August PS DT Blog Hop

It's Pep Rally week and we are here today to share a sampling of the NEW Paper Smooches September release with you!  FOUR new stamps and EIGHT new dies will be available to purchase on September 1st.. You will find our new releases HERE.  

To add extra fun to our blog hop...we are offering up a prize! 

The prize - a $25. gift code to choose what you like at the PS online store.

Here are the details:

• FOUR winners will be chosen at RANDOM from any of the design team blogs and the PS Blog to win the $25. prize.
• Just leave a comment on any of the design team blogs listed below or the PS blog for your chance to win!  (you do not need to comment on all blogs to qualify but it increases your changes) 
• Deadline: You have until midnight MT on Sunday, August 31st to leave a comment. 
• Please check the Paper Smooches blog on Monday, September 1st to see if you are one of the FOUR lucky winners.  

Ashley Marcu

Betsy Veldman

Emily Leiphart

JJ Bolton

Jocelyn Olson

Kalyn Kepner

Laura Bassen

Laurie Schmidlin

Michele Boyer

Pamela Ho 

Teri Anderson

To increase your chances of winning:

• Tell us that you Facebooked about our blog hop
• Tell us that you Tweeted about our hop
• Tell us that you posted on your blog about our blog hop

(which means that you have up to three extra chances to win on each blog)

I used two new products from the upcoming release: Ornament Dies and the Holly Jolly stamp set. Are those swags just not divine? I added Glossy Accents to a few for lots of dimension. The adorable sentiment (nice to have a new phrase to use) is from the stamp set too. And another thing that I adore? The tops of the ornaments. There is a solid and an outline die (in Kim's signature loops). The solid was cut out of foil paper and the loopy outline out of glitter paper. Very neat in real life. 

Some Paper Smooches Projects

The new Paper Smooches Stamps release is just around the corner. I thought I'd share some of my recent projects using Kim's fabulous stamps and images.

Dies make creating this curved rainbow so very easy. Imagine having to do that by hand? No, thank you.

I think the Backdrop Builder Dies are going to get a lot of use from me. The road dies were used non traditionally for this tag. Just to give you another option.

Blossoming Buds gets a calico look on orchid colored card stock. Kudo Words Dies and Stitched Dies add fabulous additional detail.

Bosom Buddies is this month's Thanks a Million Set. For just a few more days (until Sept. 1), if you purchase $60 worth of PS products, you get it for free. The sentiment "I love laughing with you" is from the set. For my background and speech bubbles, I inked up the entire sheet of Slang Gang and stamped a panel of white card stock. Easy.

I used Dots & Dashes Dies here to give the left hand side of my card a stitched look with dies. Also used the Halloween Icon Dies and replaced a few letters in "beautiful" with the "BOO" from that set to give it more of a Halloween spin.

All those monsters just make me laugh. They look so maniacal. They are from Ghoulfriends. The sentiment is quite possibly my most favorite Halloween sentiment ever.

I used both the Kudos Stamps and Kudos Word Dies (they do NOT coordinate, FYI) to give my words a shadowed look on this card. Dots and Dashes gets pulled out to play as well.

This giraffe from Zoo Crew is making sure she gets her roughage from Seasonal Tree for good digestion. Appropriate for a "get well" card.

Thanks for stopping by. All these products are available now at www.papersmoochesstamps.com. YAY!

Back To School Card

I've been really trying to make an effort to send cards out to the people I love and care about. Focusing on this being a hobby, not just a job. And so, between releases, it is still a flurry of activity in my office as I try to get that stuff done as well. Little creative breaks in the day are always welcome and rejuvenating.

I have a sweet little niece who is starting kindergarten this week. This one is just for her. I used this file from the Silhouette Store. But honestly...just looking at it, you don't need a cut file. Fold an A2 card in half and use a bracket label die to create the legs by running the folded card through a die cut machine, cutting both layers at the same time.

I think it would be very useful knowledge if you knew what stamp sets the DT uses the most when we aren't working:). Back to School stamps and dies get a work out from me.  Top ten for this mom. Alphabet border from Teach & Inspire and the banner was made from the Stenciled Alphabet Blocks dies collection.

