Bright Arrows on Dark Gray

Happy and bright.  Arrows, stars, and dots.  Curves and angles.  It puts a smile on my face. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) smokey shadow (dark gray), summer sunrise (yellow), and pure poppy (red).
• Dies are PTI get to the point (arrows), friendly flower (center shape), and block alphabet - upper case.
• Punches are 1/4" hole punch and Fiskars 1/4" star punch.
• Embossing folder is Sizzix chevrons.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (258)

Storage - Embroidery Floss

These two photos show how I store my embroidery floss.   I really enjoy using DMC and other floss on my cards, sometimes like narrow ribbon or twine, and sometimes for flower centers.

Last spring,  I was wishing for a simple, easy way to store and use my floss.  The idea of winding it all onto bobbins did not appeal to me.  Browsing in my local needlework shop, I found a solution that has worked beautifully for me.   After almost a year of using it, I think it's safe to say that I love it and I'm happy to recommend it to others.

It's called the Thread Tux by Yarn Tree.  The bags come in a pack of 100, with a choice of several label colors.  The bags are available on line, but I didn't post a link because I haven't personally ordered from any of those stores. 

Each skein of floss slides into a separate bag.  The closed end (at the top in my photos) has a 1/4" hole that seems pretty sturdy.  The open end (at the bottom) has a zipper seal, with a hole above and below the seal.  The loose end of thread comes out above the seal, then back in below the seal.  This gives it just enough friction to stay in place.  Note: the thread is not pulled through the zipper seal, but weaves over and outside it, through the holes. 

You could place the bags on a round binder ring, but I have mine on knitting stitch holders - in my case, 2 of them, each with about 50 bags.  (The aluminum stitch holder, about 5" long, is like a big safety pin without a sharp point.)  I put all of that into a gallon plastic zipper bag, which flattens down nicely in the box where I keep it.

What I like about this storage system:

• No winding thread onto separate cards or bobbins.
• I can write the card stock name onto the bag label area, making it easy to find the matching floss.  I use a ball-point pen, which writes easily and wipes off cleanly with alcohol if I need to change it.
• By inserting each skein into its bag in the same direction (color number toward the bottom of the bag, facing away from the bag label), I can easily see the floss brand and color number.
• The floss dispenses smoothly and easily, even when the skein is getting empty.  If it sticks a bit, I just pinch the skein at the top end while tugging gently from the bottom.
• I can keep an extra skein in the bag, with the skein I'm using.
• No tangles.
• Easy to see what I have, and how much is left.
• Not a big investment - the bags cost around $7 or $8 per 100, and the knitting stitch holders cost around $2 each. 

What I don't like?  Well, nothing for me.  For serious embroidery maybe, the slippery bags could be a nuisance.  But for how I use them,  I have no complaints. 

Teacup with Flowers

A Mother's Day card for Jen's "caffeine" challenge on the Operation Write Home President's Day Weekend VCMP (virtual card making party.)   Though I started with a teacup, I filled it with flowers in place of a beverage.  I like the purples with the off-white cup and the bright yellow accents.  Thanks for your inspiration, Jen!

Note: the gray is background, not part of the card.  And March 31 is the deadline for Mother's Day cards to arrive at the OWH shipper's!  

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) summer sunrise (yellow), lavender moon (light purple), plum pudding (dark purple), and rustic white, with patterned papers from the guide lines 6x6" pad.   The teacup and card base are the same color, though in my picture the teacup looks brighter. 
• Dies are WPlus9 pinking square and PTI teacup and limitless layers square (lace-edge square)
• Punches are 1/8" hole punch and EK Success small flower
• Lines are drawn with wine 0.3 Copic multiliner (note: not purple as originally posted)
• Sentiment "Happy Mother's Day!" is computer-printed with purple ink in Colonna font (expanded)

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (257)

Orange Butterfly on Blue

Another "Mom" card, this one for Saturday's things with wings challenge on the Operation Write Home President's Day Weekend VCMP (virtual card making party.)   A bright orange, 2-layered butterfly on soft blues.  The butterfly's dotted blue center adds some definition to it and connects it with the blue background.  Thank you, Yvonne, for a fun challenge! 

