Green Tea Time

Claire's (click on her name in my "Favorites" sidebar) new company, Waltzing Mouse Stamps' challenge for the fabulous prize of one each of her six awesome new stamp sets to be released Tuesday, September 29th, was to create a card using your favorite stamp and green -- "lots of green, any shade"! Hmmm, could that have anything to do with Ireland, since that's where she lives? Maybe!!! Well this is right up my alley as green IS my favorite color. I just got this gorgeous Green Tea Leaves paper today and Tea for Two by PTI is my fav set right now, so I knew exactly what I wanted to make. I seem to have very little "green" (a/k/a spendable cash) lately, so have my fingers crossed! Her challenge ends Sunday night, Ireland time, so hope I'm still in time!
Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream CS & Green Tea Leaves Collection DP

Stamps: PTI's Tea for Two

Ink: PTI's Ripe Avocado

Embellishments: Michaels Stores BasicBasic Ribbon

Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Dies; Fiskars Upper Crest Punch

PTI September Blog Hop: Reuse/Recycle/Repurpose Packaging

Our challenge for PTI's September Blog Hop was: "to reuse, repurpose or recycle packaging from your Papertrey Package." If you're unfamiliar with PTI's Blog Hop, you can go here to find a list participants after 8 PM Eastern time! I kept all my PTI packaging with this very intent in mind! I took two of the larger clear boxes PTI stamps came in, cut them both down at an angle from left to right and then used my PTI 1/8" Scor Tape (LOVE it) to tape them together. Because my plan was to have my Cuttlebug Embossing folders not only handy but easily seen so I'd remember to use them, I kept my project simple. For a little fun I cut letters from PTI Raspberry Fizz Mix papers with my Sizzix to spell "create!", used glue dots to attach them, and now have the perfect grab & go container for all my large & small border embossing folders right at my fingertips on my craft table next to my Spellbinder Wizard machine. Quick, easy, useful "green" recycling!!! Can't wait to see what all you ingeniously clever ladies came up with for this challenge -- so hopping I shall go!!!

DZ Doodles Santa Christmas Card

I copic colored this DZ Doodles image for Paper Craft Planet. Just a beginner with my Copic markers, I have a looooong way to go & lots to learn! I then decided he'd be adorable inside this SEI puffy frame that I won last winter at CKC. The frame and sentiment are from SEI. I wanted Santa to be off center inside so I'd have room to write a little note next to him, so I added the lime pompom trim for balance. I was having a difficult time deciding between small or large red rickrack or the pompom fringe, so I let my hubby choose. Whaddaya think -- did he make the right choice? After he chose I told him that pompom trim is very "in" right now in the crafty world and I really did like the fact that it was the perfect green to match my sticker! He said he didn't think either rickrack was a bright enough red, so the decision was made. ;-)

K&Company Slider Sentiment Card

I cased this card after receiving it a few months ago from my sweet friend, Judy, who graciously said it was okay to post my "case" of her card here. I just love it!!! This unique slider sentiment card is made with K&Company's gorgeous Margo & McKenna DPs on a 1/4-fold ivory linen base. I made it quite awhile ago and used a combination of Nesties and punches for the center layers, plus I even hand cut one or 2 that I don't have punches/dies for. Just be sure when you pop your center piece that you leave the center area open so your sentiment can slide left to right! Sentiment stamps are from PTI's Mixed Messages.

TEBBLS Challenge #11

Woo-Hoo -- my LAST challenge for TEBB #11! Really, it's been a blast & now it will be fun to see who wins each & every one! So exciting! Never done ANYTHING like this before; hope it's a hit because I just might do it again -- if there's a next time. I feel bad because I own NONE of Taylor's stamps yet, but hope that changes in the near future! I thought it appropriate to do this one last, as I KNEW I'd be DISTRESSED myself -- I only had about 4 hours sleep last night. Even though I often distress edge elements on my cards to make them "stand out", it's not something I'm very comfortable with or skilled at, that's for sure! For this final card I've used an Anna Griffin stamp, Strathmore watercolor paper and SEI's Windsor DP and EK Success punch, as well as Ranger's Antique Linen ink for distressing. Because is turned out rather subtle in color, I thought it an appropriate Sympathy card & it's always good to have one of those on hand. Whew -- I'm tired!!! LOL!

NOTE: It's after 9 PM here so I cannot get a decent photo at all; will reload a new photo in the morning light - hope that's okay?!!!

TEBBJP Challenge #13

For the final TEBB Challenge #13 (although I still have to make & upload #11 - LOL) we were to use stitching on our project! So I had to drag out my really old Singer and see if I could remember how to thread it. I totally lucked out with my zig-zagged oval pieces going together perfectly the very first try! I've used PTI's Button Bits stamps, flower buttons I've had forever (think they're Making Memories?) and MM's Travel embellishment papers and an EK Success punch-- a truly fun card to make!!!

TEBBLF Challenge # 6

For TEBB Challenge #6, a fabulous sketch, I've chosen 3 of my favorite colors to work with, black, white & raspberry. This was a fun, fairly simple card to put together, but then it's always easier when you have coordinating papers, both plain & patterned. Of course simple, classic stamps & colors don't hurt either! I used PTI's Everyday Classics again for my flower in this challenge, as well as their papers and ink. The flourish stamp from Technique Tuesday works well as a stem and the pearls are from Kaiser Craft. Okay, 11 down & 2 to go!!! Whew!!!

TEBBSW Challenge #12

TEBB Challenge #12 was to use more than one button as your focal point on a project. I covered this International Coffee tin my friend Marilyn so kindly brought all the way from MN (a box of them, actually) with these awesome Cosmo Cricket Wanted western-themed papers for my hubby, who is a die-hard Western fan. I made my own "button" with a Rollabind circle. I punched a cowboy from paper, fit it inside & then covered it in Ranger Glossy Accents, a really fun technique. I then added the brown & metal buttons for my focal accents. For my handle, I hole-punched the ends with my trusty Crop-a-dile to attach a folded strip of the paper that has my hubby's "motto": "there's nothin like a good western", secured with large metal brads. If you knew him, you'd know I couldn't get him to a movie theater UNLESS it was to see a Western movie! I originally intended this for his jelly beans, but none available to use in my photo, so I had to go with peanuts instead!

TEBBSH Challenge #9

Shabby Chic is a tough one for me to pull off, but here's my attempt for TEBB Challenge #9. My sweet friend, Gwen, had used tiny roses like these on a teapot card that I loved, so when I found these recently on clearance at Michaels, I had to have them to duplicate the look from her card. I have been borrowing her PTI Tea for Two stamp set for so long she's probably wondering if she'll EVER get it back! LOL! I just adore this set & must buy my own soon! So, with a little help from flowery Anna Griffin paper from my stash, a Provo Craft Textile Embossing Folder, some lace, pearls & sequin trim, my card was solidified. I know a couple ladies that I think will appreciate my efforts.

TEBBJC Challenge #8

This color TEBB #8 color challenge proved challenging for me! It seemed so simple at first glance, but after much forethought & trashing my room with failed ideas, I finally came up with this little card. I've already used this "Wishing you Sunshine" greeting on another challenge card here, but I just love it! I think it especially appropriate for this bright, cherry color combo! I've used all paper of unknown sources from my huge stash, except the little scalloped strip, which is Raspberry Fizz from PTI. Other fun items include the yellow vellum buttterfly die cut & embossed from a Provo Craft die, turquoise Stickles, flocked turquoise vine paper and the little Hero Arts gem for the final touch on the exclamation point (something I probably use way too many of)!!! ;-)