Stamp n Piece: February 2010

Hello - Inspired by Packaging

Friday, February 26, 2010

Papertrey Peeps - Challenge #2

Aimes challenged the Papertrey Peeps to create a card based on the packaging of Dorset Cereals! They look yummy. I picked the box that featured brown, cream, and I think ocean tides!!! The colors look a little different on my computer monitor but I'm going forward.

I am loving PTI's new fillable frames stamp set. I will be using this set a lot. The matching die arrived after I completed the cards but I am so glad to have it in my stamping supplies.

I made several of these cards. Some with hello and some with Happy Happy Birthday.

Epoxy circles with pattern paper circles beneath them instead of buttons will make these cards easier to mail.

The pattern papers are from K & Company. Lots of happy designs.

Hope you are having a great weekend. ~ Rhonda

Supplies used:

Stamps: PTI Fillable Frames

Paper: K&Company - Wild Saffron, PTI - Ocean Tides

Inks: PTI vintage cream

Flowers: Prima

Ribbons: Hobby Lobby

Accessories: epoxy circles

Labels:Peeps | 11 comments

You're just the Best! - PTI Blog Hop

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The challenge for February 2010 is find a project of any Design Team Members' blogs/galleries that is especially inspirational to you! Then recreate the project with your own spin, making it unique!

You're just the Best!!! That's my thoughts exactly when I think about Debbie Olson. Her blog is one of the first I check out each morning. I love her style. From the Copic Marker coloring to the layers of paper, Debbie Olson always provides me with daily inspiration. The original post can be seen here. I love the card I used for inspiration for all the Cosmo Cricket pattern paper, buttons, and scallops.

Debbie uses a lot of Cosmo Cricket paper so I thought I should as well!!! (no enabling happening here, right?)

So below is my take on the card. I love how the red cross-stitches in this Cosmo Cricket paper add an unexpected pop of color to the card making the red buttons a perfect match.

I used the new medium scallop die. I love off-setting the scallops to create more movement on the card as well. I left the ends of the bow straight on purpose since there are so many curves with the scallops.

You can't go wrong when you use the Blooming Buttons stamp set! It has so many great images and sentiments.

Thanks for hopping by! Enjoy all the wonderful inspiration tonight. ~Rhonda

Supplies used:
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie:Megan, PTI ripe avocado, spring moss
Stamps: PTI Blooming Button Bits, Turning a New Leaf
Ink: versamark, PTI spring moss
Ribbon: PTI spring moss
Accessories: PTI med border die, Nesties - lg rect and lg rect scallop, buttons from Grandma's button box

Labels:encouragement,PTI blog hop | 43 comments

Girly YOU ROCK!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Do you remember the articles that show you the basic layout and then an advanced version by adding a few more items? That's what I felt like when creating this next card. My card is based on Jen del Muro's sketch. She has a GINORMOUS PRIZE PACKAGE that’s up for grabs.

My 1st card is shown below. Not bad, I was almost ready to post it and call it good but then I decided it needed to be taken to the next level.

My 2nd card just has a few more extras added but boy do they make a difference! Another layer of paper, some quick stitching, and a different layout orientation is just what it needed.

Are you loving the ledger paper? I have been seeing it on lots of projects. So I did my favorite thing---google it!!!! I found a great free online source. Go to the link and then scroll down a bit. I have been using the 6 column grey scale.

I can't wait to show you another project I made with another paper I found!!!

If you make something with this paper, let me know. I would love to see your project.

~Rhonda

Supplies used:
Stamps: PTI Top Ten, Butterfly Dreams, Signature Greetings
Paper: PTI Bitty Dot, Smokey Shadow, The Paper Studio Boho Chic, ledger paper from the internet
Ribbon: Hobby Lobby
Accessories: 2" circle scallop punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, PTI med. scallop border die, raspberry fizz buttons,

Labels:encouragement,SFYTT | 11 comments

Wish Big!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Just have to show you some new papers I purchased! I have been waiting for Hobby Lobby to put their paper pads on sale for several weeks. I had spied BoHo CHIC and knew I wanted it but refused to pay full price!!

So new paper and new stamps certainly got the mojo moving again. This card is super simple and sweet!!

What do you think about the ledger paper background? I'll be sharing more about that soon.

