Sunshine! and exciting news!!

As you might know I have been the surprise Guest for Seize the Birthday challenge blog these past two months!  What you don't know is that Nancy has asked me to stay on as a full time DT member of this terrific blog!!  I have been busting with excitement waiting for the chance to share my wonderful news!

Our first challenge in June at Seize The Birthday is a "Toppings" challenge.

Our "Toppings" option this time is...

" Sunshine"

I created this card using a technique Laurie Willison recently shared on MIM.  I stamped my pretty Penny Black flower in Versamark and heat embossed it with white EP.  Then I masked off the borders of my card with Washi Tape and  sponged some Daffodil Delight SU ink.  I removed my Washi Tape and stamped my "Sunshine" sentiment in Versafine Black ink.  Next I colored the flower with Prisma Pencils - blending with Gamsol.  finally I added some bling and sat back and said... "I love this!" heehee am I allowed to say that?

Well I did love it so I decided to make a little gift pack for my Step Mother using more of the pretty floral images in the same Penny Black set.

The uber talented Mynn Kitchen owner of "On a Stampage" blog is our Surprise Guest for June and July.  If you are not familiar with her blog you really must go pay a visit! Be sure to leave her some "Sunshine-Love" when you do!! : )

Thank you for considering joining the challenge at Seize the Birthday! We just love seeing your work in the gallery.  Don't worry if you are not a "Toppings" kind of person because Anything ALWAYS goes at STB!

Thank you again, Nancy for your always encouraging and kind comments on my work and especially for inviting me to be a part of your outstanding design team!! I am having a blast working with all of you!!

Thank you friends, for stopping by.  I hope you are having a wonderful day!

My granddaughter, Katie is flying in tonight! I am so excited : ) I will be a little preoccupied this week but I will get out to visiting all of you soon I promise! : ) 

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
Floral Fusion by Penny Black
Sentiment on my second card uses "Oriental" by Penny Black
Treasured Sentiments by Penny Black

The Challenge - Wild Card

Good morning friends! I hope the sun is shinning as brightly in your corner of the world as it is in mine today!!

Today is my last day as a Guest Designer at "The Challenge" brought to you by the Challenge Queen of Blogland Lesley of Always Playing with Paper blog.  The theme for this week is "Wild Card Sketch"

I want to thank Lesley and the entire design team who has both made me tremendously welcome! and who are kind and sweet members of this great community!  Please check out their individual blogs for some inspiring eye candy!!

Anita of Just a Pigment blog

Broni of Splashes of Water color blog

Claire of Claire Creates Cards blog

Diane of It's All About the ART! blog

Jinny of Soaring blog

The sweet! Kim Heggins of Cupcakes, Cards and Kim blog

Lee Ann of Greyt Paper Crafts blog

Lori of Inking Out Loud blog

Nance of Soul Stampin' blog

Nina of Notes by Nina blog

Rachel of RBergfeld Card Designs blog

I also want to thank those who have served and those who do serve in our country - giving their lives so that we can have better lives!

My card today features another theme for this holiday weekend and that is: Recreation! There is a whole lotta recreation going on in the Black Hills today! the tourists are beginning to arrive and every where you look this weekend people are laughing and having fun!

I wanted you to think of golf balls when I selected the EF for the upper portion of my card and the polka dot stenciling on the lower circle die cut on my card : ) 

This was a fun month of challenges for me.  I appreciate Lesley and Kim inviting me to be a part of this great team.  I look forward to joining The Challenge often in the future! I hope you will consider joining us this week because we LOVE seeing you in the gallery!

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day of recreation wherever you are!

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:

Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder by SU

On the Links stamp set and die by PTI

Circle die cut from Lil Inkers Stitched Die

Small polka dot stencil from Heidi Swapp

Happy Birthday Susan!

Today is Susan's birthday! She lives in Washington state where the strawberries have just come on and so her daughter is making her a Strawberry dessert today! With all my heart I wish I could be there with her and her family.

Based on the colors in their home I created this gift for Susan.

I am not set up to photograph such a large piece so the picture is not very pretty but you can get the idea anyway.  Maybe Susan will take a shot of this hanging on her wall and post it (hint hint) : )

I used the "Quilted" series from Papertrey Ink for my quilt blocks and framed them in a plain frame from Michael's.  I chose this frame because of the double matting.  The top mat is raised so that I was able to layer foam under each quilt block and not be smushed under the glass.  The frame is black and the mat a brilliant white not gray like it looks in the picture.

