression plate. I used a variety of punches to create the main image, one it was printed on sweet blush paper. There is a white layer punched with the martha lace edge punch and a sweet blush layer die cut with the papertrey eyelet lace die. The main image was punched with the 1.75 circle punch. That was mounted on a circle of aqua mist and then on a punched scallop circle of white cardstock. The main image is on dimensionals. I put a nice big aqua mist polka dot ribbon on the card! LOVE IT!

I created this image for the Papertrey Ink anniversary celebration because I {LOVE} the sentiment. I feel like I was living an ordinary life when I met Todd twenty five years ago. Now...we are in the midst of a fairytale. Just like in love, my job with Papertrey seems like a fairytale dream. Thank you for sharing the dream with me!

Here are the other incredible ladies that make up the stamp illustration team at Papertrey!

• Alli Miles
• Beth Silaika
• Dawn McVey
• Maile Belles
  
• Lisa Johnson
• Heather Nichols
• Melissa Bickford
  
• Tiffany Pastor
• and of course Nichole
  

stamp: Free Papertrey Ink digistamp download (by Beth Silaika)
ink: printer
paper: sweet blush, aqua mist, white
misc: giga guidelines impression plate, scalloped edge die, circle punches, martha stewart edge punch, dew drops, dimensionals, ribbon

Enjoy every single moment of today!!!!!!

Papertrey Ink Favorites from the past year!

On of the first stamps released last year in the Freckledandfun line contained the amazing video from Nichole Heady during the Springtime Doodle release. You can see Nicole's post {here}. Watching her coloring bring the stamp to life really made me so happy!

I {loved} what Erin Lincoln did with my Been Boo'd set {here}. FUN!

I adored the elegant fun that Maile Belles had with the {Inside & Out: Birthday} set {here}.

Lisa started the holiday season early with her adorable creations using Tree with Trimmings {here}

The Get to the Point came to life with Heather (aka Pine's) colorful scrapbook page {here}


Here are a few of my favorite cards from the past year!

Those are some of my favorites from the past year! Stay tuned tomorrow for a fun new Anniversary PTI celebration!

Going Green!

This is the year that Todd and I are going to reduce our carbon footprint. Together, we decided that we needed to do something, so we researched installing solar panels in the backyard. We put in a large panel, which is the perfect for our size home, with enough extra to actually send back to the power company. Today there was an article published in the local paper. Here is an online version:
{Solar Panel Article}

I find myself walking around the house shutting off lights and trying to conserve energy. Have you thought of ways to help reduce your carbon footprint?

144 solar panels, a bunch of steel and some engineers!

Sneak Peek: Inside & Out Birthday day one

Here we are in the midst of another Papertrey Ink countdown. I still can hardly believe that I am part of this amazing company! {someone pinch me}

I not only have an amazing new birthday set coming out, but the team came together to create an awesome birthday tag set which is being released this month as well! EYE CANDY OVERLOAD!

This color scheme was so out of my comfort zone, but I have been finding the most cute clothes for Sophia, Isabella, Genevieve & Xavier at Gymboree lately (the older two are too tall for that store, shucks!). I got each of them a variety of {fashionista} outfits in stripes, argyle and solids using the raspberry, chocolate and moss color scheme. I got them all dressed for church in the outfits and realized that it would make an ADORABLE card color combo!

I started with a raspberry base, then added the chocolate and moss. The moss is stamped with the stars from Been Boo'd in moss ink. I added some dark chocolate polka dot ribbon to the card too. The sentiment was stamped on white, then cut with the Papertrey Ink fillable frames #3 die. I punched a variety of stars using the star punch and placed them on dimensionals, topping them off with some papertrey buttons.

all supplies from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted
stamps: Inside & Out Birthday, Been Boo'd (multi-star background)
paper: white, raspberry, dark chocolate, spring moss, designer paper (2008 bitty dot)
ink: raspberry, spring moss
misc: dark chocolate ribbon (polka dot), star punch, buttons (raspberry, chocolate, moss), fillable frames #3 die, medium scalloped border die

WAIT! Don't GO! Check out more sneak peeks available on the other designers websites:

check out Nichole's Blog along with Betsy Veldman, Dawn McVey, Heather Nichols & Melissa Bickford

Sneak Peek: Inside & Out Birthdays

This month, my stamp set Inside & Out Birthdays is going to be released. I am thrilled because I create so many birthday cards, I love to have sentiments available for cards. I think you are going to love the combination of fun, whimsical fonts which I used for this set! You will find yourself reaching for it over and over, and the ability to combine it with image stamps from your Papertrey collection will make it OH SO VERSATILE!

