Challenge: Be My Valentine!

Hey!

Happy Monday! Apologies for this challenge being posted later than I wanted - I'm in the midst of a stinkin' cold which took pleasure in taking over my weekend :o(

Enough sniffling and moaning from me though, are you ready for a new challenge?! I hope so because for this one we want you to get 'loved-up' and think 'Valentine's' with your creations. Remember it doesn't have to be restricted to a card and can be a little valentine treat for anyone! Don't panic, it doesn't have to be one huge slushfest on a card declaring your love for someone! If you'd rather, you could think about just featuring one aspect of Valentine's (e.g Hearts) on your creation.

Well my example started with this one card...

..and by the end of my inky session, it turned into this!

These are a cute 3x3 inches in size - so sweet! I'm selling these at work to raise money for the British Heart Foundation - I've sold a few today! If some don't sell, I can always sneak them into my guy's packed lunch for the remainder of the year ;D

Here they are closer up:

Card Recipe

Stamps: Tiny Treats: Valentine/Polka Dot Basics II

Ink: Memento Black/Various PTI Inks!

Cardstock: Stampers Select White/Various PTI Colours!

Accessories: Promarkers/3D Foam Pads/Aqua Mist Vintage Button/Cream Button Twine/Fine Black Pen

Here's Kate with her gorgeous example:

Stamps - Big and Bold Wishes
Card - Stamper's Select White/Raspberry Fizz
Paper - Simple Valentine
Other - Black gingham ribbon/felt hearts and buttons(Martha Stewart)/EK Success border punch

..and as our featured stamper, Vanessa has provided us with TWO stunning examples!

I'm literally drooling with this scrumptious cupcake creation...

Supplies for the Cupcake card: Cardstock: (White, Raspberry Fizz ) PTI, Patterned Paper: (Pretty Pastels) PTI, Stamps: (Tiny Treats: Valentine, Baby Button Bits) PTI, Ink: (Black) Tsukineko, (Worn Lipstick) Ranger Industries, Fibers: (Raspberry Fizz Luxe Satin Ribbon) PTI, (Twine) Craft Shop, Accents: (Sweet Blush Vintage Button) PTI, (Heart Pearl) Hero Arts, Dies: (Labels 4) Spellbinders, Markers: Copic

...and then it's topped off with this super sweet creation!

Supplies for the Pink/Kraft card: Cardstock: (Kraft, Berry Sorbet) PTI, Patterned Paper: (Pretty Pastels) PTI, Stamps: (Background Basics: Hearts) PTI, Ink: (Fresh Snow) PTI, (Watermark Ink) Versamark, Fibers: (Vintage Cream Luxe Satin Ribbon) PTI, Accents: (Heart Pearls) Hero Arts, Tools: (Border Punch) EK-Success, (Corner Chomper) Crop-A-Dile

Here are the deets:

• All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify

• To enter, use our Mister Linky at the bottom of this post. If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery

• Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

• Challenge closes on Monday 22nd February 2010 at 9.00am GMT

• A winner will be chosen at random to receive a collection of PTI goodies!

So getting thinking of some lovey, dovey creations and get inky! We can't wait to see what creations you come up with!

Aimes, Kate & Vanessa

xx

We have a Winner!

Hey!

Wow! What a fabulous turn out for our 'nature' challenge! Thanks to all that played along, I have to say that many of you are tempting me with the Bird Watching Stamp Set after seeing your wonderful creations...

On to the important part - a winner!

Here are your random numbers:7
Timestamp: 2010-02-08 15:04:24 UTC

That means Vannessa is our winner! Congrats Vannessa! Could you please email your address to us at apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.com (don't forget it's .com and NOT .co.uk!)

Back VERY soon with a new challenge...

Aimes and Kate
x

Purple birthday

The friend who I made this card for absolutely ADORES anything purple. I can't say I care that much for it on the whole but after making this card felt a bit more fond of it! I'm just loving these new pastel papers!




