Saturday, December 27, 2014

So Sweet of you



I have the sweetest card to share today!! I am using my new Candy Cane image and the bran new "hot off the press"  "Sweet" die from Serendipity Stamps - one of my new favorite companies.  : )

This card design is addicting LOL I I cased myself from a post earlier this week.  Check out my "Camouflaging Die Cuts" post HERE.

This is a hurried post for me today because my granddaughter is coming to stay the weekend : ) We are going to finish sewing our stuffed penguins.  I love having her she is my sewing buddy and my stamping buddy and my shopping buddy and my baking buddy and I am blessed that even though she is sweet 16 she still loves being with me almost no matter what I'm doing! : ) and today..... we make penguins  : )

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend.

Patti

Supplies:

Cardstock by PTI
Candy Cane image and SWEET die by Serendipity Stamps
"so" and "of you" sentiments were pieced together from miscellaneous stamp sets : )
Bling from CTMH

Friday, December 26, 2014

Papertrey Ink December 2014 Blog Hop

Hello friends : )



I hope you are enjoying days filled with friends and family!  I want to take this time to thank ALL of my followers and visitors : )  It is always so much fun to read the sweet comments you leave! I appreciate it very much!!  I love the warm welcome this community has shown me.  I look forward to all the fun and friendships to be made in 2015! : )

Before I start today I would like to welcome my newest follower, the UBER talented and kind, Teresa Kline owner of Paperie Blooms blog.  To me, Teresa is a real celebrity in the paper crafting community.  I love being inspired by her faith and her talent.  You will too : ) please drop in and tell her hello AND maybe even leave a comment for a chance to win a nice prize! that she is giving away - but you better hurry tomorrow is the last day to enter! : )

My card today is for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge : )   I was really excited to see the inspiration for this months challenge because I love the elegance of silver, gold and white together.



Starting with the best white card stock IN THE WORLD! in my opinion : ) I "debossed" some Fancy Flakes Snow flakes on my card face.  Next I cut some of the same snow flakes out and, after doing a little bit of layering, attached them to my card : )   The silver might be a little hard to see but it  is represented in my sheer white ribbon with the silver edging : )

This card is so versatile.  You could use it for a winter wedding , holiday greeting , thinking of you, birthday or even sympathy card.  I think I might have to CASE myself and make more of this one for my stash!

Please consider visiting the blogs of each participant in the HOP and leave some sparkle behind when you do!!

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
White card stock by PTI
Gold card stock from my stash
Snow Flake Die # PTD-0461 by PTI
Ribbon from my stash

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Sending holiday cheer!





Sending holiday cheer and hoping you have a wonderful day!!

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

It's the little things

Hello friends : )  Before I begin my long post today I would like to welcome my newest follower Jeanne J owner of A Kept Life blog.  You will enjoy visiting Jeanne's blog.  Her style is eye popping cheerful! bold and bright : ) Please pop in and pay her a visit and when you do be sure to leave some love!!

We are blessed by a quiet life but I realize have been busy enough that I have not posted very much to my blog lately.  Some "little things" have kept me away : )



This month I had a little bug (bluck), and I've been blessed to have been able to be able to enjoy THREE "little people" Christmas programs! and I been covered up with "little houses" like the ones I'll share today.

I was so excited when my DH blessed me with the Make It Market "Tinsel & Tags" Kit this month.  It is my first ever MIM kit and I cannot imagine loving any Papertrey product more!  There are so many many delightful projects you can do with this (now sold out) kit. 



This one is for my Dad.  He has a little cabin  nestled in the woods that he lovingly calls "Der Voods" : ) I created this little snowy replica of his beloved summer home.  He lives in Florida and happily never actually sees the woods in the winter LOL but I think he'll like it just the same : ) The snow globe fits perfectly on the top of a canning jar.

The banner reads " From Our House To Yours"




I created about 10 of these jars for little gifts to give away.  I filled them with the ingredients for "Blizzard Bites" a really yummy recipe which I will include later in this post.  It layers nicely and looks pretty in the jar. Topping it off with the snow globe it really makes for a sweet little gift.


My Shaker Card design followed the same snow globe theme this year : ) and were really fun to make.





Fun! times.  I almost feel like an architect heehee. 

