I'm playing along with Papertrey Ink's February Blog Hop. The theme is spring. I was inspired by the most recent Pottery Barn catalog that showed blown eggs with Happy Easter on them hanging with flowering spring branches. 


I decided to make a little spring banner that would hang on my photo wall. Since my last name begins with "H" there are a few of those scattered among the pictures. Perfect spot! I used the egg die as my base and the Headline Alphabet stamps for the letters. 


It was a little hard to get photos that do it justice but it brightens my day as I pass by. I know spring is coming. . . we just have to get past a little more freezing weather later this week! Happy Hopping to YOU!! ~Rhonda


Challenges:






Happy Spring banner
stamps: PTI - Headline Alphabet, Egg Hunt
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White
ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
other: PTI - Egg Hunt die; The Twinery - Black & White twine;

This was an easy card. The jar label die is one piece so I was able to do one quick pass to create the openings for my sentiments. This is the perfect layout for busy pattern paper.



hello card
stamps: PTI - Little Labels, Heart 2 Heart #4
paper: MME - Happy Day; PTI - Stamper's Select White
ink: PTI - Harvest Gold, Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz
dies: PTI - Jar Labels 2

A quick and easy birthday card is up today. I have lots of tag dies but I was so intrigued by this one from Reverse Confetti. I kept telling myself that I had enough but when it finally came back in stock I couldn't resist. It is a little short and squattie and I LOVE it!



I love the way the sentiment fits perfectly. I also inked the sentiment in Raspberry Fizz. I had considered black but am so glad I changed my mind. The pink brought the yellow paper to life. I was actually surprised at what a difference it made. Obviously I need to step out of my black sentiment habit.

 

You are Always . . . card
stamps: PTI - Watercolor Wonder, Feather Finery, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
paper: MME - Happy Day; PTI - Stamper's Select White
ink: PTI - Sweet Blush, Hibiscus Burst, Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Fizz, Harvest Gold
dies: Reverse Confetti - Tag Me
other: PTI - Harvest Gold Twill ribbon; The Twinery - Blossom twine

I'm enjoying working with a different color palette this week. I had been using lots of black and red as seen here and here. My love for pink continues though I'm pairing it with some blues and yellows. I'm also in a hurry for some SPRING! hence butterflies.


Does anyone else have a problem keeping their white embossing powder clean? As you can see in the picture there are touches of black or something. It seems wasteful to not put the unused back in the jar. Granted it doesn't look to bad in person but the camera sure picks it up.


Hope you are getting some sunshine in your neck of the woods.

friends card
stamps: PTI Flutterby Friend, Butterfly Dreams
paper: MME - Happy Day; PTI - Stamper's Select White
ink: PTI - Hibiscus Burst; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
dies: PTI - Doily Details, Framed Out #12, Butterfly Dreams
other: Zing - White embossing powder; The Twinery - Buttercream twine

My final Valentine cards to share. Do you have some stamp sets that haven't seen ink??? I ordered Love Potion when it was released but had never used it. I really LIKE it!!


The first card uses more black and a POP of pink.


Do the recognize the "heart steam" on the second card? It is actually from another set called Tree Tops. It is perfect for the test tubes. 


I hope you have a great day with those you love!!

Great Chemistry card
stamps: PTI - Love Potion
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Smokey Shadow pattern paper, Raspberry Fizz, True Black
ink: PTI - Raspberry Fizz; Memento - Tuxedo Black
other: PTI - Love Potion dies, Double ended Banner die; Verve - Heart Quartet

Our Bond card
stamps: PTI - Love Potion, Tree Tops
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White; Authentique - Lovely
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy; Memento - Tuxedo Black
die: PTI - Love Potion, Fabulous Frames, Tree Tops; MFT - Fishtail Flag Stax, Blueprints #6
other: PTI - Rustic Burlap Impression plate

I had a lot of fun creating this set of cards. The inspiration was from an art journal page I saw on Michele Wooderson's blog. I tried to follow the link back to the creator but was unable to do so. I have enjoyed making some Valentine cards that are not red and pink.


I started by inking the grid lines in Spring Rain followed by polka dots embossed in clear. I continued to add layers of color. I think the pattern paper hearts really played up the grid lines on this card.


It was fun to add the text and music notes to the green hearts.


I LOVE the grunge circles from Precious Remembrance. A great basic for layering.


Supplies used on both cards
stamps: PTI - Trendy Tree Tops, Life's Music, Polka Dot Basics II, Background Basics: Text Style II, Geometrics, & Sheet Music; Verve - Wings of Love; Precious Remembrance - Mom & Dad, Positive Thoughts; MFT - Happy Heart Snowman
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Limeade Ice, Spring Rain, Spring Rain pattern paper;
ink: PTI - Smokey Shadow, Limeade Ice, Ripe Avocado, Spring Rain
dies: PTI - Limitless Layers: Hearts; Verve - Wavy Hearts
other: Target - gold/creme twine; Zing Clear Embossing powder; sewing machine

I have a lot of unused pieces of this and that on my desk from several days of stamping. It's very satisfying when I'm able to create something I had not considered before. This card is very simple. 


Am I the only one that LOVES the look of an impression plate design on crisp white paper?

Love U Friend card
stamps:
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist
dies: Reverse Confetti Love Note; PTI - Limitless Layers: Hearts, Block Alphabet, Wonderful Words: Friends, Woodgrain Impression Plate,  
other: Washi tape

 
I fell in love with this Vintage Valentine Clown Children from the Graphics Fairy. I printed it on Epson Presentation paper. Don't know why but the when you use this paper the colors when printed are great. A regular card stock paper looks washed out. 


