Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Time!

Woo hoo!
It's time for another Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!
This month's challenge was to get inspired from your own Christmas decorations.

I couldn't help but use the stocking hanging from the mantle, but I do apologize for the photo.
Anywho.... I also couldn't bear to make one more Christmas card- 64 was definitely my limit this year. So I decided to make a little mock-up of our mantle for my sweet princess's bedroom, so she could have a little bit of decoration in her room, too.
You just have to promise not to laugh. My princess is 4, and not too hard to please- yet.


So here's the little fireplace with our stockings hanging from it.
I searched for far too long on the internet for a fireplace template before I gave up and just decided to make my own. I hear giggles- didn't you people promise not to laugh?
The stocking are made from "Stocking Prints" in True Black, White, Pure Poppy and Sweet Blush, and the little stocking hangers are made from the tiny gift from "Believe". The trees on the mantle are from "Vintage Picnic", and the Santas flanking the fireplace are from "Holiday Button Bits". You probably can't see the detail very well, but the front of the fireplace was stamped with images from "Fancy Flourishes" and embossed with Filagree white embossing powder (too bad most of it is covered by the stockings). The centerpiece on top of the mantle didn't fare too well. I couldn't get it to cooperate. Ha! It was made from several punchies from a Martha Stewart punch, decorate with Doodlebug rhinestones.
The logs in the fireplace were generously donated by my PeeGee Hydrangea bush, cut by my wonderful son (his loving contribution to the project). I sprinkled a little Martha Stewart glitter over various items to try to give it a little sparkle.
So that's my little project for this month's Blog Hop. I hope you enjoyed it, and I can't wait to see what everyone else created.

Let It Snow

I don't really mean it; I don't like snow. I mean, it's pretty WAY out in a field somewhere, but that's not the only place it falls, now is it? It gets on the streets, and cars drive through it, and then there's this nasty, gray slushy goop all over the place.... What does that have to do with Christmas cards, you ask? Nothing, I just ramble. BWAHHAAAA!!!

This sweet little snowman is from Stampavie, simply called "Snowman". The cardstock is from PTI in Pure Poppy, White, Hibiscus Burst, Kraft, and Ocean Tides. Others stamps are Polka Dot Basics, Holiday Tree and Guide Lines. The ribbon is Pure Poppy Satin. Isn't that the yummiest ribbon? I used up every bit of it that I had. (Not to worry, I ordered more) :)

These little guys are from The Cat's Pajamas- Polar Holiday. Cardstock colors are Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, and Pure Poppy. The background is Polka Dot Basics (I told you I used that one a lot)

This happy little penguin is also from the Polar Holiday set from The Cat's Pajamas. Cardstock colors are Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, and Pure Poppy. Again, the background is Polka Dot Basics. I tossed a little Liquid Applique on this one to liven him up a bit.

Well, I guess that's it for today. I've still got a lot of cards to show you. It doesn't look like I'm going to be able to show them all before Christmas. I've got to get up early tomorrow to start the baking. Woo hoo!

I hope everyone has a grand evening, and if I'm not back before then-

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

DIY DP

Well now, let me tell you what I did with these. These were actually some of the last cards I made. You know when you make lots of cards at once, you're left with TONS of scraps? So these cards made use of these scraps. I just cut them all to the same length, stamped them, and played mix-n-match for a little DIY DP (reminded me of some of the PTI patterned paper that I just never bothered to buy). I did not, in fact, buy ANY DP for my projects this Christmas. The first few cards I made just didn't need any, and as soon as I realized that I had made six or seven cards with no DP, it became a personal challenge to see if I could do ALL of them this way.


So everything is from Papertrey Ink- there's Spring Moss, Hibiscus Burst, White, and Ocean Tides cardstock. Stamps are Snowflake Serenade, Polka Dot Basics, Background Basics Retro, Believe, and Holiday Button Bits. Buttons are Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, and Hibiscus Burst. The ribbon is Spring Moss Polka Dot Satin.

The stamp on this one is from Verve- O Christmas Tree (love that tree, it's very versatile). Cardstock is Rustic White, Smokey Shadow, Aqua Mist, and Scarlet Jewel. The tree is stamped in Aqua Mist, and the sentiment is stamped in Smokey Shadow. Other stamps are from Polka Dot Basics and Holiday Tree. The ribbon is Scarlet Jewel satin. (PTI has THE most luscious satin ribbon).

The main image stamp on this one is from The Cat's Pajamas- Candyland Christmas (c'mon, ya know that one makes you smile). Other stamps are Background Basics Retro, Holiday Tree, Polka Dot Basics, and Believe. Cardstock colors are Pure Poppy, White, Spring Moss, and Hibiscus Burst, and the ribbon is Spring Moss twill.

Okay, that's it for now. Got to play Old Maid with La Princessa before her bath.

Maybe I'll get to come back later (I still have several more to share).

