Hey Baby!!

Morning all and welcome to our new challenge. To celebrate the long awaited arrival of spring and all things new and fresh we thought we'd have a baby-themed challenge. It doesn't have to be a card - we love projects of all kinds (as long as we can see our beloved PTI in there somewhere!!).

Our lovely Aimes has gone missing this week. She was last seen under a heap of brown boxes and gaffer tape en route to her new digs. So it's just Kate and I sharing our baby ideas with you this week - and unbeknowns to both of us our colour schemes are somewhat similar!!!!

I've opted to use the gorgeous Baby Button Bits set - LOVE it. I've paper pieced the cupcake with fine linen dotty paper which is stamped in Dark Chocolate ink onto Aqua Mist cardstock. The starry design which I stamped in Aqua Mist onto Fine Linen card is my new Hero Arts purchase (ssshh, don't tell anyone!!).

Caryn

Recipe:
Stamps: Baby Button Bits (PTI), Star background stamp (Hero Arts)
Card: Kraft, Fine Linen, Aqua Mist
Ink: Dark Chocolate
Paper: Dotty
Other: Mat stack 4 die, Fine linen button, SU scalloped edge punch.


Over to Kate: "I recently had to make two baby boy cards so I reached for my Bitty Baby Blessings set. I love paper piecing with this set so paper pieced two cute babygrows! Can you spot a subtle difference between the two cards? No?! Ok, the main panel of the one one the left is popped up on foam dimensionals so has more depth, in real life you can really notice the difference, and I definitely prefer it."







Recipe:
Stamps: Bitty Baby Blessings
Card: Stamper's Select White, Spring Rain, Kraft
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Bitty Dots
Other: 2 1/2 Circle Collection Dies/Argyle Impression Plate

And this is the fabulous PTI stamp set you could win!:




Here are the challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! 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 and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, April 4th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

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

Caryn, Kate and Aimes xxx

Our winners!

What a fabulous collection of entries we had to choose from this week.  We were really spoiled for choice and saw some great ideas for using our PTI sets with the paper-piecing technique.

Our randomly chosen winner this week and the lucky lady winning the PTI stamp set is...

...14

Which means Vicki is our winner! Yay!!!

Drop us an email Vicki so we can arrange for your prize to wing it's way to you.

And here are our Top 3 Passionistas - well done ladies.


Chupa - We loved the fun vibrant feel to this card and the mix of papers on those butterflies works so well.
Anne - Well what can we say about Anne's field of golden daffodils.  I feel happy just thinking about them!!!
Maureen - We all just adore this card - the rainbow of flags on the banner just make you think of summer!

Well done ladies.  Drop us an email so we can send you the blinkie for our Top 3 Passionista.

Caryn, Aimes and Kate xxx

"Piece out, man"!!

Geddit? Piece, peace??? Ok, it's tenuous but a link all the same to our lovely new challenge which is to use paper piecing in your project. I love to do paper piecing but it can be time-consuming. I have to say though the result is usually worth it and PTI have loads of fabulous sets that lend themselves beautifully to this technique.
For my sample I chose a set that hasn't seen much love in a long time (hides head in shame). I love this cute little set though - it was among the first I bought. I have stamped it onto my favourite PTI paper too - the polka dot one from the Raspberry Fizz collection - yum. The sentiment is also from the Scattered Showers set.

Caryn

Recipe
{Wishing You Sunshine}
Stamps: Scattered Showers, Background Basics: Hearts (Papertrey Ink), Legder Stamp (Hero Arts)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Versamark, Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Raspberry Fizz collection (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:Raspberry Fizz twill ribbon/, Medium scallop border die (Papertrey Ink)

Over to Aimes:
Believe it or not, I don't actually own that many PTI sets that scream out, "Paper-piece me, girly!" but it is a technique that I seriously love when I've got the patience to do it, and it's a great way to use those diddy scraps you've been hoarding too *wink*

So after rooting through some of my sets, I came across the solid outline stamp of a butterfly from Butterfly Dreams; rooted through my Bitty Dots DP Scrap bag (yes, I am an organised, verging-on-OCD kinda gal when it comes to scraps!) and got busy:

As you can hopefully tell, I wasn't happy with just a pinky, dotty butterfly: I wanted a shiny, super glittery butterfly instead. Cue a good dollop of the Glossy Accents and glitter for a blingin' butterfly so bright it'd blind ya LOL!

