Three Suns - Yellow and Orange with Blue

A sunshine trio for this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday challenge to use patterned die cut silhouettes.  Following Lexi Daly's example, I chose one shape in three different colors and patterns, with a contrasting patterned background and a sentiment stamped on white.  

I also tried my background in a few different solid colors, which I thought might show the suns better.  To my surprise, though, this dark gingham looked the best.  Thank you, Lexi, for your challenge and especially for your patterned background inspiration!

 Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white, orange zest, summer sunrise (yellow orange), and harvest gold (yellow), with four prints: enchanted evening (dark blue) gingham, orange zest leaf, summer sunrise stripe, and harvest gold bitty dot, all from PTI pattern packs.
• Dies are from PTI ad sense and what the doodle: sun.  I also used an old 1/4" hole punch.
• The sentiment "sending sunshine" is from PTI keep it simple: encouragement, stamped with PTI orange zest ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(689)

Five Kinds of Gold

A very shiny and sparkly card for a very special family birthday.  It features five kinds of gold: foil card stock, metallic thread, glitter tape, metallic marker pen (outlining the edges of the present), and heat embossing.  The diagonal layout adds to the "happy" theme.

It's so shiny and sparkly that I couldn't scan it!  And in my photo above, which captures the gold nicely, the teal card stock and aqua patterned paper look much too blue-gray.  See small picture below for their truer colors.  

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) tropical teal, bitty dot print from PTI aqua mist pattern pack, and Bazzill metallic gold foil.
• Thread is DMC "or" (gold) metallic.
• Glitter tape is Best Creation gold. 
• Marker is Prismacolor premier metallic gold.
• Dies are PTI tipped tops and My Favorite Things winter wreath (bow - retired).
• The sentiment "happy birthday" is from PTI keep it simple: birthday, stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with Zing gold embossing powder.

(687)

Plaid with Yellow, Green, and Turquoise

Simple and bold, with an unusual color combination that came from a leftover "thanks" die cut and a plaid printed paper.  The plaid reminded me of a swatch of fabric, so I continued the theme with an embossed woven texture and a strip of dotted turquoise.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) spring moss (green), summer sunrise (yellow), a bitty dot print from PTI Hawaiian shores (turquoise) pattern pack, and a plaid print from Simple Stories so rad 6x6" paper pad.
• The green card stock is embossed with the Dreamweaver faux cross-stitch stencil screen, as explained in this post.
• Die is from My Favorite Things many thanks (retired).

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(684)

Blue Stems on Gray

Peaceful colors and images for a sympathy card.  Then I made another with "just a note" sentiment, and a "happy birthday" with a white bow added. 

I like the asymmetrical panel layout and the blue stems with a touch of green, though it still feels monochromatic to me.  Plenty of detail without seeming cluttered. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) soft stone (light gray), blueberry sky (medium blue), and the polka dot print from PTI spring rain pattern pack.
• Twine is white DMC #5 perle cotton.
• The stems are from PTI peaceful garden, stamped with PTI blueberry sky and new leaf (green) ink cubes.  The stem groups on the left and right came from one stamp that I cut apart.
• The sentiment "with sympathy" is from PTI keep it simple: sympathy, stamped with PTI blueberry sky ink cube.

(682)

Leafy Branches - Brown with Green

A very simple design for a sympathy card.  The leafy branches curve nicely under the script sentiment.  I like the contrast of the wide brown frame with the cream panel and damask background. 

 Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) cocoa bean (brown), rustic cream, and the damask print from PTI simply chartreuse (green) pattern pack.
• The cream and brown corners are rounded with Crop-a-Dile 1/4" corner chomper.
• The sentiment "with sympathy" is from PTI keep it simple: sympathy, and the branches are from PTI turning a new leaf, stamped with PTI prairie grass (green) and cocoa bean ink cubes.

(681)

Gold and Navy Stars with Kraft

Today's muted red, white, and blue colors work well with the kraft card base and touches of gold in the stars and sentiment.  I enjoyed adding the stamped stars to dress up the basic polka dot pattern.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) dark indigo (dark navy), Americana (muted red), classic kraft, and the polka dot print from PTI Americana "+ white basics" patterned paper.
• The banner is notched with scissors.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you, stamped with Versamark and gold heat embossed.  The stars are from Paper Smooches seeing stars, stamped with Tsukineko Delicata golden glitz ink and PTI dark indigo ink.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(680)

Yellow Flowers with Green Sun Rays

So bright and cheerful - this card just makes me happy!  I love the effect of the sun ray stamp that I used for the green stems.  And the yellow and orange flowers are lovely for the sunshine theme.

By clear heat-embossing my flowers, I didn't need to mask them when I stamped the stems.  I masked the bottom center of the sun ray stamp with a 1/2" punched paper circle, to create an open arch. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) bright buttercup (yellow), stamper's select white, and the bitty dot print from PTI new leaf (green) pattern pack.
• The flowers are from PTI botanical silhouettes, stamped with PTI bright buttercup, orange zest (sponged onto the stamp with a finger dauber), and cocoa bean (brown) ink cubes, then restamped with Versamark and clear heat embossed. 
• The sun rays are from PTI shine, and the sentiment "sending sunshine" is from PTI keep it simple: encouragement, both stamped with PTI new leaf ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(679)

Red, White, and Blue Starburst

A cheerful starburst print with some red accents and a white heat-embossed sentiment.