Card details:

• Card stock is Ellen Hutson white linen and Papertrey Ink (PTI) orange zest (light blue), spring rain (light blue card base), and blueberry sky (medium blue dots on butterfly center) with prints from pattern packs in orange zest and blueberry sky.
• Dies are PTI double-ended banner, signature series: butterfly (solid color) and heart-2-heart #10 (print).
• I punched 1/16" dots of card stock, adhered with Glossy Accents, and added a line of Glossy Accents to the antennae and along the blue dots.  It's hard to see in the picture, but adds a nice shine.  
• The embossing folder is Lifestyle Crafts diamonds and dots.
• The sentiment "Love you, Mom" is computer-printed in blue ink with Brush Script Std font.  
• Tecnhique note:  I computer-print all my sentiments, and often they need some adjustment to look nicer.  For this sentiment, in addition to expanded character spacing, I increased the font size of "L" and decreased the size of the space before "M."

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (255)

Pastel Chevrons with Flowers

At first I thought of masculine cards for today's zig-zag challenge on the Operation Write Home President's Day Weekend VCMP (virtual card making party.)  But it's time for me to make some "Mom" cards for my March box to OWH.  So I decided to try some chevrons with pastel colors and flowers.  I really like the result!

My layout was inspired by Danielle Flanders' chevron cards (2nd set of cards posted here) on her Homespun with Heart blog.  Thanks, Danielle! 

Note: the gray is background, not part of the card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Ellen Hutson white linen, Paper Source plum (light purple) and blossom (pink), and Papertrey Ink (PTI) harvest gold (yellow), spring rain (light blue), and prints from pattern packs in sweet blush (pink), spring rain, and winter wisteria (light purple).  
• Dies are PTI chevron stripes borders, heart-2-heart #7 (blue flower), and beautiful blooms II #3 (purple flower), and Memory Box fancy blossoms (pink flower). 
• Flower centers are made with a 1/4" hole punch.
• Sentiment "Love you, Mom" is computer-printed with purple ink in Harrington font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (256)

Bright Pink and Aqua Flowers with Doily

I went way outside my comfort zone on today's card!  Too busy, too bright for anything I would have dreamed up.  But that's the fun of a challenge.  Thank you to Debbie for the bold example on her inspiring blog, Thinking Inking.  And to Nichole and Papertrey Ink for ten days of 6th Anniversary challenges.  I made this card for the project favorites challenge. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) aqua mist (light aqua), Hawaiian shores (turquoise), raspberry fizz (bright pink), ripe avocado (green), and prints from the Hawaiian shores, raspberry fizz, and sweet blush (light pink) pattern packs.   Also a paper doily.
•  Dies are beautiful blooms II #3, take three, and heart-2-heart #12.
• I used a 1/4" hole punch for the flower centers. 

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (254)

Red Apples with Pink Pattern

A second card today for the Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary celebration, with ten days of challenges on Nichole's Capture the Moment blog.  Today's challenge features five different sketches, and I chose sketch #1 - three squares.

With those bright red apples, it's also my card for the February "fruit" challenge, sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs (thank you, ODBD!) to benefit Operation Write Home.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), sweet blush (pink), ripe avocado (dark green), and simply chartreuse (medium green), with patterned paper from the pink patterns 6x6" collection.
• Dies are PTI fruit fusion: apple and Memory Box tender leaves.
• I dotted the apple and colored the stem with Copic marker E25. 
• The squares are cut with a 1-1/4" punch.
• The sentiment "You are ... so sweet!" is computer-printed in red ink with Hobo Std font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (252)

Yellow-Green Vee with Turquoise Buttons

Today I have another card for the Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary celebration, with ten days of challenges on Nichole's Capture the Moment blog.  Today's challenge is a set of five sketches to try.

My card is based on sketch #3, a simple design that I really like.  I had quite a few "oops" moments when making this card.  But it was worth the effort, and I'll try it again sometime. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) aqua mist (light aqua), Hawaiian shores (turquoise), and several prints from the pattern packs in limeade ice (light yellow-green) and simply chartreuse (dark yellow-green).  
• Dies are buttoned up #1 and #2, and block alphabet - lower case. 
• Embroidery floss is DMC #472. 

