Friday 26 February 2010

Welcome, Little One!

Hi everybody!

This is Vanessa with my last post as Aimes' and Kate's featured stamper. *Sob*. I so enjoyed sharing my work with you and appreciated all your sweet comments! A friend had her second baby recently and I made her this little set for her son:

Supplies:

Cardstock: (Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening) PTI, Patterned Paper: (Pretty Pastels) PTI, Stamps: (Background Basics: Dots II, Baby Button Bits) PTI, Ink: (Versamark Watermark Ink, Memento Black Tuxedo, Blue Dye Ink) Tsukineko, Accents: (Enchanted Evening Vintage Buttons) PTI, Fibers: (Babyblue Polkadot Ribbon) Craftshop, Dies: (Small Rectangles, Small Scalloped Rectangles) Spellbinders, Markers: Copic, Tools: (Die-Cutting Machine) Provo-Craft, (Border Punch) EK-Success

Love to use the PTI gable boxes for this purpose! They have the perfect size for baby gifts. I tried to make it look clean, because it is for a boy - for a girl I would have used more embellishments and nick-nacks :)

I hope you like it! Thank you for visiting and thanks again to Kate and Aimes! You are so sweet and I adore your work!

Hugs,

Vanessa xx

Monday 22 February 2010

Challenge - Black and White

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to a brand new challenge!

This week we're concentrating on black and white. There's something so stylish and eye-catching about black and white cards and it's a combination I really should use more!

I used the amazing Say it With Style set which is fast becoming one of my favourite PTI sets. The size of the font is fabulous for creating a card that really features a sentiment.



Recipe:
Stamps - Say it With Style
Paper - In Bloom
Card - Stamper's Select White/True Black
Other - True Black Saddle Stitch ribbon/Prima flower/silver brad

Over to Aimes:

"I was still on my masking kick for this challenge so decided to make a card very similar to the one I sent Kate for her birthday. I hope you're not too bored of the design, I love how those flowers and leaves 'pop' against the black!"

Card Recipe
Stamps: Friend 'til the End
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: True Black
Accessories: White Detail Embossing Powder/3D Foam Pads/White Gel Pen


And as our fabulous featured stamper, here's Vanessa's example!

Supplies:

Cardstock (black, white) Papertrey Ink, Stamps: (Damask Designs) Papertrey Ink, Ink: Versamark, Embossing Powder: white, Ribbon: (red satin ribbon, comparable to pure poppy) Craftshop, Accents: (Pearls, E-Line) Prima Marketing

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 8th March 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!

Kate, Aimes and Vanessa xxx

Our winner!

Thank you so much for all the fabulous entries to our Valentine's challenge - so much stamping love there!!!

So onto our winner...


Here are your random numbers:

5

Timestamp: 2010-02-22 09:05:09 UTC



...Debbie!!! Congratulations Debbie! Please email your postal address to apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk and we'll send your PTI goody bag to you asap!

Don't forget to check back later today for a new challenge!

Hugs,
Kate, Aimes and Vanessa xxx

Saturday 20 February 2010

Saturday Super Stars!

Hey!

Hope you're having a super Saturday! The sun is out here in Sheffield - hooray! Before I pop out for a spot of shopping just thought I'd share this card with you:

Card Recipe
Stamps: Star Prints/Daily Designs Sentiments
Inks: Pure Poppy/Summer Sunrise/Lemon Tart/Spring Moss/Aqua Mist/Raspberry Fizz/Memento Black
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White
Accessories: PTI Vintage Buttons/White Button Twine/Fine Black Pen/Corner Rounder
/3D Foam Pads

I really need my Plum Pudding ink to reach my place as I don't think Raspberry Fizz quite fits in with my rainbow of stars LOL! Ah well, it was a super easy peasy card to make so I may make a few more for my 'stash'!

If you find you've got a few spare moments this weekend, there's still time to enter our Valentine's Challenge. I know Valentine was SO last weekend but anything with a love kinda theme counts ;D!

Aimes
x

Thursday 18 February 2010

Found!

Just before New Year, in a mad rush before I flew to the US the following morning, I made a card for one of our upcoming challenges .... I then somehow managed to lose it!

Well I recently found it under a pile of junk in my craft room, so here is my sample for our Super Stars challenge.. only a few weeks late!

It's a very simple card, using the fabulous Big and Bold Wishes sentiment set:



Recipe:

Stamps - Star Prints/Big & Bold Wishes
Card - Kraft/Stamper's Select White
Ink - Fresh Snow/Versafine
Other - Fiskars border punch


Thanks for visiting today... it's a freezing night here so I hope you keep warm!

Kate x

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Felted flowers

Did you all enjoy Papertrey's February releases? Did you treat yourself to any goodies?!

It was such a fun countdown with plenty of fabulous challenges to bide our time until the big release - here's the only challenge I was able to take part in - Nichole set a challenge to make some floral embellishments and use them on a card.

Inspired by the introduction of PTI felt I reached for my own felt collection and made some felt embellies in colours that roughly matched Raspberry Fizz and Aqua Mist:



And here are some used on a card... LOVE this colour combo!!



Stamps - Vintage Picnic (sentiment)(PTI)
Card - Stamper's Select White/Aqua Mist/Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Paper - Bitty Dots (Aqua Mist)
Buttons - Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Other - felt/Cuttlebug flower dies/Cuttlebug/Spellbinders tag dies


I cut the dies with my Cuttlebug, using Cuttlebug flower dies and stitched them together with a Raspberry Fizz button in their centre.

Thanks for visiting us today, and if you did order from the February release I hope your parcel arrives soon!!

Kate xx

Holiday Tree Versatility!

Hey!

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going OK? Mine is zooming by because I've got the week off work - typical eh?!