Recipe: (All Papertrey Ink)

Stamps - Everyday Button Bits
Ink - Spring Moss
Card - Plum Pudding/Stamper's Select White
Paper - Pretty Pastels
Other - Plum Pudding and Lavender Moon buttons/Plum Pudding/Circle Nestabilities

Have you been jumping with excitement at all the announcements on Nichole's blog to celebrate Papertrey's third birthday?! The dies.... THE FELT??!!!! Oh my!! I'd better go and cut up my credit card right now!!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for a brand new challenge, including some beautiful projects from Vanessa, our February Featured Stamper!

Kate x

Friday I'm in LOVE!

Hey!

TGI FRIDAY, PEEPS!!! I dunno about you, but this week has felt like it's lasted sooooo long; anything to do with Groundhog day y'think?!

Just sharing a lovey dovey creation today. Get used to it as we build up to Valentine's day!


I actually made this a while back when I was stuck at home surrounded by snow (we had another dollop of it yesterday but luckily it's thawed already!)


This card is another 'mini card' measuring only 2.5" x 4.25" which makes it all the more sweeter I think!

I downloaded the sample of Simple Valentine DP and used it for the aperture. I love that the sample size is scaled down so it works so well with mini-cards!

Just before I sign off, if you haven't already you MUST check out Nichole's blog! You can enter for the chance to win every PTI stamp set released for the whole of 2010! OMG how amazing would that be?! You can enter by clicking here

Have a fabulous weekend peeps, I'm hoping to get inky! How about you?

Aimes
x

Card Recipe
(Mainly PTI supplies)
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: Sweet Blush
Cardstock: PTI White/Sweet Blush/Pure Poppy/Sample of DP
Accessories: Pure Poppy Polka Dot Ribbon/Heart Punch/Transfer Lettering/Sewing Machine/Corner Punch/Martha Stewart Border Punch

Aqua Mist Heaven and PRIZES!

Hey!

I just have to say first thanks so much for all your wonderful comments about my recent PTI Guest Star Stamper News. I feel truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful community! {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

OK slushfest over and back to business!

I'm sooooo glad to see that people are getting the hang of Mister Linky for entering our challenges. Thanks to Ann for pointing out that you have to be on the whole blog site rather than the individual challenge post to see the Mister Linky logo. I haven't been able to wrack my brains around this one yet so all I can suggest is that if you're wanting to to enter, then click on our blog header and scroll down to our challenge post. If you're having any problems you can enter the old fashioned way and we'll manually enter you into Mister Linky ourselves before we draw a winner.

And speaking of winner I thought I'd give you a peek of what you could be winning if you enter:
(Apologies for the lack of pics, I was going to set this prize up as a pretty picture but I'm away from my camera!)

One Sheet of each design of the gorgeous DP - Simple Valentine (6 sheets in total)

2 Sheets of coordinating cardstock in the following colours (6 sheets in total):

One foot (30cm) of ribbon of the following:

Pure Poppy Classic Grosgrain Ribbon

Raspberry Fizz Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon

Fresh Snow Luxe Satin Ribbon

One Raspberry Fizz Cube Ink Cube in the NEW FORMULA which is a total dream to work with. It's a bit like a chalk ink and gives amazing coverage!

So have we got you tempted now?! I hope so!

And I couldn't leave without sharing a card with y'all:


This was for Kate's Birthday. I thought it was kinda fitting for a gal who has an obsession verging on unhealthy with Aqua Mist!

By adding touches with my Versamark pen, the flowers come to life that little bit more. I love the difference it makes!

Card Recipe
(All PTI supplies)
Stamps: Friends 'til the End
Ink: Dark Chocolate/Fresh Snow
Cardstock: Aqua Mist/Stamper's Select White/Dark Chocolate
Accessories: White Vintage Buttons/Cream Button Twine/White Gel Pen/Versamark Pen

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Aimes
x

P.S Be sure to keep checking Nicole Heady's Blog as she celebrates PTI's 3rd Birthday! There' s giveaways a plenty and some awesome inspiration from the DT so join in the party for the next 12 days!

Our February Featured Stamper!

I can't believe it's February 1st already - can you?!! With the turn in the month we get to introduce to you our brand new Featured Stamper, and this month I'm thrilled to introduce Vanessa Menhorn to you!!


