This card is for my Mom's birthday which was November 2nd! I was LATE getting it into the mail but think I'm safe to post today. Lots of patterns happening.

I did a little rock n rolling with the orange inks on the pumpkins. A few sequins and twine bow finish it off. ~Rhonda

Your Life card
stamps: PTI - Inside & Out: Birthday Day II, Scent-imentals
paper: PTI - Vintage Cream; MME - Mabel
ink: PTI - Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse, Canyon Clay, Terra Cotta Tile
other: PTI - Scent-imentals die, fabulous frame die, twine, sequins

Happy Halloween friends! Are you ready for the little folks to knock on your door? I miss the days of my guys trick or treating. I LOVED looking for my favorite candy in their treat bags.

Just a super simple card to share today. Consider yourself Boo'd!! ~Rhonda

Boo card
stamps: Polka Dot Parade #7
paper: Echo Park - Happy Camper; PTI - Smokey Shadow
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
other: Polka Dot Parade #7 die, picket fence die; MFT - Blueprints #6; Sakura Gelly Roll med white pen

Mojo Monday #369 is a great sketch. It is also the last Monday of the month and that means tall & skinny week. 

I actually had these leaves setting on my desk just waiting for the perfect time to use them. The distress inks are so much fun to use on vellum. I also love the platinum embossing powder.  ~Rhonda

Give Thanks card
stamps: PTI - Falling Leaves, Leaf Prints
ink: PTI - Plum Pudding; Tim Holtz distress inks - Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Seedless Preserves
paper: PTI - Vintage Cream, Plum Pudding; Hobby Lobby - vellum
other: PTI - Leaf Prints die; Ranger Platinum embossing powder

Do you get the Pottery Barn catalogs? Do you drool when they arrive? The lastest one had some beautiful feathers in browns for pillow covers. That was my inspiration for this card.

There are some wonderful sentiments in the Gratitude Journal set. I just need to use them more. I'm excited to finally have a bow die. I think it will become a go-to die for lots of projects. 

I hope you have a fabulous week! I think this one is going to be busy!!!!! ~Rhonda

Gratitude card
stamps: PTI - Feather Finery, Gratitude Journal, Background Basics: Houndstooth
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Dark Chocolate, Hawaiian Shores
ink: PTI - Dark Chocolate, Hawaiian Shores
other: PTI - Feather Finery dies, Make It Mkt: Tinsel and Tags dies (bow); corner rounder

The PTI Blog Hop challenge for October is to create a project using a non-traditional holiday color scheme. You can download the different color recipes from here. I went with the recipe below.

I have seen several different versions of an eye chart type of card and decided this would be the perfect way to use so many different colors.


The base of my tree is the soup bowl from Comfort Food. I can't wait see what everyone makes. Happy Hopping! ~Rhonda


Merry Merry card
stamps: none
paper: PTI - Smokey Shadow, Scarlett Jewel, Canyon Clay, Simply Chartreuse, Tropical Teal, Stamper's Select White
other: PTI - Aida Impression Plate, Block Alphabet dies, Comfort Food die; Verve - Stars

The PTI Blog Hop challenge for October is to create a project using a non-traditional holiday color scheme. You can download the different color recipes from here. I went with the recipe below.

I decided to cut different size strips of the chosen colors to create my Christmas Tree. Definitely a non-traditional tree. I love how the sunrise impression plate creates some movement and "rays" of light. You can see that the best in the first picture.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! ~Rhonda



Season's Greetings card
stamps: PTI - Make It Market: Tinsel and Tags
ink: PTI - Tropical Teal; Memento - Tuxedo Black
paper: PTI - Smokey Shadow, Scarlett Jewel, Canyon Clay, Simply Chartreuse, Tropical Teal, Stamper's Select White
other: PTI - Christmas tree die, Make It Mkt: Tinsel & Tags die, Sunrise Impression Plate; Verve - stars; Corner rounder

I thought I would make another card for this week's MIM #185 - Faux Stained Glass technique. This one is much simpler.
I used the die from the Make It Market Kit: Shakers and Sprinkles to dry emboss the frame for a focal point. I used my heat gun to set the ink and it gave the leaves a little bit of a warp but it works for this card.

It has been forever since I have had time to stamp anything! I am thankful that my week will allow me some time to be creative. I NEED it!! Betsy's MIM #185: Faux Stained Glass was just what I needed to stretch my brain.

I am still getting the order of the shaker card pieces mixed up. You would think that as many times as I've watched Betsy's video that I could figure it out. 


Have a great week! ~Rhonda

thankful card
stamps: PTI - Counting my Blessings, Turning a New Leaf, Number Time Trio, Background Basics: Farm & Barn; Verve - Bountiful Harvest
ink: Palette Noir Black; Memento Tuxedo Black; PTI - Classic Kraft; VersaMark
paper: PTI - Classic Kraft, Orange Zest, Clear
dies: PTI - Counting my Blessings, Shaker/Sprinkles rectangles, Block Alphabet
other: Zing - Clear Embossing Powder; PTI - sequins; Copic Markers - E59, G28, YR09

Not sure there is anything better than throwing ink around and making a mess turn into something pretty. I started by dry embossing the cover plate onto watercolor paper. 