That is it for me today.  Have a great day!!

Patti

Supplies:

Papertrey Ink's Make It Market - Tinsel & Tags Kit : )

Blizzard Bites:

In a one quart canning jar layer the following ingredients in the order given:

1 cup bite-size square rice cereal
3/4 cup broken mini twist pretzels
1/2 cup chopped nuts of your choice
1/2 cup coarrsely chopped dried pineapple
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup white baking chips (placed in a baggie)

Pack each layer into place before adding the next ingredient.  Attach a gift tag with the mixing directions.


Blizzard Bites


1 Jar Blizzard Bites

Remove white chocolate chips from Blizzard Bites Mix and set aside.  Place remaining contents into a medium bowl, stirring to combine.  Place white chocolate chips in a small saucepan and melt over low heat or melt in the microwave on 50% power (be careful not to overheat chocolate).  Pour melted white chocolate chips over snack mixture.  Stir until snack mixture is evenly coated with melted chocolate.  Spread mixture in a single layer on a waxed paper to harden.  Store in an airtight container.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Camouflaging Die Cuts

Welcome to my newest follower Jennifer Spivey. : )  Jennifer if you have a blog please send me the link!! I would love to visit you : )

Laura Bassen is a papercrafting genius in my book! : ) I love her silly straight forward personality! I can listen to her tutorials all day! She once called herself a "redneck" I'm still giggling about that one!  Please check out her blog, Doublestick Heaven for all sorts of eye candy and inspiration!!

Laura is our hostess for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday.  See her EASY PEASY "how to" video HERE

Without further ado... here is my take on this fun challenge.  It was so easy and I am loving the results!! I can see this technique is going to be in my "favorite" file for a long time to come.



I hope you are all having a fun (not frenzied) holiday so far. 

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:

White cs by PTI
Sentiment from PTI Wonderful Words: Snow stamp set
Snow Die from coordinating PTI stamp set
Mini gems from CTMH

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

This one is for you, Martha : )

Before I begin my post today I would like to extend a warm welcome to my newest follower, Karen J of Stamping Stuff blog.  She has the cutest blog! check it out HERE and be sure to leave some love.

An unfortunate set of circumstances recently introduced me to Martha : )  a sweet and patient new friend!  This card is for you, Martha : ) it'll go postal with your package today!!



Isn't this image darling!? It is call "Snow Pals" from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I really love her art! 

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful week.  I've been super busy these days preparing gifts for friends and family and trying to make some Christmas cards to get in the mail this week ... sigh.... : )

I "accidentally" noticed that there is a number verification on my comment form! I did not set this up and my settings are set to no word verification!! I'm a little scared about this and hoping it is a very recent problem - not one my friends and followers have had to endure for a long time.  I promise you I will get this taken off ASAP ( or as soon as my DH can have a look at it). 

If you have commented on my blog before could you let me know if this is recent or have you seen word verification on my comment form before.  Also if you have ever had word verification suddenly appear on your blog?? It is weird! I don't feel the need for word verification - or number verification - and it bothers me that it has just appeared like this : (

Thanks for your help and so sorry if you have to go through the Word Verification thing.  I'll see what I can do.  : )

Have a great week.

Patti

Supplies:
Digital image from Mo's digital Pencil
Stitched Frame by Lil Inkers Designs
White cs by PTI 




Thursday, December 4, 2014

A Cheerful Heart



Sometimes it is hard to have a cheerful heart.  One of my four sisters, Sherry, is battling cancer right now.  She seems to be doing MUCH better about it than I am.  I HATE this dreadful disease that has sadly taken two of my husband's sisters.  I have been sending Sherry a flow of cards to encourage her heart in the past few months.  I want her to  know that even though I'm several states away I'm going through this with her... sigh... sort of.  No one can really "go through" a trial with you except Jesus because when His children are feeling broken and alone He is right there fulfilling His promise never to leave you or forsake you.

I have noticed my need for more "encouragement cards" is growing and my supply is dwindling so I have created a few new ones using one of my stamp sets, A Cheerful Heart, by Papertrey Ink.



It is hard to see but I have embossed the white cs using a Cuttlebug EF that is sort of a frame of snowflakes : ) - Side note: The light bulbs have been blowing out right and left in my photo studio so the lighting in my photographs of late has been terrible!! We special order a special kind of bulb so until they arrive I am suffering to get good pictures.



