PTI November Blog Hop 2014!

Happy Tuesday!  I am playing along today with PTI November Blog Hop 2014!   This month the challenge is all about SNOW this month!  

I got my inspiration from this photo on the blog.  I just love the individual jumbo sized flakes.  I see more hues of soft blues, so I decided to use PTI Stitched Snowflake die and cut it out using some blue glittered card stock.  I wanted to make a shaker card, but I find the process tedious when I am in a hurry.  I have come up with a full proof method that works for me that is easy peasy.  Thought I would share!

The Easy Way to Shake Shake Shaker!  
  
I die cut the scalloped rectangle frame from the Shaker and Sprinkles Kit 6 times.  I glue together 5 layers using Tombow Mono Aqua Glue.  Love this stuff.  You must make sure all 5 layers are glued around the inside edges and liquid glue works the best for this.  Next, I cut out the clear acetate for the shaker winder.  On the top of the fifth layer I add  1/8" score tape all the way around the inside frame.  I cut the acetate so that is it slightly smaller than the tape width.  I glue my acetate sheet to the top5th layer of the stacked frames.  Then,  I add some clear glue all around the edges of the top frame making sure to get the scalloped sections as well.  I glue the final frame onto the top.  This gives me a 6 layered frame die cut with the acetate window sandwiched between the 5th and 6th layer.  I let it dry for a few minutes.  

I glued the blue ice snowflake to the back panel.  I flip the acetate window frame over and fill with my shaker elements.  In this case I am using some sequins and the white sprinkles from the Shaker and Sprinkles kit.  I use more 1/8" inch score tape and add the solid backing onto the card.  My shaker box is complete.  I love doing shaker boxes this way because there is no foam tape sticky edging to worry about.  Not to mention trying to get that foam tape to stick in all the right places.   The thickness of the card stock sandwich is plenty deep to add shaker elements.  Takes all the fussiness out of creating a shaker.

I like the clean lines and unobstructed view for this card so I opted to not add a sentiment to the outside.  To complete the card I scored a background panel.  I used some foam tape to pop it up.  Then, I added some foam tape to the shaker box.  The card is all white with just the focal blue ice snowflake in the spotlight!  

As always thank so much for hopping by!

Betty

Merry Christmas!

Happy Sunday!  Popping in with another Christmas card!  I am playing along with this week's PTI Make It Monday Challenge...Gold Dipped die cuts.  

I usually have a stash of Christmas cards ready to go by this time of the year.  I was looking the other day and realized I have very few Christmas cards made.  I am trying to knock out a few this week.  

I started with pure poppy base.  I die cut the large frame from Fabulous Frames 3 times and glued together.  I stamped the sentiment from the Polka Dot Parade set before I glued all the panels together.  I die cut the Polka Dot Parade #9 die twice.  I stamped each section of the tree with coordinating image from the Polka Dot Parade #9 stamp set.  I used chartreuse, poppy, hibiscus burst, harvest gold, and limeade ice.  I used dark chocolate

for tree trunk base.   I swiped each piece at the scalloped edge with versa mark and gold embossed.  I glued all the pieces to a strip of card stock and glued to the back side of the fabulous frame.  I actually inked the entire tiny star and gold embossed the whole thing.  I popped the entire frame and tree using foam tape.  I added a few shiny sequins and my card was complete.  

While this card is mailing friendly and looks clean and simple, it is still labor intensive for mass producing.   I am using the sketch from this week's Retro Sketch.  

This challenge reminded me of the card I did for PTI June 2013 Blog Hop!  Check out the post Thinking of You.....memories!



As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

You've Been On My Mind! PTI MIM Challenge!

I am popping in tonight with a card for this week's Papertrey Make It Monday Challenge!  It has been a busy week.  I went to school this week and moved my classroom and got it decorated.  I am teaching 7th grade this year.  My summer vacation is almost over.  I have 1 day before I officially return!  

This week's PTI challenge is using embossing paste to create backgrounds.  I have used embossing paste once before.  It is one of those techniques where you do have to plan ahead and allow for drying time.  Other than that, it is like frosting a cake.

I started with white card stock and the harlequin die to create a stencil.  I  combined paste and Spring Rain reinker.  I decided I wanted it darker so I added some Enchanted Evening reinker.  I added for a highlighted effect some plain white paste over the darker blue.  I let it dry.  I added gold embossed vellum feathers from Feather Finery set, a sentiment from Friendly Flowers, and some tiny clear gems and my card was complete.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty 

Sending You Christmas Joy! MIM and More!

Happy Thursday!  It has been a busy week!   With school starting back in a couple of weeks, I am trying to cram as much into my days as possible.  I did take a few moments to play in my crafty space so I made a Christmas card.   I am playing along with Papertrey Inks Make It Monday Challenge.  This week we are to make borders using non border dies.  

I chose to use the Wonderful words die: Joy.  I started in the center of the pure poppy card stock.  I die cut only a portion of the word.  Just under the open letter O.  Majority of the word is cut out.  Once the center JOY was die cut, I  then die cut the word on each end.  I  die cut the word JOY 3 times using rustic white card stock.  I used the Wonderful Words Mini Joy stamp set and embossed in white the Joy musical sentiment.  Love the way the white on white looks.  

I glued the white embossed JOY words on top of the red just staggering slightly the white so the red shows as a subtle shadow underneath.  Next, I used a Big and Bold Wishes and Big and Bold Christmas Wishes and white embossed a sentiment.  I used the Basic Background Musical Score and stamped using versamark onto the pure poppy.  I love this subtle effect.  I cut the rustic white base with a portion cut out on the left to showcase the JOY border.  I stamped the background of the rustic white using Background Basics Super Stripes in red to create a tonal plaid pattern.  I love the bold red and white combo.  I glued the pure poppy panel to the rustic white base and the card  was done.  I debated adding an embellishment, but decided I liked it as it was and it would make mailing easier.  I also like the fact that I could orient the card horizontal or vertical.  Great option.  Could even make a cool pocket style to house a family picture or gift card for the holidays. 

 I am also playing along with Christmas Card Challenges:  Embellish It option(I chose not to).  I am also playing along with the Festive Friday Inspiration Challenge.  I focused on the sending.....the JOY of the Season is on the way!  Simon Monday Challenge:  Family!  Christmas is about being with family and sharing in the Birth of Jesus!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Thanks So Much! MIM and MORE!

I am playing along with this week's PTI Make It Monday Challenge.  This week we are to create a diamond wallpaper pattern.   I am also playing along with this week's Just Us Girls Inspiration Photo Challenge.

For my card I chose to use PTI Lovely Layers set to create my background image. I was playing off the many colors I see in the inspiration picture.  I thought this image looked like the different colored pinwheels.   For the centers,  I stamped the solid small floral image from Basic Backgrounds: Venice.  

I added the sentiment to the hello sunshine die cut from kraft card stock.  I stamped with true black ink the sentiment from  Mini Blooms stamp set.  I added some stitching.  I just had to add the larger of the new scribble dies cut from vellum.  I just love these dies to create a whimsical detail  element.  I finished with some homemade enamel dots.

I mounted my card to a kraft background to resemble the beige background wall in the photo.  I think my camera is on its last leg.  Boo Hoo!  It is not working right.   I will try to take a better photo in the morning and see if that will help.  


As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty