Journaling Block - Red, White, and Blue with Teal

Starting with a preprinted journaling block, I stamped some stars and hearts with a "thank you" sentiment for a red, white, and blue card.  The teal layer adds a bright accent and echoes the block's aqua border.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) tropical teal. 
• The 2 x 3" journaling block is from Doodlebug patriotic picnic 6x6" paper pad.
• Patterned papers are from PTI enchanted evening (dark blue) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired) and PTI pure poppy (red) "+ white basics" patterned paper (retired).
• The sentiment "thank you so very much" is from PTI framed out #1 (retiring), and the hearts are from PTI tag-its #11 (retired), stamped with PTI pure poppy ink. 
• The sentiment "for all you do" is from PTI enclosed: apple, and the stars are from Paper Smooches seeing stars (retired), stamped with PTI enchanted evening ink.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Grasses with Brown and Rusty Red

Lovely tall grasses with a simple card layout.  I like the color combination and the stitching detail on the brown layer.  I tried reversing the colors of the layers, as well as putting the stitched edge on the card base.  This combination won out. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) cocoa bean (brown), terra cotta tile (rusty red), and stamper's select white.
• Die is from PTI noted: simply stitched A2 vertical.
• The taller grasses are from PTI with sympathy (retired), the shorter (green) grass is from PTI peaceful garden (retired), and the sentiment "sending thanks" is from Altenew trigonometry, stamped with PTI terra cotta tile, ripe avocado (green), and cocoa bean inks.  
• I masked the bottom of the brown "with sympathy" stems to match the base line of the green "peaceful garden" leaves.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Circle Vines - Green with Cream

Circular vines with two shades of green, on a lighter green print and a much darker green card base.  The vine stamp and the patterned paper feature the same shapes of leaves and dots. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pinefeather (dark green) and vintage cream.
• Patterned paper is the leaf print from PTI limeade ice (yellow-green) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Embossing folder is Stampin' Up subtle.
• Die is from PTI two toned.
• The images and the sentiment "just because" are from PTI tag-its #12 (retiring), stamped with PTI green parakeet (medium green) and new leaf (deeper green) inks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Rose Wreath with Burgundy Stripes

A special, sparkly card for a friend's accomplishment.  I rarely use gems on my cards, but they're perfect for the celebration.  My design was inspired by this card on the Ink to Paper (Papertrey Ink) blog - thanks, Melissa!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) lavender moon (light red-violet), autumn rose (medium red-violet), and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper the narrow stripe print from PTI scarlet jewel (burgundy) bitty big pattern pack.
• Embossing folder is Stampin' Up subtle.
• Die is from PTI limitless layers: 2-1/2" circles.
• The wreath is from PTI think big favorites #19 (retiring), the 4-petaled flower is from PTI out on a limb revised (retired), and the sentiment "celebrate you!" is from PTI heart-2-heart #5 (retired), stamped with PTI autumn rose and scarlet jewel inks. 
• Gems are Memory Box 2 mm jewel stickers.

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Blue with Tag on Multicolored Stripes

The patterned paper's multicolored stripes set a good masculine color scheme for my card today.  After I stamped the sentiment on the tag, it needed something more, and the row of stars worked beautifully. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) blueberry sky (blue), dark chocolate (brown), and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is from Pink & Main pumpkin spice 6 x 6" pad.
• Embroidery floss is DMC #922.
• The tag die is from PTI keep it simple frames.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI textile impressions (retiring), and the star border is from Paper Smooches seeing stars (retired), stamped with PTI blueberry sky and harvest gold (yellow) inks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Textured Backgrounds with Two Print Strips

Using some leftover patterned paper, I made a small batch of cards with the same overall design - a textured background, two different print strips, and a cream or white banner with a sentiment matching the background.  Simple but handsome. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) ripe avocado (green), Hawaiian shores (turquoise), vintage cream, and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is from PTI summer sunrise (yellow-orange) and dark chocolate (brown) pattern packs (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• Embossing folders are Sizzix chevrons (retired) and Cuttlebug d'vine swirls (retired).
• Die is from PTI fabulous frames.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from Pattern Happy mini greetings (retiring), and the sentiment "with thanks" is from PTI think big favorites #19 (retired), stamped with PTI ripe avocado and tropical teal inks.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Green Vines with Green Stripes

When I saw Jennifer McGuire's recent blog post on "reusable" stamping with craft foam ("DIY Stamps from Dies"), I knew I should try the technique.  This delicate vine die is one of my favorites, and it looked like it would work beautifully for a stamp.  To make it reusable, in line with Jennifer's ideas, I cut it from self-adhesive foam, which I then adhered to a piece of clear card stock.  I used removable Scotch tape to tape that to my MISTI lid, shimmed a scrap of white card stock to lift it closer to the very thin stamp, and started stamping a test piece. 

Since it was just meant for a test, I wasn't concerned about my stray ink.  But looking at it later on, I saw what a lovely watercolor-ish effect it made, stray ink marks and all.  So I added a small sentiment and layered it onto a card.  I'm very happy with the result, and I'll enjoy using my new reusable foam stamp!  Thank you, Jennifer, for all your great technique instructions and your inspiration!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) ripe avocado (dark green) and stamper's select white.
• Patterned paper is PTI spring moss (light green) pattern pack (tone-on-tone prints - retired).
• The sentiment "hello" is from PTI tag-its #12 (retired), stamped with PTI ripe avocado ink. 
• The vines are stamped with craft foam, cut with Memory Box floral vine die, using PTI simply chartreuse (medium green - for two vines) and ripe avocado (for one vine) inks.

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Balloon Trio on Yellow

For my trio of balloons, I stamped patterned circles in red, blue, and yellow-orange, then added clear epoxy dome stickers for some dimension and shine.  I like the swirly lines of the font with the balloon strings.  The embossed background adds more dimension, circles, and swirls. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) harvest gold (yellow) and stamper's select white.
• Embossing folder is Sizzix retro cirque.
• Die is from PTI noted: pinked A2 vertical.
• The patterned circles are from PTI bits & buttons (retired), stamped with PTI pure poppy (red), summer sunrise (yellow-orange), and blueberry sky (blue) inks.
• The shiny clear EK Success Sticko brand epoxy dome stickers (a bit over 1/2" across) have been in my embellishments drawer for 8 or 9 years.  I pulled them out because I read that some scrapbookers had problems with them yellowing badly.  Mine are still in perfect condition and needing to be used!  They are very mailable - flexible, and less than 1/16" thick - not like the more common "bottle cap" tops, which tend to be larger, thicker, more rigid, and more expensive. 
• The balloon strings are from PTI everyday button bits (retired), and the sentiment "thank you" is from PTI thank you kindly (retired), stamped with PTI true black ink.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Green Vine on Blue with Dark Blue

A delicate scrolling vine with a scripty sentiment.  The vine, flowers, and butterfly are from an old set - new to me - that was "destashed" by a stamping friend.  (Thank you, Jane!)  And the sentiment is from a recent set.  The old and new play well together.  Embossed background texture and some clear shiny accents (from an old tube of gloss gel) add depth and interest.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) spring rain (light blue) and enchanted evening (dark blue).
• Embossing folder is Stampin' Up subtle.  I stamped first, then used the embossing folder.
• The images are from PTI with sympathy (retired), and the sentiment "sending you my sincerest gratitude" is from PTI sentiment staples: sending you, stamped with PTI new leaf (green) and enchanted evening ink. 
• The clear shiny accents are "pearls" of Viva Decor gloss gel pen, transparent (000).  The flower centers look a bit elongated in my picture, but in real life they are perfectly round domes.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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