The next step was putting distress ink on my crafting mat and spray with lots of water. Dry and do again a couple of times to get the color where I wanted it. I stamped my sentiment in brown but decided it needed to be embossed to see it better. I offset the stamp just a touch with gives it a bit of a shadow. 


Thinking of You card
stamps: SSS - Sending Happy Thoughts
ink: Tim Holtz distress inks - Peeled Paint, Salty Ocean, Tumbled glass, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn; Memento - Rich Cocoa; Versamark
paper: PTI - Spring Moss; watercolor paper
other: PTI - Mighty Oak Cover plate; Zing - Chestnut embossing powder

 
I enjoy participating in the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop each month. I love the inspiration photo and the idea of postcard style stationary for the challenge this month. I didn't stray to far from the inspiration piece.


I decided to use embossing powder to create the bold punch of border color. As you can see from my picture there is nothing precise in the method but it looks great. If you want to a see a video of this technique you can watch Jennifer McGuire here.


I hope you can see the shine that the embossing powder adds to the edge. It is so pretty.
 

Part of the challenge was to make sure we didn't forget the envelope as we made our design. I used the A2 Envelope Liner die to cut the pattern paper for the envelopes. I find this is a great way to use up super busy paper.


The packaging was the final element. A glassine bag tied with ribbon and a tag with stripes across the bottom to echo the cards. 


Thanks for stopping by! ~Rhonda 






Hello and Thank You postcard stationary
stamps: PTI - Wet Paint, Petal Pusher
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White; Basic Grey - Bowties (envelopes)
ink: Versamark
other: PTI - A2 Envelope liner; MFT - Blueprints #1; Zing - Cricket and Powder (that is the name of the color) Embossing powder

Hello tag
stamps: PTI - Wonderful Words: Hello; Reverse Confetti - So Stripey
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White
ink: Versamark
other: PTI - Tremendous Tags; Zing Powder embossing powder; Verve - Spring Fling Collection of ribbon; Hobby Lobby - White cotton perle; glassine bag - stash

Apple card
stamps:PTI - Circle Scribbles, Apple Prints; SSS - Ice Cream Dream
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy, Terracotta Tile, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White

Teacher bags
stamps: SSS - Ice Cream Dream; MFT - Gift Card Greetings
ink: Tim Holtz mini distress ink Mustard Seed, Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Crushed Olive
other; brown lunch sacks

Best Year Ever card 
stamps: PTI - Teach & Inspire, Apple Prints; MFT - Birthday Sentiments
ink: PTI - Dark Chocolate, Tropical Teal, Aqua Mist: Tim Holtz - Walnut Distress ink
paper: Fancy Pants - Off to School; MFT - Natural; PTI - Bitty Dot Dark Chocolate
other: PTI - Spiral Notebook, Seeing Stars, Apple Prints, Double Ended Banner, Super Stars border die, pillow box

A Dream begins card
stamps: PTI - Teach & Inspire
ink: PTI - Summer Sunrise, Terra Cotta Tile; Memento - Tuxedo Black
paper: Cosmo Cricket - the Boyfriend; PTI - Stamper's Select White, Kraft
other: PTI - Vintage Labels, twine

This apple paper was the inspiration for this duo. Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist ink are a perfect match. As I was going through my stamp sets I "found" Love Potion. The test tubes are great for teacher projects.


As I was finishing the card I thought the bottom needed some additional grounding. The loop de loop II provided the perfect finish.


One of the things I wanted to do with the Teacher cards is make sure I also used the dies that I own for small treats. The tiny take out box is the perfect size for some much needed chocolate. 


Are you working on any teacher projects? I would love to see them. ~Rhonda



For your Dedication card
stamps: PTI - Love Potion, Apple Prints, Teach & Inspire, Thanks All Ways, Simply Framed
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Limeade Ice, Tropical Teal; Memento - Tuxedo Black
paper: Fancy Pants - Off to School; PTI - Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist; MFT - Natural
other: PTI - Tiny Take Out Box, Simply Framed, Apple Prints, Love Potion, Loop de Loop II; Hobby Lobby - twine

It's almost time for schools to start back in session around here. Only one of my guys is still in college but I mentor a little girl. We are going into the 3rd grade this year. I think multiplication is in our future. With that in mind I decided to multiply my efforts by working with a couple of stamps sets and making several teacher cards at once. So ALL week I'm focusing on Teachers.


While reacquainting myself with Teach & Inspire I re-read the Tip and Idea sheet that PTI includes with its stamp sets. One of the dies that coordinates with this set is Fillable Frames #7. I had totally forgot about that die. ~Rhonda



Teacher Thank You card
stamps: PTI - Apple Prints, Teach & Inspire
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Summer Sunrise
paper: Fancypants - Off to School; PTI - Spring Moss, Stamper's Select White
other: PTI - Fillable Frames #7, Apple Prints

What to do with all the busy paper in the Simon Says Stamp August Card kit???? Go simple with the sentiments.