The butterfly is from PTI's new Butterfly Dreams. I missed out on the matching die so it was handcut. I need that die!!! The little swirl is from PTI's Egg Hunt and the sentiment is from Signature Greetings. The ribbon is plum pudding twill. The ink is SU's rich razzleberry.

We did get some snow again today. Probably not enough to break the most snow in a winter record but it is still pretty. Stay warm! ~Rhonda

Labels:happy birthday | 8 comments

Feel Better Soon!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Do you ever make a card or two or three that you just don't like? That's seems to be the way my weekend creations happened! I was so excited to play with new goodies that arrived Saturday afternoon, but nothing came together!

So . . . I started off tentatively today. Thanks to a couple of challenges and some new paper that I had been waiting patiently to go on sale (I'll show you tomorrow) my mojo just might have returned.

The Pile it On Challenge was my jumping off point. The sponsor this week is Magnolia-lious so a Tilda image seemed the perfect match. I also used the Play Date Cafe colors of red, brown, and linen.

The red DP is Anna Griffin. I used a SU impressions plate with PTI's dark chocolate CS for texture and vintage cream for the Tilda image.

I'm still practicing with Copic Markers. Red is a little hard to blend. The feel better soon sentiment is from PTI's On my couch stamp set. The chipboard flower was colored with Copic marker E55. The ribbons are from Hobby Lobby.

I used Khaki Tilda #238. If you are familiar with the Tilda's you might be thinking that image doesn't have flowers. I cut out the flowers from Tilda with Bike #368.

Challenges:
Pile it On Challenge #7- Get Well Soon
Creative Card Crew - Get Well Soon
Stampavie and More - Get Well Soon
CPS 155 card sketch
The Play Date Cafe colors of red, brown, and linen

Hope everyone's week is starting out well! They are saying we might get snow again tomorrow. We only need 2" for this winter to become a record breaker snow year.

Take care! ~Rhonda

Labels:Get Well | 9 comments

let's chat! On my Couch

Thursday, February 18, 2010

It's time for Becky's Compose a Card Challenge. I'm so happy with the color choices this week. Thank you Becky!!

I love black and white together but then when you add a pop of color with the required Ripe Avocado you get a classy combo. For my negative stamp side, I used PTI's true black with SU's retired stipple plaid background stamp in fresh snow. I also embossed this side for a little shine.

For the positive stamp, I used PTI's On my couch stamped in Memento tuxedo black. Ripe Avocado saddle stitch ribbon and buttons from my Grandmother's button box finish this card.

I hope you can play along this week too! Have a great day. ~ Rhonda

PS Don't you just hate it when you mis-spell a word on a comment and can't fix it???? AWWWWW

Labels:CAC w/ Becky,friendship | 15 comments

Precious and few are friends like YOU!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

First off DID you KNOW that February 13th is Stamp Collectors Day!

Stamp collecting is called Philately. Nobody knows who collected the first stamps, but it is now considered a rewarding and relaxing hobby. It is also educational. Learning about stamps teaches us about the currency, history, and customs of different countries. There are more than a half million stamps issued worldwide with thousands more being released each year.

I think everyone reading this blog would probably be considered a stamp collector too!!!! PTI Release anyone???

The Papertrey challenge today is to design some type of floral embellishment--Design a floral embellishment, then create a card using one and and an acetate sheet of them to share.

Well I have to say this one has been fun! I had recently purchased the Sizzix Flower Layers #3 die which make this so easy. I used the negative (or is it the positive) paper outline from the die as the background for the card front. The ribbon is PTI's Lemon Tart Twill. Pop dots give the flowers on the front a little lift.

I used 3 different pattern papers and ran them through the Big Shot. Mix up the papers, add an Enchanted Evening button tied with white cotton peale thread and you are Done!

For the inside, I cut a strip of paper and only put adhesive on the botton so I could slide the acetate sheet with the embellies in. I stamped the sentiment from Blooming Button Bits in Enchanted Evening Ink.

Are you watching the Olympics? Have a great weekend everyone! ~Rhonda

Labels:friendship | 13 comments

Through the Trees in Real Life

Thursday, February 11, 2010

We awoke to snow in Texas today! I took this shot of Sally, Diana, and Roy queing up for the feeders. Names courtesy of all the teenagers that are at my home warming up before the next round of snow fun! If you have PTI's Through the Trees stamp set this scene will look familiar.