I liked the Cherry Cobbler red cs so much I tried for one in Pool Party.  Obviously needing to get some re-inker on my stamp pad!! I'm only showing this one because it does show my embossing better : )

Inside: You are in my Prayers


I was loving this CAS design so I decided to make one more - this time using a sentiment from CTMH's "Card Chatter - Sympathy" 

Each of these cards has a contrasting card base and an embossed face that I popped up using foam tape.  These are so nice because additional postage is not required to send them : )

That is it for me today.  I pray you have a cheerful heart in what you are facing right now. If you could use some encouragement I invite you to send me an e-mail I would love to stand beside you in prayer. My addy is Patti at neckStyles (dot) com : )

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
White and Antique White cs from PTI
Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party and Night of Navy cs by SU
Embossing folders in order of appearance : )
     Daisies by Darice
     Snowflakes by Cuttlebug
     Snowy Trees by Cuttlebug
Sentiment sets:
A Cheerful Heart from Papertrey Ink
Card Chatter- Sympathy D1476

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Make It Monday Glitter Frames!

The talented and sweet Dawn McVey has served up a simple challenge on Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday challenge.  You can see Dawn's video tutorial HERE.



I found an adhesive sheet in my stash of NBUS and cut a heart shape using my Spellbinders Nestabilities.  From the large heart shape I then cut a smaller heart from the center.  I simply attached it to my card face trimmed off the overlapping edge and peeled away the protective plastic sheet which revealed the adhesive. Next I sprinkled it with the sweetest fine blue glitter.  The silvery/holographic sparkle in my gliter must have been smaller than the blue glitter because the heart doesn't look very blue at all - rather pearly silver white : )  IRL it looks much better but when it is bling - it works!! especially when associated with winter and snow : )

I Cut a couple SNOW words from my Papertrey Ink die, stamped one using the Wonderful Words: Snow stamp set which coordinates with the die.  I glued my two die cuts together and attached it by popping it up with foam tape.  Finally I tied a piece of string around one of the 'legs" of the W and my very CAS card was done. 

This was a super easy challenge and so clever! I wish you could see this sparkly heart IRL it glistens like the snow does on a sunny snowy day!  I ought to know LOL we have had plenty of snowy days so far here in northwestern Wisconsin!   : )



My design was inspired by the Freshly Made Sketches fresh sketch this week : )  You can join the fun HERE for this great challenge.  Be sure to visit the uber talented DT at Freshly Made Sketches blog for some stunning inspiration.

I hope you are having a wonderful week!! Thank you so very much for stopping by.

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:

White cs by PTI
SNOW die and coordinating stamp set "Wonderful Words: Snow Stamp Set by PTI
Heart shapes by Spellbinders

Monday, December 1, 2014

More Song Birds

Hello friends : ) I hope each and every one of you enjoyed a wonderful weekend!  I sure did!! Not only did I get "stuffed" with turkey but I also got in some papercrafting time this weekend. Woo hoo!! Nothing like the sound of my Big Shot chomping through card stock to put a smile on my face!! : )



I created two new cards using my Song Birds stamp and die set from Papertrey Ink.  The first card I made I CASED from Maile Belles, one of my favorite CAS card artists : ) It is for my sister and her husband who celebrate their anniversary in December.  The colors I used are the colors of their wedding 16 years ago.



For this card I started out by cutting a half circle from a single thickness  4.25 x 5" piece of cs.  I cut and then sponged a section of my A2 card face where the cut out opening would be and lightly stamped some flowers from the same stamp set.  I wanted it to look a bit like snowflakes and yet I wanted to stay within the folksy floral theme of the Song Birds stamp set so I used flowers instead of snowflakes from a different set.  Once my coloring and stamping were completed on the card face I attached the circle die cut piece to the card face using foam tape.   

Next I cut a "snowy hill" layer from another piece of cs and attached it flat to the card face.  The rest is fairly self explanatory I think : ) I die cut the little bird, leaf and banner and did my stamping and finally added a red rhinestone for some Merry Christmas bling : )

That is it for me today : ) I have some unexpected visitors surprising us today so I will not get around to my blog friends but I promise to visit soon!  Until then - I hope you have a wonderful day doing something inky!! : )

(((Hugs)))
Patti


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Papertrey Ink November 2014 Blog Hop!

