PTI Blog Hop...Watercolor & Wood

I just loved the inspiration photo for this month's blog hop at Papertrey Ink, so many thoughts running through my head...

I started this card on Friday night because the girls were at my sister's house... it's our 14th anniversary today!  So after we went out to a restaurant, we were full and just wanted to come home, lol!  A few minutes later and Jay was asleep on the couch!  Time for my second hot date of the night, with my stamps and ink ;)  So I got out some Distress Inks and started playing around on watercolor paper.

I decided to blend some inks into a rainbow pattern, but thought they were too dark.  So I took the paper to the sink and started splashing water onto it...ouila!  Looked so pretty!  While it was still wet, I ran it through my Cuttlebug with the PTI Woodgrain Impression plate...then I was really in love!

I knew I wanted a "cheer up" card for a friend.  So I got out the "Hello Sunshine" sentiments and played around with the dies from Scene It: Skyscapes.   I masked off one of the sentiments and stamped the large  "Sending you a little sunshine" outside with Fresh Snow ink and the "to brighten your day" inside the shaker with black ink.  I left off the last portion off of the original sentiment by masking it, as well.

I settled on a shaker design.  There is gold vellum behind the gingham sun and clear sequins, and mini hearts in Lemon Tart and Melon Berry.  The center pink heart is colored with a Wink of Stella pen.

I will definitely be trying more watercolor effects like this with different Impression Plates, so much fun!

Supplies:  (All PTI unless noted)
Stamps:  Hello Sunshine
Cardstock:  White, Lemon Tart, Melon Berry, Clear, A Muse Studio yellow gingham, Gold Vellum (JoAnn's), Tim Holtz Watercolor paper, Bazzill Candy Hearts 
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks:  Festive Berries, Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade, Shabby Shutters, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Shaded Lilac, and PTI Fresh Snow, Memento Black
Other:  Woodgrain Impression Plate, Scene It:  Basic Backer, Scene It: Skyscapes, Circle Nestabilities, Clear Sequins, heart confetti die from Shakers and Sprinkles kit, Wink of Stella pen

Ella's Birthday

My daughter Claire had a birthday party for her friend Ella yesterday, and what other stamp set could she choose for the card than "Ella & Friends" from Mama Elephant!  Just like yesterday's post, I had colored this Ella and made a watercolor background tag a few months ago.  It was in my "need to finish" pile, and the birthday was excellent inspiration!

Michael's had adorable denim gift bags on sale, so Ella has a denim hat to match.  She's holding birthday balloons stamped on vellum from PTI's Birthday Style!

Pencil Shaker

Started this pencil shaker after I got it last month from Papertrey Ink, and it's been sitting there ever since!  Decided to start on some teacher cards...

The inside is filled with the mini letters cut with the dies included in the set, and some pink sequins. The tag is cut with PTI's Tiny Tags die.

My favorite woodgrain paper from Crate Paper along the edge, My Mind's Eye dotted paper on the inside, and Pink Paislee's "Hello Sunshine" for the background.  The "just for you" is from Whipper Snapper Designs "Sweet Expressions" cling set by Anna Wight.  On the inside it says..."for a special teacher." :)

Long Overdue...

I had to participate with Melissa Phillips' Make it Monday this week...she made the most adorable tag pairing Gelatos with stamped images.  I have been missing stamping so much and have a ton to catch up on, including Tracey's beautiful kit at 12 Kits of Occasions this month.  It's my busiest time of year at work, and I have been buried under a mountain of evaluation reports.  The girls have had so many school and after school activities and appointments that there seems to be no free time, even on the weekend.

Since it was Mother's Day weekend, I squeaked out 30 minutes or so to try this technique.  I used the Green Thumb and Turning a New Leaf stamp set, and the new Chicken Scratch Gingham paper in Lavender Moon.

I used the "Tropical" Gelatos and PTI White Linen cardstock.  The inks are mainly Memento dye inks.

I had fun adding some "Melissa" details such as Stickles, rhinestones, twine, and a butterfly cut from Linen cardstock and then 2 layers of vellum.

I have LOVED looking at the samples so far!  See you all soon!