Vanessa, from Germany, has been a long-time friend and supporter of our blog so we were delighted that she agreed to join us this month.

Here are a few questions she answered for us so we could get to know her a bit better!


1)How did you get into papercrafting?

I guess I started papercrafting when I was a child. When I was little I loved to do Origami, I tried to do some drawing and the usual crafting stuff like knitting or sewing or making pottery. But I got into cardmaking when I started stamping - less than a year ago. Now I am addicted!

2)How long have you been stamping for?

I have been stamping since March 2009

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

I accidentially found Nichole Heady`s blog and fell in love with the stamps immediately! I resisted for a while - I hadn`t bought anything from the US before and was a bit intimidated by the shipping costs, but once I started ordering them I couldn`t stop! They are versatile, beautiful and inspiring! And the paper, ribbons and buttons are perfect!

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

Most often I do simple/elegant stamping, but I like to use different or new techniques and that changes my style sometimes. And it depends on the recipient - e.g. I like to create cute things for kids.

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes
you drool?

It changes too often - I love to try new colour combos!

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one
would it be and why?

I don`t like this question :) Don`t want to imagine this! But ok, I`ll try. I would keep Damask Designs, because I can create Backgrounds with it, there are great sentiments and I can use the larger images for a focal element!

7)Who is your PTI Idol?

Nichole Heady. Her style is amazing, she never disappoints! But this whole Design Team is fabulous - I admire them all!

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

Blogworld is the place to gather inspiration! And I love to flip through magazines (papercrafts related, fashion or home decor) to find elements or colours that inspire me.

9)What`s your stamping dream?

Being on a Design Team! And I wish I could earn my money with what I love doing best - stamping!

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?

You`ll find more of my work on my blog

Thanks so much for joining us Vanessa! We're looking forward to seeing some of your fabulous work in the coming weeks!

Before I go - don't forget to check out Nichole's blog for the next 15 days as she counts us down to this months BIG release - it's the third anniversary of Papertrey Ink and it looks like there are going to be some exciting things coming our way.... I can hardly wait!!

Thank for visiting us and enjoy the countdown!

Kate and Aimes xx

Our star!!

Happy Saturday peeps!! Guess what..... we have a star in our midst!!!!

I'm SO excited to tell those of you who haven't seen Nichole's Guest Star Stamper post, that our very own Aimes has won one of this month's categories!! I feel like a proud mum haha!! We all know how incredibly talented and creative she is so it really should come as no surprise... and it's not the first time she's won either!!! So a BIG congrats hun!!!!

This card was made for my lovely blogging buddy Caryn, and also is my very belated sample for our recent embossing challenge (what can I say... I was too busy sunning myself in California lol!)



Recipe:
(All Papertrey Ink)

Stamps - Say It With Style/Green Thumb/Background Basics: Text Style
Card - Ocean Tides
Ink - Versamar/Ocean Tides
Other - Black gingham ribbon/White Embossing powder

I love the effect of the white flowers embossed on the Ocean Tides background, which itself was stamped with the Background Basics: Text Style stamp. That has to be one of my favourite background sets!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Kate xx

Christmas?!?!

Hey!

Happy Friday Eve! Soooo looking forward to the weekend - even more so now the amazingly talented Andy Murray will be playing in the Australian Open! Woo Hoo! Had to sneak peek the live broadcast of the matches at work when I could via the BBC website and couldn't tear myself away LOL!

Anyways, enough tennis, how about Christmas?! Crazy you say? Well we've been meaning to share the gorgeous Christmas ATCs from our recent swap and now we know everyone has received theirs it's time to show them here!

Check out how fabulous Dawn was organising all of our ATCs! That middle pic is all of our ATCs together waiting to be sorted into the two groups.


Now to see each ATC a bit closer...


Aren't they all just fabulous?! Thanks so much to everyone who participated, I really enjoyed getting my ATCs through the post and I hope you did too!

If you're interested in hosting any swaps (you don't have to restrict it to ATCs...) then feel free to get in touch!

