Project Inspiration {Welcome to the World}

 

Hello friends! I'm happy to be here today with this weekend's Project Inspiration feature for Papertrey Ink! A sweet little bundle of joy was born this past week and I decided to combine my need for a baby boy card and this week's project! I had so much fun creating it and I will be taking you step-by-step through the process!

The gift I bought has a lot of blue tones, plaid, and stripes, so that was the starting point for my card. You all know how much I love a coordinating card with the gift! 

This card comes together is seven steps, including the inside! 

Step 1: prepare a 5 by 7 white card base. Attach the frame using foam squares. The frame was cut once from white and then again from Spring Rain cardstock using the In Frames: Big and Tall Rectangles Die. I glued the two frames together for a sturdy piece.

Step 2: Adhere the center portion, which is cut from gingham pattern paper, using liquid glue. The paper I used is quite thin, so I glued it to a piece of white cardstock for stability. This is why I had an extra white frame for the first step! ha ha! This is all cut using the same die as in step 1.

Step 3: Cut the mat from white cardstock using the Love to Layer: Sweet Scallops Die and adhere it to the gingham panel using foam squares.

Step 4: cut and assemble the baby shoes using the Baby Steps Die.  “Hang” them near the top of the center mat using foam squares, with a die cut button, which is included in the Into the Blooms: Cute as a Button Die, as an anchor for the string. I die cut all three sizes of buttons included in the set and you will see how I used the others further down.

Step 5: cut the sentiment three times using the Line it Up: Baby Die from Blueberry Sky cardstock and glue them together. Adhere it underneath the baby shoes using liquid glue.

Step 6: cut and color foliage and flowers using the Into the Blooms: Wild Wood Die and tuck them here and there until you’re satisfied with the arrangement. Cut the buttons three times for each size and glue them together. Arrange them to accent the foliage. Add the pacifier to the bottom with foam squares.

Step 7: decorate the inside with a stamped sentiment and pacifier. I used the Just Tags Die and then used Blueberry Sky ink for the sentiment included in the Just Sentiments: Welcome Mini Stamp Set. I added the pacifier with foam squares.

This would be such a fun design for a baby girl card, as well! I'm thinking lots of flowers and fun colors!

I love stacking the buttons like this because they give the illusion of real buttons! I also love stacking the sentiment as well!

Thanks for fluttering by!

The Greetery {Halloween Tags}

Hello friends! I'm over on The Greetery blog today with a fun, spooky project, but I wanted to share them here, too! I made some tags this spring that so many of you seemed to really like, so I’m back today with a spooky, Halloween version using so many of the new products included in The Autumn Edit Collection!

I made 4 tags in total using 4 different Halloween sentiments included in the new Simple Autumn Stamp Set. I bought 4 jack-o-lantern paperboard box/basket type containers and I plan to wrap them up with cellophane and a big bow. These tags will be the perfect accent to tie onto the bows! I kept the colors of the boxes in mind as I made my design/color choices and I just love how they turned out!

To begin, I cut 4 tag bases using the Golden Egg Die that was released earlier this year. I love this particular scalloped die; it’s the only one included in the set that isn’t an egg shape and it is perfect for all sorts of projects. I cut the bases from black cardstock and then embossed each one using the Wildwood Embossing Folder.

 Once that was done, I used a white pigment ink pad to rub across the raised portions to make the details pop. I also added the same ink around the edges for definition. I added an eyelet to the top of each of the tags along with a length of black baker’s twine.

The next step is to get all of the pumpkins cut and colored; I used the Bigger Autumn Botanicals Pumpkin 1 and pumpkin 2 and cut them from white and then used dye inks and blender brushes to color each of the pumpkins, foliage, and stems.

I really like how easy these are to assemble; the foliage gets glued behind the stem piece for security and perfect placement. Once they were glued together, I gave them all a spritz or two of Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Spray for an aged, organic look.

I’ve had all kinds of bits and bobs on my desk from previous projects. Included in the pile was one foiled hexagon label so I decided to play around with the possibility of using it as an anchor for the pumpkin and sure enough, it was just the thing! I used the Oblong Octagon Labels Hot Foil and champagne foil on Vintage Cream cardstock to create the other three that would be needed to complete the 4 tags. I cut them using the Oblong Octagon Labels Die and then mounted them to the tag bases using black foam squares.