Hello friends : )



Have you missed me? giggles!! I keep thinking the busi-ness will stop and I will have time to get back to making cards but... so far card making has been at the bottom of my "to do" list.  It does not mean I have not been playing with paper or SHOPPING! though!! LOL

I have been very busy creating special thank you gifts for my neckStyles™ customers.  Today we kick off our holiday special by offering our customers 25% off all of our scarves through Cyber Monday : ) It is always a fun and busy time preparing orders.  With each order we include a special thank you gift.  At the holidays we change it up a bit.  If you like you can see what we did last year HERE.  This year we are making beautiful tags using the Tinsel and Tags Make It Market Kit by Betsy Veldman for PTI.  I LOVE these tags so much!! I can't wait to share them.

I will post more about those later but that is not what this post is about.  Today I have made a card!! Just one snowy white card that reminds me of the scene out my window and the chubby little chickadees darting everywhere.



The Papertrey Blog Hop is well under way! You can read all about it HERE.  I hope that you'll "hop" over heeheehee and, if possible, play along.  Even if you can't find the time to enter a card I hope you'll visit the blogs of the very talented blog friends joining today's challenge.

Not sure when I'll be back again with another card but if I do not post before Thanksgiving I want to wish all my US friends the best holiday ever!

Patti

Supplies:

PTI white cs.
Large snowflakes from MIM Tinsel & Tags by PTI
Small snowflakes and sentiment from Phrase Play #6 stamp set by PTI
Die cut birds from Song Birds die collection by PTI
Snowy "hill" cut from Lil Inkers border die
Ribbon from my stash : )
I used So Saffron ink by SU

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Wishing you a wonderful...

Hello friends : )  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Where does the time go? Here it is Sunday night and I'm just now getting my posting done. Yikes!! I feel a bit like I'm in fast forward because I should be making these birthday cards in shades of orange with turkeys on them but instead it is snow flakes! : )  I honestly don't mind when they turn out this pretty.  We had such an early snow fall this year I decided to forgo the turkeys and get right to the dazzle of winter.



My friend, Theresa is celebrating her birthday on Tuesday : ) she shares her birthday with our oldest daughter, Kelly.  I pulled out some stickers! to make these cards.  That's right stickers.



I cut an extra face for my card a little bit smaller than the card base.  I placed the stickers where I wanted them on the card face and stamped my sentiment.  Then I cut the paper 3/8" from one long edge.  Next I trimmed off a scant 1/8th inch piece from the other long edge and attached both pieces to the card base using foam tape.  Finally I placed a smaller sticker in the center of each large snowflake - across the opening.  Can you see the tiny silver specks? these are actually centers left behind after the large snowflake (in the first picture) was removed from the packaging.

Metallic papers are so hard to photograph huh?   I know the pictures are a bit overexposed but I wanted the stark white and as much of the silver shine to show.  Here are a couple close ups that I darkened a bit so you can see the detail in the snowflakes easier : )





I would like to enter my cards in the Virginia's View Challenge #9 All things Metallic.  Please visit Virginia's blog and have a look at the wonderful cards made by participants from all over the world! There is still a little time perhaps you might like to consider joining these talented paper crafters by entering a card of your own! : )



That's it for my post but before I go I will share a picture of the Tamale makers and me : )   I had hoped to do a photo journal of the tamale making process but alas! The best laid plans are in the minds of (wo)men : )  Still! I will report that the tamales were outstanding!! as was the Mexican Flan that accompanied dinner. 

me, Renae and Matthew : )

Our grandson's Mom was visiting from California and naturally Matt wanted her to make some of his old favorite recipes while she was here.  She did not disappoint him! : ) or us!!

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
White cs by PTI
Stickers from my stash (sorry : ( no manufacturer's name to be found)
Sentiment from Birthday Classics: May Stamp Set by PTI


Friday, November 14, 2014

Gratitude Attitude!

I really love that catchy slogan : ) from Linda, owner of The Catered Crop Challenge Blog.