Aimes
x

Challenge: Nature!

Hello hello! It's Kate here - yes I am still alive lol! I'm sorry for having been MIA for a while - I must say a HUGE thank you to dear dear Aimes for keeping our l'il old blog going while I was on holiday - thanks hun, what a star you are!

So it's time for another challenge and this fortnight we're going back to nature - we'd like you to come up with a nature inspired project. So it can be flowers, trees, leaves or anything that says 'nature' to you!

For my sample I used three of my newest PTI goodies - the yummy leaf papers and matching stamp set and Dawn McVey's 'Say it With Style' sentiment set... this is going to be an absolute fave I can tell!


Recipe:
Stamps - Turning a New Leaf/Say it With Style
Card - Stamper's Select White/Spring Moss
Paper - Turning a New Leaf
Ink - Spring Moss/Dark Chocolate
Ribbon/Button - Spring Moss

Over to Aimes: "Hmmm...nature....well I would love to say there' s loads of it around me that I can relate to a PTI stamp set but that would be fibbing. So instead I turned to a stamp set that I hope will inspire nature to get a move on - I'm bored of winter now LOL!

This was created using a masking technique. The white border was simple; I simply used a white gel pen to draw around the nestability I used to cut out the Melon Berry panel.

Melon Berry is just one of those colours I tend to pass on so I really wanted to make it a feature on this card. I'm still not sure if I like it, but the recipient seemed to!"

I also decorated the inside of my card too, I've noticed that seems to be a trend around Blogland at the mo..."






Card Recipe
Stamps: Friends til the End
Ink: Dark Chocolate
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate/Melon Berry/Vintage Cream
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/Cream Vintage Buttons/Vintage Cream Satin Ribbon/Cream Ribbon Twine/White Gel Pen

And here is the fabulous sample from Dawn, this month's Featured Stamper:


Card Recipe Stamps: Everyday Buton Bits/Giga Guidelines Cardstock: Plum Pudding/Sweet Blush/Dark Chocolate DSP: Guidelines Mediums: Old Olive/Lavender Lace (SU)/Versamark Embellishments: Plum Pudding Satin Ribbon/Square Brad/Buttons from Stash Tools: Paper Cutter and Scorer/Snail Adhesive/Nestabilities (Labels 1)

What could you win?

One Sheet of each design of the gorgeous DP - Simple Valentine (6 sheets in total)

2 Sheets of coordinating cardstock in the following colours (6 sheets in total):

One foot (30cm) of ribbon of the following:

Pure Poppy Classic Grosgrain Ribbon

Raspberry Fizz Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon

Fresh Snow Luxe Satin Ribbon

One Raspberry Fizz Cube Ink Cube in the NEW FORMULA which is a total dream to work with. It's a bit like a chalk ink and gives amazing coverage!


Now it's over to you! Here are the challenge deets:

• All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify
  
• To enter, leave a link below to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery. (We've just started using My Linky - hopefully it will be ok but if there are any problems please leave us a comment! Click on the Mister Linky Pic below to try it out!)
  
• Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!
• Challenge closes on Monday 8th February 2010 at 9.00am GMT
• A winner will be chosen at random to receive a collection of PTI goodies!

Have fun!

Kate, Aimes and Dawn xxx

Winner, Winner...

...no chicken dinner! But some PTI goodies heading their way to the winner of our Emboss it challenge. I was so happy to see so many lovely stamping peeps joining in on this challenge and some of you earned some real brownie points with not one method of embossing but TWO featured on your projects! Oh you are a clever lot ;D

Anyways the goodies are heading to...

Here are your random numbers:

12

Timestamp: 2010-01-25 17:56:37 UTC

Which is DANA! Congratulations Dana! Could you please email us your address to apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.com so we can send you your prize!

On another note could Cathy and Linby please email us your addresses too; we've not heard back since you've won some previous challenges!

Stay tuned for a new challenge to be posted very soon...

Aimes

x

Pretty in Pink

Hey!