I used the larger labels for the taller pumpkins and then the smaller labels for the squat pumpkins. After that was done, I got to work on the sentiments. Each one is heat embossed in gold onto Ripe Avocado cardstock and then cut using the Shortbread Shapes: Rectangle Labels Die. I adhered them over the top of each pumpkin using additional foam squares and added a metallic pearl on the ends of each label. You could just stop at this point, especially if you don’t use the Halloween sentiments, but rather that autumn or harvest sentiments, but since these spooky, I had fun adding additional details!

I cut some additional octagon tags for the back of the tags so I could stamp another sentiment and a “to: from:” portion of the sentiment. I knew it would be impossible to write a greeting on the backside of the tag with the de-bossed side, so the extra label on the back was the perfect fix!

Included in the “bits and bobs” pile was a herd of ghosts, cobwebs, banners, and more, so they turned out to be just the thing to accent the tags. I did end up needing a few additional “specific” pieces, so they were cut using the Market Place Eerie Avenue Dieand then glued or popped up to finish off each of the tags.

I had so much fun creating this collection of tags and I know they will look so cute to finish off the packaging! Thanks for fluttering by!

 P.S. As always, if you aren’t a tag person, you could use this same idea for a focal point on a card!

 

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 4

It's hard to believe we're already to the 4th and final day of the Papertrey Ink September release countdown! I have two projects to share with you today; up first is a card created using the adorable new Cup of Christmas Stamp/Die set. Over the years, I have saved a few different photos of cups filled with sweet Christmas scenes with plans to create something similar on a card! Well, now I have a perfectly curated stamp/die set that has made it possible to create this adorable scene!

The cup is large enough to hold both sentiments included in the set; I fell in love with this "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas"! I heat embossed it in white onto the stamped cup once the red inks had dried. If you do it too early, you run the risk of having the embossing powder stick to the background ink.

The background is foiled using the Merry Motifs Hot Foil Plate onto an A2 panel of Coastal Blue cardstock. I have really been missing Aqua Mist, but I think I actually like this color better! I used the largest die included in the new Reflections: John 1:14 die that was featured yesterday; I love all of the built-in detail!

I layered everything up onto the oval using foam squares and liquid glue and then finished it off with a bit of Crystal Stickles here and there for sparkle and shine!

My last card for today, and for the release, features the new Merry Christmas Banner suite of products! These were all introduced on day 1 of the countdown, but I didn't get a chance to use them so I was glad for the opportunity to share today!

This suite of products is perfect for mass-producing holiday cards; it includes the Merry Christmas Banner Stencil Collection, Merry Christmas Banner Press Plate/coordinating die! I love that the foiled design has the coordinating die!

I chose to use blues and greens rather than the traditional red and green and I love how it came out! 

I stamped an accent sentiment on the bottom using the new This is Big Sentiments: XL Happy Holidays Stamp Set that was featured on day 1. I still need to use those big bold words on a card soon! I layered the stenciled panel onto an A2 piece of Pinefeather cardstock and then added some sparkling clear sequins and a touch of Crystal Stickles!

Everything will be available for purchase tomorrow!

Thanks for fluttering by! 

 

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 3

Welcome back for day 3 of the Papertrey Ink September release countdown! I mentioned yesterday that the new Cutting Board Tags Die was probably my favorite new product, but this Build-a-Whimsical Tree is coming in at a (unexpected) close second! I had so much fun cutting, coloring, and assembling this sweet tree!

You may have noticed that I was unexpectedly delighted with this set; I must admit when I first saw it, I didn't quite know how it was all supposed to go together, SO, I decided to just search "whimsical tree" on Pinterest and got a few cute illustrations, so this card was 10000000% inspired by the illustration! ha ha! I love how it came out!

To begin, I cut the base of the tree and each section from Vintage Cream cardstock. There is a base with embossed lines so you can see where each section is supposed to go, thank heavens! haha! There is a Build-a-Whimsical Tree Stencil that allows you to add individual patterns to each of the secions. The blue is Coastal Blue, the next layer up is Sweet Blush with Scarlet Jewel. The next layer is colored with antique linen distress oxide ink with a light hand of Scarlet Jewel. The layers repeat!