I don't know about you but I'm ready for Spring now! Though we've had no snow this week (I know some parts of the UK have) I'm getting bored of being cold and not seeing so much of the sun. Let's see if this card can help spring come along sooner:

Card Recipe
Stamps: Holiday Tree/Polka Dot Basics II/Daily Designs Sentiments
Ink: Dark Chocolate/Hibiscus Burst/Sweet Blush/Raspberry Fizz
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White/Aqua Mist/Bitty Box Basics Spring Rain and Ripe Avocado
Accessories: Cream Ribbon Twine/Hibiscus Burst Button


The idea for this card originated from this card by Maile Belles. Do you recognise the tree? Yup, it's no other than the tree from my Holiday Tree set! My main reason for my passion for PTI is how their sets are so versatile - who'd have thought a holiday tree would be suitable for a spring card? Well once it's decorated with some polka dots (yup, still lovin' 'em!) this tree could be a tree for all seasons depending on what colours you'd use! I've gone for pink blossom today, but tomorrow I could go for a mix of greens for summer or even some reds and oranges for autumn!

Not into decorating trees? Well how about making your own DP with it? This card was totally inspired by the packaging you get from Dorset Cereals products (not affiliated with the company btw, just lovin' their muesli and porridge ;D) The DP is made from the other tree from my Holiday Tree set.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Holiday Tree/Daily Designs/Daily Designs Sentiments
Ink: Dark Chocolate/Spring Moss/New Leaf
Card: Dark Chocolate/Pure Poppy/Spring Moss/Stamper's Select White/New Leaf
Accessories: New Leaf Twill Ribbon/Martha Stewart Border Punch/Circle Nestabilities/Cuttlebug

Not into trees at all? Well here's just one more card before I leave that doesn't have a holiday tree in sight!

Card Recipe
(PTI Supplies)
Stamps: Damask Designs/Daily Designs Sentiments
Ink: Versamark/Memento Black
Cardstock: Vintage Cream/Kraft/Spring Moss
Accessories: Vintage Cream Luxe Satin Ribbon/Decorative Edged Scissors


This 3x3 card was created for one of the many challenges to celebrate PTI's 3rd anniversary. I had such fun playing along when I could. My jaw continued to hit the floor with each new product they revealed. Shame we've gotta wait a while for some of them though as they sold like hotcakes! Good job I totally know they'll be worth the wait ;D

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Aimes
x

Monday 15 February 2010

It's Tea Time!

Hi and Happy Monday everybody, this is Vanessa having the honour to post a project today!

I love tea. I always did - never drank any coffee before I was like 23 or so. Now I finally bought the adorable "Tea for Two" set and don't know what took me so long! Couldn't wait to ink it up and wanted to create something special. So I made this:

I sewed this tea cosy and made two tea pot appliqués, stamping the image onto the floral fabric, cutting it out and ironing one on each side of the cosy.

Then I tried to create matching teapots on paper for the bag and the card. To achieve this I used images from the "Turning a New Leaf" set and "Beautiful Blooms" set. The glassine bag contains my new favourite herbal tea, called "Happiness" (and it works!!).

That's it. I hope you like my little set!

Have a great week everybody! And thanks again to Aimes and Kate, it's so exciting to post here!

Vanessa xx

Supplies

Cardstock: (white) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper: (2008 Bitty Dot Basics) Papertrey Ink, Glassine Bag: Emma's Paperie, Stamps: (Tea for Two, Turning a New Leaf, Beautiful Blooms) Papertrey Ink, Fibers: ( Lemon Tart Luxe Satin Ribbon) Papertrey Ink, (twine) Craftshop, Accents: (Spring Moss Vintage Button) Papertrey Ink, Dies: (Scalloped Squares) Spellbinders, Tools: (Upper Crest Borderpunch) Fiskars

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Polka Dots...

...I can't get enough of 'em ♥!

I just love how they can totally dress up a creation in both a demanding-diva-stealing-the-spotlinght kinda way or as a more subtle addition.

This card does the latter:

Card Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II/Daily Designs Sentiments

Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Vintage Cream/Ocean Tides/Kraft/Spring Moss Bitty Dot Basics

Accessories: Lemon Tart Grosgrain Ribbon/White Gel Pen

I made this after being tempted to play along with the Painting by Numbers challenge set by Nichole Heady (I admit the chance of winning a $100 PTI gift certificate helped ;D) and what was also super fun was that the colour combo depended on what the first letter of your online name was! Known as Aimes, I was given this colour combo:I've gotta say that it's not my fave colour combo out of the bunch and I did seriously consider changing my online user name LOL!

On top of the colours, you get a very detailed sketch to follow along with accurate measurements!
I think you can probably tell I struggled; totally flipped the sketch around to make it work and also had a lil' accident with the sentiment! I made a beeline for those polka dots and then tried to emboss the sentiment after - big mistake! Embossing powder stuck to lots of dots as well as my sentiment (even though I went off to watch Glee for an hour before stamping the sentiment!) so after brushing away the powder I attempted to rescue it with a white gel pen! I think it's OK but it bugs me that it's not perfect...

...and for this weekend I think I may have to pop back to this challenge to check out those other gorgeous colour combos I can play with regardless of the first letter of my online name!

I hope y'all still enjoying the celebrations on Nichole's blog. I can't believe each new product they've released, it just gets better and better and more and more unbelievable! I'm in PTI heaven! The dies have got me really excited, I'd love to hear what you're excited about too!

Aimes
x

Monday 8 February 2010

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.co.uk

Back VERY soon with a new challenge...

Aimes and Kate
x

Sunday 7 February 2010

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 5 February 2010

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

Wednesday 3 February 2010

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:


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!

Monday 1 February 2010

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