Christmas Kitties

I've got a few more to show you. I mentioned a few posts ago that NONE of my cards used DP. They're all cardstock from Papertrey Ink. Any patterns on the cardstock are stamps (just thought that needed repeating) :)

The same little kitty from Pink Cat Studio- this card was done in Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst, and Pure Poppy. I actually ran out of Raspberry Fizz mid-project (I was so mad at myself for not keeping better track of my inventory- I've since solved that problem, and I'll show you what I did sometime later)

This one is a different kitty from the same Pink Cat Studio set called Christmas Kitties. Seriously, how cute are those cats, anyway?

Same kitty, different color scheme (this is the card I ran out of Raspberry Fizz on).

Also, if I haven't mentioned it, I LOVE COPICS!!!! I keep practicing with them, someday I might even be good at them, but they sure are fun to play with.

Be back in a bit.

Did You Say Christmas Cards?

Here's more Christmas card eye candy. I'm really glad I'm done with all of them; it was such a whirlwind marathon card making undertaking for me. Lots of fun too, though, if that makes any sense.
Again, most of these are CASEs of the Papertrey Ink Design Team, at least the sketches, if not the entire card.

Here we have PTI cardstock in Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst, and Raspberry Fizz. The cutie kitty is from Pink Cat Studios- Christmas Kitties (love those kitties).


This one is PTI cardstock in Scarlet Jewel and Smokey Shadow. The stamps (PTI) are from the sets called Believe and Background Basics: Retro. It's topped with Scarlet Jewel Saddle Stitch ribbon.

Lastly, this one is from the Papertrey Ink Gallery archives. This card is the one that made me want to buy the Nestabilities. I just thought it was an awesome card. The tree is from the same set (Believe) as the card pictured above. The little white balls are just liquid applique that I didn't apply heat to. Ribbon is Aqua Mist satin.

See you again soon with some more. Anybody crying "uncle" yet? I hope not; I like sharing these with you. Just be gentle with the comments; I'm quite fragile. Ha Ha

O Christmas Card, O Christmas Card

Here's three more cards I have to share. I was really having fun with these.
With as many cards as I had to make, I had to keep things simple. I'm a slow card maker as it is, and what with all the holiday goodies to make, and kids to keep up with, and shopping to do (I know you all know what I'm talking about), so every free moment I had was spent on my projects.



Did I mention how much I love Dawn McVey's designs? This one is done is Lavender Moon and Scarlet Jewel (PTI colors). I'm not sure what possessed me to pair these two colors (I think it was Dawn's influence), but I love how they looked together. Stamps are Damask Designs and Stocking Prints.

I think this is the last one like this- this one is done in Spring Rain and Enchanted Evening (I do so love blue- again, both PTI colors). I just love Papertrey Ink- sigh!

Okay, so not ALL the cards I did had PTI images. This completely adorable snowman is from Hampton Art. I couldn't resist him, and he was SO much fun to color with Copics. There's Enchanted Evening polka dot ribbon and Spring Rain and Enchanted Evening cardstock. The background stamp is from Background Bascis: Retro and the little snowflakes are from Holiday Tree (do I need to tell you those are PTI stamps?)

I'm enjoying sharing these with you, but that's probably it for today.

I don't want you to get tired of looking at these.

I hope everyone has a great night!

Loving Christmas

Again with the CASEd cards; these are all variations of cards from Dawn McVey. The Papertrey Ink design team are creative geniuses, IMHO.

This one uses Damask Designs as the background in Sweet Blush Ink, and a matching cute little stocking from Stocking Prints, both sets from Papertrey Ink.

Here's the little cutie pie gingerbread man again (from Holiday Button Bits). The background is Polka Dot Basics. I'm pretty sure Polka Dot Basics is my favorite set; it's certainly my most used set.

Damask designs again, this time paired with an ornament from Vintage Ornaments (Papertrey Ink). The ornament is accented with some glitter from Martha Stewart. I really like that glitter, by the way.

Be back soon with more.

I'm breaking these up so you won't have to read so much at once; I really don't want to bore anyone.

I really am loving Christmas!

Back for Christmas

Well, hey everybody!
Yeah, I dropped off the face of the earth for a while; took a little break from card making.
Then Christmas card season hit.
I've got all my cards finished and disbursed (64 of them).
Since I had so many to make, I didn't have time to come up with my own designs.
Most of the cards I'll be showing you are CASEs from my favorite PTI ladies.
Here's a little tidbit that amused me (doesn't take much). I used absolutely NO DP on any of the cards.




This one uses the adorable little santa from PTI's Holiday Button Bits with Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist cardstock.

Again with the Holiday Button Bits- I love this little gingerbread man. The polka dots are Polka Dot Basics from PTI colored with Copic markers. The border punch is from Martha Stewart.

I love the mostly white cards; don't know what it is about them- I just like them.

The stamp here is from Verve- O Christmas Tree, embossed with silver embossing powder and then inked around with Spring Rain ink from Papertrey Ink. The scalloped edge is from an EK Sucess border punch, and of course everyone recognizes the Spellbinders products.

I've got tons more, and would like to share them all before Christmas, so see you soon!