The challenge is to create a Thank You card : ) Easy right?! especially at this time of year when thankfulness is at the forefront of our minds.  I am thankful for many blessings in my life - it truly is all about having an attitude of gratitude no matter what your circumstances look like!



This darling cook comes from Stamping Bella and is called "Lulu's Two pies".  For my card design I took my lead from the folks at Mojo Monday challenge blog who have adopted a 3.5 x 5.5" card option once a month.  This narrow card allowed me to let the skirt and pie hang off the side and still fit in the envelope - love it!

I stamped Lulu directly on my white card face and colored her using Prismacolor pencils.  I stamped a skirt and apron as well as the two pies on a separtate piece of cs and colored them as well.  I then fussy cut the apron/skirt section and carefully glued it flat to the top of the image. Next I fussy cut out the pies (including her left hand, and popped the pies up for some fun dimension.  For the pie in her left hand I also secured the oven mit at her wrist and folded the pie a little down the middle which really gives a sweet 3D  look.



The picture doesn't show it off very well but you can kind of see the dimension.

This was a really fun card to create.  I enjoy fussy cutting and "dressing" my images but I have felt that the "new" CAS style would not lend itself to that sort of detail work.  I think I proved myself wrong with this card.  It's pretty CAS looking right? giggles maybe I'm fooling myself : )

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Boutique Borders: Friends Stamp Set.

That is all for me today.  I am super excited because some special friends are coming over today to make authentic mexican tamalies! I have never had homemade tamalies - I can hardly wait!! I will try to remember to take some pictures and share them here on Saturday.

Have a wonderful day!!

Patti

Thursday, November 13, 2014

We'll always be friends...

My card today is for a wonderful new challenge blog called Retro Rubber Challenge Blog brought to you by some fun and creative!! blogland friends.  Please consider joining this "far out" group!! : )

For this challenge we are asked to use our oldest stamp.  These groovy pair of jeans are definitely one of my oldest images.  It was included in a stamp set by The Angel Company.  The Angel Company introduced me to unmounted stamps and I never looked back! : ) sadly this company is no longer in business but I still enjoy many OLD stamps from my early paper crafting days.



I wanted to make a CAS card so I selected my favorite white cs from Papertrey Ink and stamped my image directly on the card face.  I added a hint of color to the jeans and also some ink splatters for a little added color.  Finally I added some flower brads that, in the paper craft hobby, are now a bit retro too! : )  The sentiment was a gift from a friend a few years ago that I have never used so therefore it qualifies as NBUS : ) Unfortunately I immediately transferred the image to my stamp storage when I got it and failed to note the manufacturer so I can't say where this sentiment is from.

Thank you, Jane and Katie for introducing this fun challenge blog.  I look forward to many more fun and inspiring challenges from you and your talented DT!

If you have some "never before used stuff" please check out blogland's talented and entertaining friend, Darnell, to learn more about NBUS : ) You'll be left giggling all day long!


(((Hugs)))
Patti

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

A Monkey In Boxer Shorts



What could be better? giggles

Hello friends! I pulled this sweet little monkey out of a huge folder of images that I have.  I used to be involved in a large on-line paper crafting group.  One of the neat things the group did was image swapping. Therefore, I do not own this stamp so I can't tell you the name of the image.  If any of you know the name or know who makes it I would love for you to share and I will edit my post to include the information - and then go buy it! LOL because I really do love a monkey in boxer shorts!!  but then again... who wouldn't!: )



The person who gave me this image stamped it off on a small 4.25 x 2.75" piece of paper which limits what you can do with it on a card.  I found this great sketch on CAS(e) This Sketch challenge blog and decided to fussy cut the little guy out.  Note to self: cut the tail out first so you have something to hold on to for that teeny little thing : )



Monkey lovers around here can really use a pick me up after the huge dump of snow we received yesterday! It was better than predicted but we still got over 15" of the white stuff.  These are the days I am blessed to work at home so I can enjoy the beauty from inside where I am safe and warm.

I hope you are safe and warm and getting inky in your part of the world today.  ((Hugs))

Patti

Supplies:
Papers by SU
Retired sentiment by The Angel Company
Large Polka dot EF by SU
colored with Prismacolor pencils shading using Gamsol

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Make mine strong!