Happy Friday Eve! Oh I can't wait until the weekend, my fingers have been itching to get inky for ages now I'm back in the chaos of work! At least the snow has thawed now so I've got no scary journeys to work anymore!

Just got a little (or should that be long/tall) card to share with you today full of PTI goodness:


This was for my Mum's birthday. She's a big fan of pink and flowers so I didn't think I could really go too wrong with this creation LOL!

Card Recipe
(PTI Supplies Unless Stated!)
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II/Around & About Sentiments
Ink: Sweet Blush/Dark Chocolate
Card: Hibiscus Burst/Sweet Blush/Dark Chocolate Bitty Dot Basics
Accessories: Flower/Dark Chocolate Vintage Button/Cream Button Twine

Onto my own little piece of news...I was thrilled to be selected for In The Spotlight for Dawn Mcvey's RSCC#21 with my Potato Optional card! It was wonderful to see some names up there that I recognised from around here including Taheerah! (Our featured stamper for December)

OK I'm signing off but before I do, I wanted to say how fabulous the entries have been for our 'Emboss It' challenge so far! Remember you've got until Monday to enter and if you've already entered once, there's nothing to stop you from entering again ;D

Have a fabulous Friday, peeps, and I'll catch ya later!

Aimes
x

Emboss It!!!

Hey!

OK ready for a new challenge?! I hope so!

For this challenge we want you to emboss it! Don't panic - you don't have to have a heat gun for this challenge! Now you can have fun with y'heat gun if you want, but here's some other tips for embossing:

• Running an embossing folder through your die-cutting machine
• Using a Nestability die
• Using a good old fashioned light box, stencil and ball tool!

So don't think you've gotta get covered in embossing powder and burn yourself; though that's exactly what I did for my example LOL:

Couldn't resist giving my On My Couch set a little more inky love while it was out on my desk!

The Polka Dots are embossed with white detail powder on Pure Poppy cardstock, as is the sentiment too! I love the way the white 'pops'!



Card Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II/On My Couch/On My Couch Additions/Vintage Labels
Ink: Versamark/Pure Poppy/Dark Chocolate/Ripe Avocado/Fresh Snow
Card: Enchanted Evening/Pure Poppy/Stamper's Select White
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/White Detail EP/Ripe Avocado Grosgrain Ribbon/White Gel Pen

Now Kate's still sunning herself in L.A (gosh, what a shock she'll have when she gets back to this weather LOL!) but never fear, Dawn is here as our featured stamper! She goes to prove that you don't have to limit yourself to a card with her stunning example:


Check out that clear embossed Giga Guidelines background!


Dawn's gonna be famous for her amazing notepads - I'm lucky to have one in my possession that I carry nearly everywhere but daren't use for fear of spoiling it!


I just love that little hand pointing - it's such a cute finishing touch!

Stamps: Giga Guidelines, Take Note
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet
DSP: Bitty Dots, Everyday Blessings
Mediums: Staz-on, Chocolate Chip (SU), Embossing Stamp pad
Embellishments: Aqua Mist button, Berry Sorbet ½”luxe satin ribbon
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, Snail adhesive, Heat gun, clear embossing power.

So there ya have it! I hope we've inspired you a tiny bit to think about embossing and to enter our challenge. Remember, there's some PTI goodies to be won!

Here are the deets:

• All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify
  
• To enter, leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.
  
• Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!
• Challenge closes on Monday 25th January 2010 at 9.00am GMT
• A winner will be chosen at random to receive a collection of PTI goodies!

We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Aimes , Dawn (& Kate from sunny L.A!)
xx

1. Laurel (Joining us again from the USA! Whoop!)
2. Karin (Another PTI fan from the USA sharing the inspiration!)
3. Nadine (entering from Hawaii with a her shiny new blog!)
4. Hanneke
5. Ingrid
6. Chris
7. Beverley
8. Jan
9. Vannessa
10. Aga
11. Mandy
12. Dana
13. Valerie
14. Katie
15. Margaret
16 Margaret (with a second fabulous entry!)
17. Hanne
18. Taheerah
19. Amy

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Hey!

Thanks so much for playing along with our Super Star challenge! It was fabulous to see so many participate this time!