I popped up each section with foam squares and tucked the trunk between the two layers, along with the cute spiral piece at the top. The star is cut from gold cardstock and then glued on top of the tree.

The holly leaves and swirls are cut from Spring Moss cardstock with some Ripe Avocado ink blending for dimension. For the berries and ornaments, I simply blended some Scarlet Jewel ink onto a piece of white cardstock and then cut the pieces out and added them with small bits of foam tape and liquid glue. I foiled a panel of Autumn Rose cardstock using the Filigree Frame Hot Foil Plate with champagne foil.  I trimmed it close to the foiled edge and then blended some Autumn Rose and Scarlet Jewel ink. I used the middle sized mat included in the Love to Layer: Whimsy Die cut from Coastal Blue to serve as an anchor for the tree. The sentiment, which is from the Just Sentiments: Be Merry Stamp Set, is heat embossed in gold onto a strip of Scarlet Jewel cardstock. I added some Crystal Stickles to the holly berries for a touch of sparkle!

Switching gears from Christmas to bring you this floral card using the new Reflections: John 1:145 stamp/die/outline die. I love having these scripture cards on hand, so I didn't want to commit to Christmas since the verse can be used in an assortment of ways.

I love the beautiful mats from the Reflections: John 1:14 die and of course I used the outline die as well. I just love the depth I can achieve with the outline and it allows me to tuck flowers and foliage here and there.

The background for this card is cut using the Cover Plate: Quilted Die from Lilac Grace cardstock. I carefully glued it onto an A2 card base using liquid glue, making sure to not put glue on the pierced details. Next, I cut the largest mat from Plum Pudding cardstock and added some shading with Royal Velvet ink.

The verse is heat embossed in gold and then cut with the outline die. I layered it with foam squares and then had fun adding the flowers and foliage with foam squares and liquid glue. A touch of glitter finishes it off! Join me again tomorrow for the 4th and final day of the countdown! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Project Inspiration {Cozy Christmas}

Hello and welcome, friends! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying this first week of autumn! I was able to get out in nature and enjoy the beginning of the leaves changing in the Utah mountains, which is truly one of my favorite things! The leaves aren't peak yet, but that is just fine with me because it means more time to enjoy this beautiful season! 

It's my turn again for this week's Project Inspiration for Papertrey Ink and I decided to get a head start on my Christmas cards! 

Pattern, layers, texture, and shine…all the hallmarks of a classically designed Christmas card! Olive and Scarlet are always a fun twist on the traditional red and green color combination! Follow along with me step-by-step as this card comes together in seven easy steps! 

Step 1: foil a panel of Olive Twist cardstock with champagne foil using the Merry Motifs Hot Foil Plate Trim it down close to the foiled design. Blend Olive Twist ink around the 4 corners.

Step 2: Add a 1 inch strip of plaid pattern paper to the center and attach the background panel to an A2-sized piece of Scarlet Jewel cardstock. Glue it to an A2 card base.

Step 3: Cut the mat using the Love to Layer: Whimsy Die from Olive Twist cardstock and blend the same color ink around the edges. Heat emboss the sentiment, which is from the Just Sentiments: Warmth Mini Stamp Set and adhere it to the background panel using foam squares.

Step 4: cut and color all of the pieces for the Holly and berries using the Into the Blooms: Holly Die. Spritz them with Crushed Olive Distress Spritz and arrange around the edges. 

Step 5: cut a circle using the smallest die included in the Love to Layer: Scalloped Circles Die and the house, which is from the Bring Home the Holidays Die. Assemble them together and place it above the sentiment using foam squares.

Step 6: Cut and assemble the Wrap-it Ribbons Die and adhere it to the card. Apply glitter to the berries and leaves.

Step 7: decorate the inside with leftover foliage and berries along with an inside greeting from the Inside Greetings: Heaven and Nature Sing Stamp Set.

 I had so much fun creating this card and I'll add it to the beginnings of my collection for 2026! I can't believe we're already getting so close to the end of the year! Thanks for fluttering by!