Good morning friends : )   Today I have a card that I made for a real coffee LOVER! in my life who celebrated her birthday this week.   She loves this color combo and she loves coffee and I love her so it is a perfect fit! : )



I CASED myself! with this card.  I had entered my original design (see it HERE) in a MIM challenge back in March of this year.  I was (happily) CASED by the gal who ended up winning the prize that week! (See Becky's card HERE)   Her card was SOooooo! much better than mine in every way so I CASED her back heehee and here you have it!

Here is a peek at the inside of the card.

It is not really dirty IRL - it is actually a soft pretty pink.  The shadows made it rough to photograph


All of these cards were made using Betsy Veldman's nifty DIY Cover Plate challenge.  You can see her tutorial HERE if you'd like to try this technique yourself.  I cut 10 coffee cups from my soft pink card face and attached it to my white card base.  I then stamped the coordinating coffee cup stamp inside each opening.  Next I dolled the coffee cup up with the little hand saver sleeve included in this, amazingly inexpensive $5, stamp set. : ). 

I really enjoyed this challenge and was not happy with my original card so I've been wanting to re-try it.  I'm so glad I did because I like this card much better. 

We woke up to the light covering of snow from yesterday's storm but luckily it should melt today! We are not quite ready for the snow to come and stay! : )

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Patti

Supplies
White cs PTI
Pink Pirouette cs by SU
SU ink used: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Pink Pirouette
Heart-2-Heart #1 Stamp set and coordinating die from PTI
Sentiment from the Movers & Shakers Sentiments stamp set by PTI 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Stacked Blessings!



I created this card for my friend Theresa who has overwhelmed me with her kindness, generosity and faithfulness!! : ) You're the best Oma!

I used the On The Farm stamp/die set from Papertrey Ink.

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful day.  We are actually watching snow fall! eeek  It is melting as soon as it hits the ground (whew) but we know it will not be long before all the green is burried under the white stuff.

Patti

Saturday, November 1, 2014

I love November!



Hello friends : )

I just love November because with it comes a little reprieve in my super busy schedule. Pretty much all of my scarves are sewn and craft shows over.  We focus from here until Christmas on filling orders and making our customers happy! : )  It is the "funnest" time of the year in our scarf business.  We are so ready!!

I also love November because with it comes colder weather, soup, turkey and pumpkin bread : ) yummy treats that always make my home and belly feel cozy!! : )



I was blessed to get into my craft room quite a lot this past week.  I created this card for Laurie Wilson's "Partial Die Stamping" technique - this week's Make It Monday challenge. Check out Laurie's video tutorial HERE

Laurie is a super talented member of the Papertrey Ink Design team.  This technique is easy peasy and full of endless possibilities.  Please consider joining the MIM fun!! there is a prize!! : )

For this challenge I stamped itty bitty little flowers on my "Wonderful Words: Friends" die as well as my "Fillable Frames Die #4" both from Paper trey Ink.  The flower stamp I used is one that is included in the PTI "Happy Hexagons Stamp Set".  I had to snip off the letter s from my Friends die to fit the message I wanted to give my friend.  The "I miss You!" sentiment is from PTI's "Flower Fusion #6 Stamp Set"

I cut my flower from vellum and popped the top layer up using foam tape.  It is a little bit more "airy" looking IRL.  I was pleased with how it turned out.  I will use Laurie's technique often in the furture I'm sure : )

I hope you are enjoying a pleasant weekend.

See you again soon.

Patti

Supplies:

Solid cs by PTI
Patterned paper by SU - Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP
Flower stamp from SU's Mixed Bunch stamp and punch combo
All other supplies listed above

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Happy New Home

Before I start my post today I would like to welcome my newest follower, Hannelie owner of  desert diva blog.  Hannelie is living in what we, here in Wisconsin at least, consider an exciting and exotic place - the Arabian desert! Please stop by her blog she is super talented!! You will really enjoy seeing her work. Welcome Hannelie : )



Recently my BFF moved into a new home with our shared grandson : )  and I created this card for them.

I used my new stamp/die set  from Stampin Up. I stamped "the neighborhood" in Basic Gray ink and popped up the wild looking polka dot "new house" using foam tape.  They liked it : )

I have been so covered up with work lately that I've barely had time to think about paper (gasp).  I do hope to be back in the swing of things and getting out to visit my blog friends more and more in the coming weeks.  Until then I hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying a beautiful fall wherever you are!