So onto the important part, a winner:

Here are your random numbers:

5 

Timestamp: 2010-01-11 09:04:57 UTC

That's Linby! Congratulations! Please email us at apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.com and we'll send some PTI goodies out to ya!

Stay tuned for a new challenge to be posted later today!

Aimes
x

Inky Couch Love!

Hey!

Happy Friday! So how's your week been? I've not actually made it to work at all this week due to the ice and snow! At first it was fun, but now I'm getting kinda sick of the sight of snow and just spend my days doing housework...

...though I've found some spare minutes to get inky too :D!

So I decided to play along with Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge #. Here are those all important colours:


Mmmm scrummy combo of Aqua Mist and Dark Chocolate though I wasn't too sure about that Lemon Tart!

So still on my CAS kick of cards, I was determined to use some more scraps seeing as I spent most of this week organising them into colours (yup, that's how bored I've been!) and I promised myself that I would use that cute diddy cushion stamp and give some inky love to On My Couch:


The pic is a little deceiving as this card is tiny! It's only 2.5" x 4.25" and again was made from scraps. This idea originated from Betsy Veldman's take on the Scraptastic challenge; she went even further and created the cutest envies for them too by simply cutting an A2 envie in half and stitching up the sides.

I couldn't resist...
I have to say that I ♥ these sweet cards! So cute for secretly popping into a loved one's lunchbox, or glovebox or any other box LOL! Speaking of ♥, I'm totally loving the new PTI ink formulation too - check out the coverage on the Aqua Mist couch *sigh*!

Card Recipe
Stamps: On My Couch/On My Couch Additions
Ink: Aqua Mist/Dark Chocolate
Card: Vintage Cream/Lemon Tart
Others: Envelope and Sewing Machine!

Oh and have you checked out the sneak peeks for PTI's upcoming release!? Today's sneak peek has me the most excited - defintely raised my heartbeat a little (pun intended!)

Ooh and just one more thing before I love ya and leave ya for the weekend, has everyone received their Christmas ATCs?! If not pop us an email at apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.com because I really, really, really wanna share the pics of them all but don't want to spoil it if you've not got 'em yet!

Have a fabulous weekend people! Stay safe in the snow and ice (if you've got it!)

Aimes
x

Scrap-tastic!

Hey!

If you ever pop across to any of the Senior DT for PTI you'll know that on the first of every month Nichole Heady sets them a challenge. Well this month she's challenged not only the Senior DT, but anyone else too! I couldn't resist joining in as the challenge is 'Scrap-tastic!' In other words, to use all those scraps, ribbon, paper, fabric etc....

Well I confess that I keep a HUGE bag of scraps, especially my PTI cardstock! I always justify keeping the littlest snippets by saying I'll use them with the tiny cushion stamp from my On My Couch Set LOL! I need to give that set more love, but I already had a different idea in my head for today:
Not a couch cushion in sight! I know it's VERY Clean and Simple! It took literally minutes to make; the longest part was heating the clear EP LOL!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II/Friends til the End (sentiment)
Card: Stamper's Select White/Aqua Mist/Raspberry Fizz/Spring Rain
Ink: Versamark/True Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/Clear EP

So why not get rooting through your own scraps and join in the fun? You can link your creation directly on Nicole's blog here!

Aimes
x

Featured Stamper!

Hey!

Firstly:

Happy New Year!

I hope 2010 brings you peace, happiness and joy! All it's brought me so far is a hazy head from a few Singapore Slings too many (Man, I just ♥ that cocktail!) but I'm sure 2010 is gonna bring me more LOL!

So a new year, a new month, a new featured stamper for us - woo hoo! Thanks so much to Taheerah for being our fabulous first featured stamper! We loved your creations - my fave has to be the use of the Tea For Two set - what an amazing set of cards that so much work and heart went into making!

So who's January's Featured Stamper? Drumroll please....

Dawn!

We asked Dawn a few questions to get to know her a little better, though we already know she's lovely as we met in person at the PTI make and take ;D!

1)How did you get into papercrafting?