Kids headed out at 8 am to start building a fort. Only on a snow day do we rise so early. They have since been fed chicken noodle soup and changed into dry clothes.

The red heart from IKEA graces my front door.

The snow is still falling which is absolutely unheard of in our neck of the woods.

Stay Warm!! ~Rhonda

| 7 comments

How Ewe Doin?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

How Ewe Doin Everyone? I'm playing along with Mojo Monday #125 this week. I had this adorable Whimsie Doodles digital that I have been wanting to play with. Digital stamps really work well for challenges. I was able to change the size of the sentiment and Ewe to fit the template constraints very easily.

I started with a PTI Whisper White base and then Ripe Avacado stamped with PTI's Turning a New Leaf. The purple floral is from an unknown paper pack.

Isn't this Ewe cute? A little Polar White Flower Soft was perfect for wool. Can you see the Impressabilities - Flowers that I used on the PTI True Black cardstock?

PTI Ripe Avacado ribbon is so easy to work with. Ties like a dream!

One last thought - I found this quote today and it made me think of the online forums and the people we have connected to through them.

"We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results." ~ Herman Melville

Have a most wonderful day! ~Rhonda

Labels:Mojo Monday | 9 comments

Come on over friend

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Challenges, challenges, and more challenges. The PTI Anniversary celebration has kept me busy. This card is for the CPS sketch challenge that is being sponsored by PTI.

PTI Whisper White, Spring Rain polka dots, Kraft, and Sweet Blush create a soft palette. I used a SU impressions plate to creat the polka dots on the kraft paper.

Doesn't the chair popped up look like fabulous leather after being heat embossed? The pillows are stamped in Fresh Snow on Kraft. Looking for a way to "ground" my Chair, inspiration hit!! Use the journaling lines from the Top 10 set to create a floor and wall. Then the "floor" journaling lines provided the perfect spot for the sentiment. The chair, pillows, and sentiment are from On my Couch.

Sewing around the outside and cotton perle floss tied in the middle completes this card.

I can't wait to start loading my PTI shopping cart! What is 1st in your cart? I think the medium scallop die and fillable frames for me.

~Rhonda

PS Today is Read in the Bathtub DAY! After all these challenges, that sounds really excellent.

Labels:friendship | 13 comments

Birthday Wishes

Monday, February 8, 2010

This is my 2nd post of the day. Scroll down to grab a great soup recipe.

Day 8 of the PTI Anniversary Celebration begins with new product lines being introduced and then a "paint" by number sketch challenge.

The challenge is to create a card based on the color palette assigned by the first letter of your online username. My username is TxRhonda2 so the above colors are my assignment.

I love these colors but must say that I struggled with Aqua Mist being part of the mix! The sentiment is from Giga Guide Lines. The border is Spellbinders Fleurde lis. I also used a Spellbinders Impressabilities on the kraft paper.

Enchanted Evening ribbon and buttons complete this one.

~Rhonda

Labels:happy birthday | 12 comments

Little Expressions of Post-It Love

I found the best project for Valentine's Day. Little Expressions of Post-It Love!! Becky Higgens shared this on her blog here and here. You can print out the pdf files and call it good or you can take your stamping supplies and add a little something extra.

I found the index card boxes at Wal Mart for a $1.44 each! This is an inexpensive project that will reap huge benefits for the family you share it with. Everyone can use some words of encouragement and love.

I used PTI's Polka Dot Basics 2 inked in Aqua Mist to create a little extra fun on the label and inside cards. I made a mask so that my dots stayed inside the border lines.

A Scarlet Jewel button tied to a punched heart was fun to make. This was an easy project to mass produce.

I made one for my family and several more to give to friends. Love this project!

Just had to share this picture of Roxy dog. This is my picture of the day for Super Bowl Sunday. Roxy brought the football out for some playtime at half time.

Have a great day! ~Rhonda

Labels:gifts,Valentine's Day | 7 comments

New Recipe - Stacey's Mexican Soup

Do you ever read the recipes in the paper or a magazine and wonder who would ever fix that one? So. . . I was surprised to find a recipe in our local paper that I wanted to make and prepared it the same night!! With all the ingredients on hand, this could not have been easier. It had just enough spice to be perfect for a cold evening.