I make card sets for my kids' teachers at Christmas time. I'll be going to with a variation on this one this year.

Time After Time Challenge

How is this for a fun challenge for Stamp-A-Faire? The Design Team Members are each taking an old card from our pasts and making it over. I'm relishing the opportunity to redeem myself!

Now, I find that often, I initially don't care for the majority of my projects every month . I'm just too close to them. And, I'll admit this...I find myself comparing my projects to those of the other team members. The girls are so SPECTACULAR that, even though I am counted in their ranks, some times it can still be a bit intimidating. It just goes with the territory.

BUT, I've learned to give myself some time and space on the whole thing. 99% of the time, when I go back to review my work a few months down the line, I find myself saying a lot to myself, "You know...that really isn't that bad. In fact, you did pretty good on it."

So this all brings me to today's challenge. You'll notice that I said "99% of the time" above. That means there are some cards and projects that still slip by and I DEPLORE with a passion, no matter how much time and space has passed. I get to fix one of those today! Fantastic!  On this particular card, I can now cross something off my regret list. I'm here to redeem myself on the following train wreck.

The things I most dislike on this card is it just looks sloppy. My trimmer was dull and I have ragged edges. My stitching is crooked. And well...ya'll know this, it is no secret...my early photography wasn't that great. It's something I'm still working on. :)

And here is the card I made just the other day. I believe the original assignment was to create a project using the Celebrations set. Also that month, the Fancy Flourishes dies were released to match up with the stamp set of the same name. I wanted to hold true to that and load this card into the appropriate gallery when I was all done, so the use of those two products were mandatory for the redo.

All the colors are the same: Enchanted Evening, Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, and Terracotta Tile. I keep the banner element with a Sketched Shape Die and a sentiment stamped on top. Instead of bulky buttons, I much prefer now to use my Bitty Button Stack and Button Stack dies now. Just lower profile.

I originally liked the use of Dawn's Dearest Jane Patterned Paper with these colors on the original card. So instead of of using it as my background, I cut it with the Phrase Play #6 die. The "die cut" look is really hip right now. And because the large "congrats" from Celebrations doesn't fit in the opening created by the Phrase Play die, I used the large rectangular label from Label Basics to give it a home.

Fancy Flourishes (both the dies and the stamp sets) are used as a nod to the original. This time, the stamps give my background some detail and the dies/stamps used together create a singular interesting element.

And that is that. MUCH BETTER!

Looking forward to seeing what the other girls do for this challenge. Here's the links so you can peek too.

Nichole Heady
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Maile Belles
Heather Nichols
Melissa Phillips
Danielle Flanders
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Ashley Cannon Newell

Supplies

Original Card
Stamps: Celebrations, Fancy Flourishes, Polka Dot Basics, BB: Gingham
Cardstock: Simpy Chartreuse, Terracotta Tile, Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening
Patterned Paper: Dearest Jane
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream, Terracotta Tile, Enchanted Evening
Dies: Celebrations, Fancy Flourishes
Terracotta Tile Buttons

New Card
Stamps: Celebrations, Fancy Flourishes, Label Basics
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Simply Chartreuse, Canyon Clay, Blueberry Sky, Dark Chocolate
Dies: Phrase Play #6, Rectangular Labels, Fancy Flourishes, Bitty Button Stacks, Button Stacks II, Sketched Shapes
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate, Enchanted Evening
Patterned Paper: Dearest Jane

Welcome to the 1960's

Hello Everybody! You've hopped in your time machine and have arrived at a new era for the 2014 Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-Faire.  I'm the Era Presenter for the 1960's and have designed a collection of stamps, patterned papers, and dies that will have you creating some groovy and mod designs on your next paper crafting projects. 

I'm going to be re-posting everything that is already on Nichole's blog for your reference. Click on over there to enter into the contests for the era and see what everybody else is creating.

