Papertrey Ink Project Inspiration {Happy Holidays}

Hello friends, and welcome! I'm back again with another Project Inspiration feature for Papertrey Ink. I paired some older favorites with new products from the latest release!  I have a really bad habit of leaving the sentiments on my projects as an afterthought. Often times I will reach for a sentiment and realize it doesn’t make any sense with the card I have just created! Ha ha! Has that ever happened to you? During the latest release, I really wanted to use this particular accent sentiment, but noticed how cute it would be with a card featuring a Christmas present! So, for today’s card, I let the sentiment take center stage and relate directly to the subject matter on the card! This was such a fun card to create, and my challenge to you is to carefully select a sentiment that will send your project in a specific direction and don’t leave it as an afterthought, like me (wink)!

Here is a step-by-step visual of all of the  steps in one place. There are more steps than usual, but not anything will take a long time to create or do, just some fun extra details!

Step 1: cut an A2 panel of Pure Poppy card stock and hot foil it using champagne foil. Attach it to an A2 card base. I used the  beautiful new Merry Motifs Hot Foil Plate.

Step 2: Cut the focal layer using the largest die included in the Love to Layer: Garnished Edges Die from Rustic White cardstock.

Step 3: cut all of the pieces you will need for the  Present and bow assemble it using liquid glue and foam squares. Add some shading to the edges with the same color ink as card stock. Attach it to the card using additional foam squares.

Step 4: cut the tag from Rustic Cream card stock and loop some metallic thread through the hole and knot it. Adhere it to the gift around the bow and secure with a foam square.

Step 5: cut and color foliage and berries using the Tag Creations: Modern Gift Die and attach it around the present.

Step 6: Die cut and stamp the larger sentiment. Heat emboss the accent sentiment and attach to the gift. Both sentiments are from the new This is Big Sentiments: Happy Holidays. 

Step 7: add adhesive pearls in the corners on the foiled design

Step 8: add glitter to the foliage and berries

I forgot to add some Scarlet Jewel ink around the edges of the background panel before I did the foiling, so I did it after. I don't like doing it that way though because I got red ink on the foiling and then had to wipe it away. So, if you want to recreate this card, do the ink around the corners before the foiling!

If you don't want such a large sentiment, you could always try just adding something smaller and then maybe an accent on the tag.

I love how beautifully this particular plate foils, but if you get any over-foiling, simply remove it with a sand eraser.

This could easily be changed into a birthday card; just swap sentiments, colors, and foliage!

This was such a fun card to create! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 4

I can't believe it, but we're on the 4th and final day of the Papertrey Ink September release countdown! I have a lot to share with you today, so get cozy and let's dig in! My first card for today features the new Nutcracker Magic Stamp/Die set; this one has a soft spot in my heart because my daughter was part of Ballet West's  The Nutcracker for a few years and it was always such a treat to see her perform!

To begin, I die cut all of the pieces I used in the corners and across the middle using the Nutcracker Magic Die set. I stamped the images using Vintage Photo distress ink for a soft look and then colored them using alcohol markers. I don't color very often anymore and my Copic markers have mostly dried up so I bought an inexpensive set from Amazon. The key to making them more user-friendly was to make a swatch chart. Inevitably, the lids don't actually represent the color accurately, but now that I made a swatch chart, I can get things to actually turn out how I envisioned! ha ha!

For the background, I used the new Fresh Greens Hot Foil Plate using champagne foil on a panel of Pinefeather cardstock. I trimmed it down and then adhered it to an A2 panel of Pure Poppy cardstock using foam squares. I also die cut another rectangle piece using the new Rounded Rectangles: Pierced Die from  Sweet Blush ink with Berry Sorbet ink added around the edges. I also stamped one of the "twinkle" images included in the Nutcracker Magic stamp set, but it's hard to see in the photos.

I die cut a Pinefeather frame using the In Frames: Oval Die and added it using foam squares.

There are two large nutcracker images so I chose one and stamped and colored it the same as the foliage pieces. I added it to the center of the frame using foam squares. 

I layered the large swag piece over the nutcracker's waist and added the sentiment underneath. I added Glossy Accents to the berries for some additional detail and shine.

The nutcracker's buttons are adhesive gray pearls. I added some sparkling clear sequins and a spritz of shimmer spray to finish it off!

My  next card also features the new Nutcracker Magic Stamp/Die set but this time I'm showcasing the cute ballerina!

I had fun heat embossing the skirt portion in white on vellum to give the illusion of a real tutu!

The background was created with the new Merry Motifs Hot Foil Plate that I can't seem to get enough of! I used silver foil on Spring Rain cardstock for a wintery look.