Gotta love me some super-shiny-shimmery goodness :)

Card Deets
{Happy Birthday}
Stamps: Butterfly Dreams, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Versamark
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Basic White 6x6 Pad (Basic Grey)/Hibiscus Burst Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Simply Chartreuse Felt, Eyelet Border Die, Simply Chartreuse Button (Papertrey Ink)/Cuttlebug/Circle Nestability (Spellbinders)/Glossy Accents (Ranger)/Prisma Glitter/Chompy (Corner Chomper - We R Memory Keepers)

Over to Kate: "The minute I thought about this challenge I reached for my On My Couch set, and paper pieced the sofa with one of the papers from Turning a New Leaf - then added some shading with a copic marker to make it add a bit of dimension. A simple, CAS card for a special friend!"



Recipe:
Stamps - On My Couch/On My Couch Additions
Ink - Memento black
Card - Vintage Cream/Dark Chocolate
Paper - Turning a New Leaf
Dies - Mat Stack 5/Ric-Rak

So what's on offer this time round for all you lovely challengees?? It's this........

Fillable Frames #5 stamp set.

Here are the challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! 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 and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, March 21st 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Caryn, Aimes and Kate
xxxx

A winner!

Happy Monday, peeps!

As you may or may not know, we've had a bit of a shuffle around on the blog and will now be announcing winners and our Top 3 PTI Passionistas on the Monday a challenge ends, and introducing our new challenge on the Tuesdays (Just in case you're poised and super eager to check out our new challenge; I don't wanna see you glued to the screen for a challenge that isn't due until tomorrow now!)

So now it's time to draw a randomly selected winner for our 'invitations' challenge. Drum roll please.....

Here are your random numbers:

7 

Timestamp: 2011-03-07 16:51:47 UTC

Lucky number seven is super lucky for...Angélique! Congrats, Angélique! Be sure to email your postal address to us at apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk so we can send that sweet stamp set out to ya!

Now maybe you were all busy, or all unsure of inviting us over but of those of you who did create fabulous invites made it a toughie to narrow it down to a top 3. After much consideration and oooohing and aaaahing we decided on the following:


Linby went one further from using the outline image from On My Couch and designed her own fabric covers using another stamp! We also love the repetition of the sentiment across the card!

Gerdine wowed us with her use of Up, Up and Away to create these super sweet invites. We hadn't even considered this as a set to use for an invite but it looks fabulous wouldn't you agree?!

Angélique literally took the idea of an invite out of one box and into another with this amazing tea-filled invite all packaged up sweetly into a box! What a super sweet way to invite a friend over for tea!

Congrats ladies! If you'd like to blink with pride on your blogs with our Top 3 blinkie then pop us an email and we'll give you the code!

Now for everyone else, stay tuned tomorrow for our new challenge; I have a feeling you'll go to 'pieces' once you see it *wink*

Aimes, Caryn & Kate
xxx

P.S If you're wondering about our featured stamper for March, we've decided to take a rain-check this month. Life is busy for all of us at the moment including the stamper we'd like to feature so it'll be back for April!

Friend

Hello, hello!

Flying by today with a li'l card I haven't shown on here yet:

This was created for a past Make it Monday challenge from PTI. I love that each challenge focuses on a new technique (and that you could be in with the chance of winning a PTI stamp set each week too of course!)