It would be easy to define the 60's as the time of hippies, bell bottoms, and free love. Those are certainly the cliched icons that come to mind when the decade first pops into our collective consciousness. And while all those hippies flashed the peace sign and participated in all kinds of psychedelic activity, something else was afoot and defining the era to move us forward into the 21st century.

The time was right. Big wars were over (well...for awhile anyway, in retrospect), the men were home, family units were prospering, and people had reasons to be carefree again. We were in a race to the moon against the Soviets and scientific achievement was taking a giant step forward. We craved what was new, sleek, shiny, and optimistic right along with it. All our hope seemed focused on what lay ahead and the promises yet to be fulfilled. We wanted our cars, houses, clothes, advertising, and music to reflect our readiness for stepping into that bright, bold future. Surely all of this was more of a winning attitude than what those Soviets sitting in ice box Russia had to offer the world. Fake it until you make it.

But it wasn't always easy. We weren't used to loosening our collars and kicking off our shoes. All that hard work and know-how that was pushing us forward to achieve what was bigger and better, could make us a bit too focused and straitlaced. Ah well...nothing a good stiff cocktail and a smoke couldn't fix at the end of the day. All the better if the little lady served them up to you dressed immaculately and in heels.

There was a conflict between the old school and the new, as a result. Things were definitely a'changing. And hopefully for the better. A new point of view was to emerge. 

How does this all translate to modern day paper crafting? In print, home decor, and advertising, rules got redefined and structure got shown the door. It was a free thinker's paradise. Colors got bright and bold as new combinations got created. Lines got sleeker, curves more graceful. The shapes became more organic and there was a balanced asymmetry to art and print that was more thoughtful and deliberate underneath the surface than what could be seen at first glance. This era is ripe with inspiration for your projects. Almost like opening Pandora's box. Once you start, you might not be able to stop.

It is a design style that is at times both hard to define, yet instantly recognizable. Like Don Draper said, "Make it simple, but significant."

We'd like to add just a little extra thought to that. "Make it simple, but significant. And most of all, make it fun." 

Enjoy the 1960's. It's a swinging good time.

Rad Ad Challenge

1960's advertising was all about grabbing your attention with a "big idea". The slogans seemed to talk directly to you, selling both confidence and the product itself. "One doesn't come without the other," they seemed say. 

Naturally, you wanted whatever they were selling in order to feel that confidence boost. Those Mad Men certainly knew how to do their jobs and land those accounts. 

Your challenge is to grab the same sort of attention on your paper crafting project. Combine a sense of order within something asymmetrical. Use bold, clashing colors and overlapping shapes with confidence. The type was thick, whimsical, and black and often placed on the lower half of the ad. Inlaid die cuts help to add a slick and sleek appearance.

Challenge

Overlap and repeat the die shapes on your project to create a 1960's advertising motif. Inlay your die cuts for a sleek look. Don't forget to use bold color choices, almost to the point of clashing, and black ink on your sentiments. 

Additional Inspiration

Photo Credit

Photo Credit 

Photo Credit 

Photo Credit

Layered Stencils Challenge

In a lot of the print work of the 1960's, funky, organic shapes got repeated in lines and columns. Often, these shapes overlapped. At the junctures of two individual shapes, a third color (and as a result, a new shape) was revealed. And so, something that was so simple initially (a single shape) gets infinitely more complex with a shift of perspective.

Papertrey Ink's Perfect Match System of color has various hues of the same color. We often refer to it as an "ombre" look. By using the negative shapes created by cutting the dies included in the 1960's kit as stencils and the large crosshatch stamp, you can expand the existing color palette and creative new shapes within the old ones. The results add up to a very 1960's look.

Challenge

Use the negative shapes created by the 1960's dies as stencils. Stamp the crosshatch stamp through the stencils to create new tones and shapes for your project.

Additional Inspiration

Add caption

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Photo Credit

Photo Credit

For more inspiration, you can click on over to my 1960's Pinterest board that I created and which served as my own inspiration for coming up with the 1960's Era Kit.

Looking forward to seeing what you create with the 1960's! Thanks for joining me and helping to make Stamp-a-Faire 2014 so much fun. 

