Turquoise and Silver - Dots, Stars, and Circle

This card began with a piece of silver foil patterned paper: the gray dots and circle outline are a bright shiny silver in real life.  I added some stenciled stars, a circle layer of turquoise dotted paper, and a die cut "hello" in a less-shiny silver with some soft turquoise sponging on the bottom.  Overall it's a very silvery and lively result! 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) luxe silver, a bitty dot print from PTI Hawaiian shores (turquoise) pattern pack (retired), and a dotted circle frame print from PTI silver luxe foil A2 size patterned paper collection (retired).
• Stencil is My Favorite Things stargaze (retired), sponged with PTI tropical teal ink cube, using the round Ranger ink blending tool to apply the ink.  The bottom of the "hello" die cut is also lightly sponged with the same ink. 
• Dies are PTI wonderful words: hello and WeRMemoryKeepers nesting circles.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Brown Branch on Orangey Brown Stripes

Very simple and effective.  This leafy branch is one of my favorite dies, with its graceful lines and A2-friendly size.  The sentiment rectangle makes a good base for it.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) dark chocolate (brown), stamper's select white, and stripes print from PTI canyon clay (orangey brown) pattern pack (retired).
• Dies are PTI branching out and double-ended banners.  I trimmed off a leaf on the lower right and shortened the stem at the brown rectangle.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you, stamped with PTI canyon clay ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Green Print with Green - Thanks

Just a very simple layout in monochromatic greens.  Monochromatic but not monotonous, thanks to the mix of curves and straight lines, the textured card base, and the alternating bands of light and dark green. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) ripe avocado (dark green), spring moss (light green), and a print from PTI in bloom 8x8" paper pad (retired).
• The dark green card stock is embossed with the Dreamweaver faux cross-stitch stencil screen, as explained in this post.
• Die is Elizabeth Craft thanks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Stencil Dots - Blue and Green with Leaves

Another card with stencil dots.  Like yesterday's card, it was inspired by Dawn's "stencil strips" examples.  I love the green leaves and sentiment with the green and blue dots.  Such a simple design, and very effective. 

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

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) new leaf (green) and stamper's select white. 
• Stencil is mini Swiss dot 6x6" (TCW 246S) by The Crafter's Workshop, sponged with PTI blueberry sky (blue) and new leaf ink cubes, using the round Ranger ink blending tool to apply the ink.  I used 1" post-it tape to mask the top of the stencil and adhere it to my white card while sponging. 
• Dies are WPlus9 folk art florals (leaves - retired) and Elizabeth Craft thank you.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Stencil Dots - Orange and Raspberry

A cheerful note card with orange and raspberry colors, stamped and stenciled on white.  I like the vivid energy of the colors in this diagonal layout.  My card was inspired by this post by Dawn McVey and her "stencil strips" examples.  Thank you, Dawn, for all the beautiful ideas and techniques you share!

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

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white.
• Stencil is mini Swiss dot 6x6" (TCW 246S) by The Crafter's Workshop, sponged with PTI orange zest and raspberry fizz ink cubes, using the round Ranger ink blending tool to apply the ink.  I used 1" post-it tape to mask the top of the stencil and adhere it to my white card while sponging. 
• The sentiment "just a note" is from PTI keep it simple: just a note, and "..." is from PTI splits: thank you, stamped with PTI orange zest ink cube.  The double line is from PTI fill in the blank, stamped with PTI raspberry fizz ink cube. 

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red, White, and Blue with Yellow - Thanks

A few layers with straight lines and angled layers.  At first I was thinking of baker's twine for the top accent, but I liked it better with the narrow strip of red print instead.

Note: the gray is background, not part of the card.  And in real life, the dark blue is not as dark as my image.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) enchanted evening (dark blue), harvest gold (yellow), stamper's select white, and leaf and bitty dot prints from PTI pure poppy (red) pattern pack (retired).
• Dies are from PTI double-ended banners and to the point edgers. 
• Technique:  To line up the edger die, which has a narrow V-shape, I marked a pencil dot at the bottom center of my 5-1/2" wide card stock, then drew a short horizontal line at 1" up from the bottom on the left and right sides.  The marks made it easy to place the die evenly, and because all five dies have similar angles, the same measurement works for all.  And the marks fall on the scrap side of the die cut - no erasing needed.  I made multiples of this card, so to do all the marking quickly, I used a simple template: a 5-1/2 x 1" piece of card stock with a small notch in the bottom center.  I'll save the template with the dies for future use.  While I was at it, I also made a 4-1/4 x 3/4+" template for cutting across the short side of an A2.
• The sentiment "thanks" is from PTI polka dot parade #6, stamped with PTI pure poppy ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Raspberry Frame with Black and White

Another card with black and white today.  I had some rectangle scraps of this black and white floral print - similar sizes, but not all the same.  So I designed this card's layout to showcase the print, but allow for varying heights and widths.