I know this is a bit tacky to talk about price but I have already shared my great find with Susan so I can share with you too.  This frame cost less than $20.00 when I used a 40% off coupon at Michaels! Isn't that amazing!?!

Before I go I have another sister, Beverly, who also has a May birthday.  I forgot to post this funny plaque I found in a FEED STORE! LOL and sent to her.  I thought it was so funny I didn't want to fail to share it with all of you.

Please join me in wishing my sweet sister a very very happy birthday!!

I will be adding my projects to:

Tic Tac Toe#10 Inspiration from the UBER talented and SWEET Nora! (center verticle row)
Shopping Our Stash (Anything but a card)


Have a great day!

Patti

Supplies:
Quilted: Spring stamp and die set by PTI
Quilted Summer stamp and die set by PTI
Quilted: Autumn stamp and die set by PTI
Quilted Winter stamp and die set by PTI

"B" is for Buzz cut!

Hello crafty friends! and happy Saturday!

Here is a card I made for my Dad when he was in the hospital last month : )  The card actually went postal the day he was discharged but I know he got a good laugh out of it even though he was home when he received it : )

My sister, Susan, sent me this adorable House Mouse Image in some Happy Mail she sent last month so I don't know the name of this particular one.  I love House Mouse art and have several of their stamps but I hadn't seen this one before.  I knew my Dad would get a real kick out of it so I colored it up and added my own computer generated sentiment.  You can't see it here but the entire mirror is coated with Wink of Stella for a real "mirror like" look.

The crafty gals at the Just Add Ink blog are hosting a "Just add a B" challenge and so I will add my forlorned little buzz cut mouse to that fun challenge.  I hope you'll considering joining the fun too!

I will also enter the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes" These are always great challenges and they come with a prize!! Hope you'll join the fun there too.

I want to thank all of you who sent me encouraging and  get well wishes for my Dad.  I really appreciate your concern : ) He is doing well!

Well I am off to get inky!  Our weather is icky - cold and rainy so what a better way to spend a holiday weekend than in the craft room! I hope you get a chance to do something crafty today : )

Thank you so much! for stopping by.

Patti

Papertrey Ink May Blog Hop

It is that time of the month again when we get to hop all over Blogland enjoying a buffet of Papertrey products!! In addition to the Hop I want to include my Happy Birthday wishes to AAA Cards Challenge blog who is 2 years old!!

I created a balloon mask from a scrap of clear acetate and then inked up my three balloons individually.  I then went back over each one with a different stencil : )  I drew a fine "string" down to my hand at the bottom of the card and then added my sentiment : )   Next I tried something new -  I have always wanted to spray my card with a spray adhesive and toss glitter on it.  It worked even better than I hoped : ) I used a super fine Crystal Glitter by Stampendous!  It does not show really well in the picture but this is one sparkly card!!

Any place that had too much glitter I simply rubbed off with my adhesive remover. After it completely dried there was no sticky residual left at all!

Thank you for joining me today at the hop for PTI and in congratulating AAA cards for two fun years of challenges!

I have to be gone all day today but I promise I will get to each of your blog in the next couple of days!

Patti

Supplies:
Balloon Bash die used to create stencil by PTI
Misc stencils from my stash
Hand die from "In The Bag" by PTI
Big Basics" Birthday Die by PTI

Fast CASology and MIM challenges

Two of my favorite challenges, Make It Monday from Papertrey Ink and CASology are coming together for this card I whipped up really fast today.  We buy our milk fresh from the dairy and today I will give this card to our favorite farmer's son, Payton, who has recently passed his behind the wheel test and is on the road!

Following Laurie Willison's video HERE I masked off my background and then split it in half.  I inked up the blue skies and then reversed my mask to create some green.  It is hard to see but I moved a diagonal mask on the grass a few times to give some dimension.  After I was done I thought about how inappropriate it is to have a car on the grass oopie! Oh well, you KNOW how student drivers can be heeheehee.  Next I actually cut out the car from the background so that I could fussy cut out the window and lay it over my "Tye Dye" bug's windshield giving the illusion that you are seeing through the windshield.  I layered a piece of black cs behind my panel and popped it up on my card base.  I also popped up the car over the negative space so you could see the black underneath a little : )

I wanted to make this a fun yet not too girly card for Payton so I let it stay sort of plain.  I did, however have a brain storm after the entire card was done and added glossy accents on the windshield!

ummm... note to self:

don't stir the glossy accents after it is on the card.  