SAF Free Exclusive: Filled With Joy!

Boy oh boy! Tomorrow is all the fun of PTI's Stamp-a-faire 2014. It is our yearly online event full of teaching and inspiration. We have an awesome theme this year that really stretched us creatively. You will have so much fun with the "time travel" idea and all the different eras and products being presented.

Be sure to stop by Nichole's blog starting tonight for our "hello" video featuring all of the PTI Design Team Members. And early tomorrow morning, at 8AM EST the fun begins and it goes on all weekend.

As always, we are offering an exclusive SAF stamp set that comes in your qualifying order at www.papertreyink.com this weekend called Filled With Joy. Here are the details:

This stamp set will be available for free on Stamp-a-faire day (August 23, 2014) to all customers who make a qualifying purchase of $100 or more between 7am EST and 11:30pm EST, limit one per customer.

-Filled With Joy is limited edition for this years Stamp-a-faire event. It will never be made available for sale.
-Filled With Joy can be earned for FREE on Stamp-a-faire Day only, August 23rd, as a freebie to all customers placing an order of $100 or more, limit one set per customer.
-Qualifying orders need to be placed between 7am EST and 11:30pm EST that day only.

Here is my project using Filled with Joy. I adore the mirror image ferns included in this set!

The two panels in Simply Chartreuse and Spring Rain are cut from the large trapezoidal shape included in my 1960's Era Kit. Overlapped like this, they don't look anything like the 1960's, but instead bring to mind a gatefold card. A little bit like the Tipped Top Dies, but a different spin on it. Definitely fun and something you can use well beyond this year's Stamp-A-Faire.

More inspiration using this stamp set below:

Nichole Heady
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Maile Belles
Heather Nichols
Melissa Phillips
Danielle Flanders
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Ashley Cannon Newell


Alright folks, I'll be seeing you tomorrow with my two tutorial videos, projects, and chatting online. Everything is being organized and directed through Nichole's blog, with individual DT members (Era Presenters for tomorrow) having their tutorials and projects on their blogs as well. Looking so forward to it!

Supplies
Stamps: Filled with Joy
Cardstock: Simple Chartreuse, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening, 
Dies: Button Stacks II, Bitty Button Stacks, 1960's Era Kit
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening

August Release Projects

We are wrapping it up today on the PTI blogs for the August Release. I'm absolutely feeling ready for fall after a few weeks of working with all these rich colors and fun fall products. Hope you are as inspired as I am. Just a few more weeks away.

I've shared a lot over the last five days. Got just a few more projects for you.

Birthday Classics: September and Leaf Prints Stitches Dies: There are some very defined lines in the main sentiment this month in Birthday Classics, which allowed for this strip treatment. And loving Nichole's Leaf Print Stitches dies. Makes this card so very special to have that stitched detail.

Happy Spooky Halloween: Fun, fun, fun stuff. :) A very simple card using just one stamp set. I thought the main images from the stamp set looked great stacked on top of each other.

Phrase Play #7: That die cut leaf detail is a crafter's dream. Adore it. I split up the individual elements in the die to create this card. The word "thankful" gets a gradient treatment courtesy of my Copics. The Center Stage Cover Plate was used for the burlap paper chevrons.

Tick Tock: I adore cuckoo clocks, so this was a treat for me. I created this card by bringing in elements from Embellished Elegance and Hands of Time. Very detailed and fun to create.

Autumn Adornments: What a delicious stamp set. The borders can be used for so much. I stamped the dotted one four times, in a square shape. Great background for a trio of cut scalloped rectangles from the Table Service die.

That's it for me. Time to rest! Whew!:) Remember all these awesome new products will be available tonight at 10 PM EST at www.papertreyink.com. I hope you consider adding some to your collection.

More inspiration below. Thanks for the fun this week! See you again in September.

Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Maile Belles
Heather Nichols
Melissa Phillips
Danielle Flanders
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Ashley Cannon Newell

Supplies

Birthday Classics: September
Stamps: Birthday Classics: September, Leaf Prints
Cardstock: Fine Linen, Vintage Cream, Summer Sunrise, Orange 
Zest, Pure Poppy, Classic Kraft
Ink: Orange Zest, Terracotta Tile, Scarlet Jewel
Dies: Leaf Prints, Leaf Prints Stitches Dies

Happy Spooky Halloween
Stamps: Happy Spooky Hallowen
Dies: Happy Spooky Halloween
Carstock: True Black, Stamper's Select White
Ink: Soft Stone, Orange Zest, True Black
Patterned Paper: Soft Stone Simple Stripe
Glitter Paper

Phrase Play #7
Stamps: Phrase Play #7
Dies: Phrase Play #7, Center Stage Cover Plate
Ink: Scarlet Jewel
Cardstock: Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Scarlet Jewel, Stamper's Select White
Copics
Burlap Paper
Dark Chocolate Button
Twine

Tick Tock
Stamps: Tick Tock, Embellished Elegance, Hands of Time
Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Aqua Mist, Soft Blush
Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, Melon Berry, Classic Kraft
Dies: Tick Tock, Embellished Elegance

Autumn Adornments
Stamps: Autumn Adornments
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Scarlet Jewel, Orange Zest
Scarlet Jewel Bitty Dot Patterned Paper
Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Terracotta Tile
Dies: Table Service
Other: Maya Road embellishment

Introducing Superstition...

...and Full Moon...and Everyday Cat Sentiments. Lots of fun stuff today from Chapter 3 Design. And I have a lot of cards for the last day of the August Papertrey Ink Release. Are you ready?!?!?

I really enjoyed creating and using Come All Ye Faithful + Additions last year for Christmas. The October Release wasn't even over before I was dreaming up Superstition over folding a few loads of laundry one afternoon. Black cats causing mischief and mayhem on Halloween night seemed like the logical next step. I hope you enjoy their antics as much as I do.

For me, Superstition and Full Moon are natural scene builders. Here we have a black taking a stroll under a full moon on Halloween night. A witch hat was a must.

The two step moon was created with Full Moon, another set I have releasing this month. It goes with so many things! And it coordinates with the 2.5" Limitless Layers Circles, so you can add it to projects so easily. It comes with one sentiment (shown here) which is sized to fit neatly inside.

I applied bright yellow chalk around my moon to give it a "glow". Elements from Little Bitty Bird Additions, Haunted Borders, and Happy Spooky Halloween help to round out my scene.

Here we have another kitty with a Gothic spin on him, thanks to the frame from Simply Jane. This cat (plus die) was designed to look like he was popping out of a pumpkin. The lid is separate and has a three step stamp, for a very realistic look. It can be worn on the cat's head or off to the side like it is here.

This sentiment would be great with a dark chocolate treat to go along with the card.

The Along Came a Spider dies and stamp set fancy up my corners and give it an even more spooky appeal.

Here's a classy Halloween card, with a subtle sentiment. Black cats are considered to be a witch's familiar. Thought that would be a fun nod to Halloween. The frame and bow from Happy Hydrangea are a nice grounding element for the cat. Autumn Adornments with pumpkins on a vine add a nice touch.

What's more fun than one black cat? Three causing trouble and prowling on Halloween, of course. BB: Wrought Iron + Fancy Finials is the perfect touch.

Moving on to Full Moon. This is a two step stamp that I really wanted to include in Superstition, but just could not fit. Guess we just make an additional stamp set:). Here it is stamped in Orange Zest and Summer Sunrise. I think it is a perfect place to put a sentiment. This one is from Trick or Treat.

Full Moon certainly has many applications outside of Halloween. The first step is this 2.5" solid circle with just a few star details on it. I stamped that three times in shades of Simply Chartreuse, Blueberry Sky, and Tropical Teal. I trimmed the upcoming Dangling Stars Die (ya'll are so excited by this one...which is fantastic) to fit right underneath a Block Talk die. The Dangling Stars Die was cut out of vellum and only a few of the stars are adhered to the card. The rest hang free. Really fun and unique.