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (251)

Pink and Red with Brown Flower

It's been fun making cards for the Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary celebration, with ten days of challenges on Nichole's Capture the Moment blog.  Today's card is CASEd from Dawn's Christmas card, shown here on her Raspberry Suite blog.   I changed most of her individual elements, but kept the overall layout and color scheme.   Thank you, Dawn, for the inspiration!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) classic kraft, dark chocolate (dark brown), pure poppy (red), rustic white, and the leaves print from berry sorbet pattern pack.
• Dies are PTI heart-2-heart #12 (leaflets), notched flowers, and ad sense (sun shape).
• Punches are 3/8" circle and 1/4" star.
• Ribbon is PTI pure poppy twill.  Embroidery floss is DMC #938.
• Sentiment "With all my love" is computer-printed in brown ink with Rosewood Std font.  I added some color with Copic markers R32 (pink) and E43 plus W3 (kraft color).

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (250)

Textured Silver with Turquoise and Lime Green

Another card for the Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary celebration, with ten days of challenges on Nichole's Capture the Moment blog.  Inspired by Jessica's bracelet, shown here on her Witticisms blog, I made a card from heavily textured silver with bead shapes in turquoise and lime green. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) limeade ice (green), Hawaiian shores (turquoise), and silver shimmer (metallic silver).  
• Dies are PTI square prints (squares) and heart-2-heart #12 (circles).
• I used a 1/4" hole punch for the dots.
• Embossing folder is Sizzix Textured Impressions chevrons.  Note: I selectively embossed, so the silver strip under the "beads" is flat. 
• Embroidery floss is some very old Star #1115. 

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (249)

Red-Yellow-Orange Stripes

It's the Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary celebration with ten days of challenges on Nichole's Capture the Moment blog.  My card today is inspired by Cristina's "moments" card here on her My Paper Secret blog.

I chose an analogous color scheme (colors adjoining each other on the color wheel) for the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps Design Bootcamp,  where we are learning The ABC's of Color (Basic Color Theory). 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) fine linen (tan), scarlet jewel (deep red), pure poppy (red), orange zest (orange), and summer sunrise (orangey yellow).  
• Die is from the PTI photo finish strips collection.
• Sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed with black ink in Apple Chancery font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (248)

Dots and Stars - Two Color Schemes

  New card - Complementary colors            Original card - Monochromatic colors

To kick off the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps Design Bootcamp, led by Paula, we're learning The ABC's of Color (Basic Color Theory).  The assignment is to use one of several color harmonies for a card.

I chose to remake one of my monochromatic cards.  For complementary colors on the new card, I added a pinkish purple (which looks bluer on the screen than in real life.)

I like both cards, and it's interesting to see the difference of the color scheme.  Thank you, Paula!

Card details - complementary colors:

• Card stock is Paper Source plum (light purple) and Papertrey Ink (PTI) spring moss (light green sentiment strip), with PTI bitty dot paper from the winter wisteria pattern pack and polka dot paper from the PTI Pretty Pastels 8x8 pad.   
• Dies are Papertrey Ink tiny tags (star tag), double ended banner, and edgers #1.
• The embroidery floss is DMC #3042 and 372.
• The sentiment "Thank you" is computer-printed with green ink in Brush Script Std font (expanded spacing). 

Card details - monochromatic colors:

• Click here for original card post.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (232)

Brown and Cream Pennants

Brown and cream with a nice mix of shapes: curvy pennants, wavy embossed line, and script "hello," combined with straight strands of twine and book print paper.  Simple, but interesting to look at.  

I worked from last week's Clean and Simple Stamping layout #225, though I turned the orientation, made my wavy line horizontal, and added more pennants.  Thanks again, Natasha, for sharing your ideas and examples!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) dark chocolate (brown) and Dearest Jane book print paper.
• Dies are My Favorite Things mini wavy pennants and Savvy Stamps hello.
• Embossing folder is Cuttlebug just my type (one of 5 borders).
•  Twine is PTI rustic cream button twine.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (247)