Ooh and speaking of challenges, why not enter our current challenge? Maybe even combine it with a Make it Monday challenge to double your chances of winning some PTI goodies *wink*

You'll have to forgive my lack of words and absence around Blogland today and for the next few weeks: we're moving house and my guy has the huge task of training me to be organised lol! He's a brave guy who's not afraid of a challenge.....I think he's stressing already and we're yet to open a cupboard to pack up - ha!

Wishing the rest of you a fabulous, and stress-free week!

Aimes
x

A new challenge!

Hello there! Thank you for joining us for another challenge! Before we go any further today we have just a bit of house-keeping for you - we've decided to change the day we start our challenges to a Tuesday. Our deadline will still be 9am on Monday morning (two weeks after the challenge has been set) with the winners being announced later that day. The new challenge will then be set on the following day.

OK, onto far more interesting business! For this challenge we're planning parties!! Ok, you don't actually have to plan a party (but if you do will you invite us!) - but we'd like to see what you can come up with when making an invite for a party. In fact in can be an invite to any event - wedding, christening etc - so long as it's an invitation and it features at least one PTI product you can enter the challenge!

For my sample I made a pocket card, using some scrummy Hawai'in Shores card and ribbon, and the Green boutique papers. Here's how it will be received:


And the recipient will pull out the card to reveal the invitation (which I will hand write on the white card).



Card recipe: (All PTI unless otherwise stated)

Stamps - Tags for Spring, Birthday Bash Sentimens
Ink - New Leaf
Card - Stamper's Select White, Hawai'in Shore
Paper - Green Boutique
Ribbon - Hawai'in Shores Saddle Stitch
Dies - Ric-Rac, 1 3/4in circles
Other - Corner Chomper

Over to Aimes
"Hmmmm....invites.....well I'll be the first to admit that I don't really make invites. Contrary to what you may believe, I'm not the 'Hostess with the Mostess' (I leave that trait to both Caryn and Kate LOL!) but I do love being invited to a good shindig *wink*

So I tried something a little different. Still on my tag kick from our last challenge and a vellum kick from the previous PTI Make It Monday challenge, I combined both to come up with this invite:

Yup, it's my party and everyone is invited! (But you'll have to share this one invite, OK?! Ha!)

The addition of a layer of a vellum on the tag tones down the bold background stamping underneath slightly. You could also use your printer to print the party details directly on to your sheet of vellum and then die cut out after. The transparency of the vellum means you can die cut after printing to absolute perfection :)

Invite Deets
{it's my party!}
Stamps: Damask Designs, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)/Sentiment from Frame-It (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink)/Versamark/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, Vellum (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provocraft)/Raspberry Fizz Grosgrain Ribbon, Tag Sale #1 Die, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Collection Dies, Medium Scallop Border Die(Papertrey Ink)

With hindsight I've realised that I could have also put a vellum overlay on the back of the tag as an RSVP too. Well if I ever do host anything I'll remember that tip for next time..."

And now to Caryn..

"Hey there folks and happy Tuesday. It's happy for me as it's half term here and that means no morning routine of getting the children to school -yay! I'm sure Aimes is with me there ;0).
Now, invitations. As much as I LOVE to entertain I too am a bit like Aimes and don't really get round to the invitation sending part. I tend to go for group texts!!! However, I have decided that for my hubby's 40th birthday in July (yes, I'm getting ahead of myself for once) I am going to do ACTUAL invites!! The card I've made here won't be the finished design - it'll be a bit more grown up (!) but this was the mood I was in when I made it so it's a bit more childish! Actually, when I think about it this would suit my other half perfectly!


{Recipe}
Stamps: Everyday Classics (2008 anniversary set), Round and Round (2009 anniversary set), Banner Builder
Card: Simply Chartreuse, Stampers select white.
Paper: Beautiful Blooms
Ink: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse
Accessories: Mat stack 4 die. Papermania gems.