The solid cat silhouettes from Superstition can be used for year around applications when teamed up with Everyday Cat Sentiments, a $5 mini stamp set addition. Instead of stamping this cat in black, I stamped her in Soft Stone and added some detail to her coat with colored pencils. The sentiment is from Everyday Cat Sentiments.

Having liked the outcome of adding detail to the "Nine Lives" card, I wanted to do that some more. All three cats were stamped in ink colors (Classic Kraft, Fine Linen, and Summer Sunrise) and details added with watercolor pencils. I brushed a bit of water on them to soft things up.

Both sentiments are from Everyday Cat Sentiments. The triple purr sentiment was stamped repeatedly and overlapping in Soft Stone, which allowed "Purr more, hiss less" to really stand out when stamped in True Black.

Some of these cats have collars. I wrapped floss around the die in the right spot and added bells/tags out of foil paper and die cut with the Harvest Berry die.

And lastly, I wanted to team up a dog from Come All Ye Faithful with one of the cats from Superstition. This quotation that comes with Everyday Cat Sentiments seemed perfect. The cat certainly seems to have the matching attitude. Her collar was heat embossed in white powder from the necklace in Simply Jane. For the right couple, this makes a hilarious anniversary card.

I hope you enjoy these new products. My two cats Hamweenie and Tagalong are purring in approval. More inspiration below. And remember, all these items and more are being released tomorrow night at 10 PM EST  at www.papertreyink.com if you'd like to add them to your collection.

Nichole Heady
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Maile Belles
Heather Nichols
Melissa Phillips
Danielle Flanders
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Ashley Cannon Newell
Lizzie Jones
Lexi Daly

Supplies

When Witches Go Riding
Stamps: Superstition, Full Moon, Haunted Borders, Happy Spooky Halloween, Little Bitty Bird Additions
Dies: Superstition, Haunted Borders, Happy Spooky Halloween, 2.5" Limitless Layers Circles, Little Bitty Bird
Cardstock: Smokey Shadow, Lemon Tart, Orange Zest, Soft Stone, Winter Wisteria, Stamper's Select White
Ink: Orange Zest, True Black, Harvest Gold, Lemon Tart, Winter Wisteria, Royal Purple

Embrace Your Dark Side
Stamps: Superstition, Along Came a Spider, Simply Jane
Dies: Superstition, Along Came a Spider, Simply Jane
Cardstock: Canyon Clay, Fine Linen, Vintage Cream, Classic Kraft, Canyon Clay
Ink: True Black, Canyon Clay, Harvest Gold, Dark Chocolate

Familiar Card
Stamps: Superstition, Autumn Adornments, Happy Hydrangea
Dies: Superstition, Happy Hydrangea
Cardstock: Simply Chartreuse, Winter Wisteria, Stamper's Select White
Ink: True Black, Orange Zest, Winter Wisteria

Trio of Friends
Stamps: Superstition, BB: Wrought Iron, Fancy Finials, Through the Trees, Leave It Be
Dies: Superstition
Cardstock: Winter Wisteria, Stamper's Select White
Ink: Winter Wisteria, True Black, Orange Zest, Royal Velvet, Simply Chartreuse

No Tricks Just Treats
Stamps: Full Moon, Happy Spooky Halloween
Dies: Mega Mat Stack 3, 2.5" Limitless Layers Circles, Happy Spooky Halloween
Ink: True Black, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Smokey Shadow
Patterned Paper: Halloween Prints

Celebrate
Stamps: Full Moon
Dies: Dangling Stars, Block Talk
Cardstock: Tropical Teal, Stamper's Select White, Blueberry Sky
Ink: Blueberry Sky, Tropical Teal, Simply Chartreuse
Foil Paper

Nine Lives
Stamps: Superstition, No Strings Attached, Heart Squared
Dies: Superstition, Love Lives Here
Cardstock: Smokey Shadow, Ocean Tides, Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy
Ink: Ocean Tides, Soft Stone
White Embossing Powder