Do you have a plan in working with the card kits? My goal is to use up ALL the consumables so I don't have a storage crisis or have to remember what is what. I am linking this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Summer. ~Rhonda


I Scream, You Scream card
stamps: SSS Ice Cream Dream; PTI - Balloon Bash (hearts)
ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; PTI - Raspberry Fizz
paper: Bo Bunny (SSS August Card Kit)
die: PTI - Half & Half collection
Copic Markers: E31, E35, R83, R85

I had so much fun creating this card. The Popsicle made a wonderful background for the shaker card. I used the Make It Market: Shakers & Sprinkles dies to help speed up the process. 


This card brought a smile to my face and a hankering for some ice cream! I am linking this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Summer. ~Rhonda

More than Ice Cream card
stamps: SSS Ice Cream Dream
ink: Versamark
paper: Bo Bunny (SSS August Card Kit)
other: PTI - Make It Mkt: Shakers & Sprinkles die and sequins; Ranger - black embossing powder
Copic Markers - various

I really wanted to use this cloud paper from Bo Bunny and then I watched this video from Jennifer McGuire. Jennifer shows an inking technique that I used on the balloons. By using a second darker color of ink and dapping some of the color off of one side you get the shading. 


Jennifer always makes it look soooo easy. Are you taking the stretch your stamps class? ~Rhonda

Birthday Wishes card
stamps: PTI - Balloon Bash
ink: PTI - Limeade Ice, Pure Poppy, Lavender Moon, Plum  Pudding, Summer Sunrise: MFT - Lemon Drop; Memento - Tuxedo Black
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White; Bo Bunny (SSS August card kit)
other: PTI - Balloon Bash die, Fillable Frame #10

I hope you are enjoying the sunshine at your house! It's blazing in Texas. I think we will spend most of the week over 100 degrees. This is the 1st chance I have had to break into my Make It Market kit from PTI. I love the dies and the foam. Betsy wasn't kidding when she said the foam was sticky!


I am still have some trouble lining up all the layers so I discovered a little trick that might help you as well. Before I put the final cardstock on the top of the frame I use a Copic marker to "color" the sides of the foam that match my paper. No more white edge! ~Rhonda

Sunshine card
stamps: PTI - Make It Market: Shakers & Sprinkles, Hello Sunshine
ink: MFT - Lemon Drop; Memento - Tuxedo Black
paper: MFT - Berrylicious; MME - On the Bright Side; PTI - Stamper's Select White
other: PTI - Make It Market dies, cloud

I love the paper that was included in the Simon Says Stamp August card kit. The kit has LOTS of busy paper which I sometimes find challenging to use but I'm determined.


The font of this sentiment is clean and simple. Perfect for the stripes. You are Simply Sweet for stopping by today. Make it a great day! ~Rhonda

Simply Sweet card
stamps: SSS Ice Cream Dream, PTI - Scent-imentals
ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
paper: Bo Bunny (SSS August card kit), PTI - Stamper's Select White
other: MFT Blueprints #6 die; Copic Markers - YG13, YG17, BG72, BG75

2 super simple cards that will be easy to mail. The multi colored hearts on the pattern paper dictated die cut hearts for this quick one.


After I had already cut a square into the pattern paper I wished I had done a circle to match the typewriter keys!! Next time.


I can't believe we are into August!! ~Rhonda


Hello Heart card
stamps: none
paper: SSS - Lipstick Red; Pink Paislee - Pen Pals; PTI - Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain
other: PTI - Bubble Talk (heart) dies; MFT - Blueprint #1

Typewriter card
stamps: none
paper: Neenah - Dessert Storm; Pink Paislee - Pen Pals; PTI - Stamper's Select White
other: MFT - Pierced Square Stax, Blueprint #1; Pink Paislee - Pen Pals Puffy Stickers

Can you stand another card from the kit?? I paired it with dies from PTI - Ad Sense. The red twinkle goosebumps add just the right amount of bling!  I tried to place them strategically by a sentiment in the pattern paper. 


We are supposed to be enjoying a bit of a cold front today. Lower 90's for us. We'll take it. ~Rhonda

Birthday wishes card
stamps: PTI - Ad Sense
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy
paper: Bazzill Blueberry Sour; Pink Paislee Pen Pals
other: Queen & Co Red Twinkle goosebumps; Pink Paislee Pen Pals S+Puffy Sticker; PTI - Ad Sense die

Another card using the Simon Says Stamp card kit. I'm using it with an older MFT  stamp set called You're Got Mail. The size was right for the small sentiments.


Enjoy your week! ~Rhonda

stamps: MFT - You're got Mail; SSS - Sending Happy Thougths
paper: Gina K - pure white; Pink Paislee Pen Pals; Hobby Lobby - vellum; PTI - Raspberry Fizz
ink: Memento - Black Tuxedo; Versamark
other: MFT - Pierced Oval Stax; Sewing machine; Ranger - Rouge embossing powder
Copic Markers: B34, C3, R29, E 27, YG17, T1