Purple with Light Orange Flowers - Before and After

-After-

For this week's Transformation Tuesday challenge on the Papertrey Ink blog, I chose a recent card and made a small change that, to me, makes a big difference.  Although I liked the colors and overall layout of my "before" card (below), it looked rather scattered and incomplete to me.  I considered a bigger redesign, but instead, I decided to try one small addition to pull it together - the partial flower at the center right in the "after" version (above).  It works so much better now.  Thank you, Melissa and PTI, for inspiring and encouraging me to take another look at my design!

 

-Before-

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is the bitty dot print from PTI amethyst allure bitty big pattern pack.
• The flowers and leaves are from PTI floral sketches, stamped with PTI amethyst allure (purple), melon berry (light orange), vintage jadeite (green), and dark indigo (dark navy) ink cubes.
• I used a white gel pen to add dots in the flower centers.  
• The sentiment "hugs" is from PTI penned elegance alphabet, stamped with PTI dark indigo ink cube.

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Copper Shimmer with Yellow-Orange

A very simple layout.  Shimmery copper with yellow-orange dots and frame.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) summer sunrise (yellow-orange) and copper shimmer.
• Patterned paper is from PTI comic strip A2 paper pack (retired).
• Embossing folder is Lifestyle Crafts diamonds and dots.
• Die is PTI big basics: thanks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Bouquet with Banner and Bow - Two Cards

Two bright and happy cards with the same elements.  I like them both.  The small curving banner fits beautifully with the bouquet and bow.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) lemon tart (light yellow), bright buttercup (deep yellow), pure poppy (red), orange zest, enchanted evening (dark blue), new leaf (deep green), green parakeet (bright yellow green), and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is the bitty dot print from PTI pure poppy and orange zest pattern packs (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Dies are friendship jar flowers (leaves and stems), polka dot parade #2 (flowers), tiny tags (red heart on bow), star gazer (orange sunburst on bow), and huge banner. 
• Punches are Martha Stewart bow and McGill 1/8" circle.
• The sentiment "hello" is from Hero Arts everyday sayings and "thanks" is from PTI stuck on you, stamped with PTI enchanted evening ink cube.

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Notepad on Kraft with Black Gingham

Love this red and silver pen with a small notepad.  The black touches on the pen tip and notebook coils help unify the design with the black gingham and sentiment.  I'm going to enjoy using these new stamps and dies!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) classic kraft, silver shimmer, pure poppy (red), and stamper's select white.
• Patterned papers are the gingham and bitty dot prints from PTI true black and pure poppy pattern packs (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• I added some black 100 Copic marker to the pen tip, and I drew black lines over the stamped aqua coils with Copic 0.2 multiliner.
• Dies are PTI ink it in (pen) and ink it in: notebook.
• The notepad image is PTI ink it in: notebook, stamped with PTI aqua mist ink cube. 
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI sentiment staples: thank you, stamped with PTI true black ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Orange Print with Cream Frame and Leaves

A soft-focus print, mostly orange, with red, yellow, and cream leaves and flowers.  Not something I would have chosen, but a card-making friend thought I might like to do something with it.  And I love it on this card, so thank you, Vicki, for the "not-me" opportunity!

The rusty red card base brings out the deeper tones in the print, and I like how it borders both sides of the frame.  Cream leaves and a swirly script sentiment flow with the printed pattern, while the strong lines of the cream frame and the diagonal layout provide a contrast and a more modern touch. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) terra cotta tile (rusty red) and vintage cream.
• Patterned paper is from Craft Smith flower market 12 x 12" collection.
• Dies are PTI infinity frames, big basics: thinking of you, and branching out. 

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Star Circle on Gray Dots

My card started with this week's challenge (fall to layout #61) on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog .... and it ended up somewhere else ... but was very much inspired by the sketch! 