I don't remember! I've always been papercrafting in one way or another, I remember winning a drawing competition when I was about 5 or 6 at school and I've always made cards for my parents and other family members for birthdays and christmas, I guess its just grown from there ....

2)How long have you been stamping for?

I've only been stamping for a few years, I discovered Stampin Up first (am I allowed to say that?) and quickly became hooked, but then I found PTI .... and its taken over .... my bank balance

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

I don't know how I discovered PTI, I think I was blog hopping and came across either Nichole Heady's or Dawn McVey's blogs. I resisted for a couple of months but the pull was too great. I love the colour combinations and the way that the papers, ribbons and buttons match. I also the new stamps (and a new colour) every month - its fab, its like a birthday surprise EVERY MONTH!

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

Eclectic! I don't know, sometimes it depends on how much time I have! I love CAS (Clean and Simple) but at other times I love - to pile it all on, bows, brads, lots of layers ....

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?

Oooooh ..........colours...........my favourites are chocolate, raspberry fizz AND KRAFT who can live without KRAFT ?????

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?

I don't have many sets, although I aim to remedy that in 2010! My favourites from 2009 that I actually own are the button bits sets, they are so versatile. Of the sets I don't own and I wish I'd bought,(and I probably will on my next order) because I think I'd use it a lot 'Turning a New Leaf' .... There are so many more that I wish I owned ...

7)Who is your PTI Idol?

I HAVE TO CHOOSE! ..... Nichole Heady, Dawn McVey, Heather Nichols, Michelle Wooderson, Lisa Johnson ... HOW DO YOU CHOOSE .... I love them all????

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everywhere........ Mainly the WWW, The PTI forum and Splitcoaststampers, I just look up PTI there are some fantastic cards and projects on there, but I find myself making notes everywhere, even at the supermarket, or staring out the window during a meeting - yes I remember setting a colour challenge that way, I could see a unit across the way with red, yellow, grey, and black in their logo!!

9)What’s your stamping dream?

It was to be on a design team but I'm there now as of December 2009, so I guess the next one is to be published so I'd better send some cards in to some of the magazines ....

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?

my blog, http://auroradawn-ad.blogspot.com or my web page, http://www.auroracraft.co.uk

Thanks so much Dawn for being our January Featured Stamper! Here's a couple of Dawn's creations that really caught our eye though I really recommend that you pop across to Dawn's blog for a good nosy:


I love, love, LOVE this notepad design! You can totally see the inspiration Dawn gets from Lisa Johnson (whose style I adore!) with the classy colour combo and added touch of bling!


Dawn totally rocks at the 3D items with this super cute Tucked Away template! I love the idea of using acetate - giving the recipient a sneaky peek at what's inside!

Look out for more from Dawn in our challenges this month and her two dedicated blog posts here on the PTI blog!

Aimes (& Kate from L.A!)
xx

Tea for Two - Love at First Sight!

Hello Everyone!

As part of my introduction as December's Featured Stamper I had to answer a few questions about my love of PTI and stamping, and one of them asked for a favourite colour combo. I mentioned a card I had recently done which featured Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Melon Berry, Kraft and Plum Pudding, and I promised that although it sounded overwhelming that it really works! So I thought I had finally better share that card with you, and how it gave me inspiration to create a whole set of cards with the same themes and colours - something I've never done before! All of the cards featured Tea for Two, which I just completely fell for when I was using it!

So, here is the first card featuring that colour combo:See, I told you the combo works! As long as you keep the balance of the amount of colour and how it's featured I think it's quite possible to use 3, 4 or even 5 colours on one card successfully!

The background pattern was created with Giga Guidelines, with the medallions embossed with my matt clear embossing powder. I love this stuff! The Plum Pudding strip is again a scrap from a previous card, again showing that scraps are worth saving in my opinion, no matter how small!
Just one last design detail for this card before I move onto the others - I used two loops of ribbon but for interest I had one behind all the layers and one overlapping between layers. I think it adds a nice bit of interest!

I was so in love with this card when I made it that I even almost took it to work with me the next day so I could keep staring at it, lol! I didn't though!

