Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge

It's Blog Hop time again for Papertrey!!!  This month's theme is felt.  I love PTI's new line of felt.  I chose to use some of their Hawaiian Shores felt for this card.  I also used felt from Hobby Lobby that I already had on hand.  No stamping on this card.  YIKES!

Quick explanation:

• SU's Top Note die for the large black felt piece
• Cuttlebug flower die for all blossoms except biggest HS piece
• Blossom Two nestie for largest flower
• Delightful Dahlia dies for leaves
• Green Boutique patterned paper on black cs layer
• rub-on for sentiment
• rhinestones colored with Copic marker
• black brad for flower center

Chocolate Leaves

I finally had time to make a card!  I cannot believe I haven't stamped anything in two weeks.  I knew that I wanted to participate in Ted's fun May challenge.  Have you seen it?  Oh my, what a creative challenge.  He called it Eat Your Heart Out!, a menu challenge.  Go check it out and play along.

Here are the rules I had to follow since my birth year ends in a 2:

• card base = brown
• technique = paper piecing
• embellishment = floss, string, thread
• main image = leaves

Here's what I came up with:

I can't tell you how hard this challenge was for me.  I started with another idea, using a different stamp set, and worked on it forever before giving up.  In the end, I decided to keep it simple.  The paper piecing was the hardest part.  I couldn't get any creative juices flowing.  I wanted to stick to leaves and not add any flowers, etc. so I just decided to paper piece two of the leaves that I stamped on the base.  I added the button for balance.  What do you think?





All products from Papertrey Ink unless noted

Stamps:  Year of Flowers: Violet
Paper:  Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Green Tea Leaves pp
Ink:  Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate
Accessories:  new leaf button, DMC floss 967, long rectangle nesties (spellbinders), pop dots

So Sweet of You

Happy Thursday everyone!  I worked on this card in pieces, over weeks.  That's how I make a lot of my cards.  I stamp some cardstock when I have time.  I punch out something when I have time.  I put two layers together when I have time.  You see how it goes.  I rarely sit down and finish an entire card all at once.  It usually slowly evolves.

• So, I had stamped a piece of vintage cream cardstock with my Tin Types background, in Ocean Tides ink.  Then it sat. 
• I walked by it a day later, and punched out five butterflies.  They sat.
• A week later, I stamped this piece of Kraft cardstock with my woodgrain stamp.  Guess what...Yep, it sat around too.
• After another week, I thought I should get those pieces off my desk and focus on finishing the card.  I cut the base of Ocean Tides cs and the rest of the card came together in no time.  I love the Dark Chocolate button I found in my stash.  I rubbed a little vintage cream ink over it to show the texture.

What's my problem?  Not enough time?  Maybe, but I don't really care.  It doesn't bother me.  I live an unhurried life.  I'm just grateful to have stamps and goodies to play with.  And eventually I'll find time to finish a card.

All from Papertrey Ink except where stated

Stamps:  Background Basics: Tin Types & Woodgrain, Signature Greetings
Paper:  Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream, Kraft
Ink:  Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Bamboo (CTMH)
Accessories:  martha stewart butterfly punch, melon berry satin ribbon, dark chocolate vintage button, rustic twine

Mother's Day Dahlia

This is the card I brought to my stamp gathering for everyone to make.  I cased this from the talented Jackie Pedro.  You can find her card here.  I like Jackie's card much better, but I wanted to recreate it using what I had. 

The CB embossing folder is called Floral Screen.  I stamped the dahlia and leaves from some patterned paper in the Everyday Blessings collection and used pop dots behind them for added dimension.  I colored the center of the dahlia with a gold gelly roll pen.  I chose to stamp my "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment inside.

Thanks for stopping by!  I really appreciate all your comments and encouragement.




Stamps: Delightful Dahlia (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Stampers Select White, True Black, Everyday Blessings pp (PTI)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Floral Screen cuttlebug embossing folder, EKSuccess embossed curves punch, aqua ribbon (unknown), pop dots, gelly roll pen, copic marker, corner rounder, Delightful Dahlia dies