Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Background Basics: Striped Sweater Day 1

In case you haven't heard the news, I've got a little something new cooking this month. It's my very first stamp and die release as a stamp designer with Papertrey Ink. It's all been very exciting around here. You should have seen me tear into that package the day it came in the mail. Wild horses couldn't keep me away. Inked those stamps right on up. I'm not even sure the mail lady was halfway down the street by the time I did it. 

My first stamp set is called Background Basics: Striped Sweater and features a simple, graphic knit stitch background that can be used to cover an entire background with a solid color or multiple colors in a striped pattern. Perfect for all your cozy and warm winter projects. Let me show you something that it can do.


I'm a bit of an amateur knitter. I'd do it more but I've got this other little papercrafting hobby I've got going on. Takes up some time, if you know what I mean. Left alone is a box full of yarn. Some of the most beautiful stuff you've ever seen. I especially like the variegated skeins of sock yarn. All these colors that you might not think go together, but blend in a most pleasing and surprising way. I was thinking about that when I created this colorway style card using the smaller striped stamp from the set. Imagine all the combinations you can come up with! I also used the new Think Big Favorites: #19 for my sentiment and the solid snowflake stamps from Peace Be Still. (I'm having a hard time not putting snowflakes on every single Striped Sweater card. They go so well.) 


Here's a visual to show you how to create a colorway of your own. Offset the colors by three lines of knit. Makes it so easy to achieve the variegated look. The spaces in between are the same height as the knit design, so you can stripe them easily. Very handy. 

Look at my dirty stamp block. Sigh. How embarrassing. People, I use the heck out of them. Just keeping it real. HA! 


Next up, I have a card using my new Shape It Up: Mitten Die. I know a lot of you have been asking for something like this! It goes perfectly with Striped Sweater.

For the star motif, I stamped Striped Sweater first on some white paper and then cut it out with the Harlequin Cover Plate. I arranged the diamonds in a star pattern that you might typically see in knit items. A felt heart and button add to the homey look. 

That's it for me today. Hope this has got your fingers itching to get inky. I'll be back tomorrow with more. In the meantime, check out some more release projects from the PTI Design Team and Nichole.
 
Nichole Heady with all sorts of amazing things
Betsy Veldman with Over Under Easy/Over Under Easy: Holiday Additions + Snowflake Flurries
Danielle Flanders with BB: Super Stripes & Diagonal Stripes Impression Plate
Cristina Kowalczyk with Menorah Medley & dies
Heather Nichols with her offerings this month
Maile Belles with Think Big Favorites
Melissa Bickford with Heart-2-Heart #9
Dawn McVey with Peaceful Pinecones


Supplies:

Colorway Card
Stamps: Background Basics: Striped Sweater, Peace Be Still, Think Big Favorites: #19
Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Autumn Rose, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Limeade Ice, Winter Wisteria, True Black
Memento's London Fog
Stamper's Select White Cardstock
Pearls by Basic Grey

Mitten Card
Stamps: Winter Hills
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Blueberry Sky
Limeade Ice Bitty Dot Paper
Pure Poppy Felt
Dies: Shape It Up: Mitten Loop De Loop Die, Heart Prints Dies, Harlequin Cover Plate
Ink: Pure Poppy,  Enchanted Evening
Other: Red Adhesive Trim by Recollections

21 comments:

  1. Erin, congrats on your new stamp set. It's really exciting. Love how you can make the image such a pretty variegated knit. (And how come you can have a dirty block and not get the edges on your cardstock? I have to keep mine clean or unwanted edges may end up on my card :)).

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations Erin. You must be thrilled. The Background Basics knit pattern is gorgeous. I'm a big fan of the Shape Up Series dies and loooovvvveee the mitten.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So happy for you, Erin! This set looks great, and you always make such fantastic cards. Can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  4. CONGRATS looking forward to seeing the Full Reveal!! =) I LOVE your creations!! THANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your new stamp set, Erin! Perhaps an impression plate could be released in the future???

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOVE IT!!!
    That stamps is a must have!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations on your first stamp and die designs!!!! So adorable both!!!! Can't wait to see it all in vivid detail! I am curious about the size of the mitten die? Is it big enough to sew two felt mittens together and make a pouch of goodies? It looks so adorable with the knit star pattern on top! These sets go together so wonderfully! Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  8. like the striped sweater & mittens

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful creations and a big congrats on your stamp & die set!!! Love the look of knitted stitches!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my Erin!! I was so on the fence but now I can not wait to get this set!! And the mitten die is AWESOME!!!! Love them!! Congrats on your first!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Rats! I think this is a conspiracy. Erin, I've been telling some of the other team members on their blogs that I have sworn off buying any new stamps for the holiday season this year, but you're all making it soooo very, very, VERY difficult for me lol. Background Basics, Striped Sweater is absolutely gorgeous! I LOVE it and I'm totally in sync with you when it comes to loving that warm, cozy look for winter projects. The design is brilliant and it goes hand in hand (yep, really bad pun) with your new mitten die. Congratulations on the release of your first PTI stamp set and first die. That is a huge deal and you should celebrate your accomplishment! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love that mitten! Can't wait to see more with your stamp set!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congratulations Erin, what a winner of a stamp set. Very cleverly designed to allow for many creative possibilities. And this is the first time over at your blog even thought I am a huge PTI fan...and you're hilarious!!! Loved your post today and will.definitely be visiting again soon. Hugs from Australia :) (where our Christmases are sweltering hot, but I'm putting knitted patterns on my cards anyway, coz it's too cute!)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrats from me too Erin! I love the knitted background - and especially how you used it on your mitten - a beautiful star pattern! Yeah! Great job on your first set! I love how you think outside the box on your projects!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've been patiently waiting for the knitting theme....you made me HAPPY today!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Big congrats on your first stamp set and die, Erin. You can tell that a knitter designed this set because it does allow for those special effects, such as your variegated color pattern. I want a pair of socks in that combination!

    ReplyDelete
  17. It is beautiful, especially the multicolor yarn effect.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congrats from this knitter - awesome designs!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh my goodness you have captured the look of a knitted item. Your mitten card is so sweet. I am excited as usual for the new releases. Congratulations on your stamp set!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations, Erin, on your very first stamp set! It's a real winner showcasing your colorway ~ just like variegated yarn. And the mitten card is adorable also. WTG!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yeah for you, Erin! I'm excited to see what will be coming out of your creative brain in the future. Love these!

    ReplyDelete