My first Blog Hop--I'm so excited!! (and I don't know what I'm doing!)

The idea this month is to pick a Papertrey designer and a favorite project of theirs, and give it your own unique little twist. And first of all...this challenge is a quick reminder of just how good those designers are. Trying to emulate an artist lets you know why THEY are THE artist!! So my hat goes off to each and every one of them for beautiful, balanced, colorful, inspiring projects...day after day, week after week, all year long! I so look forward to release week at http://www.papertreyink.com/ each month for some of the absolute best in stamping and crafting inspiration.

The designer I keep going back to, (several times a week, just to check...no pressure Betsy) is Betsy Veldman. You can find her here...http://scrapbookgirl.typepad.com/paper-scissors-and-superh/ (I know...like you hoppers don't already know.) I LOVE...1. her vintage take on most projects, 2. her knack at pulling bright colors together and softening them to make them look like the BELONG together, 3. her use of die cuts and elements that make each and every project unique, and 4. her use of detail, detail, detail...I just never know what to expect, but am never disappointed. Oh, and can't forget number 5!!... I think she really is a sweetie! (Thanks again for the linking help Betsy...here I am!)

It was hard to pick a single project but I chose one from her Butterfly Dreams post. I am so, so sorry but I have tried everything I know and cannot get the picture placed here on my post. The post is from Feb. 9th, Seeing Spots and Butterfly Dreams. Such a pretty but simple looking card...I apologize that I cannot show it. I loved the way Betsy layered different strips from the scallop border, and stitched it at the top edge...such a pretty look. She used the Butterfly Dreams stamp set and the butterfly die cut (which I don't yet have). I'm really loving butterflies lately too, so I though this project would be fun to work with. When I started the card, I hadn't received my new Pretty Pastel papers, (just got them yesterday, before I finished today) so I used Background Basics: Retro to create my layered borders. I used another border punch, as I'm patiently waiting for the scallop borders to come back in stock. I almost feel silly showing my completed card, knowing it's being compared to BETSY'S!! But here it is...BE NICE!!

Hope I've not embarrassed you, Betsy, with the result of what I've gained from you in the last few months. I'm for sure a work-in-progress! Thanks again, to you and the ALL the girls for sharing your talent and inspiration!

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Supplies:

Cardstock: Vintage Cream (PTI), kraft (Paper Studio)

Paper: Pretty Pastels (PTI) plaid paper (?)

Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Orange Zest, Fresh Snow (PTI)

Wheat Versa Magic

Punches: (butterflies) Paper Studio, Martha Stewart, (border) Fiskars, Spellbinders Labels 4 Die

Stamps: Paper Studio and Fancy Flourishes, Background Basics: Retro, Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)

Other: Aqua Mist ribbon (PTI), Prisma glitter, pearls and rinestones (?)

O.K. This may not be too exciting today...I'm posting a 'has been'!! I know, I know...Valentine's Day is so...YESTERDAY (and then some!)! But my goal is to post at least once a week and our house is just too busy this week for paper crafting...It's SCIENCE FAIR week! Need I say more?



I'm posting the Valentines I made for the kids. The were really fun to create. Papertrey Ink has a fairly new stamp set, "Top 10", that lends itself to listing reasons why you love someone. Needless to say, I don't have it and had to create my own version, which was actually kinda fun! I thought they turned out kinda cute, and wouldn't have to be just for Valentine's Day. I used a hodge podge of paper, punches, dies, etc. to create the front of the card which looked like this:


Next, for the inside, I made a blank list off the computer, distressed the edges, added a simple little Heidi Grace border, matted it with a coordinating paper, and my husband and I took turns filling up the list with things we loved about each child. It looked like this:


We shared these at breakfast and everyone got to hear one another's lists. I think they enjoyed it all. We had a great Valentine's weekend! Hope you did, too! Sorry for sharing "old news" today. Thanks for stopping in...I'll try to be more "current" next time! Wish us luck on the Science Fair!!
Geri

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Products:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Star Prints), Will & Way (sentiment set) Heidi Grace

Paper: Cardstock, Papertey Ink, The Paper Company. Patterned paper, unsure (sorry)

Punches and dies: Spellbinders labels, Fiskars heart and star, Stampin Up circle, Cuttlebug font (Olivia)

Ink: Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Close to Cocoa (SU)

Other: PTI ribbon, Dew Drop embellishments, computer generated list and sentiments

Today's card is for Papertrey Ink's "paint" by number sketch challenge. We were given a sketch and color palette. My color palette (according to the first letter of my username) consisted of Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides, Lemon Tart and Kraft. I had all that card stock except for the Kraft so I substituted a tan color of cardstock (maker, unknown). I also don't have any Ocean Tides ink so I substituted Oasis Green VersaMagic which was a pretty good match. VersaMagic Sahara Sand ink matched my tan cardstock. The butterfly punch and stamps were from Paper Studio. All other cardstock and ribbon was Papertrey Ink. If you haven't been to http://www.papertreyink.com/ recently, you should go there NOW as they are having all kinds of 3rd Anniversary fun leading up to the February release on the 15th of this month.

Thanks for dropping in!

Geri

Oh, my goodness, I have so much to say! But first let me introduce you to my little friend, my little Spellbinder friend, that is. I love, love, love creating with Spellbinders and my Cuttlebug! And for my very FIRST post on my very FIRST blog, (a long time WISH come true) I've used 10 little paper die cuts from the Floral Accent die above to create a beautiful medalion focal point for my card. I learned this trick from an amazing lady, (and in my opinion, the Spellbinder Queen) Becca Feeken over at http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/ . So...10 die cuts, about 20 pearls, a dab of distress ink, and several little glue dots later, I ended up with this little treasure...


I used another Spellbinder die (Ribbon Tags Trio) and some K and Co. paper for the "Remember" sentiment on my card, which came out like this...


I chose some vintage looking paper (Paper Pizazz), and Papertrey Ink cardstock and ribbon (Sweet Blush) and finished off the solid cardstock with a MS border punch. The finished card looks like this...

I made this card for a sweet new friend (I feel blessed to have met) whose grandmother just passed away. I think it's safe to say she appreciates all things vintage, so I thought she would appreciate the style of the card.

I'm sad to say my dear, sweet grandmothers are gone, but I was thinking as I was making this card...wouldn't they have appreciated receiving a handmade Valentine from their grandaughter? If you're fortunate enough to have a grandmother still living, I hope you'll take some time this week to surprise her with a little something special that will let her know what a treasure she is.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to press the "Publish Post" button (for the first time) and go do my "I'm officially a paper crafting blogger" dance (which will NOT be seen on YouTube). Thanks for stopping by and witnessing this very special FIRST of mine. Please be gentle with comments...I'm very aware that I've got a LOT to learn about blogging!

(Thanks, Babe! Thanks, Peeb!)

Geri