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
White cs by PTI
DSP by SU - Confetti Celebration
Image and sentiment from Stampin Up's Holiday Home stamp and coordinating die set from the Holiday catty
Enamel dots created by me : )


Thursday, October 16, 2014

Hand Dipped Roses

Danielle Flanders is our hostess for the PTI Make It Monday challenge this week.  I was so excited that I found the time to play along with her wonderful challenge!!  You can see Danielle's beautiful inspiration project and easy video tutorial HERE.



I used "The Sweet Life" stamp set with coordinating die from PTI.  After my flowers and leaves were cut and stamped I inked up just the side of each with Versamark Ink and then dipped them in gold embossing powder.  I heat set them with my embossing gun for a unique and elegant result!

My card design was inspired by this weeks Freshly Made Sketches #158



I was worried my card was not clean and simple enough so I tried again. 



I'm not sure this one turned out "cleaner" LOL but somehow it feels a bit cleaner to me. : ) My first card has a lot more gold and I attached my focal point section directly to the card face.  On my second card I tried to limit my gold embossing slightly and actually popped the focal point section up with foam tape and I like it much better.  : )

I have also decided to enter my card in Virginia's View Challenge #8 - Clean and Simple : )



Virginia suggests Clean and Simple cards with interesting texture, dimension and good use of white space.  She also suggests "creating your own simple embellishment" which, I believe Danielle has shown us how to do beautifully! Gold dipped flower petals - an elegant embellishment! : )

Thank you for looking friends!  I will be busy in the next couple of days visiting the blogs of each of these inspirational challenge blogs.  I hope you will visit some of these talented sites as well.

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
White cs by PTI
The Sweet Life stamp set and coordinating dies by PTI
Pink Polka Dot paper strip from Imaginisce
Overlaid ribbon and pearls from my stash

Monday, October 13, 2014

Thanks a Melon




Hello friends, : )

I am popping in for a QUICK post because I'm in the throws of scarf making for neckStyles™ and getting ready for a new release and BIG sale! : ) If you like scarves I invite you to visit our Etsy shop.  My BFF and I have HUNDREDS of pretty scarves and - starting tomorrow we are having a "Buy Three get one FREE" sale!! Our customers really love this sale (If you mention that you found neckStyles™ from my blog we will refund all or part of your shipping costs.  FREE shipping for US customers, $5.00 flat rate for Canada and $10.00 flat rate for International customers : ) Sale only lasts until 10/21/14.)  I hope you'll come see what I do when I'm not playing with paper : )

 This little card was easy pesy to make but not so easy to photograph!  I cut a circle on the card face and then framed the hole opening with a scallop die cut.  I placed my little melon on the inside of the card - popped up with some foam tape. : )



I hope you are having a wonderful day doing something creative! See you again soon.

Patti

Supplies:

White cs by PTI
Melon from the Fruit Fusion: Melon Stamp Set and coordinating die from PTI
Sentiment from the same PTI stamp set
Circle and scallop die by Spellbinders
Little ribbon from my stash

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Ready or not here comes winter!



We finally got our first hard freeze! I actually really love winter.  I LOVE snow and am blessed to work at home so that I don't have to get up at O'Dark thirty : ) to try and get my car started in order to get to work.  I can enjoy winter so much more than some people can but after last winter with the dreadfully cold temps and mounds of snow I have to say I am not as excited to see the white stuff as I normally am.

But! like it or not here comes  winter.  Our temperatures have dropped and we have actually had some snow already.  Nothing like this time of year to get me in the mood to make a big pot of homemade soup and get started on my holiday cards.

I created this one using exclusive Stampin Up products.  I don't actually own the flower or sentiment but my good friend Theresa, who is a SU demonstrator, is generous and always willing to share! : ) 

I want to make this short so I can get out to visit in blogland.  I keep trying to stay ahead but keep falling behind.  I hope to visit you very soon : )

Have a great weekend, friends.

Patti

Supplies:
Paper is from the Trim the Tree 4.5 x 6.5" paper stack from SU
"Blended Bloom" image from SU
Sentiment from "Good Greetings" stamp set