As our featured stamper for February, here's Imke's fabulous invitation showing that you don't have to think of just parties for an invite. This sweet card is a lovely way to invite a friend for a get-together!

And here is the fabulous prize up for grabs! This super cute mini PTI stamp set will go to a randomly drawn winner -



Here are the challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! 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 and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, March 7th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.



Kate, Aimes, Caryn & Imke
xxxx

Our Winners!

Here are your random numbers:

7 

Timestamp: 2011-02-21 13:00:44 UTC

Which is lucky 7 for Voegelchen! Congrats Voegelchen! Send us your postal addy to apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk and we'll get that sweet fillable frames stamp set out to ya!


And now to our top 3 Papertrey Passionistas. There was so much creativity to choose from this week but here's 3 that really caught our eye.

Mandy: We loved the pretty vintage feel and how she really put those Love Lives Here dies to great use.
Michelle: Michelles tag is perfect for the valentines theme and we loved her use of the Say it With Style sentiment on the tag.
Vanessa: Another very pretty tag and we thought her buttons really lifted this design.

Well done ladies! Please pop us an email (apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk) and we'll send you the code for our blinkie!

Pop back tommorrow for our new challenge.

Caryn, Kate and Aimes xxx

Belated Valentine's....

Just popping in with a li'l card of love:


After all, I think the most romantic of gestures are those that are done when they're least expected (e.g not on Valentine's day!) it gives you the perfect excuse too if you just happen to have forgotten about that special, lovey-dovey day *wink*

Look closely at this card and you'll hopefully see that a lot more work, sweat and tears heart and soul went into this card than you'd originally think. Each love themed sentiment was hand picked from all my sets and clear embossed onto shimmer cardstock. Gotta love me some shimmer :)

And that's enough love from me today...!

Aimes
x

Card Deets
{You are the beat of my heart}
Stamps: Sentiments from various Papertrey Ink Sets, Love Birds (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: London Fog, Tuxedo Black (Memento)/Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)/Versamark
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, White Shimmer (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Fresh Snow Satin Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)/Detail Clear EP (Stampendous)

Smile :)

This card is dedicated to Fridays....

Friday, you always make me 'smile' :D

Happy start of the weekend, peeps! Up to anything interesting? I'm so happy that I have two full days free and full of inky time - yay! Oooh and if you're not to busy yourself, why not tag along with our current challenge (see what I did there? Tag along...oh I know it's a poor pun but at least humour me a little *wink*)

Aimes
x

Our winners!

Hey there blog friends! It's time to draw the winners for our last challenge - thank you to everyone who took inspiration from the photograph to make a card, looks like it certainly got your creative juices flowing! So let's see who won that l'il stamp set shall we?!

And the winner is...

Here are your random numbers:

5

Timestamp: 2011-02-09 16:33:50 UTC

....Beverley!! Congrats Bev! Please send email your postal address to apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk and we'll send your prize asap!

And now for our Top 3 PTI Passionistas - as usual it was tough to whittle them down to just three but here they are!

1) Vannessa - We loved Vannessa's combination of stamped hearts and patterned papers but it was the ruched ribbon that really sold us, just gorgeous!

2) Margaret C - Margaret's striking design really jumped out at us. We loved the repetition of the stamped hearts that made such a fabulous background panel, and they're all embossed too!

3) Claire - Who couldn't fall in love with a tree of button hearts! Claire wowed us with this CAS card - lots of white-space, a great design and those super-cute buttons - what's not to love!

Congrats ladies! If you'd like our Top 3 blinkie to blink with pride on your blog, then feel free to pop us an email (apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk) and we'll send you the code!

Kate, Aimes, Caryn & Imke xxx

I DO like Mondays!

I know, not everybody's favourite day of the week BUT for all us Papertrey Ink fans we now have a new reason to look forward to Monday.  There is a new challenge called Make It Mondays and each week one of the PTI DT will post a video showing that week's technique.  This week there is a fab challenge from Erin Lincoln using different sentiments from different sets in a particular theme.