Stay tuned this week for samples featuring Inside & Out Birthdays! And check out Nichole's blog for more sneak peeks!

FS200: A time for reflection!

BEFORE I GET TO THIS WEEK'S FEATURED STAMPER, Please do me a huge favor and CONTINUE to VOTE FOR HANNAH'S HOPE FUND in the month of December! Last month, they went to #2 on the last day (they were in the money) and in the last 15 minutes, fell out of second place to #3. It was HEARTWRENCHING! Her parents, Lori & Matt are physically and emotionally spent. Instead of spending December getting out the vote, their friends and family are taking up the cause for them to create a HOLIDAY MIRACLE!

They are still 1.2 million dollars shy of being able to start the clinical trials and the $250,000 from Pepsi would really put a dent into the massive bill! Hannah is a six year old, first grader in Xavier's class. She is the sweetest little girl. Her parents are good friends who live in the next neighborhood over. Todd and I have taken up this cause, it is very close to my heart. Please take a moment from your stamping to vote for Hannah! Her life will be forever changed by the generosity of strangers! You can help make miracles happen!

#1 Vote for Hannah's Hope Fund today please!

http://www.refresheverything.com/hannahshope

#2: Vote again on Pepsi using your Facebook login.

#3: Vote on Facebook at:

http://apps.facebook.com/pepsirefresh/idea/view/id/4acec35e-713a-102d-a17f-0019b9b9e205?auth_token=a1e3a46c26b817bba04d7d68fd01d94c

#4: Text 104051 to 73774.

#5: Vote on your iPhone.

Think about how you can help out - spread the word! Reflect on all the wonderful things in your life and how simple (and FREE) this cause is and YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

(and here we go!!!) FS200!

DRUMROLL................
This week's Featured Stampers are the previous 199! Choose from ANYONE on {the list}.
Try and select someone who you have not cased before, or if you have done ALL 199 (I bow to you) - try and choose a card to case which you have not previously cased.


I chose PrincessHeather, from week 185 (FS185)!

Here is the card I made:


I changed the colors (to red, blue) and the theme to winter, removed the ribbon, added cord and used dry pressure embossing.

I loved the three cherries and the sentiment in the corner, so I used some poppy paper for the base, added a layer bashful blue with some swiss dots on the next layer, then stamped the ornament hanger in smokey shadow directly on the white. I stamped the pure poppy ornaments (circle) on white cardstock and then trimmed them out and popped them up on dimensionals. I stamped the sentiment in the corner, added some silver cord and then added some stickles to sparkle up the ornaments and hangers.

Simple and cute! THANKYOUVERYMUCH! (in my best Elvis voice).

In all seriousness, "tis the season" of hope and miracles. Please consider voting EVERYDAY for HHF in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge. What would you do for your child if they were dying! I would do anything, so I am helping get the word out for Hannah. Please share this with your friends and family this holiday season!

God Bless!




stamps: Winter Swirls (Papertrey Ink)
ink: poppy, smokey shadow
paper: poppy, white, bashful (SU!)
misc: silver cord (SU!), dimensionals, stickles, swiss dots folder

FS198: Criminalgrace

Before I get into the Featured Stamper Card, please do me a huge favor and VOTE FOR HANNAH'S HOPE FUN! They are 1.2 million dollars shy of being able to start the clinical trials and the $250,000 from Pepsi would really put a dent into the massive bill! Hannah is a six year old, first grader in Xavier's class. She is the sweetest little girl. Her parents are good friends who live in the next neighborhood over. Todd and I have taken up this cause, it is very close to my heart. Please take a moment from your stamping to vote for Hannah! Her life will be forever changed by the generosity of strangers! You can help make miracles happen!

#1 Vote for Hannah's Hope Fund today please!

http://www.refresheverything.com/hannahshope

#2: Vote again on Pepsi using your Facebook login.

#3: Vote on Facebook at:

http://apps.facebook.com/pepsirefresh/idea/view/id/4acec35e-713a-102d-a17f-0019b9b9e205?auth_token=a1e3a46c26b817bba04d7d68fd01d94c

#4: Text 104051 to 73774.

#5: Vote on your iPhone.

Here is the card I made for this week's challenge! I used the new stamp set by Our Craft Lounge called "Notes of Love". Isn't this a cute little ladybug card. Sophie's teacher called her Ladybug and she is *SO* my little ladybug. I think I will put this card aside to give her for a special occasion.

I cased Sarah's card {here}. Sarah (Criminalgrace) on SCS has a great clean style. Her card was the teal and black with a hint of pink. I decided to use kraft for the base of my main image. I liked the little pop of red on the card. I changed things by adding brads and making the card a square card. I also used the diamonds in the rough background.


