Leaves on Tan with White

A simple note card with a few stamped leaves and stems.  I like the reddish brown ink along with the green.  These were made for our community senior center to use.

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

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) fine linen (tan), stamper's select white, and the leaf print from PTI ripe avocado (dark green) pattern pack.
• The tan panel is edged with Copic marker YG97. 
• Die is the long wide banner from PTI sketched shapes.
• The sentiment "just a note" is from PTI keep it simple: just a note, stamped with PTI ripe avocado ink cube.  Leaves are from PTI peaceful garden, stamped with PTI simply chartreuse (medium green), ripe avocado, and Americana (reddish brown) ink cubes.

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Kraft Print with Black and White

I like this card a lot.  It's a very different look for me.  I don't use much black or kraft, and this new set of text blocks might be my only "background stamps."  The banner sentiment looks crisp and bold, stretched across the black and kraft panel. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) classic kraft, true black, stamper's select white, and the leaf print from PTI classic kraft pattern pack.
• Dies are PTI double-ended banner and stitched rectangle.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you, and the text block "thank you" is from PTI fill in the blank, stamped with PTI true black ink cube. 

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Blue with Stars in Red, White, and Gold

Another set of cards for our local American Legion post, to be signed by the group and mailed to some of their older members.  The cards are all the same, except for different combinations of patterned paper behind the blue star cutouts.  The gold stars add some sparkle and texture, though not glitter.  Very handsome in real life.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) enchanted evening (dark blue), stamper's select white, prints from Pebbles Americana 6 x 6" pad, and Tim Holtz deco sheets (gold).  This was my first time using the deco sheets, and I do like the effect.  
• Technique: The plastic-y deco sheet material die cut cleanly (using PTI low-profile dies), but it was more like "perforations" instead of fully cut lines - even though the backing was completely cut through.  (This can happen with some materials, such as clear packaging plastics, which my husband tells me are actually very thick liquids like glass.)  So I needed some patience to separate the shapes.  Also, when removed from the backing, the material was quite flexible and floppy, like vinyl.  It was very worthwhile to use for this project, but I don't think it would work well for me with delicate or detailed shapes. 
• Dies are PTI photo finish strips, cover plate: stars and super star borders.
• The sentiment "happy birthday" is from PTI keep it simple: birthday.  I needed an orange-toned red ink to match my patterned paper, so I stamped twice (thanks to the MISTI) with PTI orange zest (orange) and then pure poppy (red) ink.  This combination worked perfectly. 

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Blue with Brown and Light Orange

As I made yesterday's cards, I cut out the smaller label shape from the middle of my A2 card front.  That gave me a little stack of light blue dotted shapes to use, and today's card is the result.

I love these colors together.  The light orange star adds a playful touch to the more formal shapes and layout.

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source papaya (light orange), Papertrey Ink (PTI) dark chocolate (brown), PTI blueberry sky (medium blue), and the bitty dot print from PTI melon berry (light orange) and spring rain (light blue) pattern packs.
• Embossing folder is Cuttlebug candy cane stripe.
• Dies are Avery Elle icon fill in the blank, Savvy Stamps hello, WPlus9 label layers 1 (blue shape - retired), and PTI mat stack 4 (brown shape). 
• I used a Fiskars 1/4" star punch for the brown star, which is inlaid in the light orange star.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red and Green Joy with Bird and Leaves

Our local American Legion post asked me for some Christmas cards that the group could sign, to be mailed to elderly members.  I'm always happy to support our troops and our veterans with what I make.

I like these strong, crisp colors with the soft blue background.  A green stripe anchors the label shapes, while there's a sense of energy from the accents of red and green bird, leaves, and tiny starburst.