Now, I don't know if this was REALLY the point but I took it upon myself to get ALL my Christmas sets out and use at least one sentiment from each one.  Here's what happened...


I know what you're thinking... it's a Christmas card and there's no Pure Poppy to be seen!!  See, I can make a card without it!!
I stamped most of the sentiments in Tea Dye distress ink and the darker "Merry Christmas" in Vintage sepia.  I don't know if you can make it out but I also stamped the large poinsettia from Year of Flowers: Poinsettia to give a subtle background detail.  Nothing like my usual style but I had fun - which IS the point isn't it.

Hugs,
Caryn xxx

Tag - you're it!

Firstly apologies that our linky thingy was no longer available for you peeps cutting it close to our deadline for the last challenge. Thanks for leaving your links in the comments section for us! We do know of the extra entries that were entered after it decided to be naughty don't worry, you'll be included when we draw a winner and decide on our Top 3 :)

How about we start over again with a new challenge and hopefully with a linky tool that works (fingers crossed!)?! Sounds like a fun idea to me! So for this fortnight's challenge we wanna see your fabulous takes on gift tags!

I fancied making a tag suitable for any one of the guys in my family (both young and old!) and also wanted to show you that you can play Tag too even if you don't have a tag-shaped die:

I simply used the Mat Stack 1 Die, punched a hole and set an eyelet in the top - voila! A tag! It actually felt good to use one of the many thousands of eyelets I've hoarded from an era when they were popular LOL! Oooh and a bit of masking on my "Dude You Rock!" sentiment stamp provides the shortened sentiment and gives even more value for money on a sweet stamp :D

Tag Deets
{You Rock}
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Star Prints, Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Ocean Tides
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)/Versamark
Patterned Paper: Pure Poppy Bitty Box Basics
Accessories: True Black Vintage Button, Jute Ribbon Twine

And now over to Caryn....

Hey everyone, are you all enjoying the anniversary celebrations so far on Nichole's blog? Yesterday there was a free download of some cute tags created by each of PTI's stamp designers - did you get it?? Well, I urge you to go grab it, there's some gorgeous images on there, one of which I have used here on my tag. This one is from Heather Nichols. Kate and Aimes will probably be rolling their eyes at me (wink) for using Pure Poppy again but it literally goes with just about everything (not sure about Melon Berry - haven't tried that combo....). I have used Polka Dot Basics II and embossed it with clear powder on the background and coloured the flower on the image in with a red ProMarker as the original is Melon Berry and I wanted it red!!

And here's a close up!

{Card recipe}
Free anniversary download
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II, Banner Builder
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Pure Poppy.
Ink: Pure Poppy
Other: Pure Poppy dating dots ribbon, Pure Poppy bakers twine, Promarker

Here's Kate:

For my tags I played around with one of my favourite colour combos - kraft and aqua mist - some new dies and some felt.

All the PTI dies make tag-making so fun!!

These parcels are going to two very special ladies who deserve a special tag, and I'm definitely going to be making more tags in the future!

Finally, as our featured stamper for February, here's Imke's fabulous tag:

I think you'll agree that this one amazing tag!

So ready to play 'Tag'?! I hope so! Up for grabs for one randomly selected peep will be this Fillable Frames #11 stamp set:


But before you dash - here are those all important deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! 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 and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, February 21st 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Tag! You're it!

Aimes, Caryn, Kate & Imke
xxxx

PTI remembered!

Hey everyone, just thought I'd pop a quick post here to make sure you all know about the big anniversary celebrations going on over on Nichole Heady's blog, Capture the Moment.  Today the design team are all remebering and re-sharing their favourite projects from the last 12 months.  If you fancy joining in the fun there is the most awesome-est prize on offer so I urge you to go and check it all out.