I like the mix of pierced and printed dots with the curves of the lace-edged circle and the "thanks" word.  My star has a nice shimmer in real life.  Thanks again, Natasha, for your weekly inspiration!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) sun shimmer (yellow), blueberry sky (medium blue), pure poppy (red), and enchanted evening (dark blue). 
• Patterned paper is the bitty dot print from PTI soft stone (light gray) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Dies are from PTI coffee cozy details (star), stitched circles, limitless layers: 1-3/4" circles, and bold borders: diagonal (word). 
• The red dot, from a very old 1/4" hole punch, is inlaid into the star.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Stars in Yellow, Blue, and White, with Blue Gingham

A starry sky with faux stitching details.  On its own, the dark blue sky panel could look rather heavy, but the effect is lightened by the casual script sentiment, white banner, and blue gingham background.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) enchanted evening (dark blue), spring rain (light blue), lemon tart (yellow), and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is gingham print from PTI blueberry sky (medium blue) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Dies are My Favorite Things stitched star grid and a banner from PTI keep it simple frames.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you II, stamped with PTI enchanted evening ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Green and Teal Stems - Two Cards

A simple layout with some lovely stems.  I used a few colors of ink for a natural-looking variation.  The dark green border worked with several different card bases, including these two.  

Card details:

• Card stock is Essentials by Ellen tan woodgrain, Papertrey Ink (PTI) pinefeather (dark green), and PTI stamper's select white. 
• Patterned paper is the narrow stripe print from PTI mint julep (light green) "+ white basics" patterned paper (retired).
• Die is from PTI double-ended banners.
• The stems are from PTI life (retired) and larger than life (retiring 2018), stamped with PTI ocean tides (muted teal) and touches of new leaf (green) and pinefeather ink cubes.  
• The sentiments "praying for you" and "thinking of you" are from PTI keep it simple: praying for you and keep it simple: thinking of you, stamped with PTI pinefeather ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Bright Triangles on Gray with Green Gingham

A cheerful theme with bright triangles, gingham, and a scripty "thanks" die cut.  My card was inspired by the first one posted here on Keeway Tsao's blog. 

Before I thought about my card design, I cut the triangles into a light gray scrap, just to try it with some Copic colors.  And I liked the result so much that I made it into a card.  Love how that can happen when we play around with paper, colors, and shapes.  Thank you, Keeway, for your inspiration!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) soft stone (light gray) and true black. 
• Patterned paper is the gingham print from PTI new leaf (green) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• The triangle cutouts are inlaid after coloring with Copic markers R24, BG45, and G14.
• Dies are from PTI multiply and huge thanks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Chevron Vellum with Gray Dots and Burgundy

A very handsome card.  The dark gray print looks great under the chevron print vellum.  The burgundy thread and "thanks" add a touch of color.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) scarlet jewel (burgundy) and sheer basics vellum.
• Patterned paper is the bitty dot print from PTI smokey shadow (dark gray) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired). 
• Embroidery floss is DMC #902.
• The word is cut with Silhouette Cameo, using Hobo Std font.  I condensed the letter spacing, stretched the word a bit taller, and slightly offset it to thicken the letters.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Green Branch with White and Green

Today's card is based on this week's sketch (fall to layout #60) on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog.  I used an eyelet lace die cut as my dotted line, and otherwise kept the sketch very much as-is.  I like that rounded strip at the top of the panel - something I wouldn't have thought of - and the vertical image next to the sentiment.  Thank you, Natasha and Chera, for inspiring my card! 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) spring moss (light green), ripe avocado (dark green), and stamper's select white. 
• Patterned paper is the bitty dot print from PTI prairie grass (green) bitty big pattern pack.
• Corners are rounded with Crop-a-Dile 1/2" corner chomper.
• Dies are PTI eyelet lace, PTI turning a new leaf, and Elizabeth Craft hello.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Shimmer Vases on White

A trio of shimmery vases with bright flowers and foliage.  This card is a beauty, especially with that luminous Copic coloring on the leaves and flowers.  Oval shadows ground the vases to make a tabletop scene, instead of disconnected floating elements.  In real life, the ovals look more gray and less green.