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source spruce (deep green), Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), stamper's select white, and the bitty dot print from PTI spring rain (light blue) pattern pack. 
• Dies are WPlus9 folk art florals (bird and leaves - retired), WPlus9 label layers 1 (white - retired), and PTI wonderful words: joy, PTI star gazer (red shape inside the "O"), and PTI mat stack 4 (red).
• I used an EK Success 3/16" punch for the red berry.
• The card is computer-printed inside with "Merry Christmas" in red ink using Papyrus font, bold, expanded spacing.

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Two Cards with Gray Prints

I wanted to use up the medium and tiny gray chevron prints from an old 6x6" paper pad. There were also some gray frames left over from another project.  I'm happy with both cards (above and below) and especially the banner centered behind the frame on the card below.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) smokey shadow (dark gray), Hawaiian shores (turquoise), pure poppy (red), and rustic white, with three prints (including the gray-speckled red-orange on the top card) from Basic Grey PB&J 6x6" pad (retired).
• Dies are My Favorite Things (MFT) many thanks (retired - top card), MFT notched border (retired - top card), Elizabeth Craft thanks (bottom card), PTI double-ended banner (bottom card), and PTI fabulous frames (bottom card).

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Flowers on Yellow and Aqua

This week, the Papertrey Ink "Make it Monday" challenge is assembly-line card making.  I usually make three to six cards from each of my designs.  So I enjoyed seeing Laurie Willison's tips, including: Make a sample card, do all the die cuts and stamping in advance, prepare all the layers and embellishments, finish one step at a time for all the cards, then move on to the next step, and choose the right adhesive to attach each element.

That's basically how I make my multiples, including today's set of flowery note cards.  Two of my tips to add to Laurie's: Plan a forgiving layout (or one that's easy to line up), and write some notes for placement and assembly sequence.  My first tip is illustrated in this card from last week, where the "hello" and starry strip were easy to line up on the striped paper, and the circle's position on the card base didn't need to be precise.  I used the second tip in today's card, where I wrote myself a note to adhere my dotted panel 1/8" down from the top fold and to center it over the stamped sentiment.  It's easier for me to follow a cheat sheet and not rely on memory, especially when I don't finish all my cards in one sitting. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) aqua mist (light aqua), lemon tart (yellow), and the bitty dot print from PTI Hawaiian shores (deep aqua) pattern pack.  The flowers are cut from patterned paper in the color pop florals kit.
• Embossing folder is Darice plaid.
• Dies are from PTI ad sense and color pop florals kit.
• The sentiment "just a note" is from PTI keep it simple: just a note, stamped with PTI Hawaiian shores ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red Cardinal on Gray - Before and After

When I was working on yesterday's card, I found a very old swirl-embossed piece of gray.  As I started to throw it away, I thought "winter sky" and was glad I saved it.  I've found a lot of inspiration from trying to use my leftovers!

My first card (at left) used a medium green, and it seemed to need more contrast against the gray.  I prefer the second card with a darker green, but both are nice. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source (PS) spruce (dark green - was discontinued, but is available now as a seasonal color), PS gravel (gray),  Papertrey Ink (PTI) new leaf (medium green), PTI pure poppy (red), and PTI stamper's select white.
• Embossing folder is Cuttlebug d'vine swirls.
• Dies are PTI winter woods, PTI keep it simple frames, WPlus9 folk art florals (retired - leaves), and Savvy Stamps hello.
• The berries are punched with EK Success 3/16" circle punch.  I added the centers with a Copic 1.0 black multiliner. 
• The black detail on the bird is from PTI winter woods, stamped with PTI true black ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Striped Circle with Stars - Red, White, and Blue

My colors came from the striped print, which includes some gray with the red, white, and blue.  I like the details of the stars (die cut blue and embossed gray) and the pierced red circle.

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source (PS) royal blue, PS gravel (gray), Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), and a print from Doodlebug patriotic picnic 6x6" paper pad.  
• Embossing folder is Craft Concepts solid stars.
• Dies are PTI wonderful words: hello, stitched circles, and super star borders, and 2-3/4" die from We R Memory Keepers nesting circles.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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