I thought I'd share one of my designs from last year with you too.  (If you want to see the original post from my blog then you can see it HERE).


Believe it or not the inspiration for this came from a label on some clothes I bought from John Lewis!!!

Enjoy the celebrations,
Caryn xxx

February's Featured Stamper!

Phew! February already! I can't believe that January has come and gone already - but I have to admit I'm kinda glad as I'm looking forward to spring arriving with some milder temperatures and more daylight...

But before spring arrives, let us introduce you to our featured stamper for February. So without further ado, we'd like to introduce you to Imke! I'm sure you'll give her a warm welcome :)



Before we share one of Imke's gorgeous creations let's get to know her a bit better shall we?

1)How did you get into papercrafting?

Ever since i can remember i have liked crafting with paper. I've tried many different craft techniques, but remained in paper.

2)How long have you been stamping for?

For 4 years.

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

I became aware of PTI through my sister-in-law. I just love the style of their stamps and the versatility of stamps and other products.

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

Clean and Simple, cute, non-cute, but NOT Vintage. I like the vintage style but i can't do it lol!

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

Aqua Mist , Pure Poppy, New Leaf

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

My Fillable Frames Collection.

7)Who is your PTI Idol?

Nicole Heady of course, but i also really like the creations by Niki Estes and Dawn McVey.

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

I like to try things on my own but i get inspiration from several blogs, like PTI and from my blogger friends.

9)What’s your stamping dream?

I would like to be a guest designer at PTI- Who wouldn't ? I would also like to go on a once in a lifetime trip to CHA

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

You can visit me on my blog http://craftingcreationsbyimke.blogspot.com/ or on Splitcoaststampers as "germanstamper"

You may recognise some of Imke's creations through her fabulous entries to our challenges. We're so happy to have her on board with us this month and she's kicking of February with this fab project:

Isn't this a fabulous way to use those clear boxes those scrummy PTI stamps come in?

If you'd like to try and create something similar, then check out the tutorial on the Papertrey Channel on YouTube.

Be sure to check out more of Imke's creations on her blog: Crafting Creations by Imke and look out for more of her creations here on the PTI blog! I'm sure like us, you can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Kate, Aimes & Caryn
xxx

P.S Are you on Facebook? Then why not check out our new Facebook Page and keep up to date with us?! Looking forward to seeing you over there!

A Winner!

Time to draw a winner from our last challenge which saw all of your easily create something fabulous even out of your comfort zone! Some of you were so brave: delving into styles that I'm still kinda afraid of...eek!

So who did random.org pick as our winner?

Drumroll please....

Here are your random numbers:

14

Timestamp: 2011-01-25 18:29:57 UTC

Which means that Rachel is our winner! Congrats, Rachel you've just won a sweet stamp set! Email us your postal addy and we'll get that set out to ya!

And now for our Top 3 PTI Passionistas. Well you all proved that it pays to go out of your comfort zone sometimes, and these particular creations really highlighted just that:


Vicki was brave and dared to stamp on to acetate. What a fabulous effect, wouldn't you agree? It's definitely got us thinking about playing with acetate more...maybe even daring to apply ink to it now!

Alicia was willing to try her patience and have a go at lining up her stamp to create this super background. It totally emphasises the circular focal point! Definitely worth all the patience we think!

Tina thew herself into the shabby-chic style with her own CAS twist thrown in for good measure to produce this gorgeous card. We especially love the distressed edges and trim that add that shabby-chic element.

Congrats ladies! If you'd like our Top 3 blinkie to blink with pride on your blog, then feel free to pop us an email (apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk) and we'll send you the code!

Now maybe you'll want to go back to your comfort zones for a bit after pushing yourself out of them and I can't think of a better way to do this than play along with our new challenge! *wink*

Aimes, Kate & Caryn
xxx

Sweet inspiration!