I'm happy with the results.  The bright frame makes a good focus, the turquoise and lavender add a less-bright colorful background, and the narrow vertical lines of black thread and card stock help to ground the arrangement while echoing the sentiment's lines.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) Hawaiian shores (turquoise), raspberry fizz (bright pink), true black, a polka dot print from PTI lavender moon pattern pack (retired), and a flowered print from PTI black & white basics 8x8" patterned paper (retired).
• Embroidery floss is DMC #310. 
• Dies are Elizabeth Craft hello and PTI monthly moments: slide frame.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Black and White Stripes with Hello

I use many different color combinations on my cards, but not much black or white.  For this card, the bold striped paper nudged me toward a strong color scheme with a modern look, and black and white as a key element.  I like it all - the colors, the printed and embossed stripes, and the offset layers of the word and the rectangles.  The diagonal script sentiment helps to break up the blocky layout.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) bright buttercup (yellow), canyon clay (orangey brown), true black, stamper's select white, and a striped print from PTI black & white basics 8x8" patterned paper (retired).
• Embossing folder is Stampin' Up stripes (retired).
• Die is Savvy Stamps hello, layered for a shadow effect.  I trimmed off part of the "h" and "o" tails to fit my space.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Circles and Dots Prints - Blue and Gray with Green

A green frame adds some bright energy to the muted blues and grays.  I like the criss-cross layout, too.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) new leaf (green), blueberry sky (blue), stamper's select white, a circles print from PTI argyle socks 8x8" patterned paper (retired), and bitty dots print from PTI smokey shadow (dark gray) pattern pack (retired).
• Die is from PTI sketched shapes.
• The sentiment "thinking of you" is from Hero Arts everyday sayings, stamped with PTI blueberry sky ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Light Orange Gingham with Navy and White

Plenty of contrast with rectangles, dots, and curves in a strong color scheme. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source papaya (light orange), Papertrey Ink (PTI) dark indigo (navy) and stamper's select white, and gingham and bitty dot prints from PTI melon berry (light orange) pattern pack (retired).
• Dies are PTI stitched rectangles and ways to say: hello.  I shortened the tail of my "o" to fit the gingham rectangle.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Bamboo with Leaf Print - Sympathy

With a few stamped bamboo panels left over from this card,  I made some peaceful sympathy cards.  I like the soft colors and the pierced stitching detail. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Neenah solar white, Papertrey Ink (PTI) ocean tides (muted teal), and the leaf print from PTI spring moss (light green) pattern pack (retired).
• Die is from PTI stitched rectangles.
• The sentiment "deepest sympathy" is from Stampabilities card phrases, stamped with PTI ocean tides and Hawaiian shores (medium turquoise) ink cubes.  Stamped onto the green print, the ocean tides ink looked too dull.  Stamping again (with the MISTI) with the brighter Hawaiian shores ink gave me a better result in this case. 

Stencil Samples Chart

As my stencil collection grew - even with just a dozen so far - it was getting harder to remember all the designs.  Also, when I use a stencil, I like to include its brand and name in my blog post, so I had saved the packaging.  It was confusing to flip through it all to find what I wanted.

That's why I made myself a Stencil Samples chart to show me what I have.  It has twelve 2-inch squares, printed on Neenah solar white card stock.  It's cut off at about 6 inches tall, to be stored with my stencils in a cut-down page protector in the (also cut down) stencil file folder in one of my plastic drawers.

My samples were all quickly stenciled - nothing precise or artistic - masked with a 2-inch circle "window" (easier than masking off each square) and using the same color ink.  I added a few notes as reminders on getting my best results with the different stencils.  There's an extra blank chart ready to go (stored back-to-back with my first chart in the page protector) for future stencil purchases.  And I was happy to discard all the packaging, excepting a few clear sleeves for the more delicate stencils. 

This little chart has been a great help for me.  If you'd like to try it, you can easily draw a grid for yourself, or create a table in your word processor to print.  Or, for a different approach, see this post by Lydia (Understand Blue) or this video by Jennifer McGuire.  The best idea is the one that works well for you, of course!

Dots and Stars - Yellow and Wine Red with Teal

Sometimes with a strong print like the wine red and yellow stars, I like to add another bold contrast to the mix.  Though it's not my typical color combination, the patterns and colors work well together.

Card details:

• Card stock is Hero Arts grenadine (wine red), Papertrey Ink (PTI) tropical teal, polka dot print from PTI tropical teal pattern pack (retired), and stars print from Bo Bunny firecracker 6 x 6" pad.
• Die is big basics: thanks.
• Punch is from EK Success mini heart and star set.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Red Panel with White Stars on Blue

Using some white stars leftover from yesterday's card.  I chain cut my star panel from red card stock, inlaid stars in ten of the openings for an arrow shape, and added a white word.  I like the crisp contrast of the red and white on the dotted dark blue.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), stamper's select white, and bitty dot print from PTI enchanted evening (dark blue) pattern pack (retired).
• Die is My Favorite Things stitched star grid, cut twice with one row overlapped.
• The "thanks" word is cut with Silhouette Cameo, similar to this card.  I kept the same height, but compressed the width.  Love the flexibility to adjust as needed. 

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort. 

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Yellow and Blue Stars with Dotted Red

A bright and cheerful card in red, white, and blue with yellow.  This die cuts a grid of sixteen stars.  My yellow stars are inlaid into the openings, while the blue stars are the background layer showing through.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) blueberry sky (blue), harvest gold ( yellow), stamper's select white, and bitty dot print from PTI pure poppy (red) pattern pack (retired).
• Die is My Favorite Things stitched star grid.
• The banner is notched with scissors.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you, stamped with PTI pure poppy ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Multi Heart Card

Many hearts in multi colors.  Shimmery in real life.  Perfect for the occasion.  It needed some planning to space and align the hearts, and some patience to stamp the individual letters and stars, but the result was worth the effort.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) shimmer card stock in raspberry (pink), leaf (green), sun (yellow), sea (turquoise), sky (medium blue), blue (light blue), and sapphire (dark blue).
• Hearts are cut with PTI heart-2-heart #11 die.
• The "happy anniversary" letters are from PTI simple alphabet, and the stars are from PTI land that I love, stamped in black.  My mistake was using pigment ink, which dried much too slowly and tended to smear on my shimmer hearts.  Next time I'd use PTI ink (a dye ink) which has worked well for me stamping on this shimmer card stock. 

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