So, seeing as I loved the colour combo so much I decided to create a whole set of cards along the same lines. On some cards I added are Dark Chocolate as well, just to add a bit of contrast/difference. Here they all are:Don't they all work so well together as a complimentary set?! I added some other sets into the mix as well, with Background Basics: Diamonds, Turning a New Leaf, Signature Greetings and Polka Dot Basics II (on the Twill Ribbon) all making an appearance! The rhinestones were all coloured with Copics to match the colour scheme, and you'll see that my favourite Martha Stewart Punch was used a few times too!

I was going to create a Keeping Tabs gift box for all of these but I just couldn't get my printer to play ball with my PTI cardstock! Next year will be a different story though - I've bought a Cricut Expression so I'll be able to cut out the templates once they've been switched over .svg (or if I can figure out how to do it myself, lol).

So what do you think of all of these? Do you have a favourite? Can you even pick a favourite?! lol, I can't, I love almost every detail of every one! I've definitely found a colour combo that I really love. I can't wait for the reformulated Melon Berry ink - then it will match all the other Melon Berry elements even better!

I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank Kate and Aimes for allowing me to be December's Featured Stamper. I've had a real blast, not only with the challenges and the posts, but also working with girls, it's been a real pleasure! And to the rest of you I'd like to wish you all the very best for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Taheerah xx

Challenge - Super Stars!

Hey!

Time to kick-start the creative mojo after indulging way too much over the festive season! Sorry this challenge is set a little later than normal - it's taken me ages to get off the sofa after scoffing so much LOL!!

So for this challenge we want you to think about stars. We'd love to see stars featured on your projects - it could be one star or many stars and can be for ANY occasion! Don't limit yourself to just star stamps though - you could think about die-cutting, a star shaped card, star patterned DP etc...In fact, don't just limit yourself to a card! You could create a tag, a box, anything so long as it features a star!

So here's my example:
Completely threw myself outta my comfort zone with this - still unsure about it! I'm not sure if you can tell that the DP is from my Bitty Stars Basics pack so I've got stars featuring twice (I'm sure you can't miss the big star ;D)

Card Recipe

Stamps: Star Prints
Ink: Lemon Tart/True Black
Cardstock: True Black/Stamper's Select White/Lemon Tart/Lemon Tart 2008 Bitty Star Basics
Other: Nestabilities/Adhesive Gems/Paper Piercer/Fine Black Pen

Kate has finally found her camera cable - hurrah! So although she can now upload her amazing creations - she's now jetting off to America for a couple of weeks! Lucky thing! This means that she's a little busy at the mo enjoying herself in much higher temperatures than here! Though fear not, she'll be back soon!

Our Guest Stamper Taheerah has provided us with this lovely example too! I'm really impressed that she didn't make a dash for the Star Prints set as I know it's one we both love soooooo much!
Thanks Taheerah for providing us with some fabulous examples for our challenges this month!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Let Freedom Ring!/Signature Greetings
Ink: Scarlet Jewel/Sweet Blush/True Black
Cardstock:Vintage Cream/Sweet Blush/Scarlet Jewel
Other: Kars Extra Fine Glitter/Martha Stewart Punch

So here are the deets:

• All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify
  
• To enter, leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.
  
• Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!
• Challenge closes on Monday 11th January 2010 at 9.00am GMT
• A winner will be chosen at random to receive a collection of PTI goodies!

We can't wait to see what you make us starstruck with (yup, cheesy pun totally intended there btw!)

Aimes and Kate x x

1. Katie
2. Lesley
3. Dawn
4. Margaret
5. Linby
6. Karen
7. Mandy
8. Hanne
9. Caryn
10. Linda
11. Vicki
12. Vannessa

A winner!

Hi everyone - I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are all set for 2010!

Thank you to those who joined our last challenge, time to draw a winner!

Here are your random numbers:

1

Timestamp: 2009-12-28 18:14:48 UTC

...Clare! Congrats Clare - please email you postal address to apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk and we'll get your bag of goodies out to you asap!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for a brand new challenge!

Kate and Aimes xx