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

Card details:

• Card stock is Neenah solar white (flower and leaf die cuts) and Papertrey Ink (PTI) gold shimmer, blue shimmer, silver shimmer, and stamper's select white (card base). 
• Dies are PTI mega gracious vases, PTI gift card cozy bow, and Paper Smooches silhouette flowers. 
• From left to right, Copic markers are: 
• Iris - Y15, V04, leaves G12
• Fern leaf - YG05
• Leaf cluster - G14
• Flower cluster - upper flowers RV13 with RV14 centers, lower flowers RV14 with V04 centers, leaves YG05
• The oval shadows are from PTI in the shadows, stamped with PTI soft stone (light gray) ink cube.

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Yellow-Orange Patterns with Rusty Red

On my studio table I keep a small metal basket of "things to try" - notes and ideas, sketches, new products, things I haven't used for awhile.  If I've used something once, I tend to remember it and use it again.  Otherwise, sadly, I might forget all about it.

Today's card has two "things to try" - the starry stamp and the rounded rectangle die, which happened to be a perfect size for each other.  Then I looked for a way to layer my rectangle and was glad to find another perfect fit with this PTI mat stack die, an old favorite. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) terra cotta tile (rusty red) and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is the leaf print from PTI summer sunrise (yellow-orange) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Dies are from PTI photo finish strips, layerz mat stack 4, and two toned (rectangle).
• The sentiment "just a note" is from PTI keep it simple: just a note, stamped with PTI terra cotta tile ink cube, and the stars are from Altenew tiny stars, stamped with PTI summer sunrise ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(854)

Birthday Banners in Green Frame

A very busy, happy card with lots of different shapes and bright colors.  The gray background and green frame keep it grounded.  I enjoyed creating all the details and movement with the arrow, banners, stars, bow, and diagonal words. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) new leaf (green), pure poppy (red), Hawaiian shores (turquoise), aqua mist, orange zest, and bright buttercup (yellow).
• Patterned paper is the large dot print from PTI soft stone (light gray) bitty big pattern pack.
• Embroidery floss (upper left) is DMC #721.
• Dies are (top to bottom) PTI cover plate: comic strip, PTI tiny tags, Poppystamps simple banner (retired), My Favorite Things (MFT) party banner (retired), PTI birthday trio, PTI sketched shapes (arrow), and MFT western star border duo (retired).
• Punches are Martha Stewart bow and Fiskars 1/4" star.
• The letters "happy" are from Essentials by Ellen basic alpha, and the star is from PTI birthday balloons, stamped with PTI new leaf ink cube.

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Yellow Teacups with Red and Vellum

After the pink teacup cards, I tried some in yellow.  The note card on the left is more my style, simple and crisp.  The card on the right is for a friend's birthday, and I tried to make it more in her style.  Yellow is her favorite color, and her kitchen has lots of red accents, beautiful vintage fabrics, and a teacup collection.  I especially like the white floral ribbon band and the "happy birthday" teabag label.  I know she'll enjoy the card, and I enjoyed making it for her. 

Card details:

• Card stock is My Favorite Things (MFT) red hot (red) and Papertrey Ink (PTI) bright buttercup (deep bright yellow), lemon tart (light yellow), white shimmer, and stamper's select vellum.
• Patterned paper is the leaf print from PTI pure poppy pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Embossing folders are Lifestyle Crafts diamonds and dots and Cuttlebug Swiss dots.
• Ribbon is two widths of 3/8" white Offray fleur pattern.
• Embroidery floss is three threads of DMC #349.
• Dies are from PTI fancy tea cup (I trimmed off the saucer on the vellum layer), PTI eyelet lace, PTI tiny tags, PTI mix & mat: scallops, Memory Box fancy blossoms, and MFT layered labels (retired). 
• The pearl dot in each flower center is Viva Decor pearl pen, ice white.
• The sentiment "happy birthday" on the teabag tag is from PTI fill in the blank (retiring 2018), stamped with PTI pure poppy ink cube.