The texture is terrible and bumpy like he needs a new windshield already! LOL  Oh well! he'll love it .... mostly because we are including some gas money! giggles.

That is it for me today.  Please check out the challenge at CASology and Make It Monday there is a whole lot of fun! happening in Blogland this week!

Thank you for stopping by! Have a great day!!

Patti

Supplies:

Enjoy the Ride stamp and die from PTI

The Challenge #74

Lesley has another amazing inspiration photo and theme for you this week at The Challenge! 

I wanted to incorporate both the tractor theme as well as the subtle colors in the photo.  I started by "Debossing a rectangle frame to highlight my image as well as a dotted border line.  I added red paper behind the dots so they would pop and popped up my great big hello! on black foam. 

I hope my card  inspires you to make a masculine theme card of your own : ) Please come join the fun at The Challenge! we love seeing your work in the gallery.

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful Monday!

Patti

Money card challenge

Today I am finally getting to post a card I made for three terrific challenges!  Lexi Daly, designer extrodinar! from Papertrey Ink is the hostess for Make It Monday this week.  She has challenged us to create a card using Money in her video HERE.

I was excited to see Lexi's video because her cards were so cute! and immediately went to search out on Google what shape I might create for this challenge.  I was shocked! at how super easy this dress was to create. (Marybeth and I could go to the prom together with our two cards for this week! giggles.  See Marybeth's sweet take on this sketch HERE.)

I started out by making a mask and stenciling some soft and pretty pastel inks over MFT Funky Flowers stencil.  Then I placed my small white frame over that portion of the cardbase.  Next I cut a larger scallop shape from the same set and added a little hint of ink.  Finally I added the Congratulations sentiment which I wanted to look like a belt.... does it look like a belt gone wild? LOL and a tiny little bow at the neckline of my dress.

This card is a graduation card for my granddaughter who will be finishing Homeschool high school  any day. : )  And I have just found out that I will be able to give this card to her in person!! because it turns out I'm getting Katie for my Birthday!! : ) she is flying in to celebrate with us and I am so excited I can't wipe the smile off my face!!

I will be entering this card in the City Crafter Challenge.  Don't you just LOVE this inspiration photo!!

And CASology has one of my new favorite themes.  I really love the stencils I am seeing in Blogland and the pretty touch they add to a card.

Thank you for stopping by friends.  It was hard to get to my computer today because it is so BEAUTIFUL outside today!! I hope you are having a wonderful day too!!

Patti

Hooray!

It is time for another semi-monthly Seize the Birthday challenge where "The Toppings" is Dimension!! : )

If you are not a "Toppings" kind of person just remember with Seize the Birthday Anything! always goes : ) as long as it is a Birthday card.  I sure hope you will have time to join us for this challenge! We love seeing your cards in the gallery!!

Have a wonderful day friends! and thank you so much for visiting : )

Patti

Supplies:
What the Doodle - Feather Mini by PTI
Stylish Sentiments: Birthday by PTI
Horray die from Shaker Shapes Balloon Die by PTI
Polka Dot Stencil by Heidi Swapp

Happy Birthday Sandie!

Happy Birthday to one of the SWEETEST gals in Blogland!!! TIME OUT Challenges is hosting a birthday party for Sandie of London Days blog and all of Blogland is invited!!  Check out the party HERE.

With each and every comment Sandie has made to my blog or ones I have read on other's blogs - it is obvious that she is a kind and sweet and fun loving gal!  I can hardly believe she is 50!! (Miss Sandie you may have to update your Avatar!) giggles but in light of your fun-purple-loving heart here is a card I created just for you!!

Shakers can be a bit tricky to photograph : )  but here you can see the Pretty Pink Posh pizzazz inside!

I am also adding my card to Serendipity Stamps Challenge featuring "Die Cutting" : ) Please grab your Serendipity dies and check out this great challenge - there is a prize!! wow hoo!!

Thank you for stopping by!!  Have a great day : )

Patti

Supplies:

Happy die by Serendipity Stamps
Tennis Shoes image by Serendipity Stamps

Such a Happy Day!

This is my business partner and BFF's birthday!!