It is so hard to see in the photograph, but for the ruffled edge, I used some satin ribbon and layered it then topped the ruffled satin with a strip of velvet rick rack. I used some brads to adhere the rick rack in place. The main image is popped up on dimensionals, colored with copics and then the ladybug has a hint of glitter courtesy of a sakura gel pen.

STAMPS = “Notes of Love” (new release from Our Craft Lounge)
PAPER = taken with teal, black, white, kraft
INK = black, copics
MISC = ribbon (black embossed satin and black velvet rickrack, may arts), sakura gel pen, dimensionals, square scalloped punches, diamonds in the rough embossing folder

Hannah's Hope Fund - Pepsi Refresh November!

Vote for Hannah's Hope Quick Reference

Vote daily 4 times a day
(or 5 if you have a cell & iPhone.)

#1: Our partners page on Pepsi:

http://pep.si/HHF_Vote_Now

If there are any issues with the above page, vote for HHF at:
http://www.refresheverything.com/hannahshope

#2: Vote again on Pepsi using your Facebook login.

#3: Vote on Facebook at:

http://apps.facebook.com/pepsirefresh/idea/view/id/4acec35e-713a-102d-a17f-0019b9b9e205?auth_token=a1e3a46c26b817bba04d7d68fd01d94c

#4: Text 104051 to 73774.

#5: Vote on your iPhone.

Sneak Peek: Holiday Tag Set 2010

Check out Nichole's Blog {here} for some links to ideas with this fun new set!

Trees with Trimmings, now available...

Are you ready for your mid month shopping excursion over at Papertrey ink? The stamp set, Tree with Trimmings, is now available!




you can click on the Tree with Trimmings link box on the sidebar to go directly to the Papertrey Website link, which also has a link to the design team samples. Anytime you want to see the samples I created with my set, just click on the Trees with Trimmings cloud link on my sidebar!

Happy Shopping

Sneak Peek: Trees with trimmings, day five

I just love this color combo - and it works for the holidays as well! I stamped the tree in the plum ink (I cannot wait for the new PTI inks, my inks are getting SO STINKIN DRY!). I used versamark on the plum paper with the snowflakes. That came out really nice and bold! A smidge of PTI dot basics designer paper in the spring moss, and a plum satin bow.

Do you know the drill? These fabulous ladies have more SHAZAM for the EYEBALLS!

Lisa Johnson, Alli Miles, Heather Nichols, Becky Oehlers, Dawn McVey & of course Nichole Heady

Plum Moss Holiday Card:
stamps: Tree with Trimmings {Papertrey Ink, available 9.15.10}
ink: plum pudding
paper: spring moss polka dot basics, white, plum pudding
misc: scalloped edge punch, dimensionals, satin plum ribbon

Sneak Peek: Trees with trimmings, day four

Here is a bunch of sneak peek with my latest stamp set, Trees with Trimmings.

For this first card, I used just the snowflake from the set for the "o" in Joy! I stamped it in fresh snow ink, and white it was still wet, doused it with fine glitter. The J and Y are from Outline Alphabet and the "to the world" is from Holiday Button Bits. Main image is spring rain cardstock, dry pressure embossed with the swiss dots folder. The J & Y were colored in with a white gel pen. Main image is mounted on white cardstock, scallop edge punched on the bottom, finished with a PTI gingham ribbon and a blue dew drop in the center of the snowflake.

Here is a quick and easy way to create a last minute holiday gift. These are going to be teacher gifts this year. I created some fun patterned paper with the snowflakes from the Trees with Trimmings set, using white copy paper, spring moss, ripe avocado and scarlet jewel inks. The homemade designer paper is attached to the candle with red line tape. I took a piece of scarlet jewel ribbon, attached it to the paper using more red line tape. Finally, I punched some snowflakes with the extra jumbo and super jumbo snowflake punches.

I used spring moss and ripe avocado cardstock scraps, with a small scarlet jewel button in the center of each snowflake.Finally, I created a quick card with some of the fun trees from the set. I made a nice long card (I never think of making this size)....the base is spring moss and the trees are all stamped in spring moss. The stars are pure poppy (boy is that ink pad getting dry)....and the sentiment is pure poppy. I used some poppy buttons and tied some rustic thread in the buttons!


Bet you think this is it? No WAY! Check out these other blogs for more goodies!