Purr More, Hiss Less
Stamps: Superstition, Everyday Cat Sentiments
Dies: Superstition, Harvest Berries
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White,Pure Poppy
Ink: Soft Stone, True Black, Classic Kraft, Fine Linen, Summer Sunrise
Colored pencils, washi tape, foil paper

Happy Anniversary 
Stamps: Superstition, Everyday Cat Sentiments, Come All Ye Faithful, Come All Ye Faithful Additions, Simply Jane
Dies: Superstition, Come All Ye Faithful, Come All Ye Faithful Sentiments, Stitched Circles
Cardstock: Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Tropical Teal, New Leaf, Stamper's Select White
Ink: True Black, Tropical Teal, Blueberry Sky, New Leaf
Pearl Brads, White Embossing Powder

Introducing Fancy That

It's the first of two Group Post days at Papertrey Ink for the August release. Today we are featuring the medallion set by Nichole called Fancy That. Fancy is an apt descriptor. These images are so beautiful and intricate, not much more is needed to fancy them up any more. They are perfect as is. All you've got to do is stamp.

This card is so very simple in design, but the combination of clear embossing powder on the repeated medallions really pulls it together . I stamped a square medallion (there are six this size...oh the possibilities)  three times across the top of my card and three times across the bottom. This left an approximately a 1/2" space in between for a Classic Kraft strip of cardstock with a Keep It Simple: Thanksgiving sentiment stamped in the center.

For me, this is a very simple card. But it ended up so luxe.  The intricate designs plus the tone on tone embossing powder really makes it shine. Love this look. I can see this design working well for card sets. Colors and sentiments can vary for just about any occasion.

Next up, I thought the medallions in Fancy that begged for some Copic treatment. I colored this one in shades of blue.

Gemstones and a button add additional interest. Living up to its name, this stamp set...very fancy.

Moving on, I thought I'd show a few previews of my August stamp sets. Just a little tease. Here we have Full Moon. This is a great scene builder set because it features a two-step moon that coordinates with the 2.5" Limitless Layers Circles. I stamped the first step in Lemon Tart and the second in Harvest Gold. It's subtle in this color palette, but there behind the witch from Spooky Sweets II. You can see the detail above the broom and between her hat and curls.

Also included in Full Moon are four wispy spooky clouds that look great stamped directly over the moon. On this card, they are stamped in Fine Linen ink.

The sentiment is from Superstition. Spooky.

And here's a super little tease of Superstition, my black cat stamp set. No cats to be found on this card. But there are three candies with coordinating dies included in the set. They look great in a vintage bowl from Bowl of Sunshine and backed up with the Candy Corn Collage die that is also being released this month. Sentiment is from the previously Spooky Sweets II.

To fill my bowl, I die cut the orange with leaves filler from Bowl of Sunshine Dies. I then stamped my candy directly on it. Then I piled on top of that die cut and stamped candy to make it look like it was overflowing. Worked quite well.

More inspiration below. All these products and more will be available in just a few short days. August 15th at 10 EST over at www.papertreyink.com.

Nichole Heady
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Maile Belles
Heather Nichols
Melissa Phillips
Danielle Flanders
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Ashley Cannon Newell
Lizzie Jones
Lexi Daly


Supplies

Happy Thanksgiving
Stamps: Fancy That, Keep It Simple: Thanksgiving
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Kraft
Clear Embossing Powder
Dark Chocolate Ink

Blue Card
Stamps: Fancy That
Dies: Holiday One Liners, Phrase Play #6
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky
Ink: Enchanted Evening

Witch Card
Stamps: Full Moon, Superstition, Falling Leaves
Ink: Harvest Gold, Fine Linen, Lemon Tart
Cardstock: True Black, Stamper's Select White
Burlap Paper
Dies: Spooky Sweets II

Trick or Treat
Stamps: Superstition, Spooky Sweets II, Bowl of Sunshine
Dies: Candy Corn Collage, Superstition, Bowl of Sunshine
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Soft Stone, Orange Zest
Ink: Royal Velvet, Simply Chartreuse, True Black, Orange Zest
Black Bitty Dot Paper