Ten Minute Scrap Pile

I love Jessica Witty's "Ten Minute Scrap Pile" cards. The idea is to just sit down at your desk and make a quick card with whatever's on your table. And since I tend to do my card making in 10 or 15 minute increments (thanks to my young daughters), AND since I *ahem* find it very hard to throw anything away, I very often have a table full of scraps just begging to be used.


These butterflies are scraps leftover from the butterfly prints I made for my daughter's room. The Fine Linen layer is left over from my die cut-fest at Deb's house a couple months ago. Just a couple extra touches and it was done! Woo hoo!



~Supplies~
Stamps: Ribbon Tails, Polka Dot Basics II (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark; Berry Sorbet (PTI)
Paper: Fine Linen, Hibiscus Burst Bitty Dot Basics (PTI); Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Bella Bleu DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Berry Sorbet satin ribbon (PTI); clear embossing powder (SU); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Signature Series: Butterfly die (PTI); Edgers #1 die (PTI); dimensionals (SU)

Masculine card series

I'm still on my masculine card kick. I've had several masculine-themed supplies out on my desk for a few weeks, and every time I sit down to make a card, I just use these same items. Easy way to build up a nice stash! And let me tell ya, this is the first time I've actually had a stash of masculine cards! Usually I have to make them as I need them.


My key to masculine cards - clean, graphic, and little-to-no embellishments. PUT DOWN THE RIBBON, ladies!!! I know it's hard, but I promise they'll look better. :)


My masculine color scheme is brown, blue, green, and white. I threw in some nice textures as well. I kept it clean and graphic by using a large stamped sentiment as the focal point - no stamped images. I LOVE this look.


I also LOVE Mat Stack 1, in case you couldn't tell. :) It is seriously my most-used die by far.


~Supplies~
Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes, Mat Stack 1 Collection (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Rustic White (PTI); Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Kraft, Yoyo Yellow, Rockabilly DSP (SU)
Accessories: Mat Stack 1 and Double Ended Banner dies (PTI); Large Star punch (SU); Woodgrain Impression plate (PTI); Square Lattice embossing folder (SU); brown baker's twine (Martha Stewart); dimensionals (SU)

Look out, Pottery Barn Kids!

My older daughter just graduated to a "grown up" bed! We took her to Pottery Barn Kids, where she picked out a light pink bedspread with butterflies on it. It also included light green to match the color of her walls, as well as some light blue, yellow, and a darker pink.


There wasn't any wall art that totally matched the bedspread she picked. There were a few butterfly pieces, but they were really expensive, plus they didn't really match anyway. I thought, "Surely I can make something to match, with all the butterfly crafty stuff I own!"


Sure enough, I was able to come up with some butterfly wall art to match her PBK bedspread, and I am totally thrilled with the result. I bought the white frames at Michael's on sale for about $7.50 each, and that was the only expense! Much better than $49 each like at PBK, huh? :)


Here are close ups of two of them. Each one is just a teeny bit different!



~Supplies~
Signature Series: Butterfly die from Papertrey Ink
Cardstock and Bitty Dots patterned paper from Papertrey Ink - Spring Rain, Lemon Tart, Hibiscus Burst
Cardstock from Stampin' Up! - Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Spring Fling DSP

First Copics!

Another thing I got to try out at Deb's PTI stamping get together was Copic markers. Cheryl so kindly gave me a little lesson. It was fun, but I would have to practice a lot to work the magic that I see from so many talented crafters out there!


Even though the Copic coloring of the flower is just alright, I still wanted to share this card because I LOVE the ruffle ribbon!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Mums (Papertrey Ink); Frame It (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Black Onyx (Versafine)
Paper: Stamper's Select White (PTI); Black, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Copics; Red Ruffle ribbon (My Favorite Things)

Birthday Tag - Girl

Here's more for my birthday tag series, this time a girl version.

~Supplies~
Stamps: Tiny Treats: Birthday; Fillable Frames #9 (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Whisper White, Pixie Pink; Melon Mambo (SU); Simply Chartreuse (PTI)
Accessories: Melon Mambo and Old Olive Markers (SU); T1 (Copic); Tag Sale #4 die (PTI); Scallop Circle and Circle Punches (SU); Double Ended banner die (PTI)

Bring on Spring!

One of my goals this year is to get one of my cards published in a magazine. This card was my first submission. But alas, it didn't get picked up. Maybe next time!!! :)

Daffodils are my favorite flower. We always had a bunch in our yard growing up, and I loved that they were one of the first flowers to peek out of the ground after the winter. So sunny and pretty!

But, I really don't like coloring in large images on cards. I'm not that good at it, and I don't have all the tools. So, I went for paper piecing on this one. It turned out fun, no? I also added an oh-so-trendy cake doily. I love how springy it looks!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Daffodil, and Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Spring Moss, Lemon Tart, Dark Chocolate, and Happy Spots Patterned Paper (PTI)
Ink: Black Onyx (Versamark); Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Corner rounder punch (EK Success); Doily (Wilton)

Birthday Tags - Boy

I've been concentrating lately on two things - gift tags and masculine/boy items. This fits both! These tags are just two of a whole series I made for birthday boy gifts. They are all made with similar stamps and color scheme. It makes it easy to make a whole bunch, since the supplies are already out and you're already in the groove. And you know my theory about using gift tags for kid presents - they don't even look at the card, so why bother? Plus, a tag is easier to attach to a bag and won't get lost in the gift pile like a card could. Sometimes I even have my daughter color in the image on the tag for her friends, which is cute.


As promised, here is the other reason I bought the "Eat Chocolate" stamp set. See that green outline frame that fits so beautifully in the white punched label? Well, I took the chocolate stamp that included this great border and CUT it! Yep, I cut my rubber stamp! I cut out the chocolate sentiment/image that I didn't really like, and was left with this pretty border for my punched labels. Love it!!!



~Supplies~
Stamps: Eat Chocolate (Stampin' Up!); Tiny Treats: Birthday (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow, Kraft (SU); Simply Chartreuse (PTI)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Old Olive (SU)
Markers: Old Olive, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Yoyo Yellow (SU); T1 (Copic)
Accessories: Tag Sale #1 and #3 dies (PTI); Star Punch (SU); Decorative Label Punch (SU)