Hey folks, happy Monday and welcome to a brand new challenge. This week we have a yummy scrummy photo-inspiration challenge for you. The photo has come from an amazing blog, Glorious Treats - I recommend a visit - WOW! Here's what Kate has picked to get our creative juices flowing:


I knew as soon as I saw it that my card would have to feature my beloved Heart Prints set. I also used the Banner Builder set for the first time too - love it! The patterned paper is from the Simple Valentine collection which is just a perfect match to the designs on some of the cookies in the photo. Mmmmmm, cookies!

Caryn xxx


Card Details
I {heart} U
Stamps: Heart Prints, Banner Builder
Ink: Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst
Cardstock: True Black
Patterned Paper: Simple Valentine
Ribbon: Hibiscus Burst
Accesories: 1 3/4 " circle punch,

Over to Aimes
"Well I had a trusty old set sat on my table from a previous inky session: Around and About Sentiments. I forget just how sweet that set is and I found it totally fitted in with this fortnight's challenge!

Card Deets
{Thinking of you}
Stamps: Around & About Sentiments
Ink: Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White
Accessories: Dark Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon/Glossy Accents/Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/Chompy! (Corner Chomper)

Wouldn't you agree? If you've got this set, you'll realise that this is a tiny card: I have to confess that in my book when it comes to cards the smaller the sweeter :D Ooh and a good dollop of Glossy Accents also helps sweeten up that larger heart with some super shiny goodness - though my photography struggles to capture it!"

Over to Kate: "Like Caryn the gorgeous photo made my head straight for my Simple Valentine papers and Heart Print stamp set. I kept it CAS - just the way I like it ;)"


Recipe:

Stamps - Heart Prints
Ink - Pure Poppy/Versafine Black
Card - Stamper's Select White/Dark Chocolate/Raspberry Fizz
Paper - Simple Valentine
Other - Corner Chomper/Heart Punch/Ric-Rac Die/Raspberry Fizz button

And what could I win we hear you say?! Well our prize this week is this fabulous PTI stamp set:





Here are the challenge deets:
* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've got a new linky thingy!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! 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 and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, February 7th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

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

Caryn, Aimes & Kate xxx

Just for YOU!

Happy weekend, Peeps!

Anyone up to anything interesting this weekend? I'm grateful for the nice little lie-in, the relaxed breakfast of Fluff! on toast in my PJs and checkin out blogland so far before I get inky in my corner later today (that's after I've tidied it up a bit *wink*)

But lemme share a mini card with you first:


This is a real mini card measuring only 2.5" square - it's so little that I think I may lose it! I've decided to dedicate this card to YOU. I can't quite believe it, but we've hit 400 followers here on A Passion for Papertrey this week (no doubt the number will fluctuate, but at the time of typing this, it's 400!) so thank you for all your support, encouraging comments, and participation in our challenges!

Speaking of which, if you haven't already played along with our current challenge there's still time! I'm loving the entries we've had so far...

Right, I'm now off to tidy up my creative mess :)

Aimes
x

Card Deets
{Just for You}
Stamps: Around and About Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)/Ledger (Hero Arts)
Ink: Antique Linen (Distress Inks)/Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Cardstock: Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: 2009 Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Notebook Border Punch (EK Success)/Bling (Hero Arts)/Glossy Accents/White Ribbon Twine (Papertrey Ink)/Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart)

Out of Your Comfort Zone!

Welcome to another challenge here on A Passion for Papertrey! We all have styles that we're comfortable with and that we turn to almost every time we sit down to craft. But today we're going to be little bit tough on you and ask you to break out of that comfort zone and come up with a card or other papercrafting project that pushes back those boundaries!

Like all crafters I have colours that I love working with and colours I strongly dislike working with so for my sample I chose to work with the colour that challenges me the most.... purple! My style definitely leans more towards CAS than anything else so I tried to go a little bit vintage-y too - with some distressing, lace and distress inks. It certainly took me way out of my comfort zone but I have to say I don't dislike it as much as I thought I would!




