Papertrey Gracious Vases...Part 1

Oh. My. Goodness. This set.... This set....

Did Maile Belles design it for lil ol' me?

Because it fits me like a glove. Or my skinny capri jeans.

I love those skinny capri jeans, people.

And this stamp set. See.

I can make girly, gingham, sweet cards like the one above. Or simple dude cards like the one below.

I turned that solid vase sideways and made a border of it. And used browns. Dude. DUDE!!!!

I've got more. Lots more. I even colored.

And had so much fun I went out and added a few more Copics to my marker collection. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Happy Sunday!

PS If you enjoy reading fiction and haven't read The Help yet, please consider picking it up. I don't think I've had a novel touch me this deeply in a long time and sure hope they don't botch it with the movie.

Quick Card Set

I needed a bunch of thank you cards for people at my church on short notice, so I pulled out two Papertrey sets: Simple Little Things (a limited edition anniversary set) and Everyday Blessings.

Add a bit of bling, round the corners with scallop scissors (tutorial to come on that), and you're done!

Happy Sunday!

What's with the Top Fold?

Someone asked why I make portrait-oriented cards with folds on the top rather than the side. Honestly, I hadn't really thought about it. No good reason, I guess, except that I find it easier to photograph them that way and they seem to stand up better for display.

Here's a portrait-oriented card with a top fold. See how nicely it stands for its picture?

Now, here's a landscape-oriented picture with a top fold. It also stands nicely.

As far as I know, there are no rules about folds. I certainly don't judge folds. In fact, you can fold any way you want and as long as you're not hurting anyone, it's okay in my book.

Orientation, on the other hand, does have certain design rules, but those pertain to balance and harmonious composition for each individual card. Neither orientation is right or wrong in and of itself; orientation is a case-by-case issue, as these two cards show.

And by the way, I don't judge orientation, either.

Supplies
stamps: Shady Tree Studio Eastertide (a gift from STS's owner Nancy)
ink: Palette noir
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: colored pencils, dimensionals, scallop scissors

Not Quite an OLW40 Card

My plan Wednesday was to work on several challenge cards, including Jennifer's fab OLW40 challenge. Instead, I got sick. As in my throat is on fire and Ricola is my best friend. As in get me ten boxes of Puffs Plus Lotion with Vicks, STAT!

Needless to say, my cold-medicated self channeled weirdness into my other blog (you can read it here) and left nothing for stamping. So today's card is one I stamped last month that I've been saving for just the right time. And now is that time.

Believe it or not, this took three tries. First, the dogwood stamp didn't give a good impression (user error in inking, actually), plus the sentiment used too dark a brown and looked really harsh. Second, the dogwood looked great but the sentiment got smooshed on either end. This stamp, from Papertrey's Everyday Blessings set, is hard to stamp evenly, and I'm not sure why. This was my third and final attempt, and the sentiment still doesn't look perfect. But three's my limit.

And I love how the dogwood image and sentiment work so beautifully together!

Will someone please pass the Puffs?

Supplies
stamps: dogwood (Hero Arts), sentiment (Papertrey)
ink: I can't remember
paper: PTI vintage cream
accessories: not a one

Inscribed

I decided before my new Papertrey set arrives I need to clear out the new stamp basket. In it was this sentiment stamp I picked up on sale at Hobby Lobby. I loved the message but wasn't sure what image to pair it with.

Then I remembered this pen from Letters to Friends, an old StampinUp vintage set that I simply can't part with, even if it's vintage. You see, I used to collect fountain pens and still use them occasionally when I think to put ink in them.

So I settled on this very simple layout using softer colors for the pen and crisp black for the sentiment.

We are each of us inscribed on the palm of his hand. Which is rather a comforting thought, don't you think?

Supplies
stamps: Stampabilities, StampinUp
ink: Memento
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: stamp postitioner