I stenciled the pattern on the oval using the new Dotted Lines Stencil Collection with Spring Rain ink.

I gave her crown a small adhesive gem and then added one in each of the four corners of the foiled design.

My last card using the Nutcracker Magic Stamp/Die set features Clara with her prized nutcracker doll. 

I used the same technique on this card for the coloring as with the other two. I really like using the Vintage Photo ink for the outline so it doesn't look too harsh.

I used two different hot foil plates on this card, but I feel like it works because of the two different scales of pattern.

I kept the coloring simple, but if you enjoy showing off your skills, have fun and let your artistry shine!

I opted for shimmer spray on these three cards, but glitter could be fun, too! I also added some white gel pen detail to the glossy accents on the berries once it dried.

For my last card, I'm bringing back the Snowdrops that were introduced yesterday, but this time with a completely different feeling! 

Blue is the obvious choice for the snowdrops, but I wanted to try something a little bit more bold for my final project. I die cut all of the pieces using the Into the Blooms: Snowdrops Die from white cardstock and then used sponge daubers and distress oxide inks. The greenery is colored with twisted citron, mowed lawn, and rustic wilderness ink. I added a touch of speckled egg to the inside and outer edges of some of the petals to give the illusion of shadow. I glued them together using liquid glue and small foam squares.

I used the largest size included in the Rounded Rectangles: Stitched Die and used it on a panel of True Black cardstock. I placed the flowers and leaves where I wanted them and then used the Glad Press N' Seal trick to pick everything up exactly in place, add glue to the back and then place it back down. Wait until the glue dries a bit and then remove the wrap carefully. 

Once that was done, I added white acrylic paint splatter for a snowy look. I also spritzed it with shimmer spray which is giving HIGH contrast, but it doesn't look THIS speckled in real life.

I added it to an A2 panel of Pure Poppy cardstock that is hot foiled with the Fanciful Snowflakes Hot Foil Plate.

A few sparkling sequins add to the look. I heat embossed one of the sentiments that is included in the This is Big Sentiments: Happy Holidays using silver powder and then added it to the card using black foam squares. 

This concludes the countdown and everything will be available for purchase tomorrow!

Thanks for fluttering by!

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 3

Hello and welcome to day 3 of the Papertrey Ink September release countdown! I hope you've been enjoying all of the festive new products being featured each day! I know I mentioned on day 1 that these are the first of the Christmas card for 2025 so it feels nice to be starting to buld a tiny stash! I gave EVERY card away last year, including those stragglers from previous years, so I am starting from SCRATCH!

My first card for today features the new Festive Roots Stamp/Die set and is so much fun! I had JUST pinned a cute illustration of some Christmas topiaries because I thought the previously released pot from the last release would be fun to create something similar! Well, lo and behold, here we are with the exact look I would have been going for! ha ha!

This card also features the new Cover Plate: Stitched Snowflakes Die; confession time: I got my days mixed up and made this for day 2 not realizing this set wouldn't be showcased until TODAY! woops! I probably would have created a different background had I not gotten mixed up! ha ha! Regardless, I think it turned out nicely and it gives you some additional ideas on how to use the Cover Plate!

I die cut all of the pieces from white cardstock and then stamped them with the coordinating Festive Roots stamp set.

There is one pot die, but there are three different patterns you can add to give variety. 

This card also features the new This is Big Sentiments: Happy Holidays, which, you guess it, was showcased on day 2 as well! But....I did add the sentiment included in the Festive Roots stamp set as an accent!

I added some Glossy Accents to the ornaments on the Ocean Tides tree and the berries on the tall, skinny tree!

I'm so excited for the new Into the Blooms: Snowdrops Die! I've paired it with the new Reflections: 2 Corinthians Stamp/Die.

To begin this card, I used the new Fresh Greens Hot Foil Plate with silver foil on a panel of Spring Rain cardstock. I trimmed it down and adhered it to an A2 panel of Enchanted Evening cardstock using foam squares.

I die cut all of the pieces I would need for the Snowdrops and then colored them with assorted distress oxide inks. I set them aside and got to work on the sentiment.

I cut the panel the scripture is on using the Reflections: 2 Corinthians Die. I added some blue ink at the top and then added the snowdrops. I added white acrylic paint splatter for a snowy effect. 

I used the Reflections: 2 Corinthians Outline Die and then stamped the sentiment in black.

I added it using foam squares and then adhered the entire thing to the background. I added a trio of sparkling clear sequins and glitter. The entire thing is added to a top-folding A2 card base using liquid glue. 

Join me tomorrow for the 4th and final day of the countdown! Thanks for fluttering by!