Recipe:

Stamps: Studio Style
Card: Plum Pudding/Vintage Cream
Paper: Guide Lines
Ink: Memento Black/Antique Linen Distress Ink
Other: Copic Sketch Markers/lace/Plum Pudding Button/Nestabilities/Distressing Tool

Over to Aimes:
"Hmmmm...well I had a tough time thinking what exactly was out of my comfort zone. For those of you thinking I immersed myself in my feared colour, Melon Berry, I'm sorry to disappoint but I wasn't feeling quite that brave! LOL! Instead I went girly, girl without a bit of green in sight *wink*

Card Deets
{I Love You}
All Papertrey Ink unless stated
Stamps: Damask Designs
Ink: Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst, Sweet Blush
Accessories: Pure Poppy Grosgrain Ribbon, Pure Poppy Buttons, Mat Stack 2 Die, Cuttlebug

Kinda slushy and lovey dovey is not my style but I have to say I kinda like how those bold colours work together! Who knows...perhaps I'll experiment a little more with bold colours now I'm not so scared of 'em!"

Poor Caryn is ill and so will be back with her creation soon. Get well soon, hun!
EDITED TO ADD:

At last here I am with my card for our current challenge.  I'm sorry for the delay but it seems that having 24 hours go missing out of your life makes the next 3 days a million times busier!!

When I thought of this challenge I immediately thought of the large rose stamp from the YOF: Roses set.  I have had it for ages and SOO wanted to use it but I have been intimidated by it's size!!  I decided to break it out of it's confinement and used it with the spotty Berry Sorbet paper from the Pink Patterns paper collection.  I added a wee bit of dimension by colouring the inner parts of the petals with a peach ProMarker.  This is for my lovely sister in law Pippa - hope she likes it!!



Happy Birthday To You

All Papertrey Ink unless stated

Stamps: YOF: Roses

Ink: Versamark and Memento Black

Cardstock: Spring Moss

Patterned Paper: Pink Patterns and Pretty Pastels

Accessories: Berry Sorbet satin ribbon, White filligree embossing powder, ProMarkers.

So are you ready to craft out of your comfort zone and have the chance of winning this fabulous stamp set?! -




Here are
the deets:
* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've got a new linky thingy!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! 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 and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, January 24th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

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

Kates, Aimes and Caryn
xxx

Our winners!

A big welcome to our first winners' announcement of 2011 - I hope you're all geared up for a fabulous year of crafting ahead!?! A huge thank you to everyone who entered our background stamping challenge - if you ever need inspiration for using your background stamps just have a browse through our fabulous entries!

So let's find out who our winner is shall we?!.....

Here are your random numbers:

6

Timestamp: 2011-01-10 17:30:53 UTC

(Random.org)

....Karin! Congratulations Karin, please email your postal address to us at apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.co.uk and we'll send you your prize!

Yet again it was a tough job narrowing down the rest of the entries to choose our Top 3 PTI Passionistas but we got there in the end!:



1) Beverley - Beverley's colour scheme just wowed us! How about those zingy polka dots for brightening up a dull winter's day?!

2) Tessan - We just adored Tessan's use of the stars and moon from Night Night Moon - I'm definitely going to be case-ing this card!

3) Dawn - Who can resist some super-sweet argyle for a baby card?! Dawn stamped hers beautifully didn't she?!

Congrats ladies! If you would like a blinkie to blink with pride on your blog then drop us an email for the code.

Thank you again for playing along - check back later for our next challenge!

Kate, Aimes and Caryn xxx

Happy New Year from me too!

Thought I'd pop on to share my warmest wishes with you all for a very happy and healthy 2011 to come.  I am always so sad at the prospect the "de-christmasification" and try to put it off for as long as possible.  So, to keep it going here's one last Christmas card from me.  I used Wreath for All Seasons, Signature Christmas and Framed.

 
Hugs,
Caryn xxx