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Plaid and Stripe Birthday - Red, White, and Blue

For the Papertrey Ink "Create Along with Us" March challenge, I chose the first project in this post by Michelle as my starting point.

I've enjoyed using PTI's new(ish) series of Bitty Big papers, but the large stripe and small plaid patterns have been more challenging for me.  So Michelle's card, featuring both, was perfect inspiration today!  And I needed a masculine birthday card with navy and red, so my color scheme was all set.

I'm happy with my finished card, and I'll use this layout again.  Thank you, PTI and Michelle, for your inspiration! 

Edited April 16, 2018, to add: Below is a "thank you" version of the card.  All the same except the sentiment, which is cut with an Elizabeth Craft thank you die.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), luxe silver, and stamper's select white.
• Patterned papers are the small plaid and large stripe prints from PTI dark indigo (navy) bitty big pattern pack.
• Dies are PTI cover plate: stars (for the star cutouts), PTI wonderful words: birthday, and Elizabeth Craft happy birthday.

Thank you card created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

(856)

PInk Teacup with Vellum and Stripes - Two Cards

A bright pink teacup with a vellum detail layer, a butterfly in deeper pink, and a softer pink striped background.  Very simple and pretty.  I made it for a friend's birthday and wrote my greetings inside.

Edited Mar. 11 to add:  Then I made a second card, the same except for a gingham background and a flower embellishment.  Edited Mar. 14 to add:  For more teacups - yellow with red and vellum - click here.


Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) hibiscus burst (medium pink - teacup), raspberry fizz (deep pink - butterfly and flower), stamper's select vellum, and white shimmer.
• Patterned paper is the stripe or gingham print from PTI sweet blush (light pink) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Dies are from PTI fancy tea cup (I trimmed off the saucer on the vellum layer) and My Favorite Things layered labels (retired). 
• Small butterfly punch is by EK Success. 
• Flower is unknown, from my leftovers tin.  The pearl dot in the center is Viva Decor pearl pen, ice white.

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Kraft Plaid with Black and White

Simple colors with a nice mix of straight lines, curves, and angles.  I like the plaid background showing through the herringbone mat.    

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) true black and stamper's select white. 
• Patterned paper is the large plaid print from PTI classic kraft bitty big pattern pack.
• Dies are from PTI mix & mat: herringbone and WPlus9 folk art florals (retired).
• The sentiment "thanks" is from PTI limitless layers: labels (retired), stamped with PTI fresh snow (white) pigment ink cube, then white heat embossed.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Color Wheel Stars on Cream

Today's Make It Monday challenge on the Papertrey Ink (PTI) blog is to create a color wheel card.  I enjoyed making a star wreath around my sentiment circle, and it was helpful to think of a "color wheel" when choosing my colors.  Thanks, Lexi and PTI, for the inspiration!

Note:  That really is a cream color, not white, for my card base and sentiment circle.  And the gray border is background, not part of the card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink Americana (rustic red), canyon clay (orangey brown), saffron spice (gold), pinefeather (dark green), enchanted evening (dark blue), plum pudding (purple), rustic cream (on card base), and vintage cream (sentiment circle).
• Embossing folder is Craft Concepts solid stars.
• Twine is PTI rustic jute twine.
• Dies are from PTI seeing stars (medium) and limitless layers: 1-3/4" circle.
• The star-shaped sentiment "thank you" is from PTI military stars (retired), stamped with PTI cocoa bean (brown) ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Green Wreath with White Sentiment on Green

Two monochromatic wreath cards using several shades of green with bright white.  I like the leafy background texture and the white banner behind the wreath shape.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) spring moss (light green), simply chartreuse (medium green), ripe avocado (dark green), and stamper's select white.
• Embossing folder is Elizabeth Craft spring leaves (retired).
• Dies are PTI rustic wreath, wonderful words: hello, and double-ended banners.  The green centers are inlaid in the wreath frames.
• The sentiment "with deepest sympathy" is from PTI spring woods, stamped with PTI fresh snow (white) pigment ink cube, then white heat embossed.

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