I created this card after seeing Jennifer McGuire's tutorial on "Vellum Overlay Cards".  I shamelessly CASED every little detail Jennifer used on her card : ) You can see her video HERE.

I used Papertrey Ink's Linen Vellum cs and it held up so nicely! when I heat embossed it but it seems a bit to opaque - I will use a more transparent vellum next time.

It was a bit tricky getting a picture of this card because of the card base being vellum but you can get the idea : ) especially if you hop over to see Jennifer's (much prettier) cards.

I will be entering my card in the Just Us Girls challenge this week where they are calling for Vellum! : ) as well as Simon Says Wednesday: Flowers!

Happiest of Birthday's Bella! I love you!! : ) 

Thank you for stopping by friends! and if you have time to leave a comment please wish Diane (nick name Bella) a Happy day with me! : )

Patti

Supplies:
Flower and sentiment from "Beautiful Day" by Altenew
Vellum from Papertrey Ink
Detail White EP by Ranger
Pearls and rhinestones from my stash

Elegant Inspiration!

Hello friends it is Monday! I love Monday! it is the beginning of a new week : ) Like a "do-over" it is almost as if we messed up last week we get to try again this week!

I also love Monday because I get to bring you a new card for The Challenge challenge where I am a Guest Designer for the month of May.

Look at this stunning Inspiration Photo that Lesley has presented for us this week!

There are so many beautiful ways that you could interpret this lovely still life.  I really hope you will join us this week.  I would love to see your card in the gallery!

Inside reads: Makes All Things Possible

I began by inking up some white cs. Next I built a backdrop for my large Peony by stamping just the outline images of leaves and flowers.  Next I stamped the two large leaves on the left side of the panel as well as a third leaf on a separate piece of cs which I fussy cut out.  Finally I placed the main flower on my panel and glued in the extra leaf under the petals.  I cut a little vellum butterfly and gave it some matching color.  I cut the word die from a piece of textured Gold cs from my stash.

I had been seeing some incredible cards using Altenew stamps from Laura Jane, like the STUNNING card she posted HERE and I was in love and HAD to shop!!

I stamped my Peony outline-only image with a soft pink ink then with the more detailed images I added some darker detail before finishing adding the pink to my petals using colored pencils - blending with Gamsol.  

I won't say anything against these wonderful images but I will say that - for me - some of the sets are hard to line up!! There is such amazing detail in them you almost need a Stamp-a-majig or a Misti to assist you in getting your layers lines up but as you can see the results are worth it : )

These stamp sets are some of the main reasons I want the water color brush pens. I just can't wait to experiment with all the wonderful ways there are to color in the beautiful images by Altenew.

Thank you so much for stopping by on this beautiful day in Blogland : ) It is actually rainy and cold in the Black Hills but have you ever noticed the weather is always fine and the sun is shining in Blogland! : )   Have a wonderful day! And please don't forget to stop by the Design Team at The Challenge and leave some love!! they would appreciate it soooo much and they are so well deserving!

Patti

Supplies:

Beautiful Day stamp set by Altenew
Peony Bouquet stamp set by Altenew
Faith stamp and die set by PTI

MIM Ink Blending with Die Cuts

Here is a card that will wake you up! LOL

Just what I need in my life right now... a bike ride and some bright color!! : )

Today's card is inspired by Lizzie Jones' video on Ink Blending Through Die cuts!  Check out her video HERE and then come join the fun at Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday!

I sure appreciate you stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Patti

Supplies:
Pedal Pusher Die and Stamp Set by PTI
Sentiment from "Fly Away Mini" Stamp Set by PTI

The Challenge #72 Colours!

Happy Monday friends!! I hope all of you Moms and Grandmas out there had a wonderfully pampered day!!  I sure did!!

It is Monday and that means it is time for another fun challenge at The Challenge!  where I am blessed to be a guest designer this month : )  Lesley always selects such beautiful color combinations to inspire like this lovely one!!

I CASEd Kay Miller for my card design to join the Time Out Challenge.

First I applied some splatters from the"Snowing" stamp form Altenew.  Next I cut a square frame three times and glued it together for some nice depth.  Before attaching the square frame to my bard base I cut some flower sprays out of vellum and stamped just the stem and flower center from the stamp set.  On the reverse side of the vellum I applied bright yellow marker to give just a hint of color on the flower center.  I arranged the flowers over and under my frame and then attached it to my card.  Finally I cut and stamped my bird and popped it up with foam tape.  I wanted to pull in the dark Blue from Lesley's color line up so I used Pacific Point ink from SU for my sentiment.  Last but certainly not least! I applied Wink of Stella (love this product) to my bird and flowers for just the perfect amount of sparkle!