Stacey’s Mexican Soup – Super easy and quick

Makes 6 servings

1 cup water
1 cup instant rice (I used 2)
1 10-ounce can Rotel tomatoes
1 14-ounce can chili beans (I used 2)
1 14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
1 package fajita seasoning
2 cups cooked chopped chicken (I used a Swanson canned chicken for ease)
Bunch of cilantro, chopped (didn’t use)
Shredded Mexican cheese blend, for garnish

1. Heat water in a large pot over stove and add rice. Turn down heat to low while preparing other ingredients.

2. Add all other ingredients except cheese and heat thoroughly. Ladle into -bowls and top with shredded cheese.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 458 calories, 15 grams fat, 49 grams carbohydrates, 34 grams protein, 65 milligrams cholesterol, 1,855 milligrams sodium, 7 grams dietary fiber, 28 percent of calories from fat.

Happy Cooking! ~Rhonda

Labels:recipe | 5 comments

Bitty Baby

Friday, February 5, 2010

This is my 2nd post of the day. Scroll down to see my card for Becky's Compose a Card Challenge #2.

PTI introduced their Make It Monday challenge series. Every Monday there will be a technique video posted by a Papertrey Team Member or Nicole, showcasing a nice balance of basics and new innovations to cater to everyone's skill levels.

Today's technique is Emboss Resist. I had never tried this so I learned something new. I CASE'd Nicole's card as well. My brain is tired after all the many wonderful challenges this week.

I used a sentiment from Bitty Baby as the background in Spring Moss for my emboss resist part of the project. I clear embossed the baby carriage, then rubbed Spring Rain ink with a paper towel as Nicole suggested over it. I matted this layer onto Spring Rain cardstock.

I used background basics: diamonds with versamark ink on Spring Moss cardstock for the bottom layer. I finished the card with Ripe Avacado ribbon.

Things I learned for next time:
A solid image will work better than a line image
Light colors are so hard to photograph.

I am dying to know what the scalloped edge is all about!! Aren't you?

~Rhonda

Labels:baby | 12 comments

Friends to the End

Compose a Card with Becky has it's 2nd challenge up! If you played along with PTI's Anniversary Celebration then you probably saw the cute birthday balloon digi stamp that Becky designed as well. I think the stamp had a Dr. Seuss feel to it! Loved it! So I continued with that feel for my card today.

I cut my 5" mat with a deckle blade to add a little different look. The flower base was made with the Sizzix-Flower Layers #3 die. The middle layer is a 1" circle punch stamped with PTI's Polka Dot Basics 2 in versamark ink. I love how the 1/2" circle punch added a fun top layer to the flowers.

Flower stems stamped in non traditional colors of Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst, and Spring Moss add to the whimsie. The stem is from SU's Funky Flowers. I tried to use Lemon Tart but it didn't show up on the white. By alternating pop-up dots on different layers your eye continues to move around the card.

I spaced one set of score lines at 1/2" to fit the PTI Mixed Messages sentiment - Friends to the end. My package of Hibiscus Burst buttons had this great flower button. I used DMC cotton perle string to tie it on.

Did anyone else think photographing a white card was a challenge? Hope everyone has a great weekend. Enjoy the Super Bowl or if you are like me, turn it on for noise and then STAMP!

~Rhonda

Labels:CAC w/ Becky,friendship | 9 comments

Mail Carrier Day!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Thank a Mail Carrier Day is your chance to say thanks to the guy, or gal, who delivers your mail.

Did you Know? Pony Express riders were the most famous early American "mailmen". Their motto was " Neither rain, nor snow, nor death of the night, can keep us from our duty".

Make it a point to catch your mail carrier enroute today or sometime soon. Give him or her a great big smile and a great big "TY". We want to keep those stamp orders arriving!

I'm giving a card and a little chocolate to my mail carrier.

One of the reasons I'm enjoying my fun calendar dates is that so many focus on appreciating the ordinary. Often times I am looking and planning for the BIG event and then miss the everyday.

~Rhonda

Labels:gifts | 6 comments

Papertrey Ink Birthday!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Each member of the 2010 Papertrey Stamp Designer Team created a birthday image to download, print and utilize as an embellishment for a handmade birthday card, wishing PTI a happy birthday!