I chose to bring out the blue of the background by using MFT's Berrylious paper. Love the combination of the light blue with the red.


I used the smallest stitching lines dies to cut my stitching holes on the heart. I wasn't sure I would use these dies but I think they may have a permanent place on my desk. A great basic. 


Be my Valentine Vintage Clown Children card
Digital Image: Graphics Fairy -  Clown Children
stamps: PTI - Tiny Treats: Valentine
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy; MFT - Berrylious; Epson Presentation Paper Matte
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy
dies: PTI - Limitless Layers: Hearts, Heart 2 Heart #3, Stitching Lines, Valentine Stitches; MFT - Blueprints #6
impression plates: PTI - Rustic Burlap, Woodgrain
other: Hobby Lobby - Cotton pearl thread; Tim Holtz - Tiny Attacher; Crop a Dile corner chomper

Papertrey Ink has a Monthly Moments Trading Card Challenge!!!  Based on the old ATC trading card days, you are challenged to do something amazing with a 3x4 flat card!  Stamp it, layer it, embellish it any way you wish! 


I broke open my new Doodlie-do stamps!! Goodness gracious! These flowers are fun to color. 


Off to watch the Olympics. Can you imagine doing the things they are doing on snow boards??

Sending Sunshine card
stamps: PTI - Doodlie-do
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White, Spring Rain pattern paper; Black - ?
ink: PTI - New Leaf; Memento - Tuxedo Black
other: PTI -  Doodlie-do dies, Limitless Layers: Hearts; MFT - Blueprints #6
Copic Markers - YG13 YG17 B91 R85

Papertrey Ink has a Monthly Moments Trading Card Challenge!!!  Based on the old ATC trading card days, you are challenged to do something amazing with a 3x4 flat card!  Stamp it, layer it, embellish it any way you wish! 

 
I made my ATC into a card. I just couldn't leave it alone. I used PTI's Tag  Sale #5 as the base. My oldest son asked why I was making so many cards with black. I guess I'm loving the black pattern paper that I have in several paper pads. 



You can just barely see the Herringbone Impression plate at the top of the card. Have a great evening!


A Better Place card
stamps: Precious Remembrance - Positive Thoughts; MFT - Vertical Greeetings
paper: PTI - Smokey Shadow, Stamper's Select White; Authentique - Lovely; MME - Cut & Paste
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
dies: PTI - Tag Sale #5, Heart 2 Heart #3, Double ended Banner; MFT - Blueprints #6; Verve - Rounded Rectangle
other: PTI - Satin Ribbon, Herringbone Impression plate; Twinery - Black/White twine; Tim Holtz - tiny attacher

I'm playing along with PTI 's Timed Challenge. The goal was to pick only seven items in seven minutes and complete the card in 17 minutes. My inspiration was my own COLD!! I've been eating soup for a couple of days. 


This card was so simple to do. I also stamped "feel better" on the inside. The time to complete it was only 4 minutes and 49 seconds. I think I can enter that time for a new stamping record. Maybe there is GOLD in my future! Are you watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics tonight? 

supplies
stamps: PTI - Comfort Food
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White
other: The Twinery - Black & White; Ranger - Stickles Christmas Red

Papertrey Ink's Anniversary Celebrations have begun. I'm using one of the free printables that the designers created. Heather Nichols is designing items that can be used for cards or scrapbooking.

Have a great evening!!

The contests and fun have started. Papertrey Ink is celebrating 7 years. I'm using a couple of the free printables that the designers put together.

The black & white card uses Erin Lincoln's cute plaid Love You with black hearts!



I hope you are getting to play along. Have a great evening.

Good morning friends! I have another Valentine card to share. I put my new PTI - Stitching Lines die to work creating the grid for my tic tac toe board. When's the last time you challenged anyone to a quick game? Did you put the "x" in the magic middle spot? :)



I used a stamp from Precious Remembrance to create the splatters on the background layer. The only element popped up is the heart which will allow me to stick this one in the mail.

Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. ~Rhonda

be my valentine card
stamps:  PTI - Tiny Treats: Valentine; Precious Remembrance - Positive Thoughts
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White; Authentique: Lovely; MME - Cut & Paste, Ruby
ink: PTI - Pure Poppy; Versamark; Memento Tuxedo Black
dies: PTI - Fabulous Frames, Stitching Lines, Block Alphabet lower case, Valentine Stitches; Reverse Confetti - Love Note
other: HL - white crochet thread; Crop a dile; Corner Chomper; Tiny Attacher

Hi everyone!! Beautiful sunny day in Texas. Very crisp here. I think we have another warm up starting. It was in the 70's on Saturday before taking another plunge.


I have lots of paper scraps sitting on my desk so I started cutting them into strips.  Making this type of card doesn't get any easier.



Have a great day!

Are you watching the Super Bowl? Do you have a favorite commercial yet? I'm doing some crafting as I watch the big game. I loved the sketch from MFT Sketchy 161.

I changed the layout a little. You can see why from the picture below. I had cut some pieces from the gray dotted paper and that was my LAST piece and it was the PERFECT paper for the card.


I used MFT's Hybrid Camellia Flower die for my round element. LOVE it! 


So far my favorite commercial has been the Silverado Pickup with the Bull and I Believe in Miracles music! Perfect for this Texas girl!!! Enjoy the game!

Thank You card
stamps: MFT - Grand Greetings
paper: PTI - Stamper's Select White; MME - Cut & Paste Flair; Authentique - Lovely
ink: Memento Tuxedo Blak
other: MFT - Hybrid Camellia Flower die, Fishtail Flag Stax, Blueprints 6