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

Card details:

• Card stock is Ellen Hutson white linen,  Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), enchanted evening (dark blue), and a print from Doodlebug patriotic picnic 6x6" paper pad.  
• I edged the print with Copic marker B39 to give more definition to the edge.
• Twine is by WeR Memory Keepers.  To keep it in place, I used a small hole punch to notch the card front.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you, stamped with Versamark and white heat embossing.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(677)

Turquoise Flowers with Navy

For this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday a la carte challenge, there's a choice of any 2016 Make It Monday challenge that we might have missed.  I chose Melissa's #256: spritzed stamps to create a watercolor effect with my stamped flowers. 

I enjoyed the technique, which I haven't tried before.  I like the effect of the soft shapes and crisp navy details, with some open circles to fill in the gaps in my arrangement. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Ranger watercolor paper and Papertrey Ink (PTI) Hawaiian shores (medium turquoise) and dark indigo (dark navy).
• Die is PTI wonderful words: thank you.
• The flowers and leaves are from PTI floral sketches, stamped with PTI Hawaiian shores, blueberry sky (medium blue), dark indigo, bright buttercup (bright yellow - flower centers), and prairie grass (green) ink cubes.  The small open circles are from PTI confetti toss, stamped with PTI dark indigo ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(678)

Thanks with Brown and Teal

Textures and patterns in teal and brown make a handsome card.   I like the visual mix of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) cocoa bean (brown), tropical teal (dark turquoise), stamper's select white, and the stripes print from PTI ocean tides (muted teal) pattern pack. 
• The brown card stock is embossed with the Dreamweaver faux cross-stitch stencil screen, as explained in this post.
• The stencil is from PTI modern background collection.  After sponging the design, I shifted the stencil up and over, then sponged again lightly to fill in the pattern more.  I used the round Ranger ink blending tool with PTI tropical teal, Hawaiian shores (medium turquoise), and classic kraft ink cubes.
• The sentiment "thanks" is cut with Silhouette Cameo using Brush Script Std font, welded.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(676)

Green With Blue Circle and Rectangle

Two colors of blue, two colors of green, and a bright white banner.  I love the mix of simple shapes - circle, rectangle, triangle/diamond.  In real life, the stamped sentiment stands out nicely on the white.

I always enjoy using my scraps.  For some reason, it's just fun for me to pick up a few elements and see how they might go together.  This card includes pieces left over from four different cards.  The only "new" addition is the medium green border strip. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source jadeite (medium green - discontinued) and Papertrey Ink (PTI) mint julep (light green), enchanted evening (dark blue), stamper's select white, and the damask print from PTI enchanted evening pattern pack. 
• Embossing folder is Lifestyle Crafts diamonds and dots.
• Die is PTI four square (circle).  
• I notched one end of the banner with scissors, and used my Fiskars paper edgers (pinking) on the other end.
• The sentiment "just a note" is from PTI keep it simple: just a note, stamped with PTI mint julep ink cube.  Stamping it several times (with the MISTI) gave me a deep color that works well for this card.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(674)

Pink and Yellow Grid with Pink Hello

Such a bright and happy card!  The sponged grid makes a lovely background for my pink hello, flowers, and butterfly.

And I was happy, too, using Jennifer McGuire's technique to secure my stencil and card stock with Press N Seal wrap on a cutting board!  It made the whole process better for me, and I loved being able to turn my cutting board and work from all sides of the card stock.  Thank you, Jennifer!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) lovely lady (medium pink), raspberry fizz (deep pink), harvest gold (yellow - not quite so bright in real life), and stamper's select white.
• Die is PTI wonderful words: hello.  I cut one from each of the pink colors, then layered them, slightly offset, for a shadow effect. 
• Punches are EK Success small butterfly, mini retro flower, and 3/16" circle.
• Stencil is My Favorite Things grid.  I used the round Ranger ink blending tool with PTI raspberry fizz, harvest gold, and lovely lady ink cubes.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(675)

Blue Frame with Tan and Red

Tiny words, spotlighted with a frame and a bright white banner.  A wide red stripe adds emphasis to the frame element.

When I stamped the background words onto my tan pinked square, I used a paper scrap to mask the right edge.  My white stars are leftover cutouts from this card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), fine linen (tan), enchanted evening (dark blue), stamper's select white, and the polka dot print from PTI enchanted evening pattern pack.
• Dies are PTI four square (frame and banner), cover plate: stars, and limitless layers: 2-1/4" square (pinked square).
• The sentiment "hello" is from PTI wonderful words: hello, and the "just because" background is from PTI fill in the blank, stamped with PTI pure poppy ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(673)

Blue Flowers - Diagonal

I struggled with my layout for this card, until I tried a diagonal placement.  Much better!  It's very nice with the dark blue frame and a few green threads for grounding.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white and the damask print from PTI enchanted evening (dark blue) pattern pack.
• Embroidery floss is DMC #907.  I used three individual strands.
• The floss is secured diagonally in notches, made with a McGill 1/16" hole punch.
• The sentiment "thinking of you" and the flowers are from PTI botanical silhouettes, stamped with PTI blueberry sky (medium blue) and green parakeet ink cubes.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(672)

Tea Cup - Teal with Light Orange

An elegant tea cup on layers of teal, light orange, and cream.  The simple design is lovely in real life.

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

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) Hawaiian shores (medium turquoise), tropical teal, vintage cream, and the bitty dots print from PTI melon berry (light orange) pattern pack.
• Dies are PTI fancy tea cup.
• The sentiment "thinking of you" is from PTI keep it simple: thinking of you, stamped with PTI tropical teal ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(671)