This card was given to my BFF yesterday while we played with paper together after a DELICIOUS! dinner she made for us : )

It's your turn!! please join us at The Challenge for this color challenge and then try your hand at CASEing Kay's card at Time Out.

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day : )

Patti

Bird and flowers from Spring Woods stamp set by PTI
Speckles from "Snowing" stamp set by Altenew
Square Frame.... : ( I think MFT?
Sentiment from Fillable Frames #4 by PTI

Muse #164 with Michelle

Before I begin my post today I wanted to express my sincere thanks to each and every one of you who commented and left such helpful feedback and advice from my MIM post.  I am overwhelmed by our wonderful caring community!! sending you all BIG (((Hugs)))  

I am joining some really talented crafters in the gallery of the Muse today.  We take our inspiration this week from Michelle.  Michelle is the owner of  I Card Everyone blog.  Isn't her card beautiful!? Lilacs are among my all time favorite flowers! and I just love her design.

For my take on her Muse I pretty much copied her design exactly and went with a floral theme but just a bit different : )

I inked up a sky and some grass before debossing a stitched circle from Lil Inkers.  Next I cut out and stamped each element in my little scene.

All that was left to do was I add my yellow strip of polka dot paper and sentiment.   Oh! and I stamped an acetate window for my shop too : )

This is a late post for me today as I have been having internet troubles but as they say better late than never!?! I have been busy anyway playing with my Mother's Day toy!! a new Misti arrived this afternoon!

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful rest of your day friends!!

Patti

Supplies:
Petite Places: Main Street stamp set by PTI
Petite Places: Walk in the Park by PTI
Enclosed: Present Mini by PTI

MIM and some advice needed

Hello friends : )   My post today is for Make It Monday! Melissa Phillips is our hostess with a great technique she calls "Watercolored Card Sets".

I had some trouble!  I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink and no matter how long I let it dry on my watercolor paper when I began to apply either ink or water this is the disappointing results I got.  I talked to my sister, Susan about it later and she said that I needed to use Staz-On ink. I have not had an opportunity to try it again but I will soon.  Does anyone else have another product that works other than Staz-On?

I wanted to do a card set like Melissa but I changed it up because my cards are only 2.75" square so they will fit into the PTI 3 x 3" square envies for Gift Enclosures.

Because of the troubles I was having I carefully colored any images that had black ink on them - with my colored pencils instead of the way we were supposed to color them.  But I did create watercolor backgrounds for two of my cards and GIRLS!! I was so excited how they turned out!!

To all of you watercoloring geniuses out there these backgrounds may not seem like art but these are the first ever water color pieces I didn't wanna burn! : )

My next card used the watercolor technique Melissa described as well as I could.

What this little card lacks in watercolor interest I hope it makes up for in design : ) I took the negative pieces from the apple I cut for my first card and glued those pieces only to my card base : ) I lay the die cut opening on my paper and drew a light pencil line and then I tried to water color my apple.  I erased the lines so any lines you see, like on the leaf, is from my attempt at color shading. Ok so it is "ok" a little funky doodle but funky doodle can be a good thing right!?. : )

Here is the advice part!!  It doesn't look like I am getting this whole watercolor thing but I want to!! so! I am considering asking my hubbers to buy me:

Kuretake Fude Real Brush Pen, Clean Color, 80 Set (RB-6000AT/80V)

for my birthday.  My question is - is this really the product I want?? When those of you say you use your "ziggy" on your cards - is this what you use? I see other Zig pens but they are the two sided markers and I am fairly sure I don't want those : )

Anyone have any experience with the "Real Brush Pens?  Do you love them? Is there a better brand??

Thank you so much for taking time to help me out : ) I sure appreciate it!!

Have a wonderful rest of your day!

Patti

Supplies:
What the Doodle: Apple stamp and die set from PTI
Enclosed Mini stamp set by PTI
Heart-2-Heart #4 Mini stamp set by PTI
Quilted Winter Stamp set by PTI
3 x 3" square Vintage Cream Envelopes by PTI