Lisa Johnson, Alli Miles, Heather Nichols, Becky Oehlers, Dawn McVey & of course Nichole Heady



Joy Card:
stamps: Tree with Trimmings {Papertrey Ink, available 9.15.10}, Holiday Button Bits, Outline Alphabet (PTI)
ink: fresh snow, black
paper: spring rain, white
misc: corner rounder, dimensionals, glitter, dew drop (blue), gingham ribbon (blue), scalloped edge punch

Holiday Candle:
stamps: Tree with Trimmings {Papertrey Ink, available 9.15.10}
ink: spring moss, ripe avocado, scarlet jewel
paper: spring moss, ripe avocado, white copy paper
misc: snowflake punches, scarlet jewel ribbon, scarlet jewel buttons, red line tape

Merry & Bright Card:
stamps: Tree with Trimmings {Papertrey Ink, available 9.15.10}
ink: pure poppy, spring moss
paper: spring moss, pure poppy, cream
misc: buttons, rustic thread

Sneak Peek: Trees with trimmings, day three & FS 188

This week's featured stamper is Terri, aka, Die Cut Diva! She has some fun cards to check out in her gallery, and I decided to case {Happy Birthday CAS style}. I changed the colors, theme and stamp set. I moved the sentiment to a tag too.

I haven't used enchanted evening in a long time, so I thought it would be nice to use it on tonight's card, keeping it clean and simple. I used a white base, then took a piece of enchanted evening cardstock and ran the bottom portion through a crimper. I stamped random snowflakes on the main image with enchanted evening and fresh snow ink. I alsi stamped some snowflakes on some PTI white ribbon with the enchanted evening ink. I stamped the tree on white cardstock and trimmed it out, then adhered it onto the enchanted evening piece with dimensionals. The punched tag was stamped with the sentiment and three mini snowflakes, then tied to the ribbon with rustic thread. Finally, I used some stickles on the tree to give it a little bling and a little gel pen on the tiny snowflakes on the tag.

See what Heather Nichols has going on using both of her new sets.

Lisa Johnson has even more ideas using Background Basics: Christmas.

Alli Miles is creating eyecandy using Holiday Spirit Sentiments today.

Dawn McVey has inspirational ideas with her new Color Couture download.

Nichole has a plethora of new creations on her blog too!

stamps: Trees with Trimmings {Papertrey Ink, available 9.15.10}
paper: white, enchanted evening
ink: fresh snow, enchanted evening
misc: crimper, stickles, dimensionals, PTI white grosgrain ribbon, tag punch, gel pen

Sneak Peek: Trees with trimmings, day two

Here is another sneak peek of the Trees with Trimmings set. I used some kraft cardstock with some random snowflakes stamped on the background in white ink. There is a layer of pure poppy, dry pressure embossed the snowflake folder.


I used ripe avocado ink with the tree stamp on avocado paper. I dotted the scalloped edge of the trees with white ink, then over the top of the white, I used some stickles. The main images is on dimensionals, corner rounded on one side, finished with some pure poppy buttons.

Be sure to check out other eye candy:

Alli Miles is showing us the new set, Holiday Spirit Sentiments

Lisa Johnson showing us some Background Basics: Christmas.

Heather Nichols showing us the new sets she created this month.

Becky Oehlers is showing us the new set she created called Framed.

Dawn McVey has the new Color Couture download

and finally Nichole has some fun new stuff to showcase on her blog!

stamps: Trees with Trimmings {Papertrey Ink, available 9-15-10}
paper: kraft, pure poppy, ripe avocado
ink: ripe avocado, pure poppy, white
misc: corner rounder, white gel pen, stickles, pure poppy buttons, cuttlebug folder

Sneak Peek: Trees with trimmings, day one

Welcome to the first card which I created with my stamp set. Sometimes when I get the completed set - I look at it and don't know where to begin. When I create the stamps, I usually have ideas in mind, but months later, when the final version arrives, I get flustered! This time, when I opened my set, I knew that it would be so easy to create holidays cards and altered items with it. The lines are so clean, they are easy to trim and layer. The sentiments are so petite, they fit nicely on the card, but are large enough that they don't get lost!

I used a combination of new leaf cardstock and a variety of papertrey ink designer paper (some chocolate remix and the chocolate bitty dot basics). I used a smidge of the new leaf twill and a scalloped circle punch piece of chocolate cardstock, mounted on a few dimensionals. The trees were stamped in new leaf ink on the PTI cream paper, trimmed and then mounted and layered with dimensionals and adhesive.



Stop by tomorrow to see some more sneak peeks from the set. I will take a 360* whirl with color and come up with a lighter, soft combo to showcase the set!

Be sure to stop by Nichole's blog to see what creative ideas she has in store this month!



stamps: {Trees with trimmings} Papertrey ink
paper: new leaf, cream, PTI designer paper
ink: dark chocolate, new leaf
misc: ribbon, punch, dimensionals